Vietnam Holidays » River Delta

Tam Coc is one of the well-known Vietnam travel destinations situated near the city Ninh Bihn of northern Vietnam. Tam Coc, which literally means thre

admin — Sun, 31 Jan 2010 03:00:29 +0000

Tam Coc is one of the well-known Vietnam travel destinations situated near the city Ninh Bihn of northern Vietnam. Tam Coc, which literally means three caves, is one among the best 21 tourist destinations of Vietnam. The area is situated in the Red River Delta, where half of it is a plain and the other half are groups of mountains. The place has amazing natural beauty with a nice landscape of the countryside. Among all other Vietnam travel destinations, the place is the one getting more good reviews in the recent years.

It is advisable that you pay a visit to the place while you are on tour in Vietnam. If you avail a tour to the place, here are the things that you will most likely experience. First, would be the temple of Hoa Lu. This is a small valley surrounded cliffs of limestone formations. There is a historic tomb in one of the cliffs that a tourist can climb to visit. The tomb was built into a solid rock and to reach it, you may have to climb several flights of stairs. The effort will be worth it because you can learn many things from the tomb and you will get to see picture perfect sceneries.

After that, the next destination is Tam Coc, one of the famous Vietnam travel destinations. Here you can enjoy a boat ride along a Halong Bay like scenery. From the boat ride, you will be able to enjoy a scene of rice paddy fields neatly lined up below limestone cliffs. The boat ride will also take you through a cave, which is something spectacular because the boat will be passing under in one of the big limestone cliffs wherein the river flows. You might notice in your both ride the most of the people paddling boats are women. This is because it has been a custom in the place to let women do the boat paddling. The rowboats are just small and can only accommodate two passengers. You can also participate with the paddling if you want to have an experience of it.

You will also meet some residents on their boats selling souvenirs to tourist that pass by. With the accommodating attitude of the local people of Tam Coc and the picturesque sceneries, the place is truly one of the best Vietnam travel destinations. After the boat ride, you can take a small walk around the simple town to learn and see various cultures the place has. Thus, you might want to include Tam Coc in your must see places if you are planning on a visit in Vietnam.

You can also visit other Vietnam travel destinations like the Mekong Delta. It is also advisable to try the local delicacies of Vietnam. This is because the country really has some tasty cuisines that can give you strength to burn throughout the day of your tour. In addition, Vietnam foods are known as the healthy foods. In fact, it was nominated for the world’s healthiest food recently.

By: Andynguyen

Why You Should Plan Your Vietnam Luxury Tour This Summer?

admin — Fri, 22 Jan 2010 19:26:42 +0000

I know you had to work very hard this season to survive from the global recession. You will be feeling much tired and stressed. How will you refresh yourself to energize yourself? Should you go on a luxury tour with your family? Yes, there may be no better idea than this. I will suggest you the world’s best tourist paradise on the earth and this is Vietnam. So you should plan your Vietnam tour for this summer immediately. Why I am suggesting Vietnam luxury tour?

The reason is that there is no better and peaceful country for the luxury tour in the world than Vietnam. A much densely populated country with about 331,688 square kilometre area, Vietnam is a South East Asian country. It has population of approx. 84 million people. The country is surrounded by the long coastline and mountains. This country is best known for its natural beauty and eye-soothing landscapes. That is the reason, I am suggesting you Vietnam luxury tour.

Which places and cities will you like to visit during your Vietnam luxury tour? Hanoi? Yes, how you can forget the capital of this beautiful country. Hanoi a big city of this country is most often called Vietnam’s heart. You will see here many heritages and old buildings. The city has not lost its rich ancient culture despite being the economic centre of the Red River Delta.

You will also like to taste the rich foods of Vietnam during your Vietnam luxury tour. Then the Hue city in the centre of Vietnam should be your favourite place. Here you will have a chance to eat Vietnamese exclusive hot and spicy food. The city has the pride of being capital of Vietnam in ancient times. Whether you believe in religion or not, you can’t resist yourself to visit centuries old temples of Hue.

