The nation's Roads Directorate is planning a new 78km road to take in My Dinh, Ba Sao and Bai Dinh. It will pass through the northern cities and provinces of Ha Noi, Ha Nam, Hoa Binh and Ninh Binh.

      Ninh Binh beautifies Vietnam not only with potential tourist attractions but also with stone carving

Tourists cruise along a river en route to visiting the Huong (Perfume) Pagoda on the outskirts of Ha Noi. The Road Directorate has agreed on a plan to build a new 78-km road linking tourist sites such as the Perfume Pagoda and Bai Dinh Pagoda in Ninh Binh Province to Ha Noi.

Nguyen Van Quyen, the Acting Director, said that the four-lane road, with a speed limit of 100kph, was an extremely large project that required complicated techniques and careful calculations.

The most economical approach would cost VND3.4 trillion (US$161.9 million) but this would require taking land from the Van Long nature reserve. The other option would cost VND4.3 trillion ($204.7 million).

The road would help the North-South transport network and link up tourist destinations, such as Bai Dinh and Huong pagodas, to Ha Noi.

Located 93km south of Ha Noi, Ninh Binh has a diverse landscape, with the Trang An eco-tourism complex boasting mountains, caves and lakes.

Roughly 3.6 million people have visited the province in the first six months of this year. Tam Coc-Bich Dong and the Bai Dinh Pagoda have also created quite an impression.

Ninh Binh aims to welcome 6 million visitors, including 1 million foreigners, by 2015, an annual growth rate of 10 per cent

Huong Pagoda, better known as the Perfumed Pagoda, is said to be Viet Nam's most famous pilgrimage site for Buddhist followers.

Every year, the site welcomes more than 1 million pilgrims and tourists from across the country, who arrive at the sacred cave to pray for a happy and prosperous year, or simply to admire its picturesque beauty.

Built in the late 17th century, the pagoda is located in My Duc District, 70km southwest of Ha Noi. 

                                                                                                                                Source: VNS

A foreign tourist happens to come to Vietnam on the occasion of Lunar New Year festival ( Tet Nguyen Dan in Vietnamese) and makes a decision to stay in HCMC to experience traditional New Year.

Lunar New Year usually takes place in February in Vietnam and this New Year will fall on February 10 - the first day of Lunar New Year of the Snake according to lunar calendar here. When the New Year is coming, lively and bustling atmosphere covers all regions in Vietnam.

Taking advantage of the last day of the year, people put the worries aside and flock to streets to go shopping for the New Year. They buy a lot of food to "hoard" for the upcoming long holiday. An addition, they buy new clothes and gifts to give each other because the New Year is an opportunity to express gratitude for the superior and those who helped them.

Before the New Year, Vietnamese people have to buy many things to prepare for Tet because stores or small traders will cease from business operations for at least 5 days of the New Year. Therefore, in these days, visitors will easily see the scene of local people who flock to streets and take many goods such as clothes, food, peach tree, kumquat tree…

Unlike the days before Tet, streets become quiet and sparse people in days of the New Year because people from other places have come back their home to greet the New Year with family. They also are factors contributing to make streets crowded and bustling in usual days.

Tet is also an only occasion that big cities in Vietnam will not take place traffic jams. I have arrived in Vietnam on the occasion of Vietnamese Lunar New Year festival and decided to stay in HCMC to enjoy Vietnamese New Year.

Nguyen Hue Flower Street becomes city for pedestrians to enjoy flowers. The atmosphere is like a big fair in which has the works of art shaped flowers and beautiful style by the hands of artisans. People all around the country flock to here to enjoy beautiful flower works and pose for photographs to keep memory.

Although millions of people from other provinces came back their home, I felt surprised by crowds of people flocking to here.

Tourists to Vietnam in the New Year festival will have the opportunity to witness a special cultural event. Dong Khoi, Le Loi and Nguyen Hue Street and others are brightly decorated with colorful lights.

