tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4228820307037369772024-02-07T17:44:25.744-08:00ACTIVETRAVEL ASIA's BlogTravel tips and guide, travel news, information in Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia and other parts in AsiaActive Travel Asiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17720226021825421230noreply@blogger.comBlogger317125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-422882030703736977.post-88602161746194949662017-03-11T00:43:00.000-08:002017-03-11T00:43:01.377-08:00Burmese New Year Water Festival - Thingyan Festival<h2 style="text-align: justify;">
<i style="font-size: medium; font-weight: normal; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 13pt; text-align: justify;">As usual, </span><span style="background: white; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 13pt; text-align: justify;">13th to 17th April every year, Burmese people celebrate the water festival overall country, called Thingyan Festival. In order to throw away sins, unlucky things of previous year, Burmese people pour water to everyone they meet and wishing them will have the happy and lucky new year. Furthermore, this season is the ideal time to discover the Myanmar culture, custom and the daily life of local people via various kind of <b><a href="http://www.activetravel.asia/myanmar-burma-adventures-tl349.html">Burma tours</a></b> which ATA designed based on the customer needs.</span></i></h2>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 13.0pt; line-height: 107%;">The
Biggest Burma Festival</span></b></h3>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRUhlQ6vyB9NdnoTWbIhGE03ar6FOfokhLkps6VLRjsAim17iwuMB6lOC0L9wGNHJXLdyClS7oaQnR3aJt0hmq2kL-rnnoGomHFOAqqqVau0KLTpTwbS6BtNV06aoEGt57xSb0WsWojdw/s1600/hd.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRUhlQ6vyB9NdnoTWbIhGE03ar6FOfokhLkps6VLRjsAim17iwuMB6lOC0L9wGNHJXLdyClS7oaQnR3aJt0hmq2kL-rnnoGomHFOAqqqVau0KLTpTwbS6BtNV06aoEGt57xSb0WsWojdw/s640/hd.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 13pt;">According the history, </span><span style="background: white; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 13pt;">Thingyan
originates from the Buddhist version of a Hindu myth. The King of Brahmas lost
a wager to the King of Devas, Sakra aka Thagya Min, who then decapitated The
King of Brahmas but then a head of an elephant was put onto the Brahma's body
who then became Ganesha (The elephant god). </span></div>
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<span style="background: white; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 13pt;">The Brahma was so powerful that if
the head were thrown into the sea it would dry up immediately. If it were
thrown onto land it would be scorched. If it were thrown up into the air the
sky would burst into flames. Sakra aka Thagya Min therefore ordained that the
Brahma's head be carried by one princess Devi after another taking turns for a
year each. The new-year henceforth has come to signify the changing of hands of
the Brahma's head.</span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 13.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Sing,
Dance and Pouring Water</span></b></h3>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB_CuxShNidNI6rQASuArHzI6gcp0vUYzGjHoj65TymBQ-7ocni-Lpww2Tmxli9Ih26VekntB0d5e4pOMSSa0ozsk_JVaj04ks-1S4KEmb62IynUmxFhyphenhyphenxUdVokr_dqgM5eGxZOg7xaIU/s1600/a08f8e7943d4335565ef267e20ac8354.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB_CuxShNidNI6rQASuArHzI6gcp0vUYzGjHoj65TymBQ-7ocni-Lpww2Tmxli9Ih26VekntB0d5e4pOMSSa0ozsk_JVaj04ks-1S4KEmb62IynUmxFhyphenhyphenxUdVokr_dqgM5eGxZOg7xaIU/s640/a08f8e7943d4335565ef267e20ac8354.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="background: white; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 13.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Most of the Burmese ladies dress in the
traditional uniforms sing together and dance the traditional stuffs as a single
or dual or group. They pour water on everyone no matter even<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>if it young or adult. The festival is
held for 3 or 4 days. On the last day of the water festival, the enjoy most by
pouring water and dancing the whole day. Some of the religious Burmese people
visit to the monasteries for their merit during the festival instead of playing
water or enjoying.</span></div>
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<span style="background: white; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 13.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Moreover, some of the ethnic people
held quite different than other and the way they held is interesting such as
hold a bowl full of water and sip the Padauk flowers in it then to touch the
people they wish to pour. When the water festival ended, the next day is
Burmese New Year day.</span></div>
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<span style="background: white; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 13.0pt; line-height: 107%;">On that day, the entire Buddhist
visit to pagodas in the day time then in the evening, they invited monks to
their streets to saying prayers to have a better future and drive out the evil
spirits. Therefore, if you have never been experience with the Burmese
traditional water festival, please do try visit Burma during that time.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 13.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 13.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><b><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 107%;">Noticed</span></b></span></h3>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbsiiBxK5w0ew1WEZWZN8dWuf0rPv47rgDpk4FHBQ0hM4I3h-V9hRNjbhBlVcfXyIyrcVJY_34otqqq_HbPL6oo6wMF1fgIbGIW7rNTp8YDzilM4p-DalOKKsEaKhZef6dRpNRqzTZleM/s1600/DSC_2945_cleaned.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="568" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbsiiBxK5w0ew1WEZWZN8dWuf0rPv47rgDpk4FHBQ0hM4I3h-V9hRNjbhBlVcfXyIyrcVJY_34otqqq_HbPL6oo6wMF1fgIbGIW7rNTp8YDzilM4p-DalOKKsEaKhZef6dRpNRqzTZleM/s640/DSC_2945_cleaned.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="background: white; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 13.0pt; line-height: 107%;">During the celebrations it is
impossible to walk down the street without someone tipping an icy cold bucket
of water over you: great in the +40°C heat, not so great if you have your phone
in your pocket!</span></div>
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<span style="background: white; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 13.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 13.0pt; line-height: 107%;">You should purchase waterproof
zip-lock dry-bags for our phones and armed with our waterproof Go-Pro we headed
out onto the street! In under a minute we were drenched!</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 13.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="blogger-post-footer">Follow ActiveTravel.Asia on the social web <img alt="" src="http://www.activetravelvietnam.com/resources/icons/facebook.gif" /> <a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Active-Travel-Asia/67878574405">Facebook</a> <img alt="" src="http://www.activetravelvietnam.com/resources/icons/myspace.gif" /> <a href="http://www.myspace.com/activetravel">MySpace</a> <img alt="" src="http://www.activetravelvietnam.com/resources/icons/twitter.gif" /> <a href="http://twitter.com/Active_Travel">Twitter</a></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08412838754659253250noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-422882030703736977.post-42181874646230957432016-07-20T00:27:00.002-07:002016-07-20T00:27:29.848-07:00Incredible Angkor Wat<div style="text-align: justify;">
<i><b>Sited inside the architectural complex of the Khmer Empire, Angkor had been constructed from the 9th to the 15th century with aim of creating a Hindu temple, before transforming into a Buddhist place of worship.</b></i></div>
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-duv0jWFmsf4/V4yIKE8L_KI/AAAAAAAAJ6g/mStJBd4vmAou5kmmRmFRadBiOQfydRHMACLcB/s1600/angkor-wat-cambodia.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Angkor-Wat-Cambodia-1" border="0" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-duv0jWFmsf4/V4yIKE8L_KI/AAAAAAAAJ6g/mStJBd4vmAou5kmmRmFRadBiOQfydRHMACLcB/s1600/angkor-wat-cambodia.JPG" title="Angkor Wat, Cambodia" /></a></div>
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By the way of using satellite imaginary, some scientists explained why the construction of Angkor Wat was capable of carrying out. The answer was that ancient Khmer people dig a canal 34km long to transport stone from mountains to the construction area of the temple.
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-pSPJNgMGG40/V4yIiZcQw8I/AAAAAAAAJ6k/jag25e42BYIX0BDgYUalfrGKXdmrBW4pACLcB/s1600/angkor-wat-cambodia-1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Angkor-Wat-Cambodia-2" border="0" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-pSPJNgMGG40/V4yIiZcQw8I/AAAAAAAAJ6k/jag25e42BYIX0BDgYUalfrGKXdmrBW4pACLcB/s1600/angkor-wat-cambodia-1.JPG" title="Angkor Wat, Cambodia" /></a></div>
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This enormous structure was built of 5 million tons of stone and within 35 years. As the icon of <a alt="Cambodia travel guide" href="http://www.activetravel.asia/vietnam-adventure-travel-guide-gl14.html" target="_blank" title="Cambodia travel guide">Cambodia</a> and also pride of the Cambodian, it has appeared on the country’s national flag since 1850.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtS9fwQAJACsXidzq78r0Oa4P5_csVXzjlAntrBoRW4aZxigNjqQqmmcGHGwyG7WRm0Foc0SRU_-urEDqFHoprGMjqHHLSi2igIUPTi4sRbNhNLKpwMD-JTN2YAl4Y785Fw38tYZqSde8/s1600/angkor-wat-cambodia-2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Angkor-Wat-Cambodia-3" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtS9fwQAJACsXidzq78r0Oa4P5_csVXzjlAntrBoRW4aZxigNjqQqmmcGHGwyG7WRm0Foc0SRU_-urEDqFHoprGMjqHHLSi2igIUPTi4sRbNhNLKpwMD-JTN2YAl4Y785Fw38tYZqSde8/s1600/angkor-wat-cambodia-2.JPG" title="Angkor Wat, Cambodia" /></a></div>
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Angkor Wat has a perimeter of nearly 6km and an area of barely 200ha. Its main tower rise a height of 65m. It is the unique temple mountain in Cambodia featuring the main entrance oriented to the west, the direction in which the sun goes down.</div>
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-SZtqZncIpnY/V4yTKof_C5I/AAAAAAAAJ7A/4v_IZWgSjqIX6vOaqTjjKSp3qnm9tIaVACLcB/s1600/angkor-wat-cambodia-3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Angkor-Wat-Cambodia-4" border="0" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-SZtqZncIpnY/V4yTKof_C5I/AAAAAAAAJ7A/4v_IZWgSjqIX6vOaqTjjKSp3qnm9tIaVACLcB/s1600/angkor-wat-cambodia-3.JPG" title="Angkor Wat, Cambodia" /></a></div>
