An ideal weekend in La Gi

Attractive not only due to its endless bending sand dunes in La Gi Town in Binh Thuan Province, the locality also lures tourists to its forest, mountain and river areas and of course its tales of legends.

A view of La Gi Beach and Ke Ga lighthouse in the distance Thanks to road improvements, tourists can easily reach La Gi as it is only 150km from the city. Its location is the reason why many tourists from Bien Hoa, HCMC and Vung Tau choose La Gi Town as a place for a weekend escape as well as regular guests from Phan Thiet. La Gi differs from Vung Tau or Phan Thiet with their luxury resorts and hotels. It is more of a primitive and tranquil landscape. After visiting the sand dunes, people should head to Ke Ga lighthouse which was constructed by the French over a century ago. Or you can head to a local fish market where fishermen gather on the beach to offer some fresh codfish, squid and crab at good prices. Local people gather at a fi sh market on the beach early morning La Gi also boasts Thay Thim Palace which was recognized as a national heritage for its architecture of Champa people in 1997. Legend has it that a hundred years ago under the reign of King Tu Duc, a couple were beheaded unjustly at the palace. Animals and even gods bemoaned their deaths. Thus, local people built a tomb for the couple and came to pray for them annually on the seventh lunar month. That day is a traditional festival of the location. Later, King Tu Duc exonerated them and requested that a large palace was built in their honor. A weekend break to La Gi with beautiful landscapes, culture and people can be a good memory and real treat for tourists.

Domestic travel in autumn, which spot is attractive?

You will find the answer when finding by clicking “Google” or browser through fan pages, Fan page for travel-lovers. This is the “West North yellow season” with hundreds of invitations o visit paddy fields in Yen Bai, Lao Cai, Son la…There has been so many waves of yellow rice overlaying together up to the mountain summits, which vibrates the deep souls of travelers.

Now ther have been so may vehicles to travel to the West north like going backpacking by motorbikes or register tours of travel agencies so that you can easily give the best choice for your many pockets. In comparison with so many other destinations, the time for travel is very important because it decide whether your travel is successful or not. The West North only grows one season of rice for a year at different times so that rice is yellow as its period. Rice in Spa, Quan Ba ripens earliest, the next ones are Mu Cang Chai, Hoang Su Phi…According to local people, the wonderful period is from the middle of September to the end of October when localities are in the rice summers. In this occasion, the weather is so dry that it is comfortable and easy for travel, especially when you want to go backpacking for travel.

Terraced fields in Sapa

There are so many routes that how much time you pass through, you are always surprised at the breathtakingly wonderful landscape. Mu Cang Chai (Yen Bai) is such a wonderful destination. Terraced fields in la Pan Tan, Che Cu Nha and De Xu Phinh-the national-standard beauty spot where you can travel as much as you can. Some one compares Mu Cang Chai in rice harvesting season like as a yellow terrace to the heaven, some other praises it as a splendid musical instrument  

 

Never-ending yellow fields

Each layer of yellow waves is stretched out from valleys to hillsides and extends for foggy and high summits. Bands of colors change from strong green, light yellow, shining yellow to brown yellow, which as a brand of shining silk in the autumn. When viewing the Tu Le valley and breath full of the perfume of ripe rice to conquer the hill top Khau Pha in the foggy, you will feel the fresh vitality spreading in our hearts.

Formed hundreds years ago by La Chi, Dao, Nun communities, Hoang Su Phi terraced paddy field ( Ha Giang) was recognized as national vestige. In the harvesting season, hundreds of great engraved tracks on mountains shine a never-lasting yellow. Rice stretches on terraces and wrings on yellow mountains which is as picture-like green.

Elected as one of the seven gigantic terraced fields in Asia and in the world, Spa is in the dreamlike yellow mature over mountain villages like Trung Chai, Sa pa, Ta Phin, Lao Cai, Ta Van..Nothing romantic like in an autumn morning when travelling on zigzagging ways which are full of countryside perfumes and we suddenly catch an immense yellow paddy field in the winds.  After a four-day trip to the West North with my friends, simple ways and gaze with waves of fogs in early mornings. With unchanged ways, roofs, pictures but the feelings of being taken breath away are still like those when I first came to the West North of Vietnam, said Mr. Hoang, an experienced backpacker.

