Posted by admin on July 29, 2011 under Attractions, Vietnam Travel Guide | 
Quiet yellow-sand beaches and historical sites may lure visitors to Con Dao but it’s the old tropical trees that protect them from the scorching sunshine in the archipelago off the southern province of Ba Ria-Vung Tau.
There are a number of cay bang trees which are over 100 years old and hang over Ton Duc Thang and other roads in Con Dao to provide respite from the heat for tourists, who ride past on their motorbikes or stroll around.
Strong winds and sunshine may be not be your idea of a nice break but these noticeable characteristics have turned out to contribute to shaping the trees into distinctive bonsais. The trees are spread out over two lanes of the seaside roads and they shield pedestrians taking a leisurely stroll on the pavement between the tree lines and mossy yellow walls of the old prisons, from the sun.
From tourists resorts, beyond the lines of tropical trees in the esplanade, you can witness the calm of the sea, with fishing boats bobbing on the water and the distant mountains.
At a little coffee shop called Con Son, you can sip a cup of coffee and rest after a long trek at the seaside or in the forests.
Breaths of wind blow in from the ocean sending red leaves of the tropical trees down onto your table as drops of coffee are slowly seeping through the filter, and whet traveler’s appetite for more adventure in the quiet town of Con Dao.
Inside and outside this small town there are other types of ancient trees including the banyan whose roots cover the ruins of historical sites. Underneath these roots contain untold stories about the bravery of revolutionary fighters who shed blood for the independence of Vietnam.
Source: SGT
Posted by admin on July 25, 2011 under Attractions, Vietnam Travel Guide, Vietnam Travel in the Central, vietnam beauty |
Admiring the bay from the Hai Van Pass, going fishing in the bay or swimming in the blue water are among pleasures of tourists at the Lang Co Bay in the central province of Thua Thien – Hue, one of the most beautiful bays in the world.
Lying between Da Nang and Hue cities, Lang Co is the third bay in Vietnam being admitted to the World’s Most Beautiful Bays Club (Worldbays Club) following Ha Long Bay and Nha Trang Bay.
The bay was selected for its preserved natural beauty, which harmonizes with local people and attracts a lot of tourists.
Lang Co Bay has a 13-kilometer long beach with white sand and blue water. It has Lap An lagoon, a brackish water lagoon extended to 1,500 hectares with rich natural resources.
The bay adjacent to Hai Van Pass lies in the central area, where visitors can reach four world cultural heritages in Vietnam, namely Hue relics, royal court music, Hoi An ancient town and My Son relics, within a radius of 70 kilometers.
The bay is also included in many travel tours and is the nucleus of four national tourism complexes as well as one of the three main points of Thua Thien-Hue Province’s tourism.
Let’s discover the bay through photos:
On July 9-10, the Lang Co – World’s Beautiful Bay Festival took place, with various activities like painting exhibition…
… Kite flying
Beach volleyball
Swimming
The afternoon in Lang Co
Lang Co at sunset.
VNE
Posted by admin on June 21, 2011 under Vietnam Travel Guide, Vietnam Travel in the South |
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Each Sunday, just after sunrise, I take a taxi out to Van Hanh Temple in the Phu Nhuan District to attend the morning meditation session.
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The neighborhood is non-descript – a jumble of clothing shops, food stalls, bicyle repair shops – nothing that would indicate this isle of tranquility is nearby.
The temple itself is situated on the grounds of what once was the Vietnam Buddhist University, a complex of dormitories, cafeterias and gardens.
A red gate in the walled compound signifies the entrance. A small courtyard opens into, gardens lined by austere dorms and offices. Religious libraries flank the main hall.
Prior to 1975, the complex has been home to movements against war, poverty and social injustice. Successive governments have had their issues with the temple, but today it is home to research institutes and training centers for monks.
It also provides the general public with an open space for reflection and meditation.
Sites like Dharma Web say that the followers of Thich Nhat Hanh (perhaps one of the best-known Buddhist monks in the West) have their roots here.
Born 85 years ago in Central Vietnam, Hanh studied Zen and Mayana yoga as a monk.
He attended Columbia University, met Dr. Martin Luther King and returned to Vietnam to engage in the peace movement.
Despite Hanh’s international significance, the temple was surprisingly devoid of Western visitors, during recent visits.
The main hall is styled after the imperial buildings in Hue, but has been refurbished by gifts from Taiwanese Buddhists.
Shoes line the long steps leading into the massive main hall.
