Tips on traveling to Vietnam

Authentic and unforgettable
Vietnam is no longer only rice fields, mines and anti-exotic foods.

Bustling, happy and proud to show its charms. Vietnam is one of the few remaining communist countries in the world, it takes a few years to open tourism, so we're anxious to show its wonders. Here tourism is not yet massive and still remain almost untouched corners, although the construction of luxury resorts on the beaches is growing at dizzying speeds.

Vietnam is no longer only rice fields, mines and anti-exotic foods. So is the boat trips on the landscape, almost unreal, of Halong Bay, long beaches of turquoise water of its nearly 3,500 km of coastline or the colorful tribes of the northern mountains. Of course, the war continues to weigh on his mind. But rather than look back with bitterness, the Vietnamese have managed to exploit that war and have become tourist attractions of the Vietcong tunnels, or places where they fought the bloodiest battles.

In a single trip can travel around the country and visit the most interesting places. Although it is a country full in length, has few kilometers wide, and you can travel comfortably by train or bus. Vietnam will learn about the two: the south, wet, floating villages of fishermen and business, and the north, cultural, artistic, with stories of great kingdoms and remote enclaves.

Ho Chi Minh, the show begins

International flights often land in Ho Chi Minh city where is the commercial and business heart of the country. Like most Asian cities, the noisy traffic and pollution are the worst, although large areas of parks and boulevards relieve the strain. Here is the Vietnamese tradition blends with modern life: sellers of crickets and put soup on the street next to Internet cafes, ciclotaxis and women wearing the shoulder with the typical seesaw baskets, along with terraces cafes and distinctly French influence.

The best way to get around is by bike (motorcycle riders will be offered to take: 2 dollars per journey or 5 dollars per hour), or ciclotaxi (3 dollars per hour). Although the buses are air conditioned and have exceptional (VND 3.5 ).

The most interesting is concentrated in District 1 or Saigon. Here are the cathedral of Notre Dame and the City, and most luxurious hotels, such as the Continental Rex and the historic. In the latter was filmed much of The Quiet American, based on the novel by Graham Greene. Also here you will find silk shops, souvenirs or electronic objects. Try one of the great ice cream Bo Gio Café (Nghiep street).

To make purchases, the market is the most popular Ben Thanh, south of downtown, but when they tour will have to bargain hard. You'll find crafts in wood and silk dresses. Behind the market, savor the typical food of Hue, in Nam Giao (dishes by VND 3).

In the area of Pham Ngu Lao, the accommodations are more affordable. Its restaurants and bars have until dawn atmosphere. In the Saigon Café can enjoy Vietnamese dishes, a kind of pancakes that it fills a pig and prawns.

There are several interesting temples and pagodas. Of the Giac Lam, west, is the oldest of the city (seventeenth century), with the same ornamentation since 1900.

On the Mekong delta

Since the Ho Chi Minh City are one step away from the long chain of rivers and canals that form the giant Mekong River delta, south of the country. The water has resulted in a unique way of life, in which everything takes place on its surface: wash, sailing, fishing ... On a day trip can visit any of the floating villages closest to Ho Chi Minh, as My Tho or Vinh Long. Although if you want to go deeper into the Delta city of Can Tho is located about four and a half hours by bus VND 15). It is worthwhile to spend the night in the village, because when they are most active markets is 6 to 9 pm .Hire a rowing boat is worth about $ 2 an hour.

Sapa and the triangle of opium

Sapa is the place where the Himalaya mountain range is slowly hiding between vertical rice terraces and bamboo trees. Fantastic green valleys covered in rice, split by rivers and waterfalls and inhabited by ethnic minorities, such as Hmong, the Dzao and Thai, which despite the time and in spite also of the flocks of tourists, still live as they have done for generations, wearing their colorful costumes and working the land that was born.

