Night market in Dalat

The night market is located in the Hoa Binh Zone, in the area around Nguyen Thi Minh Khai Street, Le Dai Hanh Street and Tang Bat Ho Street, within walking distance of many restaurants. On weekends walkers can stroll to the market on a pedestrian walkway that was opened in Dalat on November 2003. Tourists should note that all vehicles are forbidden on this walkway between 7p.m. to 10 p.m. MEKONG SECRET

The history of Dalat Market is also interesting. Originally named “Wood Market”, the market was built in 1929 by French ambassador Chassaing and was located at the site where the Hoa Binh Theatre is nowadays. The market was made from pine wood, which is the reason people call it Wood Market. It burned down in 1937 and was rebuilt in brick. In 1958 the market was moved its present location. Paradise Cruise Halong bay

A unique feature of the night market is the “shouting market” which can be found on the upper floor of the market, near the bridge, where clothes are sold. The vendors display their clothes from 4 p.m. and when the buyers start to wander in the rhythmic shouting of the sellers trying to attract their attention can be heard all around the area, giving it the name “shouting market”. The market sells mainly sweaters and jackets in many different sizes and colours at surprisingly cheap prices. Shoppers should not forget to bargain; sweaters can be purchased for anything from VND 20,000 to VND 80,000.

Leaving the shouting market, tourists can stroll past kiosks in Hoa Binh Town, and perhaps drop into a pine tree crafting shop to buy a piece of pine tree with their name engraved for a souvenir, before walking down the stairs into the Hoa Binh Zone to Dalat Market.

The street in front of Dalat night market is lighted with neon lights from the shops in the street sides. Canvas is spread on the streets to display hand-knit jumpers, woollen hats, woollen scarves, and much more. The sellers do not shout in this market but the atmosphere is also lively. Here shoppers will find Dalat ethnic fabric items with higher prices; for example, a small ethnic fabric purse will cost VND 30,000. Nevertheless, tourists will appreciate the beautiful fabrics and the variety of items available.

Dalat Night Market also has a food-corner offering dishes made from shellfish and duck eggs. Steaming hot pots of shell-fish and duck eggs are hard to resist in the colder climate of Dalat. Enjoying this special dish with hot soya milk on a cool evening is an unforgettable memory. The market also sells vegetable for tourists to buy as gifts to take home for their friends.

The Perfume Pagoda

One of the most popular excursions on the outskirts of Hanoi is The Perfume Pagoda (Chua Huong). The Perfume Pagoda, contrary to what its name may indicate, is a set of pagodas and Buddhist temples located 70 kilometres south-west of Hanoi, on top of the mountain of the Perfume (Ha Tay Province). In addition to being one of the most famous spiritual places of Vietnam, the Perfume Pagoda is a natural with views and incredible landscapes. North Vietnam tours Packages

Tour of the Perfume Pagoda

To get to the Perfume Pagoda, we have to take a bus from Hanoi, which usually takes 2 hours to reach the Jetty Ben Duc. Once on the Jetty we will have to mount them on a metal red boats pushed by oars, with capacity for 6 people, which will lead us through the Yen saw River until reaching the foot of the mountain of the Perfume (Huong Son). Halong Indochina Sails cruise

The Perfume Pagoda is located in the interior of a cave to the top of the mountain of the Perfume, to be able to access it well can climb a long and steep staircases road (4 km, usually takes 1 hour) take the cableway that will leave us at the top of the mountain (option we recommend) where will begin our visit the pagodastemples and caves that make up the tour by the Perfume Pagoda. PANDAW CRUISE MEKONG

The Embarcadero Ben Duc

Although you can go directly overland from Hanoi up the same mountain of Perfume, no doubt recommend stop at the Jetty Ben Duc and take a rowing boat. Price round the 2€ per person but worth it, since it is one of the most beautiful and peaceful areas of all visit parts.

The Perfume Pagoda

In Ben Duc wharf have wooden boats and boats painted metallic red. Each barge has a number that we have to aim if we use the same boat to return from the Perfume Pagoda. In the boats usually fit 6 people and the river walk Yen Vi 45 minutes.

