Vietnam’s rice terraces, Ha Long Bay among most beautiful places on earth - Halong Bay Travel Guide

UNESCO heritage site Ha Long Bay and a mountainous district with breathtaking rice terraces in northern Vietnam have entered a list of 50 most beautiful places.

Mu Cang Chai, a district to the west of the northern mountainous province of Yen Bai, is in travel magazine Condé Nast Traveler's list for its stunning view of terraced fields, which have been an attraction to both Vietnamese and foreign tourists. The fields turn into beautiful sights when they change their color from green to gold in September and October.

The popular UK news website Telegraph in September also named the rice terraces among 14 most “surreal” landscapes on earth.

Vietnam’s tourism ministry has also listed the terraced fields as one of the most beautiful sights of the country, which is one of the largest rice exporters in the world.

While Mu Cang Chai is a new attraction, Ha Long Bay, more than 400 kilometers to the east, has for a long time been one of the most loved tourist sites in the country.

 Ha Long Bay. Photo credit: GiangKen

The bay draws tourists with a magnificent scene of more than 1,500 islands and inlets of giant limestone karst islands in various shapes and sizes, popping up from turquoise waters.

Tourists can book an overnight cruise trip on the bay to watch sunrise or sunset, or they can also explore many wild ancient limestone caves surrounding the bay.

It has been recommended by different travel sites recently as one of the best eco spots in Asia and one of the most beautiful places to visit in Southeast Asia.

Check the entire list here to see if your favorite destinations make the cut. 

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Four destinations in Vietnam rated among top 29 places to visit in Southeast Asia

Four destinations in Vietnam rated among top 29 places to visit in Southeast Asia

Four locations in Vietnam – Hanoi, Sapa and Hoi An towns, and Ha Long city – have been named among the 29 best places to visit in Southeast Asia, as selected by Touropia, a travel website that features the most impressive and popular travel destinations around the world.

 

Located in northeastern Vietnam, Ha Long Bay in the northern province of Quang Ninh occupies third place on the list, likened to a scene from a fantasy story with its thousands of limestone karst islands of different shapes and sizes. It is also home to four fishing villages composed of floating houses where the occupants make their living and to 200 different species of fish and 450 kinds of mollusk.

Coming in at 15th place, the charming town of Hoi An in central Quang Nam province impresses visitors with its narrow, winding lanes of the old port-town, which are lined with beautiful old architecture, traditional wooden houses and hundreds of tailor shops.

The capital city of Hanoi is ranked 25th on the list thanks to its blend of old-world charm with modern life. Hanoi’s Old Quarter is described as an open-air museum of historic Asian and French colonial architecture that has largely remained intact.

Named in the 27th position, the northwest town of Sapa in Lao Cai province is recommended as a base for trekking in the surrounding mountains, touring rice paddies and visiting traditional villages and hill tribes. Tourists are suggested to visit attractive French colonial sites in the town and buy souvenirs and handicrafts made by various ethnic tribes in the area.

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Bewitching beauty of golden rice fields in Quang Ninh

VietNamNet Bridge – Take a view of Binh Lieu - an off-the-beaten-track place with a splendid and captivating beauty in the northeastern province of Quang Ninh.

Some 110km from Ha Long City, it takes only two hours by motorbike to see the goden rice fields in Binh Lieu District, Quang Ninh Province. (Photos: VNA) Binh Lieu District is endowed with the wild and charming beauty of terraced fields and forest spreading as far as the eyes can see. Binh Lieu is called 'little Sa Pa' by backpack tourists thanks to its four-season-in-one-day climate and its pristine landscapes  The fields are among the main tourist attractions In November, tourists are enchanted by the ripe rice fields in the sunlight of the Autumn.   At this time of the year, local farmers begin harvesting their rice crops.  This unique sight will be gone in just a few weeks as rice is brought home. The picturesque river winds around the mountains and hills in the district. Springs sparkle under the sunlight. The endless terraced fields.The endless terraced fields. A local farmer carries his rice home.

VNA

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Hashtag #Vietnam: The week's best photos - Halong Bay Travel Guide

Tourists camp inside En Cave at the protected Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park in central Vietnam. The 1.6-kilometer cave is a feeder to the world's largest cave Son Doong and is itself one of the most captivating caves on earth.

Cham towers built between the 13th and 15th centuries are among the most popular attractions in the  central coastal town of Quy Nhon. Earlier this year the town was listed by UK travel publisher Rough Guides as one of the nine best undiscovered places in Southeast Asia.

