Vietnam Tour - HCM tours - The South

Ho Chi Minh City - Overview

Area: 2,095.2 sq. km
Population: 5,891,100 habitants (2005)
Administrative divisions:
- Districts: District 1, District 2, District 3, District 4, District 5, District 6, District 7, District 8, District 9, District 10, District 11, District 12, Tan Binh, Binh Thanh, Phu Nhuan, Thu Duc, Go Vap, Binh Tan,Tan Phu.
- Rural districts: Nha Be, Can Gio, Hoc Mon, Cu Chi, Binh Chanh.
Ethnic groups: Viet (Kinh), Hoa, Khmer, Cham...

Tourism
Today, Ho Chi Minh City is the big tourism center in Vietnam, attracting a large of visitors to Vietnam. Ho Chi Minh City has various attractions as Ho Chi Minh Museum, formerly known as Dragon House Wharf, Cu Chi Tunnels, system of museums, theatres, cultural houses... Recently, many tourist areas are invested such as Thanh Da, Binh Quoi Village, Dam Sen Park, Saigon Water Park, Suoi Tien, Ky Hoa..., which draw numerous tourists.

Despite its quite recent past, Ho Chi Minh City nevertheless possesses various beautiful buildings, displaying a characteristic combination of Vietnamese, Chinese and European cultures. These include Nha Rong (Dragon House Wharf), Quoc To Temple (National Ancestors Temple), Xa Tay (Municipal Office), Ho Chi Minh Municipal Theatre as well as many pagodas and churches (Vinh Nghiem, Giac Vien, Giac Lam, Phung Son pagodas...). After more than 300 years of development, Ho Chi Minh City presents many ancient architectural constructions, famous vestiges and renowned sights. It is remarkable for its harmonious blending of traditional national values with northern and western cultural features.

What to see in HCMC?

Thien Hau pagoda

Time: The 23rd day of the third lunar month. Place: 710 Nguyen Trai Street, District 5, Ho Chi Minh City.
Objects of worship: Lady Thien Hau.
Characteristics: The via Ba (her birthday anniversary) ceremony is hold at Thien Hau Pagoda, which is one of the oldest pagodas of the Chinese in Cho Lon. Many Chinese people come to the festival, they make two effigies of Ong Thien (Good God) and Ong Ac (Evil God) with 3m long. At the end of the festival, the effigies are burned for worshipping.

Ben Thanh market

Location: Ben Thanh Market is situated at the intersection of Le Loi Avenue, Ham Nghi Avenue, Tran Hung Dao Avenue and Le Lai Street, 700m south-west of the Rex Hotel.
Characteristics: At first, the market was situated near the Ben Nghe River Dike. After being moved many times, it is now standing in the centre of the city where consumers can conveniently find all sorts of products.
According to Vuong Hong Sen, author of "the book Saigon of the Past", in 1912, the French filled a pond, the Boresse, into a solid foundation of 12,000m² and built a market on it. The market was close to a landing stage (Ben) of the old city (Thanh), hence its name of Ben Thanh. The opening ceremony for the market in March 1914 was a big festive event.

At present, the front of Ben Thanh Market faces Quach Thi Trang Square; its rear faces Le Thanh Ton Street; its right, Phan Chu Trinh Street and its left, Phan Boi Chau Street. At all of its four sides, there are bustling trading shops. Located at the centre of the city, Ben Thanh Market is always loaded with varieties of goods, such as consumer goods, cakes and candies, food and foodstuff, and particularly high-quality fruit and vegetables. Goods are displayed in a very attractive way that always catches the eyes of the buyers. They meet all requirements for the customers' daily life or for their families. The market has four gates that are very convenient for the market-goers. For all of its advantages, Ben Thanh Market is one of the most attractive tourist sites in the city for both domestic and foreign visitors.

Cho Lon market

Location: Cho Lon is located at Tran Hung Dao Street, District 5, Ho Chi Minh City.In 1788, a group of Chinese from Pho and My Tho Islands came to Ben Nghe River Dike and founded a market which developed into the existent Cholon Market, offering a wide array of products. This is Vietnam's Chinatown market. It is an attractive site for visitors to observe that lively atmosphere.

Giac Lam pagoda

Location: Giac Lam Pagoda is located at 118 Lac Long Quan Street, Tan Binh District, Ho Chi Minh City.
Characteristic: It is one of the city's oldest pagodas with many Buddha statues made of brass and precious timber.
Giac Lam Pagoda (also known as the Cam Son or Cam Dien Pagoda) was built in 1744, under the reign of Lord Nguyen Phuc Khoat. Unlike many other local religious structures, it has not been renovated since 1900; the architecture, layout, and ornamentation remain almost unaltered. The scenery around the pagoda is picturesque and many people come here to write or recite poetry.
Standing in the front garden is a shining white statue of the Goddess of Mercy, perched upon a lotus blossom, a symbol of purity. Inside, on either side of the main altar, are statues of Ameda Buddha and Sakyamuni Buddha, along with more representations of the Goddess of Mercy. Giac Lam Pagoda is open from 6 am to 9 pm.

Duc Ba Cathedral

Location: Duc Ba Cathedral is located on Han Thuyen Street, facing down Dong Khoi Street, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City.
Characteristic: The resplendent Governor's Palace, completed in 1875, symbolized the regime's political power in Asia. And five years later, the Duc Ba (Our Lady's) Cathedral was inaugurated, and became the spiritual and cultural crucible of the French presence in the Orient.

After the first French colonizing force arrived in Vietnam in the mid - 19thcentury, it took only 21 years before the country had a cathedral to match the hulking Gothic edifices of France itself. The cathedral is supposed to represent the glory of the French Empire. Yet, as is always the case with colonization, this attempt to import French traditions into Vietnam transformed the colonizers' culture in the process. Even though the cathedral is built in a Western architectural style, it has a uniquely Eastern aspect.

Several architects put forward design proposals for the cathedral, but in 1877 the authorities selected Mr Bourard, who was famed for his religious architecture. He envisaged, and executed, a basilica-like structure with a square plan. The cathedral is composed of two main central bays with two sidereal corridors, with tall pillars and light coming in through sets of high windows, and a semi-circular shrine. The style follows a Roman pattern, although the outside contains some modifications: the cathedral's vaults are Gothic, and a modern steel skeleton supports the whole building.

The whole building is well-ventilated thanks to a system of air-holes placed above and under the windows. The belfry is 57m high. For a long time it was the highest structure in the city centre, and was the first thing an arriving traveller would see when approaching the city by boat. Six bells weigh a combined 25,850kg. In 1885, the floor was taken apart and new pillars were added, because the original foundation could not bear the cathedral's weight. Stepping inside the cathedral, tourists see a line of Chinese characters eulogizing the Jesus' mother, "the innocent and unblemished Virgin Mother", and stained-glass portraits of Vietnamese believers amid Asiatic plants. On the square in front of the cathedral, there is a statue of the Virgin Mother made of white marble, symbolizing peace. All told, it's an unusual building: a Western architectural and religious style that has been transplanted into, and adapted to, the East. The colonizers were trying to impose French beliefs and customs onto Vietnam but once that culture arrived on Asia's shores, it took on a life of its own. The cathedral is seen as a unique synthesis, adding an unmistakable Oriental flavour to an ancient Occidental recipe.

