A blog written by Vietnam tourism experts—a lecturer from a tourism college in Vietnam—providing useful information about Vietnam travel, including Vietnam destinations, Vietnam visas, Vietnam hotels, Vietnam food, Vietnam flights, etc.
Sa Pa is a beautiful scenery, mountainous town in northern Vietnam along the border with China. It has long been a famous destination to tourists from all over the world to Vietnam.
It’s cool weather, breathtaking landscapes have enchanted a great number of tourists and built up its fame as as a paradise on the mountain. One interesting experience in Sa Pa that tourists can never forget is its nightlife.
In daytime, Sa Pa is beautiful; its night scenery is also extremely gorgeous. The mountainous city is lit up with attractive, colorful light which creates an extraordinary fanciful sight.
At night Sa Pa is still very lively. Streets with very romantic names like Cầu Mây, Mường Hoa… is crowded with foreign tourists. They leisurely walk on sloping streets, contemplate souvenir shops and take photos.
Tourists often concentrate in the Stone church area where there are a lot of grilled restaurants and souvenir shops. After wandering about the streets, how comfortable it is to enjoy delicious grilled foods such as sweet potato, egg, bird, pork, sugar cane, etc a in the cold weather of Sa Pa’s night. Souvenir shops offer various local specialties which can be bought as presents for your beloved such as ethnic crafts especially needle work on batik fabric ranging from traditional costumes and accessories, H’mong blanket, raw embroidery works, skirts, men blouses, hats…
Tourists who are keen on exploring traditional cultures will be lured by the Love market in Sa Pa. Ethnic groups put on their most colorful costumes and head to Sa Pa's market on Saturday. The girls hide in the dark shadows and sing love songs to attract the boys, who try to find where the songs come from. If they are well matched, they disappear into the forest for three days. Perhaps, some of them get married after that. Get special promotion code to travel free of charge to Vietnam here!
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The 2013 culture and tourism week in Da Lat
city will be organised from December 27-31 with four main activities: the 1st
ASEAN-Vietnam UNESCO heritage festival Da Lat - Lam Dong; the
celebration of the 120th anniversary of Da Lat’s establishment and
development; the fifth Da Lat flower festival; and the announcing of the 2014
National Tourism Year.
The week will have 23 programmes, including
eight main ones and fifteen responding ones. Typical programmes are an
international workshop on the UNESCO heritage network in Southeast Asia, a
seminar on Da Lat’s flowers and tourism, an exhibition on Da Lat’s flowers, a
performance exchange on ASEAN - Vietnam UNESCO intangible cultural
heritage, and Vietnam UNESCO heritage carnival.
The first ASEAN - Vietnam UNESCO heritage festival will draw the
participation of ASEAN countries and their four partners of India, China,
Japan and the Republic of Korea.
The event is to promote and honour Vietnam’s cultural heritage recognised by
UNESCO. It also creates a forum for Vietnam and ASEAN countries to share
experiences in preserving and upholding heritage value, and offers
opportunities for Vietnam to introduce the natural landscapes, people,
potentials and strengths of the central highlands and Lam Dong province to
foreign friends.
Discover Dalat attractions from the post: Vietnam destination 5: Dalat the Land of
love and flowers in our blog.
InVietnam, Têt-Trung-Thu (tet-troong-thoo) or the Mid-Autumn Festival
is one of the most popular family holidays. It is held on the 15th day of the
8th lunar month.
Vietnamese families plan
their activities around their children on this special day. In a Vietnamese
folklore, parents were working so hard to prepare for the harvest that they
left the children playing by themselves. To make up for lost time, parents would
use the Mid-Autumn festival as an opportunity to show their love and
appreciation for their children.
Mid-Autumn Festival
Appropriately,
the Mid-Autumn Festival is also called the Children’s Festival. In the United States,
this tradition continues in many Vietnamese-American communities. Trung-Thu
activities are often centered around children and education. Parents buy
lanterns for their children so that they can participate in a candlelit lantern
procession at dawn. Lanterns represent brightness while the procession symbolizes
success in school. Vietnamese markets sell a variety of lanterns, but the most
popular children’s lantern is the star lantern. Other children’s activities
include arts and crafts in which children make face masks and lanterns.
Children also perform traditional Vietnamese dances for adults and participate
in contests for prizes and scholarships. Unicorn dancers are also very popular
in Trung-Thu festivities.
Mid-Autumn Festival party
Like
the Chinese, Vietnamese parents tell their children fairy tales and serve
mooncakes and other special treats under the silvery moon. A favorite folklore
is about a carp that wanted to become a dragon. The carp worked and worked and
eventually transformed itself into a dragon. This is the story behind the
mythical symbol, Cá hóa Rông. Parents use this story to encourage their
children to work hard so that they can become whatever they want to be.
