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vietnamtour-blog · 2 years

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Com Muoi: A very unique and special Hue-style delicacy for royalties in Vietnamese cuisine

Hue – the imperial city of Vietnam during the period of the Nguyen dynasty is really famous for its extraordinary cuisine. Com Muoi (or rice with salt) has been one of the most unique dishes of Hue’s traditional food for hundreds years, because of not only its special and attractive appearance but also its delicacy and traditional spirit.

What is the Rice with salt – Com Muoi?

Com Muoi is a regal dish used to be served merely to the members of Vietnamese loyalty in the Nguyen dynasty, especially the Empires.

The table manners of the Nguyen dynasty’s Kings have always been discussed and studied a lot by history researchers. According to them, there were 35 dishes that must be served in each Kings’ meal. Nevertheless, the eating habits of the Kings of Nguyen were quite simple. In other words, the Nguyen Kings occasionally required rare foods, they were passionate about familiar and traditional ingredients like fishes, or porks. In spite of creating from familiar, traditional ingredients, the foods needed to be delicious, unique and prepared meticulously. Kings also ate leisurely, chewed carefully and tried all the food on table to feel and enjoy the tastes of foods. Some Kings, namely Duy Tan and Bao Dai, often invited their wives or trusted mandarins to have meals together, and they were usually talking to each other while they were eating. As a result, royal cooks had created Com Muoi, which is a simple yet delicate meal, to meet the requirements of both the Kings and the royal standard meals.

Rice with salt is a meal in which white rice will be served with numerous kinds of salt. This kind of food would be decorated charmingly. In particular, rice and salt will be chambered in a blue and white porcelain set of dinnerware with an antique appearance Specifically, the bowl of rice must be the biggest one laid in the middle, while the tiny bowls containing salts with many different colors will be set up around. They are all put on a circle golden bronze tray, which makes it look like a flower.

The process of making the Hue’s royal dish: Com Muoi

The process of making Hue’s rice with salt is extremely elegant and complicated.

To cook rice, cooks must choose a special rice named Nang Huong which is grown in the southern area of Hue citadel. This kind of rice is really fragrant, soft and elastic. In fact, the rice must be steamed in an earthen pot put on a wood stove, which asks cooks to keep an eye on the pot carefully to assure that the rice is not over burnt. In the past, when cooking for the Empires, the pot must only be used once, after cooking completely, the pot would be smashed. Furthermore, the water used to cook rice had to be taken from Ham Long well at the foot of Bao Quoc pagoda or on the source of Huong river.

There are over 20 types of salts that can be eaten with rice. moreover, there are several ways for cooks to process salt, such as frying, steaming, blending, or braising, and these kinds of salts are processed from various ingredients. According to the ingredients, salt can be divided into three main groups. Particularly:

Salt from meats: pork salt, goat salt, beef salt, chicken salt

Salt from fishes: anchovy salt, carp salt, catfish salt, goby salt, pomfret salt,… and other aquatic species like shrimp salt, shellfish salt,…

Salt from cereals and fruits: sesame salt, pepper salt, lemongrass salt, spicy salt, galingale salt,…

Each kind of salts will have their own colors depending on the ingredients.

How to eat Com Muoi?

Eating rice with salt is the way that Hue people can express their delicacy.

When you eat Com Muoi, you should try all kinds of salt, accompanied with elastic rice. You should eat slowly, and when you eat, you could feel the slightly salty, sweet or spicy tastes on your tongue, and this feeling would linger in your throat after you swallow.

The habits of choosing salt to make Com Muoi of Hue people are also interesting and elegant. Particularly, they often select various flavors – bitter, sweet, sour, salty and spicy to balance the taste. They also rely on weather to opt for the suitable type of salt. For example, in the rainy weather, they prefer to choose the ones which have salty, sweet and spicy tastes, and oppositely in the summer, they bias the bitter and sour ones made from cereals and fruits.

Com Muoi can also be eaten with other dishes like gio (Vietnamese sausage), fried shrimps, and especially five-color porridge.

The current popularity of Com Muoi

Even if Com Muoi is really unique, in recent years, this cuisine has been sharply faded. The common reasons for this reality are there are more and more kinds of foods appearing, and the way to make com muoi is not taken over by the descendants. Nowadays, there are just a few cooks who can process rice with salt perfectly, and there are also a rare number of restaurants serving this kind of royal food.

Hue’s rice with salt has existed for centuries. This is the sense of tradition living with the last feudal dynasty of Vietnam and becoming the soul of the ancient imperial city’s cuisine, but it has disappeared day by day in modern society. Do not hesitate, let’s travel to the hometown of Com Muoi – The Rice with salt to study about this masterpiece from the expert cooks and spread the images of it to others.

Source: https://blog.evivatour.com/com-muoi-a-very-unique-and-special-hue-style-delicacy-for-royalties-in-vietnamese-cuisine/

#Hue Cuisine #Vietnamese cuisine

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vietnamtour-blog · 2 years

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Markets on highland areas Vietnam

One of the main tourist attractions in Sapa is the abundance of charming local markets held in the district that gather different communities and ethnicities. These colorful and unique markets shoot up when sunrise, displaying a wide range of commodities for sale. People from different ethnic groups come here together to sell their products or buy supplies for the coming week, as well as participate in social and community activities. For travelers, it is a great opportunity to buy souvenirs, as well as meet locals and have genuine cultural experiences with them.

Because all the markets take place on different days of the week, so let’s find out what interests you the most prior to and plan your visit.

Monday: Ban Phiet Market

In Ban Phiet market, most of the stalls belong to the H’mong ethnic group, specifically the white H’mong. The market trading activities usually take place early from the beginning of dawn. Although the scale is relatively small, you will be surprised by its vibrant atmosphere, colors, smells and friendly banter.

Tuesday: Coc Ly Market

Located in a picturesque location near the Chay River, Coc Ly market attracts locals from all over the surrounding areas. At Coc Ly market, you can meet people of many different ethnicities, such as the Hmong, Phu La, Black Dao and Nung, all of whom are identified by their unique costumes.

At the first glance, the market seems to be a whirlwind of chaos and commotion, but upon closer inspection, you’ll realize that it’s extremely well organized. The market is divided into four zones, each displaying a different kind of goods. The textile zone is of particular interest to visitors, as here they can buy traditional ethnic garments as a souvenir. The remaining three areas are divided into produce, livestock, and food/beverage zones, where you’ll have a chance to try some tasty local dishes.

Wednesday: Cao Son Market

This remote market site is located in Moung Khoung district, in the north of Lao Cai. Because of its remote location, rather few foreign travelers visited Cao Son Market. Therefore, when coming here you will get a real experience of the culture here, and don’t be surprised if the locals show excessive interest in you.

The crowds in the market are the Hmong, Phu La, Dao, and Han ethnic groups, who dress in their most beautiful traditional costumes. If you’re interested in trying some local food, you can sit down with the locals to enjoy a hot bowl of Thang Co.

Thusday: Lung Khau Nhin Market

Lung Khau Nhin is further north of Lao Cai than other markets, located just 20km from the Chinese border. Despite being concealed by epic mountains and forest, Lung Khau Nhin market shows the most vibrant and energetic atmosphere every Thursday right from the early morning. Most of the merchants here are H’mong, Nung, Man, and Kin. Its remote location seems like a trouble; however, it’s really a plus point for those who want to truly experience the closest and truest environment of a local market of Vietnamese ethnic minorities which is not extremely affected by travellers. Most of the products which are displayed to exchange here include all the fresh ingredients and animals.

Friday: Chau Market

Chau Market is another excellent example of preserving the local traditions and customs of Sapa. This weekly market is not only a place to buy and sell goods but also seems to be a celebration or festival where the locals can meet and socialize with other villagers.

Saturday: Can Cau Market

Can Cau Market is famous for being the largest water buffalo market in the Northwest of Vietnam. The market is held every Saturday in Si Ma Cai town, where locals from the surrounding areas bring their strongest and biggest buffalo for sale. The market’s characteristic is to emphasize the central role of buffalo in everyday life, which is a strong and healthy animal that can serve a variety of purposes in agriculture.

Therefore, the buffalo trade is a highly lucrative business and helps the animal to be appreciated. All trading is performed by oral agreement, and watching traders examine buffalo is a fascinating experience.

Sunday: Bac Ha, Sapa and Muong Hum Market

Bac Ha Market, held every Sunday, is the biggest and most vibrant market and event of the week. People from Hmong, Phu La, Black Dzao, Tay, and Nung ethnic groups arrive at Bac Ha market to sell all kinds of goods. Anything such as fresh products, foods, medicinal plants, clothes, and jewelry can all be displayed and purchased here.

In particular, Bac Ha market is famous for horse-trading that has become an attractive event here. You will be mesmerized by the market’s lively atmosphere and the sounds of people welcoming àn joking around with friends and family. It is certain that you will feel the market is more like a festival than a regular marketplace.

Source: https://blog.evivatour.com/markets-on-highland-areas-vietnam/

#market

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vietnamtour-blog · 3 years

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Experience: 5 days 4 nights trekking tour in Ha Giang | Blog Eviva Tour

An expedition to discover Vietnamese ethnic minorities and experience the excitement of walking along exquisite paths that you’ll never forget. This trekking journey will take you to the most impressive area of Vietnam. In a 5-day tour, you will explore the colorful local markets of various ethnic communities, walk through soaring mountains, and experience the thrilling paths of Dong Van and Ma Pi Leng Pass.

Day 1: Hanoi – Ha Giang (L / D)

Your tour guide will pick you up from your hotel in Hanoi at around 8 AM. We will set our journey towards Ha Giang via Tuyen Quang, passing countless tea plantations, mountains, and ethnic minority villages along the way.

You will have lunch at a local restaurant in Tuyen Quang before entering Ha Giang in the late afternoon. If time permits, you can explore the town, meet and talk with the locals before having dinner at the local family. The night is spent with the local family of Tay ethic group.

Day 2: Trekking in Ha Giang (B / L / D)

Today you will start your trekking adventure from 6 to 8 hours to Lung Vai village. Along the trip, you can admire the beauty of terraced rice fields, majestic mountains, and serene palm trees. You will also have a chance to meet people of different ethnic groups (such as Man and Dao people) in their daily life, who are generally more than happy to stop and interact with travellers for a short while.

