Halong Bay Travel Experience

You want to choose Halong Bay as your Vietnam holidays? So don’t hesitate to see the following travel Halong Bay travel experience.

For many visitors, they may regret for a short tour. Therefore, if possible, you should book 3 days/2 nights tour to travel to further places and less touristy. If travel with a group of friends, family, you should rent a whole boat.

You will be involved in many exciting activities during the trip: team activities (team – building), kayak competition, swimming, cooking contest, visiting floating villages, caves … If you want to have unforgettable memories in your life, book a dinner in the cave, on a float, or on romantic beach, you will never regret for the choice.

Weather

European Tourists often travel to Vietnam in the winter from December to April when the weather is about 10-20 degrees because they have more free time during the period. However, the best weather for visiting is April, May or September and October as the daytime period is longer with blue sky and pleasant weather; visitors can swim, enjoy the sunrise or sunset in the late afternoon.

Registration

Currently, the Management Board of Halong Bay tightly control tour boats especially, staying overnight on boats. You can book tours through the Vietnam tour operators, and provide them the necessary information like passports, identity cards before you go. Then the company will help your to register your information with the administration of immigration department – Quang Ninh security.

Every day, the Bay authority will base on specific weather conditions to decide if cruises can leave or not. Normally, day tours overnight tours cruises will get allowance at  6:30 am. With regarding to overnight cruise on the bay, the captain will ask for license and register an overnight staying site for cruises.

There are 3 common stops: around Titop – Luon cave, Lat cave and Trong cave – Fairy Lake cave. In the case of being unable to stay overnight on cruise, you will have the option to wait until next better day for going sightseeing or being transferred to Hanoi by drivers and tour guides. In such cases, tour operators, cruise company will have appropriate schedule for you.

Itinerary

Depending on your time duration as well as budget, you can choose the various itineraries. For day cruise, you can book a cruise tour of 4, 6 or 8 hours. Most cruises depart from Bai Chay wharf and it takes about 45 minutes from Bai Chay to popular attractions such as Thien Cung, Dau Go cave and Titop island…

For overnight cruises, you have plenty of choices: If you need a private space and free itinerary, you choose 2 separate cabins cruises. Certainly, you will get the most wonderful experience as being served by the friendly staff, professional service who are trained and managed by foreigners.

Ha Long Bay in the future

Being twice recognized by the UNESCO as a world natural heritage with highlighting of global value of the natural landscape in 1994 and the value of science in geology, geomorphology 2000, Halong Bay has been an attraction, a leading tourist destination in the country. Since 2011, Halong has been one of seven new natural wonders, which has been advertising, promoting the unique value of Halong Bay as well as the image of the Vietnam – a Vietnam beauty to international friends.

It has been attracting a large number of tourists to Ha Long in particular and Vietnam in general to increase the amount of foreign currency, attract tourism investment, make great opportunities for tourism development of Halong Bay as well as Quang Ninh tourism.

Halong Bay Travel Experience

Hanoi Discovery - a quintessential beauty

(Hanoi Discovery) – Hanoi capital has always been a symbol of culture and is a proud history of Vietnamese. Hanoi is a strangely beautiful capital, a friendly and safe city with thoughtful old quarter.
Hanoi is a city of elegance containing the Vietnam beauty, a city of thousand years of history and civilization, with many ancient temples and crisscrossed streets. City looks both ancient with old quarter and modern with bustling streets and shopping centers. The small streets with old houses and friendly people are typical of Vietnamese people making a peace of the city.

Hanoi capital is voted as one of five ideal destinations to explore Vietnam by the world leading travel magazine Lonely Plannet Traveller (UK ). Beside to Hanoi, 4 other cities are Sa Pa – the best walking tour; Halong Bay – the most beautiful coastline; Hoi An – the best place for experience the cuisine and Delta Mekong River – the place for river of life experience.

Hanoi is a strangely beautiful capital. Ha Noi is very famous with sidewalks restaurants, and vendors with all kinds of goods from fresh fruit to souvenirs; especially with streets named by traditional villages making a strange attraction to Hanoi.

From southern gateway, traveling along Hue street to the end of Hang Bai, you can see the hiding Guom Lake (Sword Lake). Guom Lake is a historical witness  which saw the ups and downs of Vietnam. Speaking about Guom Lake, people will think of the legend of Le King who gave back the precious sword to a Golden Turtle…Besides, Hanoi is a place attracting lots of craftsmen all over the country making Ha Noi with various cultures and 36 streets.

Hanoi is the capital and the center of the country, but Guom Lake is the center in Hanoi, then many Hanoian travel to the place to enjoy the feeling of serenity, stillness.
From vendors to engineers, from the toddling kids to old people, all of them like traveling to Guom Lake to rest, play and catch air.

Hanoi Discovery - a quintessential beauty

Quang Ninh discounts Ha Long Bay sightseeing tickets

Ha Long Bay fares transportation service for hourly contracts are reduced an average of VND 100,000.

Department of Finance of Quang Ninh province has issued fares-related documents, freight services and accommodation for tourists to Ha Long Bay in 2014. Accordingly, the prices of transport services for package contracts are from VND 250,000 to VND 280,000 per hour for standard boats, from VND 280,000 to VND 400,000 for 4^th class boats, from VND 400,000 to VND 500,000 for 3^rd class boats, from VND 500,000 to VND 600,000 for 2^nd class boats.

