Travel 102 km from the capital Hanoi

Travel 102 km from the capital Hanoi, one will find Hai Phong – one of North Vietnam’s most beautiful yet strategically important port cities

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“Hai” means ocean, and “Phong” means to defend. Hai Phong thus can be fierce, its oceans more than once fighting off invaders to protect Vietnam’s sovereignty. But this city with its temples and beaches can be magnificently elegant and rich at the same time. It is nicknamed “Flamboyant city” after the red flamboyant trees which grow abundantly around the city.

GEOGRAPHY

Hai Phong lies 102 km from Hanoi, on the very East of the Northern Vietnam coastline. The city is one of Vietnam’s major ports and industrial area. Conveniently situated at the crossroads of major sea routes, water ways, railways and highways, Hai Phong is a main traffic connection in North Vietnam.

CLIMATE

Affected by monsoon winds, Hai Phong has a cold, dry winter from November to April and a hot, humid summer season from May to October. The average rain fall is from 1.600 to 1.800 mm, and storms tend to occur from June to September. Average humidity is 80 – 85%, average temperature is 20C to 23C. The temperature may vary from 40C in the summer to 5C in the winter months.

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PLACES TO SEE

Do Son  beach

Stretching 22km wide between two rivers Cam and Van Uc, Do Son with its soft white sand has always been an ideal beach destination. Besides the luscious natural beauty of its 3 beaches, Do Son also processes many cultural and historical artifacts.

Here, on top of Ngoc Son mountain are the remains of a 10 story tower made of clay and an ancient Buddhist temple (both built in the 11th century). The temple displays one of the most grandiose and significant Vietnamese Buddhist bells of the era. The bell was, for a few hundred years, submerged in the ocean after its fall during a large storm. It wasn’t until 1958 that local fishermen managed to re-discover the bell and bring it up to land. After nature’s harsh treatments, the bell (made of a large percentage of pure gold) still chimes near to perfection.

Buffalo fighting is a famous local tradition that has dated back hundreds of years. Tourists coming to Do Son on the 9th of the 8th month yearly (according to the lunar calendar) can witness the final rounds of this much anticipated festive event at the town stadium.

Those keen on history may chose to visit the “No-Number Port” where ships without license numbers from North Vietnam started their journey on the Ho Chi Minh sea route to bring aid to the North Vietnam army during the war. Another historical destination is the newly restored Bao Dai mansion, where Vietnam’s last king spent many summer holidays and served important guests.

Do Son also boasts a grand casino that promises to bring fun and entertainment to all who remember to bring their passport upon entry. 

Cat Ba Island

Cat Ba is the largest out of the nearly 2000 islands surrounding the Halong bay area. Cat ba possesses 17.300ha of tropical forest, 570 of which is primeval. Under the green canopy is a diverse ecosystem, with hundreds of valuable medicinal herbs and trees. Cat Ba  is also home to the endangered Komodo iguana, which can way up to 100kg. Tourists visiting Cat Ba have plenty of choices between the island’s tropical beaches, caves and the Cat Ba  National Park. 

Quán hoa (Flower market)

Designed in 1941 by the French,  Quan Hoa is a complex of small flower stalls and boutiques designed to combine Western and Oriental standards of beauty. This bustling yet elegant flower marker has become inspirations for many artists and photographers. 

Den Nghe (Nghe temple)

The temple worships the female general Le Chan, who is considered the founder of Hai Phong city. The temple is unique because it has a bed and musical stone carved from completely stone, with intricate dragon decorations.

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The attractive tourist destination Sapa

The popular tourist destination has long been a symbol of the land of misty Sapa.

Sapa Church.

Located in the heart of Sapa town church has always attracted many tourists come here. Was the French building from the 20th century works with bold dayla unique architecture of France. The shape of the temple architecture built in the shape of the cross under the Roman architectural style Gotic. With roof, bell tower, arches ... are pyramids all strokes create uplifting, elegant for quite trinh.Nha church is intact including area churches, houses of priest, hut Origin, the angel, the livestock, fences, garden sanctuary.

tourist attractions most appealing sapa

It is especially easy to see is the prime location situated behind the temple as Ham Rong Mountain experienced a strong fulcrum, right front area of the church is very flat and open, airy space created here is also frequently occur where the unique festival of Mountain City residents.

tourist attractions most appealing vietnam sapa 

For Catholics the choice is also very important direction it carries profound spiritual meaning: First ruins turning eastward as the sun rises, direction of Christian welcome light source. West End church as Christ's birthplace.

Ham Rong Mountain.

