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Ancestor worship plays important portion of Vietnamese spiritual life. After passing away, Vietnamese people believe that, the body dies but the spirit of their beloved family member still alive, stay to support in the future. To worship is to communicate with the dead people and ask them for advices. Ancestor worship was introduced into Vietnam by the Chinese during their long occupation of the country that began 200 years before the birth of Christ. Since then, it has been fully absorbed into the Vietnamese consciousness and, with Confucianism, underpins the country’s religion and social fabric. Ancestor worship is not only the adhesive that binds the Vietnamese together, but also one of the most difficult concepts for people from Anglo-Saxon or European origins to understand. It has been said that the Vietnamese believe in the dead, while the Occidentals believe only in death. The basis of ancestor worship seems to stem from two principle ideas: (1) that "those who have gone before" have a continual and beneficent interest in the affairs of the living; and (2) more widespread, uneasiness, fear of the dead, with practices to placate them. The later ideas more often serve as a form of dispensing emotions than of worship. How do Vietnamese people worship their ancestors? The practice of ancestor worship is relatively straightforward. Nearly every house, office, and business in Vietnam has a small altar which is used to commune with ancestors. Incense sticks are burned frequently. Offerings are made – fruit, sweets, and gifts. The latter items are paper replicas of dollar notes (‘ghost money’), motorbikes, cars, houses and so on. After worship, the paper gifts are burnt so that the spirits of the gifts can ascend to heaven for the ancestors to use. In the past, the income from a plot of land was used to maintain the altar and arrange the rituals, but this tradition has now faded away. However, the custom that the eldest son will arrange the ceremonial and inherit the family house upon the death of his parents is still generally observed. Another traditional element is the placing of wooden tablets on the altar for each of the ancestors over recent generations. This is less rigorously observed today, and tablets are often replaced by photographs. Some pagodas house commemorative tablets for ancestors on behalf of regular worshipers. When do Vietnamese people worship their ancestors? Worshiping takes place regularly on particular days, such as festivals, new and full moon days, the death day of the ancestor, and so on. On important occasions, such as moving house, starting a new business or the birth of a child, and whenever a member of the family needs guidance or a favour, the ancestors are consulted. A proliferation of small fires of burning paper in the streets of towns and cities means that it is a festival or moon day. One paper fire is likely to be an event affecting a single family. Why do Vietnamese people worship their ancestors? For the Vietnamese, ancestor worship is not related to ghosts, spiritualism or even the supernatural in the Western sense. It is not even a ‘belief’ in the sense that it is open to question by the ‘believers’. The Vietnamese accept as a fact that their ancestors continue to live in another realm, and that it is the duty of the living to meet their needs. In return, the ancestors give advice and bring good fortune. Devotees of Buddhism believe in previous existences, and seek to correct previous bad deeds to reach enlightenment. Ancestor worship is fundamentally different. For the Vietnamese, death, and the ritual and practice of ancestor worship, constitutes the transfer of power from the tangible life to the intangible. Existence is a continuum stretching through birth, a life spent in tangible form on Earth, followed by death and a spirit existence in another realm for a further two or three generations. Who are the heroic ancestors? By virtue of their worthy deeds, heroic ancestors, such as Tran Hung Dao and the Trung sisters, continue to exist and be worshiped in temples for many generations beyond the two or three of ordinary folk. Their rectitude is a model to guide the behavior of the living. What about ‘bad’ ancestors? All ancestors are worthy of respect and reverence, regardless of their behavior as living beings. However, the misdeeds of a wicked family ancestor will be visited upon his or her children and grandchildren in the form of bad luck. This is a powerful influence upon the behavior of the living, influencing them to behave well and do good deeds in the present, thereby endowing their living and unborn children with good luck in the future. How does ancestor worship affect daily life in Vietnam? The effect of ancestor worship upon Vietnamese society is profound. There are three