Author	Message
nguyennamhg Member	# Posted: 10 Mar 2010 08:59:33 I hope this topic can help you understand more about Vietnam , people and many nice places for your trips... First i want you know about Ha Noi capital. Indochina’s old dame, Hanoi is striving to modernize, yet unwilling to let go of the beauty of its glorious past. Slightly vain, the city won’t bow down and give any tourists and easy time. Only those who are truly willing to understand and listen will recognize the logic of Hanoi's beauty, the complexity of its chaos and peace, its urban speed and rural tranquility. History and name Hanoi used to be called Thang Long (flying dragon). The myth was that in 2010, the new king Ly Cong Uan while visiting this valley saw a dragon flying into the sky, and took this as an omen that this place was a suitable capital to rule. Thang Long had rich soil and good defense because it was surrounded by the Red River and backed by mountains. The city was later renamed Hanoi (which means inside the river) in 1831 when the Nguyen dynasty moved capital to Hue. Hanoi was returned its status as capital during the French rule from 1887 to 1954, and continued to be the capital, first of Communist North Vietnam (from 1954) and later, of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam. As of 2008, Hanoi will be expanded to include the surrounding province of Hatay and parts of Ha Dong, to a size of 3.200km2 and population of over 6 million people. Getting there and around Most visitors will land at Noi Bai international airports through one of the following airlines: • Vietnam Airlines - the primary national carrier • JetStar Airlines (tel: 84-4 9550550) - discount Vietnamese carrier • Malaysia Airlines Malaysia Airlines fly daily to Hanoi from Kuala Lumpur • Cathay Pacific - upscale airline with flights to Hong Kong • Hong Kong Airlines - new carrier with daily flights to/from Hong Kong • Thai Airways International - two flights daily to/from Bangkok • Lao Airlines – operating flights from Phnom penh to Hanoi • Nok Air - budget airline flies to/from Bangkok • Tiger Airways It takes around 40-60 minutes to get to the city downtown from the airport by taxi and costs 30 US$. By train Vietnam’s major north-south train, the Reunification Express, runs from Hanoi south to central Vietnam (Hue and Danang) and then further to Ho Chi Minh City (more than 30 hours from Hanoi). By bus Hanoi is the main gateway for buses run from north to south on the coast of Vietnam. There are daily bus routes from Hanoi to all cities around Vietnam at Kim Ma, Giap Bat, Luong Yen and Gia Lam bus station. Read more ...

billy Member	# Posted: 11 Mar 2010 10:23:25 First I would say to thank you because the information you provide is very useful for us.I'm planning to travel Vietnam next year, so this information is very valuable for me. And I hope you will continue sharing now in coming days.
Marc Jacobs Member United Kingdom (Great Britain)	# Posted: 11 Mar 2010 13:59:56 nice, thank you You can't always get what you want. But if you try sometimes you might find you get what you need
nguyennamhg Member	# Posted: 12 Mar 2010 09:57:50 And this is Ho Chi Minh city, a very big city in south Vietnam.Ho Chi Minh City (Former name Saigon) - The French nickname their dear city, “Pearl of the far East”. Chinese immigrants call it “Cho Lon”, meaning “Big market”. The Communist government renamed Saigon “Ho Chi Minh city” after the nationalistic revolutionary. With many names and a population of 9 million, Ho Chi Minh city rises as the juvenile leader of all Vietnamese cities. Unlike the old dame Hanoi slow, antique, reserved lifestyle, Ho Chi Minh city goes all out in the modern lifestyle. The city is always in a hurry: bustling, noisy, singing, entertaining, the people: loud and friendly. History The area now called Saigon once were empty marshlands belonging to Cambodia. Flux of Vietnamese migrants flooded the area (running away from the Trinh - Nguyen civil war of the 17th century. The area later became greatly Vietnaminized, until later completely assimilated into the country Vietnam by the Nguyen dynasty. During French colonization, the city was a French favorite. The colonizers developed the already bustling trade area into a high class, modern, European influenced city suitable for trade, entertainment and business. After colonization, Saigon became capital of the Southern side (supported by the US) during the American/Vietnam War. After Vietnam’s unification in 1945, Saigon