Christmas in Vietnam

Christmas is one of the four most important festivals of the Vietnamese year, including the birthday of Buddha, the New Year and the Mid-autumn Festival. Although the Christians observed the religious rituals of Christmas.

Traditional Vietnamese religions are Buddhism and the Chinese philosophies of Taoism and Confucianism. However, during French rule, many people became Christians, that occupy 8 to 10 percent of whose population. This is because the Vietnamese are a fun-loving, sociable people and the various Vietnam festivals and events are actually occasions for them to a gala time, all together. Christmas in Vietnam is a grand party. Tours to Vietnam

History Of Christmas In Vietnam

Christmas in Vietnam has had a tumultuous history. The Catholics are a minority in Vietnam but they used to celebrate Christmas in Vietnam quite in peace right from the days of the French rule. That is until the Communists took over political power in 1975. The church-state relations soured during that time and the Catholics were relegated to celebrating Jesus’s birthday in privacy.

Hoi an, a peaceful meeting place

Since the end of the Vietnam War in 1975, church-state relations have not always been smooth. However, they have been improving since the introduction of economic reforms in the late 1980s. Liberalist policies adopted since the 1980s saw Vietnam warming up to western influences and ideals and Christmas in Vietnam came back triumphantly. Now Christmas is one of the major festivals in Vietnam, celebrated with much fanfare by all religious communities. top 3 must see tourist attractions in Can Tho

Christmas in Vietnam

Phat Diem Cathedral in Ninh Binh Province is considered the spiritual home for the seven million Catholics who live in Vietnam, a predominantly Buddhist nation. Hundreds of Catholics gather for Christmas Eve Mass in the northern city of Phat Diem. Children staged a nativity play to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ - or Kito, as he is known in Vietnamese -- in front of the city's cathedral, built in 1891.

Christmas In Vietnam

Christmas in Vietnam is a huge event, especially in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam and the Vietnamese Christmas celebrations here are like any other city in the western world. The Christians in Vietnam attend a Midnight mass on Christmas Eve and return home to a sumptuous Christmas dinner. The Christmas dinner usually consists of chicken soup while wealthier people eat turkey and Christmas pudding.Christmas tree at Fortuna Hotel (Hanoi)
Christmas tree at Fortuna Hotel (Hanoi)


On Christmas Eve, Vietnamese people in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, especially young people, like to go into the city centre, where there is a Catholic Cathedral. The streets are crowded with people on Christmas Eve and in the city centre cars are not allowed for the night.

People celebrate by throwing confetti, taking pictures and enjoying the Christmas decorations and lights of big hotels and department stores. Lots of cafes and restaurants are open for people to enjoy a snack!

Vietnam used to be part of the French Empire and there are still French influences in the Christmas traditions. Many Catholic churches have a big nativity crib scene or 'creche' with nearly life size statues of Mary, Joesph, baby Jesus, the shepherds and animals. In some areas of Ho Chi Minh City, usually in Catholic parishes, people have big crib scenes in front of their houses and decorate the whole street, turning it into a Christmas area! These are popular for people to visit and look at the scenes.

Also like in France, the special Christmas Eve meal is called 'reveillon' and has a 'bûche de Noël' (a chocolate cake in the shape of a log) for desert. Vietnamese people like to give presents of food and at Christmas a bûche de Noël is a popular gift. Other Christmas presents are not very common, although some young people like to exchange Christmas cards.

The Yuletide spirit of giving and sharing has been embraced with an earnest by the Vietnamese. Generous as they are, the Vietnamese give out gifts and presents in plenty during the Christmas celebrations in Vietnam. However, the children are more keen to have their stockings and shoes stuffed in with goodies from Santa’s bulging sack. The European customs of Santa Claus and the Christmas tree were popular and children would leave their shoes out on Christmas Eve.

Merry Christmas in Vietnamese is “Chúc Mừng Giáng Sinh”!

Highland markets in Quang Ninh

Speaking about the highland markets in Quang Ninh, among them is Binh Lieu Highland Market, which the local called the Third Lunar Month Market. This market features the Viet, Dao, Tay and San Chi ethnic groups of the Binh Lieu, Tien Yen, Dam Ha, Hai Ha districts. There are also many merchants from the Dong Tong area of China present. Halong bay travel

Goods exchanged on market day are essentially agricultural or forestry products bred or grown by the local population. The Chinese come to the market with various commodities, including shoes and clothing. In stark contrast to Vietnamese merchants, they keep their prices without bargaining, and if they cannot liquidate their goods, carry them home and wait until the next Sunday.

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Highland markets in Quang Ninh

Coming to the marketplace, the first things people look to do are exchange goods and eat. Meanwhile, boys and girls scatter to the corners to play or sing. Many boys and girls make appointment on the next market day.

The Binh Lieu Highland Market, before day, it only took place on odd-numbered days of the third lunar month every year. Today, with better economic conditions for locals, the requirements for trade have seen the market open regularly every Sunday. It is open from 9:00 AM to 2:00 PM.

Before the market day, boys and girls choose the most beautiful costume for wearing as going to the market is a festive day and they can enjoy everything after a hard working day. It is also a chance for the boy conquers the girl's heart through singing to each other. Many young couples have also met on these busy Sundays, eventually become husband and wife.

Halong Valentine Cruise

Cruise Description:

A complete package of emerald water, picturesque beauty and adventurous mountains, Halong Bay is a worth visiting place in Vietnam. Its beauty sparks up your imagination within no time. If you are planning to travel around Vietnam and especially Halong Bay, then you must take the prestigious services of the special Valentine Cruise.

