Giao Xuan Eco - Life in Nam Dinh

 Just three hours drive from Hanoi, Giao Xuan Village is a familiar stop for foreigners who enjoy the countryside and prefer to stay with people in the local community rather than hang out in a luxury hotel.

From Hanoi, tourists can go in groups of twenty people in a 29-seat car with each person only paying VND600,000 for the two-way transport cost. Budget travelers can take a coach from Giap Bat coach station in Hanoi straight to Giao Xuan Village for just VND70,000 each. Along the roads leading to the eco-village, tourists can enjoy rice fields and green gardens along the National Road 21 towards the east. “Giao Xuan Village now has 21 families who can accommodate tourists during their trip here and the homestay services create an income of some VND800,000 for each family,” said Phung Thi Thin, chairwoman of the village’s Cooporative of Community Tourism of Vietnam travel news. ‘Homestay services’ explains Phung, is the best choice for local people to live on without overexploiting the natural resources such as seashell, shrimp as well as improving the environmental condition of the village. The village started its ‘community tourism’ in April 2006 with only some simple projects like fish sauce production, worm breeding, seashell breeding, and renovating the gardens to make temporary sleeping places for the birds living in the Xuan Thuy national park, which is some 10 kilometers from the village. “Next year, the cooperative will help develop five more houses having enough facilities to be ‘typical homestays’ so we can receive more tourists because numbers of visitors are increasing these days,” Phung adds. Giao Xuan is traditionally a farming village, located in Xuan Thuy National Park in Nam Dinh Province. The growing number of ecotourists has prompted local people to build new cement roads, reorganize their livelihoods and develop a new respect for the environment. Tran Thi Phuong, who used to be a farmer in Giao Xuan village, now has six years of experience as a tourist guide and says she loves her job because she earns more money and learns more about life. She said the village now has three main teams to provide for community tourists,  offering a traditional music band, homestay houses and tourist guides. “When I decided to change my job, from farmer to a tourist guide, I and my team joined a tourism class in Hanoi. However, I soon felt happy with my new job because it helps me improve my knowledge,” Phuong told the Daily while she guides a media group from HCMC and Hanoi to view a local house making very good fish sauce in the village. On the small path leading to another house in the village, the group could smell the fish sauce. It came from the house of Mr Phung –  who has spent nearly forty years making fish sauce from the local catch. Phung said his sauce, which has a strong traditional salty taste,  earns him around VND200 million each year, partly thanking to the increasing number of tourists coming to the village. His yard contains nine large troughs, each filled with 1.8 tons of fish and 200 kilograms of salt. “After nearly eight months, the mixed component will give some 600 liters of fish sauce”, he said while opening one of the covers and releasing a pungent fish smell. Before saying goodbye to this old fish sauce maker, some of the group bought some products as gifts to their friends after the trip. The media group were in the village as guests of Ecolife Eco-service Company Limited, a social enterprise providing work for the community in ecotourism. It is one of a growing number of social enterprises, business models that priorities their social role over making profits, that are spreading across Vietnam.

Hon Tam beach in Khanh Hoa

Hon Tam Island is an island ecotourism place in the South of Nha Trang bay – Khanh Hoa province. There are many untouched features of nature along with the green tropical forest, which is green all year round.

The long and curling beach is like the mermaids showing their beauty beside the waves days and nights. The whirlpool is swayed in the coral of many colors. All are romantic illusory. Thus, Hon Tam is also chosen for the place to health recovery. Not only visiting, visitors would also join in the sports like climbing, forest discovering, boat racing, water skiing, sail boat, water motor, badminton, volleyball, etc, and especially there is the activity of undersea discovering. 10 years ago, Hon Tam was an isolated land. Now it is becoming the eco tourism land and many people have been impressed by a trip, which is still on their mind. Hon Tam is named after its look, which is like the green silkworm. Hon Tam is divided into two areas, which are Section A, and Section B. Section A is a curling beach with smooth sand bank to help visitors feel the delight of seawater. There is a big restaurant, which is capable for 300 diners at a time. Along this section, a series of 32 kiosks have been built for the group of visitors or families. After sinking in the sea, visitors would join in the water motor, water skiing, sliding on the water surface. Hon Tam is quietly developed from scratch. From a neglected island, Hon Tam, has become a crowded tourism centre which attract any visitor. There are many new and strange activities, which are only special for Hon Tam Section B is made in the form of recreational village. This is a hi-class recreational area with many suitable and beautiful features. The 10 separated villas of Asia style are divided into two luxury rooms each. All the villas face the sea and are equipped with the luxury hotel. Surrounding these villas, there are many types of flowers and local trees of Nha Trang and Vietnam.

Xung Khoeng Waterfall in Gia Lai

Located 30 km from the south-west of Pleiku City, Chu Prong District, Gia Lai Province, Xung Khoeng Waterfall with the height of 40m is a beautiful landscape in Gia Lai. From afar, tourists in Vietnam travel can hear drawling sounds of flowing water.