Local people here on motorbike wave “ Hello!Hello!” friendly with tourists visiting the city. Tet is also a festive season around the country. In this occasion, people become happy and smile everywhere. It seems Tet is the time for them to give their enthusiasm with open heart.

The only difficult thing for foreign tourists in these days is almost businesses that are closed but visitors will have chances to enjoy special atmosphere of Vietnamese Lunar New Year festival.

It’s worth making a trip to Vietnam in the early days of February!

Source: Dantri

You thought you could relax with the Western new year celebrations out of the way? Think again. The whole of Vietnam is now warming up for the Tet holidays -- noticed all those police stop points and fields full of lucky trees recently? If you're heading this way February 10 to 14 this year, consider what this will mean for your trip.

The whole country will be on a go-slow for at least a week either side; Vietnam becomes  gridlocked, garish and glorious and contrary to most traveller stories it is in fact an amazing time to be here. That is, so long as you're armed with a little knowledge on customs, protocol and a calm smile.

Travel
One word covers it all here: DON’T! With every bus, train and plane packed with Vietnamese heading home, prices spiral and Vietnam travel guide time at least doubles from heavy traffic. The 16-seater air-con minibuses become 40 seaters and hard seat third class on the train is like playing sardines with livestock and end of the world provisions take up every inch of floor space.

Even pre-booked flights generally work on the delayed system and fellow local travellers can quite often be first-time flyers, so expect the possibilities of thigh stroking, projectile vomiting, constant texting and even motorbike helmets worn during the flight.

 Perhaps your best bet for onward travel during the Tet holidays.

Tet road rules
You really shouldn’t be attempting to hit the roads on your motorbike over the Tet holidays without at least five passengers, a handful of live ducks in carrier bags hanging from your handlebars and a four-foot Tet tree in a concrete pot balanced between your thighs if you want to blend in.

For the rest of us, abide by the laws of the road, which I think means don’t go through a red light, wear a helmet and make sure your bike has a working horn (obviously), at least one wing mirror and working lights, or be prepared to hand over a fortune in on-the-spot fines.

It's okay, that's a lucky tree.

Accommodation
Booking ahead is the way to go here. Generally in big cities and tourist spots high on hotels you'll find booking sites still have last-minute deals and hotels don’t tend to close. In smaller destinations, especially ones that only have small family-run guesthouses out in the sticks, be prepared for some difficulties.

As most of these places are not available to book online, you’d be wise to go through a local booking office before you arrive at your destination and get them to secure your room in advance.

Tours/sightseeing
Most tour companies run throughout the Tet holidays but be aware that most sights will be mobbed by local families picnicking. It’s a great time to take off for a daytrip into the smaller villages on a motorbike, when celebrations are in full flow and hospitality is at an all-time high. Just take a reliable bike.

Marble Mountain at Tet.

Customs/social etiquette
This is where the fun and confusion starts. On the first day of Tet it's customary to be lovely whatever is going on around you, as local belief is that your behaviour on these first few days of Tet will bring goodwill, prosperity and luck for the oncoming year. So even when you get a cab at five times the going rate you will be expected to turn that frown upside down.

Tet attire
It's customary for the Vietnamese to work through a whole new wardrobe over the Tet holidays, with splashes of high octane colour and questionable fashion logos ruling. Anything in the funeral colours of black or white are abandoned for lucky red and yellow.

And if the Vietnamese news article I read about this year's luckiest Tet wear (the year of the snake) is right, brightly coloured snake print -- slinky and tightfitting to create snake-like silhouettes for the ladies and matching snakeprint ties for the gents -- will also be a good choice. If you're invited to someone's home during the Tet holiday, stick with the black and white ban for good karma to all.

Tet in Saigon.

Tet music
Happy New Year by Abba. You will hear this at least frequently enough to know all the words by the end of January. By Tet you will be self-medicating to stop the song from going round and round in your head even in the few minutes it is not being played.

