Wanderlust Tips Team, Author at WANDERLUST TIPS • Page 161 of 195

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8 ideal places to visit in Ninh Binh in the morning

Just about 100km from Hanoi, Ninh Binh with many beautiful attractions has become a destination many visitors choose to visit in their holiday. If you have the opportunity to visit Ninh Binh, the following 8 attractions are the places that visitors should not miss during their journey of discovery.

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Cuc Phuong National Park – Discover the Primary Forest

Cuc Phuong National Park is located deep in the Tam Dieo Mountain Range. It spreads over the three provinces Ninh Binh, Hoa Binh and Thanh Hoa. Covering a total area of 22,408 hectares, it offers beautiful natural landscape, diverse ecosystems, and a rich history and culture.

Top tips: Many tourist activities are on offer here such as hiking or cycling in the forest, visiting the wildlife at night, observing the life of reptiles, amphibians and insects, learning about the local ethnic communities and visiting the first Carnivore and Pangolin Education Centre in Vietnam. Tours can last from a few hours to two or three days, depending on the season.

Cuc Phuong National Park offers a wide range of tour services, accommodation and dining options, which makes it easier for tourists who wish to stay overnight.

Dining: Dining services inside the national park or nearby restaurants include Cuc Phuong, and Thuy Lam Restaurant.

Phat Diem Cathedral – the ‘Catholic Capital’ of Vietnam

Phat Diem Cathedral is located in Phat Diem Town of Kim Son District. The cathedral combines oriental religious architecture with the Gothic architecture of Western churches. Inside the cathedral, there’s a splendid complex with lakes, caves, the Phuong Dinh Bell Tower, main hall and chapels. The most prominent is the chapel of Our Lady.

The cathedral is constructed mostly from stones, with its floor, walls, pillars and window bars all made from the material, which is why it’s also known as the Phat Diem Stone Cathedral.

Must see: Kim Son Sedge Weaving Village.

Dining: Restaurants near Highway 10 include Vu Bao Restaurant, Thanh Rau Restaurant and Hung Lien Restaurant.

Dong Dac Pagoda – Oldest religious architectural structure in Kim Son

Dong Dac Pagoda is located in Dong Dac Hamlet, Dong Huong Ward, Kim Son District. The pagoda is considered the oldest religious building in Kim Son, constructed decades before Phat Diem Cathedral. Through the years, Dac Dong Pagoda has been renovated several times and new features have been added. The pagoda is made entirely out of ironwood with tall wooden columns, trusses, bars, and spars. The architecture showcases the talent and skills of the Kim Son artisans who created it. Their skills are also displayed in other renowned works in the area, such as Hoa Lu Citadel and Phat Diem Stone Cathedral. The pagoda also hosted revolutionary soldiers and the army during the resistance war against France.

Must see: Nguyen Cong Tru Temple.

Dining: Restaurants near Highway 10 include Kim Son, Vu Bao Restaurant and Thanh Rau Restaurant.

Non Nuoc Mountain – The Most Beautiful Mountain in Ninh Binh

Non Nuoc Mountain is 100-metres high and located Northeast of Ninh Binh City, where the Van River and Day River intersect. The foot of the mountain has been eroded by waves. From afar, the mountain looks like a dome canopy shading the river. Non Nuoc mountain has been a witness to many historical events, and is a muse to many renowned poets in Vietnam.

Top tips: To get to the top, you must climb 72 stone steps. The top of the mountain is flat and covered with greenery, which is perfect for resting or sightseeing. From the top, you can see the entire Ninh Binh City and Ngoc My Nhan Mountain.

Must see: The gazebo located on top of the mountain, Truong Han Sieu Temple, Non Nuoc Temple, Thuy Son Park, and Ninh Binh Museum located at the foot of the mountain. About 1 kilometre from Non Nuoc Mountain is Rong Market.

Dining: Ms. Phan eel vermicelli, Trau Vang Restaurant (Tran Hung Dao Street) and Duc De Ninh Binh Restaurant (Nguyen Hue Street).

Van Trinh Cave – Paradise on Earth

Van Trinh Cave (also known as Giang Tien Cave) is located on Mo Mountain, Thuong Hoa Commune, Nho Quang District. This large cave is one of the most beautiful in Ninh Binh. Intricate stalactites decorate the inside of the cave, turning it into a magical maze.

Top tips: Sail along the Hoang Long River to reach the foot of Mo Mountain, and follow the hillside to reach Van Trinh Cave. There’s a huge stalactite wall, 7 metres tall, 10 metres long, and 1 metre wide, dividing the cave into two halls (Tien Bai and Hau Cung).

Dining: Many travel companies offer tours of Van Trinh Cave and the nearby Kenh Ga Hot Springs – a convenient option for visitors.

Dong Chuong Lake – Romantic Natural Scenery

Dong Chuong is a natural freshwater lake located on the border between Phu Loc and Phu Long Commune, Nho Quan District. The lake is pristine and tranquil and surrounded by pine hills, creating a cooling and poetic natural atmosphere.

Top tips: Guests can take a boat ride around the lake to enjoy the nature and daydream. You can climb the hills to find Troi Pond, located on top of the hills. The pond is relatively small, but it is always filled with water as blue as the sky.

You can also find activities in Dong Chuong Ecotourism Complex such as amusement parks for children, a sports complex, campgrounds and a nine-hole golf course.

Must see: The 40-metre tall Ba Tua Waterfall and Chin Suoi Spring.

Dining: Dining services are available in the tourism complex and you can also bring food and camp here.

Dong Thai Lake Ecotourism Zone – The Soul of the Ancient Capital

Located 25 kilometres Southeast of Ninh Binh City, Dong Thai Lake Ecotourism Zone covers an area of 2,185 hectares in Yen Dong Commune, Yen Mo District and Dong Son Commune, Tam Diep Town. The main attraction here is Dong Thai Lake, located next to the majestic Tam Diep Mountain, creating a beautiful natural landscape.

Top tips: Dong Thai Lake is the ideal location for a weekend getaway. Many activities are on offer here such as boating, sightseeing, camping, exploring the local culture and history and shopping.

Must see: Ma Tien Cave

Dining: You can bring food for a picnic, or return to the city centre for more choices of restaurants.

Royal Golf Club – Rendezvous Spot for Golfers

Located in Yen Mo District and Tam Diep Town, surrounded by thousand-year-old rock mountains, Royal Golf Club Yen Thang Lake lends the golf course its beauty underlined by rolling hills covered in trees surrounding the lake. The golf club gets a cool breeze from the ocean (Kim Son Beach is located 20 kilometres away) and Yen Thang Lake, creating a cooling and comfortable space for golfers who come here to relax.

Top tips: Wide and deep sand pits are interesting challenges for professional golfers. Holes are diverse in range and distance, which suits golfers of all levels, allowing them to use a diverse range of golf clubs. After playing, you can relax at the clubhouse located on top of the rocky mountain, with a number of premium services including restaurants, an entertainment area and a spa and beauty area.

Dining: An Asian – European international restaurant is located inside the golf course.

Van Ly | Wanderlust Tips | Cinet

8 tech gadgets needed for a memorable adventure

Recently, technology has made travel much easier. Here are 8 tech gadgets that make it easier to bring home-like comforts with you while you travel, saving you time and maybe even a little money.

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Smartphone

A smartphone is your super-gadget, with apps helping you with navigation and maps, booking services and planning your trip… and it will help you stay connected and check-in on social media.

Camera

An indispensable gadget for travel enthusiasts and photographers alike. Remember to bring batteries, memory cards, a charger and a tripod.

Portable battery charger

Smartphones can die quickly, especially when you are using 3G. A portable charger is a must-have for any backpacker.

Wireless Speakers

Wireless speakers are compact and have excellent audio quality. They come in many shapes and vary in price. Listening to music and having some coffee with friends amidst spectacular natural scenery makes for an indescribable feeling.

Headphones

Headphones with good sound quality will help you relax and chase away sleepiness and carsickness during your journey.

GoPro

A GoPro camera that can withstand harsh weather and environmental changes will record your memorable moments when you are driving on the road or overcoming the challenges of your trip.

Selfie stick

A selfie sticks helps you take unique photos and is particularly useful for lone travellers.

