CNBC published in their Global Traveler Magazine an article entitled "Why This Remote Gem Should Top Your 2020 Travel List."

Here's just a couple of excerpts from the article, "Deep in the valleys forged by the waters of Asia’s Red River, a series of colorful mountain villages are encircled by fields of towering rice terraces. The fields are agricultural feats of precision — rugged mountains blanketed with emerald stairways that, seemingly, ascend to the heavens above.

But this is not Disneyland. This isn’t a destination designed to attract visitors, international attention or the Instagram set.

But it did attract one Instagrammer, Jesse Pearlman and he is my guest today.

You will love hearing about this region as Jesse tells his tales and his experiences getting there the first time, and later, trips back and forth.
You will hear in his voice that his love of the region belongs to the people and comes from a very soulful place in his heart.

While Mu Cang Chai is a place way off the beaten track, if you are looking to immerse yourself in an old-world community surrounded by gorgeous mountains and peacefulness, it's worth the effort to get there.

Please welcome Jesse Pearlman to the show.
You can follow Jesse and his great photos on his Instagram page -  https://www.instagram.com/pearlmanj1/

If you are liking what I am doing with the show, I’d love it if you would please consider giving me a short review on Apple Podcasts/ITunes.

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Let me design your #customised #private tour of Vietnam - See our Travel Services

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I am stepping out of the norm in this episode to share with you some travel industry knowledge from people I consider in the know, and who you may not normally have direct access to. 

This is the episode for those people who don't know what to believe is really happening with travel developments in this region and what source to trust.

In this episode, you are going to hear a very frank “no holes barred “ conversation where we take a deep dive into how the impact of Covid is driving travel forecasting, travel bubbles, trends becoming evident in the region, consumer confidence or lack thereof, vaccination roll-out, Visa’s and much more.

It’s a rare interview with people who are experts in their field and who have their ears to the ground. What's more important is they are connected to those who will shape travel for us in the future.  

Please welcome the hosts of The South East Asia Travel Show podcast, Gary Bowerman and Hannah Pearson.

Gary is Director of Check-in Asia, a travel intelligence and strategic marketing firm with bases in Hong Kong, Shanghai and Kuala Lumpur  

As a member of the Mekong Tourism Advisory Group, Gary works with leading hotel groups, tourism boards, OTAs, and travel organisations. He has produced White Papers on the travel economies of South East Asia, Australia, China, India, Japan, Myanmar, Malaysia, Laos and Macau.

Hannah is the Director of Pear Anderson, a research and sales representation tourism consultancy specialising in the Southeast Asian and Muslim tourism industry. She is well respected in the industry for providing a very influential weekly report tracking the impact of COVID-19 on the SE Asian tourism industry.  Like Gary, she is based in Malaysia.

Stay tuned for more from my guests Hannah Pearson and Gary Bowerman.

Note: This is not a Covid 19 based official update responding to the latest upsurge in Covid case numbers in Vietnam as of 1st June 2021.

Interested in Vietnam? Contact me through my website - What About Vietnam

Iphone Podcast listeners _ If you are liking what I am doing with the show, I’d love it if you would please consider giving me a short review on Apple Podcasts/ITunes.  It does make a difference and I truly value the feedback.  Link is here_  

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The best way to connect with me is not via text, it is through the website www.whataboutvietnam.com website and email.

Follow on your favourite pod channel, email directly to [email protected]
Keep abreast of news on our social pages on FB, IG,LinkedIn and TikTok

Let me design your #customised #private tour of Vietnam - See our Travel Services

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Have you ever been curious to see how people lived hundreds of years ago along the mighty Mekong river? River cruising is the only way to do it in luxury, and still feel the essence of it as a water highway relied upon by a diverse range of local communities.

Immerse yourself in the mighty Mekong river with a river cruise through the most remote parts of Vietnam and beyond.  Connect with locals who enjoy sharing their everyday life with visitors. Explore markets that are only accessible by boat to enjoy local food delicacies and one-of-a-kind handmade textiles. 

In this episode, I talk with a big river cruising fan; Charlotte Pinder. Charlotte has been on 7 different river cruises with 7 different itineraries. She has explored the most remote parts of the Mekong, toured ancient ruins in Cambodia, met local villagers, tasted unique regional foods, and the most interesting part of her experience is that she has mostly traveled alone. In fact, Charlotte can attest to the friendly and safe atmosphere for solo travelers. She almost recommends it because it gives you the opportunity to really spend time talking with locals that you probably wouldn’t do if you were with a group. 

