Dam Da-Hoa Binh is a new attraction to tourists in Vietnam tourism

While such names as Hoa Tien cave, Tien Phi cave, Mai Chau valley, Hoa Binh hydroelectric dam are tourists highlights, Dam Da seem to be an obscure historical site. Dam Da is located in Phu Lao commune, Lac Thuy district, Hoa Binh province.

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Dam Da

Dam Da is actually a vast complex of temples, pagodas and caves in the district, including Trinh temple (also known as Quan Trinh), Mau temple, Tien pagoda and etc. The temples and pagodas here are closely related to legendary characters in Viet Nam’s history such as Au Co mother, Lac Long Quan Father, Hoang Bay Mandarin and Tam Toa Thanh Mau. In Tien cave and Ho cave (other name: Nguoi xua cave), archaeologists have found traces of ancient people, contributing a great deal to the historical study. Now Tien pagoda has received national recognition as a historical cultural site and it is attracting many visitors to come here for sightseeing or worship.

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Apart from historical and cultural values, Dam Da is marked by its natural spectacular caves. There are Tam Toa cave, Thuy Tien cave, Cung Tien cave, Hoang Muoi cave, Co Chin cave etc. One will find it extremely difficult to list all the caves here. When coming into each cave, tourists will be totally taken by surprised at the gigantic and illusory stalagmites and stalactites.

Dam Da is most crowded in spring, particularly from January to March when there is Chua Tien festival. It is also convenient for tourists to visit Huong pagoda nearby – a famous attraction in My Duc district, Ha Noi.

The National Museum of Vietnamese History is housed

Vietnam History Museum lies silently on the back of the renowned Hanoi Opera House, at No.1 Pham Ngu Lao Street, Hoan Kiem District. This museum was built in 1926 under the name Louis Finot Museum by the Ecole Française d’Extreme-Orient and finish in 1932. After being taken over by Vietnamese Government, the museum changed its official name to Museum of Vietnam History and opened to the public on 3 September 1958.

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Vietnam History Museum

Although the museum is only 2,000m2 in total, it provides a great overview of the history of Vietnam thanks to chronological sequence. The site has two floors, among which Vietnam’s history is divided into 10 different sections, from the prehistoric era to the day when President Ho Chi Minh read out the Declaration of Independence giving birth to Vietnam.

In here preserving more than 7,000 precious objects, some aged thousand years old which represent the cultural diversity of the country. Historic objects exhibited here are not only Vietnamese origin but also consists other culture like China, Japan, Thailand and especially Champ with more than 50 stone-engraved back to 7th-13th centuries.

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Visitors may have to make full use of imagination as well as sensitivity to understand artifacts and relics exhibited in the museum. This is good chance for you to test your ability to perceive art because the descriptions of the objects are quite sparse that most of them are in Vietnamese and only indentify what the object is rather than what is its meaning.

Cao Pha valley, monsoon season, Mu Cang Chai

Here it’s the season of rainbows and raindrops and a time when tourists flock to the region to enjoy the picturesque terraced rice paddies at their best, overflowing with water.

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The season is commonly referred to by local people as ‘the season of falling water’ referring to the torrential downpours that saturate the paddies sending the water cascading down the mountainside.

Vietnam’s highway 32 is infamous for its many attractive tourist destinations and exotic beauty stretching from Tu Le to Mu Cang Chai in Yen Bai province.

Let’s enjoy a few images of the Cao Pha Valley in Mu Cang Chai District, Yen Bai Province this rainy season.

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Phan Thiet is in one of the driest areas of Vietnam

Phan Thiet is a beach city, it is the cultural and economic center of Binh Thuan Province. With the famous attractions such as Mui Ne, Mui Ke Ga, Phan Thiet is the ideal destination for the travelers who like the beach.

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Beside that, in the Phan Thiet city there is also the western town with the special culture to be designed by the western style. Travel to Phan Thiet, the tourist also should not miss another famous attractions in this beach city such as Lau Ong Hoang, Mong Cam House, Mui Ne sand-hill, Mui Ne Floating Village, Cham Tower, Ta Cu Pagoda….

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It takes around 150km approximate 4hours by bus from Ho Chi Minh City to Phan Thiet. It is easy and convenient for the tourist to catch a bus, taxi or rent a car to drive from Saigon to Phan Thiet. Arrival to Phan Thiet, you are not only visited the famous sightseeing above but also you are also relaxed and took part in a lot of the different activities on one of the most beautiful beach of Vietnam is Mui Ne, it takes around 20km from the center of Phan Thiet City to Mui Ne Beach so that if you arrive to Phan Thiet, you must go to Mui Ne to feel really how beautiful about a beach city is.

