Top 3 places to visit in Danang

Hai Van Pass
Hai Van Pass is located along the Hai Van mountain side, between Thua Thien-Hue and Da Nang city. It is the highest and the most beautiful pass in Vietnam (about 500 meters above sea level), and it is the final mountain belonging to Truong Son. Hai Van Pass is also known as 'Cloud Pass' with one side is mountain and other is sea. In the 'Phu Bien Tap Luc', Le Quy Don said that: Hai Van is the bound of Thuan Hoa and Quang Nam. Centre Vietnam tours

At the 13th century, this place belongs to Champa dynasty. In the top of the Pass, the trail of ancestors still retains. The entrance looks to Thua Thien with three words “Hai Van Quan”, the entrance look Quang Nam with the words “Thien Ha De Nhat Hung Quan” (The King Le Thanh Ton granted for this place). According to folk, people said that when Nguyen Hoang Lord protected Quang Nam, Hai Van Pass had a little people passing and it is also the place for wild animal. After the King Minh Mang had been throne, he also visited the beauty of Hai Van Pass and built stone entrance in the top of Pass with the words “De Nhat Hung Quan” (the most beautiful pass). This stone entrance is still on the top of the pass and was recognized as national historical relic. Tourists can contemplate the entire of Da nang city, Son Tra mount.Hai Van Pass is an ideal destination for tourists. From Da nang, along the national highway no.01A to the North. Here, tourists also see Tien Sa, Son Tra peninsula, Cham Islands… and the sand-bank. Coming to Hai Van, you will be sunk into natural space and historical trails of ancient Vietnamese. Jasmine Cruise – Halong Bay

Top 3 places to visit in Danang

Linh Ung Bai But Pagoda
Linh Ung pagoda is located on the hill, with the shape of turtle. Linh Ung pagoda in Son Tra peninsula was inaugurated, it is considered not only as the first processing of Vietnam Buddha in the 21st century but also as the place that gathers quintessence of the earth. PANDAW CRUISE

Linh Ung pagoda faces to The Eastern sea, on the left is Cham Islands, on the right is Hai Van Mountain. Passing the fall and rise of time and history, Linh Ung-Bai But pagoda was built and standing on Son Tra Mountain like the evidence for the combination between belief and nation. It marked the development of Vietnam Buddhism at the 21st century.

Linh Ung-Bai But pagoda is considered as one of the biggest pagoda in Da Nang city in both of scale and architecture. This pagoda has a combination between modern style and traditional style. The main area has a large capacity and it is the most solemn place.

Especially, in Linh Ung-Bai But pagoda, there has Guan Yin statue that is considered as the highest statue in Vietnam (67 meters height approximately 30 stories). This statue put its back to the mountain, faces to the sea. Above the Guan Yin statue is Buddhahood statue with the high of 2 meters.

From here, you can contemplate the whole city, mountain and Son Tra peninsula. In addition, from the distance, you will see Ngu Hanh Son Mountain along with white sand-bank. The beautiful landscape creates a unique impression that you cannot find in other place. It can be said that Linh Ung-Bai But pagoda was built in the tourism relic of the city- Son Tra peninsula tourism place. The pagoda becomes to famous destination for tourist and spiritual place for the Da nang.

Marble Mountain (Ngu Hanh Son)
Marble Mountain belongs to Hoa Hai Ward, Ngu Hanh Son, is far about 7 kilometers from Da nang city to the Southeast. Ngu Hanh Son is located on the yellow sand - bank with 2 kilometers length, 800 meters width. The kind of stone in Ngu Hanh Son has various colors and it is the source of sculpture and arts.

Ngu Hanh Son includes 5 mountains: Kim Son (Metal Mountain), Thuy Son (Water Mountain), Moc Son (Wood Mountain), Hoa Son (Fire Mountain) and Tho Son (Earth Mountain). Number No.05 is the important number in orient and 5 mountains contain unique sense.

