Vietnam Travel » Vietnam Discovery

Mai Chau, Hoa Binh: Peaceful, Charming

admin — Sun, 29 Nov 2009 17:13:53 +0000

Anyone who ever visited Mai Chau in Hoa Binh province never forgets the rolling landscape or the friendly, charming nature of the local Thai and Mong people.

Mai Chau Lodge is a four-star hotel which was built in the style of a typical house-on stilts of the Thai ethnic people in the Mai Chau Valley. From the window of the hotel, one can behold the beauty of peaceful hamlets, green lakes, romantic hillsides and the ever stretching rice fields swaying in the fresh mountainb breeze.

Foreign tourists during a tour by bike to hamlets in Mai Chau Valley.

Lac and Pom Coong Hamlets are typical of Thai minority communities. The houses are built on stilts, 1.5m above the ground, having bamboo floors and roofs made from Goi or May leaves. The area under the house is usually reserved for livestock, but for the sake of the tourists, at some houses this area has been converted into a souvenir shop flaunting items such as shawls, dresses, bags, purses, brocade cloths and multi-colour cloth balls skilfully made by Thai ethnic people. In some houses tourists can witness local women diligently working at a loom, weaving colourful brocade fabric. Also, a visit to a local hamlet is not complete without trying the famous Can wine (wine drunk out of a jar through pipes) that is made from sticky rice. Hinh ho leaf, Meo leaf and ginger that fascinates any visitor.

Continuing on to the tour with the next destination of Hang Kia Commune, tourists will enjoy melodious tunes of flute and mingle in the life of locals at Pa Co market where they can buy typical products of Mong ethnic people as presents for relatives and friends. Then they will visit Mo Luong Cave which is famous for mysterious stalactites in different shapes of flowers and springs.

Tourists photograph and video the artists performing the traditional Sap dance.

Tourists are encouraged to stay at homes of local families and enjoy a special artistic programme with fascinating dances and songs of Thai ethnic people. After dances of gongs, xoe, gia gao and xoe quat, they will be invited to participate in a sap dance with the locals. Overnight stays in homes floating on the lake are also available, where one can take in a gorgeous sunrise and enjoy the clean and pure atmosphere of the early morning.

The beautiful landscape of the ever-stretching rice fields in Mai Chau Valley.

Information:
Mai Chau is 130km northwest of Hanoi. Tourists can take a car to Highway 6 from Hanoi to Hoa Binh Town and then continue going about 70km along Son La Road to the first intersection behind the mountain range, then turn left onto Vang Street and going about 5km further to Mai Chau Valley.

Source: Vietnam pictorial

Enjoy a sense of peace at Nha Trang

admin — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 16:08:18 +0000

Ancient village and culinary centre

Nha Trang, where many Cham towers were built, was well-known as a land of aloe wood in the olden days. Now this romantic land is a paradise on earth with its blue ocean and white sandy beaches. However, Nha Trang still preserves its beauty in the past with ancient houses of the central region. Nha Trang Ancient Village and Culinary Centre is a place where visitors can return to relax and to enjoy a sense of peace.

After a 30 minute drive from Cam Ranh Airport, we headed south to Nha Trang Ancient Village and Culinary Centre on a familiar path in the rural area. In the distance we saw the Giang Huong mountain in lush green scenery and Chin Khuc mountain dimly looming in the thin veil of morning. We were so eager to go back in time.

Ancient houses at Nha Trang Anciant Village and Culinary Centre are collected from many regions.

The hustle and bustle of city life suddenly disappeared when we saw an immense paddy field full of ripening rice. A winding path with immense yellow paddy fields on two sides led us to the Nha Trang Ancient Village and Culinary Centre. In the distance, I could see the ancient houses with their characteristic brown-tile roofs nestling in a green lush garden.

Upon arriving in Nha Trang Ancient Village and Culinary Centre, a girl in a traditional Vietnamese ao dai holding a conical hat warmly welcomed us at the entrance. Then we walked in a path paved with red bricks and rows of flowers on the two sides.

Some chili plants, banana trees, a loofah trellis and many vegetables reminded me of the garden behind the house in the rural areas of Vietnam. I smelled a familiar fragrance from my childhood when the smike of the cooking blended with the flavoured rice in the wind. How could I forget the smoke of the boiling water for my grandfather’s tea in the early mornings and the fragrance of grilled sweet potato for the children during rainy evenings… All of us kept quiet for a while as if we were afraid to shatter the tranquil atmosphere.

Suddenly, the waitress in a stylised ao ba ba (a kind of shirt used by southern Vietnamese people) gave us the menu list. I choose some rural foods which I hadn’t had the opportunity to enjoy for a long time. Ms Yen, the hostess of Nha Trang Ancient Village Tourist Area showed us around and told us about her vision. “As a resident of Nha Trang or of any other region, everyone wishes to return to their roots and preserve sacred memories”, she shared. It is also the reason why she has spared no effort and time to find and buy 2 ancient houses from many regions such as Nha Trang, Dien Khanh, Van Ninh and Ninh Thuan to fulfill her project.

The restaurant is designed simply with some wooden pillars. The dried coconut leaves are used to make roofing material. There are a loofah trellis, banana trees, a mantle and a jar full of water. All these items, which are decorated naturally, convey the message of time.

Here you can enjoy the picturesque setting of a rural area featuring an immense paddy field, a pond of lotus flowers, a vegetable garden, and bamboo trees swaying lightly in the wind. The atmosphere is peaceful and inviting with birdsong.

