Northern Vietnam  really a charming beauty
Terraced rice fields in Yen Bai, tea hills in Thai Nguyen, rocky islands offshore Quang Ninh and ancient villages are typical images of northern Vietnam.
Let’s look at some photos:

Terraced rice fields (Mu Cang Chai district, Yen Bai province)

Ban Gioc waterfall (Cao Bang province)

Ba Be, Vietnam’s largest natural lake (Bac Kan province)

Tea hills Thai Nguyen province

Halong Bay- UNESCO World Heritage site (Quang Ninh province)

Sunset in Cat Ba

Yen Phu street in Hanoi

Ngo Dong river in autumn

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Are you are a Travel Professional who wants to satisfy the dynamic and diverse needs of today’s discerning traveller?
“LOOK” TOUR is a travel initiative specifically designed for the mobile traveller in today’s world.

Travellers who received a high level of satisfaction during their previous tour often want to return to the former location - but this time to enjoy their favourite places in freedom so they can relax, sight-see, shop and eat – all at their own pace.
Of course the attraction of this form of tourism also reflects in part, the actual cost of the trip. The cost of a ‘LOOK’ tour includes entry visa to Vietnam, pick-up / drop-off from & to airports, the provision of tickets to travel between the hotel/resort and the traveller’s selected place of interest and light meals. Travellers who choose to travel like this can also choose the ‘Optional’ tour section (see further details below)











Full Version Available here:TODO_TRAVEL_LOOK-TOUR .pdf

Itinerary 4 days 3 nites

Day 1: Danang arrival – Hoian ancient town

Welcome to Danang! You will be met at the airport and transferred to down town. Free at leisure to walk around the City, do shopping or relax on the beach. Overnight in Danang.

 Day 2:  Hoian – My Son – Hoian (B/L)

This morning, we take a half day excursion to My Son sanctuary. It was the site of religious ceremony of kings of the Champa dynasty, and was also a burial place of Champa royals and national heroes. The My Son temple complex is one of the foremost temple complexes of Hinduism in South East Asia and is the foremost heritage site of this nature in Vietnam. Head back to Hoian, enjoy lunch at local restaurant.

This afternoon, you will visit Japanese Bridge, Phuc Kien Pagoda, Phung Hung Old House and Quang Dong Assembly. Enjoy a walking tour through the narrow lanes of the town lined with century-old building and illuminated by hundreds of colorful lanterns. Overnight in Hoian.

 Day 3: Cham Museum – Marble Moutain – Son Tra Peninsula – Linh Ung (B/L)

Breakfast at hotel then start the tour to visit Cham Museum and Marble mountain in Da Nang city. The Cham Museum, founded in 1915 by the Ecole Francaise d’Extreme Orient, is an open-air collection of the finest Cham sculptures in the world. The Marble Mountains consists of five marble hills. Each of them is representing a different element: Thuy (Water), Moc (Wood), Hoa (Fire), Kim (Metal) and Tho (Earth). The largest and most famous one; the Thuy Mountain, has numerous caves, in which Buddhist sanctuaries have been built through the centuries. Lunch at local restaurant.

In the afternoon: Visit Son Tra Peninsule, Linh Ung Pagoda and Danang pristine beach then drive back to Hoian town. Overnight in Hoian.

 Day 4:  Hoian – Danang – Flight departure (B)

Breakfast at hotel then free at leisure to visit more and do shopping in Hoian till transferring to Danang airport for your flight back home. End of trip!  

The association, in collaboration with Da Nang's Literature and Arts Union and the Da Nang department of culture, sport and tourism, said the contest will kick off on July 30 for candidates in 10 cities and provinces.

Each contestant should send eight colour or black-and-white photos under each of two themes: Land and People in the Central and Central Highlands Regions and The Homeland's Rivers.

The organising committee will select and display photos from August 3 to 8, and announce the winners on August 7.

