Sunrise in KHE RO

We arrived to Khe ro at five thirty in the afternoon, not really late if you visit a city but with a mountain area like Khe ro, it’s really late. The sky started darker. Dinner with hot-pot and a lot of veggies were served.

After dinner time, the sky was completely dark, but there were tons of stars were shine bright. I stayed at a local house, you cannot believe if I tell you walls of that house were made from sold and straw. The weather was cold outside at night but it’s really warm in that house. Quickly chilling in the bed and falling sleep because of not only long day in the car but also the quiet atmosphere of mountain area.

Waking up early next day, the fresh air made my mind awake, breath full lung with the morning air and enjoy the mountain sight from the front yard. Take a walk around, realize that the house was surrounded by lychee trees and a small garden which they grow fresh veggies such as broccoli, cabbage or herbs. The fence of the house is made from bamboo and hibiscus trees. Hibiscus flowers were so fabulous.

 Having breakfast in the small kitchen placed right side of the house, beside the burner which they still use wood for fuel, so romantic, simple breakfast with noodle and veggies from their own garden. 

After filling our stomach, we quickly dress up a little bit and head to main road. Side by side the road, there are mountains and fields. The first place that I wanted to see is potato valley. The green of potato trees, the sun appeared behind the far mountain, a slight wind-blown. Everything joined together like the melody of morning mountain area band. Closing my eyes, using other senses to feel the fresh around me, I cannot forget that emotion. 

On the go to Khe vang, we see a lot of water buffalos wore small bells made from wood, really special.

Seri: Tips to travel in Vietnam - episode 1: how to travel in Hanoi

All people want to travel with fun but still save money. Yes, so do I. We don’t want to waste our money to visit a boring place. Let me show you the best way to explore Hanoi.

As you know, Hanoi is the capital of Vietnam, its age is more than 1000 years, really old, right? Because of that, the Hanoi urban is really small. The architecture is the combination of ancient Vietnam and French.

First and foremost, I will talk to you where to visit if you choose Hanoi as a place to explore. You couldn’t say that you visited Hanoi but you didn’t go around Hoan Kiem lake. Take a walk around this lake, get a guide and hear old stories concern it, you will be surprise with them. The second place is one pillar pagoda, special pagoda which was built at the middle of a pond and the fairytale behind it. The third one is the Temple of literature aka the first university of Vietnam. See more place in here.

At the second point, I will discuss about food. Three main typical dishes in Vietnam are pho, banh mi thit aka Vietnamese baguette bread with meat and veggies, ca phe aka coffee, but in Hanoi, you can find out a lot of different interesting dishes such as xoi aka sticky rice, che aka sweet soup and tons of awesome desserts.

At the third place is transportation, because Hanoi road is really small, having a van or get a cyclo are better than going with a bus. A private tour with tour guide will the best solution. From that, you can explore Hanoi and understand more about this city.

If you are interested in exploring Hanoi, click it for further information. 

How Vietnamese celebrate our own New Year’s Eve

     The kind of calendar that we use today is based on sun period, but do you know that there is another calendar is based on moon period? Yes, this calendar is Lunal calendar. Thanks Lular calendar, we have Lunar new year which Vietnamese us call “Tet”. Today is first of December as Lunar calendar, just one month to Lunar new year. “Tet” is coming!

     As Christmas, Tet is one of the most important occasion with Vietnamese, this is family reunion time, every family members stay together, make “chung cake”. This is a really good way to enhance family relationship.

     The main dishes for this holiday contain “chung cake”, red sticky rice, boiled chicken, 8 types of stir fried veggies, 4 type of soups, spring roll, etc. It’s up to each family and tradition. This is a chance for woman in family show their cooking skills to guests. All houses are decorated with beautiful balloons, sometimes, they also use pompons, but the unique feature of Tet holiday is the tree. Peach blossoms aka “Dao”, kumquat trees aka “Quat” will be decorated with string lights aka Christmas lights and adorable ornaments.

   

Let’s visit one of the most attractive Asia museum

      Vietnam museum of ethnology is one of the most attractive museum in Asia (as Tripadvisor members voted). It has remained for three years since 2012. If you do not have time to travel all over Vietnam, visiting Vietnam museum of ethnology is such a really good choice because we collected all features of 54 ethnic minorities in Vietnam, from the North to South.

CHE LAM - another special aspect of Vietnam cuisine

           Vietnam is an agriculture country, our ancestry used rice to survive.  Rice diet created chances for us to make tons of dishes, from that we even build our own food culture. We not only use rice to cook main course but also use rice to make desserts. If you visit our country, you will try pho, noodle  or spring roll, but you  seldom be showed “CHE LAM”  one of the most very Vietnamese dish that you cannot find anywhere outside Vietnam.

