Discover Ha Long bay in a new style

We were joining in an interesting journey to one the new natural wonders. In this 3 day 2 night trip, we were gonna visit Surprise Cave, swim at Ti Top beach, visit fishing villages but the most interesting part must be Squid fishing and Ngoc Vung Island.

We departed from Hanoi at 8a.m, chatting loudly as we were on the way. We were joining in an interesting journey to one the new natural wonders. In this 3 day 2 night trip, we were gonna visit Surprise Cave, swim at Ti Top beach, visit fishing villages but the most interesting part must be Squid fishing and Ngoc Vung Island.

Time flies, we only had 15 minute break at a traditional handicraft village on the way. 11h 30 we reached Quang Ninh province. We stopped at Bai Chay wharf to aboard with Indochinasails. Cool towers were served as we came in an airconditioned friendly restaurant. A tender took us to Indochinasails. From the distance of 10m, we could hear the drums, see friendly smiles of the boarding staff. Welcome drink served at the restaurant onboard made us refresh. We had a short snap before having lunch at 1 p.m. The big and full menu kept us almost 1h to go through. The sailboat moved slowly during lunch. We could see the outside scenes through the glass windows but felt no moves at all as everything was perfect. After lunch, we rushed to the sun deck to take photos as the sun shone so brightly. There were no time to spare, at 3p.m we either had a swim at Ti Top beach or Kayaking to discover Bat Cave. No one wasted any moments as we were noticed of a Wine Tasting on the sundeck at 6p.m.

Before dinner, it is the most amazing time of the day if you are lying on one of the long chairs on the sundeck. Summer breezes and classic music, you would wonder how they match together, sipping some wine. Buffet dinner began at 7p.m. Each table was lighed by a candle light. Traditional musical instruments were played by local artists in such a closed and simple manner. After a day of activities, we gathered on the sundeck, listening to the music. Some of us tried squid fishing at the head of the boat. We went to bed early for tomorrow’s program.

We were informed to take dayboat to Ngoc Vung island at 7a.m but we cannot wait to wake up at 5.30 a.m for Tai Chi exercises and sunrise on the sundeck. We temporarily transferred to a dayboat to explore Ngoc Vung island. They prepared some bikes to move on the island. It took us nearly 3 hours to get Ngoc Vung island. We had no time to get bored. Having breakfast, sunbathing and telling jokes. The island we reached was so peaceful. Fresh water were transported by pass-by boats. They seemed to have no links with the outside world. On the way to the beach, we had a chance to discover their lives as we were moving nearby. Passing through a pine line, an amazing beach facing us. At the very first moments, we recall its name Ngoc Vung – sesame diamonds. The sand was just white and tiny as sesame seeds. Imagine just you and the nature, you could hear the waves moving towards the beach. A true paradise away from noisy city life.

We back to the boat for lunch, chatting noisily on the way back. We shared the photos taken and rested for a while. One hour after lunch, we started kayaking. It was a real adventure, we ourselves could explore the beautiful scenes. We expected another exciting evening at fishing village. We were lucky to have a dark night, without moonlight, the squids would easily be attracted by the neon light. We saw a lot of fish and quids in the fishing net. They were pushed out onto the front deck. At that moment, we seemed to feel the hardness of a fisherman life.

The next morning, the boat is anchored so near Surprise Cave that we could visit the cave in just few minute transferred by tender. We had a big brunch before check out. It is a very special journey in luxury, a fancy indochinasails and amazing initerary, the experience that deserves to be shared.

More information, contact:

Hanoi Sales Office:

Tel: (84-4) 984 2362

Fax: (84-4) 984 4150

Email: info@indochinasails.com

Related link:

Overnight cruise on Ha Long Bay

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Vinh Hy: beautiful virginal Bay of Ninh Thuan

Around 40 kilometers northeastern away from Phan Rang - Cham Temple Town is Vinh Hy Bay, one of the most beautiful natural landscapes of Ninh Thuan Province.

Nestled between two popular tourist destinations of Nha Trang City (Khanh Hoa Province) in the north and Phan Thiet - Mui Ne in the south, the bay still reserves its rural beauty with white sand beach, steep rocky mountain ranges, caves and spectacular waterfalls.

