First Buddhism pagodas built in the land Sai Gon

The land of Sai Gon - Gia Dinh has been over 300 years, most of the pagodas in Sai Gon were built under Nguyen dynasty, in this story we would like to introduce 5 oldest pagodas in Sai Gon, all of them are more than 200 years and are attached to the establishment and development of Sai Gon - Gia Dinh region.

1 - Hue Nghiem pagoda

Ancient pagoda in Sai Gon

Hue Nghiem pagoda is located in Dang Van Bi street, Thu Duc district. Today, the temple is often called the Hue Nghiem Pagoda 1 to distinguish from Hue Nghiem 2 in District 2. The pagoda was started by Buddhist Monk Thiet Thuy (168 -1757) in 18th century. According to some documentation it was built in 1721. Hue Nghiem is the oldest pagoda in Sai Gon

Hue Nghiem pagoda was initially built in the low land, about 100 meters from the current building. Then Ms Nguyen Thi Hien (1763-1821) religious name Lieu Dao, also known as Thanh Tam, donated the land to rebuild it. The pagoda was restored many times, major restoration was in the late nineteenth century by Master Dat Ly.

Its architecture is changed in the restoration in 1960, 1969, 1990 and 2003 with tile curved knife blade shaped roof, decorated with stylized lotus flower. The precinct is pretty large, there are many ancient towers. The three way entrance and Quan Am tower in the font yard was built in 1990.

2 - Giac Lam pagoda (To Dinh Giac Lam)

Giac Lam pagoda is also known as Cam Son pagoda, it is located in Lac Long Quan road of Tan Binh district, the pagoda was built in 1744 under Lord Nguyen Phuc Khoat, this is home to the Zen Te Tong in south Vietnam with an architecture of Tam letter including 3 interconnecting horizontal blocks: ceremonial hall, chanting hall and the refectory.

The pagoda's campus is rather large with big shady trees although it is still very crowded on weekdays. Famous literate Trinh Hoai Duc described the pagoda in the book Gia Dinh citadel as "Giac Lam pagoda is situated on Cam Son mound, 3 miles from Ban Bich rampart...dense trees as forest, blossoming like brocade", clouds of smoke floating by all day, the place is small but elegant"

In front of the pagoda is a hexagonal stupa, the 7th floor is used to host Buddha relics, the pagoda courtyard is a statue of Bodhisattava in the shadow of a snowbell tree grown by Venerable Narada bought from Srilanka in 1953.

Today Giac Lam pagoda has a small museum preserving many sculptures with skillful carvings, there are 113 ancient statues, mostly of wood, the main pillars in the temple are carved with parallel sentences, elaborately trimmed with gold.

3 - Giac Vien pagoda

Also located in Lac Long Quan road but in district 11, the history of Giac Vien pagoda is associated with Giac Lam pagoda as the location of Giac Vien pagoda was the warehouse while Giac Lam pagoda was rebuilt in 1798. It was originally a small shrine, a few years later it was built as a pagoda.

Giac Vien pagoda has been through some major restoration in 1899, 1908 and most recently was in 1991. Giac Vien pagoda's architecture consists of two combined four-pillar houses, the front house is ceremonial hall, dedicated to Buddha, the back room as chanting hall and lounge, the two sides have two corridors East and West connected to the main corridor.

Giac Vien pagoda has 153 big and small statues, mostly made of wood, 57 fresco doors, 60 reliefs with many characteristics of belief, religion, contaning the values of culture, arts of Vietnam in late 18th and early 19th ceturries.

Deserted town Tinh Tuc in Cao Bang

Lying quietly in the northeast region, the old town with a variegated wall seems to have nothing to do with the surrounding mountain and forest of Nguyen Binh district (Cao Bang province).

Tinh Tuc town in Cao Bang

Tinh Tuc townlet was formed with 2 rows of flats built in the 1970s, it was used as a living and working place of miners and foreign experts who worked in the Tinh Tuc tin mine. The workers came from different provinces along with a few locals were the first residents of this town.

The bustling prosperity of the town was associated with mining workforce. During the period around 1965 - 1973, the number of miners were up to 4,000 people, marking the height of the town.

Nearly 40 years of existence, the tin reserves declined, the workers left, Tinh Tuc townlet went against the trend and became deserted. There is no significant change from the past except the aging of the mine workers who are living inside the old blocks of difficult times - northwest Vietnam tours

Tinh Tuc town was formed in 1976 by the tenement houses for tin mining workers located along the National Highway 34. This is the tin mine that has been exploited for a long time, until 1956 the former Soviet Union helped build and equipped with machinery in large scale. The sign expressing the Vietnam- Soviet friendship by the road leading into town.

