Here’s a sneak peek at the destination guides you can expect:

• Jakarta, Indonesia
• Bali, Indonesia
• Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
• Dublin, Ireland
• Paris, France
• Tirana, Albania
• Naples, Italy
• Taipei, Taiwan
• Okinawa, Japan
• Osaka, Japan
• Kyoto, Japan
• Hiroshima, Japan
• Tokyo, Japan

Exciting times ahead!

The post What a Whirlwind Year It’s Been! appeared first on Trip Merc.

I’m back on the road, visiting new places like Colombia, the Philippines, and Indonesia, and also revisiting some old favorites like Vietnam, Japan, and Thailand. My travels have inspired fresh ideas and insights, and I’m excited to share them with you.

I’m also thrilled to introduce an upcoming project: a new spin-off website, Crypt Merc. This site will focus on the darker, stranger side of travel, exploring destinations that hold eerie histories and mysterious allure. You can expect content on:

• Haunted Locations & Ghost Tours
• Dark History
• Urban Exploring
• Ghost Hunting
• Cryptids & Folklore

Crypt Merc will feature some of the world’s most fascinating dark destinations, like the Paris Catacombs and Romania’s Brasov, where Dracula’s legend and local folklore come to life. You can access Crypt Merc from the skull icon on the homepage or visit directly at https://www.crypt.tripmerc.com.

The post Future of Trip Merc and Launch of Cript Merc appeared first on Trip Merc.

Introduction to Nha Trang

Currency: Vietnamese Dong (VND) – Please use the sidebar currency converter to convert to your local currency.

The beautiful city of Nha Trang famous for its gorgeous beaches and great weather is just a one hour flight from Ho Chi Minh City. Nha Trang once had a booming nightlife which was enough to rival Bui Vein in Ho Chi Minh City however many of the bars once here have now gone and have now been replaced with restaurants. Nha Trang still has so much to offer and it’s hard to go bored in this city.

Transport

Airport

Nha Trang’s airport is located near Cam Ranh which is located about 50 minutes away, when you arrive at Cam Ranh Airport you will need to find your own way to the city unless you have booked a hotel that picks you up from the airport.  The price of a taxi from Cam Ranh Airport is around 300,000 to 400,000vnd however some taxi drivers will ask for 500,000vnd. If you want to save some money I would recommend taking the airport shuttle bus to the center for around 60,000vnd. The bus is located over the crossing outside the airport and to the right.

Taxis

If you planning on taking any taxis around Nha Trang I recommend choosing Vinasun Taxis or Mailinh taxis as these taxis charge by the meter and traveling around Nha Trang is mostly cheap. You can have your hotel call you a taxi or flag one down pretty easy outside however It can be difficult to flag a taxi down during rush hour.

Grab

Like Ho Chi Minh City, Nha Trang has Grab’s. This is south-east Asia’s answer to Uber, basically, you can download and app and put in where you want to go. you can select different types of vehicles from motorbike to minibus depending on the number of people you want to cater to. The app is pretty simple to use you just enter your start point and destination and you will get a message when your driver arrives. You can add a credit/debit card to the grab app, once your card is linked you can instantly pay or pay cash, whatever you may prefer

Restaurants and Bars

Bars

Nha Trang once had many bars however many have now closed or become restaurants, there are still bars in Nha Trang but you need to look for them as they are no longer right next to each other. Many of the best bars are located around Nguyễn Thiện Thuật along with many different types of restaurants.

One of the popular bars on the corner of Nguyễn Thiện Thuật is the Connect Pub, this bar is open pretty much around the clock and can get very busy. The Connect pub is a good bar to socialise and meet many new people but can get quite loud at times.

For Sport, you have the Blue Fox Sports Bar which is down a little alleyway on Nguyễn Thiện Thuật, this is a cozy bar looking over the street with friendly bar staff. You can pretty much watch any sport at the Blue Fox and if the bar isn’t showing a sport you want, you can ask the owner who will be happy to try put it on for you. The Blue Fox also does a full English breakfast in the morning with good Quality sausages which can be hard to find in Vietnam, they also serve many western dishes and also Vietnamese food.

There is also Cheers bar which is located on Nguyễn Thiện Thuật, they serve western food and you can watch different types of sport. On a Sunday you can get a traditional English Sunday dinner for around 180,000vnd and it’s a pretty big meal too so you will get your money worth.

Here are a few more bars in the area

Blue Sea (Beach Bar)
Ally Cat Cafe
Blue Gecko
Secret Bar

Nightclubs

There are also some nightclubs in Nha Trang, one of the most popular is Havana skylight, which is located on top of a Premier Havana Hotel. You have to purchase a ticket to go up however the ticket gets you a free drink, they have DJ’s and a dance floor. Havana Skylight can get quite busy and is a very popular hangout for tourists and locals. Across from the Premier Havana Hotel, there is also a Havana Underground Night Club.