Metal Mountain (Kim Son) is located in the Southeast, on the bank of Co Co River. Travelling by boat, tourists can contemplate the beautiful scenery. Ben Ngu, the place, the Kings often stayed each time come to Ngu Hanh Son. Today, it did not exist; however, people can see one ironwood pillar near the Quan Am pagoda.

Wood Mountain (Moc Son)
Moc Son is located near the sea, Thuy Son Islet to the East. The East and South is sand cave, the North is fields and the West is villages. Although it has the name “Wood Mountain”, it has fewer trees. The top mountain is divided into cog-shape as cock spur, so that it also has the name “Mong Ga” Mountain (cock spur mountain).
On the mountain, there has no pagoda; it only has white marble stone as the shape of people. The local people often call “Co Mu” or Guan Yin. In addition, there has small cave named Ba Trung Mountain. In two wars in Vietnam, local people and revolutionary cadre often used this place as shelter.

Top 10 things to do in Ho Chi Minh City

1. Face up to the past
Vietnam's war-torn history can't – and shouldn't – be ignored. Ho Chi Minh City Museum has many informative exhibitions, and explains the country's bloody past through photographs, artefacts and memorabilia. It's sensitively done, without glossing over the atrocities, and (rather ironically) is housed in the Gia Long Palace, where Ngo Dinh Diem spent his final hours in power before his assassination in 1963.

The War Remnants Museum is a more grisly – but equally essential – reminder of local atrocities. From eerie bomb remnants and first-person accounts by war veterans to a bloodied guillotine and photographs of horrific napalm burns, this is a chilling reminder of life not-too-long ago. MEKONG EYES

2. Dress up for Lam Son Square
This well-heeled area has always been one of the city's most prestigious addresses: today, it's the place to head for a night of culture, or a spot of shopping amongst the city's affluent residents.

You can't miss the Hotel Continental in the heart of Lam Son Square (its high-maintenance glossy finish marks it out from the crowd): this was the favoured spot of French high society, and it's still possible to sip cocktails in the hotel terrace, just as they did. South Vietnam tours

If you're after a more meaningful cultural experience, make a beeline for the Municipal Theatre – a lavish 100-year-old building that regularly hosts local and touring dance, opera and theatre companies.

Top 10 things to do in Ho Chi Minh City

3. Reunification Palace
When the French left in 1954, Ngo Dinh Diem constructed the Independence Palace to demonstrate his country's strength, but it was pulled down after an attempt to assassinate him. The replacement building was later renamed Reunification Palace after the fall of Saigon in the 1970s.

Much of the palace remains unchanged since the 70s, and although the shiny rosewood-clad meeting rooms and musty library are interesting, perhaps the most fascinating relic resides in the garden. Here, you'll find the tank that crashed through the gates of the palace on 30 April 1975, signalling the fall of the Saigon regime. Bai Tho Junk – a romantic experience

4. Jade Emperor Pagoda
If you only have time to see one Vietnamese pagoda, make it this one: built in the 1900s by Taoists and Buddhists, the Jade Emperor Pagoda is simultaneously spiritual and awe-inspiring in scale and ambition.

Ornate carved panels and intricate deities line the interior, flanked by lotus flower and fruit offerings and cloaked in a cloud of incense smoke. Head upstairs, and out onto the equally embellished roof terrace, where you'll find a statue of Quan Am (the goddess of mercy) which overlooks a sacred bodhi tree in the courtyard.

5. Wander Dong Khoi
Dong Khoi, a lively stretch of shops and bars, spans from Notre Dame Cathedral to the Saigon River. Visit Dong Khoi for its stories: this characterful road has played a part in Ho Chi Minh's modern history, from the go-go bars that catered for young American GIs back in the 1950s, to its 1970s descent into disrepair after the fall of Saigon.
Today, it's just as colourful: take in the colonial facades and street food stalls while dodging Honda-straddling teenagers and shady characters (watch your wallet – pickpockets abound).

6. Try karaoke
If you're a night owl, you're in the right place. Ho Chi Minh City by night has everything from bia hoi (fresh beer), to a variety of clubs, restaurants and bars for every taste.