Shopping
Almost every Vietnamese business will close for Tet (even if just for a day), as the business owner will go to the pagoda and seek advice from a fortune-telling monk on a lucky day and time to reopen a brand new (the same) shop where they will hold a ceremony for their ancestors at an altar and offer gifts to the gods on an elaborate table in the shop's entrance, while burning incense. If you enter a shop over Tet the protocol is to buy something, no matter how small, as if you don’t this brings very bad luck to the shop. Remember to smile as you buy that fabulous lacquered pig at three times the non-Tet price.

Hoi An... nobody does Tet better.

Best place for Tet celebrations
Hoi An! It’s a huge lantern festival of fun and frolics and one of the top destinations during the Tet holidays for the Vietnamese. It's crazy, fun and brilliantly confusing (if you don't like crowds though, forget it). Da Lat would be the next best, while cities Hanoi, Saigon and Da Nang are tops for parties; if you want an off the beaten path Tet travelling challenge, head for the provinces.

Tet treats. Try everything you may never get the opportunity again!

Food
There are simply too many Tet treats to mention. Markets close, restaurants work on limited menus or shut up shop altogether, but the real beauty of Tet is the street food: suddenly every square inch of pavement is crammed to overflowing with stalls and plastic stools rammed with raucous locals celebrating. If there ever was a time to mingle with the locals and go away with a warm feeling inside (that will of course be the rice wine), it's over Tet.

Chuc Mung Nam Moi!

travelfish

The lunar calendar shows that Tet is coming, and from now until then, all things are Tet. The streets are Tet, the talk is Tet, the thoughts are Tet, the shopping is Tet, it's a Tet world in Vietnam right now and everybody knows it.

Tet is the most cherished time of the year in Vietnam. It is when the cities empty out and thousands go back to the countryside where they were born. City dwellers often choose to spend time at home. The streets empty out. The horns quiet, the traffic no longer congests and the hustle and bustle of city life, for a few days every year, comes to a halt.

As Vietnam develops and its expat population grows, the holiday has also come to hold a special meaning with foreigners as well.

New year's  Eve in Vietnam

"For me, Christmas was always the big holiday but now, Christmas is just a sign that Tet is approaching," shared Karen Merlin who has lived in Hanoi for over 4 years now. "It's hands down the best time of year, it is a time to catch your breath, relax and reflect on the last year."

Hitting the streets, Tet for foreigners residing in Vietnam means various things. For Stephen McGrath, living in Ho Chi Minh City, "Tet is a cultural event that perplexes and entertains me, but no-one ever knows when it is until a week beforehand," he said jokingly.

Paula, a long-time ESL teacher in Vietnam said for her, "Tet is the one true break I get all year. I cherish every moment and usually spend half in the city with my Vietnamese friends and half traveling somewhere outside of Hanoi."

As vendors try to stock up and sell as much as they can, many foreigners make plans to travel and get as far away as they can.

"I get as far out of the city as possible. It's the one time every year that I don't want to be in the city, I want to be out and traveling. It's so quiet it is lonely so I always grab a bag and hit the road. For me, Tet is my only chance for a big trip every year, so I take it," shared NGO worker Jason.

Adam, who is married to a Vietnamese woman said, "Tet is obviously a very important holiday. It's family time. We do all the traditional activities and it has been a remarkable cultural experience for me. Local food, local people, local everything. We go out to the countryside and celebrate with a huge and loving family."

Foreign friends enjoying a traditional Tet meal with a Vietnamese family

One resident of Hanoi for over 15 years griped, "As much as I love Tet, it is also the time of year where for two months, the price of anything and everything goes up. From a business standpoint, Tet is terrible but once the day arrives, and my wife's family gathers, I realize that I love it. It's really my Christmas now."

For the plethora of teachers living and working in Vietnam, many refer to it simply as, "Tet is for travel."