3G network router

You can access the Internet and check in on Facebook even in areas with limited connections. Some reputable brands include Buffalo and TP-Link.

Wanderlust Tips | Cinet

Antoni Gaudi: Creator Barcelona’s landmark

Amidst the beautiful buildings of Barcelona, there’s a unique buildings unlike any other – Gaudi’s architectural masterpieces.

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“You are either a genius, or an idiot. Only time will tell,” the dean of his architectural school told Antoni Gaudi (1852 – 1926) at his graduation, because his grades were mediocre and he had even failed a few times.

Antoni Gaudi did not wait long to prove to the world what he could do. His first works immediately resonated with the world. Decades later many people still admire his works of wonder, which are unique and impressive. He left a big mark on the architectural landscape. In 2002, on his 150^th birthday, his admirers had this to say: “Without Antoni Gaudi, there is no Barcelona. Without Barcelona, there is no Spain”.

His works are famous for their freedom of expression, shown through his use of shapes, colours and materials and respect for natural elements influenced by Neo-Gothic architecture, Eastern culture, realism and religion.

Child of nature

Born to a blacksmith family in Rues (Catalonia), the young boy learned about shapes and space while helping his father and grandfather in the family factory. Due to his arthritis, Gaudi could not play with other children. He spent more time discovering nature, which later became a prominent feature in his architecture. He believed that nature is the ultimate creator and teacher of all knowledge. He once said: “Originality consists in returning to the origin.” By origin, he meant nature and simplicity. He is famous for incorporating natural elements in his architecture.

At the age of 18, Gaudi moved to Barcelona to study architecture and learn about philosophy, history, economy and art. He said that architecture is not only influenced by art, but also its social, economic and political context.

He had numerous jobs to earn money for school. He worked as an assistant for sculptors, carpenters and blacksmiths, all of which inspired him to become an architect. He paid attention to every little detail and worked with different materials, including ceramics, glass, iron processing and wood. Working with these materials, he guided his workers to achieve his intentions. He sent a breath of fresh air into modern architecture in a unique way that no one could replicate.

After graduating, he opened his own architectural firm in Barcelona. His talent was immediately recognised after he designed the lanterns at the Royal Plaza (Placa Reial), which can still be seen today in the city centre. The lantern at the centre represents Barcelona, shaped like a king wearing a crown and protected by the surrounding lanterns – his soldiers. The two entwined snakes in the central lantern are the symbol of the Roman god Mercury. Everything combines to create a shield and makes the icon of the city.

The first building Gaudi designed was for a stockbroker. Casa Vicens had simple designs compared to his later works, but still showed his unique talent. The walls are made of stones that are interspersed with brick tiles of the golden colour of a local type of flower. The highlights are the mosaic art, the shapes and colours of which are influenced by Arabic and Islamic culture, making the building unique and becoming the precedent of the modernism movement.

After Casa Vicens, Gaudi worked on several buildings; prominent among them are his works for aristocrat Eusebi Guell. He was one of the richest men in the city with huge influence on Spain’s economy and also happened to love art. Guell became a friend, a loyal customer and supporter of Gaudi, which influenced his later career.

Among nearly a dozen buildings built for the Guell family, Parc Guell and Colonia Guell are two of seven works by Gaudi that have been recognised as UNESCO world cultural heritage.

One of the must-visit destinations in Barcelona – Parc Guell – at first was a suburban garden that belonged to the Guell family and was later acquired by the municipal government. Gaudi’s love for nature is evident in this work, through the organic structure (designed to be the most natural) of the geometric details, which rid them of their rigid nature.

Right from the gate, Parc Guell is eye-catching with two fairy-tale gingerbread houses, colourful thanks to the exquisite ceramics details. Gaudi kept the natural features of the hill where Parc Guell is located, with its steep slopes and diverse natural landscape. With a few steps, you can reach the ‘rooftop’ to enjoy a view of the city. This terrace has a curved shape like a sea serpent running around the park, with colourful ceramics details shining under the sun.

Around the terrace are several small balconies and walkways protected by stone fences, uniquely shaped like figures and trees. You will feel as if you have returned to your childhood, lost in a fairytale, or as if you have suddenly become Juliet waiting for your Romeo on the balcony.

Unlike Parc Guell, the crypt of the Church of Colonia Guell was only finished when World War I in 1914 and the death of Count of Guell interrupted construction in 1918. The unfinished work still became a heritage.

The crypt with its unusual oval shape is also a culmination of Gaudi’s works thanks to the ingenious combination of different materials such as bricks and stones. The domes are elegantly designed to bring in natural light. The protruding windows and leaning pillars were the first of their kind to appear in architecture. The pillars of stone or bricks are shaped like trees titled by the wind, which is the charm of Gaudi’s creation. Despite being titled, the structure is still solid, and after nearly a century, it still stands firm like the name of its creator.

Nature and arches, typical of Gaudi’s work, continued to play a big role in another one of his famous works – Casa Milà.

More popularly known as La Pedrera, which means the stone quarry. The name is not due to the material, but f its rugged exterior. Casa Milà showcases Gaudi’s research and exploration of natural laws to create a second nature for humankind. This can be seen through floral decors, structures made of curved steel, and the roof, which is rugged like a natural cave.

A unique feature found only in Casa Mila is the terrace. Deep craters, surrounded by ducts ‘wearing’ iron helmets resembling an army, welcome visitors. This surreal scene was unprecedented in the history of architecture. The building ended a historical period of architecture beginning in the 20^th century, right after the Renaissance period ended. Gaudi put an end to traditional structures and created a new style of building that can be aesthetically pleasing to anyone.

God’s Architect

This is Gaudi’s famous nickname, as beside nature, his love for religion is always shines through his work.

This can be seen at Gaudi’s Casa Batllo, a famous house that Gaudi designed for a bourgeois family in Barcelona. The roof of Casa Batllo is unique thanks to its dragon-back design using tiles of different colours. The dragon represents the dark forces defeated by St. George in the bible. The balconies are shaped like bones while windows are oval-shaped resembling skulls of the victims of the dragon.

Casa Batlló is also unique because it resembles a skeleton, although the details are not in a straight line, giving it its name (Casa Batlló means “House of Bones”). The façade is sophisticated with mosaic art made of ceramics and glass. Gaudi also designed the furniture for this house as well as other objects, including furniture, lamps and an altar with unique shapes.

However, Gaudi’s love of religion is best seen at the unfinished Sagrada Familia (Basilica and Expiatory Church of the Holy Family) – his masterpiece. Gaudi started this project in 1883 at the age of 31, and 43 years later when he died, the building was not yet finished.

Gaudi’s intention was to retell the entire history of Christianity with one building. The cathedral was designed with three signs, representing the birth, passion and glory of the Lord.

The current cathedral has only 8 towers, though 18 were planned – symbolising God, the saints and the apostles. However, the unfinished work is still enough to attract millions of visitors each year.

Visitors recognise the 100-meter tall towers from afar. At first glance many people think that the cathedral is a magic castle, due to the odd design and herringbone pillars – Gaudi’s trademark. He combined traditional Gothic architecture with modern touches of Art Nouveau with its curvilinear forms. This makes the building unique, breaking the monotony of the surrounding streets.

The façade is decorated with elaborate sculptures depicting angels and mankind celebrating the birth of Christ. The interior is uniquely designed to bring in plenty of natural light, thanks to the clear and stained glass windows. Columns are designed to mirror trees and branches, crisscrossing to support the dome. The walls surrounding the church are also shaped like rows of trees, showcasing Gaudi’s love of nature.

If the façade describes the birth of Christ, the back depicts his life and sacrifices with images of Judas embracing Christ with a serpent by his feet showing his betrayal, the crucifixion and resurrection of Christ. Gaudi’s profound piety is ever present.

When he learned that Sagrada Familia would become a cathedral for the poor, Gaudi devoted the last ten years of his life to this project and refused to take any other job. However, an unfortunate car accident killed him at the age of 74. Half the people of Barcelona wore black and mourned him after his death, full of appreciation and admiration for the creator of Barcelona’s landmark.

