Treasures of Vietnam

Hanoi Impressions

2011-09-23T23:18:00.000-07:00

See all the locations on Hanoi Google Map

Joss-sticks at Ngoc Son Pagoda, picture © ishmael 78

Listen to music about Old Hanoi:

Salt (muoi), roasted fish (cha ca), chicken (ga), beans (dau) or leather (da), baskets (bo) and bamboo (tre) or herbal medicine (thuoc bac): Whatever people used for daily life has it's own street name in the old town of Hanoi. The development of the old quarter started in the 11th century, when King Ly Thai built his palace. Craftsmen and their families settled in small villages around the palace walls. Later artisan guilds were formed. This was the birth of streets specialised in similar services. Today many guides write about "36 old streets", but actually there are around 70 streets in the old quarter. Some researchers believe that there were 36 guilds in the 15th century (read more in an article by Barbara Cohen).

What can we discover in the old quarter today? Frommer's has published a nice walking tour and we follow their route and start at the north end of Hoan Kiem Lake (Lake of the returned sword).

Den Ngoc Son (Jade mountain temple): On an island in Hoan Kiem Lake, built in the 18th century. From the shore we reach the pagooda through this gate:

Picture © marhas1

We cross the lake on The Huc (Morning sunlight bridge):

Wood is under the red painting, picture © marhas1

And we enjoy the look at this gate:

Picture © marhas1

Now smell the incence:

Picture © marhas1

Ngon Soc Pagoda, picture © iko

Hang Gai (Hemp street): Today you won't find hemp shops but boutiques, art galleries and silk tailors - and an old Banyan tree at 85 Hang Gai. There is a concentration of galleries near the intersection of Hang Gai and To Tich street (Thang Long Art Gallery and Dragon Art Gallery). Read more about shops along Hang Gai.

Tan My Design, picture © marhas1

Tan My Design is a small new shopping emporium selling local Vietnamese design as Chartage, Ha Truong, Minh Hanh, Ha Linh Thu, Huy Vo, Casa d'Oriental and Grace as well as brands from abroad.

Picture © marhas1

Picture © marhas1

Hang Gai, picture © Mimi

Silk, picture © dominiqueb

Banyan Tree, picture © Hanoi Mark

Tam Thuong Alley: Turn right from Hang Gai. Just some steps inside you discover Din Yen Thai Communal House. Read more about the Tam Thuong community. Here there used to be a palace of Y Lan, one of the most inspiring and captivating female figures in Vietnamese history (more here).

Flags during Tet in Tam Thuong, picture © Hanoi Mark

Ceremonial room in Yen Thai Temple, picture © hermmermferm

Yen Thai Street: You find yourself in a small openair market.

Yen Thai, picture © Sally Anderson.
See also picture by Optimism One and by Hanoi Jazz

Yen Thai Street, picture by 160cm

Hang Da Market (Leather Market): Here you used to find an old market from the 19th century with meat, vegetables, fruits and pottery on the ground floor, clothes and fabrics on the upper floors. See picture by Ariel Seche and Erin Armstrong. But now this building has been demolished and the construction of a new shopping complex is planned. Read "The Last day of Hang Da Market". See Mariel Bautista's photos of the old market. And read the blog of Vietnamese God about the transformation of shopping in Hanoi from old to new.

Old Hang Da Market, picture by rathmax

Hang Dieu Street (Street of pipes): It used to be the street of the tobacco- and pipesellers.

Bat Dan Street (Wooden Bowles): It was once the street of the sellers of clay bowls. See the communal house at 33 Bat Dan, temple at the corner of Bat Dan and Hang Ga

Bat Dan, picture by 160cm

Thuoc Bac Street (Herbal Medicine Street): This used to be the place for traditionel medicine. Thuoc Bac is the traditional Northern Medicine, also called Chinese traditional medicine. Read a background story by Lena Lopez. Today metallic stuff dominates the street. See street-picture by Williewonker

Thuoc Bac Street, picture by permanently scatterbrained

Hang Phen Street (Alum Street): See picture by Willie Wonker. At 25 Hang Phen you find Mr Lee's Style Shop, one of some clothing boutiques in this area. Also Bat Su has.

Bat Su Street (China Bowls Street): About the Café on 61 Bat Su writes Motormouth from Ipoh. "Look for a preserved traditional house, characterized by its low tile roofline, at no. 52 Bat Su", advises frommers.com

Read more: http://www.frommers.com/destinations/hanoi/0197010008.html#ixzz0SyEB5mJc

Pho Bat Su, picture by loveme

Architecture in Bat Su, picture by Hon Weng

Cua Dong Street: It leads you to Hanoi Citadel, the former residence of Vietnam monarchs. The Ly Dinasty constructed it in 1010 (read about the history on the World Heritage site of Unesco and Jennifer Pinkowski's article in the New York Times). The Roayal Palaces and other buildings have been destroyed by the Frech in the 19th century. Some buildings remained: Doan Mon gate, the Watchtower, the steps of Kinh Thien Palace and Hau Lau (Princess Palace). The Vietnamese military command under General Giap had its headquarters in the citadel (building D67). See pictures by ngocpq

Doan Mon:

The left gate, picture by dohuyen

From the basement up, picture by dohuyen

Doan Mon Gate, picture by ThanhTam

The Watchtower:

The Watchtower, picture by cluzzie

Dinh Kien Tien: See a video-animation on youtube.com

Phung Hung:

Picture © DucLoi

Picture © Hanoi Mark

Hang Vai (Cloth Street): You find stands of cut bamboo poles for construction. See picture by kk_wpg and eujintay

Picture © hermmerferm

Picture © vui

Picture © Alex Gooi

Lang Ong: See picture of crossroads Hang Ngang, Hang Duong, Lan Ong and Hang Buom and see picture of Lan Ong.

Picture © dainee

Pho Cha Ca (Roasted Fish Street):

Picture © Duc Loi

Hang Ca: See picture by dopdk love you

Picture © DucLoi

Hang Duong (Sugar street):

Traffic at Hang Ma and Hang Duong Crossroads. Picture © aquanica68

Picture © Hanoi Mark

Hang Chieu (Mats street):

Stall selling fried prawn with flour, dipped in Viet sauce and eaten with vegetables in a small lane between Hang Chieu and Cau Dong street. Picture © * etoile

Picture © DucLoi

Quan Chuong Gate:

Picture © Dan

Nguyen Sieu:

Picture © DucLoi. See also picture by Yvonnechan

Hang Giay (Shoes street ?):

Picture © marhas

Picture © Alfred Wilhelm

Picture © Alfred Wilhelm

Picture © Alfred Wilhelm

Hang Buom (Sail street): The people living here made and sold sails, because there were water channels between the Red River and the To River. Later Hang Buom became the commercial and residential center of Chinese merchants. Look at the colonial buildings and traditional Vietnamese houses.

Picture © Maocho

View from Ladybird Restaurant at 57 Hang Buom, picture © handinhand

Den Bach Ma, picture © aquanica68

Den Bach Ma (The White Horse Temple) dates from 1010. What you see today is a reconstruction from the 18th and 19th centuries. Read the story of the White Horse on orientalarchitecture.com. Open from 7:30 to 11:30 am and 1:30 to 6 pm daily.

Inside Den Bach Ma, picture © marhas1

© marhas1

Ma May: At 87 Ma May you find a restored traditional house from the late 19th century. Here, for a fee of just 20,000 VND, a young guide dressed in a traditional ao dai will show you the building and tell you about the life in the past. The renovation has been funded by a UNESCO-, French- and Canadian-backed organization. 87 Ma May is a typical "tube house": These houses "can be as long as 70 meters and as narrow as two meters - this developed as an attempt to minimize taxes, as each property was taxed according to the width of the street-facing facade. To allow for sufficient light in these narrow dwellings, it was necessary to design multiple courtyards along the length of each house.", notes orientalarchitecture.com

87 Ma May, picture © Kathryn

View of the middle room from the veranda, picture © marhas 1

View across the outermost courtyard, picture © Maggie

The rear patio, picture © marhas 1

On the bed, picture © marhas1

Ma May, picture © StrudelMonkey

22 Ma May, picture © Loris Candylaftis

The Food Laboratory describes a walking tour through the old town of Hanoi, read.

One Pillar Pagoda:

Picture by Mimi

Dong Xuan Market

Cho Dong Xuan, picture by ThanhTam

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Halong Bay impressions

2011-02-25T12:50:00.001-08:00

Picture andreakw

Picture David McKelvey

Picture David McKelvey
The bay in front of Sung Sot Cave

Michael Buckley's essay about the Halpng Bay: Vietnam's Bay of the Descending Dragon

Picture David McKelvey
Sung Sot Cave

Picture andreakw
Floating store

Picture andreakw
Floating village

Picture andreakw

Picture andreakw

Picture David McKelvey

Picture txfiddlechick
Kayaking through a cave tunnel

Picture txfiddlechick
On the shore of Ti Top Island

By txfiddlechick
View from the top of Ti Top Island

Picture chericbaker
Fighting cocks

Picture Rosino

Bo Nâu Cave: See picture of the entrance by TTVo, From 2 to 3 km southeast of Trong Mái Islet lies Bo Nâu Cave (Pelican Cave). This grotto covers 200 m2. Pelicans often find shelter here. Read more on halongtours.com

Dau Go Cave: This means Driftwood Cave. The ceiling of the cave is about 25m up, hundreds of stalactites are falling down like a waterfall. There are three rooms inside, at the end of the cave you find a well of clear water. Read more on halongtours.com
See picture by Tai Thanh Vo and view from Dau Go Cave by rathmax

Picture iko

Picture Xurxo Martínez

Thien Cung Cave: This means "Heavenly Palace". The way to Thiên Cung leads through thick forest. The cave ist 130m long. In the centre four pillars support the "roof of heaven”. At the last part of the cave you discover three ponds with clear water. Read more on halongtours.com

Picture Dennis Jarvis

Picture Erik A. Drabløs

Picture romancrowley

Read more:
How to choose the right junk for Halong Bay
Cat Ba and the islands and caves in Lan Ha Bay: Have a quiet time
Quan Lan island
Co To Island

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How to choose the right junk for Halong Bay

2011-02-22T11:37:00.000-08:00

The kissing rocks, also called Hon Ga Troi (Fighting Cocks), picture by tamlynallison. More pictures.

See the locations of Halong Bay and Bai Tu Long Bay on Halong Bay Google Map
Read background about the Karst an Caves of Ha Long Bay by Speleogenesis. Halong Bay is a Unesco World Heritage Site, read more

You have to choose and get some help here

Everybody goes to Halong Bay, more than 2.5 millions of people every year, so there are crowds of tourists in some places. And there are many operators of tours and some of them specialized on rip off: not delivering good quality. That's why I collected reviews of guests, who have been to Halong Bay. And that's why you find three categories in this blog:
- Good reviews
- Critical reviews
- No reviews

Some tipps:
- Don't look for the cheapest tours, the risk is high, that the service and the safety are cheap too
- Ask the tour seller: how old is the boat?
- Check, if the boat has glass windows - boats with wood windows are older. Newer boats have hammers to break the glass
- Check, if Kayaking or the transfer from Hanoi to Halong is included in the package, Check if lifewests for Kayaking are included
- Check, if the route goes to Bai Tu Long Bay, which is less crowded than Halong Bay
- Check the weather, before you start. If storms are forcasted, you should not go. In September 2009 five people died, as a brand new tourist boat sank (read more). Be aware, that the tour operater might not have an insurance, so take care, you have one yourself
- When going on board: ask for the security instruction. Check, where the lifewests are
- If you are not an experienced swimmer, take care, there can be streams in the water, may be the way back to the ship is much harder than the way away from the ship, there can also be jellyfish
- If you are not experienced in kayaking, don't go alone but with somebody who is experienced. Especially inside the caves there can be streams difficult to manage.
- Read, how cupidwithoutarrows compares the junks

Good reviews

Bai Tho Junk: View blog by Stefan Daiberl and see pictures by tamlynallison and GaryGS1. Good reviews on tripadvisor.com by kimw, Actregular Traveller and Travelling Tart.

Before boarding

Bai Tho Junk

Top deck

Dining room

More bay

All pictures by tamlynallison Stop at the beach of Ti Top island

Bhaya Cruises: Three days/two nights for two from 700 USD. The Bhaya is a new boat with an ancient history. It has been rebuilt after drawings of a junk, who was used by the Vietnamese Emperor Khai Dinh (1885-1925, read the full story). "Great experience", comments alicejlille, "perfect", notes Air Journey. Also Drew amd Liz liked the trip and Gipsy Lemonade was not only fond of the "elaborate lunch buffet" on board. In Vung Vieng floating village you change for a moment to sampans rowed by "incredibly strong" women, as Sam and David report, who show a lot of pictures of the trip. There is also a pearl farm to visit. See the detailed itineraries.

