Cham people celebrate Kate festival in Ninh Thuan

VietNamNet Bridge – Thousands of Cham people in the central province of Ninh Thuan on October 7 attended Kate festival, the biggest annual festival of Cham people who are Balamon followers, at Poklong Giarai tower.

Ninh Thuan province has nearly 70,000 Cham people, including around 40,000 Balamon followers.

Poklong Giarai is a group of Cham temple towers which was built in honor of the legendary king Po Klaung Garai, who ruled Champa from c.1285 to 1307 A.D.

The towers were constructed during the early 14th century during the reign of King Jaya Simhavarman III, and are thus classified as belonging to the Pô Klông Garai or Late style of Cham architecture (14th-17th centuries).

The complex was built on the site of an earlier temple and originally comprised six towers: a main tower at the centre and five lesser towers, all facing eastward. However, the two towers in the south west and north east respectively have long since fallen into ruin. The main tower was dedicated to revered local King Pô Klông who, according to legend, won a contest with Prince Pô Đam to see who could construct a temple in the shortest time.

All four remaining towers were extensively renovated by Polish conservation agency PKZ in the period 1981-1990 and are now in the care of local experts. Particularly noteworthy are the central kalan, with its intricate decoration and elegant roof towers, and the mandapa, with its horse-saddle shaped roof. During numerous excavations at the site a number of gold and silver bowls have been found. Each year during the 8th and 9th lunar months (September-October) this temple complex is one of the most important venues for the ceremonies of the Kate (Chăm New Year) Festival.

The Kate festival in photos:

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Halong Bay: A World of Mystery Viet Nam

Halong Bay is probably where you would find yourself. Majestic and mysterious, Vietnam’s Halong Bay is a breathtaking location with over 2000 incredible jagged islands and islets rising from the emerald waters of the Gulf of Tonkin.

Halong Bay, Vietnam

This superb panorama of limestone peaks enshrouded in mist, tumbling into the gently lapping sea and enclosing within its folds striking hidden caves is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The near-perpendicular pinnacles conceal the remains of many grottos and caverns, created over millions of years ago through a complex process of erosion whereby water trickled through limestone cracks enlarging them to create spectacular caves and resulting in the distinctive towers seen today.
About a 3 hour ride south of Hanoi, Halong Bay draws a steady stream of travelers year-round, who mostly opt for several days of cruising on a typical Vietnamese junk. Beyond the breathtaking seascapes on a boat trip through the bay, an amazing range of adventure travel opportunities are on offer: Travelers to Halong come to explore the spectacular caves, among them the amazing “Surprise Cave” with its 3 enormous caverns, where illuminated stalactites grow down to touch the rising stalagmites; to kayak and scuba dive around the islands and in and around some of the more remote, less accessible caves, such as the Dark Cave; to get to know “real-life” Vietnam, cycling through farm fields and remote tiny villages, where self-reliant locals raise and prepare their own food; to experience one of Vietnam’s most fascinating cultural features – the floating villages, nestling in the sheltered bays, where houses are set atop barges and year round, inhabitants catch and cultivate fish.

Surprise Cave

Cruising on a typical junk is in itself an adventure, and experiencing the star-studded night sky and lapping sea waves with the outlines of dozens of limestone towers silhouetted in the backdrop makes for a surreal picture. Halong Bay’s breathtaking splendor, enormous scale and unique geomorphology make it one of Vietnam’s most spectacular experiences.

For an off-the-beaten-path adventure, Ninh Binh, or “Inland Halong Bay”, north of Halong is a paradise of lotus-covered ponds, meandering waterways and lush green rice paddies where contorted limestone pinnacles, caverns, spires and hills, shaped like mythical creatures provide the setting. Here, ornate temples, pagodas and Buddhist shrines rise from the center of small lakes and rustic homes perch under natural overhangs or nestle into the living rock. The steady rhythm of traditional Vietnamese village life continues here as women tend to the rice fields while men in wooden boats cast nets into the tranquil waters. A motorbike ride into the nearby mountains is a great adventure and a half-day boat trip to Tam Coc or Trang An into caves and old temples is well worth the journey.

