Trip to Vietnam central highlands

Back to our Vietnam photo tour. The day before yesterday we brought the boys in Saigon airport, put them in a car and distances them out to the coast of Mui Ne, where we are in the last few days have not made other than to sunbathe, swim in the surf waves and drinking good drinks. The boys arouses proper attention, they are about twice as high as an ordinary Vietnamese, and especially Mads, who has put her hair up in Samurai hairstyle sheep many glances.

Elephant riding in Buon Ma Thuot

Mui Ne is 3-4 hours driving from Saigon and the journey there is most of the time the main road between Saigon and Hanoi. That it is the country's main highway is not reflected in neither its size nor quality. Generally, there are few cars in Viet Nam, most traveling on scooter or motorcycle. The cars are typically trucks, buses or larger vehicles with CHAUFFEUR. All tests come forward and all overtakes everyone, there are several places recorded a solid line, but it has only symbolic value. It is no obstacle to overtake one that overtakes and then simultaneously with flashing lights and honking the horn to point out 'that here I come'. Well the boys slept most of the time, there were several bad accidents along the way.

As fate would have it, we arrived at Mui Ne in monsoon rain, more rain than we ever having experienced here. And now the boys otherwise really down and experience the good weather...Thank God it cleared up the next day. Vietnam travel information

Ah, but I have shown just taken a giant leap in history. Last time we were on the blog was just before we were going with Easy Riders Dalat, to Dak Lak, on the motorcycle. We knew that we had agreed to adventure, but that it should be so different we had not dreamed of. At 9 am we stood ready out on the main road with our luggage, very excited on whether there would emerge no Bikers up. No need to panic, they came with freshly washed motorcycles and large plastic poser and laces to tie our luggage to the back of the bikes so it seemed like back support. Equipped with helmets, we drove out of town and into the mountains. Travelling around for two days with two locally experienced guides who could show us everything there was to see who could find the most incredible little coffee / tea places along the way and had tremendous understanding of how when our bottoms just needed to acute pause. At night we slept at Lak lake, which was the original idea that we should have slept in a longhouse, with minority people, but I think they thought we needed to stay overnight, so they recommended us a real bed in a kind of resort. In the longhouse we would have to live with cows, pigs, chickens, ducks and elephants. The elephant then tried the next day it took us through the seas.

After a day's journey through the mountains we ended up in Dalat, which is known as the city of eternal spring. Here is an average temp of 17 degrees. The city is the largest producer of flowers and vegetables, and it is also those that produce wine, Vang Dalat.

The next morning, Peter was out playing golf on a very beautiful track that say the least, was lying in the middle of the city. Peter had had an adorable female caddy, and I was with a spectator and photographer. In the afternoon we headed to Saigon for a walk on 6-7 hours in a good car.

Tomorrow we go to Saigon again and visit on the way Cu Chi tunnels, where the boys hope for that they can shoot with an AK-47...!

Motorcycling around the central part of Vietnam

Central Vietnam

After an overnight bus trip we arrived in the former capital - Hue. City still considered to be the cultural capital of Vietnam turned out to be a huge disappointment. After 3 hours driving engine of the city, visiting the ruins of the Forbidden City (actually it is not even the ruins were only blank), Thien Mu Pagoda and the famous Le Loi Street in the French Quarter we were already very bored. It can not be excluded that affected the travel fatigue. Besides, just after the stay in Hanoi few places would do me a big impression. Either way, both we have found that the time for any changes!

Traveling around Vietnam is too less tourists than in China. As a rule, buying out the cheapest package tours, even themselves Vietnamese rely on buses open tour instead of public transport because it is cheaper. From Hue we went further south to Hoi An, once one of the most important ports in Asia. To avoid reoccurrence of the situation of Hue, carefully planned to what we are going to do. At the same Hoi An, a short walk for me was enough, the rest of the time was spent on trips out of town ... The first day was to a holyland (well, unfortunately, but it's probably for the time being last once) to the ruins of one of the sacred places of ancient Asia - My Son sanctuary. The ruins of the temple complex kingdom of Champa greatly improved my mood. Dense jungle overgrown remains of the temples can be considered some sort of harbinger of what will next be seen in Cambodia in the complex of Angkor Wat. Interesting were also references to Hinduism before we met not with this religion. With My Son through many wars has been little. Recently in 1969, the bombing of Americans have caused the destruction, among others, the highest 20-meter tower. 

The next day we rented a place as scheduled bike for two days (after the negotiations and the search for decent hardware) and so started to Chronicles Motocycle. Initially we planned to take a driving force in the way back to Hue and further north to buggy ride along the Demilitarized Zone, where the scars of war with the United States are still the most visible. Ultimately, however, we decided to drive to the south to the My Lai. Motorcycling overcame 130 km one way. Finally, I saw the similar, which always I associated with Vietnam: jungle, spilled as a result of intense rainfall the river, rice fields, small towns and then villages. It was beautiful, the sun shone and the wind cools the body nicely. To My Lai was not easy to reach, do not go here regular tours, access is not specifically marked. Fortunately, however, most road defeats while driving the main road in Vietnam - Highway # 1. 

In My Lai in 1969 Americans for 4 hours killed more than 500 Vietnamese people, mainly women and children. This is the best documented war crime Americans during the Vietnam War (pictures, eye-witnesses). At this time in the My Lai is a museum, and in the place where once was located the village - the foundations of the burned houses, plaques with the names of the dead. Place makes a big impression, especially with there quietly, few tourists arrives here. After a rest from the sun we went back, another 130km. We returned inches ... I mean, we had one minor tipper and slightly burned in the leg, and no horse in short pants and a T-shirt also meant that a little sun burnt us in their arms, legs and face PP Anyway, it was worth.

Morning stated that measures taken to reduce the effects of sunburn effect and only have brought some face me baked. This time we dressed more sensibly, long pants, shirts with long sleeves (air temperature in the south is a circle of 38 degrees, but do not feel this Motorcycling). Today we had a shorter trip, just 40km one way, by the Chinese Beaches (landing place of the first contingent of American soldiers during the Vietnam War) on Son Tra peninsula. For the same reserve on Son Tra actually not we got because at one point ended in road, but managed to find another beautiful place in which there were no other tourists. On the way back bathed in nice and warm South China Sea

There were no dump trucks, motorcycle outfit did a great job. We rode within two days, around 360 km. The local traffic easily get used, simply there are no rigid regulations on the road is littered with motorcycles, so you have to drive so that it is always somewhere press. The plan we had overnight on the beach to save cost at the hotel, but for the time being deposited on late.

Scary dishes in Vietnam travelers should try

Thit Chuot - Mouse

Vietnam cuisine is diverse and abundant, very attractive to international tourists, however there are some dishes that frighten tourists such as Trung Vit Lon (Duck embryos), Duong Dua (Coconut worms), snake wine, crispy fried insects…

Let's challenge your courage through the dishes below:

1 Trung Vit Lon (Duck embryos)

Trung Vit Lon is made from duck eggs when the embryo has developed into shape but not hatched for certain reasons. Trung Vit Lon is processed in many ways such as boil, fried with tamarind...is one of the popular dishes in Vietnam and considered a nutritious but scary food when the egg is opened with a full small duck with hairy parts.

Trung Vit Lon is sold in every street of Vietnam from rural areas to alleyways. Just a small tables, some chairs and a pot of boiled eggs and the shop is ready to serve. The Vietnamese has a habit of eating Trung Vit Lon in the morning or late evening.

This is a affordable dish, delicious and nutritious for the locals but for many international tourists it is really a horror when they see the Vietnamese eating Trung Vit Lon

2 Duong Dua (Coconut worms)

Duong Dua is one of the specialties in Vietnam however for many people only seeing the fat worms crawling about is enough to get the creeps let alone put into mouth.

