Ha Giang Forest Festival

Although the Pu Peo is ethnic people in Ha Giang, they still preserved many liturgies and a folklore treasure. Along with other liturgies are held in the New Year, people prays dryad for the green of forest, security for people in the forest fest. Also, from this ceremony, the forest has the Pu Peo protected very well, especially, the sacred forest. They protect the forest in order to have water for farming and have wood for making house. Each year, on June 6th lunar calendar, people held this fest with the most solemn rites. North Vietnam tours

The fest takes place in the forbidden forest, the sorcerer faces in a big tree and bow in the ground in order to pray dryad for protecting their village. The Pu Peo always understands that preserving forest is keeping water.

All thing were displayed on the banana leaf forest, the altar was constructed of green bamboo with nearly 2 meters height, facing the mountain. The square glutinous rice pounded to a pulp to make cakes, sliced carefully. On each piece of rice is a small boiled egg. It the bottom of the altar, there has 2 chickens which are still alive. Around the altar is bottle wine and bowl. Besides, they have forced a female goat near the altar. The fest lasts several hours; sorcerer holds a fresh bamboo waving in all time of liturgy. Sometimes, he holds a dried gourd. The rite shows the respect of human divided into three stages. The first stage, chickens and goats still live, the second stage, the youngsters cut their neck and finally, people have meal in this place right. The families do not attend, they also were divided food. Halong Jasmine Cruise

During the day, with the jubilant atmosphere and the unity of ethnic groups in the village, the liturgy was implemented by the Pu Peo ethnic. The festival part is involved by whole people in the village. Having traditional sports such as: push sticks, tug, playing “ao”…attract a large number of ethnic groups. Besides, folk song programs will be presented by the Pu Peo ethnic. Jasmine Cruise

Harmony with nature, respect and protect natural forest as friend become a common sense of Pu Peo community, shown in each family, village. Each sacred forest is protected by people. It not only brings physical value and spiritual value but also contributes to protect and develop environment.

Ha Giang Praying for Rain Festival 

Praying for rain festival of the Lo Lo is common religious in agriculture. On the festival occasions, almost all activities of the Lo Lo are aimed at praying for rain. They wish the rain down to the Meo Vac field and they pray for a prosperous forever.

Every March, when the climate is dry and trees lack water, Lo Lo ethnic people in Meo Vac, Ha Giang Province often held a praying for rain festival. With typical rituals, the festival, handed down from generation to generation, is also an opportunity to meet one another.

Ha Giang Praying for Rain Festival 

The praying for rain festival is often held on the 15th, 17th, 19th of the 3rd lunar month. It is only organized when the weather is harsh or drought appears. Previously, rich people in villages used to pay for the cost of the festival but nowadays each villager contributes an item to the festival. Objects include a chicken, a dog or a kilogram of rice is taken to the house of a sorcerer or village chief. To have a successful praying for rain festival, the first procedure that cannot be avoided is to organize a ceremony to ask ancestral sorcerers for aid.

The procedure is quite easy, including a cup of water, incense and bamboo paper (a kind of papers that is used for sacrifices of the Lo Lo people). First of all, the sorcerer burns incense at the family ancestor’s altar and then, the cup of water and the paper are placed at a house corner. After that, the sorcerer starts worshipping. He covers the water cup with the bamboo paper; if the water in the cup is not absorbed or poured out of the cup, “permission is granted” and then, the praying for rain festival will be successful. Finally, the sorcerer burns the bamboo paper and the procedure is completed.

The Lo Lo ethnic people believe that after organizing the festival within three to nine days, it will rain. The festival is divided into two parts: the ritual and the festival. The ritual is made with the participation of villagers. Live objects such as dogs and chicken will be taken to the praying place and worshipped twice. After being used for worshipping for the first time, village’s boys will slaughter them and use the meat for worshipping again.

When the worship finishes, villagers drink the alcohol, eat the meat and dance. Beautiful Lo Lo girls dance in their traditional costumes weaved with colorful patterns.

