• Picturesque scenery and cultural riches aside, gorgeous Hoi An draws intrepid travelers keen on gastronomic delights. Its specialties are the result of Chinese, French and Japanese influences while being distinguished by using local ingredients and typical cooking methods. Leave ample space in your belly to into 5 must-try specialties in Hoi An below.

1. Cao Lau

Hoi An is the birthplace of “cao lau” so if you’re in the city, you must have come across and tasted this local specialty at least once. This special dish is a perfect example of Hoi An cuisine featuring locally sourced ingredients from rice noodles to crisp herbs in the local organic Tra Que gardens and water from well-hidden ancient Cham wells. Pork meat is marinated and roasted for 1 hour before being mixed with chewy udon-like rice noodles, beansprouts, croutons, fresh herbs in pork-based gravy. The dish is usually served with spring onions, chilli jam and lime relish. Best “cao lau” is unlikely to be found in upscale restaurants but in simple food carts off the street where you can slurp with unbridled joy while people-watching.

2. Com Ga Hoi An

Hoi An chicken rice is a close cousin to classic chicken rice in China. However, when it comes to savory flavor, Hoi An locals pick up only fragrant rice and shredded farm-raised chicken as major ingredients. For the melt-in-your-mouth texture, after seasoning, top quality rice is cooked with chicken broth, turmeric and panda leaves in a wooden stove for a distinctive pale yellow exterior and special fragrance. Meanwhile, fresh chicken is boiled then squeezed with fried onion, salt and pepper resulting in thorough spice absorption. Eat it like locals do by topping it with black pepper and chilli jam and flavored with onion, sour papaya, fresh herbs and soy sauce.

3. Mi Quang

It’s unlikely you’ll find “mi Quang” (Quang-style turmeric noodles) anywhere else outside Hoi An. Like “cao lau” and other regional specialties, “mi Quang” is made based on a common ground: use only local rice noodles and mix it with fresh grown herbs and local greens. Traditionally, “mi Quang” comprises several ingredients such as yellow rice noodles, a little bone broth flavored with fish sauce, meat toppings including chicken, pork of beef slices and local herbs. Yet, “mi Quang” now comes in a variety of versions that meat toppings can be replaced by squid, boiled quail eggs, nails or frogs. A perfect bowl of Quang-style turmeric noodles is usually added with different herbs like basil, peanuts, coriander, and sliced banana flowers.

4. Banh Xeo

Crispy fried pancake, a typical Vietnamese snack varies across the nation as each region has its own variation. And “banh xeo” Hoi An in central style boasts one of its best versions. This sophisticated dish is made of rice flour squeezed with coconut milk and turmeric and toppings range from vermicelli noodles to chicken, pork, shrimps, sliced onions, beansprouts, and mushrooms. It is a common street food that you can easily find it at roadside stalls, local markets and restaurants in Hoi An. Make your own combination of a small piece of “banh xeo” wrapped in lettuce leaves or rice papers, added with “nem lui” (lemongrass pork skewers”, basil then dipped into fermented peanut sauce.

5. Banh Mi Hoi An

Vietnamese baguette is arguably the world’s best sandwich. When in Hoi An, don’t miss a chance to grab a typical bite of “banh mi Phuong” Hoi An. This is a good mix of a plain banh mi with a variety of meat fillings including “heo quay” (roasted pork belly), “cha ca” (fried fish with turmeric and dill), “cha lua” (boiled sausages), “xiu mai” (meatballs) and fried eggs. Other additions are pickled vegetables, pate, butter, soy sauce, chilli and hot peppers, all are combined together for a wonderful flavor. Quick and tasty, if this Vietnam’s quintessential dish is not the breakfast of champions, I don’t know what it is!

Source: vietnamonline.com

The 5 Hoi An Cuisines You Cannot Afford To Miss
Nguyen Thanh Van

If Hanoi and its lavish array of attractions still cannot satisfy your adventurous spirit or you are simply getting fed up with this noisy crowded city and want some fresh air, just pack up and move out of the inner city to explore numbers of destinations where both stunning scenery and fresh atmosphere are always welcoming you. This guide shall introduce you to five must-see sites near Hanoi for a one day trip.

