Ba Danh pagoda

Ba Danh Pagoda, also called Bao Son pagoda, located in Danh village, Ngoc Son commune, Kim Bang district.

Like other pagodas, Ba Danh pagoda was built to worship Buddha. However, besides the statue of Bo Tat (Bodhisattva), there are also the statues of Thai Thuong Lao Quan, Nam Tao (a constellation in the northern hemisphere), Bac Dau and the statues of Tu Phu belief (Four Dharmas), a popular belief of Viet Nam. The statues of Tu Phu belief appear here because the pagoda is a place to worship Tu Phap. The legend of Tu Phap, including four mothers "May" (Cloud Dharma), "Mua" (Rain Dharma), "Sam" (Thunder Dharma) and "Chop" (Lightning Dharma), is the mixture of Buddhism and local popular beliefs, which were written in Man Nuong story by Linh Nam Chinh Quai (Tran The Phap, 19th century, Vu Quynh - Kieu Phu, 1492).
                                                     
The legend that Tu Phap was originated in Man Nuong Buddha spread throughout the north plain areas, and has been handed down here. In the past, Kim Bang people believed that Bac Ninh people met good weather and crops because they worshiped Tu Phap, therefore, they went to Bac Ninh to ask for the rests of burned incense. In the beginning, Tu Phap was worshipped in the village of Van Lam, Dang Xa, Van Chau, Bau Thon, Bai Le and then this custom has spread to other communes in Ha Nam of Day riverside.

People in Danh village also intended to ask for incense bases. The legend has it that there were heavy rain and strong wind here that damaged crops. One day, an old man had a dream that a beautiful girl with kind face, bright eyes and forehead talked to him that she was appointed to take care of local people, and then she showed him where they should build the pagoda. At that time, that land was only a dense wood with lots of century-old trees and birds.

At first the pagoda was built out of bamboo. In the year of Vinh Tri, Le Hy Tong's reign, the forest was cleared to rebuild the pagoda. Local people were not allowed to build house there, therefore the scenery has been more and more solemn and deserted. Right after building the pagoda, an ancient jack tree was fallen and a strange person who had the same dream as the old man took its wood to sculpt a statue. In flood season of that year, when the flood-water level rose high, there was a wooden throne washed aside onto the river shore and didn't drift downstream. Strangely, the statue fitted on the throne. Since that time, local people have met good weather and abundant crops. The supernatural power of Thanh Ba Bao Son (Bao Son's Holy Mother) attracts the tourists from many areas. And helmsmen going through this area on flood season always burn incense in this pagoda to pray for safety.

Both this legend and the legend about Man Nuong have the same detail of drifting wood, and the two Genies in these two legends are Agriculture Nymph. Moreover, the legend of Ba Danh reflects the customs of people living along Day riverside to worship the Water Genie.

The pagoda faces to the south and is bordered by the road, and the three-door temple gate near the riverside. This work was built five steps higher, and its two sides were built in. The three-door temple gate is divided into three sections and two storeys: the upstairs is a campanile with two tile layers and a fence of pales, doors of three lower sections were made of iron wood. There are two bronze pillars outside the door, and two dragons looking back at each other on the top of three-door temple gate. Beside the main gate, there are two small gates with eight doors used on weekdays. The main entrance only opens on major holidays.

In the regions there are a flower garden, a tiled yard and two corridors. The forecourt and the sanctum have five sections with two built-in sides and tiled roof. They are connected by "Cua duc ban". "Thuong dien" (the central temple) has three compartments with walls on the two sides and iron-wood door in front. The interior of the central temple is smaller but higher than that of the forecourt and the sanctum. To the west of the pagoda is a five-compartment house, its three middle ones are used to worship the last nuns, and the rest for monks. To the west is the palace to worship the Natural Mother that is next to the sanctum. The pagoda is encompassed by brick walls.

Ba Danh pagoda is the system of nearly 40 compartments. It was built a long time ago, and has been restored many times. But the other works have been built since the 19th century.

