Thứ Tư, 26 tháng 8, 2015
Da Nang - Viet Nam
Da Nang (Đà Nẵng) is Vietnam's third largest city, and is located on the Eastern Sea coast, midway between Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City and the largest city of Central Vietnam.
followed by the Han River Bridge Quay - the famous bridge by the uniqueness of it. This bridge is considered the highlight on sky modern architecture Vietnam because they can swivel..
Followed by bridge Thuan Phuoc suspension bridge
Son Tra Mountain, known to American soldiers during the Vietnam War as Monkey Mountain, is a mountain located on Son Tra Peninsula, in Son Tra district, Đa Nang, Vietnam, overlooking the Bay of Đa Nang and the East Sea
Pagoda Linh Ung
Pagoda Linh Ung
Chessboard
Thứ Tư, 20 tháng 5, 2015
Nha Trang - Viet Nam
NHA TRANG - OVERNIGHT TRAIN
Arrive in Nha Trang at approx. 5am and transfer to your hotel.
Once referred to as the 'Cannes of the Orient', Nha Trang's sandy palm-lined beach and island-dotted bay still make an idyllic picture, and a cosmopolitan feel prevails in the town itself.
Spend your days here soaking up the sun on a lovely beach, exploring the local markets or checking out the ancient Cham Towers nearby. Make sure you try some of the excellent seafood restaurants.
Board an overnight train bound for Danang (approx. 8 hours) late evening on Day 5.
VIETNAM IN A BANANA LEAF
THE HO (CHI MINH) TO THE HANOI. SEE HOW THE LOCALS LIVE ON AN OVERNIGHT HOMESTAY IN THE MEKONG DELTA, THEN GET YOUR BEACH ON IN NHA TRANG. PAGODAS, HISTORY AND YUM YUMS GALORE IN HOI AN AND HUE. DRIFT THE EMERALD WATERS OF HALONG BAY BY BOAT AND GO FOR A SNOOP THROUGH ANY OF HANOI'S MANY MARKETS. THIS IS YOUR FULL-ON TRIP UP THE COAST OF VIETNAM AND INTO HALONG BAY. FROM HECTIC HO CHI MINH CITY TO HISTORIC HANOI. READY, SET, PAGODA.
HO CHI MINH CITY
Xin chao! Welcome to Vietnam.
Your adventure begins with a welcome meeting at 6pm on Day 1.
Please look for a note in the hotel lobby or ask the hotel reception where it will take place. If you can't arrange a flight that will arrive in time, you may wish to arrive a day early so you're able to attend. We'll be happy to book additional accommodation for you (subject to availability). If you're going to be late, please inform the hotel reception. We'll be collecting your insurance details and next of kin information at this meeting, so please ensure you have all these details to provide to your leader.
Formerly known as Saigon, Ho Chi Minh City is characterised by a vast array of sights and sounds, and is a fascinating blend of old and new, East and West. The huge number of people rushing about their daily lives in Vietnam's largest city gives it a dynamic atmosphere and the French influence is evident in the excellent baguettes and coffee on offer. Much of city life takes place on the busy streets lined with shops, stalls and vendors, who have their wares spread out on the footpath and sell everything from soup to sophisticated electronics.
If you arrive early, this city has a vast array of sights and sounds to explore: ancient pagodas and cathedrals sit squarely up against the former Presidential Palace, historic Dong Khoi Street (the Rue Catinat from Graham Greene's novel, The Quiet American) and the bustling markets of Ben Thanh and Cholon (Chinatown).
The coastal Vietnamese town of Hoi An
The coastal Vietnamese town of Hoi An is known for its sleepy atmosphere and strong French influence. It’s a great spot to relax between bustling capital cities, but that doesn’t mean there’s nothing to do.
In fact, the reality is quite the opposite. Here are just a few suggestions to get you started.
1. Visit the banh mi Queen
Image c/o Capture ItOnce, Flickr
If you’re new to banh mi, picture this: an unbelievably crusty baguette, filled with pork, salad, egg, and a number of mystery fillings that somehow make the roll not only indubitably Vietnamese, but so delicious that a regular sandwich will never satisfy you again.
