For the Vietnamese people, Tet is the most sacred time of the year.
Peach Flowers of Tet - Vietnamese Lunar New Year
On lunar New Year’s Eve, each member of a family and of society exchange sincere good wishes, strengthening common cultural ties. Tet is also time to reflect on the spiritual life.
In Hanoi, on the stroke of midnight, the whole family sits down to eat together. The house has been cleaned well in advance. The family altar is decorated with fresh flowers, fruits (5 kinds of fruits with 5 different colors) and red candles. During Tet, angry words are forbidden. Most Hanoians visit pagodas, and make sure to bring home a leafy branch, an ancient symbol of prosperity.
Some 70 per cent of Vietnam’s population is engaged in agriculture, which uses over 20 per cent of the country’s area and produces 15 per cent of its GDP.
Farmer in Northern Vietnam - Copywrite Brenda Sunno
Vietnam has two huge deltas: the Mekong in the south and the Red River in the north. From time immemorial the Vietnamese have known how to build dykes and avoid flooding, creating more land for wet –rice cultivation. Thousands of kilometres of dykes have been built along the Red River to protect this vast fertile delta and its population.
The author has an unforgetable experience when she arrived Hanoi.
A barbershop on the streets of Hanoi
It’s an act of faith! Crossing the street in the city of Hanoi in Vietnam is an experience I will never forget.
The roads are literally wall to wall traffic. Motorcycles, bicycles, rickshaws, cars, hand carts, buses, cars, mopeds, taxis and trucks whiz by in a blur of color and motion. There are very few traffic lights and I quickly learned that the ones which do exist are just for decoration.
Halong Bay, Vietnam.
We board a nice boat with cabins with bathrooms. It is misty and the islands are grey ghosts. I do not lock my cabin. The crew notices and approve my trust in them. We stop at a tourist site.
Indochina Sails on Halong Bay
Coming back to the boat I see small boats with kids. I give each kid a toy but am short one for a boy. Running to my cabin I grab a toy car. The boy’s boat is right outside and I throw him the car. He is very happy.
A crew member, an old man watches and hugs me for my kindness. Later he see’s me slip money to a girl in a small boat. Watching the islands slip by, the old man is looking at my right hand fingers. I wonder what the hell he is doing? He speaks no english. Then I get it. He is looking for a wedding ring and I show him my left hand. He is very happy to see the ring.
The next day he invites me to tea with the crew on the rear of the boat. He smokes a bamboo pipe and wants me to try. I decline. Soon our cruise is over and another boat comes out for us. As I start to leave the old man is hugging me and kissing my coat as everyone looks on.
My boat pulls away and I watch our old boat. The old man has his back toward me. He turns around and seeing me gives a big smile and wave. I give it right back to him. Just a little bit of magic in a far off place called Vietnam.
Source: Thingsasian
Related to Ha Long Bay:
History of the name “Halong”
“Ha Long” is literally translated as “Bay of Descending Dragons.” Prior to the 19th century, this name was not recorded in any document or archive. When mentioning the present-day Quang Ninh Sea or Ha Long Bay, old historical books often referred to them by the names of An Bang, Luc Thuy or Van Don. Not until the late 19th century did the name of Halong Bay appear on a French Marine Map. “The Hai Phong News”, a French newspaper of the time, had an article, “Dragon appears on Ha Long Bay“, reporting the following story: In 1898 a sub-lieutenant named Lagredin, captaining the “Avalanse” reported seeing a huge sea snake on Ha Long Bay. This was also witnessed by many of the crew. Thus emerged the European image of the Asian dragon. Whether this appearance of a strange animal looking like a dragon resulted in the name of Ha Long Bay is not known (Reference Quang Ninh: Art and Culture published in 2002).
Indochina Sails on Halong bay
There is also a local legend, which has been handed down, relating to the name Ha Long Bay, which tells the following tale:
Long ago, in the first founding days, the Viet people were attacked by foreign aggressors. The Jade Emperor sent the Mother Dragon and her band of Child Dragons to help the Viet people fight the invaders. While the enemy vessels were launching massive attacks against the mainland, the dragons descended in flocks from the sky. They spat out innumerable pearls which changed into jade stone islands the moment they touched the water. These islands linked together to form firm citadels that checked the enemy’s advance and smashed their vessels to pieces.
After the invaders were driven out, Mother Dragon and her Child Dragons did not return to Heaven but stayed on earth, right at the place where the battle occurred. The spot where the Mother Dragon landed was Ha Long, and where the Child Dragons came down was Bai Tu Long. The place where their tails violently wagged was called Long Vi, the present-day Tra Co Peninsula with its soft sandy beach stretching many kilometers.
Source: Thingsasian
Supported by: Indochina Sails
The Vietnam National Administration of Tourism said on October 8 that Ha Long Bay has been ranked as one of the 150 most beautiful natural wonders in the world by a French leading e-magazine.
Indochina Sails on Halong bay
An article portraying Ha Long Bay – a world natural heritage, was published in September in the Voyager (tourism) column of L’Internaute magazine.