Duong Dua is a form of beetle larvae. After the breeding season the beetle usually choose the healthy coconut, pierce a hole on top and lay the eggs in, the eggs hatch and the larvae grow by eating the young shoot of the coconut tree until the tree is pierced through. When the rot shoot falls is the Duong Dua are most crowded.

Although the coconut is spoilt by Duong Dua the worms are delicious and unique specialty in the coconut land of the Mekong River delta. Duong Dua is harmful species and breeding them is prohibited, it is said to enhance sexual ability for men and therefore very precious. One kg of Duong Dua usually cost 500.000 Dong (about 23 USD), out of season the price is even higher.

Especially in Tra Vinh area there are Duong Tra La (Date-palm worms), each palm tree has only 1 worm occupied until it grows wings and fly away. Just see the withered top of the tree one could find a worm inside. Duong Cha La is fat and meaty and people can fry or roast. However this is another dish that makes people frightened when they eat or eat with shut eyes.

3 Ruou Thuoc (Medicinal liquor)

Ruou Thuoc refers to a kind of traditional liquor in Vietnam in which people put herbs with raw animals or insects such as snakes, scorpions, lizards...in liquor and keep a long time for "medical substance" in the herbs and animals to dissolve in liquor.

The animals are usually soaked live, just roughly processed and not cooked. Particularly some animals are put the whole body in the jar like cobras. In addition to gecko, seahorses, bee...I myself have seen a monkey soaked in a big bottle of liquor.

The good thing about Ruou Thuoc is that the liquor is distilled the essence, herb is preserved for a long time and reduce toxicity of alcohol. Herbs to put in liquor are generally tonic, effective supporting body, stimulate digestion, enhance sexual ability...However if you have weak mind you should not try it as the appearance of the bottle itself is enough to make you horrified. Vietnam travel blog

4 Tiet Canh (Blood pudding)

Tiet Canh is a popular dish of Vietnamese people, depending on each cook Tiet Canh is processed in different ways. Tiet Canh is made from animal blood, fresh after slaughtering, coupled with light fish sauce or salt water, thoroughly stir with chopsticks, mix with minced meat, spring onion, groundnut so that the blood coagulates.

After boiling the meat, the cook cuts some cartilage, gizzard, tripe, chop into small bits and put in a bowl. The substance on the surface of the blood is brushed off, enter some broth and mix with blood then gently and quickly sprinkle the blood on the dish.

Tiet Canh is also very diverse such as duck pudding, goat pudding, snake... however the most popular is pig and duck. Very rarely people have chicken and this type of poultry is fishy and can cause disease.

Tiet Canh is popular and can be found easily at road side restaurants in Vietnam but never seen again anywhere in the world and despite it's tastiness it can make you shiver when you see it.

5 Thit Chuot (Mouse)

A lot of people see mice as the most hideous and frightening animals let alone eat them however mouse meat, especially rice mouse is served as a specialty in the menu of many Vietnamese restaurants.

Mouse is most delicious in the countryside at harvest seasons. Mice that live in the rice field only eat rice and they are clean and fat, farmers when cutting rice usually hunt and catch fat mice for food, the traps can be seen everywhere in the rice field during harvest time.

Mouse meat is white and tastes like chicken, a mice after quick processing will be cooked in many dishes from simple to sophisticated, hundreds of way to cook the rats such as sliced mouse with chili and coconut milk, fried minced mouse with lemon leaves, grilled sandwiched mouse...

The trapped mice are prepared by peeling the skin, cut off limbs, tail, nodes, throw away intestine. Only kidney, heart and liver are dried up. Mouse meat can be kept and preserved by salting in the jars to keep fresh, people also make mouse sauce.

Top vacation spots in Vietnam under French time

Speaking of vacation locations in Vietnam, people would think of Nha Trang, SaPa, Da Lat...But have you ever wondered how these places looked like hundreds of years ago? were they the same as what you see today?

1 - Sapa (in Lao Cai province)

Sapa (pronounced as Chapa in French) was used by the French as a resort location since 1915, the name Sapa comes from Chinese Mandarin means "sand" which refers to a sand field where people opened marketplace

In 1920 when the railway line Hanoi - Lao Cai was completed, Sapa became summer capital of north Vietnam and a popular resort station of the French colonial authorities. Nearly 3000 French villas were estimated in Sapa

2 - Tam Dao (in Vinh Phuc province)

Tam Dao resort in Vinh Phuc

Tam Dao was known to the French in 1904 when they found Silver Waterfall at an altitude 912m above the sea level. The French authorities decided to build a town in order to make it a hill resort.

It is estimated there were up to 163 villas with European architecture were built in Tam Dao, in only a few years Tam Dao became a famous hill resort for the colonial authorities

According to records, Tam Dao climate was very pleasant, suitable for the summer vacations from June to September when the heat in north Vietnam was at peak

3 - Do Son beach (in Hai Phong)

Unlike other popular resort sites in Vietnam during 1900s, Do Son was one of the few places known before the French came to Indochina.

Under feudalism, Do Son had been on the map of the British and Dutch maritime experts arriving at Annam for trade under the name Batsha (Batshaw). In fact, this is the location of a small fishing village in Son today.

In The Travel and Discovery published in 1688 by William Dampier, residents of Do Son not only went fishing but also worked as navigators for foreign merchant ships to trade in the north of Vietnam.

However until the French colonial authorities urgently built the resorts for the officials the potential of Do Son were fully exploited. Along with Sam Son it became of the most beautiful beaches in Indochina at that time.

4 - Sam Son beach (in Thanh Hoa province)

Sam Son used to be one of the most beautiful beaches in Indochina in early 20th century. After being put into pilot operation in 1905 and 1906, it was devastated by a tropical storm, leading to a afterward terrible malaria.

However Sam Son soon recovered it's reputation and attracted a lot of tourists by the clean, cool sea air, smooth sandy beach.

5 - Da Lat (in Lam Dong province)

In 1897, Dr. Alexandre Yersin suggested to the governor of Indochina Paul Doumer select Lam Vien Plateau as the ideal resort land for the French in central Vietnam. Since then, the city of Da Lat began to be built in the style of European architecture.

Until 1940s, Da Lat stepped into it's golden time, the reason was because the French in Indochina could not return home due to the world war II was going on.

Dalat quickly became a "Little Paris" - the summer capital of the entire Indochina Federation - where the French came to enjoy moderate temperate like home

Vietnam central heritages

Much has had time to happen so I'll try to look back and download all tahan the same spelling. Lisa posts may be coming later, but now is the rush to put the images and to go diners because I have the hunger!

Come on, that is, Halong Bay after stopping in Hanoi as one of y; KSI Mista we bought an open bus tour - ticket ($ 18), with which we can travel to painlessly Hanoi HCM City always up to. We took tickets at five stop in order to see ya wax what kind of country we Actually, my being!

Hoi An old quarter

Hanoi, I took a pretty chilled out evening and in the morning we went to breakfast rooftop terrace and colliding with ALL our Halong Bay familiar ...

Well no choice but to buy entrance tickets and package.

The taxi came to pick us up at bus stops and soon we were in the ointment with a crowded busloads. A couple of hours and we were following our plant:

Ninh Binh

Ninh Binh is areat place, lots to see and the hotel was just in front of river. This fine hotel and paid a $ 7 per room per night ... Did not live up dawned yes kolmeetoista mut sent to kaveleen took my offer seven dollars. The hotel also offered very tasty food to very cheap! Eg. Noodles with chicken 10,000 a 0.5e! yum! came again into hunger ...

