Tag: asia

Northern Vietnam Itinerary

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Last March, my travel squad went on a quick R&R trip to Northern Vietnam. We booked an all-inclusive Four-days tour, arranged for us by Uno Turismo Travel Agency. The cost of the tour was around 34,000 Pesos per pax, including plane fares with Cebu Pacific Air, 3-4 Star-hotels and meals (BLD). Joining pre-arranged tours is such a comforting time for me, as I do not have to prepare as much as to my usual DIY travels. DIY travels may be cheaper; but with pre-arranged tours, I paid for care-free moments and comfort. This Vietnam trip was a complete “pack and go”. No pre-trip research anymore. I did not even bring with me USD Bills (as pocket money). Instead, I exchanged Pesos directly to Vt Dong with our Vietnamese guide, with a better rate compared to the airport money changers. The tour was packed with activities. The best part was the dining. We were brought to nice full service restaurants. Di kami natipid. And we all know Vietnamese food is Good food. Sulit, tbh.

Highlights of the Trip—>Hanoi: The capital city of Vietnam with a rich history, colonial architecture, and famous street food. Ha Long Bay: A UNESCO World Heritage site known for thousands of limestone islets. Sapa: The mountainous region known for cold weather, rice terraces, and indigenous culture.

Day 1 – Sapa Town. We did a soft trekking to Cat Cat village, which is located at Muong Hoa Valley and near the stunning Cat Cat Waterfall. This is an age-old village of H’Mong ethnic group remaining unique customs and practices. We ended the day at Moana Sapa Cafe, a photo-focused destination located near Sapa town center. Tip: Sapa Town is 5 hours away from Hanoi by private bus. Bring a travel pillow.

Day 2 – Fancipan Peak – the highest mountain of the Indochina peninsula (3,143 m), located in the center of Hoang Lien Son range, hence known as ‘The Rooftop of Indochina’. From Sapa Town Center, we took a 10 mins Tram, then a 20 minutes Cable Car ride. We went up around 11 am, and was blessed with a clear panoramic view. Sabi kase fancipan gets really foggy when you go super early. Fansipan is super cold and windy btw.

incense stick factory

Day 3: Hanoi City. Vibrant, chaotic and unique. Hanoi has an incredible food and coffee scene. Must try -> pho and bun cha.

Vietnamese cuisine is heavily influenced by over 1,000 years of Chinese rule. But unlike Mainland Chinese, Vietnamese dishes use less flavourings, and adds a bunch of fresh herbs, creating a light and vibrant style of cooking. Common Vietnamese herbs include Thai basil (húng quế), cilantro (ngò rí), spearmint (húng lủi), and sawtooth herb (ngò gai). Other key aromatics are coriander (rau răm), rice paddy herb (ngò ôm), perilla (tía tô), and fish mint (diếp cá), often served raw as a platter.

Day 4: Halong Bay. A UNESCO World Heritage Site renowned for its emerald waters and thousands of towering limestone islets. Halong is 2 hours away from Hanoi City. The cruise was 4 hours, with kayaking and easy caving activities.

Vietnam is VISA FREE for Filipino Tourists.

Here’s a photo of me and the squad. Cheers and to more travels in the future.

Inner Mongolia Itinerary

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On our first day, we left Hohhot City early for Xilamuren Grasslands, to experience a glimpse of traditional Mongolian way of living.

Grasslands are generally open and continuous, fairly flat places that receive more rain than deserts but less precipitation than forests. In grassland regions, the climate is ideal for the growth of grasses only. The low precipitation rates are enough to nourish grasses but not enough for a forest of trees. Despite being dry, the temperature at day time is below 20 degrees Celsius.

In the Grasslands, we got to stay at a Mongolian Yurt (Meng Gu Bao Tent). The temperature at night drops to as low as 4 degrees Celsius. Good thing the tents have mechanical heaters (not so traditional after all). We spent the night on socials and a few bottles of traditional Mongolian Liquor made from fermented milk. The bottle looks very nice, too. At daytime we also got to enjoy various activities as horseback riding and archery lessons.

Here’s me wearing a traditional costume under the clearest blue sky of Mongolia.

Throughout my stay, I was hooked on local yogurt, which Mongolia has always been famous for. Yogurt (Isgelen Tarag) is a staple in the Mongolian diet. The cultural significance of yogurt dates back to the time of Genghis Khan, and it remains an important part of nomadic life and culinary tradition.

On our second day, we transferred to Kubuqi Desert for a nomadic desert experience. The camel ride excursion was definitely the highlight of the day.

