Ba Vi – a complex of interesting and wonderful sites

Ba Vi National Park is one of the wonderful and fascinating parks located in Ba Vi district. It is very suitable for those who are nature lovers and wish to discover the landscapes and nature on the mountains. Let’s come to Ba Vi to admire and learn more about the lung of Hanoi capital.

Visiting Ba Vi National Park, visitors will have many things to see, discover and experience. In the first place, Ba Vi national park is a famous landscape that you can not neglect when coming to Ba Vi. Visitors will enjoy the spectacular natural scenery of the mountain and discover a lot of rare plants and animals here. There are 63 species of mammals, 1209 species of plants and 21 of them are rare plant listed in the Vietnam Red Book such as Bach xanh, Sen mat, Phi ba mui, De tung so trang, Hoa tien,ect. Ba Vi National Park is considered the lung of Hanoi capital. In addition, when coming to Ba Vi National Park, visitors can have a chance to discover the orchid garden and bird garden in the Park. Visiting the park will help you learn more about rare animals and plants and admire orchid garden and bird garden with different types of birds.

                                                              

Stork island in Chi Lăng Nam

The stork island is located in Chi Lăng Nam commune, Thanh Miện district and stays about 25km far from Hải Dương city. Its pen name is An Dương by nature. It is called the stork village because the village has a small island located in the middle of broad lake with ten thousands of storks and herons residing and nesting. With an area of more than 3,000m2, the stork island is home to 15,000 storks and more than 5,000 herons of various kinds and such rare and precious birds as pelicans and teals residing together. 

“The valley of light” in Tuyen Quang

The residents in Tuyen Quang Province are proud of their native land and its development. Over the past half a century, the province where people of 22 ethnic groups live together has experienced great socio-economic changes that brought a better life to the locals and changed the thinking and working habits of the authorities and people in the new period of time.

Wild beauty in Binh Tien beach

With its primitive and beautiful landscape, Binh Tien Beach in Cong Hai Commune, Ninh Hai District is one of the most beautiful sites in Ninh Thuan Province that attracts both domestic and foreign tourists. 

To reach the beach, travel along Highway 1A from Phan Rang City in the direction of Nha Trang to km marker 1525 (31km from Phan Rang and 72km from Nha Trang), turn right onto a small newly-built road, about 2km long, and then pass over a spring named “Spring of Fresh Water” that connects the two sea straits in Cam Lap Commune, Khanh Hoa Province and Cong Hai Commune in Ninh Thuan Province.

Some attractive sites in Tien Giang province

Tien Giang, located to the North of the Mekong Delta, alongside the North of Tien River. Tien Giang's economy depends mainly on agriculture, and handicraft industry. Attractive sites include Thoi Son Islet, Dong Tam Snake Farm, and Dong Thap Muoi Area, Vinh Trang Pagoda.

             

                                                                                                     Vinh Trang Pagoda

Phong Dien – attractive with natural beauty and cuture

Phong Dien District, considered as the green lung of Can Tho City, is famous for “Gian Gua” (a giant area of gua trees), “Lung Cot Cau” and “Bung Da Noi” monuments. Travel tour to Phong Dien is really attractive for natural and cultural value of it.

Visit Phong Dien with lush garden fulled of fruit

Travel to Phong Dien Districts, visitors only have to drive along the National Road 923 from the city to Phong Dien for around 10 kilometers, where they will have to go on a wharf  across the Can Tho River. This is an ideal tour in Vietnam  for tourists.

Passing through farmlands and  lush gardens, there will appear a giant area of “gua” trees in two sides of the road. Gian gua trees are about six meters high. These trees’ roots and branches knit together so well that people cannot identify which ones are roots and which are branches. And most visitors are amazed at the spectacular scenery of Gian Gua which covers about 3,000 square meters.

Sands of Mui Ne

In most of the brochures the famous sand dunes of Mui Ne are advertised. For me those were the main reason why I chose to go to the city despite its touristy image.

There are the famous white dunes (which are pale-yellow) and the red dunes (which are more orange...). I asked myself if it might be an overrated place to go and discovered it on my own. First: Yes, it is possible. Second: Don’t await too much help if you go alone. But third: It’s still an adventure if the right information is provided which is my job I guess....

