Viet Nam and World Travels

Enjoying Australian wine at Catina Hotel

2009-08-21T08:57:00.000-07:00

dk's Wine Bar & Restaurant directly belonging to Catina Hotel provides a special promotion valid from 24th July 2009 to 31st August 2009 with many benefits.

Visting dk's Wine Bar & Restaurant to enjoy yourself Wolf Blass Australian wine at its peak, a famous branch name spreads all over the world many years.

This promotion includes:

- Order one Bottle of Wolfblass Get one free
- Plus cheese board complimentary

For more information please contact

Hotel Catina Saigon
109 Dong Khoi Str., D.1, HCMC, VN
Tel: (84.8) 38 296 296
Fax: (84.8) 38 296 291
Email: restaurant@hotelcatina.com.vn
Website: www.hotelcatina.com.vn

Source Catina Hotel

Spring rolls with a difference

2009-08-21T08:55:00.000-07:00

Apart from its scenic spots and tourist sites, Quang Nam Province’s Da Nang City in the central region is famous for its food.

One of the better-known food specialties is the pork rice paper roll which is a dish visitors should not forget to try.

It is a kind of spring roll made with boiled pork. The meat must be taken from the rump of a pig which weighs exactly 70 kilograms. It is cut into slices not too thick and not too thin. Each slice has a layer of fat and skin at both ends, which is why it is called two-ended meat.

The meat is considered delicious if it is fragrant, sweet and fatty enough. The fat must be transparent and the cooking temperature has to be just right – a skill few cooks or restaurants can master.

To enjoy pork rice paper rolls, you are advised to use your hands instead of chopsticks or a fork. Spread a sheet of rice paper on your palm and lay on salad vegetables such as lettuce, banana flowers and carambola slices, then add some slices of boiled pork. Roll it up and dip it into a sauce before eating.

For the rolls to be delicious, the sauce is just as important as the boiled pork. A good sauce must taste sweet, salty and fragrant. It must have the sour taste of lemon juice and the hot taste of chili.

You can hardly imagine how delicious the rice paper with boiled pork tastes by just reading about it. Why not to try exploring its special flavor?

Places to eat Quang Nam-style pork rice paper rolls

1. Da Nang City

Ba Huong Restaurant: 5 Trieu Nu Vuong Street
Ba Huong Restaurant: 2/364 2/9 Street
Mau Restaurant: 35 Do Thuc Dinh Street

2. Ho Chi Minh City

Hoai Pho Restaurant: 285/94A Cach Mang Thang Tam St., Ward 12, District 10.

Source VNN/TN

Gastronomic culture at Ben Thanh Market

2009-08-21T08:54:00.000-07:00

Ben Thanh market is one of the most famous addresses in HCM City. It is not a market, but a place which preserves traditional culture values of Vietnam, particularly gastronomic culture.

What are the characteristics of Ben Thanh market’s food? Why has this market becomes a must-see destination and a symbol of HCM City?

The market developed from informal markets created by early 17th century street vendors gathering together near the Saigon River. The market was formally established by the French colonial powers after taking over Gia Dinh citadel in 1859. This market was destroyed by fire in 1870 and rebuilt to become Saigon's largest market. In 1912 the market was moved to a new building and called the New Ben Thanh Market to distinguish it from its predecessor. The building was renovated in 1985.

At present, Ben Thanh market is in the city’s hub and a familiar address for Vietnamese people and international tourists.

Like Dong Xuan market in Hanoi, Ben Thanh market has nearly all kinds of goods. However, the most outstanding “products” in this market are its food stuffs.

Passing souvenirs, fashion and footwear stores, visitors will see the zone for food. They will see hundreds of cuisines sourced from every corner of the country: from Hanoi’s pho (noodle) to Hue’s banh beo (rice cake), Chinese Vietnamese’s hu tieu (noodle), spring rolls, etc. Gastronomic culture in Ben Thanh market is the wonderful mixture of cuisines of different regions to form a diversified and unique feature for the market, which are both familiar and new. The market is quite narrow but perhaps it will help visitors feel “warm”.

Night market is a significant element of Ben Thanh market, where gastronomic culture is shown more clearly with broader space for visitors to taste Vietnamese cuisines.

Source Vietnamnet/DLVN

Fruit and history: a journey through Ha Tien

2009-08-21T08:51:00.000-07:00

In the summer months, first time visitors to Ha Tien should sample the assortment of native forest fruits.

The choices are modest yet intriguing-ripe yellow mangosteens and red forest lichees, also called truong fruit, are abundant. If fruit fails to satisfy the appetite, there are numerous fresh seafood stands along the road to downtown Ha Tien.

Moving into the actual town, small alleys near the Mac Cuu Mausoleum offer a unique and exciting glimpse of local culinary life. Banh khot (pancake filled with shrimp and flavored with coconut flesh juice) and black-bean soup with palmyra sugar (which is traditionally served with ice) are offered at most local eateries. Because of Ha Tien’s historical heritage, Cambodian-style steamed glutinous rice with durian flesh leaves are also available.

For the history buff, Mac Cuu Mausoleum is one of Ha Tien’s well-known places of interest. It marks the annual death of Mac Cuu (1655-1735), a talented district governor. Cuu was revered for “taming” the physical landscape of Ha Tien. The transition from dense forests and roaring rivers to planned communities and irrigated fields was almost instantaneous. Under his watch, Ha Tien and the surrounding provinces boomed, becoming immensely productive. Services are held on the 27th day of the fifth lunar month, which usually falls on May or June.

A visit to the Chieu Anh Cac Pavilion, which is situated in the mausoleum, is not-to-be-missed. The pavilion radiates a sense of calm. The leaves whistle on a summer afternoon and the lotus pond ripples in the wind.

The area surrounding the mausoleum has an ancient feel. The roads and houses are reminiscent of rural areas in the north.

After leaving Ha Tien, a stop at Xa Xia Border Gate, nearly 10 kilometers from the town, is necessary. You can try the Cambodian-style bun rieu (rice vermicelli with field crab juice) at a small restaurant near a quaint local rice field. The dish is overwhelmingly flavorful and it’s a staple of local Khmer cuisine.

Source Thanh Nien

Hanoi to host traditional cooking competition

2009-08-21T08:50:00.000-07:00

A traditional Vietnamese cooking competition will take place in Hanoi, headed by the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism (VNAT).

The competition will be held for cooks from many hotels and restaurants across the country. Each contestant must have at least three years of working experience to enter, and each hotel or restaurant can have one to three staff members to prepare traditional dishes.

This competition will be organised to celebrate the 1,000th anniversary of Thang Long-Hanoi and 50 years of Vietnam Tourism.

The first round will be held in individual regions by the local Departments of Culture, Sports and Tourism from now through October 15. The best results will be sent to the VNAT before October 30 take part in the finals in mid December.

Source VN

Visiting Nga Nam floating market in Soc Trang

2009-08-21T08:43:00.000-07:00

Soc Trang Province of Mekong Delta is famous for its ancient pagodas, orchids and ethnic cultural festivals, such as Chol Chnam Thmay and Oc Om Boc festivals, and especially for its popular boat tours on canals and rivers.

However, Soc Trang is well-known for the floating markets, of which Nga Nam floating market is the most striking.

Nga Nam is a new district in Soc Trang Province, having been separated from Thanh Tri District.

It is the intersection between Quan Lo-Phung Hiep, Xeo Chich, Xang Chim, Tra Ban and Phu Loc. From here tourists can head to Ca Mau, Bac Lieu, Can Tho, Phung Hiep, or go to Phu Loc and downstream to My Thanh, Tran De Port and mangrove forests along Soc Trang Sea.

Despite being in the remote district of Soc Trang, Nga Nam is busy from sunrise to sunset and even into the night.

The bustling life is due to floating markets such as Long Tan, My Quoi, Tan Long, especially Nga Nam.

Set in 1975 as the venue linking five canals flowing to five regions, Nga Nam floating market is the meeting place for trading boats and traders. Early morning or at twilight the market sparkles in the glistening rays of oil lamps and mantles as stars twinkle in the sky and shimmer on the water.

On holidays, especially Tet holidays, Nga Nam floating market are radiant with the bright colors of apricot flowers, daisies, peach flowers and other typical flowers of the Mekong Delta, as well as the dark green of watermelon. Everything is sold from wooden boats.

As with other floating markets, products hang in front of the bow of the ship so that buyers can easily see and buy. The only one product not hanging, but always available, is petrol.

As well as fresh agricultural products and seafood, Nga Nam also is a stop for rice traders. Tourists heading to the mangrove forests in Soc Trang often stop by Nga Nam to buy food stuffs before going on their boating adventure on the endless alluvium river to forests.

Nga Nam also lures tourists with its culinary culture and traditional fare. Tourists on boat trips around Nga Nam floating market can sense the typical flavors of the Mekong Delta from dishes made of bun (rice noodles) featuring the spices of Southern Khmer people and hu tieu (kind of noodle) cuisine of the Tieu Chau.

On arrival in Soc Trang, tourists may be inspired to explore the ancient architecture of well-known pagodas, stroll in orchid gardens, and experience nature in mangrove forest, as well as immersing themselves in the bustling atmosphere of life in floating markets.

Source SGT/Vietnamnet

Relaxing massage on Phu Quoc Beach

2009-08-21T08:38:00.000-07:00

Phu Quoc Island is a peaceful tropical paradise in the warm turquoise waters of the Gulf of Thailand and close to mainland Ha Tien Town in the Mekong Delta province of Kien Giang.

