Traveling to Vietnam for USD30 per day

We chose the $30 per person, per day number after personal experience and research. This budget will allow travelers to stay in private rooms all the time (usually in hostels/guesthouses), typically with air con and often with cable television (cable is often just a byproduct of the private, a/c rooms). This budget assumes you will take buses and trains from the north to the south (or vice versa).

Traveling around Vietnam can be extremely cheap. Extremely expensive. Or anywhere in between. Budget, bare-bones backpackers can probably get around on $10-$15USD per day or less. If you want to pamper yourself by staying in 5-star hotels and eating at the finest restaurants, you can blow through $150USD per day. Then there’s everything in between.

Street food is a great way to save on the budget, but don’t just eat there to save a buck.  Do it because it is delicious. $30US per day will afford you the opportunity to eat out often and drink some beers and cocktails as well, which always makes that budget number soar, even in a country like Vietnam. As far as activities, when we there in 2008, we didn’t say “No” to anything because of cost – we pretty much did what we wanted on our $30/person/day budget. Following is a breakdown of how you, too, can travel around Vietnam on $30 per day, and we’ll offer tips, advice, and practical information for those of you who want to do it on less and more than that.

Transportation

Getting in and around Vietnam is pretty easy, but you are in for some interesting times if you decide to overland it through Vietnam.

Getting in

 You can enter Vietnam by several different methods:

• Plane: If you fly into Vietnam, you’ll most likely be flying into either Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon). If coming from another country in the region, check out AirAsia for the cheapest flights.
• Bus: If you are in Southeast Asia and traveling around the region, you may enter Vietnam by bus from China, Laos, or Cambodia. Make sure you know what you’re getting into before boarding a bus in another country as many journeys are long, uncomfortable, and unpleasant, especially if it involves an overnight trip.  These journeys, though often frustrating, can also be quite memorable with the people you meet and the stories you’ll have to tell.
• Boat:  You can travel to and from Vietnam to Cambodia via boat, and it’s an excellent way to cross the border.  Slow, relaxed, not nearly as cramped as a bus, and floating down the banks of the infamous Mekong is just a unique way to travel.
• Train: There are a few train crossings to and from China, including the long journey all the way from Beijing to Hanoi. Another interesting way to cross the border if you’re looking for something a little different than a bus or plane.

Note: Remember when entering Vietnam, make sure you have your visa situation all squared away before leaving. They don’t offer visas upon arrival, so take care of it at home or at an embassy before coming. If you are in the region before coming to Vietnam, Bangkok is a good place to get your visa, just be aware that you’ll have to part with your passport for a few days.

Getting around

 While not always the most comfortable or easy going, getting around Vietnam is really rather simple. Because of the small, narrow geography of the country, when most people travel around this country, they go either north to south or vice versa, starting in either Hanoi in the north or Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City) in the south.

• Bus: When you arrive in either Hanoi or Saigon and start wandering around the tourist areas, you’ll notice that you have two options when it comes to bus tickets:
  • A plethora of travel agents will be selling open jaw bus tickets. With these, you choose which cities you want to visit and purchase a ticket in either Hanoi or Saigon. Your ticket will then be covered the rest of your time in Vietnam. You don’t have to schedule the dates up front – you can figure that out once you get to a new city. One cool thing about these are that you can choose sleeper seats and always have a bed for those overnight journeys. Sleep isn’t too easy though as the drivers are a bit crazy and the horn will always be blaring, no matter what time of day or night. Another negative of this is that you have to go with one company for all the bus trips, so if you find out after the first leg that the particular company you chose is no good, you’re stuck with them.  These are generally cheaper than just buying one-way tickets, but the cost isn’t that vast of a difference if you want to have the freedom and flexibility of buying as you go.
  • Buying one-ways as you go is as simple as it sounds.  It can be a bit more expensive, and those with open jaw tickets will have priority, so it may take a bit more planning or you may have to wait an extra day to leave.
• Train: There are a few train journeys in Vietnam, but they are not as prevalent as buses and are more expensive. The comfort is better than a bus in most cases, and there are different classes of seats, each one going up in both comfort and price.
• Air: Checking AirAsia when you in the region is always your best bet, but you many want to check Vietnam Airlines or Jetstar Pacific as well if you are short on time.
• Motorbike:  For those with motorbike experience, a great way to see the country on your terms is to rent or buy a motorbike and take your own road trip. I wouldn’t recommend this for those who have never ridden one before or have limited experience, as the roads can be bad and the drivers worse. Exercise caution if choosing this method.
• Boat: There are also a few boat journeys available, particularly in the south on the Mekong. It’s a great change of pace. If going to or coming from Cambodia, look into the border crossing by boat – it’s a pretty awesome experience.