Kontum is one of the province belong to in the highland area of Vietnam, it is far away around 600km from Ho Chi Minh City, there is not any airport in this city so that catching a short flight from Ho Chi Minh City to Pleiku, then catch a bus from Pleiku to Kontum city is the best way, it takes around 50km from Pleiku airport to Kontum city.

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The best time to visit Kontum is in December because this month is the dry season but it is not hot in this area, this is the time for the special flowers to open, the rice fields everywhere and there are many traditional festivals of the many different ethnic groups to be organized in Kontum. Specially, while you visit to Kontum, you should not miss to try the coffee in this area because this is one of the most delicious drink at here.

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There are many famous sightseeing that are situated just around Kontum city that you must see on your trip at here such as Kontum Wooden Church, this special church has made by the wooden since 1913 and it is located in the center of Kontum. The next destination is Kon K’lor Communal House, this is the biggest cultural communal house in the highland area of Vietnam. The tourists also should not miss to visit another famous places in this highland city such as the Kon K’lor drawbridge, Kontum Park, Kontum Prison, Ngoc Linh Mountain….

Sapa is the prominent holiday destination

Sapa is one the most beautiful remote sites in the north of Vietnam, it is beautiful not only about its mighty mountainous landscape but also this place is encompassed a lot of attractions as well as the local villages with the friendly, honest and kind local people. Visit this place you will feel the difference from the bustling cities because this place has the fresh air with the mighty mountains. Although you must trek into the villages but you will not feel tired and hot because how comfortable the weather it is.

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Explore Sapa, you also should not miss the attractions such as Y Linh Ho village, Ta Van village, Giang Ta Chai village, Ban Ho Village, and specially is Bac Ha market which is just organized in Sunday every week only, Coc Ly Tuesday market…..beside you trek in these places to explore the wonderful sightseeing, you will meet the local people who are very poor but very friendly. You will never forget the local people and families at here.

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Although Sapa is far from Hanoi, but now it is very easy, fast and flexible for you to choose the different vehicles to arrive here, you could take a night train or bus from Hanoi to Lao Cai, then catch bus from Lao Cai to Sapa by around 30km.

At here, there are a lot of the special and delicious food and dishes of the locals such as Thang Co, grill egg….there are some dishes which I believe that it is your first time to see it, but please try it to feel really about Sapa via these special dishes.

Vinh Long takes effort to become an attractive destination

Vinh Long is one of the province to be belonged to the Mekong Delta. This province is the most famous with Cai Be Floating Market and another main sites such as Long Thanh Communal House, Vinh Trang farm, Tien Chau Pagoda…

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Taking a boat trip in Vinh Long is the best suggestion, because almost of people at here transfer by boat to go around their villages, exploring Vinh Long you will have a chance to row a small wooden boat on the small canals in the river by your own at here, this activity is very very fun and special and you should not miss this activity on your trip in Vinh Long, Vietnam.

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The local people in Vinh Long do their business mostly by boat in the river, and the Cai Be Floating market is the biggest place where the local people arrive to selling their goods’ produces, this market is organized early in the morning from 6am to 10am everyday, at this time this market is very crowed and in a rush because almost tourists and the local come here to visit and do business.

It takes around three hours by bus from Ho Chi Minh City to Vinh Long, it is very easy for tourist to transfer from Saigon to Vinh Long, so if you stay in Saigon you should not miss to visit Vinh Long with Cai Be Floating market and another sites at here.

Khau Vai Love Market – Ha Giang Vietnam, Travel Guide

The Khau Vai love market, in Ha Giang province, takes place only once a year when the moon completely disappears for the last time in March. According to legend, the market dates back to the unrequited love between a young boy and girl. They fell deeply in love but as they were from different tribes, were forbidden to be together.

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A bitter quarrel erupted between the two families and the couple were forced to end the affair. Unable to bear the thought of never seeing each other again, they decided to meet on the same day every year in Khau Vai, vietnam. Today, the site of the forbidden rendezvous is home to the love market.

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The market is not just for a hopeful marriage. It is also the social event of the year, where old friends meet up and new ones are made. No matter their age, everyone looks forward to the chance to chat over sticky rice, grilled cassava or rice dumplings. The celebrations begin the evening before, with a night of song and dance and performances expressing fervent wishes for eternal love; romantic melodies fill the night air.

Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum was the first place we stopped.

On the west side of Ba Dinh Square, a heavy grey structure, built on stone quarried from Marble Mountain near Danang, is Ho Chi Minh’s last resting place.

