With
the fast approach of winter in town, most Hanoi lovers are seeking new
places for snack food and their most iconic wintry dishes are nem chua
ran (fried fermented pork), banh mi thit xien (grilled pork with toast),
or banh chuoi (fried banana cake).
The
best food shops in Hanoi are tucked away in very small places, or on
really narrow stretches of pavement. It is a common thing to see
formally dressed gentlemen sitting in low chairs for their breakfast
bowl of pho—an interesting Hanoi eating style. But we are not talking
about pho or bun cha, since these great dishes have been introduced to
the world many times over. This beautiful city has a lot more to offer
those who want to eat like a local.
Pieces of Nem chua are peeled from their banana leaf wrappings, skewered on bamboo, and grilled over charcoal. 
Customers
sit on plastic chairs while eating and watch the bustle of the streets.
The spicy, sour, sweet, and peppery flesh tastes especially apt in
winter’s freezing air. This dish is especially popular among teenagers,
who are lucky enough to remain undaunted by its somewhat oily nature.
Two very popular addresses for nem chua ran are along the very narrow
Tạm Thuong (Hang Bong street) and the areas around Nha Chung.
The second dish on my list of favourites is thit xien nuong.
The hot meal is typically authentic Vietnamese fast food, easily found
in Quang Trung or Ta Quang Buu Street. If you have a chance to visit the
Quang Trung location in the afternoon, you should not be surprised by
the crowds enjoying their snack food. Fresh and lean pork is grilled
until it becomes soft and aromatic. It is a perfect match with toast and
pickles.
Unlike the savoury nem chua ran and thit xien nuong, the banh chuoi delivers crispy banana-scented sweetness. 
The
banh chuoi is a popular Vietnamese dessert recipe. Its main ingredients
include banana, oil (or fat), and flour (usually wheat flour), as well
as salt, sugar, eggs, honey, or butter. It is easily found in the Old
Quarter or even made at home.
These three dishes celebrate the
purity of simplicity in the quintessential style of Northern Vietnam.
They’re a delicious fast track to much-needed winter warmth, and once
you sample even a little, you will always return for more. So goes the
saying “less is more”.
(Source: VOV)
Ha Giang Province is famous for Dong Van Geopark which is recognized as a Karst Plateau Global Geopark by UNESCO.
The
gateway to the geopark is called Quan Ba by local people meaning
skydoor due to its height and the fact that fog always covers the top,
which makes people think it is the door to the sky.
Not only that but it has a magnificent panoramic view of Tam Son City appearing in the green valley below.
It is also the perfect spot to appreciate the beautiful Fairy Twin Mountains which lie in among the rice fields.
Its
reverse bowl shape has made the Twin Mountains special from other
mountains. The mountains resemble a woman’s breasts - that’s why in
local language they call them fairy twins.
It takes around half
an hour from Tam Son City to Quan Ba skydoor. The road is poor and is
full of large trucks which slow your speed considerably as you have to
be very careful to avoid accidents. Tourists can stay at Tam Son City
which has nice hotels and restaurants.
In addition to Quan Ba
skydoor and Fairy Twin Mountains, tourists may find it interesting to go
to Quan Ba market day or the Hop Tien Weaving village of H’Mong
minority people.
(Source: SGT)
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The
historical province of Ninh Binh comprises of three different types of
landscape - wetlands, coastal delta and uplands - and is endowed with
many places of interest for tourists such as Tam Coc-Bich Dong Grotto,
Cuc Phuong National Park and Van Long Nature Reserve.
The
three old pagodas on Bich Dong, a grotto located in the Ngu Hanh Son
mountain range, in Dam hamlet, Minh Hai commune, Hoa Lu district is
particularly interesting. A short boat trip will take tourists to a
beautiful landscape with canals meandering between high rocks and
grottoes.
In the 18th century King Tu Duc visited Bich Dong.
Charmed by the marvelous scenery offered by the mountains, rivers and
cliff top pagodas, the King conferred on Bich Dong the title of ‘the
Second Most Beautiful Grotto in Vietnam’.
The number one grotto title belongs to Huong Tich Grotto in Ha Tay, Hanoi.
