Western Villa Complex in Bac Lieu- The Pride of Bac Lieu People

Coming to Bac Lieu, tourists in Vietnam travel will have chance to admire the early 20th century Western-style buildings including the 30 mansions and villas left standing along the two banks of the river in Bac Lieu. They have become part of the heritage of Bac Lieu Province and the pride of Bac Lieu people.

Unlike many other provinces, such as Can Tho and An Giang, there are still many western-style buildings include the villa of Bac Lieu Mandarin’s son, which stands along the river, and other buildings situated in the Hang Me Park, such as the Administration House, the court, the Bo Mansion (the building of the head mandarin) the Son quarter official building, and Dong Trach. Presently, these building are used for the provincial Library, the People’ Court of Investigation, and the office for the Bac Lieu Newspaper.

 The construction materials, including steel, marble, tile, and brick, were all imported from France. The 20th century Western –style buildings have spacious surroundings, symmetrical architecture, and tile-covered roofs. The roofs are octagonal, and the supporting rafters look somewhat like those in a pagoda. The old villas and mansions of Bac Lieu have their own style, quite unlike the French villas in Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City or Dalat.

In general, they feature high ceilings; their exteriors are washed with yellow paint, and they have high vault-like roofs. 

 Nowadays, the Western Villa Complex which includes the 30 mansions and villas standing along the two banks of the river in Bac Lieu has become part of the heritage of Bac Lieu Province and the pride of Bac Lieu people.

Xiem Can- The Largest Pagoda in Bac Lieu Province

At the distance of 7km far from the town of Bac Lieu, Xiem Can Pagoda is located on the same road leading to the Bac Lieu Bied Sanctuary. Visiting the pagoda, tourists in Vietnam travel will not only be impressed by its imposingly splendid beauty, but also be impressed by by the great hospitality of the local people.

Xiem Can Pagoda is situated 7 kilometers to the south of Bac Lieu town, on the same road that leads to the Bac Lieu Bird Sanctuary. This most beautiful pagoda is also considered the largest in the region. The pagoda was constructed in 19^th century with a very special architecture style. 

 Tourists in Vietnam travel can see the similarities between the architecture of Xiem Can pagoda and those of Cambodia’s. That’s true! The pagoda is designed with Angkor architecture and featured by unique patterns on domes, walls, pillars, and staircases. Khmer people believe that there are challenges to Buddhists on the way to be rewarded for a devout life. That’s why there are embossment of female fairies and monsters on the pillars. They can also see images of snakes carved on domes and staircases, which proves that the Great Buddha had used his mercifulness to convert dangerous animals like snakes. Sanctum places of Khmer people often face East as they believe that the journey of being rewarded for a devout life and to be a Great Buddha is from West to East. 

Khmer people highly appreciate togetherness. The pagoda is both a holy and a friendly place. The pagoda functions as a community house where they can receive help and safety. Visitors in Vietnam travel can realize the great aestheticism of the pagoda, which is expressed through the decoration patterns. On the roof of the pagoda, there is the image of Angkor Wat temple, from which the Khmer architecture originates. 

 Visiting the pagoda in Vietnam tourism, visitors will not only be impressed by the imposingly splendid beauty of Xiem Can pagoda, but also by the great hospitality of locals, who are truly sincere, industrious and creative. The pagoda has been constructed through generations of locals, who have worked hard to complete this sacred place.

For tourists in Vietnam travel, it is even much more exciting to visit the pagoda during the festivals such as “Ok Om Bok”, “Chol Chnam Thmay”, “Don Ta”. They special and unique cultural features of Khmer people have contributed to the diverse Vietnam culture, making the country the land of rich traditional and culture which can never be dissolve.

THE VESTIGE - GIA LONG WATERFALL

People who love discovering the Highlands mountains and forest should visit Dak Nong, one of provinces in the south of the Highlands. It has a lot of beautiful and imposing landscapes. The treasure of Dak Nong forest is waterfalls. One of them is Gia Long waterfall.