Charlotte says "Touring Vietnam via a river cruise is like staying in a boutique hotel on the water".  Charlotte absolutely raves about the Pandaw Cruise brand as all trips have been on their ships. The number of travelers is smaller, the rooms are more quaint, and the dinners are more intimate. The ports are not large tourist areas but rural fishing markets with locals going about their days. You will pass by fish farming villages - a village with homes built entirely over water. Children will run up to you eager to recite the one or two words of English they know. 

Every river cruise offers something special. You can get lost in the world of knowledge through a history class or discover incredible new food through a cooking class.
If you would like to know more about the Pandaw Cruise ships and all their tours, please check out their website here; - Pandaw Cruises

Interested in Vietnam? Contact me through my website - What About Vietnam

Iphone Podcasters _ If you are liking what I am doing with the show, I’d love it if you would please consider giving me a short review on Apple Podcasts/ITunes.  It does make a difference and I truly value the feedback.  Link is here_  

For Show notes and an easy search for other

The best way to connect with me is not via text, it is through the website www.whataboutvietnam.com website and email.

Follow on your favourite pod channel, email directly to [email protected]
Keep abreast of news on our social pages on FB, IG,LinkedIn and TikTok

Let me design your #customised #private tour of Vietnam - See our Travel Services

Do you need a #Dental Procedure? Why not find out what’s possible through our Dental and #Cosmetic Medical partner Worldwide Beauty Hospital. Mention #whataboutvietnam to receive 5% discount at Worldwide Beauty Hospital

Be ready to discover a world that time has forgotten. 
Enter the colourful world of the Bac Ha markets in Vietnam. Where century-old traditions create one of the most unique travel experiences of your life.

Are you a budding photographer? Have you seen images of brightly coloured traditionally dressed Hmong women with their babies on their back tendering to their families as they sell their wares?
What about those photos of women in their Sunday best traditional costumes gathering with others and selling all kinds of things from farming equipment to trinkets to textiles.
Have you ‘even’ heard about Bac Ha Markets in Vietnam? 

Be ready to discover a world that time has forgotten. Enter the colourful location of the Bac Ha markets in Vietnam.  Immerse yourself into the world of the Flower Hmong people; friendly, welcoming, and rich in traditions that have held them strong to their tribal ways of subsistence farming for centuries.

My guest, Mike Pollock, stumbled upon Bac Ha a few years ago while photographing the region. As a photographer, he can tell you that every day in Bac Ha you will discover something new.  

He openly reveals how the region captured his heart and his camera eye. He describes his experience and the locality of the markets and what one can expect on any given market day. Sunday being the big day. His time there has been best recorded on his website as it is full of his photos from his travels all over Asia: https://www.traveltoasiaandback.com/bac-ha.html

He talks about accommodations ranging from homestay options (where you sleep with the free range chickens) to in-town motels that have basic western accommodations like toilets and simple roll out beds. By 10:00 am on Sunday, the market will be filled with locals coming from near and far to share news, sell their wares and socialise.

He will tell you about the stalls selling handmade trinkets, potions, and farm equipment. How craftsman make a knife from steel right next to the lady selling “Happy water”. Bac Ha has so many amazing things waiting for you to discover. 

These markets are not put on for tourists. They are the real deal.
Join me as I talk about the Bac Ha markets with Mike Pollock.

If you are liking what I am doing with the show, I’d love it if you would please consider giving me a short review on Apple Podcasts/ITunes. Believe it or not, it does make a difference and I truly value the feedback.  It should only take a few minutes if you use this link. https://podcasts.apple.com/a

The best way to connect with me is not via text, it is through the website www.whataboutvietnam.com website and email.

Follow on your favourite pod channel, email directly to [email protected]
Keep abreast of news on our social pages on FB, IG,LinkedIn and TikTok

Let me design your #customised #private tour of Vietnam - See our Travel Services

Do you need a #Dental Procedure? Why not find out what’s possible through our Dental and #Cosmetic Medical partner Worldwide Beauty Hospital. Mention #whataboutvietnam to receive 5% discount at Worldwide Beauty Hospital

Do you love to try new food?  Do you like to experiment with new cuisines? What about learning a new culture and having some fun along the way? Then a cooking class is a must to include in your tour of Vietnam.

Not every country offers up Cooking Classes like they do in Vietnam. Cooking classes in Vietnam have a wide range of offerings including seafood, vegan and vegetarian, and will take you on a journey from farm to market, to table. Even, if you don't like to cook, you will find out WHY food tastes so good in Vietnam and what impact the region has on what you are eating. 
Why do just one class, when each area offers up something different in their cuisine?

