Son La Province

Son La

Area: 14,174.4 sq. km.
Population: 1,092.7 thousand habitants (2010)
Capital: Son La City.
Districts: Quynh Nhai, Muong La, Thuan Chau, Phu Yen, Bac Yen, Mai Son, Song Ma, Yen Chau, Moc Chau, Sop Cop, Van Ho.
Ethnic groups: Dao, Thai, Viet (Kinh), H'Mong, Muong.

Geography :

Son La belongs to North-West Vietnam, shares border with Yen Bai, Lao Cai, Lai Chau provinces on the north, Dien Bien Province on the west, Phu Tho and Hoa Binh provinces on the east and Laos on the south.

The province has many mountains, rives and mineral sources. Abundant water supply is suitable to hydroelectricity. Moc Chau Plateau is an ideal place to breed milk cow, plant tea and fruit. Annual average temperature is about 21oC. The weather is cold, dry in winter and hot in summer.

Tourism:

Son La owns following interesting sites. Son La Former Prison and Museum preserves revolutionary remains and exhibits precious objects introducing the historical and cultural traditions of the 12 ethnic groups living in Son La. Stretching out 150m long, Tham Tet Toong Cave is a wonder of nature. Along the walls of the cave, there are numerous stalactites and stalagmites. Ban Hin (Hin ethnic minority hamlet) is marked by the traditions and culture of the Thai. There, tourists enjoy drinking ruou can and watching xoe dance by Thai women. Then visitor like to go to Yen Chau Site to try special bananas, longans and mangoes.

In 2nd lunar month, when ban flowers begins to blossom, coloring the mountains in white, Thai ethnic group held Hoa Ban Festival. Boys and girls go flower picking to celebrate the spring and entertain themselves by singing, playing tinh and khen flute, dancing xoe.

Transportation :

Son La connects Hoa Binh by National Highway No. 6, Yen Bai by Highway No.37, Lao Cai by Higway No.279. Son La is 328km from Hanoi. In Na San Airport, Vietnam Airlines has daily flight from Hanoi to Son La.

Vinh Phuc Province

Vinh Phuc

Area: 1,231.8 sq. km.
Population: 1,008.3 thousand habitants (2010)
Capital: Vinh Yen City.
Administrative divisions:
- Town: Phuc Yen
- Districts: Lap Thach, Tam Duong, Binh Xuyen, Vinh Tuong, Yen Lac, Song Lo, Tam Dao.
Ethnic groups: Viet (Kinh), San Diu, San Chay, Tay...

Geography: 

Located in the Plains and Midland in the North Vietnam, Vinh Phuc Province is surrounded by Tuyen Quang and Thai Nguyen provinces in the north, Hanoi in the east and the south, and Phu Tho Province in the west.

Topography includes midland, plain, and low hill. There are four large rivers: Hong (Red), Lo, Pho Day, and Ca Lo. On the north, Tam Dao range is natural provincial line between Thai Nguyen and Vinh Phuc. On the south, Hong (Red) River separates Vinh Phuc from Ha Noi.

Vinh Phuc has favorable conditions of climate. Annual average temperature is 23.4oC. Especially, Tam Dao Mountains is in a vast high mountainous region affected by tropical humid monsoons with average temperature of 21oC.

Tourism:

Tam Dao

Vinh Phuc attracts lot of tourists to various following beautiful landscapes. Tam Dao Tourist Resort is an ideal summer resort in the North, located 900m above sea-level. It is a wonderful resort with fresh, pure and cooling air, beautiful scenery. Many modern accommodations are built here to serve tourists.

Nearby, Tam Dao National Park is unforgettable address. The vegetation cover is representative of five types of tropical forest. The flora consists of 904 species and the rich fauna includes 307 species.

At the foot of Tam Dao Mountain, Dai Lai Lake is an artificially created lake. Dai Lai is blessed with a favorable climate, cool summer and warm winter. Over the lake lies a 3-hectare island which is home of difference kinds of birds. Tourists also enjoy panoramic view of the lake from top of Than Lan Mountain.

Located 90km from Tam Dao, Tay Thien Site is well-known with beauty of forests, streams, waterfalls, and grottoes.

Specialty vegetables XU XU

Transportation:

Road, waterway, railway are very convenient. Vinh Phuc is on railway route: Hanoi- Vinh Phuc- Phu Tho- Yen Bai- Lao Cai. There is National Highway No.2 linking to Phu Tho. Vinh Yen City is 63km from Hanoi, about 30km from Noi Bai International Airport.