Xung Khoeng Waterfall- Gia Lai Located 30 km from the south-west of Pleiku City, Chu Prong District, Gia Lai Province, Xung Khoeng Waterfall with the height of 40m is a beautiful landscape in Gia Lai. From afar, tourists in Vietnam travel news  can hear drawling sounds of flowing water. On the two sides of the falls, trees and plants grow luxuriantly, and above is the high blue sky. The water makes its way into cracks in the rock to form a clear lake, surrounded by craggy walls. If you are in Gia Lai in Vietnam travel and you love the beauty of nature, Xung Khoeng waterfall should not be missed to visit!

Lung Van - Cloudy Valley

Situated at an altitude of over 1,200 meters, Lung Van valley in Tan Lac District, Hoa Binh Province looks like a fairyland amidst white clouds. For this reason, it has another name, the cloudy valley.

Being surrounded by Po, Trau and Tien Mountains, the valley is also considered the roof of Muong Bi fromVietnam travel news. From Hanoi, one can go along Highway 6 to Muong Khen, Tan Lac, and then turn left at a T-junction with the sign showing the way to Lung Van Valley. Lung Van Valley attracts tourists with its Market Fair on every Tuesday and by its beautiful climate. It is cool during daytime and quilted blanket is needed at night. Two elderly locals, Bui Van Kinh, 89, and Bui Van Tam, 86, of Lung Van, are famous for their great contributions to preserving the soul of the Muong ethnic minority groups in the area. They can tell visitors all the regional rituals and several things needed in a ritual worshipping the Muong worship man.

Phat Tich pagoga - A Buddhist cultural center with ancient sculptural

Phat Tich Pagoda - a Buddhist cultural center contains cultural and sculptural values of the Ly Dynasty. it is ideal destination for you to visit and research about Ly Dynasty.

Phat Tich (Buddha’s Trace) Pagoda, located in Phat Tich Commune, Tien Du District, Bac Ninh Province, is a cultural and historical relic in Vietnam which contains cultural and sculptural values of the Ly Dynasty. Phat Tich Pagoda, was built between the 7th and 10th centuries, and underwent several transformations throughout the years. It was first renovated during the Ly Dynasty. In 1057, King Ly Thanh Tong had a tower erected and a golden statue made. Later in the 17th century, the pagoda was enlarged. Unfortunately, the pagoda was ravaged by the war in 1947 and was rebuilt again in a simpler style in 1958. And in 1991, the pagoda has been reconstructed following ancient architectural designs.  Among the remains of the pagoda is the Amitabha Buddha stone statue dating back from the 10th-11th centuries, which is considered precious object. The columns of the pagoda are decorated with intricately carved lotus flowers and orchestra with artisans playing various types of traditional musical instruments. The Amitabha Buddha stone statue dating back from the 10th-11th centuries According to historical records, Phat Tich Pagoda was as an importance national pagoda, where the Kings of Ly Dynasty often come to hold the Buddhist ceremonies and pray peaceful and prosperous for the country and safety for people. This was not only a Buddhist cultural center but also the place where Buddhist monks were trained. With such special values, Phat Tich deserves as a national vestige where preserves national treasures.  Phat Tich Pagoda was the place where exhibit the largest Buddha Gem statue in Viet Nam – weighing 4.5 tons and standing 3.5 meters high, engraved out of Nephrite stone block, from 16 to 22 of May 2009. The world itinerary of the Buddha Gem statute has been put together to promote world peace. Before arriving at Phat Tich Pagoda, the Buddha Gem statue had visited Da Nang, Vung Tau, Ho Chi Minh City, and Dong Thap in Viet Nam. After leaving Phat Tich Pagoda, the statue traveled to other places in the world such as USA, Taiwan etc. before being settled at the Peace Tower in Bendigo, New South Wales, Australia. In 2010, the project of renovating and restoring the Historical Cultural Vestige of Phat Tich Pagoda has almost completed which cost 75 billion VND sourced from the State budget and donations from organizations, individuals and Buddhist followers nationwide. The Phat Tich pagoda has named project to celebrate the 1000th anniversary of Thang Long – Hanoi.   The giant Buddha statue has been placed on the Phat Tich Mountain Now coming to Phat Tich Pagoda, visitors will have chance to contemplate a new wonder of Bac Ninh Province from Vietnam travel news. That is the statue - 27 metres high (including Buddha's throne and pedestal) and weighs more than 3,000 tonnes which considered as one of the largest stone statues in Southeast Asia and the first of its kind in Viet Nam. It has constructed since February 2007. The statue is shaped based on the model of Amitabha Buddha statue which was made of stone during the Ly Dynasty - a masterpiece of the national fine-art with skillful lines. Therefore, the making of pattern and clothing creases for the giant Buddha statue is a very painstaking work. This giant work is the achievements of tireless labor of many people. Hundreds of artisans from Ninh Van Stone Village (Ninh Binh Province) have worked hard for almost four years under the difficult construction conditions on the mountain. They had to use rail to transport tens-tonnes rocks up to the mountain to preserve the surroundings. The construction of the statue was referenced by many experts. This work was also strictly reviewed and approved.  The giant Buddha statue has been placed on the Phat Tich Mountain at the 108 metres above sea-level with the inner wishes of natural potential as this is place of sacred mountain, Mount of Buddha, marking first place where the Buddhism rose up in Viet Nam. If tourists in Vietnam Travel have chance to visit Bac Ninh Province, Phat Tich Pagoda is a must-see place that should not be missed!