There is also The Sailing Club which is a restaurant during the day and at night turns into a nightclub. The sailing club serves great food however be prepared to pay western prices. Every Saturday night The sailing Club holds a beach party.

Places of Interest

There are many things to see in Nha Trang and the surrounding areas, however, these are some of the most famous places to visit.

Vinpearl Island
Ponagar Tower
Long Son Pagoda
Hon Chong
Nha Trang Centre
Doc Let Beach
Long Beach

Map

The post Nha Trang Guide (Updated 2023) appeared first on Trip Merc.

Introduction to Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)

Currency: Vietnamese Dong (VND) – Please use sidebar currency converter to convert to your local currency.

Where do I start with this city, Ho Chi Minh City is one of my favourite cities in the world. Full of restaurants, bar and lots of things to do at an affordable price. Ho Chi Minh City is formerly known as Saigon which was the capital city of Vietnam until the end of the Vietnam war when it was renamed to Ho Chi Minh City and the northern city of Hanoi become the capital city of Vietnam.

I would recommend staying in District 1, this is close to the city centre and Bui Vien walking street, there are many hotels in district 1 at very affordable prices.

Roads and Crossing

The roads in Vietnam are very busy and one of the most popular questions I get asked is about crossing the roads, the trick to crossing the roads in Ho Chi Minh City is to wait for the traffic to fin out and calmly walk forward in a straight line. Try not to stop, the bikes will alter their path to drift safely round you.

The first time I visited the city there was hardly any traffic lights; the only option was to walk through the bikes as they passed, this was terrifying at first but after a while it becomes normal.

This is a worry many travels have when they go to Ho Chi Minh City, but in the last few years, the roads have started getting better. You can now safely walk around District 1, there are many traffic lights and most of the bikes will stop at the red lights.

Transport

Taxis

If you would like a taxi in Ho Chi Minh City you can normally just stand at the side of the road and flag one down or most of the time they will just pull up in front of you when your standing on the edge of the street; this happens when you are trying to cross the road which can sometimes get annoying. Taxi price around Ho Chi Minh City is around 20VND to 60VND in district one, travelling further from District 1 your looking at closer to 100VND.

When taking a taxi from Ho Chi Minh Airport to District 1 you should never flag a taxi down outside the airport, many of these taxis will try to overcharge. The Price should be around 150,000VND to 250,000VND; I advise to book from one of the taxi ranks just before leaving the airport. If it’s very early in the morning and the ranks are not open look for a member of Vinasun Taxis or Mailinh standing outside.

Some taxi drivers will ask for dollars just tell them no sorry and get out of the taxi; they will be trying to overcharge you. If you need to flag a taxi down negotiate the price before entering the taxi.

Grab

This is south-east Asia’s answer to Uber, basically, you can download and app and put in where you want to go. you can select different types of vehicles from motorbike to a minibus depending on the number of people you want to cater for. The app is pretty simple to use you just enter your start point and destination and you will get a message when your driver arrives. You can add a credit/debit card to the grab app, once your card is linked you can instantly pay or pay cash, whatever you may prefer.

Restaurants and Bars

Bui Vien

The main bar area in Ho Chi Minh City for tourists is Bui Vien Street, located in District 1 and is a none stop party street. Bui Vien is busy every night of the week, its a great place to visit if you enjoy city nightlife. The street is very chaotic with lots of motorbike and people however this is apart of its charm. Its bars, neon lights and fire breathers are like something you would find in Thailand however its something very different altogether.

Street Food

The good thing about Vietnam is you can buy street food almost anywhere, most of the locals eat out and hardly ever eat at home. If your looking for the best places to eat Vietnamese food, just look for the restaurant with many locals outside. Food is a massive part of Vietnamese culture and the Vietnamese can sometimes be fussy on what food they eat therefore if you see a restaurant with many people outside then there is a very good chance the food quality is good.

There is also a Street Food Market located near Ben Thanh Market, this I very popular with tourist as it serves food from all around the world you can get Thai, Chinese, Japanese, Western Food and much more.

Bui Vien is also home to every type of food from Vietnamese to Western dishes, most of the bars sell food so you will never go hungry on a night out.

City Centre

If Bui Vien sounds too much for you then you can head to the centre of Ho Chi Minh City, where you will find more restaurant and bars. you will pay closer to western prices but still cheaper than most places in Europe.

Here are some recommended bars

• Broma Not A Bar
• Phattys Sports Bar

Sky Bars

There are many sky bars in Ho Chi Minh City, these as some of the best bars in the city because they offer some of the best views of the city, especially at night when the city is lit up. The prices at sky bars are more expensive than many of the other bars around District 1; you may pay average western prices for drinks, for the view and the great cocktails are still worth it. The staff in the sky bars are very professional and polite; they will open doors for you and escort you to a table.

