The best attractions in Da Nang are a good mix of centuries-old pagodas, French colonial buildings, as well as tranquil beaches with clear blue waters, and verdant national parks. Danang has been the most attractive destination in the world recently. More and more tourists make their trip to Danang city to experience the beauty of friendly people, unique culture and impressive landscapes.

My Khe Beach

My Khe Beach is voted by Forbes magazine as one of the most attractive beaches on the planet. With a coastline stretching to 90 meters, blue waters, fine white sandy beaches, and high-end hotels.

My Khe Beach benefits from being perfectly located at the heart of World Heritage sites – the ancient port of Hoi An, the mysterious Phing Nga Caves, the home place of the Champa population and the revered imperial city of Hue are all easily accessible. My Khe Beach is also reaping the rewards of an increasing number of international flight connections from Singapore, Bangkok and Ho Chi Minh City to name a few.

TOP STUNNING BEACHES IN DANANG

Marble Mountain

The Marble Mountains is the symbol of Danang city and is a cluster of five marble and limestone hills located in the Ngũ Hành Sơn District, south of Danang city. The five mountains are a complex of 5 mountains that are named based on five elements: Kim (metal), Moc (wood), Thuy (water), Hoa (fire) and Tho (earth). You should allow up to four hours to explore all of Marble Mountains so its good to start early when it is not so hot and of course wear comfortable shoes, and if you can, bring a torch.

Ba Na Hills

Ba Na Hills is one of the top-notch attractions that every tourist should visit in their lifetime. Ba Na is 1,487 m above sea level in the Truong Son Mountains west of Danang, with an average temperature of just about 18-Celsius degrees, it can be seen as the SaPa of central Vietnam. Tourists can visit the Ba Na Hills via the cable car systems that have also set two Guinness World Records for their height and length. Go there, you not only discover amazing scene of mountains but also experience the longest and highest cable car in the world. From above, visitors can cover a vast space of superb beahes, the whole Danang city, green rice fields to the endless horizon.

MORNING OR SUNSET DANANG – GOLDEN BRIGDE – BA NA HILLS

Linh Ung Pagoda on Son Tra Peninsula

Linh Ung Pagoda is set on Son Tra (Monkey) Mountain, which is a prominent attraction in Da Nang for housing the tallest statue of the Goddess of Mercy. Built atop a lotus-shaped platform, there are a total of 21 miniature Buddha sculptures within the beautiful 67 metre-tall white statue. In the most prime location of this region, the pagoda has become a place of worship, living, studying of monks and nuns, Buddhists as well as a sightseeing place of visitors from four directions, an attractive spiritual tourist destination of Da Nang city where meeting the heaven and earth’s sacred air and people’s heart

Dragon Bridge

Dragon Bridge measures 666 metres in length, making it the longest bridge in Vietnam. A popular spot amongst photographers, the six-lane bridge crosses the Han River and is constructed in the shape of a golden dragon, which locals believe symbolises power, nobility and good fortune. You definitely don’t miss a performance that “Dragons”spewed fire and sprinkler at 21:00 on Saturday, Sunday nights and special occasions.

DRAGON BRIDGE – BREATH TAKING STOPS IN DANANG YOU SHOULD NOT MISS

Danang Catheral

Da Nang Cathedral is one of the most unique catholic churches in Vietnam, featuring a pink-painted edifice, stained-glass windows, and an imposing bell tower topped with a rooster weathercock. The church has Gothique architectural style with soaring lines and the diamond shaped dome. Inside the church, there are statues and paintings of Christ and biblical illustrations decorated in the form of Christian Western art. The cathedral is located along Tran Phu Street, about a 15-minute walk from the iconic Dragon Bridge.

First time visit to Danang: Where to go?
Nguyen Thanh Van

The best markets in Ho Chi Minh City are must-visits for shopping enthusiasts and first-time visitors looking to experience the daily lives of the local population. Mostly set within the tourist-friendly District 1, these traditional markets open as early as 06:00 with local vendors selling fresh produce, household supplies, and Vietnamese street food at attractive prices.

