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Hoi An, the Unesco World Heritage Site's streets are busting at the seams with visitors. It certainly appears that the old town has returned to the days of packed streets prior to the pandemic. I'm in Hoi An with an up-to-date report on the ancient town, its sites, and what it's like to visit one of Vietnam's top destinations. I have some tips on where you can avoid the crowds and some other things you'll want to know especially if it's your first visit.
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In this episode I discuss 5 more typical annoyances or things tourists should be aware of when visiting Vietnam, especially for the first time. Once you master these and the last 5 in a previous episode you'll be much better prepared. As a disclaimer, there are similiar things to watch out for in other countries in the region and beyond. In some cases like the cyclo driver scams, knowing what to expect can save you several dollars and a really uncomfortable experience. In this episode I also share some sounds from a Vietnamese funeral and review what happens during the 3 day ceremony that during your travels you may witness.
Thanks again for your support!
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It's finally happening! Vietnam's National Assembly agreed to extend the current 30 day tourist eVisa to 90 days for 80 countries. This will be the first time 90 day visas will be available to tourists since early 2020. This is welcome news to the tourism industry and thousands of people who in the past enjoyed long-term stays in Vietnam. Nha Trang and Da Nang will most likely see the biggest growth in tourism and extended stays. In this podcast what we know so far. More details to come.
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In this episode I run down 5 common mistakes or uncomfortable situations you can avoid on your first trip to Vietnam. Some could be considered scams or overcharging, in other cases just minor uncomfortable situtations that can be easily avoided. We've all been scammed or overcharged at least once on our travels. I remember I was overcharged for a speedboat ride to the Gili Islands by what I thought were friendly staff in the hotel I was staying at in Bali many years ago. They are situations that can easily put a damper on, or in extreme cases ruin a trip. In Vietnam, there are several examples of overcharging, or misunderstandings, that typically take place around tourist attractions or areas where visitors tend to spend alot of time in. Knowing what to expect can help you avoid these uncomfortable scenarios.
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I'm back! Thanks so much for your patience. A long needed hiatus from the podcast was due and I"m now delighted to return to regular podcasting of The Far East Travels Podcast in it's 8th year!
In this episode I'll review the current visas that are offered in Vietnam and the upcoming proposal to return to 90 day visas as well as the extending of visa exemption stays for many countries.
Honestly, I did not plan to be off this long from the podcast but days turn into weeks, which turn into months. I feel the time off has given me a second wind to create more and better episodes. Again, I appreciate your patience and will in the future, endeavour to bring you high quality episodes of The Far East Travels Podcast.
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In October Taiwan eased restrictions once again welcoming visitors to "The Beautiful Island". My friend and longtime guest of the podcast photographer Bruno Black gives us an update on what's new and what to expect when you arrive. Bruno has toured many people around the island and is an expert on the best places to see as well as knowing where to go to get those great shots. Visitors are finally returning to the island and we'll also get an update from Bruno on some new sites to visit including the new Nationa Center For Photography And Images in Taipei.
Connect and follow Bruno:
https://www.instagram.com/brunoblackofficial/
https://www.facebook.com/brunoblackofficial
Thanks as always for your support!
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A pleasure as always to have Kyoto based Niall Gibson, an expat Canadian, tour operator and host of the Kyoto Fun Podcast on the Far East Travels Podcast. Niall gives us an update on the current travel landscape of Kyoto and the rest of Japan. With the yen currently at a record low and travel restrictions lifted this could be one of the best times in your life to visit Japan. Niall gives pointers on sites and things to do in Kyoto, as well as Tokyo, Hokkaido, and Hiroshima. Niall has lived in Japan for over 16 years and is an expert tour operator/guide and podcaster.
Podcast: Kyoto Fun Podcast:https://apple.co/3A8rtrb
Websites/Booking:https://www.kyotofun.com
http://www.tokyofuntours.com
As always I'm grateful for your support of the channel.
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After 2.5 years both Taiwan and Japan are fully open to independant tourism. In this episode I share more details about requirements upon arrival, particularily for the more complicated procedures for Taiwan. As someone who lived in Taiwan I am very happy for the many businesses who relied and of course benefited from foreign visitors. Taipei was a meeting place almost every weekend for travelers from around East and Southeast Asia. I can't imagine what the toll from the pandemic has left on some of these restaurants, cafes, and markets, if in fact they were able to survive this tragedy.
Thanks again for listening and supporting the podcast!
Thanks as always for your support!
