Ep 84: 2021: The Year So Far in Vietnam, with Mike Tatarski

Listen to this episode

Apple Podcasts

Spotify

Google

Podbean

View All Episodes

About This Episode

21 Jul 2021 • 32m00s

Two-thirds through July, South East Asia’s travel recovery has yet to occur - and is receding into the distance. With the Delta variant spreading fast across ASEAN, nations that were COVID-safe earlier in the year are now under strict lockdown. So today’s show kicks off the “2021: The Year So Far” series, which will feature local experts and analysts in each market.

The journey begins in Vietnam, as Gary and Hannah welcome Ho Chi Minh City-based Mike Tatarski, who is Editor-in-Chief of Saigoneer and founder of the Vietnam Weekly newsletter.

We track back to the start of the year, when domestic travel was relatively free, and then a case surge began around the Tet Holiday.

The current outbreak began in late April, and new infections continue to soar daily. Mike discusses the up-to-date situation nationwide, and the why the vaccine rollout began so slowly.

We also debate the outlook for airlines, travel firms and domestic tourism.

Plus, what are the prospects for the proposed Phu Quoc Sandbox, which is slated to start in October?

Resources

Mike Tatarksi’s Twitter

The Saigoneer

Vietnam Weekly newsletter

Vietnam Weekly podcast on Spotify

« Next Episode Ep 85: 2021: The Year So Far in Singapore, with Karen Yue Previous Episode » Ep 83: When Will US & Canadian Tourists Return to Asia?, with Ernst Flach

View All Episodes

Latest Episodes Catch up with the pods you may have missed

Play

11 Sep 2025 • 30m46s

Ep 268: Techo Airport Takes Off, Thai Baht Volatility & Turmoil in Indonesia: This Week in Review

September is historically a slow month for travel news in South East Asia. With the October Golden Week imminent, followed by the peak November-February tourism season, it’s usually a period to reflect and prepare. Not this year. Political upheaval and economic instability in ASEAN’s two largest economies, Indonesia and Thailand, are front-page news. Events in both nations have the potential to influence the end-of-year travel season, not least in Thailand where an enforced national election is likely.

Play

29 Aug 2025 • 35m12s

Ep 267: Pre-Golden Week Visa-Easing Tricks, Rising Costs of the Thai-Cambodia War & Senior Tour Guides vs Robots: August 2025 in Review

Vietnam and South Korea have “visa-easing tricks up their sleeves” as China’s October Golden Week nears. And, with two-thirds of 2025 completed, attentions are turning to the peak end-of-year travel season across Asia. That’s the backdrop for a frenetic month of travel activity region-wide in August. For our regular monthly round-up, Gary and Hannah travel around ASEAN with stopovers in Thailand, Cambodia, Malaysia, Vietnam and the Philippines, plus China and South Korea.