You may know Vietnam for its tasty and easy-to-eat dishes like Pho, Banh mi, Bun Cha,... Do you know that this country has many weird food in Vietnam which can strike terror into your heart.
1 - Mam tom (fermented shrimp paste)
Top-notch on the list of the weirdest food in Vietnam that almost all travelers are scared to try. As a condiment for dipping like fish sauce, this pasty mixture made by fermenting raw shrimps with salt gives out a much stronger odor. It is said to be similar to the smell of rotten foods or dead mouse bodies. The stink will continue to stick to the breath, hair and clothes of the eater for so long after eating. This is also the very reason why shrimp paste becomes an sworn enemy of a remarkable number of people. However, to those who are in love with it, “mam tom” is an indispensable part of dishes such as dog meat, cold rice vermicelli with tofu and shrimp paste, snail vermicelli soup, crab paste vermicelli soup,...
2 - Thit chuot (Rat meat)
In Vietnam, rat meat is not served as a daily and popular food like pork, beef or chicken. However, in some areas like Tu Son city (Bac Ninh province), Hoai Duc district, Thach That district (Hanoi), it is a special dish that always appears on the worship tray or in big or small parties of the local people. Rat meat receives a lot of preference from consumers, of which evidence is its good sales. You may wonder if they aren’t afraid of catching bubonic plague. Actually yes, they are, yet the reason they still take it is that it is rice-field rat, not sewer one, hence the possibility that it has pathogens is modest.
3 - Thang co (Horse meat & offal hot pot)
“Thang co” is a dish that is attached to the Northwest of Vietnam. The dish is cooked by making the best use of the horse's body. Everything, even the colon is put into a pot and simmered with typical spices for hours. The recipe and the unpleasant smell makes almost all visitors even the boldest men concerned with hygiene. In fact, all the ingredients must go through a careful preliminary process before being served, thus there is no need to worry.
4 - Nam pia
At the end of the list of top weirdest food in Vietnam is Nam Pia. “Nam pia”- a special dish of the mountainous northwestern Vietnam is a real challenge to anyone. The meaning of its name has revealed the horror elements: “nam pia '' in the Vietnamese ethic language means “young feces soup”. What is more disgusting than food made from...crap? But, what is called “young feces' ' is in fact, the fluid in the small intestine of the cattle (in this case it is herbivore such as cow, goat, buffalo,...). The local people suppose it is the finest, most quintessential part of the animal since it is the food digested and about to absorb into blood veins to create energy for the body. Therefore, this dish is really nutritious. One more surprising thing ís that it has never caused a stomach ache to anyone.
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I would like to do this topic to help all travelers in Spain could get the information about Hanoi city and Halong bay Vietnam.
This place is also for all members could share the experiences and journey to North of Vietnam.
I am planning to get 3 months off in my job to travel around, probably indonesia, Maslasia, vietnam, Laos... Still dont know.. and one of my dreams would be to spend 2 of 3 weeks in PNG. The deal is that travelling alone, being a woman... It is not the best idea.
It would be great, perfect, fantastic.... to find people interested to share one of the probably most amazing experiences...
An off-road cycling trip through the capital's towns and villages follows dirt paths, crosses ricefields and passes historic sites. Cong Thanh reports
Jens Pickhan, a German businessman, had time to explore the Old Quarter and suburban areas of Ha Noi after participating in a marketing survey for a travel agency.
On a hot summer day, Pickhan and his group of 10 friends decided to explore some of Ha Noi's most visited sites, including Son Tay citadel, the historic villages of Duong Lam and Tay Phuong Pagoda.
Pickhan was invited to join an off-road bike trip through the capital's surrounding towns and villages.
At the suggestion of a local guide, the group took an off-road route, crossing rice fields and riding along dirt paths in the countryside.
Chung, a former tourist guide and biking instructor in Ha Noi, accompanied the group on their half-day trip.
Chung chose a difficult route for the first-time riders.
The group left Ha Noi in a van, while another van carried their bikes and luggage.
After a 30-minute drive, they reached their departure point in Xuan Phuong Village, 30km west of downtown Ha Noi.
There, the guide explained how to avoid problems with muddy and uneven terrain.
At about 8.30am, group leader Pham Ha urged the team to begin riding in order to make a lot of progress before the sun reached its peak.