Vietnamese have a love affair with food and you will too after you do a cooking class. This is why I am excited about my guest today.

On the show today, we have Chef Tracey Lister. As a chef, author, trainer, and cultural expert in Vietnamese cuisine she has some important insights to share with us about the real value of doing a cooking class in every region you visit to better understand the nuances of the locality you are in.  She also has a restaurant, The Brunswick Kitchen & Cooking School, in Melbourne, Australia where you can learn some of these skills ONLINE.

Through Tracey, we also learn more about the establishment of KOTO ( Based in Hanoi).  This establishment has for many years been a charity cooking school and life skills institute for many impoverished Vietnamese students. Tracey was part of the start-up of this well-known and revered institute, alongside the Founder Jimmy Pham. Through their work, hundreds of students have broken the cycle of poverty and gone on to achieve gainful employment.

In today’s episode, we will explore:

• The incredible cultural experience you get through cooking classes in Vietnam. 
• The ancient way that meals are still prepared today in Vietnam
• How the cuisine is influenced by its proximity to the border countries and why we recommend you do more than one class

Chef Tracey Lister’s Books:

Vietnamese Street Food

Real Vietnamese Cooking: Home

The best way to connect with me is not via text, it is through the website www.whataboutvietnam.com website and email.

Follow on your favourite pod channel, email directly to [email protected]
Keep abreast of news on our social pages on FB, IG,LinkedIn and TikTok

Let me design your #customised #private tour of Vietnam - See our Travel Services

Do you need a #Dental Procedure? Why not find out what’s possible through our Dental and #Cosmetic Medical partner Worldwide Beauty Hospital. Mention #whataboutvietnam to receive 5% discount at Worldwide Beauty Hospital

Are you heading to Danang and looking for an activity that takes you outdoors exploring nature? Do you like fresh air and lush rainforests full of endangered species like the  Red-shanked douc langurs? They are those cute monkeys with red bib necks and cute faces.
Then the Son Tra Nature Reserve won't disappoint you! 10 Mins from Danang centre.
 
Oh, btw, those monkeys have a very mischievous personality as you will soon find out.

I am always delighted to have someone on the show that can educate us on a new experience of Vietnam. Especially, if that experience helps us …..as a visitor to better understand some of the local projects focusing on biodiversity and the development of important ecosystems.

Today we are going to learn about the Son Tra Nature Reserve and Education Centre.
Please Welcome, Thanh to the program.
Thanh is one of the educators of Son Tra Nature education center, which is a division of GreenViet an NGO. 
GreenViet is the first local Organisation in Danang to focus on nature conservation. Being established in 2018, Son Tra Nature education center has been offering free admission to help people gain a better understanding of the unique treasures found in the Son Tra Nature Reserve which is located just 10 km from Da Nang city center. 

In this episode, let Thanh guide you to a visit to this most magical place to :-

• See and count members of macaques and douc langurs family and the many other wildlife.
• Learn about langurs’ feeding behavior through observing them in the wild, and Oh watch out for your handbag??
• See and experience the natural habitat of Son Tra’s wild animals.
• Learn why the primates chose to live in the Son Tra mountain.

Find out more about the work being done to save this area and the monkeys here
https://vcbt-n.com/products/exploring-wildlife-in-son-tra-nature-reserv

If you would like to  contact GreenViet directly to learn more before you visit - https://greenviet.org/lien-he/

Please check out the transcript at www.whataboutvietnam.com
Please rate and review on your Iphone - https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/what-about-vietnam-traveller-insights/id1513095454

The best way to connect with me is not via text, it is through the website www.whataboutvietnam.com website and email.

Follow on your favourite pod channel, email directly to [email protected]
Keep abreast of news on our social pages on FB, IG,LinkedIn and TikTok

Let me design your #customised #private tour of Vietnam - See our Travel Services

Do you need a #Dental Procedure? Why not find out what’s possible through our Dental and #Cosmetic Medical partner Worldwide Beauty Hospital. Mention #whataboutvietnam to receive 5% discount at Worldwide Beauty Hospital

If you love competitive running and enjoy the spirit of a trail series, then this episode will cover what you need to know and much more.
However, if you see this title and immediately think this is NOT for you. You may do a 360.  Like I did.
I am assured you don’t have to be a super athlete to have fun and enjoy the spectacular scenery you will experience by joining any one of the Topas Trail Series marathons.

David Lloyd,  Sport and Race Director for the Vietnam Trail Series and my guest on today’s show, tells me you can go as slow or as fast as you like;  and you only have to be of average fitness and enjoy walking and being outdoors.
Yes, "that's me", I hear you say!  Okay, so training starts now!
I am warning you, David will woo you with the idea as he talks about the stunning views and the fun sharing with other competitors. 

