Soai So Lake - a picture of rural life
Soai So Lake is just 1km from Tri Ton Town in the Mekong Delta’s An Giang Province but the atmosphere is very quiet and peaceful, metaphysically a million miles away from the noisy towns, people and vehicles, since the air is fresh, clean and invigorating and the landscape peaceful and gentle on the eyes.
In many ways it is therefore the perfect escape for us urbanites as it allows one’s mind to wander and one’s body to recuperate to the gentle sounds of waters cascading down the slopes into the lake.
The Soai So Lake is only about 100m from the entrance to the park and covers some 5ha at the base of the adjacent hillside. Visitors don’t have to wait so long to feel the delightful gusts of cool air from the Bac Stream imbued with moisture from its hazardous journey down the mountainside into Soai So Lake.
Mingling with the murmurs of the water you can also hear songbirds, high above in the leafy tree canopy.
Along the banks of the lake, palm trees stand beautifully reflected on the surface of the lake, which is not only a delightful sight but also a puzzle, since nobody can understand why this type of tree has found its way to the lakeshore or why they are so old and magnificent!
The lake itself is a great place for fishing since there are many different types of aquarian creatures lurking in its depths. Visitors can try their luck or just pass their time away soaking up the atmosphere by hiring a rod. You may even get lucky, in which case one can perhaps prepare dinner as well over a campfire in the charming green rustic wood. What’s more, some of the locals can easily find a selection of exotic regional vegetables such as mango’s sprouts or fresh banana inflorescences from the nearby fields to make a feast.
The lake contains about 400,000 cubic meters of water and is one of the main sources of drinking water for the residents around Tri Ton Town as well as being a tourist destination.
It is also therefore pretty common to see lines of Khmer or other locals gathered in the afternoon wearing bandannas, carrying water back home by shoulder pole. Groups of local youths can also sometimes be seen in the early evening riding on ox-carts as they ferry some water urns back to their villages creating an unforgettable impression for those lucky enough to experience rural life by the lake.
Soai So Lake is also a great place to go for a camping excursion given the tranquil forest setting and access to the nearby Hung Stream; the many pagodas that run alongside the base of the hill, which add to the charm and attraction of the area for pilgrims; and many forest paths which are dotted with mango, jackfruit, banana and other tropical fruit trees inter-mingled with cashew trees.
The hills are also sometimes covered with young bamboo shoots, which attract local herbalists and traders during the growing season, who return weighed down with the exotic fruits of the forest. All in all, there is something for everyone in An Giang, so many treasures await travellers who venture there to explore.
(Source: SGT)
Sunday, November 19, 2006
The old quarters of Hanoi
The old quarters of Hanoi
Apart from Hoi An, Hanoi is Vietnam's only city where ancient streets can be found. These streets still keep the same appearance that they had at the end of 19th century. According to historical sources, they have been the true core of Thang Long since its foundation about a thousand years ago.
The area occupied by these ancient streets forms a triangle with its top at Hang Than Street and its base at the axis of Hang Bong - Hang Gai - Cau Go streets, the eastern side being a section of the Red River Dyke and the eastern side being Hang Cot, Hang Dieu, and Hang Da streets.
Prior to the French colonial period these streets all had the same appearance and were laid out in an order similar to a chessboard; most of them were named after the goods manufactured or sold there. For instance, Hang Duong means Sugar Street, Hang Bac - Silver Street, Hang Bo - Bamboo Basket Street.
The houses in these streets are called tunnel houses, this is because the house has the shape of a tunnel, being very long and narrow, it sometimes opens at the back into another street, which is different from that of the front entrance door.
All the houses are similarly arranged with their front rooms serving as places where goods are manufactured or sold, with small open courtyards to let light in, usually decorated with ornamental rocks, little water-pools with gold fish, ornamental plants and flowers.
The backrooms serve as the living quarters with a dining room and bedroom. Most of these houses are covered with small tiles which have the characteristic feature of two walls of the gable being built so that they are higher than the roof, resembling a staircase with two funny pinnacles.
They are mostly one-storied houses, few have second storeys. They are generally low and have small or no windows, which arose because according to ancient rules under the past dynasties, inhabitants were forbidden to look at the king when he happened to pass their houses, and they were especially forbidden to look at him from a higher place.
Therefore tunnel houses are simple and narrow serving both as a place of manufacturing or selling products and as a dwelling house for the family. In these streets, the shops are open all day long, and even in the evening, the quarter is always interesting to walk around. This community of people shares the same fate and they are all united by feelings of solidarity.
