An excursion on still water in Van Long

Experiencing an excursion on still water in Van Long is very comfortable and great.

Since 1999, Van Long has been known as the largest wetlands in Northern Delta, spreading over nearly 3,000 hectares of seven communes in Gia Vien district, Ninh Binh. Scouring to see langurs with white legs Until now, according to Mr Tilo Nadler’s report, director of Cuc Phuong Animal Rescue Center, there are still more 40 langurs with white legs. Nowadays, the number of langurs in van Long is the largest all the country. However, tourists is quite difficult to see them.  If you have a chance to see them, you will be surprised by their fash movement on vertical cliffs. Contemplating the natural beauty and storks flying Storks are the most popular birds here. Local people really like these storks because they eat yellow snails that are very dangerous for agriculture. It is interesting that a stork ccan eat a kilogram of snails. Storks here have long beak and legs so when they fly, they are very beautiful. Many photographers often come here to capture beautiful moments of hundreds storks flying on Van Long at sunrise. Being considered as  “the bay without wave”, Van Long has a tranquil and peaceful beauty. Travelling here means leisurely contemplating the nature to relax for your tired soul.

Green village rolls out bamboo bicycles

For those seeking refuge from the bustling tourist town of Hoi An, this ecotourism village offers a quieter vacation spot. Instead of cars and motorbikes, bicycles fill the peaceful streets.

Float on: Tourists can ride bamboo boats called coracles through the forest swamps. Cam Thanh Village outside Hoi An Town is a favourite eco-tour destination for visitors. They love its 30ha of nipa palm forest and handicrafts made from palm and bamboo. Soon, they will have a choice of riding around on bamboo-frame bicycles being produced by a village craftsman – green bicycles in a green village. The village, which has a population of 2,000, offers bicycle tours, trips in primitive coracles, floating trips among the palm trees and visiting craft people making traditional bamboo furniture. Cam Thanh is an option for visitors visiting Hoi An along with craft villages making lanterns, silk goods, timber furniture and pottery. Visitors can pedal along 5km of winding flat roads around the tranquil village, just 3km from the major tourism hub of Hoi An. Bikes, available for rent in Hoi An, are the perfect stop-start way of travelling throughout the area. Eco-friendly: The village offers a range of sustainable bamboo transport options, on both water and land. The nipa palm forest shadows the Thu Bon River, where tourists can explore the wetland ecological system in coracles, craft of woven bamboo covered with pitch that date back to prehistoric times. The forest swamps are home to shrimps, fish and bird life. Tourists can use nets or lines to fish from the odd little craft. If they like, they can spend a full day in the forest. Lunch can be prepared on site, hopefully heaps of grilled fish and prawns caught in the morning. Pham Vu Dung, a Hoi An tour operator, said the combination of bicycle rides and fishing from coracles was a unique combination that appealed to visitors. For the past 100 years, villagers have been planting nipa palms to protect the village from the Thu Bon River when it floods and to make handicrafts. Simple life: A traditional thatched roofed house in Cam Thanh Village. The forest, which is part of the world recognised bio-reserve Cham Island, has also helped protect the village from storms, while, at the same time, created a stable income for the villagers. Craftsman Vo Tan Muoi, 71, and his son Vo Anh Tan, create unique bamboo furniture and can also build houses using bamboo and palm leaves for the roof and walls. "Local people used to make their houses from bamboo and palm. A house with walls made of split bamboo panels and palm-leaf roof can be used for 30 years," Muoi said, adding that the structures kept cool in summer, but warm in winter. He said new-style buildings had gradually replaced the old-style houses. But villagers preserve some old houses to please the tourists. The old man said his family produces furniture, souvenirs and interior decorations from bamboo. Muoi's son, Vo Anh Tan, has even created a bamboo bicycle and unique decorations. "I have replaced parts of the steel frame with bamboo for those who would enjoy such an unusual environmentally friendly vehicle in a green village," Tan said. "However, I just started production last year and the new design is still being tested." Tan also creates many other objects from bamboo, including beds, sofas, jars, and an old manual telephone. The whole village is drawn into the craft work in its different stages. Vo Tat Thang, 40, who began the trade at the age of 12, said the bamboo was soaked in water for six months before being left out to dry in the sun for 10 days. "The process helps eliminate termites and wood-borers. Palm leaves dry in about two weeks and can then be used," he said. Thang said he and a group of 10 craftsmen often made traditional houses from bamboo and palm leaves to fill orders from around the nation. "We have built bamboo houses at many resorts, restaurants and cafes following orders from owners. The houses create are unique in the days of concrete and steel," he said. "Each house can be completed in 15 days for a cost of VND400,000 (US$20) per square metre," he said. "We get local householders to finish the processes to save time and create more work for our neighbours," he said. The traditional houses are free from iron. "All bamboo panels are tied together with bamboo string, while beams and posts are locked in with bamboo nails." Huynh Anh Phien, 61, earns around VND100,000 ($4.8) a day from processing palm. "It's a hard job, but the craft earns more than rice farming. We plant palm trees and harvest the leaves after five years. The main crop is between February and June." Vo Thi Thuong, 45, makes VND150,000 ($7) a day working in the palm forest cutting leaves and putting them out to dry. "I've lived well for 20 years by growing palms. They need careful care in the first five years to grow well," she said. "The forest protects the village from landslides during the October flood season." Vice chairman of the city's people's committee, Truong Van Bay, said the green tours can not only provide income for villagers, but help preserve the district's green heritage. "There are plans to build a craft production centre on 15ha in Cam Thanh Village to display the arts and crafts we make," Bay said. He said the centre would be near the village entrance, making it more convenient for tourists and villagers. Dinh Thi Thu Thuy, head of the city's trade and tourism office, said Cam Thanh Village was the best local village to explore by bicycle. "The forest of nipa palm, which connects with Tra Que Village and Cua Dai beach, is a full-day tour option. Tourists can also learn how to plant vegetables and rices with farmers in Tra Que before testing their skills on bamboo and palm furniture production at Cam Thanh," said Thuy. She said Hoi An hosted 1.6 million tourists last year, including 600,000 foreigners, who enjoy its peace and beauty. Mark Wyndham, who runs a motorbike adventure tour company based in Hoi An, said the town was safe and easy to live in. "I lived for a long time in Ha Noi and HCM City, but Hoi An is the right location for me to do business. I find life here very comfortable and was given a residential permit from the city's administration," he said. The evergreen rice fields, friendly people and quiet life in Cam Thanh inspired Jean Cabane, 64, from Nimes in France to settle in the area four years ago. Japanese Hirukawa Yuki found the ancient town a good place to live when he gave up the fast-paced life in Tokyo two years ago. "Local people treat us like friends. There is no space between us. They shared our difficulties from the first days we moved to Hoi An. My neighbours even invited me to a party with their family for Tet (Lunar New Year) holiday, Yuki said. "Life is so easy. I love the peace and quiet and the smile of local people." Meanwhile craftsman Muoi and his son keep producing bamboo furniture from their bamboo house in the centre of the village. Tan expects to soon finish two bamboo bicycles as prototypes for mass production.

