The curious Maison du Coco in Saint-Leu is where everything revolves around coconuts, which are abundant all throughout the island. Visitors will gain an insight into the way coconut-derived products are made, from juice and various edibles to items made by weaving palm tree leaves.

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.

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.