Unspoilt Ninh Van Bay is perfect holiday hideaway

Posted by admin on February 26, 2011 under Attractions, Vietnam Travel in the Central, vietnam beauty, vietnam hotel | Read the First Comment

Ninh Van Bay, Nha Trang, Vietnam

Visitors who want to escape from city life when they visit the coastal city of Nha Trang in Khanh Hoa Province often go to Ninh Van Bay on Hon Heo Peninsula.

Ninh Van Bay is remote and untouched, yet easily accessible by boat from Nha Trang in about 20 minutes. Its known for its fabulous coral reefs, white sand beach and impressive mountain backdrop.

The natural setting is not disrupted by any large resort structures. Only a few small bungalows covered by leafy roofs are observable from the bay. The sea, mountains, streams and forest all combine to create picturesque landscape. From a distance, Hon Heo Mountain looks like a dragon lying in a pine forest, with its head directed out towards the ocean.

The facilities strive to protect the environment, with tree branches salvaged to cover structures, and organic rubbish composted for trees. Electric cars and bicycles are the primary transportation on the peninsula. Visitors can enjoy the setting by trekking in the forests and up the mountain, with vendors along the way serving drinks and snacks. Jungle fowl, squirrels, dormouse, monkeys and other wildlife are abundant. Investors in the Six Senses  Ninh van bay have received many awards for environmental protection. The bungalows are built in traditional Vietnamese style, close to nature, with wood and stone than blends with the environment, making it an ideal hideaway from the noises of modern life. A short walk from the bungalows, tourists can touch to the water or view the coral reef.

Six Senses Ninh Van Bay presents the reality of the destination, with an architectural style reflecting the traditions of Vietnam. This is very evident in the reception champa and dining pavilion, which are classic Vietnam structures transported across the water and assembled at the site. The emphasis here is on privacy, space and luxury making this as a most luxurious nha trang hotel without doubt.

Alyssa Landon from California spent her honeymoon at Ninh Van Bay, saying that she and her husband had an amazing experience that they didn’t want to end and will never forget.

“From the spectacular lush green mountains to the sparkling blue bay waters, the natural setting and views from our rustic yet luxurious poolside villa and from the dining on the bay were absolutely breathtaking,” Landon said. “Ninh Van Bay gave us a sense of peace and total relaxation. It let us really unwind and just have a great time with each other.”

Ninh Van Bay not only offers the perfect location for relaxation, but its proximity to the popular destination of Nha Trang and its prime position in a calm and sheltered bay means that visitors can enjoy a multitude of activities and excursions, including windsurfing, hobiecat sailing, kayaking, snorkelling, waterskiing, fishing trips and boat charters, as well as scuba diving lessons.

Sheltered from winds, Ninh Van Bay area is usually calm from March to October. The rainy season sets in in November and December, when diving is not always possible. Most local diving takes place on the coral reefs, so the majority of dives are between 12-16m in depth.

Just a short boat ride from the resort, the surrounding islands and coral reef offer the chance to explore different and interesting sites. An inviting water temperature averaging 26-30oC throughout the year adds to the pleasure of diving in the bay.

After a relaxing day, tourists can visit Ninh Hoa District’s centre to enjoy nem chua (fermented pork roll), the speciality of the region. It’s grilled, served with vegetables and pineapple, wrapped in rice paper and eaten with sauce.

The road connecting Ninh Van to the land is still rough and under construction, so the bay remains only accessible by boat, said Tra Thai Lam, chairman of Ninh Van Commune’s People’s Committee. He expected that the road would be completed soon to bring more tourists to the site.

Source: VNS

Vietnamese Noodle Treats

Posted by admin on under Vietnam Food and Drink, Vietnam Travel Guide | 2 Comments to Read

The famed Vietnamese Pho is without a doubt an excellent dish – succulent thin slices of beef dumped with fresh herbs in a stock of tasty broth. It’s no wonder travelers to Vietnam would often go searching for the ultimate pho. But the country’s noodle treats is more than just that, and travelers would often miss out on Vietnam’s other noodle treats. Here are a few of the best Vietnamese noodles, for the adventurous gourmand.

Photo credit – avlxyz

Hu Tieu Nam Vang – Phnom Penh Noodle Soup

Literally meaning Phnom Penh Noodle Soup, this is a Cambodian-Chinese concoction that was tweaked to the Vietnamese palate. Nam Vang is the Vietnamese word for Phnom Penh, so you can actually find various versions of Hu Tieu (Noodle Soup) in Vietnam, with Hu Tieu Nam Vang being one of the more popular noodle soup around. The dish is a surf-and-turf mix of cooked pork, thinly sliced beef, shrimp and group pork with light vermicelli in a sweet and savory broth. The essential garnishes are important here, Chinese celery, chives, cilantro and lettuce adds an extra layer of taste into this tasty dish.

Photo credit – avlxyz

Bun Rieu Oc – Snail Soup with Crab Paste

Hailing from North Vietnam, the Bun Rieu Oc (Snail Soup with Crab Paste) is a dish featuring chunks of snails and crab roe on top of a sweet-savory broth. The dish is studded with pork ribs, tomatoes, water spinach, sliced banana blossoms, fried tofu and more, topped with the ever popular rice-noodles. The Bun Rieu is hearty, light and refreshing, but also a very complex dish, with the various flavors and textures of the snails, crab and pork ribs mixed together.

Photo credit – Geordino

Bun Thit Nuong – Grilled Pork with Rice Vermicelli

This local favorite is a simple dish that is more salad than soup, a welcome break from the usual soupy-broth on Vietnam’s other favorite dishes. Literally meaning Grilled Pork with Rice Vermicelli, this dish features grilled marinated pork chops served cold on top of rice vermicelli. As is the usual in Vietnam, a host of fresh herbs accompanies the dish – Thai basil, carrot and radish pickle, as well as cucumbers, bean sprouts, and crushed roasted peanuts. Add a dash of fish sauce and chilies according to personal preference, then enjoy the collision of flavors and textures.

Photo credit – avlxyz

Banh Canh Cua – Thick Noodle Crab Soup

Banh Canh noodles are like the Vietnamese version of udon – they are thick and chewy, although they are typically made with tapioca or rice flour instead of wheat. There are various versions of Banh Canh, and the Banh Canh Cua (Thick Noodle Crab Soup) is one of the more popular amongst them. The Banh Canh Cua features chunks of crab meats and shrimp balls paired with the chewy thick noodles in a crimson broth garnished with chopped scallion.

Photo credit – Ron Diggity

Pho Bo Tai – Beef Rice Noodle Soup

And finally of course, it would be remiss to talk about Vietnamese noodle treats without mentioning the popular noodle dish that is Pho. The Pho Bo Tai is a version of Pho with Half-Done Beef Fillet, featuring half-done thinly sliced beef with white rice noodles dumped in a clear soupy broth. The broth is the most important fixture of the dish, and the hardest to make as well, usually by simmering beef bones, oxtails, charred onion and spices for several hours. The dish is then topped with cilantro, basil, lime, bean sprout and onions.

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