The second biggest city of Vietnam is its capital, and then which city is biggest? This is Ho Chi Minh in South Vietnam. During your Vietnam luxury tour, you will have a chance to roam in the deltas of Mekong River. This city is also situated in these deltas. Ho Chi Minh is also still known by its old name Saigon. You may also want to use your visit for exploring business possibilities. Then the Saigon is the best place you to enjoy and utilize your Vietnam luxury tour simultaneously. While shopping in Ben Than market do not hesitate for bargaining for your favourite items.

To get the real tranquilly in your Vietnam luxury tour, you should visit beautiful beaches of Nha Trang or Vung Tau city. You may enjoy the pleasure of witnessing the magnificent waterfalls in Cao Bang and mysterious caves at Ha Long. Da Lat is well known for its dense and evergreen mountains and peaceful lakes.

No doubt, Vietnam is the paradise of earth and we can make your Vietnam luxury tour a memorable event. Just check for the tourist packages best suited to you.

By: HopViet Travel

Vietnam Travel – A Truly Exciting Experience

admin — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 12:00:41 +0000

Vietnam is a peaceful country situated in South East of Asia. With a large number of highlands and mountains and an extended coastline from North to South, this marvelous country has features of both- mountain as well as sea attractions. Having the total area of about 331,688 square kilometers, Vietnam is among the thickly populated countries of the world. Traveling in Vietnam can prove to be highly exciting and interesting. Even with a small and affordable budget, tourists can relish the vacation to the most possible extent.

The most popular city in this country is that of Hue. This was the Vietnam’s capital during the feudal system. Hue is also known for its old palaces and temples that date back to numerous centuries ago. It is known for its unique food items. Considered to be the heart of Vietnam, Hanoi is the known capital of the country. This beautiful city is situated in the Red River Delta and is also considered to be an economic centre of the entire delta.

Hanoi is a very cultured city known for its different types of houses, traditions and old streets. Even though, Hanoi is no way behind the latest trend and fashion, its old features and traditions cannot be taken away from this charming city.

Attractive destinations

Apart from the various cities, there are numerous other beautiful towns and attractions that add beauty and charm to the country’s life. The travelers can have a great time visiting the silent and enchanting beaches in the Nha Trang or Vung Tau city.

The peaceful lakes and green mountains with pine forests in the Da Lat, mysterious caves in the Ha Long and waterfalls in the Cao Bang will surely touch the hearts of many a visitors. This is the major reason that tourists choose to plan their vacations in Vietnam.

Vietnam bike tour and cycling trip

There are numerous activities and sports in this magnificent country that the travelers can enjoy. The top of the list among the favorite activities include Vietnam cycling. If you are cycling enthusiast, you should not miss the cycling trip that this country offers. The mind blowing cascading rivers along with the plush landscapes make this country a truly prized possession in the whole world. Travelers should not miss the opportunity of experiencing various attractions of the country on a bike travel.

The Hoan Kiem lake is another top destination of the country that the tourist cannot afford to miss. This charming lake, which is surrounded by the famous Dinh Tien Hoang, Le Thai To, Hang Khay street, offers stimulating experience to the visitors. By getting the Vietnam tour duly booked with a reputed travel agency, the tourists can get the best of the vacation facilities and plans.

The best part about advance booking is that the travelers can save a lot of money by taking advantage of the attractive vacation schemes and discounts that are offered by various travel service providers.

Popular hotels in Vietnam

The most popular and great service offering hotels in the country of Vietnam includes Legend Hotel, Sheraton Ho Chi Minh Hotel, Horison Hotel Hanoi, Imperial Hotel, The Hai Resort, Victoria Sapa Resort and ATC Resort to name a few. So, what are you waiting for? Plan a trip to Vietnam now and enjoy the exciting culture, history and attractions it provides to its visitors.

By: Andynguyen

Mekong Travel

admin — Sun, 03 Jan 2010 14:11:03 +0000

Mekong Travel at www.mekongtours.biz

The Mekong Delta is the bottom half of Vietnam’s two rice baskets, the other being the Red River Delta in the North . This vast delta is formed by the deposition of the multiple tentacles and tributaries of the mighty Mekong River which has its origin in the Tibetan highland plateau 2,800 miles away. From its source, the river makes its way through China, Myanmar (Burma), Laos, Cambodia and South Vietnam before flowing out into the South China Sea. The Mekong’s Vietnamese name, Cuu Long, means Nine Dragons for the nine mouths that terminate the flow of this great river as it is absorbed by the sea.

