Continue Your Adventure - Travel Blog

    by Cassidy Armbruster You don’t want anything to get in the way of your exploring Hoi An, especially not the radiant sun and steaming hot temperatures. Here are a few delicious drinks that can make your day under the sun a little cooler: 1.) Sugar Cane Juice Passing a sugar cane stand on a hot sunny day in Hoi An is a frequent delight.  There’s even a stand outside of Cafe Zoom where a small cup is sold for just 5,000 Vietnamese dong. The refreshing afternoon drink is extracted from sugar cane stalk, and it surprisingly offers several…

  Hue is one of the most impressive places in Vietnam! Situated in the center of the country, it is flanked by mountains and centered around the beautiful Perfume River.  Full of rich history, incredible architecture and quite possibly the country’s best food, it is worth staying a few days to explore all that Hue has to offer! Here are our top 6 reasons to visit Hue. 1. The History The history of this area is fascinating. Walk through the Imperial City and imagine a day in the life of the King of Vietnam, see the remnants from centuries of…

by Cassidy Armbruster   Truthfully, they are laughing with me and at me.  Phi, my guide from the Hoi An tour, and I were making our way on a Vespa through the scenic countryside when we passed a group of women and children outside of their home poking a long bamboo stick with some sort of hook to pull at the mango stems so they would fall gracefully into the bed sheet. As we passed the group, Phi explained the process of mango picking, and without much though I said, “I want to try.” “You want to try?” Phi asked…

 by Cassidy Armbruster Vietnam’s countryside is filled with rice fields, and the cities with rice dishes.  Rice fuels people’s stomachs as well as the economy. Vietnam is the second largest exporter of rice in the entire world, and is the seventh biggest consumer of rice according to the International Rice Research Institute. On an average summer day, the sun is beaming and the temperature feels as though it's continuously rising, making conditions extremely harsh for these rice farmers that cover their bodies head to toe to avoid the sunlight.  Just outside of the Phan family temple, a rice farmer was…

by Cassidy Armbruster Don’t be deterred by the term fish sauce.  Nor should you be deterred by the process that, from the pictures, looks somewhat unappetizing.  Vietnamese fish sauce is my absolute favourite, whether it’s used as a dipping sauce for spring rolls or just used as a flavourful ingredient in cooking delicious Vietnamese cuisine.  If you’re traveling in Vietnam, you’ll soon learn this is a staple ingredient. Vietnamese fish sauce is extremely flavorful with a slightly salty, almost bitter taste.  The sauce is cooked with a mixture of fermented anchovies, sardines, water, and salt.  There are three different types of…

by Cassidy Armbruster   Morning glory may be cheap in price, but it’s rich in Vietnamese food culture.  This vegetable that was once considered protein for the poor is served with most Vietnamese rice and noodle dishes.  The moist vegetable is often sautéed in garlic to give a flavorful salty taste.  It’s a Vietnamese must try, but also an inevitable try if you plan on eating local Vietnamese dishes during your visit. Morning glory is a semiaquatic plant that grows in water or damp soil and is from the same family as water spinach.  The vegetable takes little to no…

by Cassidy Armbruster Bring closed toed shoes and your balance if you are interested in taking the off beaten path to visit a company that builds large-scale handmade fishing boats. No, you won’t climb the boats in construction. You may, however, get to climb a wobbly wooden plank up to a fully constructed boat if there’s one docked during your visit. There are several superstitions in Vietnamese boat culture that especially restricts women from climbing or sitting on boats in construction. It is understood that should a woman sit on a boat before it is completely built, the boat will…

by Cassidy Armbruster Meet Hoi; a man as wise as he is friendly. At 80 years old, Hoi is the full time keeper of his family’s ornate and colorful temple, or ancestral house. The Phan family temple has thrived for 15 generations, and Hoi is of the 13th.  Hoi spoke fluidly and without sadness when he told Phi, my awesome tour guide and translator, that when he passes away, this duty will be taken on by the next generation, that being his younger brother.  Hoi explained that this 200-hundred-year old temple comes alive every year on the 10th of February…

