Vietnam Travel & Tourism

Trek-outside of Sa Pa Day 2 Sunday, December 30, 2012

We wanted an easy walk, so we trekked to two villages, up and down the local hills through the rice paddies of Lao Chai and Ta Van Village.

We went to firstly Lao Chai village, 6 km from the centre town, where the H’mong people are living. The trek was through rice fields and quite steep. The most difficult part was walking and balancing on the edge of the terraced rice paddies. In my embarrassment of being 65 a village girl had to hold my hand over quite a long stretch that was about six inches wide and straight down a long ways on the right and into the water on the left. I managed to slip into the water several times but the girl kept me from falling down the mountain.

We took about two hours to get down to the bottom to the beginning of the Muong Hoa valley.
Then we went to Ta Phin village about an hour’s drive and two hour walk from Sapa, the little hillside village located in midst of the Hoang Lien Mountains. Several tribes live peacefully here: the Kinh, Red Dao and Black Hmong people. We had lunch at her village and went on to to Ta Van Village which borders Lao Chai Village.

Ta Van village, Sapa, Vietnam

“Ta Van means “a big turning road” like a basket brim, or tripod-leg line. Vast terrace fields with unique position of a big turning road become a landscape and a destination of Ta Van. Seo Mi Ti scenery-old pine forest, a half day of sloping road away from township centre, is also a particularly interesting eco-tourist site of Ta Van. And Ta van has become an integral tourist site for ecological excursions in Sapa.”

I am not sure how much the villages are affected by the tourist coming through. They are better off and have built schools off the proceeds so we are doing our little bit. The village by Western standards are quite poor and I am not sure we could live like they do for very long which probably illustrates our materialistic ways.

Children in Tavan Village, Sapa, Vietnam

Children in Lao Chai village, Sapa, Vietnam

There are six major groups in the Sa Pa area each speaks their own language though they share Vietnamese they do not understand the other village’s languages. Each village has its own culture and beliefs. Our guide was from the H’mong tribe and she spoke good English. She is Buddhist and she married a fellow from another village. Some villages are Christian some have no beliefs – which is impossible because we all believe something or the other – but they all co-exist and have for I suppose many hundreds if not thousands of years. Apparently they were not affected by the American war in the 1960s and early 1970s and the government has pretty much left them alone, probably because they are so isolated and non-threatening. This is really something to see; we, with all our Western beliefs and wants and to see tribes living like they have for so long makes one believe that society may continue. They will be still here when all the Christians, Muslims, Jews and spiritualists of many hues destroy themselves. The teenagers do not run off to Hanoi but stay in their villages and keep the traditions going.

Trek Lao Chai, Vietnam

Source: DR. TERRELL NEUAGE’s blog

Recommended Sapa trek tour by ACTIVETRAVEL ASIA

Sapa trek & Topas Eco Lodge - “Stunning trek and great combination of homestay & eco-lodge”

At an elevation of 1,600 meters, Sapa is a delightful former French hill station situated in the mountainous region of Vietnam’s northwest, close to the Chinese border. The region is home to many ethnic minority groups, each wearing traditional and colorful attire. This trip includes a trek through the hills and valleys of the Sapa region, discovering several different minorities along the way. You will experience overnight accommodation in the hospitable villages of Dzay and Tay ethnic minorities. Round off the trek with a nice stay in Topas Eco Lodge. The apparent hardships are worth it though as we walk through some of the most spectacular scenery that Vietnam has to offer and experience unique villages culture.

Highlights
• Awesome scenery
• Rice terraces
• Colorful minority groups
• Homestays in minority villages
• Topas Eco-lodge

The International Women’s Day is coming! It is time for you to the woman whom you admire and respect through show your love, gratitude and appreciation.

ACTIVETRAVEL ASIA wishes you a Happy woman’s day!

Even though Cambodia has taken on aspects of the Thai sex trade, Kh’mer men have a reputation for politeness and courtesy towards women. Because prostitution is a serious offence in Laos, and is therefore much less common than in Vietnam, Laos is probably the least likely country in Asia for you to encounter sexual harassment.

Tet is the most essential holiday for Vietnamese. It is the time for people leave a job behind and coming back home to celebrate upcoming year with family. Specially, in this scared period western visitors have a chance to explore the most quintessential of all custom in Vietnam.

It is an honor for ACTIVETRAVEL ASIA to operate “Family Adventures in Vietnam” for travelers deeply acknowledge the traditional culture ,sightseeing the full blossom of peach, cherry apricot landscape, relishing the holy spirit fulfill in atmosphere, enjoying the special food, and witnessing the Vietnamese’s family activities in the lunar new years.

“Family Adventure in Vietnam” highlight includes:

• Kayaking in the amazing Halong Bay, one of the Seven Wonders of the World comprised thousand limestones.

• Biking in the majestic former capital of Hue recognized a World Heritage Site by UNESCO thanks to its outstanding cultural and historical values. Travellers were drived to the Imperial City to visit the impressive Royal Palace and other beautiful royal buildings.

• Charming ancient town of Hoian of which have notable ancient Vietnam architecture, special music, and culinary flavours and aromas

• Floating market of Cai Rang, enjoyed different kinds of tropical fruit cultivated on the island, entertained with songs and music performed by villagers.

Tips to travel Vietnam in Tet holiday:

Booking early, early, early is the best tip for all travelers in the Tet holiday. If you are late, don’t worry, it still be fine.ACTIVETRAVEL ASIA has experience to solve it in this period.