The 2-storey tenement houses built simply from 1976 until now nearly intact. A plaque still reads: “Cong Trinh Dang Dang” meaning “An offer to Communist party”. The common feature of these blocks is the stairs going up from the rear and common water tank. This small town is only about 800m along Highway 34.

Now, as the tin reserves have fallen, many of the workers and young people have left to work elsewhere leaving many apartments deserted, uninhabited. The workers in the tin mine said the workload is declining, the average monthly wage is only about 2 million vnd (90 usd).

A family with two generations working in the mine now lives in the house built 40 years ago, the two sons of the family still work in the mine. A man who worked at the mine since 1984 now has retired, his children have moved out instead of succeeding his job. The houses were later sold to the workers, each household were allotted one apartment, there was previously a 3 story building for the singles.

Tinh Tuc townlet are deserted all day, only a few times in the day when at the end of the shifts workers go home there are voices in the quiet space.

Tranquil beauty of Con Co island in Quang Tri

The wild and beautiful destinations without mass tourism is always the choice for travelers, one of those places is Con Co island in Quang Tri, the holy eye in the middle of the northern sea. Visitors who have been to Con Co island say it is the wild life, tranquility of the island itself has made it an ideal travel destinations in Vietnam for those who want to escape from the noisy, chaotic and crowded cities in Vietnam.

Best time to visit Con Co island.

Con Co island

From our experience, best time to visit Con Co island is from April to June. This time the weather is beautiful, sun shines, the sea is blue and calm, very favorable for the plan to visit and explore Con Co island.

If you want to make the trip to Con Co island in other times, the most important thing you need to do is weather forecast on the island and contact the ships to see if they are running or not. Con Co island is about 2 hours from mainland and if the weather is bad the ships will not operate.

Transport to and from Con Co island:

Con Co island is about 30km from Cua Tung beach in Quang Tri province, then the first destination you need to reach is Quang Tri town, you can go by train, car or plane from Hanoi or Sai Gon, arriving in Dong Ha town you need to catch a taxi to the Cua Tung sea port for the ship to Con Co island. One thing you need to remember when you catch a taxi to the port is agree on the price first or pay by meter, it costs around 140.000 vnd (6$) by motorbike from Dong Ha town to Cua Tung and 300.000 vnd (13$) by taxi. If you go in big group and want to visit some places in Quang Tri you are recommended to book private transfers just for your group, cost for private transfer in Dong Ha is pretty high and you can contact transport company Linh Linh 0942 083 739 to rent one.

Currently the high speed boat from mainland to Con Co island is not in operation so you have 2 ways:

- Rent a fishing boat from local people in order to control your itinerary by yourself, if your group is less than 10 people cost is about 3.000.000 vnd (130 $) for a return trip, you can keep the cost down by asking for a ride from officials, business people or navy ships, it saves you a lot of money however you can’t take initiative in timing and may thus affect your plan.

- Book a tour from a travel agency in Quang Tri, the tours run almost every week however price is high as the tour company has to hire a private boat for passengers.

Accommodation on Con Co island

Con Co island can even be more pristine and wild than Co To or Ly Son island, there is no hotel or resort and the only choice is Nha Khach Huyen Uy (Guesthouse of People’s Committee). Our tips for you travelers if the guesthouse is full is to ask for a stay at a local family, the lighthouse or police station and one more choice is to set up a tent at a convenient and safe place

Ta Nang Phan Dung trekking in central highlands of Vietnam

Those who make a trekking trip from Ta Nang to Phan Dung through 3 provinces Lam Dong, Ninh Thuan and Binh Thuan in central Vietnam would not hesitate to say: no more beautiful trekking route anywhere else.

Total length of the journey is 55 km stretch of road through the jungle, streams, moving from a height of 1,100 m by 500 m above sea level. This is the transition land from highland to central coastal plateau.

The moment you walk in the first golden sunlight spread over the grass and the thin mist hanging over the hillside makes travelers feel like you are lost in paradise on earth.

A little green grass, a little golden sunshine through thin mist that one can touch the purity of nature.

Between the deep forest and mountains, everything seems to slow down. Only trees, flowers, birds in the harmony of earth and sky, time and space completely separate from the everyday hustle. In this region, mobile phone coverage is something luxury.

