Delightful Sapa Valley in Northern Vietnam

Take an overnight train ride from bustling Hanoi and you will arrive in the remote mountainous region of Sapa Valley, home to beautiful mountains and valleys, many minority hill-tribes and fascinating street markets. By escaping to Sapa you will find here real life and culture and pure relaxation.

Sapa is an old French Colonial Hill station nestled amongst the highest mountain range in Vietnam, Hoang Lien Son which is close to the Chinese border. Sapa is well known for its outstanding natural beauty and the variety of hill-tribes people that live in the area. As a destination it offers many adventure outdoor activities, cycling and trekking are the most popular of these.

The best trek in the area takes three days to the summit of Fansipan, standing at 3143 meters, it is the highest peak in Vietnam, affording breathtaking panoramic views into neighboring China. Travelling to the summit, is not the hardest trek in the world, so if you are fit and healthy and have plenty of energy, you should consider making this trek to the roof of Vietnam, where you'll be amongst the clouds.

Sapa is home to many minority Hill-tribe, visits and home-stays are a very popular activity in the Sapa region. One of the most well known hill-tribes in the area is the Black Hmong Hill-tribe, who frequent the villages throughout the area. They have their own culture and customs and many tourists enjoying visiting and learning about their ways of life, by taking a tour or even arranging an overnight home-stay. By visiting the tribes people you will learn about farming techniques, how their wonderful garments are made and be treated to traditional hill-tribe fare and music, a fascinating experience, which will allow you to immerse yourself in how simple life can be!

Home-stays are an ideal choice if you wish to have a real life experience of how these people live and work their daily lives and the people of the Hmong tribe and other minority groups are very welcoming to foreigners visiting them. Another aspect of local culture not to be missed is a visit to one of the numerous, hill-tribe markets. Each market has its own unique feel and is generally a place for the locals to get together to sell their wares and to socialize with friends and family, perhaps even meet a partner!

The largest of these markets in Bac Ha market, 80 Kilometres from downtown Sapa in the Lao Cai region, this market takes place every Sunday under the gaze of the nearby mountains and the border with China. Here you will see tribes people from all over the region and even from over the chinese border who come here to barter and trade. This is a very common sight at all of the markets in the Sapa region, a real cultural experience, where horseback is the mode of transportation of goods for sale.

A Hmong culinary specialty you may wish to try is Thang Co Blood Porridge, made from a mixture of pony and goats meat, slow cooked to produce a fine 'blood soup' served in a large hot-pot. This dish is a popular staple of the hill-tribes people in the region and is shared by everyone, using chopsticks to dip the succulently cooked meat into a spicy dip and then eaten, normally accompanied with bread, instant noodles, vegetables and herbs.

It is best to try this dish at one of the restaurants in the Sapa area, as opposed to experiencing it at one of the markets, like Bac Ha, here you will see the locals socialize, eat and wash the soup down with wine! Thang Co is very popular among the locals and warms the body in a region where temperatures and plummet dramatically in the evenings.

Other activities you would be able to arrange are Cycling, camping and trekking and even traveling by motorcycle are all very popular ways to explore the Sapa Region. To get to Sapa you need to travel by train from Hanoi, overnight to Lao Cai, the main town in the region and then take a 90 minute journey by road and dirt track to get to Sapa itself.

For a short break to visit hill-tribes and trek, 3 to 4 days is the recommended amount of time for a tour here, for the more adventurous there are various treks, cycling routes and home-stays that can be arranged for those wishing to spend longer, and a perfect combination with the Sapa Region would be Hanoi and a cruise around stunning Ha-long Bay, well known for its limestone cliffs, commonly referred to as the Gullin of Vietnam!

So consider visiting the Sapa region as part of a tour to Vietnam and indeed Indochina, Vietnam offers a fantastic mix of history, culture, outstanding natural beauty and stunning beaches, more than comparable to other Asian destinations such as Thailand and Malaysia. You would also be supporting Responsible and Sustainable tourism and growth throughout the region as a whole.

Delightful Sapa Valley in Northern Vietnam

Take an overnight train ride from bustling Hanoi and you will arrive in the remote mountainous region of Sapa Valley, home to beautiful mountains and valleys, many minority hill-tribes and fascinating street markets. By escaping to Sapa you will find here real life and culture and pure relaxation.

