Bat Trang Ceramic Village

Around Hanoi, there has many 'traditional trade village'. They are the villages where specialized products are made and these traditional works have been preserved by family generations. The products are handicrafts, traditional paintings, wooden furniture, bronze or silk products, etc. Bat Trang ceramic village is one of them. Bat Trang village lies on the bank of the Hong River, about 13 kilometers from Hanoi. To get there, you cross the Chuong Duong Bridge out of central Hanoi, turn right onto dilapidated, heavily pot-holed road and try to avoid being hit by the trucks, buses and motorcycles that jokey to overtake each other in both directions. Hanoi Ninh Binh Halong 5 days

Bat Trang is an ancient village, which is very famous for making ceramic products. Many of these ceramic products have been exported for years; as a result, they are a good income for the locals. There is a ceramic market in the village, where we can buy ceramic tile painting, flower vases, tea pots and cups, bowls, plates, spoons, even ceramic dogs. Not only the local houses where we can see how to mix material make and paint ceramic products but there are also classes where we can learn how to create a vase or anything from clay that we want and paint the ready-make products. In addition, it is great to walk around the village, visit some local houses which are the factories and Bat Trang Pagoda. Treasure Junk, Halong Travel

Bat Trang Ceramic Village

To make ceramic the potter must follow the stages: selection, land preparation and processing, create designs, create patterns, enameled and finally calcined product.  Experience traditional village life of Bat Trang is "Best bones, second skin, third "dac lo". The development of the profession is seen as the practice of the creative process working with the technical processes. DAY TRIP CRUISE

Entrance fee to visit pottery: Free
To model a statue: 10.000-20.000vnd/people
To bowl:                   20.000-30.000vnd/people

Top 5 Things To Do In Hue in Vietnam

Somewhat surprisingly Vietnam’s central cities aren’t on every traveller’s radar even though they are home to some of Vietnam’s most interesting architecture and history. Located on the banks of the Perfume River, Hue is home to a variety of war-torn temples, tombs and palaces, many of which were the homes and places of worship of Nguyen-era emperors. Many of the buildings and structures in Hue are still quite damaged, giving it the feel of a modern-day Pompeii, despite mass tourism. However, there have been some efforts to restore buildings in Hue since 1990 when the area was declared a World Heritage site. Centre Vietnam tours

Don’t miss out, make sure you include a trip to Hue in the North Central Coast district on your Vietnam travel itinerary. Hue sits in the Thua Thien Province and is about 700 km south of Hanoi and about 1,100 km north of Ho Chi Minh City, aka Saigon. And Vietnam has just been named as the fastest growing tourist destination.

Imperial Citadel (Dai Noi)

Built in the early 19th century, circa 1804, by thousands of labourers at the request of Emperor Gia Long, the Imperial City and Citadel was a massive structure, large enough that a 10 kilometer moat was constructed to surround and protect it. Modelled after the Forbidden City in Beijing, the Imperial City and Citadel was designed to be the royal quarters of Emperor Long. When the last Emperor of Vietnam stepped down the structure had expanded to include hundreds of rooms. While quite grand in scale, many of the buildings were in a state of disrepair due to typhoon and termite damage. In 1968 the Imperial City and Citadel were bombed by American forces during the Vietnam War, demolishing most of the buildings. In 1993 the Imperial Citadel and the collective ‘Complex of Hué Monuments’ was declared a UNESCO site, and some of the buildings have been restored for historical preservation. Paradise Luxury Cruise, Halong Travel

Tu Duc Tomb

Emperor Tu Duc, the longest reigning Emperor in Vietnamese history isn’t actually buried at the site of the Tu Duc Tomb, pictured above. Completed nearly 20 years before his death in 1883, the building of the Tu Duc tomb required so much funding and labor that there was actually a coup against Tu Duc in 1866. Near the site you’ll find his epitaph, inscribed on a piece of stone brought from a quarry over 500 miles away from the site. The journey took workers four years to complete. Tu Duc had to write his epitaph himself because he was unable to father a son before he became sterile because of smallpox, despite his many wives and concubines. While the Tu Duc tomb is recognized as the Emperor’s official resting place the actual burial site is still unknown. The 200 labourers who prepared the actual burial site were beheaded by the King after burying the body.

