Ly Quoc Su Pagoda

Ly Quoc Su Pagoda worships a Buddhist Monk of the Ly Dynasty (the 10th - 12th centuries). This Monk, whose full name was Nguyen Chi Thanh, was born on 1066 in Dien Xa Village, Gia Vien District in Ninh Binh Province in the reign of King Ly Thanh Tong.

Kim Bôi hot spring (2nd trip in 2014)

My nephew and niece at the meeting hall
My nephew and niece played chess while their mother
and my parents were dancing at the meeting hall.

Weekend 12 to 14 September 2014 - My father organized a 3-day trip for our family and his friends to Kim Bôi hot spring which is located in northwest Vietnam, 80km away from Hanoi. It is exactly 6 years since my first trip to this place and I was happy to go back and see how it has changed. Kim Bôi hot spring is a popular destination for north Vietnamese from September to December, when the weather is cooler. Its mineral water is suitable for drinking, bathing and useful in medical treatments. It’s not an open air stream. The mineral water is pumped into public or private pools and you choose the pool. A ticket for public pool is VND 50,000 (about US$ 2.5). There are private pools for 2 or 13 people and they are more expensive. A special feature in private pools is the water is pumped with strong pressure.

At a shop outside Kim Bôi hot spring
Honey and rice alcohol as well as forest
 products are sold outside the hot spring.

When the water hits your body, it feels like you are having a massage. The best time for swimming in public pool is the early hours of the day, around 6-8am, because the new water is pumped into the pool and there are few people there during that time.

Sunday is a very busy day as the public pool is often full of people.

One of the interesting places to visit in Kim Bôi is the local market, about 3km from the hot spring. There are many local products sold at the market, for example, mushrooms, dried bamboo, banana flowers, taro, rice wine, sticky rice cooked inside bamboo pipes etc. When I went to this market in September 2008, I saw buffaloes alongside the traffic and the town was quite small. Things look so different now with a lot of shops along the main street of the town. Some students played volleyball at the sport center opposite Kim Bôi post office.

On Saturday evening a musical show as cultural exchange event was organized. The local girls wearing traditional dresses of the Muong and Thai ethnic minority groups performed some tunes on gongs, dances and songs in their languages.

Con Dao - A “Pearl” of the East Sea

In the past, Con Dao Archipelago was known as a “hell on earth”. Now, with a beautiful natural landscape with nice beaches, coral reefs and vast green forests, it has become a stunning “pearl” that attracts a large number of domestic and international tourists to come for sightseeing and convalescence purposes.

From a “hell on earth” to a “tourist paradise”

The island district of Con Dao in Ba Ria – Vung Tau Province, 97 nautical miles from Vung Tau City, consists of 16 islands and islets.

Due to lying in a convenient area on the sea route that links Europe and Asia, Con Dao was known to westerners very early. In 1294, Italian explorer Marco Polo on his way back home from China, encountered a storm and had to call at Con Dao Islands. From then to the 16^th century many groups of European travelers visited the islands.

In 1862, a system of brutal prisons was established in Con Dao, shortly after the French occupied three eastern provinces of South Vietnam. From then to 1975, for 113 years, Con Dao became a “hell on earth” where people fighting against French colonialism and the former Saigon regime were imprisoned and oppressed.

Tourists learn about the history of Con Dao at Con Dao Museum. Photo: Le Minh/VNP Tourists visit the “tiger cages” in Con Dao. Photo: Le Minh/VNP The monument to war martyrs at Hang Duong Cemetery. Photo: Le Minh/VNP The scene of the relic of Wharf 914 in Con Dao. Photo: Le Minh/VNP

Enjoy Lobsters When Visiting Halong Bay

Once you reach Bai Chai City and Halong Bay, you are recommended that you take a journey down gourmet lane as you take a sample of the city’s delicious seafood selections.

When you think you have marvelled enough on the beauty of Halong Bay, then you have only satisfied one of your senses. Of course the landscape, the emerald sea, the more or less 2000 limestone karst and the beautiful junk boat cruises leave nothing but beautiful visual memories. World travellers say that if you want classical music and refined culture you go to Prague, but if you want amazing wonders of nature you go to Halong Bay. This was a fact recognized worldwide as Halong Bay was officially named one of the Seven Wonders of the World in 2012. On top of that, since 1994, the bay was already listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. But do you know that the perfect Halong Bay experience of your best Vietnam tours is more than what meets your eyes?

