Beaches in Vietnam

Vietnam is blessed with a coastline stretching 3,000 kilometers with hundreds of beaches up and down the country that cater to all tastes; from white sand beaches where you can view sunsets, to beaches with 5 star facilities, and beaches with nothing at all to do except swim, relax and enjoy the local culture.

Tra Co Beach

Starting in the Far North, bordering China is  Tra Co, not a beautiful beach by anyone’s standards what with its muddy flats at low tide; but it’s a pleasant place to stay if you’re on your way into our out of China, before heading to  Halong Bay.

Bai Chay beach is the nearest to Hanoi, so it draws a huge crowd of people on the weekends and in summer. It too doesn’t live up to the beauty of the southern beaches, but does serve up some good seafood harvested from nearby Halong Bay. It certainly isn’t a place to come in winter as temperatures can drop to the 15 degree C mark.

Bai Chay Beach

Halong Bay offers plenty of small beaches, most of them on islands in the middle of the Bay (though the majority of islands are too steep and rocky to have beaches).These are best visited by kayak because large touring boats don’t have the shallow depth to approach the rocky shore.

The  North Central Coast of Vietnam stretches all the way down to the Hai Van Pass, and is almost a continuous stretch of golden sand pounded by huge waves churned by the frequent typhoons. Its an area rarely visited by travelers, because most either fly or take the train straight between Hue and Hanoi, but if you’ve got time they are beautifully deserted and make excellent places to go for long walks. Locals will regard you with great curiosity, and may even follow you to practice their English.

Though the facilities are scarce here, (you won’t find restaurants selling to tourists just yet) it is a rewarding break from the long drive on Highway 1. Take note however, that its not a wise idea to walk any of the beaches near the DMZ and Dong Ha, because of mines, unexploded ordinances can still be found in this area.

The Central and South Central Coast of Vietnam offers the countries best beaches: from Hue to Nha Trang, the miles of coast is populated with coconut palms and dotted with fishing villages with lots of facilities and choices to make your vacation comfortable.

My Khe beach to Vietnamese, or  China Beach to foreigners, looks out at Monkey Mountain east of Danang Bay. It’s by no means deserted, because locals use the beach as a place to play football, do morning exercises and just chat away with friends. It has some of Vietnam’s best surf beaches and in November waves can reach two meters.

My Khe Beach 

Its here where 5 star resorts like the Furama and the  Lang Co resort (north of the Hai Van Pass) are situated and offer the best services in the country including al fresco dining, water sports and day tours.

The beach is also incorrectly linked with the first landing of American Marines in 1963. In fact, it was  Red Beach, around the point in Danang Bay, where this took place. My Khe was the spot where numerous attacks took place in the American war and it was a center of fierce fighting in the late 1960’s.

From Danang, the lazy coastline stretches all the way down to  Nha Trang. Dozens of beaches, many of them just a few meters from Highway I can be visited as you drive south. Facilities are mushrooming up to meet the demand of the numerous tour buses that now ply these routes. Seafood restaurants, guesthouses and other businesses are making this area easier to visit.

Nha Trang Beach 

Nha Trang is the epicenter of the beach travel industry in Vietnam, and if you’re looking for a secluded beach, you won’t find it here. But if you want to enjoy a day trip out to the islands in Nha Trang Bay, where you can snorkel and swim, then Nha Trang is the place for you. One of the best things in the city is its marvelous seafood, which includes abalone, prawns, scallops and crabs.

Doc Let is 40 kilometers north of Nha Trang, and its here where you’ll find solitude and long deserted beaches; the shallow bay in front is perfect for a swim and the place is famous for its boiled crabs.

Doc Let beach

Even further south is  Phan Thiet and  Mui Ne, close enough to Saigon to be a popular weekend outing destination for residents there. Its got a laid back feels, and includes 4 star hotels like the Nototel Corallia, so roughing it isn’t required here.

Mui Ne Beach

Even closer to Saigon is  Vung Tau, and serves much the same function as Bai Chay near Hanoi; it’s the closest and cheapest destination for Saigonese to escape the crowded city streets. Again, if you're looking for solitude, this isn’t the place, because on Sundays the beaches are packed.

Vung Tau Beach

Phu Quoc has the whitest sand beaches in the country, and if you want to watch the sun set (it’s the only place in Vietnam where you can do this) this is the place to come. Geologically, it's totally different to the other beaches in Vietnam, because it's in the Gulf of Thailand, and Phu Quoc closely resembles Koh Chang or Koh Samet near Bangkok. Just an hour flight from Saigon and you’ll be enjoying the sun, sea and seafood of Vietnam’s most southern beach.

Phu Quoc Beach

North to South, there are a multitude of choices in beaches so whatever kind of beach you are looking for you’ll find it in Vietnam

Complex of Huế Monuments (World Cultural Heritage)

Location

Complex of Huế Monuments lies along the Perfume River in Huế City and some adjacent areas of Thừa Thiên Huế Province. Huế City constitutes the cultural, political and economic centre of the province, and was the old imperial city of Vietnam under the Nguyen Dynasty from 1802 to 1945.

History

Since 1306, after the wedding of the princess Huyen Tran of the Tran Dynasty with Che Man, the Cham King, the territories of Chau O and Chau Ly (comprised of Quang Tri, Thua Thien - Hue and part of Northern Quang Nam today) took the name of Thuan Hoa. In the second half of the 15^th century, under the reign of King Le Thanh Tong, the name of "Hue" appeared for the first time. In 1636, the residence of the Nguyen Lords was settled at Kim Long (Hue). In 1687, it was transferred to Phu Xuan – where is the Citadel today. Early in the 18^th century, Phu Xuan became the political, economic and cultural centre of the southern part of Vietnam. Then, from 1788 to 1801, it became the capital of the Tay Son Dynasty.

