local travel – Rubicon Tours

The Beauty Of Hanoi Street Food Tours

Nguyen Thanh Van — Mon, 13 Apr 2020 03:11:19 +0000

The Beauty Of Hanoi Street Food Tours
Rubicon Tours.

Hanoi street food has been a unique cultural feature of Hanoi for a long time. Wherever you go, it is always a hard impression in the heart of Hanoi people as well as international visitors when they visit the city.

Street food – “soul” of Hanoi

The characteristic of street food in Hanoi is that the processing of food is very fast, not decoratively and eaters can enjoy while it is still hot. Now, pavement night diner s are places to meet friends, entertaining after stressful working hours or family gatherings. Each person has a purpose so that there are always crowded in the night, everyone is shady talk. This is the reason why there are many Vietnam food tours.

Uncle Nguyen Van Mai, a native of Hanoi, said: “The pavement restaurant is always the place that I and my friends choose when meeting each other. Not only because of this delicious food, but we also can both eat and talk very comfortably without fear of influencing or scaring anyone. The price at the sidewalk diner compared to the restaurant with clean and beautiful space is not much difference. However, many people still choose street foods, because they like the feeling of eating while looking the bustle of Hanoi streets. Street food has become a part of the soul of Hanoi. And even if people leave Hanoi, they will never forget that street food.

Street food in Hanoi in the view of international tourists.

Hanoi street food is increasingly popular and affirms its attractiveness in the eyes of international visitors. Come to Hanoi, visitors can not miss the famous street specialties such as beef noodle, pancakes, rolls, bread …

Mike Tatarski, a two-year-old visitor in Vietnam, said, “I like street food in Hanoi. Because it tastes very unique, there are many green vegetables and spice combinations are very harmonious. Especially, I was impressed with the street vendors sitting on the sidewalk because they are very friendly and humorous. It helps me feel a lot better. ” Hanoi street cuisine is richer with dishes from many regions now that make the cuisine of Kinh Ky area become more and more interesting and special.

Visitors are not only attracted by the delicious food, but they also are very interested in eating while watching the local people ‘s lifestyle. Just a few plastic chairs and a folding table, even without a roof, it can become a street restaurant. Blacke Robertson, a US traveler said: “The street food of Hanoi made me very excited. It is not only very tasty, but I also found a new feeling as I sat on the small plastic chairs, sipping coffee or iced tea, watching the bustling line on the street and listening to the stories of those around me. ”

Thanks to the unique flavor and special features of street foods, many visitors also open street-style restaurants and sell Vietnamese food in their home country after they enjoyed Vietnam street food. For example, Paul Hopper, a British guy after a trip to Vietnam opened a restaurant called “Box” in London. He said: “When I came to Vietnam, I immediately” fell in love “with fresh, tasty dishes of street vendors. I am especially impressed with the popular restaurants here because of quickly and conveniently serving. Besides, it is really suitable for office staffs and worker lunches. And I decided to open chophouse in London, serving fast food but still fresh for office workers. ”

It can be said that street food has become a unique cultural feature of Hanoi, the “soul” of the land of the thousand years of civilization. Not only has a special meaning with the local people, but also has the unforgettable impression with international friends. As a result, it contributes to enriching the quintessence culinary culture of Vietnam.

Source: vietnam-travelnews

The Beauty Of Hanoi Street Food Tours
Nguyen Thanh Van

Lien Phai Pagoda – the beautiful lotus of Thang Long citadel

Nguyen Thanh Van — Mon, 13 Apr 2020 02:09:58 +0000

Lien Phai Pagoda – the beautiful lotus of Thang Long citadel
Rubicon Tours.

Lien Phai Pagoda is a Buddhist temple in Hanoi, Vietnam. The temple is located in Lien Phai aley, Bach Mai street, Hai Ba Trung district, promising to be an ideal destination for visitors on night food tour Hanoi who like to learn about the architecture in Vietnam.

Lien Phai Pagoda was formerly known with the name Lien Hoa Pagoda and then renamed Lien Tong. Because of the taboo of the name Nguyen Phuc Mien Tong of King Thieu Tri, the temple was renamed Lien Phai Pagoda. It is the birthplace of the Lien Tong (Lotus Meditation) – one of the Buddhist meditations of our country – appeared in Hau Le Dynasty (XVII, XVIII century). The temple also has a five-storey Cuu Sinh tower also nearly 300 years old. This is the oldest tower which has the most obvious history in the inner city of Hanoi.

The temple has been repaired many times, including major repairs in 1855 and 1869. The current scale of the temple has not changed much since this renovation.

