VietNam Travel

Ha long beauty-spots(Part1): Tuần Châu Island

noreply@blogger.com (Tour Guide) — Wed, 28 Nov 2007 07:17:00 +0000

On the south-west side of Hạ Long City it is Tuần Châu Island, a schist island, very pretty, with a luxuriant forest. It has an area of 220 ha, and to the east and south are two beaches endowed with very white and fine sand. In 1962, Hồ Chí Minh visited Hạ Long Bay and made a stop here for vacation. Nowadays, Tuần Châu Island is one of the most attractive destinations in Hạ Long City.

Tuần Châu is in an important position at the entrance of the waterway system of Thăng Long, Bặch Đằng and Vân Ðồn, and this is why it was formerly a military watch station. The Office of Feudal Customs was also installed there.

The island also has many archaeological sites pertaining to the ancient Hạ Long culture from 3,000 to 5,000 years ago.

One can go to Tuần Châu Island via the 2-km cement road from the mainland. Investments have been poured into the island to turn it into a modern tourist resort. It includes such fascinating extras as the dolphin, sea lion, and seal-performing club, animal circus club, golf court, cultural-sports center, beach, rural market, ornamental fish lake, villas in Hill 1 and Hill 2, guesthouses, five 80-room villas by the beach. The ensemble of five restaurants and one round house built in the pagoda motif can serve up to 500 guests at the same time.

In Tuần Châu, the octagonal house where President Hồ Chí Minh rested when he visited Hạ Long now became his memorial site. Tuần Châu Island is expeditiously putting the finishing touches to its construction works so that they can be made available for the 2003 Hạ Long Tourism Year.
(From www.halong.com)

Holiday in Tuan Chau(from a traveler)

Water concert Tuan Chau 2007

Ha long beauty-spots(Part1): Bai Chay Beach

noreply@blogger.com (Tour Guide) — Fri, 23 Nov 2007 03:19:00 +0000

Bai Chay is a resort located along the coast of Halong Bay. This is a windward ocean resort which has a year round average temperature of 20^oC (68^oF).

Bai Chay is a low gently sloping range of hills that runs along the sea for more than 2 km. Blended in among the pine trees are large hotels and small villas with distinguished architectural styles. Traveling down the asphalt road along the coast, visitors see long white stretches of sand and green rows of Casuarina trees, tucked under which are small family-run restaurants. After swimming at the beach, tourists can enjoy cold drinks and cool off in the breeze that sweeps in from the sea.

Beach Halong Bay(No sound)

Ha Long Bay(Part3):The system of islands and caves

noreply@blogger.com (Tour Guide) — Thu, 22 Nov 2007 08:44:00 +0000

Most of the islands on Ha Long Bay are limestone and were formed over 500 million years ago, and are massed in the southeast and southwest. The schist islands scattered in the southeast have an average height of between 50-200m, and have a rich covering of flora.

Within the islands of the Bay there are hundreds of beautiful caves of different shapes and sizes, including many famous names such as Thien Cung, Dau Go, Sung Sot, Tam Cung and Bo Nau. Some of them are archaeological sites retaining tangible archaeological evidence, such as Dau Go, Bo Nau, Sung Sot, Soi Nhu, Tien Long, Me Cung, and Trinh Nu caves.
(From http://www.halong.org.vn)

Inside Ha Long Caves

Ha Long Bay:The Myth

noreply@blogger.com (Tour Guide) — Mon, 19 Nov 2007 03:04:00 +0000

Halong Bay View from Boat

Ha Long literally means descending dragon(s) and according to local myth, the story goes as follows:

Long ago when their forefathers were fighting foreign invaders from the north, the gods from heaven sent a family of dragons to help defend their land. This family of dragons descended upon what is now Ha Long bay and began spitting out jewels and jade. Upon hitting the sea, these jewels turned into the various islands and islets dotting the seascape and formed a formidable fortress against the invaders. The locals were able to keep their land safe and formed what is now the country of Vietnam. The Dragon family fell so much in love with this area for its calm water and for the reverence of the people of Vietnam that they decided to remain on earth. Mother dragon lies on what is now Ha Long and where her children lie is Bai Tu Long. The dragon tails formed the area of Bach Long Vi known for the miles of white sandy beaches of Tra Co peninsula

This myth is in line with the Vietnamese myth of their origin Con Rong Chau Tien. This myth describes the union between a king (representing the dragon) and his bride (representing a goddess) giving birth to 100 children which are the ancestors of the Vietnamese people. The Ha Long myth illustrate the Vietnamese belief of their origin and the fact that throughout their history, they are aided by their ancestors, the dragon and the gods, in the defense of their land.

