To say that Taiwan is a good place for great food would be a massive understatement. From the hawker stalls at the Shilin Night Market to the many dedicated restaurants in the cities, Taiwan is home to its fair share of places where you can sample authentic and contemporary Vietnamese cuisine.

​The fact that there are so many authentic places for Vietnamese cuisine in Taiwan is not surprising either. Although separated by oceans, there’s a relatively short distance between the two countries. And in terms of food culture, there are many similarities between them as well. In a guide to Vietnam by Expatbets, the site discusses how the country is very welcoming of not just foreigners but their respective cultures as well. Much like Taiwan, Vietnam is home to many expats and the culinary ingredients and recipes that they take with them abroad. And both countries are home to many places for sampling foreign cuisine.

​Mu Viet restaurant in Taipei is one such location. In a guide to Mu Viet by TPEats, the restaurant review site notes how the place is home to moderately priced classic Vietnamese fare, including fresh spring rolls, sugarcane shrimp, fried soft-shell crab in tamarind sauce, and classic ice-drip coffee. Complimented by its vintage Indochinese decor, you might be surprised to find out that this authentic Vietnamese restaurant is actually not a mom-and-pop operation but part of a corporate restaurant chain. It’s arguably proof that even when it comes to ‘fast food,’ chefs that specialize in Vietnamese cuisine always mean business.

​If you’re more a fan of classic Vietnamese pho, look no futher than Hong Gong Gong Vietnamese Pho Noodle Soup. With their seven types of broth, obsession for the freshest ingredients, and penchant for contemporary experimentation, Hong Gong Gong is a casual dining experience whose authentic pho is far from casual. From refreshing clear broths to more flavorful, ramen-like contemporary takes on pho soups, this place is a must-visit for lovers of fresh vegetables, tender meats, al dente noodles, and Asian herbs and spices. A similar experience can be found in the über trendy Corner 21, a trendier pho restaurant with a focus on modern fusion.

Meanwhile, if your interests in Vietnamese food are centered around its iconic banh mi sandwich, you’re going to want to visit Lò Bánh Mì Pasteur. Ran by Vietnamese baker and chef Nuong, Lò Bánh Mì Pasteur’s mission is to recreate the perfect banh mi with local Taiwanese ingredients, leading to both subtle and overt differences in flavor. Using ancestral recipes for Vietnamese sandwich bread, pickles, and even ham – but recreated using locally sourced ingredients – Nuong’s banh mi represents the truest fusion of Vietnamese and Taiwanese cuisine.

This is just a handful of the many places in Taiwan where you can experience authentic Vietnamese fare. Whether you’re a local or a foreigner who’s curious about what Taiwan has to offer, any of these restaurants can offer you a taste of the best Vietnamese food in the East Asian region.

The Wanli UFO Houses (aka Futuros) are a neighborhood of abandoned futuristic houses near Wanli Beach (aka Emerald Bay, Green Bay, or Feicuiwan) in Wanli District of New Taipei, and are some of the most popular urban exploration and Instagram destinations in northern Taiwan. 

If you are looking for the Sanzhi UFO houses (三芝飛碟屋), stop looking; the Sanzhi UFO houses were destroyed in 2010. There are UFO houses all around Taiwan, but Wanli has the largest group of these houses. Go see them soon before they are demolished too!

Background:
The UFO house village was created in the 1970s by a Taiwan construction company. At the time during martial law, Wanli beach (Feitsui Bay) was one of the few places that American servicemen could enjoy a beach vacation, as most beaches were closed off at the time. These UFO houses had these servicemen in mind. However, a slowing economy and the severing of official diplomatic ties with the USA prevented the area from taking off, and the UFO resort town fell into decay.
For a more complete historical background on this area, check out this blog by Josh Ellis. 

Common Courtesy When Visiting:

• Some of the houses are not abandoned and still have people living in them. Do not walk near these houses, try to walk in, or invade these people's privacy in any other way.
• Do not disturb the houses and items at the scene. Leave everything the way you found it. The most important rule of urban exploration is that you take only pictures and leave nothing but footsteps. 

Hours:
24/7

Price:
Free

How to get there:
​By Bus: There are many buses that pass the area. You'll want to get off at Green Bay (翡翠灣).
By Car/Scooter: Take Provincial highway 2 west out of Keelung, and keep going until you reach the Howard Green Bay Resort.

Map:
Please see below:

Qishan Old Street is a large a popular historical street in Qishan District of Kaohsiung City. Originally a major industrial hub for sugar cane during the Japanese era, now it is a quite agricultural town in rural Kaohsiung. It is one of the best old streets in Taiwan for its many agricultural products and snacks, as well as the many well preserved historical buildings in the area. 