As a curiosity, we know that in 1998 he tried to replace these boats rowing by motor boats in order to transport tourists and visitors faster. Fortunately this initiative did not prosper and today we can enjoy a peaceful and quiet ride.

The Rio Yen Vi

To reach the mountain of Perfume will have to navigate the 4 kilometers of the River Yen Vi (or River Yen), a gentle river surrounded by Karst formations in the style of Tam Coc punctuated by a landscape of green grass, rice fields and crops of medicinal herbs. Usually be delayed one hour to travel the river, to which must be added the same time to return.

The Mountain Cableway Perfume

After landing the Yen saw River, we have an 4 km climb to the top of the mountain of the Perfume, this ancient road is of Earth and stones that added to the tropical climate of Vietnam will make dent in our legs. As an alternative, by a price 2€ / way can you ride the cable car that climbs in less than 5 minutes to the top of Perfume mountain, more than option recommended since not everyone is able to climb the steps of 4 kilometers from the River to the Perfume Pagoda temples complex.

For those have minimal physical condition, we recommend you go up to the Perfume Pagoda by cable car and walk down the road, which offer spectacular views of the area.

The first temples that make up the Perfume Pagoda dating from the 17TH century, built by a Buddhist monk who was in search of spiritual enlightenment. During the following years, due to the beauty of the place, we were adding new buildings and pagodas, of says that in this place there were more than a thousand temples, but after the indochina war against the French, many of them were destroyed.

Although they needed several days to visit this vast place, highlights from the Perfume Pagoda are Den Trinh shrine, Thien Tru pagoda, the Pagoda Hinh Bong, Giai Oan Pagoda, the Thanh Son Pagoda, Huong Tich cave and the temples Long Van, Cay Khe, Tuyet Son y Mau Me.

Recommendations to visit the Perfume Pagoda

The visit to the Perfume Pagoda vary much if we go when turnout is low or if instead visited the resort in high season.

At the Perfume Pagoda is the busiest time during festivals (usually between February and March) and also during the lunar new year (Tet Festival). If you visit this place during those dates, must be taken into account that we will share with thousands of people visit (some years figures of 60,000 people has been achieved).

If possible, we recommend you visit the Perfume Pagoda outside these dates or during weekdays, in order to enjoy this spiritual place without crowds (in the following photos have the Perfume Pagoda a day with few people and one day maximum number of visitors during festivals).

As a final recommendation does not hurt to bring an umbrella or parasol to protect us from the sun during the boat ride on the Yen Vi river, especially in the summer months.

Our walk along the River Yen saw ends at the Den Trinh shrine which is the start of our visit to the Perfume Pagoda. The literal translation of this place is the sanctuary of the presentations, where the tradition instructs burn sticks of incense to the gods of our presence and that we granted good luck for the road that begins.

This sanctuary also called Temple Den Trinh, is nothing more than a striking stone structure equipped with two heights with 5 arches in on the floor below and a note, at both ends of the door have statues of elephants.

Thien Tru Pagoda

After a visit to the Den Trinh shrine the next stop before ascending to the top of the mountain of the Perfume is the Thien Tru Pagoda, also called Pagoda Chua Nhãn (outer pagoda). The literal translation of Thien Tru is the kitchen of the sky, from name of Vietnamese legend and imagination in which the rocks of the mountain resemble a Cook working in your kitchen. Perhaps this natural enclave surrounded by rocks and green forests not resembles a kitchen, and a chef, but the beauty of the place anyone can put it in doubt.

The Thien Tru Pagoda was built in the 18th century by Emperor Le Thanh Tong, made of brick and fitted with decorative curved roofs who remember to the Temple of Literature Hanoi.

Destroyed and subsequently rebuilt in 2 occasions, the highlight of this Pagoda which is one of the many temples of the Perfume Pagoda complex, is a monolith of granite called Tower Thuy Tien is located in the middle of the courtyard of this Pagoda, in that same courtyard have other sculptures with the shape of dragons, etc... Although one of the most photographed spots of this Pagoda is the exterior door, 2 heights with 3 arches on each height from which we can see the Pagoda.

For those travelers who want to spend the night at the Perfume Pagoda, near Thien Tru Pagoda of small lodges can be found and places to sleep.