To reach the bay, tourists from HCMC have to pass over 350 kilometers by land. There are two routes for tourists to choose: the first and easiest one is from National High-way 1A to the North and then turn right.

The second, longer yet more interesting one is the newly open coastal road from Binh Chau - Phuoc Buu (Ba Ria-Vung Tau Province) to Lagi Town (Binh Thuan Province) then tourists follow National Highway 1A to Phan Rang Town and turn again to the coastal road, passing Nui Chua National Park to the bay.

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Visit Da Nang for a wonderful tour!

Da Nang is the third largest city in Vietnam, after Ho Chi Minh City and Ha Noi, and it is the largest in the Central region. It has an area of 1,300 square kilometers and a population of 1 million. The city’s Hoang Sa district is an archipelago consisting of 18 islands.

Da Nang’s cultural history dates back only 300 years; It was settled by Vietnamese long after the North. Highlights for visitors include the Museum of Cham Sculpture and the ancient pagodas of Hai Chau Pho Da Long Tho.

Da Nang is on the end of an East-West Economic Corridor which stretches over Vietnam, Laos, Thailand and Myanmar. Therefore, it is easy to organize international tours to the city.

Da Nang International Airport is located in the center of the city. It is Viet Nam’s third largest international airport and a gateway to the Central region. The airport has domestic flights to Ha Noi, Ho Chi Minh City and Quy Nhon, as well as international flights to Bangkok and Singapore.

If you travel by sea, you can arrive at the port of Tien Sa. If you drive or take a bus, you can take National Highway 1 or National Highway 14B.

When the Hai Van tunnel opened in 2005, it reduced the distance between Da Nang and Hue by 20km. This saved 30 to 60 minutes compared to travel over the old Hai Van Pass route.

What can be seen in Da Nang?

Marble Mountain is a cluster of marble and limestone hills. In Vietnamese it is called Ngũ Hành Sơn, literally "five-element mountains". It is located in Ngu Hanh Son District, south of Da Nang. The five 'mountains' are named after the five traditional elements of universe: metal (Kim Son), water (Thuy Son), wood (Moc Son), fire (Hoa Son), and earth (Tho Son).

All of these mountains have cave entrances and numerous tunnels. It is possible to climb to the summit of one of the peaks. Several Buddhist sanctuaries can also be found, making it a tourist attraction.

Champa Museum

The Champa museum founded in 1915 is located near the intersection of Tran Phu Street and Le Dinh Duong Street and is open daily from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. The museum introduces the history of the Champa people. Inside is a veritable treasure trove with more than 500 Champa objects.

These objects show an advanced culture and civilization, including statues of the gods of Siva, Lasmi and Skanda. In the solemn and quiet atmosphere inside the museum, one can not only enjoy the cultural masterpieces of the ancient Champa people, but also listen to a guided tour of their legends, histories and beliefs.

One can then make educated guesses as to their aspirations for the future. To help one get into the spirit of things, visitors can also watch Champa dance performed by expert dancers from the Museum Hall.

Da Nang Cathedral

Known to locals as Con Ga church because of the weathercock on top of the steeple, Da Nang Cathedral was built for French and other Catholic residents in 1923. It is on Tran Phu Street. Other places to visit are Caodai Temple, Phap Lam Pagoda, Pho Da pagoda, and Ba Na hill station.

You can enjoy Da Nang beautiful beaches including My Khe beach, Thanh Binh Beach, Nam Beach, and China Beach.

Da Nang is creating a shopping street between the Hung Vuong-Phan Chau Trinh and Hung Vuong-Pham Ngu Lao intersections in the hope of luring more tourists to the coastal city’s downtown.

Source SGGP

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10 seconds of royalty

Dressing up as nobility is a favorite activity for visitors to the Tu Duc Royal Tomb.

Visitors to the Tu Duc Royal Tomb in the old imperial city of Hue can get one step closer to understanding the nobility of times past – by dressing up as kings and queens.