Ba Danh pagoda has long been referred to as a divine, secluded pagoda with picturesque scenery, which is a rare ancient and close beauty in Ha Nam province.

                                                        

In the center of the ironwood screen in the lower floor of the pagoda' three entrance gate, there is an engraver of five blessings (5 bats holding longevity letter in their mouths). On every pillar emerging from the 2 side walls, the ancient artists have sculpted four noble animals: dragon, unicorn, tortoise, and phoenix in lissome and symmetric position. On the roof of the gate, two dragons attending upon the moon were cast with lime, sand, and porcelain representing the dragon modeling style of the Nguyen dynasty. Notably, there are two stone dragons and two tigers symmetry locating along the two side stairways attending upon the service house. In comparison with the two dragons on the roof of the gate, the two stone dragons inside the gate are sculpted in a simpler manner and look gentler and slightly resemble the snake rather than varan. Similarly, the two tigers slanting 450 behind are also sculpted in a simple way which makes it look gentler than tigers carved in other regions. These are rare relics of important folklore value to be preserved.

Merely all the architecture and sculpture art of the pagoda are exhibited in the service house, the place where the Buddhist monks service everyday. The house consists of five rooms. The entire frame is made of ironwood. Two tipped gables are modeled with dragons. Standing in the middle of the yard, visitors can have their sense thrilled by the statue of 4 dragons attending upon the moon on the roof of the service house. The four dragons are in lissome position, with their vivid but fierce eyes, whiskers, claws; fins seem to be flying in the air, playing with each other. The statue represents characteristics of dragons under Nguyen Dynasty.

At the two ends of the corridors connecting to the service house, there stand 2 imposing pillars. Each pillar is sculpted with 4 noble animals: dragon, unicorn, tortoise, and phoenix in symmetric position, representing sense of harmonization and sustainability. All details of the creatures on the six pillars seem to exhibit meticulously, skillfulness and exquisite talent of the ancient artists.

                                                   

The first rafter (from the west to the east) lies along the wall, is sculpted with tiger faced design, golden bamboo, roses, peach, and pomegranate. The front side of the second rafter is sculpted with 5 blessings (5 bats), apricot blossoms, roses, Vietnamese 36-cord zither, quill pen, fruit and a gourd of wine. On the backside are 5 dragons fighting over a pearl, roses, orchids and red munia. The front of the third rafter is sculpted with the 4 noble animals (dragon, unicorn, tortoise, and phoenix), pine-tree and horse, apricot blossom and bird. On the crossbeam are Vietnamese 16-chord zither, Vietnamese two-chord guitar. On the back are the 4 noble animals, a gourd of wine and a book. The upper front side of the fourth rafter is sculpted with two dragons attending upon the moon, and on the cross beam are roses, pine tree, coins, musical instrument, and flute. The front of the fifth rafter is sculpted with tiger face, 2 young lions. The crossbeam is sculpted with peaches, citrus fruits, pomegranates, roses, and bat. On the back are the five blessings, peaches, and roses. The sixth rafter has one side against the wall, and on the other side is tiger faced design, dragon-like pine tree, golden bamboo. On the upper part of the cross beam are peach fruit, apricot blossoms, ivory bamboo, grapes, pomegranates, peach and apricot tree, and cloth fan. Apart from the six rafters, there are 4 iron wood pillars, standing between the service house and the central house. The stem of the each pillar is meticulously sculpted with a flying dragon looking to the worship altar in the center of the third room.