Karaoke is a national pass-time, and bright-coloured signs announce it everywhere. Alternatively, relax and listen to traditional and popular Vietnamese music.

Movies are inexpensive, and not a bad place to cool off on a hot day. Tickets cost from $5 at newer cinemas – older theatres cost less. Concerts, plays and other events take place year-round, so be sure to ask at your hotel or hostel for current dates, times and ticket prices.

7. Haggle for bargains in the markets
There are two landmark markets (cho) in Ho Chi Minh City, and numerous others. Cho Ben Thanh, located in District 1 across from the bus station, is probably the best known. It is especially popular in the evening and at night, when food vendors set up stalls and locals and tourists alike gather to eat and shop.

The other, Cho Lon, is a huge Chinese market. You will not see as many tourists here, and the variety of goods is amazing. Both markets are a lot of fun, regardless of whether you're souvenir shopping or just browsing.

Ben Thanh is possibly more regulated, so you may have to worry less about knock-offs or price gouging. That said, you should always be wary of knock-offs and gouging.

Bartering is the way to shop here, so jump right in, offer a price that you think is fair, and have fun. Be extra careful if prices are absent or not clearly marked – that goes for everything, everywhere, every time.

8. Stop for coffee
Believe it or not, Vietnam is the biggest coffee exporter in the world. Vietnamese coffee is excellent – and it's inexpensive and available nearly everywhere. Black coffee with ice (ca phe da) is strong and sweet with an almost chocolate-like richness. Condensed milk can be added, giving you coffee milk ice, or ca phe sua da.

Coffee shops are a huge part of the city's culture. From street vendors to side-walk shops, it's hard to beat having a coffee and watching Ho Chi Minh City go by. Prices range from 33 cents from a street vendor, to $3 or more at the top-end places. Deep-roasted Trung Nguyen is the most popular local brand.

9. Sample the street food
Vietnam’s reputation as one of the world’s tastiest street food nations is well deserved, but many of the pricier restaurants can be disappointing – especially when you combine (more-than-likely) poor service with the hit your wallet takes. You can have a much better meal elsewhere for just a few dollars.

In small eateries, prices range from an incredibly low $3 for a typically large meal of meat, rice and vegetables, but you can pay $50 or more at a four- or five-star restaurant. The hot pots are outrageously good. Tipping is highly irregular, which makes the overall lack of anything resembling service a bit easier to swallow.

Fancy making some authentic Vietnamese cuisine at home? Try your hand at Gordon Ramsay's favourite dishes, Vietnamese sticky chicken wings or pho beef noodle soup.

10. Travel further afield
Ho Chi Minh City is the perfect starting point for exploring southern Vietnam, as well as further afield around South-East Asia. The graciousness of the people living in the 'countryside' is quite refreshing after being stuck in the city for long stretches of time.
Taking the express water taxi and checking out all of Vung Tau is an unmissable day trip. Can Tho, the Mekong Delta, Phu Quoc Island, Phan Thiet and Mui Ne are all nearby, as is Cu Chi.

Mặt lạ tinh bột nghệ và dầu dừa trị mụn trứng cá hiệu quả

Có đến 90 % các bạn nữ từng gặp phải tình trạng mụn chứng cá ở tuổi dậy thì, nhất là ở thời điểm đó các bạn lại mải mê học tập, thức đêm nhiều thì biết nhau ngay. Nếu tuyến nội tiết tố dưới da của các bạn phát triển quá mức mà các bạn không thường xuyên rửa mặt sạch sẽ hoặc bị bám bụi thì vùng chứng cá càng dày hơn và khó xử lý hơn .

 Một khi mụn trứng cá là một vấn đề nghiêm trọng xảy ra trên da mặt thì bạn nên được các bác sĩ da liễu chỉ định điều trị bằng thuốc dược phẩm.