Tet's meaning can also change drastically as it did for Eric Burdette, "My first four Tet's used to mean time off for continuous partying... However, over the past two years I have courted (and recently married) a Vietnamese woman. Now that I have a family in Vietnam, Tet has a completely different meaning. After over five years of living in Vietnam, being accepted into a family and having a real home during Tet makes me feel like I truly belong here."

Eric’s Family in Vietnam

Tet is a time for family and friends and has different meaning for different people. It is a holiday that like Christmas, both Vietnamese and foreigners have come to embrace and celebrate. It is East meets West. It is a time of joy for all. One embassy worker I spoke with simply said, "It's Tetmas." And this is Tet through the eyes of some foreigners.

Source: dtinews

Perhaps all Vietnamese people know about the name Pac Bo and its association with Uncle Ho in history classes from elementary school or in documentary films.

However, last month a group of friends and I had a chance to visit the place where Uncle Ho lived and worked as he planned the revolution after returning from his 30 years abroad to seek ways for the nation’s liberation.

Travelers visit the place where Uncle Ho used to fi sh in 1941

Pac Bo is located in Ha Quang District of Cao Bang Province, about 50 kilometers from Cao Bang Town. The road from Cao Bang Town to Pac Bo is flanked by towering mountains and rice fields and small hamlets with dozens of stilt houses under the shade of clusters of peach trees, and the winding streams with thatched-roofed bridges in Nung and Tay villages along the way.

Tourists walk along the scenic road near the border belt with China in Pac Bo area

Therefore, after an hour or so following the scenic road, we reached upon the site in a comfortable and excited state.
We then were joined by a young female tour guide of the tourist area. She took us to the first stop which was the newly-built Ho Chi Minh Museum. We had an opportunity to review what we had learnt at school and much more about this remarkable time and location of the country’s revolution, artifacts of Uncle Ho accompanied with images of soldiers and officers. The museum also impressed with bas-reliefs and statues depicting historical events.

We then went to the Lenin Stream at the foot of Karl Marx Mountain. The stream features clear, cool and tranquil water so that tourists can see fish swimming underwater.

Walking on the rocks along the side of the stream, where Uncle Ho used to work and fish, visitors reach a wooden bridge over Coc Bo rivulet where Lenin Stream starts.

Visitors take photos at Lenin Stream under the foot of Karl Marx Mountain -
Photos: My Tran

Halfway up the mountain is Coc Bo Cave, which is cold and humid, where Uncle Ho settled. Looking down into the cave from its mouth, you can see the words February 8th, 1941 written by Uncle Ho on the wall. In the distance, on the stream’s bank is the stone table where he translated the Democratic Republic of Vietnam’s history. Each artifact remains to this day.

Uncle Ho’s bed in Coc Bo Cave

About 1km from the mouth of Coc Bo Cave, there is a small hut by the side of Khuoi Nam Mountain. In this hut, Uncle Ho held the eighth Party Central Committee Meeting, which promulgated a resolution on preparations for the armed insurrection and the establishment of the Viet Minh and the revolutionary war zone. Adjacent to the hut is the milestone 108 marking the Vietnam-China border.

Visiting this historical area, travelers will learn more about the life and devotion of President Ho Chi Minh which is partly reflected through his optimistic revolutionary verses.

Source:Baomoi

Vietnam is a strong country and it shows in how their culture managed to remain intact after decades of war and oppression. It is one of the countries in Asia that stand out because of its natural beauty, culture and the fact that it has unity in diversity.

Vietnam tourist destinations are as varied as its people. This means that you are likely to experience a different kind of Vietnam if you belong to the 5% of tourists that return to the country. Since Vietnam is sandwiched between Cambodia, Laos, China and the South China Sea then entrance and exit can be by means of sea, air, train and water transportation.

You can board any of the cruise liners that regularly traverse the Vietnamese waters and also get to enjoy the view from the ocean. You can also ride a train directly from China or drive from any of its neighboring countries. But if you come from a different part of the globe, going to Vietnam via an aircraft would be the most practical.