                                                
The ancient craftsmen usually sculpted creatures on such topics as: The 4 noble animals (dragon, unicorn, tortoise and phoenix); the five blessings (5 bats), 2 dragons attending upon the moon, 5 dragons fighting over a pearl, 4 dragons attending upon the moon, and plants on such topics as: the 4 plants (pine tree,  chrysanthemum, ivory bamboo and apricot), bowl of fruits (peach, grapes, pomegranate, fig fruit, Buddha's hand fruit) or such topics on the combination of plants and creatures as: apricot blossom and bird; fir-tree and horse, golden bamboo, dragon-like pine tree… Besides, there are also some familiar topics like Vietnamese musical instruments: 16-chord zither, two-chord guitar, castanets and quill pen, a gourd of wine, fig fruit fan, which are considered to be the 8 valuable things. The ancient artisans have combined topics on symbolic creatures of the royal art (the four noble animals, five blessings, 2 dragons attending upon the moon, 5 dragons fighting over a pearl, apricot blossom and bird, the 4 plants (pine tree, chrysanthemum, ivory bamboo and apricot blossom), pine-tree and horse...) with familiar folklore topics (five fruits, bowl of fruits, folklore musical instruments, flute, two-string violin, castanets). They have also skillfully combined different sculpture methods, dragon-sculpting styles, intaglio to create symbolic but still lively and vivid creatures.

In the top hall of Ba Danh pagoda, there a many Buddha statues, including Tam The (God of past, present and future),  the Jade Emperor (the Ruler of Heaven), old man Quan forefather, and Queen Danh statue, among which Queen Danh statue is the center of the pagoda. Queen Danh statue is cast sitting in meditation on a shiny black throne (not on a Buddha's throne) with an indulgent, beautiful face, looking so close but not mystical or in salvation like other Buddha statues. The harmonization of the statue and the throne presents an attraction of the sculpture art of Ba Danh pagoda.