Bhaya Classic

Picture David McKelvey

Picture andreakw

Picture David McKelvey
Bhaya Spirit

Emeraude Classic Cruises: A steamer. "You wont ever be more spoiled than on the Emeraude. We had the time of our lives", comments tressophis. Read Naysay's report about the trip and see pictures. And Michael L. Grace knows the history of Emeraude.

Picture robertlafond2009
Emeraude

Emeraude

Picture sega10028
Emeraude Deck.

Luxury Cruise Collection: 3 days two nights for two from 664 USD. Read review of Hanoi Ginger by frommers.com. Good review by Anantara. Gretchen 2.0 notes, that she was transferred to amother, not so nice boat on the second day.

Picture David McKelvey
Halong Ginger

Picture David McKelvey
Halong Ginger

Picture The Exo Guy
Halong Jasmine

Halong Jasmine

Huy Hoang: See pictures and read about the experience by Photodiary of a Nomand and Alan Shih at sea and Tar chittarath and by Karen and Matt. See picture of Huy Hoang Boat

Huy Hoang

Indochina Sails and Valentine: Good reviews on tripadvisor.com. Anniejet was "totally satisfied". Bobw2046 had a "5 star time". Read also "A day on Halong Bay" with a lot of pictures by Mattandjean.

Picture txfiddlechick
Indochina Sails

Picture txfiddlechick
Deluxe cabin

Lagoon Explorer: Tropical Sails Co. LTD, wo ran The Lagoon Explorer, has been merged into Indochina Junk. There are tours to Halong Bay but also to Quan Lan Island (itineraries). Trawelwolrd23 notes, that Lagoon Explorer 1 is the older boat and Lagoon Explorer 2 more comfortable. "Intimate boat", comments Kirby 319 on tripadvisor.com, good review by Alicie Green. "The two lunches and one dinner were all epic events", remembers Brady. Johnandjustine enjoyed it too. See picture by BrianMcMorrow and by Brady.

Picture tallphil
Lagoon Explorer

Picture Kurt J

Pinta: 3 days two nights for two from 408 USD. Pinta Gold has been taken out of traffic by an inspector for security reasons on 20 november 2009. The author of this blog was on board, when this happened. You can read the story here and with pictures in this blog. The author does not know, if its operating again. See itineraries of Pinta Gold Cruiser. Read how Vaax enjoyed the trip with Pinta Cruiser, and so did Jacky on Pinta Gold Cruiser. "Great guide", "gorgeous deck"(sunlounges with white covers), "dinner was just as yummy as lunch and every time we thought that was the last dish they would bring more out", adds Chez N Andys, who critizises the mattress in the bedroom as too hard. "They served gourmet, had tons of fruits on board", notes Culinary Conquests. And Erin and Jeff were fond of the ten-course-dinner served on a beach. Good reviews on tripadvisor.com

Picture Brandon
Pinta Gold Cruiser

The deck

Prince: 3 days two nights for two for 530 USD. Itinerary. You don't have to change to another boat on the third day. Good reviews on tripadvisor.com and here. "We were looked after so well", write Dane adn Dave. "The crew was great on our boat and treated us well", adds KuchtaWorld.

Picture Indochina Travel News
Prince

Critical reviews

Dream Voyage: This boat had a bad accident with 12 tourists dead in February 2011. Read How the dream turned to a nightmare on Halong Bay. Before this accident you could find reviews like theese: "A bit dowdy, with cracked and lifting deckplanks, broken wicker benches, erratic lighting and air conditioning; poor food and expensive drinks", comments Jeremy Hay on Inkspot. Good review by Trizzyb. But "Boat in bad condition", found WicNYC, "dont use this bout", is the advise of whizzyjayne.

Picture quack2121
Dream Voyage

No reviews

Hai Long Dream: 3 days two nights for two from 460 USD. Eveline & Noel liked it.

Binh Minh: See pictures by BrianMcMorrwow

Trinh Vu: See pictures and read about the experience by Photodiary of a Nomand

Read more about attractions near Halong Bay

Bai Tu Long Bay
Islands, caves and more in Lan Ha Bay
Quan Lan Island
Co To Island

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How the dream turned into a nightmareon Halong Bay

2011-02-19T03:31:00.000-08:00

Picture marhas Not all the junks on Halong Bay are safe enough

See on youtube, how the sunken "Dream Voyage" is recovered.

A sad story gets sadder and sadder: 12 tourists died, when their junk "Dream Voyage" sank near Titov island, when they were sleeping on February 17 2011. "It's the deadliest Vietnamese tourism accident until now, and is a sad lesson," Nguyen Quy Phuong, a deputy director of the Vietnam National Tourism Administration, told Agence France Press. Visitors from the United States, Sweden, Russia, Britain, Japan, France and Switzerland have lost their lives. Nine tourists and all six crew members have survived.

The company changed its name - after a deadly accident

When this happened, the sea was not stormy and the boat ankered near an island, as all the junks on Halong Bay do, when passengers sleep in their cabins. It is not known until now, what caused the tragedy. But: The company, that operated the ship and some others, has a history. And this history seems to be not good: The Truong Hai Company has changed its name four month ago, as Thanh Nien News reports. It was previously named Bien Mo Company, which owned a boat, that sank in Ha Long Bay in September 2009, killing two British tourists, a French man and two Vietnamese. Their boat overturned during strong winds in wild seas.

The last accident happened after irregularities

Also the last deadly accident has a history in the internet. An investigation by Hertfortshire Police in England turned out, that the accident happened between 6.30 and 7.00 pm, but the boat named "Halong Party Cruiser" was only permitted to sail between 12pm and 4pm, while there was 50 tonnes of cement on board, acting as ballast. The cruiser¨had also been modified without permission, measuring a length of 32.6m when it was designed to be 25.87m. All this was reported by Watford Obersever. Sandren, a surviver of this tragedy, writes on tripadvisor.com: "There were no lifejackets, no first aid kids and no emergency equipment (...) There were lifejackets on a smaller boat that was attached to our big boat, but this was pulled under along with the main ship, so the lifejackets did no good."

According to banmoi.com this ship was a new vessel, that had "just done its only trial run to test the boat’s equipment and seaworthiness, and the crew’s ability to serve and please foreign tourists". Thanh Ninh Weekly quoted Vu Hong Thanh of the Quang Ninh Province People’s Committee: "This is a clear breach of safety regulations. We will investigate the incident and initiate criminal proceedings if there is enough evidence to warrant it.” The savmped boat itself was not that damaged as there was no collision. “After being salvaged, the boat is still in reasonable condition and its hull is undamaged,” Quang Ninh shipping registrar Phung Ngoc Viet was cited.

The reports of earlier guests on board sound not good

And there are reports of travellers, who have been to ships of "Bien Mo", that sound everything else than good: HalongHell wrote on tripadvisor.com in 2006: "Don't expect anything in terms of safety. There was no safety demo or information*. And about the ship "Dream Voyage" whizzyjayne wrote on tripadvisor.com in 2009: "The boat itself must of been the worst in the whole port". WicNYC published his warning in 2009: "The boat was in extremely bad condition, the decks and the deck chairs were partly broken, walking on the boat was dangerous caused by the holes in broken wood floor panelling, rusty nails and loose fencing. Life boats or other safety measures were completely unsufficient." A bad experience with "Halong Party Cruiser" is also reported by Josh and Clare's Travel Blog in Ocotober 2010. And then lib on Thorntree in 2006 wrote about a Bien Mo ship: "Our boat "Bien Mo" was in bad condition, all the deck chairs were broken, all of us had problems with our cabins like doors not locking, toilets overflowing and the hot water service in my cabin caught on fire then exploded leaving us without hot water for the remainder of the trip."

What do the authorities now?

The local port authority said Friday that all overnight tour operations on the bay had temporarily been suspended. Day cruises were not affected.

"We are going to examine the safety of all the tourist boats in Quang Ninh and Halong Bay after this accident," Lieutenant Colonel Nguyen Thanh Hung of Quang Ninh province, which includes the bay, told the Agence France Presse.

Let's hope that this will really happen and improbe the security on the boats on Halong Bay.

Update from February 20 2010:

Truong Hai Company, based in Ha Long Town, has been suspended until related agencies reach conclusions about the cause of the accident, said Dang Huy Hau, deputy chairman of the provincial People’s Committee. “The provincial authorities’ viewpoint is to strictly and objectively punish people who let the accident happen without exception,” Hau said. This was reported by Thanh Nien News

Update from February 24 2011

The Travel Agency "Nu Hoang" in Hanoi, that organised the deadly excursion with the "Dream Voyage" was unlicensed according to AFP. The company "did not have a licence authorising it to conduct international tourism," said Vu Xuan Thanh, chief inspector at the Ministry of Culture, Sport and Tourism. The guide who died in the sinking had neither a work contract nor a ministry-issued guide's identity card, Thanh told AFP.

Read more:
How to choose the right junk for Halong Bay

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Ho Chi Minh City Delights

2010-04-30T15:18:00.000-07:00

Discover the restaurants through the eyes of people, who have been there, read their comments, see their pictures and find your way with the help of Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) Google Map

Cafés

Windows 4 Cafe: 12 Alexandre De Rhodes Street. Near Reunification Palace. The place to be for fashion lovers.

Picture © Lawrence Sinclair

Aq Café: 39 Mac Dinh Chi. In a restored wooden residence with pleasant courtyard. Read review on elephantguide.com

Café 9: 9-11 Ly Tu Trong.

Café Central An Dong: 18 An Duong Vuong. In Windsor Plaza Hotel. "One of the rare places in the city, where food is available 24 hours", notes indochinatravelexpert.com. From Vietnamese to Western food.

Centro Café: 11-13 Lam Son Square. It replaced former Illy Café. MIxed reviews on tripadvisor.com. A good place to pick up local magazines and newspapers, notes Food & Wine.

Ciao Café: 74-76 Nguyen Hue. Pizza, pasta and sandwichs. Head for the top floor! See also picture gallery by boy yniguez. Good reviews on tripadvisor.com. "The local Vietnamese coffee-shop that slips into the role of an Italianate trattoria at lunch and dinner looks best when it comes to fresh doughnuts at breakfast", notes thebestasia.blogspot.com.

Picture © ANDY LEDDY

Creperie & Coffee: 5 Han Thuyen. Atrracts trendy people. Read noodlepie's reviews, travelmuse.com, chefmoz.org and saigonscene.com.

Picture © marhas1

Apple and cinnamon crepe. Picture © CC

Sozo Café: 176 Bui Vien. Sozo is a cafe, which was established for helping street kids to be trained for employment and have the opportunity for a new start in life. Read worldcitizen's review.. A nice place for some bakery and coffee according to the reviews on tripadvisor.com. Read more in an article of Responsible Tourism Guide to the Mekong.

Vietnamese:

Allez Boo: 187 Pham Ngu Lao. A bar for backpackers with restaurant.

Picture © natsu

Banh Xeo 46a: 46a Dinh Cong Trang. Pancakes. "A must-try for those wanting an authentic, cheap and delicious local dining experience in Saigon", comments A Girl in Asia.

Picture © Hiroht

Picture © Hiroht

Banh Xeo: Near Tan Dinh Church. Vietnamese pancakes deep fried with shrimp and filled with beansprouts.

Bo Kho Restaurant Bun Nuoc Leo Soc Trang: 11 Phung Khac Khoan.

Picture © Noodlepie

Bun Bo Thanh Noi: 75-77 Cong Quynh. Just around the corner from Bui Vien. Hue style cuisine.

Bun Cha Hanoi: 26/1 Le Thanh Ton. Grilled pork served with a dish of vegetables. "Very popular but unadorned eatery", comments indochinatravelexpert.com.

Hoa Mai Restaurant: Rex Hotel. 141 Nguyen Hue.

Picture © marhas1

La Table de Saigon: At the lobby of Hotel Bi Saigon.

Picture © buck82

Lemongrass: 4 Nguyen Thiep. A good place to discover the traditional Vietnam cuisine. Read review by concierge.com

Cold spring rolls, fish baked in a pot, morning glory (spinach) and chilli and ginger chicken. Picture © George & Bec

Long Son Quan (Bo Tung Xeo): 31 Ly Tu Trong. Bo tung xeo means barbecued beef dish. Noodlepie describes, what this is. You get also Cha Cha, the fried fish in Hanoi style. Read the review of Vietnames Pho Noodles.

Picture © buck82

Maxim's Nam An: 13-17 Dong Khoi. Vietnamese Haute Cuisine. Sit in carved wooden booths with silk curtains and flower decorations on the wall, at the center of a grand dining room or in the upstairs gallery, feel like in Saigon from 1920 and enjoy a wide variety of traditional seafood, pork or beef dishes. Good reviews on tripadvisor.com

Picture © marhas1

Decoration on the wall. Picture © marhas1

Mi Keo Soi Trung Hua: 86 Bis Le Thanh Ton. Noodles, freshly made in front of the guests, served with grilled pork and a bowl of broth.

Miss Saigon: 86 B le Than Ton. Fish-meals. With beautiful garden.