Phu Tho Province

Phu Tho

Area: 3,532.5 sq. km.
Population: 1,322.1 thousand habitants (2010)
Capital: Viet Tri City.
Administrative divisions:
- Town: Phu Tho
- Districts: Ha Hoa, Thanh Ba, Doan Hung, Lam Thao, Thanh Son, Yen Lap, Tam Nong, Thanh Thuy, Phu Ninh, Cam Khe, Tan Son.
Ethnic groups: Viet (Kinh), Muong, Dao, San Chay...

Festival Hung Vuong

Geography:

Located in the Plains and Midland in the North of Vietnam, Phu Tho shares border with Tuyen Quang, Yen Bai provinces on the north, Vinh Phuc, Ha Tay provinces on the east, Son La Province on the west and Hoa Binh Province on the south.
The terrain is mainly made up by hills. There are also three big rivers namely Red, Da and Lo rivers running through Phu Tho.
 Phu Tho has a monsoon tropical climate with a cold winter and hot summer, annual average temperature of 23oC, annual average rainfall of 1600-1800mm and annual average humidity of 85-87%.

Tourism:

Phu Tho is consider as ancestral land of Vietnam. Den Hung (Hung Temple)Remains is tied to the legend about 18 Kings Hung who built Van Lang State, the first one of Vietnam, with Phong Chau as the capital.
Phu Tho has bright culture. Archaeological sites like Son Vi, Dong Dau, Lang Ca and many pagodas, temples, tombs around Nghia Linh Mountain prove that Phong Chau used to be cultural center of ancient Vietnamese.
Xuan Son National Park and Ao Chau Pond are famous beauty spots of Phu Tho. Every year, Xuan Son attracts many tourists to come for recreation and discovery diversified flora and fauna. Heading for Ao Chau, tourists can enjoy the fresh air and taste local specialties like fruits, carps, turtles, crabs, snails and so on.

Phu Tho is home of many festivals including Bach Hac, Chu Hoa, and most honourable one is Den Hung Festival. This festival is on 10th day of the 3rd lunar month annually corresponding to the anniversary of the Kings Hung. Now, it becomes a great ceremonial festival of the Vietnamese nation.
Beside of these, the people here preserve some traditional songs: xec bua, vi, dum, xoan, gheo songs.

Transportation:

A chicken species in legend 

Viet Tri City is 80km from Hanoi. It is on National Highway No.2 linking Hanoi with Ha Giang Province and China Border. The train from Hanoi to Lao Cai stops in Viet Tri.

Ha Giang Province

Ha Giang

Area: 7,945.8 sq. km.
Population: 735.8 habitants (2010)
Capital: Ha Giang City.
Districts: Dong Van, Meo Vac, Yen Minh, Quan Ba, Bac Me, Hoang Su Phi, Vi Xuyen, Xin Man, Bac Quang, Quang Binh.
Ethnic groups: Viet (Kinh), Tay, Dao, H'Mong, San Diu...

Geography: 

Located at the highest latitude in Vietnam, Ha Giang is surrounded by Cao Bang on the east, Tuyen Quang on the south, Lao Cai, and Yen Bai on the west. It shares a border with China in the north (274km boundary). Populated here are mostly of ethnic so life is also not affected by metropolitan, If you are like hilly, this fee is not to be missed.

Ha Giang's complicated topography is divided into 3 areas. The area on the south has rocky mountain, separated rivers. The west area has sloping mountain side, high pass, valleys, and narrow springs. The low land area includes hills, valley of Lo River, and Ha Giang City.

The climate is divided in two distinct seasons, rainy and dry, although it tends to vary depending on altitude. The annual average temperature varies between 24 and 28oC. In winter, the temperature is sometimes down to -5oC.

The valley

Tourism: 

Mountains in Ha Giang are quite high, in which the highest Tay Con Linh point with 2,419m in height. There are good woods, over 1000 kinds of valuable drug trees, animals (tigers, peacocks, phoenix, pangolin) in primitive forests.

Coming to Ha Giang, tourists are attracted by poetic Dong Van Highland, Love Market of Khau Vai. They can buy embroidery such as handkerchief, haversack, and dress with colorful, fine pattern. They also take part in enjoyable market-day of local ethnics. The people and natural scenes here are unlike anywhere in Vietnam.

