Ninety minutes on a plane is all it takes to travel from the calm, mountain greenery of Chiang Mai to the joyful chaos of Hanoi. Blink and you’re in Vietnam’s capital: louder, busier, and somehow more alive than you remember, which is saying something. We came here just before Covid, and ever since, Hanoi has been sitting in the back of our minds like an unfinished conversation. Now we’re back, and it feels instantly familiar and gloriously overwhelming.

We’re staying in the Old Quarter, which is less a neighbourhood and more a full-contact sport. It’s the epicentre of nightlife, narrow roads, and full sensory overload.

Streets fold into each other, scooters appear from nowhere, and every square metre is doing three jobs at once. This time, instead of ticking off museums and monuments, though we did those last visit, including the sobering Hanoi Hilton and the imposing Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, we’ve decided on a simpler plan: walk, wander, get lost, repeat.

The Old Quarter rewards this approach. 36 ancient streets named after traditional crafts.

The streets are crammed with people, traders, motorbikes, rickshaws, restaurants and coffee shops — often all at the same time. If you think something might exist, it does, and it’s probably selling snacks.

The city lake Hò Hoãn Kièn becomes the beating heart of Hanoi on Friday, Saturday and Sunday when the roads close and the entire population seems to emerge at once.

There are Zumba classes and shuffle dancers with booming speakers, musicians, artists, rollerbladers, and kids staying up far later than they ever would at home. It’s communal, joyful and slightly chaotic — and they genuinely want you to join in.

With Chinese New Year approaching, the lake becomes a living photo studio.

Hundreds of young women in beautiful dresses pose with flowers while friends crouch, angle and adjust for the perfect shot.

Nearby, food stalls sizzle endlessly and a sprawling market buzzes away. I love this part of Hanoi — it feels inclusive, celebratory, and very much alive.

Train Street is another highlight. Cafés line the railway tracks, and you sit there calmly drinking coffee while knowing, at some point, a train will appear.

When it does, the café owners spring into action, moving tables, chairs and customers with choreographed urgency. The train we saw was enormous, travelling all the way from Ho Chi Minh City, and passed so close it felt like it might steal your shoelaces. Coffee with a side of adrenaline.

Evenings often end on Beer Street, where the primary activities are people-watching and “just one more”. Officially, bars aren’t allowed to put tables and chairs on the road. Unofficially, they absolutely do, until word travels down the street that a van full of police are approaching.

What follows is a hilarious military-style operation: chairs stacked, tables whisked away, customers relocated mid-sip. Sometimes they’re not fast enough, the furniture gets confiscated, and fines are paid. The rest of us sip our beers and enjoy the show.

To keep the crowds entertained, sword swallowers, fire eaters and anyone with something to sell drift past, adding to the nightly theatre.

Hanoi doesn’t try to impress you — it simply carries on being itself, and you’re welcome to keep up if you can.

On the other side of the city are some very high end hotels and a shopping mall that is just full of Cartier, Gucci, Rolex, Burberry, Armani and countless other luxury brands all housed in a beautiful gilt and marble edifice. You can shop til you drop. We took a pit stop in the opulent bathrooms and rode the elevators. This city has everything.

That’s why we wanted to come back. Not for the landmarks this time, but for the feeling of being dropped into the middle of a city that never slows down, never tidies itself up for visitors, and somehow makes room for everyone anyway. Hanoi isn’t polished, but it’s generous, funny, and endlessly watchable — and leaving again already feels like another unfinished conversation.

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Sometimes the best travel days are the ones you don’t plan. With Chiang Mai still buzzing, we decided to escape to the next mountain along, Doi Saket, about a 40 minute ride away. We’d been before and loved it: winding roads, coffee growers, and lots of coffee shops. The plan was simple, enjoy the ride, have lunch out and drink good coffee. Naturally, the plan lasted about five minutes.

We got lost. Which, as it turns out, was exactly what we were meant to do.

Perched on a hill we spotted an enormous statue and temple, clearly still under construction. Curiosity won. We parked up and wandered around what turned out to be the largest statue I’ve ever seen on top of a half built temple, and utterly impressive. Then we heard it, what sounded like fireworks, and music.

