Vietnam Holidays - Heritages

Cua Van - the biggest fishing village in Halong Bay Vietnam

noreply@blogger.com (Nguyen Minh) — Mon, 20 Oct 2014 03:38:00 +0000

Cua Van is situated at Hung Thang Commune, Halong City, 20km away from the tourist boat wharf, the fishing village lies in a calm bay surrounded by mountain. Comming to Cua Van village, you can start from Catba island or Halong bay Vietnam

Travel Website Journeyetc.com_ just put Cua Van fishing village of Ha Long Bay, Quang Ninh Province on a list of 16 most beautiful ancient village world. Along the beauty of the village retains original features, romance ... Criteria for selection of villages appear in this list as they have quaint, charming beauty, and preserve the traditional culture characteristic. Cua Van Journeyetc.com selected by convergence where all three is the most important factor.

Cua Van fishing village with the majestic limestone mountains, fishing villages on the river float. The landscape here is extremely romantic and leave a distinct impression of visitors to the boat roof painted colorful pictures create a shimmering sea floating on Halong. These things helped Cua Van fishing village became a rarity in the 16 villages still retain its beauty glamor world. The lives of the people here have not been disturbed by modern life...

- See more at: http://indochinatourism.net/blog-entry/cua-van-biggest-fishing-village-halong-bay-vietnam

Cua Van - the biggest fishing village in Halong Bay Vietnam

noreply@blogger.com (Nguyen Minh) — Mon, 20 Oct 2014 03:38:00 +0000

Saigon Central Post Office - an attractive destination

noreply@blogger.com (Nguyen Minh) — Tue, 14 Oct 2014 02:37:00 +0000

Located in the heart of Ho Chi Minh City’s District 1, the Central Post Office is one of the city’s oldest buildings, an attractive destination for local and foreign visitors.

http://indochinatourism.net/guide/best-time-visit-vietnam

It was built between 1886 and 1891, based on the design of famous French architects.

In 1860, construction of the building began and it was based on the design of Gustave Eiffel, a popular French architect who has designed Eiffel tower. Three years later the building was put into operation.

However, in 1886, because of its overload, the building was rebuilt under the design of Villedieu, also a French architect and was inaugurated in 1891. Blending a mixture of Gothic, Renaissance and French influences, the 26,000 square metre building fascinates tourists with its typical French colonial features, from exterior to interior decorations.
Visitors feel that they’re in a 20th century railway station in Europe, rather than a post office in Asia.

The front of the building is decorated in rectangle cases on which are the names of the inventors of the telegram and electric professions. On the cases are the pictures of men and women wearing laurel wreaths.

On the arc of the building, there is a huge clock with Roman numerals instead of numbers. The frames of the windows are designed with engaged piers, crowned with imaginative human-headed characters. The green window shutters resemble those of any other French colonial building.

“The clock is checked and cleaned regularly, especially the cogwheels, to ensure its accuracy. I really enjoy watching the clock every day, said Bui Nhan Duc, Saigon Central Post Office staff.

Walking inside, the first things visitors notice are the two maps describing the city in the past and a postal route from Vietnam to Cambodia.

The busiest post office of Vietnam not only provides the usual mail services but also offers phones and fax machines for public use, as well as sells stamps and souvenirs. The specialty stamps counter of the General Post Office offers some interesting collector sets for sale.

This post office is famous not only for its architecture but also its wide range of high quality services, Le Thi Kieu Oanh, Saigon Central Post Office staff, said adding that it is also a tourist attraction in the city.

Source: Vietnam Plus

Moc Chau tea hills

noreply@blogger.com (Nguyen Minh) — Tue, 14 Oct 2014 02:25:00 +0000

Whether in winter or spring, Moc Chau plateau is always covered by the in beautiful green color of the tea hills.

http://indochinatourism.net/guide/sapa-vietnam

The whole town of Moc Chau, Son La province, is surrounded by the green hills of tea. This is the main crop of the town, with famous tea products.

After each bend, the landscape is different.

Tea trees embrace the hills.

You can pass from tea hill to tea hill by motorcycle.

One of the most beautiful tea hills is the S-shaped hill on the road to Ngu Dong and On Hamlet, about 15 km from the Moc Chau farm.

The beautiful tea hill that is the nearest to the town is the one that faces the Moc Chau tea company.

Tea buds will soon be harvested.

Tea flowers blooming in early December attract bees.

The heart-shaped tea hill is the favorite destination of young couples, to take wedding pictures.

