A long stretch of peace and tranquility at Bai Dai Beach

Bai Dai (Long Beach) in central Khanh Hoa Province has slowly gained popularity in recent years with the tourist brigade, as locals wake up to the potential of this ‘sleeping beauty'.

Bai Dai stretches for 10 kilometers across Cam Hai Dong Commune in Cam Ranh Town, and its pristine beauty, white sands.

And shallow turquoise waters are an increasing draw for visitors.

The beach got its name from the vast sandy arc that appears during low tide on calm days.

The sea here is shallow which makes it an excel-lent place for children and non-swimmers alike.

Tourists can also discover forests of poplar trees sitting atop the beach's stunning sand dunes.

Visitors can enjoy the tranquil atmosphere and cool off while lying under the trees.

The trees also pro-vide a pleasant spot to have a picnic as well as offering some much needed relief from the heat of the midday sun.

However, those who expect to find accommodation similar to other, more developed beach towns in Vietnam may be disappointed upon arrival at Bai Dai.

Any such modern and comfortable resorts are still on the drawing board.

The authorities of Khanh Hoa have plans to turn Bai Dai into one of the major tourism areas in the southern part of the province, and intend to build a four-star tourism complex with luxury resorts on a 200-hectare site.

However, what Bai Dai lacks in accommodation, it makes up for in cheap eateries.

There are around 30 makeshift restaurants lying along the one km stretch of beach which visitors can enjoy.

Here, visitors can feast on fresh squid, fish and crab at lower prices than those in the capital city of Nha Trang.

There is also the option of bringing your own food and drinks and renting chairs at VND5,000 (US$0.31) each.

Finally, and somewhat surprisingly, each of the restaurants has a fresh-water well where tourists can rinse off or bathe free of charge.

A 21 km road opened in late April 2004, linking the southern part of the Lo River in the provincial capital of Nha Trang to the Cam Ranh Airport.

This has allowed easier access to this hidden treasure for curious travelers, which means this gorgeous spot won't remain so peaceful and secluded for much longer.

Those wishing to discover this secluded gem should go straight on Nguyen Tat Thanh Boulevard for 10 km from Cam Ranh.

After passing through Dong Bo Mountain, continue going straight along the dirt road for some 200 meters until you meet the sea at Bai Dai.

Source ThanhnienNews

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The charming northern Sang Le Forest

Located in the north central province of Nghe An is the Sang Le Forest, full of Lagerstroemia tomentosa trees, which has gained increased exposure for its magnificent wild beauty.

The poetically beautiful Sang Le Forest, with an area of 70 hectares, has been a protected nature area under the provincial authority’s management since 1964.

That protection is now expanding as part of a provincial project to an area of 300 hectares.

In the summer when the region is quite hot, the forest keeps the area cool and the humid air fresh.

During the rainy season when floods occur, the forest protects the nearby commune from landslides.

Visitors to the forest can gain a different experience from Sang Le’s unique beauty depending on the season.

The trees of Sang Le are deciduous and turn a host of different colors during the autumn.

In the summer the trees of Sang Le bloom with exquisite purple flowers.

The entire valley is vividly purple with blossoms during the summer.

There are many older trees that measure a height of 30-40 meters, followed by newer trees with a height of 20-30 meters.

The under-growth includes a carpet of grass and moss, among a hodgepodge of ferns.

While in the forest, visitors will hear the peaceful sounds of rustling leaves, the babble of the stream, and the melodious songs of the birds.

With floral diversity and abundance Sang Le looks like a master-piece of an intangible painter.

Sang Le is a hidden treasure for nature lovers to relax and soak in theserene surroundings.

While in the forest visitors can follow footpaths or find an open patch of grass for a picnic.

Visitors to the Sang Le Forest will also get a chance to interact with local Thai minority residents.

While in their village, visitors can taste homemade rice liquor with Thai people, and at night participate in a Sang Khan dance which is familiar to the Thai minority’s festivals.

Visitors will be dazzled by the colorful character imbued within the ethnic costumes, songs and dances, and rice liquor.

While in the area, for a riskier and more adventurous journey, visitors can spend some time exploring the many mysterious caves and grottoes surrounding the Sang Le Forest area.

However, it’s best to take a local guide who knows the region and is familiar with the caves.

Source ThanhnienNews

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Hue’s outskirts offer ideal spot for contemplation, inspiration

On one side of the softly sloping Cham Mountain outside Hue in central Vietnam is a small pagoda surrounded by a verdant beauty so otherworldly that visitors feel they’ve just stepped into the Elysian fields.

Lying about 9km from the former royal city, the Huyen Khong Son Thuong Pagoda can be reached by motorbike or car on an unpaved road that makes for a somewhat bumpy ride but is well worth the discomfort.

The 6,000-sq.m area, called Van Tung Son, or thousand pine mountain, is covered with a lush carpet of grass and wild flowers of many colours. Old-growth trees dot a higher mountain nearby.

The pagoda, surrounded by bamboo trees, was built in 1973 by bonzes Vien Minh, Tinh Phap, Tri Tham and Tan Can, and originally stood in Phu Loc District’s Loc Hai Commune.

It was moved in 1978 to its current place in Huong Tra District’s Huong Ho Commune by a monk, the Most Venerable Gioi Duc, who headed the pagoda until 1983 and was succeeded by the Most Venerable Phap Tong.

Upon entering the grounds through a large gate, you can see a large rock painted with calligraphic poems that have profound spiritual meaning, according to the monks and nuns who live on the pagoda grounds.

Once you are inside the area, you feel engulfed by the serenity and simple majesty of its scenery.

Thanks to the care of the monks and nuns, the gardens near the Huyen Khong Pagoda are wonderfully unregimented, reflecting the traditionally subtle garden architecture of Hue. Many rare species of flowers perfume the entire area.