Tam
Coc-Bich Dong Tourist Area in Ninh Hai Commune, Hoa Lu District in Ninh
Binh Province is a very popular area and in comparison with Tam Coc
Grotto, Bich Dong is less popular but it would be a mistake to miss out.
We
were keen to visit Bich Dong but we were surprised that there were no
monks or Buddhist nuns near the pagoda – we were met instead by some
local boat hirers on Hoang Long River. Bich Dong Cave is surrounded by
Hoang Long River and features a lot of lotus which sets the area into a
romantic and peaceful space.
Along the path to the pagoda, we
were amazed by a limestone mountain ahead with a space for many green
trees below. On the road are many souvenir vendors waiting for tourists’
curiosity and admiration and cash of course.
Visiting Bich Dong
Pagoda, you will have chance to learn about the architecture style as
well as the traditional values, which are contained in each construction
in the complex. The first destination to be visited is the Ha (Lower)
Pagoda, which is situated right at the foot of the mountain. The pagoda
features special patterns of roofs. The roofs curve like the tail of
phoenix and the remains of traditions and history can be seen on crags,
steles, and trees.
The Pagoda worships Tam Bao, Buddha and the
three monks Tri Kien, Tri The, Tri Tam – who had great contribution in
constructing and upgrading this pagoda.
After visiting Ha Pagoda,
you will reach Trung (Middle) Pagoda. The path leading to this pagoda
is covered by the shade of huge trees. Trung Pagoda was constructed
according to a popular pagoda model. The main presbytery is the Buddha
altar with a big calligraphic character, which has the inscription “Linh
Son Phat Hoi”. On the right hand side is a path leading to the Toi
Grotto (the Dark Grotto). Moving through the 20 steps, tourists will see
a copper bell and a bridge where the victims of injustice ask for
justice.
It is said that such people who were unjustly treated
ring the bell three times, then they will be relieved of their pain. In
the French colonial period, this was a place where weapons were produced
for Vietnamese patriots.
The stalactites in the Dark Grotto,
under the invisible hand of nature, form magical shapes among the gloomy
light. The strange and interesting shapes there have become part of
folklore due to the imaginations of local people. The Dark Grotto
worships the Buddha and the Mau Thuong Ngan with stalactites shaped like
a whale and a turtle’s shell.
Upon getting out of the Dark
Grotto, take 30 more steps and tourists will reach the Thuong (Upper)
Pagoda (it is also referred to as the East Pagoda since it faces the
east). This is the smallest-scale pagoda among the three pagodas
mentioned here since it only worships Phat Ba Quan Am. The temples of
the God of Mountain and of Land are located at the two sides of the
pagoda. From there, you will have a wonderful view of the beautiful
landscape, peaceful villages, the beauty of the mountain and forest that
nature has blessed the land of Ninh Binh.
The location for this
pagoda was chosen in 1428 after two monks were charmed by the view of
the river and the mountains. Later, King Le Canh Hung wrote a poem in
honor of the beautiful pagoda and landscape.
(Source: SGT)
Since
being recognized as one of the 30 most beautiful bays in the world in
2009, Lang Co Bay has become a very popular stop for both international
and local tourists.
Covering
10km, Lang Co beach located in Lang Co Town, Phu Loc district, Thua
Thien-Hue Province is next to National Highway 1A and near Hai Van Pass.
It
is considered an ideal place for beach lovers. Lying on the most
beautiful curve of the country, Lang Co has almost everything that
nature can offer with green mountains and tropical forests, smooth white
sand, a cool, blue and crystal clear sea.
It can be said that
nobody can resist the natural beauty of Lang Co town. This small and
peaceful town will give you the most relaxing time as well as the chance
to play many beach games.
In addition, you will have a good time
enjoying seafood with various kinds of shrimp, lobster, crab,
butter-fish, mackerel and oysters and not far from the beach are some
attractions such as Lang Co fishing Village and Chan May scenery.
Lying
on the Central Heritage Road, Lang Co is very close to other famous
attractions such as the Imperial City of Hue, Hoi An Ancient Town, Son
Tra Peninsula where the famous Son Tra Natural Reserve and beautiful
beaches are located.
