Travel to Halong Bay Vietnam

Five new Old Quarter tours launched

2012-01-12T20:58:00.000-08:00

Tourists will have more opportunities to explore Hanoi's Old Quarter in a more environmentally friendly way with the launch of five new tours that use electric cars.

The new tours, which were launched on Wednesday, take foreign and domestic tourists along 28 streets in the Old Quarter, visiting historical sites, vestiges and old architecture to give participants an insight into local history and culture and the life of people in the area.

The new tours also visit traditional handicraft artisans, travel along the Old Quarter's traditional trade streets and highlight the cuisine and cultural life of the area.

Electric cars have been used for tours in the Old Quarter since 2010. They have served many tourists, with 30 per cent of tour participants being foreigners, according to Do Xuan Thuy, director of the Dong Xuan Company, which operates Old Quarter tours and services.

Source: VNS

Da Nang International Paramotor Competition to be held in 2012

2011-11-22T20:25:00.001-08:00

The central coastal city of Da Nang will host an International Paramotor Competition on May 30, 2012 at the East Sea Park, said Vice Chairman of the city’s People Committee Phung Tan Viet.

Accordingly, the competition will attract the participation of 50-70 competitors of eight international teams from Japan, Argentina, the UK, France, the US, the Republic of Korea, China and Spain.

The city is seeking competitors with international certificate on paramotor to set up a team to take part in the competition.

The privately funded-budget for the contest is estimated about VND 14 billion.

Besides the main event, the organising board will arrange kiosks introducing and promoting local tourism, a country market fair, art embroidery and Hoi An lanterns to serve domestic and international tourists.

(Source: CPV)]

Suoi Tien Park being among 12 most beloved parks

2011-11-17T20:42:00.000-08:00

Suoi Tien Cultural Amusement Park in Ho Chi Minh City was named as one of the 12 most beloved parks in the world on website: http://www.thetravelerszone.com.

Located in the Northwest of Ho Chi Minh City, the Park, embracing 12 main parts with a total area of 200,000 square metres and a 2,000 long underground stream, is an attractive destination of Vietnam tour for visitors. The Park’s design was based on legends of Vietnamese culture and history, such as Lac Long Quan-Au Co, the Hung Kings and Son Tinh-Thuy Tinh (Kings of Mountain and Water).

The Park attracts from 1.5 to 2 million visitors each year.

Together with Suoi Tien Cultural Amusement Park, the travel website also named 11th of the most beloved parks around the world, namely, ‘Magic Kingdom’ in Disney World – Orlando, Florida, ‘Adventure Islands’ in Florida, ‘Cedar Point’ – Ohio, ‘Epcot’ – Orlando, ‘Blackpool Pleasure Beach’ – Lancashire (UK), ‘Aventura’ (Spain), ‘Europa’ (Germany), ‘Tivoli Gardens’ in Copenhagen, ‘Tokyo Disneyland’ (Japan), ‘Shijingshan Qu’ in Beijing, ‘Ocean Park’ in Hongkong (China).

Source: CPV

Halong – a wonder of the creator

2011-10-25T00:05:00.000-07:00

Located in Quang Ninh Province, Halong Bay includes the sea areas of Halong City, Cam Pha Town and a part of Van Don island district. With the admirable natural beauty and multiform, special values, Halong has become famous destination of Vietnam tour for domestic and international visitors.

The legend has it that, once upon a time, soon after the Viet people established their country, invaders came. The Jade Emperor sent Mother Dragon and her Child Dragons down to the earth to help the Viet people fight against their enemy. When the dragons landed down on the earth, invaders’ boats were rushing to the shore. The dragons immediately turned into thousands of stone islands emerging in the sea like great walls challenging the invaders’ boats. The fast boats couldn’t manage to stop and crashed into the islands and broke into pieces. After the victory, Mother Dragon and Child Dragons didn’t return the heaven but stayed on the earth at the place where the battle had occurred. The location Mother Dragon landed is present Halong Bay and Child Dragons landed is present Bai Tu Long Bay. The dragons’ tails waving the water created Bach Long Vi (present Tra Co Peninsula).

Halong Bay covers the area of 1,553km² and encompasses 1,969 islands of various sizes which are mainly limestone islands with tectonic age from 250 million to 280 million years. The process of long geological evolution created the unique Halong Bay in the world with thousands of islands which look like fantastic sculptural and artistic works of various graceful shapes such as Canh Buom (Sail) Islet, Trong Mai (Cock and Hen) Islet, Lu Huong (Incense Burner) Islet… All of them are vivid and soulful.

Inside the stone islands in Halong are various caves considered as magnificent palaces on the earth such as Thien Cung (Heaven Palace), Dau Go (Driftwood), Sung Sot (Surprise), Trinh Nu (Virgin)… Many people from all over the world to Halong have felt puzzled as their vocabulary is not rich enough to depict the splendor of this place.

Halong is also home to great biodiversity with typical eco-systems like mangrove forest, tropical forest, coral… These eco-systems are where thousands of fauna and flora species concentrates. Some species are particularly rare and can’t be found at any where else.

In addition, Halong Bay is also attached to glorious historical pages of Vietnam country with famous sites such as Van Don – the busy trade port in the 12th century, Bai Tho Mountain – where preserve autography of kings and celebrities and Bach Dang River – witness for two famous naval battles of Vietnamese people against invaders. Also, Halong is considered as one of the cradles of human kind with the glorious Halong culture in the late Neolithic age through archeological sites as Dong Mang, Xich Tho, Soi Nhu and Thoi Gieng…

Up to this time, some floating fishing villages have still existed in the sea area of Halong Bay such as Ba Hang, Cua Van, Vong Vieng, Cap La. Many special tangible and intangible culture values of the coastal area have been preserved in these fishing villages, especially Cua Van fishermen’s dual love songs, dum songs, wedding songs … Visiting these fishing villages, visitors will have chance to study the fishermen’s daily activities as well as typical traditional culture in Halong Bay.

In 1994 and 2000, Halong Bay has recognized by UNESCO as world natural heritage for its outstanding aesthetic and geographical, geomorphologic values. The UNESCO-recognized zone has the area of 434km². It looks like a giant triangle with Dau Go Island (in the west), Ba Ham Lake (in the south) and Cong Tay Island (in the east) as its three angle points.

In the global vote for new 7 wonders of nature mobilized by New Open World organization, Halong Bay has been listed in 28 official finalist candidates. Vietnam Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism; Viet Nam National Administration of Tourism; provinces and cities nationwide have carried out many activities to promote Halong Bay, especially voting campaigns which have attracted participations of individuals, organizations as well as international visitors.

The vote for new 7 wonders of nature will last until November 11, 2011 and the New Open World organization will officially announce 7 place-names with the highest number of votes. Hoping that with incessant promotion endeavours and supports of the people nationwide and the international visitors, Halong Bay will be one of new 7 wonders of nature.

Source: TITC

Friendly critters in Cuc Phuong National Park

2011-10-23T22:02:00.001-07:00

Beyond the endless trekking and enriching cultural experiences found in the Cuc Phuong National Park, the destination provides ample opportunity to come face to face with some interesting critters. Cuc Phuong is one of the most biologically diverse areas in Vietnam. The landscape is blanketed with dense vegetation and true Vietnamese jungle; the perfect home for a large variety of insects, animals, birds, and the Cuc Phuong Endangered Primate Rescue Centre.

“Dedicated to the rescue, rehabilitation, breeding, research and conservation of the endangered primates of Vietnam” (Source: http://www.primatecenter.org/), the Rescue Centre is home to over 140 primates from 15 species - some critically endangered. A visit to the centre is an interesting one. Lucky visitors are treated to monkey serenades.

Other chance encounters are with the abundance of insects. Creeping just beyond one’s usual perspective are crawlers of all sorts. As the sun dips beyond the mountains, and night falls, chances of seeing giant moths and huge buzzing beetles increase a thousand fold. Attracted to the light, insect-lovers will be astounded; the rest of us, will be running for cover.

Footprint Vietnam Travel runs a variety of options to trek and home stay within the Cuc Phuong National Park, as well as within the area. Check out their website for more information.

Source: Ocvit-Footprint Travel

Halong Bay’s World Wonder bid receives a boost

2011-10-19T21:27:00.000-07:00

Vietnamese people will have the chance to vote for Halong Bay as a new World Wonder through a TV programme to be broadcast live on October 29.

The live programme will be concurrently aired on Vietnam Television’s Channel 1 (VTV1) linking four places: Halong Bay in the northeastern province of Quang Ninh, the capital city of Hanoi, the former imperial city of Hue in the central region and Ho Chi Minh City.

Famous figures, including pop stars, will vote for the bay and deliver messages calling on audiences to take part in the vote.

Halong Bay has been twice recognised as a World Natural Heritage site by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO).

The programme will help promote the image of the World Heritage site of Halong Bay and Vietnam as well, said Nguyen Van Tinh, head of the International Cooperation Department under the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism (MoCST) at a press briefing in Hanoi on October 19.

According to MoCST Minister Hoang Tuan Anh, the voting campaign is entering the final stage. New7Wonders will announce the final results of voting around the world on November 11, 2011.

He quoted New7Wonders as saying Halong Bay has received a relatively high number of votes compared to other nominees.

Vietnamese people can vote for Halong Bay by logging on www.new7wonders.com and Facebook and using the SMS service.

The voting will be closed at 11.11am (GMT) on November 11, 2011.

Source: VOV

“Ho Chi Minh City – 100 interesting things”

2011-10-17T21:39:00.000-07:00

The Ho Chi Minh City Department of Culture, Sport and Tourism has announced the City People’s Committee implementation of the programme “Ho Chi Minh City – 100 interesting things”.

Accordingly, in 2011, the programme will expand its voting norms to 20 categories but narrow the number of candidates of each category from 10 to 5 in order to improve the quality of the vote.

The programme aims to improve and standardise tourism service quality in Ho Chi Minh City to become more competitive with regional countries, introduce tourists to attractive products and destinations of Vietnam tour and reveal investment opportunities to potential investors.

The 20 categories include:

1. Five most luxury hotels in the City

2. Five best business hotels

3. Five outstanding places to organise meetings and exhibitions

4. Five special restaurants

5. Five restaurants serving the best Vietnamese food

6. Five luxury shopping centres

7. Five typical traditional markets

8. Five typical museums

9. Five typical architectural projects

10. Five typical historical and cultural relics

11. Five ecological tourist sites

12. Five typical places for art performances

13. Five perfect places for night entertainment

14. Five places for health care and spa treatments

15. Five typical souvenir trademarks

16. Five favourite fruits

17. Five favourite Southern dishes

18. Five typical tourism types

19. Five special cultural, sport and tourism events

20. Five special transport trademarks (one airline, one trademark for waterway and three trademarks for road)

The results of the vote will be announced in early 2012.

Source: BTA

Vietnam Tourism activities in the first nine months of 2011

2011-10-11T22:09:00.001-07:00

On October 7, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism held a press conference on culture, sports and Vietnam tourism activities in the first nine months of 2011, and focus tasks in the last three months of 2011.

Regarding tourism, in the first nine months of 2011, the number of international arrivals from most of markets increased over the same period of 2010 (Cambodia up by 59.2%, China: 44.9%, and Malaysia: 12.2%). As estimated, total international arrivals in 9 months reached 4.3 million representing a 15.5% growth over the same period of 2010. In 2011, the VNAT set a target to welcome from 5.3 to 5.5 million of international tourists and more than 30 million of domestic ones.

In the last three months, the VNAT will focus on steering the organization of the remaining activities in Phu Yen National Tourism Year 2011, preparation of Hue National Tourism Year 2012, and actively participate in the voting campaign for Halong Bay to be one of new seven wonders of the world.

Source: TITC

Quang Ninh accelerates votes for Halong Bay

2011-09-21T21:13:00.001-07:00

Quang Ninh Province’s Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union launched a new campaign “50 days to gather votes for Halong Bay as one of the New Seven Wonders of the World” in Halong City on September 20th.

Accordingly, the campaign will last until November 10th, 2011 with the motto “Each Provincial Union member and teenager, one vote for Halong Bay”.

The program’s launching ceremonies were held at the same time in all localities of the Province, to train and guide local people on how to vote, asking them to vote directly for the Bay, disseminating the campaign on mass media, setting up the youth-managed polling stations at communes cultural houses, schools, factories, bus stops and tourist areas to create more convenient conditions for local residents and domestic and foreign visitors to vote.

The “50 days to vote for Halong Bay” campaign plays an important role in the final critical period, showing the responsibility of Quang Ninh’s people in making contributions to the campaign to decide on Halong Bay as one of the New Seven Wonders of the World.

Source: QDND

Hanoi flower festival 2012 to open in December

2011-09-19T22:03:00.001-07:00

The Hanoi Flower Festival 2012 will open in the capital city of Hanoi from December 30, 2011 to January 2, 2012.

According to Deputy Director of the Hanoi Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism Nguyen Khac Loi, the festival aims to honour the cultural heritage sites and values that were recognised by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO), especially those of Hanoi through the means of flower.

It is part of activities to promote cultural tourism in the capital city and respond to the National Tourism Year 2012, which takes the theme of “Heritage Tourism”

This year’s festival will be held in streets of Dinh Tien Hoang, Le Thai To, Le Lai, Le Thach, the downtown, on the surface of Hoan Kiem lake and in popular sites of Ngoc Son temple, Tran Ba temple, The Huc bridge and But and Hoa Phong towers.

In the framework of the event, a wide range of activities such as flower arranging competitions, traditional games, exhibitions of ornamental plants, handicraft and tourism products will be also organised.

Source: VNA

Unique colour in Hanoi’s pavements

2011-09-15T22:11:00.001-07:00

Travel to Hanoi, foreign visitor are impressed by the capital’s pavements where they can chat, drink tea or coffee, and even have something to eat.

Mayu Takeda, a Vietnamese Japanese student, says she loves Hanoi’s pavements, through which she can learn more about the city’s in-depth stories.

Mayu often goes around the old quarter of Hanoi to get to know about people’s lives and daily activities. “Sitting on the pavement, looking around and listening to different voices, you will know what is happening in Hanoi,” she says.

Traveling to Vietnam to visit relatives and friends, the 21-year student takes every opportunity to enjoy life here in Hanoi. She left the country when she was just four years old, but the country is always in her heart.

Michael, a tourist from the US, first visited Vietnam five years ago. This time he has brought his friends, who are very eager to explore Hanoi. “You can get everything you need on the pavements,” Michel says, adding that the prices are much cheaper than in the shops.“There is no place like Hanoi, where you can see, either poor or rich people, interacting with each other. And, it’s undeniable that the ‘motorbike civilization’ has contributed to the ‘pavement economy’ which helps thousands of people earn their living,” he says.

Strolling around Hoan Kiem (Returned Sword) Lake, Andreas, a journalist from Germany, feels very excited to see people on the move.

Andreas says he likes sitting on the pavement, listening to the mixed sounds, drinking tea or coffee and seeing what’s happening around him. “In the evening, the streets are less busy but more quiet. It’s time for me to go out and enjoy the atmosphere of open air-living. Life on the streets is something new and special, like a piece of documentary film about Hanoi and Hanoians.”

With the last rays of the sun disappearing and less noise echoing from transport vehicles, Hanoi is closing its day to enter a paradise filled with joy and excitement.

Soaking up the life of the streets which look both old and new, traditional and modern, you will see that nothing is more refreshing to enjoy after long working hours than a cup of coffee near Hoan Kiem Lake.

There are many famous coffee shops in the city, from Nang Cafe (6 Hang Bac), Nhan Cafe (39D1 Hang Hanh), and Cafe Mai (Nguyen Du) to Cafe Giang (Hang Gai), and Cafe Lam (60, 91 Nguyen Huu Huan), which are ideal for old friends to meet and chat in the romantic atmosphere of the city.

Source: Dtinews

Vietnam’s Mid-Autumn Festival

2011-09-07T21:27:00.001-07:00

The Mid-Autumn Festival, one of the most traditional and popular family holidays in Vietnam, is enjoyed by people throughout the country, regardless of their background or economic status.

The festival is celebrated on the 15th day of the eighth month in the lunar calendar, which falls in mid September in the Western calendar. It has evolved into an event with both cultural and commercial value.

The Mid-Autumn or ‘Trung Thu’ Festival is associated with the legend of Cuoi, a popular Vietnamese fairy tale that explains the origin of the festival.

According to the legend, a man named Cuoi was very famous because he owned a magic banyan tree that could cure any illness. Cuoi’s wife got angry because Cuoi seemed to love the tree more than her so one day when Cuoi was out treating a sick neighbour, she poured dirty water on the roots of the tree, which made it leave the ground. Cuoi suddenly returned at that very moment to see the tree fly up to the sky. He tried to grab it but failed to pin it down and was taken up to the moon, where he lives together with his tree to this day. That’s why every year children light lanterns and take part in processions on the day of the festival to show Cuoi the way back to Earth!

The Vietnamese version of the Mid-Autumn Festival is similar to the one in China, except for its legend, the food and some traditional activities. Both the Han and minority nationalities in China celebrate the mid-autumn festival, though there are some additional special customs in different parts of the country, such as burning incense, planting mid-autumn trees, and lighting lanterns on towers.

In Vietnam, there are many traditional activities for both adults and children during the festival including lion dances performed by both trained professional children’s groups and amateurs. Lion dance groups perform on the streets and go to houses asking for permission to perform for the people living there. If they are accepted by the hosts, the ‘lion’ will go in and start dancing to wish the household good luck and fortune. The Earth Lord, ‘Ong Dia’, dances around the dragon, urging it on. Ong Dia, who has a smiling moon-shaped face, represents the prosperity and wealth of the earth.

On the occasion of the festival, parents buy their children rattles, drums and star lanterns. Many children also take great interest in traditional paper toys, lion heads and masks of animals from old tales, as well as modern battery-run plastic ships or tanks with remote controls.

The tradition of the Mid-Autumn festival is reflected in the way the children play games. They carry beautifully ornate lanterns while singing and parading along the streets in a candlelight procession at dawn. The candles represent brightness and the procession symbolizes success in school. The lanterns come in different sizes and shapes such as fish and butterflies. There are also spinning lanterns in which candles can be inserted to represent the sun surrounded by the earth.

Mid-Autumn Festival parties in the evening are a good opportunity for children to enjoy the festive food and also learn things from their parents such as how to make the party attractive. The whole family will enjoy the feast in a cozy, sacred atmosphere.

Quite a few foreign visitors to Vietnam are also interested in the mid-autumn festival and some even bring mooncakes back to their home countries as special gifts for their friends.

“I find it quite interesting when I see people selling mooncakes everywhere. I hope to experience my first Mid-Autumn festival with some local families,” said Spiller, a 40-year-old English teacher from the UK.

Mooncakes are an indispensable delicacy for this festival. For generations, mooncakes have been made with sweet fillings of nuts, mashed red beans, lotus seed paste or sweet bean paste, depending on the region. Sometimes a cooked egg yolk can be found in the middle of the rich tasting dessert. People compare mooncakes to the plum pudding and fruit cakes served during the English Christmas holidays.

