Water Splashing Festival

At the time when Bo ma, a variety of wild flower that is used as an offering of the Thai ethnic people to Then (genies), and hundreds of varieties of wild flowers are in blossom and the area of Pu Nho Kho Mountain is full of festive atmosphere, Thai people in Khong Lao Commune, Phong Tho District, Lai Chau Province jubilantly prepare for several traditional festivals.

Probably the most observed festival is the Water Splashing Competition. Although nobody knows the exact origin of the festival, for the Thai ethnic people of Vietnam it is a gala that raises community harmony and spirit.

At the time when Bo ma, a variety of wild flower that is used as an offering of the Thai ethnic people to Then (genies), and hundreds of varieties of wild flowers are in blossom and the area of Pu Nho Kho Mountain is full of festive atmosphere, Thai people in Khong Lao Commune, Phong Tho District, Lai Chau Province jubilantly prepare for several traditional festivals. Probably the most observed festival is the Water Splashing Competition. Although nobody knows the exact origin of the festival, for the Thai ethnic people of Vietnam it is a gala that raises community harmony and spirit.

The teams participating in the competition consist of the strongest men and women
from the hamlet with the hope of winning the prize.

The sorcerer offers Bo ma flowers to invite Then to participate in the competition with the villagers.

Wild beauty in Binh Tien beach

With its primitive and beautiful landscape, Binh Tien Beach in Cong Hai Commune, Ninh Hai District is one of the most beautiful sites in Ninh Thuan Province that attracts both domestic and foreign tourists. 

To reach the beach, travel along Highway 1A from Phan Rang City in the direction of Nha Trang to km marker 1525 (31km from Phan Rang and 72km from Nha Trang), turn right onto a small newly-built road, about 2km long, and then pass over a spring named “Spring of Fresh Water” that connects the two sea straits in Cam Lap Commune, Khanh Hoa Province and Cong Hai Commune in Ninh Thuan Province.

The Bridge Goes through Three Centuries

Over 100 years ago, in September, the Governor-General of Indochina started construction of a bridge over the Red River. The bridge was named Paul Doumer, but Hanoians call it Long Bien Bridge or Cai River Bridge. 

At that time, it was the second longest bridge in the world, only after the Brooklyn Bridge over the East River in the US and is considered the horizontal Eiffel Tower of Hanoi.

Due to the impacts of nature and destruction  by wars for three centuries, the bridge has  now kept intact a compound span in the north, another in the south and half of a compound span in the middle of the river.

The board records the name of the contractor, Dayde&Pille, and the years of construction and inaugurations, on the Long Bien Bridge.

Lan Hạ bay and Cát Bà island

Boats for kayaking at Hạ Long bay
One of the things to do on the tour was to do kayaking
at Hạ Long bay. We traveled from Lan Hạ bay to Hạ Long
 bay and I got sea sickness on the way because of waves.

Weekend 20 to 22 March 2015 - I bought a ticket at Hoàng Long bus company in Hanoi and traveled to Cát Bà island for 3 days. It took me 4 and a half hours to travel by bus and speed boat from Hanoi to the island. It is 20 years since my first trip to Cát Bà island. I still remember that day when my boat was approaching the island at the sunset. I saw some simple buildings along coastline and rock mountains behind them. At that time there was no electricity on the island yet and the locals had to use generators at night. Today Cát Bà island is a very popular tourist destination and it has changed a lot. The purpose of my trip this time was to visit Lan Hạ bay which is located south east of the island. I planned to do this tour 3 years ago on my last visit but I missed it.

A four-hour tour of the Chay river and Toi cave

Since the eco-tourism area of the Chay river and Toi cave in central Quang Binh province was put into operation in 2011 with a new tourist activity of kayaking on the Chay River and discovering the mysterious beauty of Toi cave, it promises to be a haven for tourists.

The trip starts from the wharf at Tro Mong Forest Management Station in Phuc Trach commune, Bo Trach district, Quang Binh province. Rowing on the 10km-long Chay river which originates from the immense mountains in the ancient karst mountain area of Phong Nha-Ke Bang, tourists seem to be on a lissome silk ribbon with two sides of verdant fields of corn and old trees.

An angle view of the Chay river

Interesting facts about Vietnam food

There isadmirably a great balance between vegetable and meats, as well as a selectiveuse of spices to reach a fine taste. Vietnamese food can be considered one ofthe healthiest cuisines worldwide. 

Traditional Vietnamese cooking isappreciated for the freshness of the ingredients and for the minimum use of oilwhich makes this cuisine very healthy. Hardly do families use processed foodfor daily meals.