For more information about attraction, accommodation, shopping in  HCMC or Saigon city - click to the Best Vietnam Travel Guide

Vietnam travel - HUE tours - The central

Hue citadel City

 

Area: 70.99 sq. km
Population: 311,641 habitants (2002)
Administrative Division:
- Wards: Phu Nhuan, An Cuu, Truong An, Phuoc Vinh, Vinh Ninh, Phu Hoi, Xuan Phu, Vy Da, Tay Loc, Thuan Loc, Thuan Thanh, Thuan Hoa, Kim Long, Phu Hoa, Phu Cat, Phu Hiep, Phu Hau, Phu Binh, Phu Thuan and Phuong Duc.
- Communes: Thuy An, Huong Long, Huong So, Thuy Xuan, Thuy Biều.
Ethnic groups: Viet (Kinh)

Hue City is one of places which have many cultural heritage. Up to now, there is no place like Hue remaining a lot of originally historical vestiges as in this ancient Capital City.

On the northern bank of Perfume River has relics consisting of palaces, which were constructed as arc defensive ramparts with 11km length. This valuable construction includes more than 100 architectural works which were extremely reflected the life of Emperors and mandarins under reign of Nguyen.

Situated in the middle of hills on the southern bank of Perfume River are very beautiful tombs of Kings Nguyen. Among these tombs are the four famous ones with the name and the arrangements of the tomb reflected each Emperor's points of view, personality and tastes. This is majestic Gia Long Tomb, imposing Minh Mang Tomb, poetic Tu Duc Tomb and magnificent Khai Dinh Tomb.

 

 

Hue is also an important center of Buddhism. In Hue and its surrounding still exist tens of pagodas constructed more 300 years ago, and a hundred of temples and pagodas built in the early century. Besides, Hue is a place where the royal music is originated, and a place with traditional famous dishes and sophisticated handicraft.

 

As a unique city of Vietnam still remains its form of City under Middle Age and the constructions of monarchic, Hue has become a big and invaluable museum. Therefore, vestiges in Hue ancient capital have been classified by the government as a very precious property and on December 1993 Hue has been recognized as a World Cultural Heritage Site by UNESCO.

Cheap tours cambodia

Cambodia History By the 12th century, Cambodia had spread into other areas, now known as Thailand, Laos, Myanmar and Malaysia (the peninsula). There is actually still evidence of Khmer inhabitance in Thailand and Laos to this day.

Cabodia Flag

The Funan Kingdom, believed to have started around the first century BC, is the first known kingdom of Cambodia.  The kingdom was strongly influenced by Indian culture by  shaping the culture, art and political system.

An alphabetical system, religions and architectural styles were also Indian contributions to the Funan Kingdom.  There is archeological evidence of a commercial society in the Mekong Delta that prospered from the 1st to 6th centuries.

Returning from abroad, a Khmer prince declared himself the ruler of a new kingdom during the 9th century.  Known as Jayavarman II, he started a cult that honored Shiva, a Hindu god, as a devaraja (god-king) which then linked the king to Shiva.

He also began the great achievements in architecture and sculpture while his successors built an immense irrigation system around Angkor..  His successors (26 from the early 9th to the early 15th century), built a tremendous number of temples - of which there are over a thousand sites and stone inscriptions (on temple walls).

By the 12th century, Cambodia had spread into other areas, now known as Thailand, Laos, Myanmar and Malaysia (the peninsula).  There is actually still evidence of Khmer inhabitance in Thailand and Laos to this day.  

The 13th and 14th centuries were not as successful for Cambodia, some believe it was due to the increased power of (and wars with) Thai kingdoms that had at one time paid homage to Angkor.  Others believe it was due to the induction of Theravada Buddhism, which was totally contrary to the Cambodian societal structure at that time.  After this time historical records are rather sketchy at best regarding Cambodia and it is considered the "Dark Ages" of Cambodian history.

Cambodia was ravaged by Vietnamese and Thai invasions and wars up until the 19th century, when new dynasties in these countries fought over control of Cambodia.  The war, that began in the 1830's almost destroyed Cambodia.  King Norodom signed a treaty that enabled the French to be a protectorate, thus effectively stopping the Viet-Thai war within.  For the next 90 years, France in essence ruled over Cambodia.

Although officially they were just advisors, it was known that the French had final say on all topics of interest.  Although the French built roadways and made other improvements regarding trade and transportation, they sadly neglected the Cambodian educational system, which is still not effective to this day.

In 1953, Cambodia managed to gain their independence in spite of World War II and the First Indochina War.  Their independence was obtained through the political savvy of King Sihanouk.  Wanting to be released from the pressures of the monarchy, Sihanouk abdicated the throne and became a full time politician.

He started a political faction called the People's Socialist Community (Sangkum Reastr Niyum) which then won by a landslide in the 1955 national elections.  In part the success was due to his popularity, but also from police brutality at the polling stations.

In 1960, when his father died he was named head of state (up until then he'd been the prime minister).  Although he had remained neutral in a struggle between the US and USSR regarding tensions in Vietnam, he changed his position in 1965 and eliminated diplomatic relations with the US.

At the same time he allowed the Communist Vietnamese access to Cambodian soil to set up bases.  With the Cambodian economy becoming unstable, Sihanouk decided to renew his relations with the US, who were secretly planning on bombing Cambodian areas suspected of housing Vietnamese Communists.

While Sihanouk was abroad in 1970, he was ousted from power and fled to China.  General Lon Nol, the prime minister, had hoped for US aid, but the US was occupied with Vietnamese troubles and didn't help.  In the meantime, since his army was ill-equipped, they couldn't stop an invasion by the South Vietnamese, searching for North Vietnamese.

To add to Lon Nol's problems, Sihanouk had been persuaded to set up a government while in exile, called the Khmer Rouge.   The Khmer Rouge became a thorn in Lon Nol's side along with the Vietnamese until the Khmer regime collapsed.  Another contributing factor to the collapse was the repeated US bombing of the Cambodian countryside.  In 1975, the Khmer Rouge was able to take over Phnom Penh and shortly thereafter, the North Vietnamese were occupying South Vietnam. 

The Khmer Rouge felt antipathy toward Cambodians living in urban areas and forced them to the countryside where they were forced to work in various forms of agriculture.  Leading the Khmer Rouge was a man by the name of Saloth  Sar, better known as Pol Pot.  The government, Democratic Kampochea (DK), was run in part by rural Cambodians who were illiterate, but had fought along with the Khmer Rouge in the war.

The derision and ill-treatment felt towards the former city dwellers was slightly better than the treatment of anyone intellectual, religious, and those who were believed to be against the regime - their punishment was death.  During Pol Pot's (Khmer Rouge's) regime over twenty percent of Cambodia's population was murdered.

The Khmer Rouge's plan to attack Vietnam and other areas backfired when the Vietnamese surprised Cambodia with an attack of over 100,000 troops.  They were accompanied by Cambodian Communist rebels and managed to invade Phnom Penh, which had been vacated by the Khmer Rouge the day before.

The Khmer Rouge, Pol Pot among them, fled to the Thai-Cambodian border, where they were given asylum by the Thai government, which was unfriendly to Vietnam.

The Vietnamese established a regime in Cambodia that included many members of the Khmer Rouge as well as Cambodians who had fled to Vietnam before 1975.  Not to be swayed, the Khmer Rouge and it's followers created a government that was hostile to Vietnam while in exile, also known as DK.

The UN upheld this government in exile, with the support given to it by the US, China and Thailand.  With more ensuing conflicts between the two governments, many of Cambodia's finest along with the general population, totaling over half a million people, resettled in other countries.  

By the end of 1989, the Cold War had ended which had the Vietnamese exiting Cambodia.  Without financial support from the Soviets, the Vietnamese couldn't keep their troops in the country.

This withdrawal made things difficult for Cambodians, especially the prime minister, Hun Sen.  The Khmer Rouge had not disappeared, but had made their presence known and were threatening military action.  Since Cambodia was without much needed foreign aid, they discarded socialism and tried to get investors interested in the country.