Concerning the white dunes: Even though I wrote before they appeared more pale-yellow to me it’s much a question of the right perspective. Most tourists are coming in the very early morning when the sunlight touches the sand in a pretty white color. It might be a crowded place at sunset and I won’t say it’s worth to get up early to see the sunset there. The way to the dunes – which is just always along the highway and at the pagoda left (about 20km) – has a much better atmosphere. On the left side several dunes and steppes, getting the first shapes of the day from the early sun... on the right side an endless, lonely beach and the wide, open sea where the fishermen are on their boats already. The area, spotted with hills, forests and dunes might be interesting to visit as well.

The white dunes look despite everything quite amazing from the distance. They are surrounded by the “Lotus Lake” (which has only a few lotus...) and some out-priced quad-bike dealer.

The “red” sand dunes are on the way to the white ones and it’s impossible to miss them. Some children and vendors are standing there already, trying to foist you a sleigh upon. It might be the best time to visit the “red” ones during noon or late afternoon when they get their expected colour. It is worth to stay a while and wander around, during noon only very few tourists are around. I guess due to the desert and no protection from the hot, Vietnamese sun.

A view of Fairy Stream in Phan Thiet City

Ba Den Mountain, a great destination in Tay Ninh province

For those visiting Tay Ninh for the first time cannot restrain their curiosity to explore a famous cultural and historical site of the South - Ba Den Mountain - the most striking mountain in Ba Den Mountain Complex.

Climbing Ba Den Mountain is a chance to be closer to nature and get some good exercise at the same time. The feeling of defeating the mountain is a joyful one. The path zigzags through splendid surroundings and under the shade of green trees that protect skin from the scorching sun. From the peak, visitors will enjoy a perfect view of the valley that immediately relieves the fatigue of the climb.
To get down the mountain, most young tourists chose to take a grass slider trip. It is a soft adventure activity and safe as the slope is gentle and tourists can control the brake of the slide.
A round trip cable car ride from the foot of mountain to the Ba Temple is also offered. Soaring on the cable car, visitors in Vietnam tourism catch a view of a sparking waterfall under the glistening sun, mysterious caves and dense forest. However, according to practical experience, for who want to keep away from exhausted situation of climbing, it is suggested that they should take slider or cable car for the upward way and get down the mountain on foot.

Ba Den Mountain attracts many tourists in Vietnam travel  and pilgrims by its majestic image, several magnificent caves and pagodas. And it often welcomes a large number of people in spring time, the first and second lunar months, especially on the festivals of Ba Den Mountain. There are two main festivals occurring at Ba Den Mountain annually: Spring Festival, from the 15th to the 18th day of the first lunar month and Via Ba Festival lasting from the 5th to the 6th day of the fifth lunar month.
The Ba Den Mountain Spring Festival is much boisterous than Via Ba Festival. Pilgrims go there for religious reasons as well as for sightseeing. In the 20km route from Tay Ninh Town to the foot of Ba Den Mountain pilgrims from near and far crowd the road.

Source: Internet

Binh Quoi offers fab river tours

Binh Quoi Tourist Village under management of Saigontourist has launched seven new river tours for tourists to explore the increasingly attractive river destinations in Ho Chi Minh City. The travel agent will offer 10 boats with capacities from 6 to 40 people.

East-West Highway

The tour departs at Thu Thiem Waterway Wharf and will take tourists through Bach Dang Wharf, Nha Rong Port, Khanh Hoi, Mong, Chu Y, Cha Va and Ong Lanh bridge as well as Binh Dong Wharf.

Me Cung Grotto in Halong Bay

Me Cung Grotto has been recognized by archaeologists as one of the vestiges of the pre-Halong new Stone Age culture that existed between 7,000 and 10,000 years ago. 

Two kilometers south-west of Ti Top Beach is the Me Cung Grotto or Bewitching Grotto. It formed on Lom Bo Island, and seen from afar, the entrance is like the roof of a house denting the island’s side.

After a narrow crack only allowing one person through at a time, many partitions appear. These chambers are somewhat small and narrow, but very refined, and with many stalagmites and stalactites bearing beautiful forms.