A gigantic white Buddha sits on a lotus flower beckoning visitors to meditation. Light pours in through the windows and open doors. A gentle breeze blows into the room as the city noise subsides.
At seven, the service begins (in Vietnamese).
I cannot follow the lecture, but quietly listen to the soft voice of the abbot. With hand gestures, he seems to beckon his followers to close their eyes, breathe and be mindful – at least, I think so.
Following the service, the half-hour meditation session begins.
I struggle to get my 6-foot plus Western form into position as everyone around me, effortly settles into form. Time is suspended as several worshippers breath in and out in total silence.
I end up retreating to a chair and space out for the remainder of the session.
Van Hanh Temple
When it’s all over, the group awakes – rubs their faces, arms, legs and stretches their bodies.
As I recover my shoes, a student approaches me and invites me to speak to the abbot.
The pair lead me into the dining hall and we sit across from one another. The abbott exudes a radiant glow as he recalls his visits to US monasteries in perfect English.
I learn more, in the ensuing hour, about meditation than I have in decades of reading and occasional practice.
He assures me that Buddhism is not about a particular seated position or ridding your mind of thoughts. Thoughts come and they go – do not dwell on them, he says.
One can meditate while walking or eating. One can meditate while at rest or in just about any location or situation.
“Count your breath” he says “one in, two out, up to ten. Do not labor at it. It does not need to go deep unless it naturally goes deep. Let the thoughts come and let them go.”
He invites me to return to the great hall and return to my chair. With my feet well-planted on the ground, my back more erect and my newfound awareness, I return to meditation.
I emerge more at peace, as if waking from a comfortable, eight-hour snooze – the perfect start to my Sunday in Saigon.
Source: thanhniennews
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Posted by admin on April 28, 2011 under Vietnam Travel Guide |
Even though Vietnam is a third world country they have a literacy rate of 94%. The life expectancy rate of the Vietnamese is 75 years. Potbelly pigs are used as pets in Vietnam. At the schools, children are not called by bells instead they are called by gongs. The Dong is their form of currency and the capital city of Vietnam is Hanoi. The narrowest point of the country measures a mere 40 kilometers that is less than 25 miles across. The length of the country from north to south measures 1,000 km. Learn more about Vietnam by reading on.
In Vietnam
Vietnam is thought to be a beautiful place to visit especially its capital, Hanoi. The capital is located on the Red River banks. There is a mix of French elegance and Vietnam flavor. It is also known for being the city of lakes. There are more bikes and mopeds than there are cars in this country. Due to the lack of vehicles there is very little pollution.
Middle of Hanoi
In the middle of the capital there is a lake that is called Lake of Restored Sword. There is an island in the middle of this lake with a bridge that will carry you there. On this island, in the center, there is the Jade Mountain Temple. It was built in the 18th century. If you travel north from the lake you will stumble upon the Old Quarter. It is an antiquated little village that has restaurants, markets and cafes linning the streets.
Mekong Delta
On the Mekong Delta there is a floating market! Vegetables and fruits are peddled all day. The delta is surrounded by picturesque views of rice patties stretching off into the distance with the patches of water buffalo and the conical-hatted peasants. And beyond the fields of rice patties, in the distance the silhouette of soaring mountains tower over the land beneath them.
Interesting
To the south of Vietnam, in the Halong Bay are over 3000 chalk islands. Much of the country has flares of French architecture. The Phong Nha Ke Bang national park is about of the World Heritage Sites, as well as the Ha Long Bay. In the West Lake, which is about 9 miles in circumference, there is the wreckage of a B52 American Bomber.
(Source: yukozimo)
Collected by Vietnam hotel
Posted by admin on April 15, 2011 under Vietnam Travel Guide, Vietnam Travel in the South, vietnam beauty |
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Clean and primitive, Mui Ke Ga (Ke Ga Cape) is the most favorite destination for visitors to the central province of Binh Thuan.
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Over 20 kilometers from the city of Phan Thiet, Binh Thuan Province, tourists can travel by bus or motorbike along the coastline to Ke Ga Island. At Ke Ga Cape, visitors are able to wander around and clamber over cliffs and boulders piled up all over the place.
There are many international and domestic ships and fishing boats coming and going in the area. As there are reefs in the area, French and local people decided to erect Ke Ga lighthouse to warn ships of the danger.
Visitors can also stay on the island overnight to go fishing. Fishing during the full moon is another unforgettable experience. People can taste the baked sea fish they have caught themselves and then stay up to see the first sunlight.
