In this Episode we explore the value of time on a holiday in Vietnam. 
This is part 2 - with Miquel Angel.

While we discussed in Part 1, the aspects of travel opening up to 5 provinces from November 2021. In this Part 2, we expand the travel opening conversation and unpack the normal trip duration of 14 days to see the main destinations. From there we discover the highlights and lowlights impacted by how much time you have in each place. Time becomes a BIG factor in your trip planning.

Commonly this kind of trip known as the “top to bottom”, or “bottom to top” trip tends to leave the traveller pretty exhausted( especially the long haul travellers) : and while many will attribute the trip to being magnificent, they don’t decide to come back and see more. So, unlike many other SEA countries which welcome back tourists over and over again, Vietnam, statistically in the main, doesn’t get the repeat tourist. It’s the “reasons why”  that takes Miquel and I on a funny anecdotal  journey of experiences that could contribute to this outcome.

During the episodes (Part 2 &3) we flesh out the typical experiences of this 14 day trip and how they could be better managed if the focus was on particular regions ie The South, Central, Highlands and Northern regions

Miquel and I will unwrap the very typical tour and hopefully give you some advice and feedback from being involved with these tours so you can choose wisely and possibly make better choices for yourself. Oh, but that’s on the proviso you come back, as we are pretty sure, you would be crazy if you didn't.

Please stay tuned for Episode 3 in this series as Miquel and I continue to unwrap the travel landscape of Vietnam and guide travellers to their best stay in the country.

Disclaimer: Please note this podcast is not to be taken in any way as a formal news release or announcement from the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Vietnam. The information shared in this Podcast by the Guest and Host, are related to publicly released documents and are the private opinions of both people.

You may reach out to Miquel Directly through his Linkedin profile here

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As the doors to Vietnam begin to open to travel after months of being closed, our eyes and ears are keenly focused on what the entry conditions will be. Most importantly for international travellers, as the doors to us have been closed since March 2020.

In this Episode which is Part 1 - of a 3 part series, I am fortunate to have Miquel Angel on the program as Head of the Human Resources & Quality working group inside the Vietnam Tourism Advisory Board, a private entity advising the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Vietnam.

Miquel joins the podcast as my guest shortly after meeting with the Ministry which announced that they would open 5 provinces being:- Phu Quoc Island, Danang, Khanh Hoa Province the home to Nha Trang city, Ha Long Bay in Quang Ninh Province, and Hoi An in Quang Nam Province ; under very strict conditions.  

What these conditions of entry are, and how they roll is what this Episode is focused on.

We discuss the background to Visas, quarantine, conditions of stay, and travel Insurance. All relevant to visiting these locations.

Miquel, a Catalan citizen, originally from 100 km north of Barcelona resides in Ho Chi Minh City. His knowledge of Vietnam during his 22 years of living and working here is wide, and as much as possible, is always linked to sustainability, tourism training and development of the hospitality industry. He is highly regarded in the circle of government and I think it is with good fortune I was able to have him on the show willing to help us understand the protocols of the opening.

Please stay tuned for Episode 2 in this series as Miquel and I continue to unwrap the travel landscape of Vietnam and guide travellers to their best stay in the country.

Disclaimer: Please note this podcast is not to be taken in any way as a formal news release or announcement from the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Vietnam. The information shared in this Podcast by the Guest and Host, are related to publicly released documents and are the private opinions of both people.

You may reach out to Miquel Directly through his Linkedin profile here

WHATABOUTVIETNAM - check out more podcasts to help you trip plan

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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When we think about noodles, we probably don’t pay too much attention to their origin. For most of us, they have usually come out of a box, all cut exactly to the same length and shape.

In Vietnam you will experience many dishes including the quintessential favourite, Pho, that includes noodles. However in Vietnam not all noodles are the same, and they don’t come out of a box. They are made fresh. And this is where the history of noodles and the traditional way of making noodles becomes our feature story. 

Noodles are still made as they were hundreds of years ago and while you go about enjoying new and flavoursome dishes in Vietnam, this episode will give you some of the takeaway background to the noodle dishes you are trying. In the best fun way possible.