Halong Valentine Cruise

Although the cruise is small, yet it provides all those services which are provided by the bigger boats of Halong Bay. It is a small package of cabins, decks, lounges and rooms for the tourists who come from faraway corners of the world to visit Halong Bay. There are total 5 cabins in the boat, but are wonderfully decorated and excellently accommodating. One will definitely find this cruise very amazing and excellently managed by the crew of the cruise.

Hanoi & Halong Bay 4 days

Hanoi Ninh Binh Halong 5 days

It has a Suite Cabin, well equipped bathrooms, showers, and other important facilities in it. Once you will experience travelling in it, you will find it exclusive, intimate and very much private because of the service it renders to its clients. If you are planning to travel around the Halong Bay, then you must book one of the cabins of the beautiful Valentine Cruise. I am sure you will recommend it to others after your experience as well.


Cruise Itinerary:

Like all other cruises, Valentine Cruise offers day and night packages to the visitors. There are two days and three days packages as well in which the cruise takes you to the explicitly beautiful surrounding areas of the Halong Bay including all the floating villages, caves, islands and mountains as well.

At first, you will pass through the excellent Bai Tu Long Bay which takes you to the Halong Bay. You will be served with excellent lunch during your trip. The cruise will then take you to the Luon Cave, which is one of the most breathtaking places around the Halong Bay. The cruise will show you the Head Island, Turtle Island, Heaven’s Gate Island. You can explore the caves by kayaking as well.

Next destination will be the Ti Top Island where you can spend considerable time in swimming and enjoying with your loved ones. The Cruise also takes you to the Surprise Cave area of the Halong Bay the next day. Hence, all the important and worth watching places will be visited by you once you book in the Valentine Cruise. The dinner, lunch and other accommodations are carefully handled by the crew.

Who will enjoy:

As the name suggests, the Valentine Cruise is perfect for couples who are newly married. As the cruise is small and cannot accommodate much people in it; therefore, only love birds can enjoy in it. The romantic, quiet water and spell bounding sceneries add a lot to the most romantic experience of your life.

Cultural villages in Sapa

Cat Cat village:

Located 2 km from Sapa Townlet, Sapa District, Cat Cat is the village of H'Mong ethnic groups. There remain heaps of unique customs and practices of people here, one of which is the brocade weaving craft. After being woven, pieces of brocades featuring beautiful designs will be dyed and embroidered. And then brocade fabrics are polished by rolling with a round section of wood covered with wax in order to keep their colors durable. Besides, residents here are skilled at manipulating gold and silver jewelry which is graceful and can be purchased in the village and in other travel places in Sapa.Travel to Sapa

Cultural villages in Sapa 

H'Mong ethnic people still maintain their traditional custom of "pulling wife" which has made particular impressions on many tourists. When a man falls in love with a girl in the village, he can ask his friends to unexpectedly lure that girl into his house and keep her there for 3 days. After these days, the girl can either agree to become his wife or freely go home if she doesn't like him. In case she agrees, an wedding which usually happens from two to seven days will be officially held.

The old-age Cat Cat village with its special culture has drawn many visitors to come and discover.

Ta Phin village:

Ta Phin village can be reached by thirty minute drive North of Sapa. It is the living place of the Red Dao and Black Hmong people.

In addition to luscious scenery and distinctive culture, Ta Phin village is especially well known for its famous brocade. Main brocade products created by the skillful hand of women here are backpacks, handbags, handkerchiefs, wallets, overcoats, etc, all of which are decorated with sophisticated colorful designs of flowers, birds. As for ethnic people, brocade is not only for beautifying but for symbolizing love.

Ta Phin village's brocade has become the indispensable gift for tourists once coming here. Impressive designs on those products showing ethnic groups' special culture helps distinguish them from brocade in other places and become the distinctive feature attracting visitors everywhere.

Hanoi & Sapa Homestay 6 days

Sin Chai village:

Sin Chai village, located at the foot of Fansipan Mountain, is 30km trekking from Sapa town. It is the village of the Dao ethnic people.

Visiting the village will be a terrific chance for tourists to enjoy stunning landscapes as well as discover culture of residents. What makes this community village special lies in local people who will take the time to teach textile weaving and dying and to explain names and function of the local flora. There are also many interesting activities relating to traditional sports, tree planting for visitors to take part in.

If you travelled to Sapa, trekking to such cultural villages as Cat Cat village, Ta Phin village, Sin Chai village, etc would leave you unforgettable memories.

Discover Asia On An APT River Cruise

Winding your way past quaint riverside towns and floating markets surrounded by green fields along the Mekong Delta and its adjoining waterways is a great way to discover Asia. APT‘s Southeast Asia cruises offer beautifully furnished private suites, international cuisine and small group excursions on rickshaws and water boats. You can cruise magically through Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos and Thailand, discovering hidden gems not seen by land.

A visit to the Mekong Delta cruise is so special because of its unique diversity. See kids riding on water buffalo, rice workers hunched over their fields, flocks of storks at dusk and rowboats on its maze of channels. Home to over 1,000 varieties fish, 20,000 plant species and an array of wildlife, the Mekong Delta is one of the most biologically diverse areas in the world. It’s Asia’s third largest river; a comma-shaped flatland that is also known as Vietnam’s ‘rice bowl’, producing more than a third of the country’s annual food crop. Here are four countries you can explore on an APT Asian river cruise.

Discover Asia On An APT River Cruise

Otherworldly sights await at Vietnma’s Ha Long Bay
Vietnam
An APT Mekong Delta cruise can take you through the contrasts of beautiful Vietnam, from the hive of activity in its crowded cities,to the relaxed pace of the beautiful countryside. In northern Hanoi, you will find a beautiful blend of French colonial influence, with the modern pace of Asian city life before cruising onward past the spectacular mountains of Sapa and the sparkling Ha Long Bay.