Near the path to the main pagoda is a lake covered with water lilies and lotus flowers.

Small one-floor cottages made of bamboo and rattan along the lake display hundreds of poems, proverbs and philosophical sentences written in calligraphy.

Mots of these works were reportedly composed by the pagoda’s monks, guest monks and even a few visitors inspired by the area’s natural beauty, pure air and seclusion.

Near the cottages is the small Vuon Thien (mediation garden) used by the pagoda’s monks and nuns.

There, orchids, old roots of apricot trees and elegant conifer bonsais contrast with the moss-covered ground. Birds can be heard singing in the forest behind the area, where a centuries-old tree stands near a statue of a Buddhist monk standing in deep contemplation.

The monks and nuns, who sit on the garden’s flat stones in meditation, say that after finishing their daily duties they often write in the garden.

Modest in size, the airy main pagoda is made of dark wood and has a tiled roof with an interior that is in keeping with the simple Buddhist style.

Though the pagoda is relatively new, visitors comment on the sacred feeling of the small structure, sometimes called Phong Truc Am, the wind and bamboo temple, for the yellow bamboo trees surrounding it.

Other smaller pagodas on the hillside contribute to the harmonious atmosphere of natural and man-made beauty that is ideal for meditation, literary composition and other artistic pursuits.

Source Vietnamnet

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Homestay tourists give thumbs-up to Mekong Delta farmers

The dim light from a candle on a wooden table placed in a fruit orchard was just enough for two people.

Two Australians, a man and a woman, burst out crying and hugged each other. Thanh, the owner of the orchard, runs up to them and asks what is wrong.

They say: “We feel sorry because we are leaving this lovely place tomorrow. We will miss this unusually peaceful place which exceeded our expectations.” This is a story that plays out often in the Mekong Delta where foreign tourists make homestay visits, living with local farmers.

They have the opportunity to live like their hosts, picking their own vegetables and cooking themselves. Thanh tells me the story about the two Australians, adding: “It was not easy to create attractive tours for foreign tourists. I had to read books and search the Internet to get information about lifestyles in different countries. We have to understand what they need, how they feel about this or that. We also need to understand the tastes of people of different ages.”

“My research was why I could create a place that impressed the two,” he explains. “They stayed in my house for a week to study the lifestyles of the people in the delta.” To communicate and take care of their guests better, many farmers have learnt English. For instance, Vo Thanh Dung, the owner of An Khanh Strawberry Farm in Ben Tre province's Chau Thanh District, has his name card written in English. It reads: “An Khanh Strawberry Garden - lunch, fruit, honey, traditional music, homestay.”

Dung says: “The tourism business is now quite different compared to the past. We will generate losses if we don't change our ways. We have already joined the World Trade Organization, so we must learn to complete.”

Another homestay host and owner of Phong Phu Fruit Orchard in the same district, Ly Tan Phat, boasts: “We farmers now have to learn English to communicate with foreign guests.

We also have a chance to get in touch with foreigners, exchange cultural features, and enlarge our knowledge of the world.”

Tran The Dung, manager of The He Tre (Young Generation) Travel Company which has been commissioned by the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism to study the tourism situation in the delta, says: “Farmers can vary what they have to offer every year.”

For Dung, a PhD student studying “culture on the farm,” the farmers' savvy method of doing business with tourists came as a surprise - the souvenirs they made seemed tacky and cheap, but foreign tourists liked them.

They even knew how to bid goodbye to the tourists in an impressive way - by going right up to the pier to see them off.

“Software” for tourists

If their farms and orchards are the “hardware,” the farmers also know how to design “software” to attract visitors.

The owner of Thoi Son 5 tourist area in Tien Giang Province grows various vegetables for tourists to pick and make their own soup.

Another farmer in Chau Thanh District, Phuc, has an area to keep bees.

Guests are treated to alcoholic drinks made from honey, and iced lemonade with honey.

He also teaches visitors how to raise bees and sells them honey.

Visitors to Tam Be's farm in Vinh Long Province's Tam Binh District can take part in activities like rowing, fishing, cutting banana leaves to make cakes, enjoying a drink made from fried rice, and sleeping on bamboo beds.

Dang Van Ro, owner of the trade-marked ‘green pomelo' in Ben Tre Province attracts tourists with his renowned variety which he grows without using insecticides.

Source ThanhnienNews

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Something is missing in Sapa

Located around 380 kilometers from the capital city of Hanoi, over 1,600 meters above sea level and listed as a famous Vietnamese attraction, Sapa attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors every year to see the colorful of national costumes and unique cultures of the ethnic groups living there.

The number of tourists is booming, which results in economic benefits for the living standards, but also has some negative impacts.

Some of the uniqueness of the ethnic people is disappearing as traditional daily life is mixed with modern activities in the highland town.

We took the trip from Hanoi to Lao Cai earlier this month. Most of the 11 people in our group had traveled to Sapa before, but while we were preparing for the trip to Cat Cat Village, one of the major destinations of the town, Nguyen, our tour guide cautioned us about some of the changes we might see. For example, villagers will ask visitors for money to take photos of them and children will also follow tourists on the street for the same request.

“Please, don’t give money to the children. If you wish, you can offer candy or a small gift to them. If you do that you will help the children loose the bad habit,” he said.

Cat Cat is a beautiful village with terraced rice fields, a romantic suspension bridge spanning the stream and dazzling white water falls near the streams. There is much to see, and many places to wander through but some visitors expressed their surprise when the ethnic woman looked down when photos were being taken. “Are they shy? No.” If the visitors want them to show their faces and smile, the photographers must give them money or buy their products.

Some children followed the group during the trip, asking for VND10,000, and the vendors in the shops around the village also charged high prices; my friend and I bough two bracelets at VND25,000 each, down from the asking price of VND35,000, but they cost only VND15,000 in the Sapa market.

