Hanoi: land of lakes
Source – Thanh Nien Daily
There’s no better place to let the time roll away than on the waterfront
Hoan Kiem Lake, which is the heart and soul of Hanoi, means “Lake of the Returned Sword”, in reference to the legend surrounding fifteenth century Vietnamese hero General Le Loi
Hanoi’s 20 lakes are renowned for bringing the city a sense of beauty and an old-world atmosphere.
As the capital continues to develop, with mega-shopping complexes and fast food chains popping up left and right, Hanoi’s lakes have retained their peace and quiet. Even those in the center of town are surrounded by old trees, parks, zoos or centuries’ old villages. Both lively and charming, the lakes give Hanoi its style and ensure that the bustling city with a quickly expanding population never seems too crowded.
Some say Hanoians owe their lifestyles, which exemplify an appreciation of history and culture, to the old capital’s lakes.
Jewel of the capital
“Proximity to water in a city is always a very nice thing to have,” said David Milliot, a former advisor from the European Union. “Lakes have a relaxing effect as they make city life less stressful. I like Hoan Kiem Lake because despite its central location, it is a spot of ancient, interesting history.”
Like most of the lakes in Hanoi, Hoan Kiem – lined with beautiful weeping willows in the center of town – has an alluring and mysterious legend that tells the history of its name.
Hoan Kiem Lake means “Lake of the Returned Sword”, in reference to the legend surrounding fifteenth century Vietnamese hero General Le Loi. After ten years of hard fighting (1418-1428), the Lam Son insurrectionists led by Le Loi swept the Chinese invaders out of the country, ending the Ming Dynasty’s 20 years of domination over Vietnam. Le Loi became a national hero, proclaiming himself King Le Thai To and establishing the Vietnamese capital in Thang Long, present-day Hanoi.
On a beautiful afternoon following the victory, the king and his entourage took out a dragon-shaped boat to enjoy the peace while cruising Luc Thuy (Green Water) Lake, which was located in the center of Thang Long. As the boat glided across the smooth surface of the lake, legend has it that a Golden Tortoise suddenly appeared, telling the king: “Your Majesty, the great work is completed. Would you please return the sacred sword to the King of the Sea?”
The precious sword Le Loi used to fight the Chinese had been lent to him by the King of the Sea, according to the story. At the time the Tortoise spoke, the sword hung at the king’s waist. It then moved out of its sheath and flew toward the giant reptile. The tortoise took the sword in his mouth and dove under the water as a bright flash of lightning lit up the sky. Since then, Luc Thuy Lake has been called Lake of the Returned Sword or Sword Lake (Ho Guom) for short.
Hence, on a tiny island in the middle of the lake stands Thap Rua (Tortoise Tower), a centuries-old three-tiered pavilion in memory of the legendary tortoise. On another islet to the north, inside the fourteenth century Ngoc Son Temple, a giant preserved turtle encased in glass keeps the legend alive. Rua Tower and Ngoc Son Temple are some of Hanoi’s most-beautiful landmarks.
“In the morning, it’s great to take a walk on the nice, shaded sidewalks around Hoan Kiem Lake,” said Milliot. “It is so relaxing to feel the breeze coming from the center of the lake.”
Local legend still has it that if you’re lucky, you’ll see the grand old tortoise raise its head above water for a brief moment.
Local boon
Truc Bach Lake, a lake separated from West Lake (Hanoi’s largest watery body at 5.5 square kilometers) by the sliver of land that is Thanh Nien Road, has greatly influenced the life of local people. Truc Bach was part of West Lake until the 17th century when the inhabitants of the surrounding villages built a dyke cordoning off West Lake’s southeast corner in order to raise fish. During the reign of Lord Trinh Giang (1711-1762), Truc Lam Palace was built for worship and later was converted into a prison for prostitutes. These poor women were forced to weave silk, and despite their desperate situation, they took the work seriously. Their silk was so nice that it became famous throughout the capital as Truc (small bamboo) village silk.
On a walk around the lake, one can see many relics and sites of interest: Nghi Tam Village (birthplace of the famous poet Ba Huyen Thanh Quan), Kim Lien Pagoda with its unique architecture and Nhat Tan Village with its famous peach garden.
Daily life
Every day, thousands of Hanoians do their morning exercises, practice Tai Chi, play chess and perform break-dancing around the lakes. And if you are looking for a romantic date with someone special, a table at Highlands Coffee above West Lake is the perfect place to watch a magnificent sunset.
Strolling around any lake in the city gives a clear and vivid picture of daily life and it’s hard not to be affected by the ambience of the capital and the traits its people are known for: hard work, friendliness and a zest for life.