A regal golden throne sits in the entrance area of the Tu Duc Royal Tomb along with several rows of chairs and a palanquin (a covered chair used to carry a person of importance).

A signboard on the throne and palanquin reads: “Without the royal costume, sitting on the throne is not allowed.”

And so, for a small fee, tourists flock to choose traditional outfits from two racks of clothing so they may sit on the regal chair and experience the feeling of royalty for 10 seconds.

For VND30,000 (US$1.9) visitors can purchase a ticket and try on the traditional royal garb.

The costume consists of a king or queen’s gown, crown and a pair of cloth shoes.

Kings and queens can then sit in the throne and have their photo taken by a professional photographer.

The throne is painted bright red and yellow, and adorned with gold trim.

At the foot are two stone “kylins” where the king or queen would rest their feet.

On one side of the throne is a palanquin with decorative fans and behind it are two pillars carved with mystical dragons.

Photos of the “kings” and “queens” are then mailed to their home addresses.

Tu Duc (1829-1883) was the fourth emperor of the Nguyen Dynasty, the last feudal monarchy of Vietnam.

His mausoleum is located in Thuong Ba Hamlet, Thuy Xuan Commune, Hue City.

It consists of 50 ancient structures and is considered the most beautiful royal tomb of the Nguyen Dynasty.

Source Thanh Nien News

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Burning desire for Chau Doc

An Giang is famed for its year-round sun, labyrinthine rivers and sacred mountains.

The young boatman joked as he guided me around Chau Doc, citing a common saying: That Son, bay nui nam ke. Khi di thi trang, khi ve den thui (Your fair skin will be sunburnt after you visit seven mountains).

With hot, sunny days year-round, this scenic town in the southwestern province of An Giang bordering Cambodia is famed for its brisk winds, labyrinth of waterways and sacred mountains.

Lying shoulder to shoulder with the two Cambodian towns of Takeo and Kandal, Chau Doc is at the upper reach of the Cuu Long (Mekong) River as it first enters Viet Nam before splitting into two smaller branches, the Tien River and Hau River.

Departing from HCM City, travellers have several options to reach the area via waterways or roads. While a voyage across Can Tho city will take about four hours, a van trip will last eight hours.

Although my van journey was a long and tiring one because of the hot weather, the cool wind wafting across the Hau River and through the summer leaves of the Victoria Chau Doc Hotel’s garden swept away my fatigue.

During my three-day trip, I was warmly welcomed at the hotel, a charming, tranquil place of classic distinction. Standing on the hotel’s balcony, I enjoyed the sight of the rippling river glittering in the afternoon sun.

When night falls in the border town, visitors can take a xe loi tour around the town. Xe loi is a traditional bicycle attached with a two-wheel seat, and can be found everywhere in town.

"The little busy town of Chau Doc is very special. It’s very much like a modern girl wearing jeans and T-shirt and being surrounded by a group of rural girls in conical hats and Cham girls in colourful sarongs who have their faces hidden under silk veils," says Tran Minh Nguyen, a tourist visiting from Ha Noi.

Being a border town, Chau Doc has an interesting blend of Cham, Khmer and Viet cultures, reflected in the architectural mix of churches, pagodas and mosques.

A quick stop by boat at the Chau Doc floating village offers the curious an opportunity to have a close look at the fascinating life in this watery town.

Locals raise tra and ba sa fish for food on the floating villages, which resemble a big fish farm on the river.

Thousands of tra and basa fish are kept and fed in nets, which are firmly attached to a wooden boat and dipped in the deep water below.

The friendly hosts showed us how to feed the fish through a small hole in front of their makeshift homes by throwing a handful of fish food into it.

Immediately, thousands of fish pushed their way through the school to compete for the food, splashing water at the wide-eyed visitors.

"When the harvest season comes, farmers will pull up their wooden floors and lift the net to catch fish. Each floating home can harvest up to several tonnes of fish," Phala, our 26-year-old Cham boatman, told me.

Leaving the village, Phala took us to his village, which was immersed in the fresh green of dien dien bushes, with edible flowers, growing beside the water.

Although the Cham in An Giang Province and Phan Rang-Thap Cham City of Ninh Thuan Province are Islamic, their lifestyles are very different.