Pristine upland fair in Bac Ha

noreply@blogger.com (Nguyen Minh) — Tue, 14 Oct 2014 02:20:00 +0000

Bac Ha Market opens every Sundays from morning till 2pm. This is the ideal place to explore the pristine looks and characteristics of ethnic minority groups in the northwest region of Vietnam.

http://indochinatourism.net/guide/sapa-vietnam

Brocade products at Bac Ha Fair.

Every Sunday, Bac Ha hosts the biggest fair near the mountainous highlands and the Chinese border. It is the largest and most colorful market in the area and attracts throngs of villagers from the surrounding hill tribes. Some walk several hours for the weekly opportunity to trade and barter food, animals, clothes and household goods.

80km from Sapa, Bac Ha Market is not only the place for buying and selling, but also a place for cultural and sentiment exchanging. On the market days, right from the early morning, all paths and mountain roads are full of people and horses pouring to the market. People usually sit in groups around a soup pan ("thang co") eating and chatting.

Many different ethnic groups such as Flower H'mong, Phu La, Black Dao, Tay and Nung minorities gather to buy and sell local products that cannot be found elsewhere. The market was very crowded, local products for sale or barter are carried on horseback.

The buffalo market.

Besides the usual items like pigs, cows, chickens, and ducks, Bac Ha Market sold dogs. As dogs were available as cuts of meat, they were also available live, right next to the live pigs, chickens, and other livestock. There was a brisk trade at the market for everything from hand-embroidered skirts to all manner of 4-legged animals. The “fresh” meat section is not for the faint of heart and might steer more than a few visitors in the direction of strict vegetarianism.

Popularly known as the largest upland market in Lao Cai, Bac Ha is better known for its pristine characteristics. The market has been constructed on a concrete floor, not on a sloping hill as in the past but commercial activities here remain traditional.

At this market, one can find any item needed for the life of the ethnic minority people, from hoes and shovels to brocade, buffaloes, horses, etc. which are sold in different zones.

The largest zone in Bac Ha market is for brocade products for women, such as cloths or clothes.

The buffalo market is also bustling and the traders and buyers are mainly men. This zone is very spacious, sufficient to serve hundreds of people.

Near the buffalo market is the dog market of the Mong and Dao people and a market for poultry.

A specialty of Bac Ha market is a dish called thang co. There are over 20 stalls selling thang co in the market.

Mui Ne among top beaches in Asia

noreply@blogger.com (Nguyen Minh) — Tue, 14 Oct 2014 01:39:00 +0000

One of southern Vietnam's prime slices of beach real estate, Mui Ne is a kilometres-long sweeping bay boasting a huge range of guesthouse and resort options, with the actual village set at the far northern end of the bay.

Mui Ne beach in the central province of Binh Thuan has been chosen by Canadian Travellers, a travel guide magazine of Canada, as one of the 11 most beautiful beaches in Asia. Mui Ne ranks second in the list, just after pristine Ko Lipe beach of Thailand.

According to the magazine, Mui Ne beach is near Phan Thiet city, just a few hours’ drive from Ho Chi Minh City. The accommodation and services scene, heavily influenced by its proximity to Saigon which is a mere four hours away, has developed rapidly in recent years and now offers some outstanding mid-range resort options, and while the options for budget travellers have dwindled somewhat, there are still some get budget haunts worth seeking out.

The beach itself is yellow sand with a semi-fine grain. While the central stretch of the beach through to the northern end is poorer quality and dominated by the fishing industry (ie there's a fair amount of refuse, netting, dead fish and other fishing paraphernalia), the southern stretch is better suited to swimming, sun-baking and deck-chair reclining. Obviously the bits of beach right out front of individual resorts is better kept than the more deserted stretches. The beach is a popular destination for Russian tourists and many of its restaurants and resorts are owned by Russians.

Coming to this beach, travellers have the chance to witness the daily life of fishermen in a humble fishing village. Mui Ne boasts many attractive landscapes such as Hon Rom, Hon Lao Cau and Bai Rang. Strong sea breezes make it very popular for kitesurfing and windsurfing.
- See more at: http://indochinatourism.net/blog-entry/mui-ne-among-top-beaches-asia

Pu Mat National Park Vietnam

noreply@blogger.com (Nguyen Minh) — Fri, 10 Oct 2014 04:48:00 +0000

Con Cuong district in Nghe An Province is a beautiful area with not only national cultural tradition, but also with nature favoured landscapes. After hard working days and suffering summer’s hot and muggy heat, visit Con Cuong district, please. The district is known for rich and marvellous Phu Mat National Park-Rich in bio-diversity, beauty in natural landscapes.

http://indochinatourism.net/guide/best-time-visit-vietnam

Pu Mat National Park is located in the middle of the Annamite Pu Mat National Park is located in Anh Son, Con Cuong and Tuong Duong districts, Nghe An Province, about 130km from Vinh City.