Wanderlust Tips

Four seasons of travels

When you are a true traveller who travels for travel’s sake, you’ll encounter uncountable surprising experiences on your journeys. This may means that you’ll miss the few special days of the year when your destination is at its best.

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It is perhaps for that reason, that beaches are always crowded in summer, and cherry blossoms gardens always mesmerise visitors in the spring. You can visit the West of Vietnam year-round, but the best time is the flood season. Planning your travels to fit the four seasons is important to have the perfect trip. Below are some of Wanderlust Tips’ suggestions of which are the most beautiful places in Vietnam to visit during each season.

Spring

Thanks to its geography and location, half of Vietnam – from Hue to the North – experiences the four seasons, while the South only has two: the rainy and dry season. Spring brings life and colours, as fields of flowers bloom after a long winter. Therefore, spring is the perfect time to visit the North, especially Ha Giang, Moc Chau or Sin Ho, Bac Ha to experience the wonderful nature and the warmth of the people. There are also hundreds of festivals held in the spring that you can join.

If you visit Ha Giang – Vietnam’s Northernmost province– in the spring, you’ll never forget the love markets immersed in the sounds of the H’mong’s panpipes, or the image of old ladies weaving linen by their doorsteps, in front of their dirt houses with tiled roofs that have yellowed over time. You’ll remember the sounds of the leaflet echoing in the forest and the mountains, which make travellers linger. A few pink-cheeked children play badminton with makeshift rackets made from wood panels. Sounds from the wooden fish (percussion instruments) playfully bounce off the grassy hillsides.

There’s nothing more beautiful than spring in Ha Giang Province. The earth and the skies put on a new outfit, made colourful by the red of peach blossoms, the white of apricot and plum blossoms, the pink of buckwheat flowers and bright with the colours of daisies. Young women work among the golden parsnip fields, the fog of winter has left, and the sweet smell of rice wine fills the village. The colours of nature fill the houses, the roads, and everything else in Ha Giang in the spring. One must praise the local H’mong and Dao people for interspersing the plantation of plums, peach, pear, and parsnip in their gardens to brighten up the rugged mountains and creating a beautifully natural picture that comes alive every spring.

Moc Chau is also a must-visit in the spring. Rather than majestic rugged mountains like in Ha Giang, Moc Chau is appreciated for its vast valleys filled with plum and peach blossoms. Hillsides are bright with white radish flowers and gold sunflowers, creating the perfect backdrop for the colourful outfits of the H’mong women. Thanks to its poetic landscape, Hua Tat Mountain, for generations, has been a meeting place for couples.

Moving South to Tay Nguyen, spring blesses the hills with white coffee flowers, filling the Highlands with a sweet and exotic scent. Don’t miss the sun-filled roads and the amazing culture and traditions in this place. From Danang, head down to Kon Tum towards Sea Lake before getting to Buon Me Thuot. Here, you can dance to the sounds of gongs filling the villages every spring. From here, head down to the dreamy Dalat or head East to visit the beautiful beaches of Central Vietnam.

Tips: Spring on the Rock Plateau of Ha Giang

+ Itinerary: Hanoi – Tuyen Quang – Ha Giang – Quan Ba – Yen Minh – Dong Van – Ha Giang – Hanoi.

+ Transportation: From Danang, Saigon or other provinces, you’ll need to travel (via plane, train, bus, motorbike or cars) to Hanoi and head to Ha Giang from there. The best time to visit Ha Giang is from the end of December to February. You can book flights 2 – 3 months prior to your travels or wait for promo offers by airlines.

The roads to the Rock Plateau of Ha Giang has been widened, hence legendary passes like Bac Sum, Ma Pi Leng or Tham Ma Slope are not too difficult to pass. From Hanoi to Ha Giang, you can travel by bus, motorbike or personal car. If you’re travelling by car, you can follow Noi Bai – Lao Cai Highway, turn at the IC4 intersection toward Tam Dao, and then follow the National Highway 32C to Son Duong, Tuyen Quang, and then Ha Giang Province. Avoid the Viet Tri Route as it is more crowded and takes longer. If you’re taking a public bus, there are many sleeper buses from My Dinh Station leaving from 8 to 9 p.m. and reaching Ha Giang City around 4 – 5 a.m. Here, you can rent a motorbike, car or bus to visit the surrounding attractions.

+ Attractions: Ha Giang has many hotels and guesthouses for tourists. There are also homestays, which you can find in Ha Thanh or Nam Dam Villages, such as Auberge de Meovac or Giac Xua.

+ Shopping and dining: Visit during the weekends to get a taste of the local culture at local weekend markets: Quyet Tien Market (Quan Ba) takes place on Saturday mornings, Dong Van Market takes place on Sunday mornings, Sa Phin Market takes place on days of the snake and the pig, Pho Cao Market takes place on the days of the dragon and the dog, Lung Thin Market takes place on the days of the tiger and the monkey. Some delicious dishes that you should try in Ha Giang are horse meat stew, corn wine, stewed corn, corn dumplings, five-colour sticky rice, buckwheat cake and buffalo meat.

+ 3 days in Ha Giang:

A 3-day weekend is just enough time for you to explore Ha Giang Rock Plateau. If time allows, you can wander around this fairy-tale land for a month without getting bored.

♦ Day 1: Ha Giang – Quan Ba – Yen Minh – Dong Van (155 kilometres). Some attractions on this journey are Quan Ba Heaven Gate, Tam Son Mountain, Lung Khuy Cave, Bac Sum Slope, Yen Minh Pine Forest, Fox Street, Sung La Valley and Home of Pao, Sa Phin Village – home of the H’mong King Vuong Chi Sinh, and Dong Van’s Old Quarter.

♦ Day 2: Dong Van – Lung Cu – Dong Van – Meo Vac (100 kilometres). The main attractions are Lung Cu Flag Tower – the Northernmost point of the country, Lung Tao, Ma Le, Sa Phin, Ma Pi Leng Pass and Meo Vac.

♦ Day 3: Meo Vac – Yen Minh – Quan Ba – Ha Giang (150 kilometres) or Meo Vac – Niem – Bao Lam – Bac Me – Ha Giang. You can also visit Cao Bang to see Ban Gioc Waterfall by following the route via Meo Vac – Niem Son – Bao Lac – Tinh Tuc – Cao Bang – Ban Gioc – Hanoi (which will take an extra day or two).

Summer – The season of beaches

A summer paradise entails long smooth white-sand beaches under the blue sky and sunshine. Nature has blessed Vietnam with a long coastline with romantic beaches and dozens of paradise islands. On summer afternoons, you can lie on the beach or swing in a hammock and listen to the love song of the ocean, take in the salty wind and indulge in a seafood feast.

This summer, Co To Island is expected to attract visitors from Northern Vietnam, thanks to its unspoiled landscape full of endless white sand beaches bordered by the blue sea. The journey from one land to the island is an interesting experience, as it passes Bai Tu Long Bay and the infamously scenic Ha Long Bay before reaching this paradise island.

In the Central Region, Lang Co Beach is a spectacular natural touch at the foot of the beautiful Hai Van Mountain Pass. Here, Hue’s royal court cuisine is bound to mesmerise visitors. Coming down to Danang, you can visit the endless green Son Tra Peninsula or the pristine An Bang Beach before heading to Hoi An for some tranquillity. Ly Son Island certainly will attract more visitors, with To Vo Arch, But Beach, the beautiful blue sea and its famous speciality: garlic.

From Quang Ngai to Vung Tau you can visit dozens of pristine beaches, where tourism is not yet over-developed. The exotic cultures in coastal fishing villages add flavour to your travels. You can see the street art at Tam Thanh Mural Village, which features dozens of colourful paintings on the sides of the idyllic coastal homes. You can fall in love with the sunrise over Da Dia Reef (Tuy Hoa Province). You can drive on heavenly beautiful roads in Ho Tram, La Gi or Quy Nhon. If you’re a fan of adventures, you can follow the fishermen to the sea to experience fishing lives filled with both sunshine and hardship. You can also explore islands such as Bach Long Vi, Con Co, Tho Chu or Truong Sa Archipelagos – the sacred land of all Vietnamese.

Tips: Summer in Ly Son

+ Itinerary: Hanoi (or Saigon) – Sa Ky Port (Quang Ngai) – Ly Son.

