Discovering the mysteries inside Tham Nam Caves

Tham Nam Caves have wowed visitors who make the journey with its magnificent features and stunning sights. The caves are located inside Pha Chang Limestone Mountain by Nam Non River, Huu Khuong Commune, Tuong Duong District, Nghe An Province. Tham Nam's caves cover thousands of square metres and are filled with unique stalactites and stalagmites in various shapes. How they look can vary depending on the imagination of visitors. Discovering the mysteries of these caves followed by enjoying fish caught fresh from the river that runs through it, is a delightful experience for those who visit Tham Nam. However, not many locals realise its value in terms of culture and tourism partly because of its geographical location. Many years ago, the journey would take about a week, forcing those brave enough cross the Nam Non River and then over 150 waterfalls and rapids, trekking their way through jungles to get there. But nowadays, it's easy to get to Tham Nam. Civilians said that they have found many ancient artifacts there such as daggers and statues of female dancers. There are places inside the caves which have enough space for hundreds of people to relax and enjoy fascinating cave formations developed over thousands of years and sparkling quartz scattered all over the caves roof. There is also a stream running through the cave with cool, clean water that has an abundance of shrimp and fish. In the past, several cultural activities were often held in Tham Nam and other neighbouring caves. However, these activities are no longer organised and the caves remain rarely visited. Vi Tan Hoi, Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of Tuong Duong District shared, "In the near future, Tham Nam will be an attractive and enchanting destination for tourists. They will have an unforgettable experience." Cross over Nam Non River to get to Tham Nam caves Soaking in the scenary on a boat Trekking through the jungle to reach the caves Entrance to the cave Discovering the natural scenery Wonderful stalactites and stalagmites Flashlights are needed in the caves Cool off on hot summer days Stalactites and stalagmites in the caves are natural masterpieces A cool stream flows the caves Tham Nam caves from afar Hue Da Nang | Da Nang Hoi An | Hoi An Hue | Du Lich Hue | Du Lich Hoi An | Du Lich Da Nang | Du Lich Sapa | Du Lich Da Lat | Du Lich Phu Quoc | Du Lich Lao | Du Lich Cambodia | Du Lich Thai Lan |Du Lich Singapore | Du Lich Malaysia | Du Lich Trung Quoc
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Famous Ca Na fish sauce of Ninh Thuan Province

Vietnam's central province of Ninh Thuan not only attracts tourists with its beautiful beaches but also with its high quality fish sauce called Ca Na. The place where fish sauce is made is called nha thung (house of barrels) because of the large wooden barrels in which the sauce is prepared (Photo: Ngoc Anh) Fishermen in the province each year catch more than 31,000 tons of fish, mainly anchovies, an important ingredient in making fish sauce. Over 60 fish sauce manufacturers from Ca Na Ward supply about ten million bottles of fish sauce to stores across the country. This fish sauce industry has been a boon for fishermen in the ward who are netting in the money. Pham Dung, an experienced fisherman said he started from scratch when he moved to the ward 30 years ago, but today is a rich man, just by catching anchovies. Dung added that not only him but also many other fishermen such as Nguyen Van Bong, Truong Van Ton, Trieu Ba and Pham Bo in the ward have become billionaires in the trade. Fisherman Dinh Van Giac expressed his delight, saying that recently he has earned ten million dong per day, as this is peak time for catching anchovies. Others in the trade, such as Le Hong Van, owner of Nhat Tan fish sauce enterprise, said his family has been making this special product for the last 30 years. Ca Na fish sauce from the central province of Ninh Thuan is very famous for its excellent taste. However, it is sold in retail outlets without any brand name and hence difficult to distinguish from other products in the country. Many fish sauce manufacturers in the province are try to establish a brand name for their product. The fish sauce manufacturing trade has been prevalent in Ca Na since the French colonial rule. Ninh Thuan Agricultural Products Export Joint Stock Company tried to register a brand name for Ca Na fish sauce in 2007, causing much public concern. The government now needs to aid manufacturers in the province to register their own brand name for this excellent product. Hue Da Nang | Da Nang Hoi An | Hoi An Hue | Du Lich Hue | Du Lich Hoi An | Du Lich Da Nang | Du Lich Sapa | Du Lich Da Lat | Du Lich Phu Quoc | Du Lich Lao | Du Lich Cambodia | Du Lich Thai Lan |Du Lich Singapore | Du Lich Malaysia | Du Lich Trung Quoc
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Ke Ga Lighthouse - Binh Thuan treasure

