Travel To Vietnam - A Glimpse Of Con Dao Island

Once branded as “Hell on earth” with a notorious jail system in wartime, Con Dao Island off mainland Ba Ria-Vung Tau Province is now a peaceful destination appealing to many tourists.

When approaching Co Ong Airport from the air, visitors will see Con Dao open up in full magnificence but unique tranquility. The island boasts its wild beauty highlighted by green mountains and forests.

On the way to the town center, over 10 kilometers from the airport, tourists can admire amazing vertical cliffs on one side and the ocean on the other side. The winding road becomes even prettier with a wide variety of wild flowers blooming all the year round. A number of old tropical almond trees are seen lining Con Dao’s coast, catching visitors’ attention.

The town is surrounded by the blue sea and white smooth sand that seems to spread endlessly. Although a lot of boats come and leave, the wharf on Con Dao remains a peaceful place. Apart from a few cafes under the shade of tropical almond trees, there are neither street vendors nor pubs for drinking. Therefore, Con Dao still maintains its natural and pure beauty. Both tourists and islanders enjoy immersing themselves in the seawater at the time when the sun rises or sets.

The straight paved roads stretch under the shade of tropical almond, flamboyant and frangipani trees. Frangipani trees here are more special with larger canopy, green leaves and white flowers. Summer on Con Dao is the time when flamboyant trees unleashes their overwhelming red color while crape myrtle trees show off their purple flowers together with wild flowers growing everywhere. Con Dao market sells necessary stuffs of any kind that are mostly shipped from the mainland.

Coming to Con Dao, tourists often visit Dam Trau Beach close to the airport for relaxation and sightseeing endowed with smooth beaches under the shadow of evergreen trees, fresh air and crystal clear water.

Con Dao is home to a number of relics worthy of attention. In addition to Con Dao prisons, there are Phi Yen (King Gia Long’s second wife) Temple and Prince Cai (King Gia Long’s son) Tomb. If wanting to take further trips, you can follow islanders’ ships to other smaller islands. However, the most interesting part is to watch baby turtles hatch out and return to the sea together with local rangers. Such activity is very important to protect the ecology and natural landscapes.

Source: SGT

Travel To Vietnam - The Wild Beauty Of Ly Son Island

With many historical, cultural sites and fascinating tourist areas, the 10-square-kilometer Ly Son Island in the central province of Quang Ngai is really an amazing tourist attraction.

From Quang Ngai Province, Ly Son can be reached by boat from Sa Ky fishing port at 8 a.m. every morning.
The island is known for its vast garlic fields with pungent aroma, hence the nickname ‘kingdom of garlic’.

 

The island has a diverse ecosystem. It has five mountains: Thoi Loi, Gieng Tien, Hon Vung, Hon Soi and Hoi Tai. The magnificent mountains entice tourists with mysterious caves, imposing waterfalls, and splendid rivers and lakes.

 

The mountainsides covered with green cornfields are studded with old, charming houses. Along the mountains are stunning beaches full of colorful rocks, pebbles and corals.

Nestled in the Thoi Li Mountain is the Hang Pagoda, a peaceful sanctuary with ancient architecture surrounded by beautiful scenery.
Not only accommodating various valuable historical and cultural relics, Ly Son Island also embraces legends associated with many folk and traditional festivals such as Tet holiday, boat races, hat boi (traditional Vietnamese opera), fish worshipping, and ceremonies paying homage to solders who died in the battles in Hoang Sa (Paracel) and Truong Sa (Spratly) islands.

 

The island is also considered a living museum for Hoang Sa’s artifacts. An Vinh Temple worships the ancestors who explored and reclaimed the land four centuries ago. It also hosts an offering ceremony to sailors who sacrificed themselves in missions on the East Sea and an offering ceremony to the souls of Hoang Sa and Truong Sa soldiers in the third lunar month of every year.

 

The island has a 374-square-meter museum displaying more than 1,000 documents, photos and artifacts associated with the heroic Hoang Sa and Truong Sa troops. The island also holds a cemetery for the late Hoang Sa soldiers.
Many artifacts of Sa Huynh and Cham Cultures were discovered on Ly Son Island. The Thien Yana and old houses are evidence for Sa Huynh and Cham’s ancient civilizations.