main concepts: - regarding life as a small part of an infinitely greater whole embracing the entire race - a belief that the past and present exist simultaneously - a certitude that each individual’s behaviour in life has a direct impact upon the quality of the lives of his or her children and grandchildren Taken together, these convictions extend the concept of the family far beyond the sense in which the term is used in the West. A Vietnamese person is never ‘alone’ – his or her ‘family’ is always present. This article is written by lan nguyen from Vacation to Vietnam, for original article please visit: http://www.vacationstovietnam.com/lastest-travel-news/vietnamese-ancestor-worship-what-you-need-to-know.html Vacation to Vietnam Vietnam Family Vacation Vietnam Culture Vacation

The speedboat bounces the waves of Nha Trang‘s bay, bearing s towards Ninh Van Island. Upon glimpsing the lonely island, dotted with huge slabs of stone, I am over with curiosity. Even the resort’s name is intriguing: Hideaway The sky is deep blue. The sea shines like an immense sparking mirror. I hear the sounds of lapping waves and birdsong. In the distance I can see some wooden, thatched-roofed villas perched on cliff tops or tucked into the trees at the edge of the turquoise sea. The impression of landing on a deserted island vanishes as the resort’s marketing director, management board and other staff step forward to welcome us with broad smiles and warm handshakes. The reception area is located in a stilt house, its two floors decorated in a style that is simple yet luxurious. A white sandy path threads through ancient trees. My 11year- old son and I step through the foliage to discover or villa hidden in a pretty garden, the stillness broken by a few the rustling of leaves in the breeze. Made of wood, the villa has two floors. The first floors hold a snowy white bed from which one can gaze at the swimming pool. A rough wooden ladder leads up to the second floor, where two armchairs beckon offering a view of the garden and sea. A basket if fresh fruit and a bottle of champagne are there to greet us, along with a letter from the resort’s director, I am reminded of another time in my life when. After traveling a great distance and arriving in a strange place, I found s letter. It was 20years ago and I had just arrived in Minsk to study. A letter from my boyfriend, then studying in Moscow, was lying on the table, “I hope that after an extremely long flight, when you arrive in your dormitory and open this letter you will feel as if you have come home after a long journey...” Time passes. That boyfriend got married and settled in Russia. My memories of that short, student love story have faded too, although the echo of what I felt when I read that letter will remain with me forever. Night set in. following a line of flickering torches we walk to a monumental wooden restaurant set in the hills facing towards the sea. The décor is elegant and relaxed, with typical Vietnamese elements such as wooden pillars, a palm roof, and a bamboo fence. Surrounded by sparkling candles guest sample lobster, shrimp and other dishes, all grilled on a stone-topped stove. Next morning, mu son jumps on a bicycle found in our villa’s yard and sets off down a sandy track. He looks so free and happy. After circling the island he is excited to see a white faced black monkey jumping into the swimming pool to drink. As I dry my son off I ask, “Do you feel relaxed enough to stay for four days?” “I want to stay for s whole month!” he says.”Look Mon! Squirrels have eaten part of the fruit basket since we forgot to put it in the fridge!” Cobblestone paths lead up the hills to other villas, some tucked into the hillside. Other perched on the cliff tops. All of these places offer views of the sea: breaking waves, sails far off in the distance, twilight fading over the waves… In such a thatched-roof cottage you will certainly feel at peace, as if a calm sea of love were covering the whole world. Four days pass quickly. It is time to go home, to our confused lives. There are only a few people o the boat, but dozens of hands waving goodbye to the Evason Hideaway was life like waking from a beautiful dream in which my soul was at ease. I realized that it had far too long since I had felt such inner peace. This article is written by lan nguyen from Vacation to Vietnam, for original article please visit: http://www.vacationstovietnam.com/lastest-travel-news/hidden-treasure-the-best-resort-in-vietnam-for-honeymooners.html Vacation to Vietnam Vietnam Beach Vacation Vietnam Honeymoon Vacation