From 1802 to 1945, Hue was the capital of unified Vietnam under the reign of the 13 Nguyen Kings. During these years, architectural works of a high cultural and historic value were built: the Citadel, especially the Imperial City (including 253 constructions), 7 Royal tomb compound of 9 kings of the Nguyen Dynasty, the Esplanade of Nam Giao, the Ho Quyen arena and the Hon Chen Temple.

Cultural values

Located in the centre of Hue, along the Perfume (Huong) River’s northern bank, the complex of royal architecture represents and demonstrates the power of the Nguyen Dynasty's centralism. Contained in this complex are Kinh Thanh Hue (the Hue Capital Citadel), Hoang Thanh (the Royal Citadel or Imperial City) and Tu Cam Thanh (the Forbidden Citadel) clustered together, symmetrically placed along the longitudinal axis and facing to the south.

The system of walls combines sophisticatedly both eastern and western architectural styles placed in natural harmony with Ngu Binh Mount, Perfume River, Gia Vien and Boc Thanh islets. Even people implicitly consider these natural landscapes as a part of the complex.

Surrounded by a square wall, almost 600 metres in length on each side, the Imperial City has four gates, of which the south gate (Ngo Mon) is most typical in construction and is widely seen and recognized as the symbol of Hue Citadel. It served not only as the main entrance but was also the place where important events of the dynasty took place. Within the area of the Imperial City, the Forbidden Citadel was the area reserved for daily activities of the royal family.

The main north-south axis, called Than dao (miraculous road), runs through the three walls of the Hue Capital Citadel, Imperial City and Forbidden Citadel and was marked with the important constructions of Hue Citadel. Hundred of small and large buildings were built symmetrically along this axis in harmony with their natural surroundings gives one a feeling of gentle and serenity.  These buildings include Nghinh Luong Pavilion (Pavilion for Fresh Air), Phu Van Lau (or the Pavilion of Edicts was the building where Emperor's edicts and lists of successful candidates of Thi Hoi (National Examination) and Thi Dinh (Court Examinations) were publicised), Ky Dai (Flag Tower), Ngo Mon Gate (the main entrance), Thai Hoa Palace (The Throne Palace, or Palace of the Supreme Harmony, was the building for great court's meetings), Can Chanh Palace (the place for every day working of Emperors), Can Thanh Palace (Emperor's Private Palace), Khon Thai Residence (Queen's Private Apartment), Kien Trung Pavilion (the place for daily activities of Emperors)...

In the distance, to the west of the Capital Citadel, along the Perfume River, are the famous royal tombs and temples, masterpieces in landscape architecture built by the Nguyen Dynasty. Each royal tomb aimed at creating a living place for royal pleasure before becoming an eternal resting place after the king’s death. This resulted in the architecture of royal tombs in Hue being distinguished by unique characteristics.

Each tomb reflects its owner’s life and character: the magnificence of Gia Long’s tomb in the immense landscape of mountains and jungles represents the spirit of a general in war; the symmetry and majesty of Minh Mang’s tomb combiners both man-made and natural mountains and lakes and reveals the powerful will and solemn nature of a talented politician who was also an orderly poet; the peaceful and sombre qualities of Thieu Tri’s tomb reflects the innermost feelings of an outstanding poet who made few achievements in political life; the romance and poetic atmosphere of Tu Duc’s tomb  evoke the elegant and subtle tendency of a poet rather than the strong characteristic of a politician.

In addition, place-names that embellish for the beauty of the Complex of Hue Monuments can be named as: Huong River, Ngu Binh Mountain, Thien Mu Pagoda, Bach Ma Mountain, the Thuan An and Lang Co Beaches...

At the meeting of the 17th session of the World Heritage Committee (WHC) in Columbia, from the 6th to the 11th of December 1993, UNESCO has come to the decision of recognising the architectural ensemble of Hue as a world cultural heritage. This was a noteworthy event in the cultural history. For the reason that Hue is the first site in Vietnam ever listed in the World Heritage list.

As to the cultural value, a World Cultural Heritage Site, like the Complex of Huế Monuments, has to:

- Be representative of an original artistic achievement, a masterpiece created by Man’s hands;

- Have a great value for its building technique or its architecture in a general development plan for a city or in a program for the embellishment of the sight of a world cultural zone;

- Be representative of an architectural ensemble of an important historical period; Be closely related to important events, to ideas or beliefs having a great influence or to famous historical personalities.

In the closing report of the above-mentioned meeting, the WHC has briefly assessed the value of Hue as follows:

"The architecture of Hue, which has been the Capital of a unified Vietnam, built at about the beginning of the 19th century, combines the oriental philosophy with the traditions of Vietnam. Intimately mingled with the natural environment, the beauty and special richness of the architecture and decorative art of the building are an original image of the Vietnamese monarchy at its most prosperous period".

Ho Chi Minh City the place you should not forget when visit Vietnam

Ho Chi Minh City ( or called Saigon) is the largets city of Vietnam. Population of this city has over 8 millions.If you have an occasion visting Vietnam, dont miss this place.

Fasten your seatbelts as Ho Chi Minh City is a metropolis on the move – and we’re not just talking about the motorbikes that throng the streets. Saigon, as it’s known to all but city officials, is Vietnam at its most dizzying: a high-octane city of commerce and culture that has driven the whole country forward with its limitless energy. It is a living organism that breathes life and vitality into all who settle here, and visitors cannot help but be hauled along for the ride.

