Vietnam Unveiled: A Journey Through Timeless Beauty

I felt very thrilled after receiving a call from my close friend who lives at Mysore telling me that she had a plan of visiting Vietnam by the end of November. She asked me if I too was interested to join. I live in Chennai.

Just a month back we had a small pilgrimage to temples near Shimoga in Karnataka. (Gokarna, Murudeshwara, Kollur Mookambika.) So I just thought for a while and conveyed to her that I would join her. From that moment till I left for Vietnam, everyday  passed with doubt clarification, purchase of necessary items, of course new sets of clothing etc. 

Finally, the day arrived. I left Chennai and joined my friend in Bangalore. We all left Bangalore at 12:30 AM and reached Hanoi the next day at 1:00 PM. The time difference between India and Vietnam is one hour and 30 minutes.

Had Lunch at an Indian restaurant in Hanoi . After relaxing for a while at the hotel, we left for a local tour. First place we visited was Tranc Quoc Pagoda.

Tranc Quoc Pagoda

Buddh Vihar is called Pagoda. It is surrounded by West Lake giving a pleasant ambience, a picturesque view, and stunning scenery which are visually very attractive. There exists a Sanctum Sanctorum too in the Vihar. Tourists are only allowed to enter barefoot as in India.

Vietnam has an appreciable produce of tropical fruits like Guavas, Jack fruits mangoes, lychee fruits, pineapples and particularly tasty juicy large Grape fruits.

These fruits are offered to Buddha in the Pagoda. In fact Pagoda is surrounded by fruit-bearing grapefruit  trees which again is one of the factors for eye-catching surroundings and serene ambience

One big Pipal Tree could also be seen. This is considered as “BODHI TREE” and it was specially extracted from the Bodh Gaya tree where  Buddha sat under and practiced his religion more than 25 centuries ago. This tree is very sacred and a symbol of kindness and a loving heart. 

The most significant building that can be noticed immediately from afar is the stupa in the centre of Tran quoc. It is a tower that has 11 stories with a height of 15 metres.

Vietnam military history museum

It was set up in 1956 and is one of the seven National museums in Vietnam. This repository includes war propaganda, photographs, and documents from wars against China, France and the United States. Wreckage of French and American planes could be seen outside.

Still Cycle rickshaws are in use at Hanoi. People use this for travelling short distances.

Exhaustion due to the previous night’s travel and also awaiting road travel towards Halong Bay the next day, made us call it a day.

Halong Bay Cruise

Our excitement that we were going cruising off southeast of Halong Bay knew no bounds. It takes two and half hours of journey by road from Hanoi. There are few places to learn about Pearl culture on the way. Tung Sau pearl farm is a well known pearl farm, where visitors can learn about the process of Pearl cultivation and shop for Pearl products. The farm is located in an isolated area of Halong Bay and offers a unique experience for tourists.

Visitors can see the oysters in cages and learn about the characteristics of oysters. The rate of pearls is directly proportional to the period of culturing the same in oysters. The more the number of years, the higher the rates of pearls.

On the way we had a chance to visit a bamboo fibre product exhibition too, where we could find soft eco-friendly Textiles for clothing, towels, pillows and bedding made out of bamboo fibre. Items include knee caps, neck belts, back belts also could be seen in the exhibition for quick relief from pain. Bamboo is an integral part of Vietnamese culture and daily life with many uses and symbolic meanings, and it has been used for centuries. 

Though the Journey was for two and half hours only, we checked in the cruise during lunch hours only, as we halted for sometime at a pearl culture farm and bamboo fibre exhibition. After a delicious buffet lunch we started enjoying the stunning views as the boat cruised towards the south east of Halong Bay passing the famous fighting roosters and finger islets.

It is an indisputable fact that it is a great gift of nature to have this feast for the eyes. The view of the calm Emerald waters was breathtaking.

Further, we headed towards Luon cave. Coming to a dreamy day tour of Luon cave, in addition to admiring the natural beauty, we had very memorable experiences too. The most interesting activity to mention is kayaking to explore the cave. On a beautiful small kayak, chatting and watching the wonderful scenery would have been so romantic and poetic. There was another option too for exploring. Bamboo boats rowed by the locals were also available. We chose the bamboo boat option. The views of the Rocky Mountains and lush plants were awesome. We have to be careful when entering the tunnel, as it is low and requires to bend a little down.Overall it is a serene and beautiful spot and perfect for nature lovers.