Tien Son Cave

A few meters from the Pagoda Thien Tru Tien Son cave, famous for his 5 sculptures in granite and suggestive ways to the walls of the cave we have. These battered walls being sound like a traditional percussion instrument Vietnamese called Khanh, whose sound resembles the sound of a Bell.

Huong Tich Cave (Cave of Perfume) and Perfume Pagoda

One of the most interesting parts of the visit to the Perfume Pagoda is the Huong Tich cave (also called Cave of the perfume), discovered thousands of years ago (the Vietnamese say that this cave is similar to the mouth of a dragon). We descend 120 stone steps from the main road to gain access to the inside of the cave of the Perfume, which contains the well-known Perfume Pagoda, main pagoda of the complex with a very striking altar, several statues of Buddha and other historical characters and also a 1.24 bronze Bell meters height.

The highlight of this cave is an inscription engraved on the rock dating from the year 1700 which says the cave more beautiful under the sky of the Southeast.
The interior of the Huong Tich cave is filled with stalactites and stalagmites, where Vietnamese have been giving names based on forms that evoke these elements, this mode can find stalactites shaped rice plant, forms that resemble children, trees of gold and silver, etc...

Popular beliefs are still many couples who have no children to this place for the birth of your firstborn pray.

A curious fact about the entrance to the cave entrance Perfume is that this is said to find the way to heaven, you have to go down the road to hell, referring to the stone steps and entrance ways suggestive of cave.

The Perfume Pagoda

We have the Perfume Pagoda in Huong Tich cave inside. The cave, which is 50 meters high is lit by the rays of Sun that enter from the main entrance and also by the lights of candles to the pilgrims and believers left in place. The altar of the Perfume Pagoda, known for his sculptures of Buddha.

If we are lucky during our visit to the Perfume Pagoda perhaps we are making offerings to Buddhist monks, praying with incense sticks and singing hymns in honor of Buddha.

This place in Vietnam, Perfume Pagoda, is the scene of many legends, popular songs and place of inspiration for poets, philosophers, writers, painters and all kinds of artists.
Recommendations to visit Huong Tich Cave

Inside the cave often cold, so we recommend you bring warm clothes and especially not enter directly if you have traveled the way up to the mountain of Perfume walking, because the sudden temperature change can play tricks.

Festivals in Perfume Pagoda

The Perfume Pagoda is a perigranacion of the Vietnamese people during the first months of the lunar calendar (February to March) coming en masse to pray and make offerings to have luck and prosperity in the year that begins.
Traditionally a Vietnamese pilgrims can spend 3 days touring and praying for all the temples of the complex of the Perfume Pagoda.

The most important festival, called the Perfume Pagoda festival is held on 15 to 20 of the second month of the lunar calendar. This place also hosts other celebrations during the first day of the lunar year (Tet Festival) and also the 6 day of the first month of the lunar calendar. These dates mean celebrations during the months of February and March.

As a curiosity, we know that this festival is a popular place for young people to find a partner because legend has it that this magical place is the ideal place to begin a romance.

The Perfume Pagoda is located 70 kilometers southwest of Hanoi in Ha Tay province.

Traversing to the Perfume Pagoda

Best to go to the Perfume Pagoda is to hire an excursion at any tourist office in Hanoi (in the old town there are many agencies). The average price for a whole day trip round the 30€, it is important to look at the price includes the entrance to the cable car.

If we want to go to the Perfume Pagoda for free, we will have to take a bus from Hanoi to Ben Duc Wharf, if on the other hand we don't want to make the boat trip along the River Yen saw (walk that we recommend you do), you should take a bus from Hanoi to the perfume mountain. From the center of Hanoi, take the bus No. 1 to Ha Dong (Ha Ðong) and take the bus No. 75 to perfume (Chùa Huong) pagoda.

The displacement bike or ride to the Perfume Pagoda not recommended, since the pier Ben Duc have to park the bike in a secure place and also because the road through the village Van Dinh is not very comfortable. The taxi to the Perfume Pagoda is very expensive compared to the price of an organized tour or a bus for free.

The entrance to the Perfume Pagoda is free, the ticket to the cable car costs 2€ / way and boat trip along the River Yen saw costs 2€.