According to VAPA, another photo contest will be held for photography artists in the central city from August 26 to 28.
Source: VNS

Cho Lach District, which has the largest fruit cultivation area in the Cuu Long (Mekong) Delta province of Ben Tre, will hold the annual fruit festival at its Culture and Sport Centre from June 15 to 21.

The festival will feature a delicious and safe fruit contest, a cuisine contest, folk games, art performances, and a fair to showcase fruit seedlings, flowers, and ornamental plants.


A highlight will be four artworks in the shapes of four sacred animals (dragon, unicorn, tortoise, and phoenix) made entirely from fruits.


Situated between two major rivers – Co Chien and Ham Luong – and with a dense system of rivers and canals, Cho Lach is famous for its delicious fruit varieties like durian, Java rambutan, and mangosteen.


Cho Lach also has many tourism destinations like flower and ornamental plant villages, Cai Mon Church – one of the country's 10 largest – and the house of Truong Vinh Ky (1837-98), who was one of the world's 18 leading scholars in the 19th century.
Source: VNS

In 2 days from 19-20/5/2015, a survey on the cave tour to Hang Va – Hang Nuoc Nut was conducted by the Department of Culture, Sport and Tourism of Quang Binh for participants from the office of provincial People’s Committee, Department of Finance, the Management Board of Phong Nha – Ke Bang National Park, Quang Binh Tourism Information and Promotion Center, Oxalis Company. The survey aims to complete the project on tourist route “ Hang Va – Hang Nuoc Nut, experience the difference”.

     

Hang Va and Hang Nuoc Nut were discovered in the heart of Phong Nha – Ke Bang by scientists of the British Cave Research Association in 2000. The caves with untouched beauty, magnificent stalactites and stalgmites, making an attractive spot for visitors who like adventure.

     

 Mr.Luong Van Luyen, director of Department of culture, Sport and Tourism surveyed inside the Nuoc Nut Cave   

The tour is designed for 2 days 1 night, visitors have to pass through the primative forests, climb mountains or wade through streams… According to the British scientists, these are caves with an unique stalactites and stalagmites system but it is very easy to be broken.

It is expected to be officially launched on the occasion of cave festival in Quang Binh province on July 2015.
Source: Quang Binh tourism

Exempting visa or citizens from key tourist markets would help boost tourism amidst a recent fall in the number of international visitors, experts said.

They spoke during a workshop held by the Viet Nam Tourism Association in Ha Noi on May 25th. The Government should give visa exemptions to citizens of France, the UK, Germany and Australia to encourage visitors from these nations, they said.

Viet Nam unilaterally exempts visas for citizens of Japan, the Republic of Korea, Finland, Denmark, Sweden and Russia. It bilaterally grants 30-day exemptions for citizens from nine out of the 10 ASEAN member states.

The number of international holiday makers dropped from June 2014 to April 2015, with the growth rate falling from 34.8 percent in 2010 to 4 percent in 2014.

Chairman of the Viet Nam Tourism Association Nguyen Huu Tho attributed the decline in numbers to changes in visa, transit and cruise travel regulations and the National Administration of Tourism's ineffective coordination between localities.

He said he regarded existing tourism promotion efforts unprofessional, adding that there was a shortage of large-scale promotion campaigns. The prevalence of ineffective small-scale campaigns has muted the tourism industry's image domestically and internationally, he added.

Insufficient support for the creation of tourism services and a lack of qualified staff were also contributing factors, Tho said.

He also highlighted a number of global economic developments, such as the appreciation of USD, the depreciation of EUR and JPY, and falling oil prices, which undermined people's willingness to spend money on travel.

Some localities have re-established Tourism Departments under the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism.

Experts said travel companies should participate more in promotion programmes and strengthen ties with their counterparts to provide high-quality, affordable services./.

