Nui Coc Lake

Nui Coc Lake is famous for not only its picturesque scenery but also a legend about the romance of a girl named Cong and a young man named Coc.

Driving from Hanoi along the National Highway No3 for 80km to Thai Nguyen City, then making a left and traveling up a small road for about 20km, you can see Nui Coc Lake, a reservoir with a beauty that can warm the cockles of the frostiest character.

Nui Coc Lake is famous for not only its picturesque scenery but also a legend about the romance of a girl named Cong and a young man named Coc. Legend has told that the couple loved each other very much, but due to prejudice both families did not allow them get married. Coc waited for his sweetheart until he turned into the present Coc Mountain. Receiving the bad news, Cong was broken-hearted and bewailed her lover until she died. Her tears flowed and changed into a river, the present Cong River, soaking deep into the soil to bring up the tea plants.

It is the scenic side of things that makes Nui Coc Lake special, the 89 pretty little islands that dot the 25,000m² surfaces and make it a miniature of  Halong Bay. The islands have different characteristics; some are forested in green, while one is home to thousands of storks and many other species of birds. That is why it has name of Stork Island, another is the home to wild goats and of course, it is also called Goat Island. Near the lake, Coc Mountain stands imposingly amid the blue sky, bright sunshine spreading over every blade of grass and twig, all creating marvelous and splendid scenery.

For those who like their creature comforts there is a new resort near the lake. Tourism Park of Nui Coc Lake is divided into two areas, one on the northern bank of the reservoir and the other on the southern. The northern area boasts many mini-guest houses built on the side of a hill and shaded with green trees, along with water parks and an artificial dinosaur park.

There visitors in Vietnam tourism can refresh yourself with entertainment or go fishing on the lake or try specialties of the lake such as chub with the largest weighing nine to 10kg, shrimps and bamboo rats, called by locals as Dui. You can also travel across the water in a motor boat and lie back to enjoy the poetic and grandiose beauty of the boundless sky hanging high over mountain and forest.

The most beautiful natural lakes in Vietnam

If you have a chance to travel to Vietnam, you should not miss one of the most beautiful natural lakes in Vietnam where have many stunning landscapes, a rich history and culture.

Ba Be lake

Ba Be is Vietnam’s largest natural lake and is now the centrepiece of an extensive National Park. The park and the surrounding area is limestone country, so lakes, waterfalls, caves and unusual rock formations abound. The whole area is richly forested and home to many ethnic minority communities.

The National Park is covered by tropical and semi-tropical evergreen Thailandian monsoon forest. The bio diversity is rich – 50 animal species, over 400 plants and many species of insects, reptiles and birds. The ten seriously endangered animals in the park include two primates, the Black Gibbon and the Tonkinese 'snub-nosed' monkey.

Hoan Kiem lake

Ho Hoan Kiem (or Lake of the Restored Sword) was once part of the Red river (song Hong). Throughout thousands of years of geographical changes, the lake moved eastward to its present position kilometers from the river. Before the famous historical legend of King Le Loi here, Hoan Kiem Lake used to be called Luc Thuy Lake (or Green Water Lake) since the water was green all the year round. In 15^th century, it was named Hoan Kiem Lake after the legend of Emperor Le Thai To, which is somehow similar to the story of King Arthur and the Lady of the Lake's.

 Hoan Kiem Lake is now situated inside a complex of Ngoc Son Temple, The Huc Bridge, Pen Tower in the surroundings, making a sparkling colorful natural picture! Ngoc Son has undergone a lot of renovations, one among which was the addition of Thap But (translated as Pen Tower) on its hill, which was once called Dao Tai. Three words were inscribed on the tower: "Ta Thien Thanh" or "write on blue sky". Inside the gate a pool resembling the shape of an ink well was added. Beyond the ink well is The Huc bridge, which means "where the sun light is absorbed". The bridge leads to Dac Nguyet Lau (or "Moon Light tower") - Ngoc Son shrine. Beyond the gates to the shrine, there are two walls called bang Rong and bang Ho (dragon and tiger slate), where the names of those who passed the national test were inscribed. 

