Outstanding characteristics. The climate in Bach Ma National Park is tropical with two distinct seasons, dry season and rainy season, caused by monsoon.

Hence, tourists might be surprised at the changeable weather, which goes from sunshine to darkness, and clouds to rains. Mainly from September to December, it receives approximately 8,000-mm rainfall each year. You can encounter hot and dry winds from May to August and even typhoon from June to November.

Does the name Bach Ma (“white horse”) arouse in your mind any association? In Vietnamese tradition, it refers to the white cloud which continually caps its peak. On approaching the park, you will see the evidence of Vietnam War remains in the form of some hills that still have not been fully recovered from the spraying of defoliants.

Nature’s gift.

Bach ma’s position, at the sharing border with Northern and Southern Vietnam, is combined with a variety of habitats, ranging from the coast to high mountains. The flora of Bach Ma includes 2,147 species which represents around one-fifth of the entire flora of Vietnam. Among these, 86 species are listed as endangered species in the Red book of Vietnam. The main vegetation types comprise moisture green forest, montane forest, and scrubby-grass covering area much occupied by the locals

Fauna.  Bach Ma National Park takes pride in its endemic and rare species. Up to now, 1,493 species including 132 species of mammals (half of which are well known in Vietnam), 358 bird species, 31 reptile species, 21 frog species, 57 fish species and 894 insect species are identified. The elusive Sao la (Pseudoryx nghetinhensis) was only discovered in Vietnam in 1992. Do not be surprised if you see a pheasant!, this species used to be common in forests at the mountain foot, yet was already considered to be extinct by the 1940s. More than 50 years later, it was rediscovered in the park and has become the symbol of Bach Ma National Park.

Activities in buffer zone. This huge biodiversity has created the amazing paradise on the ground for nature-lovers! There is a range of activities carried out with the collaboration of local people in the villages of the national park’s buffer zone. One of them is the establishment of medicinal plant gardens in Khe Su village, located about 2 km far from the park entrance. The village encourages tourists to devote some 40,000 VND (more than USD2) for its development fund.

If you are eager for bird-watching, you are in the right place! More than one-third of the bird species of Vietnam are found in here! You can see a number of pigeons, bulbuls, malkohas, crow pheasant, herons and egrets but sights of parakeets, kingfishers or jungle fowl!

Incredible! How can I get there?

Bach Ma National Park is relatively easily accessible from Hue (40 km), Da Nang (65 km) and Hoi An (90 km). The park headquarters and entrance are about three km from the small town of Cau Hai, where the park road meets National Route No1. Bus is the ideal means of transport if you would like to contemplate the landscape along the road. There’s a railway station in Cau Hai, and frequent buses from Hue and Da Nang.

The cruise departs at 7:30 a.m. with a light breakfast prepared for tourists as the ship smoothly surfs on the waves. The warm sunlight and delightful surroundings got us ready for our tour of the island of salangane, a species of swift which is famous as the producers of the edible bird’s nests.

Discovering the salangane is an interesting experience but the ideal time to visit the island is from March to September – as that is the season when salangane’s make nests.

The first stop of the trip was Du Ha Cave which is located behind Noi Islet which produces most of the nests among the 24 salangane islands in Nha Trang.

It was fun to admire the salanganes hovering in the sky or perching over rock peaks and we felt the long journey was worthwhile.

The cruise moved to Sam Island where we witnessed hundreds of albatrosses flying on glistening sun beams and shining on blue and white waves. After that is was time to admire the colorful coral.

Finally, the cruise arrived at Noi Island’s sandy beach where a temple is dedicated to worship the salangane. In front of the temple is a spacious yard under the shade of old trees, giving guests the perfect spot to take a rest. Tourists can also climb 100 steps to Du Ha Peak to take in a wonderful panoramic view of Noi Island.

A dip in the water is the ideal way to refresh yourself and enjoy bird’s nests before your return.

