Famous mausoleum of Ho Chi Minh


While many cities in Vietnam can boast a large or small museum in Ho Chi Minh, the pilgrimage par excellence located in Hanoi because it is the remains of Father of the Nation is there retained.

Indeed, near Hoan Kiem Lake is the famous mausoleum of Ho Chi Minh, a huge concrete building sleek at the foot of which lies a vast green esplanade that no one has the right to cross. Inside this "bunker" Uncle Ho lies for eternity, despite his wish to be cremated and scattered to see its three corners of the country ashes.

At his death in 1969, Vietnam was still at war and his fellow heirs and choose to keep her body, as the Soviets did to Lenin and Stalin to extend the cult of personality, essential tool for conservation their interests and their legitimacy in power. They argue the temporary inability to access the request of Ho Chi Minh, the conflict making the south inaccessible, and deliver the corpse Sergai Debrov the specialist to whom we owe the "mummies" of two counts of Russian state, which embalm the secret cellar away from American bombing.

During this time, in the exact spot where in 1945, Ho Chi Minh made his speech Declaration of Independence of Vietnam, we choose to raise the mausoleum. On completion in 1975, the remains of the man most beloved Vietnam joined his glass sarcophagus in the bowels of the building. Since every morning (except when the body is sent to Russia to receive appropriate care), formed a long queue of Vietnamese and tourists come to pay homage to the character file.

To have the privilege to greet you first able to find the entrance of the premises. We do not directly fit into the mausoleum, it must be around and get to the corner of the Le Hong Phong and Ha Ngoc where the cloakroom. Throughout the course are posted number of guards to indicate which sidewalk walk and exactly what to do. Once you have found the entry, it will take several steps to check the amazing logic. After the first security checkpoint, we arrive at the first dressing room where you can give your bag while having the right to keep his camera (without the case). The second dam, a small canvas bag in which to drag his camera to give it a second cloakroom is received, it will go out to the mausoleum of recovering property in order to photograph the rest of the site that includes other monuments. We then drove in single file at the steps of the mausoleum. From this point, it is more advisable to be more silent than ever.

The line moves quickly inside the building and it is not about to hang. Down the hall, we find the square room and air-conditioned to the extreme (16 ° and 70% humidity, is the way to go to keep a corpse) where based "Whoever sheds light" surrounded by four guards at attention you who seem as rigid as it by sheer force of will. Again, there is no question of stopping to observe in detail the parchment of extreme whiteness of Mr. face. Hardly time to be disturbed, it is already in the open air without really realized we had spent almost running to one of the most famous in the world dead.

Visitors can still finally relax. Vietnamese, compliance was highly visible a few minutes ago, talking and laughing, happy to have made this pilgrimage. Among them, the military and mostly take pictures around their beautiful green costume. Just follow them to discover that
site ..the visit did not stop there.

In the midst of a crazy world, we discover in turn, the traditional stilt house where Ho Chi Minh lived regularly between 1958 and 1969, the presidential palace, it is not open to the public, however the deserves to have an architecture offering a nice contrast with the previous residence, the One Pillar Pagoda, surprisingly little house perched, and the Ho Chi Minh Museum in more than Soviet-style mausoleum where personal belongings and documents of the time mingle the conceptual exhibitions dedicated to communist values.

Difficult yet not wanting to leave the area quickly because of the time previously spent queuing and the world in the aisles.


Pratical guide:

To go to Vietnam, dont forget a Vietnam Visa if you want to visit this beautiful country

15 days family trip to Vietnam



Once a family trip to Vietnam, we wonder how to deal with children? It is complicated or not? But no, it is not as complicated ... Observe fluorescent frogs, salamanders and fish ponds in the markets in Hanoi:
 (Phung Hung market in particular). Hanoi has remained a pleasant city where it is good to walk. It may also, with the children:
 
- Visit the Museum of Ethnology in the park with reconstructions of traditional houses with stairs quirky, fun games and bamboo on which children can test their balance. Nguyen Van Huyen Street, Cau Giay district, west of downtown
- Run, jump and climb in old trees and sculptures of turtles Temple of Literature.
- Watch the puppet show on the water around Lake Hoa Kiem: short skits, told by the musicians. While Vietnamese, but the situations are easy to understand, and it is also an opportunity to listen to traditional music. We can then walk around the lake: wide sidewalks, no bikes, very nice with kids!
- Wander through the "district 36 streets," the former colonial district full of charm, with a little decrepit mansions and gardens of lush bougainvillea