Ke Ga Lighthouse, located on Ke Ga Island about 30 kilometres south of Phan Thiet City, is a must-see attraction in Binh Thuan Province where visitors can experience a fabulous panoramic view of the open sea. Built in 1899, the lighthouse is not only an historical relic but also an attractive destination for visitors. To reach the lighthouse, tourists can travel by bus or motorbike along the coast to Ke Ga Island or take a canoe from Phan Thiet City or from Vinh Hy Bay, Nha Trang City. At the lighthouse, tourists can hire a fishing boat priced at VND100,000 (USD4.8) with a capacity for four people. Visitors can also stay on the island overnight for a spot of fishing which is an unforgettable experience. The lighthouse with its unique architecture is about 60m tall. From that height, visitors are able to see a vast expanse of sea and sky, as well as enjoy cool ocean winds. The most beautiful moment to visit the lighthouse is at sunset. Hue Da Nang | Da Nang Hoi An | Hoi An Hue | Du Lich Hue | Du Lich Hoi An | Du Lich Da Nang | Du Lich Sapa | Du Lich Da Lat | Du Lich Phu Quoc | Du Lich Lao | Du Lich Cambodia | Du Lich Thai Lan |Du Lich Singapore | Du Lich Malaysia | Du Lich Trung Quoc
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Equality and the family dilemma

I've always thought Vietnamese women were strong. In the U.S., you rarely see women carrying a basket full of bricks on their heads, or pushing around carts full of garbage. Those difficult jobs are left for men back home. In Vietnam I see it all the time. I've heard many stories about Vietnamese women war heroes. The new generation of women have not lost this strength, I'm sure because I have seen it. But it seems that in modern society it shows up in different ways. _______________________ I've taught in Hanoi, as so many other foreigners have. And also learned a few things from my students. One of the things I learned is the difference between the roles between sexes. In one way, they seem to be much more strict than what I'm used to. For example, yesterday a female friend of met me at my house for coffee. As we were leaving my house we decided that it would be best to take one motorbike. Since mine was already parked inside, we took hers. She drove. I was on the back. As we approached the street, the woman who sells tea near my house made fun of me for being driven on the back of a motorbike by a girl. But my feeling is that the attitudes towards such things are changing quickly. While I was teaching, I met a number of bright, capable, strong-minded young ladies. I'm sure many of them will become very successful. I wouldn't doubt that one of them could be Prime Minister one day. This is a great thing, in my opinion. On the other hand, as women start to become more financially successful, more independent and more self-assured, it will inevitably change Vietnamese society. Some of these changes will not be welcomed by everyone. For example, it is a simple historical fact that around the world, once women begin to make more of their own money - maybe even more than their husbands - the divorce rate will go up. A woman who is financially independent is much less likely to put up with a husband who does not treat her right. If she feels that she has the option to leave, she is much more likely to do so. I know that The Family is, and has been, the cornerstone of Vietnamese society. But it seems to me that progress and development, things that everybody seems to want, will change the Vietnamese Family. ____________________ One of the most intelligent, young students I've ever had once told me that, although she loved her family, she also felt it was like a prison. Now I'm not saying that all, or even most, women feel this way. But as the economic realities change in Vietnam, it will definitely have an effect on the Vietnamese family. "Economic Development" and "Women's Equality": both sound good. I doubt many people would argue with that. But, unless this country is different than every other nation in the world, the "Vietnamese Family" will ultimately change along with the first two. Of these three, which is most important? Hue Da Nang | Da Nang Hoi An | Hoi An Hue | Du Lich Hue | Du Lich Hoi An | Du Lich Da Nang | Du Lich Sapa | Du Lich Da Lat | Du Lich Phu Quoc | Du Lich Lao | Du Lich Cambodia | Du Lich Thai Lan |Du Lich Singapore | Du Lich Malaysia | Du Lich Trung Quoc
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“New life” in Son Dong craft village

