Muong Hum and Coc Ly Market in Sapa

Muong Hum and Coc Ly Market in Sapa
Muong Hum market
The Muong Hum market is about 45 km from north-western Lao Cai Town, passing over the complex of Muong Vi caves and grottoes and Xeo village. This market has preserved nearly intact its life – style, imbued with culture tradition. Muong Hum market convenes on every Sunday is a place where local people meet and communicate. Indochina tours Vietnam
Muong Hum is a large and important market in the northwest region of Lao Cai Province. Very different from Bac Ha and Sapa market which lye inside the district townships, Muong Hum Market is set on open flat land at the bottom of a large and scenic valley by a small river and surrounded by terraced rice paddies. It is often empty and quiet on the other weekday, waken up and busy on Sunday. PANDAW CRUISE
Sapa Travel Guide- Muong Hum Market  Sapa Travel Guide- Muong Hum Market1
This market is well-known as one of the most interesting Sunday market in Lao Cai province and possibly a good alternative trip to Bac Ha market for visitors thanks to the very large variety of the ethnic minority peoples to attend and quite easy to be distinguished through their traditional clothes. The flower H’mong wear thick embroidered yellow and red skirts and blouses while the Red H’mong prefer thinner red embroidered patterns on light batik background; In contrast, the Black H’mong in dark indigo with just some decorative motive at the end of the shirt sleeves and round the neck. Red Zao and Zao Tuyen wear black trousers and shirts with fine yellow embroidery motifs and pay much attention to the decoration to their headgears including silver chains and bells. There are also many Zay, Tay and Ha Nhi people joining the market who wear less colorful clothes but no less beautiful.
Sapa Travel Guide- Muong Hum Market03  Sapa Travel Guide-Muong Hum Market05
* The road trip to Muong Hum takes 2.5 hours from Sapa(75km) and 1.5 hour from Lao Cai although the distant is only 42km due to tough road.

Coc Ly Market in Sapa
Same as Can Cau, Coc Ly is a small rural market nested itself off the beaten track amongst green and fabulous forest, on a bank of the Chay River.
Coc Ly Market is the colorful market in a mountainous area where the Flower H’mong mainly gathers to exchange their homemade products. This Tuesday market is about 35km from Bac Ha. You can get here via a good road, or by road and river; hotels in Sapa and Bac Ha can organize trips. Coc ly is a small village on the Chay River inhabited by the Flower H’mong Minority people. The Flower H’mong traditionally wears a distinctive and bright colored costume. They are a gentle, softly spoken people who live in the steep mountainous country close to the Chinese border. Because Coc Ly is more remote than Sapa, the dress and way of life is more traditional than in the large centers. The market deals in fruit, vegetable, pork and chickens, in addition to colorful fabrics and items of traditional dress. There is a buffalo sale in progress and many of these placid animals are tethered close to the market. Buffalo are still widely used in the growing process, especially in the mountainous regions. Horse are an important form of transport in the North West and a quite a few, sturdy ponies were tied to tree around the market. The horses carry a light timber frame on their back to carry produce to and from the market.
Sapa Travel Guide-Coc Ly Market  Sapa Travel Guide-Coc Ly Market 01
There’s no dancing or singing, but Coc Ly Market in Lao Cai Province always turns colorful and festive on Tuesdays, when ethnic people gather there to buy and sell goods, dine and drink, or just wander to enjoy the ambience of the montagnard market. Many ethnic traders from Bac Ha and other parts of Lao Cai Province dress up in colorful costumes and bring horses, chickens, buffaloes, vegetables or whatever they can sell to the festive market in the wee hours, and will not return home until 1pm.
Sapa Travel Guide-Coc Ly 03  Sapa Travel Guide-Coc Ly Market 04

Certainly, what catches the eyes of visitors most are the different colors of the costumes worn by ethnic people and the handicrafts they sell at the market, about 50 kilometers from Lao Cai City in the northern province. You can see young and old Hmong women, wearing skirts and hats with different types of embroidered flowers, crowding the market during the opening hours of Coc Ly. Scarves, clothes, decorations and other items made of tho cam (ethnic fabric) on sale also add color to the bazaar by the Chay River.
The colorful items are put on sale not just for locals but also tourists, particularly foreigners. However, you should remember to bargain when you want to buy your favorites, and the items at the booths located at the start of the path you walk on always have higher prices. Keep walking toward the end of the traditionally ethnic market until you find a real bargain.
Sapa Travel Guide- Coc Ly Market 05  Sapa Travel Guide-Coc Ly Market1

A good idea is to stroll every corner of the once-a-week bazaar as you listen to unexpected conversations, see nice surprises and learn how ethnic people sell and buy farm produce, life’s necessities and other things. After visiting the market, which is the most fresh and unspoiled market of the region, offering a wide range of different colorful ethnic minorities such as Flower C’mon, Black Dao, Tay , Fula, Lachi, Sandui and Nung….There will be an exciting boat cruise winding you through a breathtaking, out of this-world landscape where the mountain grow from water presenting their most hidden mysteries, including caves and tiny minority…A picnic lunch box can be prepared for your most convenience…

Top 3 foods in Ha Giang

Shan Tuyet Tea in Ha Giang
Ha Giang is one of the provinces has the oldest Shan tea area in the country. From the early 20th century, the French investigates tea in Ha Giang and take attention to the ancient highland tea. It is Shan tea with big leaves, many snow-white hair covered buds and have good quality. So that people called Shan tuyet. SONG XANH CRUISE

In the natural forests of Ha Giang, Shan Tuyet tea grown mixed with other forest trees. In Ha Giang, Shan Tuyet tea located throughout most of the districts in which the ancient tea areas have 300-1000meters height. So far, some areas of province has highly specific for the an ecological tea such as: Lung Phin, Phin Ho, Tham Ve, Bo Duot,… that represents the oldest tea area of Vietnam. This is the local that produces the famous Shan Tuyet tea. The reputation of Shan Tuyet tea conquered not only the consumers but also the connoisseurs in enjoying tea. North Vietnam travel Packages

The Shan Tuyet tea in Ha Giang can be divided into two main types, there are: small Shan tea leaves, tea in Lung Phin with typical characteristics as raspberry or candle shape. Raspberry shape tea has a small leaf tea is less than candle shape tea. In addition to the perennial tea, Ha Giang still grows tea in the lowland. Paradise Cruise

Ha Giang Dried Buffalo

Dried buffalo is special food in the meals of Black Thai. This meat is usually made from muscle of buffaloes and cows freely on the northwest mountains. When making it, people cut meat into pieces with the grain then smoked by charcoal from the mountains. With the dried buffalo, the flavor of smoke is almost intact. The processing techniques are traditional secret but products are quite homogeneous. People use some spices such as pepper, ginger, especially “mac khen”- a type of forest pepper of Northwest upland ethnic minorities.

Ha Giang Dried Buffalo

You can contemplate the spices in each meat. Dried meat still retains the flavor characteristics, especially, the sweetness of the meat. When people often shred with the grain, it can eat immediately or use with corn wine. This dish is made completely natural, so it can reserve about 1 month.

 Today, cultural exchange scale between ethnic people becomes more and more develop, dried buffalo not only is the dish of the Thai but also follows the guests to nationwide. Therefore, the method to enjoy this dish is different and depends on each place.

If the Thai often enjoys their special dish instead of eating foods, especially on the rain, floods or lack of food… but now, this dish can be served with hot pot or baking dish. However, the unique flavor of buffalo meat only intact when taken directly from the kitchen, still smell of smoke, spicy peppers, flavor of “khac men”.

HA GIANG STONE BRYOPHYTE

For many years, bryophyte is regarded as the aquatic without effects. However, ethnic people in Xuan Giang commune, Ha Giang province, bryophyte is considered as special food. The food is made from it called “que”. This is not only delicious dish but also good for health.

According to local people, when looking bryophyte, they usually choose the fresh and great bryophyte. Then, it is cleaned and then is processed into many dishes. The bryophyte exists in 7 days, when it grows up to 3-4 days people should pick up right away.

Good bryophyte is less and it can eat depend on season, so it is precious dish. Bryophyte can be processed into many dishes such as fried bryophyte, dried bryophyte but the most unique dish is bryophyte mixed with spices and then grilled.

When grill, people cannot turn it several times but grill one side then grill the other. Since bryophyte dish depends on season people often make dried bryophyte. Special customers are eaten the special dish: dried bryophyte. Grilled bryophyte not only is favorite food of ethnic people but also can cure many diseases, help blood circulation, detoxification, heat stability, blood stability and strengthening resistance.

