Elephant Race Festival, Dak Lak

If you have a chance to Dak Lak Province in springtime, you should not miss the Elephant Race Festival, normally celebrated in the third lunar month. Attending the festival, you will be lived in the boisterous atmosphere of the echo of gongs and the spectacular performances of the elephants from the Central Highlands forest. Vietnam travel

The Elephant Race Festival is usually held in Don Village or in forests near the Sevepoi River. In preparation for the festive day, people take their elephants to places where they can eat their fill. Apart from grass their food also includes bananas, papayas, sugar canes, corns, sweet potatoes. The elephants are free from hard work to preserve their strength. On the big day, elephants from different villages gather at Don Village. The race track is on even ground, preferably wide enough for ten elephants to stand simultaneously in a line with a length of one to two kilometres. People from near and far in their best and colourful costumes flock to the festival. 3 interesting activities in a Mekong Delta river cruise

Elephant Race Festival, Dak Lak

With the signal of of tu va (horns made into musical instruments), the mahouts command their elephants to go to the race track, standing in a row at the starting point. The leading elephant stands in front, whirling his trunk and nodding his head in greeting the spectators. Atop each elephant there are two handlers in traditional costumes for generals. The tu va signals the start of the race and the elephants rush ahead, excited by the sound of the drums, gongs, and cheering from the spectators. Upon seeing the first elephant dashing to the destination, the spectators shout boisterously amidst the echoing sound of drums and gongs. At the end of the race, the winning elephants lift their trunks above their heads to wave to the viewers, walk deliberately flapping their ears gently, gazing through half-closed eyes to receive sugarcane from their viewers. 3 outstanding features of Paradise Cruise Halong Bay
The winning elephant is given a laurel wreath. Like its owner, the elephant expresses its happiness and enjoy the sugar canes and bananas from the festival-goers. After this race, the elephants participate in the competition of swimming across the Serepok River, of tug-of-wars, or throwing balls and playing football. When the race comes to an end, the competing elephants bring back the atmosphere of the festival to their villages. Upon returning to their village, they receive warm welcome from the villagers. Very often, the elephants from Don Village win the prizes as the village has a tradition of training and tending elephants.

The elephant race is the biggest festival in the Central Highlands. Coming here, you will not only feel the martial spirit of the M'nong ethnic people, who are very famous for their bravery and skill in hunting wild elephants, but also the magnificent landscape of the Central Highlands which further stresses the grandiose characters of this traditional festival.

Dong Xuan Night Market

Dong Xuan is a street market spreading over a surface of 600 square meters covering Dong Xuan and Khoai streets. Approximately fifty businesses are operating the forty stands selling food, artifacts, souvenirs and tour packages among others.  Tours Hanoi to Sapa

Unlike other Hanoi night markets selling agricultural products in Long Bien and Quang Ba, Dong Xuan Night Market has been mainly created for tourists. With its eleven stalls, the brightly lit food zone is the most animated, serving late night guests until early morning. Tours North Vietnam

Here you can find real Hanoi food, as favored by true-blue Hanoians. The dishes might cost a little more than elsewhere but, you have to taste it to believe it, they are truly delicious. A steamy hot dish of Pho cuon  (beef wrapped in long wispy strips of rice vermicelli, served with aromatic herbs and spicy sweet-sour fish sauce) costs a mere VND10.000. Hanoi & Halong Bay 4 days

Dong Xuan Night Market

You might have your curiosity and appetite titillated as you try to choose from a wide selection of exotic Hanoi dishes: fried frog or fish meat pastes, rice and duck meat soup, fried rice, tiet canh (duck blood uncooked, only if you have a brave heart and strong stomach!), rice vermicelli and beef cooked in the south Vietnamese style and even just beefsteak and bread.

In artifact shops on Dong Xuan Street you will find traditional Dong Ho drawings, Bat Trang ceramics, Binh Da embroideries and laces, and sand paintings, the new craze of Hanoi’s young people. For a modest sum of VND2.000 - 9.000 you can choose one of those ‘raw’ pictures with different designs and patterns.

You peel off the sheet of paper and using the multi-colored sand you are provided with, you paint and create your own masterpiece following a model or ‘ad lib’ following your own inspiration or fantasy.

Like other markets (cho) such as Sapa’s Cho Tinh, Nam Dinh’s Cho Vieng, Lang Son’s Cho Ky Lua and Can Tho’s Cho Tay Do, Dong Xuan Night Market has been set up to meet the needs of locals and tourists. Dong Xuan Night Market is only one of Hanoi’s many efforts to develop tourism and attract international visitors.

A CD-ROM and two books on Hanoi, and two annual Tourism festivals are planned to open new paths and boost tourism in Hanoi. The Hanoi Service of Communications and Public Works plans to expand and turn Dong Xuan Night Market into a no-vehicle zone to lure more visitors to the place. Two more no-vehicle zones are being delimited round Sword Lake, along Khay, Trong and Le Thai To streets and along Ngang and Dao streets.

Hue Festival

Hue Festival is a big cultural event of Hue City that is held every two years. There is a week (usually in April, May or June) for each festival season which is the occasion to honor cultural and historical values of that Vietnam's former capital city. The first Hue Festival took place in 2000. Centre Vietnam tours

At the beginning of Hue Festival, visitors can enjoy a colorful and grand opening ceremony with unique performances of several art groups from Vietnam and other countries. Hue Festival has become a space of cultural exchange between peoples all over the world. During the festival, there are variety of cultural events taking place such as Hue Poetry Festival, Massive Street Arts Performances, the Dialogue of drums and percussion instruments, Art Exhibitions, the Week of Vietnam’s historical films.

