Hanoi 1945 compared to Hanoi 2010

Compared to Hanoi before 1945, Hanoi in 2010 has changed a lot. Hoan Kiem Lake doesn’t have lotus flowers while the land in front of the Temple of Literature lacks many trees.

Long Bien bridge before 1945.

Long Bien bridge today

The Huc bridge and Ngoc Son Temple before 1945.

Ngoc Son Temple today

The Huc bridge today

Hoan Kiem Lake before 1945.

Hoan Kiem Lake today

O Quan Chuong – Hang Chieu street in 1939.

O Quan Chuong today

Van Mieu – Quoc Tu Giam (Temple of Literature) in 1939.

Van Mieu – Quoc Tu Giam today

One-pillar Pagoda in 1939.

One-pillar Pagoda today

Source: VNE

Delta delights in Chau Doc | Look At Vietnam

From the top of Sam Mountain, you can see the whole of Chau Doc Town and Tinh Bien District, and even all the way to the That Son (Seven Mountains) range in the distance.

At the summit, marked by a former French Military base built in 1896, the view of the Bassac River is stunning.

You can see the dark river flowing into agricultural channels in the endless expanse of rice paddy before it reaches Chau Doc, a colorful town peppered with the marks of history: traditional Vietnamese homes,French villas, old pagodas and new government buildings – even a four-star resort on the riverside.

The low-rise, French colonial structure of the Victoria Chau Doc Hotel blends in with its natural and man-made surroundings including a 200-year-old Vietnamese-style house nearby.

The hotel overlooks the intersection of Bassac River and Mekong River, dotted with its famous floating fishing villages, floating markets and ethnic Cham communities.

Once down from the mountain and in the bustling town, a walk down any lane immerses the traveler in the sights and sounds of life in the remote outpost deep in the MekongDelta near the Cambodian border.

Deep in the Chau Doc Market, the Quan Cong Temple is a rewarding visit. Its flamboyant Taoist murals and effigies are mostly in praise of a ruddy-faced Quan Cong, worshiped by thedelta ’s ethnic Chinese-Vietnamese population. Cong was a Chinese general who was involved in the civil war that led to the collapse of the Han Dynasty.

Ba Chua Xu Pagoda, dedicated to the region’s patron Buddhist saint, is also a favorite destination, especially in the spring when the Ba Festival is held, attracting huge numbers of local devotees, Buddhist pilgrims and tourists from all around.

While visiting, contrast Ba Chua Xu Pagoda with the lesser-known Tay An Pagoda on Sam Mountain. Its architecture is sometimes fancifully described as Hindu-Muslim. However, a definite Islamic influence has been brought

to the Chinese architecture by the local Cham population. The interior contains a small army of colorful effigies.

On the streets in town, the xe loi (peddle-pedicap) is still preferred by both tourists and locals. Chau Doc residents are known for being very warm and approachable. Though some xe loi drivers are a bit pestering, most are genuinely friendly. They don’t speak much English, but they do their best to entertain foreign tourists.

At the market place, you discover why they call it Chau Doc – Vuong quoc mam (Chau Doc – the kingdom of fermented fish). Although mam (fermented fish products) of all kinds are sold and displayed everywhere, fresh thot not (palmyra palms) fruits, thot not sugar, and other specialties made with thot not are also popular.

Wide-eyed Khmer families and smiling Cham people with colorful brocades invite you to try the sweet white juice of the thot not fruit. The fruit looks like coconut, but is smaller and sweeter.

Tourists can cross the Bassac River by taking a short boat ride to the island village of Chau Giang, but first they should not miss the small floating village en route, complete with its underwater tra and basa catfish cages.

The village is made of modified house-boats – trap-doors in the floor provide access to nets under the boat where fish are raised.

You can feed the schools with dried food and take pictures of the thousands of fish gathering to eat.

The floating village has everything a normal village has: gasoline stations, grocery stores. Children, of course, are good swimmers at the young age of four, while pet cats and dogs are not afraid to jump from house to house.

A visit to Jamiul Azharas, the most beautiful of An Giang Province’s ten mosques, is also a must.

The mosque, built in 1958 on the foundations of an old wooden house of worship, is the heart of a 350-year-old village.