 Another major change was in the country's name, it was changed to the State of Cambodia (SOC), while the KPRP (who currently ruled Cambodia) changed their name to the Cambodian People's Party.  An attempt to have a free-market economy just increased the gap between the rich and the poor with many government officials becoming millionaires.

In 1991, the UN, Cambodia, and other interested parties came to an agreement to end the Cambodian conflict.  A United Nations Transitional Authority (UNTAC) and a Supreme National Council (SNC) were formed and were comprised of members from different factions within Cambodia.   The agreement in Paris and the UN protectorate started competitive politics in Cambodia, something they hadn't seen for about 40 years.

In May 1993, UNTAC sponsored an election for the national assembly, which ended up ousting the military regime.  The Cambodians wanted a royalist party, FUNCINPEC, but Hun Sen, who won the second largest number of seats, refused to give up his power.  Fortunately a compromise was reached and a government was formed with two prime ministers,  FUNCINPEC had the first prime minister, Prince Norodom Ranariddh and Hun Sen became the second prime minister.

A name change for the country was in order, so in 1993 Cambodia became known as the Kingdom of Cambodia and Sihanouk became the king once again after ratifying a new constitution which re-established the monarchy.   After these changes were made, the UN no longer accepted the DK as the ruling party, thus causing them (the DK) to lose their seat and power in the UN.

The tentative compromise between the FUNCINPEC and the CPP fell apart in 1997 when Prince Ranariddh was overseas.  Hun Sen took advantage of the Prince's absence and organized a violent takeover to replace him.  He replaced Prince Ranariddh with another member of the FUNCINPEC, but this time with one who was more easily manipulated and compliant.  In spite of this takeover, the elections of 1998 were carried out, but not without foreign observations.

Although it was stated the voting was fair, the CPP hassled it's opposition and following the elections many were put in jail while a few others were killed.  Once again, the results were not accepted, but this time it was Prince Ranariddh who opposed it.  Yet again another compromise was reached with Hun Sen as the only prime minister and with Prince Ranariddh as the president of the national assembly.

Things are stabilizing in Cambodia, but not without the help and support of foreign aid.  With the outside world's interest waning, it's help is steadily decreasing, hich is discouraging any hopes for economic advancement and democracy.

Cheap tours Laos

Geography:

Laos is located in south-east Asia between Vietnam and Thailand. The country occupies a total area of 236,800 sq km of which 230,800 sq km is on land. It is landlocked by a 5,083 km long boundary. A map of Laos is available.
    Laos has a tropical monsoon climate - rainy season from May to November and dry season from December to April. The terrain is mostly rugged mountains with some plains and plateaus. Natural resources include timber, hydropower, gypsum, tin, gold and gemstones.


People:
    Laos has a total population of 4,569,327 (July 1993 est.). Nationals of Laos are known as Lao(s) or Laotian(s). The main ethnic groups are Lao (50%), tribal Thai (20%) and Phoutheung (15%). The predominant religion is Buddhist (85%). Laos is the official language; English and French are also spoken.


Government:
    The country is known officially as Lao People's Democratic Republic and in short, Laos. Laos is a communist state with the capital in Vientiane. Independence was gained on 19 July 1949 from France. The national holiday is on 2 December (1975). The Laos flag consists of three horizontal bands of red (top), blue (double width), and red with a large white disk centered in the blue band.


Laos Weather
Laos' wet season runs from around May to October, and as with many Southeast Asian countries, the wet season is characterised by a downpour for a few hours a day rather than all day torrential rain. While the rainy season tends to strike Laos pretty much uniformally there are a couple of regional oddities. Laos' wet season tends to hit Phongsali a little early due to it catching a bit of rain from southern China, while Hua Phan and Xieng Khuang tend to get a little early rain from Vietnam. Generally speaking, the higher you are the more rain you get, and the towns along the Mekong River south of Vientiane get the least rain.
    As with Cambodia, the most obvious effect of the wet season is damaged infrastructure. Landslides remain common, as do severly rutted roads. While the road network is generally far better (ie., sealed) than in Cambodia, the topography of Laos (pretty mountainous) lends itself to landslides -- some minor, some not-so-minor. Also, with all this rainfall, the rivers can become pretty beastly and delays due to bridges being down are not uncommon. Don't be surprised if your trip takes longer than expected.

All in all, land transport during Laos' wet season can be slow and soggy.

On the upside, it is during wet season that boat transport comes into its own. The rivers are high so the slow boats can make better pace. Along the Mekong River many of the rapids are submerged -- helping the slowboats with their deeper drafts, but if you're considering a speedboat trip, be warned the heavy rainfall brings a lot of refuse into the river, and hitting a submerged log at 50km/h can be very messy -- yet another reason not to go with the speedboats.

    Other advantages include lower temperatues, cleaner air and smaller crowds.

Laos' dry season has two distinct sub-sections -- first comes the cool dry season and then comes the hot dry season -- the former is one of the most popular times to visit Laos, the later less so. The cool dry season runs from November to February and the hot dry season from March to April. What the hot season lacks in length it makes up in ferocity -- they don't call it the hot season for nothing.

    What makes the hot season even more unbearable is the smoke factor -- from March to May farmers set fire to rice stubble and degraded (and not-so-degraded) forest to improve soil fertility in preparation for a new rice crop. The resulting fires bathe most of Laos  in a layer of smoke which, aside from ruining vistas and photos can become really irritating to the eyes. March to May in Laos -- yuck!

The cool dry season on the other hand is an excellent time to go. Temperatures are relatively low, the air is cleaner and, particularly in November and December, the rivers are high enough to make river travel a breeze. Not surprisingly, this period in Laos is the peak season.


Main Sites

THAT LUANG
Situated on the top of a hill three kilometers northeast of the town, That Luang (Great Stupa) was built in 1566 by King Setthathirat. Supposedly erected on the site of an ancient 11th century Khmer temple, That Luang is, according to a legend, the resting place of a relic of the Buddha brought to Laos in the 3rd century by Buddhist missionaries from India. That Luang is the most important national monument in Laos, a symbol of both the Buddhist religion and Lao sovereignty.


WAT SISAKET
The only temple spared by the 1827 Siamese invasion. Wat Sisaket, built in 1818 by King Anouvong, is Vientiane's oldest edifice. Small niches carved within the cloister and the main sanctuary contain 6,842 images of the Buddha in bronze, silver, wood and clay, most of which date from 16th to 19th century. The sanctuary 's inner panels are covered with 19th century murals depicting the jataka, stories of the previous lives of the Buddha. At the left of the cloister's entrance, there is a Burmese style library, which opens on to Lane Xange Avenue.


HO PHRA KEO
This former monastery, at one time the most important in Vientiane, has been transformed into a museum. Wat Ho Phra Keo was built in 1656 by King Setthathirat to house the Emerald Buddha image and to serve as the King 's personal place of worship.

This image can now be viewed in Bangkok, in a temple of the same name. In 1779 the Siamese pillaged this much-venerated image and carried it off to Siam where it remains to this day.


PATUXAI (VICTORY GATE)
Situated at the top of Lane Xang Avenue, the Triumphal Arch has little to do with its Parisian equivalent.


WAT SIMUANG
Wat Si Muang is the most heavily worsshipped in all of Vientiane, it is located at a three-way intersection where Setthathirat Road and Samsenthai Road converge to become Tha Deau Road.

Legend has it that the spot was selected in 1563 as the site for a new wat by a group of sages when King Setthathirat moved the capital to Vientiane. It is the site of la'k meuang (city pillar/phallus), the local believe this immage has the power to grant wishes or answer troubling questions.


GARDEN OF BUDDHAS
Located 25 km southeast of the capital along the banks of the Mekong River, it was built in the late 1950s by a priest who invented a syncretism doctrine mixing the Hindu and Buddhist religions. This park contains sculptures of gods from both pantheons.


