Laocai

Bac Ha Market

Cat cat village

Ham Rong Mountain

SaPa ancient rock field

Taphin village

Buonmathuot

Kontum

Pleiku

Dalat

Can Tho

Dien Bien Phu

Son La

Dong Hoi

DMZ (Demilitarized Zone)

Dong Ha

Quy Nhon

Con Dao

Hoi an

Perfume pagoda

Hoa lu - Tam Coc- Bich Dong

Dinh and Le Temples

Phat Diem Cathedral

Cuc Phuong National Park

Lac Village in Mai Chau Valley

Hoa Binh

Pu Luong Nature Reserve

My Lai

Phan Thiet

Muine

Lai Chau

Bac Ninh

But Thap Pagoda

Vinh Long

Mekong Delta

Long Xuyen

Sadec

Chau Doc

Tuyen Quang

Tan Trao historic sites

Caobang

Pacbo cave

Bangioc water fall

Backan

ATK

Babe lake

Babe lake

Thai nguyen

Nui Coc Lake

Nui Coc Lake

Ha Giang

Dong Van Highland

Khau Vai Love Market Festival

Area: 8,057 sq. km.
Population: 639,300 habitants (2003)
Regional code: 0510
Capital: Lao Cai Town.
Districts: Muong Khuong, Bat Xat, Bac Ha, Bao Thang, Sapa, Bao Yen, Van Ban, Si Ma Cai.
Ethnic groups: Viet (Kinh), H'Mong, Tay, Dao, Thai...

Lao Cai is one of several provinces situated on the Sino-Vietnamese border in the northwestern part of the country. Apart from the Kinh people, the province has several ethnic minority groups, including the H'mong, Tay, Dao, and Thai. The average temperature in the high mountainous area is between 18 and 28oC, and between 20 and 22oC in the lowlands. Economic potentialities: fruit gardens, cattle breeding.

In the winter, European people visiting Lao Cai may feel nostalgic at the site of the picturesque snowcapped mountain peaks. one may feel lighthearted when spring comes and many white peach flowers are in bloom.
Other famous sites include Fansipan Mountain, at 3,141m above sea level.

Transport: Lao Cai is 340km from Hanoi and can be reached by bus, car, or train.
Train: Two trains depart from Hanoi daily. one leaves at 6.05 am and arrives in Lao Cai at 3.30 pm; another train departs from Hanoi at 10 pm and arrives in Lao Cai at 7.10 am the next morning. From Lao Cai to Hanoi, the train departs at 10.20 am and arrives in Hanoi at 7.20 pm. The second train departs from Lao Cai at 6.45 pm and arrives in Hanoi at 4.00 am the next morning.
Bus: Minibuses leave Sapa for Lao Cai (38 km, 2 hours). Buses depart from Lao Cai for Bac Ha daily (63km). Sapa to Bac Ha (110km) (Sunday minibus tour includes transportation, guide and trekking to the village of the Flower H'mong). On the way back to Sapa, it is possible to stop in Lao Cai and catch the night train back to Hanoi.

Sapa & the Far North
Sapa, nestling in a beautiful valley on the border with China, is northwest Vietnam's most colourful destination. Vivid green rice terraces are sculpted into the mountain sides while in the fields H'mong and Dao women work dressed in colourful traditional clothes. At the end of the week the H'mong, Dao and other ethnic minorities trek into town from the surrounding countryside to trade goods at the weekend markets in Sapa, Bac Ha and other small towns. Here they sell silver jewellery, traditional embroidered fabrics and authentic articles of hill tribe clothing at the markets.
Sapa and its environs has some of the best trekking in Vietnam and there are many ethnic minority villages that can be reached in day treks from Sapa or for a real hill tribe experience it is possible to stay overnight in local villages along the way. The scenery is spectacular, especially in spring and autumn when the skies are clear and blue, and the people are welcoming. Dominating the Sapa skyline is the peak of Vietnam's highest mountain, Mount Fan Si Pan, rising to 3,143m above sea level. To the southwest of Sapa, close to the border with Laos, is Dien Bien Phu, where the battle that ended French colonial rule in Vietnam took place in 1954. The area around Dien Bien Phu is also home to many ethnic minorities. Another interesting area with some good trekking, great scenery and authentic minority villages is Mai Chau, just 135km west from Hanoi. Most of the inhabitants of the villages and hamlets that make up Mai Chau belong to the White Thai minority and one of the highlights of Mai Chau is staying overnight in a wooden stilt house with a local family.

Cao Bang, to the northeast of Hanoi, is surrounded by some breathtaking mountain scenery and the nearby Ban Doc Waterfall is Vietnam's largest. Not far from Cao Bang is another area of outstanding natural beauty, Ba Be Lakes, located within the national park of the same name. Lakes, waterfalls, rivers, caves, lush tropical rainforest and ethnic minority villages are all to be found in Ba Be National Park.

Travel to Sapa
The best time to witness the scenic beauty of Sapa is in April and May. Before that period, the weather might be cold and foggy; after that period is the rainy season. In April and May, Sapa is blooming with flowers and green pastures.
The clouds that settle in the valley in early morning quickly disappear into thin air. Located at 1,500m above sea level, Sapa lies on the side of the Hoang Lien Son Mountains, 333 km northwest of Hanoi. Sapa's flora is diverse, ranging from flowers to tropical fruits; among the most popular fruits produced in Sapa are apples, pears, peaches, and plums. Sapa has many natural sites such as Thac Bac, Thuy Cung Grotto, Gio Cave, Troi Gate, and Truc Forest. Sapa is also the starting point for many climbers and scientists who want to reach the top of Fansipan Mountain, the highest mountain in Vietnam at 3,143m. Hoang Lien Son Mountains is also called the Alps of the North Sea area since Fansipan Mountain is not only the highest peak in Vietnam, but also in the Indochina Peninsula. The pyramid-shaped mountain is covered with clouds all year round and temperatures often drop below zero, especially at high elevations. To reach Sapa, one can take a train to Lao Cai and then a bus to Sapa from Lao Cai. on Sundays, Nung, Dao, Tay, Cao Lan, Paxi, and Xa Phong minorities ride down the mountain in their colorful clothes to take part in the Sunday market at the foot of Fansipan Mountain.