(Source: Hanoi Times)

Travel To Vietnam - Vietnamese Dishes On World Best Foods

Cuisine is one of the prides of Vietnamese people. It is not by chance that many Vietnamese dishes have always been favored by international friends in the list of the world's most delicious foods.

1.     Pho

If you interview a foreign visitor about Vietnamese foods, you are likely to receive an answer that is Pho. Pho and Vietnamese have close-knit relationship, associating with Vietnam’s images as Ao dai (long dress) and Non la (palm-leaf conical hat)….

Pho is listed at number 28 on "World's 50 most delicious foods" compiled by CNN Go in 2011 as well as appeared on the Huffington Post as “The dish of paradise”. 

Pho is one of the most traditional dishes of Vietnamese cuisine, which is everywhere with simple ingredients, including salty broth, fresh rice noodles, a sprinkling of herbs and meats.

2.     Baguette with grilled meat

On the website concierge.com of the American magazine Condé Nast Traveler, baguette with grilled meat on the sidewalk of Nguyen Trai Street in District 1 - Ho Chi Minh City is selected as one of the 12 most delicious street foods in the world.

Besides, bread with mixed filling also is listed on the top of the world’s most delicious street foods.

Vietnamese sandwich, the Asia bread is favored by foreign tourists, particularly American visitors. Even “the Banh Mi Handbook” was published to introduce Vietnamese bread to travelers.

3.      Bun cha (Grilled Pork Balls with Vermicelli)

In the list of summer’s tasty dishes, voted by the CNN magazine in 2012, Bun cha was honored to present. Bun cha is served with grilled fatty pork over a plate of white rice noodle and herbs with a side dish of dipping sauce. 

Bun cha is popular in the Northern region of Vietnam. In the South, a similar dish of rice vermicelli and grilled meat is called bun thit nuong.

4.     Chuoi nep nuong (Baked bananas)

At the World Street Food Congress held in Singapore at the end of May 2013, baked banana of Vietnam was voted for the most favorite dish. This dish is really simple and easy to process but very tasty

This snack can either be enjoyed when it is hot or cool. The fragrance and greasy taste of coconut milk mingles with the sweet of banana covered in baked sticky rice can definitely arouse anyone’s desire.

5.     Goi cuon (Spring Rolls)

Along with Pho, Goi cuon always is on CNN’s list of delicious foods. Spring rolls are varied all over Vietnam, from South to North with various fillings, depending on guests’ tastes. The dish could be enjoyed all year round, however, particularly suitable for summer.

Generally, spring roll includes lean and fat pork, shrimp and fresh herbs wrapped in rice paper. Many foreigners described the spring roll as a ‘fast food’ of Vietnam.

6.     Cha ca La Vong (La Vong grilled fish pies)

Cha ca la Vong is listed on the book “1000 Places to see before you die” of famous author Patricia Schultz. In 2003, the MSNBC news agency also had chosen the Cha ca La Vong Restaurant in Hanoi as one of 10 places to know before dying.

In Hanoi, there are 2 suggested Cha ca La Vong restaurants at Cha Ca and Nguyen Truong To Street.

7.     Bun rieu cua (Crab vermicelli)

In 2012, Bun rieu cua was also selected by CNN Go as one of the most attractive dishes in Asia. This Vietnamese traditional dish is widely well-known in domestic and international cuisine. 

Ingredients of Bun rieu cua includes vermicelli, crab or shrimp paste, fried tofu, me or giam bong (kinds of rice vinegar), tomato broth and a sprinkling of herbs. This dish is rich in nutrition: calcium from the ground crab shells, iron from the congealed pig's blood, and vitamins and fiber from the vegetables.

8.     Banh khot

In the World Street Food Congress, Vietnam's banh khot was also in the list of 35 world cuisines.This cake is made from rice flour and shrimp. It is fried and served with raw vegetables, fresh chili, and fish sauce with shrimp.

Banh khot is a very unique dish. If it is made correctly, it will be golden-brown and crispy on the outside but soft in the middle.