Girls and Ao Dai in Saigon 

Saigon is a name so evocative that it conjures up a thousand jumbled images. Wander through timeless alleys to ancient pagodas or teeming markets, past ramshackle wooden shops selling silk, spices and baskets, before fast-forwarding into the future beneath sleek skyscrapers or at designer malls, gourmet restaurants and minimalist bars. The ghosts of the past live on in the churches, temples, former GI hotels and government buildings that one generation ago witnessed a city in turmoil, but the real beauty of Saigon’s urban collage is that these two worlds blend so seamlessly into one.

Whether you want the finest hotels or the cheapest guesthouses, the classiest restaurants or the most humble street stalls, the designer boutiques or the scrum of the markets, Saigon has it all. The Saigon experience is about so many things – memorable conversations, tantalising tastes and moments of frustration – yet it will not evoke apathy. Stick around this conundrum of a city long enough and you may just unravel its mysteries.

Saigon night in charming beauty

Ready to go? Just come on and discovery about one of the interesting city in Asia!

Source: lonelyplanet.com

6 flavourful wraps for a taste of Ho Chi Minh City

With their only similarity lying in the large number of green contents, the following dishes are favorite snacks of many Saigonese, for their delicious and healthy take.

*Cá lóc nướng -grilled whole snake-head*

The first one on our list is the very proud staple of southern dining. Enthusiasts will tell that this comes hand in hand with their rice liquor. It is among the very first dish of early settlers of the marsh land.

The recipe is rather easy to make: impale the poor living fellow with a bamboo stick, head to tail, put it in the hay (or other dry plant leaves) fire, keep turning until the scales are burnt to a dark ashy black. Remove the beyond-recognition scales and enjoy the steamy smoky tender, firm textured white meat.

This dish is best served with tamarind fish sauce, with a few slices of red hot chili pepper. The meat is wrapped in with a variety of different local vegetables. One can choose to add in or leave out a few according to his taste. Some of the veges are baby mango slices, bean sprout, star fruit (rather a must), green early banana and other condiments.

*Bò bía - Vegetables and Chinese sausage wrap*

A typical “bò bía” cart is rather simple, since the ingredients are modest to say the least: string-cut jicama, varieties of herb, Chinese sausage and dried shredded pork. Vendors often push their carts out and about in most every corner of Ho Chi Minh city. People can dine on the street, or buy couple rolls for the midday snack. With its seemingly nutrition-scant filling, one may take quite a number before realizing too late that he has just spoiled his dinner. Perhaps the dipping sauce has something to do with that mindlessness: it is a golden mix of the trademark sauce with nose-tempting fried shallot and crunchy finely roasted peanuts.

The snack is common and can be found most everywhere, but students do have quite an appetite for it, so seek them out for the best chance of satisfying a sudden crave.

Note that “bò bía” means a totally different snack in the north, which has nothing in common with the southern type.

*Gỏi cuốn - Fresh summer rolls*

Gỏi cuốn is what it is mostly known for, and the snack’s name will probably soon follow “phở” into becoming an international staple. It is a cold snack that is often made en mass and served cold. There is no need to go further describing the heavenly taste of gỏi cuốn, with its fresh whole shrimp and the biting texture of pork. It is one bite to remember for one life.

There are two types of dipping sauce, but how anyone can ditch the soul-defining peanut butter sauce for the common fish sauce is beyond one’s imagination. It is not an overstatement that for all the goodness gỏi cuốn manages to pack in, it is the peanut sauce that is the soul of the dish. It brings out the light in the indulgent neurons, opens up all the flavors and combines all that is onto a match made in heaven.

Just please remember to spare the main course! The roll is only meant to be a snack/appetizer.

*Bánh xèo - Pan-fried rolls/ Vietnamese crepes *

There are couple varieties of this fried roll in Ho Chi Minh city, from the authentic native to the central types. A good bánh xèo has a thin crunchy fried outer wrapping, uniformly golden yellow in color. Its shrimp and pork filling is nicely done, but the bean sprout must still have that soft and juicy freshness. The sprout cools down what Vietnamese otherwise judge as a combination of “hot” ingredients – ones that pack much fat and protein.

One wraps bánh xèo in rice paper with a good number of other fresh uncooked herbs, including the all too familiar lettuce. That will definitely cool down all the cholesterol just right.

For locals, the dipping sauce sometimes may just be what either makes or breaks a bánh xèo. Each vendor has her own secret of the trade, and probably will not tell a stranger anytime soon. Generally speaking, it is a “right” combination of fish sauce, coconut milk, vinegar, sugar, chilly pepper, garlic and lemon… give or take a few? First timers will probably just “wow”.

Recommendation: Ăn là Ghiền, Mười Xiềm restaurants are popular bánh xèo chains in Ho Chi Minh City.

*Nem nướng - Coal- BBQed pork rolls *

There are also many types of BBQ nem in Ho Chi Minh City, ones that originate from Long An, Nha Trang, Ninh Hoa and so on... each with its own uniqueness. The core nem from competing brands can taste slightly different here and there, but not entirely off, since it is the soul of the wrap. Herb varieties mostly stay the same, and make up the majority of the filling indeed. It is another “mostly cool” snack, but note that nem is also the most processed on the list.

Chefs will not roll this for diners, so prepare to master the art! The good roll is tight, seamless and packing in all the good stuff.

This is a favorite drinking snack, so seek out the boozing crowd and join them.

*Thịt luộc cuốn bánh tráng - Trảng Bàng rolls*

It happens elsewhere, but miracle is born in the small forgotten town of Trảng Bàng, Tây Ninh province. No one comes in town without trying it, and it is indeed the sole purpose of many people to come in the first place. The roll is utterly simple to make, but it is still more common in the southern land since many of the ingredients are only native here.