There’s also a story about how the Moon Lady ascended to the
moon. A man named Chu Coi found a lucky that had special healing powers.
Because this tree was sacred, people were forbidden to urinate at the foot of
this tree. Unfortunately, Chu Coi’s wife, Chi Hang forgot the rule and urinated
on the tree. On day, while she was sitting on the tree’s branch, the tree
started to grow and grow. Eventually, it reached the moon, Since then, Chi Hang
lived on the moon for the rest of her life as a punishment for desecrating the
sacred tree.
It can be said that the meaning of Mid-Autumn Festival has
changed over time. Originally, it’s not only a special day for children, but
also for adult. Today, it’s Children’s Festival and the Mid-Autumn Festival is
still a meaningful tradition. It’s the sense of caring, of gratitude, of
friendship, of family gathering, and of showing the love. We – Vietnamese
citizens should maintain and develop this noble sense.
For more information about Vietnam travel and how to organize a best travel trip to Vietnam, please contact us or visit the other posts or coming posts in our blog!
In addition to an exciting experience, foreign visitors
to Vietnam
tour this time of year will gain a better understanding of the country’s
traditions and culture by experiencing the Vietnamese people’s preparations for
the upcoming lunar New Year (Tet) celebrations.
For many foreigners, the traditional Vietnamese Tet has
become a special tourism attraction, offering a good opportunity for the
country to introduce its true colours and traditions to the international
community.
Tet has
become so familiar, so sacred to the Vietnamese that when Spring arrives, the
Vietnamese, wherever they may be, are all thrilled and excited with the advent
of Tet, and they feel an immense nostalgia, wishing to come back to their
homeland for a family reunion and a taste of the particular flavours of the
Vietnamese festivities.
Tet starts on the first day of the first lunar month and is the first season of
the new year (according to the lunar calendar), and therefore it is also known
as the Tet Nguyen Dan, literally meaning Fete of the First Day, or the Tet Tam
Nguyen, literally meaning Fete of the Three Firsts.
The Vietnamese, wherever they may be, are all thrilled and excited with the
advent of Tet, and they feel an immense nostalgia, wishing to come back to
their homeland for a family reunion and a taste of the particular flavours of the
Vietnamese festivities. Those who have settled down abroad all turn their
thoughts to their home country and try to celebrate the festivities in the same
traditional way as their family members and relatives to relieve their
nostalgia, never forgetting the fine custom handed down from generation to
generation.
The Tet of the New Year is, above all, a fete of the family. This is an
opportunity for the household genies to meet, those who have helped during the
year, namely the Craft Creator, the Land Genie and the Kitchen God. As the
legend goes, each year on December 23 of the lunar calendar, the Kitchen God
takes a ride on a carp to the HeavenlyPalace to make a report
on the affairs of the household on earth and then returns on December 30 to
welcome the New Spring.
Tet is also an opportunity to welcome deceased ancestors back for a family
reunion with their descendants. Finally, Tet is a good opportunity for family
members to meet. This custom has become sacred and secular and, therefore, no
matter where they are or whatever the circumstances, family members find ways
to come back to meet their loved ones
Vietnamese Tet has quite a few original practices with customs and
entertainment that have distinct Vietnamese cultural characteristics. In the
framework of this article, a few customs and practices are presented so that
readers can better understand the traditional Tet of Vietnam.
Tất Niên offering
This period begins one or two weeks before the actual
celebration. The general atmosphere leading up to Tết is in the bustle of shopping,
decorating the home, cooking traditional Tết food and waiting for relatives to
return home. People try to pay off their debts in advance so that they can be
debt-free on Tết. Parents buy new clothes for their children so that the
children can wear them when Tết arrives. Because a lot of commercial activity
will cease during the celebrations, people try to stock up on supplies as much
as possible.
In the days leading up to Tết, the streets and markets
are full of people. As the shops will be closed during Tết, everyone is busy
buying food, clothes, and decorations for their house.
Vietnamese families usually have a family altar, to
pay respect to their ancestors. Vietnamese families have a tray of five different
fruits on their altar called "Ngũ Quả" (five fruits type). During Tết
the altar is thoroughly cleaned and new offerings are placed there.
Traditionally, the three kitchen guardians for each house (Ông Táo) (Kitchen
God), who report to the Jade Emperor about the events in that house over the
past year, return to heaven on the 23rd day of the twelfth month by lunar
calendar. Their departure is marked by a modest ceremony where the family
offers sacrifices for them to use on their journey.
