Monday, November 16, 2009

Dong Hoi


Dong HoiDong Hoi is the capital city of Quang Binh province, in the north central coast of Vietnam. Dong Hoi is the closest city to Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park, UNESCO’s World Natural Heritage Site located 50 km north of the city.

Location:
Dong Hoi is located on the National Road 1A, North-South Railway and Ho Chi Minh Highway, at the coordinates 17.21’ N and 106.10’ E. This city is situated in the heart of Quang Binh Province. It has a coastline of 12 km. Nhat Le River is the only river that runs through the city. Tro Lake is the source of fresh water for the city-dwellers. The Nhat Le Beach is endowed with fine and white sand.
Climate:
Like all provinces in north and north central of Vietnam, there are four distinct seasons in Dong Hoi. In the spring, it is cool, humid and foggy. The average annual temperature is 24.40C, average rainfall varies from 1,300 – 4,000 mm, total sunshine hours per year is 1,786 hours, average annual moisture is around 84%. The city has monsoon climate with three types of wind: southeast wind, southwest wind, and northeast wind.
Tourism:
Dong Hoi is endowed with beautiful beaches with fine sand and clean water of Nhat Le. The Da Nhay and Ly Hoa beaches (60 km north of the city) are popular tourist destinations. The Bang Spa (hot mineral spring) is ideal for those who enjoy spa baths. The city is situated 50 km south of the World Heritage Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park which is ideal for cave and grotto exploration and biological research activities. Dong Hoi is also included in former battlefield tours where travelers can visit several once dangerous fields along Annamite Range and Ho Chi Minh Trail. Dong Hoi is accessible by road (National Highway 1A, Ho Chi Minh Highway), by rail at Dong Hoi Railway Station on the Hanoi-Ho Chi Minh City Railway, or by air from Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City at Dong Hoi Airport.
The city provide tourists with 98 hotels and guest-houses from 1 to 5-star hotels like Cosevco Hotel, Saigon-Quang Binh Hotel and especially the 5-star resort of Sun Spa Resort. The available cuisine includes seafood, the traditional "hot pot", Vietnamese and European-style meals
Source: Vietnam Travel

Sunday, November 15, 2009

Tam Dao


At an altitude of over 1,000m, Tam Dao was once home to over 200 French villas, a collection of hotels and restaurants, a swimming pool and even a dance auditorium all coming together to form northern Vietnam’s first hill station and health spa. Today, while the pool may be empty and the 1920s ball gowns off the scene, Tam Dao retains an element of charm and a welcome respite from the oft-well heated plains below, over which Tam Dao offers some splendid views.
Tam DaoThe area offers some easy hiking in and around its tree-covered summit, and while some of the trails tend to see more goats than backpack-wielding tourists, the hill station is popular with Vietnamese tourists, so weekends can be busy -- if you want the place to yourself, try for a weekday jaunt. The national park itself is a cool pine forest with walking trails leading off on numerous hikes around its crown. Hiking trips can be organised from hotels with local guides up to the three peaks. Recent reports suggest that wildlife is returning to the area after long periods of depletion due to slash and burn farming and hunting. Notably, the hawk and white collar crow, previously thought to be extinct, are now literally flocking to the park. Larger wildlife such as deer, boar and weasel have appeared again though the chances of seeing them while hiking are extremely slim. To satisfy the hordes of domestic tourists, who largely come for the cooler climate and blaring karaoke, there is a reasonable amount of development and construction going on -- when this will settle down remains unclear.

Most of Tam Dao was destroyed by the Viet Minh in their war with the French but you can still see a few relics of the French presence here, including the empty pool and a few of the more dilapidated villas. But the villas are all going the way of the dodo and their more modern replacements are far from charming. Best described as a half fishbowl wedged onto a hilltop, Tam Dao Hill Station backs onto a large pine forest. The centre of town is marked by the park, with the com pho places and the large hotels behind it. Sitting over the drop onto the plains sits a decrepit, rundown hotel, from the roof of which a splendid view can be enjoyed of the plains below. As you sit there, you can imagine the balls and parties that would have been held on this rooftop back when the French still ran the place.
A new golf course and villa complex is being built on the road up to Tam Dao’s peak. At present it offers nine holes with plans to complete the other nine before October 2006. It represents quite a spectacle contrasting bright pitch perfect lawns and greens with the hills overlooking the course. Conical hatted caddies can accompany you as you putt around the course and although incomplete it offers some fantastic golf for enthusiasts eager to hit a small white ball away from themselves. Final plans for the resort include a professional pro shop, resort-style hotel, villas, restaurants and shops.

Mai Chau


Over 60 km from Hoa Binh Town along Highway 6, you will take steps in Mai Chau on the height of 1,000m at water level. From the top of Thung Nhuoi mountain pass and Vang valley, Mai Chau comes up to your sight looping itself among numerous mountains and hills. Mountain villages with piled houses will gradually appear in different height along mountain slopes. The deep blue smoke of cooking fire from piled houses skims in the air. Rice fields are green and fresh like a girl in her prime of youth, and shiny in harvest season. Pleasant and murmuring streams gently circle around mountain villages.

If you wish to harmonize into daily activities of Thai people, you are cordially invited to Lac villages, Van villages and stay over night there. Night camp- fire will make you joyful, special wine will make you drunk and the songs of village’s art teams will bring you to a fanciful world of Tay Bac forests. In the morning when all villages are vague in dew, herd of buffalo and bulls noisily move their steps to fields. Small groups of Thai women carry their products to fair. Have you ever attended a traditional fair? All products made by Thai women will be your best souvenirs to your relatives and friends. In Mai Chau, many villages and families preserve their tradition of making brocade. To satisfy your curiosity, take a walk around the village to watch Thai women making brocade on their weaving looms, artists making pan-pipes and carving silver pipe, etc.

Source: Vietnam Travel

Ba Ria - Vung Tau


Area: 1,989.6 sq. km.
Population: 926,3 thousand habitants (2006)
Capital: Vung Tau City
Administrative divisions:
- Town: Ba Ria
- Districts: Chau Duc, Xuyen Moc,Tan Thanh, Long Dien, Dat Do, Con Dao.
Ethnic groups: Viet (Kinh),Hoa, Cho Ro, Khmer...
Ba Ria - Vung Tau Province is located in the Southern Vietnam, to the northeast of the Mekong Delta. It shares its border with Dong Nai Province to the north and Binh Thuan Province to the east, Ho Chi Minh City to the west and East Sea to the south - east.
Climate:
There are two distinct seasons: the dry season (from November to April) and the rainy season (from May to December). The annual average temperature is 27ºC.
Tourism and Economy:
Ba Ria - Vung Tau Province is a large tourist center. It has over 100km seashore with beautiful swimming beaches, as well as many lakes and thermal springs. The offshore bench has two kinds of important resources: petrol and seafood. (Vietnam Travel)
In Vung Tau City there are Thuy Van, Chi Linh, Back, Front, and Dau beaches; Long Dien District has Long Hai Beach; Xuyen Moc District has Ho Tram, Ho Coc beaches. In Con Dao Island, tourists are able to swim in Dam Trau, Hon Cau, and Hon Tre beaches... then they can climb in Thanh Gia Mountain, Nho Mountain. If tourists would like to improve their health, they could go to Binh Chau Hot Spring, where its temperature comes up to 80ºC, then visit Binh Chau - Phuoc Buu Natural Preservation Zone.
Other popular places are Communal House of Dao Ong Tran, Ben Da Church, Bach Dinh vestige, Long Phuoc Tunnels, Minh Dam Revolutionary Area, etc and over one hundred Buddhist pagodas and temples such as Niet Ban Monastery, Thang Tam Communal House, Linh Son Pagoda, Dinh Co Temple.
Located in the 90km southern part of Vung Tau, Con Dao Island has a dense forest, which is Con Dao National Park with rich flora and fauna. The sea in this area is home to various valuable marine species. Especially, tourists have a chance to watch the turtle laying the eggs. It also used to host a convict prison during French colonial era, and later, during the American War.
Aside these, tourist can participate in some traditional festivals as Dinh Co Festival, Nghinh Ong Festival (Welcoming the Lord Whale Festival), play golf or watch dog racing in Lam Son stadium in Vung Tau City every Saturday.
Transportation:
Vung Tau is 129km from Ho Chi Minh City, 95km from Bien Hoa (Dong Nai), 513km from Nha Trang (Khanh Hoa)
-Road:
Ba Ria - Vung Tau has National Highway 56 to Dong Nai Province, National Highway 55 to Binh Thuan Province, National Highway 51 to Ho Chi Minh City. Express buses leave for Bien Hoa, Ho Chi Minh City, My Tho and some others.
-Air: There are flights from Vung Tau to the Con Dao Islands.
-Boat: Vina Express operates hydrofoils from central Ho Chi Minh City to Vung Tau.
Source: Vietnam Travel

Phan Rang


Phan Rang is the favourite sister, and Thap Cham is very much the neglected step-sister - there is no place to stay there and few reasons to visit. You may pass through it on your way to Po Klong Garai Tower and you’ll see what we mean.
Vietnam Travel
Phan Rang is typical of the large town hubs that are found throughout Vietnam, providing a sizable central market and a variety of services useful to locals living in the region. It is often recommended as the place to stay if you’re interested in the surrounding sites, but wed couples recommend staying on Ninh Chu beach seven kilometres to the west rather than in town. Surrounding sites on offer include a few worthwhile Cham towers - in fact a lot of Cham people still live in the area - you’ll notice the men, in particular, going about their business wearing their traditional white headdresses. You can try impressing them with a greeting of saalam, rather than xin chao.