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An Dinh Palace

The architecturally stunning An Dinh Palace was the residence of the Nguyen dynasty and was built in early 20th century and is one of Hue’s best known historic sites, although it isn’t often included on mainstream itineraries. The An Dinh Palace, built in the typical style, was restored several years ago and a new project to fully restore the surrounding three storey buildings will return the An Dinh palace to a primary tourist spot.

Situated on the bank of An Cuu River in Hue City’s Phu Nhuan ward, the An Dinh Palace was commissioned by King Dong Khanh and at the time called Phung Hoa, as a gift for the Crown Prince Nguyen Phuc Buu Dao. When the Prince was made King in 1916 the palace took on the current name and passed through the family until the palace was presented to the Revolutionary government. Sadly the palace fell into severe disrepair until 2001 when the palace underwent extensive restoration in readiness for hosting the 2002 Hue Festival. An Dinh Palace also hosted the 2004, 2006 and 2008 Hue Festivals.

Following the next stage of restoration, ancient artefacts and works of art that portray the Nguyen Dynasty’s royal lifestyle will be displayed. This project is a part of the drive to preserve and restore the history, culture and architecture of Hue City. Earlier this year the center unveiled a 3D project which shows the heritage and architecture in its full glory.

Minh Mang Temple

Take a boat ride up the Perfume River to the Minh Mang Temple which is a fine example of an emperor’s tomb. The Minh Mang Temple is located about 12km outside of Hue City, on the West Bank so the Perfume River in Cam Ke Hill. Construction began in 1840 and during the build Minh Mang actually passed away. Hi son completed the works and his father was interred in the temple as requested. The temple is also part of the UNESCO-recognised Hue complex.

Perfume River Tour

Hire a boat for a day and take a trip along the Perfume River to explore the various Tombs of the Emperors. Dating from the 19th century, the best preserved examples are the Tomb of Tu Duc and The Tomb of Minh Mang already listed above. In addition there are wonderful examples of Vietnamese architecture including the Tomb of Khai Dinh, the remote ruins of the Tomb of Gia Long and the Tomb of Thieu Tri which was built in 1848. There is also the Tomb of Dong Khanh which was constructed in 1917 and the Tomb of Khai Dinh which is the best preserved tomb along the river.

When to visit to Hue

If you’ve never been to Vietnam or Southeast Asia before, visiting Hue during the Festival of Hue may be the best time to visit since there will be many international travelers there and you may feel more comfortable navigating the city. The Festival of Hue takes place between April 8th and April 15th in even numbered years. Hotel rooms and travel amenities come at a premium during the Festival of Hue, so book your stay early to avoid high costs. Even if you don’t plan on going to Vietnam when the Festival of Hue is taking place, many people still consider February to April the best months of the year for travel to Vietnam. However, you should remember that weather can change from region to region because of opposing monsoon seasons in the north and south.

Một số bài thuốc từ nghệ rất đơn giản

x
 Một số phương thuốc từ tinh bột nghệ đen nguyên chất rất đơn giản mà hiệu quả
- Chữa giun đũa, giun kim: Lấy 1 thìa cafe dịch ép từ nghệ tươi thêm vào đó một nhúm muối, trộn đều và cho trẻ uống vào sáng sớm lúc bụng đói.

- Chữa chứng thiếu máu: Mỗi ngày uống 1 muỗng dịch ép từ củ nghệ đen tươi pha với mật ong trong nhiều ngày.
- Chữa hen suyễn:  Một thìa cafe Tinh bột nghệ hòa với một ly sữa, uống 2-3 lần trong ngày, nên uống lúc bụng đói.

- Chữa cảm lạnh, ho: Nửa muỗng bột nghệ hòa trong 30 ml sữa ấm, uống mỗi ngày để chữa ho. Khi bị cảm lạnh thì đun nhẹ hỗn hợp này trên bếp, ngửi và hít hơi.