You can enjoy a picnic lunch in the middle of nature before continuing to the remote village Khuoi My. Along the way there will be many farmers working in the fields, and if you have time and interest , you can experience some farming jobs.

Finally, we move to Ban Tha Village, where our driver will pick up and take us to Nam Dam to enjoy a local home-cooked meal and stay overnight at a homestay run by a Dzao family.

Day 3: Quan Ba - Dong Van (B / L / D)

As we depart from Ha Giang after having a permit from the immigration office, your prolonged journey to Dong Van will be filled with breathtaking landscapes. En route you will stop for lunch at the small and beautiful mountain village of Tam Son, before heading to the majestic “King of the H’mong Palace”, a fortress built by a local chief, Vuong Chin Duc, who allied himself with French forces against the Viet Minh. Built in the 1900’s, this palace was designed in the style of ancient Chinese architecture dating to the Qing era, and it was made from materials such as solid stone blocks, wood and terracotta tiles.

You will stop for lunch in the mountain town of Dong Van, before heading out on a 3.5 hour trek to the highest mountain in Dong Van where you can enjoy some truly breath-taking panoramic views. We’ll also visit H’mong, Lo Lo and Giay ethnic villages in this incredible, untouched frontier region.

At the end of the day, you will be transferred back to Dong Van for dinner and overnight stay at the hotel.

Day 4: Dong Van – Meo Vac – Ha Giang (B / L / D)

After breakfast, you will explore Dong Van Old Quarter then move to the next stop of the Pu Lo fortress built in 1890 and evacuated in 1945. From here you can enjoy spectacular views of the entire region, before climbing 15 km to the top of Ma Pi Leng Pass, through a gigantic maze of limestone peaks, stone forests, and canyons before descending into the valley of Meo Vac. Once the trekking is done, you will be driven back to Ha Giang for dinner and an overnight stay in a hotel.

Day 5: Ha Giang – Hanoi (B / L)

On the final day of the tour, we will take you to a less traveled route back to Hanoi. On this route, the locals here are likely to be mesmerized by your presence as the area has welcomed very few foreign tourists. So this is a great time to interact with the locals and learn about their culture.

Before reaching Hanoi, we will stop at Duong Lam ancient Village, where you can catch the sight of centuries-old houses. Lastly, we will take you to your hotel in Hanoi after stopping for lunch at a local restaurant along the way.

Source: https://blog.evivatour.com/experience-5-days-4-nights-trekking-tour-in-ha-giang-blog-eviva-tour/

#Ha Giang #trekking

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vietnamtour-blog · 3 years

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Trekking in Sapa: Things you need to know

Sapa, a misty town in Lao Cai province, is one of Vietnam’s most astonishing destinations. Resting at the foothills of the country’s highest mountain, the town overlooks a vast green valley covered in terraced fields. Hiking and trekking are popular activities and the landscape is surrounded by a network of trails. A highlight of any Sapa tour is encountering local residents in nearby villages who are very friendly and sociable.

When should you go on a Sapa Trek?

While there are pros and cons to traveling in each season, the ideal weather for trekking is spring and autumn. Summer should be avoided as trails become muddy and unsafe.

Spring – March to May are idyllic months for trekking in Sapa. The weather is warm and dry, wildflowers — including orchids — are blooming beautifully, and farmers are plowing the terraces.

Summer – June to August is not the best time to go trekking in Sapa, unless you are a true adventurer or ready to prepare for anything! Although the landscape is lush and green, the weather is hot with high humidity and trails are slippery.

Autumn – September and October is the best time for Sapa Trekking Tours. The weather is dry and cool, the charming terraced fields are turning golden and farmers are starting to harvest early.

Winter – November till February next year is winter time in Sapa. In spite of the cold weather, this might be a good time to visit with fewer tourists coming here. The overnight temperatures can drop below 0 degrees and there can be frost and snow. The landscape of this time, with mist, obscured the view and covered entire villages.

How long should you spend in Sapa?

Sapa town in Lao Cai province is nestled on hills and terraced fields.

As we can see, there is quite a bit of activity in Sapa even if you only have one day. Walk through the rice terraces, admire the local houses, and walk around a nearby village like Cat Cat. It is also possible to complete the journey up Mount Fansipan in a day (and take the cable car down) if you are an experienced trekker.

However, we recommend that you should spend 2 or 3 days on a trek in Sapa. In 2 days, you can explore the further villages such as Ta Van and Ban Ho. Overnight at a homestay and get to know a local family. You can also climb Mount Fansipan at an easier speed and stay overnight at one of the rest stops on the mountain.

With three days or more, you can completely avoid the touristic trails, visit remote villages like Nha Khoang and Ta Giang Phinh and stay with the locals along the way.

Moving from Hanoi to Sapa

While you can always hire a car and a driver to take you to Sapa if you can afford it, the most common way to reach the town is by train and by bus.

Train: Trains, including Victoria Express, Sapaly Express, and King Express leave Hanoi every weekday evening, arriving in Lao Cai early the next morning. Tickets cost from 27 USD to 145 USD one way.

Sleep bus: A popular alternative to trains is a sleeping bus, with reclining seats. Several different bus companies operate between Hanoi and Sapa. Fares can be as low as 12 USD one way. Departure time: 22:00.

Day Bus: Traveling to Sapa by day bus is the best means of transport nowaday. The estimated total trip time is 5 hours with a distance of 345km for Business Class Limousine Bus or Flatbed Bus. The fare is reasonable with a cost of 12-15 USD, only half that of going by train. Departure time: 07:00 or 07:30 am.

The highlight of a Sapa Trekking trip

Meet the local peoples: An important reason for trekking in Sapa is to discover the villages hidden in the hills and valleys surrounding the town. These isolated villages, some of which have traditional stilt houses, are inhabited by communities of different ethnic groups, including the Black H’mong, Red Dao, and Tay, who create vibrant woven and embroidered clothing.

Climbing to Mount Fansipan: Many tourists in Sapa set themselves the challenge of conquering Mount Fansipan – the highest mountain in Vietnam at an altitude of 3143 meters. After climbing through the jungle, you will be able to see the panoramic view of Hoang Lien Son mountain range.

Visit the waterfall: Go through one of Sapa’s beautiful waterfalls and admire the waterfalls nestled among the mountains. Love Fall (Thac Tinh yeu) is located just 14km from the town, Silver Fall (Thac Bac) on the slopes of San Sai Ho and Tien Sa Waterfall in Cat Cat are among the popular places to visit.

Visit a local market: Another highlight of a trip to Sapa is visiting an ethnic market. The locals, dressed in bright traditional clothes, sell everything from pears and plums to bath herbs and even live buffalo. You can find affordable brocade skirts and bags, silver jewelry, and cotton and hemp clothing to take back to your home country.

Learn to cook local cuisine: Many homestays, hotels and restaurants in and around Sapa have cooking classes where you can learn about the cuisine of local peoples and how to make your own special food. Often these classes will include a fun trip to the local market to buy groceries.

Learn about local handicrafts: Some villages allow tourists to watch locals at work creating beautiful textiles.

Things you need to know

Planning is essential if you want a smooth Trekking trip in Sapa. Therefore, it is recommended that you read our top tips.

Bring suitable outfits: The weather in the mountains of Sapa can change at any time, sudden downpours are very common. Many trips will depart even when it rains, so it’s a good idea to pack waterproof jackets and hiking shoes with good grip. If traveling in winter, bring warm coats.

Hire a tour guide: Any trekking trip to Sapa should be accompanied a guide who knows the local topography and language. Hiking without a guide is not recommended, especially on difficult routes like Mount Fansipan. If you book in advance, you will have a guide, but if not, you can also find them in town.

Locals will try to sell you their handicrafts: Locals may try to sell you souvenirs during your travels. Be polite and firm if you don’t want to buy anything. Locals may also expect a dollar or more each time you take their photo.

Bring some cash: Most tourist attractions like ethnic villages and waterfalls will charge entrance fees, so it’s best to bring a small amount of cash, unless you’re sure that the entrance fees are included in the price of your trip.

Trekking in Sapa is a highlight of any trip to Vietnam. This exotic destination is increasingly known to many tourists, so go now – before the rest of the world finds out.

Source: https://blog.evivatour.com/trekking-in-sapa-things-you-need-to-know/

#Hiking #trekking

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vietnamtour-blog · 3 years

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About 10 must-try tropical fruits of Vietnam

The first type I want to recommend is Lychee. Lychee has long become a favorite fruit because of its sweet taste and attractive aroma. The lychee has a slightly rough, thin, bright red skin, the inside is a thick white pulp compared to other fabrics, the seeds are small. May of the Lunar calendar is lychee season. In Vietnam, the most delicious lychee can be found in Bac Giang (vai thieu Luc Ngan) and Hai Duong (vai thieu Thanh Ha).

The second is Durian. Durians are referred to as “The king of fruit,” probably because of their fierce look and the aroma that, according to many Westerners, is the most terrible smell in the world. Durian has a very unique and characteristic scent, “Smells like hell and tastes like heaven”. Durian has the dense fragrance which spreads near and far, lingers a long time before disappearing. At first, you may find durians smell extremely unpleasant. Then if you can eat it. You will love it. Sweet, a little greasy like butter. The season of Durian is from May to September. In Vietnam, you can find and enjoy the best durian in Ben Tre.

The third is Pomelo. It has a delicious taste, characteristic sweetness, succulent grapefruit segments, and few seeds. In Vietnam, the most famous are Nam Roi pomelo and Da Xanh pomelo. The Pomelos have sweet taste, strong flavour and a little sour and bitter scent.

Grapefruit season ripens from August to December every year. You can easily find round, thick-skinned, succulent pomelos in the Mekong Delta provinces.

The fourth is Dragon Fruit. It tastes is succulent, with a slightly sour note, but a little sweet at the same time. The time when there are many dragon fruits and when the dragon fruit is the most delicious is October, November, April and May. Binh Thuan province is said to be the dragon fruit kingdom because it has the best climate for this fruit to grow.

