Tam Dao tourism

Tam Dao, a tourist area in Tam Dao Mountain running on a 50 km sketch in direction of North West- South East, is located in the boundaries of three provinces Bac Thai, Vinh Phuc and Tuyen Quang. Its highest peak is 1,592m, Tam Dao Town  is located 75 km far from Hanoi, on the North West easily accessible by all means of transport.

     The Tam Dao mountainous range is easily recognized with its 3 peaks: Thien Thi, Thach Ban and Phu Nghia which look like 3 islands standing out of a cloudy mass. Tam Dao tourist area is located at altitude 879m with majestic mountainous scenery, in a round valley, 64ha large including a 40ha potential tourist area (where there is a 5 storied hotel, and many 3 storied guest houses), an one-storied wooden boarding houses built on where French villas used to be, surrounded by mountainous range, meet the holiday resort demand and the scientific workshop accommodations for thousands of attendants.

eside the mountain peaks, 9- 10km for from Silvery Water fall (as the crow flies), there is a 100ha area which look like as small highland at altitude 1,000m. Extension of the resort in Tam Dao II here can be made triple or quadruple. Tam Dao is endowed with moderate climate all the year around, with average annual temperate only between 21oC -23oC. This is an ideal resort for the whole region. Tam Dao is one of the centre of greatest precipitation in North Viet Nam amounting to up to 2,630mm per year. That is why, all the flora here is luxuriant, the water stream, supplied with abundant water and with great potential of water reserves even for the surrounding areas.

Tam Dao National Park

     Tam Dao National Park has an area 36,883ha; including more than 23,000ha of forests, running along 80 km stretch of land toward North West-South East direction.

     Tam Dao National Park is covered by rich flora consisting of 490 species, the high classes belonging to 344 genera and 130 families. Forests abound with rare and valuable flora such as: Sam Bong, Pomu, Kim giao, lat hoa, lim xanh, do quyen, sen mat, thong tre.

     Tam Dao National Park is also the habitat of diversed fauna with 281 species, 80 families and 26 orders belonging to 4 main classes: animals, birds, reptiles and amphibious ones, including many rare and valuable species which are high commercial value and at the same time of important scientific research significance: white-cheeked black monkey, Tam Dao snake-headed fish, silver pheasant, wood grouses etc..

     Tam Dao National Park is a scientific center for forest ecological research on rare and valuable flora and fauna, on gene protection and on water source regulation etc… Tam Dao National Park is ready to welcome international scientists, local and foreign partners who wish to enter into research/development joint ventures. National Park is really a promising area to businessmen and scientists.

The tomb of the rulers are located in Hue

The tomb of the rulers are located in Hue

During the era of 1802-1945, Vietnam was ruled by the Nguyen Dynasty. This was Vietnam's last ruling Royal family. There were in all 13 kings in different times. As a mark of tradition the rulers built tombs of their own name around the palace. These tombs are famously known as the Royal Tombs of Hue. Though there were 13 rulers but only seven tombs are found in the site. Due to various only seven of the rulers had tombs built after their name. These tombs form the architectural wonder of Hue and definitely a reason to visit the place.

The seven imperial tombs of Hue are built on a hilly region on the southwestern front of the Citadel, another famous monument of Hue. The kings having their presence in the form of the tombs are Gia Long, Minh Mang, Thieu Tri, Tu Duc, Duc Duc, Dong Khanh and Khai Dinh. These tombs were constructed during their respective reigns and were named after them too. These were very aesthetically built monuments showcasing the taste of the respective rulers.

The tombs showcase the statute of the kings and are built in a way which perfectly synchronizes with the harmony that strings all the monuments in the same tune. The array of tombs presents a picture perfect of poetic setting in the lap of nature. The components which were incorporated in every of the constructions were: : walls, triple gate (Tam Quan Gate), Salutation Court, Stele House, temples, lakes and ponds, pavilions, gardens, and finally the tomb.