Một số bài thuốc từ nghệ rất đơn giản

- Chữa bong gân sưng đau nhức: Tinh Bột nghệ trộn với chanh và muối thành bột nhão rồi bó vào chỗ bong gân, làm trong vài lần.

- Chữa thủy đậu trong trường hợp mụt nước mới mọc: Củ nghệ nướng thành tro, lấy tro hòa trong 1 tách nước lọc, bôi vào các chỗ thủy đậu. Nên sắc nước bột nghệ và uống thêm sẽ giúp mau lành bệnh.
- Giúp sởi mau phát và chóng khỏi bệnh: Củ nghệ khô nghiền thành bột, lấy 1 muỗng bột nghệ hòa vài giọt mật ong, trộn chung với 1 muỗng dịch ép lá bầu hoặc bí, uống 2-3 lần trong ngày.

Northwest Travel Guides

Northwest Travel Guides
Bac Ha Lao Cai is a white plateau with apricot flowers , plum flowers. There also has wonderful corn wine of village fair corn. Today , Bac Ha is hidden in its potential tourism and it is opportunity for investors. Bac Ha is truly a destination for those who fancy the adventure tour and discover the culture of Vietnam ethnic minorities. North tours Vietnam

1 .The best time to come to Bac Ha Lao Cai
 - The best moment to get Bac Ha Lao Cai is in the spring, around February or March, when the Tam Hoa plum flowers blooms, stretches across the mountainside. You will see these mountainous girls good with colorful brocade costumes going village fair.
- In the summer, this is patchy colors of the terraced field in the rainy season. Raining make the fields are full of water and overlapped .
- In the autumn , these fields have the yellow of the grain , purple of flower in Lung Cai.
- In the winter , Bac Ha are flooded by fogs . It is very romantic and interesting.

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2. The way to go to Bac Ha Lao Cai
 - Option 1: From Hanoi , you can travel by rail or road route to Lao Cai and then hired motorcycles to come Bac Ha (35 km far from Sapa).
-  Option 2: Catch bus to come directly Bac Ha - Hai Van Bus runs from Hanoi to Bac Ha, departs at My Dinh bus station everyday.

• 3 days to the Floating Markets

When coming Bac Ha, to rent transport visit around the area, you can hire motorcycles in Hoang A Tuong mansion to enjoy adventure tour in Bac Ha town , Lao Cai province.
3. The best place to visit Bac Ha Lao Cai
Mansion of H'Mong King
Bac Ha district has Hoang A Tuong mansion built between 1919 and 1921 .This familiar locals still called the " House of H'Mong King" in a French colonial period . A ethnic man has named Hoang Yen Chao ( after his son, Hoang A Tuong took over ) , govern Bac Ha region while 70% H’Mong people live there, so he is called the king of the H'Mong people region .
Today , the local government is restoring the mansion for designs of the old French style mansion that are popular in Europe .
Today , H'Mong King still retains mementos of King Hoang A Tuong .There are a coach ( antique furniture ) and a Chinese mirror ( mirror in the wall ) .In addition , it also has three wooden flowers , its longevity is the same this mansion .

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Hoang A Tuong Mansion
Bac Ha village fair
Bac Ha market – highland village fair attracts many tourists and this is a destinations noone can ignore if come to Bac Ha . Bac Ha market has its unique characteristics. Local people who want to go to the village fair have to go early , even go from today to at noon in the next day to come market . Previously, Bac Ha market is held on a hill , after this new market was built on a concrete floor and is divided for each sales region . Bac Ha Market is where all the products of the highlands are sold like: the plough , mandrel , shovel , knife , fruits , honey,….

For tourists , the site selling jewelry , dress , high , brocade ... is the most attractive . Visitors can choose the brocade products with unique and colorful patterns like the dresses of H’Mong , Red Dao girls  or the paintings are made by handicraft with beautiful colors ...

