Wednesday, July 31, 2013

Caramelized pork spare ribs recipe

A very simple dish with familiar ingredients can be delicious meal for your family
Ingredients:
500g pork spare ribs (1.1lb)
1 tsp minced garlic
1 tsp minced shallot (or white part of spring onion)
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp pepper
1 tsp seasoning powder (eg. Knorr - this is optional)
1 tbsp sugar
chopped spring onion or cilantro to garnish
How to make
Chop the ribs into 1.5-inch (4cm) pieces. Soak the ribs in slightly salted water for 15 minutes (or boil for 2-3 mins) to reduce bad smell. Rinse well and drain. 
Marinate with 1 tsp minced garlic, 1 tsp minced spring onion (white part only), 1/2 tsp salt, 1/2 tsp pepper, 1/2 tsp seasoning powder. Mix well and set aside for 15 minutes.
Heat a medium sauce pan on medium heat, add in 1 tbsp cooking oil, and 1 tbsp sugar. Wait until the sugar melts and turns into caramel color. Then add the marinated ribs and stir-fry until the color outside changes. 
Add 1/2 cup water (use coconut water for better result) and bring to boil. Cover the lid and cook on medium low for 25 minutes. Then open the lid and continue to simmer for another 25 minutes or until the sauce thickens.
Transfer to serving plate and garnish with black pepper, chopped spring onion or cilantro. Serve with hot steamed rice.

Friday, July 26, 2013

Cai Rang floating market

Together with Cai Be and Phung Hiep, Cai Rang Floating Market in Can Tho City is one of the three biggest in the Mekong Delta. The shops and stalls at the market are boats of different sizes.


Cai Rang Floating market, early morning
 
One of the most interesting sights in the Delta are thefloating markets and associated river life. Cai Rang Floating Market is open all day but it is busiest from sunrise to about 9am. The main items sold there are farm products and specialties of Cai Rang Town, Chau Thanh District and neighboring areas. Every boat has a long upright pole at its bow on which samples of the goods for sale are hung.
During the early morning market hours, larger sized boats anchor and create lanes that smaller boats weave in and out of. The waterway becomes a maze of hundreds of boats packed with mango, bananas, papaya, pineapple, and even smuggled goods like cigarettes. Sellers do not have to cry out about their goods because their goods can be seen in a distance and their cries would not be heard in the vastness of the river and the noise of boat engines. Small boats that sell beer, wine and soft drinks go among the other boats to serve market-goers and visitors. Sellers tie their goods to a
Transporting fruit on a small boat
tall pole so that buyers can see from a distance what they are selling.
Each boat is loaded with plenty of seasonal goods. Activities at the market are also an occasion for tourists to study the cultural aspects of southerners. You can see the market in the distance, it does not look like much, just a mass of boats. The boats all display their wares on a mast so you can see what they have available.
To visit Cai Rang Floating Market, visitors can join a tour of the Mekong Delta. On the way to Can Tho, visitors can stop to visit My Tho and take a boat trip to visit orchards, bee farms and coconut candy establishments in Ben Tre.
Have you been to the Cai Rang Floating Market? If not yet, let’s take a 30 minute boat ride to the market. You will be actually awake and enjoying it! You wind find it very peaceful floating down the river in the early morning. Then, tell us why you think this market is a great place!

Wednesday, July 24, 2013

Enjoy Lobsters When Visiting Halong Bay

Once you reach Bai Chai City and Halong Bay, you are recommended that you take a journey down gourmet lane as you take a sample of the city’s delicious seafood selections.


When you think you have marvelled enough on the beauty of Halong Bay, then you have only satisfied one of your senses. Of course the landscape, the emerald sea, the more or less 2000 limestone karst and the beautiful junk boat cruises leave nothing but beautiful visual memories. World travellers say that if you want classical music and refined culture you go to Prague, but if you want amazing wonders of nature you go to Halong Bay. This was a fact recognized worldwide as Halong Bay was officially named one of the Seven Wonders of the World in 2012. On top of that, since 1994, the bay was already listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. But do you know that the perfect Halong Bay experience of your best Vietnam tours is more than what meets your eyes?
Once you reach Bai Chai City and  Halong Bay, you are recommended that you take a journey down gourmet lane as you take a sample of the city’s delicious seafood selections. All the seafood is fresh as they were ordered by the restaurant owners early in the morning directly from the boat of fisherman docking on the beach. This means you can be sure that the flavour of the sea is still not lost on the lobster that is going to be served to you. If you want the surest way to eating the freshest lobster, then go to restaurants that have lobster tanks where you can choose a live lobster to be cooked exclusively for you by the resident chef. You will enjoy a sumptuous meal of lobster cooked Vietnam style and this means that only fresh ingredients are used to cook your live lobster.
Once you have tasted the best lobster on your Vietnam Tours travel in Bai Chai City, it is time to enjoy your lobster to the next level. On Halong Bay’s biggest island, you will experience fine dining on board a floating restaurant. And what could be better than eating your favourite seafood on top of the bay that offers its own bounty. On Cat Ba Island, seafood is ordered from floating villages that have their own aquaculture. Residents of these floating houses tend lovingly their fish cages full time since it is attached to their house and that means only seafood of top quality is going to be served on your table.
After enjoying a hearty meal of lobster on the floating restaurants, why not treat yourself to a relaxing foot massage. A half hour foot massage cost only $3.00 and they are available in several places in Cat Ba town. You can also go to the North West side of town and roam around the market place. The seafood section will give you an idea of how rich and bountiful Halong Bay is to its own people as you will see so many varieties of fish caught locally.  You may not believe this but about 200 species of fish and more than 400 kinds of molluscs provide the daily sustenance of locals. They also can absolutely satiate your hunger for extraordinary seafood on your Vietnam tours excursion to Halong Bay.
So what are you waiting for? It’s time to pack your plate and fork and be ready to enjoy lobsters in the very beautiful Halong Bay.

