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

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

Nha Trang

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

Hoi An Ancient town

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

When 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

Sapa

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.

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

Vietnam

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.

Emerging 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 Flag

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:

The 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.

Source:Vietnam Travel

Hanoi Capital

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