The Mid-Autumn Festival is named “Têt Trung Thu” in Vietnamese. It’s a traditional festival for Vietnamese children.

Once a year, on the 15th day of the 8th month on the lunar calendar, the Mid-Autumn Festival, also known as the Moon Festival, is celebrated all over Vietnam. It is the most exciting time to learn about the beautiful traditions and customs in Vietnam. Each household then offers sacrifices to the God of Earth. While occupied with harvesting parents do not have much time to take care of their children; therefore, they make full use of the festival holiday to play with their children.

Worshiping the God of Earth

To worship the God of Earth, a platform is set up in the yard during the night of the Mid-Autumn Festival, on which moon cakes, fruit, and snacks are laid. The platform is not taken down until midnight, when the food has been completely eaten. Most families also set up a special platform for children so that they can enjoy food at any time during the evening.

Carrying Carp-Shaped Lanterns

Lanterns are important customs of the Mid-Autumn Festival in Vietnam. It is also a tradition for the Vietnamese to light lanterns during the night of the Mid-Autumn Festival. A legend states that a carp spirit once killed many people during the night of the Mid-Autumn Festival, so that no household dared to go outside during that night.

Nowadays, children hold various kinds of paper lanterns and play in the moonlight, while eating moon cakes during the evening of the Mid-Autumn Festival.

Watching the Lion Dance 

Lion dancing or “múa lân” is an essential element of the Mid-autumn festivities. At night, groups of children parade through the streets, go from door to door and ask house owners for their permission to perform the lion dance. If it is agreed then the children will put on a show, which is believed to bring luck and fortune. Afterwards, the owners will give the children ‘lucky’ money for their gratitude.

These lion dances are fascinating, and huge amounts of children, ranging from little kids to teenagers, participate in this activity. As a result of having so many groups of children marching around, the streets of the cities echo with the sound of drums, as dozens of lion roam.

Where to joint this festival in Hanoi  and Hochiminh City

If you’re in Hanoi before the Mid-Autumn Festival, be sure to visit Hàng Mã and Lương Văn Can. These streets will be packed with a variety of toys and lanterns. Another Hanoi address to visit before the big night is 87 Mã Mây, where you can watch local artisans preparing festival crafts. On the eve of Mid-autumn, the Youth Theatre on Ngô Thì Nhậm Street and the Children’s Palace on Lý Thái Tổ Street host children’s musical shows.

The area of Chợ Lớn in Hochiminh City is home to exciting Mid-autumn festivities. Stop by Lương Như Hộc Street, famous for its lanterns, masks and lion heads overflowing on the sidewalks. This is the perfect spot to pick up a souvenir lion head. The shop at 109 Triệu Quang Phục Street has been selling lion heads to the city’s best dancers for five decades.

Today, the Mid-Autumn Moon Festival, together with the encouraging affection for children, promotes education, poetry, dance, arts and crafts. Most overseas Vietnamese family, though far away from their home country, would like to bring their kids back to the home country right in Full moon festival time, one among the most important ones in Vietnam. Otherwise, most of them hold a distant festival on their own in the country where they live to remind the kids of their origin and national culture.

Photo: Internet

Vietnam’s Mid-Autumn Festival
Nguyen Thanh Van

Vietnam is one of the largest rice producers and consumers in the whole world. The country holds the second position in rice production after Thailand and ranks seventh in rice consumption. Rice farming plays a fundamental part in the life of many Vietnamese farmers as their main source of income with most of them going to the farms as early as 5.00 a.m. and departing the paddies as late as 10.00 p.m.

The harvesting season that falls in June has attracted most photographers and tourists to the country. That’s the summertime in Vietnam when the terraced rice fields display the stunning green-yellow rice which is a wonder to behold. This beautiful scenery can also be seen until September on the highland areas. Here below are the best amazing places to see rice terraces in Northern Vietnam.