Be transported further south to Saigon, where you will find a mix of soaring skyscrapers with French architecture and the energy of chaotic outdoor markets. Along the way, Australia’s revered chef, Luke Nguyen, can help you discover the culinary heritage of his home country.

See Cambodian life along the Mekong Delta
Travel to Cambodia
Channels carve a lifeline into Cambodia, a country full of history and magnificence. Visit the famous temples of Angkor Wat in Siem Reap and cruise past the beautiful Royal Palace. Located on the riverfrontm the Palace showcases classic Khmer roofs and ornate gilding.

You can experience Cambodia’s lush countryside filled with rice paddies and sugar palms, cruising along the south coast past tropical islands and beach huts.

 Lush landscapes around the Nam Song River, Laos
Travel to Laos
After years of isolation, Laos is now one of the most laid-back Southeast Asian destinations. Enjoy the well-preserved culture, stunning natural environment and friendly people. Life in Laos still revolves around tradition and you can experience riverfront life unchanged over generations. See the historic royal city of Luang Prabang where hundreds of saffron-robed monks move quietly among centuries-old monasteries.

The Mekong opens up at Si Phan Don (meaning literally ‘four thousand islands’). It’s an archipelago of tranquil islands popular with travellers for cycling, swimming, tubing, boat cruises, kayaking, and dolphin spotting.

Cruise into beautiful Bangkok
Thailand
Known as the ‘Land of Smiles’, you’re awarded the opportunity see Thailand’s famous beaches and lush mountain ranges on an APT river cruise. Stop at Bangkok for a spot of shopping in its many malls, or take in its history by visiting the ancient temples.

Heading further north, the landscape changes to dense forests, where you come face to face with hill tribes of and see village life rooted in centuries of tradition. The Mekong Delta and its distributaries are lined with natural beauty and is the perfect waterscape to discover Asia from a different perspective.

Halong seafood

Visiting Ha Long Bay will provide you a chance to enjoy the beauty of one of World’s Natural Heritage but aside from this, you will also be impressed by a variety of tasty seafood that will melt even the hardest of appetites. It is said that seafood in Halong Bay cruise is more delicious than the other coastal places in Vietnam. This comment is true as many rock islands and coral reefs in Ha Long Ba provide nutrients to make seafood in the cliffs and coral reefs tasty and abundant in species. 5 places to enjoy seafood in Halong Bay

Counting on economic conditions and the convenience of the trip, you can try many ways to enjoy Halong seafood by yourself. Here is one way which most residents in Ha Long Bay usually enjoy and offer their guests.

Halong seafood

If you visit Ha Long, I can invite you to my house or a restaurant in Bai Chay, or visit  “snail supermarket” in Cai Dam or simply go around Ha Long for its well-known places like Huong Duyen restaurant in Tran Hung Dao Street or Cai Xa Cong in Ha Tu ward. You can even enjoy seafood on the tourist boats….. Some appetizers like hotpot an appealing and delicious way of enjoying seafood are also available for taste testing. Varieties of oysters, snails, crabs, squid, shrimp, fishes that are baked, boiled, fried or steamed will make your mouth watery. These kinds should be prepared in a moderate amount to enjoy many other local dishes. Next, some typical sour but inviting soups can be served like mussel or fish soup together and some other dishes like barnacle cooked with bamboo shoot, “Bong Thua” with kohlrabi, or squid or cuttlefish with celery leaves and fresh garlic are always available. Finally, rice can be enjoyed with a sunny fried mackerel. If you need vegetable dishes, water spinach or collard greens sauted with garlic are ready to serve. If hotpot is chosen, seafood choice relies on your favorite. Moreover, hotpot soup has the kind of sour taste   made from tamarind, star fruits, tomato and many kinds of green vegetables such as water spinach, broccoli, fresh onions, celery, cauliflower, tofu ….can be served. Rice noodles or instant noodles can be ordered at the end of meal. Visit Halong with Travel to Vietnam

One kind of drink that can be considered as a particular specialty of Ha Long is Ruou Ngan (a kind of local seafood like clam dipped in wine), which is quite suitable to serve with seafood. There are three ways of making Ruou Ngan; the first one is  shelling out 3 live intestines of Ngan and putting them into a big cup and then chopsticks in opposite directions are used with trashed hands to poke, hold down and hit until guts get soon crushed finely, dilate and turn into dark red. White wine is poured into it and a glass of fresh rosy wine suddenly appears in front of us. Another way to make, Ngan which is not too old or too young is to tie cleaned shells to boil, then shell out for putting 2 or 3 guts and their water into the cup, depending on drinkers’ taste. Wine is poured into it and chopsticks are used to gently poke two sides and make their liver bladder rupture. As a result, we can enjoy a light pink or bluish glass of wine depending on the way of cooking Ngan. The third way is putting from 3 to 5 bowels into a small aluminum pot, then pouring wine and boiling again. Finally, a hot drink is ready to serve.

Ruou Ngan tastes tangy and slightly salty when tried for the first time, but then its fragrance effuses at the tip of tongue and suddenly makes our body incredibly warm. This kind of alcohol can be addicted if used regularly.

Nuôi hươu nai lấy nhung dễ hay khó?

Ông Nguyễn Công Hà ở ấp Miễu, xã Phước Tân (huyện Long Thành) - một người nổi tiếng trong nghề nuôi hươu, nai lấy nhung cho biết: "Nuôi hươu, nai chăm sóc rất dễ, vì chúng vốn là động vật hoang dã nên sức đề kháng cao, ít khi bị bệnh. Thức ăn của chúng là tất cả các loại lá cây và cỏ. Một con hươu trưởng thành ăn 5 ký cỏ hoặc lá/ngày và nai là 10 ký/ngày. Vào mùa cắt nhung hươu, nếu cho chúng ăn thêm tinh bột khoảng 300-500gam/ngày và những lá cây có nhiều nhựa như sung, mít, đu đủ... thì chất lượng nhung sẽ tốt hơn".