Binh My Eco-tourism Area

Binh My Eco-tourism Area (Binh My Commune, Cu Chi District) located near the Saigon River is a favourite destination for many people in Ho Chi Minh City and nearby areas for its abundance of unique rural tourism services such as fishing and canal cruising.

Located 20km to the north of the city centre, Binh My Eco-tourism Area is surrounded by a peaceful landscape of green orchards. The park is divided into two parts by a stone-covered road. The left half sprawls out to the banks of the Saigon River with several types of services such as an outdoor café, a karaoke room, a conference room and a restaurant. The other is a large orchard with a complex miniature system of arroyos and canals crossed by straggling bamboo bridges, mimicking that of the Mekong Delta.

Wandering around the orchard, visitors can find huts along the canals, where they can fish while enjoying numerous local dishes, namely water hyacinth salad, chicken roasted in clay, grilled goat meat and goby fish hot pot. Moreover, the riverside resort under a green canopy of fruit trees also deserves praise.

The eco-tourism area’s restaurant is located near the Saigon River. Photo: Le Minh/VNP    Rows of bamboo trees surrounding huts along the canals. Photo: Le Minh/VNP   Binh My Eco-tourism Area’s restaurant. Photo: Le Minh/VNP

Con Dao - A “Pearl” of the East Sea

In the past, Con Dao Archipelago was known as a “hell on earth”. Now, with a beautiful natural landscape with nice beaches, coral reefs and vast green forests, it has become a stunning “pearl” that attracts a large number of domestic and international tourists to come for sightseeing and convalescence purposes.

From a “hell on earth” to a “tourist paradise”

The island district of Con Dao in Ba Ria – Vung Tau Province, 97 nautical miles from Vung Tau City, consists of 16 islands and islets.

Due to lying in a convenient area on the sea route that links Europe and Asia, Con Dao was known to westerners very early. In 1294, Italian explorer Marco Polo on his way back home from China, encountered a storm and had to call at Con Dao Islands. From then to the 16^th century many groups of European travelers visited the islands.

In 1862, a system of brutal prisons was established in Con Dao, shortly after the French occupied three eastern provinces of South Vietnam. From then to 1975, for 113 years, Con Dao became a “hell on earth” where people fighting against French colonialism and the former Saigon regime were imprisoned and oppressed.

Tourists learn about the history of Con Dao at Con Dao Museum. Photo: Le Minh/VNP Tourists visit the “tiger cages” in Con Dao. Photo: Le Minh/VNP The monument to war martyrs at Hang Duong Cemetery. Photo: Le Minh/VNP The scene of the relic of Wharf 914 in Con Dao. Photo: Le Minh/VNP

King Bao Dai’s Palace

Located on Trieu Viet Vuong Street, Da Lat in Lam Dong Province, Bao Dai’s Palace is a charming structure with a European renovated architectural style that helps beautify this romantic city.

The old palace, also known as Palace III, belonged to King Bao Dai, the last emperor of the Nguyen Dynasty (1802-1945) in Vietnam’s feudal regime. It was built from 1933 to 1938 according to a design by a French architect and Vietnamese architect Huynh Tan Phat. The palace has been evaluated as one of the most beautiful architectural works in Da Lat with a hamorny between pine forests and parks, Thuong Uyen (royal garden), Ai An Forest and a small lake. During his reign, King Bao Dai used the palace as holiday house during the summer. During his holidays in the palace, there were always a regiment of imperial guards, a train of cars called “Cong xa biet dien” and private airplanes to serve him and his family. In 1948, when the French persuaded Bao Dai to serve as “head of state” and then established “Hoang trieu Cuong tho”( Domaine de la Couronne in French) in 1950, Bao Dai’s Palace was renamed “Biet dien Quoc truong” (the palace of the head of state).

Bao Dai’s Palace is imbued with the European renovated architectural style.

Ky Van Tourism Area

Located at the foot of the Minh Dam Mountain Range, Ky Van Tourism Area (Anoasis Beach Resort) seems to be hidden in the peaceful and calm bay of Long Hai, one of the most beautiful bays in Ba Ria-Vung Tau Province. The land with a romantic and beautiful landscape was selected by King Bao Dai as his vacations place.