The Cham in Phan Rang-Thap Cham City raise cattle and grow grapefruit to make alcoholic beverages, while those in Chau Doc earn their living by fishing and weaving.

Cloth made by Cham women is special and differs from the handmade cloth made by ethnic minority women in Viet Nam’s mountainous northwestern region. Cham cloth is silkier, more lustrous and shines with vibrant colours.

Products made of these special silks, such as scarves, clothing or bags, sell quickly at reasonable prices.

Visiting the village, guests can watch how weavers make the cloth and take a side trip to discover the intriguing design of the village’s magnificent mosques.

Border similarities

Lying deep in the Cuu Long (Mekong) Delta and at the Cambodian border, the region shares a similar climate and vegetation with its neighbouring country.

A 30-minute van trip will take travellers from the border town to the gate of Tinh Bien, where the seven mountain ranges of That Son rise above the region’s lowland fields covered in floodwaters as the rainy season arrives.

Tourists should take notice that although the border-gate site has a breathtaking natural spectacle, they cannot take photographs because of security reasons.

The route stretches from the border gate to Tri Ton Town, where the Sam Mountain attracts thousands of visitors to the Ba Chua Xu (Lady Xu) temple every year.

The temple’s unique sandstone Lady Xu monument and its sacred temple have turned the small riverside town into a pilgrimage site for centuries.

"Three days can hardly be enough for visitors to dig into Chau Doc’s uniqueness. There’re still many hidden beauties, so I will come back one day," said one visiting Hanoian.

Source Viet Nam News

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Border town

Continuing her trip into the remote north of Vietnam, Duc Hanh travels to Simacai, a mysterious border town with imposing cloudy peaks and a vibrant market .

Before traveling north my friend had recommended I rent a room in Bac Ha then take a day trip to Simacai as there are no rooms in the border town. At just 26km from Bac Ha town, it is a relatively short trip, though the road is a long and winding one. As I am travelling on the back of motorbike on unfamiliar and unpredictable roads a bit of caution is required by the driver (my husband!).

Contrary to the misty Can Cau market the sky above Simacai is clear and blue. With a cool breeze on my face I take a deep breath and bask in the glory of the seemingly endless mountain ranges around. On the road I can see the roof-tops far down below in the valleys. The landscape is the most beautiful and peaceful I have come across on my journey so far.

The young flower Mong women I see along the road are like the fairies in this bucolic paradise. After an hour driving at a snail’s pace, I arrive at the Border Martyrs’ Cemetery on the outskirts of Simacai. Here brave border soldiers who laid down their lives to defend their country are buried. Situated at an altitude of 1,000 meters above sea level, the average temperature of Simacai town is about 15 degrees Celsius. The district of Simacai stretches across 23,000ha in Lao Cai province.

There are 11 ethnic minorities living in the district, but Mong people account for 81.4 percent (The name Simacai means “the new horse market’ in Mong.) Different from what I imagined an out-of-the-way town might look like, Simacai town is rather spacious and tidy. The town centre is positively stately with modern governmental and administrative buildings leaning against the mountain backdrop.

Shops providing internet cards, Sim Cards and cable TV services line the streets along with coffee shops, karaoke bars and restaurants. It’s a bustling border town – so where are the hotels and guesthouses? Coming between modern concrete and brick houses are thatch-roofed, wooden or earthen houses of Mong people.

Also merging with Western-styled shirts and trousers are the colourful traditional outfits worn by Mong women. The town seems to be an axis on which modern and traditional worlds swirl around. Following Vinh, a young local I meet in a cafe, I visit a Chinese temple in ruins.

Only two stone lions and an obsolete entrance can be seen now. “Twenty years ago, before the temple collapsed, it was said to be a sophisticated and marvellous building before it burnt down during a border war,” says Vinh. When I ask about the absence of hotels and guesthouses, Vinh assures me there are several ones here with reasonable prices.

