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VIBE:CULTURE
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Street food reigns supreme
in Hanoi, making it a foodie
paradise. The best part?
You can load up on taste
without loading up on cost!
When you’re not sampling
the delicious local fare, take
a day cruise to Halong Bay
to explore the hidden caves
and natural rock formations
that got it listed as one of
the New Seven Wonders
of Nature. Spend the rest
of your time shopping
for bargains in the city’s
historic Old Quarter, or at
the gorgeous Hoan Kiem
Lake, where locals meet
for evening beers.
STAY AT LUXURY
BACKPACKERS HANOI
If you’re willing to dorm it,
you can get a bed here for
just R130pp/night (including
Wi-Fi and breakfast). With
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of Excellence, this is one
hostel experience you’ll
be impressed with.
GET THERE Fly from Jo’burg
to Hanoi for about R7 200pp.
GO DURING he autumn T
months of September
to November, or in the
springtime (March and
April), to avoid the heat.
Also known as the Venice of the East (thanks to
its impressive array of lakes), Udaipur lies in the
heart of the Rajasthan state. Check out the City
Palace, which towers over Lake Pichola. Entrance
costs only R50, with an extra R50 if you want to
use your cellphone and camera. Other easy-on-
the-pocket activities include a Shashi Cooking
Class (R200pp) and the Bagore Ki Haveli show
- an evening extravaganza of song and dance
in an 18th-century palace (R330pp).
STAY AT LITTLE GARDEN GUEST HOUSE
This hidden gem won a Trip Advisor 2017
Travellers’ Choice Award, and feels more like
a family home than a hotel. In the heart of
the city and with free Wi-Fi, the room rate of
R900/night (for two people) offers great value.
GET THERE Fly from Jo’burg to Udaipur
from about R8 700pp.
GO DURING The winter months – any time
from September to March.
With a rich history spanning from the
Stone Age to the Nazi invasion during
World War II, the rise of Communism
and, now, modern-day Poland, Kraków is
a must for history lovers. Visit the UNESCO-
listed salt mine at Wieliczka, which has been
worked for more than 700 years and includes
vast underground caverns – and prioritise
the many museums dedicated to the war
and the Holocaust. If you have the stomach
for it, Auschwitz and Birkenau concentration
camps are just 66km away.
STAY AT ATL ANTIS HOSTEL
With prices from as little as R85/night
(if you’re willing to share a dorm) or about
R500/night for a private room, this centrally
located hostel is hard to beat.
GET THERE Fly from Jo’burg or Cape Town
to Kraków from about R9 500pp.
GO DURING Spring (April to May) to catch
warmer weather with fewer crowds. July is
busier and heading into peak season – but
you’ll catch the Jewish Culture Festival,
which is a highlight.