On Tour... MEKONG DELTA VIETNAM Exotic Asian Waterworld

With its small canals and wide creeks, the Mekong Delta in South Vietnam is as multifaceted and contradictory as the country itself. Covering thirty nine thousand square kilometres it is the third largest delta in the world.

My Tho is one of the delta's most charming cities and an area with a long and colourful history. It was the Chinese who first settled in this area in 1697 and who were responsible for the subsequent historical development of My Tho. Most of the smaller islands in the Mekong Delta contain fertile soil thus over the years the delta has developed into an agricultural area.

Today around twenty two million people live in Nam Bo of which the huge Mekong Delta is at the very heart. In the wider sections of the Mekong, that is also known as The Nine-Headed Dragon Of Cuu Long, ferries operate from bank to bank. Large ferries cross the Song Hau Giang, the most southern creek of the Mekong whose source is in Tibet, some four thousand kilometres distant.

Situated at the central junction of seven canals is the floating market of Phung Hiep, an intriguing experience. The colourful antics of the various market traders is particularly Fascinating and it is not surprising that this market is one of the most photographed locations in South Vietnam. In search of hungry customers, tiny floating restaurants make their way between the various busy market traders.

The Mekong Delta -- colourful, exotic, fascinating -- and always a surprise!

Nature Wonders HA LONG BAY Vietnam

South of the Vietnamese capital of Hano in the Gulf Of Tongking there is a large bay with more than sixteen hundred islands, the Bay Of Ha Long.

The rich vegetation that covers the rocks acts as both a shelter and a home for a great variety of wildlife including forty species of bird and eight varieties of reptile. The strangely formed islands attract biologists from all over the world and their is also worth a mention. The latest Stone Age discoveries date back more than eight thousand years and it is believed that the region was inhabited around twenty five thousand years ago.

The region's bizarrely formed rocks fired the imagination of those who lived here in ancient times and several of the islands have colourful names most of which were inspired by the animal kingdom such as Camel Island and Turtle Island plus the historic "Driftwood Grotto".

The fifteen hundred square kilometres of the Bay Of Ha Long are one of the most impressive locations in the whole of South East Asia, a place of total beauty and one of the world's great natural wonders

HA LONG BAY VIETNAM UNESCO World Heritage site

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Global Treasures HUÉ Vietnam

On the shores of the 'Perfume River', the Song Huong Giang in the heart of Vietnam, is the former royal city and today's provincial capital of Hué.

Nine mighty canon are the symbolic guards of the historic citadel and beyond its defensive walls are five hundred hectares that contain the Imperial City and also the Forbidden Purple City, a veritable city within a city.

The rise of Hué into a magnificent residence is closely associated with the Nguyen royal family who influenced the city for many centuries.

A short boat trip on the Perfume River leads to another of the city's attractions. Located on a hill, legend has it that the Thien Mu Pagoda owes its existence to the appearance of a god disguised as an old woman. The story goes that the woman made a prophecy that a new king would come and build an important pagoda for the gods. King Nyguen Hoang interpreted this prophecy as a religious symbol and thus had a pagoda built in honour of the divine old woman.

Despite all the destruction of the Vietnam War the resplendent old capital city on Perfume River is still a remarkable place to be.

Global Treasures - History's Most Protected Monuments - Heritage is our legacy from the past, what we live today, and what we pass on to future generations. our cultural and natural heritage are both irreplaceable sources of life and inspiration. Places as unique and diverse as the wilds of East Africa's Serengeti, the Pyramids of Egypt, the Great Barrier Reef in Australia and the Baroque cathedrals of Latin America make up our world's heritage. Join us as we explore one of these protected monuments.

Nature Wonders MEKONG DELTA Vietnam

The extensive delta of the great Mekong River in South Vietnam is undoubtedly one of the most remarkable natural habitats in the whole of South East Asia.. The dense vegetation on the river banks and brown-coloured water of the Mekong with its innumerable creeks are the main characteristics of this, the third largest delta in the world. The estuary covers a total area of around thirty nine thousand square kilometres and only the deltas of the Amazon and the Brahmaputra are larger.

The immense value of this fertile land has been appreciated for many a year as the Mekong Delta yields up two to three rice harvests a year.

For several centuries the Mekong has been well-renowned for its fish. It also contains a number of rare species such as the Pla Buk, the 'king of fish', as it is known by the local people. For the local population the Giant Mekong Catfish is an almost legendary creature, although sightings of it are few and far between.