To Nung Lake

Located 6km north of downtown Pleiku, To Nung Lake is in fact the crater of a volcano that became extinct millions of years ago. The lake has a surface of 280ha and an average depth of 16 -19m, reaching 40m at its deepest.

The lake owes its name, To Nung, a village that existed a long time ago in the legendary region of Gia Lai and Kontum Provinces, now called Central Highlands. To Nung village was a very beautiful and prosperous one where people lived in peace and harmony with each other. One day the volcano erupted and buried the whole village in hot lava. The lake grew from the tears shed by the survivors mourning their loved ones, to which the name of To Nung was given in memory of the dead village.

Visitors in Vietnam tours can discover To Nung Lake by boat, but they can also choose to enjoy the beautiful landscapes of To Nung from the back of an elephant. In the evening, they can share a dance, a song, or some can wine with some of the local ethnic people, while listening to their traditional gong music.

West Lake

West Lake (Vietnamese: Hồ Tây) is a freshwater lake in the center of Hanoi, Vietnam. With a shore length of 17 km (about 10.6 miles), this is the largest lake of the capital and a popular place for recreation with many surrounding gardens, hotels and villas. A small part of West Lake is divided by Thanh Nien road to form Truc Bach Lake. One district of Hanoi is named after the lake, Tay Ho district.

West Lake is bordered with many significant places in history of Hanoi and Vietnam. Tran Quoc Pagoda, oldest pagoda in Vietnam, was built in 6th century by Lý Nam Đế and now locates on a small island in the middle of the lake. Near Tran Quoc Pagoda is Quan Thanh Temple, one of theFour Sacred Temples of ancient Hanoi (Vietnamese: Tứ trấn Thăng Long). Chu Van An High School, one of the oldest high school in Vietnam, also locates close to the shiy.

Than Tho Lake

Located 6 km to the East from centre of Da Lat, the lake is a nature lake in a silent hill. In the past, there was a small pond in this area that had been called Torô Pang Dong. In 1917, French built a dam here to make a lake reserving water for Da Lat. They called it Lac des Soupirs. This name has the second meaning which is “whisper”.

In the morning, fog covers the water surface and creates such a beautiful water-colour-painting. That’s why this lake also has another name is Suong Mai (fog in the morning).

Once coming to Than Tho lake, visitors in Vietnam travel are going to hear many unhappy love-stories. So this will be an interesting point for curious visitors. This is place where a couple has drowned themselves in order to live together after death. And pines here sways and makes some sound like mourning for them. That’s another reason why people give this lake the name “whisper”.

Noong lake

Noong Lake is far from Ha Giang Town about 15km. It is a lake on a mountain with unspoiled nature and the pure beauty like the young girl of an ethnic group. Only a few families of Mong ethnic group live in the area by planting rice and raising ducks and pigs

The first impression of Noong Lake is not so big as it is at the end of dry season, and the lake is nearly empty. We could view lots of trunk of the trees on the lake and with a good imagination. Tourists in Vietnam tours can see the beautiful trees and nearly empty lake on the background. The water was too shallow so the raft that local people used to take people to the lake just turned to be the hut for children to study.

Con Dao Island

Con Dao Island sits on the East Sea about 97 nautical miles from Vung Tau City and is endowed with stunning beaches shaded with evergreen trees, fresh air, clear blue water, and primitive forests with an abundant wildlife flocking to the island’s sandy beaches.

Vietnam travel is famous not only for the beauty of nature but also for Vietnam culture and Vietnamese people. Travel to Vietnam, tourists can enjoy themselves with peaceful and fresh air which only Vietnam have. It's really difficult to answer where is the most beautiful and the most famous place because everywhere in Vietnam is beautiful. And one of these idea place is Con Dao Island. It will be a wonderful travel tour to Vietnam for tourists when they come to Con Dao Island.

In travel tour to Con Dao island, after a 45 minute journey from Tan Son Nhat Airport in HCMC, tourists will reach Co Ong Airport on Con Son Island, the largest of 16 islands in Ba Ria-Vung Tau Province’s Con Dao District.