A street graffiti in Ho Chi Minh City.

A quiet, surreal moment under Long Bien Bridge in bustling Hanoi downtown.

Hanoi traffic: Beauty in the chaos?

A man rides his elephant across a lake in Vietnam's Central Highlands.

Vietnamese conical leaf hats are made into wall lanterns in Phu Quoc.

A tea farmer in Vietnam's Central Highlands.

Tourists walk inside one of the limestone caves surrounding Ha Long Bay.

A woman sells banh mi baguette on a street in southern Vietnam.

A 200-year-old gate to the botanical garden of Vietnam's former citadel in Hue.

A buffalo auction at Can Cau, the largest cattle market in Vietnam’s northwestern region with hundreds of buffalo and cows put up for sale. The market meets every Saturday on a hill around 115 kilometers from Sa Pa. One can take an overnight train from Hanoi and another three-hour bus ride to the market.

A photo by Truong Huu Hung shows fishers casting their nets on a river

Star anise pods are grilled before being added to a pot of Vietnamese famous noodle soup pho.

A speedboat leaves a white tail around Ha Long Bay.

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Quang Ninh bans construction of new tourist boats

Three destinations of Vietnam among SEA Best Places

VietNamNet Bridge –The US-based travel website www.touropia.com has revealed the list of 29 best places to visit in Southeast Asia, including Hoi An, Hanoi, and Ha Long Bay of Vietnam.

The capital city blends the charm of the old world with a pace of life that is quickening as this old city modernizes. Touropia suggested that travellers should not miss to visit Old Quarter, an open-air museum of historic Asian and French colonial architecture that has largely remained intact. Also known as Fai-Fo, Hoi An ancient town boasts a well-preserved Southeast Asian trading port, which it once was until the river silted up. The narrow, winding lanes of the old port are lined with beautiful old architecture, traditional wooden houses and hundreds of tailor shops selling everything from clothing to souvenirs, Touropia noted.   Located in northeastern Vietnam, Ha Long Bay resembles a scene from a fantasy story with its thousands of limestone karst islands of different shapes and sizes. Four fishing villages composed of floating houses where the occupants fish for 200 different fish and 450 kinds of mollusks, can be found on Ha Long Bay.     Angkor, Campuchia Bali, Indonesia Bangkok, Thailand     Bagan, Myanmar Ifugao Rice Terraces, the Philippines Singapore

 

VOV

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Three destinations of Vietnam among SEA Best Places - Halong Bay Travel Guide

Three destinations of Vietnam among SEA Best Places

The capital city blends the charm of the old world with a pace of life that is quickening as this old city modernizes. Touropia suggested that travellers should not miss to visit Old Quarter, an open-air museum of historic Asian and French colonial architecture that has largely remained intact.


Also known as Fai-Fo, Hoi An ancient town boasts a well-preserved Southeast Asian trading port, which it once was until the river silted up. The narrow, winding lanes of the old port are lined with beautiful old architecture, traditional wooden houses and hundreds of tailor shops selling everything from clothing to souvenirs, Touropia noted.


Located in northeastern Vietnam, Ha Long Bay resembles a scene from a fantasy story with its thousands of limestone karst islands of different shapes and sizes. Four fishing villages composed of floating houses where the occupants fish for 200 different fish and 450 kinds of mollusks, can be found on Ha Long Bay.


Angkor, Campuchia


Bali, Indonesia


Bangkok, Thailand


Bagan, Myanmar

Ifugao Rice Terraces, the Philippines


Singapore

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New Zealand to launch direct flights to Vietnam - Halong Bay Travel

Air New Zealand has announced to launch direct flights to Ho Chi Minh City starting from next summer with three flights a week that aim to promote Vietnam tourism.

“We will fly three times a week between Auckland and Ho Chi Minh City's Tan Son Nhat International Airport on a seasonal basis, operating from June to October in 2016 with the potential to expand the season in subsequent years,” the company said in a statement.

“We're expanding our Pacific Rim presence introducing New Zealand’s first direct service to Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam,” it said.

The direct flight of about 11 hours will be operated by Boeing 767-300 aircraft.

The summer flights aim at promoting tourism in the two countries which marks 40th anniversary of bilateral ties this year.

Visitors to Vietnam can sample the regional food offerings, discover more than 3,000 kilometers of coastline and explore the country's history, the airline said.

From the beauty of Halong Bay and the mountains in the north, to the ancient port city of Hoi An, beach resorts on the southeast coast and the markets on the Mekong River - it's a holiday destination with wide appeal, it said.

