VietExplorer

Your browser does not support the audio element. As expats living in Vietnam, we learn to roll with the punches, tactfully field tricky questions from locals, and smile at little kids who touch us then run away at breakneck speed giggling their heads off. Part of the package is that eerie feeling we’re being observed, but, what the hell, it’s better to be the focus of attention than ignored. When the extra attention grates on our nerves, we can pull a few tricks here and there in an effort to be less conspicuous. And that’s where the ‘mystery bag’ comes in. Most plastic bags we acquire when shopping are either clear or mostly translucent, thus affording a pretty clear view of what’s inside.  Everyone walks around with them, but over time I noticed that while locals never gawked at the bags of other Vietnamese people, many were absolutely fascinated by what’s in mine. Many Vietnamese people have not traveled abroad, or if they have it’s mostly been around Asia, so naturally th...

In late autumn and early winter, the grassy area on the top of Phoenix hill (also known as Ba Floor mountain, belonging to 12 Khe village, Bac Son ward, Uong Bi city, Quang Ninh province) turns bright yellow and is adorned with green pine trees, creating a poetic scene that attracts countless tourists In the spring and summer (around March to August), Phoenix Hill stands out with fresh green grass, full of vitality, from October to November next year, this place “puts on itself a burnt yellow mantle,” making the hill stand out from the gorgeous Quang Ninh countryside. The poetic scene of Phoenix Hill. Photo: Congthuong.vn With each season, Phuong Hoang hill has its own beauty. It attracts the most visitors in the fall and winter when the grasslands turn a burnt yellow highlighting the green pine trees. These elements create a scene as beautiful as the wild grasslands in Africa that visitors can only see through movies. This hill has an altitude of nearly 500m. Visitors ...