What began as a trading port in the 15th – 19th century has been listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1999 and is exceptionally well-preserved.

The prized old town is made up of markets, alleyways and lantern clad streets which are easy to walk or cycle through. The ban of cars during certain hours adds to the city’s charm and will make draw you back for a 2nd and 3rd visit.

After 2 visits (so far!), here are the top 5 reasons I LOVE Hoi An:

1. Banh Mi

Hoi an is the home of Banh Mi – a quintessentially Vietnamese dish! A warmed baguette filled with pate (thanks to the French influence), delicious pork, pickled vegetables, chilli sauce and herbs.

These sandwiches are rich, spicy and just incredible! Don’t be afraid to order a second, my record is 3.5 over 24hours.

When it comes on where you should dine, there are two front runners:

Bánh Mì Phượng. My score: 7/10

Rising to fame after being featured on television series “No Reservations” by the late Anthony Bourdain, there is always a line out the door here.

Serving the traditional banh mi along with several variations, you should expect to enjoy this tasty roll on a table shared with backpackers and other travellers.

Madam Khanh – The Banh Mi Queen. My score: 9.5/10

Being dubbed the “Queen” is a pretty good hint that these sandwiches are going to be good!

Madam Khanh has been selling street food for almost 50 years, with 30 of those at her Banh Mi store front. It’s a family affair here with her husband, daughter, granddaughter and sister in law all involved in the day to day workings of the business.

She’s a street food icon and welcomes the attention that comes with it! You’ll find the gracious Queen more than happy to pose for a photo, lovingly holding her sandwich.

Letters from previous travellers are displayed in a glass case behind her work station and help to create a much more humble feeling than the previously mentioned shop.

The menu is also a lot simpler here with only two options: traditional or vegetarian. With the addition of a fried egg standard in her sandwich, this is a great spot for brunch matched with a delicious iced coffee!

Other famous Hoi An dishes include “White Rose” (prawn dumplings) and “Cao Lau” (pork noodles).

2. Tailors

If you want any item of clothing (including shoes) made, Hoi An is your place!

With 400+ tailors it can seem quite overwhelming. They vary from high end boutiques with air conditioning, complimentary bottled water and comfortable seating to talk over your fabric choices, to an undercover market stall where you get changed behind a sheet!

Unsurprisingly, prices are charged accordingly.

Clothes are ready for their first fitting the following day, and if you’re on a tight schedule, you may even get a scooter ride back to your hotel!

3. Lanterns

Beautiful coloured lanterns are strung up high throughout the old town, zigzagging their way down the already picturesque streets.

But, it gets better!

After the sun sets, the temperate drops slightly and it’s time to prepare to be wowed by the river side! Vendors line the banks selling floating lanterns ready to join the hundreds already released – it is simply a beautiful sight.

Lantern shops come to life displaying their wares, and a simple stroll through the old town is instantly enthralling.

4. Cooking schools

With so many fantastic dishes to sample here, a visit to a cooking school to learn how to make them at home is a fantastic activity!

Classes start with a guided tour of the local market where you’re encouraged to ask questions, taste and take photos. This itself is an eye opening experience!

Once back in the classroom, traditional dishes such as rice paper rolls, papaya salad, grilled pork and prawn pancakes are created and eaten all together as a feast with your fellow chefs!

5. Bicycles

As the old town is closed to motorcycles and cars for the majority of the day, bicycles are the best way to get around! Not just practical, they’re also what create such a refreshingly relaxed feel in the town.

No hustle and bustle here!

Cycling tours are readily available and provide a great opportunity to explore the near by countryside with rice fields, farms and fishing ports.

Bikes are available for hire from most hotels in Hoi An, but if you’re not in the mood for a light work out, a cyclo taxi will is the perfect (and fun) alternative!

It was so hard to only list 5 reasons why I love Hoi An, and I’m sure that if you make the journey there yourself, it will be easy to see why!

To book a trip to Hoi An, call Rosie at Mosaic Travel on (03) 5275 4583

The post The top 5 reasons I keep coming back to Hoi An, Vietnam! appeared first on Mosaic Travel.

To book an incredible tour to Iran, call Rosie at Mosaic Travel on (03) 5275 4583

The post Mystical Iran; an interview with small-group tour operator, Anoush appeared first on Mosaic Travel.

Food plays such a huge part in Thai culture, it’s more than just a meal, it’s a time for friends and families to cook, eat and spend time together.

It provides a livelihood for so many:

Village famers

Cooks

Street food vendors

The lady on the foothpath selling bags of limes and chillies!

Street food can be found anywhere at any time on food carts, motorbike BBQ’s, smoothie stands, tropical fruit carts, ice cream bicycles, foot path restaurants… the list goes on!

All the food I’ve eaten from these places has been 100% safe to eat and more delicious than the hotel restaurant! (Sorry to my Doctor back home in Geelong!)

While having so many options may seem overwhelming, a lot of stall holders are able to tell you the English name of what they’re selling. If not, point, smile and enjoy what you’re served – it’s more than likely going to be delicious!

These are my top 5 street meals:

BBQ fish

Salt crusted fresh whole fish (similar to snapper) stuffed with herbs and BBQ’d to perfection!

These fish come with noodles, lettuce and a hot pungent sauce (think lime, fresh herbs, chilli and garlic).

Take a lettuce leaf in your hand to form a cup, fill with fish, noodles and sauce then roll – it can get messy.

Expect to pay up to $10 for 1 fish with all the accompaniments (pricey for street food, but worth it).

**Don’t be put off by the look of these fish, they are my absolute favourite! Please don’t be afraid to try it!!

Pork leg on rice

Pork is king in Thailand, and this simple dish is an absolute winner.

The pork has been slowly braised in a delicious broth (soy, garlic and herbs) until juicy and tender then is served on rice with fresh herbs.