The Perfume Pagoda

One of the most popular excursions on the outskirts of Hanoi is The Perfume Pagoda (Chua Huong). The Perfume Pagoda, contrary to what its name may indicate, is a set of pagodas and Buddhist temples located 70 kilometres south-west of Hanoi, on top of the mountain of the Perfume (Ha Tay Province). In addition to being one of the most famous spiritual places of Vietnam, the Perfume Pagoda is a natural with views and incredible landscapes. North Vietnam tours Packages

Tour of the Perfume Pagoda

To get to the Perfume Pagoda, we have to take a bus from Hanoi, which usually takes 2 hours to reach the Jetty Ben Duc. Once on the Jetty we will have to mount them on a metal red boats pushed by oars, with capacity for 6 people, which will lead us through the Yen saw River until reaching the foot of the mountain of the Perfume (Huong Son). Halong Indochina Sails cruise

The Perfume Pagoda is located in the interior of a cave to the top of the mountain of the Perfume, to be able to access it well can climb a long and steep staircases road (4 km, usually takes 1 hour) take the cableway that will leave us at the top of the mountain (option we recommend) where will begin our visit the pagodastemples and caves that make up the tour by the Perfume Pagoda. PANDAW CRUISE MEKONG

The Embarcadero Ben Duc

Although you can go directly overland from Hanoi up the same mountain of Perfume, no doubt recommend stop at the Jetty Ben Duc and take a rowing boat. Price round the 2€ per person but worth it, since it is one of the most beautiful and peaceful areas of all visit parts.

The Perfume Pagoda

In Ben Duc wharf have wooden boats and boats painted metallic red. Each barge has a number that we have to aim if we use the same boat to return from the Perfume Pagoda. In the boats usually fit 6 people and the river walk Yen Vi 45 minutes.

As a curiosity, we know that in 1998 he tried to replace these boats rowing by motor boats in order to transport tourists and visitors faster. Fortunately this initiative did not prosper and today we can enjoy a peaceful and quiet ride.

The Rio Yen Vi

To reach the mountain of Perfume will have to navigate the 4 kilometers of the River Yen Vi (or River Yen), a gentle river surrounded by Karst formations in the style of Tam Coc punctuated by a landscape of green grass, rice fields and crops of medicinal herbs. Usually be delayed one hour to travel the river, to which must be added the same time to return.

The Mountain Cableway Perfume

After landing the Yen saw River, we have an 4 km climb to the top of the mountain of the Perfume, this ancient road is of Earth and stones that added to the tropical climate of Vietnam will make dent in our legs. As an alternative, by a price 2€ / way can you ride the cable car that climbs in less than 5 minutes to the top of Perfume mountain, more than option recommended since not everyone is able to climb the steps of 4 kilometers from the River to the Perfume Pagoda temples complex.

For those have minimal physical condition, we recommend you go up to the Perfume Pagoda by cable car and walk down the road, which offer spectacular views of the area.

The first temples that make up the Perfume Pagoda dating from the 17TH century, built by a Buddhist monk who was in search of spiritual enlightenment. During the following years, due to the beauty of the place, we were adding new buildings and pagodas, of says that in this place there were more than a thousand temples, but after the indochina war against the French, many of them were destroyed.

Although they needed several days to visit this vast place, highlights from the Perfume Pagoda are Den Trinh shrine, Thien Tru pagoda, the Pagoda Hinh Bong, Giai Oan Pagoda, the Thanh Son Pagoda, Huong Tich cave and the temples Long Van, Cay Khe, Tuyet Son y Mau Me.

Recommendations to visit the Perfume Pagoda

The visit to the Perfume Pagoda vary much if we go when turnout is low or if instead visited the resort in high season.

At the Perfume Pagoda is the busiest time during festivals (usually between February and March) and also during the lunar new year (Tet Festival). If you visit this place during those dates, must be taken into account that we will share with thousands of people visit (some years figures of 60,000 people has been achieved).

If possible, we recommend you visit the Perfume Pagoda outside these dates or during weekdays, in order to enjoy this spiritual place without crowds (in the following photos have the Perfume Pagoda a day with few people and one day maximum number of visitors during festivals).

As a final recommendation does not hurt to bring an umbrella or parasol to protect us from the sun during the boat ride on the Yen Vi river, especially in the summer months.

Our walk along the River Yen saw ends at the Den Trinh shrine which is the start of our visit to the Perfume Pagoda. The literal translation of this place is the sanctuary of the presentations, where the tradition instructs burn sticks of incense to the gods of our presence and that we granted good luck for the road that begins.

This sanctuary also called Temple Den Trinh, is nothing more than a striking stone structure equipped with two heights with 5 arches in on the floor below and a note, at both ends of the door have statues of elephants.

Thien Tru Pagoda

After a visit to the Den Trinh shrine the next stop before ascending to the top of the mountain of the Perfume is the Thien Tru Pagoda, also called Pagoda Chua Nhãn (outer pagoda). The literal translation of Thien Tru is the kitchen of the sky, from name of Vietnamese legend and imagination in which the rocks of the mountain resemble a Cook working in your kitchen. Perhaps this natural enclave surrounded by rocks and green forests not resembles a kitchen, and a chef, but the beauty of the place anyone can put it in doubt.

The Thien Tru Pagoda was built in the 18th century by Emperor Le Thanh Tong, made of brick and fitted with decorative curved roofs who remember to the Temple of Literature Hanoi.

Destroyed and subsequently rebuilt in 2 occasions, the highlight of this Pagoda which is one of the many temples of the Perfume Pagoda complex, is a monolith of granite called Tower Thuy Tien is located in the middle of the courtyard of this Pagoda, in that same courtyard have other sculptures with the shape of dragons, etc... Although one of the most photographed spots of this Pagoda is the exterior door, 2 heights with 3 arches on each height from which we can see the Pagoda.

For those travelers who want to spend the night at the Perfume Pagoda, near Thien Tru Pagoda of small lodges can be found and places to sleep.

Tien Son Cave

A few meters from the Pagoda Thien Tru Tien Son cave, famous for his 5 sculptures in granite and suggestive ways to the walls of the cave we have. These battered walls being sound like a traditional percussion instrument Vietnamese called Khanh, whose sound resembles the sound of a Bell.

Huong Tich Cave (Cave of Perfume) and Perfume Pagoda

One of the most interesting parts of the visit to the Perfume Pagoda is the Huong Tich cave (also called Cave of the perfume), discovered thousands of years ago (the Vietnamese say that this cave is similar to the mouth of a dragon). We descend 120 stone steps from the main road to gain access to the inside of the cave of the Perfume, which contains the well-known Perfume Pagoda, main pagoda of the complex with a very striking altar, several statues of Buddha and other historical characters and also a 1.24 bronze Bell meters height.

The highlight of this cave is an inscription engraved on the rock dating from the year 1700 which says the cave more beautiful under the sky of the Southeast.
The interior of the Huong Tich cave is filled with stalactites and stalagmites, where Vietnamese have been giving names based on forms that evoke these elements, this mode can find stalactites shaped rice plant, forms that resemble children, trees of gold and silver, etc...

Popular beliefs are still many couples who have no children to this place for the birth of your firstborn pray.

A curious fact about the entrance to the cave entrance Perfume is that this is said to find the way to heaven, you have to go down the road to hell, referring to the stone steps and entrance ways suggestive of cave.

The Perfume Pagoda

We have the Perfume Pagoda in Huong Tich cave inside. The cave, which is 50 meters high is lit by the rays of Sun that enter from the main entrance and also by the lights of candles to the pilgrims and believers left in place. The altar of the Perfume Pagoda, known for his sculptures of Buddha.

If we are lucky during our visit to the Perfume Pagoda perhaps we are making offerings to Buddhist monks, praying with incense sticks and singing hymns in honor of Buddha.

This place in Vietnam, Perfume Pagoda, is the scene of many legends, popular songs and place of inspiration for poets, philosophers, writers, painters and all kinds of artists.
Recommendations to visit Huong Tich Cave

Inside the cave often cold, so we recommend you bring warm clothes and especially not enter directly if you have traveled the way up to the mountain of Perfume walking, because the sudden temperature change can play tricks.

Festivals in Perfume Pagoda

The Perfume Pagoda is a perigranacion of the Vietnamese people during the first months of the lunar calendar (February to March) coming en masse to pray and make offerings to have luck and prosperity in the year that begins.
Traditionally a Vietnamese pilgrims can spend 3 days touring and praying for all the temples of the complex of the Perfume Pagoda.

The most important festival, called the Perfume Pagoda festival is held on 15 to 20 of the second month of the lunar calendar. This place also hosts other celebrations during the first day of the lunar year (Tet Festival) and also the 6 day of the first month of the lunar calendar. These dates mean celebrations during the months of February and March.

As a curiosity, we know that this festival is a popular place for young people to find a partner because legend has it that this magical place is the ideal place to begin a romance.

The Perfume Pagoda is located 70 kilometers southwest of Hanoi in Ha Tay province.

Traversing to the Perfume Pagoda

Best to go to the Perfume Pagoda is to hire an excursion at any tourist office in Hanoi (in the old town there are many agencies). The average price for a whole day trip round the 30€, it is important to look at the price includes the entrance to the cable car.