Vietnamese mooncakes are typically square rather than round, although round ones do exist. They are offered among friends or at family gatherings during this festival. The cakes are usually cut into small wedges and eaten accompanied by green tea because they are so sweet.

Cherry, a young Australian woman who is teaching English in Hanoi, told VOV that she has tried mooncakes several times and found them quite delicious but too sweet. ”I’m a little bit worried about my weight because I couldn’t resist the tempting taste,” she said smiling.

“We try to make mooncakes gifts that are special to Vietnam… Foreigners enjoy our cakes with the green tea filling very much,” said Pham Ly, a seller at a shop that specializes in the well-known Kinh Do brand confectionaries.
Another seller at a Long Dinh shop, Quynh Anh, also said that her shop has been visited by many foreign customers, all of whom are keen on the taste of Vietnamese mooncakes.

Nowadays, many kinds of mooncakes are on sale for a month before the Moon Festival. It has become customary for businessmen and families to present these cakes to their clients or relatives as an expression of their sentiments.

Source: VOV

Ethnic Love Market in Moc Chau

2011-08-29T22:01:00.000-07:00

The beginning of September is all celebration in Vietnam. Independence day is September 2nd and everyone is in preparation lining the streets with red banners and flags. From the major cities to the countryside villages everyone will be in full party mode with an extended weekend. But, in Moc Chau - near Mai Chau and about 190 km away from Hanoi - the theme of the festivities will differ greatly from that of nationalism and victory.

Starting yesterday and ending in about a week, ethnic minorities from all over Vietnam’s Northwest and Laos’ Northeast have made their way to Moc Chau. A true mosaic of culture the Blue, Green, White, Black, and Flower Hmong, as well as the Thai, Dao, Muong, and others make up a steady stream of thousands of people. Most of the people are young, and the vast majority are single. This is the annual Moc Chau Love Market. To find love is everyone’s top priority.

Groups of girls are seen gossiping and giggling. Just outside of the crowds two or three might be helping another making sure her hair is perfect. Boys are spotted teasing each other and shyly trying to gain the attention of gossiping girls. New-found lovers are caught holding hands and walking off to a secret spot to steal a first a kiss.

The Moc Chau Love Market is one of the best opportunities to see all of the minorities in their best traditional clothes. There is more than ample ways to take part in the festivities. Everyone is welcome to join in the food and drink, as well as the singing and dancing.

Over the last five years the popularity of the love market with domestic tourists is apparent. Foreign tourists have also found their way to the Moc Chau love market but they easily drowned out by all of the locals. The Vietnam holiday makes it challenging to get around in Vietnam.

If you do plan on attending the Moc Chau love market, Footprint Travel would like to remind you to please remember to use your camera responsibly.

Source: ocvit-Footprint Travel

Japanese Television to promote Vietnam tourism

2011-08-22T21:36:00.000-07:00

A Japanese film crew from Kansai Television is shooting a documentary from August 19th to 25th to promote Vietnamese tourism.

The crew will film famous tourism destinations of Vietnam tour as Hanoi, Thua Thien–Hue, Quang Binh and Quang Nam and special cultural features in these areas. Besides, the crew will also introduce old hotels and dishes important to Vietnamese culture.

The documentary will help promote the image of Vietnam tourism and its people to Japanese tourists.

Source: HNM

Halong Bay to collect more votes in China

2011-08-14T21:57:00.001-07:00

To promote and call for more votes for Halong Bay as one of the Seven New Natural Wonders of the World, various activities have been held in Nanning City, Guangxi Province, China.

The opening ceremony of these activities took place on August 12th by the Halong Bay Management Board.

Hundreds of delegates and international and Chinese visitors found out about Halong Bay and cast their votes for the Bay right on the first day of the program.

During the program, scheduled to end on October 30th, several publications, video clips and related materials on Halong Bay will be showcased and shown.

Halong Bay is on the list of 28 wonders and advances to the decisive third round of the vote.

The Seven New Natural Wonders of the World will be announced on November 11th.

Source: HNM

Bun ca Can Tho – authentic flavor of the wetlands

2011-08-04T21:50:00.000-07:00

When visiting Can Tho City, tourists should try bun ca (noodle with fish), a typical dish of the wetlands of the Mekong Delta.

Unlike other kinds of bun ca in other delta regions or central provinces, bun ca in Can Tho City is attractive to the eye due to the purple rice noodles. The noodle is dyed by cam leaves from cam trees that grow in the delta. The trees are about 40-50cm high and have purple flowers.

The noodles are prepared in an earthen pot to keep the dish hot for diners. To contrast the purple noodles, there are yellow pieces of fish pasta and white slices of loc fish. The soup is made with pork bone stock and tastes very sweet.

The dish is served with some aromatic vegetables together with beansprouts, salad and rau dang (bitter vegetable). The sweet taste of soup, fat of fish and strange color of rice noodles in harmony with the fragrance of vegetables brings you the taste and smell of the delta.

More than 3.42 million foreign travelers to Vietnam tour

2011-07-27T23:52:00.000-07:00

In July, the number of foreign travelers to Vietnam tour reached an estimated 460,000; raising the figure for the first seven months this year to more than 3.42 million - representing a year-on-year increase of 17.3 percent.

Over the past seven months, the number of foreign tourists arriving in Vietnam by air increased by 22.6 percent from the same period last year. The number of tourists visiting the country by road and sea decreased.

Markets seeing increases in the number of tourists to Vietnam are China with nearly 786,000 arrivals (up 53.5 percent), the Republic of Korea with more than 300,000 arrivals (up 4 percent), the US with more than 273,000 arrivals (up 2.5 percent), Japan with nearly 269,000 arrivals (up 11.7 percent) and Australia with 171,000 arrivals (up 2.3 percent).

Southeast Asian countries also witnessed growth in the number of tourists in Vietnam. Cambodian tourists have increased by 74.2 percent from last year, Malaysian visitors grew by 18.7 percent while the number of people coming from Singapore rose 10.6 percent.

Source: CPV

Terraced fields in Sapa are like a watercolour painting

2011-06-22T00:23:00.000-07:00

Looking down from mountain, the terraced fields under afternoon sunshine look like a stunning, gigantic watercolour painting curving around the high mountains.

For a long time, terraced fields in the northwestern mountainous areas of Vietnam have not only provided a great inspiration for photographers but also been an attractive destination for travelers to Vietnam tour due to the imposing beauty, especially in the planting season, which falls on the fourth and fifth months of the lunar year.

Wallace, a US tourist, who has visited northwestern province of Lao Cai three times, said his friends and relatives asked him to lead them to the province after he showed them beautiful photos of terraced fields taken during his first trip in May, 2002.

The scenery and people here give me different feelings each time when I return, he said.

His friend, Nathan from Australia , only intended to see the horse races and visit cultural markets in Bac Ha district, but was attracted by magnificent terraced fields when walking around the villages. He then decided to stay some more to explore Si Ma Cai district and make a tour along the newly opened route linking Muong Khuong and Bat Xat districts.

He was astonished at the incredible photos taken by amateur photographers like himself and his friends and he said believed that his friends at home would envy their trip when they saw the wonderful photos.

Hoang Thi Vuong, Deputy Head of the Tourism Section under the Sapa Culture, Sports and Tourism Department said the province’s tourism sector has shown strong development over several recent years, with an increasing number of tourists, especially those from major cities and also foreigners.

Each visitor has their own way to enjoy the breathtaking landscape, she said, adding that many of them recorded their images when acting as real farmers, working briefly in fields for the experience.

At this time of the year, Sapa travel welcomes mainly holidaymakers from big cities and photographers, who come here to capture the working environment of such ethnic minority groups as Mong, Ha Nhi, Dao and Giay, which is rarely seen in modern towns and cities, said Do Manh Hao, an official of the Tourism section.

After early season rains, terraced fields in A Mu Sung commune, Bat Xat district, are full of glittering water running from high mountains and farmers flock to plough and build up field banks in preparation for a new crop.

From the beginning of the year until now, a total of 130,200 visitors flocked to Lao Cai province, representing an increase of 39.2 percent compared with the same period last year, according to the provincial tourism sector.

The number sharply increases in May and June, when farmers in mountainous districts of Sapa, Bat Xat, Bac Ha, Muong Khuong and Si Ma Cai start the growing season, to reach 80,000. Sapa district welcomed 54,630 holidaymakers, up 60 percent compared with previous months, earning nearly VND200 billion (USD9.7 million), a year-on-year increase of 120 percent.

Vice Chairman of the Lao Cai provincial People’s Committee Bui Thi Kim Dung, who is also head of the provincial tourism management board, said the province is targeting rural tourism with a focus on villages and ecotourism.

The tourism sector has been seen as an economic spearhead for Lao Cai province and an effective tool to promote beautiful images of the stunning landscape and friendly people here, she said.

Source: Dtinews

Change in Product Department at Footprint Travel

2011-05-10T20:46:00.000-07:00

Footprint sets our first foot in 2001, it has been almost 10 years of operations, we have built our company, not big, but very stable, due to our unique offers of Vietnam tour to clients world wide. The success is for everyone at the Footprint family but we have to reserve our big appreciation to the product department who are creative in different innovative travel products.

Today is Hien last day as the role of the product executive, our first setting for her was a travel consultant, tour guide and she was appointed to be the product executive in 2008.

After Thuc, it has been more than 3 years of Hien’s great efforts to travel to learn from you - our travel clients, from our tour guide, tour operators and even our drivers on how to better our products to make it best for you - the travelers.

We thank you Hien for your all her dedication to make it easy for all the travel consultant at Footprint and good luck to her, Hien will be taking even more important role - as
Also it’s Dien first day on his role of the product executive and tour operation manager, he has been almost 7 years working as the tour operators and travel consultants. His passion and enthusiasm on tourism makes him travel to lots of places in Vietnam, "Ha Giang his love and if you ask him what is the best way to get there, he won't hesitate to tell you to jump on a motorbike! You can travel to the remote mountainous areas to see the unusual lifestyle of local people, and impossible scenery on unbelievable roads.

Footprint management board can not express of our all words for Dien’s dedications on work and travel, the whole Footprint team wishing Dien with the best and good luck with his new position.

If I just visit Phu Quoc island, can I have visa exemption?

2011-05-05T22:12:00.000-07:00

When we offer Vietnam tour to friends and travelers, some friends ask if we just want to travel and be lazy there in Phu Quoc island, can they have a visa exemption.

In regard of this, in late 2005 the government passed regulations specifically in relation Phu Quoc Island entry, exit and residence of foreigners or Vietnamese holding foreign passports. These regulations are provided below with more details.

Under this Decision, foreigners and Vietnamese holding foreign passports who are, entering, exiting from, and residing in Phu Quoc Island for a stay period not exceeding 15 days are exempt from visas. The following section provides a summary of those regulations.

International flight arrivals

Foreigners who enter via another international border-gate of Vietnam and stay in its transit lounge before travelling to Phu Quoc Island shall also be exempt from visas. With the opening of the new airport international terminal in Ho Chi Minh City (Tan Son Nhat) foreigners will soon be able to transit from international flights directly to Phu Quoc, exempt from visa requirements for up to 15 days. Passports must be valid for at least 45 days. After arriving in Phu Quoc Island, if visitors want to travel other localities or stay in the island for more than 15 days, visitors are required to visit the immigration department who is responsible for issuing visas.

Arriving by ship via the East Sea?

Foreign-tourist ships can arrive or leave Duong Dong harbour in accordance with agreements signed with Vietnamese tourist companies. Foreign tourist ships which visit Duong Dong area & other areas (except restricted areas) must comply with Vietnamese immigration laws and Phu Quoc regulations, i.e. 15 day stay allowed exempt from Visa. Citizens of south-east Asian countries listed above, do not need certification when entering Duong Dong Town for up to 15 days. If visitors want to travel outside Phu Quoc Island and/or more than 15days, they will be required to obtain visa clearance provided by immigration in Duong Dong town.

Who can have visa exemption for Vietnam?

2011-04-26T21:09:00.000-07:00

Footprint is pleased to offer the following information for travelers to Vietnam tour with the following visa exemption.

The Vietnamese people that hold foreign passports and foreigners who are their husbands, wives and children are exempt from visa requirements to enter Vietnam and are allowed to stay for not more than 90 days. In order to be granted visa exemption certificates at Vietnamese representative offices abroad, Vietnamese overseas need the following conditions;

- PRC - Foreign-issued Permanent Residence certificate with the validity of at least six months since the date of entrance.

- VEP - Visa Exemption Paper is granted by Vietnamese appropriate authorities.

For those who want stay more than 90 days must apply for visa according to current stipulations before their entrance.

Bilateral visa exemption:

- The citizens of Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia and Laos holding valid ordinary passports are exempt from visa requirements and are allowed to stay for not more than 30 days; Philippines is allowed to stay for not more than 21 days.

- The citizens of China, Bulgaria, Kyrgyzstan, North Korea, and Rumania holding valid ordinary passports for official mission and citizens of 52 countries holding valid diplomatic or official passports are exempt from visa requirements. The duration of staying is stipulated in certain cases. For more information, please visit the website of Ministry of Foreign Affaires.

Unilateral visa exemption:

- The visa with 30-day validity is exempted for officials from ASEAN countries secretariat holding different kinds of passports.

- The citizens of Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Finland, Japan and South Korea holding different kinds of passports are exempt from visa requirements and are allowed to stay for not more than 15 days.

Hope our information is of good for you, please feel free to ask us any questions at info @ footprint.vn.

Footprint team
Footprint Vietnam Travel !

Questions and answers about visa to Vietnam (1)

2011-04-19T21:40:00.000-07:00

Footprint is pleased to provide some our our frequently asked questions from our travelers regarding their tour to Vietnam:

Can I apply for a longer stay in Vietnam, more than one month?

Yes you normally can apply this if you are sure about your travel last for more than one month. You can also do it visa extension when you are travelling here, which is also easy to do.

Can I apply for a tourist visa when I’m aboard?

Check with the countries you are now in and call the embassy, it’s normally ok that you can do it oversea.

The simple way to do is to have a travel company in Vietnam do it for you a pre-approved letter of invitation, all you have to do is to book your flights and go.

More coming on our next post.

Footprint team.

Visa to Vietnam

2011-04-18T00:59:00.000-07:00

Can you do visa upon arrival to Vietnam?

Footprint Vietnam’s answer is definitely YES, you can do visa upon arrival to Vietnam but you will need to have a pre approved letter by someone or a travel company in Vietnam.

As soon as you arrive at the airports, show your approved letter, then fill out paperwork when you arrive to get a visa granted.

For booking Vietnam tour, most travel companies can do the pre-approved letter for you, we will send you the documents via email and all you need is to bring this paper with you, pack and go.

Any questions you might have for Footprint regarding the visa?

Footprintters Vietnam.

Accor to add new operational hotels to Vietnam network this year

2011-02-21T23:22:00.000-08:00

The global hotel management group Accor is rolling up its sleeves to put into service at least four new properties under different brands in Vietnam this year.

Patrick Basset, Accor’s Vice President for Vietnam, the Philippines, Japan and South Korea, said that the new hotels would go online given a strong rise in both inbound and domestic travelers last year and bright future prospects.

“This year is an exciting year for us as we are looking forward to opening at least one Pullman, one MGallery, one Novotel and one Mercure by the end of the year,” Basset said. “Accor carefully selects its products and brands to meet the demands of each destination.”

Basset cited major cities and tourist sites as destinations for the new hotels to be up and running, as the influx of international travelers and the increase in domestic travel indicated that the top segments for Vietnam in the coming year would be business travel and those travelers looking for affordable international-quality accommodations.

“We see that the cities such as Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City and Vung Tau have a potential of welcoming more business-related travelers, and therefore Accor has plans to introduce its upscale Pullman brand to these destinations. Accor also plans to introduce its leisure family-oriented Novotel and Mercure brands to more leisure destinations such as Danang and Phu Quoc,” Basset said.

International visitor arrivals in Vietnam soared to an all-time high of over five million last year, up 34.8% compared to the year before, according to the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism. Inbound travelers in January increased 17.4% year-on-year to more than 506,000.

“A record increase in the numbers of international visitors and especially the rise of domestic travelers show that the tourism trend in Vietnam is strong and has potential to grow,” Basset said.

To further tap the potential and the growing demand of international standard economy scale accommodations for both local and international travelers, Basset said Accor would also launch its economy hotel brand, ibis, throughout Vietnam in the coming years.

Basset said Accor had established a partnership with Benthanh Group to develop a network of ibis throughout Vietnam. Late last year, the world’s leading operator of hotels announced the partnership to manage at least eight ibis hotels developed by Benthanh Group in Hanoi, HCMC, Danang, Binh Duong and other major destinations in this country.

“With incremental growth and positive elements of a successful tourist destination, Accor has considered Vietnam a strategic market to expand its hotel network,” Basset asserted.

Currently Accor operates 11 hotels with nearly 2,200 rooms with brands ranging from luxury Sofitel, upscale MGallery, and mid-scale Novotel and Mercure. Basset said last year was a record year for Accor in Vietnam as the group found five hotels committed to development in Vietnam, adding up to more than 1,000 hotel rooms.

The five were among the over 70 new development contracts in Asia Pacific that Accor signed in 2010 to add more than 16,000 hotel rooms to its network. This record number of new contracts for a single year consolidates Accor’s leading position as the region’s largest operator of hotels with over 430 hotels and 83,000 rooms under management.

The Paris-based group said it was committed to expansion in the region including in the key markets of China and India and further into markets such as Indonesia, Thailand and Vietnam, where Accor is already a market leader.

Footprint showing their true value in travel Vietnam at ITB Berlin 2011.

2011-02-18T20:36:00.000-08:00

Footprint Vietnam is a local travel company, locally owned by the Vietnam tour operators, they will be showing their new and innovative products of Vietnam at the biggest travel show - ITB Berlin, from March 9th to March 13rd. Stand 26A/106.

It’s time to travel Vietnam as the country is not only beautiful with friendly people and it’s very safe. Vietnam is no longer a country of war and has opened its doors to foreigners for almost 25 years now.

With 10th years in the travel business and the team has more than 35 years of experience, these experts are making every efforts to offer range of eco-friendly travel products, they can take you or your clients on a custom-made tour or a group tours to most of the destinations thoughout Vietnam.

Alan William - an English tour leader said “Their tour products are not for the common travelers, they travel off the beaten tracks, offer our customers with travel to learn and experience the culture and differences of Vietnam”

Footprint’s mission is to bring true value to your trips. They have worked tirelessly over the past years on every aspect of their company and products to make sure that your clients experience that True Value in Travel.

Come to the show to learn more about them, their unique offers and discuss your possible fam trips to Vietnam with them to have their great support. Here are their details for your appointment;

Mr. Son D
Footprint Vietnam
Stand 106, Hall 26A | Messe Berlin
Email: son [at] footprint.vn
Website: www.footprintsvietnam.com

Trekking Tour Dalat 2 days

2010-09-21T02:41:00.000-07:00

Routes: Dalat mountains, jungle, lakes

Duration: 2
Feature:
A mere one hour drive from Dalat is a great area with contrasting environments that is perfect for some outdoor adventure. We will journey through the Pine Forests and the dense Vietnam Jungle. Summit Pinhatt Mountain and overnight at a private campsite beside Tuyen Lam Lake.