While this fare was applied in 2013 for 2^nd class  boats from VND 600,000 to VND 700,000, from VND 500,000 to VND 600,000 for 3^rd class boats in an hour… 

Halong Bay is always attractive to tourists every year.

On peak days like Saturday and Sunday, Halong festivals and summer, licensed enterprises can increase no more than 30 % compared to the listed prices and must be published on boat and on media at the harbor.

Fares of individuals for round trips from the pier to Van Canh Park is VND 100,000 per passenger; VND 150,000 for the route from the pier to Caves Parks; VND 300,000 for the route from the pier to Center of Cultural Marine Conservation, from the pier to Beach Entertainment Center and from the pier to Gia Luan. On the “peak” day, fares of individuals are remained.

Small boats waiting for tourists to visiting fishing villages

With regarding to the overnight on boat services on Halong Bay, a tourist will be charged from VND 700,000 to VND 1.2 millions per person for a 24 hours 4^th class boat; it is from VND 1.2 millions to VND 2 millions and VND 2 millions to VND 3 millions for 3^rd and 2^nd class boat, respectively. The 1^st class boat charges over VND 5 millions. The fares do not include meals, drinks and other services of 4^th class boat from VND 4 millions to VND 6 millions per trip.

Over past years, Quang Ninh has enhanced tourism promotion through the event promotion activities in foreign countries, as well as organizing many unique and  interesting cultural, sports and tourism events to attract tourists. A number of new tourism packages has released for visitors such as culture tours – visiting some tourist spots in Quang Yen town or extend the route to Bai Tu Long Bay…

By the end of October, Quang Ninh tourism industry has welcomed over 6.5 million visitors, over 10% compared to the same period in 2012, in which international tourists have reached 2 millions.

Quang Ninh discounts Ha Long Bay sightseeing tickets

The famous destinations for honeymoon holidays in Vietnam

1- Sapa – Lao Cai

Sapa is one of  the most famous destinations for honeymoon holidays in Vietnam in any seasons of the year, not only for its rolling mountain scenery, illusion hiding in trees, in white clouds, but also for its cool and pleasant climate, making people to be closer.

You will have a lot to learn about this highland, hand in hand to explore the beautiful town, climb up to Ham Rong Mountain together, and see firsthand the beauty of Orchid Garden, Con Coc stone, Heaven Gate and Cloud garden. Next, visit Silver Fall; you can take some wonderful photos together. A trip in Sapa will more memorable if you are interested to visit the minorities villages, such as, visit Cat village of the H’Mong to explore the lives and cultures of indigenous locals. Or go shopping together in Sapa markets to get some souvenirs mountain specialties such as chayote, peaches, pears and plums…

Trip duration should last about 5 days to really explore all destinations in Sapa and enjoy the romantic space with your partner.

The great accommodation for newly married couples may include Victoria hotel located near the center with beautiful scenery, or Sunny Mountain Hotel is some steps away from the center and is easy to access other locations in the town.

2. Mui Ne- Binh Thuan

Being voted the best beach in Southeast Asia, Mui Ne was chosen by Skyscanner travel website as a love paradise for couples who love to go on their honeymoon. In the current time, Mui Ne is the center of the classic resorts located on the most beautiful beaches in Vietnam with the long lines coconut trees and golden sands in the sunshine.

Mui Ne sea and red and white sand dunes are the familiar places to Vietnamese and international tourists. It is endowed by four seasons with sun and wind, being very convenient for the resort. Having sea and sand dunes as well, Mui Ne is more beautiful and interesting with the vast sand dunes and changing scenery.

Time for trip should be at least 3 days.

Some hotels, resorts for your Vietnam honeymoon trip should be Anantara resort with modern architecture in Western style combined with classical culture of Vietnam or Pandanus Resort and Spa located on the Mui Ne gulf, or Bamboo Village Resort with green trees, centrally located in Mui Ne.

3. Da Lat – Lam Dong

Da Lat is s famous land of dreams in Vietnam in Lam Dong in which has the cool temperate climate all around the year. It is suitable for all couples looking for romance. You can walk around the night market, enjoy the chill of Da Lat, or rent a twin bike to stroll around Xuan Huong Lake.

City of magnificence, romance or love valley in Da Lat will make attach you. You can climb up the mountain Langbiang, discover wonderful natural landscapes of this place and see girls weaving brocade; in the evening, gather beside the wooden burn stove and organize outdoor party with wine and traditional dances. Dalat is also quiet and deeper with Truc Lam Zen monastery next to Tuyen Lan Lake, 5km away from Dalat, this is the largest monastery in Vietnam, built in the architecture of modern and ancient in harmony.

Some addresses for your stay are recommended, such as side Edensee Dalat Lake Resort and Spa, Ana Mandara Villas Dalat resort and spa.

You should spend at least 4 days of stay for discovery.

Let package your languages and travel to Vietnam to discover a stunning Vietnam beauty.