FREE THINGS TO DO IN HO CHI MINH CITY

Ben Thanh Market

Ben Thanh market is the most popular name when mentioning about shopping. As the biggest market in HCMC, you can find all the stuff you need right here in District 1. This bustling street market gets really packed in the mornings as locals come here to shop for fresh fruits, spices, nuts, seafood, and household supplies. Throughout the day (and night), you can see rows of coffee traders with various beans on display and stalls selling apparels, textiles, luggage, watches, handicrafts, and electronic goods until 24:00. Ben Thanh Market is also a good place to get your fill of inexpensive street food such as pho noodles, spring rolls, and banh xeo (crispy pancake).

Binh Tay Market (Cho Lon China Town Market)

Binh Tay market is located in the center of the largest Chinatown district in Vietnam. Great for experiencing the local Buddhist culture, the market offers a vibrant atmosphere, opulent Chinese architecture, as well as a fascinating assortment of handicrafts, lacquerware, textiles and fresh produce.

THE UNSPOKEN RULES OF CHO LON (SAIGON’S CHINA TOWN)

There’s also an open-air food court at the back of the market where you can enjoy tasty treats such as Vietnamese noodles, banh bao (steamed bun with pork filling), and Chinese sausages. Market shopping – especially in Southern Vietnam’s notorious humidity – can get tiring; for a quick breather, head to the breezy central courtyard and check out the alter and stone plaque honouring Binh Tay’s founder.

5 FOODS YOU WON’T MISS WHEN IN SAI GON

An Dong Market

An Dong Market (Craft Market) is a four-storey indoor market that houses mostly fashion wholesalers and handicrafts stalls. The market is an ideal place for fashion enthusiasts because you can find a huge collection of textiles, apparel, handbags, and accessories on the first two floors and quality knitwear, trinkets, and woodwork in the top floor. On the first two floors while the top floor is dedicated to quality woodwork, lacquerware, knitwear and trinkets made by skilled local artisans.

Tan Dinh Market

Built in 1926, Tan DInh market serves as a historical monument and also a well-known shopping location for both local people and newcomers. Head north from the city center and the market should be along Hai Ba Trung street, just across the road from the prominent landmark of Tan Dinh church. It only takes a ten-minute walk to get to Tan Dinh market from the Turtle Lake (Ho Con Rua).

At the front of Tan Dinh market stands a multitude of street vendors offering some of Saigon’s best street food. Besides, you can also immerse in colorful local silks in sophisticated patterns as you walk into the main area of the building. Although fabrics and food are Tan Dinh market’s specialties, the market contains a lot more commodities to make your routine much better: clothing, footwear, fresh produce, household items, accessories,… Many products has good quality but there are other ordinary products as well that you can buy at an affordable price.

Dan Sinh Market

Dan Sinh Market caters to a niche clientele, selling a wide array of military memorabilia from the Vietnam War. Also called the War Surplus Market, it is a short five-minute walk from Ben Thanh Market and Pham Ngu Lao, which is the city’s backpacking district. You can buy old zippo lighters, M-17 gas masks, the helmets of fighter pilots, army uniforms, and dog tags. There are also countless stalls selling different types of building materials, household hardware, plumbing pipes, and industrial machinery. Do note that almost everything here is not an authentic war relic, so make sure you haggle with the vendors to get a decent price.

Top 5 Best Markets in Ho Chi Minh City
Nguyen Thanh Van

Life in the far south of Vietnam rolls at a much slower pace than in the cities. No bigger dichotomy can be seen between Ben Tre and Ho Chi Minh City, located just about 100km from each other but taking on life in two completely opposite ways.

Ben Tre remains relatively inert, and the languid pace of life here continues despite its growing reputation in the tourism trade. Coconut trees rise highest here, rice paddies stretch on and the colour of the province is a brilliant verdant green, countering the grey of Ho Chi Minh City’s buildings and streets and providing locals and tourists alike with a much-needed escape to nature on a day-trip. This is our comprehensive guide of what you can see in Ben Tre.

Coconuts and Trees – Ben Tre’s Backwaters

The romantic images of Ben Tre’s magnificent palm tree-lined canals are scattered on the front of postcards throughout Vietnam, such is the pride that Vietnamese people have for this southern region. In a way, the slow drifting of sampan boats encapsulates the relaxed attitude of the Vietnamese that can still be found around the emerging country, in cities and in towns, but especially in the Mekong Delta, where the environment has bred a leisurely approach to life into the regional psyche.