Day 1: Dalat to the Jungle (6 hours trekking)
We will pick you up at your hotel in Dalat city center at 8:00 am and take about an hour scenic valley drive to the trekking base. The first section of trail takes us through ethnic minority villages and farms, and the Pine Forest. We continue to trek forest paths until we arrive at the base of Pinhatt Mountain. Here we will take a short rest to gain strength for the steep uphill climb (45 minutes) to the top of Pinhatt.
At the Pinhatt summit we will break for lunch. On our decsent you will notice a very dramatic change in the local flora. The valley you had entered is no longer the pine forest, but the dense jungle that Vietnam is so famous for. We will soon reach a private campsite where we will stop for the night. Here you can relax, take a swim or head out into the lake on one of our inflatable kayaks while watching the sun go down. After dinner and reminissing about the days events retire to your tent for a good night's sleep.
Inclusion :transfer, guide, entrances fee, lunch, dinner, first aid kid, kayak and camp

Day 2: More trek and back to Dalat (7 hours trekking)
After breakfast, start your day's trek through the Pine Forest near the lake. Again, we will experience a dramatic change in scenery from pine forest to thick jungle. Trek amongst the multitude of plantlife and enjoy the cool jungle breeze. If you are lucky, you may see a wild orchid in bloom or a troop of wild gibbons. Upon exiting this thick jungle section, we will walk between Elephant Mountain and another area peak. From our vantage point we will be able to see the small minority farms that dot the valley below. After lunch and a rest we continue walking through the valley until we come to a ridgeline, which we follow to Chicken Village. Finally, after a few stories about this neat little village you will be transfered to your hotel and call it a day.
Inclusion :transfer, guide, entrances fee, breakfast, lunch, first aid kid.

More info Dalat tour

Hue Imperial City Tour 1 day

2010-09-21T02:31:00.000-07:00

Routes: Hue to the Imperial city and tombs

Duration: 1
Feature:
This interesting day trip will bring you a great understanding about our Imperial c
ity in the 19th century, the highlights are a magnificent citadel, splendid royal tombs. Buddhist pagoda and a lovely boat ride along the Perfume River will really make your day here memorable.

Day 1: Our day trip
Getting started at 09:30 from your hotel, we will walk/transfer to the boat dock for our cruising on the Perfume River, viewing the city and the tranquil villages on the riverbank. We will walk up to visit the Thien Mu pagoda, a nicely located pagoda, overlooks the Perfume River and the beautiful scenery beyond, where you get to learn more about the Buddhism in Vietnam. After the pagoda, we take a short ride to visit the former Imperial Citadel. Lunch is next at a local restaurant. Today's afternoon is our visit to the splendid royal tombs, there are actually more than 6 tombs but we will only visit the best of them: Minh Mang and Khai Dinh. Tour ends at 5.30 pm at your hotel.
Inclusion :transfer, guide, entrances fee, lunch, local boat.

Please contact with Vietnam travel agent.

Hoa Lu - Van Long 1 day

2010-09-21T02:26:00.000-07:00

Routes: Hannoi - NinhBinh - Hanoi

Duration: 1
Feature: It is always worthwhile to take a day trip to Hanoi's surroundings for refreshment away from the city noise. Ninh Binh is an outstanding destination that has many attractions and stunning landscapes. First, tour the area by rowboat, a perfect venue for you to relax and let your mind wander amongst the diverse limestone features of Van Long nature reserve. Then, journey back to the 10th century and visit the ancient capital.

Day 1: Hanoi - Van Long - Hoa Lu
8:00 am to leave your hotel for our day trip to Ninh Binh, we arrive to the Nature Reserve of Van Long after two hours drive (110km), we board the bamboo rowboat as soon as we arrive for our 2 hours row along this beautiful nature area, senjoying spectacular scenery surrounded by rice paddies and towering limestone mountain peaks. After lunch served at a local riverside restaurant we make a short transfer (4 km) down a peaceful country road to Hoa Lu, Vietnam's ancient capital eleven centuries ago. Here, there are two temples dedicated to King Dinh and King Le, the founders of the ancient capital during the 10th century. Return to Hanoi late in the afternoon.
Inclusion :transfer, guide, entrances fee, lunch, local boat.

More info Vietnam travel.

Motorbike Ha Giang & the Northernmost Regions 7 days

2010-09-21T02:18:00.000-07:00

Routes: Ha Noi - Ha Giang - Bac Ha - Sapa - Hanoi

Duration: 7
Feature: Simply the best way to see Vietnam, you will travel in freedom, maximize your fun to make your dream come true.

Day 1: Hanoi - Ha Giang (~ 300 km)
Day 2: Ha Giang - Quan Ba - Yen Minh (~ 70km)
Day 3: Yen Minh - Meo Vac - Dong Van (~ 100km)
Day 4: Dong Van - Yen Minh - Quan Ba - Ha Giang (~ 150 km)
Day 5: Ha Giang - Hoang Sun Phi - Bac Ha (~ 209km)
Day 6: Bac Ha - Sapa (~ 120km)
Day 7: Explore around Sapa, night train to Hanoi

More info Vietnam tour.

Halong Cruise & Kayak 3 days

2008-10-31T17:39:00.000-07:00

Routes: Hanoi – Halong – Hanoi (175km one-way)Duration: 3 days 2 nights, sleep aboardFeature: Halong Bay is spectacular! The best way to visit all the hidden inlets and islands is via kayak. You will have 3 days on the water to explore this World Heritage Site with the support of our helpful experts and an authentic liveaboard Chinese Junk. Sleep on board under the stars and endulge in selections of the freshest seafood seved at lunch and dinner. On your kayak discover the magic as you paddle your way through narrow caves and secret interior lakes. Touch the untouched, name the unnamed, make your own magic, find your own route. Travel your way, the way travel should be!Difficulty: (3/5)Itinerary in Detail:Day 1: Hanoi – HalongHalong Cruise tour, travel to halongDepart 8:00 am to Halong. After a 3.5 hours drive we will board our private vessel, an authentic Chinese Junk, for a relaxing cruise to the bay. After lunch on the boat we will stop at a small floating fishing village where our kayaks will be waiting. Then take advantage of the afternoon (2-3 hours) by kayaking amidst the magic of Halong. Tonight's dinner will include a selection of the freshest sea food. Retire to your quarters on the boat or sleep under the stars on the top deck.(L,D)Day 2: Lost, let's sea what happens...book Halong kayaking tours in VietnamA full day of kayaking follows breakfast on the boat. This is the day to discover the hidden Halong and uncover the secrets of this World Heritage Site. Paddle through the emerald water to magnificent caves and deserted lagoons. Explore every nook and cranny of this specticle of towering limestone and ocean, kayak to places some have never been to.The day we will be fully supported by our boat. We will not have any designated route, we just paddle to the places you wish to go. Our only concern will be the weather's possible heavy rain or too much sun. If this is the case, we can easily go back to the boat for lunch, a short rest, more water or swimming. For those who are not feeling up to a full day of kayaking, cruising on the boat capturing photograph after photograph or sun bathing are some alternatives. As the sun sets, take pleasure in knowing that our second night will be spent on the water as well. (B,L,D)Day 3: More kayaking then onto HanoiHalong kayaking tour, travel to Halong VietnamBreakfast, then more cruising and kayaking. Then we return to Halong City. We will see a little bit of the town as we will have lunch at a local restaurant here, then we will begin our return to Hanoi. You should be back in your hotel around 5:00 pm where your smile, tan and stories of adventure on the water will be the envy of others. (B,L)

Ha Long Bay -Catba cruise 3 days - 2 nights on Junk and Catba island

2008-10-24T22:32:00.001-07:00

Day 1 Hanoi -Halong ( L,D)- 8h00 Pick up from your hotel in Hanoi.- 12h30 : Board Anh duong junk, check-in registration- 13h00 : Have lunch with welcome wine.- 13h30 : A fantastic cruise in Ha Long bay to visit Thien Cung cave , Dau Go cave, round over Tuan Chau island, Dinh Huong island, Ga Choi island, Dog island, Sail island and a swim at Titov beach. Enjoy dinner on board while watching sunset. Fishing with seine, drinking Vietnamese wine, and spending a night on Anh duong junk.Day2 Visit Halong Bay - Catba island ( B,L,D)- 7h00 : Have breakfast.- 7h30 : Free at leisure or swimming.- 8h00 : Stop at Catba island. Transfer to Hotel .- 9h00 : Transfer by minibus to visit Catba national Park. Short trek to the to KimGiao forest and top of mountain.- 12h30 : rerturn to Catba town and lunch at the restaurant.- 14: 00 Free leisure for swimming at the Catco beach .- 18:00 Have dinner and overnight at hotel in Catba island.Day 3 Catba - Haiphong - Hanoi ( B,L )- 7h00 : Have breakfast.- 7h30 : Free time at the beach.- 11h00 : have lunch at the restaurant.- 13h30 : transfer to Haiphong City by hydrofoil to Binh whart. Pick up and transfer to Hanoi.- 17h00 arrive Hanoi. End the trip.Currency Converter Number of Persons 2- 3 4-5 6-9 Book nowTour cost in USD per person 288 198 159Extra cost for air- con cabin in USD per person 25 10 7Tour cost Including : * Welcome drink,Transport by private car or minibus from Hanoi, 5 main meals, 2 breakfasts, one beer or mineral water from second meal, fresh fruit, free tea and coffee. * Visit ticket, * Travel insurance * Professtional English speaking guide * 1 nights accommodation on cabin in the private junk with boat cruise. * 1 night accomodation of 3 stars hotel in Catba island, * Transfer by Hydrofoil from Catba Island to Haiphong CityExcluding: Drinks, Telephone , Laundry, Personal Expense.

Halong Cruise & Kayak 3 days

2008-10-22T06:24:00.001-07:00

Halong Bay, A Wonder of the World

2008-10-20T21:00:00.001-07:00

Halong Bay is a body of water of approximately 1,500 square kilometres in north Vietnam with a 120 kilometre coastline, in the Gulf of Tonkin Gulf of Tonkin near the border with China, and 170 kilometres east of Hanoi. Ha Long Bay - means "Bay of the Descending Dragon" in the Vietnamese language.The bay consists of a dense cluster of 3000 limestone monolithic islands, each topped with thick jungle vegetation, which rise spectacularly from the ocean. Several of the islands are hollow, with enormous caves. Hang Dau Go ( Wooden stakes Cave) is the largest grotto in the Halong area. French tourists visited in the late 19th century, and named the cave Grotte des Merveilles. Its three large chambers contain large numerous stalactites and stalagmites (as well as 19th century French graffiti).Some of the islands support floating villages of fishermen, who ply the shallow waters for 200 species of fish and 450 different kinds of mollusks. Many of the islands have acquired their names as a result of interpretation of their unusual shapes: such names include Voi Islet (elephant), Ga Choi Islet (fighting cock), and Mai Nha Islet (roof). 989 of the islands have been given names.Birds and animals including bantams, antelopes, monkeys, and iguanas also live on some of the islands.The bay was World Heritage listed by UNESCO at the 18th meeting of the Committee of the World Heritages of UNESCO (in Thailand on December 17th, 1994). It is one of Vietnam's most popular tourist destinations.Halong Bay has been the setting for local naval battles against Vietnam's coastal neighbours. On three occasions in the labyrinth of channels between the islands the Vietnamese army stopped the Chinese from landing. In 1288 General Tran Hung Dao stopped Mongol ships from sailing up the nearby Bach Dang River by placing steel-tipped wooden stakes at high tide, sinking the Mongol Dubhai Khan's fleet.During the Vietnam War, many of the channels between the islands were heavily mined by the navy of the United States, some of which pose a threat to shipping to this day.The surrounding land region of Halong City is rich with high grade coal deposits, and is operated by the Vietnamese government.

Halong Bay Overview

2008-10-20T03:29:00.001-07:00

The legend of Hạ Long has it that, “Once upon a time, soon after the Việt people established their country, invaders came. The Jade Emperor sent Mother Dragon and her Child Dragons down to earth to help the Việt people fight against their enemy. Right at the time invaders’ boats were rushing to the shore, the dragons landed down on earth. The dragons immediately sent out from their mouths a lot of pearls, which then turned into thousands of stone islands emerging in the sea like great walls challenging the invaders’ boats. The fast boats couldn’t manage to stop and crashed into the islands and into each other and broke into pieces.After the victory, Mother Dragon and Child Dragons didn’t return Heaven but stayed on earth at the place where the battle had occurred. The location Mother Dragon landed is nowadays Hạ Long Bay and where Child Dragons descended is now Bái Tử Long. The dragons’ tails waving the water created Long Vĩ (present Trà Cổ peninsula) and formed a fine sand beach over ten kilometers long”.Hạ Long Bay is located in the northeastern part of Vietnam and constitutes part of the western bank of Bắc Bộ Gulf, including the sea area of Hạ Long City and Cẩm Phả Town and part of Vân Ðồn island district. It abuts Cát Bà Island in the southwest. Toward the west is the shore with a 120 km-long coastline. It is located within 106o58’-107o22’ east longitude and within 20o45’- 20o50’ north latitude. The site is 1553 sq. km with 1969 islands of various sizes, of which 989 have been named.The islands in Hạ Long Bay are mainly limestone and schist islands most lying in the two main areas: the southeastern part of Bái Tử Long Bay and southwestern part of Hạ Long Bay. These islands represent the most ancient images of a geographical site having a tectonic age of from 250 million to 280 million years. They are the result of many times of rising and lowering processes of the continent to form a karst. The process of nearly full erosion and weathering of the karst created the unique Hạ Long Bay in the world. In a not very large area, thousands of islands with different forms look like glittering emeralds attached to the blue scarf of a virgin. The area where many stone islands concentrate has spectacular scenes and world-famous caves and is the center of Hạ Long Bay Natural Heritage, including Ha Long Bay and a part of Bái Tu Long Bay.The area is recognized as the World Natural Heritage that is the area of 434 sq. km with 775 islands. It looks like a giant triangle with Ðầu Gỗ Island (in the west), Ba Hầm Lake (in the south) and Cống Tây Island (in the east) as its three angle points. The nearby area is the buffer area and areas classified as national beauty spots in 1962 by the Ministry of Culture and Information.Viewed from above, Hạ Long Bay looks like an extremely vivid huge drawing. This is a wonderful and skilful masterpiece of the Creation and of nature that turns thousands of dumb soulless stone islands into fantastic sculptural and artistic works of various graceful shapes, both familiar and strange to human beings. Thousands of islands emerging uneven in the fanciful waves look strong and magnificent but also mild and vivid. Amidst these islands we feel as if we were astray in a petrified legendary world. There are many names given to islands according to their shapes and forms. This one looks like somebody heading toward the shore: Hòn Ðầu Người (Human Head Island); that one looks like a dragon hovering above the sea surface: Hòn Rông (Dragon Island); another looks like an old man sitting fishing: Hòn Lã Vọng; some look like big sails struggling amidst the wind to set off for the sea: Hòn Cánh Buồm (Sail Island); then two islands look like a pair of chicken lovingly playing with each other above the sea: Hòn Trống Mái (Male and Female Chicken Island); and amid the vast sea stands an island like a big incense burner like a ritual offering to Heaven: Hòn Lư Hương (Incense Burner Island). All are so real that people are taken aback by them. Those stone islands have experienced unpredictable changes over time and they take different shapes from different angles of view. Here, we come to realize that they are not dumb inanimate things but are vivid and soulful.Inside the stone islands are various breath-taking caves, such as Thiên Cung, Ðầu Gỗ, Sửng Sốt, Trinh Nữ, Tam Cung and others. These are really magnificent palaces of the Creation on earth. Long ago, Hạ Long Bay has been called by the great national poet Nguyễn Trãi:“a wonder of the earth erected towards the high sky”. Many men of letters from all over the world have been taken aback at the grandiose scenery of Hạ Long. They seem to get puzzled and incompetent as their treasure of vocabulary is not rich enough to depict the splendor of this place.Hạ Long Bay is also attached to glorious pages of Vietnamese history, with famous sites such as Vân Ðồn, a bustling trade port in the 12th century, charming Bài Thơ Mountain, and not very far away from here is the Bạch Đằng River which witnessed two famous naval battles of the Viêt’s ancestors against invaders. Also, Hạ Long is one of the cradles of human kind with the glorious Hạ Long culture in the late Neolithic age, discovered at such archeological sites as Ðộng Mang, Xích Thổ, Soi Nhụ and Thoi Giếng.Hạ Long is also home to great biodiversity with typical eco-systems like mangrove forest, coral and tropical forest. It is also home to thousands of plants and animals of numerous species, for example shrimp, fish and squid. Some species are particularly rare and can be found no where else.With such special values, at the 18th Session of UNESCO’s Council of World Heritage held on 17 December 1994 in Thailand, Hạ Long Bay was officially placed on the list of the World Natural Heritage. In 2000, UNESCO recognized it as the World Heritage for the second time for its geographical and geomorphologic values. This confirms the global premier value of Hạ Long Bay.Wherever you come from, whosoever you are and however old you are, you will certainly experience the same emotion and feeling when admiring this wonder of stone and water. And great experiences will always remain even when you leave the place. The legend of Mother Dragon and Child Dragons sending out pearls to form thousands of stone islands to stop invaders still serve as the soul of this invaluable heritage of the world.Have you ever come to Hạ Long, the unique wonder of the world of its kind, to admire and explore secretes implicit in the place?