Dinh is a village community hall in Vietnam, a symbol of village community and a visible element of village culture. Nowadays, Dinh does not have the administrative function it had before, but it is still regarded as a sacred place which must be preserved. Besides its religious meaning, Dinh is a typical image of Vietnam and Vietnamese people. Many foreign tourists are attracted by the unique architectural beauty of ancient Dinh. To help tourists know more about Dinh, Vietnam Heritage Travel Company discuss in detail aspects of Dinh’s architectural as well as culture beauty. Historical background When did Dinh first appear in Vietnam? This is still an unanswered question. The oldest datable Dinh all belong to the Mac dynasty in the 16th century. Although the evidence is still lacking, we believe that Dinh as a village community hall first appeared in antiquity, if not in prehistoric times then in the early historical era. At that time it was not yet called Dinh, a word borrowed from China. Architecture Dinh architecture has change over time and from place. Dinh built in the 16thth century. At that time Dinh began to appear architecturally more diverse than Dinh in the North and in the centre of Vietnam.century was originally a simple “nhat”, in that it consisted of just one main hall. There were changes in Dinh architecture in the 17 Sculpture Village Dinh, particularly Dinh in the north, are fabulously rich treasure trove of Vietnamese sculpture down through history. Sculpture has been preserved in other religions, but nowhere is as full a range exhibited as in the Dinh. Much of the roofing material had to have jutting beams of rough grains wood. Sculpture transformed these into heads of dragons holding pearls in their mouths. The heads are adorned with long flaming manes and are lively and interesting. The tops of pillars have many rows of wooden bolts or dowels carved in the feathered wing mode. They are decorated so as to represent groups of converging dragons and are truly lovely. Dinh of the 16th century feature a lot of decorative sculpture. Figures of dragons are everywhere, especially in the most holy places. On the top raters are coiled dragons with heads adorned with large eyes and square on the top of pillars as if chasing each other about, or waiting to greet one another. Fairies carved into round status one or nymphs are found on the dragons. These fairy maiden are playing horizontal and vertical flutes and string musical instrument. There are also many other figures such as people cutting firewood, sloughing with elephants, chasing tigers, catching snakes, performing acrobatics, rowing boats and drinking wine. The 17th century witnessed the zenith of Dinh sculpture development. The development from decorative carving to bas-relief sculpture in the Dinh coincided with the introduction if skilled carving into a number of free or semi-stressed elements of the rafters. The techniques of intaglio and alto-relievo created many overlapping layers and split away the background to make excellent sculpted carvings. In many Dinh, an entire log was fixed in place as edging where two rafters connected and an entire scene with thousands of figures was carved on it. In summary, village Dinh bas-reliefs of the 17th century achieved very great artistic standards. Elements of human culture have penetrated deeply into every aspect of each carving, to the point that it is possible to cut away a small component and still see in it the full spirit of the entire composition. In the 18th century, the technique of peel-carving many intricate layers and the complexity of sculptures diminished. At the same time the quality of decoration improved. It’s clear that the decorative sculpture of village Dinh from the 16th – 18th centuries bore the stamp of popular art. The anonymous sculptors came from the peasantry and carried into the Dinh scenes close to daily life or true to their own imaginative life. And they did this with an utterly original style. Since the 19th century, Dinh sculpture has almost no scenes of popular life. From then on there are only decorative figures of flowers and leaves, and figures of the four venerated animals are popular, namely the tortoise, dragon phoenix, and unicorn. In the 19th century Dinh, the arched doors of the worship hall were usually carved rather elaborately. This article is written by lan nguyen from Vacation to Vietnam, for original article please visit: http://www.vacationstovietnam.com/lastest-travel-news/communal-house-the-heart-and-soul-of-vietnam-country.html Vacation to Vietnam Vietnam Culture Vacation