But tourism is low key here and foreigners need to have a permit to stay at a hotel. That’s why most foreign tourists drive from Bac Ha in the morning to catch the market. But we can stay. My husband, the gallant man that he is, heads back to fetch our luggage in Bac Ha. This means I get to relax on the balcony of Thu Huong guesthouse, from where I can see the weather changing quite visibly above the mountains.

At six in the evening, suddenly the whole town is pitch-dark as the power goes off. We eat a candle-lit dinner of delicious mountain chicken. But with little to do in the evening we have a good sleep (in a clean room). Its lucky that we have had such an early night as at the ungodly hour of five in the morning, the town comes alive. I wake up rather befuddled but then I remember – the Sunday market! I look out from the balcony.

Rain is coming down thick and heavy so there’s no rush to head out. But outside the guesthouse members of Mong, La Chi, Phu La, Nung Hill Tribes in colourful costumes are already congregating under their umbrellas. People on their way to the market carry babies as well as baskets of vegetables.

Others have black pigs or small dogs on a leash, or horses loaded with goods. Opposite the market entrance, by the Simacai Frontier Post, there is a band of horses fidgeting in the rain as traders quietly negotiate a price. Though the market is muddy underfoot and rather crowded, we decide to get in amongst it. You can find stacks of embroidery, traditional tools, electric home utensils, accessories, food and drink.

Oddly, just like at Can Cau market ice cream is everywhere. Even a toothless old woman with a chicken under one arm is enjoying one. Even though the ice cream costs just VND500 we decide to go find some noodles for breakfast instead before exploring the valleys beyond Simacai.

Source Timeout

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The beauty of terraced fields

The northern mountainous province of Lao Cai has two seasons that are good for admiring the beauty of terraced fields.

Local farmers often start cultivating rice in June and July, when rain comes. During this time, the best summer scenes appear on terraced fields in Trung Chai, Ta Phi, Lao Chai, Ta Van, Hau Thao, Ban Ho, Ta Giang Phinh in Sapa, Lau Thi Ngai, Lung Phinh in Bac Ha, Muong Hum, Muong Vi, Sang Ma Sao, Den Sang, Y Ty, Ngai Thau and A Lu in Bat Xat, Sin Cheng and Can Cau in Si Ma Cai, and Tung Chung Pho, Ta Ngai Cho, Pha Long and Lung Khau Nhin in Muong Khuong district.

The ethnic groups of Dao, Mong, Ha Nhi, Giay, Tay, Xa Pho, Nung and Pa Di have been planting rice in terraced fields for several centuries. Terraced fields are masterpieces made by humans. They are not only paddy baskets of ethnic minorities in Lao Cai but also landscapes that attract tourists.

The beauty of terraced fields has also inspired many artists.

Source TP/Vietnamnet

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Life’s a beach

Is the plan to reclaim a stretch of sandy beach for public use in Danang too little to late?

Prior to the current tourism boom the endless coastal stretch from Danang to Hoi An had been free from development for years. The beaches used to be a place for locals to take a dip on hot summer days or unload their overnight catch. But, the tourism boom has seen this stunning coastline divvied up by developers and it seems inevitable that grand resorts will soon have a monopoly on the seaside view.

That’s all very well for the more cashed up members of society and travelling community but the locals that once swam freely would be doing well to afford to join in the fun. The developers would argue that the hotels and resorts will provide employment with better earnings for the local population, though not everyone wants to or can make that kind of transition.

Fishermen will sail elsewhere as beaches accommodate the guests of the luxury hotels and golf courses. The developers will fence off the beach fronts so privileged guests are undisturbed. Local swimmers will have to drive further up the coast to find a spot to dump their bucket and spade.

For the time being you can flop around the beach at Non Nuoc or Cua Dai but for how much longer? Local authorities eager for tourism dollars continue to lease the beaches out to hotel developers. Hotel groups such as Hyatt, Raffles and InterContinental all have designs on this part of the country.

In Danang, at least, the authorities decided to buck the trend and earmarked a modest stretch in My Khe beach for public swimming. On Son Tra peninsula, the former military zone, nearly got swept away by the wave of tourism. The Danang authorities decided to reserve a small piece of this small paradise for public bathing and announced it would reclaim three hectares of Bai Nam and Bai Con for public use.

