Camly Waterfall

Cam Ly waterfall is located at the end of Hoang Van Thu street which is 2 km far from the city center. The name “Camly” is explained in many ways with legends according to regions.

* The first story: According to Mr. Chil Long who live in Ta Nung Commune, in the old time, they called the waterfall Liang Sra and there was a village of Lach minority people, which is located near the present Ma Trang Son street, Yagut street, Tran Binh Trong street, Le Lai street and Hoang Dieu street. The chief of the village was Mr. Yagut Hamon whose son was Dam M'ly or Mon M'ly. At that time the French dominated the region and for some reasons, they tortured Dam M'ly very cruelly; they tied Dam M'ly by the nests of ants and bees in the forest in order to take the statements from him, but he said nothing. Despite of the hunger, thirsty and the pain, he never entreated but he just stared at the cruel colonialists. After days and nights, Dam M'ly could not suffer from the hard punishment and then he died. Loved his son so much, the old father screamed and rushed into the body of his son then he died in the front of cruel gunmen. Since then, the K'ho minority people called the waterfall Liang Mon M'ly. Through the varied process of pronunciation, the word: “Mon M'ly became Cam Ly. Nowadays, we can see a holy light, Bana which was built from concrete in a form of a tree with the names: Mon M'ly and Dam M'ly carved on it.

* The other story: According to Mr. Dagut K'Mloi, when the French surveyor asked Mr. K'Mloi what the name of the waterfall was, but K'Mloi misunderstood; he thought the French man asked his name, so he said “K'Mloi”. Then the French man called K'Mloi “Camly”. Since then the name “Camly” was used for the waterfall and the stream.

Cam Ly waterfall flows gently through the range of granite rock and it looks like the hair-style of a girl. There, tourists can take a horse-riding, take photo and go for a walk around the waterfall.

In 1998, Cam Ly waterfall was recognized as a National-level Cultural historical heritage.

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Posted in: Da Lat,The Central

Ca Na Beach

As one of the most wildest and beautiful beaches of Vietnam, Ca Na Beach, the “Sleeping Princess” of Ninh Thuan province, is warmly beckoning tourists.

Ca Na beach

On the map of Vietnam tourism as well as the world’s, Ca Na is amongst the impressive names for a picturesque landscape of sea, mountain, forest, and even a Cham culture. It is this combination of natural beauty and cultural value that makes it a tourism heaven for any kind of visitors.

A quick look. Ca Na is fortunate to be granted such a favorable location, which is on the trans-Vietnam railway, right on the 1A Highway, and around 200km east of Ho Chi Minh City. It stretches as far as 10km with blue sky and purely green water. Ca Na is attractive to tourists not only for the mentioned charm, but also the ideally pure and cool weather all the year round. If staying here overnight, you will deeply feel the Ca Na night’s delicate harmony of with moonlight, hissing sea wind, and whistling waves. Do come and feel it yourself, no regret at all you would have!

Why is it named so? A legend tells that in the past, under Nguyen dynasty, there were a King and a queen who went swimming here, and found it a rare magnificent charm in the region. They then named it “Nang Tien Ca” (translated as “fairy fish”). Ca Na is the name in Cham language, and exists until these days. For the other beautiful way of calling, “Sleeping Princess”, the reason is very simple; the beach still remains wild, even most pristine as compared to others in Vietnam, and more importantly, it does look graceful and fascinating!

Deep attraction to tourists

Picturesque landscape. One side is rock, one side is the beach! On your one side is a very vast sea that normal eyes could not see through. On the other side is the mighty Truong Son mountain range with side by side upright rocky limestone mounts. Getting deep into the area is tropical jungles, where live so many kinds of rare and precious animals... Actually, it must say, Ca Na is a harmonious sonata of nature!

The rocky mountains turn up imposingly. In spring, apricot blossoms in the mountain, making up a rich source of inspiration for artists. Thousands of islets with different shapes gather together create vivid images just nearby the road.

Ca Na corals

The beach is excellent! It curls like a sickle, white sand and high salty degree. Salt in Ca Na beach is considered the best one in Southeast Asia. The beach slopes gently to the sea with the depth of one to two meters. The weather is sunny and warm all the year round. Climbing up the mountains, and swimming in the crystal – clear water in this place are very enjoyable. Also, you can take photos of rocks protruding into the sea.

