Vung Ro Bay

Vung Ro Bay
Calm, clear waters, rocky escarpments, coves, hidden beaches and forested hills are what characterize Vung Ro Bay, 100km north of Nha Trang. Ever since I first glimpsed this gorgeous natural harbour – from the seat of my bicycle, high above the bay, on the precarious, meandering switchbacks of the Ca Pass – I’ve always thought of it as one of the loveliest stretches of coast in Vietnam. Over the years, I’ve visited many times; exploring the floating fishing village, climbing the steps to the historic French-built lighthouse, driving the deserted coast road, and swimming at Bai Mon, one of my Top 5 Beaches in Vietnam. Despite its natural beauty and ease of access, travellers rarely make it here, and there’s no tourist development whatsoever. But, that’s about to change, in dramatic fashion, with the announcement of two multi-billion dollar projects for the area. If you want to see Vung Ro Bay, 2014 is probably the last chance you’ll get. Vietnam tours private

Vũng Rô Bay seen from the Cả PassVung Ro Bay is formed by a tongue of land that spreads southwest and shelters the main shoreline from the winds and weather coming off the East (South China) Sea. The large main bay is dotted with hundreds of floating homes, fish farms and wooden fishing boats. A dramatic backdrop is created by rugged, forested mountains that culminate in a free-standing slab of stone on the highest peak, known as Núi Đá Bia, which means ‘Tombstone Mount’. North of the main bay there’s a perfect V-shaped inlet, filled with golden sand, called Bai Mon Beach, which is great for swimming. From the beach there’s a long, steep staircase up to a lighthouse, originally built by the colonial French in 1890. Climb to the top of this lighthouse on rickety spiral stairs for superb panoramic views of the entire bay. Halong Alova Gold Cruise

Although there’s no accommodation at Vung Ro Bay for now, it’s only a short drive (by taxi, motorbike taxi or rented motorbike) from Đại Lãnh Beach to the south, or Tuy Hòa City to the north. The latter has regular train, plane and bus connections to all major Vietnamese cities, and the former can be easily reached by bus or rented motorbike from Nha Trang (read this for more about Đại Lãnh Beach and how to get there from Nha Trang). Indeed, part of the fun of visiting Vung Ro Bay is the drive there: approaching from the north or south on Highway 1, via the spectacular Ca Pass. One of the most dramatic, scenic stretches of Vietnam’s major national highway, the Ca Pass cuts along a mountainside, offering tremendous views down over Vung Ro Bay. If coming from Tuy Hòa, the road to the bay is clearly signposted to the left at the top of the Ca Pass, but if coming from Đại Lãnh it’s not: just look out for a right turning once you reach the summit of the pass. There’s also a scenic and quiet back road to Vung Ro Bay from Tuy Hòa, the last few kilometres of which run alongside the ocean with beautiful views over Bai Mon Beach. MEKONG EYES

Vung Ro Bay

Bãi Môn Beach seen from the coast road

Until recently, Vung Ro Bay was famous for a military incident rather than its natural beauty. In February 1965, a North Vietnamese vessel was found to be smuggling war supplies into Vung Ro Bay in order to aid the North’s campaign to ‘liberate’ the American-backed South Vietnam. On discovering this, the latter sent in ships, planes and a submarine to sink the North Vietnamese boat and capture the smuggled goods, which included thousands of arms and a million rounds of ammunition. The North Vietnamese lost that battle but they eventually won the war, and today there’s a large monument near the water’s edge, erected to commemorate the Vietnamese soldiers who fought and died defending the supply ship and the bay.

Fishing boats & fish farms in Vũng Rô BayIt seems somewhat ironic then that, 50 years after the ‘Vung Ro Bay Incident’, as it came to be known, the bay is soon to be developed by one of the most powerful family empires in America, the Rockefellers. Earlier this year it was announced that a $2.5 billion resort, marina, tourism and residential project, funded by Rose Rock Group, a Rockefeller-backed investment firm, would be built on Vung Ro Bay. Oil is where it all started for the Rockefeller Family back in the 19th century, so it’s perhaps no surprise that the gigantic development in Vung Ro Bay is closely linked to a huge $4 billion oil refinery that’s also to be constructed here, taking advantage of the bay’s natural deep water harbour. Take a look at the promotional video below to see what’s in store for this area, or find out more about the development on their website: www.visitvungrobay.com

2014: last chance to see it like this!All this means that Vung Ro Bay will be a construction site for the next few years, and after the projects are completed they’ll be minimal public access to the beaches and bays in this area. Work was supposed to have started by the end of 2013, but when I last visited, in January 2014, there was no sign of it. However, if you want to see Vung Ro Bay before these massive projects take over, 2014 may well be your last chance. The cheap guesthouses on Đại Lãnh Beach make a good base for exploring Vung Ro Bay, or for more style and comfort try the CenDeluxe Hotel (www.cendeluxehotel.com) in Tuy Hòa City, which has a swimming pool and a ‘sky bar’ with panoramic views over rice fields and the foothills of the Annamite Mountains. Cheaper accommodation in Tuy Hòa can be found on Hùng Vương Street.