20 Things You Must Eat In Hanoi

Food-loving globetrotters, here’s a bit of sound advice: If you’re headed to Vietnam’s northern city of Hanoi, we’d recommend you pack a pair of elastic-banded pants. The city is a wonderland of cheap eats and drinks, offering an endless variety of soups, noodles, buns, rolls and sandwiches paired with plenty of fresh herbs — and fresh beer, too.
Food-loving globetrotters, here’s a bit of sound advice: If you’re headed to Vietnam’s northern city of Hanoi, we’d recommend you pack a pair of elastic-banded pants. The city is a wonderland of cheap eats and drinks, offering an endless variety of soups, noodles, buns, rolls and sandwiches paired with plenty of fresh herbs — and fresh beer, too. Travel to Vietnam

You could spend a week eating your way through the hectic, motorbike-clogged streets of Hanoi’s Old Quarter and never eat the same meal twice. I know I didn’t on my recent trip. Here are 20 dishes and drinks from Hanoi that haunt my hungry dreams.

1. Bánh bao
The close cousin to the steamed Chinese baozi can be stuffed with ingredients ranging from pork to mushrooms and quail eggs. It’s a hot and fluffy treat. Halong bay tours Vietnam

2. Bánh cuốn
When dawn breaks, we suggest you seek out these rice-flour rolls wrapped around minced mushrooms and pork. It’s a warm, wonderful way to start the day.

3. Bánh mì
The baguette is one of the enduring symbols of French colonialism. It’s given a Southeast Asian twist by stuffing it with pâté, mayonnaise, pickled carrots and daikon, jalapeños and gobs of cold cuts. But the bánh mì is basically a blank slate to which cooks can add whatever they desire. Mekong river tours Vietnam

4. Bánh xèo
Made with turmeric and plenty of coconut milk, the crispy rice-flour crepe classically encases shrimp, pork, onions and perhaps sprouts too. It’s also served with a garden’s worth of herbs.

20 Things You Must Eat In Hanoi

5. Bia hơi
Draft beer is sacred to Vietnam, where tipplers wile away the hours sipping on this crisp, unpasteurized and unfiltered lager—its name roughly translates to “fresh beer”—that’s usually sold for about 25 cents a mug. Go on, have four. You’d need to drink gallons to get drunk.

6. Bún bò nam bộ
Carnivores should seek out this southern-Vietnam dish: A bed of rice noodles is topped by tender grilled beef, chopped cucumbers, lettuce, papaya slivers, fresh herbs, crushed peanuts and heaps of crunchy fried onions. Mix it with fish sauce–spiked nước chấm, take a bite, moan and repeat.

7. Bún bò huế
Get your sinuses running with a bowl of this spicy beef-noodle soup that hails from Huế, Vietnam’s last imperial capital. You can cut the fire with some fresh herbs or a squirt of citrus.

8. Bún cha
When lunchtime hits in Hanoi, the air is perfumed with the scent of sizzling grilled pork, the key component to the city’s signature dish. The swine is served alongside a sweet ’n’ salty broth, slices of green papaya, rice noodles and fresh herbs as far as the eye can see.

9. Bún ốc
Slow-moving sea snails are cherished in Hanoi, where they’re served in a steaming noodle soup with a tomato-based broth.

10. Bún riêu
Consider this the love child of phở, tomato soup and the sea. The noodle soup is composed of a tomato-based broth filled with plenty of crab and bobbing chunks of tomato.

11. Cà phê sữa nóng/sữa đá
Jumpstart your nervous system with a steaming cup of cà phê sữa nóng—that is, potent coffee mixed with sweetened condensed milk. It’s an electric jolt to the nervous system. (If you prefer your coffee cold, order cà phê sữa đá—with ice.)

12. Chả cá
Chunks of fish are anointed with plenty of turmeric, then sizzled with heaps of dill and served with rice noodles. It’s a fragrant delight.

13. Gỏi cuốn
The cool, fresh summer rolls are made with rice paper wrapped around herbs, vermicelli noodles, shrimp, pork or whatever vegetables and protein you have on hand.