Other than the towers, we found Phan Rang to be a good stop for craft lovers - there are two Cham villages nearby, one specialising in weaving and the other in pottery - and it also serves as a base if you are interested in exploring beaches like Ca Na or Cam Ranh Bay. If you are a fan of dragon fruit, you’re in the right place - Phan Rang is said to grow the best in Vietnam.

Phan Rang is mostly clustered around Thong Nhat St which runs north-south. In the middle of town is the market, inside and behind an imposing white edifice. It would make sense to base yourself here, though we only found one place to stay in the area, and we found better places to eat near the rest of the accommodation, a kilometre to the south, past the roundabout. Head north out of town to reach the craft villages, Po Ro Me Tower, the Tra Cang Temple, and 32km from town, Ca Na (Vinh Hao is another 21km further). Head south on Thong Nhat St and take a right for Ninh Chu beach and a left to get to the Po Klong Garai Cham Tower.

Source: Vietnam Travel

Son La


Son La belongs to North-West Vietnam, shares border with Yen Bai, Lao Cai, Lai Chau provinces in the north, Dien Bien Province on the west, Phu Tho and Hoa Binh provinces in the east and Laos in the south. The province has many mountains, rivers and mineral sources. Abundant water supply is suitable tohydroelectricity. Moc Chau Plateau is an ideal place to breed milk cow, plant tea and fruit. Annual average temperature is about 21ºC. The weather is cold, dry in winter and hot in summer.
Tourism Vietnam Travel
Son La owns following interesting sites. Son La Former prison and Museum preserves revolutionary remains and exhibits precious objects introducing the historical and cultural traditions of the 12 ethnic groups living in Son La. Stretching out 150m long, Tham Tet Toong Cave is a wonder of nature. Along the walls of the cave, there are numerous stalactites and stalagmites. Ban Hin (Hin ethnic minority hamlet) is marked by the traditions and culture of the Thai. There, tourists enjoy drinking ruou can and watching xoe dance by Thai women. Then visitors like to go to Yen Chau Site to try special bananas, longans and mangoes. In 2nd lunar month, when ban flowers begins to blossom, coloring the mountains in white, Thai ethnic group held Hoa Ban Festival. Boys and girls go flower picking to celebrate the spring and entertain themselves by singing, playing tinh and khen flute, dancing xoe.

Transportation:
Son La connects Hoa Binh by National Highway No. 6, Yen Bai by Highway No.37, Lao Cai by Higway No.279. Son La Town is 328km from Hanoi. In Na San Airport, Vietnam Airlines has daily flight from Hanoi to Son La.

Muong Lay


Muong Lay is situated on high mountainous region in the North West of Vietnam, northern of Da River. Its neighbors are Yunna (China) on the north, Laos on the west, Lao Cai Province on the north-east, Dien Bien, Son La provinces on the south.A range of mountain following Northern West - Southern East makes up the terrain. The Pu Sa Leng point is 3,096m in height. There are sloping mountains, hill, valley, plateau, spring alternately. Falls and waterfalls with high flow are potential of hydroelectricity in Lai Chau.
Climate:
Belong to tropical monsoon zone; the climate of Muong Lay is divided into two seasons: rainy season and dry season. The annual average temperature is 21ºC - 23ºC.
Tourism:
Tourists are interested in custom of ethnic groups in Sin Ho Village or Tam Duong Townlet. They are also fond of other sites such as: Tien Son Cave, Muong Lay Spring.
Transportation:
The transportation is mainly by road. National Highway No.12 connects Dien Bien Phu City to Ma Lu Thang Border Gate crossing Lai Chau, and National Highway No.4D links Lai Chau with Sapa Townlet. Lai Chau Town is 406km from Hanoi.
Source: Vietnam travel

My Son Sanctuary


My Son, located 69 km southwest of Danang, was an imperial city during the Cham dynasty, between the 4th and 12th centuries. My Son Sanctuary is a large complex of religious relics that comprises more than 70 architectural works.

They include temples and towers that connect to each other with complicated red brick designs. The main component of the Cham architectural design is the tower, built to reflect the divinity of the king. According to records on the stone stele, the prime foundation of the ancient My Son architectural complex was a wooden temple to worship the Siva Bhadresvera genie. In the late 16th century, a big fire destroyed the temple. Step by step, historical mysteries were unveiled by scientists. Through stone stele and royal dynasties, they proved My Son to be the most important Holy Land of the Cham people from the late 4th to the 15th centuries. For many centuries, the Cham built Lip, a mutually linked architectural complex, with baked bricks and sandstone. The main temple worships the Linga-Yoni, who represents the capability of invention. Beside the main tower (Kalan) are several sub-towers worshipping Genies or deceased kings. Although time and the wars have destroyed some towers, the remaining sculptural and architectural remnants still reflect the style and history of the art of the Cham people. Their masterpieces mark a glorious time for the architecture and culture of the Cham, as well as of Southeast Asia.
Each historical period has its own identity, so that each temple worshipping a genie or a king of a different dynasty has its own architectural style full of different impression. All of the Cham towers were built on a quadrate foundations and each comprises three parts: a solid tower base, representing the world of human beings, the mysterious and sacred tower body, representing the world of spirits, and the tower top built in the shape of a man offering flowers and fruits or of trees, birds, animals, etc., representing things that are close to the spirits and human beings.
According to many researchers of the ancient Cham towers, the architectural art of the Cham towers at My Son Sanctuary is the convergence of different styles, including the continuity of the ancient style in the 7th-8th centuries, the Hoa Lai style of the 8th-9th centuries, the Dong Duong style from the mid-9th century, the My Son and My Son-Binh Dinh styles, etc. Among the remnants of many architectural sites excavated in 1898, a 24 metres high tower was found in the Thap Chua area and coded A I by archaeologists and researchers on My Son. This tower is a masterpiece of ancient Cham architecture. It has two doors, one in the east and the other in the west. The tower body is high and delicate with a system of paved pillars; six sub-towers surround the tower. This two storey tower looks like a lotus flower. The top of the upper layer is made of sandstone and carved with elephant and lion designs. In the lower layer, the walls are carved with fairies and water evils and men riding elephants. Unfortunately, the tower was destroyed by US bombs in 1969
After the My Son ancient tower complex was discovered, many of its artifacts, especially statues of female dancers and genies worshipped by the Cham people, worship animals and artifacts of the daily communal activities, were collected and displayed at the Cham Architecture Museum in Danang city. Although there are not many remnants left, those that remain display the typical sculptural works of cultural value of the Cham nationality. Furthermore, they are vivid proof, confirming the history of a nationality living within the Vietnamese community boasting of a rich cultural tradition.

About ODC Travel


vns Travel commenced its operation in Vietnam since 1997 and has been expanding up till now. Since then we have carved out a name for ourselves as a reputable provider of quality tours at affordable prices in Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos to travelers throughout the world.

Over the last ten years, we are always proud of providing quality travel services including tour programs, visa services, ticketing services, hotel reservations, transportations and other services to travelers in Vietnam as well as in Indochina. From the beginning, we have established very good relationship with local suppliers and nationwide and international hotel networks.

Moreover, we also equipped ourselves high standard facilities such as cars, bicycles, kayaks and cruise in order to supply increasing travel need of travelers at the most negotiated rate and quality standard.

With our over forty professional, knowledgeable and enthusiastic staffs, our team is a diverse group of men and women who share a deep commitment to our unique style of travel to provide you with the holiday experience of a lifetime. They are not simply “couriers” who travel with you, but professionals who understand local history and culture and with a passion for their work.

Traveling with ODC Travel, we know how to listen to, to advise and to offer you, let you travel on the right side with unforgettable memories.

Mekong Delta


The Mekong Delta covers an area of 67,000 square km in the Southernmost region of Vietnam and often referred to as Vietnam’s rice basket, is the biggest rice –growing region in the country, the rich alluvial soils producing 3 harvests a year and delta products include coconut, sugar cane, fruit and fish.
Mekong Delta is periodically flood so the traditional transport station is by boat, along a vast network of canals. A cruise along these canals with their floating market always proves to be a fascinating and rewarding experience for travelers.

Off the eastern coast of the delta in the Gulf of Thailand, nearer Cambodia than Vietnam, is the island of Phu Quoc, the largest island in Vietnam and is also called the Emerald Island because of its natural treasures and infinite tourism potential. The island is well known throughout Vietnam for the production of black pepper and its fish sauce.
Floating Market
Floating markets are held every morning from 5:00 to about 11:00. Phung Hiep market is the biggest since it is located at the intersection of 7 major canals. It is also a photographers delight because it can be seen above from a bridge. Cai Rang and Phong Dien are two other notable floating markets in the delta.