ANG NAM NGUM
Nam Ngum Lake, 90 km north of Vientiane is a 250 square km artificial reservoir that has an intriguing secret beneath its surface. Travelers can enjoy sailing and fishing on this placid lake.


VANG VIENG
Dubbed the "Small Lao Guikin", Vang Vieng is located 156 km north of Vientiane on the road to Luang Prabang (Highway 13). The town is famous for its limestone cliffs peppered with caves and caverns, which are found in an area two kilometers to the southwest.


NORTH OF LAOS

LUANG PRABANG
The oldest and loveliest of Lao cities, Luang Prabang was founded between the 6th  and the 7th centuries when it bore the name Muong Sua.

In 1353 Luang Prabang became the capital of King Fa Ngum 's Kingdom, Lane Xang (the Kingdom of a Million Elephants). The king, raised at the royal court at Angkor, was presented with a golden image of the Buddha, the Phra Bang, said to have been cast in the 1st century in Sri Lanka. As Buddhism spread throughout Laos, the image became the city 's talisman, and so Muong Sue became Luang Prabang to reflect this important symbol of the new faith.

Luang Praabang is one of the most serene towns in ASEAN. Much of the towns and its pagodas are protected as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.


Main Sites

WAT XIENG THONG
Overlooking the Mekong, this temple, which was formerly used for royal ceremonies, is the city 's most striking. Constructed in 1560, the main sanctuary is amazing with its mosaics of colored mirrors, details in intricately carved wood and, above all, its graceful rooftops sloping downwards to the ground. It is one of the best examples of the Luang Prabang architectural style.


WAT MAI
This temple, dating to 1788, is famous for its five-tiered rooftop and its facade decorated with golden bas-reliefs, which depict the legend of Phravet, one of the last incarnations of the Buddha. The construction of this temple took 70 years.


MOUNT PHOUSI
The hill situated in the middle of the town affords a magnificent panoramic view of Luang Prabang and beyond. For this alone it is worth climbing the 329 steps leading to the summit, especially at sunset.


THE NATIONAL MUSEUM
The former royal palace, built from 1904 to 1909 by the French, was transformed into a museum after the 1975 revolution. It contains displays of religious objects, a collection of gifts presented to the royal family, including a moon rock from an Apollo mission presented by the United States. The pride of the collection is the famous Phra Bang Buddha image, 83 centimeters tall and weighing 50 kilograms.


Around Luang Prabang

Kuangsi Waterfall _ Located 30 kilometers from Luang Pra Bang, this is a pleasant place to spend warm afternoons swimming in a picturesque setting.

Pak Ou Caves _ This is the most popular day trip on the Mekong for visitors with limited time.

Tham Ting and Tham Poum Caves _ Located on the side of a cliff contain more than 4000 Buddha images of various shapes and sizes. Lao pilgrims traditionally come here during Lao New Year in April. On the way, you can stop at Ban Shang Hai, a rice whiskey distillery and have a swim at the foot of the cliffs near the caves.

Ban Phanom _ This village of Tai Lue weavers an ethnic group originally from Yunnan Province in China, is 4 km east of Luang Prabang. The whole village is involved in the activity of weaving silk and cotton. Their wares are solon the spot, at a small central market.


LUANG NAMTHA

A small town situated in a valley and surrounded by rice fields and deforested mountains, Luang Nam Tha is like so many places in this area recovering from war with a large modern quarter and an older sector. It looks a bit like one of those Wild West towns built along straight road. There is a colorful open-air fruit and vegetable market two blocks away from the covered market.


MUONG SING

Located 58 km from Luang Nam Tha, Muong Sing is a charming little town despite indications that the modern world is quickly making inroads. The morning market, one of the most colorful in the region, attracts a great variety of tribal minorities, including the Akha (lko) with their short skirts and their headdress decorated with old Bank of Indochina coins.


NONG KHIAW – MUONG NGOI

Divided by the Nam OU river, used to be known as Muong Ngoi. Nong Khiaw on the western bank of the river is now the more predominant part of the town as it has the boat pier. Muong Ngoi, on the other side of the bridge, offers a great view of the river. This picturesque village surrounded by limestone cliffs is situated half way between Luang Prabang and Muong Khoua. From there, it takes two days over difficult roads to reach Sam Neua, 300 km away.


PHONGSALI – MUONG KHOUA

Phongsali, the northern most provinces is also one of the most isolated and untouched in the country. In the forest one may still encounter rare and endangered species of animals and plants. Phongsali is a peculiar small town with paved streets and an abundance of flowers.

Its 1,500meter altitude makes for cool weather and heavy rainfall during the wet season. Muong Khoua is located on a hill at the mouth of Nam OU and Nam Phak; this is a transit point for those traveling via the river and the highway. This village could see more tourists when the border with Vietnam at Dien Bien Phu opens to foreigners.


XIENG KHOUANG (THE PLAIN OF JARS)

Phonsavanh _ often called Xieng Khouang, (the name of the former capital almost destroyed by US bombing) is a commercial boomtown. The vast of stretch of land around Phonsavanh is home to one of the greatest archeological mysteries on earth. How and why were the several hundreds stone jars left scattered over the area? Who put them there? Where did the jars originate?


SOUTH OF LAOS

THAKHEK
Tha Khek, 360 kilometers south of Vientiane on highway 13, is a small, pleasant town with a collection of French colonial buildings that are still in good condition. It is another stop on the road south or can also be a starting point if you enter Laos here from Thailand. There are limestone cliffs along highway 12 toward Mahaxai that make for a scenic panorama.


SAVANNAKHET
This large town on the Mekong seems to be taking advantage of its strategic location and is becoming an important transit point for trade between Thailand and Vietnamese part of Danang. The town still has a few structures from its colonial past.


PAKSE – CHAMPASACK

Located 770 km south of Vientiane, at the confluence of the Mekong and Sedon rivers, Pakse is an important transit point for trade between Laos, Vietnam, Cambodia and Thailand. Champasack also known as Ban Wat Thong, located 36 km to the southwest of Pakse, this is the nearest village to Wat Phou (which is located 11 km to the south). Wat Phou, sometimes referred to as “ Little Angkor “, is by far the most impressive Khmer ruin in Laos. Begun during the Chenla kingdom (6th to 8th centuries), the first buildings actually pre-date the temples at Angkor. Archeologists believe there was once a read linking Wat Phou to the Khmer capital at Angkor.


DON KHONG (KHONG ISLANDS)

Don khong, the largest of the Mekong’s island, is located 135 km from Pakse and is a very pleasant place to spend a few days. On foot or by bicycle, you can explore the rustic villages and their archaic temples, stroll though gardens and rice fields, or select the perfect place to watch the setting sun.


MEKHONG WATERFALL (KHONE PHAPHENG)

Near the end of its 1,600 km course through Laos, just before reaching Cambodia, the Mekong splits into numerous branches to form a labyrinth of islands. At this point the Mekong is at its widest, at approximately 14 km. It is also here that formidable rapids dash the hopes of a navigable Mekong from China to Vietnam.


BOLAVEN PLATEAU

This plateau, with an average altitude of 1,200 meters, is one of the country’s most important agricultural areas. There are currently some projects underway to increase the production coffee for export. There are also plantations culturing spices such as cardamom and fruits such as durian. Tall wild teak tree are often used to shelter coffee trees. The Bolaven plateau and its surroundings are also home to an impressive number of the ethnic minorities who are quite distinct from those living in the north of Laos.


SALAVAN
Salavan is located 127 km from Pakse on the river Sedon; this small town was totally rebuilt after the war. The natural lake of Nong Bua, 14 km east of town near the source of the Don River, is famous for its crocodiles, which are most abundant during the rainy season.


