Wanderlust Tips Team, Author at WANDERLUST TIPS • Page 153 of 195

16 chic alternatives to the bikini

We’re going to let you in on a little secret: A one-piece bathing suit is the key to the perfect summer wardrobe. The one-piece is your staple for any water-related event. Throw on your favorite pair of high-waisted shorts or a breezy skirt for a simple daytime look.

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Solid & Striped Anne-Marie One-piece Swimsuit

We love a good stripe, especially when it’s nautical and ever so flattering.

To buy: matchesfashion.com, USD168

Flagpole Lynn Cutout Swimsuit

From the runways, to the red carpets, to the swim-up bars — cutouts are everywhere this season.

To buy: net-a-porter.com, USD375

J.Crew V-neck One-piece Swimsuit

A good one-piece combines style and coverage; this J.Crew one-piece excels in both areas.

To buy: jcrew.com, USD98

Mara Hoffman Marimba Printed Swimsuit

Never be intimidated by a bright pattern, especially when looking for a swimsuit.

To buy: net-a-porter.com, USD225

Marysia Palm Springs Lace-up Scalloped Swimsuit

Details are everything (even when it’s 95 degrees with 90 percent humidity).

To buy: net-a-porter.com, USD350

Billabong Bella Beach One-piece

Florals for summer? Groundbreaking. (And chic!)

To buy: zappos.com, USD80

MICHAEL Michael Kors Regatta V-neck One-piece

If you’re looking for something a bit more classic, you can never go wrong with black and white.

To buy: zappos.com, USD114

Splendid Watercolor Horizon One-piece

If you head in the horizontal stripe direction, make sure the neckline is slimming.

To buy: swimspot.com, USD108

Lands’ End Women’s Scoopneck One-piece Swimsuit

Just like diamonds, color-blocking is forever (at least when it comes to swimwear).

To buy: landsend.com, USD90

L.L. Bean Squareneck Tanksuit

Every summer wardrobe needs a little black one-piece.

To buy: llbean.com, USD70

Kiini Tasmin Scoop-back Crochet-trimmed Swimsuit

If you’re not feeling exactly beach-ready, opt for a suit with seams that flatter your figure.

To buy: matchesfashion.com, USD315

Adriana Degreas Ginkgo-print Halterneck Swimsuit

The halterneck is back, and it’s here to stay — for good this time.

To buy: matchesfashion.com, USD259

Aerie Macrame One-piece Swimsuit

Macrame isn’t just for bracelets; it also makes a killer statement on a one-piece.

To buy: ae.com, USD55

Dolce & Gabbana Sunflower-print Balconette Swimsuit

Daisies are a girl’s best friend, and they scream summertime.

To buy: matchesfashion.com, USD595

Seafolly Castaway Stripe Bandeau Maillot One-piece

A bandeau top one-piece will save you from any weird arm or shoulder tanlines. You’re welcome.

To buy: zappos.com, USD202

La Blanca Flirtatious One-Piece Swimsuit

Not only is the one-shoulder ruffle a chic statement, but figure-flattering shirring at the waist means you can opt for one more poolside cocktail without worry.

To buy: nordstrom.com, USD129

Travelandleisure | Wanderlust | Cinet

Exploring traditional villages in Hanoi

You’ve been in Hanoi for a several days and explored most of the famous sites and haven’t got any idea about where to go next in this city? Why don’t we just open the latest version of Hanoi map, rent a motorbike or catch a bus to go a little further to the outskirts of Hanoi, where there are many beautiful traditional villages still waiting for you to come and spend your day in the most meaningful way?

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Bat Trang Ceramic Village

The village is about 13km to the south east of Hanoi, crossing Chuong Duong bridge, so you are recommended to go there by motorbike, there are many stores renting motorbike in the Old Quarter area, or else, you can catch bus number 47 at bus station on Yen Phu Street with very low price (3,000 vnd/ ticket).

There’s still no document can affirm when Bat Trang Village was established, but anyone can tell about its fame as the homeland of high quality ceramic and pottery products. Coming to the village and seeing its ceramic products like dishes, bowls or vases, ones may realize seeing similar products in some developed countries like Japan, Korea, England, Netherlands or Portugal, because since thousand years ago, Bat Trang ceramic products have been favorite by and exported to those countries.

Bat Trang village does not only offer you a variety of the best ceramic products in term of quality, style and galaze for your souvenirs, but also give you golden opportunity to make a ceramic product for by yourselves. Skilful crafters here will dedicatedly guide you to make sure that you’ll get satisfied products in the end.

