The Zen of Zoom

by Sissy Mallard I’m willing to admit it – I knew nothing about the history of Earth Day which started in my home country. It began in the US on April 22, 1970, organized by Sen. Gaylord Nelson to protest the industrial revolution and his actions resulted in a cleaner America-what a great legacy! The international Mother Earth Day, as it was dubbed by the UN in 1990, has over 1 billion participants today and the focus this year is on single-use plastic reduction. I hope everyone plans to participate in some way, big or small, not only on Sunday,…

by Gerard Claramunt It’s important to know that TET or the Lunar New Year is the most important holiday of the year in Vietnam. All people return to their hometowns for big celebrations with their families. One of the oldest traditions surrounding TET is a live Kumquat tree and every family must have one. In the northern part of the country, there is a new trend that allows more families to join in with this rich tradition-it’s a bonsai kumquat tree that is perfect for people who live in small apartments. I met a master gardener named Mr. Manh, he…

by Neil Fraser Rice plays such an essential part of Vietnamese cuisine, that we often hear this phrase: “ăn cơm chưa”. This literally means “have you had rice yet?”  however this is used to ask if you are hungry such is the importance of rice in the locals diet. Vietnam is consistently in the top 5 producers & exporters of rice in the world & this resilient crop is grown across Vietnam. In the south & the Mekong Delta, with the favourable weather conditions the growers can expect 3 crops annually. The number of annual crops decreases as we head…

by Sally Writes Consumers in Vietnam have become ever more savvy in recent years, wanting to know more about the food they eat in restaurants and the foods they buy from street sellers and markets. The same goes for vacationers, too. The number of farmer groups in Vietnam that grow safe and organic vegetables is growing steadily, as are the appetites of travelers who are hungry to explore the possibilities of Vietnamese cuisines as safely as possible.  Vietnamese urban consumers and travelers are becoming more monied, health savvy and internet aware. Their busier lives mean that they don't always have time…

by holydayfactors.com Have you already started preparing for your next holiday? If you have not decided the place till now, find it right here, in this article. Plan for your next trip to enchanting Cambodia and ensure you can enjoy every bit of it nothing but with sheer pleasure. It will be quite fascinating for you to know that planning for a trip to Cambodia is not that difficult as it seems to be. It is a small country and therefore, it is not that difficult to make a proper plan around it. The best part is despite being small…

By John Watson It's a small and simple story.  But it is something that happens almost everyday, and shows the true wonder of Cambodia, I think. Now, normally, we take our time and space here to share interesting historical facts, adventures, and some of the many other highlights of enjoying the Ride of Your Life on a Vespa. But this month I would like to tell you a small personal story. Don't worry! The second part of last month’s story will follow, but this one reminded me of why I love Cambodia, the Khmer people and living here for over…

By Gerard Claramunt Big statement, I know, but this delicious local dish has definitely the potential to be a signature dish in Hanoi in a near future. I’m backing my opinion for our food knowledge in Hanoi and the trendy that we are seeing here and, apparently, some media like CNN agrees on that as they featured Pho Cuon as one of the top dishes in Vietnam. In our Ha Noi After Dark tour, we bring our guests to a full of local people area. In there the whole street have restaurants that are selling the same thing: Pho Cuon.…

in collaboration with Dagiac Famed for its karst towers, sunken mountains, viridian hills and flowing rice terraces, Northern Vietnam is a place like no other. With many areas vastly unchanged by modern tourism, the northern country is a welcome escape from the bedlam of the more populous southern cities. Whether you are looking to escape to the countryside or explore the urban jungle, Northern Vietnam has plenty to offer. HANOI - SAPA - HA LONG - NINH BINH Beautiful pagodas are just one of the many things to appreciate in Hanoi The capital city of Vietnam is a fascinating place…

By Craig Bowman "What is this? What is that used for? Do people eat that? Why is it that color?" These are the many questions asked at the market stop during the Insider’s Phnom Penh adventure. If you are like me, from a western country, you’d probably asked those very same questions. Maybe some of them you asked yourself as you are trying to pretend you know some knowledge of this foreign city. After all, we all are human and eat generally the same types of food, right? Okay so maybe an American might eat more pork ribs than a…

By Summer & Kayli www.getbusyexploring.com June 29th, 2017  What a day exploring the world’s largest temple. Alas, our long awaited adventure around The Magical Angkor Wat had come. And what better way to transport us to each temple than on the back of Vespas. We started our day by meeting our group at the Independence Royal Gardens outside the same Spirit House we were at the night before. After our brief meet and greet and a quick banana snack to start our day off, we then jumped on the Vespas and made a pit stop at the ticket office to get our temple tickets and have…