Binh Tuong (Source: Depplus/MASK)

Travel To Vietnam - Visit Pongour, The Most Magnificent Waterfall Of Indochina

Falling down from stunning mountains at 40 meters height, spreading more than 100 meters of 7 rock levels, the Pongour Waterfall also known Seven Level waterfall is called “the most magnificent waterfall of Indochina” by the French. 

Located in a rugged landscape of splendid mountainous area, 50 kilometers from the romantic city of Dalat, Pongour Waterfall welcomes us by exotic winding roads of lush trees and breathtaking backdrops. Once traveling here, “cosmopolitan souls” will be definitely bewitched by the surreal nature, amazed by hundreds of vivid wildflowers. The colors of flowers are much brighter, fresher on the backdrop of unspoiled nature beauty.  A kind of charming yellow flower totally covers poetic paths leading to the isolated waterfall.  Locals say merely about 10 years ago, people had to pass through dense forests or boating along the powerful Da Nhim, hanging on to a branch and swing themselves to the waterfalls. 

  

The legend story of Pongour waterfall

According to the legend, in the old time, Phu Hoi – Tan Hoi – Tan Thanh commune now was managed by a beautiful woman named Kanai (a head of a Kho tribe). She was very good at conquering dangerous animals. Among those, there were four big rhinoceros which always obeyed her commands; to change waste land to cultivate and to fight against enemies. Suddenly, one spring, she was dead on the full- moon day of the first month. That made the four rhinoceros very sad, they didn’t eat any thing just sit by their boss until they died.

 

Then, one morning, native people here saw that the place where she was born had a splendid waterfall. They told that Kanai hair turned into the water and rhinoceros horns turned into fossil stones to be arranged into order. It symbolized the attachment of human and nature.

Activities at Pongour falls

Every year, on the occasion of mid-January festivity (Lunar month), thousands of people come to the place to enjoy festivities and the atmosphere of spring. This is also an occasion for young boys and girls to date each other.

 

In recent years, people also hold the festivities like Gong performance, Buffalo – stabbing, folklore game, rice cooking contest, Thai dancing, ect. Which attract more and more tourist to the waterfall. Beside Pongour fall, there are also some other place for visiting in this tourists site such as precious tower, Bao Dai house, yacht, brocade weaving village, etc.

Source: Internet

Falling down from stunning mountains at 40 meters height, spreading more than 100 meters of 7 rock levels, the Pongour Waterfall also known Seven Level waterfall is called “the most magnificent waterfall of Indochina” by the French. 
Located in a rugged landscape of splendid mountainous area, 50 kilometers from the romantic city of Dalat, Pongour Waterfall welcomes us by exotic winding roads of lush trees and breathtaking backdrops. Once traveling here, “cosmopolitan souls” will be definitely bewitched by the surreal nature, amazed by hundreds of vivid wildflowers. The colors of flowers are much brighter, fresher on the backdrop of unspoiled nature beauty.  A kind of charming yellow flower totally covers poetic paths leading to the isolated waterfall.  Locals say merely about 10 years ago, people had to pass through dense forests or boating along the powerful Da Nhim, hanging on to a branch and swing themselves to the waterfalls. 
- See more at: http://www.exoticvoyages.com/travel-blog/magnificent-beauty-pongour-waterfall-vietnam#sthash.TBuSFvfx.dpuf

Travel To Vietnam - Amazing One-Day Trip To The Mekong Delta

From Ho Chi Minh City, travelers can easily take a bus to the Mekong Delta at numerous tourist agencies in the backpacker area of Pham Ngu Lao-De Tham-Bui Vien streets in District 1 or at a bus station on Le Hong Phong Street in District 10. Or they can book a tour with some popular agencies like Saigontourist and Fiditour at the price from VND650,000 per person for a one-day trip, inclusive of meals, drinks, and transportations.

Travelers can also drive their motorbikes for 1.5 hours to explore the location. Tourists are advised to wear simple clothes and sandals to easily move on boats. Sun cream, insect repellent, hats and overcoats are also must-have items.

The first destination of the journey is Tien Giang, about 70km from  downtown HCMC. After having breakfast with com tam (broken rice) and hu tiu My Tho (My Tho-styled noodles), tourists will get on a wooden boat at Ba Muoi Thang Tu Wharf to cruise around the Tien River. 

