Thứ Ba, 19 tháng 5, 2015

Tra Que village's vegetables add value to exalted Hoi An cuisine

19/05/2015

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Address 1: 123 Ly Tu Trong, Ben Thanh Ward, Dist 1, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
Tel:              (84-8) 38229068 - 38229069 / Fax: (84-8) 38229070
Email:          booking@cyclotours.com.vn
Website:     www.cyclotour.com.vn

If you are a fan of Hoi An's popular foods like rice noodle cao lau, chicken rice, and prawn rolls locally known as tom huu, you definitely must visit Tra Que village, some three kilometers from the town.

The 300-year-old village is one of the country's best vegetable producers though it is better known for homestay and agritourism among foreign tourists.

In fact more than 20 varieties of leaf vegetables produced at Tra Que are commonly used in Hoi An cuisine.

The greens are often praised for being not only organic but also having unique flavors, as local farmers stick to their traditional growing methods that are hundreds of years old – like using weeds taken from nearby De Vong River as fertilizers and not using any chemicals.

Thanks to Tra Que's vegetables, Hoi An foods are best in their birthplace despite the fact that they can now be found in many other places around Vietnam.

At the village, even if you have no interest in getting your hands dirty by playing farmers, the experience will not be less enjoyable with trips to family-run eating places around fields.

A lot of dishes are worth checking out even if you have had them before. Like the tasty tom huu in which leaves are wrapped around prawns and pork and the rolls are held together by slim green spring onions and the strongly flavored stir-fried mussels with Vietnamese coriander and green onions, just to name a few.

Tra Que farmers grow vegetables using their centuries-old, organic methods

Vegetables get clean water

and are fertilized with nutritious weeds obtained from a nearby river

The veggies are free of chemicals and look good regardless of the holes caused by worms

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Coriander is one of the three most commonly used herbs in Hoi An foods

Another is basil

Vietnamese coriander

Foreign tourists play farmers at Tra Que

Sitting at one of little restaurants in Tra Que, one can feast their eyes on this beautiful scene

Vietnam’s Son Doong named among places 'out of this world'

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The list of “unbelievable places” received 175 submissions and Son Doong, or Mountain River, has been voted by many readers, ranking at number 8.

Son Doong Cave. Photo credit: National Geographic

“These out-of-this-world photos will make you feel like you’re on another planet,” said the post on the site, which was started in 2009 to provide a platform for artists to turn their stories into viral content.

Son Doong contains at least 150 individual grottoes, a dense subterranean jungle, several underground rivers.

It became known as the world’s largest cave in 2009, stretching five kilometers long, 150 meters high and 200 meters wide.

A local man discovered the cave for the first time in 1991 and British excavators helped put it on the world map.

The cave just won more global fame recently after breathtaking images of it appeared on the US popular talk show "Good Morning America" last week.

Coming first in Bored Panda’s list of exotic destinations is Glowworms Cave, which looks like a starry night sky in New Zealand, followed by Tianzi Mountains in China, Pamukkale (cotton castle) in Turkey, and Emerald Ice on Baikal Lake, Russia.

Relaxing in Hue ? Elementary, my dear traveller

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Find and book Thua Thien Hue tours and activities on Cyclo Tours. Don’t delay. Come join us today!