It consists of thin slices of non-fat pork, varieties of herb and the famous wrap which the rolls take its name from. It is rumored that Trảng Bàng folks know best how to make rice wrapping, and their secret recipe is kept under watchful eyes.

To tell to truth, every ingredient of the dish is rather dull and nothing to get excited about. Some herbs are almost inedible if consumed alone. But to put every single one of them into a complete roll, the combination opens up the senses! It is a sudden explosion that seems to wake even the long-slumbering taste buds. It is as if the door to another half of those unused nerves has been busted open, unable to stand the force of the flow of saliva.

Well, that is a bit much, but do trust that it  is good!!!

Go to Trảng Bàng for the authentic experience. It is a little further away from Củ Chi tunnel. You will not regret the trip!

5 must-try foods when you visit Huế

Cơm Hến

Cơm Hến (rice with mussel) is a very unique cuisine of Huế. Cơm Hến contains rice, boiled mussel, star fruit, fish sauce, cabbage, onion, pepper, peanut, chili, and a variety of herbs. The specialty is all of these elements are cold.

When people eat Cơm Hến, they add all the above ingredients to a bowl, and slowly add boiled mussel broth with chili sauce into the bowl (the broth is the only hot thing in Cơm Hến). Cơm Hến has an extremely spicy flavor as such, so gastronomes remember it just after one time enjoying.

Bún bò Huế

Bún bò Huế (Hue style beef vermicelli) or more detail, Bún bò giò heo (beef and pig's knuckle vermicelli) is a popular Vietnamese soup vermicelli dish, and one of the most typical foods of Huế, Vietnam. Fine combination of ingredients make the food famous; the broth is prepared by simmering beef and bones for a long period of time, after that a large range of different spices containing lemon grass and chili are added in. Shrimp paste holds no less importance. Huế people usually add thin slices of beef shank, chunks of boiled oxtail, and pig's knuckles or pork into the bowl. It can also contain cubes of maroon brown congealed pig blood, which are good for those suffering from high blood pressure. The specialty is commonly served with a plenty of herbs like sprouts, lime wedges, cilantro sprigs, onions, and sliced banana blossom. Thinly sliced purple cabbage or iceberg lettuces are used in case of lacking in banana blossom. It is highly recommended for tourists to add a few of shrimp paste directly into the soup.

Bánh Bèo

Bánh bèo (water fern cake) is a kind of small steamed rice pancake. The name is to refer from the shape of the cake (like a water fern-Beo in Vietnamese). It is white in color, sometimes nearly transparent and usually has a dimple in the center, which is covered with savory recipes including chopped dried or fresh shrimp, scallions, mung bean paste, crispy fried shallots, fish sauce, rice vinegar, and oil.

Bánh khoái

Bánh khoái (delicious pancake) is so much like Bánh xèo (sizzling pancake) since they both are made from rice flour, water, turmeric powder, added slivers of fatty pork, shrimp, bean sprouts and then pan fried. Bánh khoái and Bánh xèo also are wrapped in mustard leaf, lettuce leaves or rice paper, and stuffed with variety of herb, like mint leaves, basil and served with a sweet and sour mixed sauce. In Huế, Bánh khoái is placed open-face instead of being folded in half like Banh xèo. Moreover, Bánh khoái always goes with a fermented soy bean sauce, and people consider it a winter food owing to its greasiness and spicy taste of the sauce. Therefore, most Hue citizens only make them when winter coming.

Mắm tôm chua

The central of Vietnam is reputable for its Mắm tôm chua (sour shrimp sauce) and Hue is the best place for this unique sauce. Unlike normal shrimp sauce (has brown color and smooth surface), Sour shrimp sauce has orange color while shrimps still keep its original shape.

It is quite simple to make this sauce. First, shrimps are clean by salt water (do not use normal water to avoid bad smells) and “cook” by strong rice wine. The shrimps will turn red. After that, carefully mix the shrimps with sticky rice, sliced lesser galangal, garlic and chili. Slowly put all the mixture into a jar covered by guava leaves. Just need to wait for 5-7 days and we have the mouthwatering sour shrimp sauce of our own making. This is the best sauce for boiled pork with vermicelli.

Source: Vietnamonline

5 Ideas for Day Trips from Hà Nội

If Hanoi and its lavish array of attractions still cannot satisfy your adventurous spirit or you are simply getting fed up with this noisy crowded city and want some fresh air, just pack up and move out of the inner city to explore numbers of destinations where both stunning scenery and fresh atmosphere are always welcoming you. This guide shall introduce you to five must-see sites near Hanoi for a one day trip.

1- Huong Pagoda (Perfume Pagoda)

Huong Pagoda is an immense complex of Buddhist pagodas, several Gods temples and communal houses, located on Huong Son Town, My Duc District, Hanoi. The center of this complex is laid inside Huong Son Cave, called Chua Trong (Inner Pagoda).

In order to reach this holy sanctuary, tourists are given chances to travel on boats cross a long and narrow but romantic stream. Along its side are extending patty fields where egrets flying intermittently above; grassy dunes and temples here and there. It may take ones 2-3 days to pray at all temples and explore the entire zone.

The real challenge is the uphill path which consume both of ones’ time and energy with thousand of slippery stone steps. After sweating a little bit to reach the top, where the main pagoda is settled inside Huong Son Cave, ones are advised to wear on warm clothes or take a few minutes to dry your sweet because the inner cave is quite cold. This cave is naturally decorated with wonderful shapes of stalactites and stalagmites that may dazzle visitors’ eyes.

Huong Pagoda is most well-known for its festival, lasting very long from the beginning of January to early April. During the occasion, Huong Pagoda welcomes thousands pilgrims from both inside and outside of Vietnam.

