Ho Chi Minh City travel tips

Posted by admin on February 25, 2011 under Attractions, Vietnam Travel Guide, Vietnam Travel in the South | Read the First Comment

Ho Chi Minh City, or Saigon as it was once known, is Vietnam’s largest city and most chaotic. I love the chaos, though you need to be careful walking across the street! Connections to Vietnam’s turbulent history are visible all over the city, from the War Remnants Museum to the Cu Chi Tunnels. The city has a lot to offer, great shops, fantastic nightlife, and delicious food. After Hoi An, it is my next favorite city in Vietnam.

Costs in Ho Chi Minh City

• Hostel Prices: A private room costs from 140,000 VND per night.
• Budget Hotel Prices: A night in a budget hotels costs from 150,000 VND.
• Average Cost of Food: By eating at street stalls and markets you can get a meal for 19,000VND.  Sit down restaurants are also inexpensive at around 75,000VND.
• Cost of Internet: Internet access is extremely cheap in the city at around 100VND per minute.
• Transportation Costs: Public buses around the city will cost 3,000 VND, taxis are more expensive at 12,000VND for the first kilometer then 10,000VND per kilometer thereafter.

Things to do in Ho Chi Minh City

• Cu Chi Tunnels. Crawl through the extensive network of nearly 500 km of tunnels utilized by the Viet Cong in the 1960s.  Tours involve a description of the tunnels, after which tourists are allowed to crawl about the maze and fire AK47s at shooting targets.
• Chinatown. Chinatown is the predominately Chinese district of Saigon.  A hive of activity, it is a maze of temples, restaurants, jade ornaments, and medicine shops.   Aside from the sprawling Binh Tay market, you’ll find some fascinating temples in the area including the Chinese Chua Quan Am Temple and Cha Tam, which is a Catholic cathedral.
• Museum of Ho Chi Minh City. Not to be confused with the “Ho Chi Minh Museum”, the city museum’s history has included a Governor’s Palace, committee building and Revolutionary Museum.  Nowadays its picturesque grounds attract newlyweds posing for photographs. You’ll find a collection of weaponry and memorabilia from the country’s revolutionary struggle and captured U.S fighter planes and tanks.
• Vietnam History Museum. The History Museum is a great place to learn about the colorful events of Vietnam’s past.  The museum houses a fantastic collection of ceramics, weaponry and cannons.   For your cultural fix, there are photographs, clothes and household objects dating back as far as the 1700s.
• Emperor Jade Pagoda. Emperor Jade is one of the most impressive pagodas in Vietnam.  The intricate carvings and depictions of deities including the Emperor Jade himself are hugely photogenic and it’s no wonder this pagoda is as popular with tourists as worshipers.
• Notre Dame Cathedral. The Notre Dame Cathedral is an imposing red brick building built between 1877 and 1883.  The two towers that front the cathedral tower over visitors at nearly 200 feet tall while the neon lit statue of the Virgin Mary is also an arresting site.
• War Remnants Museum. The War Remnants Museum is a must see for anyone with an interest in Vietnam’s history of combat with both the French and the Americans.   Inside you’ll find hugely informative exhibits focusing on biological warfare, weaponry and in depth statistics of Vietnam’s armies during the conflicts.  The museum’s best exhibit is the collection of bombs, tanks, planes and war machinery which can be found in the courtyard.
• Cao Dai Holy See Temple. The Cao Dai religion is relatively new at less than 100 years old.  The temples are distinguished by the “all seeing eye” which dominates its architecture and as the Cao Dai temple is the central to the religion, it is hugely ornate and impressive.  Many people combine a trip to the temple with the Cu Chi Tunnels excursion.
• Ben Thanh Market. Though the market is crowded and rife with pickpockets, it is the ideal place to pick up a bargain or try some traditional (and inexpensive) Vietnamese food.  Vietnamese traders drive a hard bargain but you’ll be hard pushed to find a better selection of souvenirs!
• Can Gio Island. The Can Gio island is popular with tourists and Ho Chi Minh locals attempting to get out of the rat race.  The beaches here aren’t mind blowing but it’s a great place to relax and enjoy a meal at one of the many seafood restaurants.  The island’s monkey sanctuary and mangroves are great for wildlife fans.