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Address 1: 123 Ly Tu Trong, Ben Thanh Ward, Dist 1, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
Tel:              (84-8) 38229068 - 38229069 / Fax: (84-8) 38229070
Email:          booking@cyclotours.com.vn
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Think tourism in Hue and you automatically think ‘history’ - the Citadel, the Purple Forbidden City, The Imperial Mausoleums. A few years ago, some enterprising people also thought of Hue as a beach destination and hotels sprang up on the long bar of land that has formed behind the Hue lagoon, one of Asia’s largest. But it takes some thinking out of the box to actually establish a luxury resort hotel on the lagoon itself and trail blaze with Vietnam’s first over-the-water villas. The owners of this development are the same family that, ten years ago, created that retreat in the woods, ‘Pilgrimage Resort’, just south of Hue City. Here, you are given the same personal attention, original architectural design and top-notch food and beverage in a different and awe-striking setting-a shimmering lagoon, surrounded by lofty mountains and backed by steep, wooded slopes. If ‘Pilgrimage’ was a number one hit, then the family group has followed up with a world-wide smash.
The reception block is traditional Vietnamese village architecture of column, beam and rafter, using light brown jackfruit wood, which is also used for carvings on display throughout the complex. Paying homage to the previous occupants of this area, you will also see Cham art here and by the communal swimming pool. There was even a Cham figurine in an alcove in my villa, as well as a Cham dancing girl carved in slate over the bed. This block houses a library, an art gallery with works by local artists, a table tennis room and a karaoke room.
Adjacent to this are the tennis, badminton and volleyball courts. If you are not content just to simply rest, there are also private and public swimming pools. One thing I would to have loved to have tried was kayaking. I watched braver folk enjoying this. An alternative is to arrange for a fishing trip further out on the lagoon. Instead, I took to cycling.
There are bicycles parked outside of all accommodations, and you are also provided with a map for exploring the area by bike. The real Vietnam is right outside its doorstep. A beaten earth road with very little traffic leads you right by fishing villages and lime green rice fields. You can watch folk mending nets and unloading fish from sampans. So many times have I rushed along the National Highway Number 1 on four wheels, never realising there was this fascinating tranquil world below. You will see domesticated ducks and geese along the way, as well as egrets. I rode as far as a large village, where a river flows into the lagoon. Here, gaily painted in red and blue, were large sea-going fishing vessels. The only negative is the pollution. The locals toss a lot of rubbish on the shore way and reeds. Hopefully, with the arrival of the resort, people will realise the value to all of keeping the lagoon as clean as possible. Wisely, Vedana employs eighty-five per cent of its staff locally, so word will soon get round.

On to wining and dining. There are several alternatives; you can have a table set up for two and enjoy a romantic dinner on the pier, watching the day fade away over the lagoon. Particularly, for private groups among lush greenery, there is the Lantern House, where cooking lessons also take place. I ate where most folk do, on the veranda of the Horizon Restaurant, where both Western and Asian dishes of the highest standards are served.
In order to take the stress out of choosing, and acknowledging that the chef knows best as to what combines with what, I chose to eat Vietnamese Table d’ Hote’. The appetiser was the slightly glutinous ‘crab and mushroom soup’, very familiar to me. Then came the ‘goi du du’- papaya and beef salad with rice cracker to scoop it up and embellished with raw carrot and cucumber. The piece de résistance was the ‘seafood on a large square platter’. This consisted of grilled prawns, squid, clams and mackerel steak. It came accompanied by white rice and sautéed morning glory. All of this I enjoyed seated on the verandah with candle light on the table and starlight above. Dessert was passion fruit with cream. Captain Waitress Miss Anh Thi Anh Thu marshalled her staff well and made sure my glass of sémillion chardonnay Australian wine was kept topped up.
I was lodged in a Pool Honeymoon Villa. With gardens fore and aft and a spacious private swimming pool to the side, the villa is made of concrete, pink stone and thatch. There is also a long wooden veranda with sunbeds, chairs, table and potted flowers and a great view of the lagoon. The inside was as large as a London flat with even a kitchen where you can take a private cooking lesson. Ablutions were either to be taken in a very large bathtub or by open-air shower in the back garden. The centre piece was a large dark wood four-poster bed.
Staff member Miss Truong Thi Mong Cam showed me the other kinds of accommodation. The Lagoon View Bungalow is the same as mine, but without the private pool. A first for Vietnam and more or less the same design and for the same price as my villa and even with a smaller version of the shower garden, there are eight over-the-water Aqua Villas. One special feature is that part of the floor is of very thick glass, so you can observe shoals of fish underneath. With such a conducive and romantic atmosphere, I wondered how many babies had been conceived here. ‘We have no reliable statistics,’ Miss Mong Cam informed me. The Pool Aqua Villa, also on stilts over the water, is a double unit; two bedrooms separated by a pool. Probably equivalent to a presidential suite built into the wooded mountainside is The Pool Family House, which has two bedrooms, a living room, kitchen and a very large garden with its own pool and badminton court.
Early morning found me breathing in the cajuput-perfumed air on the boards of the ‘Wellness and Spa Centre’. I had come for my first lesson in Tai Chi. Ahead of me, my instructress raised her arms and loudly proclaimed ‘In Hell’. My spine instantly chilled. What evil New Age sorceress was this? If she had had a sword in those hands she would be about to sacrifice a pig, I thought. What had I let myself in for? Not to worry; after a while it dawned on me that what she was trying to say was ‘Inhale’. She had other, more picturesque commands – ‘Hold the jar’, Push the door’, ‘Sweep to the left’ and ‘Sweep to the right’. She had her share of laughs as my first attempts at Tai Chi were as clumsy as the antics of that other Englishman, Mr Bean.
What more could anyone wish for? Vietnam now takes on the world for luxury resort hotels set in breathtaking scenery. More than that, it has not chain hotel repetition, but a hotel incorporating much of its heritage and culture with unique creativity and genuinely friendly family personal attention.