Nam Giao: 136/15 Le Thanh Ton. Hue style cuisine.

Nam Kha: 46-50 Dong Khoi.

Nam Phan: In two villas and a courtyard. 64 Le Thanh Ton. Dishes from the south, the centre and the north.

Ngan Dinh Harbour View Restaurant: 2A Ton Duc Thang. Chinese, Thai and Vietnamese seafood.

Pho 2000: 1-3 D Phan Chu Trinh. Noodle soup. Good reviews on tripadvisor.com, also Bill Clinton was here.

Picture © ashleyt

Picture © ∗natsu∗

Phung Vy Seafood Restaurant: 222-226 Nguyen Tri Phuong.

Quan 3 Mien: 122 B Tran Quoc Thao. Specialities from Hue, Hanoi and Saigon.

Quan An Ngon: 138 Nam Ky Khoi Nghia. Former street vendors prepare their specialities in an openair area. The tables "are packed by locals - always an auspicious sign", comments concierge.com. Some dishes you see in Noodlepie's blog. A lot of good reviews on tripadvisor.com and frommers.com. Read also the report of Wanderlust.

Picture © jamewong

Picture © Lois

Mien Luon. Picture © Noodlepie

Banh Tom Ho Tay. Picture © Noodlepie

Quan Nuong: 3rd Floor, 29-31 Ton That Thiep. Barbeque on the roof.

Restaurant 13: 13 Ngo Duc Ke,

Saigon Tan Cang:. 100 Ung van Khiem. Garden restaurant at Saigon river.

Song Ngu Seafood Restaurant: 70 Suong Nguyet Anh. In a villa with a vast garden. Every evening traditional Vietnamese Music. "Though popular with tourist, the food’s too good for Song Ngu to be a tourist trap", writes hautestuff.blogspot.com.

Picture © Song Ngu Seafood

Song Trang Restaurant: 1035 Xô Viết Nghệ Tĩnh. The place to enjoy cuisine from Binh Dinh. For example nem: A pork paste made from minced lean pork spiced with fish sauce. Or Thit thung, a fillet of beef seasoned with spices, fried in oil and cooked in water. Read an article by Diem Thu.

Temple Club: 29–31 Ton That Thiep. In a former Chinese temple. Read the reviews by concierge.com and frommers.com. At the same place is Fanny Ice Cream.

Temple Club. Picture © Lawrence Sinclair

Fanny. Picture © 一上

Vietnam House: 93-95 Dong Khoi. In an old colonial building. High class cuisine, according to thebestasia.blogspot.com. Read also the review by My Vietnam and good reviews on tripadvisor.com

Picture © Josette

Wrap and roll: 62 Hai Ba Trung. You roll your choice of meat or seafood with basil, mint and lettuce up in a rice paper. Good review by frommers.com.

Meal at "Wrap and roll". Picture © loan

Xu: 71-75 Hai Ba Trung. "One of the finest restaurants Saigon has on offer", notes frommers.com.

Read more: http://www.frommers.com/destinations/hochiminhcity/D67986.html#ixzz0jlmdJWyN

French

Au Manoir de Khai: 251 Dien Bien Phu. Entertainment with violin / cello / guitar music performances in the garden every Thusday and Friday from 6.30 pm to 9.30 pm. From "best restaurant in Saigon" to "overprized": the reviews on tripadvisor.com. "Au Manoir is Ho Chi Minh City’s most opulent and costly dining experience", notes Noodlepie and adds: "Concealed behind a perimeter of high concrete walls, this very exclusive establishment - housed in a stunningly restored French colonial villa framed by manicured gardens and a reflecting pool - epitomizes the aspirations of the newly rich."

Picture © Connie

A crab-cake as starter. Picture © Connie

Camargue: 191 Hai Ba Trung. French and Mediterranean cuisine in a French villa, surrounded by palm trees. "Saigon's most fashionable dining place" according to thebestasia.blogspot.com. "You can choose to sit in the cozy interior on garden level or on the airy terrace and balcony on the first floor", notes anyarena.com. Very good reviews on tripadvisor.com.

Picture © oneyearonearth.com

La Fourchette: 9 Ngo Duc Ke. French bistro. *Among the city’s better French restaurants", comments travelandleisure. Read also the blog auf gastronomy.

Picture © Lawrence Sinclair

La Nicoise: 42 Ngo Duc Ke. French and mediterranean cuisine. Just five tables on the ground floor and four upstairs. "La Nicoise may be a little hole in the wall but the food won't disappoint", says travelfish.org. One good review on tripadvisor.com and on ruba.com. See picture by Shadow Traveller.

Le Mekong: 57 Dong Du. "Classical guitar and violin music combined with soft lighting create a relaxed and romantic atmosphere for dining", describes travelmuse.com. See fotostream by Jon Siegel.

L'en Tête: 139 Nguyen Thai Binh. Live jazz on some days. very good review by Michael Slater. "Part art gallery, the spacious dining room is full of comfortable velvet chairs, intimate tables and artfully draped curtains", writes Nell Mcshane Wulfhart.

Picture © L'en Tête

L'Etoile: 180 bis Hai Ba Trung. Classic cuisine "with nouvelle innovations greatly appreciated by diplomats, expats and cosmopolitan locals", comments thebestasia.blogspot.com. Critical reviews on tripadvisor.com.

The Refinery: 74/7 Hai Ba Trung. French bistro in the old headquarter of an opium refinery. Reead review by frommers.com. Mixed reviews on tripadvisor.com.

Picture © Melanie

Picture © amasc

Chinese:

Crystal Jade Palace: Legend Hotel. 2A-4A Ton Duc Thang. Cantonese cuisine.

Golden Phoenix: 242 Tran Binh Trong. Dim Sum. "A rising star in Ho Chi Minh City's restaurant firmament, though its Szechuan and Cantonese treats don't come cheap", notes iexplore.co.uk.

Lucky Star: 38 Nguyen Hue.

Ming Dinasty: 23 Nguyen Khac Vien. Top end Cantonese restaurant. It "can please even the savviest connoisseurs of traditional Chinese cuisine with its dim sum and Hong Kong specialties", writes The Vietnam News. One review on tripadvisor.com.

Seasons Szechuan Restaurant: Windsor Saigon Hotel. 193 Tran Hung Dao. Spicy dishes.

Tan Hai Van: 162 Nguyen Trai. From Dim Sum to shark fin soup. Read the review by indochinatravelexpert.com.

Italian:

Good Morning Vietnam: 197 De Tham.

Korean and Japanese:

On Thai Van Lung and Le Thanh Ton you find many Korean and Japanese restaurants.

Bu Ja Jib: 19 Thai Van Lung

Dae Jang Geum: 01 Nguyen Van Chiem. Marinanted grilled beef cooked at the table. Read the blog of Cutie and see her pictures.

Kampachi: Equatorial Hotel. 242 Tran Binh Trong. See pictures and read the review by Christine Leng.

The Sushi Bar:2 Le Thanh Ton. Sashimi and Sushi from Vietnamese and imported fish in reasonable price, notes anan-vietnam.com. "The place always seems full, which is a good sign", comments frommers.com. Good reviews on tripadvisor.com. More details has noodlepie.

Thai:

A Silver Elephant: 17 Do Quang Dau. "one of the best spot for Thai Seafood Cuisine in Saigon", comments anan-vietnam.com. Outstanding food, according to travelfish.org.

Sawasdee: 102-104 Le Lai. "Well-crafted seafood dishes like the crispy catfish salad with mango sauce", notes The Word Ho Chi Minh City.

Picture © Sawasee

German:

Gartenstadt:. 34 Dong Khoi. Good German food, good German beer, according to tripadvisor.com

Vegetarian:

Original Bodhi Tree: 175/4. Pham Ngu Lao. Vietnamese and international dishes. It used to be next door at 175/6, where the owner of the house opened a copy of Bodhi Tree Restaurant...

Black Cat: 13 Phan Van Dat. "Operated by an American expert and his Vietnamese wife, Black Cat is the best marriage of the two culinary cultures in town", comments Indochinatravelexpert.com. "Black Cat burgers are absolutely sumptuous", adds saigonscene.com.

Picture © Bob&Patty

International:

Gourmet Royale Restaurant: 193 Tran Hung Dao. In Windsor Hotel.

Floating Restaurants:

Bonsai Cruises: Bach Dang pier at foot of Nguyen Hue Street. Vietnamese and Western (sea)food from a buffet. Live Band.

More about Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon):

Ho Chi Minh City Impressions: Discover the town.

Cholon Impressions: Discover Chinatown.

Hotels and Guesthouses in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon): Good reviews and not so good ones.

Temples in Ho Chi Minh City: Pictures and history

Recommend this blog on Twitter and Facebook:

A mini Hue in Ho Chi Minh City

2010-04-29T10:50:00.000-07:00

You felt lost, when you walked around the imperial town of Hue? Or you just got the desire of having an overview? You can have this just 20 kilometres away from downtown Ho Chi Minh City. Nearly forty years old Nguyen Thanh Tung, who grew up in Hue, has spent five years with building in his garden in Long Binh Ward. On 1000 square metres he has created a miniature version of Hue (read more) and named id "Ngu Lam Vien" (Royal garden). See pictures by Lan's Lucky. Adress: Hue thu nho giua long, 502-504 Hoang Huu Nam, Long Binh, District 9.

Ho Chi Minh City Impressions

2010-04-18T04:23:00.000-07:00

See the locations on Ho Chi Minh City Google Map

Saigon seen from the Diamond Plaza:

Picture © martywindle

Notre Dame Cathedral:

Picture © nicolephoceen

Hotel de Ville:

Picture © Yiping Lim

Ben Thanh Market:

Picture © alex.ch

Picture © Wilson Loo

Picture © Natsu

Fine Arts Museum:

Picture © danes96

Saigon River from high up:

Picture © Nguyen Trung

More about Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon):

Cholon Impressions: Discover Chinatown.

Ho Chi Minh City Delights: Reviews of restaurants and cafés.

Hotels and Guesthouses in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon): Good reviews and not so good ones.

Temples in Ho Chi Minh City: Pictures and history

Recommend this blog on Twitter and Facebook:

Temples in Ho Chi Minh City

2010-04-18T00:39:00.000-07:00

See the locations on Ho Chi Minh City Google Map

Jade Emperor Pagoda - Phuoc Hai Tu - Chua Ngoc Hoang: 73 Duong Mai Thi Luu. Built 1909 by the Cantonese community, very colorfoul, with phantastic statues of divinities. In the main sanctuary you find the Jade Emperor (Ngoc Hoang). This Taoist figure is the "god of the heavens", he decides who will enter and who will be refused. In a room to the left you'll find Kim Hua, a goddess of fertility, and Thanh Hoang, the King of Hell. Carved wooden panels show the tortures that await the damned. Read more details and see a video by dungzoom.

The door. Picture © marhas 1

Picture © marhas 1

Lions guard the entrance. Picture © marhas 1

Picture © izahorsky

Picture © marhas 1

Picture © marhas 1

Picture © izahorsky

Read more about the temples in Cholon (Chinatown):
Cholon Impressions

More about Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon):

Ho Chi Minh City Impressions: Discover the town.

Ho Chi Minh City Delights: Reviews of restaurants and cafés.

Hotels and Guesthouses in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon): Good reviews and not so good ones.

Recommend this blog on Twitter and Facebook:

Cho Lon Impressions

2010-03-31T14:56:00.000-07:00

See the locations on Cholon Google Map

Cho Lon means: "large market". That refers to Cho Binh Tay wholesale market.

At Binh Tay market. Picture © karma-police

Binh Tay market lies at Phan Van Khoe Street.

Binh Tay Market, picture © Lois

Binh Tay Market. Picture © Jerry

Inside the market. Picture © Lois

Picture © gerrypopplestone

Binh Tay Market. Picture © Jerry

Cho Lon is the Chinese district of Sai Gon - it might be the largest Chinatown outside China. Tran Hung Dao street is the main artery. This street as well as others like Trieu Quang Phuc, Chau Van Liem and Luong Nhu Hoc show you blocks of houses built by the ethnic Chinese people a century ago, combining Chinese and French architectural design.

Tran Hung Dao. Picture © ian

Picture © iko

Picture © noodlepie

Picture © raph.v

Outside Cholon Post Office. Picture © noodlepie

Picture © Fotini et Nicolas

Quan Am Pagoda: 23 Lao Tu. Also: Hoi Quan On Lang. Built in 1817, the oldest existing temple in Saigon. The central altar is dedicated to A Pho (Queen of Heaven).