After a long sleep, the land which is as beautiful as a painting was awakened when Long Hai Tourism Company coordinated with Hoang Cung Company Ltd., in Ho Chi Minh City to invest in the area in 1997. Only after one year, Anoasis Beach Resort was founded in the area thanks to the cooperation of Ba Ria -Vung Tau Tourism Company, Hoang Dung Company Ltd., and Anoa Dussol Perran, a French Vietnamese.

A ventilated space seen from the gate of the tourism area.

Mui Ne rated 2nd most beautiful beach in Southeast Asia

Mui Ne beach in the central province of Binh Thuan has been rated by travel guide Canadian Travellers as one of the 11 most beautiful beaches in Southeast Asia.— Photo muinebayresort.com

BINH THUAN  (VNS) — Mui Ne beach in the central province of Binh Thuan has been rated by travel guide Canadian Travellers as one of the 11 most beautiful beaches in Southeast Asia.

It ranks second behind only Koh Lipe, a Thai island in the southern Andaman Sea.
The magazine says: "Mui Ne... has slowly been becoming the top getaway in Vietnam, but while a few boutique resorts have popped up along the white sand beaches, the area has yet to go tourist crazy.
"The beach is right by the town of Phan Thiet, a humble little fishing port. If you like fresh seafood, wander into town to sample the local catch of the day."
From third in the list are Tanjung Rhu (Malaysia), Menjangan Island (Indonesia), Ko Yung (Thailand), Koh Rong (Cambodia), Coron (Philippines), Kuta (Indonesia), Camiguin (Philippines), Gili Trawangan (Indonesia), and Ko Phangan (Thailand). — VNS 

Source: http://vietnamnews.vn

Awakening the “Land of the Dragon”

The island district of Van Don is considered the “land of the dragon” because this area is related to the legend about the place where a mother dragon landed (Ha Long Bay) and her children flanked her (Bai Tu Long Bay). The district consists of 600 small and big islands mostly lying in Bai Tu Long Bay and partly in Ha Long Bay. That’s why the “land of the dragon” will become a special administrative - economic zone in the near future and is attracting the attention of people

The “land of the dragon” is moving

«     Van Don District is situated in the east and southeast of Quang Ninh Province, about 50km from Ha Long City. It covers an area of 551.3km2 and has a population of about 40,000 people. It has one town named Cai Rong and 11 communes. »

In 2006, Van Don, one of the largest island districts in Vietnam, was approved to develop into Van Don Economic Zone by the Prime Minister. Recently, the Politburo decided to develop it into Van Don Special Administrative–Economic Zone, and this northeastern “front post” has started to change rapidly.

More than 800 years ago, King Ly Anh Tong ordered workers to build Van Don into the first international trading port of Dai Viet (former name of Vietnam) in the 12^th century and it became a centre for trading with other countries in East Asia and in the world, such as Japan, China, India, Thailand and Indonesia. However, it was not until the Tran Dynasty (13^th century) that Van Don really flourished and became the largest port in the country with typical cultural features of the sea and islands in the northeast.

Van Don District has a lot of advantages in maritime, air and road transport. It is the hub of the economic corridor, including the Vietnam – China economic belt, the Nanning – Singapore economic corridor and the key economic zone in the north (Hanoi–Hai Phong–Quang Ninh). These are outstanding advantages of this island district.

In addition, it is endowed by nature with a source of sea food, rich in both quantity and variety. This source brings great revenue and creates a basis for the district to develop aquaculture, which is the district’s strength. Along the coast of Quan Lan and Minh Chau Communes there are silica sand beaches which are dozens of meters long. They serve as a source of materials exploited and provided for most the glass factories in the north by Van Hai Viglacera Company. So Van Don is called a “kingdom of white sand” in Vietnam.

With advantageous geography and natural resources Van Don has changed significantly in the past few years, especially after the Prime Minister decided to develop it into Van Don Economic Zone. It has continually received investment to upgrade infrastructures and material facilities with large-scale projects on “clearing the way” and “building the foundation”.

Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong makes an inspection visit to Van Don Special Administrative-Economic Zone. Photo: Tri Dung - VNA Van Don Island District consists of 600 islands and places which are related to the legend of dragon. Photo: Trong Chinh

Bird watching tours in Vietnam

The required tools for such tours are binoculars. This kind of tour has a major attraction that many people in the world could not resist. They do not mind to cross thousands of kilometers to Vietnam for bird watching.