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An unassuming man, who notably shunned the comforts and trapping of power, Ho Chi Minh had specially requested that he be cremated and his ashes scattered in Northern, Central, and Southern Vietnam, symbolizing the national unity to which he had devoted his life. In keeping with these beliefs, he had also vetoed the construction of a small museum on his life at his home village near Kim Lien, Nam Dan District, Nghe An Province, arguing that the funds could be better employed in building a school. However, after Ho Chi Minh’s death in 1969, the leading members of the Vietnamese politburo altered his final testament by deleting his request to be cremated. Instead, with the help of Soviet specialists, the leader was embalmed and installed at the Ho chi minh mausoleum hours

The building’s exterior is considered by many as both ponderous and unappealing. Astonishingly, the architects apparently intended the structure to represent a lotus flower, though it is difficult to understand how.

Inside, the mood is somber and decidedly respectful, if somewhat overpowering at times. Ho Chi Minh, dressed in simple clothing favored by Chinese nationalist leader Sun Yat Sen, lies in a chilled, dim room, his crossed hands resting on dark cloth covers.

The mausoleum is an important pilgrimage site for many Vietnamese, especially from the north, and should be approached with respect and reverence. Any kind of noisy behavior, loitering, and inappropriate clothing is strictly forbidden.

Ha Long Bay is a popular travel destination

According to legend, an immense dragon descended to Ha Long Bay (meaning ‘’Descending Dragon’’) millions years ago, dropping numerous eggs. These eggs hatched forming thousands of rocks and islands. The tail of the dragon extended far to the sea, forming Bach Long Vi (meaning ‘’The Tail of the White Dragon’’). As she returned to heaven, she said good bye to her offspring at the Bai Tu Long Bay (means ‘’The dragon parts the offsprings’’).

Now the Park is part of Van Don district, 20 km distant from Cai Rong town.

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Geography:

The exactly geographical position is in a rectangle between 20°55'05" and 21°15'10" North latitude, 107°30'10" and 107°46'20" East longitude. It administratively consists of 3 communes: Minh Châu, Vạn Yên and Hạ Long of Van Don district.

It is composed from a terrestrial area of 61.25 km2 and an aquatic area of 96.58 km2. The zone includes over 40 islands and rocks. They form three groups : Ba Mùn group, Trà Ngọ group and Sậu group. The aquatic area includes the sea zone between the islands and the narrows between the park area and the land area which has boundary of 1 km offshore. The National Park also includes a buffer zone of approximately 165.34 km2, which is located in a larger area including 5 communes : Minh Châu, Vạn Yên, Bản Sen, Quan Lạn and Hạ Long. The total population of the core zone and the buffer zone is around 24.000.

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Ecosystem:

The National Park includes five kinds of ecosystems: Rain Broad Leaves Forest, Limestone Forest, Littoral Forest, Coral Area and Shallow Water Area.

The Rain Broad Leaves Forest area is mostly secondary forest. The average canopy covers 50 – 90%. 494 species belonging to 337 genera of 117 families have been found in this type of ecosystem. Some endangered species include Cycas balansae, Radix marindae officinalis, Ardisia sylvestris Pitard, Smilax glabra, Leopard cat (Prionailurus bengalensis), Indian muntjac (Muntiacus muntjak), Small Indian civet (Viverricula indica), Large Indian civet (Viverra zibetha).

The Limestone Forest area is forest growing in poor soil with particles of limestone on rocky islands. Some rare animals found there include Serow, Rhesus macaque.

The Littoral Ecosystem in the park is small areas surrounding the islands. It has a rather large tidal variation and is biologically highly diverse with 251 species including 19 species of mangrove, 17 species of seaweed, 29 species of marine worms, 149 species of molluscs, 22 species of crustaceans and 15 species of echinoderms.

The Coral area is located from the water depths of low tide to 10m deep. 409 species have been found including groupers, sea bass, crabs, snails, abalone and seaweeds.

The shallow water area covers a large area around the islands, beyond the tidal area and extending from 1 km to around 4 km. These areas have not been profoundly researched but 539 species have been found.

Sam Son Beach - famous resorts throughout history of not only in Vietnam

Driving 16km from the center of Thanh Hoa and 170 km from Hanoi, tourists in Vietnam travel will reach Sam Son Beach in Thanh Hoa province. This place has been a famous spot for Vietnam tourism since the beginning of the previous century, when the French begun building facilities there to serve themselves and the courts of the Nguyen regime. In addition to the gifts that the nature presents, Sam Son also has many attractions for the travelers to explore.