Here are some of the most popular sky bars

• Chill Skybar
• The View Rooftop Bar
• Glow Skybar
• Air 360 Lounge
• Breeze Skybar

Sightseeing

There are many things to see in Ho Chi Minh City and the surrounding areas, however, these are some of the most famous places to visit.

War Remnants Museum

The War Remnants Museum is one of Ho Chi Minh City’s most popular tourist attractions, the museum consists of pictures, information and weapons from the Vietnam war. The museum contains vehicles found in the Vietnam war including planes, helicopters and boats.

Entry Price Around 40,000VND

Independence Palace

Another popular attraction in Ho Chi Minh City is The Independence Palace, this palace was home to the office of the South Vietnam president during the Vietnam War. The palace contains many different rooms with tables and chairs along with a presidential office. Around the grounds you will find many different army vehicles and under the palace is a war bunker.

Entry Price Around 40,000VND

Mekong Delta

The Mekong Delta is a watery maze of rivers located in South Vietnam surrounded by swamps and islands. The Mekong Delta is home to floating markets and villages surrounded by rice paddies. The closest cities to the Delta are Ho Chi Minh City and Can Tho; tours can be booked from both cities.

Chu Chi Tunnels

The Chu Chi Tunnels are about an hour drive from Ho Chi Minh City and are a network of tunnels used in the Vietnam War by the Viet Cong, they connect to a larger network of tunnels that span much of Vietnam.

Book Chu Chi Tunnels Tours Here

Ben Thanh Market

There are many markets in Ho Chi Minh City however Ben Thanh Market is one of the most popular, the market is located in District 1 and sells a variety of products from food, spices and drinks to clothes and electrical products. When entering the market you will be approached by many merchants trying to sell different things however the market is defiantly worth the experiences. If you see something you like be sure to barter the price with the merchant.

Map

The post Ho Chi Minh City- City Guide (Updated 2023) appeared first on Trip Merc.

Introduction to Havana

Currency: Cuban Convertible Peso (CUC) – Please use sidebar currency converter to convert to your local currency.

Havana is the capital city of Cuba and is a very popular tourist destination since the 1990’s when in first opened its doors to tourism. Havana is full of rich history with some of the most incredible Spanish and French architecture you will ever see from the colonial period. Havana‘s Africa and Caribbean Influences creates a magical experience of music, art and architecture like no over city in the world, I advise you to take a camera with lots of memory for this beautiful photogenic city.

Havana in some areas looks like it has been through the wars with broken buildings and the constant construction to repair the city, this is due to the old buildings and hurricane season which comes ever June to November; however September and October are know to have the most hurricanes. Don’t be put off by the thought of visiting Cuba due to hurricanes, as long as hurricane season is avoided then Havana is perfectly safe to visit.

If your a fan of experiencing different cultures then Havana is a must, every street corner is bursting with the sound of Cuban music and Spanish flamenco. Havana can be split into three major districts;

Habana Vieja (Old Havana)

Habana Vieja (Old Havana) is the old city district and is home to colonial mansions and sixteenth century fortresses. The architecture in this district has decade over time due to weather but is currently being restored. The restoration of the area has been going on for over 25 years which has resulted in nearly two complete streets within Old Havana, however it will be a very long time before the entire district is restored.

The main sightseeing area of Old Havana consists of narrow street and a grid like layout that is easy to navigate, considered the tourist are due to its museums and colonial houses that attract many people from around the world. Old Havana’s buzzing nightlife consists of restaurants, bars and streets full of Cuban music.

Centro Habana

Central Habana is located between Habana Vieja and Vedado, Central Habana is not the most glamorous of places however it still has it own charm. Central Habana is a more realistic view of Cuba without the tourist makeover. If you want to experience Cuba for what it real is then Central Habana is the place to do so with its busy streets, Cuban music and residents playing dominoes. Central Habana also has it own China town called El Barrio Chino; also between Old Havana and Central Habana you have Parque Central and El Prado the busy tourist zone between the two districts with many museums and posh hotels.

Vedado

Vedado is the more modern area of Havana with many restaurants, bars and music venues this is the area many of the locals in Havana will go to rather than Old Havana which is full of tourists. if you want to experience what a typical Cuban nightlife is like without the typical tourist trap, then Vedado is the place to be. Vedado is also home to Lennon Park which has a statue of John Lennon which you can get a picture with; its also close to Submarino Amarillo bar which is a popular bar for live music.

Transport

Taxi

Taxis in Cuba are easy to acquire however they can be quite a stressful process, some drivers will try to rip you off. The average price for standard taxis (Cubantaxi) around the city is about 4-5CUC; you shouldn’t pay more than this unless you are leaving the city. Standard taxis can be flagged down at the side of the road.