Scattered among these ancient houses are many pagodas and temples. These were the place of worship for the ancient villages and guilds. For instance, the temple situated at 38 Hang Duong Street, served the inhabitants of Duc Mon Village which used to occupy a part of Hang Duong Street, and the Huyen Thien Pagoda at 54 Hang Khoai Street, belonged to Huyen Thien Village, which used to occupy the territory of Hang Khoai Street.
The ancient streets have undergone some alterations owing to historical upheavals, social adaptation and the appearance of some new construction, but they still remain virtually unchanged. So this is why this area with small tunnel houses, crowded streets, pagodas and temples, with curved roofs and green trees, all gives Hanoi it’s own particular original beauty.
(Source: HAT)
Apart from Hoi An, Hanoi is Vietnam's only city where ancient streets can be found. These streets still keep the same appearance that they had at the end of 19th century. According to historical sources, they have been the true core of Thang Long since its foundation about a thousand years ago.
The area occupied by these ancient streets forms a triangle with its top at Hang Than Street and its base at the axis of Hang Bong - Hang Gai - Cau Go streets, the eastern side being a section of the Red River Dyke and the eastern side being Hang Cot, Hang Dieu, and Hang Da streets.
Prior to the French colonial period these streets all had the same appearance and were laid out in an order similar to a chessboard; most of them were named after the goods manufactured or sold there. For instance, Hang Duong means Sugar Street, Hang Bac - Silver Street, Hang Bo - Bamboo Basket Street.
The houses in these streets are called tunnel houses, this is because the house has the shape of a tunnel, being very long and narrow, it sometimes opens at the back into another street, which is different from that of the front entrance door.
All the houses are similarly arranged with their front rooms serving as places where goods are manufactured or sold, with small open courtyards to let light in, usually decorated with ornamental rocks, little water-pools with gold fish, ornamental plants and flowers.
The backrooms serve as the living quarters with a dining room and bedroom. Most of these houses are covered with small tiles which have the characteristic feature of two walls of the gable being built so that they are higher than the roof, resembling a staircase with two funny pinnacles.
They are mostly one-storied houses, few have second storeys. They are generally low and have small or no windows, which arose because according to ancient rules under the past dynasties, inhabitants were forbidden to look at the king when he happened to pass their houses, and they were especially forbidden to look at him from a higher place.
Therefore tunnel houses are simple and narrow serving both as a place of manufacturing or selling products and as a dwelling house for the family. In these streets, the shops are open all day long, and even in the evening, the quarter is always interesting to walk around. This community of people shares the same fate and they are all united by feelings of solidarity.
Scattered among these ancient houses are many pagodas and temples. These were the place of worship for the ancient villages and guilds. For instance, the temple situated at 38 Hang Duong Street, served the inhabitants of Duc Mon Village which used to occupy a part of Hang Duong Street, and the Huyen Thien Pagoda at 54 Hang Khoai Street, belonged to Huyen Thien Village, which used to occupy the territory of Hang Khoai Street.
The ancient streets have undergone some alterations owing to historical upheavals, social adaptation and the appearance of some new construction, but they still remain virtually unchanged. So this is why this area with small tunnel houses, crowded streets, pagodas and temples, with curved roofs and green trees, all gives Hanoi it’s own particular original beauty.
(Source: HAT)
A must-try dish when visiting Nha Trang
A must-try dish when visiting Nha Trang
Khanh Hoa Province and its capital Nha Trang are popular destinations for international tourists taking advantage of natural beaches and scuba diving. However, beside these attractions, tourists coming to the coastal city are advised not to miss nem Ninh Hoa, a specialty of the province.
Nem Ninh Hoa is a dish originating in the Ninh Hoa District of Khanh Hoa Province. However, it is strange to notice that although there are many restaurants in Ninh Hoa District offering this special dish, such as restaurants in Tran Quy Cap Street or Ninh Hoa Market, the dish is only famous in Nha Trang. The flavour of the dish, nonetheless, is retained by the cook.
Nem Ninh Hoa is not nem chua (fermented pork roll), made from pork’s thigh meat, which is also sold in many places in Khanh Hoa Province. To make fermented pork rolls, the meat must be ground and husked then mixed with garlic, pepper, sliced pork skin and spices. Then it is wrapped in a special kind of cherry leaf to make it fermented. Fermented pork roll is an appetizer in restaurants serving nem Ninh Hoa.