The park, formerly known as Pu Mat National Reserve, covers an area of over 91,000ha and has 896 flora species, 241 mammal species, 137 bird species, 25 reptiles and 15 amphibians. Many scientists also see Pu Mat as Viet Nam’s great museum of animal gene pool.

Significantly, Pu Mat is one of Viet Nam’s rare forests such as Quang Nam, Danang, Ha Tinh and Thua Thien-Hue where sao la (long-horned bovid or scientific name Pseudoryx nghetinhensis) can be found. Sao la is one of the animals facing extinction, according to the World Conservation Union’s Red List of Endangered Species.

Together with many unique animals, the primitive forest also has many beautiful landscapes. Among the favourite destinations are the 150m Kem Waterfall, Giang River and ethnic minority villages in the forest such as Thai, Tho, Dan Lai and H’Mong.

The trekking tours, where travellers have an opportunity to explore the jungle and unique villages, are among the top choices for visitors of Pu Mat. These tours also allow visitors to speak to ethnic minorities and learn about their arts and culture, visit villages making brocades or tho cam and enjoy special food such as com lam (rice in bamboo cylinders).

Ha Giang to host first northwestern tourism fair

noreply@blogger.com (Nguyen Minh) — Thu, 09 Oct 2014 06:53:00 +0000

The first Northwestern Region Tourism Fair 2014 will be held in Ha Giang city, the capital of northern mountainous province of Ha Giang from October 17-19, Vice Chairman of Ha Giang provincial People’s Committee Tran Duc Quy revealed.

http://indochinatourism.net/tours/north-vietnam-14d-13n

The event, the first of its kind to be organised in the region, offers a good opportunity to strengthen co-operation in tourism development in the eight northwestern localities, including Lao Cai, Yen Bai, Phu Tho, Hoa Binh, Son La, Dien Bien, Lai Chau and host Ha Giang. It is also expected to create a shift in tourism promotion and tourism product introduction, as well as promoting community-based tourism with typical regional characteristics.

Artists from culture-tourism villages across the region will also bring to the event folk singings and dances, along with traditional instruments and costumes of various ethnic minorities in the region.

The fair will also showcase over 30 booths featuring tourism products, handicrafts, traditional costumes, and special dishes from locals.

A photo exhibition will introduce visitors to the beauty of Ha Giang's Dong Van Karst Plateau Global Geopark, in addition to many other landscapes of the northwestern region.

In addition to tourism promoting activities, a symposium discussing Ha Giang tourism products and Dong Van Karst Plateau Geopark tourism promotion is also scheduled.

Deputy Director Trieu Thi Tinh of Ha Giang provincial Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism said the fair would become an annual event, creating favourable conditions to promote northwestern region’s tourism brand, as well as contributing to local socio-economic development, and preservation and promotion of unique cultural values.

Da Nang Beaches

noreply@blogger.com (Nguyen Minh) — Thu, 09 Oct 2014 06:45:00 +0000

Danang has a coastline of 90km long, stretching from Hai Van hill foot to Marble Mountain with many charming beaches. Danang beaches have blue clean water, moderate waves so tourists can bathe during four seasons. Domestic and foreign tourists recognize Danang beaches as the most ideal beaches for relaxation and sunbathing.

>> Vietnam Beach Resorts

Non Nuoc Beach.
Non Nuoc Beach stretches 5 km with long, smooth and fine white sand; the seawater is unspoiled, pure and moderate waters; the sand slopes gently and suits all people want to bathe in the sea. The beach locates near Ngu Hanh Son hill foot, 12km from the city center. Non Nuoc beach has wave, climate and salinity that suit sea sports. In 1993, an international surfing competition was held here with the participation of 40 foreign surfers.

Bac My An beach.
Seven kilometers southeast to the city’s center, located in Bac My An ward, Ngu Hanh Son district, Danang city is Bac My An beach. There are five wonderful and attractive beaches in this region: T18, My Da Dong 2, My Da Dong 3, Bac My An and Furama with clean blue water and fine white sand.

It is up to a tourist’s financial capability and hobby; you can have your own choice. Beside, Furama resort is a five star resort; many small hotels, reataurents and resting houses of some private company are at reasonable price.
- See more at: http://indochinatourism.net/blog-entry/da-nang-beaches

Ten best places to visit in Vietnam

noreply@blogger.com (Nguyen Minh) — Thu, 09 Oct 2014 04:25:00 +0000

http://indochinatourism.net/blog-entry/ten-best-places-visit-vietnam

A long, narrow country squeezed in between the East Sea and the Laos and Cambodia borders, Vietnam is a land of striking landscapes that range from the lush rice terraces and forested mountains in the north to the picturesque valleys of the Central Highlands and the fertile delta and beautiful beaches of the south. Included in the mix are booming modern cities, colonial towns, traditional villages, archaeological sites and otherworldly islands.