Go kayaking among the rocks of the Halong Bay in a stunning cruise http://www.junkcatba.com/! All hotels offer a classic Tour 2 days / 1 night, a bit long for kids, and really lacks magic: boats discharge their flow of tourists in the same cave  and evening, twenty boats moored in the same place. It is advisable to stop on the island of Cat Ba to spend two nights in a wooden bungalow on the beach (on the beach Cat Ba 3). Although the island is a little concrete, it's really nice, especially the restaurant next door is good! The walk in the park in the center of the island is to go to the beautiful view of the bay, if we have the courage to go through! Careful, it's slippery during the rainy season.

Visit the tombs of emperors in Hue, on the river of five fragrances. We rented a boat and boatman, and his wife made to eat. The boat is rather spacious and safe, since partially closed. It's beautiful, but a bit repetitive for children ... you can always take a Frisbee for entertaining! To stretch their legs, Hue is the green city where kids can run around in parks and the citadel without fear of being hit by a motorcycle, or a tour of "cyclo", the traditional bicycle rickshaw without being suffocated by exhaust gas. A walk of half an hour is ideal.

Get up very early to see the floating markets sampan, the traditional boat in the Mekong Delta, Can Tho. The gardeners invited Marius on their boat for tasting fruit: a beautiful memory! For lunch, the Victoria Hotel is lovely: we went there with a special hotel shuttle to take near the port. A luxurious place where the meal is a very good value for money. There is even a children's menu and coloring on the placemat. Provide jerseys to enjoy the swimming pool, pay even if we consume. (Www.victoriahotels-asia.com) From Ho Chi Minh City, there is a speed boat that links to Can Tho 3:30, when it does not fall down - otherwise it is 5am bus.

Bathing in the sea and make slides on the sand dunes at MuiNe: a totally unexpected Saharan landscape in Vietnam! On the beach itself, with nice small, follow the resorts, overlooking the sea, with or without swimming pool in the standard. We just regret not getting up at 4am to visit one of the largest fish markets of Vietnam, Phan Thiet ... The large bay of Mui Ne is located near the city of Phan Thiet, at 4:30 Ho Chi Minh City by bus or train.

Play between the huge golden dragons of Suo Tien amusement park in Ho Chi Minh: A super fun park kitsch, so with giant tusks of elephants at the entrance to feed crocodiles (yes, the real!) and water games. To get there, take the bus costs 50 cents, rather than the taxi costs 15 euros and put that long! (Tan Phu Ward,
Dist.9 / suoitien_park Www.vietnamhost.com )

Ho Chi Minh is certainly not our favorite, but if you need to stop over before taking a boat on the Mekong and other excursions, you can spend a very nice afternoon with the kids at Van Tan Park north of the city (get there by taxi). This is a nice big park with a large lake. Plenty to do as a family: Lunch, really well, playing in a playground while parents hang out a little table, swim in the pool, large and clean, rent bikes by the hour ...

If you want to do some shopping for the kids, you'll find it at the market in Saigon (79 square Nam Khi Khoi Nghia): Crocs, Converse, Gap clothing at low prices ...

RECOMMENDED places:

 
Phu Quoc Island:


The island deserves to stay a few days going from beach to beach, for some still wild, and sometimes we improvise a picnic on the sand with the restaurant on the corner (Bai Sao example). Be sure to go on Ong Lang Beach, for now occupied by two resorts "eco-friendly". Of the Bo Resort is really good restaurant, the beach is beautiful, clean water: really nice to spend the day, even if you do not sleep there.

The bike is the easiest way to discover the island roads are dirt and very little traffic. These are small automatic motorbike, scooter style, really easy to drive. The kids loved: Isolde in the baby carrier with dad, and great with Mom! Most reluctant always find taxis to get around.
We must hurry to discover this unspoilt before the massive construction of marinas, resorts and co ... The island of Phu Quoc Island is a 45-minute flight from Ho Chi Minh.