Canal trips under the overhanging coconut trees and ferns can be taken via the most basic service of a sampan boat, all the way to high-end luxury boats with thatched roofs. The intricate canals that run between Ben Tre’s fertile riverbanks are a wonderful symbol for the region and a ride on its calm waters will transport you back in time, clearing the mind and getting you in touch with the nature around you. The river is often flanked with cycle paths, making up another of Ben Tre’s top things to do, cycling along with the languid pace of the flowing water.

Coconut Boat

Birds – Vam Ho Bird Sanctuary

Ben Tre’s picture of paradise is always strengthened by the presence of birds, which soar around the region in search of food in the water and trees. An absolutely unmissable event to see in Ben Tre is the flocking of the storks, an event whereby up to half a million storks fly high above the setting sun and land in an area called Vam Ho Bird Sanctuary. Such a sight is highly prized for bird watchers, who come to capture this most perfect accordance of an Asian scene; big birds, slow water, powerful sunset.

Besides the white storks that fall like snow on the treetops, herons and about 83 other species of bird can be spotted around Vam Ho, making use of its fantastic location on the riverbed and its fertile land to catch fish and mammals who live in the vicinity. You can skirt around Vam Ho on a boat and walk along its pedestrianised inside for a closer look at some of Vietnam’s most majestic feathered creatures.

Vam Ho Bird Sanctuary

Fruit – Cai Mon Fruit Orchard

Cai Mon Fruit Orchard is the best place to see the diversity of Ben Tre’s fruity offerings. Tropical fruits like mangosteens, durians, limes, lemons, and longans thrive in the hot, humid and occasionally very wet climate, giving Cai Mon and Ben Tre in general a splash of additional colour. Walking around the orchard, you will be greeted by exotic fruits that you may not have even heard of before. Java apples and rambutans flash a brilliant red, while the bulbous yellow-green of durians hang heavily from the branches and the dark purple mangosteens open up to the perfect white segments of flesh inside.

Orange Garden in Cai Mon Fruit Orchard

Religion – Tuyen Linh Temple

Despite the fact that it is only 150 years old, the Tuyen Linh Temple has been through some pretty tough times. It was heavily damaged after coming under direct bombing by the Americans but has since been rebuilt in a colour unfortunately in modern Vietnamese pale yellow as opposed to the original bold pink. Nevertheless, Tuyen Linh is an impressive Buddhist temple with unique colonial-style architecture, however, the upward-curved roofing and dragon motifs are decidedly Asian.

Tuyen Linh Temple

Handicrafts

The beloved coconut for which Ben Tre is famous knows no bounds when it comes to versatility. Aside from being food and drink, its shell can be made into any number of objects, and entire shops operating at the riverside can stock hundreds of coconut-made products on their tables. Lacquered coconut bowls are always a tourist favourite, as are tea sets and miniature figurines of detailed humans and bicycles. The most popular is the coconut candy, famous throughout the country for its uniquely sweet, creamy taste.

If you’re feeling overwhelmed by coconut at any point, there are other things to see in Ben Tre that have nothing to do with the fruit. Popcorn is another famed export of the workers of Ben Tre, as is shrimp paste and fish sauce sourced from the abundant waters, as well as rice from the plethora of rice paddies stretching throughout the region.

Make coconut candy in Ben Tre

Biking in Ben Tre

Best Time to go to Ben Tre

Being situated even closer to the equator than Ho Chi Minh City doesn’t do much for the variety of temperature in Ben Tre. Any month you go will be hot, and it is likely you’ll try and find shade under the many coconut trees year-round when average temperatures span just 3 degrees between 30°C and 33°C (86°F – 91°F). Rainfall is practically non-existent from December to April, but skyrockets during the wet season from May till about mid-November, so try to avoid these months if possible.

Source: IncredibleAsia

Ben Tre – A fascinating stop to see everyday life
Nguyen Thanh Van

Let us start our journey by going through a list of 12 best Vietnamese foods, which are considered must-eats in Vietnam!

VIETNAM – NEW LEADING CULINARY DESTINATION

Phở – The worldwide icon of Vietnamese cuisine

POPULAR STREET FOOD MUST EAT IN VIETNAM – PHO

Phở have been the worldwide icon of Vietnamese cuisine and surely one of  the famous type of  Vietnamese noodle. The noodle of dish are called “Banh Pho” which made from a typical type of Vermicelli in Vietnam with salty Sweet Broth that is made from animal bones (some chefs use chicken’s, some may use pig’s, it really depends), a mixture of herbs and meat (depends, also).

