Sai Gon!.How about ?

Sai Gon (Ho Chi Minh city)
After 1975, the government of Ha Noi renamed Sai Gon to Ho Chi Minh City. But the people never quite gotten accustomed to the new name and thus still prefer the old name, Sai Gon. In official publications, however, only Ho Chi Minh City is used.

With a population of over seven million, Sai Gon is the economic center of Viet Nam. It is also a commercial trading hub between China, Taiwan, Japan, Thailand, Malaysia, and other foreign countries. The city is bustling, with colorful free-markets and activities. The city was filled with the incessant rattling of cars, motobikes, and tri-cycles. However, this free-spirited city with tree shaded streets, old colonial architecture and gentle charms, still retains its small warm town feel. Sai Gon is also very active at night with music halls open and restaurants stay open all night long.

Sai Gon with its street markets, sidewalk cafes, sleek new pubs, pagodas and museums it is impossible to get bored in Ho Chi Minh City.

The Historical Museum

Is a huge collection of historical objects relating to the development of Viet Nam history? Situated within the famous botanical garden aged more than 100 years, it keeps the most information and objects of some civilizations in the Mekong Delta such as Oc Eo (Funan)… Botanical gardens and zoo open daily. Researchers can get special permits to stay inside its great library for study. Live water puppet shows can be enjoyed in here.

War Museum

That is a big collection of weapons and information on the modern wars in Viet Nam. It presents the war crimes caused to the Vietnamese people. Visitors can see the model of the most terrible prison and the most lethal weapons used by foreign armies in Viet Nam. A notorious guillotine is also on display.

Notre Dame Cathedral

The church was built during 1877 and 1883 by the French, who imported all materials from France- Notre Dame with Virgin Maria for many Catholic followers, so that their power in this colonial was shown. The church today is one of the Catholic center of the country. Sai Gon Archbishop is working there. Some Vietnamese Catholic saints are also worshipped there. Two services in the morning and in the afternoon are convenient for all believers. The most crowded time for the church is New Year time and Christmas...

China Town - Cho Lon

Cho Lon or China town over here is a bustling town for more than 5 million Chinese inhabitants. China town was set up by the end of 18^th century when the Minh dynasty in China was overthrown. Many Chinese faithful to the Minh ran to Viet Nam for help, peace and business and were permitted by the Nguyen Lords. China town has many shops and family factories. The most interesting place is Binh Tay market built by one Chinese businessman, always crowded as a wholesale market. Walking into the Soai Kinh Lam material market is very interesting. Father Tam’s Catholic Church for Chinese is historical as the first president of the south Ngo Dinh Diem and his brother hid themselves to avoid the coup-detat in 1963. China town never sleeps with all interesting activities. Most merchandize can be purchased at wholesale price in China town.

Thien Hau Temple

Considered as one of the most ancient Chinese temple, the place is consecrated to the Sea goddess bas on Chinese folk beliefs. The temple is a place for other gods such as Money God, Mother Goddess, and Mermaid…Queer and ancient worshipping things are precious and worth seeing. A prayer for good health and business can be said after an incense coil is purchased. Good luck in doing business can be granted by the Money God after some money is offered to him.

Giac Lam Pagoda

Giac Lam pagoda, the oldest Buddhist pagoda in Sai Gon, was built in 1744 from a fund drive by Ly Thuy Long, a native of Minh Huong village, who then transferred it to Ch’an Master Phat Y. Inside this pagoda is a huge collection of old Buddha and Arhat’s statues. Ancient furnishings and statue arrangements will keep tourists interested. Things for decoration dated back some hundred years ago. It is an active temple. Prayers consist of chanting to the accompaniment of drums, bells and gongs and follow a traditional rite seldom performed these days.