"I've experienced summer weather, so I know to hurry in the morning and reserve energy for hotter afternoon travelling," Ha explained.
They arrived at Thay Pagoda after an hour and a half. The 20-km route from Xuan Phuong Village to the Thay Pagoda proved challenging for the group; they had to carry their bikes crossing trenches and several riders got flat tires.
But the group agreed that terrain bikes were the best vehicles for their journey across fields of maize and harvested rice.
"It's amazing. We tackled slippery roads and immediately tested the skills we learned from our guides," said Pham Thi Hien, a member of the group.
"We also had the chance to talk with local people, who offered us tea and fruit when we took a short break near their gardens."
The monumental Thay Pagoda, which was built in the 11th century during the Ly dynasty, has statues for the worship of the Zen Buddha and his incarnation as King Ly Nhan Tong.
The upper pagoda's main gate features two four-metre statues made of a mixture of clay, honey, egg white and chopped paper; they were lacquered more than 500 years ago and remain the largest clay statues in Viet Nam.
"I was fascinated by the statues. They reminded me of little clay toys that I used to make when I was a kid, but this was the first time I've seen a giant statue made from clay," Hien added.
"We climbed up to the top of Sai Son Mountain to look down on the pagoda. A pavilion in the middle of the lake, which was set in front of the main building of the pagoda, looks like a match box from a bird's-eye-view angle on top of the mountain."
Having lingered at the pagoda for two hours, the group headed on to Tay Phuong Pagoda, where a unique collection of Buddhist statues has been housed since the 17th century.
The pagoda was built on the top of a mountain and visitors must still climb... read more...
Visiting the Cuu Long (Mekong) Delta is destination famous of Vietnam adventure tours and a dream of many people including those abroad because they could enjoy virgin land in Ninh Thuan and fresh fruits, beautiful landscapes and cultural, historical sites in Ben Tre.
"My first trip is to Ben Tre Province (or the land of coconuts) because I learned about it a very long time ago but only through books and the internet. Now I want to see it with my own eyes to enjoy its beauty and landscape, as well as the cultural and historical sites," said businessman Duong Quang Thieu, 45, who has returned home from the United States.
Thieu started his trip by visiting fruit gardens in Cho Lach and Chau Thanh districts.
Tour guide Tran Thi Ha said visitors can satisfy their curiosity by taking an exploratory stroll through the gardens while enjoying the taste of fresh fruit hand-picked from the low branches.
"The fruit are sold by kilogramme, or by the ‘belly', a popular way to sell food in the Delta region similar to a buffet which allows you to eat until you are full for one price," garden owner Huynh Van Sam said.
Thieu said he saw coconut everywhere but he preferred to eat Cai Mon durian, rambutan and mangosteen because of their unique flavours and freshness.
"You could come here to enjoy fresh fruit year round," Sam said. Ha said eco-tourism excursions to fruit gardens are booming and drawing an increasing number of visitors, leading fruit garden owners in Cho Lach and Tan Phu to add special food services to their catering programmes.
Some of their special dishes include rice gruel, made with free-range chicken, ensuring the natural quality of meat, mussel rice gruel, and rice pancakes with mussels from Phu Da Islet in Cho Lach District.
"Visitors shouldn't miss these specialities on their tour to Ben Tre," said Ha.
Ben Tre also hosts three very interesting festivals, including the Nghinh Ong Festival, Nguyen Dinh Chieu Memorial Day (July 1) and Concerted Uprising Anniversary (January 17). Each has its own social and historical significance to the public life in the province, said Ha.
The Nghinh Ong (Whale Greeting) Festival, which takes place on the 15th and 16th days of the sixth lunar month in Binh Thang Commune, Binh Dai District, is the largest festival in the province. It is significant because it provides a forum for local fishermen to worship and celebrate the sacred merit of the Whale they regard as Ong – their saviour whenever they face mishaps and adversities on the high sea, fisherman Hoang Thuy told the guests.
During the festival, all fishing boats and fishermen, wherever they are at the moment, must completely stop their work and gather on the commune's seashore. There, hundreds of local fishing boats and others from neighbouring localities such as Tra Vinh, Tien Giang and Can Gio in HCM City get together for the annual ritual offering, said Thuy.
For the ritual, participating boats are brilliantly decorated with lanterns and flowers. A tray of offerings including fruit, steamed glutinous rice, a pair of boiled ducks, a pig head and some other ritual items are placed on the prow of each... read more...