Usually, there are two kinds of Pho: Pho Ga (Chicken Vermicelli Soup) and Pho Bo (Beef Vermicelli Soup), in which the latter one is more well-known. These two types of Pho differ in their topping, while Pho Ga often merely goes with boiled chicken meat and herb, Pho Bo’s toppings are more diverse.

Bánh Mì- Vietnamese sandwich

Banh Mi’s most outstanding aspect that makes it become a popular choice in Vietnam might be its convenience. People can find Banh Mi roughly anywhere along the street in each urban region of Vietnam.

The origin of the bánh mì can be traced back to the French-style breakfast platters that were popular during Vietnam’s colonial era. Crusty baguettes, processed meats, pickled vegetables and pate were served individually until the late 1950s. The modern bánh mì was created in Saigon when the Le family, refugees from the north and owners of a small restaurant in District 3, began putting the ingredients inside the baguette so that the meal could be enjoyed on-the-go. They also increased the vegetables-to-meat ratio to create a much more affordable sandwich. These simple alterations proved to be revolutionary, leading the bánh mì to fast become the breakfast fare of millions. Today, bánh mì carts are ubiquitous throughout Vietnam.

Gỏi Cuốn -“Freshest Dish”

If you are tired of the fatty fried food and absolutely want to get rid of them, then Goi Cuon is definitely for you! There are thousands of Goi Cuon’s edition. Like Banh Mi, it will be made based on customers’ orders. However, the main ingredients are often lettuce, some kinds of herbs and boiled meat or seafood. These ingredients will be wrapped tightly by a rice paper, then the roll can be dipped into the sauce, which is diverse depending on the chef making it.

Bún Chả – The Vietnamese Dish President Obama Fell In Love With

In the capital of Vietnam, you can find many delicious local dishes, especially- bun cha. This simple dish is a great combination of savory and fresh flavors, it has a vibrant color and the harmony of the meat and vegetables is incomparable.

The highlight of bun cha is definitely the broth (or dipping sauce). To make the sweet and sour soul of this dish, the cook mixes fish sauce, vinegar, and sugar together. The ingredients might sound simple but the taste varies from one shop to the next because every Hanoin has their own ratio they follow. Diners can tell whether their bun cha is good or bad by the flavor of the sauce.

Nem Rán (Vietnamese Fried Spring Roll)

Fried spring roll was brought to Hanoi from the Southern part of vietnam and this dish has rapidly become a favorite one of Hanoian, and to express the affection as well as to remember the real origin of the dish, people here call it “Nem Sai Gon”.
Unlike popular myth, Vietnamese do not eat fried spring rolls with rice everyday. In fact it is a preferred food on special occasions such as Tet and other family festivities. Spring rolls not always go along with rice but also seen with round noodle in the mouth-watering bún nem dish.
Like other dishes in Vietnam, Nem Ran also has several recipe versions varying on families and regions of Vietnam. This may be the most interesting feature in Nem recipe. The perfect combination of sour, sweet, and salty is really made the best Vietnamese spring rolls.

Bánh Cuốn – Perfect for Breakfast

Bánh cuốn is a popular Vietnamese street food item consisting of steamed rice rolls stuffed with pork (banh cuon nhan thit), mushrooms (banh cuon than tri), or both (banh cuon Ha Noi). The dish is usually served with a fried shallot dip, sweet and sour fish sauce (nuoc mam chua ngot), a variety of fresh herbs, and lime-based sauce on the side.

It takes a special kind of skill to prepare these steamed rolls which should always be extremely thin and translucent. Bánh cuốn is usually consumed for breakfast in Vietnam, while a similar version of the dish is also present in Thai cuisine, where it is known as khao phan.

Bún Bò Huế (Hue-style Beef Noodles)

Bún bò huế is a staple Vietnamese soup that is traditionally consumed for breakfast, consisting of pork and beef bones broth, bun noodles, lemongrass, shrimp paste, lime juice, and a variety of herbs. The soup is much spicier than most Vietnamese soups, and its flavor is often described as rich and complex.