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Sam Son Beach- One amongst the Most Beautiful in Northern Vietnam

This is a long and beautiful beach reaching more than 16km in length. Visitors will have some unforgettable moments when they wallow in the cool blue sea, listen to songs of the wave and the wind, and take a nap on the sunlight sandbanks or build sand castles. Also, this is a good place to try various local seafood varieties such as shrimps, crabs, fishes and also to bring back home some nice souvenirs. The very flat and gentle sandbank, combined with the clean and blue water makes the scenery of Sam Son beach magnificent and attractive.

Sam Son attracts a larger number of tourists in Vietnam travel in summer vacation annually

Besides the beaches, Sam Son also has another fascinating destination with many natural attractions and historical relics: the Truong Le Mountain range. The part that is contiguous to the sea is called Co Giai Islet. On top of this islet, there is a small pagoda named “Doc Cuoc”, which means “One Leg”. The pagoda is the place for the local people to recall the epic legend of a giant that manages to slay a sea monster and to guard the sea in the past. Also, there is a special rock name “Trong Mai”, formed with two huge boulders on a flat rock. There is a story that these rocks represent a pair of husband and wife, who love each other passionately even when both have been transformed into birds.

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Beautiful Landscape of Truong Le Mountain Range

If you are a lover of beach travel and making tours to Vietnam, Sam Son beach that is in top of beautiful beaches in the North Vietnam should be listed on your trip.

Nha Trang owns one of the most charming destinations in the world with sandy beaches

With over 250 days of sunshine each year, some of the best hotels in Vietnam, miles of sandy beach and an ever increasing range of sports facilities, entertainment venues and nightlife, Nha Trang has plenty to offer all visitors.

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Beach: 

The 6km-long (4 miles) sandy beach, fringed by palms and casuarina trees, is one of the best in Vietnam with clean water, making it a perfect place for swimming. Visitors can rent a sunbed and vendors regularly pass by selling soft drinks and fresh fruit. The offshore islands and coral reefs are ideal for snorkelling and scuba-diving and watersports centres rent out windsurfers.

Beyond the beach: 

Pride of place are the Po Nagar Cham Towers (in the north of Nha Trang on Cu Lao overlooking the Cai River), built by the Cham people between the 7th and 12th centuries. They are still a place of worship, and Vietnamese come here to pray and make offerings. A gleaming white Buddha, visible from all over Nha Trang, sits on top of a hill reached from the Long Son Pagoda below. To the south of the town, on a promontory jutting out into the South China Sea, are Bao Dai's villas (just north of Cau Da Dock), a holiday retreat for Bao Dai, the last emperor of Vietnam, where you can explore the grounds. Once you have had enough culture, escape by boat to the islands for some cooling swimming and snorkelling in pristine seas or relax in the hot waters and mud baths of Thap Ba Hot Spring.

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Family fun: 

If the kids find the beach too tame for them the Phu Dong Water and Amusement Park on Tran Phu Street can provide hours of entertainment. There is even a night market for souvenir shopping and food stalls to end the day with a delicious meal of fresh seafood and local specialities. Children will love the opportunity to see the colourful marine life in the South China Sea on a glass bottomed boat tour. For a thrill and a day of fun take the kids on the cable car across the sea to the Vinpearl Resort on Hon Tre Island where there is an amusement park, food village and shopping. Take a boat excursion to the aptly named Monkey Island and feed the resident troop of monkeys.

Exploring further:

Two hours from Nha Trang is Whale Island, a resort where you can really get away from it all. Stay in beach bungalows and explore the unspoilt island with its impressive array of birdlife or you can sail, canoe, windsurf or go diving and see colourful fishes and coral and even whales and whale sharks on their annual visit from April to July. Explore the highland areas with an overnight excursion to Buon Ma Thuot passing rubber and coffee plantations en route and stopping at a waterfall for a refreshing swim. In Buon Ma Thuot visit an ethnic minority village and ride an elephant.

Hue is the historical heart of Vietnam

The Imperial City of Hue, Vietnam’s ancient Imperial Capital, lies at the mouth of the Perfume River. It, too, has been disfigured by warfare, first by French colonists who sacked and burnt the Imperial Library as a reprisal for resistance, and then by a massive US barrage during 1968 Tet Offensive that destroyed much of Hue’s ancient Citadel. Nevertheless, the restoration work, and Hue’s status as a World Heritage Site, makes it an important destination for visitors. Hue has a small airport with regular flights from Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City. At present, the few good hotels in Hue City are often fully-booked for most of the peak season. However, several new hotels of a higher standard are under construction, so four and five star accommodation should be easier to come by in 2004

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The War Zone

This area saw most of the major confrontations during the American War. North of Hue is the Demilitarised Zone, or DMZ, and Quang Tri Province where much of the fighting occurred. The border between the communist North and the US-supported South was the Ben Hai River, not the ‘17th Parallel’ as is popularly believed. The area still bears the scars of the massive bombardments that took place.