Be it a lone after-work cup of coffee, or a lazy Sunday meeting with friends, at Hanoi’s lakes and waterside cafes, watching the world simply pass by can be a mesmerizing experience.
Reported by Thy Nga Story from Thanh Nien News
—————
Travel Tips and Info From Vietnam – www.vietnamandcambodia.com
Vietnam Images By Adam Hurley
All images below were taken by Adam Hurley. Visit Adam’s other blogs at:
See more images by Adam Hurley at – Images From Vietnam and Cambodia
Images From Hoi An – Vietnam
Imperial Hue – Vietnam
By Thanh Bui
Hue Citadel - Vietnam
The second of Central Vietnam’s UNESCO World Heritage Sites rests largely in the shade of its smaller but more dominant cousin. While Hoi An’s ancient town is a must on any travelers itinerary for Vietnam, Hue is sometimes bypassed especially by tourists on a whistle-stop tour of the country. Whilst it may not have the quaint old world charm of its near neighbor, in the citadel and the royal tombs, Hue does have two of the country’s most impressive sites. As with most good things in life, the deeper you dig the more you find there is to discover.
Protected by 10km long, two meter thick walls and the Perume Tiver, the immensity of the citadel is impressive. In front of the walls and facing the river is a 37 meter high flagpole, the tallest in Vietnam.
Like a Russian doll, the citadel consists of a city within a city. Commenced in 1804, the Imperial Enclosure was the administrative center of the dynasty. At its heart lies the Forbidden Purple City, where only the Emperor, his family, servants and trusted mandarins were allowed to set foot. Although the site suffered greatly during both the French and American Wars, a ruffled charm still engulfs the place
Hue’s other main draw is the royal tombs that spread along the banks of the Perfume River to the south of the city. Accessible either by boat or motorbike, part of the attraction opulence, reflecting the decline of the dynasty that ruled the country from 1802 to 1945.
Thien Mu Pagoda is to the south west of the city. The original pagoda was built in 1601, although it has been rebuilt many times since. It is seen by many as the symbol of Hue
Beyond the obvious sites, the massive appeal of Hue is simply wandering around the city, crammed with interesting monuments, pagodas and old buildings, often in incongruous settings. Of particular interest are the garden houses.
Designed according to the principles of Feng Shui, the houses offer a harmony between architecture and nature. The ubiquitous expanse of water makes for a very tranquil setting. Many are open to the public on an informal basis, some even offering food or accommodation. Kim Long, the area between the citadel and Thien Mu Pagoda, is a good place for discovering garden houses, including the Temple of Princess Ngoc Son on Nguyen Chi Thanh street. Hue’s temple of Literature is also located nearby
Hue is also famous for its cuisine. Thanks to Emperor Tu Duc, Imperial Hue cuisine has a reputation for being some of the finest in the country. For those on a less than royal budget, the city also has some excellent street food including the spicy noodle soup excellent street food including the spicy noodle soup “bun bo hue” and local rice cakes, “banh beo” and “banh cuon”. One thing is for sure, you will never go hungry in Hue – neither for food nor culture
Threeland Travel is a travel agency which is offering special packages of Vietnam Travel tours to the tourists and Vietnam hotel services at competitive prices.
=======
Image By Adam Hurley
Discover Vietnam on Your Bicycle
A Vietnam cycling trip is one of he most exciting and adventurous experience you will ever have that is guaranteed. As you cycle through river banks, up steep mountain slopes, on the country side and in large cities, you will experience wonders that you would have not seen anywhere else in the world. It will keep you spell bounded long after you have completed the Vietnam trip and you will remember your Vietnam trip experience till the very end.
Asiana Travel Mate arranges one such Vietnam cycling trip. The people who will lead the Vietnam cycling trip are all professionals who have a lot of experience and knowledge in these areas so all your needs is taken care of. You just need strength in your legs to peddle your cycle and vision in your eyes to savor the beauty of Vietnam.
Biodiversity in Vietnam is ranked 16th in the whole world and there are 11 new species of animals and plants that are discovered here every year. On your cycling trip you are sure to experience many different kinds of wildlife and plants and trees as well. There are 126 parks that are protected for conservation and 28 official national parks that house the wildlife treasures of Vietnam and you can experience all this right from the impressive height, the saddle of your bicycle offers you.
You will also come across Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi, Vietnam’s two biggest cities while on the Vietnam cycling trip and here you can take a cruise on the waterways of Vietnam which are touted to be about 17,000 kms in length. The cities are also a grand display of the development that Vietnam has achieved in education and social issues. These cities are great for shopping and the usual items for sale for foreigners are embroidery, wood carvings and silk. The cuisine of Vietnam is also very unique and it can be experienced in its authentic form in these big cities. Fish sauces of different varieties like sweet, sour, spicy etc are famous here.