Bird Watching is a hobby that was born from the early 20th century in England, then spread to other countries in Europe, the Americas and Australia. This form of tourism has two main levels: only watching birds and watching bird plus other entertainment activities.

In Japan and Thailand, bird watching tours are held in the form of bird watching and wildlife photography. Bird watching was original the job of scientists who conducted study of the nature but now it has been popularized to groups of nature lovers and environment enthusiasts.
Since the 1990s, the first groups of international visitors appeared in the jungles of Vietnam to watch the birds. At that time, the jungles were still wild, with diverse biodiversity, but it was difficult to watch the birds because there was no tour guide or necessary services, as well as the shortage of documents about migratory bird species in Vietnam.



After 2001, many travel companies have offered bird watching tours. Some firms are specialized in this type of tours, such as the Vietnambirding of American man Richard Craik and the Wild Tour Vietnam, which was established in 2005 and has attracted large numbers of tourists and helped promoting the highlights of Vietnam avifauna.
The Bird Life International has ranked Vietnam as one of the leading countries in the level of biological diversity and the number of threatened bird species. According to statistics, Vietnam's avifauna consists of over 870 species, including endemic 12 species (ranking top in Southeast Asian for the number of endemic bird species), nine rare species and 43 globally endangered species.



Vietnam now has 15 sites for bird watching, with the participation of more than 70 species of birds: Sa Pa National Park and Hoang Lien National Park in Lao Cai province, National Park Tam Dao in Vinh Phuc province, Cat Ba National Park in Hai Phong City, Xuan Thuy National Park in Nam Dinh province , Cuc Phuong National Park in Ninh Binh province, Phong Nha Ke Bang National Park in Quang Binh, Bach Ma in Hue City, Yok Don National Park in Dak Lak, Da Lat City and the vicinity, Cat Tien National Park in Lam Dong, Can Gio mangrove forest in HCM City, Tram Chim National Park in Dong Thap, U Minh Thuong National Park, the Ca Mau and Bac Lieu ecological conservation areas and Ca Mau National Park in Ca Mau province.
The first research works by French doctor Gilbert Tirant named more than a thousand species of birds in South Vietnam during the period of 1875-1877.
The first Vietnamese book about birds, entitled "Vietnam Birds", was compiled by Professor Vo Quy and it was published after 1970.
To make statistics of bird population, every year scientists have to watch and number the birds, using binoculars and specialized cameras. This is not an easy job, especially for rare birds that always get the hidden behind the dense bushes. Sometimes scientists had to stay in the jungle for months to see them.

Source: vietnamtourism.org.vn

Vung Chua with Great Tourism Potential

Vung Chua in Quang Dong Commune, Quang Trach District in central Quang Binh Province has a terrain in the shape of a coiled dragon and crouching tiger. For the locals, it is a sacred land that faces the East Sea with Yen Island serving as a screen. It is also the final resting place of legendary General Vo Nguyen Giap.

Vung Chua is one of the beautiful landscapes in Hon La deepwater bay. According to the book entitled “Dai Nam du dia chi uoc bien” by culturist Cao Xuan Duc (in the Nguyen Dynasty), it was called La Son Bay. The sea is famous for specialties, including swallow’s nest, blood cockle, lobster and abalone which were offerings to the royal courts.

Not far from Vung Chua, about 1km, is a small island, called Yen which covers a total area of 10ha and is surrounded by the sea. It is the home of the largest number of swallows in Quang Binh Province. Standing on the island to look toward the mainland, tourists will see stretching white sand beaches and rocks in different shapes.

Peaceful and beautiful scenery with a calm sea and blue sky as seen from Tho Son Mountain. Vung Chua - Yen Island is a scared area with many ancient temples, pagodas and towers. The final resting place of General Vo Nguyen Giap is located on the side of Tho Mountain,  heading up the mountain and looking toward the sea and peaceful Yen Island.

Sacred Yen Tu Mountain

For over 2,000 years of Buddhism in Vietnam, the famous name of Yen Tu Mountain has been associated with the name and career of Buddhist King Tran Nhan Tong who founded the Truc Lam Zen sect bearing the typical Buddhist culture of the Vietnamese people. This “sacred land” is the “capital” of Buddhism of Dai Viet (the old name of Vietnam). With the unique landscape, architecture, culture and history, Yen Tu Relic and Landscape Complex has been recognised as a special national relic and a dossier is being prepared to submit to UNESCO for its recognition of the complex as a World Heritage Site.

