The daily life in Saigon – Ho Chi Minh City in 1996 appeared vividly through a series of photos by German photographer Wolfgang Kaehler.

Photo: Wolfgang Kaehler / Getty Image.

Notre Dame Cathedral, located opposite the Central Post Office.

The former US Embassy building on Le Duan Street, in 1996, was the headquarters of the General Department of Petroleum.

Inside Thiên Hậu pagoda at District 5 Ho Chi Minh city.

Rice store inside Bến Thành market.

Store outside Bến Thành market.

Young man drove Honda Cub 50.

Sai Gon in 1996 through photographer Wolfgang Kaehler
Nguyen Thanh Van

Ha Noi Old Quarter definitely has so many interesting cultural places for you to visit, even by just spending time walking around the Quarter, you can have a grasp of the local’s life hundreds of years ago.

However, since travelling time is always never enough, here are some handy suggestions about top things to do if you decide to visit this unique quarter but don’t have a lot of time:

1. Watch water puppet show

This should absolutely go on the top of your list! The water puppet show, a tradition dated back a thousand years ago, never fails to surprise audiences by the deeply cultural content and the artistic performances by the wooden puppets that seem to have a soul inside. The fascinating combination of many different kinds of traditional arts, from the colorful puppets made of wood dancing beautifully on the water surface, to the orchestra playing traditional instruments that you cannot see anywhere else in the world, is sure to blow your mind away!

2. Walk through Dong Xuan Market

If you want to immerse yourself in the everyday life of the local people, one quick way is to walk around Dong Xuan Market, an indispensable part of their life for over a hundred of years. There are many kinds of goods on display, so you can definitely buy something as a gift for yourself as well as for your family and friends.

3. Drink Bia Hoi at Ta Hien

After a day of walking around the Ha Noi Old Quarter, it’s a good idea to spend some time sitting down enjoying Beer Hoi, a kind of homemade beer, on Ta Hien Street. Sipping beer on the sidewalk on small plastic chairs and tables full of people, you enjoy a buzzy atmosphere feeling like you are truly a part of this vibrant city.

4. Visit a temple

As a prevalently Buddhist country, there are so many temples and pagodas around the Ha Noi Old Quarter, each conceals an interesting story and has a unique architecture. Visiting a temple helps you understand not only about the religious life of the local people but also about their beliefs and values through the stories.

5. Try a food vendor

Last but not least, your trip to Ha Noi will not be complete if you don’t try some food vendors here. Modestly located on the sidewalk, food vendors offer you high quality local street food with a cheap price. However, if you a foreigner, bargain is quite a must.

Source: vietnamonline.com

5 must-dos while you are in Hanoi Old Quarter
Nguyen Thanh Van

Not only associated with the history of Hanoi’s old town, Dong Thanh communal house is also a place marking the heroic days of the Winter National Resistance War in 1946.

Located at No. 7 Hang Vai, Dong Thanh Temple also called Hang Vai Temple is one of the ancient house has ample space and the most beautiful architecture of Hanoi’s Old Quarter.

In Orential Culture, Huyen Thien Tran Vu is one of the four gods who protect the four directions (East – West – South – North). This is also one of the four gods who established a temple to guard the four gates of Thang Long city in the past (Thăng Long tứ trấn).

In December 1946, the Hanoi army used the temple as an ambulance station of Inter-Region I, contributing to the feat of 60 days and nights, starting the national resistance war in Hanoi Capital.

In the early 2000s, after more than 200 years of existence, Dong Thanh Temple was seriously degraded. Most of the communal house area is used as the headquarters of an agency and the residence of 12 households.

In October 2011, the Hanoi city government had restored and renovated the 200-year-old house.

After being restored, Dong Thanh temple became a spiritual place that attracts many people to the ceremony, and is an attraction tourism for domestic and foreign tourists.

In 2014, Dong Thanh communal house was ranked as a historical and architectural monument at Hanoi.

Source: kienthuc.com.vn

Dong Thanh Temple – the most beautiful temple in the old town of Hanoi
Nguyen Thanh Van

Like other countries, Vietnam has some public holidays when the workers get their paid annual leave. Before 2007, the total number of days on public holidays was 8. On March 28, 2007, the government decided to add Hung King Commemorations in the list, raising the number to 10. Below are some public holidays that visitor should know before traveling to Vietnam in order to have better preparation and itinerary for their trips.