If we want to go to the Perfume Pagoda for free, we will have to take a bus from Hanoi to Ben Duc Wharf, if on the other hand we don't want to make the boat trip along the River Yen saw (walk that we recommend you do), you should take a bus from Hanoi to the perfume mountain. From the center of Hanoi, take the bus No. 1 to Ha Dong (Ha Ðong) and take the bus No. 75 to perfume (Chùa Huong) pagoda.

The displacement bike or ride to the Perfume Pagoda not recommended, since the pier Ben Duc have to park the bike in a secure place and also because the road through the village Van Dinh is not very comfortable. The taxi to the Perfume Pagoda is very expensive compared to the price of an organized tour or a bus for free.

The entrance to the Perfume Pagoda is free, the ticket to the cable car costs 2€ / way and boat trip along the River Yen saw costs 2€.

Everything about traveling Can Tho

As the centre city of Mekong Delta region, Can Tho is one of the most attractive and interesting destinations in the region as it gathers the most featuring beauties of a water land along Mekong River tours Vietnam
Everything about traveling Can Tho
Time to travel
With favorable weather condition, you can come to visit Can Tho any time in year. However, visiting in summer is the best chance to enjoy delicious fruits. South Vietnam tours
How to travel
There are 2 means of transports which can travel to Can Tho
Airline: there are 2 airlines opening the flight Hanoi- Can Tho
Vietnam Airlines: the price of return tickets are from $114 USD to $214 USD. Besides, there are other flights from Can Tho to Phu Quoc and Con Dao Islands.
Vietjet Air: the price of return tickets are from $85 USD to $130 USD for the flight Hanoi- Can Tho. Moreover, the Da Nang-Can Tho flights are also available from July 2014.
Bus: From Ho Chi Minh City or other province on the South, you can take a bus/coach and get to Can Tho in few hours. The price ticket is very reasonable.
Accommodation
Can Tho is a big city of Vietnam. Thereafore, you should not worry about where to stay because there are plenty of hotels in the city. Besides, you can choose to homestay at the orchards which is a very interesting experience. Indochina Sails cruise

What to eat
Fish paste hot pot: it is the most featuring food in Can Tho. The hot pot is the mixture of many kinds of seafood such as fish, shrimp, squid and other local herbs. Especially, the broth of the hot pot contains fish sauce and coconut milk, which makes it different from other hot pot.
Xeo Cake: one of the famous street foods in Vietnam. And in Can Tho, the special things in this cake are its stuffs inside (including chicken, river shrimp, duck meat, sesbania sesban, etc. It is also served with various species of vegetable and herbs.
Everything about traveling Can Tho
Ca loc nuong trui (grilled snakehead fish): one of the most idyllic and delicious food of the Mekong Delta region. The way to make it is very easy but also requiring a skillful hand. The grilled fishes are put on banana leaves, removed the black burning layer outside to expose the interesting part inside. The food is eaten with various fresh herbals and vegetables as well as tamarind fish sauce.
Grilled snail with pepper: it is simple-made but really amazing street food.
What to see

Everything about traveling Can Tho

Cai Rang floating market
Everything about traveling Can Tho
Cai Rang floating market is one among three biggest ones in Can Tho. It opens all day but busiest from the sunrise to 9:00AM. In the river area of about 1km length, there are hundred boats and canoes gathering together, selling and buying diversified products, from local agricultural products such as fruits, vegetables, meats, seafood to other services such as foods, coffee, drinks,… Visiting this special market, you can get to know the amazing cultural aspects of southerners.
The best time to visit Cai Rang is from 6 AM to 8 AM every morning, except for Tet Holiday and Doan Ngo Festival (5th in the fifth months of Lunar Calendar). From city centre, you can take motorbike taxi or taxi to Cai Rang wharf, then take a boat to visit the floating market.
Bang Lang stork sanctuary
It is the gathering address of thousands storks in every afternoon. There are 11 different kinds of flork such as fly stork, egret, heron, pelican, woodpecker, etc. Watching thousands of storks flying around and gather in the garden is very exotic scenery. The Bang Lang stork sanctuary is located in Thoi Thuan Ward, Thot Not District.
Orchards: like other provinces in the Mekong Delta, Can Tho has a lot of orchards with many kinds of fruits, especially the ones in Phong Dien and Tan Loc district. Walking under incredible trees full of fruits and pick them by yourself and eat them right away are wonderful experience.
My Khanh ecotourism village
Built in 1996 in a nice position between Cai Rang and Phong Dien floating market, My Khanh is an ecological complex, containing various services and green space. You can enjoy the beauty of Southern countryside with water, green mangrove forests and peaceful surrounding. There are many interesting services in here that you can join such as fishing, rowing, exploring the life of ancient landlords and farmers or joining traditional games. You also have chance to enjoy special ancient foods of the South.
Binh Thuy ancient house
Everything about traveling Can Tho
Located in Long Tuyen ancient village, the ancient house are very unique in architecture, beautiful in narutal scenery (lying along Can Tho River) and valuable in history and culture. It was built in 19th century; with the architecture is the combination of Orient and Western style.

Bac Ha Sunday Market

In the rugged mountains of northwestern Vietnam, the town of Bắc Hà holds a big, bright and busy market every Sunday. Attracting hundreds of colourfully dressed ethnic minorities from the surrounding countryside, this market is not only a draw for locals, it’s a big hit with foreign and domestic tourists too. On the one hand, Bắc Hà market is a fascinating spectacle: a superb example of a traditional minority market in Vietnam’s wild northern mountains. On the other hand, it’s a tourist circus, where minority peoples are often treated like performing animals, and much of the financial profit finds its way into the hands of the majority ‘Kinh’ Vietnamese, not the minorities. It can be a confusing and, sometimes, unsettling experience. One thing’s for certain: the increasing number of tourists is changing Bắc Hà Sunday market. It remains to be seen whether this will be for better or for worse. Halong bay cruise Vietnam

Colourfully dressed ethnic minorities, Bắc Hà MarketMarket colour: Bắc Hà is a mecca for the region’s colorfully dressed ethnic minorities

Early mornings in Bắc Hà, around 800m above sea-level, are often misty and cold. Whatever the weather conditions, the activity starts shortly after dawn at the marketplace. A two minute walk from the town square, Bắc Hà market covers a larger area than any other minority market in Vietnam. There are thousands of people and hundreds of stalls. It’s a unique spectacle. The produce is varied, fresh and colourful. The minority women and girls look fantastic in their traditional clothing. The men are just as intriguing: drinking various local liquors, smoking local tobaccos from bamboo pipes, slurping local noodles, and exchanging local gossip. It’s impossible not to be drawn into the vortex of this lively, dazzling Sunday market. Vietnam Mekong river tours

The breakfast crowd, Bắc Hà MarketThe breakfast crowd: soup, rice liquor, and ‘Lao’ tobacco at 7am, Bắc Hà Market

But it isn’t just a local market anymore: it’s a tourist market. Now days, trinket and garment kiosks surround the original market stalls. The products – including crockery, scarves, statuettes, and shawls – are very attractive and beautifully made. But, it’s immediately apparent that these kiosks are managed by majority ‘Kinh’ Vietnamese people, not ethnic minorities, and that their customers are tourists, not locals. North Vietnam tours packages

Calls of ‘You buy something!’ echo around the market, shouted in English every time a foreigner passes by a stall. Brief bargaining takes place between foreign tourists and Vietnamese stall owners. After the sale is made the Vietnamese stall owners shout to each other in Vietnamese, bragging about how much money they fleeced the foreigners for.

Bac Ha Sunday Market

Attractive garments aimed at touristsEmpty until the tour groups arrive, these garments stalls are aimed at tourists not locals

Meanwhile, minority peoples buy and sell the less lucrative produce – meat, fish, vegetables, agricultural appliances, live animals (and a large amount of home-brewed rice wine). Most tourists don’t find these products as intriguing – and certainly not as attractive – as the garments and other souvenir-suitable items on sale at the Vietnamese ‘Kinh’ stalls. Thus, a large amount of the tourist buck spent at Bắc Hà market fails to make it into minority people’s pockets. So how do ethnic minorities – who are significantly poorer than Vietnamese ‘Kinh’ – benefit from the massive tourist interest in the Sunday market?

Local liquor portioned out, Bắc Hà MarketLocal liquor for sale: unlikely to attract the tourist buck

Attention, whether wanted or unwanted, seems to be one answer to the above question. On my last visit to the market, a lady from the Flower Hmong, the largest minority group in the area, got angry at me when I stepped too close to her red chillies, which were laid out on the ground. It seemed a disproportionate reaction to me so I made my feelings known to her. As I moved away, another traveller came up and shoved a 10 inch camera lens right into her face, while she made a sale to another Flower Hmong woman. He made no eye contact, no attempt to communicate, not even a smile. He took his pictures and left without buying anything – what tourist is going to buy red chillies at Bac Ha market?

