TravelVince

The second half of the 20th century was marked by the Vietnam War, and a visit to the War Remnants Museum is fascinating for learning more about this war from the Vietnamese perspective. Outside, there are quite a few vehicles that were used during the war (helicopters, tanks...). Inside, there are numerous rooms filled with testimonials, weapons, and photos. This visit didn't leave us indifferent, and it seems essential when visiting southern Vietnam. As I mentioned in my review of Ho Chi Minh City, if you go with children, be careful not to take them into every single room so you don't upset them too much. There is actually a room in the middle of the museum set aside for children where th…

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Ho Chi Minh City isn't one of the must-see spots in Vietnam, but it still has a few things going for it. We did our last souvenir shopping at the huge Ben Thanh Market, where you will have no shortage of options. The one visit you shouldn't miss is the War Remnants Museum. We went with our kids to learn more about the Indochina and Vietnam wars, but we avoided taking them into certain rooms, especially the one with photos of civilian Napalm victims, which are just too traumatic. Beyond that, it is fascinating to learn more about these wars and what Vietnam went through for so many years before regaining its independence.

Hoi An was the highlight of our trip to Vietnam. We stayed between the town of Hoi An and the coast, right in the middle of herb gardens and next to a cooking school where we had a blast. We got to the beaches by bike. They are beautiful and very pleasant, though not exactly paradise. As for the town of Hoi An, it is magnificent. The architecture in the city center is worth the trip, just like the lively night market along the river, which is lit up by so many lanterns. Finally, my partner had a custom shirt made by one of the many tailors in town, where the value for money must be hard to beat.

We did a full day excursion on Ha Long Bay departing from Cat Ba Island. This island does not have any particular charm, but it seemed less touristy to us than the city of Ha Long. Famous all over the world, you certainly will not be alone doing this type of trip, but Ha Long Bay remains a must for Vietnam. The water is crystal clear in some spots, and taking a boat ride in the middle of these rocks rising from the water is pretty unique. We were also able to go kayaking and swimming. There are definitely too many boats and tourists, but how could you not go.

We really liked Hanoi. It has a more authentic and less modern vibe than Ho Chi Minh City. Walking through the lively alleys of the city center, grabbing a drink on the crowded terraces by West Lake at sunset, or enjoying the delicious Vietnamese cuisine immediately made us fall in love with Vietnam. We also loved the famous water puppet show near West Lake, which we saw with our kids.

I will not repeat the quote from President Bill Clinton who said that there are two kinds of people in the world, those who have seen the Taj Mahal and love it, and those who have not seen it and love it, but how can you not succumb to the charm of this monument with its perfect architecture. Going there, lingering for many minutes, and observing it from up close and from afar is a must in India. It is not one of the 7 new wonders of the world for nothing. You will not be alone, but go anyway. Rare are the places that leave such a mark, if only for its majesty. Although it is very touristy, many Indians took our picture in front of the Taj Mahal. We figured it was because my wife and I were…

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The vibe at this night market is really pleasant. It is certainly touristy, but plenty of Thai locals do their shopping there too. You can find everything from street food stalls, which are all just as good as the next, to local crafts and a huge variety of souvenir stands. I highly recommend spending an evening there and, above all, enjoying the best of Thai cuisine alongside people from all over the world, in that laid-back atmosphere that is so unique to Thailand.

We decided to head to the Semenggoh Nature Reserve with a taxi driver we met the day before to avoid the typical tourist circuits. Unfortunately, we had to call him several times that morning, and we had to get to the reserve at a very fast pace so we wouldn't miss the time when food is offered to the orangutans, which is the only time you can see them. Seeing these primates so close up in their natural habitat, moving from tree to tree with bunches of bananas in their hands, is a fascinating "show." You really realize the strength and agility of these monkeys. I have been boycotting palm oil ever since, as its production is largely the reason for the disappearance of their natural environme…

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The city of Georgetown, on the island of Penang, has incredible charm. Walking through its streets with colonial houses and extensive street art is very pleasant. Visiting the Cheong Fatt Tze mansion is a must, even if staying in this magnificent place, which has become a hotel, wasn't possible with our budget. Finally, a trip to Penang Hill is mandatory. Don't worry, a funicular takes you to the top where we were able to take a nice touristy photo where we are all sweating, even without having climbed the hill on foot. The view at the top is gorgeous and its temple is nice.

Paradise islands in the South China Sea, the Perhentian Islands consist of two main islands. For our part, we chose Perhentian Besar for its tranquility. Gorgeous beaches, lounging around is a must, on stunning beaches under coconut trees and water of an intense blue. We took the opportunity to go snorkeling with, among other things, harmless sharks. The water is calm and from the very first steps, there are plenty of fish of all colors. I was also able to follow a large turtle for a few meters. Don't skimp on the sunscreen. Despite a large amount slathered on regularly, our kids still managed to get a sunburn.