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The temple was built in the shape of a pyramid. Its central quincunx of five towers symbolizes the five peaks of Mount Meru, a sacred mountain Hindu cosmology, with three sets of steps leading up to the gopuras represent for three levels: the lowest set represents for hell or underground, the middle one represents for earth, and the highest one stands for heaven where deities live.</div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Q7AdGv3m-KE/V4yUBUXBDVI/AAAAAAAAJ7I/4Bwk1pegnzYq3Y7nKldAS8KTJfUW-OMPwCLcB/s1600/angkor-wat-cambodia-4.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Angkor-Wat-Cambodia-5" border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Q7AdGv3m-KE/V4yUBUXBDVI/AAAAAAAAJ7I/4Bwk1pegnzYq3Y7nKldAS8KTJfUW-OMPwCLcB/s1600/angkor-wat-cambodia-4.JPG" title="Angkor Wat, Cambodia" /></a></div>
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Angkor Wat was inscribed on UNESCO’s World Heritage List in 1992, becoming the cultural icon of not only Cambodia but also Southeast Asia and over Asia.</div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4JbK72Q6N70/V4ykEMbW_wI/AAAAAAAAJ7k/G9k35inVMyMctN3SO5pW2Rl_ccc4Xr5NQCLcB/s1600/angkor-wat-Cambodia-number-6.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img alt="angkor-wat-Cambodia-number-6" border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4JbK72Q6N70/V4ykEMbW_wI/AAAAAAAAJ7k/G9k35inVMyMctN3SO5pW2Rl_ccc4Xr5NQCLcB/s1600/angkor-wat-Cambodia-number-6.JPG" title="Angkor Wat, Cambodia " /></a></div>
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Sunrise is the best time in day that Angkor Wat is most beautiful. Every day from 5 a.m, hundreds of travelers flock to two sides of the lake in front of the temple to contemplate dawn.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDySLuIGkZprzIZsfj4v0qOIeaM1_C71lZq9KlLaZcYXbMqJ0mSjVIZLnZQFesEydh6Amn4NSDajz2O2pfnyFIHsA8cHIBfnrcWUMZoGi0u50bSTtOxOtLFq8Lo6yXKbNYzCBwSKenjhQ/s1600/Angkor-Wat-Cambodia-7.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Angkor-Wat-Cambodia-7" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDySLuIGkZprzIZsfj4v0qOIeaM1_C71lZq9KlLaZcYXbMqJ0mSjVIZLnZQFesEydh6Amn4NSDajz2O2pfnyFIHsA8cHIBfnrcWUMZoGi0u50bSTtOxOtLFq8Lo6yXKbNYzCBwSKenjhQ/s1600/Angkor-Wat-Cambodia-7.JPG" title="Angkor Wat, Cambodia" /></a></div>
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The entrance fee of Angkor Wat has several different kinds: $20 for one day, $40 for three days and $60 for seven days. Visiting hours are 5:00AM - 6:00PM. Angkor Wat closes at 6:00PM, Banteay Srey closes at 5:00PM and Kbal Spean at 3:00PM. While visiting, always carrying the ticket because it will be checked upon each park entry and at major temples.</div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-piS76G51ofw/V4yrhgo1L-I/AAAAAAAAJ74/CaNyoTLHRe0N2kS0BSSk0UlwzzlYySvtwCLcB/s1600/Angkor-Wat-Cambodia-8.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Angkor-Wat-Cambodia-8" border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-piS76G51ofw/V4yrhgo1L-I/AAAAAAAAJ74/CaNyoTLHRe0N2kS0BSSk0UlwzzlYySvtwCLcB/s1600/Angkor-Wat-Cambodia-8.JPG" title="Angkor Wat, Cambodia" /></a></div>
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Angkor Wat was translated as “Temple City” or “City of Temples”.</div>
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-trHNl2334Bk/V4ysDMXrkSI/AAAAAAAAJ8E/whseUCITh8QWp1AE_oJVRK0kyny5xCLqgCLcB/s1600/Angkor-Wat-Cambodia-9.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Angkor-Wat-Cambodia-9" border="0" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-trHNl2334Bk/V4ysDMXrkSI/AAAAAAAAJ8E/whseUCITh8QWp1AE_oJVRK0kyny5xCLqgCLcB/s1600/Angkor-Wat-Cambodia-9.JPG" title="Angkor Wat, Cambodia" /></a></div>
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Its bas-reliefs proceed in a counter-clockwise direction, an evidence for the view that it served as a funerary temple, concluded via the truth that the temple is oriented to the west rather than the east like most Khmer temples.</div>
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lV0AJINQFHg/V4yuTl0zosI/AAAAAAAAJ8Q/arCAb-x1FsUkOuEeExQ7V2WiBj28eDBLACEw/s1600/Angkor-Wat-Cambodia-10.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Angkor-Wat-Cambodia-10" border="0" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lV0AJINQFHg/V4yuTl0zosI/AAAAAAAAJ8Q/arCAb-x1FsUkOuEeExQ7V2WiBj28eDBLACEw/s1600/Angkor-Wat-Cambodia-10.JPG" title="Angkor Wat, Cambodia" /></a></div>
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Every year, Angkor Wat attracts 50% of foreign tourists <a alt="Cambodia adventure tours" href="http://www.activetravel.asia/cambodia-adventure-tours-tl346.html" target="_blank" title="Cambodia adventure tours">travelling to Cambodia</a>.</div>
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xty7836z3xE/V4yvUJwYD8I/AAAAAAAAJ8Y/N2LIBNqZRosR2YTM5oKekKtohq_X1MxlgCLcB/s1600/Angkor-Wat-Cambodia-11.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Angkor-Wat-Cambodia-11" border="0" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xty7836z3xE/V4yvUJwYD8I/AAAAAAAAJ8Y/N2LIBNqZRosR2YTM5oKekKtohq_X1MxlgCLcB/s1600/Angkor-Wat-Cambodia-11.JPG" title="Angkor Wat, Cambodia" /></a></div>
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The most original trait of this temple is the sculptural paintings on the wall of the gallery in the first floor. This is one of the largest and longest carved-stone frescos in the world with the height of 2.5m and the length of 800m.</div>
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0EAGtnby1ow/V4ywSNAjEnI/AAAAAAAAJ8k/jMn-kKn0GeomA5738KzNMoMSRbI3AQxMQCLcB/s1600/Angkor-Wat-Cambodia-12.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Angkor-Wat-Cambodia-12" border="0" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0EAGtnby1ow/V4ywSNAjEnI/AAAAAAAAJ8k/jMn-kKn0GeomA5738KzNMoMSRbI3AQxMQCLcB/s1600/Angkor-Wat-Cambodia-12.JPG" title="Angkor Wat, Cambodia" /></a></div>
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The temple has 398 rooms, with stone carving art on ceilings, corridors, balustrades and colonettes manifesting excellent, virtuoso talent of ancient Khmer people. The second floor is adorned with depictions of dancing Apsaras (heavenly nymphs of the clouds and waters in Hindu myth). The third floor includes two corridors forming a cross and intersect perpendicularly at the middle.</div>
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7vo8Vc4kuVE/V4ywqVjUobI/AAAAAAAAJ8o/cc7lriKFSOwzbiaIMpMaHTFgYtvxyjmRwCLcB/s1600/Angkor-Wat-Cambodia-13.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Angkor-Wat-Cambodia-13" border="0" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7vo8Vc4kuVE/V4ywqVjUobI/AAAAAAAAJ8o/cc7lriKFSOwzbiaIMpMaHTFgYtvxyjmRwCLcB/s1600/Angkor-Wat-Cambodia-13.JPG" title="Angkor Wat, Cambodia" /></a></div>
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Another spectacular temple in the <a alt="Top temples in Angkor" href="http://news.activetravelcambodia.com/2015/06/best-10-temples-in-siem-reap.html" target="_blank" title="Top temples in Angkor">Complex of Angkor</a> is Ta Prohm, well-known for giant roofs and vines that weigh down part of the temple. The structure was ever chosen as the shooting location of blockbuster Tom Raider.</div>
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<div class="blogger-post-footer">Follow ActiveTravel.Asia on the social web <img alt="" src="http://www.activetravelvietnam.com/resources/icons/facebook.gif" /> <a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Active-Travel-Asia/67878574405">Facebook</a> <img alt="" src="http://www.activetravelvietnam.com/resources/icons/myspace.gif" /> <a href="http://www.myspace.com/activetravel">MySpace</a> <img alt="" src="http://www.activetravelvietnam.com/resources/icons/twitter.gif" /> <a href="http://twitter.com/Active_Travel">Twitter</a></div>Active Travel Asiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17720226021825421230noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-422882030703736977.post-82997875383879655602016-05-23T03:37:00.002-07:002016-07-08T01:16:47.167-07:00Discover Vietnam's Subsidy Period via Five Cafes in Hanoi <div style="text-align: justify;">
<b><i>Amid a new Hanoi bustling and flashy, sometimes people want to come to some serene and gentle corners, where preserve their memories of an unforgettable period – the Subsidy phase (Bao Cấp). </i></b></div>
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-43nyGyj9baM/Vz_TkamLFSI/AAAAAAAAJ3c/R7PcvJl10sYM9e8fTxCavXBp1XmBiXw2ACLcB/s1600/subsidy-phase-cafes-hanoi-vietnam.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="subsidy-phase-cafes-hanoi-vietnam" border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-43nyGyj9baM/Vz_TkamLFSI/AAAAAAAAJ3c/R7PcvJl10sYM9e8fTxCavXBp1XmBiXw2ACLcB/s1600/subsidy-phase-cafes-hanoi-vietnam.jpg" title="subsidy-phase-cafes-hanoi-vietnam" /></a></div>
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<i> Photo: Instagram @Congcaphe</i> </div>
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<b># Cộng</b></div>
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Cong café doesn’t have only one address, it has now developed into a brand chain of several dozens of various-sized shops located on many <a href="http://www.activetravelmagazines.com/new-forms-of-old-streets.html" target="_blank">streets in Hanoi</a>.</div>
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All Cộng cafes feature a space imbued with the old-styled quality, ingeniously recalling subconscious of customers with wooden chairs and benches, barbers’ chairs and sewing machine tables. These objects, according to many business people, are both worthless and… invaluable.<br />
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-tVBltxwrf1w/Vz_V6dhZSsI/AAAAAAAAJ3o/VFVBv8lT1E8rMxM0-RSKsq8d4A0PplInACLcB/s1600/cong-cafe-hanoi-vietnam.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="cong-cafe-hanoi-vietnam" border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-tVBltxwrf1w/Vz_V6dhZSsI/AAAAAAAAJ3o/VFVBv8lT1E8rMxM0-RSKsq8d4A0PplInACLcB/s1600/cong-cafe-hanoi-vietnam.jpg" title="cong-cafe-hanoi-vietnam" /></a></div>
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<i>Photo: Instagram @meonhan</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik8toNgi_sUHnTaATYencbuw8jlfNe0WjGqMiOqP_yluqgcjh2Qh256DLZNycjWZz8XaY4CCtnB2gtb_T7Pl5Czjv4jDCY-0I3TtnvwJ7-PL24CAhazDFqKxdLm0PNLbKkZrmGWHyUrfY/s1600/cong-cafe-hanoi-vietnam-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="cong-cafe-hanoi-vietnam-2" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik8toNgi_sUHnTaATYencbuw8jlfNe0WjGqMiOqP_yluqgcjh2Qh256DLZNycjWZz8XaY4CCtnB2gtb_T7Pl5Czjv4jDCY-0I3TtnvwJ7-PL24CAhazDFqKxdLm0PNLbKkZrmGWHyUrfY/s1600/cong-cafe-hanoi-vietnam-2.jpg" title="cong-cafe-hanoi-vietnam-2" /></a></div>
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<i> </i><i>Photo: Instagram @Congcaphe</i></div>
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To common people, painted wooden chairs and broken sewing machine tables are merely cast-off junk; but to creative ones, these items become highlights. </div>