 Not only the green brand of silk or light yellow or shining yellow ones, there is also colorful reflections of our life. It is that the smiles of children, gentle and up bright looking of elderly people and happiness shining on young women’s faces in highlands are unforgettable memories in our life. You will feel nowhere is as beautiful as our country so that whenever we’re tired because of life in the city, we craze for a pack of sticky rice Tu Le or a crispy beef castle hang on the kitchen…The yellow autumn always wait for you! 

Ao dai – profound impression for tourists

After undergoing so many changes, “aodai” has become the unique beauty and pride of Vietnamese. To have the position as nowadays, “aodai’ has also undergone so many remarkable historical events

Every country in the world has some traditions, culture or innovations to be proud of. For example, China has famous procelain, Japan has many modern electric machines,..and so does Vietnam. "Ao dai" is one of very profound impressions about Vietnam. We are proud of "Ao Dai" because of its history, beauty, the significance of the attire upon Vietnamese women and all things that it shows for pure beauty.

First, the description about "Ao Dai" is the reason for its expanding throughout the country in a very short time compared to the country's history. About the origin, "Ao Dai" originated in Vietnam, meaning "long dress" is a traditional attire worn by Vietnamese women since the early 1900s and is still worn today.

The very interesting thing that: like "Ao Dai", Vietnam is a long country on the Far East coast of Asia.This thing makes it become more respectable for Vietnamese people with a full love for the country. It appears to flatter every figure. Its body hugging top flows over wide trousers that brush the floor. Especially, comfort has not been forgotten at the expense of fashion and beauty. Splits in the gown allow the wearer freedom of movement and despite covering the whole body to make it comfortable and easy to move.

The history of “aodai”

People can’t define the exact year of origin of “aodai” because “ao dai” is always considered as the national costume of Vietnamese and it has undergone so many historical ups and downs, time and the exchanges of culture to have the position as nowadays. However, by looking through the images engraved on Ngoc Lu copper drum, people can see the images of “aodai” and women costumes with 2 split pieces.

  

Giao Lanh Aodai, the original form of aodai

Why people say that the costume with 2 split pieces is the mage of aodai? That’s because of the strong and unique point of “aodai” is the two split pieces. In spite of thousands of years of changes, the only thing can characterize aodai Vietnam with another cultures is the two split pieces. Many people say that aodai Vietnam is the copy of Cheongsam- a kind of costume of Chinese people. However, Cheongsam appeared in 1920, Vietnam aodai has existed for so long before. This proves that “aodai” is a cultural aspect of Vietnam only and only Vietnamese people have.  

Modern “aodai” in the timeline

After Hanoi college of Art was opened, there was many dedicated artists with this national costume and they changed the design of aodai to be more suitable for young people. Aodai Le Mur is the first version, Le Mur is a name in French of Cat Tuong artist who made a great improvement with four – split piece into 2 split ones.

Then, artist Le ho improved Le Mur and this version of “aodai” is welcomed in Da Nang housework fair. Up to 1960s, Dung – a designer in DaKao Sai Gon developed a form modern costume with 2 short sleeves .

  

  Aodai in the past

Modern Aodai

  

 

Ao dai has been worn not only by Vietnamese people but also by worldwide-famous designers who use “aodai” as the source of creative inspiration for their collections in international stages. In the newest collection inspired from Vietnam, Emillio Pucci has released very modern ad luxurious designs. This is the very important improvement of “ao dai” when it is welcomed with the other respect. “Aodai” will soon be the symbol of culture and fashion not only the symbol of traditional costume any longer.

Although Vietnamese pepple don’t wear “aodai” as a casual costume in the past, “aodai” has still been as a luxurious costume in important events, in parties or as uniforms in some companies. Especially, when people gather in their families and go back to their homelands, “aodai” affirms its position as the most suitable choice for them to wear.