The road from the airport to the center of Con Dao island district is more than 13km, winding around the coastline with the sea on the left and on the right mountains and primitive forest. Along the road are scattered red paper flowers studded with white cherry.

The first impression of Con Dao center is a gentle urban area lying by the sea with clean roads under shades of almond trees and old bang lang trees. There is a lot of new infrastructure with offices, hotels, resorts, restaurants and residential houses which has livened up the area which used to be home to the gloomy images of the old prison.

Con Dao Island overview

There are no taxis or buses but tourists can take a xe om (motorbike taxi) at VND300,000 per day to go around the island and the driver will double up as your local guide.

Tourists can also hire a motorbike from VND100,000 to VND120,000 per day or a bicycle at VND30,000 per day if you are feeling adventurous.

There are also canoes priced at VND5 million and seating 20 people. Visitors can stay overnight in resorts, hotels or make a camp.

Although part developed, the island is still thinly populated which is great for tourists who can appreciate the primitive atmosphere and of course the scenery and forget for a few days the cramped city life.

Con Dao Island is also famous because of the notorious prison. In the second half of the 19th century, after invading southern Vietnam, French colonists founded Con Dao prison where they imprisoned patriotic prisoners and Vietnam’s political leaders and managed it with brutal aggression. 

In the 113 years under French colonialism and American invading forces over 20,000 Vietnamese prisoners died at the jail and were buried at Hang Duong Cemetery.

One of the stellar attractions in this region, the Con Dao Archipelago is slowly gaining attention for its startling natural beauty. Con Son, the largest of this chain of 15 islands and islets, is ringed with lovely beaches, coral reefs and scenic bays, and remains partially covered in thick forests. In addition to hiking, diving and exploring empty coastal roads and deserted beaches, there are some excellent wildlife-watching opportunities.

The beauty of Con Dao Island

Con Son Island (with a total land area of 20 sq km) is also known by its Europeanised Malay name, Iles Poulo Condore (Pulau Kun-dur), which means ‘Island of the Squashes’. Although it seems something of an island paradise, Con Son was once hell on earth for the thousands of prisoners who languished in confinement during the French and American regimes.

Roughly 80% of the land area in the island chain is part of Con Dao National Park, which protects Vietnam’s most important sea turtle nesting grounds. For the last decade the World Wildlife Foundation (WWF) has been working with local park rangers on a long-term monitoring program. During nesting season (May to September) the park sets up ranger stations to rescue threatened nests and move them to the safe haven of hatcheries.

Other interesting sea life around Con Dao includes the dugong, a rare and seldom-seen marine mammal in the same family as the manatee. Dugongs live as far north as Japan, and as far south as the subtropical coasts of Australia. Their numbers have been on a steady decline, and increasingly efforts are being made to protect these adorable creatures. Major threats include coastal road development, which causes the destruction of shallow-water beds of seagrass, the dugongs’ staple diet.

Con Dao is one of those rare places in Viet­nam where there are virtually no structures over two storeys, and where the traveller’s experience is almost hassle-free. One of the special things here for travel tour Con Dao, there’s even no need to bargain at the local market! Owing to the relatively high cost and the inaccessibility of the islands, mass tourism has thankfully been kept to a minimum.

These days most visitors to Con Son are package-tour groups of former VC soldiers who were imprisoned on the island. The Viet­namese government generously subsidises these jaunts as a show of gratitude for their sacrifice. Foreign tourists are still few and far between, though their numbers are on the rise.

The driest time to visit Con Dao is from November to February, though the seas are calmest from March to July. The rainy season lasts from June to September, but there are also northeast and southwest monsoons in autumn that can bring heavy winds. In November 1997 typhoon Linda did a number here: 300 fishing boats were lost, reefs were wiped out and the forests flattened. September and October are the hottest months, though even then the cool island breezes make Con Dao relatively comfortable when compared with Ho Chi Minh city or Vung Tau.

Mui Ne beach

Whoever visiting Phan Thiet City, Binh Thuan Province could not help a journey to Mui Ne – a gracefully seductive sea cape!