Visiting the Buddhist sanctuary

On an early sunny day of May we made a pilgrimage to the Buddhist sanctuary on Yen Tu Mountain in Quang Ninh Province, where more than 700 years ago, King Tran Nhan Tong left his royal palace to lead an ascetic religious life and founded the Truc Lam Zen sect with a unique Buddhist culture of the Vietnamese people.

Yen Tu Relic and Landscape Complex consists of three groups: - Yen Tu Historical Relic and Landscape Area (Uong Bi City, Quang Ninh Province) - The Area of Historical Relics of the Tran Dynasty in Dong Trieu (Dong Trieu District, Quang Ninh Province) - The Western Yen Tu Relic and Landscape Area (Yen Dung, Luc Nam, Luc Ngan and Son Dong Districts, Bac Giang Province)

History says that King Tran Nhan Tong (1258 - 1308) who led the country to victory over the powerful Mongolian army of the Yuan Monarchy in two wars in 1285 and 1287 left his royal palace to go to Yen Tu Mountain to lead an ascetic religious life on a day in late 1299. This was an unprecedented event in the history of Buddhism in Vietnam. He founded the Truc Lam Zen sect and took the name Truc Lam Dai Dau Da. Later, people reverently called him “Buddhist King Tran Nhan Tong”.

Every year, from the 10^th of January according to the lunar calendar and through three spring months, thousands of visitors from everywhere flock to Yen Tu Mountain to attend the Yen Tu Festival to commemorate Buddhist King Tran Nhan Tong, worship Buddha and contemplate the scenery in spring.

According to Venerable Thich Thanh Quyet, who is Head of the Management Board of the Buddhist Shangha in Quang Ninh Province and verger of Dong (Bronze) Pagoda on Yen Tu Mountain, in the initial days of leading a religious life, apart from practicing and studying the Buddhist tenets to disseminate Buddhist dharma, Buddhist King Tran Nhan Tong also ordered the construction of a system of religious architectural works comprising pagodas, temples and towers of special architectural and artistic value, such as Dong, Bi Thuong, Suoi Tam, Cam Thuc, Lan, Giai Oan, Hoa Yen, Mot Mai, Bao Sai and Van Tieu Pagodas, and Hue Quang and Hon Ngoc Tower Gardens.

The statue of Buddhist King Tran Nhan Tong in a meditative pose, 138 tonnes in weight, is the largest copper statue in Vietnam.  

Dong Pagoda at the peak of Yen Tu Mountain, 1,068m above sea level, has been recognised as
“a bronze pagoda  on the highest mountain in Asia” by the Asian Record Organisation. Photo: VNP’s file

Dong (Bronze) Pagoda was built in the Post-Le Dynasty (the 15^th century).
It was cast with pure copper and is 3m high, 12m2 wide and weighs 60tonnes. Photo: Hoang Ha
Reverend Thich Van Phong chairs a ceremony at Dong Pagoda. Photo: Hoang Ha
Reverend Thich Khai Thien, verger of Dong Pagoda on the peak of Yen Tu Mountain. Photo: Hoang Ha
Hoa Yen Pagoda built in the Ly Dynasty (the 11^th century) is the main one in the system of pagodas in Yen Tu. Photo: Trong Chinh

Mot Mai (one roof) Pagoda is located mid-mountain with its main roof half hidden in the mountain. Photo: Trong Chinh/

All the statues and worshiping objects in Mot Mai Pagoda were made from white stone
with an average size of 34-62cm and date back hundreds of years. Photo: Hoang Ha

The vestige of an ancient pagoda of the Truc Lam Zen sect. Photo: Trong Chinh
Bohi tree leaf-shaped bricks and...


Patterns are imbued with imprints of the Truc Lam Zen sect in Thien Dinh Tower. Photo: Hoang Ha

Over time and through the historical vicissitudes, Yen Tu still retains a gigantic treasure of Buddhist culture of the Vietnamese people from 700 years ago with dozens of pagodas, hundreds of temples and thousands of ancient precious relics which contain invaluable spiritual and ideological values of the Truc Lam Zen sect and the splendid culture of the Dai Viet (13^th – 15^th century).