Source: Vietnamtourism

The US Smarter Travel has announced  27 Amazing Natural wonders in Asia in which Vietnam has 3 destination: Ha Long Bay, Son Doong cave and Can Gio
Ha Long Bay stand the first of list

More than 1,500 islands and inlets jut out of the turquoise waters of Halong Bay in Vietnam. Take one of the overnight cruises offered within the bay and watch the sunset over its tranquil waters.

Son Doong cave stand the  nineteenth

Son Doong Cave is the biggest cave in the world—it's more than 5.5 miles long and has its own jungle and river. Still, it wasn't even discovered until 1991, or fully explored until 2009.

Can Gio Mangrove Forest, Vietnam stand the twenty seventh

The Can Gio wetlands support not only thousands of mangroves, but also around 200 different species of wildlife and 150 species of flora

Below is  27 Amazing Natural Wonders list in Asia

1.Halong Bay, Vietnam

2. Longdong, Taiwan

3. The Chocolate Hills, Philippines

4. Flaming Cliffs, Gobi Desert, Mongolia

5. Marble Rocks, India

6. Thi Lo Su Waterfall, Thailand

7. Natural Forest Park Of Zhangjiaje, China

8. Al-Hasa Oasis, Saudi Arabia

9. Tubbataha Reef, Philippines

10. Karst Mountains And Caves, Guilin, China

11.Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park, Philippines

12. Mt. Kelimutu, Indonesia

13.Komodo National Park, Indonesia

14. Kuang Si Falls, Laos

15. The Valley Of The Geysers, Russia

16. Okama, Japan

17. Tojinbo, Japan

18. Lonar Crater And Lake, India

19. Son Doong Cave, Vietnam

20. Manjanggul Lava Tube, South Korea

21.Ta Prohm Temple Trees, Siem Reap, Cambodia

22. Tiger Leaping Gorge, China

23. Gunung Mulu National Park, Borneo, Malaysia

24. The Stone Forest, China

25. Taroko Gorge, Taiwan

26. Lion's Rock, Sigiriya, Sri Lanka

27. Can Gio Mangrove Forest, Vietnam

If Hoan Kiem Lake with special green water and the red bridge named The Huc is the symbol of an elegant and charming ancient city; Red river and Long Bien bridge may be seen as the symbol of courageous capital in wars.
“Hanoi” - the name means “surrounded by river” is the city of ponds, lakes, rivers and bridges. If Hoan Kiem Lake with special green water and the red bridge named The Huc is the symbol of an elegant and charming ancient city; Red river and Long Bien bridge may be seen as the symbol of courageous capital in wars. 

History:
The Long Bien Bridge was constructed from 1989 to 1902 during French’s occupation of the country. Though the bridge was designed by French, it was built directly by Vietnamese workers with indigenous construction materials like woods from Phu Tho, Yen Bai, Thanh Hoa province, cement from Hai Phong, Long Tho lime from Hue.
The bridge was formerly named Paul Doumer by the French, but Vietnamese have called it Long Bien or Cai River Bridge for a long time, and Long Bien becomes the most popular name of the bridge. Originally, Long Bien had 19 spans and it was the first steel bridge across Red river in Hanoi, and one of four greatest bridges in the world at the time it was built.

Long Bien was considered the pride, symbol of architecture in the Far East. The bridge was a connection point to transport tons of rice from Northern and Northern Central area of Vietnam to Dien Bien Phu battle, and contributed to the win of Vietnam army against French, 1954.
More than 100 years with decades of war, Long Bien Bridge was bombed many times by air attacks by American army in 1967, 1972; and many spans of the bridge were destroyed. The left spans still remaining today remind us of an unforgettable past. The bridge, hence, is not only a traffic construction, a nice architecture, but also a living historical relic.
Travel Guide:
Today, Long Bien is only one of the five bridges crossing the Red river of Hanoi. However, it may be the most special bridge with unique historic, architectural, and cultural value. It is the only bridge in Hanoi where all the riders have to go in the left hand side, where tourists can take a walk and taste mouthwatering desserts offered by vendors (see 5 street vendors you should not miss out in Hanoi), where Hanoians can buy fresh vegetable or fish for the dinner from the small afternoon market on the bridge.
Many people living and visiting Hanoi said that Long Bien Bridge is the best place to look at the sunrise or the sunset and taking nice photos of alluvial patch. Many brides and grooms choose Long Bien Bridge as nice background in their wedding albums. Many tourists come here to visit a historical construction and view nice scenery. Many youngsters, teenagers take nice photos to keep memories of youth on the bridge or in the middle of alluvial patch with full of green tree. Many vendors and housewives still come here every afternoon for an open air market.
And many trains pass the bridge each day.