Since 1962, Lien Phai pagoda has been recognized as a national historical-cultural monument of Vietnam.

Source: kienthuc.com.vn

Lien Phai Pagoda – the beautiful lotus of Thang Long citadel
Nguyen Thanh Van

Thuoc Bac Street – the keeping colours place of old Hanoi

Nguyen Thanh Van — Mon, 13 Apr 2020 01:52:32 +0000

Thuoc Bac Street – the keeping colours place of old Hanoi
Rubicon Tours.

Thuoc Bac Street used to be a pharmaceutical trading center of Hanoi in the past. There are no ancient temples and pagodas, but the street has a famous place of being house no 87 …

Thuoc Bac Street is a street extending from Hang Ma Street to Hang Thiec Street in the center of Hanoi Old Quarter. Most of this street used to be Dong Thanh village, the last part (Hang Bo side) was Nhan Noi village, Tho Xuong district.

The name of Thuoc Bac Street originates from the middle of the street from centuries ago, which is famous for the traditional Chinese pharmacies, which people often call Northern medicine to distinguish it from South medicine – using the main raw material, which is a native Vietnamese medicinal plant.

During the colonial period, the government combined the streets of Thuoc Bac (old), Hang But (old), Hang Vai Tham, Hang Ao and Hang Khoa into a long straight line, named Rue des Médicaments (Hang Thuoc street). Since 1945, the street has been officially named Vietnamese as Thuoc Bac.

Nowaday, Thuoc Bac Street is still a busy business street. Street architecture is a mix of old and new styles, including some Western-style houses, built in the first half of the 20th century.

There are no ancient temples and pagodas, but Thuoc Bac Street has a famous place of the house No. 87. In the alley of this building is a small apartment, the place where the famous painter Bui Xuan Phai has been revel in drawing “Phai Street” for decades – a line of paintings associated with memories of Hanoi Old Quarter ..

Source: kienthuc.com.vn

Thuoc Bac Street – the keeping colours place of old Hanoi
Nguyen Thanh Van

Travel to Vietnam after the Covid-19 pandemic is over, why not?

Nguyen Thanh Van — Wed, 08 Apr 2020 03:30:12 +0000

Travel to Vietnam after the Covid-19 pandemic is over, why not?
Rubicon Tours.

All people around the world are fighting against the Covid19 pandemic, and while it is such a challenging time, there’s no doubt the world will overcome it. As with all past outbreaks, this one will eventually come to an end.

And the best way to fight is to keep hope, to look forward to the future. Thus, one of the most asked questions right now would be “what is your plan after the pandemic is over?”. And the most of the answers share would be “I want to travel!”

In case you haven’t settled on a plan yet, let us convince you why a holiday should be the first and also the best thing to do after the pandemic:

To treasure the value of life and people important to you

Watching the news and experiencing the hardship brought by the pandemic, we all come to realize how our life can be easily affected by an event, and a pandemic has definitely caused massive changes for each of us. But from a positive aspect, the pandemic is our chance to treasure our life more, and if you’ve spent a significant amount of time for work, it is time to take care of yourself and the people important to you with a holiday to a new land.

A holiday is the best way to reward yourself for overcoming such a hard time. A holiday is also the best way to celebrate once the pandemic is over and to spend quality time with your friends and families. We sometimes forget to show our love to people important to us and get too indulged in work and other issues, so use this opportunity to strengthen the bonds and let those around know how important they are to you!

Remember: “It’s not about where you are, but who you are with.”

Travel allows you to take care of your kids and parents, and create memories with your loved ones. A holiday to a new destination means you can all explore things together, learn about a new culture together, and laugh together.

To refresh and to grow

Once you are on a holiday, you will see how much your body and mind actually need it. A holiday is basically a ‘refresh’ button because we tend to pile up the stress from our work and daily life, and as the pandemic comes, we all have to live through a time of confusion and anxiety. When this hard time has passed, think about putting all the burden aside and focusing on yourself.

If you are in for a relaxing holiday, book a trip to one of the idyllic beaches in Southeast Asia, you can go swimming, snorkeling, play volleyball, hop on a boat to see the near islands, or simply enjoy a nice sunbath with a cocktail in hand. For party-goers, Hanoi and Ha Long Bay (Vietnam), Ho Chi Minh City (Vietnam), Kuta (Bali), Sihanoukville (Cambodia), are destinations known for their nightlife.

An adventure is not only the chance to stretch your muscles, but one can also gain too much more from it. Travelling can teach you more than any university course, and the knowledge that you’ve learned, you will bring them with you for the rest of your life. Each destination is a once-in-a-lifetime lesson about people, about the history and about stories that you’ve never been told back at home.