There are three destinations of Vietnam for adventures:

The Tranquil North
As mentioned earlier, you can experience a different kind of Vietnam every time you come for a visit because its highlands and lowlands offer different kinds of adventures. Add to that, it is large enough to be endowed with several unique climate zones.

So if you are visiting the Vietnam tourist destinations of the North then you would be greeted with four different seasons: chilly winter, autumn, spring, and hot and wet summer. The changes in season takes place particular months so coordinate with Vietnam travel agency to know what sets of clothes you should bring.

One of the places to visit in Northern Vietnam would be Hanoi. This is Vietnam’s capital city but instead of being too modernized, this small city is surrounded by tranquil lakes, parks and even precolonial and colonial markers. If Hanoi is in your itinerary, don’t miss its best and unique entertainment – a water puppet show. This is a showcase of traditional Vietnamese tales brought to life by colorful puppets that gracefully emerge from the water.

The Historical South
In South Vietnam, there are three seasons: hot and dry, rainy, and cool and dry. South Vietnam tourist destinations are usually historic of the famed Vietnam war. Hence, you can say that this part of Vietnam is a giant blender that externally mixes history, culture and outdoor adventures.

Here, you will see museums, a war-history-themed park that is located underground, beaches, forests and even rugged hills.

The People - Driven Central Vietnam
Lastly, Central Vietnam has two season patterns: summer and winter. This part of Vietnam I more people-centered. It sits right in the middle so you can see the influences of both the North and the South. As a result, you get people who are historically and culturally rich yet living tranquil lives.

One of the best Central Vietnam tourist destinations would be a trip to one of the floating villages called the Kenh Ga. Here, you will see locals who are using their feel as oars to their boats.

Indeed, Vietnam is very diverse yet it a country of people and culture that have been fused together by its history of cold wars and invasions. Today, these you can see through the Vietnam tourist destinations.

Source:Minmaxtravel.com

In most of the brochures the famous sand dunes of Mui Ne are advertised. For me those were the main reason why I chose to go to the city despite its touristy image.

There are the famous white dunes (which are pale-yellow) and the red dunes (which are more orange...). I asked myself if it might be an overrated place to go and discovered it on my own. First: Yes, it is possible. Second: Don’t await too much help if you go alone. But third: It’s still an adventure if the right information is provided which is my job I guess....

Concerning the white dunes: Even though I wrote before they appeared more pale-yellow to me it’s much a question of the right perspective. Most tourists are coming in the very early morning when the sunlight touches the sand in a pretty white color. It might be a crowded place at sunset and I won’t say it’s worth to get up early to see the sunset there. The way to the dunes – which is just always along the highway and at the pagoda left (about 20km) – has a much better atmosphere. On the left side several dunes and steppes, getting the first shapes of the day from the early sun... on the right side an endless, lonely beach and the wide, open sea where the fishermen are on their boats already. The area, spotted with hills, forests and dunes might be interesting to visit as well.

The white dunes look despite everything quite amazing from the distance. They are surrounded by the “Lotus Lake” (which has only a few lotus...) and some out-priced quad-bike dealer.

The “red” sand dunes are on the way to the white ones and it’s impossible to miss them. Some children and vendors are standing there already, trying to foist you a sleigh upon. It might be the best time to visit the “red” ones during noon or late afternoon when they get their expected colour. It is worth to stay a while and wander around, during noon only very few tourists are around. I guess due to the desert and no protection from the hot, Vietnamese sun.

 A view of Fairy Stream in Phan Thiet City

Those sleighs depend very much on physics. If you are too heavy it might not work properly and some additional helps are needed. Like watered or otherwise prepared sand.

But are there really red dunes? I’d clearly say “yes”, and they won’t appear on your map. Between the two parts of Mui Ne is something like an almost uninhabited gap. In this area you are able to find red dunes. Right now there are some constructions going on and there’s a small (maybe not yet open) street through the area. This area is much smaller than the other two. Behind it is a cemetery which might be seen from the highway above as well.