Các loại kháng sinh được sử dụng như erythromycin và clindamycin (thường kết hợp với acid azelaic) là một số trong những loại thuốc phổ biến được sử dụng để điều trị mụn trứng cá nặng. Trong khi điều này có thể mang lại cứu trợ tạm thời nhưng việc sử dụng liều cao thuốc kháng sinh dẫn đến kháng nhiều loại thuốc và tác dụng phụ rất nghiêm trọng, bao gồm cả tiêu diệt các vi khuẩn có lợi ở  đường ruột có lợi cần thiết cho sức khỏe.
Cách tốt nhất để  trị mụn trứng cá là xác định nguyên nhân chủ yếu và đối phó với các vấn đề liên quan đến tiêu hóa và dinh dưỡng. Đối phó với mụn trứng cá chỉ ở cấp độ da thường không giải quyết các nguyên nhân cơ bản. Giải độc gan, duy trì một đường ruột khỏe mạnh, cân bằng thích hợp của Omega 3 và Omega 6 axit béo, làm giảm lượng đường tinh chế và carbohydrate tinh chế khác trong chế độ ăn uống, là những yếu tố giá trị xem xét trong việc cung cấp một giải pháp lâu dài để giảm mụn trứng cá.

Nghiên cứu về Curcumin và axit lauric
   Curcumin được chiết xuất từ củ nghệ đen, một loại gia vị thông dụng trong nhà bếp  đã được chứng minh là một loại kháng sinh tự nhiên có hiệu quả trong nhiều ứng dụng. Trong một nghiên cứu gần đây ở Đài Loan tại Đại học Chang Gung  việc sử dụng curcumin trong cuộc chiến chống các loài vi khuẩn Propionibacterium, loại vi khuẩn này đã được xác định là nguyên nhân chính của mụn trứng cá. Việc kết hợp curcumin và axit lauric cho da đã được kiểm nghiệm làm giảm tình trạng viêm của mụn trứng cá, ức chế các vi khuẩn phát triển và lan rộng, sau đó dần dần giảm hẳn tình trạng mụn gia tăng.

    Ứng dụng thực tế
   Hai hợp chất curcumin và axit lauric đã được tìm thấy trong tự nhiên và việc kết hợp các sản phẩm từ thiên nhiên để trị mụn được coi như một phương pháp rẻ tiền và an toàn .
 mat-la-tinh-bot-nghe-dau-dua-tri-mun-chung-ca

Mặt nạ tinh bot nghe đen và dầu dừa
     Thứ nhất , chất curcumin được tìm thấy trong nghệ, một loại gia vị đã trở nên phổ biến.
Nghệ có lịch sử được các chị em phụ nữ sử dụng lâu dài ở Ấn Độ  nhằm làm đẹp và dưỡng da. Trong phương pháp chữa bệnh Ayuverdic nghệ được sử dụng theo truyền thống cho các cô dâu trước khi đám cưới của họ để làm cho làn da của mình mềm mại và mịn màng.

Tiếp theo, axit lauric được tìm thấy rất nhiều ở hai nơi trong tự nhiên đó là sữa mẹ và dầu dừa. Dầu dừa chứa gần 50% axit lauric. Dầu dừa được ứng dụng rộng rãi để dưỡng da nổi tiếng trong nền văn hóa châu Á và nó cũng được biết đến như một loại tinh dầu chống nấm và chống vi khuẩn.
 
   Vì vậy chúng ta có thể kết hợp curcumin có trong nghệ với axit lauric có trong dầu dừa hoặc sữa mẹ để tạo thành một mặt nạ chống và trị mụn dành cho da. Việc sử dụng nước ép nghệ tươi gây vàng da, khó tẩy rửa gây bất tiện cho người sử dụng, đặc biệt khi kết hợp với dầu dừa lại càng khó tẩy trôi trên da, bạn có thể thay thế bằng mặt nạ tinh bột nghệ và dầu dừa. Pha tinh bột nghệ với chút nước , sau đó cho 1 chút dầu dừa vào trộn sền sệt rồi đắp lên da tầm 15- 20 phút rồi rửa lại bằng nước sạch. 1 tuần ít nhất 2 lần bạn nhé.