We enjoyed a lot of specialties of rural areas in Nha Trang like goi mit (jackfruit salad), ga hap xa (chicken steamed with lemongrass), ech nuong muoi ot (frog legs grilled with chili and salt), ca loc hap bau (snakehead fish steamed with gourd) and a variety of vegetables picked right out of the garden.

Although this tourist spot has only been open for two months, it already attracts a lot of tourists, especially foreign ones who have come to enjoy the natural beauty and culinary specialties of the rural areas in Vietnam.

Nha Trang Ancient Village and Culinary Centre is an enchanting and must-see destination for those visiting Nha Trang.

Nha Trang Ancient Village and Culinary Centre:
Thai Thong village, Vinh Thai commune, Nha Trang.
Tel:0583896700

Further information

-Nha Trang Ancient Village and Culinary Centre covers over 2ha and includes 3 main parts:

-The relaxation section has 10 rooms featuring rural and traditional decor that overlook the garden or field. It is scheduled to start serving guests in January, 2010.

-The wedding section has an altar and places for the bride and the groom holding their wedding in traditional Vietnamese style.

-The last section is a restaurant with a capacity of 200 people. The restaurant offers many specialties of rural areas.

Source: Travellive magazine (Vietnam)

Dien Bien Phu: Past and Present

admin — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 18:36:00 +0000

On May 7th 1954, Vietnamese forces achieved a stunning victory against French colonial troops at Dien Bien Phu, a remote town in Vietnam’s norteastern mountains. 55 years later, Hoai Thanh visits the town where Vietnam’s independence was won.

The moment my Vietnam Airlines’ ATR72 plane touched down at Dien Bien Airport I was overcome by emotion. Until that point, as a young man born after the war, my knowledge of the historic events at Dien Bien Phu had been gleaned from newspapers and films.

As the 55th anniversary of the victory against Fench colonial forces at Dien Bien Phu approached, the town’s streets became increasingly crowded with domestic and foreign visitors. I was so moved to meet veterans with sparkling medals pinned onto their shirts, these elderly men smiling proudly. Guides at the Dien Bien Phu Victory Museum seemed happy to recount stories about the hardships endured by the soldiers at Dien Bien Phu, who had faced incredibly harsh conditions and huge challenges.

Dien Bien Phu offers mountain views and a fascinating history

Using only small spades and forced to crouch low to avoid being hit by enemy fire, these soldiers had dug tunnels through mountains and forests. Their sacrifices had allowed Vietnamese armed forces to get close enough to the French bases to launch a surprise attack and secure their world-famous victory.

Leading up to the anniversary, Dien Bien Phu resembled a giant construction site. Young people and students were practicing songs; soldiers were practicing parade marches; and so on. Streets and markets were full of shoppers. Crews were working to complete the Muong Phang Victory Park Project, the Cannon Battlefield and Route Conservation Project, the Him Lam Hill Historic Site Upgrading Project, and Phase 2 of the Dien Bien Phu Victory Statue. Historic sites such as Hill A1, General de Castries’ bunker, and the Dien Bien Phu Victory Museum were being renovated.

At 300m above sea level, the Dien Bien Valley is surrounded by mountains, Muong Thanh paddy fields and the Nam Ron River. Eminent historic sites include Hills A1, C1, C2, D1; the Hong Cum, Him Lam and Doc Lap Strongholds, Muong Thanh Bridge, and Muong Thanh Airport. The A1 Stronghold was the most important fortification of the French. A French tank destroyed by Vietnamese forces and statues of four Vietnamese soldiers who died in that incident are displayed there.

At the Dien Bien Phu cemetery visitors will find more than 600 graves, most of which are anonymous. A bronze plaque bears the names of many martyrs. I read their names one by one: Phan Dinh Giot, Be Van Dan, To Vinh Dien, etc. and seemed to hear them calling for the battle to start. Although the enemy’s guns were approaching, these young men continued their brave advance. They died 55 years ago to secure their nation’s independence and freedom.

The Dien Bien Phu Headquarters are located in Muong Phang Commune about 30 km from Dien Bien Phu City. Tourists can travel there by coach, past the dangerous sloping road of Ta Loi and many bendy sections. Located at 1,000m above sea level, the command camp was the base of General Vo Nguyen Giap, Hoang Van Thai and others. From here it is possible to see the whole of the Dien Bien Phu and Muong Thanh Valleys. When I visited, all tunnels and work offices were being restored.

Next to the command camp lies Pa Khoang Lake, a man-made reservoir and the starting point of Dien Bien’s vital irrigation system. It also serves as a recreational area. Along with stunning scenery, Dien Bien Phu offers fascinating cultural diversity. While the clothes worn by people of Kinh, Thai, H’mong and other ethnic descents vary, everyone I met was hospitable. People in a range of traditional clothes may be seen all over town.

While Dien Bien Phu is quiet after dark, I attended a rousing cultural show in the Thai village of Co My about 1km from the city center. Thai women wearing traditional clothes served local fare. After the meal, both the villagers and the visitors sang, danced and drank rice wine by the fire. We all held hands as we sang and danced, the atmosphere warm and exciting.

My visit to Dien Bien Phu made a deep impression on me. As well as being a national historic site, Dien Bien Phu is home to diverse and special cultural identities. Its people, its beautiful landscape and its heroic history are major attractions.

Flights:
VNA offers direct flights between Hanoi and Dien Bien Phu. During the town’s 2009 celebrations, 2 or 3 daily flights are on offer.
Source: Heritage (Vietnam Airlines inflight magazine)

Cruising down stream

admin — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 17:56:35 +0000

Sailing down the Da river in Hoa Binh province is a wonderfully relaxing way to spend a couple of days, says Duc Hanh.

