Sometimes the only way to reinvent yourself is to go to another country. I have finally—since I’ve been in Hanoi, Vietnam—been able to embark on the freelance writing career I’ve always wanted.
On this page you will find my freelance writing portfolio. Proof that it’s never too late to be whoever you want to be.
You can also access my work portfolio here. Most of the work in this folder was undertaken in my marketing communications roles. If you’d like me to write for you, check out my services.
Go Overseas
Go Overseas is your guide to 14,000+ programs that will change how you see the world. Read35,000+ community reviews to help you choose your next adventure.
The best cities for volunteering in Vietnam
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The best cities for volunteering in Vietnam
For the traveller who wants to travel with a purpose, Vietnam has many opportunities to volunteer and make a real difference to this wonderful country that I call home.
Word Vietnam
Vietnam’s go-to what’s on magazine, and the best place to get regular updates about what’s happening in Vietnam. Word Vietnam is available in print and online.
Dec '17 - Hanoi Hitmen
Nov '17 - Gia Dinh BB
Nov '17 - Ban Cafe
Oct '17 - Reverse Culture Shock
Sep '17 - May Cortazzi - Cover Story
Sep '17 - Niche Photography
Sep '17 - Bun Dau Mam Tom
Sep - '17 - Tinh Tam Tra
Sep '17 - All that glitters
Aug '17 - Behind Closed Doors
Aug '17 - Have Helmet Will Live
Aug '17 - The Arts
Jul '17 - Cool Runnings
Jul '17 - Hanoi Brain Drain
Jul '17 - Perceptions of Hanoi and Saigon
Jun '17 - Do you like them too?
Jun '17 - Australian Vietnamese Trade Expo
Jun '17 - Quaithao Sefood Restaurant
May '17 - Fit for purpose
May '17 - Urban planning and city expansion in Hanoi
May '17 - Inner city farming in Hanoi
Apr '17 - Social enterprises in Vietnam
Apr '17 - Blind Hope
Apr '17 - Lacquer village of Ha Thai
Mar '17 - The Hanoi Skytrain
Mar '17 - Bamboo craft village of Phu Vinh
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Dec '17 - Hanoi Hitmen
Survivor meets the Terminator in a game that’s rocking Hanoi. -
Nov '17 - Gia Dinh BB
A restaurant with the MasterChef name attached to it sets up a series of expectations; décor, vibe and, of course, the food. Photos by Julie Vola. -
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Nov '17 - Ban Cafe
Being a big fan of cats in cafés, I was thrilled to see that Ban Café has its very own feline mascot. Located in a mostly residential area off Au Co, the café is easy to find, and is well sign-posted once you get to Alley 45. Photos by Teigue John Blokpoel -
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Oct '17 - Reverse Culture Shock
I return to my native Australia for a month, and find that some things have changed, while some have stayed exactly the same. -
Sep '17 - May Cortazzi - Cover Story
Fashion is not usually synonymous with ethics, but May Cortazzi is working hard to change that perception. Pictures by Julie Vola. -
Sep '17 - Niche Photography
Improved camera technology has made taking better photos easier, yet there’s still reward for anyone who wants to take things just a little bit further. Pictures by Julie Vola. -
Sep '17 - Bun Dau Mam Tom
If you like your noodle dishes to come with a smell, then look no further than bun dau mam tom. Get your nose around it, and it tastes amazing. Photos by Sasha Arefieva. -
Sep - '17 - Tinh Tam Tra
A mother's vision has resulted in heaven on earth for vegans. Photos by Sasha Arefieva -
Sep '17 - All that glitters
An ongoing exhibition showcases gold lacquered objects from the past. Photos by Julie Vola. -
Aug '17 - Behind Closed Doors
Vietnam Feature Film Studios is now holding monthly film nights. -
Aug '17 - Have Helmet Will Live
A new public awareness campaign is reinforcing a simple message: wear a helmet. -
Aug '17 - The Arts
From freedom of expression through to the importance of traditional Vietnamese art and graffiti, our questions on arts took on a wide focus. -
Jul '17 - Cool Runnings
You need to do a visa run again. So, where in Asia should you go? I cover all the cool places that are easily accessed from Hanoi. -
Jul '17 - Hanoi Brain Drain
very year, thousands of young, educated Hanoians make the move to Saigon in search of employment. Why is this happening and what does it mean for Hanoi? Co-writer Thomas Barrett. Pictures by Julie Vola and Bao Zoan. -
Jul '17 - Perceptions of Hanoi and Saigon
I spoke to locals and expats living in Hanoi to find out what they think of their ‘rival’ down south. -
Jun '17 - Do you like them too?
