Vietnam Travel

….to Paradissa Vietnam - thank you for your care and your dedication to what we are doing, and for the trip that we had…

Vietnam Travel

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Thanh Chuong’s Viet Houses complex

It was a nice sunny day when we took off on a FAM trip to Thanh Chuong’s Viet Houses complex. The goal was to build up a preparation for guides who were going to conduct clients from Intercontinental hotel on cultural trips. The drive was over an hour and a half. We were all guys, 8 of us. It was a freaking hilarious day when funny nasty stories were told out loud in the van. All what we knew was that we were having a good time. It was wicked but the majority of us had…no idea of the particular place that we were heading for.

….I saw him, I recognized him since he was a famous artist, and more because he was the son of a famous writer whose literature works were put on our school curriculum. He was in a nice car. Man, anytime I see cars like those, my flicker of desire is lit up to a flame. Yep, he’s now covered in arts and money, he can ride whatever he wants. But hardly anyone of us knew he had had a hard life in his childhood…

Born in 1949, he is of the same age with my Dad. Thanh Chuong began his first strokes when he was seven. Entered the Fine Arts College in 1960, his paintings were later on mainly executed by lacquer, but sometimes in Oil or Paper as well. Regarded as being inspired by Picasso, Chuong soon became famous with his extraordinary paintings. Lots of his exhibitions were carried out in Vietnam and all over, including USA, Britain, Korea, Germany, Hong Kong…I suspect that I have the will to finish the list.

Car stopped, ended the long drive. We were surrounded by green hills. From afar, we had already notice a tall structure emerging from the green color of a hill. I started to notice that we were entering something huge that looked like a castle. The gate was very impressive to me, I had had hardly seen a gate like that earlier. I held my camera up for a shot, just to realize that it was out of battery. Holy…!!!

An old man appeared behind the huge wooden gate and led us in. He told us that we could wander around while waiting for his host to come. What was in my eyes was a huge complex of, well, I would say traditional Vietnamese houses, plus another building was still in construction. We could obviously saw the old details such as the beams, the carving pieces of wood…among the new material used to build that house. It’s easy to understand since I had learnt of those rich who threw money to collects antique houses and bring them to their courtyard. But, still, that was definitely out of my imagination.

There were probably over 10 houses like that. They seemed to cover a half of the hill to me. As a Vietnamese, you can took it for granted that they were all traditional or designed in a traditional Vietnamese way. Now the most important thing to me was to find a place where I could charge my battery. I got out of the crow and found myself wander in a strange complex, very strange to me at first. I saw a house alike to the one that I spent my childhood in, I saw another one that was a tribal group house up there. I walked through a little gate surrounded by the banyan-type trees, a replica of a traditional village’s gate. And just before I found what I wanted, I had felt that I was walking in a huge replica of Vietnam in term of architecture.

There was a soft voice and we realized that the host had arrived. She was kindly invited to come and show us around and (in my thoughts) hopefully we would have a business co-operation later on. A minute before her arrival we had leant that she was Mr. Thanh Chuong’s wife. But no one told us she was so poetically beautiful. Around her 40s, hardy do I see girls around their 20s whose beauty could compare. She appeared in her violet shirt, revealing her dreamy shoulders. And her black shorts…Her tall small nose stood gracefully on her face under the two round seductive eyes. She pictured a complete beauty. I shrugged and murmured: He is rich. I meant the artist, you know. And that was the moment I really wanted to be rich, almost more than ever.

….