Transport:

Children

Ha Giang City is 320km from Hanoi. Ha Giang is on National Highway No.2, 34, 279 linking to Yen Bai, Cao Bang, Lao Cai provinces in turn.

Hoa Binh Province

Hoa Binh

Area: 4,595.2 sq. km Population: 793.5 thousand habitants (2010) Capital: Hoa Binh City Districts: Da Bac, Mai Chau, Ky Son, Cao Phong, Luong Son, Kim Boi, Tan Lac, Lac Son, Lac Thuy, Yen Thuy. Ethnic groups: Viet (Kinh), Muong, Thai, Tay, Dao...

Nature grandeur

Geography

Hoa Binh is a mountainous province in the North. It is bordered by Phu Tho and Ha Tay in the north, Ninh Binh and Thanh Hoa in the south, Ha Nam in the east, and Son La in the west.
The topography is combined by mountains and narrow valleys. The annual average temperature varies between 23 and 25oC.

Tourism:

The culture of Hoa Binh combines several ethnic groups with their own languages, traditional literature, and festivals.
Tourists especially enjoy the ethnic specialty dishes including rice cooked in bamboo and grilled meat. At night, visitors can stay in stilt houses at Lac Village in Mai Chau Valley, enjoy watching traditional dancing, music performances (bronze drums, gongs), and Thai minority singing and dancing. The remote Muong, Dao, Tay minority villages draw visitors who like study the life of ethnic groups. Beautiful brocade and forest products are interesting souvenirs.
Mountainous terrain with Thac Bo, Hoa Tien grottoes, Ret Cave, Pu Nooc Primitive forest and many clean springs are suitable for swimming, climbing, walking, and hunting. Visitors are also fascinated by superb beauty of Hoa Binh Hydroelectric Power Plant, the largest one in Vietnam. Boating on Da River is an enjoyable feeling.
Apart of these, scientific tests have shown that the mineral water at Kim Boi Hot Spring is good for drinking, bathing and treatment.

Transportation:

Road and water transportation are convenient. There is National Highway No. 6 from Hanoi vie Ha Tay to Hoa Binh, Son La, National Highway No. 15 from Mai Chau to Thanh Hoa, National Highway No. 12B from Hoa Binh to Nho Quan (Ninh Binh). 

Hoa Binh Town is 82km from Hanoi. Da River is 5km from Hoa Binh City.

Phu Quoc District

Phu Quoc District

Located in the Thailand Gulf, Phu Quoc (Kien Giang Province) is the largest island district in Viet Nam. The capital of the island district is Duong Dong Town, about 120km from Rach Gia City and 45km from Ha Tien Town.

Phu Quoc Island District includes 36 islands of different sizes, of which Phu Quoc Island is the largest one with the area of 573km2. The island has tropical monsoon climate characterized by 2 distinct seasons, rainy season (June to November) and dry season (December to May). The annual average rainfall is 2,879mm.

Phu Quoc is also called "emerald island" due to its natural treasures and tourism potentials. The island has many beautiful beaches as Truong Beach, Khem Beach, Sao Beach... Especially, Phu Quoc National Park with the area of 31,422ha has a diversified ecosystem of 929 species of flora, 89 species of hard coral, 19 species of soft coral, 62 species of seaweed...

Phu Quoc has harbors of An Thoi and Hon Thom where ships anchor and exchange goods. Phu Quoc Island is also home to many historical sites such as national hero Nguyen Trung Truc's military base, Phu Quoc Prison...

The island is well known for its high-quality fish sauce. Phu Quoc fish sauce's smell is particularly good since it is made from anchovy (ca com), with a high level of protein. Besides, Phu Quoc sea also has many precious types of seafood as prawns, mackerels, pomfrets, blue fishes...

The transportation system in the island is growing rapidly. The transport routes between mainland and the island by air and sea are very convenient for tourists. Especially, Phu Quoc International Airport has put into operation since 2 December 2012 to facilitate the arrival of international tourists attracted by the island's beauty.
Souce: Internet

Ho Chi Minh City

Ho Chi Minh City

Area: 2,095.5 sq. km
Population: 7,396.5 thousand habitants (2010)
Administrative divisions:
- Districts: District 1, District 2, District 3, District 4, District 5, District 6, District 7, District 8, District 9, District 10, District 11, District 12, Tan Binh, Binh Thanh, Phu Nhuan, Thu Duc, Go Vap, Binh Tan,Tan Phu.
- Rural districts: Nha Be, Can Gio Hoc Mon, Cu Chi Binh Chanh.
Ethnic groups: Viet (Kinh), Hoa, Khmer, Cham...