Halong Bay cruise on Anh duong Junk 3 days - 2 nights with kayaking

2008-10-14T17:47:00.001-07:00

Halong Bay cruise on Anh duong Junk 3 days - 2 nights with kayaking Day 1:Hanoi -Halong * 8h00 Pick up from your hotel in Hanoi for Ha Long. Come to Ha Long Bay wharf around 12: 00, check -in registration, Board Anh duong junk. Have lunch on board with welcome drink. * The cruise will take you by exotic islets with shapes of Dog, Incense Urn, Sail, Fighting Cocks, which are naturally formed by process of erosion between the see water and lime stone mountains. Arrive Surprise Cave and explore the by bay kayak, paddle to Luon cave, this cave is a natural tunnel thrusts through a mountain's foot and leads to an exotic lagoon surrounded by mountains covered by dense junle. Seafood dinner and optional night paddle. * Overnight on boat inside a wonderfully tranquil atmosphere in Luon cave area. Day 2: Visit Halong bay * * A new day wake you up with joys and emotions in an early morning for watching sunrise on sea. Have break fast, continue kayak exploration. * Paddle from Luon cave toward islets in shape of Tortoise, Man's head, Cua Van fishing village. Have lunch on board. * Paddle to Three Tunnels lake ( selected according to the tides). Have dinner on board. Optional night paddle. * Overnight on board in Three Tunnels area. Day 3 :Halong -Hanoi * * Sunrise break fast, continue islands exploration by kayak to Con Vit, Ba Hang. Have lunch on board, back to Ha Long wharf then transfer back to Hanoi by private car or minibus. End trip

Interesting things about my Journey in Vietnam

2008-09-30T22:19:00.001-07:00

Hello Friends,I've been recently inspired by the depth of Elisha's travel journals and would like to practice writing interesting travel entries for all of you about my experience in Vietnam.I'd like to write freely so my thougts can flow. Thus, there will be no chronological order nor an order of importance. I'd like to just focus on what I have found interesting on my travels and things I've learned.Here we go...1. My great grandmother just died two days ago. It's been a trip. I came here before new years, and luckily met her before she died. She chanted to Elisha and I a beautiful sutra about the 84 famous Bodhisattvas. It was quite powerful as it sent shivers throughout my body. At the time, I thought that it was great she had the ability to chant the sutra while laying paralyzed on the bed at the ripe old age of 96. I felt she was more or less ready.So, three days ago, I call my aunt and she tells me that my great grandmother was very ill, no longer eating. I curtailed my plans to visit an island and took a train to Da Nang. That night before going to the train station, Elisha and I spotted an owl while riding on a motorcylce. This big owl with a white belly flew right above us, along the bike, and perched ontop a lampost. Elisha shared with me that Native Americans believe that owls are the messengers of death. Elisha and I figured that my great grandmother was about to die. Surely enough, as soon as we arrived in Da Nang, our family tells us that the grandmother died that night at 3:00am. The universe works in mysterious ways. And it just so happens that we made it right on time, off the train, to attend her funeral service, and to give our love and peaceful energy to my great grandmother's transformation. I felt very good with the whole service for everyone was very focused and strong to help my grandmother continue her journey. My dad, in Texas, was very happy that we made it to share our energy for my great grandmother to be liberated. I tried my best to give love and light as my aikido sensei has taught. It felt very good. Glancing over my great grandmother's corpse, I remembered a line from Lord of the Rings, spoken by Liv tyler, the elvish princess, as she was trying to save frodo, she prayed and cried, "Whatever grace within me, let it pass onto him." As I remembered these lines in my mind,opened palmed and mind focused on my great grandmother, my body shivered and tears welled up in my eyes, I was made to believe that she was going to be ok.2. We are such conditioned beings. The conditioning runs deep. I realize this when I observe my little cousins here in Vietnam. When they speak to me, they speak just like there parents do. They have similiar reactions, comments, hand gestures, facial expressions, and etc. just like their parents. It is insane. They even sometimes have the same walk. It is such a trip to witness and to observe it in them and also within myself. I must ask in what ways I have been conditioned by my parents and of which qualities do I keep and which I must ardently remove. I recommend you to do the same. For myself, one such conditioning which has become more apparent to me is my anger. This particular kind of anger I recognize, is the kind of anger I have learned from my mother. And while travelling, it has the ripe conditions to arise and for me to practice with. But, it seems that as I come to understand it more, I've discovered that this style of anger has been passed on through generations. While discussing this issue with my cousin, she shares too that she gets angry in the same way. I then asked if her mother does it too, who is my mother's sister, She says yes. And I asked if my grandfather does it too, and she says yes. It is a trip to see that some mental habits within me have been passed down. It gives a sense of compassion, especially for my mother, because she was treated with in such a way and is only reacting to the way she has been taught, as is everyone else. It is scary as I look out into the world and see how much people influence each other in their ways of being and consciousness, such unenlightened ways. Thus, I wish for everyone to surround themselves in good environments and to find truly good friends, and great teachers to show us how to think, behave, act, ad love, in enlightening ways. I am thankful to all my teachers who have helped me to remove all the conditioning and the egotistical ways of thinking that has helped me to lead a life with a bit of truth, humility, compassion, love, true happiness, and peace. I am also thankful for the dharma that teaches us the way and how to practice skillfuly to change ourselves- to discover the purity within. There is much more practice to be done, but I am hopeful.

Ho Chi Mihn-ee Motorbikes

2008-09-29T17:39:00.001-07:00

I am in Saigon which has been renamed Ho Chi Mihn after the Vietnam war, which they call the American War here by the way. I went to the war museum and the Cu Chi tunnels and it has taken me a little while to write about it. honestly i don't know how i feel. Granted both museums are strongly leaning on the Communist Vietmanese side, but still hard to see the pictures and the graphics. For a war I know so little about it is interesting to be here and see the other side of it.I don't feel much like writing my reflections on the museums, i am still working through them. On a happier note, there are many many ,many motorbikes here. So many that they don't obey the stop signs and you are better off crossing the street with your eyes closed. Oh! I got ran over by a motor bike. My new travelling partner - the nurse! - decided we should simultaneously and spontaneously turn back from our attempt to cross the street when WHAM! right into a slow moving (thank god) motor bike. She gave me 'you stupid tourist' look and i helped her pick up her oranges and we were all on our merry way. No bumps no bruises.Went to the Independence Palace and took silly pictures. The interior decorator for the palace was terrible flavor. I have eaten so much Pho I think I might turn into a noodle. Pho is the local delicacy - noodle soup with beef and spice. yum yum.

Too many Vietnamese, not enough brains.

2008-09-28T17:35:00.001-07:00

Long time no story tell. Hanoi was interesting we had some of our most frustrating travelling experiences here. We constatly struggled not to get ripped off from hotels right down to buying a bottle of water. Travelling by taxi or motorbike always proved challenging most of the time either the meter would jump from around 6--26 thousand in one second or you would end up miles from your destination and further away from where you originally wanted to go before the driver would finally chose to comprehend where you wanted to go so sometimes jumping out of the taxi without paying and slamming the door was the only thing you could do. Walking the streets was the most stressful part of any day, there were footpaths however they were covered in motobikes, goods from shops and more motobikes this meant that the street was the only option and not very relaxing. The vietnamese are crazy at the best of times but when they get behind the wheel of a car or on a motobike they become ten time worse, this proves hazards for a pedestrian. Who has the loudest horn has the right of way ie buses and trucks, then cars then motos then cyclo's. Hanoi was a contrast to the rest of Vietnam personally one I (Hamish) could have easily left of the itinary (in hindsight) had it not been the gateway to Harlom Bay and Sapa.

Hoi An

2008-09-27T03:58:00.001-07:00

Due to the miserable weather we have been having over the last few days, we were unable to catch the overnight bus to Hoi An as planned (a landslide, apparently) and so changed our plans to take the overnight train instead. What a great way to travel! Not only did we get our own beds to sleep on (I struggled a bit to get up onto the top bunk - a little bit high for me), but we also got sheets, duvets and pillows. We both slept really well, until the announcements on the train started, after which there was no more sleep to be had.

Boat trip to Ha long Bay

2008-09-24T17:53:00.001-07:00

After a few days in Hanoi, we decided to take a break from the hustle and bustle and took a trip to Ha long bay. The bay is basically made up of about 3000 (didn’t have time to count them all) limestone islands, all dotted around the place. We decided to do a two day one night trip, which basically involved going out on a boat into the bay, to a few of the islands and then anchoring for the night, before returning back the following day. There was quite a lot of sea mist around, which reduced visibility quite a bit, but it was still a good trip.There were not many people on our boat, which was a bit unfortunate, as this made the evening’s entertainment somewhat none existent. Still a few of us had a few drinks up on the stop of the boat and were relaxing nicely until someone come up top and announced that they had just seen a cockroach running around down stairs. Did not think much of it, until someone else came back and said they had just seen it run into my cabin. I went down to find it, and he took a bit of tracking down. Then all I had to do was catch the thing and kill it….I never knew they could run so fast. Anyway, eventually I managed to kill the thing and give it a proper sea burial…and tossed it over the side. On my way back up top, I passed and killed one or two more, but when I got up top I was greeted with the girls and Jeff, stood on chairs on the top deck…there were a few little baby roaches running around.It was decided to go to the cabins and block every little crack and cranny to stop the roaches from returning. So after about half an hour, we had the cabins secure and myself and Jeff decided to go on operation roach hunt. There by this point were a fair few roaches running around, which we duly trod on (the big ones make a really good crunching sound when you stand on them). I then happened to shine a torch through the kitchen window and lets just say…I didn’t eat breakfast the following morning, apart from fired eggs, which I hope they could not crawl all over!The next day we made it back to dry land without any further problems and all in all the trip was great fun and well worth doing…the views are scenery are incredible.

Hoi An

2008-09-24T05:33:00.001-07:00

9 Days in Vietnam

2008-09-23T22:13:00.001-07:00

Only 9 days...The Vietnamese Embassy issued the wrong date on our visas which made our brief visit to Vietnam even more brief. Every time we were asked how long we were staying the response would be "Only 9 days, that's a very short time..." And it was too short, we could easily have spent another 2 weeks travelling through Vietnam. But you can't argue with Immigration so we decided to spend our time in North Vietnam and flew into Hanoi (we have given up all pretense of back packing - wait 'til you hear about the car & driver in Rajasthan...).We stayed in the Old Quarter of Hanoi and enjoyed exploring its many streets. There is a street selling or making everything - shoes, handbags, leather and PVC goods, spices, engraved tombstones, sellotape - you name it, you can find it! And food - everywhere someone is preparing, cooking or eating, with little plastic tables and BBQs usually on the pavement. In our short time we sampled Chicken Pho (noodle soup), Cha Ca (BBQ fish served with noodles and cold fish sauce) and desserts from Fanny's Ice Cream parlour (unfortunate name).Hanoi also has its own an embalmed Communist leader but we knew we wouldn't get to see him, and unsurprisingly according to our guide, Ho Chi Minh was on his annual maintenance vacation to Russia.We also used Hanoi as a base to explore the North of Vietnam. In the North East we visited Halong Bay a World Heritage site of 3000 islands and caves. We went on an overnight boat trip around the bay and visited the surprising' cave so called because it has 3 chambers each bigger than the last (What can we say, it was named by the French...). As well as taking in the scenery from our Junk we were entertained by the Italian divers making some very painful jumps off the boat into the sea, and we learned a highly addictive Israeli card game 'Yaniv'.(Editor's note: More importantly, whilst in Hanoi we came across many a local establishment selling beer 'Bai Hoi' for a very reasonable 7.5 pence a pint - well two thirds of a pint but who's counting?? The 'Bai Hoi' joint wasn't really an establishment so to speak but just some old woman with a barrel of lager, a few glasses, a set of children's garden furniture and a light bulb booked up to the lamp post set up in an alleyway off the pavement. It was great and I wonder if this would work in London...Photo's to follow slow connection...

Miss Saigon love you long time

2008-09-22T17:42:00.001-07:00

CAUTION: skip this entry if you supported the war with Vietnam.Ann and Andrea signed up to go see the Cu Chi tunnels with me this morning, so we all got up early, ate breakfast at the hotel, and were ready to meet our tour group at 7:30. The man rushed us outside, practically running, to an empty air-conditioned bus, where we quickly got comfortable as we rode through the streets of Saigon. We stopped shortly after near a travel agency, to pick others up. We ended up parking there for nearly an hour! It was somewhat annoying having been rushed from our hotel and then made to sit patiently while everyone else took their sweet time. Andrew noticed an STA Travel just a few shops down! I got out and took a few pictures, and got a business card from the travel advisor working inside. I knew that STA was all over the world, but it was definately cool to see it in a foreign country first-hand.The bus was completely full by the time everyone finally got on. The ride took around two hours, but we stopped on the way in a small town that had a lacquer factory run by people handicapped by Agent Orange. It was very sad to see...most people affected by agent orange had the lower half of their bodies completely deformed. The dozens of people working here had tiny, short, skinny legs or legs that bent at unnatural angles. Some couldn't walk; others needed crutches to get around. The one thing all these people had in common was that their hands still worked perfectly, so they were able to make a living by creating works of art to sell to tourists. The artwork was beautiful..they made things like tiles, wall hangings, vases, different types of wood carvings, mirrors, and other handicrafts inlaid with mother of pearl and other materials. My favorite was made with tiny pieces of eggshell. The end result of the eggshell pieces looked someone like sand...very textured, with many colors (the eggs were burned as to make different shades of brown) plasterd artistically on a black background.I had seen photos of what agent orange did to people during the war at the War Remnants Museum, but it was completely different first hand. These people were all pretty young; agent orange had affected their fathers who fought in the war, some as Viet Cong, and the deformities were passed to their children. The affects will go past this generation, if these people have children, and will continue for an unknown amount of time. Seeing them made me feel awful. But it was also wonderful to see that they had found something positive to do with their lives.Our tour guide on the bus and at the tunnels spoke perfect English, but described everything in a very negative way towards Americans. I'm not vert patriotic and never have been, and have disagreed with much of the decisions our country has made throughout history, but the fact remains that I could have had family members die in that war. The tour guide didn't sugar coat a single thing about how many American soldiers were "exterminated" by the Viet Cong, and called us "the enemy" the whole time. He spoke of a few specific VC fighters at Cu Chi who, he claimed, killed dozens of people on their own. One person was said to have killed 118 all by himself. It wasn't easy to hear that these fighters were awarded titles and prizes as "War hero American killer" and other equally offensive titles. He described how Cu Chi had been a peaceful city but that the Americans wanted to destroy it, as if there was no motive behind it and we had just wanted to eradicate an entire village. He then spoke darkly of how women and children were targeted and killed, but in the same breath would boast of women and children fighters who purposely attacked American forces. It seemed somewhat contradictory...if you don't want your women and children killed, then don't allow then to fight your war.Probably the most disturbing part of the tour was an entire exhibit filled with torture mechanisms. I don't remember reading any of this from school, but the Viet Cong set out tons of traps that aimed to main a soldier or kill him painfully. I have photos of each and will describe each one as the caption. The basic idea behind most of these traps was when a soldier stepped on one or put pressure on it, either their foot would sink down into sharpened metal spikes and become trapped, or their whole body would fall through onto sharpened bamboo sticks or metal sticks arranged in different ways. The background of the exhibit was painted showing different white American men falling into these traps. Very disturbing.When I ignored the tour guide's words about Americans specifically and concentrated on learning how the VC survived it became very interesting. The tunnels below the ground have three layers, the first at three meters below, the second at six, and the last at eight to ten meters below ground. The tunnels were tiny and got smaller the lower one got. The entrances to the tunnels were very small and disguised under lots of foliage. Because so many westerners that come to the tunnels are somewhat large, the government decided to open one entrance to the tunnels so they could fit. Luckily I fit into the small one, and was the second volunteer to get into the entrace hole. We had the option later of actually crawling through each level of the tunnels, and not being very claustrophobic I decided to try it. I had to bend all the way horizontally at the waist to even fit, and these were the large tunnels! Withing the first three feet, completely enclose in the tunnel, some people way in front of us decided it would be a good time to pose for a photo and held the line up for over a minute. I panicked, not being able to move at all in any direction. If the line had been moving I think I'd have been ok, but as it was I could tell I would hate the experience, so I turned around, pushed past everyone, and went back overground and waited while everyone else went through. To add injury to insult, a Chinese man behind me, who had NOT been stuck in the tunnel but just waited in line to get into the tunnel, took my picture on the way out. I can just read the photo caption now: "Stupid American can't handle largest Cu Chi tunnels!"My favorite part was actually somewhat disrespectful of the memory of the place, both for the VC and the American side, but was offered on site so of course I tried. A shooting range had been set up where tourists could choose to fire an M16, AK47, or a variety of other huge guns (including a machine gun!) for a small price. My dad used to take me to shooting ranges when I was younger so I'd had some experience before, but a .22 doesn't exactly shoot like the M16 did. The noise was incredible...I jumped every time I heard a shot being fired. People all around me were shooting too, and I never got used to hearing the incredible noise these guns gave off. I shot two bullets from the M16, then was happily done. I hadn't realized how much power was behind the weapon, and shuttered to think what it would do to what or whomever it made contact with.The gift shops on site at the tunnels had one thing I hadn't seen yet...rice wine. I had heard of rice wine many times but didn't realize what was actually in it. BEWARE...it's nowhere near as innocent as the name sounds! Rice wine is really like a hard liquor, yellowish in color that tastes somewhat like whiskey (so I'm ntold, there was NO WAY I wanted to see first hand). All very normal, until you look at the bottle...the bottle, depending on size, is filled with SNAKES. There was one main snake that looked like a cobra in each bottle, and a variety of smaller snakes that looked like long beans at the bottom. Some of the bottles had scorpions in them as well. The main large snake always had either a smaller snake or the scorpion in its mouth. I took lots of pictures as to ruin as many people's appetites as possible. Enjoy!We took the bus straight home this time, not stopping on the way. Starving, Andrea, Ann, and I decided to get a late lunch before Andrea and I had our group meeting at 4. I found out that our hotel served pizza (!) and, telling myself it would not taste like normal American pizza and not to get my hopes up, ordered a small vegetable pizza. It came out looking...delicious! And it tasted delicious as well! I did feel guilty getting American food on only the second day away, but justified it by thinking I wouldn't have a chance to get American food for at least another week.We met the people in our group soon after. Our tour leader is named Richard and he is from Australia. In fact, almost all the people in our group are Aussies, except for two from the UK. I am the only American and sound terribly out of place when I talk. Pear-hops I shall ac-qwuire an axe-cent myself whilst in the come-pany of these ah-thers.We had a cyclo tour through the city, and actually didn't repeat any stops from the one I'd had the day before. We went into the richer part of the town, which was very nice with large buildings, and saw the most expensive hotel in all of Vietnam: the Hyatt, which STARTED at $1,500 PER NIGHT. WOW. We also saw the post office, which sounds boring but was actually gorgeous. Built by the french with all french materials, it was enormous and airy and painted with pastel colors. Notre Dam cathedral was across the street, which was also beautiful but looked somewhat old. Because of the french influence on the country, six million people are still Christians. The cathedral didn't really fit in with the rest of the city; it was taller and almost seemed ostentatious in comparison to the simple buildings around it. I'm sure the french planned it that way.I mentioned before how there are no street laws (that I understand at least) and how the drivers basically go when they please, just shifting around other vehicles without accidents. I still had not seen an accident until the cyclo ride. And guess who that incident involved? Yes, me. My cyclo was going along, minding its own business, when out of nowhere came a bike with two people on it. My driver yelled but it was inevitable...we were going to hit. It was seriously like slow motion in the movies, when everything slows way down and the voices get lower and slower. At the very last second, all four of us looking in horror, the front edge of my cyclo and the side of the bike bumped. I think the word "bump" might be overpowering; "tapped" might be more appropriate. We barely touched. The moment the noise from the "tapping" occurred, all hell broke loose. The two men drivers began yelling at each other very loudly while the woman on the back of the bike looked on, shocked. They yelled, gesturing wildly, for a good two or three minutes, all the while ignoring me and the woman. "Don't worry," I said sarcastically, turning to my driver. "I'm fine, thanks for asking." He ignored me and continued to argue. Finally we peddled off, not a word said to me about the incident.After the cyclo tour we stopped at a street market for dinner. Andrea and I were not hungry after our late lunch and instead decided to shop. I ended up purchasing a Burberry purse (HA like it's real!) for $10, a t-shirt for $6, and an Adidas shirt for $4. Andrea purchased some nice belts and other things for her kids at home. I'd wanted to upload more pictures onto traveljournals last night; as of now I've taken over 200 of them, but the computers are so slow it takes about two minutes per picture to upload. I decided to actually sleep, for the first time since the day before leaving, the whole night and instead went to bed. I'll try and upload as many as I can next time I have internet access.Tomorrow we leave Saigon and head for the Mekong Delta. I'm sad the leave the city. I loved the hustle and bussle and the speed at which everything moved. I loved the people as a whole, even though two specific individuals rubbed the wrong way. This would definately be a city I'd love to return to.

