VietNam Lanscape and People

Thursday, July 31, 2008

Exploring the land of martial arts in festive time

Local people in Binh Dinh Province are busier than ever this time as the festive air in this land of martial arts is getting hotter as the Tay Son-Binh Dinh Festival is only four days away.

For the forthcoming festival, which runs until August 3, a series of artistic and architectural works such as Quang Trung Museum, Temple of Admiral Bui Thi Xuan, the Twin Tower park and an artistic fountain on 28,600 square meters on Nguyen Tat Thanh Street have been restored and constructed.

A 180-page handbook on Binh Dinh's tourism in three languages of English, Chinese and Vietnamese and a 30-page manual in English and Vietnamese featuring 15 tourism destinations in Binh Dinh Province have also been published and hit bookstores countrywide and the tourism spots, hotels and travel agents, Binh Dinh newspaper reports.

Main events will include Tay Son martial arts, King Quang Trung battle drum performance, Miss Martial Lands pageant, and a classical drama performance highlighting the distinctions of the province.

There will be an incense and flower offering ritual at Tay Son sanctuary on August 1, and a drama with over 700 artists playing the roles of King Quang Trung and troops in the Tay Son uprising to remind visitors of a glorious time in Vietnam's history.

Binh Dinh is a coastal province with a rich seafood reserves for delicious and nutritious dishes. Therefore, tourists wandering to the land during this festive time should also not forget tasting the specialties of this area such as Chim mia (sugarcane bird), Nem Cho Huyen (fermented pork of Huyen market), bun Song Than (Song Than rice vermicelli), and banh it la gai (sticky rice cake with coconut or green bean stuffing wrapped in pinnate leaf).

As Tay Son is a sugarcane-growing area, sugarcane birds in big flocks often gather there and the locals catch the birds to make the special dish. The birds are roasted and should be used with Bau Da rice alcohol, a special drink from Bau Da Village of Binh Dinh Province.

Nem Cho Huyen is also another must-try when coming to this land. The specialty comes from Vinh Thanh hamlet, Phuoc Loc Commune, Tuy Phuoc District, and making the specialty is a tradition passed from generations to generations.

In this area, the fermented pork wrapped in guava and banana leaves is the popular finger food of the locals and it stands out from other nem in other areas for its not - so - tender, not - so - sweet flavor.

Bun Song Than (rice vermicelli from the river of deity) is also another traditional specialty of this land. The rice vermicelli is made by locals of An Thai Village of An Nhon District in the province.

It is said that the kings of the Nguyen Dynasty found this specialty so delicious that they summoned the craftspeople making this specialty to the former capital city in Hue to make the dish. However, without the water of the Kon river, which is also called the river of deity, the dish lost its special taste.

Before leaving the province, tourists could buy some banh it la gai as a gift for their families and friends. This cake is made from sticky rice and sugar wrapped in pinnate leaves and stuffed with coconut or green bean. It is a rural and simple cake but it could not be left out in the special days of the locals such as Tet holiday, death anniversary or wedding.

Wednesday, July 30, 2008

Can Tho - a delta gem

The Mekong Delta has such a lot to offer the curious tourist by way of culture, unique food and a special environment.

About 170km from HCMC, Can Tho is one of the Mekong Delta’s tourism hubs. The delta is Vietnam’s biggest granary and it is a great tourist attraction, too, because of its people’s friendliness, seasonal flooding, life in harmony with the environment that is crisscrossed with rivers and canals, and its population of 17 million people of Kinh (majority Vietnamese), Chinese, Khmer and Cham origins.

Eco-tourism involving exploring the waterways and countryside culture is a feature of the delta in general and of Can Tho City in particular. It is the gentleness of rivers’ waves and the sight of sampans and small boats on the canals that are lined with coconut trees and fruit-rich groves. There are durians, pomelos, rambutans, mangos, and many other kinds of tropical fruit. Sitting on a river bank and enjoying the fresh environment, the smell of water and paddy fields, and the common foods with tempting smells such as countryside-roasted fish and wine-steamed chicken eaten with pure de (Vietnamese traditional liquor) moves the hearts of many international tourists.

Can Tho is a must-visit because of its floating markets like Phong Dien and Cai Rang, part of the culture that has tourists flocking to the region. Small boats and sampans travel here and there at those markets and offer products of various kinds, an activity that can be experienced in few places elsewhere.