After 10 years of leading Lam Son (Lam Sơn) revolution (1418 – 1428), Le Thai To (Lê Thái Tổ) won a victory, became a king setting up the capital at Dong Kinh (Đông Kinh), and then took the date as the first year of Thuan Thien (Thuận Thiên). At the same time, he built Lam Son to become the second-rank imperial city called as Lam Kinh or Tay Kinh (Tây Kinh).

The North of Lam Kinh temple leans on Dau (Dầu) mountain, which is also called by Du Son (Du Sơn). The South of it is directed toward Chu river – where Chua (Chúa) mountain is front, its left side is Phu Lam (Phú Lâm) forest, its right side is Huong (Hương) mountain and Ham Rong (Hàm Rồng) mountain blocking in the West. The royal citadel, palace, and imperial temple at Lam Kinh were built according to Southern – Northern axis on a hill that has a shape of the word “Vương”. Four sides of royal citadel were built with the length of 314m and the width of 254m; the Northern wall had the shape of bow back with its radius of 164m and its thickness of 1m. Through archaeology and remaining relics indicate that formerly, magnificent Southern gate, court in front of royal palace, central chamber, imperial temple … have existed here. Although relics are not many, but enough for tourists to recognize that this is a very big construction made by Le Loi (Lê Lợi).

Vinh (Vĩnh) imperial tomb: Le Loi officially became a king on April 15th 1428, Mau Than (Mậu Thân) year and proclaimed himself “Thuận Thiên Thừa Vận Dụê Văn Anh Vũ Đại Vương”. Until Quy Mui (Quý Mùi) year (1433), he passed away, lived to be 49, ruled the country for 6 years, and was buried at Vinh ) imperial tomb, Lam Son.

The imperial tomb was built on a Southern plot of land at the foot of Dau mountain, on the axis of North – South between Dau mountain and Chua mountain which create the position of “hậu chẩm bắc sơn, tiền án nam sơn”, which means that 02 sides have 02 row of mountains create the position like ambushing tigers and supporting dragons. About 1km front of the imperial tomb, there is Chu river winding around the front creating the position of “tụ thủy”, which means water gather here. According to precise outlook of persons who are expert at the old and new science of winds and waters, Vinh imperial tomb is selected as a very beautiful position.

Although the lay-out and burying style at Vinh imperial tomb is simple, it is very solemn, unstudied, and elegant. The imperial tomb is covered with soil according to cube shape, surrounding it is inserted with stones. There are 02 rows of military aide statues and statues of breeding animals carved by stone put up here to protect it against evil spirits. Between two rows of military aide statues is a path whose width is 20m35 called by holy path. Overview of Le Thai To (Lê Thái Tổ) (Vinh imperial tomb) is not only really simple and near to everybody’s heart, but also solemn.

Stele in Vinh imperial tomb: was built on the top of the hill towards the East of Tay Ho (Tây Hồ), 300m far from Vinh imperial tomb. The stele was made of sea sedimentary rock with the height of 2.97m; the width of 94m; the thickness of 0.27m; and was put on the back of a big tortoise which was carved from sea sedimentary rock with the length of 3.46m; the width of 94m; the height of 0.94m including its support.

The stele house was rebuilt in 1961 (on chocks of the old stone pillar). The foundation of the house nearly had the shape of a square with its edges of 8.80m and had 4 curved roof covered with tiles shaped toe-cap. It was supported by 16 pillars with 4 pillars for each corner according to Le (Lê) reign’s style.

Decorative art was sophisticated and decorative style on the stele was suitable with the content of the epitaph compiled by Nguyen Trai (Nguyễn Trãi). The brow of the stele was designed in square shape whose inside was a circle representing for the sky and the earth. Between the square and the circle is the shape of stylized cloud; a head of a dragon looking straight ahead carved in the middle of it, the dragon’s body is bowing flexibly around the Sun that symbolizes the Divine Son of Heaven. At two sides of the square and the circle, 02 dragons craning their bodies to attend the king’s audience were carved. Each edge of stele has an image in which there are 9 halves of leaves carved very skillfully.