5 MUST TRY FOOD WHEN YOU VISIT HUE

Cà Phê Trứng (Vietnamese Egg Coffee)

INDULGE BY EGG COFFEE IN VIETNAM 

Egg coffee is a sweet and dense Vietnamese beverage that traditionally consists of strong black coffee that is mixed with a combination of egg yolks and sweetened condensed milk. The two come together in the most surprising way, and, even more surprisingly, this combination rocks!

Cơm Tấm (Broken Rice)

Cơm tấm is a traditional Vietnamese dish that’s typically sold as street food. This type of rice, in fact, used to be only for the lower class of society. However, in these modern days, thanks to its cultural value as a past reflector, the dish is a signature dish of Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City).
Broken rice has a texture that’s similar to normal rice, just smaller. When served, cơm tấm is accompanied by numerous toppings such as fried eggs, shredded pork skin, grilled pork chops, or deep-fried fish patties.

Mì Quảng (Quang Noodle)

Like Bun Bo Hue, Mi Quang (Quang Noodle) is noodles made in Quang way. This specific type of noodles has its origin from the central province of Quang Nam, Vietnam. Unlike other types of rice noodles, which often have a round appearance and white color, Quang Noodles impress tourists by their two signature features: the flat appearance as well as the specific yellow color.

This Vietnamese classic consists of a combination of flat rice noodles and yellow egg noodles that are served with a small amount of flavorful meat broth and crispy fresh vegetables and herbs such as banana blossoms, lettuce, cilantro, scallions, and Vietnamese coriander.

Bánh Xèo – “Vietnamese Pancake”

Loosely translated as sizzling pancakes, bánh xèo is a famous Vietnamese dish that combines crunchy crêpes with a variety of savory ingredients. The distinctive Vietnamese element in these nourishing pancakes is rice flour, which is combined with water, turmeric, and coconut milk or coconut cream in order to create the thick yellow batter.

THE 5 HOI AN CUISINES YOU CANNOT AFFORD TO MISS

Chè (Sweet Soup)

Vietnamese chè dishes include any traditional sweet soup, beverage, pudding, or any other custard-like dessert that is made with a base of either water or coconut cream and served either hot or cold. Other ingredients for making chè include various jellies and fruits, beans and pulses, rice and grains, and even tubers and cereals.

5 INTERESTED FACT OF VIETNAMESE CUISINE

12 best Vietnamese Foods that rock your stomach!
Nguyen Thanh Van

Arriving in Dong Van, tourists will have the chance to admire the majestic beauty of rolling mountains and forests as well as to learn more about the daily life of Dong Van residents.

The ancient Dong Van Town is a must-see in Ha Giang which takes the scenic ride to reach the destination. You will ride on the “Happy Road” (which is 14km from the town) to pass by the Uncle Ho Statue, the heavenly terraced rice fields, the Vuong family remnants, the blossoming buckwheat paddies, etc. In fact, Dong Van is one of the most beautiful stops on the Ha Giang Motorbike Loop, which secures the great motorbike riding adventure.

Getting to the town, you are likely to meet other local and foreign guests who travel North Vietnam to admire the intact Ha Giang in general and the antique Dong Van in particular. Besides the age-old houses, the town preserves the areas for hill-tribe market gatherings filled with the colorful costumes of the minorities and their products. The market is renowned for it’s cultural diversity but extremely difficult to access for the regular tourist or backpacker due to its steep, long, time consuming hair pin roads. Dong Van market beckons ethnic groups living roughly within a 25km radius of the town. This primarily consists of White Hmong, Black Dao and Tay people living high and secluded up in the mountains.

For meeting the minorities who live in the northern hills of Ha Giang Vietnam, plan a trip to Dong Van and be ready for unique surprises!

3D2N~ Ha Giang Loop Tours

Colorful Dong Van Market in Ha Giang Vietnam
Nguyen Thanh Van

Ha Giang Tourism offers fantastic sightseeing of the natural highlights, interesting ethnic culture, uniquely historical Hmong King Palace, etc., and especially Meo Vac Hill-tribe Market held every Sunday. Among the most iconic hill-tribe markets in Ha Giang Vietnam, Meo Vac always ranks top and can feast visitors’ eyes with the colorful traditional costumes of the Hmong ethnic minority and exciting crowds of buyers and sellers in and out.