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Hue Festival

Otherwise, visitors can come and explore some traditional values of Vietnam at Gastronomy Quarters, Traditional Kite Flying Festival or watch “Ao dai” Grand Show, “Oriental night” Show, and sporting activities like boat race, human chess, etc. Especially, many ancient scenery of Nguyen Dynasty are also reproduced and provide tourists an insight into Vietnam’s feudal era. Some typical events include Nam Giao Offering Ritual, Xa Tac Offering Ritual, the Royal Refined Music of Hue which was recognized as a Masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO in 2003. Hue Festival is well-known as an international festival where cultures of many countries converge together as well as where Vietnamese traditional and cultural values are widely presented to the world.

Vung Vieng fishing village

Far 24km from the mainland, Vung Vieng fishing village is located in the center of Bai Tu Long Bay to the northeast of Halong Bay tours. This is a peaceful place with the beautiful scenery and features with the traditional culture of fishermen living around the Bay all year round. Coming to Vung Vieng fishing village, you will have a chance to learn how to use fishing net or fishing rod from the local fisherman at this area.

Vung Vieng has attracted lots of travelers for years by its beauties like pretty fishing boats, fish’s cages being in front of floating houses of local people, especially friendly and helpful fishermen, children with happiness on their faces on the way to school,… Everything makes this village become an attractive destination in Halong Bay Heritage.

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There are only about 60 floating houses meaning 60 families in this village. You will definitely surprise when seeing these small village with only tens of pretty floating houses in which every activities of the day life or important event of the village happen while bobbing in the middle of the bay. The amazing pictures that your eyes can catch here are simple small floating houses, films on old televisions, a woman cooking the dinner while children playing traditional games in front of the houses and the husband preparing for his fishing trip at night,…These pictures will bring you special memories about people here and the sense of peace in your holiday in Halong Bay.

Almost people here live on fishing and aquaculture but there are several people do small business on their boats by selling miscellaneous goods for other ones and tourists. That’s one of the features in Halong Bay maybe you like because you can by something like snack, water,… from them while cruising on the bay but it’s quite expensive. Recently, when tourism has growth, Vung Vieng became famous place that is included in itineraries of travel companies. In order to explore this place, tourists can hire either kayak to discover bu yourself or small boats rowing by local people. These services are provided by cruise company and local people which brings more revenue for their families.

Scuba-Diving in Halong Bay

Halong Bay is a spectacular location for sightseeing in Vietnam. Located in the Gulf of Tonkin, it forms an amazing seascape of limestone pillars along with more than 1,600 islands and islets. Travelers coming to Halong Bay will enjoy not only the boat trip, sea kayaking but also the very scuba diving experience. Scuba diving has been recently opened in Halong Bay making this place a must-sea for underwater lovers. The time from April to December is the most wonderful period for Travellers to join “Halong Bay Scuba Diving”. The temperature of water at this time is from 26-29 celsius degrees. Travel Halong bay

Scuba diving with Halong Voyage – a the special product which no one has done before in Halong bay. Travelers can explore hidden beauty underwater with thousands of splendid coral and fish like sergeant major fish, Clark’s anemone fish. Tourists will see colorful their method survive. Underwater world will make you to feel novel, small and peaceful as come back inside your mother. Tourist will perfect relax and excited to discovery underwater world.  With internationally-licensed, well-trained scuba divers and assistants, we guarantee the safety, papering amenities with friendly and attentive management which make you unforgettable experience. Vietnam tours

Scuba-Diving in Halong Bay

When tourists snorkel underwater in Halong bay, you will provide useful equipment such as: mask, fins, snorkel, cylinder, exposure suite, compass, regulator…  All facilities are regularly checked and match safety standard. Therefore, it’s unnecessary to worry about your safety.

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Some Tips for diving longer and deeper safely

There are a number of techniques to increase the diver's ability to dive deeper and longer:

- Technical diving – diving deeper than 40 meters (130 ft), using mixed gases, and/or entering overhead environments (caves or wrecks)

- Surface supplied diving – use of umbilical gas supply and diving helmets

- Saturation diving – long-term use of underwater habitats under pressure and a gradual release of pressure over several days in a decompression chamber at the end of a dive.

What you will see on a cruise trip?

Most guests who visit Halong will spend either 1 or 2 night on a cruise or junk - this is without doubt the best way to enjoy the scenic landscape of the Bay. Each cruise tailor-makes their own itinerary but in general, you will get to see the major caves and most important grottos of the Bay. 2 day trip is rather cramped as you get only 1 day to spend on board and the rest of the time is spent on traveling back and forth from Hanoi. 3 day trip gives you a better opportunity to see more of the Bay and worth considering if you have time.

2 days 1 night tour

On the first day, your cruise will start at noon and as the cruise sets sail, lunch will be served.

In the afternoon, you may have a chance to stop at several famous sites, such as Luon Cave, Đầu Người Island (Human Head Island), Con Rùa Island (Turtle Island), and Cổng Trời Island (Heaven Gate Island). At one of the stopping points, tourists may also take part in exciting kayaking or swimming activity. However, there might be a small additional fee depending on the tour package you register for.

Coming back to the ship after a long day, tourists would be welcomed by more relaxing activities like massage, Jacuzzi (for luxury cruise), and a delicious dinner on board. Many cruises also organize cooking demonstration where you will learn to make Vietnamese food. Some cruises offer tourists outdoor BBQ party on the sundeck, which is a great way to spend time with friends and families. After that, you may choose to stay at the bar with lots of qualified wines, playing cards with friends, watching TV, or trying your luck with squid fishing.

When you wake up the next morning, your breakfast is ready to serve with an early morning Tai Chi class on the sundeck to get yourself into the flow of the nature. On the second day, you are scheduled to visit more famous tourist attraction, such as Titop Island or Sung Sot Grotto (Surprise Cave). The whole trip ends by a tour back to the harbor after that, so don’t forget to take some nice pictures of the bay on the way.

