Tung had buck teeth and a smile that played about her eyes. She wore huge hoop earrings and indigo embroidered clothes that marked her out as a member of one of Vietnam’s highland minority groups, the Black Hmong. It’s hard to…
Vietnam
Our hosts poured us all another tipple of rice wine, prompted us to hold our shot glasses high in the air, and counted down to take the shot. The wine slipped down my throat, burning my insides along the…
Throughout Asia, I harboured dreams of whipping through the countryside on a motorbike. It’s the quintessential Asian adventure, right? The wind would lick at my hair and the breeze would cool me down. I’d scoot through out-of-the-way roads, waving…
No matter where you grow up, you’re always going to hear a slightly skewed version of historical events. As an Australian, I learned briefly in high school about the trauma Aussie soldiers – and their American allies – experienced…
Whether it’s huddled on tiny plastic stools cluttering a footpath, admiring a rooftop view over Hoàn Kiếm Lake, or strutting down a strobe-lit dance floor, Hanoi offers a night life to suit any taste. Hanoi’s nightly drinking venues are…
Karst hills rose spectacularly around us as our boat put-putted upriver. We passed grazing buffalo, playful, naked children, a church spire shrouded by dense foliage, and boxy pastel houses lining the river. Several tourist boats raced by, their hulls…