Transport costs

• Open jaw bus ticket:  They vary from company to company, but as an example, you can get a ticket from Saigon (Ho Chi Minh) to Hanoi, with stops in Mui Ne, Da Lat, Nha Trang, and Hue for about $40USD/person (a sleeper ticket and more stops will add to the cost).
• One-way bus ticket:  A one-way bus ticket typically costs a bit more.  You can do the above journey for around $60-$80/person and possibly lower, depending on your negotiating skills.
• Train:  Trains on average cost about 1.5 to 2 times as much as a bus, but they are typically more comfortable, and you don’t have to worry about the poor road conditions.  Plus they have bathrooms.  And food on board and at stops.  Which can be huge on longer journeys.
• Air:  Airfare is always changing, as we all know, but I did find several one-way flights from Hanoi to Saigon (Ho Chi Minh) for around $65USD on Vietnam Airlines.

Accommodation

When traveling in Southeast Asia, the sky’s the limit as far as how much or little comfort you want and money you want to spend.  You can get a bed in a hostel or guesthouse for as little as $5USD/night or you can spend hundreds on a room at a 5-star hotel and resort.  Then there’s  everything else in between. When my wife and I spent a  month in Vietnam in 2009, we averaged right around $15-20 per night on accommodations.  

But we always had a private room, had air conditioning the vast majority of the time, and even had cable television in many of our rooms.  Breakfast was often included as well.  We were extremely happy with our accommodation options. Obviously rooms and beds are more expensive in Hanoi and Saigon, but the further away you get from each and the smaller the town, the cheaper the sleeping arrangements. Here’s a price breakdown on what you can expect in Vietnam for accommodations:

• $5USD:  A bed in a dorm room with a fan (hopefully).  Shared bathrooms  They might not be the cleanest, quietest, or brightest, but you get what you pay for.  Spending $5 a night on your sleeping will leave you a lot of money to play with if you are going with the $30/day budget.
• $5-$10:  Spending just a bit more can often make a big difference.  Depending on the city, it may still be a dorm, but the bathroom should be private.  Rooms are often cleaner and nicer, and you may even get a/c if you get near the $10 range.
• $10-$20:  This is pretty standard for those who don’t want to go bare-bone and will get you nice room, especially near the $20/night range.  Expect a private room, most with air con, and often with a cable tv.
• $25+:  When you start getting above $25 and into the $40 and $50 range, you’re really stepping up.  Air con and cable are standard, as is internet (though we had internet most of the time in our $20-$25 rooms).  Everything should be spic and span, and you may even have amenities like a private balcony, large rooms, and even a pool.
• $50+:  This is when you are getting into hotel territory, especially when you reach $75 and $100/night.  Nice hotels, some world class.  Expect everything you would in a $200+ room in most western countries.

Ham Rong Mountain - a fairy of Sapa

Ham Rong in spring is filled with colorful flowers blooming along the way through. The poetic and grandiose Ham Rong mountain is considered as a fairy land of Sapa for its natural beauty as well as rich cultural value.

Ham Rong Mountain, situated in the center of Sapa town, is a impressive tourist attraction. According to Legend, once upon a time there were a couple of dragons so mad in love that while a biblical flood was rising but they didn't know. When they awoke, it was too late for them to escape from the flood so they were washed away separately. Even now, turned into stone, but due to be natural instinct, the female (Ham Rong Mountain) always looks toward her lover in the west (the Hoang Lien Son mountain range).

Shaped like a dragon’s head in the clouds, Ham Rong Mountain is approximately  2000 meters high with green trees and colorful flowers almost all year round. Most tourists in Vietnam travel  visiting Sapa do the exciting climb up to the mountain. The path leading up to Ham Rong Mountain consists of many stone steps and a winding trail higher up will help to see small streams lazily run through bushy foliages. About mid­way, travelers will find themselves in an orchid -garden with over 400 species of colorful blooms. Standing on the highest point of Ham Rong Mountain, tourists will have a breathtaking view over the romantic Sapa town.



If visitors in Vietnam tourism come here in spring, the surprise will be greater to see blooming peach, plum and apricot garden. At midway upwards, there are ethnic cutural villages where visitors will enjoy art-performance by Dao, Mong or Sa Pho young locals.
The sound of bamboo flutes by Mong minority boys echo far and wide, their dances, songs, folksongs sound strong and romantic that will leave unforgettable impressions. A little further more will be a mini stone-forest where thousands of stone columns, pillars that surprisingly open visitors’ eyes.
A stroll among these pillars seems to be a walk in the fairyland, thentourists proceed to the heavens gate, a beaten trail leads to the cloud-yard and a TV station. San May (Cloud Yard) is an ideal location to view the whole panorama of Sapa.

Source: vietnamtourism.org.vn

How to Spend One Day in Ho Chi Minh City

If you had unlimited time in Vietnam, you would surely be able to explore every facet of what makes this country unique. If you had unlimited time in Vietnam, you would surely be able to explore every facet of what makes this country unique.  Unfortunately, many people who travel here have limited time and want to make the most of it.  As part of our new “Custom Itineraries in Vietnam” series, we will guide you through the various cities in Vietnam and help you experience the country to its fullest.  We will also show you how to get off the beaten path and see the country in a unique way.  The first of our “Custom Itineraries in Vietnam” series – Ho Chi Minh City!