Much closer to Mui Ne is the “Fairy Spring”. Located in “tourist” Mui Ne at Huynh Thuc Khang 63, following a small stream. I (and as I’ve seen Wikitravel as well) recommend to go there on your own. Some children might want to play tour guide but that’s not necessary. They’ll only walk along the stream, show you how a banana looks like and that a thornbush is “very dangerous” (I had about 200 of them in my arm as I went through the jungle; they are only nasty, but not dangerous at all).

The waterfall of Fairy Spring is only interesting if you haven’t seen a waterfall before. Around the waterfall mimosas are blooming. I guess most people haven’t seen them before – such as me – and I really enjoyed to touch them.

There are two ways to enter the fairy spring. The regular one during a small canyon, which goes along palms and water-formed sand pillars in red, orange and white. And the second one which is just about 100m long and starts at the highway. (Impossible to oversee it – children and teenager are waiting for paying customers).

As you plan to go in those areas it might be a good idea to carry some glass-bottles or other kinds of transport-equipment with you. There are not much places on earth where you can find so many different kinds of sands such as here. Put together it might be a unique souvenir or present.

All those ways can be accessed by a borrowed motorcycle. But public transport is very well developed and I bet there are buses to those places as well. It might take a bit talent of organization to find them.

I’d say the “border” of the accessible area by motorcycle is the mount Ta Zon. It can be seen from Phan Thiet and from the highway above Mui Ne. There’s a huge antenna on its top, which means there’s a way as well.

The way to the peak is in a quite poor condition. Not many tourists or locals do a trekking tour there. There is almost none of a shady place doesn’t make it much easier to get up during the hot parts of the day. The area of the antenna is inhabited by a friendly Vietnamese and his dogs. The panorama is remarkable and might be the highest pinnacle in the whole closer area.
To get to there you can either drive from Phan Thiet the long circle to Mui Ne or taking one of the junctions at the highway to Sa Ra (there won’t be a sign unfortunately). The roads go through steppes, small villages and sands. Even though, the tourist capital is just a few kilometers away the children here are still not used to foreigners and very friendly.

In a circle around 40km into the direction of HCMC are some other, much higher mountains located. Also a very famous one: Ta Cu, where Vietnam’s biggest Buddha is sleeping. I went the trip by motorcycle and cannot recommend it. The street is long and for most of the Westerners (such as me) the frenetic and too loud honking of Vietnamese truckers, bus drivers and other motorcyclists is nothing but annoying. Also the calculation: Borrowed Bike + Gasoline or ticket shows clearly it might be better to catch a public bus. As I heard it’s number 46.

The entrance fee for Ta Cu mountain is about VND15,000. If we were in colder parts of the world I’d strongly recommend to walk – but we aren’t. So the way through the forest is long, hot and humid and you’ll ask yourself several times what you are fighting for, trekking the long way up. It is not so uncomfortable to walk it back. I’d do it also due to the reason there are monkeys in the trees and you might see some.

The sleeping Buddha is impressive and in any case worth to visit if you got time for that. And the panorama on the peak is worth to see. I didn’t expect it so high and was very delighted.

In this area are other pagodas as well than just the new one on Ta Cu mountain (which is currently in construction and unfortunately mainly poured out of cement which didn’t impress me that much. As long as you aren’t in a hurry most of the monks are pleased to show you around and serve some tea. Maybe you have a lucky day and meet monks who have good English. There are a lot of stories to tell and even more fascinating places to be.

Source:Baomoi

Perhaps for most of us, Vietnam is more likely to be associated with epic war films due to its historical background. But there’s more to it than being a mere battleground in movies. 

Its rich culture intermingled with breath taking highlands and terraces, pristine beaches and diverse island landscapes make it an ideal option for the next big adventure trip. Thus from north to south, here’s a ‘debriefing’ travel guide for you to conquer Vietnam’s top tourist attractions.