Ben Thanh Market

Geography:
   In the core of the Mekong Delta, Ho Chi Minh City, formerly known as Saigon, is second the most important in Vietnam after Hanoi. It is not only a commercial center but also a scientific, technological, industrial and tourist center. The city is bathed by many rivers, arroyos and canals, the biggest river being the Saigon River. The Port of Saigon, established in 1862, is accessible to ships weighing up to 30,000 tons, a rare advantage for an inland river port.
Climate:
The climate is generally hot and humid. There are two distinctive seasons: the rainy season, from May to November, and the dry season, from December to April. The annual average temperature is 270C. The hottest month is April and the lowest is December. It is warm all year.
History:
Many centuries ago, Saigon was already a busy commercial center. Merchants from China, Japan and many European countries would sail upstream the Saigon River to reach the islet of Pho, a trading center. In the year of 1874, Cho Lon merged with Saigon, forming the largest city in the Indochina. It had been many times celebrated as the Pearl of the Far East. After the reunification of the country, the 6th National Assembly in its meeting of the 2nd of July, 1976, has officially rebaptized Saigon, Ho Chi Minh City. The history of city relates closely with the struggle for the independence and freedom of Vietnam.

Duc Ba Catthedral

Tourism:
Today, Ho Chi Minh City is the big tourism center in Vietnam, attracting a large of visitors to Vietnam. Ho Chi Minh City has various attractions as Ho Chi Minh Museum, formerly known as Dragon House Wharf, Cu Chi Tunnels, system of museums, theatres, cultural houses... Recently, many tourist areas are invested such as Thanh Da, Binh Quoi Village, Dam Sen Park, Saigon Water Park, Suoi Tien, Ky Hoa..., which draw numerous tourists.
Despite its quite recent past, Ho Chi Minh City nevertheless possesses various beautiful buildings, displaying a characteristic combination of Vietnamese, Chinese and European cultures. These include Nha Rong (Dragon House Wharf), Quoc To Temple (National Ancestors Temple), Xa Tay (Municipal Office), Ho Chi Minh Municipal Theatre as well as many pagodas and churches (Vinh Nghiem, Giac Vien, Giac Lam, Phung Son pagodas...). After more than 300 years of development, Ho Chi Minh City presents many ancient architectural constructions, famous vestiges and renowned sights. It is remarkable for its harmonious blending of traditional national values with northern and western cultural features.
Transportation:
Ho Chi Minh City is the main junction for trains, roads, water, and air transportation systems for domestic trips and for foreign destination.
- Roads: Ho Chi Minh City is 1,730km from Hanoi, 99km from Tay Ninh, 30km from Bien Hoa (Dong Nai), 70km from My Tho, 125km from Vung Tau, 168km from Can Tho, 308km from Dalat, and 375km from Buon Ma Thuot. The City has National Highway 13 which connects Vietnam with the rest of Indochina.
- Train: Thong Nhat express train connects Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi, vie many provinces in Vietnam.
- Air: Tan Son Nhat International Airport, 7km from center of city, is the biggest airport with many domestic and international routes. There are flights from Hanoi and Danang to Ho Chi Minh City and between the City to many regions as well a lot of countries on over the world.

Dalat City

Dalat City

Area: 390.5 sq. km
Population: 197 thousand habitants (2007)
Administrative divisions:
-Wards:1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12
-Communes:Xuan Tho, Xuan Truong, Ta Nung, Tram Hanh
Ethnic groups: M'nong, Ma, Co Ho...

Dalat is the capital of Lam Dong province in Vietnam. The city is located 1,500 m (4,900 ft) above sea level on the Langbiang Plateau in the southern parts of the Central Highlands. In Vietnam, Da Lat is a popular tourist destination.

waterfall

Da Lat’s specific sights are pine wood (forming the name: “City of thousands of pine trees”) with twisting roads and tree marigold (Vietnamese: dã quỳ) blossom in the winter. The city’s temperate weather stands in contrast to Vietnam’s otherwise tropical climate. Mist covering the valleys almost year-round leads to its name “City of eternal spring”.

Da Lat is also known as an area for scientific research in the fields of biotechnology and nuclear physics.
With its year-round cool weather, Da Lat supplies temperate agriculture products for all over Vietnam, for example: cabbage and cauliflower. Its flower industry produces two typical flowers: hydrangea (Vietnamese: cẩm tú cầu) and golden everlasting (Vietnamese: hoa bất tử). The confectionery industry offers a wide range of mứt, a kind of fruit preserve made from strawberry, mulberry, sweet potato, and rose.