Tourists often transit through Ho Chi Minh City before moving on to a packed itinerary in Vietnam.  Though Ho Chi Minh City has a lot to offer in terms of attractions and cultural experiences, it is difficult to take part in everything when you have limited time here.  We have compiled a thorough itinerary that helps you maximize your time here.  If you only have one day in Ho Chi Minh City, we recommend that you…

Eat Soup for Breakfast

Vietnamese people love their noodle soup dishes.  You may already be familiar with pho, but there are countless more noodle soups that are in fact not pho!  What’s more, with a generous helping of various meats, veggies, and noodles, these soups are a breakfast of champions.  So start your day off Vietnamese style and devour a bowl of Pho, Banh Canh Cua, Bun Bo Hue, or whatever the guy next to you is having.

Recommendation:  Ben Thanh market has a huge section in the middle with food stalls.  The turnover is quite high here so it is usually a safe place to eat

Eating inside Ben Thanh market is safe, exciting, and delicious!

Visit Ben Thanh Market
Ben Thanh market is the iconic central market in Ho Chi Minh City.  It wouldn’t be a complete trip to the city without seeing this wonder.  They sell everything from souvenirs to kitchen supplies to groceries and meat.  It’s a one stop shop!  Or, just a great place to people watch.  This market is not air conditioned so it gets hot and muggy here during the day.  And the sellers can be quite aggressive with both tourists and locals – that’s just the nature of this market.  Having said that, it’s important to give this place a chance.  It is more than just a tourist grab.  Even for people who live here, the market sells things that are ordinarily hard to find otherwise.  The market is a lot bigger than it seems so make sure you leave some time to navigate through and really explore all that it has to offer.  Be aware that the prices here are very marked up so be sure to negotiate.  If a sign says ‘fixed price’ and the seller is hesitant to budge, you will most likely find the same items at another stall



Marvel at the Architecture

The architecture in the city is a mish mash of new skyscrapers, old tube houses, and French colonial buildings.  The old colonial buildings in the centre of the city have a lot of character and hold a lot of history.  Fortunately, they are all quite close together so a short walk offers you the opportunity to enjoy most of them.  If you walk between the Notre Dame cathedral and the Saigon River along Dong Khoi street, and wander around Nguyen Hue and Le Loi streets, you will be able to appreciate many of the beautiful old buildings of downtown Ho Chi Minh City.  If you have time, walk into the main historical post office for a closer look at colonial style architecture at its best.

Colonial architecture in Ho Chi Minh City. The Notre Dame cathedral, the Saigon Opera House
and the Post Office are some of the most popular tourist sights.

Sip Some Coffee

Vietnamese people really pride themselves on their coffee and there is no shortage of coffee shops in Ho Chi Minh City.  Coffee culture was huge here well before Starbucks and other big name coffee brands arrived.  If you’ve been walking around the city for a while,  sipping on coffee and people watching is the perfect break from the hustle and bustle.  Fortunately, most coffee shops have excellent regional fare.

Recommendation: One of the coolest coffee shops in the city is L’Usine at 151/1 Dong Khoi.  The entrance is through an alleyway and up two flights of stairs.

Get a Massage and Hair Wash
Ho Chi Minh City may be chaotic but Vietnamese people sure do know how to provide a serene escape to the chaos.  Cheap foot massages can be found everywhere and for $5-10, you can achieve complete relaxation for an hour to 90 minutes.  If you are in the mood for a more authentic spa service, get a hair wash (Goi Dau).  This isn’t a regular run of the mill hair wash – a proper Vietnamese hair wash includes a head massage, face wash and mask, and a shoulder massage!  They will even blow your hair out and style it for you after.

Recommendation:  Get a 70 minute foot massage at 118 (adequately named since its address is 118 Pasteur) for $7 including tip and then go around to Jasmine Spa (45 Ton That Thiep, at the corner of Pasteur and Ton That Thiep) for a relaxing hair wash.

Go on a Motorbike Tour
Soon after arriving in Ho Chi Minh City, you will notice that motorbikes are the vehicle of choice.  What better way to see the city than to experience it on the back of the bike?  XO Tours is a leading motorbike tour company in the city.  We have a range of motorbike tours to suit your taste, but by far our most popular is The Foodie.  Not only does it take you to several different districts of the city that are not generally visited by tourists, you will also have the opportunity to try the best street food Ho Chi Minh City has to offer.

The Foodie Tour takes you to see and eat in 4 other districts besides District 1.

See the Backpackers’ Area

Ho Chi Minh City is a popular destination for backpackers because it is relatively cheap to travel around here.  Over time, this small area around Pham Ngu Lao and Bui Vien streets has become a magnet for budget accommodations, colourful restaurants, and lively watering holes.  Even if you aren’t traveling as a backpacker, this particular area in the city is a tourist attraction in itself.  It is quite lively at night when hundreds of people sit on child sized plastic stools, drink local beer and mingle with the crowd.