Infiltration and timing
There are two approaches in ‘invading’ Vietnam, landing by plane in Hanoi and going south, or through Saigon heading north. Moving in and around the country can be through buses, trains or domestic flights. The optimal season to visit northern Vietnam is from May until October during summertime as winter times are cold and gloomy. Meanwhile, December to April is the best time to drop by the southern part as this is the dry season of the year.

Conquering strategic sites
Starting from Hanoi which is the country’s capital, one immediate jump-off is the Hoan Kiem Lake, which means "Lake of the Restored Sword". This beautiful lake is one of the foremost scenic spots in the metropolis being embedded with a rich cultural history. Approximately 165 kilometers northeast from Hanoi is the Halong Bay. It is set in a 120 kilometer long coast line and literally means “Bay of Descending Dragons”.

Being the top tourist attraction in Vietnam tourism, Halong Bay comprises more than a thousand islands, each capped with abundant jungle vegetation, forming a fascinating seascape of limestone pillars. Some of the islands are hollow, having enormous caves within. No wonder it is among the UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Numerous travel tour companies provide packages for cruising the bay.

Meanwhile, located near the Chinese border northwest of Vietnam is the Fansipan Mountain, which is the highest peak in all Indochina at 3,143 metres. Also, Sa Pa rice terraces can be found situated in the Muong Hoa valley, between Sa Pa town and the Fansipan mountain. Local tour companies will arrange hikes to both the rice terraces and summit taking a few days.

Going further south
Marching downward the map, one should not miss the tallest pagoda in Vietnam, the Thien Mu Pagoda. Comprising seven stories high, it overlooks the Perfume River and is considered as the unofficial representation of the former imperial capital. Then, next stop is the fishing village of Hoi An situated on the South China Sea coast. It is commonly called the “Venice of Vietnam” because of the narrow canals that traverse part of the town.

Advancing further down, Nha Trang is Vietnam’s most popular seaside resort town positioned along the second most outstanding bays in the country. It also happens to be the country’s scuba diving capital. It features beautiful beaches with pristine sand and crystal clear water.

Don’t forget to pass by the Cu Chi Tunnels. They are an immense network of underground connecting tunnels located roughly 40 km northwest of Saigon. They were utilized by the Viet Cong guerrillas as hiding places during the Vietnam War. They have now become a favorite tourist attraction in Vietnam.

Take a glimpse of how life is in the Mekong Delta, a region in southern Vietnam which is a very rich and lush area that produces nearly half of Vietnam’s agricultural output. Interestingly, all the villages are often accessible by river rather than taking the road.

Before the battle is to be won, plant your victory flag in Phu Quoc, the largest island in Vietnam located in front of Cambodia. The island’s features and intact coral reefs will surely calm your wary soul. One of its beaches, named Bai Dai (Long Beach), was even selected by the ABC News as one of the five clean and beautiful beaches.

Phu Quoc is also known for producing the best nuoc mam or fermented fish sauce in the world. Sounds fishy? Take the Vietnam tour challenge and see for yourself.

Minmaxtravel.com

Dtinews reporter recently took some photos depicting the north-west of Vietnam through his trip.
Nam Mu Stream, Tay Con Linh Mountain Range, peach blossoms in Sung La and young highlands women in Dong Van were all captured.

 

Villagers building a makeshift bridge across Nam Mu Stream in Son La Province’s Muong La District

People at the foot of Tay Con Linh Mountains building a temporary bridge

A stream nearby to Tay Con Linh

Plum blossoms and yellow cabbage flowers in Ha Giang Province’s Meo Vac District

Peach and plum blossoms in Sung La Commune of Ha Giang Province’s Dong Van District.