Vietnam Activities and Sports

2008-09-16T22:13:00.001-07:00

Art Galleries can be found in all the main centres in the country and there are some very worthwhile pieces being produced as well as some pieces from old Vietnamese masters on display in many of the bigger cities such as Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City.Entertainment Vietnam is not the place to go for the latest in nightspots, but a number of large hotels have nightclubs and dance halls. Bars are fairly easy to find, even in smaller hotels. Try asking the locals for the current popular spots.Beach Volleyball is rapidly increasing in popularity and Ho Chi Minh City is the place where the National tournament is held. If you want to join in, most beaches in and around the cities will have games going on, especially in the late afternoons...and many teams are only too happy to let visitors join in for a game or two.Bowling (Ho Chi Minh City) Saigon Superbowl located at 43A Truong Son, Tan Binh District is the place to go for this excellent family entertainment Give them a call on: 84+8+885 0188 ext 20 or go there or visit the Bowling Centre located at 285B Cach Mang Thang Tam, District 10. Their telephone number is: Tel : 84+8+864 3784Boat Trips These are particularly popular in the Mekong Delta, Vietnam's southernmost region, which consists of an intricate network of rice paddies, swamps and forests interlaced with canals and rivers. River cruises also operate on the Saigon River (a good way to see Saigon) or the Perfume River (near Hue).Billiards -"Bi Da"-is popular throughout the country and most hotels have at least one table but if not you'll discover venues scattered throughout every city and a few of the outlying villages. It's a pleasant way to get to meet the locals and they are always ready to take on newcomers for a challenging game.Caving enthusiasts may head for the spectacular Pong Nha river caves, northwest of Dong Hoi or other mountainous areas around the country. It is advised that one doesn't venture into a cave without a guide as many are not properly monitored and it's not unknown for intrepid explorers to get lost and never return. Ask at a local tour centre for more information on this activity.Cinemas Unless you speak the local language there are few films shown in English, but occasionally there are and these will have sub-titles in the local lingo. If you want to see a film, it's best to ask at the ticket counter, if the movie is in your preferred language.Cycling Vietnam is ideal for long-distance cycling as much of the country is flat and the shortage of vehicles makes for light traffic. Caution is needed, however, especially on busier roads, as traffic can be very undisciplined. Bicycle hire is widely available.Diving Vietnam is becoming an increasingly well-known diver's paradise. The number of resorts is increasing at a fast pace. By far the most popular at this point in time though are Danang and Nha Trang. Unfortunately though, due to the over-fishing of Vietnam’s waters you won’t see vast schools of fish but rather individuals or smaller numbers. The fish are there though. Wreck diving isn’t really available due to the value of metal in the country anything that sinks is soon salvaged and put to other uses on land. On the other hand the corals flourish and the colours and varieties of both soft and hard corals is spectacular.Elephant Riding can be done in Dalat at Tuyen Lake and is a wonderful way to view the surrounding scenery. Hash House Harriers If you like running (and drinking beer...though not at the same time) then join in one of the HHH fun runs. It's a great way to get to meet the locals and a good way to discover parts of Ho Chi Minh City that you didn't know existed. Contact John Bennet on 842 0594 or 845 7594 for more information on this social activity or go and meet them at the Caravelle Hotel every Sunday at 2:30 p.m.Golf is as popular in Vietnam as it is in many other countries around the world and there are a number located around the country. Dalat and Phan Thiet have some of the better-known courses. Many are designed by world internationally recognised golfers such as the Ocean Dunes Golf Club located in Phan Thiet which was designed by Nick Faldo.Hiking There is good hiking in the beautiful countryside around Da Lat. Guides are recommended and can be hired locally. generally, the northwest is the best region for hiking. Other good destinations include Cuc Phuong National Park (near Hanoi); Bach Ma National Park; and Lang Bian Mountain (in Da Lat), where guides are compulsory. In the north, Cat Ba National Park on Cat Ba Island and Ba Be Lake National Park (which contains several lakes, waterfalls and caves) also offer beautiful scenery.Horse Riding is a popular sport in Vietnam and in fact the country has its own special breed called the Vietnamese Hmong Horse. There are many places that rent out animals either to go on short out-rides along a beach or through the local countryside or on long treks through rugged mountain ranges.Kayaking can be done in many spots throughout the country. Some of the better known sareas are to be found in the picturesque Halong Bay area though some other coatal and riverine areas also offer this gentle waterborne activity. It's a great way to see coastal fauna and flora and all but the smallest family members will enjoy a day out on the water in a canoe.Martial Arts is one sport that every second person in Vietnam seems to enjoy, either being involved in the sport itself or watching. There are numerous varieties practiced here from Laido, Kendo, Karate, Judo, Tae Kwando, Jui Jitsu amongst many others. To either view these sports or partake in the activities, your best bet is to go to open parkland areas in either the early morning or evening when many folk practice in the open air or contact a local sports club or martial arts centre within the area you plan on visiting.Museums abound in Vietnam and there is hardly a city or village that doesn't boast at least one such venue.Opera and Theatre A visit to Vietnam is hardly a visit if one doesn't go to at least one stage production while here. All the cities have a theatre and it's best to ask the local tour information at your hotel for information on what productions are currently showing and the prices etc.Parachuting is a great way to view the surrounding scenery where no one and nothing can interupt your view. There are a number of centres offering this activity such as Dalat, Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City. Ask at your hotel or the local tourist information centre for more details.Sailing is one way to escape the bustle of the city and enjoy the wind in your hair while relaxing on deck with the family. The Nha Trang Sailing Club offers boat trips and can be found at 72 Tran Phu St. Nha Trang. Give them a call on 84.058 826528 for more information. (Most sailing is done on motorised vessles not yachts as the latter are few and far between in Vietnam.) Sepak Takraw is a relatively new sport in Vietnam though popular in countries such as Thailand. It involves kicking a ball, made of woven bamboo shoots (or more recently plastic), over a net. It is growing in popularity and is now part of the South East Asian (SEA) Games.Swimming If you aren't near a beach there are a number of public swimming pools located in most of the bigger towns or at the hotels and resorts. If your hotel doesn't have one, ask at a hotel nearby as some let the general public in for a nominal fee or ask the concierge at your hotel where a public pool is.Surfing is on the rise here and there are a number of places that rent out boards (though it's always better to bring your own). Nha Trang is a popular spot and boards can be rented in Tran Phu. Telephone 829100 (Hon Tam) for more information or call the Khanh Hoa Tourist Board besides the Vien Dong Hotel on 822753.Ten Pin Bowling can be done at many establishments in Vietnam. Saigon has a huge one with 32 lanes called the Saigon Superbowl, but there are many others scattered around the country such as in Hanoi. Ask at your hotel or the local information centre for more details.Trails and Trekking Visitors interested in the Vietnam War can walk part of the Ho Chi Minh Trail, a series of roads, trails and paths used as supply routes by the North Vietnamese during the war. It ran from North Vietnam southward through the Truong Son Mountains and into western Laos. The claustrophobic network of tunnels used by villagers and guerrillas during the war at Cu Chi (35km/22 miles from Saigon) and Vinh Moc can also be visited. There are numerous other trekking trails throughout Vietnam and your local tour office or hotel will be able to fill you in on this enjoyable pastime.Watersports In total, Vietnam has 3260km (2021 miles) of coastline. The most popular beaches are Vung Tau, just north of the Mekong Delta; and Nha Trang, near Da Lat, where the clear, turquoise waters offer good snorkelling and scuba diving. Snorkelling and diving equipment can be hired at most beach resorts. Other good beaches can be found at Phan Thiet (south-central coast); Mui Ne (noted for its large sand dunes); and the magnificent Ha Long Bay, where some 3000 islands, covered in lush vegetation and dotted with beaches and grottos, rise out of the Gulf of Tonkin. Acces to the islands is by boats, which can be hired in Ha Long City.Windsurfing is a great way to spend a day out on the ocean waves or on one of the larger lakes in the country. Phan Thiet is one of the more popular venues as is Nha Trang. Boards can be rented in a number of places and the Full Moon Beach Resort in Phan Thiet has a few for hire or can steer you in the right direction to a place closer to your location. Give them a call on (84) 62 847 008 for more information. Another reasonable spot is Vungtau but it's only real plus as a windsurfing spot is its proximity to Ho Chi Minh City.

Traditional Village & pagoda, Vietnam tours

2008-09-16T17:28:00.001-07:00

Traditional Village & pagoda in Hanoi: Regarded as a cradle of Vietnam's culture, The Red River delta is best known for its handicraft villages and traditional seasonal festivals. We offer you the unique opportunity to see the real rural life of Vietnamese peasants living in these handicraft villages. This tour is also interesting for those who are interested in Buddies philosophy.Price: 55 USD/person (Minimum: 2 persons )Includes: Transport, entrance fee and guide.Itinerary :PRG-1 : BAT TRANG, ceramic village or an old pottery village & COLOA - an old citadel of Vietnam.PRG-2 : VAN PHUC, a silk village is a great place to silk cloth being produced on the loom .There is a showroom where you can buy silk by the meter, much more exciting that buying it in the shops! TRAM pagoda & TRAM GIAN pagodas.PRG-3 : BAT TRANG - an old pottery village DONG HO - a painting village, here they make 'Giay do' paper and paint them with traditional designs .All of paper is made by hand and some, still in the traditional way with all natural products BUT THAP pagoda DONG KY - carpentry village .Here they made furniture inlaid with mother of pearl and finished off with layer of clear lacquer In laying the mother of pearl is highly labour intensive, see how it is delicately sawed info fine fish-bone sliver and paints takingly set into wood .PRG-4 : THAY (master pagoda) & TAY PHUONG pagoda .The price in USDLow Season (5th May - 31st August)Size of Group 1 2 3 4 - 5 6 - 7 8 pax upCost/pax (USD) 140 80 65 50 45 35High Season (1st Sep - 4th May)Size of Group 1 2 3 4 - 5 6 - 7 8 pax upCost/pax (USD) 154 88 72 55 50 39Departure: Every dayInclusive: Transportation (private car/mini van), Entrance fees, Speaking guide (English or French), LunchExclusive: Drinks, Insurance, Personal expenses, Tips

Vietnam Travel Directory

2008-09-10T17:34:00.001-07:00

Vietnam Travel Directory

Vietnam travel directory, provides you Vietnam travel links, hotels Directory, directory listings, add travel url! Vietnam Travel Directory You can add to more sub directory for free at: DestinationsHalong Bay Destination, Sapa Destination,... Hotelshalong_hotels, Hanoi Hotels, SaPa Hotels, ... ToursCycling Tours, Trekking Tours, Kayaking Tours, ... Tour OperatorsHalong Tour Operators, Sapa Tour Operators, ... TransportationHanoi Transportation, Ho Chi Minh Transportation, ... Travel AgentsHanoi Travel Agents, Ho Chi Minh Travel Agents, Hoi An Travel Agents, ... Travel GuidesMaps, Weather Travel HealthHanoi Travel Health, Ho Chi Minh Travel Health

Vietnam Travel Directory and Resources - DirectRooms

Vietnam travel directory compiled by DirectRooms. A comprehensive resource centre of the best travel websites for Vietnam, all graded by our human editorslink: http://www.directrooms.com/travel-directory/asia/vietnam/index.htm

Halong Bay Tours

2008-09-09T22:13:00.000-07:00

Bai Tu Long Cruise 2 daysBai Tu Long Cruise tour 2 days On Footprint Red Dragon traditional junk, we aim to get off the beaten track but still at as leisurely pace. The size of the new vessel will allow the passengers to get much closer to Halong Bay’s natural wonders, pocket lagoons, and its small fishing communities.Depart, 8:00 am, from your hotel to Halong city. After 3.5 hours driving and viewing simple, country side, rice paddy life, we arrive at the at port. At 12.00, the junk crews welcome guests on board at Hon Gai WharfHalong Tours
Halong Cruise 2 days Halong Bay tours, Halong Cruise 2 days A great way to see spectacular Halong Bay is on a slow cruise through the seemingly never-ending bay of islands. Lay in the sun, enjoy a selection of the freshest seafood, and capture photograph after photograph.Later take a more intense look of one of the islands, "get off the beaten track” at a more leisurely pace. Finish the day with an amazing night's swim in the phosphorescent water. On board the Chinese Junk take part in boat-watching, sunset and sunrise. Actually be a part of the magic
Halong Cruise & Kayak 3 daysTravel to Halong Bay, Halong Cruise & Kayak 3 daysHaLong Bay is spectacular! The best way to visit all the hidden inlets and islands is via kayak. You will have 3 days on the water to explore this World Heritage Site with the support of our helpful experts and an authentic liveaboard Chinese Junk. Sleep on board under the stars and endulge in selections of the freshest seafood seved at lunch and dinner. On your kayak discover the magic as you paddle your way through narrow caves and secret interior lakes. Touch the untouched, name the unnamed
Day 1: Hanoi – HalongHalong Cruise tour, travel to halongDepart 8:00 am to Halong. After a 3.5 hours drive we will board our private vessel, an authentic Chinese Junk, for a relaxing cruise to the bay. After lunch on the boat we will stop at a small floating fishing village where our kayaks will be waiting. Then take advantage of the afternoon (2-3 hours) by kayaking amidst the magic of Halong. Tonight's dinner will include a selection of the freshest sea food. Retire to your quarters on the boat or sleep under the stars on the top deck.(L,D)Day 2: Lost, let's sea what happens...book Halong kayaking tours in VietnamA full day of kayaking follows breakfast on the boat. This is the day to discover the hidden Halong and uncover the secrets of this World Heritage Site. Paddle through the emerald water to magnificent caves and deserted lagoons. Explore every nook and cranny of this specticle of towering limestone and ocean, kayak to places some have never been to.
The day we will be fully supported by our boat. We will not have any designated route, we just paddle to the places you wish to go. Our only concern will be the weather's possible heavy rain or too much sun. If this is the case, we can easily go back to the boat for lunch, a short rest, more water or swimming. For those who are not feeling up to a full day of kayaking, cruising on the boat capturing photograph after photograph or sun bathing are some alternatives. As the sun sets, take pleasure in knowing that our second night will be spent on the water as well. (B,L,D)Day 3: More kayaking then onto HanoiHalong kayaking tour, travel to Halong VietnamBreakfast, then more cruising and kayaking. Then we return to Halong City. We will see a little bit of the town as we will have lunch at a local restaurant here, then we will begin our return to Hanoi. You should be back in your hotel around 5:00 pm where your smile, tan and stories of adventure on the water will be the envy of others. (B,L)

Sapa Tours in Vietnam

2008-09-08T17:16:00.001-07:00

Sapa Tours
Sapa Trek & Bac Ha Sunday Market
Sapa Trek with Sunday Market Bac Ha - 3 daysSapa Trek with Sunday Market Bac HaThis 3-day 4-night tour is a wonderful offer from Footprint. Including not only trekking to the hidden villages and staying at their home, but also a visit to one of the most colorful tribal markets in Vietnam. Bac Ha is a rainbow of culture and local trading activities. Different tribes and villages all congregate here only on Sunday to do their business. Please schedule your departure from Hanoi on Thursday night so you too can participate in this renowned market...

Sapa Easy Trek - 3 days
Sapa Easy Trek tour - Vietnam trekkingThis is a perfect combination of trek and culture while visiting the hill tribes’ villages at a pace and style that compliments you. Journey away from the crowds and homestay a traditional Dao home. Learn and participate in village life and truly feel the warmth and hospitality of these incredible people. This is an unforgettable soft adventure to Sapa that should be part of everyone’s time in Vietnam, yet probably only offered by Footprint.
Sapa is a special place with an energy like no other. Take advantage of the secret spots we take you to, and make this an adventure you will never forget. This is the way travel truly should be...

Conquer the top of Mt. Fansipan - 4 days
Fansipan Sapa adventure trek in VietnamSapa is a beautiful former French hill-station. At an altitude of 1,650 m Sapa boasts warm days and cool evenings and all day fresh air. Nowadays, Sapa has become a favorite destination due to its inspiring scenery of mounatin ranges and terraced valley floors dotted with small ethnic villages. Sapa is home to several of Vietnam’s 54 ethnic minority groups, each with their own distinctive dress, customs and dialects making it a colorful mosaic of culture.
Sapa is also renowned for its trekking. With South East Asia's highest peak, Mt. Fansipan (3,143 m) providing the perfect backdrop for some great trekking routes. This 3 day trek with outdoor camping offers all of the challenges and rewards of any hike. And, at the summit you be one of the few to have reached up and touched the clouds marking the roof of Indochina...

Sapa Moderate Trek - 4 daysSapa Moderate Trek Tour - trekking in VietnamCombing a mix of adventure and culture in this multi-day trek suites those who have a little extra time, are willing to get a little dirty, and want to explore . We will travel South of Sapa along the inspiring Muong Hoa valley and mountain streams, visiting villages of Hmong, Zay, Dao and Tay ethnic minorities.
Sources: Sapa Tours
http://www.footprintsvietnam.com/Tours/Sapa/

This trek can be difficult at times but is worth the effort as you will be taken off the beaten path, away from the crowds, and into the unspoiled Vietnam. Visit and stay with a Zay and Tay family and learn about village life. We promise that this trip will be unforgettable, educational, rewarding with a healthy dose of fun...