What to Do in Meo Vac Hill-tribe Market

People keep sharing about the free-of-charge fun in Meo Vac that appeals to new guests who are wondering what to do in this place. First of all, set a target to attend a market session in the early morning (around 5:00 AM) though we know that there might be more other great things to do in Ha Giang. The visit will not disappoint you, for sure. In the beginning, you can expect to meet many happy, smiling faces accompanied by yours toward the cattle market.

Upon your arrival, the colorful booths of various local products will strike to the eyes. It’s your call to buy the cute items! And if you don’t want to buy, it’s perfectly fine to enjoy this valuable fun by watching and taking pictures of the Hmong symbolic costumes, bracelets, small glasses, turbans, etc. While men wear the long black dresses, women get on their most colorful tops, skirts, and scarves. Note that the natives sell things in a simple way; some merchants display their products on a small tray. If interested, you can try bargaining to get better deals. An interesting conversation or bargaining often results in a happy deal. Meanwhile, look around the livestock section, you can see the locals getting deals on the cattle, mostly the cows, piglets, chickens, ducks, and goats.

Next, place your focus on the food court with booths and counters of the delicious dishes. Located inside the market, these food stalls delivers the coziest and busiest atmosphere that exhilarates all market goers. Also, it offers the picturesque background with the ideal light conditions for photography. You’re likely to meet many Hmong people who are wearing the brightly-colored costumes and sharing the space in a delicious food stall. Opportunities to take pictures, learn the culture, and mingle with the locals are limitless. Not only does the market serve food, but it is also a venue for people to enjoy chatting after a long working week. Once a week, every Sunday, many individuals are looking forward to this gathering. The typical and indispensable food is “Thang Co” (a kind of the stewed horse meat). Besides, most men want to sample the corn wine before they leave.

Meo Vac Sunday Market is a Must to See in Ha Giang

It’s said that we should visit the local markets to understand how the locals live and work. And, this saying is absolutely correct for Meo Vac Sunday Market Ha Giang. This attraction is exciting, photogenic with the brightly colored outfits and the big livestock section, making it the largest hill-tribe market in the region and a must to see. Meo Vac is worth checking in for numerous great experiences that all city travelers might not find elsewhere.

Source: Indochinacharm

Meo Vac Hill-tribe Market Ha Giang for Valuable Fun and Great Pictures
Nguyen Thanh Van

While Lan Ha Bay Vietnam itself owns pristine and breathtaking nature of beaches, islands, and islets, its neighboring attraction of fishing villages, namely Viet Hai Fishing Village, help perfect the cruise itinerary. The nature-friendly biking on the countryside road and amiable cultural experience in the village can turn out to be the sweet memories that might be hard to get elsewhere. There must be a reason why vacationers appreciate relaxing moments in this traditional village, so read on to know what you can expect.

Entirely situated among the immense sea and surrounded by high mountains and jungle of Cat Ba National Park, Viet Hai fishing village is situated in Cat Hai district, Haiphong province. Visiting Viet Hai fishing village, tourists will feel the tranquil and peaceful atmosphere, charming scenery of villages in the North, Vietnam. Viet Hai is today the community ecological attractions in Cat Ba Island alluring the large number of tourists. Lyrical natural landscapes, pristine and unique landscapes together with friendly people will definitely leave unforgettable impression to tourists in mind.

Located in the heart of Cat Ba National Park, Viet Hai Fishing Village urges trekkers to enjoy 17km trekking through the jungle to the village. Or, from Beo tourist pier, you can take a private boat to the village. Another fantastic way is the Lan Ha Bay Cruise Booking which includes Viet Hai village in the sailing itinerary of 3 days 2 nights, and you will disembark at Viet Hai harbor. This off-the-beaten-track hamlet has a green and peaceful landscape to feast your eyes.

Bordered by the sea, the forest, and the limestone mountains, Viet Hai fishing village remains pristine, poetic, and cultural than almost any fishing hamlet of northern Vietnam. It offers the sought-after settings for everybody to stay away from the urban stress, but instead, to immerse in the peaceful and original shelter where the shelter is real. That is why people nowadays choose to spend time in this village as an ecotourism site that they don’t expect luxurious resorts or dynamic streets, but peace, friendliness, and beautiful nature. Homestay in Viet Hai also attracts the backpackers to stay for days so that they get cultural experiences, enjoy sporty outdoor activities like biking, and get to know the local lifestyle.