Neal Bermas is my guest and is the founder and Board chairperson of an innovative and sustainable social enterprise that provides hospitality training programs for street kids, orphans and disadvantaged youth in Vietnam, called STREETS International. 
An integral part of the program is a restaurant in Hoi An  called “Oodles of Noodles”.

Through this restaurant the STREETS international team have trained over 300 students and with this training Neal has become a leader in the development of the restaurant. Over the course of a decade Neal has taken it upon himself to learn as much as he can about the Vietnamese traditions of food making and in particular the nuances of noodle making. So he comes to the program with a wealth of knowledge and is a brilliant guest.

You may be interested to know In 2018, Neal Bermas was inducted as an Honorary Member in Vietnam to La Chaîne des Rôtisseurs the world’s oldest and most prestigious gastronomic association (founded in 1248 by King Louis IX of France). Amongst other prestigious awards; in 2015, and again in 2018, STREETS was recognized by Hyatt Hotels with a Global Community Grant Award. In 2017, Bermas received a Leadership Award from Consular Affairs of the US Department of State. In 2018, and  he was honored to be selected as CNN Hero of the Year. 

This has been a particularly  trying time for the organisation as due to Covid it has had to suspend operations so donations are welcome and purchases of the STREETS book will be most appreciated. Details below:-

Streets link: www.streetsinternational.org

Here's donation link: www.streetsinternational.org/donate

STREETS Cookbook (www.amazon.com/STREETS-3rd-Cookbook-International/dp/6047779395)

NOTE: In response to the pandemic crisis in Vietnam, government travel restrictions, the absence of domestic and international travelers, and to protect everyone’s health, STREETS suspended all guest service operations in July 2021, with plans to re-open in 2022.

WHATABOUTVIETNAM - check out more podcasts to help you trip plan
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Have you ever wondered what it would be like to live in a foreign country? Especially a country as beautiful as Vietnam. 
Have you ever visited a place, and thought,  I wish we could go back and live there.
With everything going on in the world over the past couple of years, I think many of us are asking ourselves big life questions, like  - "Is this as good as it gets?", "Retirement doesn't look that much fun at home, but it may look a lot more exciting somewhere - like Vietnam?

Maybe you just want to mix things up and live in a place part of the year, and come back home for the other part. A lot of people do that in Vietnam.

Meg Le, her last name in Vietnamese is pronounced "Lay" as she is married to a Vietnamese, is my guest in this "insider tips" episode. Meg shares with us what it's like to be 40 something and give up a corporate lifestyle in Seattle to go travelling the world. She details for us the journey she and her husband took in 2 years of traveling, and how a series of events led them to move to Hoi An, Vietnam.

Meg and I take a deep dive into what the process is of setting yourself up as a resident, and what the pros and cons are of going from a tourist to becoming a resident. Including some fun stories along the way.  
If you have ever considered this as an option and are looking for some real honest-to-goodness advice this is definitely the episode for you.

A little bit about Meg.  
Meg Le has been in a corporate working environment for most of her adult life working as a business consultant and FTE consultant for some big-names, like - WHO in Geneva on a vaccine database, in Myanmar with the Department of Health, Global Good with Bill Gates, and Starbucks to name a few.
She definitely has a wellness bent, as she did teacher training in Yoga in India and now prefers to coach in Pilates and yoga coach (Flow with Meg).
Having really settled now into Hoi An after nearly 18 months, during the middle of Covid, Meg is ready for her next entrepreneurial adventure and will soon join a VC start-up accelerator program, where she will explore ways to leverage her technology, business, and wellness coaching background to build a new business. She is going to be a busy girl in the days to come as she continues to support her husband’s restaurant (Veranda Food and Drink in An Bang). This is where the humble bagel will lead them.