Sapa is an old French Colonial Hill station nestled amongst the highest mountain range in Vietnam, Hoang Lien Son which is close to the Chinese border. Sapa is well known for its outstanding natural beauty and the variety of hill-tribes people that live in the area. As a destination it offers many adventure outdoor activities, cycling and trekking are the most popular of these.

The best trek in the area takes three days to the summit of Fansipan, standing at 3143 meters, it is the highest peak in Vietnam, affording breathtaking panoramic views into neighboring China. Travelling to the summit, is not the hardest trek in the world, so if you are fit and healthy and have plenty of energy, you should consider making this trek to the roof of Vietnam, where you'll be amongst the clouds.

Sapa is home to many minority Hill-tribe, visits and home-stays are a very popular activity in the Sapa region. One of the most well known hill-tribes in the area is the Black Hmong Hill-tribe, who frequent the villages throughout the area. They have their own culture and customs and many tourists enjoying visiting and learning about their ways of life, by taking a tour or even arranging an overnight home-stay. By visiting the tribes people you will learn about farming techniques, how their wonderful garments are made and be treated to traditional hill-tribe fare and music, a fascinating experience, which will allow you to immerse yourself in how simple life can be!

Home-stays are an ideal choice if you wish to have a real life experience of how these people live and work their daily lives and the people of the Hmong tribe and other minority groups are very welcoming to foreigners visiting them. Another aspect of local culture not to be missed is a visit to one of the numerous, hill-tribe markets. Each market has its own unique feel and is generally a place for the locals to get together to sell their wares and to socialize with friends and family, perhaps even meet a partner!

The largest of these markets in Bac Ha market, 80 Kilometres from downtown Sapa in the Lao Cai region, this market takes place every Sunday under the gaze of the nearby mountains and the border with China. Here you will see tribes people from all over the region and even from over the chinese border who come here to barter and trade. This is a very common sight at all of the markets in the Sapa region, a real cultural experience, where horseback is the mode of transportation of goods for sale.

A Hmong culinary specialty you may wish to try is Thang Co Blood Porridge, made from a mixture of pony and goats meat, slow cooked to produce a fine 'blood soup' served in a large hot-pot. This dish is a popular staple of the hill-tribes people in the region and is shared by everyone, using chopsticks to dip the succulently cooked meat into a spicy dip and then eaten, normally accompanied with bread, instant noodles, vegetables and herbs.

It is best to try this dish at one of the restaurants in the Sapa area, as opposed to experiencing it at one of the markets, like Bac Ha, here you will see the locals socialize, eat and wash the soup down with wine! Thang Co is very popular among the locals and warms the body in a region where temperatures and plummet dramatically in the evenings.

Other activities you would be able to arrange are Cycling, camping and trekking and even traveling by motorcycle are all very popular ways to explore the Sapa Region. To get to Sapa you need to travel by train from Hanoi, overnight to Lao Cai, the main town in the region and then take a 90 minute journey by road and dirt track to get to Sapa itself.

For a short break to visit hill-tribes and trek, 3 to 4 days is the recommended amount of time for a tour here, for the more adventurous there are various treks, cycling routes and home-stays that can be arranged for those wishing to spend longer, and a perfect combination with the Sapa Region would be Hanoi and a cruise around stunning Ha-long Bay, well known for its limestone cliffs, commonly referred to as the Gullin of Vietnam!

So consider visiting the Sapa region as part of a tour to Vietnam and indeed Indochina, Vietnam offers a fantastic mix of history, culture, outstanding natural beauty and stunning beaches, more than comparable to other Asian destinations such as Thailand and Malaysia. You would also be supporting Responsible and Sustainable tourism and growth throughout the region as a whole.

Impressive Upside Down Pyramid in Hanoi

Toward 1000th anniversary Thang Long - Hanoi, many marvelous architectural works were built to enhance our Hanoi - the heart of Vietnam, such as: Inaugurated Peaceful Park, Hanoi Museum, ceramic road, Ho uncle statue,... However, Hanoi Museum which impressed me the most has not only the unique architecture but also the great historical value.