Boats loaded with produce from nearby orchards of the Mekong Delta converge to the floating market. They carry mostly fruits but also coconuts, vegetables and fishes.Buyers are local traders with bigger boats snapping everything by the bushels and resell at local markets or to wholesale dealers from big cities, often for a handsome profit. Large floating markets are not complete without its floating restaurants, floating gas stations and an occasional tour boat filled with tourists.

Source:Vietnam Travel

Da Lat


Dalat is located in the Lam Dong Province - Tay Nguyen region, 300 km from Ho Chi Minh City and 200 km from Nha Trang. Situated at 1,500 m above sea level, Dalat has a cool climate. The annual average temperature is 18oC. The population is mainly composed of Kinh people, along with Kho Mu, Ma, Hoa, Nung, Tay, and Chu Ru ethnic minorities.

The city is decorated with a vast variety of flowers. Beautiful flowers such as rhododendron, cherry, mimosa, hydrangea, rose, daisy, and dahlia are all grown here. Dalat offers an harmonious combination of natural scenery and historical sites.

Lam Dong is the third and the largest plateau province on the Central Highlands. It is also the highest province lying on a plain the average height of which is about 1,500 meters above sea level. Lam Dong is a forest province with forest coverage accounting for 70 per cent of the total area. The mountain resort town of Dalat is the capital of Lam Dong. The climate Dalat boasts is that of a temperate zone. Few places in the tropical Vietnam have been endowed with that gift.

More than 50 years ago Dalat has become famous for its favorable climatic conditions which are very useful for rehabilitation purpose. Perches on a plain 1,500 meters above sea level, Dalat offers an average temperature of about 10oC in winter time and 20oC in summer. Meteorologists have rated Dalat the city of ever lasting spring due to its favorable climatic conditions.
Thanks to the warm weather the whole city of Dalat is a great garden of flower in blossom the year round. Dalat is also famous for its expanse of pine forests and many beautiful waterfalls and lakes.

This is a natural lake enlarged by a French - built dam. The lake is six kilometers to the north east of the city. It is situated on top of a high hill covered with pine forests. The lake-scape looks very poetic with the vast and tranquil water surface being compared to a human being in meditation. Standing on the edge of the lake visitors can see a small earth path running towards the forests. The only sound that can be heard comes from the pine forests where the path disappears. The continuous sound from the forests make ones think of repeated sighs from an invisible human being. The existence of the lake has been surrounded with many love stories and legends with sorrowful endings when the heroines always drowned themselves in the lake to keep forever their true love they had once enjoyed. One legend has it that Mai Nuong and Hoang Tung met here in 1788 while he was hunting and she picking mushrooms. They fell in love and sought their parents permission to mrry. But at that time Vietnam was threatened by a Chinese invasion and Hoang Tung, heeding Emperor Quang Trungs call-to-arms, joined the army without waiting to tell Mai Nuong. Unaware that he had gone to war and afraid that his absence meant that he was no longer in love with her, Mai Nuong sent words to Hoang Tung to meet her at the lakeside. When he did not turn up she was overcome with sorrow and, to prove her love to him, threw herself into the conveniently located lake and drowned. Thereafter, the lake has been known as the Lake of Sighs. Dalat has three magnificent and big palaces which are always referred to as Palace 1, Palace 2 and Palace 3. The architectural designs for the three places are made to French design. They were built on top of the hills which are located in beautiful natural surroundings. The places are accessible through long flights of brick steps for walk and gently descending paths for cars. The path is completely covered with broad canopy of pine trees.

Palace 1 and Palace 2 were owned by French high ranking officials during the French domination of Vietnam more than 40 years ago. The third and last palace was owned by the last king of the Nguyen Dynasty, Bao Dai. Interior arrangement of the palace is open to public viewing. There remain some pictures and photographs of the king, the queen and their princes and princesses.

Source: Vietnam Travel

Friday, November 13, 2009

Lang Son


Area: 8,331.2 sq. km
Population: 746.4 thousand habitants (2006)
Capital: Lang Son City.
Districts: Trang Dinh, Van Lang, Van Quan, Binh Gia, Bac Son, Huu Lung, Chi Lang, Cao Loc, Loc Binh, Dinh Lap.
Ethnic groups: Viet (Kinh), Tay, Nung, Dao...

Lang Son is a frontier mountainous province in the North-East of Vietnam. It shares border with Cao Bang Province on the south, Bac Giang Province on the north, Guangxi (China) on the east, Quang Ninh Province on the north-east and Bac Kan, Thai Nguyen provinces on the west.

Mountains and hills cover over 80% of the province’s total area. The complex network of rivers makes a good condition for agriculture. Main rivers that run through the province are: Ky Cung, Ba Thin, Bac Giang, Bac Khe, Thuong, Hoa, and Trung rivers.

Lang Son has two international border gates including Dong Dang railway border gate and Huu Nghi road border gate, two national border gates such as Chi Ma (in Loc Binh District) and Binh Nghi (in Trang Dinh District). So Lang Son has an important strategic position in the North-East of Vietnam.

The climate is cool and temperate. Annual average temperature is 21.5oC. Annual average rainfall is from 1,200mm to 1,600mm.

Tourism and Economy: Lang Son has potentiality of mineral, forestry, tourism and trading. Star aniseed (hoa hoi) is a specialty. The province is proud of many cultural and historical vestiges. They are Rampart of Mac Dynasty, Doan Citadel Vestige, Chi Lang Defile, Ky Cung and Bac Le temples. Apart from these, Ky Lua Market, To Thi and Mau Son mountains, Tam Thanh, and Nhi Thanh grottoes also attract many visitors every year. Especially, lots of people come to Ky Lua and Tam Thanh markets for shopping because the goods are abundant and cheap.

Coming there, tourists are interested in Ky Lua or Long Tong traditional festivals. They would like to taste special dishes: roasted duck, roasted pig, Mau Son wine and lam rice.

Transportation: Lang Son is 154km from Hanoi, 60km from Thai Nguyen, 48km from Quang Ninh, 55km from Cao Bang, 73km from Bac Kan.

Road: National highway routes on the territory of Lang Son province:
- No.1A: It departs from Huu Nghi Quan (Friendship Gate) and runs through Lang Son Province
to Hanoi.
- No.1B: between Lang Son and Thai Nguyen.
- No.4A: between Lang
Son and Cao Bang.
- No.4B: from Lang Son to Tien Yen Townlet of Quang Ninh
Province.
- No.31: between Dinh Lap and Bac Giang
- No.279: Binh Gia of
Lang Son Province to Bac Kan.

Train: Hanoi-China international railway line with over 100km runs through Lang Son.

Source: ODC Travel

Ha Tien Beach


Squeezed onto the Cambodian border in a distant corner of Vietnam, Ha Tien is decidedly remote. The approach to town certainly helps to amplify its exotic atmosphere - the agricultural bustle of the Mekong Delta seems to melt away to a lush landscape of rice paddies and buffalo wallows, the flatness punctuated by sudden limestone karsts. The Khmer-style wat located just out of town only helps to emphasise the feeling that you’re not really in Vietnam anymore - a feeling that carries through to Ha Tien’s dusty streets and languid riverfront. In some ways, it feels like other cities located further up the Mekong like Savannakhet in Laos, or Kratie in Cambodia.
Ha Tien was in fact part of Cambodia until 1708. It was founded with the permission of the Khmers by a Chinese immigrant named Mac Cuu in 1674, only to be absorbed into Vietnam 30 years later. As of 2008, the border with Cambodia is open, offering visas for US, and from the moment your bus pulls in to town it will be stormed by motodops wanting to take you across. Most will find it completely incomprehensible if you don’t want to go to Cambodia, bartering with you as you try to explain to them you’re staying in town. Even if you insist repeatedly, you might still find one or two drivers waiting outside of your hotel, ready to take you at a moments notice should you change your mind. If you do want to go to Cambodia, the border provides convenient access to the beach towns of Kep and Sihaounkville.
Perhaps it is in response to the open border, and the tourist traffic that they’re expecting, but the town seems to be experiencing a subtle shift. A few hotels have been closed for major refurbishments, and several new hotels have sprung up. Though it doesn’t have a lot in the way of sights, and it currently lacks much tourist infrastructure, Ha Tien could definitely be an attractive stop for travellers on their way between Cambodia and Vietnam -- in the meantime, the motodops will keep waiting.
Ha Tien sits on a corner of land, bordered on two sides by water. To the south is the To Chau River, to the east is the expansive Dong Ho (East Lake), which is actually an inlet of the sea. Approaching from Rach Gia, you’ll cross the To Chau Bridge, and arrive on Vo Van Road, which serves as the town’s western border. Most of the town’s life occurs between Vo Van and Dong Ho, much of it along the riverfront.
Life in Ha Tien was formerly centred on a picturesque pontoon bridge that draped across the entrance to Dong Ho. The market sat on one bank, the bus terminal on the other. In 2008, the bridge was dismantled, the pontoons set afloat, and plans were put in place for a concrete bridge -- though that has yet to materialise. For the time being, the bus station has been inconveniently moved almost a kilometre north-west of town, while the market has migrated west, near the To Chau Bridge. Ha Tien lacks most major services, though there is one bank and several ATMs. The Vietcom Bank is situated at #4 Phuong Thanh, and offers exchange services and an ATM. Another ATM is located nearby, on the corner with Chi Lang. Internet is scarce, though it is available at the post office on To Chau, and in the lobby of the Dong Tam Hotel. Should you have a minor ailment, there is a pharmacy at 48 Tran Hau -- for anything more serious, head to Rach Gia.

