THO HA COMMUNAL HOUSE IN BAC GIANG

The Communal House of Tho Ha is situated at Tho Ha village, Viet Yen District, Bac Giang province. The Communal House was constructed under Le Dynasty, in 1692, and on the land of about 3000 sq meter. The construction is the place worshiping the God of the village and discussion village affairs.

The construction is 27 meter long and 16 meter wide. The architecture of Tho Ha communal house is very impressive. The roof is covered with ancient crescent shaped tiles. Four corners of the roof curve up that look like scimitar sword blades.

The Communal House is supported by 48 huge pillars made of hard iron wood. The floor in Communal House is paved with blue stones. The inside decoration are beautiful motifs on pillars and frames such as dragons, clouds, lion cubs, ladies who wear long dress riding phoenix… The wood carving art is extremely marvelous reflecting the art during Le Dynasty in 17^th century.

Tho Ha Communal House, one of the best known in Northern Vietnam, was listed as National Heritage in 1964 by Ministry of Culture. The village is 60 km from Hanoi. You can do Tho Ha one day trip from Hanoi. Visit Tho Ha Communal House, old houses in the village, and how the locals still maintain traditional job of making skin for spring rolls, pottery, and Vietnamese rice wine.

One day tour Tho Ha village, Vietindo Travel

Share:

Read More

HANG KENH COMMUNAL HOUSE HAI PHONG

Where is Hang Kenh communal House?

Hang Kenh Communal House is 2 km from Hai Phong city center. It was constructed during 17-18^th century under Le Dynasty. Hang Kenh Communal House is typical architecture for the construction during Le Dynasty. The Communal house is not only the place for worshiping village God but also for discussion village affairs.

The architecture of Hang Kenh Communal House

The construction was built in the complex of 6000 sq meter large, has 2 layer of tile roof, and 2 dragons protecting the sun on top of the roof. Front roof sides are curved shapes that look like the link between the earth and the sky.

The Communal House is 32 meter long and 13.5 meter wide, has 32 huge iron wood pillars, of which one is 2m in diameter. The base under each pillar is made of stone carved with lotus motif. Ngo Quyen King is worshiped in here. The King who vanquished Chinese invasion from the battle that was on Bach Dang River in the year 938.

Wood carvings in the construction are masterpiece created by skillful artisans under Le Dynasty in 17-18 century. All 308 carved dragons in mass of clouds are still well preserved. Dragon is one of 4 holy animals in Vietnamese Culture.

Every year, from 16^th – 18^th of second lunar month, ritual festival is held in the village. They arrange traditional games and arts such as chess, wrestling, singing folk songs at the Communal house.

Tour to Halong Bay we can stop here, Hai Phong city, for visit Hang Kenh Communal house. You pay entrance ticket. Vietindo Travel

Share:

Read More

HIEN ANCIENT STREETS OR PHO HIEN IN HUNG YEN PROVINCE

Where is Hien streets or Pho Hien?

Pho Hien is 60 km from Hanoi center, once was prosperous international river port during 17-18^th century. You can reach Pho Hien by following National Road 5, then provincial road 39A. In olden days Pho Hien was popularly known by people saying: best known is Thang Long or today Hanoi, then second known is Pho Hien.

Why did Pho Hien become popular?

Since 15^th century Pho Hien became River commercial port, and reach top prosperity in 17^th century. Trading boats were from China, Japan, Thailand, Malaysia, Holland, Great Britain, and France. There were shops, markets, international trade representatives at Pho Hien by that time.

The business of Pho Hien came down due to domestic politics and history, international history, and the river was silt up so that in the late 19^th century the international trade port was built in Hai Phong city.

What were popular for tourism at Hien Streets?

The ancient architecture at Pho Hien is harmony of Vietnam, China, and Europe in blend. There are about hundred vestiges and historical building preserved at Pho Hien including Xich Dang Temple of literature, Pho Hien Pagoga, Chuong Pagoda, Pho Hien Church, Chinese Temples, May Temple, General Tran Hung Dao Temple, and ancient houses.

Pho Hien is also very popular for a kind of delicious longan fruit so that the farmers have to protect their fruit on the trees by bamboo basket from birds.

You can visit Pho Hien by one day trip, tour from Hanoi by bus, or by cruise along the Red River.

Share:

Read More

CAT BA NATIONAL PARK ABD LAN HA BAY

How and where is Cat Ba island?