The few remains of the many camps and combat bases, the barren ground pockmarked with craters, and the tens of thousands of graves in the National Cemetery, a fraction of the million North Vietnamese soldiers who died in the conflict, are solemn reminders of war. Nearby is the Vinh Moc tunnel complex, less extensive, but more authentic, than the more famous Cu Chi tunnels near Ho Chi Minh City.

Bach Ma National Park

Forty kilometres south of Hue is Bach Ma National Park, one of Vietnam’s best-managed nature reserves. The park encompasses a mountain area that was once a colonial hill-station. As well as good nature trails, waterfalls, lush vegetation and opportunities for trekking, Bach Ma has spectacular views over the coast.

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Lang Co Beach

Twenty-five kilometres further south, Lang Co Beach is a long stretch of white sand with a pretty village and an attractive lagoon at the southern end. Halfway along is recently built resort hotel on the beach, a short distance from Highway 1. Its proximity to Hue makes it an alternative to accommodation in the city itself.

The Hai Van Pass

The mountains straddled by the Hai Van Pass are generally regarded as an unofficial demarcation line between the north and the south of Vietnam. It has spectacular views from its highest point, a good reason for avoiding the new tunnel cut through the granite peaks.

Qui Nhon city is well known for its beautiful surroundings

Qui Nhon is the little visited provincial capital of Binh Dinh province. Although it was recognised as a city as late as 1898, its history reaches back to the days of the Kingdom of Champa. In the 11th century, the Cham people migrated southwards and moved their capital city to a location about 30km north of present-day Qui Nhon and named it Vijaya. It survived until 1471, when the citadel was sacked by the Vietnamese.

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The nearby city of An Nhon (formerly Binh Dinh) was an old Annamese capital.

On both the railroad and coastal highway, it became an important naval and military base during the Vietnam War. The small fishing port was dredged and expanded by the United States military in 1965. Its strategic role led to heavy fighting in the surrounding area.

Today, Qui Nhon is an expanding port city with a population of about a quarter of a million. until recently, it has been isolated from the main tourism routes roughly half-way between Danang and Nha Trang. However, air links to Danang and Ho Chi Minh City has made it more accessible, and a recently-built international hotel offers the possibility of a relaxing break well away from the more travelled path.

The ancient Cham Pa legacy

Little remains of Vijaya. It became the capital of the short-lived Tay Son Kingdom in the 18th century and abandoned thereafter. Now only a few walls and a single tower remain standing.

There are fourteen Cham towers and monuments in varying stages of decay around Binh Dinh province, but the most convenient are a mere two kilometres from Qui Nhon city centre. The Thap Doi Cham Towers are surrounded by buildings, which diminished their impact somewhat, but they are good examples of Cham craftsmanship.

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Further away, there are two notable sites. The four remaining towers of the Banh It group are on a hill just outside Binh Dinh town, about 25km inland from Qui Nhon. The 22m-high main tower has been restored, with plenty of replacement brickwork in evidence. The neighboring tower has also been tidied up, but has been left in a rougher state. Several fine bas-reliefs of dancers from Banh It are displayed in the Cham Museum in Danang.

Around 50km from Qui Nhon, the three Thap Nga (Ivory) Cham Towers are regarded as one of the best Cham tower complexes in Vietnam. The central building is 24m high, and embellished with granite ornamentation representing Naga and Elephants. The others are both 22m high.

The Quang Trung Museum

Nguyen Hue, a national hero of the 18th century, was one of three brothers who led the Tay Son Insurrection. In 1788, he led a peasant ar

my northwards from Phu Xuan (Hue) to Thang Long (Hanoi) where they defeated the occupying Chinese forces and liberated the royal capital. Nguyen Hue declared himself Emperor Quang Trung, but his dynasty lasted only fourteen years before his forces were crushed by the Nguyen Lords.

Despite the brevity of his reign, he is regarded with great affection in Vietnam, hence the museum created in his memory. It’s located in Kien My village in Tay Son District, 45km from Qui Nhon,

The Long Khanh Pagoda

Quin Nhon City is short of attractions, but the Long Khanh pagoda is worth a visit. The 17m high Buddha is impressive, as is the ‘thousand-eyed and thousand handed’ Goddess of Mercy.

