The settlement of Soliman (on the Gulf of Tunis side) is worth the 40km trip for its characteristic feel - the town is very reminiscent of Moorish architecture typical of the Spanish south. Soliman is home to a couple historic mosques, and is only a short drive away from the nation's capital of Tunis.

The fortification, first erected in the 13th century, still stands today - and relatively well-preserved, at that. An on-site museum tells the brief history of the fort, but its main draw is, perhaps, the unbeatable view over the Medina and the sea surface - things may get a bit crowded at sunset.

Tianai Road, whose name translates as 'Sweet Love', is a 600-metre-long tribute to romance. Local tradition holds that couples who walk its length hand-in-hand will earn a blessing for their future together. The stroll is punctuated every 20 metres by a framed love poem, 28 in total, and a dedicated red mailbox awaits love letters, each stamped with a special seal bearing the word 'love'.

Cho Lon, also well-known as Chinatown, is an area of Ho Chi Minh where many Chinese immigrants reside and earn their living. Within Cho Lon, the biggest and most crowded trade hub is Tan Binh Market, where you can find a wide range of clothing and knick-knacks at very low prices (although be warned the assortment is mostly made up of obscure dried edibles and Chinese ritual paraphernalia). An interesting time to visit Cho Lon is when locals celebrate the Chinese New Year Festival. During Tet, all shops and eateries are lavishly decorated with multi-coloured lanterns, and streets seem to become deluged with the lucky colour red.