Cat Ba island – a biosphere reserve of the world

Cat Ba is the convergence of forests and beaches. It was recognized by UNESCO as a biosphere reserve of the world. It is also one of 367 islands belonging to Cat Ba archipelago in northern Vietnam, which is adjacent to Ha Long Bay world heritage site.

 Cat Ba is also known as a pearl island at the average height of 70m above sea level, about 25km from Hai Phong city. In the island, there are an east-southern town and six communes. Cat Ba is crowded with the locals and tourists when festivals take place noisily and exiting to celebrate a new travel season in the beginning of April.

Amongst 1,969 islands in Ha Long Bay, Cat Ba is the largest one in which Cat Ba national park covers approximately half of its area. In many years, this park is the attractive destination of numerous domestic and international tourists, especially who love adventure. It has 4,500 hectares of primary forest mixed by board-leaved forest and coniferous one developing in limestone karsts. The park includes many endangered animals and plants, so this is various gene reserve area. 

The unique of park is up to 22 species recorded in Vietnam Red Book and 6 species in World Red Book. Among them, Cat Ba national park has the white head langur. It is said that Cat Ba is home this specie. Taking a tour to Cat Ba national park brings tourist strange feelings.
From Cat Ba town, about several dozen minutes on large road to the park, travelers can enjoy the fresh air and the natural beauty around here.

The first stop of tourists is the place to introduce the highlight and characteristic of the park. This is also place to keep many photos and samples of park in times of search and survey. But it is not all about this park because coming to Cat Ba forest, the most interesting thing is discovering it by yourselves. It is not easy to travel all parts of forest on foot because its area is very large. However, with over 10km going through the forest, tourists will explore many exciting things which nature bestows Cat Ba forest when they enjoy old trees, lakes in mountain, if more luckily, visitors will see white head langurs and the unique caves.

 Not only having forests, Cat Ba but also attracts many tourists by its fresh and blue beaches. Travelers can see small fishes under clean water when they choose to travel on cruise. Cat Ba beach has many small cruises to help tourists travel on the sea. Marine tourism service is very good, travelers only need to info for the hotel where they live, and after that there will have a cruise to take them to travel. Besides, Cat Ba is famous for Lan Ha Bay belonging to Ha Long Bay. If traveling on Lan Ha Bay to enjoy scenery of mountain and sea, that will bring tourists many interesting experiences.

It takes tourists 20 minutes to come to monkey island. In recent years, monkeys have brought here to live with nature but they are very friendly with the locals and tourists. In fact, its name is Cat Dua, one island on Lan Ha Bay. This island is an ideal destination for traveling and swimming. Not only Cat Dua, the cruise will take you to many other islands on the sea. The special thing at Cat Ba beach is a lot of small beaches around the foot of islands. It is considered as a prominent advantage of Cat Ba travel.

There are such many islands on the bay that they cannot name for all but they always give great impression in tourist’s heart. It takes all day to travel all around the bay but each destination here brings travelers strange feelings. Therefore, Lan Ha Bay is always the most attractive one with the domestic and international tourists.

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Hanoi in foreign journalist’s eyes

“Traveling in Southeast Asia can get a bit samey-samey after a while. It’s all temples, heat and tourist traps, right? Until you get to Hanoi. 

The Vietnamese capital is like a breath of fresh air. The city is a graceful pastiche of cultural influences from the French and Chinese, while the Vietnamese have stubbornly retained their local ways.

Here are the things that we love about it most and that makes Hanoi stand out from all other cities in Asia.

1. Leap-of-faith traffic

Express faith in humankind; step confidently out on Hanoi roads.

Crossing the road in Hanoi is unlike anywhere else.

It's a little bit like bungee jumping. You just have to believe it when people tell you "it's going to be alright, just keep walking" despite all your instincts telling you not to take the leap.