The famous destinations for honeymoon holidays in Vietnam

The best destinations in the Christmas and New Year

On New Year and Christmas occasion, you can organize a trip with relatives and friends to Sapa , Da Lat , Da Nang…which are one of the best destinations for Vietnam holidays.

The people in the South only experience two seasons – dry and wet. If you want to see the snow, just go to the Sapa town. Every year, foreigners and Vietnamese visit the town to learn the unique cultural values ​​of the uplands. In the winter nights, you can enjoy the “Thắng Cố” with unique sweet, visit “love market” to feel the winter next to the wood burning stove with delicious grilled dishes like, sweet potatoes, corns and eggs. You can only find the mystery when visiting Sapa. The town is covered by huge streaks of faded white color stretching across the sky which only leave little space for sunshine making beautiful moments.

Sapa has the summit of Ham Rong, Cat Cat waterfall throws up massive white foam while Da Lat is the destination of couples and family tour who want to find the romantic moments together. This year, Da Lat This is going to celebrate 120 year founding anniversary with flower Festival and National Tourism Year event in Highland – Dalat 2014. This is a chance to experience the indelible moments at Chicken Cathedral, City Garden, Da Lat Railway Station – Trai Mat, Xuan Huong Lake, Love Valley and the intact remaining France villas. Until now, Da Lat has still remained the character of “city in a forest” and Xuan Huong Lake is like a cool green pearl in the heart of the city. You can also explore the misty Liangbang peaks and walk around Da Lat market with delicious dishes in the mountain town.

Travel to the Center to visit the peak of Ba Na, which is still considered as Dalat in the Center with a temperate and cool climate all around the year. This is an ideal space for relaxing in the sun and wind center. If look for spacious space, you can choose Nha Trang , Phu Quoc with smooth white sand beaches, unspoiled scenery and delicious local seafood.

The best destinations in the Christmas and New Year

Hash house harriers – New adventure tour in Nha Trang

In order to participate in this unique – new adventure tour, the simple criterion is that you must love traveling, love nature and love…running.

Hash House Harriers (abbreviated to HHH, H3, or referred to simply as hashing) established in Dec 1938 by British and Spanish invading Singapore and Malaysia, and then spread out the other parts of the world.

In Vietnam, H3 had the first occurrence in Hanoi in 1991 and expanded to other provinces such as Vung Tau, Can Tho, Da Nang and Lam Dong. 2013. “Hash House Harriers” landed in Nha Trang (Khanh Hoa) and has made a unique trend: sport and ecotourism.

The purpose of the H3

The original purpose of this kind of adventure tour 3H in first days which was inscribed on the registration card in 1950 is to enhance the fitness, avoid alcoholic gathering at the weekend; instead of that, members would take tonic beverages such as beer. The most important thing was to make all members think that the age could not stop the enthusiastic people.

In Vietnam, the H3 was established to relieve pressure of life, work of members, to interact with the new people. Taking part in the program, foreigners have great chance to discover culture, beauty of Vietnam and get fitness to boost the energy for next working days. At Nha Trang, the H3 also targets on charity, helping difficult people.

Members with odd nicknames

Joining group, every member has a different nickname and will not call each other by real names. The nicknames are weird, funny, reflecting exactly their personalities. They get to know, chat, and play with each other on an equal basis, regardless of hierarchy, color, religion.

Great unexpectation on the way

The interest of H3 is unknown destination exception to guide members. Criteria of destination selection are closeness to nature, peace, fresh air. Discovering new sceneries is an interesting point for members.

On every trip, when reaching at a new secret destination, H3 members must follow the rules “run and play”. If see a pinch of white powder, the leader would shout “On On”, it means keep going. Meet the X symbol; they would shout “Go back” (run back). Then, the last one will become the leader. They run continuously until seeing “Stop beer” signal, it is time to have some beers, exchange, and participate in fun games.

In H3, members are encouraged to express entire personality. They prefer spontaneous moments with free laughter not only at the rest but also on the way of running.

Hash house harriers are considered as a new highlight of Vietnam tourism.

Hash house harriers – New adventure tour in Nha Trang

Thien Ha Cave in the ancient capital – new destination of Vietnam tourism

Thien Ha – a new destination of Vietnam tourism is not known as Trang An, Bich Dong, but when step on the cave, you will be engrossed in the illusory and mysterious space.

Located in Son Ha commune (Nho Quan , Ninh Binh), Thien Ha Cave and Dang Pier are attractive tourist routes in the landscape complex of Trang An – Tam Coc. The cave is not really huge, but located right in the Tuong mountain range which is part of a natural wall firmly covering and protecting Hoa Lu citadel in the 10th century, thus Thien Ha attract tourists to find out more about the ancient capital.

Thien Ha not big but very nice with all types the stalactites

The attraction of journey is not really different with other visits, discoveries in Ninh Binh; because of the feeling of boat excursions. From the Muong Tho Ha village, boat will smoothly surf on a small canal in the Dang Pier river system. With a length of about one kilometer, but it is enough for you to look at picturesque and peaceful countryside on both sides.
When reaching the pier, you continue to go on the rocky path with the length of the 500 m along foothills of Tuong Mountain to the East gate. Not being vast, overwhelming, but Thien Ha cave is still attracting visitors’ gaze with masterpieces arts molded by the hands of Mother of Nature.