Introduction

22 kilometers North Eastern Phan Thiet, Binh Thuan Province, Mui Ne is a group of beaches, such as Ong Dia beach, Front beach and Back Beach.
The name “Mui Ne” derived from the fact that fishersmen get in here to hide the storm on their fishing days. “Mui” means cape, and “Ne” means hiding. Tourists can easily be attracted by the deep blue of the sea, the goldern of the sun and sand, all converging in warmth and purity.

Quick look

What makes Mui Ne a different fascinating seaside painting? The answer consists of quite a few elements, such as beautiful beaches gently sloping to the sea, gentle breezes, pure sea, blue sky, and cristine reddish sand dunes. More importantly, though grown up from a distant seaside far from the highway (with scattered poor fishing villages) to a community of hundreds of high-quality resorts, Mui Ne is still called the “Desert of golden sand”. Still, visiting Mui Ne, you can see by your own eyes the fishing village “Mui Ne” – a typical Vietnam’s fishing seaside land in its daily life.
What is more, the all-the-year-round sunny weather facilitates any swimmer.

Zoom

Mui Ne is a precious gift of Nature, with the most beautiful sand – banks in Vietnam. The sand gathers together making the endless accumulated hills. Sand hills have been sources of inspiration for numerous photographers for years. Standing on top of the hills, you can easily feel the cool winds from the sea. Seldom can tiredness so quickly disappear!

Among others, Ong Dia beach is the finest one in Mui Ne, the beauty of which is revealed in the ever cristine state, long-lasting sand banks and coconut-palm paths. As one of the best seasides in Vietnam in terms of both natural beauty and sea entertainment kinds. Just take a holiday here, you will have chances to taste a series of delicious seafood, and enjoy various interesting activities, for example, swimming, boat sailing, sun bathing, surfing, golf, scuba-diving and snorkeling, hunting, sight-seeing, or hide into a charming and relaxed night life with live music or local sea festivals. If you would like to try something more uniquely typical Mui Ne beach, you could spend time visiting the oldest towers in Vietnam, Ponshanu or

Mui Ne sand

Phu Hai, 1,200 years old, which are luckily to be located here. Those are the work of Cham people. As years have gone, leaving time raveges down on here, their solid existence is the firm witness of Cham culture improvement. For further sight-seeing, tourists may take a walk to Ong Hoang Storey, Rom Island, or Mui Ne Sand dune (or in other words, Flying Sand dune).
Flying Sand dune is one of the longest Sand banks stretching a series of kilometers and areas. Its name derives from the main golden color with the existence of hundreds of years. Why is it “flying”? It is the answer that makes it differ: the shape changes hourly, daily, monthly, etc. due to the wind, which absorb a number of tourists elsewhere. The dunes are frequently tectonics of different shapes: animal, lying lady, etc. Also, its varied color, such as red, white, pink, whitish grey, and reddish grey, etc. are inspiration of so many artists, among whom is Y Lan, who has created such a new special kind of art – sand painting. This is one of the brand new unique modern kinds of arts in current Vietnam, truly worth your discovery!

Thanks to Sand Dunes, the premium special element of Mui Ne seaside, the local government has built Binh Thuan’s special tourism product, that is, modern golf on sand with planted green confetti, poplar, etc. The golf zone is a part of a qualitative resort area, hostel system, great destination of relaxation for all tourists.

I have asked a number of foreign tourists to Vietnam the same question, “What do you like most in Vietnam?” The most frequent answer is Beaches, and one of the top seaside around Southern Vietnam is Mui Ne! You should also come and feel the beautiful sea, long sand dunes and fresh breeze yourself!

7 VIETNAM BEACHES ATTRACT FOREIGN TOURISTS

Summer is coming and beaches are always the top choice of many tourists. Here are the most beautiful beaches in Vietnam that Lonely Planet magazine advises tourists to visit when they come to Vietnam.