If you'd like to support the channel there are two ways:
Patreon-monthly pledges/support-https://www.patreon.com/FarEastTravels
Donations: https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/JohnASaboe
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The quote "Pot Smoking Tourists Not Welcom In Thailand"recently comes from the Thai Health Minister. Updates and a throwback to a walkabout in the shopping districts during a visit in 2017. Bangkok is coming back with an estimated 7-8 million visitors expected in 2022. Still a far cry from the 40 million visitors it saw in 2019. Things are improving as far as more flights heading for the capital of Thailand with Bangkok Air adding direct flights from Da Nang beginning September 1st. In this episode I talk about the changes to the street food scene since the government swept the sidewalks of food carts back in 2016. A shame but there is a street food scene and neighborhoods that still have plenty of food carts. It's far from being discounted as a once food mecca.
Thanks as always for your support!
If you'd like to support the channel there are two ways:
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Donations:
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This past summer was not the experience I was hoping for. What was to be outings and short visits around the country has turned into weeks of nursing colds, sinus infections, and now Covid. Fortunately I've been lucky to have only experienced cold symptoms with C19. But my isolation has taken me back to the feelings experienced a year ago when we were all under some form of lockdown here in Vietnam. My apologies for the lack of output of new content and episodes but I am hopeful going forward I will have many more stories to tell whether here or on my YouTube Channel but I do appreciate your patience.
Good news this past month for Da Nang making in on Travel + Leisure's top 10 cities to visit in Southeast Asia. Vietnam's two biggest cities, Ho Chi Minh and Ha Noi both made it on the list as well. In this episode I'll also go back to the Batu Caves in Selangor, Malaysia from a 2019 visit.
Thanks as always for your support!
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It's so glad to be back after a long break due to a cold and sinus infection. In the episode I'll discuss dealing with a common flu or cold after not having one for 2 years. Also more importantly what travel is currently like and the most recent updates for East Asia, Southeast Asia, and South Asia.
It still looks like it may be still some time before East Asia like Taiwan or Japan reopens to independant travelers.
Nepal is open with few travel restrictions if you're considering a trek in the fall. Bhutan will reopen to travelers beginning September 22nd. Thanks again for listening!
Thanks as always for your support!
If you'd like to support the podcast there are two ways:
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In this episode I take you for a walk through the Han Market in Da Nang, Vietnam. You'll immediately notice lots of interaction with local sellers as this market is geared a little more tourists than the Con Market in the last episode.
These markets are always alot of fun to visit and in terms of food they really give you insight into what people eat here. The food stalls in any of these markets are always worthy of a visit with usually excellent examples of local classics at a much lower price than tourist style restaurants. As I said in the walk-through you could easily knock off this market and the Con Market in a morning or afternoon. I came down with a cold a couple of days after the recording of this walk through so unfortunately I'm not able to bring you much more than this segment in this episode. I tested myself twice for Covid-both tests came out negative. Colds are going around again as people venture out. This is the first time I've been sick with anything in 2.5 years. Peace, love, and safe travels!
Thanks as always for your support!
If you'd like to support the channel there are two ways:
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It's official as of July 1st, no more uploading documents for a Thailand Pass. Proof of vaccination or for the unvaccinated a negative PCR test is all that's needed now to visit the country. This should further open up travel in the region expanding flights to Thailand and from Thai airports to other destinations in Southeast Asia. I will also discuss cost of flights within the region as they are still high in some circumstances. Vietnam is now the only country that is fully open to vaccinated and unvaccinated travelers. Myanmar is now open to tourists but as civil unrest continues under the military junta most countries are advising do not travel to the country. Peace, love, and safe travels!
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Very tragic news out of Nepal this past week with another Tara Air crash on the Pokhara Jomsom route. The last crash on this flight, another Tara Air plane was in 2016. Although this route doesn't get as much attention as the the Kathmandu/Lukla flight in the Everest region it is still a very dangerous airport. I'll share my experience and thoughts. As well I'm getting out again reporting on location from various locations-this week from Non Nuoc Beach that is home to many 5 star resorts in Da nang, Vietnam. Thanks again as always for your support!
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Vietnam along with several other countries have decided to drop pretests for fully vaccinated visitors. That makes entry to Singapore, Malaysia, Cambodia, Thailand, and Vietnam relativeily easy to enter now with no required pretests for fully vaccinated travelers.