Source: vietcharmtour

Buddhism in Vietnam

In theory there are three main religions in Vietnam: Taoism, Confucianism and Buddhism; but in fact there is “tripple religion”, which is an amalgamation of these three doctrines, each of which represents a particular aspect of the whole. And now Buddhism still is main religion in Vietnam. Buddhism spread first from China to Vietnam's Red River Delta region in approximately the second century A.D., and then from India to the southern Mekong Delta area at some time between the third and the sixth centuries. The Chinese version, Mahayana Buddhism, became the faith of most Vietnamese, whereas the Indian version, Theravada (or Hinayana) Buddhism, was confined mostly to the southern delta region. The doctrinal distinction between the two consists of their differing views of Gautama Buddha: the Mahayana school teaches that Gautama was only one of many "enlightened ones" manifesting the fundamental divine power of the universe; the Theravada school teaches that Gautama was the one-and-only enlightened one and the great teacher, but that he was not divine. The Mahayana sect holds further that laypersons can attain nirvana, whereas the Theravada school believes that only ordained monks and nuns can do so. At the 13 century, during the Tran dynasty (1225-1400), the first 3 Kings Trần Thái Tôn, Trần Thánh Tông, Trần Nhân Tông and many high-ranking mandarins and royal members were Zen Buddhists. Among them King Trần Nhân Tông was the most prominent, being the founder of Trúc Lâm Yên Tử Zen School after his retirement from the throne in 1299. The essence of Truc Lam Yen Tu Zen school is to “live the dharma” and Trần Nhân Tông’s life is the illustrated example. Trần Nhân Tông’s Truc Lam Yen Tu Zen School marked the beginning and foundation of Vietnamese Buddhism, which is exemplified by the tenet, “Dharma applied to worldly life,” all of the characteristics of which are outlined in the verse Cư Trần Lạc Đạo. In this interpretation of Buddhism, practicing Buddhism is not limited to ritual activities, worship, and meditation, but right within daily activities. There is no need to search for enlightenment and peace anywhere outside of self and of the environment one lives in. Vietnamese Buddhism continues to hold this supremacy in our own time. It is therefore easy to understand how great an influence the Buddha has had on the Vietnamese mind, and the generous contribution it has made to the moral and spiritual training of a people whose gentleness and simple outlook on life predisposed them to accept the «Religion of Compassion.» The presence of the dead, the behaviour of the living, and an influence on the future - the many generations of the Vietnamese family Ancestor worship was introduced into Vietnam by the Chinese during their long occupation of the country that began 200 years before the birth of Christ. Since then, it has been fully absorbed into the Vietnamese consciousness and, with Confucianism, underpins the country’s religion and social fabric. Ancestor worship is not only the adhesive that binds the Vietnamese together, but also one of the most difficult concepts for people from Anglo-Saxon or European origins to understand. It has been said that the Vietnamese believe in the dead, while the Occidentals believe only in death. How Vietnamese people worship their ancestors The practice of ancestor worship is relatively straightforward. Nearly every house, office, and business in Vietnam has a small altar which is used to commune with ancestors. Incense sticks are burned frequently. Offerings are made – fruit, sweets, and gifts. The latter items are paper replicas of dollar notes (‘ghost money’), motorbikes, cars, houses and so on. After worship, the paper gifts are burnt so that the spirits of the gifts can ascend to heaven for the ancestors to use. In the past, the income from a plot of land was used to maintain the altar and arrange the rituals, but this tradition has now faded away. However, the custom that the eldest son will arrange the ceremonial and inherit the family house upon the death of his parents is still generally observed. Another traditional element is the placing of wooden tablets on the altar for each of the ancestors over recent generations. This is less rigorously observed today, and tablets are often replaced by photographs. Some pagodas house commemorative tablets for ancestors on behalf of regular worshippers. Worshipping takes place regularly on particular days, such as festivals, new and full moon days, the death day of the ancestor, and so on. On important occasions, such as moving house, starting a new business or the birth of a child, and whenever a member of the family needs guidance or a favour, the ancestors are consulted. A proliferation of small fires of burning in the streets of towns and cities means that it is a festival or moon day. One paper fire is likely to be an event affecting a single family. Why Vietnamese people worship their ancestors For the Vietnamese, ancestor worship is not related to ghosts, spiritualism or even the supernatural in the Western sense. It is not even a ‘belief’ in the sense that it is open to question by the ‘believers’. The Vietnamese accept as a fact that their ancestors continue to live in another realm, and that it is the duty of the living to meet their needs. In return, the ancestors give advice and bring good fortune. Devotees of Buddhism believe in previous existences, and seek to correct previous bad deeds to reach enlightenment. Ancestor worship is fundamentally different. For the Vietnamese, death, and the ritual and practice of ancestor worship, constitutes the transfer of power from the tangible life to the intangible. Existence is a continuum stretching through birth, a life spent in tangible form on Earth, followed by death and a spirit existence in another realm for a further two or three generations. The heroic ancestors By virtue of their worthy deeds, heroic ancestors, such as Tran Hung Dao and the Trung sisters, continue to exist and be worshipped in temples for many generations beyond the two or three of ordinary folk. Their rectitude is a model to guide the behaviour of the living. The sins of the parents All ancestors are worthy of respect and reverence, regardless of their behaviour as living beings. However, the misdeeds of a wicked family ancestor will be visited upon his or her children and grandchildren in the form of bad luck. This is a powerful influence upon the behaviour of the living, influencing them to behave well and do good deeds in the present, thereby endowing their living and unborn children with good luck in the future. How ancestor worship affects life in Vietnam The effect of ancestor worship upon Vietnamese society is profound. The concept of life as a small part of an infinitely greater whole embracing the entire race, the notion that the past and present exist simultaneously and that each individual’s behaviour in life has a direct impact upon the quality of the lives of his or her children and grandchildren, extend the concept of the family far beyond the sense in which the term is used in the West. A Vietnamese person is never ‘alone’ – his or her ‘family’ is always present. The future of ancestor worship Whether ancestor worship will continue to be strong as the influence of scientific rationalism and social change accelerates, is an open question. In the past, the majority of individual family members lived within close geographical proximity. The turmoil in the years before and after the defeat of the US forces led to an exodus of hundreds of thousands of Vietnamese people. More recently, economic migration and travel to far countries to study or work have created a growing diaspora. Only time will determine whether the strength of the beliefs that have sustained the Vietnamese family unit over many centuries, thus creating a unique national community, will withstand the pressures of globalisation and expanding modern technology. Source: passionvietnamtravel

In Two Weeks

By FROMMER'S

This is a truncated version of the 28-day itinerary. You can see quite a lot in a few weeks and catch the major sights along the coast.