A cycling trip can be undertaken any time of the year and its as exciting as it can get. As diverse as Vietnam is in biodiversity, it is equally diverse in topography due to which the climates you will experience will keep changing as you go from place to place. Everyday is a new day with a new climate and that’s the best experience of the Vietnam cycling trip. From the beaches to the mountains to the waterways and the big bustling cities the Vietnam cycling trip takes you everywhere.
===========
Travel To Vietnam and Cambodia – Visit Vietnamandcambodia.com
Ban Than – Untouched Features
In Quang Nam, while Hoi An is bright with lantern, My Son relics is quiet and splendid, Ban Than is known for its endless sound of waves. This site is suitable for anyone who wants to experience strong, adventurous feelings and control nature.
Ban Than is 35 kilometre far from Tam Ky city ( about 80kilometre far from Hoi an old town), Quang nam province. On the Central heritage route, Ban Than is seen as a beautiful destination, pride of Tam Hai – Nui Thanh residents. Ban Than is still wild, untouched and strange to tourism services which become its unique attraction.
Ban Than beach is huge and peaceful with a 2 kilometre long block of black cliff. Time, sun and wind make it become unique sculptures with strange lines and shapes. Next to black cliff, red rock and coral spread along the beach.
With height of 50 meter, the cliff top affords you a panoramic view of Nui Thanh district, Ong and Lao Cham island. Like almost people live in Quang Nam province, people here have many difficulties in life but their kind, friendly and enthusiastic character helps us understand more about the way they live and interact with nature.
Harmony of land, sky and sea makes Ban Than become imposing with blue of sea, black of rock and green of trees. Sadness or happiness is shared with sea, such habit of Tam Hai residents highlights the natural beauty of this area. Your time of staying at Hoian will be more memorable with a short trip to this place.
The Leading Hanoi Tourist Attractions
Vietnam is one of the rising stars in the Asian tourism industry as more and more western travelers are now discovering the beauty of this lovely country. There are a few main travel destinations and one of them is certainly Hanoi.
This large Vietnamese city is filled with a rich culture and history and there are plenty of things to do and places to visit.
Ho Tay Lake Water Park
An ideal place to visit for families visiting traveling to Hanoi is certainly the Ho Toy Lake Water Park which is one of the newest amusement parks in town. There are a number of swimming pools located there including a wave making pool and there are currently twelve different slides.
St. Joseph’s Cathedral
One of the most significant Catholic buildings in the country is St. Joseph’s Cathedral which first opened its doors to its followers in 1886. It is located right in the heart of the city’s tourist area. The opening hours at this wonderful cathedral are daily from 05:00 until 22:00.
Army Museum
If you are interested in learning more about one of the infamous Vietnam wars then you should head down to the National Army Museum. You can learn more about the French and American wars and you can view weaponry, presentations and special exhibitions. There is in fact even a Russian fighter jet located at the entrance to this interesting museum.
Temple of Literature
Another amazing tourist attraction which all travelers should visit is the Temple of Literature. This temple was founded almost a thousand years ago by a local King so as to promote education and literature and is home to the first university of Hanoi. Opening hours of the Temple of Literature are daily 08:00 until 17:00.
Thong Nhat
This beautiful location in the city is also known as Lenin Park and the Now Reunification Park. It is home to a wonderful large lake and the grounds were adorned by Ho Chi Ming with statues, beautiful trees, plants and path ways. It is the ideal place to spend a few hours in a relaxing environment. The park is open daily from 06:00 until 21:00.
Lien Phai Pagoda
No visit to Hanoi can be complete without visiting one of spectacular pagodas which are located in the city. My personal favorite one is the Lien Phai Pagoda which was built by Lord Trinh Thap close to three hundred years ago.
James is travel consultant living on Phuket and is working on a number of projects. If you are looking for information about Phuket then be sure to visit his Phuket guide which includes an excellent section on Phuket Nightlife.
=========
Read More From Hanoi
Taking the Plunge in Nha Trang
By Ha Van
During the summer time, Ngoc Le would dive into the azure depths of Nha Trang’s ocean almost everyday.
Le, a diving instructor at Vinadiver, a branch of Open World Travel that specializes in offering diving tours, says that going under water delivers both thrills and a sense of peace.
“It’s like going sightseeing,” he said. “But it’s way more interesting because the scenery is so colorful that one almost feels as if one were in a fairytale.”