Connect with Meg:

LinkedIn | Management Consultant

Flow with Meg | Pilates & Yoga Coach

Journey into Travel | Personal Travel Blog

Veranda Food and Drink | Hoi An’s First Gastrogarden

WHATABOUTVIETNAM - check out more podcasts to help you trip plan
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In todays' world of media there are so many news broadcasters competing for your attention, it’s hard to know which one to trust.
With the advent of Covid’s most devastating outbreak in Vietnam and in particular Saigon happening in 2021, getting local insights in English has been challenging. Albeit, when many other countries around the world are opening up, it's been hard to comprehend, let alone fully appreciate the ferocity of the Delta variant as it forced Saigon into one of the strongest city lockdowns of the last 20 years.
Michael Tatarski is my guest and in his role as Editor-in-Chief of Saigoneer, the Vietnamese culture and history website, and author of the Vietnam Weekly newsletter is  well respected for his local knowledge and reporting in Vietnam and most particularly Saigon.

I catch up with Michael just as the October 2021 ease in lockdowns is about to happen.

In this episode he talks about what it’s been like during the lockdown from July to October 1st, 2021 and what aspirations and advice he has on travel coming out of the lockdown, both domestically and internationally.

It's great having Michael come on the show to give everyone the insights into the behind the news stories of Saigon during this devastating time of hardship.
Read his latest report of the week commencing 1/10/21 - "The Lockdown is lifted".

I see this as a historic recording.  You may wish to listen to this again before you visit, so you can marvel at the city's resilience and determination. I expect a lot of changes and hopefully most for the good.

Saigon is a truly vibrant and energetic city bursting with heritage that sits alongside creative eateries, secret alleys, coffee houses, river cruising, artisan shopping and roof top bars, that many a news crew were known to drink at in years gone by.
When you go to visit Saigon, you may wish to listen to previous episodes talking about the Saigon Nightlife, and  Best Districts to visit as great guides to maximise your time there.

You can follow Michael here through his social links and sign up for his very up to the minute newsletter.
https://twitter.com/miketatarski
https://vietnamweekly.substack.com/welcome

WHATABOUTVIETNAM - check out more podcasts to help you trip plan
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Thousands of downloads across these TOP 5 Episodes reminds me why I started the What About Vietnam travel podcast series.  It affirms to me you want to hear from real travellers, locals on the ground and ex-pats who can share their experiences in a way you can’t find anywhere else. 
So today you are going to hear some clips from the TOP 5 most popular episodes for 2021.

1.     S1-1 – Vietnam trip Planning
2.     S2- 9 – Phong Nha Caves and the largest Cave on the planet
3.     S2 –7 – Hoi An Top 10 things to do
4.     S2 –1 - Hoi An– Taking a step back in time
5.     S2-2 – Shopping Vietnam – sustainable, ethical and designer

In my very first episode, S1-1, I talk about food,  the people; what's in store for history buffs,  adventure seekers, and luxury travellers. It is THE most popular episode in the series thus far.  Let’s revisit some of my favourite dishes and the story behind the little red chairs.

In the second highlight reel, Ben Mitchell talks to us in S2-9 about the Phong Nha Caves and how he has figured there are 3 categories and depending on your fitness level and if you want to extend your stay to include other things in the area, you could do all 3 types in a visit. 

Next, we head to Hoi An where Sharon Sweeney in S2-7 has a great way of painting a town “buttercup yellow. As it is well known for. Sharon shares her love of Hoi An with great passion as she offers up her top 10 things to do. 

Hoi An is always a favourite for anyone who has visited Vietnam. In this reel we get some well guided insights into the history of Hoi An with my guest Paul Simpson in S2-1

Lastly, you cannot leave this show or Vietnam without some shopping. From souvenir shops to designer to ethical, my guest Judith Treanor in Episode 2-2 is our tour leader as she really knows her shopping in Vietnam.

WHATABOUTVIETNAM

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Find this podcast on all your favourite Podcast channels.

Hanoi, where the old and the new live side by side.  A city rich in history and culture and yet bursting at the seams to change. A city where tourists prefer to seek out the rich tapestry of traditions, amongst the buzz of ordinary street life, in all its craziness.  