Written by Gerard Claramunt Hanoi and surrounding have been developing in Red River Delta – the biggest river in the north of Vietnam plays an important role in the history of inhabiting and developing of the country. Most of the rivers connect with the Red River before going to the sea, it makes the Red River becomes the main waterway to bring products from mountain provinces to the plains areas and return. Vietnam used to be a poor agricultural country, and the Red River is the main water source for the cultivating. If you would like to experience the daily life…

By Sally Writes Two things that Vietnam has in great supply are Vespas and great coffee. In fact, there are now around 35 million Vespas on the streets of Vietnam. And when it comes to coffee, the country is the second largest coffee producer in the world. Both have become a huge part of the culture and economy here. There's nothing much better than taking a break during a ride and finding a local friendly café to enjoy a delicious coffee while watching the world go by. But have you thought about switching your coffee to cold brew? It’s become…

by Craig Bowman Cities going through a transition period, such as Phnom Penh, often are faced with dilemmas in regards to the changes in property and landscape. Going from a city with very few buildings above 5 stories to one with many city high rises and urban planning, Phnom Penh has had to make room for these many investments. One such case happened to Boeung Kak Lake. It was originally the site of Phnom Penh’s largest and most beautiful lake. Estimates say the population around or near the lake is about 4,250 families, or 20,000 residents living on stilted houses…

by Craig Bowman Our tour guide just told us we are headed to our last stop of the night. We have been to several places and according to my watch, it is near the end of the tour, but it just seems time has gone by so quick. Our last stop already? Our group gets on our Vespa’s and leave Independence Monument after a brief history lesson and picture opt. We cruise for a quick bit and stop on the side of the street. At this time, although it is a big sized street, it is rather dead and a…

By Summer & Kayli www.getbusyexploring.com The restaurant we were at was one of the oldest Bun Cha in the country and in Hanoi. Bun Cha is one of the most famous dishes in Vietnam and we got to eat it in one of oldest locations. This restaurant opened up back in 1966 with just the first floor serving people. They now own all 5 stories and are constantly bustling with happy customers. And we now know why! The food was amazing! We jumped off our Vespas into a crowded restaurant and climbed 3 stories to our reserved table amongst some…

It's no secret that the motor scooter rules as the king of the road in Cambodia and Vietnam. These two wheeled road warriors display utter fearlessness at intersections and total mastery of the streets. Vespa Adventures offers a selection of tours that allows visitors the unique opportunity to participate in this choreographed chaos. Before your heart skips a beat, (that will come later), you sit behind competent drivers that take on the task of negotiating your way through the heart and soul of the city. This is the real deal, off the beaten path experience. Forget the touts of tourist…

by Cassidy Armbruster We headed out very early in the morning. After stopping for some traditional Vietnamese coffee, making our way to a local market and admiring the old Chinese architecture along the street, we took a small wooden boat across the Perfume River. Our drivers met us at the other side of the river with the Vespa’s, and took us on the most scenic and vibrant drive through tall mountains and green rice paddies. We eventually made it to a small village along the water, and wove through quiet streets with smiling kids climbing trees until we arrived at…

by Cassidy Armbruster 10 Must Try Dishes in Hue Hue, Vietnam is known for its cuisine, which is why I highly recommend you try a food tour if you have the time during your visit to Vietnam. The Flavours are rich, and the variety is plentiful. There are certainly well known must try Hue specialties like Bun Bo Hue and Banh Khoai, but Hue’s notable cuisine goes beyond these two dishes. I’ll introduce you to some dishes you can find at local spots throughout the city that you’ll have to try during your visit! 1) Ban Khoai My mouth waters…

by Cassidy Armbruster Imagine if one in four people in your country were murdered, and by your own people. That is what happened in Cambodia, and those are the words spoken through your headphones as you enter Choeung Ek, one of Cambodia’s largest Killing Fields. Choeung Ek has been transformed from an extermination camp into a silent, and peaceful memorial where one is led by an audio guide through the mass grave site. The information provided during the tour is extremely heavy, gruesome, and appalling, and even despite all of that, I recommend you visit. Following the tour of the Killing…

by Cassidy Armbruster 10,000 gold Buddha’s cover all four walls of the third floor from top to bottom, making the entire room shimmer.  Tuan and I entered the pagoda during a death anniversary ceremony, so we quietly wove through the group of men, women, and children praying in front of a shrine covered in candles and incense. Although Buddhists grieve when a friend or family member dies, there were no tears during the ceremony because death is seen as a part of life, and Buddhists believe in reincarnation. Death is thus merely a transition. The death anniversary ceremony is intended…