1- Huong Pagoda (Perfume Pagoda)

Huong Pagoda is an immense complex of Buddhist pagodas, several Gods temples and communal houses, located on Huong Son Town, My Duc District, Hanoi. The center of this complex is laid inside Huong Son Cave, called Chua Trong (Inner Pagoda).

In order to reach this holy sanctuary, tourists are given chances to travel on boats cross a long and narrow but romantic stream. Along its side are extending patty fields where egrets flying intermittently above; grassy dunes and temples here and there. It may take ones 2-3 days to pray at all temples and explore the entire zone.

Huong Pagoda is most well-known for its festival, lasting very long from the beginning of January to early April. During the occasion, Huong Pagoda welcomes thousands pilgrims from both inside and outside of Vietnam.

Full-Day Perfume Pagoda Small-Group Tour

2- Traditional handicraft villages

Visiting traditional handicraft villages around Hanoi should be a good idea for travelers getting bored with busy life of the inner city. The tour will be divided into two morning and afternoon session with one village to visit in each depending on travelers.

Bat Trang Ceramic Village: Getting to the destination either by motorbike or bus crossing Chuong Duong Bridge, a large area of ceramic pottery workshops are open to you. In here, ones can buy the best quality ceramic products, moulded by skillful hands of craftsmen and in various sizes, colors and design. It’s even more exciting when ones are invited to create a ceramic product yourselves.

Van Phuc Silk Village: The site is undoubtedly a paradise of silk and fashion lovers with over 1,000 silk shops, offering a diverse range of delighting shirts, crafts, ties and dresses made of silk here are standing out thanks to its light weight and smooth appearance, high quality and a variety of colors that will definitely be suitable for any skin tones.

3- Duong Lam Ancient Village

The village is 60km from Hanoi center that may takes you a whole day trip. Duong Lam Village is proud to be the most ancient village in Vietnam which is still remaining its lavish array of historic relics and ancient architecture dated to 1,200 years of history. Besides, Duong Lam landscape is typical for a Vietnamese village with poetic rivers with rows of bamboo on its bank, vast patty field where several buffalo or cow digging glass nearby.

4- Ha Long Bay

Ha Long Bay has just been qualified to be one of the New Seven Wonders of the World is definitely a must-see destination. Located within the Gulf of Tonkin, Ha Long Bay is a spectacular formation of around 2,000 small limestone islets with the total square of 1,553 km2. The Bay’s outstanding scenic beauty promises tourists unforgettable experience.

Mimosa Cruise 01 Day

5- Ancient Capital Hoa Lu (Ninh Binh)

The Ancient Capital Hoa Lu is the first capital of feudal system in Vietnam, which associated with two prosperous dynasties: Dinh Dynasty and Le Dynasty. From 968-1010, the old capital achieved lots of glories before King Ly Cong Uan decided to move the capital to Thang Long.

Hoa Lu is a complex of ancient vestiges, which has been officially preserved by Vietnamese Government since 2003.

Spring is really a festivity season in Hoa Lu thanks to dozens of carnivals being held in this first capital of Vietnam.

Source: vietnamonline.com

5 Ideas for Day Trips from Hanoi
Nguyen Thanh Van

One of the best travel souvenirs you can bring home is the ability to cook some of the dishes you sampled on your journey. Cooking courses are becoming more and more popular as a travel activity nowadays.

Learn how to cook authentic Vietnamese dishes like spring roll – ‘nem’ while you are on tour, some local chefs might guide you to local markets on how to pick the right type of ingredients for authentic Vietnamese dishes while you get to know better about local culture and delicacies.

Join in a Cooking Class while visit Ha Long Bay – Lan Ha Bay with Mimosa Cruise:

Mimosa Cruise 01 Day

Take a Cooking Class in Vietnam
Nguyen Thanh Van

Every visitor come to Vietnam are surprised that Vietnam is the second largest coffee producing country in the world and how Vietnamese enjoy coffee is not the same with the rest of the world. People enjoy coffee while working, meeting, and discussing with the partners, chatting with friends or when entertaining. . . Coffee consider as a part of work and life. Cafe originated from the West, followed by the French imported into Vietnam from colonial times. This drink was originally served for social elite. Gradually, coffee became a popular drink for everyone. Now Vietnam is famous for many coffee brand for instance Nescafe, Vina cafe, Trung Nguyen café… But the Vietnamese has style to enjoy their very own coffee. Due to the habits and the region, coffee drinking style in Hanoi, Hue and Saigon is very different.