Coc Ly market in Sapa Vietnam

It is the colorful market in a mountainous area where the Flower H’mong mainly gathers to exchange their homemade products.
Coc Ly market in Sapa Vietnam
This Tuesday market is about 35km from Bac Ha. You can get here via a fairly good road, or by road and river; hotels in Sapa and Bac Ha can organise trips. Coc ly is a small village on the Chay river inhabited by the Flower H’mong Minority people. The Flower H’mong traditionally wear a distinctive and bright coloured costume. They are a gentle, softly spoken people who live in the steep mountainous country close to the Chinese border. Because Coc Ly is more remote than Sapa, the dress and way of life is more traditional than in the large centers. Sapa North Vietnam travel
The market deals in fruit, vegetable, pork and chickens, in addition to colourful fabrics and items of traditional dress. There is a buffalo sale in progress and many of these placid animals are tethered close to the market. Buffalo are still widely used in the growing process, especially in the mountainous regions. Horse are an important form of transport in the North West and a quite a few, sturdy ponies were tied to tree around the market. The horse carry a light timber frame on their back to carry produce to and from the market. Mekong Bassac cruise

Coc Ly market in Sapa Vietnam

There’s no dancing or singing, but Coc Ly Market in Lao Cai Province always turns colorful and festive on Tuesdays, when ethnic people gather there to buy and sell goods, dine and drink, or just wander to enjoy the ambience of the montagnard market. Halong Dragon Pearl Junk
Many ethnic traders from Bac Ha and other parts of Lao Cai Province dress up in colorful costumes and bring horses, chickens, buffaloes, vegetables or whatever they can sell to the festive market in the wee hours, and will not return home until 1pm.
Certainly, what catches the eyes of visitors most are the different colors of the costumes worn by ethnic people and the handicrafts they sell at the market, about 50 kilometers from Lao Cai City in the northern province.
You can see young and old Hmong women, wearing skirts and hats with different types of embroidered flowers, crowding the market during the opening hours of Coc Ly. Scarves, clothes, decorations and other items made of tho cam (ethnic fabric) on sale also add color to the bazaar by the Chay River.
The colorful items are put on sale not just for locals but also tourists, particularly foreigners. However, you should remember to bargain when you want to buy your favorites, and the items at the booths located at the start of the path you walk on always have higher prices. Keep walking toward the end of the traditionally ethnic market until you find a real bargain.
A good idea is to stroll every corner of the once-a-week bazaar as you listen to unexpected conversations, see nice surprises and learn how ethnic people sell and buy farm produce, life’s necessities and other things.
After visiting the market, which is the most fresh and unspoiled market of the region, offering a wide range of different colorful ethnic minorities such as Flower C’mon, Black Dao, Tay , Fula, Lachi, Sandui and Nung….there will be an exciting boat cruise winding you through a breathtaking, out of this-world landscape where the mountain grow from water presenting their most hidden mysteries, including caves and tiny minority …A picnic lunch box can be prepared for your most convenience..

Top 4 Attractions in Ninh Binh

Top 4 Attractions in Ninh Binh

100 kilometers away from Hanoi, Ninh Binh is emerging as one of the most exciting destinations during your Vietnam tour. For a long time, it is known as a choice of short getaway from Hanoi. But in fact, many things to do in Ninh Binh to offer for everyone. North Vietnam tours

1. Admiring the Terrestrial Halong Bay

Tam Coc - Attractions in Ninh Binh

When driving along the National Route 1A, after passing Ninh Binh City, you will encounter one of the most spectacular sights in Vietnam – Tam Coc (means Three Grottos). Hiring a boat and it will take your through an extensive network of waterways between imposing limestone cliffs erecting from the flat rice paddies. Although the scene still cannot match Halong Bay in terms of size and the number of limestone mountains, Tam Coc is more accessible and less touristy. As the name might suggest, you will undergo three low and dark caves, another reminiscence to Halong Bay. During the trip, you can also have the chance to visit Bich Dong Temple (free entrance) which provides incredible views of the surroundings. PANDAW CRUISE

TrangAn is another nearby attractions that is quite similar to Tam Coc. Although TrangAn has more caves to pass through, it is more crowded, especially in high season.