Chua Cau in Hoi An

Existing for over four centuries, Chua Cau (the Pagoda Bridge) is one of the most iconic attractions in the ancient town of Hoi An.

Chua Cau is considered the “heart” of the ancient town of Hoi An in the central province of Quang Nam. It is a beautiful historical piece, featuring the cultural and architectural exchange between Vietnam and Japan. It was built near the Hoai River in the 17th century with donations from Japanese merchants. Therefore, Chua Cau is also called “The Japanese Bridge”.

Japanese legend has it that there was a monster in the sea namely Mamazu. Its head was in Japan, its tail in India and its back crossed Hoi An. The sea monster often caused earthquakes in Japan and Hoi An also was not peaceful. To constrain the monster, the Japanese built the bridge to worship the genies of monkeys and dogs at the two bridgeheads and the bridge was considered a sword plunging into the back of the Mamazu monster that made it unable to wave its tail, causing earthquakes.

The bridge has special architecture with a wooden pagoda roofed with yin-yang tiles on one side. At the main entrance of Chua Cau, there is a large plate embossed with three Chinese letters; “Lai Yuan Qiao”, meaning “The Welcoming Bridge”. This name was chosen by Lord Nguyen Phuc Chu during his visit to Hoi An in 1719.

Chua Cau, one of the relics with distinctive architecture, was built in the 17th century and is considered the “heart” of the ancient town of Hoi An.

Vân Long nature reserve

Vân Long nature reserve - August 2008
The boat rower and I at the Vân Long nature reserve
in Ninh Binh province, 112km from Hanoi.

Sunday afternoon, 31 August 2008 - After visiting Phát Diệm cathedral in the morning and having lunch in Ninh Bình city, my friend and I traveled another 12km by car to Vân Long nature reserve. I had not been to this site before, so I was really looking forward to seeing it. When our car reached the site, we saw the vast range of limestone karst mountains along the stream and the landscape was absolutely beautiful. It reminded me of Guilin in China and Hạ Long bay in northern Vietnam, but this place is very special, as it’s far less touristy. The site was just found out 7 years ago, then developed into a nature reserve and not many people go there yet. The locals at Vân Long are also gentle in comparison with the ones at Tam Cốc (which I never want to return).

View of the area

We parked our car and bought tickets for both sightseeing and boat ride (VND 35,000/person, approx US$2.2). Certainly the boat rowers expect some tips at the end of the boat trip, as they receive very little money from the authority. The man, who rowed our boat, is 56 years old. He asked whether we wanted
to cruise for an hour or an hour and a half, we chose “an hour”. I loved the view of the mountains and their reflection on the water. It was really quiet and peaceful while sitting on the boat and moving around without seeing anyone else, except a local woman and her ducks on the way. We also got into a cave, however the water level was high, so we couldn’t go too far and had to turn back the same way.

Vietnam condemns China’s illegal island construction

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs condemned China’s illegal construction work on Gac Ma (Johnson South Reef) in Vietnam’s Truong Sa (Spratly) Islands as a “serious violation of Vietnam’s sovereignty.”

 

During a press briefing held Thursday, MOFA spokesman Le Hai Binh said Vietnam had sufficient legal and historical proof to assert its sovereignty over Truong Sa.

Caramelized Pork and Eggs (Thit Kho Tau)

Caramelized Pork and Eggs (Thit Kho Tau)

This dish goes well with boiled vegetables, green mustard pickle, and other pickles. It is also a perfect breakfast with steamed sticky rice and some fresh herbs and cucumber slices. The pork should be very tender but still in its shape. You can easily break it with chopsticks. The broth should be clear and has nice caramel color.

Giac Lam Pagoda

Giac Lam 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.

Location: Giac Lam Pagoda (also known as the Cam Son or Cam Dien Pagoda) is located at 118 Lac Long Quan Street, Tan Binh District, Ho Chi Minh City.

Characteristic: Giac Lam 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.