In the year 1957, the Royal Tombs of Hue were enlisted as World's Wonders. Unfortunately most of the artifacts are now stolen by the French and the crooks. It is really unfortunate for Hue for losing one of its wonders. Still today Hue has retained its glory and has been regarded as "a masterpiece of urban poetry" by Mr. Amadou-Mahtar-M'Bow, the Director General of UNESCO in 1991.

Some of the tombs of the rulers are:
Minh Mang

It took ten thousand soldiers and artisans to complete this tomb consisting 40 different monuments of various sizes and shapes.
Tu Duc

The romantic ruler left the impression of his romance on the architectural wonder. The monument was built as a fairyland with extreme poetic traits. Almost every poetic element seems to be embedded in this tomb.
Khai Dinh

This tomb is characterized by the brilliant interiors of colored glass and ceramic chips. The oriental designs are created to give the tombs a distinct look that makes it stand out among the similar looking tombs.

The Pu Mat National Park - Nghe An Province

The Pu Mat National Park

The Pu Mat National Park is located in the southwest of Nghe An Province, about 130 km from Vinh City. Recently, plans have been made to turn this park into one of the province’s five main tourism areas. The other four comprise of Cua Lo Beach, Nam Dan, Quy Chau - Que Phong and Vinh City.
The park, formerly known as Pu Mat National Reserve, covers three districts - Anh Son, Con Cuong and Tuong Duong – with an area of over 91,000 hectares.
Pu Mat, home to diverse flora and fauna, has 896 flora species, 241 mammal species, 137 bird species, 25 reptiles and 15 amphibians. Many scientists also see Pu Mat as Vietnam’s great museum of animal gene pool.
Significantly, Pu Mat is one of Vietnam’s rare forests such as Quang Nam, Danang, Ha Tinh and Thua Thien-Hue where Sao la (long-horned bovid or scientific name Pseudoryx nghetinhensis) can be found. Sao la is one of the animals facing extinction, according to the World Conservation Union’s Red List of Endangered Species. A mature Sao la can weight up to 100 kg and groups of scientists, natural reserve managers and foreign experts are discussing ways to protect the animal.

Waterfall

Together with many unique animals, the primitive forest also has many beautiful landscapes. Among the favourite destinations are the 150-metre Kem Waterfall, Giang River and ethnic minority villages in the forest such as Thai, Tho, Dan Lai and H’Mong.
As such, Nghe An Service of Tourism is hoping to promote the park as the best ecological tourist destination in central Vietnam. The province will be preserved and the forest and surrounding areas developed to attract visitors, who come to Pu Mat for research or to experience adventure tours.
So far, the trekking tours, where travellers have an opportunity to explore the jungle and unique villages, are among the top choices for visitors of Pu Mat. These tours also allow visitors to speak to ethnic minorities and learn about their arts and culture, visit villages making brocades or tho cam and enjoy special food such as com lam (rice in bamboo cylinders).
Currently, Pu Mat welcomes over one thousand guests a year. Late last year, the provincial tourism service organised a familiarisation trip for photographers, guiding them to Dan Lai village, Kem Waterfall and rowing on the Giang River, so they can take beautiful photos of Pu Mat to promote to tourists.

Hue Imperial Citadel

Hue Imperial Citadel Information

The Imperial Citadel in Hue is a walled
fortress and palace in the former capital of
Vietnam.

The Imperial Citaldel in Hue is a walled fortress and palace in the former capital of Vietnam. The former imperial seat of government and Hue’s prime attraction, this is a great sprawling complex of temples, pavilions, moats, walls, gates, shops, museums and galleries, featuring art and costumes from various periods of Vietnamese history. Thanks to its size, it is also delightfully peaceful – a rare commodity in Vietnam. The citadel was badly knocked about during fighting between the French and the Viet Minh in 1947, and again in 1968 during the Tet Offensive, when it was shelled by the Viet Cong and then bombed by the Americans. As a result, some areas are now only empty fields, bits of walls, and an explanatory plaque. Other buildings are intact, though, and a few are in sparkling condition. For the rest, while restoration has been going on for 20 years, there is still quite a long way to go. Allow several hours to see it properly. Entry 55,000 dong open 06:30-17:00.