3 days 2 nights tour

Much similar to the previous itinerary, your cruise trip starts with a brief session about the itinerary and safety instructions on boat. The tour usually starts from 11:00am – 12:00am, so that you can have a tasty lunch while observing the stunning landscape of Halong Bay travel.

The cruise continues going around the bay until you reach a tourist spot, usually a famous beach or limestone cave such as Titop Island, Con Rùa Island (Turtle Island), or Cổng Trời Island (Heaven Gate Island), then anchors for the night there. You will get enough time to enjoy water sports and activities like snorkeling, swimming, and kayaking in the green water of the bay. Depending on your cruise, you might enjoy BBQ party on beach, sundeck, or in the on-board restaurant. Paradise cruise Halong Bay

What you will see on a cruise trip?

On the next day, the journey starts with Tai Chi class in the early morning and breakfast. You have the whole morning to visit other attractions of the bay, and most cruises will transfer you to a smaller day boat so that you can go down the more narrow path of the Bay. You can spend the rest of the day with your friends and family exploring the sea. A delicious dinner is ready anytime when you come back. In Travel to Vietnam

For the thirday, you will often get to see Surprise Cave after breakfast. Brunch will be served as the cruise slowly heads back to the harbour.

Cách phân biệt nhung hươu thật giả

Hàng quý tộc khó kiểm định

Đặc tính của hươu nai giong là chỉ con đực mới mọc sừng. Khi mới mọc, sừng non (thường gọi lộc nhung) có chiều dài khoảng từ 5-20cm, mềm, mặt ngoài phủ đầy lông tơ màu nâu nhạt, phía trong sừng có nhiều mạch máu. Theo ông Lê Tá, một chủ trang trại từng nuôi hươu nai khai thác lộc tại quận 12 (TPHCM) nay đã giải nghệ, nhung hươu đẹp nhất nặng từ 5-6 lạng (500-600gram). Một đời hươu đực trải qua 16-18 lần cắt nhung, mỗi năm cho nhung một lần.

Ông Tá tâm tình: Khi đi mua nhung huou nguyen chat, vì sợ lầm hàng, người sành điệu chỉ mua lộc khi họ được tận mắt chứng kiến cảnh cưa cắt mà thôi. Nhưng không phải ai cũng có kinh nghiệm, thời gian, tiền bạc, sức khỏe để lặn lội hàng chục, thậm chí hàng trăm kilômet đến các trang trại đặng chứng kiến tận mắt cảnh cắt cưa ấy. Điều này đồng nghĩa với việc nhiều người phải mua lộc nhung qua các mối trung gian. Tận dụng cơ hội đó, dân buôn lộc trời ơi thường gả những cặp lộc quá lứa cho khách với giá hàng xịn.

Theo các chuyên gia, lộc nhung tốt là loại mềm, chưa phân yên, nghĩa là khi dùng dao cắt sẽ thái được toàn bộ chứ không đụng xương tảng, không đứt (dấu hiệu chuyển sang sừng).

Cách phân biệt nhung hươu thật giả

Lương y Đỗ Mạch, ở phố thuốc Hải Thượng Lãn Ông (Q.5, TPHCM) chỉ rõ cách nhận biết giá trị thực tế của lộc nhung hươu, nai. Hươu có lông đen mịn, có đốm, còn nai thì to hơn hươu, lông cứng hơn, có màu xám hoặc nâu. Mùa thu hoạch nhung hươu thường vào tháng 2-3 âm lịch, mùa nhung nai chậm hơn 1-2 tháng sau đó. Nhung nai có màu sẫm, lông nâu, to, nặng và rẻ hơn nhung hươu. Nếu như lộc nhung nai có giá khoảng 5 triệu đồng một kilôgam thì lộc nhung hươu có giá trị hơn, khoảng từ 6-7 triệu đồng. Vấn đề ở chỗ nếu không biết cách nhận biết đâu là nhung hươu, nai thì khách rất dễ bị luộc.

Lương y Mạch tiết lộ xảo thuật làm giả lộc nhung huou tuoi nai của phường gian thương: Bọn gian tạo hình lộc nhung bằng cách nhét tiết lợn cùng xương thỏ băm nhỏ vào da chó, da dê con rồi dùng một loại keo đặc biệt dán chặt. Để chắc ăn, tiếp đó họ sẽ bôi thêm phẩm đỏ hoặc phẩm có màu nâu nhạt đặng xóa vết dán. Thấy cặp nhung đỏ màu tươi rói, nhiều người lao vào mua và… dính đạn.

Lương y Mạch khẳng định: Đây chính là cội nguồn của hiện tượng nhiều con buôn không nuôi hươu nai nhưng nếu khách có nhu cầu bao nhiêu cặp lộc nhung thì họ sẵn sàng đáp ứng trong thời gian ngắn nhất. Do vậy nếu không trực tiếp thấy chủ trang trại cắt lộc thì đừng… xông trận.

Cẩn trọng kẻo mất mạng!

Qua nghiên cứu, cả Đông lẫn Tây y đều đi đến kết luận, lộc nhung có tác dụng giúp người bệnh ngủ ngon, giảm mệt mỏi, tăng sức đề kháng cho cơ thể, giúp vết thương chóng lành và nhất là có tác dụng tốt với các chứng bệnh như tim, nhược năng, bệnh thần kinh thực vật…

Để bán được hàng và bán được với giá cao, nhiều ông bà chủ trang trại hươu nai nhân kết luận đó mạnh miệng tuyên bố thêm, nam-phụ-lão-ấu ai dùng lộc nhung cũng tốt. Người có bệnh thì dùng chữa bệnh, không bệnh thì giúp bồi bổ sức khỏe, ngăn ngừa bệnh tật.

Lại có vị chủ trại cam đoan ai dùng lộc nhung do trang trại mình cung cấp sẽ có nước da láng mịn, mái tóc mượt mà, đàn bà sung mãn, đàn ông thăng hoa. Các chứng bệnh như vô sinh, lao phổ, viêm gan, xơ gan… cũng bị dược tính của lộc nhung đẩy lùi mà dứt tiệt.