Vietnam is growing in popularity as a holiday destination, attracting more than 15,000 New Zealanders in the past year.

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Rough Guides: Ideal itinerary to discovering Vietnam

When planning your itinerary for your next backpacking trip to Vietnam, the following suggestions of Rough Guides will help ensure that you don’t miss discovering any of the highlights.

Travelers should start their trip in Hanoi and then go for a sail around the famed natural wonder of Ha Long Bay in Quang Ninh province before heading to the northern hills to experience the ethnic minority villages orbiting Sa Pa.

After that, explorers should hop the train down to see the imperial architecture of Thua Thien-Hue and make a day-trip to the demilitarized zone (DMZ) before moving south to charming Hoi An. 

Nha Trang is Vietnam‘s pre-eminent beach party town, whereas Mui Ne offers great water-sports and sandy coasts with a more laidback vibe.

Da Lat is the gateway to the Central Highlands, says Rough guides but if you’re still craving the sea and sand— check out Phu Quoc Island, a haven for beach bums and divers.

Last but not least, the travel guide suggests travelers should not miss out on floating down the lush canals of the Mekong Delta and finish their trip in the bustling metropolis of Ho Chi Minh City.

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Vietnam's sites among most beautiful

 An online community for study abroad and student travelers written by college students around the globe, College Tourist is managed by the US magazine USA Today. It said that Ha Long Bay, Ha Noi and Hoi An are among the 10 of the most beautiful places to visit in Southeast Asia.

Ha Long Bay in Viet Nam's northern coast is one of the most beautiful places in Southeast Asia with its exceptional scenic beauty and outstanding geological values, the College Tourist said.

"The bay features thousands of giant limestone karst islands in various sizes and shapes. In 2011 the magnificent landmark of Viet Nam was declared as one of the New Seven Natural Wonders of The World," they said.

College Tourist also recommended Ha Noi as it is "everything you'd expect from the capital of Viet Nam: it's noisy, crowded, busy and motorbike-clogged but still the city has its own charm".

"The best place to experience Ha Noi is in the Old Quarter, a tangled maze of streets. Each street is named after the merchandise they sell."

The ancient town of Hoi An has a tranquility and timelessness that attracts visitors from all over the world, it said.

"The charming little town is packed with picturesque wooden houses, pagodas, street-side cafes and hundreds of tailor shops." VNS

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VN sites among most beautiful

VN sites among most beautiful

HA NOI (VNS) — An online community for study abroad and student travelers written by college students around the globe, College Tourist is managed by the US magazine USA Today. It said that Ha Long Bay, Ha Noi and Hoi An are among the 10 of the most beautiful places to visit in Southeast Asia.

Ha Long Bay in Viet Nam's northern coast is one of the most beautiful places in Southeast Asia with its exceptional scenic beauty and outstanding geological values, the College Tourist said.

"The bay features thousands of giant limestone karst islands in various sizes and shapes. In 2011 the magnificent landmark of Viet Nam was declared as one of the New Seven Natural Wonders of The World," they said.

College Tourist also recommended Ha Noi as it is "everything you'd expect from the capital of Viet Nam: it's noisy, crowded, busy and motorbike-clogged but still the city has its own charm".

"The best place to experience Ha Noi is in the Old Quarter, a tangled maze of streets. Each street is named after the merchandise they sell."

The ancient town of Hoi An has a tranquility and timelessness that attracts visitors from all over the world, it said.

"The charming little town is packed with picturesque wooden houses, pagodas, street-side cafes and hundreds of tailor shops." — VNS

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Vietnam among top 8 best Christmas trips for solo travellers - Halong Bay Travel Guide

Vietnam has been named top 8 best Christmas trips for solo travellers by the UK's prestigious magazine Wanderlust.

Accordingly, with just only GBP595 (around US$902.75) for 15-day trip, visitors will have chance to cruise the emerald waters of Halong Bay, snorkel off picture-perfect beaches, and immerse themselves in the history and culture of Hoi An with a bunch of other adventurous travellers. 

A corner of Ha Long Bay. Photo by Shutterstock

In addition, foreign visitors can float on the Mekong Delta on a private boat, then dock at a water-side village to meet a local family, feast on home-cooked Vietnamese food, bed down in their home, and ready to continue their adventure in Ho Chi Minh City the following day,Wanderlust suggested.

Rounding on the list of top 8 are Mexico, China, South America, Myanmar, Morocco, Cuba, and East Africa.