Chủ Nhật, 17 tháng 5, 2015

Visit Ha Long Bay of the hills

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With its gigantic landscape and precious natural resources, Na Hang Eco-Tourism Zone in the highland district of the northern province of Tuyen Quang has become a popular tourism destination.by Giang Anh

Earlier, it took several days to reach there from Tuyen Quang City. However, as the road to Na Hang has been upgraded and widened, it takes visitors only two hours by car to reach there.

The site sprawls across 21,000ha, of which Na Hang Lake makes up for 8,000ha.

The lake is also compared to "Ha Long Bay in the high mountains and thick forest". It is a meeting point of 99 mountains of different shapes, and all of them stand out against a blue sky and green water that make tourists marvel at its beauty.

According to Le Thanh Son, head of the management board of Na Hang Eco-Tourism Zone, 10 relics around the lake have been recognised as national relic sites, such as Phia Vai and Phia Muon Caves, Song Long Cavern, Pac Ta Temple, and Phuc Lam Pagoda.

"Eco tours on the lake began five years ago. It takes visitors about six hours to discover the lake and know every legend behind the name of each spot here," said Son.

On boats, visitors can get a close view of many poetically beautiful sites on the lake. One of the first such sites can be Pac Ta Mountain, the highest mountain in the district. It looks like an elephant stooping down over an alcohol jar, and this picture reflects in the green lake.Son noted that for sightseeing, visitors can hire motor boats or canoes at the boat station.

If you are lucky enough, you can also see a troop of monkeys swimming in the lake.

At the foot of the mountain stands an old temple dedicated to a concubine of General Tran Nhat Duat from the 13th century.

The temple is famous for its beautiful scenery and sacredness and is a must-see destination for visitors.

Sailing down the lake, you will have a chance to enjoy many spectacular spots, such as natural rocky platforms in strange forms, famous waterfalls such as Mo, Khuay Sung, Khuay Nhi, and Khuay Me.

Along the way, as the climate gets colder, the scenery gives visitors a heavenly feeling.

Standing at the top of this majestic waterfall, a cool steam punches fatigue, awakening inspiration among visitors who also get to admire the panoramic view of Na Hang.The five-storey high Mo waterfall, also known as Pac Ban waterfall, a nationally ranked landscape with a huge, silver water block will appear before visitors. Visitors can reach the top with the help of a ladder. Here, water flows smoothly, streaming between rocks and on moss-covered green rocks that look like velvet carpets.