Nói đến đây, lương y Mạch lắc đầu: Không chỉ đồn uống rượu ngâm lộc nhung không lo chưa đến chợ đã hết tiền, nhiều ông bà chủ còn tuyên bố chắc nịch uống rượu lộc nhung có sức bắn phá lung tung, bắn chỗ nào là dính con trai chỗ nấy. Một đồn mười, mười đồn trăm, vậy là hình thành trào lưu… nguy hại.

Như lương y Mạch, lương y Hoàng Linh ở nhà thuốc Vạn Xuân cho rằng, lộc nhung có vị ngọt, mặn, có công năng bổ tủy, trợ thận âm…, biết dùng rất tốt cho sức khỏe nhưng nếu lạm dụng sẽ phản tác dụng bởi không phải ai dùng cũng tốt, càng không phải là thuốc tiên chữa bách bệnh.

Lương y Linh cảnh báo: Nhung hươu là chất bổ âm, chỉ dùng tốt với người thận dương không đủ. Những người bị cao huyết áp, có hội chứng âm hư với biểu hiện người gầy, hay có cảm giác sốt về chiều, môi khô, miệng khát, đại tiện táo, tiểu tiện sẻn đỏ… tuyệt đối không được dùng lộc nhung. Người còn trẻ hoặc có sức khỏe bình thường khi dùng lộc nhung phải tiến hành theo dõi tình trạng sức khỏe. Nói chung mọi người không được tùy tiện dùng lộc nhung khi chưa có chỉ định hoặc tham khảo ý kiến của các lương y, bác sĩ. Đã có nhiều trường hợp tự ý sử dụng lộc nhung và sử dụng vô tội vạ dẫn đến hậu quả thương tâm: Toàn thân bị co giật, động huyết, ngực phát nóng, liên tục đổ mồ hôi trộm… để rồi khỏe đâu không thấy, chỉ thấy bệnh tình càng nặng thêm.

Wild Life in Halong

Wild Life in Halong: largely includes bats and a wide variety of marine creatures. Because of the tropical climate, Wild life in Halong has thrived to a large extent in Vietnam.

Bats are just one of countless wildlife species that inhabit the islands and caves of this ancient, World Heritage-listed site. Halong Bay tours has nearly 2000 islands, half of which remain unnamed. Most are covered by thick jungle inhabited only by monkeys and birds. 

Haa Long Bay features ecosystems of a tropical ocean region, such as: salt water-flooded forests, coral reefs and tropical rain forests. H?a Long Bay is home to 163 species of coral, from 44 lines of descent and 12 families. Coral reefs are distributed everywhere usually at a depth of 4 to 6m. The coverage rate of coral reef is 30% on average. There are areas where it attains 70 to 80%, such as at Cong Do and B? Hung. The coral forests of Ha Long Bay are a wonderful sight, with many extraordinary shapes and diversified colors.3 best places kayaking in Halong bay

Wild Life in Halong

The reefs are residence to a great number of species. There are primarily 107 varieties of fishes, water plants, algae and transitory animals and plants. Also living in these flooded forests are a great many species of animals. These include migrating 37 species of birds, 81 species of sea-bottom animals and fish belonging to 55 families. Fishing is the lifeblood of most Vietnamese, and features prominently in all their dishes. Read more: Halong bay map

In particular, bottom-feeders account for 61% of the total species in the whole tidal region, with many species like arcae, meretrixes and all kinds of crustaceans being of great economic value.

The tropical rain forest ecosystem also features a rich quantity of species: dinh, huong, sen, tau trees. This is the residence of various rare and precious creatures like deer, weasels, squirrels and in particular, white-tabby and red-haired monkeys

Ba Hang and Cap La Fishing Village in Halong bay

Ba Hang Fishing Village in Halong bay

Ba Hang (Three) Caves is one of 4 fishing villages serving major tourist attractions in Halong Bay. Located in the region of well-known three caves, located next to thiencung (heaven) grotto, daugo grotto ... Visit Ba Hang Fishing Village in Halong bay with Halong bay cruise

with about 50 families...Ba Hang (Three) Caves is one of 4 fishing villages serving major tourist attractions in Halong Bay. Located in the region of well-known three caves, located next to thiencung (heaven) grotto, daugo grotto ... with about 50 families, Ba hang fishing village for tourists to visit, purchase and sale of marine, kayaking service... Read more:  

Paradise Cruise Halong bay, Indochina Sails cruise Halong bay

Ba Hang and Cap La Fishing Village in Halong bay

Cap La Fishing Village in Halong Bay

Cap La is one of the small fishing village (lying between Bai Tu Long & Halong Bay). There are 80 family holders with more than 200 people living in this village. They live by fishing. Children go to school until they are 12 years old, then they stop for working as fish man.

No national electricity system here. The local have to use the electricity generators. It is hard and expensive to buy clean water and petrol her.

Mekong floating market

Cho Gao Floating Market

In the early morning, you could travel by your comfortable bus towards Can Duoc, where you come aboard of your boat to cruise to the Cho Gao floating market.
This sightseeing is extremely interesting as you participate in the life of the local people. The market is a melting pot of colors, shapes, sounds and smells. Rice, fresh fruit, fish, handicrafts, bonsais, almost everything is for sale, a great opportunity to find some nice souvenirs for the loved-ones at home! Read more: Mekong river tours

Phong Dien Floating Market

Boats loaded with produce from nearby orchards of the Mekong Delta converge to the floating market. They carry mostly fruits but also coconuts, vegetables and fishes.
Buyers are local traders with bigger boats snapping everything by the bushels and resell at local markets or to wholesale dealers from big cities, often for a handsome profit.
Large floating markets are not complete without its floating restaurants, floating gas stations and an occasional tour boat filled with tourists. 

