Southeast asia backpacker

HCMC has jumped three places from last year to 6th while Hanoi has slipped one place to 8th in the Cost of Living Index 2019 formulated by Numbeo, the world’s largest database of user contributed data about cities and countries worldwide. The company says that its survey has taken into account several factors including house rents, cost of eating out, and purchasing power needed to live a comfortable life to come with a cost of living index for 20 major cities in Southeast Asia. In this year’s index, HCMC scored 38.39 points, slightly lower than Hanoi (38.93), meaning that the cost of living in Saigon is a little less than in the capital city. Davao in the Philippines was the lowest-cost city in the region, followed by Indonesia’s Bandung. The top five most expensive cities in Southeast Asia are Singapore, Bangkok (Thailand), Yangon (Myanmar), Phuket (Thailand) and Phnom Penh (Cambodia). Price of Travel, a travel cost database, in 2017 ranked Saigon the world’s … [Read more...] about Saigon, Hanoi among top 10 affordable cities in Southeast Asia

As a city that celebrated its millennial anniversary in 2010, the capital of Vietnam has attractions aplenty to meet varied interests of travelers, be it history, culture or cuisine. When all this can be accessed with a great degree of affordability, Hanoi’s attractions are further magnified. In choosing Hanoi as one of seven best backpacking destinations in Asia, the Hello! magazine says: “Not only is accommodation and food remarkably affordable, but you’ll be spoiled for choice of things to see and do in the city, which has a mix of Southeast Asian, Chinese and French influences.” Apart from the many popular places like the Sword Lake and the Hoa Lo Prison Museum, the magazine highlights a special attraction – bia hoi. It notes that “backpackers often spend their evenings gathered at bia hoi bars across Hanoi, where you’ll find the cheapest beer in the world at around 25p a glass.” Six other Asian cities on the list are Singapore, Luang … [Read more...] about Hanoi high up on Asian backpacking list

The popularity of Hoi An, which has been a top tourist destination in Vietnam for decades now, continues go grow. It’s latest accolade and landmark achievement is making it to second place on the list of 10 safest and most exciting places on this earth for solo travelers compiled by travel editors at Momondo, a U.K. based travel site. The travel search site finds and compares the best offers on flights, hotels, car hire and package holidays for travelers. Unlike Ho Chi Minh and Hanoi, the two biggest cities in Vietnam that are flooded with waves of noisy vehicles and modern skyscrapers, Hoi An casts a spell over backpackers for its tranquility and slow pace of life, the site said. “Motorbikes are banned in the town center, so take a stroll past the yellow houses with their old red-tiled roofs and admire the street-side cafes and picturesque historical homes lining canals and winding alleyways,” the site gushes. It’s best to cycle to the pristine beach An Bang, … [Read more...] about Vietnam’s Hoi An a top draw for solo travel

Respected travel site Rough Guides just released a list of eight best night experiences in Southeast Asia, and Ho Chi Minh City is named THE place to delve into bars and clubs. “When the sun goes down, the bustling energy of southern Vietnam's megalopolis transfers to its many clubs and bars,” Rough Guides says. If you’re thirsty for a chic experience of Saigon’s nightlife, put on your best dress or suit and head to the rooftop Chill Sky Bar in District 1, one of the city’s most popular and fancy spots. It stays open from 5:30 p.m. till small hours the next morning, offering a dusk till dawn-ish view of the city, fabulous cocktails and a small but exciting music scene to check out. The U.K travel site also named Saigon Acoustic Bar in District 3 as a great rendezvous for a night out with pop-rock cover bands, while Carmen Bar in District 1 offers an odd selection of Spanish flamenco played by skilled Vietnamese musicians. For a casual good time, the … [Read more...] about Saigon has one of the best nightlife in Southeast Asia: Rough Guides