The epitaph is brief and condensed, but it reflects fully the biography, achievements, and merits of King Le Thai To. Vinh imperial tomb is a valuable work and has a big significance in Vietnamese treasure of cultural heritage.

Lam Kinh Historical Vestige,National historical monument,Chu river,Dau mountain

After 1954, Ngo Dinh Diem and his family lived in the Norodom Palace. In February 1963, a dissident launched an air bombardment and heavily damaged it. Diem rebuilt the palace, which was later replaced by another one, called the Independence Palace. It was designed by Western-trained architect Ngo Viet Thu. The construction was undertaken by Saigon engineers and was completed in 1966.

The five-story building consists of 100 rooms and chambers decorated with the finest modern Vietnamese arts and crafts. The ground floor room has a boat-shaped table that was often used for conferences. Upstairs, a room called Phu Dau Rong was where Nguyen Van Thieu received foreign delegations. The residential quarters are in the back of the building. On the third floor, there is a card-playing room. This floor also possesses a terrace with a heliport where a helicopter is parked. The fourth floor was used for dancing, and even had a casino. The most interesting part of the building is probably the basement containing a network of tunnels, a telecommunication centre, and a war room.

At 11h30 on 30 April 1975, the palace was overrun by Liberation Army tanks. Duong Van Minh, who was president at that time, together with his 45-member cabinet, surrendered unconditionally. After the liberation of Saigon, the Independence Palace was turned into the Headquarters of the Municipal Military Administrative Committee. In December 1975, the palace welcomed a conference for national reunification. To mark the historical significance of the event, the building was renamed Thong Nhat Conference Hall (Reunification Conference Hall). The palace has the height of 26 metres and is located in a large precinct of 12 hectares with shading trees. The overall architecture of this palace was designed by the architect Ngo Viet Thu and followed the traditional architectural style which reflects precisely the Eastern rites as the characteristics of Vietnam nation. Taking a general look, the shape of this palace made up the word “CAT” which means “good fortune and lucky”. The centre point of the palace is the position of the room for referring credentials. The terrace has the shape of the word “KHAU” (i.e. “mouth”) in order to dignify education and freedom of speech; in the middle there is a flagstaff making up a hanging stroke (vertical stroke) to create the word “TRUNG” (using Han ideogram of China) with the meaning that it must be “faithful and loyal” if you want to pursue democracy. In addition, the horizontal stroke made from the eaves forms the word “TAM” (i.e. “three”). All these strokes and lines have expressed the opinion of “Democracy needs three things: people, perspicacity, and power”. Furthermore, these three horizontal lines connecting with the vertical line make up the word “VUONG” (i.e. “King”). And the rostrum above contributes to create the word “CHU” (i.e. “host”) to symbolize for the independence of the country. The front side of the palace that contains the second and third floors together with the eaves at the main path and two wooden pillars under the eaves has the shape of the word “HUNG” (i.e. “prosperous”) with the hope for the everlasting prosperity of the country. The architectural beauty of the palace is also manifested by the curtain having the form of noble bamboo joints that surrounds the second floor and has the effect of both contributing to the palace’s beauty and taking sunshine from outdoors.

One of the most interesting sights in the Delta are the floating 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 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!

Cassia Fistula Resort is located in Phước Khánh commune, Nhơn Trạch town, Đồng Nai province, at a distance of 25 kilometers from Ho Chi Minh City. It is established in 1992 by Nguyen Van Suu, a retired teacher.

In 1992, Suu just intended to build his land into a large garden with fishpond and used a part of the garden for raising poultry. Then, when the garden was stable, he used to invite his friends to come by and enjoy the cool and pure atmosphere after tired working days.
Gradually, many people knew about this beautiful garden. They wanted to contribute and invest with land and money to develop the garden into a resort. Until 1999, the resort began operating. At first, there were many difficulties for lacking of investment.

