The most famous romantic Love Streets in Hanoi

Hanoi is famous for beautiful ancient paths and street corners. Especially, the beauty of the capital changes in terms of time and space. Thus in different moments, people observe Hanoi in diferently ornamental sides. And there are several streets renowned to the youngsters as Love Paths for their romantic sights, which is ideal for photographing and dating.

Korean – Japanese Streets

It will be a serious mistake to list ideal Valentine spots without mentioning to Korean – Japanese Streets that lie along Tay Lake. Nobody knows the origin of these lovely names. In fact, it was because of the sceneries and houses in this area: one side is the large lake, the other is the houses with luxuriously modern architecture, resembling Koreans films. “Japanese” street is also a popular lakeside street for its sidewalk vendors and relatively secluded spots for couples.

In the evening, the two streets lit up with lampposts, outstanding from the surroundings. It was the giant Ferris wheel in the Water Park nearby shining that make the whole picture much more ornamental and “korean”.

In summer, these are actually Love Streets for couples as the lotus blooms, bring about a fragrantly romantic space.

Kim Ma Street

This is certainly a familiar street to the young Hanoians and photographers. It is a quite alluring street with old tree-lined and red brick sidewalks. However, it brings most thrilling feelings in the winter – the leaves-falling season. Through the lens of photographers, the photos of couples strolling in the brilliantly red-yellow path have made viewers moved.

Moreover, walking hand-in-hand with lovers in the bitter cold weather of Hanoi winter will engrave on your memory.

Phan Dinh Phung street

Located within blocks of architectural planning, Phan Dinh Phung street bold influenced by Western architecture. We must first mention the high-villas nestled next but soaring trees. Although tinted paint stain over time but still beautiful ancient, stately, giving people the feeling nostalgic.

Not random, Phan Dinh Phung street is widely called the beloved “Dracontomelum trees street.” Dracontomelum are grown on the roads, street corner of Hanoi, but most have to mention Phan Dinh Phung street. The old dracontomelum found on Phan Dinh Phung street has a history of hundreds of years, bushy tree – trunk, dense foliage,covered the road. Flower of dracontomelum alligator is not brilliant as many others that have simple and beloved beautiful flowers. The tiny of white flowers brunch tucked hide in green foliage, spread bitter scent but passionate .

Long Bien Bridge

Long Bien is a historic cantilever bridge cross Hanoi’s Red River, built by French in 1898 – 1902. It is believed that the bridge is designed by Gustave Eiffel, the man behind Eiffel Tower and Statue of Liberty.

With its charming vintage look and incredible view of the Hong (Red) River, Long Bien, the oldest bridge in Hanoi , has been a favourite spot for young people to get together. After a slow ride on motorbikes, people often stop at a fine spot on the bridge, where they enjoy conversation with one another or stare at the magnificent view. On the bridge, couples could possibly forget about time and stand or sit on the side of the bridge for hours. There are vendors there who are willing to serve them with snacks or drinks.

Many young couple also place locks on the fence to keep their love ever-lasting.

The most famous romantic Love Streets in Hanoi

Confidence of foreigner about Hanoi - Vietnamese food

“The Food of Vietnam” published in both English – Vietnamese, Swiss author Marcel Isaak and Ms. Trieu Thi Choi (a familiar face on women domestic science in Saigon before 1975) launched in 1998, up to now, food is still selling books on the online shopping site ebay, amazon … To Vietnam nearly 20 years ago with the desire to discover food culture, Marcel Isaak is still sticking with his favorite job: chef in a restaurant in Hanoi.

Marcel Isaak, the book Vietnam Food – The food of Vietnam – he wrote with Trieu Thi Choi the author published in 1998 – a time when foreigners with little known cuisine of Vietnam. What fate brought him to Vietnam and take love for Vietnamese food?

When I first came to Vietnam in 1994 with a reason to explore new definition is food. Fortunately, I live and work in the city. Ho Chi Minh city for a long time. This is the opportunities brought me closer to people, cultures and the richness of Vietnamese cuisine. The discovery has overcome my feeling. I went over Saigon to enjoy and taste the dishes of Vietnam. I enjoy the most delicious food in the restaurant, so I was quite understanding about the cuisine of Vietnam. I also then began to incorporate ideas from the food essence great together. In a few occasions I met Ms Trieu Thi Choi. That is valuable experience. I admire her very understanding and gracious of herself.

Discovery Saigon is the first, why he had decided to have a strong attachment to Hanoi?