Going through the door with the tall of 3-4 m is a 700 m long cave including dry one and the water one. Dry cave is not very big, only about 200 meters long, but step inside you will feel like silver and gold inlaid palace with stalactites sparkling.

Light shining down from the roof to ground of cave

Be fascinated before the dim space, you will have great opportunity to freely imagine at various types of rocks. From the fox hunting bait, to the elephant or tiger preying or monkey climbing trees…All are lively as an illusory stone castle.

Be pleased with the dry cave, you continue to cruise downstream. Stone layers reflect the beautiful sunshine making water colors look to be silver as constellations glittering in the night which makes customers to feel like sailing smoothly between a glittering galaxy.

According to experts, the stalactites system in Thien Ha cave is still remaining and in the process of development. Especially it almost seems to keep intact the wildness with thousands of bats living. Here archaeologists also found traces of the ancient Vietnamese with raw pottery, animal bones, turtle shell and breastplate.

Thien Ha is ideally a new destination for Vietnam tourism which not only is fascinating to Vietnamese tourists but also foreigners traveling to Vietnam.

Thien Ha Cave in the ancient capital – new destination of Vietnam tourism

Ta Chi Nhu – the Ocean in the cloud

With an altitude of 2,979 m, Ta’s peak in Tram Tau District (Yen Bai) have severe climate but is ideal for “cloud hunting” in the beautiful day.

Ta Chi Nhu is also known as Phu Song Sung in the language of the Thai ethnic group or Chung Chua in the Hmong ethnic group community and located in the massif of Pu Luong in Hoang Lien Son mountain range. Ta Chi Nhu is the sixth highest mountain in Vietnam and is like an ocean in the clouds which attract photo lovers and trekking takers come to discover.

Traveling from Hanoi to the top Ta Chi Nhu, we have to go through Nghia Lo, Tram Tau, and Xa Ho village. From the town center, we can only travel by car in 6-7 km, then we have to leave the car behind and start to climb with full of challenge. Comparing with Fansipan peak, Ta Chi Nhu is lower, but the rood to the peak is fairly much difficult.

There is only one trail to the summit which is steeply sometimes like walking on the edge. From the foothill, mist covers densely; so mountaineering teams have to follow each other slowly, going through a translucent white mist. Not to mention that wind will be stronger when we go up; sometimes, we have to slump down to avoid the wind as thrash in the face, whooshing in rushes of sound.

The path is steep and very long up to the top as if there is no stop on that, so it discourages people. But if we do not try to climb above 2,000 m to camp overnight, we will not be able to admire the most beautiful moments in the clouds at sunset and sunrise.

The tiredness and pant will follow us on every step; we do not know where to stop when two sides are very deep valleys. But just go out of the jungle, we will reach the bamboo forest. The green of the leaves, the yellow of stalk mixing with opaque fog hiding in the clouds will strengthen you on the way to conquer nature.

That is really a sea of ​​clouds when being at the top. On the way to the top of the mountain, you will see the carpets of green grass and trees halfway up the mountain with green leaves,

Ta Chi Nhu – the Ocean in the cloud

Explore the South

Away from the city noise and bustle, drive southward to enjoy the fresh air, the quiet that visitors will find more comfortable and fresh. Besides, down to the southwest, to the Ben Tre, you will see the coconut tree lines along the canal bank, listening to the sweet folk songs to feel gentle.

Itinerary: 

Saigon – My Tho (Mekong delta) – Saigon

Am: Pick up at the hotel around 8h00. Drive southward to Mekong delta. Upon arrival at My Tho pier, embark on a private boat for cruising along small creek to Mekong River estuary, to Con Phung (Phoenix Island) and stop over at a beautiful and delicious garden restaurant at a local house for Vietnamese lunch.

Pm: The motorized boat cruises along natural creeks and quiet village in Ben Tre Province. Visit orchards, bee – keeping farm, taste natural honey and honey tea, enjoy tropical fruit, traditional music, see round a distillery, explore the local coconut candy production process, taste candy & coconut pulp. In the afternoon, back to Saigon with stop over in VinhTrang pagoda for visiting. Arrive in Saigon at the end of the day. Tour ends

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Inclusion:

• Private boat trip in Mekong river


• Private and comfortable transportation during the whole trip


• All entrance fees


• English speaking guides. Other languages can be arranged upon request


• All meals as mentionned per program

Exclusion:

• Any unmentioned drinks


• Personal insurance


• Personal expenses 


• Vietnam visa (can be done with our Visa service)

Explore the South

A very tasteful Vietnamese speciality - Quang Noodles

Knowing about Vietnamese speciality – noodles sometimes can be extremely helpful, as “pho” in Hanoi and beef rice noodles in Hue and especially, popular Quang noodles in Quang Nam and Da Nang.

 Quang noodle soups are different with most other normal noodle soups in that the soups have just enough broth to barely cover the noodles. Unlike other Vietnamese noodle soup bowls whose broth will cover the noodles almost completely, Quang noodle broth is barely enough to slurp during the meal. If you do not eat a Quang noodle bowl fast enough, the broth will generally quickly be soaked up by the noodles. Quang noodle soups are generally pork and dried shrimp broth based, although some regional and family recipes will use chicken and even duck. What makes Quang noodle soups unique is the richness of the broth, the lack of it and the crushed peanut toppings on the noodles.

