Paul Mulligan

Before going to Bolivia, I thought that the salt flats were just one giant photo stop that you turn up to, take a few perspective shots, and move on. However, the reality is very different. A three-day salt desert tour from Uyuni takes you across some of the most extreme landscapes I’ve ever seen. However, … Read more

The Vietnamese Zodiac plays a quiet but important role in everyday life in Vietnam. You’ll hear it mentioned particularly during Lunar New Year, in conversations about personality, marriage compatibility, business timing, and even baby names. While it’s closely related to the Chinese Zodiac, Vietnam’s version has its own logic, symbolism, and cultural adaptations that reflect … Read more

Christmas in Saigon feels very different from what you might be used to in the West, and that contrast is what makes it interesting to observe. In this article, I will share what the city feels like during the holiday season, from the early build-up of decorations to walking around central areas at night, look … Read more

In a city as chaotic as Saigon, the word “oasis” is often used loosely by marketers. However, Oasis Cafe, tucked away in the bustling Go Vap District, manages to live up to its namesake. While Saigon is famous for its “Koi cafes,” where you sip coffee while giant carp circle all around you, Oasis Cafe … Read more

Hai Van Pass (Đèo Hải Vân) is one of Vietnam’s most famous mountain roads, being a twisting coastal climb that links the city of Da Nang with Hue. The name is often translated as “ocean cloud pass” because mist regularly rolls in from the sea and can reduce visibility along the ridge. The pass is … Read more

Phu Quoc Island is often described as Vietnam’s tropical escape, but what’s surprising is how varied the experience can be. From taking a cable car above its beautiful turquoise waters, to stumbling across quiet beaches in the south, Phu Quoc can feel like more than a single destination, stitched together from several small experiences. While … Read more

For a long time, the Bitexco Financial Tower was the undisputed face of modern Saigon. Even though it has since been surpassed in height by Landmark 81, Bitexco remains the most architecturally significant building in the city. Designed by Carlos Zapata and inspired by the national flower, the lotus bud, it is a landmark that … Read more

If you’re an animal, flower, and cute photo spot lover, then there’s one place that keeps popping up everywhere — Nông Trại Cún Puppy Farm. But is it actually worth visiting, or is it just another overhyped tourist attraction? Let’s take a proper look at what Puppy Farm Đà Lạt is really like, what you … Read more

September 23rd Park is one of the most central green spaces in Ho Chi Minh City, yet it’s often overlooked by visitors who pass straight through the backpacker area. In this guide, I will share what it’s really like to spend time here – from morning walks and shaded benches to the small pond tucked … Read more

For nearly two decades, the blue-and-white barricades of the Ho Chi Minh City Metro became a part of the city’s skyline just as much as the Bitexco Tower. To the nine million residents of Saigon, the metro was a “ghost project,” only being a promise of modernity that seemed perpetually stuck in the next calendar … Read more

Saigon is a city of “concepts” with a fierce competition vying over the city’s attention. Koi cafes, animal cafes, budget cafes, R.C. cafes, there is something for everyone. However, in the suburban stretch of Thu Duc District, Noong Oi Cafe has carved out a niche that is as polarising as it is beautiful. It isn’t … Read more