To make nem Ninh Hoa, pork meat is ground or chopped and then grilled. Then, diners use griddle cakes to roll this grilled hash with many kinds of fresh vegetables and another kind of fried griddle cake to make a roll of nem Ninh Hoa. The sauce of nem Ninh Hoa is also carefully made since it is a crucial ingredient to contribute to the taste of the dish. The sauce is so important that each restaurant has its own secret recipe.
A dish of nem Ninh Hoa for one person is about VND 12,000. However, a dish for two people can easily serve three guests.
Nowadays, there are around twenty restaurants offering this special dish from the afternoon to the evening. These restaurants line the main streets of Nha Trang City, including Nguyen Thi Minh Khai, Le Loi, and Hoang Van Thu streets.
Among them, Dang Van Quyen and Ngoc Tien restaurants are the most crowded. Dang Van Quyen Restaurant on Hoang Van Thu Street offers a dish of ten rolls of nem Ninh Hoa at the price of VND 10,000. The restaurant owner is also the pioneer in opening the restaurants offering nem Ninh Hoa in Nha Trang.
(Source: SGT)
Khanh Hoa Province and its capital Nha Trang are popular destinations for international tourists taking advantage of natural beaches and scuba diving. However, beside these attractions, tourists coming to the coastal city are advised not to miss nem Ninh Hoa, a specialty of the province.
Nem Ninh Hoa is a dish originating in the Ninh Hoa District of Khanh Hoa Province. However, it is strange to notice that although there are many restaurants in Ninh Hoa District offering this special dish, such as restaurants in Tran Quy Cap Street or Ninh Hoa Market, the dish is only famous in Nha Trang. The flavour of the dish, nonetheless, is retained by the cook.
Nem Ninh Hoa is not nem chua (fermented pork roll), made from pork’s thigh meat, which is also sold in many places in Khanh Hoa Province. To make fermented pork rolls, the meat must be ground and husked then mixed with garlic, pepper, sliced pork skin and spices. Then it is wrapped in a special kind of cherry leaf to make it fermented. Fermented pork roll is an appetizer in restaurants serving nem Ninh Hoa.
To make nem Ninh Hoa, pork meat is ground or chopped and then grilled. Then, diners use griddle cakes to roll this grilled hash with many kinds of fresh vegetables and another kind of fried griddle cake to make a roll of nem Ninh Hoa. The sauce of nem Ninh Hoa is also carefully made since it is a crucial ingredient to contribute to the taste of the dish. The sauce is so important that each restaurant has its own secret recipe.
A dish of nem Ninh Hoa for one person is about VND 12,000. However, a dish for two people can easily serve three guests.
Nowadays, there are around twenty restaurants offering this special dish from the afternoon to the evening. These restaurants line the main streets of Nha Trang City, including Nguyen Thi Minh Khai, Le Loi, and Hoang Van Thu streets.
Among them, Dang Van Quyen and Ngoc Tien restaurants are the most crowded. Dang Van Quyen Restaurant on Hoang Van Thu Street offers a dish of ten rolls of nem Ninh Hoa at the price of VND 10,000. The restaurant owner is also the pioneer in opening the restaurants offering nem Ninh Hoa in Nha Trang.
(Source: SGT)
Cruising the bay
Cruising the bay
Halong Bay, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is located in the Gulf of Tonkin in the north-east region of Vietnam. Bordering the main land, with fertile Cat Ba Island to the southwest and the East Sea in the east, Halong Bay is endowed with a 120km coastline.
Ha Long is known as a legendary and historic land. Legend has it that soon after the Viet people established their country, invaders came. A mother dragon and her children were sent to help Vietnamese fight the invaders. Descending form the skies, the dragons opened their mouths and released a cascade of pearls. The pearls then turned into thousands of stone islands, raising from the bay like great walls, trapping invaders’ boats. In no time at all, the invading boats crashed into the islands, shattering into a thousand pieces. After the victory, these bendfic dragons fell in love with the bay, refusing to return to the heavens, choosing rather to take their rest in nearby Bai Tu Long Bay.
Famous for its natural beautiful landscapes, Halong was also one of the first cradles of human existence in the area, as revealed at multiple archeological sites including Soi Nhu, Thoi Gieng, Dong Mang, and Xich Tho. The tropical forests here are home to thousands of species of animals and plants. The peaceful bay is a highly concentrated crucible of biological diversity, with many ecosystems of salt water-flooded forests, 163 different spices of corals reefs. Thousands of species of fish, shrimp and cuttle-fish generously feed the local floating villages.