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Bac Ha Market is in Bac Ha District, Lao Cai Province; about 80km from downtown Sapa.
It is a trading centre and meeting place for couples, friends, and relatives every Sunday.

A vast of green tree covers over BacHa and in the spring the countryside is white with blossoms.
Every Sunday, Bac Ha hosts the biggest fair near the mountainous highlands and the Chinese border. It is a trading centre and meeting place for couples, friends, and relatives, and it is a typical weekly activity for the H’Mong and other minority groups living in the locality. Local products for sale or barter are carried on horseback.
At the fair, adventurous gastronomes can try thang co blood porridge, a popular dish of the H’Mong and other local people.

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Cat Cat Village is 2km from Sapa Townlet, Sapa District.
This is an age-old village of H'Mong ethnic group remaining unique customs and practices that are lots in other villages.

Visitors to Cat Cat have an opportunity to admire a lively and colorful picture. That is the image of young women sitting by looms with colorful pieces of brocade decorated with designs of flowers and birds. When these pieces of brocade are finished, they are dyed and embroidered with beautiful designs. A noteworthy is that H’Mong women use plants and leaves to dye these brocade fabrics. And then they roll a round and smooth section of wood covered with wax on fabrics to polish them, making their colors durable.
In addition to the brocade weaving craft, many residents in Cat Cat are good at manipulating gold and silver jewelry. Their products are fairly sophisticated, especially jewelry for women.
Tourists to Cat Cat are most attracted by its unique customs, including the custom of “pulling wife”. A man can ask his friends to lure a girl he likes to his house and keeps her there in three days. During these days, if the girl agrees to become his wife, a wedding will be held. However, the girl can happily go home after three days if she does not like him.
Traditional houses of H’Mong people in Cat Cat have three rooms with three doors and covered with po mu wood roof. In the house there are three columns that stand in round or square stones. The walls are made from sawn timber. The main door is always closed and only opens when people in the house organize important events. Altar, inlaid floor containing food, places for sleeping, kitchen and receiving guests are indispensable parts of the houses.
Visitors to Cat Cat Village can discover countless unique features of H’Mong.

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Location: In center of Sapa Townlet, Sapa District, Lao Cai District; 33km from Lao Cai City.
Characteristics: Ham Rong Mountain is an attractive tourist area in the center of Sapa Townlet

Legend has it that in the distance past, all animals lived together in a chaotic environment. One day, Jade Emperor gave an order that every species of animal had to find for them an area to live. Having heard the order, they scrambled for a place to reside. The three brothers of dragon who were living in a large lake hurriedly ran to the east but could not find any place; they then ran to

Sapa Ancient Rock Field is in Muong Hoa Valley, Hau Thao Commune, Sapa District, Lao Cai Province. This 8sq.km-area of remains consists of large multi-grade rocks engraved with ancient images. Archaeologists have proven that this area has been inhabited since ancient times. These fascinating Viet remains have drawn the attention of scientists and tourists.

Sapa Ancient Rock Field is between the terraced rice paddies of ethnic minority groups. The first exploration research, in 1925, recorded that there were 200 stones of various dimensions concentrated in the area. Hon Bo, which is 15m long and 6m high, is the biggest of theses rocks. The engravings on the surfaces of the stone are either pictographic or decorative. Remarkably, among the engravings are drawings of humans, stilt-houses of the ethnic minorities and symbols believed to be a primitive form of writing. But their meaning has not yet been deciphered. In addition, impressive images include a da chong (the husband stone), da vo (the wife stone), as well as stones that look like tigers and a stela with an incantation written on it by the carver to help his people defeat the tigers.

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TaPhin, a village just outside Sapa in Northern Vietnam, is a unique village where 2 ethnic groups, Black Hmong and Red Dao minorities, live their own way with no cultural mixture. You will experience how different they are in many ways by visiting the local house.
Visitors to TaPhin can see woman of the Red Dao tribes who shave their heads and eyebrows, wear bright red turbans and are known for their embroidery skills.

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Buon Ma Thuot is 194km from Nha Trang, 197km from Pleiku, 223km from Qui Nhon, 350km from Ho Chi Minh City, 396km from Dalat and 1427km from Hanoi. Air There are connections with Danang and Hanoi (via Danang) three times a week, daily flights to Ho Chi Minh City.
Buon Ma Thuot Airport is 10km from the city.

Bus: There is a bus service to Buon Ma Thuot from Danang and Ho Chi Minh City (departs from Mien Dong Bus Station in Ho Chi Minh City). Buon Ma Thuot Bus Station is 3km east of the centre. Several buses travel daily to Pleiku and Danang (buses will stop in Pleiku), Qui Nhon (11 hours), Nha Trang (6 hours), and Ho Chi Minh City (18 hours).

Motorbike :Motorbike rental costs about US$ 5 a day.

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Kon Tum is 49km from Pleiku, 198km from Qui Nhon, 246km from Buon Ma Thuot and 436km from Nha Trang.

Road: Buses and minibuses leave for Pleiku, Buon Ma Thuot, Qui Nhon, Quang Ngai, and Hue, Hanoi, Nha Trang and Ho Chi Minh City on a daily basis. You can hire a car or jeep at any hotel or at the Kon Tum tourist office.

Jeeps from Kon Tum cost about US$ 40 a day. Visit Dak To  and Tan Canh along the way. Jarai, Xudang, and Bahnar ethnic group live in this area.

Yaly Waterfall :
Yaly Waterfall is 60 m high and is divided into many levels. It is a beautiful site along Po Co River. The path leading to the fall has been improved to facilitate access. A new hydro-electric power plant was built at Yaly Waterfall and has a design capacity of 673 Kw.