Camera pointing at Bắc Hà MarketClose up: who needs a tripod when you can use a local’s head

After that, I began to notice the big cameras all over the market. Giant lenses pointed right up into minority peoples’ faces, as if they were no more than zoo animals, incapable of feeling self-conscious or offended or that their personal space had been intruded upon. What’s more, there was very little interaction between the photographers and their subjects: no attempt to make them feel at ease or ask if they minded having their picture taken. Perhaps, I thought to myself, there’s a lot to be angry about if you’re a minority woman selling red chillies at Bac Ha market.

Photographer's dream? Bắc Hà MarketBắc Hà Market is a photographer’s dream, but there’s a lack of respect for their subject.

By 10am, as busloads of travellers on day trips from Sapa arrive, tourists come close to outnumbering locals. The market begins to feel like a farce, a Disney market, a recreation of a traditional market: a fake market. However, you can escape the camera-wielding crowd by wandering to the meat, fish and poultry section, where most people don’t venture because the sights, sounds and smells aren’t so attractive. The hot food section is also wonderful. Even though it’s under the full gaze of dozens of camera lenses, most people stop short of sitting down at one of the wooden benches and ordering one of the steaming, hearty bowls of soup. But do this and you’ll actually be partaking in this real, live market, not just spectating. The food is excellent and cheap, and you’re likely to be invited by fellow diners to toke on their bamboo pipes and shoot back their rice liquor.

The hot food section, Bắc Hà MarketLots of fun and interaction with locals can be had at the superb hot food section of the market

In general, I don’t feel comfortable at Bắc Hà Sunday market. I like it and loath it. After all, I am one of the hundreds of camera lenses at this market (the photos in this article are proof of that). I didn’t buy any red chillies from the minority woman I offended, and I was tempted to purchase one of the souvenir trinkets from the ‘Kinh’ stalls. Like most tourists, I don’t like to think of myself as a tourist, but Bắc Hà market reminds me that I am. It would be nice if more tour companies employed local minority people as guides around the market. This would produce a few jobs for local people and it would encourage foreigner-minority interaction through translations provided by the local guides. To see the market at its best, get here before 9am. To give something back to the market and the people who make it happen, buy some of the exotic fruit on offer, try some of the local liquor, wolf down a bowl of the local soup, and ask before taking a photo.

Streetwise Hanoi

Welcome to Hanoi! You’re in the political capital of Vietnam with a population of 7 million people. Like any big city, a tiny portion of those people are dodgy. Vietnam has vast cultural and legal differences to the west, that’s part of the reason why we love it. This means there’s some things us foreigners need to keep in mind. With decades of combined experience being backpackers who can’t seem to leave Vietnam, we’ve made a little list specific to Hanoi that we would like to share with you. We hope our experiences make yours even better & safer. Now don’t be worried, just be wary. Let’s get into it. North Vietnam tours

Crossing the street – Take a deep breath, look for a moment to commence and walk slowly and consistently across the street. They will go around you, have a bit of confidence and you’ll be a pro in no time.
Taxis - Some taxi drivers will try and take you for a ride. Hanoi Taxi Group (white, red & blue), Mai Linh (green) and ABC (white & pink) are most reputable. Ask our hostel to call you a taxi and write down the address for you.
Bia Hoi – Hanoi is legendary for it’s Bia Hoi, but be choosy. It’s home-brew made with varying levels of hygiene. There’s good Bia Hoi, and there’s bad Bia Hoi. The locals pay around 7,000vnd for a glass of good bia hoi. If you’re paying less than that, it’s probably not good. See our crew for some places to join the locals for some reputable Bia Hoi watering holes. Avoid cheap low quality product that could make you sick. Vietnam Halong bay tours
Cheap vodka – There is a reason why it is cheap, it can contain all sorts of nasties which can cause nausea, vomiting, drowsiness & dizziness without even having a big night out! We see this all the time. There is a big market for low quality and fake spirits in Vietnam. VBH serve only imported Smirnoff Vodka and genuine spirits. They are more expensive, but they are safe, and they taste better. If you drink irresponsibly, at least drink smart

Streetwise Hanoi

Disagreements with the locals – A rare circumstance usually involving boys and alcohol. There are 2 rules. Rule #1. – Never get involved in a fight with the Vietnamese. Rule #2 – If you’re drunk and a local does something you think deserves an act of aggression, immediately see rule #1. If a local really does do something wrong. Still see rule #1. The Vietnamese kicked China, France & the USA out of their town, you’re a small fry and they’ll treat you that way. In every circumstance, please please please see rule #1 and walk away. Peace. Vietnam Mekong river tours
Big nights out. All us backpackers understand that you never quite know when a massive night could come your way. We strongly advise that at some point during the build-up you take a moment to consider the location of your smartphone, passport, bankcards, and all your cash. If these things are in your possession when things escalate you run the risk of turning the night of your life into a nightmare. Please leave them somewhere safe before you get socially excited. There are security lockers in all rooms, and we have a safe to keep valuables in.
Getting home. Make sure you always have few a hostel cards to show your taxi or motorbike driver. Negotiate a price before you begin. Unfortunately it is rare to find a reputable motorbike or taxi driver after midnight. If you have problems, don’t make a scene, wait until you arrive at the hostel and ask night reception to assist you.
Cheap imitation tours. Be careful with Halong Bay especially. There are a number of dodgy companies that simply don’t care about your complaints after your shitty and sometimes unsafe experience. Many copycats pose shamelessly as long established reputable operators. For example there are currently 11 other places pretending to be our Castaways trip. There is only ONE real Castaways Island and it’s got a Red Buffalo. You really truly do get what you pay for. If it’s cheap, then it’s because the operator cuts corners. This means their boats can be any or all of the following: dirty, unseaworthy, environmentally disastrous, and most certainly have terrible decor. You may get lucky, but you may not. They will give you a great sales pitch and show you some great pictures, they’re experts. If you come back pissed off about your cheap shitty tour, we’ll do our best to help you, but aside from listening to you vent, giving you a cuddle and buying you a couple of beers to ease the pain, there’s not much more we can do. You’ve been warned!
Imitation hostels. Yes, you may get off a bus and a Vietnamese person with good English will tell you our hostel has closed down, or moved locations. They may even have one of our business cards. They may even get on the bus before it stops to give you some “advice”. Check online the location of our hostels, grab a card for each one, and only go to that address. If it doesn’t feel right, then it’s not. Simple.
Cash – The 500,000 note is a similar colour to the 20,000 notes! One is worth $24 the other is worth <$1. Don’t get them mixed up!
Be patient when communicating with the locals. Speak slowly, English is a very difficult language for the Vietnamese to pronounce, much harder than for Laotians, Cambodians and Thai’s. Their English is a lot better than your Vietnamese, so smile, laugh and enjoy the sign language! Even better, learn little language.
In the immortal words of Mr. T. “Don’t do drugs”. Penalties in Vietnam are so harsh we prefer not to talk about it. This is not California or the Caribbean. Weed is not ok, and harder drugs are even less ok. There is a large hemp growing industry in Vietnam and some locals will try and sell dope from these plants, but the joke is on you, you can still get done for possession, yet the plants are genetically engineered so that you don’t get you high. When it comes to drugs in Vietnam, please don’t be stoopid. As Mr. T also said “I pity the fool!”
Comply with the police. In the highly unlikely event you run into trouble, be polite, keep your cool and do what you can to remove yourself from the situation.
Vietnam is not the place to learn to ride a motorbike. If you are riding a motorbike, always wear a helmet. Pretty pretty please don’t get drunk and ride. We unfortunately have experienced a range of unfortunate circumstances pertaining to irresponsible motorbike behaviour, and because of this we would please insist you read this line again. :-)
Hope this helps and don’t hesitate to ask us anything. We’re all a bunch of backpackers who are still in love with Vietnam. We are here to help. If we don’t know, we’ll know someone who does.

Top 5 Things to do in Danang

Most travellers tend skip Danang on their way to Hoi An however the city is filled with great restaurants, bars and plenty of sights to see to warrant a few days stay. While the city has gone through a surge of tourism of sorts with 5 star resorts popping up along the coast, the city still remains a charming escape from the touristy Old Quarter of Hoi An. We’ve listed our top 5 list of things to do in Danang. Centre Vietnam travel

A windy road on the Hai Van Pass on the road from Danang to Hue.

HAI VAN PASS
This windy stretch of road was made famous by Top Gear UK’s Jeremy Clarkson in 2008 when he proclaimed it, “a deserted ribbon of perfection—one of the best coast roads in the world.” While most traffic from Danang to Hue use the Hai Van Tunnel, intrepid motorbike riders willing to throw caution to the wind and head to the twisting switchback filled road will be rewarded with breathtaking views of turquoise waters and lush mountainsides. JAHAN CRUISE

Local insight: Make sure to stop at the top of the pass to see the brick gate built by Emperor Minh Mang in the 19th century.