The Central Highlands' city of Da Lat is one of my favourite holiday destinations in Viet Nam of Vietnam Tours. I have visited the city many times, yet every time I do so I'm always enchanted by the beauty of the landscape, the brilliance of the flowers that adorn the parks and hills and houses, and the crisp clear air that never fails to intoxicate.
First discovered by Swiss-French bacteriologist Alexandre John Emile Yersin in 1893, the city and its environs soon became the playground of the French who built villas in the clear mountain air to escape the heat and humidity of the coast and Sai Gon, now known as HCM City.
Da Lat looks like a cross between Viet Nam and the French Alps. The city spreads across a series of pine-covered hills, with a small lake in the centre and a manmade lake on the periphery. It is quite unlike the rest of Viet Nam. Temperatures are pleasantly warm by day, and quite cool at night, when it drops to about 100 C.
On this trip to Da Lat I chose to visit Lang Biang Plateau, and the village of local ethnic groups who live at the foot of the mountain range.
Taking the advice of a local taxi driver, I awoke early in order to reach Lang Biang Tourism Site and reach the summit by 7am when the morning fog wreaths the mountain before it disperses in the warmth of the day.
Evergreen pines trees, occupying some 971ha, cover the three mounts of Chu Yen Du (known locally as Mr Nhut Mount), Lang Biang (Lam Vien) and Bi Doup (or Ba Mount). All three mounts are over 2,000m high, the latter being the tallest at 2,287m above sea level.
Mai Ngoc Lam, who works at Lang Biang Tourism Site, which is 12km north of Da Lat centre, said that the more adventurous tourist can trek up the tree-lined tracks to get to the summit, while the less fit can take a jeep. He said trekking added to the experience because one could admire the natural environment close up.
"You will see a number of different species of pine tree, some very rare, with a trunk diameter of up to 4m and reaching a height of 20m," he said.
"You will also see wild orchids. There are about 300 species here," he added.
"If you are lucky, you might also see rare birds as well as a number of wild animals."
Feeling slightly guilty, I took a jeep to the summit, doubtful my lungs could cope with the climb. The journey by jeep is along a 6km road that zigzags through the forest to the summit.
The air was wonderfully fresh and perfumed with the scent of pine and wild plants. Streams cascaded down rock outcrops and birdsong permeated the air, which grew noticeable thinner as we climbed higher up the mountain.
When we reached the peak (where there is a coffee shop for the weary and a souvenir shop for tourists) I climbed out the jeep and followed the faint sound of distant voices to a flat viewing area.
On the peak, I was lost in reverie, aware only of the mist-clad scenery, the sky, the clouds, the wonderfully fresh air, which seemed to have a smell and taste that was quite alien to me. A few minutes later, a warm ray of sunlight pierced the clouds and the mist began to clear, revealing the magnificent scenery before me in all its glory. I could not help yelling with joy as the landscape unfolded before me. A yellow river, known as Suoi Vang (Golden Stream... read more...
As one looks upon the virgin beauty of Ninh Van Bay it is hard to imagine it was once the site of fierce fighting during the American War. Le Ha reports.
My friends and I travelled to Ninh Van Bay on a glorious day. The morning was just dawning, the sunlight starting to wander on the sea. With the clouds drifting and bobbing. I was sitting on the car taking in the seascape before my eyes. The way to the bay is like the dress of a pretty girl who is lying on the sand and wallowing in the beauty of the sea. I was really eager to explore the bay, one of the most beautiful areas of Khanh Hoa Province.
Ninh Van Bay is located on Ninh Hoa District's Hon Heo Peninsula. It is about 60km from Nha Trang City, and it took us about 20 minutes to reach the bay by boat. The bay is famous for its natural beauty, with fabulous coral reefs, white sand beaches and an impressive mountain backdrop. Its natural charms have enticed many investors to build luxurious resorts, which help visitors escape from city life.
From far off, Ninh Van Bay has a quaint air about it. Small wooden houses line the beach, perched on rocks or hills that bring a sense of calm to the landscape.
However, this region of Ninh Hoa Town was the location of brutal fighting during the war. It was deemed the perfect place for a resistance base because of its rugged mountainous terrain, many reefs and narrow harbour passages.