Looking to the sea farthest, you may see a small islet turning up, which is called “Hon Lao”. This is a popular spot of Ca Na for numerous species of sea birds, Tien Well, and the famous Thach Grotto with 7 skulls, attracting a huge number of adventurous tourists.

Popular Sea food. Apart from Ca Na’s most famous specialties, such as salt and Nhi fish sauce, tourists are offered a great chance to taste delicious seafood, say, shrimp, crab, shellfish, etc. There are a number of beautiful tiny things here to buy for gifts, among which the most popular one preferred by tourists is the sea coral.

Besides, tourist can visit the Cham’s special structures and traditional villages, where a lot of Cham people are living with nearly genuine traditional custom, just in the nearby surroundings. This is the last but actually not least absorptive beauty of this popular beach of Ninh Thuan.

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Posted in: Ninh Thuan,The Central

Phong Nha - Ke Bang

LOCATION:

           Phong Nha – Ke Bang National Park is located in the middle of the Annamite Mountain Range, 40km from Dong Hoi city, 500 km from Hanoi Capital, and close to the Vietnam - Laos border to the west.

FEATURES:

          Phong Nha - Ke Bang is a central biodiversity of Greater Annamites Eco-region, which has been identified as one of two hundred biodiversity centers in the World (WWF, 2000). In addition, Phong Nha - Ke Bang have been identified as two of more than sixty Important Bird Area of Vietnam by BirdLife International (2005).

Temperature: The annual mean temperature is  23 - 25 degree celsius. The highest temperature is in June, July and August, with mean temperature greater than 28 degree celsius. Daily variation in temperature is high, about 10 degree celsius in summer and 8 degree celsius in winter.
Rainfall: Phong Nha - Ke Bang is situated in region of the high rainfall with an average of 2,000 mm to 2,500 mm per year. The highest rainfall is concentrated in September, October and November.  The rainy season is from July to December . The dry season is from January to June and the lowest rainfall is in February and March.


Humidity:  Mean annual relative humidity is 83 - 84%. In the period September to April, humidity is highest (85-90%). The period  of May to August experiences hot and dry northwesterly winds, so that humidity is lower.

Wind: The northeasterly winds and sometimes the easterly or southeasterly winds appeared in the winter . In the summer a southwesterly wind is common, which sometimes  changes to a hot and dry northwesterly wind, in June, July, and August. The period from September to April, the easterly and southeasterly winds sometimes come from the sea.


Hydrology: The flooding season takes place from September to November, with the largest floods appearing in the middle of September and October. Besides the main rainy and flooding season, rains in May and June sometime cause large floods. In the dry season, from February to August, almost all the streams in Phong Nha - Ke Bang become  “ dead streams”. The water level in the Chay and Son Rivers is very low at this time.

Topography: The endogenous and exogenous geological processes, which have occurred from Triassic up to now, have created the diverse topography and geomorphology of the area: non-karst landforms, transitional landforms and Karst landforms. Karst landforms is characterized old tropical karst formed mainly in the Cenozoic, constituting 2/3 the area of the site.


Geological and cave system development process: The geological structure here expresses the diversity and long development history of the earth's crust. The earth's crust has undergone  several main development stages (from the Ordovician period up to now) with 5 tectonic megacycles corresponding with the 5 geological evolution stages of the world.


Vegetation : The National Park is 93.57% covered by forest, of which primary forest covers 83.74% . The site  one of the highest percentage forest coverage  in Vietnam. The  Park contains the diversity of ecosystems such as land mountainous ecosystem, karst ecosystem, river ecosystem. Vegetations and habitats have been developed for long time in those ecosystems. So that there are eleven vegetation types and subtypes in Phong Nha - Ke Bang area

Biodiversity: Phong Nha - Ke has  global significance for biodiversity conservation. Based on the Scientific Reports, to date 2,651 vascular plant species, 735 vertebrate animal species, 369 insect species have been recorded in Phong Nha - Ke Bang. Among of which 116 plant and 129 animal species are listed in the Vietnam Red Data Book and the IUCN Red List.