If you stay in Halong Bay more than 3 days, you should not miss the opportunity to take a trip to famous geographical sites including Van Don, an ancient commercial port in 12th century; Poem Mountain with its engravings of many poems in honour of Vietnam's emperors; and Bach Dang River, the location with the victory of Vietnamese naval battles in the fighting against foreign invasion
Amazing islands and cavesHalong Bay, is a densely concentrated zone of some 2,000 stone islands. There are two main types of island -limestone and schist -concentrated in principal zones: Bai Tu Long Bay to the southeast, and Halong Bay to the southwest. Halong Bay is most famous for its spectacular scenery of grottoes and caves
From the top of the mountain, Halong Bay looks like an imposing natural painting of graceful stone islands with fantastic and various shapes. There are many names given to islands based on their shapes and forms, such as Human Head, Dragon, Sail, Fighting Cocks, and Incense Burner.
The most beautiful caves in Halong Bay are Thien Cung (Heavenly Residence ), Dau Go (Driftwood), Sung Sot (Surprise), Trinh Nu (Virgin) and Tam Cung (Three Palaces).
Boat on bayWhen you visit Halong, cruising the bay aboard a wooden boat and sleeping up on deck is a must. There are many options for cruising Halong and something to suit all budgets. Some of the better known boats include the Emauraude, Huong Hai Junk, Bai Tho and Hai Au. If you are on honeymoon, do not forget that private boat services are available. Most of these tours include delicious seafood meals on deck. Some, like the Emeraude, offer Tai Chi and Vietnamese traditional cuisine cooking classes while others offer a kayak service
If you are a sports lover, swimming on the peaceful bay near the anchored boat or kayaking around the island are not be missed. Visiting the floating villages of Halong while sailing through the bay will give you an insight of the daily life of local community. For those who prefer a more relaxing holiday, there is always the option of reclining on the sunny deck, feeling the cool sea breeze and watching the ever-changing display of imposing stone islands as you drift by.
(Source: VNP)
Halong Bay, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is located in the Gulf of Tonkin in the north-east region of Vietnam. Bordering the main land, with fertile Cat Ba Island to the southwest and the East Sea in the east, Halong Bay is endowed with a 120km coastline.
Ha Long is known as a legendary and historic land. Legend has it that soon after the Viet people established their country, invaders came. A mother dragon and her children were sent to help Vietnamese fight the invaders. Descending form the skies, the dragons opened their mouths and released a cascade of pearls. The pearls then turned into thousands of stone islands, raising from the bay like great walls, trapping invaders’ boats. In no time at all, the invading boats crashed into the islands, shattering into a thousand pieces. After the victory, these bendfic dragons fell in love with the bay, refusing to return to the heavens, choosing rather to take their rest in nearby Bai Tu Long Bay.
Famous for its natural beautiful landscapes, Halong was also one of the first cradles of human existence in the area, as revealed at multiple archeological sites including Soi Nhu, Thoi Gieng, Dong Mang, and Xich Tho. The tropical forests here are home to thousands of species of animals and plants. The peaceful bay is a highly concentrated crucible of biological diversity, with many ecosystems of salt water-flooded forests, 163 different spices of corals reefs. Thousands of species of fish, shrimp and cuttle-fish generously feed the local floating villages.
If you stay in Halong Bay more than 3 days, you should not miss the opportunity to take a trip to famous geographical sites including Van Don, an ancient commercial port in 12th century; Poem Mountain with its engravings of many poems in honour of Vietnam's emperors; and Bach Dang River, the location with the victory of Vietnamese naval battles in the fighting against foreign invasion
Amazing islands and cavesHalong Bay, is a densely concentrated zone of some 2,000 stone islands. There are two main types of island -limestone and schist -concentrated in principal zones: Bai Tu Long Bay to the southeast, and Halong Bay to the southwest. Halong Bay is most famous for its spectacular scenery of grottoes and caves
From the top of the mountain, Halong Bay looks like an imposing natural painting of graceful stone islands with fantastic and various shapes. There are many names given to islands based on their shapes and forms, such as Human Head, Dragon, Sail, Fighting Cocks, and Incense Burner.