We spent the rest of the day at Yinken Whistling Dune Bay – an Amusement park in the middle of the desert. We went for off-road surfing, go-karts, zip lines and roller coaster ride.

We also had a quick visit Ordos City, famous for Lamb meat and beef hotpot.

The remaining days, we spent at Hohhot City, which is the capital of Inner Mongolia. The city is strongly Chinese-influenced, with a touch or Arabic, as the territory also share some history with the ancient folks of Central Asia.

Here’s me feeling cute at Shini Zhao Temple in Hohhot.

Hohhot City’s vibe is far from the status of Beijing or Shanghai in terms of Commercialism. Somewhat a provincial vibe IMO; but all the necessary modern conveniences are there. Food was hefty and great, and everything’s fairly affordable.

This Peking Duck is by far the best duck-meat viand I have ever tasted. I could actually compare it to lechon baboy, with a thin layer of fat under the crispy-roasted skin.

We also had a quick visit to the Inner Mongolian Museum, which houses the largest number of collected dinasaur fossils in Asia. Inner Mongolian desert is also a treasure trove of prehistoric remains, as these vast dry lands are ancient. Oil and natural gases are also being mined from the grounds of this territory.

Where we stayed – Hamptons by Hilton Hotel in Hohhot City, with superb breakfast buffet.

With the tour Buddies. This tour was arranged for us by Uno Turismo agency based in Quezon City.

NUSTAR HOTEL CEBU EARNS MICHELIN GUIDE HONORS

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NUSTAR Hotel, the first ultra-luxury hotel in Cebu recently earned a place in the coveted Michelin Guide list of recommended hotels this 2025. 

This distinction places NUSTAR Hotel among an elite collection of hotels worldwide, each recommended by the prestigious Michelin Guide for excellence in design, architecture, service, personality and exceptional guest experiences. 

Michelin Guide inspectors are themselves seasoned travellers and experts in design, service and hospitality.  They travel the globe and inspect hotels anonymously to ensure an unbiased evaluation.  Hotels are assessed based on these five criteria and those which excel are recommended for the Michelin Key, a distinction that recognizes exceptional hotels.

A Landmark Moment for Cebu and Philippine Tourism

The addition of the NUSTAR Hotel into the 2025 Michelin Guide Hotel List marks a major achievement for the Philippine hospitality industry, which has long been dominated by international hotel brands.

“The NUSTAR Hotel’s presence in the prestigious Michelin Guide is a proud and significant milestone not just for NUSTAR Hotel, but for Cebu and the entire Philippine hospitality industry,” said Sean Knights, Chief Operating Officer of NUSTAR Resort and Casino Cebu. “This recognition affirms our unwavering commitment to delivering an exceptional hotel product, allowing us to promote world-class experiences that celebrate Filipino culture, elevate service excellence and redefine the boundaries of luxury in the region.”

Along with the Fili Hotel which opened earlier in 2022, the NUSTAR Hotel opened in 2025 as the second of three hotels rising above the NUSTAR Resort & Casino, a prominent icon on the southern coast of Cebu City.  The integrated resort complex is operated by Universal Hotels and Resorts Inc. (UHRI), the hospitality and development arm of Gokongwei Group.  Since opening, the hotels have distinguished themselves as hallmarks of modern Filipino hospitality at its finest, blending premium accommodation, world-class service and deep cultural identity.

The NUSTAR hotel has 223 spacious rooms and suites and three expansive sea-facing villas.  A defining feature of hotel is personal butler service, provided by a team of butlers trained by Heilbron Hospitality, one of the world’s most respected institutions in hospitality training.

This recognition by the Michelin Guide resonates beyond the hotel itself, heralding a breakthrough for Philippine tourism and the country’s confidence and readiness to welcome discerning luxury travelers seeking authentic and meaningful travel experiences delivered with genuine Filipino warmth.

More information and reservations are accessible from the hotel website http://www.nustar.ph or thru the Guest Services Center (+63 32 888 8282).

About NUSTAR Resort and Casino Cebu

NUSTAR Resort and Casino Cebu (stylized as NUSTAR), the Philippines’ first and only premier integrated resort in the Visayas and Mindanao region, offers world-class entertainment, luxury accommodations, diverse dining, and curated retail. Owned and operated by Universal Hotels and Resorts, Inc. (UHRI), NUSTAR is home to the region’s largest gaming floor, The Mall – the first and only luxury shopping mall in the area, Fili Hotel, The Boardwalk, and the ultra-luxury NUSTAR Hotel. Explore our offerings at www.nustar.ph.