Nine of 21 primate species in Vietnam are recorded in Phong Nha - Ke Bang. Three primate species are endemic to the Annamite Mountain Range these are Hatinh Langur (endemic species in Phong Nha – Ke Bang, Red-shanked Douc Langur and White-cheeked Gibbon The Hatinh langur is a restricted range species.  46 of  107 bat species in Vietnam have been recorded in Phong Nha - Ke Bang. 419 plant species (including 28 orchid species) and  41 animal species are endemic to Vietnam. The scientists have been discovered 1 plant, 1 bird, 6 retile, 1 amphibian, 12 fish and 2 butterfly species described as new species to science during 10 years of researching. 

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Posted in: Quang Binh,The Central

My Son Sanctuary

LOCATION:

          70km southwest of Danang City and 40km away from the Ancient Town of Hoi An.

FEATURES:

          A large complex of religious relics that comprises more than 70 architectural works is a popular destination for Those who appreciate architecture, history and pure spectacle. Known as My Son (English: My Son), the group of temple-towers really connect to each other with complicated red brick designs is a proud display of the evolution of Vietnam's culture and a foremost Evidence of Asian civilization mà now extinct. My Son Sanctuary is a large complex of religious relics, of which, the main component of the Cham architectural design is the tower, built to reflect the Divinity of the king. It is located in a narrow valley in Duy Tan Commune, Duy Xuyen District of Quang Nam Province. It nestles in a town found at the end of a bumpy road through tropical jungle.

The beautifully carved stone Sculptures and the ruins of old buildings Reveal mysteries up to 1500 years old. As one of the religious center and capital of the ancient Champa Kingdom, it is a significantly sacred site. It emerged During the 2nd century in the area around Danang. Through commercial and religious associations with India, the Champa kingdom Quickly Developed a strong affinity for Indian culture, borrowing Hinduism and the Sanskrit alphabet, as well as Indian architectural and artistic tastes. According to records on the stone Stele, the prime foundation of the ancient My Son architectural complex was a wooden temple to Shiva Worship the Bhadresvera genie. In the late 16th century, a big fire destroyed the temple but was rebuilt.

Aside from religious celebrations, allowed the Dynastic Royals nào to spiritually connect with the gods, My Son was also the Political capital, a cultural center and was the burial place for Cham monarchs. For many centuries the Champa kingdom existed as an independent entity, Warring constantly with the English to the north and the Khmer to the west. The kingdom endured until the 17th century when it was Absorbed by Vietnam. Most of the Temples were dedicated to Cham kings Associated with, divinities, particularly Shiva, who was regarded as the founder and protector of Champa's Dynasties.

Treasures within a Treasure

The Vietnam-American War caused the region to be completely devastated and depopulated. American bombs have reduced many of the towers to ruins, but chúng failed to destroy about 20 of them. Thus, there's still plenty to see. In fact, Vietnam has better preserved Cham sites on other parts of the country. But Probably why My Son Remains to be the most popular is Because of the remarkably beautiful surroundings where it is Nestled in - a Verdant valley surrounded by hills and overlooked by Cat's Tooth Mountain (known Hon curl). Clear streams also run the between the structures and past nearby coffee Plantations.

Standing in the middle of this sanctuary, tourists will have the chance to better understand the ancient Champa Kingdom and its architectural works. The site was constructed by the King of Champa Between 4th and 12th centuries for Worship. The Remains of sculptural and architectural remnants from the war are masterpieces rằng mark a glorious time for the architecture and sculpture of the Cham as well as Southeast Asia.

These ruins đại diện a series of constructions over many centuries. Judging from the surviving structures, the Champa kingdom were predominately Hindu, and Shivaist at that. In the temple cities of My Son lies lingams rằng symbolizes both the cult of items Shivaism and also of the divine authority of Kingship. Each historical period has its own identity, để each temple worshipping a genie or a king of a different kingdom has its own architectural style full of different impression.

Each period of history, a particular architecture would be observed. Generally, the Champa temple towers were built on hills, a strategic site to survey the surrounding area. Principally, however, these locations were chosen vì They were regarded as the focus of the magic Powers, especially suitable for meditation and religious observance.