Van Phuc Silk Village

The village is only about 8km to the south west of Hanoi centre which may take you 30 minutes to arrive. Like its name, Van Phuc village is famous for its traditional sericulture, weaving and silk products. Van Phuc has a very proud long-lasting history which silk products here have helped Vietnamese silk-making industry to be a universal phenomenon since two thousand years ago. Van Phuc is undoubtedly the cradle of Vietnamese sink where the best silk products can be found in the world. In the past, silk products are exclusively available to the rich and powerful people due to its rareness and price.

Delighting shirts, crafts, ties and dresses made of silk here are standing out thanks to its light weight and smooth appearance, high quality and a variety of colors that will definitely be suitable for any skin tones. Going further into the village, visitors might be dazzled by glisten colorful blocks of silk sold by approximately 1000 silk-shops along the town. If 1000 silk-shops is not voted to be the number of the day, you should carefully consider 2 millions meters of silk produced by this wonderful village annually.

It’s even more meaningful if you are having your last day in Hanoi but haven’t figured out what you should buy for souvenirs yet, because silk is currently a trendy fashion material thanks to its wide-range of application that is suitable for any facet of life, so what would be better than silk clothes for family, friends and yourselves. Moreover, this type of souvenirs really possess Vietnamese glimpse inside.

How to get there: nothing to worry about if you take a taxi, which may cost around $10, you’ll be delivered to the intended place. Traveling by motorbike maybe more adventurous and exciting that you’ll have to drive along Nguyen Trai Street to the border of Ha Dong District, then turn right about 3km more. For ones who are confused by Hanoi map that contains hundred strange street names, you are recommended to catch a bus, number: 01, 02, 19, 21, 27, 39 and 57 (3,000vnd/ ticket) to Ha Dong post office then turn left and walk for about 500m you’ll reach Van Phuc Village.

Duong Lam Ancient Village

Duong Lam ancient village is located in Son Tay City, which is about 60km far from the central of Hanoi. The village is proudly the first village to be perceived as a national relic by the Ministry of Culture and Information.

Deserving that honor, Duong Lam has a history of more than 1200 years, consisting of many ancient houses with their age of 400 years and above. This is also the only village in Vietnam which gave birth to two kings of Vietnam, who are King Phung Hung (761-802) and King Ngo Quyen (896-944). Both the kings are national heroes who drove back Southern Han invaders and kept independence for the country. Their temples are built inside Duong Lam village for worshiping.

Duong Lam’s cultural and historical values are the main attractions of this village. The sacred village is separated into more than six hamlets. Each hamlet has its own communal house, which are the worshiping places for gods and village founders. Those communal are really spotlights of Duong Lam because each one possesses unique ancient sophisticated decoration details. Mia Pagoda, Phung Hung Temple, Ngo Quyen Temple and Mong Phu communal house are recommended as priorities. The whole village is a complex of 21 relic sites which are all recognized as national and provincial vestiges.

Tourists coming here can enjoy relaxing glimpse while sigh-seeing beautiful landscape of ancient lateritic and mud houses, small lanes and green fishponds and taking some photos as Duong Lam has been being a venue of inspiration for photographers coming here. Also, the Vietnamese agricultural local life is presented much more vividly than any report on TVs.

If you have a tour-guide or go on a tour of a tourism company, you may have chance to taste local foods for lunch in ancient houses. However, if you travel without any tour-guide, you should prepare some foods beforehand for lunch because there is no restaurant in this village. 21 relics of Duong Lam Village are free for you to pick whether after or before lunch.

Wanderlust tips | Cinet

Must-see attractions in Danang

Nowhere in Vietnam is changing as fast as Danang. For decades it had a reputation as a provincial backwater, but big changes are ongoing. Stroll along the Han riverfront and you’ll find gleaming new modernist hotels, and apartments and restaurants are emerging. Spectacular new bridges now span the river, and in the north of the city, the landmark new D-City is rising from the flatlands.

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1. Dragon Bridge

Welcome to the biggest show in town every Saturday and Sunday night. At 9pm, this impressive dragon sculpture spouts fire and water from its head, near the Han River’s eastern bank. The best observation spots are the cafes lining the eastern bank to the north of the bridge; boat trips also depart from Ð Bach Dang on the river’s western bank to make the most of Danang’s neon-lit splendour. The colour-changing dragon sees selfie-takers every night.

2. Museum of Cham Sculpture

This fine, small museum has the world’s largest collection of Cham artefacts, housed in buildings marrying French-colonial architecture with Cham elements. Founded in 1915 by the École Française d’Extrême Orient, it displays more than 300 pieces including altars, lingas, garudas, apsaras, Ganeshes and images of Shiva, Brahma and Vishnu, all dating from the 5th to 15th centuries. Explanations are slim. To hire an MP3 audio guide (20,000d), you’ll need to show ID – passport or driving licence – or leave a refundable US$50 bond.

The treasures come from Dong Duong (Indrapura), Khuong My, My Son, Tra Kieu and other sites. There are also exhibits focusing on Cham culture today, with contemporary artefacts and photos of the Kate Festival (the Cham New Year).