On the Way to Tam Coc

What make this entire region unique are not the towering cliffs themselves, but rather their sheer number and unique shapes. Halong Bay, translated as “where the dragon descends into the sea” is the stuff of myths. Legend has it that the islands were created by a great dragon that lived in the mountains. As it charged towards the sea, its tail gouged out valleys and crevasses, and as it spat out jewels and jade, these turned into ,the dramatic towering pinnacles for which the bay and its surroundings are renowned.

Source: familyadventuretravelwork

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A World of Romantic Adventure Awaits You in Da Lat, Viet Nam

Perched high in the Southern Central Highlands amidst valleys, lakes and waterfalls, Vietnam’s Dalat is known for its mountain scenery and delightfully cool weather.

Bike Dalat, Vietnam

Originally inhabited by the Lat and Ma Hil tribes (Da Lat meaning “stream of the Lat People”), who now live in nearby Lat and Chicken Villages, Dalat became a holiday resort for commanders who tired of the tropical Vietnamese climate during the French Colonial era. It remains Vietnam’s “Le Petit Paris” and its “city of eternal spring”, its colonial mansions and over 2000 remaining French villas still reflecting its French influence.

Dalat has a lot to offer travelers interested in trekking, motorcycle trips and natural sights – its surrounding lakes, waterfalls, and parks offer boating and windsurfing. This is a great place to get to know Vietnam’s highlands.

Dalat is home to Emperor Bao Dai’s summer palaces. Built in 1933 and set in a lovely pine grove near Lake Xuan Huong, this art deco style palace houses portraits and sculptures, and royal living quarters of the deposed imperial family. Nearby, Lake Xuan Huong stretches for nearly 5 km., offering windsurfing and boating adventures, though long walks around the lake seem to be most popular.

Dalat features several interesting buildings and lovely pagodas, among them the Lin Phuoc Pagoda , a contemporary structure with a gold Buddha and a spectacular garden. The Hang Nga House and Gallery, nicknamed “crazy house” by locals, is probably one of its most fun sites, especially for youngsters. The house is designed with cave sitting rooms, a concrete giraffe tea room, helter- skelter hallways and stairways and fish heads containing guest rooms for overnight stays. Its bustling, lively central market is unlike most Vietnamese markets, characterized by a highly unusual open promenade for shoppers and passers-by.

Just out of town, a lovely park, Thung Lung Tinh Yeu Park , known as “The Valley of Love” is a popular spot for honeymooners and lovers who stroll through its paths or sail on its small lake. The region around Dalat is punctuated with coffee farms and colorful small villages. Lat Village and Chicken Village are home to several hill tribes who were enticed down from Dalat. Chicken Village, where peoples of the Koho minority reside, is famous for its giant concrete chicken, caught mid-strut, in the village center. In the highlands, there are opportunities to visit coffee farms, sing karaoke or just enjoy local drinks at some of the small inns perched on the valley’s hills.

Further afield, there is much to see and do for nature lovers. Several scenic waterfalls dot the area: Prenn Falls, located about 10 km. from Dalat, at the foot of the dramatic Prenn Pass, is a great spot for enjoying a brief hike, its breathtaking waterfalls cascading from above to create a silver sheet pouring into a pool below. Behind the falls, a bamboo bridge enables visitors to cross the waters. Gouganh Falls, some 40 km. from Dalat offers an amazing view of waters splitting at the center to create numerous falls, each streaming in a different direction. Lan Bien Mountain, its five volcanic peaks rising to 2100-2400 m, is a trekker’s dream, as is Tuyen Lake, known for its emerald green waters and backdrop of mountains.

Dalat and its off-the-beaten-path surroundings and many wonderful natural sights are very different from Vietnam’s popular coastal areas and are well worth the visit for the countless adventures and natural sights it has on offer.

Source: familyadventuretravelworks

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Travel firms offer Hanoi-discovery tours

Hanoi’s tourism companies have launched many tours to discover Hanoi’s culture on the occasion of the capital city’s 1000^th anniversary.