The first day we went to visit inside the valley. This is a village called Cat Bai inhabited by one of the ethnic minorities I have mentioned above. Along with some English that I met on the path we followed the path and entered into the valley. When we came here, the children were frightened and hid to see us. I walked along and tried to take as many photographs as possible. The British stopped to eat and I followed the path through the valley that I took away from the spectacular planting of rice.

The road then seemed to get lost among the weeds and here the real trek began. I knew the proximity of a road bordering the valley and follow my instincts. I started to climb a river between a thick jungle that I leave the clothes which over the dark skin of a native of the area.

After half an hour of following the upward course of the river came to a spectacular waterfalls of more than 40 meter drop that was more or less left to climb. Upon reaching the top, the sound of a motorbike. I was already tired of the noise of jet throughout Vietnam but this time I was able to return to glory hear that buzz! A couple of more jumps between the weeds and I was able to reach the road and stepping on firm ground. Just at that moment passed and I watched four Vietnamese side with rare, they also noted the hole in the thick vegetation that came and I returned to face with a look of "these tourists are like a goat!"

The local people, they invited a cigarette and holding them with my return to civilization! Tom had come to Tram Pass, a neck between valleys to 2000 meters and 16 km of road from Sapa where appropriate. The view of both valleys with the Fansipan to my side of 3143 meters were wonderful. I returned quietly by the road stomping ground and went back to find me after a while with the British and a group of Belgians who had shown them a way short and not so bumpy. Back to the people, a shower and went out to dinner and just all in a Vietnamese karaoke drinking rice wine (a kind of spirit) to the many.

On the second day we took it more quietly through the gardens of Ham Rong, a few mountains north of Sapa where he lived with another ethnic tribe in the area.

Today, final day in Sapa, rent a bike and gave us a tour of this spectacular valley covered with nearly vertical rice terraces and waterfalls that are covering the road from natural pools. And finally we were able to recognize the clothes you were Hmong and the Dzao another.

For now it seems that tourism and tradition are still in a positive balance. The village has been enriched in 10 years to move from absolute oblivion to receive flocks of tourists with dollars in hand. For now, and perhaps thanks to communism, tourists staying in Sapa where the Indians traded on the markets and take advantage of something that neither expecting nor can they stop because they are those who handle other threads and tickets fat. The salts that few kilometers from Sapa, the reality is different: it is like to escape in time, the backpackers and immerse yourself in the real world where these tribes have inhabited for thousands of years, with their oxen, their goats, their bamboos , Their opium plantations and rice and are grateful to the government unless we put a little difficult for tourists.

Tomorrow we cross the border at Lao Cai and we are living in China, where the Himalayas will grow gradually to reach Nepal and communication will be even more complicated than in Vietnam. But in the end, the culture shock is where the adventure, and that China, here I come!

Halo from the past

If you have a chance to visit Hoi An ancient town, one of World Heritage you will hear the call of history through what still have remained here for many years.

I am a person having a great love with history and heritages, therefore I was here for 2 weeks, it was not too long but enough for me to explore and understand something about this area. During the time I was here, sometime when I walked along the streets I found out that there were more foreigners than local people, which proved that Hoi An owns a magic attraction and it is worthwhile being one of the most beautiful destinations in Vietnam.

The thing that I love most here is the great atmosphere. Unlike modern and noisy cities like Ha Noi or Ho Chi Minh cities, Hoi An is very quite and peaceful. It is a great place for you to relax and reduce stress. I came here when I was a lot of pressures from work, however, I quickly balanced myself in Hoi An. Everything came naturally, I don't know but I think I could dothat thanks for the time I was in Hoi An. But in what way?

In the morning, I got up quite early, I went out to the street and started walking. Here, I was not alone because there were a lot of people the same me. They take exercises regularly. It was very interesting, I could make some new Vietanamese friends, they taught me some kinds of exercises that are good for health. It was a memorable time of me that I never forget.