Hoang Su Phi, located in the west of Ha Giang province, has attracted a great number of tourists by wonderful views of terraced rice fields. This place was recognized as the rice terrace National Relics in 2012. Different seasons portray different colors along these terraces. Apart from a tranquil atmosphere, Hoang Su Phi also remains deep cultural values embodied in the farming experiences

Photo by Tung Cao

Sapa, located in the northwest of Vietnam, is one of the most famous tourist attractions for rice terrace. Due to climate, only one crop per year is produced. You can see the rice terrace fields in the Muong Hoa valley between Sapa town and Fansipan Mountain. The best time to tour around Sapa should be from June to early October, which is also in harvest season when the terraced rice fields turn into yellow bloom.

Mu Cang Chai is 300 km away from Hanoi. This place has a fame for its 700 hectares of terraced rice fields that attracts a stream of tourist and photographers visiting between September- October when it’s in the ripe rice season. Soaking up in the aroma of ripened rice crops and the images of stretching terraced rice fields would be unforgettable experiences for anyone reaching this land.

Y Ty, located about 100 km away from Lao Cai province, is named “foggy land” with amazing terraced fields and beautiful earth walled houses belonging to Ha Nhi ethnic group. This place was listed among best mystical destinations in Asia by The US’s Thrillist website. The best time to visit Y Ty is in harvest season around September when the land is entirely covered in the bright yellow crop.

Apart from the mentioned locations, Northern Vietnam tours have much more to offer tourists in terms of scenic rice terraces. There is a large time frame, generally between June and October when tourists can be in awe of the magnificent beauty offered by the rice terraces.

Source: Tommy Ngo (Paradise Travel)

Photo: Internet

Terraced rice fields in Northern Vietnam
Nguyen Thanh Van

Located in the Tam Chuc Buddhist Cultural Complex, Tam Chuc Pagoda has a special location that connects the Huong Pagoda tourism site in Hanoi with the Van Long nature reserve – Bai Dinh Pagoda – Trang An – Tam Coc tourism site in Ninh Binh to form a complex of salt-marsh ecotourism sites.

About 60 kilometers from the center of Ha Noi , 12 kilometers far from Phu Ly city , Tam Chuc Tourist Area is located on National Highway 21A  adjacent to Hoa Binh  and Ninh Binh. This is one of the tourist areas approved by the Prime Minister as a national key tourist area.

The Tam Chuc Buddhist Cultural Complex, covering nearly 5,100ha in Ba Sao town, Kim Bang district, in the Northern province of Ha Nam, is one of the largest Buddhist Cultural Complexes in Vietnam and was selected to host the UN Day of Vesak 2019 (Buddha’s Birthday, Enlightenment and Passing Away).

Behind the Tam Chuc Pagoda is the That Tinh Mountain and facing the pagoda is Luc Nhac Lake including six rocky islands, which are said to be the six bells brought down from heaven to the lake. This is a limestone submerged area with many historical cultural relics and landscapes in the area and nearby regions. The pagoda wall was rebuilt with 12,000 stone paintings depicting the legends of Buddha craved into the volcano rock by Indonesian artisans and a garden of 1,000 stone pillars carved with Buddhist teachings. The Tam Chuc complex covers 44ha including main facilities of Dien Tam The (Main Hall of Three Worlds) , Ngoc pagoda, Tam Chuc temple, Mau temple, and others which have been completed to serve visitors. Dien Tam The has three bronze Buddha statues inside, each weighing up to 80 tonnes. The Ngoc Pagoda is built on the top of the That Tinh Mountain and is made of 2000-tonne stone blocks jointly constructed by Indian and Vietnamese engineers. The International Convention Centre serving the UN Day of Vesak is located within the Tam Chuc complex and is built in a shape of a floating boat on a lake. Last year, Tam Chuc Pagoda hosted the U.N. Day of Vesak, which commemorates the birth and enlightenment of Buddha. With the beautiful landscape and cool climate, the area of Tam Chuc Pagoda is considered as “Ha Long on land” of Ha Nam province, which promises to be an interesting and impressive place for the delegates.