The destination is becoming well known for its stunning beaches, untouched natural environment, wonderful sunsets and fantastic scuba diving and snorkeling, attracting many tourists year round.

However, these days, visitors to Phu Quoc are also drawn to the massage services on the beach.

Beach massages on Phu Quoc Island have developed unprompted as an amateur career. About 100 women are offering massages both on the beaches and in resorts at about VND60,000 per hour, earning from VND200,000 to VND350,000 a day in high seasons.

While they may not be professionally trained, they have learned from experience and been taught by skilled practitioners and even by guests. They are also required to adhere to strict regulations regarding clothing and manners, and are not allowed into hotel or guest rooms.

Source SGT

Rice vermicelli with fish

2009-08-21T08:35:00.002-07:00

Bun Tha Ca (rice vermicelli with fish) is not only a specialty of Mui Ne, Phan Thiet but also a dish exemplifying the tine, creative cuisine of this coastal region. Bun Tha Ca is now available in most of luxury restaurants in this “capital of resorts”. It is one of the favorite dishes of discerning diners. Surprisingly, it derives from a very popular dish of the local people.

The main ingredient of Bun Tha Ca is ca suot (smelt fish), which is available locally in Phan Thiet. This fish is small, soft and has small bones with a high level of protein. It used to be served raw with fresh vegetables in the daily meals of the local people. When available in restaurants, professional chefs turn it into a top-ranking dish with far more sophisticated preparation and fine presentation.

Smelt fish is carefully lemon juice.

To get fresh smelt fish, it is best to buy it in the early morning, when fishing boats have just returned from the sea. “Choose fresh ones which are as small as the thumb, “said Chef Pham Van Dong in Hoang Trieu restaurant.

To make good bun tha ca, add fried fish (which is made from delicious saltwater fish), to the smelt fish, along with sliced pork, sliced fried eggs, starfruit, cucumber and vegetables (including shaved banana flower, common basil and coriander, etc)

To make it more attractive and mouthwatering, each ingredient is arranged in the cover of the banana flower, then put in a bamboo tray with a lotus (which is made of and onion) in the middle.

If you want to eat dry rice vermicelli, you can mix rice vermicelli with pork, fried eggs, cucumber and vegetables then pour tofu sauce over it. All the ingredients create a delicious dish with a peculiar blended taste: the sweet taste of fish, the sour taste of starfruit, the spicy taste of chili and the aroma of coriander.

If you want to change the taste, you can use broth which is made from seafood.

You can enjoy Bun Tha Ca at most restaurants in Mui Ne, Chef Dong says that this is one for the favorite dishes of overseas Vietnamese people. It is often served for lunch or dinner.

Source Travellive

Specialties of three regions

2009-08-21T08:35:00.001-07:00

Husband and Wife cakes of Bac Ninh

Su se cakes or husband and wife cakes are a famous specialty of Dinh Bang, Bac Ninh, The Dinh Bang people make this cake using the white powder of glutinous rice mixed with the extract of danh danh fruit, grapefruit and papaya. The centre of husband and wife cakes is made from well cooked beans and is mixed with sugar, coconut (grated into pieces) and sugar coated lotus seeds. The husband and wife cakes are wrapped in phrynium then boiled for 30 minutes. The outside is tied up with pink string. The cake has the flavor of glutinous rice, the flavor of green beans, coconuts, sugar coated lotus seeds and the light smell of grapefruit and danh danh fruit. For a long time the Bac Ninh people in particular and the Vietnamese people in general have considered su se cake as a symbol of marriage, so su se cakes are indispensable gifts at festivals and wedding ceremonies.

Phuc Trach pomelo- The heart and soul of Ha Tinh

While Doan Dung pomelo is famous in the north and Nam Roi pomelo in the south. Phuc Trach pomelo is very famous in the central region. This type of pomelo is sweet and crispy and it’s easy to separate its flesh into segments. It is also not as juicy as the Doan Hung pomelo. Phuc Trach pomelo is very difficult to grow. It is only suited to the regions of Huong Khe and Ha Tinh, due to the clay and alluvial soil there, allied with the cool weather. It is not influenced by the hot gusts of wind coming from Laos. Phuc Trach pomelo is picked from mid June to September in lunar months and is listed as one of the 100 most delicious fruits inVietnam

U Minh intestine sauce

Intestine sauce which is processed from the intestines of tuna fish is a specialty of the Khanh Hoi coastal region ( U Minh, Ca Mau). It is only made when tuna have been caught. Fresh tuna of 4 or 5 kg in weight are washed, then all their intestines are pulled out, cut into pieces and placed in barrels. At this stage the intestines are mixed with salt and exposed to the sun for 3 to 5 days. A bowl of delicious intestine sauce is black, fatty and fragrant. U Minh people are fond of banh cuon with intestine sauce. The rice pancake is spread with intestine sauce and rolled with pork, fravegetables, green banana, vermicelli, a little chili and garlic. On eating this sauce you will remember it for ever. Though this kind of food is popular and easy to make, it is a specialty of the U Minh people and only close friends are ever invited to enjoy the intestine sauce. If you have a chance to visit Khanh Hoi, don’t forget to visit the fishermen to taste this unique specialty.

Source Travellive

Enjoy tea and music

2009-08-21T08:34:00.000-07:00

On entering Thao Tra, you feel as if you are in a small teashop inJapan, the land of the cherry blossom.

With a variety of sparkling lanterns imported from Japan by the shopes owners, together with melodious Tam Thap Luc music ( a musical instrument with 36 strings ), you will savor the taste of many kinds of tea served by young girls dressed in kimonos.

In the wonderful Thao Tra atmosphere, all the pressures of everyday life seem to dissolve. It is so wonderful sitting on a soft cushion enjoying tea on a cold evening.

THAO TRA

109 – D8 Dang Van Ngu, Ha Noi

Tel: 04.2455837

Source Travellive

36m meat roll to serve tourists in HCM City

2009-08-21T08:30:00.000-07:00

HCM City people and tourists will see and taste a long meat roll of 36m long, 25mm diameter, at the International Food Festival at Van Thanh Tourist Park in HCM City from November 11 to December 2.

This meat roll, made by the Cau Tre Export Goods JS Company, has also been proposed for a new national record.

The International Food Festival is being co-organised by the HCM City Department of Tourism, the HCM City Tourism Association and the Saigon Tourism Corporation.

This event will gather top chefs from restaurants and hotels throughout Vietnam and 29 representatives of culinary arts from China, France, Germany, India, Australia, Mexico, Spain, Portugal and the Republic of Korea.

During the festival, the “Seeking Vietnamese Wine Map” programme will be held for the first time. It will introduce special Vietnamese wines at The House of Wine. Visitors will have a chance to learn about the wine culture of Vietnamese people.

Talks about food, including one about Vietnamese pho and its internationality, will be held.

Source Vietnamnet

Lemon festival in France

2009-06-03T19:58:00.000-07:00

Hundreds of tons of fruits as lemon… has been transported to area Menton, south of the country which has shape mainland shrine to prepare for special fruit festival place from 13 / 2 to 4 / 3. Photo on Telegraph.

A worker is cleaning up before castle made from lemon and orange.

Artists ranked final lemons to complete Zulu masks.

The festival this year with the title ‘Music of the World’ will be held in 3 weeks from 13 / 2 to 4 / 3.

Matrioshka doll, pictures is a symbol of Russia, with a height more than 3 m.

The violon with vibrant yellow and orange

Approximately 145 tons of fruits were used in the Festival .

A car of 1930 is covered by a layer fruit, wheels are made from lemon and orange.

Impressive photos of animal

2009-05-24T18:00:00.000-07:00

National Geographic Magazine of U.S. World which is famous about areas of natural and environmental choices 10 photos of wild animal which are considered landmarks columns are posted throughout the last century.

2009-05-22T19:23:00.000-07:00

Mystery statues, cherry blossoms bloom or row of trees which are symbols of love in Nami island are some of the impression in South Korea. Here are photos of Thu Phuong, a tour guide, recorded on the chance to land this beautiful country.

Flowers in the summer

2009-05-22T19:21:00.000-07:00

Paradise resort - Phuket-Thailand

2009-05-22T18:39:00.000-07:00

In Phuket, you can stay in Hotels that price 20USD per night but it also has hotels prices 500 USD per night.

Seafood in Phuket are not only fresh but also cheap.

Kalim beach.

Craftsman is making sandy picture.

From nightfall to 2 a.m, all bars in Phuket always are crowded.

Called relaxing center, Banglang street is a destination of visitors.

Jungcelon is the most famous shopping mall in Phuket.

Peaceful day in the morning on the streets

A swimmingpool the sea in Novotel Phuket.

Hotels in Phuket are famous about quality of service and facilities.

Many outdoor activities to meet the requirements of visitors

Hotels, resorts maintenance architecture are associated with nature.

Patong Beach 3 km long is always attracted many tourists

Thai girls in traditional dance.

Holiday at Bora Bora Island

2009-05-18T06:22:00.000-07:00

Bora Bora is an island in the Leeward group of the Society Islands of French Polynesia, an overseas territory of France in the Pacific Ocean. The island, located about 230 kilometres (140Â mi) northwest of Papeete, is surrounded by a lagoon and a barrier reef. In the center of the island are the remnants of an extinct volcano rising to two peaks, Mount Pahia and Mount Otemanu, the highest point at 727 metres (2,385Â ft). The original name of the island in the Tahitian language might be better rendered as Pora Pora, meaning “First Born”; an early transcription found in 18th- and 19th century accounts, is Bolabolla (or “Bollabolla”).