Nuôi hươu nai lấy nhung dễ hay khó?

Được biết, sau 2 năm nuôi, thì hươu giống và nai giống đực bắt đầu mọc sừng non màu hồng nhạt trông rất mịn được dân gian gọi là nhung. Nhung từ khi mọc đến khi cắt khoảng 50-55 ngày. Nhung nai tốt nhất là khi cao khoảng 26cm và hươu là 22cm. Khi cắt nhung phải dùng dụng cụ sắc và được khử trùng cẩn thận, cắt xong phải tiến hành cầm máu nhanh để tránh mất sức cho hươu, nai. Sau đó cho hươu, nai ăn 3 lần vào sáng, trưa, tối và bổ sung thêm thức ăn tinh bột như: cám gạo, cám ngô để giúp chúng nhanh hồi sức. Bình quân mỗi con hươu một năm thu được 0,5 - 1 ký nhung và nai 1,5 - 3 ký nhung. Hiện tại giá bán ngay tại các trang trại là 450 ngàn đồng/100gam nhung nai và 850 ngàn đồng/100gam nhung hươu. Hươu, nai nếu chăm sóc tốt có thể cho nhung đến 30 năm. Nhung hươu, nai từ xưa đã được coi là loại dược liệu quý hiếm, bổ dưỡng dùng cho người thiếu máu, người già...


Theo các chủ trại chuyên nuôi hươu, nai lấy nhung, nhu cầu mua nhung trên thị trường hiện nay lượng cung không đủ cầu. Nếu muốn mua nhung với số lượng lớn, khách hàng phải đặt hàng từ đầu mùa thu hoạch.


Không chỉ nuôi hươu, nai lấy nhung, các trại chủ thường nuôi thêm hươu, nai cái sinh sản để tự cung cấp nguồn giống, đồng thời việc bán con giống cũng cho họ khoản thu không thua kém gì nhung. Hươu, nai phối giống tự nhiên và nuôi con bằng sữa mẹ đến 4 tháng tuổi mới tách ra nuôi riêng. Nai 3 năm sinh sản hai lần và hươu một năm sinh sản một lần. Nai giống khoảng 6 tháng tuổi hiện nay có giá 50 triệu đồng/cặp và hươu 15 triệu đồng/cặp. Chuồng trại để nuôi hươu, nai tương đối đơn giản, mỗi con chỉ cần diện tích khoảng 5m2 và  xung quanh được quây bằng lưới B40 cao 2m. Chi phí chăm sóc, mua thức ăn cho hươu, nai chỉ khoảng 2-3 triệu đồng/con/năm.

* Để mua được nhung thật

Bà Đào Thị Thìn ở xã Bắc Sơn (huyện Trảng Bom) một người có thâm niên gần 30 năm trong nghề nuôi hươu, nai lấy nhung cho biết: "Cách tốt nhất để tránh mua phải nhung giả là người mua trực tiếp đến tận trang trại và đợi người ta cắt nhung xong thì mua. Trong trường hợp không có mặt tại chỗ khi người ta cắt nhung, thì khi mua nên cắt ra xem thật kỹ, nhung còn tươi có màu hồng nhạt, mềm và bên ngoài có lớp lông măng mịn như nhung. Còn nhung giả, bên trong thường được làm bằng thạch cao". Ông Hà ở ấp Miễu, xã Phước Tân cũng cho biết, nhung thật khi sấy khô có màu xám đen và rất cứng, nhung giả sấy khô thường mềm. Song, người không quen rất dễ nhầm lẫn, tốt nhất là khi mua nhung nên chờ cắt xong là lấy về, làm như vậy nhung sẽ đảm bảo về chất lượng.

Những người nuôi hươu, nai còn cho biết thêm, nhung hươu, nai tươi bảo quản trong ngăn đá của tủ lạnh có thể để được từ 2-3 tháng. Cách dùng tốt nhất là thái nát hoặc nghiền nhỏ nấu cháo, ngoài ra có thể dùng ngâm rượu. Nếu muốn để lâu nên sấy khô, nhưng chỉ sấy ở nhiệt độ 50 độ C, nhiệt độ cao quá sẽ mất đi chất bổ dưỡng trong nhung.

Halong Bay nightlife

Nightlife in Halong has drawn locals as well as visitors to spend their vacation here. Halong is the popular tourist destination of Vietnam, which seldom goes to sleep.

Halong Bay nightlife

This beautiful city of Vietnam beams with large number of activities even at the odd hours of the city. The residents as well as the tourists to this city of Halong indulge themselves in various kinds of fun and merriment especially at night. There are large options of nightspots in the city, which are worth paying a visit. The dazzling and happening Nightlife in Halong is really worth mentioning. Visit Halong with 5 best cruises in Halong Bay

You will come across plethora of nightspots that are scattered throughout the city. Party-hoppers of different age groups visit these night spots of Halong with their pals and relatives. There are ample of options for night entertainment at this city. Some of the fashionable nightspots of the city are bars, pubs, nightclubs as well as casinos. There are many nightclubs in Halong. Read more: halong bay map

Most of the nightclubs of the city remain open for the visitors till late hours. The college-goers visit the nightclubs usually in groups. The nightclubs of Halong remain packed with locals and visitors even at the wee hours of the day. The main attraction of these nightclubs are it excellent sound system and spacious dance floor. In the nightclubs of Halong the DJs belts out some heart pulsing music including rock music to jazz. Some of the deluxe hotels of Halong like, the Saigon Halong Hotel have an onsite nightclub. Visit Halong with Vietnam tours

Talking about the Nightlife in Halong we cannot afford to miss out the bars and pubs of Halong. The bars and pubs in Halong offers relaxing ambience to sip your liked drinks. You can try out wide varieties of local as well as international drinks in these venues. Nightlife in Halong also includes casinos. Royal International Gaming Club-casino is one of the popular casinos of Halong.