Budget Tips for Ho Chi Minh City

• Taxis. Taxi drivers will rip you off so agree to a price ahead of time.
• ATMs. These offer the best exchange rates and there are plenty dotted round the city.
• Markets. When shopping in any of the city’s markets you may feel like a wallet on legs as the traders call out to you. Be firm and be ready to walk away.

(Source: nomadic matt travel site)

Seven Top Attractions in Ho Chi Minh City

Posted by admin on under Attractions, Vietnam Travel Guide, Vietnam Travel in the South, vietnam beauty | Read the First Comment

Photo credits – Colin Purrington

Authentic Vietnamese

Vietnamese cuisine is taking off around the world, but there is still no better place to find it than in the country’s gourmet capital. Join the likes of Bill Clinton at Pho2000 near Ben Thanh Market, which proudly proclaimed “Pho for the President” along with various photos of the then President of the United States enjoying a bowl of pho at the iconic restaurant. The menu here is long and varied, and is packed with locals and tourists alike. Those looking for something a little more fusion should head to Xu Bar, which is not only one of the cornerstones of night life in the city, but is also the place where the celebrated Chef Nguyen is attempting to revamp traditional Vietnamese cuisine.

Photo credits – Kirk Siang

Coffee & Cafe

The Ho Chi Minh City is brighten up by various lights at night, giving it a laid-back atmosphere that give rise to the prevalence of cafes dotted along the streets. Vietnam is one of the world’s most renowned producers of coffee, and caffeine lovers will find themselves in aromatic heaven trying out the varied local brews here. For a sure-fire way to refresh and relax, pick a random cafe at a bustling street corner and order a local brew. Sit back and enjoy as you laze yourself and watch the various pedestrians passing by.

Photo credits – alex.ch

Hitting the Town

Other than a pick of bustling cafes to relax and sip your time away, the Ho Chi Minh City also plays host to numerous trendy bars that is a favorite of both locals and expats. The Q Bar, Saigon Saigon Bar, Xu Bar, Lush and Velvet are but a few in the long list of popular hangout spots for the party crowd, each with their own distinct trendiness and appeal.

Photo credits – Wilson Loo

Iconic Landmarks

It’s pretty easy to navigate the sprawling metropolis of Ho Chi Minh City on foot, particularly since most of the places of interest is located in District One. Start with the Notre Dame Cathedral, an outstanding red-brick building adorned with staiend glass, then move on to Saigon Central Post office, a French colonial building with a classic interior. This also operates all postal services from the city and is the best place to buy a phone card. The Opera House typifies the city, showing both western operas and traditional Vietnamese performances. The Reunification Palace was the home of the former Viet Cong leader who the city is named after and is a grand colonial building overlooking the city centre.

Photo credits – Lynt

Bikers Gang

After exploring the iconic landmarks of District One by foot, rent a motorbike and cruise along the streets for a way of transportation that has become ingrained into the fabric of society. Throngs of Vietnamese commuters travel by motorbike, and although it may not be one of the safest way to travel, it is certainly one of the most authentic.

Photo credits – nerdcoregirl

War Remnants

One of Vietnam’s biggest tourist attractions, the Cu Chi Tunnels are a network of underground caverns built during the Vietnam War. About 121 kms long in total, visitors can take a tour of the tunnels and see for themselves the conditions in which the Vietcong waged a bloody war against the machineries of US. The War Remnant Museum, also known as the Museum of American Atrocities, is another tourist attraction worth visiting. It’s extremely biased and one sided, but still an important insight nevertheless into the Vietcong’s reaction to the war.

Photo credits – martywindle

Shopping Seasons

Aside from eating most visitors to Vietnam’s number one city find themselves spending most of their time here shopping. Ben Thanh Market is a major market in Ho Chi Minh City and is the place to find souvenirs. There is a wide selection of t-shirts sporting the likes of “Good Morning Vietnam” and “Miss Saigon” to lacquerware and embroidery, and for those that love a good brew, some of the best coffee beans in the region. Ladies will want to try out the Ao Dai, the Vietnamese national dress, which is one of the most exquisite in the region, combining trousers and a dress.