Tat Ke-Ban Bung Nature Reserve is also an attractive adventure tourism site. Spread across 42,000ha, this sanctuary has 40 mammal species, 70 bird species, 20 reptile species, and 17 species of vascular plants. Endangered species recorded in the Red Book include snub-nosed monkey, white-cheeked monkey, moon bear, and plants that are eons old. The reserve plays an important role in protecting water sources for Tuyen Quang hydropower reservoir and regulating downstream flooding.

Visiting Phia Vai Cave, one can see the artefacts of ancient Vietnamese people, dating back 10,000 years.

One can also walk in primeval forests, which act as green lungs, making the climate in the area very pleasant.

On the way to forests, Tay ethnic people from Dao hamlets appear amid the green-canopied forest, adding to the peaceful landscape.

"In Na Hang, I get to relax, walk around the beautiful landscape, and enjoy myself," said a Hanoian tourist, Nguyen Thu Thuy.

The 40-year-old teacher said that she also had a chance to enjoy some local fish preparations and Shan Tuyet tea, a speciality of Na Hang. Thuy added that she also visited the Thuong Lam highland market, held every Thursday and Sunday. The market is a meeting ground of many ethnic groups such as Dao, Tay, Nung, and San Diu, whose cultural diversity supports local tourism.

With the development of the beautiful mountainous region, Na Hang Eco-Tourism destination has become one of the three key tourism zones in Tuyen Quang province. — VNS

Thứ Năm, 14 tháng 5, 2015

Vietnam's Son Doong Cave is magnificent in this 'Good Morning America' video

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Address 1: 123 Ly Tu Trong, Ben Thanh Ward, Dist 1, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
Tel:              (84-8) 38229068 - 38229069 / Fax: (84-8) 38229070
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The film crew on a stalagmite in Son Doong Cave. Photo from Ginger Zee's Facebook page

A six-minute video posted on YouTube has showed the journey of Good Morning America’s film crew inside "an extraordinary cave" deep inside a jungle of the central province of Quang Binh.

The scenes were shot from the Son Doong (Mountain River) Cave in Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park and were broadcast to American viewers on Wednesday in the popular morning program on ABC.

The crew used seven Phantom 3 drone cameras to get aerial shots of the magnificent cave.

Ginger Zee, the host of the live broadcast, said the journey to Son Doong was the grittiest, most difficult and dangerous assignment she had ever been on.

The cave, which contains at least 150 individual grottos, a dense subterranean jungle, and several underground rivers became known as the world's largest cave in 2009.

FOOD & HOTEL VIETNAM EXHIBITION 2013

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Food & Hotel Vietnam Exhibition (FHV) has been the biggest industry events of the food and hospitality industry in Vietnam since the first time it was organized in 2004. This year, the exhibition comes back to Ho Chi Minh City from April 24 to 26, 2013 at the Saigon Exhibition & Convention Center.

This is the 7th time this event is organized in Vietnam, with the largest scale ever in term of both quality and quantity of international firms which bring the most modern products, higher-ranked services and latest industrial solutions of the world. FHV has been widely known as a critical element for the improvement of the food and hospitality industry in Vietnam specifically and in Indochina region in general.

Moreover, thanks to world class competitions and networking events, FHV 2013 is expected to be an active mercantile where businessmen and entrepreneurs all over the world meet and share.

FHV 2013 is situated in a massive area of 880m2, with the attendance of 385 companies coming from 30 countries which expects 10,000 visitors from both inside and outside Vietnam.

Thứ Hai, 11 tháng 5, 2015

Propaganda posters paint a different picture of Vietnam

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Ho Chi Minh City (CNN)Trekking through the forest with hardened front line soldiers and living under the threat of American bombers: it's not the normal experience for art school students, but it was one faced by hundreds in Vietnam during the country's conflicts that raged between 1954 and 1975.