The beauty of Lang Co Bay, Hai Van Pass, Bach Ma National Park and a fishing village in this area always attract many tourists.
Lang
Co Town also has many resorts at many levels for tourist accommodation
such as Lang Co-Huong Giang Resort, Laguna Lang Co Resort, Thanh Tam,
Lang Xanh and Co Do Lang Co tourist areas.
(Source: SG
Read More…
Hoi
An has been trading with the outside world since almost the 15th
century. Once one of the busiest ports in all of South East Asia, the
docksides of this relatively small central Vietnamese town were once
awash with the sound of Chinese, Japanese, American, European and
Indonesian traders, all bringing their wares to Vietnam’s doorstep.
Warehouses strained under the weight of the orient’s finest silks and
spices. Everything, from elephant tusks to beeswax, from paper to
porcelain, was brought here and from here to the world.
Hoi
An still maintains a brisk trade with all its old business partners.
However, it’s now Hoi An’s cash tills rather than its docks that ring to
the sound of international commerce. Hoi An, with its traditional
housing and narrow streets, all unspoilt by the passage of time, is a
tourist mecca. Apart from the faces, little has changed in Hoi An since
its commercial hey day. The nations of the globe still flock here, now
to wander its ancient streets and marvel at a piece of Vietnam’s living
history.
Hoi An’s close relation to the rest of the world has
worked to define the very bones of the town. Chinese and Japanese
traders, particularly, extended their long stays in port to establish
permanent agencies here from which to manage their trade. From these
beginnings, sprang the first permanent Chinese settlement in Southern
Vietnam, whose congregational assembly halls still draw both the
descendants of those early Chinese traders and tourists alike.
It
was the links between Hoi An’s native Chinese and Japanese communities
that was to give the town its most famous icon; the Japanese Covered
Bridge. Built in the 1590s by the Japanese to connect them to their
Chinese neighbours on the far side of the rivulet, The Japanese Covered
Bridge has been drawing visitors ever since. Within its narrow walls,
around halfway across, stands the temple of the northern God Tran Vo Bac
De, critically for sailors, the God of weather. One legend about the
bridge is that it as built to subdue the enormous ‘mamazu’ dragon
monster, whose global reach stretched from its head in India to its tail
in Japan, the movement of which was supposed to cause earthquakes.
Vietnam, and principally Hoi An, was thought to sit across its back, so
building the bridge at this spot would pin the Mamazu down and protect
those the traders and settlers had left behind.
However,
Hoi An, and its surrounds, date back further than the international
trade which later came to define the town. Around 55km outside of Hoi
An’s centre can be found the ruins of My Son, once the political and
religious centre of the Champa Kingdom. The Cham, who still exist within
Vietnam today, once ruled the central provinces of modern Vietnam
before being absorbed by the Vietnamese in around the 17th Century. My
Son, the most significant and extensive Champa sites in Vietnam, dates
back to the 4th -10th Century and its Indian influenced ruins are an
easy motorbike ride away.
Though it may seem suffocated by the
sheer number of tourists who make their way here, Hoi An’ beauty -
unspoilt by either time or war - still offers visitors a unique glimpse
into Vietnam’s historic past. To walk Hoi An’s historic streets is to
walk in the footsteps of those traders and merchants who built so much
of this town and, in their own way, helped to shape the Vietnam of
today.
(Source: SGT)
The
way of making and drinking Lotus or Jasmine tea is the treasured custom
of Vietnamese people. Every cup of natural flower-scented tea captures a
fraction of Vietnam’s rich and vibrant culture.
The
Vietnamese habit of taking tea, betel, or a cigarette as a prelude to
conversation is even referenced in the folk saying "a quid of betel and
areca-nut starts the ball rolling".
Drinking tea, once restricted to the noble classes of society, is now enjoyed by people from all walks of life.
This
practice shows to the liberal character of the people’s soul and
mannerism. They manifest a belief in the importance of pleasure.
Drinking tea is a preliminary ritual for a wide range of important
occasions, including conducting business, scholarly meditation, getting
acquainted, serving guests at home or at parties, romance, and sometimes
just to satisfy one’s thirst.