3. Cao Dai Temple

This is Central Vietnam’s largest Cao Dai temple, serving about 50,000 followers. A sign reading van giao nhat ly (all religions have the same reason) hangs before the main altar. Behind the gilded letters are the founders of five of the world’s great religions: Mohammed, Laotse (wearing Eastern Orthodox–style robes), Jesus, a Southeast Asian–looking Buddha and Confucius. Behind the main altar sits an enormous globe with the Cao Dai ‘divine eye’ symbol.

4. Danang Cathedral

The Da Nang Cathedral, known to the locals as “Nha Tho Con Ga” (Rooster Cathedral) because of its copper rooster weathervane, is located at 156 Tran Phu Street.

Priest Louis Vallet had the idea to build the church and he led the construction work which began in the Rue du Musée Street (now called Tran Phu Street) in February 1923. The church officially opened its doors on 10 March 1924 with the purpose of serving the French Catholics who lived in Da Nang at that time. According to an explanation from the priest, the rooster on the roof of the church is not in fact the symbol of France, but is a symbol associated with St Peter’s story in the Gospel about repentance and awakening. This church was the only one built in the city during the French Colonial period.

The cathedral measures about 70 meters in height, and it’s Gothic-style design is an amazing and marvelous architectural structure incorporating several medieval stained glass windows of various saints. The Cathedral has been awarded a medal by the Vatican Holy See.

5. Ho Chi Minh Museum

Located on Duy Tan Street in Da Nang, the Military Zone 5 branch of the Ho Chi Minh Museum features a replica of President Ho Chi Minh’s home in Ha Noi, with a fishpond, a house on stilts, a garden and other relics. It’s all very realistic and feels as though Uncle Ho is still there.

Construction of the museum began on 12 September 1976 and it officially opened to the public on 19 May 1977. Its aim is to realise the aspirations of local people, along with the officers and men of Military Zone 5, and show their love for Uncle Ho.

6. Phap Lam Pagoda

Phap Lam Pagoda is a two storey temple located near the city center on Ong Ich Khiem Street, just five minutes walk from Con Market. The pagoda, built in 1934 and formerly known as Tinh Hoi Pagoda, is surrounded by large trees. The peaceful courtyard contains manicured gardens lined with Buddhist sculptures.

The top floor of the pagoda is a presbytery containing beautiful carved pillars, Buddhist Pali texts and a gold Buddha statue. On the ground floor there is an amphitheatre that can be found full of worshippers during traditional festivals such as the Tet holiday and Lunar New Year.

In the courtyard sits a 1.1 meter high Buddha and brass statues of the Goddess of Mercy (Avalokitecvara) and Dai The Chi Bodhisattva. Watch locals praying in the morning or getting fortunes told as monks go about their business. The neighborhood surrounding the pagoda is a great place to eat vegetarian food as local restaurants and food carts cater to the pagoda’s monks and worshipers.

Wanderlust Tips | Cinet

Guide to Eating Pho in Vietnam

Andrea Nguyen, author of The Pho Cookbook: Easy to Adventurous Recipes for Vietnam’s Favorite Soup and Noodles, is no stranger to eating her way through Vietnam. As she said, Pho and the way it is prepared in different parts of the country reflects Vietnam’s distinct regional cuisines.

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How to Eat Pho

Before you begin, Nguyen suggests following a few key rules:

“Pace yourself. There’s a lot to eat.”
Find out when your restaurant opens—some dishes, especially pho, can sell out quickly.
If you’re having trouble choosing where to eat, trust the locals: “Look for where the ladies eat. They know where the good food is.”

According to Nguyen, beef pho is the standard—elaborate toppings and flavors are more common abroad than in Vietnam. Here’s her guide to ordering:

“cooked beef = chín ( pronounced “chinn?”): Slices of chewy-tender beef (lean brisket or other tough cuts) that are simmered in the broth.
rare steak = tái (pronounced “tie?”): Thinly sliced beefsteak cooked by the hot broth; it’s usually a very lean, mild-tasting eye of round.
fatty brisket = gầu (pronounced “gow”): Rich sliced brisket with a generous layer of fat, though it can sometimes be the same meat as chín.
meatball = bò viên (“bah vee’en”): Springy meatballs (sometimes with tendon bits) that are usually halved or quartered for easy retrieval.”

Hanoi

“The capital tends to be more traditional and conservative in its food—there’s more charming rusticity in Hanoi, particularly if you explore the Old Quarter,” says Nguyen. “Restaurants tend to be smaller than those in Saigon. With regard to pho, a bowl in Hanoi is moderately sized and served with few herbs and garnishes—it’s meant to be savored for its pure elegance.”

