Posts Tagged Vietnam
Shore leave
Posted by Huyen Tran in Destinations, Travel Blog on December 30, 2009
The Nam Du archipelago is an undiscovered paradise off the southern coast of Vietnam. It takes six hours for our small ferry to bounce over the waves to Cu Tron Island, 100km from the coastal city of Rach Gia in Kien Giang province in the southwest of Vietnam. Cu Tron is part of the Nam Du archipelago, a barely known set of islands that covers 40sqkm of land in the Gulf of Thailand.
There are 21 islands altogether, of which Cu Tron Island is the largest. Legend has it that the island was named by Lord Nguyen Anh, who sought safety here in 1870 after coming off second best in a battle with the Tay Son rebel army that had taken control of mainland Vietnam.
Lacking water, Nguyen Anh commanded his soldiers to dig a well, which is still there today on the northwest of Cu Tron Island by Ngu beach. Nguyen Anh and his troops were also short of food, so the locals helped them dig up yam to cook. When Nguyen Anh later took the throne as King Gia Long in 1802, he named the island Cu Tron, which means the island of the Round Yam, in memory of his tough times in exile. From the wharf you can walk along a three kilometre paved road towards the central town of An Son commune.
Getting the most out of Sapa travel
Posted by Huyen Tran in Travel Blog on December 28, 2009
Located in the northwestern mountains of the country, Sapa is a modest town nestled within the Hoang Lien Son mountain range in Lao Cai Province. Sapa is an excellent destination to enjoy outdoor activities with stunning landscapes that attract both domestic and foreign tourists.
Travelling in Sapa, few tourists miss an opportunity to trek to mountain villages and majestic waterfalls.
Cat Cat Village sits atop unspoiled landscapes and is a desirable destination for trekkers seeking to spend full days walking in a world of natural charm and tranquility.
Visiting the village, tourists will discover various traditional trades of the local people such as weaving, jewelry manipulation, metal work and stone carvings.
Hal Phillips Gets Sideways in the Vietnamese Highlands
Posted by Huyen Tran in Travel Blog on December 21, 2009
We have been only a day in Phan Thiet, and frankly, I’d like to stay another two at least. The links at the Novotel Ocean Dunes & Golf Resort are superb (good enough to warrant another go-round) and only a fool would beg off one fully flaked-out day on the hotel’s quiet stretch of beach. But the itinerary can be a stern taskmaster, so I keep my peace and prepare for our scheduled departure.
Then, on the way to breakfast, I see them—the motorcycles and their attendant sidecars, all neatly lined up in front of the hotel—and my ambivalence melts away. No one in his or her right mind could resist the sheer romance of a couple hundred kilometers by sidecar from this tropical perch on the South China Sea to the mountain retreat of Dalat. I’m glad to see that my driver, Gilles Poggi, sports a krama, that distinctive, all-purpose Cambodian scarf. I want one too. And I’m hoping we can line up behind our respective machines and, at the sound of a gun, begin the journey rally-style.
Food and Drink in Vietnam
Posted by Huyen Tran in Travel Tips on December 10, 2009
Food and Drink in Vietnam
Increasingly famous worldwide with restaurants sprawled over the globe, yet no Vietnamese food abroad can equal in flavour or quality to that made in Vietnam itself. In brief, Vietnamese cuisine depends heavily on rice grown in water paddies throughout the country, with dishes varying from simple everyday meals to most complex dishes designed for the King. Reaching a balance between fresh herbs and meats; as well as a selective use of spices to reach a fine taste, Vietnamese food can be considered one of the healthiest yet most divine cuisines worldwide.
Spices and ingredients.
Vietnam’s ingredients reflect its geography and climate. Rice (grown in water paddies throughout the country) is the main starch used in everyday meals, and is also made into different kind of cakes and noodles. Besides a number of Buddhist vegetarian dishes, most Vietnamese dishes or meals are a combination of a variety of vegetables, herbs and meats. Read the rest of this entry »
Radiant smiles of kids in the Northwest of Vietnam
Posted by Huyen Tran in Photos on December 8, 2009
There is nothing quite like viewing the spectacular scenery and colorful ethnic minorities in mountainous region of Northwest Vietnam. Alongside the wonderful scenery you can’t fail to miss the warm, natural smiles of young children here: (Pictures source: Dan Tri newspaper)
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