Coffee Habit of Hanoi People

The drinking coffee style of Hanoi people is quite similar to in Hue. They also have two kinds of coffee: coffee with sugar or milk. Because of colder weather than Hue so Hanoi people often drink less ice. They have to divide into 4 different coffee: brown iced coffee, black iced coffee, brown and black coffee Hanoi people also create a kind of coffee that should be tried in every Hanoi day tour: Egg coffee

Then every time they go to a café, they also have the habit of sitting, enjoying coffee and looking at the sky. But Hanoi doesn’t have a quiet and peaceful space like Hue. So you will not be surprised if Hanoi people sit and drink coffee in a very old poor shop silently watching the noisy and crowded streets. However, Hanoi people are not as diligent in drinking coffee as Hue people. They do not have a morning coffee habit, except for the retirees or those who have no job for the time. They often go to coffee shops in the evening. They drink coffee in small glasses or porcelain cups. The amount of coffee mixed into each cup a little more than Hue, so the coffee is weaker.

Coffee Habit of Hue people

Because of the lack of the amusement park, Hue people can go to the café at any time of the day. The coffee culture of the Hue people can be encapsulated in three words: dense, delicate and slow. Whenever they want to drink coffee, they just sit on a street stall along the river or sidewalk. Hue people only drink “phin” coffee (filter coffee). The stall uses small glass cups to hold coffee, ice for the coffee must be the big ice, leaving a couple of ice waiting for it to melt slowly. There are only two types of coffee in Hue: iced coffee and milk coffee.

Café in Hue is very quiet and peaceful. People play music often light music like Trinh music or pre-war music. Hue people are rarely coarse laugh, they often murmured chat, sometimes they silently watching the Perfume River, or hear the night flutter.

Coffee Habit of Saigon people

Unlike Hue and Hanoi, Saigon coffee culture is very generous. Saigon people consider coffee not only to sip, enjoy but also is a kind of beverage. So, when in the summer in Saigon, you will occasionally see, someone rushed to a counter or street vendor, bought a coffee, finished in a second and then went away. The Saigon coffee mix is also very special: a lot of ice, less coffee. Saigon coffee cups look like cups of coke, both in color and weight as well as function. In the coffee shop, if you order a glass of milk coffee or iced coffee, they will give you a large glass of all the ingredients you need to drink. If a Hanoi and Hue citizen first goes to Saigon, then going to drink coffee will create a light culture shock.

Only in Saigon, people drink coffee with a straw. Saigon people drink coffee also very sweet, almost overwhelm the bitter taste of the coffee. Not to mention, their coffee mix has been very weak. Few Hanoi and Hue people can drink a cup of Saigon coffee because it is tasteless and too sweet. Meanwhile, the Saigon people cannot drink coffee Hanoi – Hue style, too strong and too slow
Saigon People go to the café to have lunch and talk about work, drinking coffee to go to work … After finishing their coffee, they go to do some work, not delay.

Source: vietvisiontravel.com

Coffee Habit of Vietnamese people
Nguyen Thanh Van

Vietnam is a nation always on the move. Look away for a moment, and a business pops up, a new experience breaks ground, a route appears where there was none before. In 2019, travellers to Vietnam have more options than ever before, and it only gets better from here. Below are seven inspired ways to get to know Vietnam now.

PLAN AN URBAN GETAWAY

Countrysides are nice, but Vietnam’s cities are flourishing at a pace that simply can’t be ignored. For a hit of the energy that has the country in its sway, plan a long weekend in Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City or Da Nang. What you find might surprise you: modern Vietnamese kitchens, trendy rooftop bars, hole-in-the-wall boutiques, contemporary art galleries, and craft beer houses wait around each corner. Grab a ca phe and enjoy the non-stop action.

Da Nang 1 Day Tour

EXPERIENCE ETHNIC CULTURE IN A HOME STAY

Vietnam’s ethnic homestays  consistently win travellers over with their warm hospitality and excellent value. Here’s the chance to interact with ethnic minorities on a personal level, taste authentic countryside cooking, and bed down in breathtaking locations on a budget. Start your search with homestays in Vietnam’s national parks and reserves such as Pu Luong and Phong Nha, and in Tai and Hmong villages surrounding of Sapa and Mai Chau.