Vung Tau Travel guide

Vung Tau- VietNam is one of the provinces exchanges between Vietnam and the world, systematic sea, river and air is very convenient. Besides the enormous potential is oil and gas. Ba Ria - Vung Tau has gradually asserted its strong tourism, thanks to the potential advantages of natural and human richness.

• Private 2 Days Cai Be – Vinh Long – Sa Dec – Can Tho

1, VungTau Information
Locate
Vung Tau- VietNam is a coastal city in the province of Ba Ria - Vung Tau, Southern Vietnam. Vung Tau is surrounded by the sea, there is the primeval forests, high mountains, rivers, and there are also many large lake climate here helps cool temperate year round. In the city of trees and flowers were planted everywhere. Vung Tau today has become one of the famous tourist destination of Vietnam. Vung Tau used to be a center of economic, financial, cultural and education of Ba Ria - Vung Tau Province, and is one of the economic centers of the Southeast.
Ba Ria - Vung Tau Province is a large tourist center. It has over 100km seashore with beautiful swimming beaches, as well as many lakes and thermal springs. Pelican Cruise Halong Bay
VungTau map VungTau map
Transport
Coastal city of Vung Tau is only 125km from Ho Chi Minh City, where is a great place for short trips your day. Currently, there are three facilities for traveling dust: bus, self Motorcyclist, passenger cars or go away hydrofoil. South Vietnam tours
When you go away hydrofoil, you can see the coastal mangrove forests along the way. After 1 hour 15 minutes, Peninsula Vung Tau appeared with two mountain front. An interesting way can coment the fresh air and sea breeze, especially in the late afternoon.
When you go to Vung Tau by motorcyclist or cars, you can take highway 1, you see Dong Nai bridge and turn right along highway 5. more about 100km away to Vung Tau city.
Climate

Vung Tau Travel guide

Vung Tau has 2 seasons:
Dry season (November to April): dry and cold during the winter months and before / after New Year's Day. Hotter than in April.
Rainy season (May to October): rain, but Vung Tau is less rainy than in HCMC. Normally, Vung Tau is hot in the afternoon until 3 PM.
Culture- Social
Vung Tau represents the best mix of religion and became a pronounced features are worth noting. Culture of Ba Ria - Vung Tau is a harmonious combination of both the North - Central - South . So , like other provinces in Vietnam , Ba Ria - Vung Tau has many folk festivals : Dinh Co Festival , festival Nghinh He , the Spirit Festival August ... Multi -ethnic community resources has contributed to enrich and create the appearance characteristic of cultural factors in the sea here.

2, Some of the major tourist attractions in Vung Tau- Viet Nam are:
Long Hai beach is a coastal city near Long Dien district about 20km from Vung Tau.Vung Tau has Small sea, but Long Hai beach very clean, cool water and golden sand runs pretty quiet. In addition, Long Hai has a ancient Temple which is Dinh Co Here is one of three famous traditional festival in Vietnam.

Con Dao is known as Con Dao prison. Con Dao prison is a prison area in Con Dao. Prison system was built by the French to detain prisoners especially dangerous such as political prisoners, prisoners ... Now, it has been the prime minister Vietnam into ranked lists 23 national monuments special. The most famous places in the prison's "tiger cages".
In addition, you can go to Con Dao National Park. Con Dao National Park is a protected area located north of Con Dao District , Ba Ria - Vung Tau province. This national park covers an area the island and surrounding sea areas. Marine ecosystems of Con Dao is also rich and diversity with 1,321 marine species , including 23 species of mangrove plants , 127 species of seaweed , 7 species of seagrass , 157 species of planktonic plants , 115 species planktonic animals , 219 species of coral , 5 species of mammals and 37 species of reptiles sea ... named in the Vietnam Red Book . Many species have high economic value such as fisheries , seaweed . The rare marine mammals such as whales green ( Neophon phocaenoides ) , dugongs ( Orcaella brevirostric ) , fish bow ( Dugon dugong ) . Especially Con Dao is also spawning grounds of several species of sea turtles.