Chau Doc, the town engulfed in thousands of thot not trees, is worth a visit for anyone who wants to leave noisy Ho Chi Minh City behind and enjoy all aspects of Mekong Delta life.

GETTING THERE

Deep in the Mekong Delta, Chau Doc Town is 280 km (174 miles) south-west of Ho Chi Minh City near the Cambodian border.

The town can be reached by car (six hours), boat, or airplane to Can Tho City’s Tra Noc Airport, and then by driving a car to Chau Doc).

VietNamNet/Thanh Nien

Drifting soul in canals and orchards in Binh Thuy

Binh Thuy, a newly-established district of Can Tho city, is enticing tourists with its primitive landscapes, canals, orchards and ancient pagodas and houses.

Foreign tourists take a boat trip on a canal in Binh Thuy district, Can Tho city.

Binh Thuy district is home to national relics such as Nam Nha Pagoda, Hoi Linh Pagoda, Binh Thuy Tower and Long Quang Pagoda, all elegant masterpieces of the human hand. Most interesting of all are the orchid tours by skiff on rivulets such as Nuoc Lanh, Long Ong, Cam, Mieu Ong, Hang Bang, Cai Son and Ba Bo. Reaching from the boat, tourists grab star apples, mangos, papayas, pomelos and oranges from the water’s surface. Sweet smells, charming ladies in traditional dress, fresh air and a poetic atmosphere make the day seem like part of a fairy tale.

Leisurely walks along winding village roads and across bamboo bridges can be relaxing. The bamboo bridges have been preserved to serve eco-tourism.

Binh Thuy is famous for its Ba Bo Flower Village in Long Tuyen Ward. Each spring the village becomes brighter and more animated as colorful flowers burst into bloom before being loaded onto boats and junks to be sold around the country.

Visitors to Can Tho should not miss the Vuon Lan ancient house, a rare and perfect example of the character of the Mekong Delta. The brick house is fronted by a wide flower garden and surrounded by rock-gardens and potted plants, and includes a three-door temple gate.

The house reflects the cultural exchange between the Orient and Europe. Craftsmen used valuable woods which were red-lacquered and gilded or encrusted with nacre and fine carvings depicting water activities, trees and fruits.

The house is furnished with many valuable antiques. A French film crew once shot a scene in the house for the film L’amant.

After a day of touring the district by boat or by bicycle, local restaurants are recommended for their indigenous specialties and seafood.

VietNamNet/SGT

VietNamNet - Buddhist monks play volleyball

Note: missed this on my last journey. Let's catch them in Sept 09, what to join me?

Young Buddhist monks at Tu Hieu Pagoda in the central city of Hue were captured in a volleyball match.

VietNamNet - Buddhist monks play volleyball

Mountain of old pagodas and sweeping views

Tram Mountain on the outskirts of Hanoi is ideal for day-trippers.
Tram Mountain is a famous scenic attraction 25 kilometers from the center of Hanoi.
The first place that tourists usually check out when they visit the mountain is Tram Pagoda, shaded by ancient trees. After lighting some joss-sticks and saying a few prayers before the different altars, visitors can go on to discover the lovely Long Tien Pagoda nearby.
Long Tien is situated inside a cave of the same name. In its largest section is Buddha’s altar, with statues of many arhats around.
There’s a mysterious beauty in the stalactites hanging from the ceiling of the cave and the cool water that flows from under the rocks that locals call "mother’s breasts."
The cave also has a narrow, twisting passage commonly called the "valley of love" because it is hard to squeeze through and mirrors the tortuous ways of young couples.
After Long Tien Cave comes a test of fitness: scrambling up to the summit of Tram Mountain.
On the rise before the final summit sits yet another pagoda, Tram Vo Vi, around 500 meters and 100 rock steps up from Tram Pagoda.
The original temple that stood there was built in 1515 at the urging of Tran Van Tang, an army general who became a monk and traveled everywhere to preach.
Getting to the very top of Tram Mountain requires traversing a steep, narrow cleft. The view from the summit is great and takes in lush paddy fields all the way to the Day River and heaps of magnificent mountains, forests and lakes.
To reach the mountain from Hanoi, take National Highway 6 to the West in the direction of Ha Dong for 20 kilometers to get to Chuc Son in Chuong My District. Cross the small bridge, turn right and go for two more kilometers.
Or simply book a day trip with Vietnamtravelrates at 224 Thuy Khue Street, Hanoi.
VietNamNet/TN

Co Le – cathedral-styled pagoda-Vietnam

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From Nam Dinh City, 15 km past Treo pagoda, is Co Le town. This quiet town is home to a special pagoda of the same name. This is one of biggest and nicest pagodas in the north. Besides its’ special architecture, Co Le pagoda has the largest bell in Vietnam.

