Embracing adventure in Vietnam

I clung white-knuckled to the back of my friend's motorbike as the two of us zipped around the streets of Hanoi.We buzzed past a man sitting in a barber's chair on the sidewalk of a main road. The man was peering into an oval mirror tacked to a tree as the barber clipped away."See! O.I.V!" my friend said."What?" I asked, trying to figure out what I had seen as much as what he just said."O.I.V.," he repeated. "Only in Vietnam."It was the first day of my 11-day tour through northern and central Vietnam, and the adventure had just begun.Vietnam was never at the top of my list of places to visit -- that is until my old roommate from Atlanta took a job in Hanoi.When my rock-climbing partner, with a level of sanity as questionable as my own,...

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A romantic scenery

The ancient lecythidaceae trees by Hoan Kiem lake are shedding their leaves. This year, the trees started to turn yellow very late, not just before or after the Tet holiday as usual. Many visitors have stopped to admire the changing colour of the leaves before green buds burst in the next few days. ...

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Vietnam through the lenses of young photographers

Young Vietnamese photographers have surprised both the jury and audience of photo contest entitled “Vietnam: Youth and Development”, with their outstanding images.   Nguyen Huu Son won the first prize for Ket Noi Bang Nhung Nu Cuoi The contest attracted a number of participants who expressed opinions and even social views through their photographs. The photos were divided into a number of categories based on topics such as poverty reduction, educational development, environmental protection, co-operative integration. Even though the organising board received a total of 569 photos over three months, only 20 were selected for the final round. The first prize was given to Nguyen Huu Son for the photo Ket Noi...

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Hanoi emerging as a destination for foodies

In the quest for the best pho, bun cha and more in this culinary capital, look for the stands favored by elderly Vietnamese — they know quality when they taste it. Along the way, you'll find religion, history, art and the theater of daily life. In Hanoi, soup is a way of life — the connective tissue of Vietnamese culture. With noodles, herbs and sinew, it strings together twisting streets and varied lifestyles. Here the bones, crumpled napkins and squeezed limes that litter the ground beneath tiny plastic tables are symbols of a good meal and a life well lived. I came here in early December largely because of Hanoi's growing reputation as a culinary capital. In 2010, the website Sherman's Travel (www.shermanstravel.com)...

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Boundless town

This year, the ancient town of Hoi An has become the first city in Vietnam and also in Southeast Asia that is entirely covered with free wireless Internet service. Hoi An is a must-come destination in central Vietnam. The town is not large and it is not the oldest or most special in Asia and the world but it enchants many visitors. Why? The atmosphere in Hoi An is the atmosphere of festivities, all the year round. Small streets, small roads, small shops, people strolling, quiet space …, all contribute to creating a special Hoi An. Even the daily life of local residents is worthy to see. Hoi An is a town of professional tourism. After the Lunar New Year, tourists flocked to the ancient town. Some complaints appeared on...

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