Binh Chau hot springs is in Xuyen Moc district . Binh Chau has been attracting investors and tourists , because it has a nature conservation area , hot springs , Tam Bo mountain, Ho Coc beach. Binh Chau is " green lungs " of the Southeast region , the advantages of convergence biodiversity where there are rare . So , Binh Chau is not only attractive address the activities of scientific research , environmental education , tourism attractions but also the center of trade between the two provinces of Ba Ria - Vung Tau and Binh Thuan provinces .

3, Specialty
while in Vung Tau, people should try to eat some particular specialty here such as: Khot cake, shrimp pudding, Russian-style barbecue, wheel question An Nhat, bread soup Long Huong…..

Travel guide to the Mekong Delta and Islands

 Zoom Bai Sao beach, Phu Quoc Island, Copyright: Peter Stuckings / Apa Publications
Bai Sao beach, Phu Quoc Island
This lush, tropical delta – totally dominated by and dependent on Southeast Asia’s mightiest river, the Mekong – makes a fascinating region to explore, best by boat and on one of numerous organised tours from HCMC. Relatively unspoilt, Phu Quoc Island, Vietnam’s largest, is a tropical getaway renowned for white-sand beaches, but its wild beauty is also a haven for nature-lovers.

Mekong Delta Cruise

Once a hostile swampland, the French drained this region, transforming it into lucrative plantations, paddy fields and mines. Most of the chemical herbicides sprayed during the Vietnam War fell over the Mekong Delta, denying the Viet Cong cover and in the process decimating agricultural lands and mangrove forests. Yet today, the Mekong Delta is Vietnam’s most productive agricultural area, producing nearly half of the nation’s annual food crop. Image Cruise Halong Bay

Travel guide to the Mekong Delta and Islands

Nutrient-rich deposits carried by the Mekong River and its comprehensive network of waterways and nine tributaries (hence the local name, ‘River of Nine Dragons’) makes this region extraordinarily fertile for rice, bananas, coconuts, trop­ical fruit and sugar cane. It’s this very luscious, intensively cultivated landscape and rustic way of life that make this area so picturesque and appealing. Secluded waterways with overhanging foliage lined with stilt houses, mangrove swamps, paddy fields, fruit orchards and welcoming locals make up much of the scenario.

Mekong & Phu Quoc island (5 days, 4 nights)

Independent travel can be frustrating – transport is basic, time-consuming and water-based – so for less hassle, inclusive tours are the best way to experience this area. Many tours incorporate visits by small boats to fruit orchards, cottage industries, Khmer temples, early-morning floating markets, or penetrate deep into a labyrinth of narrow waterways. Increasingly, some incorporate bicycle trips, home stays or one-way boat tours terminating in Phnom Penh (Cambodia).

Places to visit on the Mekong

My Tho y is the first stop out of HCMC; done to death by tourism over the years, westward hubs like Vinh Long, Ben Tre, Cai Be and Can Tho afford more authentic experiences, less rushed in multi-day tours. Further west, Chau Doc offers Khmer ethnic communities, floating fish farms and Sam Mountain, with sacred pagodas and sweeping views. Across the Cambodian border, Ca Mau National Park and Tram Chim National Park are important havens for water birds. The more remote west coast is far less touristy, with the sleepy fishing port of Ha Tien, plus Rach Gia, the launch pad for Phu Quoc Island, 62 nautical miles west.

Phu Quoc Island

Located in the Gulf of Thailand, a few kilometres from southern Cambodia, Vietnam’s largest island seems a world away. Despite being a natural tropical paradise, Phu Quoc’s tourism industry is still small, although there are several resorts already. It has a wild, ­frontier-like ambience, with basic infrastructure (roads are mainly dirt tracks). Offshore fishing, fermented fish sauce and pepper cultivation are the main activities; the island is around the size of Singapore (593 sq km/229 sq miles) and Duong Dong is the only settlement of any size. If you seek a more simplified, back-to-nature existence, this island is for you.