Looking out over the countryside, we thought we knew where it might be coming from. Moments later, we were back on the bike, following a stream of people in colourful tribal dress, all riding in the same direction. When in doubt, follow the locals, especially when they’re clearly heading somewhere interesting.

We arrived at a clearing with what looked like a maypole attached to a tree (slightly undercover), a church, and dozens of people sitting around. Children were gleefully throwing firecrackers, running wild, and having the time of their lives, refreshingly phone-free and gloriously chaotic.

We’d barely dismounted when a man came over, greeted us warmly, asked where we were from, and then, in perfect English, invited us to stay for the New Year celebrations of three Lahu villages. Music, dancing, lunch, the whole day. “Please stay,” he said, as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

We were the only non-Lahu people there, accidental gatecrashers at a major celebration, and yet we were welcomed like honoured guests. Everyone wore traditional dress. We learned they were Christians, with strong English thanks to years of missionary visits. Over the course of the day, all three village heads came to speak with us, along with two pastors and a man who now lives in Sydney. It was deeply humbling.

The dancing began..and didn’t stop. Men led the way, playing flutes, drums and cymbals, circling the central pole. One dancer at the front jumped, kicked, stamped and twirled, changing steps every few minutes while everyone followed.

Then the women joined, forming a second circle around the men, moving in the opposite direction, line dancing style, with drums, cymbals and small gongs. It was mesmerising, joyful, communal, and full of life.

Around the edges, children played endlessly. No phones. No distractions. Just pure, old-school fun.

We were plied with cold drinks, trays of biscuits, and enormous sunflower seeds while we watched it all unfold. Then lunch arrived, potato soup with a little meat, glass noodles, fresh cabbage leaves, spicy chilli dip, red sticky rice and white rice, all served on a large leaf. It was delicious — and we ate every last bite, much to the delight of the people sitting around us.

After lunch came singing, then, after a few songs, one man stood up and announced he would sing English songs for the “honoured guests.” At this point I was at serious risk of dehydration from blubbing. The kindness, the inclusion, the generosity — all shown to two strangers who had simply stumbled into their celebration — was overwhelming.

More dancing followed. More conversations. We asked what people did for work and learned that while some were coffee farmers and orange growers many worked in the city, in banks, shops, and running their own businesses. Tradition and modern life, side by side.

Eventually, I was beckoned into the dance myself by a line of smiling women who clearly weren’t taking no for an answer. Resistance was futile.

As we were leaving, our new friend said, “Please come again next year.” And we absolutely will.

This day — unplanned, unexpected, and unforgettable — is what makes Thailand, and its wonderfully varied people, so incredible. It was also a gentle reminder of something many of us in the Western world have lost: true community spirit. And sometimes, all it takes to find it is getting a little bit lost.

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One of the very best things about Thailand (there are many contenders) is the people. They are funny, helpful, generous, joyous good natured humans who make daily life such a pleasure. It beats the angry, inconsiderate bunch who you often come across in our own home towns. If you are out in the middle of nowhere people will immediately help. They smile, make phone calls and treat your crisis as a group project they are delighted to be part of. It’s heart warming, mildly embarrassing and a refreshing change. Conversely if you are disrespectful or aggressive it can go horribly wrong for you, they don’t suffer fools gladly. Once you’ve crossed that invisible line smiles disappear quicker than a cold beer on a hot day!

We were sat in a bar with friends and a woman from another bar, decided subtlety was overrated and roared up on her motorbike in full Xmas regalia saying ‘come to my new bar’ gave directions and a cheeky wink and disappeared into the night in a festive blur of tinsel. It was Christmas Eve in Thailand, mildly surreal, totally unapologetic and very entertaining.

The bar owners didn’t blink an eyelid, no animosity or ‘what do you think you are doing’ Totally unfazed they just carried on pouring drinks.

When a car stops in the middle of a road holding up traffic for 10 minutes no one leans on their horn or loses their mind they just sit calmly and wait it out, it’s a much better way to live your life. I’m really hoping it rubs off. I’ll know when I return home and still feel this relaxed when someone steals my parking space whether Thailand has truly worked its magic.

It’s very busy in the city lots of out of town Thai visitors arrive for the holidays.