It's now possible to have an extended stay in Southeast Asia with the least amount of restrictions since the pre-pandemic days of traveling. Vietnam has yet to authorize stays longer than 30 days but if you were looking to spend more time in Vietnam it would be very easy to break up your long stay with trips to Cambodia, Thailand, or even Laos allowing you to start a new 30 day eVisa cycle in Vietnam. Still no word on when the country will reinstate 3 month tourist visas. As always your support is greatly appreciated!
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A short two night trip was the perfect way to transition into travel in pandemic, and perhaps soon to be endemic times. Cambodia currently is the easiest country to enter in Southeast Asia with no pre-uploading of info and no pre-arrival or arrival testing. In this episode I'll run through this recent experience and share with you the highlights. As well some more lifting of restrictions taking effect this week in Malaysia and Thailand. Thanks so much for your support!
f you'd like to support the channel there are two ways:
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Cambodia has taken the biggest step in lifting requirements for entry with the elimination of a negative test result upon arrival as well as the dropping of the antigen test. This will not only make an entry into Cambodia easier but will also allow for less restrictive movements back and forth between Vietnam and Thailand. Also in this episode, the tourists are coming back to Vietnam and Malaysia is now open to tourists without requiring a sandbox type scheme to Langkawi Island. Southeast Asia is slowly returning to a tourist friendly destination. East Asia is still however closed to tourists with the exception of South Korea. Thanks again for listening and subscribing to the podcast!
If you'd like to support the channel there are two ways:
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Vietnam opens to tourists for the first time in 2 years this week. Rules, protocols, and visa availabiltiy are still unclear at the time of broadcast. Officially citizens from 13 countries have been granted 15 day visa exemptions valid until 2025. Unverified reports of people receiving visas through Vietnamese embassies or consulates are slowly surfacing in various social media groups. In this episode I will cover off everything so far in regards to the opening of Vietnam to tourists as well as Malyasia's wide opening and Bali's long anticipated reopening. Something to keep in mind when booking your travel is the possibilty your plans could change should you contract Covid. Airlines currently are not allowing passengers to board that are infected with the virus. For long term or long stay travelers this is not as much a concern as it would be for short stays. Check the country policiies as well on quarantine. Some countries will allow self-isolation at a hotel or home of your choice. Other countries will require you to stay in a approved hotel which could be alot more expensive than your budget is used to. As well check to make sure your insurance will cover costs for a quarantine stay.
Thanks again as always for your support!
If you'd like to support the channel there are two ways:
Patreon-monthly pledges/support-https://www.patreon.com/FarEastTravels
Donations: https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/JohnASaboe
Help build the Far East Travels Podcast community by giving a review in Apple Podcasts:https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/far-east-travels-podcast/id1079513943?itsct=podcast_box_link&itscg=30200&ls=1 -
It's official, Vietnam closed to tourists since March 2020, will reopen it's borders starting March 15th. Details as to what visas will be available and their validity length are still unknown but will most likely be made public in the next few days. Vietnam is one of the last countries in Southeast Asia to open it's doors to tourism since the COVID pandemic began and borders were closed by most countries in March of 2020. This will probably help to encourage tourism within Southeast Asia overall but with vaccination requirements, the downloading and tracking on apps, as well as continued social distancing measures it will be a much different experience than the last time you were here. In this episode I'll also spin the clock back to April 2019 with a walk through Ho Chi Minh City's Co Bac/Co Giang neighborhood. Thanks again for listening and subscribing!
As always thanks again for your support. Stay safe and be happy.
If you'd like to support the podcast there are two ways:
Patreon-monthly pledges/support-https://www.patreon.com/FarEastTravels
Donations: https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/JohnASaboe
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Vietnam could reopen to international travelers as soon as by the end of March. The Prime Minister has also expressed that Vietnam should be prepared to reopen by the end of March and no later than the end of April. Also news from Thailand, Indonesia, The Philipines, and Laos.
We'll also spin back the clock to January 2018 with a visit in a part 2 series on the Dihua Street Lunar New Year Market in Taipei, Taiwan. I'm enjoying the Tet holiday break here in Da nang, Vietnam with more news and a watchful eye on the current situation as Southeast Asia prepares after 2 long years to finally welcome back visitors as a region.
As always thanks again for your support. Stay safe and be happy.
If you'd like to support the channel there are two ways:
Patreon-monthly pledges/support-https://www.patreon.com/FarEastTravels
Donations: https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/JohnASaboe
You can also write a review in Apple Podcasts and help expand the community:https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/far-east-travels-podcast/id1079513943?itsct=podcast_box_link&itscg=30200&ls=1 - もっと表示する