Picture © ultrapop design

Picture © ultrapop design

Picture © lecercle

Picture © Günter

Picture © Günter

Picture © Jean-Christophe

Nghia An Hoi Quan: 678 Nguyen Trai. Assembly hall of the Teochew Chinese community. The central building is dedicated to Guan Gong, the God of war and literature. It has existed before 1866, when it was ristored. Read more on chinatownology.com

Boat carving. Picture © Blaise Machin

Picture © Jean-Christophe

Picture © Jean-Christophe

Phuoc An Hoi Quan: 184 Ð Hung Vuong. The Pagoda was built in 1902 by the Fujian Chinese community. There are beautiful carvings on the walls. Open: From 7 am to 5.30 pm. See video on youtube.com

Picture © Jean-Christophe

Picture © Günter

Picture © Jean-Christophe

Picture © Jean-Christophe

Tam Son Hoi Quan:

Picture © Günter

Chùa Bà Thiên Hậu: 710 Nguyen Trai. Goddess Thien Hau protects those, who go to the sea. This temple was founded by the Cantonese Chinese around 1760. Read more about this pagoda and the legend of Thien Hau.

Picture © Augapfel

Picture © Thuydaonguyen

The goddess Thien Hau. Picture © DoktorMax

Picture © hoadat

Jamial Mosque:

Picture © Diva Eva

Hai Thuong Lan Ong Street: Strong odors of herbs you smell her. They come from traditional pharmacies, you are on the traditional Chinese medicine street. Read more and see pictures on yVietNam: Along Hai Thuong Lan Ong Street

Eat in Cholon

Cho Lon Best Food Town: Pham Don (off Hai Thuong Lan Ong). A street of food stalls.See the review by vanishingsaigon.com

CNSG: 162 Nguyen Trai. See picture by Lawrence Sinclair

Stalls near the Post Office: What noodlepie likes.

93 Tran Van Kieu Street: Chinatown Pho by noodlepie

Shopping in Cholon

Nguyen Trai street is known for fashion and clothes.

Parkson Hung Vuong Plaza: Mall with a lot of foreign brands.

More about Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon):

Ho Chi Minh City Impressions: Discover the town.

Ho Chi Minh City Delights: Reviews of restaurants and cafés.

Hotels and Guesthouses in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon): Good reviews and not so good ones.

Temples in Ho Chi Minh City: Pictures and history

Recommend this blog on Twitter and Facebook:

Hotels and Guesthouses in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon): Good reviews and not so good ones

2010-03-18T10:52:00.000-07:00

See the locations on Ho Chi Minh City Google Map

Top end hotels

Caravelle Hotel: With famous rooftop Saigon Saigon Bar.

Picture © Caravelle.MM

Saigon Saigon Bar. Picture © Caravelle.MM

Dancers at Saigon Saigon Bar. Picture © Caravelle.MM

The Pool. Picture © Diva Eva

See pretty pictures at Having Coffee at the top of Caravelle Hotel

Continental Hotel: Built in 1880, in 1998 a 24-storey tower has ben added. Grahem Green wrote "The Quiet American" in room 214.

Picture © martywindle

Picture © Edgar

Duxton Hotel:

Picture © alex.ch

Grand Hotel:

Picture © marhas1

Picture © Ms Jackson

Majestic Hotel:

Picture © marhas1

Picture © marhas1

Pool deck. Picture © Rock Portrait Photography

Picture © n0r

New World Hotel:

Picture Thomås Lǔ ~ 19到20號在墨爾本

Omni Saigon Hotel:

The pool. Picture © mtl2tky

Palace Hotel Saigon:

Picture © Andy Leddy

Park Hyatt:

Pool at Park Hyath. Picture © chericbaker

Rex Hotel - Khach San Ben Thanh:

Picture © marhas1

Rooftop Bar of Rex Hotel, picture © marhas1

Xuan Loc Hotel:

Picture © Samson Cheong Kok Chun

Other central hotels

Bong Sen Hotel: From 82 USD. 117 - 123 Dong Khoi Street. With Spa. Very good reviews on tripadvisor.com

Picture © vietnamsketcher

Picture © Harriet

Around Pham Ngu Lao

An An Hotel: From 40 USD. 40 Bui Vien. The deluxe room on the 11th floor with large windows provides stunning views towards the south of Saigon, notes travelfish.org. Very good reviews on tripadvisor.com.

Luxury room

Bi Saigon Hotel: From 22 USD. 185/26 - 185/16 Pham Ngu Lao. No elevator. Nice and affordable deluxe suite according to travelfish.org. Good reviews on tripadvisor.com

Picture © osborne

Hong Hoa Hotel: From 17 USD. 250 De Tham Street. Good review on travelfish.org

Phoenix Hotel: From 10 USD. 74 Bui Vien. With elevator! Read the review on travelfish.org

Saigon Mini Hotel 1: From 35 USD. 102/1A Cong Quynh. Good review on travelfish.org.

Vien Dong Hotel: From 1140000 VND. 275A Pham Ngu Lao. With health club including gymnasium, swimming pool, sauna and Jacuzzi.

In Cholon

Equatorial Hotel:

© Equatorial Hotel

More about Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon):

Ho Chi Minh City Impressions: Discover the town.

Cholon Impressions: Discover Chinatown.

Ho Chi Minh City Delights: Reviews of restaurants and cafés.

Temples in Ho Chi Minh City: Pictures and history

Recommend this blog on Twitter and Facebook:

Mekong Delta Impressions V

2010-03-14T01:10:00.000-08:00

Sa Dec and Marguerite Duras

See the locations on Sa Dec Google Map

Mekong at Sa Dec. Picture Francis

Arriving at Sa Dec. Picture deepchi1

Sa Dec is called "little Venice": You will find many narrow canals, old houses and old Chinese Temples. The french writer Marguerite Duras lived here between 1928 and 1932. Her mother ran a school on the corner of Hung Vương and Ho Xuan Hương. Duras had a love affair with Huynh Thuy Le, the son of a wealthy Chinese family, when she was fifteen. This was the origin of her famous novel "The Lover". Tran Thuy Le Antique House at 255A Nguyen Hue Street from 1895 with its elegant French architecture, traditional Vietnamese design and Chinese decorations is open to the public. Read more in an article by VietNews. See the gallery of Christian Lagat and some pictures by Here and There: A Photoblog. And follow this Sa Dec video.

"L'Amant" (The Lover): the famous film after the novel of Marguerite Duras with Tony Leung and Jane March.Picture Lulu

See videos of "The Lover":
Meeting on the boat
Car-Ride
Meeting with the girls family
Final Scene

The home of Marguerite Duras in Sa Dec, picture Taekwonweirdo

Tran Thuy Le Antique House, picture lallierdaviesmichele

Inside Tran Thuy Le House. Picture Jean-Claude

Tran Thuy Le House. Picture by Jean-Claude

This school was run by the mother of Marguerite Duras, picture Arnaud

Market in Sa Dec. Picture Taekwonweirdo

More market.Picture alan

Sa Dec has also beautiful pagodas.

Thien Hau Tu Pagoda: Chinese architecture. Inside you discover a white statue of Quan The Am Bo Tat

Picture Petertan

Kien An Cung Pagoda: Built from 1920 to 1924 with elegant Chinese architecture.

Picture Nguyen Ba Qua

Chua Kim Hue:

AnhDanh

Picture AnhDanh

Picture AnhDanh

Thánh Thất Cao Đài:

Picture Francis

Phuoc Hung Co Tu: See picture by Ngàn Năm Thăng Long .

Sa Dec Flower Village at Qui Dong::

A forest of flowers of all colors you find in Sa Dec flower gardens, that are specialized in growing flowers and ornamental plants from orchids, carnations and chrysanthemums to medicinal herbs and pines. They occupy 3600 labourers. Read more by vietnam-beauty.com and on roughguides.com.

One of the famous flowers of Sa Dec. Picture AnhDanh

See also the pictures of Sadec Friends

Hotels in Sa Dec:

Bong Hong Hotel: From 16 USD. The "smartest pad in town" according to Lonely Planet.

Huong Thuy: 58 Le Thanh Ton. Overlooking the market. "Perhaps the best value in town" according to roughguides.com

Phuong Nam: 384 A D Nguyen Sinh Sac.

Sa Dec Hotel: From 15 USD. 108/5A Đ Hung Vuong. Read the review of Lonely Planet.

Tours to Sa Dec: In two days from HCMC to Sa Dec and Xeo Quit with Dong Thap Tourist. They also have a tour to Tram Chim National Park. Ben Thanh Tourist at 86 Ly Tu Trong Street, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City. From Pnom Penh to Saigon

Read more: On the traces of Marguerite Duras in Sa Dec was Matt Gross, who wrtites in the New York Tiomes about The Saigon of Marguerite Duras

. See pictures of old houses on Sadec Flower_Hoa Sadec

More destinations in the Mekong Delta:

My Tho and the islands in the Mekong
Vinh Long and the orchards of An Binh
Cai Be and its floating market
Can Tho and its floating market

Recommend this blog on Twitter and Facebook:

Mekong Delta Impressions IV

2010-03-08T14:43:00.001-08:00

Can Tho and its floating market

See the locations on Can Tho Google Map

View from Golf Cantho Hotel, picture © Stan Mark 01

Ferry, picture © nam

Market in Can Tho. Picture © Matt

Differend kinds of rice. Picture © eva

Cantonese Pagoda, picture © adriana

Can Tho floating market:

Picture © elizabeth.s.fulton

Hotels in Can Tho

Golf Cantho Hotel:

Picture © Stan Mark 01

Phu Sa Resort: From 25 USD.

Victoria Hotel:

Picture © eva

Picture © Karl

More destinations in the Mekong Delta:

My Tho and the islands in the Mekong
Vinh Long and the orchards of An Binh
Cai Be and its floating market
Sa Dec and Marguerite Duras

Recommend this blog on Twitter and Facebook:

Mekong Delta Impressions III

2010-03-08T13:45:00.001-08:00

Cai Be and its floating market

See the locations on Cai Be Google Map

The church of Cai Be, picture © Aris

Cai Be Bridge, picture © Round the world 2007

Another bridge. Picture © Kan Nguyen

Picture © Mon & Fred

Banana vendor. Picture © mckaysavage

More Bananas. Picture © mckaysavage

Picture © Louis-Frederic

The bamboo pole shows, what kind of vegetables the boat offers. Picture © lucastoli

Picture © New Discovery Travel

An Kiet House. Picture © Shannon

An Kiet House is the former residence of the emperor, where surviving members of the Ab Kiet family welcome you. The house dates back to the early 19th Century and is located on an island. Inside you discover antique furniture and carved wooden decorations. A small restaurant offers local dishes.

An Kiet House. Picture © Shannon

Hotels in Cai Be

Ba Duc Ancient House: 155 An Loi Hamlet, Dong Hoa Hiep village. Only five minutes from Cai Be Boat station, located along the Cai Be River. Six rooms with Air Condition. Good reviews on tripadvisor.com

Yen Nga Hotel:

Picture © KatLesh

More destinations in the Mekong Delta:

My Tho and the islands in the Mekong
Vinh Long and the orchards of An Binh
Can Tho and its floating markets
Sa Dec and Marguerite Duras

Recommend this blog on Twitter and Facebook:

Mekong Delta Impressions II

2010-03-08T13:38:00.000-08:00

Vinh Long and the orchards
of An Binh

See the locations on Vinh Long Google Map

There is not much to see in Vinh Long town, but it's known as starting point for excursions to Cai Be Floating Market and nearby islands with fruit orchards in the Mekong. Then there are some pagodas as Van Thanh Mieu and Tịnh xá Ngọc Viên

Take the local ferry to An Binh Island and wander around. Read the report by Rachel_John.
You can get boat trips to Cai Be floating market (one way takes 45 minutes) here as well homestays, read nore in the guide travelfish.org .

From the 7th floor of the hotel. Picture © Jame

Picture © Katharina

Market in Vinh Long. Picture © ian

Picture © sneedy

Rice at the market. Picture © jerome

Hand woven bamboo baskets. Picture © mulaohu

Brick stone factory in Vinh Long. Picture © Jos Dielis

Picture © Jos Dielis

© danielguip

Church near Vinh Long. Picture © Taekwonweirdo

Tourist boats in the canals of An Binh and Hoa Phuoc Islands. Picture © mckaysavage

Van Thanh Mieu pagoda: Tran Phu Street. The temple dates from 1866 and is dedicated to Confuzius. Phan Thanh Gian is honoured here.

Picture © ThanhTâm

Tịnh Xá Ngọc Viên: Buddhist temple. See pictures

Hotels in Vinh Long:

An Binh Hotel: 3 Hoang Thai Hieu, ward 1.

Cuu Long Hotel: From 21 USD. 1 Thang 5 Street. Look for a room in the new wing, revommends travelfish.org.

Huong Mai Hotel: 33/15A Pham Thai Buong, ward 4.

Mai Quic Nam Homestay: Hoaan1 hamlet ,Binhhoaphuoc commune,Longho Dist, Vinh Long
Tel: (84-58) 829 829
Fax: (84-58) 829 829

Nam Phuong: 240000 VND. 11 Le Loi. Read review on tripadvisor.com

Phuong Hoang 1: 2H - 2R Hung Vuong Road, ward 1. Recommended for backpackers by travelfish.org

Phuong Tao Hotel: 105 Nguyen Hue, ward 2

Saigon Kim Lin: 80 Binh Minh Street, Cua Lo town. "Modest", but good, notes PTA10 on tripadvisor.com

Sau Giao Homestay Vinh Long:

Picture © KatLesh

Tai Nguyen Hotel: 60/12 Mau Than, ward 3.