Top 5 Things to do in Danang

A statue of a buddha sits in a lush garden at the Marble Mountains in Danang

MARBLE MOUNTAIN
A stairway of 156 steps takes you to the summit of Thuy Son mountain which is dotted with pagodas and caves filled with sculptures and engravings dating back to the Cham Empire. If you aren’t interested in taking the staircase, take the elevator for VND30,000. Jasmine Cruise

Local insight: Direct marble extraction is forbidden in the area and all of the marble is shipped in from neighbouring provinces.

A no swimming sign sits on the Danang coastline

DANANG COASTLINE
One can’t mention Danang without mentioning it’s vast and pristine coastline. My Khe beach is now dominated by a string of 5 star resorts but if you are looking to escape the crowds, head to Red Beach which is generally deserted throughout the day.

Local insight: Those looking to catch a wave should head to Danang during the months of December to February.

The Goddess of Mercy statue sits in the Linh Ung Pagoda in Danang

GODDESS OF MERCY
Standing at 69.7 meters in height, the stark white Goddess of Mercy statue can be seen for miles. Located on the side of Monkey Mountainin the Linh Ung Pagoda, this statue has 17 levels inside, each with 21 Buddha idols.

Local insight:  For stunning vistas of Danang bay, head to Vong Hai Dai street just to the right of the pagoda.

The temples at My Son

MY SON
Located 69km’s southwest of Danang, this cluster of abandoned Hindu temples are well worth the drive. While not as magnificent as the Angkor temple structures in Cambodia, these ancient ruins of the Champa Kingdom are not to be missed. Nestled in a lush valley, the area is divided into 10 main groups depending on the era or divinity honoured.

Local insight: It can get busy around 9am so try to leave early to miss the crowds.

I hope you enjoyed our top 5 things to do in Danang! Make sure to check back with us for more great travel tips.

Do I need a visa to travel to Vietnam

Vietnam Visa Requirements

For any traveler a trip planning should start not from booking a flight ticket or arranging a hotel, but from checking the visa policy of the country he would like to visit. Some nationalities can enter the territory of Vietnam without visa. But for majority of the countries it is required. The visitors can obtain a visa from one of the Vietnamese diplomatic missions or via agency on arrival. Also a passport valid for at least 6 months is necessary. Check the policy before you start travelling to avoid problems on the Vietnamese border. Southern Vietnam with extension to Cambodia 10 days

Visa Exemption
Currently 17 nationalities can visit Vietnam without visa for different time periods. In 2014 it was proposed to allow citizens of European Union, the United States of America, Canada, Australia, Hong Kong and Taiwan to enter the country without visa as well. But in September 2014 this proposal was rejected. Vietnamese government extended the list of the visa exemption countries only for Australia, France, Germany, India and the UK. SONG XANH CRUISE

List of the countries that do not require a visa to Vietnam (with a duration of staying): Image Cruise
Brunei (14 days)
Cambodia (30 days)
Denmark (15 days)
Finland (15 days)
Indonesia (30 days)
Japan (15 days)
Kyrgyzstan (30 days)
Laos (30 days)
Malaysia (30 days)
Myanmar (14 days)
Norway (15 days)
Philippines (21 days)
Russia (15 days)
Singapore (30 days)
South Korea (15 days)
Sweden (15 days)
Thailand (30 days)

Do I need a visa to travel to Vietnam

Visit to Phú Quốc Island
Phu Quoc is designated as a Special Economic Zone and the Vietnamese government are allowing tourists to stay on the island for up to 30 days without requiring a Vietnam Visa. To be able to enter Phu Quoc without visa you should arrive to the island from any other foreign country and land at Phu Quoc International Airport. If you are transiting from Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City, then you must board your flight to Phu Quoc from the international terminal in order to receive your exemption. Also it is possible to come to the island by a cruise ship sailing from the other international ports. However, if you are planning to continue your trip around the country, then visa obtaining is required.

Visa on-arrival
In order to get your visa on arrival, first of all, you should receive an approval letter. First of all, you  have to fill in the Online Application Form and pay the service fee. Normally, within 2-3 working days you will get your Visa approval letter issued and stamped by the Vietnamese Immigration Department. The same document will be sent to Vietnam Immigration checkpoints at the international airports, wo when you arrive, the documents will be prepared for you. With the approval letter you can obtain a visa at airports in Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City or Da Nang for a maximum stay up to 3 months.

Types and cost
The fee depends on a type of visa you would like to obtain and your duration of staying. There are two types of visas in Vietnam: single entry and multiple entry. The service fee for applying starts at USD 17. Stamping fee depends on your type of visa:
Single-entry visas – USD 45
Multiple-entry visas
Valid for less than 01 month – USD 65
Valid for less than 06 months – USD 95
Valid for 6 months or more – USD 135
Transfer of validity of visas or temporary residence from expired passports to new passports – USD 15
(PLEASE NOTE – THESE ARE THE PRICES AT TIME OF WRITING)


Visa extension
Due to recent changes in Visa laws starting 01/01/2015, Visa renewals have become difficult, expensive and sometimes impossible. The rules relating to Visa renewals seem to be unclear at time of writing, with some tourists paying up to $380US to extend their Visa an extra 3 Months. After making phone calls to Immigration, no one can give a clear answer on the renewal process and price.


IMPORTANT
Always ask for information at the Vietnamese diplomatic missions in your countries to check the current visa policy and other relevant and reliable updates.

Saigon nightlife

Saigon is another name of Ho Chi Minh City, the former capital of the Republic of Vietnam (South Vietnam). Being the biggest city in the country, it also has the most diverse and very active night life. Even though most of the places are closing after midnight and most probably you will not find entertainment spots running 24/7, this city always has something to offer, and if you are searching for fun, you will definitely find it, regardless of day of a week. Ready for adventures? Here we go!

Southern Vietnam with extension to Cambodia 10 days

Bars

People in Saigon like to spend time in bars, and there is plenty of them in the city. Most of them are located in the city center, and here you can find everything – from beer houses to fancy cocktail bars. And if you love magnificent views, choose one of the rooftop bars and enjoy watching the sleepless city! SONG XANH CRUISE

Bia Sai Gon 73
If you come to Vietnam, you will, probably, learn very fast what is “bia hoi”. From Vietnamese, it means “fresh-brewed beer”, and it is extremely popular among locals. One of the most popular bars that serves bia hoi is Bia Sai Gon 73, located in the heart of backpacker area of Saigon. It has plastic chairs along the pavement, and is always crowded with both, travellers and locals. A jug of beer will cost here nearly $0,5, and you will definitely enjoy its easy and relaxed atmosphere.
Address: 73 Bui Vien St, District 1 , Hồ Chí Minh, Vietnam Alova Gold Cruise
Hours: 9:00 am – 3:00 am

Chill Skybar
We are not sure if you will ever get a chance to see more spectacular view on the city than from Chill Skybar. Located on top of AB Tower, the bar offers a rich variety of drinks and a fine dining menu as well. Each evening, since 9:30 pm, it hosts live performances of DJs. Come here before the sun goes down, and enjoy all the colours of Saigon.
Address: AB Tower, 76 Lê Lai, Bến Thành, Hồ Chí Minh, Vietnam
Hours: 5:30 pm – 2:30 am

Saigon nightlife

Q Bar 
This is one of Saigon's longest-running bars, that had been opened in 1992, and is always full of happy people. It is located in the historic Opera House building, and is considered to be a place of worship for locals and a “must” for expats and tourists. This is an excellent choice for chilling during the weekdays and for loud parties during the weekend!
Address: 7 Lam Son Square ,District 1, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
Hours: 11 am – 12 am

Clubs
During weekends young people in Saigon often choose to spend their nights out in clubs, enjoying loud music, dancing, drinking and simply having fun together. Curious about how do the dance floors look here? Follow our piece of advice!

Apocalypse Now
This is one of the first clubs opened in Saigon and is also one of the most popular in the city. It has two floors and an outdoor terrace. On the first floor the DJ usually plays quite mainstream music and global hits, while on the second floor you may crash the retro party with the music from 80s and 90s! The club is open till 4 am, so if you party till early morning, it should become your choice!
Address: 2C Thi Sách, Bến Nghé, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
Hours: 8 pm – 4 am

Lush Nightclub
Lush Nightclub is a good alternative for those visitors who prefer contemporary design and great selection of music. This is definitely a club with a style. Sometimes it gets overcrowded, but this is just another proof that this is one of the best spots to visit in Saigon.
Address: Lý Tự Trọng, Bến Nghé, Hồ Chí Minh, Vietnam
Hours: 8 pm – 3 am

Gossip Club
The club is  located in the Dai Nam Hotel and is a popular place among local models and celebrities. Gossip club is a home to DJ Stanley, the former winner of the Heineken Thirst Competition, who regularly plays here. This is a fabulous way to experience local clubbing culture, excellent service and relaxing atmosphere.
Address: 79 Tran Hung Dao, District 1, Hồ Chí Minh, Vietnam
Hours: 11 am – 12 am

Music
Saigon can be easily called a heaven for music lovers, as there is a big number of places holding live performances in different styles and genres – from flamenco to hard rock. Just choose the one you want!