Although few people know that Ninh Van Bay was a maritime base of the "Ho Chi Minh Trail" on the sea, local residents are proud of its history, which includes a fierce naval battle between liberation forces and US and Sai Gon ships and aircraft. An officer of the liberation navy, Nguyen Phan Vinh, captained a ship in the skirmish.
On March 1, 1968, Vinh's ship reached Hon Heo Peninsula to unload weapons and other supplies intended for Khanh Hoa's combatants, and came under attack suddenly by enemy ships. Instead of surrendering, Vinh ordered his crew to ready themselves for a fight. Ultimately, his vessel was destroyed along with 13 of the crew who sacrificed themselves for their mission.
Pham Thi Huong, a long-time resident of Ninh Hoa Town's Ninh Thuy Commune, says that a few days after the boat exploded, around 9,000 enemy soldiers were sent to mop up the area.
"We all avoided capture and found five survivors from the battle the next day," she recalls.
The image of Vinh's ship anchored in Ninh Van Bay still lingers in the minds of many local people. They are now fighting a new war against poverty and are determined to develop their town into a successful tourist destination.
You can see the evidence of their victory in the many tall buildings and spacious houses that differentiate Ninh Van from other coastal areas in Vietnam tours. Even as nearby as Van Phong Bay's Son Dung Island - one of Asia's most beautiful beaches about 20km from Ninh Hoa Town - the economic situation is demonstrably worse. There are only 30 people on that island, which offers another striking contrast with busy Ninh Van Bay.
Chair woman of Ninh Van Commune Tra Thi Bong Sen says that "in... read more...
I had heard about the magnificent Thang Hen Lake in Cao Bang Province a long time ago but the 300km distance from Ha Noi had always deterred me from going.
By chance, last month I found myself in a group of five travellers going to the northern province and was able to see the famous lake, which mesmerised us with its beautiful sapphire-blue surface.
Located in Tra Linh District, just 25km from the provincial capital, Thang Hen Lake - a destination attractive for vietnam adventure tourswas definitely as beautiful as I had heard.
A small boat sailed my group around the lake and the deep blue water was a window into world of sea creatures. The only thing that prevented me from enjoying the beauty of the peaceful lake was the noise from the engine so I asked the navigator to stop it for a while.
When he did this, we could hear the sounds of the different creatures around the lake, small birds singing and the sound of water as we glided through the lake. We also had a chance to hear a local musician who played a song which reflected his feelings about the area.
Tran Viet Soi was born in the district more than 50 years ago and has lived in the province since then. He thinks the beauty of the lake has softened his soul allowing him to become a musician.
Soi, who belongs to Tay ethnic people, said Thang Hen Lake means "fox tail" and was named so due to the elongated, oval shape of the lake, according to the history of his ethnic group.
Thang Hen is a mountain lake comprised of 36 different lakes that stretch for 3km in length. During the rainy season, the water level of the lakes rises, linking them all together. The surrounding mountains stand up to 660m above sea level, and are covered in green foliage and tall trees, which are reflected on the water's surface.
While Soi entertained us with a sweet song played on a local music instrument that looked like a guitar, the boat glided along the lake, allowing us to catch the best views of the surrounding mountains which were mirrored by the water's surface.
The navigator again turned off the boat engine as we entered a small cave at the base of a mountain known as Thang Hen Cave. Its large opening gave way to a ceiling of stalactites, silhouetted against the lake's surface, which runs into the cave. These shapes give the dark cave a strange atmosphere, as do the plants growing on the rocks.
Fishing is popular here and fishermen can be seen on the water's edge, casually casting a line and relaxing under the shade of an umbrella.
One member of my group shouted that he felt bad for forgetting his hook at home on such an occasion. I selfishly enjoyed the feeling of doing nothing but sitting on the moving boat and watching the amazing scenery in front of me.
Around the lake, the thick, green forest is set against the blue sky. Soi told us that the surrounding forestland was full of local wildlife and many species of insects, and advised us to bring bug repellent should we venture into the forest.
Lake specialities
The Huong Thom restaurant and hotel are located at the Thang Hen Lake... read more...
Vietnam tours have been much popular off late. Why shouldn’t they be? Vietnam as a country is rich with a large number of destinations blessed by phenomenal natural settings. But for a first time traveler on Vietnam tours, it may be a strenuous task to plan tour itineraries. Because whenever we go out for holiday trips, we have time limits. Some plan for a week, some for two or three days and some more than a week. It all varies from person to person, that is understandable. For this reason I will highlight some of the most popular spots that you can consider on your next Vietnam tour.