Located in Krong Ne district, Dak Nong province, Gia Long waterfall is very imposing. In order to go to the waterfall, you have to go through a forest.  You can listen to the songs of birds and the sound of waterfalls. There are many kinds of hundred-year-old trees that are very tall and big in the forest. Gia Long waterfall’s another name is Dray Sap Thuong waterfall. According to local people, they call the waterfall Gia Long because Gia Long King visited here to rest and he also gave the order to built a road leading to the waterfall. In Gia Long waterfall, there is a tunnel connecting roads and chain bridges built by French. Now, the waterfall is an attractive ecotourism area. Coming here, you can not only contemplate fantastic scenery but also wander in mysterious old forests to discover marvellousness of the nature. After visiting Gia Long waterfall, you can go 600 meters along Serepok river to come to a lake that has an area of about 100 square meters. It will be a very great pool for you.

Tien Phi cave, one destination cannot miss when coming to Hoa Binh

The scene of Tien Phi Cave is so tranquil that it is like a sacred and mysterious castle among the world of shaped stones. Thanks to nature light from the hole on the cave’s roof, those stalactites become extremely spectacular when bright light is shone on them.

Tien Phi Cave in Hoa Binh province is located in the complex of Hoa Binh township. The Cave is on the same tourism route with Hoa Binh Dam and becomes the attractive destination for tourists.

It is on the Thuc hill (or Thung Phi hill) with the gate faces the East North.The entry mouth is considerably narrow, followed by a gentle slope.  From the outside to 10m inside, there is a high ceiling, which is cool and comfortable. There are some parts of rough stone inside the hill and the floor soil is dry in dark color. The stalactites from the ceiling have many different shapes. In the ceiling, there is a hole to the top, which let through the natural light and make it more sparkling. This cave is like a castle, which is silent and grave with the lively stone shapes world inside.

 Much more interestingly, thanks to nature light from the hole on the cave’s roof, those stalactites become extremely spectacular when bright light is shone on them. Right in the middle of the cave is a charity box and an altar for those who want to prayer. This scene is so tranquil that it is like a sacred and mysterious castle among the world of shaped stones.

Going inside for more 10 meters, looking to the left up side, there is a shape of fairy that is lying on a five-color hammock with the long romantic hair. Next to it is the group of fairy who are flying with clouds around.

On the way down there are shapes of Buddha, Jesus Christ and a lion sleeping to guard. In these sparkling ceiling of the cave, visitors would feel like coming to the former kings and the natural masterpieces are keeping the visitors.

The Tet Offensive

In mid-1967 the costs of the war mounted daily with no military victory in sight for either side. Against this background, the party leadership in Hanoi decided that the time was ripe for a general offensive in the rural areas combined with a popular uprising in the cities.

The primary goals of this combined major offensive and uprising were to destabilize the Saigon regime and to force the United States to opt for a negotiated settlement. In October 1967, the first stage of the offensive began with a series of small attacks in remote and border areas designed to draw the ARVN and United States forces away from the cities. The rate of infiltration of troops from the North rose to 20,000 per month by late 1967, and the United States command in Saigon predicted a major Communist offensive early the following year. The DMZ area was expected to bear the brunt of the attack. Accordingly, United States troops were sent to strengthen northern border posts, and the security of the Saigon area was transferred to ARVN forces. Despite warnings of the impending offensive, in late January more than one-half of the ARVN forces were on leave because of the approaching Tet (Lunar New Year) holiday. 

On January 31, 1968, the full-scale offensive began, with simultaneous attacks by the communists on five major cities, thirty-six provincial capitals, sixty-four district capitals, and numerous villages. In Saigon, suicide squads attacked the Independence Palace (the residence of the president), the radio station, the ARVN's joint General Staff Compound, Tan Son Nhut airfield, and the United States embassy, causing considerabledamage and throwing the city into turmoil. Most of the attack forces throughout the country collapsed within a few days, often under the pressure of United States bombing and artillery attacks, which extensively damaged the urban areas. Hue, which had been seized by an estimated 12,000 Communist troops who had previously infiltrated the city, remained in communist hands until late February. A reported 2,000 to 3,000 officials, police, and others were executed in Hue during that time as counterrevolutionaries. 