At night, tourists can travel on Ninh Kieu Wharf to enjoy the fresh air and local delicacies, as well as listen to don ca tai tu, a kind of southern traditional music. In addition, spending time in orchards and sleeping as a homestay with the locals are also special services in the region.

View from the top

While earmarked for major tourism development, Son Tra Peninsula for the time being remains a perfectly sleepy little getaway spot for those in need of exotic exploration.

For visitors to Danang who are tired of flopping around the beach all day and need some adventure, the clean and green natural beauty of Son Tra Peninsula is just the ticket. Just a few minutes drive from downtown Danang, Son Tra is a stunning mixture of mountains, sea and sandy beaches.

The peninsula rises up to 693m above the sea level and while it has long been an imposing sight from the city, it has remained relatively unexploited as a tourism spot, despite grand plans on the drawing board. From the top of the mountain there’s a breathtaking panoramic view of Danang City, the sea and more than 30km of beach which stretches all the way to Cua Dai Beach nearby Hoi An.

From a distance this stunning coastline looks like a long silk cloth flapping in the wind. When the French established a garrison on Son Tra Peninsula more soldiers are said to have died from an outbreak of disease while building it rather than during battle. A small cemetery, near Tien Sa Beach, by the port to the north of Danang, stands in their memory. During the American War, Son Tra was also home to a notorious base camp serving as the US military command post complete with a helicopter-pad.

There are two radar stations built by the Americans in 1965, which were known as “Indochina’s eyes of god”. The satellites are now used for civil aviation purposes. Son Tra serves as the lung of the locality as it is covered by lush green forest. In fact, Son Tra is a natural preservation zone covering more than 4,400ha containing diversified tropical flora and rare species at risk of extinction.

Son Tra is called Monkey Island as it was once home to a healthy colony of monkeys, although sadly visitors today are less likely to see many monkeys around. The sea around the island is still pristine with colourful coral and turquoise water making it a perfect location for scuba diving.

Although currently scuba divers and snorkeler should be careful as the sea can be a little bit rough. If you can’t resist diving there, you can check out the various diving packages offered by the Furama Resort down the road.

Son Tra is home to various beautiful beaches although they are not as long as Non Nuoc and Cua Dai. Visitors can enjoy fresh air and seafood in any number of small restaurants set up by locals. Grilled shrimp, fried squid and roasted crab are the perfect choice after bathing in the deep blue sea.

At the start of this decade the local authorities managed to lobby the central government to allocate part of the peninsula for tourism. Now there is a 20km-long road under construction that will run around the island offering breathtaking views of the sea and fishing boats below.

Children at a market day

Market days are a special cultural trait of most northwestern ethnic minorities. It is usually organized once a week. Therefore, all people – from old to young, boy to girl – are eager to attend a market day. It is a great festival.

Though the mountains are still sunk in curtains of milky fog, children are beautifully dressed. Their faces are radiant with happiness. Some are carried on their mothers’ backs while others are bustling together on the lanes down to the fair. Little girls are attracted to colorful brocade skirts, skillfully hand-made silver earrings and necklaces while the boys are attracted to the dancing crowds, khen (fluting panpipe), folk games such as nem con (throwing a ball of cloth with tassels), dap nieu (breaking earthen pots), and more.

At the market, not only children’s eyes are dazzled with new and interesting things but their taste buds as well, with ice cream. They receive presents like cloth, bracelets, piglets or hens from their parents. To those who live in mountainous regions, these presents are practical.

The children have never gone to a supermarket, visited a zoo, or played computer games. But on a market day, the folk dances, the cool ice creams and the hot pots of thang co (a specialty of simmered meat and inner organs) have never failed to bring them the joy that such modern activities would for urban kids.

Traveling to Mon Beach

Nestled at the foot of Mui Dien (Dien Cape) in the central coastal province of Phu Yen, Mon Beach is pristine and endlessly fascinating.

The arc-shaped beach, which is surrounded by boulders and hills, has captured the attention of travelers who love to swim in turquoise waters and lie on white sandy beaches.

In the past, the beach remained quiet year-round and was only accessible from Vung Ro Port. However, a new asphalt road recently opened, making the beach more accessible for coaches and cars. The road is linked to National Highway 1A between Cu Mong Pass and Ca Pass and winds through hills along the shore.

Traveling on the road for 30 minutes leads to a path that eventually leads to the serene beaches. The path can be a bit tough for unadventurous travelers, but completely worthwhile for the natural scenery including a freshwater stream and sand dunes.