The major settlement, Vaitape is on the western side of the island, opposite the main channel into the lagoon. The products of the island are mostly limited to what can be obtained from the sea and coconut trees, which were historically of economic importance for copra.

During the August 2007 census, the population on the island was about 8,880 people.

Source : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bora_bora

Watching the Northern Lights - Northern Polar Lights

2009-05-18T06:07:00.000-07:00

From September to October and from March to April, the Northern Lights ( The Aurora is also called the northern polar lights ) become more visible than the other time. the chance of visibility increasing with proximity to the northern magnetic pole, which is currently in the arctic islands of northern Canada.

Kabaret’s Prophecy, London

2009-05-18T06:03:00.000-07:00

This place is more kaleidoscope than club. United Visual Artists has used LEDs to make visual-data walls that create live installation art every night, while that work of laser artist Chris Levine helps set the tempo on the resin dance floor. And as the capacity of the club is a mere 120, your are always close to the action.

Adress: 16-18 Beak Street, W1, T: 7439 22 29

Paris - The dreamy city

2009-05-17T02:57:00.000-07:00

The capital of the light, you will have the holidays great to discover life, nature, people here. Depending on the bag of money, you have the option to interesting. Images on the New York Times.

Evason Ana Mandara Resort, Nha Trang, Vietnam

2009-05-17T02:55:00.001-07:00

Discovering Laos

2009-05-17T02:54:00.001-07:00

Luang Prabang, Laos

2009-05-17T02:53:00.000-07:00

Peaceful in Lao

2009-05-17T02:48:00.000-07:00

This country where it has million of elephants has many similar culture, tradition with neighbourVietnam. Mekong River flows through most of the west border, people in this country are very good natured and simple.

The beautiful coastline in Turkey

2009-05-16T01:53:00.000-07:00

Located between three seas, the beautiful land place is interfered by many cultures and is heaven for you to relax.Let list the beautiful beach in this country through images on the Telegraph.

Avsa, the island’s granite and scrumptious wine.

Bozcaada Island is a peaceful place with appearing and disappearing alternately houses near beach. South of the island, it has grape field, where for producing the alcohol product is very delicious.

Alibey is the island with many forests, fields, blue sea and white sand. You can also walk in the town on the road covering or rubble to the palatial hotel.

Burgazada is island with thousands of forests, holy John’s church and Turkey Sait Faik famous writer.

Buyukada with peaceful space, the Hotel President in woods.

Ekinlik is beautiful small island of fishermen, which is covered by the green of olive and grape.

Gokceada is the island which has many mountains and people here are raising sheep, growing grapes for wine processing.

Heybeliada Island Hospital with Trias AG since 11th century, Byzantine churches Kamariotissa and peaceful space.

Marmara Island is prefered by many people in Turkey.

Pasalimani island is a great destination if you want to find a quiet, comfortable.

Visiting Santiago de Cuba

2009-05-16T01:51:00.000-07:00

Santiago de Cuba City,the capital of the same name located in the southeast of the country has full of beautiful sunshine and wind. Santiago de Cuba is far from Havana capital 869km to the southeast. City spread over 1023.8 km2, including urban El Caney, Guilera, Antonio Maceo, Bravo, Castillo Duany, Leyte Vidal and Moncada. Santiago de Cuba is a major city and important second after the capital of Havana Cuba. This is also a port of Cuba. In 2004, the population of the city around 500,000 people. It has experienced periods of rule by Spain, France and England. Santiago de Cuba is the cultural Spain and civilize Africa. Images on Pravda.

Sapporo Snow Festival

2009-05-16T01:46:00.000-07:00

Japanese feel highly enthusiastic with snow festival held annually in Sapporo city. Festival starting from 5 / 2 to 11 / 2. Snow festival is attracting around 2 million. The festival began in 1950 when a local student built 6 snow walls by himself in Odori Park. Photo on Telegraph.

Animals with cold snow in the UK

2009-05-16T01:40:00.000-07:00

Big snow-storm in the UK was not only affect the lives of people but also lifes of animals at park in London. Photo on Telegraph.

PeaceLful landscape at the city of Netherlands

2009-05-16T01:34:00.000-07:00

Famous Delft city for the modernize canal, the ancient churches, roads and red brick roofs of orange paint recall peace. Here are some images that Thang Nguyen reader, research students in the Kingdom of Belgium, recorded. Photos with Canon EOS Kiss 400 D.

Wild Nature in Kenya

2009-05-16T01:30:00.000-07:00

Not only birds but also the animals also migrated to find where food is plentiful for them as in the Masai Mara reservation zone in the southwestern region of the country located in North Africa. Photo on Telegraph.

Flowers Festivals in Australia

2009-05-15T23:44:00.000-07:00

Toowoomba is a city located deep in the land, the second largest after the capital Canberra. To 9 months each year, Council held flower festivals, tourists are directed by the map to the home gardens of the family occupies the threshold to the beauty of flowers.

Lantern Festival in Canada

2009-05-15T23:42:00.000-07:00

Dreamy end of Autumn in America

2009-05-15T23:34:00.000-07:00

Autumn in Hiroshima

2009-05-15T23:29:00.001-07:00

Joanna Krupa - Hot super model

2009-05-15T23:25:00.001-07:00

Swan in sunset in China

2009-05-15T23:22:00.001-07:00

Lissom boost curve of Adriana Lima - super model of Brazil

2009-05-15T23:18:00.001-07:00

Luxurious Moscow at night

2009-05-11T22:00:00.002-07:00

Irina Sheik- Sexy super model in Russia

2009-05-11T22:00:00.001-07:00

Interesting life under the harbor bridge of Sydney

2009-05-11T21:59:00.001-07:00

Impressive falling snow in England

2009-05-11T21:58:00.000-07:00

Gold sunshine in the Spring in the UK

2009-05-11T21:57:00.000-07:00

The people of the land in fog through the warm spring day with the gold sunshine everywhere with beautiful Daffodil . Photo on Telegraph.

Cherry blossoms in America

2009-05-11T21:55:00.000-07:00

At 3 months last year, the citizens of Washington capital come to two sides of Tidal Basin lake to view cherry blossoms blooming and taking photographs in flower festival. Images on Reuters.

Peaceful Autumn in Canada

2009-05-11T21:54:00.000-07:00

Autumn in North America also attractive and dreamy as landscapes in Europe. Here are the beautiful photos of Linh reader recorded in the Ottawa capital , Montreal city …

Cherry blossom season in Japan

2009-05-11T21:51:00.001-07:00

When the spring comes, flowers bloom in around the country sunrise. Nowadays, many country in the world grow this kind of flower, but perhaps, , only cherry blossoms in Japan are beautiful and bright. Here are the beautiful images Linh Nguyen shared.

At Kiyomizu temples (Kyoto).

Fuji mountain in cherry blossom.

Cherry blossoms reflected in the lake near Royal Palace.

Feature in Heijo

Ancient houses in Kyoto

Row of cherry blossoms in Osaka

Spring in Philadelphia

2009-05-11T21:49:00.000-07:00

The flowers colorful bloom on the street or in campus of the University of Pennsylvania and the University of Science, Philadelphia. Nguyen Hoa Hong shares photos with readers.

Luxuriant white Pear tree’s flowers in Shaanxi - China

2009-05-11T21:46:00.000-07:00

Enjoying blooming flower all over the world

2009-05-11T21:44:00.000-07:00

Seductive Thailand

2009-05-11T21:38:00.000-07:00

Each year Thailand welcomed 14 million tourists, many people have to visit once again beacause of careful service and amusement district.

Historical bridge across Kwai river.

Floating Temples in Ancient Siam

Many skyscrapers are built in Bangkok

Pagodas are familiar picture there

Buddha statues in Ayuthya

outside of Pra Keo pagoda in Bangkok

Inside of Pra Keo Pagoda.

ancient tower in Ayuthya city

Royal Palace in Thailand

Hat Chau Van

2009-05-04T00:11:00.000-07:00

Vietnamese pipa music

2009-05-04T00:09:00.000-07:00

Ca Tru

2009-05-04T00:05:00.000-07:00

Nha Nhac Cung Dinh Hue

2009-05-04T00:00:00.000-07:00

Short facts on Vietnam

2009-05-02T10:11:00.000-07:00

Location: South East Asia

Full Country Name: Socialist Republic of Vietnam,

Total Area: 329,566 sq. km (128, 527 square miles).

Population: More than 80 million (Growth Rate 1.2%).

Capital City: Hanoi (population 4 million).

People: 85% ethnic Vietnamese, 3% ethnic Chinese, also Khmer, Cham (a remnant of the once great Indianised Champa Kingdom) and members of some 55 ethno-linguistic groups.

Languages: Vietnamese, French, Chinese, English and a variety of Mon-Khmer and Malayo-Polynesian local dialects.

Religions: Buddhism is the principal religion but there are also sizeable Taoist, Confucian, Hoa Hao, Cao Dai, Muslim and Christian minorities.

President: Mr. Nguyen Minh Triet.