Ha Long Bay(Vietnamese Naturalwonder):Geographical Location and Climate

noreply@blogger.com (Tour Guide) — Mon, 19 Nov 2007 02:34:00 +0000

Halong Bay is located in the Northeast of Vietnam, belonging to QuangNinh Province. It is in the coastal area stretching from 1060 56’ to 1070 37’ east longitude and 200 43’ to 210 09’ north latitude. To the west and northwest, Halong Bay stretches from Yen Hung District, and includes the large urban areas of Halong City and Cam Pha Town, as well as Van Don Island District. To the south and southeast, it is adjacent to the western Tonkin Gulf and to the west and southwest lies Cat Ba Island in the province of Hai Phong. On the world map, Ha Long Bay borders to China in the north and in the east it is adjacent to the East Sea.

In 1962, the Ministry of Culture and Information classified Halong Bay as a National Landscape Site, covering an area of 1,553 km2 with 1,969 islands. Halong Bay has been recognized twice by UNESCO as a World Heritage Area for its universal values of landscape, geology and geomorphology, respectively in 1994 and 2000, an area of 434 sq. km. including 775 islands.

The area inscribed by UNESCO (the Protected Area I - the Core Zone) is bound by Dau Go Island in the east, Ba Ham Lake in the south and Cong Tay Island in the east. The Protected Area II - the Buffer Zone is identified by the shore of the Bay running along the National Highway No. 18A, from the Gasoline Warehouse B12 in Cai Dam Precinct to the km.11 marker in Quang Hanh Precinct, Cam Pha Town. The Protected Area III - the Hinterland Zone is the sea or mainland area surrounding the buffer zone, including the area adjacent to the Cat Ba National Park of Hai Phong City.
- Climate is featured humid tropical charactor, including two distinct seasons: hot, humid with much rainning in summer and cold, dry in winter. The average temperature ranges from 150 – 250C with annual average rainfall of 2,000 – 2,200mm/year. Halong Bay has a typical tidal time (tidal amplitude ranges from 3.5 – 4.0m. The degree of salt in the sea water ranges from 31 – 34.5% in the dry season and decreases in the rainy season..
(From http://www.halong.org.vn)

Ha Noi:Other beauty-spots(Part 7):Lenin Park and Vietnam History Museum

noreply@blogger.com (Tour Guide) — Sat, 17 Nov 2007 12:52:00 +0000

Lenin Park

Address:Pho Tran Nhan Tong
Hanoi Vietnam

Open Hours6a-9p M-Su

Lenin Park, including the large lake in the center, was once Hanoi's dumping ground for household waste. Originally called Seven-Hectare Lake, the area lacked any appeal until after the French were defeated. Ho Chi Minh adorned the grounds around the lake with gardens, paths, statues and even an area for theatrical performance. The newly named Reunification Park became, and still is, one of the most beautiful parks in Hanoi. It was later renamed Lenin Park when the then Soviet Union befriended Vietnam during the American War. Every morning it fills with joggers and every evening with couples.
Property Information by Wcities

Lenin statue in Le Nin Park,Ha Noi

Running in Le Nin Park

Vietnam History Museum

Address 01 Phạm Ngũ Lão, Hà Nội, Việt Nam
website:http://www.nmvnh.org.vn/

From prehistoric tools to dynastic thrones to a bust of Uncle Ho, the Vietnam History Museum showcases items that mark the country's historical developments. The second floor displays more than 50 sets of remains from the Champa Kingdom, which flourished in central Vietnam between the 2nd and 15th centuries. A hall packed with detailed seals, stone tablets and sculptures of mythical creatures provides a glimpse of dynastic life. As descriptions of exhibits are brief, a local escort is recommended.

Property Information by Wcities

For nearly 50 years, the significant achievements in scientific research and propagation as well as external activities, the National Museum of Vietnam History has established its prestige and status in contributing to the development and integration among domestic and international museums. Thus, the Museum has been awarded many noble medals by the State:

- Third-grade Labor Medal

- First-grade Labor Medal

- Third-grade Independence Medal

- The Government’s Challenge Banner.