14. Mì vįt tiềm
You’ll notice the echoes of Cantonese cuisine in this soup stuffed with squiggly yellow noodles, roasted duck and Chinese broccoli.

15. Nem cua be
Instead of a tube, these flaky, deep-fried spring rolls are shaped like a square. What’s inside is equally surprising: ground crab, pork, mushrooms and more. Eat them with fresh herbs and lettuce, which ably cut through the greasiness.

16. Nước chấm
Almost everything in Vietnam tastes better after being dunked into this salty-sweet-sour dipping sauce. It’s composed of fish sauce, citrus juice, sugar, water and, if you prefer, garlic and hot peppers.

17. Nước mía
Attention, sweet tooth; Get your fix with fresh-pressed sugarcane juice served over ice. It’s oddly invigorating. Or maybe that’s the sugar talking.

18. Phở
The classic Vietnamese noodle soup is sold from sunrise to last call on street corners citywide. The broth is typically made from long-boiled beef bones and spices such as star anise and cinnamon. Pho bò refers to beef, while phở gà signifies chicken.

19. Sinh tố
Take advantage of Vietnam’s fruit bounty to savor a smoothie made with sweetened condensed milk, crushed ice and your choice of, say, strawberry, mango or lychee. Just whatever you do, stay away from us if you opt for the rank, custardy durian.

20. Xôi
Looking to get stuffed, fast? Seek out the ladies with giant baskets stuffed with warm sticky rice. The rice is topped with lotus root, roasted garlic and whatever meat or fish happens to be on hand.

Top 7 local coffee shops in Hoi An

It is no coincidence that you see a lot of coffee shops along many streets in Hoi An. Hoi An people love drinking coffee every morning. With a couple of small table and small stool along the roadside in small part of the old town, reading newspaper while sipping coffee then looking around and enjoy life –life slowly immersed in the heart of the ancient town. Centre Vietnam tours

There are many coffee shops in Hoi An but these 7 coffee shops will be the best ones:

1. Café Des Amis

Located at 52 Bach Dang Street, Hoi An, Café Des Amis is the choice of many peoplewhen coming to Hoi An. Its owner, Nguyen Manh Kim, is fluent in many languages and always satisfy his customers with his cleverness. Des Amis is not a big coffee shop but has convenient position.It faces to Hoai river port which is crowded and riotous all the time with boats and people pass by. There, you can enjoy not only coffee but also some specialities of Hoi An such as white rose, caolau while listening to classical music or flamenco. Moreover, there is a notebook inside the shop so that you can write your feelings about the shop and their staffs into it. Alova Gold Cruise Halong

Café Des Amis

2. Bep Truong (Chef) coffee shop

Bep Truong coffee shop is one of the most familiar coffee shop to both foreigners and local people in Hoi An. Located at 166 Tran Phu street, Bep Truong is a coffee shop, a restaurant and one of the biggest bookstores in Hoi An as well. The second floor in the shop is space for coffee with comfortable seats which is easy for both reading books and enjoying coffee. Books can be brought from ground floor with a variety of headings. If you like the panoramic view of the old town, you can select to sit at the balcony of the second floor or even the top floor where you can easy have an overview of Hoi An from above.   2. Drinking coffee and reading book at Bep truong (Chef) coffee shop . MANGO CRUISE
3. May Concept

May Concept is well-known for its aesthetic and subtle layout and of course its wonderful coffee filters.Its location is in a small alley to your right as you exist the Japanese Covered Bridge on to Nguyen Thi Minh Khaistreet. The exact address is 8C Nguyen Thi Minh Khai. The coffee shop is a tiny house with quite, simple rooms decked in dark wood antique furniture. It is a tasteful handicrafts shop, a coffee lounge area for reading or working and a shady walled garden with lily pond.   3. May Concept Cafe
4. Gemstone Art Museum – GAM

GAM is own by a Vietnamese- Italian couple Duong Nga and Fantini. The museum has the collection of hundreds of gemstone art from around Vietnam collected by Duong Nga and her father in more than 20 years and exhibited for tourist all around the world. At its back is a shady courtyard garden cafe that serves up coffee with condensed milk (cafe sua da). On the second floor a wine bar for those wine fan. It is situated at 133 Nguyen Thai Hoc Street.     4. Gemstone Art Museum
5. Reaching Out Tea Rooms