The fifth is Plums. In the Northwest mountains of Vietnam, there is a special type of plum called Tam Hoa plum. This type of plum when ripe has a dark purple to black color, round fruit shape, when eaten, has a sweet taste mixed with a slight sour taste, maybe mixed with a bit of acrid taste, and small seeds inside. The plum’s season is from April to late May.

The sixth is Grapes. Vietnam has quite famous Ninh Thuan grapes, while grapes also have many different varieties, but the land of Ninh Thuan seems to be extremely suitable for growing grapes. Grapes here are often divided into 2 types of green grapes and red grapes, they often have a mild sour taste mixed with sweet taste, with seeds inside and surrounded by a very thin skin. It is the unique taste and characteristics of Ninh Thuan that have created the attraction for grapes grown here. The grapes’ season is April, August and December.

The seventh is Mango. The mango fruit has a slightly rounded shape with an oval shape mainly, the outer shell is golden, smooth and shiny, when smelling, it has a gentle and attractive aroma. Mangoes when ripe have a sweet taste, depending on the type, the sweetness can vary from sweet to dark. The mangoes’ season is April and May. In Vietnam, you can find mangoes in the Mekong Delta region.

The eighth is Bananas. Bananas do not seem to be too strange fruits, but in Vietnam, bananas seem to become very diverse with many varieties, making a difference in shape and flavor. In Vietnam, there is a special type of banana called Chuoi Tieu Hong. Bananas are harvested all year round and are concentrated in summer and the last months of the year, near Tet holiday. Bananas have a sweet taste, easy to eat. Bananas are grown in all provinces of Vietnam.

The ninth is Tangerines. The most famous is tangerine with natural sweetness. It grows in Tra Vinh province and you can buy them easily anywhere in Vietnam. Nowadays, we can buy and eat tangerines all year round, not like in the past, only on Tet holiday.

The last is Sapodilla. As an indispensable feature in the list of specialty fruits of Vietnam, sapodilla is sweet, soft and delicious, when smelling mild, the outer shell is a bit rough but very thin, the inside has 1-2 flat seeds. Siamese persimmon is grown in many provinces across Vietnam, but the most delicious is still in Tien riverside communes such as Tam Binh, My Long (Cai Lay district), Kim Son, Ban Long, Phu Long, Song Thuan (Chau Thanh district). Sapodilla is now harvested all year round and can be easily purchased at any market or supermarket in the territory of Vietnam.

Summary, Vietnam has a lot of fruits, all kinds are rich and diverse, and can serve the needs of everyone, with different fruits and flavors.

Source: https://blog.evivatour.com/about-10-must-try-tropical-fruits-of-vietnam/

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vietnamtour-blog · 3 years

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3 days 2 nights trekking adventure to Hoang Su Phi

This 3-day trekking adventure to Hoang Su Phi brings you to the untouch beauty of Thong Nguyen commune which is inhabited by the Dao ethnic minority group. The trek is moderate and the scenery is diversified including mountains, tea plantations, terraced rice fields and forests. Accomodation is at the Dao home overlooking these spectacular landscapes.

Since this is an adventure tour aimed at providing an authentic Vietnamese countryside experience, you might get the impression that the homestay is quite rudimentary in terms of facilities. But it is nonetheless comfortable and this Spartan living condition is a part of experience.

Day 1: Hanoi – Hoang Su Phi (L / D)

Our tour guide will pick you up at 8:00 A.M from your hotel in Hanoi and take you along Route 2 heading northeast towards Ha Giang. On the way, we will pass through many scenic spots such as Tam Dao (Vinh Phuc) and Tuyen Quang. When we reach Tuyen Quang city, we will go along Lo river as the roadside is embellished with grapefruit, tangerine, and orange plantations throughout Viet Quang town.

Here, we will enjoy a local lunch from a street vendor before navigating into small roads that meander through the hilly terrain, and finally reaching a homestay run by a local Dzao family by mid-afternoon. Here, you’ll have free time to explore the fresh and restful village atmosphere, or simply spend the rest of the day relaxing and enjoying a local dinner by the gracious Dzao host.

Day 2: Whole day hiking at Hoang Su Phi (B / L / D)

After waking up and enjoying a home-cooked breakfast, we will set out on a 6-7 hours walk to explore villages situated on high altitude in the mountains around Thong Nguyen. It takes us about half an hour before immersing into upland spaces of lush forests, tea plantations, terraced rice fields, and majestic mountain slopes. During our walk, we will encounter lots of ingenious people along the way and stop for lunch with another local family.

We will arrive back at the homestay in the mid- afternoon. Then it will be free time before dinner and overnight stay at the local family.

Day 3: Hoang Su Phi – Hanoi (B / L)

On the last day of the tour, we have the last breakfast with the host family, then we head back to the car and return to Hanoi. There will be a stop for a break and lunchtime on the way. You will be back to your hotel safely in the early evening. It’s time to say goodbye to our tour guide, driver, and your group.

Source: https://blog.evivatour.com/3-days-2-nights-trekking-adventure-to-hoang-su-phi/

#Hong Su Phi #trekking

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vietnamtour-blog · 3 years

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5 Best Nail Salons in Hanoi Old Quarter

Amidst a myriad of fine nail salons and spas including nail services in Hanoi, choosing a suitable one can be a tough decision. Spend a few minutes to check out the list of some prominent nail rooms below to exactly know where to go to have a soothing manicure/pedicure experience.

Top 5 Nail Salons in Ho Chi Minh City

1. Lemongrass Hanoi Spa & Nails

The latest addition to Hanoi’s nail care spectacle is the highly recommended one! The nail room is located on Au Trieu Street, just in the back of St. Joseph’s Cathedral, and offers tranquility beyond the hustle and bustle of Hanoi. The spa uses unique CND products that suit even babies and pregnant women.

The price is also affordable in comparison with the value it brings: basic manicure/pedicure (using 8 step treatments) is only 100.000 VND (about 4.5$) with colors in addition. Besides nail service, the nail room has foot massage, body massage, and skincare. The place itself is definitely a lovely place to see.

Address: 3 Au Trieu, Hoan Kiem District, Hanoi.

Website: lemongrasshanoispa.com

2. Garden Nails

Being one of the most luxurious all in one nail shops in Hanoi, Garden Nail Salon and Spa is dominated by its nail care and other spa services. For gel manicure/pedicure, which costs 10$, the spa only works with non-toxic gels imported from the USA. Meanwhile, you can get a perfect nail shape and colorful artwork applied to your nail art for 20$. It is noticeable that the spa also provides additional services such as professional waxing, arm massage, foot massage as well as classic eye extension for 10 – 20$.

Address: 50 Dao Duy Tu, Hoan Kiem District, Hanoi.

3. Orient Central Spa

If you are into intricate nail art, then look no further than Orient Central Spa, a daytime nail & spa boutique. This day spa and nails boutique place is loved by many travelers for its indulgent, blissfully affordable manicure and pedicure treatments.

Relax in a soothing environment while the professional staff gently pushes your cuticles and polish your nails. Gel manicure/ pedicure service (220,000 VND) is a good choice for beautiful, long-lasting manis. Meanwhile, for a long, spiky and mega-detailed nail, pick OPI coloring service which costs only 150,000 VND for basic manicure/ pedicure with color of your choice.

Address: 2nd floor, 42 Hang Trong, Hoan Kiem District, Hanoi.

Website: https://www.orientcentral.com/

4. LaLa Nail Studio

LaLa Nail Studio is the best destination for nail art that fascinates all first-time customers. Nail shop provides a relaxing manicure/pedicure service by using CND’s top brand products. After taking care of cuticles and nail repair, your nails are painted with special CND Creative Play polish (for the 1-week duration), CND Vinvlux (for more than 1-week duration), or CND Shellac (for 2 weeks duration). Also, LaLa Nail Studio offers other skincare services such as exfoliant (scrub) & waxing (for 200.000 VND), calluses treatment using CND Heel Therapy Callus Sm (250.000 VND), foot massage using CND Spapedicure Marine (300.000 VND).

Address: 2nd floor, 212B Hang Bong, Hoan Kiem District, Hanoi.

Website: facebook.com/LALANailStudio/

5. The Bamboo

Practically, every manicure and pedicure imaginable is available at this foreigner-friendly nail salon and spa. From classic manicure/ pedicure to color change and take off with gel, this place has it all. Gelish manicure including cuticle care, nail repair and painting costs you from only 120,000 VND while the deluxe manicure in 75 minutes is priced reasonably at 390,000 VND. Once, you’ve done with your treatment, look further for one-of-a-kind enhancements such as glitter, nail art stamp, fake nail and nail stone.

Address: 23 Hang Non, Hoan Kiem District, Hanoi.

Website: bamboohanoi.com

Source: https://blog.evivatour.com/5-best-nail-salons-in-hanoi-old-quarter/

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vietnamtour-blog · 3 years

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Nha Trang Weather – Nha Trang Climate information

The weather in Nha Trang is usually warm and humid in the first eight months of the year. Located on the southern coast of Vietnam, Nha Trang – the capital of Khanh Hoa is well-known as a wonderful place for sunbathing and water activities. It has 6km of sandy beach with clear water, surrounded by quiet islands.

Visiting Nha Trang: 5 exhilarating activities this summer

There are two main distinct seasons, including monsoon from September to December and dry seasons from January to August. The moderate temperature is truly ideal for travelling. The average lowest temperature is 18° C and the highest is 30° C.

Summer usually starts from early May to early August. The weather here is warm with little rainfall, an ideal condition for relaxing on the beach, long trekking, and some water activities. Meanwhile, July and August are estimated as the hottest months here. You should make a good plan for your holiday before the end of June if you do not wish to experience the scorching heat of this place.

One ideal place for visiting if you spend your trip in summer, Hon Ba Nature Reserve, is within 2 hours from Nha Trang city. It has a mountain at a height of 1,578m above the sea. The main reason for a cool climate around the year, making it a perfect destination for hiding from the summer heat.

The best time to visit Nha Trang

The best time to travel to Nha Trang is between February and May with the average the temperature of 26 – 27° C. If you are a diving enthusiast, you can come to Nha Trang in its peak dive season which lasts from January to October. Also it is said that the best time for enjoying clear water coral-rich dive sites is from April to August, when rainfall is at its lowest level.