The area was the setting for the film The Story of Pao

Dong Van karst plateau

A pine forest 5 kilometres from Dong Van

Ha Nhi ethnic people in Lao Cai Province’s Ty Y Commune

A suspension across Ma River in Dien Bien Province

Khau Pha Pass in early mist in Yen Bai Province’s Nghia Lo District

A boatman on the Da River running through Son La Province’s Bac Yen District

Dao ethnic women showing off a newly bought silver ring at

Muong Hum market in Lao Cai Province’s Bat Xat District

Little houses spotted in peach blossomed hills in

Long Luong Commune of Son La Province’s Moc Chau District

A Dao mother and her baby avoiding visitor stares

through a window in Lao Cai Province’s Bat Xat District

Mong young people learning how to ride a motorbike

in Lao Cai Province’s Bac Ha District

Rare sunlight in winter on Khau Pha Pass in Yen Bai Province’s Nghia Lo District

Little house in a white mustard field in Thuong Cuong Hamlet of Son La Province’s Moc Chau District

 A Thai couple trading in pigs on the Ho Chi Minh Highway section running

through Cuc Phuong National Park in Ninh Binh Province

Dtinews

The ancient village of Dong Hoa Hiep in Cai Be District, Tien Giang Province in southern Vietnam is well known for its beautiful scenery formed by the calm Cai Be River and ancient houses amid orchards that are lush and laden with fruit all year round.

Along with two other ancient villages of Duong Lam in Hanoi and Phuoc Tich in Hue, Dong Hoa Hiep Village has been selected and invested in to develop into a countryside tourism model by the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA). The way the houses were designed in Dong Hoa Hiep Village is different from that of those, which were in close proximity to each other in Duong Lam and Phuoc Tich Villages. Dong Hoa Hiep has a poetic landscape with ancient houses dotted in lush orchards that are surrounded by the winding Cai Be River. Visiting the village, tourists enjoy pure air and the peaceful scenery while rowing boats on the river or taking a stroll on paths running through shady orchards.

 The interior of the ancient house owned by Phan Van Duc is decorated in the traditional style.

One of the destinations that has left a vivid impression on tourists to Dong Hoa Hiep Village is the ancient house owned by Tran Tuan Kiet in Dong Hoa Hiep Commune. It was built around 1838 with 108 pillars made of xylia xylocarpa, a valuable and rare wood, amid a 1.8ha orchard. The house was designed in the architectural style of southern garden houses with five large rooms, covering 1,000m². Despite the devastation of time, the house has been preserved intact with refined patterns of “pine trees, daisy flowers, ivory bamboo and apricot trees” carved on wooden pillars and doors. Inside, the house now displays sets of parallels inlaid with mother-of-pearl, skillfully carved furniture and ancient ceramics.

The ancient house owned by Phan Van Duc in Dong Hoa Hiep Village was built in 1850.

Skillful sculptures at the worshiping area. 
Foreign tourists visit and learn about the history and value of the ancient house owned by Tran Tuan Kiet.
A sideboard inlaid with mother-of-pearl. 
 French oil lamps. 
The ancient house owned by Tran Tuan Kiet attracts a large number of foreign visitors.
A girl in Dong Hoa Hiep Village. 

Le Thi Chinh, the owner’s wife, said her husband’s great-grandfather was the chief of the district who was so keen on antiquities that he invited craftsmen from the imperial capital of Hue to build the house over a few years and spent a lot of time and efforts collecting many valuable ancient objects. In 2002, the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) financed more than 1.8 billion VND to restore the house with the supervision of a female Japanese architect who lived in the house for over six months. Thanks to JICA’s support, the house was restored in the original architectural and interior style.
The second popular destination in Dong Hoa Hiep Village is Nguyen Van Duc’s house which was built in 1850 with a blend of Oriental and Western architecture. The front of the house was constructed in the French style with round Western pillars and romantic domes whereas the inside was designed in traditional Vietnamese style. At present, the house still preserves many rare ancient objects that demonstrate the well-off life and refined hobby of rich families in southern Vietnam in the past.
Nowadays, Dong Hoa Hiep Village is a popular destination of both domestic and foreign visitors. Each year, the village attracts almost 100,000 visitors with an increasing number of foreign tourists.

Source:Vietnam.vnanet