Yen Duc Village

Yen Duc Village is about 60km to the west of Halong Bay on the way from & to Hanoi. Besides the Halong Bay cruise trip, on the way from Halong Bay to Hanoi, you can consider a short trip to Yen Duc Village – a typical Vietnamese agricultural village which is rich in culture and traditions. Yen Duc village is a beautiful village in the North of Vietnam, the village has immense rice fields, Kinh Thay river,  many ponds, gardens in the local houses. The local life is kept away from noisy outside. Yen Duc Village has many historical monuments and a famous ancient pagoda named Canh Huong which contains cultural and historical values dated back to Ly and Tran dynasty in the village, all the alley roads are very clean with unique stone walls, especially the local villagers are very friendly, honest and extremely hospitable. Visit Halong Bay with V'spirit cruise Halong bay

At the moment, there are 3 tour options: 2 hour tour; 3,5 hour tour ( with lunch) and 5,5 hour tour ( with dinner). The 2 hour tour and 5,5 hour tour option will be suitable for Halong Bay cruises which check out at 12:00 to arrive Yen Duc village at 2:00pm while 3,5 hour option will fit the  cruise check out time at 10:00 from Halong Bay to arrive Yen Duc at 12:00 for lunch. If you have time, the 5.5 hour tour can be a good extra experience awith gardening, fishing and a dinner in the village. It is 1,5 hour driving to the village for this tour then 2 more hour to Hanoi. Read more Halong Bay map

V'spirit cruise Halong bay

Joining a trip to Yen Duc village is a great chance to visit the charming fields, a holy pagoda, a historical site and other relic sites while wandering narrow alleyways in the odorous fresh air and talking with hospitable local people. With a convenience graphic location, Yen Duc Village is a good link with unique experience for the customers after Halong Bay cruise.


Yen Duc village is in Dong Trieu town and 60km West of Halong city. The village was recognized as a national relic in 1993.

Yen Duc is a beautiful village with poetic scenery, charming rivers, historical mountains and sacred legends and relics related to Ly and Tran dynasty.

Considered as a “Stone wall” under the war, the village was a cradle of revolutionary movements with many brave, ingenious heroes and local people sacrificed to protect their hometown. Over the years, their names are still alive together with each famous mountain, river and pieces of land here.

Similar to other rustic countryside, the local people here are very diligent, gentle and optimistic.

Currently, Yen Duc village is one of the few villages in the Delta still retain traditional agricultural features and beauty with the golden rice fields in harvesting time, the gardens of area trees in the sun and the ponds below the green gourd platforms.

Where to shop in Halong

Shopping is one of the most popular activities when one travels. In Halong Bay, shopping is not about big malls with branded items. Expect a different shopping experience when you are in the area. The following places are a good  starting point: Halong bay cruise

Halong Market

Being constructed and officially operated in 2003, the new Halong Market is one of the most attractive destinations in the city that draw a huge number of local and international tourists coming for shopping. The market is located in the center of Halong City at Bach Dang Street, and considered the largest markets of this coastal city. Products which are exhibited and sold here are diverse in range from normal to luxurious goods and pretty competitive in price. Customers are easy to find anything here, from clothes, accessories, and electrical devices. Food and drinks are also sold in small restaurants in the market. Moreover, this is also one of the places that sell specialties of Halong City, such as dried squid or seafood, with most ensured quality and reasonable price. Halong Market opens all 7 days a week, from 6.00 am to 6.30 pm

• Jasmine Cruise halong

• Paradise Cruise halong

   

• Indochina Sails cruise

Halong Night Market

Where to shop in Halong

For various tourists who visit to Halong City, Halong Night Market is a place that they should not miss out. The market is a group of more than a hundred stalls which sell diverse types of products, such as handicrafts, handmade accessories, clothes, and other dispensable items such as swimwear, lotion, or hat. Tourists tend to come to this place for purchasing unique products of the beach city like necklaces made from seashells, snails, wooden small boats, or T-shirt with images of Halong Bay on. And the great things is that sellers here are friendly with advance English skill, so that tourists should not be worry about bargaining, posing, and tourists can have a nice chat with them about this charming city. Halong Night Market opens 7 days a week, from 6.00pm until midnight

Bai Chay Commercial Center

Being established on the base of a minuscule market at Vuon Dao Street, Bai Chay Commercial Center is one of the largest and most modern shopping center in Halong City. Products here are diverse from regular to deluxe goods, and price range is a little bit higher than other markets in the city. However, this extra money is paid for better services, as well as ensured quality of each product.

Phu Quoc travel guide

Sitting back in a hammock, looking out over the quiet surf, you may wonder why more people don't know about Vietnam's Phu Quoc Island. It gets almost none of the press of those islands over in Thailand -- and yet with its rugged jungle, squeaking white sands and sparkling cobalt waters, it can more than match them. And though an unbroken beach stretches for almost the entire length of the island's west coast, only a small part of it has been developed. Read more: Mekong & Phu Quoc island (5 days, 4 nights)

We've seen many an island in Southeast Asia, and we've never stumbled across somewhere quite like here. The mix of isolated and deserted beaches, and a few thriving yet unadulterated Vietnamese towns, make Phu Quoc a rare find indeed. Southern Vietnam with extension to Cambodia 10 days

Phu Quoc travel guide

Given its ease of access (a 21-minute flight from Rach Gia or an hour's flight from Saigon), it's amazing the island isn't far more developed, and while the Vietnamese government has huge plans they remain unrealised, and hopefully will remain just on paper for the foreseeable future. Read more V'spirit cruise

The island has something for everyone -- really! Ringed by over a dozen bays and beaches, some yellow sand, others brilliant strips of white, with an archipelago of islets off its south coast, a jungle-covered interior and a handful of fishing villages, there is enough to do for a longer stay than you may be planning.



