Travel to Trang An complex and Tam Coc caves in Ninh Binh

Tam Coc in Ninh Binh became the first choice of many tourists from Ninh Binh and other provinces during the national day 2nd September this year, according to tourism authorities.

Tam Coc caves and Trang An complex was top the list of visitors to Ninh Binh in September, because Trang An, the world's Cultural and Natural heritage with the strength of natural landscapes coupled with historic, spiritual and cultural values that tourists only know through the media.

Predicting the situation of tourists coming to Tam Coc and Trang An would increase sharply, and to ensure good service during the holidays, Ninh Binh tourism sector has been strengthening security and order in tourists sites, ensuring environmental hygiene and mobilizing the workforce of boat rowers to serve tourists, avoid the situation of pushing and jostling at the wharf.

According to Ms Hoang Thu Huong, manager at Trang An boat dock, during the holiday season this year, every day visitors to the complex increased by 45% compared to usual days.

Boat trip on Ngo Dong river

Not only in Trang An complex, the number of tourists to other sites in Ninh Binh during the national holiday all increased. Visitors to the ancient capital Hoa Lu, Tam Coc caves, Bich Dong pagoda, Thung Nham bird valley, Cuc Phuong national park increased 20 - 50% over average and from 6-20% compared to National Day last year.

Giang Bach Dang, Director of the Center for Conservation of Hoa Lu ancient capital said: Ninh Binh is known as the land of many historical sites, famous scenic spots in the country and abroad, in which the relics of Hoa Lu ancient capital - the first capital of a feudal dynasty in Vietnam still retains many vestiges of palaces, temples, artifacts bearing unique historical and cultural values...To promote the advantage and potential in tourism, the centre had been prepared the best conditions, ready to welcome domestic and international visitors, especially the national holiday this year lasted 3 days was an ideal chance for people to make their trip to the roots. Foreseeing this, the centre had planed to build the image  and boost tourism promotion of Hoa Lu ancient capital to tourists.

Earlier, the centre had arranged and embellished the sites, actively coordinate with local authorities, police forces to ensure security and order, traffic safety, environmental hygiene in relic sites, ensuring the best conditions for tourists to visit. In particular, the Centre mobilized 100% of staff during the holidays to actively welcome the groups from Vietnam and other countries to visit.

Compared to other sites of attraction in Ninh Binh, Cuc Phuong National Park is a bit far, but still the address chosen by visitors because it has a rare ecological space and related to wild nature ... Mr Nguyen Van Thai, Director of the Centre for research and wildlife conservation ofCuc Phuong National Park said: not only holidays, the center of Cuc Phuong National Park is ready to open its doors to visitors. Since early February, the Center was open free of charge. Center has developed programs in coordination with the elementary schools in the province to bring students to visit, improve understanding and love of animals for students. There are currently 50 individuals of 7 types of animals, including civets, mongoose mold, small-toothed palm civet, pangolin, pangolin Java wildcats. Holidays are an opportunity for many students to visit, accounting for about 40% of all tourist arrivals to Cuc Phuong National Park.

According to tourism investors and executive managers at tourist sites and attractions in Ninh Binh, the National Day is not only a holiday but also a day that weather turned to Autumn, for the students is the time starting a new school year, the anniversary day of school, meeting...and visitors usually go in big groups.

Tourist sites that have good ecological environment, attached to nature, wild...or close to food services, shopping would be the first choice of travelers!

Lunar New Year for ethnic people in northwest Vietnam

Tet festival in the northwest

It would be very interesting if you travel northwest Vietnam in Spring time, from January to March. Northwest of Vietnam is the home to many ethnic minorities like Hmong, Thai, Muong, etc.  It is not hard to believe that this remote highland can hold inside a widely diversified cultural background since each ethnic group here has its own customs. When referring to Tet in northwest Vietnam, these practices have made great contributions to create unique Tet that you can only experience on this land.

Hmong people in Hoa Binh

The Mong celebrate Tet one month earlier than the usual Tet in Vietnam. They also do not celebrate New Year’s turning moment like the majority of Vietnamese do. Instead, it is a tradition that New Year starts with the first rooster sound on the first day of Tet. On the previous night, people set up a full table of food and dedicate to their altar to worship the ancestors. After that, they have a big meal with wine and wait until hearing the first rooster sound.

Another interesting custom is: rather than making “Chung” cake like the Kinh, the Hmong make “Day” cake (a plain round sticky rice cake). They think that the round shape of the cake represents the moon and the sun, which are the origin of everything on earth. During Tet, these home-made cake will be used to treat the guests.

Tet amongst Hmong people are full of social activities, spiritual customs, and particularly traditional games like: horse racing, bird fighting, bow shooting, etc.

Muong people in Son La

To the Muong, Tet is the most important event of the year. On Tet, each family prepare a big meal to worship their ancestors and spiritual gods. A table often requires: Chung cake, honey, wine, sticky rice, boiled meat, some money, a bowl of water, betel and areca, salt. After setting up the table properly, the ritual will be established by a sorcerer. Finally, the family can have New Year’s meal.

Besides the food prepared for ritual purpose, the Muong’s meal usually has some additional local food and vegetable. A notable custom that is well practiced here is: before the meal, children in the family must line up and show their respect to the older by prostrating themselves before them. The old would then wish their chidren health and luck. After settling, people would offer wine to each other, and then start eating. To make the atmosphere warm and joyful, Muong people often sing along traditional songs during the meal.

Thai people in Lai Chau

From January 25th (according to local calendar), hotels in northwest Vietnam after finishing cleaning and decorating the house, Thai people will go to local markets to shop for Tet. Of many things they would buy, two sugarcane trees are compulsory. It is a custom that they bind the two trees in two side edges of the altar, which as the people think, would do as a stick connecting land and the sky, guiding their ancestors back to the sky for Tet.    

In the early morning of 30th, Thai people would lit up their stoves to prepare the food welcoming New Year. The women will make sticky rice and cook food while the men will kill the pig and do initial procedures. At night, people gather around the cooking fire to wait for New Year’s turning moment. Drums and gongs spread out their cheerful melodies for an expecting New Year. When the clock strikes 12, people in the village will go to the brook to take some water. The tradition is that: if one uses the water from the source to drink and wash the face at the very first time of New and his family will be healthy and lucky for the rest of the year. This practice must be done before the first rooster sound signaling 1 o’clock.