Sapa adventure had us begging for more
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| Travel to Sapa - Photo by An Bui |
My husband had been nagging me to go to Dalat but I decided to shock him by taking him on a surprise trip to Sapa.
We took a five day tour from Hanoi and it is one I highly recommend. We firstly got the overnight train from the capital to Lao Cai Station where we caught some shut-eye in our cabin.
We arrived a little weary due to the bumpy ride but it was the first day of our trip and we were excited. A bus awaited us at the station and took us to our destination. We dumped our belongings at the hotel and quickly showered and had breakfast before we took a car ride along the gorgeous Muonh Ha Valley to visit the Rattan Bridge, the stunning silver waterfall and then visited in Giang Ta Chai village which is home to the Red Dzao tribe.
It was time to build up a sweat as we trekked through the forests of the Fanxipan range which was daunting but rewarding before we reached the Seo Chong Ho Village. Not many tourists reach this part of the area and we enjoyed a wonderful waterfall which is apparently the nicest in Sapa.
We rested up had food and were put up by a lovely Dzao family, who were so nice and even made us breakfast the next day before it was time to trek up another mountain to Ta Trung Ho village which is located 1450meters above sea level. Which was great news for those who suffer from vertigo like my husband, he barely survived. We had lunch and then headed downhill, thankfully for my hubby’s sake, to Ban Ho village to meet the Tay people and their stilt houses.
We had a little party and stayed the night in a stilt house before seeing yet another waterfall Lavie which was discovered by the French and then Supan village and finally back to the car and Sapa.
At last we got some time to ourselves to explore the town, buy some souvenirs for family, have a nice romantic meal and go for a stroll around. We were hoping to stay the night in Sapa but forgot we had to get a late bus to Lao Cai Station where out night train to Hanoi awaited us.
I wish we could have stayed that extra night as I felt our trip was just beginning. Oh well, maybe next time.
By Nga Phan
Source The Saigon Times .vn
Aquatic adventure in Tam Coc is wondrous
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| Tam Coc Tourism Site - Photo by An Bui |
Twenty-four hours after our stay there we visited Tam Coc and the three caves along the Ngo Dong River.
We arrived tired and grumpy and we expected to find it the ugly sister of the North East but the reality could not have been further from the truth. During our time there my boyfriend and I experienced a whole new definition of natural beauty.The first thing which warmed us to Tam Coc was the fact that getting to the caves involved an aquatic adventure.
The only way to reach the caves is via a three hour round-trip by boat, where skippers maneuver the oars with their feet instead of hands (which takes some getting used to).The caves are sold as the main attraction but they were outshone by the vibrant scenes we paddled past – rural life, vast limestone columns and rice fields with vivid green shoots.
We stopped in silence to watch kingfishers, woodpeckers and starlings at play, and marveled at the hundreds of butterflies and dragonflies which zigzagged by. Aside from the caves there is plenty to do. After a delicious lunch along the banks of the river we opted to explore Ninh Binh by scooter. In a few hours we saw the surrounding areas including the ancient capital of Vietnam (Hoa Lu) and the country’s largest National Park, Cuc Phuong. It was only when our camera memory cards became full that we realized it was time to go home. Our brief experience, packed as it was with beauty and wildlife, is a small illustration of the amount there is to see and do in this small corner of Vietnam.
Source The Saigon Times.vn
Ho Dynasty’s history on display in Thanh Hoa
Opening a series of activities to welcome the world cultural heritage recognition for the Ho Dynasty, the Thanh Hoa Provincial Museum has put about 500 items relating to the Ho Dynasty Citadel, Ho Quy Ly and the Ho Dynasty on display, reports VietnamPlus.
On display are photographs, books, literature, newspapers, magazines, scientific analysis and research by both domestic and foreign academics. The documents include four main themes of the Ho Dynasty Citadel, Ho Quy Ly, the Ho Dynasty and the Ho Dynasty Citadel’s recognition by UNESCO as a world cultural heritage last year.
Among the collection are documents written in French before 1954. Among the exhibits are photos of the citadel from the air as well as the camp where the stone masons lived during its construction, plus the book La Province De Thanh Hoa by French scholar Le Proton.