Prime Minister: Mr. Nguyen Tan Dung

A Brief History of Kings, Dynasties and the Name of Vietnam;

At the beginning of the Bronze Age, the Viet tribe groups had settled in the North and North-Centre Vietnam. There were about 15 groups of Lac Viet tribesmen living mainly in the northern highlands and delta, and a dozen Au Viet groups living in Viet Bac, the northern region of old Vietnam. At that time, the two ethnic tribes of the Lac Viet and Au Viet lived together in many areas with other inhabitants.

Due to the increasing needs to control floods, fight against invaders, and exchange culture and economy, these tribes living near each other tended to gather and integrate into a larger mixed groups. Among these Lac Viet tribes was the Van Lang, also the most powerful tribe. The leader of this tribe joined all the Lac Viet tribes together to found Van Lang Nation, addressing himself as Hung King.

The next generations followed in their father’s footsteps and kept this appellation. Based on historical documents, researchers correlatively delineated the location of Van Lang Nation to the present day regions of North and North-Central Vietnam, as well as, the South of present-day Kwangsi (China). The Van Lang Nation lasted approximately from the beginning of the first millennium B.C. to the 3rd century B.C.

In 221 BC, Tan Thuy Hoang, King of Tan (China), invaded the land of the Viet tribes. Thuc Phan, the leader of the alliance of Au-Viet tribes was respected as the chief of the resistance war against the Tan enemy that later, in 208 BC, was forced to withdraw. With his imposing power, Thuc Phan nominated himself as King An Duong Vuong and founded Au Lac Nation with groups of Lac Viet and Au Viet tribes.

In 179 BC, Trieu Da, King of Nam Viet (China), invaded Au Lac country. The resistance of An Duong Vuong failed soon after this invasion. As a result, the northern feudalist took turns dominating the country over the next seven centuries, establishing their harsh regime in the country and dividing the country into administrative regions and districts with unfamiliar names. However, the country’s name of Au Lac would not be erased from the people’s minds or their everyday life.

In the spring of 542, Ly Bi rose up in arms and swept away the Chinese administration, liberating the territory. He declared himself King of Van Xuan Kingdom in February 544, acknowledging the national superiority complex of the independent spirits to live in eternal peace. However, the existence of Ly Bi’s administration was very brief. He was defeated by the Chinese imperial army, and the country returned to feudal Chinese domination again in 602. The name Van Xuan was restored only after the victory over the Han army at the Bach Dang River led by General Ngo Quyen in 938. This victory marked the end of the Chinese domination period in Vietnam.

In 968, Dinh Bo Linh defeated the twelve lords and unified the country. He declared himself King and named the country Dai Co Viet. This name remained throughout the Dinh dynasty (868-979), Pre-Le dynasty (980-1009) and the beginning of Ly dynasty (1010-1053).

In 1054, a flaming bright star appeared in the sky for many days, which was considered a good omen. As a result, the Ly King changed the name of the country to Dai Viet. This name remained until the end of Tran dynasty.

In March 1400, Ho Quy Ly usurped the throne of King Tran Thieu De, founded the Ho dynasty and changed the country’s name to Dai Ngu, meaning peace in the ancient language. This name only lasted for very short time, until April 1407, when the Minh enemy invaded Dai Ngu and defeated the Ho dynasty.

After 10 years of resistance against the Ming (Chinese) occupation (1418-1427), Le Loi had achieved a victorious triumph. In 1428, Le Loi declared himself King of Le dynasty and changed the name of the country back to Dai Viet. At this time, the territory of Vietnam had expanded to the region of present-day Hue. The name Dai Viet remained under the Le dynasty (1428-1787) and the Tay Son dynasty (1788-1810).

In 1802, Nguyen Anh claimed his coronation to become the first Nguyen King, starting the Nguyen dynasty and changing the country’s name to Vietnam. This name was officially recognized in many diplomatic missions in 1804. However, the words "Vietnam" had already appeared very early in history.

First, in the 14th century, in a book of code entitled "Vietnam The Chi", edited by Doctor Ho Tong Thoc. Then in the book by scholar Nguyen Trai entitled "Du Dia Chi" at the beginning of 15th century, the words "Vietnam" were repeated several times. Doctor Trinh Nguyen Binh Khiem (1491-1585) had written on the first page of his work "Trinh Tien Sinh Quoc Ngu" the following: "... Vietnam has constructed its foundation..." The words "Vietnam" were also found in some carved stelae of the 16th - 17th century in Bao Lam Pagoda, Haiphong (1558), in Cam Lo Pagoda, Ha Tay (1590), in Phuc Thanh Pagoda, Bac Ninh (1664), etc. In particular, in the first sentence on the stele Thuy Mon Dinh (1670) at the landmark on the border at Lang Son, it was written: "This is the gateway of Vietnam that guards the northern frontiers..."

In terms of meaning, there are many theories that prove the words "Vietnam" are created by combining two racial and geographic elements, which is understood as "Viet people from the south". During the reign of King Minh Mang (1820-1840), the name of the country was changed to Dai Nam, but Vietnam was still widely used in many literary works, civil business affairs, and social relations.

Following the triumph of the August Revolution on August 19, 1945, which had entirely swept away Vietnamese feudal and French colonial oppression and began a new era in the country, President Ho Chi Minh proclaimed the nation’s independence and the national name Democratic Republic of Vietnam was born on September 2, 1945. Although Vietnam suffered from war and separation in the following 30 years, the sacred words "Vietnam" were very popularily used from the north to the south, and were deeply imprinted in the hearts of the Vietnamese people.

Following the liberation of Southern Vietnam on April 30, 1975, the entire country of Vietnam was completely unified. In the first meeting of the national assembly of the unified Vietnam on July 2, 1976, the assembly decided to name the country The Socialist Republic of Vietnam. The constitution of 1980, and 1992, continued its affirmation of the country’s official name, legally and actually.

Water Puppet Show – ‘Mua Roi Nuoc’ Video

2009-05-02T10:07:00.000-07:00

An oversea writer said that "water puppetry is the soul of Vietnamese fields." How right he is! At a water puppet show, the audience lives in an atmosphere of a village festival; the audience watches boat races, buffalo fights, fox hunts and other rustic scenes amidst the beating of drums and gongs. The characters plough, plant rice seedlings, fish in a pond with a rod and line, scoop water with a bamboo basket hung from a tripod, etc. The show is interspersed with such items as a 'Dance by the Four Mythical Animals: Dragon, Unicorn, Tortoise, and Phoenix "and the 'Dance by the Eight Fairies', in which supernatural beings enjoy festivities alongside people of this world.
Vietnamese water puppeteers have been touring a number of countries from Euroupe to Asia such as France, Italy, the Netherlands, Australia, Japan, India, etc, with great successes. The director of the World Cultural House said that Vietnamese water puppetry is never far from its roots in rural Vietnam. Vietnamese water puppeteers are masters of an unequalled means of expression. Their art has enriched the world's cultural heritage. A French magazine wrote that the puppets "are manipulated with unimaginable skill, as if by magic."
In fact, Vietnamese water puppetry has a very long history. An inscription on a stone stele in Doi pagoda, Duy Tien district, Nam Ha province (2 hours drive from Hanoi), relates a water puppet show staged in the year 1121 to mark a birthday of King Ly Nhan Tong in 4036 words.
In the water puppet shows there is a very effective combination of visual effects provided by fire, water, and the movements of the marionettes. The whole control system of the show is under the surface of the water, concealed from the audience . When fairy figures appear to sing and dance, it is calm and serene; then, the water is agitated by stormy waves in scenes of battle, with the participation of fire-spitting dragons.
There are many contributing factors to the art of water puppetry, including such handicrafts as woodern sculpture and lacquer work. The factors all work well together to bring out charming glimpses of the Vietnamese psyche, as well as typical landscapes of Vietnam.

Xam Video

2009-05-02T10:06:00.000-07:00

The Xam song is one kind of song that was created by the Vietnamese from a very long time ago, and which is considered a very special performance. People used to walk in a group of two to three or four to five and sing, mainly in residential areas such as a parking lot, a ferry-landing, or a market gate.
The beauty of the Xam song is expressed in the rhythms and tones of the music. Its attractive and lively drum rhythms and numerous rules of song application make it an interesting spectacle. The Xam song tells of the fate or unhappiness of the poor. Besides theses common themes, there are funny songs with satirical implications about wrong doings, the condemnation of outdated customs, the crimes of rulers, and the deeds of heroes. These stories attracts lots of people.
The instruments traditionally used for the Xam song are a two-stringed violin, bamboo castanets, and two Xam drums. Today, Xam singers no longer exist, but their ancient art is still kept alive and respected.

Vietnamese Tuong or Classical Opera Video

2009-05-02T10:03:00.000-07:00

Classical Opera of Tuong, also called hat boi in the south, is a stage performance that came about during the Ly-Tran dynasties and that became very popular nationwide during the following centuries.

During the dynasty of Nguyen in the 19th century, Tuong occupied a good position in the cultural lives of the royals. In tuong, space and time are captured by songs, dancing, and simple music. In the past, Tuong did not require any elaborate stage accessories. Now, however backdrops and make-up are more elaborate and sophisticated.

Vietnamese Renovated Opera or Cai LuongVideo

2009-05-02T10:01:00.000-07:00

Cai luong or Renovated Opera is a kind of folk music that developed in the early 20th century. It was first played by amateurs in the south. Thanks to their soft voices, southerners sing cai luong very romantically.
The performance includes dances, music and songs; the music originally drew its influences from southern folk music. Since then, the music of cai luong has been enriched with hundreds of new tunes. A cai luong orchestra consists mainly of guitars with concave frets and danakim.
Over time, cai luong has experienced a number of changes to become a very highly appreciated type of stage performance.