Friday, July 19, 2013

The ancient village of Tho Ha (Bac Giang province)

Tho Ha is an old village in Van Ha commune, Bac Giang province with romantic old banian trees, a communal house, wharf and ancient houses.
Tho Ha Village located in Van Ha Commune, Viet Yen District, Bac Giang Province, about 50km northeast of Hanoi, is considered the “sacred land”. Tho Ha ancient village in Bac Giang is famous for its ceramics and unique architectural beauty that pay attention to many tourists.

Gate of village
In particular, Tho Ha village is called the cradle of culture in Kinh Bac with many typical village historical and cultural examples of the North including communal houses, temples, pagodas and festivals.
A small corner

Many ancient houses
Tho Ha ceramics flourished since the 14th century is ceramic center of Vietnam, equivalent to Bat Trang ceramics in Hanoi and Phu Lang ceramics in Bac Ninh. The products of this village were well-known throughout the country. Tho Ha ceramics has its own special features: waterproof, reddish-brown warm ceramics, durable products even burying in the ground or soaking in water…Thanks to the craft, villagers have good life.
Furthermore, Tho Ha is known for ancient architecture from house to the village entrance. Especially, it also owns the ancient pagoda and majestic communal house – masterpieces of traditional Vietnamese architectures.
Tho Ha, for example, is a famous communal house of Kinh Bac. It was built in 1692 under King Le Huy Tong. This is an architectural works on a large land area 3.000m2 with a unique sculpture. This was ranked in Bac Co Dong Duong museum by the French government. This is a place to worship Lao Tu and first teachers of pottery here.

Tho Ha communal house
Because of its architectural and traditional beauty, Tho Ha village has attracted lots of domestic and foreign tourists who would like to study about architecture and art, or artistic inspiration.

Wednesday, July 17, 2013

Admire the beautiful beaches of Da Nang City

Da Nang city boasts numerous pristine beautiful beaches of My Khe, Nam O, Xuan Thieu, Thanh Binh, Tien Sa, Son Tra, Bac My An and Non Nuoc with bleached-white sand and clear and blue water.
Da Nang’s stunning coastline is over 90km in total length, and stretches from the foot of the Hai Van Pass to the Marble Mountains.  
Local beaches are very clear for visitors to go swimming all year round, but especially from May to August when the waves are gentle.  In particular, lifeguard teams work from 5am to 8pm daily to ensure the safety of swimmers on some of these beaches.
First off, My Khe beach is 900 meters in length and is popular with both locals and visitors.  It has ever listed in the US Forbes Magazine as one of the 6 most beautiful beaches in the world, it is an intriguing beach with white sand and a gentle slope. 
There are many hotels, restaurants, drinks stalls, and other services which create favourable conditions for visitors to relax around the beach.  There are also a number of high-end resorts nearby should you be in need of pampering, with most offering a rich choice of treatments at their spas and a range of dining options.
In addition, seafood specialities including prawns, crabs, fish, and cuttlefish are sold in many small shops at reasonable prices.
My Khe beach

Non Nuoc Beach that is located at the foot of the Marble Mountains, stretches over 5km in Hoa Hai Ward, Ngu Hanh Son District.  This beach has a gentle slope, calm waves, and crystal-clear blue water all year around.  In addition, coming here, visitors can find a wonderful choice of locally-caught fresh fish and seafood readily available for them to enjoy.  Along this beach, the indigenous species of casuarina trees helps to stabilise the dunes.  This is an ideal place to pitch your tent and enjoy a camping and outdoor experience.
Smooth white sand on Non Nuoc beach