David says “ joining one of these events is a great leveler. When you are walking or running with someone that may be by day a shopkeeper, a banker, or a tech genius. It doesn’t make any difference when you are on that trail and climbing those mountains. You are all competing for the same trophy, and possibly feeling the same fears, exhaustion, and muscle pain.”.

He will make you laugh about some of the experiences of the most ardent competitors; You’ll hear about how much planning and work goes into managing groups sometimes 3-4,000:  From accommodation to tasty food to medical support. 

David offers up some of those special "stand-out moments" that you just HAD to be there to capture.
Plus, you will hear how these marathons contribute substantially to the work of Operation Smile, Newborns Vietnam, Blue Dragon, Hue Help and Sapa o Chau.  These charities are obviously close to David's heart as he says they also carry out local projects in villages along the route. 

A little bit about David Lloyd:- 

David Lloyd is originally from the UK, but has lived in Hoi An since 2011. 

His background includes journalism and photojournalism. He has had work published in The New York Times, and he has also written guidebooks on Vietnam and Laos. He is an active participant and competitive runner and cyclist.
David is full-time Sport and Race director of all events for Topas Travel ……...and has been since 2016 when he was involved in the original race. By race…..I mean the Vietnam Trail series.

The best way to connect with me is not via text, it is through the website www.whataboutvietnam.com website and email.

Follow on your favourite pod channel, email directly to [email protected]
Keep abreast of news on our social pages on FB, IG,LinkedIn and TikTok

Let me design your #customised #private tour of Vietnam - See our Travel Services

Do you need a #Dental Procedure? Why not find out what’s possible through our Dental and #Cosmetic Medical partner Worldwide Beauty Hospital. Mention #whataboutvietnam to receive 5% discount at Worldwide Beauty Hospital

Arriving into any big city can be daunting for even the most seasoned traveler.

Arriving into Saigon with a population of about 8.6 million people and over 9 million motorbikes can be downright “hair raising”.  It's 2020 and most of the world is in lockdown, except maybe Saigon or HCMC as it is also known.  Vietnam is doing well, despite it all.

You’ve heard about the nightlife.
You’ve read about how much the locals like to party.
You know that in the bowels of this city there is an energetic bar scene just waiting to be found.
Where are those amazing rooftop bars that showcase those vistas of the city at night?
Where are those eclectic bars down alleys, upstairs, and hidden behind big heavy doors?
Is it safe to go out at night?

How do you find them? Where are they? The city seems to be so spread out.

I am lucky in this episode to have Selene Alcock on the show. Selene comes from a media and filmmaking background, which makes her an exceptional storyteller.
In fact, in this episode, Selene is going to give us the "scoop" on Saigon Nightlife as she has experienced it since Covid hit.  So I have given Selene the mike for this episode.

Selene is an amazing creative talent, with a fun personality and a curious mind. 
So when she found herself back in Saigon and pretty much “stuck” when the borders closed in March 2020, she and her friends decided to get out into those steamy "Saigon Nights" and find where the action was.

Settle back as Selene takes you on a tour of Saigon at night. There is something for everyone as you will soon discover.

A little bit more about Selene:-

Sydney born Selene Alcock has lived in Vietnam on and off since 2005. In 2012 she began co-running a small printing and sewing factory in Saigon and created an accessories and homewares brand CUSHnART, inspired by the textures, patterns and visual beauty of Vietnam and Asia. More recently she did a soft launch of her new brand Kaban, which features eco-friendly bags made from washable paper or “paper leather”. 

Selene is currently co-writing an epic TV series around a modern-day gold mine dispute.

Selene’s passion for Vietnam has brought her there three times and she has a deep love for the people, culture and food of Vietnam, especially all the amazing and specialty street food. She sees Vietnam as her second home.

For a full list of the places that Selene has mentioned in this show, please send me an email to [email protected] and I will send you her guest blog, called "Saigon Nights" which will be available from our new website com

The best way to connect with me is not via text, it is through the website www.whataboutvietnam.com website and email.

Follow on your favourite pod channel, email directly to [email protected]
Keep abreast of news on our social pages on FB, IG,LinkedIn and TikTok

Let me design your #customised #private tour of Vietnam - See our Travel Services

Do you need a #Dental Procedure? Why not find out what’s possible through our Dental and #Cosmetic Medical partner Worldwide Beauty Hospital. Mention #whataboutvietnam to receive 5% discount at Worldwide Beauty Hospital

When some people talk about Vietnam they say “It's all about the food”,  and while that is partially true because it’s so fantastic. Wouldn't you like to know about the different flavours and influences between the North and the South, and some of the reasons why it tastes so good?