♦ Where to Eat:

Quán Phở Huyền

“Excellent chicken pho. You can order it with offal and poultry parts that you didn’t think you’d ever eat or enjoy—like the crunchy cockscomb. Across the street is the Hanoi Cooking Centre, which conducts street food and market tours of the area.” 31 Châu Long, Trúc Bạch, Ba Đình, Hà Nội

Phở Gia Truyền – Bát Đàn

“Subsidy-era beef pho—it hearkens back to the time when Hanoians had to line up with ration tickets for food. You stand in line, order, pay, wait for your bowl, then carry it to your table. There’s a proletarian quality about it. The pots are powered by coal!” 49 Bát Đàn, Cửa Đông, Hoàn Kiếm, Hà Nội

Phở Sướng – Ngõ Trung Yên

“Smaller than a one-car garage, Phở Sướng is open in the morning till around 11am (when they sell out), then reopens around 5pm or 6pm for nighttime pho eaters,” Nguyen says. “Simple, balanced, beautiful soup. Add a deep-fried breadstick to dip into your bowl if you want the full Hanoi experience.” 24B Ngõ Trung Yên, Hoan Kiem Hang Bac, Hàng Bạc, Hoàn Kiếm, Hà Nội

Phở Trộn – Phố Lãn Ông

“This spot, in the Old Quarter of Hanoi, is only open at night. There’s just one dish that everyone orders: phở gà trộn (for which there’s a recipe in the book), a bowl of bánh phở rice noodles generously topped with poached chicken, fried shallots, herbs, green papaya shreds, and a tangy, salty sauce.” 65 Lãn Ông, Quận Hoàn Kiếm, Hà Nội

Saigon

“In Saigon, things are socially more progressive and economically wealthier,” Nguyen says. “Restaurants are more polished and cosmopolitan. Southern Vietnamese dishes often make me pause and ponder—some would say the food of the South is more fussed up, but that’s because it’s a hot and fertile place. Pho is served in large bowls with platters of produce, alongside bottles of chili and hoisin-like sauces.”

♦ Where to Eat:

Phở Lệ

“My cousins suggested we go here after some sad, pricey pho elsewhere. Very good beef pho, and locals love it. I ordered the cooked fatty brisket (gầu) bowl and it was dynamite.” 413-415 Nguyễn Trãi, Phường 7, Quận 5, Hồ Chí Minh

Phở Hòa Pasteur

“They have all kinds of add-ons on the table,” Nguyen says, “but I usually just go for an early breakfast: a đặc biệt special combo bowl of beef pho, and coffee with condensed milk.” 260C Pasteur, phường 8, Quận 3, Hồ Chí Minh

Ru Phở Bar

“The chef and owner is an artsy fellow, who uses brown rice noodles and Australian beef. Healthy-ish pho in an upscale setting; you don’t have to eat pho at a storefront every time.” 27E Trần Nhật Duật, Tân Định, Quận 1, Hồ Chí Minh

Travelandleisure |Wanderlust Tips | Cinet

13 photos to get your summer started

The 2017 National Geographic Travel Photographer of the Year Contest is coming to a close and the entries are turning up the heat. Many submissions feature sizzling snaps, from volcanoes erupting in Hawaii to dangerous fire festivals in Japan.

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Bogra, Bangladesh

“Countless chilli peppers surround labourers in the Bogra district in the north of Bangladesh. More than 2,000 people work in almost 100 chilli farms in Bogra in Bangladesh to supply local spice companies with chillies for use in their recipes. Chilli peppers are a major part of the Bengali cuisine popular in Bangladesh and are used as part of a combination of spices for various meat dishes, including chicken and beef.”

San Bartolome Pinares, Spain

A man rides a horse through a bonfire as part of a ritual in honor of Saint Anthony the Abbot, the patron saint of domestic animals, in San Bartolome de Pinares, Spain, Saturday, Jan. 16, 2016. On the eve of Saint Anthony’s Day, dozens ride their horses through the narrow cobblestone streets of the small village of San Bartolome during the “Luminarias,” a tradition that dates back 500 years and is meant to purify the animals with the smoke of the bonfires and protect them for the year to come.”

Cienfuegos, Cuba

“Kids play soccer during sunset in Cienfuegos, Cuba.”

New York City

“A Manhattan sunset captured from Queens across the East River. Part 2 in a New York trilogy called NYC Light.”

Singapore

“Sundays are special as it is a day off, and on some special Sundays, there is a gathering of people in the park for a picnic. When seen from below it is just a bunch of happy people spending time with their loved ones, from above it is also a nice interspersed of colors and layout”

Mount Bromo, Indonesia

“Mount Bromo volcano is a small, but active volcanic cinder cone on Java, Indonesia. Early 2016, I happened to be in Mt Bromo during the increase of seismic activity and triggered the alert status to the second highest.”