The mystery of Quang noodle is in that pot above. This is ‘nuoc sot mi quang’ or Quang noodle sauce. This makes the stock slightly sweet and a smidgen spicy. This dish’s ingredients include rice, vegetables and meat. After being soaked in water, the rice is ground to a fine powder and made into attractive smooth white noodles. Accompanying vegetables are water morning-glory, cress, young banana flowers and herbs. Especially, the famous Tra Que savory of Quang Nam Province will give the dish more flavour. You can use pork, chicken, fish, crab or shrimp to make the broth. If chicken is chosen, the meat is separated, seasoned and stir-fried while the bones are stewed. Finish the stock by adding cooked chicken meat.

There are many Quang noodle restaurants in Quang Nam and Da Nang. Each area is famous for one certain recipe. For example, Thanh Chiem Village in Dien Ban District, Quang Nam Province is known for shrimp noodle, while chicken noodle is at its best in Tuy Loan, Hoa Vang District, Da Nang City.

A traditional version says: “I make for you, darling, green tea and Quang noodles to express my feelings”. Thus, you can visit a Quang noodle kiosk in Danang City to enjoy the typical flavor of the soups, for instance: Ngan Quang Noodle at 108 Dong Da Street, Lu Quang Noodle at Ham Nghi Street, Vi Quang Noodle at 155 Trung Nu Vuong Street and so on.

A very tasteful Vietnamese speciality - Quang Noodles

Vietnamese speciality - Hue beef noodle (the typical culinary art of Hue)

In Hue city, the former citadel of Vietnam, it doesn’t take you a lot of money to dine like a King!

Hue beef noodle takes its origin from the Royal Hue City of Central Vietnam. The broth is from cooking beef bones for a long period of time as well as a variety of different spices including lemongrass.

Having a bowl of Hue beef noodle, it is easy to recognize that it is completely different from Pho since the former’s beef broth is much spicier.

Learning how to make a clear broth from bone and meat is quite a difficult task. After being selected from the market, the fresh beef will be shredded, boiled and taken out of the water to obtain a delicious clear broth. A typical version of Hue beef noodle must include pork, roast beef, pig’s blood, Vietnamese salami, Hue’s style salami, shrimp sauce and chopped lettuce.

The interesting thing is that, the amount of salt put in the beef noodle recipe varies between seasons. For example, during summer, Hue beef noodle soup is served with soy bean, mint and different kinds of lettuce while in the winter, the recipe is saltier added with lemongrass and fish.

The best Hue beef noodle comes from the street vendors who work from dawn to early morning. This hot dish represents just a few of the treasures of Hue’s traditional cuisine. Clam-rice and the flour pies like “beo” (streamed flour cupcakes), “nam” (wrapped shrimp pies) and “loc” (tapioca and shrimp pies), for examples, are part of the ancient capital’s culinary heritage.

Vietnamese speciality - Hue beef noodle (the typical culinary art of Hue)

“Cơm Việt” – a different taste

If you have ever tried “Cơm Việt” (Vietnamese boiled rice), you will find the difference from the boiled rice in other countries!

In an ordinary meal of Vietnamese people, together with a variety of different dishes, Com or plain boiled rice is an indispensable one, the most popular food at the main meals of the day (lunch and dinner).

Different cooking method makes “Cơm Việt” different!

In Vietnam, Com is made from different kinds of rice; typically fragrant rice is used, such as Tam Thom and Nang Huong. The main ingredients of Vietnamese boiled rice are commonly as follows:

      Vietnamese plain boiled rice

       – 1 cup of rice

                                                                                                       – 2 cups of boiling water

                                                                                                       – 1 teaspoon of salt

If you have chance to see how Vietnamese people make a good pot of boiled rice, you will notice that its process is not so difficult. Firstly, pick the rice over, taking out all the bits of brown husk; fill the outside of the double boiler with hot water, and put in the rice, salt and water, and cook forty minutes, but do not stir it. Then take off the cover from the boiler, and very gently, without stirring, turn over the rice with a fork; put the disk in the oven without the cover, and let it stand and dry for ten minutes. Then turn it from the boiler into a hot dish, and cover.

Other rice–made foods…

Beside the above-mentioned recipe of “Cơm Việt”, the Vietnamese people created many other rice-made foods, such as: rice ball, fried rice, rice gruel, steamed glutinous rice. Among them, making a rice ball (“Cơm nắm” in Vietnamese) is so interesting! “Cơm nắm” is a Vietnamese rice dish pressed into cylinder or sphere shape, which is sold in small alleys in Hanoi by vendors. This dish is very familiar with Vietnamese people. “Cơm nắm” has become a cheap but delicious rustic gift. When being fed up with nutritious food like vermicelli or “phở”, people often look for a frugal dish like “Cơm nắm” served with roasted sesame and ground nut.