Whether you decide to walk the streets or ride a bike to get around it, there are some great tips you should listen for,  when you visit. There is so much to discover, the variety will astound and delight you. From train street to the flower markets we cover it all in this episode.

My guest, Lavonne Bosman, decided to visit Vietnam for the purpose of capturing what she calls “disappearing worlds”. While she is caught in Hanoi during Covid 2021, she continues her search for those defining memories of ordinary people, carrying out their daily lives. 

Lavonne landed in Hanoi in 2019 and while teaching English since her arrival she has been expanding her portfolio with the street culture of the city.  She shares  some of those fun experiences on the show.
 
She has an exceptional portfolio of work which you can access through the links below and a photo postcard booklet, which is simply divine, and can be purchased here -  [email protected] or via Facebook:. https://www.facebook.com/LavonneBosmanPhotoArt

If you would like to support Lavonne in her quest to continue photographing the city of Hanoi: https://www.patreon.com/Photoartstories

Lavonne's website: www.lavonne.co.za
Lavonnes Youtube channel:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HyDVreg_HkU
Lavonnes Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lavonnebosman/

WHATABOUTVIETNAM
Trip planning can start anytime - check out the new website for all your trip questions answered.

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.

Sign up for the WAV newsletter -  https://www.whataboutvietnam.com/newsletter

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If you are a foodie and looking for something adventurous in Vietnam; Something fun! 
( I mean hysterical) and a bit out there! My guest Fleur Sharpe has the goods!

Let’s just say, the menu for lunch in Hanoi took a turn for the wild side when Fleur and her husband decided after checking the reviews, that eating at a snake restaurant in Hanoi, could be fun!! 

With a bottle of French Champagne under their arm, off they went in the middle of summer to the Hung Restaurant in Hanoi. Fleur wasn't going to go cheap and nasty???, she chose the top shelf on the menu, so let's hear what a Cobra tastes like!

I really hope you find this adventure as funny and side splitting as I did.

Fleur is no stranger to food as she runs her own cooking lessons online using the Thermomix. In fact she is sort of the Queen of the Thermomix as she has been championing her craft and recipes using the Thermomix for many years. This was her first visit to Vietnam, so she said she was going to try and do as much as she could in the time they had.

So, while she says she was nervous, with everything she knows about food, she said she thought ......” what’s the worst that could happen?”...I’m on holidays...here goes!

You may ask yourself, what a crazy thing to do? But when you are on holidays, you can be known to do things you ordinarily wouldn’t. I personally have a phobia about reptiles, so there is no chance you would get me there. However, the story had to be told and I think you are going to love it. And guess what...they are both still around to tell the tale and have a laugh about it. 

Open your mind to new things and get a real belly laugh from this episode.

Fleurs cooking courses are available online here :
https://cooklivelove.thinkific.com/collections

WHATABOUTVIETNAM

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.

Sign up for the WAV newsletter - 5 gold nuggets about Vietnam in a 5 minute read - https://www.whataboutvietnam.com/newsletter

For an easy way to search a subject or destination you are interested in, check out the NEW website now UP here : www.whataboutvietnam.com

For Transcripts to download or printable format - go to https://www.whataboutvietnam.com/podcast-transcripts

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Travel in Vietnam opens our eyes to many different kinds of experiences.
Whether it’s exploring the mountainous areas of Vietnam visiting minority groups and staying in homestays;  shopping in one of the big cities, or simply just visiting one kind of restaurant over another; all leave a lasting footprint on us, the people we meet and the environment we touch.

In today's episode, we are going to be talking about responsible tourism, impactful tourism, and social enterprise in Vietnam.

To open our eyes and our hearts to social enterprise there is no one better equipped to do so, than my guest today Jimmy Pham.

Jimmy Pham’s name is synonymous with social enterprise In Vietnam. As the founder of the KOTO organisation, Know One, Teach One, 23 years ago.  Jimmy will tell us how one trip back to Vietnam changed his life.

As a Vietnamese Australian, Jimmy will share with us how social enterprise businesses are influencing change, and breaking the poverty cycle of millions in Vietnam.