Vietnam tours listing

2008-09-07T17:46:00.001-07:00

NORTHERN PRIVATE TOURS ( NPT )
NPT 01: Hanoi City Tour ( Full day )
NPT 02: Perfume Pagoda ( Full day )
NPT 03: Hoa Lu- Tam Coc ( Full day )
NPT 04: Cuc Phuong National Park ( Full day )
NPT 05: Halong Bay ( Full day )
NPT 06: Cuc Phuong- Van Long Area- Kenh Ga Geyser ( 02 days/ 01 night )
NPT 07: Halong Bay ( 02 days/ 01 night )
NPT 08: Halong Bay- Cat Ba island- Hai Phong ( 02 days/ 01 night )
NPT 09: Mai Chau ( 2 days/ 1 night )
NPT 10: Hai Phong- Cat Ba- Halong ( 03 days/ 02 nights )
NPT 11: Traditional Villages and Pagoda around Hanoi ( Full day )
NPT 12: Mai Chau Trekking ( 3 days )
NPT 13: Ninh Binh- Hoa Lu- Tam Coc- Mai Chau- Xa Linh (3 days/ 2 nights)
NPT 14: Phong Tho Trekking ( 3 days/ 2 nights )
NPT 15: Ninh Binh- Cuc Phuong National Park- Mai Chau (3 days/ 2 nights)
NPT 16: Hanoi- Ha Long- Ninh Binh ( 5 days/ 4 nights )
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- CENTRAL PRIVATE TOURS ( CPT )
CPT 01: Hue Tours
CPT 02: Hoi An Tours
CPT 03: Nha Trang Tours
CPT 04: Nha Trang- Dak Lak Highland- Buon Me Thuot- Lak Lake- Dalat- Lang Biang Highland ( 4 days / 3 nights )
CPT 05: Dalat- Tuyen Lam Lake- Fairy Rock- Mount Elephant ( 02 days )
CPT 06: Hoi An- Qui Nhon- Nha Trang- Dak Lak- Buon Me Thuot- Lak Lake- Dalat- Lang Biang ( 7 days )
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- SOUTHERN PRIVATE TOURS ( SPT )
SPT 01: Ho Chi Minh City Tour ( Full day )
SPT 02: Ho Chi Minh City Tour- Cu Chi Tunnel ( Full day )
SPT 03: Cu Chi Tunnel- Cao Dai Temple ( Full day )
SPT 04: Cu Chi Tunnel ( Half day )
SPT 05: Mekong Delta: Saigon- My Tho- Ben Tre ( Full day )
SPT 06: Mekong Delta: Sai Gon- Cai Be- Vinh Long- Can Tho- Cai Rang- Phong Dien- My Tho ( 2 days/ 1 night )
SPT 07: Mekong Delta: Sai Gon- Cai Be- Vinh Long- Can Tho- Cai Rang- Phong Dien- Long Xuyen- Chau Doc ( 3 days/ 2 nights )
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- SPECIAL TOURS ( ST )
ST 01: Sapa Trekking Tours
ST 02: Kayaking Tours on Halong Bay
ST 03: Adventure Tours
ST 04: Beach Breaks
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- TRANS- VIETNAM TOURS ( T-VT )
T-VT 01: Beaches along Vietnam ( 8 days )
T-VT 02: Hanoi- Saigon Discovery ( 10 days/ 09 nights )
T-VT 03: Trans- Vietnam Open Tour ( 12 days )
T-VT 04: Trans- Vietnam Open Tour ( 13 days )
T-VT 05: Hanoi- Saigon ( 14 days )
T-VT 06: Saigon- Hanoi by train ( 13 days )
T-VT 07: 17 Days Vietnam Discovery
T-VT 08: Trans- Vietnam Open Tour ( 18 days )
T-VT 09: Trans- Vietnam Open Tour ( 22 days )
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- NORTHERN BUDGET TOURS ( NBT )
NBT 01: Hanoi City Tour ( Full day )
NBT 02: Perfume Pagoda ( Full day )
NBT 03: Hoa Lu- Tam Coc ( Full day )
NBT 04: Cuc Phuong National Park ( Full day )
NBT 05: Mai Chau ( 2 days/ 1 night )
NBT 06: Halong Bay ( Full day )
NBT 07: Halong- Catba ( 2 days/ 1 night )
NBT 08: Halong- Catba ( 3 days/ 2 nights )
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- CENTRAL BUDGET TOURS ( CBT )
CBT 01: Hue Tours
CBT 02: Hoi An City Tours
CBT 03: Nha Trang
CBT 04: Da Lat
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- SOUTHERN BUDGET TOURS ( SBT )
SBT 01: Ho Chi Minh City Tours
SBT 02: Mekong Delta Tours

Travel Information of Vietnam

2008-09-02T22:10:00.001-07:00

1. GENERAL INFORMATION
Vietnam borders with China in the north, Laos and Kampuchea in the West, and the Pacific Ocean in the east. Its lies in the centre of South-East Asia. Vietnam's territory stretches from Lung Cu village (Ha Tuyen province) in the north to Rach Tau hamlet (Minh Hai province) in the south. It is a S-shaped pennisula, with thousands of off-shore islands and archipelagoes; the biggest of which are the Hoang SA (Paracel) and Truong Sa (Spratly) Archipelagoes. Vietnam's mainland covers 331,689 square kilometres .
According to archaeological discoveries made at Do Mountain, it is believed that life in Vietnam began as far back as 300,000 years ago. Officially, the history of Vietnam stretches back 4,000 years when it was founded by the Hung Kings. It was then named Van Lang.
When speaking upon the history of Vietnam, it is important to note the large role played by the French in Vietnam. It began in 1858, when the French took over Danang in southern Vietnam. Over time, more and more territory was won over by the French. It wasn't until 1954, when the French surrendered to to the Viet Minh, ending the French Indochina War, that the French colonial control in Vietnam ended.
The immediate image in the minds of most people at the mention of Vietnam is that of the war fought against the United States some twenty years ago. Most people think of the country only in terms of the American conflict in Indochina. The war ended nearly twenty years ago, and today, despite lingering signs of past American involvement, the situation in Vietnam is markedly different. People have finally begun to look at the country from another perspective, now that travelers and tourists from the West are being welcomed into what was once a forbidden country. It may take a bit more effort and tenacity to plan an excursion into Vietnam than it would for another Southeast Asian country, but Vietnam has much to offer in terms of culture and sights.
Top
2. WEATHER CONDITIONS
The weather in the southern part of Vietnam is tropical. It is monsoonal in the north, bringing a hot, rainy season from mid-May to mid-September and a warm, dry season from mid-October to mid-March. Occasional typhoons from May to January bring extensive flooding to the middle regions of Vietnam.
Top3. PEOPLE AND CULTURE
The vast majority of the population is Vietnamese with minute percentages of Chinese. The Viet culture originated on the delta of the Red River and the Ma River where the Viet people cultivated paddy fields. They led a simple farming life in small villages, usually living around a communal house. Today the people living in the countryside follow this lifestyle. The Viet people are influenced by Confucianism, in particular the principle of respect for their elders.
In spite of the immense suffering of the Vietnamese and the somewhat ruined state of the country, they are generally warm and friendly, and surprisingly, the Vietnamese bear little if any resentment or bitterness toward Americans. Children in the streets will commonly greet visitors with the name Lien Xo, which means Russian, but they will easily be corrected if you respond, "Hello!" or "Good morning" and explain you are an American, European or Australian, etc.
Ethnic Groups: The country is predominantly 85-90% Vietnamese, 3% Chinese, ethnic minorities include Muong, Thai, Meo, Khmer, Man, Cham, and other mountain tribes.
Languages: Vietnamese is the official language; French, Chinese, English, Khmer and tribal dialects (Mon-Khmer and Malayo-Polynesian) are also spoken.
Religion: Buddhist, Confucian, Taoist, Roman Catholic, indigenous beliefs, Islamic and Protestant.
Top4. LOCAL CUSTOMS
Be firm, yet diplomatic when dealing with officials who will often be very rigid. In the case of misunderstanding, patience is the best policy.
Small gifts such as cigarette lighters, pens, foreign cigarettes, liquor, perfume and even shampoo are greatly appreciated by anyone you wish to make friends with in Vietnam.
Out of politeness, always ask permission before taking photos of people. The same rule of thumb also applies to photos taken in places of worship. Permission will almost always be granted.
A gentle handshake is the most appropriate manner of greeting.
Be very discrete about giving anything to beggars frequently encountered in Ho Chi Minh City. If anyone is seen giving handouts to a beggar, he or she may end up being pursued by a mob of other beggars. This does not help create a good image for foreigners; it gives them instead the reputation of being easy to hit up for money.
Beware of pickpockets. Keep your ID and passport in a safe place and carry only photocopies of those items.
Remove your shoes before entering Buddhist pagodas. Small donations placed in the boxes found in temples are appreciated. It is acceptable to keep your shoes on within Chinese pagodas.
Never let the soles of your feet face other people or any sacred monument, such as a statue of Buddha.
Top5. CURRENCY
The Dong (D) is the official currency in Vietnam. Exchange rate is approximatley 1 USD = 15,000 Dong (Sep 01)
Bank notes currently in circulation are in denominations of 100 / 200 / 500 / 1,000 / 2,000 / 5,000 / 10,000 / 20,000 and 50,000 Dong
Notes under 200 Dong have little value and are rarely used.
The U.S. dollar is more or less a second currency in Vietnam. Other foreign currencies are not readily accepted. A large supply of US$1, US$5 and US$10 are almost essential for tipping, for small expenses and for hotel bills. U.S. money is so common that change will frequently be given in dollars.
You may bring in an unlimited amount of foreign currency as long as it is declared on the forms provided by customs officers. Foreign currency can be exchanged for dong at your hotel or at the State Bank of Vietnam.
Top6. THINGS TO KNOW
Population: About 78 Million People Capital: Hanoi Flag: The flag of Vietman is red with a large yellow five-pointed star in the center. Shop Hours: Shops run from 7 or 8am to 11 or 11:30pm. Some are open from 1 or 2pm to 4 or 5pm. Bank Hours: Most banks are opened from 7am or 8am to 11am or 11:30am Some are open from 1pm or 2pm to 4pm or 5pm. Holidays January 1 Solar New Year's Day January/February Tet (Tet Nguyen Dan). The most important Vietnamese annual festival. This marks the new lunar year and the advent of spring. This is a three-day holiday, usually at the end of January or the beginning of February (according to the solar calendar) February 3 Anniversary of the Foundation of the Communist Party of Vietnam April 30 Liberation Day, the day on which Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City) fell to Hanoi in 1975. This holiday is commemorated nationwide. May 1 Labour Day May 19 Birthday of President Ho Chi Minh September 2 National Day of Vietnam
Time: +7:00, Vietnam is 11 hours ahead of Eastern Standard Time and 14 hours ahead of Pacific Standard Time.
Tipping: Tipping is not customary in Vietnam, but it is enormously appreciated. A 5-10% tip for a meal is a very small amount of money, but to the average Vietnamese, it could easily equal a day's wages. Avoid tipping too much, as it will set a precedent for others.
Restaurants: Government-run restaurants catering to tourists add a 10% service charge to the bill.
Porters: Porters, if they are available, can be tipped with American coins.
Hotel maids: Government-run hotels catering to tourists charge an automatic 10% service fee.
Taxis: Generous tips are not necessary. A small gratuity, however, is expected by cab drivers.
Top7. VISAS AND PASSPORT
Passports and visas are required for entry into Vietnam. The best place to obtain a visa for Vietnam is Bangkok. The visa will specify where you will be arriving and where you will be leaving, in addition to how long you can stay.
Formerly, tours had to be booked to obtain a visa, but this is no longer the situation. Potential visitors to Vietnam must fill out three applications for entry and exit visas, accompanied by three passport photos 4cm x 6cm. One of the applications must be sent to the most convenient diplomatic or consular mission of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam. The other two applications/photos are carried with you and handed in at the first point of entry.
If you require Asia Travel to assist you in the application, please send an email with the following information to:asiatrav@asiatravel.com:
Surname and first name Date and place of birth Nationality Present place of residence Profession Time and point of entry and exit
Some Embassies of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam:
Australia 6 Timbarra Crescent O'Malley ACT 2603 Tel (062) 866059
France 62, rue Boileau 75016 Paris Tel 4524-5063 or 4527-6255
Mexico Sierra Ventana 255 11000 Mexico, DF Tel 540-1612
Thailand 83/1 Wireless Road Bankok Tel (02) 251-7201
United Kingdom 12-14 Victoria Road London W8 5RD Tel 937-1912
Top8. CUSTOMS REGULATIONS
Duty-Free Items Visitors may import 200 cigarettes, 50 cigars or 250g of tobacco, 1 liter of wine, 1 liter of liquor and an unlimited amount of film. Commercial goods and items of high value being taken out of Vietnam require export permits from the Customs Service. Antiques may be confiscated permanently. No local currency may be taken out of the country.
The Customs Service Headquarters 21 Ton Duc Thang St. Ho Chi Minh City Tel 90095
Top9. TRAVEL TO THE COUNTRY
Airports Noi Bai International Airport Hanoi Tan Son Nhat Airport Ho Chi Minh City Fares are significantly lower for those flying to Ho Chi Minh City. Although flights are available from the capitals of most Southeast Asian countries as well as from Sydney and Melbourne, the best place is from Bangkok as visas are easiest to obtain there.
Airlines Vietnam Airlines (International) 116-118 Nguyen Hue Blvd. Ho Chi Minh City Tel (08) 292118 Vietnam Airlines (Domestic) 27b Nguyen Dinh Chieu St. Ho Chi Minh City Tel (08) 299980 Air France Dong Khoi and Le Loi St. (Caravelle Hotel) Ho Chi Minh City Tel (08) 241278 Aeroflot 4H Le Loi St. Ho Chi Minh City Tel (08) 93489 Thai Airways 116 Nguyen Hue Blvd. Ho Chi Minh City Tel (08) 292118 Philippine Airlines Ho Chi Minh City Tel (08) 292200 MAS 116 Nguyen Hue Blvd. Ho Chi Minh City Tel (08) 30695
Trains There are currently no train lines running between Vietnam and its neighboring countries.
Buses Traveling by road from Cambodia is a slow and expensive alternative to flying. It is highly advisable that travelers fly in instead.
Ships and Ferries There are no official passenger services. Travelers may be able to ride on a cargo ship to Ho Chi Minh City, Danang or Haiphong from Hong Kong, Japan, Thailand, Singapore and France. Check with the local shipping and travel agencies for rates and availability. A ferry service runs from Cambodia to Chau Doc in the Mekong Delta.
Top10. TRAVEL WITHIN THE COUNTRY
Cars Car rentals are currently not in existence. Cabs, which are unmarked cars without meters, can typically be rented for the day for US$30 to US$40. Trains The Vietnamese railway system runs from Ho Chi Minh City to Hanoi along the coast and links with Haiphong and the regions further north. Odd-numbered trains travel South, and even-numbered trains travel north. The fastest trains take at least 36 hours from Ho Chi Minh City to Hanoi. Reservations should be made a day or more in advance. The major setback to the railways is that tourists are charged many times more than Vietnamese people in the form of an outrageously high surcharge. For long distance traveling, it is best to fly. Buses The bus system runs almost everywhere within the country, with stations built around the country dividing the territory into regions. Buses tend to be slow and unreliable.
Top11. SIGHTSEEING
Ho Chi Minh City This is the largest city in Vietnam. It is the industrial, commercial and cultural center of the country. The central city area is still called Saigon.
WAR CRIME MUSEUM This museum exhibit crimes committed by the Americans during the war. Photographs of the famous My Lai massacre, human embryos, genetically deformed babies and innocent civilians being tortured can be seen on display. An array of US armored vehicles, artillery pieces, bombs and infantry weapons are displayed in the courtyard. You can also see a guillotine used by the French to de itate troublemakers in the riots of the 1920s and a model of the famous tiger cages used by the South Vietnamese to house VC prisoners on Con Son island. The War Crime Museum basically reveals a different side of the stories about wars - the innocent victims of modern warfare. HISTORICAL MUSEUM Built in 1929 by the Societe des Etudes Indochinioses, it was formerly named Blanchard dels Brosse. A big statute of President HoChiMinh stands in the main lounge of the museum. The museum has an excellent collection of artifacts illustrating the primitive age, bronze age, the Tran dynasty and the Le Dynasty. Take a look at the array of musical instrument especially the special monocord of the one string musical instruments. There are many valuable relics taken from Cambodia's Angkor Wat. REUNIFICATION PALACE In 1868, the Norodom Palace (original name) was built for the French Governor-General of Indochina. A striking modern architecture was built when the original buildings were damaged by bombs. Rebuilt in 1962, it comprises of a ground floor, 3 main floors, two mezzanines and a terrace for helicopter landing. The palace includes many tastefully decorated rooms such as the reception room, the cabinet reference room, the study rooms, the credentials presentation room and the banquet room. It also has a basement with a network of tunnels connecting to the telecom centre and war room and one of the longest tunnels which stretch all the way to the Revolutionary Museum. The grounds outside contain one of the first tanks to burst through the gates of the palace to signify the end of the Vietnam War as well as the fighter plane which dropped further bombs towards the end of the war. Independence Palace was renamed the Unification Palace to denote the spirit and strong will for national independence and reunification Ben Thanh Market The Ben Thanh Market, formerly the main railway terminal, is the largest of the markets scattered throughout the city. A wide variety of goods are available, from imported electronics to imported perfumes. Notre Dame Cathedral This Catholic church was constructed in 1883 and is located near the Tu Do (Dong Khoi) Street, the former red-light district. Presidential Palace This building is now called the Reunification Hall. The center was built as a modern administration center and is where the war and the American involvement in Vietnam ended in April 1975, with tanks invading the compound. Guided tours will take visitors through the various rooms within the complex. Cholon Ho Chi Minh City's Chinatown. Sights include the Binh Tay Market, the An Quang Pagoda (District 5) and the scenic Thien Hau Temple. Vinh Nghiem Pagoda A modern Japanese-style Buddhist temple, easily one of the largest and most impressive in Ho Chi Minh City.
Tay Ninh
Cu Chi Tunnels An extensive network of nearly 200 miles (322mi) of Viet Cong tunnels used in the French Indochina war and American war. The tunnels have complete facilities, from kitchens to printing presses and even street signs, all of which were used to aid the NLF (National Liberation Front) military. Tours involve a description of the tunnels, after which tourists are allowed to crawl about the maze. Located in Tay Ninh (suburb of Ho Chi Minh City), 24 miles (39km) northwest of central Ho Chi Minh City. CAO DAI TEMPLE Cao Daism seeks to create the ultimate religion by fusing Buddhist, Taoist, Confucianist and Catholic beliefs into a synthesis of its own. Witness the solemn ceremony of the unique religion - Caodaism at Caodai Holly See at its noon tide prayer service with followers dressed in red, blue, yellow and white robes. There is the divine eye above the altar, the religion's official symbol. The temple has nine levels which signify the nine steps to heaven, each level marked by a pair of multicoloured dragons.
MEKONG DELTA One of the world's largest delta, the Delta Region is formed by the various tributaries of the mighty Mekong River which begins its journey to the sea in Tibet and winds its way for 4500 km through China, Burma, Laos, Thailand, Cambodia and Southern Vietnam. The vietnamese name for the Mekong is Cuu Long which means "nine dragons" and this is represented by the nine exit points of the Mekong River as it flows into the sea. The land of the Mekong Delta is renowned for its richness. Known as Vietnam's breadbasket, it produces enough rice to feed the entire country with a sizeable surplus leftover. Take a sampan ride that meanders through small villages and experience the simple lives of the Mekong people
Vung Tau Beach Located at the mouth of the Saigon River is the popular Vung Tau beach resort. Pineapple Beach is probably the most pleasant, with its villas and generally tranquil atmosphere. The temples are a definite must-see. The Niet Ban Tinh Xa is the largest temple in Vietnam. Tourist accommodations are available at the Hoa Binh Hotel, as well as the Thang Loi, Thang Thai and Tho Nguyet.
Nha Trang The central region near Nha Trang features some of the most beautiful beaches in Asia. The ocean waters are transparent, and the sands immaculate, attracting more and more visitors in recent times. Tours cover the Cham Ponagar complex, the north tower of which was built in 817 A.D. Ruins of the long-deceased Champa still stand as a testament to this once prominent kingdom.
Dalat The mountain resort among the Central Highlands has scenic surroundings as well as remnants of the French colonial era. The Ethnic Minority Museum is certainly worth visiting for those interested in the costumes, gongs, ornaments and other artifacts collected by locals from the Lam Dong province. As another point of interest, there is even an old abandoned nuclear power plant.
Danang City Known as Tourane under the French, Danang is a seaport of endless stretches of unspoiled sandy beach midway between Ha Noi to the north and Ho Chi Minh City to the South. The city was also the center of civilization of the Champa Kingdom, a kingdom which flourished In the area as early as the 2nd century A.D. Appealing stone sculptures (from the 4th-14th centuries) of Vishnu , Shiva and other Gods of this Kingdom can still be found in the Cham museum located in the center of the city Towards the coast south of Danang are five large hills known as the Marble Mountain. Mysterious caves within the mountains shelter altars delicated to Buddha, Bodhisattvas and The different genies arising from the popular beliefs of the area's inhabitants. With its own international and domestic airport, Danang provides an ideal stopover based for excursions to the ancient town of Hoi An, the imperial city of Hue and My Son-site of the Ruins from the Cham civilization.
Cham Ruins For those interested in seeing all that these fifteen towers have to offer, plan on spending a minimum of one day. These towers are located at My Son in the Duy Xuyen district. Cham Museum The Cham Museum built in 1915, expanded in 1935 , completed in 1936, is in a lovely setting And has large, open well lighted rooms with around 296 statues and artifacts of the Cham People dated back to the 7th century. Marble Mountains Consisting of five limestone peaks, about five (8km) miles south of town. They can be explored by following the paths leading to the peaks. Non Nuoc Beach China Beach, one the most wonderful beaches of Vietnam , was once an in country rest and Recreation centre for the US military during the Vietnam War.
Hoi An Ancient Town Forty-five minutes by land south-east of Da Nang is the ancient town of Hoi An, which was one of the most important trading ports in Southeast Asia for merchants from China, Japan and afar for a couple of centuries ago. Originally a seaport in the Champa Kingdom, by the 15th century It had become a coastal town under the Tran dynasty. Also served as the hub of East-West c ultural exchange, Hoi An's ancient past is superbly preserved in its fascinating temples, pagoda, shop houses and home which make up the town's old quarter. Walking in the streets of this ancient town, one can observe the influence of the architecture, Sculpture and decorative styles of China and Japan and the skill of former Vietnamese architects Who have absorbed their influences and created something similar yet somehow uniquely different.
HUE Hue, the imperial city, the citadel-city of Phu Xuan was originally built up during the end of 17th Century and became a political capital as well as the Imperial City of Nguyen Dynasty from 1802 till 2nd September 1945 when the Communist Party, leaded by President Ho Chi Minh had declared the Independent of the Nation and took over the power from the defeated Japanese Governor. Nowadays, this small & poetical city of 280.000 habitants becomes one of the main tourism site of Vietnam destination by its splendid tombs of the Nguyen emperors, several notable pagodas especially the Thien Mu Pagoda, the remains of Citadel as well as the romantic Perfume River where a cruise tour with Hue music performance in the moonlight was always provided since long time ago. Normally, visiting Hue within a day is a bit rush but still enough time to cover the main attractive sites such as The Citadel, The museum of antique, the tombs of Khai Dinh and Tu Duc emperors and a 02 hours cruise with stop over at Thien Mu pagoda.
Citadel & Forbidden City This forbidden city of 10km. perimeter has 4 main entrance gates and well defended by kilometers of rampart was built in 1804 by the first emperor Nguyen Anh on a site chosen by geomancers and look likes a Chinese forbidden city in Beijin. Some parts of this forbidden city were totally destroyed during the war where now are under reconstruction providing UNESCO & Japanese non-government associations' fund. Lucky thing is most of the main area such as the citadel (the Imperial Enclosure), Flag Tower were remain intact where received hundred of visitors daily. The Museum of Antique (Imperial museum) This beautiful hall which house the Imperial Museum was built in 1845. The most precious artefacts were lost during the war (1954-1973) and the liberation day (1975) but ceramics, furniture and royal relics are remain until the present time. Khai Dinh Emperor's Tomb This is the final monument of the Nguyen Dynasty. The complex features ceiling murals, frescoes and a dragon staircase. Located on the slopes of the Chau E Mountain, six miles (10km) south of town. It takes almost 10 years (1920-1931) to finish this grandiose concrete tomb which is completely unlike the others tombs where there was a mixture of typical Vietnamese & French colonial architecture. After climbing 36 steps passing by rows of elephants, horses, civil & military mandarin you will be reached the main building where a full original artefacts are displayed to the public. Tu Duc Emperor's Tomb The most impressive of the tombs and pagodas at Hue. Located at the tributaries of the Perfume River, seven miles (11km) south of Hue, this complex has beautiful architecture, intricate decor and military statues. This majestic and serene tomb with lake view, grove of pines, temples, living house area is the most expensive tomb which was completely terminated after 5 years by thousands of labor-worker (1863-1868) for this intellectual-poet emperor. Minh Mang Emperor's Tomb The most impressive of the tombs and pagodas at Hue. Located at the tributaries of the Perfume River, seven miles (11km) south of Hue, this complex has beautiful architecture, intricate decor and military statues. Thien Mu Pagoda & Perfume River Cruise Unlike the typical boat used to provide in the past the present Hue cruise is providing a motorized boat which carry a 2 hours cruise along Perfume River including a 30 min stop over Thien Mu pagoda. This pagoda located on the hillock overlooking the Perfume River, built in 1844 by Thieu Tri emperor, 21m-high octagonal tower with seven-storey is one of the most famous structures in all over the country and become an unofficial symbol of Hue until now.
Hanoi
One Pillar Pagoda Built in the 11th century, this pagoda sits on a stone pillar in the middle of a pond. This is one of the more unusual structures in Vietnam. Lenin Park (Thong Nhat Park) Built over a former marsh, this park surrounds a large lake containing a statue of Lenin, often the object of jokes among the locals. The park itself is quite beautiful. Tran Nhan Tong Street. National Preserve of Cuc Phuong This national park is one of the last tropical primeval forest reserves on Earth. There are 64 species of fauna and thousands of species of flora, many of which are extinct everywhere else in the world. Bizarre and fascinating species of animals from flying lizards to monkeys dwell within the park's 61,000 acres. Caves and grottoes, where various artifacts have been discovered, are located in the mountains within. Ha Nam Ninh Province. It is located approximately 62 miles (100 Km.) southwest of Hanoi. Thu Le Park Located northwest of Hanoi in the Thu Le village.
Haiphong
Cat Ba This island is the largest in the Cat Ba archipelago. It is potentially one of the major beach destinations in Southeast Asia. This region has beautiful beaches and pristine waters. Within the mountains are caves and grottos. Located 36 miles (58km) east of Haiphong.
Halong Bay One of Vietnam's most beautiful areas, Halong Bay has fascinating limestone formations, coves for nighttime excursions, sheer cliffs, grottoes, arches and scores of small islets.
Top12. DINING AND DRINKING
Vietnamese food varies from region to region. Almost 500 traditional dishes have been recorded! Rice and noodles are staple foods, served with nearly all meals. The most popular dishes are nema rán (spring rolls), bún thang (noodles with sliced pork, eggs, shredded chicken and shrimp), shellfish steamed with ginger and sea crabs fried with salt. Among common ingredients used are: shark fin, duck, pork paste, fish, spices, fruits, vegetables, crab meat, lobster and oysters.
Imported beer is available in Vietnam, although a number of domestic beers are brewed. Rice wine is very popular, and there are many brands available. There is a variety of fruit wines such as apricot, orange or lemon. Soft drinks are processed from the many varieties of tropical fruits available. Water from the tap should be avoided, even though it has already been filtered and sterilized at 10ºC. If you must drink it, boil the water first.
Top13. ENTERTAINMENT
Vietnam is not the place to go for the latest in nightspots, but a number of large hotels have nightclubs and dance halls. Bars are fairly easy to find, even in smaller hotels. Try asking the locals for the current popular spots.
Top14. EMERGENCY NUMBERS
Police: 03 Ho Chi Minh City Police Station 161 Nguyen Du, Quan 1 Tel 99398 or 97107 Open from 8am-11am and 1pm-4pm Hanoi Police Office for the Registration of Foreign Visitors 63 Tran Hung Dao, Hanoi All visitors must register with the police within 48 hours of arrival. If you are on a tour, this should have been taken care of (but check anyway). Fire Department: 08 First Aid: 05 International Dialing Access: Available at major tourist hotels and post offices Country Code: 84 City Codes: Hanoi: 04 / Ho Chi Minh: 08 When calling from within the same city, delete the city code from the number. When calling to another city from within Vietnam, use the entire city code. When calling from outside Vietnam, delete the first digit (0) from the city code.
Top16. USEFUL PHRASES
* Greetings - Chao ong (ba) * How are you? - Ong (ba) co khoe khong? * Fine, thanks - Cam on rat tot * My name is ... - Tên tôi là ... * I don't understand - Tôi không hiêú * Restaruant - nhà hàng * Telephone - diên thoai * Hotel - khách san