Reaching Out Tea Rooms is an extension of the Reaching Out brand- a charity to help the disabled in Hoi An and nearby areas. It stands out on Tran Phustreet with a hand-painted sign on the wall “The beauty of silence” which is exactly what you can feel when sitting in this shop. By enjoying a cup of one of their exquisite teas or coffees, you already help the speech and hearing impaired staff receive the gift of integration into a work environment that empowers them, and the pleasure that their hospitality brings to guests partaking in the Teahouse experience.  That’s a good way to do charity.     5. Ordering in a different way at Reaching Out Tea Rooms
6. U café

Far away from the center of the old town, U café will be a great place for those who love quiet atmosphere to enjoy coffee. The shop is on Huyen Tran Cong Chua street, in Cam Chau ward facing to Hoai river. Its owner is a Japanese women named Reiko Usuda who chose Hoi An as her second home. U Café is a beautiful structures built with local materials which is sustainable and friendly to the environment. It is green space located in a quiet place that is very appropriate for those who need to work with laptop but still want to have great moments with a cup of coffee or a delicious meal outdoors.     6. U cafT  
7. Hai Café

Located at 98 Nguyen Thai Hoc and 111 Tran Phustreet, in the heart of ‘Old Hoi An’, Hai Cafe Bar & Grill is an impressive place to enjoy breakfast, lunch, dinner or a drink. About the drinks, in addition to Vietnamese coffee which is quite strong, you can find European style coffee prepared such as cappuccino, latte, macchiato triple, flat white or simply a concentrated espresso.By night the restaurant becomes a hub of activity as guests watch the chefs in action in the open-air kitchen, cooking in large woks, and traditional barbecues and steamers. It is a great place to chill or go online with a good free wifi connection.     7. Hai CafT  
If you want to know more about coffee culture in Vietnam or wonder what coffee shop is worthyto go for, which onehasgood view, or just simply that you travel alone and want to find some friends to chat while drinking coffee, just contact us. Hoi An Food tour team will serve you all the best.

Sapa market travel guides

(sapavietnambeauty.com)If you want to visit the market you have to come here on a weekend. The market is not difficult to find, just follow the people and you will get to the open air market. Once there you will see two big buildings. Inside one of them you will see plenty of souvenirs, on the second floor. In the other market you will find the local version of a mall. It is here where locals buy their clothes and appliances.
70 miles (110 km) from Sapa, ther is  a town that you should not miss, Bac Ha. In this town takes place another famous local market every sunday. This market is less touristy than the market in Sapa, but it is also very attracting. Sapa north Vietnam tours
Sapa is also famous for its love market, which takes place on saturday evenings. The love market of Sapa used to be the place to find a partner to get married. With the tourism, the real love market does not take place anymore. Currently you can only see a representation of the love market. Do not miss it anyway if you are staying here a saturday night.

Muong Khuong market
Muong Khuong Market, the most important market of the local ethnic peoples takes place on every Sunday, is always crowded with some thousands minority people from early morning. Jasmine Cruise Halong bay
I Muong Khuong market information
Muong Khuong marketLocation: Muong Khuong is 50km from Lao Cai, 1.5 hour to drive and 87km from Sapa, which takes approximately 2.5 hours.
Bordering with Chinese Yunnan Procince, Muong Khuong is a district of Lao Cai Province which is home to a diversity of ethnic minority groups including H’mong, Zao, Nung, Pa Zi and Tu Zi. Travel Mekong riever Vietnam
Located at the center of the township, Muong Khuong Market, the most important market of the local ethnic peoples takes place on every Sunday, is always crowded with some thousands minority people from early morning. The H’mong and the Zao peoples, especially women are always wear their best colorful traditional costume and take the largest number. The Tu Zi and Pazi are of minor number but their traditional costume are of special model with dark color and high top hats. There are also many ethnic minority people come from the other side of the border, who often bring cheap Chinese made commodity to add to the variety of goods for sales at the market. Beside a collection of most popular commodity such as clothes, vegetable, food, farming tools, animals… which can be found in other market in the regions, some local specialties can be found at Muong Khuong Market including resin, incense made from tree bark, and medicinal herb for treatment together with acupuncture. Our one day trip to Muong Khuong from Sapa or from Lao Cai for those clients taking Saturday night train from Hanoi offers not only a chance to join the ethnic locals at this impressive market but also many opportunities to pay visiting to near by villages and admiring stunning scenery around the region.