On a Sunday morning my friend and I drive towards Hoa Binh on a surprisingly quiet highway. We head straight for the Hoa Binh Hydroelectric Plant and Reservoir, a massive project built from 1988 to 1994, where we plan to hire a boat and float around for the day.

The enormous dam is built on Song Da (Da river), one of the chief tributaries running off the mighty Red River, which flows for 910km from Yunnan in south-western China into Vietnam through Lai Chau, Dien Bien, Son La, Hoa Binh and Phu Tho provinces.

The Da River flows through the Hoa Binh province

The river’s valleys are invariably rich in minerals and possess specific ecosystems with a wealth of flora, fauna and wildlife. The reservoir led to a transformation of the local landscape as the rising waters turned hilltops into islands.

The reservoir has a “tourist wharf” called Bich Ha though I’m advised head for Bai San Pier instead. There’s no obvious jetty here but you can hire small boats which double as trading boats. The owners will also cook for you on board for a reasonable price.

Once we find a willing guide, we set off down the river to Than Nhan village in Da Bac district of Hoa Binh province, where a small community of Dzao people live. The boat leaves us at a pier from where it’s a steep 4km uphill walk to the village.

We have the option of staying overnight in the village or on the boat. We decide on the latter and set off with our small backpacks. The hill tribe still maintains its traditional customs and clothing and the villagers are very hospitable and friendly.

We find a house to stay and we are immediately invited to eat some salted pork and drink some herbal liquor (ruou). The meat is rather tough but the ruou is excellent!

The locals have clearly learned to cater for tourists. We’re offered fried eggs and French fries. The houses are well kept and a dream for fussy travelers. The mattresses and sheets are clean and we’re supplied with mosquito nets.

There’s also a reliable flow electricity – I guess we’re in the right part of the country. There’s even a Western-style toilet.

We sleep well and rise early in the morning to check out the market by the riverside – only after buying a couple of beautiful Dzao-style brocades, which are rather expensive but wonderfully embroidered.

Down by our boat people are busy trading. Chickens and pigs are being counted and lined up. Nearby someone is ominously boiling water. Traders holler prices and haggle. On land, there are food stalls selling pho and ice cream.

Scores of H’mong people arrive from villages up the mountainside. It’s the first time I see members of the Mong Lenh hill tribe with their wonderful yellow embroidered dresses and long hair which they roll up over their head.

The Mong Lenh are here to sell corn, manioc, chicken and tiny black pigs, and buy colour thread, fabrics, dresses, household appliances and tools.

We head on to Chieng Hoa district of Son La province, where there are some Thai villages connected by several suspension bridges. Where the river is narrow and calm, Thai women come down to bathe in the late afternoon.

We anchor at Chieng Hoa pier and set foot on land again. We can hear birds and monkeys in the distance. With our stomachs rumbling we are handed a bamboo fishing-rod. We have to fish for our supper.

Over the course of an hour, we reel in a bunch of fish, which we wrap in banana leaf and grill over an open fire. With a bottle of ruou from the Dzao village, we enjoy a delicious dinner under the moonlight.

With grottoes, caves and forests to explore, and clean springs for swimming, there is a lot do around Song Da. For now, we’re happy sitting in the moonlight.

Source: Timeout (Vietnam’s leading magazine for travel, lifestyle, leisure and culture)

The Silk Road

admin — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 14:54:05 +0000

Today Hang Gai is a mix of both the past and present with traditional and contemporary fashion houses, art galleries and coffee shops.

Just north of Hoan Kiem Lake and on the edge of the Old Quarter, Hang Gai has always been a famous trading place for silk. Tapping the tourist trade you will also find art galleries, handicraft stores and tiny souvenir shops.

Hang Gai’s central location and international reputation also mean the price of land on Hang Gai is astronomical by Vietnamese standards. Prices can be as high as $30,000 per square metre!

Hang Gai Street

Nevertheless plenty of shop owners are happily renting retail space here – so business must be good. The 250m-long stretch of road is home to 120 shops, including 91 shops that sell mostly silk products.

HISTORY

Before the advent of tourism in modern Vietnam, Hang Gai street was part of Co Vu (Vu Village) which stretched from Hoan Kiem Lake to Cua Nam at the end of Hang Bong street. The original Co Vu Communal House is still standing at 85 Hang Gai street and has recently been renovated. Outside you will see a century-old banyan tree, which symbolizes Vietnamese spirituality.

Today Hang Gai is now highly congested thoroughfare and inevitably the street has lost some of its original charm but thanks to its cultural heritage and appeal to tourists, the Hanoi People’s Committee has committed to preserving what remains of the street’s architectural and cultural heritage.

SHOPPING SPREE

Le Minh shop
78-79 Hang Gai street

With so many small shops specialising in silk and embroidery, just choosing a shop to enter on Hang Gai can be over whelming at first. Although the merchandise at the various stores is similar, as you might imagine, prices and service very from shop to shop.

Le Minh has a solid reputation that has been developed sence it first opened its doors in 1954. You can pick up ready-to-wear outfits or have items tailormade. Le Minh’s Vietnamese-style shirts made out of raw silk with a mandarin-style collar and traditional frog closures are highly popular. Shirts start at $15, tailored jackets $25-$30. You can also find some wonderful embroidered table-cloths ($10-$25).

Khai Silk
131 Hang Gai street

With outlets throughout the country, Khai Silk is one of the best places for ready-made and tailored silk products in Vietnam. The flagship store in Hanoi is more expensive than some of its neigh-bours on Hang Gai street but you can expect quality products here.

