Vietnam

I am getting so excited about the impending trip. Can't wait. ;-) Sorry I haven't been posting. A little lazy and a little busy. My nose has stopped running for one. Anyways, I thought to post some pictures on the places we would be visiting in Vietnam. We start with Ho Chi Minh City (previously Saigon), we move on the Dalat, Nha Trang, Hue, Hoi Anh and last but not least Hanoi. ;-D We will be travelling via bus. Open ticket route. Its cheap and its very comfy. It cost about USD 21 thereabouts for the entire journey. The bus is the 35 to 40 seater type. So yea. Okies.... less talk..more pictures and descriptions on the places we would be visiting. No worries, I will be taking loads of photos while there. I bought a 2GB memory stick to take to my hearts content. Hehehehh...

Ho Chi Minh City is the heart and soul of Vietnam. It's a bustling, dynamic and industrious centre, the largest city in the country, the economic capital and the cultural trendsetter. Yet within the teeming metropolis are the timeless traditions and beauty of an ancient culture.

This is a city that churns, ferments, bubbles and fumes. The streets, where much of the city's life takes place, are a jumble of street markets, shops, pavement cafes, stands-on-wheels and vendors selling wares spread out on sidewalks. It's impossible not to be infected by its exhilarating vibe.



















DaLat city is probably one of Vietnam's most well known vacation destination. Since the turn of the century, Da Lat has been the vacation spot for well-to-do vietnamese and foreigners. It is the unofficial honeymoon mecca of Vietnam. Located on Lám Viên (Langbian) high lands, part of the greater Central high lands of Vietnam (Cao Nguyen Trung Phan), the city is 1500 m above sea level and is 305 km from Saigon. The name Da Lat originates from the hill tribe people in this region. It literally means Stream of the Lat people.

The city of Nha Trang is becoming more popular with the tourists in recent years. Yet, with a population of 300,000, Nha Trang still retains its small town atmosphere. This resort town is well known for its miles of beach and the friendliness of its people. The city is flanked by nearly ten kilometers of prime beach where the water is warm year round. The average temperature in Nha Trang is 26 C. Nha Trang also has the lowest level of humidity in all of Vietnam. Today, Nha Trang ranks among the top of all beaches in Vietnam. Nha Trang is 1,287 km south of Hanoi, 624 km south of Hue and 442 km from Ho Chi Minh city (Saigon). Nha Trang has several famous islands. Most notable are Hon Tre, Hon Yen, Hon Rua and the Spratly islands.




















Hue is located in Thua Thien prefecture and is in the central part of Vietnam. Located 660 km from Ha Noi and 1080 km from Saigon, Hue has always been considered the fulcrum of Vietnam's two rice baskets, the Red river delta and the Mekong delta. Hue became the name of Vietnam's most well known ancient capital because of the local mispronunciation of the word Hoá in Thuâ.n Hoá.

Since the 16th century, Thuan Hoa, due to its strategic location, has been a very prosperous area. The Nguyen Lord chose this area to be their headquarters. Nguyen Anh made it Vietnam's capital city in 1802 after he defeated the Tay Son and ascended to the throne with the name Gia Long. King Gia Long (1762-1819) was credited for building and fortifying Hue from the very beginning. Since then, successive king of the Nguyen Dynasty has added to the foundation set by his predecessors.
















Hoi An, 30km south of Danang, was one of South-East Asia's main sailing ports from the 17th to the 19th century. It was a good material manifestation of the fusion of cultures over time in an international commercial port, and is still exceptionally well preserved. The city has retained a unique character, as there are still a thousand of very concentrated historical structures, and no modern development. It is a quiet and friendly place where you can still be transported one hundred years ago to a colorful past. The Hoi An Ancient Town is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Nearly one millennium ago, My Son, 60km south of Danang, as the main Champa center was the counterpart of other South-East Asia's great cities such as Angkor, Bagan, or Ayathuya. Between the 4th and 13th centuries a unique culture which owed its spiritual origins to Indian Hinduism developed on the coast of contemporary Viet Nam. This is graphically illustrated by the remains of a series of impressive tower-temples located in a dramatic site that was the religious and political capital of the Champa Kingdom for most of its existence. The monuments on the site, set in a verdant valley, are largely ruined, but it is still possible to grasp the importance of the site and see the effects of time and vegetation. For beautiful specimen of Cham sculpture, you'd have to check the Cham Museum in Danang, whereas the best preserved structures are much further south. My Son Sancturary is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

In the fall of 1010, King Ly Thai To (Ly Cong Uan) moved the capital from Hoa Lu to Dai La. On the way, the king saw a vision of a golden dragon ascending from the Red river ( song Hong). The King decided to change Dai La to Thang Long (Ascending Dragon). Thang Long remained the capital city until the end of the Tran dynasty when in 1397, the capital city was moved to Thanh Hoa -Tay Do (Western Capital) and Thang Long became Dong Do (Eastern Capital).

Vietnam was invaded by China in 1407, and the city was renamed Dong Quan. In 1428, after ten years of fighting, Le Loi liberated Vietnam and renamed the city Dong Kinh. In 1527, the city was renamed Thang Long. In 1802 when King Gia Long (Nguyen Dynasty) moved the capital city to Hue, the name Thang Long remained but, Long no longer means dragon, Long in this case means prosperity. Ha Noi, was the name given to the city by King Minh Mang in 1831. Ha means river and Noi means within - Ha Noi means within the river.



















Its a beautiful country to visit and full of culture as well. I am really going to enjoy myself. You all have loads of fun while I am away too.

Oh hohoho...will be going to MOS this evening too. Have not even stepped into that place. See I am a mountain tortoise. My mum's company has some event there. So yea going to kpoh. Hehe.... If I dun blog before I leave.... here's a tata to you all. Will only be back on Christmas Day.


So here's a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to you all. Hang in there!!!

ENJOY!!!!