Find hotels ho chi minh city, vietnam hotel, please visit the website http://Vietnamhotels.net/

(Source:unearthingasia.com)

Rekindle romance on a romantic getaway

Posted by admin on February 15, 2011 under Attractions, Vietnam Travel Guide, Vietnam tour, Vietnam travel News, vietnam beauty | Read the First Comment

Snuggle with your sweetie in these spots from Bora Bora to Croatia

While we tend to think most of romance around Valentine’s Day, our favorite romantic getaways are guaranteed to rekindle a long-standing romance, or kick a new one up a notch, all year long. Whether you choose to cuddle up on a gondola ride in Venice; snuggle under a blanket on a caleche ride in Quebec City; dance cheek-to-cheek in Buenos Aires; spend long days canoodling on spectacular islands like Bora Bora, Santorini, and Nevis; cruise magical Halong Bay; or discover breathtaking Dubrovnik together, you’re bound to feel a renewed (or new) sense of intimacy with your partner. Of course, no list of this sort would be complete without a nod to Paris, the epitome of romantic getaways (and site of countless marriage proposals), but dear Santa Barbara, closer to home, is just as ripe for a tryst, with countless spas and vineyards in the vicinity that are sure to help you and yours relax — and lose your inhibitions. 1. Buenos Aires, Argentina As the old saying goes, it takes two to tango — and there’s no better place to practice your moves with your partner than on a romantic getaway to Buenos Aires, the birthplace of this incredibly sexy dance. Watching expert tango dancers spin around the dance floor at one of the local venues here is already hot stuff — women dress the part in fishnet stockings, heels, and high-slit dresses, while men don tailored suits and cravats — but taking to the floor with your honey can make the temperature go higher still. Play the voyeur at neighborhood spots like Bar Sur (www.bar-sur.com.ar), or, put on your dancing shoes and trot your stuff at Centro Cultural Torquato Tasso (www.torquatotasso.com.ar), which also offers lessons for first-timers. When you need to rest your feet, this Paris of South America has a lot more to tempt visiting lovebirds, from elegant turn-of-the-century mansions and tree-lined boulevards reminiscent of European cities like Paris, Rome, and Barcelona, to cozy bistros in trendy neighborhoods where diners linger over long meals. Plus, with the peso so low nowadays, this city — which once rivaled Manhattan in terms of price — is extremely affordable. 2. Bora Bora If there’s one destination to blow your savings on in the name of love, this tiny, pricey South Pacific island is it. Novelist James A. Michener described Bora Bora as, “the most beautiful island in the world” and visitors to this romantic getaway’s far-flung shores rarely disagree. So small that the island road is a mere 19 miles long, this Polynesian idyll sits 143 miles northwest of Tahiti and boasts the best that nature can offer: a high-mountain center cloaked in jungle, a superb cobalt lagoon, a colorful coral reef, and pristine stretches of bone-white sand dotted with fallen coconut husks. When you’re not discovering the many bounties of this island paradise, hang out at the local watering hole, Bloody Mary’s (www.boraboraisland.com/bloodymarys), where Pierce Brosnan has been known to woo his leading lady, or send off the sun with a sunset catamaran cruise. Come nightfall, few can resist bedding down at a lavishly appointed over-the-water bungalow. 3. Dubrovnik, Croatia Couples in search of romance are flocking to this wondrous city on the southernmost stretch of Croatia’s coast, as enchanted by its beauty today as the Irish playwright George Bernard Shaw, who once proclaimed, “If you want to see heaven on earth, come to Dubrovnik.” The city has been magnificently restored to its former glory to emerge as one of the most fashionable vacation spots in all of Europe. Dubrovnik’s resurgent popularity should come as no surprise, however — this “jewel of the Adriatic,” as the coastal resort town is often referred to in tourist brochures, is breathtakingly beautiful and a magnet for dreamy-eyed lovers in search of a romantic getaway. The city’s fortified old town overlooks the dazzling Adriatic from a shelter of limestone cliffs and its marble-paved streets are lined with marvelously preserved churches, stately palaces, squares, and terracotta-roofed townhouses. Meanwhile, down below, along the seaside coast, fine beaches beckon — as do a slew of offshore islands — making Dubrovnik uniquely appealing to just about any taste. 4. Halong Bay, Vietnam Now that you’ve found your knight in shining armor, put his dragon-slaying skills to the test in this ancient dragon’s lair near the Vietnamese capital of Hanoi. Indeed, “Ha Long” means “where the dragon descends into the sea” and, once you’re sailing the enchanting emerald-green waters here, you’ll easily understand why the bay is believed to have been formed by the thrashing of a dragon’s tail. It’s a sight that confirms this corner of Vietnam’s status as one of the most romantic getaways in Asia; undoubtedly the country’s most mesmerizing natural setting, this UNESCO-protected area is dotted with grottoes, some 3,000 limestone islets (only one of which is inhabited), and often shrouded in mist, which only adds to its mystique. While day trips are available, we strongly recommend booking an overnight cruise to experience the bay’s phenomenal sunset and sunrise, as well as more of its splendid landscapes. Our favorite agencies for 2-day cruises are Emeraude Classic Cruises. To book halong bay cruises, please check out at the website http://Vietnamhotels.net/. 