Have a look at these 2 videos taking you on a tour of Ho Chi Minh City

1/ A Saigon Tour (2:30min) – Time Lapse

2/ Top 10 crowded round about in Saigon (HCMC) at night (Time-lapse)

I heard people say ‘if you can drive in Vietnam, you can drive anywhere in the world’; and until recently I agreed with that. Now, I tend to believe if you drive the way you drive in Vietnam in Europe, well… whether you are going to get killed or get someone killed. Unlike many other countries in the world, rules here (even if in theory there are rules) do not necessarily apply, not if you do not feel like it at least.

For example, a red light does not always mean ‘Dude you have to stop!’ That’s right! sometimes it means ‘that’s ok I can totally cross, I don’t feel like stopping’. The horn is also a very important tool when crossing an intersection and is used to decide who is going to go first…

Other interesting aspect of the traffic in Vietnam is, among others, the unexpected things people are carrying on their bikes (fridge, enormous peace of glass, animals…). It is also important to note that there are no weights or people limit on a bike; it is completely normal to ride a bike with 4 or 5 people on it; Sure I don’t see why it would be a problem!

But don’t worry, you can find in Vietnam the safest and most of all coolest helmets in the world. You name it, Cap, cowboy hats, bonnet, beret… The style is guarantied but I still have somes issues about the safety, nah as long as you look cool. Just add to all these, the non compulsory driving license (even if regarding the license the rules are getting more strict) and you are good to go.

Ok, let’s summarize what you need to know to drive in Vietnam: Go get yourself a good shitty helmet and a nice bike, do not worry about the traffic rules, forget about the driving license (just be sure you have enough money to bribe the cops) and hit the road!

The truth is now out there

However, when you have what it takes to book an awesome hotel and you are looking for the best accomodations in the world, check out the following list. From the weirdest to the most beautiful hotels or from the most unusual and less expected rooms.

You are in for a treat!

The Capsule Inn, Japan

A Capsule hotel is a unique style of accommodation in Japan, inspired by the pursuit of efficiency of space and functional comfort, originating from the adaptive, creative spirit of the Japanese mind. A capsule hotel is made of two sections; one section includes a public lounge space which has bathing and the other is private space which is arranged for sleeping. The sleeping room is a capsule unit which is usually made up of reinforced plastic and is uniquely designed which gives the image of jet airplane’s cockpit.

Jumbo Hostel in Switzerland

A converted Boeing 747-200 is bolted to the ground, its landing gear is secured by two steel cradles and a night in this aeroplane guarantees a good sleep in a flat bed, no turbulence, cabin pressure or delays. The aircraft was built in 1976 for Singapore Airlines and was later in the Pan Am fleet. Its last service was with Transjet, a Swedish airline. The re-fit took around six months, and in the northern summer of 2008 the aeroplane/hostel was towed to its final destination.

Hotel des Arts – San Francisco, USA

The Hotel des Arts is located in the French Quarter in San Fransisco. The Hotel des Arts presents the contemporary work of local artists. Our gallery is complemented by the neutral simplicity, modern lightings and clean lines of the hotel furnishings. The result is not simply art as a decoration, but art as an interactive experience.

Hotel Fox – Copenhagen, Denmark

61 rooms, 21 artists, 1,000 ideas. Each room is an individual piece of art – from wacky comical styles to strict graphic design, from fantastic street art and Japanese Manga to simply spaced out fantasies. You will find flowers, fairytales, friendly monsters, dreaming creatures, secrets vaults and…

There are some amazing things out there that deserve to be discovered, and if you decide one day to have a trip in London and you are looking for a hotel to stay, have a look at hostelworld London. You will find a list of hotels in London ranked by prices, location or room types.

“The real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new landscapes but in having new eyes.” Marcel Proust

Your host will be able to tell you about the best things to see and do in their city so that you can experience a location from the perspective of a local. You can check out a video here about how Wimdu works. A large number of individual apartments are offered by Wimdu, from cozy bed and breakfasts in Barcelona to elegant, cosmopolitan holiday apartments in London, Amsterdam, Rome and Berlin. For your short term stay, rent your vacation apartment directly from a private owner.

Whether you want to visit a sprawling metropolis or travel to a small city on your vacation, renting an apartment or private bedroom in a privately-owned property can be a cheaper alternative to staying in a hotel. It is just like couchsurfing with the only difference that you have your own room and you have to your disposal the whole housr just like a holliday booking.

Definitely worth a look!

2011 was a very special year for Vietnam-cruises as we discovered another side of the world…. one tiny side among all the other places that deserve to be explored.

Click on the following link to watch the 25 photos’ slideshow.

http://secure.smilebox.com/ecom/openTheBox?sendevent=4d6a63324f544d314e44493d0d0a&sb=1

Get on board to discover Vietnam from the sea and enjoy the best cruises selected by Vietnam cruises…and may the winds be gentle…

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