Get a View

The city has very few tall buildings so going to the top of one of these buildings gives you an excellent view of the city.  Luckily, there are a handful of bars on really high floors so you can enjoy the view and sip on a drink at the same time.  After a long and activity filled day in the city, this is the perfect way to end your night.  It is mesmerizing to look out onto the streets hundreds of feet below and truly appreciate how the city moves.



The different kinds of nightlife in the city – backpacker style with watering holes on the street and upscale rooftop bars with an amazing view of the city.
Recommendation:  The Heli Bar in the Bitexco tower (52nd Floor, 2 Hai Trieu) is one of the highest viewing points in the city, but the perspective is much better from Chill Skybar (AB Tower, 76 Le Lai).  Both these places have a strict dress code and shoe policy.



Our recommended locations within District 1 to visit during your action-filled day in Ho Chi Minh City. For sights outside D1, we recommend taking a motorbike tour.
We hope you enjoyed the 1st part in our ”Custom Itineraries in Vietnam” series

Source: vietnamtravel24h.net

Quoc Hoc Hue - The first and the oldest high school in Vietnam

Founded on October 23, 1896 according to an imperial decree issued by the Thanh Thai King’s reign, Quoc Hoc Hue is known as the century old high school. It’s also the first and the oldest high school in Vietnam. In the past, the school was for children from royal and noble families. 

Known as the first and also the oldest high school in Vietnam, originally Quoc Hoc (National high school) was the school for children from royal and noble families. On the site that used to be former squadron headquarter - a royal navy headquarters, French colonialists built this school to train those who would serve the feudal colonial government. Therefore, at that time, French was the main subject for students and the school's gate was titled “Phap tu Quoc Hoc truong mon” (French National High School's Gate). Now it's named Hue National High School and is a high-profile school that all students must pass a competitive entrance exam to get the admission.

Ben Thanh Market - One of the Most Recognizable Symbols of Saigon

After being moved many times, Ben Thanh market is now standing in the center of Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) where tourists in Vietnam travel can conveniently find varieties of goods. Especially, the goods here are displayed in a very attractive way that always catches the eyes of the consumers. Anyone who has ever visited the city once recognized that Ben Thanh market is a symbol, a unique image of Saigon.

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. 

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 or tourists in Vietnam travel 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.

Trần Nguyên Hãn statue oppsite Bến Thành market 

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 now one of the most attractive tourist sites in the city for both local and international tourists joining tours in Vietnam.

Source: vietnamtourism.org.vn

Ca Na Beach – the “Sleeping Princess”

As one of the most wildest and beautiful beaches of Vietnam, Ca Na Beach, the “Sleeping Princess” of Ninh Thuan province, is warmly beckoning tourists.

Ca Na beach

On the map of Vietnam tourism as well as the world’s, Ca Na is amongst the impressive names for a picturesque landscape of sea, mountain, forest, and even a Cham culture. It is this combination of natural beauty and cultural value that makes it a tourism heaven for any kind of visitors.

A quick look. Ca Na is fortunate to be granted such a favorable location, which is on the trans-Vietnam railway, right on the 1A Highway, and around 200km east of Ho Chi Minh City. It stretches as far as 10km with blue sky and purely green water. Ca Na is attractive to tourists not only for the mentioned charm, but also the ideally pure and cool weather all the year round. If staying here overnight, you will deeply feel the Ca Na night’s delicate harmony of with moonlight, hissing sea wind, and whistling waves. Do come and feel it yourself, no regret at all you would have! 

Why is it named so? A legend tells that in the past, under Nguyen dynasty, there were a King and a queen who went swimming here, and found it a rare magnificent charm in the region. They then named it “Nang Tien Ca” (translated as “fairy fish”). Ca Na is the name in Cham language, and exists until these days. For the other beautiful way of calling, “Sleeping Princess”, the reason is very simple; the beach still remains wild, even most pristine as compared to others in Vietnam, and more importantly, it does look graceful and fascinating! 

Deep attraction to tourists

Picturesque landscape. One side is rock, one side is the beach! On your one side is a very vast sea that normal eyes could not see through. On the other side is the mighty Truong Son mountain range with side by side upright rocky limestone mounts. Getting deep into the area is tropical jungles, where live so many kinds of rare and precious animals... Actually, it must say, Ca Na is a harmonious sonata of nature!

The rocky mountains turn up imposingly. In spring, apricot blossoms in the mountain, making up a rich source of inspiration for artists. Thousands of islets with different shapes gather together create vivid images just nearby the road.

Ca Na corals

The beach is excellent! It curls like a sickle, white sand and high salty degree. Salt in Ca Na beach is considered the best one in Southeast Asia. The beach slopes gently to the sea with the depth of one to two meters. The weather is sunny and warm all the year round. Climbing up the mountains, and swimming in the crystal – clear water in this place are very enjoyable. Also, you can take photos of rocks protruding into the sea.

