Foreign tourists who come to Vietnam all praise the country’s beautiful scenery. A number of places have been utilized, some still remain unexploited. It is hard to list all the sites that leave unforgetable feelings in the hearts of tourists.
Ha Long Bay is a well-known beauty spot in the North East sea of Vietnam, in Quang Binh province, 151 kilometers east of Hanoi. Tourists can reach it by land( National Highway number 18: Hanoi- Bac Ninh- Ha Long), by rail(Yen Vien – Uong Bi) or by sea( Hai Phong – Ha Long; 75 kilometers)
Ha Long Bay is associated with a legend about a Mother dragon and her young descending from the sky to save the people by spitting fire to burn invaders coming from the sea. Some of the fire dropped into the sea which become mountains and islands. Among thousands of islands there is one called Dragon Island. This is the place where the mother Dragong came down and now is Ha Long Bay, and the place where the young dragons bow their heads to their mother is now called Bai Tu Long.
The water in Ha Long Bay is usually calm, big wave being rare. It also treasures many valuable specialities, such as fish abalone and shrimp of different kinds. On the islands, there are various kinds of birds and animals, mostly local species of chicken, blue birds, rams, monkeyss and varans. Pearls and coral can be collected on some islands.
. Ha Long Bay is a great attraction to tourists because it is sublime, beautiful and the picturesque. The scenery in Ha Long can never be boring, it has its own beauty in each season to impress tourists.
Off Hai Phong, to the East, is Cat Ba Island, a beauty spot in Cat Hai district about 150 kilometers east of Hanoi. In the survey for the programme of cooperation and research on tourism between the World Tourist Organization and the Vietnam General Department for tourism, MR. Molinari Massimo, an Italian architect, remarked, “ Cat Ba is the most wonderful among hundreds of islands in the world I have ever known”.
The area of Cat Ba island is about 100 square kilometerss mainly made up of limestone mountains. Its coastline is rugged with many smaller islands scattered around and has several beautiful beaches (Duong Gian, Cat Co, Cat Dua) and some large coral beaches( Van Ha , Van Tham, etc.)
The fauna on the island is diversified. In the sea there are a number of valuable specialities; fish, of different kinds, and blood area, heary area, pearl shells, corals and tortoise- shells.
Onece visitors come to Cat Ba island, they should visit the National Botanic Garden. Established since 23 May 1983, the garden with total area of over 600 hectare has become a place to preserve the ecosystem of primitive rain forests, with more than 600 species of plants, of which many are valuable trees( such as bang, goi nep, sang te, kim giao) and a world of animals, some kinds typical of a rain forest ( vooc, rd-face monkey, pig-tail monkey).
Another popular place is Do Son, an area that has many beaches and beautiful natural scenery, located on Do Son peninsula – Hai Phong city, 120 kilometers from Hanoi.
The beaches in Do Son are mostly large, slightly steep; the water is shallow, cool in the summer and warm in the winter.
This site has been used since the beginning of this century and consequently, Do Son has a convenient road network, and large and comfortable hotels. The city is now capable of catering for thousands of visitors at the same time.
The surroundings of Hanoi also have many beautiful spots, good for weekends, such as the Ba Vi- Suoi Hai area in Ba Vi district, about60 kilometers west of Hanoi. The sublime beauty of natural, and the manmade lakes at the foot of mountains, has made this tourist site even more attractive.
Ba Vi is characterized by a fresh mountains climate. The weather is cool in summer as each hundred meters higher here, the average temperature falls by 0.5o to 0.55oC. At the top(above 1,000 m) the temperature may even came down to 6oC. Ba Vi National Botanic Garden is another place where many rare and value species of plants and animals are strictly preserved.
Ba Vi mountain is lated to the legend of Son Tinh – Thuy Tinh( Mountain and Sea Spirits),
With attractive places as king peak(1,296m), Tan Vien peak(1,226m), Ngoc Hoa peak (1,120m). from these peaks tourists have a panorama of the Northern Delta, decorated with meandering rivers (Black river, Red river), cities, villages and smooth paddy fields. Other tourism attractions in this area is Huong Fall, Da Chong pine forest, Bang Ta virgin forest and Ngoc Nhi stock village. However, two of the most well-known sites are Ao Vua and Suoi Hai lakes.
