Snorkelling in Nha Trang

Snorkelling in Nha Trang will offer visitors a chance to explore natural beauty of one of the most stunning sea regions in Vietnam.

It takes about a 30-minute boat ride to get to Hon Mun Sea Preservation Site for snorkelling. Visitors receive instructions on how to use the equipment on the boat ride.

Each participant will be instructed and accompanied by a skilled diver to ensure safety. At a depth of between 5-10m, colourful coral reefs can be seen, along with the marine life that lives there.

Although snorkelling is relatively new to Vietnam, it gives those interested a chance to explore some of the country's natural beauty.

Nha Trang is also famous for tourist sites such as Thap Ba Ponagar, Long Son Pagoda and Institute of Oceanography.

 

 

Accompanied by professional instructor

 

 

Colourful coral

Autumn in Hanoi

Visitors to Hanoi at this time of year have the chance to enjoy the feel of its romantic and poetic scenes.

Sunset over West Lake

A woman selling flowers on Yen Phu street

Ancient houses

Hoa sua (Milk flowers)

Hanoi flag tower

Museum of History

Sun flowers

A sesame tree (Loc Vung) by Hoan Kiem Lake

A woman selling flowers on Phan Dinh Phung street

 

Coconut palms - symbol of Ben Tre

Visitors to the Mekong Delta province of Ben Tre now have the chance to enjoy its famous fruit, traditional craft products and folk culture.

 

They can travel in a small along the rivers or canals in the shade of coconut trees and stop on the way to relax in fruit orchards and coconut gardens.

Ben Tre is located in the lowest part of the Mekong River basin, some 85km south of Ho Chi Minh City. It has three main islands wedged between the Tien Giang River to the north and the Co Chien River to the south, with the Ham Luong River running straight down the middle. All of these rivers are offshoots of the Mekong as it splits out into many fingers before flowing into the South Asian Sea.

The province is famous for its rice and fruit cultivation, but its traditional life has changed little over time, with tourists wandering through the markets, sipping coffee, taking boat trips and visiting local museums.

Coconut palms have become the symbol of Ben Tre since land was first reclaimed in the southern part of the country. During the war, coconuts were used to make coconut oil, which served as a viable substitute for kerosene. The province now has nearly 36,000 hectares of coconut plantations that have survived through protracted wars and remain dear to the hearts of local people.

There was a time when many people in Ben Tre felled coconut trees for some economic reasons, but now they have replanted them, producing around 242 million coconuts each year.

Many handicrafts are made from coconut materials including sandals, dolls, small baskets, bed lamps and vases. Tourists can visit local coconut candy factories to watch the candy being made and also buy some to take home as special gifts for their family and friends.

In addition to coconuts, Ben Tre is also known as the "king" of specialty fruit, with 41,000 hectares of orchards yielding 375,000 tonnes of fruit a year. Some of the province's unique specialties include milky yellow-fleshed and stoneless durians, green-skinned pomelos, Cai Mon mangosteens, high-yield "Four Season" mangos, and special Mo Cay oranges.

Motorcycling and trekking at Hai Van Pass

Once, with two wheels and some free time, I had the chance to see the stunning Hai Van Pass.
The sun was hot, but the sky, ocean, and road were all clear, providing amazing views for photographers. The road climbs into the east side of  Bach Ma National Park, overlooking Danang and Lang Co bays, spilling out into the East Sea. The winding road, mountain switchbacks (sometimes 180 degrees), and steep grades call for some serious focus on driving, but it’s all worth the trek.

I left Danang in the morning and started the ascent into the mountainous pass. Covered from head to toe from the scorching summer sun, I wondered if now was the best time of year to be making the journey. But as I ascended into the mountains, climbing higher and higher into the pass, the air turned cooler and cleaner, I then pulled off at a giant rock, climbed atop and looked out over the water.  Danang city appears more beautiful than ever in the distance. It was worlds away from the hustle and bustle down below (though I did get coerced into having a café sua đa (iced milk coffee) after my rock climb.

As I went higher into the mountains, the road turned steeper and sharper with the sun rays growing stronger to make travelers stay and find solace in the shade of roadside trees. As the pass flattened out, I saw a string of restaurants and cafes surrounding by vendors and hawkers and decided to run to the other side of the mountain on Lang Co beach. Enjoying the downgrades, I let my motorbike do most of the work, and soaked in the amazing scenery stretching as far as to the horizon. Finally when I reached Lang Co beach there was nobody in sight on a white sandy oasis.

After spending there, I rode back up to the pass for another descent. From the top to the  Danang side of the pass, my luck ran dry and my rear tire went flat. Amazingly, out of the blue, this could have happened anywhere. I found myself sipping cafe sua da as a roadside hut while waiting for a man with a tire repair kit to patch my worn inner tube. I had no problem with a hefty bill as I could never let a flat tire ruin my amazing day trip. Cruising down the mountain with the sun shining over my shoulders, I saw Danang coming into view with the Lady Buddha and Thuan Phuoc bridge glowing off in the distance to welcome me back from my amazing travel.

Whether you are going to see  Hue or Danang, My Khe or Lang Co beach, or any scenery in the central Vietnam, a cruise along the Hai Van Pass is an unforgettable memory.

Royal bananas light up rural village

Chuoi ngu season has now come upon Dai Hoang Village, in the northern province of Ha Nam, giving visitors of the area a chance to enjoy the rare taste of the fruits.

 

Chuoi ngu is a variety of banana that has grown in the area for hundreds of years. It is small and has bright yellow skin and a sweet smell when ripe. Its beauty and taste has made the area famous since the 13th century.

It is said that this kind of banana used to be a favourite fruit of the Tran Kings, so local people call it Chuoi ngu, meaning royal banana.

 

 

Although the fruit can be seen all year round, it is mainly in season between June and August, when the bananas taste the best.

Any visitors to Dai Hoang Village at this time have the opportunity to enjoy this delicious specialty, along with the beautiful sights of local markets filled with the bight yellow ripening fruits.

 

 

According to local people, their fruit has just been granted a certificate of origin by the Ministry of Science and Technology. This will encourage them to preserve and develop this species of banana and help widen its market.