Indochinatours-online Travel Blog

The central province of Quang Binh is home to some of Vietnam’s most enchanting coastal areas with a string of beautiful beaches that could also help reverse the province’s economic fortunes.

With the pace of development comes a price. Popular beach destinations become too crowded, too built up, too much of a hassle. For those who like to flop around on a quiet beach and forget about the world, the most popular ‘holiday’ beaches become contradictions. Who can feel relaxed on a public holiday if you’re surrounded by thousands of screaming kids and perpetually hassled by vendors? Inevitably, you move on. You seek new horizons far from the madding crowds.

For now, my tip is Quang Binh province in the ‘north’ of Central Vietnam. South of Ha Tinh and bordering Laos, this is one of the country’s poorest provinces. The average annual per capita income is one of the lowest in Vietnam. But the province’s tourism industry might be the main key to boosting the local economy. The UNESCO heritage site of Phong Nha- Ke Bang cave has flown the flag so far.
Read the rest of this entry »

Ba Na’s recent claim to fame is two entries in the Guinness Book of World Records, for the longest (5,042m – 16,545ft) and highest non-stop cable car system (1291.81m – 4,239ft above sea level), but what lingers in the mind is not the technological feat, but a sense of rediscovery.

Located in the Truong Son mountain range, Ba Na in Hoa Vang District was “discovered” in 1901 by the French colonialists with their predilection for building high quality resorts to pamper high ranking civil servants and military officials.

The temperate climate, unspoiled forest, and spectacular views of the sea and mountains made it an irresistible location, and many French officers chose to build their own villas here. Historical documents show Ba Na, 46 kilometers southwest of Da Nang, soon became a French town with a main road to the mountain peak, private houses and villas. By the late 1940s there were several hotels, a stadium, a market, a medical station, an opera house, security and police stations, and not to mention more than 200 private villas.

After the 1945 August Revolution forced the French to withdraw from Vietnam, Ba Na was relegated to relative obscurity as Vietnam became embroiled in a long struggle for freedom against the French and the Americans.
Read the rest of this entry »

Van Don Island District is an archipelago of 600 limestone islands which rise 200-300 meters above the waves of Bai Tu Long Bay. Van Don is considered a sleeping princess waiting for tourists.

Van Don offers Creation’s brilliant combination of ocean blue and forest green and a chance to relax in the Western Pacific off the beaches of Quan Lan and Ngoc Vung islands, which have been spared from modernization and retain their primitive sceneries and clean air. Boat rides offer more detailed views of the islands and of the taller mountains that stand guard over them. Mysterious caves in these ocean mountains are great for exploring.

Coming to Van Don, tourists can hear of the Tran Dynasty’s victories over their enemies and of the Quan Lan Festival which commemorates national hero Tran Khanh Du. Read the rest of this entry »

Quy Hoa beach is situated between two low mountain ranges that merge with the blue sea, offering stunning vistas and mild weather that combines sunshine with the cool breezes blowing out of the forests from the mountains.

To reach it, one has to ride down the road going from Quy Nhon to the neighbouring province of Phu Yen, make a turn on the first downhill road on the left and follow it.

The beach is closed off and there is a gate. The whole place has been developed into a complex. The entrance costs for the complex is VND5,000 plus another VND2,000 for motorbikes. At the entrance of the beach is a park with statues of world celebrities who dedicated their lives to fighting leprosy. Read the rest of this entry »

With a favorable location, an interlacing river system, a variety of delicious fruits and rich indigenous culture, the Mekong Delta has many advantages to develop orchard tours. But, orchard tour development is still unproportional with the potential due to a number of planning problems.

Mekong Delta provinces to join hands in developing tourism

Mekong Delta battles climate change and rising tides

Read the rest of this entry »

The King Prawn Salad at Le Caprice restaurant

Restaurants are no longer just about filling an empty stomach.

Nowadays, “fine dining” means elaborate multi-course meals and set menus for triple the price of regular five-star restaurants.

And somewhat surprisingly, Vietnam is no exception.

Featuring highly trained waiting staffs, top quality produce and the freshest, most expensive, ingredients, fine dining establishments have arrived in Vietnam, with each looking to define its own signature style incomparable to others.

Read the rest of this entry »

Foreign visitors to Vietnam in August and September would receive free visa, according to the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism.

Activities to celebrate 1000th Thang Long – Hanoi anniversary

The authority said they would also receive value added tax refund when they buy goods in Vietnam.

In addition, a promotion campaign with reduction of 10-40 percent on goods prices would be run at the same time in Hanoi, Danang, and HCM Read the rest of this entry »

There are abundant domestic and abroad tours available for visitors on the occasion of national holidays, say operators in Ho Chi Minh City.

Danang-bound flights for upcoming holidays almost full

Normally, all of the tours were fully registered two weeks before the holidays in previous years.

Travel company Fiditour says that on the occasion of the Unification Day (April 30) and May Day, it targets to achieve a growth of 24 percent in number of tourists; however, it has reached over 20 percent so far.

Read the rest of this entry »

The lily crop has come to Hanoi. Hanoi girls pose for photos with white lilies and traditional ao dai.

Girls and Hanoi nature in Xuan Chinh’s photos

Wild flowers

Hanoi: Ao dai and bauhinia flowers

Read the rest of this entry »

Called the photographer of young girls and flowers, Xuan Chinh has won many photographic awards at home and abroad. Through his lens, Hanoi’s landscapes appear beautiful and romantic.

Girl and lotuses

Read the rest of this entry »