The unique features of this village fair is you can enjoy the “thắng cố” – special dishes of Northwestern highlands .The wine of H’Mong people in Pho village is also very famous Area where horses are sold attracts men , they come from remote villages , even those from the provinces like Bac Giang , Ha Tay ... gol up here to trade the horses .
 Coming Bac Ha , you can enjoy the atmosphere and colors of the highland life .

Bac Ha village fair
Fairy Mountain in Bac Ha Lao Cai
Fairy Mountain is a mountainous district of Lao Cai , located in the limestone highlands of Chay river . From  northern of Si Ma Cai district to Bac Ha town at height of 1000m , visitors will see huge mountain  . With high views , it has set Guan Yin statue facing to the south . According to the legend , a fairy has down to earth to enjoy the spring , sees   incredible scene so she decide to stay in here . Therefore this mountain is called Fairy mountain .
Coming to Fairy Mountain , visitors not only enjoy the beauty of the unique tradition cultural  of the highlands but also see wonderful natural landscapes and experience the feeling of  adventure climbing , and Fairy mountain is in front of tourists .

Fairy mountain
4. Where to stay in Bac Ha Lao Cai
In Bac Ha town, there are many hotels like Sao Mai hotel, Bac Ha hotel , Thien Thanh hotel, Sunday hotel or some motels as Thanh Nien motel, Quynh Trang motel , Dang Khoa motel .
5. Eating and drinking in Bac Ha Lao Cai
- Thắng cố dish is considered to be unique characteristic of Bac Ha Lao Cai. Meat to cook thắng cố by traditionally way are horse meat or beef , buffalo meat and pork but horse meat still is the best .
- Bac Ha sour noodles soup : includes hot rice noodles made ​​by rice with light pink colorful , siu mei meat, diced vegetables, peanuts, sour water. This Bac Ha sour noodles soup made ​​by ethnic people .
- Ginger meat of the Nung Din people .
- Bacon .
- “Chan Chim” mushroom in Bac Ha market.
- Bac Ha Wine

Central Highlands of Vietnam

Geographically, the Central Highlands of Vietnam is an area of stunning natural beauty which extends from the Cat Tien National Park in the south as far as Quang Nam in the north. For practical purposes most visitors to the region will travel between Dalat in the south and Kon Tum in the north. Central Highlands and Qui Nhon Beach 7 days
This region is not visited by many tourists so the transport options of the coastal route are not available. We hired a vehicle with driver to travel from Dalat to Hoi An over five days and these days were without doubt the highlight of our time in Vietnam.
Travelling through Vietnam via the magnificent Central Highlands is a fabulous alternative to the much trodden coastal route. To do so by public transport can prove quite challenging as local bus services are the only option. Also it is necessary for foreigners to carry permits in order to be allowed into parts of the Central Highlands. Image Cruise Halong Bay

Central Highlands of Vietnam

We took this route as a 5 day private tour beginning in Dalat and ending in Hoi An. We travelled in a 9 seater Mercedes accompanied by a guide and driver. Each evening our guide, Phu, and driver, Tam, stayed at the same place as us and took us out to local restaurants that they knew and which would be impossible to go to without a local connection. This was a tremendous and most unexpected addition to what was the highlight of our time in Vietnam. If you’re travelling from the north you head inland from Hoi An and follow the route described in this section in reverse.

• Vietnam & Cambodia 16 days – HCM – HN

Below is a photo of Tam (in white) who was our driver and Phu, our guide. The other photo is of a couple of travellers using the services of the Dalat Easy Riders motorbike tours.
Easy Riders of Dalat
Another option from Dalat (for the more adventurous) is to team up with one of the Easy Riders who will carry you and your rucksack on the back of his motorbike. This will be the same tour as the one described below but in far less comfort. We met people travelling with Easy Riders most nights, it seems they were paying around $55US for two people, ie. two motorbikes with riders and a passenger on each. They all recommended this way of getting around.
Prices are rising in Vietnam but as an indication of the cost of such a trip we paid $45US per person per day to do this trip. There were just the two of us so the total for the 5 days/4 nights was $450US which was worth every cent. Accommodation cost about $10US per room per night and was extra as was food which was ridiculously cheap, examples with prices appear below.
The trip is cheaper with Easy Riders but we were happier with the comfort and safety of our vehicle.
We had arrived in Vietnam via Ho Chi Minh City and Dalat was our next stop before embarking on the Central Highlands adventure. If you arrive in Hanoi then just plan your journey through the centre in the opposite way to what follows.