New day, we were woken by birds singing melodious songs. Outside the tent door wide opened, the green grass hill one after another like an eternity.

Sometimes we were overwhelmed by the grandeur of the rolling hills. The natural scene here is really different from other places in the central Highlands.

The trail leads to a high hill with a few scattered pine trees standing alone and thin mist makes the space more mysterious, adventurous.

Trekking the route Ta Nang - Phan Dung, you can go up 3 hills to watch the sunset, sunrise or the basaltic soil trails like a ribbon winding between hillsides.

A point not to be missed in the journey is a triangle milestone, the intersection of three provinces of Lam Dong, Ninh Thuan, Binh Thuan.

When the legs were tired, the sweat was beading on faces, the white water waterfall Yaly appear before our eyes, dispel the fatigue of the long journey. The imposing waterfall in the green of jungle. This is an ideal route for those who love trekking, looking for peaceful place, harmony with nature.

The trekking route Ta Nang - Phan Dung through 3 provinces Lam Dong, Ninh Thuan, Binh Thuan. Starting point is Ta Nang commune, Duc Trong district, Lam Dong, about 60km south of Da Lat city. Finish point is the mountainous commune of Phan Dung in Tuy Phong district, Binh Thuan.

What to bring:

- Weather, clothes: This season, after 14.00 it usually rains, so be prepared for rain with poncho and backpack. It is sunny at midday. It is rather cold at night about 2-3.00 am. So you should wear long-sleeved jacket, scarf.

- Food and drinks: For this 3 day trip you need to prepare enough food and water but lightweight. The 2nd day trekking on the bare hills without stream, you need to have adequate drinking water, at least 3 liters of water.

- Tents: camping area is strong wind, prepare to set up tents

- Medical bags: Dense forests have many reptiles such as snakes and scorpions; many insects - especially bumblebees, very poisonous

This stretch of road is very difficult and requires travel experience, strength and careful preparation. You should contact the Forest rangers in the region Ta Nang, Phan Dung for information and documents needed before the trip.

Source: http://www.privatetourvietnam.com/travel-stories/travel-stories/trekking-ta-nang-phan-dung.php

Tam Coc complex, a must see destination in Ninh Binh

It would be a miss if you visit Vietnam without taking a tour to Tam Coc in Ninh Binh. Located 120 km from Hanoi, Tam Coc tour - Bich Dong is part of the Hoa Lu limestone mountain range. For hundreds of years, the place has preserved the primitive beauty that has attracted countless visitors.

Tam Coc boat trip

The Tam Coc complex includes Tam Coc and Bich Dong, which are situated in Van Lam village, Hoa Lu district, Ninh Binh province. Recognized as a special national heritage, Tam Coc is often called ‘Ha Long Bay on the land’ for its system of limestone grottoes and historical relics from the Tran dynasty in the 13th and 14th century.

To reach Tam Coc tours, you must board a small boat at the wharf and get rowed up the sinuous Ngo Dong River past Xuyen Thuy cave and pockets of rice fields. Do Thi Nu, a local boat pilot, talked to us about Tam Coc’s history: “In Chinese, ‘Tam’ means three and ‘Coc’ means cave, so ‘Tam Coc’ means three caves. In Vietnamese, it is called ‘Ba hang’. Hang Ca is the first cave, ‘hang Hai’ is the second cave, and ‘hang Ba’ is  the third cave. It takes 2 hours to visit all three caves.”

Tam Coc is charmingly beautiful in any season. In spring, bright green rice fields spread along the river banks, turning into silky yellow beds in the fourth lunar month. In the summer while traveling on the Ngo Dong River, visitors will enjoy an enticing lotus fragrance while listening to the locals recounting legends about each cliff or mountain in the shape of a tortoise or dragon head.

There are particularly interesting rock formations, and schools of fish swimming in crystal clear water, but undoubtedly the most impressive features of Tam Coc day trips are the caves, according to tour guide Nguyen Xuan Nguyen:

“Hang Ca is the first cave and the largest of the 3. It is 127 meters long and its mouth is 20 meters wide. Many stalactites hang down from the ceiling, some of which look like clouds and some of which drip water all day and are compared to a mother’s breast. The cave looks very dark from the outside, but the further you go into it, the brighter it is.”

The beauty of Tam Coc is the beauty of the 3 caves with the Ngo Dong River running through them. The second cave, Hang Giua, which is about 10 minutes from the first cave, has a length of 60 meters and a multitude of flat, horizontal stalactites. The third and final cave, Hang Cuoi, is the smallest. It is about 50 meters in length and is only 100 meters from the second cave.