The only problem is that they already signed off this beach to a developer, which is still planning to build 198 villas and a hotel. The company is refusing to back off, claiming they have mortgaged the land to a bank to take out a loan for the construction of the resort. The matter is unresolved.

It is odd, however, that the authorities looked to stop a project that was already under construction while just a few hundred metres away, another resort project has sat idly for years with just a few half-completed villas

Related links:

Source Timeout

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Visiting Dau Tieng Lake in Tay Ninh Province

Dau Tieng Lake, located in Phuoc Minh Commune in Tay Ninh Province's, Duong Minh Chau District, is the largest irrigation reservoir in Vietnam with a capacity of 1.6 billion cubic meters, enough for watering 63,000 hectares of farmland in Tay Ninh and HCMC plus 40,000 hectares in the provinces of Binh Duong and Long An through the Saigon and Vam Co rivers.

Especially, the lake is also a frequent place for sightseers for its beautiful landscape of mountains, mysterious islets and its fresh and pure atmosphere. Being far away from the residential area, the lake has crystal like, clean water and on sunny days, the water reflects the blue color of the sky.

Stretching along the lake is the Cau Mountain and a valley next to a primeval forest close to its bank, and scattered here and there in the lake are small islets. The lake's bank with its green grass coverage could be an ideal place for camping and visitors coming there could go fishing or watching the locals catch fish in the lake.

Cau Mountain has a height of 198 meters with a diverse floristic composition and protective forest extending to 1,600 hectares. At the top of the mountain is Thai Son Pagoda, which attracts many pilgrims in the 15th day of the first lunar month.

Next to Cau Mountain in the rubber plantation is Cau Nom Lake, which also has very pure and clean water with fresh air and tranquilizing atmosphere. There is also Tha La peninsula with an area of 57 hectares next to the lake. On the peninsula, locals grow many tropical fruit trees such as mango and longan.

To reach the lake, tourists can follow the National Highway No.13 to Thu Dau Mot Town in Binh Duong Province. When reaching the second highway toll station on Binh Duong Boulevard, tourists turn right Nguyen Chi Thanh Street (744 Street) and run through this street for about 30 kilometers and turn right at the T-junction of Thanh Tuyen Commune in Ben Cat District. Tourists then come to the center of Dau Tieng Town of Dau Tieng District and follow this street to Dau Tieng Lake.

Related links:

Source SGT

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Nature’s gift

Recognized as one of the Vietnam’s most beautiful beaches by the World Tourism Organization, Cua Lo is a tourist hot spot.

The summer season in Cua Lo in Nghe An Province, half way between Hue and Hanoi, has just begun with a warm welcome for beach lovers.

Only 18 km from the provincial capital Vinh, Cua Lo Beach is well known for its smooth sand and sparkling sea.

Cua Lo town’s main drag is Binh Minh Street.

With hotels on one side and a natural casuarina forest on the other, the road is shaded all day.

In an effort to preserve the town’s natural beauty, hotels must be low and stilt houses peak out from behind the trees.

Just a short boat ride from the beach are two islands – Lan Chau which is 1 km to the north-east and Ngu (Fish) Island 4 km offshore.

These two islands protect Cua Lo beach from heavy storms and strong winds coming in from the East Sea.

Ngu Island is riddled with trails inviting visitors to wander for hours.

The captain summons passengers back with a bell and ferries them to a floating village specializing in ca gio, a fish weighing up to 5 kg whose meat is as white and tender as lean pork.

The fishermen, who raise ca gio in submerged cages, hope to relocate further out to a 300 hectare area west of Mat (Eye) Island, a move they expect will lure more tourists.

The nearby Quynh Nhai Island group, 20 km from the beach, has many small, picturesque islands.

Once in Cua Lo, besides swimming and sun-bathing, tourists can visit islands by boat, climb the mountains, dive, and visit historic and literary sites such as Nguyen Xi Temple in Nghi Hop Commune and Trung Kien Pagoda in Nghi Thiet Commune.

Founded in 1994 with only eight hotels and limited services, the Cua Lo Beach town has developed rapidly.

The town now has modern infrastructure, transport, and entertainment venues.

