Summer fun on Con Dao Island

The Con Dao Islands (also known as Poulo Condore) are an archipelago of 15 islands situated in the South China Sea, around 250 kilometres, or a 45-minute flight, from Ho Chi Minh City.

Summer is here, and from the southern island of Con Dao, you can cruise to the neighboring islets, enjoy bathing and fishing, or walk through splintered sunlight in a tropical jungle.

Con Dao is 180 kilometers off the southern province of Ba Ria-Vung Tau and comprises 16 islets and is known worldwide for the groups’ notorious prisons and barbaric oppression during war times.

Con Dao island, known as “The Hell on Earth” under the French regime and during the American War, draws many visitors who come to learn the history. Fishing is one of the interesting activities on this beautiful island. Some sportsmen have great luck in the channels between islets. Most people prefer the tamer waters near Wharf 914. Live bait is available at the market, which is a short walk from the wharf. Some sellers give the bait away.

“It is very small, I cannot sell it to customers to make food. So you can take it, just for fun”, a seller told us when we asked for a couple of small fish to try our luck.

You might not catch too many fish but you never feel lonely because the wharf is usually crowded with fishermen and kids. The kids are there just for fun. Despite going home empty-handed most of the time, these kids are ready to help you catch a fish and tell you what you are doing wrong and why your bait is no good and snap your camera for you when you do land a fish. They spend the great majority of their lives on the beach and usually have enough free time to keep you company all day.

On a full moon, when the tide ebbs, the islets grow taller giving you a chance to have a nice long walk straight into the ocean. Some nights you can walk more than one kilometer under the moon. You will bump into many friendly locals out here hunting for cuttle-fish.

This can also be a romantic setting, but the opportunity only lasts for a few hours and then the sea quickly reclaims the exposed skin of the island. Give yourself plenty of time to start walking back in.

There are 13 flights to the Con Dao every week.

Sourced: VietNamNet

-->Read more...

Hanoi’s Old Quarter - 36 old streets

There is an old Vietnamese proverb, "Hanoi has thirty-six streets and guilds - Street Jam, Sugar Street, Salt Street ...". In a modern and dynamic city, it seems the old town, it's Hanoi old town - represented the eternal soul of the city. These days, most Vietnamese are bearing the words "Ha Noi - Ba mươi SAU PHO Phuong" (translated as "Ha Noi - 36 Districts" or "Hanoi - 36 old streets"), or "co-Hà Nội PHO "(translated as" Hanoi Old Town), the top track and special historical eye to see in the capital, attracts international visitors thanks to its largely original condition.

Where is the Old Quarter located? Located between the Lake of the Restored Sword, the Long Bien Bridge, a former city rampart, and a citadel wall, the Old Quarter (consisting of 36 old streets inside) started as a snake and alligator-infested swamp. It later evolved into a cluster of villages made up of houses on stilts, and was unified by Chinese administrators who built ramparts around their headquarters. The area was named "Dominated Annam" or "Protected South" by the Chinese.

How old are the streets? It would be a big surprise should you know that Hanoi's Old Quarter came into being at the time King Ly Thai To selected Thang Long as the country’s capital in 1010, that is, the streets have a nearly 1,000-year old history and became crowded & lively in 15th century. What makes them unique is that many of them remain in their very ancient architecture of the 15th century. Up to now, it has been the oldest continuously developed area of Vietnam.

What are their names’ origins? Due to their long-lasting age, they are called “Old Quarter” or “36 Old Streets” (as consisting of 36 member streets). Similarly to the Guilded age of Europe, “Ha Noi's 36 districts” is Vietnam's version of the guild concept. In the past, as artisans moved to the capital city to do business, they gathered together in this area to share the resources. As a result, many of the streets were named after the crafts sold at that individual street. Pho Hang Bun (Vermicelli), Pho Hang Ma (Paper Product), Pho Hang Bac (Silver), etc. are examples of the streets carrying the name of the products sold there.

The phrase “36 pho phuong” often causes much confusion for most people; “Phố” means a street or a place for merchants to gather to do business, while “Phường”, a district or a guild of artisans specializing in a particular trade (phuong cheo, phuong tho, etc.). Yet, in any case, both are right to some extent.

Specialized craft streets and guilds: Most tourists are eager for exploring the old streets well-known for each one’s specialized industry. Hang Gai Street offers silk clothing ready-made and tailored, embroidery, and silver products. Hang Quat, the street that formerly sold silk and feather fans, now stuns the visitor by its brilliantly colored funeral and festival flags and religious objects and clothing. To Tich Street connects the above two and is still the wood turner's street. Hang Ma glimmers with shiny paper products, such as gift wrappings, wedding decorations and miniature paper objects to burn for the dead. Lan Ong Street is a sensual delight of textures and smells emanating from the sacks of herbal medicinal products: leaves, roots, barks, and powders, etc. Coming here, you may feel as if you were in a classical-styled area in terms of both architecture and product types!