Mai Chau – Ban Lac Village 02 Days 01 Night –> Book now!!!

CHECK YOURSELF IN FOR A WELLNESS RETREAT

Not many people know it yet, but Vietnam’s central coast is poised to become Asia’s next big wellness destination. Already the spas in the area are snapping up industry awards for thoughtful programs and striking design. HARNN Heritage Spa and Fusion Maia are two pioneers leading the pack, however the zen-like mineral hot springs at Alba Wellness Valley and lagoon-facing villas in Lang Co are worth at least a few nights. Yoga practitioners can make their way to Hoi An, where 200-hour teacher training courses and wellness retreats now take place on an almost monthly basis. Beyond Central Vietnam, the islands of Con Dao and Phu Quoc also present amazing world-class wellness breaks.

LEAD UP FOR A VIETNAM MARATHON

Who says holidays have to be indulgent? A new crop of marathons and triathlons have sprung up around Vietnam, opening fresh trails to runners from all over. The Vietnam Mountain Marathon is the perfect excuse to spend a few days in the stunning highland town of Sapa, but you’ll find plenty of other options throughout the year, including beachfront races in Da Nang, heritage runs in Hanoi, and more marathons in destinations such as Moc Chau, Ha Long and Ho Chi Minh City.

SAMPLE NEW FLAVOURS ON A FOODIE TOUR

Vietnam’s delicate, delicious cuisine is reason enough to visit. In 2019, you’ll find contemporary restaurants challenging old ways, and dedicated foodies opening their kitchens and neighborhoods to visitors via personalised tours. Vietnam’s tour operators are embracing the trend, with north-to-south foodie tours that delve deep into Vietnamese culinary philosophy.

Copyright by Vietnamtourism

How exploring Vietnam Culture?
quản trị viên

Vietnam offers travelers many means of transportation. Some of these forms of transportation can be unpleasant or long, but one thing is for sure, the best way to embrace this country’s beauty is hopping on a motorbike for a trip. We have a proud collection of many breathtaking motorbike passes throughout the country, looping around stunning mountain and jungle views. Let’s take a ride across Vietnam from north to south!

Hanoi – Moc Chau Route

An Unrivaled Beauty Between the Mountains

It’s about 180 kilometers from Hanoi to Moc Chau along National Route 6 towards Son La and Dien Bien province. Overall, National Route 6 is well constructed with two wide lanes and a nice surface. Traveling by motorbike will take approximately four hours, including passing Kem and Cun slope halfway through the route. They are not very dangerous but you always have to be calm and cautious when riding as you might not be familiar with these sudden ascending terrains in the northwest area of Vietnam.

After passing the slopes, you will arrive at Cao Phong – a lovely town in Hoa Binh province that is famous nationwide for its distinctive local oranges. More interestingly, if you travel during the production season, these orange gardens will be even more beautiful with their ripe fruit and a pleasant citrus smell. Be more careful on this track because there are often police stationed here to check on your speed and motorbike papers.

Now, lying ahead of you are Muong Khen, Tan Lac, and Thung Khe pass, which are all considered to comprise one of the most spectacular loops in Vietnam. They act as boundaries between craggy mountain ranges and the vast abyss. You’ll enter a picturesque scene made of dense green forest, lovely stilt houses of the ethnic people, and a gentle touch from the foaming clouds above. It’s very likely that there’ll be fog in this area during the winter so ride more carefully and pay attention to the roads to avoid getting lost. Midway down the pass, there are many small local markets selling wild orchid flowers in various colors and the iconic snack in this region – steamed corn. Situated by the foot of Thung Khe pass is Mai Chau valley which is an extremely photogenic scene. You can also take a short break here to recharge your energy for the remaining route. After that, you’ll meet another track that has a regular police control point – Long Luong village. Continue for 20 kilometers, and Moc Chau is right in front of you.

When to Go: Hanoi – Moc Chau Route

The landscape on the way to Moc Chau has seasonal beauty, so you can visit at any time of the year. Pick your most favorite scene, pack your bags, and you’re ready to go! There are several distinct seasons.