Despite the growing love for desserts and cakes from overseas, Vietnamese cakes still remain popular. Co-writer Thomas Barrett. Photos by Julie Vola and Mike Palumbo -
Jun '17 - Australian Vietnamese Trade Expo
An opportunity for high-level networking related to bilateral trade, investment, migration and business matching between Australia and Vietnam. -
Jun '17 - Quaithao Sefood Restaurant
This popular seafood restaurant in the Hoan Kiem District of Hanoi is loved by the locals, but what does our mystery diner (me) think? Photos by Teague John Blokpoel. -
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May '17 - Fit for purpose
Public spaces have long been the domain of traditional forms of exercise in Vietnam, but things are changing. Photos by Sasha Arefieva. -
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May '17 - Urban planning and city expansion in Hanoi
The transformation of Hanoi from sleepy hollow into modern megacity is well and truly underway. But the decisions being made are often informal and spontaneous. Photos by Julie Vola. -
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May '17 - Inner city farming in Hanoi
As harmful chemical usage in food causes increasing concern, some health-conscious residents of Hanoi are resorting to other means to keep their food clean and are going organic. Photos by Julie Vola. -
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Apr '17 - Social enterprises in Vietnam
Since the legalisation of social enterprises in 2014, a number have started operating in Vietnam. Their goal? To solve social challenges with business practice. I speak to four social enterprises who are making a difference. Photos by Julie Vola. -
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Apr '17 - Blind Hope
I write about a choir in Hanoi, whose members are visually impaired. Photos by Sasha Arefieva. -
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Apr '17 - Lacquer village of Ha Thai
I visit the rural village of Ha Thai, which has been making lacquer goods for centuries. Photo is mine. -
Mar '17 - The Hanoi Skytrain
With new funding and support in place, the Skytrain system looks set to open up in 2021. I go in search of the details. Photos by Sasha Arefieva. -
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Mar '17 - Bamboo craft village of Phu Vinh
I visit the village where all those bamboo hand-crafted goods come from. Photos by Julie Vola. -
Paradise Group
The Paradise Group is a major player in the Vietnam travel industry, particularly in Halong Bay luxury cruising. They also have high end resorts, hotels and restaurants, as well as a cultural show and a water park in their portfolio.
Tung Sau Pearl Farm - Paradise Cruises - Destinations
Luon Cave - Paradise Cruises - Destinations
Cua Van Fishing Village - Paradise Cruises - Destinations
Titop Island - Paradise Cruises - Destinations
Sung Sot Cave - Paradise Cruises - Destinations
Tuan Chau Island - Paradise Cruises - Destinations
Lan Ha Bay - Paradise Cruises - Destinations
Bai Tu Long Bay - Paradise Cruises - Destinations
Halong Bay - Paradise Cruises - Destinations
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Tung Sau Pearl Farm - Paradise Cruises - Destinations
Cultivating pearls has been a tradition in Halong Bay, but sharing the process of pearl making with tourists has only been a relatively recent addition to cruising itineraries. -
Luon Cave - Paradise Cruises - Destinations
Situated on Bo Hon Island and only 1 km away from Surprise Cave, Luon Grotto is an open air cave, exposed to the elements, which can only be accessed by boat. Unlike the many other cave systems of Halong Bay, Luon Grotto is a group of islands that have formed a brackish lake approximately 1km in circumference. -
Cua Van Fishing Village - Paradise Cruises - Destinations
The largest fishing village in Halong Bay situated at Hung Thang Commune, Halong City, lies in a calm bay surrounded by karst limestone mountains and islets. -
Titop Island - Paradise Cruises - Destinations
A climb up the few hundred steps to the summit of Titop Island (or Titov in Vietnamese) reveals the most breathtaking view Halong Bay has to offer. -
Sung Sot Cave - Paradise Cruises - Destinations
Often called the Surprise Cave, Sung Sot Cave-located on Bo Hon Island-is one of the largest and most spectacular caves in Halong Bay and is always popular with tourists. -
Tuan Chau Island - Paradise Cruises - Destinations
Tuan Chau Island is located 8 km southwest of the city of Halong. Although the island is only 2.2km2, it is known as the tourist hub of Halong Bay. -
Lan Ha Bay - Paradise Cruises - Destinations
Lan Ha Bay, the home of the popular Cat Ba Island, is located in the south of Halong Bay and occupies an area of around 7,000 ha of which 5,400 ha are managed by Cat Ba National Park. -
Bai Tu Long Bay - Paradise Cruises - Destinations
The UNESCO World Heritage Site of Halong Bay occupies 1,553 km² and stretches 100km north to the Chinese border. Generally, though, only around one quarter of the area is visited by tourists. -
Halong Bay - Paradise Cruises - Destinations
This UNSECO World Heritage site was first recognised in 1994 for its exceptional natural beauty and aesthetic importance. In 2000, Ha Long Bay had the honour of being recognised for the second time for its geomorphic and physiographic features.
Personal essays
Flung is a digital magazine that publishes journalism, literary essays, personal accounts and fiction with a strong narrative and sense of place.
March 2017 - Write, Love, Leave
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March 2017 - Write, Love, Leave
A personal essay about my failed romance with a Balinese man in 2016, and published on Flung. Photo is my own.