Once you do take that first step off the pavement, there's no turning back. You can only continue putting one foot in front of the other and hope that the mopeds will swerve around you instead of into you.

And it always works. The road traffic is crazy in Hanoi, but it is organized chaos and somehow pedestrians always make it to the other side. 

On foot it's a test of faith in fellow humankind as you step into moped madness, trusting scooters to avoid you as you cross the road.

On the back of a motorbike, it's like jumping into a river and running the rapids. Precarious and exhilarating.

2. Very fresh beer 

Bia hoi, Hanoi's "morning brew," enjoyed all day.

Hanoi is famous for it's dirt-cheap, unpasteurized beer made fresh daily -- bia hoi.

The official Hanoi bia hoi comes fresh daily from the Habeco factory. It ferments throughout the day, consequently tasting different at each vendor.

The flavor depends on the rate at which the beer is being sold and how much the seller has decided to water it down that day.

By day's end, unsold beer goes off and is thrown away. But there's rarely any left each evening.

The ridiculously cheap price and the fact that it is served out of plastic cups makes this the perfect anti-yuppie, anti-elitist brew, suited to the ideals of a socialist country.

Find it on every happening Hanoi corner, sometimes paired with food, other times with a television and karaoke machine offering classic tunes by Abba and Boney M.

The most famous Bia Hoi for travelers are right in the heart of the old quarter on 
Bia Hoi Corner at the intersection of Luong Ngoc Quyen and Ta Hien streets. 

3. The ultimate old quarter 

Hang Bac in the Old Quarter. Once the guild street of silversmiths, now home to travel agenciee, tourist cafes and tombstone carvers.

The Old Quarter isn't just a figurative phrase in Hanoi.

A maze of at least 36 streets between Hanoi’s famed Hoan Kiem Lake, the Red River and the few walls that remain of the Hanoi Citadel, the Old Quarter is more than 1,000 years old and still going strong. 

The oldest surviving neighborhood in Vietnam, the Old Quarter became a market place where artisans organized themselves into each occupying a street. 

The craftsmen have since been overwhelmed by tourism, motor bikes, bars and zippo lighter touts. But small temples, pagodas and hidden communal guild houses still remain from the era of the guilds. 

More iconic now are the tube houses, skinny and tall by force of a land tax on street frontage. Check out tube houses at 87 Ma May Street or at 38 Hang Dao.

To spot French colonial townhouses whose lower floors are often disguised by commercial facades, you just have to look at the roof of the house which is usually preserved in its original state. 

The Vietnamese heart of colonial Hanoi, the Old Quarter is where the anti-French movement originally headquartered itself.

4. Pop war

The Vietnam War -- most iconic war?

The Vietnam War is remembered as much for the atrocities that occurred as it is for the anti-war demonstrations abroad.

A pilgrimage to Hanoi is part of the catharsis sought by veterans of the Vietnam war.

Others who grew up hearing cool protest songs by Bob Dylan and The Rolling Stones, remain fascinated by a war that is associated with the rebellious 1960s and 1970s.

It is a war that influenced a decade of youth culture in the U.S. and continues to inform pop culture around the world.

For scars of U.S. bombings of Hanoi check out the Long Bien bridge which crosses the Red River and transported supplies from the port at Hai Phong. Or visit the Hoa Lo prison, dubbed the "Hanoi Hilton" by American GIs.

5. Shoulder-pole retail

Shoulder-pole vendors dance down the streets of Hanoi.

As a tourism capital, Hanoi is surprisingly devoid of mega shopping malls. Instead, there's the rather more interesting one-(wo)man shoulder pole shop.

Whatever you want comes to you in rattan baskets looped through a rope and balanced in pairs on bamboo poles resting on the shoulders.

These are both shop front and transport for foot vendors who can frequently be spotted underneath conical hats, triggering the photographic instinct in tourists.

Buy something -- bowls of pho, mangosteens, bunches of flowers, hair clips, household utensils -- and the photos will be accompanied by a broad Vietnamese grin.