Top 4 Attractions in Ninh Binh

2.Hoa Lu Ancient Capital

Hoa Lu - Attractions in Ninh Binh

As Vietnam’s capital city, Hoa Lu in Ninh Binh is the predecessor of Thang Long (the former name of Hanoi). The royal city is a short bike ride from Ninh Binh City. It is surrounded by high limestone mountains which is believed to protect Hoa Lu from invasion. Inside the complex, there is an iconic archway in the entrance and several temples including the temple of Dinh Tien Hoang, who liberated the country from the Southern Han in the 10th century. Calypso Cruise

3.Cuc Phuong National Park


It will take you more than one hour drive to get to Cuc Phuong National Park from Tam Coc. Cuc Phuong is generally a well-preserved rainforest. There is an Endangered Primates Rescue Center near the entrance that you should pay a visit with a guide. This is house of about 150 primates being prepared to be released back to the wild. There are many ways to explore Cuc Phuong via the densely rainforested road, but biking is the best choice to slowly stroll through the jungle, the prehistoric trees and the caves. The park is also the home to many faunas, most notably butterflies and birds. The best way to watch the animals here is at night, but be sure to have a guide accompanied with you.

4. Van Long Nature Reserve

Van Long Nature Reserve - Ninh Binh

Not far away from Cuc Phuong National park is Van Long Nature Reserve. Although the scene is somewhat similar to that in Tam Coc, taking a one hour boat trip in Van Long is a great way to relax and discover numerous species of exotic birds in their natural habitat. You could also witness the endangered monkey living here. Watching the sunset while meandering along the river at Van Long is a great way to end an exciting day in Ninh Binh.

How to pick the best binoculars for travelling

How to pick the best binoculars for travelling
Have you ever traveled with a pair of binoculars?! From 2011, I always carry a binoculars as closest companion on my trips. They allow me see things that can not see by naked eyes, look a same land but in a completely different way compared to others, that’s so amazing. If you’re learning about binoculars for travelling, you may want to consult my experiences. Southern Vietnam with extension to Cambodia 10 days

With over 3 years experience in binoculars, I concluded that 3 most important factors for travel binoculars are weight and size, view quality and price (of course!). I’m a big fan of Nikon, my 7 of 8 are Nikon Binoculars, so my experieces will mainly direct to this brand.

• JAHAN CRUISE

Weight and Size. These’re the most important factors. In a trip, you will have to move much so surely you would not want to carry something too heavy and too large. When started travelling with binoculars, I picked the Nikon Action ones, they weigh over 2lb (1kg) and quite large compared to others but good-quality optic. At first, the 2lb weight was not problem but after tramping for miles in woods, I just wanted to throw them away. Huong Hai Sealife

How to pick the best binoculars for travelling

So my advice, you should be willing to sacrifice a bit image quality to exchange compact size. Compact binoculars usually weigh from 0.5lb to 0.8lb, you can consider Nikon Trailblazer 25mm, Aculon compact zoom, Travelite or the best is Premier LX-L 8×20 or 10×25. Monarch ones are also good choice with over 1lb weight and very high-quality optic.

View quality. In view quality, there’re few other smaller factors:

Magnification. Binoculars have 2 numbers as AxB. The first number is magnification and the second is size of objective lens. Do not be too greedy high-magnification binoculars. 8x ones are quite a lot and strong enough for travelling. Higer powers (10x, 12x,…) are too shake, very difficult to hold steady and focus on anything.
Size of Objective lens - The second number.  Usually, in same quality, larger Objective lens will better in optics. However, larger lens also makes binoculars heavier and bigger. So the size of lenses from 20 to 30mm are good.
FOV – Field of View. Basically, this figure as high as good. A wide field of view allow you see more and easy to follow fast objects (small birds, fishes,…).
Close focus distance - the closest distance that binoculars can focus. This’s not too important for travelling. However they are as low as good.
Check out binoculars for travelling on Amazon. Many discount avaiable
Price. A compact binoculars are very easy to lose in trips so I usually do not pick expensive binoculars for traveling. Price of under $100 is ok. Nikon Trailblazer 25mm, Aculon compact zoom, Travelite are in this price-range. But if you have a lot of money, you can pick Premier LX-L 8×20 or 10×25 for best quality.

Other factors. You may care to Eye relief, if you weares glass then this’s very important. It help you to see full field of vision. Basically, the Eye relief is as long as possible (for Eye glasses).

Above is my experiences to pick good binoculars for travelling. Wish you find a good pair of binoculars. You can also visit The Best Nikon Binoculars for Price / Quality to find the best one. Thank you!