It was resolved the next morning having subject unto bicycle and run fast ride on the river about 7 km on the head. Biking in was really easy because there was not a sweet and gets was like a bride! On. This was reached without panics ... no wax panikoimisen after the works brought traffic is different than the wax there for home in Finland .. Well at long last, however, perilla and driver was the little old man, and was sent to transport. During the trip, it is customary that you also help paddling so were pretty nice floor exercise various effects when melottiin then 2h. Brilliant, absolutely incredible scenery and lots of local public river along the rice fields. We do not cold had nothing information for all laughed mut seems to us, I do not know why ... nyyh.

After the ride pyorailtiin one Pagodalle and the other for the house and the journey in question. day came to 22 km! In the evening we sat in the lobby bar Hotleliln evening with other travelers and gave tips on what to do the next day.

After enjoying a revival, and our breakfast we decided to rent a motorbike for the day, the price of mademoiselle came to $ 3 per bike. Introduced two public Monday when I have not ever driven wonderful I did not dare public leaves along the motorway suhailemaan. That is, two wheels and the cam towards the quieter roads and beautiful scenery. Circled around our time and to find a new path vacuum had not yet traffic at all so I tested the driving Mika on the other hand it was easy to be scared mut the other hand, a bit of a bump can knock down the bike and fall would be costly in a pained my bank account. After a while I drove the new road, but then there was Katrina's turn continues. Ends pinoiselle road (we did not have gender stage nothing left to smell where you are ....), and in front of a sign that said something Pagoda and 450m -> tohon direction. It was resolved Departure for the adventure, and before huomattiinnkaan the local population was attached to the sleeve would pyrat tanne and we will advise you ... this bodes always be loss of money is like a premium and the rent in his name. Well, pini girl and an older gee bay ohjaaksemme and soon suffix ran the younger allow the beverage bag in his hand and, of course, began a terrible sales pitch. It was decided that one Coke three pekkaan is enough. Landscapes were excellent and the weather was beautiful, the valley minka middle walked a small path, and the sides were rice fields. End of the path with long and costly in korkeet stairs so melkeen lost the spirit of various effects. After all, the pagoda was small and almost let mitaansanomaton. Well, fortunately, landscapes repaired disappointing.

Continued the journey and end up another Temple, the site of a small village and kaytiinsitakin watching. Landscapes again as breathtaking. After all, we found back to the hotel and it was time for a beer. Evening began to grow again in the hotel bar, and Canadians the girls in a hotel room in the form of jatkojen, by not seriously was not quite the smartest bet because the next day was a bus 12h ...

The next day was a bit of a weakness serious about running, but fortunately improved before a night bus to the next towards the kohdettamme began. The bus trip went well and gave some sleep around 10h time 😊

Hue

We arrived in the morning at 8:30 am in Hue, which is the third largest city in Vietnam, if I remember correctly .. As soon as the bus ulospaastyamme number of hotel boys ran to catch us and to provide hotelliensa Card and price information (?). It was resolved to rest and think what to do while enjoying the sunshine and soft. After some contemplation, in which direction you want to change, or to go, it was decided to ask the opposite to the public from the moment our hotel pricing information. We sent Katrina about it. After returning from Katrina announced, that $ 7 to room kolmelle..tamahan passasi. The room with two large beds, tv, good toilet and anyway all quite ok. The hotel's location what the grandest. Well let 's take small nap! We woke 5h later the whole company and it was decided outputs to eat.

Little Italy was the name of the place and the food chicken burger with fries. In the evening we went to a place called the DMZ to play free game of pool and drink beer. Place seemed really quiet at first so traded on the location of Why Not? - The name of the bar and enjoyed our stay there for a couple of beers until Katrina and Ben wanted to sleep. I decided to be the subject of a look DMZ cost (Restaurant Thus, 20m away from our hotel), and lo and behold a miracle, place now was just crammed full of beer and I decided to space. After a while, the group in which Australians and Swedes to approach me and the seat rest of the evening, therefore, in their company.

The next day was again subject unto Motorcycles and lehttiin search for the beach! Motorcycles renter drew us a relatively selkeen the map and we decided to follow it. We found the place really easily and it was decided to sit down to sunbathe Mika was shining beautifully. Sea water had an unpleasant brown, but everyone in various effects at play and clams Pick. Waves though it was too big to swim quite unusual to dare to go! Back to the center when we took a look at HCM's house, Mika was on the way. The good condition tono small island minute drive from the center. Some just had to wax sights to see ... yes we we went with Katrina Citydel: continue Mika is the area Huesta who got the most hits Vietnamis War.

In the evening we went to a two-hour bus trip follows

Hoi An

Current destinations too. Let's now been here for two nights and one more will be like. Hoi An Tailors center with clothing mittatilaustyo is cheap as soap! I decided to acquire the following: jeans, dress, skirt, tank top and sandals, all together the price will be around $ 55 ......... is therefore practically anything! However, jeans are the only ones at this time nearing yesterday when I did not know what kind of vaattet I want. Now I already know everyone else except in a dress model that my need to find before the evening! eek!

Kapunki is small and cute. the middle of the flow of the river which each on the beach is full of wonderful restaurants. Let's be decided in the evenings always ordered a variety of dishes, and then everyone gets to taste everything! Hyvaa to be had!

Ekana evening we went to a couple of olusella until the two were aussipoikaa that the first time I was Hanoi. They came to invite us to the other side of the river Salsa name of the bar for vacuum flow was high. It was resolved that the departure of boys and were couples oluset. Expenditure was korkeella and a bunch of people had a lot, but again as Katrina and Ben wanted to bay to bed on time so the controller will follow Aaron and partners until retiring to our hotel.

The next day, Ben and Katrina wanted to bay a motorcycle adventure and I take it easy at the hotel, when the air was not at all good for. katoin a couple of movies on TV, and sorted the images, etc. until the couple arrived and was sent to dinner. Food, therefore, again as heavenly. After this everything was just pulling away so quiet evening when Ben pulled out the hotel and we were sent among the girls shopping.

This afternoon, getting known in Benin suit and Katrina shoes + other wefts and my jeans and a new order!

Sit I do not know what! But I'm feeling like do anything ku tomorrow'd 11h while on the bus, but fortunately against the night and the following destinations in Nha Trang! Beach Destination with friends Joonaskin from Finland arrives! jihu!

A trip through Son La and Hoa Binh

Moc Chau

Vietnam travel photo (Son La province) While we waited for Jan's visa, we packed the most necessary things for a 2-Week trip, leaving the rest at the hillside and Sa are. 

Thung Khe pass

On the way to Moc Chau, we enjoyed the beautiful scenery with rice paddies, mountains hills and the various locals. We have already drunk so many sugarcane drinks in Vietnam and now we have seen for the 1st time the plants themselves. We were not even sure until we asked the saleswoman. You have to peel the cane first before you can use it. We bought a whole sugarcane for 10000d. The saleswoman is cut into small pieces for us so that we can just chew the juice out. Also we saw that very young children (about 6 or 7) already guarding the buffalo herd. Very small children are placed in a basket behind the mother's back and so they go to the field.

3km before Moc Chau village we found the Pha Luong Guesthouse. The whole Guest House Sahr very classy. We thought it would cost a lot more. In the evening we tried the specialty of Moc Chau "Be Chao" (translated little cow = veal). As always Vy first asked for the price before  we ordered something. Suddenly she broke soup, salad, pickled in vinegar vegetables, rice and a plate Be Chao. We thought it's worth the price, but after dinner we wanted to pay and she expected us for the dish Be Chau 140000d (is very much for a plate), plus everything else. So we had to finally pay on 200000d. We thought they kidding us, but when we asked in our Guest House, they said that's ok like that. But we find it an impudence that we simply should provide, without that we ordered it. Janu ... but we were tired. 

