Vietnamtravelfood

Tuesday, 10 May 2011

Da Lat

Nestled 1,500 meters above sea level on the Langbiang Plateau in the southern area of Vietnam's Central Highlands, the picturesque landscapes of Lam Dong Province's Da Lat Town attract large numbers of tourists annually.

Thanks to its fresh, cool air, majestic waterfalls and thousands of brilliant flowers, the community is a favorite destination for both Vietnamese and foreign visitors alike. The name Da Lat originates from the ancient hill tribe people who once populated the region and means "stream of the Lat people."

Arriving in Da Lat, situated 320 kilometers from Ho Chi Minh City, tourists are always astonished at the town's overflowing bounty of flowers.

Blossoms can be seen everywhere in countless varieties including orchids, mimosas, pansies, wild sunflowers and roses. There are also many rare types of flowers found in few other places in the country.

The easiest to spot are the orchids, dubbed locally as "queen of the flowers." Of the world's 100,000 species of orchids, as many as 500 types are grown in the town.

Da Lat also boasts a unique species of orchid called lan hai, which received much attention and praise when it was displayed at an orchid exhibition in Tokyo, Japan a few years ago.

The flower was named for its resemblance to a type of embroidered shoe worn by noble women, known in Vietnamese as "hai."

Another popular type of Da Lat flora is the mimosa, a six-meter-tall tree with small yellow flowers which grows only in hot countries.

The tree, which originates from Australia, comes into bloom three times a year during the dry season. Da Lat is home to two types of mimosa trees, one is a long-leafed variety and the other is short-leafed.

Local songwriter Tran Kiet Tuong found great inspiration in the mimosa and wrote a song based on the tree's beauty.

According to folklore, Da Lat girls would often place mimosa flowers between the pages of a book, and then send it to their boyfriends. The pressed flowers would retain their sweet scent, and act as a fond reminder of the girls. Like the mimosa itself, this practice is said to have stemmed from Australia.

Among thousands of varieties of flowers, the Da Lat rose is a particular favorite nationwide. Aside from being sold in the town's markets, roses are also transported to larger markets in other provinces and cities, including Hanoi and HCMC.

The flowers come in all sort of colors and shades including pink, violet and yellow.

The yellow roses are known locally as "Josephine," after the wife of Napoleon Bonaparte, while other roses are also referred to after famous movie stars and nobility.

Watercolor waterfalls and more

The town of Da Lat is also well known for its breathtaking waterfalls, including the Prenn, Cam Ly, Dambri and Pongua.

Prenn Waterfall, located at the foot of Prenn Pass and about 10 km from the center of Da Lat, is considered a symbol of the town. Behind the cascading water is a bamboo bridge where visitors can cross through a spray of refreshing mist. Tourists can also explore the surrounding area, home to a wide variety of animals.

Locals compare the scenery at Prenn Waterfall to that of a watercolor painting. The water pouring over the top of the fall creates a sheet of silver, which flows into a swirling pool of white foam at the bottom. A nearby photo shop allows visitors to have their photo taken at the falls to commemorate their trip.

Tourists can also take a horse or elephant ride while touring the area, or rent a canoe to discover the waterfall's surrounding canals.

Nearby Xuan Huong Lake, spanning five square kilometers, is another picturesque area and popular with honeymooners.

This manmade lake, which was named after famous Vietnamese poet Ho Xuan Huong who lived in the 18th-century, was also a site where many indigenous people of Highland Langbian ancestry made their homes.

In 1984, scientists found many ancient relics at the bottom of the lake belonging to the hill tribes that once lived in this area.

Another well-known Da Lat lake is Tuyen Lam, located five kilometers south of the town.

Tuyen Lam is known as the lake where rivers, springs and forests converge. The immense area stretches over 350 hectares from the beautiful Tia Spring and Da Tam River to Voi Mountain.

Da Lat is also known for its Valley of Love, known in Vietnamese as Thung lung tinh yeu.

Situated about five kilometers outside of town and spanning about 242 hectares, the Valley of Love is filled with scenic, rolling pine tree-clad hills, perfect for picnics.