Its geology suggests this place was under the sea millions of years ago. The land emerged gradually over centuries and waves eroded the limestone mountains to form grottoes.

After the 2-hour excursion returns you to Tam Coc wharf and go an additional 2 km to Bich Dong, considered the second most beautiful cave in Vietnam. The Bich Dong area consists of a cave and a pagoda built on a limestone hill in 1428 under King Le Thai To. Ms. Nguyen again:

“Bich Dong pagoda is composed of 3 structures: Ha Pagoda (lower pagoda), Trung Pagoda (Middle pagoda), and Thuong Pagoda (upper pagoda). In 1740, King Le Canh Hung named the pagoda ‘Bach ngoc thach son dong’ which means pagoda made of beautiful stones like a sapphire in a remote place. ‘Bich Dong’ means “green grotto”, a name given by Nguyen Nghiem, the father of  the great poet Nguyen Du, in 1773.”

After praying to Buddha in Bich Dong Pagoda, visitors climb 21 stone steps to Toi cave (Dark cave) whose stalactites are shaped like fairies, errand-boys, hovering dragons, swimming tortoises, elephants, and tigers. 40 more steps take you to go to the Upper Pagoda, from where you can enjoy the best views of Bich Dong. The view has strongly impressed foreigners like Monttie Binotto from Switzerland.

“This is my first time visiting this place, which is known for its cultural and historical tradition. Tam Coc-Bich Dong is favored by nature with friendly people and charming landscapes. I want to stay here for two or three days to fully explore it. I’m impressed by the smiles of boat drivers who can row the boats with their legs. I don’t think I can see these things anywhere else.”

Spend 2 weeks to travel Vietnam

You are planning for a trip to Vietnam and wonder how long you need to travel this beautiful country. Two weeks just never feels like quite enough holiday time does it? Those 14 hard-earned days of vacation seem to disappear quicker and quicker with each passing year and one of the biggest challenges is trying to make the most of every day that you are away - to find the balance between seeing and exploring a country, but also having some down time - Vietnam trip.

Ho Chi Minh museum

After living in Vietnam for four months earlier this year, I have devised a little route down the country that in my humble opinion, gives a great overview of the country in just two weeks. So without, further ado, here we go:

DAY 1 & 2 - DISCOVER HIDDEN HANOI

Arrive in the bustling capital of Hanoi and stay in the bustling Old Quarter which is in the heart of everything (make sure you ask if your hotel room has a window as is quite common for some rooms in the traditional buildings not to have windows). Spend a couple of days soaking up the atmospheric winding streets of Hanoi - the best way to do this is to take a walking tour and there are tons on offer (I especially loved the food tour led by Food on Foot and a tour of the Old Quarter called Hidden Hanoi).

DAY 3 - 5 - THE MAJESTIC HALONG BAY

Just a four hour drive from Hanoi lies the gorgeous Halong Bay - a beautiful emerald green bay pierced by hundreds of towering lush islets as far as the eye can see. The best way to enjoy the bay is to take a two-nght cruise (you have less than 24 hours on the one-night cruise) so I really recommend taking two nights. Breakfast, lunch and dinner tend to be included on the cruise as to activities like kayaking, swimming and all the excursions so even though it seems pricy, you tend to get everything included. Most cruises also run a shuttle service between the bay and Hanoi.

DAYS 6 & 7 - EXPLORE RURAL VIETNAM

After the cruise, return to Hanoi and form here take the opportunity to explore rural Vietnam. There are a few areas to choose from and many love Sapa (but this is an uncomfortable night-train away and is very touristy) so I prefer Mai Chau, a picturesque river valley, which is just a three hour drive from Hanoi. It is home to colourful hill tribes and surrounded by the towering foothills of the Truong Son mountain range. Here you can choose from little boutique hotels or stay with a local White Thai ethnic family for a really authentic experience. There's so much you can do here - hike to remote villages and see the Blue and Flower H'mong villages, enjoy a bike ride, take a boat ride on one of the national park lakes, watch the locals harvest the rice or visit a local market.

DAY 8 & 9 - FROM RICE PADDIES TO THE IMPERIAL CAPITAL OF HUE

Head back to Hanoi today and catch a short one-hour flight to Hue, the old imperial capital of Vietnam, spend the first day wandering and taking in the cute town which sits on the banks of the Perfume River. On your second day it's worth signing up to a full city tour of the ancient city, which was formerly the capital of Vietnam. Top sites include the old Imperial Palace (which is still impressive despite bombings in the American War), the intricate royal tombs and beautiful pagodas that are home to many Monks still today.