North of Vietnam:

The road to Cao Bang Ba Be Lake, Cao Bang and watefalls Ban Gioc

Second heart stroke in Vietnam: spectacular scenery sugar loaf and green valleys, and virtually no tourists! A stunning journey 4 / minimum 5 days, during which the kids loved sleeping in living in wooden houses on stilts, feed the farm animals, boating and riding on the mattress in our room .
 
At the time of rental car in Hanoi, make sure you do not rent the vehicle for a mandatory trip and the driver will be flexible about your wishes trips and visits ... which is not always obvious! For the way forward, it is best to make a triangle Quang Uyen to Ban Gioc, then return by Tra Linh. A 4 × 4 is really recommended.

Good to know!

The Vietnamese love for children is undeniable ... but very demonstrative: they like to pinch the cheeks, abdomen, buttocks, sometimes even Zizette (to see if the boy is one!), Tap the bottom to ward off evil spirits ... it seems that in the long run is painful for children. When we visited the zoo in Ho Chi Minh City, we had the feeling to be a part too, so we took our picture! Markets are nice, but can quickly be hell for the children because of all the hands on their heads (blonde, it's even worse) and cheeks.
 
If you travel with a baby, you will find everything you need in large cities large selection of baby milk, diapers (attention, local Pampers is less "luxury" that the European Pampers), bottle-type Advent accessories baby fly, Bepanthen, etc..

From the health point of view, besides the universal vaccination, hepatitis A is recommended for hygiene are not always maximized. Do not really eat "on the street" rather small canteens "hard". Side mosquitoes, Vietnam is not a country with a high risk of malaria, however dengue occurs during the rainy season. To have experienced, I can confirm that it is rather unpleasant ... We must therefore protect effectively (see the page on the subject). Finally, it is better to keep away monkeys, rather aggressive, which can bite children.

Bus travel is still very long for children (minimum 6/7h). Prefer to fly, or why not the night train, very comfortable first class.

Rich art!


Pottery, fabrics, wood carvings, brass, stone carvings, ethnic dances ... The art in Vietnam is combined in countless ways, the rhythm of the richness and diversity of the many ethnic minorities. What have you dizzy or shopping spree!

Impossible to miss the turning of a shopping street in the district these 36 corporations shops proudly display their membership of ethnic business. They differ from their counterparts, banal souvenir shops, with that stamp of authenticity that they have to fly: the hemp fabric with their colorful, hanging on hangers bamboo, old brass gongs green- of gray that move gently after strings of raffia, wicker trays that stack in a studied nonchalance, necklaces and earrings with matt silver glass beads on rickety wooden sticks painted ... It has a false air of the flea market where synthetic has no place. When you first walk inside, it is expected to be received by one of his old women in their mouths reddened by betel, wearing indigo linen, who crouched in a corner wait with patience millennium these people we deign take our choice of one of these objects from distant valleys ... I must admit that I rarely enters this type of shop: the traditional art of ethnic minorities comes home, it's not really my cup of Tea!

Tradition obliges!

This is going to meet these minorities that I love to discover these crafts that have survived centuries, attached to the daily lives of our ancestors, and which for many are still commercial products. Now, to find traditional products, what better than to go to market! And on this, I have an incredible opportunity: Vietnam is the country market. Cultural little reminder ...

Vietnam is a country of tradition sedentary rice. Whole life was, and still is in the countryside, organized around the rice, the cereal nourishing. But to be full, it is necessary for rice chests are full, and that the coffers are full, must grow thick ears, and ears that grow thick, take care of them continuous , with great blows of elbow grease. However, the greater the elbows, was more elbow grease. And to be sure to have lots of bends, it is best to avoid a pair or more will want to look elsewhere if the rice from a nearby village is greener than ours. And precisely where everything you need on hand, the remaining pairs of elbows with your hands! So, not every little village has its market that could be jealous of our pale supermarkets Township West ...

Vietnamese market, we find everything you need to be born, live, work and die in the village! And even more in the mountain villages that attract every morning as the light of a lantern grabs butterflies, many residents of small villages clinging to adrets or Ubacs, according! There are even larger markets than others, smarter too, who have proclaimed themselves "ethnic market" and that, in a thorough understanding of basic marketing concepts, such as are sold in catalogs for a nostalgic past with all the guarantees of safety and comfort of modernism ...

Richness of the soul!