Sax N Art Jazz Club
Sax N' Art Jazz Club had been voted the best jazz club in Saigon and is highly popular among local people. The place is owned by a famous local saxophonist Tran Manh Tuan. It regularly hosts jam sessions and live concerts of famous Vietnamese musicians. Sometimes there is a fee nearly $5, which is added to your first drink.
Address: 28 Lê Lợi, Bến Nghé, 1, Hồ Chí Minh, Vietnam
Hours: 7 pm – 12 am.

Acoustic Bar
The first thing we should tell you about Acoustic Bar is that performances here are not only acoustic. The second thing is that this is a home of rock music in Saigon. You can hear here songs of young and talented Vietnamese musicians, as well as renditions of legendary hits – from John Lennon to Rolling Stones.
Address: 6E1 Ð Ngo Thoi Nhiem, District 3, Hồ Chí Minh, Vietnam
Hours: 6 pm – 12 am

Seventeen Saloon
This is a crazy two storey live music hall inspired by Wild West. Joyful rock’n’roll parties with featuring a live Filipino band of performances of Vietnamese musicians always last here till late night! You will definitely have a lot of fun here and make it a night to remember!
Address: 103A Pham Ngu Lao Street, District 1, Hồ Chí Minh, Vietnam
Hours: 7 pm – 2 am

Khau Vai Love Market

Khau Vai love market belongs to Khau Vai commune, Meo Vac District, Ha Giang, province. This is a unique market of Vietnam in particular and the world in general. The Khau Vai fair is located in the village of the Nung, in a wide valley and full of people. There have colorful costumers of the ethnic H’Mong, Dao, Giay, Nung… The girls, boys even elder are not hiding restless in the face. North Vietnam packages

From the previous day, canvas-tents were built throughout the valley; the most numerous is place buying corn wine, thang co… In the evening before, many couples follow the mountainside to the Khau Vai love market on time.

Life in the mountains is often tedious. One year has only fair so many families include parents, father in law, son come to love market for fun. Even more couples got married more than 10 years and have 4 children try to join the special fair in this year.

• Huong Hai Sealife Cruise, Halong Travel

The oldest person of Khau Vai commune did not know the time that Khau Vai love market began. According to the legend, the love story between the boy of the H’Mong and the girl of the Giay led to the grudge between two tribes. In order to avoid a bloody confrontation, they were forced away from each other. However, the boy and the girl vowed that they would meet once on the March 26th at Khau Vai market. Khau Vai love market began from that. Up to now, Khau Vai love market became the dating fair, finding love from young to married people. BASSAC CRUISE

Khau Vai Love Market

Khau Vai love market at night becomes more quite, the only conversation and sound of “khen”. If visitors have opportunities to come this market, they will have unforgettable impression.

Vietnam unveiled as the fastest growing tourist destination

When the Post Office recently revealed their list of the fastest growing currencies in the UK, I was not surprised to see which destination was at number one – Vietnam!

The index is a good indicator of hot tourist destinations for Brits this summer and like us at PureTravel it appears they too love Vietnam holidays! In fact sales of the Vietnamese currency, the dong soared by a massive 68% this summer (June-August). The findings come from the highly respected UK Post Office which has 11,500 local branches across the UK. Southern Vietnam with extension to Cambodia 10 days

In my opinion this should put Vietnam right at the top of the must-see destinations list for some wintersun and into spring 2013. The weather is distinctly autumnal right now in the UK so a long haul trip to Vietnam is ideal and even easier now that direct flights are operating between London Gatwick and Hanoi as we reported last year. And right now 1 GBP equals 33,760 VND which means that with just 29.61 GBP you can be a millionaire in Vietnam! Dragon Pearl Junk

The rise in popularity is also attributed to the fact that several luxury resorts have also opened up in various locations throughout Vietnam. There is also a new airport planned for the southern Vietnam province of Kien Giang; the Phu Quoc International Airport is on schedule to open late 2012 and will dramatically increase accessibility of the Mekong Delta region. The Vietnamese government has pledged to invest more money on key tourist infrastructures such as leisure and entertainment complexes, even if the addition of tuk-tuks on the city streets of Hanoi has been vetoed.

Vietnam unveiled as the fastest growing tourist destination

At a recent meeting, tourism ministers of Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos and Myanmar debated the feasibility of creating a ‘unified visa zone’ for the four countries, which would ease red tape for tourists visiting southeast Asia. If the system gets the go ahead its estimated that more than 25 million international travellers will visit the 4 countries, compared to 12 million foreign tourists last year (and 14% more than 2010). Of course once western travellers have made the journey it’s all the more attractive to combine several Southeast Asian countries at the same time. In fact many western tour operators already offer the multi-country trips so this move would be very appealing. AUTHENTIC MEKONG

I’ve been lucky enough to have explored Vietnam, spending time in the usual Vietnamese tourist haunts; Ho Chi Minh City, Hoi An, Danang, Hue, Hanoi and Halong Bay and I absolutely loved my visit! I hope more travellers discover Vietnam for themselves and for some inspiration check out some of the weird and wonderful hotels you could opt for.

Imagine my excitement as well when I caught the BBC Top Gear Special which featured the three famous presenters; Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond and James |May traversing Vietnam on motorbikes travelling 1,000 miles from Ho Chi Minh City to Halong City. They had just eight days to complete the journey with various challenges along the way but I won’t reveal who won – all I can say is that you definitely need to catch up with the episode either on a cable TV station or via the BBC site. Fantastic viewing and very funny!

And if you’re curious as to which destinations came in positions 2-10, we have published the list; Top 10 Fastest growing holiday destinations revealed.

Phu Quoc Travel Guide

This peaceful tropical paradise floats in the warm turquoise waters in the Gulf of Thailand, 50kms from the Vietnamese mainland and a 50 minute flight from Ho Chi Minh City. Phu Quoc is becoming well known for stunning beaches, untouched natural environment, the easy going and relaxed atmosphere, friendly locals, fantastic scuba diving and snorkeling. BASSAC CRUISE

Phu Quoc is an nearby island, located in Gulf of Thailand, just 45 kilometers far from Hatien coastal town of Vietnam. Also being known as Ngoc Island, Phu Quoc – the largest island of Vietnam is a part of Kien Giang Province. Phu Quoc has total area of 589 square kilometers and population of 85,000 people. Phu Quoc is a system of 22 small islands. In 2006, Biosphere reserves and coastal islands Kien Giang including Phu Quoc islands were recognized as World Biosphere Reverse by UNESCO. Alova Gold Cruise, Halong Travel

Phu Quoc has tropical monsoon climate with 2 seasons: dry season and rainy season with average temperature 22 - 35 degree C. It has more than 350 years of history from 1671. Nowadays, Phu Quoc was invested with seaports, resorts, hotels and restaurants. However, it still keeps its primitive beauty of an offshore island. Phu Quoc is famous for many beautiful beaches, streams, pagodas and seafood.

Phu Quoc Travel Guide

It can be said that Phu Quoc is endowed with many beaches as beautiful as picture which can be compare to Hawaii. Blue sky, blue sea, white sand sparkling in the sunshine and tropical coconuts swaying in the wind are ready to hold any tourist's footsteps. Especially, Phu Quoc does not have several but dozen of beaches such as: Vinh Dam, Xep Nho, Dat Do, Khem, Truong, Vong, etc. Like Halong Bay, Phu Quoc is also gifted hundreds of small islets with different shapes such as: Thom, Dua, Roi, Dun, Kim Quy, etc  in An Thoi islands. South Vietnam tours

Moreover, like Cat Ba, Phu Quoc possesses a national park where reserves many rare and precious kinds of trees. Several streams such as Da Ban, Tranh with spectacular scenery will be great places for visitors to take photos.

It would be a shortcoming if talking to Phu Quoc without mentioning food here. Being wrapped by the tropical sea, Phu Quoc is abundant of marine resources with fish, shrimp, squid, crabs. Nothing will be greater than sitting on the beaches, hearing the waves, watching the sea at night, smelling the fragrant aroma of baked oysters, grilled squid. Visitors who want to buy something as present for family or friends will have variety of choices such as its fish sauce, pepper, pearls, wine and hundreds of seafood which will satisfy all the tourists’ needs.

Overall, if you are looking for a place as beautiful as heaven, as primitive as the land in the Bible, Phu Quoc is exactly where you want to go. A journey to Phu Quoc absolutely will be an unforgettable memory in your life.