The next day we got up early to see the sunrise. Unfortunately, on the day of fog, so no beautiful sunrise. We packed our things together again to draw later on. After breakfast we toured all the sights. We had quite the way to the waterfall ask because it was not really labeled. 

In return we saw women wearing a wooden blind with his head. How strong must the Nackensein to so carry a heavy bag can? (see photo) Arriving at the cave we were very disappointed because it's not really a nice  Cave was. Perhaps we have seen too many caves on our trip. So we went already back on quickly. Our next stop was the Tea Heart. That it already rained all day, it made the search even more difficult. When we arrived and the tea factory doorman asked where the heart is, he said we should come to the house and wait until it stops raining, because it just rained heavily. He offered us tea and we could rest a bit us. Luckily it stopped after a while raining so we could visit the heart. 

Back at our Guesthouse we tied our luggage on a motorbike and drove towards Mai Chau. 

Notes: 

The Pha Luong Guesthouse costs only 150'000d 

Mai Chau

Hoa Binh province - In Mai Chau, we were able to live in a homestay, that means we live with a family where we were able to experience their daily life with. 

The grandmother had already Vy really liked and then the woman, so we decided to stay straight without asking further. 

On 1 evening they cooked the food for the tourists, but after we asked them for us their own food  cook, so we were able to try their food. At 18:00 clock we heard a drum. This means for a specific dance group for young women and men to make themselves at 19:00 willing to maintain their appearance. We wanted to also go look. The grandmother said that it would cost too much if we only 2 would rent the whole dance group. Since the niece was also in the dance group, brought us the grandmother at 19:00 to the Guest House of the performers group. We stood in the distance and watched. The tour guide invited us to enjoy with them. So we saw again different traditional clothes and dances. 

The next morning we ate breakfast with us and watch the daily life of the villagers. Since it was raining heavily this morning, was fun for us to watch the people on the scooter. Just drove with one hand and the other hand they held the umbrella. The woman sat down with us and we chat for hours together. Since she lived very far from the city, they still knew quite a bit because they took all the information on the TVs. We learned that they were originally Thais, but they are in Vietnam since 5 generations  and they talk together Thai. This village was originally founded by the rice workers. At that time they had set up tents in order to guard their rice fields can. Then the community informed on the land. Per person you got a piece of land. So who have then had more children, received more land. So they built the houses and the village was established. There were 2 villages, the others are already so built for tourists, gave restaurants and shops. At noon it stopped raining and we we took our scooter to visit the surrounding area. We drove through the village 2nd and we were glad that we were at our homestay. It does not look more out originally. The scenery was quite visible. The wide rice fields and then suddenly a "mountain", bamboo houses obliquely lay almost in the water, and children who fish in the river. 

Back in the homestay, trained the woman Vy weave. After about 30min Vy could weave itself already. It made her so fun is that as long wab until it got dark. 

For dinner we had a huge feast. The man sat down to us and Jan rice wine at bat. 

The next morning we had already  further, so that we were able to achieve all our goals. 

Notes: 

We stayed at homestayNo. 1, after the rice field the 1st house on the right. 

The night costs per person and per meal 50'000d again 50'000d

Visitors to take part in Ha Giang flower festival

Ha Giang People's committee has approved the plan submitted by Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism to host Tam Giac Mach flower Festival in Dong Van district, however the festival will be organized in the right time with emphasis and characteristics of Ha Giang province.

According to plan, Tam Giac Mach flower festival will take place in October this year when Tam Giac Mach flower is in full bloom and most beautiful, the festival will be held along with a chain of cultural activities such as the Third H'mong flute festival, the amateur photo exhibition with subjects about Dong Van highland, Rock plateau tourism fair...

Dong Van plateau in Ha Giang

This will be the first Tam Giac Mach festival held in Ha Giang town at provincial scale. Ha Giang is expected to promote and advertize the special characteristics, local traditional culture of ethnic minority groups living in the area Global Geopark Dong Van. 

Early October is the time when Tam Giac Mach flowers come to season. This time, Ha Giang become busy with thousands of people, most of them are young travelers from Hanoi flock to Ha Giang to enjoy the beauty of Tam Giac Mach flower blooming all over the place, across the hillsides and villages of Dong Van, Meo Vac and Yen Minh districts.

If you choose Dong Van as the first destination of the trip to Ha Giang in Tam Giac Mach season then Pho Cao should be the first place to behold the first flowers of the season. Standing right on top of the hill looking down, you will see a carpet of Tam Giac Mach, the color of flower in the early season is light pink and fresh, the picturesque gardens stretch across the mountain valleys. Local people used the powder of Tam Giac Mach fruit to make cakes or mix with corn and make alcohol with very special flavor.

Delicious food travelers love in Ha Giang

Ha Giang special food

Ha Giang is not only known as a mountainous province with spectacular landscapes, customs and traditions, colorful festivals, sheer limestone mountains but also we see it as a piece of land with of attractive natural products and one of the best attractions that lure travelers is the food culture with dishes made from many materials available in nature that have become exotic, interesting and impressive specifically available only in the highland region of Ha Giang

In this article I will introduce some specialties of Ha Giang land that have become famous and I myself have tried during our Ha Giang adventures. If you have a chance to visit this region just don't forget to taste them.

1 - Banh Cuon Trung (Rice rolls with eggs)

In the cold stone land of Ha Giang, one must eat something really hot, so hot air to fight the gloom air emanating from the rocks. But Egg rolls, specialty of the border land is a "cold dish", used with hot soup cooked from bone, sweet and tasty.

When the sauce is ready, you just dip the thin piece of rice, wrap with red color of egg yolk, everything is deep in the self-made sauce and enjoy the strange and tasty flavour of the remote land.

Some places to enjoy Banh Cuon Trung:

- Banh Cuon Mrs Lan, address 116A Ly Tu Trong street, Ha Giang town.

- Banh Cuon shop, just across the old Dong Van market

2 - Chau Au Tau (Au Tau porridge)

In Ha Giang there are unique dishes that make visitors never forget. Bitter Porridge or Chao Au Tau is one of them.

In a cold winter night, wandering in the town of Ha Giang, take a seat at the corner of the restaurant and order a bowl of Chao Au Tau, full gamut of taste in a small bowl of soup: fragrant glutinous rice mixed with aromatic rice cultivated on upland well cooked, the buttery flavour of a bulb of Au well cooked with pig trotters soup, odor herbs, spice leaves...A bowl of Chao Au Tau looks very attractive by harmonious combination of rice, minced meat, bone water, herbs... It is not easy to make Chao Au Tau, the bulb of Au is thoroughly soaked in strong rice water and stewed in 4 hours. Sticky rice Hoa Vang is mixed with white rice cooked in broth chopped pork leg and Au flour, add a little chopped lean meat, another little extra spice, the porridge tastes bitter and many people called bitter porridge.

Many visitors to Ha Giang, enjoy the tasty Chao Au Tau for the first time would return for it. Chao Au Tau is not just a dish but also a medicine for cold. Chao Au Tau is available in Ha Giang all seasons however only sold in the evening. In the cold winter night in the mountains, sitting in a warm restaurant by the red flame kitchen and savor Au Tau porridge is also an interest for those who love to discover new things.

3 - Thang Co

The aroma of cardamom, nuts and lemongrass, mingled with the fat of the meat warm the air in the cold weather of winter. H'mong men to Dong Van market all want to have a bowl of Thang Co soup, drink some cups of wine with friends. Men who have many friends are invited to many wine, those who are drunk at the end of the market session is considered as blessed for having many friends. 