Item from Vietnam History Museum

Item from Vietnam History Museum

Item from Vietnam History Museum

Item from Vietnam History Museum

Item from Vietnam History Museum

Ha Noi:Other beauty-spots(Part 6):Vietnam Museum of Ethnology

noreply@blogger.com (Tour Guide) — Thu, 15 Nov 2007 02:32:00 +0000

Vietnam Museum of Ethnology

A short taxi or motorbike ride outside of Hanoi's center brings you to the Museum of Ethnology. The French-designed building and surrounding grounds, which simulate life in the provinces, warrant the trip even before you step inside. The museum displays a dizzying array of artifacts from all over Vietnam. Brief descriptions in French, English and Vietnamese of tools, clothing and recreated homes provide a sketch of several Vietnamese ethnic minorities. A craft shop sells books, bags and other items from various ethnic communities at reasonable prices.

Property Information by Wcities

Viet-Korea Day in Vietnam Museum of Ethnology

What is new at the Vietnam Museum of Ethnology?

The Vietnam Museum of Ethnology is a valuable centre for the exhibition and the preservation of cultural heritages of the 54 ethnic groups in Vietnam. To date, the Museum has collected 15,000 artefacts, 2,190 slides, 42,000 photographs, 237 audiotapes, 373 videotapes and 25 CD-ROMs. It is also a centre for ethnographic research employing many experts on the different ethnic groups. People come to the Museum just not to visit or entertain, but also to learn about these ethnic groups, their cultural diversity and the uniqueness of each group and region, as well as traditional values throughout the Vietnamese country. For this reason, national and international visitors, children and students, professionals and non-professionals are attracted to the Museum.

The artefacts of the Museum are not only priceless antiquities, but many are everyday objects, such as knives, baskets, garments, flutes, pipes and mats. These objects reflect tangible and intangible cultural heritages of the communities, representing lives and creative activities of the people. Thus, artefacts of the Museum are so varied that they are organised into different collections. The Museum has 54 collections of each individual ethnic group. Functionally classified, there are collections of clothing, jewellery, of agricultural tools, fishing instruments, weapons, household utensils and musical instruments. In addition, there are collections of artefacts related to the various religions, beliefs, wedding ceremonies, funeral ceremonies and other social and spiritual activities. Based on the specific collections, the Museum organises exhibitions and publishes books and catalogues in different formats in order to meet the needs of various audiences of different backgrounds.

The two-floor building, which is inspired by the Vietnamese famous and ancient bronze drum, holds the permanent collection. A granite bridge leads from the main gate to the entrance of the exhibition, creating a feeling of going up to a house-on-stilts which is very popular in many areas of Vietnam. On entering the Museum, the granite floor is decorated with dark tiles arranged in the shape of an S. This decoration symbolises the shape of the Vietnamese coastline, the earth is in dark colour and the ocean is light grey.

The Vietnam Museum of Ethnology has been designed to reflect the country's technical and scientific progress as well as the Museum’s objectives. First of all, the Museum was created for everybody. This is reflected in both the architecture and the display techniques. The Museum has ramps for physically challenged people and an electric elevator allowing access to the second floor. All steps have handrails that are very comfortable for older people. Learning from the experiences of many museums in the world, the museum texts are not in capital letters but small letters so that it is easy for people of different ages to read them. Panels are presented at reasonable heights, for both adults and children. In addition to objects, there are photographs, texts, videos and many reference materials, all of which can be brought into full play to inform visitors with different levels of education and different needs.

The objects are displayed as centrepieces because they reflect the everyday lives of the people. The Museum’s consistent point of view is that the display should be simple, so that visitors can admire the beauty and finesse of each ordinary and simple item. Although there are no illustrative paintings in the Museum, photographs and videos are used to illustrate people’s lives.

A restricted number of 700 objects and 280 photographs are displayed in the Museum’s permanent exhibits, which helps visitors avoid being distracted by an over-representation of artefacts.
The different collections are displayed according to language groups and territories. Most of the objects presented in the 97 showcases are original. The showcases have either one-sided windows or four-sided windows, depending on the artefacts presented. For example, some cases present many artefacts; others have only one significant object. Among the showcases in the display, 50 cases are accompanied by texts. Each object has a label denoting its name, the ethnic group and the place where it was created. There are also mannequins, maps, graphs, hardcover books, photographs, videotapes, cassette tapes, models, and 33 section panels. Though the Museum is not large, dioramas highlight certain customs or cultural features of ethnic groups.