5. Nevis If you’re craving a Caribbean getaway that’s just as high on romance as it is on R & R, look no further than darling Nevis (pronounced n-EE-vis), the sister island of St. Kitts. A quiet, old-Caribbean charm reigns on this 36-square-mile patch of land that famously produced Alexander Hamilton, one of the founding fathers of the United States. Nowadays, cocooning lovers can hole up on romantic getaways in converted plantation houses — rather than sterile high-rise beach resorts — where atmospheric verandahs, louvered windows, and four-poster beds guarantee your hours, if not days, will be spent canoodling. Should you decide to leave your room, the island’s scenery is equally entrancing: Disused stone sugar mills are now overgrown with vines, lush island paths invite hiking and horseback riding, and sugarcane fields lead to remarkable restaurants serving fine Creole fare. Add in the fact that Nevis is still relatively difficult to get to (you have to change planes in St. Maarten, Antigua, or Puerto Rico), and you’ll be looking at spending serious quality time with your sweetie — without having to share him or her with other vacationing sun worshipers. 6. Paris, France Parisian culture seems inherently designed for romance, with countless settings tailor-made for those only-in-the-movies-type kisses: manicured gardens with perfect make-out benches lie around every corner; lamp-lit pedestrian quays along the Seine invite stolen smooches; and majestic plazas and tucked-away squares like Place des Vosges offer storybook backdrops for marriage proposals. A perch atop any of the city’s famous ponts (bridges) are also sure to get your heart racing: linger on Paris’s oldest bridge, Pont Neuf; check out the animated arts-and-music scene of Pont des Arts; or take in the phenomenal views of the Eiffel Tower from the elaborate Pont Alexandre III. Undoubtedly, for some, the height of a romantic getaway here can be found at the top of the Eiffel Tower itself; coordinate your viewing with one of Paris’s lovely sunsets, and the city will blush pink right along with you. 7. Quebec City, Canada With its homegrown French language, colonial architecture, and horse-drawn carriages, Quebec City is inherently designed with romantic getaways in mind. Encircled by ancient stone ramparts, and speckled with lovely squares, quaint cafés, and striking historical buildings, this UNESCO World Heritage Site is also blessed with a phenomenal natural setting above the mighty St. Lawrence River, with plenty of vantage points from which to view the coursing waters. Each season brings its own special charms, too: While summers encourage late-night lingering over wine at outdoor cafés, the chilly winters give lovers all the more reason to snuggle up under a blanket in a horse-drawn caleche or get cozy with a delectable fondue for two at a first-rate French restaurant. No matter what time of year you choose to visit, stay in a quaint 17th-century auberge (inn), complete with wood-beamed ceilings and exposed brick walls to round out the otherwordly experience. 8. Santa Barbara, California Bona fide beach town, the Santa Ynez wine-producing region next door, and loads of spa retreats within driving distance . . . it’s no wonder California’s Santa Barbara gets our nod in the romantic getaways department. Its splendid location, between palm-fringed Pacific beaches and the evergreen Santa Ynez Mountains, quaint Spanish- and Mediterranean-style architecture, gourmet fare, and posh hotels have attracted West Coast residents for quiet weekends for decades. And no wonder: From wine-tasting in one of the country’s largest wine-producing regions and supping on sublime organic foods, to enjoying massages for two and strolling barefoot on the beach at sunset, a visit here is an undeniably heady experience. Tack on an outing in a hot air balloon — a favorite local activity — and you’ll be guaranteed to swoon over the scenery, as well as your companion! 9. Santorini, Greece Some may think island romance is overrated, but then they’ve probably never been to Santorini. The most visually stunning of all the Greek Cyclades, this beguiling honeymoon spot has all the trappings of a dream vacation: Postcard-perfect cliffside villages, exotic black-sand volcanic beaches, transcendent sunsets, luxurious cave-rock hotels, dramatic striated red-and-gray cliffs stretching to the sky, and the Aegean’s finest wineries. Built atop volcanic ashes — on the ruins of what some theorize to be the lost city of Atlantis — the resplendent whitewashed beauty’s remarkable physical characteristics — its jagged cliffs, dark volcanic rock, and crescent shape carved out by the sea — are manifestations of its eruptive history. These days, romantic getaways to Santorini are more likely to incite personal passions, whether on a visit to the enchanting cliff-side village of Oia, gazing at mesmerizing sunsets over the Aegean, or simply absorbing the best of Mediterranean romance in all its glory. 10. Venice, Italy An extraordinary waterfront wonderland where ancient palazzi seemingly float above water, Venice manages to be both serene and seductive all at once. While its labyrinthine cobblestone streets certainly encourage lovers to stroll hand in hand, it’s the city’s iconic gondolas that really up the romantic ante. Picture yourself, a due, tucked in an intricate, hand-carved boat, and punted along dreamlike canals by a young Italian gondolier who serenades you as you glide under delicately arched bridges — the aptly-named Bridge of Sighs among them — and past flower-laden balconies. Other Venetian draws sure to set your heart aflutter include sipping Bellinis to the sounds of classical music in the majestic Piazza San Marco or catching a view of spires and rooftops from atop the Campanile di San Marco. Theo msnbc