Vietnamese Cheo or Popular Opera Video

2009-05-02T09:49:00.000-07:00

The Opera of Cheo is a dramatic genre with deep popular roots. Traditionally, cheo was composed orally by anonymous authors. Today's playwrights compose cheo operas along traditional lines. The characters in the plays sing time-tested popular melodies with words suited to modern circumstances. At present Cheo opera is an integral part of Vietnamese theatre and is well liked by people in both the country and in towns, and by foreign spectators as well.
The buffoon is a common character in Cheo opera, in which there is often a blend of the tragic and the comic. He speaks the language of the people and shoots shafts of satire at evil-doers, such as ignorant witchdoctors, greedy landlords, or arrogant mandarins. He may wear a short coat, the garment of the commoner or a long robe, an article of clothing favoured by members of the upper classes in the old society. A couple of buffoons may appear on stage, including the master in a flowing gown and his servant in a short coat and carrying a stick, each speaking the language and behaving the ways of his class. The buffoon might make his entry right at the beginning of a play, carrying a torch or a megaphone and provoking wild laughter from the audience.
The great Vietnamese actors in the roles of buffoons are such artistes as Hai Sinh, Tu Lien, Manh Tuan, Ly Mam. A new one is Xuan Hinh, a native of a locality in Bac Ninh famous for its quan ho singers. Xuan Hinh graduated with honours from the Drama and Cinema School in 1989. The scenes in which he appears have drawn applause from cheo enthusiasts. His acting is both impromptu in the ways of the traditional school, and highly sophisticated along the lines of modern drama. He is particularly successful in the role of Harelip, a country bumpkin, and the Soothsayer, a fraud entangled with his own contradictory statements.

Cheo opera is now undergoing a very strong revival. It is particularly relished by our foreign friends and by overseas Vietnamese visiting their mother land country.

Symbology

2009-05-02T09:48:00.000-07:00

Encountering other cultures, you often find that things that appear different
are often the same. After all, people have more in common than not. On other
occasions, though, you may find that things that look the same are actually
different.

This is what happened with certain bits of symbology I saw while travelling
around Vietnam. There were certain symbols that kept popping up wherever we
travelled – shockingly familiar, but somehow out of place. They definitely
caught my attention, and this was one of those instances where the meaning of
things was completely different.

The symbol is actually a neat little logo. It's an auspicious sign, and means
good fortune, though extra meanings have grown up with its use, like the course
of the sun, or the footsteps of the Buddha.

It
originated in India, and came to Vietnam with Hinduism. It graduated to
Buddhism, and lately, it's used by the Cao Đài as well. You see it on temples,
but mostly at funerals and on graves. Though it was recently misappropriated, no
one here seems to have taken any notice at all.

	Behind the Cao Đài Great Temple
	A temple on the road
	At a Buddhist monastery in Đà Lạt Glass bricks to keep things light
	At a monastery in Saigon An invitation to enter.
	Seen from the road
	At the monastery in Saigon
	At the florist shop For funerals. Perhaps there's a good use for those armbands after all.

Perching

2009-05-02T09:44:00.000-07:00

One of the things that struck me as a Westerner, is what people do when
they're hanging around. Where I come from, people stand around, or lean, or sit.
Sometimes they whistle to amuse themselves.

In Vietnam, they perch. I don't know if anyone there has a name for it, but
"perching" is as good a term as any. You kneel down so that your
bottom touches your heels, and to my eye, this looks kind of birdlike. People
must find this very comfortable and natural, since everyone seems to do it for
hours on end.

I've tried to do it, but I only get half of the way down, and there are some
terrible crunching noises. I thought that perhaps Asian people have a different
center of gravity, but my Russian teacher told me that people in the Caucasus
also perch. So perhaps if I start practising now, maybe I'll be able to do it by
the time I'm 75.

I had seen this behavior in China, but didn't consider it noteworthy until I
saw everyone doing it in Vietnam. I had a few hours to walk around during my
last day in Saigon, so I used my time – wisely, you'll agree – for a photo
essay on perching.

	Perching position In the park.
	Among friends Just in case you thought this was a solitary activity. The sign in back, by the way, says not to park your vehicles. But it doesn't say not to park.
	Inspecting groceries
	At the market
	Fixing a cyclo
	Hanging around
	Caught you!
	Breakfast on the street
	And, my favorite... The penguin position. Very comfortable.

The hớt tóc

2009-05-02T09:42:00.000-07:00

The hớt tóc, or barber shop, is an institution in Vietnam. Wherever
you go in Vietnam, guys seem to love getting their hair cut. It's one of those
"guy" things to do – it's recreational, it's good company, and
they seem to eat up all the attention that they get. More often than not, they fall
asleep in the chair.

The hớt tóc is a bit more than a barber shop – it's a full-service
institution. At no extra charge, the barber takes a close look to make sure that
the rest of your head is as it should be. He has the eyes
of a surgeon and the tools to match. And in a pinch, he can administer some
traditional medicine, if no one else on the street can do it for you.

In the city, the barber shop is outdoors, against a building wall. The mirror
hangs by a nail, and everything is done in the open. In the towns, the shop is a
small shack. Guys hang around there, usually shirtless, spending the entire
afternoon exchanging news and views. It's the hot tóc of the town.

	In Hanoi's old quarter I thought to enhance the picture by having the light come out the other ear.
	In the country Interesting, the sign offers "Ép" or a permanent. "Ép" means "to press", and is also used to describe printing. The Chinese character for "press" looks like "Ép", though of course, it's not a spelling. Maybe someone saw it and assumed it was a word. Or, alternately, it's an incredible coincidence. They've been known to happen.
	A wall of barbers in Chợ Lớn, Saigon's Chinatown
	Definitely more than a haircut It's a happening.
	Steady concentration
	Super service
	A natural rinse?
	Sleeping beauty

Cao Đài Temple

2009-05-02T09:41:00.000-07:00

The Cao Đài Great Temple is located in Long Hua in Tay Ninh province, about
26 kilometers from the Cambodian border. Cao Đài temples are gleefully colorful,
and the ceremonies have costumes and music to match.

At the time
of these photos, the Great temple was under renovation.

	Main Gate
	Bleechers for outdoor audiences The women sit in one set, and the men sit opposite. The four colors symbolize branches of Cao Đài: Buddhist is yellow, Taoist is blue, Confucian is red. Everyone else is represented by white, which combines all colors.
	Statue The rider looks exhausted, even though the horse is doing all the work.
	Unicorns
	Unicorn, close-up Reminded me of Krusty the Clown
	The Main Temple In the middle is the all-seeing eye, and the globe dome with stars represents revelation.
	Inside the temple. There are nine steps representing the cycle of reincarnation and achievement.
	Temple interior The gallery above is for visitors
	More of the interior Under major renovation, the place smells from fresh paint.
	The service
	During the service Note that even the fans in the gallery are multi-colored
	Lay Clergy
	More of the service
	And more
	Musicians and choir upstairs who played beautifully. Unfortunately, there don't seem to be any recordings of their music.

Saigon

2009-05-02T09:37:00.000-07:00

Like Hanoi, Saigon is not for those seeking a bucolic holiday.

	Saigon traffic Though people obey the traffic lights, it's still not for the chicken-hearted. The contraption in the middle is a cyclo. Here it's hauling freight, but that's where the person(s) sit. Theres only one cycle in the picture with a single person.
	A family outing
	Beauty secret If the woman on the left is beautiful, it's a secret. Many women cover up to avoid the sun, wearing hats, scarves and shoulder-height gloves.
	The only man in all of Vietnam who wears a helmet. Doesn't he look dashing. Most other Vietnamese are more sanguine about their safety. Many car owners snip out the seat belts to make the ride more comfortable.
	Café Next to our hotel. People bring their birds in the morning. When it's time to go, they cover them and get on the motorcycle.
	Pawnbroker shop The name means "happiness"
	The famous Phở Hòa
	The empty Phở Bình
	Buddhist temple
	Inside the temple One of those "mysterious East" Photos
	Also inside the temple
	Water puppets
	Street in Chợ Lớn This is Saigon's Chinatown
	Chinese hearses
	Instrument builder's workshop Against the wall are zithers
	Duyên (3rd from left), brother and family After some utterly sumptuous dining at Qúy Thành
	Simon Says in the park Wholesome, group entertainment. The last day in Saigon we took a walk in the park. They invited me to join, but luckily, I had a plane to catch.
	A miniature Cham tower Also in the park. Like the water puppets in the museum, there for people who wouldn't see the rest of Vietnam
	Relaxation Coffee, cigarettes and conversation on little chairs. What could be better? Birds.
	Social occasion Bird owners often introduce their birds to see what will happen.

Hằng Nga

2009-05-02T09:34:00.000-07:00

Though there are some very nice things about Đà Lạt, the main attraction (for
us) was Hằng Nga's Tree House, known to the locals as "The Crazy
House". It's owned by the daughter of the ex-president of Vietnam, who
studied architecture in Moscow. Being a celebrity, it was easier for her to get
permission to build such a place than, say, you or me.

The place is Georgia O'Keefe-meets-Gaudí, with
some Lewis Carroll thrown in for good measure. Hằng Nga is a popular hotel
name, and this wasn't the first Hằng Nga we stayed at. In mythology, Hằng
Nga was a moon fairy, which points to yet another place where the designer might have
studied.