Conquering Ma Pi Leng Pass in Ha Giang

For those who love to explore the highlands, “the happy path” is a really special journey. To reach Ma Pi Leng Mount, visitors have to pass the high mountain passes such as Bac Sum Pass, Heaven Gate Pass, Can Ty Pass…

Ma Pi Leng Pass is in the complex of geological park of Dong Van (Ha Giang), which is recognized as a global geological park. Explaining the real mean of this name, the local people said Ma Pi Leng means “horse’s bridge of the nose”. It expresses that this is a craggy Pass that horses are afraid of going through.

Ma Pi Leng has a height of approximately 2,000m, a length of 20km, connecting Dong Van district to Meo Vac District, based on ancient sediments formed hundreds of millions of years ago.

Looking down from Ma Pi Leng, there is a winding river named Nho Que that is just seen as a thin yearn crossing ravines.

Nho Que river is looked down from Ma Pi Leng

Nho Que river originates from Nghiem Son mountainous area (Van Nam-China) that is called Pho Mai river with a height of 1.5000m, flowing to the Northwest-Southeast.

Nho Que river flows into Vietnam from Seo Lung village, Lung Cu commune, Dong Van district, and it continues to flow through Dong Van town, Ma Pi Leng, and Ma Pi Lung…then be into Gam river at Na Nat, Ly Bon commune, Bao Lam district, Cao Bang province and flowing downstream.

Dong Van Plateau

It is about 12km in length from Ma Pi Leng to Nho Que River below. Therefore, It takes you about 30 minutes to reach the Nho Que river by motorcycles or cars. The road to Nho Que river is so dangerous. But with the youth, this is a great challenge that they want to conquer once in their life.

Looking down from Ma Pi Leng, the scenery becomes more intriguing and majestic that enchants every visitors coming here.

Visitors take photos to keep memories on " Happy Path"

Ethnic children

Coming here, visitors not only admire or conquer the majestic beauty of mountain, but also learn daily life of ethnic people here.

Ha Giang is a really tourist attraction for anyone who love to explore nature and people.