Rainy Season in Nha Trang

The annual monsoon period is between September and December, when a heavy rainfall can lead to rather violent thunderstorms and typhoons. At this time price on accommodation is much lower. Keep in mind, if you’re traveling to Nha Trang during this time of the year, be aware of the higher possibility of rain.

Source: https://blog.evivatour.com/nha-trang-weather-nha-trang-climate-information/

#Nha Trang #weather

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vietnamtour-blog · 3 years

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Travel Guide to Vietnam for Singapore tourists

If you are Singaporeans or foreigners living in Singapore, you would not miss the chance to visit Vietnam. There are at least 5 main reasons,

There are many direct flights every day from Singapore to all of the big cities in Vietnam.

The flight time of only 1.5 – 3 hours properly matches with family tourism or relaxing weekends.

Transport costs are reasonable in general and even a 3-day traveling trip can be less costly than the food and beverage experience in your hometown.

Vietnam has green mountains and blue oceans and even more (as Ha Long Bay) will bring to you a fantastic holiday.

The luxurious resorts and the wonderful king of food will be waiting for you if you need a little breeze for your routine.

How to travel to Vietnam?

Singapore and Vietnam are greatly connected by a lot of airlines:

Singapore Airlines to both Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh city

Vietnam Airlines to Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City and Phu Quoc

Tiger Air provides big promotions of airfares from $ 89 for one return ticket.

How to know the length of a Vietnam trip is acceptable?

We recommend that you need at least 1 month to explore this country. You should divide your journey into smaller trips because the distance between Vietnam and Singapore is quite short. For beginners visiting Vietnam for the first time, these guides below might be useful

Hanoi – Halong Bay 4D3N:

Visit the capital and spend 3 days and 2 nights to make an excursion on Halong Bay with crystal-clear water. Imagine waking up in the middle of caves and jungle, you will feel overwhelming by the beauty of this World heritage site.

Hanoi – Sapa 3D4N

Sapa is an ideal destination for the weekend holiday. You can catch a flight to Hanoi in the afternoon, then take a night train to Sapa and stay there for 2 days before returning to Hanoi by the night train to prepare for the flight the next morning.

Types of traveling: Funicular, trekking on the mountain, tribal hills, and colonial architecture…

Danang – Hoian 4D3N

About half an hour from Hoian, Ancient town Danang is well-known for magnificent beaches creating the perfect combination of relaxing and exploring the local culture. Types of traveling: beaches, relaxing, ancient city, culture.

Ho Chi Minh – Mekong River Delta 4D3N

Ho Chi Minh city is about 1,5 hours from Singapore and the same weather does not make you feel shocked. It takes about 3-4 hours to drive from Mekong River Delta to floating markets and boats transporting coconuts that you have never seen in Singapore city.

Types of traveling: local life, shopping, floating markets.

Visa and immigration:

Citizens Singapore (having valid passport) are exempted for a stay of maximum 1 month in Vietnam. Other nationalities can easily apply for a visa at the Vietnam embassy in Singapore or apply for a visa on arrival or e-visa.

Vietnam embassy in Singapore

Address: Leedon Park St., SINGAPORE 267887

Telephone number: 64625938 (Protocols and administration)/ 64625994 (Consulate)

Fax: 64689863 (Protocols and administration)/ 64625936 (Consulate)

Website: www.vietnameprisy-singapore.org

Source: https://blog.evivatour.com/travel-guide-to-vietnam-for-singapore-tourists/

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vietnamtour-blog · 3 years

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Top 4 Cable Car in Vietnam - The best spots to get incredible views of Vietnam

Vietnam has majestic and poetic landscapes from the high. That is the reason why Vietnam owns many cable railways from North to South serving travelers to reach the top of famous mountains such as Fansipan, Ba Na Hill, Ba Den, and Hon Thom to admire the picturesque scenes.

Sitting on the cable car, you can observe the breath-taking view of mountains and oceans, also take a lot of stunning pictures.

Fansipan Cable Car (Lao Cai province)

Long coined as “Roof of Indochina,” Fansipan is at a height of 3,143m above sea level. Throughout the trip, you will contemplate the beauty of the Muong Hoa Valley and other extraordinary natural views. The round-trip ticket is about 550,000 to 750,000VND (children with a height below 1m are free of charge).

To reach the Cable Car station from Sapa center, you can take the Muong Hoa train, which costs 100,000VND/ride. Sitting in the cable car in the early morning, you will admire the dense mist and a cloudy sky that is stunning.

Besides, after the end of the Cable Car trip, you have to climb more than 600 stairs to reach the top of Fansipan.

Ba Na Hills Cable Car (Da Nang city)

Ba Na Hills is one of the most famous and attractive destination in Danang. To get there, take the Cable car with a length of over 5km, which can carry about 30-35 passengers/cabin. The round-trip will cost around 350,000 – 750,000VND. Also, children below 1m high are free of charge.

The Cable Car route will carry you to cross over primitive forests and poetic streams. Keep in mind that the station has many different paths, you should research the routes in advance to avoid the wrong point of the up and down ways.

Ba Den Cable Car (Tay Ninh province)

Ba Den Mountain is the highest mountain in the Southeast region, which is not too far from Ho Chi Minh city. It is the ideal place for those who love trakking. In case you have not much time, you can reach the top by Cable Car, which contains two routes to Van Son station and Ba Den pagoda and cost around 100,000 – 400,000VND for a round-trip.

Through the transparent glass of the Cable car, you can admire Ba Den mountain, which is at a height of near 1,000m above sea level, and peaceful green fields far away.

Hon Thom Cable Car (Kien Giang Province)

Hon Thom Cable Car is invested to build in An Thoi archipelago, Southern of Phu Quoc, Kien Giang, which has a length of 7,9 km and can carry a maximum of 30 passengers. Departing from An Thoi Station, a Cable car will take you to cross over Hon Dua Island and stop at Hon Thom Island. Traveling on the Hon Thom Cable Car, you can enjoy not only massive forests but also fully appreciate the paradise-like beauty of tropical gem island.

Moreover, Hon Thom Cable Car is known as the title of “The world’s longest 3-wire sea cable car” by Guinness World Records. An Thoi Station is like a Colosseum where you can take some great photos.

The ticket price is about 200,000 – 400,000VND/ person for a two-way route.

(Source: https://zingnews.vn/)

Source: https://blog.evivatour.com/top-4-cable-car-in-vietnam-the-best-spots-to-get-incredible-views-of-vietnam/

#Cable Car in Vietnam

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vietnamtour-blog · 3 years

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15 days in Vietnam – Where to go

What is your travel plan in Vietnam? Is it a long journey from North to South to explore the charm of nature, cultures, histories, as well as the life of Vietnamese people?

Vietnam has more than 3000 km of coastline, tropical lowlands, hills, and densely forested. Therefore, this S-shaped country has a wide range of choices for you. You can pick whatever you one, no matter what your travel interests, physical conditions and budget are. We hope that, with suggestions below, you will have a chance to discover the spectacular beauty of Vietnam, from the Mekong Delta, to famous cities such as Da Lat, Nha Trang, Hue, and Hanoi.

Throughout your trip 15 days in Vietnam, we highly recommend you spend a night in each city to chillax and experience the way of living in each region. Please do not forget checking the visa requirement based on your nationality and travel duration to ensure you have a smooth trip.

The first four days: Hanoi – Ninh Binh – Thanh Hoa – Vinh

Coming to Hanoi, you should stroll around iconic attractions such as Hoan Kiem Lake, Ngoc Son Temple, One Pillar Pagoda, Thang Long Imperial Citadel, Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, Ho Chi Minh Stilt House, and Hanoi Old Quarter. Besides, the true essence of Hanoi is reflected well in its cuisines. Try to taste the signature food as Pho (noodle soup with beef), West Lake Shrimp cake, Ngu Xa Spring rolls, La Vong Grilled fish, Thanh Tri stuffed pancake.

After the Hanoi trip, you can visit some popular destinations in Ninh Binh, including Tam Coc – Bich Dong wish sheer mountains on paddy fields, Bai Dinh Temple – a complex of Buddhist temples holding many records of Asia, Hoa Lu Ancient Capital – the place for the King, Trang An Scenic Landscape Complex – An UNESCO Heritage. This place is also known for its signature cuisines (e.g. underdone goat, Yen Mac pork, Tube wine of Nho Quan, and Lai Thanh).

Trang An, Ninh Binh

Coming up next is Thanh Hoa – Vinh, the home to talented people, famous delicacy – Nem Chua (Vietnamese fermented pork roll), and many magnificent beaches, including Sam Son and Hai Hoa. Besides enjoying signature dishes such as Eel Rice gruel, sesame rice crackers, and oranges, there are some lovely spots in Vinh city recommended for you: Lam River, Phao Bridge, Ben Thuy Bridge.

Day 5 – 7: Quang Binh – Hue – Da Nang

People remember Hue for its ancient capital with golden palaces, classical temples, grave tombs, old places of worship, a complex of folk Imperial City and mausoleum’s architecture. Yet they are just one of many reasons to visit this lovely, peaceful city.

Morning on Da Nang beach. Photo: Da Nang FantasiCity

From Hue, you will have a 4 hour drive to Dong Hoi city (Quang Binh province). Here it has sun-drenched beaches stretching for over 10km, many historical sites such as Tam Toa Church, Nhat Le beach, Quang Binh Quan, Dong Hoi Citadel. What you should not miss is Phong Nha – Ke Bang National Park and the world’s largest natural cave – Son Doong.

Following the day trip in Quang Binh, Da Nang is the next destination.

Day 8 – 10: Da Nang – Quang Ngai – Quy Nhon

Let’s go to beach cities where Quy Nhon and Da Nang are the most outstanding ones.

Quy Nhon, Binh Dinh

Nominated as the most peaceful city in Vietnam, Da Nang has long been famous for its beauty spots, friendly people. Coming to Da Nang, you will admire the majestic Han River view, Thuan Phuoc, Rong, Tran Thi Ly Bridge, white sandy beaches as well as experience the heaven for foodies.

Located in the South Central Coast area, Quang Ngai province is an ideal destination for couples and families with wild landscapes that make you feel like you are immersed in romantic nature.