Getting there

When leaving from Hanoi, tourists board a train to Danang station, and from there, take a bus or a car to My Son. February to April is known to be the best time to plan a trip to My Son since rainfall is not plentiful and the temperature is comfortable. Upon reaching my son, a brief visit to the museum before visiting the Temples would make the trip much more worth it.

Hiring a car costs around USD $ 20, quite a lot pricey compared to taking the bus or mini-bus mà just less than $ 5. However, the option of hiring a car Allows one to take the trip in his own pace, take as many Occasional stops for photos, breathers or choose to get there ahead of everyone.

Bus or minibus rides to My Son can be organized by travel Agencies or even the hotel where you are booked. Only, you have to be there at the set time, of mà most trips depart at 8am and return at 1pm. A day trip includes a stop-off at Tra Kieu. At less than $ 5, it sure is an incredible deal.

There are travel Agencies offer land đó trip to My Son, but allow them the option of returning by boat. That adds a couple of extra hours to the trip. It would cost a couple of extra dollars as well, but the views make the extra hours and cost so much worth it.


Plan your next Trip

My Son is Considered to be a smaller version of other preserved Champa civilizations like the Angkor in Cambodia, Ayu-Thaya of Thailand, Bagan of Myanmar and Borobudur in Java. But the complete package of mystical towers surrounded by breathtaking views makes it extremely popular for sightseeing in Vietnam for both foreign and domestic tourists.

You can take a little preview of what you will encounter at My Son by coming by the Cham Architecture Museum in Danang. After the My Son ancient tower complex was Discovered, many of its artifacts, especially statues of female dancers and genies worshipped by the Cham people, Worship animals and artifacts of the daily communal activities, were collected and displayed there.

Today, Vietnamese Authorities are attempting to restore as much as possible of the còn sites. The beauty of My Son would be more complete if not for the destruction caused by the decades-old war. But it holds so much historical and cultural value, for which, the complex was nhận as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in December 1999. Indeed, there may not be so many remnants left like its bigger counterparts in its Neighboring countries, but những it remain display the typical sculptural works of cultural value of the Cham nationality. Furthermore, chúng vivid proof, confirming the history of a nationality living within the Vietnamese community boasting of a rich cultural tradition. Come and visit the My Son Sanctuary and discover the ancient Champa Kingdom.

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Posted in: Quang Nam,The Central

Hoi An Ancient Town

LOCATION:


           Hoi An lies 30 km South of Da Nang and is well-developed to offer tourists accommodation in any price range. The city can be easily reached from Da Nang or Da Nang airport

FEATURES:

              Hoi An offers a number of interesting places to visit:

• Japanese Bridge (Chua Cau): To start with the most well-known landmark, the Japanese Covered Bridge, on the west end of Tran Phu Street, was constructed by the Japanese community in the early 1600s. Today, it is the symbol of Hoi An. Tran Vo Bac De, the nordic god who controls the weather (obviously important in a maritime community like Hoi An) is honored in a small temple inside the bridge.

• Quan Cong Temple: Built in 1653, Quan Cong Temple honors a Chinese general of the same name, revered for his loyalty, bravery and integrity. The general's statue is on an altar in the back of sanctuary, flanked by statues of his bodyguard and adopted son. Merchants would pray at Quan Cong for the general's virtues.
• Museum of Trade Ceramics: The highlight of this museum isn't the rather dusty collection of broken pottery, but the excellent English descriptions of the history of Hoi An and the old house in which the museum is located. No other house in Hoi An will give you such a complete understanding of the town's architecture as this museum does.
• The Phung Hung House, just west of the Japanese Bridge, has been in the same family since its construction in 1780. The traditional two-story wooden house features Japanese and Chinese elements.
• Tan Ky House: An historic house in Hoi An that combines Japanese, Chinese and Vietnamese influences. Chinese poems written in mother-of-pearl are hanging from a number of the columns that hold up the roof. Don't miss the beautiful mosaic inlaid work found in the four small rooms. The Tan family still occupies the house.