In the days leading up to Tết, each family cooks special
holiday foods such as bánh chưng and bánh dầy. Preparations for these foods are
quite extensive. Family members often take turns to keep watch on the fire
overnight, telling each other stories about Tết of past years.
The New Year
A boy in front of a tree decorated for Tết
The first day of Tết is reserved for the nuclear
family. Children receive a red envelope containing money from their elders.
This tradition is called mừng tuổi (happy new age) in the north and lì xì in
the south. Usually, children wear their new clothes and give their elders the traditional
Tết greetings before receiving the money. Since the Vietnamese believe that the
first visitor a family receives in the year determines their fortune for the
entire year, people never enter any house on the first day without being invited
first. The act of being the first person to enter a house on Tết is called xông
đất, xông nhà or đạp đất, which is one of the most important rituals during
Tết. According to Vietnamese tradition, if good things come to the family on
the first day of the lunar New Year, the entire following year will also be
full of blessings. Usually, a person of good temper, morality and success will
be the lucky sign for the host family and be invited first into the house.
However, just to be safe, the owner of the house will leave the house a few
minutes before midnight and come back just as the clock strikes midnight to
prevent anyone else entering the house first who might potentially bring any
unfortunate events in the new year to the household.
Sweeping during Tết is taboo or xui (unlucky), since
it symbolizes sweeping the luck away. It is also taboo for anyone who
experienced a recent loss of a family member to visit anyone else during Tết.
During subsequent days, people visit relatives and
friends. Traditionally but not strictly, the second day of Tết is usually
reserved for friends, while the third day is for teachers, who command respect
in Vietnam.
Local Buddhist temples are popular spots as people like to give donations and
to get their fortunes told during Tết. Children are free to spend their new
money on toys or on gambling games such as bầu cua cá cọp, which can be found
in the streets. Prosperous families can pay for dragon dancers to perform at
their house. There are also public performances for everyone to watch.
Traditionally, each family displays cây nêu, an
artificial New Year Tree consisting of a bamboo pole 5 to 6 m long. The top end
is usually decorated with many objects, depending on the locality, including
good luck charms, origami fish, cactus branches, etc.
At Tết every house is usually decorated by hoa mai –
Ochna integerrima (in the central and southern parts of Vietnam) or hoa đào – peach flower (in the
northern part of Vietnam)
or hoa ban (in mountain areas). In the north, some people (especially the elite
in the past) also decorate their house with a Prunus mume tree (also called mai
in Vietnamese, but referring to a totally different species from Ochna
integerrima). In the north or central, the kumquat tree is a popular decoration
for the living room during Tết. Its many fruits symbolize the fertility and
fruitfulness that the family hopes for in the coming year.
Vietnamese people also decorate their homes with bonsai
and flower plants such as chrysanthemum (hoa cúc), marigold (vạn thọ) symbolizing
longevity, mào gà in Southern Vietnam and paperwhite flower (thủy tiên),
lavender (viôlét), hoa bướm in Northern Vietnam.
In the past, there was a tradition that old people tried to make their
paperwhite flowers blossom right the watch-night time. They also hung up Dong
Ho Paintings and thư pháp (calligraphy pictures).
Greetings
The traditional greetings are "chúc mừng năm
mới" and "cung chúc tân xuân" (Happy New Year). People also wish
each other prosperity and luck. Common wishes for Tết include:
Sống lâu trăm tuổi (Live up to 100 years): used by
children for elders. Traditionally, everyone is one year older on Tết, so children
would wish their grandparents health and longevity in exchange for mừng tuổi or
lì xì
An khang thịnh
vượng (Security, good health, and prosperity)
Vạn sự như ý (May a myriad things go according to your will)
Sức khoẻ dồi dào (Plenty of health)
Cung hỉ phát tài, from the Cantonese Gung hy fat choy (Congratulations and be
prosperous)
Tiền vô như nước (May money flow in like water): used informally
Food
In Vietnamese language, to celebrate Tết is to ăn Tết,
literally meaning "Tết eating", showing the importance of food in its
celebration. Some of the food is also eaten year-round, while other dishes are only
eaten during Tết. Also, some of the food is vegetarian since it is believed to
be good luck to eat vegetarian on Tết. Some traditional food on Tết are:
Bánh chưng and bánh dầy: essentially tightly packed sticky rice with meat or
bean fillings wrapped in Dong (Phrynium placentarium) leaves. When this leaves
is unavailable, banana leaves can be used as a subtitute. Bánh chưng (rectangular)
and bánh dầy (circular) are symbolically connected with Tết and are essential
in any Tết celebration. Preparation is time-consuming, and can take days to
cook. The story of their origins and their connection with Tết is often
recounted to children while cooking them overnight.