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Pleiku is 186km from Qui Nhon, 197km from Buon Ma Thuot, and 550km from Ho Chi Minh City.
Air: Vietnam Airlines has daily connections with Danang and Ho Chi Minh City. The Airport is 25km from Pleiku, 40km from Kon Tum.
Bus: There are bus connections (not Express) with Qui Nhon, Buon Ma Thuot, Danang, Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City.
Motorbike:Motorbikes rental cost US$ 6/day.

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Area : 10,137 sq km
Population: 810,000
Provincial capital: Dalat City
Dalat is located in Lam Dong province, approximately 300 km northeast of Ho Chi Minh City. At an elevation of 1,500 m, Dalat bears the look of an Old French city. It was founded in1897 when Doctor Alexandre Yersin recommended that the area be developed as a resort town.Dalat has many natural and artificial lakes such as Ho Xuan Huong, Than Tho, Da Thien, and Tuyen Lam bordered by lines of pine trees, which are a well-known feature of Dalat.

 A trip to Dalat is not complete until one goes to the Dalat Flower Gardens. The temperate climate of Dalat is suitable for flowers such as orchids, roses, lilies, and camellias.

Nowadays, tourists not only limit themselves to Dalat; they also visit the area of Langbian Highland and the ethnic minorities. Langbian Mountain’s highest peak at 2,165 m is very tempting for climbers. From Lom Bieng Klo peak, one can see endless green mountains reflecting the silver rays of the sun. Many tours are organized in the area, including parachuting and climbing.

HIGHLIGHTS
Prenn and Datanla Falls
Bao Dai’s Summer Palace
Gougah Waterfall
Linh Son Pagoda
Lake Xuan Huong(Lake of Sighs)
Dalat Cathedral 

Valley of Love
Dalat Central Market
Flower Garden
Dalat Golf Course
Ethnology Museum

Dalat is 110km from Phan Rang, 118km from Bao Loc, 200km from Buon Ma Thuot, 210km from Nha Trang, 308km from Ho Chi Minh City, 1,505km from Hanoi. There is a direct road from Dalat to Buon Ma Thuot.

Air: Lien Khuong Airport is 30km south of Dalat. There are daily flights to Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi, and two flights a week to Danang.

Bus: Ben Xe Dalat, the long distance bus station, is at the end of Nguyen Thi Minh Khai St. Express buses leave for Ho Chi Minh City, Nha Trang, Phan Rang, Hue, Quang Ngai, Buon Ma Thuot, Danang and Quy Nhon.

Minibus :Minibus tickets to leave Dalat can be purchased in most of the hotels in Dalat, or at Dalat Tourist. It costs US$ 7 per person from Dalat to Ho Chi Minh City (308km).

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Area: 1 389 sq. Km
Population(2002): 1 112 000 prs
Ethnic groups: Viet (Kinh), Khmer, Hoa, Cham.
Main town: Can Tho city
Districts: Thot Not, O Mon, some communes of Chau Thanh A, Chau Thanh districts.
The climate condition in Hau Giang is harmonized with a few of storms. Rain season lasts from May to Nov, and dry season from Dec to Apr.
Can Tho is located in the center of the 11 provinces of the Mekong Delta, 170 km from Ho Chi Minh City, South of the Hau River. The Hau River is considered a benefactor of this region, since yearly floods deposit large quantities of alluvia to the rice fields.
It is wonderful to take a boat trip along the riverbanks on fine weather days. On the east bank of Hau River is Ninh Kieu Wharf, which is well known for its beautiful location. Not too far from the wharf is a floating restaurant connected to the bank by a bridge. Visitors travel along the waterway to the floating restaurant to taste eel dishes, a speciality of the region.
Can Tho University accommodates approximately 2,000 students in the fields of agriculture, medicine, and teaching.
Take a trip down the watery network that surrounds the Cuu Long Delta’s Can Tho and you’ll see why locals have a special name for it.
To them the miles of inter-connecting canals and rivers are simply "the green lungs of the Mekong." Self-praise indeed, but a half-day gently putt-putting round the Hau River on an ever-bobbing motorized canal taxi might have you agreeing. Can Tho, over its 200 years as the main town, now the city of the province, and once known as Tay do, or Capital in the West, may have had many names, but has clung determinedly to its identity. The 150,000 population city is the hub of the main Con Son and Con Au waterways which nurture the local rice and fruit trade. But it’s not just agriculture that fuels the area: an art and cultural center, a university, and a museum dedicated to Ho Chi Minh, have seen visitor numbers increase. And for those who have never made it to the area, it’s a sure bet they will have experienced its flavor in its Cau Duc sweet pineapple, its sweet potatoes and taro, and the coconuts of the U Minh Jungle, which have spread its reputation as a fruit basket region far.      
The marshy Lung Ngoc Hoang mangrove forest, strategically placed to escape the natural clutches of the occasionally threatening Hau River and the waters near Bac Lieu, also offers a shelter for wildlife.
There fish, crabs, tortoises, and yellow boas and snakes, seek their seasonal shelter at a place where war-time troops often sought strategic refuge. Experts are looking at whether the area, and especially its river water ecosystem, could sustain the accolade of National Reserve. It’s those water courses that are the life-blood of the area and the favored route of transport for goods bound for its legendary floating markets. On land the fragrance of frangipani trees wafts around the city’s communal house and its 72 columns of black hardwood which commemorate the making – or the saving – of the area.
Locals will joke that "the soil is plentiful but the people aren’t" a reminder of those who were forced to leave after a succession of heavy floods made earning a living impossible. The endorsement of a general, revered in that communal house, was seen as instrumental in saving the life of a special envoy of the Court, dispatched in 1852 to check the plight of the Hau River dwellers, but whose flotilla was swamped by a cyclone. He found shelter in a small waterway and survived to dub it Binh Thuy, or Quiet Water, and asked King Tu Duc to favour the area. Success and prosperity followed, the communal house became a more solid structure and is still revered widely, especially in two annual ceremonies.
But visitors are ever-fascinated by the area’s bustling floating markets up the Hau River at Con Khuong, Con Son and further afield, Con Tan Loc in the more prosperous Thot Not District. Other areas hope to bask in that economic upturn as part of a five-year rolling programme by local officials involving boosting the use of the waterway system. Cai Rang is the largest floating market in the Mekong and the traders are more motorised.
Cantho is 34km from Vinh Long, 62km from Long Xuyen, 63km from Soc Trang, 104 from Mytho, 116km from Rach Gia, 117km from Chau Doc, 169km from Ho Chi Minh City and 179km from Camau.
Road:The bus station is about 2km north-west of the centre, along Nguyen Trai St. Regular connections with Ho Chi Minh City’s Mien Tay Bus Station and other centres in the Mekong Delta.
Boat:Green line hydrofoil runs between Ho Chi Minh City and Cantho (via Mytho). It takes four hours and is quite comfortable. It costs US$ 24 one way for foreigners and 140,000 VND for Vietnamese. Daily trips leave for Cantho at 7.30 am and in Cantho at Ninh Kieu Port at 11.30. The Cantho departure is at 1.30 pm, arriving in Ho Chi Minh City (Bach Dang Port.) at 5.30 pm. Tel: 08-821 5609 (in Ho Chi Minh City), or 071-829 372 (in Cantho)