Leaving your comfort zone behind as you travel, enjoying a dish you haven’t heard of from the menu, trying a local sport or practicing a foreign tradition, … there are various ways of ‘learning’, but those you can only gain by seeing other parts of the world. When you don’t understand something, ask people, make friends, talk to those around you, keep yourself curious about the world as you travel!

“One learns more from traveling a thousand miles than from reading a thousand scrolls.”

To see nature when it recovers

Although the pandemic is impacting our life negatively, nature is, on the other hand, using this time to recover. The halt of human activities and transport has lead to a huge drop in pollution, from 20-30% in some regions. Also, destinations like forests, beaches, mountains,… are seeing the comeback of wild animals and plants. In India, sea turtles are seen nesting on the beach for the first time after 20 years, or the fish and dolphins are retuning to the canals of Venice (Italy).

The break from human activities means that by the time of your next holiday, you are likely to witness more pristine landscapes, especially with destinations that are famous for their nature.
Not only that, travelling after the pandemic will also be more enjoyable since you can avoid the usual crowds. Imagine taking in the breathtaking view of Halong Bay (Vietnam), walking around the whole massive ground of Angkor Wat (Cambodia), or lying on the stunning beach of Koh Phi Phi (Thailand), without heaps of people, we are sure you’ll find this suggestion incredibly tempting!

To enjoy big promotions and quality services

The tourism industry has suffered because of the Covid-19, but it will bounce back when countries have overcome the pandemic, meaning you can expect to catch the best deals right afterward. So you may want to start planning a trip for the summer or the end of the year from now!

Even though businesses are affected, the pandemic is also seen as a chance for companies to renovate their infrastructure as well as to create future products. Once the tourism industry ‘reboots’ again, businesses will not only focus on their prices, but also on the quality they offer to customers. Airlines can offer flights with much more affordable prices than before the pandemic, so people can travel on a lesser budget. Accommodations may introduce better deals and be more flexible with future bookings. For tour operators like RUBICON TOURS, VIETNAM, we are working to build more special tours to serve our customers, with new destinations added to our itineraries.

For staff working in the tourism industry, we are all looking forward to welcoming travelers as soon as the pandemic is gone. Because providing unique experiences to new destinations is not only our career, but it is our passion, what enhances our work every day, whether we are doing our best from the office, as your drivers, tour guides or staff that you may meet at your hotel.

No doubt about it, people will definitely travel after the coronavirus. But how? Here are a few tips for traveling after the coronavirus outbreak

Look for great deals but focus on value.
Instead of looking for the cheapest price, I would suggest you looking for the best value. There are going to be plenty of high-value travel packages. Do not hesitate to book if you find a bargain for late spring, summer, or Christmas time 2020 when the outbreak is over. But please don’t focus exclusively on price. Instead, look at the overall value of the deal. That’s why our company, Indochina Pioneer, always tell our customer what we want to bring to them: VALUE & LIFETIME EXPERIENCE.

Focus on well-known and longevity brands
Stay away from too-good-to-be-true offers from unknown operators. Too risky! Just research and focus on well-known brand companies on trip advisor, trust pilot to hear what other people talk about those ones. Honestly, during this crisis time, many travel companies are trying to keep their heads above the water. Coronavirus will almost certainly claim several well-known travel brands, according to experts. So it is very crucial for you to contact a well-known company that are financially stable.

Should never travel without a professional travel advisor behind
Reading about places to go is fun — but planning a trip after the outbreak is hard work, especially when you are busy getting back to normal life and you never know what to believe. Therefore, having a professional help an have a big impact on how much you spend on — and how much you enjoy — your vacation. Travel Experts can answer your questions quickly and correctly from the size of the rooms in hotels and cruise ships to the dining options on-site and nearby. You just need to share what you want, what you expect, they will tailor-make a perfect trip for your family.

Bottom line: Travel will continue after the Covid-19 outbreak. The industry will return sooner than you think, and with some great deals.

So once we are back to normal life and ready for new adventures, we hope to welcome you with the best services and smiling faces. Indochina Pioneer are invested in our clients’ happiness and satisfaction and want to make sure each and every trip is packed full of positive lifelong memories especially when we are going through this virus crisis together. It is really special for you, for me and for all of us. We will listen, suggest, adjust, understand and become a friend … not just a search engine or an anonymous voice. We are always with you before, during and after your trip.

In the meantime, stay safe and healthy!!

https://rubicontours.com/

Travel to Vietnam after the Covid-19 pandemic is over, why not?
Nguyen Thanh Van

Hang But Street – The poor street of old Hanoi

Nguyen Thanh Van — Tue, 07 Apr 2020 01:58:04 +0000

Hang But Street – The poor street of old Hanoi
Rubicon Tours.