HCMC (Ho Chi Minh City) – Most of the travelers start their travels from this city only. You can spend a whole day or if you have more time you can plan for more than that for this city. There are a good number of destinations here that attract travelers. A guided tour to HCMC city will help you make the most of your time. If you have enough time to spend, you can take a tour to the outer areas of the city where you can get to explore wide stretched beaches, peaceful natural settings and a lot of rare species of flora and fauna and even wildlife.
Hanoi- You must have heard about Hanoi already, the city has many places that will give you an opportunity to get to know the great past and present culture of Vietnamese. Some of the popular destinations in Hanoi that you should include in Vietnam tour packages and itinerary are Old Quarters, Temple of Literature, One Pillar Pagoda, West Lakes etc.
Halong Bay- This is a gem of Vietnam’s travel industry. A Unesco rated world heritage site. Do you need more proof to prove the significance of Halong bay in any Vietnam tours packages? I believe you don’t. The bay is popular for cruising, kayaking, swimming, old cave exploration etc. The emerald water of the sea seems crystal clear that reflects those curvy lime stone mountains standing everywhere in the bay. You will definitely have a life time experience of touring here.
Vietnam tours have been much popular off late. Why shouldn’t they be? Vietnam as a country is rich with a large number of destinations blessed by phenomenal natural settings. But for a first time traveler on Vietnam tours, it may be a strenuous task to plan tour itineraries. Because whenever we go out for holiday trips, we have time limits. Some plan for a week, some for two or three days and some more than a week. It all varies from person to person, that is understandable. For this reason I will highlight some of the most popular spots that you can consider on your next Vietnam tours. HCMC (Ho Chi Minh City) – Most of the travelers start their travels from this city only. You can spend a whole day or if you have more time you can plan for more than that for this city. There are a good number of destinations here that attract travelers. A guided tour to HCMC city will help you make the most of your time. If you have enough time to spend, you can take a tour to the outer areas of the city where you can get to explore wide stretched beaches, peaceful natural settings and a lot of rare species of flora and fauna and even wildlife. Hanoi - You must have heard about Hanoi already, the city has many places that will give you an opportunity to get to know the great past and present culture of Vietnamese. Some of the popular destinations in Hanoi that you should include in Vietnam tour packages and itinerary are Old Quarters, Temple of Literature, One Pillar Pagoda, West Lakes etc. Halong Bay - This is a gem of Vietnam’s travel industry. A Unesco rated world heritage site. Do you need more proof to prove the significance of Halong bay in any Vietnam tours packages? I believe you don’t. The bay is popular for cruising, kayaking, swimming, old cave exploration etc. The emerald water of the sea seems crystal clear that reflects those curvy lime stone mountains standing everywhere in the bay. You will definitely have a life time experience of touring here.
The country of Vietnam is a wonderful country known specially for its exotic tourist spots and locations. Towards the north of the country lie the beautiful scenery of the sapa highlands and the fascinating landscapes of the sea beaches. Towards the south lies the city of ho chi minh and the vast green fields of the Mekong delta. The country of Vietnam has many things to offer to its tourists.
Tourism in the country of Vietnam: Taking a cruise along the river Mekong and bargaining at the local markets, biking through the Sapa highlands, visiting the ethnic hill tribes of Vietnam, chilling out on the pristine beach and simply relaxing along are some of the high points of vacationing in the country of Vietnam.
In the recent years, tourism has been a flourishing industry in the country. Visitors all through out the year make a beeline for the country. As a result the government of Vietnam in the recent years has taken some adequate measures to promote the tourism of the country. Many travel operators and tour operators are coming forward to arrange for the fooding and lodging of the visitors.
The Vietnam tours and travels: The Vietnam tours and travels facilitate the visitors to go for classic tours to discover the marvelous country in depth and detail, starting from the fascinating halong located in the northern part to the majestic and mysterious Mekong delta of the south as well as the tropical beaches of the country.
The Vietnam tours organize either full day or half-day tours into the country. They also organize special interest tours. The Vietnam special tours comprise of certain special cruises that helps in the exploration and discovery of both the northern and the southern Vietnam. The cruises generally last for a period of two to three days.