Formerly an island prison camp, today Phu Quoc’s main raison d’être is some of Vietnam’s most magnificent beaches – some of the whitest and most deserted. The main resort area runs down the southwest’s coconut palm tree-lined beach, but with many other beautiful beaches and coves, other more secluded boltholes are available. There is also superb scuba-diving and snorkelling, offering transparent turquoise waters with colourful reefs teeming with fish, many native to Vietnamese waters. Boat trips for diving, snorkelling and fishing are easily arranged.

The mountainous interiors are mostly forested, and much of this is protected as a national park, where hiking possibilities abound. And as Vietnam’s most western point, this is the only place you can watch the sun set all the way.

North of Kon Tum Travel Guide

North of Kon Tum, Route 14 follows the old Ho Chi Minh Trail which snakes north through Kon Tum, Quang Nam and Thua Thien Hue provinces, all the while running parallel to the Lao/Vietnamese frontier -- sometimes little more than a kilometre away behind a rise to the west. This remote, little-visited region can be a highlight of an excursion through Vietnam, and while many of those who do experience it do so with the Easy Riders, it's even better if you've got your own wheels. Centre Vietnam packages

Commencing from Kon Tum, Route 14 runs through Dak To, Ngoc Hoi, Dak Glei and Phuoc Son from where you can take a right turn on 14E and cruise downhill through Hiep Duc till you reach Highway 1 at the town of Thanh Binh midway between Tam Ky and Hoi An. From Phuoc Son you can also continue north, through Nam Giang, Prao and A Luoi before finally reaching Route 9 and the DMZ just to the east of Khe Sanh. 5 best cruises in Halong Bay

North of Kon Tum Travel Guide

This section covers the Kon Tum to Hiep Duc route via Phuoc Son. We'll add the more northern stretch as soon as we ride it!

Dak To
Dak To is sometimes visited on a day-trip from Kon Tum, but even the tour organisers admit it's not really worth the effort. There's a war memorial, with two salvaged tanks -- one Russian, one Chinese -- which were used by the Viet Cong towards the end of the American war. Just outside town are the remains of an American-built airstrip along with some bombed-out foxholes. These are worth taking a look if you are passing through.  3 HIGHLY RECOMMENDED LUXURY MEKONG RIVER CRUISES

As Dak To lies just 40km north of Kon Tum and 20 km south of Ngoc Hoi (Plei Kan) you don't really need to spend a night here -- unless you want to.

Ngoc Hoi (Plei Kan)
Ngoc Hoi is on a spot along the Ho Chi Minh Trail (Route 14) where it does a hairpin turn just 14 km from the Lao border of Bo Y. You'll most likely find yourself bedding down in Ngoc Hoi if you've decided to take a walk on the wild side and use the Bo Y border to cross between Attapeu in Laos and Kon Tum in Vietnam. It's also a possible rest stop when touring the Central Highlands independently. While Ngoc Hoi is surrounded by rolling, green countryside, the town itself is unremarkable. Locals refer to this place as Ngoc Hoi, but it's Plei Kan on the maps and some road signs.

Dak Glei
This tiny town 50km north of Ngoc Hoi, is located just at the southern end of the mountain pass along Route 14, 50 km south of from Phuoc Son. It serves as a small centre of commerce for the surrounding tribal villages, and staying here makes sense if you're not quiet ready to leave the hills behind and continue your journey, or if you want to take on the mountains in the morning.

Phuoc Son
This is a staple stop-over point for Easy Rider tours travelling between Da Nang and Kon Tum -- most don't linger here for more than the night.

Phuoc Son is a pretty unassuming little mountain town -- internet is available at the post office and at a few internet cafes, but the Agribank here has no services for foreigners -- they don't even handle currency exchange and referred us back to our hotel for the service. Accommodation is basic -- nothing fancy, but there is some variety and a few places are quite cheap.

Hiep Duc
This small, district capital is technically called Tan An, but everyone seems to call it by the name of the district it's in. Hiep Duc is the centre of some government administrative activity and not much else -- the only reason to visit is to pass through if you opt to take Route 14E east from the junction with Route 14A (the Ho Chi Minh Highway), 5 km outside Phuoc Son, or you're travelling the other way from Thanh Binh along coastal Route 1A.