That night, the whole place was empty. Apparently, all the sensible tourists spend the night elsewhere and come to see the place during
the day. I found out why – when the construction work started at 7AM and people
with cameras walked into my room.

	*Reception A warped welcome to all! On the wall are newspaper clippings about the place, and photos of the owner from her modeling days.
	The main building
	A branch building so to speak
	Hùng the driver going with the flow
	Courtyard To the left are cages with birds
	A little something to catch the customers
	Alice???
	The front of the Ant Room where I stayed
	Inside the Ant Room
	The Ant
	Matching ant lamp
	Ant room ante-chamber
	The Honeymoon Room The world's smallest duplex, Duyên had a one-person honeymoon.
	Honeymoon room downstairs It's rather upscale to have a tree embedded in the wall.
	Honeymoon room staircase
	Honeymoon room upstairs bedroom It just exudes a feeling of closeness.
	*The office With mementos. Two of the pictures on the left wall were taken in this room, making the pictures of Hồ Chí Minh and Trường Chinh on the right wall pictures in pictures in a picture.

Đà Lạt

2009-05-02T09:24:00.000-07:00

Đà Lạt is in the highlands, and has a Western-style climate. They grow lots of
vegetables, including things like broccoli. In Hanoi they put on sweaters when
the weather goes below body temperature, but in Đà Lạt you can really use one
when the sun goes down.

* = Duyên's photo

	The climb up to Đà Lạt The word "highlands" is not just a turn of phrase
	Local flower There are all kinds of flowering plants on the road up.
	Terraces for farming
	Miniature shrine A teeny, tiny temple that someone put up in the field
	Ho house The Ho are local tribal people, who until recently didn't recognize the Vietnamese government. This is the head cabin. On the floor are amphorae with rựơu cần*, a very strong rice wine. Behind them are gongs for music, and to the right are bagpipe contraptions, without the bag.
	*Ho house In one corner of the cabin is the kitchen.
	Ho longhouse This is where a number of families sleep. You have to be very forgiving when the place has no windows.

Phan Rang

2009-05-02T09:23:00.000-07:00

	Po Klong Garai These three towers sit on a hilltop.They date back to about 1300, and were built as Hindu temples during the reign of Cham King Jaya Simhavarman III.
	The middle tower This is where offerings were made.
	The small tower
	The entrance to the main tower On the pillars is Cham writing. The Cham alphabet was taken from Brahmi script, the script used for Sanskrit. On top of the door is a statue of Shiva known as Po Klaun Tri.
	Closeup of Po Klaun Tri
	Ornament on the main tower The tower is highly ornamented, with insets for statues.
	King Po Klong Garai Po Klong Garai was an ancient Cham hero who was deified. The altar has a linga bearing his likeness, and at festivals the local Cham take his clothes on a procession.

Nha Trang and Vicinity

2009-05-02T09:20:00.000-07:00

Nha Trang is a seaside town. It specializes in fishing, and is a popular
resort.

	Village on the way to Nha Trang
	Nha Trang Harbor Taken from a rather badly-presented Cham tower. Luckily it had a view.
	Nha Trang Harbor
	More Nha Trang Harbor Can't get enough of those blue boats!
	Hon Chong Promonotory A popular tourist attraction. The other side of the rock has what looks like a giant's hand print. There's a legend about a romance with a local she-mountain.
	Birds nest island Taken from Hon Chong promonotory. This is where bird's nests come from that are used in bird's nest soup.
	Another fishing village Taken from the road after leaving Nha Trang.

Hoi An

2009-05-02T09:17:00.000-07:00

Hội An was a major port until the harbor silted up and commerce moved
to Đà Nẵng. That kept it unstuck
in time, and out of recent history - perfect for a tourist town.

* = Duyên's photo

	Cham tower Not Hội An, but on the road from Huế to Đà Nẵng, the first leg of our trip to Hội An. This site consists of two towers, not in the best of condition. This tower has bats inside. Artifacts are still being discovered on the grounds. The bad guy of the story is a Finnish tourist, who wanted to bribe the locals and take artifacts away.
	The second tower A bit fuzzy, but still structurally sound. Both towers are over a thousand years old.
	Local kids I got out of the van to snap something else. They took a look at me, and pointed out the kid in the red shirt, who's part American. Americans are known (in Vietnam) for the thumbs-up sign. "Number One!"
	Street in Hội An Lots of artisan shops and restaurants
	Residential street
	Japanese covered bridge Hội An had Chinese and Japanese communities in the days when it was called Fei Fo
	Filling station
	*Silkworms At a silk clothing factory. The tour is a come-on, and I was eventually roped into buying 3 shirts. I was more careful at the chair maker next door.
	Flooded family On the road out of Hội An. This is how they had to get home that afternoon. Everyone was remarkably adaptable, and didn't miss a beat.
	Another flooded family Sailing around in the garden.

Qui Nhơn

2009-05-02T09:11:00.000-07:00

The main attraction, at least for us, was our stay at a military hotel on
(almost in) the South China Sea. I slept fully dressed, on top of the
covers, with the lights on.

	The General's Suite This was the bedroom. It was a large double room, but the décor was ... singular.
	The General's sitting room Missing the benefit of the florescent lights, but you can see that everything was designed to be both comfortable and functional.
	The wiring This was the safe stuff. The more manly wiring was in the bathroom across from the tub. If you bathe without your clothes on, why would you blush at the sight of a few bare wires?
	View over breakfast After our early departure from the hotel, we had a great breakfast at a seafood restaurant.
	Shrimp farm Also across from the restaurant.
	Rice field On the road again

Huế

2009-05-02T09:10:00.000-07:00

Let me start by saying that these pictures aren't representative enough of
Huế. It was raining hard the entire time we were there, which made picture
taking kind of rough. The rain, and then the floods, didn't stop anyone from
what they were doing, but even when the lens wasn't steamed up it was hard to
catch the laid-back, spacious and dignified feel of the place. (Mud and dignity
are an unstable mix.) The same week we were there, Bill Clinton cancelled his
visit to Huế. Though we were soaked, sloshy and mildewed, at least we didn't
make the same mistake as Mr. Clinton.

Huế is now a provincial capital, but for over 150 years, it was the capital
of Vietnam. The Nguyễn emperors built themselves beautiful tombs, and lived
better as dead people than most of us do while we're alive. They had an impact
on the food (lots of small, varied and artful dishes), and also left a tradition
of court classical music.

* = Duyên's photo

	Huế Teachers University Huế has 5 universities, with many foreign teachers who happily stay on after the exchange period is over.
	The Citadel Built by the Nguyễn emperors, this was the scene of some of the fiercest fighting in the American war. Sadly, a lot of the Citadel is now used for farming.
	Citadel entrance (Note the great weather.) There's watercress growing on either side of the bridge.
	Citadel interior
	Pavillion As seen from a raised garden
	Pavillion With a bulbous-nosed dragon guarding the stairs
	*Pavillion garden
	Farther on in the citadel The dragons' faces remind me of New York cab drivers.
	The Hall of the Left Mandarin Next to the Hall of the Left Luggage. The Right Mandarin has a matching hall on the other side of the square.
	Hall of Left Mandarin Interior If this is how the mandarins conducted their business, you can imagine how the emperors ran theirs.
	Flooded Hard to tell the where street begins and the river ends. This was the view as we went across Huế by cyclo to take in the sights. We had just looked at a large Buddhist stupa. For the local residents, this was only a minor hiccup.
	Vase in the museum, with gremlins Unfortunately, the museum roof had water pouring in. Vietnam is starting to realize how important history (and tourism) is, but the money to upgrade everything won't come overnight.
	Khải Định's mausoleum Khải Định was the father of Bão Đại, the last Vietnamese emperor. During his nine-year reign, the French were the ones really running the show. His tomb combines Vietnamese and Western styles.
	Front of the main building
	Life-sized statues of mandarins in the courtyard. Some clever tourist posed with them in his rain slicker.
	Khải Định mausoleum interior (Pardon the horrible lighting.) A painting of Khải Định and other bric-a-brac. The walls behind incorporate bits of broken glass bottles into the pattern, a uniquely Vietnamese way of decorating.
	Tự Đức's mausoleum It's an enormous park with many buildings, which took years to complete. Tự Đức used the place while he was still alive.
	Also at Tự Đức The lake is an artificial moat for one of the tombs
	*Huế musicians in a barge Zither, snakeskin fiddle, monochord, percussion and singers.
	*At the cultural center We walked in on a rehearsal of some rousing communist tunes. There was plenty of showmanship, and what they were lacking in talent, they amply made up for in lack of talent. Maybe their parents will attend.

Perfume Pagoda

2009-05-02T09:07:00.000-07:00

The Perfume Pagoda (Chùa Hương) is about 60 km southwest of Hanoi. It's an
important place of pilgrimage, and certainly one of the most scenic. Everything on the way is remarkably photogenic, except, of course, the
Perfume Pagoda itself, which is in a cave at the top of a mountain that it takes
2 hours to climb.

The trip starts in the village of Đức Khê, where there are rowboats manned by
women. The boat trip takes about an hour, through karst country that looks a lot
like Guilin in southern China. The mountains form odd shapes, and the locals
have names for each of them. There are two complexes of temples, the most
important being Thiên Chu (Leading to Heaven), and then the 4 km walk straight
upward in that direction.