At Ke Ga Cape stands a lighthouse, built in 1899, it is considered as the tallest and oldest existing lighthouse in Vietnam.
The lighthouse is called Ke Ga by local people. Ke Ga Lighthouse was built on the top of Ke Ga Island, which has a total area of about 5ha in the coastal area of Tan Thanh Ward, Ham Thuan Nam District, about 30km away from Phan Thiet City to the South East.
This lighthouse was designed by a French architect named Chnavat to guide ships to go back and forth. The construction started in February 1897 and was completed by the end of 1898, and the lighthouse was put in operation in 1900. To mark the construction period, local people put a big granite panel carved the number 1899 at the lighthouse entry gate. The lighthouse has now been operating for 108 years.
The light house with its unique architecture is about 60m tall. From that height, visitors are able to see a vast expanse of sea and sky, as well as enjoy cool ocean winds. The most beautiful moment to visit the lighthouse is at sunset. People can see a fantastic sight with splendid colors. Sometimes they can not distinguish the boundary of the sky and sea. Only 500m from the coast, people can walk to the island when the tide is low.
Ke Ga Lighthouse was built grandiosely and is classified as Vietnam’s tallest lighthouse. It was built from granite stones brought from France. A unique character of this lighthouse is that the granite stones were carved out of different cells, shapes, sides that are well-fit. So in building, they were put together and stuck by mortar.
On the lighthouse, there is a big light of 2000W, which was brought from France and used to give signals ships back and forth. Presently, Ke Ga Lighthouse has become a tourist attraction, not only for its art and architecture, but also for its beautiful natural landscape.
Besides the beautiful landscapes, Mui Ke Ga is an interesting experience for visitors, from tours to the seafood market in the early morning, to fishing in the sea, catching crabs at night, and seeing the sunset on the mountain top.
The beauty of Mui Ke Ga:
The early-morning fish market:
Source: Vietnam-beauty/VNE
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Posted by admin on March 29, 2011 under Vietnam Travel Guide, Vietnam Travel in the North |
A group from the US expressed their excitement when they related their trip to Ho Village, 20km northwest of Sa Pa.
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| Northern trekking: Foreign travellers visit Ho Village. — VNA/VNS Photos Pham Hau |
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| Relaxing destination: Jumping Stone Waterfall in Ho Village. |
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| Panoramic view: An overview of Ho Village. |
It was a fairytale region, said group leader Duong Quang Thieu.
The group of seven people had been transported to an inn in the village where they hired local guide Vang A Duong, a Tay ethnic man whose household was among the first to co-operate with tour agencies.
“Duong led us to tour Hoang Lien National Park, where fauna and flora are abundant, to see the Da Nhay (Jumping Stones) Waterfall, and we took advantage of the 18-25oC temperature to soak in a fresh clean stream,” Thieu said. “It was one of my best memories.”
After lunch at Duong’s house, they were led to a Dao ethnic hamlet further up the mountain to have a bath with 18 traditional medicinal herbs.
“Although you must trek 3km up to the hamlet, you should not miss this rare opportunity because the Dao people have to go deep in to the jungle to collect the herbs,” Duong said. “They are then dried and buried under the earth for a month before use.
“Soaking in the wooden tub with hot herbs leaves you comfortable and certainly more cheerful,” he said.
Ho village deputy chief Nguyen Van Minh said the traditional herbs had been handed down through generations of the Dao group.
“They are already approved by the Traditional Medical Institute,” Minh said.
In the area, the Lave and Muong Hoa streams weaved through boulders, hills, mountains and terraced paddy fields of Mong, Dao and Tay ethic groups in the breathtaking Valley of Muong Hoa.
Minh said Ho Village encouraged tour guiding.
“We’ve trained 50 guides and given them English lessons so they can introduce the traditional culture and unique habit and customs of each ethnic group to travellers.”
In addition, volunteers from Sa Pa had opened a cooking class and tour guide courses for other young people in the village, Minh said.
Duong said Ho Village was worth the somewhat difficult journey to get their because of its views and the opportunity to discover the daily activities of the Tay people.
On the way to the Jumping Rocks Waterfall, which was named by locals after seeing fish jumping out of the water in the old days, Duong’s group passed water running along bamboo pipes which locals had laid down to channel water to their terraced paddy fields.
The channels also fed the wooden houses perched on the sides of rolling hills and ensured the wild flowers flourished, Duong said.
In the dry season, the boulders in Lave Stream resembled works of art; in the wet season from May till September the water formed colourful sprays as it hit the boulders.