For those who love to hike, the 1,900-meter tall Lang Biang Mountain takes around three hours to climb. For others who would rather drive up, jeeps can be hired for around US$10.

Other tourist attractions in Da Lat Town include the Da Lat Market, Lake of Sighs, and the summer Palace of Bao Dai, the last king of Vietnam.

According to Sato Kohara, a Japanese fine arts student touring the area, "I have visited many sites in Vietnam, but still felt surprised when I arrived here. This site is peaceful, romantic and fresh.

"If I have a chance to visit Vietnam again, I will return to this site together with my friends," she adds.

Phu Quoc Island

The tear-shaped Phu Quoc (Vietnamese Phú Quốc) is part of the Kiên Giang province. The distance from Phú Quốc to mainland Viet Nam is 45 km to Hà Tiên and 120 km to Rạch Giá. The island is 50 km long (from north to south) and 25 km wide (from east to west at its widest part).

Surrounded by more than 40 km of white beaches decorated with coconut palms, Phú Quốc, situated in the Gulf of Thailand near the Cambodian border, is Vietnam’s largest island. Its western coastline is sparsely populated while the interior is largely covered with jungle and mainly deserted.

You can start exploring the island in Dương Đông, the biggest town on the island (west of Phú Quốc), where most of hotels and resorts are located. Going south, you can drive along Bãi Trường (Long Beach), which is a 20 km long, spectacular beach. You will see two pearl farms on the right, the second is worth a visit. At the end of the road turn left (you can’t miss it) and follow the signs, you will reach the fisherman village An Thới and the An Thới pier, the island’s southern tip. From here the An Thới Islands, a very nice snorkelling and diving area consisting of 15 small islands and islets surrounded by coral reefs in crystal clear water, can be visited by boat.

Continuing to travel north-east, you will see a sign to Bãi Sao (the sign is somewhat hidden, around 1 km away from the main road). Bãi Sao, with its marvelous white sand and green-turquoise water, is one of the most beautiful, quite untouched beaches on Phú Quốc Island. There are a number of simple, on-the-sand restaurants with tasty, fresh seafood in this area.

Before going back to Dương Đông, there are some recommendable springs and falls: Suối Tranh and Suối Đá Bàn. Suối Tranh (some 10 km north of Bãi Sao) is a stream connecting tiny ponds at different levels through small waterfalls. Suối Đá Bàn (a stony surface stream, north-east of Dương Đông) is an easily accessible white-water creek, gracefully flowing down huge granite boulders, on which you can wake; in some places there are natural pools waiting for a refreshing swim.

A stay on Phú Quốc Island would not be complete without visiting one of the factories producing Nước Mắm (fish sauce), one of the most popular ingredients of the Vietnamese cooking as well as one of the pearl farms with panels describing the formation of pearls and shops selling pearl jewellery.

The island has a unique species of dogs, the Phú Quốc Ridgeback, which has a ridge of hair that runs along its back in the opposite direction to the rest of the coat. Much of this island’s nature is still protected. Around 70% of the island, an area of 31,422 hectares, became a national park in 2001. The rainy season on Phú Quốc is from July to November and the peak season for tourism is midwinter, when the sky is blue and the sea is calm.

Travelers who know the Thai islands Ko Samui and Phuket often comment: “The island of Phú Quốc is still natural and untouched like Ko Samui 10 years and Phuket 20 years ago”. Not surprising, a larger international airport is being built on the island of Phú Quốc, expected to operate within five years. A golf course and a casino will also be completed. If you like untouched nature and pre-touristic surrounding, you should hurry up!