After relaxing and bathing on the beach, visitors can explore the Marble Mountains with ancient pagodas and sacred monumental caves, or watch the marble carvers in the stone carving village at the foot of the mountains.  The beach hotels offer various services such as handicraft shops, massage, restaurants, tennis and other activities.  Time spent on the Non Nuoc beach is sure to leave you with unforgettable memories and the desire to come back for more. 
Another popular local beach is Bac My An in My An Ward, Ngu Hanh Son District, about 7km south-east far from the city centre.  The 4km-long beach boasts white sand, blue water and high-quality resorts: T18, My Da Dong 2, My Da Dong 3, Bac My An, Furama and Pullman Danang Beach Resort.  In particular, the 5-star Furama Resort is well-equipped with many comfortable bedrooms and other excellent services.  In addition, there are several smaller hotels and guest houses available for those who prefer cheaper accommodation.  Bac My An Beach with its beauty and good services is truly a terrific place for locals and visitors to unwind and relax.
Bac My An beach

Nam O beach that is situated 17km north-west of the city, offers environmental boat rides to popular places like Hoa Bac and Hoa Bang.  According to locals, the name Nam O means the South of the O district.  This beach has a moderate slope with clear blue water and white sand stretching along the foot of a mountain. 
From here, visitors can reach the Son Tra peninsula by road along the mountain or by boat on the west coast, as well as visit a village of the Katu ethnic group in Hoa Bac Commune, Hoa Vang district’s.
Nam O beach with its crystal blue water
Nam O beach with its crystal blue water
Thanh Binh Beach is located nearer the inner-city, is also very popular with locals and visitors.  Water sports are available here, including windsurfing, yachting and boating.
The Thanh Binh beach
The Thanh Binh beach
Xuan Thieu Beach, also known as a "Red Beach", is famous for its clean and beautiful white sand, as well as the clear blue sea.  Visiting the beach at sunrise or sunset, you will understand the meaning of the beach.  Sunlight reflecting from the water gives the entire beach a red colour.
The Xuan Thieu beach
The pristine Xuan Thieu beach
There are 3 famous beaches of North, South and But on the Son Tra Peninsula.  Apart from relaxing and bathing on these beaches, visitors have the opportunity to discover the primeval forest with its rich flora and fauna on the peninsula, to dive and explore the coral reefs, or go fishing.
An outstanding beach view from Son Tra
An outstanding beach view from the Son Tra Peninsula

Friday, July 12, 2013

2 Vietnamese beaches loved by foreign visitors

Bai Dai, Phu Quoc and An Bang beach, Hoi An are two Vietnamese beachses that foreign visitors love. These are not only famous for intriguing scenery, but also friendly local people.
Bai Dai - Phu Quoc
Located on the upper west coast just beyond Vung Bau Beach lies a long stretch of deserted pristine beach of Bai Dai running for more than 2 miles along this sunset drenched coast. Hurry up and check it out before the golf balls start flying past your head.
In addition to the strecth of long beach, blue water, local specialties here are so intriguing. The most attractive is motorcycle rental services, about 100,000 VND/day. With motorcycle, visitors can explore this beautiful island.

Specialties at Bai Dai
An Bang Beach, Hoi An
An Bang  is one of the few remaining stretches of beach that remains mostly unspoilt by development, offering clean blue sea, castaway restaurants and bohemian beach bars.
The 4km long beach, known for its soft sand, gentle waves and friendly villagersLocal people keep the beach clean by removing rubbish. It flaunts not only the most fabulous island and mountain views that you don’t even need to climb off your lounger to enjoy, but also some of the best seafood in Hoi An.
Unlike many beach destinations there is something to do whatever the season, whether you prefer some self indulgent R&R or an action packed surfing safari, An Bang never shuts shop.

Tasting specialties of Ly Son Island

For culinary enthusiasts, Ly Son is an ideal place to enjoy fresh seafood, combined with spices and rustic recipes.
In recent years, many visitors have come to Ly Son to enjoy the pristine scenery and numerous kinds of fresh seafood here.
In the spacious restaurant on the island, visitors can enjoy the delicious dish such as fried fish, king crab, sea cucumbers…
Cheap and delicious dishes at market.
First off, in order to awaken the taste buds, we ordered snail sautéed lemongrass.  Snail is smaller than our thumb with hard shell but when it is sautéed lemongrass, it become more delicious and attractive.

Snail sautéed lemongrass
Normally the dish of sea urchin in the city is quite expensive. However, when its season coming, it becomes cheaper.
Food is very cheap at the market. Last year, when we came here, a bowl of noodle and sauce costs only VND 2.000.
Next delicious dish is seaweed salad. Seaweed sweet gruel is also a popular dish here. In summer days, enjoying a bowl of seaweed sweet gruel is so great.