1. Nha Trang Many domestic and foreign visitors have visited Nha Trang for many years. Nha Trang is considered as the most beautiful beach in Vietnam with blue sea and an endless stretch of white-sand. 2. Mui Ne Mui Ne beach with blue sea, white sand-dunes has captivated many people. It is blessed in four seasons, which is suitable for relaxation. Apart from the charming and romantic landscapes, Mui Ne is also suitable for water sports such as parasailing, windsurfing…. 3. Phu Quoc Being one of the most primitive islands in Vietnam, Phu Quoc attracts visitors with blue sea, white sand, and primeval forests. Coming to Phu Quoc, you can take a visit to famous beaches such as Sao beach, Ong Lang beach. 4. Con Đao This is a isolated island off the coast of Vietnam. Coming here, you can see primitive, mysterious and fascinating natural landscapes. 5. My Khe My Khe is a gorgeous beach. It has a strange attraction to any tourist coming to Da Nang. Tourists will have a chance to enjoy the charming landscapes here with blue sea, smooth white sand, sea waves gently slapping the shoreline, warm seawater all year round and romantic lines of coconut trees… 6. Cua Đai Cua Dai is a beach in Quang Nam province. Visiting Quang Nam, besides the world’s most favourite destination - Hoi An, tourists cannot forget Cua Dai beach. The beach is lively with gorgeous apartment buildings, and convenient resorts. With beautiful beach and fresh air, Cua Dai will make tourists relax and comfortable. 7. Doc Let Doc Let is 50 kilometers far from Nha Trang. Unlike sunny and animated Nha Trang beach, coming to Doc Let, you will see a quiet and tranquil space, endless stretch of white sand, and hight sand dunes. Anyone who wants to go to the beach has to climb over long sand dunes. You can be very tired but full of excitement.

The beautiful photos of Plum Harvest in Moc Chau

For the Mong people in Moc Chau District, Son La province, the plum tree is a gift endowed by nature because this variety of tree grows very well on soil in the highlands and does not need to be tended carefully. Moreover, it brings high economic value.

The tree often blossoms in spring and is laden with fruits in early summer. This year, there is a bumper crop of plums in Moc Chau so the whole area has become busy with local people picking plums and traders buying the products.

Plums are a speciality  in Moc Chau.  A Mong family in Loong Sap pick plums.  Mong girls go to pick plums together.

Mua A Lua in Loong Sap Commune, Moc Chau District said that although now it is the early harvest, many merchants from different provinces in the North such as Hung Yen, Bac Giang and Hanoi flock to Loong Sap Commune to buy fresh plums each day. This year, plums are sold at about 7,000 – 8,500VND/kg, which is higher than last year. Thus, the locals feel encouraged to harvest plums. 

Like Loong Sap Commune, Long Luong Commune also has lots of fields of plum trees so hundreds of tonnes of plums are harvested every day. “In the lowland, plums are now selling well so we use lorries to go to the local people’s orchards to buy plums. I transport each day over 20 tonnes of plums to Hanoi, but it is not enough to sell to customers,” said Bui Van Nam, a merchant from Hanoi.

Recently, besides the economic value from selling plums, the Mong people in Moc Chau can take more advantage of engaging in community-ecotourism. As reported, the management department of Moc Chau Tourism Area is investing in building a unique tourism program. The tourism model will take travelers to eat, live and harvest plums with the locals. After the harvest, the tourists in Vietnam tours are paid for picking plums.

The joy of a Mong woman in Moc Chau with a bumper crop of plums.  Plum trees help bring a good life to the local people.  Merchants from the lowlands use lorries to transport plums.

Duong Lam ancient village

After the recognition of Hoi An ancient town, Hanoi old quarter, Duong Lam village in Son Tay Town (some 60km to the west of Hanoi Capital) is the first ancient village recognised as a national relic by the Ministry of Culture and Information.

Two of Vietnam’s kings, Phung Hung (761-802) and Ngo Quyen (896-944) were born in Duong Lam, giving the village its prestige. Both men led resistance wars against northern invasion and after winning national independence, were crowned kings. After their deaths, the local people built temples in their honour.