Located right behind the old church, Ham Rong Mountain is a beautiful panoramic view from on high Sapa you can the whole town nestled below the fog.

tourist attractions most appealing sapa vietnam

Ham Rong as a miniature plateau, the climate here is cool all year round enabling fruitful trees, grown from broadleaf trees, conifers to the shrub, vines. Especially here so many beautiful flowers including nameless flowers and flowers were imported from foreign countries such as cherry blossoms, hydrangeas, quartz ... .mang the flavor for the northwestern mountains .

tourist attractions most appealing sapa

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Terraced fields in Sapa.

The combination of nature and the hand labor of the people here have created a framework for the Sapa poetic, lyrical makes many tourists over here to marvel at. It was beauty that many photographers are not afraid to climb the pass, wading streams, overcome difficulties to record the best moments ever.

tourist attractions most appealing sapa

Sapa has 2 terraces most beautiful season that is pouring water season, making space here as a giant picture wearing gold and grain season dreamlike beautiful nursery.

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Sapa- a great place to travel

Sapa is situated in the country’s northwest at an altitude of 1,600 meters. In the early 20th century the French took advantage of Sapa's cool climate, developing it into a summer retreat from the heat and humidity of Hanoi.

Today, vietnam sapa  town still retains its European feel, largely due to the French architecture and gardens and today is a popular destination due to its beautiful scenery and colorful ethnic people. Sapa town is reached via a winding 40km road from the town of Lao Cai.

The drive provides a taste of what is to come as the road winds its way up through lush rice-terraced valleys and breath-taking scenery passing several different minority villages along the way. The valleys surrounding Sapa are home to several of Vietnam’s 54 ethnic minority groups, each with their own distinctive dress, customs and dialects.

These tribes can all be seen at the weekend market in Sapa town to trade with one another. Sapa has also become a destination for travelers seeking adventure for Vietnam travel. It is a staging point for trekking in the nearby valleys and for climbing Mount Fansipan, Vietnam's highest peak as well as motorcycle rides in to the wild hill country. Extended treks to visit villages of minority tribes are also available.

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Places of interest 

Mount Fansipan

Indochina's highest peak, Mount Fansipan is only 9km from Sapa town and climbing to its summit is one of Asia's most challenging adventures. The trek takes visitors through tiny remote villages and areas of rainforest. 

Hilltribe Villages (Ta Phin, Ta Van, Lao Chai, Cat Cat)

Shorter treks are also very rewarding, and within just a few hours walkers can be in villages that have seen few foreigners. The hill-tribe peoples in this area of Vietnam wear colorful traditional dress as a matter of daily routine and all follow their traditional agricultural way of life which has remained unchanged for centuries.

The various ethnic peoples are relatively easy to identify due to their attire. For example the H’mong wears dark clothing, usually blue or black. The dye is fashioned from the indigo or hemp plant that is native to the area. H’mong women wear long aprons with embroidered waistcoats and have their hair rolled up into a turban-like hat, whilst the men wear a black skullcap, long waistcoat and loose trousers. 

Another equally distinctive minority are the Dao (pronounced Zao). Dao women are particularly striking as they shave their hair and eyebrows and wear a large red turban often covered with old coins or jewelry.

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Vietnam north to south

This three week holiday gives you the opportunity to really explore the culture, food, history and landscape of Vietnam. From the bustling colonial city of Hanoi to the lush, green terraces of Sapa; the craggy limestone peaks of Halong Bay to the floating markets of Cai Rang – find out how the locals really live, with the comfort of an English-speaking guide throughout, to help you enjoy every part of your trip to the maximum.

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This itinerary is purely a suggestion, and can be tailor-made to your requirements, so please contact one of our consultants with your dates and requests and we’ll put together a bespoke quotation for you.

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The climate in Vietnam varies dramatically depending on the region you are visiting and is incredibly diverse with weather ranging from snow and frost in the northern hills to tropical conditions in the south. There are two monsoons in Vietnam; the winter monsoon arrives between October and March and brings cold and wet winters to the north and dry and warm conditions in the south. From April to October the summer monsoon brings humid weather to the whole country apart from those regions sheltered by mountains. For the best balance we recommend visiting in either April, May or October.

This itinerary is purely a suggestion and can be tailor-made to your requirements; please contact us with your dates and requests and we'll put together a bespoke quotation for you.

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Discover flawless beauty in Phu Quoc

Phu Quoc is known as the pearl island, it wins many tourists’ favours to be called “the heaven on earth”. the island is the largest island in Vietnam, formed in Kien Giang Province, located in the Southwest of the country, being about 120km from Rach Gia.

Phu Quoc island has cool weather all the year with an average temperature of around 28 degrees Celsius, a tropical monsoon climate  which is divided into two distinct seasons: the dry season and the rainy season. Gifted the beautiful weather, calm sea, and a few rainy days,… Phu Quoc is the ideal destination for those who are planing to go travel somewhere fantasic.

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1. Dinh Cau is located on a cliff in a turtle shape facing the sea, 200m from Duong Dong bustling town. Dinh Cau is the holy place to the people on the island where is the top place to be discovered.