The most beautiful caves in Halong Bay are Thien Cung (Heavenly Residence ), Dau Go (Driftwood), Sung Sot (Surprise), Trinh Nu (Virgin) and Tam Cung (Three Palaces).
Boat on bayWhen you visit Halong, cruising the bay aboard a wooden boat and sleeping up on deck is a must. There are many options for cruising Halong and something to suit all budgets. Some of the better known boats include the Emauraude, Huong Hai Junk, Bai Tho and Hai Au. If you are on honeymoon, do not forget that private boat services are available. Most of these tours include delicious seafood meals on deck. Some, like the Emeraude, offer Tai Chi and Vietnamese traditional cuisine cooking classes while others offer a kayak service
If you are a sports lover, swimming on the peaceful bay near the anchored boat or kayaking around the island are not be missed. Visiting the floating villages of Halong while sailing through the bay will give you an insight of the daily life of local community. For those who prefer a more relaxing holiday, there is always the option of reclining on the sunny deck, feeling the cool sea breeze and watching the ever-changing display of imposing stone islands as you drift by.
(Source: VNP)
Pu Luong, valuable nature reserve
Pu Luong, valuable nature reserve
Nature presents Thanh Hoa Province with one of the natural heritage sites – Pu Luong Nature Reserve in Quan Hoa and Ba Thuoc districts.
The Pu Luong belonging to Cuc Phuong mountain range, the largest remaining area of lowland limestone forest in northern Vietnam, is an important example of Limestone Karst, ecosystems renowned for their complexity, richness and beauty.
This 17,662ha nature reserve is home to endangered animals, including Langur of which less than 300 remain in the world, the mountain's underground rivers, caves and caverns.
There are 36 species of animals listed in Vietnam and World Red Books, including 13 species endangered. The park also contains underground mountain rivers and caves that harbour countless unique invertebrates.
Its chalky slopes, too steep for cultivation, remain covered in rich forests with rare orchids. Close to Hanoi, Cuc Phuong is a favoured destination for sight-seeing while Pu Luong and its traditional Thai and Muong communities are beginning to attract tourists and trekkers.
Outside of the rich forest, tourists can view limestone panoramas and picturesque rice terraces. Based on its variety of offerings, Pu Luong should be a popular destination for eco-tourism and adventure tours.
Pu Luong discovery tour has opened for tourists. The tour, starting from Hanoi, takes tourists to view scenery of the whole Pu Luong Nature Reserve.
Coming to Pu Luong, tourists can have a rest in nearly 20 stilt houses built based on the architecture of the Muong and Thai ethnic minority people. It is very cool in summer and warm in winter when tourists sit by the fire.
Tourists have a chance to enjoy speciality food such as bamboo-tube rice, wild banana flower sweet and sour grated salad, and traditional dance performances by the locals.
(Source: Nhan Dan)
Nature presents Thanh Hoa Province with one of the natural heritage sites – Pu Luong Nature Reserve in Quan Hoa and Ba Thuoc districts.
The Pu Luong belonging to Cuc Phuong mountain range, the largest remaining area of lowland limestone forest in northern Vietnam, is an important example of Limestone Karst, ecosystems renowned for their complexity, richness and beauty.
This 17,662ha nature reserve is home to endangered animals, including Langur of which less than 300 remain in the world, the mountain's underground rivers, caves and caverns.
There are 36 species of animals listed in Vietnam and World Red Books, including 13 species endangered. The park also contains underground mountain rivers and caves that harbour countless unique invertebrates.
Its chalky slopes, too steep for cultivation, remain covered in rich forests with rare orchids. Close to Hanoi, Cuc Phuong is a favoured destination for sight-seeing while Pu Luong and its traditional Thai and Muong communities are beginning to attract tourists and trekkers.
Outside of the rich forest, tourists can view limestone panoramas and picturesque rice terraces. Based on its variety of offerings, Pu Luong should be a popular destination for eco-tourism and adventure tours.
Pu Luong discovery tour has opened for tourists. The tour, starting from Hanoi, takes tourists to view scenery of the whole Pu Luong Nature Reserve.
Coming to Pu Luong, tourists can have a rest in nearly 20 stilt houses built based on the architecture of the Muong and Thai ethnic minority people. It is very cool in summer and warm in winter when tourists sit by the fire.
Tourists have a chance to enjoy speciality food such as bamboo-tube rice, wild banana flower sweet and sour grated salad, and traditional dance performances by the locals.
(Source: Nhan Dan)
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