Dong Xuan Market in Hanoi

The renowned Dong Xuan Market in Hanoi has became a popular place and a busy trade center that attracted buyers from many other places ...

Front of the Dong Xuan Market

Dong Xuan Market, or Cho Dong Xuan, is the oldest and largest market in Hanoi. It is located at Dong Xuan Street, at the end of Hang Dao Street, on the northern part of the Old Quarters. The original building was constructed in 1889, on the site of one of Hanoi's lakes. It is a street market spreading over a surface of 600 square meters, occupying half of the street. Approximately fifty businesses are operating the forty stands selling food, artifacts, souvenirs and tour packages among others.

If you want to shop and at the same time peeping into the corridors of history, then Dong Xuan Market in Hanoi is the place for you. This large multi- storied market sells anything and everything. From fresh foods to home appliances, you will have it all here. But, what is more fascinating about this market is its historical significance which you still can experience if you visit this place. It witnessed fierce battle between the Vietnamese resistance units and the French. Dong Xuan Market is also a historical place where there was a combat of soldiers of “Quyết tử quân” (“Deciding to die”) against the French attack to the heroic zone I, in February 1947. Being the biggest market and locating in the downtown, Dong Xuan Market is a crowded and bustling exchanging, tracsaction, business place of the capital.

It was built in 1889, in the basis of combination and removal of two markets, Cau Dong and Bach Ma on the shore of To River. It was positioned in area of Dong Xuan Ward with 5 vault-like roofs, steel frames; each frame is 52m long, 19m high supplying area for hundreds of goods.

Typical characteristics

Unlike other Hanoi night markets selling agricultural products in Long Bien and Quang Ba, Dong Xuan Market has been mainly created for tourists. With its eleven stalls, the brightly-lit food zone is the most animated, serving late night guests until early morning. There are numerous kinds of goods and products selling in the market. The crowded and dense situation of Dong Xuan Market was highly praised in many old folk song of Hanoi. This large three-story market to the north of Hanoi's Old Quarter offers a varied cornucopia of goods of all sorts. Hundreds of stalls, with thousands of workers, trade extremely fresh produce, dried foods, household goods, appliances and more. The market has an interesting history. It saw fierce fighting between Vietnamese resistance units and the French. Later, in 1994, the market was destroyed in a fire that resulted in the death of five people and the loss of an estimated USD4.5 million in stock.

River networks formed the economic hub of Hanoi by providing a system of waterways which fed the city and markets. Located at the confluence of the To Lich and Red Rivers, the Dong Xuan Market was once one of the busiest urban areas in Southeast Asia.
Ylang-ylang Garden in Dong Xuan Market

You might have your curiosity and appetite titillated as you try to choose from a wide selection of exotic Hanoi dishes: fried frog or fish meat pastes, rice and duck meat soup, fried rice, tiet canh (duck blood uncooked, only if you have a brave heart and strong stomach!), rice vermicelli and beef cooked in the south Vietnamese style and even just beefsteak and bread. Here you can find real Hanoi food, as favored by true-blue Hanoians. The dishes might cost a little more than elsewhere but, you have to taste it to believe it, they are truly delicious, such as a steamy hot dish of pho cuon  (beef wrapped in long wispy strips of rice vermicelli, served with aromatic herbs and spicy sweet-sour fish sauce).

In artifact shops on Dong Xuan Street you will find traditional Dong Ho drawings, Bat Trang ceramics. Binh Da embroideries and laces, and sand paintings, the new craze of Hanoi’s young people. For a modest sum, you can choose one of those ‘raw’ pictures with different designs and patterns.

Long time ago

The trend...

Like other markets such as Sapa’s Cho Tinh, Nam Dinh’s Cho Vieng, Lang Son’s Cho Ky Lua and Can Tho’s Cho Tay Do, Dong Xuan Market has been set up to meet the needs of locals and tourists. With the advantage of having long history of culture, traditions and being located in the community of ancient quarter of Hanoi, Dong Xuan Market is one of attractive tourist destinations of the capital and is the only one of Hanoi’ s many efforts to develop tourism and attract international visitors.