Adding to the many layers of information available to visitors, the museum provides hundreds of panels composed of explanations, illustrative photographs and maps. Unfortunately, because of limited space, the texts are condensed. Not only do the texts and the object labels serve a national audience, they are also translated into English and French in order to facilitate international visitors. Thus, visitors experiencing the museum, even without a tour guide, are able to understand the main messages of the displays.

New technical solutions have been used throughout the Museum, such as focused lights. The light radiates inside and outside the glass windows focusing on the most significant aspect of each object in order to set off its beauty and draw visitors’ attention. In addition, a ventilation system has been installed within each display area to protect the objects from mould and decay.

The outdoor exhibition area is only large enough for the most popular architectural styles to be represented. Already presented are the Ede long house, the Tay stilt house, the Yao house half on stilts, half on earth, the Hmong house whose roof is made of pomu wood, the Viet house with tile roof and the Giarai tomb. There are future plans to present the Bahnar communal house, the Cham traditional house and the Hanhi house made with beaten walls. Between the houses, there are trees indigenous to the area of each house, zigzagging paths and a meandering stream crossed by small bridges. The outdoor museum is being realised step by step.

(from http://www.vme.org.vn)

For more information about Vietnam Museum of Ethnology,you can visit its website http://www.vme.org.vn/

Museum of Ethnology Thai Nguyen(Not Vietnam Museum of Ethnology)

Ha Noi:Ho Chi Minh mausoleum

noreply@blogger.com (Tour Guide) — Mon, 05 Nov 2007 02:25:00 +0000

The Hồ Chí Minh Mausoleum (Vietnamese: Lăng Hồ Chí Minh) is a large memorial to Vietnamese independence leader Hồ Chí Minh. It is located in Ba Ðình Square in Hà Nội.

Despite Ho Chi Minh's request to be cremated, like communist leaders before him, he was embalmed and put on display. A visit to the mausoleum is a somber experience in the spiritual center of Vietnamese independence. The guards are not terribly friendly and Uncle Ho looks a little yellow, but the quiet line that forms to view his body is a vision of respect and may even feature a few tears. Ho's mausoleum is open only in the mornings, every day except Monday and Friday. The mausoleum sits in front of Ho's stilt house.

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Ho Chi Minh is most famous for leading the Viet Minh independence movement from 1941 onward, establishing the communist-governed Democratic Republic of Vietnam in 1945, defeating the French Union in 1954 at Dien Bien Phu. He led the North Vietnamese in the Vietnam War until his death; six years later, the war ended with a North Vietnamese victory, and Vietnamese unification followed. The former capital of South Vietnam, Saigon, was renamed Ho Chi Minh City in his honor.

A video from a traveler.In this video,Ho Chi Minh mausoleum is very wonderful place.

Food tour in Ha Noi

noreply@blogger.com (Tour Guide) — Sun, 04 Nov 2007 13:02:00 +0000

Food tour in Hanoi

Let’s start our tour in 42 Quán Thánh Street for our morning Phở Gà (Chicken noodles) which costs about 7,000Vnd. Keep going to Ngõ Đồng Xuân where we can try the best 7000Vnd Bún Chả (Grilled pork with noodles and Asian herbs) and Phở Tiếu (Roasted pork noodles with chilli, dried onion and Asian herbs) and a 3000Vnd Beer Hơi. Café Năng on Hàng Bạc Street is the coffee stop of your day: 5000Vnd for great coffee or juice. If you are a seafood fan, then try out the seafood around Trúc Bạch Lake, where you can sit on the pavement looking at the Lake and the action passing by. These small restaurants should only cost you about 120,000Vnd per person for crab, scallops and some shrimps. Don’t forget to check out Quất Café which is closeby, very nice and always cool with both ceiling fans and wall fans and good coffee, you'd spend about 4000Vnd. Phở Cuốn (Spring rolls) Vinh Phong at 40 Ngũ Xá is a good place to go for a snack. Here, they serve different kinds of Noodles, and prices start at 1,500Vnd for one spring roll. Stir fried beef and spinach served with crispy noodles is a good dish to try and costs about 20,000Vnd for 2.