Negotiating Hoi An's street food stalls

What we say: 4 stars
Vietnam is a fast-food nation based around slow-cooked food. Breakfast and lunch is taken on the hoof — it’s pho to go and rice on the run until you sit down for dinner with the family at the end of the working day. Street food is king, with mobile snacking a close second. Here’s our rundown on what you’ll find in Hoi An while on the go. Centre Vietnam tours
Permanent shops
In Hoi An, to have a permanent structure on a permanent pitch is a rarity unless you are working from the front room/motorbike garage of your roadside home. You’ll find very few who have ‘made it’ to the top of the rung, however stumble across one of these and you will be rewarded with some of the best examples of street food to be had. Phuong Bahn Mi on Hoang Dieu Street backing on to the central market is for very good reason a must-try.

Danang – Hue – Hoian 4 days

Permanent mobile stalls
A permanent mobile stall is one which rucks up each morning to set up on its own pavement pitch for the day. More often than not these stalls trade in bahn mi or nuoc mia (sugar cane juice) with the occasional barbecue firing up in the late afternoon. When Hoi An shook hands with UNESCO, all these traders in the old town were relocated to the central food market in town, one of the best spots to sample a good cao lau or mi quang, and to a covered area to the far left of An Hoi, in an effort to keep the streets clean. Step out of the pedestrianised streets however and you’ll be spoilt for choice.

Negotiating Hoi An's street food stalls

Trailer food
These mobile vendors often seen walking their carts up the road in their pyjamas are the owners of semi-permanent pitches, perhaps at a market or streetside location shared by several vendors. A great Hoi An example is the massive banyan tree on Tran Cao Van Street, where the 07:00 slot is held by an old Ba selling the sweet bean soup of che (one of the most popular in town). She hangs up her ladle at 11:00 to be replaced by the fruit juice lady, who later joins rank with the pork noodle-bun thit nuong family at around 14:00 each day.
Motorbike vendors
With no fixed trading abode you’ll find motorbike food vendors cruising the streets touting their wares on bikes laden with pots and pans, occasionally sporting a smoking barbecue strapped tightly to the petrol tank. The food you buy from these traders in Hoi An is not often found in restaurants — it’s a whole new menu of 5,000 to 10,000 VND treats waiting to be flagged down and sampled.

• Indochina sails – Halong Bay travel

And the must-tries? Listen out for “banh chung day, cha day” — “I sell sausages”, delicious pork stuffed in banana leaf. And you can’t leave Hoi An without trying a banh beo, a yummy steamed bun packed with a quail egg and pork.
Bicycle vendors
Easier to flag down than their motorbike riding friends, the menagerie of conical hat-wearing vendors sell a variety of cheap eats. The corn ladies who patrol the streets, shouting what may sound like “assss hooole” from February till October are well worth risking 2,000 VND over, selling what seems like 101 different corn dishes with a side order of sweet milk.
Basket ladies
It’s the photo we all go home with, the two-baskets-on-a-pole wielding ladies selling everything from fruit to full-blown meals. In Hoi An the best way to find them is to head to the market on riverside Bach Dang Street, where you’ll find a whole array of snacks from Hoi An’s famed white rose – plump shrimp filled rice dumplings — through to tiny sea snails. A great thing to try here is the betelnut. Just 1,000 VND will get you a lesson in rolling and chewing the nut from an old Ba, and maybe some of the best photo opportunities to be had.