HOI AN VIETNAM UNESCO World Heritage Site

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Vista Point NORTH VIETNAM

NORTH VIETNAM

In colonial times the Europeans referred to North Vietnam as Tongking. Today the Vietnamese people call it, Bac Bo.

Hanoi is North Vietnam's lively capital city. It was here that in 1882 the French created their administrative headquarters and main capital city. Compared to other southeast Asian cities that have developed into modern metropolis' at breathtaking speed, Hanoi could be described as being a provincial city.

The Hoh Chi Minh Museum, a three storey concrete building, was inaugurated in May 1990 to commemorate Hoh's one hundredth birthday.

Den Dao Quan is one of the most beautiful Taoist temples in Vietnam and an oasis of tranquillity. It is a place dedicated to the worship of benevolent spirits and for those who believe in divine and spiritual natural powers.

Haiphong is the most important industrial harbour town in North Vietnam and has a population of one and a half million. Under French rule thousands of workers built this city at record speed and the harbour was enlarged, making it the largest in Indo China.

Hoa Binh is one of the north's less attractive provincial towns but this, the former centre of a prehistoric Bronze Age culture on the Black River, is the gateway to the mountains of the north.

Located within a remote and mountainous landscape, the village of Ban Lac Thai is a peaceful place set within an elevated and fertile valley. It is believed that the Viet are related to the Thai people and originally separated from the Muong tribe when they cultivated the Red River Delta. Everywhere the Thai folk offer hand made arts and crafts for sale such as knitted blankets, woven cloth and numerous bags.

From the nostalgic capital of Hanoi as far as the mountain tribes of the north, North Vietnam is a country of charm and beauty with natural wonders and ancient cultures full of age-old traditions and new hope for the future!

MEKONG DELTA VIETNAM

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On Tour... S 1 -VIETNAM A Train Journey Through Central Vie

The famous train S1 leads through both Central and South Vietnam, one of the most fascinating countries in South East Asia.

In the 19th century Da Nang quickly evolved to become the most important harbour and financial metropolis in Central Vietnam and thus replaced Hoi An as the country's main city. The year 1858 marked the beginning of fast approaching colonisation when French warships attacked Da Nang's bay and natural harbour.

The Vietnam S1 train travels from the capital of Hanoi deep into the south of the country. Almost the entire section of the railway line between Da Nang and the southern city of Nha Trang is dominated by vast fields of rice and the scenery features several wonderful mountains and a landscape that is often so spectacular that it is quite overwhelming.

Da Lat, the capital of the province of Lam Dong, is known as the City Of Eternal Spring and is a popular holiday resort. It also contains the summer residence of the last emperor of Vietnam. Surrounded by wonderful parks, the summer palace of Emperor Bao Dai is one of the city's most beautiful attractions and was heavily influenced by the French.

Now it is surely only a question of time before the VIETNAM S1 Train and this fascinating region of VIETNAM become an integral part of the mainstream tourist map of South East Asia.

Vista Point HÀ NÔI Vietnam

HA NÔI

Hanoi is North Vietnam's lively capital city located in the north of the country and set amid the delta plains of the Red River. Compared to other southeast Asian cities that have developed into modern metropolis' at breathtaking speed, Hanoi could be described as being a provincial city.

In 1882 the French built their government offices around the city's large Ho Hoan Kiem Lake. The city became the capital of French Indo China. The lake is surrounded by splendid old villas and public buildings. In the early morning several of the city's inhabitants arrive to go about their traditional exercises.

The Chua Mot Cot Pagoda is one of the oldest religious buildings in Hanoi, a temple built upon a single column in the centre of a small pond. Legend has it that the childless king, Ly Thai To, saw the goddess of mercy in a dream in which she presented him with a son. Soon afterwards an heir to the throne was born and thus the king ordered the construction of this pagoda and the future of the dynasty was assured.

Den Dao Quan is one of the most beautiful Taoist temples in Vietnam and is located close to the national library south east of the Temple Of Literature.

Inaugurated in 1993, the Thang Long Water Puppet Theatre is one of the finest examples of its kind in Vietnam and is so popular that its twice daily performances are completely sold out.

Den Quan Than is the richly adorned Temple Of The Great God that dates back to the 11th century and is dedicated to the Vietnamese god of war. Than Vu, who is also the patron saint of the north, has guarded the city for thousands of years. His temple is located on the banks of Lake West.

Over the centuries Hanoi has frequently been conquered, lost its status as a capital city and also changed its name several times. But it has survived and is still full of timeless charm. It is most assuredly the pearl of North Vietnam!