Visiting pagodas and temples in the New Year

Visiting pagodas and temples in the New Year
Together with the festive atmosphere Tet brings to Vietnam every year, the event also the best time of the year for Vietnamese to spend time on their spiritual life and pay respect to religious institutions.Visiting pagodas on the first days of the year has long been a deep-rooted tradition.

Hue Citadel, Vietnam travel

The meaning of visiting pagodas and temples
It has been a long-lasted custom of the people in this country each time a New Year arrive to visit pagoda. In Vietnam, the custom is described as “Lễ Chùa” – in which “lễ” means not only visiting but also showing respects in all sincerity to Buddha and Gods of the pagodas or temples. No matter how busy Vietnamese are during the hilarious atmosphere of Tet, everyone attempts to burn an incense to wish for best wishes for the New Year like healthiness, happiness and wealthiness. Lang Co Bay, Hue travel
Not only is that, praying at pagodas and temples is among the best way to go out and enjoy the spring. Mixing ones’ soul with the spiritual spaces, breathing in the aroma of burning incense and flowers and enjoying relaxing glimpse in the garden of the pagodas help demolishing all the stresses and worries of the previous year. Au Co Cruise – Halong Travel

Visiting pagodas and temples in the New Year

Differences in visiting pagodas in the North and the South
Although people in both areas visiting pagodas with the same purpose and the same meanings of this lofty tradition, the way they conduct this activity is of some different.

Offerings filled with 'dollars', food and drinks prepared by visitors
Northern Vietnamese seem to be more sophisticated in this spiritual custom in which a long list of scarifying items ranging from pork, meat-roll and chicken to fruits, flowers, incense, hell-notes, real money and petition note written in Nho script with wishes for the new year on. When praying, people speak their wishes like a fold song with rhyme and tune. On the other hand, Southern people do not often bring so many offering items to pagodas, nor praying in rhyme and tune. They simply ask for what they wish, and this is called “khấn nôm”.
No matter how different they are in the two area, the noble tradition of visiting pagodas skill remains its real meaning, in which any barrier of age, status or sex are eliminated, everyone unite there, in a mutual spiritual world.
Picking Bud
After having done all the praying, no Vietnamese forget to pluck buds from pagodas. Buds picked by people could be a small flower like the very meaning of it, however, the most common bud we are discussing about is a small branch of trees in the pagoda’s garden. Vietnamese consider plant like a symbol of immortal life; growth and prosperity as no kind on this earth grow faster, more stable and more long-lasting than plant. Bring a small sacred branch of tree from pagodas would bring healthiness and prosperity to ones’ home.
Lots drawing & Fortune telling
Another interesting activity Vietnamese people often do while visiting pagodas and temples is lots drawing. Those lots have short paragraph to forecast about ones’ fortune in the New Year. Although this activity is kind of superstitious, people still enjoy it because whether it says good or bad ones can still interpret positively. For example, if good fortune is forecasted, people would be much happier to welcome the New Year while unlucky ones would be more careful in every act, thanks to this, they would even more successful rather than bad luck.
Foretunetelling
Fortune-telling is popular at the beginning of the year
Pilgrimage
Vietnamese people often visit pagodas and temples right after the New Year’s Eve moment, and going out of the house on the very moment of the New Year is also counted a traditional custom of Vietnamese. This is called “xuất hành đầu năm” in Vietnamese, simply translated as the first going out in the New Year to bring lucky home. With this custom, people carefully pick elements that match ones’ zodiac such as day, time, and most importantly, direction. There are two common directions ones may prefer: “Tài Thần” and “Hỉ Thần”. The first one is believed to bring about wealthiness and fame while the second one is expected to come along with happiness. Certainly, happiness direction is more preferable by Vietnamese people because in the end the day, no matter how wealthy and successful people are, happiness is what ones seeking for.