An overview of the best places to visit in Vietnam by touropia.com, a travel list website that features the most amazing sights around the world divided into various “best of” lists.

10. Da Lat
Year-round cool weather and idyllic scenery of misty valleys, lush pine trees and colorful flowers are some of the reasons that Da Lat was once used by Vietnamese emperors and French colonials as a summer retreat. Today, this charming town in the South-Central Highlands of Vietnam is a popular destination for honeymooners, weekend getaways and for those looking for relief from the heat.

A walkable city, Dalat is a beautiful scene of French colonial architecture and villas set amid picturesque landscapes. The city is well known for its royal palaces owned by the last emperor of Vietnam. These lovely palaces are open for tours as is the Hang Nga Guesthouse, the city’s most bizarre attraction. Informally called the “Crazy House”, this structure is a fantastical construction with caves, spider webs and shapes of animals and mushrooms. Dalat’s lively market is a great place to find fruits, flowers and vegetables grown in the local area as well as handicrafts and silk embroidered items.

9. My Son
Located on the central coast of Vietnam near the Duy Phu village is the important archaeological site known as My Son. One of Southeast Asia’s most notable heritage sites, My Son was once a significant center of religious Hindu ceremonies where the kings of the Champa Kingdom built numerous temples devoted to the worship of the god, Shiva, between the 4th and 14th centuries.

Believed to have once contained more than 70 temples that were constructed with brick and decorative carvings and sculptures bearing scenes of animals, priests, gods, mythical battles and inscriptions of Sanskrit and Champa, My Son today features a complex of ruins in varying states of disarray and repair, all arranged in several groups that are marked by letters of the alphabet.

Within the site is a museum where visitors can check out exhibits and artifacts to better understand and appreciate the ruins. Near the entrance of My Son are a few cafes, food vendors and a shop selling souvenirs. At certain times of the day, visitors can watch live Champa dance performances. Additionally, the site is surrounded by jungle, hills and a lake where visitors can enjoy hiking and kayaking.

My Son is often reached by organised tour groups in vans and buses from Hoi An. However, visitors can also arrive at My Son by motorbike taxis and motorbike rentals....

- See more at: http://indochinatourism.net/blog-entry/ten-best-places-visit-vietnam

Sofitel Metropole Hanoi ranked among World’s Best hotels

noreply@blogger.com (Nguyen Minh) — Wed, 01 Oct 2014 08:43:00 +0000

The Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi hotel was hailed as one of the “100 World’s Best Hotels” by Fodor’s Travel, a global publisher of travel and tourism information.

>> Best time to visit Vietnam

Built in 1901 in the heart of Vietnam’s capital, the Metropole Hanoi is the first hotel in the country to receive this distinguished award.

More than 500 specialists and thousands of Fodor readers surveyed and evaluated over 5,000 hotels worldwide, assessing their quality of service, architectural atmosphere and accommodation.

The list of the world’s 100 best hotels includes famous establishments, such as the Four Seasons in Las Vegas, the US; the Park Hyatt Paris Vendôme in France; and the Taj Mahal Palace in India.

The Metropole hotel has received a great deal of praise over the last century and welcomed a number of famous guests, including presidents of the US, France and Switzerland, the Prince of Monaco, and the King of Malaysia, as well as many prime ministers, ambassadors, business leaders and film stars, such as Charlie Chaplin and Jane Fonda.

Belgian beer festival to be held in Vietnam

noreply@blogger.com (Nguyen Minh) — Wed, 01 Oct 2014 08:30:00 +0000

A Belgian Beer Festival is expected to be held in Vietnam, for the first time, at 6pm on October 3 at the American Club, 21 Hai Ba Trung Street, Hanoi.

>> Best time to visit Vietnam

The festival will offer visitors a chance to taste 30 different Belgian draught beers, discover the brewing process, learn more about Belgian culture, enjoy Jazz performances, and attend a wide range of other activities.

Known for quality and variety since the Middle Ages, Belgium produces more than 2,500 different types of the beverage.

The Belgian Beer Festival is held annually in different regions of the country. The festival provides an opportunity for brewers and beer connoisseurs to share and indulge in their passion.

In April this year, Belgium took steps to have Belgian beer recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage product.

The non-profit event is co-organised by the Embassy of Belgium, Beluxcham and Anheuser-Busch InBev – the world;s largest brewing company headquartered in Leuven, Belgium – and three domestic companies including Beer Plaza, SBB and My Way.