Accommodation on Phu Quoc encompasses a full range of options from affordable backpacker guesthouses through to quite fancy beach resorts and hotels. Hoteliers report that some guests do nothing more than the daily bungalow-beach-restaurant-beach-bungalow circuit for days on end -- for couples in particular, Phu Quoc is a favourite.

But with a motorbike and a map, there's loads of exploring to do here, and while some of the beaches are under military control, the majority are open to the public.

Many leave Phu Quoc as their final stop in Vietnam before leaving, only to find that a couple of nights just aren’t enough. As a result, flights are changed and itineraries are revised -- so take it from us, revise your itinerary upfront and be sure to allow yourself enough time on Phu Quoc.

Travel Tay Ninh

The capital of the same-named province, Tay Ninh is situated 95 km northwest of Ho Chi Minh City and is the original home of the Cao Dai religion. 

The town itself is a bit of a nondescript affair -- accommodation and eateries are available, but very few travellers choose to overnight here -- primarily because the tours from Saigon are so affordable -- some going for as little as US$2 per person! Read more: Vietnam travel

The people flock her to see the Cao Dai Holy See -- the great temple of the Cao Dai faith -- which sits a few km outside of town. A garish meld of styles and influences, the temple is dominated by the divine eye which is the religion's representation of God -- for those who are curious, it's a left eye. The temple is done out in hues of pink and baby blues, with a brilliant interior bedecked with eight grandiose pillars wrapped with writhing dragons, and a clouded pastel blue sky that wouldn't be out of place in a Vegas casino -- you really have to see the place to believe it. The faith has built temples all over the region -- especially in the Mekong Delta -- but this is the biggest, brightest and the best. Read more: Mekong delta cruise

Travel Tay Ninh

The Cao Dai beliefs are a curious mix of Mahayana Buddhism, Confucianism and Taoism with a decent dash of home-grown remedies thrown into the mix. The religion came out of activities of the Vietnamese public officer and mystic, Ngo Minh Chieu, who was on the receiving end of revelations from 1919 onwards, culminating in the founding of the religion in 1926. These revelations are believed to have come directly from God. For a belief which once had a standing army of over 20,000 the practices laid out in these revelations are decidedly non-violent -- frequent prayer, veneration of ancestors, non-violence and vegetarianism are all centrepieces. Treasure junk 

It's the Cao Dao prayers that forms the key attraction at the Holy See from a tourist's perspective. Ritual prayers are held four times daily with the midday session the most likely one you'll see if you visit as a part of a tour from Saigon. Be aware that while you're permitted to photograph the prayers from the upstairs terrace (where all the tourists are herded) you're not permitted to take pictures of individuals without first asking permission. As with most temples, respectful attire is required -- no singlet tops, shorts, nor, need it be said, bikini tops.

If you decide to visit the temple independently, aim for a prayer session other than the midday one as you'll have far fewer tourists to share the spectacle with.

To reach Tay Ninh from Saigon catch a bus from either Tay Ninh or Mien Tay bus stations in Saigon. The trip will take two to three hours. Once you're in Tay Ninh, walk, or get a xe-om to the temple itself.

Mua điều hòa phù hợp với không gian nhà bạn

Việc chọn mua được một may dieu hoa có công suất và tính năng phù hợp, giá thành hợp lý là điều không dễ đối với mỗi gia đình.
Trên thị trường điều hòa hiện nay, các nhà sản xuất đồ gia dụng nổi tiếng như Samsung, Panasonic, dieu hoa lg chinh hang, Toshiba... đã cho ra mắt nhiều dòng điều hòa mới sử dụng công nghệ biến tần Inverter và S-Inverter nhằm giúp tiết kiệm điện năng tiêu thụ. Kết hợp với một vài tính năng nổi bật đã làm nên những sản phẩm đặc trưng cho từng hãng. Lúc mua, khi chọn thương hiệu bạn nên đọc kỹ nơi sản xuất, bởi hiện nay các thương hiệu có tiếng đều được sản xuất, lắp ráp tại nhiều quốc gia khác nhau như Việt Nam, Trung Quốc, Malaysia...
Bạn muốn mua một máy dieu hoa midea chinh hang nhưng còn do dự chưa biết chọn loại nào cho thích hợp. Sau đây là một số chỉ dẫn cần thiết cần phải nắm rõ trước khi quyết định phải chọn mua loại nào, hoặc cách xem máy như thế nào để có thể mua được loại máy tốt, sử dụng được lâu. Máy điều hoà nhiệt độ có hai loại:
Loại treo tường (2 cục): loại này có hai phần tách rời nhau làm thành hai bộ phận, bộ phận giàn lạnh được lắp đặt trong nhà bằng cách gắn trên tường. Bộ phận quạt và bloc máy được gắn bên ngoài nhà, hai bộ phận này thông nhau bằng một ống nhựa đặt xuyên qua một lỗ hồng nhỏ (vừa với tiết diện ống) trên tường Loại máy này thích hợp cho nhà ở, có hành lang bên ngoài (dùng để đặt bộ phận quạt và bloc máy).
Loại cửa sổ (1 cục): loại này là một khối máy đồng nhất, nghĩa là bộ phận quạt nằm luôn trong máy chứ không tách rời như loại máy treo tường. Loại này thích hợp cho nhà cao tầng. Để gắn máy này chỉ cần tạo một khung cứa sổ trên tường khi gắn máy, để bề mặt (giàn lạnh) quay vào trong phòng.
Nói chung, hai loại máy đều vận hành như nhau và mua máy nào thì tuỳ theo sở thích người tiêu dùng.