There are also certain multi country Vietnam tours that operate in Vietnam and the other indo china countries. The multi country Vietnam tours take a maximum of 10 to 15 days to cover the entire country for the visitors. The tours often include several excursions like the Hanoi excursions. These excursions are meant for all people having varied preferences. You can plan up the vacations and excursions accordingly. There are also the Hanoi city tours that include several travel packages in an around the city of Hanoi. They even arrange for hotel facilities in the countryside.
A general conclusion: The Vietnam tours arrange for classic travel packages that come in great affordable rates so they are suited for visitors from all walks of life. The great affordability rates of the Vietnam tours make them the most popular tour packages among the visitors and the tourists.
Available in Vietnam Tours, this fascinating tour to places less traveled, reveals surprising aspects of Vietnam’s south & central regions with scenic landscapes, spontaneous encounters & insights into Vietnam’s history and contemporary times. Discover the neon-lit buzz of Saigon by night & quiet pockets of riverine countryside merged into the sprawl of the city by day.
Fly into Danang, central Vietnams modern maritime hub & drive to Hoi An where heritage houses line the waterfront. Accompany estuarine fishermen out in boats; visit the makers of traditional watercraft & cycle to the white sands of Cam An beach. Offshore, the pristine beaches & forest of the Cham Islands offer an option when weather permits. Onwards to Hue, a cyclo pedals you across the moats encircling the walls of the Nguyen Dynasty Citadel, to the inner sanctum of the Forbidden City. A Cruise on the Perfume River visits the community of boat dwellers & old riverine settlements. Ascend to the foothills of the Annamite Range at Aluoi to spend a night at a tribal village. At dawn, retrace the Ho Chi Minh Trail in a scenic circuit to the beaches & fishing village of My Thuy. Among the options are the tunnels of Vinh Moc with exits to the sea. Returning to Hue you may connect on to Hanoi from Danang’s international airport.
Once upon a time, salanganes selected an island on which to build their kingdom.
After an hour by boat from Nha Trang city, the Noi and Ngoai islands, home to thousands of salanganes, appear on the horizon.
Although accessing the islands used to be forbidden in order to protect the environment and salangane nests, tourists can now discover the magical world of the salangane between February and September yearly.
Apart from its salanganes, the islands boast pristine beaches, a pure atmosphere and a strange kingdom where humans are but guests and birds their hosts. While Ngoai Island can only be seen from by boat, visitors are allowed to walk around Noi Island.
Salangane nests (yen sao in Vietnamese) are extremely expensive and legendary products collected and consumed for thousands of years. Its demand and economic value has only increased as time has gone by.
Chemical analyses have shown that salangane nests contain special nutritious components including protein, glucid, sialic acid and microelements.
Eating salangane nests thus has the effect of filling you up, fostering strength and you recover from health problems.
Tourists are allowed to visit the rock cliff caves where the salanganes create their nests while enjoying delicious and nutritious food which, in the past, was reserved for only kings or as rewards to their courtiers and distinguished guests.
Amongst many regions along Viet Nam's long coastline, Khanh Hoa Province plays home to an abundance of salangane nests, according to Le Huu Hoang, director of the Yen Sao Khanh Hoa Company.
It has been estimated that over 12 rock islands, especially Noi and Ngoai islands off the Khanh Hoa Province coast, hosts more than 200,000 salangane birds during breeding season.
While Ngoai Island housed the most salanganes, Noi Island is famous for the high quality of its salangane nests, said Hoang.
Tour guide Vo Van Cam, also a salangane nest collector, took us to the island's goddess temple upon our arrival.
It is said that the island's Governor, Le Thi Huyen Tram (1753-93), a female officer in the Tay Son Navy during the 18th century, sacrificed her life to protect the salangane islands and the Khanh Hoa sea territory.
A 5.5m tall Goddess statue was built in honour of the valiant Governor, locals still believing that she protected the land, the sea, the salanganes and the nest collectors. Before setting foot on the island, collectors visit the temple, burn incense and pray for protection, seeing as collecting salangane nests is often fraught with peril.
A festival, dedicated to the Governor, is held annually on the 10th day of the fifth lunar month, consisting of a ritual worshipping ceremony and performances, which mainly attract salangane nest collectors from around the region.