Explore Tam Chuc Pagoda – Vietnam’s largest pagoda complex
Nguyen Thanh Van

The beautiful Hanoi Opera House was built in 1911 by the then ruling French. It’s a phenomenal piece of neo-classical French architecture featuring Gothic themes on the doors and domes with pillars, shuttered windows, balconies and a glass room. Musicians, actors and dancers play to a 600-strong audience delivering powerful operatic and classical performances, making it a very popular theatrical attraction.

8 INTERESTING THINGS ABOUT HANOI

At the moment, The Hanoi Opera House is the biggest theatre in Vietnam, which is also considered as a historical and architectural landmark as well as attraction in Hanoi where a range of important events have taken place.

As soon as the French came to rule Vietnam in 1883, the idea of setting up an Opera House in the central city already popped into their heads. As a result, in 1901, under the instruction of 2 skillful architects – Broyer and Harley, the work of construction started on the model of the famous Garnier Opera House in Paris and completed after 10 years.  The Hanoi Opera House offers a superb setting in which to see any live show. The stage is three metres high and there are three stores in total so a wonderful experience is guaranteed regardless of your seating arrangements.

The Hanoi Opera House has become a dream stage for any artist in Vietnam because being able to perform here counts as a recognition of their talent and contribution to national art. It is undeniable that Hanoi Opera House played a vital role as a historical witness for the development of Hanoi since French colonial time and will continue keeping its values in the future.

Tips on Visiting Hanoi Opera House

• Arrive at least 15 minutes before the performance starts or you won’t be allowed to enter
• Don’t smoke or bring food inside the Opera House.
• Don’t record the performance by any devices
• Don’t make any noise while you are watching the performance.
• Hanoi Opera House is not really suitable for children under 6

To have a look to Hanoi Opera House and Hanoi Capital City, check out our package tour:

Hanoi Spring City Tour 1 Day

French Architecture – Hanoi Opera House
Nguyen Thanh Van

Vietnam is one of the most scenic countries to explored. More than a thousand miles of coastline to the east and rugged mountains to the west provide endless opportunities for photographers and nature lovers, while brilliant green rice paddies stretch throughout the coastal plains, the Red River Delta, and the Mekong Delta regions.

I don’t think you can go wrong visiting any part of Vietnam, but you’ll find the most spectacular sights in the northern part of the country, and Hanoi makes a great base to explore this region’s many wonders.

1.Hanoi

Hanoi, the capital of Vietnam, is known for its centuries-old architecture and a rich culture with Southeast Asian, Chinese and French influences. The ancient city is being invigorated with modern cafes, world-class restaurants, and cool art galleries.

8 INTERESTING THINGS ABOUT HANOI

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2. Ninh Binh

Several tranquil rivers meander near the city of Ninh Binh, just 58 miles south of Hanoi. The best way to get a sense of this UNESCO-protected site is by taking a paddleboat tour along its shimmering rivers, and climbing to the top of its fabled peaks.

NINH BINH: A DETAIL TRAVEL GUIDE TO VIETNAM HIDDEN GEM

3. Ha Long Bay

The UNESCO World Heritage Site of Halong Bay is the most visited destination in all of Vietnam. For many the seascape of Halong Bay is synonymous with Vietnam. Cruises lazily sail emerald green waters among thousand of rugged islands and islets, stopping at some of the most spectacular caves through which visitors can wander, viewing impressive, centuries-old formations.

6 EASY STEPS- HOW TO CHOOSE THE BEST CRUISE TO EXPLORING HA LONG BAY?

4. Sapa

Sa Pa is a town in the Hoàng Liên Son Mountains of northwestern Vietnam. A popular trekking base, it overlooks the terraced rice fields that are still worked today as they have been for centuries. Backdrops don’t get much more spectacular. Enticing ribbons of road lead the eye down to the valley floor, white-water rivers rush among rice fields, and lush green mountains stretch into the distance as far as the eye can see. The highest peak in the region, Mount Fansipan, crowns the ragged ridge line high above town.