Cu Chi tunnel

Cu Chi Tunnel is 70 km from Ho Chi Minh City in the Northwest. It is miniature battle versatile of Cu Chi’s military and people during the 30-year struggle longtime and fierce to fight invading enemy to receive independence, freedom for motherland. It also is the special architecture lying deeply underground with many stratums, nooks and crannies as complex as a cobweb, having spares for living, meeting and fighting with total lengths over 200 km. Real legends coming from the Tunnel are over human imaginativeness. Creeping down into the tunnel, only some yards, you can find out why Vietnam? A tiny country could defeat its enemy, the large and richest country in the world. Why Cu Chi, a barren and poor land could face strongly for 21 years to the army crowded many times compared with its force, warlike and equipped modern war weapons and means. In the fight, Cu Chi people won illustriously. Thanks to systems of tunnel ways, fortifications, combat trenches, soldiers and people of Cu Chi fought very bravely creating glorious feat of arms. The American invaders at first time stepped into Cu Chi land, they had to face so fierce resistances from tunnels from important and very difficult bases that they cried out, “Underground villages”, “Dangerous secret zone”, “cannot see any VC but they appear everywhere”… With its war pasture, Cu Chi Tunnels become a historical war hero of Vietnamese People like a 20th century legend and famous land in the world.

Cu Chi Tunnels have two places:
Ben Duoc Tunnels is Zone Party Committee Base & Saigon – Gia Dinh Military Zone, which is protected in Phu Hiep Hamlet, Phu My Hung Village, Cu Chi District, Ho Chi Minh City.
Ben Dinh Tunnels is Cu Chi District Party Committee, which is protected in Ben Dinh Hamlet, Nhuan Duc Village, Cu Chi District, Ho Chi Minh City. Coming to Ho Chi Minh City, you should visit Cu Chi Tunnels Historical Monument to understand what the protracted and arduous struggle is. You will evidence clearly and directly an exploit of loving peace, independence and happiness at the present.
[Source:http://www.cuchitunnel.org.vn]

Ha long Bay

Perhaps one of the most iconic features of Vietnam, Ha Long Bay is a breathtaking location like no other. With as many a 2,000 limestone islands and rocks, covered with wildlife and filled with caves and grottoes, its UNESCO world heritage status is well deserved.

A place that must be seen to be seen to be believed, Halong Bay has risen to become one of Vietnam's most popular tourist destinations, and is likely to be voted #1 in the New 7 Wonders Of the World.

Most visitors get a bus to Halong from Hanoi, before embarking on a boat trip of 2-3 days, where they can sleep on a junk boat, swim in the waters and go kayaking or canoeing. The quality of tour does vary (you do get what you pay for!) but even the bargain trips aren't bad, as you can quite happily spend your day looking at the beautiful scenery and ignoring the less beautiful boat you're sat on.
Don't be put off when you first arrive in Halong by the sheer number of tourists - most of the tours set off at the same time and it will appear very crowded, but soon after leaving the docks the boats split up and head off in different directions - it may not seem it at first but it soon becomes a very peaceful journey as its not hard for the boats to hide behind one of the thousands of islands.
One interesting feature of Halong bay is the floating villages you will see nestling in the sheltered bays between the stones. These ingenious construction allow landless people to farm fish - each house will be built on planks bordering nets where they raise fish, crabs and shrimp in the sea water below.

Cruises and Tours of Halong Bay

For most people, taking an organised cruise from Hanoi to Halong Bay is a better option than staying in Halong City, where entertainment is sparse.

Vung Tau

While Vung Tau may not be my favourite place in Vietnam, it makes for a very quick escape from the city. With a ticket on the hydrofoil from Ho Chi Minh City costing just over $10 and taking just over an hour you can escape the big smoke and be on the beach long before you go stir crazy.

Despite a slightly seedy reputation its not a bad place to get away when you're short on time and can't face the journey to Mui Ne. Once a popular destination for the colonial French the town is overlooked by a huge statue of Jesus on top of a nearby hill, similar to the one that looks out over Brazil.
The town itself looks out onto a pretty harbour full of brightly painted blue fishingboats typical of southern Viet Nam.

To the right of the bay is a road that snakes around the coast beneath Jesus' feet, leading to a huge long beach bustling with fellow escapees from Saigon, where there are many restaurants, cafes and hotels.

