On the railway to China, the hidden ancient citadel, and visiting the Koreatown and Chinatown in this booming manufacturing hub of Northern Vietnam. Bac Ninh is the capital city of Bac Ninh province, neighbouring Hanoi. Bac Ninh province is part of the Hanoi Metropolitan Area, and on the drive to Bac Ninh it’s hard to […]
Welcome to Nomadic Notes
A travel blog featuring transport and accommodation guides in Southeast Asia
I’m James Clark. I'm a digital nomad and I take notes of my travels, thus the name Nomadic Notes.
I've been travelling the world since 2003 while running a publishing business. I'm currently based in Southeast Asia, and I write about transport and urban development issues at Future Southeast Asia.
I post trip reports on my travels around the world in the "Notes on..." series. I write guides on train travel and where to stay in Southeast Asia. Find out more about me and Nomadic Notes.
Latest Posts
Where to stay in Quy Nhon – City beaches, coastal resorts, and quaint fishing villages
The best areas to stay in Quy Nhon, including the city beach, Phuong Mai Peninsula, and beaches to the south of the city centre. Quy Nhon is a city in the South Central Coast region of Vietnam. The city has similarities to Da Nang and Nha Trang in that it has a municipal beach in […]
Notes on Surabaya – In the midst of an old town renaissance
The Old City (Kota Lama), Surabaya Chinatown, and Jalan Tunjungan (one of the coolest streets in Indonesia). Surabaya is a port city in the northeastern corner of Java island. The city is the capital of East Java province and the second-largest city in Indonesia. I visited Surabaya in May 2024 as part of my rail […]
Da Nang to Hoi An by public bus (LK-02)
How to get the public bus from Da Nang to Hoi An. Da Nang and Hoi An are about 27 km apart, but getting the public bus isn’t as straightforward as you would expect. There used to be a public bus between Da Nang and Hoi An (Bus 1) but that was cancelled during the […]
Da Nang and Nha Trang: Comparing the two great beach cities of Vietnam
Da Nang And Nha Trang are two of the largest coastal cities of Vietnam. Both cities have municipal beaches and they have become tourism powerhouses in the country. Here is a comparison of the two cities as of 2025. I first visited Vietnam in 2005, and I have been a regular visitor ever since. I […]
Where To Stay
Where to stay in Quy Nhon – City beaches, coastal resorts, and quaint fishing villages
The best areas to stay in Quy Nhon, including the city beach, Phuong Mai Peninsula, and beaches to the south of the city centre. Quy Nhon is a city in the South Central Coast region of Vietnam. The city has similarities to Da Nang and Nha Trang in that it has a municipal beach in […]