A trip to Hoi An would be incomplete without a visit to Madam Khanh, the Banh Mi Queen: a fierce older lady who rules her shop like – well, you know. Her cart is a 10-15 minute walk from the centre of town (or a short taxi ride), and is open for business every day. It’s less than $2AUD per roll, with an extra 50c or so for a beer. Cheap, delicious bliss.
2. Get some new threads
Image c/o Emilio Labrador, Flickr
One of Hoi An’s biggest tourist drawcards are the tailors that line the streets in the centre of town. Fancy suits and dresses, t-shirts, bags, leather shoes – whatever you want made, someone can make it happen.
Items that are pricey back home, like suits and gowns, are drastically cheaper, and everyday clothing can be anywhere between low and average price depending on the quality you are after and detail required. The best part is, almost all tailors in Hoi An offer free fittings and adjustments until it is perfect.
If you do plan on getting clothing made, make sure you do your research and shop around. Try a few different shops, get quotes before settling (and try to haggle), and ensure you ask how quick their turnaround is (most are around 24-48 hours).
3. Get cookin’
Image c/o Michael Cory, Flickr
Cooking classes are a tourist rite of passage in Vietnam, and you can do one in any city. But, there’s something about the soothing pace and slightly less commercial feel of Hoi An that makes it the perfect spot to get out the chopping board and learn what on earth is actually in a bowl of pho.
There are many different classes on offer – some are done by private providers, others are offered through restaurants in town. Ask your accommodation if they recommend a class, try out a few restaurants, or ask friends for suggestions. Gioan is a good choice (ask for Ms Vy, she sings Abba songs); their kitchen is on the riverfront, and they offer private classes. They also allow you to choose your own menu, which is generally 3-4 traditional dishes for around the price of a standard meal.
4. Explore the riverside
Image c/o Loi Nguyen Duc, Flickr
If you’re wandering through the centre of Hoi An, you are likely to pass by the shore of the Thu Bon River. There are hundreds of market stalls lined up next to the water: jewellery, trinkets, clothes, seafood – you name it, you’ll find it there.
Buy some tamarinds to crack open and chew on, grab some presents for family members. Pretend not to be interested in the cheesy tourist shirts (‘Good morning Vietnam!’) and then buy one in four different colours. Avoid the ladies who ask if you’d like your nails done on the side of the road, and as the locals suggest, hold onto your bag – tight. Take up a shouted offer for a boat ride.
If you tire of the hustle and bustle, duck into one of the cafes along the riverfront. Sit down out of the heat and grab a drink, or order some cao lau – the delicious traditional noodle dish of Hoi An. Wait for the sun to go down, and watch the streets light up with colourful lanterns.
5. Treat yourself
Image c/o David McKelvey, Flickr
You’ve stuffed your fact with baguettes and noodles, you’ve bought as many clothes as your baggage allowance can take, and you can’t quite face another market stall. Now, dear traveller, it’s time to treat yourself.
Pick a quiet cafe in the centre of town, and try some sweet Vietnamese coffee. If you’ve been there, done that, and are feeling a little adventurous, find somewhere that does egg coffee – Cafe 57 is a favourite. Just make sure you prepare yourself: it’s condensed milk, sugar, coffee, and raw egg (yet somehow, delightful).
If you fancy something a little more hands on, get a massage. Pandanus Spa is a good pick – they offer traditional massage, and almost any other relaxation treatment you can think of. Or, head to one of the temples in town (Quang Trieu and Fukien Assembly Halls are much-loved) and get some peace and quiet.
Feature image c/o Khanh Hmoong, Flickr
WELCOME TO VIETNAM
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| welcome to vietnam |
WELCOME TO VIETNAM
If you haven’t travelled in Vietnam, you haven’t lived. This country is mesmerizing, intoxicating, mind-expanding and super fun. In Ho Chi Minh City, one of the highlights is the traffic. We kid you not.
Find a safe spot on a roof terrace and be hypnotized by the noisy ballet of motorbikes below. You can stay with local friends in the Mekong, cruise around stunning islands in Nha Trang and Halong Bay, get a new wardrobe in Hoi An and explore Hanoi’s art scene while munching on a baguette.
Vietnam is the kind of place you’ll leave relaxed, amazed, cuisinely satisfied, well-dressed and with a thousand tales to tell. Maybe more.
