If you are so hungry you could eat a horse, Bac Ha Market in the north-western province of Lao Cai is the place for you. And you have it straight from the horse’s mouth.
Giang Seo Sau, a 65-year-old resident of Lao Cai’s Bac Ha District, is known for his expertise in cooking thắng cố (horse meat soup).
He says the dish appeared in the area nearly 200 years ago when the H’mong people settled down in the district, and to this day, the specialty of the ethnic mountainous people is said to be the most delicious at Bac Ha.
One of the nation’s largest rainforests in Cuc Phuong National Park in the northern province of Ninh Binh has become a hot destination for adventure and nature lovers, complete with wildlife treks and homestays in the communes of Thai and Muong ethnic groups.
Eight Vietnam tour operators plan to transform the tourism landscape with two key concepts: sustainability and responsibility
Tired of the scorching heat in the city? Why not grab a motorcycle and drive off in to Vietnam’s beautiful, cool countryside?
Motorcycle adventures are gaining popularity among young, adventurous Vietnamese and foreign travellers. No stops, no fixed schedules, just jumping on the bike and going- these are just some of the reasons why people are opting for motorcycle travel over traditional train and bus journeys.
I bumped into Nick Villa (New Zealand) and George Marjak in Hanoi one afternoon when they had just returned from a bike tour along the former historic Ho Chi Minh Trail. After living in Vietnam for six months and understanding a bit of Vietnamese, the two young foreigners decided to take a spontaneous adventure on their rented Minsks, rather than booking an ordinary Vietnam tour adventure.
Accommodation providers in the dark as customers see red amid surprise blackouts
Blackouts have cut Vietnam hotel business in the middle of peak travel season as customers caught in stopped elevators flee and others just stay away all together.
The power shortages have been caused by thinner energy supplies coming from the hydro-electricity plants that account for 34 percent of the total energy generation in the country. Water levels have plunged at many hydropower reservoirs since droughts began in April, with some so low that certain plants have had to cut all output.
Footprint Vietnam travel at ITB Singapore 2009
Footprint Travel again stands at WTM 2010 with Vietnam Tourism at AS 770, where we will be;
- Updating you with the latest Vietnam destinations information
- Showing you our new and exiting products
- And explaining to you our True Value in Travel.
Only one “old quarter” remains in Ho Chi Minh City, a 300-year old urban area that has seen some of its most historic neighborhoods vanish amid the onslaught of development and commercialization, experts have said.Dating from the early 19th century, the quarter is located around the intersection of Hai Thuong Lan Ong and Trieu Quang Phuc streets in District 5, part of the historic “Chinatown” in the southern city, the Ho Chi Minh city Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism reported at a conference Firday.
Last week, Vietnam News asked its readers about their experiences with Vietnam travel firms The Government is planning to conduct regular checks on Vietnam tour operators to ensure they are registered and meet acceptable standards. Will this move improve the situation? We asked tourists visiting the country just that question.
Anyone that’s visited Vietnam will know how long it takes to travel from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City or vice-versa, especially when traveling by road or rail. A journey that currently takes 3 days by rail is to be slashed to just six hours with the introduction of a new Japanese-style bullet train.
The high speed rail link will be great for those in a hurry, but for tourists visiting Vietnam, making the slow and winding journey between the capital of Hanoi and the commercial hub of Ho Chi Minh City is a cultural experience in itself.
Around 1,560 km (970 miles) of track will be constructed at a cost of 56 billion US dollars and is awaiting approval by the Vietnam government.
It will be interesting to see how the new train system, which will travel at 300km (186 miles) an hour, will affect tourism and indeed everyday life in Vietnam.
A private war museum in Nghia Ninh Village, 7km west of Dong Hoi city in the central province of Quang Binh, was the 
second stop on Canadian writer Susan M Smith’s trans-Vietnam tour after Hanoi.