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<b># Bao Cấp</b> (Subsidy) </div>
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If objectively commenting, Bao Cấp is the catchiest name, but the café doesn’t have many exceed differences compared to other same-styled coffee shops. However, each its small, safe and sound corner is enough to evoke quivering emotions about a bygone era. </div>
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<img alt="bao-cap-cafe-hanoi-vietnam" border="0" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ie6-hROryAg/Vz_ZTxCurqI/AAAAAAAAJ4M/Xn7jd4O_pjU3CDoh2Oft1U3brQEOwoR7QCLcB/s1600/bao-cap-cafe-hanoi-vietnam.jpg" title="bao-cap-cafe-hanoi-vietnam" /> </div>
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<i>Photo: Instagram @i__phuwowng </i></div>
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Zm-CgxtSrig/Vz_ZTbk_3nI/AAAAAAAAJ4E/xazFPhhied8LvpiKAG-xQbajBOIWQok-gCLcB/s1600/bao-cap-cafe-hanoi-vietnam-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="bao-cap-cafe-hanoi-vietnam-1" border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Zm-CgxtSrig/Vz_ZTbk_3nI/AAAAAAAAJ4E/xazFPhhied8LvpiKAG-xQbajBOIWQok-gCLcB/s1600/bao-cap-cafe-hanoi-vietnam-1.jpg" title="bao-cap-cafe-hanoi-vietnam-1" /></a></div>
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<i>Photo: Instagram @qanhhhh </i></div>
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<i>Photo: instagram @_le08</i></div>
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<i> Photo: Instagram @jin.jhin</i></div>
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<b># Xoan </b><br />
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Every corner in the shop is a strange street like “Happy street”, “Waving street”… accompanying a set of crude wooden tables and chairs, pillows wrapped in flower-patterned or peacock-patterned blanket-fabric, black & white televisions, or legendary dial telephones. <br />
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Some people compare Xoan café as a clear voice among a hustle track, because there aren’t too much peaceful corners as such in this noisy city. <br />
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The space of Xoan is not spacious but open. It has both gardens, yards, and balconies, and is always soaked in music of composer Trịnh Công Sơn.</div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> Photo: Instagram @_trada</span></i></div>
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<i> Photo: instagram @manh_tringuyen</i></div>
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<i> Ảnh: instagram @lanxphu</i></div>
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<i> Photo: instagram @104bc </i></div>
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<i> Photo: instagram @104bc </i> </div>
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All corners of the café on photographs are very beautiful and peculiar, from iron window frames with sunlit flowers, grey walls full of paintings, to sets of small, old rattan chairs, making every time reaching Xoan is feeling like newly setting foot on father’s hometown in every summer.<br />
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Besides, some cats at Xoan will be graceful saboteurs, who may break your relaxing moments anytime. Cats in the café are fearless and familiar with human body odor so they are extremely friendly and lovely. </div>
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<b># Xí Nghiệp</b> (Factory)<br />
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Xi Nghiep was already old. It was old in both style and age, because it is one of the oldest subsidy-styled cafés in <a href="http://www.activetravel.asia/hanoi-travel-information-g195.html" target="_blank">Hanoi</a>.</div>
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<img alt="xi-nghiep-cafe-hanoi-vietnam" border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-sd3aTusedGc/Vz_qmkgNQdI/AAAAAAAAJ5I/2G-5Sc_ND4kFFxZCanU8ZNFkCtVfbI-ewCLcB/s1600/xi-nghiep-cafe-hanoi-vietnam.jpg" title="xi-nghiep-cafe-hanoi-vietnam" /></div>
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<i>Photo: Instagram @nhacuacoffeeholic</i></div>
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<i> Photo: Instagram @dingolong</i></div>
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<i> Photo: Instagram @hnamle</i></div>
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The owner demonstrates the artistic character through subtle spatial arrangement, which is very suitable to the name “Xí Nghiệp” (factory). Reaching here, you will touch unpainted brick walls, old ironwood tables, typewriters, antique speakers, books and notebooks with yellowed paper.</div>
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The particular centerpiece of the shop is perhaps the ancient motorbike suspended right above the bar, making anyone getting to the café be full of admiration and amused.</div>
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<b># Cuối Ngõ</b> (At the end of the Alley)<br />
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Precise like the name, it’s truly situated at the end of an alley! It’s small, rustic and simple like a part of an ancient house from a former village long time ago.<br />
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<img alt="cuoi-ngo-cafe-hanoi-vietnam" border="0" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mrAC5W6Kme4/Vz_v-bcThsI/AAAAAAAAJ5k/0oz6-4Zs34InVUiuyeoymSg-QB-sifFpACLcB/s1600/cuoi-ngo-cafe-hanoi-vietnam.jpg" title="cuoi-ngo-cafe-hanoi-vietnam" /> </div>
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<i> Ảnh: instagram @kevinisjustfine</i></div>
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<i> Photo: Instagram @vuvancanh</i></div>
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<i>Photo: Instagram @ng_t_giang</i></div>
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<i>Photo: Instagram @klinnyt</i></div>
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All objects inside the shop are so reminiscent of space of Tokin (North Vietnam) in olden days, with rustic bamboo tables, lampshades made of Neohouzeaua (an Asian bamboo), battered green-painted wooden chairs, and oil paintings that being old can be felt by just looking them. Nevertheless, vases of flowers here are always fresh and new. This shows the careful attention of the owner. </div>
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Music in the shop is mainly songs of Trịnh Công Sơn. Especially, the interior of the shop has a portrait of deceased musician Trịnh Công Sơn hung solemnly at the center position, where is also the stage for live music shows in every Thursday evening.<br />
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<i>Via: K.H </i></div>
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<i>>> Read more: </i><br />
<ul>
<li><i><a href="http://vietnamtour.com/top_hanoi_coffee_shops_for_authentic_taste_n110.html" target="_blank">Longstanding cafes in Hanoi for authentic taste</a></i></li>
<li><i><a href="http://www.activetravelvietnam.com/tour.php?op=detail&tourId=75" target="_blank">Hanoi city tour</a></i></li>
</ul>
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<i></i></div>
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<div class="blogger-post-footer">Follow ActiveTravel.Asia on the social web <img alt="" src="http://www.activetravelvietnam.com/resources/icons/facebook.gif" /> <a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Active-Travel-Asia/67878574405">Facebook</a> <img alt="" src="http://www.activetravelvietnam.com/resources/icons/myspace.gif" /> <a href="http://www.myspace.com/activetravel">MySpace</a> <img alt="" src="http://www.activetravelvietnam.com/resources/icons/twitter.gif" /> <a href="http://twitter.com/Active_Travel">Twitter</a></div>Active Travel Asiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17720226021825421230noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-422882030703736977.post-65056959790335194252016-05-11T20:14:00.002-07:002016-05-11T20:14:54.560-07:00Cambodia’s Top Alluring Islands<div style="text-align: justify;">
<i>Absorbed in grandiose, magnificent temples, may travelers forget that <a href="http://www.activetravel.asia/cambodia-adventure-guide-gl12.html" target="_blank">Cambodia</a> is also home to a mass of enthralling islands.</i><br />
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<b>1. Koh Sdach: Best for local life discovery </b><br />
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Positioned between Koh Kong and Sihanoukville islands, Koh Sdach is the anchoring place of many boats. Reach it, apart from sea bathing, searching out culture and lifestyle of the local fishermen residing in small villages will make the trip more interesting.<br />
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5D8wj_pYRus/Vw9lHm2nVLI/AAAAAAAAJ1o/yzaxJ-hPT8or0yz8Zd71jC6IQi2wlLFsgCLcB/s1600/Koh-Sdach-island-Cambodia.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Koh-Sdach-island-Cambodia" border="0" height="423" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5D8wj_pYRus/Vw9lHm2nVLI/AAAAAAAAJ1o/yzaxJ-hPT8or0yz8Zd71jC6IQi2wlLFsgCLcB/s640/Koh-Sdach-island-Cambodia.jpg" title="Koh-Sdach-island-Cambodia" width="640" /></a></div>
<b><br />2. Koh Ta Kiew: Best for wine </b><br />
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If you want to find a secluded, gorgeous beaches, yes, it has, a lot. Now the island is developed tourism by a Malaysian company with a rental agreement for 99 years.<br />
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Perhaps Koh Ta Kiev are the last place that it’s possible to see an absinthe bar. It earn a good reputation thanks to one-man operation named Syn Absinthe, who makes types of hand-crafted, small-batch absinthe. Aside from joining a distillery tour that embraces the whole process, guests can have fun by frolicking in blue sea, sun-burnt lying on quiet beaches and playing coconut bowling.<br />
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-AhGvJldzOzo/Vw9nPTzZWxI/AAAAAAAAJ10/k4kC2yrAePU5_2VT3M7XcZV8rkIvHqDwQCLcB/s1600/Koh-Ta-Kiev-island-Cambodia.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Koh-Ta-Kiev-island-Cambodia" border="0" height="434" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-AhGvJldzOzo/Vw9nPTzZWxI/AAAAAAAAJ10/k4kC2yrAePU5_2VT3M7XcZV8rkIvHqDwQCLcB/s640/Koh-Ta-Kiev-island-Cambodia.jpg" title="Koh-Ta-Kiev-island-Cambodia" width="640" /></a></div>
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<b>3. Song Saa: Best for luxury</b><br />
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In fact, it consists of two private small islands, and is oriented to be a sweet, deluxe honeymoon site for couples. Song Saa means “sweethearts” in Khmer tongue. Its villa prices can rocket to $3,000 per night, and the services are high-quality, from the transfers from shore, a bottle of champagne at check-in included in the price, gourmet meals made from natively-sourced foods, to the well-stocked mini-bar and free international calls from the villas. Song Saa even features a 50,000-square-meter marine reserve around the two island. To get there, take a boat or a helicopter flight.<br />