2- Traditional handicraft villages

Visiting traditional handicraft villages around Hanoi should be a good idea for travelers getting bored with busy life of the inner city. The tour will be divided into two morning and afternoon session with one village to visit in each depending on travelers.

Bat Trang Ceramic Village: Getting to the destination either by motorbike or bus crossing Chuong Duong Bridge, a large area of ceramic pottery workshops are open to you. In here, ones can buy the best quality ceramic products, moulded by skillful hands of craftsmen and in various sizes, colors and design. It’s even more exciting when ones are invited to create a ceramic product yourselves.

Van Phuc Silk Village: The site is undoubtedly a paradise of silk and fashion lovers with over 1,000 silk shops, offering a diverse range of delighting shirts, crafts, ties and dresses made of silk here are standing out thanks to its light weight and smooth appearance, high quality and a variety of colors that will definitely be suitable for any skin tones.

3- Duong Lam Ancient Village

The village is 60km from Hanoi center that may takes you a whole day trip. Duong Lam Village is proud to be the most ancient village in Vietnam which is still remaining its lavish array of historic relics and ancient architecture dated to 1,200 years of history. Besides, Duong Lam landscape is typical for a Vietnamese village with poetic rivers with rows of bamboo on its bank, vast patty field where several buffalo or cow digging glass nearby.

4- Ha Long Bay

Ha Long Bay has just been qualified to be one of the New Seven Wonders of the World is definitely a must-see destination. Located within the Gulf of Tonkin, Ha Long Bay is a spectacular formation of around 2,000 small limestone islets with the total square of 1,553 km2. The Bay’s outstanding scenic beauty promises tourists unforgettable experience.

5- Ancient Capital Hoa Lư (Ninh Bình)

The Ancient Capital Hoa Lư is the first capital of feudal system in Vietnam, which associated with two prosperous dynasties: Đinh Dynasty and Lê Dynasty. From 968-1010, the old capital achieved lots of glories before King Lý Công Uẩn decided to move the capital to Thăng Long.

Hoa Lu is a complex of ancient vestiges, which has been officially preserved by Vietnamese Government since 2003. The collection of national relics here is larger than any other provinces of Vietnam which consists of temples and communal houses worshiping national heroes Dinh Tien Hoang and Le Dai Hanh; antique pagodas which are well-known all over Indochina like Bai Dinh Pagoda, Ban Long Pagoda or Nhat Tru Pagoda; underground palaces and grottos; not to mentions a bunch of natural wonders like Thien Ton Cave, Tam Coc – Bich Dong; Ma Yen Mountain, Flag Mountain.

Spring is really a festivity season in Hoa Lu thanks to dozens of carnivals being held in this first capital of Vietnam.

Source: Vietnamonline

Bach Ma National Park

Location and history

Situated in the Annamite Range, in central Vietnam and near Hue City, Bach Ma national park covers an area of about 37,487 hectare over there districts of Phu Loc, Nam Dong and Dong Giang. It’s quite easy to access Bach Ma National Park from Hue (40 km), Da Nang (65 km) and also Hoi An (90 km). This protected area was established in 1991 and consists of three zones: a strictly protected core, an administrative area and a buffer zone.

The national park features tropical climate with 2 distinctive seasons: dry one and rainy one. It is regarded as one of the wettest place in Vietnam, where the weather can easily change from sunshine to tropical rain just within hours. The summit area is always cooler, thanks to its high altitude. Therefore it’s also called “Dalat of Central Vietnam”.

What to see

As being the bio geographical border between northern and southern Vietnam and having a wide variety of habitats, the park is well-known for its biodiversity. Some people consider Bach Ma as “The Centre of flora diversity in Vietnam”, as it represents around one-fifth of the entire flora of the country. The forest also possesses a precious source of over 500 species which serve as medicinal plants. Besides, this is where people can luckily see “Sao la” (Pseudoryx nghetinhensis) - a type of antelope, exists only in Vietnam, first discovered in 1992 and may be one of the rarest mammals on the planet.

What to do

Bach Ma will not fail you in a single bit in terms of activities. One can camp, trek, rappel or simply wander through the jungle to discover the beauty of Bach Ma’s flora and fauna. At Do Quyen Fall (Rhododendrun Fall,) adventurers have chance to thrillingly abseil down the upper section of the fall. Or else, visitors can walk down to the bottom of the falls to catch the whole fantastic view of the fall and spend more time swimming in the stream.Nature lovers, especially those who are eager for bird-watching would find Bach Ma a real paradise on the ground. The 358 species of

birds in the park account for more than one-third of the bird species of Vietnam, including the fabulous crested argus pheasant and the tenacious Edwards’ pheasant (the symbol of Bach Ma National Park) – unseen and thought to be extinct for 50 years. Numerous bird species like pigeons, bulbuls, malkohas, crow pheasant, herons and egrets but sights of parakeets, kingfishers or jungle fowl are worth adding to tourists’ bird-watching collection.

Best time to visit

Tourists are advised to visit Bach Ma National Park on February, when famous red Rhododendron simsii blossom along small streams and in particular at the bottom of the Rhododendron waterfall. During that period of time, the weather is ideally dry with favorable temperatures. In addition, summer is tourism season as people want to escape the heat, from June to August.

How to get there

From Hue City, tourists can travel to Bach Ma by car by following the National Highway 1A for about 40km. There’s a small road leading to the National Park next to Cau Hai Market. From here, Bach Ma’s main entrance is just 3km behind.Tours to Bach Ma are available from both Hue and Danang, and make sure you look around to get the best deal.