Kingsbridge, United Kingdom

“People at the beachshop”

Yosemite National Park, Califonia

“My fourth attempt in seven days to capture the elusive Fire Falls in Yosemite. Conditions two weeks in late Febuary have to be right and mother nature is a playful soul. It was overcast and snowing an hour before sunset and we had resigned ourselves to not getting the shot. The air was cold minutes before sundown as a hint of blue sky appeared from the west. The falls started to glow literally from the bottom and worked its way up. Minutes after sundown, this is what happened. I love the chase.”

Rajasthan, India

“Over an hour I waited for an Indian woman to descend and climb back 13 stories down with a depth of 30 meters at Chand Baori Stepwell, located in Abhaneri village near Jaipur in the state of Rajasthan, India. Architecturally this building is very beautiful, awesome and amazing. Built over 1000 years ago as a water reservoir and one of the deepest and largest stepwells in India.”

Lewes, United Kingdom

“A red flare lights up the night sky during Lewes Bonfire night, the bonfire capital of the world. November 5 people across the UK celebrate Bonfire Night, it marks the anniversary of the Gunpowder Plot, when Catholic explosive expert Guy Fawkes tried to blow up the Houses of Parliament and Britons everywhere set fire to things.”

South Ari Atoll, Maldives

“Lonely red umbrella on small islet sandbank in the South Ari Atoll, Maldives. Drone point of view from directly above.”

Devon Island, Canada

“Aaju sings while Mathew drum dances on a beautiful windy day on Devon Island in the Northwest Passage, Canada.”

Volcan De Fuego, Guatemala

“After a 5 hours hike up volcano acatenango i had this beautiful view to active volcan fuego”

National Geographic | Wanderlust Tips | Cinet

10 helpful tips for finding cheap flights

Besides saving money on your accommodation, learning how to find cheap flights will help you to reduce your other big travel expense. Thankfully, there are strategies and tips we can apply so we don’t have to pay top dollar!

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1. Start searching as early as possible

Airlines generally release tickets 11 months in advance. Once you know your destination start searching and continue to check at least once per week. Flight prices are live and fluctuate constantly due to supply and demand, so have a price in mind you are comfortable paying and be ready to jump on it.

2. When is the best time to buy your ticket?

A study by CheapAir who analyzed 560 million flight searches, found an optimal time to buy was on average 7 weeks in advance (for domestic flights). Others have suggested a sweet spot of between 3-7 weeks in advance.

The worst time was within 14 days of flying, or too far in advance, more than 5 months. For international flights, Cheap Air found the sweet spot is 11-12 weeks prior to departure. As for which day of the week to buy on, they suggest no particular day was better than the other and buying on a Tuesday and Wednesday was somewhat of an urban legend.

3. What is the best day to fly?

The consensus is that it’s best to fly out on a Tuesday, Wednesday or Saturday. These are typical off-peak days with airlines carrying fewer business travelers, usually meaning lower fares and a surplus of seats. You also have a better chance of grabbing frequent flyer seats on these days. Fridays and Sundays are usually the most expensive days to fly. It has been suggested to try these combinations: depart Saturday, return on a Monday for domestic flights, depart Tuesday, return on a Wednesday for International flights.

4. Adjust your time of day for flying

If you can’t change the date of your flight, play around with the time of day you choose to fly, which can change the price dramatically.

Flying at unpopular hours, such as the red-eye or early in the am instead of late morning through afternoon, increases your chance of getting the best deal. Most of the time, the cheapest flights leave either very early in the morning or late at night.

5. Fly where the deals are

Instead of choosing a destination and then spending days or weeks trying to find a flight deal, considering flying to where the cheap flights already are!

Choose a destination you can comfortably afford and one you’ll enjoy. Use a flight search engine like Skyscanner that lets you type in your departure city and search for a list of cheap flights to anywhere in the world. If you are flexible with where you want to go, these are handy tools and fun to play around with. Keep reading for detailed tips on how to do this down below in our “How to search for deals” section.

6. Consider round trip tickets

Even if you are only flying one way, sometimes they are so expensive that the round trip ticket is actually cheaper. Just forfeit the return leg portion. We have done this from Sydney to LA. Crazy, but it happens.

7. Be flexible with your flight dates

The best tactic for finding cheap flights is to be flexible with your travel dates. Give yourself the best chance by searching a couple of days, or even weeks, either side of your preferred departure date. If you are locked into exact dates, it will be more challenging to get the best deal.

8. Use different airlines

For domestic flights within Australia, it’s often cheaper for us to use different airlines and book two separate one-way flights. For example, we have flown Jetstar Airways in one direction and Virgin Australia for the return. Do your research and factor in online booking costs. If you do two separate airlines, you may be paying two online booking costs.