Looking to the sea farthest, you may see a small islet turning up, which is called “Hon Lao”. This is a popular spot of Ca Na for numerous species of sea birds, Tien Well, and the famous Thach Grotto with 7 skulls, attracting a huge number of adventurous tourists.

Popular Sea food. Apart from Ca Na’s most famous specialties, such as salt and Nhi fish sauce, tourists are offered a great chance to taste delicious seafood, say, shrimp, crab, shellfish, etc. There are a number of beautiful tiny things here to buy for gifts, among which the most popular one preferred by tourists is the sea coral.

Besides, tourist can visit the Cham’s special structures and traditional villages, where a lot of Cham people are living with nearly genuine traditional custom, just in the nearby surroundings. This is the last but actually not least absorptive beauty of this popular beach of Ninh Thuan.

Source: vietnam-beauty.com

Lam Kinh - A well-known historic relic

Lam Kinh is located in Xuan Lam Commune, Tho Xuan District, Thanh Hoa Province. It is 50km from Thanh Hoa City towards the Northwest. Here, tourists have a chance to visit a well-known historic relic related to the life and career of King Le Thai To, a famous king in Vietnamese history, and the uprising of the Lam Son troops in the 15th century.

After ten years of leading the Lam Son uprising to fight against the Northern invaders, Le Loi won and became a king in 1428 with the official name of Le Thai To. He set up the capital in Dong Kinh (Thang Long – present-day Hanoi). Simultaneously, he ordered an imperial city built in his birthplace and called it Lam Kinh or Tay Kinh.

According to historical documents and evidence found in the excavations in the area, the imperial city of Lam Kinh was built on a large-scale with the architectural style of “Noi cong, ngoai quoc” (the internal shape looks like the Chinese character “gong” and the external shape looks like the Chinese character “quo”). It includes magnificent buildings like a palace, a southern gate, an imperial temple and a dragon yard. The imperial city sits on Dau Mountain in the north and faces towards the Chu River in the south. In front of it is Chua Mountain, on the left is Phu Lam Forest and on the right is Huong Mountain.

After five centuries, most of the structures in Lam Kinh were ruined and now there remain only four imperial tombs of kings from the Le Dynasty and the tomb of Queen Ngo Thi Ngoc Giao, mother of King Le Thanh Tong. In 1962, Lam Kinh Historical Relic was recognized as a national historic relic by the State. In 1994, the Government approved a project to restore 50 of the structures, including the citadel, the Ngoc River, an ancient well, a triumphal arch, the southern gate, imperial temples, the palace and imperial tombs. With these valuable historical structures, the relic has become a famous tourist destination in Thanh Hoa Province.

To reach the central area of the royal citadel, visitors pass over a stone bridge crossing the Ngoc River. Walking for about 50m, tourists see a green plot of grass and an ancient well with clean and clear water. Next is the southern gate with a 300-year-old banyan tree covering up the roof of the gate and then a dragon yard. Passing the dragon yard, tourists come to the central palace where kings gave audience and discussed state affairs.

The central palace includes three large wood buildings which had great architectural value in the Le So Dynasty (1428-1527). Behind the central palace are nine imperial temples that were successfully restored.
From the central area of the royal citadel, on the roads paved with red bricks to forests tourists visit the tombs of kings in the Le Dynasty under green leaf canopies or climb up to the windy Dau Mountain and enjoy Tay Lake with its wild and poetic beauty. 

Visiting the relics on August 22 of the lunar calendar, tourists not only enjoy a beautiful landscape and learn about the culture, architecture and history of this land but also participate in the Lam Kinh Festival with many traditional folk games. The festival is annually held on King Le Thai To’s death anniversary to commemorate his glorious achievements.

In the exhibition room at Lam Kinh Relic Site. Photo: Tran Thanh Giang

Source: Vietnam.vnanet.vn

Bao Son Paradise - A perfect choice for relaxation

Bao Son Paradise, about 15km from downtown Hanoi, was funded by the Bao Son Group with an investment of 50 million USD. Although put into operations only recently, the site has become a repeat destination for many people in Hanoi.

Designed to become a high-quality tourist site consisting of several areas of entertainment, Bao Son Paradise is of both traditional and modern architecture. Passing the entrance gate, visitors seem to be lost into a tranquil world that is quite opposite to the crowded, bustling neighbourhood outside. An old quarter with the imprints of Hanoi's 36 ancient streets is re-produced on an area of over 5,000m².

The entrance gate to Bao Son Paradise

Nhi Thanh Grotto- One of the Most Beautiful Grottos in Lang Son

Nhi Thanh Grotto is situated in Nhi Thanh Street, approximately 1 km from Lang Son City. Being a natural cave, Nhi Thanh Grotto, about 600 m deep, is very attractive to visitors in Vietnam travel who are seeking scenic beauty.