Hạt Dưa: roasted watermelon seeds, also eaten during Tết.
Dưa Hành": pickled onion and pickled cabbage.
Củ Kiệu: pickled small leeks.
Mứt: These dried candied fruits are rarely eaten at any time besides Tết.
In southern Vietnam,
popular fruits used for offerings at the family altar in fruit arranging art
are the custard-apple/sugar-apple/soursop (mãng cầu), coconut (dừa), papaya (đu
đủ), and mango (xoài), since they sound like "cầu vừa đủ xài" ([We]
pray for enough [money] to spend) in the southern dialect of Vietnamese.
Thịt Kho Nước Dừa Meaning "Meat Stewed in Coconut Juice", it is a
traditional dish of fatty pork stomach and medium boiled eggs stewed in a
broth-like sauce made overnight of young coconut juice and nuoc mam. It is
often eaten with pickled bean sprouts and chives, and white rice.
Games
People are delighted to enjoy exciting games during
Tết: bầu cua, cờ tướng, ném còn, chọi trâu, đá gà, marshmallow toss, etc...They
also participate in some competitions presenting their knowledge, strength and
aestheticism such as: bird competition and ngâm thơ competition.
People can also visit fortune tellers, in temples and
in the streets, to have their fortunes told. You must know your zodiac sign and
the star you were born under to have your fortune read. Whether the fortunes
are taken seriously depends entirely on the person receiving the fortune and
the reputation of the fortune teller.
Da Nang has miles of beaches,
resulting in plenty of swimming opportunities from May to August when the sea
is calm but for those who simply cannot wait to get wet the city also features
an exciting water park – the first built in the country. In this mild climate a
game of golf is a pleasure and Da Nang
certainly delivers with three professionally designed courses with great views
and facilities.
The city’s March 29 Park
has many activities for both children and adults alike while if you’re rained
in you can learn more about this country’s super healthy cuisine and its
preparation.
It is not easy to find
food that is as healthy as Vietnamese. If you appreciate Vietnamese cuisine try
a cooking class when in Danang. Many hotels in Danang offer Vietnamese cuisine
classes such as the Furama
Resort Danang on ChinaBeach.
Golf in Da Nang
Danang - Vietnam has become a golfer's destination. With
three world-class golf courses, Danang Golf Club and The Montgomerie Links and
Laguna Lang Co GC, Danang is able to cater to the world-class golfer.
Danang Golf Tour is the local golf tour operator
providing fully customised golfing, travel and accommodation services to Central Vietnam Golf destinations:
Danang, Hue,
Hoian and Dalat.
As
an local golf operator based in Hoian - Vietnam, we are uniquely positioned
to assemble every aspect of your visit. Custom tours requiring golf,
accommodation, transportation & optional tours are our specialty. Danang Golf Tour will ensure your
golfing adventure in the area is an enjoyable and memorable experience.
Ha Long Bay Activities
What to Do in Ha LongBay
HalongBay is a paradise for
photographers as each of its rock formations is unique to itself. Tour
companies always offer tourists plenty of choices of where to stop and each
stop is a guaranteed memorable one.
Some of the most popular
activities in HalongBay are swimming,
fishing, snorkeling and kayaking, trekking and cycling. It is truly a paradise
for active visitors.
Sleeping On
Board
Though many new hotels are
being built on the bigger islands, experienced visitors recommend newcomers to
spend a night on board a boat. This way, you will be able to admire the bay
closer up and in quite a special way. The boats in question range from
diesel-powered junks as well as higher standard cruisers. The junks are less
expensive compared to cruisers but keep in mind that they are usually small and
do rock a lot. Pick the boat/accommodation that suits your style and budget,
then try it for at least one night.
Swimming and
Sunbathing in Ha LongBay
HalongBay has thousands of
limestone islands and grottoes. There are countless places to stop for
swimming, fishing, snorkeling and kayaking when cruising around. On famous Cat
Ba Island there are a few well-known beaches to relax on, some with easily
remembered names like Cat Co One, Cat Co Two and Cat Co Three. The stunning
scenery of sheer mountain cliffs rising out of the bay makes an ideal backdrop
to water-based activities.
Trekking is a good option
on Cat Ba Island. There are lots of rare animals to see, including green and
hawksbill turtles and golden-headed langur monkeys. Visitors can choose from
various trek routes; either way it's an impressive experience.
Another good way to enjoy a visit to Cat Ba is to cycle
around the local villages.