Quan Lan Island's primitive beauty

Quan Lan Island located in Quang Ninh Province ’s Van Don Island District is endowed with many favourable conditions, such as forests, sea, historical architectural works, cultural characteristics, etc. The island still retains its primitive beauty that attracts both domestic and foreign tourists who like discovering the deserted areas.

Imprints of a trade port in the past
After three hours cruising on the Bai Tu Long Bay from Van Don Port, we saw Quan Lan Island with its white sand banks appearing on the sea in the curtain of mist. When the ship landed, we were very excited and eager for the island adventure and we were guided by enthusiastic locals on the island.

Quan Lan was the first trading port of Vietnam built by the Ly Dynasty (11th century). Many vestiges of the ancient port together with relics of foundations of ancient architectures, such as water wells and a layer of broken ceramic and porcelain pieces, some metres thick, found at Cai Nang Wharf  confirm  the fact that the port was once very animated and prosperous.

It is the place where the locals annually hold the offerings ceremony to King Ly Anh Tong (1138-1175) and the boat-rowing festival in May and June according to the lunar calendar.

We visited Quan Lan Communal House to see with our eyes the delicate art of carving with various designs. The images of dragons are carved lively with different shapes, such as the dragon flanking a moon, a dragon keeping the “Tho” (longevity) script in its mouth, a dragon rolling water, a daisy turning into dragon, etc. Also, images of silk moths and shrimp in the dynasties of Ly, Tran, Le and Nguyen are also skilfully depicted because the trade of growing mulberry and raising silkworm and seafood catching once strongly developed in the area for Vietnam tourism.

Another special feature of the communal house is that it was built with Man lai wood. The plant only grows on rocky Ba Mun Island near the Cai Lang trading port. Over the past hundreds of years, the communal house’s pillars remain intact and free of worm and termite infestation.

Primitive beauty of beaches
Once visiting Quan Lan Island , tourists can not help participating in sea tours and sporting activities on the sea and discovering the traditional cultural features of the locals. To get there, tourists will pass over endless white sand beaches in Van Hai area that have been famous since the 1950s and now are the material source for the national glass and crystal industry.

It is not wrong when many people said that Quan Lan is like a princess who is waiting for a kiss from a prince to wake up. The area boasts two beautiful natural beaches, including 3km-long Son Hao and 2km-long Van Hai, which are most attractive to tourists. The beaches here slope gently to the sea with soft white sand and vast poplar forests.
At sunset, Quan Lan became deserted and there were only some tourists on three-wheel taxis returning to their hotels on the only small road on the island and a few motorbikes passing by.  When night falls, the scene is very romantic with the whistles of the poplar forests, calls of seabirds, soft and low whisperings of waves flapping on the seashore. From a far, th

Dalat’s Datanla Waterfall Destination

Datanla Waterfall is not only one of the most beautiful falls in Dalat city but also a great destination for tourists in Vietnam travel to see in this area. According to a legend of the ethnic minority groups, Datanla became the meeting place of two lovers.

Dalat’s Datanla Waterfall is just 5 km away from the city center (on the way to Prenn Waterfall). The imposing waterfall is pretty deep; it takes about 10 to 15 minutes to walk from the top to the bottom. According to a legend, the waterfall had a deep cave hidden in the forest so it was one of the shelters of a troop of local inhabitants in the war with the Chams; thanks to this waterfall the troop can reside a pressure on their force. Therefore, the minorities call it Datanla meaning the water under the leaves, the eater under the stone. 

Datanla Waterfall- Dalat City- Lam Dong Province

According to a legend of the minorities, Datanla was the place where the brave man named K’Lang and the mountainous lady named Ho Biang met each other. Here the man had a fight with fierce wild animals including snakes, 7 wolves and 2 foxes. This interesting legend wrote: “trees are blown down, wind roars, the fight is absolutely violent. Lang pulls out his knife and chops down the tow snakes, takes out arrows and shoots at the wolves and the foxes which run away...The trees falling down make deep holes which make a death canyon at the bottom of the waterfall, and then Datanla became the meeting place of two lovers”

Up the waterfall, there are green pine tree forests which are a hundred years old and flat block of stones. The Death Canyon is also the place for visitors to feel adventurous in the cliff climbing game, which means climbing up and down the cliff with sting. 

Obviously, Datanla Waterfall is really a great destination for tourists in Vietnam travel to see in Dalat.

Truc Lam Vien Da Lat with the “Meditative” Beauty

Approximately 15 kilometers traveling south from Da Lat, tourists will reach the tourist area of Truc Lam Vien, which is the precious gem of the region. Thanks to its breathtaking landscape and unique architecture, Truc Lam Vien is an ideal destination to tourists in Vietnam travel.