Two ethnic women look for souvenir gifts in the Cat Cat Village. Tourists must spend some money if they want the women to look up and smile for a photo.

Travelers will also see many modern changes in Sapa town. The ethnic woman who sell tho cam (ethnic fabric) and souvenirs are fluent in English and they can talk to tourists and invite them to buy their products, the men wear traditional clothes and drive fast motorbikes on the streets, and the ethnic girls still wear traditional clothes but their long hair has come from professional hands in beauty shops. These girls also have cell phones to discuss their business.

In another corner near the Sapa Market, the ethnic people even sell second-hand traditional skirts to costumers. “If you stay here until Saturday, you will see some ethnic people dancing in the bar,” Nguyen said.

It is still interesting. And this highland town is so beautiful, and romantic. However, it would be more beautiful if the ethnic people did not pester tourists to buy their products or ask for money when having their photos taken. “Some tourists often give money to the villagers when they visit the village. It creates bad habits in these people. If we do some of the things I mentioned, we can change this,” Nguyen said.

Source SaigonTimes

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Forest in a seaside resort town

Located in the coastal resort village of Mui Ne in Phan Thiet City full of sea breezes in four seasons, the Forest Restaurant is not only a strange name to passers-by, but also a place that has attracted international and local diners by its green landscapes as well as special dishes.

From the front, it looks like the wood cut through by a small zigzag path winding itself to the restaurant. Taking inspiration from the natural forest to highlight the decoration, Ha Le Hung, the restaurant’s owner, uses only a small area in the garden for the dining section, while the remainder is kept for the landscapes.

Apart from the greenery created by natural landscapes for diners to relax while having meals, the Forest Restaurant delights gourmets with tables and chairs made from old stumps, as well as items for decoration such as flowers, leaves and butterflies among others.

The restaurant also attracts gourmets by its special menu featuring dishes with names that conjure up the images of forest or the sea. Familiar names reminiscent of the forest include Woodcutter Rice, Weaver Rice, and Diver Rice among others. Besides rice dishes, the restaurant also serves western dishes featuring grilled seafood, hotpot, noodle and salads in forest style. The restaurant’s chef knows how to show off his culinary art by adjusting local specialties to soothe the tastes of international travelers.

When night falls, the Forest Restaurant will fill the air with lyric music. Besides enjoying the weird dishes and natural clicking sounds from wind chimes, diners can watch mysterious dances of Cham ethnic group or listen to Vietnamese folk songs or international songs.

Hung says the restaurant has run for four years; and his restaurant so far has prepared food for international travelers only. But it will prepare a menu for locals as well.

Food there starts from VND60,000 a dish.

Forest Restaurant is located at 39 Nguyen Dinh Chieu Street, Ham Tien Ward, Phan Thiet City.

Source SaigonTimes

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Into the wilds

Often when we plan to get out of the city, we look to the coast. It makes sense. The city is so congested and filled with so much pollution which leaves plenty of us city dwellers feeling pretty claustrophobic. A sea breeze always seems like the perfect antidote.

But if you’re tired of hitting the same old beaches or want to get in touch with Mother Nature, the Madagui forest comes highly recommended.

Halfway between Ho Chi Minh City and Dalat the forest is slowly emerging as a retreat for people in search of cool country air, who either don’t have time to make it to Dalat or are just looking for somewhere new.

The forest is nearly three hours from the southern hub, but the long bus trip is soon forgotten as I step into the primeval wonder of my surroundings.

Just like Dalat, Madagui forest boasts a fresh and cool climate and is also home to some breathtaking landscapes. Streams, rivers, caves and a rich, diversified primeval forest make for a nature lover’s paradise.

The diversified ecosystem includes rare and valuable plant species, ancient trees that are hundreds of years old as well as a number of endangered animals.

“This is not just a place to refresh your mind but also a place to explore nature as well,” says Julie Debenham a visitor to Vietnam from the US.

The forest is populated largely by the K’ho and Ma ethnic groups and is part of Cat Tien Park, an ecological preserve covering about 400ha, in Lam Dong province.

Visitors can stay at the Madagui Forest Resort, which is located right at the foot of Deo Chuoi (Banana Pass). The resort stays to true to its surroundings with a natural ambiance but also boasts all the modern facilities you need for a comfortable stay.

Guests can entertain themselves with horse riding, fishing, cycling, cave exploration or rafting on the river. The resort also has tennis courts, billiard tables, karaoke rooms, a sauna and massage services available, but personally I’m not here to sit inside!

Instead I wander up to the caves, under the shade of the tropical rain forest. The views are a photographer’s dream. The path to the Voi (Elephant) Stream is also stunning and much to everyone’s delight at the top there’s a secluded spot to bathe.

If you’ve walked all the way up there, you can treat yourself to a well-deserved foot massage for VND50,000 (45 minutes) right by the stream.

For those who want to head to the hills beyond, you can rent a jeep, while those looking to camp out can do so in Tarzan-style-houses which have been built in the trees or in tents next to Tien Stream. Legend has it that the fairies would bathe in this stream there on full-moon nights and perhaps they still do (there’s only one way to find out!).

But a rumbling stomach tells me I should head back down to check out what the restaurants Muong Xanh and Tra My have on offer.

After dinner we will join the local community for a campfire under a canopy of stars and the thought of traffic jams in the city will seem a lifetime away.

Source Vietnamnet

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Ban Gioc - the most impressive waterfall in Vietnam

The northern mountain province of Cao Bang boasts one of the most beautiful and magnificent waterfalls in Vietnam, known as Ban Gioc.

Ban Gioc waterfalls in Dam Thuy Commune, Trung Khanh District near the Sino-Vietnamese is said to be a precious gift bestowed to Cao Bang, as the border province lacks other entertainment venues and quality services to serve its visitors.