The Leper Hospital

Normally, this wouldn’t feature as a place to visit. However, this one is different. Instead of the usual depressing institution, Qui Nhon’s Leper Hospital is a model of good practice. Patients live with their family in comfortable chalets in well maintained gardens, and work on handicrafts. Visitors are always welcomed, and most find it an uplifting experience.

The Beach!

Qui Nhon’s beach is quite small, but OK. However, Qui Hoa beach is about eight kilometers away and much better. By coincidence, you get there through the grounds of the Leper Hospital.

Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) is Vietnam's biggest city and its most popular tourist destination

The South is dominated by the metropolis of Ho Chi Minh City, still often called Saigon, once a small fishing village that has expanded to well over 2,000km2 of urban sprawl with a population somewhere between 5 and 8 million (many residents are not registered).

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Its early history is hazy, but it appears to have begun as Prei Nokot, a small Kh’mer community on a patch of land in a forest surrounded by waterways on three sides. At the time, the area was ruled by Funan, an ancient southern port with an Indianised culture that expanded to become a powerful kingdom. Funan was eventually supplanted by Chen La, which was in turn absorbed into the Angkor Empire.

As Empires rose and fell, the waterside location of Prei Nokor attracted boats navigating the Mekong River. By the 17th century, it was a thriving trading community of Malay, Indian and Chinese merchants.

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The end of the 17th century saw the steady southwards advance of the Viet people as it gradually overwhelmed the Kingdom of Champa, until it was absorbed into the Empire controlled by the Hue-based Nguyen Dynasty, and acquired a new name – Saigon.

In the latter part of the 18th century, a peasants’ revolt led by the Tay Son brothers swept north and took control. Nguyen Anh, the Nguyen Emperor at the time, headed south, and fortified Saigon to be his capital in the south. When Nguyen Anh regained control, with help from the French, he retained Saigon as his southern administrative centre.

By the middle of the 19th century, the French seized Saigon and made it the capital of French Indochina. Under French rule it became a fashionable destination, but during the decades of the US-backed Saigon ‘government’, it was a byword for decadence, sleaze and corruption as money flowed in and the presence of large numbers of American GI’s stimulated the growth of brothels and gaming dens.

The end of the war, economic progress and a rebirth as Ho Chi Minh City has fuelled growth and created today's vibrant metropolis.

Its traffic is dreadful, petty crime is rife, land prices are soaring, and social problems abound, but its bustling chaos makes it easily Vietnam’s most exciting city. There is plenty to see and do, some of the best hotels in the country, and a vast range of places to eat and drink from simple street cafes to ultra swish (and ultra expensive) Vietnamese and international restaurants.

The Mekong Delta is the heart of Vietnam's agricultural south,

Mekong floating markets, fruit orchards and wildlife

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The Mekong River travels over 3,000 miles on its way to the sea, where its journey terminates at Cuu Long, the famous Mekong Delta. The name means ‘nine dragons’ – the nine mouths that wend their way across the 62,160km of canals, channels, silt islets and mangrove swamps that comprise the delta. Believed to have formed over 6,000 years ago, it is one of the most productive rice-growing regions in the world.

The entire culture of the delta’s inhabitants revolves around the behaviour of the river. The myriad drainage channels wend their way around a vast patchwork of tiny islands, and dominate transport throughout the region: boats and barges crisscross the river in every direction. The annual floods inundate the delta with up to three metres of water for several months. Floating markets, colourful and vibrant, sustain the many riverside hamlets. Everything is connected to the mighty Mekong.

The Mekong Delta buzzes with life, both human and natural: only in the remotest densely-packed mangrove areas are the narrow tributaries eerily quiet.

The main routes to the Mekong are by road or water. Fast boats travel between Ho Chi Minh City and the towns of Vinh Long, My Tho, and Can Tho: one of the hotels in Can Tho has a private service for its clients.

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Most visitors travel by road. The first part of the journey is a long and tedious escape from the sprawling suburbs of Viet Nam's largest city, but becomes more interesting as the road passes My Tho and begins to cross the delta.

My Tho is the destination of many of the Mekong tours from Ho Chi Minh City. It is very ‘touristy’, so we by-pass it to head for lesser-known, out-of-the-way places that lack the relative sophistication of the tourist areas, but make up for it by t

Sapa Destinations travel

Getting there

Two main roads wend their way into the north western mountain area: the latter part of the trip offers good views, but the roads are poor and the twelve-hour journey is tiring. For most visitors, overnight train travel to Lao Cai and by road to Sapa is the best option.