On your return to the city centre, try 7000Vnd Bún Riêu (Crab soup with herbs) on Thi Sách Street which is delicious, then go straight ahead and turn left to have Bánh Mỳ (Beefsteak) and Bún Bò (Beef noodles)on Hoà Mã Street. This place is always busy and you have to take good care of yourself because of the slippery floor.The owner is from Hue and prices start at 10,000Vnd for Noodles and 18,000Vnd for beefsteak. And Café Báo is a good choice near by which is quiet and has good juices.

Mía Đá is good on a hot day; this is refreshing sugar cane juice and only costs you 2000Vnd in Hàng Điếu Street. Bún Bò Nam Bộ(Stir fried beef and beanshoot with noodles and Asian herbs with Southern's style) is a one dish choice for you, only 18,000Vnd. Photo cafe is a nice place to go to have a bit of a chat with friends, which is on Quán Sứ Street. There are lots of great pictures and greenery surrounding.

End your day at Wild Lotus for a drink to cool you down after a long day wandering around, and then go to Wild Rice to enjoy your evening with excellent food and great atmosphere. Don’t forget to try out the soft shell crab! This place will cost you about 300,000Vnd for your meal but you do get what you pay for!!!

Hope this information can help anyone who wants to try out the Vietnamese food in Hanoi. These places are a mix of street stalls, cafes and upmarket restaurants.

Thank to Mark Lowerson from Sticky Rice for some of the nice pictures.

(all information and picture of this post from http://vietnamesegod.blogspot.com)
(Thank to http://vietnamesegod.blogspot.com for writing this post)

Some videoclips of Ha Noi Food

How to make Pho is the content of this clip.You can see many vietnamese people
waiting to eat Pho.Pho is really very delicious.I love Pho.

How to make bun rieu cua.I do not think you can understand what people in clip say.But i think you can make "Bun rieu cua" because it is very easy to make.

Ha Noi culture(Part 2):Hanoi National Dance Academy

noreply@blogger.com (Tour Guide) — Fri, 02 Nov 2007 04:16:00 +0000

The National Dance Academy is located in the suburb of Ha Noi, approximately 12 km from the center of town. The Academy was once supported by the Soviet Union and East Germany. According to the instructional staff (some of whom are foreign trained), many of the academy's alumnus have gone on to become famous performers and choreographers. Many have toured all over Asia and in Europe.

Each year, the academy's staff hold auditions all over the country. Only the best and the brightest are chosen to join the academy. Usually, the candidates are selected when they're 7 or 8 years old, but sometimes, candidates are chosen on a walk on basis in their early teens. The government supports the students with a meager scholarship and housing right on site.
The curriculum includes an academic regiment with a strong emphasis on the various types of dance from ancient Cham and Hmong dances to Ballet and Modern dance. The academy is very similar to the performance academy in the U.S

(Vietscape)

Ha Noi culture(Part 1):Vietnamese Water Puppet

noreply@blogger.com (Tour Guide) — Thu, 01 Nov 2007 04:35:00 +0000

Mua Roi Nuoc - Vietnamese Water Puppet

Mua Roi Nuoc or Water Puppet is a unique art which has it origin in the delta of the Red river in the tenth century. The farmers in this region devised a form of entertainment using what natural medium they can find in their environment. In ancient times, the ponds and the rice paddies after harvest were the stage for these impromptu shows. This art form is unique to North Vietnam and only finds its way to the world stage in recent years as a result of the normalized relation with the West. Today the Thang Long puppet troupe is the most well known in Ha Noi.

Modern, water puppetry is performed in a pool of water with the water surface being the stage. The puppeteers stand behind a screen and control the puppets using long bamboo rods and string mechanism hidden beneath the water surface. The puppets are carved out of wood and often weigh up to 15 kg. A traditional Vietnamese orchestra provides background music accompaniment. Singers of Cheo (a form of opera) with origin in north Vietnam sing songs which tell the story being acted out by the puppets.

Vietnamese Water Puppet show 1

The theme of the skits is rural and has a strong reference to Vietnamese folklore. It tells of day-to-day living in rural Vietnam and Vietnamese folk tales that are told by grandparents to their grandchildren. Stories of the harvest, of fishing and of festivals are highlighted. Legends and national history are also told through short skits. Many of the skits, especially those involving the tales of day-to-day living, often have a humorous twist.