In opening day ( 6 October, 2010), there were thousands of people waiting for visiting Hanoi Museum that is the biggest museum in Vietnam with reverse pyramid shape; total square is 54.000 m2, height 30 m, including 4 floors and 2 basements. This is the first architecture in Vietnam which has used modern equipment and technology in construction field.

With 50.000 artifacts from Ly, Tran, Le, Nguyen dynastic to now, visitors can live with the long history of Hanoi. Outstanding of lobby, there is the letter in bronze picture which will be opened after 100 years. The third floor is the most noticeable place in the museum because there are many precious objects from many private collections such as: Dong Son bronze drum, Bat Trang ceramic, Ly - Mac dynastic bronze..

In its courtyard, organized the landscaped exhibitions with various kinds, we walked around and took breathtaking pictures.

Impressive Upside Down Pyramid in Hanoi

Toward 1000th anniversary Thang Long - Hanoi, many marvelous architectural works were built to enhance our Hanoi - the heart of Vietnam, such as: Inaugurated Peaceful Park, Hanoi Museum, ceramic road, Ho uncle statue,... However, Hanoi Museum which impressed me the most has not only the unique architecture but also the great historical value.

In opening day ( 6 October, 2010), there were thousands of people waiting for visiting Hanoi Museum that is the biggest museum in Vietnam with reverse pyramid shape; total square is 54.000 m2, height 30 m, including 4 floors and 2 basements. This is the first architecture in Vietnam which has used modern equipment and technology in construction field.

With 50.000 artifacts from Ly, Tran, Le, Nguyen dynastic to now, visitors can live with the long history of Hanoi. Outstanding of lobby, there is the letter in bronze picture which will be opened after 100 years. The third floor is the most noticeable place in the museum because there are many precious objects from many private collections such as: Dong Son bronze drum, Bat Trang ceramic, Ly - Mac dynastic bronze..

In its courtyard, organized the landscaped exhibitions with various kinds, we walked around and took breathtaking pictures.

The Brilliance of Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)

Ho Chi Minh City or Saigon (it all depends on who you're talking to) is a brilliant city that belies what most people think of when they imagine Vietnam. People think of jungles and damp rice fields, and while Vietnam does indeed have luscious jungles and rice fields where early morning mist settles in an almost magical way, it also has cities full of vibrancy and life. Ho Chi Minh City delivers for every sense you possess; intriguing sights, unique sounds, delicacies to taste, a multitude of scents, and plenty of goods to touch.

The moment you step into the city, you can almost feel its energy pulsing through you. It is their capital of commerce, the largest city that is filled with people hustling and bustling, goods to be sold, food simmering, steaming, and roasting away, ready to be eaten, and so much more! Keep en eye out for all the motorbikes, as it is the main method of travel on the city streets. If you know how to ride one, you may even be bold enough to try navigating the roads on your own; just watch yourself though. You aren't in Kansas anymore!

Book yourself a hotel and then head out for a nice, long day trip, or catch up on your sleep and strut out when the sun sets for some exciting nightlife. Ho Chi Minh City boasts everything and anything. Markets sell just about anything you might want and then some. Look for hand-crafted items, carefully woven, carved, or hammered out. Be bold and try some of the food cooked right there in front of you, made from fresh ingredients. Due to its proximity to the ocean, merchants have the ability to offer you seafood that may have been caught as recently as that morning.

There are also plenty of little cafes to relax at, unless you want to try a little acupuncture. It can boggle the mind the way such old styles blend in with the new. Markets jostle for room amidst the skyscrapers and lavish hotels. Boutiques with specialized interests sit quietly in neighborhoods while sweet nightclubs boom music into the night once darkness falls.

The city is constantly growing and more than willing to see new people step off the planes and take part in its excitement. It will welcome you with open arms, and it won't be long before you embrace it back completely.

The Brilliance of Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)

Ho Chi Minh City or Saigon (it all depends on who you're talking to) is a brilliant city that belies what most people think of when they imagine Vietnam. People think of jungles and damp rice fields, and while Vietnam does indeed have luscious jungles and rice fields where early morning mist settles in an almost magical way, it also has cities full of vibrancy and life. Ho Chi Minh City delivers for every sense you possess; intriguing sights, unique sounds, delicacies to taste, a multitude of scents, and plenty of goods to touch.