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Vietnam among top 8 best Christmas trips for solo travellers Halong Bay Travel Guide

Vietnam has been named top 8 best Christmas trips for solo travellers by the UK's prestigious magazine Wanderlust.

Accordingly, with just only GBP595 (around US$902.75) for 15-day trip, visitors will have chance to cruise the emerald waters of Halong Bay, snorkel off picture-perfect beaches, and immerse themselves in the history and culture of Hoi An with a bunch of other adventurous travellers. 

A corner of Ha Long Bay. Photo by Shutterstock

In addition, foreign visitors can float on the Mekong Delta on a private boat, then dock at a water-side village to meet a local family, feast on home-cooked Vietnamese food, bed down in their home, and ready to continue their adventure in Ho Chi Minh City the following day,Wanderlust suggested.

Rounding on the list of top 8 are Mexico, China, South America, Myanmar, Morocco, Cuba, and East Africa.

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Ha Long, Hoi An chosen as top travel sites in Southeast Asia - Halong Bay Travel

A student travelers forum managed by US magazine USA Today has recommended Hanoi, Ha Long Bay and Hoi An among ten most beautiful places to visit in Southeast Asia.

The article, published on College Tourist, a forum of the USA Today College Contributor network, said Southeast Asia is a “perfect” travel destination with vivid cultures, tempting cuisine, white sandy beaches and steamy jungles, and some places there are too beautiful for one to miss.

Ha Long Bay in Vietnam’s northern coast is a must-see “without a doubt,” it said, praising its “exceptional scenic beauty and outstanding geological values.”

Rock islands in Ha Long Bay, Quang Ninh Province. Photo credit: GiangKen

The UNESCO heritage site, which US travel guide site Smarter Travel named one of the best eco spots in Asia earlier this year, is one of the most loved tourist sites in Vietnam.

It draws tourists with a magnificent scene of more than 1,500 islands and inlets of giant limestone karst islands in various shapes and sizes, popping up from turquoise waters.

Tourists can book an overnight cruise trip on the bay to watch sunrise or sunset, or they can also explore many wild ancient limestone caves surrounding the bay.

College Tourist also recommended Hanoi, around 170 kilometers away from Ha Long, for its combination of old charm and modernity.

The thousand-year-old capital city may have the worst traffic in the country, and yet one can still find peaceful corners at many pagodas, temples or just by watching vendors on the street.

 The Sword Lake, Hanoi's iconic site with golden fall leaves. Photo credit: hachi8

The city with plenty of sights for photo opportunities is the third most popular destinations worldwide according to a Pinterest list released last month of the most-pinned locations.

Top travel guide sites Lonely Planet and TripAdvisor both recently suggested the city among the best value destinations for tourists.

Down south, Hoi An, also a UNESCO heritage site, is also a favorite option. It is one of the most peaceful towns in the country.

 Tourists pedal along old houses in Hoi An. Photo credit: hachi8

The ancient town draws tourists and photographers alike to its picturesque wooden houses, pagodas, street-side eateries and hundreds of tailor shops.

It is where one can find “tranquility and timelessness,” the travel forum said, which also suggested Angkor of Cambodia, Bangkok, and a remote ethnic village in Laos in the list.

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Ha Long, Hoi An chosen as top travel sites in Southeast Asia - Halong Bay Travel Guide

A student travelers forum managed by US magazine USA Today has recommended Hanoi, Ha Long Bay and Hoi An among ten most beautiful places to visit in Southeast Asia.

The article, published on College Tourist, a forum of the USA Today College Contributor network, said Southeast Asia is a “perfect” travel destination with vivid cultures, tempting cuisine, white sandy beaches and steamy jungles, and some places there are too beautiful for one to miss.

Ha Long Bay in Vietnam’s northern coast is a must-see “without a doubt,” it said, praising its “exceptional scenic beauty and outstanding geological values.”

Rock islands in Ha Long Bay, Quang Ninh Province. Photo credit: GiangKen

The UNESCO heritage site, which US travel guide site Smarter Travel named one of the best eco spots in Asia earlier this year, is one of the most loved tourist sites in Vietnam.

It draws tourists with a magnificent scene of more than 1,500 islands and inlets of giant limestone karst islands in various shapes and sizes, popping up from turquoise waters.

Tourists can book an overnight cruise trip on the bay to watch sunrise or sunset, or they can also explore many wild ancient limestone caves surrounding the bay.

