Violet Cloutman

Enter the Jungle: Cave trekking in Vietnam

Vietnam is home to some of the largest (and best hidden) caves on Earth – Violet Cloutman hikes, climbs and swims the underground wonders of Quang Binh Province. This article first appeared in issue #3 of East, the InsideAsia Tours magazine. To subscribe for free or download an online version, click here.

Native spirit: An introduction to Burmese nat worship

Burma today is one of the most devoutly Buddhist countries in the world. Though there is no official state religion, 89% of Burmese people are Theravada Buddhists, nearly every Burmese man spends a few weeks of his life in a monastery, and anybody who is perceived to have insulted Buddhism (inadvertently or not) can face jail. […]

5 little-known places to visit in Burma

Burma is chock-a-block with must-visit sites, from the thousand-strong stupas of Bagan to the great, glassy expanse of Inle Lake and the “winking wonder” that is Shwedagon Pagoda. But sometimes it’s not the big-ticket sights but the unexpected gems that form the highlight of a trip. Myanmar is a country in flux, with new destinations […]

Naypyidaw: The world's weirdest capital?

Naypyidaw: The world’s weirdest capital city?

What is the world’s weirdest capital city? Pyongyang, North Korea? Astana, Kazakhstan? Nope, none of the above. The world’s weirdest capital city is Naypyidaw, Myanmar. Where?! That’s right – if you thought the capital of Burma was Yangon (formerly Rangoon), you’re dead wrong. But don’t worry; so is just about everybody else in the world.

In with the old: Exploring Hanoi’s old quarter

Hanoi has been around for an awful long time. It’s been the capital of Vietnam since 1010 (excepting a period of 150 years, from 1802–1945), has been inhabited since at least 3,000 BC (yes, really!), and is probably Vietnam’s greatest repository of traditional art and culture. Of course, it has changed a heck of a […]

The Kayan: Ethnic minorities of Burma

This post is part of a series about Myanmar’s minority peoples. For an introduction, or to read more, see our post: The ethnic minorities of Burma. The Kayan people belong to the Red Karen ethnic minority, and reside mainly in Shan State – Burma’s biggest state. About half as many live in Kayah State, and […]

Kong: Skull Island shows Vietnam in a new light

Sitting in the cinema last week, munching my Ben & Jerry’s (peanut butter cup and cookie dough, best combo ever) while I sat through the ads for December’s blockbusters, I suddenly found myself transported to somewhere very familiar. Rocky islands soaring out of the ocean? Steep-sided mountains and thick jungles? There could be no doubt […]