The Embassy of Belgium is planning to organise the festival annually in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, according to Belgian Ambassador, Angelet Bruno.

Tickets including three bottles of beer can be bought at the entrance or through the hotlines 09.7467.7754 or 04.3519.0808.

Photos: Discover Tra Su indigo forest in An Giang

noreply@blogger.com (Nguyen Minh) — Wed, 01 Oct 2014 08:17:00 +0000

Tourists find the Tra Su indigo forest in southwestern An Giang Province an exciting place to visit because of its scenery and delicious cuisine.

>> Best time to visit Vietnam

Located in Van Giao Commune, Tinh Bien District, An Giang Province, Tra Su is a typical flooded forest in the Southern region.

With an area of 845 ha, Tra Su is a home of about 140 plant species, 11 mammal species and 23 fish species, including rare species with a great value in science.

Thanks to picturesque scenery and diversity of resources, the forest has become an ideal destination for researchers and visitors who would like to explore nature.

September and October is considered to be the best time to visit Tra su indigo forest because it is flooding season, and the forest is incredibly beautiful at this time.

From Chau Doc, visitors can get close to Bung Tien bridge by riding a motorcycle along the way to Tri Ton and turn left. Tra Su forest is 3.5 km ahead.

Visitors can hire motorcycles or bicycles at the Management Board of the forest to take a sightseeing tour of Tra Su indigo forest, but boats are more interesting to use.

With approximately VND250,000 (including price for boat and meal) for two people, visitors can take a memorable trip and enjoy delicious dishes of the river region. Otherwise, it costs only VND50,000 if excluding meals.

Travelling Tra Su forest on xuong ba la (small boats used by southern people) is an exciting experience for many people, especially foreign tourists.

Tra Su is home to over 70 typical bird species of wetlands.

Linh fish, a specialty of Tra Su.

Other specialities of the southwestern region - dien dien flowers and wild vegetables.

In the flood season, local people’s lives are associated with water.

Buffalo boys play on flooded field.

Fishermen cast their nets on the quiet river.

The beautiful scenery at sunset.

Cao Pha rice terraces in the fall

noreply@blogger.com (Nguyen Minh) — Wed, 01 Oct 2014 07:48:00 +0000

When September brings first storms of the fall, paddy fields in Cao Pha Valley in the northwestern province of Yen Bai turn yellow, ready for harvest. The stunning rice terraces look like a beautiful painting with different colors, making it hard for backpacker photographers to take their eyes off.

>> Best time to visit Vietnam

Khmer pagoda, a must-visit destination of Bac Lieu

noreply@blogger.com (Nguyen Minh) — Wed, 01 Oct 2014 07:36:00 +0000

Xiem Can Pagoda in the Mekong Delta province of Bac Lieu is a splendid architectural structure of the Khmer community and has long been a famous spiritual destination of the province. Once visiting the pagoda, one will understand why it is listed among the biggest and most splendid Khmer pagodas in southern Vietnam.

>> Best time to visit Vietnam

Built in 1887, the pagoda is located on a spacious and airy campus with the gate turning to east. It has imposing architecture with Cambodia’s Angkor décor style. The pagoda is not only a place to honor Buddha but also a center of Khmer culture and education. Before reaching the age of 18, Khmer children will be brought to the pagoda to learn about Khmer script, Buddhism and cultural characteristics of the Khmer community in three years. During major Khmer festivals, Xiem Can pagoda is filled with locals and visitors who come to pray for luck and happiness.

An Binh Islet - Vinh Long, Vietnam

noreply@blogger.com (Nguyen Minh) — Wed, 01 Oct 2014 06:56:00 +0000

An Binh Islet is one of the most attractive place of Vinh Long province in the South of Viet Nam. Currently, countryside travel is more and more popular to tourists. Therefore, some local farmers in Mekong Delta choose tourism as their major business.

Once mentioning An Bình isle, it is impossible to refer to the vast orchards. The fruits here are almost all year round, each season has its own special fruit with a unique taste such as longan, mango, durian, jackfruit, grapefruit, plum, custard apple and so on. Crossing dense canals, the boat takes visitors through the bloom orchards. Standing on both riversides are alternating rows of green coconut and willow, which gives visitors a sense of peace among gentle and pure environment.
- See more at: http://indochinatourism.net/blog-entry/binh-islet-vinh-long-vietnam

Saigon (Ho Chi Minh city) – Places to visit

noreply@blogger.com (Nguyen Minh) — Fri, 26 Sep 2014 14:33:00 +0000

The nice location at central of the South Vietnam, Ho Chi Minh city becomes very important center of transportation lead to surrounding provinces, bring opportunities to develop the economy and tourism of Eastern and Western area of the South.