Van Tram Guesthouse: 41 Thang 5 Street. Spacious rooms, some with good riverviews, but there is some noise from the Hoa Nang restaurant across the road in the night, notes travelfish.org

Thai Binh Hotel: 190 Le Thai To St

Vinh Sang Bungalows: Read about Vinh Sang Tourist Area.

Crocodiles at Vinh Sang. Picture © Le Thi Thu Chung

More destinations in the Mekong Delta:

My Tho and the islands in the Mekong
Cai Be and its floating market
Can Tho and its floating market
Sa Dec and Marguerite Duras

Recommend this blog on Twitter and Facebook:

Mekong Delta Impressions

2010-02-24T13:45:00.000-08:00

My Tho and the islands
in the Mekong

See the locations on My Tho Google Map

My Tho lies on the northern bank of the Mekong River and offers boat tours to islands as Dragon Island (Con Tan Long), Phoenix Island (Con Phung), Tortoise (Con Quy) and Unicorn (Con Thoi Son), where you find fruit orchards, bee farms or coconut candy production. Unicorn has small canals, where your boat guide rowes you through the palms on both sides.

The Cao Dai Temple Thanh That:

Picture © marhas1

Picture © marhas1

Picture © Charles Fred

Picture © Charles Fred

Vinh Trang Pagoda:

Picture © Kate

Picture © vicguinda

Picture © Chin

Rach Mieu Ferry:

Picture © hung

Market:

Vendor relaxing on the fruit market, picture © oliverlaumann

Picture © onopko

Picture © onopko

Boat trip to the islands:

View from the boat pier, with Tan Long Island in the background, picture © marhas1

Opened in 2009: the Cau Rach Bridge from My Tho to Ben Tre, picture © marhas1

Flower on Phoenix Island (Con Phung), picture © marhas1

More flowers, picture © marhas1

And what the bees produced from the flowers on Phoenix Island: honey. Picture © marhas1

A small shopping lane, picture © marhas1

What grows in orchards in the Mekong Delta: fruits. Picture © marhas1

Whar's inside? Honey in the yellow one. Picture © marhas1

Coconuts up there. Picture © marhas1

Riding on a horse carriage. Picture © marhas1

This crocodile we would not like to meet in a canal. Picture © marhas1

Crocodiles escaping from crocodile farms are worrying people in the Mekong Delta, as VietNamNet reported. But we don't worry and decide for a ride on one of these sampans.

Picture © marhas1

Picture © marhas1

Picture © marhas1

A very special open-air sanctuary on Phoenix Island. Picture © marhas1

The sanctuary on Phoenix Island reminds of a community led by the Coconut Monk (Ong Dao Dua), even a Apollo Rocket among Buddhist statues is part of the sanctuary. His religion, Tinh Do Cu Si, was a mix of Buddhism and Christianity. He claimed to have the key for peace during the Vietnam war. He died in 1990. Read an article in Vietnam Magazine from 1974.

Read also the blog about the Thoi Son Island Walk by Dan Friesen and a story of VietNamNet Bridge about the development of tourism on Thoi Son.

Hotels in My Tho

Cong Doan Hotel: Poorer rooms than other hotels, notes travelfish.org

Huong Duong Hotel: Great views over the river, good review on travelfish.org

Minh Quan Hotel: 69 30/4 Street. On the river, "definitely the nicest" in My Tho, comments chisana on tripadvisor.com

Minh Tai Hotel: Good reviews on tripadvisor.com.

Rang Dong Mini Hotel: Mixed review on travelfish.org.See picture by joshuaphoto.

Song Tien Hotel: "Go for a higher room to escape some of the traffic noise", advises travelfish.org.

Song Tien Hotel. Picture © KatLesh

Thoi Son Raas Resort: Read more on Facebook. The Miss World contest for 2010 will be held here.

More impressions from My Tho: Nice blog by ex-students. And see pictures from My Tho Market. More information about Tien Giang Province.

More destinations in the Mekong Delta:

Vinh Long and the orchards of An Binh
Cai Be and its floating market
Can Tho and its floating market
Sa Dec and Marguerite Duras

Recommend this blog on Twitter and Facebook:

Hanoi delights

2010-02-14T22:50:00.000-08:00

Discover the restaurants through the eyes of people, who have been there, read their comments and find your way with the help of Hanoi Google Map

Vegetarian

Tamarind Café: 80 Pho Ma May. "Soups like vegetarian wonton and two-color soup (spinach and sweet potato) take the chill off Hanoi winter nights", notes frommers.com. "Expensive but it is worth it for the quality and choice", comments happycow.net. Good reviews on tripadvisor.com. Also a friendly spot for a cup of quality tea, adds Lonely Planet.

Tamarind Cafe

Vietnamese

Bun Bo Nam Bo: 67 Hang Deur Street. Beef noodles from the South in a extended streetfood stall. It is "bun noodles with beef, done southern style. It's basically a layered dish of lettuce, coriander and vietnamese basil leaves at the bottom, topped by bun noodles, some beansprouts, small tender slices of beef, crushed peanuts, and sweet sauce over the top of the lot", describes this Hanoi blog and stickyrice shows the noodles. Good reviews on tripadvisor.com

Bun Bo Nam Bo, picture by Hanoi Mark

This is Bun Bo Nam Bo, picture by Hanoi Mark

Cay Cau: 17A Tran Hung Dao. In a colonial villa, live traditional music everyday from 7.30 pm to 9.30 pm. "A bit pricey, but great food", judges YeinJee, who shows pictures of the food. "The chicken with banana flower and big juicy crab in tamarind are so smartly done, that we don’t mind the musicians playing odd stringed instruments", means Gael Greene.

Cha Ca La Vong: 14 Cha Ca. Cha Ca is a fish and noodle dish, prepared in this famous restaurant until now by five generations, the street is named after the restaurant. The meal is prepared in front of you, as Vietnam-beauty.com describes. "The guests endure the heat of the coal fire", notes Ramblings form a Gipsy Soul. "The hordes stampede up the narrow, creaking stairs of number 14", comments Noodlepie, he suggests to go to Cha Ca La Vong in Saigon, because "the food is better, the service comes without the northern snarl". "Delicious and intriguing", is the comment of Graham Simmons. Mixed reviews on tripadvisor.com.

Cha Ca La Vong, picture by Mr & Mrs Stickyfingers

Fish, grilled on hot coal, picture by Mr & Mrs Stickyfingers

Dinh Lang Thuy Ta: 1 Le Thai To. With great view of Hoan Kiem Lake. Vietnamese live music. Good reviews on tripadvisor.com

Thuy Ta Café on Hoan Kiem, picture marhas1

Highway 4: 3 and 5 Hang Tre and 54 Mai Hac De. Vietnamese food with many Hanoi favourites as well as selected specialties from the northern, central, and southern provinces. And Son Tinh traditional Vietnamese liquor (herbal, fruit, and plain). It's Markus Madeja, a Swiss Man who makes Vietnamese Wines and als the New York Times wrote about him and his vietnamese wife.

Crickets - a traditional dish at Highway 4, picture by Michelle, Or see Tuey's picture of pig stomach sauteed with mushrooms.

Koto: 61 Pho Van Mieu. Near the temple of literature. Koto means "Know One Teach One" and is part of an grass-roots "humanitarian program to train Hanoi kids in the service industry", describes frommers.com, not only good soups and sandwiches are prepared by former street children, but many other delicious meals, good reviews on tripadvisor.com and on concierge.com.

Koto, picture by ishmael78

Lau (Hot Pot): You cook meat, seafood and vegetables in a steamy broth at your table. Phung Hung Street behind Hang Da market has many Lau-Restaurants. Read how Hanoians beat the winter chill by wolfing down the hot pot

Litte Hanoi 1: 14 Ta Hien Street. Read review by Noodle Pie and on tripadvisor.com and on virtualtourist.com and by kuanfoodfetish.com and see picture by Adrian Tan

Picture martywindle

Litte Hanoi 2: 21 Hang Gai. Better food than in Litte Hanoi 1 according to travelfish.org

Fresh spring rolls in Little Hanoi, picture threeSLRstravel

Pho 24: 31 Hang Khay. Read more on Destination Eats, the reviews on frommers.com and by noodlepie and on indochinalegend.com and by CYeat

Noodle soup at Pho 24, picture by Cmicblog

Pho Gia Truyen: 49 Bat Dan. "Hanois most revered" pho shop according to ReinonTravel with a reviews on frommers.com

Picture of Pho by Curry Puffy

Quan An Ngan: 18 Phan Boi Chau. "Around the courtyard are chefs cooking up local dishes, write emmaandpaul on travelpod.com. "Street-styled food in a relaxed and hygienic environment", notes virtualtourist.com for the same kind of restaurant in Saigon, noodles, rice dishes and finger food. Good review by Gene and Deanna.

Quan An Ngan, picture by jevs

Seasons of Hanoi: 95B Quan Thanh, in a French colonial villa, "restored to its full glory" according to Chris Mitchell. "They serve great fish", recommends frommers.com, "amazing food" is the comment of Godknows. Lonelyplanet.com points out, that tour groups flood the restaurant sometimes.

Seasons of Hanoi, picture by Tom. See also the gallery of blog.roodo.com

Stop Café L'Escapade: 11B Ngo Bao Khanh. Excellent Cha Ca - you fry fillets of fish on a hot plate and roll i, with vegetables, citrus and steamed noodles in rice sheets.

Picture marhas 1

French

Au Lac House: 13 Tran Hung Dao, near the intersection of Tran Hung Dao and Han Thuyen.. From chicken to river turtle. An upscale restaurant in a French building, notes noodlepie. See pictures on New Hanoian. Read review by stickyrice.

Picture keiko

Green Tangerine: 48 Hang Be. In a colonial house from 1928, "a sanctuary for a luxurious meal", frommers.com praises the restaurant. "Modern french dishes with very creative twists", adds myeggnoodles.com. Go there before the dinner rush, advises Chris Mitchell. "You will feel like a character in – and in fact Catherine Deneuve has dined here", knows gus and charlie’s guide to hanoi

Green Tangerine, picture by trippinlarry

Icecream on pineapples, picture by CurryPuffy

Door from the courtyard, picture by wwhite1968

Hoa Sua: 28A Ha Hoi. A training restaurant by Hoa Sua School for children in difficulty (living on the streets) in an old French villa across from the Opera. Asian and European cuisine (especially French dishes). Classical music on Saturday evenings. "The food is great, the atmosphere in the courtyard or on one of the patios in this sprawling faux colonial is very laid-back, and the price is right", wrote the New York Times. "Some of the best baked goods in Hanoi" have been discovered here by travelmuse.com. Thingsasian.com has more background and recommends a reservation.

Hoa Sua Restaurant, picture by Benjamin Lee

La Badiane: 10 Nam Ngu Street. In a white art deco villa. "A promising newcomer", notes the New York Times. "Fabulous setting, great service, and delicious food", add Craig & Jeane. Good reviews on tripadvisor.com.

Picture by La Badiane, where you see more photos.

La Verticale: 19 Ngo Van So. A French and Vietnamese fusion. In a villa built during the 1930s in French and Indochina style. It belonged to a mandarin from Hue under Bao Dai. On the top there is a terrace, where you overlook Hanoi. Mostly good reviews on tripadvisor.com, higher prices.

La Verticale, picture by Robby

Le Malraux: 2 Hang Bong. French Cafe, offering crepes and other french dishes. Rooftop terrasse. Read the review on igougo.com

Picture marhas1

Italian

Luna d'Autunno: 11B Dien Bien Phu. "The best Italien food in Hanoi", means Brooke Lewy, "the restaurant’s courtyard mimics an Italian piazza, with a red tile floor and a trellised ceiling". See their pictures.

Mediterraneo: 23 Nha Tho. Read reviews von virtualtourist.com. Good reviews on tripadvisor.com

Picture marhas1

Cafè

Café Pho Co: 11 Hang Gai, take what you like downstairs and walk up metal staircases to the 4th floor, where you have a gorgeous view of Hoan Kiem Lake. "A hidden refuge", comments Hanoi Scratchpad. You may try a Weasel Café, but first read, what Amy Ma writes about it. See a video of the café on youtube.com.

View of Hoan Kiem Lake from Café Pho Co, picture by blog.goo.ne.jp/chocolaterie

Café Quynh: 46B Bat Dan. Mentioned by the New York Times. "Famous", according to vietnam-beauty.com. Is named after the famous actress Nhu Quynh, star of Cyclo, who owns the café. "Displays the work of local photographer Nguyen Huu Bao, who is often to be found in the cafe", notes The Vietnam News.