From post-colonial struggles to the battles to reunify a Vietnam partitioned after the 1954 Geneva Accords, North Vietnamese artists were key in taking the messages of Ho Chi Minh to the front line of battle and to a population across both sides of the divide.

Visually arresting, cheap and effective, Vietnamese propaganda posters weren't meant to last, but their messages were.

"The posters are a historical document but also illustrative of the use of art and development of artists in the country," says Richard Di San Marzano, curator of the Dogma Collection of Vietnamese propaganda art and an upcoming exhibition of original posters in Ho Chi Minh City.

Di San Marzano says that there are around 1,000 original examples in the collection that was started by Dominic Scriven, a British investment banker who moved to Vietnam in the 1990s.

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"Artists are soldiers on the cultural front"

Unlike much Cold War-era Communist propaganda art, Vietnam's was produced during active conflict, giving it a character, urgency and style all its own, believes Di San Marzano.

Expelling "foreign invaders" and celebrating military action, such the shooting down of American planes were common themes, with national symbols like the lotus flower, as well as communist iconography like the face of Ho Chi Minh ("Uncle Ho"), regularly featured.

"The Southern Guerillas are Truly Gutsy"

Women were portrayed in the posters in numerous roles, but particularly, and uniquely, believes Di San Marzano, as front line fighters.

Yet a key difference to Soviet and Chinese propaganda art that Di San Marzano discovered was that most posters were signed by the artists.

He was then able to trace the whereabouts of some of the artists and embark on the project to "preserve and catalog as many posters as possible before they were lost forever.

In interviews Di San Marzano was able to hear firsthand the hair-raising tales of those who embedded with guerillas, many of whom were sent to villages in "enemy territory" to paint and display communist slogans.

Imprisonment or worse was the punishment if they were caught.

"Art is not art unless it is propaganda"

An artist himself, Di San Marzano has spent years building up a greater picture of the importance of propaganda art in Vietnam and of the people who painted them, since cataloguing the collection in 2007.

Under French colonial rule, art schools across Vietnam were established that taught students in a classical European tradition.

But under the governance of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam, commonly known as North Vietnam since 1945, an Artist's Association was set up, mixing students from the School of Fine Art in Hanoi and artists without much formal training, often from rural backgrounds.

At that point Soviet socialist realism was the dominant style with the Association following the Leninist dogma that "art is not art unless it is propaganda."

"Victory Will Be Ours"

While some posters show more skill than others -- some artists were able to continue their training in the Soviet Union or Eastern Bloc -- Di San Marzano was surprised to see hints of art school individualism not quite submerged by centrally planned messages.

Art produced on the back of scrap paper

Many posters in the collection have classical life drawings on the backside, which Di San Marzano believes was more about making best use of resources rather than self-expression.

Produced quickly and often in the field -- paints and paper were often scarce, especially after the escalation of the conflict in 1965 -- many posters from that time are produced on the back of any spare material, including maps and Soviet bloc posters.

Regardless of their training or background, a common theme united the artists Di San Marzano was able to speak to: each was proud of the part they played to help their country.

Thứ Ba, 28 tháng 4, 2015

Dalat, Vietnam: A Cool Respite from the Heat

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Address 1: 123 Ly Tu Trong, Ben Thanh Ward, Dist 1, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
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Dalat, Vietnam is set in the highlands and blessed with year-round cool weather. As a result, many Vietnamese choose to spend their vacation time here, away from the heat and dust of the rest of the country. The number of Vietnamese visitors arriving in tour buses, armed with thick wooly coats and fluffy ear muffs, vastly outnumber the backpackers shivering in thin tank tops. For every one backpacker, there are 100 Vietnamese visitors.
The weather in Dalat usually hovers around 18 degrees Celsius (about 64 degrees Ffahrenheit), never going higher than 30 (86 degrees Fahrenheit).While winter gear is uncalled for (just a warm sweater would suffice for evenings), it is endearing to see the Vietnamese, used to a hot and humid climate, dressing up for the slight chill.