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The original Lao Cai town was destroyed during the 1979 invasion of Vietnam by the Chinese Army. As none of the present buildings predate the event, the only attractions for visitors is the road to Sapa and the border gate with China

Sapa’s history

Sapa came into existence as a hill station during the French occupation. Previously a Black H’mong village, it was ‘discovered’ early in the twentieth century and developed as a resort for French military officers, civil servants and business people. Its marked similarity to alpine areas in France and its temperate climate made it a haven from Hanoi's clammy winter dampness and sultry humid summer. By 1940, it was a sizeable town populated almost entirely by French citizens.

As France’s grip on the country weakened, the buildings emptied. After their victory at Dien Bien Phu, the Viet Minh demolished most of the buildings. One that escaped was the summer residence of the Governor General of Indochina, which was commandeered by the Secretary General of the Vietnamese Communist Party as his holiday retreat. That was also flattened during the 1979 Chinese invasion.

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Sa Pa today

Today, a few buildings have been restored, notably the church, shelled by the French as the Viet Minh began to advance through the northern mountains. Several of the new buildings are vaguely based on the long gone French villas – the Auberge Hotel is a good example. Apart from that, the only enduring memento of the French presence is the inclusion of open fires and chimneys in many buildings – a welcome addition as the temperature often slips below zero in winter.

Sapa has several reasonable local hotels, and one of international standard. A recent arrival is a small four-room guest house owned and managed by the Hoa Sua organisation. It’s comfortable, friendly and puts money into the local economy.

The ethnic minority groups

The main attraction of this area, apart from its superlative natural beauty, is Vietnam’s largest concentration of ethnic groups. Many distinct groups live in this area and, apart from those living around the tourist centre of Sapa, their dress, buildings, traditions and lifestyles have changed little over the last hundred years.

Visiting markets

We always recommended visits to the more remote markets that have so far escaped the attention of the package tour companies. It’s usually a long drive, but what you see is far closer to the traditional culture than those in the tourist areas. However, they don't sell products designed for tourists, unless you want pigs, agricultural implements and so on.

For souvenirs, buy from the markets in Sapa or Bac Ha. Both are already commercialised, but by making your purchases there, you'll be dealing direct with the producer, not giving the profits to a wealthy shop owner. Bear in mind that very few of the souvenir shops, restaurants and hotels in the tourist areas are owned by local people.

Da Nang Attractions - What To See In Da Nang, Vietnam

Da Nang’s west-coast location makes for beautiful sunsets, a holiday-like atmosphere and good, safe swimming from May to August. Da Nang is home to four museums – two of which are dedicated to last century’s military conflicts and one entirely to ‘Uncle Ho’ – a replica of Ho Chi Minh’s house, Vietnam.

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The Cao Dai Temple and Da Nang Cathedral are religious-themed attractions worthy of a visit while the nearby Marble Mountains will fascinate visitors with their many limestone caves used as both hideouts and places of worship. Finally the Hai Van Pass – the highest in the country – is not to be missed.

Visit Vietnam should go by what means

Recently in Vietnam, transportation has been rapidly developed with many kinds of transports and it's continuously easier to travel from a country to Vietnam and vice versa, as well as travel from a place to another one in Vietnam.

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During the time of your journey, travelling by local vehicles will bring you authentic experiences about daily life and reduce the cost of transfer.Taxis For medium distance like from the airport to the hotel or vice verse, taxi is a good idea as its flexible time and reasonable cost. You can ask hotel’s staves at reception to help you order a taxi.Motorbikes Motorbike is very interesting way to have your own journey of discovering a place. However, Vietnam still ranks high in the list of countries having high rates of accidents. Thus, you should drive carefully; bring driving license and local map with you. Motorbike rental service is available at almost hotel in Vietnam.Cyclos Cyclo is a special type of transport in Vietnam which is the most ideal for exploring a city. At low speed, it will give you an insight into daily life of local people and make sure that you won’t miss any interesting thing on the way.Trains For a long transfer, especially overnight transfer, you ought to get a train and spend time gazing charming scenery passing by you. This is really romantic kind of transport although facilities are quite basic.Airplanes To save time for your journey, a flight will be ideal in case that you depart from a country to Vietnam or move from a city in Vietnam to another one. At present, Vietnam has totally 21civil airports in use and 8 international airports among them.

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 Moreover, international and internal flights occur regularly to ensure numerous demand of transfer.Sampan boats Sampan boat is a unique kind of transport that can be seen at floating villages, floating markets on Mekong River Delta. If you have a journey to that beautiful land, let take a sampan boat ride on small canals of Mekong Delta and enjoy peaceful life there.