Because the last reconstruction was in 1900, the architecture, layout and ornamentation have remained almost unaltered - unlike most other pagodas in this city.

soure : http://www.discover-vietnam.com/html/sightseeing_saigon.htm#hcm

Village clings to ancient traditions

The tiny farming community of Diem springs to life every year with a festival that dates back centuries. Cam Giang and Thanh Nga take a step back in time.
The prospect of travelling by car along the rough rural roads outside Ha Noi is not one that most people relish. Throw in the constant drizzle of spring, and most city-dwellers shrink away from venturing into the countryside.
But we are determined not to let those barriers keep us away from Bac Ninh’s Diem Village, where a renowned festival was about to start.
After three hours on the road, we arrive at our destination in the early morning, our tiredness almost forgotten. As soon as we exit the car, the cool breeze of the countryside blankets us while the singing of a chorus is audible from afar.
Diem Village appears ahead, bathed in a jubilant atmosphere. Vibrant flags hang from tree branches, charming quan ho (love duets) echo throughout the streets and a decorated dragon boat floats silently in front of us.
Keeping pace with the lines of people coming from different directions, we approach a large grass field; the atmosphere is becoming more hectic. This is the centre of Diem Village, where quan ho, one of Viet Nam’s most intriguing pieces of folklore, were born.
Gateway to the past: During the festival, singers belt out traditional love songs known as quan ho, including this ballad being performed on a dragon boat. The event draws locals and tourists, who often request the singers to perform their favourite tunes. — VNS Photos Truong Vi"Today is the gathering of hundred love-duets singers from across Bac Ninh Province. They come from at least a dozen villages where the singing art is preserved," says Le Danh Khiem, our guide and local quan ho researcher. "Today, local people and tourists will not only listen to their favourite songs but also join in the most important event of the festival, the Vua Ba procession," he explains.
Legend says that Diem Village was established by Vua Ba, a princess of King Hung, the first monarch of Viet Nam. One day, when Vua Ba and her eight maidens stepped outside their palace, a strong wind swept them away to another land, Diem Village. Vua Ba settled here and taught the locals about farming and singing, including quan ho. From February 6 to 8, on the lunar calendar, Diem holds a festival to celebrate the birth of Vua Ba.
The Vua Ba procession starts in mid-morning. Parents and children gather for traditional games like human chess and darts at venues scattered across the village.
From afar, we see lien anh and lien chi (male and female singers) on stage in traditional long dresses) and turbans. About hundreds of people stationed offstage, clad in colourful clothes, start moving forward.
This is the first time any of us had ever seen a procession this huge in a such small village.
The marchers were all ages; there are old men in the blue long robes of mandarins, old women in the white long dresses of maidens, young girls in four-panel traditional robes, young men in orderly costumes and school children covered in traditional makeup. Each group follows in near-perfect order, creating an endless line covering the length of the village’s main road.
We stand for at least 10 minutes before Vua Ba, the most important character of the event, appears. All eyes are drawn to her sparkling gold overcoat. She holds a large folding fan in one hand and shoots smiles at children on the roadside.
"Vua Ba is selected carefully every year," says one local man. "If you are curious to know more, just wait until the procession stops at Vua Ba Temple."
Face to face: Two lien chi (traditional singers) perform quan ho on stage, while locals off stage prepare for the Vua Ba procession during the festival’s opening ceremony.The procession winds around the village before stopping at the Diem communal house, it’s big gate decorated with colourful flowers and a pair of wooden statues. The figures wear dresses without shirts, have swollen stomachs, high cheekbones, large mouths and humorously thin lips. Dozens of people are bowing in front of the statuettes.
"This is a magical communal house, where you can turn any wish into reality. I had to wake up early this morning and prepare a tray full of fruits before bringing it here," says Vuong Thi Chung, a visitor from the nearby village of Biu.
Chung is not the only pilgrim in the communal house, which was built in 1692. The three-chamber shrine is full of people, most from other provinces. Native sons and daughters return every festival to wish for luck and health.