Viet Hai Fishing Village via Lan Ha Bay Cruises
Nguyen Thanh Van

Chau Doc in An Giang Province has long been attracting the domestic and foreign visitors, especially the pilgrims who have faith in the Lady Temple (Mieu Ba Chua Xu). People also know about this town for its delicious fish paste. To talk about a sacred and attractive town in Vietnam Mekong Delta for a spiritual trip, then it is Chau Doc. Besides, everyone just know this town thanks to its tasty fish pastes and floating villages. And whenever somebody asks you where is the most charming town in the Mekong Delta for a spiritual purpose, then Chau Doc should be the first option.

The town shares the same border with Cambodia, and often takes six hours to arrive on a bus trip. Besides, this place is a big home to many ethnic groups, such as the Cham, Kinh, Chinese, and Khmer groups. Among these, Kinh people are considered as the most crowded community who live almost everywhere.

EXPLORE CHAU DOC MEKONG DELTA WITH RUBICON TOURS PACKAGES

Like some other provinces in the Mekong Delta region of Vietnam, An Giang, where Chau Doc belongs to, experiences the two season:

• December – April: This is the dry season in Chau Doc that gives the town the pleasant atmosphere and abundant sunlight. According to the common belief, the dry time is the best time to visit Chau Doc as there is no rain interrupting your outdoor activities. Also, this period witnesses the massive celebration of Ba Chua Xu Festival – the most colorful festival of the region.
• May – November: This is the rainy season in Chau Doc when some rain comes, and the visitors have to keep in mind the weather forecast on the go. For the cruise trips during the rainy time, it is vital to keep the life-jackets on hand.

Chau Doc – A spiritual land
Nguyen Thanh Van

Southwest of Vietnam has long been renowned as the land of verdant, fertile, the preferential tropical nature creates cultural features attractive gardens. The set of 13 provinces and cities to form a broad delta area of 40,000 square meters kilometers with nature and man give visitors a sense of the familiar.

The establishing gardens are the creative employment of the native people in here with a natural sense of improvement nature for serving human life. Gardens in Southwest are concentrated together into large space with lush fruit orchards laden with fruit around the year.
Travel to the land of gardens, the first impression of visitors is the wealth that nature bestowed on this land, the most typical kinds of fruit are concentrated on there such as durian, big longan, soapberry, tamarind, star apple, mangosteen, mango, rambutan. The gardens appeared throughout most parts of the Mekong delta but the biggest gardens are in Binh Minh, Tam Binh, Binh Hoa Phuoc (Vinh Long); Cai Be, Chau Thanh, My Tho (Tien Giang), Mon, Cai Rang (Tho), Hong Ngu, Cai Tau Lai Vung (Dong Thap), Tra Vinh… A journey through Mekong Delta must be written on your travel list during Vietnam vacation.

Discovering and learning the unique culture of the Mekong delta has enchanted more and more foreign tourists, in addition, can come to see the trade villages, the bakeries, oven nuggets. The only market tour, visitors can see the fullness of life of people living here.
The market always shows what the most prosperous of the country, with various types of markets as diverse as floating market and provincial markets mentioned as Cai Be floating market, Cai Rang floating market, Phung Hiep floating market. The markets are full of food of the world, attracting more and more tourists to visit.

Source: myhanoitours

RELATED TOURS:

04D/03N ~ Can Tho + Chau Doc @ Mekong Delta

The Beauty of Southwest Vietnam
Nguyen Thanh Van

Stay away from the bustling atmosphere of the city, places with peaceful and romantic beauty can let your soul be relaxed and forget the worries of life in a contemporary period of time. For visitors who want to take poetic photographs and have a meaningful memory when traveling to Hanoi, the following destinations should not be missed.

1. Nhat Tan Flower Garden
Located on Au Co Street of Tay Ho District, not only in the New Year holiday when spring comes Nhat Tan flower garden attracts many visitors to take pictures and admire the immense garden of colorful flowers, but also in any day of the year, this place is also one of the most beautiful places to take photos, especially for young people. The flowers at Nhat Tan flower garden bloom all year round. Visitors can come here to capture fascinating pictures with various kinds of flowers from globe amaranth, sunflowers, pansies, and so on.