Hoi An is a city richly layered in cultural history. Outsides have the privilege of peeking in, thanks to the grace of local residents. One Hoi An family opens its doors to share a collection of family heirlooms and antiques with today’s communities. Thousands of antiques, dating back hundreds and thousands of years, are on display at the Diep family house in Hoi An. The owners of the generation of the house, Mr.Vinh Tan and Mr.Diep Gia Tung (Sung), keep their antiques showcased in an open house for tourists. Antiques, they believe, are only beautiful when shared with today’s communities. A pale blue wooden house, with fading paint and constructed with Chinese architectural style and Japanese influences, sits at 80 Nguyen Thai Hoc, one of the three main streets in town. The house, built at the end of the 19th century, is inscribed with the name Diep Dong Nguyen. According to the Diep Dong Nguyen records, Mr. Diep Ngo Xuan was his family’s generation to reside in Hoi An. In1856, he moved there in the flow of migrants the traveled from Gia Ung district in China. Mr. Xuan established the family’s first Chinese traditional medicine shop on Tran Phu Street, which later was named Diep Dong Xuan Street. Mr. Xuan’s children have kept the business and built a pharmacy at 80 Nguyen Thai Hoc, the family continued on – now at the eight generation—collecting antiques along the way. On the first floor, glass shelves display the antiques, which are a diverse collection of cups ad bowls from China and Vietnam. Some photos of the Diep family in the aristocratic dress of the early 20th century hang on the walls. After nearly a hundred years, the photos are still richly colored. Narrow wooden stairs lead up to the second floor, where the family’s private collection of antiques us stored: photographs, porcelain, furniture, and ancient money. There are many kinds of currencies in Hoi An form feudal Japan and different dynasties in Vietnam and China. The second floor also has small jars from the Khang Ky King period, Chu Dau pottery from the seventh century, antiques from the Ming, Thanh, and Duog dynasties, which were bought by the Diep family in China thousands of years ago. The interior décor of the living room is also antique, with Empress Nam Phuong’s dressing table, the Khang Hy King’s cups, a medal that King Bao Dai awarded the family, and furniture that Ngo Dinh Diem once sat in. A special item is a copper urn, which glows re in the rainy season and gold in the dry season, in the early 16th century, Chinese gold and money melted into alloy, which was used to cast many products, including this copper urn. The Diep family has collected different kinds of seals from famous businessmen and local mandarins including the district chief, Cantonese chief, village mayors,. The family has collected female objects such as agate bracelets, brooches, and mirrors. Their collections also include Chinese calligraphy and water color paintings. The Diep Family is pound of its collections, regarding these antiques as a connection to the past, to family memories. The transformation of his to home into a showroom is therefore worth the money that Mr.Sung spent, as he loves sharing the history of his family and of Hoi A with today’s generations and those to come. This article is written by lan nguyen from Vacation to Vietnam, for original article please visit: http://www.vacationstovietnam.com/lastest-travel-news/the-new-destination-in-hoian-what-you-must-visit.html Vacation to Vietnam Vietnam Family Vacation

Fancy a trip back on time on an imperial junk or a colonial steamboat? Visitors can now tour Ha Long Bay on boats that mix history with comfort. A crowded deck, the overpowering smell of gasoline, heat noise – for me, boat cruise in Ha Long Bay had lost their charm. White the blue sea and soaring islands are the perfect setting for romance, I was tired of being jostled other visitors and taken to the same. Busy tourist sites. Hind and cruise With the growth of Vietnam’s tourism industry, the fragile junks that once traversed Ha Long Bay gave way to noisy motorboats catering to day-trippers from Hanoi. Then, three year ago, the bay’s residents were shocked by the appearance of luxury yachts. Huong Hai, one of several companies the operate high-end yachts in the bay, invited me for a cruise on one its newly renovated boats, which was modeled after the 18th century craft used by Vietnam’s Nguyen Dynasty. The upper deck was designed to look like an ancient Chinese palace, complete which circular doors and pillars. Staring u the craft’s three red sails I was reminded of the romantic short story “Red Sails” by the Russian writer Alexander Grin, in which a poor young woman dreams of a prince whisking her away in a boat with red sails. With its three masts and creamy sails, the Dragon Pearl- a top –end yacht that set sail last summer – brings to mind the British East India Company vessels that once carried silk between London, Calcutta and Danang. Rather than Cung and Dau Go Caves or Ga Choi Islet, this luxury craft headed for Ba Trai Dao, a distant and little visited part of the bay named for three islets said to resemble peaches. I went for a moonlit swim, spent hours exploring unnamed island by kayak, glided into mysterious sea caves, and spent many blissful hours lying in a deck chair sipping cocktails. This