The site has recently become popular with European tourists, particularly those from France, Germany and the Netherlands, who are fond of discovering nature and ethnic minority lifestyles in the northern mountain provinces.

Ban Gioc waterfalls fall an impressive 30 meters before crashing into many limestone steps at the bottom.

In the middle of the fall are large vegetation-covered rocks that divide the falls into three separate flows.

From a distance the falls look like three dazzling white silk bands descending softly through the greenery of the mountains and forest.

On hot summer days being close to the falls and feeling the mist and spray in the air is refreshing.

The echo of the falls can be heard kilometers away.

Down from the waterfall the river is calm and clear.

The riverbanks are lined with grasslands and green forests.

In the evenings herds of cows and buffaloes come down to graze by the riverside while young ethnic men of the region steer bamboo rafts along the river.

Visitors are welcome to take a raft on the river.

For visitors who want to trek through the natural area, there is the nearby Nguom Ngao Cave, which contains more than three kilometers of passage.

At night, visitors can stay at minihotels in Cao Bang.

The hotels here are not by any stretch luxurious, but they provide guests with essential comforts like electricity, hot water and a telephone.

Visitors to the fall in autumn will get the added treat of being able to try a local specialty, Trung Khanh chestnuts.

How to get there

The most convenient way for tourists is to hire a car from Hanoi, some 272 kilometers from Cao Bang.

From the town of Cao Bang, continue traveling 65 km to Trung Khanh.

Ban Gioc is approximately 20 km northeast of Trung Khanh.

Buses are also available from Hanoi's Me Tri Bus Station to Cao Bang.

The trip takes around nine hours.

After arriving in Cao Bang visitors must transfer to another bus to get to Ban Gioc.

Source ThanhnienNews

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Discovering the ethnic minorities of the Central Highlands

The Central Highlands region impresses visitors with imposing mountains and beautiful waterfalls, but mostly with the friendly people who exude the historic cultures of the region.

The inhabitants

Consisting of five provinces – Lam Dong, Dak Nong, Dak Lak, Gia Lai and Kon Tum – the Central Highlands region is home to six million people, of which 25 percent belong to the ethnic minorities of Ba Na, J’rai, E De, Xe Dang and M’Nong.

The ethnic highlanders are recognizable to the Kinh’s (Vietnamese majority) by their beautiful black eyes centered with long and curly eyelashes.

The Central Highland minorities have some tried and true methods of communicating.

For the E De people, a house with opened windows means there is a single woman inside.

If the windows are closed that relays the message that the woman got married.

The names of the E De and M’Nong people also reveal their marital status.

For instance, single men have names beginnings with the letter “Y” and single women with “H'”.

The names of married men and women begin with “Ama” and “Mi.”

The Lao women indicate their marital intentions through bands on their dresses.

Married women hide the bands while the single girls let the bands down on the right side.

Cultural symbols

The E De and M’Nong people plant bamboo poles, called neu, at the buffalo stabbing ceremony.

The bamboo is decorated with images that express their aspirations.

Images of birds symbolize the forests, while fish represent water and rivers.

A jar of ruou can, a type of wine made from corn, sticky rice and fermented with various flavorful types of leaves, is always among the offerings to deities in the Central Highland minority villages.

An ethnic minority man plays a dinh nam

E De people's kpan, or bench, is made when a tree with a large trunk is found in the jungle with no orchids or parasites on it.

Seeking such a tree and building benches from it is a serious and sacred task for a house owner.

For this reason, kpan are an important aspect of the E De communal house and a symbol of wealth among the villagers.

Gui (woven bamboo baskets), which the ethnic people usually carry on their heads, delivers different messages.

For instance, if being used to bring food for parents, a gui must be packed full to show the children's filial love.

But if lending food to friends, the gui should not be full.

This expresses the lender's wish that the borrower will be luckier in the future.

Rhythms of the highlands

To the ethnic Central Highlanders, music is a medium that allows them to contact deities, is a motivation to work harder, and expresses their love of nature and humanity.

The gong culture of the Central Highlands was recognized as a “Masterpiece of Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity” by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) in November 2005.

Most of the minorities have designed their own instruments.

The dinh nam is an instrument made from a dried gourd that has six bamboo pipes.

It is connected with the legend of six identical brothers.

Their parents could not tell them apart and had to use six bamboo pipes with different lengths to identify them.

The eldest got the longest pipe and the youngest the shortest.

When their parents passed away, the brothers connected their pipes into an instrument to commemorate the deceased.

The family of Central Highland instruments also includes drums with buffalo skins, flutes and kky pah, a type of horn used by the E De in elephant hunting trips.

Source ThanhnienNews

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New discoveries at Cau Tu temple in Bac Giang province

On December 4th, the Institute of Archaeology under the Vietnam Institute of Social Sciences cooperated with the northern Bac Giang provincial Department of Culture and Information to announce the results of archaeological excavation at Cau Tu temple in Phuong Son commune, Luc Ngan district, Bac Giang province.

The excavation started in June, 2007 at two sites, including Cau Tu 1 and Cau Tu 2 temples. The two sites are about 300m apart as the crow flies. Archaeologists determined that there was a large residencial building in the Ly dynasty, from the 12th century at both sites.

Le Dinh Phung, PhD, head of the department for historical archaeological studies under the Institute of Archaeology, said that this land had a family of three generations that worked for the Ly dynasty so they had a close relationship with a cultural centre of the nation in the Ly dynasty.

Excavated relics show that this was also the cultural and political center of a community of population in ancient times.

Source Vietnamnet

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Visiting the Hang Pagoda

Situated in the lower section of the Mekong Delta, Tra Vinh Province is surrounded by the Tien and Hau rivers just a few hours away from its tourist hub neighbor, Vinh Long.