The moment you step into the city, you can almost feel its energy pulsing through you. It is their capital of commerce, the largest city that is filled with people hustling and bustling, goods to be sold, food simmering, steaming, and roasting away, ready to be eaten, and so much more! Keep en eye out for all the motorbikes, as it is the main method of travel on the city streets. If you know how to ride one, you may even be bold enough to try navigating the roads on your own; just watch yourself though. You aren't in Kansas anymore!

Book yourself a hotel and then head out for a nice, long day trip, or catch up on your sleep and strut out when the sun sets for some exciting nightlife. Ho Chi Minh City boasts everything and anything. Markets sell just about anything you might want and then some. Look for hand-crafted items, carefully woven, carved, or hammered out. Be bold and try some of the food cooked right there in front of you, made from fresh ingredients. Due to its proximity to the ocean, merchants have the ability to offer you seafood that may have been caught as recently as that morning.

There are also plenty of little cafes to relax at, unless you want to try a little acupuncture. It can boggle the mind the way such old styles blend in with the new. Markets jostle for room amidst the skyscrapers and lavish hotels. Boutiques with specialized interests sit quietly in neighborhoods while sweet nightclubs boom music into the night once darkness falls.

The city is constantly growing and more than willing to see new people step off the planes and take part in its excitement. It will welcome you with open arms, and it won't be long before you embrace it back completely.

Visit Halong Bay - A World Heritage Site

Ha Long Bay is located in northern Vietnam, east of Hai Phong City on the way to Mong Cai on the China Border. The scenery of Halong Bay is fantastic - awesome in fact. Halong Bays status has changed dramatically since it was named a World Heritage Site in 1994.  Once a sleepy port, it now attracts thousands of tourists from all corners of the globe.

The Vietnamese call it "Vinh Halong" meaning "Bay of the Descending Dragon". The bay was named after a local legend which tells of a Dragon descending from the sky and spitting out thousands of pearls when Vietnam was being attacked by overseas ships. The pearls turned into a string of islands, stopping the foreign ships from landing on Vietnam's mainland.

These rocks are largely limestone and spread out over a large area.  Some of the formations have images in them such as the "Dog Rock" and "Two Cocks Fighting".

In one area of the bay a floating village has come to life.  People spend almost all their time on their houseboats - making a living, raising families and doing their daily chores.

Of course, enjoying Halong Bay is best done by boat!  Halong Bay junks are built in the traditional South Asian style with  modern on-board amenities.  They accommodate 10 - 30 guests in 5 to 15 sleeping cabins.  Some may even have a luxury cabin or two.  A restaurant/lounge and  a sun deck are standard.  Traditional Vietnamese food is served.  Guests can enjoy swimming from the boat or beach. Standard cruises are 2-3 days, although arrangements can be made for a private charter. 

Visit Halong Bay - A World Heritage Site

Ha Long Bay is located in northern Vietnam, east of Hai Phong City on the way to Mong Cai on the China Border. The scenery of Halong Bay is fantastic - awesome in fact. Halong Bays status has changed dramatically since it was named a World Heritage Site in 1994.  Once a sleepy port, it now attracts thousands of tourists from all corners of the globe.

The Vietnamese call it "Vinh Halong" meaning "Bay of the Descending Dragon". The bay was named after a local legend which tells of a Dragon descending from the sky and spitting out thousands of pearls when Vietnam was being attacked by overseas ships. The pearls turned into a string of islands, stopping the foreign ships from landing on Vietnam's mainland.

These rocks are largely limestone and spread out over a large area.  Some of the formations have images in them such as the "Dog Rock" and "Two Cocks Fighting".

In one area of the bay a floating village has come to life.  People spend almost all their time on their houseboats - making a living, raising families and doing their daily chores.

Of course, enjoying Halong Bay is best done by boat!  Halong Bay junks are built in the traditional South Asian style with  modern on-board amenities.  They accommodate 10 - 30 guests in 5 to 15 sleeping cabins.  Some may even have a luxury cabin or two.  A restaurant/lounge and  a sun deck are standard.  Traditional Vietnamese food is served.  Guests can enjoy swimming from the boat or beach. Standard cruises are 2-3 days, although arrangements can be made for a private charter. 