Beaches with pristine waters, long white sandy patches, cliffs… all these are tourist attractions in Quy Nhon. Traveling to Quy Nhon city, you should visit places like Twin Cham Tower – one of the artistic Old Cham people heritages, Thi Nai Bridge – the longest cross-sea bridge of Quy Nhon, and Phuong Mai Peninsula.

Day 10 – 15: Tuy Hoa – Nha Trang – Phan Rang – Phan Thiet – Vung Tau – Sai Gon

All of the above destinations are popular beach cities, so you can easily find accommodation, and explore a beautiful spot in each one. Besides, it is strongly recommended to eat delectable local food.

Stopping at Vung Tau, you should not miss the chance to sea-bath at Front and Back Beaches, visit Lady Buddha Statue and White Palace.

In Phan Thiet, take a visit to famous attractions such as Duc Thanh school, Van Thuy Tu Temple, Bai Rang beach, Lagi Town… Furthermore, while being in Nha Trang, come to Dam Market, Museum of Oceanography, Bao Dai Villa. In Tuy Hoa (Phu Yen province), you should pop by Thap Nhan (Cham brick Tower), Phu Yen War Memorial, Chop Chai Mountain.

Traveling to Phan Rang (Ninh Thuan province), do not miss exploring Cham cultural beauty through famous sights such as Poklong Garai Tower, Bau Truc Pottery Village, My Nghiep brocade weaving village, Ba Moi garden, and Vinh Hy Bay.

The distance between either Vung Tau and Phan Tiet or Phan Thiet and Nha Trang has a panoramic view of the white sanded, crystal clear oceans.

Hope this Vietnam 15 days journey would be valuable to you. Have a good trip and let us know in case you need any support for your coming trip to Vietnam!

Source: https://blog.evivatour.com/15-days-in-vietnam-where-to-go/

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vietnamtour-blog · 3 years

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Discover 3 global geoparks in Vietnam

Do you want to explore natural wonders that boast magnificent beauty and contain traces of the Earth’s developmental history? These three global geoparks recognized by UNESCO are your answer.

Impressive natural beauty as they are, these landmarks also attract visitors with unique traditional cultural identities of the local community and diverse local specialties.

1. Dong Van Karst Plateau Geopark (Ha Giang)

On October 3rd, 2010, Dong Van Karst Plateau became the first global geopark in Vietnam and the second one in Southeast Asia. It was re-recognized by UNESCO in 2019 as a member of the Global Geopark Network in the period 2015 – 2018 and 2019 – 2022.

Stretching across four districts (Quan Ba, Yen Minh, Dong Van, and Meo Vac), Dong Van Karst Plateau geopark is the must-visit destination in Ha Giang. Dating back to the Cambrian period, this geopark has gone through 7 different geological periods with traces left in paleontological, stratigraphy, geomorphology, karst, caves, etc.

While traveling there, you will have a chance to immerse yourself in the daily routine of ethnic minorities surrounded by the scenic beauty of nature. Here, the community of 17 ethnic groups such as Mong, Dao, Tay, Lolo, Nung… in Dong Van mountainous area still retain their own unique traditional cultural values with many interesting customs for you to explore.

Last but not least, what you should not miss here is the Route of Happiness (Con Đường Hạnh Phúc) and Tu San Canyon. The Route of Happiness is the one that connects 4 states in Ha Giang, namely Quan Ba, Yen Minh, Dong Van, and Meo Vac. Thanks to this Route, civilization has been brought to Ha Giang. 66 young people have sacrificed, but it was worth it. Standing from here, you can overlook Tu San Canyon from far away. This is the deepest canyon in Southeast Asia, with a cliff depth of more than 700 m rising up from the jade green Nho Que River.

Photo: Mai Phương, Cherry_kim93.

2. Non Nuoc Cao Bang Geopark (Cao Bang)

Interestingly, the global geopark Non Nuoc Cao Bang covers almost half of Cao Bang Province’s territory. This site was officially recognized by UNESCO as a global geopark in April 2018. UNESCO cited it as “single, unified geographical areas where sites and landscapes of international geological significance are managed with a holistic concept of protection, education and sustainable development.”

Here in this one-of-a-kind geopark, the wide range of fossils, marine sediments, volcanic rocks, minerals… as well as limestone landscapes are clear evidence of the Earth’s changes over the past hundreds of millions of years.

In addition, global geopark Non nuoc Cao Bang has a close connection with Vietnamese history and culture with above 215 relics along with many famous landmarks such as Ban Gioc, Pac Bo cave, Lenin stream, Thang Hen lake, Nguom Ngao cave, Phia Oac – Phia Den National Park… And do you know that Ban Gioc Waterfall is the largest one in Vietnam? So many awe-inspiring traces in one of the rarest site in Vietnam waiting for you to explore. For this matter of fact, it would be a pity if this site is not on your travel list.

Photo: Dashleyworldtour, Linhchimm.

3. Dak Nong

Dak Nong geopark was established in 2015. It has 65 geological and geomorphologic heritage sites, including a system of nearly 50 caves with a total length of more than 10,000 m, waterfalls, and craters. On July 7th 2020, Dak Nong Geopark was recognized as a global geopark by the Program Committee and International Relations of the UNESCO Executive Board at the lodge in Paris.

The park area has a tropical forest ecosystem, storing typical values of biodiversity, many unique geological and natural features, and relics of prehistoric people.

Visitors are attracted to come there for some of Dak Nong’s sightseeing manors and unique scenic beauty. For example Ta Nung National Park, Lieng Nung waterfall, Dray Sap waterfall, Trinh Nu (Virgin) waterfall, Gia Long waterfall, and Yok Don National Park.

Fact: Do you know that the landscapes of Ta Dung lake in the Dak Nong geopark are compared as “Ha Long Bay on the plateau.”?

Photo: Minhthuxinhdep, Nguyenxuanhai212.

Source: https://zingnews.vn/3-cong-vien-dia-chat-toan-cau-o-viet-nam-post1164208.html

Source: https://blog.evivatour.com/discover-3-global-geoparks-in-vietnam/

#Geopark #UNESCO

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vietnamtour-blog · 3 years

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First time in Phu Quoc: Where to stay?

Hello, first-time travellers to Phu Quoc! Are you looking for a place to stay during your vacation and do not know what to choose? Before we give you the ultimate tips, let’s take a look at this amazing islands

Overview

Claimed as “The Pearl Island of Asia”, Phu Quoc is the largest island in Vietnam. Located in the Gulf of Thailand, 45 km to the West of Ha Tien, and 15km south of the coast of Cambodia, this island is a part of Kien Giang Province .Also the international airport is set here which makes transportation much easier. Otherwise, if you want to get a new experience, you can take a boat trip to Phu Quoc.

Highlights: The North of Phu Quoc is famous for verdant mountains and the variety of wild species while the South boasts pristine beaches and local villages with pepper plantations and fish sauce factories.

Visa requirements: And do you know this interesting fact: Visa entry to Phu Quoc is not required for those who stay in Phu Quoc fewer than 30 days.

The accommodation choices there are also plentiful, ranging from inexpensive bungalows for families to luxurious 5* resorts. The list below compiled the most ubiquitous beaches, the advantages and disadvantages of every area to help you decide where to stay on Phu Quoc Island.

Should I book a hotel room in Duong Dong?

As the main town of Phu Quoc, Duong Dong is where you can find plenty of hotels, local and international restaurants, bars, banks, pharmacies, and travel agencies.

Besides, if you want to mingle with locals, buy some fresh products, and sample inexpensive local delicacies, Duong Dong Market is the must-visit spot.

Who is it for: – Travelers who love crowded places filled with activities – Foodies. – Travelers who want to experience the local lifestyle. – Those who are looking for nightlife bustlings.

Advantages: – Hotels and restaurants cater to different budget levels. – Near the Phu Quoc International Phu Quoc Airport. – A lot of sightseeings. – Valuable stuff and food at Duong Dong Market.

Disadvantages: – Traffic might be a problem. – Beach area is not the cleanest on Phu Quoc Island.

Should I stay in a hotel at Ong Lang Beach?

Situated about a 20 minutes ride from Duong Dong, Ong Lang Beach is surrounded by mountain chains with palms, oaks, banyans. Here is an idyllic place for those who prefer tranquility. This place is a combination of luxurious and mid-range resorts with private beach sites.

Besides sunbathing on the white, soft sand, you can take part in kayaking, snorkeling, diving, and trekking to the nearest offshore islets. The nightlife there is limited to hotel-owned bars and lounges, you go to the local restaurants and food stalls nearby the beach.

Who is it for: – Travelers who want to enjoy a quiet vacation. – Prosperous travelers.

Advantages: – A lot of beach activities. – Clean and well-maintained beach area. – Restaurants cater to different budget levels.

Disadvantages: – Limited night activities. – Lack of sightseeing.

Should I book a room at Bai Dai?

Bai Dai is the most popular beach on Phu Quoc Island, owning 20km of coastline with white shimmering sand and crystal clear water. Thanks to its west coast location, you can chill at famous beachfront resorts, restaurants, cafes, and bars to enjoy the most breathtaking sunset in Vietnam. Moreover, there is a small tip for you: although Bai Dai can be easily explored on foot, renting a bike would make your trip to traditional fishing villages and pearl farms ideal.

Who is it for: – Travelers who love crowded places – Those who are looking for a busy nightlife. – Food lovers.

Advantages: – Resorts, restaurants, and cafes cater to different budget levels. – The best sunset view on Phu Quoc Island. – Beach area is the ideal place for beach and water activities.

Disadvantages: – Might be crowded with tourists. – Life in the local community is not as diverse as in other regions.

Source: https://blog.evivatour.com/first-time-in-phu-quoc-where-to-stay/

#Phu Quoc Island

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vietnamtour-blog · 3 years

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Phu Quoc Weather - Phu Quoc Island Climate Information

Phu Quoc’s weather changes year-round, so it is wise to check the forecast and plan accordingly. It rains mostly from July to September while commonly sunny from November to March. At this point, you can enjoy warm weather thanks to the tropical climate.

An ideal spot for outdoor activities, Phu Quoc Islands charms travellers by its unique mountains and wildlife in the northern part and pristine beaches at the southern end. During the dry season, the humidity level there is low, and the average temperature is 27.5 ° C. What perfect weather for traveling! If you do not mind the crowd, you can plan your visit on festival days, weekends and in the summer. For a fan of private moments, then please come visit Phu Quoc in the winter and spring.