Day 1: Arrive in Hanoi

Get settled somewhere cozy (I recommend the Sofitel Metropole), and then take a walk (or cyclo ride) around the Old Quarter and Hoan Kiem Lake.

Day 2: Hanoi to Lao Cai (Sapa)

Enjoy a morning of touring the main sights in the Hanoi Citadel, including Ho Chi Minh's Mausoleum (before 11am), House, and Museum, and the One-Pillar Pagoda. In the early evening, catch the overnight train for Lao Cai (best on a Victoriasleeper car).

Day 3: Lao Cai to Sapa

Arrive in Lao Cai at 6am and hop on a bus for transfer to Sapa. Check in to your hotel -- I recommend the Topas Ecolodge -- and take an afternoon walk down into the valley lined with rice terraces to the Cat Cat Village, or hire a guide for an all-day hike (after a short jeep ride) from Lao Cai to Ta Van. Alternatively, just take in the little town of Sapa, the rice-terraced valley below, and the central market crowded with Hmong people.

Day 4: Sapa to Bac Ha and back to Hanoi

If it's a Sunday, take a day trip to the market town outside of Lao Cai called Bac Ha, the region's most colorful hilltribe market. Otherwise, plan to spend part of the day trekking (contact Topas or Handspan), and then catch an early evening overnight train from Lao Cai back to Hanoi (factor in the few hours from Bac Ha or Sapa to Lao Cai station).

Day 5: Lao Cai to Hanoi

Arrive at 6am in the capital and take some time to rest in comfy city digs. Explore the Old Quarter and Hoan Kiem, and maybe do a bit of shopping. Catch a show at the Thang Long Water Puppet Theater in the evening, or hit some of the town's fine-dining establishments or nightlife.

Day 6: Hanoi to Halong Bay

Leave early in the morning for a 3-hour drive to the pier at Halong City, and then board an overnight boat in the bay -- best aboard the luxury Emeraude or Halong Ginger;one notch down is Buffalo Tour's Jewel of the Bay or Handspan Tour's Dragon's Pearl. You'll lunch aboard the ship, cruise for a few hours with stops at various cave sites, and then sleep aboard the boat moored in a quiet bay. Itineraries vary, and most include time for kayaking to caves and island lagoons and swimming.

Day 7: Halong Bay to Hanoi and on to Hue

Awake to sunlight reflecting off the high limestone formations of stunning Halong Bay. Most trips include a morning kayak adventure and a few stops before returning to the pier and making the 3-hour road connection to Hanoi. Catch the afternoon (4:30pm) flight from Hanoi to Hue (or overnight in Hanoi and fly in the morning).

Day 8: Hue

Set out on a tour by bicycle or cyclo to the central Hue Citadel and the ruins of the oldImperial City. In the afternoon, you can ride a bike -- though it's slightly far -- or arrange a car to a few sights on the outskirts of town. You can arrange a boat to see the likes of the Thien Mu Pagoda and a few of Hue's many imperial tombs -- best are the tombs of Khai Dinh and Minh Mang Tomb or Tu Duc. In the evening, enjoy dinner atTropical Garden or Club Garden, and then stroll along the Perfume River near theTrang Tien Bridge.

Day 9: Hue to Hoi An

In the afternoon, leave by car or minivan for Hoi An. Along the way, stop at Lang Co Beach, the overlook at Hai Van Pass, the Cham Museum in Danang, and, time permitting, the Marble Mountains. Overnight in Hoi An. If you arrive before the shops close, place an order for your tailored clothes.

Day 10: Hoi An

Follow Day 13 in the 28-day itinerary, above, hitting the beach or exploring town.

Day 11: Hoi An to Nha Trang (via Danang)

Fly from Danang (via a trip to the Marble Mountains in the morning if you've yet to go) and settle in Nha Trang for a few days of beach time. Rest and relax at the Evason Ana Mandara Resort or one of the many good budget options around.

