Thứ Hai, 25 tháng 5, 2015

Nightliffe in Hanoi

Nightliffe in Hanoi
The fact is that Honey is not a world famous party capital and after 10 PM the city is usually not full of people partying and having fun out. However, if you go to the Old Quarter or area around Hoan Kiem Lake, you will many crowded spots with loud music and friendly atmosphere. In this article we will guide through the nightlife of Hanoi to make your visit to the city even more memorable! North Vietnam tours

Bars
Visiting bars is, probably, the most common way of spending free time among locals. People come here with a company of friends, for a drink after work or for any other occasion. The bars are usually pretty full during weekends and open till late night or early morning. MEKONG EYES
Nightliffe in Hanoi
Nightliffe in Hanoi


Le PUB
The bar is located in the heart of the Old Quarter, and it also has outdoor seatings, so you can enjoy watching the street action while having you drink. It has a good selection of drinks and several options for a lunch/dinner, including the variety of Vietnamese food. Le PUB is definitely the place with a friendly service and positive atmosphere. Jasmine Cruise
Address: 25 Hàng Bè, Lý Thái Tổ, Hoàn Kiếm, Hà Nội, Vietnam
Hours: 7:00 am – 12:00 am

Mao’s Red Lounge
Another great spot in the Old Quarter of Hanoi with a cozy and ambient atmosphere and a big choice of well-priced drinks. Plays a wide range of rock, dance, funk, Latin and reggae music. Moreover, if you don’t like the choice, there’s a possibility for you to play music from your own CD! A good place for meeting with friends and chilling after a long day.
Address: 7 Tạ Hiên, Hoàn Kiếm, Hanoi, Vietnam
Hours: 4:00 pm – 12:00 am

The Rooftop
The Rooftop is a bar on the 19th floor of the capital’s Pacific Place Tower. It has a fantastic view on the Hanoi, especially during the night time, when the city is illuminated with millions of lights. The bar has an elegant interior design, fine cuisine and a good choice of drinks, It also regularly hosts special events and DJ’s performances.
Address: 83 Lý Thường Kiệt, Trần Hưng Đạo, Hoàn Kiếm, Hà Nội, Vietnam
Hours: 11 am – 2 am

Clubs
In Hanoi clubs are not so popular among people for spending their nights out, what actually makes the existing places even better: there’s always a lot of people, but there’s no a crowd, what makes your staying there more pleasant and comfortable.

Funky Buddha Club
It is a small, trendy club that mostly plays house, trance and electro music. The club is full of local people and tourists, and during weekends may be even crowded, as it is located in the very centre of Hanoi and is actually one of the most famous in the city, especially among young people.
Address: 2 Ta Hien, Hoan Kiem, Hanoi, Vietnam
Hours: 6 pm – 2 am

Nutz Bar
The Sheraton Hanoi Hotel's Nutz Bar turns into a nightclub with live entertainment and DJs. It is popular with Hanoi expats and visitors staying in the hotels around. This is a right place if you want to spend your evening in multicultural environment and meet both, locals and travellers. The club is quite pricey and there is an informal dress code.
Address: 11 Xuan Dieu, Tay Ho, Hanoi, Vietnam

Dragonfly
Dragonfly is a favorite place among locals and expats. The club has a big bar, dancefloor, cocktail and shisha lounge. Moreover, for special sport events it can even offer table football, pool tables and big-screen TVs! No wonder, that it had been popular for years and always has visitors!
Address: 15 Hang Buom, Hanoi, Vietnam
Hours: 6 pm – 2 am

Music
Local people often visit concerts in their free time. And Hanoi has many things to offer for music lovers: from jazz and swing to rock music! The only thing you have to do is to decide how you would love to spend your evening!

Minh’s Jazz Club
A place with jazz music that will touch your heart, soul and awake the deepest feelings. It hosts live performances and jam-sessions every night at 9 pm. The bar owner, Minh, is a saxophone teacher at the Hanoi Conservatory, who also moonlights here. As a bonus – a really great menu with a big choice of food and drinks, and with reasonable prices. Minh’s Jazz Club is one of the best places in Hanoi, according to travellers’ rate.
Address: No.1 Trang Tien, Hanoi, Vietnam
Hours: 8:30 am – 11:30 pm

Swing Cafe And Lounge
Swing Zafe is a fancy retro-style cafe by day and a popular live music venue by night. Surprisingly, the music played here is not only swing! In the evenings you may enjoy live performing of Vietnamese songs, as well as worldwide English hits! It also hosts concerts of famous Vietnamese singers and cabaret-shows. Open till late night, this is definitely a “must” if you are searching for a place with a style!
Address: 1, Tràng Tiền, Hoàn Kiếm, Hanoi, Vietnam
Hours: 7 am – 3 am

Hanoi Rock City
Hanoi Rock City is the capital of Vietnam’s independent music and is one of the most popular concert venues nowadays. Every weekend it holds special events and concerts, so you can have a great time and discover the local nightlife having a drink and enjoying actually great music!
Address: 27 Tô Ngọc Vân, Quảng An, Tây Hồ, Hà Nội, Vietnam
Hours: 4 pm – 2 am

Thứ Sáu, 15 tháng 5, 2015

Dong Van Karst Plateau Ha Giang Vietnam


Dong Van karst plateau has an area of 2.350 square kilometers, spreads over four districts of Ha Giang province: Quan Ba, Yen Minh, Dong Van and Meo Vac at an average height of 1.400 - 1.600 meters with a number of beautiful limestone and winding road. Here, scientists have found 33 tectonics heritages, 45 geomorphology heritages and many unique fossils in sedimentary rock, which creates opportunities for the tourist attraction, brings income for indigenous people. Mai Chau Valley 2 days