The ancient village has a history of about 1,200 years with many houses dating back up to 400 years. One special thing about the village is that most of the buildings here are made of laterite and mud, two materials that are abundant in the area. Laterite is used on house walls, gates, wells, temple walls, and so forth. The mud is taken from ponds. Apart from its historical and tourism values, Duong Lam ancient village is an important place for scientists to study resident communities in ancient agriculture. The village gate, banyan, well, communal house are important factors in classifying Duong Lam ancient village.

Well

The common well was built in every hamlet in Duong Lam village. The well brings the name of the hamlet it is located. At present, each family possesses its own well but the common well has been protected because it maintains many imprints of the villagers.

Communal house

The communal house is a worshipping place of the god – founder of the village. The ancient village consists of 5 villages so it has 5 communal houses. Doai Giap and Cam Lam communal houses dedicate to Phung Hung – the national hero who won the victory against invaders under Duong Dynasty; Cam Thinh communal house dedicates both the founder of the village and great mandarin Cao Phuc Dien – the hero under Le Dynasty. Dong Sang communal house worships the God but it was destroyed by fire and was restored by financial support from people. The god Tan Vien Son was dedicated in Mong Phu communal house. So far, Mong Phu communal house is a gathering place of the villagers for cultural activities. The communal house was made carefully with sophisticated decoration details. It is considered as a flower of unique sculptural architecture.

Architecture of the house

The wooden house mainly has 5 or 7 spans with 2 wings. It has 5 rows of columns, sometime 1 row disappears. The house has specialized by sophisticatedly carved details in the form of flowers, leaves, clouds.

A system of wooden doors is very firm. Each span has 4 leaves of the door with upper and lower joints. Thresholds were made of firm wood above 40-50cm from the ground and 10cm from the floor. This distance helps to ventilate well, avoid humidity for the thresholds. The whole system of the thresholds is the tie system linking all spans together.

For tangible culture relic, Duong Lam has 21 relic sites, consisting of temples, pagodas and tombs and ten of which have been classified as national and provincial relics. For intangible cultural relic, Duong Lam has preserved various festivals, customs and literature on the people and land of Duong Lam through different period of time. For ecological environment, Duong Lam has many beautiful scenes linked with legendary stories such as Guom Hill, Ho Gam Hill and tales on the two kings Phuong Hung and Ngo Quyen.

In recent years, many relics in the villages such as Mia Pagoda, Phung Hung Temple, Ngo Quyen Temple and Mong Phu communal house have been restored. However, it is important to preserve not only the tangible cultural relics, but also intangible cultural relics and ecological environment and they should be carried out synchronously.

The construction of new cultural buildings which aims to honour the history, national heroes and boost tourism activity should be ensured the harmony between traditional and modern cultural values and the relations between preservation and development.

Nowadays, preserving, restoring and developing the value of Duong Lam ancient village are very important, since it contributes to preservation of the national cultural heritage.

Bun sung is Vung Tau treat

Many people usually mistake bun sung (noodles cooked with water lily) of the coastal city of Vung Tau with noodle dishes found in the Mekong Delta provinces of Tra Vinh, Soc Trang and Ca Mau.

Bun sung is served to guests.

Bun sung combines flavors of the three cultures of Khmer, Chinese and Vietnamese people with its unique soup cooked from fish, shrimp, squid accompanied with water lily.

Vung Tau is a port city featuring boats from many regions and maybe explains why sailors have helped bring many specialties of their hometowns to the locality. It can also explain why the noodles there have a similar taste with the Mekong Delta cooking style.

To have the perfect bun sung dish, you require fresh noodles, soup and water lilies which are cooked and stirred with chilli and spices.

If you want a different variety of Vung Tau noodle soup you can add mam ca (fish paste made from sac, linh, keo or loc fish) and lemongrass and chili. The paste will be prepared carefully before you put into the soup to guarantee its purity.

Then you season salt, sugar, dehydrated broth, tamarind juice and chilli to have the perfect soup. Water lilies will be uncovered and cut into small parts while noodles should be small. Vegetables to use are ngo (coriander), dill, morning glory, water lily and banana flower. Some spices needed with the dish are chilli, fermented garlic, fish sauce with lemon and muoi ot (a combination of peppers and salt).  Diners will be served a bow of noodles in various colors with water lilies (purple), fish and squid (white) and shrimp (orange), (green) onions and fried onions (deep yellow) and of course the delicious smell of sweet soup.

