Paul Mulligan
Travel Writer & Cultural Explorer
Latest from Paul Mulligan
20 Articles
5 Most Beautiful Parks & Green Spaces in Saigon
Looking for a quiet place to relax in Saigon is never easy. Between motorbikes, construction noise, heat, and the sense that everything is always moving, quiet
Subramaniam Swamy Temple – A Hidden Hindu Temple in District 1
If you walk along Nam Kỳ Khởi Nghĩa in District 1, you could pass it without realising what you’re looking at. Office towers loom behind it, and the traffic bar
Cultural Mistakes to Avoid in Vietnam (What Locals Find Disrespectful)
Vietnam is an incredibly welcoming country, but it also runs on a set of social rules that are very different from what most Western travellers are used to. Thi
Saigon Central Post Office: Sending Postcards from the Heart of the City
The Saigon Central Post Office in Ho Chi Minh City is one of those places that most tourists come to get a photograph of, but few people actually tend to use it
Ha Giang Loop – The Most Scenic Motorbike Journey in Vietnam
Vietnam is alleged to be one of the best countries in the world to explore by motorbike, and after years of riding here, I’d say that it's absolutely true. Tra
Space & Time Cube+: A Digital Portal in the Heart of Bangkae
If you head down to the basement of Seacon Bangkae, there's a gateway that feels entirely disconnected from the bustling food courts and retail stalls just a fe
6 Best Foods to Eat in Phan Thiet After a Long Ride
Riding a scooter from Ho Chi Minh City to Phan Thiet sounds romantic until you’ve actually done it. The sun feels stronger than expected, the traffic leaving Sa
Why Facemasks Are Everywhere in Asia (From Living Here)
While Westerners only got used to wearing facemasks regularly during the COVID-19 pandemic, Asian countries have been rocking them for over 100 years. While so
Is the Mui Ne Jeep Tour Worth It? How to Avoid Scams & Overpriced Tours
Mui Ne is one of those places in Vietnam that looks small on the map but stretches along a long stretch of coast. The Jeep tour is marketed as the fastest way t
5 Best Amazing Looking Coffee Shops in Saigon (Instagram-Worthy Cafés)
Saigon is home to some of the most visually striking coffee shops in Vietnam, where design and atmosphere often matter just as much as the coffee itself. From
Vung Tau City: A Coastal City Escape Just Hours From Saigon
If you love beaches, then Vung Tau is one of those places that doesn’t need much convincing. Just a few hours from Saigon, it’s close enough for a spontaneous g
5 Best Motorbike Routes in Vietnam (From Real Riding Experience)
Why is Vietnam considered one of the best countries in the world for motorbike travel, yet so many riders come away exhausted, stressed, or disappointed? From
Angkor Wat Through My Eyes: A Day Wandering the Ruins of an Ancient Empire
Angkor Wat is one of the most significant archaeological sites in Southeast Asia and one of the major draws for travellers to visit Cambodia. Located near Siem
Overrated Attractions in Vietnam
Are Vietnam’s most famous attractions actually worth the hype, or are some of them just bucket-list box-ticking exercises that leave you feeling underwhelmed? A
Nhau: The Liquid Architecture of Vietnamese Society
To the uninitiated eye, a Vietnamese quán nhậu (drinking tavern) looks like chaos. A symphony of clacking ice buckets, the rhythmic roar of "Một, hai, ba, dô!",
Bach Dang Waterfront Park – Open Space Along the Saigon River
Bach Dang Waterfront Park is one of the most open and accessible green spaces in District 1, stretching along the Saigon River at the end of Nguyen Hue Walking
Spending Time in the Amazon Jungle: What No One Tells You Before You Go
Spending time in the Amazon Jungle may sound like a dream come true… and it was, despite being woefully underprepared for not one visit but two to the depths of
The Long-Awaited Pulse: The Saga of Saigon’s Metro System
For nearly two decades, the blue-and-white barricades of the Ho Chi Minh City Metro became a part of the city’s skyline just as much as the Bitexco Tower. To th
My Son Sanctuary: The Sacred Cham Valley of Central Vietnam
Hidden in a green valley surrounded by low mountains in Quang Nam Province, Mỹ Sơn Sanctuary is one of Vietnam’s most important historical and archaeological si
6 Worst Things About Vietnam: Real Downsides of Living and Travelling Here
Vietnam is an incredible place to live and travel, so much so that I’ve chosen to call it home and have never once regretted that decision. That said, no countr