International New Year’s Day

Like other modern cultures of the world, Vietnamese people celebrate the International New Year’s Day in the first of January. The day marks the transition from the old year to the New Year. The history of New Year dates back to the 18th century when Vietnam was under French colonization. The day has gradually been accepted by local people. Nowadays, people often have a day off and say farewell to the past year and welcome a new one. Coming to Vietnam this time, the weather is so pleasant and suitable for outdoor activities. Also, there are lots of special programs broadcasted on the TV or countdown parties in big cities.

Time: January 1st, 2020
Purpose: Say farewell to the previous year and welcome a new one
Activities: Travel, hang out, party

Tet Holiday (Vietnamese Lunar New Year)

Tet holiday is among the most important festivals in Vietnam, which often falls on the first three days of Lunar New Year (or between late January and early February observed by Gregorian Calendar). Workers and students often have one week off to celebrate the festival. Visiting Vietnam this time, you will see the streets decorated with various kind of vivid lights and flowers like peach or apricot blossom, kumquat trees, tulip and daisy flowers. People clean their houses, streets and prepare lots of food with the hope that they will achieve prosperity, happiness and wealth in the following New Year. The peaceful air and uncrowded street with some festivals around Tet would be perfect for travelers coming to Vietnam this time.

Date: January 25th, 2020
Purpose: Welcome a new better year
Activities: Travel, party, visit friends and relatives

Hung King Temple Festival

The Hung King Temple Festival is held between the 8th and the 11th of the third lunar month in the honor to Hung King, who was the founder of Hong Bang Dynasty in 2879 BC. The festival is taken place on Nghia Linh Mountain, Phong Chau District, Phu Tho Province, which is about 85km to the northwest of Hanoi. The ceremony may last for several days, but the most important day is the 10th. People start the ceremony at the foot of the mountain and finish at small temples before reaching the High Temple. The pilgrims often incense to their ancestors and wish the best things.

Time: April 2nd, 2020
Purpose: Worship ancestors
Activities: Pray and worship

Liberation Day/ Reunification Day

On the 30th of April every year, Vietnamese people all around the country celebrate the reunification of the country, which dates back to 1975 when the north and the south reunify into one: one country, one politics. A week during the holiday, in big cities of Vietnam like Hanoi, Hue, Da Nang, Sai Gon, the streets are full of neon lights, red flags and colorful banners. There might be some parade or national live show as well. The biggest ceremony is held in Ho Chi Minh city with the participation of thousands of people; thus, you must come early to take part in this activity.

Time: April 30th
Purpose: Celebrate the reunification between the north and the south of Vietnam
Activities: Parade, visit historic sites

International Labor Day/ May Day

Like the other 80 countries around the world, Vietnam also celebrates Labor Day, which is right after Reunification Day. As a result, the two big days are combined into one and workers often enjoy 2-4 day-offs. On this occasion, offices like government institutions, banks or schools are closed but services for tourism are still available. Vietnamese people may come back to their hometown or go on travel. This is an ideal time to visit as the weather is favorable and there are lots of activities and ceremonies for locals and foreigners.

Time: 1st of May, 2020
Purpose: Celebrate the international labor movement
Activities: Tourism

Vietnam National Independence Day

On the 2nd of September 1945, President Ho Chi Minh read the Declaration of Independence at Ba Dinh Square, declared the freedom of Vietnam from the enemies. From that moment, Vietnamese people celebrate this meaningful day. On the street, the music is on; red flags, banners, flowers are decorated and people seem to be more happy and excited when thinking about freedom. There are a variety of activities for both locals and foreigners to participate in such as contemplating the fireworks, watching the long, magnanimous parade and march or paying a visit to the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum.

Time: The 2nd of September, 2020
Purpose: Celebrate the Independence and Freedom Vietnam
Activities: Visit historical sites, watch firework, hang out

The 6 Public Holidays of Vietnam in 2020
Nguyen Thanh Van

Vietnam is an ideal destination foodie cannot miss. Vietnamese cuisine captures the heart and soul of anyone for the first time. Step your foot on this country to sample mouthwatering dishes like Pho, Bun Cha, or Banh Mi. Check out this blog to know more about Vietnamese cuisine and to have a wonderful Vietnam vacation. Enjoy reading!

Regional Differences

Influenced by the geography of the country, the Vietnamese cuisine is divided into three distinct regions including the North, Central, and the South. Each region has a ton of unique local specialties which definitely compete for your attention and affection. However, the cuisine of any region also has two things which are rice and a very specific fish sauce. The North’s food is mountainous and cooler than other regions’ food. You can easily realize that soups play a large role in North cuisine.