Ho Village is divided into three hamlets: Ta Trung Ho, Xeo Trung Ho and Hoang Lien. Nearly 50 households in the village had signed tourism contracts with travel agents and welcomes 500,000 visitors a year.
In the evening Thieu’s group walked around the village and watched brocade weaving, bought brocade souvenirs for VND25,000 each, or joined locals performing folk songs and dances at a traditional house.
“We joined locals performing the bamboo pole dance which was not so difficult,” said group member Frank Robert, adding that he could thoroughly recommend a visit to the village and the region.
The trails and roads from Ho Village also led to the peaceful Red Dao Village of Nam Toong and other ethnic communities, where trekkers enjoyed even more beautiful scenery.
Transport to Ho Village is mainly by motorbike (VND30,000 each way) or jeep (VND300,000 return).
Collected by Vietnam hotel
Posted by admin on March 11, 2011 under Vietnam Travel Guide, Vietnam tour |
Mention Can Gio, the most remote district of HCMC, and people think of mangrove forests, mudflats and coconut trees. However, there is a different Can Gio, with friendly locals, shady roads and quaint villages on a small peninsula that awaits discovery.
From Ho Chi Minh City, travelers can take a motorbike on Nguyen Tat Thanh Street in District 4, then turn to Huynh Tat Phat Street in District 7, cross Binh Khanh Ferry then head for 40 kilometers along Rung Sac road.
The recently sealed Run Sac road used to be a nightmare of mud and puddles,
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Locals shop in Can Gio Market – Photos: Minh Tam
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but now it’s a smooth highway through forests full of birds and monkeys.
A stop at a guesthouse at Can Thanh Town will give you insight into the lives of local fishermen. There are no luxury hotels but it’s very peaceful and clean.
In the afternoon, walk to the wharf to watch the small fishing boats putter home from sea with fish, crab and shrimps.
Then stop by Can Gio Market by the sea to visit the local fishmongers.
The small restaurants on Duyen Hai Street are not to be missed with seafood straight off the boats for VND15,000 to 120,000 a dish.
Posted by admin on March 4, 2011 under Vietnam Travel Guide, Vietnam Travel in the South, vietnam beauty |
By Dang Hoang Tham in Kien Giang
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| The beautiful Hon Nghe Islet off Kien Giang Province – Photo: Dang Hoang Tham |
On my trip to Kien Giang Province, in the far south of Vietnam, I traveled to Kien Luong coastal district to see what is reputedly the most beautiful island in the Mekong Delta. To get to Hon Nghe Islet I took National Road 80 to Nga Ba Hon wharf and caught a boat.
The cruise departed early in the afternoon and we seemed to get lost in a wonderland, a small Ha Long Bay in the south. The cruise glided past many islands. The famous mountainous Phu Tu Islet was to the north surrounded by many smaller islands. The little islands have weird shapes – a stone castle, a whale and there’s the coconut tree covered Ba Lua Island.
After two hours we arrived at Hon Nghe Islet and went ashore in a small wooden boat. The first thing I saw, halfway up Lau Chuong Mountain, was a 20-meter-high statue of the Sakyamuni Buddha. The limestone mountain has many stalactite caves.
We decided to go to the old Lien Ton Co Tu Pagoda. We had to conquer hundreds of stone steps to get the sanctuary. On the way, we passed the statue of Sakyaminu Buddha and Chuong (Bell) giant rock which will made a “boong… boong” sound like a bell when I struck it with a small rock.
Further up are beautifully carved Arahat statues.
The pagoda is about 20 meters inside a stone cave. On the mountain walls are many statues of lion, tiger and dragons.
Night time in the pagoda is really peaceful and still. It was a full moon, so the ocean that looked amazing. The pagoda was blanketed in mist. Sometimes, the monks struck the wooden bell while they prayed. The gongs of the bell resonated with the other sounds in the forest.
Early in the morning, I got up to enjoy the dawn. It was a contrast to the stillness of the night; the islet was very busy with fishing boats, fishermen and traders.
Hon Nghe Islet is 320 meters high and 380 hectares. Tourists can take a boat trip to a fish farm to buy fish and discover the lives of local fishermen. The islet is also home to many species of birds.
Phat Co Don Cave can be accessed by a winding path. Inside, it is like a living room and there is a Buddha statue. Some other caves are also worth a visit.
Book mekong river cruise now to enjoy best rate!