Source:vietnam travel

Tam Coc - Bich Dong


Tam Coc-Bich Dong is also called “Ha Long Bay on land”, or the “Vietnam’s second nicest grotto” (to Huong Tich) for its poetic and inspirational natural scenery. Located in the Ngu Nhac Son Mountains, Hoa Lu District, Ninh Binh Province, it is a grandiose complex of Bich Dong pagoda and Tam Coc grotto which is one among the 21 crucial tourism destinations of Vietnam.

The zone is featured with a tropical climate, with 2 seasons. The cold and rainy season lasts from May to October, and the dry and hot season from November to April. Its annual average temperature is 23.50C. As it is situated at the base side of the Red River Delta Triangle, it is a half-mountain half-plain area, with a coastline of 18 kilometers
Historical name -vietnam travel
Bich Dong is a beautiful pagoda on the nearby Ngu Nhac Mountain dated to 1428 under the Le Dynasty, comprising three structures: Ha, Trung, and Thuong Pagodas, in ascending order. In 1773, Mr. Nguyen Nghiem (the father of the great writer Nguyen Du) visited this cave. He was much impressed by the whole magnificent scenery of mountains, waterways, fields, and sky covered in green mist. Thus he gave it a very beautiful and romantic name, Bich Dong, which literally means “Green Pearl Grotto”. This picturesque landscape is added by Tam Coc portion. It derives its name from the fact that it consists of 3 caves (Hang Ca, Hang Hai, and Hang Ba); “Tam” means 3, “Coc” means cave. Tam Coc or “Three Caves” portion is of great enchanting charm and mystery, inviting tourists to come and explore!
Tam Coc Wharf
To begin the journey, tourists have to queue at Tam Coc Wharf to take a boat to travel along rivers. The pier is crowded with tourists from morning till afternoon. People coming here share the same pleasant feeling about such a nice picture with the classical communal house, ancient banyan tree, mossgrown well, marble rock, and friendly locals.
Tam Coc Grotto


Visiting Tam Coc Grotto, tourists may feel like they had just disappeared from the real world to get lost in such a hidden fairy site, which is located approximately 2km from the pagoda. Tam Coc is 3 kilometers from Van Lam Wharf. Now just take a boat from Van Lam Wharf to reach the Tam Coc Grotto, which consists of the Hang Ca, Hang Hai and Hang Ba caves. This might take you three hours on your small boat along the Ngo Dong river, beginning at the village of Van Lam and proceeding through a scenic landscape dominated by rice fields and karst towers. The largest of the grotto is 125m long with its ceiling about 2m high above the water. This grotto is adorned with beautiful stalactites and stalagmites of different shapes and colors that sparkle like gemstones. Now when drifting along the gentle Ngo Dong River under the Grotto, you can feel the deeply pure atmosphere with special smell of fresh rivers water and cool air from karst mountains when reaching each of the 3 caves in turns. Among the three caves, Hang Ca is considered the most picturesque one since it is the longest and contains most fascinating natural arts deep inside. It is around 127m long, with a cave mouth of 20m wide. When leaving Hang Ca, just turn back to see it once again, you will feel that it were like a very old white-haired man sitting down for fishing. A Vietnamese legendary has it that this was a Heaven Land where that fishing man – a considered fairy ne – lived, and flying above within the Heaven was a flock of fairies in graceful white dresses! You may be so much seduced by the beautiful fairy landscape that you do not even think of coming back at that time! Hang Hai is nearly 1 kilometer far from Hang Ca. This is the second stop-over on your waterway journey, where you can find a series of colorful sparkling stalactites falling from the cave ceiling. This cave is about 60m long. The last but not least cave is Hang Ba, just nearby, is about 50m long, with lower ceiling than the above two, looking like a plutonic cupola.
Now getting out the whole grotto, looking out the vast landscape, you can see that a mighty mountainous and waterways are covering the limitless land. If moving further 4 kilometers, there comes “Fairy Stream”, a pure mirror-like stream where you can even see through to the stream-bed to contemplate flocks of fish swimming and looming in the moss layers. It is said in a fairy tale that fairies used to land on here to swim, thus it was named “Fairy Stream”.
Bich Dong Grotto

Now turning in the opposite position, you will soon reach Bich Dong pagoda, which is situated at the grandiose Ngu Nhac Mountain. The Pagoda is ivided into three levels: Ha Pagoda (lower pagoda), Trung Pagoda (middle pagoda), and Thuong Pagoda (upper pagoda). On the mountain peak stands the statue of a scholar Mandarin looking at the horizon with the hope of viewing the spectacular landscapes of Hoa Lu. Visiting Bich Dong grotto, tourists have a great chance to turn back to the Post Le Dynasty’s legends.

From the upper pagoda, one has the most magnificent view of Bich Dong, which is romantically charming in terms of architecture and history. The location for this pagoda was chosen in 1428 after two monks were charmed by the view of the river and the mountains. Later, King Le Canh Hung wrote a poem in honor of the beautiful pagoda and landscape.
Bich Dong means “Green Grotto” or “Pearl Grotto”, which reveals its magnificent natural beauties. Colors, shapes, and sounds of the shining stalactites converges in such a captivating miracle that no one could refuse to touch, knock and contemplate them in deed. Honorably, amongst the most fascinating caves in Vietnam, “Fairy Grotto”, part of Bich Dong, is regarded as an “Elysium on Earth”. "Surrounding mountains full of water during 4 seasons, Rattan boat lightly drifting, Covered with mist and clouds, is Pagoda landscape” are beautiful lines of verse offered to Bich Dong pagoda grotto, a rare natural work of Art.
”Sun Valley” – attractive ecological tourism

Here comes the final destination in your meaningful waterway journey – “Sun Valley” (Thung Nang), an ideal ecological tourism spot for lovers of nature. Inside the valley, there is an ancient limestone temple with rock-style architecture shown in delicate carvings. Visiting this valley, you can relax in your small boat, with sun-bathing and sun playing in a quiet and pure atmosphere.

King Le Canh Hung ever said: “This is Vietnam’s second nicest grotto, after the Huong Tich Grotto in Ha Tay province”. Its pristine natural beauty together with a simple but nice countryside landscape, and a sacred spiritual life have converged into a fascinating and attractive Tam Coc - Bich Dong to numerous tourists. No one could deny that Tam Coc - Bich Dong has become a legend of rivers and mountains, a green, pure, and safe destination for every traveler.

The most beautiful swimming pools in the world


These luxury and expensive swimming pools are not only the places to swim but wonderful destinations for you to refesh your selves and enjoy world class facilities. They are located in worldwide famous hotels and resorts throughout the world.


The sophisticated pool of Playboy Hugh Hefner tycoon on 52nd floor of Sky Villas, Las Vegas.



A hot water swimming pool on the 4th storey of Hilton Hotel in Aukland, New Zealand has a glass-made side facing the city.



The longest swimming pool in the world belongs to Alfonso Del Hotel in Algarrobo, Chile (1km)



From high located pool of Banyan Tree Seychelles on Mahe Island, Seyshellee, you can have a wonderful view of the ocean far away.



The pool in Elan Hotel in Dallas makes a sense of adventure when a part over the building.



Rooftop swimming pool at Intercontinental Hotel in Hong Kong is always colorful at night and is the largest one in the city.



Burj Arab Hotel’ pool in UAE has a sophisticated architecture and impressing décor.



The La Casa Que Canta Resort in Mexico has sweet water and salt water pools facing the spacious sea.



Indoor pool in Crown Towers on Taipa Island, China offers an exotic view of the island.



The classic style rooftop pool of Berkeley Hotel in Knightsbridge, London is a popolar spot in the town.



The pool in Gellert Bathhouses, Budapest, Hungary is decorated with waterfalls and stone pillars.



Hibiscus pool in Grand Waila Resort in Maui, Hawaii decorated with 2 millions Mexico marble briquettes



Neptune pool in Caesars Palace, Las Vegas is large, brilliant and splendid.



Palazzo Sasso Resort on the beach of Amalfi, Italy featured with a hot water pool fave to both sea and mountain.