In recent years, Tra Vinh has become a growing attraction for foreign visitors who want to enjoy a more serene and isolated getaway from the hubbub of other popular Mekong destinations.

Home to over 300,000 ethnic Khmer who still maintain their culture through the practice of Theravada Buddhism, Tra Vinh hosts a unique system of over 140 pagodas built by this ethnic minority, as well as 50 Vietnamese and five Chinese pagodas.

Among well-known sites such as the Ong Met Pagoda and the ornate Chinese Ong Pagoda, the Hang Pagoda is deemed one of the more gorgeous structures less frequently mentioned in travel guides.

Located six kilometers away from the downtown area, the 12-hectare pagoda initially welcomes visitors with its dense tree shades and the mellifluous sound of birds chirping.

The main gate of the pagoda, called Kompong Chray, meaning “banyan-tree wharf,” leads toward a river bank.

The two statues of Yak, a formerly evil spirit converted to serve as Buddha's protector, guard the pagoda's gate.

Upon entering the pagoda complex, visitors will discover many distinctive decorative aspects totally different from Vietnamese-built counter-parts.

The multi-layered roof displays a vibrant, intricate design.

No sounds of wooden bells are heard, immersing the compound in a remarkably silent and tranquil atmosphere.

In general, the Khmer ethnic minority who reside in Tra Vinh tend to live a rustic lifestyle with very simple decorations in their houses.

However, the pagoda represents a site that is dually imposing and sacred, serving an indispensable role in educating moral lessons as well as a center to preserve the traditional arts and culture of the Khmer people.

Between the ages of 15 and 20, most Khmer boys set aside a few months or years to live as monks.

Some youth nearing marriageable age are also sent to the pagoda to be trained in life skills in preparation for adulthood.

Inside the grounds of the Hang Pagoda, visitors will discover a large school for children and some 20 houses built on stilts.

From time to time, Khmer men come to stay at these houses for a month to pray and cleanse their souls.

A visit to the 350-year-old Hang Pagoda reveals that it has withstood the vicissitudes of time.

Formerly called the Bat Pagoda because the eponymous creatures used to gather here every evening to find shelter, the site suffered from a 1968 bombing that chased these nocturnal guests away indefinitely.

Nowadays, the pagoda is home to thousands of storks living in the tall treetops surrounding the complex.

Each evening around 5:00 p.m., flocks of white storks cluster the sky over the pagoda.

Source ThanhnienNews

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The pagoda street

At a glance, Phu My Town in Tan Thanh District, Ba Ria-Vung Tau Province is just an ordinary southern urban settlement.

The dusty town lies along Highway 51 and is a jumbled mix of old and new houses.

Connecting Phu My Town with the Thi Vai Mountain is Van Hanh Street, and it is this 3.5 km long stretch of road, filled with hidden delights, that is the real draw in the area.

Van Hanh Street and its vicinity have changed a great deal in recent decades, but it still remains a peaceful boulevard.

The street is lined with gardens filled with cashew and eucalyptus trees, stretching out to the faraway mountains.

Hidden in the shade of these trees are more than 200 Buddhist pagodas and monasteries.

It is said that most of these constructions were built after the US-led war in Vietnam in 1975.

At that time, Van Hanh Street was a very remote area, with few inhabitants, making it the ideal location to build a religious temple.

The pagodas along Van Hanh Street are spacious and come in all shapes and sizes.

Modern architecture makes them comfortable places to either visit or reside in.

The deco-rations are lively and colorful with Bat Nha Pagoda having some of the most vivid decoration, with patternsof lotus flowers, daisies and dragons in bright colors.

All the pagodas enjoy a large area – some extending over an entire hill – and they are usually surrounded by flower or vegetable gardens, orchards and large yards.

Linh Buu Pagoda, at the beginning of the street, has a large garden and even the fence is covered with yellow flowers.

The garden at Pho Thien Pagoda is especially beautiful with many kinds of vegetables.

One can climb up to visit the pagoda on Thi Vai Mountain at the end of the street.

As well as the peaceful garden, the lotus pond makes this remote pagoda a favorite visiting place for locals and visitors, especially during the Lunar New Year (Tet) holiday.

Often on your trip to pagodas, the monks will receive you with some homegrown fruits.

During the first and the middle of the lunar month, there will be vegetarian food offered to visitors.

Many pagodas on Van Hanh Street provide a home for orphaned children.

They are brought up and taught at the pagodas by the monks, and their laughter adds another element of serenity to these places.

The area around Van Hanh Street is still thinly populated but more people are relocating here in order to work at the Phu My Industrial Zone or provide services for such workers.

Meanwhile, new pagodas are still being added along the street.

To get to Van Hanh Street from Vung Tau, drive north-west along Highway 51 for about 40 km, until you see the Tan Thanh People's Committee Office on your left hand side.

Van Hanh Street lies opposite this building.

For those traveling from Ho Chi Minh City, travel for about 65 km towards Vung Tau, and the street will be on your left hand side, 200 meters before the Phu My Industrial Park.

Source ThanhnienNews

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Less then impressed

Like several other traditional Vietnamese art forms, the once noble act of Hue Royal singing has become tarnished over the past few years in the wake of Vietnam's recent tourist boom.

A combination of locals seeking to capitalize on the influx of tourist dollars and a lack of professional, skilled management and authority to provide guidance has angered many tourists.

Moreover, the disarray has caused both singers and visitors alike to feel exploited.

Recently, the municipal Department of Culture and Information has required boat owners to register their businesses to help curb the problem.

The ancient capital of Hue now has 119 small and large boats on Huong (Perfume) River, which hold traditional royal singing performances for visitors.

The revered royal music dates back centuries and is indigenous to the area, but sadly the once refined ancient music – performed for royal audiences – has now become a cash-grab.

Most owners of the floating vessels have little to no education and some are even illiterate.

