Cruise Control: Asia’s Spectacular River Expeditions

One of the surest ways to stimulate your appetite for the increasing-popular activity of cruising is to try a small vessel, according to a recent feature in Travel + Leisure magazine.

I just so happen to agree. I love exploration by boat. And not the deep-sea kind, either. River expeditions in particular. Trips that bring you close to daily life along rivers such as the Irrawaddy or Mekong from the quiet comfort of a cozy cabin. Or from the sundeck of a replica paddle-wheeler, as a tropical breeze blows soft against your face.


Got two weeks’ vacation? Have a look at the Irrawaddy-to-Inle experience in Myanmar. The trip includes five nights aboard the RV Pandaw, whose staterooms are 170 square feet in size and beautifully finished in teak and brass. A featured pitstop is Ava, the capital of Burma for almost 500 years, beginning in 1364.

For a shorter -- but no less magnificent -- adventure, take to the water from Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City) to the Mekong Delta, a vast network of distributaries dubbed “a biological treasure trove” by World Wildlife Fund.

Meet ‘Uncle Nam’, a Cu Chi Expert

Thousands of tourists come to the tunnels of Cu Chi every day, an immense maze of underground passageways just outside of Ho Chi Minh City.

The 75 mile-long complex of tunnels is where thousands of Vietnamese soldiers supporting the north hid out during the Vietnam War. Even though the tubes have been expanded to accommodate visitors, they are still extremely claustrophobic — just wide and tall enough to walk through stooped over. They are dark. And ventilation in them is poor.

To experience the tunnels, visitors need not get down and dirty or be ready to overcome fears. Knowledgeable guides are there to tell stories and answer questions about what happened in various ‘rooms’ underfoot.

One such guide is affectionately named Uncle Nam, who was born in the district of Cu Chi and lived in the tunnels as a soldier and vegetable grower from 1963-‘75.

For twelve years, he called the subterranean labyrinth home. He even met his wife and became a father down there.

He discovered how many friends he had when he was injured by a U.S. bomb; his comrades gave him the best seat in the house — “near the vent, where there was much more air to breathe,” he recalls.

The 66-year-old nowadays pulls energy from visitors to the tunnels. The visitors hope to learn more about Vietnamese culture. Leading tours keeps Uncle Nam active and bolsters his self-worth.

“I am proud of where I come from,” he says. “It makes me happy to be able to contribute to my hometown.”

I recommend visiting Cu Chi. To get the best glimpse of this fascinating underground network, let Uncle Nam lead the way, for a truly insightful view.

Savvy Laos travel professional embraces Vang Vieng and Vientiane

View of Vang Vieng, Laos

There’s reason why Nouane Vorachak – someone who spent most of her life in France - understands Laos like the back of her hand.

“I was born to Laotian parents, so I grew up hearing the language and listening to stories of the culture,” says Nouane, now a Laos tour specialist. Six years ago she moved to Laos and says it was one of her best decisions ever.

“I now get to introduce my beautiful country to travelers and to organize the perfect trip as my way of making dreams come true,” she will say.

Nouane has experienced some surreal moments in her home country. Watching the sun set on the river in Vang Vieng after a long day of kayaking is her most memorable one.

But one of these days, she’d like to tour Indonesia by boat.

“I think it’d be amazing to cruise the majestic waters of the Malay archipelago,” Nouane says. “It’s the largest group of islands in the world and I know it would be beautiful to see.”

Until she is able to check that journey off the list, Nouane says she is content to explore more of Laos and attract others to the very best of what this beautiful nation has to offer.

“I always try to make the floating restaurant in Tha Ngone near Vientiane part of the itinerary,” Nouane says. “There’s no better way to enjoy lunch than on a big raft cruising up the river.”

Besides Vientiane, there are other stunning destinations to explore in Laos, such as Luang Prabang, widely considered the country’s spiritual capital.

Why Asia’s Food Scene Rules

Think back to a recent vacation you took and chances are your memories involve something you tasted. They say food is the spice of life, and it's easy to know why. We all eat, and when we travel, the experience of dining is amplified. I see and try things you may not normally. And for that reason alone, an impression is left.

In Asia, the stamp can be huge. For many, it's the place to go on a culinary adventure. Countries like Vietnam, Thailand and Japan are renowned for their cuisine. And in most cases, the best spots don't cost an arm and a leg. They're family-run joints that have been around for eons. Or street vendors. Or institutions that simply take pride in doing one dish extremely well.

Take Tokyo, for example. Some of the best haunts are izakayas, popular for their made-to-share dishes. I recommend trying Gonpachi, rumored to have inspired a scene in the movie Kill Bill.

In Bangkok, I love Soi Polo, which has been serving up some of the best grub in Thailand's capital for more than 40 years.

Sweets sold in a local Vietnamese market

As one might expect, it's a little off the beaten track — down a lane that leads to the exclusive, members-only Royal Bangkok Polo Club, to be exact. The restaurant does a lot of items well, but you can't leave without trying its signature dish: the fried chicken. It's legendary, thanks in part to a New York Times article.

In Hanoi, you can't go wrong at Pho Lam Nam Ngu, where Mrs. Huong doled out her first bowl of out-of-this-world pho ga (traditional Vietnamese chicken noodle soup) in the 1950s. The shop is now run by her two daughters, who swear by the virtues of northern pho, which has a distinctly different taste to the pho made in the south.