The exhibition is to allow the public access to the Ho Dynasty Citadel relics and the cultural history of Thanh Hoa Province and to meet demands from researchers.
Located in Vinh Tien and Vinh Long Communes in Vinh Loc District, the Ho Dynasty Citadel measures 870 meters by 883 meters and was built in 1397. The citadel’s construction was supervised by the Tran Dynasty’s top mandarin, Ho Quy Ly, who later occupied the citadel when he took the throne by force in 1400 and changed the country’s name from Dai Viet to Dai Ngu.
Also known as the Tay Do Citadel, the ancient building is famous for being strategically located where it could be easily defended. The citadel is protected by a mountain range to the north, while the Ma River runs to the west and the Buoi River to the south, creating a huge natural moat.
However, now almost all of the citadel’s main structures have been seriously damaged due to the ravages of time, while only the wall and four main entrances are still well preserved.
Although the Ho Dynasty only lasted from 1400 to 1407, Emperor Ho left a significant legacy. He is credited for pioneering the circulation of the first banknotes in Vietnam, expanding the network of schools and promoting the use of the Vietnamese Nom ideographic script.
On display are photographs, books, literature, newspapers, magazines, scientific analysis and research by both domestic and foreign academics. The documents include four main themes of the Ho Dynasty Citadel, Ho Quy Ly, the Ho Dynasty and the Ho Dynasty Citadel’s recognition by UNESCO as a world cultural heritage last year.
Among the collection are documents written in French before 1954. Among the exhibits are photos of the citadel from the air as well as the camp where the stone masons lived during its construction, plus the book La Province De Thanh Hoa by French scholar Le Proton.
The exhibition is to allow the public access to the Ho Dynasty Citadel relics and the cultural history of Thanh Hoa Province and to meet demands from researchers.
Located in Vinh Tien and Vinh Long Communes in Vinh Loc District, the Ho Dynasty Citadel measures 870 meters by 883 meters and was built in 1397. The citadel’s construction was supervised by the Tran Dynasty’s top mandarin, Ho Quy Ly, who later occupied the citadel when he took the throne by force in 1400 and changed the country’s name from Dai Viet to Dai Ngu.
Also known as the Tay Do Citadel, the ancient building is famous for being strategically located where it could be easily defended. The citadel is protected by a mountain range to the north, while the Ma River runs to the west and the Buoi River to the south, creating a huge natural moat.
However, now almost all of the citadel’s main structures have been seriously damaged due to the ravages of time, while only the wall and four main entrances are still well preserved.
Although the Ho Dynasty only lasted from 1400 to 1407, Emperor Ho left a significant legacy. He is credited for pioneering the circulation of the first banknotes in Vietnam, expanding the network of schools and promoting the use of the Vietnamese Nom ideographic script.
Source The Saigon Time.vn
Sen Cafe – rustic corner in city
During the gloom of early rainy season, sipping bitter coffee and admiring the raindrops in a peaceful space as the classic melodies play out, the rich come to celebrate life, the poor dream of changing their destiny, with the crime and horrid pollution in the city a mere dream as you relax in comfort. This is Sen Cafe in Binh Thanh District.
The decor is traditional style mixed with modern design but it is cozy and peaceful with its wooden windows, wooden table sets, red-tiled walls, bamboo clusters, devil’s ivy lianas, old ceramic vases and retro lamps hanging around blending in with the base color of brown.
We must also mention a small lotus pond where guests can admire the beauty of the national flower. Many rocks are arranged together like installation artworks studded small stream, with the pond under the shade of some willow trees and lotus flowers.
Sen Cafe is also home to flowers such as orchids, daisy, cockscomb scattered around the venue. The soothing music is also another pleasure for guests there with piano or guitar melodies, letting guests chill out.
The cafe serves fruit juices, smoothies, tea, and coffee from the three regions, with Western and Asian dishes. Sen Cafe is at 6/1 Nguyen Huy Tuong Street.
By My Tran
Source The Saigon Times.vn
The decor is traditional style mixed with modern design but it is cozy and peaceful with its wooden windows, wooden table sets, red-tiled walls, bamboo clusters, devil’s ivy lianas, old ceramic vases and retro lamps hanging around blending in with the base color of brown.