These markets, I find them on a dirt road crosses so capricious that only intrepid unconscious or borrow. They are hidden under the roofs of boards and sheets, black caves, poorly lit a few rays of sunlight which penetrate between the interstices of the curtains ...

By the time I write this, I am reminded in this market countries H'mong, in a town where time forgot, every time I stop the wheels of my bike, I am greeted by " Ong Tay tro lai "and slaps on the back, followed by" Bat tay "(shake hands with us)," Chuc may man "(Good Luck!), with all that the village has children three months to six years! Here, the freshness conducive old worm-eaten planks, I have fun unfold the full skirts pleated hemp weaving and embroidery decorated with geometric patterns, I like to stick my fingers in the big balls of colored wool, I like rummaging through the piles of bags of linen embroidered patchwork, I play with the big necklaces and earrings hammered silver. Sometimes I find an unlikely "Khen" (syrinx) which neighbor with an old drum skin. No doubt some mountain that will have sold its musical instrument to buy food or tobacco ...

This is where I like traditional art, a living art that breathes away from museums where it is sometimes naturalized! And just to breathe is also sing, dance, move, live! I remember that evening when Tuan and I were lost in the Central Highlands. Too late to arrive in a city where we could find a hotel. This is a small village that welcomed us. We had permission to stay overnight. The presence of a stranger was, again, so rare that it had been the occasion of a celebration: the villagers and local authorities invited us to the town hall, and there, to ourselves, to myself I should say we had a festival of traditional dances accompanied by the sound of "k'ni" and bamboo flutes, with stars and wood fires as projectors! Touching moment where art and tradition threw a bridge between past and present ...


Sorry, I do not unveil my secret places, but if one day you feel like wanting to go back in time, I'm your man to share them with art ...!

Discover the Cam Ranh Bay in Khanh Hoa



Located 40 km from the city of Nha Trang in Khanh Hoa province (center), the Cam Ranh Bay is now a tourist site ideal.Stressed by city life, you want a change of scenery, unwind and relax surrounded by nature? The Cam Ranh Bay is for you. Perfect place to enjoy simple pleasures in a unique, Cam Ranh has the tranquility of nature, those who immediately forget the hassles of everyday life. A form of tourism very attractive, especially since Cam Ranh has peculiarities.

The Cam Ranh Bay is one of the top three seaports in the world with an area of ​​100 square kilometers and an average depth of 15-20 m. This bay surrounded by mountains can accommodate large ships.

The commercial port of Da Bac (silver stone), located in the capital of Ba Ngoi, also called Ba Ngoi port.

You can visit the Cam Ranh Bay and admire its beautiful scenery, mountains and sea Cam Ranh has several scenic spots such as Hon Rong, Hon Who, Mount Cam Linh, Cam Ranh Lake, also known as the remains of several prison Cam Ranh Cam Ranh peninsula ....
At Cam Ranh, there are many specialties as arca bloody Thuy Trieu, Binh Ba lobster, oysters Tra Long, Tai Tuong of the shell, salt Cam Ranh, mango, Thanh Ca. . Tourists can also visit the bay of Cam Ranh known for its seafood specialties such as crab, shrimp, squid, fish ...

This bay has strong economic potential as tourist. Cam Ranh is also a major port in the country, from which the products of the Central Highlands and Central: wood, rubber, tea, coffee, tobacco, sugar, fruit ... The people of Cam Ranh live mainly on agriculture, fisheries, forestry, trade and port services.

The Cam Ranh Bay is a destination for many reasons. So do not wait, go explore it with our Vietnam agency Minh Anh Travel www.minhanhvoyage.com , you will not be disappointed!