The people of south Vietnam are often very proud of the richness and vastness of this land. When referring to the rice fields in this area, they often say, “co bay thang canh”, meaning the land is so large that the cranes can stretch their wings as they fly. Today, the region is one of Vietnam’s highest producer of rice crops, vegetables and fruits.

Life On The Mekong

The Mekong Delta was an ancient Khmer territory. The area was mostly marshland and forest. When the Nguyen Lords took control of this region, a series of canals were built and a system of transportation was implemented in the maze of water ways in the area.

The Mekong Delta is divided into 9 provinces: Long An, Tien Giang, Ben Tre, Dong Thap, An Giang, Vinh Long, Kien Giang, Hau Giang and Minh Hai. The people in this region are made up of Vietnamese and some people of Khmer, Chinese and Cham origin. This accounts for the variety of religions that add to the cultural diversity of this area. Among the religions practiced here are: Buddhism, Catholicism, Cao Dai , Hoa Hao and Islam.

The southwest region of Vietnam is known for the vast rice fields and the huge plantations that make up the core of this region’s economy. The region is also known for the many miles of waterways criss-crossing the land making this area both fertile and unique.

Fruit Orchards

The majority of Vietnam’s fruits come from the many orchards of the Mekong Delta. On any given season, one can find a variety of tropical fruits that are produced by farmers of this region in the markets of Saigon, Hue, and Ha Noi.

For many tropical fruits, the season is very short because they cannot be picked green and they don’t last long in storage where they quickly loose their aroma. The greatest variety of fruits is available during the raining season, from June to September in the South.

After they are picked, the fruits are transported on small boats to floating markets where they are sold to wholesale dealers. In the off-season, many orchards become flower nurseries to meet the peak demand for flowers during the new year celebration in the big cities.

The orchards are divided by a myriad of small irrigation canals with delicate bamboo bridges called “Cau Khi” or monkey bridges crossing them.

Life On The River

The people living in the Mekong Delta make their living as farmers and fishermen. Often, they live right on the edge of the rivers or canals on various structures built from whatever materials found. Consequently, the architecture along the delta varies from place to place.

Often, many homes have fisheries right under them. Enterprising individuals build a cage like structure of bamboo beneath their homes on these waterways to house fishes. As the fishes grew, they sell the whole batch to processors from the city and start with new ones.

Life in the delta is tightly woven with its rivers as daily activities and businesses are conducted on its banks. Markets, stores, ship yards, repair shops are some of the more popular trades.

Floating Markets

Floating markets are held every morning from 5:00 to about 11:00. Phung Hiep market is the biggest since it is located at the intersection of 7 major canals. It is also a photographer’s delight because it can be seen above from a bridge. Cai Rang and Phong Dien are two other notable floating markets in the delta.

Boats loaded with produce from nearby orchards of the Mekong Delta converge to the floating market. They carry mostly fruits but also coconuts, vegetables and fishes.

Buyers are local traders with bigger boats snapping everything by the bushels and resell at local markets or to wholesale dealers from big cities, often for a handsome profit.

Large floating markets are not complete without its floating restaurants, floating gas stations and an occasional tour boat filled with tourists.

Snake Industry

Another unique industry in this region is the snake farm in the area of My Tho township. In 1977, Lt. Colonel Tran Van Duoc (Tu Duoc), a reptile enthusiast, created Dong Nam Snake Farm. Initially created strictly as a research site for medicinal uses of reptile venom, Dong Nam Snake Farm today is the largest of its kind in Vietnam. The farm boasts 20 different varieties of venomous snakes and is home to other species such as boas, turtles.

Cobras are often soaked along with herbs in large flasks of whisky which can be bought in the snake market in Phung Hiep. This potent drink reportedly will increase your libido as well as cure all sorts of illnesses. Live snakes are also for sale in the market and are exported to other Asian countries to be used as food and medicine.

