Caroline & Phil have gone to.

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Tag: saigon

Ho Chi Minh City, the Mekong Delta and Cu Chi Tunnels: A Trading Standards nightmare

27 December 2018
Phil Norris
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In which I get mercilessly ripped off, several times a day, for a week.

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Indie Asia: The Quiet Hostel Saigon, Ho Chi Minh City

17 December 2018
Caroline Howley
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Our Indie Asia series is all about shining a light on the best independent businesses we’ve encountered during our travels in Southeast Asia. This week it’s the turn of The Quiet Hostel Saigon.

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If you like what you see, follow more of our journey here

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@Carolinehasgoneto

carolinehasgoneto

🌍 #traveljourno
✈️On a year-long trip (SE Asia & Eastern Europe)
🤫I’ll tell you the bad & bizarre stuff too
📌 🇨🇿 🔜 🇹🇭
🖋Read my latest article @
Instagram post 2127047916353899926_443611215 Exploring the unreal Topkapi palace in Istanbul. Back in the 15th century this place was the headquarters of the Ottoman Sultans, and as a result it’s a spellbinding example of Ottoman architecture 💛💛💛 #accidentallywesanderson @accidentallywesanderson #travel #travelling #traveller #travelblog #travelbug #travelbloggers #travelgram #instatravel #wanderlust #bucketlist #instagood #instago #architecture #istanbul #turkey #history #europe #asia #travelpics #travelphotography #travelholic #addictedtotravel
Instagram post 2127044071787795141_443611215 Istanbul’s Blue Mosque 💙💙💙 #istanbul #turkey #europe #asia #travel #travelbloggers #travelling #backpacking #citiesofeurope #wanderlust #bucketlist #traveldiaries #travelpics #travelphotography #traveljourno #travelbug #travellers #instago #travelgram #instatravel
Instagram post 2093677782986087805_443611215 Obviously one of the first things we did in Istanbul was visit the Hagia Sofia 🇹🇷 Originally built by the Byzantines in the 6th century as a church, it was later used as a mosque by the Ottomans. Now it’s a museum. The combination of Christian and Islamic symbolism and decor is absolutely sublime, and you can feel the weight of the history within the walls from the second you enter. Wandering around this incredibly special and symbolic building was a true highlight of the trip, and one I’ll never forget. 💛🖤💛🖤💛🖤 #Hagiasofia #istanbul #turkey #travel #travellers #travelblog #travelbloggers #travelgram #instatravel #travelbug #travelpics #travelphotography #traveladdict #lovetotravel #history #wanderlust #bucketlist #instagood #instago #travelturkey #girlswhotravel #travelholic #traveldiaries #travellersnotebook #europe #asia
Instagram post 2093579828438742483_443611215 After Greece, we flew to Istanbul: the only major city in the world that straddles two continents: Asia and Europe. This was a little bit out of our Eastern European remit, but we’ve both watched so many docos on the Turkish capital there was no way we could pass it by. It was just incredible; breathtaking in a way we’d not yet experienced on this trip, deeply cultural and so historical. This is the view over the Bosporus from the #galatatower 🇹🇷 #Istanbul #cityscape #travel #travellers #travelblog #travelbloggers #travelgram #instatravel #lovetotravel #traveladdict #travelpics #travelphotography #bosphorus #wanderlust #bucketlist #asia #europe #traveldiaries #travellersnotebook
Instagram post 2087090613261563712_443611215 Some of Ikaria’s natural hot springs: we had to clamber over endless boulders to reach this. At some points the water is so hot it’s totally unbearable, but once you find the sweet spot between the geothermal waters and the cool sea it’s heaven. Recommend for an ouzo hangover, although the rocks are super slippy so getting in and out can prove somewhat comedic 🌊 #Ikaria #Greece #Cyclades #hotsprings #spa #sea #ocean #beach #travel #travellers #travelling #travelgreece #travelblogger #bloggers #travelwriter #travelgram #instatravel #instagood #instago #traveldiaries #lovetotravel #traveladdict #travelholic #wanderlust #bucketlist #travelpics