8 DAYS 7 NIGHTS BEST NORTHERN OF VIETNAM:

8D7N~Hanoi 4*~Halong Bay(Overnight On Cruise 4*) ~Sapa Valley 4 * – Fansipan~ Ninh Binh

Best attraction in Northern of Vietnam
Nguyen Thanh Van

Mekong Delta of Vietnam is a unique destination full of things that is possible to make not only foreign tourists but also domestic tourists from other provinces surprise because of its charming. Fruit orchards, cuisine, the maze of Mekong rivers, canals and floating markets are the things which attract most.

5 FAMOUS VIETNAM FLOATING MARKETS

Less crowded than Cai Rang, it has far fewer tourists and less activity. It’s most bustling between 5am and 7am, with little to see later. The market is 20km southwest of Can Tho; get here by road, returning to Can Tho through quiet backwaters.

How can you travel to Phong Dien floating market? Let’s dig into this blog with me.

Being one of 7 busiest floating markets in Mekong River Delta, Phong Dien Floating Market is famous as a place of selling and exchanging goods, a compelling attraction in Mekong Delta. The market is located at the intersection of three rivers, where Can Tho River separates from Hau River. The market is about 17 km from Can Tho City to the southeast.

Phong Dien floating market was founded as a truly retail floating market of Mekong Delta. Specificity of this land is the connection to each other by the complex system of rivers and canals.

In the market, there are boats selling household and working tools such as canoes, boats, roofing sheets, knives, hoes, machete, and fishing tools like fishing nets, or weaving products as baskets, and all kinds of general domestic and foreign cargoes. In addition, the market also sells many types of food: noodle soup, noodle with toasted meat, rice soup, Hu Tieu, and coffee, etc. In particular, there are dozens of ferry and vessels anchoring at the river’s bank. They are ready to take tourists to visit the floating market. Shipowners are often the locals, thus they should be able to work as “concierge”. With the function of a retail market, it is hard to see any big boats here. You will only see the small sampans and hear the sound from the merchants to advertise their own products which they are selling.

To catch the best scene of Phong Dien floating market, you must come here from the very early morning. Maybe around 5:30 AM is the best time for you to start your visit.

Phong Dien Floating Market travel guide
Nguyen Thanh Van

Perhaps the best shopping experience tourists can have in Can Tho is to charter a boat and cruise the rivers and canals to check out the floating markets. These places are a real buzz and are perfect for picking up local products. All types of souvenirs and crafts can be had here, along with exotic fruits and spices.

THE TOP 3 THINGS TO SEE IN CAN THO

1. Central Market

The century-old Central Market is a charming shopping centre in Can Tho. It’s largely a produce market but it also has other interesting items like hats and baskets. Even if you don’t really want to buy anything, you should come here to see the local culture and way of life. It also has a lovely view of the Mekong Delta.

Location: 44 Phan Boi Chau, Can Tho

2. Cai Rang Floating Market

Experience the hustle and bustle that goes on at Cai Rang floating market, one of the largest of its kind in the Mekong Delta. The best way to see it is to go on a boat tour. Local produce is what you’ll find but smaller boats sell delicious eats like banh mi and bun rieu. You can indulge in delicious delicacies and buy the best organic food from here.

GET TO KNOW ABOUT THE CAI RANG FLOATING MARKET

4 DAYS 3 NIGHTS CAN THO – CAI RANG FLOATING MARKET – SOC TRANG- BAC LIEU

Location: 46 Hai Ba Trung, Can Tho, Vietnam

3. Can Tho Night Market

The night market of Can Tho will be one of the attractive spots for your Mekong Delta trip to Can Tho. Night markets are a terrific place to see people in action. The experience of shopping in Can Tho is made even more exciting with a visit to Tay Do night market where sellers display their goods and music shows keep you entertained. You can find everything from clothes to trinkets here that would make perfect souvenirs to take back home.