Mua điều hòa phù hợp với không gian nhà bạn

Tuy nhiên, trong khi sử dụng cần đảm bảo độ lạnh trong phòng ổn định, công suất máy dieu hoa funiki chinh hang phải thừa khả năng khử sức nóng ở trong căn phòng. Sức nóng này phát ra từ 2 nguồn chính: từ bên trong căn phòng do sự tỏa nhiệt của con người, bóng đèn, máy móc... và sức nóng xâm nhập từ ngoài vào do nhiệt độ bên ngoài cao hơn nhiệt độ trong phòng.

Một quan niệm sai lầm về công suất làm lạnh là công suất càng nhỏ thì càng ít tốn điện. Trên thực tế, công suất càng lớn sẽ càng ít tốn điện, mặc dù chỉ số tiêu thụ luôn cao.

Onboard Safety - Au Co crusie

From the decoration of the ship, to the quality of our dining service, through to the range of activities available, The Au Co is designed to allow our passengers to get a true sense of Vietnam and experience a taste of the Orient on board the most unique Halong cruises.
halong bay tours - cultural experience

Throughout the ship and in your cabin, elements of Vietnamese culture are reflected in the interior design, which features both traditional and contemporary motifs.

Dining aboard The Au Co crusie Halong is not to be missed, with lunch and dinner menus and dishes designed to reflect the elements integral to Oriental cuisine - earth, fire, metal, wood and water. The dining experience by itself is enough to think of a luxury cruise in Halong Bay.

Vietnamese hospitality abounds on The Au Co. From the moment you step aboard you will be welcomed and greeted in typically warm Vietnamese fashion. While aboard, there are a range of activities for you to discover and experience Vietnamese culture for yourself, everything from Tai Chi to cultural talks, cooking lessons to healing massages. Read more:

Paloma Cruise Halong, Bai Tho cruise Halong

Onboard Safety - Au Co crusie

ONBOARD SAFETY
The boat itself was designed by the Industrial Ship Designing Institute and is inspected by the local Maritime Registration Authority annually and certified accordingly. It is the only steel boat in Halong Bay built to meet seafaring standards. It is designed to be balanced even with a 23-degree list. The Vietnamese Marine Authorities certify all materials and equipment used in the construction of the boat construction from the steel, electrical cables and generators. Every vessel is fitted with professional marine safety equipment:  VHF Radio, GPS Plotting, Two-way radios, Water Ingress Alarm System, Anti-sinking Pump System, Fire Alarm system  System and Fire Extinguishers. The Au Co boats have double the safety coefficient required by the authorities.

halong bay tours - captain
Experienced captain and top-notch equipment in bridge

All The Au Co vessels operate under professional daily technical supervision and ongoing maintenance schedules, which will insure you cruising Halong Bay in a completely safe environment. Each vessel maintenance schedule includes regular monthly and bi-annual routine maintenance and an annual dry-docking to ensure all aspects of seaworthiness and accommodation are in good condition.

All The Au Co vessels are covered with maximum vessel insurance based on the vessel certification, including total Crew and Passenger capacity.

Safety on board

halong bay tours - safety
Safety training onboard

For all of our Vietnam cruises,The Au Co places the highest priority on the safety and security of our vessels and all Passengers, Crew and Crew members onboard.

All The Au Co vessels are commanded by a Captain, and manned by a professional Deck Crew and Crew members. All Crew and Crew members have training certificates or recognized expertise accredited by the relevant Vietnamese Government Authorities.

Our Cruise Managers conduct a safety briefing prior to departure, which includes onboard procedures and clear instructions in case of emergency.

All The Au Co Crew are trained for SOLAS (Safety of Life at Sea) and dealing with emergencies. Refresher training and live drills are conducted every month.

Thói quen sử dụng điều hòa

Bạn có biết không khí trong phòng sử dụng dieu hoa có thể ô nhiễm hơn không khí bên ngoài gấp 2-5 lần? Nếu không sử dụng đúng cách, máy điều hòa có thể vừa tiêu tốn điện năng, vừa ảnh hưởng đến sức khỏe.

Hãy cùng điểm qua 3 thói quen không tốt cho sức khỏe khi sử dụng máy điều hòa và cách khắc phục.

Thói quen 1: Đóng chặt cửa khi sử dụng máy điều hòa

3 thói quen sử dụng máy điều hòa âm trần không tốt cho sức khỏe
Không khí trong phòng kín có thể trở nên độc hại gấp 2-5 lần không khí ngoài trời, vì vậy bạn nên ưu tiên lựa chọn những sản phẩm  máy lạnh có chức năng lọc khí.

Chuyên gia điện lạnh Lê Ngọc Tâm lưu ý, không khí trong phòng kín có thể ô nhiễm hơn không khí bên ngoài gấp 2-5 lần! “Vì vậy, tuy bạn vẫn nên hạn chế đóng mở cửa phòng để hơi lạnh không thất thoát, nhưng đừng nên để không khí trong phòng trở nên quá bí, gây hại cho sức khỏe.” Ông Tâm khuyên, “Khoảng 15-30 phút, bạn nên mở cửa phòng để căn phòng được “thở”, thay không khí mới cho căn phòng. Khi mua máy điều hòa, bạn nên chọn những dòng máy điều hòa thế hệ mới, trang bị thêm các chức năng lọc khí và diệt khuẩn cho không khí.”