“Pau Po Cu” Corn Cake

The special “Pau Po Cu” Corn Cake is usually made in the 4th month and the 5th month of a year (according to the Lunar Calendar). The main ingredient of this cake is corn powder. When the corns still have the milk-like taste, they are cut, put in a special machine called “Bie Zu” (Bie means machine, Zu means to grind) and grinded without water. When the grinding process is done, we add water into the powder to make a stickier mixture. Next, we put the small pieces of that mixture on banana leaves before frying them on a boiling pan. The cooked cakes are then wrapped in banana leaves. The taste of the final product is beyond any description! When eating, we can feel the smell of banana and the taste of corn, as well as the softness and stickiness of each bite.

Preparation for Fansipan Tour

At the height of 3,143 meters, Fansipan is the highest mountain in Hoang Lien Son range and known as the roof of Indochina.
 

The fascinating beauty of azalea flowers forest, bamboo forest, pine-trees forest and the gigantic landscape here make the tourists feel like they are lost in legendary world.
To well prepare for the itinerary conquering Fansipan, some advices following may be helpful to those who take part in this tour:

Kingdom of Trinh Tuong Houses

 Huu Khanh Commune in Binh Loc District is locally known as the "kingdom" of Trinh tuong houses, streets of Trinh tuong houses or land of Trinh tuong houses.

Visitors to Chi Ma Border Gate in Lang Son Province will be amazed at the streets of old Trinh tuong (earthen) houses that stretch for three kilometers. Strangely, these houses are made of clay but they are very solid and firm and have existed for over 100 years. Many of them have one floor.
Ha Van Bon, Chief of Kieng Hamlet said: “Nobody knows when Trinh tuong houses were built in this area. When the Tay ethnic people came here to settle, there were Trinh tuong houses. Now nobody builds such houses and only Ha Van Dan knows the secret of building them.”

A part of the hamlet of Trinh tuong houses in Huu Khanh. Photo: Thong Thien

The Mid-Autumn Festival 2014

Drums and lion heads
At a stall on Hàng Mã street
 in Hanoi's Old Quarter

8 Sep 2014 - Today is our full moon day or Mid-Autumn Festival. It is 5 years since my last blog about the Mid-Autumn Festival in Hanoi which I published in 2009. One week ago I took my nephew and niece to visit a big market in the Old Quarter where traditional lanterns and toys are sold for this event. In Vietnam, the Mid-Autumn Festival is considered as the festival for children and we buy them lanterns or toys as well as presenting each other moon cakes. On r the 15th of August based on our lunar calendar a big party is organized fochildren and they parade with lanterns or watch lion dance.

We walked along some streets in the Old Quarter and enjoyed great atmosphere there. It has been a long time since I went to this place. Two years ago I was traveling in the North West of Vietnam during the moon festival and I saw local people parading on the street or practicing lion dance.

King Bao Dai’s Palace

Located on Trieu Viet Vuong Street, Da Lat in Lam Dong Province, Bao Dai’s Palace is a charming structure with a European renovated architectural style that helps beautify this romantic city.

The old palace, also known as Palace III, belonged to King Bao Dai, the last emperor of the Nguyen Dynasty (1802-1945) in Vietnam’s feudal regime. It was built from 1933 to 1938 according to a design by a French architect and Vietnamese architect Huynh Tan Phat. The palace has been evaluated as one of the most beautiful architectural works in Da Lat with a hamorny between pine forests and parks, Thuong Uyen (royal garden), Ai An Forest and a small lake. During his reign, King Bao Dai used the palace as holiday house during the summer. During his holidays in the palace, there were always a regiment of imperial guards, a train of cars called “Cong xa biet dien” and private airplanes to serve him and his family. In 1948, when the French persuaded Bao Dai to serve as “head of state” and then established “Hoang trieu Cuong tho”( Domaine de la Couronne in French) in 1950, Bao Dai’s Palace was renamed “Biet dien Quoc truong” (the palace of the head of state).

Bao Dai’s Palace is imbued with the European renovated architectural style.

China told to explain attacks on fishermen

Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Le Hai Binh.— Photo petrotimes

HA NOI (VNS) — China has been asked to deal with the beating and robbery of Vietnamese fishermen by its forces in the East Sea.
Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Le Hai Binh said yesterday that on August 1 and 14, two Vietnamese fishing boats from Quang Ngai, the QNg 96416 TS and QNg 96674 TS, were held up and robbed by the crew of several Chinese ships.