Copyright: Creative Common Attribution - noncommercial, no derivative works

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Hotels and Guesthouses in Hanoi: Good reviews and not so good ones

2010-02-13T23:48:00.000-08:00

See the locations on Hanoi Google Map

Hotels in the old town

Backpackers Hostel: From 18 USD for double room, from 7.50 USD in dorms. 48 Ngo Huyen. Mostly dormitory accommodation, but also some private suites. "Cool hostel", according to the reviews on tripadvisor.com

Backpackers Hostel, picture © Katy

The rooftop bar, picture © Richard

Camellia 4 Hotel: From 28 USD. 44 Hang Giay. Good reviews on tripadvisor.com

Room

Cinnamon Hotel: From 55 USD. 26 Au Trieu. Mint Restaurant offers organic food and Northern kitchen. With foot massage service. See picture by nungmoo. Mixed reviews on tripadvisor.com, pointing to noise from the street and a construction site.

Room in Cinnamon Hotel, picture © cinnamonhotel

Classic Hotel 1: 22 A Ta Hien. From 30 USD. Quite good reviews on tripadvisor.com

Classic Hotel 1, picture © Sarah

Elegance Hotel 1: From 30 USD. 8 Hang Bac.

Deluxe room

Elegance Hotel 2: From 40 USD. 85 Ma May. 3rd hotel on tripadvisors popularity list for hanoi! Very good reviews. See picture by oregonlahar.

Elegance 2, picture © Kathryn

Deluxe Room

Especen Hotel: From 18 USD. 41 Ngo Huyen street. Small double room, big family room, clean, no lift, no breakfast. "Stay up top on the 5th floor in room 501, it has a great balcony with a ton of old school iron windows and gets light on three sides, big room good view", recommends TatnallK on tripadvisor.com, where there are other good reviews for this budget hotel.

Especen Hotel

Golden Lotus Hotel 1: From 52 USD. 32 Hang Trong. Standard rooms with 15sqm are small, Deluxe Twin rooms are large (45 sqm). See picture by museilyvm. Mixed reviews on tripadvisor.com (bath too basic, noise from the street).

Golden Lotus Hotel, picture © Dave

Golden Sun Hotel 1: From 42 USD. 23 Hang Hanh. Number 6 of tripadvisor popularity Index in Hanoi! See the video by aloneinvietnam

Behind the tree: Golden Sun Hotel 1, picture © marhas

Hoan Kiem Lake, seen from the breakfast room in the 7th floor. Picture © marhas

Golden Sun Hotel 2: From 32 USD. 18 Hang Hom. Large rooms. Very good service according to the reviews on tripadvisor.com

Deluxe twin room.

Hong Ngoc 1 Hotel: From 59 USD. 34 Hang Manh. Very good reviews on tripadvisor.com. Very highly recommended by frommers.com.

Bedroom of the suite, picture © David

Hong Ngoc 3 Hotel: From 42 USD. 39 Hang Bac. Good reviews on tripadvisor.com

Hong Ngoc 4 Hotel: From 42 USD. 99 Ma May.

Picture © Peter

Imperial Hotel: From 85 USD. 44 Hang Hanh. Close to Hoan Kiem Lake, in walking distance from shops and restaurants in the old town, in the upper rooms views of the lake and the old town, spacious rooms - a "terrific hotel", as ozzie10 comments on tripadvisor.com.

Superior Room

Kim Tuc Hotel 3: From 45 USD. 32 Dao Duy Tu.

Room of Kim Tuc Hotel

Maison d'Hanoi Hanova Hotel: From 100 USD. 35 -37 Hang Trong. Very good reviews on tripadvisor.com, some guests note, that the rooms are a bit small, others note, that the windwos give good portection from Hanois street noise.

Deluxe room

Majestic Salute Hotel: From 75 US-Dollars. 54-56 Hang Duong. Double-glazed windwos keep the street noise out. Mixed reviews on tripadvisor.com.

Majestic Salute Hotel

Prince Hotel I: From 18 USD. 51 Luong Ngoc Quyen. Mixed reviews on tripadvisor.com

Prince Hotel II: From 15 USD. 42 Hang Giay Street. No elevator, but quite good reviews for this budget hotel on tripadvisor.com. See also this photo set about Hang Giay street.

Picture © Alfred Wilhelm

Prince II room, picture © Bosch vertrekt

Queen Hotel: From 65 USD. 65 Hang Bac. "It's a good bit over-priced, but a fine choice if you can afford it", notes travelfish.org. Good reviews on tripadvisor.com, that point out, that rooms on the street side are noisy.

Entrance to Queen Hotel

Quoc Hoa Hotel: From 55 USD. 10 Bat Dan. Has Fitness Center with Jacuzzi and Sauna. See picture by Mardi Odeve

Quoc Hoa Hotel

Thien Tan Hotel: 12 Cha Ca. Mixed reviews on tripadvisor.com for this budget hotel.

Zephyr Hotel:

Picture © Mimi

Hotels in the French Quarter

Hilton Hanoi Opera: From 128 USD. 1 Le Thanh Tong. "Hotel not amazing, but nothing wrong with it", is the tone of some comments on tripadvisor.com.

Picture © geert_de_jong88

The pool. Picture © terry

Sofitel Legend Metropole Hotel: From 173 USD. 15 Ngo Quyen. "an oasis", "superp": a lot of good commenzs on tripadvisor.com. You find a French and a Vietnamese restaurant and an Italien steak house as well as Le Spa du Metropole. For over a century, the Metropole has welcomed ambassadors, heads of state, celebrities and legendary writers.

Picture © megan

Luxury room. Picture © Nathan & Vanessa

The pool. Picture © Nathan & Vanessa

The suite. Picture © Christine

Hotels around West Lake

Dragon Hotel: 48 Xuan Dieu. Quite good reviews on tripadvisor.com

InterContinental Hanoi Westlake: From 140 USD. 1A Nghi Tam. Mixed reviews on tripadvisor.com.

Villas and the Sunset Bar. Picture © Krista

Picture © missbossy

Sedona Suites: 96 To Ngoc Van. Serviced Apartments. One review on tripadvisor.com

Picture © Rajiv

Sheraton Hanoi Hotel: From 103 USD. 11 Xuan Dieu. Good reviews on tripadvisor.com. Very highly recommended by frommers.com

Picture © usbirgit

View of West Lake from Sheraton. Picture © Mel

Sofitel Plaza: From 105 USD. Thanh Nien. Very good reviews on tripadvisor.com

Picture © Stanislav

View from Panorama Bar at Sofitel Plaza. Picture © martywindle

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Temples around West Lake in Hanoi

2010-01-28T12:26:00.000-08:00

See the location on West Lake Google Map

Chua Phu Tay Ho: Located on a peninsula into Tay Ho Lake. It's popular among unmarried people, who pray here for good fortune during the first and fifteenth day of the lunar month. Phu Tay Ho is also known for Bun Oc (escargot vermicelli soup) and Banh Tom (shrimp cakes), sold in stalls along the way.

Picture
© marhas1

Above the door. Picture © marhas 1

On the roof. Picture © marhas1

Picture © macloo

Picture © marhas 1

Picture © marhas 1

Picture © macloo

Picture © marhas 1

See also a video by designerchau on youtube.com.

Listen to Music; Chieu Phu Tay Ho

Den Quan Thanh: It is one of the “Thang Long tu tran”, the four famous sacred temples (the other three are Bach Ma (White Horse), Voi Phuc (Kneeling Elephant) and Kim Lien). It is also known als Tran Vu Temple. It was built under the Ly Dynasty (1010-1225) and later reconstructed.

Th entrance with three doors and bell tower and four pillars in front, decorated with bas-reliefs. Picture © DucLoi

Picture © rosie.mowat

During Tet, picture © AlienCC

Inside the building: a giant black bronze statue of Huyen Thien Tran Vu, 3.72 metres high, weighing four tonnes. The statue from 1677 documents a refined bronze casting technique of Vietnamese people in the 17th century. Tran Vu was the God of the North. His attributes are a tortoise and a snake. Picture © Annie

See a video of Quan Thanh Temple

Chua Kim Lien: The Golden Lotos Pagoda, a Buddhist temple. From the lake the pagoda looks like a golden lotus, floating on the water’s surface. Unlike other pagodas Kim Lien has a wooden entrance gate of three arches. The gate, also known as cong tam quan, has two stories with eight roofs with ngoi mui hai (tiles with curved tops) and sword shapes on the edges. In the 13th century Dong Long Pagoda was built here. In 1771 it was renovated and the name was changed to Kim Lien. Kim Lien is composed of three pavilions, each has 2 roof layers and the appearance of being slightly curved and supple. They are called Ha (lower), Trung (middle) and Thuong (upper). Read more about the pagoda on vietnamnet.vn

Picture by © Thanh Tam

Picture © Thanh Tam

Picture © Maciej

Chua Tran Quoc: One of the oldest pagodas in Vietnam. The legend says it was built during the Nam De Dynasty (544-548) at the Cai River. When the river bank crumbled in the reign of King Le Kinh Tong (1600-18) the pagoda was rebuilt on Ca Vang island in the middle of West Lake. Later it became the name Tran Quoc ("Protecting the nation"). Inside the pagoda you discover the gilden statue of Sakyamouni Buddha's Parinirvana, a masterpiece of Vietnamese sculptural art.

Picture © Sean Munson

Picture © Rolfmueller

Picture © Sean Munson

Picture © Hanoi Mark

Picture © Hanoi Mark

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Phong Nha-Ke Bang Nationalpark

2010-01-10T01:53:00.000-08:00

See the locations (caves and nearby hotels) on Phong Nha-Ké Bang Google Map

On the river from Son Trach to Phong Nha Cave, picture by © Dust Mason

Beautiful landscape along the river, picture by © 123Lphvuong

Animals and plants, that have not be known to the world, have recently been discovered in the jungle of Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park, that counts two dozens of limestone mountains with over 1,000 m in height. Since 2003 it's a Unesco World Heritage Site. Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park is situated in the oldest limestone zone in Asia, the Annamite Range, that crosses the boarder from Vietnam to Laos. In Vietnam it's part of the districts Bo Trach und Minh Hoa in Quảng Bình Province. The park is the centre of the last big tropical fortest in Vietnam and it counts 300 caves and grottoes with a length of 70 km and underground rivers.

Phong Nha Cave entrance, picture by © Dust Mason

The entrance from inside, picture by © Dust Mason

Huge cave, picture by © Dust Mason

Phong Nha Cave, nearly 8 km long, is famous for its rock formations. It has 14 grottos and a nearly 14 km long underground river. Tourists can get in to a distance of 1500 m. The Son River flows into the mouth of the Phong Nha cave and keeps on underground, where it is called Nam Aki River. It emerges 20 km to the south near Pu-Pha-Dam Mountain. The caves and grottos of Phong Nha are Phong Nha Cave (Hang Phong Nha), Dark Grotto (Hang Tối), E Grotto (Hang E), Cha An Grotto (Hang Chà An), Thung Grotto (Hang Thung), En Grotto (Hang Én), Khe Tien Grotto (Hang Khe Tiên), Khe Ry Grotto (Hang Khe Ry), and Khe Thi Grotto (Hang Khe Thi).

Tien Son Cave: Near the mouth of Phong Nha Cave you have to walk 350 steps up to a height of 135 metres above sea. it's nearly one kilometer long. Visitors can go inside for 400 metres. You see hundreds of stalagmites and stalactites of different sizes and shape.

Overview of all the caves: Document with map of the Caves of Quang Binh

Son Doong Cave (Hang Sơn Đoòng) is the largest cave of the world. It has been discovered by a British team in 2009. The biggest chamber is more than five kilometers long, 200 meters high and 150 meters wide. It contains the most beautiful and spectacular stalactites and stalagmites in the park. See a photo-gallery. And read the story of Ho Khanh, a local man, who discovered the cave first, and an article on nationalgeographic.com.

There are more attractions in the park as Gió waterfall, Madame Loan waterfall, Mọc stream erupting from a limestone mount range, and Trạ Ang stream.

In 2005, a new species of gecko (Lygosoma boehmeiwas) was discovered here by a group of Vietnamese biologists together with biologists working for the park, Cologne Zoo in Germany and the Saint Petersburg Wild Zoology Institute in Russia. In the park you find rare animals as Geckos, Macaques, White-cheeked Crested Gibbons, Black Lagurs, Giant Muntjacs, baars and more.

Tourists can enter the park in Son Trach (Quang Trach-District). The train from Hanoi to Hue stops in Dong Hoi, where there is an airport with flights from Hanoi.
From Dong Hoi you can arrive by taxi or motorbike. With dragon boats you drive for 15minutes up the river, before you enter the Phong Nha cave. Then it takes around 20 minutes, before you leave the boat and walk into the cave. Around 400 metres from the entrance of Phong Nha you find Thien Son Cave. You can also reach it by boat.