Love valley

Da Lat is quite different from anywhere else you’ll visit in Vietnam. You would almost be forgiven for thinking you’d stumbled into the French Alps in springtime. This was certainly how the former colonists treated it – escaping to their chalets to enjoy the cooler climate.

The French feel is compounded by a radio mast shaped like the Eiffel Tower and the local bohemian artists’ predilection for swanning around in berets. Dalat is small enough to remain charming, and the surrounding countryside is blessed with lakes, waterfalls, evergreen forests and gardens.

Local products include silk, garden vege­tables and flowers (especially beautiful hydrangeas), which are sold all over southern Vietnam. But the biggest contribution to the economy is tourism: more than 800, 000 domestic tourists and another 80, 000 foreigners visit here every year. It’s the country’s favourite honeymoon spot and still retains the final word in Vietnamese kitsch.

The Dalat area was once famous for hunting and a 1950s brochure boasted that ‘a two-hour drive from the town leads to several game-rich areas abounding in deer, roe, peacocks, pheasants, wild boar, black bear, wild caws, panthers, tigers, gaurs and elephants’. So successful were the hunters that all of the big game is now extinct. The closest you’ll get to the formerly diverse fauna are the taxidermied specimens about town.

The city’s population includes about 5000 members of hill tribes, which make up 33 distinct communities in Lam Dong province. Traditional dress can occasionally be spotted in the market places. Hill-tribe women of this area carry their infants on their backs in a long piece of cloth worn over one shoulder and tied in the front.

The City of Eternal Spring, Dalat’s temperature hovers between a pleasant 15°C (average daily minimum) to 24°C (average daily maximum). Effectively Dalat has two seasons – dry (December to March) and wet (April to November). Despite the mild temperatures, by the end of the dry season the lush green surrounds turn to brown. Even in the wet season, mornings normally remain dry – allowing time for sightseeing before the deluge begins.

Coastal city of Nha Trang

Nha Trang City

Area: 251 sq. km Population: 362 thousand people (2008) Administrative division: - Wards: Vinh Hoa, Vinh Hai, Vinh Phuoc, Vinh Tho, Ngoc Hiep, Van Thang, Phuong Son, Xuong Huan, Van Thanh, Phuong Sai, Phuoc Tan, Phuoc Tien, Phuoc Hai, Phuoc Long, Loc Tho, Phuoc Hoa, Tan Lap, Vinh Nguyen, Vinh Truong. - Communes: Vinh Luong, Vinh Phuong, Vinh Ngoc, Vinh Thanh, Vinh Hiep, Vinh Trung, Vinh Thai, Phuoc Dong. Ethnic groups: Mainly the Viet (or Kinh).

Purple pm

The coastal city of Nha Trang in Khanh Hoa province, Central Vietnam, lies on the trans-Vietnam highway, 1,278km from Hanoi, and 448km from Ho Chi Minh City. Nha Trang is endowed by nature with deep, quiet and warm waters all the year round, surrounded by archipelagoes, islands, mountains and white sand beaches - a wonderful and attractive tourist resort.
To the north of Nha Trang stands the Chong mount which looks like a wide open hand over the sea. Far offshore, the Yen (Swallow) Island appears with lush green colours where salangane nests have been harvested for years to make the traditional "bird's nest" tonic and food.

Po Nagar Cham Tower

Van Phong bay

The 7km white sand beach of Nha Trang is often called Vietnam's Mediterranean Area, considered one of the jewel along Vietnam's long stretching coast line. Nha Trang is sunny all year round, with an average temperature of 23?C due to northern winds.
The rainfall is less than anywhere else in the country and the area is not threatened by storms since it is protected by the Truong Son Mountains and Ca Pass. From Ca Pass, one can see Ro Bay (Vung Ro), Hon Do...
Hon Tre Island is 36km? and belongs to a group of islands located southwest of Nha Trang. It takes two hours to reach Hon Tre Island by rowboat and only 20 minutes by ferry.
Nha Trang benefits from topographical advantages of the sea, islands, mountains, and deltas. West of Nha Trang, there are endless mountain ranges where a wide variety of animals and birds live.
Nha Trang has many specialties. Especially, bird's nest soup, or swallow's nest soup is very famous in Nha Trang and round Vietnam. The magnificent coral seabed in Nha Trang makes it ideal for scubadiving and snorkeling.
Nha Trang Bay is recognised as one of 29 most beautiful bays in the world.