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Area: 17,133 sq km
Population: 562,000
Provincial capital: Lai Chau Town.

The Battle of Dien Bien Phu is a well-known historical event symbolizing the glorious victory of the Vietnamese people and army. It took place on the west side of Dien Bien district, in Lai Chau province, 500-km northwest of Hanoi.
Dien Bien Phu is surrounded by mountains and lies in the Muong Thanh valley, a 20-km-long and 6-km-wide heart-shaped basin. The Nam Rom River runs across the valley. Dien Bien Phu valley is fertile due to the Nam Rom River. After 1953, French expeditionary corps occupied Dien Bien Phu and set up a group of fortresses equipped with many state-of-the-art weapons.

Dien Bien Phu victory created a great echo in the world. The heroic struggle of the Vietnamese people's army against the French expeditionary corps in 1954 lasted 56 days. General de Castries and his entire command were taken alive and 16,000 enemy troops were put out of action.
The relics of the Battle of Dien Bien Phu include Doc Lap Hill, the airport, and the command tunnel of General de Castries.
On weekends, the 21km road from Pa Khoang Lake to Dien Bien Phu is busy, as the town's residents flock here for day trips.And, unlike many of the tourists who come here, Dien Bien Phu's residents are not looking back. The town is alive with colour, as the Vietnamese, Thai and Hmong residents go about their daily affairs; carrying their wares into town, shopping in the crowded market, holding xoe dancing parties in their stilt houses.
These people, whose cultures are as different as their clothing styles, share the same warmth and hospitality for visitors. Dien Bien Phu is a historic site and the natural scenery is stunning. But it's the town's forward looking people who make Dien Bien Phu truly memorable.

Dien Bien Phu is 110km from Lai Chau, 150km from Son La, 480km from Hanoi.
Air :Flights run approximately three times a week. The Dien Bien Phu Airport is 4km from Dien Bien Phu along the road toward Lai Chau
Bus: There are no direct buses between Hanoi and Dien Bien Phu (change buses in
Son La).

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Son La, 308 km west of Ha Noi, is the capital city of a province with the same name.The area is populated mainly by hill-tribes, including the Black and White Thai, Muong and H’Mong (Meo) tribes.                         

Son La was in the past, a prison town constructed by French colonialists to hold anti-colonialist revolutionaries.
Son La is 121km from Moc Chau, 170km from Mai Chau, 310km Northwest of Hanoi. Moc Chau is 199km from Hanoi.

Road: Bus connections with Hanoi’s Kim Ma station. Car rentals can be arranged in Son La for about US$ 120 for a Son La-Hanoi round trip.
Air :Na San Airport is 20km from Son La. Flights only run once a week. A ticket can be booked at Son La Hotel.

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Area : 8,894 sq km
Population : 772,000
Provicial capital : Dong Hoi

The world's longest underground river winds through Vietnam's Phong Nha cave system, the name of which translates as " The wind's fang". Entering this cave is like venturing into the mouth of a giant beast, all the more mysterious since the cave rings with strange noise. Locals say it is music from a banquet hosted by the mountain God, but the acoustic tricks are actually echoes, which bounce off the limestone cliffs of the cave.      Shaped like a tube with a roof curved like the hull of a boat, this cave has acoustics properties similar to those of the fingal cave in Scotland.
Phong Nha Caves, also called Troc Caves, lie in the limestone cliffs of Ke Bang in Quang Ninh province, 50 km northwest of Dong Hoi. Like most of the caves in this area, the Phong Nha Caves were shaped by the Chai River.
The farther one gets inside the Phong Nha Caves, the more illusory the stalactites and stalagmites look as they glitter when bright light is shone on them.

Most importantly, all the primitive stone caves were preserved in their original form. Thus, visitors almost feel like they are going on a trip to the center of the earth.
The Son River flows into the mouth of the cave and continues underground, where it is known as the Nam Aki River. It emerges 20 km to the south near Pu-Pha-Dam Mountain.
The main cave system contains 14 chambers, linked by an underwater river that runs for 1.5km. Secondary corridors branch off in all directions. The Outer Cave and some of the Inner Caves have roofs that tower between 25 and 40 meters above the water level. From the 14th chamber there may be other corridors leading to similarly large chambers, but this area is more dangerous due to ongoing erosion of the limestone of the cavern. Some 800 meters into the cave we reach the Shallow Cave, where we step out of the boat to explore a fantastic landscape of sand and rock. Stalactites and stalagmites jut out like strange trees, exciting our imaginations.
Caves have always held a primitive fascination for people, as if they are meeting places for the real and the imagined. The word "magical" is used all too often but in the case of the Phong Nha caves it is fitting. A visit through these caves will present you with a rare opportunity in this modern age: the chance to explore nature's magic and reconnect with the earth.

Dong Hoi town is 94km from Dong Ha, 166km from Hue, 197km from Vinh and 489km from Hanoi.
Train : Regular connections with Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City.
Road :Buses, travelling up National Highway 1, link Saigon and Hanoi.