CAN THO NIGHT MARKET – WHAT TO DISCOVER  IN MEKONG DELTA

Location: Hai Ba Trung Road, Tan An Ward, Ninh Kieu District, Can Tho

4. Phong Dien Floating Market

A few kilometers from the city is Phong Dien floating market, another popular place for locals to buy and sell goods. You should visit early morning from between 5-8am to see locals go about their daily lives. The vibrant scene will enrich your experience of shopping in Can Tho, so try to make it well in time!

Location: Phong Dien District, Can Tho

When to shop and where in Can Tho
Nguyen Thanh Van

Vietnam gets its name famed for a healthy respect towards many kinds of religions. When it comes to the largest city in the country – Saigon, visitors find it easy to realize that Buddhists, Christians and Muslims around the city are diverse in good numbers, in which all live together in ideal harmony.

While pagodas and temples are the places for Buddhists and Taoists to practice their belief, churches are where Christians can say their prayers. Temples and churches are dotted everywhere, some of us can wonder where to see mosques – the spots for Muslims?

Start from researching some mosques in Ho Chi Minh city, Vietnam, which is worth visiting before any booking.

Saigon Central Mosque

Top 4 Mosques in Ho Chi Minh City
Nguyen Thanh Van

Banh xeo literally means “sizzling cake” in Vietnamese. Pancake is a typical yellow cake made from rice flour and coconut milk with crispy crust outside and colored with vegetables, bean sprouts, shrimp or meat inside. The cake is in circular shape then it is folded into a semicircle. After the cooking process is finished, it will be a thin and tasty pancake.

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Banh xeo is usually served with sauces and vegetables. Over many years of development, Vietnamese pancakes vary according to each region through Vietnam. In Northern Vietnam, a pancake has pachyrrhizus and Indian taro. Besides, pancake in Southern Vietnam is served with the sweet and sour sauce called “nuoc mam” and in Hue, it is served with sauce and roast meat.

Source video: Street Food And Travel

There are many types of Banh Xeo discovered and become famous from North to South. And in Saigon – Vietnam’s culinary capital, Banh Xeo at different restaurants is also the favorite food of the locals.

1.Banh Xeo Ngoc Son: 103 Ngo Quyen Str., Ward 11, District 5

2.Banh Xeo Muoi Xiem: 204 Nguyen Trai Str., District 1 or 213 Bis Nam Ky Khoi Nghia Str., District 1

3. An La Ghien: 74 Suong Nguyet Anh Str., District 1 or 100 Cao Thang Str., District 3

4. Banh Xeo 46A:  46A Dinh Cong Trang Str, District 1

5. Banh Xeo Mien Tay: 31/6 Hoang Hoa Tham Str., Tan Binh District

Where to eat Banh Xeo in Ho Chi Minh (Saigon)
Nguyen Thanh Van

Located in Ninh Hoa, Hoa Vang district, apart from Danang 40 kilometers to the southwest, Ba Na – Mount Chua is a tourist destination that tourists coming to Da nang should not miss in their trip. You are due to travel to Ba Na Hills and have not already known what to prepare, right? Then, full travel guide here will contribute to your well-thought out plan.

Best time to visit

Tourists coming to Vietnam often spend some days visiting Da Nang and then take the trip from Da Nang to Hoi an. And most of the tourists coming to Da nang often choose to spend the first day visiting Ba Na hills.The best time to visit Ba Na Hills is 7:30 am (same as their opening time), to avoid the crowd after this.

In Ba Na hills, with a cool climate all year round, a day can experience four seasons: spring in the morning, summer at noon, autumn in the afternoon and winter in the evening. Tourists can travel to Ba Na Hills at any time of the year.