• The Tan Family Home and Chapel: offer a fascinating look at a wealthy Hoi An family of the early 19th century. In 1802, Tan Tu Nhuc, Emperor Gia Long's ambassador to China, built this house and a chapel to worship his ancestors. Today the drawing room and the chapel are open to the public. Not surprisingly, the home is bedecked with Chinese artefacts and gifts. The drawing room features a center section which is a place for the family's ancestors to return home and therefore only open during the Tet festival (New Year Festival).
• Congregation halls: Throughout the town of Hoi An there are numerous congregation halls, where Chinese expatriates socialized and held meetings. They are typically named after the home region of their members, such as Fukien and Canton. Here are a few of the larger examples:
• Cantonese Assembly Hall: Built in 1885 from materials brought in from China, the hall is elaborately decorated. Interestingly, many of the statues in the hall depict characters from famous Chinese operas. The calm courtyard in back is also adorned with ornate statues, including a ceramic dragon lurking in a fountain.
• Fukien Assembly Hall: This impressive assembly hall, dating back to 1697, was built by Chinese merchants from Fukien Province in southern China. Animal lovers will enjoy the unicorn, dragon, turtle and fish sculptures, each with its own symbolism. Sailors honored Thien Hau, the sea goddess, with a temple inside the hall. She's flanked by Thuan Phong Nhi, a goddess who can hear ships from thousands of miles away, and Thien Ly Nhan, a gimlet-eyed goddess who can see them from the same distance. Meanwhile, the hall is also a place of worship for a prosperity god and a fertility goddess. Local couples hoping to start families worship her for good luck. 

• Chinese All-Community Meeting Hall: Another interesting assembly hall, this one welcomed all members of the Chinese community. It was founded in 1773 and incorporates French architecture as well.
• Full Moon Festival (Old Town Night): Held each month 14 days after the new moon--about the time the moon is full--Old Town becomes even more charming when the shop owners turn off the electricity and hang lanterns from their storefronts. At the same time, a procession of small floats winds its way through the streets and along the river by candle light. If you are lucky and the time is right, try to catch the Full Moon Festival, when hundreds of lanterns cast the Old Town in a magical glow. During this hour, all electric lights are turned off. Try to rent a rowing boat to be in the middle of the milky-way full of lanterns on the river.

Shopping and made-to-measure clothing
• Tailored clothing: Made-to-measure shirts, blouses, dresses and jackets are available from the renowned tailors of Hoi An. When last counted in 2002, there were 140 shops in the city, and the number is now well over 400. With any tailor, be sure to negotiate before you agree to a price.
• Art and galleries: Hoi An also has a good selection of Vietnamese art, both modern and traditional, serious and kitschy. Galleries can be found all over town but the cultural heart of Hoi An with most galleries is in Nguyen Thi Minh Khai Street, on the other side of the Japanese Bridge.
• Thanh Ha Pottery Village: About a mile west of town, this traditional village has been making pottery for more than 450 years.

Eating
Food in Hoi An is, even by high Vietnamese standards, cheap and tasty. In addition to standard Vietnamese fare, there are three dishes that Hoi An is particularly famous for: 
• Cao Lầu: is a dish of rice noodles which are not quite as slippery as Phở and a bit closer in texture to pasta. The secret is the water used to make it; authentic Cao Lầu is said to be made only with water from a special well in the city. The noodles are topped with slices of roast pork, dough fritters and lots of fresh herbs and vegetables.
• Bánh Bao Vạc (white rose): is a type of shrimp dumpling made from lucent white dough bunched up to look like a rose.

Bánh Bao Vạc (white rose)

• Wonton dumplings: essentially the same as the Chinese kind, are served up in soup or deep-fried.

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Posted in: Quang Nam,The Central

Hue Citadel

FEATURES:
          Hue has chosen to be the capital city of the Southern Kingdom by all Nguyen Lords and officially became the capital under Tay Son'reign. For approximately 400 years, Hue has become a great landscape and architectural site. Hue' royal complex has been officially recognized by the UNESCO as a World Heritage Site.