From October to February is the season of mustard green flowers and wild sunflower with strong yellow color. Before and during Tet holiday in Vietnam, there’ll be peach blossoms and plum flowers blooming all over the place. They will magnificently cover Moc Chau in white just like a snow covered mountain.

Moving on to March, you can experience a pink flower theme with camel’s foot tree flower, or simply hoa ban in Vietnamese. There’s even a song written and performed by one of our famous rock bands about this beautiful flower.

Plants will produce fruit from April to August in relatively cool weather, which is a perfect occasion to escape the scorching heat from Hanoi. This season doesn’t yield too many flowers but you can still see a marvelous scene of peach and plum fruit everywhere.

Hanoi – Ta Xua

Explore Unspoiled Nature at this Destination 

Ta Xua commune belongs to Bac Yen town, Son La province and borders Yen Bai province. It is home to the tenth highest mountain in Vietnam with surprisingly delightful weather and unique cloudy scenery. This place is becoming more and more popular for many tourists in Northwest Vietnam, especially young and adventurous motorbikers. “Cloud hunting” is a term that is often associated with Ta Xua traveling as its cloud clusters are so mesmerizing and worth discovering once in your life. 220 kilometers away from Hanoi and 100 kilometers from Moc Chau, Ta Xua is quite an easy route so beginner motorbike travelers can also try this track. Here’s where it leads: Hanoi – Son Tay – Trung Ha Bridge – Thu Cuc – Thu Cuc Intersection – National Route 32 – turn left toward Phu Yen direction – Bac Yen towards National Route 37.

It usually takes six to seven hours to ride if you start in the Hanoi center, which already includes a lunch break on the way. Like Hanoi – Moc Chau, Hanoi – Bac Yen is fully packed with splendid mountainous roads and gorgeous natural scenery. If you start your trip in the early morning, you’ll have a chance to watch sparkling sunshine through multiple layers of clouds, which lights up the whole forest underneath. The way from Bac Yen to Ta Xua center is only 15 kilometers but it’s more challenging. There’ll be more dangerous slopes and rugged terrain, with thick fog and clouds blocking your vision so remember to be cautious when riding. If you don’t feel comfortable traveling this route by yourself, take a short rest in Bac Yen and hire a motorbike taxi to Ta Xua.

Ta Xua is an underdeveloped commune without any heavy tourism exploitation so it still retains a precious untouched beauty. This is an ideal destination for those who want an authentic cultural immersion with the tribal villagers in pristine scenery that is very difficult to find in other cities.

When to Go and Where to Go: Hanoi – Ta Xua

According to experienced travelers, the best time to discover Ta Xua is from November to March. Clouds during these times are more beautiful than ever, with several impressive moments of transformation and then they drift away. Save the date to enjoy the greatest version of this cloud paradise!

There are many ideal cloud hunting spots, one of which is the valley in front of O Ngong hostel. Next, visit Wind Mount – Dinh Gio, and the Lonely Pome Tree (Cay Tao Meo Co Don), which are absolutely amazing Instagram spots. How to reach it: from the commune center, turn left towards Xim Vang direction and travel for about one kilometer and you’re there.

After taking some pictures, you can go to the Dinosaur Backbone – Song lung khung long in Hang Dong, which is six kilometers away from the center. It’s a small path created by the division between two wavy hillsides. Walking up to the top of this “dinosaur” with breathtaking views stretching as far as your eyes can reach will definitely give you a sensational experience. Adding to this wonder are rice terraced fields scattered below.

Saigon – Phan Thiet 

General Route Options 

Phan Thiet is situated in Binh Thuan province, 183 kilometers away from Ho Chi Minh City to the southeast. There are three routes from Saigon to Phan Thiet, but the easiest way is to follow National Route 1A. This option is just a straight route from start to finish. However, traffic throughout National Route 1A is quite heavy with a lot of container and other transportation trucks so it’s not very clean and there won’t be any magnificent natural scenes for you to enjoy. Many motorbikers therefore choose not to ride this route.

The second option is through the forest and passes towards National Route 20 and 55. This track is nice with many planting zones along the way such as rubber forests, dragon fruit gardens, and rice fields. However, it’s quite dangerous and difficult to ride due to rough terrain and a lack of residents. If you go for this challenge, you should start the trip early and travel in groups as it can be tricky at night.