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xHcHtYmhpqo/Vw9n42SBpcI/AAAAAAAAJ18/7UoTmrQkzvIDX0SsMoeFGlU1yyfJt9r5ACLcB/s1600/song-saa-island-cambodia.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="song-saa-island-cambodia" border="0" height="480" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xHcHtYmhpqo/Vw9n42SBpcI/AAAAAAAAJ18/7UoTmrQkzvIDX0SsMoeFGlU1yyfJt9r5ACLcB/s640/song-saa-island-cambodia.jpg" title="song-saa-island-cambodia" width="640" /></a></div>
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<b>4. Koh Rong Samloem (Monkey Island): Best for relaxing</b><br />
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Known as the most beautiful island in Cambodia, Koh Rong Sanloem has long been a top-choice of expats in Phnom Penh, who head to the quiet island for weekends. It’s sited 2 boating hours from the mainland, and features a fishing village, three major coasts and many minor others.<br />
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This is a point of Koh Rong Sanloem: Saracen Bay - a heart-shaped inlet with calm turquoise surf and clean white sand beaches. Not many things to do on the island. Days can be spent to paddle-board, snorkel, or daydream on a good book under a palm tree.<br />
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_dK3kFh0eZQ/Vw9pGqKZNEI/AAAAAAAAJ2I/QDYb7KM9zu87tt9d65eXDkYwlaKPyWvlwCLcB/s1600/Koh-Rong-Samloem-island-Cambodia-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Koh-Rong-Samloem-island-Cambodia" border="0" height="350" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_dK3kFh0eZQ/Vw9pGqKZNEI/AAAAAAAAJ2I/QDYb7KM9zu87tt9d65eXDkYwlaKPyWvlwCLcB/s640/Koh-Rong-Samloem-island-Cambodia-1.jpg" title="Koh-Rong-Samloem-island-Cambodia" width="640" /></a></div>
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<b>5. Koh Rong: Best for party</b><br />
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Koh Rong - Cambodia’s second largest island has fabulous sea with white sand and warm, clear water. In spite of the most famous island in Cambodia, it remains astonishingly pristine.<br />
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Not too long ago Koh Rong’s sole tourist amenities were a handful of bungalows beside miles of dense jungles and stunning white sand beaches. There is still amazing hiking and trekking in the parts of jungles that loggers haven’t been destroyed. Besides, the island is also a great spot for sun-burnt travelers, who like to bake in day and get toasted at night. <br />
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Koh Rong’s business owners are notoriously party-friendly, who are ready to run generators to keep the music going until the wee hours, and supply live DJs and free-beer happy hours.<br />
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-p-S0QSiUtnI/Vw9qA0HjOrI/AAAAAAAAJ2Q/SwwAXE-BBdI-lS-jWnEuuicpxbEpVeDfACLcB/s1600/Koh-Rong-island-Cambodia-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Koh-Rong-island-Cambodia" border="0" height="480" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-p-S0QSiUtnI/Vw9qA0HjOrI/AAAAAAAAJ2Q/SwwAXE-BBdI-lS-jWnEuuicpxbEpVeDfACLcB/s640/Koh-Rong-island-Cambodia-1.jpg" title="Koh-Rong-island-Cambodia" width="640" /></a></div>
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<b>6. Koh Tang: Best for diving</b><br />
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Located roughly 5 boating hours from the mainland, Koh Tang is well-known for its marvelous coral reefs on the sea-bed. This island is unpopulated now except only a small outpost of Cambodian military personnel, causing clear-crystal water with excellent visibility and undisturbed marine life, making it and nearby Koh Prins the perfect islands for diving. There are eight diving sites around the island that offer colorful coral reefs and a wealth of underwater creatures comprising fantastic hued nudibranchs, toxic puffer fish and dazzling stingrays with electric blue spots.<br />
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2mJCwXhR2v4/Vw9q888NlKI/AAAAAAAAJ2c/ksYgU43vOsIIHFWFVAwzDpkEwJB76HjMwCLcB/s1600/Koh-Tang-island-Cambodia-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Koh-Tang-island-Cambodia" border="0" height="400" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2mJCwXhR2v4/Vw9q888NlKI/AAAAAAAAJ2c/ksYgU43vOsIIHFWFVAwzDpkEwJB76HjMwCLcB/s640/Koh-Tang-island-Cambodia-2.jpg" title="Koh-Tang-island-Cambodia" width="640" /></a></div>
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<b>7. Koh Thmei: Best for nature watching</b><br />
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Settled inside Ream national park, Koh Thmei is home to various animals and plants, including monkeys, civets, mountain lizards, over 100 distinct species of birds, and several endangered species like the fishing cat, a wetland feline that inhabits near streams and mangrove forests.<br />
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Koh Thmei resort is the sole accommodation on this island, which covers a block of rustic, environmentally-friendly solar-powered bungalows. Guests can jungle trek, sea kayak, snorkel and bird watch. The resort is even raising ponies that children can ride. There are close deserted beaches to amble with occasional views of dolphins swimming along the shore.<br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FH6d2gg8wHI/Vw9rfPfJQpI/AAAAAAAAJ2o/xhzGfGoQ39YLqyCkxhGZ8gUfJVWeJ-B9gCLcB/s1600/Koh-Thme-island-Cambodia.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Koh-Thmei-island-Cambodia" border="0" height="412" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FH6d2gg8wHI/Vw9rfPfJQpI/AAAAAAAAJ2o/xhzGfGoQ39YLqyCkxhGZ8gUfJVWeJ-B9gCLcB/s640/Koh-Thme-island-Cambodia.jpg" title="Koh-Thmei-island-Cambodia" width="640" /></a></div>
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<b>8. Koh Totang: Best for running out of Internet</b><br />
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It is a wonderful island to completely disconnect from the regular life and escape from botheration of work-emails and social networks. Yep, no Internet on Koh Totang. This charming island has only a place to stay, Nomad's Land, a range of five solar-powered bungalows lack of noisy generators. Rainwater is saved from showers, and produce is grown in a permaculture garden. The simplest thing to do is lying in a swaying hammock, enjoying the view, and provisionally expel all thought of life at home.<br />
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ka1-k8O7Q4M/Vw9sCAJxMsI/AAAAAAAAJ2w/PV0CUObh2hEMMkENSXXgtcFaRzxOiFVOwCLcB/s1600/Koh-Totang-island-Cambodia.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Koh-Totang-island-Cambodia" border="0" height="427" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ka1-k8O7Q4M/Vw9sCAJxMsI/AAAAAAAAJ2w/PV0CUObh2hEMMkENSXXgtcFaRzxOiFVOwCLcB/s640/Koh-Totang-island-Cambodia.jpg" title="Koh-Totang-island-Cambodia" width="640" /></a></div>
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<i>Contact to <a href="http://www.activetravel.asia/" target="_blank">ActiveTravel Asia</a> at <a href="http://www.activetravel.asia/tour-customize.html" target="_blank">here</a> to held your own sea adventure in charming, untouched islands in Cambodia.</i><div class="blogger-post-footer">Follow ActiveTravel.Asia on the social web <img alt="" src="http://www.activetravelvietnam.com/resources/icons/facebook.gif" /> <a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Active-Travel-Asia/67878574405">Facebook</a> <img alt="" src="http://www.activetravelvietnam.com/resources/icons/myspace.gif" /> <a href="http://www.myspace.com/activetravel">MySpace</a> <img alt="" src="http://www.activetravelvietnam.com/resources/icons/twitter.gif" /> <a href="http://twitter.com/Active_Travel">Twitter</a></div>Active Travel Asiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17720226021825421230noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-422882030703736977.post-55384510490137169982016-04-06T03:53:00.002-07:002016-04-27T20:17:35.085-07:0010 Adventures in Laos<div style="text-align: justify;">
<i>If you aren’t interested in familiar and much touristy spots like Luang Prabang and Vang Vieng, let take 10 itineraries following to immerse in wild nature and enjoy peace. </i></div>
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<b>1. Kayak in Si Phan Don</b><br />
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Si Phan Don (4,000 Islands) is surely a promising spot for kayaking thanks to the calm and gentle course, majestic natural scenery and beautiful villages along the Mekong river. This bunch of islands lies on the mighty Mekong River, includes superb Khone waterfall and a chain of reef that paralyze navigation of any boats. Threatened Irrawaddy dolphins can be found at the basin of the fall. Among islands, Don Det, Don Khone and Don Khong are largest, where focus rustic rest houses perfect for an escape from noise and bustling. </div>
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<b>2. Discover ancient Khmer relics</b><br />
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If you are keen on Tomb Raider movie shot at <a href="http://news.activetravelcambodia.com/2015/06/best-10-temples-in-siem-reap.html" target="_blank">Ta Prohm temple</a> in Cambodia, or Indiana Jones adventure franchise, sure you will be excited when reaching Champasak province to explore vestiges of ancient Khmer temples dated the 11th to the 13th century and used to be a part of Angkor Empire. Wat Phou complex of shrines and palace isn't as large as Angkor, but it is quite deserted, silent and extremely occult with cluttered rubble, swamps, crocodiles crawl higgledy-piggledy and broken trunks. This construction was inscribed on the list of World Heritage Sites by UNESCO.</div>
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<b>3. Zipline through jungle</b><br />
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<b></b>Zipline is definitely suited for daring travelers. At Bokeo nature reserve in northern Laos, flying over the old jungle and the valley on a 500m-high cable and it’s able to enjoy freedom among a vast, green space. This jungle also offers chances to sleep in tree-houses and observe endangered black-cheeked gibbons once in a lifetime. It is even home to many other rare species such as elephant, bear, tiger, water-buffalo and various birds. </div>
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<b>4. Climb karst mountains in Nong Khiaw</b></div>
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Climbing mountains in Nong Khiaw, the area on the bank of Ou river in the northern country, has been permitted since 2002. After defeating the craggy karst peaks, climbers can have panoramic view to primitive and tranquil landscapes of imposing mountains and streams. </div>