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For most people, the attraction of Quang Tri is the DMZ. However, there’s not much left of the battlefields camps and firebases, most are unmarked, and there are still problems with unexploded ordnance.

If you travel with Halong Holiday, you’ll always have an expert guide who knows the area like the back of his or her hand, and particularly anywhere that might pose a safety risk.

If you’re interested in particular sites and locations, we’ll tailor-make your tour to your requirements.

If you’re a returning veteran, or a friend or family member of someone who was in Vietnam during the war, we’ll try to track down the exact places, and if possible, local people who were present and remember what happened. We’re good at tracking down clues to identifying specific places.

If you’re looking for a general overview of the DMZ, we’d usually include the main sites, the bridges, the Vinh Moc and the Truong Son National Cemetery.

Possible sites could be La Vang Church, the Quang Tri Citadel, the Ai Tu Base and Airfield, Camp Carroll, The Rockpile, the Khe Sanh Marine Combat Base, Lang Vay Special Forces Camp, Con Thien Firebase, the McNamara Line, the Dak Rong Bridge, and the Doc Mieu Base.

The Ben Hai River and the Hien Luong bridge would also feature. The river runs about 100km from its source to the sea, but was catapulted onto the international stage when the 1954 Geneva Convention designated it as the demarcation line between the communist North Vietnam and the South (not the ‘17th Parallel’ often mentioned in guide books).

Hien Luong was a steel bridge built by French sappers in 1950: previously, the only means of crossing the river was by boat. When Vietnam was partitioned, the northern half was painted red, and the southern yellow. The bridge was bombed to destruction by the US in 1970 – a pyrrhic victory as nearly all the troops, supplies and weapons used the heavily disguised Ho Chi Minh Trail, not the exposed coastal route.

There’s no point in visiting the Ho Chi Minh Trail, as there’s nothing to see – the whole point was that it should be as invisible as possible. However, much of the route is being reincarnated as the Truong Son Road, a new highway in the west linking the two major cities designed to alleviate the pressure on Highway 1.

The Truong Son National Cemetery is another possible element. It’s built on several low lying hills in Truong Son village, a memorial to the hundreds of thousands of Vietnamese soldiers who died keeping the Ho Chi Minh Trail open. The history of the trail beggars the imagination – the cemetery commemorates the thousands of men and women who kept the link open throughout the war – engineers, gunners, medical personnel, and a small army of young volunteers, some little more than children, who worked ceaselessly each night to fill in the craters caused by incessant bombing during the day.

The only place to the north of the Ben Hai River that we visit is Vinh Moc. In June 1965, after heavy bombardments, the people of Vinh Moc village began digging shelters beneath their houses to link them to the neighbours thus creating a web of tunnels. Everything was carefully planned to provide access to underground public facilities, such as meeting rooms, a school, and a clinic where seventeen babies were born.

Less sophisticated (but more authentic) than the more famous Cu Chi tunnels near Saigon, and built for different purposes, the Vinh Moc passages and chambers are a poignant example of the ingenuity of the ordinary Vietnamese people in coping with life in the epicentre of one of the world’s most brutal conflicts.

Quang tri Ancient Citadel - built in 1824 - which was a military bastion and before was an administrative head office of Nguyen Dynasty in Quang Tri Province (1809 -1945). The citadel is approximately 60km north of Hue. The incident of 81 days and nights (from June 28 to September 16, 1972) has made this citadel well-known all over the world. By using fire-power, the South Vietnamese troop was determined to re-occupy Quang Tri Citadel within a couple of days. Quang Tri Town, therefore, had to suffer from the U.S bombardment and shelling of 140 B52 aircraft in turn, more than 200 tactical planes, 12 – 16 fighter planes and cruisers. Within 40 days and nights it had suffered 80,000 tons of bombs – as many as that in the World War II in African battlefield within a month. Sometimes the number of bombs dropped in Quang Tri a day was far more than that on the whole South battlefield in the years of 1968-1969. Especially, on July 25, there were 5,000 shells fired at an area of 3km2 of Quang Tri and its vicinity once suffered 20,000 shells of big size a day. The US troop used bombs and shells with their destructive capacity, to destroy Quang Tri, equivalent to 7 atomic bombs they dropped onto Hiroshima and Nagasaki – Japan in 1945. It is, really, unbelievable that each inhabitant in this land had to suffer 7 tons of bombs averagely.

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Dong Ha is 12.5km from Quang Tri Citadel, 41km from Vinh Moc, 65km from Khe Sanh, 74km from Hue, 80km from Lao Bao border crossing, 94km from Dong Hoi, 190km from Danang, 617km from Hanoi and 1,169km from Ho Chi Minh City.

Train: Dong Ha railway station is a stop for the Express train.
Bus: Dong Ha Bus station is at the intersection of National Highway 1 and National Route 9. Buses to Hue depart between 5 am and 5 pm, to Khe Sanh at 8 am and 11 am.

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Capital: Quy Nhon

Ethnic group: Viet(Kinh), Cham Bana

Highlights: Doi Cham Towers, Quang Trung Museum, Quy Nhon Beach, Cha Ban Citadel

Qui Nhon is 174km from Quang Ngai, 186km from Pleiku, 223k from Buon Ma Thuot, 238km from Nha Trang, 304km from Danang and 677km from Ho Chi Minh City.

Air: Flights between Ho Chi Minh City and Qui Nhon four times a week, flight between Danang and Qui Nhon twice a week. Phu Cat Airport is 36km north of Qui Nhon.
Train: Qui Nhon Train Station is 1km north-west of the city centre (near the intersection with Le Hong Phong St.), Tel: 822 036. The Thong Nhat Express Trains stop at Lieu Tri Train Station, 10km from the city.
Bus: Qui Nhon Bus Station is opposite 543 Tran Hung Dao St., Tel: 822 246.