Dalat Activities
What to Do in Dalat
Dalat is a south central
Vietnamese town that offers travelers good weather, great food, fun shopping
and plenty of things to do. In the city you’ll find many interesting French
colonial buildings and deeper inland and in the mountains there are waterfalls,
hill-tribe villages while farms and rice paddies can be seen everywhere.
Dalat is never short of
fun outdoor opportunities such as golf, horseback riding, kids-friendly
horse-and-cart rides, hiking, paragliding, and cooking classes. Those who come
here just for a few days break from big hectic cities like Ho
Chi Minh City (Saigon) and Hanoi,
will definitely enjoy it here. Its mild and pleasant temperatures alone
(usually between 17°C to 25°C even in summertime) make Dalat worth a visit and
as a result it’s a refreshing destination to escape the constant heat from lower-lying
regions.
This doesn’t mean Dalat is
a quiet town though; it is a very popular holiday destination for local
tourists but the attractions are spread out over vast rolling green hilly
areas, meaning you won’t feel crowded out most of the time.
Adventure
Sports
Fans of adventure
activities will love it here. Dalat and the nearby area is where visitors can
enjoy great outdoor sports such as whitewater rafting, whitewater kayaking,
rock climbing, paragliding and canyoning. There are a few companies in Dalat
offering good tour packages including Phat Tire Ventures. This company seems to
have the most experience as well as a great team as their guides go through an
intensive 30-hour Wilderness First Aid course designed by the Wilderness
Medicine Institute and the National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS). They also
are sent to a refresher first aid course each year through Family Medical
Practice in Ho Chi Minh City.
That says a lot.
Opening Hours: All year round Location: Dalat and around Cable Car
The cable car ride from/to
Truc
Lam Monastery Complex is a popular way to see Dalat from above. Along the
two and a half kilometre ride, you can enjoy the attractive scenery such as
pine tree-covered hills, rivers, rice plantations and the sea. Truc Lam
Monastery Complex is rather new and already famous for its beautiful pagoda.
Avoid national and school holidays as well as weekends if you want to avoid the
crowds. Truc Lam is a lovely place for picnicking.
Opening Hours: Truc Lam Monastery open
daily from 06:00-18:00 but the cable car station closes at 17:00 Location: Located on a
hillside very close to the city centre and just above Tuyen Lam Lake
Easy Riders Motorbike
Tour
As soon as you arrive in
town, the Easy Riders will somehow find you. This is a group of local men who
offer to take tourists sightseeing around Dalat’s countryside on vintage
Russian motorbikes and newer Hondas. The Easy Riders cleverly select many
remarkable spots (mostly off the tourist track) including pine forests, local
farms (rice fields are everywhere, as are fruit plantations and vegetable
farms), silk factories, waterfalls, minority villages and some of the city’s
major landmarks such as the Crazy
House.
Easy Riders is not a
business company therefore they don’t have an office but you can easily get a
hold of them along Troung Cong Dinh Street, usually in front of the popular
Hangout Café. They’re not professional tour guides (and some have limited
English) but with their enthusiasm and deep knowledge of the area it makes for
an interesting way to see the real Vietnam (and in a laid-back way).
Opening Hours: Daily Location: Around town
Elephant and
Ostriches Ride
Prenn Waterfall is not
just another pretty site to visit in Dalat. It offers many interesting
activities including elephant and ostrich rides. The humble elephant will take
you through unspoiled nature such as small creeks, lakes and green forests. For
those who really want to try something different, here is your chance.
Ostriches might not be a common transport option but here in Dalat you can ride
on one. The idea of climbing up on an ostrich’s back can be quite a challenge
but once you manage to get up there and start the ride it is one of the most
interesting experiences as these well-trained animals are used to human and are
amazingly friendly.
Opening Hours: All year round Location: Prenn
Waterfall
Hiking in
Dalat
Leisurely nature walks
along forest trails (or many more adventurer treks for the experience hikers)
are another way to discover this area’s beauty. Dalat is full of many natural
sights where interesting animals and birds can be found. Some treks may lead
you to caves, waterfalls, lakes, volcanic peaks, minority villages, suspension
bridges and farmlands too.
LangBianMountain (about 12km north of
downtown Dalat) is one of the most popular locations for a day or a half-day
out hiking. It has five peaks that range from 2100m to 2400m in altitude. Other
hot locations for hiking include Ba Be Lake National Park, PongourFalls
and the Lake of Sorrows.
To go hiking in Dalat is
quite easy and simple and you don’t really require a tour company; many people
just rent a bike and use a local map and off they go. Warm clothing, a
raincoat, sunblock lotion and mosquito repellent are usually needed.