Ao Vua has wonderful natural scenery with a natural stream coming down from the height of 100m, flowing all the year round on the north side of Ba Vi mountain through 3 pools.
Suoi Hai lake has a surface area of nearly 1,000 hectare with 14 large and small islands. The water is clean and thousands of wild birds flock here for shelter in the winter making this area more attrative.
About 100 kilometers south of Hanoi, down National Highway No 1, is another tourist attraction.
The Tam Coc Bich-Dong-Hoa Lu site of Ninh Binh province can be referred to as “ Ha Long on land”. Traces left by the sea are water-ricefields in a basin with densely populalted and prosperous areas
Inside the limestone mountains of this region, tourists can find a number of long and short caves such as Gold, Emeral, Fairies, Thien Huong, Xuyen Thuy, Chua, Tam Coc caves and etc. Inside them, tourists will discover a wonderful world of stalactites of different sizes and figures like a kneeling elephant, an eagle, a fairy and so on.
Cuc Phuong National Gardens has an area of 25,000 hectare and is located in Hoang Long district- Ninh Binh province. Due to the rough and dagerous limestone terrain, the park was not discovered until 1960. in 1962, the government decided to preserve the forest and in 1966, it was official granted the status of National Gardens being the first one in Vietnam.
The flora in the forest is rich, with more than 2000 species, among which several species, such as magnolia, custard-apple, chest- nut still bear their primary characteristics. The fauna is also rich with hundred of different kinds of value species, some of whom have been added to the red book of Vietnam.
In the central region, nature has created a grandiose beauty spot which is well-known not only in this country, but also in the world, that is
Phong Nha cave situated in the Ke Bang limestone mountainous region, about 60 kilometers from Dong Hoi town (Quang Binh province). This cave was all formed by an underground river(Chai river), dissolving the limestone.
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Phong Nha cave, which is 7,729m long, together with a range of other caves in the Ke Bang mountains region has form a natural wonder deserve the title “Phong Nha cave the first”.The cave has more than 20 caverns and is famous for a huge corridor 1,500m wide with other corridors more than a hundred meters wide. The outer most caves have the ceilingsjust above the water lever and are about 10m wide. In the inner caves, especially from the fourth cavern onwards, the ceilings are about 25-50m high. From the 14th cavern through small additional corridors, tourists can go deeper to other bigger room under the ground.
It is hard to depict the ethereal beauty of the stalactites twinkling in the light of touches, while the river seems to be cover with a thin layer of light not strong enough to fade the black depth of chasms and the many strange-looking figures. These figures are preserved in their primary shapes and associated with the many legends human imagination may have associated with them.
Once inside the cave, tourists will have a feeling of participating in a authentic underground exploration. The cave has many misteries, the main attraction to tourists and scientists alike.
On National Highway Number 1 to the south of Vietnam, tourists will have a chance to admire the grandiose beauty of nature from the top of Hai Van Pass (20 kilometers long and about 496m above sea level). The pass has been called: “the most grandiose beauty spot under the Heavens”. A train will take tourists through 7 tunnels with a total length of 3,920m.
The Hai Van Pass starts at Lang Co. the mountain range cointaining Hai Van Pass in the fork of the north Truong Son range. It goes directly to the sea with many high peaks, of which Hai Van peak is the last, 1,172 high. It is perhgapes, because this mountain top is lost in clounds and its foot dips in the sea that its name is Hai Van, which means clound and sea.
Hai Van Pass is situated perilously on a vertical side by the sea. To get to the top of the Pass the train has to make over 60 zigzag turns. On the Pass is the Lang Co region with a long beach, resembling a white thread beside the blue of the sea. To the south is Da Nang city, a densely-populated and prosperous city. To the west is Truong Son mountain range and to the east is the great world where the sea and the sky melt into each other.
After Hai Van Pass, tourists will encounter a beautiful coast line (20 kilometers long) like a lace decorating the east side of Da Nang city. This beatiful coast line is Son Tra peninsula (10 kilometers to the south – east of Da Nang city) and run to Non Nuoc beach of Ngu Hanh Son(10 kilomters to the south – east of Da Nang city). Son Tra peninsula used to be the group of three smaller, offshore islands. Then gradually the ocean current carried silt from rivers and formed a promontory that now connects the islands with the main land.