Vung Tau is located about 125km from HCMC. Tourists who make a weekend trip to the area should not miss out on bun sung.

Stunning journey to Thung Nai, Hoa Binh

If you have ever been to Thung Nai, Hoa Binh, it makes no surprise that you will be enchanted by the charming beauty that is considerd as Ha Long Bay on land.

Thung Nai is a commune in Cao Phong district, being nearly 25 kilometers from Hoa Binh city. In recent years, tt has been a new tourist destination in the northern Vietnam.

Explaining the name “Thung Nai”, the local people said that in the past, Thung Nai was a great valley covered by the vast forest, which is home to numerous deer. Therefore, “Thung Nai” means “ the Valley of Deer”.

Since the 1980s, Thung Nai has become a big lake to contain water severed for the operation of the hydropower plant on Da River when this hydropower plant was constructed. All initial surrounding high mountains become floating green islands and create poetic and magnificent scenery which can enchant every tourist coming here.

The best time to visit Thung Nai in the autumn, when the water level reaches the highest and the valley is filled with the romantic lake water. 

Coming here, visitors can visit intriguing islands as Lan island, Qua island, Ngoi Hoa cave,  Thac Bo cave, Trach stream.  Here, visitors can bath in cool water. On the other hand, if you want to learn the life of Muong people, you can visit Mu or Gia Mo village in the valley.

As many people, after visiting popular destinations here, we stopped at Thac Bo Cave- a national heritage.

Thac Bo cave

Thac Bo is a deep cave separated by many levels. Behind the high and large entrance, visitors see multi-shaped stalactites mirrored on a limpid pond and listen to the stone musical instruments and gongs of the Muong ethnic group.

The heritage is located next to the imposing Da River and Bo temple, a popular tourist destination and pilgrimage. Here, visitors will have an opportunity to admire spectacular stalactites like ice cream in Thac Bo cave.

Try to visit Thung Nai once in your life, tourists can enjoy the beauty of wild nature and witness the life of ethnic minority people living on the mountainous areas. Thung Nai promises to bring great tourism potential to Hoa Binh Province in the near future.

Bo Da- a unique pagoda in Bac Giang

Bo Da pagoda in Bac Giang has its own ancient beauty attracting numerous visitors and pilgrims.

Bo Da, also known as Bo or “Quan Am at mount Bo Da” is one of the most unique pagoda in Tien Son commune, Viet Yen district, Bac Giang province and a major Buddhist center of the Truc Lan Yen Tu zen.  

The ancient entrance of Bo Da pagoda

The pagoda is situated at the foot of a beautiful pine hill that is surrounded by soil walls, mountains and rivers. Bo Da is called “soil pagoda” because it was made from a brown soil, antique walls and bricks.

Bo Da has unique architecture that is different from the traditional pagoda in the North of Vietnam. The pagoda contains 18 temples, nearly 100 ancient rooms with harmonious architectural layout, special materials: unique soil, bricks…Moreover, Bo Da has an ancient garden temple where ashes bones of more than 1,400 monks and nuns were buried.

The pagoda has still preserved the oldest Buddhist Vietnam prayer book that carved on wood. Pagoda also keeps a very interesting devise of Nguyen Hong famous writer that was a handwritten copy of the rules in the pagoda.

The place preserve lots of prayer book

Unique garden temples in Bo Da

Son Doong Cave-World’s largest cave to be launched

In early August this year, Quang Binh plans to launch experimental adventure tours of Son Doong Cave, which is considered the largest in the world.

In early August this year, Quang Binh makes a plan to launch experimental adventure tours of Son Doong Cave, which is considered the largest in the world.

The tours were suggested by Howard Limbert, an expert of the British Cave Research Association (BCRA). As scheduled, the trial tours will be held twice a month with the participation of a group of o7 tourists and 15 local guides. After a trial times, the tours will officially operate  from February to August every year.