In a typical snake full-course meal, the gallbladder is extracted from the freshly-killed snake and together with some blood and whisky a drink is made. The snake is then chopped off and cooked in various ways. Most tourists opt for a curry stir-fried snake dish just for the thrill of it. General comments are “too much bone and no taste!”. More adventurous travelers have reported severe stomach cramps after swallowing down the snake drink.

Source : Mekong Travel – ImPress Vietnam at www.mekongtours.biz

By: mekong travel

Ha Long Bay Experience!

admin — Wed, 30 Dec 2009 19:26:46 +0000

Hanoi – Halong Bay – Hanoi One of the great natural wonders of the world and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Halong Bay covers an area of 1,500 km over which are scattered thousands of limestone islands and grottoes rising from the clear, emerald waters of the Gulf of Bac Bo. Thousands of limestone islands jut out of the sea, sculpted into awe inspiring shapes and surrounded by colourful floating villages; Halong Bay is a truly one of the natural wonders of the world. The perfect way to see this UNESCO World Heritage Site is to spend a night aboard the Emeraude, a replica of one of the grand steamers of the colonial era. The mystical beauty of the bay and its islands is only fully appreciated while cruising among the islands, fjords and inlets. Eat, drink and take romantic walks while cruising amongst the islands. After a night on board wake up to see daylight filtering through the early morning mist and the towering rock formations, leaving a dream-like memory of your visit to Halong Bay. Travel east from Hanoi through the Red River Delta out to the waters of the Gulf of Tonkin where you will board The Emeraude for your overnight cruise. The Emeraude is a luxurious replica of the 1910 paddle steamer of the same name which was offering unforgettable cruises for visitors to what was then French Indochina. Today, the service and ambience reflect the glory of that era as the cabins are meticulously designed to evoke the nostalgic charm of colonial Indochina. With luxurious air-conditioned cabins, a divine restaurant, two bars and a sundeck this is the ultimate Halong Bay experience. Day 1 – Hanoi – Halong Bay (L,D) Depart Hanoi for Halong by road through the rich farmlands of the Red River Delta and the scenery of rice fields, water buffalos and everyday Vietnamese village life. Board The Emeraude and sip on a welcome drink before you begin your cruise through the bay. Feast on a delicious lunch as you cruise among hundreds of islets to discover unspoilt pockets of Halong Bay and visit Sung Sot cave, one of the most imposing grottos of the Bay. Swim or kayak in the turquoise waters or enjoy a Vietnamese cooking demonstration on board the boat. After the sun sets, enjoy a scrumptious international and Vietnamese buffet dinner. The Award Winning film Indochine will be screened on the sundeck should you desire to watch a movie before retiring to your cabin for a good nights sleep. Overnight aboard the Emeraude, Halong Bay. Day 2 – Halong Bay – Hanoi (B) For early risers complimentary tea and coffee are served on the sundeck followed by a Tai Chi class. As you return to Halong City, enjoy a wholesome brunch as your boat weaves through strange-shaped limestone rock formations. ? Arrive back at Emeraude’s exclusive private pier for disembarkation where your driver waits to take you back to your Hanoi. As an optional extra, and according to your flight schedule, your drive back to Hanoi can include various stops in the Red River Delta. Visit one of the oldest pagodas in Vietnam ‘But Thap’, the Bat Trang Pottery village, or a small village where you can watch a traditional water puppet performance. Contact us for further info. Tour Duration: 2 Days / 1 NightTour Operates: Year Round / On DemandTour Price: On request For an accurate quotation please send an Email us Our services include as follows: Private air conditioned vehicle for return transfersHanoi – Halong City. Entrance fees where mentioned Non private boat cruise on Halong Bay from 1200 onday 1 to 1000 on day 2 01 nights’ accommodation on the deluxe Emeraude. Vietnamese buffet lunch and dinner on day 1 & fullAmerican breakfast on day 2. Our services do not include as follows: Drinks, tips and extras. Any service not clearly mentioned in the program. Guide Creating Unique Touring ExperiencesAll the touring itineraries on this website have been carefully crafted by our in-country management teams and represent a series of experiences we can certainly recommend. However, we understand that every travel experience should be as unique and individual as each traveller. Our consultants are waiting to hear from you so that we can tailor or custom design a tour to your individual specifications.