Easily one of Dalat’s most famous spots, the ‘Crazy House’ is actually called the Hang Nga Guesthouse. The Gaudi-inspired architectural marvel lends an air of surrealism and whimsy to the town. It looks like it belongs in a Dali or Magritte painting. No wonder the nickname is ‘Crazy House’. There are themed rooms inside featuring tigers, kangaroos and eagles, but even getting from one point to another is an adventure. Imagine curvy bridges, tiny tunnels and steps that lead you on a roundabout.
It is also open as a guesthouse, so thrill-seekers can spend a night or more here. The architect, Dang Viet Na, had to rely on private funding from her friends and family early on, as the local authorities frowned the project. The guesthouse option was to raise more money for the continual construction of the house. After the ‘Crazy House’ started drawing in tourists, the local authorities finally gave her their support.

While the palace is bare and run-down by European standards, one can spot vestiges of luxury set in a different time and place if one looks carefully. Silken yellow sheets, a long dining hall and balconies overlooking the gardens below are part of a lifestyle only the royals have a chance to live in Vietnam.
Visitors can also explore the grounds. Having an ice cream cone in the cool weather is more fun than it sounds. There are also ponies and their handlers at certain parts of the garden. While one can pay for a pony-pulled carriage, discerning travelers will opt not to — the conditions of the creatures (ribs showing, open wounds) make most people feel sympathy instead of excitement.
There are many kitschy photo spots around, and while one would expect visitors to roll their eyes, the Vietnamese love taking posed photographs.

The cool highland climate makes Dalat an ideal spot for coffee bean farming. Visit the plantations and check out the civet cats which help produce the infamous civet cat coffee. Unfortunately, the conditions they are in are not ideal — small cages with barely enough space for a few paces each way — so keep that in mind if you are considering try the civet cat coffee.
Most plantations would build a special ‘coffee house’, where visitors can order up a fresh cup of caffeine while taking in the view of green trees and blue lakes in the distance. The coffee plantations are also located near flower, silk worm and cricket farms that are worth a look.
Every weekend, the locals close off the main street so none of the Vietnamese can attempt to bike in their devil-may-care way through the night market. Here, you can find everything, from fresh vegetables to winter coats to copies of ‘Lady Chatterley’s Lover,’ translated into Vietnamese, of course.
There is no shortage of cheap street snacks to try, from crispy onion pancakes and boiled peanuts to chicken soup glistening with yellow oil. It is best to come here on an empty stomach and feast on what feels like a hundred different things as you make your way from one street to another.
Always try to make out how much money the locals are handing over, so you know you are not being quoted ‘tourist’ prices.
While Dalat is often sidelined for her more famous sisters — cultural Hanoi and trendy, gritty Ho Chi Minh — she has a quiet beauty of her own. The climate makes slurping down a hot bowl of pho an entirely different sort of delicious, and to witness how a small town is so different from the rest of Vietnam is an experience in itself.

Thứ Bảy, 25 tháng 4, 2015

VIETNAM AIRLINES LAUNCHES TWO NEW INTERNATIONAL ROUTES

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Address 1: 123 Ly Tu Trong, Ben Thanh Ward, Dist 1, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

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The national airline Vietnam Airlines has officially announced the new launch of two international air-routes which is going to start operating in Da Nang International Airport from July 1, 2013.

The first route is Seoul – Da Nang with three flights per week departing every Monday, Thursday and Saturday. The airplane to be used on this route is Airbus 321.

The second new route connects Da Nang with Siem Reap (Cambodia), which offer daily service with an ART-72 airplane.

Thanks to these two new routes, Vietnam Airline continues to occupy the largest international networks in Vietnam with up to 28 destinations worldwide.

Dalat, Vietnam: A Cool Respite from the Heat

http://cyclotours.com.vn/tours/daily-tours.html

Find and book Daily Tours and activities on Cyclo Tours. Don’t delay. Come join us today!