Rice balls

Do you think it is easy to make a rice ball? A lot of people may say “Yes”, and you can obey the following simple process to make perfect a rice ball. To begin with, you boil the rice in a rice cooker. Please bear in mind that you have to make rice balls while the rice is hot or else it will not stick together. Next, you wet your hands and put a pinch of salt on your palms. Then, you put rice on your hand and wad up the rice and shape like cylinder or sphere. “Cơm nắm” is served with not o­nly sesame but also other things, such as stewed fish, simmered pork or salted shredded meat. However, salted roasted sesame (and ground nut) is still the first choice. The dish is so delicious that you surely would like to taste more than once… The rice is white clear, soft and used to be wrapped in a green banana leaf, which is so attractive. However, its cover is replaced with a plastic bag or paper. The salted sesame is roasted light brown and grated, which has an appealing fragrance. “Cơm nắm” is cut into slices and served with this sesame or/and ground nut. The sweetness of rice combining with the buttery taste of sesame is so unique that can not be found anywhere in the world.

Being in Vietnam, you are strongly recommended to give you the chance for enjoying “Cơm Việt” with dishes of pork, fish, shrimp and vegetable cooked in oil, as well as vegetables, pickles, etc. Enjoy your meal!

“Cơm Việt” – a different taste

Yen Tu Festival

A popular saying goes: “Even after 100 years of virtuous religious life, if you don’t come to Yen Tu you cannot be called a true religious person”. Pilgrimage to Yen Tu Festival in respect of Buddha and sightseeing is so meaningful…

Situated within the immense arched mountain range of north-eastern Vietnam, Yen Tu Mountain in northern coastal Quang Ninh province bears at its peak the Dong Pagoda: at an altitude of 1,068m above sea level. The beauty of Yen Tu consists in the majesty of its mountains mingling with the ancient and solemn quietness of its pagodas, shrines and towers. Yen Tu has been a centre of Buddhism for many centuries, and is the starting point of the Buddhist sect of Truc Lam. Travelers to Yen Tu Festival to stay away from the mundane and go on a religion pilgrimage in the midst of the mighty nature.

The history…

Under the Ly Dynasty, Yen Tu held the Phu Van Pagoda, with Yen Ky Sinh as its warden. But Yen Tu only really became a Buddhism center when Emperor Tran Nhan Tong surrendered his throne to establish a Buddhist sect called Thien Truc Lam and became the first progenitor with the religious name Dieu Ngu Giac Hoang Tran Nhan Tong (1258-1308). He ordered building hundreds of constructions, large and small on Yen Tu Mountain for leading a religious life, sermonizing. After his death, his successor, Phap Loa Dong Kien Cuong (1284 – 1330) the second progenitor of Thien Truc Lam, compiled a set of book “Thach that ngon ngu” and ordered the building of 800 pagodas, shrines and towers with thousands of value statues throughout 19 years of religious life. Some famous pagodas are Quynh Lam, Ho Thien. There is the third progenitor of Thien Truc Lam, Huyen Quang Ly Dao Tai (1254 – 1334), in the sermonizing centre of Phap Loa.

Passing through to the Le and Nguyen Dynasties, Yen Tu became the focal point of Vietnamese Buddhism, and was often subject to restorations. It is a meeting place of different styles from various historic periods: visible in the many different designs and decorations that ornate its constructions.

The mountain scenery and beautiful pagodas and hermitages, inspired King Tran Nhan Tong, who reigned over the country from 1279 to 1293, to pass the throne to his son to lead the life of a Buddhist monk at Yen Tu. There, he founded the Truc Lam medication sect, making Yen Tu the country’s leading Buddhist center.

The festivals

Yen Tu Festival commences annually on the 10th day of the first lunar month and lasts for three months. Tens of thousands of pilgrims begin their journey to the uppermost shrine after a solemn ritual held at the base of Yen Tu Mountain.

During the festival, the people near and far flock to Yen Tu which was regarded as the Buddhist land to show their belief and aspiration or to get rid of all sorrows and sadness. Other go to Yen Tu to do sightseeing and to enjoy the pure atmosphere of a mountain region. Foreign visitors come to Yen Tu to witness a famous beauty spot, a mysterious tourist attraction. Many cultural and historical values are carefully preserved in Yen Tu, where is also home to a rare ecosystem in Vietnam.

In the wide ensemble of vestiges in Yen Tu, there are 11 pagodas and hundreds of shrines and towers. One form of entertainment is to climb the peak to where the Dong Pagoda was built (1,068m above the sea). On the way, you will see pagodas, a tower, a stream and a forest. At the top, after having burned joss-sticks, you seem to be lost in nature somewhere between the sky and the earth. When clear, you can perceive almost all of the northeast area from here.

The route of the pilgrimage from the foot of the mountain to the pagoda is nearly 30 km. The highest point of Yen Tu is Dong Pagoda, which is located 1,068 m above sea level. You can get to Hoa Yen Pagoda at the altitude of 534m by the cable car system recently put into operation and will see on this peak two 700-year-old frangipane trees. From there, you will continue walking up stairs to pagodas of minor note lined up along the path leading to Dong Pagoda. There you will feel like walking on clouds. If the weather is agreeable, from this summit you can admire the dramatic landscape of the northeast of Vietnam.