My guest Monika Czerveniak has this knowledge and love of Vietnamese food,  its people and culture in "spades".  If it’s possible to hear "passion" in a voice, and I believe it is, then Monika's tell-all tales about Vietnamese cuisine will excite and delight you.

As a prominent food blogger &  food presenter, she runs Chowdown Vietnam Food Tour and beyond that, in her spare time,  she is the face and creator behind Fearless Cooking Classes and Workshops in Hoi An, Vietnam, Vancouver, BC, Canada and pretty much wherever her taste buds will let her go.

This episode will definitely help you further plan your trip to take in some of the great experiences of food in Vietnam.

From Banh Mi to egg coffee we cover it all in this show.
If you have questions like:-
Is it safe to eat street food?
Is Vietnamese food the same as other Asian food?
What is the difference in cuisine between cities and regions?
Can I get vegan food there?

This is just the tip of the iceberg as we talk about Vietnamese food, as it's a subject worth talking about many times.
So let's jump in and listen to what this fun-loving... “fearless” chef has to tell us about Vietnamese food and what you can expect….
You can find out more about Monika in the links below:-

WEBSITE: http://chowdownvietnam.com/    

YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCa3WV6ZpuPNzdPJ7CUR-Vdw

INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/chowdownvietnam/

FACEBOOK:https://www.facebook.com/chowdownvietnam/

PLEASE RATE AND REVIEW ON APPLE ITUNES  - It would be most appreciated.

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Spotify-

The best way to connect with me is not via text, it is through the website www.whataboutvietnam.com website and email.

Follow on your favourite pod channel, email directly to [email protected]
Keep abreast of news on our social pages on FB, IG,LinkedIn and TikTok

Let me design your #customised #private tour of Vietnam - See our Travel Services

Do you need a #Dental Procedure? Why not find out what’s possible through our Dental and #Cosmetic Medical partner Worldwide Beauty Hospital. Mention #whataboutvietnam to receive 5% discount at Worldwide Beauty Hospital

Today, we are going to help you discover and mastermind the experiences you want to have in Vietnam.
How to pre-plan so it meets your expectations.
How can you get everyone on board, and savour the anticipation of going there, even though you may not know when that will be!! It's tricky, but not impossible to do, as you will find out.

I am delighted to have Kerstin Pilz on the show, a TED X speaker, published author and former academic with almost 20 years of university teaching experience.  A wellbeing coach who runs her own online business and writing retreats in Australia & Hoi An, Vietnam; Kerstin discusses some of the benefits of journaling or writing, …..as a form of research to tease out those things that will make your trip fantastic. 
In saying that;  you may also find out those things holding you back, or are of concern to you or your travelling partners. Its an "Inner journey" as Kerstin says, and one you need to do to get the best out Vietnam.

We will talk openly about how we use writing to help us process the  ....Why, ....How, ...When, Where and If?

We will show you how a journal can become like a close friend you can confide in.
How to use it; Pre trip...during the trip.... and post the trip? 

You will get a real sense for how Kerstin and I both feel about travel in Vietnam in this episode, and how both of us,  having travelled solo many times have used writing, journaling and creating trip books to capture our experiences.

Why not become the author of the experience you want to have in Vietnam.

A little little bit more about Kerstin:-
Kerstin moved to Hoi An in 2016 and set up a popular online business, www.writeyourjourney.com  that allows her to share the tools that helped her transform, grow and heal.

You can connect with her through the following links:-
1. https://www.writeyourjourney.com/vietnam-writing-retreat/

2. https://www.writeyourjourney.com/creative-writing-retreat-australia/

Or better still, have a look at her on her recent Ted X talk here:-

3. TEDxTalk: https://www.writeyourjourney.com/kerstin-pilz-tedx-townsville-the-healing-power-of-writing/

4. Or go to her Online courses: https://www.writeyourjourney.com/online-writing-courses/

P

The best way to connect with me is not via text, it is through the website www.whataboutvietnam.com website and email.

Follow on your favourite pod channel, email directly to [email protected]
Keep abreast of news on our social pages on FB, IG,LinkedIn and TikTok

Let me design your #customised #private tour of Vietnam - See our Travel Services

Do you need a #Dental Procedure? Why not find out what’s possible through our Dental and #Cosmetic Medical partner Worldwide Beauty Hospital. Mention #whataboutvietnam to receive 5% discount at Worldwide Beauty Hospital