was more like it – the perfect blend of nature and comfort. This level of luxury took some major investment; the Dragon Pearl cost about VND4bn (US$255,000) to build. Every detail is perfect, from the gleaming wood floors to the fluffy, embroidered duvet covers. Ha long jewels This summer saw launch of a new boat in Ha Long By, the 55 meter – long Emeraude, a luxurious craft modeled after the steamships that operated between Hai Phong and Quang Ninh from 1910 to WWII The original Emeraude, owned by a French family by the name of Roque, was one of five stemmers operating in Ha long Bay: Emeraude Perle, Saphir, Onyx and Rubis, Originally from Bordeaux, Victor, Hanry, and Xavier Roque first came to Vietnam in 1858, when they were in their 20s. Over the years they ran timber, sugar and trading businesses with mixed success. In 1905, Xavier’ son Paul moved to Hai Phong to establish s cruise business. Built in Hong Kong, the steamboats were outfitted with the latest comforts available, including electric light to France in the 1940s. Almost a century after the Roque Brothers’ boats started traversing Ha Long Bay a group of investors decided to revive the brothers’ vision. The firm’s slogan says is all: “Sail back in time”. A replica of the old steamboat, the new Emerraue offers all the comforts of a five-star hotel with 38 luxurious cabins, a salon, and the nightly buffet in the Emeraude’s dining room would satisfy an American millionaire. When night fell, the sky sparkled with stars. It was lovely to lie in a rattan chair on the Dragon Pearl’s deck and sip a cocktail prepares by a young, uniformed barman. I shut my eyes and enjoyed the sea air on my face, only to fall asleep dreaming of stars. This article is written by lan nguyen from Vacation to Vietnam, for original article please visit: http://www.vacations...halong-bay.html Vacation to Vietnam Vietnam Luxury Vacation Vietnam Honeymoon Vacation

Cuisine handed down from the King and Queen of Hue City is something every visitor should experience. The secret recipes are now available for guests to try! The pomp and elegance of the royal banquet during festivals, which included dance, song, and fanfare, have been handed down to the new generation. Ancient flavors can be found on all corners of Hue. Some recipes have been created by famous chefs, others by skillful mothers and industrious young girls. Under the lines of tress leading from the heart of the city towards Thien Mu pagoda and Emperor Ming Mang’s tomb, alongside the Perfume River, we can find fresh food cocked in delicious Hue style. The beef noodle soup in Hue is different from other areas, with its pungent flavor, and greasy and delicious broth. “Nem lui” or grilled meat rolls. Are grilled on charcoal, with never forget the taste once you have tried it. Adding to the unique taste of Hue is the way food uniqueness of the way food is displayed, which speaks of the flavor and uniqueness of the cuisine. Even though it rains a lot in Hue, one can still enjoy exquisite outdoor meals on peaceful tree – shaded streets. In the north and south of Vietnam the food has been intermingled with other traditions, but in Hue the cuisine remains pure. “Banh Beo” is a kind of dumpling with a very thin slice of tapioca, steamed with shrimp pemmican, and sprinkled with fried cracklings. Each small bowl is just enough to whet one’s appetite. So people eat bowl after bowl until a high pile of dishes teeters before them on the table, and still the craving continues. In hue green dumplings are wrapped in leaves and steamed. Cooked with minced pork and black mushroom, this dish creates an amazing taste and smell. Along Kim Long road beside the left bank of Perfume River, visitors can also try “mem lui|” and “bun thit nuong”, or grilled meat vermicelli. No matter whether it is summer or winter, food connoisseurs are always looking for “mem bui;” the spicy minced meat grilled over charcoal is loved by all Hue natives. To thoroughly enjoy “nem lui” requires many kinds of fresh herbs and vegetables which are wrapped inside soft rive paper and then served a special sauce made of soya paste, four, minced pig liver, peanut oil and seasonings. The story of Hue’s traditional sauces is long and even simple snacks require specific ingredients. “Banh nam,” rice dumplings, are served with sweetened fish sauce, and fresh chili ads kick to the sweet and sour taste. To fully enjoy “banh bot loc”, tapioca cake, it needs to be complemented with salty shrimp paste and a generous amount of chili. If you are not originally from Hue, you might not be able to stand the spicy taste of the tiny green chili peppers grown on the mountain slopes surrounding the city. “Banh bot loc” is very hot, but once you get used to it, it will leave a strong impression in your mind forever. Another specialty is a cake that is folded