ENCHANTING VIETNAM TOURS

2008-08-27T03:12:00.001-07:00

HaNoi - HaLong - NinhBinh - MaiChau - Hue - DaNang - HoiAn - MySon - SaiGon - CuChi - TayNinh - MeKong Delta - SaiGonDay 1. Arrival in HanoiGreetting at Noi Bai airport and transfer to hotel. Overview of the Old Quarters by ricckshaw. Water puppetry show.Day 2. Hanoi – HalongHanoi city tour : Tran Quoc Pagoda, Temple of Literature. After lunch, proceed to Halong via Red River Delta . Overnight in Halong.Day 3. Halong – Ninh Binh6-hour cruise in Halong Bay with lunch onboard. Transfer to Ninh Binh. Overnight in Ninh Binh.Day 4. Ninh Binh – Mai Chau3-hour sampan ballade to visit “Inland Halong Bay”, then Hoa Lu.. Drive to Mai Chau . Overnight in a house on stilts of Thai minority.Day 5. Mai Chau – Hanoi – HueA short trek around Thai minority villages before driving back Hanoi. Leisure time before taking night train to Hue.Day 6. HueOn arrival at 07.50, visit to Hue , last imperial capital of Vietnam : the Imperial Palace, Royal Tombs. Enjor costume royal dinner.Day 7. Hue – Da Nang – Hoi AnBoat cruise on Perfume River to visit Thien Mu Pagoda. Heading south, visit Cham Art Museum, then visit Hoi An Ancient Town.Day 8. Hoi An – My Son – Hoi AnTransfer to visit My Son – former sanctuary of Indianized Champa Kingdom in the First Millenium. Back to Hoi An for overnight.Day 9. Hoi An – Da Nang – SaigonTransfer to Da Nang airport for flight to Saigon. Saigon city tour : visit former French Quarter and former Chinatown.Day 10. Saigon – My Tho – SaigonDrive to My Tho to visit Cai Be floating market on the Upper Mekong Branch. Back to Saigon for overnight.Day 11. Saigon - Cu Chi - Tay Ninh – SaigonTransfer to visit Cu Chi Tunnels, proceed on to visit Tay Ninh Cao Dai Holy See. Back to Saigon..Day 12. Saigon – DepartureFree time for shopping before transfer to airport for departure flight

Hanoi - Sapa

2008-08-26T22:12:00.001-07:00

Well we arrived in Bangkok after a turbulent flight via Abu Dhabi (the airport there looked like somethinig out of Doctor Who?!) We had a quick burger king before getting on our connecting flight to Hanoi, the capital of Vietnam. When we arrived, we got into a taxi which took us to our Hotel, only to be told that the hotel was full, even though we had a room reserved! So we were taken to another hotel to stay in which was not very nice, but did teh job (we had no window in our room)! We stayed in Hanoi for one night and booked a tour to Sapa, in the north.We got the night train to Sapa, which was very noisy (not as nice as trains in Thailand) We got to Sapa and checked into our hotel which is nice and over looks the mountains and villages of the region and was immediately on our first trek just after check in! This was only a couple of hours of the local village which was good. Today, we went on a marathon trek which involved Aimee sliding down a hill on her bum and me ruining my lovely adidas trainers in mud! Oh well!!! We had to walk along very narrow ledges with sheer drops to the right, very scary!! Thank god for the walking sticks we bought before the trek! We have been paired up with a spanish couple for our treks (from the same hotel in Hanoi) who are very nice and lively! Tomorrow we are going on another trek and getting the night train back to Hanoi. When we get back to Hanoi, we are going to Halong Bay for one night and then on to Hoi an in cantral Vietnam. Will update when we are here. Hope all is well in UK!

Beautiful Hanoi

2008-08-21T22:30:00.001-07:00

I think this one takes the cake. Not only is the city beautiful, and bustling, but manageable too. Everyone is nice and curious about us also. But beyond that the city just gives off a vibe that is welcoming and encourages my sense of curiousity to see what is around every corner.We got in at about 5:30am after a gruelling 30 hour train ride and were taken to the Green City Hotel (a guy was there promoting it). But for $25US we got a couple hundred square feet and a balcony that looked over the wedding street (invitations, photos, dresses, etc.). Nice place and a price that's hard to beat. We then walked down to one of the many Sinh Cafes (I think there is no ® on the name because it seems that EVERY cafe is a sinh cafe) and made arrangements for our trip to Beautiful Ha Long bay the following day. For about $140US we got a private bus, boat tour guide and boat crew for a few hours, all in all not a bad deal considering it is supporting about 12 people, plus expenses. After that we went down to the sneaker streets, the markets (which sell food and flowers), the flag and tin makers, the cabinet and furniture makers, the painters, etc. etc. each corner revealing a different craftsmen (many times using age old techniques to make beautiful items) Picked up a few souvenirs before heading back to the hotel for a nap before heading out to a little bar/pub owned by the brit named Matt. Said he decided hisw first 24 hours in Hanoi (two years ago) he was there to stay. So he opened this place called "Le Pub" which serves everything from western food to asian cuisine to my new favorite drink (Viet coffee with a healthy serving of sweetened condensed milk mmmm frickin mmmmm). Anyway, I ordered a steak with mashed potatoes and gravy (you never realize how much that stuff means to you untill you've been eating noodle soup on corners for about a week and a half) which was DELICIOUS. It sooo hit the spot. Then back to the hotel as we were leaving for Ha Long the next day at 7:30.The next day the bus was late and it was raining and clowdy (there was a large monsoon blowing through to the south) so I wasn't in the best mood, not to mention the waking up early thing. Once our tour guide got there, however, my mood brightened because he seemed to be a good guy (it seems we have had EXTRAORDINARY luck with our guides and drivers), anyway, gave us the scoop and we were off on our 2 and 1/2 hour journey to Ha Long Bay. Even through the rain the magnificent lime stone rocks sticking out of the bay are amazing looking. We cruised around the bay for about 45 mins before arriving to a fishermans house. We got an insight into how they lived (actually in the bay) and also got to pick out our lunch (HECK YEA) So we picked some crab and prawns and conch had the guys cook it up for us and good god was it delicious. I think because they aren't used to cooking for only two people they really overdid it on the food, which was fine because I skipped breakfast. Anyway, gorged myself; rice, crab, vegetables, squid, conch, prawns, shrimp, etc etc. there was more I am just forgetting now what it was. After lunch it was off to do some cave exploration. Not stunningly beautiful, but fascinating historically. The bigger of the two caves we visited was just discover about ten years ago by a fisherman trying to get out of a storm. And the second was used in battles dating way back to when there was conflict with the Mongolians and as recently as the French and American wars (they used it to stockpile weapons) fascinating really. After the cave exploration it was back to the dock and back to the hotel. Honestly I was ready because it seemed like a lot had happened in the short time we were there. Later on (yesterday) that night as I was cheking email the two kids that run the late night desk were BLASTING american country music. It was hilarious, absolutely ridiculous, but they LOVE IT!!! Anyway. (I also found out when they close up things for the night [around 1ish] they sleep on the floor of the lobby in case anyone is locked out etc. But I can't imagine. Kids younger than me who have to sleep on the floor of a hotel lobby every night just to keep their families fed. Really sad. I guess it never really struck me how lucky I was to be a white kid born on the right side of the earth to a good situation until then.Today we woke up and headed out to the Sofitel Metropole to learn how to cook Viet style. As it ended up dad and I were the only people to take the course that day so we got the individual attention of a pretty amazing cook. We went to the market and learned about the ingredients and she was even kind enough to warn us of the section where they had dog so we could avout it. Then back to the hotel for lecture and instruction on how to cook. They even hooked us up with recipe sheets, bar b q devices rice paper for making the tastiest confection known to man (deep fried spring rolls) mushrooms, viet vermacelli. Wonderful. After they had filled us up it was back to Matt's ( Le Pub) to get a cup of joe, do some last minute souvenir stuff and get ready for the airport. Well we are about to hop the flight for Bangkok where we start our EARLY morning trip back to the states and no one has ever been more ready for it! I can't wait to see all you lovely people again. Hear your voices, throw some hugs around. And them maybe make with the trinkets. Good stuff. Love to all!!!!SARA MOM BOB GRAMMY HANK AND WHOEVER ESLE IS READING!!!!!!!! PEACE OUT SCOUTS!!!!!!~ N to the.....

Exploring Hanoi

2008-08-20T22:18:00.001-07:00

As promised a more detailed overview of our recent tour, starting off with Hanoi city in Vietnam.Hanoi, 26th-28th of FebruaryWe arrived in Hanoi, the capital of Vietnam, in the evening on the 26th of February with a day to kill before our tour started on the 28th. The first thing we noticed on our drive from the airport to the Victory hotel was the amount of traffic on the roads (most of it motorbikes) and the fact that the horn was an integral part of driving in Vietnam.In fact, the next day one of the first things we had to learn, and nervously put into practice was crossing the road. Due to the huge volume of motorbikes coming from all directions it is just unsafe to look for a gap in the traffic and run across the road. In fact running is the most dangerous thing you could do. Instead, you have to step into the road and slowly walk acoss, this way the motorbikes have time to spot you and move around you as you cross the road. It took a bit of getting used to but it did work and surprisingly well.During our first morning we explored the city on foot and made our way to the temple on the lake and browsed some of the many goods on offer in the shops. In the afternoon we jumped into cyclos for a tour of the city taking in the major sites such as the Ho Chi Minh mausoleum. We also stopped off to watch a water puppet show, a speciality of Hanoi, this was very entertaining and done well with puppeteers standing in four feet of water moving puppets on basically two bits of wood. I haven't done it justice in my description but take our word for it, it was entertaining to watch.The next day we explored more of Hanoi of foot and tried to get into the Ho Chi Minh mausoleum to catch a glimpse of the now preserved, former, leader. Unfortunately, we were just too late when we arrived (this can be blamed on a cyclo drvier who chased us down a street) and could not get in so instead walked around the Museum next door which talked about and displayed some of the recent history of Vietnam and the life history of Ho Chi Minh. That evening we met our tour group and leader and all went out for dinner at the Cyclo restaurant to get to know each other. Our tour group was made up of a good mix of nationalities and ages with the youngest at 23 and the oldest at 62.The next day we all jumped on board a mini bus and headed to Halong Bay.....