ATTAPEU
Officially called Muong Samakhi xai, the capital of Attapeu province is set in a large valley
surrounded by mountains and river, and is famed in southern Laos as the “garden village)”
for its shady lanes and lush flora. The town’s location at the confluence of the Xe Kong and
     Se Khamane River makes it perfect for exploration by boat. The flat-topped line of mountains
     about 1,000m over the valley floor to the north and west marks the edge of the Bolaven
     plateau and offers the country’s most dramatic view of this celebrated geographical entity.
     To the east of capital are the most heavily bombed districts along the Ho Chi Minh Trail.

Vietnam Travel - Hotels in Hanoi

Hanoi Capital at a glimpse

 

Area: 921 sq. km
Population: 3,082,800 habitants (2004).
Administrative divisions:

 

- Districts: Hoan Kiem, Ba Dinh, Dong Da, Hai Ba Trung, Tay Ho, Thanh Xuan, Cau Giay, Long Bien, Hoang Mai.

 

- Rural districts: Dong Anh, Soc Son, Thanh Tri, Tu Liem, Gia Lam.
Ethnic groups: Viet (Kinh), Hoa...

 

Hanoi is the capital of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, the center of culture, politics, economy and trade of the whole country

 

Geography

 

Hanoi is located in the Red River Delta, in the center of North Vietnam. It is encompassed by Thai Nguyen Province to the north, Vinh Phuc and Ha Tay to the west and south, Bac Giang, Bac Ninh and Hung Yen provinces to the east and south-east.Hanoi means “the hinterland between the rivers” (Ha: river, Noi: interior). Hanoi’s territory is washed by the Red River (the portion of the Red River embracing Hanoi is approximately 40km long) and its tributaries, but there are some other rivers flowing through the capital, including Duong, Cau, Ca Lo, Day, Nhue, Tich, To Lich and Kim Nguu.

 

Climate:

Hanoi is situated in a tropical monsoon zone with two main seasons. During the dry season, which lasts from October to April, it is cold and there is very little rainfall, except from January to March, when the weather is still cold but there is some light rain. The wet season, from May to September, is hot with heavy rains and storms. The average annual temperature is 23.2ºC (73.7ºF) and the average annual rainfall is 1,800mm. The average temperature in winter is 17.2ºC (62.9ºF), but can go down to 8ºC (46.4ºF). The average temperature in summer is 29.2ºC (84.6ºF, but can reach up to 39ºC (102.2ºF).

 

History

 

Hanoi is a sacred land of Vietnam. In the 3^rd century BC, Co Loa (actually belonging to Dong Anh District) was chosen as the capital of the Au Lac Nation of Thuc An Duong Vuong (the King Thuc). Hanoi later became the core of the resistance movements against the Northern invasions. Located in the middle of the Red River Delta, the town has gradually expanded to become a very populations and rich residential center. At different periods, Hanoi had been selected as the chief city of Vietnam under the Northern domination.In the autumn of Canh Tuat lunar years (1010), Ly Thai To, the founder of the Ly Dynasty, decided to transfer the capital from Hoa Lu to Dai La, and so he rebaptized it Thang Long (Soaring Dragon). The year 1010 then became an historical date for Hanoi and for the whole country in general.For about a thousand years, the capital was called Thang Long, then changing to Dong Do, Dong Kinh, and finally to Hanoi, in 1831. This sacred piece of land thereafter continued to be the theatre of many fateful events.

 

Tourism

 

Throughout the thousand years of its eventful history, marked by destruction, wars and natural calamities, Hanoi still preserves many ancient architectural works including the Old Quarter and over 600 pagodas and temples. Famous sites include the One Pillar Pagoda (built in 1049), the Temple of Literature (built in 1070), Hanoi Citadel, Hanoi Opera House, President Ho Chi Minh’s Mausoleum...

 

Hanoi also characteristically contains 18 beautiful lakes such as Hoan Kiem Lake, West Lake, and Truc Bach Lake..., which are the lungs of the city, with their surrounding gardens and trees providing a vital source of energy.

 

Many traditional handicrafts are also practiced in Hanoi including bronze molding, silver carving, lacquer, and embroidery. Hanoi has many famous traditional professional handicraft villages such as Bat Trang pottery village, Ngu Xa bronze casting village, Yen Thai glossy silk...

What to see in Hanoi Capital?

The temple of Literature- Quoc Tu Giam in Hanoi capital

Temple of Literature-Quoc Tu Giam was the first university of Vietnam where many students

graduated with high flying colors. Some became doctors of philosophy. In 1482 King Le Thanh Tong ordered the erection of steles with inscription of all the names, birth dates and birth places of doctors, and other excellent graduates who took part in examinations since 1442. At present there remain 82 steles standing in the premises of Van Mieu. Aprt from its cultural value, each stele presents an artistic project of stone carving. Each stele is placed on the back of a turtle representing the nation's longevity.

 

 

Sword Restored Lake

The lake which is not as large as Ho Tay to the northwest is situated in the center of the city. Because of its unique location Sword Restored Lake is billed as a basket of lower placed in the middle of Hanoi. The name of Sword Restored Lake is derived from a legend which has it that King Le Thai To had a precious sword. The sword. The sword had always been on his side during the 10-year resistance against the Ming aggressors. After he won over the foreign aggression and returned to Thang Long Citadel. One day he went out and boarded a royal boat to cruise in the lake. Suddenly he saw a giant turtle emerging and coming towards him. The king withdrew his sword and pinpointed with the sword the direction of the coming turtle for his soldiers' attention. All of a sudden, the turtle caught the sword between its teeth from the king's hand and submerged. The king thought that it might have been that during the resistance war against the Minh aggression, the king was offered sword by genie to help him defeat the enemy. Now when peace has returned the genie appeared and took back the sword. With that thought in mind, King Le Thai To named the lake after episode as Ho Hoan Kiem (Lake of Restored Sword).

 

Ngoc Son Temple

Hoan Kiem lake which had been considered the most beautiful lake in the city was in the 19th century added with another object to make it more beautiful and famous. That was the construction of a temple on the Ngoc (Jade) islet in the lake. Initially the temple was called Ngoc Son Pagoda. Later it was renamed Ngoc Son Temple because in the temple is dedicated to saints. Saint Van Suong was a person considered the brightest star in Vietnam's literature and intellectual circles. Tran Hung Dao was worshipped because he was the national hero who led the Vietnamese people to a resounding victory over the Nguyen aggression. The temple as it is seen today was attributable to the restoration afforts of Nguyen Van Sieu in 1864. A great Hanoi literature writer, Nguyen Van Sieu himself had a large pen-shaped tower (Thap But) built in at the entrance to the temple. On the upper section of the Thap but there are three Chinese characters Ta Thanh Thien which means literally that to write on the blue sky is to imply the height of a genuine and righteous person's determination and will. Behind Thap But is Dai Nghien (Ink Stand). The ink stand is carved from stone resembling a peach, which is placed on the back of the three frogs on top of the gate to the temple. Passing through Dai Nghien visitors are to tread on the wooden bridge called The Huc. The Huc is literally understood as the place where beams of morning sunshine are touching.
On the long way that leads to the temple there are several cau doi (parallel sentences) written on the wall. These cau doi are considered part of a traditional ward puzzle entertainment, a lifestyle literally educated persons of ancient Thang Long used to follow.