Cuba is very famous for its classic cars; immediately on leaving the airport you will see lots of classic cars parked outside. Many of these cars are used as taxis and most taxi drivers try to put the fare up for the luxury of riding in a classic car. If you going to take a ride in a classic car then negotiate a price before doing so, suggested price is around 15-20 CUC for an hour.

I recommend using a standard taxi on arrival in Cuba unless you can negotiate a good deals with one of the private vehicles parked outside; there are many not registered taxi drivers outside the airport so be sure to get a registered taxi if you want a cheep price. The price of a tax from the airport to Havana is around 20-25CUC, be sure to negotiate the price first.

Many of the taxis will travel between cities however you will need to ask the driver and negotiate a price depending on the journey; some drivers may not want to drive the distance. Its also possible to rent cars for the day for around 70-80CUC this is more on the expensive side but convenient.

Rail travel

There is a national rail systems in Cuba called Ferrocuba which operate from Havana to Santiago de Cuba, however the rail system is very slow in Cuba and is not classed as the best method of travelling the island. The rail system is great for a more scenic and relaxing journey. You can also travel from Havana to Matanazas using the Hershey Railway, the electric rail car departs 3 times a day from the Casablanca Station.

Coaches

For coaches connecting many of the Cuba cities I would recommend using the company Viazul.

Restaurants and Bars

If your looking for great restaurants and bars then your in look Havana is full of them, the best tourist area for bars and restaurants is Old Havana. Old Havana is very lively on a nighttime with its many bars putting on variance types of music to try a pull people into the bars from off the streets. You will find that many restaurants also play music while your are eating, music is a major part of this city and hard to be avoided. If its not bars or restaurants putting on bands its street performers or even festivals.

If you like live music then I would recommend heading to Submarino Amarillo which is a beetles themed bar this is located in Vedado.

Havana‘s restaurants serve everything from Italian to Cuban and Caribbean food, it will never be difficult to find something you enjoy eating. I recommend trying some of the local dishes such as Congri which is rice and black beans cooked in garlic, oil and spices.

Havana is very famous for its white and dark rum; the most popular and well know rum in Cuba is Havana Club white and dark rum. White rum is used in Mojito cocktails along with mint, sugar, soda water and lime juice; this cocktail will be offered to you everywhere as it’s very popular in Cuba.

Here are some of the most popular restaurants in the city (Click restaurant for more details)

Doña Eutemia

La Guarida

San Cristobal Paladar

BellaHabana

Nao Bar – Paladar

Scams

Scams are very popular in Havana the most popular are taxi drives wanting more than the reasonable amount which can be avoid if you research the general cost of travel; another popular scam is some Cuban’s on the street starting general conversation with you to try lure you to a popular restaurant or bar only then to ask you to pay them for their service; this can also happen when you ask someone for directions.

Cuba has two currencies The Cuban peso (CUP) for Cuban citizens and the Cuban convertible peso (CUC) for tourists; sometimes when you purchase something they will give you change in CUP which is worth less than the tourist version so check your notes when you received change.

Sightseeing

Old Havana

Where do i start? this city is full of history specially in Old Havana were every building looks ancient. Old Havana is classed as a world heritage site with its cobbled and narrow streets many of which have been restored to look like they once did. Some of the popular buildings in Old Havana include Catedral de San Cristobal, Castillo de la Real Fuerza, which is a military fortress and the popular public squares of Plaza Vieja and Plaza de Armas.

The Malecón

The Malecón (El Malecon) at sunset is a wonderful way to soak up the feel of this beautiful city and see some sights along the way. Havana‘s famous seafront runs about seven kilometres from Old Havana to the Vedado.

Castillo de los Tres Reyes del Morro

Castillo de los Tres Reyes del Morro also know as El Morro is a fortress on the entrance to Havana bay, El Morro is a guard post that was created to defend against the constant pirate attacks in the 16th and 17th century. The guard post contains a light house which has been rebuild several times, then total replaced in the 19th centre with a stone version however it still holds the original torch.

Fortaleza de San Carlos de la Cabana

Fortaleza de San Carlos de la Cabana also know as Castillo de San Carlos de la Cabana sits on the top of the Cabana hill and is one of the largest Spanish fortresses ever created. The fortress had also been used as a prison and the headquarters of revolutionist Che Guevara

El Capitolio (National Capitol Building)

The huge dome of the El Capitollo is visible from almost anywhere in Havana, the building is a striking resemblance to the American capital building however its know to be based on the Panthéon building in Paris.

For more sights in the Havana click here

Havana is a very beautiful and ancient city which has it all; great food, many bars and so much rich history. For anyone looking for their next adventure then I have to say this city is a must, drown yourself in its history, music and nightlife.

Map

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