Source: ODC Travel

Can Tho


Can Tho Province is located in the centre of the Mekong Delta, bordered by Dong Thap and Vinh Long on the northeast; by Soc Trang on the southeast; by Bac Lieu on the southwest; by Kien Giang and An Giang on the northwest. Can Tho city, for over 200 years the provincial main town, was once known as Tay Do, or Capital in the West.
Can Tho is 170 kilometres southwest of Ho Chi Minh City on the south bank of the Hau River, a river considered as the benefactor of the region as its yearly floods deposit large quantities of alluvia on the rice fields. The marshy Lung Ngoc Hoang mangrove forest, positioned by nature to escape the clutches of the occasionally threatening Hau River and the waters near Bac Lieu, also offers a shelter for wildlife. There fish, crabs, tortoises, and can thoyellow boas and snakes, seek their seasonal shelter at a place where war-time troops often sought strategic refuge.
The miles of inter-connected canals and rivers are simply the green lungs of the Mekong. International experts are determining whether the area, and especially its river water ecosystem, could sustain another National Nature Reserve. Can Tho University has some 2,000 students in the fields of agriculture, medicine, and education.
The city population of 150,000 is the hub of the main Con Son and Con Au waterways which nurture the local rice and fruit trade. Those who have never visited the area, it’s likely they will have experienced its flavour in its Cau Duc sweet pineapples, sweet potatoes, taro, and the coconuts from the U Minh Jungle, which have upheld its reputation as a fruit basket region far and wide.
Natural beauty sights:
Can Tho Tourist Gardens (3) a series of modern tourism gardens have appeared on every land and water route in the Mekong Delta city of Can Tho.
The gardens of My Khanh, San Duong, Ba Lang and Tan Binh extend along the arched highway, as well as on the waterways of hong Dien and Phung Hiep rivers. Other gardens in Long My, Vi Thanh, O Mon and Thot Not are also developing. The My Khanh Gardens occupy 2.2 ha and feature more than 20 species of fruit trees and flowers, as well as diverse species of birds, fish, tortoises, snakes, crabs and shrimp. Under the shade of lush green trees, there are small rong houses to can thoprovide visitors with a place to rest for the night.
Ba Lang is located 9 km from Can Tho (on Highway No. 1 towards Soc Trang), and has an area of 4.2 ha. There is the animal sanctuary of Ao Sen Lake, two lakes for swimming, an outdoor stage and mini-hotels. Gardens here combine agricultural potential with tourism.
Tourist sights:
It is enjoyable to take a boat trip along the Hau River on fine days. On the east bank Travellers will see Ninh Kieu Wharf and nearby is a floating restaurant connected to the bank by a bridge. It features eel dishes, a specialty of the region. A trip down the watery network that surrounds the Cuu Long Delta’s Can Tho and you’ll see why locals have a special feeling for it. On land the fragrance of frangipani trees wafts around the city’s communal house and its 72 columns of black hardwood which commemorate the making – or the saving – of the area.
Museums:
Can Tho Ho Chi Minh Museum; Army Museum of Ninth Military Section, Hoa Binh Avenue, Can Tho.
Markets:

Cai Rang Floating Market - 6 kilometres from Can Tho in Mekong river; Phong Dien Floating Market 20 kilometres southwest of Can Tho, the best floating market in the Mekong Delta; Phung Hiep Market close by Can Tho (Soc Trang direction). Bustling floating markets on the Hau River at Con Khuong, Con Son and further afield, Con Tan Loc in the more prosperous Thot Not District. Cai Rang is the largest floating market in the Mekong and the traders are more motorised, but the markets at Phung Hiep and Phong Dien are more relaxed and less crowded.

Source: Vietnam travel

Da Nang


Area: 1,257.3 sq. km
Population: 788.5 thousand habitants (2006)
Administrative divisions:
- Districs:Hai Chau, Thanh Khe, Son Tra, Ngu Hanh Son, Lien Chieu, Cam Le.
- Rural districts: Hoa Vang, Hoang Sa.
Ethnic groups: Viet (Kinh), Hoa, Co Tu, Tay...
Location:

Danang City is located in the middle of Central Vietnam, between Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, separated from Laos by the western Truong Son Mountains. It is surrounded by Thua Thien-Hue along the northern border and Quang Nam on the southern border. It is embraced by the East Sea with 150km of seacoast.Danang
Topography:
Topography is rather complex. The south is impressive Hai Van Pass with Mang Mountain 1,708m, Ba Na Mountain 1,487m. The east is Son Tra Peninsula, an ideal site of yellow sand beaches, historical remains, and rare bird and animal species. The south is Ngu Hanh Son (Marble Mountains). The seashore is Hoang Sa archipelago with a large fishery.
Climate:

Danang is located in the zone of typical tropical monsoon, temperate and equable climate. The city’s weather bears the combination of the north and the south climate characters with the inclination to the former. There are two seasons: the wet from August to December and the dry season from January to July, cold waves are occasional but they are of average and short lasting. Average humidity is 83.4%.
Average temperature is about 26ºC, the highest is 28-30ºC in June, July, August, the lowest is 18-23ºC in December, January, February. In Ba Na Mountain, the temperature is 20ºC. Average rainfall is 2,505mm per year that concentrates during October and November.
Toursim:

Danang is an ancient land, closely related with the Sa Huynh cultural traditions. Many imposing, palaces, towers, temples, citadels and ramparts, the vestiges from 1st to 13th century are still to be seen in Cham Museum. Danang has other various interesting attractions as Ba Na Tourist Resort, Ngu Hanh Son (Marble Mountains) as well as the Linh Ung Pagoda, Han River, and My An, Non Nuoc beaches, stretching on dozens of kilometers, etc.
Transportation:

Road: Danang is 108km from Hue, 130km from Quang Ngai, 763km from Hanoi, and 947km from Ho Chi Minh City.
Flight: The Danang International Airport is 2.5km south-west of the city center. There are domestic flights to some cities. There are direct flights from Bangkok, Hong Kong, Siem Riep, Taipei and Singapore to Danang City by Vietnam Airlines, PB Air, Siem Riep Air way, Far Transportasion and Sil Airway.
Train: Thong Nhat Express train, which connects Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, stop in Danang.
Waterway: There are marine routes to international and domestic ports. Tien Sa and Han River ports are located in a very wonderful position.
Source: vietnam travel

Thursday, November 12, 2009

Hai Phong


Area: 1,520.7 sq. km.
Population: 1,803.4 thousand habitants (2006)
Administrative divisions:
- Districts: Hong Bang, Ngo Quyen, Le Chan, Kien An, Hai An, Duong Kinh, Do Son.
- Rural districts: Thuy Nguyen, An Duong, An Lao, Kien Thuy, Tien Lang, Vinh Bao, Cat Hai, Bach Long Vi.
Ethnic groups: Viet (Kinh), Hoa, Tay, Nung...
Hai Phong CityHai Phong is northern Vietnam’s mainport, and an important industrial and commercial center. 105km from Hanoi, Hai Phong is a beautiful city with much of the central colonial quarter still preserved. Many streets are bordered by flame flower trees, giving the city its other name "city of flame flowers". Hai Phong is also a good base for exploring other areas in the northeast such as Cat Ba and Halong Bay. In Hai Phong itself, the Du Hang temple, Hang Kenh communal house and the old quarter are worth visiting. Nearby Do Son beach is northern Vietnam’s most popular seaside retreat. It even boasts a casino!
The Du Hang Pagoda
Since being established in the 17th century, worshippers at this pagoda reconstructed it many times. There is a 2 storey gate, statue of the Goddess of Mercy in the courtyard, many statues of Bodhisattvas, guardians and the wooden goddesses, and a lot of ancient furniture. The bells out the front are interesting.
The Hang Kenh CommunalHouse
The boat shaped house has a beautiful facade, carved frames and pillars of precious wood. It was built in the 17th century. The central section is dedicated to King Ngo Quyen and his generals, who defeated the army of the great Kublai Khan no less, in the battle of the Bach Dang River in 938 AD. This battle ended over 1,000 years of foreign rule in Vietnam.
Source: vietnam travel

Phu Quoc Island


Phu Quoc Island lies in the Gulf of Thailand, Kien Giang Province, 45 km from Ha Tien and 15 km south of the coast of Cambodia. It is the largest island in Vietnam, is also part of an archipelago consisting of 22 islands and islets. The island covers an area of 585km2 and is 50km long.

Phu Quoc Island covers an area of 567sq.km (about 62km long and between 3km and 28km wide), and its population is approximately 85,000 (in 2001).
Phu Quoc IslnadPhu Quoc is called the island of "99 mountains" because of its many sandstone chains gradually descending from the north to the south. The longest one is Ham Ninh which stretches for 30 km along the eastern edge with its highest peak called Mt. Chua (603m).
Phu Quoc has a monsoon sub-equatorial climate. There are two seasons in the year: the rainy season (October only) and the dry season (November to September). The average annual rainfall is 2,879 m and the average temperature is 27oC. Trips to Phu Quoc can be made all year round, but the best time is dry season when the sky is always sunny, clear and blue.
Phu Quoc is also called the Emerald Island because of its natural treasures and infinite tourism potential. The island is well known for its high-quality fish sauce; Phu Quoc fish sauce smells particularly good since it is made from a small fish, ca com, with a high level of protein. The island produces 6 million liters of fish sauce every year.
Phu Quoc Island has many harbors such as An Thoi and Hon Thom where international and domestic ships anchor. Also, there are several historical sites on the island: National Hero Nguyen Trung Truc’s military base, King Gia Long relics from the time he spent on the island, and Phu Quoc Prison.
Off the coast of the island emerges a group of 105 islands of all sizes. Some of them are densely inhabited such as Hon Tre and Kien Hai, 25km from Rach Gia. Visitors can spend time on the beach or hike while observing the wild animals. It is possible to reach the island by either plane or boat. It takes 60 minutes from Ho Chi Minh City, 40 minutes from Rach Gia by plane. It takes 155 minutes from Ha Tien Town by boat.