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Source: Vietnamonline

Famous Beaches In Vietnam

Welcome to Viet Nam

Vietnam is a country any serious traveler should visit at least once in his/her life. Its natural settings, its religious monuments, its local markets, its people, its cuisine, and its beaches are the main reasons for visiting, but there are many more.

If you look at the map on the right, you will see what the country looks like. There are two ways to visit Vietnam: starting in Hanoi, and going South; or starting in Saigon, and going north.

When to Go/Climate: The best season to travel to North Vietnam is during the hot summers, from May to October. Winters in the North are cold and cloudy. In the mountainous regions in North Vietnam (Sapa), it may be freezing during winter. Central Vietnam wet season is from December to February. The south has two main seasons: the wet, from May to November; and the dry, the best season to travel, from December to April. The hottest season is from February to May.

Get in: there are three international airports: Hanoi (HAN), Saigon (SGN) and Da Nang (DAD).

Get around: Moving around Vietnam can be done on bus, train and/or plane. For long distances I recommend plane, train is also an option. Bus should only be considered in short journeys.

Money and Costs: the non-convertible Vietnamese Dong (VND) is the local currency. USD may be accepted in some tourist areas. Prices in Vietnam are low. Accommodation and food are particularly cheap.

Length of stay: The minimum stay I would recommend to visit Vietnam is six weeks. In case you do not have that many days, you will have to split your visit in two (or you will have to skip some of its destinations).

Languages/People: 82 million people live in Vietnam. In the south, people are friendly, and in the north they are trustworthy. Vietnamese life revolves around the family. Vietnamese is the official language. English is widely spoken in tourist areas.

Food: Vietnam cuisine is, in my opinion, one of the richest in the world. From traditional Vietnamese food to seafood, you will always find something worth trying.

Vietnam travel introduction

Ha Long Bay Vietnam - among the islands

Ha Long Bay has been called by the great national poet Nguyen Trai: "a marvel of the earth erected towards the high skies". While exploring the bay, tourists will feel lost in a legendary world of stone islands which shapes change depending on the angle and the light. There are many names given to islands according to their shapes and forms such as Hon Dau Nguoi (Human Head Islet), Hon Rong (Dragon Islet), Hon Canh Buom (Sail Islet), Hon Trong Mai (Cock and Hen Islet)… But the beauty of Halong Bay does not consist only in the forms of its mountains, islands and the colour of its waters, but also in its infinitely rich system of grottoes and caves such as: Thien Cung (Heavenly Palace Grotto), Dau Go (Driftwood Grotto), Sung Sot (Surprise Grotto), Tam Cung (Three Palace Grotto), Trinh Nu (Virgin Grotto)…. Each is a grandiose and refined natural architectural creation.

Thống Nhất (or Reunification) Palace

Orginally called Norodom Palce and Palce if Indochina Governor General, it was built in 1868 and inaugurated in 1873.

After 1954, Ngô Đình Diệm, South Viet Nam’s President, and his family lived and worked in Norodom Palace. In 1963, this palace was heavily destroyed by bombs. President Diệm commanded the remains to be destroyed and to build a new palace to be called Độc Lập Palace or Independence Palce. The new palace was built on a 120,000m2 area and covered 4,500m2. It is included a basement, 3 main floors, 2 mezzanines, one terrace, and one upper floor. There are a total of 95 rooms in the Palace, each decorated according to its function. The Palace also features two exhibition room, a 33-room guest house, and numerous entertainment services such as tennis courts and stilt houses.

On April 30,1975, the tanks of liberation army entered the Independence Palace, and the Goverment, including 45 members and president Dương Văn Minh, surrendered without condition.

After the liberation, The Independence Palace became the headquarters of the city’s military administration committee. The political consultation for nation unification was held in this palace which was renamed Thống Nhất Palace or Reunification Palace.

Nowadays, Thống Nhất Palace has become a historic, cultural relic attracting domestic as well as international visitors.

Thống nhất Place is situated at 135 Nam Kỳ Khởi Nghĩa, Bến Nghé Ward, District 1, HCMC, open from 7:30am to 11am and 1pm to 4pm daily

Mekong Delta travel information

The Mekong Delta, often referred to as Vietnam’s rice basket, is the biggest rice-growing region in the country, the rich alluvial soils producing three harvests a year. Despite being a predominantly rural region, the Mekong Delta is one of the most densely populated areas in Vietnam and most of the land is under cultivation. Other delta products include coconut, sugar cane, fruit and fish.

The main towns of the delta are My Tho, Vinh Long, Can Tho and Chau Doc. Driving south from Ho Chi Minh City, My Tho is the first major Mekong Delta town you come to. Its proximity to Ho Chi Minh City has made My Tho the most popular destination for day-trippers to the delta looking for a taste of authentic delta life.  Here visitors can take a sampan along the waterways, visit tropical fruit orchards and try the local delicacy, Elephant’s Ear Fish.

The other popular destination for day-trippers from Ho Chi Minh City is Vinh Long, another 65km deeper into the delta. It is the islands in the Mekong River rather than the town itself that is the highlight of a trip to Vinh Long. Most of the islands are given over to fruit orchards and the narrow canals are often straddled by flimsy-looking wooden bridges made from the trunks of coconut palms or bamboo and known as monkey bridges.

An early morning visit to nearby Cai Be Floating Market offers great photographic opportunities as all manner of produce is traded from boats. To make shopping easier the boats suspend a sample of what they sell from the top of a long pole. On the way back to Vinh Long it is possible to stop off to visit small riverside workshops including blacksmiths, rice huskers, thatchers and coffin makers!