The house complex was built on a hill. The construction began in 2001 and by 2003 the majority had come into shape. Man, how short time it was. There had to be hundreds of people working constantly. It’s amazing knowing that the whole house complex along with thousands artifacts (let me call them by this word) were respectively designed and installed by the artist himselft. As for the houses, nearly each of those was dissembled somewhere and brought over here to stand. For example, the 200 year-old house on stilts that we first sat in was bought from a tribal family, it was a several months’ matter of convincing the original host to make a deal. The deal only came after the artist agreed to build a new modern house for the original owner’s family. I guessed it was a totally crazy hobbies when tons of money were spent to collect those hundred years old houses. Each of the house writes their own stories from the bricked walls to the roof. And that’s not everything yet. Just open the door, you’ll be seeing the interior contains hundreds of antiques, from rusty Buddha’s statues to carved panels…but all of them posed as a great work of Installation Art. The site has been visited by the US embassador, Danish king and queen…The artist’s wife, in her soft sweet voice, continued explaining that her husband had spent his whole life collecting those antiques…It’s admirable that a hundred percent of the capital was raised from the sell of his paintings. Oppss…someone must be wishing he was a painter by now.

So, it’s only 1,5 hour driving out of Hanoi following the road leading to Noi Bai airport then take the left turn directing Phu Lo. There, a quiet story of Vietnam will be told. Thanh Chuong is among top contemporary artists in Vietnam and for sure if you fancy arts, you can purchase artworks here since lots of them are on display.

And, nearly finally, to my surprise, the artist family is going to build another complex nearby, which is….bigger than the current one.

Sometimes I ask myself: What ya goin to do if possessing a mount of gold…

Vietnam Luxury Tours

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Vietnam Luxury Travel

For several decades, the word Vietnam has been mentioned with a word “War” added up to. But ever since the beginning of the 90s, when the country embarked on a quest for wealth, it opened up and has been viewed and mentioned differently. Vienam is now no longer a war, but beautiful mountains and peaceful green vallies, colorful hill tribes and rich cultures dating back to thousand of years, pristine and remote beaches. This country is still very much remains undiscovered by tourists. Here are some suggestions that you can add up to your itinerary when travelling to the region.

North of Vietnam

(Vietnam Vacations)

This is the cradle of the Vietnamese culture, orgininated the dawn of Vietnamese history. The region has a variety of natural terrain, distinctive local cultures resides in traditional villages, thousand of ancient temples and pagodas aromantic with burning insence…What North of Vietnam is famous for are: Handicraft villages and villages in general, mountain and plain scenery. Thus, your place of visit should be:

1.    Halong bay (Vietnam Travel Agencies): Located in the Gulf of Tonkin, this unrivalled bay has thousands of green karst formations jutting out of the sea. This is one of a must-to-visit place in North of Vietnam. Best to take a 2days/1night trip, which offers an overnight stay on a wooden boat. If you like to spend more time here, you can combine with a visit to Cat Ba island, a big one with inhabitants on it. This island is home to resorts, quiet beaches and a national park, which is good for hiking.

2.    Tam Coc: This is the name of a site where you can enjoy a ride on a little sampan boat (well, made of iron) for 2 hours rowing in the middle of rice paddies (if you come in the rice season). The highlight of the boat ride is the stunning view of the karst formations around. In summer time, Tam Coc should be toured in the morning than in the afternoon, to reduce the heat that you might have when you’re on the boat ride.

3. Handicraft villages and traditional villages: Hanoi is surrounded by many old villages with distinguished characteristics or hav involved in a handicraft for hundreds of years. These are good for people who love to cycle or keen on cutural lives of the local.

4.    Sapa (Vietnam vacation): Located 1.600m above sea-level. This is a small city on the mountain offering cool weather and a good center to visit local hill tribes around it. The scenery is totally sublime. The weather is cool most of the time. The place is good for trekking and sight-seeing to the hill tribes. Sapa is a must for mountain lovers. If you do like climbing, you should not miss mount Phansipan - “the roof of Indochina”

5.    North East and North West of Vietnam (Vietnam Adventure Travel): In general, these places are good for mountain lovers and cultural seekers. Visit some mountain cities, stay overnight in tribal groups, enjoy the sceneries. This is best for those who love mountain motorbiking. A professional tour operator must be required. Since tours like these are different from classical ones. Vietnam Adventure Tours

6.    Of course, North of Vietnam has Hanoi as the capital city (Vietnam Trips). This 1000 years old city has a lot to see, especially to learn that it has lots of French buildings remain from the French colonial time. 