Discovering the salangane caves, where collectors use bamboo stairs to get their hands on precious nests, is an unforgettable experience.
Although most birds build their nests from straw and twigs, salangane nests are made from their saliva, stuck to high cliffs in rugged, inaccessible caves throughout the island. To access the nests, collectors are required to climb bamboo ladders. Because the... read more...
Vietnamese Tour Operator in Vietnam:
Asiana Travel Mate Co, Ltd.. is Vietnamese Tour Operator in Vietnam. We are one of leading travel agencies and tour operator in Vietnam with more than 4 years in professional travel service. The company specializes in Vietnam tours packages, Ha long Bay cruises, day tours and excursions in and around the major tourist attractions in Vietnam like Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh, Nha Trang, Hoi An, Hue, Sa Pa, etc and extends to Lao and Cambodia
We provide a wide range of premium, luxury, and budget travel services in Vietnam. We operate MICE, Business or Leisure travel, Adventure, Nature discovery tours, Set Departure, Private and Customized Trips. More than that we offer a range of itineraries to most destinations, consisting of varies lengths and composition to suit a diversity of tastes and budgets and are always ready to customize our itineraries to suit individual interests. Except for scheduled itineraries or custom made programs, we offer affordable price to direct customers as well as local and international Tour Operators and Travel Agencies but ensure the quality of travel and tour operations.
Along with traditional services such as hotel booking, flights, transfers, local guides… Asiana Travel Mate provides a range of supporting services to make your holiday memorable and free of inconveniences or problems. These include online visa applications, airline reservations, car, motorbike or bicycle rentals and on special request, health caretakers, chaperons or child-minders. Travelers who require other services that we may not undertake are redirected to the best alternative providers within our extensive.
With the spirit penetrating from the early foundation, “Responsible Travel and Sharing” guides and permeates every aspect of our operation, management, development and interaction with travelers and local communities. We always try to provide high quality, innovative and authentic travel experiences with strong emphasis on personal care, social and environmental responsibilities. We commit to sharing the economic benefits of tourism in the localities. We believe in taking personal and corporate responsibility for the delivery of services as promised and in addressing any problems experienced by our travelers besides being sensitive to the natural and social environment.
Asiana Travel Mate is the exclusive, partner of choice for tour and travel services of the Tourist Information Center (TIC), Vietnam’s first multi-service travel and leisure information provider that has established a total of 6 offices in the principle cities of north, central and South Vietnam, besides Cambodia and Laos. Our Vietnam offices are located in the major tourist districts of Hanoi, Hue and Ho Chi Minh City for greater visibility and access, as well as in the Cambodian capital of Phnom Penh and Vientiane in Laos.
To serve our travelers and potential customers better, these modern and comfortable sales offices are staffed by our young and active travel consultants from 08:30 hrs to 21:00 hrs local time. We are only the company that serves traveler for extended hours. For the convenience of travelers, we maintain an interactive presence on the Internet to provide free, spontaneous consultancy across different time and geographical zones.
Managing by experienced founders who worked as tour leaders, local tour operators for famous multinational Travel... read more...
Available inVietnam Tours, this fascinating tour to places less traveled, reveals surprising aspects of Vietnam’s south & central regions with scenic landscapes, spontaneous encounters & insights into Vietnam’s history and contemporary times. Discover the neon-lit buzz of Saigon by night & quiet pockets of riverine countryside merged into the sprawl of the city by day.
Fly into Danang, central Vietnams modern maritime hub & drive to Hoi An where heritage houses line the waterfront. Accompany estuarine fishermen out in boats; visit the makers of traditional watercraft & cycle to the white sands of Cam An beach. Offshore, the pristine beaches & forest of the Cham Islands offer an option when weather permits. Onwards to Hue, a cyclo pedals you across the moats encircling the walls of the Nguyen Dynasty Citadel, to the inner sanctum of the Forbidden City. A Cruise on the Perfume River visits the community of boat dwellers & old riverine settlements. Ascend to the foothills of the Annamite Range at Aluoi to spend a night at a tribal village. At dawn, retrace the Ho Chi Minh Trail in a scenic circuit to the beaches & fishing village of My Thuy. Among the options are the tunnels of Vinh Moc with exits to the sea. Returning to Hue you may connect on to Hanoi from Danang’s international airport.
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Booking must be confirmed before 7 am daily.
Special discount for group tour with more than 4 People
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