In 2001, by cooperating with Saigon Tourist, the resort has been visited by a group of outdoor tourists. It was also named Cassia Fistula since then, after the cassia fistula tree that blossom every three or four months with beautiful clusters of bright yellow flower.
From that time, there have been many other travel agencies coming to Cassia Fistula Resort such as Dana tour, Hoàn Vũ tour, Fidi tour, Thương Hiệu Việt, Lửa Việt, including the “making friend club” of Thanh Nien newspaper.

With an area of nearly 4 hectares, including 200 houses on stilts and sentry – boxes, Cassia Fistula offers tourists commodious spaces to relax. There are also hammocks and chairs along the riversides as well as the fruit tree garden, where tourists can enjoy the nature completely.
If tourists come in group and has already registered, the resort would provide devices and playfield to help with some collective games as tug of war, stilt, blind man’s buff…There are also some other activities that are closely connected with nature like water slipping, fishing, rowing bow or walking in the cool and fresh air in the garden.

In Cassia Fistula Resort, there is also outdoor playground for camping and picnic. Especially, there are some strong feeling games for young people. These games always have trainers who will help players be well prepared before playing.

Coming to Cassia Fistula Resort, tourists would also have chance to enjoy some traditional dishes with a low price but very delicious.
Recently, Cassia Fistula Resort has been developed into an ecological resort and become famous. More and more tourists from many places have come to Cassia Fistula to enjoy not only the exciting activities here but also the fresh and cool air of the resort.

The temple was built on a high mound south of Thủ Lệ Zoo in what is now known as Ngọc Khánh Ward, Ba Đình District, and surrounded by gardens and many luxuriant ancient trees.

According to existing historical documents as well as the legends related in its parallel sentences and commemorative panels, Voi Phục Temple was built during the reign of King Lý Thánh Tông, in 1065. It has been repaired and restored many times from the Nguyễn Dynasty (1802-1945) up through recent years.

Voi Phục Temple is dedicated to Prince Hoằng Chân (Linh Lang Đại Vương), the fourth son of King Lý Thái Tông (1028–1054). The legend says the king was growing old but he had no son to inherit his kingdom or carry on his name. One day, while the first imperial concubine, Nguyễn Thị, was bathing in Dâm Đàm Lake (now West Lake), a dragon suddenly appeared and wound round her body. It covered her with its perfumed saliva, then blew water from its nostrils and whooshed up into the sky. Nguyễn Thị went back to her palace and, after a few days, discovered she was pregnant. Fourteen months later, she gave birth to a prince called Ling Lang Đại Vương (the Great Aristocrat). When he was born, a strange smell spread over the palace. The prince, who was very handsome, had 28 dragon scales on his back and seven black moles twinkling like pearls on his chest. The King was very surprised so he called the baby, Hoàng Tứ Lang, and when he was seven days old, the King allowed his wife to bring him up in her native land in Thủ Lệ Camp.

Two months and seven days later, Triệu Tiết, a mandarin of the Song Dynasty, brought his troops to plunder the country’s border. The king was sleeping in his bed when he suddenly heard the voice of a god say, “Our country has talented men, we are not afraid of the invaders”. The King woke up and ordered his messengers to travel the land and recruit talented people to fight the invaders. When the messenger came to Thủ Lệ Camp, Ling Lang Đại Vương, who was lying on his bamboo bed, suddenly stood up and told his mother, “Invaders are attacking our border, I can’t stay here!” His mother was very surprised and said, “The invaders are very strong. You are still too small to fight against them.” The Prince replied, “You do not need to worry. I am small now but I will grow up.” He called the messenger and said, “Go back and tell my father not to worry. I only need a 10-meter long red flag and a male elephant to defeat those invaders.” The messenger went back to the palace and reported to the King who was happy to supply the prince with all the things he ordered. The Prince stood up, stretched his limbs, and suddenly became “Thiên Bồng” (Heaven General). He shouted so loudly that the elephant kneeled in front of him then he took the flag and rode the elephant to the Phú Lương Palace where he swung his flag and the enemy army was crushed. Having gained victory, the Prince went back to his camp, but seven months later he became ill with a strange disease and no medical treatment could cure him. The King came to visit and commiserate with him and the Prince said, “I came down to earth as punishment from heaven but now the punishment is over. If you love me, please look at the flag flying over the Đại Hùng Gate; that is the flag I carried to fight against the enemy. After my death, please launch it into the sky. Wherever it falls, have a temple built and worship me there. That’s enough.” The King agreed, got in his sedan chair and said goodbye. The prince suddenly turned into a huge white dragon over 100 meters long, wrapped himself around a gigantic rock and disappeared into Dâm Đàm Lake. A few days later the wind whipped up waves on the lake and it was dark all day. The red flag flew into the sky, touched down at 269 different places, then returned to Ngọ Môn Gate. The King was amazed and ordered 269 temples dedicated to the Prince to be built in 269 villages, then he proclaimed the Prince “the Great Aristocrat” and built Voi Phục Temple on the site where he had lived. The temple is believed to be miraculous and magical and it is said that all wishes made there will come true.