The rain praying festival is a typical cultural activity bearing unique characteristics. The festival is an opportunity for villagers to pray for luck and show their faith in God

In addition to highlighted attractions such as Trang An, Bai Dinh pagoda, Ninh Binh also have many peaceful places for tourists to discover just in one day. Spending time to explore relatively new and interesting destinations like Thung Nham, Thien Ha cave, Dong Chuong lake is a good way to gain better understanding about the historical land of Ninh Binh. Vietnam travel Packages

7h: Temple of King Dinh-Le

Hoa Lu ancient capital is tied with three dynasties Dinh – Le – Ly, which is regarded as the land of “supernatural” with many famous Vietnamese celebrities. According to the records, in 968, Dinh Bo Linh came to the throne of the first feudal state in Vietnam, he chose Hoa Lu as the capital and built many palaces, temples in here. Nowadays, there are many monuments left in Hoa Lu, one of these is the temple of King Dinh and Le which are seperated approximately 500m and located in Truong Yen commune, Hoa Lu district. Here you can learn about the history of King Dinh and Le’s reign. In addition, Hoa Lu relic still has some beautiful pagodas like Ngan Xuyen (near foot of Ma Yen mountain) and Nhat Tru (far away 200m from King Le’s temple). Au Co Cruise Halong Bay

24h discovering little-known places in Ninh Binh

9h: Thung Nham eco-tourism site

Belong to Ninh Hai commune, Hoa Lu district, which far away 10km from Ninh Binh city, Thung Nham (or Thung Chim – Bird Valley) is located in the core area of Trang An, beside the famous tourist area Tam Coc – Bich Dong. In order to come here, almost tourists choose to go to Tam Coc about 4km, through the Sun Valley then continue by road or boat if selecting go through Pagoda cave.  You’ll be sure to see here numerous species of birds and the most common ones are stork, teal, starling and so on. In particular, it is also home to many rare species of birds in the Red Book. After being amazed by the number of birds here, you can visit caves in rocky mountains. Leaving boats to walk on the shore, you can visit orchards, centuries-old banyan tree, primary forests and aquaculture zones. MANGO CRUISE MEKONG

12h: Lunch

Resting in Doi Nham valley, you do not forget to enjoy local dishes like hill chickens, fishes in natural lake, bamboo cane and forest vegetables.

13h: Thien Ha cave

After sightseeing and having lunch at Thung Nham, you will move to Muong Tho Ha, Son Ha commune, Nho Quan district to come up with Thien Ha cave. The cave has a length of 700m including small water cave inside. It’s not really big but due to located in the range of Tuong Mountain, which is a part of natural wall protecting Hoa Lu in 10th century, Thien Ha cave attracts a lots of tourists come to understand more about the ancient capital region.

15h30: Dong Chuong lake

Out of the cave, you keep moving to the two communes Phu Loc and Phu Long to go to Dong Chuong lake. Here you will find pretty pristine and quiet lake scenery. Around the lake, you can see pine hills reflected on the water, all create cool and dreamy space inside jungle. Near the lake, you can visit Ba Tua waterfall, Chin Suoi (Nine Stream line), pine hills and a pond with blue water which never shallow. You can take a boat around the lake, enjoy fresh air,  participate in fun games or go camping to end your long day roaming at beautiful places in Ninh Binh.

20 Things You Must Eat In Hanoi

Food-loving globetrotters, here’s a bit of sound advice: If you’re headed to Vietnam’s northern city of Hanoi, we’d recommend you pack a pair of elastic-banded pants. The city is a wonderland of cheap eats and drinks, offering an endless variety of soups, noodles, buns, rolls and sandwiches paired with plenty of fresh herbs — and fresh beer, too.
Food-loving globetrotters, here’s a bit of sound advice: If you’re headed to Vietnam’s northern city of Hanoi, we’d recommend you pack a pair of elastic-banded pants. The city is a wonderland of cheap eats and drinks, offering an endless variety of soups, noodles, buns, rolls and sandwiches paired with plenty of fresh herbs — and fresh beer, too. Travel to Vietnam

You could spend a week eating your way through the hectic, motorbike-clogged streets of Hanoi’s Old Quarter and never eat the same meal twice. I know I didn’t on my recent trip. Here are 20 dishes and drinks from Hanoi that haunt my hungry dreams.

1. Bánh bao
The close cousin to the steamed Chinese baozi can be stuffed with ingredients ranging from pork to mushrooms and quail eggs. It’s a hot and fluffy treat. Halong bay tours Vietnam

2. Bánh cuốn
When dawn breaks, we suggest you seek out these rice-flour rolls wrapped around minced mushrooms and pork. It’s a warm, wonderful way to start the day.