The market in Dong Van has been rebuilt, look similar to markets in the cities however the roofs and ceilings cannot replace the umbrellas of ethnic women. In the middle of the market, the Thang Co shops are placed behind the foodstuff. Pork, buffalo, beef is hanging for sale in the big hooks, the wine shops are right beside the Thang Co shops, wine is stored in the big plastic can or ceramic jars carried on horseback from the early morning or the night before, a world of wines mingled with the flavour of hot fiery leaves.

H'mong people usually bring to market Men Men, a kind of corn cakes, when they come to market they buy a couple of wines and a bowl of Thang Co is enough to make a party with friends. You must squat when eating Thang Co, the bowls are put on a long wooden span and served by a wooden spoon, there is always a bowl of salt and hot chili, a little salt would make the Thang Co very strong. Thang Co must be eaten with friends so that you can talk about family, health and business and the sounds of cheers go all about the market. When you begin to get drunk people would sing and play flut, all men and women can be drunk at the Thang Co table.

4 - Com Lam in Bac Me (Sticky rice cooked in bamboo pipe)

Ha Giang is a fertile region with delicious sticky rice that has become famous, the Com Lam Bac Me is becoming a special dish of the Tay ethnic people here.

Techniques to process Com Lam is simple, raw materials is sticky rice treated thoroughly and soaked in water from underground sources, put in a bamboo pipe and blocked with banana leaves, people use young bamboo, cut into tubes with one end open and the other end is blocked, like the bottom of the pan, glutinous rice is washed carefully, add some salt, mix well and put into the tubes, pour water approximately above the rice. The open end of the bamboo pipe is blocked with dried banana leaves and then grill on fire or put under the fire wood, spin the tube around slowly to make the rice heat up evenly. As long as an hour or less (depending on how big the pipe is), the fragrance of glutinous rice spread out then the Com Lam is ready.

Before eating, use a knife and remove the green skin outside the pipe (now burned black) and the white layer inside, the Com Lam is shaped in the form of a pipe, surrounded by an ivory silk shell of bamboo tube. In the old days Com Lam is a priority for pregnant women and women who were feeding new born babies. A scientific explanation, that eating Com Lam will avoid the nature of copper, iron, aluminum as cooked by metal pan and therefore would not affect the quality of milk of the mother, when eating the Com Lam has the fragrance coupled with banana leave and grilled pipe, Com Lam can be eaten with sesame or grilled fish from river.

5 - Reu Nuong (grilled moss)

Moss from rock has been considered a kind of aquatic plant. But for the Tay people in Xuan Giang commune, Quang Binh district, stone moss is a special dish.

The food processed from stone moss is also call Que, this is a tasty and nutritious dish with unique flavour. According to local people, when they go looking for moss they usually go to large fields where moss is plenty and tasty, moss is washed thoroughly until it is free from sand, moss then can be processed into different dishes.

Moss from streams is plenty however less delicious. Moreover moss is seasonal so for people here, moss is a precious dish. Moss can be cooked in different dishes such as fried, dried however the most delicious and original grilled with difference spices.

Tay people say "Que chi ap, tap chi ho", means moss should be grilled on charcoal. When the moss is grilled you don't spin the bag of moss but grill one side of the bag then the other side, when tapping the bag with two fingers and feel soft inside then the moss is ready. Since the moss is seasonal so in addition to processing fresh moss people also dry the moss, put in the kitchen to make food reserves. Only the distinguished guests are treated dry moss in the kitchen.

Ha Giang tourism developes

Ha Giang department of Culture and Information in corporation with Tourism Promotion Centre has organized a training course on "Community Tourism of Ha Giang in 2015". Attending the course are 42 students who are in charge of cultural affairs in the villages with community tourism, management board and households offering homstay service in Phuong Thien and Phuong Do communes of Ha Giang town.

Ha Giang in Vietnam

The training course is attended by lecturer from Hanoi Tourism College with content: Overview of the tourism development of Ha Giang province, the role of eco-environmental protection with development of tourism activities, characteristics and needs of tourists coming to the community-based cultural villages, some models of management, operation and distribution of profits for community tourism products. Practice how to decorate, arrange furniture in the house, methods of processing some traditional dishes to serve tourists, some principles in interacts with tourists. The training course is not only to equip people with basic knowledge of business, community tourism activities, but also help people orient the economic development in a sustainable way according to the model of economic tourism, thereby contribute to local economic development, 

In order to raise the level of knowledge for professional management team, directors and deputy directors, business owners and service staff in hotels, motels and restaurants in town and also helps operate the business activities more effective, the training course on "Business Management for customer service at hotels, guesthouses and restaurants" was held in 2 days at Ha Giang museum hall, there were 20 people attended including 5 participants from hotels and restaurants in town. Content of the course was to convey to students necessary stills such as basic communication skills with tourists, objects and mentality of tourists, promotion and marketing in the hotels, restaurants, handling situations in operating hotels, guesthouses and restaurants. This is an opportunity for accommodation establishments and restaurants in the City and other districts in Ha Giang province to exchange, share of experiences to serve guests better.

Ha Giang is the province with great potential for tourism development. However, to put up the smokeless industry development, Ha Giang is trying to build and implement successful strategies for tourism development. Since Dong Van Plateau has officially become a member of network of global geoparks, Ha Giang is determined to implement the strategy to become a tourist centre in north Vietnam. This determination is expressed through the building of Ha Giang's strategic development with the goal to receive 1.9 million visitors in 2015, with 340 thousand foreign tourists, revenue from tourism, services reach 2 trillion Vietnam Dong.

To accomplish this goal, Ha Giang province is expected to improve the existing accommodation facilities on 122 hotels and guest houses with 1,687 rooms, 45 village community cultural tourism. By 2020, Ha Giang tourism sector is expected to receive about 3 million tourists, with 650 thousand foreign visitors, total revenue of over 3 trillion Dong. The accommodation facilities are raised to 150 motels, hotels and resorts, with a total of 4000 rooms, 88 community-based tourism cultural villages

Useful tips for a tour to Ha Giang

Travel Ha Giang

My tour Ha Giang was on the occasion of national holiday Reunification day 30th April and Labor day 1st May and things were more expensive than usual. Along the way I met many motorbike groups on their way to Ha Giang, some groups had 5 to 7 bikes, one group had up to 13 bikes. Tours to Ha Giang from Hanoi this time was quite bustling. Not only young people, there were also elderly people visit Ha Giang with their families, people come there to set foot on the border line of our homeland, watching the rocky plateau of Dong Van and conquer the legendary Ma Pi Leng Pass.

Beautiful weather, there were only 2 of us, a few times "almost" no accommodation, run out of petrol mid way and overcharged...There are many things I learnt during the 3 day 2 night adventure to Ha Giang I would like to share with you, on accommodation, about problems on the road and the itinerary as well.

Although we had searched for information and tips about Ha Giang travel on the net, referred to friends we did not actually had something specific, except the way. So in this article I will share with you all the experiences in my last trip in Ha Giang attractive places

Best time to visit Ha Giang:

Ha Giang is said beautiful all seasons, I do not deny it, Ha Giang is famous for Dong Van rock plateau, Lung Cu flagpole, Ma Pi Leng pass, Vuong family palace...Ha Giang is still beautiful from season to season, still imposing despite the time. However, there are also some certain time periods, Ha Giang is nicer by the colors of the flowers: Tam Giac Mach, specialty for travelers, just about the end of October to December people all gather to Ha Giang to enjoy the beauty of Tam Giac Mach flower, the purple flowers spread across the hillside. And also in this time, Ha Giang is embellished with yellow color of Cabbage flower, Ha Giang is very cold this season, you may see frost and sometimes it also snows in the area. Experience the frigid cold winter in the northern mountainous region, trembling with a cup of coffee in hand, sip a bowl of Au Tau porridge, clicking a glass of corn wine...Nothing is as great as that?

