Best Western Premier Hon Tam Resort and Residences, Nha Trang, Vietnam. Photo: Jane Reddy WE ARE HAVING A FAMILY HOLIDAY IN VIETNAM OVER THE CHRISTMAS/NEW YEAR PERIOD, WITH CHILDREN AGED TWELVE AND SEVENTEEN. WE LIKE BEACHES, NATURE, HISTORY AND ART. SHOULD WE GO TO NORTH OR SOUTH VIETNAM? F. FITZPATRICK, PUTNEY NSW Definitely south at this […]

Bukit Bintang, the shopping and entertainment district of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Photo: iStock WHY Incense-swathed temples, frenzied hawker markets, towering sky scrapers and more collide in the sultry capital of Malaysia. Shopping and eating are locals’ favourite pastimes, but there’s more to the city than just satay and retail therapy. Browse an open-air flea market, join […]

The Andaman Sea, Thailand.  WE ARE A GROUP OF HIGH SCHOOL FRIENDS LOOKING TO CELEBRATE RELAXING 50TH BIRTHDAYS SOMEWHERE. PRIORITIES ARE BEACH, SIGHTSEEING, LUXURY AT BUDGET PRICES. COMING FROM TORONTO, LONDON, MELBOURNE. SUGGESTIONS? C. HUNTER, MELBOURNE Thailand would be a good choice since connections are about mutually convenient, you get great bang for your buck, the […]

A Chinatown street, Kuala Lumpur. Photo: Brian Johnston An elderly Chinese in a virulent green T-shirt is making teh tarik, flinging tea and condensed milk from one tin mug to another in long, dramatic spouts until it froths. The tea-maker hoots in pleasure as I give a satisfied slurp and dip my accompanying roti canai flatbread […]

Chef Chui Lee Luk. Photo: Brook Mitchell Singapore-born Sydney chef Chui Lee Luk began with work experience alongside Christine Manfield at Paramount, then worked with Annabel Savill at Emporio Armani, Kylie Kwong at Wockpool and others. Joining the team at Claude’s in 2000, she eventually bought the acclaimed restaurant and received a three-hat rating. She now […]

On the road in Vitenam. Photo: Nina Karnikowski Crossing the road in Saigon, on any normal day, is an utterly terrifying act. But with a hangover? It’s like playing Russian roulette. After some liberal vodka pouring on the last night of our Pandaw cruise along the Mekong river from Cambodia to Vietnam, I find myself at […]

View over Bagan’s temples from Sulamani Pagoda.  Photo: Brian Johnston By early morning we’re sailing south, away from the cheerful chaos of Mandalay and into the soft wide landscapes of Myanmar. The Irrawaddy River is sluggish, fringed by trees shading lurking long-horned cattle. Spluttering barges and temporary farmers’ huts – which are relocated to higher […]

The food court in the Tiong Bahru district of Singapore, where exotic Asian dishes can be found.  Photo: Alamy MY WIFE AND I ARE PLANNING A THREE-DAY STOPOVER IN SINGAPORE. APART FROM HIGH TEA AT RAFFLES, WE HAVE NO PLANS. WE’RE BOTH 70, FIT AND HAPPY TO WALK AROUND. ANY SUGGESTIONS? J. CATTERMOLE, HEATHMONT The […]

Ornate local architecture. Photo: Getty Images Beneath the stilted timber house the man lazes in his red netted hammock, swaying gently through the sticky afternoon air. A few metres away, a white humpbacked Brahmin cow stands in the shade of a banana tree, her wet brown eyes staring into the distance and her tail switching back […]

The Eastern & Oriental Express passing over the Bridge on the River Kwai.  Passengers enjoy the views. Photo: Alamy The bar on board the Eastern and Oriental Express train.  Photo: Alamy A steward welcomes guests on board. Photo: Alamy Eastern & Oriental Express train passes workers in a rice field.  Eastern & Orient Express.  Enjoying the scenery […]