2. Falling Leaf Streets
Not all parts of the city are noisy, boisterous, there are still moments of quietness and peace to feel the unique beauty of Hanoi on the falling leaf streets including Hoang Dieu, Dien Bien Phu, and Kim Ma. The famous beautiful roads in Hanoi with long rows of trees create a calm and fresh air. In Kim Ma Street, a unique feature is that the rows of trees change their color in each season. In spring, roads are covered with red buds of the plants Lagerstroemia floribunda. In summer, cool green lawns become more brilliant in the sunshine. In autumn, red leaves fall on green grass and winter is filled with deciduous trees. Or, you can take photographs at Phan Dinh Phung street with one of the widest sidewalks in Hanoi consisting of many rows of Dracontomelon trees as well as the ranges of houses built in ancient architecture. All will be a wonderful scenery for you to feel a peaceful and close Hanoi.

3. Lotus Pond in West Lake
Located at the end of To Ngoc Van Street in Tay Ho District. Lotus pond in West Lake is an ideal place to blend with nature in every season of blooming lotuses. Here, visitors can try taking pictures in the traditional custom of Vietnam – Ao dai, save for yourself the beautiful memories when visiting the beautiful country, Vietnam.

4. On the banks of the Red River
Travel to Red River, tourists can visit the extensive beach located on the banks of the Red River. Wide sandy beaches is a suitable place to take pictures to record the most beautiful moments here with hanging chairs, swings, wooden bridge … or visiting the middle land in Red River favored by nature with sandy beaches stretching along with the white fields of reeds swaying gently in the wind, the green rows of bananas on the sidelines creating rustic, pristine but peaceful feeling.

5. Long Bien Bridge
Long Bien Bridge is a witness of history, connecting the bustle and hustle of the city with the idyllic life of the people along the Red River. For a long time, Long Bien Bridge has become a distinctive feature of Hanoi and also a favorite destination of many people who want to keep the beautiful photos on this historic bridge. Morning in Long Bien Bridge looms in the dim mist behind the middle land of Red River, the afternoon carries quiet and ancient beauty. Standing on this place and looking at another Hanoi with peace and truth will give visitors a fresh feeling and relaxation in mind.

6. Tay Tuu Flower Village
Situated on the territory of Tu Liem District, Ha Noi, Tay Tuu flower village is known to be the largest flower village in Hanoi. This place is a nice place in Hanoi famous for vast fields with various types of picturesque flowers such as roses, daisies, lilies … Visitors can delight in shooting without charge. Travel to Tay Tuu flower village, you will be immersed in a fragrant atmosphere, colorful scene of countless flowers.

7. Yen Vien Station
Just about 15km away from the center of Hanoi, Yen Vien Station is a beautiful photography shot outside Hanoi. With more than 100-year history, it offers a full classical beauty mixing with the style of the Hanoi under French colonial power. Featured here are the interconnected carriages, the long train tracks which create a pristine and rustic scenery. It will bring you great pictures with classical but also modern style as well as leave meaningful memories in your trip to Hanoi.

8. Vinh Tuy Logan Garden
Logan garden at the foot of Vinh Tuy Bridge in the past few years has become a favorite place of many young people to take pictures. Over 500 Logan trees, as well as expansive and beautiful lawns, will surely give visitors a green space to capture great images in a peaceful natural scenery.

9. Thang Long Imperial Citadel
Situated on Hoang Dieu Street, although Thang Long Imperial Citadel does not have many outstanding points, however, it is a place to get creative inspiration for art to have beautiful and ancient pictures. Surely this would be your ideal suggestion to get the most favored pictures.

10. Hoan Kiem Lake and the Old Quarter Area
If you want to retain the quiet beauty and tenderness of Hanoi, the old quarter area is the most appropriate destination. Lakeside green scenery surroundings Sword Lake, with red The Huc Bridge, Turtle Tower standing out in the lake. In addition, Hang Ma Street is always colorful with lanterns, Hang Vai with slats of bamboo creates unique shapes or old craft street will be a beautiful backdrop. When autumn comes, the Sword Lake carries a strange beauty, in the chilly autumn wind, people can feel the smell of dried fallen leaves mingling with the smell of water and earth. This time is when the mango-pine flowers bloom embellishing the lake atmosphere.
If you have an opportunity to visit Hanoi, take the time to visit these destinations, the photos of tranquil and ancient space but still carrying a modern appearance of Hanoi will become unforgettable memories for tourists.

Top 10 Photography Spots in Hanoi
Nguyen Thanh Van