Background:
The original name of Qishan was Taburian, a name given by the Makatao Siraya Aboriginal Tribe that had inhabited the area for thousands of years.
During the Qing Dynasty, the local Han farmers who began to cultivate the area first planted sweet potatoes (Fanshu 蕃薯) so the area was named Fanshu Village.
During the Japanese Era in 1920, the name was changed again to Qishan. They re-planned the city streets, making them look like a chess board. Also they created what is now Zhongshan Road, or Qishan Old Street, and many western baroque style houses were built along the street at the time.
​Qishan station was completed in 1910 for the Taiwan sugar company, to ship sugar cane from Qishan to Jiuqutang Station in Dashu. The railway line included many stations in between.
After World War 2, the railway line was still in use and began accepting passengers in 1973, as the sugar cane industry died down. By 1979, passengers were banned on the line and the line was dismantled. 
Qishan is still mostly a rural area, with the main agricultural products being bananas, rice, beans, gourds, and other fruits and vegetables. On the old street some popular local delicacies are Rouyuan, Mantou Buns, Tangyuan, and Zongzi.
Now Qishan station and many of the western style houses has been registered as historical monuments. Qishan Old street is also a popular spot for tourists on weekends, and is usually closed to vehicle traffic during the day on weekends and holidays.

Delicacies:
Qishan is still mostly a rural area, with the main agricultural products being bananas, rice, beans, gourds, and other fruits and vegetables. On the old street some popular local delicacies are Rouyuan, Mantou Buns, Tangyuan, and Zongzi.
​
Hours:
Every Day from about 9 AM to 10 PM, with more shops opening later in the day.

Price:
Qishan Old Street: Free
Qishan Station: 30 NT

When to go:
If you go during weekends or holidays, it can get really crowded but that is also the time when most all of the shops and stalls are open. If you want to avoid the crowds you can try going early in the afternoon when it is not as busy, 

How to get there:
By Scooter/Car: From central Kaohsiung, take provincial highway 29 north (scooters) or national freeway 10 (cars) until you reach Zhongshan Road in downtown Qishan. This is the old street.
By Bus: From Zuoying HSR station or Kaohsiung main station there are many intercity busses that can take you to Qishan Station in about an hour.
​
Map:
​Please see below:

Bangkok, the capital of Thailand, is a bustling city with vibrant street life, delicious food, amazing temples, and the grand palace. Here in this blog I will take you on our four day three night journey to Bangkok.

Before the Pandemic began, I had planned a trip to Thailand for the summer of 2020. Obviously that didn't happen, and to console myself here is a blog detailing our trip to Bangkok and Ayutthaya. 

Background:
Bangkok is the most populous city in Thailand with over 10 million residents, and is also the nation's capitol. During the Ayutthaya Kingdom, it was merely a small trading post. In the late 1700s, it was named the capital of Siam (as Thonburi and Rattanakosin). The city has been the center of modernization in the country, and the heart of the government, which is ruled by constitution but also includes monarchy and has undergone numerous military coups. Currently, democratic rights are being contested by young people who feel they do not have a voice in the government.
Ayutthaya Historical Park is an old capital of Thailand (Ayutthaya Kingdom), and was the capital of Thailand for the longest period of time from around 1351 to 1767 when it was destroyed by the Burmese, ending the empire. 

Here is a map of Bangkok Below:

Fisherman's Wharf is a popular leisure fishing port in Tamsui. The area features a pedestrian bridge with great views, and a long pier with tons of food options, especially  seafood. Popular activities here include watching the sunset, enjoying the scenery, and enjoying local snacks. 

Background:
Fisherman's Wharf is officially known as  Tamsui Fishing Harbor No. 2 (淡水第二魚港). It was an important harbor for fisherman, along with Tamsui port for the past 200 years due to its geographic location on the westernmost end of the Tamsui River. In 2001, it was changed into it's current form as a tourist destination. However, it still continues to be used as a fishing harbor.  
There are two other official Fisherman's Wharf's in Taiwan, one Kaohsiung and one in Chiayi. 
The fisherman's wharf station on Tamsui's Danhai light rail line (LRT) opened November 15th, 2020.

Hours:
Food stalls are open from roughly 11 AM to 8 PM. 

Price:
Free

How to get there:
By Car/Scooter: Take provincial highway 2 as far west as possible and you will reach the wharf. There is paid parking inside. 
By bus: Take Red Bus 26 from Tamsui MRT station west to Fisherman's Wharf station.
By light rail: The fisherman's wharf station on Tamsui's Danhai light rail line (LRT) is expected to open November 15th, 2020. The walk from the LRT station takes about 10 minutes. ​

Map:
Please see below:

Ever want to see an active volcano up close? You can at the mud Volcanos in Wushanding Nature Preserve, Yanchao District of Kaohsiung. These spew out mud all day, which piles up and then gets washed away by rain. It is a unique and beautiful geological oddity worth visiting. These are the largest and most concentrated mud volcanoes in Taiwan. 