>> Best time to visit Vietnam

There are also various museum and entertainment places in the city such as the Ho Chi Minh city museum, Museum of Vietnamese history, the Revolutionary Museum, the Museum of Southeastern Armed Forces, the Museum of Southern Women, the Museum of Fine Art, the Nha Rong Memorial House, and Cu Chi underground Tunnels… The Dam Sen Tourist and Cultural Park, Suoi Tien amusement and culture park, The Saigon zoo and Botanical gardens…

In this article, we want to suggest you some laces that you should visit when travel to South Vietnam.

Reunification Palace

Independence Palace, also known as Reunification Palace, built on the site of the former Norodom Palace, is a landmark in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. It was designed by architect Ngo Viet Thu and was the home and workplace of the President of South Vietnam during the Vietnam War. It was the site of the end of the Vietnam War during the Fall of Saigon on April 30, 1975, when a North Vietnamese Army tank crashed through its gates.

The Reunification Palace is open all the week from 7:30 am to 11:30 am and 1:00 pm to 5:00 pm. Entrance fee: VND2,000 a child and VND15,000 an adult.

War Remnants Museum

... http://indochinatourism.net/blog-entry/saigon-ho-chi-minh-city-%E2%80%93-places-visit

Fishing villages on Halong Bay Vietnam

noreply@blogger.com (Nguyen Minh) — Fri, 26 Sep 2014 14:01:00 +0000

Ha Long bay Vietnam had been well-know all over the word by it’s natural beauty. However, the tourists visit Ha Long Bay also want to see the life of local people who live on Ha Long Bay as community. We call them as fishing village

A community of around 1,600 people live on Hạ Long Bay in four fishing villages: Cua Van, Ba Hang, Cong Tau and Vong Vieng in Hung Thang commune, Ha Long city. They live on floating houses and are sustained through fishing and marine aquaculture (cultivating marine biota)

The fishermen and fishing families of Halong Bay live on small floating houses anchored in sheltered coves at the bases of tall mountainous islands, thus deriving some natural protection from Mother Nature’s wrath in typhoon season. There are several fishing villages in the bay, the largest being Cua Van with about 130 floating houses and a population of about 600 people.

The floating village is home to generations of fishing families and many of the residents never leave, but grow up and grow old in this tiny unique world they are born into.

The children learn to swim before they can walk and they row little bamboo-basket watercraft on their own, and amazingly deftly, when only about 5 or 6 years old. when cruising Halong Bay, those who are lucky enough to visit are captivated by the community and its distinctive way of life.

Ba Hang Fishing Village
Ba Hang (Three) Caves is one of 4 fishing villages serving major tourist attractions in Halong Bay. Located in the region of well-known three caves, located next to thiencung (heaven) grotto, daugo grotto... with about 50 families, Ba hang fishing village for tourists to visit, purchase and sale of marine, kayaking service...

Vong Vieng floating village
- See more at: http://indochinatourism.net/blog-entry/fishing-villages-halong-bay-vietnam

Best beaches in Vietnam

noreply@blogger.com (Nguyen Minh) — Fri, 26 Sep 2014 13:03:00 +0000

Verdant rice fields, blindingly-white beaches and a landscape as dramatic as its history – Good Morning, Vietnam. Once blanketed under the covers of communism, Vietnam long ago drew back the curtains to invite the world in for a snuggle. Some of the friendliest locals on earth are happy to have you share their sand, in one of the most enriching and exotic countries in Asia.

>> Vietnam Beach Resorts

Lan Ha Bay, Halong Bay, northern Vietnam

The archipelago of Halong Bay, with its iconic limestone karsts – the towering natural sculptures that rise out of the below to define its landscape – is the stuff that Southeast Asian dreams are made of. Saying that, decent beaches are far from plentiful. But nestled in the surrounding Cat Ba National Park and a half-hour boat-ride from its main, eponymous island is little Lan Ha Bay. More than 130 bijou beaches dust the island, most of them too tiny to be weighed down by an official name. So take a kayak and paddle your way from one nameless speck of sand to the next, and claim each one as your own.

Minh Chau beach, Quan Lan Island, northeast coast

North of Halong Bay and a four hour sail from the mainland (or a two-hour speedboat ride if you like to live in the fast lane) brings you to the cluster of islands of Bai Tu Long Bay, and it’s every bit as beautiful as its big sis. Unpolluted and undeveloped, think amazing karst formations, 11th-century Buddhist pagodas and, when it comes to little sliver of Quan Lan Island, secluded, silky beaches. Our favourite, just 6km from the Quan Lan’s major (but in reality, very minor) town, is Minh Chau. It’s all a tropical paradise should be – chalky-soft sand fringed by wild pines, views of rocky outcrops protruding from the shallows and a collection of coral coves that can’t be missed.