Well dressed: a group of foreigners prepare to go diving
Live action: Some striped friends greet a diver
Diving enthusiasts get married in Nha Trang Bay
Nha Trang Town with its pristine beaches has always been one of Vietnam’s most important tourist hubs. Its fame has been heightened further after recently hosting two major international beauty pageants – Miss Earth and Miss Universe.
Tourists in Vietnam often head to Nha Trang to enjoy its premier beaches and fair weather, but nowadays a variety of water sports services have been cropping up around town.
For many guests, scuba diving represents the most adventurous water activity. A diving instructor will often accompany a diver and closely monitor him or her. Divers are taught how to communicate under water and how to adapt under emergencies, if for example, equipment malfunctions.
The first step for novice divers is to get acquainted with the diving suit and associated equipment. The diving kit includes a typical suit, a pair of goggles, an air cylinder and a 13-kilogram aqualung. In addition, divers are required to wear two fins attached to a chain weighing up to 14 kilograms, which helps them to submerge.
According to diving instructors, communication under water must be done via body language and divers are taught to be aware that some fish in deep waters, as breathtaking as they may look, can cause skin rashes and other dermatological diseases if touched.
About five years ago, the Nha Trang administration started to develop scuba diving tours as a means to lure more tourists, especially international visitors. Nowadays, scuba divers can select from a range of locations suitable to their interests and level of experience.
Hon Mun (Morray Beach) is appropriate for beginners with its shallow depth of between five and eight meters. Hon Rom (Madonna Rock) has water that ranges between 18 to 22 meters deep, with some spots reaching 30 meters. Islands such as Hon Trau Nam, Hon Kho are favored by more expert divers as they reach depths of greater than 30 meters.
Hon Mun and Hon Rom are both marine conservation areas. The former islet, located 45 minutes by boat from the port of Cau Da (Rock Bridge), boasts one of the most attractive coral gardens in Nha Trang with more than 300 types of corals. The island covers only one square kilometer, but is home to anglerfish, white-eyed moray eels, demon stingers, and cuttlefish, among other oceanic species.
The eels in the waters around the island often hide among the coral, but diving instructors rouse them to create a breathtaking sight for divers. There are several eels 15 meters in length and also huge groupers flitting among the coral formations.
Advanced divers would enjoy the waters of Hon Rom, an island that contains an impressive array of caves 30 meters below the water’s surface.
In these underground caves, divers can explore the dim grottoes at their leisure, delighting at the various under water surprises that dart suddenly from around each corner.
Follow the outline of the reef to a maze of rock formations surrounded by beautiful corals and swarms of cuttlefish nearby, and divers will truly experience tranquility under the sea at Hon Rom.
Open World Travel – website: http://www.travel.togo.vn
Email: marketing@togo.vn
Thanhniennews
===============
Read More About Nha Trang
Safety in Saigon – 3 Ways to Enjoy Ho Chi Minh City Safely
By Jo Meadows
To enjoy Ho Chi Minh City safely it is only commonsense to take notice of what the locals advise. Although safety for tourists has improved over recent years normal precautions are necessary. The country’s capital is a bustling, dynamic, trendsetting and industrious city teeming with ample opportunity for the numerous thieves.
Beware the “Motorbike Cowboys”
Be especially careful in the Dong Khoi Street and Lam Son Square area and along the Saigon riverfront, where the motorbike cowboys operate. Sunday night is the busiest with young people showing off their latest designer label clothes and cruising ten abreast on motorbikes.
Motorcycle taxi drivers, on the other hand, may have a tough time but they pass it onto the tourists by harassment and overcharging. Be sure to negotiate a per person rate but only pay $5 per half day with a pro rata tip.
Safety in Your Hotel
Always check the locks on your room and ensure any and all valuables are left in the hotel safe including your best watch and jewelry. Only take what cash and debit card you need for you day or evening out. Safety in Saigon has improved but so has the skill of the numerous pickpockets.
Safety in Traffic
The streets of Ho Chi Minh City are busy in the extreme. You may feel you are taking your life in your hands but watch and follow the locals and you will be fine. The trick is to step into the street and walk slowly across so that drivers drive around you!
2010 Calendars – Under $20!
The spectacular new 2010 Calendar series is now for sale – All Under $20!
www.redbubble.com/people/duckingforks/calendars
Travel Vietnam and Cambodia
If you want to find out more about Vietnam and Cambodia, click on the image below.
At www.vietnamandcambodia.com you will find great travel tips, reviews and you can get free travel advice from local expat, Adam Hurley.
2010 Calendars – Under $20
Vietnam And Cambodia Links
Sleep - Eat - See -Saigon
Sleep - Eat - See - Hanoi
Sleep - Eat - See - Phnom Penh
Bus Travel Info - Vietnam
VN Visa - MyVietnamVisa.com