Cat Ba National Park, about 200 km² large, and Lan Ha Bay are under management of Hai Phong city. Cat Ba National Park was established in 1986 by Government. It is about 30 miles from Hai Phong city, isolated by the sea.

The Park mainly consists of limestone mountains with grottoes, caves, and mini beaches with soft sand. The average height of mountains are from 50 – 200 meter in which the highest peak is 322m. Some caves on the island used to be home to pre-historic men dated back 6000- 7000 years such as Trung Trang cave.

The Park and surrounded islets are characterized by lovely natural scenery and abundant fauna and flora as well as sea resources. There are 620 species of plants, 32 species of mammals, 69 species of birds, and 20 species of reptiles and amphibians in the park. Especially there are endangered white headed Vooc, or a kind of monkey, listed in world natural red book.

Why come to and tour on Cat Ba island?

Cat Ba was recognized as World Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO.

Lan Ha Bay covers the area of 7000 hectares, of which over 5400 hectares is managed by Cat Ba National Park. The Bay consists of approximately 400 limestone islets that create very gulf shaped bay. The area also divided into other small bays, lagoons. There are grottoes, caves with nice stalagmites and stalactites falling down. The bay is quite and also dotted by over hundred mini soft sand beaches  

Tourism and activities in Cat Ba National Park and Lan Ha Bay?

You can chose some meaningful activities when spending couple of days here such as swimming, kayaking, cruising around by wooden junk, cycling, trekking. There are many luxury cruises with comfortable accommodation arrange 2- 3 day tours in the area.

Vietindo Travel and Halong Bay cruise trip

Share:

Read More

TAM DAO – SUMMER HILL RETREAT

Tam Dao means three mountain peaks including Ban Thach (1,388m high), Thien Nhi (1,375m high), and Phu Nghia (1,400m high). The mountain range is 80 km long and 10-15 km wide. 

Photo: Internet

Tam Dao is about 80 km from Hanoi city, an ideal summer resort in Northern Vietnam. Tam Dao is cool all year round with average temperature of 20 – 22 degree C, the hottest day in summer reaches 27^o C.

Photo: Internet

Tam Dao hill resort covers an area of over 200 hectare, was found and built by French in early 20^th century. They built holiday villas, post office, tennis courses, swimming pools, discotheque…

 Photo: Internet

Tourists explore Tam Dao by walking around the small town for taking photo of mountains, forest, old buildings in French styles, the Church, waterfall, traditional temples. Enjoy grilled food and green and organic vegetables planted at Tam Dao.

Tam Dao retreat weekend holiday in Hanoi with Vietindo Travel

Share:

Read More

HOA LU ANCIENT CAPITAL OF VIETNAM

Hoa Lu was capital of Vietnam in the 10^th and 11 centuries. The district belongs to Ninh Binh province, 90 km in the South of Hanoi. Hoa Lu is one of very attractive destinations in Ninh Binh including Kim Son Catholic stone Church, Cuc Phuong National Pak, Trang An – Bai Dinh, Tam Coc – Bich Dong.

In 968 Dinh Bo Linh enthrone and took the name of King Dinh Tien Hoang. At that time the country was named Dai Co Viet and Hoa Lu was chosen as the capital (968 – 1009). In 1010, King Ly Thai To move the capital from Hoa Lu to Thang Long (today Hanoi)

The capital of Hoa Lu covered an area of 300 hectare, including Inner and Outer of citadel. The citadel was surrounded by thick and high earthen walls, limestone mounts and rivers that made enemy find hard to attack. Nowadays the citadel no longer exsist, just some vestiges left like Dinh and Le temples.

Tour Hoa Lu 1 day with Vietindo Travel

Share:

Read More

DAI LAI LAKE – WEEKEND HOLIDAY OUTSIDE HANOI CAPITAL

Dai Lai, an artificial lake, is situated by the foot of Tam Dao, 50 km from Hanoi. The lake covers an area of 5,25 sq km and is surrounded by 30 sq km green forest. There is an island of 3 hectare on the lake with the highest point of 23m.

We get nice panoramic view from top of some hills. There are also lovely artificial beaches along by clear and blue water under the foot of different hills. Lovely villas stay under pine trees.

 Dai Lai was reforested since 1984 and soon became tourist holiday destination in outskirt of Hanoi capital. The area has favorable climate; for example, cool in summer and warm in winter. Nowadays, Dai Lai lake gets more investment for luxury resorts, holiday villas, tennis and golf course. Dai Lai lake is nice place to stay away from Hanoi at the weekend.

Travel North Vietnam

Vietindo Travel

Share:

Read More