Day 12: Nha Trang

Enjoy the beach, take a scuba course, hop on an all-day boat trip to outlying islands, or hit the city's few nearby sights (the Po Ngar Cham Towers or the Alexandre Yersin Museum). Morning trips to the city market or the fish market near the Po Ngar Cham Towers are popular for photographers. But don't feel pressed -- Nha Trang is a place to kick back, eat good seafood, and rest.

Day 13: Nha Trang to Ho Chi Minh City

You might consider adding a few days at this point and scoot up to the temperate hill town of Dalat or tour part of the Central Highlands. Otherwise, fly to Ho Chi Minh City.

Day 14: Ho Chi Minh City

In the morning, get an early start at Giac Lam Pagoda, Ho Chi Minh City's oldest, and then tour Chinatown and some temples, as well as the large Chinese market, Binh Te Market (all in far-off District 5), before returning to the city center and Ben Thanh Market -- a good place to wander and pick up a few ditties. Stop for lunch at Pho 2000, just adjacent to the market. Time permitting, hit the War Remnants Museum or theReunification Palace. Enjoy a meal at Quan An Ngon Restaurant, Vietnam's finest purveyor of authentic Vietnamese cuisine in an authentic local setting (there are lots of gussied-up high-end Vietnamese restaurants in town, but funky Ngon takes the cake). Depart.

Going South to North

Note: If arriving in the south (most likely in Ho Chi Minh City), you can reverse this 2-week itinerary. Many travelers include a trip to the Mekong Delta, staying 1 night inCan Tho and exploring the river markets in the area instead of going to Sapa in the far north
.

Source: The New York Times

Nam De Hotel - Near Ben Thanh Market

        A 20-minute drive from Tan Son Nhat International Airport, Nam De Hotel offers free Wi-Fi and free parking. It has a restaurant and offers rooms with views of the city.

        Hotel Nam De is located in Ho Chi Minh City Centre, 4 km from popular attractions Notre Dame Cathedral and Ben Thanh Market.

        Spacious rooms are fitted with a safety deposit box and electric kettle. A minibar and work desk is provided. Bathrooms come with toiletries.

        The hotel’s tour desk assists in car rentals and currency exchanges. Laundry and ironing services are available for guests’ convenience.

        A variety of Asian and Western delights can be enjoyed in the hotel’s restaurant. For alternative dining options, room service is available.

Website: http://www.namdehotel.vn/

Make reservation follow link:

http://www.agoda.com/asia/vietnam/ho_chi_minh_city/nam_de_hotel.html

Peaceful beaches in Quy Nhon

Each Quy Nhon beach will bring you different feelings. Egg Stone Beach Egg Stone Beach or Hoang Hau (Queen) Beach is located in scenic Ghenh Rang hill which has the width of 35 hectares and locating 3km south east of Quy Nhon city. The beach promises to bring a strong impression on tourists by the arch-shaped beach combined with  fine white sand, clean and blue water, as well as huge egg-shaped stones in the beach. Coming Egg Stone Beach, the tourist can swim in a deep-blue sea or discover the beauty of Ghenh Rang, wonderful rocky cliffs running to the edge of the sea. They also can visit the tomb of Han Mac Tu poet, learning about the Prince Palace or discovering spectacular caves on the Hon Dat Bi Island. Quy Hoa Beach The Quy Hoa Beach is located in front of the Quy Hoa leper camp. As their name, the Quy Hoa Beachis clean, peaceful and clear water. Row of green poplar trees swaying lightly in the wind, birds chattering sounds to mix sound of waves brings the tourist a peaceful feeling. After swimming, the tourist can visit Quy Hoa leper camp. Different from their name, the leper camp is an airy and romantic space with curved roads, especially busts of the world’s most famous physicians which arranged in rows along a shady road. Bai Bau Beach Bai Bau Beach is located in the north of Song Cau district town (Phu Yen province) and 50 km south of Quy Nhon city. A first impression when setting foot in Bai Bau is a quiet, clean and peaceful beach which is covered by two range of mountains jutting out from the sea. Visiting here, besides a deep-blue sea, yellow sand, and peaceful waves moving rhythmically, the tourist can see stiffs, range of hills and mountains. If enjoying a strong emotion, they can participate in games such as cliff-jumping, mountain climbing…  Just feeling a little tired, they don’t forget to relax themself on sand and enjoy local delicious seafood such as O Loan red clam, codfish enjoy with Ong Gia (old men) fish sauce. Bai Xep Beach Bai Xep Beach is located on Bai Xep Forest and Beach Resort, 3km from the centre of Quy Nhon city. Looking it’s nice beach as well as green orchard, coconut village, poplar forest, grassland, you will feel to live in a quiet and peaceful countryside than on a surfing beach. Standing on Bai Xep Beach, the tourist could see a panorama of Phuong Mai peninsula, Ngang Island, Dat Island and Quy Nhon beach. If you love adventure, you can go back up westwards about 1km to Vang (Yellow) Stream to see a wild nature with a forest, waterfall… Bai Dai Beach A green arch-shaped beach to embrace stone blocks in diversified shapes that strewing along the shore and undersea creates an impressive and poetic beauty for Bai Dai beach that can satisfy the most fastidious visitors. After swimming freely in clear water, they can hide in the shade of big stone blocks or lying in the shifty hammocks in beachside thatched cottages to hear sound of waves, wind as well as sound of flock, flute from next thatched cottages. Bai Nhom Beach Bai Nhom Beach is located on 1D Highway, 16km from the centre of Quy Nhon city. Although BaiNhom Beach is not large, it is famous by a red granite mountain slope stretching out to the sea to combine with the green forest that creates a beautiful landscape. Liking other Quy Nhon’s beaches, Bai Nhom Beach boasts a moderate slopes, small waves and blue water. Source: QTV

Top 10 places to visit in Vietnam

1. Sai Gon (Ho Chi Minh)

Attractions: Cu Chu tunnel, Chinese town, War remnants museum,Vietnam History Museum, Ben Thanh Market, Notre DameCathedral, Reunification Palace, ...

Ho Chi Minh is a city worth exploring. If you don't think that? You should travel to Saigon.

The best time to travel to Saigon: The best time to visit Saigon is in the dry season – from December to April. Can stay at Eden Saigon Hotel

2. Mekong Delta

Attractions: Homestay, Floating market, Ancient Houses, Pagodas, Khmer peopal pagodas, Eco-National Park, Islands,...

With 13 provinces and 1 metropolitan city (Can Tho), Mekong Delta is the popular place to visit with travellers. If you don't have much time in Vietnam, you should travel to Mekong in one day (Tien Giang, Ben Tre province), 2 - 3 days (Tien Giang, Vinh Long, Dong Thap province, Can Tho City), 3 days - 4days (Dong Thap, Vinh Long, Can Tho, An giang),...

The best time to travel to Mekong Delta (Vietnam): Travel to Mekong Delta are suitable all year round but the best time is the monsoon from June to September.

Cai Rang Floating Market

3. Phu Quoc (Kien Giang Province)

Attractions: Phu Quoc Sea, Phu Quoc National Forest, Suoi Tranh waterfall , Pepper Plantations, Ham Ninh Fishing Village,...

The same size as Singapore, the island of Phu Quoc lies off the west coast of Vietnam's Mekong Delta. A visit to Phu Quoc is a good, affordable opportunity to relax, spend time on the beach, and snorkel or scuba-dive. Get there soon and someday you'll be able to say, "I went there before it was touristy."

The best time to travel to Phu Quoc: The coolest time to go to Phu Quoc is from December to February.

Phu Quoc

4. Mui Ne, Phan Thiet

Attractions: Phan Thiet Harbour, Thuy Tu Temple, The Sand Dunes, Cham Tower, Beaches,...

Phan Thiet and Mui Ne are basically the same destination. Phan Thiet is the biggest town in the area, but Mui Ne is where you're going to end up. Mui Ne is a beachside town with numerous resort-like accomodation.