Jimmy has earned many prestigious awards for his work with youth and communities including being awarded the Order of Australia back in 2013,  as well as one of  South Korea’s most coveted awards for philanthropy, the POSTCO TJ Park prize  in 2017.

He is one of the top motivational speakers at Saxtons Speakers Bureau, and he is Vice President of  Auscham Vietnam.

 As a great influencer, he talks to us about ways in which we can leave “footprints in people’s hearts” and that by looking for those win-win scenarios we are impacting the future in a positive way.

I feel sure you are going to learn a lot about the ways we impact a country as a traveler, and that WE CAN BE PART OF “that positive change” when we visit Vietnam.

You can find out more about KOTO  here - https://www.koto.com.au/
During Covid KOTO is struggling to keep their students housed and their education continued so if you wish you can - Donate a brick - https://www.koto.com.au/be-a-dream-builder
Please support Koto and give us a review of this episode. We would love to hear from you.
LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/knowoneteachone/
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/know.one.teach.one/
Instagramm - https://www.instagram.com/koto.vietnam/

WHATABOUTVIETNAM

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.

Sign up for the WAV newsletter - 5 gold nuggets about Vietnam in a 5 minute read - https://www.whataboutvietnam.com/newsletter

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For Transcripts to download or printable format - go to https://www.whataboutvietnam.com/podcast-transcripts

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Diving in Vietnam is NOT something you would traditionally think about doing on a holiday there. But alas, that is exactly why we are featuring diving and watersports in this Podcast Series.

Where are the best dive sites?
Is it safe?
How much does it cost?
What can I expect to see in regards to fish and coral?
Best times of the year to visit?
Are there Padi qualified instructors in Vietnam?

It's a super jam-packed episode you will love, full of lots of handy information to help you plan your trip.

Jeremy Stein is my guest and a pro-PADI diving instructor of some notoriety in Vietnam. Originally from the UK, you could say he pioneered diving as a professional sport in the country when he arrived about 25 years ago. As a holidaymaker on a 2-week vacation, he landed in Nha Trang looking for some diving. 

Back then there were no official dive centres, however, he was taken aback when he found some amazing diving there. The rest is history. Over the ensuing years, Jeremy went on to set up the 1st PADI Dive centre in Nha Trang and later on; Whale Island, Con Dao, Phu Quoc, and Hoi An. All stunning locations in their own right offering pristine beaches and a very relaxed holiday vibe. Whether you are just diving for fun or never considered diving before, there is something for everyone in Vietnam.

As the Director of Rainbow Divers he continues to fly the flag for diving in Vietnam around the world.  In this episode, Jeremy offers up his best advice on locations, what marine life and coral you can expect to see, and what PADI diving courses are available. 

In his words “we are not promoting Vietnam as the new Sipidan, or the Great Barrier Reef. But rather a country with a fascinating history, and some pretty cool diving. We don’t have the big Pelagics possibly due to the overactive fisherman in the region, but you will see beautiful Coral Reefs and stunning macro-marine life which inhabit the reefs. Nudibranch lovers will feel at home here! As will marine photographers”.

So join us in this episode as we explore underwater adventure holidays in Vietnam.

 If you are seeking a good down to earth approach to the best diving locations and PADI instruction courses best for you. Jeremy and his team can certainly deliver. 

Rainbow Divers-Vietnam FB page - https://www.facebook.com/rainbowdiversvietnam

Website - www.divevietnam.com

Skype: Jeremy.in.vietnam

LinkedIN - https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeremy-stein-2a173624/
PLEASE NOTE – this is not a paid advertisement for Rainbow Divers

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.

Sign up for the WAV newsletter - 5 gold nuggets about Vietnam in a 5 minute read - https://www.whataboutvietnam.com/newsletter

For an easy way to search a subject or destination you are interested in, check out the NEW website now UP here : www.whataboutvietnam.com

For Transcripts to download or printable format - go to https://www.whataboutvietnam.com/podcast-transcripts

Please follow me at Instagram; https://www.instagram.com/whataboutvietnampodcast/
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