Seeing an opportunity to earn a better living in the new tourist sector, many locals have left their former unskilled labor jobs in favor of providing entertainment services for tourists.

However, their lack of service industry training and minimal know-how of the tourism business, often leave guests less than impressed.

The performance boats not only serve as entertainment venues, but also as homes for the owners and their families leading to an increased amount of waste-dumping into the fragile river environment.

Since residents operate without any real guidance or mandates from an overarching authority, many boat owners operate unscrupulous practices and exploit tourists by hiking up prices of souvenirs and beverages.

In another scheme to earn bigger profits, a few operators even sell “recycled” flowers to tourists who wish to present the artists with a show of gratitude.

The owners will collect the same flowers back again from the artists to make available for the next wave of tourists who come through.

Another nuisance is the noise of the boats them-selves which often drown out the beautiful singing.

Nguyen Van Mai, Deputy Director of the Hue Royal Performances Managing and Organizing Center, commented “We have received many complaints from tourists but we are not authorized to test or investigate the service quality of those boats.”

The Hue Royal Singing Managing and Organizing Center only has authority over the Hue royal singing artist troupes.

Meanwhile, the act of investigating unscrupulous show boats needs the involvement of various authoritative agencies.

At the beginning of the year, the Hue People's Committee passed a registration and operation regulation which applied to any boats offering royal singing, but so far no agencies have directly investigated any of the venues.

In an effort to make the floating stages more professional, the Department of Culture and Information and the Hue Royal Performances Managing and Organizing Center have drawn up a draft which would not permit artists to perform onboard unless the boat is licensed and obeys performance regulations.

However, many boat operators express opposition to the idea, Mai said.

Sharing his concern, writer Vo Que advised local authorities to join forces to create a long-term scheme, which initially focuses on training the boat operators in the areas of tourism and quality service.

Que claimed that any harsh measures may be counterproductive.

Source ThanhnienNews

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Playing with sand

Playing with sand is a favor-ite activity for kids; but for adults, it is could be either a form or entertainment or a challenge when arranging layers of sand to form artful sand paintings, which are often done by professional artists.

However, such is the new entertainment that was recently set up in a corner of Xua Restaurant located in Thanh Da Peninsula in HCMC’s Binh Thanh District.

Walking into the open air eatery in the morning or in the afternoon, one may catch sight of a child or adult staring at a cup covering colorful sand. Little by little, they deliberately pour a thin layer of sand into a clear crystal cup, to create a picture from their own imagination.

Like others who have been fascinated with sand paintings of picturesque portraits or landscapes created by skillful artists, guests at Xua Restaurant can now ‘infuse a soul into the sand’ themselves, to create a piece of art work.

After achieving fame and success in her artistic sand paintings, artist Y Lan, who is also known as ‘The lady who infuses a soul into sand’ and ‘The lady playing with sand’ among others, decided to bring the artful form to the public, turning it into a leisure activity for entertainment. Now, everyone who enjoys sand painting can have access to the technique of making a picture from millions of grains of sand, as well as understanding the measure of difficulty and artistic skill involved in creating the sand paintings which are seen in shopping centers around town.

With a payment of VND40,000, an amateur painter will be given multi-color sand, a crystal cup and a tiny spool, which are simple instruments for creating such an artistic product.

“For beginners we give guidance, drawing simple patterns that are not as difficulty to do ” said Tran Thi Oanh, a member of staff at Sand Painting Co. The designs could be a pine tree, an ocean landscape, a boat floating on water, a bird flying in the sky, among others.

Oanh added that the company’s staff just demonstrate the basic techniques of forming a picture and let the amateur painters use their imagination. Several non-professional painters have created beautiful sand pictures.

“Depending on how skilful they are, it can take an hour to finish a work,” Oanh said. The painter can take his or her finished product home for an additional VND20,000.

The shop keeper said that usually the amateur painters are prepared to pay more to take their products home as a souvenir. For them, the final result may not be as perfect as a professional one, but it represents their patient labor and hours of concentration, and therefore they treasure it and want to bring it home.

To play with colored sand, one can go to Xua Restaurant located at 1019 Binh Quoi Street in Thanh Da Peninsula in the HCMC’s Binh Thanh District.

Source SaigonTimes

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50+vintage vehicles on display at Tien Dat

Visitors to the Tien Dat Resort in Mui Ne region expecting to see only romantic views of the sea will be surprised to encounter an extensive collection of vintage vehicles as well.

In order to build such an extensive collection, Do Loc, the owner of Tien Dat Resort, spent 10 years searching for motorbikes around the world.

The oldest of the bunch is France's Mobylette; which has been in Vietnam for over 60 years. The vehicle is regarded as the world's first two-wheel motorbike with two pedals.

Stylish Peugeot motorbikes are also a part of the collection.

Not nearly as streamlined and elegant as the French vehicles, the German-made Goebel appears sturdy in black and grey. The Whell-Prive and Motobecane models from England and America resemble wild animals prancing.

Visitors will be unable to find Japanese makes like Honda, Yamaha and Suzuki in the collection because Eastern European-made motorbikes were more popular during the 80's and 90's.

The Bebetta motorbike from Turkey, the two engine-stroke MTZ from Eastern Germany and the Minks from Russia are among the Eastern European models on display.

The motorbikes' license plates signal their origin and previous glory. To maintain the value of his collection, Loc has a mechanic on staff that cleans, lubricates and cares for each motorbike, which are all able to run smoothly.

In addition to collecting motorbikes, Loc, a native Saigonese, also enjoys organizing vintage motorbike tours for members of the vintage bike club. The club has visited the dunes of Mui Ne, and the Mobylette and Peugeot motorbikes have traveled to Phan Thiet. Recently, the club traveled on two engine-stroke motorbikes to Thay Thim Palace for the 2007 festival.