The procession’s next stop is Gieng Temple, where many people are gathered around a large well in the middle of the temple grounds. The water in the well is a strange pale blue and its surface is covered in paper money. A tall man is standing near the well, using a racket to fish the notes out of the water.
"Many people come here and drop their money into the well because it is said that there are seven fish genies living here," says Le Thi Anh Mai, who is visiting the temple with her German husband.
"It has been 10 years since I left Viet Nam," she says. "This festival is a moving experience. I like to listen to familiar quan ho melodies again, and, at the same time, mingle with the local people. This festival is wonderful."
The long march: Hundreds of villagers join the Vua Ba procession,which covers the length of the village’s main road.
Winding road ends
The procession finishes at Vua Ba Temple, where we narrowly miss a chance to talk with the shrine’s namesake.
"She has come home to prepare for a singing performance on water," says Mai Thi Ha, part of the festival’s organising board. But Ha gives us the inside scoop on what festival officials look for in a Vua Ba.
"Previously, only virgin and beautiful girls were selected to play the role. However, things have changed with time. Now, we select Vua Ba on not only her appearance, but also her talent and virtue. Also, age is no longer a concern. Our Vua Ba this year is nearly forty, but she looks very young. Also, she is our village’s best quan ho singer, and won the top prize in the province’s recent contest."
The long march: Hundreds of villagers join the Vua Ba procession,which covers the length of the village’s main road.As we stand there, were hear singers inviting people to gather at the nha chua. The word, which can mean brothel, surprises us. Khiem, the researcher, quickly clears things up, telling us that here it means a place where quan ho artists practise and host singers from other villages.
"Each group has their own nha chua. There are ten groups of quan ho artists in Diem Village," Khiem explains.
We follow our guide to the gathering place and meet singer Nguyen Thi Luyen, whose striking beauty belies her age.
"I am 42 years old and have two children. I am a farmer but when the village has this festival, I become a quan ho girl."
We are invited into the guesthouse by the guild’s 84-year-old host, Gianh, who comes from six generations of quan ho singers.
The house is an old, spacious house. The singers, young and old, local and foreign, gather in the middle of the three-room building clad in traditional clothing. We are regaled with sweet folk melodies about nature, the satisfaction of hard work and love.
The out-of-towners begin. "The bridge over the Ngan River was made by workers from my village. Now Brother Second borrows the bridge to bring his bride home. I wish happiness to your ancestors. I wish happiness to you, the perfect couple."
The hosts reply. "We’ve had this plan for a long time. Sister Second, let’s find a lucky day for the groom to meet the bride and bring her home. Our ancestral ceremony will be organised in the house, and the nuptial rite will take place outside the yard. First, we wish a happy wedding. Second we wish gladness to your parents. Third, we wish good weather."
Also in the parlour we meet Nguyen Thi Nhi, who at 86 is still singing. She is one of six people in the province destinated by the United Nations’ Education, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) as a living treasure.
Healthy and agile, she has a library of 400 quan ho songs – many centuries old – in her head.
"We used to sing all night in the yard of our communal house, our homes, even on a boat or under the banyan trees," she says.
Nhi shies away from the stage now, but plays an important role in passing on quan ho to younger generations.
Nhi says sources of traditional quan ho are disappearing – most of the singers are now in their 70’s and 80’s. But modern versions of the music are becoming popular and have the added benefit of being easier to sing.
Nhi recalls the hardships she went through when she first began vocal training in preparation for quan ho. Lessons normally began when pupils were between 15 and 17. They had to reach 20, at least, before they became lien chi, and were allowed to travel to other villages to sing and compete.
The rhythm of quan ho holds us through the night and into the next morning.
Festival organiser Nguyen Duc Lien says the province will try to develop the event into a tourist attraction that traditionalists hope will preserve this art and introduce it to new audiences at home and abroad.
by Cam Giang and Thanh Nga— VNS