A large pile of the stewed pork can be seen at the front of the shop to help you know you’ve found the right place – it’s a great reason to stop and have a quick plate!

This costs between $2 and $4 depending if your dish comes with boiled egg or not.

Mango Sticky Rice

Street dessert! Mango’s are abundant here and enjoyed in salads, smoothies or the classic “mango sticky rice”.

Rice cooked with sweetened coconut milk is matched with fresh mango, a creamy coconut/pandan sauce and crunchy mung beans (don’t be put off by the name, they’re just like crushed peanuts!).

This simple dessert is creamy, sweet and fresh and is a reason itself for coming to Thailand!

Chicken/pork skewers

After a quick snack? BBQ skewers can be easily found in stalls or on the back of a motorbike BBQ.

Sticky grilled pork or chicken with a soy based glaze are a delicious snack for $0.50C to $1 each.

Chicken noodle soup

Similar to “pho”, this delicious soup is a staple in a Thai and expat diet!

For $2, you get a bowl of noodles, tender chicken and broth made with daikon (Asian white radish) bought to your table. Also available with duck! Yum!

At the table, you can customise your bowl with a choice of fresh ingredients:

Thai basil

Bean shoots

Boiled eggs

Lotus root

Cabbage

Snake beans (Similar to green beans)

Then add your seasonings:

Fish sauce

Sugar

Peanuts

Chilli (in 3 different varieties: dry flakes, wet flakes and chilli vinegar)

If you’re not sure what to add, just watch a local!

This lunch follows the rule of thai cooking by including something sweet (sugar), salty (fish sauce) and hot (chilli).

It’s fresh, flavoursome and a steal at $2 per bowl.

Once you’ve enjoyed your street meal, leave your empty plate and cutlery (spoon and fork) on the table and let the cook know you enjoyed it by saying“aroy mak!” (arr-roy muck)– it gets a smile every time.

The post Bangkok Street Food – By Mosaic correspondent Holly Richardson appeared first on Mosaic Travel.

I’ve travelled a lot, and over the years, I think I’ve worked out the magic ingredients to the perfect travel destination.

• Small and authentic, with more locals than tourists
• A small, boutique hotel, with quirk, and views
• Local restaurants and no tourist traps
• A nice beach is a bonus

Who agrees with me?

Tiny little Vejer de la Frontera, in south-west Spain ticks all of these boxes!

Vejer de la Frontera, or simply Vejer (pronounced Be-hair), sits on top of a rocky hill just 10kms from the Atlantic Ocean. It is a typical Andalucian white village, with a labyrinth of tiny, winding streets, a distinct Moorish flavour, and a ruined castle dating back to the 10^th century.

Vejer’s size and location prohibits mass tourism. It is 50kms away from Cadiz, where the closest train station is, and only standard cars can get up the hill; no buses. Even if you do arrive by car, good luck trying to navigate the narrow one-way streets, and find a park!

There are only a handful of small hotels, all occupying authentic village houses, a fact which also limits the number of visitors the town can handle at once.

Casa Califa Hotel has to be seen to be believed. A union of ten houses, dating back to the tenth century, make up the hotel complex, each room with a unique design and blend of Moroccan and Andalucian style. It is a treasure trove.

Many of the rooms boast patios overlooking the straits of Morocco, or windows facing onto the lively square.

There is a large rooftop terrace bar, where they serve evening cocktails, and fresh mint tea.

One of the hotel’s best features is its restaurant. Set in a lush, palm-filled courtyard, the ‘Caliph’s Garden’ dishes up Middle Eastern and Moroccan cuisine, in an exotic setting.

As well as the Caliph’s Garden, Vejer offers plenty of other delightful restaurants, all serving traditional and modern takes on local cuisine. There is also a small central market, where you can buy local cheeses, meats, fruit and vegies.

Vejer is home to a lovely mix of locals and expats. The type of expats who embrace the local culture, not those who try to impose mushy peas and Yorkshire pudding on the villagers. One of these expats is Annie, founder of a boutique cooking school in the village, which she runs from her typical village home. Owner of a successful catering company in the UK, Annie visited Vejer 15 years ago and fell in love with the place so much, she bought a house there, on the spot! Her rooftop terrace has 270 degree views over Vejer and the Straits of Gibraltar, with views of Morocco on a clear day.

Annie’s bubbly personality and passion for Andalucian cuisine and sherry, means she is a much-loved member of Vejer’s community.

Not all Spanish beaches are created equally. Head to the beach over near Malaga, on the Costa del Sol, and you’ll be jostling for an overpriced sun lounger on the beach with half of Britain. On the other had, head to El Palmar beach, just 14kms from Vejer de la Frontera, and you’ll be wondering why the word hasn’t got out about this place yet.

Miles and miles of white sand, and barely anyone there! There are a handful of laidback beach shacks dotted along the beach, offering simple food, drink and shelter should you so desire, otherwise, this is an unspoilt beach, popular with surfers. Note that this beach can get quite windy, in which case we recommend the nearby beach of Los Canos de Meca, which a bit more sheltered.

Get yourselves to Spain and become one of the privileged few to experience delightful Vejer de la Frontera, before it is ‘discovered.’

Fast Facts:

• Emirates Airlines, Qatar Airways and other reputable airlines fly in to Madrid, with good connections from Australia.
• Take the train from Madrid to Cadiz and hire a car from here
• Stay at La Casa Califa 2* Hotel – trust us when we say this hotel is worthy of at least 2 more stars!
• Do a cooking class with Annie at https://www.anniebspain.com
• While in Andalucia, check out other gorgeous destinations. You can get ideas here

The post Vejer de la Frontera – the ultimate travel destination? appeared first on Mosaic Travel.