Top 5 Things To Do In Hue in Vietnam

Somewhat surprisingly Vietnam’s central cities aren’t on every traveller’s radar even though they are home to some of Vietnam’s most interesting architecture and history. Located on the banks of the Perfume River, Hue is home to a variety of war-torn temples, tombs and palaces, many of which were the homes and places of worship of Nguyen-era emperors. Many of the buildings and structures in Hue are still quite damaged, giving it the feel of a modern-day Pompeii, despite mass tourism. However, there have been some efforts to restore buildings in Hue since 1990 when the area was declared a World Heritage site. Centre Vietnam tours

Don’t miss out, make sure you include a trip to Hue in the North Central Coast district on your Vietnam travel itinerary. Hue sits in the Thua Thien Province and is about 700 km south of Hanoi and about 1,100 km north of Ho Chi Minh City, aka Saigon. And Vietnam has just been named as the fastest growing tourist destination.

Imperial Citadel (Dai Noi)

Built in the early 19th century, circa 1804, by thousands of labourers at the request of Emperor Gia Long, the Imperial City and Citadel was a massive structure, large enough that a 10 kilometer moat was constructed to surround and protect it. Modelled after the Forbidden City in Beijing, the Imperial City and Citadel was designed to be the royal quarters of Emperor Long. When the last Emperor of Vietnam stepped down the structure had expanded to include hundreds of rooms. While quite grand in scale, many of the buildings were in a state of disrepair due to typhoon and termite damage. In 1968 the Imperial City and Citadel were bombed by American forces during the Vietnam War, demolishing most of the buildings. In 1993 the Imperial Citadel and the collective ‘Complex of Hué Monuments’ was declared a UNESCO site, and some of the buildings have been restored for historical preservation. Paradise Luxury Cruise, Halong Travel

Tu Duc Tomb

Emperor Tu Duc, the longest reigning Emperor in Vietnamese history isn’t actually buried at the site of the Tu Duc Tomb, pictured above. Completed nearly 20 years before his death in 1883, the building of the Tu Duc tomb required so much funding and labor that there was actually a coup against Tu Duc in 1866. Near the site you’ll find his epitaph, inscribed on a piece of stone brought from a quarry over 500 miles away from the site. The journey took workers four years to complete. Tu Duc had to write his epitaph himself because he was unable to father a son before he became sterile because of smallpox, despite his many wives and concubines. While the Tu Duc tomb is recognized as the Emperor’s official resting place the actual burial site is still unknown. The 200 labourers who prepared the actual burial site were beheaded by the King after burying the body.

• SONG XANH CRUISE

An Dinh Palace

The architecturally stunning An Dinh Palace was the residence of the Nguyen dynasty and was built in early 20th century and is one of Hue’s best known historic sites, although it isn’t often included on mainstream itineraries. The An Dinh Palace, built in the typical style, was restored several years ago and a new project to fully restore the surrounding three storey buildings will return the An Dinh palace to a primary tourist spot.

Situated on the bank of An Cuu River in Hue City’s Phu Nhuan ward, the An Dinh Palace was commissioned by King Dong Khanh and at the time called Phung Hoa, as a gift for the Crown Prince Nguyen Phuc Buu Dao. When the Prince was made King in 1916 the palace took on the current name and passed through the family until the palace was presented to the Revolutionary government. Sadly the palace fell into severe disrepair until 2001 when the palace underwent extensive restoration in readiness for hosting the 2002 Hue Festival. An Dinh Palace also hosted the 2004, 2006 and 2008 Hue Festivals.

Following the next stage of restoration, ancient artefacts and works of art that portray the Nguyen Dynasty’s royal lifestyle will be displayed. This project is a part of the drive to preserve and restore the history, culture and architecture of Hue City. Earlier this year the center unveiled a 3D project which shows the heritage and architecture in its full glory.

Minh Mang Temple

Take a boat ride up the Perfume River to the Minh Mang Temple which is a fine example of an emperor’s tomb. The Minh Mang Temple is located about 12km outside of Hue City, on the West Bank so the Perfume River in Cam Ke Hill. Construction began in 1840 and during the build Minh Mang actually passed away. Hi son completed the works and his father was interred in the temple as requested. The temple is also part of the UNESCO-recognised Hue complex.

Perfume River Tour

Hire a boat for a day and take a trip along the Perfume River to explore the various Tombs of the Emperors. Dating from the 19th century, the best preserved examples are the Tomb of Tu Duc and The Tomb of Minh Mang already listed above. In addition there are wonderful examples of Vietnamese architecture including the Tomb of Khai Dinh, the remote ruins of the Tomb of Gia Long and the Tomb of Thieu Tri which was built in 1848. There is also the Tomb of Dong Khanh which was constructed in 1917 and the Tomb of Khai Dinh which is the best preserved tomb along the river.

When to visit to Hue

If you’ve never been to Vietnam or Southeast Asia before, visiting Hue during the Festival of Hue may be the best time to visit since there will be many international travelers there and you may feel more comfortable navigating the city. The Festival of Hue takes place between April 8th and April 15th in even numbered years. Hotel rooms and travel amenities come at a premium during the Festival of Hue, so book your stay early to avoid high costs. Even if you don’t plan on going to Vietnam when the Festival of Hue is taking place, many people still consider February to April the best months of the year for travel to Vietnam. However, you should remember that weather can change from region to region because of opposing monsoon seasons in the north and south.

Tác dụng của tinh bột nghệ như thế nào?

Tinh bột nghệ không chỉ có công dụng giúp liền sẹo mà còn chống viêm, chống oxy hóa mạnh, mang lại rất nhiều tác dụng hữu ích khác đối với sức khỏe con người như, phòng ngừa, hỗ trợ điều trị bệnh mạn tính, làm đẹp, mang lại vóc dáng thon gọn và làn da sáng khỏe.
Trong đó đáng chú ý là bốn công dụng nổi bật của tinh bột nghệ:
+ Giúp giảm cân, lưu thông và lọc máu;
+ Giúp cơ thể chống lại các vi khuẩn sống ký sinh trong ruột, đặc biệt tốt cho hệ tiêu hóa;
+ Giúp chống ung thư, kháng viêm, giảm nguy cơ nhiễm trùng;
+ Giúp khử trùng, mau lành vết thương.


Khi sử dụng cần lưu ý phải đúng cách để nghệ phát huy hết tác dụng.
- Đề phòng nguy cơ ung thư ruột: Uống tinh bột nghệ đen đúng cách và sử dụng thường xuyên tinh bột nghệ với mật ong sẽ giúp bạn có thể giảm được nguy cơ ung thư ruột. Hiện nay, các chuyên gia sức khỏe Hoa Kỳ đang tiến hành một cuộc thử nghiệm điều trị bệnh ung thư ruột bằng một loại thuốc được chế biến từ củ nghệ.

- Chữa bệnh viêm khớp: Tinh bột nghệ có tác dụng giảm đau khi bạn bị chứng viêm khớp quấy nhiễu. Cách làm rất đơn giản, đun nóng một cốc sữa, trước khi sôi, bắc xuống cho một thìa cà phê bột nghệ vào rồi khuấy đều. Mỗi ngày uống ba lần, bạn sẽ thấy hiệu quả bất ngờ.

- Khi gặp rắc rối với tiêu hóa: Nghiên cứu cho thấy, Tinh bột nghệ có thể kích thích tiêu hóa và giải phóng ra các emzim tiêu hóa, phá vỡ liên kết cacbonhydrat và các chất béo. Chính vì thế, trong trường hợp bị đau bụng, một cốc trà nghệ sẽ giúp ích cho bạn rất nhiều. Bạn có thể dùng bột sắn dây

Tác dụng của tinh bột nghệ như thế nào?

- Ngăn ngừa ung thư tuyến tiền liệt: Ăn nhiều rau xanh kết hợp với Tinh bột nghệ có thể ngăn ngừa được nguy cơ ung thư tuyến tiền liệt. Các nhà khoa học tại New Jersey đã chứng minh rằng, kết hợp ăn nghệ với bông cải xanh, cải xoắn, củ cải và bắp cải có thể bảo vệ bạn chống lại căn bệnh chết người này.

- Đề phòng bệnh tim: Bạn có thể giảm hàm lượng cholesterol độc hại trong máu và có khả năng chống lại chứng xơ vữa động mạch bằng tinh bột nghệ.

- Giảm nguy cơ với người hút thuốc: Bằng cách "nạp" vào cơ thể 1,5g Tinh bột nghệ mỗi ngày chỉ trong vòng một tháng, bạn sẽ thấy hiệu quả rõ rệt. Cơ thể bạn sẽ giảm đáng kể các tế bào đột biến gây ung thư.