Although Loc has received many requests from both foreign and domestic travelers to rent his motorbikes, Loc chooses to exhibit his collection only for tourists relaxing at the Tien Dat Resort.

The collection is expected to grow in the future because Loc's passion for motorbikes is undying. In fact, a four-wheel vehicle from Russia that was used to serve Vietnam's Head of State was recently added to his collection.

Tien Dat Resort is located at 94A Nguyen Dinh Chieu St., Ham Tien, Mui Ne, Phan Thiet City. Tel: (062) 847 989.

Source Vietnamnet

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Exploring the Mekong Delta in style

Victoria Hotels and Resorts recently launched a three-day travel package for guests to explore the Mekong Delta aboard multiple ships.

In addition to seeing the region’s natural beauty, guests will also experience the impeccable services and facilities of Victoria’s four-star resorts in the area.

As part of the “Jewels of the Mekong Package,” guests will travel aboard Victoria’s two converted traditional rice barges, Le Jarai and Lady Hau. The ships will cruise along the canals and rivers that crisscross the region.

The adventure begins with a morning car transfer from HCMC to Long Xuyen, where guests board Le Jarai for a six-hour river cruise. From the boat’s deck, guests will see floating markets, fish farms and locals going about their daily lives.

After an onboard lunch, guests will take part in a cooking class featuring an introduction to Vietnamese spices and herbs. Afterwards, guests can enjoy a massage on the lower deck or relax on the upper deck upon Thai cushions to see the sites.

Guests will stay overnight at the Victoria Chau Doc Hotel on the first evening. The property is located by the T-junction of two big rivers that run through the town of Chau Doc. The hotel offers guests a bird’s-eye-view of floating fish farms and distant floating markets.

The following morning, guests will take a boating excursion to a nearby Cham village to see how local women weave tho cam (ethnic fabrics). From there, guests will transfer to the Victoria Can Tho Resort via car. The Victoria Can Tho Resort was the first such luxury hotel in the Mekong Delta.

From the Victoria Can Tho, guests will embark on the next part of the tour aboard Lady Hau, which begins with a breakfast cruise along the Hau River, the main southern arm of the Mekong Delta region. As guests cruise along the river, they will see farmers bringing their produce to the Cai Rang floating market.

The floating market, which is located eight kilometers from the city, is believed to have existed for 300 years. Similar to the region’s other floating markets, Cai Rang is busy from the wee hours of the morning until six in the evening. The best time to visit is between six and ten in the morning, when hundreds of boats of all sizes converge to buy and sell produce.

In addition to buying and selling their goods, farmers and traders buy soft drinks, sweets, salt, fish sauce, pho (Vietnamese noodle soup) and the other necessities at the market. After the tour of the Cai Rang floating market, guests will return by car to HCMC.

The Managing Director of the Victoria Group Eric Simard said that the group is creating an outstanding chain of boutique resorts and spas in Indochina by continually seeking to offer adventurous travelers the opportunity to explore beyond the traditional tourist trails.

The package tour priced at US$578 per person based on twin sharing booking, with a single supplement of US$495 and US$187 charged for a third person. Children under 5 are free of charge and a 50% discount is given to children ages 5–12.

Source Vietnamnet

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The legend behind Darahoa’s massive rooster

Located about eight kilometers from Prenn Pass as the road nears Da Lat, the village of Darahoa is home to more than 300 households of the ethnic minorities K’Ho and Chill centered around a massive statue of a rooster.

Darahoa is located at the foot of Voi (Elephant) Mountain and has become a frequented stop among tours to the Central Highland province of Lam Dong.

The village, which has long been known for weaving tho cam (ethnic fabric), has now become known by visitors for an impressive cement statue of a large nine-spurred rooster standing atop a 1.5-meterhigh base in the village center.

The rooster statue measures 3.2 meters in height and weights around eight tons.

It was designed and built in 1978 by Lu Truc Phuong, an architect from Da Lat who is known for architectural works such as Ho Rong (Dragon Lake) and Duong Len Trang coffee shop (Road to the Moon).

Authorized by the local government to design and build a work to supply clean water for the Darahoa villagers, Phuong contemplated how to build not only a public work but also a cultural symbol bearing the ethnic identity of the village.

The nine-spurred rooster statue was created based on the local legend of a young K’ho man and a Chill girl.

Legend has it that a long time ago there was a beautiful, yet poor Chill girl named Ho Bong who fell in love with a strong and rich K’ho man named K’Tien who was a gifted hunter.

Most of the villagers gave the young couple their blessing and wished to see them wed.

However, K’Tien’s father was a rich and greedy miser that would not accept a poor girl like Ho Bong into his family.

According to custom, the groom's family has the right to demand wedding gifts from the bride's family.

So, K’Tien’s father told Ho Bong that her family must offer him 50 sarongs and a large quantity of buffaloes and cows, gongs and small jars.

Loving Ho Bong very much, K’Tien worked hard to help her acquire these items for her to offer his father.

Worried that the young couple would meet his demands K’Tien’s father made an additional request for a nine-husked elephant and a nine-spurred rooster, aiming to make Ho Bong abandon her dream of marrying his son.

To help Ho Bong, K’Tien went into the jungle to seek an elephant with nine tusks and a cock with nine spurs while Ho Bong stayed at home and prayed for her lover.

One night, Ho Bong saw in a dream K’Tien suffering from an accident in the jungle.

She awoke with a startle and hurried off to find him.

After desperately running and running through the dark, dense jungle, Ho Bong finally found her mortally wounded lover.

She held K’Tien in her arms until he passed away.

Broken with sorrow, Ho Bong stayed with his body and sobbed until she died of exhaustion and starvation.

Mourning over the couple's death, a herd of wild elephants surrounded them and prostrated themselves around the bodies of the couple.