The Express Bus Station is at 14 Nguyen Hue St. There are buses departing to Buon Ma Thuot, Dalat, Danang, Dong Hoi, Hanoi, Hue, Nha Trang, Ninh Binh, Thanh Hoa, Vinh, and Ho Chi Minh City. The tickets are sold from 6.30 am to 5 pm.

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Area: 1956 sq km
Population: 657,100
Provincial capital: Vung Tau City

Con Dao Island looks like a bear rising from the sea to east of the most southern point of the country. Originally a prison for patriots and revolutionists during the French and American resistance, Con Dao Island sheltered brave revolutionary spirits of the Vietnamese people. More than 22,000 prisoners who dedicated their lives to national independence were incarcerated on the isolated island of Con Dao.

Con Dao Island is also famous for its nice beaches shaded with evergreen trees, fresh air, clear blue waters, and primitive forests. Some of those beaches include Dam Trau Hang Duong and Phi Yen where visitors can relax and enjoy the warm temperature.
Ho Chi Minh City investors built the Phi Yen Sea Resort to accommodate visitors. The best time to visit Con Dao Island is from March to June, when the sea is calm.

Con Dao 180 km off the coast of Vung Tau
By boat :  Ship is operated to Con Dao Island (12 hours sailing from Vung Tau)
By air :   Viet Nam Air Service Company (VASCO) operates flights (Helijet) between Saigon and Con Dao , three times a week. In Ho Chi Minh city, 114 Bach Dang Rd.,Tel: 08 8445999
here is also flight from Vung Tau to Con Dao Island on Saturday at 27 Quang Trung road., Vung Tau.

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Area: 10,406.34 sq km
Population: 1,364,5499
Provincial capital: Tam Ky town

The ancient town of Hoi An, 30 km south of Danang, lies on the banks of the Thu Bon River. Occupied by early western traders, Hoi An was one of the major trading centers of Southeast Asia in the 16th century. Hoi An has a distinct Chinese atmosphere with low, tile-roofed houses and narrow streets; the original structure of some of these streets still remains almost intact.              
All the houses were made of rare wood, decorated with lacquered boards and panels engraved with Chinese characters. Pillars were also carved with ornamental designs.
Tourists can visit the relics of the Sa Huynh and Cham cultures. They can also enjoy the beautiful scenery of the romantic Hoi An River, Cua Dai Beach, and Cham Island.Over the last few years, Hoi An has become a very popular tourist destination in Vietnam.
Hoi An is 32 km from Da Nang
Bicycle/Motorbike : Most hotel offer these services. Rent bicycles at the tourist office, 12 Phan Chu Chinh St., Tel : 861 276
Bus : Bus station is about 4 km west from Hoi An centre.
Leave for Da Nang (1 hour) several times a day. Buses connecting with other places.

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Location: In My Duc District, Ha Tay Province, approximately 70km from Hanoi City.
Characteristics: Huong Son Tourist Area covers an area of a thousand hectares and includes a complex of mountains, rivers and streams, villages, pagodas, and grottoes surrounded by the Huong Tich Mountain Range, north of the Truong Son Range.

To get to Huong Son from Hanoi, go by car to Ha Dong Town, and then continue on to Van Dinh Townlet. At the Te Tieu marking point, turn right and continue to Duc Wharf. Stop here and take a boat along the Yen Stream for about 3km to Tro Wharf, from where the Huong Son Tourist Area is accessible.

Huong Son Tourist Area is divided into three lines:

Huong Tich Line: It consists of Yen Stream, Trinh Temple, Hoi Bridge, Thanh Son and Huong Dai Pagoda, Thien Tru, Hinh Bong, Tien Pagoda, Giai Oan Pagoda, Cua Vong Temple, Huong Tich Grotto.
Yen Stream

This stream flows between two mountains for 3km. However, sitting on the boat and enjoying the surrounding landscape, tourists may feel that this stream is endless. During the festive season, the stream is full of boats carrying pilgrims who have come to enjoy the landscape of Huong Son. Traveling along Yen Stream, tourists pass by landscapes, many of which are named according to their forms. On the left is Phoenix Mountain there is also Doi Cheo Mountain, which looks like an Indian python (Tran). Also on the left are Bung and Voi, two mountains having interesting legends. On the right is Ngu Nhac Mountain with the Trinh Temple where visitors stop and burn incense for the God of the Mountain. Before reaching Tro Wharf where the tour begins, the boat also passes by the Deo and Phong Su Mountains, Son Thuy Huu Tinh Cave, Trau Cave, Hoi Bridge, and Dau Valley.

Thien Tru Pagoda

Thien Tru Pagoda is also called Tro Pagoda. Founded by Venerable Van Thuy Thien Thien Tran Dao Vien Quang, the pagoda was initially a small thatch. During the French Domination Period, the pagoda was destroyed. However, the Thien Tru Pagoda was reconstructed after 1954, and in 1991, the Three Entrance gate of the pagoda was built in its present day form. To the right of the pagoda is the tower garden where the monk bones are buried. At the back, there is Thien Thuy Thap; on the left is a semicircle lake

Huong Tich Pagoda and Grotto

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Area: 1,383.7 sq. km.
Population: 918,400 habitants (2005)
Capital: Ninh Binh City
Administrative divisions:
Town: Tam Diep.
Districts: Nho Quan, Gia Vien, Hoa Lu, Yen Mo, Yen Khanh, Kim Son.
Ethnic groups: Viet (Kinh), Muong, Thai, Tay.

Geography
Situated on the Red River Delta, Ninh Binh separates the North and the Central Vietnam by Tam Diep Mountain Range. It is surrounded by Hoa Binh, Ha Nam provinces on the north, Nam Dinh Province on the east and Thanh Hoa on the west and the south.
Ninh Binh's topography is divided clearly into 3 parts: the mountainous area in the west and northwest; the delta and coastal area in the east and south. Ninh Binh has Day, Van Sang rivers, and Non Nuoc, Canh Dieu mountains. Annual average temperature is 23.4ºC.