A market of ethnic minorities in the North organised in Hanoi

A market of ethnic minorities in the North is reproduced in a corner of the Village of ethnic culture and tourism of Vietnam, Dong Mo, a suburb of Hanoi. This activity is most appealing to the Day of Vietnamese ethnic culture, which began April 19 in this village.
Long before April 19, opening day of that famous day, representatives of ethnic minority Mong, Dao, Muong, Tay and Nung had already prepared their specialties, but not many original. Honey Ha Giang cotoie herbal and green tea in the village of Suoi Lin, province of Son La. .. Visitors crowd around the stand of fragrant leaves for the bathroom.
Looks like a real mountain market: women sell or buy, men drink ... The stand of the province of Bac Giang attracts many visitors with its wood stove and still. In another booth, visitors can drink alcohol Ha Giang 100 paintings while admiring the high plateau of Dong Van. "We have prepared enough alcohol and specialties to serve a thousand visitors during the two day festival," informed Nguyen Trung Duong, director of the Department of Culture, Sport and Tourism of the province of Ha Giang.
Visitors can also buy bags, wallets, pillow cases, sheets ... in brocade. A portfolio of linen on the grounds H'mong only costs 50,000 VND. The stand weaving ethnic Ha Giang attracts many visitors. Hotels and even embassies - France and the United States in this case - ordered products in brocade.We notice in the crowd of foreign tourists. "A friend told me about this event. I really wanted to come, "said David C.Shinne, an American.
The market for ethnic minorities is not only a place of exchange of goods but also of cultural encounter, not to mention helping to strengthen ethnic unity.

Cruises "royal boat" on the Perfume River

Cruises "royal boat" on the Perfume River are among the novelties of the Hue Festival 2012. These wooden boats, called Long Quang, were inspired by the famous royal barges Te Thong of the Nguyen dynasty (1802-1945).


6.5 m wide and 27m long and can carry a hundred people. The cruise is a great experience for all those wishing to explore the romantic beauty of the Perfume River, a nature's gift to the city of Hue.
The Perfume River originates in the Truong Son Cordillera (mountain range running between Vietnam and Laos). In its course upstream grows abundantly a medicinal plant, Thach xuong bo Vietnamese. During flowering, the flowers fall into the water and perfume. This is why the river is called Huong (Perfume). This is the edge of this beautiful river as the capital of the Nguyen lords of the South (1569-1777), was built over 400 years ago. This is where they settled in 1802 the imperial capital, which remained so until 1945.
Nature and Culture in upstream
Initially, the Quang Long welcomes visitors to the pavilion Dinh Luong, former resting place of monarchs. The boat then rises on the river about six miles. A total of four hours walk along the water.
Located on the north bank of the river, the village of Kim Long, Nguyen fief of the lords between 1636 and 1687, is renowned for its town hall. The boat then moves to the Thien Mu Pagoda (Thien), one of the most beautiful and oldest of Hue. Its most striking feature is a seven-storey tower, dedicated to the Buddha appeared in human form. Visitors can stop at the Hon Chen temple, which sits on the hill of the Jade Cup (Ngoc Tran), and is dedicated to Po Nagar, the goddess mother of the Champa Kingdom. The Vietnamese perpetuated by renaming it worship the goddess Thien Na y A, or "Divine Mother". The temple existed here for centuries when it was rebuilt in 1886.
In return, the boat takes visitors to the foot of the hill Vong Canh (Contemplation). Then, visitors can admire the eve waterworks of the city whose architecture is a successful blend of Western style and Eastern style. This pumping station was built between 1909 and 1911 by French architect Bossard, who designed an architecture that harmonizes with the natural landscape and monuments nearby, including the tombs of the emperors. She is still active today. Finally, before ending the tour, visitors are invited to discover the island of Da Vien where was the pretty garden From Da Vien Tu Duc (1829-1883).
Urban living downstream
Different atmosphere for the second ride, the downstream one. Over mountains and hills sparsely populated but the plain bubbling with activity. Also scenes of urban life, visitors have the opportunity to admire the famous places of the old imperial city that Truong Tien bridge spanning the river. This metal bridge with seven arches, 400 m long, was built around 1900.
In its circuit, the boat also stops at the old trading port of Bao Vinh, who is currently a street décatie located along the Perfume River. First port of the imperial city of Hue, he was born in the nineteenth century and had its heyday at the time. Today, Bao Vinh attracts tourists for its old buildings, especially its fifteen houses nearly 200 years.
Towards the end of the trip, the boat made a stop at the village wharf Sinh, known for its festival of wrestling for his prints and worship. Built five centuries ago, the village has specialized in the manufacture of popular prints, a craft handed down from generation to generation, and which still adorn the walls and altars of the ancestors of many families.
And when any of these towers (upstream or downstream, morning or afternoon), visitors can taste dishes of the old imperial city, prepared by talented artisans, attend Theatre performances of traditional art of the court of Hue, listen to stories and legends told by the tour guides of the Centre for Preservation of Historical Monuments of Hue.