Source : internet

Hoi An City

Hoi An

With the total area of 60km², Hoi An City is located in Quang Nam Province, at the lower section of Thu Bon River, about 50km to the northeast of Tam Ky City (the capital of Quang Nam Province) and 30km to the south of Da Nang City.

 The city has 13 communes, wards (9 wards, 3 mainland communes and 1 island commune). Tan Hiep Island Commune has the area of 15km2, includes 7 islands, of which the largest ones is Cham Island (Cu Lao Cham). The population of Hoi An City is about 88,933 habitants (2009). Mostly of which are Viet (Kinh) and Hoa (Chinese) groups. Hoi An City is located in the region of tropical monsoon climate. Hoi An's annual average temperature is 25oC, air humidity is 82%, rainfall reaches up to 2,066mm.

   From the 16th to 19th century, Hoi An used to be an international trade center on the East - West commercial itinerary and also the busiest trading port in Dang Trong (the South region of Viet Nam). Merchant ships from Japan, China, Portugal, Spain, Netherlands... often stopped here to exchange and purchase commodities.
    Graceful historic Hoi An is Vietnam’s most atmospheric and delightful town. Once a major port, it boasts the grand architecture and beguiling riverside setting that befits its heritage, but the 21st-century curses of traffic and pollution are almost entirely absent. Whether you’ve as little as a day or as long as a month in the town, it’ll be time well spent.
In the progresses of establishment and development, Hoi An was known with many difference names as Faifo, Haisfo, Hoai pho, Ketchem, Cotam... Archeological and architectural relics prove that Hoi An was an important meeting place of many cultures, such as Champa, Viet Nam, Japan and China... Until now, a complex of ancient architecture relics in Hoi An has been preserved mostly intact, including many old houses, assembly halls, temples, pagodas, wells, bridges, churches, ports, markets, roads... with mossy ancient color. According to statistics, the relics in Hoi An are classified into 11 categories, including 1,068 ancient houses, 19 pagodas, 43 temples, 23 communal houses, 38 family worship houses, 5 assembly halls, 11 ancient wells, 1 bridge, 44 ancient tombs... The existence of Hoi An Ancient City is the only case in Viet Nam and also rare in the world. Hoi An is considered  as a living museum of architecture and urban lifestyle.
    Besides diverse architectures, Hoi An also keep quite grandiose intangible culture values. Daily life of the locals with customs, religious activities, folk art, festivals, traditional craft villages, specialty dishes... have been preserved and promoted. This revival of fortunes has preserved the face of the Old Town and its incredible legacy of tottering Japanese merchant houses, Chinese temples and ancient tea warehouses – though, of course, residents and rice fields have been gradually replaced by tourist businesses. Lounge bars, boutique hotels, travel agents and a glut of tailor shops are very much part of the scene here. And yet, down by the market and over on neighbouring An Hoi Peninsula and Cam Nam Island you’ll find life has changed little. Travel a few kilometres further – you’ll find some superb bicycle, motorbike and boat trips – and some of central Vietnam’s most enticing, bucolic scenery and beaches are within easy reach.
    Hoi An also has 7km-coastline that is favorable for tourism development, of which Cua Dai Beach is one of the nicest and cleanest beaches in Viet Nam.
Hoi An owes its easygoing provincial demeanour and remarkably harmonious old-town character more to luck than planning. Had the Thu Bon River not silted up in the late 19th century – so ships could no longer access the town’s docks – Hoi An would doubtless be very different today. For a century, the city’s allure and importance dwindled until an abrupt rise in fortunes in the 1990s, when a tourism boom transformed the local economy. Today Hoi An is once again a cosmopolitan melting pot, one of the nation’s most wealthy towns, a culinary mecca and one of Vietnam’s most important tourism centres.
   In December 1999, Hoi An Ancient City was recognized as World Cultural Heritage by UNESCO.

Da Nang City

Da Nang

Area: 1,283.4 sq. km
Population: 926 thousand habitants (2010)
Administrative divisions:
- Districs: Hai Chau, Thanh Khe, Son Tra, Ngu Hanh Son, Lien Chieu, Cam Le.
- Rural districts: Hoa Vang, Hoang Sa.
Ethnic groups: Viet (Kinh), Hoa, Co Tu, Tay...