Winter passes, the first days of Spring approach. Then the plum, peach flowers blooming. Come to Ha Giang this time to witness with your own eyes the vitality of all things in the rocky plateau, perhaps a wonderful experience. Personally I will be back to Ha Giang some spring, holding a glass of corn wine, to self-heat my soul. Adventure tours in north Vietnam

Summertime is rainy season, there are sudden shower. Ha Giang in Autumn is more beautiful with paddy terraces, though not as much as Sapa or Mu Cang Chai but it brings a particular beauty.

Have you chosen your time to visit Ha Giang, if you have made up your mind let's move on to means of transport.

How to get to Ha Giang?

There are two ways for you to get to Ha Giang. It's by car or motorcycle. I choose motorcycles for my journey. Motorcycle suit people who like freedom, adventurous and risky feeling.

Car is the choice for people who put safety first, however travel by bus in your private tours to Ha Giang from Hanoi usually run at night and you will not be able to view the roadside scenery to the fullest. So I will let you make your own choice to travel by car or motorbike

Travel to Ha Giang by motorbike or private car:

I would really admire if you go by motorbike. Biking to Ha Giang is not a short journey. Your reason is to conquer the road or overcome yourself? This road is about 300 - 320 km, and there are 2 routes to choose from

First route (I chose this one)

Starting from Hanoi to Son Tay (via highway 21 in Co Nhue) then onto Trung Ha bridge, turn right at Son Tay township or straight on to La Thanh - Co Tiet - Phong Chau bridge (After Phong Chau bridge you turn left along Thao

river) to Phu Tho township - Doan Hung district then to Tuyen Quang province, in Tuyen Quang you take national highway 2 to Ha Giang without going through Tuyen Quang town.

If you go to Ha Giang by this route the road is deserted and 30 km shorter, there are fewer traffic police ;) It took me nearly 9 hours from Hanoi to Ha Giang (12.30am to 21.20 pm) including lunch and photo stops.

Second route:

From Hanoi via Thang Long bridge, turn to Vinh Phuc province - Viet Tri town - Phu Tho province - Tuyen Quang town - Ha Giang, this route has more passenger buses and more crowded than the first route.

Travel to Ha Giang by public passenger bus

You can catch a bus to Ha Giang from My Dinh station in Hanoi, my tip for you is to buy ticket in advance so that you have a seat and avoid being cramed. You can make a booking by some ways, call directly to bus companies or go to booking agent by yourself.

I have consulted and collected a list of passenger buses for your choice, you can refer to the list of Ha Giang buses, remember to call ahead to update price.

Return to my article, after arriving in Ha Giang by bus you can rent a motorbike to visit nearby beautiful places, or you can join a bus tour to Dong Van however I recommend that you rent a motorbike in Ha Giang town.

To rent a motorbike in Ha Giang you can refer to one of the contacts below:

Hong Dao motorbike rental service:

Phone 0915.842.019 or 0165.398.2928

Address 10 Pham Hong Thai street, Group 17, Minh Khai ward, Ha Giang town

(close to Minh Khai junior secondary school)

Bao Thanh motorbike rental service:

Address: 31 Nguyen Thai Hoc street, Ha Giang town

Mr Nam, phone 0917.797.269 – 0978.159.123

Bay motorbike rental service:

Address 47 Ly Thuong Kiet street, group 15, Tran Phu ward, Ha Giang town

phone: 0986.030.405 – 0125.515.5568 – 0915.273.882

Tuan Anh motorbike rental service:

phone: 0906.175.336

Giang Son motorbike rental service:

Address 170 Tran Hung Dao road, Ha Giang town

phone: 0988. 470.863 or 0962.761.081

Travel itinerary in Ha Giang by motorbike or private car

Brief itinerary: Ha Giang town - Quan Ba district - Yen Minh district - Sa Phin - Vuong family palace - Lung Cu peak - Dong Van rock plateau - Ma Pi Leng pass - Meo Vac district - Bao Lam district - Bac Me - Ha Giang.

Day 1: Spend your time on the road to Ha Giang, arrange a hotel room in town for a shower, go out for dinner, take a walk around city and spend the night in Ha Giang town, please note that you need to arrange permit at Ha Giang police station so that you can enter the area of 4 border districts, you can arrange it through your hotel.

Day 2: Get up early and check out (get up early so that you have more time to visit sightseeing places in Ha Giang). Fill the fuel tank with a spare bottle of petrol. Go straight to Quan Ba district, if you have time enough please stop over Lung Khuy grotto, a newly discovered cave in Quan Ba and the famous Quan Ba heaven gate. About 15km from Ha Giang town the road started becoming spectacular, the passes winding around the mountain, the distant mountains covered with floating white clouds. The higher you go the more beautiful scenes you have. The road from Quan Ba to Yen Minh (60km) is quite scenic especially the pine forest in Yen Minh, the sides of the road are covered with pine trees, feel like we are traveling in Da Lat pine forest, you can stop here camping and lunch.

From Yen Minh, there are 2 roads to Dong Van or Meo Vac, you turn towards Dong Van, in a short drive you arrive in Dong Van with the first rocky mountain beginning to appear then to a winding pass quite nice that I do not know the name. Over the pass you arrive in Sa Phin heaven gate (the junction of Lung Cu flagpole and Vuong house). This time is about 2-3 pm, you turn to Vuong family mansion (or Hmong King palace) for a short visit then return to junction and continue to Lung Cu flag post (26km). The stretch of road from heaven gate to Lung Cu is incredibly beautiful. Rocks undulating like the waves. Beautiful, magnificent and breathtaking, this part is the most spectacular road in Ha Giang.

It time permits you can visit Pho Bang old quarter in the border gate area (7km from Sa Phin) and then return to Lung Cu. Please note that when you arrive in Lung Cu, don't park your car at the foot of the mountain at the military post and keep driving up to the flagpost. If you are not allowed

to go this way you can trace your way back to the junction, right at the start of the road there is a way to the village of Lo Lo people, you can go straight to the flagpole. Pay your entrance fee there and you can save your time and efforts of climbing stairs.

Leaving Lung Cu flagpole, you still have plenty of time to wander around Lo Lo village. Then turn back to the town of Dong Van (approx ~ 22km). To arrange a hotel room in town.

In the evening you can go out for a walk, enjoy barbecue and corn wine, have a cup of coffee or go to bed early to save energy for the next days.

End of day 2

Day 3: Get up early and go out for breakfast in the Old street area, there are many dishes: Banh Cuon, Au Tau and Thang Co soup...Return to hotel, check out the room and continue to Ma Pi Leng pass.

Ma Pi Leng pass is the stretch of road that connects Dong Van and Meo Vac districts (22 km). On top of the pass you can look down the Nho Que river. It is very beautiful everywhere from beginning to finish of the pass. No photo can display the splendid spectacle of Ma Pi Leng pass, no wonder Ma Pi Leng is called the King of passes in Vietnam.

Leaving Ma Pi Leng pass behind you arrive in Meo Vac for lunch, after lunch is a 150 - 180 km drive back to Ha Giang town, you can choose one of the 3 ways:

- Meo Vac to Lung Phin (if you are lucky you can visit colorful Lung Phin market that opens every 6 days on the days of Tiger and Monkeys on lunar calendar) then to Yen Minh - Quan Ba and Ha Giang, this way you will track back the original road.

- Meo Vac to Lung Ho - Mau Due - Du Gia, I recommend this route as it has become legenday for motorbike travelers for its beauty and dangers and finish in Ha Giang town

- Meo Vac to Bao Lam and Bao Lac district - Bac Me and Ha Giang. I chose this road as I did not return to Ha Giang and continued on to Cao Bang in our northeast loop tours Vietnam.