Tourists can admire My Tho fishing port and four islets named after four sacred animals of Long (dragon), Lan (unicorn), Qui (turtle) and Phung (phoenix). The boat will dock at Thoi Son Islet so tourists have time to visit an immense of fruit gardens of nhan (longan), chom chom (rambutan), thanh long (dragon fruit), du du (papaya) and thom (pineapple) and enjoy fresh fruits accompanied by don ca tai tu (traditional music of southern Vietnam) performance by local artists. The southern folk music was acknowledged as the Unesco intangible cultural heritage of humanity earlier this year.

A highlight of the trip is when tourists get on a small boat with a capacity of six people, including two local paddlers to drift along a small canal under the shades of coconut trees. A bustling atmosphere of a hundred of boats hustling in a small channel with the sound of paddles beating the water surface might be an unforgettable moment to tourists. According to a local paddler, thanks to the tourism industry there are 600 people earning their livings from sailing boats. They are paid VND15,000 per person for a boat trip plus tips from travelers.

Leaving the small boat, travelers will be back to the big boat to visit venues that raise bees and make coconut candies. Tourists will be served hot lemonade with honey and eat freshly made coconut candies. There are bottles of honey sold at the price of VND100,000 each. Tourists can also take souvenir photos with a python and bees. 

A not-to-be-missed activity is dressing up like a farmer to catch fish in a muddy canal and then enjoy all the caught fish that are grilled in local style together with other rustic dishes like braised pork, canh chua (sour soup cooked with fish) and stirred vegetables for lunch. After the meal, tourists are ready to head to Phung Islet which restores artifacts and properties of Ong Dao Dua or Nguyen Thanh Nam, a founder of Dao Dua religion in Ben Tre Province.

When the sun starts going down on the horizon, it is the time tourists turn back to the city to wrap up a one-day trip to get an insight into daily life of people in the Mekong Delta.

 Source: The Saigon Times

Travel To Vietnam - Dong Van Karst Plateau Geo-Park Is Recognized As Global Network of National Geoparks

The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) has re-recognized the Dong Van Karst Plateau Geo-Park in the northernmost mountainous province of Ha Giang as a member of the Global Network of National Geoparks for the 2015-2018 period. 

Representatives from UNESCO Vietnam handed over the recognition decision to the locality’ leaders at a conference in Dong Van district on November 12th, which was to review the development process of the park over the last four years. 

Dam Van Bong, Chairman of the provincial People’s Committee said it is a great honour for the locality and Vietnam in general to be received the re-cognition, adding that this is the responsibility for the province to preserve and promote outstanding values of the heritage and introduce them to the world.

The park is one of the most attractive tourist sites in Ha Giang, contributing to luring more holiday-makers to the province and benefiting local people. 

The local authorities have run communication campaigns in all the hamlets and communes in the locality in a bid to raise public awareness of conserving and promoting values of the heritage.

Dong Van plateau was recognized as a member of the Global Network of National Geoparks in 2010, becoming Vietnam’s first geological park and the second in Southeast Asia.

Covering a total area of 2,356 km2, it is 80 percent limestone and contains the fossils of thousands of species of prehistoric creatures from 400-600 million years ago.

 It is also home to over 250,000 people from 17 different ethnic groups, who boast unique cultures that have been fostered over the centuries.

Recently, 14 archaeological sites were excavated in Dong Van, Meo Vac, and Yen Minh districts, in Dong Van plateau, revealing hundreds of relics believed to appear in the prehistoric and protohistoric times.

At the conference, participants underlined the need to build a specific strategy to protect and develop sustainably the park, saying that more scientific research should be carried out to discover more values of the heritage.

In recent year, Ha Giang province worked hard to implement the Global Geo-parks network’s criteria at the Dong Van Karst Plateau Geo-Park, while enhancing efforts to protect invaluable values of the heritage against impacts from the nature and human, and making use of the park’s advantages to promote local socio-economic development and tourism.

Source: VNA

Ha Long Bay - One Of Top 10 Fishing Spots Around The World

Ha Long Bay has been chosen as one of the world’s best fishing spots by the well-known travel website, Lonely Planet. 