6. Body of interest

Ho Chi Min getting Twitpic-ed.

Hanoi is the only city in Southeast Asia with an embalmed leader on display. The real body of Ho Chi Min lies preserved in his mausoleum, much against his own wish to be cremated.

Such is the consequence of being the person in the middle of a personality cult. 

Real emotion pours out of the thousands who come to view his body each day and view the man not as a dictator but as the hero of Vietnam’s independence from foreign control.

7. So French, but not

Joie de vivre translates well in Vietnam.

Whilst people from Hanoi are considered aloof by southern Vietnamese, they have nothing on Parisians.  

The Vietnamese have not forsaken their French colonial heritage and it is a great place to enjoy French aesthetics with Asian hospitality.

Many wonderful French buildings remain, mostly functional and not a few sporting a fashionable bohemian decay.

However, the success of French-Vietnamese fusion is best experienced through Hanoi's food.

French baguettes are stuffed with Vietnamese pâté and pickled vegetables to create the rich and tangy banh mi sandwiches.

Coffee is an obsession passed on by the French. In Hanoi, your espresso drips through a small aluminum filter into sweet condensed milk.  

Cafés are still arranged in the French style, as if the street is a theater and the café is the audience section. But diners are usually perched on humble plastic or rattan chairs that are mere inches from the ground.”

                                                                                            

Ha Noi- You and I

Festivals in December

Village’s tutelary god Trinh Phuc Tu Hoa Doan Trang Thanh Mau Royal who, after death, helped villagers to avoid danger and robbery Involves: Commemoration of the village’s tutelary god

1. Dong Nai

Province Ky Yen Festival at Nguyen Tri Phuong Temple

Time: December 2nd – 3rd (16th and 17th day of the month lunar month)

Location: Nguyen Tri Phuong Temple, Buu Hoa Ward, Bien Hoa city, Dong Nai province

Involves: Worship of Tien Hien and Hau Hien; a procession; offering; boi singing; and dancing.

2. An Giang

Nguyen Trung Truc Temple Festival

Time: December 4th-5th (18th and 19th day of the tenth lunar month)

Location: Nguyen Trung Truc Temple, Long Kien Commune, Cho Moi District, An Giang Province

objects of worship: Nguyen Trung Truc, the leader od an insurrection who rose up against the French in the South

Involves: Ceremonies; a recreation of the 19th century battle that destroyed French warships on the Nhat Tao River; boat races;Chinese chess; and traditional games

3. Quang Binh province

Le Son Village Rice Seedling Festival

Time: December 16th (1st day of the 11th lunar month)

Location: Le Son Village, Tuyen Hoa District, Quang Binh Province

objects of worship: Village’s tutelary god

Involves: Offering; a hardworking couple with a son and a daughter plant rice seedling in front of the communal house.

4. Ha noi

Nhi Khe Village Festival

Time: 11th December (25th day of the 10th lunar month)

Location: Nhi Khe Commune, Thuong Tin District, Hanoi

objects of worship: Mr. Doan Van Tai, the ancestor of wood carving in the 16th century Involves: Ancestor worship; a ceremony; chess games; and cheo singing.

5. Hung Yen

Duong Phuc Festival

Time: December 31st (16th day of the lunar month)

Location: Kim Dong District, Hung Yen Provinces

objects of worship: Village’s tutelary god Trinh Phuc Tu Hoa Doan Trang Thanh Mau Royal who, after death, helped villagers to avoid danger and robbery

Involves: Commemoration of the village’s tutelary god

6. Thai Binh

An Co Village Festival Time: December 30th ( 15th day of the 11th lunar month)

Location: Thuy An commune, Thai Thuy District, Thai Binh Province

objects of worship: Village’s tutelary god- Nam Hai Dai Vuong who encouraged farmers, protected crops, warded off natural disasters and diseases

Involves: Processions of tutelary god; sacrifice-offering ceremony in which 24 worshippers wear felt hats, mandarin boots and armor; chess games, wrestling; and cheo singing.