2. Ham Ninh fishing village is an ancient village nestled at the foot of Ham Ninh towering mountains, facing the immense sea. Come to Ham Ninh you will experience life intacting pristine rustic cottages with bamboo walls, and warm hearted people here.


3. Painting stream is a famous tourist resort in Phu Quoc closed to Duong Dong town center 9km. Visitors can enjoy the picturesque charming natural or immerse in fresh and cool water, and even surrounded by green trees and fragrant grass… Perhaps this is the reson why the stream is known as Painting

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Travel to Halong bay in Vietnam

The bay consists of a dense cluster of 3000 limestone monolithic islands, each topped with thick jungle vegetation, which rise spectacularly from the ocean. Several of the islands are hollow, with enormous caves. Hang Dau Go (Wooden stakes Cave) is the largest grotto in the Halong area. French tourists visited in the late 19th century, and named the cave Grotte des Merveilles. Its three large chambers contain large numerous stalactites and stalagmites (as well as 19th century French graffiti).

Some of the islands support floating villages of fishermen, who ply the shallow waters for 200 species of fish and 450 different kinds of mollusks. Many of the islands have acquired their names as a result of interpretation of their unusual shapes: such names include Voi Islet (elephant), Ga Choi Islet (fighting cock), and Mai Nha Islet (roof). 989 of the islands have been given names. Birds and animals including bantams, antelopes, monkeys, and iguanas also live on some of the islands.

The bay was World Heritage listed by UNESCO at the 18th meeting of the Committee of the World Heritages of UNESCO (in Thailand on December 17th, 1994). It is one of viet nam‘s most popular tourist destinations.

Halong Bay has been the setting for local naval battles against Vietnam’s coastal neighbours. On three occasions in the labyrinth of channels between the islands the Vietnamese army stopped the Chinese from landing. In 1288 General Tran Hung Dao stopped Mongol ships from sailing up the nearby Bach Dang River by placing steel-tipped wooden stakes at high tide, sinking the Mongol Dubhai Khan’s fleet.

During the Vietnam War, many of the channels between the islands were heavily mined by the navy of the United States, some of which pose a threat to shipping to this day.

The surrounding land region of Halong City is rich with high grade coal deposits, and is operated by the Vietnamese government.

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Visit the Ancient Village of Bat Trang, Vietnam

700 years later, I now take a journey to Bat Trang, along the dike by the Red river to witness the beauty of potteries. Bat Trang includes two villages, Bat Trang and Giang Cao, Gia Lam district, Hanoi. The commune features a pottery market, which is a destination of anyone, who would like to contemplate the beauty of potteries.

Stepping in Bat Trang pottery market, one can see the wonder of potteries that we cannot ignore and surely will buy something to take back home. At the entrance gate of the market, statue coloring workshops are favorite places of not only chirldren but also adults. Here you can choose a statue and color it as what you imagine. After being colored, the statue will be your own work and taken home as a sourvenir.



You can also try to make some potteries right in the parking. With available wet clay and machineries, artisans will instruct you to create your own potteries. The coloring and making potteries are some of entertaining activities in the village. In addition, you can wander around thousands of various potteries, in which some of them are 2m hight, to enjoy the beauty of potteries. You can find every type of pottery products in Bat Trang market. You can buy a vase or a glazed jar to decorate your room.



You can also buy a variety of statues such as the statues of woodcutter, Buddha and fisherman to make a collection of the trip. Stylized teapots at over a hunddred thousand VND are the most attractive. Many shops do not allow you to take photos. This is explained that because many tourists just would like to takes photos without buying any products, meanwhile the products need to be sold. To take photos in these shops, you have to buy some products here!.

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Ha Noi Traditional Craft Village Tourism and Culture Festival 2015 kicks off

(TITC) – On Oct. 7th 2015, Ha Noi Traditional Craft Village Tourism and Culture Festival 2015 kicked off with the Opening ceremony at Quan Ngua Sport Palace, Ha Noi under the theme "Traditional quintessence - Integration and Spread".

The festival aims to honour outstanding craft villages and artisans in Ha Noi and other localities in the North. It is also a good opportunity to promote tourism potential of the traditional craft villages and connect travel businesses with the villages.

The festival features 300 booths from 22 traditional craft villages of Ha Noi and 15 provinces and cities in various fields including ceramics, rattan, embroidery, weaving, folk paintings, paper making, wood carving and bronze casting; cuisine and travel businesses.

At the festival, visitors will get a chance to know more about traditional craft villages in Ha Noi and to enjoy culinary art of Ha Noi and other localities in the North.

The Ha Noi Traditional Trade Village’s Culture and Tourism Fetival 2015 is a part of activities to celebrate 61st anniversary of the Ha Noi Liberation Day (October 10, 1954-2015) and will last until October 11.

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