Muong Khuong market

Muong Hum Market in Sapa

Welcome to Muong Hum Market in Sapa Vietnam
Muong Hum Market  opened Sunday.
Muong Hum is a large and important market in the northwest region of Lao Cai Province. Very different from Bac Ha and Sapa market which lye inside the district townships, Muong Hum Market is set on open flat land at the bottom of a large and scenic valley by a small river and surrounded by terraced rice paddies.
Muong Hum Market in Sapa
It is often empty and quiet on the other weekday, waken up and busy on Sunday. This market is well-known as one of the most interesting Sunday market in Lao Cai province and possibly a good alternative trip to Bac Ha market for visitors thanks to the very large variety of the ethnic minority peoples to attend and quite easy to be distinguished through their traditional clothes. The flower H’mong wear thick embroidered yellow and red skirts and blouses while the Red H’mong prefer thinner red embroidered patterns on light batik background; In contrast, the Black H’mong in dark indigo with just some decorative motive at the end of the shirt sleeves and round the neck.
Muong Hum Market in Sapa
Red Zao and Zao Tuyen wear black trousers and shirts with fine yellow embroidery motifs and pay much attention to the decoration to their headgears including silver chains and bells. There are also many Zay, Tay and Ha Nhi people joining the market who wear less colorful clothes but no less beautiful.
The road trip to Muong Hum takes 2.5 hours from Sapa (75km) and 1.5 hour from Lao Cai although the distant is only 42km due to tough road.

Top 5 Things to do in Danang

Most travellers tend skip Danang on their way to Hoi An however the city is filled with great restaurants, bars and plenty of sights to see to warrant a few days stay. While the city has gone through a surge of tourism of sorts with 5 star resorts popping up along the coast, the city still remains a charming escape from the touristy Old Quarter of Hoi An. We’ve listed our top 5 list of things to do in Danang. Centre Vietnam travel

A windy road on the Hai Van Pass on the road from Danang to Hue.

HAI VAN PASS
This windy stretch of road was made famous by Top Gear UK’s Jeremy Clarkson in 2008 when he proclaimed it, “a deserted ribbon of perfection—one of the best coast roads in the world.” While most traffic from Danang to Hue use the Hai Van Tunnel, intrepid motorbike riders willing to throw caution to the wind and head to the twisting switchback filled road will be rewarded with breathtaking views of turquoise waters and lush mountainsides. JAHAN CRUISE

Local insight: Make sure to stop at the top of the pass to see the brick gate built by Emperor Minh Mang in the 19th century.

Top 5 Things to do in Danang

A statue of a buddha sits in a lush garden at the Marble Mountains in Danang

MARBLE MOUNTAIN
A stairway of 156 steps takes you to the summit of Thuy Son mountain which is dotted with pagodas and caves filled with sculptures and engravings dating back to the Cham Empire. If you aren’t interested in taking the staircase, take the elevator for VND30,000. Jasmine Cruise

Local insight: Direct marble extraction is forbidden in the area and all of the marble is shipped in from neighbouring provinces.

A no swimming sign sits on the Danang coastline

DANANG COASTLINE
One can’t mention Danang without mentioning it’s vast and pristine coastline. My Khe beach is now dominated by a string of 5 star resorts but if you are looking to escape the crowds, head to Red Beach which is generally deserted throughout the day.

Local insight: Those looking to catch a wave should head to Danang during the months of December to February.

The Goddess of Mercy statue sits in the Linh Ung Pagoda in Danang

GODDESS OF MERCY
Standing at 69.7 meters in height, the stark white Goddess of Mercy statue can be seen for miles. Located on the side of Monkey Mountainin the Linh Ung Pagoda, this statue has 17 levels inside, each with 21 Buddha idols.

Local insight:  For stunning vistas of Danang bay, head to Vong Hai Dai street just to the right of the pagoda.