When you should come to Phu Quoc

Dry season, from November to March, is the best time to visit Phu Quoc Island. Phu Quoc in this season has such a pleasant ambience with temperatures from 25 °C to 28 °C. It is the best time for you to sunbathe, snorkel and swim at Bai Dai or Ong Lang Beach, especially beaches located on the West of this island. For those who love to go picnicking, jungle trekking, camping, as well as bird watching, a visit to Phu Quoc National Park and Suoi Tranh waterfall are worthy.

The rainy season on Phu Quoc Island

The rainy season there starts from July to September, especially common in the late afternoon. The island’s average monthly rainfall ranges from 190mm to 361mm. Therefore, you should not use the motorbike or bicycle since the roads there can get very slippery at this time of the year.

There are lots of things to do on the island during the monsoon season, such as visiting the local markets, fishing villages, Cao Dai and Buddhist pagodas, pearl farms, and pepper plantations. Moreover, families can enjoy a wonderful day with their children at Vinpearl Land Amusement Park.

Source: https://blog.evivatour.com/phu-quoc-weather-phu-quoc-island-climate-information/

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vietnamtour-blog · 3 years

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What Is the Best Time to Visit Ninh Binh?

Ninh Binh has always been on your list but you do not know the best time to visit it? Then you came to the right place!

Known as a land of temples and spirit, it is only 100km from Hanoi and has become a famous destination in Vietnam thanks to its beautiful scenery and historical value. If you are wondering what time of year is the best time to travel to Ninh Binh, this article is for you.

What is the weather like in Ninh Binh?

Overall, the weather of Ninh Binh is humid subtropical and fluctuates from season to season. This wonderful land has four seasons, and each has its own beauty. Therefore, the best time to visit this place depends on the weather and the scenery you want to see here.

This place has such a picturesque landscape that you can admire at any time of the year and still enjoy your trip. However, the best months for a trip to Ninh Binh are from the end of May to the beginning of July, the harvest season in summer, or from September to October, which is also the time when locals harvest rice.

The best time to visit Ninh Binh

Coming to Ninh Binh in May and July, you would admire Ninh Binh in all its glory since the rice fields here would turn into the gorgeous golden color as well as lotuses in Tam Coc – Bich Dong would bloom with its pleasant scent all over the field.

May – July is not only the best time for lotus lovers but also a great time for cave and mountain addicts. From September to October, the weather is nice and cool; therefore, you can get rid of bad weather that you may experience if in other months, such as heat and humidity, as well as potential rainfall and storms.

The 2nd best time to come to Ninh Binh

Your second option is February and March, the time right after the Lunar New Year. Therefore, you can enjoy the solemn atmosphere at the temples. During this time, thousands of people from all over the country will flood to Bai Dinh pagoda to pray for a lucky, happy, and prosperous new year for their families.

Besides, an important event called Hoa Lu ancient capital traditional festival is held on March 6th, 7th, and 8th every year. This festival is to commemorate the noble heroes who built the Hoa Lu Kingdom and Dai Co Viet State.

From November to April, the weather turns to the dry and cold season. Since August has heavy rainfalls, traveling may be quite risky and uncomfortable. So keep an eye on the weather forecast if you plan to visit Ninh Binh in these months. However, despite those inconveniences, you may have benefits in terms of airfare and accommodation costs. On top of that, Ninh Binh would be uncrowded, which means you can freely visit as many places of interest as you want without a jam.

What to see

Hoa Lu – Tam Coc

Tam Coc, Ninh Binh (Photo: Vnexpress)

The first capital of Vietnam, Hoa Lu Ancient Capital is located in Truong Yen commune, Hoa Lu district, Ninh Binh. Here 1000 years ago, Dinh Tien Hoang King gathered all the talents for building the country. It was not until 1010 did King Ly move the capital to Thang Long Citadel, but Hoa Lu is still considered a historical relic of Vietnam.

Visiting Hoa Lu, you will admire the sophisticated architecture and skillful carvings that have been existing for thousands of years. Also, you will learn about the history of Vietnam through stories and traces. Tam Coc has three beautiful caves formed by the Ngo Dong River, which flows through Bich Dong, a beautiful jade cave. You can take a boat to Tam Coc to see the lotus fields and rice fields.

Mua Cave

Mua Cave, Ninh Binh (Photo: Vnexpress)

To admire the beauty of Mua Cave, you need to climb 486 stone steps zigzagged to the top of the mountain. From there, you would be stunned by a panoramic view of Tam Coc with the charming green or yellow paddy fields. It is also known as the “Great Wall of Vietnam” because it offers breathtaking views of the landscape, including mountain peaks, rice fields, and mountain tops.

Trang An – Bai Dinh

Trang An, Ninh Binh

Trang An eco-tourism complex is recognized by UNESCO as a world natural and cultural heritage. Trang An attracts visitors with the majestic mountains combined with forests, streams, and rivers in a harmonious beauty. Besides, this place also has the sacred land – Bai Dinh pagoda with splendid architecture showing the spirituality of the residents here, which is an absolute paradise for travelers.

Your trip would be incomplete if you visit Hanoi without going to Ninh Binh. It doesn’t have to be a long trip, but you will have wonderful memories that will last forever. Let’s go discover Ninh Binh with Eviva!

Source: https://blog.evivatour.com/what-is-the-best-time-to-visit-ninh-binh/

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vietnamtour-blog · 3 years

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Top 07 Yoga Centers in Danang to keeping your Health and Youth

Yoga has long become the No.1 priority of all “health tips” to promote health, bring peace of mind, balance, preserve the beauty of our youth and longevity. Yoga is suitable for all ages, genders, all conditions, health conditions and meets all the physical needs as well as long-term health benefits. Please check top 7 Yoga centers in Da Nang bellow:

1. California Fitness & Yoga Da Nang

California Fitness & Yoga Centers is known as the most famous gym and yoga system chain in Vietnam. Therefore, California Fitness & Yoga in Da Nang is a familiar destination for many people who love this sport in the beautiful city. The gym is designed with great sophistication and the highest quality of service in the heart of Da Nang. In addition to a spacious and airy workout space, experience the 5-star service of practicing yoga with workout tools, saunas and other international-standard California Fitness & Yoga Center equipment and machines owning a team of highly qualified coaches, dedicated guides to help customers achieve efficiency quickly.

After hours of practice, you can relax in the sauna and steam bath with stylish design, equipment imported from Sweden. The 45-bathroom system will also help you dispel fatigue after workouts.

Address: City Post Office Building, tang 2, 271 Nguyen Van Linh, Thanh Khe District

2. Yoga LeVas

Yoga LeVas is one of the prestigious yoga learning places in Da Nang that many people choose to study. The gym has a team of professional trainers, highly qualified, trained to international standards, ensuring quality and effective lessons for students. Besides, the enthusiasm, dedication in each lesson and sharing, imparting useful knowledge about daily nutrition so that it combines exercise and a reasonable diet to achieve optimal results. Therefore, LeVas Yoga is trusted and improved by the students. With the motto towards the health and beauty of everyone, Yoga LeVas Club always wishes to best meet the needs of lifting, physical height, improving the increasing appearance of a large number of people.

Address:

Facility 1: K04/15 Ong ich Khiem, Hai Chau distric, Da Nang city

Facility 2 : 4 Phu Thanh 3, Lien Chieu, Da Nang city

3. Kim Dung Yoga Club

Kim Dung Yoga Club is also one of the worthy choices. Currently the club owns a 4-room gym system with modern facilities, full machines and spacious and airy space. Moreover, a team of professional, dedicated coaches, including Indian coaches, have brought the best quality and effective training methods for students. If you just want to practice Yoga in your free time, do not need too professional or experience luxurious services, Yoga Kim Dung is an ideal destination.

Address:

Facility 1: 478A9 Dien Bien Phu, Coopmart supermarket, Thanh Khe district, Da Nang city

Facility 2: 260/22 Hai Phong, Hai Chau District, Da Nang City

Facility 3: 64 Dong Da, Hai Chau District, Da Nang City

Facility 4: 2 Cach Mang Thang Tam Street, Lao Cultural House, Cam Le District, Da Nang City

4. Yoga HKLife

Located right near the city center, Yoga HKLife is a good place to learn yoga in Da Nang. Possessing professional PTs, HKLife yoga attracts a variety of students such as students, housewives, office workers, etc. Especially, this is a quality yoga center suitable for beginners in Danang. With flexible study time and professional space, students will be living with yoga when coming to HKLife. The center regularly enrolls classes with many different incentive packages, you can join at any time.

Address: Tang 3, 229 Huynh Tan Phat, Hoa Cuong Nam, Hai Chau, Da Nang

5. Fitness và Yoga Funny Center

If you are hesitant to find yourself a quality address to study Yoga in Da Nang, Fitness and Yoga Funny is also a not bad suggestion. Open space, YOGA gym, especially the Indian teachers directly instructed very thoughtfully. Fitness and Yoga Funny is not only an ideal destination for those who love yoga, but this is also the place for you to relax, take care of the perfect beauty. Yoga classes at Fitness and Yoga Funny Center are suitable for all ages as well as the fitness status of the practitioner. In particular, the center has a hot bath, sauna (wet – dry) to serve for free unlimited unlimited for customers in need.

Address: 43 Đo Quang, Thanh Khe district, Da Nang city

6. Aro Yoga Center

Aro Yoga is also one of the names worth mentioning in the list of leading yoga practice centers in Da Nang that you can choose. Coming to Aro yoga, you will be guided by a team of Indian coaches with very high professional qualifications and scientific, effective training methods. Leading in this team is Mr. Master Avi – who has many years of experience in teaching Yoga, has won many awards in international yoga competitions in India, Thailand, Hong Kong, Italy, … Besides, the gym system at Aro Yoga center is designed quite spacious, airy and scientific to best suit yoga training programs and methods. Moreover, Aro Yoga is open continuously from 6 am to 9 pm on every weekday with more than 300 classes per month, this will help you proactively arrange the time so that you can best study here.