Over 200 hotels and guest houses can serve some 13,000 visitors per day.

Tourists can travel to Cua Lo by air, train, sea, or car.

Source Thanh Nien News

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Hoang De Citadel

The Hoang De (Emperor) Citadel in Binh Dinh Province is a must-see for Vietnamese history lovers.

The former forbidden city, which changed hands several times during the late 18th century, is located in An Nhon District, on the site of the prior Do Ban Citadel in the Champa Kingdom.

It was rebuilt in 1776 by the order of the ruler of Tay Son Dynasty, King Nguyen Nhac, one of the three national heroes who led a resistance against Ching invaders from China.

According to Dia chi Binh Dinh (The Book about Binh Dinh), the Hoang De Citadel has an outer circumference of 7,400 meters.

It originally had five gates but only one remains open for tourists.

Most of the citadel has been ruined.

A brick tomb is badly damaged but still is used for worshipping.

In front of the citadel is Thap Thap Pagoda where Hon da chem (Beheading Stone) is preserved.

When the Nguyen troops seized the citadel in 1799 from the Tay Son, they beheaded the captured generals on this rectangular stone.

Half a kilometer away there are two stone elephants on either side of the road.

According to legend the two elephants had their tusks broken in a battle and lay there to die.

The original red earthen walls still remain outside the former forbidden city on a rocky hill.

When the Nguyen troops took over Hoang De Citadel in 1799 they renamed it Binh Dinh Citadel.

A civil war followed, with many battles between the Tay Son and Nguyen troops.

The tombs of Vo Tanh and Ngo Tung Chau, two generals from the Nguyen dynasty are in the heart of the citadel.

They committed suicide and had their bodies burnt when Tay Son troops retook the citadel two years later in 1801.

Today, the Hoang De Citadel is situated in a residential area.

People may visit it for free. The security guard also acts as a tour guide.

Source Thanh Nien News

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The road to Cambodia

The bus ride from Ho Chi Minh City to Phnom Penh is getting quicker all the time, as work on the road on the Cambodian side nears completion.

It takes about seven hours, sometimes less, depending on how the border checks go.

About an hour out of the Khmer capital there are a few holdups with road work, but compared to a few months ago they are minimal.

The road is quite smooth and comfortable and there is plenty of interesting scenery to look at.

The border crossing at Moc Bai/ Bavet costs about VND400,000 (US$25) for foreigners – VND300,000 ($18.75) for the Cambodian visa and VND100,000 ($6.25) for the bus company – to organize all the passengers and passports in one hit.

Several local money changers work the strip but only offer half the going rate, so it’s better to wait till you get to a bank in Phnom Penh.

For a short stay US dollars are the main currency anyway.

Then the bus passes through the Cambodian border casino paradox, where dirty markets are juxtaposed with rows of large glitzy gambling houses against a backdrop of a fairly desolate landscape.

The roadside lunch restaurant stop has a wide range of excellent Khmer food, the chicken curry is a special favorite.

They accept US dollars, Vietnamese dong or Cambodian riel, whatever you have.

The dish is not particularly cheap, at about US$3.

The next stop is a river ferry crossing at Kandal.

Vendors assail the bus with all sorts of delicacies in trays balanced on their heads.

The bus driver often has to shut the door to keep the passengers in and the vendors out.

Big-bellied fried frogs, baby birds and crickets are the main fare.

God knows how much they cost – I didn’t ask! But there were also some little sweet glutinous rice cakes wrapped in banana leaves – 50 for $1.

A few hours up the road is Phnom Penh. A tuk-tuk can take you from the bus station to your hotel.

Source Thanh Nien News

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Saigon’s One-Pillar Pagoda

Nam Thien Nhat Tru Pagoda in Ho Chi Minh City is a place that can alleviate the homesickness of migrants from the North.

It also gives southerners and tourists an opportunity to experience the charm of the real One-Pillar Pagoda in Hanoi.

This pagoda, at 100 Nguyen Van Bi Street in HCMC’s Thu Duc District, is a replica of Hanoi’s famous Mot Cot (One Pillar) Pagoda.