As time went very fast, is that true? I had walked over from Vietnam along the Mekong River to Red River. Each place in this country has its own special

characteristics of the vision, and all space is developing. Hanoi have many rivers, lakes and many tourist sites attract different, but at the same thing that impressed me is about people of Hanoi. They highlight and create opportunities for the city to develop and forward to an incredible speed.

I had left Vietnam in a short time, then returning, I decided to “settle” in Hanoi and from work at Press Club in 2004. I did mix with Hanoi people from style to culture and customs of the people of Hanoi and the value of human life together. Hanoi is a unique city, only when you walk around town you’ll always find and discover things you’ve never seen before … Hanoi is developing dynamically. At the macro level, can see where there’s always the tall buildings and bridges are coming up. But little things, like a flower buyer, or a tea kiosk roadside …, every time I stop in there has a different feel, interesting … Hanoi is always something quite appealing.

Seems like a lot of foreigners come to Hanoi, he also became a “accomplished” man … How does he feel about the “cultural styles” of Hanoi?

What I noticed is that people seem to Hanoi is proud of “Hanoi feature” of them, but they never to be pompous about it.

He is also interested in the traditions of Hanoi?

People of Vietnam in general and Hanoi in particular is the motto of life “drinking water, remember the source” They were very respectful ancestor worship. It is an interesting spiritual care.

In addition to these findings, surely he spent more time for the dish?

Of course. Cuisine of Hanoi surprise for me always as the diversity and richness of the dishes from noodles, rolls, rice dishes, sauces and other additives accompanying. But what made the difference for me is the quality, taste and aroma of natural vietnamese spice vegetable, spices and raw materials are pure, rich but simple. There are many mysteries inside the dish of Vietnam, which has created a unique flavor, special traditions, delicious and world famous.

I consider myself as a guest of Hanoi, and I also have a simple life like the people who live here. I can not say I know more about Hanoi them, but I was surprised to find out what this place seemed very small. An interesting habit that I walk along the streets of Hanoi and observed to have tired legs until they stop enjoying noodles or other dishes in Hanoi.

He was not afraid to take street food hygiene?

I understand very angry about food hygiene. But I noticed the quality of hygiene and food safety have advanced quickly and no doubt, improvements in conditions, hygiene and food safety will be better. We are also aware of communication exist for the promotion and application of technology, new techniques in many related industries, then we will be seeing the new improved better. Consumers are the ultimate test of sanitation and food safety for the

goods they purchase.

Confidence of foreigner about Hanoi - Vietnamese food

Great ceremony for peace attracts thousands of people

On February 17, thousands of people and around 1,000 Buddhists from Da Nang City and Quang Nam province attended a ceremony praying for nation’s peace and prosperity at the Ba Da Pagoda, Da Nang. This is an annual festival, with various activities but the highlight is the release of hundreds of birds, crabs and fish.

Releasing birds and fish at the ceremony:

From early morning, nearly 1,000 Buddhists went to the temple.

At 8am, the ceremony begins.

All people pray for peace and good weather.

The Chair of the ceremony sprinkles water from a rose to help people shake off the dust of life. He then sprinkles the water on the paper boxes containing birds, crabs, snails and fish before they are released.

Buddhists set birds free in front of the temple.

Fish, shrimps, eels and snails are released on a bridge cross the Cam Le Bridge.

Great ceremony for peace attracts thousands of people

Grapefruit Pudding - a delicate dessert from Can Tho

Grapefruit Puddingis a popular dessert in Can Tho city. Although this dish is widely available all over Vietnam, the porridge made in Can Tho has a special flavor that can be found nowhere else.

This dish is made from the skin of the grapefruit that has been mixed with salt and cut into small square pieces. Those pieces are further cooked with sugar and water and are spread at the bottom of the bowl. Then the sweetened porridge made from green beans and flour is poured onto those grapefruit pieces. Finally a bit of coconut milk is poured on top as a finishing touch. Before eating the porridge, you should first stir and mix the ingredients together, as well as add some ice. After it has been mixed, a bowl of Grapefruit.

Puddinglooks very tasty and attractive with the white color of coconut milk and grapefruit skin, the yellow of green beans and the transparency of the flour. Aside from having a great taste that many people are addicted to, it is said that the dish can have an antipyretic effect on your body.

Grapefruit Pudding - a delicate dessert from Can Tho

Grapefruit Pudding - a delicate dessert from Can Tho

Grapefruit Puddingis a popular dessert in Can Tho city. Although this dish is widely available all over Vietnam, the porridge made in Can Tho has a special flavor that can be found nowhere else.