The complex of historical sites and beauty spots in Yen Tu features various pagodas, shrines or stupas now appearing now disappearing under the thick foliage of the primary show their belief, or doing away with all sorrow and sadness. Others go to Yen Tu to do sightseeing and to enjoy the pure atmosphere of a mountain region. Foreign visitors come to Yen Tu to witness a famous beauty spot, a mysterious tourist attraction. Anyone who makes all the way to the Bronze Pagoda feels the magnificence of Yen Tu and forests. Atop Yen Tu Mountain, one feels like standing by the Heave Gate shrouded in white cloud. On clear days one can have a partial view of the northeastern region…

Yen Tu Festival

The ancient Duong Lam village

The ancient Duong Lam village attracts visitors by the ancient houses and cultural space of an old Vietnamese village which has everlasting life over the time. Through its ups and downs, Duong Lam has kept a picture of Vietnam ancient village with the village gate, banyan trees, wells, lotus pond. Pass the ancient gates which is located under the a giant banyan tree over 300 years old are the alleys, roads, roofs, laterite  walls, and ancient architecture in a space of community with a bold identity of an agricultural village and are the mark of a rice civilization.

Duong Lam village consists of 5 hamlets: Mong Phu, Cam Thinh, Dong Sang, Doai Giap and Cam Lam lying together under the bottom of Ba Vi Mountain, next to the major rivers such as Day, Da, Red and Tich River. In particularly, Mong Phu has the most ancient village’s gate which was built in 1833. The significance in the village is Mong Phu temple built in 1684 under the reign of King Le Hien Tong, on a vacant land in the center of hill which is in the center of village. There are two old wells in two sides of the temple which are believed as two eyes of dragon. The fence around was built by the honeycomb stone, making a quaint beauty and quiet for the temple.

Mong Phu villagers said that “The lateritic stones have appeared since their ancestors and this type of stone is dug up from underground. Whenever the stone is dug up, it is really hard because its diameter is typically about 15-40 cm “. Time makes the stone become firmer and more rigid… as well as the Duong Lam villagers are more trust in their place through idyllic life.

The Duong Lam villagers are very conscious of the value of the village. They aware of the charm of the ancient houses attracting tourists who want to look for the beauty of the past.

The ancient Duong Lam village

Nha nhac (the Royal Refined Music) of Hue

On 7th, November 2003, the Royal Refined Vietnam has ever Music was proclaimed by UNESCO as a Masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity, the first title of this kind received

 The UNESCO Council appraised Vietnamese royal music in the following terms: “Vietnamese royal music represents an elegant and refined music. It deals with the music performed in the imperial courts and on different anniversaries, religious festivals, and on such particular occasions. Of the different categories developed in Vietnam, only the royal music was national.

The Royal Refined Music was first introduced in the 13th century, but only reached its peak under the Nguyen Dynasty. The Royal Refined Music had long enjoyed a preference as an official form of royal music. It was recognized as the symbol of a powerful and long-lasting monarchy and as an indispensable part of all ceremonies. Every year, the Royal Refined Music was played in nearly 100 different ceremonies.

Varied in its themes, the Royal Refined Music is considered a means of communication to express the respect to gods and kings.

Compared to other forms of art, the Royal Refined Music boasted high artistic value, first and foremost because the court had enough political power and finance to bring together talented composers and players from around the country. Given favorable conditions to practice and improve performance skills, they became professional artists in composing and performance.

After being recognized as a Masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity, the Royal Refined Music performances was held in France and Belgium, etc. and was highly valued by the audience and art-culture researchers.

Royal refined music and royal meal are two highlights in Hue that visitors should experience to get a full view at how the royal life was under Nguyen dynasty. It is said that King Tu Duc who reigned from 1848 to 1883 lived a life of truly imperial luxury: at every meal, 50 chefs had to prepare 50 dishes served by 50 servants and 50 artists to play music and dance. Then, Royal meal became a kind of special talk (story) in cultural life of Vietnam.

Nha nhac (the Royal Refined Music) of Hue

The Cultural Space of Gong in the Central Highlands

The fame of Central Highlands “Gong” culture has crossed national borders to become a property of all human beings.

Specific values of the cultural space of the Central Highlands “Gong” which is a part of Vietnam’s cultural heritage and quintessence has been recognized by the international community.

On 25th November 2005, the UNESCO decided to recognize “The cultural space of “Gong” in the Central Highlands” of Vietnam as “Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity”.

Caption

Throughout the Central Highlands of Viet Nam, “Gong” ensembles are parts of various ceremonies and closely linked to the communities’ daily life and the cycle of the seasons. The instruments, measuring 25 to 80 centimeters, are played by men as well as women.

The culture space of the “Gong” of central Vietnam is about original musical forms, which are performed against the background of the linguistic and ethnic diversity of the region. Diversity is also found in the compositions and customs of the Gong ensembles, in their performance techniques, in the musical genres and in the ritual functions of the gongs.

In the realm of Vietnam’s musical instruments, the “Gong” is very well-known for their outstanding value and regarded as the privileged language bridging humanity and the supernatural world. The “Gong” is made from a mixture of bronze and silver, with some distinctive features. The peoples living in the Central Highlands of Viet Nam possess many sets of “Gongs”, which would be performed differently. A set of “Gongs” consists of two to twenty units.