Ha Tay Gets Ready For Huong Pagoda Festival

Ha Tay Gets Ready For Huong Pagoda Festival
The boat ticket will be increased from this year.Along with making improvements to the local infrastructure, officials in Ha Tay Province are also making changes to fee structures in preparation for the 2009 Huong Pagoda Festival.
Last year more than 130,000 pilgrims took part in the festival.
Visitors formerly paid VND35, 000 for a tour package that included a return boat ticket and entry to the Huong Pagoda. Out of that total package price, VND22, 500 went toward the entry fee with the remaining VND12, 500 going to boat operators.
This year, the entrance fee will still be VND22,500 but the price of a return boat ticket will be increased to VND20,000. Both fees will be applied equally to both local Vietnamese and foreign visitors.
“The pricing of boat tickets in the past did not accurately reflect the boat operator’s costs. The fare has been increased to remedy that situation, increase the quality of service and protect the operators from fluctuations in ticket sales”, explained the Head of the Huong Son Relic’s Management Board.
The boat ticket will be increased from this year.
More than VND10 million has also been invested into infrastructure upgrades in the area, including the enlargement of roads to eliminate traffic jams, dredging of the Yen Spring, planting of trees along roadsides, and building new rest-room facilities.
This year, the People’s Committee of Ha Tay Province has delegated the My Duc District to organize the Festival. “My Duc district is now ready for the festival”, said Le Van Sang, Standing Deputy Chairman of the People’s Committee of My Duc District and Head of the Festival’s Board.
The Huong Pagoda Festival usually takes place on the sixth day of the lunar New Year in My Duc district and lasts for three months. Last year, more than 130,000 pilgrims took part in the festival.
Source Van Hoa - Translated by Kim Khanh

How about Vietnam ?