The Tet offensive is widely viewed as a turning point in the war despite the high cost to the communists (approximately 32,000 killed and about 5,800 captured) for what appeared at the time to be small gains. Although they managed to retain control of some of the rural areas, the communists were forced out of all of the towns and cities, except Hue, within a few weeks. Nevertheless, the offensive emphasized to the Johnson administration that victory in Vietnam would require a greater commitment of men and resources than the American people were willing to invest. On March 31, 1968, Johnson announced that he would not seek his party's nomination for another term of office, declared a halt to the bombing of North Vietnam (except for a narrow strip above the DMZ), and urged Hanoi to agree to peace talks. In the meantime, with U.S. troop strength at 525,000, a request by Westmoreland for an additional 200,000 troops was refused by a presidential commission headed by the new United States secretary of defense, Clark Clifford. You can see more in Vietnam Travel Agency. 

Following the Tet Offensive, the communists attempted to maintain their momentum through a series of attacks directed mainly at cities in the delta. Near the DMZ, some 15,000 PAVN and PLAF troops were also thrown into a three-month attack on the United States base at Khe Sanh. A second assault on Saigon, complete with rocket attacks, was launched in May. Through these and other attacks in the spring and summer of 1968, the Communists kept up pressure on the battlefield in order to strengthen their position in a projected a series of four-party peace talks scheduled to begin in January 1969 (that called for representatives of the United States, South Vietnam, North Vietnam, and the National Liberation Front to meet in Paris. In June 1969, the NLF and its allied organizations formed the Provisional Revolutionary Government of the Republic of South Vietnam (PRG), recognized by Hanoi as the legal government of South Vietnam. At that time, communist losses dating from the Tet Offensive numbered 75,000, and morale was faltering, even among the party leadership.

“XÍU BÁO” CAKE IN NAM DINH

 “Xíu báo” (or “Xíu páo”) is one of Chinese delicious and rustic dishes.

Along with many delicious and strange dishes like stuffed sticky rice balls, “chí mà phù” (a kind of sweet gruel cooked with black sesame), “lục tàu xá” (a kind of sweet gruel cooked with green bean)…, “Xíu báo” is beloved by everybody. Nobody knows when “Xíu báo” came to people in Nam Dinh, they just know that cake was sold on Chinese street and it has existed until now. It was created thanks to the source of inspiration of steamed wheat flour cake and mid-autumn cake. Therefore many people said that the crust of “xíu báo” is like mid-autumn cake’s crust and its stuffing is like steamed wheat flour cake’s stuffing. The stuffing of “Xíu báo” is made from griskin mixed with minced garlic, oyster sauce, honey and spices. The stuffing is fried until it turns dark red. Then it is cut into small pieces and mixed with wood ears, lard and a half of a boiled egg. In a “Xíu báo” cake, there is ¼ or ½ of a boild egg. It is up to the price. Enjoying the cake, you will be attracted by the good smell and taste. The crust is aromatic and soft, the stuffing is greasy with the flavour of pork, pepper. All of ingredients make a different taste - you can feel spicy taste, sweet taste and salted taste in a cake. there are many "Xíu báo" sold in Nam Dinh city, especially in traditional bakeries on Hoang Van Thu street, Hang Sat....

Gorgeous tourist attractions in Dong Nai

Though Dong Nai is not a popular tourist destination in Vietnam, this land has been granted in favor of many incredibly wonderful places that are suitable for short picnics.

1. Dong Nai River

With a length of 586km, Dong Nai River is the longest river flowing in the territory of Vietnam. Along the banks of river, there are many villages and simplicity landscape that are very characteristic of southern Vietnam. If you have a chance to go to Dong Nai and admire river section embracing two beautiful islets of Tan Uyen and Pho, you certainly will surprise with the wild beauty here.

At sunset, Dong Nai River is more ravishing.

Coming here, visitors can take part in tour of Dong Nai river and enjoy the fresh air, and visit famous craft villages such as Tan Van pottery, Xuan Tam wood arts….

2.  Da Ba Chong (Ba Chong Stone)

Located between the bustling residential area Dinh Quan, Ba Chong Stone is three stacked stone with a height of 36 meters. 