Designed by architect Nguyen Gia Duc, the Nam Thien Nhat Tru Pagoda was built in 1958 by Buddhist monk Thich Tri Dung.

Its rafters, tile roofs, floral patterns and the arrangement of altars are the same as the Hanoi original.

The Nam Thien Nhat Tru Pagoda is perched above a square lake of about 600 square meters.

It sits on a 12-meter-high cement pillar in the middle of the lake.

Inside, there are altars for Sakya Muni Buddha, Wan Yin Boddhisattva and other sacred beings.

Behind the main section is a tower and a commemorative room.

The lake has a lot of fish and turtles.

The staircase up to the pagoda is decorated with ornamental plants.

In the compound of the Nam Thien Nhat Tru Pagoda, there are big statues of Buddhas and bodhisattvas (Buddhist deities) in different postures.

The view of the pagoda gives visitors a feeling of comfort and relaxation.

An original sanctuary

The original Mot Cot Pagoda, or One-Pillar Pagoda, is located in Ba Dinh District in Hanoi.

It is also known as Lien Hoa Dai (Lotus Calyx) and Dien Huu (Long-Term Good Luck).

The original One-Pillar Pagoda was built in 1049 by King Ly Thai Tong, who ruled between 1028 and 1054.

The Mot Cot Pagoda has become one of the symbols of Hanoi.

It also appears in the logo of Vietnam Television Station (VTV) and on the VND5,000 coin.

On May 4, 2006, the Mot Cot Pagoda was included in the Book of Vietnam Records as “the pagoda with the most original architecture in Vietnam.”

Source Thanh Nien News

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Little Ha Long Bay

With a cluster of rocks and mountains in its midst, the lake – located in a cultural park 30 km outside of Ho Chi Minh City – brings to mind a smaller version of northern Vietnam’s Ha Long Bay.

Long An Lake looks particularly charming on a quiet afternoon.

In the late 18th century, the Nguyen clan was defeated by the Tay Son troops and Nguyen Anh, a prominent member of the clan was forced to flee, stopping at what is now the Buu Long Cultural Park in Bien Hoa Town in the province of Dong Nai.

In 1802, Anh unified the country, became the Gia Long Emperor and established the Nguyen Dynasty, the last monarchy of Vietnam.

The name of the lake, Long An, or the Dragon – a popular Asian symbol for the King – is thus derived from this historical period.

The rocks in the middle of the lake, the park’s key attraction, tell an even more interesting story.

These rocks were once part of a bigger cluster of mountains but after years of intensive mining by locals, the mountains became what they are now – small rocky outcrops scattered throughout the lake.

The cultural ministry has designated the park a nationally protected site.

Visitors can tour the lake by boat and for families with kids, Buu Long Park offers a mini-amusement park with merry-go-rounds, ball houses and roller coasters.

Additional interesting features include a set of exactly 100 steps that lead up a nearby hill to a 17th-century pagoda which exhibits items from the ancient Nguyen Dynasty.

Tourists can enjoy being outside amongst the trees and carefully pruned tropical plants.

And for those looking for a more peaceful, quiet escape, a simple restaurant offers a full view of the lake where one can sit and sip Vietnamese coffee while gazing out at the water.

Entrance fee: VND10,000 (US$0.61.) per person

Source ThanhNienNews

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Caravan, an emerging brand of Vietnam tourism

Caravan tours are becoming a new brand of Viet Nam tourism, the head of the Travel Department under the National Tourism Administration said recently.

Mr. Vu The Binh said about 2,000 international caravan cars have visited Viet Nam over the past three years since this way of traveling started in the country.

If the Government approves regulations to allow both left-hand and right-hand drive cars to enter Viet Nam, the number of caravan tours to the country this year would be equal to the total of all previous years.

Recently, the National Tourism Administration have organized different programs to further promote the domestic hospitality industry to overseas markets, such as a caravan tour through six Southeast Asian countries, and carrying out surveys in Laos and Cambodia to prepare for a planned program called “three countries – one destination”, and designed to attract more tourists to the three Indochinese nations.

Source SGGP/Vietnamnet

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