The most animated food streets in Hanoi

Dong Xuan alley, Trang Tien alley, Dao Duy Tu street….are favourite places for young people in Hanoi.

1. Ta Hien street Many years ago, Ta Hien street mostly served for foreign visitors coming to Vietnam. However, in recent years, it has become a gathering place serving beer, fried fermented pork roll and cheese sticks for teenagers. cheese sticks Although the street is short and narrow, it is still an ideal place for teenagers to gather together because the price is reasonable. With some plastic chairs and a stray of food, you and your friends have a feast to chat together all day. The most difficult thing here is the vehicle issue. Sometimes, you spend 25,000 VND on a plate of fried potatoes, and you also have to pay 10,000 – 15,000 VND for parking fee. 2. Dao Duy Tu street Dao Duy Tu street is next to Ta Hien street. Although the menu here is not as abundant as on Ta Hien street, and the people here are not as crowded as 0n Ta Hien street, the very famous lemon tea shop here is enough to attract a lot of people. Hanoi teenagers like gathering on Dao Duy Tu street because this is the first street selling lemon tea in Hanoi and the lemon tea here is more delicious and aromatic than lemon tea in other places. Besides the lemon tea shops, Dao Duy Tu street is also famous for Phu Ly rolled cake (Bánh cuốn) or rice with grilled pork. Therefore, coming to this street in the midnight or in the evening, people cannot be irresistible enjoying good food here, 3. Dong Xuan alley Dong Xuan alley is a small alley with a lot of food such as glutinous rice doughnut, pillow cake (“bánh gối” in Vietnamese), shrimp cake, snail rice vermicelli. Moreover, there are varieties of “chè” (sweet gruel) with corn, batata, cassava…and caramen. In general, this is an interesting street for people loving junk food. 4. Trang Tien alley Trang Tien alley is on Trang Tien street. Coming here, it comes as no surprise that men wearing a suit and women wearing beautiful dresses gathering together to eat “chè” (sweet gruel) or rice vermicelli with soya bean curd and shrimp paste. Trang Tien alley is the favorite place to not only students but also officers. There are many reasons to love this place. First, the central position and clean alley. Second, if you wonder what you can eat now, you can easily find the answer here. There are fried rice, stir-fried noodle, rice vermicelli with fish, rice vermicelli with soya bean curb and shrimp paste…along the alley. Finally, the price here is quite cheap. Therefore, this alley always attracts a lot of people. 5. Tong Duy Tan street and Cam Chi alley cuisine street Tong Duy Tan street and Cam Chi alley have been allowed to built a big gate with words “cuisine street” by the government. This is a famous street in Hanoi. Especially, the restaurants here are allowed to open overnight. There are varieties of food here such as: rice, noodle, porridge, glutinous rice, hot pot…., but the price is not cheap at all. However, because the street has had a long-standing cultural tradition and a famous dish – fried rice with chicken many people like, the street is still crowded in the midday and in the evening and it is considered as one of the most animated food streets in Hanoi. fried rice with chicken                                                                         Provide by Vietnam travel guide

Van Mieu steles endangered by human touch

Eighty-two stone steles at Van Mieu – Quoc Tu Giam (Temple of Literature – first National University) in Hanoi are in danger of being irreparably damaged because of the large number of people who are touching them.

Many people touch the stone steles and stone tortoises to wish for good luck but
this can damage the precious structures

Temple official Nguyen Hai said last Thursday that more than 70,000 people visited the place over four days of the Tet (Lunar New Year) festival from February 14-17.

“People visiting the Temple of Literature during Tet has for long been a cultural feature.

“Recently, however, many people have come to touch the stone steles and stone tortoises to wish for good luck and this can damage the precious structures,” Hai said.

The situation has developed over the past few years and this year, the temple built an iron fence to prevent visitors from touching the stone tortoises and steles, but a large number of people broke the fence on Lunar New Year’s Day, he added.

Last December, the cultural activity center at Van Mieu - Quoc Tu Giam sent documents to UNESCO for recognition of the stone steles of doctoral candidates in the Le – Mac dynasties (1442- 1779) as a world cultural heritage.

However, the damage being caused currently to the structures will soon destroy them, experts have cautioned.

Attractive tourist beaches in Vietnam

Some beaches in Vietnam are enrolled in Forbers’ and CNN Go’s lists of the most beautiful beaches in the region, contains An Bang, Sao (Star), Bai Lu and Quan Lan.

1. An Bang beach

Lying on 3km from the ancient city of Hoi An in the central province of Quang Nam, An Bang has been listed among the world’s 50 best beaches by CNN Go. This pristine beach is very peaceful and poetic together with soft sand dunes and gentle waves lap on the shore.

An Bang is attracting more and more tourists with Vietnam guide and a number of Western-style restaurants have mushroomed along the beach. Visitors can taste the local seafood and other specialties in open-air restaurants and enjoy the relaxing environment right on the beach.

Tourists travel to Vietnam can easily reach An Bang beach from Hoi An by motorbike or car.

2. Sao (Star) beach

Sao beach, which is named in Forbers’ list of the best beaches, is on Phu Quoc Island in the southern province of Kien Giang. Visitors to Sao beach will be surprised at the lush green carpet of wild plants that create a peaceful and fresh environment.

From the beach, tourists can also visit Dinh Cau Palace built in 1973 in an architectural style, as well as Sung Hung pagoda and the historic Phu Quoc jail.

In addition to the delicious seafood, visitors can sample local delecacies, including the famous Phu Quoc fish sauce.

Motorbikes or cars can also be rented to explore the surrounding area.

3. Bai Lu beach

Nghe An is known for its popular Cua Lo beach but few people know about beautiful Bai Lu beach in Nghi Loc district.

About 4km from National Highway 1A, mysterious Bai Lu beach is surround by mountains and fir trees leading down to the peaceful, clear blue water. Visitors to Bai Lu resort can offer incense at the temples of Son Than (the mountain god) and Thanh Mau (the holy mother).

4. Quan Lan beach

Tranquil, white sand Quan Lan beach is about 45km from Ha Long city in the northern province of Quang Ninh.

Quan Lan beach is considered as a pristine beauty and unspoiled environment. Tourists with Vietnam culture travellove this beach for its natural charm, deep blue water, strong waves and kilometers of pure white sand. Visitors stay at Quan Lan will have the chance to relax on this fascinating beach and enjoy many local specialties.

The tourists desire to contemplate many sightseeings, they can travel by car or taxi to Cai Rong port and take a cruise to Quan Lan Island for VND100,000. Two cruises go from Cai Rong to Quan Lan daily at 8am and 2pm.