Moreover, visitors should notice about some custom in the biggest holiday to avoid some mistakes in the scared place. Visitors should follow the rule when come inside the temple or pagoda such as take the shoes off before going inside, remember cover the shoulder and leg, and get the permission before taking picture, stand when monks and nun enter.

Recommended tour:

Family Adventures in Vietnam: This trip offers stunning natural landscapes, millennia-old history, exciting cosmopolitan cities, friendly hamlets and mélange of cultural influences. And there’s no better way to become acquainted with this vibrant country than by exploring it under your own locomotion and at your own pace. Walk past pagodas and temples in old Hanoi, kayak amid labyrinthine limestone outcrops in Halong Bay, bike past vibrant green rice paddies, investigate magnificent historic sites in Hue and stroll through the enchanting city of Hoi An, one of Vietnam’s architectural gems. Round out your days of discovery with meals of delicious local cuisine and stays at warm welcoming hotels.

For more information, please visit website http://www.activetravelvietnam.com/tour.php?op=detail&tourId=27

Vietnam is one of my favorite places in Asia. So much history, so much natural beauty, and the Vietnamese people themselves are renowned for their graciousness and good cheer. They harbor no resentment toward Americans despite a decade of bombings during the war. In fact they hold us in the highest favor – increasingly consuming our globalized bounty of pop culture – and welcome Americans with open arms.

A hopeful current is buzzing throughout much of the country, and it’s a thrill to watch the chaos and order play out their yin and yang amidst honking horns, noodle stands, crumbling colonial remnants and high-rises. Here is my list of the nine best things to do in Vietnam.

#9 — Access ethic tribal minorities at villages nestled in the lush hills near Sapa, and share a cup of tea with locals in their rustic mountain homes.

#8 — Dine at the epicenter of culture at an exclusive dinner at the Temple of Literature in Hanoi.

#7 — Enjoy a private reception at a first-rate art gallery in Hanoi. The curator is our longtime friend, and the crème of Hanoi’s artists are in attendance.

#6 — Take a private cooking class with a gourmet chef, our friend of two decades who is frequently featured on Vietnamese cooking shows.

#5 – Visit the collection of antiques and photographs of the “American War” by our friend Cuong, who photographed the fall of Saigon and was later sent to a Marxist re-education camp. His life story has been the subject of a PBS documentary.

#4 — Enter a state of blissful oblivion at the breathtaking Six Senses Con Dao beach resort, located on a white sand beach of stunning natural beauty.

#3 — Navigate the alleyways of the ancient port town of Hoi An by bicycle, to explore the syncretic cultural influences of Southeast Asia’s most important port from the 17th through 19th centuries.

#2 — Cruise the waterways of the Mekong Delta to glimpse the timeless rural scenes of farmers working the fertile land and fishermen with their nets. Stop in a home to see them making rice paper, one at a time, with a ladle and griddle.

#1 — Take a private overnight cruise through Halong Bay on a restored junk, a traditional Chinese sailboat. This bay is on anyone’s short list for the greatest natural scenery in Asia. From sea kayaking into caves to visiting locals in their fishing villages on tucked-away islands, Halong Bay is a must on any trip to Vietnam.

A family holiday can be a great opportunity as a parent to kick back or rekindle your own sense of adventure, but there are several ways in which our kids can really benefit from a great family holiday too which shouldn’t be overlooked.

Not only will it allow them to experience different ways of life, it can also provide them with a valuable learning experience, hopefully enabling them grow up well rounded and tolerant. And the great thing is they won’t even realize just how much their little brains are soaking up, all without a book or class-room in sight! Below are some examples as to how different holidays benefit the children…

Really active

Going on an active holiday can really give your kids newly-gained confidence when pushing their boundaries in for example activities, plus not to forget the stories to tell their friends back at home!

Seeing you mucking in as a parent might also make them see mum and/or dad in a different light, developing some new-found (albeit probably unexpressed) respect. Dealing with different [...Read more]

Having read the news about tourist boat sunk in Halong Bay, Vietnam some days ago, killing 12 tourists from 9 countries, ACTIVETRAVEL ASIA would like to give out some advices about how to travel safely and enjoyably in Halong Bay. There are some something you should concern about as you plan your trip there.

[...Read more]

Do you indulge in traveling and investigating various cultures around the world, especially travel Vietnam and Indochina? If the answer is yes, we will provide you some travel tips which help you to save money for your indulgence.

TRAVELING BY AIRWAY
Flight ticket: you should make a plan and spend time on surfing some websites of different airlines on the internet. Therefore, you yourself can compare the prices given by those airlines in order to choose the best route for your flight. [...Read more]

If you are the type that enjoys the uncommon vacation and exploring areas of the world that most do not, I have some ideas for you in travelling to Vietnam and Cambodia.

How about flying into Bangkok, Thailand and exploring this fascinating Asian city before moving on to Angkor Wat in northern Cambodia followed by a visit to Vietnam.

Fly on to Siem Reap in Cambodia from Bangkok. Here is the mystical temple complex of Angkor. You will have the opportunity to visit the new Angkor National Museum, which showcases the Golden Age of the Khmer Era.

A guide will walk you through the temple complex which is vast and set in the outskirts of jungle. Angkor Wat and Angkor Thom are former temples with carved smiling faces and detailed bas-reliefs depicting scenes of everyday life in the 12th century.

Angkor Thom, Cambodia

There will also be the opportunity to visit Ta Prohm, a haunting, jungle-bound temple. Angkor Thom was hidden from the outside world until the earlier part of the 20th century until French explorers found the area [...Read more]