* = Duyên's photo

	Đức Khê village The starting point on the trip. There are steps to leading down to the river, where women with boats row to the Perfume Pagoda.
	*The boats in question
	Yen river I believe this is actually on the way back, but why let facts interfere with a story?
	Fishing The boat is a sort of aquatic snowboard. Along the river there are also fish farms, rice fields and ducks.
	Small pagoda flanked by karst mountains
	Another small pagoda with rakishly inclined millinery.
	The first set of temples where we didn't stop because of the time
	The gate of Thiên Chu where we did stop. Built in the 17th century, it's still in use, with monks' quarters on the premises.
	Small building at Thiên Chu
	Stylite with inscriptions in front of the monks' quarters. Before the Roman alphabet, Vietnam used Chinese characters to write its language.
	Thiên Chu, facing the temples
	More of the same
	From the other side A courtyard with plants, sculptures and pillboxes with statues.
	A Vietnamese Beefeater The gin is made in the bathtub on the left.
	Someone you shouldn't mess with – porcelain or not In London tourists enjoy tormenting the guards, who aren't allowed to move. Despite the fact that this fellow can't, I'd stay away from him anyway.
	Temple altar, with offerings
	*The Perfume Pagoda Not a pagoda, but a cave. It takes two hours of climbing to get here.

Ha Long Bay

2009-05-02T08:56:00.000-07:00

Hạ Long Bay adjoins the Gulf of Tonkin. The land around it is karst, or
limestone. The interaction of limestone and acid water form caves, mountains
that go straight up into the air, and other interesting formations. It's one of
the most beautiful areas of Vietnam, and a popular destination. The area
looks very similar to Guilin in southern China, which is not that far away.

	Hạ Long Bay With mountains in the mist.
	Submarine-shaped island There are fanciful legends about many of the mountains.
	Inlet with floating houses.
	Floating houses Note the TV aerial.
	More floating houses It pays to keep an eye on the kids.
	Temple and grotto
	Temple in grotto
	Cave dwelling On the way to see the large cave below, we peered in to someone's home. Unlike Neanderthal dwellings, this one has a stereo, television and furniture. It would have been great to get a closeup, but there were people in bed and snoring at noon.
	Cave interior Paved floor and colored lights courtesy of the Chinese, presumably the same people as the ones who did Reed Flute Cave in Guilin. The penguin waste baskets were uniquely Vietnamese.

Hanoi

2009-05-02T08:31:00.000-07:00

First stop in Vietnam. The place has the same frenetic feel as New York, withsimilar characters, except that everything (I repeat, everything) takes
place on the street.

* = Duyên's photo

	A day in the life... which all takes place on the street. We didn't have to hire any extras for the photo shoot. Many people live in store fronts, and you can see them cooking, eating and watching television as you walk by in the evenings.
	Was that a traffic light? If you can find one at all, a traffic light is merely a suggestion. To cross, you inch out slowly into the middle of the street, trying not to surprise anyone. In return for your consideration, they'll try to drive around you.
	*The night Vietnam won the football game Vietnam is the most football-crazy country in the world. The night Vietnam won against Singapore, what else to do but race motorcycles around the lake? This went on well past midnight.
	A market, with outdoor cafe. Diners sit on plastic children's chairs. The lower the chair, usually, the better the food.
	Food market This is how you buy your food in Vietnam. There's amazing variety of food – cooked, uncooked, or still clucking.

	A jeweler's shop in Hanoi By strange coincidence, the name means "to be prosperous".
	A side street near the Cathedral.
	A friend's former house across from Hoàn Kiếm lake. We promised to photograph it during our visit. The lake is in the center of the city, and quite nice.
	Temple in the middle of the Hoàn Kiếm lake There's a legend about a turtle and a sword.
	Bridge on Hoàn Kiếm lake There's Ngọc Sơn, a Buddhist temple, and a small museum here, which includes an ancient, mummified turtle dredged out of the lake. There's also an exhibit on Trần Hưng Đạo, the general who prevented the Mongols from overrunning Vietnam in the 13th century.
	Statue Right near the lake, some might call the style hyper-realism.
	The Hồ Chí Minh mausoleum. First stop on a Hanoi tour, and where all Vietnamese tourists get their picture taken. They told me Hồ Chí Minh was away for his annual retouching, but I'm starting to take this personally. The same thing happened to me on visits to Lenin, Mao, and even Sukhbataar. It's not a simple coincidence.
	The Hồ Chí Minh Museum. Dedicated to the writings and philosophy of Hồ Chí Minh, it's surprising how modest and common-sensical he was, speaking a lot about learning from mistakes. After 1969, his writings became a bit more strident.
	The Temple of Literature The oldest university in Vietnam, dating from 1070. Yes, the water is green.
	Stone stellae with the names of successful doctoral candidates. The turtle is an animal which symbolizes the scholar. In those days, these were diplomas - a bit big to hang on the wall.
	Doctoral hopefuls. Actually, a bunch of schoolgirls, who we overheard rehearsing a song. Like little girls everywhere, they have a scary command of detail. They asked if we would take their picture.
	The inner sanctum. How far you go into the temple has to do with your achievement as a scholar. They made an exception in my case.
	Museum of ethnography. Built by the French, this is a wonderful museum, devoted to Vietnam's 53 ethnic minorities. Our tour guide touched every single exhibit that wasn't behind glass. In the courtyard, there are reconstructions of traditional house. This one is from the Yao, who also live in southern China.
	Tai house. See no evil, hear no evil, but gossip all you want. Many tribes are related to the Thai and Lao, again, with similar groups in southern China where the Thai originally came from.
	Tay longhouse Many families share the same house, which has no windows. Notice the modern buildings around it, also multi-family, though at a 90-degree angle.
	Tay longhouse The front door and stairs. I believe the left stairway is the male one.

Bun bo gio heo (Beef and fork soft noodle soup)

2009-05-02T08:30:00.000-07:00

Preparing Bun bo gio heo is very skillful. Pig leg is clean-shaved, chopped into even slices with adequate bone, meat and skin, mixed with lean beefs, and soaked with salt, pepper, fish sauce, dry onion and spices.

Bun bo gio heo is proper with all appetites. Even diet people could enjoy the sweet-smelling of beef with less fat of pig leg so as not to be fed up with as serving. Bun bo gio heo is delicious anytime you have it. You could enjoy this specialty of the Central region on Hue City.

Recipes: Bun bo gio heo (Beef and fork soft noodle soup).

For: 10 persons

Ingredients:
- 1kg pork leg
- 1kg beef
- 2kg pork or beef bone
- 1.5kg vermicelli noodles
- 40 stalks lemon grass
- 10 chillies, fresh
- 1 bunch perilla
- 1 bunch cockscomb mint
- 1 bunch of Asian basil
- 200g green bean sprout
- 100g dried spring onion
- 200g green onion
- 200g banana flowers, thinly sliced
- lime, sugar, salt, fish sauce, garlic, dried tamarind,bamboo shoots, shrimp sauce, dried chilli powder.

To prepare:
- Soak pork in salt, roll and tie with bamboo.
- Slice beef and place with pork and bone in water – bring to boil and strain.
- Crunch lemon grass and crush white stalks.
- Wash banana flowers and thinly slice, then soak in water with dash of lime for 15 minutes.
- Wash chilli, sprouts and onion, then thinly chop onion.

To cook:
- Bring to boil five litres of water, add lemon grass, chilli, beef, and pork and return to the boil.
- Remove and allow to marinate for 90 minutes, then simmer in open pot after setting aside meat.
- Flavour with fried onion, chilli powder.
- Then mix fish sauce, sugar, lime juice, and crushed garlic to make serving sauce.
- The dish is also usually served with shrimp sauce added with lime juice and fresh chilli.

To serve:
- Thinly chop beef.
- Untie pork from bamboo slats and slice.
- Serve with chopped onions and cover with stoc.

Brother Cafe Hanoi

2009-05-02T08:29:00.002-07:00

Brother Cafe- 26 Nguyen Thai Hoc street- Tel 733-3866

Brother’s Cafe started business in Ha Noi seven years ago, and the success it has enjoyed since has prompted the opening of another branch in Hoi An. The restaurant is popular with both Vietnamese and foreign diners - the clientele during our meal was about half-and-half - and the savvy combination of various cultural influences make it easy to see why,"
A traditional and elegant view of exquisite garden offers you an ideal venue for a Banquet or any of special events like Wedding Ceremony, Reception, or a Formal Business Meeting...with capacity of over 150 comfortable seats.

Our professional and hospitable staff provides you an exceptional quality in its services of Home and Outside Catering under the large choice and extensive menu selection, making you feel cozy at anywhere.

Brother’s Café is delightful to welcome our esteemed guests now and then . We are also hopeful to indulge our connoisseurs in the classic Vietnamese cuisine

Binhan Village Restaurant Saigon

2009-05-02T08:29:00.001-07:00

Binhan Village Saigon
1163 Xo Viet Nghe Tinh St., Ward 28, Binh Thanh Dist., HCMC , SR, VIETNAM
Tel: 556-6099 Fax: 898 7212/ 898 7770

Charm, Splendour, and Enchantment

Binh An Village Saigon is a step away from the bustling city for you to enjoy your next lunch or dinner by the Saigon River. Conveniently located 8 km from Saigon centre in Thanh Da Island; About fifteen minutes taxi ride or boat ride from the centre

Situated on 12,000 sqm of land, we offer open air-dining experience surrounded by breathtaking tropical gardens and coconut trees. Open everyday for dining, we serve traditional country cuisine such as our in house fried spring rolls, fresh lotus shrimp salad, selective grilled seafoods and meats served with sticky pineapple rice. Discover more of our family recipes on the menu.