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Mekong floating market

Perhaps the best floating market in the Mekong Delta, Phong Dien has fewer motorised craft and more stand-up rowing boats. It's less crowded than Cai Rang and there are far fewer tourists. The market is at its bustling best between 6am and 8am.
It is theoretically possible to do a whirl- wind boat trip here, visiting the small canals on the way and finishing back at the Cai Rang floating market. This journey should take approximately five hours return from Can Tho.

Cai Be Floating Market

It is opened from 5am to 5pm. It is best to go early in the morning. Wholesalers on big boats moor here, each specialising in one or a few types of fruit or vegetable. Customers cruise the market in smaller boats and can easily find what they're looking for, as the larger boats hang samples of their goods from tall wooden poles.
One interesting thing you won't see at other floating markets is the huge Catholic cathedral on the riverside - a popular and fantastic backdrop for photographs.
It takes about an hour to reach the market from Vinh Long, but most people make detours on the way there or back to see the canals or visit orchards.
Phung Hiep Floating Market
The market meets all day long, but most noisy and busy in the morning. The precious evening, from far-and-wide, boats full of seasonal vegetables and fruits: mangoes, durians, bananas, oranges, coconuts... left their villages to head for the sunrise market. Every boat is full of fruits. Some boats are covered with roofs, some are not. On boats without roofs, the sellers have to hold high a stick hanging with fruits as signals. Market-goers do not bargain, just a few words exchange, they sell and get paid. Normally, fruits are sold and brought to big boats. Then they will be transported to fruit-processing factories or to Ho Chi Minh City, Vung Tau, even to Hanoi and Northern provinces.
It's a floating market' but services are available, foods and drinks on small boats twist and turn to serve hungry sellers and buyers. Signal to buy is only a whistling or waving band. Apart from fruits, local products: snakes, birds, turtles... are easy to find near Phung Hiep bridge. These specialties are almost bought and brought to restaurants in Can Tho or Ho Chi Minh City.
The atmosphere in Phung Hiep market was exciting, as we witnessed snake traders fearfully transferring poisonous copperheads, kraits, and rattlesnakes, from their cages to purchaser’s jute bags.
The price for a snake ranges from tens of thousands of dong for individual specimens, to hundreds of thousands of dong per kilogram. One kilogram of water snakes is priced at VND30, 000-VND50, 000 (US$1.88 - $3.13); while copperheads sell for between VND50, 000-VND400, 000 ($3.13 - $25) per kilo.
Second to the snakes in quantity at Phung Hiep market are wild birds. All species favoured by urban gastronomers such as cao, cu dat, stork, blosh dove, moorcook, and la mia, are sold at the market.
Birds are hanged up on the motorbikes of bird hunters from rural areas and confined in narrowed cages. Thousands of birds are purchased each hour, and transported to “headquarters” for retail sale to restaurants in Ho Chi Minh City and southwestern provinces.
Phung Hiep Snake Market, located close to the floating market, is known worldwide. Visitors from all over the world go there to taste the snake liquor and see the dangerous snake dance.

Halong Weather

Halong weather is typical for tropical coastal climate, which has two main seasons all year around. From April to September, it is often hot and humid; from October to March the weather is dry with some cold months.

The average temperature of Halong Bay tours is 23.7 degree Celsius. In the summer, the average temperature is 34.9oC while the maximum temperature recorded is 38oC. The heat may be reduced thanks to its location amid the mountains and grottos. On the other hand, during winter, it might get as low as 13.7oC on the average, and the lowest could be as low as 5oC. Some may find it hard to travel in January when the weather can be biting cold. Read more: V'spirit cruise

The city has a relatively high average annual rainfall of 1,832mm, which is unevenly distributed depending on the two main seasons. During the rain season, and also summer, from May to end of August, the rainfall amounts for 80-85% of the total rainfall of the year, with the maximum of 350mm in July and August. Winter, and also dry season (from November to April of the next year) witnesses little raining of around 15-20% of the total rainfall, with the minimum amount varying in between 4 and 40mm during December and January.

Halong Weather

Halong is one of the most humid cities in Vietnam with the average annual humidity at 84%, which fluctuate from a minimum of 68% to a maximum of 90% in a year. Travel Vietnam

Due to the unique geological and topographic characteristic, Halong has two kinds of monsoon, which are Northeast monsoon in the winter, and Southwest monsoon in the summer. The average wind speed is 2.8m/s, and Southwest monsoon is the strongest one with its speed reaches 45m/s.

Thanks to the nature of a closed-sea area, Halong is lucky not to be much affected by heavy storms. The strongest storms on the bay normally are at level 9 and 10, hardly anytime reaching level 11.

Travel Bai Tu Long Bay

Bai Tu Long Bay is a beautiful bay of the Gulf of Tonkin, in the northeastern Vietnam. It belongs to the territory of Quang Ninh Province and about 200 kilometers far from Hanoi, the capital city of Vietnam - Vietnam travel

Legend said it that in the early era of Vietnam, the country had to fight against powerful invaders. To help Vietnamese people save their country, a family of dragons was ordered by the god to assist them. Dragons spitted out various jewels and jades to form a long and solid citadel. Therefore, the invaders had to give up their invasion plot and sailed their ships back. After the war, the family of dragons stayed on the Earth as beautiful and peaceful scenery there. The bay, where the mother dragon descended, was named Halong bay (Dragon Descending Bay). And the bay where the dragon’s children descended was called Bai Tu Long Bay. Nowadays, variety of islets on Halong Bay is said to be petrified jewels and jades that the dragons spitting out. The island range of Bach Long Vi is considered as the trail of dragon’s tail on the sea. Read more: halong bay tours

Bai Tu Long Bay comprises hundreds of islands in both big and small sizes. They belong to two types: lime-stone islands and schist islands. The islands of Bai Tu Long are the result of tectonic process over 300 million years. Many of them are well-known tourism islands such as Quan Lan Island, Minh Chau Island, Ngoc Vung Island, and The Vang Island. Karst corrosion process and weathering created several amazing caves, especially Quan Cave (Navy Cave).  Read more: Indochina Sails cruise Halong

Travel Bai Tu Long Bay

Bai Tu Long Bay has a rich biodiversity with typical ecosystems: mangrove ecosystem, coral reef ecosystem, ecosystem of tropical forests. It is home to various species of flora and fauna. There are 780 species of flora in Bai Tu Long Bay and 21 species among them are included in the list of Vietnam’s Red Data Book. Scientists also found 931 species of aquatic animals there. In 2001, Bai Tu Long National Park was established with the area of 14 ha in order to preserve biodiversity in this region.