To advertise the image of Dong Xuan Market, creating favorable conditions for citizens to sell and buy products (consumer products and handicrafts), Dong Xuan JSC is now organizing to exploit tours at the market. Currently, Dong Xuan travel is now establishing tours to exploit potentials of tourism of the market to develop the tourism of culture, research for development of tourist products. From 2010 on wards, the company will build up Dong Xuan Market to archive the standards of tourist destination of the city; research development of services and accommodations of visitors.

How to get to Dong Xuan Market

From the north bank of the Ho Hoan Kiem, take Hang Dao Street. Along the way, it changes name to Hang Ngang Steet and then Hang Duong Street. Eventually it becomes Dong Xuan Street. You will see Dong Xuan Market on the right side of the road. The distance is about 400 meters.

Introducing Vung Tau

Vung Tau and Big Mountain as seen from Small Mountain

"Front Beach"

Vung Tau drones with bass-thumping action on the weekends as visitors from HCMC motor into town; weekdays, however, are blissfully dead. Vung Tau’s beaches are easily reached from HCMC, making them a favourite of that city’s residents since French colonists first began coming here around 1890.

The beaches here aren’t Vietnam’s best, nor is the water pristine due to pollution from oil-drilling, but Vung Tau is an easy, fast beach foray out of HCMC. Beachgoers looking for a tropical-holiday feel might do better making the three-hour trip to beautiful Mui Ne Beach.Known under the French as Cap St Jacques – so-named by Portuguese mariners in honour of their patron saint – Vung Tau is a commercialised beach resort on a peninsula jutting into the South China Sea, about 128km southeast of HCMC (via Bien Hoa). The business of oil-drilling here means the azure horizon is marred by frequent oil tankers, and the population flecked with joy-seeking expats.

Can Tho tourism

Known for the unique ancient architecture, along with many floating markets on river, Can Tho seems like small city but it makes foreigners who come here full of eager, interesting local culture, and delicious dishes typical of Southern people.

Morning on the river in Can Tho

On Friday, Tho as a combination of a series of cafes with colorful eye-catching. Try into Roma Coffee shop located on Nguyen Viet Hong, Can Tho, you will see a strange feel to the décor, like the Roman era.

If you do not want, you can go to "Le Club 8" look so beautyful from outside. Inside, the ceiling is painted blue which has many clouds and fake windows and candles bring a sense of of space, airy.

Tho not far from Cambodia, many ethnic Khmer have come here to build their families. So that Tho has a lots temple Khmer such as the church Munirangsyaram on the town of Hoa Binh, Quang Duc Buddhist temple on Quang Duc street. The temple monk Quang Duc very hospitality, They are ready to take you visit the temple. These are interesting places for tourists who are familiar with the artifacts in the ancient temples of Angkor, Cambodia.

A cake in Can Tho

At dinner, you can try the grilled squid, grilled shrimp in a restaurant near Quang Duc Pagoda. In here, you can also eat other things such as beef skewer grilled or sea food.

On Saturday. You should get up early to visit the Cai Rang floating market, and you will have to be on the river at 6am to see the activities going on in the market. You can buy some fruit or something else from the store on local's  boat.

A Fair in Can Tho

Cat Tien National Park

Cat Tien National Park

One of the outstanding gems of the region, the 72, 000-hectare Cat Tien National Park (Ticket price: adult/child 50,000vnd /20,000vndd; Time: 7am-10pm) comprises an amazingly biodiverse region of lowland tropical rain forest. The hiking, mountain biking and bird-watching are easily the best in Southern Vietnam. Always call ahead for reservations as the park can accommodate only a limited number of visitors.