Quan Thanh Temple

The three ancient Chinese which are still seen today on the top of the entrance to the temple means Tran Vu Quan. That is literally the temple which is dedicated to Saint Tran Vu. A temple is a place for worshipping saints while a pagoda is dedicated to Buddha and faithful disciplines.
Saint Tran Vu was a legendary figure which was a combination between a legendary character in Vietnam's legend and a mystic character derived from China's legend. The legendary character in Vietnam's legend was a saint who had earned the merits of assisting King An Duong Vuong in getting rid of ghost spirit during the King's construction of his citadel at Co Loa.
The Chinese legendary figure was a saint who made great contributions in safeguarding the northern border. Quan Thanh Temple was built during the reign of King Ly Thai To (1010-1028). In 1893 the temple was given a grand facelift to have the shape as we can see it today. Special attention should be paid to a black bronze statute of Saint Tran Vu. The giant statute, formally placed in the main hall, was cast in 1677. Another special object is an ancient bronze bell, 1.5 meters high, which is hanged at the top of the three-gate entrance.
Another object of no less significant is a smaller black bronze statute of Old Trong, a chief artisan of the bronze casting team who had made the giant statute of Saint Tran Vu and the great bell on top of the tree-gate entrance. To commemorate the great contributions of the teacher Old Trong, his students of bronze casting cast his statute and placed in the temple for their for their younger generations to remember Old Trong for ever.

Hai Ba Trung Temple

The temple is also called Dong Nhan Temple because it is located in the area of Dong Nhan village in Hai Ba Trung precinct. The temple was built in 1142 inder the reign of King Ly Anh Tong. It is dedicated to the two Vietnamese heroines Trung Trac and Trung Nhi. At the inner sanctum of the temple there are two statutes made of fine clay dedicating the two ladies Trung. Flanking on either side of the two statutes of Ladies Trung are statutes of 12 women generals who followed the two Ladies leading their army to defeat the foreign aggressors. In the 5th and 6th day of the second lunar month there is a grand festival organized at the site of the temple to commemorate the two national heroines.

West Lake and Youth Road

The Youth Road can be compared to a beautiful bridge spanning across the two large bodies of water - West Lake to the northwest and Truc Bach Lake to the southeast. This 992-metre-long road has been made into two-lane road with a line of big trees grown in between the lanes. On either side of the road is grown with flamboyant trees, weeping willow trees and Bang Lang trees. In summer the road looks colorful with the many flamboyant trees in blossom and Bang Lang trees with violet flowers.
The west lake area is estimated at 480 hectares, being the biggest lake in the city. A road that runs around the lake is as long as 12 kilometers. It passes several flower-growing villages such as flower Nghi Tam village, Tay Ho, and Peach tree planting Nhat Tan village. Situated nearby the lakeside road are several famous pagodas and temples such as Phu Tay Ho and Kim Lien Pagoda. In feudal regimes many royal palaces and rest houses have been built to used as resort places for kings and senior court officers. Now Ho Tay has been earmarked for the city's major tourism development center.

Ho Chi Minh's Mausoleum

After two years of construction, the mausoleum of President Ho Chi Minh was officially inaugurated on August 29,1975. The facade of the mausoleum faces the historic Ba Dinh Square.
The mausoleum is divided into three layers with a combined height of 21.6 meters. The lowest layer forms a terraced stand exclusively used for the presidium of grand meetings organized at the grassy Ba Dinh Square. The second layer is the central piece of the mausoleum where the remains of the president is kept in a chamber accessible through a series of passages and flights of marble staircases. The upper part of the mausoleum is the roof resembling a three terraced steps. The facade of the upper part bears an inscription "President Ho Chi Minh" made of dark violet precious stone. The mausoleum is the place to keep the remains of President Ho Chi Minh, the great patriotic who had been conferred the title "World Cultural Activist" and the national hero. The conferment was made on the occasion of the centenary anniversary of President Ho Chi Minh's Birthday (1890-1990).
The mausoleum project was the results of artistic labor of both Vietnamese and former Soviet Union scientists in respect for President Ho Chi Minh.

The Ho Chi Minh Museum

The museum displays relics about the life and work of President Ho Chi Minh, a cultural figure and hero of the national liberation movement (1890-1969). The museum was inaugurated on May 19,1990, the anniversary of the Centenary Birthday of President Ho Chi Minh. Address:3 Ngoc Ha St, Hanoi. Tel:(84-4) 8263752 or 8255435

One Pillar Pagoda

The original name of the pagoda was Dien Huu pagoda which literally means long lasting happiness and and good luck. The pagoda is situated in the western part of the city. It was first built in 1049 in the reign of King Ly Thai Tong. legend has it that at time King Ly Thai Tong was very old and had no sons of his own. One night he had a dream that he was granted a private audience with Buddha with a male baby on his hands. Buddha seating on a lotus flower in a square-shaped lotus pond in the western side of Thang Long Citadel, gave the king the baby. Month later the queen got pregnant and she gave birth to a male. To repay the gift from Buddha, the king ordered the construction of a pagoda with was supported by only one pillar resembling a lotus seat on which Buddha had been seated. The pagoda was dedicated to Buddha.

The History Museum

The museum is a national museum. It was founded in 1926 and named "Ecole d'Etreme Orient." In 1958 it was restored and renamed the Vietnam History Museum. On display are rich collection of archaeological findings of great scientific and artistic value, illustrating the development of the nation and the State of Vietnam from the dawn of its history to the period prior of the coming into being of the Vietnam Communist Party.
Address: 1 Pham Ngu Lao St, Hanoi. Tel:(84-4) 8252835 or 8253518

The Revolution Museum

The museum is a national museum. It was founded in January 1959, It exhibits relics from various phases of the Vietnamese people's patriotic and revolutionary struggle from the founding of the Vietnam Communist Party up to the present day. Address: 25 Tong Dan St, Hanoi. Tel:(84-4) 8253766 and 8254151 or 8254323

The Army Museum

The museum is a national museum which was established in June 1959. War relics and trophies reminisce great periods of the armed struggle of the Vietnamese people. Evolutions of the two recent great historic battles: the Dien Bien Phu battle in 1945 and the Ho Chi Minh Campaign in 1975 are unfolded again on miniature models. Address: 28A Dien Bien Phu St, Hanoi. Tel: (84-4) 8234264

The Fine Arts Museum

This is a national museum founded in June 1966. It displays art works and objects of the various nationalities living in Vietnam in every period. Prominent are collections of painting of great values by such famous contemporary artists as To Ngoc Van, Nguyen Phan Chanh, Tran Van Can and Bui Xuan Phai, etc,. Address: 66 Nguyen Thai Hoc St, Hanoi. Tel: (84-4) 265801 or 233084

Hanoi Opera House

Location: The Hanoi Opera House is situated on Le Thanh Tong St., Hanoi; near the Red River and several hundreds meters east of Hoan Kiem Lake. Characteristics: It is an old theatre with French architecture and typical Gothic and Mosaic characters reflected on the door domes and the glassed room respectively.

For a long time, the Hanoi Opera House has been a rendezvous for those who love theatrical performance and traditional songs and music, symphonies, opera and classical opera. It is also a tourist attraction for local and foreign visitors.

The Hanoi Opera House is renowned for its unique architecture and good composition. It is furnished rationally and harmoniously. Since its establishment, the Hanoi Opera House is the largest theatre in Vietnam. Its construction started in 1901 and completed in 1911. Previously the site was a big pond, adjacent to the city gate of Tay Long (also called Tay Luong) of the ancient Thang Long Capital. The construction met with many difficulties, because the foundations of the theatre were built on the pond. Before building a concrete foundation, nearly one metre thick, the pond was emptied and dredged, then 30,000 hard bamboo stakes were placed on its bed.

The Hanoi Opera House is of the same architectural style as the Opera House in France. Some foreign architects said that due to being built nearly 300 years after the Paris Opera House, the Hanoi Opera House avoids superfluous architectural details, which make it more magnificent and attractive.