9. Be careful of refundable tickets

It really depends on risk. If you’re taking a short trip and haven’t paid a fortune for it, don’t worry about purchasing refundable tickets or trip cancellation insurance. However, if you’ve made a significant investment and face a high risk of cancellation, such as traveling during peak hurricane season or you have a potential medical condition, refundable tickets and trip cancellation insurance is a good idea!

10. Which seat is best?

It might not save you money, but it can save your sanity, especially if you’re traveling with kids or gadgets. Seatguru shows you the best and worst seats on the plane, user comments, and photos. Find out the pitch of the seats, if they have powerpoints, personal TV screens, bassinets for infants and if baby changing facilities are available.

Ytravel | Wanderlust Tips | Cinet

High-end backpacks totally worth the splurge

It’s the bag that follows you everywhere. Being able to cruise through airport security hands-free is reason enough to invest in the perfect travel pack. Make an impression even on your way out the door with one of these top-of-the-line backpacks.

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Coach Campus Backpack

This simple Coach bag blends utility and timeless style. Padded straps allow for extra shoulder-comfort, and there is plenty of space for a laptop or other large items. It’s available in black, a midnight-blue, and racing green.

To buy: coach.com, USD550

Burberry Prorsum Nylon Backpack

This nylon Burberry bag is extremely durable, and the drawstring closure beneath the snap flap ensures items remain secure. Three exterior zip-pockets allow for easy-access to items such as your cell phone or sunglasses. Leather tassels and gold zippers glam up the pack.

Fendi Croc Tail Leather Backpack

Fendi knows luxury, and this calfskin leather bag is no exception. Crocodile leather trim and palladium studs promise to make the blue-on-black bag pop with any outfit. It’s lightweight and roomy enough for an entire day sightseeing.

To buy: nordstrom.com, USD2,650

Coach Manhattan Backpack

Coach’s Manhattan Backpack is a contemporary patchwork of pebbled leather and suede. The spacious pockets and durable fabrics make this pack the picture of functionality.

To buy: coach.com, USD650

Anya Hindmarch Mini Eyes Leather Backpack

Give your luggage a sense of humor with this Anya Hindmarch bag. The smooth leather bag features a top handle, adjustable straps, and gold hardware—but it’s the playful set of eyes that make this pack, well, eye-catching.

To buy: saksfifthavenue.com; USD1,450

Coach Modern Varsity Campus Backpack

Sporty racing stripes halve this calf leather men’s backpack, which boasts enough space to pack carry-on essentials like a laptop or a few good books. Whatever you’re bringing with you, a full zip closure ensures your items stay where they belong.

To buy: coach.com, USD595

Frye Leather Drawstring Bag

Gleaming leather and an extra-spacious interior make this classic pack from Frye a must-have for quick weekend getaways.

To buy: saksfifthavenue.com, USD478

Marc Jacobs Nylon Backpack

Despite its designer label, this nylon pack from Marc Jacobs is still relatively affordable, and it has plenty of space for all of your travel must-haves.

To buy: saksfifthavenue.com, USD195

Rag & Bone Pilot Backpack

This sleek leather pack from Rag & Bone features a unique angular flap that secures shut with a hidden magnetic closure. It is simple and classic, and will pair well with any travel outfit.

To buy: rag-bone.com, USD695

Proenza Schouler PS1 Nylon Backpack

Proenza Schouler’s soft, indigo nylon pack is elevated by silver accents and leather trim. A locked, top-flap adds extra security to the drawstring bag.

To buy: saksfifthavenue.com, USD1,490

Coach Metropolitan Rucksack

Crafted from sport calf leather, Coach’s Metropolitan Rucksack pays homage to the vintage saddlebag. Of course, the traditional bag has received a few modern updates—including a dedicated laptop sleeve. It’s available in both racing green and dark saddle.

To buy: coach.com, USD695

Avalon Backpack

This bucket-style woven leather bag is the perfect carry-all to swing over your shoulder when hopping in the car for a road trip or heading to the airport for a transatlantic flight. Wedding utility and style, the pack features inside pockets and adjustable shoulder straps paired with a stylish tassel zipper. And, for the earth-conscious, the company makes a point to be entirely committed to sustainable manufacturing and local craftsmanship.

To buy: Cleobella, USD429

Coach Backpack Charm

We couldn’t resist this adorable—and functional—leather bag charm, which can hold two important trinkets. Use it as a bag identifier for your full-size pack or as a cheeky stocking stuffer.

To buy: coach.com, USD65

Travelandleisure | Wanderlust Tips | Cinet

SkyTeam announces lounge expansion, focus on technology

SkyTeam currently offers six branded lounges around the world in Beijing, Dubai, Hong Kong, Istanbul, London Heathrow and Sydney, serving hundreds of thousands high-value customers each year.