Bai Tu Long Bay has the total population of 30.000 people whose livelihoods depend mainly on farming and fishing. On Bai Tu Long, there remain many archaeological relics of Halong Culture (dating around 3.000 – 2.000 BC) and historical trails of the ancient Van Don commercial port (in 13th century).

Bảo vệ mái tóc khi ngồi điều hòa

Mái tóc thường khô xơ và không bóng đẹp nếu bạn thường xuyên ở trong phòng máy lạnh. Hãy chọn chỗ ngồi tránh nơi dieu hoa nhiet do thổi trực tiếp vào tóc, không để nhiệt độ quá chênh lệch với ngoài trời...
Để tóc luôn khỏe đẹp khi thường xuyên phải ngồi trong phòng điều hòa LG, bạn nên chú ý những điểm sau:

- Không nên bước vào phòng điều hòa ngay khi vừa từ ngoài nắng nóng vào. Nguyên nhân là nhiệt độ thay đổi đột ngột, mồ hôi sẽ bốc hơi nhanh chóng gây khô tóc, làm cơ thể hạ nhiệt nhanh dẫn đến rối loạn điều hòa nhiệt.

- Nên để nhiệt độ trong phòng và ngoài trời chênh nhau tối đa 8 độ. Không nên ngồi ở chỗ điều hòa thổi trực tiếp vào.

- Tránh ngồi trong phòng điều hòa khi tóc ướt vì lúc này tóc thường yếu hơn, lượng nước bị mất đi đột ngột sẽ khiến tóc của chúng ta dễ bị tổn thương hơn.

- Không nên ở trong phòng điều hòa liên tục quá 4 giờ liên tục.

- Nên có bình hơi xịt nước để thỉnh thoảng xịt cho tóc. Chú ý không phun nhiều, tóc sẽ bị bết.

- Ra ngoài đường nên thoa kem chống nắng và đội mũ cẩn thận để tránh tóc bị gãy, khô, chẻ ngọn.

- Nếu tóc bạn thường xuyên tiếp xúc với dieu hoa Funiki chinh hang, không nên sử dụng máy sấy nhiều. Nếu trong trường hợp khẩn cấp, bạn có thể sấy tóc ở chế độ mát. Nếu bắt buộc phải thường xuyên thay đổi kiểu tóc thì bạn nên dùng loại kem bảo vệ đặc biệt. Hạn chế sử dụng hóa chất với tóc như ép, nhuộm, uốn xoăn.

Gội đầu và dưỡng tóc

Nên chọn những loại dầu gội đầu dầu bảo vệ tóc chống ôxy hóa chứa nhiều vitamin E để chống lại các gốc tự do gây lão hóa tóc.

Với những người thường xuyên ngồi phòng điều hòa midea, việc gội đầu và dưỡng tóc rất quan trọng. Nên dùng dầu xả mỗi khi gội đầu để tăng cường dưỡng chất và độ ẩm cho tóc. Không nên thoa kem xả khô ở phần chân tóc, sẽ làm tóc nhanh bẩn.

Đặc biệt, các bạn hãy sử dụng các loại mặt nạ từ thiên nhiên cho tóc như mặt nạ bơ, đu đủ, chanh hoặc mật ong… Nó có thể giúp tóc phục hồi hư tổn, tăng cường sức sống, độ chắc khỏe và bóng mượt.

Bảo vệ mái tóc khi ngồi điều hòa

Tăng độ ẩm trong phòng

Việc thường xuyên ngồi trong phòng điều hòa sẽ khiến mái tóc mất đi độ bóng mượt và sức sống tươi trẻ vốn có. Nguyên nhân do không khí trong phòng điều hòa thường khô hơn, khiến tóc mất đi độ ẩm cần thiết.

Để tăng cường độ ẩm trong phòng và hạn chế sự khô xơ của tóc, bạn có thể đặt một chậu nước trong phòng mỗi khi bật điều hòa. Cách làm này tuy đơn giản nhưng nó có tác dụng rất hiệu quả trong việc tăng cường độ ẩm và giúp hạn chế hư tổn mái tóc khi ở lâu trong phòng điều hòa.

Uống đủ nước

Thông thường, cơ thể một người cần được cung cấp 2-2,5 lít nước mỗi ngày. Tuy nhiên, khi ngồi trong phòng điều hòa, lượng nước trong cơ thể bị “bốc hơi” nhanh hơn. Vì thế, bạn cần tăng cường uống nước.

Ngoài việc uống nước lọc, bạn cũng có thể sử dụng các loại nước trái cây tươi, nhất là nước cam để thay thế. Đây không chỉ là nguồn cung cấp nước, cam còn bổ sung rất nhiều vitamin và khoáng chất cho cơ thể.

Long Xuyen travel guide

The capital of An Giang province, Long Xuyen boasts a sprawling and rather interesting riverside market, a huge cathedral and a smattering of colonial relics, but it is otherwise a nondescript spot that features on close to nobody's travel itinerary through the Mekong Delta trips.

While a steady trickle of travellers and backpackers pass through, or stay in, nearby Chau Doc, precious few choose to stay in Long Xuyen and it is easy to see why.