Dining etiquettes of Vietnamese

Each country has its own way of organizing and tasting meals. Also, Vietnamese have their own beliefs and habits of eating.

Vietnamese usually have breakfast, lunch and dinner without tea or coffee break in between. Because most Vietnamese are early risers, breakfast is eaten before 9, though many restaurants serve breakfasts until much later. Foods for breakfasts are as diverse as you can imagine. Some of the most popular are the “notorious” pho-noodle soup; baguette stuffed with pate, ppq porked and veggies; rice congee with minced pork; banh cuon (rice crepes), xoi (sticky rice). Contrary to the Western diet, breakfasts in Vietnam involves more salt than sugar.  

Bowl of fish sauce is an indispensable element

Lunch is served from 12-1 p.m. Most office workers have lunch at one of street stores where they can choose a main dish-fish, beef, pork, chicken or tofu with side vegetables and steamed rice. Some others order lunch box from a nearby restaurant if they want to avoid the heat and traffic. Lunch in Vietnam is quick yet does not lack any nutrients.

Dinner is the main meal where family gathers and report back their day. Women are usually responsible for preparing the meal, with or without the help of their mother or daughters. Some better-off families have a dining table while the rest, though you may find it bizarre, have dinner on the ground floor. It is Vietnamese tradition to share food while eating.

As a result, the whole family circumvents a tray of food, each with a bowl of rice and taking food from the common dish. Dinner foods usually include one or two main dishes such as stewed pork, steamed chicken or fried fish; one dish of boiled or stir-fried vegetable and one bowl of broth. Steamed rice is considered as inevitable in most meals.

Time for gathering and sharing

  Eating out is not a habit of Vietnamese until recently and nowadays, it is popular in cities ad better off family only. Eating out used to take place on the occasion of daddy receiving salary, or family celebrating an achievement or weekend gateway. However, as modern life leads to lesser time and interest for cooking, eating out is also in the sharp increase.

Vietnamese also have the habit of organizing meals together; members in families gather in time and have close depend on others, which is totally different from Westerners because they ignore to talk during the meals. In the contrary, Vietnamese really like talking during the meal and talking during the meals is the crucial need of Vietnamese because it is also the time for them to gather, express their interests about health, life and share experience of working together or freely discuss about some of their favorite problems.

Foods are delicious while the weather is not good that the meals aren’t delicious. Good places for having meals without good friends make them feel that the meals aren’t delicious.

Vietnamese are both simple and casual. Normal etiquette apply in dining time and fewer expectations are placed on foreigners. If you are invited into a family dinner, make yourself at home and open your eyes, ears and mind to learn about this special aspect of Vietnamese culture

The Sparkling of Dray Nur waterfall

The waterfall is created by the water of Krong Ana and Krong No Rivers. There's a cave underneath the waterfall that brings exotic experience to the adventure travellers.

The 30m falls, which are also known as Cai or Vo (wife), originate from the Krong Ana River. According to a ancient story, a long time ago, a man of Kuop Hamlet fell in love with a girl who lived on the other side of the Serepok River.

Their love remained hidden from their parents until they were inseparable. Unfortunately, they were in a sort of Romeo and Juliet situation, where the two families were old and bitter rivals. Naturally the parents did not approve, and all their efforts to stay together seemed destined to fail.

So one night, rather than being separated, the couple committed suicide in the Serepok River. Suddenly, there was a thunderstorm, water leaped up from the river and sounds came from the forest. The next morning, the people of the hamlet were surprised to see that the river had been separated in two, isolating the two families.

Ever since then the one river has been two: the Duc (husband) creates the Dray Sap Waterfall in Dak Nong Province, in the central highlands, while the Cai (wife) river feeds the Dray Nur waterfall in Dak Lak Province.

Water still flows down the falls in small streams, only to be united at the bottom. Many say that the sound it makes are echos of the delights and reproaches of that “star crossed love”.

These are some photos of the waterfall.