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SkyTeam is taking its customers’ airport experience to new heights by opening a new lounge at Vancouver International Airport (YVR) later this year. The alliance’s first branded facility in North America, it will offer a luxurious environment for First, Business and Elite Plus customers flying on any of the alliance’s nine member airlines currently serving the airport.

Speaking at the 73rd annual IATA AGM held in Cancun, Mexico, SkyTeam CEO and Managing Director, Perry Cantarutti, also outlined some of the focus areas that the alliance was working on to improve customer travel experiences while gaining its members value from the synergies.

“With the opening of Vancouver later this year, SkyTeam will offer more branded airport lounges around the world than any other airline alliance. Increasing the number of shared facilities worldwide realizes significant synergies for our airlines while offering a greatly enhanced airport experience for our top customers,” said Perry Cantarutti, SkyTeam’s CEO and Managing Director. “Meanwhile, we continue to invest in technology so that we can capitalize on emerging customer trends, drive greater efficiencies and continue to deliver value for our airlines and their passengers.”

In addition to increasing its global lounge network, the 20-strong airline alliance is focused on projects designed to enhance the customer experience giving SkyTeam airlines the most from their membership. These include customer engagement, loyalty benefits, business solutions.

Skyteam | Wanderlust Tips | Cinet

Best spectacular treks in Vietnam

Vietnam offers excellent trekking and less strenuous walks. The scenery is often remarkable – think plunging highland valleys, tiers of rice paddies and soaring limestone mountains. Northern Vietnam is your best hiking bet: its dramatic mountain paths and fascinating minority culture are a huge draw. Elsewhere, national parks and nature reserves have established trails.

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Sapa

Established as a hill station by the French in 1922, Sapa today is the tourism centre of the northwest. Sapa is oriented to make the most of the spectacular views emerging on clear days; it overlooks a plunging valley, with mountains towering above on all sides. Views of this epic scenery are often subdued by thick mist rolling across the peaks, but even when it’s cloudy, local hill-tribe people fill the town with colour.

If you were expecting a quaint alpine town, recalibrate your expectations. Modern tourism development has mushroomed haphazardly. Thanks to rarely enforced building-height restrictions, Sapa’s skyline is continually thrusting upwards.

But you’re not here to hang out in town. This is northern Vietnam’s premier trekking base, from where hikers launch themselves into a surrounding countryside of cascading rice terraces and tiny hill-tribe villages that seem a world apart. Once you’ve stepped out into the lush fields, you’ll understand the Sapa area’s real charm.

Bac Ha

Sleepy Bac Ha wakes up for the riot of colour and commerce that is its Sunday market, when the lanes fill to choking point and villagers flock in from the hills and valleys. Once the barter, buy and sell is done and the day-tripper tourist buses from Sapa have left, the town rolls over and goes back to bed for the rest of the week.

Despite being surrounded by countryside just as lush and interesting as Sapa, Bac Ha has somehow flown under the radar as a trekking base so far. In town, woodsmoke fills the morning air, the main street is completely bereft of hawkers, and chickens and pigs snuffle for scraps in the back lanes where a small clutch of traditional adobe houses valiantly clings on in the age of concrete.

Mai Chau

Set in an idyllic valley, hemmed in by hills, the Mai Chau area is a world away from Hanoi’s hustle. The small town of Mai Chau itself is unappealing, but just outside the patchwork of rice fields rolls out, speckled by tiny Thai villages where visitors doss down for the night in traditional stilt houses and wake up to a rural soundtrack defined by gurgling irrigation streams and birdsong.

The villagers are mostly White Thai, distantly related to tribes in Thailand, Laos and China. Most no longer wear traditional dress, but the Thai women are masterful weavers producing plenty of traditional-style textiles. Locals do not employ strong-arm sales tactics here: polite bargaining is the norm.

Due to its popularity, some find the Mai Chau tour group experience too sanitised. If you’re looking for hard-core exploration, this is not the place, but for biking, hiking and relaxation, calm Mai Chau fits the bill nicely.

Ba Be National Park

Often referred to as the Ba Be Lakes, Ba Be National Park was established in 1992 as Vietnam’s eighth national park. The scenery here swoops from towering limestone mountains peaking at 1554m down into plunging valleys wrapped in dense evergreen forests, speckled with waterfalls and caves, with the lakes themselves dominating the very heart of the park.

Ba Be lake

The park is a rainforest area with more than 550 named plant species. The hundreds of wildlife species here include 65 (mostly rarely seen) mammals, 353 butterflies, 106 species of fish, four kinds of turtle, and the highly endangered Vietnamese salamander. The 233 bird species include the spectacular crested serpent eagle and the oriental honey buzzard. Hunting is forbidden, but villagers are permitted to fish, and the government subsidises the villagers not to cut down the trees.