US TV station highlights Vietnam’s tourist attraction

Posted by admin on under Attractions, Vietnam travel News | Read the First Comment

KPVI News 6, the local NBC (National Broadcasting Company) affiliated television station for Idaho, has advised Americans to tour Vietnam to get to know “Southeast Asia’s rising star”.

According to the TV station, as the world discovers more of Vietnam’s treasures, this Southeast Asian country is climbing higher on travellers’ must-see lists. A Vietnam tour is often the most effective way to take in the best of this fascinating country’s attractions including the highlands of the far north and the beaches of the south.

In its website, KPVI News 6 writes that travellers won’t want to miss Hanoi, Hue, Danang and Ho Chi Minh City. In Hanoi, Vietnam’s capital, its citizens are justifiably proud of that long history.

However, most visitors find that Hanoi isn’t just stuck in the past – it’s a forward-thinking metropolis even though it’s filled with the elegantly crumbling vestiges of French colonial architecture and dotted with ancient temples and pagodas. The best historic sights are the One Pillar Pagoda, built in 1049 to resemble a lotus bud; and Hoa Lo Prison, which might be more recognizable by its other moniker, the Hanoi Hilton. One of the country’s delightful folk traditions with an evening at a water puppet theater performance, which have been held for centuries, is advisable.

Also according to the website, few visitors to the former imperial capital of Hue are disappointed. The city’s incomparable art and architecture make an impression with the grandeur of former imperial residences and temples. Ones should visit the Citadel and take part in Hue’s legendary cuisine, which is renowned throughout the country as being uniquely refined.

Danang is described as Vietnam’s appeal as a relaxing beach destination; a bustling, lively city, with ample opportunities to shop and play in the waves and a reputation for great food.

Ho Chi Minh City, also known as Saigon, is an essential stop. Its reputation is that of a pulsing, vibrant metropolis that is always on the go. It’s more modern than Hanoi, but there are still plenty of historic sights to see – like the History Museum, Saigon Notre Dame Cathedral and Giac Vien Pagoda - between stops at the city’s many shopping boutiques and great restaurants.

KPVI News 6 concludes that many travellers find that Vietnam fits well into a longer itinerary that also takes them to other popular Southeast Asian destinations like Cambodia and Thailand.

Source: VOVnews

Con Dao in spring

Posted by admin on February 9, 2011 under Attractions, Vietnam Travel in the North, Vietnam travel News | Read the First Comment

By Mong Binh in HCMC

A foreign tourist lies on Dam Trau Beach in Con Dao – Photo: Mong Binh

The white and pink peach blossoms in Con Dao signal the beginning of spring and the market in town is vibrant with floral colors.