Vietnamese Water Puppet show 2

Ha Noi beauty-spots(Part 5):West Lake or Ho Tay

noreply@blogger.com (Tour Guide) — Tue, 30 Oct 2007 11:53:00 +0000

Ho Tay is the largest of all the lakes in Ha Noi. The lake is on the northwest part of the city. Long ago, the lake was a branch of the Red river but later, as the river changed course, the lake remained a body of water just west of the river. There are many legends associated with West Lake. The most popular is the legend of the golden buffalo.

As the story goes, there once was a medicine man who was a giant. He is well known in Vietnam for his medicine practice and the king often used him to treat the royal family. His fame reached China and he was invited to China to treat the king. He was successful where others have failed so the king was going to reward him with great wealth. He refused offerings of gold and only requested that the king give him all the black copper in the king's vault. The king agreed and the giant left for Vietnam with vast amounts of black copper. In Vietnam the giant molded a giant bell of black copper. The giant rang the bell and the sound resonated all the way to China. In the king's vault there was a golden buffalo. Upon hearing the sound of the bell, the buffalo came to life (because he thought that his mother was calling him) and charged southward. Upon reaching Ha Noi, the buffalo trampled the land in the area near Red river. Over the years, this area filled with water and became Ho Tay or West Lake.
Ho Tay has always been an area for vacationing royalties. When Ha Noi was still the capital city, the kings from the Ly and Tran dynasty built summer homes along the lake. In the north end of the lake there are several villages famous for their flowers and fruits plantations. Most famous is Nghi Tam village, the birth place of Ba Huyen Thanh Quan, one of Vietnam's premier Poetess.
(From vietscape)

Ha Noi beauty-spots(Part4):Museum of Fine Arts

noreply@blogger.com (Tour Guide) — Tue, 30 Oct 2007 09:44:00 +0000

Located at 66 Nguyen Thai Hoc Street, the museum began receiving visitors on June 24, 1966. One of Vietnam's comprehensive display of architectures, sculptures, drawings, and fine arts is housed at the museum. The museum also contains displays of the ethnic minority people in Vietnam. Stone ax blades, stone sculptures, statues and ornaments, Muong skirts, belts, and Tay Nguyen bronze rings are some of the few items on display.

Visitors are able to see works of art dating to the stone and bronze ages. Stone rings, earings and necklaces are evidence of a civilization dating back 2,000 to 3,000 years. The bronze statues, drums, and ornaments on display bring the visitors closer to that part of history that is rich with tradition and culture.

(From vietscape)

Items from Museum of Fine Arts

Ha Noi beauty-spots( (Part3):Van Mieu - Temple of Literature

noreply@blogger.com (Tour Guide) — Mon, 29 Oct 2007 08:35:00 +0000

Originally built in 1070 in the Ly dynasty, the temple is a shrine to Confucius and his disciples responsible for spreading his teachings. Six years later, Quoc Tu Giam or School for the sons of the Nation was established for the princes. The school later admitted sons of mandarins and finally commoners were allowed to attend but, only after they passed a rigorous examination at the regional level. In 1484, Van Mieu became a place to memorialize the most brilliant scholars of the nation.

In 1484, King Le Thanh Tong decreed the names of all those who have attained the doctoral ranks in the national examination be inscribed on stone stelae carried on the backs of giant tortoises. In all, 2,313 individuals were awarded the title of tien si. However, detailed records were kept only between 1442 and 1779 . According to records, there should be 112 stelae in all but only 82 stelae are still standing. Each represents a single examination year. The name and native village of the students who were awarded the title Tien Si or doctor laureate were inscribed on the stone. Tien si was not a diploma of graduation from the royal college. This title was awarded to those who have successful passed the 4 royal examinations. Scholars from all over Vietnam could participate only if they had passed the regional exam.

Courtyard of the Sages is located beyond the Garden of Stelae. Entrance to the courtyard is through Dai Thanh Mon or Gate of Great Success. The Great House of Ceremonies is located here. It was here that all new doctor laureates would come to pay respect to Confucius. The king would also come to pay homage to the great teacher at Dai Thanh Mon. Inscribed on a wooden panel above the altar are the words "Teacher of Ten Thousand Generations".

Behind the Great House of Ceremonies is the Sanctuary, with statue of Confucius flanked by his four closest disciples, Nhan Tu, Tu Tu, Tang Tu, and Manh-Tu (Mencius).