In addition to Ba Chong stone, there is also Stone Mountain also called Bach Tuong Mountain (White Statue Mountain). It looks like two elephants prostrating each other. On the top of Bach Tuong Mountain, there are statue of Shakyas and the bottom is Bach Ho Cave (White Tiger Cave)

3. Buu Long Tourist Park

Buu Long Tourist Park is considered as one of the most attractive destinations for the tourists who like to discover nature and admire beautiful landscapes. Buu Long Tourist Park is located approximately six kilometers from the center of Bien Hoa City and about thirty kilometers from Ho Chi Minh City. Covering an area of nearly eighty –four hectares on the outskirts of Bien Hoa City, Buu Long Tourist Park has been known as a fascinating landscape which is comprised of mountains, large lakes, and pagodas. With natural beauty together with the cool and clean atmosphere, Buu Long Tourist Park is called excessively “a Ha Long Bay in miniature” by some people.

The gorgeous landscapes at Bao Long resort.

The Bao Phong ancient pagoda.

A visit to Buu Long Tourist Park will provide the tourists with a great chance to pay a visit to Long An Lake which is embraced by the park. Long An Lake is said to be an artificial reservoir and provides a total area of more than ten hectares. Visiting the lake, you will see many large rocks which are similar to small islets when seen from a distance

In addition, Buu Long Tourist Park also possesses many other beautiful sites such as Buu Long Mount and Buu Phong Pagoda. Buu Long Mount is located in the position close to the Long An Lake. Standing above, the visitors will see the fascinating scenery which is created by the reflection of the Buu Long on the Long An Lake. That is really an attractive landscape which will make the viewers feel relaxing

4.  Giang Dien waterfall tourist area
Located on Highway 1A in Trang Bom District, Dong Nai Province, 50km from Ho Chi Minh City, Giang Dien Waterfall Tourist Area, covering 67ha, has become an ideal destination for young people and families who like to discover the beauty of nature. The area consists of a valley, hills, forests, waterfalls and varieties of strange flowers blossoming all the year round. 

The beauty of Giang Dien waterfall.

Visiting Giang Dien Waterfall Tourist Area, tourists will be fascinated by its vast wilderness, beautiful meadows, colorful wild flowers, the sight and sound of the waterfalls rushing in noisily around the clock.

5. Cat Tien National Park
Cat Tien National Park is an important national park located in the south of Vietnam, approximately 150 km north of Ho Chi Minh City. It has an area of about 720 km² and protects one of the largest areas of lowland tropical rainforests left in Vietnam.

Cat Tien National Park is estimated as the reserve of natural resources in Vietnam with lots of rare, specious and endemic genes of fauna and flora, as plentiful site for scientists, domestic and foreign tourists.

Bau Sau- Dong Nai

Cat Tien National Park is part of the wet tropical forest complex and one of the specious natural forests remaining in Vietnam. That is why this area is significant not only in Vietnam but in the world as well.

Coming here, tourists can visit breathtaking attractions such as Ben Ku rapids, Mo Vet waterfall …

Cat Tien forest.

In addition, visitors can also take a stroll in the forest, ride bicycle, or sit on a car or boat to admire the majestic natural scenery. Immerse yourself in the magical sounds of forest and mountain, you will have interesting moments of relaxation.

6. Mai waterfall
With the natural, wild, majestic and charming beauty, Mai waterfall appears full of mystical, awe-inspiring to those who still think Dong Nai only has the rubber forests. The Ma people, one local ethnic group in mountainous area of Dong Nai, called the waterfall Lieng Dur, which means the large majestic waterfalls.

In the full blossom, Mai waterfall is still more beautiful.

About 170 km away from HCMC, deep in the forests located in Dinh Quan, Mai waterfall stretches about 2 km surface area. It is formed from numerous streams, waterfall, and small rivers. This is one of the waterfalls remaining the wild, natural and rustic beauty in Dong Nai.

Mai waterfall has a majestic terrain but less rugged. Cliffs on both sides are on the up direction. In the heart of waterfall, rock chains are inlaid as if from the very open natural terrain, the debris of mountains falling into the river, creating a pile of rough stone, forming a whirlpool, dunes and waves, and the slots. Perhaps the most idyllic area would be above the top of waterfall. The water here is not deep, gentle flows smoothly between the rounded rocks. There is also a place opened with rugged rock and white water foam, which is an ideal place for tourists to camp and swimming in whirlpool.