Arriving in Ha Giang town, spend one more night in town and return to Hanoi next day. End of the trip

Sleeping in Ha Giang

In Ha Giang town: I have spent hours going around town to find the hostel. As the day was 30th April and all hotels were full. We were very lucky that at least we found Duc Giang hotel, only aprox 6 usd for a room with 2 beds, just across the bus station, the room is basic but has hot water, very good deal for a night.

If you want to stay in a better choice there are plenty of hotels along the main road to town, rates from 10 - 20 usd

Dong Van: According to bus drivers and motorbike travelers, best hotel choice is Hoang Ngoc hotel, right at the Dong Van market, rates from 8 - 10 USD a room with 2 or 3 beds, breakfast not included. The guesthouse at the end of the street is also good, backpackers can sleep at 1 usd/person, there are about 6-7 cheaper hostels around town, approx 8 usd/room. A popular place for young Vietnamese travelers is Old Street coffee, however this place is only the last choice as the bathroom is not clean and has mosquitoes

Eating in Ha Giang

Im not a big fan of cuisine however I know some famous dishes in Ha Giang such as Banh Cuon, Thang Co soup, Bac Me sticky rice, Au Tau porridge, Five color sticky rice, dry beef and corn wine, be careful as you may mistake with Chinese wine that makes you headache as told by local people.

In Ha Giang I had supper at Trung Lan restaurant, just near the city square, this restaurant opens at night. In Dong Van I had dinner at Xuan Bang restaurant, for breakfast I went to an old lady selling Banh Cuon just across my hotel in Dong Van.

Ha Giang travel tips:

If you travel by motorbike remember to bring along driving license, petrol reserves (1.5 litre bottle), spare parts and repair set with pump, these items are necessary as the roads in Ha Giang are rugged and bumpy and there is no repair shops

Clothing: In winter you need to bring scarf, gloves and warm clothes, you can choose light jacket. In summer you can bring a sweater as it is a bit cold at night in the mountain highland.

Medication: abdominal pain, headache, allergic, anti-mosquito cream, gauze, first aid items...If you go camping you must have anti-mosquito and insects along with firewood, pot and pan for cooking.

Problems visitors usually have in Ninh Binh trip

Ninh Binh tour is one of the most attractive place in north Vietnam and is referred to as Halong bay on land. Located 120 km south of Hanoi, travelers usually visit Ninh Binh in a day trip that covers some famous area like Hoa Lu ancient citadel, Tam Coc caves, Trang An complex and Bai Dinh pagoda...In this post I would like to share some experience so that you guys can avoid possible annoyances in your trip to Ninh Binh.

- Boat trip in Tam Coc: The most common complaint we had from customers is about the boat rowers. They try to make money from tourists by pushing visitors to buy souvenirs, take photos and ask for a tip and always express disappointment if you don't have some money for them. One of my client Claudia Magdalena from Spain told us that the rower of her boat opened a box under the seat which is full of embroideries, pillow sheets, T-shirts, saying that the made by herself with a lot of hard work and wanted to sell at high price, other young ladies followed them all the way on other boats, they took photos and then tried to sell the pictures. At the end of the boat trip she was surrounded by a groups of people selling water and soft drinks, they urged her to buy drinks for the rower...What should you do in this situation? just say no firmly and politely and don't show any interest. About the tip, please have some money handy for the rowers, about 50.000 vnd (2 usd) per person is fine. 

Rescue centre in Cuc Phuong forest

- Visit Cuc Phuoc national park: The Monkey Rescue Centre is located in Cuc Phuong forest with it's aim to rescue, provide care to the precious types of monkey in Vietnam and release them back to nature, the Monkey rescue Centre has nearly 160 individuals of monkey such as white head langur...Visitors have to pay entrance to get in plus an extra guiding service. What made visitors annoyed the must is the bad environment, empty cans and plastic bottles can be found everywhere. The trek in the forest takes about 2 hours, remember to wear good shoes as it rains very often in the area, and go to toilet before the trek if you don't want to take a long way back to the centre as there is no toilet around, perhaps the visitors see the forest as a big natural toilet and there is no need to build one.

- Hoa Lu temples of Kings: The temples are dedicated to King Dinh and King Le, said to be built in 10th century however what visitors see is a small temple built in 17th century as the original temple was destroyed in the war, there is nothing special about these temples as they are almost similar to the many temples in Hanoi, unless you are escorted by an English speaking guide you cannot read any sign nor description about the place. Hoa Lu should be only a coffee stop rather than a tourist destination as described by tour companies, ah yes, like any other place in Ninh Binh, Hoa Lu is full of photographer hawkers who trouble your visit.

- Bai Dinh pagoda: One of the biggest pagodas in south east Asia, Bai Dinh was a newly built pagoda, it is like a tourist attraction rather than a Buddhism place as people feel the lack of a spirit of religion. The pagoda is free to enter however you need to pay 1 USD to park the bike plus 2.5 USD transfer by bus from the entrance to the main part of the pagoda. There are many big statues however they are not beautiful. If you want to see a big pagoda building then Bai Dinh is the place and that's it.

Motorbiking to Ta Xi Lang

Motorbiking to Ta Xi Lang

I have been to many routes in the mountainous north Vietnam however the road to Ta Xi Lang is probably the most memorable with towering slopes, slippery and sheer mountain passes and where friendship is lightened in the remote place. 

I was very excited when our group will make a trip to Ta Xi Lang, I have been expecting this trip for a long time as it is reckoned as the "route of death" with steep paths, rugged and difficult slopes. The curiosity or the nostalgia of the jungle for a long time made me nervous looking for the day we set our feet on this place.

On a hot Friday of Hanoi summer, we started off from Cau Giay with 5 motorbikes, total 9 members. Waiting for people to prepare luggage, under the heat of summer and muggy atmosphere at the dusty Xuan Thuy roadside I was anxious for the beginning so that i can enjoy the fresh air of the highland atmosphere.

We started off at 6pm from Hanoi National University along highway 32 to Son Tay township to Trung Ha bridge and over to Thanh Thuy - Tan Son - Thu Cuc districts...The crowded line of vehicles in Hanoi became sparse and the streets of Hanoi disappeared behind us. It was really a daring dicision to do the trip in the evening and may be dangerous however in the hot weather it would be very hard and tiring for group members. 

But there is an unfortunate happening with my group in this trip. At midnight, when we arrived at the Ba Khe pass, 148km from Hanoi, one driver in my group Tran Duc was so sleepy and had an accident on the road, the curves on the pass have defeated a seasoned rider, he lost control and crashed into the railing on the road, his legs were injured and unable to stand up, the fellow girl sitting behind him was slightly bruised. Fortunatety the accident was not too serious but we must temporarily stop the trip and took him to hospital in Son Tay, we were a bit disappointed as the accient happened when we were near Van Chan district, everyone was tired, and worried for his health. Watching him suffered when doctors put antiseptic and bandaged his wounds we all felt pity. We spent the night at "Hospital hotel" without bed or mats, just lying on the lounge chair of the hospital and slept until 4 am the head member called everyone up to decide whether to keep going or not.

It was really difficult to decide to continue the trip or not, it would be very frustrated to return to the start line when the target is very close, only 5 people decided to continue including me. We jumped on our motorbikes at 5am, we arrived at Van Chan as the sun was rising. The sun here was not severe like in Hanoi. We filled all the "horses" and began the trip to Ta Xi Lang with determination to conquer "the road of death".

