Vietnam vists to UNESCO site

Some of the guided walks throughout Vietnam can include visits to sites recognized by UNESCO. The word UNESCO is short for United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization. It has many roles but one of them is to identify and promote World Heritage Sites - sites that are of specific interest either culturally or educationally to the world at large.

When walking in Vietnam you can see some of these sites for yourself. While it is possible to explore them on your own it is far better to book a specialized tour with an expert company. Walking in Vietnam is much more enjoyable when you have a knowledgeable tour leader to tell you what makes each UNESCO World Heritage Site so memorable.

Here are some of the unforgettable sites to visit.

Ha Long Bay

A captivating, haunting and truly beautiful sight, Ha Long Bay is one of the natural additions to UNESCO's list. It is a very popular place to head to on holiday, one of the reasons being the collection of limestone formations that rise out of the bay in various places. This spectacle has taken millions of years to form, and it is quite ghostlike in appearance. Many tiny boats bob around in the waters here, looking almost out of place in an area that has been gradually formed over millennium.

Complex of the Hue Monuments

Hue is a city probably best known for its monuments. These too have been recognized formally by UNESCO as the Complex of Hue Monuments. The main attraction here is the Citadel, from which the Nguyen emperors reigned in times gone by. History says that trespassers into this area were once executed, but today as a World Heritage Site it is available for all to see and enjoy.

My Son Sanctuary

There is a village called Duy Phu in the central region of Vietnam and it is here that My Son can be found. The sanctuary is a collection of Hindu temples and although they are ruined to some extent, enough remain to present an impressive look into the past while on a holiday walking in Vietnam. Built largely in the 4th century AD, this collection of temples stands testament to times gone by.

Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park

This is another natural entry into UNESCO's list. While walking in Vietnam you should definitely head for this national park. The park is famous for its hundreds of grotto and caves and you can enjoy a boat trip along to visit the best-known of them. Eco based tourism trips are also a good bet to enjoy.

As you can see this is only the beginning of your exploration of this area. There are four sensational UNESCO sites included here, but these are not the only ones. How many will you discover?

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/7186641

Cruising on Son River | Look At Vietnam

Cruising on Son River

April 17, 2012

Tourists often take the two kilometer cruise on Son River to see the mysterious and magical Phong Nha Cave and I bet none leave disappointed.

The gate to Phong Nha Cave on Son River.

The green river brings to travelers relaxing and amazing experiences as the wooden boats smoothly drift along ambling streams amidst the beautiful limestone mountains.
It is interesting as you wait for the magnificence of Phong Nha-ke Bang National Park slowly appearing as if it is luring tourists into a wonder land. The peace of the still water and the beauty of the surroundings will help tourists to erase daily stresses and tetchiness.
The name ‘Son’ refers to faithful love, and comes from a folklore love story of a beautiful girl who lived nearby the mountain and played her flute as a call to her lover. However, a cruel tyrant wanted her and detained her in the top floor of his castle when she rejected his proposal. The girl couldn’t bear it and jumped from the window prompting God to release the heavens into the area where she fell. The streams of water started to flow into a river and helped form a mulberry plantation, sugarcane farms and potato and rice fields contributing to make the area peaceful and fruitful.
As they flow down the river, tourists will have a chance to witness riverside activities such as the buffalo drinking water, fishing boats anchoring in, and the noise of fishermen as well as see a few homes tucked on the walls of the mountain.

We were startled as the boat engine was turned off as we heard paddling sounds and started to sense a chill in the dark space as the boat entered the cave.
The Son River is geographically part of the underground river of Phong Nha Cave, stretching 44 kilometers into the neighboring country of Laos. It has been graded as the most valuable cave in the world by the British Cave Research Association (BCRA) for four outstanding features: namely the longest underground river, highest and largest cave mouth, prettiest and broadest sand beaches and most beautiful stalactites. Furthermore, Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park was recognized as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 2003.

The mysterious view of inside Phong Nha Cave.

Phong Nha Cave was discovered inside the Ke Bang limestone mountain at the end of the 19th century. Champa scripts carved on steles and altars were also found inside the cave whose dry grotto was named Bi Ky in 1992 when 15 BCRA explorers conquered the 7,700 meter Phong Nha Cave in 34 days.
Although only a kilometer of the cave has been exploited for tourism, Phong Nha remains an attraction thanks to its mystery and hidden charm. In the darkish scenery the imagination of tourists can turn stalactites and stalagmites into many kinds of animals, an imperial palace, or even a pillar inlaid with sparkling gemstones.
Returning on the Son River, where the water ebbs and flows around the boat in a fascinating green color, tourists always look back in awe at the triangular mouth of the cave which has garnered the attention of tens of thousands of curious people.
SGT

Turquoise tranquility | Vietnam

LookAtVietnam - A hidden charm awaits visitors to Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park in the central region.
Modestly flowing through the famous Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park, in Quang Binh Province, is an amazing gift of nature called Nuoc Mooc Creek.
Flowing from a backdrop of limestone peaks to the Chay River, Nuoc Mooc Creek is born in a shaded pool formed by large blocks of patterned marble.
The water spills down from the pool to create a waterfall whose gentle mist casts a cooling spell across the valley. Birdsong fills the air.
There’s an inviting track down to the creek that was paid for by Germany and the local residents as part of a project named “Nature Conservation and the Sustainable Management of Natural Resources in the Phong Nha-Ke Bang Region.”
The main objective of the project, which has a budget of 17.6 million euros (US$25 million), is to help the local people improve their standard of living without harming the natural landscape by giving them cheap loans and training them to run tourist services. The project is scheduled to last until 2015.
When the 30 hectares around Nuoc Mooc was being established as a tourist site, the administrators calculated there would be a thousand visitors a day on average. Little did they realize how popular it would become.
Already this year an average of 1,800 tourists per day have come to enjoy the scenery and wildlife and learn about the local flora, fauna and history from the park’s tour guides.
Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park is listed as one of the world’s top 200 centers of biodiversity and boasts two bird sanctuaries and more than 2,600 species of wildlife, including 116 plant species and 129 animal species at danger of extinction in Vietnam and indeed the world.
VietNamNet/Thanh Nien