Good Morning Vietnam
A cyclo ride in Hanoi allows one to enjoy uninterrupted views of the city's busy street life. Photos by Xie Fang |
Vietnam is becoming a hot destination for Chinese travelers and a flight to the capital Hanoi from China's mainland cities is quick and relatively inexpensive.
World Heritage listed Halong Bay is one of the must-go places and a good place to aim for on your tour. It features more than 1,000 karst or rock-like formations and islands of various sizes.
The Bay came into sight after a four-hour bus ride from the capital city of Hanoi to a port in Halong. Tourists, mostly from Australia, were guided into different junks based
Dalat on the Lang Bian highlands lies more than 1,500 meters above the sea level. |
My excitement simmered as our boat left the noisy port behind, and cruised towards the heart of the Bay.
The folk tales say that the dragons descended from heaven to help locals by spitting jewels and jade to the sea, making a natural fortress against invaders. Nowadays, these "treasures" are represented by the countless green outcrops.
The scenes actually are much like that in Guilin, a city of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region in South China. It seems to have better water quality.
I was seated on the uncovered top deck and watched most tourists rushing to the front of the boat and making the classical pose Leonardo Di Caprio made famous in the movie Titanic.
As the junk motored along, it was interesting to see the rock formations on either side of the vessel. Each of the rocks has its own characteristics: some are like couples face-to-face in silence, while others resemble old monks. Some seem like good friends walking hand in hand.
After one-hour tour in Sung Sot Cave, we headed for Lan Ha Bay to try our hand at kayaking.
The Mui Ne sunset is a spectacular sight and a lovers' delight. |
Even though our narrow red boat always went in the wrong direction opposite to what we wished and our seats were splashed by water, it made our heads spin to watch eagles spiralling around the tops of the islets, breathing the fresh coolness of the air and touching the water to feel its softness.
A night hanging out with tourists from all over the world was also fun. Away from the land, the boat turned out to be a social place to share not only our liquor, but also our colorful life experiences with each other, no matter where we were from.
I t was strongly recommended by local Vietnamese people to pay a visit to Mui Ne, which has quiet beaches, inexpensive resorts and great but cheap seafood. The new seaside resort is about 200 kilometers northeast of Ho Chi Minh.
The ocean might be not as tranquil as Thailand's waters, but it is without doubt, a perfect place for wind and kite surfing under the intense blue sky.
What's more important, the area has fewer tourists than Thailand and high-rise hotels are yet to dominate. The beaches look like they have just been discovered.
All of my worries gradually drifted away as I sat in a restaurant made of coconut palm, and heard the wind chimes sounding in the breeze.
It was so good to feel quiet inside, especially after having lived in the hussle and bustle of Shanghai for so long.
No wonder Mui Ne is a paradise for lovers and families.
I did feel a bit lonely staying there alone without sharing the beautiful beaches with someone else but the local people were warm and friendly and were busy going about their lives.
The activities of the local fishermen made great photos.
The fishing boat has a round-shape and is made from thatched bamboo, with a one-meter-long board placed in the middle for the fisherman.
After casting the nets in the sea, not far away from the beach, a group of people, including women and children, started to pull in the fishing nets. Unfortunately, the harvest was very little after a day of hard work.
Even those finger-size fishes were picked up rather than set free, in order to make fish sauce. The locals told me that if a Vietnamese woman can make a great fish sauce, she will have no problem finding a good husband.
Walking on the beach at night was a pleasant experience. It was surprising to see the lights of the fishing boats twinkling in the dark. It was as if some stars fell into the sea.
The four-hour journey from Mui Ne to Dalat was exhausting because it involved trekking on mountain roads.
Don't expect to have a rest at a petrol station on the way and buy some soft drinks. It was non-stop all the way.
Dalat is located on the Lang Bian highlands, more than 1,500 meters above sea level.
Once known as the Valley of Peace, Dalat has now become a popular destination for tourists looking for a cool climate after spending days in the flatlands with the hot sticky temperatures.
It is very popular for honeymoons.
My day started at 5 am after I was woken by my guide, Hong, a local university student and tour guide. We were off to explore the morning markets.
The Dalat market, located in the city center, was filled by various vendors, who placed their goods on the ground. Vegetables, meats, fishes, flowers, and different kinds of small commodities were all for sale.
It was still quite dark at 5 am, and some of them were working under candlelight and had turned on flashlights.
I wondered how they could manage to weigh the goods correctly. My guide said with a smile, "They do it well as they are experienced."
Most of the vendors are local women, as men are not supposed to do this kind of small business there, according to Hong.
It was amazing to see the locals sit on the back of motorbikes, carrying a shoulder pole with two baskets on each side after they shopped in the market.
Dalat has the legacy of its French colony origins it not only features those old French-style villas and a miniature replica of the Eiffel Tower, but the names of many restaurants and bars have French themes.
Hiring a good local motorcycle taxi for a one-day trip is essential, as the driver who can speak simple English will take you to some selected spots.
These included Prenn Waterfall, the old French railroad station, Dream Hill, Tuyen Lam Lake, and even some greenhouse of flowers and coffee gardens as well.
The tour to Dalat was capped by watching the sunset by Xuan Huong Lake in the city centre.
(China Daily 03/22/2007 page19)
