Getting the flavour of…
Touring Vietnam in an army jeep To drive along the Ho Chi Minh trail in an old US army jeep might seem tasteless, but these vehicles have become prized trophies in Vietnam; and on Classic Car Journeys’ flawlessly organised self-drive tours, they prove perfect for “bumbling” along the country’s beautiful mountain roads, says Geoff Hill in The Sunday Telegraph. On the way from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City along this route – a key supply line for the North Vietnamese army – you pass the Vinh Moc tunnels, where hundreds of Vietnamese sheltered night and day from American air raids, and the vast and beautiful Phong Nha caves. In Hué, the Citadel – a huge 19th century imperial palace – is “fabulous”, and the narrow old streets of Hoi An, with their “lovely old ochre houses”, are marvellously evocative of the city’s mercantile past. A 14-day trip costs from £3,395, excluding flights, visa and fuel (01458-224109, www.classiccarjourneys.co.uk).
Elegant wine tourism in Spain In the past 25 years, the Ribera del Duero has challenged Rioja’s reputation as the byword for good Spanish red wine. And this 62-mile-wide region, in the harsh hills of Castilla y León, has plenty more besides to offer visitors, says Paul Richardson in the FT – including spectacular, “starchitect-designed” bodegas, brilliant restaurants and “seriously classy” hotels. The “arching” new Protos winery was designed by Richard Rogers; and Norman Foster’s star-shaped Portia in Gumiel de Izán is “sensational” too. The best places to stay include the Abadia Retuerta Ledomaine and the Monasterio de Valbuena, both housed in medieval monastery buildings, the former with a Michelin-starred restaurant. See www.riberate.com for general information.
Newmarket’s new attraction Newmarket is the headquarters of British racing, and this month a new museum dedicated to the sport is opening there, says Nigel Richardson in The Daily Telegraph. The National Heritage Centre for Horseracing and Sporting Art is based at Palace House, the surviving part of the palace that Charles II – a racing fanatic – built in 1671. The exhibits include historical curiosities, such as the stuffed head of the racehorse Persimmon, and interactive models of equine biomechanics. Visitors can also watch as the charity Retraining of Racehorses prepares horses for “an active life beyond racing”. And at the heart of the museum are galleries filled with works of art on sporting subjects from racing to cricket and boxing, by painters including Sargent and Sickert. Tickets £16.50, or £40 for families (01638-667333, www.palacehousenewmarket.co.uk).