All Around Cat Ba Island

I'm going to break travel writer ranks and make a bold but honest statement: the main beaches at Cat Ba island just aren't that marvelous. There. Said it. Shot me, slander me or write indignant letters to my editor, I don't care.

Of course, they're not terrible and I'm sure with a weighty thesaurus and some time (maybe years) spent buried neck deep in the bleak pebbles of England's worst beaches they could be made to sound utterly lovely. But compared with the breathtaking postcards of Central Vietnam's coast they pale noticeably. And the town in summer becomes as painfully crowded as the sand.

But there's an unexplored side to this island that makes it worth the few-hours' trip from Hanoi. Cat Ba National Park is a place so replete with flora that the honey produced with flora that the honey produced there is touted as some of the best in Vietnam. The bees have so much to feed upon (1561 species of flora belonging to 186 families).

Despite this only 10% of Cat Ba's 450 000 annual visitors actually make it into the park and fewer than that enjoy any of the hikes on offer, whether to the lookout on top of the mountain, to Viet Hai village or to Frog Lake. Yet fewer still head off to explore the small fishing and farming villages that dot this island of only 18000 people.

For 150 000VND for little over a half-day trip my guide Khan, who runs a barber shop and a small tourism business with his wife, took me around the less-explored regions of Cat Ba.

Like Ha Long or Tam Quoc, Cat Ba is filled with limestone karsts; they poke out from the land pretty much anywhere the crops don't grow. And little Cat Ba seems to grow everything, lychess especially. While driving Khan pointed out oranges, lychees, jackfruit, bananas, longan, arrowroot, persimmon, sweet potatoes and beans growing. Stopping at Gia Luon village, he told me the best oranges were grown here.

Gia Luon is small and there are absolutely no tourist attractions to speak of, but as a stop off for a quite and shady beer it's more than comfortable. Unlike other villages on the mainland, the local rich bloke hasn't knocked up some frightenningly huge concrete housethen painted it pink and turquoise. Things are more low-key.

After we drove to a small port connecting Cat Ba to the mainland. Picturesque as it was, it's virtually useless for the tourist looking for another way back to Hai Phong City and then Ha Noi. Boats only transport tour groups and skipper, after thinking hard, estimated a lone passenger would have to pay at least 2 million VND.

Hien Hao village, like the better-known Viet Hai, hosts home stays, but unlike most places in Vietnam it's not an ethnic minority village. Hien Hao is a very ordinary but very pretty Vietnamese village; houses are the standard vrick and cement, with patterned tile floors and beds made from split bamboo. New, communal bathrooms have been put in for the benefit of guests.

Khan was one of the architects of this project and proundly tells me that every house in the village is his home, or at least 50%. As we drove slowly through lanes overhung with trees and flowers he made a pint of waving to everyone.

The home stay project, which as of writing had hosted approximately five separate groups in over a year, was dreamt up as a means to keep people from peaking in the national park poaching in the national park by offering a new source of income.

The village, whilst enjoying views of neighboring gardens rather than soaring mountains, is undoubtedly pretty and very, very peaceful. And the residents, stocking bia hoi kegs and about 300 different kinds of fruit are friendly, if a little confused at what to do with you.

An interesting excursion within the village is to see the beehives. We visited one honey farm run by Duc, who's been bee-keeping 20 years and claims he is now totally immune to bee stings. The air soft with the noise of hives, we squatted to look at honeycombs, honey (250 000VND/ 650ml bottle) and the five litre glass vats of young bee wine he brews using only honeycomb, honey and bee larvae mixed with rice wine.

We had no time to stay the night and pressed on along the intra-island road to the two ports near Phu Long fishing village in the northwest. The scenery as you hug the coast leading north, beaches interspersed with mangroves and the occasional small stilt restaurant standing in water, is lovely. Not dramatic; there are no waves crashing against cliffs, but the peace and inland views are worth it. If you choose the bus over the hydrofoil at Cat Ba town's main port, this is the route you'll take but it's best seen from the over-air vantage of a motorbike

Driving back, we passed though many smaller villages, going by deserted beaches until reaching the town. Despite the straw cowboy hats, painted shells and one noisy disco of downtown Cat Ba, you're better off inland on this island.