The website advised tourists to spend a night fishing squid in Ha Long Bay.

"The word ‘squid’ mightn’t conjure up the warm-and-fuzzies right now, but after a night on Halong Bay that will change. Dozens of junks ply the bay’s jade-green waters on moonless evenings, fishing for the slippery little cephalopods that go into the region’s best-known speciality: squid sausages. With only a bamboo rod, a catch net and a lamp to attract the squid to the surface, anyone can hook themselves an impressive 30-plus squid in just a couple of hours. The stillness of the bay dotted by the dreamy reflection of the lamps makes for a contemplative, romantic evening."

 

Squid season in Halong begins in April and runs through until January: the biggest squid are caught between October and November.

Also on the list of top 10 fishing spots around the world are Kola Penninsula (Russia), Cairns (Australia), South America, Eg-Uur river (Mongolia), Amazon river (Brazil), Osstduinkerke (Belgium), Congo river basin, Brainerd (USA) and Rio Grande (Tierra del Fuego).

Source : Lonely Planet

Travel To Vietnam - Lam Dong Tea Culture Week 2014

(TITC) - Held every two years, Lam Dong Tea Culture Week is a typical cultural event to promote the brand of B’Lao – Bao Loc tea, at the same time foster trade promotion activities of tea production industry in Lam Dong Province

The 5th Lam Dong Tea Culture Week 2014 titled “Tea flavour in Lam Dong Plateau” will take place from 20th to 23rd December in Bao Loc City, associated with the closing ceremony of National Tourism Year 2014 – Central Highlands – Da Lat.

One of the outstanding activities of Lam Dong Tea Culture Week 2014 is the opening ceremony held from 8h30 to 10h30 on 20th December in Bao Loc City Sports Arena with art programs to honour tea growers and processers in Lam Dong Province.

Besides, the Tea Culture Week also includes many excellent activities such as: contest of picking tea in Tam Chau Tea Farm (20th - 21st December); scientific workshop on solutions for sustainable development of Lam Dong tea area to 2020 and conference on trade investment promotion and linkage in Bao Loc Seri Hotel (21st December); tour to tea planting and processing areas in Phuoc Lac Tea and Hang Son Dien Tea companies and factories in Tam Chau Tea Farm (20th – 23rd December); tea expo and exhibition in 28/3 Square (20th – 25th December) with the participations of tea enterprises in and outside Lam Dong Province to introduce tea products as well as auxiliary products for tea production and processing.

During Lam Dong Tea Culture Week 2014, many other activities will also be held such as: Lam Dong community art festival 2014 in Culture and Sports Centre of Bao Loc City and Dong Nai Lake; “B’Lao Tea Night” and “Tram Anh Tea Night” programs in Dong Nai Lake and tea businesses and shops in the city; knowledge contest of aromatizing tea in Bao Loc Sports Arena; terrain car racing in Damb’ri Waterfall Tourist Area (Damb’ri Commune); parade of antique cars and motors in National Highway No.20; organizing walking street in 28/3 Street from 17h30 to 22h30 every day during the Tea Culture Week...

In addition, on this occasion, Bao Loc City will also organize the inauguration and groundbreaking ceremonies of some urban works to make the good impression on domestic and foreign tourists when visiting the city during the festival.

Travel To Vietnam - Charming Hanoi with Flower Street Vendors

In the previous time, the flower seller didn’t arrange their flowers in the transport, only in the burden, but now the bike vendor has replaced, making the lives of people selling flowers less laborious.

 

People in Hanoi love flowers and in each season: spring, summer, fall, winter, Hanoi has its own flower. When urban areas gradually overwhelm the flower land under cultivation, bike vendors carry flower color from suburban to the city every four seasons. 

Between the noisy and dusty streets, flower street vendor still remain peaceful, poetic, both noble and the ordinary atmosphere.

Every visitor coming to Hanoi always have a deep impression on the bike vendors which are full of flowers, bringing a romantic image of bikes running  slowly along the streets and queuing a long sequence in crowded area.

Just simple and natural like that, the flower bike vendors embellish the beauty of culture for Ha Thanh streets, adorning rich spiritual life of the people in thousand-year cultural city.