Tan My Design
61-65 Hang Gai street

Tan My Design is veritable shopping emporium with over 800sqm of shopping space, selling both the best of Vietnam alongside international products. The beautiful restored French colonial-period villa is filled with gorgeous handmade embroidery, home ware, bed linen, clothing, accessories and artwork. Originally a family run shop, Tan My Design has welcomed some of the most exciting brands in Vietnam today – Chartage, Casa d’Oriental and Grace – and also showcases the designs of Victoria Roe, Pascal Dang, and the founder of Mirror Mirror, Ha Truong. Tan My Design also boasts a modern and spacious café, featuring top quality espresso drinks and delicious snacks. The café will also showcase work by some of Hanoi’s most celebrated artists.

ART DEALERS

Thang Long Art Gallery
41 Hang Gai street

First established in 1996, Thang Long Art Gallery has experienced many highs and lows over the years and even closed its doors for a spell. Reopened since 2004 the gallery has now affirmed itself as one of the city’s more prestigious and reliable addresses for classic Vietnamese art. Thang Long Art Gallery features artork by old master and contemporary artists.

Salon Natasha
30 Hang Bong

Further down from Hang Gai is one of Hanoi’s oldest patrons of contemporary Vietnamese art. In fact, Salon Natasha was the first private gallery in Hanoi. It was established in 1990 by Russian emigre Natalia Kraevskaia and her husband, the artist Vu Dan Tan, Salon Natasha closed for a number of years but has recently reopened its doors and is once again a meeting place for artists and intellectuals and a venue for modern, young, experimental and non-commercial art.

ACCOMMODATION

Trang An Hotel
58 Hang Gai street

Trang An is the only mini-hotel on Hang Gai street with Standard, Superior Room and Balcony Rooms available from $45-$65. It’s certainly a great spot for anyone looking to be right in the thick of Hanoi.

Silk Path Hotel
195-199 Hang Bong

One of Old Quarter’s most luxurious hotels is about to open at the year’s end just down the road from Hang Gai. The Silk Path promises to introduce a “symphony of comfort” to the Hanoi hotel scene. Rates for The Silk Path’s Executive Room and The Silk Path Suite are currently at $128 and $375 respectively for the opening period in early 2010. The hotel will offer state of the art facilities for conferences and banquets.

COFFEE BREAK

Café Vuon Pho Co
11 Hang Gai

Known as the secret café this old Vietnamese coffeehouse is not much of a secret anymore but it’s well worth visiting for either the stunning views of Hoan Kiem Lake from the second, third or fourth floors out the back or the indoor oriental garden downstairs. Great coffee and fruit juices and famously reluctant staff (they must really hate walking up and down to the fourth floor). It’s also one of the last places on Hang Gai where you can get a classic ca phe trung (coffee mixed with egg white). You have to walk past the souvenir shops out front and down a thin passageway to get there.

Segafredo Zanetti
7 Hang Gai

This used to be a hole-in-the-wall coffeehouse called Café Giang – one of the most famous addresses for the aforementioned ca phe trung. It’s a sign of the times that tourists with out of date guide books will now find a small Italian café serving up latte and frappucinno. If you are looking for Café Giang, the owner moved to Nguyen Huu Huan street.

Little Hanoi
21 Hang Gai Street

Little Hanoi could probably sell thin air and turn a profit with one of the most perfect locations for a snack bar in town.
It’s a sanctuary for many hot and sweaty tourists who have marched up and down Hang Gai street or all around the Old Quarter. The food is solid with freshly made western-style sandwiches as well as a limited range of local classics such as banana flower salad and noodle soup. A great spot to watch the world go by and a good central meeting point, Little Hanoi is already an old faithful on Hang Gai street.

By Dieu Linh.

Fried Fish street

admin — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 18:03:24 +0000

Cha Ca street in Hanoi was named after the eponymous local dish, which is still the main draw for locals and tourists today, but there are a few other choice spots worth mentioning along this illustrious stretch of the Old Quarter.

Cha ca is one of Hanoi ’s most lauded trademark dishes. The simple but ingenious dish of fried fish became so famous thet a whole street was named after it. Today you will find restaurants serving cha ca all across Hanoi but the original restaurant is on Cha Ca street and that’s where the tourists keep coming in their droves today.

Cha Ca Street

Previously the street had a name more typical of the Old Quarter, Hang Son ( Paint street ). At the end of the 19th century, the Doan family moved into 14 Hang Son and established a restaurant, Cha Ca La Vong. The rest, as they say, is history. Today the street is a typically busy Hanoi street teeming with traffic and near-constant noise. The street is home to some well run hotels offering guests a great location right in the heart of Hanoi .

RESTAURANT

Cha ca La Vong restaurant
14 Cha Ca street

Located in an old-style wooden house, Cha Ca La Vong restaurant takes its name from a wooden statue of an old fisherman (La Vong) holding a fishing rod and a line of fish at the door.

For over 100 years people have flocked to the restaurant from all over Hanoi and now people come from all over the world. Listed in Patricia Shultz’s 1,000 Places to See Before You Die as well as every guide book on Hanoi , the tour buses roll up to the doors of Cha Ca La Vong on a daily basis.

The restaurant is still hugely popular with locals, too, though many knowing Hanoians now believe you can find tastier cha ca elsewhere. First timers or nonaficionados certainly won’t complain at the family-run restaurant’s efforts. Basically fried fish is served on your table still sizzling in a pan on a hot stove. The fish has already been pan-seared in the kitchen in a secret sauce, which undoubtedly contains tumeric and rice flour. You mix dill and spring onion into the pan then serve the boneless fish and various profumi into your bowl of bun (rice noodles) before adding fish sauce, fermented shrimp paste and peanuts to taste.