College Tourist also recommended Hanoi, around 170 kilometers away from Ha Long, for its combination of old charm and modernity.

The thousand-year-old capital city may have the worst traffic in the country, and yet one can still find peaceful corners at many pagodas, temples or just by watching vendors on the street.

 The Sword Lake, Hanoi's iconic site with golden fall leaves. Photo credit: hachi8

The city with plenty of sights for photo opportunities is the third most popular destinations worldwide according to a Pinterest list released last month of the most-pinned locations.

Top travel guide sites Lonely Planet and TripAdvisor both recently suggested the city among the best value destinations for tourists.

Down south, Hoi An, also a UNESCO heritage site, is also a favorite option. It is one of the most peaceful towns in the country.

 Tourists pedal along old houses in Hoi An. Photo credit: hachi8

The ancient town draws tourists and photographers alike to its picturesque wooden houses, pagodas, street-side eateries and hundreds of tailor shops.

It is where one can find “tranquility and timelessness,” the travel forum said, which also suggested Angkor of Cambodia, Bangkok, and a remote ethnic village in Laos in the list.

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Hashtag #Vietnam: The week's best photos - Halong Bay Travel Guide

Here are 10 of the most memorable snapshots on Instagram that you should not miss

Women in Da Nang lay out squids to dry them in the sun.

Plastic stools for customers at a small street eatery selling morning soup in Hanoi.

Autumn leaves by the Sword Lake in Hanoi

A woman ties her boat to a pier at a fishing village in Mui Ne in central Vietnam.

Barbers work on a Hanoi street.

Salt mines near Nha Trang in central Vietnam

A H'Mong mother carries her baby to Bac Ha Market in Lao Cai Province, which meets every weekend and gathers people from different ethnic minority groups from mountain villages of northern Vietnam.

Tourists climb up mountains near Ha Long Bay.

Perfect texture of one of Vietnam's most famous dishes "bun thit nuong," which is vermicelli noodles eaten with grilled pork, fried spring rolls, fresh aromatic leaves, some pickles and a bit of sweet and sour fish sauce.

Tourists on a boat tour in the middle of mighty mountains in Ninh Binh Province in northern Vietnam

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Tourist boats in Ha Long Bay suspended for waste treatment failures

Quang Ninh Department of Transport temporarily halted the operation of 153 tourist vessels in Ha Long Bay which failed to meet waste water treatment standards.

 

Busy tourist boats are polluting Ha Long Bay

Asides from freight ships, there are about 485 tourist boats operating in the UNESCO recognised world heritage site. These boats release large amounts of untreated waste and oily leaks from running machinery.

The level of oil in the water at various locations in Ha Long Bay is 4.3 times higher than acceptable standards. These levels at Bai Chay and Nam Cau Trang ports are 1.1 and 4.1 times higher than standard.

In October 2014, Quang Ninh Department of Transport asked all boat owners to install oil waste separator filters by the end of the first quarter of this year. However, only 165 boats had completed the improvements as of May. The local authorities of Quang Ninh then announced that boats that fail to install the separator by July 15 would be forced to halt operation but the number meeting the requirement only increased to 210.

Boat owners said improvements would cost as much as VND19 million (USD852) and they claimed they weren’t convinced by their efficiency.

As pollution is threatening the environment in Ha Long Bay, Mac Quang Gieng, vice director of Transport Department, said they would carry out the warning.

"Starting from November, the 153 boats that don't have separators will be suspended. We’ll let the owners keep one of their boats in operation, while they install the filters,” he said. "By December 15, all boats must have completed the upgrades."

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Hashtag #Vietnam: The week's best photos - Halong Bay Travel Guide

Here are 10 of the most memorable snapshots on Instagram that you should not miss

One reason many tourists fall in love with Vietnam is the huge selection of cheap and delicious street snacks. In the picture are two ladies selling baguette and fresh fruit in Hanoi.

Sand dunes in Mui Ne, where sandboarding and sliding are popular activities.

Dip nets on a canal in the Mekong Delta.

The floating market in Hau Giang Province in the Mekong Delta.

An amazing shot of Ha Long Bay.

Rice terraces in Sa Pa, one of the most popular tourist attractions in Vietnam's northern highlands.

Traffic jams in Ho Chi Minh City.

Hand-made incense, which plays a big role in the religious life in Vietnam. One craft person at an incense-village can make around 2,000 sticks per day, the photographer says.

Roads zigzag through the overwhelming landscape of Ha Giang Province in Vietnam's northern highlands.

A street side cobbler in Hoi An.

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