Some come for a transport connection, but that's close to the end of the appeal for most. Despite this, there is ample accommodation, albeit primarily aimed at travelling business people rather than backpackers and independent travellers. There's also a bunch of dodgy places outside town, but we can't imagine Long Xuyen ever being that busy you'd need to contemplate a stay out there. There's also a smattering of restaurants scattered across town. Read more: Tours in Vietnam 

Long Xuyen travel guide

The most interesting attraction in Long Xuyen town itself is the massive wet market that runs along the river's edge to the east of the central pier.

You could easily lose yourself for a couple of hours in the market, but it is not worth travelling specifically to Long Xuyen to see. Read more: Jahan cruise

From the nearby pier you can also organise short boat trips into the surrounds, priced by the hour. You needn't look for a boatman or woman -- they will find you.

Aside from the market and a boat trip, start planning your escape to a more interesting destination.

Halong Calypso crusie 2D - 1N

The myth of Halong Calypso crusie has been inspirited into the Calypso Cruiser. “Glamour” and “Grandeur” are best to characterize Calypso. The cruiser features 12 luxury cabins, all finely equipped, and exposed to the widest view of the Bay; a restaurant features a feast for the senses; and a panoramic sundeck allowing different activities with the beauty of Halong Bay as backdrop. Read more: Halong Alova Gold Cruise, Halong Image Cruise

Halong Calypso crusie 2D - 1N

DAY 1: HANOI – HALONG BAY

08.00 – 08.30 Pick-up at hotel and start the 3 hour-and-a-half drive to Halong Bay
12.00 – 12.30 Embark on Calypso Cruiser followed by cruise briefing
13.00 – 15.30 Savor a sumptuous lunch as Calypso Cruiser cruise further along the limestone islands of Fighting Cock,Dog Rock and Incense Burner…
15.30 – 17.30 Visit Amazing Cave
17.30 – 19.00 Enjoy drinks on Sundeck, snap photos the overview of Halong Bay, go swimming or just relax as the sun starts to set. Join in our brief Vietnamese cooking course on board while having some free wine.
19.00 Dinner is served. Socialize with other guests or just laze around. vernight on board in a tranquil area. (Evening activities available: night squid fishing, karaoke, dancing…)

Day1: Hanoi - Halong bay (L/D)
08h00 – 08h30    Pick-up at hotel and start the 3 hour-and-a-half drive to Halong Bay
12h00 – 12h30    Embark on Calypso Cruiser followed by cruise briefing
13h00 – 15h30    Savor a sumptuous lunch as Calypso Cruiser cruise further along the limestone islands of Fighting Cock, Dog Rock and Incense Burner…
15h30 – 17h30    Visit Amazing Cave
17h30 – 19h00    Enjoy drinks on Sundeck, snap photos the overview of Halong Bay, go swimming or just relax as the sun starts to set.
Those who fancy some experience in cooking Vietnamese dishes can join in our brief Vietnamese cooking course on board while having some free wine.
19h00    Dinner is served. Socialize with other guests or just laze around. 
Overnight on board in a tranquil area. (Evening activities available: night squid fishing, karaoke, dancing…)

Day2: Halong bay - Hanoi (B/L)
06h00 – 07h00    Start your day with swimming, exercise or photo hunting
07h00 – 11h00    Have breakfast at sunrise. 
Get your hand on some kayaking, visiting Luon cave, swimming.
Option:  For those who do not fancy kayaking can visit Titop Island to enjoy the panorama view of Halong Bay or just relax, swim at the beach.
Head back to the Harbor.
Disembark at around 11h00
12h00 – 16h30    Transfer back to Hanoi and trip finishes at the hotel around 16h30

Notes:

• Itinerary is subject to change without prior notice due to the weather condition
• Cruise itinerary and schedule subject to change upon weather and operations conditions.
• Advance registration is required with full name, date of birth, nationality, passport number, visa expiry date for all Passengers
• A valid passport is required upon check-in on board. Children whose traveling documents are attached to parent's passport must travel with the parent. Credit cards accepted on board: Amex, Visa and MasterCard.
• Special requests on food (diet or vegetarian) please inform us before departure.
• Connecting room is available upon reques.
• Surcharge will be added for cruises on December 24 & 31

6 LƯU Ý SỬ DỤNG ĐIỀU HÒA CHO TRẺ NHỎ

Dưới đây là 6 nguyên tắc dùng điều hòa đúng cách cho trẻ nhỏ

Vệ sinh máy lạnh thường xuyên

Lưu ý quan trọng đầu tiên là bạn hãy vệ sinh máy lạnh định kỳ. Có rất nhiều loại nấm mốc, mầm bệnh, bụi bẩn lưu trú trong máy điều hòa. Chắc bạn không muốn con bạn bị lây nhiễm bệnh từ luồng khí mát thổi xuống.
Ngay cả không gian trong phòng cũng phải thường xuyên được dọn dẹp sạch sẽ, đảm bảo độ thông thoáng khí khi không sử dụng điều hòa.

Cài đặt nhiệt độ hợp lý

Để an toàn cho trẻ khi sử dụng máy điều hòa tủ đứng , bạn nên cài đặt nhiệt độ lý tưởng là 25 – 27 độ C. Theo chuyên gia chăm sóc trẻ nhỏ thì với trẻ con cần phải duy trì nhiệt độc chênh lệch trong nhà và ngoài nhà không quá 7 độ C.

Thời gian sử dụng điều hòa

Với trẻ nhỏ việc ngồi trong phòng điều hòa suốt ngày không thực sự tốt. Bởi thời gian ngồi điều hòa càng lâu sẽ khiến cho khô da và khô họng trẻ. Tốt nhất cứ khoảng 2 – 3 giờ, mẹ nên cho bé ra ngoài nhiệt độ bình thường một lần.  Mẹ không nên để trẻ trong phòng điều hòa liên tục 4 giờ.
Nên lưu ý trước khi ra khỏi phòng 30 phút, hãy tắt điều hòa và mở cửa phòng để cho không khí được lưu thông và để cơ thể bé thích nghi dần với nhiệt độ bên ngoài.