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For ones adore caving, let explore Pha Tok cave located 2km from the backward but serene Nong Khiaw village. It used to be the refuse of the locals during the Indochina Wars.</div>
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<i>Photo: worldtour-outdoorexperience.com</i></div>
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<b>5. Row boat over a limestone cave </b></div>
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Tham Kong Lo cave is obviously a star in <a href="http://www.activetravel.asia/laos-adventures-tl351.html" target="_blank">Laos travel</a>. Situated in the heart of the wildest area in the country – Phu Hin Bin national park of Khammouane Province, this limestone cave stretches 7km, with some its parts are 91m high, and features a pure beauty of the green river and miraculous stalactites inside. It has a reputation of one of Southeast Asia’s greatest geological wonders.</div>
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A green, precious lake in the cave is deified by the natives as they suppose that the water surface reflects the skin color of Indra, a deity in Hindu culture. No one reaching Tham Kong Lo is without an incredible boat trip through this spiritual cave.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDLGalgOVEQzR5JoH8H2UPAFLEuIaIHSILXDGvfsAztrNJm0zt3Wup2j_inR77kCAQSAKaqvrsLSrI7oJiaezcd_xPs3xw8lvl2vy9fSLydQIOzFycvflR_-pby8Xwf5r9D3RSoZfLAcdh/s1600/tham-kong-lo-cave-boating-laos.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="tham-kong-lo-cave-boating-laos" border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDLGalgOVEQzR5JoH8H2UPAFLEuIaIHSILXDGvfsAztrNJm0zt3Wup2j_inR77kCAQSAKaqvrsLSrI7oJiaezcd_xPs3xw8lvl2vy9fSLydQIOzFycvflR_-pby8Xwf5r9D3RSoZfLAcdh/s640/tham-kong-lo-cave-boating-laos.jpg" title="tham-kong-lo-cave-boating-laos" width="640" /></a></div>
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<b>6. Trek through jungles in “the land of hundreds of waterfalls”</b></div>
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As the name it is, the northern Laos owns many hundreds of small and big waterfalls pouring down like white silk pieces. With a trek through Nong Khiaw jungle, travelers can stop at peaceful Nong Khiaw village adjacent waterfalls.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNvPT0agCknIDOUU3e3dOhFRg4zVU0HzzLao3Y6pCg63EOZ0W1VbKPAoXt-exHnhmhbG03w0OSC_F00MwMGyvoMI2KDkKUtIoDIn-yn7jVwl0q16X21wX6lBhA0haY8ejeGEOBX4_g04Qk/s1600/jungle-trekking-laos.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="jungle-trekking-laos" border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNvPT0agCknIDOUU3e3dOhFRg4zVU0HzzLao3Y6pCg63EOZ0W1VbKPAoXt-exHnhmhbG03w0OSC_F00MwMGyvoMI2KDkKUtIoDIn-yn7jVwl0q16X21wX6lBhA0haY8ejeGEOBX4_g04Qk/s640/jungle-trekking-laos.jpg" title="jungle-trekking-laos" width="640" /></a></div>
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<b>7. Explore Vieng Xai caves – where thousands hid from American bombs</b></div>
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This gigantic system of caves is one of the most important historic relics in Laos. In the war, over 2,000 people took refuge here to avoid bombards. Laotian people established sufficient infrastructure inside the cave, with bedrooms, offices, hospitals, elephant enclose, bakery, a market, a theatre, a printing press and even a bank.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiTVfBbroA4r7iSMN9F5hAwJnP2EpUc9OdlxSMco_bw4KlF8O9gyQA6L_ocUvyKs829IvJ8cMZPDtHRAMMEZCtiFiJgCtVNpqiguuMz40KvYJyxn81Y0lyj3cZpV1ouG5I1VbjDglSWJHe/s1600/viengxay-cave-laos.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="viengxay-cave-laos" border="0" height="416" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiTVfBbroA4r7iSMN9F5hAwJnP2EpUc9OdlxSMco_bw4KlF8O9gyQA6L_ocUvyKs829IvJ8cMZPDtHRAMMEZCtiFiJgCtVNpqiguuMz40KvYJyxn81Y0lyj3cZpV1ouG5I1VbjDglSWJHe/s640/viengxay-cave-laos.jpg" title="viengxay-cave-laos" width="640" /></a></div>
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<b>8. Learn to become a mahout</b><br />
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Riding elephants through jungles is a diffused activities in Laos. However, it’s more impressive if you can join in a mahout course training how to control an elephant. This class is hold at elephant camps around the famous city Luang Prabang. <i>>> See <a href="http://www.activetravel.asia/trekking-cycling-kayaking-in-luang-prabang-t300.html" target="_blank">Luang Prabang adventure</a></i><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3tu2F86bgSmcs88Fg2aw464yStVv5Xl4t1FdghT6cUep-uEFBCZNDbhjlsdIQW9O8ZAlML7UzS8hAv7JUz-FZb3UwqeiM_mp8neT9zrUdygu9CN6BcxbCtVElLirc8B_y6MV6hS9Jf62H/s1600/learn-to-become-a-mahout-in-laos.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="learn-to-become-a-mahout-in-laos" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3tu2F86bgSmcs88Fg2aw464yStVv5Xl4t1FdghT6cUep-uEFBCZNDbhjlsdIQW9O8ZAlML7UzS8hAv7JUz-FZb3UwqeiM_mp8neT9zrUdygu9CN6BcxbCtVElLirc8B_y6MV6hS9Jf62H/s1600/learn-to-become-a-mahout-in-laos.jpg" title="learn-to-become-a-mahout-in-laos" /></a></div>
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<b>9. Discover the country by bicycle</b><br />
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Laos is an amazing place for ones indulge in exploring new regions on two wheels. Cycling is the best way to sightsee scenery along the ways, talk with locals, and especially find out authentic things, exotic things, or less-known things that you may be hard to see if on a car or bus.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqQi-4qxktZO2KrRFMjwS5FSpyr7vqad199NlkGjxh3hCfKdoOGLlnTXH32IDE75CF16CyLu0tNrBonw9uznHZV8v1iZZDTQWiEFy97U0AHVZXMsKDBfgbdV7rTlhu0LTE66tp-RkFSJQ8/s1600/biking-laos.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="biking-laos" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqQi-4qxktZO2KrRFMjwS5FSpyr7vqad199NlkGjxh3hCfKdoOGLlnTXH32IDE75CF16CyLu0tNrBonw9uznHZV8v1iZZDTQWiEFy97U0AHVZXMsKDBfgbdV7rTlhu0LTE66tp-RkFSJQ8/s1600/biking-laos.jpg" title="biking-laos" /></a></div>
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<b>10. <a href="http://www.activetravel.asia/discover-the-hidden-land-of-phongsali-t307.html" target="_blank">Trek in Phongsali</a> and encounter exotic tribes</b><br />
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One of most fascinating <a href="http://www.activetravellaos.com/laos-adventure-tours.html" target="_blank">treks in Laos</a> is to Phongsali, the northernmost province sharing its same border with China. Sited high on a small ridge-top plateau, this destination offers breathtaking panoramic views and a cool climate that can swing from pleasantly warm to downright cold in a matter of hours. Enjoying a trek in the surrounding hills, it’s easy to encounter ethnic groups with diverse and unique cultures.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji1x7p4dSrAR5-OzlxduvuLvFnzQWQHuUHYOx6KLfWBZR82liuPon41lmBMthOVYZxaSjZrlcD3fEJy4Zvsk0mVzT_7eE7mO148tQsBWov_8V_BL8-0cWDTNdJ6WhYXJ2KfCRgBaa-iwdV/s1600/trek-phongsali-laos.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="trek-phongsali-laos" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji1x7p4dSrAR5-OzlxduvuLvFnzQWQHuUHYOx6KLfWBZR82liuPon41lmBMthOVYZxaSjZrlcD3fEJy4Zvsk0mVzT_7eE7mO148tQsBWov_8V_BL8-0cWDTNdJ6WhYXJ2KfCRgBaa-iwdV/s1600/trek-phongsali-laos.jpg" title="trek-phongsali-laos" /></a></div>
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<div class="blogger-post-footer">Follow ActiveTravel.Asia on the social web <img alt="" src="http://www.activetravelvietnam.com/resources/icons/facebook.gif" /> <a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Active-Travel-Asia/67878574405">Facebook</a> <img alt="" src="http://www.activetravelvietnam.com/resources/icons/myspace.gif" /> <a href="http://www.myspace.com/activetravel">MySpace</a> <img alt="" src="http://www.activetravelvietnam.com/resources/icons/twitter.gif" /> <a href="http://twitter.com/Active_Travel">Twitter</a></div>Active Travel Asiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17720226021825421230noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-422882030703736977.post-74373126247443478422016-02-17T18:52:00.002-08:002016-04-14T20:18:47.372-07:00Top Trails for Vietnam Discovery in 2016<div style="text-align: justify;">
So surprise when seeing stunning photos taken along trails stretching on this S-shaped country. Once riding through breathtaking, rustic, untouched but imposing regions in Vietnam, it will be the most memorable experience in life.<br />
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Here are the 16 best trails for Vietnam discovery in 2016. What makes you hesitate? Let snatch a motorbike and ride your own world. <br />
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<b>#1: Da Nang – Lang Co</b><br />
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Once set foot on Da Nang, don’t skip motorcycling on the trail Da Nang – Lang Co, just only 30km in length but splendidly beautiful. Its southern part features Hai Van pass – the highest and most imposing pass in Vietnam, while its northern part is Phu Gia pass appearing intermittently. Under Hai Van pass, it is Lang Co bay with fine, white sandy beaches stretch and interfuse with ultramarine water that makes anyone also love the bay right in first sight.</div>
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-405YxeZD8kU/VrRrlBnohVI/AAAAAAAAJn8/BPQJlx2Ugfw/s1600/da%2Bnang%2B-%2Blang%2Bco%2Bvietnam.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="da nang - lang co vietnam" border="0" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-405YxeZD8kU/VrRrlBnohVI/AAAAAAAAJn8/BPQJlx2Ugfw/s1600/da%2Bnang%2B-%2Blang%2Bco%2Bvietnam.jpg" title="da nang - lang co vietnam" /></a> </div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0qHwXpVrT8Y/VsGGQwyUD2I/AAAAAAAAJwU/IA7nZyfUKsM/s1600/hai-van-pass-vietnam.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="hai-van-pass-vietnam-1" border="0" height="368" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0qHwXpVrT8Y/VsGGQwyUD2I/AAAAAAAAJwU/IA7nZyfUKsM/s640/hai-van-pass-vietnam.jpg" title="hai-van-pass-vietnam-1" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/--1DN8R94RwU/VrRsROWVbVI/AAAAAAAAJoE/gryMuUGdwik/s1600/hai%2Bvan%2Bpass%2Bvietnam.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="hai-van-pass-vietnam-2" border="0" height="442" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/--1DN8R94RwU/VrRsROWVbVI/AAAAAAAAJoE/gryMuUGdwik/s640/hai%2Bvan%2Bpass%2Bvietnam.jpg" title="hai-van-pass-vietnam-2" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ipt4wB4onPk/VrRswLoi72I/AAAAAAAAJoM/jX2HdMbtf3k/s1600/lang-co-bay-vietnam.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><i>Hai Van pass</i></div>
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<b>#2: Saigon – Ca Mau</b><br />