MOONCAKE Recipe - Bánh Trung Thu (Bánh Nướng)

This recipe is adapted from traditional Vietnamese mooncake recipes with ingredients that are easier to find in Western countries.

Video by: Helen

Chanel Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/user/HelenRecipes

CLICK HERE for Baked Mooncake Recipe (BAM VAO DAY de xem cong thuc) http://danangcuisine.com/?p=1876

Do you appreciate the chance to travel?

Hạ Long bay
One of the UNESCO world heritage sites in
Vietnam. There are 1,969 islands in the bay.

Last week a Travel Blog member said to me “Your blog is a bright statement of Vietnam”. I replied to him “There are the good and the bad everywhere in the world. I always show my respect for the people and countries I visit. Life is too short, so I try to think about the positive side”. And he agreed with me.

My story will start with the meetings with two English men in Hanoi. The first English man visited Vietnam on 12 business trips during the past 3 years and he fell in love with Vietnam. I also attended the dinner farewell party with his local staff and saw how sad he was on the last day in Vietnam. The second English man came to Vietnam based on the votes of his friends and traveled for a couple of weeks from south to north. During his visit in Hanoi I took him to a camera shop where the shop owner inserted two screws into his camera without any fee. He was also invited to drink tea at a shop and at some places people approached him and asked him how old he was.

Trang Bang Rice Paper

Trang Bang is one of the lands on which people have been residing for the longest time in Tay Ninh. Nowadays, even though the old village has turned into a busy urban area, the local inhabitants are still able to preserve the traditional cuisines, one of which is the tasty Trang Bang Rice Paper dish.

The beautiful photos of Plum Harvest in Moc Chau

For the Mong people in Moc Chau District, Son La province, the plum tree is a gift endowed by nature because this variety of tree grows very well on soil in the highlands and does not need to be tended carefully. Moreover, it brings high economic value.

The tree often blossoms in spring and is laden with fruits in early summer. This year, there is a bumper crop of plums in Moc Chau so the whole area has become busy with local people picking plums and traders buying the products.

Plums are a speciality  in Moc Chau.

Tran Hung Dao Temple

It was first erected in 1932 as a Buddhist pagoda bearing the name of Van An. In 1958, it was entirely rebuilt, featuring the architecture seen today, forming a T-shape with two-piled up roofs and eight curved corners adorned with dragon and phoenix figures.

Ky Van Tourism Area

Located at the foot of the Minh Dam Mountain Range, Ky Van Tourism Area (Anoasis Beach Resort) seems to be hidden in the peaceful and calm bay of Long Hai, one of the most beautiful bays in Ba Ria-Vung Tau Province. The land with a romantic and beautiful landscape was selected by King Bao Dai as his vacations place.

After a long sleep, the land which is as beautiful as a painting was awakened when Long Hai Tourism Company coordinated with Hoang Cung Company Ltd., in Ho Chi Minh City to invest in the area in 1997. Only after one year, Anoasis Beach Resort was founded in the area thanks to the cooperation of Ba Ria -Vung Tau Tourism Company, Hoang Dung Company Ltd., and Anoa Dussol Perran, a French Vietnamese.

A ventilated space seen from the gate of the tourism area.

Around Vietnam by a foreigner's diary

The extracts in Jenny Coad’s diary posted in Dailymail show his feelings, thoughts and shares about his journey around the beautiful S-shaped country. Let’s enjoy photos and read the author’s sharing, feeling when travelling in Vietnam.

 “Coming to Southeast Asia, my friends asked me “where will you go?”, and I said that, “I go to Vietnam”. To me, Vietnam is exotic but is very simple and rustic – that is a special beauty attracting people.

“The S-shaped country with long coastline, smooth sands, and tropical islands makes me moved with the charming scenery here. It is so hard to forget painful memories about the war of two countries; they will leave the indelible mark. However, it is weird that whenever I ask people here how they feel about American tourists, I got the same answers: they always welcome us.”

Hanoi was the first place in my journey. I stayed here when Vietnamese celebrated Lunar New Year. The weather was quite cold but people seemed to forget the frozen because of being excited to prepare for Tet. My heart was happy and less stuffy when seeing crimson peach blossom and kumquat trees in the street.