Just over 30km and a ferry ride away from Vinh Long is Can Tho, the bustling commercial centre of the Mekong Delta. Can Tho is one of the more attractive delta towns but as in the rest of the Mekong Delta the best sights are on the water. The delta’s biggest floating market, Cai Rang Floating Market, is 6km from Can Tho and well worth an early morning visit. For a memorable boat trip the Victoria Can Tho Hotel operates sunrise and sunset cruises on the Lady Hau, a renovated traditional rice barge. A spectacular sight outside of town is the stork garden at Thot Not where hundreds of egrets, herons and cormorants gather in the treetops to roost late in the afternoon.

Chau Doc, nestling at the foot of Sam Mountain on the Cambodian border, has a real frontier town feel to it. This busy little riverine town has large Cham, Khmer and ethnic Chinese communities and the distinctive architectural styles of each community can be seen in their places of worship around the town. A boat trip on the river is the best way to see the unusual floating fish farms, houses with wooden pens suspended underneath where live fish are kept. Chau Doc’s Sam Mountain is home to dozens of temples and shrines and is a popular pilgrimage site for ethnic Chinese as well as Vietnamese.

Source: Activetravelvietnam

Vietnam Travel Tips

Passport: Each passenger must be in possession of a valid passport which must be valid for more than 6 months after the return date of travel. Passport number, date and place of issue, and birth date is now required by airlines and trains, and may be required to confirm services. Names on your airline tickets must match the first and last name listed on your passport.

Visa: Entry visas are obtainable at Vietnamese diplomatic missions and required for almost visitors with valid passports irrespective of nationality. Travel permits are only required for trips to off-limit areas such as border provinces, military bases and remote islands.

Important: Please take a note that visa on arrival in Vietnam means visa stamped on arrival with visa approval from Vietnam Immigration Office (must be obtained in advance).Click here to see more information and services for Vietnam visa

What to wear: Appropriate dress differs from North to South. Southern Vietnam is tropical year round and people dress comfortably and casually. Lightweight cotton and wool fabrics will be comfortable at any time of year. While they may resist wrinkles, synthetics and are blends miserably hot. Generally, short pants are inappropriate anywhere but a beach resort or a farm and you will look like a foolish tourist on the streets of most cities. Jeans are almost always fashionable except for business occasions.

Winter (November through April) can be cool in Hanoi, and a coat may be necessary. Dress here is a bit more formal and somber than the fashionable South. If traveling on business, jackets and ties are usually appropriate, regardless of the weather. Saigon’s business community is very image oriented. It’s alright to ask your business partners here what kind of attire is appropriate and expected.

Remember that Vietnam is a tropical country. Most of the year it is warm and humid. If you are not used to tropical weather, be prepared to shower and change your clothes two or three times a day. During rainy season in Saigon the rain is often short (20-30 minutes) and some times quite sudden. Practically every hotel in Vietnam has laundry service, which is usually quite inexpensive.

Customs regulations: Arriving in Vietnam, all visitors must fill in Declaration Forms and show their luggage to Customs Officials upon request. There are no limited amounts of foreign currency, objects made of gold, silver, precious metals and gemstones or plated with silver or gold but visitors must declare these in detail on the customs forms.

ENTRY: Tourists are authorized to bring in the following items duty-free: Cigarettes: 400 pieces; Cigars: 50-100; Tobacco: 500 gram; Liquor: 1.5l.

Personal effects of a reasonable quantity. Small gift items valued at not more than US$ 500.

Note: There is no limit to the amounts of cash, precious metals and gems people can bring in, but amounts of over US$ 7,000 must be declared.

It is prohibited for any visitor to bring into Vietnam the followings:

* Weapons, explosives and inflammable objects.

* Opium and other narcotics.

* Cultural materials unsuitable to Vietnamese society.

EXIT: Goods of commercial nature and articles of high value require export permits issued by the Customs Office. Antiques, some precious stones and animals listed in Vietnam's red-book may not be brought out of the country.

Baggage: Airline baggage allowance regulations are based on a weight and measurement system. Combined overall dimensions for checked baggage can not exceed 106 inches. Carry-on luggage cannot exceed 45 inches. For flights within continents baggage is limited to 44 lbs. (20 kilos). One bag not to exceed 106 inches may be taken on escorted programs. For additional bags, there will be an additional charge of approximately $3 per bag per handling.

Vietnam currency: The currency of Vietnam is "Dong" (abbreviated "d" or VND). Bank coins are 200d, 500d, 1000d, 2000d, 5000d. Bank notes are 1,000d; 2,000d; 5,000d; 10,000d; 20,000d; 50,000d, 100,000d, 200,000d and 500,000d.

Unlike most of Vietnam's neighboring countries, the US Dollar is widely accepted. At this the official rate of exchange is approximately VND 16,500 to USD 01.

Official updated exchange rate in Vietnam

Credit Cards and Travelers' Cheques are accepted at most of hotels, restaurants and souvenir shops but in major cities only. Visitors are recommended to carry US Dollar in small notes. Travelers can change their money for Vietnamese Dong (VND) at banks, hotels and jewelry shops throughout the country.

Food: Vietnamese food often comes as a wonderful surprise! It has a very distinctive style, although it is also clearly influenced by Chinese and, to a lesser extent, French cuisine. Freshness is of paramount importance so ingredients are bought fresh from the local market on a daily basis.

Meals will usually include rice or noodles as staples along with a vast array of vegetables, and meats like chicken, duck, beef, and pork. Good quality seafood (fish, calamari, prawns and crab) is widely available and you’ll find that fish sauce is a condiment which accompanies almost every meal. The most famous Vietnamese dish is spring rolls either deep fried (known as cha gio in the south and nem ran in the north) or served fresh (bi cuon/bo bia) with a combination of raw vegetables and grilled prawns, crab, pork or chicken. Pho (noodle soup) served with either chicken or beef, fresh green leaves, beans sprouts, and red chilly is also found throughout the country. If you are after a snack try a banh cuon, a steamed dumpling stuffed with minced pork or prawns, black mushrooms and bean sprouts.