The region is home to 13 tribal villages, most belonging to the Tay minority plus smaller numbers of Dzao and Hmong.

Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park

Designated a Unesco World Heritage site in 2003, the remarkable Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park contains the oldest karst mountains in Asia, formed approximately 400 million years ago. Riddled with hundreds of cave systems – many of extraordinary scale and length – and spectacular underground rivers, Phong Nha is a speleologists’ heaven on earth.

The Phong Nha region is changing fast. Son Trach village (population 3000) is the main centre, with an ATM, a growing range of accommodation and eating options, and improving transport links with other parts of central Vietnam.

The caves are the region’s absolute highlights, but the above-ground attractions of forest trekking, the area’s war history, and rural mountain biking means it deserves a stay of around three days.

Lonely Planet | Wanderlust Tips | Cinet

Exploring remote Con Dao Islands in Vietnam

Way south of the mainland, Vietnam’s idyllic Con Dao Islands are the perfect oceanic antidote to the feverish energy and punishing pollution that can afflict the nation’s booming mega-cities.

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For decades the main settlement of Con Son was used by the French and Americans as an island prison for anti-regime activists and criminals. Several of these jails are now deeply moving, harrowing sights to visit. History aside, Con Dao is blessed with stunning beaches and rich coral reefs that represent the best diving in Vietnam. The islands have been declared a National Park, and there are rewarding rainforest hikes to remote bays.

Take a morning stroll in Con Son town

The islands’ tiny capital is a delight to explore on foot, with traffic-free streets, a couple of traffic lights and a solitary gas station. This is Vietnam in the slow lane.

Begin with an early morning stroll along the town’s spectacular promenade, with a horizon-filling turquoise ocean on one side and a roster of handsome ochre French colonial buildings to admire on the other. You’ll pass the old Gallic customs house where Camille Saint-Saëns composed his opera Brunhilde in 1895.

Next up, take a peek inside Con Son Market, where you’ve the option of a local breakfast and a glass of drip-fed, treacle-thick Vietnamese coffee. If you’re thinking more along the lines of a cappuccino and an omelette, head to Infiniti Cafe & Lounge instead, which has an arty vibe and a great street terrace.

Discover the islands’ terrible past

For a good overview of the islands, their environment and their role as a concentration camp, drop by the modern Con Son Museum. This will prepare you for a tour of the prisons themselves.

There were once 11 jails. The largest was Phu Hai, where political rebels and criminals were herded together naked in the French period; today the dank rooms are filled with emaciated, chained mannequins. This prison acted as a revolutionary university for leaders of the People’s Army of Vietnam and Vietnamese Communist Party, many of whom were incarcerated here by the French and Americans.

The most difficult prisoners were singled out for particularly gruesome treatment in the infamous neighbouring Tiger Cages, where they were kept in open-roofed pens, beaten with sticks and doused with lime. Over 20,000 prisoners died in Con Dao.

Reflect on the beach

After a disturbing look into Con Dao’s past, lighten your mood with a trip to the beach. Grab a scooter and buzz up to the north of Con Son island, past towering granite hills and fishermen’s houses wrapped in wild bougainvillea. Nestling in a niche in the coastline close to the airport is the glorious cove of Dam Trau, flanked by rocky promontories, blessed with soft pale sand and fringed by casuarina and pandan trees. Feast on ocean-fresh seafood at one of the shacks on the shore.

On the return leg you could drop by the uber-luxurious Six Senses resort, which occupies a stunning sheltered beach, for a sundowner, or even a gourmet meal. Alternatively, dine in the family-owned Thu Ba in Con Son town for delicious Vietnamese dishes. The English-speaking owner will guide you through the menu and make suggestions.

Hike the national park

Drop by the National Park management office at 29 Vo Thi Sau, Con Son town and get a permit for entering the national park. There are many trails but some are closed during dry season (November to February) because of the risk of forest fire.

The two most popular are the hike to the rocky bay of Ong Dung and the steep climb up to So Ray, an abandoned plantation with fine views over the islands – it’s now home to a large troop of long-tailed macaque monkeys. In the forest keep an eye out for other wildlife, including black giant squirrels and monitor lizards.

Dive Vietnam’s best reefs

The Con Dao islands’ reefs are unquestionably the best in Vietnam, with healthy soft and hard coral, and there are also a few wrecks to explore (including a 65m Thai freight ship). You can expect to see a good variety of tropical marine life: parrot fish, triggerfish and perhaps a turtle. The best conditions are between January and June but diving is possible year-round.

Professional dive schools include Dive! Dive! Dive!, a long-established operation run by Larry, who knows the seas around Con Dao better than his backyard. The Con Dao Dive Center is another great outfit. Prices are comparable whoever you book with: two-dive packages cost around USD140; snorkelling trips about USD40.

Lonely Planet | Wanderlust Tips | Cinet