  "Mot, Hai, Ba, Dzo!". This is the ubiquitous phrase for "1,2,3, Cheers!" in Vietnamese. If you're at a party, Vietnamese wedding, or just enjoying dinner at a local restaurant, you'll without a doubt hear this famous phrase yelled out repeatedly. While travelling in Vietnam and meeting the locals, it's often a sign of friendship when offered a small shot of rice wine. Be careful, because this stuff can be dangerously strong! Most commonly, people are yelling out their cheers and clinking together mugs of beer with ice or small glasses of Vietnamese rice wine. The latter of the two is deeply…

Vintage Vespas are becoming increasingly difficult to track down in Vietnam. The same goes for mechanics that have the skill to fix them. Vespas are unique bikes, and not everyone takes the time to learn about fixing them. Our Vespa mechanic, Duy, has been working on Vespas for years. His uncle taught him this dying trade, and Duy has been continuously perfecting this skill for the past 25 years. He's fixed over 1,000 Vespas! Duy is passionate about his career, and passionate about Vespas. They're his favourite type of bike. There are an estimated 8 million motorbikes on the streets…

Vietnam is a beautiful country. The diverse landscapes of Vietnam include cool mountains, stunning beaches, and unbelievable farmlands. Vietnam has it all. If you've travelled here, you'll know its beauty- not only in its landscapes but in its people & culture as well. Here at Vespa Adventures, we strive to help keep this country beautiful, which inspired us to get involved. In 2015, our team started doing community clean-ups. We didn't know what it would lead to, we just wanted to pitch in and help to tidy up some litter. Like any developing country, litter unfortunately exists.  Rohan Bark, who publishes…

  Vietnamese bird club culture is one that's overlooked by travellers, but it's extremely interesting and there's more to it than just sitting and drinking coffee. While wandering around the streets of Saigon, or any town in Vietnam, you'll notice an abundance of classic bird cages with delightfully chirping birds inside. These birds are more than just pets, they're a hobby. They're a lifestyle. Every morning, bird club enthusiasts like Lam in the video above go to the park, birds in hand. These enthusiasts, typically older men, hang up their bird cages and grab a coffee. It's common for these…

  Thuy runs our favourite Banh Xeo restaurant in Saigon. This restaurant was built in 1945 by her grandmother, who can be seen in the painting above, as a way to provide not only income but also as a way to feed her siblings who she had to take care of. Now, it’s almost unbelievable to see how this restaurant has transformed into a favourite local spot, serving around 100 Vietnamese pancakes per day. If you visit the restaurant, you’ll see Thuy taking over many responsibilities - from waitressing, being a cashier, and even cleaning up the tables. Banh Xeo, also…

When travelling in any country, it's good to come prepared. Here's a great infographic from Buffalo Tours that explains some key points so that you can fully enjoy your time here. These travel tips for Vietnam are the perfect place to start planning your trip!     Can you believe the population of Vietnam is 90.5 million? This country may appear small at first glance, but it's actually larger than you may think. It's a little bit smaller than California but has over twice the population. Within this population, there are 53 ethnic minorities, which you can see from the infographic.…

    During its peak the city of Angkor was a mega city supporting a population of 1 million within its borders with a complex system of temples and religious monuments. It is difficult to appreciate that the area has always had a thriving community of locals that call Angkor Wat home given the hordes of tourists and conservation sites set up to preserve the local temples, however to this day, among the ancient ruins are locals who have called the area home for generations. I had the pleasure to take one of our Vespas out for a ride to…

Siem Reap is known for the millions of tourists flock to the site just to catch a glimpse of the sun rising above the famous Angkor Wat, and rightly so! However there is another side of the city of Siem Reap that is rarely talked about – the thriving community of expats here of all ages and in many professions. The motives behind each expats move to Siem Reap is varied, however I have found the majority have a common thread – to contribute to the local community and economy in the best way they can. The Siem Reap Boxing Academy is a project started…

You’re coming to Vietnam – you’ve read about the street food, you’ve heard about the street food, but will you try it? You may be on your way here, telling yourself “Of course I’ll try it!”. But to be honest, it can be a little daunting as there’s not likely to be a menu in English and it is more unlikely that the staff will speak great English. That’s why our Vespa Adventures tours are a great way to introduce yourself to the local cuisine with our expert guides. Here are 7 great reasons why you should eat street food…