Thuan An Beach, near Huế, central coast
They say that the original is usually the best, and in the case of Thuan An beach, near the UNESCO-hailed city of Huế, they were right. A strong storm more than a decade ago, left a section of Thuan An wiped out and the locals thinking that it was a particularly unlucky spot of sand – so they decamped further down the coast. Frankly their loss is our gain, and this virtually empty beach is well worth seeking out. Ask the locals to point the way, and then stretch out on the smooth, neighbour-free sand.
- See more at: http://indochinatourism.net/blog-entry/best-beaches-vietnam

Fansipan moutain - Sapa Vietnam

noreply@blogger.com (Nguyen Minh) — Fri, 26 Sep 2014 12:48:00 +0000

There are three popular routes to conquer Fansipan, with the starting point is Tram Ton pass, Cat Cat ethnic village or Sin Chai; in which Sin Chai route is said to be the most beautiful but the most dangerous also. Almost all tourists choose Tram Ton pass as the starting point of the climb because it is the easiest way. It often takes two or three days to fulfill a conquest of Fansipan.

>> Sapa Vietnam

The most popular journey lasts for three days- two nights. On the first day, a group of tourists are taken to Tram Ton pass from Sapa town by car. From the peak of Tram Ton pass, the group begins climbing till reaching the height of 1,900m. After a long climb, the group stops besides a stream for camping, cooking the dinner and staying overnight here. On the second day, the group keeps climbing till reaching the peak of Fansipan at the altitude of 3,143m. As scheduled, the group has lunch, take photos and rest right on the peak before coming back the camping site for a good night’s sleep. On the last day, tourists climb down the mountain on another path, and are taken back to Sapa town by car.

A group of tourists are often led by two tour guides or indigenous people, who are familiar with the mountain. On the second day, while the others in the group continues conquering the Roof of Indochina, one of these two persons will stay at the camping site to prepare the dinner for the whole group.

Though cooking in cold and wet weather on the high mountain is rather difficult but very interesting also. Tourists may pick up some bamboo sprouts in the forest for the dinner. All rubbish must be collected for later treatment (no dumping in the forest).
- See more at: http://indochinatourism.net/blog-entry/fansipan-moutain-sapa-vietnam

Hon Dau Islet

noreply@blogger.com (Nguyen Minh) — Fri, 26 Sep 2014 12:30:00 +0000

Hai Phong has been well-known as Cat Ba Island, one of the most beautiful island of Viet Nam. Beside Cat Bat, there is a island name Hon Dau (Dau Islet) which was known by few people.

>> Halong bay Vietnam

Spread across 65ha of Do Son coast, the resort is capable of accommodating 5,000 guests at any given time and includes a 7ha artificial white sand beach, designed especially for those who preferred avoiding rough seas during bad weather which is the largest in Southeast Asia.

The premises additionally play host to a 17ha eco-park on top of Dau Lo Mountain consisting of a small zoo, a crocodile lake, a waterfall and cottages scattered amidst a pine-tree forest, all within easy reach via battery-powered car. As for entertainment, the water-park, golf/driving range, kayaking centre, natural beach and spa offer abundant opportunities for leisure.

A local resident, Nguyen Mai Thi said "Spending time in the eco-park over a weekend is an excellent means of breaking away from city life". To leave the noise and stuffy of the urban environment in Ha Noi and the surrounding provinces and cities behind, it takes a short time to reach Hon Dau Resort to enjoy the nature of the sea. From its specially constructed port, resort guests are able of reaching nearby Cat Ba Island in only 35 minutes, or Ha Long Bay by three-hour cruise.

Ngo The Binh, from the resort's head office said: "We try to provide the best service possible in order to retain our guests for as long as possible during their holiday periods. We even have a heliport to service those thinking of dropping in". Hon Dau Island, situated 800m off the coast of the Do Son peninsula is the heart of the resort and the most visited spot among local travelers.
- See more at: http://indochinatourism.net/blog-entry/hon-dau-islet

Sapa Stone Church and Muong Hoa Valley in Sapa Vietnam

noreply@blogger.com (Nguyen Minh) — Fri, 26 Sep 2014 10:23:00 +0000

Sapa Stone Church and Muong Hoa Valley in Sapa District (Lao Cai Province) have been introduced to Viet Nam Record Organization to consider and recognize as one of Top 5 over 100-year-old churches known the most and Top 5 the most beautiful and largest valleys in Viet Nam.