We decided to just watch the fireworks on top of our apartments roof, 7 floors up. It was a perfect spot with fireworks going off all round the city.

We have been in the old city on New Year’s Eve many times. Years ago when you were allowed to release lanterns, hundreds were launched at midnight and they set fire to lots of the trees, drunken tourists, chairs. It was a lot of fun but absolute chaos. To the roof..much safer.

Our local Wat is called Wat Jed Yod and was one of the earliest temples in Chiang Mai built in 1455. It’s a very pretty temple with lots of trees in the grounds and many buildings and stupors.

It’s only 5 minutes from where we stay, it’s cool and calming in the heat of the afternoon. Chris has a really good trick with the big Buddhist gongs. Turn up the volume.

We are waiting for a few more days until a lot of the visitors have disappeared to go for longer rides out. Local rides around villages close by are always interesting. Just watching life quietly unfurl around you, monks ambling along, children playing it’s a great way to spend an afternoon. The blossom is out.

We are going on Monday to Chiang Dao, north of CM.

It has some of the best undulating pretty roads I’ve ever seen, dense forests and hanging mist draped mountains. We’ll stay overnight in a homestay, can’t wait.

It’s that time of year again not long to go until Christmas and we’re in our favourite place, Chiang Mai. The weather is perfect now, blue sky, not too hot, friendly faces, fabulous food what more could you wish for?

We have bought a motorbike. It’s a Honda CB300, 10 years old and in immaculate condition.

We have a new condo in a new area, 15 minute walk from where we used to stay with 2 pools, gym and it’s quiet.

It’s only 5 minutes from one of the most modern malls in CM, called Maya. 7 floors of everything you might need. 3 cinemas, restaurants, every shop and brand you can think of and a supermarket called Rimping which is the Thai equivalent of Waitrose. When it’s really hot you can pop in and enjoy their amazing AC.

To try the bike out we did the ride we always enjoy, around the mountain, up to a view over the Samoeng Forest. It’s a 60 km twisty, turny round trip.

On the way back the timing was perfect to bump into our favourite animals.

We often see them at this spot. Elephants with a couple of mahouts. They beckoned us over and said do you want elephant hugs and kisses, do I ever, I was so happy.

We visited Jing Jai market, a craft, and farmers market. It was heaving with people and getting bigger every year. I’m waiting for my bestie to come and we’ll go clothes shopping can’t wait..

We went to the local outdoor car boot style market which is very entertaining mostly lots of stuff which should just go to the tip but there are little gems in there. Lots of fresh veggies, food stalls and assorted weird and wonderful items. Love it, it’s an entertaining morning out.

We have caught up with lots of friends and are delighted to be back in our second home. Just one last thing…

Sent with ❤️ from Sigrid & Chris

It’s time for the 48th Chiang Mai Flower festival and I couldn’t be happier. The city is awash with people and traffic, we slowly make our way to our favourite place to watch the parade. It’s outside a hotel, they supply free drinks and snacks, there are bathrooms, a perfect spot. It’s our favourite CM event.

It takes 4 hours for everyone in the parade to get from the train station just outside the city to their final destination in the park, inside the moat. We can hear bands playing, drums throbbing in the distance…

The floats have thousands of flowers expertly placed, it’s extraordinary

We were sat close to the end of the parade just outside the park, it was a hot day and a long walk. Everyone was very tired, the look on these girls faces says it all.

The floats park up on the inside of the moat outside the park

Inside the park are where all the flower/plant competition entries are.

The city’s gardeners have been working flat out to deck the park out with spectacular displays.

and you’ll never go hungry at any event in Thailand, a long line of food stalls. Fabulous. We’re off to the beach soon, it’s getting hot.

We are driving to the summit of Doi Inthanon, Thailands highest mountain . It’s a 100km drive with very steep climbs to the summit so we’re hiring a bigger bike. No more dawdling 2 up on an underpowered scooter willing it to get to the top, we’re going big!

We rented the bike in the city for £30 for the day. It’s a Honda 500, perfect. It’s a 60km ride to where you turn off for the mountain. It’s then 40km up to the summit. You enter the National Park it costs £8 each and a few km in you come to the first waterfall. The last time we came it was more a trickle, this time it had plenty of water. The mist as you got closer just hung in the air causing rainbows and dropping gently on our hot skin, lovely.

