Just 80km away from the happening city of hanoi vietnam, Bac Ninh, with its stunning scenery and peaceful ambiance, is ideal for family-picnics as well as backpacking excursions. One of the most famous heritages of the region is Mao Dien, a village located along the Duong river with long tradition of culture and history.
Mao Dien commune is associated with event that King Ly took land to build the mausoleum and Ly Bat De Temple (also known as Do temple - Dinh Bang, Tu Son, Bac Ninh). The residents living on that land had to move to a new location which is Mao Dien Commune today.
Nowadays, the village still retains the ancient architectural sites and idyllic scenery of a typical Vietnamese village. In your vietravel tour, start a 02 days program, visitors will depart from Ha Noi at 8AM and pay a visit to Bat Trang pottery village, and Dau pagoda. Then, we will go to the market with the host, join cooking and enjoy typical northern foods with the family while listening to family stories, introduction of the ancient Vietnamese architecture. Afternoon, we cycle to visit Dong Ho painting village, But Thap pagoda, and watch people fishing along Duong river. Back to homestay and help the host preparing dinner. Enjoy dinner and listen to Quan Bac Ninh folk music. On the 2nd day, visitors will participate in morning market, buy fruits and raw materials for cooking breakfast.
Every year, the commune has 4 major festivals, including 3 festivals held on February of lunar calendar. The first one is Đoài Festival, held on the date 4; followed by Dong Festival, on date 7. Dam Festival is then operated on date 8 and finally the pagoda festival held on March 1.
To commemorate the ancestors and founders of land, the village holds wrestling competition attracting many skilled wresters in the area. On big festivals, villagers also hold the holy procession ritual from the Dinh Nghe, Giao Hao immolation, and festival games as: Swing, human chess, catching ducks in the pond ...
>> Also see: best things to do in vietnam
(Source: vietnamtourism.info)
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| Cat Cat Village in Sapa, Lao Cai |
Another province in the Northeastern region of Vietnam, Lao Cai adjoins four Vietnam’s provinces Lai Chau, Ha Giang, Yen Bai and Son La. It has a total area of up to 6’383.9 sq. km and a population of 613.1 thousand inhabitants, including major ethnic groups of the country such as Viet (Kinh), H’Mong, Tay, Dao, Thai, etc.
As its location implies, Lao Cai possess a true mountainous yet diverse topography with several valleys lying between hills and mountains. Fansipan – the most famous mountain peak in Vietnam and also the highest peak in the Indochina Peninsula, stands 3’143 m above the sea level. This is one of the most precious treasures of Asia, and one of the most visited attractions in the whole country. There are approximately 107 rivers flowing pass Lao Cai, including Red River (the one that crosses hanoi vietnam), Chay River, and Nam Mu River. Such wondrous terrain also gives the province more than 30 types of mineral among which cooper, iron and apatite are most valuable. Mother Nature also loves this land so much that she gave it an admirable variety of biological treasures: 2000 types of flower, 442 types of bird and animal. Many of them can only be found in Lao Cai and nowhere else in Vietnam, or in the world to be exact.
Lao Cai’s climate can gives you a whole range of feelings: sometimes it is too cold to enjoy the scenery, but most of the time it is dry and cool enough to become one’s frequent getaway. Annual average temperature is about 23oC. Snow is reported to have fallen down during some winter, but they are totally the tropical type of snow! So in a nutshell, the weather can be summarized in two words: chill out! The rains only come between April and September, but they are the mild, romantic tropical rains that are worth looking for.
If you have ever heard about Vietnam tourism, you might have known a little bit about the famed Sa Pa tourism magnet. Yes it is in Lao Cai. But apart from sapa, there are still hundreds of places that can amaze you in this part of Vietnam. If you want something historical, try visiting Muong Hao Valley, Pho Rang vestige, and beautiful caves in Cam Duong or Bac Ha. Those are where you can find pictures, maps, handwritings from centuries ago. If you want to try something else more entertaining, a trekking trip to the villages of the ethnic groups such as Cat Cat Village is an absolutely good idea. No matter which type of person you are, or what resource you have available, there will be something for you to explore in Lao Cai. Visiting Lao Cai is one of the best things to do in vietnam with your journey in Vietnam.
(Source: vietnamonline.com)
You might have heard about Halong bay, the so-called worldwide-famous natural heritage of Vietnam, but you might not know about Ao Chau, a mini version of Halong in Phu Tho Province. This interesting site has been gaining more and more popularity recently. Located 50km away for Phu Tho district and 70km away from Viet Tri city, Ao Chau Pond is nowadays considered as a potential attraction of the land of Hung Kings. Visiting Ao Chau Pond is one of the best things to do in vietnam with your journey.