Tránh sự thay đổi đột ngột

6 LƯU Ý SỬ DỤNG ĐIỀU HÒA CHO TRẺ NHỎ

 Với trẻ nhỏ việc thay đổi nhiệt độ đột ngột rất nguy hiểm. Khi trẻ đi ngoài nắng về, mồ hôi nhiều, bạn không nên cho trẻ vào ngay phòng điều hòa âm trần giá rẻ quá lạnh. Hãy lau mồ hôi cho trẻ và để trẻ nghỉ ngơi một lúc. Khi mở phòng điều hòa, bạn hãy cho bé đứng ở cửa một vài phút cho quen với môi trường mát lạnh ở trong, rồi mới cho trẻ vào.
Nhiều trẻ hiếu động, chạy ra chạy vào phòng điều hòa. Bạn nên hạn chế trẻ đi ra đi vào ở nơi có nhiệt độ chênh lệch.
Ngoài ra trong phòng điều hòa không khí khô, bạn nên dùng máy tạo ẩm. Nhưng cũng chỉ sử dụng làm ẩm nhẹ, nếu không lại tạo ra độ ẩm lớn dễ làm trẻ viêm đường hô hấp hơn.

Uống nước

Nhiều trẻ chơi trong phòng điều hòa mát mẻ nên quên cả uống nước. Thực ra càng ở phòng điều hòa, bạn càng phải khuyến khích trẻ uống nhiều nước để tránh hiện tượng mất nước. Hiện tượng mất nước ở trẻ nhỏ sẽ làm suy giảm cơ chế bảo vệ tại chỗ vệ sinh đường thở.

Nên bật quạt thông gió khi sử dụng điều hòa

Không nên để hướng điều hoà thổi thẳng vào mặt, đầu trẻ vì sẽ khiến trẻ bị ngạt mũi, khó thở và mắc các bệnh về hô hấp, viêm họng.
Sử dụng thêm quạt thông gió khi bật điều hòa sẽ giúp không khí được cân bằng tự nhiên hơn.
Tuy nhiên, nếu thời tiết không nóng bức thì không cần thiết phải cho em bé sử dụng điều hòa. Gió và khí trời tự nhiên, thậm chí là gió quạt vẫn là tốt nhất cho bé và tất cả chúng ta.

Lưu ý khi chăm con trong phòng điều hòa

- Để tránh khô mũi, bạn nên thường xuyên nhỏ mũi cho bé bằng dung dịch nước muối sinh lý để giữ độ ẩm cần thiết trong cơ thể.
- Cho bé ăn những loại thức ăn, đồ uống giải nhiệt như nước cam nước chanh, nước cam...
- Khi trẻ ngủ, hãy đắp một tấm chăn mỏng, đặc biệt che kín vùng bụng, tránh lỗ chân lông giãn nở dễ dẫn tới bị cảm lạnh. Cần chọn cho trẻ những bộ quần áo thấm mồ hôi tốt như đồ cotton.

Indochina Sails Reviews

The cruise is loaded with excellent facilities. It has shower, massage parlours, bars, salons, air conditioned cabins, telephone service, and hence every kind of accommodation. You will not feel like regretting your decision of travelling through the Indochina sails halong bay. The services offered are excellent, the food served is great and the natural beauty is worth watching. You can capture the most beautiful moments of your life by spending your time in the Indochina sails. Read more: Paradise cruise, Violet cruise Cruise Description:

Indochina Sails cruise Halong bay

If you want to see the natural beauty of Vietnam closely, then you must experience it by travelling through Indochina sails cruise. The Cruise services are managed by Indochina sails Cruise Company and are regarded as the most appreciable service providers in Halong Bay. You can spend luxurious nights and marvellous days by selecting the number one Cruise service of Indochina sails along the Halong Bay. The Cruises of Indochina sails are excellently designed and beautifully decorated. The services offered at the cruises are of very high quality. The cabins, decks and rooms depict the traditional and modern version of Vietnam. No other option can be better than seeing the spectacular beauty of the marvellous Halong Bay by sitting at the vast deck of Indochina Cruise. If you want to spend some most memorable moments of your life, then you must experience travelling through the Indochina Cruises. You will definitely love the experience and will surely mark it as the most beautiful and enjoyable journey of your life. So, if you ever plan to visit Vietnam, do plan to give at least two days to the beauty of the Halong Bay cruise. Cruise itinerary: One day package of the Cruise includes exciting and adventurous sail. The Cruise starts the journey at midday and takes you along the exciting and beautiful islands situated along Halong Bay. The sceneries during the entire journey are spectacular. The lunch is served by the Cruise crew including fresh sea food. Besides this, several other services are also offered during the journey which can be enjoyed by the travellers. You can go for swimming, fishing and kayaking during the journey as well. Sunbathing is also relished by most of the people sailing on the Indochina Cruise. The Cruise takes you to the nearby villages of the Halong Bay, where you can interact with the local residents of the area. Mostly, fishermen live there who can give you valuable information about the entire area. So, besides being explicit and enjoyable, the trip can also provide you some awareness about the beautiful Halong Bay of Vietnam. Dinner is also served by the crew in the dining halls. You will definitely love the fresh sea food of the cruise. This will definitely be the best experience of your life. Who will enjoy: Equipped with loads of explicit accommodations, the Indochina sails are considered the best for families, friends and couples as well. The Cruise provides you with the opportunity of swimming, drinking, sunbathing, kayaking and fresh healthy eating. So, plan out the best trip of your life by travelling through the Halong Bay in the most exquisite Indochina Sails.