Source:vietnam travel

Phan Thiet


Phan Thiet is the largest town in Binh Thuan province with an estimated population of close to 100,000 people. The town sits on the borders of Ca Ty river, is 20 Km from the ocean and swells with boats during the fishing season in the summer months. Fishing is Phan Thiet’s largest industry. According to local statistics, some of 100 different varieties of fishes are caught here with an annual yield of over 70,000 tons. As a result, Phan Thiet is famous for its Nuoc Mam (fish sauce), a seasoning used in Vietnamese cuisine.
Most visitors to Phan Thiet will notice the pungent odor that is associated with fish sauce production. This is a process where anchovy - like fishes are caught, cleaned and place in large vats of brine. The whole concoction is cured over a period of eight months to a year before the fish by-products are strained and the liquid is then diluted into less concentrated solutions to be bottled. Fish sauce from Phan Thiet is available throughout Vietnam. Today, the annual production of nuoc mam in Phan Thiet is 16-17 million liters per annum. The salt used in the production of fish sauce is also a local product of Binh Thuan province. Although fishing is a big industry in Phan Thiet, it still remains a family business for many people in the region. While the men are out at sea, women and children often stay home to support the business by mending nets and tending to shore related chores.
Source: vietnam travel

Nha Trang


Nha Trang, the capital of Khanh Hoa province, sits in the south of Vietnam around 450km north of Ho Chi Minh City- a train journey of as little as seven hours or 45 minutes by plane. The trip brings the weary traveller to the best city beach Vietnam has to offer. The town sits in a spectacular setting, surrounded by paddy fields which eventually yield to a semi circle of mountains that loom over this bustling coastal centre. Most are attracted here for the same reasons - a beach perfect for a few days of relaxation, where the sand stretches along the bay for 6km and for most of the year the sea is a brilliant turquoise colour. Ideal for backpackers, the city also has arguably the best nightlife in Vietnam outside of Saigon, with numerous bars catering to the budget and tourist market, and parties raging until late every night in the Sailing Club -- the only post-midnight destination for the late crowd. It doesnt look like Pattaya just yet, but the rapid transformation of seafront Tran Phu St shows the influx of 5 star resorts and high rise hotels is not going to slow - Nha Trang even has its own private island resort, Vin Pearl Land.

Many also come for the diving - Nha Trang will argue to be the best location for diving in Vietnam. Visibility can hit 30m, though usually more like 15-20m, and the marine life includes reef sharks and stingrays. More than eight dive shops work the thirty or so sites in the bay and beyond. Plenty resides above water in the ocean around Nha Trang, so diving is not essential as swimming and snorkelling are just as easily enjoyed - simply hop on one of the many boat trips that cruise the bay and its islands daily. For those not interested in diving or sunbathing, other attractions in the city and surrounding area include, the Ba Ho waterfalls, the mineral mud baths, the Cham Tower and Long Son pagoda. Further afield, Nha Trang is a perfect base to explore outlying places such as Whale Island, Jungle Beach and even the central highlands - Buon Ma Thuot is just a bumpy 205km away.


Nha Trang caters for all, from the 5 star high end family holiday to the backpackers budget rest-place, from the long sandy beach to the (sometimes) crystal seas, and not forgetting the lively bar scene in the evenings - and that’s without even leaving town limits. Don’t forget to try freshly caught BBQ lobster on the street, after all, seafood is one of Nha Trangs many highlights!

Source: ODC Travel

Wednesday, November 11, 2009

Hoi An Ancient town



The ancient town of Hoi An, 30 km south of Da Nang, lies on the banks of the Thu Bon River. Occupied by early western traders, Hoi An was one of the major trading centers of Southeast Asia in the 16th century.
Hoi An has a distinct Chinese atmosphere with low, tile-roofed houses and narrow streets; the original structure of some of these streets still remains almost intact. All the houses were made of rare wood, decorated with lacquered boards and panels engraved with Chinese characters. Pillars were also carved with ornamental designs. Tourists can visit the relics of the Sa Huynh and Cham cultures. They can also enjoy the beautiful scenery of the romantic Hoi An River, Cua Dai Beach, and Cham Island. Over the last few years, Hoi An has become a very popular tourist destination in Vietnam.
Light bright
No flourescent lights. No Motorcycles. No Televison. On the the 15th Day of each lunar month, the riverside town on Hoi An gives morden life the night off. In a wood-fronted shops a woman in traditional dress sits at a desk, bathed in the light of a lantern made from a simple bamboo fish-trap.
Outside, two old men are absorbed in a candlelit game of Chinese checkers. These scenes, straight out of the 19th century, still take place in Hoi An, a sleepy riverside town in the central province of Quang Nam.
Hoi An has long been a cultural crossroad. More than five centuries ago the Vietnamese nation of Dai Viet expanded its territory southwards, encroaching on the Indianized Kingdom of Champa, which covered much of what is now central Vietnam. Hoi An, located on the Hoai River, emerged when
Japanese and Chinese traders built a commercial district there in the 16th century. These diverse cultural influences remain visible today. Visitors will find Hoi An’s Old Quarter lined with two-storey Chinese shops, their elaborately carved wooden facades and moss-covered tile roofs having withstood the ravages of more than 300 years of weather and warfare. These proud old buildings, which back onto the river, remind visitors of another era, when Hoi An’s market was filled with wares from as far afield as India and Europe. Colourful guildhalls, founded by ethnic Chinese from Guangdong and Fujian provinces, stand quietly, a testament to the town’s trading roots.
While Hoi An’s old-fashioned charm is always visible, on the 15th of every lunar month modernity takes another step back. On these eveningsthe town turns off its street lamps and fluorescent lights, leaving the Old Quarter bathed in the warm glow of coloured silk, glass and paper lanterns. In ancient times, Vietnamese people made lamps out of shallow bowls filled with oil. Later, foreign traders introduced lanterns, ranging from round and hexagonal designs from China to diamond and star shaped ones from Japan.

Let There belight
Hoi AnWhen developing plans to preserve their town’s ancient character, Hoi An residents decided to revive the practice of using coloured lanterns. Starting in the fall of 1998, one night each month is declared a "lantern festival". On the 15th day of each lunar month, residents on Tran Phu, Nguyen Thai Hoc, Le Loi and Bach Dang streets switch off their lights and hang cloth and paper lanterns on their porches and windows. Television sets, radios, street lights and neon lights are turned off. In the ensuing quiet the streets of Hoi An are at their most romantic, the darkness broken only by jeweltoned lanterns in all manner of shapes and sizes.


Strolling through the lantern-lit streets is like walking into a fairytale. It is all the more picturesque since motor vehicles are banned from Hoi Ans Old Quarter. On Trai Phu Street, stop at the beautifully preserved Faifo Restaurant to sample some traditional Chinese-style pastries. Or walk on to the Treated Cafe, where bamboo baskets, commonly used to wash rice, have been transformed into unique lanterns. These basket lamps are but one example of people’s creativity as they experiment with new shapes and materials, includinglights made from hollow bamboo tubes.
A Warm glow


The 15th day of the lunar month is a Buddhist day of worship. Residents place offerings of food and incense on their ancestral altars and visit one of Hoi An’s many pagodas. The scent of incense and the sounds of people singing add to the town’s enchanted atmosphere. On these evenings, visitors will get a rare glimpse into another era. These nights are a welcome reminder of life’s unexpected beauty.

Source:vietnam travel

Hue's sightseeings


King Minh Mang’s Tomb
Located 12 km far from the city on the left branch of the Perfume River, built as the plan drawn out by the King himself and on the place chosen by the King too in the middle of the pine forest. It took ten thousand soldiers and artisans to complete the project from 1840-to 1843. The tomb consists of about 40 monuments of various sizes; all lie within an oval shaped wall with a circumference of 2,000m. A walk of about 700m in length bisects the interior of the complex into two equal halves. Along it are the Salutation Court, Stele House, Sung An Temple, Minh Lau Pavilion, and the tomb itself being at the very back of the complex.

King Tu Duc’s Tomb

Tu Duc was the fourth emperor of The Nguyen Dynasty. He had his tomb constructed when still on the throne in 1848. It is 7 km far from the city; his tomb includes 50 monuments surrounded by a 1,500m wall. Emperor Tu Duc was an expert in eastern philosophy, history, and literature. It comprises of an important number of buildings, man-made ponds full of nenuphars and lotuses, crossed by various bridges and covered by frangipanes. This is one of the most romantic and splendid masterpieces.

King Khai Dinh’s TombVietnam travel

Khai Dinh, the twelfth king of the Nguyen Dynasty and the father of King Bao Dai who is the last emperor of Vietnam. The construction started from 1920 to 1931. Emperor Khai Dinh’s tomb is built using concrete, its roof with slates and the gate is made of wrought iron. The builder made use of the lighting rod and electricity is used to light the place. Beyond these modern building materials and designs, the tomb had elements of eastern art mixed with western designs. The conception of architecture and decoration got the European influence.