 Da Nang City is located in middle of Central Vietnam, between Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, separated from Laos by the western Truong Son Mountains. It is surrounded by Thua Thien-Hue along the northern border and Quang Nam on the southern border. It is embraced by the East Sea with 150km of seacoast.

Topography is rather complex. The south is impressive Hai Van Pass with Mang Mountain 1,708m, Ba Na Mountain 1,487m. The east is Son Tra Peninsula, an ideal site of yellow sand beaches, historical remains, and rare bird and animal species. The south is Ngu Hanh Son (Marble Mountains). The seashore is Hoang Sa archipelago with a large fishery.
The city itself has neither the atmosphere of Hanoi nor the hustle-bustle of Ho Chi Minh City, but has its share of sights, and is close to the charms of Hoi an and the imperial capital of Hue. Why do they call it the seaside and riverside city? Because Da Nang is a picturesque city by the Han river, and by the coast of the East Sea with distinctive attractiveness in comparison with other sea cities, luring hundreds of thousands of tourists from around the world!
The city is in the site of the East Sea and Han River with special different charms. Nature has offered the city a great position among three World heritages generously: ancient royal capital Hue, ancient city Hoi an and Holy land My Son. Thanks to this, Da Nang plays an important role in hosting, serving and transferring visitors. Not only being in the middle point of three world heritages, but also does it has numerous unforgettable beautiful scenes, such as Han River, Hai Van Pass, Son Tra Peninsula, Ba Na Mountain, Marble Mountains, etc.
Besides the bustle of the city center, there are ancient villages and traditional trade villages hidden by the range of bamboos in the city's suburban areas of Da Nang. Outside the city, Phong Nam ancient village, Tuy Loan ancient village have a vast view of rice fields, small paths under bamboo shade and sometimes feeling peaceful atmosphere of hens' sound in the afternoon. In the village, there still remain the old-aged communal houses through ups and downs of the city history. However, there are sacred holy atmosphere but to be very close to the spirit of Quang Nam and Da Nang people.

Climate:

Da Nang is located in the zone of typical tropical monsoon, temperate and equable climate. The city's weather bears the combination of the north and the south climate characters with the inclination to the former. There are two seasons: the wet from August to December and the dry season from January to July, cold waves are occasional but they are of average and short lasting. Average humidity is 83.4%.

Average temperature is about 260C, the highest is 28-300C in June, July, August, the lowest is 18-230C in December, January, February. In Ba Na Mountain, the temperature is 200C. Average rainfall is 2,505mm per year that concentrates during October and November.

Tourism:

Danang is an ancient land, closely related with the Sa Huynh cultural traditions. Many imposing, palaces, towers, temples, citadels and ramparts, the vestiges from 1st to 13th are still to be seen in Cham Museum

Danang has other various interesting attractions as Ba Na Tourist Resort, Ngu Hanh Son (Marble Mountains) as well as the Linh Ung Pagoda, Han River, and My An, Non Nuoc beaches, stretching on dozens of kilometers...

Transportation :

Road: Danang is 108km from Hue, 130km from Quang Ngai, 763km from Hanoi, and 947km from Ho Chi Minh City.
Air: The Danang International Airport is 2.5km south-west of the city center. There are domestic flights to some cities. There are direct flight from Bangkok, Hong Kong, Siem Riep, Taipei and Singapore to Danang City by Vietnam Airlines, PB Air, Siem Riep Air way, Far Transportasion and Sil Airway.
Train:Thong Nhat Express train, which connects Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, stop in Danang.
Water: There are marine routes to international and domestic ports. Tien Sa and Han River ports are located in a very wonderful position.

Dreamy Hue

Hue City

Area: 70.99 sq. km
Population: 339.8 thousand habitants (2009)
Administrative Division:
- Wards:Phu Nhuan, An Cuu, Truong An, Phuoc Vinh, Vinh Ninh, Phu Hoi, Xuan Phu, Vy Da, Tay Loc, Thuan Loc, Thuan Thanh, Thuan Hoa, Kim Long, Phu Hoa, Phu Cat, Phu Hiep, Phu Hau, Phu Binh, Phu Thuan and Phuong Duc, Huong So, An Hoa, An Dong, An Tay, Huong Long, Thuy Xuan, Thuy Bieu.
Ethnic groups: Viet (Kinh)

Let us guide you through the bustling streets, natural landscape and unique architecture including the perfume river, tombs, pagodas and many temples, all of which have become major tourist attractions for visitors from all over the world. You will rediscover the ancient world of the emperors of 13 kings of Nguyen dynasty, from Gia Long to Bao Dai. Is the first Unesco world heritage site in Explorer the village where women make the traditional hats and learn from our expert guides about the lives of these people!

