Some of the best things about Hanoi are the many museums that, along with its numerous pagodas, temples, communal houses, and other historical sites, make Hanoi a paradise for "culture vultures".

Unlike many Vietnamese who distrust weather forecasts, I just stopped looking at them. This is not to say they are wrong; they are always right.

Stepping out of the mini bus, surrounded by huge hills and lush green fields stretching as far as the eyes can see, the first thing I noticed was the significant improvement in the air quality. Although there are still many motorbikes darting about, I felt as if I could once again breathe!

As for foreign visitors to Vietnam, a few key phrases in Vietnamese should be on your "must-learn" list with which you will find it very useful to get on well with the locals.

Tourists often overlook the beautiful scenery in the Northern provinces, that lie between Sapa to the west, and China to the north and west.   

Working as an English language teacher is becoming an inviting prospect for foreigners who would like to live in Vietnam.

It is getting cooler. Some days are rainy and icy winds make life even chillier. This signals the arrival of autumn in Hanoi and elsewhere in northern Vietnam.

Lê Công Kiều Street, very close to Bến Thành market in downtown Ho Chi Minh City, is where history meets the modern world…

I'm sitting outside a local cafe in Hanoi's bustling street drinking my sugary watermelon juice. As the young chap out front slices open a coconut with his short machete, the clouds open up - sprayed with coconut mist and giant rain glob-lets I feel instantly refreshed.   

John Balaban has long held a fervent love for Vietnamese folk culture. A poet, a professor of English at North Carolina State University, and the former President of the American Literary Translators Association, he also authors many books about Vietnam.

Football is a pretty big deal in England. Being home to one of the biggest domestic leagues in the world, one of the most storied histories of the game and laying claim to inventing the entire notion of the sport, this is hardly surprising.

Tracey Lister, the Australian chef and co-director of the Hanoi Cooking Centre, has co-authored a new book offering insights and recipes for Vietnamese street food, which will delight both foodies and home cooks.

Good morning vacationers!

As scrumptious as it sounds, the chocolate buffet at Hanoi’s Metropole Hotel is a must for all you Cocoa-crazed folk out there.

Talking about Hung Yen province, 60km from Hanoi, many Vietnamese people think of Hien street, which is widely known with a famous saying “One should first visit Thang Long and then Hien street.”

For the headmaster of the Japanese School of Hanoi, Toshiharu Ishibashi, Vietnam is not only a pleasant working environment but also an ideal destination for tourists.

Raquelle Azran, a woman who was born in Israel with American and French blood, has fostered a deep and mutual love for Vietnam and the capital city. After 18 years she considers the country to be her second home and have many fond memories of her time in Vietnam.

Vietnam’s Grandmaster Le Quang Liem has given an interview to Chessdom, a well-known website featuring chess tournaments, games and history.

Considering how much foreigners like us learn about the traffic in Hanoi it’s pretty surprising that we haven’t figured it all out yet. This is a popular topic of conversation but many still find the unwritten rules of the road confusing. For example - what does the horn ‘mean’?

Today, "pho Hanoi" (Hanoi noodle soup) is not only a popular dish but also a national dish of Vietnam. As a culinary ambassador, it promotes the city's culture around the world.

Foreign visitors to Hanoi are impressed by the capital's pavements where they can chat, drink tea or coffee, and even have something to eat.

The Mid-Autumn Festival, one of the most traditional and popular family holidays in Vietnam, is enjoyed by people throughout the country, regardless of their background or economic status.

If you want it, you will find it in Hanoi’s markets. Finding it, however, is a completely different question.

Ask any foreigner what their least favourite aspect of Vietnam is and the list will undoubtedly include Xe Om (motorbike taxi) drivers. They are annoying at best. Pushy, smelly, rude and downright dangerous at worst.

I walked out  my Hanoi Backpackers Hostel in the Hoan Kiem district  that morning and was promptly accosted by the xe-om drivers.  It was a sunny morning and I had no appointments that day. I pulled out my pocket a paper scrap listing American war monuments in the Hanoi lake districts.

Undoubtedly, the most pressing global issue today is the environment. No matter who you are, where you live, or what you do, you are affected by environmental pollution. Everyone is responsible for protecting the planet; after all, there is only one Earth and if it is ruined, we have nowhere else to go.

A new book, “My Quest for Yummy Banh Mi”, charts the culinary tour of a Vietnamese Canadian woman named Thu Nguyen, an avid traveler, photographer and "foodie without borders”, who backpacked through Vietnam searching for the country’s finest crusty bread rolls.

Most early birds in Vietnam start their day by going to parks to exercise. In Hanoi, they go to parks or near the lakes while in Danang they go to beach.  

Last weekend Vietnam held general elections for its National Assembly (NA) and all levels of People's Councils. Such elections are held every five years but this year's elections were particularly significant because it was the first time the NA and People's Councils were elected simultaneously.

I look forward to the biggest celebration in the Vietnamese lunar calendar as I enjoy the festive atmosphere buzzing during the weeks leading up to Tết. The air is vibrant and filled with excitement from the shopping and home preparations.