We approached the summit and parked. The highest spot in Thailand the sign said. I’d seen that sign already in the multitudes of weed shops on every street…

We came on this trip to go back through the Hmong tribal villages which are all over the mountain, another all time favourite bike ride and to see an old friend.

The villages are surrounded by seas of plastic poly tunnels overflowing with flowers and vegetables and lots of places to hire a tent, the Thais love camping.

Some of the growers supply all the floats for the floral decorations for the upcoming flower festival. The floral scents attack your nostrils, woody herbals and wet earthy aromas, citrus all pervading as you journey along.

We are making our way to Mae Wang, elephant country. Winding rivers meandering in the wide valleys, small hills and lots of vegetation.

The unmissable elephant smell, strong and pungent lingers briefly around every corner. We are close to our friend. It seemed busy, lots of tourist buses. We looked at the coral where she would be, it was all covered over.

A man asked what we were doing so we explained we had come to see an old friend Vissa. We hadn’t been for 3 years. The elephant camp had been merged with another camp so instead of 6 elephants there were now 16. All the staff had ‘Pon Elephant Camp’ T shirts on and walkie talkies, very professional, a lot had changed.

During Covid the elephant tourist business came to a sudden halt, no tourists no money. Some of the mahouts went back to their villages with the elephants as they couldn’t afford to feed them. They really suffered. An elephant can eat 150kg of food a day and drinks 30-50 gallons of water.

The guy in charge listened to our story, the elephant we called Vissa was actually Fa Sai, born in 2008. Her name means clear sky. He said if we took a walk to the camp base the mahouts would bring her so we could see her. We were taken to a clearing over a very wobbly bridge. There were modern little huts where you could stay overnight, the whole place had been transformed.

We chatted to a young female guide who spoke English and she told us Fa Sai was 7 months pregnant. Elephants have an 18-22 months gestation. Excited now.

Two elephants approached coming down a little hill. One was Fa Sai, bigger than I remembered and much wider around her girth. They said due to the pregnancy she was a little unpredictable and we shouldn’t get too close. They had a fun time having a mud bath. The camp are trying to turn the space into 2 rice paddy’s but the elephants keep trashing the area. We just watched them having fun throwing mud over themselves.

We will go back to see her next time we are in CM.

We did miss the bristly, snotty snorkel face kisses and the joyous times we had before but it was lovely to see her knowing she was being well looked after.

We were very grateful to everyone at the camp for accommodating us so generously. We made our way home very happy to have seen her.

It’s getting quieter in the city again after Christmas and the Chinese New Year celebrations, we can now brave the markets. There are more markets in Thailand than you can shake a stick at, in every village and town a real mainstay for every community. Not just for tourists but the locals as well, a daily coming together for everyone, love them.

Jing Jai the makers market is our favourite.

It’s only 5 minutes out of the city and is a genuine makers market with lots of independent clothing stalls, handicrafts and food stalls.

Jing Jai is held every Sunday and is a great morning out.

The city has its own Saturday and Sunday walking markets in 2 different locations within the city. It starts at 4pm and gets very crowded.

There are also local food markets liberally spread every mile or so throughout the city with fruit, vegetables and everything you could imagine to eat.

It’s fun visiting the markets, we regularly go. Next week we’re off to visit our favourite elephant Vissa near Doi Inthanon. I’m really excited, can’t wait. Hope she’s there.

More good news is that the original CM flower festival is on next weekend (8th Feb) with a big parade, floats, bands, flower and bonsai competitions and it’s back in the city in the park. My prayers have been answered I’m very happy.

The MHS motorbike loop is one of the best motorcycle routes in the world. It’s 400 miles with 1847 twists, turns, switchbacks and curls through the mountainous paradise of northern Thailand. Driving through deeply forested overhanging roads on good tarmac, glimpsing mountain tops before more twists and dark dappled roads pan out before you. It’s amazing. Steep climbs and deeper twisty drops add to the drama. You pass National parks, waterfalls, caves and lakes it’s immense. I have absolute faith in Chris and his driving skills and can’t wait for this next adventure. The road from Pai to MHS is the most scenic and exciting stretch.