Detailed Route for the Best Option

I have to say National Route 51 is the favorite drive of motorbike travelers from Ho Chi Minh City to Phan Thiet because it runs along the seaside! You can travel from Cat Lai ferry port to Long Thanh then arrive at Ba Ria town to shorten the route by 25-30 kilometers instead of riding National Route 1A – Vung Tau Intersection – National Route 51. When reaching Ba Ria and onward, you will ride along the beautiful coastline with the pleasant stroke of the sea breeze. After Ba Ria town, you will notice a big roundabout, and you’ll have to take the road to Ho Tram through Loc An. There are clear signs at this roundabout, so don’t worry if you can’t find the right way. Also remember that Loc An is the last checkpoint in which you can refuel your motorbikes as the next gas station is more than 60 kilometers away from here.

From Loc An, you’ll travel on a great route with pristine natural scenes, but remember to keep your eyes on the road because sometimes it has several narrow turns. This is also a frequent spot for traffic police. Ride a little bit farther and you will pass by Binh Chau hot spring resort. If you need a quality break, this is the place. Rest your feet in the soothing stream, have some simple snacks such as boiled eggs, and you’re good to go. There’s also another spot worth stopping by, Binh Chau National Park, which is only six kilometers away and very interesting to visit.

Move on and you’ll arrive at Lagi town and meet a big roundabout. From there, go straight to Mom Da Chim Resort. When you are at the first intersection, turn right onto a small iron bridge. Continue on that road for about 20 kilometers and you’ll see a sign showing the way to Phan Thiet through Ta Cu mountain.

If you arrive at Ke Ga lighthouse, you’ll know that Phan Thiet city is around 30 kilometers away. From this point onward, the track is absolutely stunning and will literally take your breath away. The surrounding scenes are spectacular mountain cliffs on one side and extremely blue ocean with sandy beaches on the other side. Besides Phan Thiet, Vietnam also has many other coastal roads in other cities. When you reach the end of this route, turn right at a triple-cross and Phan Thiet city is there on Tran Hung Dao street.

When to Go: Saigon – Phan Thiet

Before starting your trip, make sure to check forplaces to buy or rent motorbikes in Saigon if you don’t already have one. Phan Thiet city has relatively comfortable weather so you can actually plan your trip here almost any time in the year. However, it’s advisable that you avoid traveling here during April and May as this is the hottest period in the city. Or in July and August, because there’ll be red tide during these times so you can’t swim in some spots.

Source: guide.cmego.com

Cruise the Most Beautiful Motorbike Passes Across Vietnam
Nguyen Thanh Van

We believe you don’t need a special excuse to take a vacation with your partner. But if you’re looking for one, Vietnam has you covered. Vietnam is a surprisingly enchanting destination for couples, blessed with rich culture, mouth watering food, and diverse landscapes. Whether you’re reconnecting after a busy season, celebrating a romantic milestone, or going on a spur-of-the-moment adventure, Vietnam will give you moments to treasure for a long time to come. Here are our best trip ideas for couples in Vietnam.

Best for pure romance: Ha Long Bay Cruise 

Much has been said about this striking seascape in Northern Vietnam, and for good reason. The bays of Ha Long, and Lan Ha never get tired. The marina is just a short two-hour drive from the airport in Hanoi. Whisk your partner away on a luxury cruise, and spend the hours watching the karsts drift by, kayaking around floating villages, and taking in spectacular scenery from the deck.

2D1N Genesis Regal Cruise Ha Long + Lan Ha Bay

Best for local culture: Exploring Mekong Delta

The Mekong Delta is what most people think of when they think of Vietnam. This part of the country is awash in exotic visuals: bustling floating markets, children riding bicycles, tiny sampans floating down leafy canals, sun-drenched rice paddies, and ornate pagodas. The areas surrounding Chau Doc, and Can Tho are especially compelling. Here, life goes on peacefully in the shade of fruit trees, and the food is always fresh and nourishing. Wake up early and take a boat to the nearest floating market for an unforgettable bowl of Hu Tieu.

Can Tho – Chau Doc – Mekong Delta 4 Days 3 Nights

Best for cosy weather: Romance Traveling  in Da Lat

04D / 03N ~ Da Lat Flower City (New Program)

Vietnam’s best getaways for couple
Nguyen Thanh Van