Culture Value

The most outstanding value of “Gong” culture presents masterpieces of human creativity. The masters of “Gong” culture are the ethnic people of the Central Highlands. Although they can not cast “Gongs” themselves, they raise the value of a product into an excellent musical instrument with their sensitive ears and musical soul. In the hands of talented folk artists, each “Gong” plays the role of a musical note in an orchestra to perform different pieces of gong music.

 As for ethnic minorities in the Central Highlands, “Gong” and “Gong” culture present a means to affirm the community and its cultural identities. As time passes, “Gongs” have become an attractive and appealing symbol of the culture of the Central Highlands. It is an activity associated with cultural and spiritual life, and beliefs of ethnic people when they are born, grown up and return to the soil.

Customs

The Central Highlands “Gong” comes from long-standing historical and cultural traditions. In the past, community of people in the Central Highlands knew how to play the “Gong”. Its sound is either deep or strong, moving and combining with the sounds of streams, wind and the hearts of people so that it can live with the heaven, the earth and people in the Central Highlands.

 However, different ethnic minority groups arrange different orchestras. Listening to the sound of the “Gong”, people in the Central Highland can know which ethnic group is playing.

“Gong” players in the majority of ethnic groups in the Central Highlands are male. Only in a minority of ethnic groups in the region, “Gong” players are female.

Visual description of the picture  

It is a bright sunny day and a group of seven men are outside playing brown tambourines. Only five of the seven men are clearly visible. Their bodies describe a semi-circle facing the left of the picture. They all wear calm expressions. Each man holds the tambourine in his right hand, hitting it with a short thick piece of wood held in the left. The tambourines all have white characters written on them. All the men are wearing the same costume: a dark-blue long-sleeved shirt with multicolored cuffs and a red square piece of material with golden buttons down the front. Some of the men wear caps; the first man from left to right wears a yellow cap, the second from right wears a blue cap. In the background we can see a forest with blue sky just visible through the dense foliage of the trees. Smoke is spiraling upwards from the dirt floor. On the far left of the frame we can see the entrance to a hut.

 The Central Highlands’ gongs, together with the epics, the treasure of folklore, folk sculpture and folk knowledge, constitute the unique cultural heritage that have attached to the life of the highlanders for over thousand years.

The Cultural Space of Gong in the Central Highlands

Thung Nai – “Ha Long bay on land”

With the perfect combination of mountains, islands and tranquil lakes; Thung Nai brings poetic beauty and relaxed moments.

Thung Nai currently is familiar destination for peace lover every to avoid noise, dust and smoke. Being a commune in Cao Phong district, Hoa Binh province, Thung Nai Lake is located in the Da River about 25 km away from the city center and about 110k from Ha Noi.

Thung Nai hiding out in the Da river

Thung Nai name makes people think of a valley with deer wandering and grazing. According to the locals, this place was formerly inhabited by many species of deer. The romantic image of the golden deer bewildering in the late afternoon sunshine on the slopes and reflecting into the river was used to name this land.

Today, Thung Nai no longer does have any deer, but the poetic beauty, the romantic mountain and river seems to be completely untouched.  It is only possible to discover the “golden deer valley” by boats or on foot. Leave your car on the bank, the boats will take visitors around the hydropower dam.

In the windswept blowing from the lake, the scenery of Thung Nai is very picturesque. A large lake is surrounded by rolling mountains. In the lake, hundreds small and large “islands” are undulating as a wonderful natural masterpiece. Floating on the water, the boat dodging through the jutting rocks makes you feel you are enjoying the “Ha Long Bay on land”.

Many rocky islands in the lake

As the perfect combination of lake, river and rocks, the Bo waterfall is a destination which cannot be missed when visiting Thung Nai. Cave is located deep inside the mountains and pretty wild, but the scenery is beautiful. After the rising water season, visitors can enjoy the swimming fishes in the shallow and clear waters.

Near the cave is the Thac Bo Goddess. Although the temple is small and located on a steep mountain cliff, this place attracts many visitors to worship. For many people, stopping at the temple is the opportunity to enjoy the beauty of Thung Nai from the high view with bobbing white clouds, looming out the ethnic villages.

Another interesting thing here is that when Da river subsides, visitors have to climb up to the steeply upside down stone steps, is sometimes discourage. However, in the floating season, the water covers steps, visiting the temple tourists only need to step down from the boat. If visit on Sunday, do not forget to visit the Thac Bo floating market which is not too crowded and noisy but very typical culture of Muong in Thung Nai.

The windmill standing on a small island attracts anyone’s gaze. It’s like an invitation to stay at the lake house. Therefore, when tourists either travel in the daytime or stay overnight, the majority of tourists will want to visit the small island to see the windmills which only seems to be in the Netherlands, or in the novel “Don Quixote– a famous and talented nobleman in Manta”.

Windmill widely seen as a symbol of Thung Nai

Not only does windmills have a strange figure but owns stunning scenery.  If visiting the windmill in the early morning, you will see Thung Nai immersing in the fog, when the sun rises, the lake becomes blue and lights up sparkling yellow.


Thung Nai – “Ha Long bay on land”