Although many westerners still imagine Vietnam through the lens of war, it is in reality a country filled with captivating natural beauty and tranquil village life. Its highlands and rainforest regions, far from being devastated, continue to yield new species and team with exotic wildlife. Its islands and beaches are among the finest in all of Southeast Asia, and its cuisine is very possibly the most delicious you will ever find. Over two decades have passed since Vietnam was officially united, and in that time it has done a remarkable job of healing its wounds. Today, this gracious and graceful country is an outstanding travel destination.
Location, Geography, & Climate
Shaped like an elongated S, Vietnam stretches the length of the Indochinese Peninsula and covers a surface area of 128,000 square miles--making it roughly the size of Italy or, in the U.S., New Mexico. China lies to the north, Laos and Cambodia to the west, and the South China Sea to the east.
Topographically, Vietnam is a verdant tapestry of soaring mountains, fertile deltas, primeval forests inhabited by exotic fauna, sinuous rivers, mysterious caves, otherworldly rock formations, and heavenly waterfalls and beaches. Beyond nature, the curious and open-minded visitor will find in Vietnam a feast of culture and history.
For convenience, the country can be thought of as comprising three unique areas: north, central, and south. The north is known for its alpine peaks, the Red River Delta, the plains of Cao Bang and Vinh Yen, enchanting Halong Bay, and historic Hanoi, as well as for the diversity of its ethnolinguistic minorities.
Central Vietnam, also home to many ethnic minorities, is characterized by high temperate plateaus rich in volcanic soil and by spectacular beaches, dunes, and lagoons. It is also the location of the ancient imperial city of Hue. In the South, visitors encounter modern life in Ho Chi Minh City (formerly Saigon) and the fertile alluvial delta of the Mekong River. Vietnam's territory also encompasses a large continental shelf and thousands of archipelagic islands.
Vietnam's climate is as complex as its topography. Although the country lies entirely within the tropics, its diverse range of latitude, altitude, and weather patterns produces enormous climatic variation. North Vietnam, like China, has two basic seasons: a cold, humid winter from November to April, and a warm, wet summer for the remainder of the year. Summer temperatures average around 70 degrees Fahrenheit (about 22 C), with occasional typhoons to keep things exciting. The northern provinces of Central Vietnam share the climate of the North, while the southern provinces share the tropical weather of the South. South Vietnam is generally warm, the hottest months being March through May, when temperatures rise into the mid-90's (low-30's C). This is also the dry season in the south, followed by the April-October monsoon season.
History
Legend has it that Vietnam's origin lay in the harmonious union of lac Long Quan, King of the Sea, and Au Co, Princess of the Mountains. Real life was not so paradisical, as Vietnam's early history--like its recent history--is characterized by a nearly continuous struggle for autonomy. First came an entire millenium of Chinese domination, which was finally thrown off in the 9th century. External control was imposed once again in the 19th century, when Vietnam was occupied by the French.
French rule lasted until WWII, when the country was invaded by Japan. At the war's end the predominantly Communist Viet Minh, which had led the resistance movement against the Japanese, declared the country's independence. The French Indochina War ensued, until France admitted defeat in 1954, and the Geneva Accords left Vietnam divided into a Communist north and an anti-Communist south. By this time the U.S. had replaced the French as the primary sponsor of the anti-Communist government. Tension between north and south mounted over the next few years, until in 1964 full scale war erupted. The conflict lasted for the next eight years, and involved hundreds of thousands of troops from the U.S. and other countries. In 1973 a cease-fire agreement allowed the U.S. the opportunity to withdraw its troops, and in 1975 the southern capital of Saigon fell to the North Vietnamese. An extended period of political repression followed, prompting massive emigration from the country. In 1991, with the fall of Communism and the end of the Cold War, many western powers re-established diplomatic and trade relations with Vietnam. The last country to do so, in 1995, was the U.S.
Vietnamese Culture
The richness of Vietnam's origins is evident throughout its culture. Spiritual life in Vietnam is a grand panoply of belief systems, including Confucianism, Taoism, Buddhism, Christianity, and Tam Giao (literally 'triple religion'), which is a blend of Taoism, popular Chinese beliefs, and ancient Vietnamese animism.
The most important festival of the year is Tet, a week-long event in late January or early February that heralds the new lunar year and the advent of spring. Celebration consists of both raucous festivity (fireworks, drums, gongs) and quiet meditation. In addition to Tet, there are about twenty other traditional and religious festivals each year.
Vietnamese architecture expresses a graceful aesthetic of natural balance and harmony that is evident in any of the country's vast numbers of historic temples and monasteries. The pre-eminent architectural form is the pagoda, a tower comprised of a series of stepped pyramidal structures and frequently adorned with lavish carvings and painted ornamentation. Generally speaking, the pagoda form symbolizes the human desire to bridge the gap between the constraints of earthly existence and the perfection of heavenly forces. Pagodas are found in every province of Vietnam. One of the most treasured is the Thien Mu Pagoda in Hue, founded in 1601 and completed more than two hundred years later. In North Vietnam, the pagodas that serve as the shrines and temples of the Son La mountains are especially worth visiting. In South Vietnam, the Giac Lam Pagoda of Ho Chi Minh City is considered to be the city's oldest and is notable as well for its many richly-carved jackwood statues.
As a language, Vietnamese is exceptionally flexible and lyrical, and poetry plays a strong role in both literature and the performing arts. Folk art, which flourished before French colonization, has experienced a resurgence in beautiful woodcuts, village painting, and block printing. Vietnamese lacquer art, another traditional medium, is commonly held to be the most original and sophisticated in the world. Music, dance, and puppetry, including the uniquely Vietnamese water puppetry, are also mainstays of the country's culture.
Although rice is the foundation of the Vietnamese diet, the country's cuisine is anything but bland. Deeply influenced by the national cuisines of France, China, and Thailand, Vietnamese cooking is highly innovative and makes extensive use of fresh herbs, including lemon grass, basil, coriander, parsley, laksa leaf, lime, and chili. Soup is served at almost every meal, and snacks include spring rolls and rice pancakes. The national condiment is nuoc mam, a piquant fermented fish sauce served with every meal. Indigenous tropical fruits include bananas, pineapples, coconuts, lychees, melons, mandarin oranges, grapes, and exotic varieties like the three-seeded cherry and the green dragon fruit.
People
Today there are about 75 million people in Vietnam. Eighty percent of these are ethnic Vietnamese, while the remaining twenty percent comprises more than fifty separate ethnic groups. About seven million of these ethnic minorities are members of the hill tribes or montagnards (French for mountain people), making their homes and livelihoods in the spectacular mountains of the north and central highlands. Among the many languages spoken in Vietnam are Vietnamese, Chinese, English, French, and Russian.