5 most popular roasted nuts and seeds for Tet holiday

During Tet, every family in Vietnam prepares a special tray of snack to offer guests, containing a variety candies, biscuits, jam, fruits; and roasted nuts are indispensible components of the tray. Vietnamese people eat roasted nuts with the main purpose to create a cheerful and friendly environment in which the hosts and the guests enjoy nuts together. Unlike the already de-shelled seeds found in bulk store, cooked seeds are kept intact in Vietnam and sometimes trying to separate the edible part from the hull can be both an art and a time-consuming activity. Who would want to rush in Tet anyway? A cup of tea would be even more perfect and the discussion can last forever, just plainly with tea and nuts. In addition, each type of nut has its own nutrition considered to be good for health and the diverse flavor that can only feel by tasting them all. Below are top 5 most common roasted nuts and seeds in Vietnam during Tet. Pelican Cruise Halong Bay
1. Hạt dưa (Watermelon seeds)

If you have enjoyed watermelon, you should have seen numbers of black seeds inside the fruit. Those are actually hạt dưa we are discussing about. However, only the biggest nuts will be chosen to be dried under the heat and then be roasted in big pans to have the final product. There are 2 type of hạt dưa: red and black depending on the natural pigment used to color them. Travel to Vietnam
Hạt dưa is a clean and healthy nut with a lot of nutrition such as protein, glucid, lipid; vitamins B1, B2, E; calcium, iron, zinc, etc. Especially, protid inside hạt dưa is an essential component for nervous system and the growing of muscles, blood and bones. Eating a handful of hạt dưa everyday may enhance memory and protect from coronary heart diseases. RV AMALOTUS CRUISE – LUXURY FLOATING BOUTIQUE HOTEL ON THE MEKONG RIVER
2. Hạt bí (Pumpkin seeds)

5 most popular roasted nuts and seeds for Tet holiday

Selecting from the biggest seeds of ripe pumpkin, hạt bí is among the most favorable nuts during Tet since it is easier to open than hạt dưa. The process of cooking hạt bí is exactly the same with hạt dưa, however, there is not any pigment to color the nuts.
Both traditional and modern medicine proved that hạt bí containing many substances which benefits human health such as protid, lipid, glucid, calcium, magnesium, fiber and L-tryptophan. This nut is now being remedy for diseases like kidney disease, intestinal disease and coronary heart disease.
3. Hạt hướng dương (Sunflower seeds)

The name of this nut indicated its origin quite clearly that is collected after sunflowers fully grown. After being dried and roasted under adequate heart and sometime added with additional flavor like salt and licorice, delicious hướng dương is ready to be enjoyed. This nut is the favorite snack of children and youngsters in Vietnam that it is eaten in the whole year, especially with ice-tea or lemon tea, not only during Tet. Besides possessing similar amount of nutrition like other nuts mentioned above, hạt hướng dương can also be used to slow the aging process of human, accelerate cell generation process and enhance memory.
4. Hạt điều (Cashew nuts)

Hạt điều has its origin from Northern China and Mongolia is among the most luxury type of roasted nuts because its trees can only produce fruits one time per 4-5 years. Hạt điều is usually roasted with salt for better preservation as well as improve its taste. In Vietnam, the food is regarded as a symbol of luck.
Hạt điều contains many healthy substances like vitamin B1, B2, B3, calcium, protein, phosphorous and cholesterol-free. Monounsaturated in Hạt Điều may reduce the risk of having cancer; and an ideal choice for people who are on diet due to a huge amount of fiber.
5. Hạt dẻ cười (Pistachio)

Pistachio is originated from Persia (Iran) is the most luxury and expensive type of roasted nuts available in Vietnam. Due to similar shape and the way to eat with chestnut, pistachio is called hạt dẻ cười (Chesnut is “hạt dẻ” in Vietnamese). The nuts is especially match with a cup of tea or snack for beers and wine since alcohol is the most common drink in Vietnam during Tet.
With its rich amount of nutrition, pistachio may reduce the oxidation process and stress; good for digestive system as it contains the highest level of fiber in all types of nuts. Heart diseases is also believed to be demolished by eating pistachio frequently.