Note: This article was first published by the East-West News Service in June 2024. The tuk-tuk driver reclined on a padded seat in the back of his motorized transport, neither a surrey nor a golf cart but something in between. “Hey, bong, nice to see you today,” he said as I passed, using the catch-all greeting soContinue reading “Phnom Penh Embraces a New Generation”
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A Spiritual Journey Through Vietnam
As published in July by the East-West News Service
101. Cambodian Escape: Kampot/Kep
Fresh crab, provocative spices, wildlife-rich national parks, and French colonial heritage: There’s a lot to like about these coastal towns.
99. Making Sense of Street Names
You don’t need a history book to learn something about Vietnam’s past. You’ll do just fine with a city map that encourages you to read the street signs.
Coffee in the Central Highlands
98. Catfish and Mandala
Twenty-four years after its publication, a book by a visiting Viet Kieu — an overseas Vietnamese — suggests the culture hasn’t changed much in the subsequent generation.
97. A Cambodian Feast in Siem Reap
Adventurous Khmer cuisine provides an unexpected introduction to the gateway city of Siem Reap and the ruins of Angkor.
96. Cambodia’s Killing Fields
Two historical sites in Phnom Penh recall the terrible reign of the Khmer Rouge during the Cambodian Genocide of the late 1970s.
The Floating Villages of Tonle Sap
Southeast Asia’s largest lake is home to seasonally floating villages and hungry crocodiles.
94. Cambodia’s Incomparable Temples of Angkor
Once the largest city in Southeast Asia, Angkor is now a World Heritage Site of more than 1,000 ruins, beginning with Angkor Wat, a religious structure like no other.
93. Year of the Tiger: A Collection
As the lunar calendar turns, I realize that what really matters in my life are the relationships that I create and nurture.
92. Travels with My Best Friend
Two old pals reunite for three weeks exploring some of Vietnam’s urban and rural environments — big city to beaches, highlands and history.
91. Underground at Cu Chi
A tour of the Cù Chi Tunnels gives insight into how the North Vietnamese Army won its war against the South and its American allies.
90. Adventures in Phnom Penh
John and Calvin, his buddy from America, take in the sights, sounds, smells and tastes of Cambodia’s colorful capital city.
89. Dining at Ănăn, Vietnam’s Finest
An Asian-born, American-raised chef blends two very different culinary cultures in the heart of Ho Chi Minh City.
88. Grist for the Vietnam Newcomer
Assorted advice and observations for first-timers venturing to this Southeast Asian country.
85. The Elephants Are Fighting Back
Even in the same rural precincts where a park promotes elephant conservation, local “sanctuaries” are encouraging visitors to go for rides.
84. Notes on 10 Days in Thailand
On a brief trip to Bangkok and Pattaya, the author is reminded of many things he loves about Vietnam’s Southeast Asian neighbor.
83. Cát Bà Island Escapades
Cát Bà may be the best destination in northern Vietnam for exploring the unique seascapes of Ha Long Bay, a UNESCO-acclaimed world heritage site.
82. Discovering Vietnam’s Art
Through periods of freedom and suppression, Vietnamese art continues to make an impression as it reveals culture and history to a curious world.
Travels in Vietnam 