Son Dong craft village in Hoai Duc district, Hanoi, is Vietnam's largest craft village making wood statues of Buddha and objects of worship. The village has set many national records for the quantity and quality of its wooden products and the number of people involved in the profession. Arriving in the village in early July, the first impression for tourists is the strange but interesting sound of people busing carving the wood. In every nook and cranny of the village, the workers are concentrating on different kinds of statues. Each worker has his own task; some saw the timber while others carve the wood and paint the statues. After painstakingly painting a horizontal lacquered board, Nguyen Viet Da, an 85 year-old artisan in the village, tells visitors about his village's profession. According to Da, the imitation antique statues are often made from three different types of timber brought in from the central highlands, Hai Phong or even imported from Cambodia. Only jackfruit wood can be used to carve the reproduction antique Buddha statues, as it is soft, durable and easy to carve. From the raw timber, the skillful workers easily carve statues of Amitabha (the Buddha of Infinite Light) and the God of Prosperity, or create horizontal lacquered boards with parallel sentences. The workers must go through dozens of steps before finishing a product including selecting the wood, carving it, then painting it. This highly skilled work requires great patience and concentration. "These wooden objects are for worship, therefore the maker must have a good heart and mind," said Da. Sharing his point of view, Nguyen Viet Loi, another popular artisan in the village said the statutes can only be perfect if the workers put all their concentration into the work. This is why the statues made in Son Dong village are quite easily distinguished from others. Sustainably preserving and developing the craft village and tourism is a concern of all the workers in Son Dong workers. To achieve that, the village has made considerable changes. Along with wooden statues, the villagers are now making objects that contain traditional and spiritual elements of the Vietnamese culture. The familiar image of the areca nut, betel leaf, calabash and luffa can now be seen in many of the village's unique products. Moreover, the statues of Buddha and fairies are now being made colourful and small enough to fit in a man's hand. Entering the shop of Nguyen Chi Thanh, is one of the trailblazers in making new products, and when visitors enter his shop they feel that they are in a mini museum displaying carefully designed wooden statues. Thanh said that these new products have been very popular and preferred by the international markets. Foreign visitors are willing to pay high prices for these products, which helps generate work for most of the villagers. However, the villagers still want their products to reach domestic customers and for their village to become more popular and attract more domestic tourists. "I am considering a price frame for our products so that they will be appropriate for each particular market and also trying to fill a niche in the home market," said Thanh. Wood carving has existed in the village for more than 300 years and during some periods it seemed that the villagers could not maintain their handicraft. However, some of them secretly preserved their traditions and passed them on to the younger generations. Nguyen Duc Dau (1896-1988) is respected by the whole village for his outstanding skill. In 1986, he opened training courses for the villagers and worked with the Hanoi University of Industrial Fine Art to provide them with the necessary scientific knowledge and techniques for their work. Thanks to these courses, the traditional craft has been well preserved and today many villagers are owners of a traditional woodworking shop. Hue Da Nang | Da Nang Hoi An | Hoi An Hue | Du Lich Hue | Du Lich Hoi An | Du Lich Da Nang | Du Lich Sapa | Du Lich Da Lat | Du Lich Phu Quoc | Du Lich Lao | Du Lich Cambodia | Du Lich Thai Lan |Du Lich Singapore | Du Lich Malaysia | Du Lich Trung Quoc
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Short trips attract tourists on National Day