The first destination of our pilgrimage was Giai Oan (Exoneration) Stream where legend has it that many imperial concubines and beauties committed suicide because they could not advise King Tran Nhan Tong to abandon his religious life to return to the palace. Feeling pity for them the king had a pagoda built to absolve them, thus the stream has the name Giai Oan.

We continued climbing up 500m higher, and then walking along a path shaded by green pine trees and reached Hue Quang Tower Garden. It is the place where a tower with the statue of Buddhist King Tran Nhan Tong inside is situated. The statue is 62cm high and made of marble, featuring a monk in a meditative pose.

Near Hue Quang Tower Garden is Hoa Yen Pagoda which was built during the Ly Dynasty (the 11th century). Above Hoa Yen Pagoda there are Bac and Vang Waterfalls with cool and pure water all year round. We went up on the stone steps and visited the pagodas with many traces which have been recorded in historical books. Finally, we reached the top of Yen Tu Mountain at a height of 1,068m above sea level where Dong Pagoda is. This is a unique and incomparable pagoda which has been recognised as “a bronze pagoda on the top of the biggest mountain in Asia” by the Asian Record Organisation.

Trung Nguyen Coffee Village

To get to where the story of Vietnamese coffee began, and to trace the nation’s spectacular rise as a major world coffee exporter, a visit to Trung Nguyen Coffee Village is a must.

Located in the highland city of Buon Ma Thuot in Dak Lak Province in the Central Highlands, Trung Nguyen Coffee Village offers more than a cup of the exquisite beverage. It is an ideal place for those who are interested in learning about coffee trees and the coffee processing industry.

With a desire to build a coffee paradise for tourists who visit the capital of coffee, Trung Nguyen Corporation constructed a coffee village in a total area of 20,000m². Two years after beginning construction, the project was completed in 2008 and is considered the largest historical and cultural museum of coffee in the Central Highlands.

The garden of old coffee trees in the village. White flowers of coffee trees in Trung Nguyen Coffee Village.  Part of Trung Nguyen Coffee Village.

The village is separated into two main areas including one for enjoying coffee and the other for display. Each area brings interesting experiences to visitors. In the area for enjoying coffee, tourists can see a house with a special architectural space and style of ancient houses in Hue. It has three main compartments namely Cherry, Arabica and Robusta. However, the most striking feature of the village is a garden of old coffee trees. It surely gives tourists relaxing moments when enjoying a tasty cup of coffee under canopies of old coffee trees in an immense space.

Inside the village, there are small streams that help create a cool and airy space and convey stories about the coffee culture of the locals in the Central Highlands. It is the water resource from pure streams that is attributed to creating the distinctive tasty for this area’s coffee.

The second part of the village is used as a display area which was built from wood according to the architecture of a Dai (long) house of the E De ethnic people. Visiting the area, tourists have a chance to see with their eyes objects relating to processing coffee. It is also the place for displaying over 500 objects that show diverse cultures of enjoying coffee from many countries. Here, many art performances of making coffee of other countries in the world have been held, such as making Cappuccino from Italy, roasting and grilling coffee of the Japanese and the traditional method for roasting coffee of the E De people in Vietnam.

The display area of coffee boxes. Foreign tourists learn about the tools for making coffee in Trung Nguyen Coffee Village. Utensils of the ethnic people in the Central Highlands are exhibited in the village. Tourists visit the display area in Trung Nguyen Coffee Village where there are many old objects that hold coffee. Tourists  learn about a German coffee grinding machine. Foreign tourists are interested in the traditional method of processing coffee  of the ethnic people in the Central Highlands. Foreign tourists enjoy cups of coffee in Trung Nguyen Coffee Village.

Besides the objects, visitors are also fascinated by valuable ones which feature cultures of the ethnic people groups in the Central Highlands with gongs, mysterious legends and Can wine.

Last but not least is the souvenir shop in the village where tourists can buy Trung Nguyen coffee and other products such as bags and shirts made from brocade as presents for their relatives or friends.

By Tat Son, Trinh Van Bo
Source: Vietnam Pictorial