After nearly 100 years of operation, the theatre's equipment and adornments became old and run down. In 1997, the theatre was repaired and modernized under the management of two Vietnamese French architects, Ho Thieu Tri and Hoang Phuc Sinh. The original architecture of the 3-storey theatre has remained. The decorative designs on the ceiling, arches, walls, and doors were renewed. The 3-metre-high stage and the audience's hall, with 600 seats, were also modernized in conformity with international standards. The theatre has been equipped with state-of-art facilities and appliances, compatible for all types of artistic performances, from folk music and songs, ballets and piano to classical opera, reformed opera, Vietnamese operetta and drama, all made great impressions on the audience. The Hanoi Opera House has also successfully organised many large-scale international concerts.

The Hanoi Opera House is a worthy artistic centre and a cultural and architectural relic of the capital Hanoi.

The old quarter Hanoi

Hanoi’s Old Quarter; with over a thousand years of history; remains one of Vietnam`s most lively and unusual places. The city`s commercial quarter evolved alongside the Red River and the smaller To Lich River; which once flowed through the city centre in an intricate network of canals and waterways teeming with boats. As the waters could rise as high as 8m during the monsoon; dikes; which can still be seen along Tran Quang Khai; were constructed to protect the city.

In the l3th century; Hanoi`s 36 guilds established themselves here with each taking a different street; hence the original name 36 Streets; although there are around 50 streets in today`s Old Quarter. Hang means “merchandise” and is usually followed by the name of the product that was traditionally sold in that street. Thus; Pho Hang Gai translates as silk Street; these days the street name may not indicate what`s sold there.

Exploring the maze of back streets can be fascinating; some streets open up while others narrow into a warren of alleys. The area is known for its tunnel (or tube) houses - so called because of their narrow frontages and long rooms. These tunnel houses were developed to avoid taxes based on the width of their street frontage. By feudal law; houses were also limited to two storeys and; out of respect for the king; could not be taller than the Royal Palace. These days there are taller buildings (six to eight storeys high) but nọ real high-rise buildings.

Opportunities to lighten your load of dong are almost endless. As you wander around you’ll find wool clothes; cosmetics; fake Ray Ban sunglasses. luxury food; printed T-shirts; musical instruments; plumbing supplies; herbal medicines; gold and silver jewellery; religious offerings; spices; woven mats and much; much more.

Some of the more specialized streets include Pho Hang Quat with its red candle-sticks; funeral boxes; flags and temple items; and the more glamorous Pho Hang Gai; with its silk; embroidery; lacquer ware; paintings and water puppets (silk sleeping-bag liners and elegant ao dai are very popular here). Finally; no trip to the Old Quarter would be complete without a visit to Dong Xuan Market (cnr Pho Hang Khoai & Pho Dong Xuan); which was rebuilt after a fire in 1994.

A stroll through the historic Old Quarter can last anywhere from a few minutes to the better part of a day; depending on your pace and how well you navigate the increasing motor traffic plaguing the streets. However long or whatever detours you might take; the suggested route in the boxed text `Old Quarter walking Tour` will provide you with a good dose of Vietnamese culture; and some insight into the country`s long history.

For more information on The History of Hanoi's Old Quarter (by Queencafe)

Hanoi Flag Tower

Location: Flag Tower is on Dien Bien Phu Street, Ba Dinh District, Hanoi; near Ba Dinh Square. Characteristic: Hanoi Flag Tower, also called Cot Co, is one of the rare architectural works in Hanoi that was fortunate enough to not be destroyed by the French administration between 1894 and 1897.
It was used by French troops as an observation tower and communication station between command headquarters and adjacent military posts.
It was built in 1812 and is composed of three platforms and a tower. The words Nghenh Huc, meaning "to welcome dawn's sunlight," are inscribed on the eastern door. The western door bears the two words Hoi Quang, meaning "to reflect light," and the southern door, Huong Minh, meaning "directed to the sunlight."
The tower receives sunlight through 36 flower-shaped and six fan-shaped windows.

Vietnam Travel - Hotels in HCMC

Ho Chi Minh City

Area: 2,095.2 sq. km
Population: 5,891,100 habitants (2005)
Administrative divisions:
- Districts: District 1, District 2, District 3, District 4, District 5, District 6, District 7, District 8, District 9, District 10, District 11, District 12, Tan Binh, Binh Thanh, Phu Nhuan, Thu Duc, Go Vap, Binh Tan,Tan Phu.
- Rural districts: Nha Be, Can Gio, Hoc Mon, Cu Chi, Binh Chanh.
Ethnic groups: Viet (Kinh), Hoa, Khmer, Cham...

Geography

In the core of the Mekong Delta, Ho Chi Minh City, formerly known as Saigon, is second the most important in Vietnam after Hanoi. It is not only a commercial center but also a scientific, technological, industrial and tourist center. The city is bathed by many rivers, arroyos and canals, the biggest river being the Saigon River. The Port of Saigon, established in 1862, is accessible to ships weighing up to 30,000 tons, a rare advantage for an inland river port.

Climate:

The climate is generally hot and humid. There are two distinctive seasons: the rainy season, from May to November, and the dry season, from December to April. The annual average temperature is 27ºC. The hottest month is April and the lowest is December. It is warm all year.

History

Many centuries ago, Saigon was already a busy commercial center. Merchants from China, Japan and many European countries would sail upstream the Saigon River to reach the islet of Pho, a trading center. In the year of 1874, Cho Lon merged with Saigon, forming the largest city in the Indochina. It had been many times celebrated as the Pearl of the Far East. After the reunification of the country, the 6th National Assembly in its meeting of the 2nd of July, 1976, has officially rebaptized Saigon, Ho Chi Minh City. The history of city relates closely with the struggle for the independence and freedom of Vietnam.

Tourism

Today, Ho Chi Minh City is the big tourism center in Vietnam, attracting a large of visitors to Vietnam. Ho Chi Minh City has various attractions as Ho Chi Minh Museum, formerly known as Dragon House Wharf, Cu Chi Tunnels, system of museums, theatres, cultural houses... Recently, many tourist areas are invested such as Thanh Da, Binh Quoi Village, Dam Sen Park, Saigon Water Park, Suoi Tien, Ky Hoa..., which draw numerous tourists.
Despite its quite recent past, Ho Chi Minh City nevertheless possesses various beautiful buildings, displaying a characteristic combination of Vietnamese, Chinese and European cultures. These include Nha Rong (Dragon House Wharf), Quoc To Temple (National Ancestors Temple), Xa Tay (Municipal Office), Ho Chi Minh Municipal Theatre as well as many pagodas and churches (Vinh Nghiem, Giac Vien, Giac Lam, Phung Son pagodas...). After more than 300 years of development, Ho Chi Minh City presents many ancient architectural constructions, famous vestiges and renowned sights. It is remarkable for its harmonious blending of traditional national values with northern and western cultural features.

 
Source: .howtotravelvietnam.net

Vietnam beaches

IT IS TIME TO EXPLORE VIETNAM BEACHES

Viet Nam hasn't been explored for many years. It is now time for you to discover Viet Nam’s unspoiled resorts. Viet Nam has a long coastline that extends along the eastern boundary of the country and wraps around the southern tip for 3,260 km, featuring endless stretches of white sand beaches, resorts and islands. The coastline features many beautiful places to stay from which we have selected the very finest resorts. We are proud to introduce: Da Nang Resort, Hoi An Resort, Nha Trang Resort, Phan Thiet - Mui Ne Resort, Vung Tau Resort and Phu Quoc Resort. The following page features our in land resorts.