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Crushing this route, it is just the way to conquer the southernmost point of the country. Atmosphere and landscapes dominating this trail are imbued in essence of the South, with boundless rice paddies, wooden bridges and bamboo monkey bridges span over opaquely alluvial canals, and orchards laden with fruits.</div>
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<i>>> Recommended journey: <a href="http://www.activetravel.asia/mekong-biking-explorer-t284.html" target="_blank">Mekong delta exploring on bike</a></i><br />
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-F2ugmOcukHs/VrRuIJS9YkI/AAAAAAAAJoc/IjX5fgffqH8/s1600/long-an-mangrove-forest.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="long-an-mangrove-forest-vietnam" border="0" height="426" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-F2ugmOcukHs/VrRuIJS9YkI/AAAAAAAAJoc/IjX5fgffqH8/s640/long-an-mangrove-forest.jpg" title="long-an-mangrove-forest-vietnam" width="640" /></a></div>
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<i>Long An mangrove forest</i></div>
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Ri0hZgiKT-w/VrRwT2D98gI/AAAAAAAAJoo/3qEct17WRn8/s1600/ben-tre-vietnam.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="ben-tre-vietnam" border="0" height="480" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Ri0hZgiKT-w/VrRwT2D98gI/AAAAAAAAJoo/3qEct17WRn8/s640/ben-tre-vietnam.jpg" title="ben-tre-vietnam" width="640" /></a></div>
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<i>Ben Tre</i></div>
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-b7FncIMyUy4/VsGFuWmyQ7I/AAAAAAAAJwQ/0YbGKnA8Ado/s1600/ca-mau-the-southernmost-point-vietnam.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="ca-mau-vietnam" border="0" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-b7FncIMyUy4/VsGFuWmyQ7I/AAAAAAAAJwQ/0YbGKnA8Ado/s1600/ca-mau-the-southernmost-point-vietnam.jpg" title="ca-mau-vietnam" /></a></div>
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<i>Ca Mau - the southernmost point</i></div>
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<b>#3: Hanoi – Moc Chau – Ta Xua – Bac Yen</b><br />
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For ones who love coping with demanding challenges, it will be a pity if skipping this route, which leads to peacefully limitless flower grounds, and real heavens where sky and the earth blend into one… Let take an expedition to Pha Luong summit – the roof of Moc Chau plateau, or vanquish renowned spots like Kem slope, Cun slope and Thung Khe pass.<br />
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<i>>> Ready to conquer: </i><br />
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<li><i><a href="http://www.activetravelvietnam.com/tour.php?op=detail&tourId=86" target="_blank">Motorcycling Moc Chau to Nghia Lo on spring</a></i></li>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj32Nw3d06kEQkeUfenBuYZcXF_-gYSR2OypgG2vq_sh2_jkENPFYJl1rDfN7W2HAHgNglz4cGnFXbnCgYNLDEXU28n4-zCDs4eqKwIp4dyX-hHFdaTORpgeXWcbr_VIr2w2rEnS8Goscs/s1600/pha-luong-vietnam.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="mount-pha-luong-moc-chau-vietnam" border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj32Nw3d06kEQkeUfenBuYZcXF_-gYSR2OypgG2vq_sh2_jkENPFYJl1rDfN7W2HAHgNglz4cGnFXbnCgYNLDEXU28n4-zCDs4eqKwIp4dyX-hHFdaTORpgeXWcbr_VIr2w2rEnS8Goscs/s640/pha-luong-vietnam.jpg" title="mount-pha-luong-moc-chau-vietnam" width="640" /></a></div>
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<i>Pha Luong peak - Moc Chau</i><br />
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-RNXDmuJlfL8/Vr6atvjujuI/AAAAAAAAJqY/YlEFzHUBYec/s640/moc-chau-vietnam-5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="moc-chau-vietnam-1" border="0" height="360" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-RNXDmuJlfL8/Vr6atvjujuI/AAAAAAAAJqY/YlEFzHUBYec/s640/moc-chau-vietnam-5.jpg" title="moc-chau-vietnam-1" width="640" /></a> </div>
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-kho24wQeTHo/VrR6OWgeH_I/AAAAAAAAJpw/Tqarpx6wgN4/s1600/moc-chau-vietnam-3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="moc-chau-vietnam-2" border="0" height="360" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-kho24wQeTHo/VrR6OWgeH_I/AAAAAAAAJpw/Tqarpx6wgN4/s640/moc-chau-vietnam-3.jpg" title="moc-chau-vietnam-2" width="640" /></a> </div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zy-HDGIrLvg/VrR6OaswoPI/AAAAAAAAJpw/-WVyZcgR-fk/s1600/moc-chau-vietnam-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="moc-chau-vietnam-4" border="0" height="360" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zy-HDGIrLvg/VrR6OaswoPI/AAAAAAAAJpw/-WVyZcgR-fk/s640/moc-chau-vietnam-2.jpg" title="moc-chau-vietnam-4" width="640" /></a> </div>
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<i>Moc Chau in seasons of flowers </i></div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-32lzC13ZU7Q/VsGiJOgoDWI/AAAAAAAAJxM/Q7v6hUziCoA/s1600/ta-xua-vietnam.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="ta-xua-vietnam" border="0" height="426" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-32lzC13ZU7Q/VsGiJOgoDWI/AAAAAAAAJxM/Q7v6hUziCoA/s640/ta-xua-vietnam.jpg" title="ta-xua-vietnam" width="640" /></a></div>
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<i>Ta Xua </i></div>
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<b>#4: Hanoi – Nghia Lo – Mu Cang Chai </b></div>
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With this trail, surmounting Khau Pha pass, the over-30-km pass rated as one of the four greatest passes in the North Vietnam, is a must. After crossing over ethereal fog covering Khau Pha, a majestic view will unfold with forests and mountains linking to picturesque rice terraces and tranquil villages of ethnic tribes.<br />
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<i>>> Ride your world: <a href="http://www.activetravel.asia/motorcycling-west-to-east-northern-vietnam-t244.html" target="_blank">Motorcycling west to east northern Vietnam</a></i></div>
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5chAwYpS1qo/Vr6cU4-ssPI/AAAAAAAAJqo/w-92cbfVT7Y/s1600/khau-pha-pass-vietnam.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="khau-pha-pass-vietnam" border="0" height="378" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5chAwYpS1qo/Vr6cU4-ssPI/AAAAAAAAJqo/w-92cbfVT7Y/s640/khau-pha-pass-vietnam.jpg" title="khau-pha-pass-vietnam" width="640" /></a></div>
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<i> Khau Pha pass</i></div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bW5RMIZZsxk/Vr6gVQdxggI/AAAAAAAAJq0/Mawupt9Tg18/s1600/mu-cang-chai-vietnam.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="mu-cang-chai-vietnam" border="0" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bW5RMIZZsxk/Vr6gVQdxggI/AAAAAAAAJq0/Mawupt9Tg18/s640/mu-cang-chai-vietnam.jpg" title="mu-cang-chai-vietnam" width="484" /></a></div>
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<i>Mu Cang Chai</i></div>
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<b>#5: Hanoi – Dien Bien Phu – A Pa Chai</b></div>
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Ideal time to ride on this trail is on the dry season from November to April. Eager more as it takes to meaningful place-names like the westernmost point of the country - A Pa Chai, one of the four greatest passes in the North namely Pha Din pass and the historical Command bunker of General De Castries.<br />
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<i>>> For something unknown: <a href="http://www.activetravelvietnam.com/tour.php?op=detail&tourId=31" target="_blank">Motorcycling on historical trail of North West</a> </i><br />
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ehVgtIoghyA/VsGMq8giX4I/AAAAAAAAJww/-Z9Y-5d8Lrw/s1600/Pha%2BDin%2Bpass.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="pha-din-pass-vietnam" border="0" height="420" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ehVgtIoghyA/VsGMq8giX4I/AAAAAAAAJww/-Z9Y-5d8Lrw/s640/Pha%2BDin%2Bpass.jpg" title="pha-din-pass-vietnam" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rW9R-dznQzg/Vr6jWqZDHYI/AAAAAAAAJrE/wierXU0kbgA/s1600/Pha%2BDin%2Bpass%2B1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="pha-din-pass-vietnam-1" border="0" height="414" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rW9R-dznQzg/Vr6jWqZDHYI/AAAAAAAAJrE/wierXU0kbgA/s640/Pha%2BDin%2Bpass%2B1.jpg" title="pha-din-pass-vietnam-1" width="640" /></a></div>
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<i>Pha Din pass</i></div>
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<b>#6: Hanoi – Hai Hau</b></div>
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A mere 2 days on a weekend for the trip Hanoi - Hai Hau will be truly worthy. With a distance of barely 120km, this trail soon become a famous “night stormy” route. What is awaited more than welcoming first sunlight of dawn beaming down Hai Ly ruined cathedral (in Hai Hau) and admiring Phu Nhai church - the largest church in Southeast Asia in a quiet morning.<br />
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_zTE38QpaCU/VsE_sbFdCzI/AAAAAAAAJro/dqni72_gPC8/s1600/ruined-cathedral-nam-dinh-vietnam.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="ruined-cathedral-hai-hau-nam-dinh-vietnam-1" border="0" height="426" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_zTE38QpaCU/VsE_sbFdCzI/AAAAAAAAJro/dqni72_gPC8/s640/ruined-cathedral-nam-dinh-vietnam.jpg" title="ruined-cathedral-hai-hau-nam-dinh-vietnam-1" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO5oXH7qf5YigPjk2L9D-ZqSHeDa5qdJQJY8nesgx2TsKmoH6wBPbk9E64VvQMe_uVEPVSba_1fB5ThKO_uc2fzi2CqQmRc3psoO_gGBEqWaNtBo1yOUoA8E5hyphenhyphenzqKi7Kjy0DS9mCFOrI/s1600/ruined-cathedral-nam-dinh-vietnam-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="ruined-cathedral-hai-hau-nam-dinh-vietnam-2" border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO5oXH7qf5YigPjk2L9D-ZqSHeDa5qdJQJY8nesgx2TsKmoH6wBPbk9E64VvQMe_uVEPVSba_1fB5ThKO_uc2fzi2CqQmRc3psoO_gGBEqWaNtBo1yOUoA8E5hyphenhyphenzqKi7Kjy0DS9mCFOrI/s640/ruined-cathedral-nam-dinh-vietnam-2.jpg" title="ruined-cathedral-hai-hau-nam-dinh-vietnam-2" width="640" /></a></div>
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<b>#7: Hanoi – Lao Cai – Hoang Su Phi</b></div>
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This is one of “mecca” routes to the native backpackers as well as adventurous travelers and trekking lovers, with Vietnam's the hot hub of trekking - Sapa. If just reaching here once, it’s impossible to discover all various landscapes spectacular in an amazing way, from superb, towering Mount Fansipan – the roof of Indochina, O Quy Ho pass – the king pass among the four greatest passes in the North, to Vietnam's the recent snow heaven – Sapa, and Hoang Su Phi - land of alluring terraced fields.<br />