The road out of Pai is cold, I have all the clothes I possess on. I’m excited. It’s a 3-4 hour drive.

Mae Hong Son is a remote mountainous area which borders Burma in the far north and is the westernmost Provence. It is 925km from Bangkok and lies next to the Shan hills. It is a culturally diverse region with Shan and Hmong tribes and the Kayan people who escaped from Burma across the mountains and over the River Pai. There is plenty to see and experience.

You pass the Caves of Lod, Tham Lod which was recently on David Attenboroughs ‘Asia’ series. You go in by small boat and it’s an enormous cave system on 3 levels. It was really busy as we passed, with tourist buses lining the roads. This is a picture from inside the cave looking out. We visited 7 years ago but not this time.

We booked in a small upmarket hotel very near the lake in MHS.

We met up with friends from Abersoch, father and son, John and Tom. They were on much bigger bikes so we didn’t ride together but met up in the evenings

The lake is the centre of town with a street food market every evening and a couple of bars with live music.

It’s a sleepy easy going town with little traffic. there is of course the ubiquitous night market for souvenirs and other tourist must haves.

Sitting above the town on the hill is a famous wat. We drove up and had our pictures taken with an enthusiastic bunch of ladies who were on a day out.

They always want you in their pictures. There were monks on tour taking pictures of themselves having fun.

On a more sombre note there is a memorial to all the bike riders who have died riding the MHS loop.

The only problem I have with the town is that the food choices are limited compared to Chiang Mai otherwise we would definitely stay longer.

There is a famous Burmese Wat opposite the lake with some of the strangest carved wooden figures and statues brought from Burma in 1857, they all tell a story.

We went on a trip out of town. The long neck Karen people fled Burma from persecution and have a village close to the Burmese border, by the Pai river.

The Kayan people who first escaped could never get papers or a Thai ID so were forced to stay in their village relying on tourist money to survive. Fortunately their children who were born in Thailand can get a Thai ID and get a Thai education. They cannot get a passport so cannot leave Thailand. It’s still much better than it was. It’s an interesting village with interesting people.

You pay 200 baht each (£4.50) to enter the village and 50 baht for the river crossing.

It’s a small village with a school and playing fields and all of the women sit weaving and making jewellery and handicrafts.

They are eager to chat and the younger girls have much better English than they ever used to have. The neck rings they wear weigh 2 kilos. I tried a half one on 1kg it felt heavy. They speak their own language, Kayan.

After leaving the village a couple of miles up the river, was a bridge. The closest point to Burma by road. A very wobbly bridge that Chris decided he wanted to cross.

We enjoyed our stay in MHS we had a few rides out and met friends a good time was had by all. We decided we would ride back in one go, it was going to be a very long day. We missed out on a bit of the loop back but felt we had ridden the most scenic parts.

It was a 9 hour ride back, stopping for lunch. As we approached Doi Inthanon in the distance, mist clad at 2,565m high we knew we were getting closer.

The end of the loop towards Chiang Mai goes almost to the summit of the mountain brrr it was chilly. It was only a couple of hours to home. Whoopee. It was fun.

Thailand is having an unusually cold snap 12 degrees morning temperature, the coldest it’s been for 15 years. Thais have been travelling to the top of Doi Inthanon (Thailands highest mountain) to take pictures of the frost! It is 2565 m high.

It was a two T shirts, jumper, jeans and jacket start to our long 5 hour bike ride to Pai.

We are going the back way, the scenic route, it takes twice as long to get there but the quiet roads and stunning scenery are well worth it. Once we left the main road and started climbing through the high forest roads it was teeth chatteringly cold. The air was crystal clear winding our way through the undulating high sided mountain roads with the sun just dappling the tarmac. Even in the middle of nowhere the roads are way better than the potholed, uneven roads of the U.K.

It wasn’t long before we saw these lovely beings on the side of the road waiting for the tourists to come, we snook in and said a quick hello.