On the occasion of Vietnam's National Day (September 2), there is an increased demand for travel during the three-day national holiday. Travel agencies are offering tourists a wide variety of short trips and excursions. Despite rising inflation, the prices of most travel packages over the holiday remain unchanged and many travel agencies are even offering massive discounts to attract visitors and promote their brand. Saigontourist, one of Vietnam's leading tour operators, is offering an extensive range of package tours from the Iko Travel package for budget travellers to the Premium Travel for luxury holidaymakers. Most people who purchase a tour will receive free travel insurance as a bonus. In addition, Saigontourist, in cooperation with Vietnam Airlines, are also organising many autumn tours from Ho Chi Minh City to Hanoi. During these trips, tourists will have a chance to explore places of interest in the north at discounted fares. Tourists will get a discount of VND 3 million when they book the six-day 'Hanoi – Sapa Autumn' package, which now costs only VND 8.768 million (US$420.86). The 'Hanoi – Bai Dinh Temple – Trang An – Ha Long' tour, which is one of the most popular, is also discounted up to 46%. Besides these promotions, travel agencies have also designed attractive new short trips so that tourists can have a unique and unforgettable experience during the national holiday. Details of these packages are available on the travel agency websites. Most travellers in the north choose to spend their holiday in mountainous retreats rather than at the seaside as the storm and rainy season is not yet over. Major destinations in the north are the beautiful towns of Sapa in Lao Cai province and Tam Dao in Vinh Phuc province, as well as the Bai Dinh Temple Complex in Ninh Binh province. Hanoi-based Luxury Travel is launching interesting new day trips from Hanoi to Tam Dao National Park. The trips start at US$69 per person for a party of six, and include a private car with individual pick-up and drop-off, entrances fees, meals and an English-speaking guide from Hanoi. Luxury Travel is also offering a four-day tour of Hanoi, where visitors can experience the fascinating Old Quarter and join a cooking class to taste and make the finest cuisine in Vietnam. For those interested in exploring UNESCO heritage sites in Vietnam, their choices include the Phong Nha – Ke Bang National Park in Quang Binh province, the Hue Monuments Complex, the ancient town of Hoi An, and the My Son Relics Sanctuary in Quang Nam province. In the south, attractions include amusement parks in Binh Duong province, scenic spots in the Mekong River Delta and resorts in Dalat (Lam Dong province), Buon Don (Dak Lak province) and Bien Ho (Gia Lai province). Trips to famous beaches and islands are also ideal for adventure lovers. Travellers in Ho Chi Minh City can choose three-day trips to the paradise island of Phu Quoc or the Con Dao islands, one of Southeast Asia's most breathtaking and untouched getaways. Hue Da Nang | Da Nang Hoi An | Hoi An Hue | Du Lich Hue | Du Lich Hoi An | Du Lich Da Nang | Du Lich Sapa | Du Lich Da Lat | Du Lich Phu Quoc | Du Lich Lao | Du Lich Cambodia | Du Lich Thai Lan |Du Lich Singapore | Du Lich Malaysia | Du Lich Trung Quoc
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Hue Monuments Conservation Center

THIEN MU PAGODA

Located beside the picturesque Huong River, Thien Mu Pagoda, with its ancient architecture, adds its charm to this beautiful natural setting. The sound of Thien Mu bell is like the soul of Hue, ever resounding over the Huong River flow winding its way in front of the Citadel to the sea, resonating in the hearts and minds of the people and of visitors to Hue, the ancient capital.