      Tet is the celebration of the Lunar New Year in Vietnam. It is a tradition passed down from Chinese culture, but the Vietnamese have their own style of doing things.  It’s the most important holiday of the year, and can be celebrated up to a whole month long. Companies have big Tet parties to celebrate and award their employees. (Check out ours from last year below!)   In 2016, Tet will celebrate the Year of the Monkey , beginning with Lunar New Year’s Eve on February 7th. Colorful lights, lanterns, and an abundance of fragrant flowers will line the…

    South East Asian food culture has permeated throughout Western society. As any Australian can attest to, Thai and Vietnamese food in particular has established itself as a staple of the Australian food culture. Often overlooked, Cambodian cuisine is some of the most unique and interesting that South East Asia has to offer, and it is a highlight of Vespa Adventures Siem Reap After Dark Tour. Cambodian food has common elements with its neighbors (Thailand, Vietnam, Laos) and also has significant influence from its French colonial past. For example, the famous ‘banh mi’ or as more commonly referred to…

  Whether you're a frequent traveller or travelling for the first time- the dilemma is the same. What should you buy for your loved ones back home?  This can be such a difficult decision because the person you are on a gift hunt for isn't experiencing what you are. Buying them a "I <3 Vietnam"  or "Angkor Wat Temple" shirt won't make much sense, especially if they haven't visited either (amazing) place. Our advice? Buy them something that relates or shares your experiences with each country, but isn't an exact memoir of the country. Here are 8 ideal gift ideas for your…

As a foreigner working and living in Vietnam, I get invited to a lot of weddings. Vietnamese weddings are huge, and people invite just about everyone they know. However, I recently got invited to an engagement ceremony. This was unusual to me, since back home typically a friend will call and say "I got engaged!", but in Vietnam the call to say "I'm getting engaged!". It's a planned ceremony, and much more intimate than weddings. My friend, Trinh, is actually a tour guide here at Vespa Adventures in Hoi An, Central Vietnam. I asked her about her love story, and…

  Celebrations reflect a lot about a country's culture. Wedding celebrations in Vietnam are giant, and if you've travelled to Vietnam then you've probably seen (or at least heard) one happening. These ceremonies are huge and the bride & groom invite just about the entire village, around 200 or 300 people! The details in this post reflect a typical Central Vietnamese countryside wedding. Weddings differ a little bit throughout the country, especially in larger cities. I'd like to thank two members of our team in Hoi An - Phu and Phuc - for allowing me to use photos from their weddings!…

We get a lot of questions about driving Vespas & motorbikes in Vietnam. Regarding our motorbike tours, we recommend that guests ride on the back of our experienced drivers so that they can fully experience their surroundings. When you're driving, you must concentrate on the road. If you're riding on the back, you can be more aware of the locals, sights, and scenery of this wonderful country.  In Saigon, there are an estimated 7 - 8 million motorbikes on the streets every day. That's a lot of motorbikes! If you're a foreigner (which you most likely are if you're reading this post),…

  Mung bean cookies are delicious little snacks that you can find only in Hoi An. Each cookie has an intricate oriental pattern pressed into it. They're sweet and a little bit salty, and a great snack. These cookies are more difficult to make than you may think because the process has many steps.  How mung bean cookies are made: First, the mung beans are soaked in water for at least 2 hours in order to remove the shell. After this step, the beans are boiled for 1 hour and then mashed up with a mixture of sugar and salt.…

  If you've ever been to Vietnam, then without a doubt you've seen small carts selling Nước Mía. Nước Mía is sugarcane juice, and we recommend this as a must-try drink. These carts are typically covered in neon colors so they're hard to miss. You may be thinking that a cup of sugarcane juice is an unhealthy sugar overload, but it actually isn't. This sweet juice is made by crushing sugarcane stalks in a machine, either hand-cranked or electric. In Vietnam, the most popular way to enjoy this tasty drink is with a splash of citrousy Kumquat juice and a dash of salt…