Center of Vietnam

(Vietnam Holidays)

This place used to be the meeting point of many cultures, since its sea once was home to some famous ports, where Japanese, Dutch, Chinese…vessels met and exchanged goods or stopped in the middle of their trade routes. This is where the last dynasty in Vietnam built up their royal structures which still remain till today. This is where you can be lazy on the most beautiful beaches in Vietnam (and some are among the World’s top). This is where the Central Highland, with lots of rudimentary tribal groups settle in. There are so much to be addicted to this place.The places of visit should be:

1.    Phong Nha – Ke Bang National Park: This is an amazing complex of Karst scenery with over 300 caves and grottos, which hold some world cave records. This is where you have the moutain, forest, the longest underground river, fine sand beaches inside the caves, beautiful slalagmites and stalactites, waterfalls and so on. It’s 500 km South of Hanoi and can be accessed by train or car. This site was listed on the  World Heritage Sites in 2003. Compare to the other world heritage sites in Vietnam, this is the least touristy.

2.    Hue Imperial City: This is heartland of Central Vietnam. Hue was the capital city of Vietnam from 1802-1945. Lots of the royal buildings can now be seen in Hue. The highlights among these are: The Imperial Citadel, the Kings’ tombs – final resting places of the last kings in Vietnam. Hue is a nice and calm city with friendly people. The city is bisected by the famous and scenic Perfume River and a cruise on the River would add up to your trip experience. Hue was the first place in Vietnam to be listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Sites, in 1993.

3.    The Old Town of Hoi An: This is the best place in Vietnam in term of a real “Old Town”. Hoi An used to be one of Asia most important trading ports in the period of 15^th – 19^th century. For that reason, the town’s architecture reflex a combination of local and foreign influence, with century-old houses. This laid-back town became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1998 and now attracts quite a number of tourists. The town is considered one of the best in Vietnam in term of tailored-made clothes with cheap price. 20-minute cycling out of the town will bring you to Cua Dai beach, with clear water, fine sand shaded by coconut trees. Once when you’re here, don’t forget the word “My Son Sanctuary”, where a story about the once-mighty empire would be told through the ruins of the ancient temples.

4.    Central Highlands: This is home to many tribal groups in Vietnam. Where you see elephants walking on the roads and loaded with cargos or tourists. This is also among the least developed places in the country with only 3 main cities bu once when you’re here, you’re be offered a lot of chances to go sightseeing to many scenic places and see many culturally rich people. This place seems to best suite those who loves motorcycles since lots of scenic places are not approachable by local bus. So, let’s get ride, the place has a lot for you to explore.

5.    Nha Trang (Vietnam Luxury Tours): This coastal city offers some best beaches in Vietnam. The bay of Nha Trang is one of the World’s most beautiful ones. Recently, money has been poured into this place to build up luxurious resorts that cater to more the need of affluent people. The domestic travellers fancy the beach in the city, so you may consider enjoying your stay in a resort on an island away from the mass. Last but not least, this is the best place in Vietnam to do scuba diving.

6.    Da Lat (Vietnam Travel): A city of the same elevation as Sapa, Da Lat was developed by the French under the requirements of building up the city into a summer resort to escape the heat of Sai Gon. Thus, the architecture of the city reflexs the colonial one. Traveling from Sai Gon up north, you should drop by here for a couple of days. The avarage temperature in this city is around 16 -18 all year round. It’s a romantic city with beautiful waterfalls and hilly scenery surrounds. But watch out, because everything is so romantic and poetic, you may regret to have been there alone.

South of Vietnam

(Vietnam Tour)

Unlike the North and the Center, the South of Vietnam is much younger than its two brothers in term of history. Nevertheless, it boots an unparalled charm compare to other regions. This holds the most fertile land of the country, the biggest river system with distinguished everyday river lives. Moreover, everyone seems to have heard of the Vietnam War as much as they heard of Sai Gon, the biggest city of South Vietnam. Well, having to describe it all in one word, it would be “alluring”.