Next comes a visit to Titov island. The island was named after Gherman Titov, a Russian astronaut who visited the island with President Ho Chi minh in 1962. It was named to honour the friendship between Vietnam and Russia. With a Summit height  at 110 meters( 360 ft) the mountain on Titov Island is taking about 450 steps to reach its peak.

Next morning we proceeded towards the magnificent “Sung Sot Cave” or ‘surprising cave’ which is one of the biggest caves in Halong Bay with beautiful stalactites.It is located on Bo Hon island. It was discovered by the French during 1901 and declared as world heritage area by UNESCO.

Ascending to the grotto, the way is covered by trees and foliage and consists of great paved stone blocks. Many stalactites hang from the high ceiling with numerous possible forms and shapes. It has three stunning chambers filled with incredible stalactite and stalagmite formations that resemble Dragons, Buddha and more. The cave is amazingly vast and could hold thousands of people inside. It is a perfect ending to a Halong bay cruise.

 Train Street

 After having finished brunch at Cruise, we headed back to Hanoi, checked in the same hotel,and rested for a while to leave to have an exciting experience of

 “Train Street.”

 Situated in Hanoi’s old quarter, this narrow alley attracts travelers for snapping a picture on the active train track. This street is actually a residential area and many locals have converted their houses into coffee shops and eateries where people can enjoy sipping coffee and munching local street snacks while waiting for the train to pass by. The colourful Street with Cafes lined on both sides of the train track gives a beautiful sight. 

Train passes through the street only at scheduled time and not frequently.Hence it is better to go after knowing the scheduled time of arrival to avoid a long wait. Before the arrival of the train, the street gets really busy and  Cafe owners alert the people to be seated safely to have a thrilling experience of watching the trains pass by.

Hoi An City and Lantern Release

Next day we left to visit Danang, the second city of Vietnam as per our itinerary. It was planned to visit Danang-Hoi An town first. Hoi An is a city on Vietnam’s Central coast, known for its well preserved ancient town. Old- world trading ports of narrow streets and traditional houses are the main attraction. As our flight from Hanoi was delayed for long hours, we could not explore much at Hoi An ancient town and hence we left for releasing lanterns in Hoi-An in the evening.

Releasing lanterns takes place in the centre of the old town, where the Hoai river flows smoothly. This not only brings beauty to traditional culture, but this activity also brings an extremely deep spiritual value to the local people here and tourists.

The lanterns are made of colourful paper, cut and folded very cleverly. People rent one of the boats from a desk on the river side, and then accompanied by someone who rows the boat, go for a 20 minutes ride up and down the river. At some point in the journey, a candle is lit inside the paper lantern, and after making wishes, it will be placed to float in the river. 

The river appeared illuminated with released lanterns, transforming our excursion into unforgettable memories. Colourful lanterns hanging inside the shops surrounding the river also could be seen.

Bana Hills

Next place to visit in our agenda was Bana Hills at Danang city. A visit to Danang is not complete without visiting Bana Hills, located about 30 km from the city. Beyond its natural Splendor, Bana Hills hold a significant place in Vietnam’s history. During the French colonial era, the region served as hill station and Resort area for French administrators and settlers, seeking respite from the heat and humidity of the lowlands.

When the French arrived in the area they observed numerous wild banana trees growing along the streams, leading them to name the region “BANA”.

The only way to get to Bana hills is via this breathtaking cable car ride that takes in amazing views of mountains,waterfalls and rainforest.Apparently it is the world’s longest cable car.It takes around 30 minutes to reach the top. It is a true engineering marvel; it stretches over 5771 m. The cable car consists of 86 cabins each of which can carry up to 10 passengers.The ride was part of the experience of Bana Hills.

The “Le jardin D'Amour Garden” in Bana Hills is a Paradise of thousands of flowers and hence is a must visit attraction in Danang itinerary. We will be greeted by 9 beautifully landscaped gardens with colourful flowers and romantic settings based on 9 amusing tales, particularly the one with a fairy in ballet dance posture, wearing a beautiful long skirt full of flowers. There are plenty of opportunities to capture stunning photos as we explore the gardens. Umbrella and raincoat should not be forgotten for sure.

