Festivals of Con Son Pagoda honour ‘Great Man of Culture'
Two festival seasons have been held annually in Con Son Pagoda in the Chi Linh District of the northern province of Hai Duong.
The spring festival season originated on the 22nd day of the first lunar month in 1334 and marks the anniversary of the death of monk Huyen Quang, one of the founders of Truc Lam Zen Buddhism.
The autumn festival season begins on the 16th day of the eight lunar month, to mark the anniversary of the death of Nguyen Trai, a famous poet and politician during the... No more gender gap
Like any mother, Ta Thanh Binh is worried how she will cope when being away from her child while pursuing a master's degree in the UK.
"Being away from my child makes me feel like I am losing something," the 22-year-old Cambridge scholarship recipient said.
Nevertheless, the young teacher from Ha Noi Teachers' Training College sees the opportunity as a chance to empower herself with new knowledge. She will leave for the UK late this month to start her one-year master's degree in education at the University of Cambridge.
The...
Hill station blend of old, new
Nestled high up in north-ern province of the Vinh Phuc, Tam Dao is perhaps the perfect respite from the heat and humidity of Ha Noi.
Tam Dao is just 86km northeast of the capital. The town, occupying 253ha, is 900m above sea level in the heart of Tam Dao National Park – the largest in the north.
The 80km mountain range has three prominent peaks, which is why it is named Tam Dao. The middle peak is called Ban Thach (Stone Table) and stands a proud 1,388m. The left peak... Parade marks capital's 1,000th anniversary
Over 30,000 people packed Ha Noi's Ba Dinh Square this morning for a lavish parade to mark the 1,000th anniversary of Thang Long-Ha Noi, with millions more watching the event on television nationwide. The square glittered with flowers, flags, balloons and the colourful costumes of the parade participants. The celebration began in solemnity with a torchlight procession at 7:57am from the Ho Chi Minh Museum to the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum. The torch flamed brightly on the grand staircase, seemingly kindling the strength of the Vietnamese nation. The flag... Ha Noi comes alive in autumn
Ha Noi will celebrate its 1,000th anniversary and 56th Liberation Day on October 10, making it an ideal time for tourists to explore the city.
Sai Gon Tourist Company is offering typical tours to favourite destinations in the north including the Ha Noi-Autumn season, Ancient citadels of Viet Nam, Sa Pa and Ha Long in Autumn.
Annually, the HCM City-based travel agency organises seasonal tours – Spring, Summer, Autumn and Winter – to tourism sites throughout the northern provinces.
But this year, the Ha Noi-Autumn season is seen as... Basking in the unspoilt wild of tranquil Quan Son Lake
Quan Son Lake, with its many small islands surrounded by forests and hundreds of limestone peaks, retains its wild and tranquil beauty as an idyllic out-of-the-way picnic spot in My Duc District, 50km from central Ha Noi.
The lake is considered a small Ha Long Bay on land.
Passing the East Bridge, visitors reach a wharf where, for only VND60,000 (US$3), they can be taken around the 850ha lake area by an enthusiastic boatwomen.
The interesting tour gives tourists a chance to behold the captivating scenery and enjoy the fresh... Youth addicted to stylish, high-class lifestyle
Luxury goods and services have become a trend in Viet Nam, even among low-wage earners.
Tran Van Hoan, 30, of Ha Noi's Hai Ba Trung District earns VND5 million (US$256) per month but owns a Mercedes worth US$64,000.
Hoan said many of his wealthy friends also own luxury cars so he from banks and friends at high interest rates.
"I bought the car because I did not want to be less stylish than my friends. I will work as many extra hours as it takes to pay off my debt...
Shift to suburbs key to city overcrowding
Nguyen Thi Le, who is seven months pregnant, has to wait between 30 minutes and an hour in traffic jams every day to get from her house on Hai Ba Trung District's Thanh Nhan Street to the National Economics University on Le Thanh Nghi Road, a distance that is only 1.5 km.
Le was very upset when she was recently forced to wait 70 minutes due to heavy traffic in pouring rain just to get home from work. She got a fever later that night. "It's really terrible for all...
Remembering old Nha Trang
The central coastal city of Nha Trang has long been famed for its beautiful palm-fringed beach, breath-taking vistas and succulent seafood. But if you're bored with lazy days by the beach, Nha Trang Xua (Old Nha Trang) is the place for you.
It's hard to believe the resort, which occupies 2ha in Thong Thai Village at the foot of Giang Huong Mountain, is just 3km from the chaotic city centre.