Where to buy a cable car ticket

The ticket booth is situated at the foot of the hills, but if you are in holidays of Vietnam, it is inevitable that you must wait hours to get the ticket. Therefore, it is better to book one at travel agents in Da Nang City.

• Adults and children from 1.3 meters: VND 800,000/ticket (including hiking train and wine cellar)
• Children from 1 – 1.3 meters: VND 650,000/ticket
• Children under 1 meter: free of charge

Where to stay

The majority of visitors to Ba Na Hills do not stay overnight at the summit of the hills because it not only costs too much to book a room at the hotel of Mercure Banahills French Village, but also brings you a dull experience. That is the reason why they just go on a day trip at Ba Na Hill. Nevertheless, if you wish to try services at the hotel, you should double check the price before deciding whether you should stay here or not.

What to do

Witnessing the landscape below while being in a cable car

From the cable car, you can have a breathtaking panoramic view of Ba Na Hills, including thick forests, clouds, waterfalls, mountains, and sky, all of which are harmoniously mixed to create a spectacular scenic painting. Each of the cabins is decorated colorfully and beautifully and accommodates up to 6-8 adults.

Travelling on a hiking train

The hiking train service is excluded in the price of a cable car ticket. However, you are advisable to try it since it is surely exciting; the train will take you to Le Jardin D’Amour Flower Garden, Debay Wine Cellar, and Tinh Tam Garden. The train has a seating capacity of 80 passengers and runs on a 400 meter railway along the hillside.

Visiting Le Jardin D’Amour Flower Garden

This great flower garden is designed in European style and divided into seven small gardens. Le Jardin D’Amour Flower Garden is romantic, ancient and picturesque. Each small flower garden carries one theme and different layout to the gathering of so many beautiful flowers of Europe. Le Jardin D’Amour Flower Garden promises an interesting and multi-color space  for those who want to take photos.

Linh Ung Pagoda

Located at Ba Na Hills, Linh Ung Pagoda is referred to as one of three pagodas named Linh Ung in Da Nang. One interesting thing is that there is a Buddha statue 27 meters in height, dazzling any visitor at the first time of viewing it. If you are seeking for peace in your mind, the place could help.

Taking a sip of wine at Debay Wine Cellar

Debay Wine Cellar is located just beyond the Shakyamuni Statue, built in 1923 and still in excellent condition. Tourists coming to Ba na hills do not forget to discover the Debay Wine Cellar, home to an abundance of grape wines. Once a luxury entertainment area for the French, Debay now offers a large stocked bar with cocktails, light snacks and, of course, various grapes and wine vintages. It’s really a good idea to discover the cellar under warm light, surrounded by the scent of European wine, along with oak-wood wine tanks.

Experiencing at Fantasy Park

Of course, it is difficult to ignore fascinating activities at the emerging amusement park like Fantasy Park with the area of up to 21,000 square meters. Most indoor games, ranging from the ones for children to thrilling games are attractive enough to give you deserving experiences.

Besides, it will be with great regret that you miss out on Wax Statue Museum displaying wax statues of celebrated people, French Village designed by French architects, and Cham Stone to buy souvenirs.

Book tour : MORNING OR SUNSET DANANG – GOLDEN BRIDGE ~ BA NA HILLS

What to eat

The following are suggestions you can take into consideration for your lunch and snack meals:

• Morin Restaurant: buffet with 30 dishes
• Hoi An Restaurant: the menu with rice, noddle and vermicelli.
• Doumer Restaurant: fastfood, fruits, and drinks.
• Buffet Club Restaurant: buffet with traditional tastes of three regions in Vietnam.
• Nhà hàng La Lavande
• Buffet Vista Restaurant (Russian cuisine).
• Brasserie Restaurant: Italian cuisine.

Full travel guide: Ba Na Hills
Nguyen Thanh Van