Tea, known as “trà” in
Vietnamese, can be divided into three kinds—dried tea leaves, tea
combined with herbal remedies, and tea scented with flowers—each
possessed to best advantage. For green tea people prefer brewing it hot
and strong and sometimes flavoured with lotus, jasmine, or chrysanthemum
flowers. The therapeutic and medicinal functions of tea are well known
for its incongruously cooling effect in both hot and cold weather
conditions.
The unique and exquisite lotus tea is one variety
especially popular during Tet –Vietnam’s traditional Lunar New Year
festival. The people of Tràng An (ancient Hanoi people) were
renowned their lotus tea making and drinking. The lotus is seen as a
pure and serene flower that gathers the essence of heaven and earth in
its scent.
Drinking lotus tea is an elegant feature of Hanoi
lifestyle. Locals say they have to pick lotus flowers when they are just
in bloom and keep the petals and pistils fresh without a single rip of
tear-for a painstaking process of mixing them with green tea leaves many
times. It is believed that the best lotus flowers are collected from
the ponds of Quảng Bá village near West Lake in Hanoi or from Tịnh Tâm
Lake in Huế City because the blossoms grow larger and more fragrant.
Jasmine
tea, also made from green tea leaves but scented with jasmine flowers,
requires special preparations. The jasmine flowers are harvested during
the day and stored in a cool place until nightfall to preserve their
full fragrance. They are then layered over green tea leaves and every
step of the scenting process is done by hand.
The Vietnamese
regard drinking tea as a gesture of hospitality that binds people
together. They often invite their friends or neighbours to come over for
a chat over a small cup of tea that is commonly sipped to savour its
delicious aftertaste.
Nowadays, young Vietnamese generations are
inclined to seek the comfort of nostalgia by learning the intricacies
of their cultural tradition.
(Source: VOV)
Around
15 kilometers from Dalat City, Nui Voi-Da Tien Tourist Area in my
opinion is a paradise for travelers, as it is unlike any tourist areas
in the city of mist and pine trees.
I
departed from the road from Prenn Pass through Truc Lam Zen Monastery,
riding around Tuyen Lam Lake then upon the area. The windy and winding
road is really interesting to conquer.
‘Da Tien’ (fairy rock) is
two rocks in the shape of two male fairies playing chess. The greenness
of the pine forest and grass-yards are dotted with some colorful wild
flowers.
Tourists can hire a boat to take a cruise around the
lake under the sunset to enjoy the romance and calmness of nature. To
relax and put fun at the top of your agenda, travelers can hire a
fishing rod at VND30,000 with bait to catch some fish for dinner. For
others who want to explore the forest and winding roads, they can hire
an elephant at VND30,0000 per hour.
After that you can enjoy
some specialties in some long stilt traditional houses of Ede people
with gong shows or chat with K’Ho people around the fire. All will make
you ignore the darkness coming over the misty city and the chill of the
wind.
The amazing thing is that tourists will be taken to a little wooden tree-house halfway up a giant tree to sleep in overnight.
You
might be a little apprehensive at first but it does have a toilet and
bathroom. Lying in the house like a bird cage you will hear the whistles
from the wind through the leaves and buzz of insects.
Early
morning when you are awakened by the twitters of birds, you should take a
visit to Voi Waterfall and stroll around the village to explore more of
the ethnic culture there.
(Source: VietNamNet/SGT)
Read More…
The
northern district of Nam Dan is not only interesting for its ancient
rock field but also for its colorful market day, which is a flurry of
activity every Saturday morning.
It
is located in Xin Man commune, Ha Giang Province and visitors are
recommended to visit this beautiful area at least once. They can reach
the area by using the road that goes through Deo Gio hill and leads to
the beautiful Xin Man ladder rice field.
Market day attracts not
only minority people of H’Mong and Dao but also the Kinh, the biggest
ethnic group in Vietnam to purchase goods.
At the market,
visitors can find local agricultural products and some consumer goods
imported from China. If they are lucky, visitors can find some rare
herbal goods that minority people locate in the pristine forest nearby.
The
market also serves hot breakfast and lunch featuring a tasty noodle and
pork dish. Note the market only takes place on Saturday mornings.
(Source: SGT)
