Family Shores and Smiles in Vietnam and Bali

Perched on the banks of the Red River, Hanoi is Vietnam's capital and one of the world's most ancient cities. Its beauty lies in its liveliness of bustling streets where workshops and cafes spill out onto the streets and roadsides. As the intersection point where east meets west, Hanoi is a fascinating mix of old and new, Asian and European. With Chinese and French influences, an ancient culture, colonial architecture, broad tree-lined boulevards and beautiful lakes, the iconic architectural appearance of the Old Quarter and the elegance of the French Quarter, Ho Chi Minh’s Mausoleum and the Temple of Literature, etc... gives Vietnam’s capital city a unique charm of the ancient and modern. Hanoi is also home to one of Asia’s strong indigenous culinary traditions, with bustling wet markets and a rowdy street-food culture, as well as some five star international dining options. It is also very affordable by urban Asian standards, with the majority of hotels and restaurants offering plenty of value.

Halong Bay, listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1994, is located 170km east of Hanoi. It is made up of three neighboring bays: Halong, Lan Ha and Bai Tu Long bays, although Halong Bay is undeniably the most famous and most well-known of the three. Widely considered a natural wonder of the world, the UNESCO World Heritage Site is breathtaking with thousands of majestic limestone, peaks and islets rising dramatically out of the sparkling emerald waters of the bay. The most common way to explore is by taking an overnight night cruise or day-trip which cruises among the limestone pillars and islets. Many also include an island drop off and cave explorations. Visiting floating villages in the area gives a chance to interact with the local community whose livelihoods depend on the waters. Another way to immerse oneself close up in the bay is by kayaking near and around the limestone pillars and some of the caves that are possible to enter by kayak.

Commonly known as Saigon, Ho Chi Minh City in southern Vietnam is the country’s largest city and the financial and economical capital. This is a city full of surprises. Chaotic traffic blends with peaceful pagodas, parks, multi-style coffee shops and whole neighborhoods hidden down tiny alleyways. Icons of the past endure in the middle of the city’s vast urbanization. The ornate Saigon opera house, Hôtel de Ville - former French city hall, broad boulevards leading to the Saigon River and the gracious stucco villas are reminders of French-colonial times. In addition, the Chinese influence is also evident particularly in Cholon district (the city's Chinatown), while modern skyscrapers and international hotel chains that dot the skyline symbolize Vietnam's fixation on the future.

The Mekong Delta, located in the southernmost territory bordered by Cambodia, is the most fertile land in Vietnam. This is a region of unrelenting beauty - nicknamed the 'rice bowl' of Vietnam, where over 50% of Vietnam’s rice is grown. It is home to a unique ecosystem with diverse communities and ethnicities, and there are few places like this in the world. One the best, if not the best, ways to experience this area is to take a boat trip (1 day or a few days with staying overnight in local homestays) along the Mekong River's twisting capillaries of tropical canals, mangroves, past rice paddies, floating markets, where life on and off the river merge into one.

Ubud is a town located in the central part of Bali island, known for its rich arts and culture, as well as its lush landscapes of rice fields and tropical jungle, offering a contrast to the southern beach areas.

Kintamani is a village on the western border of the bigger caldera wall of Mount Batur (Gunung Batur) in Bali Island, Indonesia. It is located on the same north-south route as Penelokan and has served as a rest point for visitors to observe the Mount Batur region. Kintamani is also notable for Pura Tuluk Biyu's 1,000-year-old 'Rites of Peace' stone tablets, as well as the Kintamani dog breed. It is located adjacent to Mount Batur.

Candidasa is a beach town on Bali's eastern coast that sits on the edge of a freshwater lagoon known as Candi Dasa Lagoon. The town's main street, Jalan Raya Candidasa, is lined with hotels, restaurants, and stores. It is a popular tourist destination, drawing divers and those seeking a more relaxed alternative to the crowded, nightclub-filled Kuta region or the huge, groomed resorts of Nusa Dua. Due to their remote location away from the island's popular beach resorts in the south, Candidasa and the majority of East Bali provide rugged beauty and laid-back seascapes with hidden gems under their waves.

Amed is a 14-kilometer stretch of fishing villages located on Bali's east coast in the Karangasem Regency, Indonesia. One of the seven settlements in the region is named Amed. Jemeluk, Bunutan, Lipah, Selang, Banyuning, and Aas are the names of the remaining six. Due to their proximity to Mount Agung, Bali's greatest volcano, some of the beaches in the vicinity, notably Amed Beach, feature black volcanic sand. Amed is a region that is preserving its traditions while growing its tourism industry. It is gradually gaining popularity as a travel destination for yoga courses, scuba diving, free diving, and backpacking.

Lovina Beach (often known as just Lovina) is a coastal location on Bali's northwestern side that is famous for its black sand beaches, coral reefs, and dolphins. From east to west, it includes the small villages of Pemaron, Tukad Mungga, Anturan, Banyualit, Kalibukbuk, Kaliasem, and Temukus. Although it has grown in popularity among travelers, it is still much quieter than the island's south side tourist hotspots. Visitors can enjoy diving, snorkeling, and early-morning boat rides off the coast to observe dolphins. These dolphin sighting cruises often run two hou

Southeast of Bali sits the seaside town of Sanur. Shallow waters can be found on its extensive beach. With a paved bike path behind them, vibrant jukung fishing boats are laid out on the sand. The 10th-century inscriptions in the coral-built Pura Blanjong temple date back to that time. Restaurants and art galleries line Jalan Danau Tamblingan, the lush main boulevard.