Son Tra mountain is located ay 693m above sea level with a beautiful view. Legend has it that, because the island was so beautiful, many faities went there to enjoy themselves; hence, it used to be called Tien Sa (descending fairy) mountain. O0n the island there is a dense forest which is home to monkeys, der and other kinds of animals. At the foot of the mountain and to the south of the island is a beach 15 kilometers long, some part curving like a sickle (Nam O beach) and one part running straight for about 8 kilometers (My Khe, Bac My An).
Ngu Hanh Son lies between the Han river and the sea and consists of several mountains grouped together : Thuy Son (the largest), Moc Son, Kim Son, Tho Son, and 2 other mountains standing beside each other(Duong Hoa and Am Hoa Son). Local people usually call this site Non Nuoc mountain which has a legend that links it with the formation of the Earth. The beauty of the nature is increased with temples, pagodas(Tam Thai pagoda, Ling Ung pagoda, Chau Ung pagoda, etc.), caves (Huyen Khong cave…) and the subtle stone carving profession.
Thirty-fove kilometers off Da Nang city lies Cham island, a natural reserve with a total area of 1,535 hectare, Salagane’s nest is a speciality of this region. In addition, there are many sandy beaches, coral, and abundant fauna and flora that have made the island more interesting.
Dai Lanh – Van Phong – Nha Trang is a long coastaline with many wonderful beaches starting from Dai Lanh through Nha Trang and Ning Tru to Ca Na(Ninh Thuan). The beaches will certainly create a deep impression in the heart of tourists.
Dai Lanh is one of the beauty spots in a fancinating coastline between Ca Pass and Co Ma Pass. To the north is Ro lagoon, a famous lovely lagoon; to the south is Hon Gom peninsula the eastern-most point of Vietnam. Dai Lanh beach is large and smooth with fine sand. The beach is crescent-shaped, facing an open, clear sea. There’s a hot stream called Tu Bong, 9 kilometers to the south of the Pass.
Van Phong bay can be regarded as a natural wonder and one of the most beautiful places in the South East Asia. The bay is 25 kolometers wide and 35 kilometers long, located 80 kilometers from Nha Trang and 35 kilometers from Tuy Hoa. Van Phong bay consists 2 smaller bays: Hon Khoi bay to the south and Tran Nam bay to the north. Inside the bay, there are many islands, the largest of which is Hon Lon(42 kilometers by 5 kilometers). With a comfortable climate, beatiful beaches surrounded by a sublime mountain range, tropical forest and bushes on the sand ridges along the coast, Van Phong Bay will surely please tourists who come here to find themselves enjoying the vastness of the sea and the sky.
The sea at Nha Trang contains all kinds of treasured sea products. A valuable and well- known speciality is Salaganne’s nests which is collected from the vertical cliffs on the many islands. This is the place where most Salaganne’s nests are found.
To the west of the city is a mountainous area with many peaks, approximately 1000m high, where many birds and animal such as peacocks, murky-weasel, wild goat, and so on find their home. After spending some time on the beach, tourists can engage in fancinating walks in the mountains.
Turning slightly to the southest, tourists can see a group of five or six islands close to each other, the largest being Hon Tre, 3 kilometers from Nha Trang, with a total area of 25 square kilometers and mountains 460 high. From the island tourists can see several other islands futher out to the sea.
Nha Trang is not only famous for it natural beauty, but also for its heritage of the Cham culture, with its ancient Ponaga Tower (Ba Tower).
Located in Tay Nguyen region, Da Lat is a romantically beautiful city on a fairly flat plateau 1,500m above sea level. Da Lat has long been a city of tourism and relaxation. It is 300 kilometers from Ho Chi Minh city and 200 kilometers from Nha Trang.