King Bao Dai’s Palace

Located on Trieu Viet Vuong Street, Da Lat in Lam Dong Province, Bao Dai’s Palace is a charming structure with a European renovated architectural style that helps beautify this romantic city.

The old palace, also known as Palace III, belonged to King Bao Dai, the last emperor of the Nguyen Dynasty (1802-1945) in Vietnam’s feudal regime. It was built from 1933 to 1938 according to a design by a French architect and Vietnamese architect Huynh Tan Phat. The palace has been evaluated as one of the most beautiful architectural works in Da Lat with a hamorny between pine forests and parks, Thuong Uyen (royal garden), Ai An Forest and a small lake. 

During his reign, King Bao Dai used the palace as holiday house during the summer. During his holidays in the palace, there were always a regiment of imperial guards, a train of cars called “Cong xa biet dien” and private airplanes to serve him and his family. In 1948, when the French persuaded Bao Dai to serve as “head of state” and then established “Hoang trieu Cuong tho”( Domaine de la Couronne in French) in 1950, Bao Dai’s Palace was renamed “Biet dien Quoc truong” (the palace of the head of state). 

Bao Dai’s Palace is imbued with the European renovated architectural style.

A room of King Bao Dai for receiving guest.

A great pair of elephant’s tusks are hunted by himself.

Lobbies in Bao Dai’s Palace communicate with each other. 

The showroom of images and belongings of King Bao Dai.

Bed room of Princess Phuong Lien and Prince Bao Thang.

Bao Dai’s Palace was designed with 25 rooms with a system of well-disposed flat roofs. After entering the main gate is the great hall with eaves to shade the car park. The ground floor was used for parties and meetings with foreign guests and government officials. The palace also includes working rooms, King Bao Dai’s office, a library, rooms for entertainment and a large dining room. The working room was designed with small architectural miniatures to create a hamonious combination between the living space inside and nature outside through doors and steel framed windows. At present, in the reception room many precious objects of King Bao Dai are displayed, including a painting on Angkor Wat presented by Cambodian King Shihanouk, and three tiger skins and an elephant’s tusk hunted by himself.

The first floor of the palace was used as the private space of the royal family with bedrooms of King Bao Dai and his wife, Queen Nam Phuong, and their three daughters and two sons. Near the bedroom of the king stands a beautiful tower called Vong Nguyet (waiting for the moon). The bedroom of Prince Bao Long who was selected to ascend the throne was painted yellow and all decorations have the same colour.

The garden on the grounds of the palace.

A tourist poses for a photo in royal dress. 

Visitors are interested in a classic car placed outside the palace.

Foreign tourists record images inside the palace.

/Bao Dai’s Palace attracts a large number of visitors.

Outside, to the right of the main gate and in the back of the palace are small parks with a style often seen in French palaces. Around the palace are small paths shaded by pipe trees.

When visiting the palace, tourists will feel the solemn, close and warm space of the palace where imprints of a historical character, the last king of the feudal regime that existed for over thousands of years in Vietnam, are preserved.

An afternoon on Lap An Lake

Being a part of Lang Co Bay (in 2009, Lang Co Bay was ranked as the most beautiful bay in the world), Lap An Lake is famous for its charming beauty. The best time to explore Lap An Lake is in the afternoon.

Lap An Lake has an area of 800 hectares, near Phu Gia mountain pass. Because of its attractive beauty, it has been a familiar place to many photographers. Nowadays, local people take advantage of the lake to breed oyster. This has effect on the environment and ecosystem a little bit. Lap An Lake is one of famous tourist spot in Thua Thien – Hue city and is considered as the Elysium. The water in Lap An Lake is very clear. Sitting on the boat, you can see the bottom of the lake. Surrounding the lake, there are roads curving around the foot of the mountain, which makes charming landscape. Lap An always attracts a lot of travelers by the blend of colours of sky and mountain. If you have a chance to contemplate the dawn here, you will never forget. It will surprise you by its picturesque beauty. Lap An has an important role in the protection of coastal areas and it is home of many valuable marine species.