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<i>>> Let travel: <a href="http://vietnamtour.com/beauty_of_north_easty_trails_tour_t243.html" target="_blank">Conquer Vietnam north pole</a></i><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl6xJ4pPB1OgLgKtdxG7eHz31Sxwf9irHFCuewu3e7BEuC-ZQDxBHv2Co9Ktqn-VFlBMuNL4fJ8_XD7bPpyhmHt-mHEJYyuc2pkgO5bkYOZLB0Kum-ycX2htzkbMPlg8mNUYTleVb-AH8/s1600/mount-fansipan-vietnam-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="mount-fansipan-vietnam" border="0" height="416" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl6xJ4pPB1OgLgKtdxG7eHz31Sxwf9irHFCuewu3e7BEuC-ZQDxBHv2Co9Ktqn-VFlBMuNL4fJ8_XD7bPpyhmHt-mHEJYyuc2pkgO5bkYOZLB0Kum-ycX2htzkbMPlg8mNUYTleVb-AH8/s640/mount-fansipan-vietnam-1.jpg" title="mount-fansipan-vietnam" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-JwS4rhLt7D8/VsFEaSvBBKI/AAAAAAAAJsA/see6s1ZZK4Q/s1600/mount-fansipan-vietnam.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="mount-fansipan-vietnam-1" border="0" height="640" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-JwS4rhLt7D8/VsFEaSvBBKI/AAAAAAAAJsA/see6s1ZZK4Q/s640/mount-fansipan-vietnam.jpg" title="mount-fansipan-vietnam-1" width="498" /></a></div>
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<i> Mount Fansipan</i></div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fhKRuZdK3uc/VsFFv6OctAI/AAAAAAAAJsU/phfwRLxaxaQ/s1600/o-quy-ho-pass-vietnam-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="o-quy-ho-pass-vietnam" border="0" height="307" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fhKRuZdK3uc/VsFFv6OctAI/AAAAAAAAJsU/phfwRLxaxaQ/s640/o-quy-ho-pass-vietnam-2.jpg" title="o-quy-ho-pass-vietnam" width="640" /></a></div>
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<i>O Quy Ho pass</i></div>
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-DT7SgbSGs8s/VsFIKxrSADI/AAAAAAAAJso/lIq0HMo0Hlo/s1600/sapa-vietnam-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="sapa-vietnam" border="0" height="398" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-DT7SgbSGs8s/VsFIKxrSADI/AAAAAAAAJso/lIq0HMo0Hlo/s640/sapa-vietnam-2.jpg" title="sapa-vietnam" width="640" /></a><br />
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0D89NNvGUio/VsFIK_zTb5I/AAAAAAAAJss/-Q3u4WQ2A08/s1600/sapa-vietnam-5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="sapa-vietnam-1" border="0" height="428" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0D89NNvGUio/VsFIK_zTb5I/AAAAAAAAJss/-Q3u4WQ2A08/s640/sapa-vietnam-5.jpg" title="sapa-vietnam-1" width="640" /></a><i>Sapa</i></div>
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xe-Moc3Olok/VsFJyKazoOI/AAAAAAAAJs4/N0s7vI3Z5yg/s1600/hoang-su-phi-vietnam.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="hoang-su-phi-vietnam" border="0" height="426" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xe-Moc3Olok/VsFJyKazoOI/AAAAAAAAJs4/N0s7vI3Z5yg/s640/hoang-su-phi-vietnam.jpg" title="hoang-su-phi-vietnam" width="640" /></a></div>
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<i>Hoang Su Phi </i></div>
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<b>#8: Quan Ba - Yen Minh – Lung Cu – Dong Van – Meo Vac – Ha Giang city </b></div>
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Have you ever heard largest buckwheat fields in Vietnam spreading fabulously on the rock plateau, do you expect to conquer Lung Cu flag pole – the northernmost point of the country, or simply contemplate dreamy pine hills in Yen Minh and glide on meandering roads? If so, you will not be able to resist “charm” of this inspiring route.<br />
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<i>>> Discover Vietnam's hidden Himalayas: <a href="http://www.activetravel.asia/ha-giang-vietnam-trekking-adventure-t282.html" target="_blank">Complete trekking in Ha Giang province </a></i><br />
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-yKFRuoAm4xU/VsFMNKUuw7I/AAAAAAAAJtE/7gCY22jReko/s1600/ha-giang-vietnam-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="ha-giang-vietnam-2" border="0" height="426" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-yKFRuoAm4xU/VsFMNKUuw7I/AAAAAAAAJtE/7gCY22jReko/s640/ha-giang-vietnam-1.jpg" title="ha-giang-vietnam-2" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-mvzIs2UD7m4/VsFStN-iTUI/AAAAAAAAJuE/X76NhBFHqYY/s1600/ha-giang-vietnam-9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="ha-giang-vietnam-4" border="0" height="426" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-mvzIs2UD7m4/VsFStN-iTUI/AAAAAAAAJuE/X76NhBFHqYY/s640/ha-giang-vietnam-9.jpg" title="ha-giang-vietnam-4" width="640" /></a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8u6AyEkDkRNVlUjZV8Pb3Q97Y3xf1iTNE7aeynHEroXOLCZ14sySbHCc44Ob7b3Oo7essGOhrRSzd10tEatXAh3zjHM_1lzzzGCUfx2TWKqLFS5cShCoXcSxlzwWpLDDWkxeq0_i35mY/s1600/ha-giang-vietnam-6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="ha-giang-vietnam-5" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8u6AyEkDkRNVlUjZV8Pb3Q97Y3xf1iTNE7aeynHEroXOLCZ14sySbHCc44Ob7b3Oo7essGOhrRSzd10tEatXAh3zjHM_1lzzzGCUfx2TWKqLFS5cShCoXcSxlzwWpLDDWkxeq0_i35mY/s1600/ha-giang-vietnam-6.jpg" title="ha-giang-vietnam-5" /></a></div>
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<b>#9: Hanoi – Tam Dao</b></div>
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Another wonderful trail for a weekend trip if departing from Hanoi, Hanoi – Tam Dao. Just nearly 2 hours motorcycling, you will be lost in a white cloudy paradise. <br />
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lqsqL8q6rQo/VsGJRVyC0CI/AAAAAAAAJwk/sWeixlQZTlI/s1600/Tam%2BDao.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="tam-dao-vietnam" border="0" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lqsqL8q6rQo/VsGJRVyC0CI/AAAAAAAAJwk/sWeixlQZTlI/s1600/Tam%2BDao.jpg" title="tam-dao-vietnam" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-cBocCQNkrhM/VsFUDQxIVHI/AAAAAAAAJuU/NfojqM5ApXQ/s1600/nha-tho-tam-dao-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="tam-dao-vietnam-1" border="0" height="402" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-cBocCQNkrhM/VsFUDQxIVHI/AAAAAAAAJuU/NfojqM5ApXQ/s640/nha-tho-tam-dao-1.jpg" title="tam-dao-vietnam-1" width="640" /></a></div>
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<b>#10: Hanoi – Nghia Dan</b></div>
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From November to the end of the year, Nghia Dan (in Nghe An province) will <span style="color: #0000ee;"><span style="color: black;">be mightily magnificent</span> </span>by vastest sunflower fields in Vietnam. This trip is also exciting with a visit to Kim Lien village, where Ho Chi Minh president was born and grew, and roaming on Mombasa grass fields, corn fields and farms of milk cows.<br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BosN0SMbwko/VsFUl_3w33I/AAAAAAAAJug/YOWCb0-Jdvg/s1600/nghe-an-vietnam.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="nghe-an-vietnam" border="0" height="426" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BosN0SMbwko/VsFUl_3w33I/AAAAAAAAJug/YOWCb0-Jdvg/s640/nghe-an-vietnam.jpg" title="nghe-an-vietnam" width="640" /></a></div>
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<b>#11: Saigon – Dalat</b></div>
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After overcoming 107 sudden turns in Bao Loc pass, let your mind find to the cherry blossom road, the less-known marvelous maple forest and weird house blocks Paris in style settled right in Vietnam, or feel the gentle cold, breezes pervaded pine scent of highland, and creep of long-abandoned ghost villas.<br />
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<i>>> Ride now: <a href="http://www.activetravel.asia/mountain-biking-to-dalat-down-to-nha-trang-t279.html" target="_blank">Mountain biking in Dalat</a> </i></div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9hASeYrrHno/VsFVThAxZgI/AAAAAAAAJu8/04xoNWoA2F0/s1600/dalat-vietnam.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img alt="da-lat-vietnam" border="0" height="424" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9hASeYrrHno/VsFVThAxZgI/AAAAAAAAJu8/04xoNWoA2F0/s640/dalat-vietnam.jpg" title="da-lat-vietnam" width="640" /></a></div>
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<b>#12: Saigon – Binh Thuan – Lam Dong – Dong Nai</b><br />
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This trail offers diverse experiences: beating exactingly mountainous parts of Gia Bac pass on way to Di Linh, sinking into sea in Phan Thiet, admiring romantic landscapes in Dalat, turning urgently on Bao Loc pass, and sliding through green forests in Nam Cat Tien.<br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-F6VpWE1Z9xg/VsFWAu-k7ZI/AAAAAAAAJvA/_kA3gF3vid0/s1600/binh-thuan-vietnam.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="binh-thuan-vietnam" border="0" height="426" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-F6VpWE1Z9xg/VsFWAu-k7ZI/AAAAAAAAJvA/_kA3gF3vid0/s640/binh-thuan-vietnam.jpg" title="binh-thuan-vietnam" width="640" /></a></div>
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<i>Binh Thuan</i></div>
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<b>#13: Saigon – Nha Trang</b></div>
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Shifting along coastal roads, it is a chance to get into eyesight completely ravishing scenery of sea and serene sandy beaches along the roads. Not only attractive views, abundantly fresh and inexpensive seafood for free enjoying certainly please even gourmets that nowhere is better.<br />
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wn7KtZLZjf8/VsFWaorfkDI/AAAAAAAAJvI/xAg003un9zY/s1600/nha-trang-vietnam.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="nha-trang-vietnam" border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wn7KtZLZjf8/VsFWaorfkDI/AAAAAAAAJvI/xAg003un9zY/s1600/nha-trang-vietnam.jpg" title="nha-trang-vietnam" /></a></div>
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<i>Nha Trang</i></div>
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<b>#14: Saigon – Pleiku</b></div>
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Tasting tremble but being thrilling when crossing over the “death pass" Phuong Hoang. Dramatic mountainous landscapes and very special, very plain beauty of hamlets will make anyone also deeply attached and not want to leave.<br />
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<i>>> Head to Vietnam Central Highland: <a href="http://goo.gl/15s6Ee" target="_blank">http://goo.gl/15s6Ee</a></i></div>
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-r9XGOPAB1Zo/VsFYK5VWgBI/AAAAAAAAJvY/5VKTRURqEyU/s1600/phuong-hoang-pass-vietnam.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="phuong-hoang-pass-vietnam" border="0" height="480" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-r9XGOPAB1Zo/VsFYK5VWgBI/AAAAAAAAJvY/5VKTRURqEyU/s640/phuong-hoang-pass-vietnam.jpg" title="phuong-hoang-pass-vietnam" width="640" /></a></div>
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<i>Phuong Hoang pass</i></div>
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<b>#15: Sai Gon – Binh Dinh</b></div>