Opening Hours: Daily Location: Around town
Horseback
Riding
Another way to enjoy
Dalat’s beautiful countryside is on horseback. Visitors can hire horses by the
hour and for about twice the amount they can also take a horse-drawn carriage
for a pleasure ride around Dalat
Flower Garden and the Lake
of Sorrow too.
Opening Hours: Daily Location: Dalat Flower
Garden and the Lake
of Sorrow
Paddle Boats
If you travel as a family
with young kids, don’t forget to rent a huge swan paddleboat and take a spin
around Dalat lakes such as the manmade lake inside Valley
of Love, the Lake
of Sighs (Ho Than Tho) and another
popular artificial lake, XuanHuongLake.
It can be great fun for a few hours at least.
Opening Hours: Daily Location: The Lake of
Sighs is located on Ho Xuan Huong
Road about six kilometres northeast of town. XuanHuongLake is in city centre.
The Valley of Love is just five kilometres north of
the city centre. TRY A TOUR TO DISCOVER VIETNAM ATTRACTION HERE!
Toboggan
Rides
If you want a bit of
thrill in Dalat and without having to work out too much, check out the toboggan
ride at Datanla
Waterfall. With more than 40 cars (each with two seats), the roller coaster
features medium-sized rapids and you can slide down the 800m long track with
speeds of up to 40kmh. The toboggans are user friendly design and according to
the operator the safety system fully meets European standards.
Opening Hours: Daily Location: Datanla
Waterfall
Golf in Dalat
Golf courses in Vietnam offer
extra facilities such as bars, restaurants, and pro shops where rental clubs
are available. Some courses offer also other recreational choices, with tennis
courts, swimming pools and children’s playgrounds.
In general it is cheaper
to play golf here in the afternoon from around 14:30 onward and weekdays are
less busy and cheaper than weekends.
DalatPalace Golf Club
The 18-hole Dalat Palace
Golf Club first opened in 1922 (originally as a 9-hole course) and later was
abandoned until 1993 when it underwent restoration and has since opened to the
public. It is now considered the best golf course in the country with lakes,
pine trees, valleys and beautiful flower gardens. Famous golfers who have
played there beside regulars such as Bao Dai (the last emperor of Vietnam) were
Masa Nishijima (the author of the award-winning book Analysis of a Golf Course.
Nishijima was also the sixth person to play all the courses listed on GOLF
Magazine’s World Top 100 List) and Billy Casper (American golf legend who won
27 tournaments on the PGA Tour).
Opening Hours: All year round Location: Dalat Palace
Golf Club situated on the western side of XuanHuongLake, Dalat
Hanoi Activities
What to Do in Hanoi
With a city plan almost
tailor-made for exploring, Hanoi
will keep you busy for days on end. From the main thoroughfares to the maze of
back alleys there's something to see around every corner.
There are several walking
tours to join and they seem like a good idea as only those with a working
knowledge of Hanoi's
layout should venture out alone.
For the athletically
minded fitness clubs abound along with Golf and Hash House Harriers running
opportunities.
Hanoi City Tour
Throughout its
thousand-year history, Hanoi still preserves many ancient architectural works
including the Old Quarter and over 600 pagodas and
temples, as well as countless fascinating sites and attractions.
Water puppetry, a unique variation on the
ancient Asia puppet tradition, is a Vietnamese
tradition dating back to the 11th century. Supported by a large rod placed
under the water and manipulated by experienced puppeteers, the wooden puppets
appear to be dancing over the water, telling folk tales. It’s entertaining and
suitable for all audiences.
n the left bank of Hong river and about 10 km from Hanoi in East (in Gia Lam District, Hanoi), there name
of Bat Trang. Up to present, Ba Trang Pottery Village has still been operating
and developing ceaselessly. According to a legend, the village was first called
as Bach Tho Phuong before its name was changed into Bat Trang Phuong. People in
the village remember in their memory that the place of their origin Bo Bat
Village (or called BachBatVillage),
Yen Mo District, NinhBinhProvince.
In recent years, the village has enjoyed the revival of
its craft due to a surging demand for silk in both the domestic and foreign
markets.
It has long been a universal byword of luxury, often worn
by the world’s richest, most powerful citizens, nowadays, the fine and lustrous
cloth that originally comes from the cocoon of the silkworm is much more
affordable for "ordinary" folk.
Silk is currently enjoying a fashion renaissance,
particularly as its many varieties can be made into a wide range of designs
suitable for all facets of modern life.
Hue Activities
What to Do in Hue
Hue and its people are
relaxed and it's easy to unwind here. This makes it one of the most attractive
destinations in the country.
Also it is known as a
university town as it is home to both Hue College of Fine Art and Hue National school of Music and Dramatic Arts. The two were
amalgamated in 1986 to form the Hue College of Arts.