Thói quen sử dụng điều hòa

Thói quen 2: Tắt máy điều hòa tủ đứng khi phòng đã đủ độ lạnh

Để tiết kiệm điện, nhiều người có thói quen khi phòng đã đủ lạnh thì lập tức tắt máy điều hòa, và bật lại khi nhiệt độ phòng tăng lên! Có trường hợp chỉ bật máy lạnh 15 phút, phòng hơi lạnh một chút thì tắt, 15 phút sau bật lại.

3 thói quen sử dụng máy điều hòa không tốt cho sức khỏe
Máy điều hòa Samsung thế hệ mới hỗ trợ điều chỉnh nhiệt độ bằng Smartphone với tính năng Smart Wifi, giúp bạn duy trì nhiệt độ phòng ở mức lý tưởng

“Thực tế, đây là một sai lầm kiểu “tính già hóa non”, vì khi khởi động lại, máy điều hòa “ngốn” rất nhiều điện năng. Thay đổi trạng thái nóng-lạnh liên tục cũng làm cơ thể bạn khó chịu. Cách hợp lý nhất là nên duy trì nhiệt độ phòng ở mức ổn định, chứ không nên tắt hẳn máy điều hòa. Chênh lệch nhiệt độ lý tưởng giữa nhiệt độ phòng điều hòa và nhiệt độ bên ngoài là khoảng 7 độ C”, chuyên gia điện lạnh Lê Ngọc Tâm cho biết.

Thói quen 3: Không tận dụng được hết tính năng máy điều hòa thế hệ mới
Nhiều gia đình đầu tư tiền để đổi máy điều hòa thế hệ mới, nhưng lại không khai thác hết những tính năng của máy. Máy điều hòa thế hệ mới với thiết kế tam diện mang đến nhiều lợi ích vượt trội cho sức khỏe, đồng thời  có khả năng làm mát vượt trội và tiết kiệm điện năng so với điều hòa truyền thống

3 thói quen sử dụng máy điều hòa không tốt cho sức khỏe
Tận dụng triệt để những tính năng của điều hòa thế hệ mới, bạn có thể vừa sử dụng điều hòa hiệu quả vừa bảo đảm sức khỏe

Những dòng sản phẩm điều hòa thế hệ mới trên thị trường còn có những tính năng cải tiến khác dành cho những nhu cầu sử dụng khác nhau. Ví dụ như dòng máy điều hòa Samsung thế hệ mới có chế độ làm mát dễ chịu Comfort Cool giúp không khí tỏa ra khắp phòng và tính năng lọc không khí Virus Doctor rất phù hợp cho gia đình có trẻ nhỏ. Tận dụng hết những tính năng của máy điều hòa thế hệ mới, bạn vừa có thể tiết kiệm điện, vừa bảo đảm sức khỏe của cả gia đình trong mùa nóng.

Pelican Cruise Halong bay

Pelican Cruise Halong bay - Offering a 4-stars cruise experience Cruises in Halong Bay. Our 2 Cruises fleet will take you for an unforgettable discovery Halong Bay, offering the best program for visiting and enjoying the bay’s natural wonders. Pelican 1 will operate since early 2012, while Pelican 2 and 3 will be launched later in 2012 and 2013.With three similar boats providing 22 double cabins, ranging from 16m2 to wider suites, our fleet’s outstanding settings will be yours for the whole length of your stay on board, and our friendly and well trained crew will answer each of your requests to make your stay on board a warm experience. Our restaurant is opened to serve you from breakfast to lunch and dinner, in a mix of Western and Vietnamese fine cooking, while the wide upper sundeck allows you to contemplate sunset while sipping an aperitif. State-of-the art security conditions are our guaranty for an unforgettable journey. Read more: Dragon Pearl Junk cruise, Huong Hai Sealife cruise

Pelican Cruise Halong bay

FEET'S SAFETY POLICY
Highest security standards will be provided through state-of-the-art equipments and a continuous coaching of the crew. The fleet’s vessels will operate the latest electronic devices to operate safe cruises in all sea and weather conditions: sonars and radars, engines’ control and fire detection will prevent any sort of possible damage on the boats. Cabins will all be equipped with alarm devices linked to a central monitoring system, smoke sensors and fire extinguishers, hydrants and hoses, life jackets and clear emergency instructions. Local and international crew will be trained to implement clear safety processes, while a speed boats’ fleet will be ready 24/24 to operate emergency rescue.
M.I.C.E.
Enjoying such a Natural Wonder may be a purely relaxing and contemplative experience, but Pelican Luxury Cruises  want to satisfy the expectations of its most active guests by providing them with exciting events and activities too. May you be into individual activities to satisfy your feeling for a pure and original freedom, or rather into group fun and entertainment or into intimate surprises tailored to families or couples: just enjoy our offerings!
KAYAKING
Probably the best way to explore the breathtaking beauty of Halong Bay Vietnam while emphasizing on one’s feeling of freedom amisdt a Natural Wonder. Thanks to the bay’s thousands of islands the conditions for sea kayaking are ideal – the water is calm, the current is fine and the wind is not too strong. Paddle through islets; visit hidden caves, lagoons, unspoiled beaches and floating fishing villages; and meet smiling local fishermen.
FISHING EXPERIENCE
Pelican Luxury Cruises opens for you two different kinds of fishing experience. Either go fishing with local fishermen around their floating small villages, a unique opportunity for feeling and meeting the authentic local way of living; or stay on board the vessel and try your best to catch a fish while relaxing on the sun deck.