Instead of tours to the caves you can discover the flora and fauna in this national park in the Ke Bang Forest or go mountain climbing and trekking.

One of the adventure tours is boating upward on the Chay River into the forest to waterfalls and whirlpools until you arrive at Tro Mong.

Spectacular is Nước Trồi (Surfacing Stream), a stream surfacing from the ground.

The provincial Centre for Phong Nha-Ke Bang’s Ecotourism and Culture currently has 248 boats, creating jobs for 500 locals. Former loggers are also trained as photographers taking pictures for tourists.

How to go
In Dong Hoi some hotels offer tours. Or you rent a motorbike. Also from Hue you can book a tour.

Hotels in Dong Hoi
Sun Spa Resort: From 100 USD. Set amidst 29 hectares of landscaped garden along white sand Bao Ninh Beach and on the banks of the Nhat Le river. Very good reviews on tripadvisor.com

Pool at Sun Spa Resort, picture by © ePi.Longo

Saigon Quang Binh Hotel: From 60 USD.

Hotel in Son Trach:

Saigon Phongnha Hotel: Take mosquito repellent with you, Tipsytea warns on tripadvisor.com.

Dong Hoi and beaches
http://www.bumblehood.com/article/_5IZkjKUTLOVtNEDjbsaPA/revision?revision=61869

Read more background on vietnam-beauty.com. Read about the discovery of the worlds longest underground river. See movie by Arte.tv (text in German). And read review on tripadvisor.com. Read Tim Tompsoms blog about Dong Hoi and the caves.

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Văn Miếu - the Temple of Literature in Hanoi

2009-12-27T12:41:00.000-08:00

Stone steles on top of stone tortoises: Here you find the engraved names of the studends who passed the final exam at Quốc Tử Giám (Imperial Academy), the first university of Vietnam (1076 to 1779), and became doctors. This university was established in the Confucian temple Văn Miếu (Temple of Literature), that was founded in 1070. It was Emperor Lê Thánh Tông, who founded the tradition of the tortoise-steles from 1448 on.

Van Mieu Gate, the entrance to the Temple of Literature. After this gate you enter the two first courtyards of the temple, a green paradise with ancient trees.

Khuê Văn Các. This pavillon, built in 1802, marks the entrance to the third courtyard with the water of Thien Quang Tinh (Well Of Heavenly Clarity) in the centre and halls on both sides, that house the turtle-steles.

Thien Quang Tinh with the halls.

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Cat Ba and the islands and caves in Lan Ha Bay: Have a quiet time

2009-12-20T11:55:00.000-08:00

See the locations on Cat Ba Google Map

So many islands... A look from a mountain on Cat Ba Island, picture by Xuanxu

If you think, that Halong Bay is a crowded place, and if you are looking for a more quiet experience in a landscape, that is not less impressive than Halong Bay you are right with Cat Ba Island . It lies between Halong Bay and Lan Ha Bay. Lan Ha Bay is "as magnificent as Ha Long Bay", finds vietnamtourism.com. The bigger part of it belongs to Cat Ba National Park. Background about the karsts and caves you read on speleogenesis.

Cat Ba Island

Cat Ba island is known for its rugged limestone mountains, hot and cold springs, moist tropical forests and coral reefs. A big part of the island belongs to Cat Ba National Park, a beautiful landscape with up to 300 metres high mountains and nice beaches (read Biosphere Reserve Information by Unesco, Cat Ba National Park by Lonely Planet) and this report. In the park you can visit caves, where 7000 years old tools of men have been found (Trung Trang, Quan Y Grotto and Thien Long Grotto) and trek up to Ngu Lam Peak or Navy Peak. A special type of tree called “Cay Kim Giao” is unique to Cat Ba. This is one of 118 timber species on the island. 745 species of plants are recorded for Cat Ba, more than 100 with medicinal value. The national park is home to 32 types of mammals and more than 70 species of birds. There is a beautiful lake inside the national park called Frog Lake (Ao Ech). Two groups of people live on Cat Ba Island. The ethnic Vietnamese, or Kinh people, moved to Cat Ba after 1979. The second group are the Viet-Chinese, they descended from fishing communities that have existed on Cat Ba for many generations. Fishermen and farmers live in Tran Chau (the oldest and largest village on the island); in Gia Luan you find farmers, fisherman and some hunters; in Phu Long fisherman and salt farmers; in Xuan Dam farmers. In the smallest village, Viet Hai, 200 people live in simple, houses made of bamboo, wood, leaves and earthen walls.

See a video about Cat Ba by electronicaleyeview, video part 3, video part 4, video part 5 with Ngu Lam

The door to the port and Cat Ba National Park

Full of boats: the port of Cat Ba, picture by mckaysavage

Cat Co 2 Beach, picture by Houston Marsh

View from top of Cat Ba, picture by Puff's Daddy

On the road, picture by kontell

Picture by mulaohu

Fields on Cat Ba, picture by Ben Beiske

The landscape, picture by solarfeet

Rent a bike and discover..., picture by Ben Kullen-Kerney

Frog pond on the way up to Ngu Lam Peak. Picture by kevincure

Nice flower, picture by hifix

A temple, picture by diego hernandez

Picture mattjkelley
On the wai to Viet Hai

Viet Hai Village, picture by dom

Near Viet Hai Village, picture by dom

Picture el_floz
Near Viet Hai

Picture mattjkelley
View after a hike near Viet Hai

If you have luck when trekking you can see a very endangered species, the Cat Ba langur (Trachypithecus poliocephalus poliocephalus), also known as Golden-headed langur.

The golden-headed langur, picture by conservation.or.jp

This species only lives on Cat Ba, nowhere else in the world. By the year 2000 poaching had reduced this species to only 53 individuals in several isolated sub-populations and the Cat Ba langur became listed by the IUCN, the World Conservation Union, as one of the world’s most endangered primate species. Towards the end of 2000, the Zoological Society for the Conservation of Species and Populations (ZGAP) and Münster Zoo (Germany) formed a cooperative partnership with Vietnamese conservation agencies, and the “Cat Ba Langur Conservation Project” was initiated. Since then, langur poaching has been brought under control and in 2003, for the first time in decades, the population of the Cat Ba langur increased. Read more about this project.

Gia Luan Harbour, picture by Binh Giang

Hoa Cung Cave: Near Gia Luan village, 100m from the road. See picture

Hotels in Cat Ba

Sunrise Resort: "Gorgeous spotless pool, semi-private beach with a sheltered bay, views to die for from almost all of the rooms", comments awry on tripadvisor.com.

Sunrise Resort

View from the room

Beach with own bay

If the sea is wild, you have a nice pool...

Cat Ba Island Resort & Spa: Cat Co 1 beach. Mixed reviews on tripadvisor.com

The resort

View of the bay, picture by Mạnh Tuyến

Princes Hotel: Critical review on tripadvisor.com, good review on travelfish.org

Holiday View Hotel: Mixed reviews on tripadvisor.com and on travelfish.org

Holiday View Hotel, picture by nicholasjes

Nam Phuong: Good review on travelfish.org

Quang Duc Family Hotel: Good review on travelfish.org

Whisper Nature Bungalows: In Viet Hai Village, seven single private bungalows, a large bungalow for groups and a triangular bungalow where a bar is located with food, drink and wine.

Restaurants in Cat Ba:
Green Mango:
Tuyet Beo: Floating restaurant.

Seafood delicatesses: fish with tomato at Tuyet Beo. Picture by hifix

Tours on and from Cat Ba:
Cat Ba Ventures: Trekking tours, fishing tours, snorkeling and boat tours
Slo Pony: Rock climbing, kayaking, boating.

Ferries to Cat Ba:

The boat has a lot of room for bikes and motorbikes

From Tuan Chau Island to Gia Luan: Every hour from 6.00 to 18.00 (45 minutes).
From Halong City, Bai Chay Harbour: Tourist boat at 8.00 to Cat Ba Town, taking 4 hours. From Cat Ba Town: 13.00
From Haiphong to Cat Ba: Hoang Long takes you by bus and speed boat (1.30 hrs. From 4 Le Thanh Tong in Hai Phong at 8.00; 10.00 and 14.00.
From Haiphong to Cat Ba: Take the slow ferry (every hour) from Dinh Vu ferry station to Cat Hai island. Drive 7 km to the Got ferry station. Take the ferry to Phu Long, then drive 40 mins to Cat Ba town (3 hrs).
From Haiphong to Cat Ba Town: At Ben Binh ferry station there are Hydrofoils (8.30 and 9.00) to Cat Ba town (45 minutes) and ferries (6.00, 12.20, 2 hrs). From Cat Ba the hidrofoils leave at 14.45 and 15.00 pm, the slow ferries at 5.45 am and 12.20 pm).
From Haiphong to Cat Ba: Cat Ba Tourist Transportation company takes you from Ben Binh harbour (06.40; 08.15; 09.45; 13.40; 15.10; 16) by mini bus to Dinh Vu ferry station. A high speed boat takes you (07.15; 08.45; 10.15; 14.14; 15.45; 17.00) to Phu Long (it takes bicyles and motorbikes also). Then a mini bus brings you to Cat Ba Town. From Cat Ba Town at 06.10; 07.50; 09.10; 13.10; 14;50; 16, from Phu Long at 06.45; 08.30; 10.00; 14.00; 15.30; 17.00.

Map of Cat ba Town:
Map

Read more about Cat Ba:
Cat Ba in the Evening
Ah... Cat Ba...

Discover Lan Ha Bay

Dau Be Island
See Dau Be Google Map and other map. There are sandy coves, a small settlement of fishers and a peak reaching 139 metres above the sea. Not far from the beaches there are some diving spots with rich corals. On the western side of the island you discover Ho Ba Ham, a grotto with three lakes inside, which are enclosed by cliffs on all sides. You can get through only at low tide in a small rowboat. The tunnels flood at high tide and get dangerous. Read more about these lakes by Speleogenesis.info. Read, which animals and flowers you will find near Ba Ham Lakes.
See pictures by cxc

Entrance to Ba Ham Lagoon, picture by Andrew. See more pictures by Queen Hanh

Monkey Island
See pictures of Monkey Island Resort and another one by Ends of Earth. Read about the stay of Davidsmeaton and the experience of An Thi with the monkeys.

Monkey Island, seen from the top, picture by Getting My Sarong On

Bungalows on Monkey Island, picture by tuantrekkingtravel

Ocean Beach Resort: Bamboo huts on Cat Ong Island, 3 miles southeast of Cat ba. "Each bungalow has two rooms and being only a thin wall between the two it can be noisy if you get snoring people in the next romm - so take ear plugs", comments Helen78 on tripadvisor.com, who found the resort beautiful and relaxing.

Approaching the island, picture by Linh

The resort, picture by Winemaker01

The beach, picture by Linh

Read more about attractions near Lan Ha Bay

How to choose the right junk for Halong Bay and Bai Tu Long Bay
Bai Tu Long Bay
Quan Lan Island
Co To Island

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Beaches and Hotels on Phu Quoc Island

2009-12-18T09:00:00.000-08:00

See the locations on Phu Quoc Google Map

Long Beach

La Veranda Resort: "Top luxury spot" on Long Beach, according to travelfish.org.

La Veranda, picture by Krysten

Terrasse of La Veranda, picture by thomaswanhoff

Room at La Veranda, picture by Nathaniel

Beach Club Resort: From 25 USD. Bungalows and rooms on Long Beach. "One of the most tranquil and inviting accommodation options on Phu Quoc", writes travelfish.org, that qualifies the rooms as "fairly basisc".

Bungalow at Beach Club, picture by Tim

The beach at Beach Club

Be pampered in Hoi An

2009-12-14T11:42:00.000-08:00

Aly Spa: 49 Ba Trieu. Massage, facials, body wraps, manicures and more.

Countryside Charm Massage: 512 Cua Dai, near Greenfields Hotel. Asian Blend Massage, Swedish Massage and Thai Massage.

Na Spa: 463 Cua Dai and 7 Cua Dai. Read review by Girl Clumsy

Na Spa

NQ Spa: 446 Cua Dai.

Victoria Spa: Victoria Hoi An Beach Resort & Spa.

Zen Spa: Hoi An Beach Resort.

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Hoi An Hotels and Guesthouses

2009-12-13T12:34:00.000-08:00

See the locations on Hoi An Google Map

Vinh Hung Hotel 1: From 80 USD. In a 125 years old Chinese trader home. Second-storey rooms in the original wooden house. Two have a balcony overlooking Tran Phu Street. Here was Michael Caines dressing room during the making of the movie "The quiet American". Be aware, that this is an old house, so you will here the sounds from other people in the house. From the rooms towards the street you can follow the life on the street, but you have also the noise of the street. In the backward rooms you have a bath with a lot of space. Mixed reviews on tripadvisor.com. See pictures by Aptronym. See video on youtube.com

Picture by Cynthia

The Lobby, picture by Cynthia

Chinese Room

Picture by Verciny

The upstairs corridor, picture by Cynthia

The front balcony, pictury by Cynthia

An Hoi Hotel: From 22 USD. 69 Nguyen Phuc Chu. Mixed reviews on tripadvisor.com.