+ Transportation: If you’re flying, you can get to Chu Lai Airport in Quang Nam Province, and then take a taxi or bus to Sa Ky Port. If you’re flying to Danang for cheaper airfare, you can take a bus to Quang Ngai, or rent a motorbike or car to drive and visit Hoi An on the way. You can also take the train or sleeper bus to reach Quang Ngai before getting to Ly Son. You’ll have to stay the night in Quang Ngai or Sa Ky Port and catch an early boat trip to Ly Son Island (Quang Ngai is about 20 kilometres from Sa Ky Port). Boat rides to Ly Son usually take off between 7 and 8 a.m. and you can buy tickets at the port or reserve a place by phone.

+ Accommodation: There are many hotels, hostels and homestays on Ly Son Island to serve tourists. Many hotels are located at the port, which is easy to get around. You can rent a motorbike at your hotel. Vien Dong Hotel and Restaurant offers free shuttle buses to and from the port. Hoa Bien Hotel features a wide range of services and is located by the ocean where you can enjoy the beautiful sunrise.

+ Attractions: Hang Pagoda, the lighthouse, Thoi Loi Mountain, Duc Pagoda and To Vo Arch. If you have time, visit Be Island (about 5 nautical miles from the main island) by catching a cargo boat passing through the area. If you’re travelling in a group, you can rent your own boat. Be Island hasn’t developed a tourism sector so it’s still pristine.

+ Dining: Visit restaurants like Hoang Khuyen, Son Thuy, Thuy Tien and enjoy specialities like conch, seaweed, urchin soup and squid. You can also buy garlic as a souvenir for your friends and family.

Autumn

If you miss the chance to show off your bikini figure in the summer, you can still do so in the clear blue water on Phu Quoc in the autumn. September to March is the perfect time to visit this Southern island because the rainy season has passed, and golden sunny days have arrived on this beautiful island. Don’t forget to visit the ancient fishing village Ham Ninh, Star Beach, Khen Beach, Tranh Stream or Ganh Dau Cape, the fish sauce factories, pepper plantations and go scuba diving or squid fishing at night for an unforgettable experience.

In the fall, you can also visit the mountains to see the prosperity of harvest season in Mu Cang Chai, Y Ty, or Hoang Su Phi. The terraced rice fields turn gold in the sunshine, H’mong women dressed in colourful clothing cheerfully collect their harvest and thresh the rice. You’ll forget the time watching this, soaking in the scent of new rice. For thousands of years, the ethnic peoples of H’mong, Dao and La Chi tribes have planted and harvested rice here, creating a unique and beautiful landscape on the mountains.

In the South, Dalat in the fall is also a must-visit destination. Miles of pine trees adorn the golden sunflowers on the streets of Dalat. Mimosas shyly bloom. The Valley of Love is filled with colourful flowers, or visit Trai Mat Village on a vintage train. Autumn is the rainy season here, but the quick showers in this dreamy land always surprise and delight visitors. In the cold and fog, enjoy a warm coffee by a lakeside café by Xuan Huong Lake and admire the cherry blossom flowers and you’ll forget all the problems in life.

Tips: Golden autumn in the Northwest (Mu Cang Chai, Y Ty, Sapa)

+ Itinerary: Hanoi – Thanh Son – Van Chan – Tu Le – Mu Cang Chai – Hanoi or continue to Than Uyen – Sapa – Y Ty – Lao Cai – Hanoi.

+ Transportation: You can take a motorbike, bus or personal car. It only takes three days to visit Mu Cang Chai, but if you wish to see Y Ty and Sapa, you should plan 4 to 6 days.

+ 3 days in Mu Cang Chai:

♦ Day 1: from Hanoi follow Highway 32 to Thanh Son, check out the tea plantations and then move on to Thu Cuc, passing Khe Mountain Pass to Van Chan. From Van Chan, turn to Suoi Giang (12 kilometres) to enjoy a cup of snow shan tea and the view across huge ancient tea plants. Continue to Nghia Lo and stay overnight at Tu Le Valley (250 kilometres from Hanoi). In Tu Le, there are many hotels, hostels and homestays, and you should make a reservation during harvest season. You should try some specialities here like spring fish, sticky rice, apple cider wine and snake (in Nghia Lo). During your travels, you can also bathe in the hot springs in Hoc Village (Van Chan), Bon Village (Nghia Lo) or Tu Le Town.

♦ Day 2: From Tu Le, continue to Cao Pha Valley to Khau Pha Pass to enjoy the view of the terraced fields in the valley. From there, continue to Kim Junction to reach La Pan Tan Kim, Che Cu Nha. These have the most beautiful view of the terraced fields, located about 300 metres from Ba Nha Bridge. You can walk or take a motorbike taxi from the bridge. Return to Nghia Lo to stay the night.

♦ Day 3: Nghia Lo to Hanoi (about 210 kilometres).

If you only have two days, on the first day you should go to Mu Cang Chai and stay the night there, and return on the second day, the total distance (both ways) is about 600 kilometres. Mu Cang Chai has many hotels and hostels but you will need to make a reservation in advance.

+ 4 days in Mu Cang Chai – Sapa – Y Ty – Lao Cai:

♦ Day 1: Hanoi – Tu Le, following the above itinerary.

♦ Day 2: Tu Le – Khau Pha – La Pan Tan – Mu Cang Chai – Than Uyen – O Quy Ho – Sapa. In the morning, visit the rice fields in Cao Pha, Mu Cang Chai and then continue to Than Uyen, watch the sunset on O Quy Ho Pass and stay the night in Sapa. At night, you can take a walk around Sapa and enjoy roasted chestnuts, salmon, chicken, roasted eggs, horsemeat stew and rice wine.

♦ Day 3: If this is your first time in Sapa, you can spend day 3 visiting a lot of attractions here such as Ta Van, Ta Phin, Muong Hoa Valley, Silver Falls, Ham Rong Mountain, or take the cable car to Fansipan. If not, you can spend the morning visiting the Muon Hoa Fields and capture the beautiful view. After lunch, you can leave for Y Ty following Can Quy Ho Mountain Pass to reach Muong Hum, and stay the night in Y Ty.

♦ Day 4: Y Ty – A Mu Sung – Lung Po – Lao Cai – Hanoi. On the journey from Y Ty to A Lu, A Mu Sung to Lung Po, there are many mountains dyed gold by the harvest. You should see where the Red River enters Vietnam before returning to Lao Cai and following the Highway to reach Hanoi (if you’re travelling by car) or catch a bus or train to Hanoi. If you’re driving a motorbike, you can stay the night in Lao Cai or Yen Bai.

This is the shortest and fastest route to discover the golden autumn in the Northwest. If you have time, you can stay longer in Mu Cang Chai, Sapa, Y Ty or continue to visit Hoang Su Phi and Ha Giang to enjoy the beautiful autumn in the idyllic Northern mountains.

Winter

Travelling cross-country in the winter is the best way to experience all the tastes and colours of the tropics. From the frosty Sapa or Mau Son to the cool weather in Central Vietnam, the cool temperature is ideal for a walk on the streets of Hoi An. If you want something new, bathe in the hot springs in Le Thuy, Quang Vinh among the pristine forests. Manipulating the currents of the hot Ban Stream and the cool Ban Stream created the hot spring bath. The temperature of the bath ranges from 40 to 45 degrees Celsius and is suitable for bathing, relaxing and healing.

Following the sunny coastal roads of Central Vietnam, visit magnificent Saigon before heading to the Mekong Delta in the West. If you don’t like the cold, this is the perfect destination to travel along the rivers and experience the local culture. The flood season here is famous for specialities like mud carp, river hemp, or dozens of fresh fruits. “Winter” here lasts from December to January and is filled with colourful flowers.

Around Lunar New Year, visit Sadec City (Dong Thap) and buy some flowers from the boats along the Tien River. This charming riverside city is decorated with fields of flowers, blooming just in time for Tet. Following the small roads, you can enjoy some specialities, or you can visit the house of “The Lover” Huynh Thuy Le to learn about the love story between a French girl and a Sadec boy nearly a century ago. This story was adapted into the film “L’Amant”, which won many international awards. Don’t forget to visit the tangerine-farming region of Lai Vung, dubbed ‘the kingdom of tangerines’ and take a walk in a tangerine garden, or travel on a small boat along the river, decorated with ripe tangerines.