One of the most popular hiking trails is the Golden Bridge trail. This Bridge gives the views of the mountains and valleys below, which are incredible. It takes about 30 minutes to complete the bridge.

The appearance that the bridge has been supported by two giant hands  was amazing. The hands are constructed of fiberglass and wire mesh designed to appear like stone hands. It is a modern architectural marvel that has become a global icon and a symbol of Danang's tourism.

As it was too misty and drizzling when we visited, we could not capture a clear picture of the hands on the bridge.

Dragon Bridge

After coming from Bana Hills, our next visit was to the famous Dragon Bridge. It is located on the beautiful “Han River” of Danang. Aside from astonishing architecture, this Bridge is also well known for its water and fire performances. During the performance the Dragon emits fire 9 times and releases water 3 times, creating a unique and magnificent scene that is a must-see for anyone visiting Danang.

The performance could be seen only on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays at 9:00 p.m. Standing on the bridge facing the Dragon may be avoided as it would make us wet.

Ho Chi Minh

The day arrived to visit our last and third city of Vietnam as per our itinerary “Ho Chi Minh”. Ho Chi Minh better known and colloquially referred to as ‘Saigon’ is a densely populated city in Vietnam, and is known for its importance during the Vietnam War or Guerrilla War. Even though the US Army had superior conventional weapons, they lost the war as the Vietnam Army employed Guerrilla tactics and used the dense jungle as cover. 

After landing into  Ho Chi Minh we visited Notre Dame Cathedral. But the church was under renovation and hiding behind the scaffolds. At the entrance we could see the Statue of Mary and small gardens with  flowering plants.

Very near to the cathedral is situated the Saigon Central post office. It is notable for its Perfect Combination of non classical European architecture and Asian decorations. This magnificent post office attracts a large number of domestic and foreign visitors. It was constructed between 1886 and 1891 and is now a tourist attraction.

Cu-Chi Tunnels

Proceeded to Cu-chi tunnels the next day.

The tunnels were used by Viet Cong soldiers as hiding spots during war as well as serving as communication and supply routes, hospitals, food and weapon caches and living quarters for numerous North Vietnamese fighters.

Despite being a popular destination, Cu-chi tunnels offer a unique and insightful glimpse into Vietnamese history. The experience provides a deeper understanding of the Vietnam War and its impact on the region.

The tunnels are filled with various types of traps namely clipping armpit traps, sticking traps, rolling traps etc to catch and injure enemy soldiers. The tunnels were dug by hand by communist guerillas in the 1960s. The tunnels run for about 75 miles from the countryside in Cu-chi to the Cambodian border.

There is a shooting range at Cu-chi tunnels where we can shoot by using rifles like AK-47, M-15 . Headgear for ear protection should be made sure, as it is super loud.

Mekong Delta

After lunch, headed towards “Mekong Delta” which is referred to locally as “The rice bowl of Vietnam”.It is one of the world’s largest and most fertile deltas and famous for floating markets and fruit orchards . This delta is known for its breathtaking landscapes including mangrove forests and waterways lined with coconut palms.It offers variety of cultures and traditions,

Floating down the river in a traditional boat with towering green leaves on either side gave us immense pleasure and the experience was unforgettable.

Reached quiet village in Ben Tre province which is famous for coconuts. Ben tre’s soft sticky coconut sweets are popular worldwide. More than 300 coconut Candy factories are in this area. We were offered samples of original coconut candy, a simple blend of coconut milk and sugar, which was lip smacking.

En route paid a visit to Bee farms to have an insight into how locals manufacture natural Honey from bees.Tasted sweet banana chips with herbal tea with pure Honey.Queen bee cream for softening the skin was there for sale along with pure honey.

At Con Phung(Phoenix island) we had an opportunity to listen to traditional music and songs sung by local girls who were clad in traditional dress “Ao Dai” which flows down to the ankles, while tasting the sweetness of the Tropical fruits served.Returned to Ho Chi Minh in the night.

On the following day  an hour before  leaving for the airport, we visited Mariamman Temple at Ho Chi minh City, situated a few metres away from where we stayed. This temple is dedicated to the Hindu goddess Mariamman and was built by Palaniyappa Thevar from Pattukottai, Thanjavur district, Tamil Nadu, India. Inside the temple we could see all Hindu deities.

With this visit to the temple, we concluded our Vietnam tour and left for the airport to reach India.