Hanoi is the city with more than thousand years of history and culture. It became the capital of Vietnam in 1010 and right now the city is looking forward to the big celebration of that in 2010. With lots of green trees and lakes, Hanoi is a very peaceful and romantic city. The city is divided into three main quarters: Old Quarter , French quarter and new quarter. The old quarter was founded thousand years ago and used to be the commercial centre of the city. There are 40 streets in the quarter still remaining its name, which was first given to them after what used to sold in the street like: fish street, drum street, fan street, cotton street, silk street, tin street shoes street … or even coffin street. The streets here are narrow and complicated so Hanoi people call it a chessboard area. The French quarter was built later, about hundred years ago by French after they occupied the city. There about 500 French styled villas remained from that time. Due to this, people often call Hanoi a “Paris of the East”. Old quarter and French quarter make Hanoi different from other cities in Asia. People here seems to be little conservative yet they are very open and friendly.
Attractions:
Cyclo tour in the Old quarter, French quarter, Ho Chi Minh mausoleum, Temple of Literature, water puppet show, Fine art Museum, Ethnology Museum.
Halong is called the bay of “Descending dragon” from an old legend of Vietnamese people that 3000 beautiful islands in the bay were created by a dragon long time ago. This bay is located in Gulf of Tonkin area which is about 1000 square kms long. This is the only place in the world where you can see so many beautiful islands of lime stone emerging from emerald water with many different shapes. Because of its beauty and rich natural resources, Halong Bay was recognized by UNESCO as Natural World Heritage in 1995.
Attractions:
Peaceful boat trip on the bay, discovering mysterious grottos in the mountain, kayaking on emerald water to discover the bay by yourself, authentic seafood lunch on boat, swimming in the middle of the bay…
Hoa Binh is the gate to North West area of Vietnam. This is the home for Muong ethic minority group - one of four biggest minority groups in Vienam. Only 70 kms from Hanoi, you can visit beautiful mountain areas, rice fields and a local village of Muong people. Coming here, you can also visit the biggest Hydro Power Station in Vietnam with beautiful reservoir along Da River, where you can also meet some local Dzao ethic groups.
Attractions:
Boat trip on Hoa Binh Reservoir, visit Muong and Dzao villages.
Cao Bang is a small town located near Chinese border; it is a home to Tay ethic minority group. Many tourists stops here on their trips around North East of Vietnam visiting such sightworthy points like Ban Gioc waterfall, which is the most beautiful waterfall in Vietnam located right on Chinese border or Pac Bo cave, which was the base of Ho Chi Minh and his comrades after he returned to Vietnam in 1941 to search for a way to salvage the country from French domination.
Attractions:
Beautiful drive from Cao Bang to visit historical Pac Bo Cave and Ban Gioc Waterfall.
Sapa is an old uphill town that was discovered and built by French in 1922 on a beautiful valley with elevation 1600 metters from sea level. At that time, it was known as a popular resort for French people living in Vietnam, more than 200 French Colonial style villas were built there. In this town, due to high elevation, it is sometimes very cold and you can easily feel four different seasons in a day. After a very long time being forgotten by, Sapa is again welcoming tourists and it is one of the most popular places in North of Vietnam. And surely, it is one of the best place for trekking or meeting 8 ethic minority groups, beside this rice field can be seen every where you go as well as beautiful waterfall. Coming here, don’t forget to enjoy the spectacular view of “the roof of Indochina”, that is Fansipan mountain which is 3143 metters from sea level. You can either enjoy an amazing atmostphere either in a comfortable hotel in town or be more adventurous and stay at home of local ethic minority people.
Attractions:
Treeking along Muong Hoa valley, stay in hill tribe people’s home, viewing the spectacular mountain view in Tram Ton pass – the highest pass in Vietnam, or conquer Fansipan summit, a top of Indichina. Relaxing on the town of four seasons in a day, visit the weekend local market.
Halong is called the bay of “Descending dragon” from an old legend of Vietnamese people that 3000 beautiful islands in the bay were created by a dragon long time ago. This bay is located in Gulf of Tonkin area which is about 1000 square kms long. This is the only place in the world where you can see so many beautiful islands of lime stone emerging from emerald water with many different shapes. Because of its beauty and rich natural resources, Halong Bay was recognized by UNESCO as Natural World Heritage in 1995.
Attractions:
Peaceful boat trip on the bay, discovering mysterious grottos in the mountain, kayaking on emerald water to discover the bay by yourself, authentic seafood lunch on boat, swimming in the middle of the bay…
Dien Bien Phu is the biggest valley located in the North West area. This is the first place that greeted Thai ethic groups when they arrived in Vietnam thousand years ago and now it is their home. After arriving in Dien Bien Phu, Thai people cultivated wet rice and turned the valley to be the rice basket of North West area. Because of its location, in 1953 the French decided to turn Dien Bien Phu to be a “super garrison” in the attempt to halt Vietminh efforts to liberate the country. The severe battle happened here in 1954 and ended by the victory of Vietminh, marked for the ending of French domination in Vietnam. Now that the war is over, coming to Dien Bien Phu, enjoy watching peaceful lives of Thai ethic groups, rice fields and sights of the famous battle.
Attractions:
Visit Dien Bien Phu museum and old battle field to know more detail about famous battle happened there. Enjoy peaceful feeling on the rice field and interact with Thai people on the valley.
Mai Chau is the most beautiful valley in the northern mountain area of Vietnam. This is where Thai ethic minority group is located in Hoa Binh province. Coming here you can enjoy the unique opportunity of home-staying in traditional stilt-houses of Thai people. You can interact closely with the local family you staying with and their very friendly neighbors.
The whole valley is filled up with green carpets of rice plants which you can smell and touch. You can even join the people working on the fields and find out how to raise a rice plant. This is a place full of unforgettable experiences.
Attractions:
Peacefull and relaxing home stay with Thai ethic minority group. Meeting and interacting with local Thai people in the valey, trekking in mountain area and green rice fields. Traditional music show performed by Thai people.
Ninh Binh is a province in Red river delta about 100 kms in the south of Hanoi. Flat green rice field, scenic lime stone mountain, boat trip on Tam Coc, so called Halong Bay inland, historical visit to Hoa Lu - Ancient Capital of Vietnam, trekking in Cuc Phuong, the biggest National Park in the country and a trip to Phat Diem stone church, the masterpiece of Catholic people in Vietnam from the end of 19 century, etc. All of this make Ninh Binh to be an attrative destination for travellers.
Attractions:
Take a sampan cruise along Ngo Dong River in Tam Coc, the place so called Halong Bay inland, bike ride from Hoa Lu, ancient capital of Vietnam to Tam Coc, admire the Phat Diem stone church, the masterpiece of Catholic people inVietnam of discover Cuc Phuong National Park.
Bac Ha is a highland town about 900 m above sea level. There are 14 different ethic minority groups living in this area the most famous are Mong ethic minority group. They all come to join the weekend markets in places like Can Cau on Saturday or Bac Ha on Sunday. These market are exciting and busy, because for hill tribe people going to market is not mainly for shopping but for meeting and having fun. They work hard during the week and are anxiously waiting for the weekend to enjoy the market. Here, they meet each other, have some good food or dip some rice wine. This all makes the market really an exciting and fun place, and it is indeed the main attraction for tourists.
Attractions:
Weekend market of Can Cau and Bac Ha, treeking to Ban Pho, the village of flower Mong people.
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