The above story is only a legend, however, according to historical documents, Prince Hoằng Chân, together with Prince Chiêu Văn and Lý Thường Kiệt, succeeded in repelling the Song invaders on the bank of the Như Nguyệt River (now called the Cầu River) in Bắc Ninh Province. After gaining victory, he returned to his home village to die. The king christened him Ling Lang Đại Vương and ordered an old temple to be restored in his honor. Now there are two kneeling elephants at the temple gate and on the gate’s pillars are the following parallel sentences:

“This land has existed since ancient times under the Southern sky
This temple is dedicated to one of the Supreme Gods”

The temple now consists of the reception gate (nghi môn), which opens inside to a three-entrance gate, and the main temple. The main temple is shaped like the công character with three rows of houses: the five-room upper chamber (tiền tế), a two-room middle chamber (trung tế) and a three-room lower chamber, all of which have roofs covered with mũi hài (toe cap-shaped) tiles.

The temple has a collection of a wide range of cultural artifacts including a throne, bronze temple bells, sedan chairs, ancestral tablets, statues of sacred cranes and horses, many parallel sentences and some splendid painted commemorative panels. Besides these valuable objects, inscriptions in Han and Nôm scripts conserved in the temple are filled with many stories of the gods, particularly the tutelary god.

The architectural complex is bathed in an atmosphere of letters and humanistic culture. It comprises a gate standing behind a ceiba tree whose red flowers bloom in April, an obelisk in the shape of a pen-brush, an arched gate topped by a stone ink-slab and a graceful red wooden bridge dubbed “Perch of the Rising Sun” (Thê Húc) leading to the islet. Here are the shrines and the Break-water Pavilion (Trấn Ba Đình).

The tall, tapering stone pillar in the form of a pen-brush bears three ideograms: “Tả Thanh Thiên” which mean “Writing on the Blue Sky.” Together with the temple, it was designed by the scholar Nguyễn Văn Siêu (1799-1872) whose talent and frame was only equaled by that of his friend Cao Bá Quát (1809-1854). In literary circles, the two were extolled as “divine” (Thần Siêu, Thánh Quát).

Moved by their disgust at the depravity of the court and their sympathy for the suffering of the people, both left the corrupt mandarinate. Cao Bá Quát joined the command ò the peasant revolt known as the Rebellion of the Locusts. Nguyễn Văn Siêu, of a more peaceful temperament, devoted himself to educational and cultural work. He trained brilliant disciplines at the Square Pavilion (Phương Đình) built close to his house in Hà Nội (in the present Nguyễn Siêu Street, Nos. 12-14). Besides collections of beautiful prose and poetry, he left studies on literature, philosophy, geography… The people of Hà Nội are in particular thankful to him for this magnificent gift: the Temple of Jade Mountain.

Dao Xa Regatta happens on the large Dao Lagoon. Legends said that one night, there were 2 imperial boats emerging from the bottom of the lagoon. Soldiers on the two boats shouted for joy. Ly Bon thought that enemy attacked. He, therefore, ordered his troops to fight.