Tourism

In Ninh Binh, Hoa Lu Ancient Capital (in Truong Yen Commune, Hoa Lu District now) was chosen as the first capital of Vietnam feudal centralism regime and the Dai Co Viet's political, economic and cultural centre with the name of Kings Dinh Tien Hoang, Le Dai Hanh and Ly Thai To in 10^th century. In 1010, King Ly Thai To moved the capital from Hoa Lu to Thang Long (Hanoi now), opening a new era for Vietnamese people.
Ninh Binh owns beautiful Tam Coc, Bich Dong, Dich Long, Hoa Son, Tien caves, Van Trinh Grotto and other special landscapes following:
Cuc Phuong National Park is home of varies of strange flora and fauna. Especially it is enjoyable to touch the thousand-year-old cho xanh (parashrea stellata) and sau (Dracontomelum Duperranum or Dancorra Edulis) trees, 50-70m high. The park is also suitable to watch birds, butterflies and orchid flowers.
Phat Diem Cathedral is a solemn and interesting architectural complex, reflecting the skilful and excellent stone carving art of the Vietnamese workers.
Ninh Binh's people have created such famous and traditional products as Kim Son's fine arts, Hoa Lu's high-class embroidery, hanger products and rocky sculpture products for export, Gia Vien's rattan and bamboo knitting products, etc.
Transprotation
Located 90km far from Hanoi, Ninh Binh has convenient waterway and road networks of transportation. The Reunification Express Train from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City stops at Ninh Binh Town. National Highway No.10 connects to Nam Dinh, Thanh Hoa provinces and National Highway No.12B links to Hoa Binh Province.

Attractions:

Location: Dinh Temple is located in Truong Yen Ha Commune and Le Temple is located in Truong Yen Thuong Communce, Hoa Lu District, Ninh Binh Province.
Characteristics: Dinh Temple worships King Dinh Tien Hoang and Le Temple worships King Le Dai Hanh. These temples were built in 17th century.

Dinh Temple was built in the shape of a Chinese character. Through the first entrance called Ngo Mon, there is a stone royal bed with Nghe (imaginary animals of the old times) standing on both sides. Inside the temple is Khai Thanh in worship of Emperor Dinh's parents.
The temple consists of three parts: Bai Duong for the community, Thien Huong in honour of mandarins, and Chinh Cung where Dinh Tien Hoang’s statue is located. On his left is the statue of his eldest son Dinh Lien, and on his right are those of Dinh Hang Lang and Dinh Toan. On each side of the altar, there is one stone dragon similar to the ones placed near the royal bed.
Le Temple is almost the same as Dinh Temple in term of architectural design, except for some details. Le Temple also consists of three parts: Bai Duong used for the community, Thien Huong, in memory of the royal mandarins of King Le, and finally, the altar in memory of the King. The Le Hoan Statue is at the centre, on the left is the statue of Queen Duong Van Nga and on his right is that of Le Ngoa Trieu, his fifth son and the third King of the Pre Le Dynasty.

Location: Hoa Lu Ancient Capital is 13km from Ninh Binh Town, Ninh Binh Province.
Characteristics: In 968, Dinh Bo Linh ascended to the throne and took the name of King Dinh Tien Hoang and reunified the country under the name of Dai Co Viet and Hoa Lu was its capital for 41 years (968-1009).

The mountains and sea combined to make Hoa Lu’s picturesque landscape. Hoa Lu lays in a flat valley surrounded by the Trang An lime stone mountains, which form a natural wall protecting the old citadel. The city’s northwest is bordered by the Hoang Long River, the tributaries of which run through the capital, cooling the weather within the city and serving as convenient waterways.
The Royal Court was built in an area of 150 hectares in the eastern part of the capital while the western part served as a site to educate and protect children.
As the capital of the country for 41 years, Hoa Lu has many palaces, pagodas, tombs and pavilions that were built by different dynasties. One of the most popular pieces of architecture is the Bao Thien Tue Palace, which was plated with gold and silver. However many vestiges have been destroyed due to time and weather.
When King Ly Thai To moved the capital from Hoa Lu to Thang Long (now Hanoi) in 1010, two temples were built to dedicate to King Dinh Tien Hoang and his successor Le Dai Hanh. These two temples were first built in the 11th century and reconstructed in 1696.
Coming to Hoa Lu visitors can attend traditional cultural festivals here, and the most important and largest of them is the Truong Yen Festival, which is held on the 10th day of the third lunar month. The festival is in memory of the Kings of the Dinh and Le dynasties. The festival lasts for three days with many traditional games and martial arts, reflecting local residents’ legends.

Location: Phat Diem Cathedral is in Luu Phuong Commune, Phat Diem Town, Kim Son District, 130km south of Hanoi, and 28km southeast of Ninh Binh Town.
Characteristics: Phat Diem Cathedral is the center of Catholicism in north Vietnam and also a tourist site attracting foreign and domestic visitors.

Phat Diem Cathedral was built between 1875 and 1899 four roofs and six sets of iron wooden pillars and consists of a network of ponds, lakes, churches, and artificial caves.
Phuong Dinh Church, part of the Phat Diem complex, is a giant building entirely made of stone. Numerous stone sculptures are on the inside and outside walls. A large bell cast in the 1890s weighing nearly 2 tons is found in the bell tower.
On both sides of the church are four smaller churches of different styles. On the extreme north corner are three stone caves. The most beautiful of these caves is Lo Duc Grotto. In the area surrounding this massive stone and wood cathedral, the rice paddies are peppered with stone churches. But, unlike these structures, built by Europeans and resembling typical churches of the era, Phat Diem Cathedral was designed by a Vietnamese priest, known as Father Sau. Father Sau rallied the local population to build the cathedral, five side chapels, three artificial grottoes, an artificial lake and a bell tower. Phat Diem Cathedral seems to have changed very little since Graham Greene described its gigantic pillars formed out of single trees and the scarlet lacquer work of the altar. Indeed, with its multi tiered, curling roofs and its 48 lime-wood columns - (the largest of which weigh seven tones), Phat Diem is a far cry from a European cathedral. Stone relief angels overlook carved dragons and the cathedral's two-tone bell is accompanied by a giant brass gong.
Local Catholics view the cathedral's survival as almost miraculous; a bombing in 1972 flattened two of the side chapels and caused the cathedral to lean by some 20 degrees. Despite the ongoing war, restoration started immediately and today, the only obvious trace of the bombing is the destruction of some intricate stone carvings. And on Christmas Eve, an unforgettable midnight mass, attended by thousands and accompanied by a brass band, is held in the cathedral grounds.