The resort has 11 bungalows nestling in a field of yellow rice – at least when I was there.... Wrap up your appetite at Trang Bang
It's well known that young people these days don't want to leave the big city. They have turned into creatures who live for midnight movies at MegaStar, bargain hunting at Parkson and 24/7 services. But now and then, a cultural hotspot pops up, reminding the city's youth of what they are missing. A recent example is a restaurant called Banh Trang (rice paper) Trang Bang.
Quang Minh, the restaurant's owner, is a friend of mine. Being a restaurateur is not his day job, but he is well-travelled and a... Cuc Phuong Park offers wildlife adventures, prehistoric relics
One of the nation's larg-est rainforests in Cuc Phuong National Park in the northern province of Ninh Binh has become a hot destination for adventure and nature lovers, complete with wildlife treks and homestays in the communes of Thai and Muong ethnic groups.
Located in the triangle formed by Hoa Binh, Ninh Binh and Thanh Hoa, 120km southwest of Ha Noi, the park is just three hours away from the capital.
The 22,200ha park – home to 2,000 primates, flora, fauna, a series of caves and several big lakes... Indulge in Latino flavours at Mango Rooms
After a long day of shopping on the historic streets of Hoi An, Mango Rooms provides a menu filled with a broad range of fusion specialities. Vo Le Hong samples the finest dishes from the establishment.
We arrived early in the day in Hoi An, a well-preserved historic town surrounded by peaceful villages, the beautiful Thu Bon River and sunny beaches lining the East Sea coast.
After a half day of walking along the street and shopping for souvenirs, we arrived at the Mango Rooms Cafe and Restaurant, tired and... Ha Noi street life an unscripted soap opera
New Zealand journalist, Dan Kirk, during his second visit to Viet Nam, said to my surprise "Ha Noi develops so quickly!"
I was initially surprised to hear tourists from countries such as the UK, the US and Germany say how surprised they were to see the speed of our city's development.
But the more I think about it, the more I recognised that we are also surprised at the pace of our city's transformation. Sometimes we discover a new pedestrian foot-bridge, where the previous month nothing had stood,... Fish behaviour fascinates locals
Have you ever seen thousands of big fish swimming in a small stream? How would you feel if you knew that these fish were magic? In Thanh Hoa Province's Cam Luong Commune it is believed that such a school of ‘sacred fish' exists and they can be visited by the public.
It takes about three hours to drive from Ha Noi to the famous commune, which receives thousands of visitors every week who are curious to see these supernatural species.
There are different ways to get to the stream.... Once upon a time on West Lake
"I was with my parents, and we were riding on a boat amongst a sea of lotus flowers. I felt like a fairy princess in my favourite childhood movie, Journey to the West," Hoang Kieu To Uyen recalls, as if it had happened just yesterday. "And the funny thing is that I was actually in the West. Well, West Lake (Ho Tay) to be exact".
Uyen, 32, is a realtor, and a born and bred Hanoian who has spent most of her life in Ha Noi. When she was an... Taking it easy motorcycling on the historic Ho Chi Minh Trail
Tired of the scorching heat in the city? Why not grab a motorcycle and drive off in to Viet Nam's beautiful, cool countryside?
Motorcycle adventures are gaining popularity among young, adventurous Vietnamese and foreign travellers. No stops, no fixed schedules, just jumping on the bike and going- these are just some of the reasons why people are opting for motorcycle travel over traditional train and bus journeys.
I bumped into Nick Villa (New Zealand) and George Marjak in Ha Noi one afternoon when they had just returned from a... Escape the sweltering summer heat in pictureque Ban Khoang
Water world: Tourists admire one of Sa Pa's many waterfalls. — File Photos
"How many ways are there to cool off in the city?" a friend asked me, which, I assumed, was a rhetorical question. Let me tell you, I have been living an urban existence for 21 years and still, I can only count the ways to blow off steam in the city on my fingers.
I have always imagined going to the Palm Islands in Dubai and just reclining on one of its electrically refrigerated beaches while... Preservation plan sought
Ha Noi is now struggling to harmonise the conservation of its heritage with new development projects.
Construction of the contentious new road linking Van Cao Street and West Lake has been halted following the unearthing of 1,000-old Ly-Tran and Le dynasty artefacts on Hoang Hoa Tham Street.
Archaeologists said the new road, which engineers were aiming to complete in time for celebrations of the 1,000th anniversary of Thang Long-Ha Noi, ploughed though parts of the old citadel wall which contained priceless artefacts dating back to the dynasties of Nguyen (1802-1945),... 
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