Address:

Facility 1: 54 Tran Cao Van, Thanh Khe District, Da Nang City

Facility 2: 258 Han Thuyen, Hoa Cuong Bac, Hai Chau District, Da Nang City

7. Yoga Suc Song Moi club

And finally, Vitality Yoga is a professional yoga model in Da Nang which is highly appreciated. With a friendly and cozy gym space with a team of enthusiastic and experienced guides, Vitality Yoga has become a trusted address for Yoga lovers as well as those who are interested in improving physical and mental health and desire to lead a positive lifestyle.

The club regularly opens Yoga classes for beginners, Basic Yoga, Advanced, Therapeutic Yoga suitable for all subjects. In addition, Yoga exercises that are especially suitable for office workers will help increase work efficiency, reduce stress, prevent and treat office diseases.

Address:

CS1: 07 – 09 Tran Quoc Toan, Hai Chau District

CS2: 61 Tiểu La, Hải Châu district

CS3: Paracel Sports Complex, 06 Dang Thuy Tram, Hai Chau District

SOME SMALL NOTE AND YOGA EXPERIENCES

When starting with any exercise, there are always small notes but bring great effect. Yoga is a discipline that requires great meticulousness and great perseverance. Here are 7 important notes that are very useful for new Yoga practitioners. Let’s take a look with me !

★ Choose the right type of yoga Yoga is divided into many categories such as Hot Yoga, Yoga rope, Yoga ball, Yoga-Intriny with different purposes such as beauty, health, weight loss … So you need to determine what is the purpose of learning. Select the appropriate exercises, as well as carefully ask the teachers so that you can learn most effectively the exercises that you have chosen.

★ Should eat at least 1 hour before practice Yoga is best practiced with an empty stomach. Yoga should not be done when the stomach is full of food, so it will be bad for the digestive system

★ Do not skip the warm up step Before doing any exercise, you should warm up, as well as Yoga, warm your body with some basic warm-up movements before starting the training session. This is an important step to help minimize some injuries during exercise.

★ Concentrate Focusing on breathing is the most important thing in Yoga. This helps you relax and reduce stress. As soon as you find yourself distracted, take a deep breath to focus again.

★ Stop for a bit if necessary Listen to your body, if intense training makes you tired, take a break. Adjust your breathing while waiting for new poses

★ Be early before class Should you come early to have time to prepare in advance and mentally comfortable, the efficiency of the work will be higher. Therefore, you should be at the gym before the class starts 10 minutes to relax and can receive the best lesson.

★ The small effort gathered will be a great success Yoga requires effort and patience. At first there will be frustration but try each day little by little to achieve success.

– GOOD LUCK FOR YOU ! –

Writer: Duong Thi Giang

Source: https://blog.evivatour.com/top-07-yoga-centers-in-danang-to-keeping-your-health-and-youth/

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vietnamtour-blog · 3 years

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Ha Giang: Things you should know before visiting

Vietnam owns majestic mountains and winding passes, which can match the beauty of widely known spots in the world. When it comes to mountainous areas, we cannot help but mention Sapa and Ha Giang.

Both Sapa and Ha Giang are gateways to the outstanding mountain scenery of the Northwest and extreme north of Vietnam. However, in comparison with Sapa, the town hidden in the clouds, Ha Giang is not yet on the beaten trail. So, let’s get to know more about magnificent Ha Giang!

1. Overview of Ha Giang

As the northernmost province of Vietnam, Ha Giang is regarded by many as “The Final Frontier of Viet Nam,” which is a home for ethnic minorities such as Hmong, Tay, Lo Lo, etc.. Each of which has its own history, tradition, clothes, and cuisine that create a unique regional culture.

Ha Giang is also known for the buckwheat flower season in November, which drives people to visit this space to admire blooming flowers on rocks. Moreover, since it is far from the city center and the infrastructure is not yet expanded, tourism is left behind. Therefore, everything is reserved in their pristine beauty. Let’s make your way to Ha Giang to be rewarded by sweeping views of karst mountains, carpets of flowers, and colourful markets!

2. Geographical features

Naturally, Ha Giang is divided into 3 sub-regions. As the northern part is called, “Dong Van Karst Plateau”, there are numerous rocky mountains, deep canyons, large caves and separated rivers. The plateau is covered in bare limestone, which created bizarre, yet splendid sceneries.

Dong Van Karst Plateau. (Credit: Tien Nguyen)

Secondly, the western area consists of 2 districts: Hoang Su Phi and Xin Man. This one has many sloping mountain sides, high pass, valley and narrow springs, and is famous for its wonderful terraced paddy fields.

Finally, the southern part, including the small, provincial capital city of Ha Giang is mostly covered by low hills and valleys along the blue Lo river.

3. Local Culture (History, people)

History

Since ancient times of the legendary Hung kings, Ha Giang was called Tan Hung. It was an autonomous zone under the control of various tribes of Thai and Tay people.

In 1886, the French occupied this region and named it Ha Giang. After independence, Ha Giang was a part of Viet Bac, the local base of support for the Viet Minh troop. The city had to be rebuilt after being heavily bombed in both Indochina wars and Chinese’s artillery in 1979. It was not until 2010 did this city gain attraction when the Dong Van Karst Plateau was designated as a member of the UNESCO’s Global Geoparks Network.

People and Culture

Unlike many parts of Vietnam that are dominated by the Kinh ethnic minority, the community of Ha Giang are formed by minor ethnics, such as H’mong, Tay, Nung, Dao, Giay. While some of them have lived in the region for thousands of years, some have only migrated here in the last few centuries, living on different terrain and altitude. For example, while the H’mong live on the high mountains of 800m and above, the Tay live in valleys and near the rivers. After hundreds of years living together, their culture blended together, too, to create one of the most diverse yet unique cultures in northern Vietnam.

Among many ethnics living in Ha Giang, the Hmong people are a colorful and culturally and historically-rich ethnic minority that occupies the majority of the population in Ha Giang. If there are two things you should know about the H’mong culture, they are “Khen” and linen waving.

Khen

Khen is their traditional musical instrument. It is a polyphonic instrument in the shape of a set of bamboo pipes of varying sizes. This instrument is an integral part of the life of the Hmong people since they use it as a way of communication and express their liberal soul. Therefore, they always bring khen with them.

(credit: vnexpress.net)

Linen waving

A woman is waving linen at Lung Tam Commune

While khen is still a preserve of men, textile is the passion of Hmong women. They are still an important part of modern Hmong culture. The Hmong women employ many techniques such as embroidery, applique, reverse applique, and batik to brocade costumes with various symbols that tell stories.

A H’Mong saying goes: “A beautiful girl that can not make linen is also an ugly one.” Hence, Mong girls are proficient in weaving linen. Of course, in the modern context, you should not take this proverb literally. Please just bear in mind that this custom drives them to make the best clothes for themselves to wear on the festival, to go to the fair, and especially to dress-on on the wedding day.

4. Things to do in Ha Giang (What to eat, where to visit)

What to eat:

Steamed rolls: Trust me, Ha Giang’s version of steamed roll is quite different from Hanoi’s: stuffed with minced pork or cloud ear fungus; served with broth. Perfect for breakfast or a late-evening (9P.M or later) meal.

Au tau porridge: As its name suggests, the dish is made from rice with au tau’s root and porks’ legs. The main ingredient, au tau, gives the dish a bitter taste, and can cause harm if not made well. Luckily, the locals of Ha Giang are experts in using Au Tau. They turn the poisonous roots into something that helps ease joint pain and aiding sleep.

Recommendation: Ms.Huong’s porridge, at 161 Tran Hung Dao Str., Ha Giang City.

Thang Co: The dish’s name derived from Chinese, which literally means “soup cooked in the big pan”. The main materials of Thang Co are bone, internal organs (heart, lungs, nerves, e.t.c…) and meat of a horse, or a buffalo, cooked together in a big pan, then served in a small bowl. It is common to have a sip of corn wine while savoring Thang Co . The added spices such as hemp, cardamom, cinnamon, and anise made Ha Giang’s Thang Co unique and, probably, the best Thang Co in northern Viet Nam.

Where to go:

Ma Pi Leng Pass: Undoubtedly, Ma Pi Leng Pass is one of the most astonishing mountain roads in Vietnam. The 20 kilometre-long road has many sharp turns and incredibly panoramic views. Especially from Ma Pi Leng Viewpoint, you can overlook Tu San Canyon and Nho Que River which flow between its ridges. An hour boat-trip on the Nho Que River is a must when visiting Ha Giang.

H’Mong Royal Palace (Palace of the Vuong): Located in Sa Phin valley is the residency of Vuong Duc Chinh, the King of Opium. Built from stone and fir wood and terracotta tiling in a combined Qing-Chinese, French, H’mong traditional style, the building is considered a gem of the northern district of Dong Van.

Legend has it that before the beginning of the construction, Vuong Chinh Duc went to China to find a Feng-shui Master to Vietnam. They went through 4 district areas under his jurisdiction to find out the best terrain. Ultimately, they decided to choose Xa Phin village – the land located in the middle of the Sa Phin valley. Thanks to a block of soil rising high like a turtle’s hood, symbolizing the Golden Turtle God in Vietnamese legends, this place was chosen. It was believed that by forming up Vuong Chinh Duc’s erection in this territory, his ambition would become true.

As Vuong Chinh Duc was a Hmong wealthy and powerful man for trading goods, especially opium. Sa Phin is the transshipment place for opium from the Burmese golden triangle and the Yunnan region of China to Indochina. This made him decide to incorporate the design of opium into the building. The pillar footstones are shaped into opium fruit, its outside also has unique patterns. Not only the footstones of the pillars but under the eaves and rafters are also sculpted in the shape of opium fruits and poppies.

Khau Vai love market: Another must-do activity is to visit Khau Vai love market, a special and unique annual festival that is held at 26 of the third Lunar month. Lively, colorful and crowded, this is the place where lovers meet and talk, ex-lovers who can’t make it together reunite and tell the story of their life.

Hoang Su Phi: The western mountainous district of Hoang Su Phi is famous for its wonderful terraced paddy fields, poetic Shan Tuyet tea hills from Thong Nguyen’s famous trekking path and the gigantic 2400-meter high mountain of Kiou Leou Ti (Chieu Lau Thi).