Thien Mu Pagoda

Located 6 km far from the city on the left branch of the Perfume River, this Buddhist monastery was erected in 1601 by Lord Nguyen Hoang, the ancestor of The Nguyen, on a used hilly brick foundation of a Cham building.
Hue
According to the legend, the people around this area used to
see a vision of an old lady appearing on the hill where the pagoda now sits. Upon seeing people, she always said that someday a great leader would build a pagoda at this site to bring peace to the country. One day, when Lord Nguyen Hoang passed by this area, upon hearing the story, he ordered the construction of the pagoda in 1601. He named it Chua Thien Mu - Heavenly Lady Pagoda.The Pagoda was the center of Buddhism in central Vietnam

Sapa


Sapa is famous for both its fine, rugged scenery and its rich culture diversity. Sapa is nestling of many ethnic minority village and vivid green rice terraces are sculpted into the mountain sides. It would be of considerably less interest without the HMong and Dzao people, the largest ethnic groups in the region. Its lush, deep river valleys, in the shadows of Vietnam’s tallest peak Mount Fansipan.

Sapa

In the center of town is the spectacle of Sapas famed market, which has become a fixture on standard Southeast Asian tourist itineraries. Treks through the surrounding mountainside are an opportunity to visit picturesque villages, most notably those of the Hmong and Red Dao people. One inconvenience that will not change is the weather. If you visit off - season, don’t forget your witner woolies. Not only is it cold , but winter brings fog and drizzle. The chilly climate does have a few advantages, though - the area boasts temperate - zone
fruit trees bearing fruits such as peaches and plums, and gardens for raising medicinal herbs. The dry season in Sapa lasts from around January to June. January and February are the coldest (and foggiest) months. From March to May the weather is often excellent, and the summer is warm despite the rains between June and August. The period from September to mid - December is a pleasant time to be in Sapa, though there is a bit of lingering rain at the start and the temperature dips by December.

Fansipan Mountain

Fansipan Moutain (3,143m), accross the valley from Sapa, is Vietnam’s highest peak and a popular expedition for those willing to brave its deceptively steep slopes. The trail starts at the pink building just 1km before Tram Ton Pass. From that permit checkpoint, it is a 3 - 4hr like up to the base camp (2,200m). Everyone sleeps in the small hut at base camp, and you will be provided with a sleeping bag. The base camp has a makeshift bar and a river, where you can take a cold bath. Typically, trekkers reach the summit and return to base camp on the second day. The steep, muddy trail travels through the jungle and bamboo forest, and ropes have been set up on the larger rock faces. The round - trip from base camp to the summit takes roughly 8hr and there are great vatage points along the way. On top, you can take a picture holding the Vietnamese flag. On the third day, one generally leaves base camp on a different route, heading down to Sin Chai, where a jeep or motorbike will pick you up and bring you back to Sapa.

Source: ODC Travel

Halong Bay


Halong BayHalong is situated in the North – East region of Vietnam, lies 160 km to the east of Hanoi. Halong is a bay in the Gulf of Tonkin consisting of regions of Halong City. Halong borders Cat Ba Islands in the southwest, the east sea in the east and the mainland.
Halong is a natural wonder of the world and one of Vietnam’s five UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Halong is made up of 1,969 islands of various sizes. There are two kinds of islands; limestone and schist with over 3,000 limestone islands emerge from emerald green water of Halong. While some
islands are no more than large rocks, others are much more substantial and contain huge cathedral – like caves of stalactites. Most of the islands are clothed in thick green vegetation and ring with the sound of bird song in the early morning. Secluded sandy caves are everywhere and in the summer months the warm waters of the bay are ideal for swimming, snorkeling or kayaking.
Bai Tu Long BayHistory shows that Halong Bay has been the setting for local naval battles against Vietnam’s coastal neighbours. On three occasions in the labyrinth of channels in Bach Dang river near the islands the Vietnamese army stopped the Chinese from landing. In 1288 General Tran Hung Dao stopped Mongol ships from sailing up the nearby Bach Dang River by placing
steel-tipped wooden stakes at high tide, sinking the Mongol Dubhai Khans fleet.
Local legend has it that long ago when the Vietnamese were fighting Chinese invaders, the gods sent a family of dragons to help defend the land. This family of dragons descended upon what is now Ha Long Bay (hence the name "Bay of Descending Dragons") and began spitting out jewels and jade. These jewels turned into the islands and islets dotting the bay, linking together to form barriers against the invaders. The people kept their land safe and formed what later became the country of Vietnam. The best way to appreciate the delights of Halong Bay is to cruise among the islands on a wooden boat while enjoying a tea or enjoy fresh seafood.

Source:vietnam travel

Vietnam



Currently, many people, both foreign visitors and the Vietnamese oversea, wish to see Vietnam and learn more about the country and people. Places and geographical regions are located on the map showing where it is all about. We would like to mention the map of Vietnam in order to help tourists learn better of places in Vietnam.

Vietnam Map

Vietnam, officially the Socialist Republic of Vietnam is the easternmost country on the Indochina Peninsula in Southeast Asia. It is bordered by China to the north, Laos to the northwest, Cambodia to the southwest, and the South China Sea to the east. With a population of over 86 million, Vietnam is the 13th most populous country in the world.

Vietnam mapEmerging from a long and bitter war, the war-ravaged nation was politically isolated. The government’s centrally-planned economic decisions hindered post-war reconstruction and its treatment of the losing side engendered more resentment than reconciliation. In 1986, it instituted economic and political reforms and began a path towards international eintegration. By 2000, it had established diplomatic relations with most nations. Its economic growth had been among the highest in the world in the past decade. These efforts culminated in Vietnam joining the World Trade Organization in 2007 and its successful bid to become a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council in 2008.

Vietnam is divided into 58 provinces as you can view on the Vietnam Map. There are 5 centrally-controlled municipalities existing at the same level as provinces, including Hanoi, Hai Phong, Da Nang, Ho Chi Minh City and Can Tho.

People’s Council

Each People’s Council has a Standing Committee made up of the Chairperson and his/her deputies, who are elected from among the representatives in the People’s Council. The Standing Committee has a number of functions, including representing the People’s Council when it is not in session. There are also a number of other committees established to deal with specific issues. All provinces have an Economic and Budgetary Committee, a Social and Cultural Committee, and a Legal Committee. If a province has many inhabitants who are not ethnically Vietnamese, there will probably be a Committee for Ethnic Affairs as well.

Citizens are eligible to vote in People’s Council elections from when they are aged eighteen, but cannot stand for election until they are aged twenty-one. To become a candidate, one can either nominate oneself or be selected by the Fatherland Front. Nominated candidates are then voted on at "voters’ conferences", which are organized by the Fatherland Front. Attendees etermine, sometimes by secret balot and sometimes by a show of hands, whether andidates meet the criteria set down by the People’s Council. Candidates who the conference does not "express trust" in cannot stand for election.

People Committee

The People’s Committee is, as mentioned previously, the xecutive arm of a provincial government, and is responsible for formulating and implementing policy. It may be thought of as the equivalent of a cabinet. The People’s Committee will have a President and a Vice-President, and between nine or eleven ordinary members.

Regions

The Vietnamese government often groups the various provinces into eight regions. These regions are not always used, and alternative classifications are possible. The regions include:

Northwestern contains four inland provinces in the west of Vietnam’s northern part. Two of them border with Laos, and one borders China. Northeastern contains eleven provinces (many of which are mountainous) that lie to north of the highly populated Red River lowlands.

Greater Ha Noi – Red River Delta contains nine provinces that are small but populous – based around the Red River, including the national capital Hanoi, and the municipality of Hai Phong (both of which are independent of any provincial government).

North Central Coast contains six provinces in the northern half of Vietnam’s narrow central part. All provinces in this region stretch from the coast in the east to Laos in the west.

South Central Coast contains five coastal provinces in the southern half of Vietnam’s central part. Vietnam is wider at this point than in the North Central Coast region, so the inland areas are separate provinces. The region also includes the independent municipality of Da Nang.

Central Highlands contains the five inland provinces (much of whose terrain is mountainous) of south-central Vietnam, mostly inhabited by ethnic minorities, although many Viet people live there as well.

Southeastern contains those parts of lowland southern Vietnam which are north of the Mekong
delta. There are seven provinces, plus the independent municipality of Ho Chi Minh City (formerly Saigon).

Southwestern – Mekong River Delta is Vietnam’s southernmost region, and contains twelve mostly small but populous provinces in the delta of the Mekong, plus the independent municipality of Can Tho.

The National FlagFlag

The natinal flag of Vietnam is the "red flag with yellow star", which was adopted as the flag of the Viet Minh, a communist army, in 1941. In 1945, it was adopted by the newly-established Democratic Republic of Vietnam, which became the government of North Vietnam in 1954. The flag was adopted by the Socialist Republic of Vietnam (united Vietnam), which was founded in 1976 following the Vietnam War.

The flag has a red background with a golden five-pointed star in the center. The flag is so meaningful. In the years following 1945, during the independence movement of Vietnam, red represented the struggle for independence, yellow represented the color of Vietnamese people, and the five points of the star were widely believed to represent the 5 traditional Confucian classes of people: the scholars (sĩ), the peasants (nông), the craftsmen (công), the merchants (thương), and the soldiers (binh). The flag was designed by Nguyen Huu Tien, a communist revolutionary of the 1940 Cochinchina Uprising against French colonialism, when the flag was seen on the first time. The uprising failed, and he was arrested and executed along with other leaders of the uprising. Vietnam National Flag On the National Days, the Vietnamese hang the National Flag on public buildings, in the streets and on most private houses. The red flag with yellow star always flies beautifully outside the buildings and private properties as well as in the streets during the celebration of the days.