Spring is the windy season in Con Dao, the archipelago off the southern province of Ba Ria-Vung Tau. Strong winds increase the swell. The ocean is full of white caps and the crashing waves send white water high up the island’s many cliff faces. There are also havens for visitors to swim in the turquoise, calm sea.

Dam Trau Beach is one of the protected beaches on Con Dao, where locals and foreign tourists opt for relaxing strolls, rests and camping. This yellow-sand beach earned its name from an island legend about two lovers. The girl in the doomed love affair, Mai Thi Trau, committed suicide from the cliffs because she couldn’t tie the knot with the man she loved, who was revealed by her father to be her half-brother.

The love story has a sad ending, but a trip to Dam Trau Beach will certainly end in happiness for nature lovers. The small sandy bay is perfect for sunbathing, long walks and exploring the black cliffs that stretch into the water.

The cliffs divide Dam Trau Beach into two parts. The furthest beach from the road can be reached best at low tide. The tree-lined beach has a fresh water stream shadowed by a giant tropical almond tree whose leaves have turned red.

Red-leaved almond trees also line the esplanade and many of the streets in the sleepy little town on Con Dao. Most of them were planted over 100 years ago.

The best time to tour Con Dao is summertime when the sea and the weather are calm, but a visit to the archipelago in the windy season promises a lot of excitement.

Vinh Phuc sets sights on becoming a tourism hub

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Various activities to be held to welcome Spring in Hanoi

Posted by admin on January 26, 2011 under Attractions, Vietnam Travel in the North, Vietnam festival, Vietnam travel News | 2 Comments to Read

Various art activities to welcome the Party and Spring will be held from January 25 to February 20 at the Hanoi Ancient Citadel.

The information was released by Mr Nguyen Van Son, Director of the Preservation Centre for Co Loa Relic, Hanoi Ancient Citadel.

The organization board will introduce over 50 oil paintings reflecting life, culture, gastronomy, trade villages and trade streets in Thang Long – Hanoi from the 17th century to the 19th century, themed “Thang Long – Hanoi”.

Additionally, a documentary photo exhibition will be held with more than 100 photos about Thang Long – Hanoi sub-titled: scenery and urban areas; ancient streets; life and change; and colonial urban areas.

The organization board will also organize an exhibition and performance of calligraphy, themed “Spring in Thang Long Royal Citadel 2011”. Visitors will have the chance to contemplate over 100 unique ornamental plants.

Source: VIR

Collected by Vietnam hotel

Tet Festival in southern region

Posted by admin on January 21, 2011 under Attractions, Vietnam Travel in the South, Vietnam festival, Vietnam travel News | Read the First Comment

Tet Festival in the south remains an attraction for people living far from their homeland. They will never forget beautiful images of boats full of flowers, lucky money bags, piles of watermelons on streets and sparkling street lamps at night during the Festival.

Celebrating Tet Festival in a simple way is advocated by a large number Saigon dwellers but every family will still have a tray with 5 kinds of fruit, while sticky rice cakes, apricot and peach blossoms and kumquat trees are essential things for Tet.

The first signals of Tet come from decorations on major streets in the City’s center such as Le Loi, Nguyen Hue, Dong Khoi and Le Duan, where both local residents and visitors traditionally vist during Tet holidays. This year, “Nguyen Hue flower Road” is designed specially to reflect the development of the City.

In particular, sticky rice cakes are seen everywhere; legend has it that these cakes were offerred by the youngest son of King Hung to his father and since then they became essential food for the whole nation during the traditional Lunar New Year Festival. The cakes are made of sticky rice, green bean paste and fatty pork.

This year, a flower festival is designed to mark the 100th anniversary of the day when Uncle Ho left the country, seeking ways to save the country from foreign domination. 600 artisans were involved in making 8,000 objects, and visitors will also have opportunities to take part in various art performances and interesting traditional games.

During Tet Festival, local residents and visitors can take part in various activities at Suoi Tien Tourist Areas and Dam Sen Park.

Flower festivals are traditional passions for many people in Ho Chi Minh City. During the Tet holiday, local residents usually buy pots of daisy flowers and big watermelons, symbols for luck and happiness.