Posted by admin on March 3, 2011 under Attractions, Vietnam Travel Guide, Vietnam Travel in the North |
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Black H’mong women sell tho cam (ethnic fabrics) in Sapa. One of the most wonderful highlands in Asia, Sapa is a magical combination of landscapes, ethnic cultures and fresh mountain air.
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It was too early. I struggled to peel my eyes open, wondering what the commotion outside was all about. The clock pointed to somewhere between 4 and 5 a.m.
It was Sunday, and I was at a hotel in Sapa. Cursing the thin walls of the hotel, I walked to the window to peer into the dawning light outside.
I had expected to see a few people milling about their morning business. Instead, I saw the streets flooded with hundreds of H’mong and Red Dao people in colourful ethnic attire heading to the Sapa market.
It was an exotic orchestra of people speaking foreign tongues, children running, babies whimpering, chickens clucking and pigs snorting.
It was impossible to sleep with all the noise, so I decided to get out and experience the traditional Sunday market myself.
Black H’mong women sell tho cam (ethnic fabrics) in Sapa. One of the most wonderful highlands in Asia, Sapa is a magical combination of landscapes, ethnic cultures and fresh mountain air.
Love in the marketplace
The sights, sounds and smells of Sapa’s market are as distinctive as the ethnic tribes jostling about. Locals go to the market not just to buy and sell but also to unwind after a long, hard week.
I had been watching H’mong girls wearing garlands of dried mushrooms on strings around their necks, when suddenly, a H’mong man caught the arm of one of the girls and tried to pull her away.
I was alarmed, but a shopkeeper explained, “It is cướp vợ custom. When a H’mong man finds the girl of his dreams, he and his friends try to pull her away. If they succeed, they take her to the man’s house for a few days before visiting the girl’s family to ask for her hand in marriage.”
Rustic grub
Just inside the market gates were stalls full of mountain fruits such as peaches, plums, chestnuts, and Indian taro.
But the locals were eating hearty breakfasts of mèn mén (corn wheat cake), and thắng cố (horse meat soup). The better off leaned over steaming bowls of ph^, an expensive treat in these mountainous regions.
To the right are stalls full of trinkets and local products. Here you can find everything from ethnic silver jewelry to mushrooms, tam thất (notoginseng), honey, and linh chi fungus.
I bought a kilo of dried buds of the tam thất to gift friends back home. The tam thất bud tea is believed to aid good sleep.
Fabrics in Sapa
Next, I headed to the second floor of the Sapa market, which is known as the heart of the market. This is the arena of women selling brocades from their little workshops.
Many of these local artisans have been working in dimly-lit, cramped shops for decades, weaving yards of intricately designed brocades. Owing to the fabric’s popularity among tourists, a lot of the women here can converse quite well in English.
Heavily embroidered colorful blankets, pillow shams, table covers beckoned from all around. I found myself attracted to the more esoteric designs of the H’mong people.
A Sapa native told me that H’mong girls are taught to weave, sew and dye fabrics from a very young age. When they grow up, they are entrusted with the responsibility of making clothes for her family. The better her needle work, the better a girl’s prospects for marriage.
The market continues bustling until late afternoon, when locals begin to pack up their goods and head back to their homes in the terraced hills of Sapa.
Though tourism is growing rapidly in this region, mercifully, the H’mongs and Red Daos have preserved their colorful culture. In the Sapa market, the ethnic people and their cultures come alive every weekend, fusing together the simple times of the past in a traditional, but evolving market.
Source: thanhniennews
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Posted by admin on under Attractions, Vietnam Travel Guide, Vietnam travel News |
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| Tourists take a boat trip along Ham Ho River in Binh Dinh Province |
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| Ham Ho is home to many giant rocks in diverse shapes – Photos: Thuy Trieu |
Everyone who visits Binh Dinh Province should visit Ham Ho ecotourism area.
Ham Ho is a 3-kilometer-long river section through an old forest in Tay Phu, Tay Son Districts, about 55 km from Quy Nhon.
Over millenniums the water has carved the rocks in the river into bizarre shapes.
Many precious trees grow in the forests around Ham Ho. An interesting time to visit is when the Loc Vung ornamental trees (lecythidales) flower. There are sturdy stilt houses on the banks of the spring for tourists to enjoy some refreshments and take in the natural beauty around them such as the bridges and rock pools. Adventurers can kayak on the spring, take a ride in a small canoe or trek to the mountain. You can set up a camp among the giant rocks near the lake and swim.
Staying overnight is a good way to get closer to nature and listen to insects, the murmuring streams and waterfalls.
Collected by Vietnam hotel