Mui Ne dune - Phan Thiet province

Location: 24 km north-east of Phan Thiet City.
Characteristics: It is a fishing village and a familiar tourism area in Binh Thuan Province.
It is found on Highway No. 706, and features sweeping sand dunes and beautiful rows of palm trees. The beach is shallow and sloped, the water is clean and blue and the sun rarely hides behind clouds. There are desolate and primeval beaches that have never witnessed human exploitation as well as imposing landscapes. There is also Doi Cat (Sand Hill), which has long been a creative subject of artistic photographs and paintings. Besides beaches and sand dunes, there are also beautiful landscapes such as Suoi Tien (Fairy Spring), the Ong Hoang Building and the Poshanu Cham Tower.

Mui Ne has long been considered the "Hawaii" of Vietnam. It boasts shady roads under coconut trees, a beautiful beach and cliffs battered by the waves of the sea. The typical scenery of Mui Ne lies in the moving lines of golden sand caused by the wind and when they are seen from afar they look like moving waves. The scenery looks more fascinating at dawn, when young Cham girls in green dresses go to work. That's why no photographer fails to visit this area. Mui Ne is an ideal place for rest and relaxation. Visitors can certainly enjoy swimming in the blue water of the sea, climbing the sand dunes or relaxing by a swimming pool. In fact this oasis entertainment people of all ages, and furthermore, provides an endless inspiration to the artists' creation.

Source: vietnamtourism.com

Hoi An beach

Archaeological study in Hoi An in the 1990s proved that more than 2000 years ago Hoi An was an embryonic port town of the Sa Huynh people. With the finds excavated in the cemetery and habitation sites of Sa Huynh people, we can know that they had a process of cultural and economic exchange with other peoples, especially the Chinese in the Han dynasty.

From the 2nd to the 15th centuries, Hoi An was the land of the Champa Kingdom. In the centuries, Hoi An became a prosperous commercial port town, very well developed and famous in Asia. Merchant boats from Arabian countries and China came to Hoi An to trade. Ancient documents said that for along time, the port town of Lam Ap (present Hoi An) played the most important role in creating and bringing prospered to Tra Kieu and My Son (the capital and complex of temples and towers of the Champa Kingdom). Moreover, relics of the Cham civilization in Hoi An also show that here has had a Cham port with a maritime trade that prosper brilliantly.

Located in the meeting place of the major sources of water in Quang Nam and due to the favorable internal and external element, Hoi An revved and rapidly developed in the 16th, 17th, 18th and 19th centuries. Hoi An port town and the "Silk road" and "Ceramic road" on the seas attracted lots of merchant boats from China, Japan, India, Thailand, Portugal, Holland, Britain, France... Hoi An in this time therefore, was the international port town of trades that was most developed in the country and Southeast Asia as well as the major economic base the Southern Viet Nam of the Nguyen Lords and Kings. By the end of the 19th century, because of unfavorable conditions, the "sailing vessels port town of Hoi An "gradually declined and gave its history role in the hands of the young industrial port city of Danang. During the 117 year assistance against foreign invaders for nation salvation (1858 - 1975), thousands of Hoianians sacrificed their lives for the nation independence and unification of the country. On December 4th, 1999 the UNESCO inscribed Hoi An on the World Heritage list.

Location:

Hoian, a World Cultural Heritage site, which is famous worldwide for its complex of long - standing architectural constructions. again draws increasing attraction from tourists by its long beach of blue fresh water, sun shining white sand and nice breeze.
 It is an ideal place for tourists who enjoy relaxing at the seaside, visiting the World Heritages such as Hoi An Ancient town, My Son holy land... and exploring other places of interest in the surrounding areas. Hoi An Beach resort consists of many villas that are characterized by the style of traditional Vietnamese village. It has 110 rooms equipped with modem comforts and other services.

Hoi An, the historic trading port on the Vietnam’s coast has a long tradition of accommodating guests. Today we carry on with this tradition in our new and luxurious beach resort. There is so much to see in Hoi An and the surrounding area that you can easily stay an extra day.

Starting in the Far North, bordering China is  Tra Co, not a beautiful beach by anyone’s standards what with its muddy flats at low tide; but it’s a pleasant place to stay if you’re on your way into our out of China, before heading to  Halong Bay.

Bai Chay beach is the nearest to Hanoi, so it draws a huge crowd of people on the weekends and in summer. It too doesn’t live up to the beauty of the southern beaches, but does serve up some good seafood harvested from nearby Halong Bay. It certainly isn’t a place to come in winter as temperatures can drop to the 15 degree C mark.

Halong Bay offers plenty of small beaches, most of them on islands in the middle of the Bay (though the majority of islands are too steep and rocky to have beaches).These are best visited by kayak because large touring boats don’t have the shallow depth to approach the rocky shore.

The  North Central Coast of Vietnam stretches all the way down to the Hai Van Pass, and is almost a continuous stretch of golden sand pounded by huge waves churned by the frequent typhoons. Its an area rarely visited by travelers, because most either fly or take the train straight between Hue and Hanoi, but if you’ve got time they are beautifully deserted and make excellent places to go for long walks. Locals will regard you with great curiosity, and may even follow you to practice their English.

Though the facilities are scarce here, (you won’t find restaurants selling to tourists just yet) it is a rewarding break from the long drive on Highway 1. Take note however, that its not a wise idea to walk any of the beaches near the DMZ and Dong Ha, because of mines, unexploded ordinances can still be found in this area.

The Central and South Central Coast of Vietnam offers the countries best beaches: from Hue to Nha Trang, the miles of coast is populated with coconut palms and dotted with fishing villages with lots of facilities and choices to make your vacation comfortable.

My Khe beach to Vietnamese, or  China Beach to foreigners, looks out at Monkey Mountain east of Danang Bay. It’s by no means deserted, because locals use the beach as a place to play football, do morning exercises and just chat away with friends. It has some of Vietnam’s best surf beaches and in November waves can reach two meters.

Its here where 5 star resorts like the Furama and the  Lang Co resort (north of the Hai Van Pass) are situated and offer the best services in the country including al fresco dining, water sports and day tours.

The beach is also incorrectly linked with the first landing of American Marines in 1963. In fact, it was  Red Beach, around the point in Danang Bay, where this took place. My Khe was the spot where numerous attacks took place in the American war and it was a center of fierce fighting in the late 1960’s.

From Danang, the lazy coastline stretches all the way down to  Nha Trang. Dozens of beaches, many of them just a few meters from Highway I can be visited as you drive south. Facilities are mushrooming up to meet the demand of the numerous tour buses that now ply these routes. Seafood restaurants, guesthouses and other businesses are making this area easier to visit.

Nha Trang is the epicenter of the beach travel industry in Vietnam, and if you’re looking for a secluded beach, you won’t find it here. But if you want to enjoy a day trip out to the islands in Nha Trang Bay, where you can snorkel and swim, then Nha Trang is the place for you. One of the best things in the city is its marvelous seafood, which includes abalone, prawns, scallops and crabs.

Doc Let is 40 kilometers north of Nha Trang, and its here where you’ll find solitude and long deserted beaches; the shallow bay in front is perfect for a swim and the place is famous for its boiled crabs.

Vung Tau, and serves much the same function as Bai Chay near Hanoi; it’s the closest and cheapest destination for Saigonese to escape the crowded city streets. Again, if you're looking for solitude, this isn’t the place, because on Sundays the beaches are packed.

Phu Quoc has the whitest sand beaches in the country, and if you want to watch the sun set (it’s the only place in Vietnam where you can do this) this is the place to come. Geologically, it's totally different to the other beaches in Vietnam, because it's in the Gulf of Thailand, and Phu Quoc closely resembles Koh Chang or Koh Samet near Bangkok. Just an hour flight from Saigon and you’ll be enjoying the sun, sea and seafood of Vietnam’s most southern beach.

North to South, there are a multitude of choices in beaches so whatever kind of beach you are looking for you’ll find it in Vietnam