Cat Tien Vietnam

2008-08-19T22:38:00.001-07:00

We spent four days at a national park/preserve outside of Saigon, which is famous for the protection of the endangered Java rhino. The park has only 8, while the remaining population live in Indoneasa.It was trully beautiful, and peacful in a really loud jungle sort of way. A nice contrast to the crazy concreat jungle of Saigon!Trying to be thrifty travelors, we slept outside with only our hammoks and a mosquito net and rented bikes to explore. One day we rode, and hiked, into Crokodile lake, paddled around in a canoe observing the splashes here and there around us (we assured the crokodiles were human friendly) and spoke with the resident park ranger.On our last day we went with an indigenous/minority man named K'Woai to his village. We spoke with him about creating a business relationship where we can purchase their crafts (woven cloth, cloths, bags, wallets, belts, etc.)and create a market for them in the U.S. This would create a better source of income than they currently recieve from selling to tourists, and it can sustain and support their cultural arts and traditions. This was extreamly exciting for me as it is a business idea I have been working on for manny years, since my first trip to Peru when I befriended a family of Alpaca weavers. So I have been building the relationships through out my travels and now, finally, I have begun the process of actuall commerce (we will be bringing home a selection of beautiful, hand woven crafts to assess the interest at home). :)K'Woai is an itellegent and wise man, and a pleasure to be around. I look forward to the potential of this relationship. :)

Discover North Vietnam 7 days, tours

2008-08-14T22:12:00.001-07:00

Day 1: Hanoi arrival (D).Our guide will meet you at Noi Bai airport and escort you to a hotel in the center of Hanoi. The tour will start in the afternoon with 2 hours cyclo tour around the Hoan Kiem Lake, Ngoc Son Temple and Old Quarter streets. You are then attend the Water Puppets show. Enjoy welcome dinner and overnight in Hanoi.Day 2: Hanoi - Ninh Binh (B/L/D)Vietnam TourEthnic people8:00 A.M you will visit Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, Ho Chi Minh Residence, One-Pillar pagoda Tran Quoc pagoda, Quan Thanh temple, Army Museum and Hanoi Flag Tower. In the afternoon, departure to Ninh Binh. On the way, visit Hoa Lu - ancient capital of Vietnam in the 10 century and the remaining two temples of Dinh King & Le King. Dinner and Over night in Ninh Binh.Day 3: Ninh Binh - Ha Long bay (B/L)8:00 our car will drive you to Tam Coc, then take a sampan on winding streams deep in rice fields and limestone rocks to visit Tam Coc cave. After lunch leave Ninh Binh for Halong bay. On the way, the car will stop for the short visit to Tran temple and Pho Minh tower in Nam Dinh province. Dinner and Overnight in Halong.Day 4 : Ha Long Bay - Hanoi (B/L/D)Hanoi Hoan Kiem LakeHoan Kiem LakeBoat trip through majestic HaLong bay. Enjoy beautiful landscape of HaLong Bay, naturally formed by islands and islets, explore natural caves or sunbathing. Enjoy lunch on board. Return to Hanoi in the afternoon with stop over at Phu Lang Pottery Village at Bac Ninh. In late evening take the night train to Lao Cai - Sapa.Day 5: Lao Cai- Sapa (B/ L/D)You will arrive at Lao Cai at about 6.30. Short car trip to Sapa of about 40km from Lao Cai. Check in a hotel in Sapa. Relax or optional visit in the morning. In the afternoon, 2 hours trekking to visit Catcat village, home of a Black H'mong hill tribe, which is just 7 km from Sapa town. Overnight in Sapa. Day 6: Sapa (B/ L/D)Halong bayHalong Bay8:00 taking a jeep trip to Lao Chai - Ta Van village, Home of Dzay and Black Mong hill tribes. While trekking around the village, meeting and talking with local hill tribes to learn more about their daily life, customs and traditional habits. Optional visit around Sapa town or take a rest before taking car trip back to Lao Cai train station. Get on the train return to Hanoi.Day 7: Hanoi (B)5:30 our car will pick you up the the train. After breakfast, take a bath and relax at Sunny hotel for a while (check-out time is at noon) before the car will take you to airport for departure home or more visit the South of Vietnam.Type of tour: * Private tour. (This is the sample tour, you may go with all details above or we can modify to fix your way of travel) * Easy/Adventure tour * Departure: Any dayFeature of tour: The life of urban, suburban, country side and hill tribes Vietnam people. The beautiful landscape of North VietnamPrice in USD per person

Vietnam Travel Directory

2008-08-12T22:20:00.001-07:00

Vietnam travel directory, provides you Vietnam travel links, hotels Directory, directory listings, add travel url,Vietnam Travel index, Vietnam Travel agents, Vietnam Tour operators ... Vietnam Hotel Guide, Vietnam Hotel Directory, Vietnam Hotel BookingVietnam Hotel
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Treasure of Mekong tours in Vietnam

2008-08-11T22:23:00.001-07:00

16 days -15 nights: Luang Prabang - Hanoi - Halong Bay - Hue - Hoi An - Ho Chi Minh City - Phnom Penh - Siem ReapDay 1: Luang Prabang - Arrival (D)Upon arrival at the airport, you are met and transferred to the hotel. Luang Prabang is perhaps the best-preserved traditional city in Southeast Asia. The tranquility and charm of this town with its splendid natural scenery and cultural sights make it one of the most delightful places to visit in Laos . After a short rest, we visit the impressive stupa of Wat Visoun and the shrine of Wat Aham, Wat Mai; we then climb up to the top of Phousi Mount for an enjoyable exploration of the sacred, gilded stupa as well as a beautiful sunset view of the city and the Mekong River. From there, we explore Street Night Bazaar, where you can find the lovely collection and handmade textile by local and hill tribe people surrounding Luang Prabang. Overnight in Luang Prabang.Day 2: Luang Prabang - Pak Ou Cave - Kuangsi Water Fall (B/L)After breakfast, we enjoy a short-guided tour seeing the city's oldest temple of Wat Sene and the magnificent Wat Xiengthong with its roofs sweeping low to the ground, which represent the classical architecture of Luang Prabang temple. We then board a cruise upstream on the Mekong River, which also gives us a beautiful view of the tranquil countryside as well as an interesting visit to the mysterious of Pak Ou Caves, crammed with thousands of gold lacquered Buddha statues of various shapes and sizes.In the afternoon, drive to the beautiful Khouangsi Waterfall where you can splash around in the pools or walk along the forest paths, return to Luang Prabang by late afternoon and continue to Ban Phanom, a well known weaving village, return to the city by late evening, for observing the sunset at Wat Siphouthabath. Overnight in Luang Prabang.Day 3: Luang Prabang - Hanoi (B/L)Free time for relax until time for transfering to airport for flight to Hanoi. Once again our guide will meet you and transfer you to Hanoi city. Lunch at local restaurant before check-in at hotel. After two or more hours relax, our cyclo tour do not make you more tired but more relax. After one hour ride around the trading area in Hanoi Old Quarter, the cyclo will stop you at Ngoc Son Temple for a short visit, then take one minute walk to Thang Long theatre for Water Puppet show. Overnight in hotel in Hanoi.Day 4: Hanoi (B/L)In the morning to visit Ho Chi Minh mausoleum, House on Stilt, One Pillar Pagoda, Tran Quoc pagoda, Quan Thanh temple, Army Museum and Hanoi Flag Tower. Time for lunch and check-out. In the afternoon, visit Van Mieu – Quoc Tu Giam (The First National University established in 1076). The next visiting place should be the Museum of Vietnam Ethnology in Cau Giay District or just go shopping around Silk shops and Art shops in Hang Gai street. Overnight in hotel in Hanoi.Day 5: Hanoi - Halong Bay (B/L/D)Today we leave Hanoi to Halong Bay, "Dragon Descending to the Sea". Upon arrival, we will embark to a junk /boat for a cruise around Ha Long Bay. While the junk cruising caves, grottoes, floating villages and beaches on Ha Long bay, having fresh seafood lunch on boat. Stop for a while for an excursing to Surprise Caves, (Grotto of Surprises) and Swimming, Kayaking (kayak cost is not include in this package) if weather permitted. Have dinner on board. In the evening, enjoy the night fishing (if weather permitted). Overnight on board.Day 6: Ha Long Bay - Hanoi (B/L)In the morning, cruising more in the Halong bay before return to the Halong pier. Having lunch in Halong before return back Hanoi. Overnight in Hanoi.Day 7: Hanoi - Hue (B/L)Free time in the morning before transfer to the airport of Hanoi for noon flight to Hue. Transfer to a local restaurant in the city for lunch before check in. In the afternoon we pay a visit to the Imperial Citadel, constituted from the Real Fortress and the Forbidden City, and the market of Dong Ba. Overnight in Hue.Day 8: Hue - Hoi An (B/L)In morning we embark on a dragon boat sail along the Huong River to visit the Thien Mu Pagoda, and the tomb of Khai Dinh Kinh. Lunch at local restaurant. In the afternoon transfer to Hoi An through the famous of Hai Van Pass. Passing Danang, the car will stop for the visit to Cham Museum. Cham Museum is the open air collection of Cham sculpture. Overnight in Hoi An.Day 9: Hoi An - Ho Chi Minh City B/L)In the morning, you will walk to visit ancient tiny town Hoi An. The visit will includes Japanese covered bridge, some Chinese Assembly Halls, and some typical Vietnamese houses of 18 century. In the afternoon, transfer to Danang Airport for evening flight to Ho Chi Minh City. Overnight in Ho Chi Minh City.Day 10: Ho Chi Minh City - Cu Chi (B/L)In the morning drive to Cu Chi, one incredible city basement constituted from one series of tightened tunnel, used from the Vietcong during the war with the Americans. Lunch at local restaurant. In the afternoon pause to the colonial buildings of Saigon like the Independent Palace, Post Office and the Cathedral of Notre Dame, Ben Thanh market. Overnight in Ho Chi Minh City.Day 11: Ho Chi Minh City - Vinh Long - Can Tho (L)Our car will pick up at your hotel in early morning. Upon arrival at Cai Be, embark a private boat to cruise around Cai Be Floating Market to see local people being selling, buying, exchanging goods from their boats. Visit local garden and house to see orchard, rice crisped producing process, .. After lunch taking a cruise along river to see peaceful tranquil life of villagers, admire marvelous natural natural setting of Mekong Delta region. About 3 pm, the boat will arrival at Vinh Long, walking around to explore Vinh Long Market. Then transfer to Can Tho City. Over night in Can Tho. Day 12: Can Tho - Cai Rang - Chau Doc (B/L)Cruising along the small and picturesque tributaries by boat, we will see the Cai Rang floating market (the nicest one with heaps of rowing boats). Take in the beautiful scenery and the daily activities of the locals who lives along the Mekong canals and you will roam through the village to visit a rice husking mill and a rice noodles making shop. Then continue going to Chau Doc via Long Xuyen. Check in on arrival. Visit the Sam mountain to enjoy the a breath-taking view on the Vietnamese-Cambodian border with flat rice fields and nice canals, visit caved pagoda. Over night in Chau Doc.Day 13: Chau Doc - Phnom Penh (B/L)In morning departure in boat to Phnom Penh going back one of the arms of the Mekong. Arrival and lunch. In the afternoon, visits of the city, in particular of the National Museum, rich art of Khmer, of the Silver Pagoda, inserted in the fencing of the Royal Palace, Preahkeo Morokot & Central Market. Overnight in Phnom Penh.Day 14: Phnom Penh - Siem Reap (B/L)In morning departure by flight to Siem Reap and transfer your hotel in the city. Angkor, luminous understood them of the great reign Khmer, is one of more important testimonies that the human genius knew to create in the field of the limbs, the architecture and the urban planning. Lunch at local restaurant. Then start tour to visit famous temple Angkor Wat with enjoying sunset from top of Bakheng Hill. Overnight in Siem Reap.Day 15: Siem Reap - Angkor Complex (B/L/D)Breakfast at hotel, then visit the Angkor Thom: South Gate, Bayon, Baphoun, Terrace of Elephants, Terrace of Leper King and Phimean Akas temple. Lunch at local restaurant. Afternoon, transfer to visit Angkor Ruins: Thommanom, chao Say Tevoda, Takeo, Ta Prom, Banteay Kdey and Sras Srang until Sunset. Dinner at local restaurant with Apsaras show & overnight in Siem Reap.Day 16: Siem Reap - Departure (B)After breakfast, transfer to take the Tonlé Sap for a cruise on the lake with the visiting to floating village to explore the fish man life. Then visit Chantier Ecole-Artisant d’Angkor. Free time for shopping before departure home.Type of tour: - Private tour. (This is the sample tour, you may go with all details above or we can modify to fix your way of travel) - Easy tourDeparture: Any dayFeature of tour: This Indochina vacation tour organize for travelers, who want to know the charmng of Angkor - Siem Reap and charming of Vietnam. You will understand Cambodia and Vietnam with:- Our history- Our literature- Our religious

Hoa Lu - Tam Coc- full day

2008-08-10T17:48:00.001-07:00

Hoa Lu, 100 km south of Hanoi, was the capital city of Vietnam under the Dinh Dynasty between AD 968 and AD 980. Some of the sanctuaries and tombs have survived the countless years and can still be visited today. Apart from the historical aspects, the area is also one of astounding natural beauty with limestone peaks whose splendor is often said to surpass that of Ha Long Bay. It is true that this area is often referred to as the Ha Long Bay on land. The tour includes being rowed along the Boi River, which makes for a truly unforgettable experience, passing between towering limestone peaks.Price: Joined group tour : Daily - U$ 20/ personIncludes: Transport, boat trip, entrance fee, lunch and guide.ITINERARY:Hoa Lu used to be one of the many old capitals of Vietnam before Thang Long – presently Hanoi – take its historical role. From an exciting town and centre of cultural and military activities of the Dai Co Viet Kingdom in 10th century, the area now is more wellknown for its landscape since almost relics of the urban excitement had been collapsed, except in the Temples of King Dinh and King Le. A trip to Hoa Lu should be started from Tam Coc ("three caves"), which takes more than two hours driving from Hanoi, and visitors may say that distance is not a matter after seating in a boat rowed by one or two local persons in Hoang Long river and see the first limestone mountains, which will run along their riverway for several kilometers. The boat will run, sorry, will be rowed, through three caves on the river, all created by wind and water from a legend time, while the sea had occupied this area. The tide-mark is still on the rock about 2m above the water, and in higher mountainwall the erosion have carved some strange shapes that now filled of green grass, delicious foods of the goats that local people breed everywhere. If you are lucky, sometimes you can see mischievous monkeys. The river trip is wonderful for photo hunters, especially when local people come to harvest the water rice planted along the river, or when they transplant some seedling for the next crops. The tourists often compare the place with Guilin – China, or more closely, to the limestone islets of Halong Bay in the Tonkin Gulf for their similar geological structures and shapes. Thus Tam Coc is also called Halong-Bay-On-Land.From the wharf of Tam Coc you can go further till reaching Bich Dong Pagoda, a combination of three pagodas on the Lower, Middle and Upper levels of a pretty mountain. You will need to climb a little bit till you get to the top of the Upper pagoda and your eyes catch the overall panorama of the paddy fields between Truong Yen mountain. All the pagodas, or lean upon a cliff, or simply have some statues inside a large grotto, deserve the name "Bich Dong" (emerald-like grotto). A scene of the popular French movie "Indochine" had been completed here in 1991, remarking a rush of the French-speaking tourists to Vietnam, who usually do not skip Halong Bay and Tam Coc-Bich Dong where the leading actress Catherine Deneuve left her footprints. On the way back from Tam Coc – Bich Dong to Hanoi you can pay a visit to the last relics of the ancient capital Hoa Lu – the Temples dedicated to King Dinh and King Le, the two heroes who lived in 10th century and chose Hoa Lu to build the citadel of the capital city. From time to time, archaeologists have excavated buried parts of this citadel with rusty weapons and ceramics. The temples are said to be built on the old foundation of their original palaces in 11-12th centuries and restored in 17th century. Though the temples are not maintained entirely some precious antiques are still preserved well like the whole-stone dragon thrones, wooden bas-relieves and lacquered statues of King Dinh, Kinh Le, Queen Duong Van Nga who in turn got married both of the kings, and the princes of the two dynasties Low Season (5th May - 31st August)Size of Group 1 2 3 4 - 5 6 - 7 8 pax upCost/pax (USD) 180 120 95 80 65 50High Season (1st Sep - 4th May)Size of Group 1 2 3 4 - 5 6 - 7 8 pax upCost/pax (USD) 198 132 105 88 72 55Tour type: PrivateDeparture: Every dayInclusive: Transportation (private car/mini van), Boat, Entrance fees, Speaking guide (English or French), LunchExclusive: Drinks, Insurance, Personal expenses, Tips

The Lagoon Explorer Junk in Halong Bay Vietnam

2008-08-07T22:29:00.001-07:00

The Lagoon Explorer Junk is designed with sophistication and the utmost attention to detail of a Traditional Sailing Boat. Whether you are dining in the restaurant, lounging on the sun deck or relaxing in the comfort of your cabin, you will be surrounded by the handcrafted woodworld of Teak and Oak which make the Lagoon Explorer Junk a true masterpiece. The Junk with 3 deluxe rooms & 1 Studio room, a fine dining restaurant & bar, a outdoor lounge, a swim platform, a well-trained Crew, 24-hour electricity supply and a host of activities to make your stay memorable.Lagoon Explorer Junk is pride of it’s stylest & the first Junk which is able to run by sails, to go fishing at night time and to bring you to any beauty sites of Halong Bay and run the tour as your choice. Travel with your own new, personalized itineraries.

Hue know it makes sense

2008-07-24T20:30:00.001-07:00

Local man: "Where you from?"Jeff: "England"Local man: "England!!! Football good!!! Michael Owen"Jeff: "Yes"I must have had this conversation about 350 times already since coming to Vietnam. But I don't mind because the people here do seem to be genuinely friendly and enthusiastic. OK, so most of them want to sell you a pineapple, a book, a taxi ride, a hotel room, a postcard, or bread with flies on but everyone's got to make a living as J-Lo so succinctly sang.Vietnam is the most characterful country I've ever been to. Like in China the people are friendly and industrious and the scenery is spectacular but here there's shedfulls of charm to add in as well.Hue (pronounced "Waheeeeeyyyyyy!!!!!" or something like that) is about half way down the coast and seems to be typical of the kind of thouroughly relaxing old colonial towns in this country. It's a pretty well developed place and its setting on the banks of the Perfume River adds even more to the charm. The backpackers stay on one or two streets and everything is cheap, especially the local brew, Huda, which costs 7000 dong a bottle. That's 25 pence.We haven't done that much since we've been here - trip to the beach one day, visit to the massive walled citadel another, and a trip out to the Demilitarised Zone on our last day. The beach was long and the sand here is white. The walled citadel is a pretty interesting place to see - the scale of the place defies belief. Pity most of it was bombed in '68 but there's still plenty to see and take in.The trip out to the DMZ was another matter entirely. We visited a vast network of tunnels where the VC actually lived during the wars here, and it is yet another eye opening experience for me. It really puts the war into a different light when you visit tunnels that are about two feet wide and about five feet high (in the big parts) that they dug by hand and then lived in for years by candlelight whilst fighting the French, then the NVA and the Americans. I've been learning more about the war from books and locals (hark at my intellect) and it does leave a lasting impression.Anyway, enough historical ramblings. Off to Hoi An next to get a suit made and do some more relaxing.