The elephants became petrified with grief and turned to stone.

The site where the elephants died is now Elephant Mountain, where the rock formations look like a herd of lying elephants.

Based upon that sorrowful tale, Lu Truc Phuong built the nine-spurred rooster statue in the center of Darahoa Village to remind the villagers of the harmful affects of greed and the power of love.

The rooster statue is a symbol of the villager's unity.

Located in the base of the statue is a working water pump that supplies the villagers with clean water.

Those who visit Darahoa will have the chance to contemplate the impressive rooster statue and the symbolism behind it as well as watching tho cam being made while learning how to make it.

Furthermore, there are a wide range of products made from tho cam for sale such as sarongs, handbags, rucksacks and other souvenir items.

Contact any travel agents that provide tours to Da Lat about whether Darahoa is included in the tour itinerary.

Source ThanhnienNews

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Soaking in hot springs, exploring Ninh Binh caverns

With the weather in the northern region of Vietnam turning cool as of late, a relaxing weekend in a serene village soaking in hot springs and exploring hidden caverns could provide a wonderful escape.

To turn this idea into a reality, one should visit Ninh Binh Province where the Kenh Ga hot spring is located.

Located 90 km from Hanoi, the Kenh Ga hot spring was discovered and studied in 1940 by the French. The spring’s hot and salty water has a stable temperature of 53 degrees Celsius and contains minerals such as Calcium and bicarbonate that is thought to be good for one’s health. The water flows 5,000 cubic meters per hour from the heart of a limestone mountain.

Visitors can reach the Kenh Ga Hot Spring Tourist Area run by Viet Thai Tourism and Commerce Joint Stock Co. via a 15-minute boat ride at the Dong Chua Port in Kenh Ga Hamlet.

The tourist area spans eight hectares and has a 20-room hotel, a stilt house with six rooms and a large room for 30 guests.

The price is VND150,000 for a twin room and VND50,000 per person for the stilt house.

The area also has a 150-seater restaurant serving Ninh Binh specialties such as mountain goat starting at VND40,000 per person.

The area’s main attractions are the system of hot spring swimming pools, the whirlpool bathtubs and the hot tub. The staffers of Kenh Ga Hot Spring are ready to introduce guests to the health benefits of bathing in mineral-rich water.

Guests can choose to relax in the 0.5-1.4 m. deep whirlpool bathtub that was designed with Spanish technology. When the heat becomes too much, guests can swim in the pool located next to the bathtub. There are special tubs designed for children as well.

Guests in favor of a little privacy can choose a private bathroom; there are 20 private facilities with pine tubs filled with herbal water. Plans are currently underway to build a mud bath in this area as well.

The price for bathing in the hot spring is VND100,000, which includes boat transportation and entrance fees.

After a bath in the hot spring, guests can visit the Van Trinh cavern, which is located about three kilometers away.

Van Trinh, the largest cavern in Ninh Binh, spans 3,500 square meters in Mo Mountain. Once visitors reach the foot of the mountain, they must ascend three meters to a tourist house in order to enter the cavern.

Visitors must then climb eighty steps to reach the gate of the cavern, which is located 15 meters above the foot of the mountain. The cavern has two adjacent caves, one is short, while the other is tall.

The short cave, Ca Cave, is divided by a screen of stalactites. The cave’s right wall is covered by many formations that resemble string and long hair. Tourists must descend 63 steps to reach the ground level of the cavern. The cavern’s spacious ground floor spans 150 square meters and gives visitors the sensation of stepping into an ancient castle with sapphire arches and glittering diamonds. The area has many stalactites that resemble people sitting and standing and is nicknamed Heaven Market.

Source SaigonTimes

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Huyen Sy Church ancient beauty

Huyen Sy Church is one of five biggest churches in Ho Chi Minh City and attracts a great number of visitors and Catholic worshippers.

It is located, at the corner of Nguyen Trai and Ton That Tung Streets in District 1 of HCMC

In the old days of Saigon the wealthy and powerful Huyen Sy, who was the grandfather of Queen Nam Phuong, the wife of Vietnam’s last king, King Bao Dai, paid to have the church built.

Because he incurred the construction expenses, the church was named after him.

Rumor has it that Huyen Sy’s reason for having the church built was simply to have an impressive and religiously significant building baring his name.

Despite Huyen Sy’s less than pious reasons for sponsoring the construction of the church, from the time it opened until the present day, Huyen Sy Church has remained a tranquil place, popular among Vietnamese Catholics to come to light incense and votive candles, pray and genuflect.

The church was built in 1902 according to the architectural direction of Father Boutier.

The church is an imposing structure that has endured more than 100 years of harsh heat, driving rain and two wars of resistance against the French colonialists and the US

It was built in the Gothic architectural style which flourished in Europe during the medieval period.

The high ceiling with a vertical emphasis is defined by an ogival arch that is supported by pillars made from Bien Hoa granite.

Although an expansive area of windows is a distinctive feature of European-style Gothic architecture, the window area of Huyen Sy Church was reduced to keep out the tropical sun as well as to create a more atmospheric worship area.

Off of the nave is a room that contains tombs and statues of Mr. and Mrs. Huyen Sy which were built with precious marble.

Marble was used to honor this rich couple because it is considered a luxurious material.

Because the church was constructed with granite, it was extremely difficult to engrave patterns on the surface.

However, some of the pillars have been meticulously engraved with unique religious impressions.

Huyen Sy Church is fronted with a tri-pinnacled spire.

From the outside the building is a grand and intimidating structure, while the inside is warm and awe-inspiring.

There is a peaceful flower garden on the church grounds.

Father Boutier built another similarly styled church in HCMC during the same period he built Huyen Sy Church.

The hundred-year-old church is called Thu Duc Church and is located on Vo Van Ngan Street in the Thu Duc District.

Source ThanhnienNews

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