Quoc Tu Giam or School for the Sons of the nation is located in the last courtyard. During the time when Van Mieu was used as a school, this area housed classrooms, housing facilities and a print shop. When the university was moved to Hue, Quoc Tu Giam was turned into a shrine to Confucius' parents called Khai Thanh.

Van Mieu slide

Ha Noi beauty-spots (Part2) :One Pillar Pagoda

noreply@blogger.com (Tour Guide) — Mon, 29 Oct 2007 02:12:00 +0000

Chua Mot Cot or the One Pillar Pagoda has become the symbol of Vietnamese rich culture and history. The pagoda was built in the reign of king Ly Thai Tong (1028-1054). According to legend, in his dream, in 1049, the king saw a vision of Phat Ba Quan Am - Kwan Yin. She led him to a shrine in the middle of a lotus pond. When he woke up, he consulted with his court and decided to replicate the shrine in his dream to dedicate it to Kwan Yin. The One Pillar Pagoda resembles a giant lotus blossom.

A narrow flight of stairs leads to the tower where there sits a gilded figure of Quan Am, to whom the pagoda is dedicated

The altar in the small shrine
A gilded figure of Quan Am sits in the dim interior upon lotus blossoms. The lotus throne in Buddhist iconography is reserved for those who have obtained "perfect comprehension."

One Pillar Pagoda in 3d world

Ha Noi beauty-spots(Part1) :Lake of the Returned Sword

noreply@blogger.com (Tour Guide) — Mon, 29 Oct 2007 01:22:00 +0000

Lake of the Returned Sword_Ho Hoan Kiem (Ho Guom)

The Tortoise Tower on an island in the lake

Ho Hoan Kiem or Lake of the Returned Sword was once a part of the Red river (song Hong). Through thousands of years of changes in the geography, the lake moved eastward to its present position many kilometers from the river. The lake was once called Luc Thuy or Green Water because the water was green year round. In the fifteen century, the lake was named Ho Hoan Kiem, based of a legend that is quite similar to King Arthur and the Lady of the Lake's legend.

While fighting against the Chinese, King Le Thai To has in his possession a very valuable sword. After 10 years of continuous struggle, the King finally defeated the Chinese and reclaimed Vietnam's independence. One day, while sailing on lake Luc Thuy, a large turtle appeared. The king drew his sword and pointed at the creature. The turtle immediately grab hold of the sword with its mouth and submerged. The king mourned the lost of such valuable sword, demanded that the lake be emptied and dredged. Both the turtle and the sword were not found. The king realizing that the gods must have lent him the sword to drive back the enemy, but now that Vietnam is free, the sword must be returned. King Le Thai To named the lake Ho Hoan Kiem or Lake of the Returned Sword.

Since the reign of king Le Trung Hung (XVI century), every king in the Le dynasty, and Lord Trinh have all contributed to the beautification of the lake. Lord Trinh Giang built Khanh Thuy shrine on Ngoc island on the north end of the lake. He also had the two man made hills built across from Ngoc son Shrine.

At the end of the Le Dynasty, Khanh Thuy was destroyed by Chieu Thong. A philanthropist named Tin Trai built Ngoc Son pagoda. Ngoc Son pagoda was renamed Ngoc Son shrine during the reign of Thieu Tri III (1843) because it was no longer a Buddhist shrine. Instead, Ngoc Son is a shrine to Van Xuong, a deity, in charge of literature and the various tests required to become a mandarin. It is also a shrine to general Tran Hung Dao, a national hero responsible for many victories against the Mongols.

The Huc bridge

Ngoc Son temple

Ngoc Son temple(night)

Since then Ngoc Son has gone through many renovations, one of which was the addition of Thap But (Pen Tower) on the hill which was once called Dao Tai. Three words inscribed on the tower "Ta Thien Thanh" or "write on blue sky". Inside the gate a pool resembling the shape of an ink well was added. Beyond the ink well is The Huc bridge or "where the sun light is absorbed". The bridge leads to Dac Nguyet Lau or "Moon Light tower" - Ngoc Son shrine. Beyond the gates to the shrine, there are two walls called bang Rong and bang Ho (dragon and tiger slate) where the names of those who passed the national test are inscribed.

On the southwest end of the lake is Thap Rua. It was rumored that king Le Thanh Tong used to fish here. Lord Trinh also built the structure to house his entourage while visiting the lake.
(Information from vietscape)

Ho Guom video from a traveler......

To be continued.............