Visit Hanoi capital to taste the specialties of this region such as Pho, Bun thang, and Cha Ca. Hue is an ideal place to taste Central ‘s food which is very distinct and made up of several small dishes. Do not forget to sample some mouthwatering dishes such as Banh Khoai (Vietnamese savory fried pancake), Banh Nam (steamed rice dumplings), Banh Bot Loc (translucent tapioca dumplings), and more. Affected by Thai cuisine, the South’s food is spicier than food from the rest of the country. Spend time in Ho Chi Minh city to feel the amazing flavor of the South.

Mountain of Fresh Herbs for Flavor

A huge bowl overflowing with fresh herbs is a common image in any restaurant and stalls in Vietnam. People think that a delicious and nutritious meal must have vegetables. Herbs are served in a huge bowl or tray accompany with many different dishes from noodles, soups, sandwiches, rolls to rice. The herbs are plentiful, diverse, and fresh. They not only make the meals more attractive but also bring forth the delicious flavors of the foods.

Eating Low to the Ground

Vietnamese people eat very close to the floor. You can easily find many luxurious restaurants with waiters in Vietnam, however, those are not the best places to taste Vietnamese cuisine. Look for a small plastic stool on the sidewalk and join the crows of locals slurping down hot tasty bowls of soup. In the afternoon, nothing is more exciting when you sit in a street stall to taste Che (Vietnamese sweet soup) and chat with local peoples. Sometimes you can see local women sitting on even smaller stools, about half the size (about 15 inches) when washing dishes.

Drinking Coffee in Vietnam

As the world’s second-largest producer of coffee, Vietnam has many kinds of coffee that served both hot and iced ranging from very strong, black or with condensed milk (called ca phe sua). If you are in Hanoi, do not forget to taste Egg Coffee (ca phe trung) the most famous coffee in the north of Vietnam. It is a dark coffee topped with egg yolk whipped with condensed milk into an airy froth. Egg Coffee is quite rich and tastes similar to tiramisu dessert. Vietnamese people love drinking coffee in a small roadside coffee shop while watching the forever crowded traffic of Vietnam filled with motorbikes flowing.

Don’t Miss Che or Vietnamese Soup Desserts

Che is the famous sweet dessert in Vietnam, you can find it in many stalls on the sidewalk and street vendors. It is a perfect combination of fruit, vegetables, beans, seeds, glutinous rice, and tapioca powder, and is often topped with coconut milk. With colorful ingredients and special flavors, Che is a great and cool drink in summer. Make sure you don’t miss Chè Long Nhãn Hạt Sen – Logan and Lotus Seed Sweet Soup and Chè Trôi Nước – Sweet Glutinous Rice Dumplings…Yummy!

In conclusion, Vietnamese cuisine is as fascinating and vibrant as its culture, with incredible flavors and tastes. Feel free to contact us if you want to have delightful Vietnam culinary tours throughout the country.

Source: vietvisiontravel.com

Top 5 Interesting Facts of Vietnamese Cuisine
Nguyen Thanh Van

Once dearly described as “the Pearl of the Orient”, Ho Chi Minh City or Saigon is the largest city of Vietnam enchanting tourists by the Western architecture, impressive landscape, modern shopping malls as well as mouthwatering local dishes. Some popular highlights you cannot miss when visiting Ho Chi Minh City are Saigon’s Post Office, Saigon Opera House, Independence Palace and War Remnants Museum, Ben Thanh market, etc. Here is some useful information we want to share with you. Enjoy reading and hope you have a wonderful Vietnam vacation!

Overview of Ho Chi Minh’s Weather

Thanks to the pleasant climate all year round, you can take your Ho Chi Minh City tours at any time of the year. With a tropical climate, Ho Chi Minh has two distinctive seasons dry and wet. The dry one is considered the best time to visit Ho Chi Minh City.

The Dry Season: From December to April

Starting from December and lasting until April, the dry season is the hottest, with the average temperature of 28 °C. In late April, the temperature can reach 39 °C around the daytime. December is the coldest month of the year is when the temperature may fall below 17 °C in the early mornings. To escape from the normal sticky weather of Saigon, you should take your tour in December when the humidity is moderate. In addition, from December to April, the sky is blue and clear making a stunning backdrop for the Notre Dame Cathedral in Saigon.