>> Sapa Vietnam

Stone Church was built by French in early 20th century at the center of Sapa Town. Before building, the French architects selected carefully the location. The church faces the East (the direction of sunrise as well as to welcome the light of God), backs on Ham Rong Mountain. The bell tower at the end of the church faces the West (birthplace of Jesus).

The church is built with Roma Gothic architecture on the area of 6,000m2. The whole church is made of stone including works as church, rectory, angel’s house, priest's house, Saint’s garden…

In the church area, there are two architecture works built by the French as Chu Cau Villa (Hoang Lien Hotel now) and the District Commissioner area (headquarters of Lao Cai Tourism Information Center now). These two works combine with the stone church to create an architectural complex of isosceles triangle imbuing distinct French style.

Along with pray activities, in every Saturday evening, traditional cultural activities of ethnic minority groups, especially Love market usually take place at the church area.

- See more at: http://indochinatourism.net/blog-entry/sapa-stone-church-and-muong-hoa-valley-sapa-vietnam

Ba Om Pond

noreply@blogger.com (Nguyen Minh) — Mon, 22 Sep 2014 08:26:00 +0000

Ba Om Pond in the southwest region is a famous tourist sightlocated in the village of Ta Cu, in Nguyet Hoa commune, Chau Thanh district, Tra Vinh province.

To get there, visitors go along Highway 53 to the south west, about 7km from the center of Tra Vinh province.

Ba Om Pond is 500m long and 300m wide and it is also called Ao Vuong (Square Pond) since its shape is almost square. In the right season, the pond is also embellished with pink lotuses or red water lilies.

The climate at Ba Om Pond is cool year round, so Tra Vinh people call it the second Da Lat. The pond is surrounded by ancient trees hundreds of years old. The roots of these trees are above the ground, forming many strange shapes. Large roots create big caves, where children can enter. Some roots have even created 'sofas'.

Ancient trees around Ba Om Pond

Ang Temple - the oldest Khmer temple in Tra Vinh

Ba Om Pond is entwined with legends of the Khmer people. The story goes that in the land of Thuy Chan Lap, a mandarin organised a competition between men and women. They had to dig a pond to combat drought. The winner was the one with the biggest and deeper pond.

The men were subjective so they both worked and played. The women, led by Ba Om, a Khmer woman, worked very hard and completed the task before the sun rose. The women won the competition and Ba Om won the right to choose her husband. The pond was named after Ba Om.

Near the pond is a museum, which showcases artifacts of the Khmer people. Opposite to the museum is the Ang Pagoda, the oldest and most beautiful temple in more than 140 Khmer temples in Tra Vinh.During Tet holidays, Ba Om Pond is the place where community activities of the Khmer population are held.

Ba Om Pond was recognized by the Ministry of Culture and Information as a historic national site in 1996.

Along with the museum and the Ang Pagoda, the complex of three relics is a must-see place in Tra Vinh province.
(Source: hanoitimes)

Bird's eye view of scenic Ha Long Bay

noreply@blogger.com (Nguyen Minh) — Mon, 22 Sep 2014 08:17:00 +0000

Ha Long Bay Vietnam and the surrounding area is a beautiful place from the ground, but it is absolutely breathtaking from the air, as shown in the shots taken by photographer Hai Dong during a recent scenic flight on board a Hai Au Aviation seaplane.Photo courtesy of Hai Au Aviation.

Hue Tourist offers cheap, comprehensive visits to central Vietnam

noreply@blogger.com (Nguyen Minh) — Mon, 22 Sep 2014 08:09:00 +0000

Hue Tourist now offers a package that seeks to bring tourists to Vietnam to visit the most sought-after designations in the central of the country.The "Central Heritage Road” takes travelers through several caves in the celebrated Phong Nha – Ke Bang National Park and stops in at Hue's former citadel for court music and traditional delicacies.It continues on, to the quaint seaside town of Hoi An and the My Son Sanctuary--a collection of Cham ruins set in a lush jungle.Tourists can also discover other attractions along the route such as the Ba Na Hills, a Cham island famous for fresh, cheap seafood off the coast of Hoi An, the vast Tam Giang lagoon in Hue, and beautiful beaches such as Cua Dai, Non Nuoc, Lang Co or Nhat Le.The four day package is available to groups for around US$150 per person--a price that goes down depending on the size of the group.Meals, hotel rooms and insurance are included.There are also special prices for children.

CONTACT DETAILS

Interested parties can contact the company at its office on 22 Nguyen Hue Street in the city of Hue; by telephone at 054 222 9990 or via a hotline 091 4242 096 (Mr Hoa).