      From tradition, long long time ago, when our ancestry did have nothing  to worship during Tet holiday, still wanted to show their respect to Gods and their ancestry, they tried to find a special dish that is different from their normal day food, but because of the poorness, they could not afford anything. Until one day, they spotted they should use the familiar ingredients to create special dish. This way not only showed their respect to Gods, but also the respect to their own work – farming.

         Nowadays, although the machines are using to help people in order to make “CHE LAM” but it’s still really hard to make this dessert. From choosing materials to cooking, the process is complex and requires concentration from the cook. Ingredients are sticky rice, ginger, molasses and peanuts. The ingredients are listed shortly, right? But the way to make this dessert is really hard.

Duong Lam: Ancient Village in Vietnam

Here are some useful information and money savings  tips for travellers to Duong Lam acient village, which helps you get greater enjoyment during the trip to Duong Lam Vietnam.
Tip 1: Safety

Duong Lam is  safe for travellers. The only real hazard in this part of the world is your own misfortune. Be careful as you ride a bike in a tiny alleys. It’s better to check brakes and types before cycling.

Tip 2: Say hello to locals & Ask permission before taking photos
Before paying a visit to any acient house, you should ask permission of homestay owner and  and say “hello” to them to show respect. You should donate some money on the altars (VND 30,000 – VND 50,000, about US$1.5-3). Small gifts from foreign visitors are welcome too. You shouldn’t face against family altar. If you want to take any pictures, please ask the locals before hand.
 
Tip 3:  How to get there
By bus: Bus is available in bus station. It costs approximately $1
Kim Ma bus station – Son Tay (number 70)
Ha Dong bus station – Son Tay (number 77)
My Dinh bus station – Son Tay (number 71)
Upon arrival Son Tay, you should take Son Tay taxi (04 3362 6262) to the village, it costs around $3.5.
By public bus
From My Dinh bus station, you can take the bus My Dinh – Phu Pho and get off at Duong Lam village entrance gate.

Tip 4: Accomodation in Duong Lam village
Homestay: Its facilities are basic : air-conditioning, western toilet and hot shower. Private rooms are available upon request. It’s available in Mr Kieu Anh Ban, Mr Giang Van Luu, Mrs Duong Thi Lan, Mr Ta Quang Tam . Homestay start at about $15.

Tip 5: Eat & Drink
Drinks are available at the homestay : beer, coca- cola, water… The best drink is a cup of green tea and have chat with locals. You’d better order food with house owner to enjoy the best authentic Vietnamese food. There’s no menu. classic country cuisine is served up from a fixed menu for lunch. The food is simple but great. Vegetarians should be inform before your arrival.
Specialities
Local people in this village do farming work and make “tương” soy sauce to sell as major income. The sauce is made of water, rice, soy bean and corn and it’s cooked with fish or eaten with tofu and rice cake (bánh đúc).

Tip 6: What to do
Enjoy hands-on experiences  such as walking tour, cycling, chatting with locals living in the ancient houses, great local foods supply in an local acient house, visting pagoda and seeing rural market. You will see their daily routines surrounded by breathtaking scenery in a peaceful area. It’s great to go with a tour guide. They are able to  help you understand what you’re seeing because the locals aren’t able to speak English.

Tip 7: Tourist attractions
Mong Phu Commune house
The communal house is a worshipping place of the god – founder of the village. . The god Tan Vien Son was dedicated in Mong Phu communal house. So far, Mong Phu communal house is a gathering place of the villagers for cultural activities. The communal house was made carefully with sophisticated decoration details. It is considered as a flower of unique sculptural architecture.
Mia Pagoda
The pagoda is built in 15 th century and admire 287 statues of all sizes, among with are famous sculpture such as the statue of Buddha in the Himalayas and the statues of the Eight Vajra Deities.
Highlights of the pagoda is Mia Tong Quan Âm Tu (0.76 m high), often called the Ba ocular. This subject described a woman modest, with grace, of boring but at very lenient. Road features engraved soft, machine sliding.
Church
There is a church inside Mong Phu hamlet, like many those seen in many regions of Vietnam. A Vietnamese parish priest designed and hired carpenters of other villages to build this church in 1953. Most of the Christians in the village contributed time and effort to build this church. During the French colonial period, there were about 100 households of believers. Today, many followers still go to the church every Wednesday to attend the service. The soaring bell tower serves as a landmark of the village.

Tip 8: Support
Most of homestay owner have a basic spoken English but are able to unsderstand you. For local villager, they coundn’t speak English at all so that it’s a bit difficult to communicate with thems.

Tip 9: What to bring
Passport, sun-glasses & hat, suncream, sun-block, insect repellent, good shoes, personal first aid kit & medicines,  VND for personal expenses.

Tip 10: Best time to travel
September, Octorber, November and early December. Other time, it’s also good but summer time is a bit hot.

Have you ever seen this before ?

Have you ever seen this before ?
Do you know what is the name of that red one ?
I'll give you 1 Hanoi Beer for right answer.
Hanoi is still very hot today. Time to go home now