That way, Long Bien – the oldest bridge in Hanoi is still living and sharing the daily life with Hanoians silently. If you have a chance to visit Hanoi, do not forget to take a walk on Long Bien Bridge for sight seeing, feeling the daily life of Hanoians, and enjoying peaceful moments at the present but not forgetting memorable past.
How to get here 
You can rent a motorbike and remember go on the left hand side of the bridge, or walk from the centre of Hanoi to here ( just more then 1km from the Old Quarter to Long Bien bridge).

We can take photos or view Ha noi from here. Next to Long Bien bridge, there is Long Bien train station

Long Bien market is always so crowded

See the different colors of bustling Hanoi:

Tours going to Long Bien bridge
Hanoi- Bat Trang biking full day

Relocating to a new country with unusual habits and customs can be a very stressful experience, with some patience and guidance living in a foreign country and learning different sets of customs and habits can be a truly memorable experience.

There are numerous publications that you can read before arriving in Ho Chi Minh City that will provide you with a basic list of cultural “Do’s and Don’ts”. Numerous websites for expats can be a good source of these lists.


Compared to the rest of Vietnam, people in Ho Chi Minh City are generally more tolerant of foreign cultures and culturefaux pas committed by foreigners. Vietnamese culture differs greatly from Western culture on many fundamental levels. Here are a few of the more prominent differences:


The Vietnamese use different titles based on age and gender groups. If you attempt to use Vietnamese, it is important to learn the title to avoid embarrassment or possibly offending someone.
The Vietnamese have customary practices in most homes. Guests are expected to take their shoes off at the door. It is important to remember to offer to take your shoes off when entering a Vietnamese home. When the host gestures that you do not need to, it is ok to wear them.
Even though more and more Vietnamese (especially in Ho Chi Minh City) learn to speak English, we advise foreigners to learn at least some basic Vietnamese. Vietnamese truly appreciate when effort is shown to speak their language. This effort can truly endear you to the Vietnamese and can make your life here easier and more enjoyable.
In Vietnam, there is a huge emphasis on family values. Don’t be surprised if your local Vietnamese staff or colleague asks to take 2 to 3 days off to go back to her hometown for an extended uncle’s death anniversary.
It is essential for the Vietnamese to occupy interpersonal relationships outside of the family group and to be a member of wider social networks. The Vietnamese can use any reason to get together for a good time. Welcoming new staff, a farewell party for a colleague moving to another department, receiving a bonus, a raise or a promotion, owning a new phone, a new motorbike or house, or being invited and attending a friend’s relative’s wedding that they might not know are all perfectly good reasons to get together for a party in Vietnam.
The Vietnamese value patriotism and a devotion to their famous former leader Ho Chi Minh. It is important not to parade or display another country’s flag, make negative comments about the government or its leaders, you could be jailed for committing crimes against the party.
Crossing the index and middle finger does not mean good luck in Vietnam. To the Vietnamese this is a very offensive gesture. It is best to avoid making this gesture at all costs.
What may seems odd to you may be a perfectly normal custom in Vietnam. One of the most important things to consider is to always be prepared to be tolerant, keep an open mind and learn to embrace cultural differences.
Source: Home connect

You may find related topics such as:
Festival in Vietnam
Religion and Belief of Vietnam
Vietnamese Art and Cultures

An Italian photographer has recently made a video clip accentuating Vietnam’s reverie-like places of interest and cheery people.
Since being launched earlier this month on Vimeo, a three-minute video clip titled “Reverie of Vietnam” has drawn over 200 comments from domestic and international tourists, who marveled at the country’s charms.
The clip attracted over 150,000 views only a few days after being released online, according to Vietnamese newswire VnExpress.