Situated on the Northern bank of the Perfume River, with an area of 500 ha and a system of three circles of ramparts, namely from outside to inside: Kinh Thanh (Capital Citadel), Hoang Thanh (Royal Citadel) and Tu Cam Thanh (Forbidden Citadel).
The Ngu Binh Mountain in the South is used as a front screening elevation. The Con Hen and Con Da Vien (both are sand dunes) on the Perfume River are chosen as geomancy condition "dragon on the left, tiger on the right" to protect the capital city.

Kinh Thanh Hue (Hue Capital Citadel):

This construction stared in 1805 under the reign of Emperor Gia Long and completed in 1832 under the reign of Emperor Ming Mang. Under Nguyen' reign, Kings have ordered to build ramparts, palaces and constructional works of royal. Over 200 years to now, it is still original with nearly 140 small and large constructions.

The Citadel, square in shape and almost 10 km in circumference, 6 m high, 21 m thick and 10 entrances. On the top of the walls that surround it, 24 bastions are established for defensive purposes. Besides, the Citadel has an ancillary gate connecting the Tran Binh Bastion called the Thai Binh Mon (Peace Gate).

Hoang Thanh (Royal Citadel):

The Imperial City is located in the centre of the Citadel where established highest offices of Viet Nam's feudalism and sanctums honouring the cult of decreased Emperors. The Citadel, also has a nearly square form, with more than 600m long for each side, built of brick 4m high, 1m thick, around which is ditched a system of protection trench. Access to the Imperial City can be made by four entrance gates. Noon Gate is only used for the King. Royal Palace consists of more 100 beautiful constructional works divided many sectors.

From the Ngo Mon to the Thai Hoa Palace: This is the place for setting up various grand ceremonies.
Sector for worship shrines of the King of the Nguyen dynasty: Trieu Mieu, Thai Mieu, Hung Mieu, The Mieu and Phung Tien place.
Sector for internal affairs office: Storehouse for precious objects, workshop for manufacturing various useful articles.
Sectors for the Kham Van palace and the Co Ha garden: place where the princes are studying or enjoying.

Tu Cam Thanh (Forbidden citadel):

Located inside the Imperial City, behind the Throne Palace, the Forbidden Purple City is reserved for Emperor and his family. Constructed early in Emperor Gia Long'reign in 1804 with brick walls 3.72m high, 0,72 m thick, about 1,230 m in circumference. Its front and back sides are 324 m each while either left and right side is more than 290 m including 50 architectural constructions of different sizes and 7 gates for facilities of entrance and exit. Dai Cung Mon (the Great Place Gate) is in the front side for Kings. Can Chanh Palace (the place for every day working of Emperors). Can Thanh (Emperor's Private Palace), Khon Thai Residence (Queen's Private Apartment) reserved for the Queen. Duyet Thi Duong house (Royal Theatre), Thuong Thien (the kitchen for the King' food), Thai Binh Lau (King's reading room)... Besides, Hue is also famous for royal tombs and temples of Nguyen Kings. Seven tombs with different aspect are not not only a wonderful arch but also combining beautiful, imposing nature and poetic of Hue.

Ancient Hue including Perfume River and Ngu Mountain, palaces and citadels, tombs and temples with hundred of historic years are being embellished and recovered by material contribution of Vietnamese and International community in order to keep Hue City as cultural heritage of World

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Posted in: Hue,The Central

Nha Trang Beach

FEATURES:
          Nha Trang, the country's premier traditional seaside resort situated in Nha Trang Bay, surrounded on all three sides by mountains and widely Considered as Amongst the world's most beautiful bays, is well known for its pristine beaches as well as its variety of activities. With hot water springs, colorful fish and coral reefs underwater, the city is Considered as one of the best spots for scuba diving and snorkelling. Nha Trang is located in Khanh Hoa Province, about 450km north of Sai Gon and about 1.200km South of Ha Noi.

         Nha Trang has an international airport (Cam Ranh Airport), mà about 40km from downtown. The best time for you to visit is from January to August when the weather is ideal to bath and relax. The main strip of Nha Trang beaches runs along the North-South of the sea for about 4km. The site covers 405km2 gồm 19 small and large islands. Already being very popular with Vietnamese tourists, Nha Trang is fast becoming a popular destination for international tourists, attracting large numbers of Backpackers, flash-packers as well as more affluent travelers.

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Posted in: Nha Trang,The Central