7. Hanoi City

Manh Tan Village Festival

Time: December 35th (10th day of 11th lunar month) Location: Manh Tan Hamlet, Thuy Lam Commune, Dong Anh District, Hanoi

objects of worship: Duong Giang, Ly Trieu Quoc Mau (Mother of the Country in the Ly Dynasty)

Halloween in Vietnam

Halloween is an interesting holiday but in Vietnam, it is not one of traditional festivals so it’s not held nationwide. However, you can enjoy full of Halloween atmosphere in the big cites, especially in restaurants, bars or hotels.Halloween is not one of traditional festivals in Vietnam; however, some big cities in Vietnam do also celebrate and enjoy Halloween parties. Vietnamese people believe that when a person died, they will move to another world. They will be allowed to go to the heaven or hell that depends on their attitude and behavior when they still live. Halloween is quite close ritual to the Vietnamese when naked hungry souls fly out and return to the ground.Halloween is becoming more and more popular in Vietnam, especially in the major cities. 

Halloween parties are mostly held at backpacker areas, usually in coffee shops, bars and restaurants. There are many activities for Halloween party but the most popular one which appears at almost every party is wearing Halloween costumes. At the coffee shops, scary movies are often played until midnight while bars and restaurants offer appealing Halloween deals with uniquely Halloween dishes such as blood soup made by tomato and musk sticks or Tombstone biscuits with the engraved R.I.P letters.The more upscale hotels tend to have a buffet party with a $30-$50 per ticket and invite singers and dancers to stir up the party. However, because Halloween was introduced to Vietnam in a touristy way, Halloween night in Vietnam is basically formalistic with the main purpose: to have fun. However, to make your Halloween in Vietnam complete, the costumes and accessories are indispensable.

In Hanoi, there is a street named Hang Ma supplying all things for this festival. You can find it around Old Quarter and the best way is walking to both see and choose what you want. Here, there are dozens of shops selling costumes and accessories for Halloween. However, most of things here are colorful and made in China, not make sure about health. In addition, you should bargain when wanting to buy something here and especially, keep you handbag carefully in case being theft because it’s very crowded in this street.

 In Ho Chi Minh City, near the backpacker area of Pham Ngu Lao, you can find Halloween Art which specializes mostly in costumes, many kinds of masks but a limited selection of accessories. On Pasteur Street, you may try Hanah, one of a chain of party supply stores in the city, where you can find a greater selection of costume accessories and a healthy number of Halloween decorations. However, prices here may be a little higher than others.

If you are having the plan to enjoy Halloween in Vietnam, you should search some detail information about Halloween in Vietnam and check your hotel which celebrates Halloween party or not and Halloween activities in you destinations. Have a good trip and fun Halloween festival!

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Best place for honey moon

5 destinations below are the best suggestions for your honey moon to make it romantic, relaxing and sweet.
Sapa

Means of transportation: the most common way from Hanoi to Sapa is train with the ticket fee of 200 0

00-400 000VND, depending on the seats or beds. The train leaves Hanoi at about 10p.m and comes to Lao Cao train station at early morning. From train station to Sapa town, you can take a taxi or bus with the fee of 50 000VND/person. 
Hotels: the couples usually choose some hotels near Ham Rong mountain with the average fee of 250 000-400 000/day.
Attractions: love market (only on Saturday night), Ham Rong mountain, Cat Cat village, Ta Van, Ta Phin, Silver Waterfall, etc.
Specialty: the diversity of BBQ, sturgeon, salmon, many kinds of vegetables, mushroom species, etc. 
Nha Trang
Attractions: Wonderful beaches, a lot of entertaining places for the couples such as, Oceanography Institute, Bao Dai Palace, Cham Ponagar Tower. You can come to the mud bathing area (30 minute move by taxi) or you can relax at night by walking on the Villa Road with many coffee houses, ice-scream, cakes with the strange styles. Resorts: Vinpearland, Silkworm Island with traveling service by hot air balloon, etc. 
Specialty: jellyfish noodle, fish noodle, special cakes, etc. Especially, lobster here is quite cheap, sold right in the beaches. When you buy, your lobster will be grilled immediately on the beach. The taste is very special.
Da Lat