This image in Vietnam Video clip "Reverie of Vietnam" 

During his cross-country trip from late March to mid-April, its author, Oliver Astrologo, captured and collaged many recordings of Vietnam’s tourist attractions, including Ha Long Bay in northern Quang Ninh Province, Hoi An Ancient Town in central Quang Nam Province, and Trang An in northern Ninh Binh Province, all of which have earned UNESCO recognition as world heritage sites.
The clip also highlighted gorgeous scenery in several places in the Mekong Delta, including heavenly beaches on Phu Quoc Island, located off Kien Giang Province.
Astrologo, 35, focused his lens on the rustic everyday life of the people he bumped into during the trip, as well as diverse cultural and art activities in different locales.
The Italian photographer also posted the clip on his Instagram and Facebook pages.


A creative director of an advertising company in Italy, he has nurtured boundless passion for globetrotting and photography. 
Vietnam was on his “must-visit” list.
Before visiting Vietnam, Astrologo had traveled to many other countries, and he is planning to explore more and work with those countries’ tourism administration agencies in long-term projects, VnExpress said.
Some other still images from Oliver Astrologo's video clip

Source: Tuoitrenews

Location and History
Hanoi Flag Tower at the age of nearly 200 years is renowned as one of the symbols of Hanoi. The construction began in 1805 and completed in 1812, the 11th year of Gia Long time, Nguyen dynasty, five years after construction time of Flag Tower in Hue.
From 1894 to 1897, the French colonial destroyed most of the construction in Thang Long Imperial Citadel, and Flag Tower is one of rare architecture works which still remain today. Moreover, the image of Flag Tower has been embedded in many remarkable historic events; for example, the flag of Vietnam flew on the top of the Flag Tower for the first time in 1945, after The August Revolution’s success, and on October 10th, 1954- the capital libration day; image of Flag Tower is printed on the money paper issued firstly by the Bank of Vietnam.
Since 1986, there are always a national flag (24m2) flying on the top of Hanoi Flag Tower. One flag is only used within two to three weeks on average, so in one year, there are about 20 flags alternately flying in the sky of Hanoi.
Located on Dien Bien Phu street, at the center of the city, Hanoi Flag Tower is a historic attraction that tourists who arrive in Hanoi should visit once.

Architecture
Hanoi Flag Tower is 33m height with three platforms and the eight-side tower, and 41m height consisting of the flag pole. With original construction purpose as an observatory; Hanoi Flag Tower offers a breathtaking view for the watchers standing on it.

 The top of the tower is an eight-side room with eight windows corresponding to eight directions, offering enough space for six people standing inside. “Ngenh huc” means “Welcome dawn’s sunlight”, “Hoi quang” means “Reflecting the light”, and “Huong minh” means “Direct to the light” are alternately inscribed on the eastern, western and southern door of the tower. At the northern door, there are two stairs in the left and the right hand side.

It's so pleasantly surprised upon venturing inside as the area holds much more than just the flag.
And the view is good too, looks over the museum grounds: the planes and helicopter etc in the yard outside the museum.

Engine of B-52D Bomber

Hanoi Flag tower open daily from 8 am to 5 pm .Close on Monday, Friday.