The best time to travel to Mui Ne, Phan Thiet: The waves are best from August to December, and the wind is best from November to April, so never really a bad time to go.

5. Nha Trang

Attractions: Po Nagar Cham Towers, Nha Trang Bay (islands,…), The National Oceanographic Museum of Vietnam, Beach, ...

Nha Trang has a split personality. One takes the form of a smaller Danang – a bustling Viet namese city humming with commerce but blessed with access to a beautiful beach.

The best time to travel to Nha Trang: Nha Trang has a warm, fair and beautiful climate nearly all year round, with the exception of late October, November and early December.

6. Dalat

Attractions: Bao Dai Palace (The last Vietnamese emperor palace), Da lat Market (night and day)

Dalat Railway Station, Falls: Prenn, Datala,…, Pagodas: Thien Vuong Co Sat (Chinese pagoda), Linh Ung,…

The best time to travel to Dalat: The dry season lasting from November to March, and the rainy season from April to November. During the winter months, the average temperature is 10 C while during summer it is around 20 C. Ideal weather is from November to March, when the air is fresh and cool.

7. Hoi An

Attractions: Hoi An District, Japanese Covered Bridge, CentralMarket, Riverside Museum of History and Culture, ...

The best time to travel to Hoi An: February and April are among the best time to visit Hoi an when rainfall is low and temperatures are pleasant. The temperatures can get hot during summer time and during the rainy season, particularly during October and November, rains can be frequent and heavy. If you can, time your visit to Hoi An for the full moon during on the 14th day of the lunar year each month for the Full Moon festivals, when the town becomes the stage for traditional songs, dancing, games and food, with lanterns lining all of the streets.

8. Ha Noi

Attractions: Hanoi Old Quarter, One Pillar Pagoda, Hoan Kiem Lake, Temple of Literature, Ho Chi Minh's Mausoleum, Museum of Ho Chi Minh, History Museum, Water Puppet Theatre, Hanoi Opera House

The Tran Quoc Pagoda,...

Imagine a city where the exotic chic of old Asia blends with the dynamic face of newAsia. Where the medieval and modern co-exist. A city with a blend of Parisian grace and Asian pace, an architectural museum piece evolving in harmony with its history, rather than bulldozing through like many of the region’s capitals. Hanoi is where imagination becomes reality.

The best time to travel to Ha Noi: The best time to visit Hanoi is from September to December when it isn't so humid. The weather turns quite cold and wet in January and this continues until March. The humidity can prove oppressive from May to the start of September and there's a danger of flooding.

9. Ha long

Attractions: Virgin Cave at Bo Hon Island, Pelican Cave at Bo Hon Island, Floating Villages and Fish Farms, Sung Sot Cave at Bo Hon Island, ...

Ha Long Bay is located in the northeast corner of Viet Nam, 165 km from Ha Noi. In the Province of Quang Ninh. Ha Long Bay covers an area of 1,553 km2 with 1,969 islands, of which 90% are limestone islands. To the west and north west, Ha Long Bay stretches from Yen Hung district in Ha Long city to Cam Pha town in Van Don district; to the south-east and in the south, Ha Long Bay borders the western shore of Tonkin Gulf; to the southwest the Bay borders Cat Ba island (Hai Phong province).

The best time to travel to Ha long: It is possible to visit Ha Long Bay year-round, with the best time to visit from October through April, although during the winter months of December, January and February, the weather can be cool and overcast with low visibility. During the summer months from May to September, temperatures rise and storms are more likely during the rainy season.

10. Sapa

Attractions: Cho Phien (Weekend market): Bac Ha, Coc Ly; SilverWater Falls (Thac Bac); Cat Cat Village; Ta Phin Village and Cave;...

The best time to travel to Sapa: The dry season is from January to June with March to May the best time to visit. Temperatures in January and February are regularly around 0ºC. The rainy season falls in June and August. September marks the end of the rainy season which is a good time to visit then by mid-December temperatures start to fall significantly making this September to mid-December period the best time to be there.

Source: etraveltips