All Around Cat Ba Island

I'm going to break travel writer ranks and make a bold but honest statement: the main beaches at Cat Ba island just aren't that marvelous. There. Said it. Shot me, slander me or write indignant letters to my editor, I don't care.

Of course, they're not terrible and I'm sure with a weighty thesaurus and some time (maybe years) spent buried neck deep in the bleak pebbles of England's worst beaches they could be made to sound utterly lovely. But compared with the breathtaking postcards of Central Vietnam's coast they pale noticeably. And the town in summer becomes as painfully crowded as the sand.

But there's an unexplored side to this island that makes it worth the few-hours' trip from Hanoi. Cat Ba National Park is a place so replete with flora that the honey produced with flora that the honey produced there is touted as some of the best in Vietnam. The bees have so much to feed upon (1561 species of flora belonging to 186 families).

Despite this only 10% of Cat Ba's 450 000 annual visitors actually make it into the park and fewer than that enjoy any of the hikes on offer, whether to the lookout on top of the mountain, to Viet Hai village or to Frog Lake. Yet fewer still head off to explore the small fishing and farming villages that dot this island of only 18000 people.

For 150 000VND for little over a half-day trip my guide Khan, who runs a barber shop and a small tourism business with his wife, took me around the less-explored regions of Cat Ba.

Like Ha Long or Tam Quoc, Cat Ba is filled with limestone karsts; they poke out from the land pretty much anywhere the crops don't grow. And little Cat Ba seems to grow everything, lychess especially. While driving Khan pointed out oranges, lychees, jackfruit, bananas, longan, arrowroot, persimmon, sweet potatoes and beans growing. Stopping at Gia Luon village, he told me the best oranges were grown here.

Gia Luon is small and there are absolutely no tourist attractions to speak of, but as a stop off for a quite and shady beer it's more than comfortable. Unlike other villages on the mainland, the local rich bloke hasn't knocked up some frightenningly huge concrete housethen painted it pink and turquoise. Things are more low-key.

After we drove to a small port connecting Cat Ba to the mainland. Picturesque as it was, it's virtually useless for the tourist looking for another way back to Hai Phong City and then Ha Noi. Boats only transport tour groups and skipper, after thinking hard, estimated a lone passenger would have to pay at least 2 million VND.

Hien Hao village, like the better-known Viet Hai, hosts home stays, but unlike most places in Vietnam it's not an ethnic minority village. Hien Hao is a very ordinary but very pretty Vietnamese village; houses are the standard vrick and cement, with patterned tile floors and beds made from split bamboo. New, communal bathrooms have been put in for the benefit of guests.

Khan was one of the architects of this project and proundly tells me that every house in the village is his home, or at least 50%. As we drove slowly through lanes overhung with trees and flowers he made a pint of waving to everyone.

The home stay project, which as of writing had hosted approximately five separate groups in over a year, was dreamt up as a means to keep people from peaking in the national park poaching in the national park by offering a new source of income.

The village, whilst enjoying views of neighboring gardens rather than soaring mountains, is undoubtedly pretty and very, very peaceful. And the residents, stocking bia hoi kegs and about 300 different kinds of fruit are friendly, if a little confused at what to do with you.

An interesting excursion within the village is to see the beehives. We visited one honey farm run by Duc, who's been bee-keeping 20 years and claims he is now totally immune to bee stings. The air soft with the noise of hives, we squatted to look at honeycombs, honey (250 000VND/ 650ml bottle) and the five litre glass vats of young bee wine he brews using only honeycomb, honey and bee larvae mixed with rice wine.

We had no time to stay the night and pressed on along the intra-island road to the two ports near Phu Long fishing village in the northwest. The scenery as you hug the coast leading north, beaches interspersed with mangroves and the occasional small stilt restaurant standing in water, is lovely. Not dramatic; there are no waves crashing against cliffs, but the peace and inland views are worth it. If you choose the bus over the hydrofoil at Cat Ba town's main port, this is the route you'll take but it's best seen from the over-air vantage of a motorbike

Driving back, we passed though many smaller villages, going by deserted beaches until reaching the town. Despite the straw cowboy hats, painted shells and one noisy disco of downtown Cat Ba, you're better off inland on this island.