The original wood Co Le pagoda was built in the 12th century by Zen monk Minh Khong. The current pagoda was built in 1920 by bricks and mortar made of lime, molasses, and giay ban (one kind of paper).

Co Le pagoda is a complex of architectural works, featuring typical architecture of northern pagodas, with tam quan (three-door temple gate), tower, major pagoda, club-house, ancestor’s house, and sanctuary.

The pagoda is surrounded by a lot of trees. Besides two sanctuaries are two ancient gao trees, which blossom red flowers in March.

Co Le pagoda’s pride is a 4.2m high, 9 ton bell, which was cast in 1936. Its uniqueness is the central chamber with gothic architecture. The chamber looks like a catholic cathedral.


The pagoda has a 12-storey tower named Cuu Pham Lien Hoa, which lies on a big turtle. The tower is 32m in height, with eight sides, and 62 stairs to the peak.

The tower is linked with the Buddist club house by a small bridge. On the left of the club house is Tran Hung Dao temple. Next to it is Lieu Hanh Temple.

Co Le pagoda festival takes place from the 13th-16th of the ninth lunar month. The festival is very bustling with folk games, particularly a boat race. This festival is the most famous festival in the north.

VietNamNet/DNSG

Make a pilgrimage to Thi Vai Mountain

A visit to the sanctuary of pagodas to explore the solemn architecture and ease the distress of bustling city life has become a popular experience of tourists today. Thi Vai Mountain in Baria-Vung Tau Province could be the ideal worship place for Buddhist monks, nuns and tourists with its ancient pagodas to see along the way when visitors trekking to the top of the mountain.
Buddhist monks and believers worship in Lien Tri Pagoda at the foot of Thi Vai Mountain.About 80 kilometers from HCMC off National Highway No.51, Thi Vai Mountain is nestled in Phu My Commune, Tan Thanh District, Ba Ria-Vung Tau Province. The mountain has three main pagodas, namely Lien Tri Pagoda (Foot Pagoda), Hong Phuc Pagoda (Central Pagoda) and Linh Son Buu Thien Pagoda (Upper Pagoda).
The pagoda’s name, Linh Son Buu Thien originates from a historical story in Gia Dinh Thanh Thong Chi, a geographic and historical book about the south of Vietnam writen by Trinh Hoai Duc in the early of the 19th century, saying that Nun Dieu Hanh was the first person who led her life for Buddha and who rescued King Gia Long (1802 -01819) in the Nguyen Dynasty from the hunt of Tay Son troops in Thi Vai mountain. The king rebuilt her secluded hut to a temple to honor the nun as well as to express his gratefulness to her.
Worshippers and tourists have to climb 1,340 stone steps from the foot of the mountain to Linh Son Buu Thien Pagoda. Along the way to the upper pagoda, tourists can see flocks of monkeys playing together in ancient trees or on the mountain side.
From the top of the pagoda, tourists will have a chance to take in the whole scenery of the coastal province. In the distance are Thi Vai Port, Phu My Port, identifiable by the smoke rising into the sky from factory chimneys in the industrial zones of Ba Ria-Vung Tau, and Dong Nai provinces.
The pagoda is similar to the pagoda in Ba Den mountain in Tay Ninh Province but it is a more tranquil and quiet place of sanctuary.
Making a pilgrimage to Thi Vai Mountain, visitors should equip food and drinks as there is no restaurant along the way up the mountain.
Tourists will also have a panoramic view of Dong Nai River, whose stream is crawling unpleasantly to find food among the hazardous waste of industry. However, visitors here will find the tranquility of nature in the sanctuary of pagodas, with the murmur of rivers, charm of lotus pond and especially the sunset, when the birds noisily make their way back to the mountain.
(Source: SGT)