The Dong Xuan JS Company introduces five tours to the Old Quarter on tramcars. Tourists will discover relics inside craft houses and artisans, learn about the spiritual culture of Hanoians at Buddhist temples, sample the famous cuisine of Hanoi and shop at Dong Xuan market.

The most special tour among these is a tour through 19 old streets. Tourists are allowed to choose three sites from the below list to stop over for 30 minutes each: 48 Hang Ngang, Dong Xuan market, Huyen Thuyen pagoda, Bach Ma temple, O Quan Chuong gate, old house at 87 Ma May, the Great Church, King Le Thai To statue, King Ly Cong Uan statue and Ngoc Son temple.

Vietran Tour offers “Hunting Ly Dynasty’s Secrets” which allows tourists to discover the history of Thang Long-Hanoi and a special tour to some martial arts clubs in Hanoi. Tourists will watch a Binh Dinh Gia martial arts show at the Tram pagoda, Vo Dang Thai Cuc Chinh Tong martial arts at Phap Van pagoda and Shaolin martial arts at Bao Long club.

“1000-year journey of Thang Long – Dong Do – Hanoi” is a collection of tours designed by Vietravel, including four tours: Hanoi – Ha Long – Trang An – old capital Hoa Lu (4 days); Hanoi – Yen Tu – Ha Long – Ninh Binh (4 days); Hanoi – Phu Tho – Ninh Binh – Ha Long (6 days), Hanoi – Yen Tu – Ha Long – Sapa (6 days).

Joining these tours, tourists will visit historical and cultural relics in these provinces and cities and participate in activities to celebrate Hanoi’s 1000^th anniversary.

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Thang Long royal citadel opens for visitors

VietNamNet Bridge – Eight years since it was excavated, the royal citadel opened to the public the first time on October 2 at 18 Hoang Dieu, Hanoi.

The opening ceremony took place with a welcome speech by Do Hoai Nam, Director of the Vietnam Institute for Social Sciences. According to Nam, visitors would see outstanding parts of the Thang Long Royal Citadel and evidence of 1000 years as Vietnam’s capital city, through the dynasties of Dai La, Dinh, Le, Ly, Tran, Mac, Nguyen to the Ho Chi Minh age.

Tong Trung Tin, Director of the Vietnam Institute for Archaeology, explained that the organizing board chose more than 150 outstanding items to introduce. “Visitors will see layers of culture through vestiges of foundations, roads, wells, ponds, etc. All are typical examples that make the citadel a world cultural heritage site,” Tin stated.

However, Tin worried that large numbers of visitors may harm this site. “I recommend visitors to follow instructions to protect the relics. This is also a request of the World Heritage Committee,” he added.

Eight zones opened for public inside the Thang Long Royal Citadel:

1. Flagpole: A relic built in the Nguyen Dynasty in 1804.
2. Doan Mon: The major gate to the citadel, built in the Le Dynasty (15^th century).
3. Hau Lau: Built in the early 20^th century, this was home for the imperial maids.
4. The grounds of Kinh Thien palace where the Le kings held audiences. This palace was built on the ground of the Can Nguyen Palace of the Ly Dynasty and Thien An palace of the Ly and Tran eras.
5. Bac Mon: The northern gate of the Hanoi citadel in the Nguyen dynasty.
6. House D67 and trench D67, both built in 1967 as offices for General Vo Nguyen Giap and General Van Tien Dung.
7. The exhibition room with 150 outstanding items excavated in the Thang Long Royal Citadel and photos and mock-ups of the citadel.
8. House N32 exhibits more than 700 objects excavated in the Thang Long Royal citadel, including construction materials, reliefs, and daily instruments from the Dai La to Ly, Tran, Le dynasties.

The citadel will open until November 2, from 8am to 12pm and 1pm to 5pm. The 18 Hoang Dieu relic will open form October 2 to 11 and October 14 to November 2. From October 24 to November 2, the relic will open only on Wednesday and Sunday. The relic will close as of November 3 for preservation and research.

Hanoi’s 1000-year history at Thang Long citadel’s grounds:

Ancient wells.

Ancient tiles.

Ancient wate pipes.

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