And in Phnom Penh, head down Street 136 and look for the guy in the vest and tie selling papaya salad. Or just listen for him. Mao Bora has made singing to customers part of his program, and even recently released his first single — perhaps the first street vendor to do so!

Hailing Obscure Bay, BBQ Haunt with Vietnam Specialist

Cruising on Halong Bay, Vietnam

There is no hesitation for Tran Minh Trung if you ask him what his most amazing travel experience has been so far.

“Kayaking in Bai Thu Long Bay, which is just north of the more popular Halong Bay,” says the Vietnamese tour specialist. “Residents of the area’s floating villages welcome visits from kayakers, and we were invited into the home of a fishing family. The bay itself was so breathtakingly beautiful, I never wanted to leave.”

Trung like all Vietnamese goes by his last name, which is actually his first.

Trung’s passion for paddling is new, but his affection for travel can be traced to his university days, when the Ho Chi Minh City native developed an interest in assisting visitors to Vietnam’s commercial capital.

He has since traveled around the world to discover “how tourism can connect people and make life more beautiful,” he says.

Despite all that he has seen so far, Trung still has a lot on his bucket list, including the most amazing trekking destinations in Vietnam.

“I would definitely love to climb Mount Fansipan, in Vietnam’s north,” Trung says. “At more than 10,000 feet above sea level, it’s Indochina’s highest peak. I think going all the way to the top would be incredible.”

Until then, Trung aims to provide travellers with highs that come with experiencing Vietnam on a level most tourists never see it from. It’s his home, and he knows it well, especially Saigon.

“Even to those who have grown up in Ho Chi Minh, like myself, it’s an endlessly fun and fascinating city,” Trung says. “And of course the food is phenomenal. I especially like BBQ Garden Restaurant. It’s a great place to mingle with the local Saigonese people.”

My 5 Asian Beaches For Your Bucket List

If you’re like me, you’ve probably thought to yourself at one point or another: You can’t look anywhere on the Internet these days without stumbling upon a ‘Top 10’ list or a ‘Top 5’ rundown. Rankings are all the rage, no matter the topic.

Just a couple weeks ago, Reuters called out Cheapflights.com’s Top 10 Sunrise Destinations. Also this month, Conde Nast Traveler posted a story on 8 Great Family Vacations.

I’m not opposed to this trend. After all, most lists are easy to digest and fun to read. And so, at the risk of sounding like followers, I’ve come up with 5 Must-Visit Beach Destinations in Southeast Asia …

Tropical paradise beach of Ishigaki, Okinawa, Japan

1. Ishigaki. As this photo (pictured) makes clear, you won’t find many coastlines as stunning — or as well-suited for honeymooners — as the one that surrounds this reef-ringed island in southern Japan.

2. Con Dao. It’s not the most well-known beach destination in Vietnam. But it soon could be — especially now that Brangelina has vacationed here. I like the power couple’s taste. Not only is the island pristine, it’s gateway to a marine sanctuary of the highest order.

3. Song Saa. This secluded island, just off the coast of mainland Cambodia in Sihanoukville, translates to “The Sweethearts.” Given the romantic allure of its unspoiled white-sand beach and ultra-chic eco-resort, the name is fitting.

4. Koh Kood. The easternmost island in Thailand, this remote retreat has been described by The Guardian as “a fine place to do nothing.” I somewhat disagree. The speedboat ride to get there has to count for something, doesn’t it?

5. Koh Panak. Travel 20 kilometres by speedboat from Phuket and behold: a tiny island in Thailand’s Phang Nga Bay with a beach I think makes for the perfect campsite.

Consider Cambodia by Bicycle

Phan Sophea

Say 'Cambodia' and most people nowadays instinctively think of Angkor Wat, an awe-inspiring collection of ancient temples in Siem Reap that draws millions of tourists every year.

But there's more to this tranquil country than its famous ruins of a lost civilization, says Phan Sophea - a Cambodia-based travel specialist.

“Angkor Wat is amazing, but if you want to experience the real Cambodia, there’s no better way than to cycle from Phnom Penh to Udong, which is also steeped in history,” he says. “In fact, it was home to a succession of kings for more than 200 years, starting in the early 1600s.

“The trip to Udong offers a great look into the culture and local way of life. And along the way, you can try fishing at beautiful Ta Mok Lake.”

If anyone would know it's Sophea, who's passion for biking is rivaled only by his love for Cambodia. In fact, he still rates cycling around Koh Trong Island, in northeast Cambodia, as his all-time favorite adventure.

“Planting a tree at the local wat was an unforgettable experience for me,” he recalls.

As for why Sophea enjoys travel so much, the answer might surprise you.

Ta Prohm, Siem Reap, Cambodia

“All credit goes to rugby,” he says. “The sport has allowed me to travel and meet people from all over the world. In turn, it created a desire in me to experience the ‘real world.’ I work in the travel industry now because I want to make the world a less foreign place and help people experience the beautiful country of Cambodia.”

But of course, exposing globetrotters to one of Southeast Asia's most historic and bucolic destinations is not the road warrior's only goal in life.

“My dream is to do the triathlon event in Kampot, on Cambodia's coast,” Sophea says. “My mission is to be an ‘iron man’ one day.”

Tour to exploring Cambodia by bike, including Angkor Wat.