It was unknown due to the terrain or by accident that the routes in the northwest always offer the most chalenge, there is always a common thing is the solitary and remoteness of the villages in the middle of the jungle, is the immense precious timber forest such as Po Mu, is the land of drug trafficking and smuggling...West Yen Bai is not an exception with such villages as Ta Nhi, Che Tao, Lim Mong and Mu Cao nicknamed as 4 big places of death in Yen Bai. 

The road to Ta Xi Lang is indeed a challenge for motorcycle riders, including the most experienced drivers. It's steep, steep and rugged rocks, big pebbles coupled with deep abysses, below are dry streams full of the orphaned rocks. The green mountains looming in the mist, the clouds and the villages of H'mong people scattered in the distance on the hills.

The slopes here can only be described in one sentence "terribly high". The bikes were crawling at top gear, sometimes the road is blocked by big rocks and the riders at the back had to get off and pushed the bike. We had a tough time over the first slope to find out a higher the slope ahead, and even harder to go over.

And we passed such 4 or slopes in the nervous mood, anxiety mixed with excitement, surprise. If you were in Hanoi at midday your skin would be burnt however the weather here is very strange, blue sky, clouds glided through the high mountains, and brilliant sunshine on the valley side. Of course, the task of the driver is driving, and for his companion at the back was to take photos, lots of beautiful photos.

Journey to Ta Xi Lang is just like rumors! Upward slopes full of large rocks, bumpy and rugged, at some places we had to hold our breath walking by the cracks on the road with the deep abyss beside. However difficulty did not make us frustrated but even more united, helped each other everywhere possible

Climbing to Ta Cao village is a new challenge for us, the slopes were higher with bigger rocks, sometimes there were only dirt road segments, as slippery as there had just been a rain. Water flowing from the cliffs to the road, I was almost "fell" off at a piece like this.

Through bad road, we saw about 3-4 stilt houses on the roadside. All were closed, there were only some boys playing on the street. We got off, approached them carrying candies from Hanoi, asking them and then took pictures with the children. From the time we came to Ta Xi Lang it was the first chance we had to talk with humans, enough to see here how remote it is.

We asked them again if there was road up there they said the end of the road is a dead end. Still determined to go forward we jumped on the bikes and did not expect the road was evern worse. Along the way, we met a few people going herd, greeted them and was asked "what are you going there for? only buffaloes can go this way" The whole group was laughing because of the honesty of the boy riding on the buffalo and continued to go forward. The short ride is going to finish, we got off and walked, we met some Hmong girls carrying firewood on their back and doing the sewing at the same time.

By the end of the road is actually a dead end, but not only the buffalo and we were not the only riders, from tiny paths plunged into the forest we saw two Win motorbikes carrying wood driving out. Ta Xi Lang has been known as the point of Po Mu timber and was victim of timber logging however this was the firstf time I saw Po Mu tree although it was just 2 pieces on the bike of the traffickers

After resting a while at the road end, our leader decided to get out to the centre of Ta Xi Lang village, it was up to thousands of meters from our position downwards, from high we saw a valley like a giant basin, In the basin are terraced fields, green forests, a few small houses on stilts looming, we saw Van Chan district and centre of Ta Xi Lang village fits in the basin.

We saw a few houses built in good condition, we approached and found it was the school and the office of people's committee, we had a brief look and for the driver to have a rest, it was weekend and there were no student, nobody was at the office of the people's committee, nobody was seen about, just deserted as the remoteness of the area.

We came out in the late afternoon, everybody was tired and hungry, we decided to come and ask at a family in the village for cooking, the host is a young woman with her son about 7-8 years old, after some negotiation with her we got her approval.

People in these areas are very accommodating and hospitable. If in the city a stranger is rarely allowed to come to home like this. We had to be very grateful to the kind host otherwise we would have to drink water with uncooked instant noodle. However we went, accepted hardships, difficulty and risks

We knew before that there was no restaurant nor market and had prepared the instant noodle, the lady helped us cook our food however there is no water tank or wells at all, we had to bring the cans to fetch water 1 km away, how difficult the life of people here.

Saying goodbye to Ta Xi Lang, goodbye the stilt houses, valleys and waterfalls we returned to Van Chan district and planed to have more trips. We want to find how big and beautiful our country is and also learn to love our fellow people, those who live in difficulty in remore places.

Ta Xi Lang is a commune in Tram Tau district, Yen Baiu province, borders Ban Mu commune in the north and Phu Yen, Bac Yen districts of Son La province in the west, on the south side is Van Chan district. All people here are H'mong people, they make a living by growing rice and cut firewood in addition to the illegal transportation of Po Mu wood. From Van Chan to Ta Xi Lang is about 19km and it take 2 hours to reach the commune centre.

Featuring a rugged terrain on nearly 2000m altitude, dissected by deep gorges, high mountains and steep cliffs...The road to Ta Xi Lang is extremely difficult. Previously only dirt road, now widened to 4-5m, but landslides often cause the path congested, many sections only fit one motorbike wheel, the slope of this road it is hard to imagine: 15-20%.

Just about 10 years ago, Ta Xi Lang was famous as the centre of Po Mu wood in west Yen Bai, today the Po Mu fofest has been almost wiped out and only scattered up on top of the mountains. On the slopes are now covered with pine trees.

Life of Hmong people in Ta Xi Lang is very hard, food shortage in 1-2 months between harvests still occurs. Due to steep slope cultivation is difficult, literacy is low and most children in Ta Xi Lang don't go to school, despite having a school at he centre of the commune however it is not easy to encourage people to go to school. Among 16 communes in Tram Tau district Ta Xi Lang and Mu villages are of special difficulties.

Ha Giang travel map and transportation

Map of Ha Giang

Ha Giang town is 318 km from Hanoi and can be reach in 6 hours drive through National Highway 2, road conditions from Hanoi to Ha Giang is pretty good, there are public bus starting at Luong Yen station in Hanoi everyday, international visitors to Ha Giang are recommended to travel by private car in order to visit the remote villages in the mountain districts.

Spectacular Ma Pi Leng pass in Ha Giang

Ma Pi Leng is the name of the craggy stretch of mountainous road in Ha Giang province, about 20 km long, located on the Happy Road linking the Ha Giang town, Dong Van and Meo Vac districts. Ma Pi Leng in the language of Hmong people means "Horse nose" refering the abrupt mountain slopes. The road winding through the cliffs, passing Ma Pi Leng summit at an altitude of 2,000 meters, below is Nho Que river, light and thin as a thread. 

Ma Pi Leng pass in Ha Giang

Ma Pi Leng pass is not too long however it is the most difficult pass in the remote north Vietnam, considered as King of passes in Vietnam, the pass was built by tens of thousands of workers from norther provinces in 11 months, at first the road was just wide enough for pedestrians and cycles then widened for the cars however it was still very difficult and dangerous with sharp bends and too narrow for two cars to pass from opposite directions. After completion, Ma Pi Leng pass with 9 curves over the sheer cliffs and deep abyss below has become a Great Wall of Vietnam. On top of the pass placed a stone tablet recording the construction of the road and also a monument to the contributions of those who have sacrificed their lives to make the road.

The road is like a silk band winding the mountain with sheer cliff on one side and deep abyss on the other side is a challenge to adventurers, after crossing the slopes, visitors arrive at the Ma Pi Leng pass, amazed at the magnificent space of the mountain appearing in the blue sky, especially there is a piece of rock that comes out of the road is the place for you to have a panorama view of the mountainous north, visitors have a feeling like in the middle of the sky.

With rugged terrain and spectacular unspoiled scenery, Ma Pi Leng pass deserves as one of the "Big Four Passes" of the northern region of Vietnam (with the Pha Din, O Quy Ho and Khau Pha Passes). One cannot miss Ma Pi Leng pass when visit Ha Giang.