We must also mention a small lotus pond where guests can admire the beauty of the national flower. Many rocks are arranged together like installation artworks studded small stream, with the pond under the shade of some willow trees and lotus flowers.
Sen Cafe is also home to flowers such as orchids, daisy, cockscomb scattered around the venue. The soothing music is also another pleasure for guests there with piano or guitar melodies, letting guests chill out.
The cafe serves fruit juices, smoothies, tea, and coffee from the three regions, with Western and Asian dishes. Sen Cafe is at 6/1 Nguyen Huy Tuong Street.
By My Tran
Source The Saigon Times.vn
Bizarre yet tasty dishes in Vietnam
Some expats living in Vietnam confessed that they have tried strange local dishes and gradually fell in love with the flavors. After all, sampling new dishes is a way to understand the customs and traditions of the country in which they are living. Here are the stories of five expats in Hanoi who have strong stomachs and have tried several strange dishes that the even locals fear to eat.
Self-cooked dog meat
Sean Cogills still remembers the first time he tried dog meat: it was not at a restaurant but at home prepared by himself.
Waking up after his 23rd birthday, Sean wandered around a market on Bach Dang Street and came across a dog meat stall. Curious, he asked to buy a block of meat for VND50,000 (US$2.5). He even remembered to get some vermicelli to complete the dish.
At home, Dale started to boil the meat and used the spices available . Unexpectedly, the broth turned out to have a strange green color and stinky smell!
“I brought a dish of dog meat out to eat at the balcony. I thought I would think a lot about the dog I used to play with during my childhood back in Ireland. But no, I was still busy vomiting as my home-cooked dish was so disgusting,” said Sean.
After that failed culinary trial, Sean had a second chance to try the dog dish in a restaurant and loved the flavors.
“It is like pork but chewier. Although not a daily dish, it is something to try. As people often say ‘When in Rome, do as the Romans do’,” Sean said.
Feeling a heartbeat in the throat
“The heart thumps, and gets stuck in my throat for a while before I wash it down with some strong wine,” recalled Luke Poulson, about eating a famous snake dish from Le Mat village.
This English DJ, who has lived in Vietnam for two years, has no better word to describe the dish than ‘bizarre’.
However, he still loves snake meat, which he finds tastier than chicken or pork, thanks to its strong flavor. Another of Luke’s favorites is pork intestines, which are similar to the pork sausages he often has back his hometown in northern England.
Luke finds Vietnamese cuisine surprisingly creative, while most of the food in England or European countries is processed and canned.
“In England, even the chicken does not look like a chicken as it has lost its head!” he said.
Blood flavored soup
“The first time I swallowed a spoon of tiet canh (raw blood soup), I felt like I was licking blood off my face after being beaten,” said Michael Vong, a Malaysian businessman.
That was his initial feeling after being taken to eat the special dish for the first time. Gradually, however, Michael started to like the flavors of the soup when served with herbs and peanuts.
He reveals he spots a good street food stall by checking the crowd. The more packed it is, the tastier the food it serves. Many Vietnamese friends also complimented Michael on his good culinary knowledge, some even said he has become more local than them.
But Michael says he was recently advised not to eat his favorite soup dish by his wife, who believed it would make him more violent.
“My wife probably just watches too much Twilight,” he said.
You are what you eat
Having lived in Vietnam for 5 years, Australian Malcolm Duckett is a fan of street food. He is averse to western food like KFC, and McDonalds and has a fear that his favorite street food stalls will have to make way for these big franchises in the near future.
Malcolm finds the most delicious Vietnamese dishes on the street rather than in restaurants. He explains that each stall only serves one dish like sticky rice, escargot or rice porridge and the seller, also the cook, has become a master of that dish.
Malcolm says he likes the Vietnamese conception of ‘You are what you eat’.
“My girlfriend is a dancer and she loves grilled chicken legs. Maybe eating rice porridge made from innards will help my stomach get better,” reasoned Malcolm.
Pork kidneys are soft and sweet
Although animal intestines are inedible in the US, Dale Watkins fell in love with the Phnom Penh noodle and kidney soup at first bite.
“The pork kidney has a very special taste, which is soft and sweet. The noodles are chewy. I love to eat to soup with spicy satay,” said Dale.