Seaweed salad

A bowl of delicious gruel 
Besides seaweed, Ly Son garlic is also specialty here. It is processed into intriguing salad.
http://travel.org.vn/food-drink/

Tuesday, July 9, 2013

ASTONISHED BY THE BEAUTY OF HOA LU CAVE

Trang An is a scenic spot in Hoa Lu ancient Capital, Ninh Binh province, including a system of limestone mountains whose geological age is about 250 million years. After a very long time is gone, the weathering and climate change has made hundreds of valleys, caves, lakes and swamps.

Every lake is a water-colour painting. The blue colour of sky and lake water  as well as the colour of trees and flowers are blended together in perfect harmony.
Trang An ecological area includes many caves like Toi cave, Sang cave, Nau Ruoi cave, Com cave.  Each cave has its own beauty. The caves have a lot of stalactites, water flowing from the ceiling of the caves cool the air inside.
In the trip lasting three hours, visitors can visit eight caves with different beauty and thee temples with unique architecture. Especially, in the caves system of Trang An, there is a cave called Ba Giot that is 200 meters in length. Visitors will see the interesting and weird variation here, rocks seem to have a soul….
Trinh pagoda
A stop-over
Phu Khong temple

Wednesday, July 3, 2013

The Ancient Pagoda of Van Nien

Van Nien Pagoda is located on Lac Long Quan Road to the west of the West Lake in Hanoi. The thousand-year-old pagoda is considered one of the most famous ones in the old capital of Thang Long.
According to historical records, Van Nien Pagoda was constructed in the 2nd Thuan Thien under the Ly Dynasty, one year after King Ly Thai To moved the capital from Hoa Lu to Thang Long. Previously, the pagoda was called Van Tue and situated in Quan La, present-day Ve Ho Village, Xuan La Ward, Tay Ho District.
The book entitled “Thang Long Co Tich Khao” says: “In the 5th year of Ly Thuan Thien (1014), Most Venerable Monk Huu Nhai, Patriarch of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha asked the king to establish a makeshift platform in the pagoda to organize rites for those who wanted to follow the Buddhist religion. The king issued an edict to agree with the monk’s suggestion”. This fact shows that the pagoda was probably built before the Ly Dynasty because at that time it became the favourite place for many venerable monks to stay and lead a religious life.
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The ancient scroll of letters at the sanctum inVan Nien Pagoda.

The ancient three-door gate of Van Nien Pagoda.
The ancient three-door gate of Van Nien Pagoda.

The main entrance of Van Nien Pagoda.
                                                                                            The main entrance of Van Nien Pagoda.


The gold tower in the pagoda.
The gold tower in the pagoda.
The statue of Sakiamuni made from Jadeite in Van Nien Pagoda.
The statue of Sakiamuni made from Jadeite in Van Nien Pagoda.
TheGoddess of Mercy withthousandhands and thousand eyes.
The Goddess of Mercy withthousandhands and thousand eyes.
Pieces ofgemstone from the Le Dynasty.
Pieces ofgemstone from the Le Dynasty.
A wooden bell in the pagoda.
A wooden bell in the pagoda.
People often go to the pagoda topray forhealth, happiness and peace.
People often go to the pagoda topray forhealth, happiness and peace.

 The pagoda has five worshipping halls and three sanctums which connect together into the shape of the Chinese letter “Ding”. Like other pagodas in the north, the pagoda has three Buddhist statues of the past, present and future which are placed at the highest position and followed by Buddha Amitabha and then Goddess of Mercy. On the outside, there is a newborn Buddha statue. On the roof of the pagoda there are three letters of “Van Nien Tu” which mean the pagoda will exist forever.

Although the pagoda has experienced several restorations, it still maintains typical architectural features and objects which have a great historical and artistic value, such as the wall of the main hall which was built with a typical kind of brick in the Ly Dynasty. I also has a set of 46 round statues, including 26 Buddha statues, 20 statues of Mother Goddesses and late patriarchs; two stone bells dated in the Nguyen Dynasty; 11 genie ordinances; and many other worshipping objects. Notably, on the bell cast in the Gia Long Dynasty (1802-1820) there is a chronicle written that Van Nien Pagoda is an ancient relic and a beautiful spot in the west of the imperial capital of Thang Long. Although the pagoda is not large, it is situated near the West Lake so it has a spacious and serene landscape. On the first or fifth day of the lunar months, people often go to the pagoda to pray for peace, health and happiness.

With great values in terms of history and culture, the pagoda was ranked as a national historical and cultural relic in 1996 by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism. Over the years, the authority and people in Tay Ho District and the pagoda’s master monk Thich Minh Tue have made joint efforts to preserve the ancient beauty of the pagoda.