Nhi Thanh Grotto is situated in Nhi Thanh Street, approximately 1km from the Lang Son City, Lang Son province. It is home to the Pagoda of Triple Regions (Buddhism, Taoism, and Confucianism). The grotto was closely related to the celebrity Ngo Thi Si when he was the chief of province between 1777 and 1780. He gave, in a short span of time, a new look to Lang Son in term of politics, economy and national defense. Especially in the domain of culture, he had the merit to discover 8 beautiful landscapes of Lang country including Nhi Thanh Grotto. He hired workers to start the renovation of this grotto in 1779. The right side area, being on a relatively more elevated land and the configuration of terrain better, was chosen to be the place for the building of the Pagoda of Triple Regions (in honour of Confucianism, Taoism, Buddhism).

Being a natural cave, Nhi Thanh Grotto lies beneath the Pagoda of Triple Regions, with the depth of 600 meters. On the cliffs at the entrance are 20 inscriptions that are precious historical and literary documents, including autographs of famous scholars. The statue of scholar Ngo Thi Sy on the cliff engraved in 1779 is a precious work of art. The length of a corridor from front entrance to back entrance is over 500 metres with many beautiful and picturesque landscapes. Inscriptions can be seen today on grotto, which were engraved by famous personalities and poets over different epochs.

Moreover, the grotto has numerous stalactites and stalagmites in different shapes, making the grotto look more grotesque and mystical. The entrance to the grotto is almost obscured from sunlight, because it is covered with dense foliage of trees. High on the wall to the right side of the entrance, there remains a poem carved deep into the stone. The poem was written by Ngo Thi Si (1726- 1780) when he was stationed in Lang Son as the commander of the Lang Son military post. Ngo Thi Si praised the beauty of the magnificent mountain and landscapes possessed by Lang Son. Ngo Thi Si was the person who discovered Nhi Thanh Grotto. The name Nhi Thanh was chosen by Ngo Thi Si to commemorate his birth place in Ta Thanh Oai village in Thanh Oai district, Hanoi. To commemorate his great contributions to the grotto, Ngo Thi Si had his portrait carved on an interior wall.

"Flows of clean pure white stream water run over hundreds of pieces of marble as if it is talking. Turn one's back to the stream and look up to a high mountain peak in the from can see the Vong Phu peak". Ngo Thi Si’s verses make you feel like to visit Lang Son’s beauty spots, and Nhi Thanh Grotto is one of the eight sites that attract a large number of visitors to Lang Son.

If you are in Vietnam travel and to Lang Son province, Nhi Thanh grotto cannot be ignored in your tour.

Source:  vietnamtourism.org.vn

Suoi Tien Amusement Park

Suoi Tien Amusement Park in Ho Chi Minh City is famous at home and abroad for its airy and fresh space and the harmonious combination between nature and human creativeness, between old and contemporary architecture. All these create a fascinating tourist site which is modern and full of the cultural identities of the Vietnamese people.

«Some of Vietnam’s records set by Suoi Tien Amusement Park: -  Tien Dong Sea: The only salt water lake in the water parks in Vietnam (2004). - Thien Dang Bao Thap: The highest tower in Vietnam (2005). - Goddess of Mercy Statue made of ebony: The heaviest statue in Vietnam (2005). - Avalokitesvara Statue: The biggest statue in Vietnam (2010). - The Southern Fruit Festival 2011 is a festival which has the greatest number of artworks made from fruits and the greatest number of fruit in Vietnam (2011).                     »

Suoi Tien Amusement Park is situated on an S-shaped hilly area and covers about 200,000m² in Tan Phu Ward of District 9, nearly 20km from the centre of Ho Chi Minh City.

In the past, the area where Suoi Tien is situated now was a small forestry farm on a wild and swampy area with luxuriant vegetation. In the middle of this area there was a winding stream which was nearly 2km long. Near the stream there was a shrine. According to the local people, in the old days seven girls went to the stream to swim and unfortunately they stumbled and drowned. Thinking that these girls became sacred fairies, the villagers set up a shrine to worship them. Since then the stream has the name Suoi Tien (Fairy Stream).

Since the tourist site was officially opened for tourists in 1992, each year it receives 1.5-2 million tourists.
The unique feature of Suoi Tien is that the construction of the works in the park was inspired by the legends of the Vietnamese people and the ideas of Oriental mysticism. With a dream of peace and prosperity the designers built the park into four sections according to the legend of four sacred animals; the dragon, unicorn, tortoise and phoenix.

Mingling with the recreational facilities are historical works, such as the Hung King’s Templeand monuments of national heroes, all are significant in stirring up the visitors’ love and pride of the history and traditional culture of the Vietnamese people.

Also, the designers have skillfully integrated the religious and legendary works into the community’s recreational space. Some of them have become Vietnam’s records, such as the Thien Dang Bao Thap which is the highest tower in Vietnamand the Goddess of Mercy Statue made of ebony which is the heaviest in Vietnam.
  

The Avalokitasvara Statue with a thousand of hands and a thousand of eyes has been recognized as the  biggest statue in Vietnam (2010). Part of the “Phuc cung Tam phuoc” area in Suoi Tien Amusement Park. Thien Dang Bao Thap - the highest tower in Vietnam (2005). Every year, major cultural events, such as the Hung Kings’ Death Anniversary and the Southern Fruit Festival are held at the site.  Boat-rowing area in the Amusement Park. Tourists go around Suoi Tien Amusement Park by electric train.  Each year, the tourist site receives 1.5-2 million visitors.