Son Doong cave was first discovered in Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park by a local man named Ho Khanh in 1991. The cave was made known publicly in 2009 by a group of British scientists from BCRA, led by Howard Limbert, following their surveying trip in Phong Nha-Ke Bang Park.

Son Doong cave has a length of at least 6.5 kilometres. It is estimated to be 200 metres in width and 150 metres in height. The largest chamber of the cave is judged to be 250 metres in height.

Unique relics of Son Tay ancient Citadel

Located in the heart of Son Tay town, about 40km from Hanoi city, Son Tay ancient citadel is an ancient military architecture, built in the reign of King Ming Mang (1822).

Because it had strategic location on the Red River, it was in his history in important military outpost, especially against the invasions from the north.

The citadel was a place where the kings of the Nguyen Dynasty lived and worked. The square fort with a length of 450 meters is now in the heart of the city, about two miles from the Red River.

Remaining gunners

It was completely surrounded by a five meter walls with loopholes and a three-meter deep and 20 meter wide moat. On each side, there was a gate, guarded by cannons, which was reached via a stone bridge. The four main ports: The south gate called Tien gate; the north is the Hau port, the East main and West main. The North gate and the adjacent wall sections have been restored some time ago. The West and the South Gate have also been preserved, while the gate in the Sast is destroyed. The entrance to the fortress is possible only through the North or the South Gate.

Each port on the top, there is guard floor with only one entrance.

Hundred-year-old trees cover the mossy citadel walls and gates.

Son Tay Ancient Citadel has become a unique military architectural work and cultural historical relic, attracting many tourists. Tourists will surely never forget the image of hundred-year-old trees giving shade all year round and stretching their roots to cover the mossy citadel walls and gates.

Paying a visit to Son Tay, you can connect very well with a journey into the past to the community of Duong Lam which is quite close to the town.

Visiting Tan Trao Historic Site to learn the August 1945 Revolution

Tan Trao, a small valley lying between mountains and jungles in Son Duong District, 40 km from Tuyen Quang Town and 200km from Hanoi, is a historical area - a resistance base before the August 1945 Revolution.

Tan Trao used to be the revolutionary base of Vietnam before the August 1945 Revolution. Today, Tan Trao is not only a historical area but is an attractive destination of Tuyen Quang for tourists in Vietnam travel as well.  

In fact, Tan Trao is a complex of Tan Trao Communal House, Hong Thai Communal House, and a small jungle which used to be living place of Uncle Ho from June to August 1945. Tan Trao used to be a base for resistance before the August 1945 Revolution. It was also place for organizing the National Assembly on August 1945. That period was bearing time of the great policies of Viet Minh as well as a temporary government which was led by President Ho Chi Minh.

At other aspect, Tan Trao is just a small pretty valley which is situated in the area between mountains and jungles in Son Duong District. It is about 40km from Tuyen Quang City and 200km from Hanoi Capital. In order to reach Tan Trao historic site, visitors only need to travel for 80km from Hanoi on National Highway 3 to arrive Thai Nguyen. Next, you continue to travel for 10km to reach Bo Dau. After that, turn left along Highway 37 and travel for more 45km to arrive Son Duong. Finally, turn right for 16km you will reach Tan Trao Historical Site.

The row of romantic bamboo on the way to Na Lua shack house

Coming to Tan Trao, visitors should pay a visit Na Lua shack house where President Ho Chi Minh presented the pledge to win national independence before the national congress.

Na Lua shack house where President Ho Chi Minh lived and worked

This is a small shack house on the mountainside of Na Lua, about 1km from Tan Lap village to the East. Here, on June 4, 1945, President Ho Chi Minh summoned Congress to strengthen the base of revolutionary and established the Liberation Army to prepare for national conference of the Vietnamese Party and Congress.

Other place you should get to is Tan Trao communal house  where on 16-17 August 1945 the National Congress adopted the decision on the general uprising to seize power across the country.

Tan Trao Communal House

In conclusion, Tan Trao Historical Site is an ideal destination for those who like to discover historic sites as well as learn more about history of Vietnam.