Cyclo Tours
Address 1:   123 Ly Tu Trong, Ben Thanh Ward, Dist 1, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
Tel:              (84-8) 38229068 - 38229069 / Fax: (84-8) 38229070
Email:          booking@cyclotours.com.vn
Website:     www.cyclotours.com.vn

Dalat, Vietnam is set in the highlands and blessed with year-round cool weather. As a result, many Vietnamese choose to spend their vacation time here, away from the heat and dust of the rest of the country. The number of Vietnamese visitors arriving in tour buses, armed with thick wooly coats and fluffy ear muffs, vastly outnumber the backpackers shivering in thin tank tops. For every one backpacker, there are 100 Vietnamese visitors.

The weather in Dalat usually hovers around 18 degrees Celsius (about 64 degrees Ffahrenheit), never going higher than 30 (86 degrees Fahrenheit).While winter gear is uncalled for (just a warm sweater would suffice for evenings), it is endearing to see the Vietnamese, used to a hot and humid climate, dressing up for the slight chill.

Easily one of Dalat’s most famous spots, the ‘Crazy House’ is actually called the Hang Nga Guesthouse. The Gaudi-inspired architectural marvel lends an air of surrealism and whimsy to the town. It looks like it belongs in a Dali or Magritte painting. No wonder the nickname is ‘Crazy House’. There are themed rooms inside featuring tigers, kangaroos and eagles, but even getting from one point to another is an adventure. Imagine curvy bridges, tiny tunnels and steps that lead you on a roundabout.

It is also open as a guesthouse, so thrill-seekers can spend a night or more here. The architect, Dang Viet Na, had to rely on private funding from her friends and family early on, as the local authorities frowned the project. The guesthouse option was to raise more money for the continual construction of the house. After the ‘Crazy House’ started drawing in tourists, the local authorities finally gave her their support.

Visitors can also explore the grounds. Having an ice cream cone in the cool weather is more fun than it sounds. There are also ponies and their handlers at certain parts of the garden. While one can pay for a pony-pulled carriage, discerning travelers will opt not to — the conditions of the creatures (ribs showing, open wounds) make most people feel sympathy instead of excitement.

There are many kitschy photo spots around, and while one would expect visitors to roll their eyes, the Vietnamese love taking posed photographs.

The cool highland climate makes Dalat an ideal spot for coffee bean farming. Visit the plantations and check out the civet cats which help produce the infamous civet cat coffee. Unfortunately, the conditions they are in are not ideal — small cages with barely enough space for a few paces each way — so keep that in mind if you are considering try the civet cat coffee.

Most plantations would build a special ‘coffee house’, where visitors can order up a fresh cup of caffeine while taking in the view of green trees and blue lakes in the distance. The coffee plantations are also located near flower, silk worm and cricket farms that are worth a look.

Every weekend, the locals close off the main street so none of the Vietnamese can attempt to bike in their devil-may-care way through the night market. Here, you can find everything, from fresh vegetables to winter coats to copies of ‘Lady Chatterley’s Lover,’ translated into Vietnamese, of course.

There is no shortage of cheap street snacks to try, from crispy onion pancakes and boiled peanuts to chicken soup glistening with yellow oil. It is best to come here on an empty stomach and feast on what feels like a hundred different things as you make your way from one street to another.

Always try to make out how much money the locals are handing over, so you know you are not being quoted ‘tourist’ prices.

While Dalat is often sidelined for her more famous sisters — cultural Hanoi and trendy, gritty Ho Chi Minh — she has a quiet beauty of her own. The climate makes slurping down a hot bowl of pho an entirely different sort of delicious, and to witness how a small town is so different from the rest of Vietnam is an experience in itself.

Thứ Năm, 23 tháng 4, 2015

Relaxing in Hue ? Elementary, my dear traveller

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