and then divided into two parts. The first id vegetarian and the second contain. The first is vegetarian and the second contains meat. Naturally, each requires special sauces to go with it. In memory of Hue residents of the past, the present population has tradition of the Salty Rice Patty. An elegant meal that takes a whole day to prepare, each dish is an exquisite work of art. Salt is fried with lemongrass; salt is mixed minced ginger, and salt is even is cooked with a little fat and eaten. Once you have tried these dishes, you can never forget the experience. The story of the flavors of hue cannot be fully conveyed in a short space. Each season there is a special food to be tried. Hue sweet soup is a must – try for visitors, and includes red bean, green bean, horse – tooth bean, chickpeas, lotus seeds covered on loganberries, tapioca, and taro, to mane just a few ingredients. The small shops that sell sweet soup are an unforgettable memory for the many visitors who frequent the small lanes of Hue. Generations of Hue residents have created special foods for every season, each of the which complements the unique and charm of Hue. This article is written by lan nguyen from Vacation to Vietnam, for original article please visit: http://www.vacations...isite-food.html Vacation to Vietnam Vietnam vacation

1. Kim Boi Hot Spring in Hoa Binh For those who want to take a day off after long tiring journeys, Kim Boi Hot spring is the right place. With a 30km drive from Hoa Binh town, tourists can easily access Ha Bi commune, Kim Boi district. The district covers an area of 682 km2 and lies in the hot spring of a mineral stream. Clear water continually spouts from the fountains, normally between 340C and 360C. According to some scientific tests, Kim Boi water resources can reach the required standard for quality; therefore, it proves to be suitable for drinking and bathing. In fact, the Kim Boi mineral water is bottled for refreshment. It has almost the same composition as certain famous foreign brands of mineral water in the world. In addition, it is believed that heated water can hold more dissolved solids and have a high mineral content including calcium or lithium or radium. As a result, this water is considerable as a highly effective therapy for rheumatism, intestinal diseases, stomachache, high blood pressure etc. This can even be a good location for rehabilitation clinics for those with disabilities. As for tourists in Vietnam travel, depending on their budget they can choose to stay at any hotels in the resort area. Wherever they are, the same point is that they can hear the sound of water spouting out, which is very relaxing. Being immersed in a large mineral water deposit of Kim Boi stream is also not unmemorable for every visitor. Certainly, no one will refuse to spend time in such a spot! 2. Bang Hot Mineral Spring in Quang Binh Bang Hot Mineral Spring is located in Bang Hamlet, Kim Thuy Commune, Le Thuy Dist, 60km from Dong Hoi Town, 21km west of Le Thuy Dist., Quang Binh Province. Arriving at Bang Spring, visitors in Vietnam travel has the feeling of being in a fairy-land with the foggy nature by the steam from the Spring. Bang Spring has been recorded as the only hot water source in Vietnam with an on-spot temperature of 105 oC. Beside the miraculous mineral spring, Bang spring is also a tourism attraction in Vietnam travel. While Phong Nha Ke Bang attracts tourists in Vietnam travel by its magnificent nature, Bang Spring is attractive with its fanciful, poetic scenery. Tourists can also boil things by the hot water in the spring. Bang Spring is such a present that nature gives to Quang Binh that once coming here, visitors do not want to leave. 3. Kenh Ga Hot Spring in Ninh Binh Kenh Ga is not only an eco-cultural tourist site with remarkable scenery but also an ideal resort for tourist in Vietnam travel. Located in Ninh Binh province, it has unique hot salty water with a stable temperature of 530¬ C, KCl, NaCl, Calcium and Bicarbonate that help medical treatments. Vietnamese scientists have confirmed the good quality of this mineral water spring that is similar to the quality of convalescent areas of Germany and Russia. Today, the main branches of the spring have been built to channel water into some pools for swimming and soaking. If tourists do not want to have a bath, they can get water from the spring to drink; The water is excellent for skin ailments such as scabies and vitiligo and curing a variety of stomach ailments and obesity. 4. Tay Vien Hot Spring in Quang Nam Distant from My Son vestige about three kilometers towards the west is Tay Vien hot spring where is very famous for bringing tourists in Vietnam travel enjoyment and relaxation. This place is taken form from some earthquakes in the entrails of the earth millions of years ago. The water in these two streams is very clear, with the average temperature of about 85 degrees. This is an ideal place for tourists in Vietnam travel to steam bath. The stream’s water contains many precious mineral substances such as calcium, potassium, sulphur and iron.Tourists can also have a mud – bath here, which can help them to relax and cure some sickness. 