We were making good time, the scooter was slightly underpowered for some of the incredibly steep roads especially the long steep ones. We drove through a fair sized Hmong town and after a very long hill the drive belt shredded and threw bits all over the road. Damn. We just made it to the top. We were not far from a Hmong farm where 2 young farmers were working, we managed to ask them where to go. Back to town they said so Chris borrowed Andy’s bike and went in search of help. He was soon back saying he had found a mechanics shop and 2 young Hmong guys said they would take us to Pai. Hallelujah.

They arrived smiling with a pick up truck, put the bike in and we were off. Andy left us to carry on to Pai.

Chat and Gon stopped at a few mechanic shops and we eventually found one with parts locally. The guys were lovely and stayed with us until the work was done and wouldn’t take money for their help. We had to force money on them, they were delighted and hugs and big smiles all round. You should never feel you can’t travel off the beaten track as some kind Thai person will always help whatever your problem.

We set off for Pai, we were half way there and again enjoying the immense scenery from high ridges, down to small valleys. The flora and fauna changing from big leafed trees, banana trees, grasses and big clumps of bamboo on the lower slopes, the floor a dappled green tangled tapestry. Higher up the taller trees, like sentinels clothed in creepers and vines like rows of headless giants with their leafy green Kaftans swaying above the roads.

Dense pine forests and evergreen trees are often over 1000m. It used to be rain forest but logging and farming have changed it. Opium was one of the main crops in the high mountains for the hill tribes but no longer.

Small communites in the valleys or stepped hillsides working the fields, life unfolding with children playing noisily, dogs and chickens, trucks laden with produce heading to markets. People cooking, chatting, village life. I love these trips out on the bike, this is the real Thailand.

The Thai highlands have been populated by hill tribe people mostly of Chinese or Tibetan/Burmese descent. Akha, Yao, Hmong, Lahu, Lisu, Shan all immigrated to these empty regions escaping persecution as well as seeking new land for their agricultural needs.

Getting closer to Pai you first see the river from high up, the river narrow at first bubbling over stones with sandy banks.

The winding roads coming down to the large flat valley passing natural geysers on the side of the road like steamy dragons puffing huge plumes into the air.

We passed a fully naked tourist and her two dreadlocked male companions just coming out of the river, warmed by the hot steamy geysers. We spotted their pimped up VW campervan, and knew we must be getting close to the new age hippy, party central kingdom of Pai.

Only one night in Pai. We have a really early start for the ride to Mae Hong Son. This next part of the famous motorbike loop is the most breathtakingly beautiful section, can’t wait.

Food, food glorious food. This song couldn’t be more apt for Thailand. There are no regular times to eat in Thailand, you eat when you’re hungry and for Thais that is very often. I was dreaming of Thai food since we booked our flights, what I’d have and which restaurant.

There are hundreds of street stalls with sushi at around 10p a piece and lots of stalls selling barbecued pork, prawns, chicken and meats I have no idea what they are! There’s fried chicken and lots of veggie options on sticks, duck soup all cheap and plentiful. We’ve never had any problems eating off the street food stalls.

We have tried this Korean dish called Jeyuk Kimbab, similar in style to Japanese sushi but the rice is slightly different and filled with spicy pork and veggies. A hearty bargain for 2 for £4.

The classic Thai dishes of Pad Thai, pad krepow, fried rice are on every eateries menu and cost as little as £1 it’s all good. Noodle soups are a lunchtime must have, spicy noodle loveliness.

The classic green, red and Penang curries you can get but are more a southern Thai dish. If you get really fed up with rice and noodles there are plenty of upmarket western restaurants to choose from, which is not very often for us.

Are you hungry yet, I am just writing this.

You can also feast on these, all the rage for sustainable eating. No, no no maybe not so hungry now..big bag 50p yummy

We are leaving for a long bike trip to Mae Hong Son near the border with Myanmar. It’s about 200 miles so we will stop in the party central hippy paradise of Pai for one night only. We plan to stay in MHS for 3 nights. The last time we went we flew but the flights are no longer, so on the bike it is. It’s part of the Mae Hong Son loop the classic motorbike trail which has more twists and turns than a skip full of corkscrews. Scary but fun, aargh.

We hope to see our favourite elephant Vissa on the way back, hope she’s there.