Rebuilt in 2006, Truc Lam Vien has been transformed from a neglected hill into a beautiful landscape with many large buildings, which are both traditional and unique.

The magnificent outfit Truc Lam Vien is wearing now has the beauty of nature and is taken care by the hand of creative artisans as well as by the owner of this hospitable and gentle area.

From the giant mountain named Voi, small streams converge into Luong Spring, which falls down the mountain, making Seven-stair (Bay tang) Falls. The scene has moved many poets visiting the place.

Thanh Luong Bridge

“Trên dòng nước mát thác Thanh Lương.

Vọng lại âm thanh thật diệu kỳ,

Bóng bọt tung bay trên phiến đá.

Nghìn năm nhạc khúc nước trôi đi”.

(On the cool water of Thanh Luong Fall

There is an echo of a magic sound

Spume is dancing on stones

The music of flowing water has played for thousands of years.)

Truc Lam Vien where there are many bamboo plants along the road sides.

Tam Bao Waterfall

That Tue Hien reflected on Dinh An Lake

Beside architectural buildings, there are many small landscape, ornamental plants, bonsai, and artificial waterfalls. Moreover, in Thach Hoa Vien, tourists in Vietnam travel can see numerous strange trees and flowers among thousands-of-year-old sandstone. All these features together create a lively picture.

It would feel so good to harmonize with nature, to live among the natural beauty, green mountains, blue water, and the red pine forest, and to hear the song of the spring along Voi (elephant) Mountain.

Bonsai- Truc Lam Vien

Bonsai- Truc Lam Vien

Tourists in Vietnam travel can enjoy unique culture in Truc Lam Vien, some features of which are the art of the tea ceremony at the garden of stones and well-made furniture imported from Japan and hand-embroidered pictures, which are very special because they are embroidered with silk thread on a silk base. Those pictures embody the refinement of Vietnamese culture and the excellent skills of artisans from Tran Le Gia Trang.

Among the peaceful and beautiful nature, feeling the purity of the air in this romantic plateau, tourists in Vietnam travel would feel as if the worries of their daily lives had disappeared.

Let’s enter this immense meditative place with That Tue Hien from Truc Lam Vien.

Quiet That Tue Hien at a corner of Dinh An Lake

Dinh An Lake

A corner of the unique garden with stones imported from Japan

From the top of the highest hill, tourists in Vietnam travel get a complete view of the area full of trees, which makes them feel as if they are standing before a giant natural painting.

Koi add lively colors to the painting that is Dinh An Lake.

With the beautiful scenery, pure air, and the development of Da Lat City, the eco-cultural tourist area Tran Le Gia Trang will become a popular destination and leave unforgettable impressions on tourists in Vietnam travel whenever they visit this magical place.

Dam Da - A new land waiting for exploration of tourists in Vietnam travel

Meanwhile such names as Hoa Tien grotto, Tien Phi grotto, Mai Chau valley, Hoa Binh hydroelectric plant on the Da River are tourist highlights, Dam Da located in Phu Lao commune, Lac Thuy district, Hoa Binh province seems to be an obscure historical site.

This is a vast complex of temples, pagodas and caves, including Trinh temple (also known as Quan Trinh), Mau temple, Tien pagoda and others. Dam Da hosts annual festival in the fourth month of the lunar year, attracting many pilgrims from the province and neighboring regions.

In the complex, Tien Pagoda has been recognized as a national historical cultural site which attracts many visitors joining tours in Vietnam to come here for sightseeing or worship. Nguoi Xua Cave (including Tien Cave and Ho Cave) is renowned as a national archaeological location with many vestiges of ancient Vietnamese people, contributing a great deal to the study of Vietnam’s history.

Scattered around the complex are temples and pagodas such as Trinh Temple, Mau Temple and Tien Pagoda, which are dedicated to worship legendary characters such as Au Co Mother, Lac Long Quan Father, Hoang Bay Mandarin and Tam Toa Thanh Mau.

Besides its cultural and historical values, Dam Da is marked by its natural spectacular caves. It also has over 20 mysterious caves including Tam Toa, Thuy Tien, Cung Tien, Hoang Muoi and Co Chin, etc. In the caves, stalactites in diverse colors and shapes hang. As the caves’ entrances are situated halfway up the mountains, tourists in Vietnam travel have to trek to reach them. One will find it extremely difficult to list all the caves here. Travelers will be totally taken by surprised at the gigantic and illusory stalagmites and stalactites when coming into each cave.

During spring, particularly from January to March, Dam Da-Hoa Binh is most crowded when there is Chua Tien festival. Conveniently, tourists can combine a trip to visiting Perfume pagoda nearby – a famous attraction in My Duc district, Ha Tay province (now part of Hanoi.)