Lung Cu Flag Point

Located on the top of Lung Cu with a height of about 1.470m above sea level, this flag’s size is exactly 54 square meters, representing Vietnam’s 54 ethnic groups. Lung Cu Flagpole was built first in the Ly Thuong Kiet dynasty and was originally made of wood only. However, it has been rebuilt and repaired many times, and nowadays, the 9m high flag handle is made of stainless steel.

Interestingly, this place has various legends. The most famous one is attached with King Quang Trung. The legend tells that after a grand victory over Thanh’s army, the King was punished for placing a gigantic drum on Lung Cu’s peak. At a particular time, he signed a soldier to beat the drum three times to affirm Vietnam’s sovereignty over China. After years, as a habit, whenever there is a problem at the border, the Vietnamese beat the dumb again to awake people’s patriotism.

What to do, see: From the top of the flagpole, you can admire two ponds on both sides of the mountain that never run out of water. The landscape at the foot of the Lung Cu flagpole is mountains interspersed by terraced fields creating a wild beauty, the typical feature of the Northwest regions of Vietnam that you do not want to miss. The most exciting and unexpected thing is that coming to the Lung Cu flagpole, you will stand right next to the border of Vietnam and China to have a glance of the neighboring country.

Quan Ba Heaven’s Gate

Located at 1.000 meters above sea level, Quan Ba Heaven’s Gate is the first gateway of Ha Giang to Dong Van Plateau. It owns the pretty magnificent scenery of the Northwest mountains. The most exciting thing is that Quan Ba Heaven’s Gate creates the feeling of bringing visitors up to the clouds to touch the sky, true to its inherent name.

Quan Ba Heaven’s Gate is associated with many historical events, especially military ones, such as the struggle between Vietnam and France to preserve the country. Therefore, during the war years, the gate had a wooden door built by the French to separate two ethnic groups, the Kinh and Hmong. However, presently due to severe weather conditions, that door was replaced by a large sign which makes Quan Ba heaven gate just a distance between two mountains. Even so, the landscape that you can observe from the Quan Ba Heaven’s Gate will take your breath away.

What to do, see: Climb to the top of the mountain to observe a breathtaking view of the Dong Van Plateau, and sightsee the vast valley of Quan Ba, offering the silent charm of the yellow ripped rice, the terraces, the houses of hill tribes, and Co Tien Twin Mountain, which is a natural work of art that makes a captivating poetic frame of clouds stretching all the way. Also, Quan Ba Heaven’s Gate is the first attraction in Ha Giang, so you can grab coffee and locally produced honey here after a long ride.

Lung Tam Weaving Village

Located not far from Quan Ba Heaven’s Gate, Lung Tam village is a small valley with a flowing through Miem river. It is also a home for Hmong people, who are seasoned professionals in textile art.

In the past, Lung Tam village was a typical village of the hill tribe. However, when the traditional trade seems to be extinct, one strong, smart woman appeared to save the craft and bring brocade linen products to the domestic and international markets. The name of this woman is Vang Thi Mai, the founder of The Linen Co-operative. Despite the traditions of hill tribes, where a woman’s role is limited to household matters, Mrs. Mai helps people continue to preserve and uphold traditional values and culture by bringing Lung Tam linen down the mountain, up to the city’s streets and then fled abroad.

Lung Tam Linen Commune

Linen weaving in Lung Tam is a traditional handicraft with a long history, not only bringing income to households in Lung Tam village but also contributing to preserving the traditional cultural values of Mong people. And thanks to one wonderful woman, the linen village of Lung Tam is now an unmissable authentic destination that attracts thousands of visitors.

Souvenirs at Lung Tam Commune

What to do, see: Coming to Lung Tam village, you can see beautiful Hmong batik hemp panels, hear stories about savior Mrs. Mai, who they are proud of, and linen development. Of course, you can also purchase hand-crafted hemp products with specific details, which have a particular meaning, as a souvenir. In addition to buying special gifts, you can also learn about the uniqueness of an old brocade-weaving village of Ha Giang mountain land and join in some parts of the 50 stages of waving linen.

Nho Que River

Nho Que River is one of the deepest canyons in Southeast Asia and one of the unique geological formation valleys in Vietnam, which originates from the mountains of Nghiem Son (China), from an altitude of 1500m. Nho Que flows smoothly all year round through the majestic mountains with a poetic, mysterious, and fanciful beauty that you will find hard to leave.

In previous times, the Nho Que River was not as smooth as it is now and considered to serve the fishing purposes of the Ha Giang people only. However, since a hydroelectric project was built, water flows more smoothly. Moreover, after construction, locals opened boat trips on the river to help travelers explore Tu San Canyon, the deepest canyon in Southeast Asia.

What to do, see: Nho Que River is quite wide, therefore to fully admire the beauty of the Nho Que River, you can settle on the Ma Pi Leng pass to observe all the splendor of the river and the grandeur of nature Ha Giang. There are two stations leading to this blue river, one can be reached by foot, one by bike. Make sure when traveling to Ha Giang, you can try to mingle with nature on the Nho Que river and combine a Tu San canyon visit, which will bring exciting experiences.

Meo Vac Market

Since Ha Giang is the home for various ethnic groups, to explore local culture, the best way to do it is to shop like the locals at their markets. It is highly recommended to visit the famous Meo Vac market, which is a museum about the lives of ethnic minorities in the borderland of Meo Vac. Every Sunday, all minority groups will come there to hold the market in the middle of the district’s central town, which makes a good chance for you to survey locals’ culture and lifestyle. It is also a fantastic venue to see the ancient bartering of remote ethnic people in Ha Giang. It is unknown when the Meo Vac market was formed, but every Sunday at dawn, people are eagerly dragging each other down to the market at crossroads. Going to the market has become an indispensable cultural feature of Meo Vac people in particular and Ha Giang highlands in general. After those hard-working days, the market day is also the time for ethnic minorities to go to the market, to purchase necessities for daily life. Also, it is a very important need, exchanging with each other. This is a rather special value of the Meo Vac upland market, different from the lowland markets. It is a mental factor characteristic that you do not want to miss.

What to do, see: There you can walk through stalls that are divided into 2 sections: outdoor and indoor markets selling everything, starting from mobile phones to livestock.

On the livestock section you can see little piglets, goats, chicken, ducks and even puppies sold along the street. Not far from this section, you can also find a cattle market, where locals inspect water buffaloes or cattle on sale. Besides, you can watch how the various parts of the animals are checked before a sale is completed.

What is most fascinating is that here you will get treated to some interesting views, such as locals walking a piglet with a lead, men carrying a couple of chicken holding their feet, motorbikes passing where the chicken are hanging with their feet down the handle, or having to share a cage at the back of the bike with a dog. However, if you are not a fan of such views, you can move to the indoor market, another area to explore local culture. There, you can find a few food stalls with the fireplaces preparing food, which make a great sight. It is a nice place to have a cheap, uncommon delectable breakfast.

Best time to visit

The best time to visit Ha Giang is in dry season: from early October to late April

October: It is the time when the paddy field turns yellow, which is stunningly beautiful. Also, it is interesting to see local ethnics in their colorful dresses happily harvesting the rice, putting it in the sack and transporting home. It is recommended that you should visit Hoang Su Phi’s terraced paddy fields during this time of the year.

November: The northern plateau is covered by the purple of buckwheat flowers, the symbolic flower of Dong Van. Sidenotes: This is also the time of “Buckwheat flower festival”, therefore a large number of tourists will flock into Ha Giang, and the whole plateau suddenly becomes crowded. Reservations should be made at least a week prior to the trip.

December – mid January: It is when rapeseed flowers blooms. The weather gets really cold, and the wind is chilly. There might be snow-if you are lucky enough, which is amazingly beautiful, but also quite rare in a tropical country like Vietnam.

Late January – February: It’s the end of a Lunar year, and the beginning of a new one. The people of Ha Giang celebrate Tet, too, just like any other Vietnamese, and all tourists are welcomed to join. You’ll have a good chance to learn the culture and traditions in the most natural way.

March: When the mountains of Ha Giang enter springtime, the landscape is full of life with numerous kinds of different species of flower bloom at its fullest beauty, most notably the pink color of peach blossom, and the white of plum flower, along with their nice fragrance. Many spring festivals are held, such as Buffalo fighting, Horse racing, Long Tong (the festival of Tay ethnics people to pray for a good crop and bountiful harvest).

April: It is the time when the local people water the terraced paddy fields so they look like giant mirrors, which is breathtakingly beautiful. The weather in April is also warmer, which makes trekking and biking more pleasant. It is also the time when the famous Khau Vai love market festival is held.

How to get to Ha Giang

Located northwest of Ha Noi, without an airport or railroad connected, the most recommended form of transportation is bus, which is surprisingly cheap, from 8 to 13$ for a ticket, depending on departure time and how comfortable the bus is. It would take 6 to 8 hours to get to Ha Giang.

Travel in Ha Giang : Of course, it is possible to travel in Ha Giang by bus or private car, but I strongly recommend to hire yourself a bike, so that you can stop at any point of your adventure, and take a snapshot of the breathtakingly beautiful nature of Ha Giang

Some alternative route to Ha Giang: Beside the main road of QL2 straight from Hanoi to Ha Giang, Ha Giang can be accessed from the nearby attractions such as Sa Pa, Ba Be Lake or Cao Bang.

From Sa Pa: The border road from Sa Pa, via QL4D through Lao Cai City – Muong Khuong- Si Ma Cai – Xin Man (Coc Pai)- Hoang Su Phi Ha Giang. You can also take a detour to visit the beautiful town of Bac Ha, which is only 10km from the main road, or take a half-day, or a full-day trekking in Thong Nguyen or around the Kiou Leou Ti mountain in Hoang Su Phi.

From Ba Be Lake: There are two options: From Ba Be to Yen Phu town of Bac Me, then take a detour to Du Gia Commune of Yen Minh – a famous destination for trekking and Meo Vac town to start the famous Ha Giang Loop via DT176 and DT182, or straight to Ha Giang City via QL34.

How many mountainous areas in Vietnam have you visited? Please tell us, we would love to hear from you. Get prepared with more tips and travel plans in Vietnam at Eviva’s blog or contact our travel consultant for more support.

Writers: Pham Thi Nhat Le and Nguyen Le Hai

Source: https://blog.evivatour.com/ha-giang-things-you-should-know-before-visiting/

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