Ao Chau Pond belongs to Ha Hoa district. This location is totally accessible; you can always go there by car, train or boat, etc., whatever suits you the most. If you choose the train, Ao Chau Pond lies right on the Hanoi- Lao Cai track, which will be expanded in the near future to connect many countries in the regions and Van Nam province of China. On the other hand, if you want to go there by car, national road 2 is always the best choice as it links hanoi vietnam and other Northern Province in vietnam. In case you want to explore another option, you can find boats on the big rivers such as Red River, Da River, Lo River are extremely easy to access.
Ao Chau has a 2 km2 surface area with about 100 islands of different sizes on which a whole spectrum of precious and beautiful plants develops. The highest peak that you can find on these islands is 177m above the sea level. There are also places that are 35m deep and they never run out of water. The water in Ao Chau is always fresh and clean, allowing many types of underwater species such as Golden Turtle, Trionychid turtle, etc. to live and procreate. For the last few years, local people have been growing many types of healthy fruits which make the pond even more beautiful and attractive.
Bac Ninh is renowned as home of Quan Ho, a folk music style of Northern Vietnam, and many festivals that represent Vietnam’s traditional culture. These activities often take place during the Spring Festival, which is usually the period from February to March, creating an influx of visitors from all over the country. Just 80km away from the happening city of hanoi vietnam, Bac Ninh, with its stunning scenery and peaceful ambiance, is ideal for family-picnics as well as backpacking excursions. One of the most famous heritages of the region is Dinh Bang Temple.
Dinh Bang village is best known to be the birthplace of Ly Cong Uan- the Great King who first chose Hanoi as the capital in 1010. Dinh Bang village nowadays still retains much of a country side feel, with relics from Ly dynasty. The temple of the village occupies a central position both physically and spiritually in villagers’ mind. Its architecture reflects typical model of Northern Vietnam pagoda, with Lim wood being used as the main material and no color is added. The temple honours God of Land, God of Water and God of Farm. It is a place where village residents come to show their respect to these Gods, as well as praying for a new fruitful crop.
If tourists in viet nam travel have chance to visit Bac Ninh province, visit Dinh Bang temple is one of the best things to do in vietnam with your journey.
LocationDiscover
sapa in the tracks of the North Vietnam’s colorful hill tribes, a sublime scenery combining jungle, terraced rice paddies and highlands off the beaten track!
Travel in style in board the unique Victoria Express Train with its luxury carriages and stylish restaurant. Enjoy the charming Victoria Sapa Resort, built in a traditional mountain chalet in perfect harmony with the natural surroundings.
>> See more: vietravel guide - best things to do in sapa vietnam
Rooms
¤ Private balcony
¤ Individually controlled air-conditioning
¤ Mini-bar
¤ Individual safe deposit box
¤ Hair dryer
¤ International Direct Dial
¤ Cable television
Facilities
¤ Le Lotus Blanc Spa with various beauty treatments & massages.
¤ Outdoor swimming pool
¤ Children’s wading pool
¤ Crocodile pond
¤ 24 hrs room service
¤ Laundry
¤ Board games, books
¤ Souvenir shop
¤ Business centre
¤ Meeting room facilities (with capacity up to 100 persons)
¤ Wi-Fi available in the public areas (bars, lobby and swimming pool…)
¤ Ta Van Restaurant
¤ Ta Fin Bar
(Source: vietnamparadisetravel.com)
Bun thang (Hanoi chicken vermicelli soup) is another dish closely associated with hanoi vietnam and a must try when visiting the city. It includes chicken, rice vermicelli, clean pork paste or ham, fried egg, onion, salted shrimp and shrimp paste.
Must first be used to fresh water from the protein but not at all sweet and sugar. To this, must boil chickens, pigs bone tunnels, always rolling boil tons, some people stand out and move bubble. Drop string here he dried shrimp. Absolute prohibition of cattle bone will cause smell. Eggs cut slim, slice threadlike gold as a metal species soaked shirt embroidered on the king. Pie soft white silk also slightly pink in just so. Lean chicken meat, brown leg of chicken, white non eel pieces, gold skin, but not in smithereens, it is a combination of colors. To pick up the shrimp as cotton, cotton-called pick up, pick up is not for pork will be long. Add a few dried beet sherry, containing, trees, have strange taste…
Hanoi Chicken Vermicelli Soup (Bún Thang) originally comes from North, but already found a new home in many places in South, esp. in Ho Chi Minh City where has been considered as the largest food hub. People now consider it as the Traditional Vietnamese Food. Easy to find this dish around the city.