Hue is perfect for nature
lovers and those enthusiastic about art and history.
Art Galleries in Hue
Art lovers around the
world have long been interested in Vietnamese paintings. When in Hue, check out the two main art galleries; NewSpaceArtGallery
on 7 Pham Ngu Lao St.
and its second branch on 28 Nguyen
Tri Phuong St. , both owned by painters and twins
Le Ngoc Thanh and Le Duc Hai.
Another good gallery in Hue is Boi Tran Arts
Gallery on 85 Tran Hung Dao St.,
Hue city
Boat Cruise on PerfumeRiver
Travel by Dragon Boat on
the romantically named PerfumeRiver to Thien Mu Pagoda
standing on the riverbank with its seven-storey tower. The boat rides also
offer lunch prepared and cooked on board, making it a popular excursion among
visitors. The dinner cruise and night boat trips usually feature live Hue folk music.
Cooking Classes
Another fun and creative
way to spend time in Hue
is to join a cooking class. Vietnamese food is very delicious and healthy and
on top of that Hue is famous for its royal
cuisine as the city once served as the capital of Vietnam. There are many dishes that
make Hue’s
cuisine outstanding.
For cooking classes, try Y
Thao Garden House on 3 Thach Han
street. Missy Roo Bar & Restaurant on 62
Nguyen Tri Phuong. and the Pilgrimage Village Hotel on 130 Minh Mang Street
The teachers will take you
to buy fresh ingredients from nearby local markets before heading back to class
Nha Trang Activities
What to Do in Nha Trang
One of the first things
people do on arrival in Nha Trang is to head straight down to the beach. And
what a beach! Facing east out over the EastSea
and palm lined, it's definitely a place to hang out.
Because of this there are
a lot of water-based activities such as diving and snorkeling as well as
sailing when the weather permits. A fast-growing destination, you can be sure
that Nha Trang will change from year to year.
Boat Cruises
Nha Trang is flanked by 71
islands, and the sea at most times of year, is crystal clear so the plethora of
boat trips daily heading out plus the easy availability of booking agents is
self-explanatory. Trips are not expensive and are more often than not party
cruises but with a fair amount of snorkeling and fishing fitted in between the
drinking. Check whether lunch is included or not and compare deals before
booking.
If you are not an
extremely early riser then charter a boat the day before. Most hotels can
handle the booking but the place to book in person is the Cau Da Dock.
Bicycle and
Rafting Tour
Biking trips are the
best way to enjoy the beautiful countryside of south central coastal area of Vietnam. Some
organized tours take you through rural areas, visiting some historic sites
along the way. You can also combine biking with rafting down the CaiRiver.
Tours usually
includes light lunches. Biking and Rafting Tour Address: 1/12 Tran
Quang Khai Shamrock Irish Pub,
organizes a variety of rafting trips catered for each age group. Address: 56a Nguyen Thien Thua
Boat Cruises
Nha Trang is flanked by 71
islands, and the sea at most times of year, is crystal clear so the plethora of
boat trips daily heading out plus the easy availability of booking agents is
self-explanatory. Trips are not expensive and are more often than not party
cruises but with a fair amount of snorkeling and fishing fitted in between the
drinking. Check whether lunch is included or not and compare deals before
booking.
If you are not an
extremely early riser then charter a boat the day before. Most hotels can
handle the booking but the place to book in person is the Cau Da Dock.
Bicycle and Rafting Tour
Biking trips are the
best way to enjoy the beautiful countryside of south central coastal area of Vietnam. Some
organized tours take you through rural areas, visiting some historic sites
along the way. You can also combine biking with rafting down the CaiRiver.
Tours usually
includes light lunches. Biking and Rafting Tour Address: 1/12 Tran
Quang Khai Shamrock Irish Pub,
organizes a variety of rafting trips catered for each age group. Address: 56a Nguyen Thien Thuat
Diving &
Snorkeling
Nha Trang has 10 or so
dive shops, so this is a 'buyer-friendly' market! Students looking for
certification will find that the value for money here is superb, with PADI
open-water courses available with full equipment rental. A two-dive boat trip
with equipment rental and snacks can be had for a very reasonable sum. As with
everywhere in Asia, check what you are getting
for your money and make sure you speak to the Instructor who'll be teaching
you, not just a 'salesman'. Diving, and especially training, should not be
chosen by price alone. TRY A TOUR TO DISCOVER VIETNAM HERE!
Half-Day
Bike Tour of Nha Trang
Check out Nha Trang's
attractions by bike. The Hon Chong Promontory, the Po Nagar Cham, Long Son
Pagoda, with its huge seated Buddha, and Bao Dai's Villas. All these sights are
within a hired bike ride away from each other.