The result is simply divine. The dish is said to combine the natural symmetry and harmony of Yin-Yang. The notoriously surly looking family might not win prizes for open-armed welcomes and cheeriness but they sure now how to whip up a fish supper.

Banh cuon

You can also find great banh cuon in a number of restaurants along Cha Ca street . This is another of Hanoi ’s most popular dishes. It can be eaten for breakfast or as a snack in between meals. Translucent silvers of rice flour are fried like French crepes then rolled around a mix of grilled pork (sometimes shrimp is used), woodear mushrooms, and lightly sautéed garlic and onion. This is served on a plate under dried onions and fresh coriander. You must dunk your banh cuon in the accompanying bowl of fish sauce. Some people may add chili or lime juice to the fish sauce. Banh cuon costs VND 10,000 for one serving.

Baguette & Chocolat
11 Cha Ca Street

Just opposite Cha Ca La Vong is a French bakery and cafe called Baguette & Chocolat, part of the Hoa Sua Vocational Training Centre, which trains young Vietnamese as either chefs or waiters. The French breads and pastries are of good quality though some cakes are definitely better than others. You can also order sandwiches, salads, quiches and pizzas. A nice spot for a quick coffee and a cake, if you’re buzzing around the old Quarter.

ACCOMMODATION

Thien Tan Hotel
12 Cha Ca Street

Thien Tan Hotel, a few doors down from Cha Ca La Vong restaurant, is a brand-new hotel with great services right in the heart of Hanoi . The well kept rooms are cosy and well designed. Current rates start at $45 for a standard room and $50 for a deluxe. All rooms feature modern amenities: air-conditioning, internet, cable TV, mini-bar, and shower/bath…

Ms Salute Hotel
19Cha Ca street

Located in the heart of the city, Ms Salute Hotel has entrances on Cha Ca street and Hang Duong street offering guests easy access to both sides of the Old Quarter. The stylish property features 37 tastefully appointed rooms with private balconies. Room rates start at $65 for a single deluxe. A double suite costs $110. Rooms feature all the necessary mod-cons. The hotel also features a sauna, Jacuzzi and massage therapy services and a business centre. The Orchid restaurant on the fifth floor offers a selection of Vietnames, Western and Asian delicacies.

SHOPPING

N$M shop
15 Cha ca

N&M specializes in women’s fashion and accessories that are suitable for the modern woman of today.

Ha Viet
25 Cha Ca

Ha Viet stocks items made by members of Vietnam ’s many ethnic groups make excellent and inexpensive souvenirs and presents. You can get a handwoven scarf for as little as $2, depending on the complexity of the pattern and design. Hand-woven, embroidered or appliquéd jackets cost from $15 upwards.

By Dieu Linh.

Phu Quoc – the honeymoon rendezvous season

admin — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 18:05:58 +0000

It is not by chance that Phu Quoc island, the strange land is known as the emerald island. Phu Quoc is an island endowed with many natural treasures and great tourism potential. With its pristine forests and beautiful sandy beaches like Truong beach, Khem beach, Ghenh Dau, Rach Tram and Rach Vem. Phu Quoc island is an ideal choice and a popular paradise destination for couples during the honeymoon season.

Located in the Gulf of Thailand in Kien Giang province, Phu Quoc island is the largest island and is one of an archipelago consisting of 22 islands of greatly varying size. The island covers an area of 593 sq.km; it is about 50 km long and 25km wide at the widest point – in the north. Duong Dong town is in the centre of the island, just 120 km from Rach Gia and 45 km from Ha Tien. Phu Quoc is called “the island of 99 mountains” because of its many hill chains gradually descending from the north to the south. Phu Quoc also has plain, natural forest covering 37,000ha in the north-east of the island, with a variety of valuable timber and birds.

Ham Ninh fishing village

It takes you about 50 minutes from Tan Son Nhat airport to Phu Quoc – the beautiful island in the south – which has long been called the Emerald island.

Duong Dong, a great fish harbor in the west of the island is the centre of Phu Quoc. It has many beautiful landscapes but the most famous one is Dinh Cau Temple. The temple was built in 1937 with the purpose of praying for the protection of the River Genie and for it to help boats overcome dangerous waves. Dinh Cau temple still preserves the ancient architectural style. From here, you can view all of Phu Quoc island from many interesting lookout points.

Yellow sandy beaches stretch around the island creating the whole picture of Phu Quoc island. Near the beaches there are rocks jutting out into the sea. The spectacular view will ensure you a wonderful holiday here. Truong beach is the most fascinating – a yellow sandy beach near Duong Dong town. The sandy beach stretches from Dinh Cau temple to Tau Ru, which is a long way. Maybe that is the reason why it is called Truong beach (Long beach).

Going down to the south of Phu Quoc island, you arrive at Khem beach which is famous for its smooth, white sandy beach. Khem beach is 25km from Duong Dong town and 5km from An Thoi harbor. Nature endowed Khem beach with green grass cover and pristine forests. You can enjoy the fresh atmosphere of the forests and view with your own eyes the coming and going of species of rare animals. You can bathe, fish, catch snails and cook them and enjoy them right here.

There are many pearl farms in the south of the island. Fastidious pearls choose Phu Quoc island to grow, and the people here really know how to exploit and turn this gift of the sea into valuable objects to make our life beautiful. On visiting pearl farms you can buy and see jewels made with real pearls from Phu Quoc.