3. Bánh mì
The baguette is one of the enduring symbols of French colonialism. It’s given a Southeast Asian twist by stuffing it with pâté, mayonnaise, pickled carrots and daikon, jalapeños and gobs of cold cuts. But the bánh mì is basically a blank slate to which cooks can add whatever they desire. Mekong river tours Vietnam

4. Bánh xèo
Made with turmeric and plenty of coconut milk, the crispy rice-flour crepe classically encases shrimp, pork, onions and perhaps sprouts too. It’s also served with a garden’s worth of herbs.

20 Things You Must Eat In Hanoi

5. Bia hơi
Draft beer is sacred to Vietnam, where tipplers wile away the hours sipping on this crisp, unpasteurized and unfiltered lager—its name roughly translates to “fresh beer”—that’s usually sold for about 25 cents a mug. Go on, have four. You’d need to drink gallons to get drunk.

6. Bún bò nam bộ
Carnivores should seek out this southern-Vietnam dish: A bed of rice noodles is topped by tender grilled beef, chopped cucumbers, lettuce, papaya slivers, fresh herbs, crushed peanuts and heaps of crunchy fried onions. Mix it with fish sauce–spiked nước chấm, take a bite, moan and repeat.

7. Bún bò huế
Get your sinuses running with a bowl of this spicy beef-noodle soup that hails from Huế, Vietnam’s last imperial capital. You can cut the fire with some fresh herbs or a squirt of citrus.

8. Bún cha
When lunchtime hits in Hanoi, the air is perfumed with the scent of sizzling grilled pork, the key component to the city’s signature dish. The swine is served alongside a sweet ’n’ salty broth, slices of green papaya, rice noodles and fresh herbs as far as the eye can see.

9. Bún ốc
Slow-moving sea snails are cherished in Hanoi, where they’re served in a steaming noodle soup with a tomato-based broth.

10. Bún riêu
Consider this the love child of phở, tomato soup and the sea. The noodle soup is composed of a tomato-based broth filled with plenty of crab and bobbing chunks of tomato.

11. Cà phê sữa nóng/sữa đá
Jumpstart your nervous system with a steaming cup of cà phê sữa nóng—that is, potent coffee mixed with sweetened condensed milk. It’s an electric jolt to the nervous system. (If you prefer your coffee cold, order cà phê sữa đá—with ice.)

12. Chả cá
Chunks of fish are anointed with plenty of turmeric, then sizzled with heaps of dill and served with rice noodles. It’s a fragrant delight.

13. Gỏi cuốn
The cool, fresh summer rolls are made with rice paper wrapped around herbs, vermicelli noodles, shrimp, pork or whatever vegetables and protein you have on hand.

14. Mì vįt tiềm
You’ll notice the echoes of Cantonese cuisine in this soup stuffed with squiggly yellow noodles, roasted duck and Chinese broccoli.

15. Nem cua be
Instead of a tube, these flaky, deep-fried spring rolls are shaped like a square. What’s inside is equally surprising: ground crab, pork, mushrooms and more. Eat them with fresh herbs and lettuce, which ably cut through the greasiness.

16. Nước chấm
Almost everything in Vietnam tastes better after being dunked into this salty-sweet-sour dipping sauce. It’s composed of fish sauce, citrus juice, sugar, water and, if you prefer, garlic and hot peppers.

17. Nước mía
Attention, sweet tooth; Get your fix with fresh-pressed sugarcane juice served over ice. It’s oddly invigorating. Or maybe that’s the sugar talking.

18. Phở
The classic Vietnamese noodle soup is sold from sunrise to last call on street corners citywide. The broth is typically made from long-boiled beef bones and spices such as star anise and cinnamon. Pho bò refers to beef, while phở gà signifies chicken.

19. Sinh tố
Take advantage of Vietnam’s fruit bounty to savor a smoothie made with sweetened condensed milk, crushed ice and your choice of, say, strawberry, mango or lychee. Just whatever you do, stay away from us if you opt for the rank, custardy durian.

20. Xôi
Looking to get stuffed, fast? Seek out the ladies with giant baskets stuffed with warm sticky rice. The rice is topped with lotus root, roasted garlic and whatever meat or fish happens to be on hand.