Means of transportation: airplanes or car. If you fly to Da Lat, you can take a taxi from Lien Khuong airport to Da Lat city with the fee of 180 000-250 000VND.
Hotels: near Da Lat or Xuan Huong Lake
Attractions: romantic land for honeymoon such as, Da Lat flower garden with hundreds of flower species, Crazy House, dreamy hill, love valley, etc. You can hire a motorbike to move easily with the average fee of 100 000VND/day. Other destinations: Truc Lam Pagoda, valleys, Lang Biang Plateau.
Specialty: grilled spring roll, crab soup, etc.
Phu Quoc Island
Means of transportation: airplane, cruise
Hotels: this island will cut the electricity from 22 p.m everyday so you should choose resorts to make sure to have electricity all day.
Attractions: beautiful and fresh beach, Phu Quoc Prison, pepper garden, blueberry garden
Specialty: seafood market with hundreds of delicious and cheap dishes with many strange fish species, special blueberry wine
Con Dao
Attractions: nice beaches, great swimming and snorkeling opportunities, maritime and national parks, diving, fresh and cool air.
Specialty: the diversity of fresh seafood, shrimp, kinds of fish sauce.

Hugo Boss- the first time in Vietnam

Hugo Boss has just appeared in Vietnam with an event of a racing boat named “ambassadorial boat” Hugo Boss in Ninh Van bay, Nha Trang over past days after opening the first shop Boss Black in 60 Ly Thai To, Hanoi.

 

 This is the first time of “Hugo Boss” racing boat coming Vietnam in the journey around Asia which begins from Hong Kong, china, Thailand, Vietnam and end at Singapore.

 In 2003, Hugo Boss sponsored a racing boat team of the captain Alex Thomson in the famous race Rolex Fastnet along the coast of England. Since then, the brand name “Hugo Boss” has attached with boat team of Alex Thompson for over nine years, and especially the image of this branch is well known with many countries over the world, it is a way to find out and welcome guests in main markets of the top fashion label – Hugo Boss.

 

Hugo Boss is one of the longest sponsors for racing boat over the world.  It is said that Hugo Boss will not stop with a journey around the world two times and enjoy the Barcelona World Race 2010/2011; the team of Alex Thompson continuously attend many professional races with the brand “Hugo Boss”.

Hugo Boss is a 60 feet long racing boat with the strange and modern design. Two sides of the boat is two opposite colors ( black and white) which is made with purpose of bringing unforgettable experiences to visitors.

Hugo Boss is a special product for a fashion firm. It expresses the picture of the product “Boss” such as modern, formal and confident. Hugo Boss is a prestigious trade name in fashion market with high standard for both men and women. Now, Hugo Boss represents for 110 countries with products named “Boss and Hugo”. Meanwhile, Boss consists of four main kinds of products as follows: Boss Black, Boss selection, Boss Orange, and Boss Green but Hugo only has a type of product named Hugo.

Nowadays, the racing boat team of Alex Thomson has two boats No. 99 and 8055 (perfect numbers) attached with the image “Hugo Boss”. The value of each boat is estimated approximately four millions Euro with perfect details. Especially the boat no. 8055 is the written way with number of the word “BOSS” has gone to Ninh Van bay, Nha Trang city in An Lam resort in the beginning days of August. Therefore, if anyone has chance to Vietnam on these days, do not forget to visit Nha Trang to experience these formal and interesting sports.

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