When the sunset comes, it gleams on the surface of the sea. The clouds slide down the red horizon. This is a good time to take a walk on the beach to view the sunset and be reminded of the mysterious lagend of Mr. Mac Cuu, who broke the power of Ha Tien when Emperor Gia Long fell here.

It is the streams that make Phu Quoc island more romantic. In the south of the island, Da Ban stream flows all year round with clutches of wild orchids on the banks. What a romantic sight!

Nature presented Da Ban stream with large and flat rocks surrounded by many trees. The water is pure, running by day and night into rock cracks.

The stream bed is rather deep but you can swim, camp and play by the riverside. Situated to the northeast of the island is Tranh stream, which originates from Ham Ninh rocks. There are many small streams entering Tranh stream which transform it into quite a sizeable river 16km long. Tranh stream runs smoothly along the rows of rocks and boulders.

Ham Ninh fishing village stands here. The life of the ishermen is so peaceful with the sound of Su Muon pagoda bell resounding every dawn.

To the north is North Island with its pristine forest and Nguyen Trung Truc temple. You can bathe at Ghenh Dau beach, view Ta Lon mountain, visit Khu Tuong pepper garden and visit peaceful Sung Hung pagoda.

An Thoi island is located at the end of south Phu Quoc island. It has 15 islands strung in a necklace along the south-west of the island. The sea water here is pure and very deep, with the deepest point nearly 30 m. You will feel immediately energized and invigorated on exploring the beauties of nature here, seeing the sights, swimming and diving. You can hire a speed boat to visit Dan island, Dua island, Roi island, Thom island, Vang island, Mong Tay island, Gam Ghi island, May Rut island, Chan Quy island and find out why they have received those names.

Further Information:

*The famous specialties of Phu Quoc are fish sauce (nuoc mam) which is made from anchovy (ca com) with a high level of protein and pepper. In addition, Phu Quoc has unique sim wine which is very popular. There are many kinds of shrimp, crabs, fish, etc in Phu Quoc island. In particular, Phu Quoc has a farm specializing in growing “xoay dog” (This is a dog with spiny fur, found only on Phu Quoc).

*The population of Phu Quoc island is over 45,000. Phu Quoc has An Thoi harbor and Hon Thom harbor where many domestic and foreign boats exchange goods. Phu Quoc has many historic sites like Nguyen Trung Truc’s military base, Emperor Gia Long relics from the time he spent on the island, Phu Quoc prison, etc.

*The Phu Quoc airport and hotels are located at Duong Dong town.

*It takes you 50 minutes by plane from HCMC (Tan Son Nhat airport), and 8 hours by speed boat from Ha Tien to Phu Quoc.

Discover along the Red River

admin — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 19:12:05 +0000

The “Discover the Red River” tour takes clients along the Red River in the vicinity of Hanoi, allowing them to relish the beauty on both river banks and visit traditional villages.

We joined eight French and three American tourists to take a trip on a boat belonging to the Buffalotours Company. Starting from Chuong Duong wharf at 8:30, our boat chugged along slowly, providing an opportunity for us to contemplate rows of houses and the busy activities of people living in Hanoi, the old Long Bien Bridge built in the time of French domination and charming scenes on the two sides of the Red River.

A corner of Red River

After 30 minutes of boat travel we disembarked at Le Chi wharf in Gia Lam District. To continue the tour on land we were each given a bicycle. Passing a sloping dyke covered with green grass we reached a dirt road that took us another four kilometers to pedal to visit But Thap Pagoda in Dinh To Commune, Thuan Thanh District of Bac Ninh Province, 30km nort of Hanoi. Two inquisitive American boys, Finn-Oston and Finn-David Layer, the sons of Finn-Olaf Jones were very excited and energetic and led the troop. Often they stopped to watch herds of buffaloes and cows on the roadside with curious eyes. The French girls in our team enjoyed posing for photographs at the rice fields and lotus ponds.

Nguyen Anh Duc, the tour guide of our team introduced to us the unique features of But Thap Pagoda, one of the most renowned pagodas in Vietnam. Built in the Post Le Dynasty (17th century) the pagoda has unique architecture in a harmony with nature. Over time it has retained its beautiful architectural features and precious statues, particularly the statue of Goddess of Mercy with a thousand eyes and a thousand arms sculpted in 1656. This statue is considered a sculptural masterpiece of Vietnam.

Leaving But Thap Pagoda we rode to Dong Ho Village which is well-known for the craft of making folk paintings, in Thuan Thanh District. We called at the workshop of artisan Nguyen Dang Che, where we were told about the process of making Dong Ho paintings on the Do (poonah) paper and visited a showroom of hundreds of unique, old samples of paintings that have been preserved. At present only the families of artisans Nguyen Dang Che and Nguyen Huu San in the village are engaged in the craft of making Ding Ho paintings, preserving a cultural heritage of the village and of Vietnam as well.

Riding on the dyke to discover the beauty of the red River.

After visiting Dong Ho Village we returned to the boat for lunch. On the way back in the afternoon, our boat called at the ceramic village of Bat Trang to learn about the craft of making ceramic ware. All of us were interested in watching the craftsmen drawing and painting pictures on the raw earthen items and baking the products. At the market thousands of diverse ceramic products were on sale. We left the village with beautiful souvenirs including flower vases and jars made by skilled artisans. The trip along the Red River left deep impression on all of us, especially the foreign visitors.