Location: In the Ngu Nhac Son Mountains, in Dam Khe Village, Ninh Hai Commune, Hoa Lu District, Ninh Binh Province.
Characteristics: King Le Canh Hung said that Bich Dong was the second nicest grotto in Vietnam, after the Huong Tich Grotto in Ha Tay Province.

In 1773, Mr. Nguyen Nghiem (the father of the great writer Nguyen Du) visited this cave. After viewing the whole scenery of the mountains, waterways, fields, and sky covered in green mist, he gave the cave a very beautiful and romantic name, Bich Dong (which literally means “Green Pearl Grotto”). Bich Grotto is said to be the second most beautiful cave in Vietnam. The Bich Dong Pagoda was built near the cave in the Le Dynasty.
Bich Dong Pagoda, built on Ngu Nhac Mountain, is divided into three levels: Ha Pagoda (lower pagoda), Trung Pagoda (middle pagoda), and Thuong Pagoda (upper pagoda). On the mountain peak stands the statue of a scholar Mandarin looking at the horizon in hope of viewing the spectacular landscapes of Hoa Lu.
From the upper pagoda, one has the most magnificent view of Bich Dong, which is romantically charming in terms of architecture and history. The location for this pagoda was chosen in 1428 after two monks were charmed by the view of the river and the mountains. Later, King Le Canh Hung wrote a poem in honour of the beautiful pagoda and landscape. He was the one who said that Bich Dong Pagoda was the second nicest pagoda in Vietnam, after the Huong Pagoda (also called Perfume Pagoda) in Ha Tay Province.
One cannot visit Bich Dong Pagoda without visiting Tam Coc Grotto, located approximately 2km from the pagoda. Tam Coc is 3km from Van Lam Wharf.
Take a boat from Van Lam Wharf to reach the Tam Coc Grotto, consisting of the Hang Ca, Hang Hai and Hang Ba grottoes. These caves are adorned with beautiful stalactites and stalagmites of different shapes and colours that sparkle like gemstones.

Location: Cuc Phuong National Park is located 100km south of Hanoi in Ninh Binh and it is on the borders of three provinces of Ninh Binh, Hoa Binh and Thanh Hoa.
Characteristics: Cuc Phuong National Park is surrounded by several limestone cliffs, the highest being May Bac, meaning "silver cloud," with a height of 656m

The best time to visit Cuc Phuong National Park is during the dry season, from December to April, when the hard forest rain accounting for 90% of the annual rainfall is over. The park is conveniently located on the route to several tourist attractions, including Bich Dong Pagoda, Hoa Lu, and Sam Son Beach. It was officially opened in 1960 as the first national park in Vietnam.
There are plenty of plants and mammals living in the park. There are an estimated 2,000 different species of flora and the 450 species fauna account for 38% of the national fauna. The vegetation cover is classified into three types. The flora is quite a treasure with a wide variety of 1,944 species, 908 genuses and 229 families. Especially it is enjoyable to touch the thousand-year-old cho xanh (parashrea stellata) and sau (Dracontomelum Duperranum or Dancorra Edulis) trees, 50-70m high. This natural reserve is covered with 2,000 species of plants. Especially orchid flowers are abundant with 50 species, some of which blossom and have aroma all year around. The fauna is diversified represented by 71 animal species, 319 bird species, 33 reptile species, and 16 amphibian species. Rare species include the bear, horse, wild boar, tiger, leopard, fox, squirrel, monkey, etc. A large area, for half-natural breeding, is reserved for raising wild animals such as the spotted deer, deer, golden monkey, langur (vooc quan dui), flying squirrel, draco (than lan bay) and for research. The Park is also home to hundreds of beautiful and strange birds and butterflies.
Thanks to the limestone terrain, Cuc Phuong National Park has a multitude of grottoes, including Thang Khuyet, Con Moong, Pho Ma, and Nguoi Xua, etc. Quen Voi, also part of the park, is where Nguyen Hue’s army was stationed before it made its surprise attack on Thang Long and defeated Qin enemies in the spring of 1789.
Global environmental programs led by the UNDP, United Nations Development Program, and FFI, Flora and Fauna International, researched the distinguished primitiveness of the tropical forest and the monsoon influence on Southeast Asia in Cuc Phuong National Park.

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Location: In Hoa Binh Province, approximately 135km from Hanoi and 60km from Hoa Binh City.
Characteristics: From the top of Cun Pass, one can admire the superb panorama of Mai Chau surrounded by a green valley and stilt houses. Many minorities, including the Thai ethnic group, live in Lac Village.

Coming to Lac Village, you will see stilt houses border both sides of the roads. The houses are quite large with palm leaf roofs and polished bamboo-slat floors. The kitchen is located in the center of the house; the cooking as well as the making of the colorful tho cam, the material used by Thai minority to make their clothes, takes place in the kitchen. The windows are large and decorated with patterns. Each house also has a pond to breed fish.

The Sunday market brings a lot of people into town. People from different minorities living in the mountains come to Mai Chau market to sell their specific products: honey, bananas, corn, and tho cam made by skilled Thai women. The Sunday market is also an occasion to enjoy traditional Thai dishes and to participate in traditional dances.

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Area: 4,662.5 sq. km
Population: 813,000 habitants (2005)
Capital: Hoa Binh City
Districts: Da Bac, Mai Chau, Ky Son, Cao Phong, Luong Son, Kim Boi, Tan Lac, Lac Son, Lac Thuy, Yen Thuy.
Ethnic groups: Viet (Kinh), Muong, Thai, Tay, Dao..

Geography

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