If you follow the road to the right you will find a far quieter bay, with two huge statues on the hill - one of Mary holding Jesus, and further down the coast a huge statue of Buddha.
Food, drink and accomodation in Vung Tau is all pretty cheap and there are some great deals to be had. There is also a wide range of accommodation from high quality hotels to cheap guesthouses and homestays which can be had for under $10 a night

Nha Trang

Nha Trang, a university town at the mouth of a beautiful bay with a huge sweeping beach, is possibly one of my favourite places in Vietnam - one day I plan to live there!
As a beach destination it takes some beating, with delicious restaurants, great bars, beautiful diving and crystal clear water. There are boat trips out to the islands for divers and non-divers alike, snorkelling and fishing trips and if its a little chilly you can go and bathe in the hot springs.

More recently there has been an explosion in watersports, with catamarans, jet skis and paragliding available for hire on the beach, as well as kayaks, windsurfers and bodyboards.
Yet unlike other beach destinations in Viet Nam it offers a lot more - with a popular university as well as training for Vietnam's Navy the town has a distinct character of its own.
It's a great place to hire a bike and cruise up and down the boulevard that lines the seafront on a bright breezy day - its very popular with the students in the evenings too!

Things to do in Nha Trang

Have an evening cocktail on the roof of the Sunrise Hotel
Go for a dive or snorkel and see the array of beautiful fish in the waters
Spend a lazy day at the Louisiane Brewhouse eating cake, swimming in their pool and drinking fresh beer
Visit the Thap Ba hot springs, get covered in mud and bathe in a pool sized 38C bath before having a very good value massage
Hire a motorbike or motorbike taxi (xe om) and ride up the coast past the town to one of the spectacular seafood restaurants at the waters edge for great food and a fantastic view back on Nha Trang
Head back down the other way and up the hill to Bao Dai's palace for some culture and more great views (Bao Dai was a collaborator king of Vietnam during the French occupation)
Visit the Cham temples - remnants of an anchient Indian civilization that colonized much of South Vietnam and Cambodia ~500AD
Take the cable car across to the island for a day at an off the wall theme park
Swim!
Eat drink and be merry - as well as hundreds of good restaurants and bars catering to the tourists, there are many local specialities to try. Some of my favourites are fresh fish at a barbeque restaurant and Nem Nuong... mmm nem nuong...
Have a civilized meal at the Sailing Club in the evening, before returning later on for some decidedly uncivilized dancing

.vietnamtravel.org

Sunday, 8 May 2011

Ho Chi Minh City

While it may not be the capital of Vietnam politically, you only need to spend a short time in Saigon to see how it the pace of change in the south is shaping the country. The largest city in the country, with over 6 million inhabitants (and over 8 if you count temporary residents), Saigon is a crowded, fast, noisy, and overwhelming place at first. Dig a little deeper, though, and you'll find there is an energy and vibrancy to the city that can be very infectious.
Brimming with life, Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC or Saigon as the majority of its residents still call it) offers a great deal for travellers and expatriates alike. There's a great deal to see and do, and no shortage of delicious treats to eat, whether at top restaurants or equally delicious street stalls for a couple of dollars.
The pace of change in the city is staggering - on a daily basis buildings are pulled down so newer, shinier ones can be erected in their place. In around ten years the city went from a city of 3,000,000 bicycles to 5,000,000 motorbikes, leading the Saigon's very unique brand of traffic. Now car use is on the rise gridlock threatens to set in, but it is yet another reminder of how fast lives are changing in HCMC, and how more and more people are working their way out of poverty.

Yet with a closer look you can find beautiful old buildings as well as striking new ones, cool, calm cafes with gardens that are set back from the road to give you a moments rest from the madness outside, relaxing spas and cool pools to swim in.

There's also a number of great day trips that can be done from the site, whether to Tay Ninh mountain and the Cao Dai temples in the North West, the famous Cu Chi Tunnels where the resistance launched sneak attacks on the US forces based in Saigon, boat trips to Vung Tau, the Mekong Delta or to Can Gio, the huge area of mangrove swamps to the south, known as 'the lungs of the city'.