The temples at My Son

MY SON
Located 69km’s southwest of Danang, this cluster of abandoned Hindu temples are well worth the drive. While not as magnificent as the Angkor temple structures in Cambodia, these ancient ruins of the Champa Kingdom are not to be missed. Nestled in a lush valley, the area is divided into 10 main groups depending on the era or divinity honoured.

Local insight: It can get busy around 9am so try to leave early to miss the crowds.

I hope you enjoyed our top 5 things to do in Danang! Make sure to check back with us for more great travel tips.

Do I need a visa to travel to Vietnam

Vietnam Visa Requirements

For any traveler a trip planning should start not from booking a flight ticket or arranging a hotel, but from checking the visa policy of the country he would like to visit. Some nationalities can enter the territory of Vietnam without visa. But for majority of the countries it is required. The visitors can obtain a visa from one of the Vietnamese diplomatic missions or via agency on arrival. Also a passport valid for at least 6 months is necessary. Check the policy before you start travelling to avoid problems on the Vietnamese border. Southern Vietnam with extension to Cambodia 10 days

Visa Exemption
Currently 17 nationalities can visit Vietnam without visa for different time periods. In 2014 it was proposed to allow citizens of European Union, the United States of America, Canada, Australia, Hong Kong and Taiwan to enter the country without visa as well. But in September 2014 this proposal was rejected. Vietnamese government extended the list of the visa exemption countries only for Australia, France, Germany, India and the UK. SONG XANH CRUISE

List of the countries that do not require a visa to Vietnam (with a duration of staying): Image Cruise
Brunei (14 days)
Cambodia (30 days)
Denmark (15 days)
Finland (15 days)
Indonesia (30 days)
Japan (15 days)
Kyrgyzstan (30 days)
Laos (30 days)
Malaysia (30 days)
Myanmar (14 days)
Norway (15 days)
Philippines (21 days)
Russia (15 days)
Singapore (30 days)
South Korea (15 days)
Sweden (15 days)
Thailand (30 days)

Do I need a visa to travel to Vietnam

Visit to Phú Quốc Island
Phu Quoc is designated as a Special Economic Zone and the Vietnamese government are allowing tourists to stay on the island for up to 30 days without requiring a Vietnam Visa. To be able to enter Phu Quoc without visa you should arrive to the island from any other foreign country and land at Phu Quoc International Airport. If you are transiting from Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City, then you must board your flight to Phu Quoc from the international terminal in order to receive your exemption. Also it is possible to come to the island by a cruise ship sailing from the other international ports. However, if you are planning to continue your trip around the country, then visa obtaining is required.

Visa on-arrival
In order to get your visa on arrival, first of all, you should receive an approval letter. First of all, you  have to fill in the Online Application Form and pay the service fee. Normally, within 2-3 working days you will get your Visa approval letter issued and stamped by the Vietnamese Immigration Department. The same document will be sent to Vietnam Immigration checkpoints at the international airports, wo when you arrive, the documents will be prepared for you. With the approval letter you can obtain a visa at airports in Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City or Da Nang for a maximum stay up to 3 months.

Types and cost
The fee depends on a type of visa you would like to obtain and your duration of staying. There are two types of visas in Vietnam: single entry and multiple entry. The service fee for applying starts at USD 17. Stamping fee depends on your type of visa:
Single-entry visas – USD 45
Multiple-entry visas
Valid for less than 01 month – USD 65
Valid for less than 06 months – USD 95
Valid for 6 months or more – USD 135
Transfer of validity of visas or temporary residence from expired passports to new passports – USD 15
(PLEASE NOTE – THESE ARE THE PRICES AT TIME OF WRITING)


Visa extension
Due to recent changes in Visa laws starting 01/01/2015, Visa renewals have become difficult, expensive and sometimes impossible. The rules relating to Visa renewals seem to be unclear at time of writing, with some tourists paying up to $380US to extend their Visa an extra 3 Months. After making phone calls to Immigration, no one can give a clear answer on the renewal process and price.


IMPORTANT
Always ask for information at the Vietnamese diplomatic missions in your countries to check the current visa policy and other relevant and reliable updates.