Hang But Pho street in Hanoi used to have a rather strange name, Hang Mun Street. The name comes from a typical career of the poor living on the street.

Hang But Street is a 68-meter-long street stretching from Thuoc Bac Street to Bat Su Street, west of Hanoi Old Quarter. This is the former part of Dong Thanh hamlet, old Tho Xuong district.

This street specializes in selling notebooks, pens, and markers for students. The French call Hang But street (Thuoc Bac) as “rue Cambanère”, Hang Mun street is “rue des Chiffons”.

Despite being a street of the poor, during the colonial period, at the four corners of Hang Mun street were four superficial palaces of the Japanese and colonial government officials..

Since 1945, Cambanère Street has changed the name of Hang But street, while Chiffons Street has been Hang But alley. From 1949, Hang But street (old) became a part of Thuoc Bac street, while Hang But alley was “upgraded” in Hang But street.

Hang But street is the second shortest street in Hanoi’s Old Quarter, just behind Hoan Kiem Street.

On this street no longer sells items made from fabric as the street also called Hang Mun anymore. Compared to neighboring streets, this is a fairly quiet street.

Nowaday, the main business on Hang But street is hotels and restaurants.

A notable historical site on this street is Dong Thanh Temple in No.4. The front gate of this temple is on Hang Vai street.

Source: kienthuc.com.vn

Hang But Street – The poor street of old Hanoi
Nguyen Thanh Van

4 Things you will love about Mu Cang Chai District

Nguyen Thanh Van — Thu, 26 Mar 2020 08:42:14 +0000

4 Things you will love about Mu Cang Chai District
Rubicon Tours.

Mu Cang Chai is home to some of Asia’s most magnificent cultivated topography. Rice terraces coil in ribbons around the hills to spectacular effect, luring photographers, hikers, and avid motorbikers. Ready for an adventure? Whatever you’re looking for, here are four things you’ll simply love about Mu Cang Chai.

Spectacular rice terraces

Mu Cang Chai’s sheer rice terraces were sculpted over centuries of small-scale cultivation. Each season brings its own charm.

During the summer, the terraces bulge with ripening rice stems that blanket the hills in a vibrant green. By early autumn, the rice plants have turned a bewitching golden yellow, ready for the harvest. In wintertime, the lonely terraces fill with water, creating cascading rows of reflective infinity pools. Once spring comes, the terraces transform into anthills of activity, as the farmers plant a new crop.

Vibrant Hmong culture

Mu Cang Chai is mainly populated by the Black Hmong, a subgroup of one of Vietnam’s largest ethnicities. Pretty Hmong villages are dotted around the district. Each one offers a glimpse into a rich culture.

Unlike many other minority groups in Vietnam, the Hmong don’t live in raised houses on wooden stilts. Instead, they build their homes on flattened earth. Hmong textile culture is highly developed, and you’ll find that many villagers – both men and women – still wear the traditional dress. Black Hmong men typically wear dark tunics and hats, while women wear longer tunics with arms and waistbands in bright colours.

Excellent motorbiking

Mu Cang Chai is one of the best places in Vietnam to take on the roads. You’ll find quality strips of tarmac that weave around oval hills and sky-high dirt tracks that cling to near-vertical cliff faces. Whether you want a gentle ride following trickling rivers or an adrenaline-filled dirt bike experience, Mu Cang Chai provides the stage.

BEST MOUNTAINS TO GO PARAGLIDING IN VIETNAM

Notable main roads include the magnificent stretch between Mu Cang Chai town and Tu Le via the Khau Pha mountain pass. For a gentle ride through ethnic Thai villages, continue to Nghia Lo before circling back. Off the main road, a ride up to Mo De village offers more great views on a mostly paved road.

Undiscovered hiking trails

Hiking is a great way to absorb Mu Cang Chai’s scenery at a slower pace. You’ll pass layers of rice terraces, tea and corn plantations, and higher up, primary tropical rainforest.

BEYOND SAPA: 5 ALTERNATIVES TO CONSIDER FOR YOUR NEXT TRIP

Hiking may be a new tourist activity in Mu Cang Chai, but the Hmong have been roaming these hills for centuries. Until recently, villagers travelled almost everywhere by foot, creating a network of trails that zigzag up the valleys and into the mountains. These trails connect every hamlet and provide excellent hiking routes for long and short forays.

Cre: vietnam.travel

4 Things you will love about Mu Cang Chai District
Nguyen Thanh Van