The French colonial period has left a legacy of delicious continental food. Often street cafés have a distinctly French feel with crispy baguettes, pate, crème caramel, banana flambé, and sweet pastries on the menu.

Vegetarians: Vegetarians should not have any difficulty in finding a great selection of food in Vietnam as there is a strong Buddhist influence and Chinese and Vietnamese vegetarian dishes abound.

Food Allergies: If you have food allergies or preferences, please make them known to your Tour guide who will do their best to ensure that your requirements are met.

Drinking: Bottled water and mineral water are obtainable at any shops in most cities. It is advisable to drink boiled water and not to drink ice and tap water. The most reliable local brand is LA VIE (Don’t confuse them with the imitations such as La Ville or La Vierge). Aquafina of Pepsi and real Evian also available at many shops.

Tea, similar to Chinese green tea, is one of the most common drinks in Vietnam. Coffee was introduced by the French and is usually strong, thick and served complete with drip filter, so you know it’s fresh! If you ask for milk it will usually be sweet condensed milk.

Popular beer are: Local brand: 333, Hanoi beer, Saigon beer and international brand Carlsberg, Heineken, Tiger and Foster

Film and developing: Fresh negative film is widely available. Popular brands are Kodak, Fuji, Agfa and Konica. Memory cards for digital camera could be found easily, but be careful with its quality. Image printing from both negative film or digital file are obtainable in cities and towns. The tourists say that the negative film is cheaper than abroad.

One-hour service photo shops have become ubiquitous in places where tourists abound. Positive film can be developed only in Saigon and Hanoi. Most reliable and centered-located Film developing shops are 19 Nguyen Cau – Ba Trieu St. and Photocen – 77 Ly Thuong Kiet in Hanoi and Shops on Nguyen Hue Blvd., District 1 in Saigon.

Shopping: The following items are quite unique and have good quality:

* Carved wooden furniture, fine lacquer ware (these can be shipped home upon request).

* Traditional Vietnamese hand-made silk, linen and cotton dresses, kimonos, embroideries, etc.

* Simulated antiques, ceramics, old watches or Zippo lighters, etc.

* Copies of famous paintings.

Others

Taxi: Taxis with meters are available in big cities. The current price is about US$ 0.5 per kilometre. Most metered taxi drivers can speak a little English.

Business hours: (GMT + 7)

* Offices: 07:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. and 01:00 p.m. to 04:30 p.m., closed on Saturday and Sundays

* Banks: 08:00 a.m to 03:00 p.m, closed on Friday afternoons, Saturday and Sunday.

Electrical current: 110-220 volts A.C.

Telephone: Long distance calls should be made at post offices, hotels or telephone booths (phone cards are available at post offices).

Internet: Internet cafes with ADSL can be found easily in Vietnam. Cost for an hour is around 0,5US$.

Tip and Gratuities: Tipping is not obligatory in Vietnam, however, if you meet with exceptional services or kindness, a tip is always appreciated. A tip for good service might be about 5% of the bill.

Bargaining: Bargaining is a way of life in much of South East Asia. In Vietnam shops don't have fixed prices so the shop keeper will start with a high price which you are then expected to bargain down until you reach a fair price. Bargaining should always be relaxed and can be a lot of fun but you should remember that it is considered disrespectful to agree a price but then walk away.

Laundry: Most of the hotels we use in Vietnam provide a laundry service although this can be quite expensive, sometimes as much as US$1 per item. Alternatively the side streets of most towns and cities are teeming with laundries where the average cost per kilo of laundry is US$0.70.

Weather: Vietnam experiences a fair degree of diversity in climate. The north has distinct summer and winter seasons. Summer lasts from May until October, when the weather is hot and very humid with temperatures averaging about 30 degrees Celsius. November to April are the winter months when the weather is mainly dry and average temperatures are about 18-20 degrees Celsius. Please note that in the mountainous regions of the country, temperatures will be much lower than this, so warm clothing is required if you are traveling to hill tribe areas during the winter months.

In the centre of the country (e.g. Hue, Da Nang and Hoi An) the weather is very hot and dry from February to August with temperatures of around 33-36 degrees Celsius, but there can be heavy rainfall between September and January.

The south of Vietnam has a hot, dry season from December through until April with temperatures of around 28 degrees Celsius. May until November is the rainy season, although there are rarely long periods of rain – it is usually short heavy showers.

Useful phrases in Vietnamese

As Vietnamese is a tonal language (with six different tones), the particular tone used determines the meaning of a word. As the same word can mean many different things depending on the tone it is a difficult language to grasp but the locals will certainly appreciate your efforts!

The following words and phrases are spelled phonetically to help you with pronunciation.

Popular phrases:

- Hello >> sin chow

- Goodbye >> chow, tam bi-ait

- Excuse me (sorry) >> sin looee

- Please >> lam on

- Thank you >> gum urn

- Yes >> vung (when spoken in the north)

         >> roi (in the south)

- No >> kom

- Excuse me >> sin loy

- How much? >> bough new?

- Tea >> cha

- Coffee >> ca fe

- Water >> nook

- Beer >> bia

- I don't understand >> toy kom beet

Numbers in Vietnamese:

1 - mot

2 - hai

3 - ba

4 - bon

5 - numb

6 - sow

7 - buy

8 - tum

9 - chin

10 - moo-ee

11 - moo-ee mot

12 - moo-ee hai

20 - hai moo-ee

30 - ba moo-ee

100 - mot traam

1000 - mot ngan

Source: Vietnamtravels