Going to Suoi Tien, visitors also have an opportunity to contemplate and discover many interesting things at over 150 superb and unique entertainment works which are worthy of the man-made wonders. For example, the Dai Cung Lac Canh Tien Ngu where there are impressive performance of the mermaids, sea lions and dolphins from Indonesia; the 4D Cinemax which introduces many interesting films; the Snow Castle with temperatures from - 50C to - 150C and the cute polar bears and beautiful snowflakes that make visitors feel lost in the North Pole.

Suoi Tien has a reserved space for children called “Kingdom of Childhood”. Here there are Tien Dong and Ngoc Nu Seas which are the only models of artificial beaches in Vietnamwith a gigantic statue of Lac Long Quan on a 70m-high mountain facing Au Co Mountain.

Visitors to Suoi Tien are also interested in a world of plants and flowers overshadowing all the paths can see many rare animals, such as aquatic species, chimpanzees, tigers and bears. There is also a pond with nearly 2,000 crocodiles and a beautiful aquarium with hundreds of species of fish.
Every year, Suoi Tien Amusement Parkorganizes many major cultural events. The most prominent events are the Hung King’s Death Anniversary on the 10th of lunar March and the Southern Fruit Festival.

With the motto “Constant renovation, constant development”, every year Suoi Tien Amusement Park puts 2-3 new projects into operation to serve visitors. The park has become a destination which visitors cannot ignore when they visit Ho Chi Minh City.

Suoi Tien Amusement Park: Address: 120 Hanoi Highway, Tan Phu Ward, District 9, Ho Chi Minh City Tel: (+84)8 38 964 703 - (+84)8 38 960 260 Fax: (+84)8 38 964 705 Website: www.suoitien.com Email: info@suoitien.com

Story: Thanh Nhan - Photo: Le Minh

Source: vietnam.vnanet.vn

Linh Ung Pagoda

Linh Ung Pagoda is located in an area locally called Bai But (Buddha’s Sanctuary) on Son Tra Peninsula. It is rated as the most magnificent work of this kind in the city of Da Nang in Central Vietnam, in terms of architectural and artistic value.

«           There are three Linh Ung (miracle) pagodas in the city of Da Nang, including the Linh Ung Non Nuoc located on Thuy Mount, one of the Ngu Hanh Son (Five elements mountains); the Linh Ung Ba Na on the top of the famous Ba Na Hill resort; and the Linh Ung Bai But on the side of a mountain on Son Tra Peninsula. These three pagodas make up a wonderful complex of spiritual attractive sites in this central coastal city.                                              »

Linh Ung Pagoda was built in a perfect harmony between modern and traditional features typical of a Vietnamese pagoda, hence it has become an attractive tourist site in the beautiful coastal city of Da Nang.

Local residents on Son Tra peninsula recalled stories relating to the existence of Linh Ung Pagoda. Accordingly, under the reign of King Minh Mang in the Nguyen Dynasty (the 19th century), a Buddhist statue drifted downstream to the area and got anchored at a sandy embankment. The local villagers thought it was a good sign, so they built up a small pagoda to worship the statue. From that day on, they said, the whole coastal region enjoyed good weather, with no big storms and rough sea waves, while local fishermen harvested good fishing.

The embankment where the statue drifted was named Bai But, meaning “Buddha’s sanctuary in the real life”, where the present-day Linh Ung Pagoda is located.

To visit the pagoda, visitors will drive along the road surrounding the My Khe coastal beach, one among the most beautiful beaches in Da Nang. From the foot of Son Tra peninsula, it will take them about 10km further to the entrance to the pagoda.

The Guanyin Statue in Linh Ung Pagoda’s courtyard is the highest one in Vietnam to date at 67m in height and 35m in diameter at its base, which is as high as a 30-storey building. A stone dragon at the foot of the Guanyin statue. There are 17 floors inside the Guanyin Statue, each one has statues of Buddha. Inside the central chamber of Linh Ung Pagoda. A guarding statue inside the central chamber of Linh Ung Pagoda. Eighteen Arhat statues at Linh Ung Pagoda were carved from white stone by artisan Nguyen Viet Minh. One of  the 18 arhat statues at Linh Ung Pagoda. Stone dragons are often seen in architectural works of Linh Ung Pagoda. Part of the pagoda’s courtyard seen from foot of the Guanyin statue. Linh Ung Pagoda is the biggest one in Da Nang City. Many bonsai are placed in the pagoda’s courtyard. The pagoda becomes a favourite place of  locals and tourists

Built on an area of about 20 hectares and on the side of a mountain, the pagoda is really a magnificent artwork. It looks to the sea while its back leans on a vast primitive forest of Son Tra peninsula.