Travel Information

Attractions: Vietnam is a visually stunning destination, one crammed with interesting things to see and do. Major points-of-interest include the cities of Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City; Ha Long Bay, a UNESCO site featuring over 3,000 islands; Phong Nha Cave, one of the largest and most beautiful caves on the planet; the mountain villages of Sapa and Dalat; hundreds of historical and cultural sites including the Hung Temple, Co Loa Citadel, the Temple of Literature in Hanoi, My Son Sanctuary, and the ancient city of Hoi An. Add to the brief list above, the picturesque emerald-green rice paddy fields; boat trips through floating canal markets; Mekong Delta tours and sunset views atop Sam Mountain; thousands of inspiring pagodas and temples throughout the country, colorful festivals galore, and dozens of beautiful,clean beaches, north to south.

Source: ODC Travel

Ho Chi Minh City


Ho Chi Minh City

Area
: 2,098.7 sq. km
Population
: 7,123,340 habitants 2009)
Administrative divisions:
- Districts: District 1, District 2, District 3, District 4, District 5, District 6, District 7, District 8, District 9, District 10, District 11, District 12, Tan Binh, Binh Thanh, Phu Nhuan, Thu Duc, Go Vap, Binh Tan,Tan Phu.
- Rural districts: Nha Be, Can Gio, Hoc Mon, Cu Chi, Binh Chanh.
Ethnic groups:
Viet (Kinh), Hoa, Khmer, Cham, etc.

Location:

Situated in the core of the Mekong Delta, Ho Chi Minh City, formerly known as Saigon, is the second most important in Vietnam after Hanoi. It is not only a commercial center but also a scientific, technological, industrial and tourist center. The city is bathed by many rivers, arroyos and canals, the biggest river being the Saigon River. The Port of Saigon, established in 1862, is accessible to ships weighing up to 30,000 tons, a rare advantage for an inland river port.

Climate:

SaigonThe climate is generally hot and humid. There are two distinctive seasons: the rainy season, from May to November, and the dry season, from December to April. The annual average temperature is 27ºC. The hottest month is April and the lowest is December. It is warm all year./ Many centuries ago, Saigon was already a busy commercial center. Merchants from China, Japan and many European countries would sail upstream the Saigon River to reach the islet of Pho, a trading center. In the year of 1874, Cho Lon merged with Saigon, forming the largest city in the Indochina. It had been many times
celebrated as the Pearl of the Far East. After the reunification of the country, the 6th National Assembly in its meeting of the 2nd of July, 1976, has officially rebaptized Saigon, Ho Chi Minh City. The history of city relates closely with the struggle for the independence and freedom of Vietnam.
Tourism:
Today, Ho Chi Minh City is the big tourism center in Vietnam, attracting a large of visitors to Vietnam. Ho Chi Minh City has various attractions as Ho Chi Minh Museum, formerly known as Dragon House Wharf, Cu Chi Tunnels, system of museums, theatres, cultural houses, etc. Recently, many tourist areas are invested such as Thanh Da, Binh Quoi Village, Dam Sen Park, Saigon Water Park, Suoi Tien, Ky Hoa, which draw numerous tourists. Despite its quite recent past, Ho Chi Minh City nevertheless possesses various beautiful buildings, displaying a characteristic combination of Vietnamese, Chinese and European cultures. These include Nha Rong (Dragon House Wharf), Quoc To Temple (National Ancestors Temple), Xa Tay (Municipal Office), Ho Chi Minh Municipal Theatre as well as many pagodas and churches (Vinh Nghiem, Giac Vien, Giac Lam, Phung Son pagodas, etc). After more than 300 years of development, Ho Chi Minh City presents many ancient architectural constructions, famous vestiges and renowned sights. It is remarkable for its harmonious blending of traditional national values with northern and western cultural features.

Transportation:

Ho Chi Minh City is the main junction for trains, roads, water, and air transportation systems for domestic trips and for foreign destination.
- Roads: Ho Chi Minh City is 1,730km from Hanoi, 99km from Tay Ninh, 30km from Bien Hoa (Dong Nai), 70km from My Tho, 125km from Vung Tau, 168km from Can Tho, 308km from Dalat, and 375km from Buon Ma Thuot. The City has National Highway 13 which connects Vietnam with the rest of Indochina.
- Train: Thong Nhat express train connects Ho
Chi Minh City and Hanoi, vie many provinces in Vietnam.
- Airlines: Tan Son Nhat International Airport, 7km from center of city, is the biggest airport with many domestic and international routes. There are flights from Hanoi and Danang to Ho Chi Minh City and between the City to many regions as well a lot of countries on over the world.

Hanoi Capital



As the capital turning 1000 in 2010, Hanoi has within it the finest touch ofwhat a Vietnamese cultural tradition of over a thousand years has to offer. Thecity hosts more cultural sites than any other cities in Vietnam, including over600 pagodas and temples. Even though some relics have not survived afterwartime, the city still has many interesting cultural and historic monuments for visitors and residents alike.

As a city between the rivers, built from lowland, Hanoi has many scenic lakes and sometimes is called "city of lakes". Among its lakes, the most famous are Ho Guom (Sword Lake), Ho Tay (West Lake), Ho Thien Quang (Halais Lake), Truc Bach Lake, and Bay Mau Lake. Hanoi has famous traditional professional handicraft villages such as Bat Trang pottery village, Ngu Xa bronze casting village, Yen Thai glossy silk... Among Hanoi’s sightseeing highlights are the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum and Museum; the National Art Museum; the grisly Hoa Lo Prison (also known as the infamous Hanoi Hilton); central Hoan Kiem Lake, where Hanoians enjoy brisk morning walks or tai chi in a tranquil city landmark that symbolizes the city’s mythical origins; and the Old Quarter, whose narrow winding streets are named after the individual trades practiced here since the
15th century. Hanoi is Vietnam’s cultural center, and the galleries, puppetry,
music, and dance performances are worth staying at least a few days to take
in.

Hoan Kiem Lake ( Lake of Restored Sword )
Hoan Kiem Lake ( Lake of Restored Sword ) is a famous landmark in Hanoi and a centre of the city. There is an interesting legend behind this lake. Apparently in the 15th century, Emperor Le Thai To of Vietnam was supposedly handed a magic sword by a divine tortoise living in the lake, thus helping him to repel invaders from China . After the country has been
liberated, the tortoise snatched back the sword from the emperor and thus the lake is named " Lake of Restored Sword ". This lake was once part of the nearby Red Riber (Song Hung) and a swamp, until the French drained the land in the 19th century thus forming this lake. There are several species of tortoise living in this lake, and you will sometimes see them on the water surface. The area surrounding the lake is very beautiful with flowers, trees, benches, paths etc where both locals and tourist relax. Please see part 2 of this tip

Hoan Kiem Lake is at the centre of Hanoi and a focus point of the city. The lake isnt too large and doesnt take too long to walk around. The lake is central to the locals as well as the tourists in Hanoi . If you visit early in the morning while it is still cool you will be able to watch the locals do Tai Chi. Badminton courts are painted onto the ground all around the lake and sometimes you will see the locals playing this too. The lake is a great place to meet people and see local life. It can be busy at times but this is due to the fact that the locals love and use this lake as much as the tourists. There are loads of shops and coffee bars around and its great to spend the afternoon people watching.

Van Mieu (The Temple of Literature)

The Temple of Literature is Vietnam s historical
seat of learning and is the most sacred place for the disciples of Confucius. It is one of the few remaining buildings from the original city founded by Emperor Ly Thanth Tong in the 11th century and is a well-preserved example of Vietnamese
architecture. It became the site of the countrys first university in 1076.

In the temple there are number of courtyards which separated by wall and gates. In the courtyards you will see pond covered with lilies, bonzai trees. The complex is quite large. The temple is surrounded by picturesque garden,
manicured lawn and large trees which provide shades. The middle footpath with low hedges in both sides will guide you to the different part of the temple. In either side of the temple there are large tortoises engrave with list of people
who graduated with their names, dates and places of birth who achieved doctorates. The Temple of Literature with Chinese architecture is well kept considering it was built in the in the 11th century. After the hustle, bustle and the chaotic of Hanoi traffic, it was quite relieved to visit one of the tourist attractions as it was nice, quite and relaxing.

Chua mot cot (One Pillar Pagoda)
The One Pillar Pagoda (Chua Mot Cot) is a small and famous Pagoda of Vietnam located at a premise near to the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum and Ho Chi Minh Museum. The One Pillar Pagoda has become the symbol of Vietnamese rich culture and history. The pagoda was built in the reign of king Ly Thai Tong (1028-1054). Legend has it that in his dream, in 1049, the King saw a vision of Kwan Yin. She led him to a shrine in the middle of a lotus pond. When he woke up, he consulted with his court and decided to
replicate the shrine in his dream to dedicate it to Kwan Yin. The One-Pillar Pagoda, built of wood on a single stone, is designed to resemble a lotus blossom, a symbol of purity, rising out of a sea of sorrow. Today, many tourists
visit the pagoda to worship and ask the Goddess for blessings.

Source: ODC Travel