It was surprise that there was a person on the boat calling herself a water-nymph and saying that she came to help Ly Bon defeat the enemy. As a result, Dao Xa gets used to organizing the regatta at night to sacrifice the water-nymph.

At the third night-watch, the village resounds with tones of drum. On the Dao Lagoon, two boats are dropped down to the lagoon. The two boats sail very fast. These boats are painted with black. Their prows look like heads of dragons. Their sterns are like tails of shrimps. Both prow and stern of the two boats are painted with yellow.

There are 24 holds on each boat, each of which is 1 meter wide. One of the boatmen on the boat should sit on the stern of the boat and he should row very well. A person standing in the middle of the boat drums on a wooden bell to conduct boatmen.

After tones of drums on the bank of the lagoon begin, the two boats should be rowed backward to the starting point and people on the boats should shout for joy.

In Bach Hac village of Viet Tri city, the regatta is held on the 20th of lunar May annually. Bach Hac has 4 cycles of twelve years, namely Tien Hac, Dong Nam, Than Truc and Bo Dau. Each cycle owns a boat differently painted. Tien Hac is blue, Than Truc is red, Dong Nam is white and Bo Dau is yellow. Clothing, flags and oars must be of the same color with the boat. Each boat has 24 holds and is rowed by 48 boatmen and a person drumming on the wooden bell to conduct the boatmen.

In the morning of the sacrifice party, boats sail from the gate of the Bach Hac Communal House to Tho Son ward, Viet Tri city. Afterwards, they are rowed backward to their starting point.

An Dao commune in Thuy Van district holds the regatta in the festival to sacrifice genies like Long Sa Dai Vuong and Ut Soi Dai Vuong. The festival takes place from the 19th to 20th of lunar July.

Nha Mon village organizes the regatta on the 1st of lunar June annually.
Ha Thach commune in Phu Tho town opens the party to sacrifice the water-nymph and holds the regatta on the 9th and 10th of lunar March.

Topography is rather complex. The south is impressive Hai Van Pass with Mang Mountain 1,708m, Ba Na Mountain 1,487m. The east is Son Tra Peninsula, an ideal site of yellow sand beaches, historical remains, and rare bird and animal species. The south is Ngu Hanh Son (Marble Mountains). The seashore is Hoang Sa archipelago with a large fishery.

Climate: Danang is located in the zone of typical tropical monsoon, temperate and equable climate. The city’s weather bears the combination of the north and the south climate characters with the inclination to the former. There are two seasons: the wet from August to December and the dry season from January to July, cold waves are occasional but they are of average and short lasting. Average humidity is 83.4%.

Average temperature is about 26⁰C, the highest is 28-30⁰C in June, July, August, the lowest is 18-23⁰C in December, January, February. In Ba Na Mountain, the temperature is 20⁰C. Average rainfall is 2,505mm per year that concentrates during October and November.

Tourism
Danang is an ancient land, closely related with the Sa Huynh cultural traditions. Many imposing, palaces, towers, temples, citadels and ramparts, the vestiges from 1^st to 13^th are still to be seen in Cham Museum

Danang has other various interesting attractions as Ba Na Tourist Resort, Ngu Hanh Son (Marble Mountains) as well as the Linh Ung Pagoda, Han River, and My An, Non Nuoc beaches, stretching on dozens of kilometers…
Transportation
Road: Danang is 108km from Hue, 130km from Quang Ngai, 763km from Hanoi, and 947km from Ho Chi Minh City.

Air: The Danang International Airport is 2.5km south-west of the city center. There are domestic flights to some cities. There are direct flight from Bangkok, Hong Kong, Siem Riep, Taipei and Singapore to Danang City by Vietnam Airlines, PB Air, Siem Riep Air way, Far Transportasion and Sil Airway.

Train:Thong Nhat Express train, which connects Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, stop in Danang.

Water: There are marine routes to international and domestic ports. Tien Sa and Han River ports are located in a very wonderful position.