Instagram post 2087086758872435725_443611215 Sailing to Ikaria was a last minute decision because we wanted to get a bit more ‘authentic’ and I liked the sound of this mythical island. It’s said it was formed when Icarus flew to close to the sun, and it’s also one of the world’s five blue zones - where people live a really long time! It was still off season when we landed, which made the simplest of transactions difficult, but one sunny day we took this beautiful road trip and suddenly it was worth it 🚙 ☀️ #Ikaria #Greece #visitgreece #cyclades #travel #europe #travelling #travellers #travelgram #instatravel #travelwriter #travelbloggers #blogging #travelblog #wanderlust #bucketlist #roadtrip #lovetotravel #travelpics #instagood #instago #traveldiaries
Instagram post 2075469166868987023_443611215 Leaving Ermoupoli for Ikaria on the night ferry ⛴ #ermoupoli #syros #greece #europe #travelgreece #travel #travellers #travelling #travelbug #travelblog #travelbloggers #travelgram #instatravel #wanderlust #boat #bucketlist #greekislands #travelgreece #lovetotravel #girlswhotravel #travelpics #moonlight
Instagram post 2075434990061103807_443611215 Syros’ Neoclassic Greek Orthadox church, St Nicholas - one of the island’s most famous icons 🇬🇷 #syros #greece #stnicholas #cyclades #greekislands #europe #travelgreece #travelgram #instatravel #wanderlust #bucketlist #instagood #instago #passportready #churches #architecture #lovetotravel #girlswhotravel #travelholic #traveladdict #lovetravelling #travelblog #travelblogger #travelpics
Instagram post 2075431742436739084_443611215 During our time in the Cyclades, we visited Mykonos, Naxos, Ikaria, and Syros. Syros was hands down our favourite thanks to a magical blend of fewer tourists, natural beauty, and a fabulous restaurant and bar scene. Here’s a pic of Syros’ capital Ermoupoli at night 🌑 🇬🇷 #Syros #ermoupoli #greece #greekislands #travel #travellers #travelling #travelgram #instatravel #backpackers #europe #visitgreece #instagood #instago #wanderlust #bucketlist #passportready #lovetotravel #travelholic #traveladdict
Instagram post 2067347168292999556_443611215 A tiny enclave of whitewashed houses amidst dramatic Naxos scenery, on a grey April day 🇬🇷 #Naxos #Greece #Europe #travelgreece #travel #travellers #travelling #backpacking #travelgram #instatravel #travelblog #travelbloggers #travelwriter #instagood #instago #wanderlust #bucketlist #travelpics #travelphotography #lovetotravel #traveladdict #tickettoride #passportready #scenery #landscape
Instagram post 2067341942441691668_443611215 This is what happens when you order food in little Greek fishing villages. This was taken in Apollonas, Naxos. As per, they were all gutted to find no meat on our table - although one did try to swipe my Saganaki 🐱 🧀 #Naxos #Greece #apollonas #catsofinstagram #cat #cats #europe #travelgreece #travel #travelblogger #travelbloggers #travelgram #instatravel #instagood #instago #travelblog #travelwriter #travelpics #travelphotography #wanderlust #bucketlist #traveladdict #girlswhotravel #wanderfolk #travelholic #lovetotravel #kittens
Instagram post 2067335712843473714_443611215 Sunset on Naxos: this was our second island on our off-season tour of the Cyclades. One day we took a road trip to explore some of the little town and ancient ruins around the island 🇬🇷 #Greece #Naxos #cyclades #history #sunset #travel #travellers #travelling #travelblog #travelbloggers #travelgram #instatravel #traveldiaries #travelpics #travelphotography #travelphotographer #travelwriter #travelbug #instagood #instago #wanderlust #bucketlist #traveladdict #travelholic #girlswhotravel #adventure #europe #travelgreece
Instagram post 2049993025593253029_443611215 There are ruins everywhere you look on Delos, including an amphitheater, ancient burned out wine market, and the island’s iconic lions. The most precious pieces are housed in an absolutely banging architectural museum. So, if you find yourself bored in Mykonos - as we did - make the trip to this ancient island. #delos #greece #travelgreece #europe #mykonos #travel #travellers #travelling #travelgram #instatravel #instagood #instago #greekruins #history #landscape #wanderlust #bucketlist #backpackers #traveldiaries #travellersnotebook #scenery #traveladdict #travelholic
Instagram post 2049989468773141820_443611215 Now just a small, windswept island full (and I mean full) of ruins (and cats), in the 1st millennia BCE, Delos was actually a a major trading port and religious centre. #travel #delos #delosisland #greece #travelgreece #mykonos #europe #travellers #travelblog #travelbug #travelgram #instatravel #travelbloggers #greekruins #travelpics #travelphotography #instagood #instago #wanderlust #bucketlist #history #travellersnotebook #traveldiary