Beside Hanoi Flag Tower, There are lots of tourist attraction in Hanoi
Hanoi Old quarter
Quan Thanh temple
Hanoi handicraft villages

Fringed with white-sand beaches and with large tracts still cloaked in dense, tropical jungle, Phu Quoc rapidly morphed from a sleepy island backwater to a must-visit beach escape for Western expats and sun-seeking tourists. Beyond the resorts lining Long Beach, it’s still largely undeveloped, so there's ample room for exploration and escaping. Dive the reefs, kayak in the bays, eat up the back-road miles on a motorbike, or just live the life of a lotus eater by lounging on the beach, indulging in a massage and dining on fresh seafood.

The tear-shaped island lies in the Gulf of Thailand, 45km west of Ha Tien and 15km south of the coast of Cambodia. It's no lightweight: at 48km long (with an area of 574 sq km), Phu Quoc is Vietnam’s largest island – about the same size as Singapore. It's also politically contentious: Phu Quoc is claimed by Cambodia who call it Koh Tral and this explains why the Vietnamese have built a substantial military base covering much of the northern end of the island. It was only granted to Vietnam by the French in 1949, as part of the formal annexation of the Mekong Delta.

Phu Quoc is not really part of the Mekong Delta and doesn’t share the delta’s extraordinary ability to produce rice. The most valuable crop is black pepper, but the islanders here have traditionally earned their living from the sea. Phu Quoc is also famed across Vietnam for its production of high-quality fish sauce (nuoc mam).
The island is also well-known for its hunting dogs, which have ridgebacks, curly tails and blue tongues. Muscular and energetic, they are said to be able to pick up their master's scent from over 1km away (the nuoc mam their masters eat probably helps). Unfortunately, the dogs have decimated much of the island’s wildlife.
Despite development (a new international airport, a golf course, new roads and a planned 'casino eco-tourism resort project'), much of this island is still protected since becoming a national park in 2001. Phu Quoc National Park covers close to 70% of the island, an area of 31,422 hectares.

The island has something for everyone -- really! Ringed by more than a dozen bays and beaches, some yellow sand, others brilliant strips of white, with an archipelago of islets off its south coast, a jungle-covered interior and a handful of fishing villages, there is enough to do for a longer stay than you may be planning. Accommodation on Phu Quoc encompasses a full range of options from affordable backpacker guesthouses through to fancy beach resorts and hotels. 

The best time to visit Phu Quoc is from November to March when the temperature hovers around 30 degrees Celsius with not a hint of rain in sight – indeed, this is peak season. April to June is the dry season, when temperatures rise but it still stays relatively dry. If you go during July to October, expect rain as this is when the monsoon drenches the island. 
Ideally, plan to spend anywhere from a few days to a week on Phu Quoc. Some travellers do nothing more than the daily bungalow-beach-restaurant-beach-bungalow circuit for days on end -- for couples in particular, Phu Quoc is a favourite. While there are some sights to check out around the island, with good weather, it's hard to justify leaving the sand.

If feeling adventurous, head out on a snorkelling trip, explore one of the many islands off the southern coast, or rent a motorbike and just go exploring. While prices drop during the monsoon, the island either turns into wet sand or red mud. Fair weather can still be had – but don't expect it.

Soak up the sun and some Vietnamese culture on Phu Quoc Island, where white sands and tropical waters entice beach goers from all over the globe. Snorkeling, scuba diving and fishing are the most popular water sports here, though jet-skiing, wind sailing and squid fishing—yes, squid fishing—are also at your holiday-making fingertips. Check out the early-morning Duong Dong Market for an authentic local experience.

Drive around the island and you can feel the winds of change. Roads are being widened, green construction fencing snakes around future building sites and some of the beaches seem to be getting a bit more crowded. The development isn't all bad. The paving of roads means the northern and southern ends of the island are much more accessible and it is possible to drive from one end of the island to the other in an hour or so. Also, electricity cuts are less frequent and WiFi is pretty much standard everywhere.

The majority of Phu Quoc Island is dedicated to National Park and protected marine environment, providing a memorable experience, with plenty of exciting activities and places to visit to keep you and the family entertained during your stay.

(Source: todo-travel.com)