<http://www.geographia.com/vietnam/>

Welcome to Vietnam !

Vietnam is one country of 4,000 years of civilization. Nowadays, "Open Policy" and mighty landscape attract more travelers to visit this country. Vietnam now is also considered as one of the most secure destinations in all of Asia.
The Socialist Republic of Vietnam, which was founded on September 2nd 1945, has never stopped its fast developing steps for a moment since the union of North and South Vietnam in 1975; especially after the policy of economic liberalizations, Vietnam is no longer a State in time of war. This country is more and more famed and popular for its beautiful white sandy beaches, imposing highlands, well-preserved primeval forests, kind and stalwart people who enjoy their placid rural lives. Taking a tour to Socialist Republic of Vietnam would be a really good choice to have a memorable holiday.
Vietnam is on the east coast of the Indian Peninsula and has a 3260 kilometers' (about 2025 miles) long coastline. With China to the north, Laos and Cambodia to the west, Gulf of Tonkin and South China Sea to the east, the shape of Vietnam's territory is just like an elongated "S" and its' narrowest point is only 50 kilometers (30 miles) wide. With an area of 330,000 square kilometers (127,000 square miles), three quarters are lofty mountainous regions and altiplanos and only one quarter is fertile land and deltas. Vietnam is the one of the most populous countries in the world having a population of 79 million which falls into more than 50 ethnic groups. About 80 percent is Vietnamese, and others are mostly Chinese, Khmers and Thai. Vietnamese is the official language, and foreign languages like English, Chinese, French and Russian are used popularly in the country. Buddhism, Christianity, Caodaism, Muslim, Taoist and Confucianism all have sizeable believers while Buddhists are in the majority. Due to the complex landform, Vietnam has diverse weather in different regions. Generally speaking, Vietnam belongs to the tropical monsoon climate which brings a dry season from April to November and a rainy season from May to October each year.
Hanoi, the Capital city, is the largest metropolis except for Saigon, and is the center of politics, economy, culture and transportation in Vietnam. Built in seventh century, Hanoi is known as the City of the Millennium. Strong local flavor and numerous historical sites make this garden-like city a very good travel destination. Folk customs such as purifier lacquer, dulcet music, impressive dance, fancy water puppetry and inimitable cuisine all could provide you with a very enjoyable tour.
The Red River in the north and the Mekong River in the south of Vietnam helped develop this dignified, staunch and brave nation, and their glorious and brilliant culture will definitely catch the attention of visitors from all over the world.
The way Vietnam has emerged from the tatters of long battles could be compared to the process of a lotus plant pushing up through mud and murky water to emerge as a beautiful blooming flower. Today's Vietnam is a fascinating place that offers lasting memories and eternal images.
Water buffalos and green rice fields, bustling and colorful markets, elegant women dressed in traditional Ao Dai and conical hats, Cyclo bikes weaving through manic streets and quiet lanes, fine silks and obliging tailor ... and more. And then there's the incredible range of delicious food - sure to delight even the most exacting gourmet! Visitors just love everything about Vietnam.
Visitors can cruise amongst the magnificent limestone peaks of Ha Long Bay, trek through rugged and remote hill tribe areas, explore ancient and modern cities, laze on idyllic beaches, laugh with village children or navigate the intricate waterways of the Mekong Delta.
Vietnam has plenty of natural beauty to quench anyone's thirst for adventure, especially visitors will be most impressed by its wonderful people. Living on boats, in stilt houses or crowded cities, it is their welcoming smiles, eternal good humor and genuine hospitality that quickly puts visitors at ease.
Come to Vietnam - there is something new to discover and experience at every turn!

(http://vietnamtravel.webnode.com/)