Campervan, RV & Vanlife News

The Vietnam Register has proposed additional regulations for residential trailers. The proposal covers electrical systems, fire safety and gas use. The aim is to reduce the risk of incidents during operation.

US company Sidewinder Campers has developed hard-shell living modules that attach to the side of a motorcycle in sidecar fashion rather than being towed behind. Four versions are offered: Pygmy, Colorado, Mojave and Sonoran. The smallest, Pygmy, measures 2.13 m long and 1.22 m wide and high, weighs about 159 kg unladen and sleeps two. The Sonoran is nearly 4 m long, weighs 612 kg and is designed for four people. The modules are compatible with cruiser, adventure and touring motorcycles with engines of 1000cc or more. Pricing for the Pygmy has not been announced; some sources put the starting price at about 10,000 US dollars. The Autopian raised safety concerns: the wide module on the right restricts the rider's view, and the Sonoran's weight exceeds typical towing guidelines for motorcycles.

In Tan Hung ward (former District 7), Ho Chi Minh City, a camper van that previously served as a mobile home for a couple running a campsite in Da Lat now operates as a mobile bakery. The stall sells banh mi and coffee for about four hours each morning. After the birth of their child, the couple returned to Ho Chi Minh City and the camper van sat unused for two to three years. Rather than sell the family keepsake, they decided to use it for the food business. The project went from idea to first sales in under a week.

In Vietnam, a growing number of travellers are choosing motorhomes instead of hotels and fixed routes. Over the past four years, this format has begun to develop in the domestic market. Its growth has been supported by changes in travel habits after the pandemic and by improvements to the motorway network. A motorhome is a converted vehicle with full living functions that allows users to travel and stay in it.

US studio Atelier Lune has presented the Camping House, a folding caravan that can be towed by a standard SUV and erected by two people in under 2 hours without a foundation. The frame uses recycled aluminium with insulating composite panels, bio-based insulation and a specialist fabric membrane. The modular design consists of a central core and up to three functional Port modules: a Residential Port for living and sleeping, a Utility Port with kitchen and bathroom, and a multi-purpose Extended Port. The concept includes solar power, rainwater collection and natural ventilation via a solar chimney. Camping House won a Red Dot Design Award 2026 and reached the final of the Architizer A+Awards, but no commercial production plan has been announced.

Spanish company Comanche has unveiled the Petit camping trailer with a dry weight from 180 kg. Folded, its height is comparable to the tow hitch; unfolded, it sleeps up to four. Price from 4,250 to over 5,000 euros.

Trần Đặng Đăng Khoa traveled through Turkey from early August to late September 2026 in a converted truck with Vietnamese plates, visiting Ankara, Cappadocia, Trabzon, Antalya and Mardin.

At the Caravan Salon Düsseldorf trade show (August 28 – September 6), Cubivan presented the Cubivan Camping System, a modular system that converts a five-seat van into a motorhome for two. The system comprises two main modules: a slide-out rear unit with a kitchen and toilet, and a pop-up roof with a bed measuring approximately 2 x 2 m. The kitchen and bathroom share one space: the kitchen block folds away to free up the room for showering and toilet use. The prototype is based on a Volkswagen ID. Buzz; future compatibility is planned with Volkswagen Caravelle, Ford Tourneo Custom and Mercedes-Benz Vito. Orders will open in summer 2027, with an estimated price of 22,000–25,000 euros for the complete set, excluding the vehicle.

Manchester City striker Erling Haaland has bought a classic Airstream motorhome, ordered from the US. In a new YouTube video, he showed the vehicle, fully styled by Supreme, including the interior and awning. The price of such a model exceeds £67,000. Haaland said he plans to use the motorhome for trips and overnight stays.

YouTuber President Chay turned his pickup into a removable mini-camper for under $1000 (about 26 million dong). It features two beds, a sofa, a mini-kitchen, AC, and a TV.

Residents of the Buena Vista mobile home park in Palo Alto are temporarily relocating for a major utility upgrade. About 90% will stay within 4 miles, and the move may take up to eight months. The project is funded by a $24.5 million state grant that must be spent by June 30, 2027.

Levi Kelly built a 1.8-square-meter motorhome on a single-axle trailer. It includes a bed, kitchen, air conditioning, and a toilet. The project cost $5,000.

Liu Peijin, 69, from Weifang, converted a 7-seat car into a mobile home to travel with his wife, partially paralyzed due to diabetes. They visited 31 provinces over 12 years.

Actress and singer Cecilia Cheung stated that the motorhome she uses for work travel has become a second home for her and her three sons. While appearing in Qingdao, she mentioned the RV, which is equipped with belongings for each child. Cheung maintains a permanent residence in Hong Kong but uses the motorhome while on tour.

German manufacturer Sealander offers a towable trailer that can be used on roads and then launched into water as a motorboat. The 4.69-meter model, weighing up to 750 kg, sleeps two and starts at €39,750, excluding the outboard engine.

Residents of San Jose Mobile Home & RV Park say owner Monte Christo Communities is pressuring them to sign new leases and issuing violation notices, which they see as retaliation for forming a tenants association.

Brazilian manufacturer Easy Trailers has completed the T900 Special Project, a custom-built luxury travel trailer. The 9-meter-long, 2.3-meter-wide trailer (expanding to 2.9 meters) features two slide-outs, two bathrooms, a kitchen with appliances, and Alexa voice control. Weighing 4,940 kg, it is designed to be towed by a RAM pickup truck. The price has not been disclosed, but one website listed it for 1 million Brazilian reals (about 193,000 USD).

The Kempy-chaty.cz portal has published a ranking of five campsites in the Czech Republic with the highest visitor ratings this season. The list includes Vranovská pláž, Camping Olšina, Kemp Keramika, Autocamping Rozkoš and Autokemp u Kosů. The campsites were assessed on infrastructure quality for caravans and motorhomes, cleanliness and additional services.

Bloomberg analysts link a decline in hotel occupancy in China to the growing trend of sleeping in electric vehicles. For the week of July 6-12, average hotel occupancy was 62.3%, down 3% year-on-year. RevPAR fell to 209.6 yuan. Budget hotels saw an 8.2% drop in revenue per available room, and mid-range hotels 7.8%. Tourist numbers did not decline, but spending shifted from accommodation to camping in EVs.

Nissan and Eifelland unveiled the Interstar-e Relax camper based on the electric van. The Truma Eezy heater runs off the battery via V2L, range up to 410 km, price €89,900.