36 old streets or more? Although the old section of Hanoi is often called the "36 Old Streets," there are more than 36 actual streets. Some researchers believe that the number 36 came from the 15th century when there might have been 36 guild locations, which were workshop areas, not streets. When streets were later developed, the guild names were applied to the streets. Others attribute the 36 to a more abstract concept. The number nine in Asia represents the concept of "plenty." Nine times the four directions makes 36, which simply means "many". In fact, there are now more than 70 streets in the area.

-->Read more...

Vung Tau Beach

About 125km Southeast of Ho Chi Minh City, there appears Vung Tau City, which is located in Vung Tau peninsula, the curved point of ‘S’ letter (map of Vietnam). This is the border of the South and the West of Vietland, where we can see the sun on the East Sea (or South China sea), both rising and setting.

To most tourists, Vung Tau is most interesting and loved for its extensive beaches. Tourists always prefer sightseeing at Front Beach (Bai Truoc) to go swimming in Back Beach (Bai Sau).

The first beach is Bai Truoc (translated as “front beach” in Vietnamese), in the West of the city, where the sun goes down. Bai Truoc is considered the façade of Vung Tau city. It is also called by other names such as Tam Duong beach or Hang Dua bay. Besides the best location, the beach is also preferred for having many restaurants and elegant hotels. Sparking, colorful and bright light boulevard make Bai Truoc more beautiful.

Opposite to Bai Truoc is Bai Sau, Back beach (or Thuy Van beach). Back Beach is well-known for its over 10 km of fine sand seaside. The beach is always excited and busy with almost tourists both from the city itself and the world. At weekends or on holidays, there are thousands of people coming here for swimming and entertainment. In Bai Sau, there is a popular kind of entertainment: Paradis, the upgraded swimming and relaxing area, and a system of modern hotels, welcoming all tourists. Other beautiful beaches are Bai Dua and Bai Dau.

From Bai Truoc, Halong street curls to Bai Dua, pineapple beach. The reason for placing that name dated a long time ago, when the beach had many pineapple trees, thus it was called Bai Dua (or Pineapple garden). Many Vung Tau people also call the beach Lang Du, which originated from the local’s first restaurant’s name.

Right in here, the sea goes far into the land and the rock mountain goes from the land to the sea establishing romantic and hidden small beaches. The beach attracts a big amount of tourists. Nearby, the Temple of Southern sea Saint and Tinh Xa nirvana are tourist-attractive sites, which were built on one of these rock mountains.

Bai Dau, Mudberry Beach, is at the foot of Nui Lon, in the North of the city. There used to be a lot of mudberry and ratten so it is also named Ratten beach. Nevertheless, today, there is no longer any mudberry and ratten. So now, instead, when mentioning about Bai Dau, people think of a windless and rocky beach. Tourists should walk on about a few meters to see a 30m-high statue of Mother Maria shining in the green picturesque forest and sea landscape.

-->Read more...

Anh Vu Mountain - The natural beauty

The Son of the enormous range (Seven Mountains) along Highway 91 from Long Xuyên to Chau Doc, Anh Vu, or Ket, Mountain is a popular destination for travelers.

Along the road on rough mountain Vu Anh, there are many restaurants and restaurants with specialties in the greenery of the gardens. Our group stopped "hammock Rest Stop" and was warmly greeted by friendly faces. We ordered Palm fruit juice, a specialty of this region, and asked the way to the mountain. After a few minutes of rest in the hammocks, we have in the mountains.

In a minute, the mountain was for us and we were surprised by its splendor and beauty, but we have just reached Ket tourist zone, near the top of the mountains. The use of the stairs, we began to conquer this mythical mountain.

There are more than 10 interesting sites on the mountain at the foot of the page and along its slopes, that tourists should not miss, such as wells and Fairy Truc Lam, Ngoc Hoang, Thay Phat, Phat Huynh Long Mau and temples.

Mo Ket, a giant stone, is a rest area located halfway between the mountains and the mountains from here, appears to be moving as clouds passing through the bodies are always changing. Temperatures here average 18 to 24 degrees Celsius, despite the heat, at noon. Dai is nearby mountains, like a huge rock garden and an ancient temple, both worth a visit.

It is interesting that there is a property on the top of the mountain Ket. It is well appointed Fairy and is a must for those who conquer this mountain. Well looks like a cave, adhering to rocks and the water is soft and fresh. No one knows its origin or source.

The Son of range, and Anh Vu mountain in particular, are known to the monks who lead a religious life in the mountains, such as Doan Minh Huyen, the founder of the Buu Son Ky Huong Buddhism with its origins. The mountain is open for tours and religious.

-->Read more...