Hot
Air Balloon Ride
Established in HonTamIsland in 2010, the new
centre for hot air balloon rides now operates from near Pham Van Dong Street.
The hot air balloon has solid handrails and a protective net. The ride takes
you to a height of 150 metres, and includes a 15-20 stop so you can enjoy the
panoramic bird’s eye view of the city and take those hard-to-get aerial
photographs of the bay and the sea beyond.
Address: Pham Van Dong Street, or inquire at
travel agents.
Golf
Golfers will not feel left out in Nha Trang, where a few
professionally designed 18-hold golf courses are to be found at: Vinpearl
Complex, in HonTreIsland,
just across the bay
of Nha Trang;
Mud Baths
The mud baths at Thap Ba
natural hot springs
are a healthy and fun way to spend a few hours. The best time of day to go is
between 12:00 and 15:00 when they are less crowded. You will be offered single
or shared mud baths and obviously the single ones are more expensive yet the
communal tubs are more fun. Shower off in mineral-rich water afterwards or let
the mud dry on you first for additional benefits before showering.
Nha Trang
Paintball
Nha Trang Paintball runs
two paintball excursions a day. You will be given a gun, protective gear and
equipment. An instructor is on hand to divide teams to compete for the matches.
Booking is required. Bring towels and a change of clothes.
Address: 117 Nguyen Thien Thuat
Sailing
The same applies for
renting out a yacht except this is a calmer (albeit more expensive) way to go
out island hopping from May to September.
Dividing the cost among a group is a good way to go.
Mui Ne & Phan Thiet
Activities
What to Do in Mui Ne &
Phan Thiet
For a country with a
tourism track record that goes back only 20 years or so, Vietnam is full of
delightful surprises, with thing to see or do for just about everyone.
Whether you want to be far
from the crowds or you want to get right into the action with people from all
over the world, Vietnam
can meet your demands. And if you crave outdoor action and sports, then
Mui Ne and Phan Thiet have everything you need.
Kiteboarding & Windsurfing in Mui Ne
Beach
Mui Ne beach is great for kiteboarding and wind
surfing. Pioneers in the two sports discovered the beach about ten years ago
and for a long time the area was one of Vietnam’s best-kept secrets. Now
the secret is out.
Clearly one of Phu Quoc's main activities, if you can call it that, is to lay on the beach and sunbathe, perhaps taking the odd swim now and then. But for many there's only so much 'doing nothing' you can do.
Looking beyond the beach, nature lovers have lots to explore around the center of Phu Quoc, where there’s verdant rainforest with the SuoiBanRiver running through it, waterfalls and natural springs.
The natural park is definitely worth a look.
Explore the Island on a Motorbike
Travelling around the
island is one of most fun things you can do, but beware – many of the island's
roads are not paved. Sturdy shoes and long trousers are a prerequisite.
Scooters are easily rented from most hotels. In Duong Dong town you can see
(and smell!) the fish sauce factories. Nearby is Suoi Tranh waterfall which is
about 4m high (sometimes from January to May water can be a little lacking).
Checkout Bai Sao on the
east coast, reputed to be the best beach on the island, think white sand and
turquoise sea. Find a deserted spot on long
beach to stop for a swim. In the northern part of the
island the terrain gets more mountainous, and the roads a little more bumpy.
Lots of isolated beaches are waiting to be found, along the way up to DaiBeach
and beyond, many small fishing villages are passed.
National Park
The national park, created
in 2001 by the Vietnamese government, covers more than half the island. Thick
foliage covers the mountainous slopes that are home to langurs, macaques,
loris', otters, hornbills and fruit bats.
The best way to visit the
park is to book a tour with your hotel as most of the trails are not signposted
very well. It's not a good idea to visit the park when it's been raining
heavily as you will get very muddy.
Scuba Diving
There are some dive sites
around the north of Phu Quoc but most dive trips head to the pristine reefs of
both hard and soft corals that teem with colourful fish around An Thoi.
Nice reasonably shallow
dive sites are numerous but don't expect to any manta rays or large pelagic
fish. Dive centres can be found easily around the island.
Snorkelling
Phu Quoc's crystal clear
waters offer some of Vietnam's
best snorkelling. Reefs fringe many of the islands and islets that make up the
archipelago and snorkelling tours run daily during high season and will show
you underwater habitats full of life and colour.
The An Thoi archipelago
consists of 12 islands located due south of Phu Quoc with pristine scenenery
and an abundance of colourful reef fish, daytrips here often include a spot of
fishing.
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