Especially, if you visit Ho Chi Minh City during this time, you will have an opportunity to celebrate Christmas and New Year explosively with local people here. Make sure that you book air tickets and hotels at least one month before the trip because during Lunar New Year (around late-January and mid-February), many shops and stores will be closed and air tickets will be fully booked just before it.

The Wet Season: From May to November

Tourists often visit Ho Chi Minh City during the dry season but the rainy season still has its advantages. Lasting from late June to September, the wet season is the time when the city is endowed with a rare nice climate. At that time, the rains occur more frequently, so it is quite humid and rainy. However, it’s only raining for a short time, clear as quickly as they come, and give space for even more sunlight. Because the period from April to June is the season transforms from spring to summer, the weather is unpredictable.

During the wet season, there are many national holidays such as April 30th holiday is called the Vietnam Reunification of North and South, May Day on May 1st, and Vietnam National Day on September 2nd. Therefore, if you visit Ho Chi Minh on these days, you will see many typical organizational events taking place in the city. Note that, during these days, transportation and restaurant services may be a little scantier for visitors, especially in nearby tourist spots such as Nha Trang, Mui Ne, and Dalat. Traveling during the time from June to beginning September is a good choice for beach and sun lovers. If you take your Ho Chi Minh tour on two last months of the season, you need bringing warm clothes because the temperature will colder. Note that, you also should bring a raincoat and an umbrella to avoid the rain.

With some useful information above, we hope that you get some ideas about Ho Chi Minh City Tours. Actually, every time during a year is usually a good time for visiting this city in general. You don’t have to worry about the weather of the best time to visit Ho Chi Minh City; all you need is good services and well-planned tours. Please feel free to contact us if you have any questions about the trip, our experienced experts will help you clear all the problems.

Source: vietvisiontravel.com

Best Time to Visit Ho Chi Minh City
Nguyen Thanh Van

Dong Ba Market is located along the northern bank of Perfume River, on Tran Hung Dao Street, 100 meters to the north away from Truong Tien bridge. Before the appearance of Dong Ba market, there was a market named Qui Gia which was established under Gia Long’s reign. In 1885, Nearly a century had passed when Hue capital was invaded and Qui Gia market was burned by the French. Not until 1887 was the market rebuilt by Dong Khanh Emperor and renamed Dong Ba.

Best Things to Do & See in Dong Ba Market

In Dong Ba Market, an eye-catchy old bell tower standing among the monument will surely attract visitors’ attention. Covering an area of up to 16,000-meter square, the market is constructed of nine buildings and four new sections selling all kinds of products from foods to facilities. Like other markets in Vietnam, each section sells a typical type of product only. The entire second floor is for clothes, for example.

What to Buy in Dong Ba Market

Tourists can find all of Hue’s specialties in Dong Ba Market from “Non la bai tho” (conical hats with a poem in them) from Phu Can village, “me xung” (candies) to “tom chua” (Hue sour shrimp). People say that Dong Ba Market is a haven for Hue’s traditional foods which is famous not only for its delicious taste but also for its budget-friendly cost. Therefore, it’s really a try-worthy place to visit in Dong Ba Market – the food court where myriad number of street vendors will provide you some of the best dishes that you have ever tried.

In fact, although people have set up a number of the market in Hue, Dong Ba Market is still of importance, as a wholesale market, to the economy of the city. Every day, thousands of traders visit the market to exchange their products. Thus, visiting Dong Ba Market, not only tourists can buy some traditional products to present your relatives and friend as souvenirs and try some special dishes in the food court, but you can also investigate the typical ways of trading of local people.

Best Time to Visit Dong Ba Market

The market opens from early morning at about 3.00 am to the evening at 8.30 pm. Very early in the morning, the sellers have to arrive at the market to arrange their products so as to buyers can purchase their needs at any time. Moreover, this is also the time for wholesalers to trade their goods with smaller retailers. Thus, if you want to discover the trading methods or to buy things at a lower price, early morning is the most appropriate time.

On a daily basis, the number of customers can be ranging from 5000 to 7000; this number can be doubled during peak time such as holidays. Visiting the market during holidays will be quite interesting as you can feel the hectic pace of life here, but it’s likely that you will have to hustle with a large number of consumers and, as a result, watch out for the pickpockets. Besides, you also shouldn’t visit the market on the first January according to Lunar Year because not many stalls open during this day. The market will probably operate normally on the fourth day of the year.

Source: vietvisiontravel.com

Dong Ba Market
Nguyen Thanh Van