Hue is home to many of the most beautiful sites and ancient pagodas in Vietnam The oldest pagoda in Hue is Thien Mu Pagoda whose establishment is associated with the early actions of the first Nguyen Lord in Dang Trong (South Vietnam).  This legend relates how, when Nguyen Hoang was sent to Thuan Hoa (now Central Vietnam) to rule this area, he himself made a survey of the terrain to choose a site for settling down. As he rode his horse upstream along the Huong River side he saw a small hillock beside the river, whose terrain looked like a dragon turning its head back. This hill was called Ha Khe. The local people told a story that every night an old lady in a red blouse and green trousers appeared here saying that a true Lord would come to this place and build a pagoda for the prosperity of the country. Thus this place became known as Thien Mu Son (Heavenly Lady Mountain). It seemed that the grand ideas of Lord Nguyen Hoang matched the people's desires so he ordered a pagoda to be built on the hillock, facing the Huong River and to be named "Thien Mu Tu" (Thien Mu Pagoda).  In fact, a pagoda of the Champa people had previously stood on this site - a relic mentioned in the book O Chau Can Luc written by Duong Van An in 1553. It was not until 1601 that the pagoda was built following the decision of Lord Nguyen Hoan. With the development, prosperity and spread of Buddhism in Dang Trong, the pagoda was rebuilt on a larger scale in the reign of Lord Nguyen Phuc Chu (1691-1725).  In 1710, this Lord ordered that a big bell with an inscribed teaching be cast. And in 1714, he again had the pagoda renovated and many great architectural structures added. These new additions included the Thien Vuong, Dai Hung and Thuyet Phap buildings, Tang Kinh Pavilion, Monks' rooms and a house for religious meditation. Many of these buildings no longer exist today.  Nguyen Phuc Chu himself wrote a narrative description describing the construction of the buildings here, praising the philosophy of the Buddhism, and relating the merits of the Buddhist monk Thach Liem, who was instrumental in helping Lord Nguyen boost Buddhism in Dang Trong. The inscribed stele was placed on a big stone turtle with simple decorations which enhanced its beauty. With its enlarged scale and natural landscape, Thien Mu pagoda was said to be the most beautiful one in Dang Trong at that time. During the ups and downs of history, Thien Mu was once the place for sacrifices to the Deity under Tay Son's reign in 1788 and was restored many times under the Nguyen reign. In 1844, on the occasion of the 80th birthday of Queen Thuan Thien Cao Hoang Hau (Gia Long's wife and Thieu Tri's grandmother), the pagoda was again renovated together with the construction of Tu Nhan Tower (later renamed Phuoc Duyen), Huong Nguyen temple and two steles inscribed with Thieu Tri Emperor's poems. Phuoc Duyen Tower is a famous symbolic link with Thien Mu Pagoda. It is 21 metres high, has seven storeys, is located in front of the pagoda and is visible from the Huong River. On each of the seven storeys there is a statue of Buddha. Inside the tower a spiral staircase leads to the top storey where formerly a gold Buddha statue was displayed. Huong Nguyen temple is in front of the Tower. Thien Mu Pagoda was ranked one of the twenty most beautiful landscapes in Hue with the poem Thien Mu chung thanh, composed by the emperor Thieu Tri, inscribed on the stone stele set near the Pagoda gate. In 1862, during the reign of Tu Duc, who prayed for a child, the Emperor was afraid that the word Thien profaned Heaven because it means heavenly.  So Tu Duc renamed the Pagoda as Linh Mu which means Holy Lady. It was not until 1869 that the Emperor allowed the reuse of the old name Thien Mu meaning Heavenly Lady. The Pagoda is still known by both names today. In 1904, a terrible storm seriously damaged the Pagoda. Many structures were ruined and Huong Nguyen Temple was destroyed. Through many re-constructions and restorations Thien Mu Pagoda still retains valuable architectural structures such as Phuoc Duyen Tower, Dai Hung, Dia Tang and Quan Am temples, the stone steles and bronze bells.  Thien Mu Pagoda is also home to many valuable antiques of both historical and artistic value and importance, such as the statures Ho Phap, Thap Vuong, Di Lac Buddha, the three Buddhas symbolizing Past, Present and Future Lives, lacquered boards and panels with parallel texts that mark the glorious periods in history of the Pagoda.   The Pagoda is surrounded with a garden of flowers and plants that are carefully tended every day. There is a bonsai of the ancestor of Vietnam Tuong (Classical drama), Dao Tan, situated next to the car left in 1963 by the Superior Buddhist monk, Thich Quang Duc, before burning himself to protest the policy of Ngo Dinh Diem regime in suppressing Buddhism. At the end of the garden is the Tower of the Superior Buddhist monk Thich Don Hau, a famous head of Thien Mu Pagoda who devoted his whole life to the promotion of Buddhism and the good of society.

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