Instagram post 2049986996247652642_443611215 After Athens we took a ferry to Mykonos, marking the beginning of a month in the Cyclades. However, we were super underwhelmed by Mykonos - high season hadn’t quite hit yet, and everything was either closed or super expensive. One silver lining: the island of Delos - the mythological birthplace of Apollo - is a short boat ride from Mykonos. Here’s the view from the peak ⛰ #Greece #mykonos #cyclades #delos #europe #travelgreece #travellers #travelling #travelblog #travelbloggers #travelgram #instatravel #wanderlust #bucketlist #tickettoride #passportready #landscape #island #view #ruins #travelpics #travelphotography #travelphotos #travelholic #lovetotravel
Instagram post 2036478994890787803_443611215 Athens from the Acropolis 🇬🇷 #athens #Greece #cityscape #travel #travellers #travelling #travelblog #travelbloggers #travelgram #instatravel #instagood #instago #wanderlust #bucketlist #travelpics #travelphotography #travelphotos #explore #exploreeverything #seetheworld #roamtheplanet #lovetotravel #traveladdict #europe #travelgreece
Instagram post 2036214089931363995_443611215 After six months in Southeast Asia, Greece was our first stop on the Eastern European leg of our trip. We chose Greece because we thought hanging around the nation’s beautiful islands in the sun would be a good transition from paradisiacal Asia, before we journeyed north to some of Eastern Europe’s grittiest cities. And also because the flights from Singapore were crazy cheap. But - despite this being the return to our home continent 🇪🇺- we were in for a huge culture shock. Arriving in early April, the weather was freezing, and all our clothes were suited to the balmy climes of Thailand. Everything seemed more difficult: much of Asia has infrastructure designed for backpackers, but Europe doesn’t. But, after a hurried shopping trip, we made it to the Acropolis, which - despite ongoing construction work and epic crowds - took my breath away. Seeing this incredible piece of mythology up close was a dream, and made us remember to feel super lucky to be doing this in the first place 🇬🇷 🇬🇷 🇬🇷 🇬🇷 🇬🇷 🇬🇷 #Greece #athens #acropolis #europe #parthenon #travel #travellers #travelblog #travelbloggers #travelgram #instatravel #lovetotravel #backpackers #travelwriter #travellersnotebook #instagood #instago #traveldiaries #travelphotography #travelpics #wanderlust #bucketlist #explore #exploreeverything #traveladdict #travelholic #history #architecture
Instagram post 2032671901133880066_443611215 We spent quite a few days working in the luminous streets near Haji Lane, drinking extortionately-priced Singapore Slings 🍹 #hajilane #singapore #asia #travel #travellers #travelling #remotework #digitalnomads #travelandwork #travelbug #travelblog #travelbloggers #travelgram #instatravel #travelphotography #travelpics #travelwriters #instagood #instago #wanderlust #bucketlist #explore #exploreeverything #seetheworld #roamtheplanet #travelholic #traveladdict
Instagram post 2032669073334142961_443611215 Singapore’s vibrant Haji Lane provides a colourful oasis amidst the city’s sleek high rise buildings 🇸🇬 🌈 #Singapore #hajilane #asia #travel #travellers #travelling #travelgram #instatravel #wanderlust #bucketlist #travelbug #travelblog #travelbloggers #travelwriter #travelpics #travelphotography #explore #citybreak #exploreeverything #seetheworld #roamtheplanet #lovetotravel #travelholic #traveladdict #girlswhotravel #backpackers
Instagram post 2032175522561344644_443611215 Some of the more residential jetties have become modernised over time - hence the satellite dishes here. On this jetty we also saw a plant with many eggshells impaled on its spikes. It has mystified me ever since, so any explanations welcome! 🥚 #Georgetown #clanjetties #malaysia #penang #seasia #travel #travelling #backpackers #travellers #travelgram #instatravel #wanderlust #bucketlist #explore #exploreeverything #seetheworld #roamtheplanet #instagood #instago #accidentallywesanderson #wanderfolk #travelpics #travelphotography #travelwriters #travelholic #lovetotravel
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Indie Asia: The Quiet Hostel Saigon, Ho Chi Minh City

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If you like what you see, follow more of our journey here

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