Fauna in the park include 326 bird species, 100 types of mammal, 79 types of reptile, 41amphibian species, plus an incredible array of insects, including 400-odd species of butterfly. Many of these creatures are listed as rare and endangered, including the Javan rhinoceros. Considered one of the rarest mammals in the world, this unusual rhino exists only in Cat Tien (there are believed to be seven or eight living in the park) and on the island of Java, in Indonesia. Leopards are also believed to live in the park, while another unique creature found here is a type of wild ox called a gaur. Rare birds in the park include the orange-necked partridge, green peafowl and Siamese fireback. There is also a healthy population of monkeys. Leeches are a less desirable member of the local fauna so come prepared, especially during the wet season.In the 2nd century AD the Cat Tien area was a religious centre of the Funan empire, and ancient Oc-Eo cultural relics have been discovered in the park. Cat Tien was hit hard by defoliants during the American War, but the large old-growth trees survived and the smaller plants have recovered. Just as importantly, the wildlife has made a comeback and in 2001 Unesco added Cat Tien National Park to its list of biosphere reserves. Since then, infrastructure has improved markedly with decent overnight options. It’s worth spending at least two full days here, if possible.

Elephants roam the park, but their presence has caused some controversy. In the early 1990s a herd of 10 hungry elephants fell into a bomb crater, created during the American War, just outside of Cat Tien. Local villagers took pity on the elephants and dug out a ramp to rescue them. Tragically, since then 28 villagers have been killed by rampaging elephants. Theoretically, the problem could have been ‘solved’ by shooting the elephants, but the Vietnamese government wasn’t willing to risk the wrath of international environmental groups. However, none of these organisations has come up with the funds for relocating the elephants, some of which were finally removed to zoos. In the longer term such conflicts are likely to be repeated because of the increasing competition between Vietnam’s wildlife and its growing population for the same living space.

Cat Tien also boasts a wide range of evergreen, semideciduous and bamboo forests; some 1800 species of plants thrive in the park.

Cat Tien National Park can be explored on foot, by mountain bike, by 4WD and also by boat along the Dong Nai River. There are many well-established hiking trails in the park, though the catch is you’ll need to hire a guide (per half-/full day 60, 000/120, 000d), as well as transportation to and from the start of the trail (4WDs can also be rented for 120, 000d per hour). Unfortunately, guides don’t speak much English.

Highly recommended is an overnight visit to the Crocodile Swamp (Bau Sau), which is a 9km drive from the park headquarters and you have to trek the last 4km to the swamp; the walk takes about three hours return. It may be possible for smaller groups (four or less) to spend the night at the ranger’s post here. It’s a good place to view the wildlife that comes to drink in the swamp. Another evening activity is the night safari (160, 000d) that the park offers. Wherever you decide to go, be sure to book a guide in advance and take plenty of insect repellent.

The park lies 150km northeast of HCMC and 40km south of Buon Ma Thuot and straddles the border of three provinces – Lam Dong, Dong Nai and Binh Phuoc.

Rose garden in Sapa

Situated at an altitude of nearly 2,000 m, from the center about 10 minutes walk, in this position you can observed from every side and realize the majestic mountains at the northern end of Vietnam.
Far away, the terraced fields are curved with circular spiral steadily endless spread a large area that looks extremely interesting and beautiful. Left side, Ho village like a mirror of the sun, dark red and fanciful.

Situated at an altitude of nearly 2,000 m, about 10 minutes walk from the center, in this position, you can see from all sides and recognize the majestic mountains at the northern end of Vietnam.
Distance, the terraced fields are curved with circular spiral steadily endless spread a large area that looks extremely interesting and beautiful. Left side, Ho village as a mirror of the sun, dark red color and fanciful.

The town is covered by fog

House of Hoa people with stone floor roof combined with seductive red roses originating from distant France make tourists really surprised nhien.Do is Rose Garden, located in the beautiful valley with a sexy name : Muong Hoa (Hoa village).

Hoa Village

Located in the resort of Sa Pa, was created by two rows of Ham Rong Mountain and Fansipan, resorts are known as the "Rose Valley" is becoming a popular tourist destination in and outside nuoc.Voi area about 22 ha, ecotourism is designed with nearly million stem roses, peach, plum, pink almond brittle Taiwanese American ...

In the resort, guests will enjoy the scent of blooming roses in the morning. Along the winding paved road,roses blooming vigorous make all the roads become very interesting.

"Rose Valley"

All in all, if you're in Vietnam,it would be a good idea to visit Sapa


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