Vietnam - The Hidden Charm

Vietnam is one of the most beautiful countries in the heart of South East Asia. It lies on Indochina Peninsula. It stretches south from the Chinese border along the east coast of the Indochina Peninsula. It is bordered by China to the north, Laos and Cambodia to the west, and the East Sea, to the east and the south. With a population of over 86 million and an area of 330,000 square km, our country is developing rapidly. People say that our country is a hidden small dragon. It is now awake and ready to soar to greater new heights. And now you're discovering that small dragon. The topography of Vietnam consists of a complex geography with three quarter mountains and ancient forest, a quarter delta plains. It's filled with exotic fauna, winding rivers and sandy tropical beaches.

Although entirely within the tropics, the Vietnam's climate is different from region to region. The annual average temperature is from 22ºC to 27ºC. The north of our country has cold, humid winters and warm, wet summers, while the south is warm all year with a monsoon season from May to November. Back to our history, 35 years passed since the American War in Vietnam ended. Many foreigners still don't know much knowledge about our small country. In reality, our country has outstanding natural beauty with many small peaceful villages and easygoing people. According to history's relics, our ancestors are Hung Kings. They lived 4000 years ago. Vietnamese believe that they belong to "the children of the Dragon and the Fairy".

Our official language is Vietnamese. Beside the official language, each ethnic minority group has its own dialect that has been used and preserved in daily life. For population and people, although it is a small country with the area of 330,000 square kilometers, there are up to 54 different ethnic groups in Vietnam. Kinh people accounts for nearly 86% of the whole population, and the others are ethnic minority groups about 14%. Nowadays, Kinh people mostly base in plains, especially in the Red River Delta and the Mekong Delta. The ethnic minority groups locate in the mountainous areas. Each group has their own custom and tradition. However, they are all friendly and love peace. Vietnamese are gentle, friendly to visitors. I'm sure you will find that after your excursion.

Spiritual life in Vietnam is a mixture of belief from Confucianism to Buddhism, Taoism and Animism. It's called Tam Giao Dong Nguyen. This means triple religion exist together. Besides, Christianity also play important role in many Vietnamese's spiritual. For the festival, Tet Nguyen Dan is our most important festival. The name Tet Nguyen Dan is Sino-Vietnamese for "Feast of the First Morning". It often celebrates in late January or early February and long in two weeks. This festival welcomes the Lunar New Year and to worship our ancestors. In festival, the children are got new clothes and get lucky money from their parents, grandparents and relation. For adult, they gather and give the best wishes each other. Tet Holiday is also an occasion for pilgrims and family reunions. During Tet, we visit temples and pagodas to make a wish for a luckiness, happiness and success year.

Beside Tet Holiday, we also have many other festivals include traditional and modern festivals. The best time you can part in traditional festival is spring and autumn.

For Vietnamese food, it can't be denied that food in Vietnam is extremely delicious and reflect Vietnamese culture; however, to find exact place to eat is not easy for travelers. Thus, I would like to share some of my experience. I hope it can help some of you. You can try in your free time.

Firstly, Beef Pho, Chicken Pho or some other types of noodle like cold shellfish noodle is good for you. It's similar to Western's soup but it's very special cuisine and taste.

Secondly, some traditional cakes shouldn't be missed, such as shrimp cake. This food is famous for West lake in Hanoi.

Thirdly, spring roll is also a fantastic food; the most famous is crab spring roll. "Pho cuon" another kind of spring roll, it made of "Pho" and you can find this food easily everywhere in our country, but the most special Pho is in Hanoi. Please visit Hanoi to experience an amazing place of food.

About drink, if you're interested in our local beer, don't miss out the draught beer. We call "bia hơi" in Vietnamese. Besides, you can try this drink in other areas, such as Hanoi beer in Hanoi, Saigon beer in HCM city, so on.

Vietnam - The Hidden Charm

Vietnam is one of the most beautiful countries in the heart of South East Asia. It lies on Indochina Peninsula. It stretches south from the Chinese border along the east coast of the Indochina Peninsula. It is bordered by China to the north, Laos and Cambodia to the west, and the East Sea, to the east and the south. With a population of over 86 million and an area of 330,000 square km, our country is developing rapidly. People say that our country is a hidden small dragon. It is now awake and ready to soar to greater new heights. And now you're discovering that small dragon. The topography of Vietnam consists of a complex geography with three quarter mountains and ancient forest, a quarter delta plains. It's filled with exotic fauna, winding rivers and sandy tropical beaches.