Between Dong Thap to Kien Giang, visit Ta Pa Lake or pass U Minh Forest to reach Ca Mau Cape – the country’s Southernmost region. This will surely be a warm winter if you travel by boat along the Mekong Delta, visit the floating market, enjoy local specialities and listen to traditional music.

Time doesn’t wait for anyone, you won’t be young a second time. But you can enjoy life by travelling every season because to travel is to be alive.

Tips: Enjoy winter among the flowers of Sadec and the tangerines in Lai Vung

+ Time: The best time to visit this area is from mid-December to January. During this time, local families decorate their homes with flowers, so the scenery will be beautiful. Everything will be decorated with colourful flowers, and you can buy flowers from boats travelling along the river.

+ Transportation: From Saigon, follow Highway 1A, pass My Thuan Bridge and turn to Sadec District (around 130 kilometres). From other locales, you can fly to Can Tho or Saigon, then travel to Western Provinces, including Dong Thap. The largest flower garden in Sadec District is located in Tan Quy Dong Village by Tien River, located about 5 kilometres from the city centre. You can get there by bus, and then rent a motorbike to get around. After visiting the flower gardens in Sadec, you can head to the ‘tangerine paradise’ Lai Vung via Vam Cong Ferry, or visit Hong Ngu and other places.

+ Accommodation: Sadec, Can Tho and Cai Be have many hotels, hostels, and homestays.

+ Specialties include noodles, thick noodle soup, crab hot pot, beef, noodles with meat sauce, snails and seafood, fresh fruits, Lai Vung spring rolls and Sa Giang chips.

+ 3 days in Sadec

♦ Day 1: Saigon – Cai Be, visit Cai Be’s floating market and islands, visit coconut candy, tea and handicraft makers, and local gardens. Travel to Sadec and spend the night there.

♦ Day 2: Visit the flower village in Sadec, Huynh Thuy Le Ancient House (as seen in the film The Lover), visit the flower gardens on the way to Lai Vung.

♦ Day 3: Visit Lai Vung’s tangerine gardens and return to Saigon, or visit Can Tho, Kien Giang, An Giang, Ca Mau.

O Vuong | Wanderlust Tips

A 12-day road trip across the cold Gobi Desert

The Gobi Desert is the largest desert in Asia and the 4th largest in the world. It forms the border between China and Mongolia and is associated with countless rumours featuring UFOs and aliens thanks to its vastness and mysterious landscape. It is also an excavation site for dinosaur fossils.

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The greatness and mystery of the Gobi Desert have always fascinated me. My 12-day road trip covering 2.500km in an old van was full of beautiful memories featuring purple horizons and hospitable nomads. Until this day this has been one of my most fantastic dreams come true.

Preparing for the trip

Through Couchsurfing, I was so lucky to meet Victor and Kashia’s family – a Polish family on the trip. It took them three days of bargaining to get the cheapest package price at 100 USD/day for five people (including car, driver, petrol and cooking appliances), and the tent rental for 8 USD/ day. Once that was negotiated, the 12-day road trip across the Gobi Desert could begin.

Only one thing really surprised me about the Gobi Desert – unlike our common association of deserts and sand, only a small area here is comprised of it. The topography here is quite diverse and ranges from rocky lands to rocky plateaus, meadows, caves and arid colourful wilderness.

We visited the Gobi Desert in September and there was no snow at that time. The sun was hot enough to burn your skin, yet the temperatures was cold and dry all the way from grassland to sand. Although it’s very cold, our equipment kept us warm in our tents with our sleeping bags and insulated mats, which kept away the cold of the night.

The Gobi Desert is one of wilderness – a large, harsh and quiet area, which adds to its mysterious attractiveness. In the world of smartphones, Facebook and 24/7 cable TV there are only a few places like the Gobi Desert on earth where you can completely get away from modern life. We experienced life in the most pristine way as we only used electricity from solar batteries to charge our phones and cameras.

All the food is simple and easily prepared in a large box with basic cooking items needed for a road trip. We cooked for 2-3 days in turn. Each one cooked our traditional dishes to introduce to each other. Our team had five people, including three Polish, one person from Hong Kong and me from Vietnamese. We mostly chose ingredients like dried food, vegetables and canned meat, rice and packaged noodles- all easy to store.

In addition, we had a container holding 30 litres of water to cook for four days for five people. We were provided with water from a well in a village every four days. We just used it to cook, wash the dishes (in an economic way) and brush our teeth. We absolutely didn’t use it for individual things. We used wet wipes to clean our faces and bodies. We ourselves bought bottled drinking water to carry on the journey.

Discovering the nomadic life

In the world of walls, locks and fences, we found here people who were always willing to open their doors to welcome strangers. The Gobi Desert was truly something different and special for us thanks to this hospitality. The tent door of nomadic Mongolians is never locked. If you see a tent when you are wandering through a steppe or desert land, you can push the door to enter without a knock, no matter who you are, the nomads are always willing to welcome you. They may invite you to eat bread, yoghurt or horse milk and all for free. In return for this, you should give them a small gift or just some biscuits or candy because Mongolian people really like exchanging gifts. I personally found the food of nomadic Mongolians really difficult to eat, but the feeling when you sit in a nomad’s tent and feel how they feel is interesting and amazing.

During the journey, we visited many nomadic families in the Gobi Desert. Some of them breed sheep, goats, horses; some raise camels or yak cows. So every time we visited a tent of a nomadic family, we enjoyed a kind of tea made from the milk of these animals. The nomads are following a self-sufficient way of life. They take food from the animals they breed.

There was one strange thing that surprised and shocked me: Enkhbat – a local driver – said: “If you are a male guest visiting the tent, and the daughter of the landlord likes you, they are willing to prepare a bed for their daughter and you, and the next day, you can sleep with her and if she gets pregnant, the family is considered to be a lucky one.”

Great moments in the Gobi Desert

In my memory, the Gobi Desert is a vast wilderness full of colours and magical lights. And for me, the most amazing part of this beauty is the light during the sunrise over the Gobi. I remember the morning when I heard my Hong Kong friend call; I put a thick jacket on in a hurry and looked out of the tent door. And then…I stood in a complete daze seeing lights so marvellous that I thought I was in a mythical dream.

Across the purple horizon, the first light of day was shining and intertwined with the fog of the early morning. The sun was like a giant block of red flames rising from a vast and blurry space. The Gobi Desert woke me with a clear and pristine morning, like a revival from a dark night. The pure yellow of the morning covered the arid wilderness of the Gobi Desert. No word and no camera can describe and record that mesmerising beauty.

Perhaps we were all surprised, as no one talked to one another, we just stood there and felt the magical light flowing through each blood vessel. Everything was like a mythical dream, and we were just in a daze feeling it.

♦ Notes:

Temperatures in the Gobi fluctuate from 40°C in summer and -40°C in winter, when snow covers the sand.

Strong winds frequently happen in April and May. In July and August, the temperature is very high and the Naadam Festival takes place, which gets crowded. The best time to travel here is in September and October with sceneries coloured in red, green and yellow. After that, during winter, the weather is too tough for a visit.

The wind of the Gobi Desert blows up to 140km/ h, so it’s quite risky for visitors to travel in spring and autumn.

Mai Hương | Wanderlust Tips

Wanderlust Tips Magazine | Travel tips for Myanmar

Useful travel tips for Myanmar

If you’re thinking of backpacking Myanmar, these tips will help you maximise your stay in this culturally rich nation with some of the most hospitable people you’re ever likely to encounter.

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♦ Immigration

Vietnamese tourists who wish to enter Myanmar only need a passport with an expiration date that is longer than 6 months. You do not need a visa when visiting Myanmar, as long as your stay is shorter than 14 days.

♦ Ideal time to visit

November – March, when the weather is mild. From April the weather is hot and humid.

♦ Transportation

You can fly with Vietnam Airlines or Vietjet Air (direct flights) or Air Asia for cheaper airfare but you will transit in Bangkok, Thailand.