Linh Ung Pagoda can easily be recognized from afar due to its location set on the highest point on Son Tra peninsula. From any corner of Da Nang, visitors can easily capture the sight of the Guanyin statue placed by the pagoda. She looks to the sea, with her back leaning against the mountain side. One of her hands is set in a mudra gesture and the other hand holds a small water jar (Buddhist sa.amrta).

«    These 18 Arhats of Linh Ung Pagoda were carved by artisan Nguyen Viet Minh, head of the Non Nuoc Craft Villages’ Association, from white whole rocks quarried in central Thanh Hoa province.                     »

From the pagoda, visitors can enjoy seeing a panoramic view of the beautiful city of Da Nang, a young, dynamic economic hub in the central region, or to another direction, My Khe Beach with an immense blue sea and white sand stretching along the road at the foot of Son Tra peninsula.

Along the two sides of the path leading to the main chamber are statues of 18 Arhats, each describing different human beings’ emotions – joyous, angry, happy and sad, and each being sculptured so skillfully. Inside the pagoda’s main chamber, statues of Buddha Sakyamuri, Guanyin and Tripittaka are displayed. All make the scene so attractive and lively.

The main shrine is built in a great harmony of modern and traditional architecture, typical of a Vietnamese pagoda, including firm pillars with meticulously carved dragons.

Other categories, including the main chamber, the ancestors’ house, the hall, the monks’ house, and the statue garden of Arhats, all were built and arranged magnificently.

The 17-layer tower inside the statue of Buddha Guanyin is a “must” stop for any visitor who wants to explore its uniqueness. The statue is said to be the biggest one in Vietnam to date at 67m in height and 35m in diameter of its base, which is as high as a 30-storey building. From the top of the tower, visitors will see the whole city of Da Nang, forests, islands and the sea of Son Tra peninsula.

On top of Guanyin’s hat, there is a 2m-high statue of Buddha, and in each layer of the tower there are 21 smaller Buddhist statues placed in different gestures and positions.

Located in a newly established tourist complex on Son Tra peninsula, Linh Ung Pagoda is not only a religious site, but also a spiritual tourist attraction to visitors who visit the coastal city of Da Nang.

Story: Thao Vy - Photo: Viet Cuong

Source: vietnam.vnanet.vn

More spring festivals ongoing in Hue

A host of traditional spring festivals are running in Hue, adding to the colorful spring festivities, which are traditionally said to go on until the end of the first month in the lunar calendar.

The traditional wrestling fest at Thu Le village in Thua Thien – Hue province’s Quang Dien district
Photo: tuoitrenew.vn

Among them, the traditional wrestling fest at Thu Le village in Thua Thien – Hue province’s Quang Dien district opened on Feb 5. The fest is joined by some 34 teenage wrestlers, 30 adult ones and four female wrestlers.
A ceremony is also held today at the Hue royal palace to bring down the “neu” pole (a long bamboo pole), which was erected a few days prior to Tet in a long-standing Tet rite to worship deities and pray for good luck in the Lunar New Year.
Traditional boat races will also be held at Sia town in Quang Dien district and Huong Thuy town tomorrow, Feb 7. The Huyen Tran Temple festival in An Tay commune will also open the same day.
Meanwhile, the Sinh village’s traditional wresting fest in Phu Vang district is set to kick off on Feb 9. The Thai Duong village’s whale worshipping fest in Phu Vang district, one of the country’s most gorgeous spring festivals, will also take place on Feb 11.
A race of dugouts, a long, slim canoe hollowed out from a log or tree trunk, which is built and used by several ethnic minorities in the Central Highlands to cross rivers and rapids, took place on the Dak Bla river on Feb 5.

Teams compete intensely at the dugout race in Kon Tum province.

The race, joined by 42 dugouts and 84 athletes from Kon Tum city and Sa Thay district in Kon Tum province, attracted several thousand locals, tourists and foreigners.

Source: tuoitrenews.vn

Vietnamese Tet attracts foreign visitors

Tet, or Lunar New Year, is an occasion for foreign tourists to discover the beauty of spring, as well as experience the traditional culture of Viet Nam. Many tourists enjoy the festive atmosphere; during this time, foreign visitors can frequently be found sitting in cafes and sampling the local delicacies. Reporter Thai Ha of Viet Nam News takes a tour around the old streets.

Foreign tourists often take a xich lo (cyclo) to move around the old quarter.

Several Asian tourists choose Ha Noi as their holiday destination.

European visitors discover Ha Noi's old streets.

Foreigners drink bia hoi (Vietnamese fresh beer) in the Luong Ngoc Quyen street. Two French men enjoy the Tet atmosphere in Hanoi. A foreign owner of a restaurant in the Cau Go street.

Street foods.

A moment of relaxing by the Hoan Kiem Lake.

Korean tourists pose for a picture by the Hoan Kiem Lake.

Foreign visitors walk along the Cau Go Street.

Many tourists choose to travel by motorbike to discover the city.

Bicycles and motorbykes for rent service is popular in the old quarter.