Finn-Olaf Jones confided: “I have visited many countries. Visiting Hanoi, I was really impressed by the trip along the Red River. Attached to this river are the imprints of villages, culture and history which are very impressive. Participating in this tour, my sons who are 12 and 14 years old will understand more Vietnam and its people. This is the best way to learn history.”

The Red River is 1,149km long. It originates from China, runs through Vietnam and discharges into the East Sea. Its sestion in Vietnam is 510km long. Its lower sestion running through Hanoi is 91km long and has the most beautiful features. The Red River has built up the Red River civilization.

On the occasion of the 1,000th anniversary of Thang Long – Hanoi, the municipal authorities will organize many tourism promotion activities, of which the “Discover the Red River” tour is a focal activity.

Source: Vietnam Pictorial

Viva la France

admin — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 16:11:33 +0000

An exhibition reveals the original blueprints and illustrations of the famous examples of French colonial architecture in Hanoi, writes Duc Hanh.

France’s contribution to the architectural heritage of Hanoi is undisputed. The city is filled with glorious colonial-period villas and salubrious European style avenues. Opulent buildings such as the Hanoi Opera House and the Sofitel Metropole would not look out of place on a Parisian boulevard.

An exhibition now running at L’Espace offers a chance to see some of these classic buildings in unique detail by displaying the original blueprints and accompanying architectural illustrations.

In total there are 32 French colonial architectural works built from 1875-1945 showcased at the exhibition, which also features a selection of photography revealing construction work in progress and the completed project.

Hanoi Opera House

Architecture students will be fascinated by the detailed blueprints of buildings such as the Presidential Place, Long Bien Bridge and Hanoi Railway Station.

The French colonialists officially occupied Hanoi in 1883 and the French administration quickly designed a master plan for the city’s urban development.

The area around Ho Guom (Hoan Kiem) was the first zone of reconstruction. You can still see an inscription at 3 Hang Khay street, which indicates construction commenced in 1886.

During the second phase of development from 1894-1896 ponds, lakes and waterways, including the To Lich River, were filled in, and much of the old citadel was destroyed.

The ancient streets were straightened and infrastructure was added. Some of the old houses’ were reconstructed with some of original architectural style retained. Others were completely demolished and replaced by western style houses. Much of the “western style” architecture can seen today south of Hoan Kiem lake – an area still often referred to as the French Quarter.

The Palace of the Governor General of Indochina (now the Presidential Palace) was built from 1900 to 1902. Most of the villas around it were built in the style of architecture found in northern France where you will find inclining roofs and smart, meticulous decorations over the doors and on the roofs.

The blueprints of Long Bien Bridge are also displayed. The bridge was designed by the French architect Gustave Eiffel and built from 1899-1903. Before Vietnam’s independence in 1954, it was known as Doumer Bridge after Paul Doumer, the Governor-General of French Indochina at the time, who went onto become the president of France.

Upon completion it was one of the longest bridges in Asia with a length of 2,500m. For the French colonial government, the construction was of strategic importance in securing control of northern Vietnam. More than 3,000 Vietnamese took part in the construction.

The blueprints of the Vietnam Historical Museum (former the Luis Finot Museum) are also on display. Designed by the renowned architect Ernest Hebrard, the building was constructed from 1928 – 1932 in a style that reflected both European and Asian architectural styles and influences.

Blueprints created by the architects who designed Hanoi Opera House are also on display. The landmark theatre was built from 1902 to 1911 in the style of the Paris Opera.

The exhibition introduces blueprints by the architect Adolphe Bussy who created the Palace of the French Resident Superior (now the Government Guest House), in 1919 at 10 Ngo Quyen street.

The streets constructed during this period all contribute to the architectural richness of Hanoi, a city of harmonious beauty, enhanced by the natural landscape and cultural heritage. This city still maintains features and characteristics that have disappeared from other cities in the world.

“The exhibited buildings with precious blueprints and photos are mainly the cultural heritages of Hanoi and popular tourist spots,” says Michel Flesh, the French Cultural Counsellor to Vietnam.

“This is also a good opportunity to highlight the role of French architects in bringing one-thousand-years of French architecture to Vietnam.”

The exhibition is on until October 16 at L’Espace, 22 Trang Tien, Hanoi.
Source: Timeout (Vietnam’s leading magazine for travel, lifestyle, leisure and culture)

Da Lat

admin — Sun, 12 Jul 2009 17:21:12 +0000

Da Lat (or Dalat) has a unique flavor among Vietnamese towns. Dalat’s history, combined with the welcome temperate mountain climate and pastoral hillside setting, gives it the feel of a European alpine resort which, in fact, it once was.

Da Lat Town

Dalat was founded in 1897, thanks to the Swiss-born French physician Dr Alexandre Yersin, who promoted the town’s charms and recommended the mountain air for French commanders weary of the Vietnamese tropics. It still has hundreds of huge colonial mansions. Some are being restored by Vietnamese nouveau riche; others are empty and decaying.

The city’s temperatures hover between 15°C to 25°C, offering a cool respite from the baking plains below and the Mekong delta to the south. It is for this and the beautiful greenery so reminiscent of Europe thet the city has become known as the “City of Eternal Spring”.

In and around town there are also numerous pagodas to see, in serene natural settings that lend an atmosphere far different from, for example, your typical bustling Saigon temple. Dalat is also a good place in which to glimpse the influence of the Catholic Vietnamese, represented by several churches and cathedrals. Farther out of town are postcard-perfect farmlands, valleys, and waterfalls. A few ethnic minorities, including the Lat and Koho, live in and around these hills, and you can visit their small villages.