♦ Transportation in Myanmar

Taxis are a convenient transportation option in Bagan. Taxi and tour guides in Bagan can be booked through email and paid later (50 USD/1 day/ 3 persons) or you can find another option at Bagan coach station.

Getting around Yangon – Bagan – Mandalay – Inle by bus: JJ – Express Highway Bus. Book through Facebook, pay later: facebook.com/jjexpressbus or Elite Bus. Good service includes food and drinks and an iPad for each passenger. Bus attendants are helpful and enthusiastic.

♦ Exchange rate

1 USD is around 1000 Kyat. You can exchange money at Yangon airport or Ben Thanh Market.

♦ What to bring

In addition to personal items, bring medicine (the health care system in Myanmar is bad so avoid being sick).

♦ Accommodation

Can be booked through Agoda.com or Booking.com. We stayed at Blazing Hotel in Bagan and Zawgi Inn Hotel in Inle. The hotels are clean, the staff are nice, and make you feel at home.

♦ Food

Mohinga (rice noodle sandfish soup), milk tea, shan noodles, dumpling in Yangon’s Chinatown. Grape, wine and butter in Inle Lake.

♦ Must-see attractions

+ In Yangon: Golden Rock; The giant sleeping Buddha statue; Shwedagon Pagoda. Myanmar is also blessed with 2,000 kilometres of spectacular coastline. Especially amazing is Nepali beach – a natural and unspoilt beach only a 45-minute flight from Yangon.

+ Five must-see temples in Bagan: Thatbyinnyu Temple – one of the tallest temples in Bagan; Ananda Temple: the finest, largest, best preserved and most well known; Shwesandaw Pagoda: Bagan’s most famous sunset-viewing spot; Dhammayangyi Temple, dubbed by locals as ‘the ghost temple”; and Sulamani Temple with its fresco interior.

+ In Mandalay: Royal Palace; Maha Muni Pagoda; Shwenandaw Monastery; U Bein Teak Bridge; Mandalay Hill; Saganing Hill, Mingun and Inwa Village in the suburbs of Mandalay.

♦ Others

– Traffic jams in Yangon often occur in the late afternoon.

– Avoid getting ripped off by bargaining before paying money.

– Remove shoes and socks inside a pagoda or monastery, as they are not allowed to be entered with covered feet. Wear appropriate clothing (sleeveless and revealing clothing is a no-no).

– Not all temples are allowed to be climbed on, so you should ask first.

– A powerful 6.8-magnitude earthquake struck Myanmar in late August 2016. Many of its pagodas and temples were damaged and haven’t been fully restored. So please pay attention and keep yourself safe as many ancient monuments are in danger of collapse.

Vo Hong Anh – Vo Khanh Linh | Wanderlust Tips

Wanderlust Tips Magazine | The joys of the lone traveller

What if, maybe…

When you’re in love, it’s difficult to remember the joys of the lone traveller.

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Bidding farewell to her perfect life in New York, complete with a successful writing career and a suffocating marriage, Liz Gilbert – author of “Eat, Pray, Love” – decided to follow her dreams. Hidden in a box under her bed where hundreds of travel articles about places she wanted to visit before she died. She journeyed to Italy to eat, to India to pray, and to Bali (Indonesia) to find love.

Eat-in Italy

I was impressed by the title of author Ngo Thi Giang Uyen’s book “My fingers still smell like lavender”, in which she documents her experiences during a trip to Italy. The author considers herself a foodie and takes her readers around the country to enjoy rich and creamy dishes in the North, olive oil and herbs in the Centre, and spicy and tasty dishes in Southern Italy.

One thing Giang Uyen and Liz have in common is that they both love a warm, black cup of coffee with tiny golden-brown bubbles. Through this drink, Liz met a Swedish girl who shares her love of espresso and Napoleon cakes, and with whom Liz shared some delicious moments in Italy.

The most beautiful corners in Rome and Naples have Liz’s footsteps imprinted on them as she went on her culinary journey: sweet scoops of gelato in front of Sant’Agnese in Agone (Piazza Navona, Rome), lunches filled with laughter with Liz’s Italian instructor at Caffè Della Pace in Via Della Pace 3-7, Rome – a gathering place for talented artists, entertainers, and politicians.

The beautiful Italian lifestyle of “Dolce far niente » (sweet idleness) helped Liz relax, and find peace within herself, and realise that her sadness resembles the mausoleum of Augustus. The quiet ruins hidden in the heart of bustling Rome represent the scars in her heart that will remain there forever.

For the first time, Liz felt grateful for the ruins, because they’re the reason for the change, the reason for the trip of a lifetime.

Find forgiveness in India

After Italy, following the footsteps of millions of yogis from around the world, Liz visited an Ashram in India to find peace of mind through meditation.

It’s odd that India, home to the Taj Mahal, which was a gift from Shah Jahan to his late wife to express his love, still arranges marriages like thousands of years ago.

Liz’s encounter with 17-year-old bride Tulsi before an arranged marriage was a memorable moment for her during her journey through India. Despite her failed marriage, Liz remains optimistic and reassures Tulsi that her new marriage will be a happy one. The secret of a lover? “Smile at one another with love and kindness.”

Another special friend that Liz meet at the Ashram is Richard, who shows her a way to clean up her mind, forget about the past, and shared with her his deepest thoughts. “I came here to forgive myself. Everything will be okay,” he told her during a beautiful sunset on a terrace. Moments later, she imagines seeing her ex-husband in a wedding suit, saying his vows to her and dances to Harvest Moon (Neil Young).

Because I’m still in love with you

I want to see you dance again

Because I’m still in love with you

On this harvest moon

From this moment, Liz told herself to send love and light every time she thinks of her ex-husband. This was when she forgave herself.

Travel to Bali, where love heals

Anyone who has seen “Eat, Pray, Love” remembers the scene where Julia Roberts cycles under a canopy of coconut trees, excitedly join a beach party at night and finds valuable advice and life lessons from Ketut, an old healer and fortuneteller.

Just from their conversations, you understand the true meaning of love: “To sometimes lose balance for love is part of living a balanced life.”

The old friend Ketut teaches us to “smile with face, smile with mind, and even smile in your liver.” Meditation sessions that Liz learned from her Guru in India, and friendships that she made along the journey help her realise the “physics of the quest”:

“If you’re brave enough to leave behind everything familiar and comforting, which can be anything from your house to bitter, old resentments, and set out on a truth-seeking journey, either externally or internally, and if you are truly willing to regard everything that happens to you on that journey as a clue and if you accept everyone you meet along the way as a teacher and if you are prepared, most of all, to face and forgive some very difficult realities about yourself, then the truth will not be withheld from you.”

If you have a broken heart, treat yourself with a new journey, just like Liz’s.

There is no better gift than a trip to a new destination, tasting dishes you’ve never heard of, and make friends with people that fate has led to you.

Who knows, maybe among those you’ll meet, there will be one who makes you realise why your past relationships did not work out.

An Hien | Wanderlust Tips

Myanmar: Heaven of times gone by

Myanmar once was considered a war-torn country, but now due to its political reform, after years of being isolated and closed tightly, Myanmar remains one of the most untouched places in the world. Myanmar is truly an experience, quite unlike anywhere else. This place is pure magic. Endowed with picturesque landscapes, a tropical climate, unique architecture and rich, diverse culture, it is no exaggeration to call this country a hidden gem of Asia.

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We – 3 girls in our mid-20s – struggle every day with work, lack of sleep, traffic jams, family, relationships, constantly pushing ourselves to get through the days. Our lives would still be trapped in that endless cycle if we hadn’t one day suddenly wanted to slow things down. We started to wonder who we really are, what we really want to do, and where we really want to go from here. We don’t want our youthful and carefree days to just slip away. So, after much consideration, we decided to drop everything and go.

We set off on our get-away trip to a magical place in late spring, following the classic route: Yangon – Bagan – Mandalay – Inle over six days.

A tour to the past in Yangon

Our first stop was Yangon, the former capital of Myanmar. Yangon is jumping into a time machine, turning back the clock and travelling to the past. Everything here has the charming vibe of days gone by – from the old facades of the colonial architecture to the locals’ habit of chewing betelnut.