Situated at such a height, Da Lat always enjoys a cool climate. The average temperature during the year is 18oC the temperature in the hottest months is higher than 20 Oc, and the coldest moths not lower than 15 oC
Da Lat has a wonderful natural landscapes with many waterfalls. Due to the different in the height between different part of the planteau, there are sudden descents in the streams creating many waterfalls, such as Cam Ly, situated near the center of the city, and Angkoet in Dan Kia which is a set of 4 small falls lying just outside of the city, alongside National Highway 20 from Di Linh to Lam Vien. The most beautiful in the set is Prenn waterfall, 13m high beside the highway.
Da Lat has many lakes and pine woods. There are several well-known lakes, (both manmade and natural) such as Xuan Huong, Than Tho, Da Thien, Van Kiep,etc. Da Lat is poetically romantic with the gentle rustles of the pines in Ai An woods, Love Valley, etc.
The city is also decorated with a vast variety of flowers. There are no less than 1,500 species planted in nuseries and gardens. Beautiful and expensive flowers such as rhodo- dendro, cherry, mimosa, hydrangea, etc. or common flowers such as rose, daisy, dahlia,etc. are all grown here.
Da Lat has a hamonious combination of natural scenery and the beauty of culture, with no less than 3,000 villas. Each villa has its own style of architecture in a picturesque setting. With all these characteristics, Da Lat has distinguished itself from other places
Back to the coastal area, Vung Tau is another popular resort, over 120 kilometers from Ho Chi Minh city. Mountains, rivers, the sea and the sky have created a unique beauty for Vung Tau. Beautiful beaches such as Rear, Dua, Front, and Dau beaches lying beyond the Nghenh Phong (wind bailing) horn are all located in the southeastern part of the city.
In addition, Long Hai and Phuoc Hai are another beaches which remain intact, with potential for tourism. There are the most beautiful beaches in Long Dat district, Ba Ria-Vung Tau province.
Long Hai beache lies along the Chau Long and Chau Vien mountain ranges. In some parts, the mountain looks as if they are collapsing over the sea and over beautiful rock grounds. Tourists will have a chance to admire cherry orchards stretching out for miles on either side of the road along the coast. In the blooming season, nature in the area is picturesque.
In comparison with beaches in Nha Trang, Long Hai beach is no less beautiful, but has not beeb fully exploited. In the future, the beach will be a good place for different kinds of sports, such as surfing, rowing or even bush walks and mountain climbing.
Con Dao, about 90 knots to the south east of Vung Tau, is a large group of islands consisting of 14large and small islands in area of 76,7 square kilometers among which Con Dao (Con Dao cave)is the largest. The island has dense forest with various kinds of animals. The sea here treasure various valuable sea species such as turtle, tortoise-shell,etc. as well as the historical sites (prison cells, tiger cages, cemeteries), the tourist is offered different types of enjoyment such as cruising, mountain climbing and hunting.
The southern-most Minh Hai province continues to be raised by the silt of the Cuu Long river. Sanctuaries and mangrove forests have created a unique habitat of salt water forests.
Sanctuaries here are really attrctive. Species are not diversified, but the number of birds is perhaps unrivaled. In the breeding season, they set their nets in salt water forests in large groups called “Bird Grounds”.
Minh Hai has two large sanctuaries: Vinh Loi (18 hectare) and Ngoc Hien (130 hectare). In Ngoc Hien sanctuary alone, there are over 40 bird species, chiefly waterfowls such as cormorant, beron, night-beron, some kinds of storks. Some valuable bird species are being protected with the assistance of international organizations (IUCN, ICVP,WWP).
Tourists usually visit Phu Quoc island, Vietnam largest island, with a total area of 565 square kilometers in the southwest sea. The island is covered with a large forest area, promising a popular resort in the future.
Passing through jungle, with many big, old trees, and the orchid valley, visitors will find a cinnamon forest. Cinnamon on Phu Quoc island is tough, with thick skin, and is strongly aromatic. Next to the cinnamon forest is the region of low hills covered with pepper plants. The pepper of Phu Quoc is tasty and pungent, adding more flavour to the meals.
The forest on the island is rich with animals. In spring, tourists can see herds of deer wandering about in their search for food, and a lot of beehives, the honey being sweet and cinnamon-scented.
While enjoy the forest and the sea, tourists can also visit many sites, whose names are closely connected with Nguyen Trung Truc and other Vietnamese national heroes.