Ha An Hotel: From 45 USD. 6-8 Phan Boi Chau. Good reviews on tripadvisor.com and also on reidontravel.com

Ha An Hotel

Golden Sand Resort: From 85 USD. Huge, 200 metres long poold, good reviews on tripadvisor.com, some critcs.

Seen from the seaside, picture by Viet Hung

Pool at Golden Sand Resort, just some steps away from the sea, picture by Leonard

Hoi An Beach Resort: From 79 USD. 4 km outside of Hoi An, situated between De Vong river and Cua Dai Beach. Very good reviews on tripadvisor.com

The Pool

The Restaurant

Hoi An Trails Countryside Resort: From 65 USD. Rooms in two- and three-storey villas between Thu Bon River, green garden ad ricefields. 1 km from Cua Dai Beach and 3 km from town. Good reviews on tripadvisor.com

Trails Resort, picture by Lily

At Thu Bon River, picture by Lily

Picture by carol.wright61

Life Heritage Resort: From 111 USD. 1 Pham Hong Thai Street. Located along Thu Bon River.

Life Resort Lobby

Life Resort Pool, pictures by sega128

Life Resort restaurant, picture by sega128

Palm Garden Beach Resort: From 120 USD. Lac Long Quan Street, Cua Dai Beach. Mixed reviews on tripadvisor.com

Picture by Trinia

Picture by Ivan

River Beach Resort: From 60 USD. Formerly Dong An Beach Hotel. Where De Vong River meets South China sea, at Cua Dai Beach. Good reviews on tripadvisor.com

River Beach Resort, picture by Cathy

The pool

The beach, picture by Michael

Thanh Binh 1 Hotel: From 15 USD. 01 Le Loi.

Thanh Binh 1 Hotel

Thanh Van Hotel: From 20 USD. 78 Tran Hung Dao.

Picture by gbabe

The Nam Hai: "This is the best luxury resort in Vietnam", comments frommers.com. Why? Frommers points to the big size (35 Hectares), the quick service and chic villas.

The Nam Hai, picture by NamHai.MM

Pool of The Nam Hai, picture by Imedagoze

One bedroom villa

Victoria Hoi An Beach Resort & Spa: From 170 USD. Shuttle boat to Hoi An Ancient Town. Excellent, according to reviews on tripadvisor.com

Picture by Joelle

View of the pool, picture by Fred Rosenberg

And the Cua Dai beach, picture by Steven

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Hotels in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)

2009-11-27T21:46:00.001-08:00

Rex Hotel: From 110 USD. 141 Nguyen Hue Blvd.

The Rex Hotel, picture by Andrew3000

The famous Rex Bar

Welcome to the Hidden Charm of Halong Bay...

2009-11-27T01:47:00.000-08:00

The first day: Everything seemed okay with Pinta Gold Junk.

What I have experienced with Pinta Gold Junk from 19 to 21 november 2009, you cannot really imagine. May be I was the first and last guest with this special treatment...
I had booked a 3 days/2 nights trip. The first day everything started in a good way, nice bus from Hanoi to Halong, comfortable Checkin, good first lunch on the boat and nice cabin, where everything worked well (air condition, hot water for the shower). And very nice guides who really took care of the passengers. It was not their fault, that I fell ill on the boat, I had caught a cold before. So the next day I decided to stay in the room. And again the guides took much care of me, organized tea and food to my room. The other guests in the morning went from boat for a dinner at a small beach and a bike tour on Cat Ba Island. Meanwhile the Pinte Gold returned to Halong port to take some new guests.

After noon suddendly one of the guides banged on my door. He told me, that I had to leave the room for an hour. He said, some maintenance works had to be done, if I unterstood him right. He would offer me a room on another boat for sleeping, before we would return to Pinta Gold. Me, sweating my illness away in the cabin, went out to that other boat. And the guides took very good care of me there. But it took around two hours, before we could return to Pinta Gold. I was just going back to my cabin, when the guide came and told me, that they were all very sorry but we had to leave the boat in half an hour. So I proceeded to my Check Out... And I saw, how everything was closed, no new guest came on board.

Now followed a night, that I will never forget, never in my life. I was told, that all the guests from the excursion were brought to a hotel in Cat Ba to stay there the next night and that I should join them with their baggage. All that was put to the tender boat - where the guides had even prepared a mattress with linen and cushion for me...

With ths kind of tender boat we had to cross Halong Bay...

I felt already better. So I enjoyed it to cross all Halong Bay with this tender boat: we were quite alone there, not many other boats to see now, when the night was breaking. So just the driver of the tender boat, another man with a lamp, helping him to find the way and a guide.

Beautiful: Halong Bay Islands in the fading light.

So we drove and drove, tender boats are not very fast, as you might know. And the night fell. And we were definitely alone - just us and the baggage... And the sea was a bit moved, so when it began to splash water onto the boat, I went to the bed and covered myself...

On the tender boat: the sea was a bit moved.

Somewhere in the middle of nowhere suddenly a small motorboat arrived. I was told, that I and the baggage would go to the motorboat. So we changed without falling into Halong Bay. Now I was even more alone: only the guy beside me, who drove the motorboat. I trusted him, when he drove in the dark night around this island and then around that island. And this many dozens of times. Sometimes we saw a light from a ship or fishermens huts. I had of course no idea, where we were now, but we had to leave Halong Bay and get to Lan Ha Bay to arrive at Cat Ba.

Where are we now? Let's hope the boat-driver knows.

It was quite cold now - not so good for my cold. And we drove and drove in the dark night with clouds and no stars. But I didn't get wet, so this was okay. And of course they had given me a life west... Suddenly the motor of the motorboat stopped... The driver had to repair something, we alone somewhere in the nowhere... But he could fix it and we went on. Finally, after hours, we arrived at the very dark port at Cat Ba, where the driver took two guides into the ship to help him to find the place to get on land. Finally they found some steps up to the mole. As soon as we were on land, a bus arrived, the Tour Operators had arranged. On his back this message: "Welcome to the hidden charm of Vietnam".

In Cat Ba the Tour Operators had booked fine rooms in one of the beat hotels, Sunrise Resort. So everybody was glad having his baggage back and may be also me...
The guide, who had lead the other guests to the trip on Cat Ba did his best to manage the situation.

Very nice morning in Sunrise Resort on Cat Ba Island

The next day we went back to Hanoi by a ferry from Cat Ba to Haiphong and a very small bus. In Hanoi we were brought to the tour operator, Columbus Adventure Travel, where the argument began about how much of the price of the tour they should return to the guests, because theyx had lost time on the boat. Finally they offered 30 percent, what was considered as fair.

Also here I had the idea, that fine people were at work. The manager explained personally to every guest, what had happened: Since there have been accidents with ships on Halong Bay, there are sudden inspections on the ships. And if for example the kitchen isn't clean enough, they take the ship out of traffic. Pinta Gold had been inspected and stopped... The manager said, he didn't get information from the inspectors why.

So my impression about all this: May be Columbus Travel has ignored some problems with Pinta Gold described in several forums already. But out of the situation they treated their guests respectfully and with care. May be it was not the best idea of sending a still half ill passenger on the tender boat and a small motorboat for hours across the multiplication of nowhere, but all the people working for this tour were very helpful and caring. So after all for me Colombus Travel has gained reputation. And I will remember this night alone on Halong and Lan Ha Bay forever.

Read also:
How to choose the right junk on Halong Bay

Hoi An Tour Operators

2009-11-26T20:41:00.000-08:00

Cham Island Diving Center: 88 Nguyen Thai Hoc.

Hoi An Eco Tour: Tran Van Khoa.

Hoi An Motorbike-Adventures:

Rainbow Divers:

Red Bridge Cooking School & Restaurant:

Riverland Tours:

Vietnam Sailing:

Shopping in Hue: BIG C has arrived, but ...

2009-11-23T02:08:00.000-08:00

Picture by Lien

Malls are not widespread in Vietnam outside Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City. But in Hue, the sleepy old town with its colonial charm, things have changed. In July 2009 Big C has opened Phong Phu Plaza - and this was an enormous event with a pop concert, documented by Hy Huynh in his blog. The Big C brand was the first foreign-invested trade centre in Hue after the Espace Business Hue Company was granted an investment licence by Thua Thien-Hue authorities, as vietnamnet.vn reported.
But to tourists BIG C in Hue may be a disappointment: It cannot cope with shopping malls for example in Bangkok, it is just a very big food store and a floor of eateries and some clothes around, people looking for international brands find more in Hues shopping streets.

See a picture by khuyen hoai le

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Hoi An Restaurants: Try Cau Lao

2009-11-13T12:50:00.000-08:00

See the locations on Hoi An Google Map

Cau Lao (Picture by Catie & Linds), noodles with pork slices, bean sprouts, greens and crispy croutons, a local speciality, you should not miss in Hoi An. The legend goes, that this dish can only be cooked with water from Ba Le Well, an ancient well of the Cham people. Ba Le Well lies in the garden of Mr. Ba Lo Le, about ten meters from Kiet Gieng Lane (which links Phan Chu Trinh Street and Tran Hung Dao Street). How to cook Cau Lao? Read noodlepie's recipe.

Look down into Ba Le Well:

Picture by Mandy

Ba Le Well: 51 Tran Hung Dao. "Hidden in an alleyway with another entrance through Phan Chu Trinh, it is still a gem of a restaurant filled with locals of all ages and sizes", recommends Thin Lei Win in AsiaLIFE.

A delightful meal at Ba Le Well, picture by MC MasterChef

Cargo Club: 107 Nguyen Thai Hoc. In an old villa you get "chocolate truffle cakes, passion fruit mousse and home-made waffles – as well as great Asian and European fare", Thin Lei Win wrote in AsiaLIFE. In the back you look out to the river, upstair you dine open-air.

Cargo Club during the day, picture by Sinead and in the night:

By night

Good Morning Vietnam: 102 Nguyen Thai Hoc. Italian and specialities of Hoi An. Good reviews on tripadvisor.com

Good Morning Vietnam

Hai Cafe:

Hai Cafe, picture by robynejay

Hai Cafe from the other side

Mango Rooms: 111 Nguyen Thai Hoc. On cushions and low tables you get an "eclectic menu that places emphasis on what’s fresh and available in the market", comments AsiaLIFE.

Picture by Thomaswanhoff

Picture by EverJean

Outside Mango, picture by JonasPhoto

Mermaid: 2 Tran Phu. Well known for cao lau.

Spring rolls at Mermaid restaurant, picture by macloo

Picture by Joanne

Miss Ly Cafeteria 22: 22 Nguyen Hue. Good cao lau. See aptronym's picture.

Sakura: 119-121 Nguyen Thai Hoc. Vietnamese kitchen.

Picture by sega10028

Lounge Bar: 102 Nguyen Thai Hoc. See meanjean's picture.

Tam Tam Café: 110 Nguyen Thai Hoc street. Chinese, Vietnamese and European specialities in a French colonial house - and a cocktail bar. "The place to be in Hoi An", comments frommers.com. It's run by a French expatriate named Christophe, knows thingsasian.com. The house was built in 1932 as colonial residence, later used by Chinese owners as tea warehouse, the "Chinese spirit" has been conserved during the renovation for the cafe.

Picture by Missnae

Tam Tam Cafe by night

River Lounge: 35 Nguyen Phuc Chu. Fusion of European Lounge with Vietnamese food and best coffee in Hoi An, according to the very good reviews on tripadvisor.com

River Lounge

Thang Long Restaurant:

Thang Long by night

You should also try the streetfood. For example Banh Mi Opla for breakfast - a warm baguette filled with an omelett, chili sauce, onien, cucumber and shallots. You will find in at Hoi An Market.

Dinner on Thu Bon River: A special dining experience is offered by Cinnamon Cruises (32 Le Loi): You can book Brunch Cruises, Cooking Cruises, Lunch Cruises, Sunset Dinner Cruises or Sunset Cocktail Cruises and Full Moon Cruises, where Vietnamese food is served.

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The Vietnamese Lunar Calendar

2009-11-13T12:10:00.000-08:00

New moon ist on the 1th day of the Vietnamese lunar calender.
Full moon is on the 15th day.

2009:
10th month 1st day: November 17
10th month 15th day: December 1
11th month 1st day: December 16
11th month 15th day: December 30

2010
12th month 1st day: January 15
12th month 15th day: January 29
1st month 1st day: February 14

2nd month 1st day: March 16

3rd month 1st day: April 14

4th month 1st day: May 14

5th month 1st day: June 12

6th month 1st day: July 12

7th month 1st day: August 10

8th month 1st day: September 8

9th month 1st day: October 8

10th month 1st day: November 6

11th month 1st day: December 6

2011:
12th month 1st day: January 4

Read more about the Vietnamese lunar calendar on Waytovietnam Travel