Hoi An is an ancient town. It still preserves a lot of cultural and historical values of Vietnam. Coming here I could understand something about the culture and history of Vietnam.

The Lunar New Year

The Lunar New Year is a sacred occasion of Vietnamese people which everyone wishes to come back to their homeland, gather with their family and enjoy the particular flavors of the Vietnamese Festivities.

I was very lucky when I had a chance to join in a Vietnamese Tet Festival with my friend's family. My friend's name is Nhung, she is a Vietnamese person, we have studied in the same class in the USA. She usually tells me about her family and her country- Vietnam, so when I came here I felt Vietnam is quite familiar. During the time I was here, I explored a number of new things about Vietnam and the Lunar New Year in particular.

I found out that the Tet festival of Vietnamese people have something in common with the Tet in my country. First, they are the most important festivals in a year. It also is the time for people relax and enjoy their holidays after a hard working year. Second, Tet is the only occasion that all the members of a family can stick and share their wishes together. This custom has become sacred, so no matter where they are and whatever their circumstances are, family members find ways to come back to meet their loved ones. But in Vietnam, Tet is also a chance to welcome deceased ancestor back for a family reunion with their descendants.

I have learned a few customs of Vietnamese people in the Lunar New Year. I would like to share here with the hope that those who read my blog can better understand the traditional Tet of Vietnam.

Planting the Neu:
Once upon a time, humans and devils co-inhabited on the earth. The devils overwhelmed former and invaded their land. Buddha told the devils: "I will hang my cassock on the top of the bamboo, and whether the shadow falls is Buddha's land and you must give it to the men". The devils agreed. After planting the bamboo, Buddha made it higher and higher by means of magic, as a result, the cassock overshadowed the whole land and the devils were chased to the East Sea. However, the devils asked Buddha for a permission to return to the mainland for a three- day visit to their ancestors' tombs on the occasion of Tet. From then on, Neu is often planted on this occasion

The "Mam Ngu Qua"
The "five-fruit-tray" on the ancestral altar during the Tet holidays symbolizes the admiration and gratitude of the Vietnamese people to the Heaven and Earth and their ancestors, and demonstrates their aspiration for a life of plenty. As one theory goes, the five fruits are symbolic of the five basic elements of oriental philosophy: mental, wood, water, fire and earth. Some people believe that the five fruits are symbols of the five fingers of a man's hand that is to produce physical wealth for his own use and to make offerings to his ancestors. However, in a simpler ways, the five fruits present the wishes that Heaven and Earth bless humans which is "when taking fruit, you should think of the grower". Today, the tray may contain more than five fruits in the former form or in a different shape.

Dao, Mai, Quat (the Peach, Apricot and Kumquat)
Coming to Vietnam during the season of the Tet festival, the visitors have a chance to watch many kinds of colouful flowers. On this occasion, poor or rich, Vietnamese people have a twig of peach blossom (in the North) or a small branch of apricot blossom (in the South) with a pot of Kumquat on their homes. The Kumquat is a symbolic of good fortune, and therefore people tend to choose a little plants laden with big orange fruits and verdant leaves for a longer display.

The Giao Thua (New Year's Eve)
The Giao Thua is the most sacred point of time. It is the moment of saying goodbye to the old year to welcome the new one with wishes for a better year. Many good sayings are sent in these moments.

I have learned what I share you above. Thanks to my holiday in Vietnam on Tet festival, I had an opportunity to explore and better undestand the customs of Vietnamese people. They are very interesting for me.

Hanoi- Heart and Soul of Vietnam

I have been to many destinations in Vietnam and of course like other people I strongly love Hanoi- the capital of Vietnam. There is one thing that I discovered that not only in Hanoi but also other cities have remained French styled old buildings resulting from the time Vietnam was under French control. The hotel I stayed was in the center of the city and I spent many hours walking the tiny streets to take in the sights and sounds here. I always walked so slowly that I could have deeper feelings about what happening around me. Hanoi is a peaceful city and the people here are very friendly but there is a thing that I was disappointed is the traffic in Hanoi. I myself think that it is a big problem of the city. Motorbike is the main means of transport in Vietnam, the streets were filled with motorbikes and other means of transportation. Especially, in the rush hours, many people could be stuck for hours. The traffic in Hanoi was terrible.