From Ha Giang town, along 4C Highway about 50 kilometers, tourists step into Quan Ba districts with spectacular and grandeur mountain scenery. In the journey to the rocky plateau, visitors can enjoy the beauty of Can Ty Pass. Dong Van karst plateau has 80% limestone, is one of the most distinctive karst in Vietnam with black and majestic boulders. The shapes of boulders are created by environmental conditions and different stages of development. Here, the whole scene is rocks with various shapes such as petals, flowers, flower branch (Khau vai rock garden, Veo Vac District) or the shape of tiger (Lung Cu rock garden). Van Chai rock garden has green grass that creates the majestic and grandeur beauty for landscape. PANDAW CRUISE

Besides the geological value, Dong Van karst plateau also attracts tourists by the unique cultural and spiritual values associated with the ethnic Mong, Dao, Lo Lo… living on the plateau. They picked up stones to build house, walls. They carved stone to grow corn. They renovated the mountainside into a vast of rice. The beauty and grandeur of Dong Van plateau comes from not only the huge natural boulders but also the fair of the H’mong, Dao, Lo Lo… In the morning, ethnic people from neighbor districts come to fair with colorful costumes.
Dong Van Karst Plateau Ha Giang Vietnam
Dong Van Karst Plateau Ha Giang Vietnam


From the geological unique, in the end of 2010, Dong Van karst plateau was recognized as the first geological park of Vietnam and Geoparks of the world. Dong Van karst plateau is one of the special limestone mountain, including the marks of the history of the earth’s crust process and tradition of indigenous communities.

Dong Van karst plateau has all elements convergence to become global Geoparks. Rocky plateau also has national relic such as: mansion of Vuong family, Lung Cu flag pole, Dong Van ancient, Ma Li Peng pass, Quan Ba Twin Mountain…

Thứ Tư, 6 tháng 5, 2015

How to Spend a Weekend in Hanoi, Vietnam

How to Spend a Weekend in Hanoi, Vietnam

Iconic image of Vietnam, with tea-pickers dressed in local conical hats

There are so many things to see in Hanoi and the real question is not ‘How to spend a weekend in Hanoi” but how much can be possibly be fitted into one weekend?

A good place to begin is the Ho Chi Minh Memorial Complex. This attraction was developed around a old French palace. The first unique feature is having to enter the museum passing through a rigorous security system. Guards ensure visitors do not stray from the accepted area during tours that can require several hours if all areas are visited. The first area, devoted to Ho Chi Minh photos and biographical information has explanatory data in English, French and Vietnamese. Classic North Package 7 days

The next area contains the body of Ho Chi Minh. Upon entering here, visitors are given a list of rules that must be strictly observed including no photography allowed. Visitors are required to leave such equipment at a check-point. Guards have authority to issue warnings and/or escort offenders out of the mausoleum. Guests are encouraged not to miss a massive statue of Ho Chi Minh located on the fourth floor. Huong Hai Sealife

Continuing around the complex, visitors pass the palace, not open to the public, but are allowed to enter and photograph Ho Bungalow which is a wooden structure on a stilt base. One highlight of this area is viewing the presidential vehicle collection.
How to Spend a Weekend in Hanoi, Vietnam
How to Spend a Weekend in Hanoi, Vietnam


A very popular site within the complex is One Pillar Pagoda. This Gothic-style edifice was erected in 1049, only to be almost totally destroyed when set on fire by the French in 1884. Restored around 1955, the pagoda was originally created by Emperor Ly Thai To to honour the mercy goddess, Quan An. The base of One Pillar Pagoda is situated in a lotus pond. JAHAN CRUISE

One must-see during a weekend in Hanoi is St. Joseph’s Cathedral erected in 1887. The church was closed for 10 years (1975-1985) during the North/South Vietnamese reunification period. This massive structure, flanked by two towers, dominates the entire city. Whether entering the cathedral or electing to walk around it, visitors are treated to breathtaking stained-glass windows and beautiful paintings of Christ on the outer walls. At Christmas, the courtyard becomes a festival site complete with vendors selling refreshments including a confection resembling cotton candy.

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Hoan Kiem Lake (Lake of the Restored Sword) is definitely a not-to-be-missed site. According to legend, Emperor Le Loi encountered a giant tortoise while boating on the lake. The tortoise gave him a gigantic sword and a set of directions he was to follow regarding this sword. After defeating his enemies and returning the sword to the tortoise, the emperor erected a pagoda out in the lake to honour the tortoise. While no visits are allowed at this particular pagoda, a similar site, Ngoc San Pagoda, is open to the public. This pagoda whose name means ‘Bridge of the Rising Sun’ is entered by crossing a red wooden swinging bridge. Ngoc San Pagoda honours various Vietnamese forefathers.

One place of special significance to Americans is Hoa Lo Prison, more familiarly-known as the Hanoi Hilton, dating back to 1896. Among many military personnel incarcerated at this facility was current Arizona Senator John McCain. Exhibits in the prison include McCain’s flight suit and photos depicting his capture. One eerie, up-close-and-personal experience is afforded by seeing the guillotine where many prisoners met their death.

History and military buffs must also see Viet Nam Women’s Museum housing exhibits including feminine accounts of life in a tunnel located under the DMZ. Also on display are implements and outfits worn by women soldiers fighting alongside North Vietnamese male soldiers.