Buddhism has been the dominant religion here. You can see it in the magnificent religious monuments – golden pagodas encrusted with jewels and gems. Besides wearing the Longyi – the traditional costume of Myanmar, everyone also has Thanaka dabbed on his or her face, which is a yellowish-white herbal powder to block the skin from the sun. Both have been part of the Burmese culture for thousands of years and are still being kept intact.

Despite its old appearance, Yangon is a bustling city with food vendors, bookstores, restaurants and buzzing open-air markets. Downtown Yangon is filled with the fragrance of jasmine and the scent of food. Everyone here seems laid back when they comfortably have breakfast or read the newspaper. Despite the rough life circumstance, the Burmese remain one of the happiest people in the world. We spent a day wandering around every corner of the streets.

At the market, we bought some lovely small bundles of jasmine flowers, tried to put on the Thanaka and had a taste of Shan noodles (a traditional dish combining fish and curry seasoning). After that, we sat by the roadside, had a sip of hot tea in Chinatown, and observed the locals as they went about their daily life. It’s definitely a perfect hideaway for those looking for some low-key downtime.

Sunrise in Bagan

We left Yangon and moved to our next stop – Bagan. There are many ways to get there but we decided to take an overnight bus because it sounded like a better choice than to travel by plane or by train. In Bagan, we stayed at Blazing Hotel. A small and lovely hotel with balconies, bamboo chairs, a garden and bicycles. The host and staff were helpful and hospitable.

Bagan is renowned for its temples, pagodas and historical sites. It’s estimated that 13,000 temples and religious monuments were constructed during the golden age and more than 2,000 temples still survive until today. The beauty and uniqueness of these religious structures are second to none. These monuments take a variety of forms and everything seems to have a great story behind it. It’s a reflection of cultural values and historical traditions.

The next thing we did was visiting Shwesandaw Pagoda – the most famous sunset viewing spot in Bagan, following a suggestion from our local guide name Minthu. “ If there were a list of 101 things to do before you die, this would be one of it”, he said. And Minthu was right. We three girls, at the crack of dawn, still half asleep, climbed the steep stairs barefoot. We couldn’t believe how blessed we were to have a chance to witness this miraculous moment!

Dawn sent its warm, rosy glowing sunlight through thick grey clouds to announce a new day. Birds singing in harmony with the temple bell made for a sweet, melodious sound. We sat there, unwound our minds and stared deep into the horizon. This peaceful atmosphere soothed our soul so much. Looking down from the peak of the temple, we had a panoramic view of the landscape. It was outrageously beautiful. Our eyes sparkled with what we saw. Gilded pagodas shimmered in the sun with their incredibly golden surface. Hot-air balloons dotted the sky, gracefully floating over miles of temples and ruins around the city.

I asked Minthu, and he let us know that the cost for a 45-minute hot-air balloon ride was 250$, expensive but still something worth considering.

Under the blue and sunlit sky, we cycled around Bagan and ventured into some thousand-year-old temples to experience the spirituality of this land. Golden leaves laid on the ground and dazzling warm sunlight created a perfectly romantic setting.

When in Myanmar, don’t forget to try the Burmese sweet milk tea. It has been part of Burmese culture for a long time and is drunk daily. This routine may be the result of the British colonial era. For the Burmese, tea is their most sociable drink. They drink it at any given time. But they usually gather around at 3 – 4 pm to have another cup of tea while having a little chitchat before getting back to work.

Night comes quickly in Bagan and we headed to a local restaurant named Monsoon to have dinner. Burmese cuisine is heavily influenced by Chinese cooking methods. The food is a little greasy and spicy, but delicious. While we were eating there was a water puppet show. I’ve heard from someone that in this conservative country, puppet shows are a way for people to express their opinions without feeling intimidated

Checking in at U Bein Teak Bridge, Mandalay

Mandalay is Burma’s cultural hub and the religious centre of Buddhism. It was founded in 1857 by King Mindon. The name Mandalay is a derivative of a Pali word meaning City of Gems. Among the many ancient capitals in Myanmar, Mandalay is a relatively new city. But it is also the richest historical landmark after Bagan. U Bein Teak Bridge is one of the highlights of a visit to Mandalay. It is the longest teak bridge in the world and the most wonderful place to watch the sunset in Myanmar.

One of the greatest pleasures here is to visit the U Bein Bridge in the late afternoon, when you can watch the glorious sunset and observe crimson-coloured robbed monks slowly making their way back to the monastery. A deep sense of serenity overcame us as we stared at the ruby-red sun slowly disappearing below the horizon.

“If you haven’t been to Inle Lake, you haven’t been to Myanmar”

This is a saying we encountered again and again when doing online research before the trip. Inle was the last stop on our trip to Myanmar. Home to the Inthar, an ethnic group in Myanmar, Inle Lake is the second largest lake in Myanmar, covering 116 square kilometres. Everything here is afloat, from schools, houses, markets, and gardens to the pagodas. The people also plant and raise cattle on the water. Sounds surprising, right?

As you sail across the lake, you get to see numerous traditional floating crafts villages specialising in lotus weaving, cheroots, blacksmithing, boat building and silversmithing. Their final products, which are very skilfully done and sophisticated, are displayed in a very nice wooden stilt house – a kind of typical building in Inle. Make sure you spend some time watching the craftsmen doing their job, and be impressed by how meticulous and patient they are.

The most unique part of Inle Lake is the fishermen and their leg-rowing. It is the only place in the world where rowing is done this way: One leg paddling while the other leg is carefully balancing on the extreme of the boat. The hands stay free to pull up the nets while propelling the boat. We had a fun time trying to catch fish and shrimp from the lake and picking fresh fruit and vegetables that the chef turned into a savoury lunch. We sat there, listening to the rhythm of the falling rain, letting the breeze cool our faces and watched ripples roll out across the water.

Myanmar never ceased to amaze us. In the afternoon, we climbed up to Red Mountain Hill. The view was utterly beautiful to behold. Rows of rolling lush green vine stretching across the hill, beyond the horizon. The grapes in Myanmar are small but delicately sweet. Therefore, the wine here has a very distinctive flavour. There’s no better way to find inner peace than to disappear from the daily grind and get lost somewhere under the soft glowing sunlight, listening to the chorus of birdsongs, reading your favourite book and enjoying a wonderful glass of wine.

A trip to Myanmar is a well-balanced holiday filled with adventure and soothing renewal. We love and adore Myanmar. I felt like I was Liz in “Eat, Pray, Love”. If Liz chooses Italy as a place to eat, India to pray, and Bali to love, then we choose Myanmar to be happy.

Vo Hong Anh – Vo Khanh Linh | Wanderlust Tips

Budgeting for a vacation

A vacation with a big budget doesn’t mean that it will be more memorable than one on a shoestring. The problem isn’t how much money you have, but how you use it. Don’t let your fear of budgeting turn your vacation into a disaster.

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An incredible vacation depends on several factors: your companion, destination, time, health, and most of all: your budget – an indispensable factor.

A calculation of your budget before your trip will give you control over every situation, especially if an accident happens in a strange place. Instead of having only a rough idea of potential expenses in your head, you should outline a specific spending plan.

Decide how much to spend and your ideal length of stay

The destination you decide to go to largely comes down to your budget. The first problem you need to solve is the maximum budget you can spend for each person during the trip and that depends on your salary and savings.

Next, you should decide the maximum length of stay. The longer the trip, the smaller your daily budget. If your trip is short, you can spend more money each day. You can adjust the length of your holiday on the go, because sometimes the destination may not be as appealing as you anticipate, or vice versa, you need more time to explore. Plans are only plans that serve as guidelines for a great vacation.

Flights and accommodation for the vacation

You can save a lot of money if you know how to book cheap flights. You can do more than just search for flights on the official website of an airline. Thanks to growing demands from tourists, many OTAs can help you hunt down the best deals and give you optimal choices. Social media is also a useful tool. You can participate in Facebook groups dedicated to sharing information about or exchanging flight tickets.

Agoda is an online travel agent that helps you book cheap hotels in Asia. You can also find deals on promotional sites. Reserving a room is important when visiting a new destination, especially during the holidays when hotels are expected to be over-booked.