- Bệnh ung bướu: Curcumin (thành phần hoạt chất chính trong tinh bột nghệ) có tiềm năng đáng kể như một tác nhân chống ung thư. Có rất nhiều bằng chứng trong các tài liệu cho thấy rằng tỷ lệ mắc và tỷ lệ tử vong của các loại phổ biến của bệnh ung thư như vú, tuyến tiền liệt, ruột kết và phổi thấp hơn đáng kể ở Ấn Độ hơn so với những người ở các quốc gia phương Tây như Hoa Kỳ. Tỷ lệ mắc ung thư thấp hơn ở Ấn Độ đã được quy cho mức tiêu thụ chất curcumin cao (trong các loại nghệ) của người dân Ấn Độ. Tất nhiên, các thành phần khác của chế độ ăn uống của họ như tỏi, gừng, hành tây, cà chua, các loại rau, ớt, trà xanh ... cũng có thể đóng một vai trò quan trọng trong khả năng của họ để chống lại sự tấn công của các bệnh ung thư.

Ngoài khả năng ngừa ung thư đáng chú ý của curcumin, nó cũng cho thấy khả năng ức chế sự phát triển của bệnh ung thư khắp cơ thể - di căn (tức là quá trình mà các tế bào ung thư lây lan sang các bộ phận khác của cơ thể thông qua bạch huyết hoặc máu). Curcumin cũng làm tăng cường độ nhạy cảm của tế bào ung thư với một số các loại thuốc chống ung thư hóa trị liệu giúp tạo hiệu quả hơn trong việc chống lại căn bệnh chết người này. Khả năng chống ung thư của Curcumin chống lại ung thư vú, ung thư phổi, khối u não, ung thư máu, gan, ruột, thực quản, ung thư ruột, u ác tính, ung thư phụ khoa ... đã được chứng minh dựa trên nhiều nghiên cứu khoa học cũng như các thử nghiệm lâm sàng và tiền lâm sàng được thực hiện bởi các nhà nghiên cứu ở Mỹ, Ấn Độ, Nhật Bản, Israel, Australia, Trung Quốc và Hà Lan.

- Bệnh viêm loét dạ dày, tá tràng: Tinh bột nghệ có hoạt tính chống loét dạ dày và chống rối loạn tiêu hóa. Cao chiết từ nghệ cho thỏ uống làm giảm tiết dịch vị, tăng lượng chất nhầy trong dịch vị, bảo vệ niêm mạch dạ dày tá tràng, chống thương tổn loét gây bởi thắt môn vị và bởi stress do cầm giữ, nhịn đói và do tác dụng phụ của một số thuốc. Nghệ kích thích sản sinh chất nhầy ở thành dạ dày. Curcumin ức chế sự tạo khí trong ruột.

- Tác dụng làm đẹp da, trị mụn: Tạo mặt nạ với tinh nghệ giúp chiến đấu chống lại mụn trứng cá và mang lại làn da tươi sáng trẻ trung. Mặt nạ truyền thống này thường được các cô dâu và chú rể sử dụng trước khi đám cưới. Tinh bột nghệ làm sáng da và giúp làm giảm các nhược điểm khó coi qua đêm.

Công dụng tinh bột nghệ không chỉ dừng ở đó, Tinh bột nghệ còn có thể xóa mờ vết nhăn quanh mắt và cải thiện da bị khô và dầu.

- Tinh bột nghệ cải thiện tình trạng bị nứt gót chân: Để cứu trợ gót chân bị nứt ngay lập tức, sử dụng một hỗn hợp gồm 3 muỗng tinh bột nghệ với 3 giọt dầu dừa. Sự kết hợp này cũng sẽ giúp ngăn ngừa nhiễm trùng nấm có thể hình thành giữa các ngón chân.

- Tinh nghệ cải thiện sắc tố da: Nếu bạn bị những vết sẹo do mụn trứng cá hoặc các loại tăng sắc tố làm ảnh hưởng đến làn da, hãy sử dụng hỗn hợp gồm tinh nghệ và nước chanh đối với vùng da bị ảnh hưởng trong 20 phút. Để có kết quả tốt nhất, thoa hỗn hợp một lần một ngày.

- Tinh nghệ vàng cải thiện sức khỏe da đầu: Gàu và các vấn đề về da đầu khác có thể dễ dàng điều trị bằng tinh bột nghệ và dầu ô liu. Sử dụng hỗn hợp này đối với da đầu của bạn trong khi tắm. Để trong 15 phút, sau đó rửa hỗn hợp với một loại dầu gội tự nhiên.

Vung Tau Travel guide

Vung Tau- VietNam is one of the provinces exchanges between Vietnam and the world, systematic sea, river and air is very convenient. Besides the enormous potential is oil and gas. Ba Ria - Vung Tau has gradually asserted its strong tourism, thanks to the potential advantages of natural and human richness.

• Private 2 Days Cai Be – Vinh Long – Sa Dec – Can Tho

1, VungTau Information
Locate
Vung Tau- VietNam is a coastal city in the province of Ba Ria - Vung Tau, Southern Vietnam. Vung Tau is surrounded by the sea, there is the primeval forests, high mountains, rivers, and there are also many large lake climate here helps cool temperate year round. In the city of trees and flowers were planted everywhere. Vung Tau today has become one of the famous tourist destination of Vietnam. Vung Tau used to be a center of economic, financial, cultural and education of Ba Ria - Vung Tau Province, and is one of the economic centers of the Southeast.
Ba Ria - Vung Tau Province is a large tourist center. It has over 100km seashore with beautiful swimming beaches, as well as many lakes and thermal springs. Pelican Cruise Halong Bay
VungTau map VungTau map
Transport
Coastal city of Vung Tau is only 125km from Ho Chi Minh City, where is a great place for short trips your day. Currently, there are three facilities for traveling dust: bus, self Motorcyclist, passenger cars or go away hydrofoil. South Vietnam tours
When you go away hydrofoil, you can see the coastal mangrove forests along the way. After 1 hour 15 minutes, Peninsula Vung Tau appeared with two mountain front. An interesting way can coment the fresh air and sea breeze, especially in the late afternoon.
When you go to Vung Tau by motorcyclist or cars, you can take highway 1, you see Dong Nai bridge and turn right along highway 5. more about 100km away to Vung Tau city.
Climate

Vung Tau Travel guide

Vung Tau has 2 seasons:
Dry season (November to April): dry and cold during the winter months and before / after New Year's Day. Hotter than in April.
Rainy season (May to October): rain, but Vung Tau is less rainy than in HCMC. Normally, Vung Tau is hot in the afternoon until 3 PM.
Culture- Social
Vung Tau represents the best mix of religion and became a pronounced features are worth noting. Culture of Ba Ria - Vung Tau is a harmonious combination of both the North - Central - South . So , like other provinces in Vietnam , Ba Ria - Vung Tau has many folk festivals : Dinh Co Festival , festival Nghinh He , the Spirit Festival August ... Multi -ethnic community resources has contributed to enrich and create the appearance characteristic of cultural factors in the sea here.

2, Some of the major tourist attractions in Vung Tau- Viet Nam are:
Long Hai beach is a coastal city near Long Dien district about 20km from Vung Tau.Vung Tau has Small sea, but Long Hai beach very clean, cool water and golden sand runs pretty quiet. In addition, Long Hai has a ancient Temple which is Dinh Co Here is one of three famous traditional festival in Vietnam.

Con Dao is known as Con Dao prison. Con Dao prison is a prison area in Con Dao. Prison system was built by the French to detain prisoners especially dangerous such as political prisoners, prisoners ... Now, it has been the prime minister Vietnam into ranked lists 23 national monuments special. The most famous places in the prison's "tiger cages".
In addition, you can go to Con Dao National Park. Con Dao National Park is a protected area located north of Con Dao District , Ba Ria - Vung Tau province. This national park covers an area the island and surrounding sea areas. Marine ecosystems of Con Dao is also rich and diversity with 1,321 marine species , including 23 species of mangrove plants , 127 species of seaweed , 7 species of seagrass , 157 species of planktonic plants , 115 species planktonic animals , 219 species of coral , 5 species of mammals and 37 species of reptiles sea ... named in the Vietnam Red Book . Many species have high economic value such as fisheries , seaweed . The rare marine mammals such as whales green ( Neophon phocaenoides ) , dugongs ( Orcaella brevirostric ) , fish bow ( Dugon dugong ) . Especially Con Dao is also spawning grounds of several species of sea turtles.

Binh Chau hot springs is in Xuyen Moc district . Binh Chau has been attracting investors and tourists , because it has a nature conservation area , hot springs , Tam Bo mountain, Ho Coc beach. Binh Chau is " green lungs " of the Southeast region , the advantages of convergence biodiversity where there are rare . So , Binh Chau is not only attractive address the activities of scientific research , environmental education , tourism attractions but also the center of trade between the two provinces of Ba Ria - Vung Tau and Binh Thuan provinces .

3, Specialty
while in Vung Tau, people should try to eat some particular specialty here such as: Khot cake, shrimp pudding, Russian-style barbecue, wheel question An Nhat, bread soup Long Huong…..