Geological History:

Wushanding Mud Volcanoes are part of a stretch of badlands that cover a large swath of southern Taiwan near the central mountain range in rural Tainan and Kaohsiung. Typical badlands are found in dryer climates, are composed of sedimentary rocks, typically have very little vegetation, and have deep valleys or ravines. The badlands in Taiwan are unique in that they are in a tropical rain forest. How is this possible? 
The soil at Wushanding is composed of mudstone, sandstone, shale, and chalk. Because of high alkaline levels due to chalk in the soil, trees and grass cannot grow very well. The lack of vegetation as well as high rainfall gives way to quick eroding hills, or badlands. The local Rivers also helped to carve out the landscape and bare hills.
Due to vents in the earth's crust as well as deep pressures, water is pushed up to form these mud volcanoes. Nearby are also some natural gas vents, such as the ones at Guanziling Fire and Water Cave. The area around Yanchao is full of badlands and mud volcanoes, but the volcanoes at Wushanding are the most concentrated and pronounced in all of Taiwan. 
Wushanding was declared a protected area in 1992.
Because of limited public transportation, normally there are not too many visitors but the weekends can be busy.

Hours:
9 AM to 4:30 PM every day

Price:
Free! But you have to register in order to enter the park.

How to Get There:
By Bus: From Eda World, take bus 7A to Kaohsiung Normal University. It is about a 20 minute walk from the university. 
By Car/Scooter:
Take National Freeway 10 East out of Kaohsiung and get off at the Yanchao exit (or travel by scooter under the freeway). Then travel east on provincial highway 22 passed National Kaohsiung University of Science and Technology. You will have to use google Maps to turn left onto a one lane country back road to find the mud volcanoes. 
​
Map:
Please refer to the map below:

Buying a car as a foreigner in Taiwan can be a confusing and stressful experience. If you do not live near a train station, chances are that you have thought about at least buying a car for long trips. Taiwan is a place that should be explored not just with public transportation, but by car or scooter. If you only take public transportation everywhere you go, you are missing out on a huge part of Taiwan. To make you buying experience smoother, we have created this guide to let you know what to expect and answer any questions.

The Kaohsiung Confucius Temple (aka Qishan Confucius Temple) is the largest Confucius Temple in Taiwan. It was built over the former Qishan Shinto Shrine. Today it is an important place for Confucian learning and a popular tourist attraction in former Kaohsiung County. 

Historical Background:
The Kaohsiung Confucius Temple was completed in 1985 over the ruins of the former Qishan Shinto Shrine.  Covering an area over 4 hectares, it is the largest Confucius Temple in Southeast Asia, if you count Taiwan as Southeast Asia.
The Qishan Shinto Shrine was built in Gushan Park in 1936. It was later destroyed by the KMT after the Japanese left Taiwan after WWII. Parts of the original Shinto Shrine can be found around the park.
Qishan's Confucius Temple is not the only Confucius temple in Taiwan. There is another one in Zuoying, so the temples trade years for annual Kaohsiung Confucius ceremonies. 

Hours:
9 AM to 5 PM (closed on Mondays)

Price:
Free

How to get there:
By Car/Scooter: Kaohsiung, take National Highway 10 or provincial highway 28 to Qishan. The temple is on the top of the hill near the center of town. 
By Bus: From Zuyping HSR station, you can take the E01A bus to Qishan. It's about a 20 minute walk from the Qishan Bus Station. 

Map:
Please see below:

Kuolai Old Trail was a major intersection along the Danlan Old Trail that connects Keelung to Yilan through the mountains of New Taipei. There are three pedestrian bridges, multiple camping locations, lots of swimming spots, and beautiful views of the surrounding mountains. Also, there are some great hiking trails along multiple sections of the original Danlan Old Trail to discover. 

Background:
Kuolai was originally a small village create in the late Qing Dynasty. In the early days during the Qing Dynasty, the Han Chinese settlers here mainly grew tea and leeks. During the Qing Dynasty, Kuolai was an important stop along the Danlan Old Trail (淡蘭古道 which means the road between Tamsui and Yilan), which was split into three paths, and Kuolai was on the middle path. The middle path winded from Nuannuan to Shifen, then to Kuolai, and then finally over the mountains to Wai'ao in Yilan. Part of section connecting Kuolai to Wai'ao through Wantan is known as the Wantan Old Trail.
Kuolai also intersects with the Beishi River Old Trail which connects Shuangxi to Pinglin. 
During the Japanese Era until the 1980s, the major industry in the area besides tea growing was coal mining, The coal mining industry winded down in the 1980s and 90s in Taiwan.
Currently Kuolai is a popular stop near National Highway 5 in northern Pinglin. Besides the  history, there is also some great hiking trails and scenery nearby.

Price:
​Free

Hours:
About 8 AM to 5 PM.

How to get there:
By Car: Go east on National Freeway 5, then get off at the Pinglin interchange. Continue north east on Pingshuang Road, which follows the Beishi River Old Trail. You can find the many suspension bridges on the side of the road.
By Scooter: From Taipei, take highway 106 east from Shenkeng toward Shiding, pass over the mountain to Pinglin, then once in Pinglin continue north east on Pingshuang Road, which follows the Beishi River Old Trail. You can find the many suspension bridges on the side of the road.
By Bus: From Taipei City Call MRT station, you can take bus 912 to Bafenliao Station, the switch to bus 923 to Pinglin Station. The ride should take about 2 hours. From Pinglin, you can take the F721 bus up along the Beishi River Old Trail. This will take up a lot of time.

Map:
​Please see below.