Drawn by the island of Borneo, we set our sights on the city of Kuching. It is a charming city where we loved walking around the downtown area, especially in the evening along the Sarawak River. The Sarawak Museum, housed in a beautiful colonial building, is very interesting for learning more about the history of Borneo. But the main reason for our trip to Borneo and Kuching was to visit the Semenggoh Nature Reserve, where you can see orangutans up close living in their natural habitat. Impressive and moving.

First off, the humid heat of Malaysia and its capital hits you from the moment you take your first steps in the city. Visiting the tallest twin towers in the world, the Petronas Towers, standing over 450 meters high, is a must. The bridge connecting the 2 towers was unfortunately closed for maintenance, but the view from the top of the towers is impressive. We also went up the KL Tower, or Menara KL, and had a great meal there in the panoramic restaurant nearly 300 meters up. It was an all-you-can-eat buffet, and we had no idea the restaurant rotated. Once you realize it, it makes you a little dizzy, but the view of the entire city is magnificent. We also really liked the diversity of the di…

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To get to Orchha, where a visit to a magnificent abandoned city awaited us, we arrived at the Jhansi train station, located 15 km away. We took a tuk-tuk and asked him to drop us off at the Jhansi bus station, where we wanted to catch a bus to Orchha. All along the way, the tuk-tuk driver insisted heavily on taking us to Orchha himself. We refused several times. Once we arrived at the Jhansi bus station, no bus driver would let us on their bus. They all claimed they weren't going to Orchha, under pressure from the tuk-tuk driver, who had followed us for several long minutes. It was the worst moment of our trip to India. We felt like we were on a hidden camera show. In the end, we couldn't ta…

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Varanasi, or Benares, is the most striking city from our trip to India. A holy city if there ever was one, the many pilgrimages in the Ganges and the cremations cannot leave you indifferent. The spectacle is impressive, and we spent hours on the ghats along the Ganges in a mystical, so unique atmosphere. Aside from that, its alleys packed with people and our first lassis also caught my attention. Finally more relaxed about the health rules to follow, we gave in to the lassis, which I can only recommend to everyone.

We spent a day in Gwalior to visit its fort, which is located on a very large site. The visit is really worth it. Between the impressive fortresses, the temples, and especially the statues carved directly into the cliffs, it was a full day. The statues are diverse and huge, and we were able to get very close to them. The site is quiet. As for the rest of the city, nothing else really stood out to us.

The city of Agra isn't that interesting, but it is worth the trip if only for the Taj Mahal. Right from breakfast on the rooftop of our slightly dingy little hotel, we had a distant view of the Taj Mahal, which really gives off something magical. Visiting it was the highlight of our trip to India for me. It isn't legendary for nothing, and in my opinion, its beauty and perfection have few equals. We also visited the Agra Fort with its vibrant red color, which is also on the banks of the Yamuna River, just like its neighbor the Taj Mahal. To get to the Agra train station at the end of our stay in the city, we ended up with a tuk-tuk driver who seemed reckless because of his speed and the risk…

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This holy city really left an impression on us with its calmness, which is so rare in all the other Indian cities we visited. You run into tourists and pilgrims here in a laid-back, hippie atmosphere. We enjoyed visiting its temples, wandering through its little shopping streets, which are admittedly a bit touristy, as well as walking around its lake and sacred waters. It is fascinating to observe the pilgrimages along the lake, and it prepared us for our future visit to Varanasi (Benares), where the pilgrims are much more numerous and their practices are more intense. We really liked our hotel, the Inn Seventh Heaven, right in the heart of the city. The rooms are beautiful, and the place is…

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Our arrival in Rajasthan at Jaipur was very pleasant. You can breathe better here than in New Delhi even if life is just as lively. Since it is human-sized, we were able to make all our trips on foot or by tuk-tuk. We really liked visiting the Palace of Winds (Hawa Mahal). Pink in color like the rest of the city, its facade in particular is of unique architecture and incredible beauty. The visit to the Albert Hall Museum is also particularly interesting for its discovery of local art and I highly recommend its shop where you can find crafts that we did not find later on in our trip. To finish our visits in Jaipur, we climbed the hill where the Monkey Temple is located. On the slopes of the h…

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The first impression you get when taking your first steps in India, and in New Delhi in particular, is a total change of scenery. The constant activity, the typical smells of India, and the noise throw you right into the deep end, but it takes a few hours before you can fully enjoy your trip. Once we were acclimated to the atmosphere and had a good night of sleep, we headed to the old city (Old Delhi), where its many alleyways and numerous little restaurants delighted us. In this neighborhood, we visited the immense Red Fort, where the fortress seems endless. Before leaving Delhi, I would also recommend visiting Humayun’s Tomb, which gives a first impression of Mughal art and has a family re…

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An island with heavenly beaches in southern Thailand, Phuket is worth a visit mainly for lounging around or scuba diving. It is a bit too touristy and not very traditional. I would only recommend it for people looking to easily access white sand beaches shaded by coconut trees, or for families with young children who do not want to venture to islands that are harder to reach but certainly more charming, like Koh Phi Phi or Koh Pha Ngan. On the west side of the island, choose the beaches at Kamala Beach rather than those at Patong Beach, which are way too crowded with mass tourism and even sex tourism.