Once you decide, make bookings and reservations as quickly as possible. If you delay, the cost can rise and you may have to revise your plan.

Very few people buy travel insurance because they want to save money. No one wants accidents to happen, but you cannot anticipate every situation. Even when things go smoothly and you have the best vacation of your life, spending money on travel insurance is a good idea as to its buys you peace of mind during the trip.

Create a summary list of expenses

Once you have set your budget and know the maximum duration of the trip and the cost of flights and hotels, it is essential to make a detailed plan. This plan can include details of your destination and services offered there. For example, if you wish to spend 10 million VND during your 5 days in Danang, you will need to account for a day trip to Hoi An in Quang Nam Province.

You can find information on the Internet or from friends and map out things like eating lunch at Mrs Buoi or spending 500,000 VND to buy souvenirs. You need to plan for the most basic spending, but you don’t need to include everything. Sometimes, things don’t go as planned, but having the details will save you time later on.

Your destination does not only depend on cost. Dining, sightseeing, and shopping are the real experiences of every trip. You should get to know Google Destination, which suggests an appropriate destination based on your budget and dates. Mastering technology will save you from a few headaches when planning a trip.

Backpackers, who wish to explore new countries and regions, should check out websites like Solo Travel or TrekHard. It’s great to know the daily average cost of your backpacking destination. Don’t expect an exact figure, but this number will usually be accurate.

Extra cash

Don’t forget that you can run into trouble at any time. You may lose your return ticket, or shop until you drop during a sale. In case you are pickpocketed or run out of cash, make sure to have your ATM or credit card with you. You should always have some small change on you because there are many situations that require it: paying for tuk tuk rides in Thailand or buying a tasty snack on the streets of Cambodia.

If you are driving, bring money for gas and backup tools in case there’s some problem with your vehicle. Don’t bring just the money that you’ve estimated. If you don’t have enough money for your grandiose plan, don’t hesitate to re-plan.

You have worked hard for a long time before deciding to go on a nice vacation; so don’t let it become a disaster because of your inability to plan. Money management skills will not only help you during your vacation but in all aspects of life.

Thuy Linh | Wanderlust Tips

My Hanoi

During a relaxing weekend, there’s nothing better than to head to the heart of the Old Quarter, walk along the wide, empty streets, and be surrounded by smiling faces. This is no longer just a dream of mine.

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The hustle and bustle of Hanoi

Every time I’m in the downtown area near Hoan Kiem Lake, what haunts me are the frightened eyes of foreigners and some Vietnamese, waiting hesitantly for the oncoming traffic to slow down so they can cross the street. This has never been my idea of Hanoi. The hustle and bustle make me want to rush home and escape from the chaotic crowd. Walking in this city is a luxury because the streets are where tens of thousands of cars blow dust everywhere, and crossing the streets is an adventure sport in itself.

When a bustling night market made up of hundreds of stalls sprang up on the small, crowded streets, the claustrophobia seemed to only increase. The Old Quarter, which has been the cradle of Hanoi’s trade for centuries, has an abundance of small shops. A few small corners dedicated to Tuong (Vietnamese traditional drama), Cheo (Vietnamese opera), Xam or Quan ho singing are easily overlooked among the 4,000 shops and the sweaty crowd trying to move along the narrow streets.

What Hanoi lacks is a place dedicated to fun, to revelling, to peace.

“Freeing” the Old Quarter

One autumn day in September, the Old Quarter of Hanoi was, suddenly and surprisingly, freed. On the once crowded streets around Hoan Kiem Lake, children played and teenagers rode around on their roller skates and hoverboards. People poured into the streets to find a sense of tranquillity. With the ban on motorised vehicles around the area during the weekends, there is no more dust and no more loud engine noises. There are only trees, smiling faces, stories and peace.

During my first time visiting Hanoi’s new pedestrian street, I was overwhelmed. I had an encounter with Ms. Hanh, a 50-year-old Hanoian, who was standing idly on the sidewalk for a while. She said that every time she stepped off the sidewalk, she felt an overwhelming sense of fear and anxiety, a feeling that every Hanoian is familiar with. It’s difficult to let go of this kind of stress.

Every weekend, 16 streets in Hanoi welcome nearly 20 thousand people, who flock here to enjoy the atmosphere in the heart of the city, to peacefully walk and admire the streets and enjoy simple pleasures that they could not have had before.

The Old Quarter – a living museum of folk games

Hanoi’s pedestrian streets have unexpectedly become a living museum of folk games. What’s even more surprising is how the urban residents have caught up with these long-forgotten games. It turns out that they were only forgotten because there was no space to play and no friends to play with

On Hanoi’s pedestrian streets, you can surprise even yourself with your own friendliness and how easy it is to make new friends. Hai Anh, a hyperactive 7-year-old boy, used to stress out his parents because he needed a place to play every weekend. Now he’s here every weekend, despite living over 20 minutes away. Around the monument for martyrs, people always join the traditional games. The young boy plays along, and not even 20 minutes later, he’s chitchatting with his new friends as if they are old acquaintances. Nearby, a few girls are skillfully juggling in a ball game, one of the countless childhood games popular a few decades ago. Other boys and girls cannot take their eyes off some of the bright and colourful toy figurines. On the canvases nearby, children enthusiastically learn how to make toy figurines according to the instructions of an artisan.

On another corner, a crowd circles around bamboo dancing. Don’t be surprised when you see a father carrying his baby to dance, or when the bamboo stick breaks after being stepped on by a young child. It’s the adorable awkwardness of urban people.

In one corner, people are rope jumping. Another corner is brought to life with capture the flag and shuttlecock.

If you want to enjoy the atmosphere of pedestrian streets without vehicles, visit during the day when there are only about 3,000 – 5,000 people.

At nighttime, the streets are not wide enough for the influx of people who are there to have fun. Sometimes the amount of people triples. The best way to get to know this new atmosphere is to join a game, such as tug of war, where each side can be as long as 7 – 8 metres thanks to the dozens of participants of all ages. You won’t care how focused you were or how loud you’re cheering once the game starts. The initial awkwardness will vanish, even if afterwards, your hands have rope burn.

An outdoor venue for the arts

One side of the lake, by Ba Kieu Temple, is filled with the tunes of traditional Southern music. The other side, by Nam Huong Hall, is soothed by the melodious sounds of Xam (Xẩm) singing. In front of Ngoc Son Temple, old scholars perform calligraphy.

Sixteen streets are not enough to host a diverse culture. Space attracts street artists who are always ready to give all they’ve got. Sometimes it is filled with pop songs, sometimes it’s rock and roll, or it may be a stage for teenagers to perform choreography to a popular K-Pop song. Sometimes, the streets roar with magic tricks, balloon art, and stilt walkers. The pedestrian streets opened around Mid-autumn Festival, which means the streets were filled with joyful lion dances. One weekend, on a small corner of the sidewalk, a foreign duo played the trumpet and sang a beautiful ballad. Sometimes, it becomes the field for soccer players to display their ball skills, which excites and amazes onlookers. On Christmas Eve, the streets were filled with music and a Zumba flash mob, attracting hundreds of young people.

Every time I visit, I get excited and eagerly wait to see what the streets have to offer.

Following Hang Ngang, Hang Dao, and turning to Dao Duy Tu, Ma May, Ta Hien, Hang Buom, a culinary paradise awaits. These streets are always crowded thanks to the diverse dishes on offer: skewers, grilled poultry, grilled sausages, roasted chicken wings, fried chicken legs with chilli. Foreign photographers taking pictures of Hanoi are always amazed that Hanoians can do everything on the sidewalk, whether it’s getting a haircut or eating. Now, Hanoians can eat comfortably on the streets. On these streets, vehicles are banned from 7 pm onwards during the weekend.

Hanoi used to be dusty, noisy and scary, and Hanoians used to dream about busy yet safe and fun pedestrian streets similar to those of Thailand or Hong Kong. Now, this dream has come true. It is a gathering place for festivities, entertainment or music – all to be enjoyed without any fog or traffic noise. Here you can experience the old way of life and traditional cultural forms, which even Hanoians did not think they could preserve in this modern metropolis.

Nhung Nguyen | Wanderlust Tips