The article noted that apart from its thousands of charming islands and beautiful caves, Ha Long Bay is also home to a wide biodiversity that includes eco-systems like mangrove forests, coral reefs and tropical forests.
The Bay, twice recognized by UNESCO for its landscape and geological value, has advanced to the final stage of a campaign to vote for the world’s seven new natural wonders by the NewOpenWorld.
It currently ranks 4th out of the 28 successful landscapes in terms of votes.
Vietnam is making an effort to promote and preserve the Bay to encourage the community, especially friends across the world to vote for it.
Reported by: VOVnews
Recommended for vessels on Halong bay, Vietnam:
Indochina Sails: info@indochinasails.com
Website:http://www.indochinasails.com
Often called the baby of Ha Long Bay, beautiful and diverse Bai Tu Long Bay holds its own.
Indochina Sails on Halong bay
The Vietnamese nation was invaded so often in ancient times that God was moved to send a dragon and its child to fight the enemies. Read more »
Mid-Autumn Children’s Festival or Tet Trung Thu is a wonderful time to visit Vietnam. The festivities last for several days and there is singing and shouting. Children wear masks, parade happily in the streets and bang their drums. Parents buy lanterns and toys for their children and prepare their favorite dishes. Special cakes are made and exchanged, and fruits are plentiful.
Full Moon Festival in luxury cruise on Halong bay
The festival is celebrated on the fifteenth day of the eighth lunar month, the day of the first full moon closest to the autumn equinox when the moon is at its fullest. The autumn equinox always falls on September 23. This year, the Children’s Festival will occur on October 8. At the spring and autumn equinoxes the duration of day and night is equal and the sun appears directly overhead at noon at the equator. After September 23 the days become shorter and the nights grow longer. Read more »
Vietnam is a country of stunning natural beauty and a turbulent history. In the northern part of Vietnam, near Hanoi and the country’s border with China, lies Halong Bay, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The towering natural cliffs and islands that rise above the bay offer a picturesque view and the smooth water is an ideal surface for boats of all sizes.
Indochina Sails on Halong bay
Step 1 Tour the bay. One of the most popular activities in Halong Bay is a boat trip across the bay. Peruse the range of tours and tour operators available until you find one that suits your needs and budget. For excellent views and a romantic atmosphere, take a sunset cruise. When out on a boat, take a jacket; the weather in this part of Vietnam can change rapidly.
Step 2 Rent a boat. If boat tours with large groups of people are not suitable, consider renting a kayak or smaller boats. You might choose to tour Halong Bay in a group of kayakers, or set out on your own. Be sure to ask about safety standards and ideal itineraries. Remember to bring sunscreen and plenty of water, as Vietnam’s sun can be harsh during the warmest part of the day.
Step 3 Bring your camera. Halong Bay offers countless photo opportunities. It has arguably the most stunning natural scenery in all of Vietnam, and is ideal for photos at all times of the day. For dramatic photos, head out to Halong Bay at sunrise or sunset to capture the reflection of the colored sky on the water, with the cliffs in the background. Be sure to bring extra sets of batteries and ask your hotel staff about the best vantage points.
Step 4 Learn basic Vietnamese phrases. Many vendors and hotel owners near Halong Bay will know a significant amount of English, but it is a good idea to memorize handy phrases in Vietnamese. Locals will appreciate that you took the time and effort to appreciate their culture, and you will likely receive kinder treatment. Bring a Vietnamese phrasebook on your trip to Halong Bay, and refer to it as needed.
Step 5 Be prepared for culture shock. Vietnam has seen an increase in tourism in recent years, but visitors should still be prepared for a vastly different culture. Because Halong Bay is a popular destination for foreign and national tourists alike, there is a significant infrastructure. If you arrive prepared to be patient in situations that will inevitably be frustrating, your trip will be infinitely more enjoyable.
Step 6 Travel safely. Vietnam is generally a safe and friendly country, but dangers exist in high-traffic tourist areas like Halong Bay. When in public, be careful to keep your bag across your chest and in front of you to avoid petty theft; keep wallets in a front pocket to avoid pickpockets. When choosing meals, be careful to choose food that has not been left to
Source: ehow
Recommend vessels for Halong bay cruises:
Indochina Sails: Email: info@indochinasails.com, http://www.indochinasails.com
Tags:Halong Bay tours | Cruise Halong Bay | Halong Bay Vietnam | Halong Bay Travel | Halong Bay Junks |
Ha Long Bay in the northern province of Quang Ninh has thousands of islands and many beautiful areas.
Cruise on Ha Long bay by Indochina Sails
For nearly a decade, the nominee for a Natural Wonder of the World title has attracted more tourists since the bridge linking Bai Chay (Chay Beach) and Hon Gai (Gai Islet) was built.
In the bay area, there are many caves, beaches, restaurants, hotels and entertainment sites. Among its well-known scenic spots and tourist sites are Thien Cung, Dau Go and Trinh Nu caves, and Ti Top, Tuan Chau and Ba Trai Dao beaches. Read more »