Anyway I have a big love with Hanoi. I love eating Trang Tien ice-creams and walking along the streets and going shopping. The food in Hanoi is also great and cheap. The tastes of Hanoi food are always on my mind, sometimes I still desire to eat them but it is impossible because I am living in the USA.

The beatiful image of Vietnam and particularly Hanoi city are always on my mind.

Nha Trang Travel Guide

I have traveled to Vietnam for many times, each time gave me different feelings and impressions. That is a reason why I have never had an attention to stop exploring Vietnam.

Vietnam has a number of destinations such as Hanoi, Halong Bay, Hue, Hoi An,etc. However, Nha Trang is the place that has left the deepest impressions on my mind.

There is a very interesting thing that I discovered here is that most days between 5 and 8am Nha Trang beach is filled with local peaople taking in the fresh sea beeze, socializing, playing socer, badminton or practicing Thai Chi. If you have a chance to watch these activities, I am sure that you also want to joint in.

Traveling to Nha Trang we will have an opportunity to visit the Cham Towers of Po Nager built around the 10th century. No one really knows how these towers were built, but there is a theory that the bricks were laid wet then a fire was lit around the outside to bake them in.

Besides, Nha Trang is a great land to explore with wonderful beaches and luxury resorts. I love Nha Trang very much and I think that the information I gave above can be considered as Nha Trang travel guide that help you plan for your vacations.

Mekong Delta Travel Guide

The Mekong delta is the southern most region of Vietnam. It was formed by the sediment deposited by the Mekong river, the process which continue today; silt deposited extend the shoreline at the mouth of the river as much as 79 meter per year. The river is so larger that it has two daily tides . At the low tide season boat event could not move in the canal.MeKong Delta

The land of the Mekong Delta is renowned for it richness and almost haft of it is under cultivation. The area is known as : "Vietnam' basket of rice". The Mekong Delta produce enough rice to feed the entire country

Other products from this region are: coconuts, sugar cane, fruits, fishes and prawns. Also this is the primary rural area, it is one of the most densely populated regions in Vietnam.

The Mekong river is one of the greatest River in the world. And its Delta is one of the world's largest.

The Mekong River originated from Tibetan plateau, flowing 4500 km through china, Between MyanmarCairang floating market and Laos, Along Laos and Thai border, and through Cambodia and Vietnam on It ways to East Sea of Vietnam. At Phnom Penh ( Cambodia) It splits in to two braches: The Upper Mekong ( Also call the Bassac River, which flow via Chau Doc, Long Xuyen and Can Tho to the sea; and the Tien Giang (Upper River), which split in to several branches at Vinh Long and empties it in to the sea at five points. The numerous braches of the river explain the Vietnamese name for The Mekong: Song Cuu Long ( River of nine dragons)

The water flow in to the Mekong river begin to rise at the end of May and reaches to its highest point around September. its ranges from 1900 to 38000 cubic meter person second depend on the season.

The Major activities in the Mekong river is boating. Indeed, the only way you are really to get closed to the Mekong River id to tour through the canal by boat.
Mekong Delta
The typical tours to Mekong Delta could take you about 2 to 4 days depend on the places you want to go.

Normally the tour will go to Can Tho where you can see the biggest floating market in Vietnam ( May be biggest one in the world) or Vinh long where you can enjoy hone stay as well as tour to Cai Be floating market.
However, if you have such a short time it is still worth to take a day trip to My Tho.

There is an option of taking a tour to Vinh Long, Can Tho and then to Chau Doc to take the speed boat to Phnom Penh (Cambodia)