Huong River

On the northern bank of Huong River has relics consisting of palaces, which were constructed as arc defensive ramparts with 11km length. This valuable construction includes more than 100 architectural works which were extremely reflected the life of Emperors and mandarins under reign of Nguyen. Situated in the middle of hills on the southern bank of Perfume River are very beautiful tombs of Kings Nguyen. Among these tombs are the four famous ones with the name and the arrangements of the tomb reflected each Emperor's points of view, personality and tastes. This is majestic Gia Long Tomb, imposing Minh Mang Tomb, poetic Tu Duc Tomb and magnificent Khai Dinh Tomb. Hue is also an important center of Buddhism. In Hue and its surrounding still exist tens of pagodas constructed more 300 years ago, and a hundred of temples and pagodas built in the early century. Besides, Hue is a place where the royal music is originated, and a place with traditional famous dishes and sophisticated handicraft.

Culture : 

Located in the center of Vietnam, Hue was the capital city of Vietnam for approximately 150 years during feudal time (1802–1945),and the royal lifestyle and customs have had a significant impact on the characteristics of the people of Huế, even long afterwards.

Name :

Historically, the qualities valued by the royal family were reflected in its name-giving customs, which came to be adopted by society at large.As a rule, royal family members were named after a poem written by Minh Mang, the second king of Nguyễn Dynasty...

Clothing :

Hue Girl

The design of the modern-day áo dài, a Vietnamese national costume, evolved from an outfit worn at the court of the Nguyễn Lords at Huế in the 18th century. A court historian of the time described the rules of dress as follows.

Mausoleum

Ha Long Bay

Ha Long Bay 

Area: 208.7 sq. km
Population: 185,228 habitants (year 2001)
Administrative division:
-Wards: Ha Khanh, Ha Lam, Ha Trung, Ha Phong, Ha Tu, Hong Hai, Cao Thang, Cao Xanh, Yet Kieu, Tran Hung Dao, Bach Dang, Hon Gai, Bai Chay, Hong Ha, Ha Khau, Gieng Day, Hung Thang, Tuan Chau
- Communes: Viet Hung, Dai Yen.
Ethnic groups: Mainly the Viet (or Kinh)

Dinh Huong

Information :

    Ha Long Bay, located in the Gulf of Tonkin, within Quang Ninh Province, in the northeast of Vietnam, is165 km from the capital of Ha Noi. Covering an area of 43,400 ha and including over 1600 islands and islets, most of which are uninhabitated and unaffected by humans, it forms a spectacular seascape of limestone pillars and is an ideal model of a mature Karst landscape developed during a warm and wet tropical climate. The property’s exceptional scenic beauty is complemented by its great biological interest.
The outstanding value of the property is centered around the drowned limestone karst landforms, displaying spectacular pillars with a variety of coastal erosional features such as arches and caves which form a majestic natural scenery. The repeated regression and transgression of the sea on the limestone karst over geological time has produced a mature landscape of clusters of conical peaks and isolated towers which were modified by sea invasion, adding an extra elemant to the process of lateral undercutting of the limstone towers and islands.
Ha Long Bay, in the Gulf of Tonkin, includes some 1,600 islands and islets, forming a spectacular seascape of limestone pillars. Because of their precipitous nature, most of the islands are uninhabited and unaffected by a human presence. The site's outstanding scenic beauty is complemented by its great biological interest.

Attractions :

    There are dozens of attractions at Halong Bay with unique tempting features, so it could be a challenge to travelers while they plan what to visit during their trips to explore this bay the most (in their preference). This information facilitates this step of planning, by supplying details information about all of attractions, including the general introduction, unique elements of this destinations that makes them worth be visited, and other related detail like hours of operation, entrance fee (if have), or contact. Furthermore, as a local guide, this part advises useful tips for the travelers to enjoy the attractions in most comfortable ways, or at least not have negative experience visiting there. The attractions listed are popular destinations of the town such as the well-known rocky islands (Titov Islands, Cock Island…), floating villages or beaches, and also some of less famous one which might be fascinating to some types of adventurous travelers. With the data on this category, travelers can easily choose itineraries for their trips, to fit the schedule and the desire.