Famous for our jazz music every Sundays from 13-15H, the Saigon Jazz Quintet can play any of your favourite requests. You can book our jazz band for your next private function.

Other special arrangements can be made such as a saigon boat cruise, DJ, traditional Vietnamese folklore music, Traditional « ao dai » dance, circus performance, water puppet show and many more !!

Open everyday from 10am-10pm.

Call to book for your next exclusive lunch or dinner rendezvous.

Banh xeo (Vietnamese crepe-type pancakes )

2009-05-02T08:28:00.002-07:00

Bánh Xèo are Vietnamese crepe-type pancakes made out of rice flour and coconut milk(optional), and are pan-fried and stuffed with slivers of fatty pork, shrimp, and bean sprouts. Served wrapped with lettuce leaves and stuffed with mint (optional) and other herbs, and dipped in fish sauce.

The recipe from Dinner Co-Op is as follows:
Vietnamese Pancakes (Banh Xeo) Loan Ly Makes 10 pancakes

1 3/4 cups of rice flour
1/4 tsp tumeric
1 scallion thinly sliced
1/4 cup plus 2 Tbs of veg. oil
1 pound of lean pork shoulder or loin, cut into 1/4 inch thick slices
1 pound of medium shrimp, peeled and deveined
1 small onion thinly sliced
10 medium mushroom, sliced (optional)
1 1/4 tsp. salt
1 1/4 tsp. freshly ground pepper
2 1/2 cups of mung bean sprouts

How to cook
In a medium bowl, whisk the rice flour together with 2 cups of water. Add tumeric and scallion and mix well. Set batter aside. (Can be kept in frig. for up to three days.)
In a large nonstick skillet, heat 1 1/2 tsp of oil over high heat. Add 3 slices of pork, shrimp, few slices of onion, and 1 slice of mushroom. Seasoned with salt and pepper. Cook until onion starts to brown slightly, about 1 min. Stir the rice flour batter and ladle 1/3 cup of it into the pan. Tilt the pan to distribute the batter evenly. Keep the heat high, cover, and cook until the sides of the pancake turns deep brown and curled up, about 3-4 minutes. Scatter 1/4 cup of sprouts onto the pancake. Fold it in half and slide it onto a warm plate. Serve the pancakes with dipping sauce on the side. You can eat it wrapped in lettuce and herbs or plain. Suggested herbs are mint and basil.

Banh trang cuon thit heo (Dry pancake roll with pork)

2009-05-02T08:28:00.001-07:00

A big plate of fresh vegetables with a peppery-hot red chilly, a plate of boiled lean and fat meat, a bowl of fish sauce, and a plate of dry pancakes are displayed on the dining table. Customers have to serve themselves with all of the 10 substances mentioned above.
Banh trang cuon thịt heo is considered as not only a daily dish but also likely an artistic specialty of the Central citizens.

Recipes

Ingredients:
1 stem lemongrass, finely chopped
1 tablespoon soft brown sugar
1/4 cup fish sauce
12 ounces beef, thinly sliced
5 fresh steamed rice flour wrappers
1/2 cup fresh mint leaves
1/2 cup fresh basil leaves
1/2 head butter lettuce
1 tablespoon sesame seeds, toasted
1/2 cup fresh cilantro leaves

How to cook :

Step 1: Combine lemongrass, sugar and fish sauce. Marinate beef in sauce mixture for 30 minutes, then briefly grill over a medium heat until lightly browned, but still rare inside. Remove from grill and cut into small pieces. Place some of the beef, a little of the mint, basil and lettuce leaves on a rice flour wrapper, then sprinkle with sesame seeds and add a cilantro leaf. Fold to the inside, leaving the top end open with the cilantro leaf extended.
Step 2: Serve with Dipping Sauce.

Banh tom Ho Tay (Ho Tay fried shirmp cake)

2009-05-02T08:02:00.001-07:00

All people who used to live in Hanoi are familiar with Banh tom Ho Tay Restaurant on the Thanh Nien (Young) Street. The cake preparing process includes wheat flour mixed with potato fibres, placing on shape with shrimps upper, then fried with oil. The cake is brittle, soft, sweet-smelling, and served with vegetable pickles and sweet and sour fish sauce for best taste.

Bánh mì kẹp thịt (Vietnamese Sandwich)

2009-05-02T08:01:00.000-07:00

Bánh mì kẹp thịt , Vietnamese Sandwich, French bread containing paté, Vietnamese mayo, different selections of Vietnamese cold cuts and deli (a large variety, most commonly with ham, head cheese, and a Vietnamese bologna), pickled daikon and carrot, cucumber slices. Often garnished with coriander, black pepper, and jalapeño pepper (optional). This food is common everywhere in Vietnam as a favorite of factory workers and school kids and eaten for any meal of the day, commonly breakfast and lunch. There are a wide variety of banh mi (with different meats) and many shops have popped up across North America serving primarily Banh mi.

The most popular Banh Mi include:

Banh mi xiu mai (Banh Mi with big, juicy meatballs)
Banh mi xa xiu (BBQ Pork)

Recipes
6 servings
time to make 25 min 20 min prep

Ingredients

1 teaspoon five-spice powder
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
1/4 cup shallots, chopped
1 clove garlic, minced
12 ounces ground lean pork
3 tablespoons soy sauce
1 1/2 teaspoons sugar
2 tablespoons red chili paste or asian red chili sauce
12 ounces pork tenderloins, cooked and thinly sliced
2 cups English cucumbers, thinly sliced
3 cups mesclun
1/2 cup fresh Thai basil
1/2 cup fried shallots (optional)
3 French baguettes, use light baguette with soft interior and thin crisp crust (8 oz ea.)

How to cook

1. In an 8- 10 inch saute pan over medium/high heat, stir five spice until fragrant, about 30 seconds.
2. Stir in oil, shallots and garlic.
3. Add ground pork and stir often until meat is crumbly and no longer pink.
4. Add soy sauce, sugar and salt and pepper to taste.
5. set aside Cut baguettes in half crosswise then split almost all the way through, leaving halves attached on one side.
6. Spread 1 tsp of chile paste on one cut side of each baguette section.
7. Spoon 1/6 of the warm ground pork mixture (including juices) over the chile paste.
8. Tuck 1/6 of the pork tenderloin slices evenly into each sandwich.
9. Place sandwiches on a sheet pan and bake at 375 for about 5 minutes or until filling is warm and crust is crisp.
10. Remove from oven and fill each with 1/6 of the cucumbers, mesclun, basil and fried shallots.

Banh la cha tom (Grilled rice cake with Cray fish)

2009-05-02T08:00:00.000-07:00

Anyone who used to experience the dish would never forget such simple cake made from grilled rice cake and Cray fish only.

The cake must be as thin as a leaf but flexible enough. Cray fish must be brittle and sweet. Serving with long jawed anchovy sauce.

Banh la cha tom does not as heavily smell as the majority of the other dishes but gentle, elega

Banh Chung and banh Tet (Boiled rice and pork cakes)

2009-05-02T07:59:00.002-07:00

Boiled rice and pork cakes are usually cooked 2-3 days before Tet. Both can be kept for about two weeks in cool temperature. However, after this time they become hard and must be re-boiled.

Soak some green beans overnight in water to soften. Drain, rub and clean to remove the skin, and leave to dry. Next, cook the beans in a steamer and grind. Form into balls the size of tennis balls.

Soak some glutinous rice overnight. Clean and rinse. Mix with a little salt. Cut fresh pork meat (lean or fat, according to personal taste) into 2cm strips. Mix with salt, fish sauce and pepper, and leave for about one hour.

Clean dong leaves (leaves from arrowroot) and place them over each other to form a cross. Place an amount of rice in the centre of the leaves. Shape into a square (the southern version is in a circle). Press a "ball" of green bean on top. Then, add 1-2 pieces of marinated pork, then more green bean, and finally rice. Press firmly into a compact square and wrap the leaves over to cover the cake completely. Tie with bamboo strings. Place in a large pot of boiling water and boil overnight. Squeeze the moisture out by placing it in a colander with a heavy object on top.

To serve, untie and open the leaves. Invert on a plate and cut into pieces using the bamboo strings, not a knife. Serve cold.

Here' is the image of Banh Chung !

Banh cuon (Rolled rice pancake)

2009-05-02T07:59:00.001-07:00

Banh cuon is popular to Vietnamese as disk for breakfast. The cake preparing process includes grilled rice which is steamed and oil-spread to have sweet-smelling. Banh cuon is prepared available. Leaves of cake put on plate as the customers ask for the disk. The cake is called Banh cuon Thanh Tri due to its origin is Thanh Tri Village of South Hanoi. Besides Banh cuon Thanh Tri, there is rolled rice pancake with the filling of the cake is made from minced pork mixed with Jew's ears and thin-top mushrooms. The cake, placed on plate, serve with salted shredded shring and fried dry onions. The customers immediately experience the disk as it is just finished and stilI very hot.

It is the sauce of the cake that fascinates the customers. The cake-makers have their own know-how, some of them prepare Banh cuon with Belostomatid essence to have sweet -smelling to attract to the customers.