DAY 10 - SCENIC DRIVE TO THE QUAINT TOWN OF HOI AN

This morning you should take one of the most scenic journeys down the Vietnam coastline. It will take you over a beautiful pass, and along miles of coast - and the best way to do it? On the back of a motorbike of course! Vietnam is all about the two-wheels and it is famous for its 'Easy Riders' - guys who take tourists up and down the country on the back of their huge, high powered motorbikes. There's some great little seafood restaurants on stilts over the water as you near Hoi An that are worth stopping at.

DAYS 11 - 14 - RELAX IN HOI AN

Hoi An is the perfect place to stop for a few days and relax at the end of your trip. Why? Because it is a town that has it all; delicious cuisine (they say the best in all of 'nam), fabulous tailors and a beautiful beach just 4km away. There's loads of hotels to choose from in the town as well as some lovely but more expensive options on the beach. No matter where you stay you can just hire a bike and take a short scenic journey between the beach and the town as you please. Perfect!

EXTRA DAYS?

If you have some extra days on your hands, take a short flight down to Saigon (aka Ho Chi Minh City) where you can enjoy a cocktail from one of the amazing rooftop bars in Saigon, and spend a few days in this fast and unique city. You can also do day trips to the Cu Chi tunnel (where the guerrilla fighters fought, slept and lived during the American War) and into the Mekong Delta from here.

Happy travels!

Enjoy the attractions of Vietnam from mountain to sea

Sai Gon - Vietnam

Have you ever heard about Vietnam travel? Just take a look around the net and you'll be attracted by the attractions Vietnam offers. Eternal green fields fused with the bustling metropolis of Vietnam make this Southeast Asian nation a feast for the eyes. After decades of unceasing wars, Vietnam has risen from the trenches as a triumphant country proud of its unique culture and history.

If you are taking a trip the cultural and vibrant Vietnam travel information, here are some sights and experiences that are not to be missed.

Vestiges of the Past: The Cu Chi Tunnels

Witnessing some of the most gruesome encounters, take a tour on the former battlefields, foreign military bases, and national museums in the country to commemorate this time of courage. From the Cu Chi tunnels, My Lai, to the Khe Sanh grounds, you will instantly feel the cry to save the lives of people.

Holy Grounds: Temple Tours

A trip to Vietnam is partly synonymous to centuries-old architectural wonders of worship. Filled with Buddhist temples, entering these historic and highly-ornamented shrines offers a moment of tranquility on your journey. Most notable are the One-Pillar Pagoda located above a lotus pond in Hanoi and the towering Thien Mu Pagoda in Hue constructed in 1601. Visitors should wear suitable clothing that covers most of the body when going inside these sacred sites.

Through the Waters: The Mekong Delta and Halong Bay

Whether buying goods from the floating market of Mekong Delta, or cruising on a luxurious ship in Halong Bay, the rivers flowing within Vietnam serve as the channel to view the most heart-stopping sights on the land. Its clear waters and white sand also provide for amazing beach holidays where diving is a must for every ocean adventurer.

Shopping Districts: Ho Chi Minh and Hanoi

Affordability is the selling point of Vietnam when it comes to top-quality garments, handicrafts, jewelry, paintings, and souvenir items. The cities of Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh come to life with a whole lot of products which you can get at a cheap price especially if bargaining is your prowess. Haggling is a typical scene in Vietnam but make sure to negotiate firmly but friendly, if possible, with a smile to boot. The conical hat and trademark ao dai costume are tourist favorites.

Founded on Festivals: Traditional Celebrations with Dance and Music

There is no better way to experience the Vietnemese culture than to take part in one of their many festivals throughout the year. From traditional ceremonies, vivid costumes, sports competitions, cultural music and dance, to special offerings, Vietnamese festivals pay tribute to ancestors, heroes, and the land's natural wealth. Undeniably the most-awaited celebration is the Tet or New Year festival which occurs around the end of January or early February.

Reaching the Peak: Sapa and Dalat

Tread the mountains of Vietnam for a closer look at its sweeping landscapes. The Sapa and Dalat regions are exciting destinations to breathe in the fresh air on top of the highlands. It is not surprising how mountain climbing and cycling have been a favorite for travelers as well as photographers from around the world.

Traveling to this land guarantees a rich learning experience of traditions carried by the enduring spirit of the Vietnamese people.