Hanoi's historical places visiting

Hanoi's location

This beautiful capital strategically lies at the center of the triangular basin of the Red River. With around 5 million people year 2012, and an area of 920 square km, Hanoi is now the country’s center of economy, politics, culture, and society.

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Hanoi's natural conditions

Hanoi is famous for numerous rivers, lakes, and mountains alongside and in the surroundings. Scattered around are places of sight-seeing, which are so much attractive thanks to green lands full of streams, rivers, and mountain, such as Tam Dao, Con Son, Kiem Bac..etc. Hanoi is also well known for typical tropical seasoned place of South East Asia with four seasons: fresh, green and cool in Spring, a bit hot in Summer, fine in Autumn, and cold in Winter. Yet the most interesting thing is that all those take place in most sites of the capital. “Leisure around the rivers in the suburbs or walking down the green mountains like Soc Temple in Soc Mount, Ve Linh Mount, Phuc Tuong Mount, etc, in autumn brings in such a great feeling.

Hanoi's history

Before being named “Hanoi” as present, the capital had had several names throughout history. In 1010, Ly Thai To, the first ruler of the King Ly, Ly Dynasty, moved the capital of Đại Việt (the Great Viet) to the site of the Đại La Citadel. Claiming to have seen a dragon ascending the Red River, he renamed it Thăng Long (Ascending Dragon) - a name still used poetically to this day with the belief that this was good omen of the country’s future. It remained the capital of Vietnam until 1397, when the capital was moved to Thanh Hoa, also known as Tây Đô (Western Capital). Thăng Long then became Đông Đô (Eastern Capital). King Minh Mang, under the Nguyen Dynasty, has laid the name “Hanoi” on the capital since 1831. This means “a city lying between Rivers or River Interior”, which are Red rivers. Hanoi became the capital of Vietnam when North and South Vietnam were reunited on July 2, 1976. 

Many historians reckon that the city was established more than 1,500 years ago. Therefore, with the length of living, Hanoi is very rich of cultural, historical and traditional values.

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Hanoi's historical places visiting

Within the “River Interior City”, there are a number of historical and beautiful places to get by. Mentioning about Hanoi, what comes first to tourists’ mind is the ever first historical University of the capital and also the nation – Van Mieu – Quoc Tu Giam (Translated as “The Literature Temple”). Besides its foremost meaning, Van Mieu is also the place to worship Confucius, setting doctor steles. Youngsters and youth always come here to pray for success by touching the rock tortoises’ head before any examinations, cause it is believed to be very sacred.

Since Vietnam is a Buddhism-oriented nation, its capital has been the Buddhism center for centuries. As a result, it is not surprising that there are as many as about 600 temples and pagodas in Hanoi. For Buddhist tourists, among many great pagodas, Tran Quoc Pagoda should be the first to pay a visit. It is not only the oldest one among those 600, (6 century years old), but also one of the most gorgeous and sacred. The second that is worth visiting is Mot Cot Pagoda (One-Pillar pagoda), another symbol of the capital. Its special architecture is similar to a lotus on the top of water.

Located near the two symbolic pagodas and right in the middle of the capital it is the historical Lake – Hoan Kiem Lake (Lake of Returned Sword), and Ngoc Son Temple with 100% natural beauty. Related to the Lake, Vietnam has a classic story telling about King Le Loi after winning over Minh invader, returned the magic Sword to the Tortoise down in the Lake. Since then, the Lake was named “Hoan Kiem”. It is more surprising that up to now, the historical Tortoise still sometimes appear up the Lake surface for a moment.

As for Catholics coming to Hanoi, there are also great Churches to come for praying or visiting. From 19th century, many Catholic churches were built in here. The biggest one is Cathedral. And Cua Bac church is a beautiful original typical French architect.

As you may have found out, Hanoi is more an antique and peaceful city than a modern one. This might be seen quite clearly when you take a walk around the 36 Old Quarter. This is a typical characteristic of Hanoi with small old streets, tube houses which still remain their shape from 19th century. Additionally, the beauty of Hanoi in the past is also found in the ancient citadel, right nearby.

Historical places that worth to pay a visit cannot be without Ba Dinh Square, the political area where President Ho Chi Minh read the Independent Declaration on the September 2nd, 1945. As famous as this is the House of Parliament, Presidential Palace, President Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, etc.

To know more about Vietnam in general and Hanoi in particular, both in terms of history, tourists should spend one or two days on visiting the nation’s Ethnology, Military, History, Ho Chi Minh,... museums. These will open a huge detailed picture of this antique and beautiful historical city.