Four Months on a Bicycle in Vietnam: Ho Chi Minh City to Hanoi

Backpacker and travel writer Nathan Edgerton spent four months travelling on a cheap bicycle the entire length of Vietnam from the biggest city in the South to the capital in the North. In this article, Nathan gives you many reasons why travelling on two wheels is way cooler than four...

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Off the Beaten Track: Conquering Vietnam’s Highest Peak, Mount Fansipan!

There are many incredible opportunities for trekking in South East Asia, from Malaysia's mighty Kinabalu to Indonesia's steaming volcanoes. English backpacker, Selena Black climbs to the wild peak of Vietnam's highest mountain, the rugged Mount Fansipan, and lives to tell the tale...

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Stitched up in Hoi An! Welcome to Vietnam’s Fashion Capital…

London, Paris, New York, Milan... Hoi An! There's quaint little town on the central coast of Vietnam, home to a unique and extremely addictive shopping experience... Here you can have any item of clothing or footwear tailor made for a tiny fraction of what you’d pay in the West – is it even possible to resist at least a couple of small purchases (even if it means lugging them around the whole of South East Asia in your already overstuffed backpack)? S.E.A Backpacker Magazine Editor, Nikki Scott was up for the challenge!

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Backpacker Video of the Month: Six Months Walking in Asia

To discover the beauties of the planet and to make them immortal; to represent the spirit of every magical corner of the world and every culture... June's Backpacker Video of the Month is Marco Giovanelli's wonderful visual representation of his adventure through Asia. It kept all of us at the office captivated and smiling - you're gonna LOVE this..!

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Join the Flash Mob! The Lofi Inn & The Rise of Budget, Boutique Hostels in S. E. Asia

Swanky and elegant are not usually words synonymous with the backpacking world but ‘times they are a changing!’ Gone are the days of travellers-on-a-shoestring having to endure rat infested dorms and filthy beds as a new wave of hostels pops up all over South East Asia...

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Photo of the Month: Forgiven or Forgotten?

Our Photo of the Month for June appears insignificant at first glance - a middle-aged man in a bright shirt, posing for a picture in front of a pretty backdrop; what's so special about that? - but, what it represents could mean so much more...

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Joma Fair Trade Coffee: Helping Communities & The Environment in Laos

Joma Bakery is leading the way in Fair Trade, organic coffee in Laos and Vietnam. Working with the Jhai Coffee Farmers Co-operative (JCFC) to cultivate the unique 'arabica' coffee bean, Joma is able to serve coffee that is delicious, ethical and environmentally conscious. The local ethnic groups who work in the Bolaven Plateau coffee growing area are ensured a fair sale price and the plants are grown in an eco-friendly way. Learn more about where coffee comes from in Laos and why it is important to be aware of where your food and drink comes from!

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7 Epic Journeys in South East Asia

Some involve arduous days on a hot, cramped bus, some consist of a five minute breezy ride on the turquoise sea... no matter how long or short, there are some journeys from your backpacking adventure that you will never forget! We spoke to backpackers to find out the most memorable trips in South East Asia. From the famous 27 hour Laos-Vietnam bus, to the infamous tuk tuks of Bangkok, how many journeys can you tick off?

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Aboard the Jolly Roger to Halong Bay & Castaway Island

The Hanoi Backpackers’ Halong Bay Trip has become legendary amongst backpackers in Southeast Asia. Through the traveller grapevine we’d heard reports of a deserted castaway island right in the heart of Cat Ba National Park. A slice of untouched paradise it was told - that could only be reached via the Hanoi Backpackers’ sail boat, the ‘Jolly Roger'. We decided to take the ‘Rock Hard Rock Long Halong Bay Tour’ to find out what all the fuss was about!

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Backpacker Visa Guide to Southeast Asia

As a backpacker in South East Asia crossing borders becomes a regular undertaking. Each country has a different rule of entry and some countries will require you to apply for a visa before you travel. As visa requirements often change, for travellers it can be difficult to plan things like budget and duration of travel. Here, we've done our best to compile the latest visa information in South East Asia to make it easier to plan your trip!

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