Once at the beach, one can jump into the water to cool off or relax and explore Mui Dien Lighthouse, which is located 110m above sea level.

Travelers interested in a unique view must climb up the lighthouse's spiral staircase. The view from the top stretches from the East Sea to the easternmost beaches and rock formations in Vietnam. The lighthouse is also a great location to see the sunrise and sunset.

The lighthouse was built by the French in 1890 and closed in 1945. The former Saigon reopened the lighthouse in 1961, but deserted it due to the war. The lighthouse was reopened for the third time in 1997.

Cao Lan ethnic group celebrates Cau Mua Festival

The Cao Lan ethnic minority people, who live in the northern province of Tuyen Quang, have an age-old culture which is vividly demonstrated in many festivals, including Cau Mua. People attending the festival pray for good weather, bumper crops, and prosperity.

Though the festival is held on the 10th day of the 1st lunar month, all villagers, be they old or young, eagerly prepare for the event even on the first days of the Lunar New Year. They contribute some rice, meat or fruit to the votive ceremony to be held in the communal house.

On the evening of the 9th day, villages are decorated with colourful flags and flowers and the elderly and their offspring come to clean the communal house and burn incense there. Early on the 10th day, the sound of flutes from communal houses encourages everybody to rejoice.

The first part of the festival is the votive ceremony to the Than Nong, Than Lua and Than Moc or Genies of Agriculture, Fire and Wood respectively. This aims to acknowledge their teaching the people to cultivate, acquire fire, and use wood to build houses. The offerings include incense, flowers and various kinds of cakes, including the banh chung (glutinous sticky rice cakes). Heading the ceremony is a person highly respected in the village. When the votive ceremony starts, he reads “We, the villagers, respectfully pray for success, luck and joy in our work, with all our dreams coming true. We pray for good weather, with enough water for cultivation, buffaloes for ploughing. We pray for good health and omens, for being free from calamities and catastrophes.”

After the votive ceremony is the merrymaking, starting with the sound of gongs. It attracts local villagers, especially young boys and girls and children. The games played include nem con (a cloth ball throwing game). A circle that symbolizes the mother of all species is put on. Anyone who throws the cloth ball through that circle will be the luckiest person of the year. The ball that is half-blue and half-red symbolizes phoenixes that are believed to fly to the moon to bring rice varieties to villagers.

There are many other games played during the festival, including swinging, cock fighting and especially giao duyen (alternate singing). Not only youngsters but also the elderly participate in singing songs of love and good neighborliness.

According to folklore researcher Ngo Duc Thinh, ancient people thought that cultivation needed auspices from a supernatural force, and therefore the Cau Mua Festival is held to worship the earth, the rice and agriculture-related genies. The festival is a unique expression of the Cao Lan identity and indigenousness that no other ethnic groups have.

“Halong Bay on land”, a popular destination for tourists

With its spectacularly shaped limestone mountains surrounding northern Vietnam’s largest wetland, Van Long Nature Reserve in Ninh Binh Province is becoming an attractive destination for tourists.

According to the Ninh Binh Tourism Department, Van Long Nature Reserve attracted 45,000 visitors, mostly foreigners, in 2007. Visitors from France, the Republic of Korea and Japan were the largest groups to include Van Long, along with the old capital of Hoa Lu and Tam Coc-Bich Dong tourist site also in Ninh Binh Province, in their travel itinerary.

The Van Long wetland which is in Gia Vien District, about 90km south of Hanoi covers a total area of 2,643ha. There are 457 species of high-class flora throughout the reserve, of which eight species have been listed in Vietnam’s Red Book.

The reserve is home to 39 animal species including the rare white breeched langur, tibetan bear, serow, loris and panther. Nine species of reptiles including the python, king cobra, varan and gecko and the near extinct insect species, the belostomatid, are all found in the reserve.

Van Long wetland, which is described as a Halong Bay on land, also has many beautiful caves and grottos. A popular activity among visitors is a boat ride to discover the beauty of the 100m Bong Grotto, four-storey Duoi Cave, or the most beautiful Ca Grotto half submerged with a 250m length and multiform magnificent stalactites and stalagmites.

Those visitors interested in history cannot overlook sites such as Chi Le, Mai Trung and Dich Long pagodas or King Dinh Tien Hoang Temple.

The development of tourism around Van Long has supported a face-lift of the area, with roads, schools and craft villages benefiting from upgrades and many hotels being built. The area has been selected by local authorities for the province’s master plan on tourism development by 2010.