Although entirely within the tropics, the Vietnam's climate is different from region to region. The annual average temperature is from 22ºC to 27ºC. The north of our country has cold, humid winters and warm, wet summers, while the south is warm all year with a monsoon season from May to November. Back to our history, 35 years passed since the American War in Vietnam ended. Many foreigners still don't know much knowledge about our small country. In reality, our country has outstanding natural beauty with many small peaceful villages and easygoing people. According to history's relics, our ancestors are Hung Kings. They lived 4000 years ago. Vietnamese believe that they belong to "the children of the Dragon and the Fairy".

Our official language is Vietnamese. Beside the official language, each ethnic minority group has its own dialect that has been used and preserved in daily life. For population and people, although it is a small country with the area of 330,000 square kilometers, there are up to 54 different ethnic groups in Vietnam. Kinh people accounts for nearly 86% of the whole population, and the others are ethnic minority groups about 14%. Nowadays, Kinh people mostly base in plains, especially in the Red River Delta and the Mekong Delta. The ethnic minority groups locate in the mountainous areas. Each group has their own custom and tradition. However, they are all friendly and love peace. Vietnamese are gentle, friendly to visitors. I'm sure you will find that after your excursion.

Spiritual life in Vietnam is a mixture of belief from Confucianism to Buddhism, Taoism and Animism. It's called Tam Giao Dong Nguyen. This means triple religion exist together. Besides, Christianity also play important role in many Vietnamese's spiritual. For the festival, Tet Nguyen Dan is our most important festival. The name Tet Nguyen Dan is Sino-Vietnamese for "Feast of the First Morning". It often celebrates in late January or early February and long in two weeks. This festival welcomes the Lunar New Year and to worship our ancestors. In festival, the children are got new clothes and get lucky money from their parents, grandparents and relation. For adult, they gather and give the best wishes each other. Tet Holiday is also an occasion for pilgrims and family reunions. During Tet, we visit temples and pagodas to make a wish for a luckiness, happiness and success year.

Beside Tet Holiday, we also have many other festivals include traditional and modern festivals. The best time you can part in traditional festival is spring and autumn.

For Vietnamese food, it can't be denied that food in Vietnam is extremely delicious and reflect Vietnamese culture; however, to find exact place to eat is not easy for travelers. Thus, I would like to share some of my experience. I hope it can help some of you. You can try in your free time.

Firstly, Beef Pho, Chicken Pho or some other types of noodle like cold shellfish noodle is good for you. It's similar to Western's soup but it's very special cuisine and taste.

Secondly, some traditional cakes shouldn't be missed, such as shrimp cake. This food is famous for West lake in Hanoi.

Thirdly, spring roll is also a fantastic food; the most famous is crab spring roll. "Pho cuon" another kind of spring roll, it made of "Pho" and you can find this food easily everywhere in our country, but the most special Pho is in Hanoi. Please visit Hanoi to experience an amazing place of food.

About drink, if you're interested in our local beer, don't miss out the draught beer. We call "bia hơi" in Vietnamese. Besides, you can try this drink in other areas, such as Hanoi beer in Hanoi, Saigon beer in HCM city, so on.

God our Refuge

This photo is of my husband Ray, pictured here in 1965.

He grew up in east Tennessee..... a keen sportsman and well liked at school.

His father passed on to Glory when he was thirteen years old, leaving him as head of the home.

His mother depended on him and he never let her down.

At eighteen Ray joined the Marine Corps and headed out to boot camp in California.

 He served and was wounded in Vietnam and still carries many of his emotional and physical scars.

He served his country and always defended what was right.

Ray's mother was very proud of him, and deserved to be.

As a mother her morals reflected in the conduct of her son. 

Ray believes in God and His promises to him. 

My prayer today is, that everyone who reads this realises how special they are to their Father in Heaven...

Don't give up, keep going, do the right thing in life, and God will reward you if you belong to Him.