This dish is made from the skin of the grapefruit that has been mixed with salt and cut into small square pieces. Those pieces are further cooked with sugar and water and are spread at the bottom of the bowl. Then the sweetened porridge made from green beans and flour is poured onto those grapefruit pieces. Finally a bit of coconut milk is poured on top as a finishing touch. Before eating the porridge, you should first stir and mix the ingredients together, as well as add some ice. After it has been mixed, a bowl of Grapefruit.

Puddinglooks very tasty and attractive with the white color of coconut milk and grapefruit skin, the yellow of green beans and the transparency of the flour. Aside from having a great taste that many people are addicted to, it is said that the dish can have an antipyretic effect on your body.

Grapefruit Pudding - a delicate dessert from Can Tho

Luc Yen – The unique gem market in Vietnam

In Luc Yen district, Yen Bai province, there is a unique market in the country where people trade only one product – gemstones.

The market has had a history of 25 years. Luc Yen gem market is open at a beautiful corner of a lake in Yen The town, Luc Yen district. The market works in just several hours in every morning. Depending on reasons and weather, the market can take place sooner or later, but at about 6.30 am there are sellers in the market. They slowly arrange their stalls to be not complicated, but very simple. The market contains about over 20 stalls. According to the sellers, gems are gathered from the persons who have gone to the mountains … and if having time, craftsmen will arrange the gems to make pendants of rings, necklaces, earrings, etc… Gems are also used as materials for making a gem picture, which are sold in the unit of kilogram or gram. Each blue, red, purple, yellow, white, black gems have different sizes and shapes and is supervised and considered by the customers who are conversant with gems. The prices are announced depending on the type of gem which can be ten thousands, hundreds of thousand or a million, tens of millions dong.

However, the succession of transaction is decided by the bargaining process. Besides gem traders and makers seeking materials, there are many people who have heard about the gem market then come to this to see and to buy some products as souvenirs. After two to three hours, the market is closed. The owner of a gem stall in Luc Yen market said that every early morning, hundreds of local residents went to the forest, walking along the stream, picking up each gem. After a long time, the gem became rare so people had to go further to the caves to gather them.

Nowadays, people find it hard to seek for gems in the cave; many of them must use machines to dig deeply on the mountains then wash the soil for gems. If people find original sapphire and ruby gems (which are big, transparent, right color, not cracked), they can sell them with the price of several hundred millions dong. However, they usually get the color gems including ruby, sapphire which have lower quality, being crushed and small, used for making pictures. To get the suitable color gems (especially black gems for drawing hair, blue ones for illustrating the color of water), they must wander in the mountains for a month.

Since ancient times, Luc Yen was dubbed the “land of gems.” The most valuable stones in Vietnam were exploited here. Luc Yen boasts to have a red ruby which is preserved as national treasure. It is named “Vietnam Star” and is the biggest ruby in the country, weighing 2.160 gram, equivalent of 10,800 carats. Recently, the Luc Yen Gem Association has been established to protect the prestige of Luc Yen gems.

Luc Yen – The unique gem market in Vietnam

Da Lat, destination for couples on Valentine’s Day

The Central Highlands province of Lam Dong’s Da Lat City, which is famous for its charming and romantic landscapes and architecture, and lovers’ first choice on Valentine’s Day, has planned various festivals to welcome the couples on February 14.

The Love Valley and Mong Mo (Dreamlike) Hill are two of the most attractive places for romantics. At Mong Mo Hill, couples are offered a chance to write notes of wishes and pin them to the “love tree”. Whilst the Love Valley offers a poetic beauty for them to capture the moments they are together. Young couples can also enjoy the city at night by riding tandem bicycles or floating across Xuan Huong Lake in swan boats. Many resorts, hotels, restaurants and coffee shops in the city will offer special music performances to visitors on Valentine’s Day.

Tourists to Da Lat during the time will have a chance to take part in the Pongour waterfall festival held annually on the first full-moon of the Lunar Year. This year’s festival, which coincides with Valentine’s Day, will be held at the provincial level for the first time as part of the 2014 Central Highlands-Da Lat national tourism year.

Between February 13 and 14, programmes featuring the Thai ethnic group’s cultural identity, photo and calligraphy exhibitions, folk games, and a special event for lovers will take place, expecting to attract 200-300 couples. Located in Duc Trong District, 50 km south of Da Lat, the Pongour is considered the wildest and most mighty waterfall in the southern Central Highlands.

Da Lat, destination for couples on Valentine’s Day