5. Dam Rong Hot Spring in Lam Dong Dam Rong Hot Spring is located at Da Long commune, Dam Rong District, Lam Dong province, from Da Lat about 70 km to the northeast, natural Dam Rong Hot Spring is a point of eco-tourism and medical treatment in the country attractive fog fascinating. This area is surrounded by natural forest and artificial trees with diverse types and has a stone table systems, interlocking slate. Hot water erupting underground upward look like clusters of fireworks exploded, the average temperature of spring water is always at around 40- 45 degrees C, higher concentrations of sulfur hot springs in many other areas to treat skin diseases, arthritis, hypertension, cardiovascular disorders is very effective. From this hot spring were put to use, it has attracted many tourists in Vietnam travel to here. It's wonderful as a paradise in the land with natural beauty. This article is written by lan nguyen from Vacation to Vietnam, for original article please visit: http://www.vacationstovietnam.com/lastest-travel-news/top-5-hot-springs-in-vietnam.html Vacation to Vietnam Vietnam Luxury Vacation Vietnam Package Vacation

Born and raised on a small street lined with milk flower trees and French – Style house with balconies, I have known Hanoi’s French colonial district since I was too young to ride a bicycle. In the first grade, on my way to school, I always stopped in front of the iron gate of the house at the end of my street. Standing on tiptoes I’d put my face to the rusty gate and peer into the silent yard. I’d pluck a hibiscus flower and crush its petals across my fingernails. To this day, each time I look at my pale and rough hands I still think of that garden. The second storey of the house had a strange door. Hidden behind a patterned balcony, its curved design was different from any other that I’ve seen. Even now, the door is never opened, leaving me curious as to what lies beyond. To my mind, that house is a thousand times nicer than nay apartment in Kim Lien. My maternal grandfather lived on Hai Ba Trung Street. For me, it was the most beautiful street of my childhood, especially on Sunday mornings when my mother carried me and other sundries on a Diamond bicycles to her father’s place. I love the feeling of seizing the buttons of her shirts and clinging to her back. Sitting on the luggage carrier hugging my mum of a bag of sweet potatoes, I could only see one side of the street. I often saw an old woman sweeping dead leaves in front of the long fence that surrounded a big house. The tips of the fence reminded me of foreign films about noble ladies in big shirts. I’d fashion similar skirts from blankets fixed with clothes pegs and mince around the house, proudly commanding my own noble word. Mum let me play on the sidewalk while she cooked and my grandfather’s house. At the end of the road stood a fence hidden beneath a trellis of bougainvillea flowers. My feet always veered towards this green canopy. To this day, my feet still turn when I pass this stretch of road, I loved climbing the fence and sitting with my legs dangling, watching bicycles go past, kids holding their parents’ hands, and. If I raised my eyes, seeing the tall, tiled roof of the French- style house. In the late afternoon I’d watch lonely old women and the yellow light on the road. I’d clench the rusty bars and dream of meeting a prince who would live me in a house with such a fence. I’d picture us strolling in beautiful clothes, until awakened by my mum’s call to come in for lunch. Grandfather used to take me to get ice cream on Trang Tien Street. He often toll mo to visit one of his friends in small house with an orchid tree and an unlocked iron gate. While they took off their felt hats and chatted, I preferred to sit in the bench in the yard, looking beyond the gate. Although I had just come on from the street, the world outside the gate appeared new and different. Was it these things that later inspired me to learn French and to listen to French love songs? I don’t know. I only know that my present love for Hanoi’s streets stems from my childhood love for the streets of old. Each French colonial house behind a fence, each wrought iron me of my childhood, my white-haired grandfather, and my mum… This article is written by lan nguyen from Vacation to Vietnam, for original article please visit: http://www.vacationstovietnam.com/lastest-travel-news/why-people-names-hanoi-as-the-paris-in-asia.html Vacation to Vietnam Vietnam Luxury Vacation Vietnam Culture Vacation