1.    Ho Chi Minh city (Vietnam tour operators): The biggest city in South Vietnam, the most populated, the economic muscle of Vietnam. And that’s not everything. The city was the capital of Cocochina, thus it present a fine colonial architecture that you can see in the center of the city. Sai Gon was the brain of the South during the Vietnam War, and, hence, it is the most Americanized one.

2.    Cu Chi tunnel system +Cao Dai Temple: This was a famous name during the Vietnam War. It shows up how resistant the local was in the war. Come and witness a system of hundreds kms digging deep in the ground. It’s only 75 km from Sai Gon and this place should not be missed. Watch out before you make your decision of getting though the tunnels, you’re not gonna lose your way but it’s easy for you to get stuck. The trip can be combined with a visit to Cao Dai temple, a colorful one where the local practise their unique cult.

3.    The Mekong Delta River (Vietnam tours). The South of Vietnam is where the Mekong river system flows into the sea. And this makes a special part of Vietnam’s picture. A trip or several days will bring you on a row along the matrix system of canal fensed with fruitful coconut trees, and then be in the middle of the famous floating market where hundreds of vessels heavily loaded with fruits and vegetables meet and exchange. Get yourselves lost in the local orchard where you can be lazy sleeping on the hammock or taste fruits hanging lowly from the trees above.

4.    Phu Quoc Island and Con Dao Archipelago: The touristier the country is turning, the more tourists seek privacy from their travel mates, of course, that doesn’t mean the new places are of any less beautiful. Phu Quoc and Con Dao are heavens for that purpose. These are both one hour fly from Sai Gon, they offer ideal sunny quiet beaches, with fine sand, coconut trees. Lots of travellers have highly recommended these places to possess top beaches in the world. Phu Quoc is slightly touristier than Con Dao.

Vietnam Travel Agents

Most people think of Vietnam as a war. But the old history has all gone. Now peace and safety resides. It’s opening to the world as a friendly and exotic place on earth to be.

So why don’t you think of coming. I’ll name some of the reasons why you should (Vietnam Travel )

1. She’s a new place (Vietnam Tour). It’s not touristy like in Thailand and many places you go, people got stunned by your appearance.

2. She’s safe and friendly (Vietnam Trips). The majority of people in Vietnam are farmers, pure farmers. Many of them have never learnt of much apart from the village they were born in. Naturally, they’re almost all friendly and safe to be around. Moreover, the communist government does a good job in ensuring securities all over the country. Nothing of a crime has happened to tourists for the last decades.

3. She has lots to see (Vietnam Tours): A thin country stretching for thousands of Km from North to South. It has beautiful mountains with colorful and rich culture hill tribes. It has beaches and many of those are considered best in the world but still, they’re not touristy. Sound cool enough? Not end yet, she’s home to 7 UNESCO World Heritages. Almost anywhere you go, you’re stumble on a World Heritage.

4. She’s cheap (Vietnam Vacations): If you want to, then 1 dollar could buy you a basic lunch or dinner. Wandering around and you want to find somewhere to sit and drink? Mostly you don’t have to pay more than one dollar for it. Cheap accommodations and services are everywhere around the Old Quarter in Hanoi and Pham Ngu Lao street or Bui Vien street – Sai Gon (if you’re traveling on a tight budget). If not a tight budget? Never mind. You have top hotels and resorts of the world in here.

5. Is travel here convenient (Vietnam Tour Operators)? Sure, many companies operate the open bus (good quality in general) and they run almost to every capital cities in the country. Moving around is very easy. If ya want to take it easier? Well, lots of tour companies everywhere you go. You don’t have to work on where to go when you wake up tomorrow.

6. After all, traveling is to experience the difference (Vietnam Luxury Travel). And Vietnam simply is from any place that you have been.

So, Vietnam? Why not! We wish you a nice time traveling in our charming Vietnam.