opened up to include Gia Dinh province and was renamed “Ho Chi Minh city” after Vietnam’s communist revolutionary. Saigon now is Vietnam’s largest, most industrial and most developed city. Geography Saigon is located at 10°45'N, 106°40'E in the southeastern region of Vietnam. The city is 1,760 km (1,094 miles) south of Hanoi. It borders Tay Ninh and Binh Duong provinces in the north, Dong Nai and Ba Ria Vung Tau provinces to the east, Long An Province to the west and the South China Sea to the south with a coast of 15 km in length. The city covers an area of 2,095 km² (809 sq mi) (0.63% of the surface of Vietnam), extending up to Cu Chi (12mi/20 km from the Cambodian border), and down to Can Gio on the East Sea coast. Demographics Saigon’s population has now exceeded 9 million. Besides the Viet ethnicity, Saigon has a large proportion of Chinese descendants. The Chinese immigration population concentrated around the “Cho Lon” (Big market) areas of district 5,6,7 and 11, forming Vietnam’s “Chinatown” (though I guess it blends with the scenery here more than say, Toronto). Vietnam travel
nguyennamhg Member	# Posted: 15 Mar 2010 08:01:48 Da Lat is a very nice place in Viet Nam.City in the clouds. Dalat’s cool winds and temperate climate, its French architecture and evergreen pine trees separate this “Little Paris” from the hot and humid tropical South Vietnam surrounding. Recent urban development and opening of many new resorts has made Dalat become more modern and tourist-convenient in the eyes of some, yet less romantic in the view of others. Though less popular among foreign visitors, Dalat remains the natural beauty, the city of thousand flowers, and the destination for lovers in the eyes of the Vietnamese. Meaning of name The name derives from the language of the local ethnic group Lat and its original meaning is "Stream of the Lat”. History Prior to 1893, the Lang Biang highlands were home to various ethnic groups. The French governor of Indochina Paul Dommer, together with Doctor Alexandre Yersin, decided to establish a sanatorium on the cool highlands of Lang Biang in 1899. In 1916, emperor Duy Tan decided to form Dalat town (centre urbain), township of Lam Vien province. The first Viet ethnic people who settled in Dalat were prisoners sent up here to build roads and other infrastructure. The French built two new roads leading from Saigon and Phan Thiet to Dalat, providing the right conditions to turn Dalat from a nearly wild area to a 1.500 people town in 1923. It was Emperor Khai Dinh h who decided that Dalat should be come not only a city, but a tourist center. During World War 2, many of the French could not return to their country. They stayed in Đà Lạt, giving the city its French town look which it holds onto until now. In 1975, Da Lat became one of Vietnam’s four governmental cities (along with Hanoi, Hue andHo Chi Minh city). Geography The city of Dalat is built on the Lang Biang highlands, North of Lam Dong province. The highlands are surrounded by continuous mountains.
nguyennamhg Member	# Posted: 16 Mar 2010 09:03:22 Geography Located at the highest latitude in Vietnam, Ha Giang is surrounded by Cao Bang on the east, Tuyen Quang on the south, Lao Cai, and Yen Bai on the west. It shares a border with China in the north (274km boundary). Ha Giang's complicated topography is divided into 3 areas. The area on the south has rocky mountain, separated rivers. The west area has sloping mountain side, high pass, valleys, and narrow springs. The low land area includes hills, valley of Lo River, and Ha Giang Town. The climate is divided in two distinct seasons, rainy and dry, although it tends to vary depending on altitude. The annual average temperature varies between 24 and 28ºC. In winter, the temperature is sometimes down to -5ºC. Tourism Mountains in Ha Giang are quite high, in which the highest Tay Con Linh point with 2,419m in height. There are good woods, over 1000 kinds of valuable drug trees, animals (tigers, peacocks, phoenix, pangolin) in primitive forests. Coming to Ha Giang, tourists are attracted by poetic Dong Van Highland, Love Market of Khau Vai. They can buy embroidery such as handkerchief, haversack, and dress with colorful, fine pattern. They also take part in enjoyable market-day of local ethnics. The people and natural scenes here are unlike anywhere in Vietnam. Transport Ha Giang Town is 320km from Hanoi. Ha Giang is on National Highway No.2, 34, 279 linking to Yen Bai, Cao Bang, Lao Cai provinces in turn.