Despite the fading of some Tet traditions, the customary Tet Feast to offer to the ancestors is an absolute must for every Vietnamese family on New Year’s Eve. It is the time for all members of the family to celebrate Tet together.

After making offerings to the ancestors, many people go to pagodas on the first night of the Lunar New Year Festival. Then, they come home with incense to offer on their family altars. At this time, wishes and lucky money are presented to the old people and children.

However, at present many other people prefer to travel during Tet holidays while others prefer joining activities in public places instead of celebrating Tet at home. In fact, many people from different places have come to work and live in Saigon and brought along their own typical ways of celebrating at Tet; this makes Tet in the City more interesting, attractive and diverse.

Source: qdnd.vn

Collected by Vietnam hotel

Dances and wine on the plateau

Posted by admin on January 14, 2011 under Attractions, Vietnam Travel in the North, vietnam beauty | Read the First Comment

Pom Coong Village in early morning The winter cold is starting to ease so spring will soon be coming in the highland village of Pom Coong on Mai Chau Plateau in the northern province of Hoa Binh.Early in the morning, when the mist is lifting, the Thai ethnic people of the village send their kids off to school and the women in colorful brocade dresses walk to the farm with wooden papooses on their backs. When the night falls, the stilt houses are warmed by the sounds of pan-pipes, drumming by the tribal boys, girls’ singing and laughter and stories around the fire. The simple things link people together, making them love their village and make it more beautiful. Pom Coong has become a famous cultural and tourism village on the plateau. A Thai woman and girl on their way to the paddy field – Photos: Mong Binh The village has nearly 70 households with more than 300 people. Traditionally, at sunset, people sit in stilt houses, which are just a bean row apart, to talk together. Stilt houses of the Thai people are higher than other ethnic group houses. The bamboo floor is about two meters above the ground, held up by wooden pillars. The roofs are often made of leaves and windows are large for more air and for bird cages to hang.In front of the stilt houses, Thai ladies  weave on looms to make brocade products to sell to tourists. The village is full of colorful products and colorful ladies. Visitors to Pom Coong won’t forget the bamboo dances or Thai traditional dances by Thai boys and girls in the chill of the northern highlands. Enjoying specialties of Mai Chau Plateau and ruou can (wine drunk though a bamboo pipe from a jar) while joining in the dancing with Thai people by the fire, will be an experience that you will tell your friends about back home. Have you made a plan for Tet holidays? If not, make a plan and pack a bag for Pom Coong.

The wetlands of U Minh Thuong National Park

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U Minh Thuong (Upper U Minh) in the Mekong Delta’s Kien Giang Province is a vast wetlands area rich in fish and waterbird life that was declared a National Park in September 2000.

To get there by road, from Tac Cau in the province travel 30 kilometers then turn towards Vinh Thuan District for 30 kilometers. This will bring you to the border of U Minh Thuong. The path lies under a dense green canopy. The forest which spans An Bien, Vinh Thuan and An Minh districts of Kien Giang Province is about halfway between Can Tho and Ca Mau.

U Minh Thuong covers 21,100 hectares. The core 8,000 hectares are strictly protected, while locals live in the remaining 13,000ha growing rice and fruit and vegetables and exploiting government owned cajuput forests.

The national park is one of only a few protected tropical mangrove forests left in the world. It contains 252 species of flora, 202 different insect species, 24 animal species and 185 kinds of birds, many of which are rare, some have been listed in the red book.

There is also a 44-hectare bird sanctuary with more than 70,000 birds.

The forest that has been through two revolutions as a military base is now being developed for research, to improve conservation efforts of endangered species as well as for eco-tourism and traditional tours.

Roads to U Minh are much better than before. Boat tours of Hoa Mai Lake in the center of the area, cost VND20,000 per person during the rainy season. In the dry season, travelers can hike around the park.

The U Minh Restaurant serves local specialties that include a range of fish dishes and honey dishes such as honey sweet soup, honey salads, and honey sashimi.

The sunsets there are fantastic as thousands of birds return from feeding grounds to their nests. The forest is full of wildlife and the sounds of monkeys and wild pigs can often be heard.

Guests can stay overnight at the forest but should be careful so that monkeys or pigs don’t steal your food.

Source: The Saigon Times

Collected by Vietnam hotels