Dalat is also the honeymoon capital of Vietnam , with thousands of couples traveling to city each year. This is not surprising as the entire area has a romantic flavour, especially the graceful architecture of the older hotels. Dalat”s other claim to fame is that the city was the site of Vietnam’s first golf course, built by emperor Bao Dai in the 1930s. Dalat Palace Golf Club has since been redesigned and restored, and features Asia ’s only bentgrass tees and fairways The course earns consistently high marks from golf magazines and expert reviewers, and is justifiably popular with tourists and Vietnam’s expatriate community.

Attractions and activities

Bao Dai Palace

Completed in 1938, this monument to bad taste provided Bao Dai, Vietnam ’s last emperor, with a place of rest and respite with his family. Think concrete and velvet furniture. There are 26 rooms to explore, including Bao Dai’s office and the bedrooms of the royal family. Deer horns from a poor animal the emperor bagged himself hang on the wall. The place has never been restored, and indeed looks veritably untouched since the emperor’s ousting, which makes it all the more interesting. You can stil see the grease stains on Bao Dai’s hammock pillow and the ancient steam bath in which he soaked. Don’t miss the etched glass map of Vietnam in the main dining room, given to Bao Dai by a group of students in 1952 . The explanations are in English, and most concern Bao Dai’s family. There is pathos in reading them and piecing together the mundane fate of the former royals: this prince has a “technical” job, that one is a manager for an insurance company.

Cho Da Lat or Da Lat Market

Huge, crowded, and stuffed with produce of all varieties, this is the top stroll-through destination in Dalat. You will be bewildered with a riot of multi-colored flowers as well as various kinds of fresh vegetable and mouth-watering fruits. Here’s where you can see all the local specialties and even have a try! Some of the vendors will be happy to give you a sample of some local wine or a few candied strawberries. Also, lacquer ware, back packs, and hill-tribe handicrafts are sold here. In the morning, you can see the minority peoples carrying their goods and trading with stall holders.

Dalat Railway Station (Cremaillaire Railway)

Built in 1932 and put into use in 1936, the Dalat station offers an atmospheric slice of Dalat’s colonial history. You can see an authentic old wood-burning steamer train on the tracks to the rear, and stroll around inside looking at the iron-grilled ticket windows. Although the steamer train no longer makes tourist runs, a newer Japanese diesel train makes a trip to Trai Mat town, and the Linh Phuoc pagoda.

Lake of Sighs (Ho Than Tho)

Five kilometers northeast of the city, the Lake offers the pleasant scenery and relaxing atmosphere. Legend has it that a 15-year-old girl named Thuy drowned herself after her boyfriend of the same age, Tam, fell in love with another. Tam was summoned to the Quang Trung war against the Chinese invasion. Thuy thought that without her, her sweetheart would go serving the nation without worries, so she drowned herself in the lake. Witness to this tragedy, the pine trees lining around the lake are said to have sighed in grief for her, hence its name. Today, the lake is teemed with tourist shops and boat rentals for riding in the lake.

Xuan Huong Lake

Xuan Huong Lake

Once a trickle originating in the Lat village, Dalat’s centerpiece, Xuan Huong, was created when the Cam Ly River was dammed by the French in 1919. The project was finished in 1923, demolished by a storm in 1932, and reconstructed and rebuilt (with heavier stone) in 1935. Located at the center of Da Lat, It used to be part of a golf course built for Emperor Bao Dai. The Lake is surrounded by the pine forest and lush mountains, offering the stunning scenery. At the north end of the lake is Da Lat Flower Garden. Inside the garden, paths lead you past a great flower selection of hydrangeas, roses, orchids, poinsettia, and topiary, offering the colorful sights as well as invigorating atmosphere. Da Lat is famous for its flowers and many are exported overseas.

Truc Lam ( Bamboo Forest ) Zen Monastery

Don’t call this a pagoda. There’s a difference, one you can feel as soon as you ascend the hill. The complex was completed in 1994 with the aim of giving new life to the Truc Lam Yen Tu Zen sect, a uniquely Vietnamese form of Zen founded during the Tran dynasty (A.D.1225-1400). Adherents practice self-reliance and realization through meditation. The shrine, the main building, is notable mainly for its simple structure and peaceful air, and the quarters for nuns and monks nearby are closed to the public. However, the scenery around the monastery, with views of man-made Tuyen Lam Lake and surrounding mountains, is breathtaking. The grounds themselves are furnished with a small man-made pond and mimosa trees. As Zen master Thich Thanh Tu said, “Life is but a dream”

Prenn Falls

Nestling in the valley covered with densely lush vegetation and hugged by pine-forested hills, the Prenn Falls is a major tourist attraction in Vietnam . Go south of Da Lat, the Prenn Falls with its pure white waters tumbling down 10 meters from the cave into the pool below. From afar, its white water looks like a white curtain, painted with a flower garden and green draped hills at the foot of the falls, creating the awe-inspiring sight. You can enter the cave behind the curtain of water by a small bridge and feel the balmy spray there.

Bao Loc

Here is the famous stopover on the way to Da Lat; the area is covered with the rich cultivated plains alternating with lush hills. The main cultivations here are coffee, tea, and the mulberry whose leaves silkworms feed on. Around the area of Bao Loc, are interesting attractions like Cat Tien National Park and Dambri Falls . The Cat Tien National Park covers a large area of tropical rainforest, a good habitat of various species of unique and rare birds, wild animals, and plants. Dambri Falls is a great place for relaxation, with its climate all year round and its picturesque surroundings.

Source: Vietnam Intrepid

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