Dale used to take his foreign friends to try this dish without revealing to them what was inside. They all loved the soup even though they later found out they had tried pork innards.
After three years of living in Vietnam, Dale finds the Vietnamese proudest of their traditional dishes than any other nationals.
“Any Vietnamese meeting me for the first time ask what dishes I have tried,” said Dale.
“People here identify themselves with a special dish of their hometown. It is a remarkable part in your culture.”
Self-cooked dog meat
Sean Cogills still remembers the first time he tried dog meat: it was not at a restaurant but at home prepared by himself.
Waking up after his 23rd birthday, Sean wandered around a market on Bach Dang Street and came across a dog meat stall. Curious, he asked to buy a block of meat for VND50,000 (US$2.5). He even remembered to get some vermicelli to complete the dish.
At home, Dale started to boil the meat and used the spices available . Unexpectedly, the broth turned out to have a strange green color and stinky smell!
“I brought a dish of dog meat out to eat at the balcony. I thought I would think a lot about the dog I used to play with during my childhood back in Ireland. But no, I was still busy vomiting as my home-cooked dish was so disgusting,” said Sean.
After that failed culinary trial, Sean had a second chance to try the dog dish in a restaurant and loved the flavors.
“It is like pork but chewier. Although not a daily dish, it is something to try. As people often say ‘When in Rome, do as the Romans do’,” Sean said.
Feeling a heartbeat in the throat
“The heart thumps, and gets stuck in my throat for a while before I wash it down with some strong wine,” recalled Luke Poulson, about eating a famous snake dish from Le Mat village.
This English DJ, who has lived in Vietnam for two years, has no better word to describe the dish than ‘bizarre’.
However, he still loves snake meat, which he finds tastier than chicken or pork, thanks to its strong flavor. Another of Luke’s favorites is pork intestines, which are similar to the pork sausages he often has back his hometown in northern England.
Luke finds Vietnamese cuisine surprisingly creative, while most of the food in England or European countries is processed and canned.
“In England, even the chicken does not look like a chicken as it has lost its head!” he said.
Blood flavored soup
“The first time I swallowed a spoon of tiet canh (raw blood soup), I felt like I was licking blood off my face after being beaten,” said Michael Vong, a Malaysian businessman.
That was his initial feeling after being taken to eat the special dish for the first time. Gradually, however, Michael started to like the flavors of the soup when served with herbs and peanuts.
He reveals he spots a good street food stall by checking the crowd. The more packed it is, the tastier the food it serves. Many Vietnamese friends also complimented Michael on his good culinary knowledge, some even said he has become more local than them.
But Michael says he was recently advised not to eat his favorite soup dish by his wife, who believed it would make him more violent.
“My wife probably just watches too much Twilight,” he said.
You are what you eat
Having lived in Vietnam for 5 years, Australian Malcolm Duckett is a fan of street food. He is averse to western food like KFC, and McDonalds and has a fear that his favorite street food stalls will have to make way for these big franchises in the near future.
Malcolm finds the most delicious Vietnamese dishes on the street rather than in restaurants. He explains that each stall only serves one dish like sticky rice, escargot or rice porridge and the seller, also the cook, has become a master of that dish.
Malcolm says he likes the Vietnamese conception of ‘You are what you eat’.
“My girlfriend is a dancer and she loves grilled chicken legs. Maybe eating rice porridge made from innards will help my stomach get better,” reasoned Malcolm.
Pork kidneys are soft and sweet
Although animal intestines are inedible in the US, Dale Watkins fell in love with the Phnom Penh noodle and kidney soup at first bite.
“The pork kidney has a very special taste, which is soft and sweet. The noodles are chewy. I love to eat to soup with spicy satay,” said Dale.
Dale used to take his foreign friends to try this dish without revealing to them what was inside. They all loved the soup even though they later found out they had tried pork innards.
After three years of living in Vietnam, Dale finds the Vietnamese proudest of their traditional dishes than any other nationals.
“Any Vietnamese meeting me for the first time ask what dishes I have tried,” said Dale.
“People here identify themselves with a special dish of their hometown. It is a remarkable part in your culture.”
Source Tuoi Tre News
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