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This trail will receive travelers with acutely green sight of rice fields and orchards along Di Linh district, and pretty sea in Quy Nhon, where the famous Vietnamese poet Han Mac Tu rested in peace. On this journey, let stop a little to look over immense Thi Nai lagoon, where the longest sea bridge in Vietnam spans over, and savor safe and sound minutes as looking sea and mountains in Eo Gio (Wind Channel). All are deserved to get.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLapozrZU8k2dEYxpxnt52M4Yk8MQ9GSTNR_cQIQBNvQFJNNM0R_WBnLwqsK2Lf-8XWq4NNd2KndTWzJL4EM0rXrLSMOe2OW9ZecIMgyxCoeQRpLP_finX62eb_GjECOIbtsidwkY_IsI/s1600/eo-gio-quy-nhon-binh-dinh-vietnam.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="eo-gio-binh-dinh-vietnam" border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLapozrZU8k2dEYxpxnt52M4Yk8MQ9GSTNR_cQIQBNvQFJNNM0R_WBnLwqsK2Lf-8XWq4NNd2KndTWzJL4EM0rXrLSMOe2OW9ZecIMgyxCoeQRpLP_finX62eb_GjECOIbtsidwkY_IsI/s640/eo-gio-quy-nhon-binh-dinh-vietnam.jpg" title="eo-gio-binh-dinh-vietnam" width="640" /></a></div>
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<i>Eo gio (Wind channel)</i></div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-O6IJQfNN9IE/VsF3BO-f6jI/AAAAAAAAJvo/iE8NyUHiUBU/s1600/thi-nao-bridge-binh-dinh-vietnam.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="thi-nai-bridge-vietnam" border="0" height="355" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-O6IJQfNN9IE/VsF3BO-f6jI/AAAAAAAAJvo/iE8NyUHiUBU/s640/thi-nao-bridge-binh-dinh-vietnam.jpg" title="thi-nai-bridge-vietnam" width="640" /></a></div>
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<i>Thi Nai bridge </i></div>
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<b>#16: Ta Nang – Phan Dung</b></div>
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It’s not untruthful to say Ta Nang – Phan Dung is the most beautiful trekking trail in Vietnam. With a length to even 55km, it stretches over three provinces of Lam Dong, Ninh Thuan and Binh Thuan. The trail bring trekkers varied challenges: walking inside forests, climbing passes and hills, and wadding over streams. However, the present received is absolutely worthy thanks to green scenery beyond eye-view of grass and trees, brilliant sunshine, and tortuous paths. All seemingly lead hikers to an endless paradise. <br />
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-d2uVKDmOukw/VsF3pnaFZrI/AAAAAAAAJv8/z3YqUCQKR0I/s1600/ta%2Bnang%2B-%2Bphan%2Bdung%2B-%2Bvietnam.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="ta-nang-phan-dung-vietnam" border="0" height="425" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-d2uVKDmOukw/VsF3pnaFZrI/AAAAAAAAJv8/z3YqUCQKR0I/s640/ta%2Bnang%2B-%2Bphan%2Bdung%2B-%2Bvietnam.jpg" title="ta-nang-phan-dung-vietnam" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-FFqG03nBkcA/VsF3psNQnCI/AAAAAAAAJv4/m7pTtX1nr7A/s1600/ta%2Bnang%2B-%2Bphan%2Bdung%2B-%2Bvietnam%2B1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="ta-nang-phan-dung-vietnam-1" border="0" height="424" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-FFqG03nBkcA/VsF3psNQnCI/AAAAAAAAJv4/m7pTtX1nr7A/s640/ta%2Bnang%2B-%2Bphan%2Bdung%2B-%2Bvietnam%2B1.JPG" title="ta-nang-phan-dung-vietnam-1" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0LnzoXI8nus/VsF3pjhOX-I/AAAAAAAAJwA/evZ8Qt6a3BQ/s1600/ta%2Bnang%2B-%2Bphan%2Bdung%2B-%2Bvietnam%2B2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="ta-nang-phan-dung-vietnam-2" border="0" height="432" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0LnzoXI8nus/VsF3pjhOX-I/AAAAAAAAJwA/evZ8Qt6a3BQ/s640/ta%2Bnang%2B-%2Bphan%2Bdung%2B-%2Bvietnam%2B2.jpg" title="ta-nang-phan-dung-vietnam-2" width="640" /></a></div>
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<i><b>Vietnamese source: Tri thức trẻ </b></i></div>
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<div class="blogger-post-footer">Follow ActiveTravel.Asia on the social web <img alt="" src="http://www.activetravelvietnam.com/resources/icons/facebook.gif" /> <a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Active-Travel-Asia/67878574405">Facebook</a> <img alt="" src="http://www.activetravelvietnam.com/resources/icons/myspace.gif" /> <a href="http://www.myspace.com/activetravel">MySpace</a> <img alt="" src="http://www.activetravelvietnam.com/resources/icons/twitter.gif" /> <a href="http://twitter.com/Active_Travel">Twitter</a></div>Active Travel Asiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17720226021825421230noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-422882030703736977.post-45697357634250802142016-02-03T23:40:00.001-08:002016-02-03T23:40:32.733-08:00The World's Best Things in Myanmar<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b>1. The world’s largest book</b><br />Kuthodaw pagoda (Kuthodaw means “royal merit”) settled on the foot of Mandalay Hill in <a href="http://www.myanmartour.com/Mandalay_Myanmar_d36.html" target="_blank">Mandalay</a> city, is just where preserves the world’s largest book. The book stands upright, sets in stone and spreads on the ground of the pagoda with 729 stone tablets carved Burmese Buddhist scripture.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDllSYWdGNE3OQAs2fWCkYCp3hnuvNgfbvEwM543MtNqbZ5h_FakaCS6KfsCtt8DhS1O1FJ-BqZrxGaGfwHd39wwtsWrbOuUJ01V-I8or-pisCA-HI_ptu0LywFRmkHq750f948ehZFoQ/s1600/Kuthodaw-pagoda-activetravel-asia.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Kuthodaw-pagoda-activetravel-asia" border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDllSYWdGNE3OQAs2fWCkYCp3hnuvNgfbvEwM543MtNqbZ5h_FakaCS6KfsCtt8DhS1O1FJ-BqZrxGaGfwHd39wwtsWrbOuUJ01V-I8or-pisCA-HI_ptu0LywFRmkHq750f948ehZFoQ/s640/Kuthodaw-pagoda-activetravel-asia.jpg" title="Kuthodaw-pagoda-activetravel-asia" width="640" /></a></div>
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<i> Kuthodaw pagoda</i></div>
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Each slab has its own roof and a precious gem on top in a small “cave” called “kyauksa gu” (stone inscription cave in Burmese). The caves are arranged around a central gilded pagoda (zedi). Stone tablets are all marble and inscribed meticulously by tiers of senior monks. Originally each stone was chiseled out and filled with gold ink to form letters and borders. It took 7 and a half year to complete this elaborate construction.<br /><br />When the British later invaded the North, the gems and other valuables were plundered. The gold writing had disappeared from all 729 marble tablets, and they were now marked in black ink made from shellac, soot from paraffin lamps and straw ash, rather than in gold, and a few of the gems still remain.<br /><br />It’s impossible to see the whole tablets in a day because Kuthodaw is too much spacious. To view thoroughly these Buddhist scripture pages, averagely a person needs a least a week.</div>
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<img alt="Kuthodaw-world-largest-book-activetravel-asia" border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi37yu_9NeJxGQwaweBKpXdYAJJgGmB8HFCgmhHhv1VZYSUt5q0QPXcSZmzRAcb2noyr9Rz_Ms4tZjrPVNFpC7uBbm97rabPb2GfvceJ-Reu9a-7JF0QKHZvEd9SWgO6xhF-Jar_kNG_Wg/s640/Kuthodaw-world-largest-book-activetravel-asia.jpg" title="Kuthodaw-world-largest-book-activetravel-asia" width="512" /> </div>
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<i>A stone tablet, as a page of the book </i></div>
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<b>2. The world’s longest and oldest teakwood bridge</b><br /><br />U Bein bridge spans over Taungthaman lake in Amarapura, 11 km to the south from Mandalay city, is just the world’s oldest and longest teak wood bridge.<br /><br />In around 1850, when the capital moved to Mandalay, the residents in Amarapura made use of teak wood from the former royal palace to erect the bridge with the total length of 1.2 km consisting of 1086 main pillars and thousands of boards.<br /><br />U Bein was curved in the middle to resist assaults of wind and water. The main pillars were hammered into the lake bed 7 feet deep. Most of the pillars were shaped conically to make sure that rain water fell down easily. The joints were intertwined. There are 9 passageways on the bridge, where boards can be lifted to make way for big boats and barges.<br /><br />Every afternoon, U Bein is really crowded with locals crossing over it to return home and travelers admiring sunset from it. Hundreds of people including Buddhist monks walk or cycle from shore to shore. Some long benches were placed for all to rest, sight-see and chat. This bridge is considered as one of the best places for sunset view in Myanmar.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHkCn9-YsHk7YorWAc_WON-ZzJPwd3EZDpCkSpsjMlfZGyh0RqjTkvfSMzQGMrci2Jk54hsM_Dyjs71o7HIv_NVQKJ_TEg0qwxCS_KZetf1lYtFJidcmIePp5T5u9NK5Wyqg4sDFKBYqc/s1600/u-bein-bridge-world-longest-oldest-teak-wood-activetravel-asia.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="u-bein-bridge-world-longest-oldest-teak-wood-activetravel-asia" border="0" height="345" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHkCn9-YsHk7YorWAc_WON-ZzJPwd3EZDpCkSpsjMlfZGyh0RqjTkvfSMzQGMrci2Jk54hsM_Dyjs71o7HIv_NVQKJ_TEg0qwxCS_KZetf1lYtFJidcmIePp5T5u9NK5Wyqg4sDFKBYqc/s640/u-bein-bridge-world-longest-oldest-teak-wood-activetravel-asia.jpg" title="u-bein-bridge-world-longest-oldest-teak-wood-activetravel-asia" width="640" /></a></div>
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<b>3. The world’s largest reclining Buddha</b><br /><br />Situated 24km to the south from <a href="http://www.myanmartour.com/myanmar_countryside_tour_in_mawlamyine_n127.html" target="_blank">Mawlamyine</a> near Mudon and opposite to the Buddhist shrine of Kyauktalon Taung, Win Sein Taw Ya is remarkable for its scale and it’s just the world’s largest reclining Buddha with 30m in height and 180m in length. It can be clearly seen for miles as leaving Mudon for Mawlamyine on the right side of the road.<br /><br />This unfinished monstrosity is tucked away at the foot of a mountain range, surrounded by lush vegetation. Near to the Buddha image are 200 standing monk statues collecting alms and pagodas of varying sizes disperse the surroundings.<br /><br />Still a work in progress, it contains 182 chambers on 8 stories with dioramas of the teachings of Buddha Burmese subtitled and sculptures depicting scenes from the life of Buddha and grisly images from Buddhist hell.<br /><br />There is also a Buddhist shrine based in the giant head, and footwear should be removed before entering the shrine. The site is currently open to the public though it is still under construction.</div>
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<b>4. The world’s largest ringing bell</b><br /><br /><a href="http://www.myanmartour.com/second_largest_ringing_bell_mingun_mandalay_n114.html" target="_blank">Mingun bell</a> positioned in Mingun of Sagaing region was the world’s heaviest functioning bell at several times in history. Until now, it has been in great ringing condition with no cracks. It does not make clangs but is rung by striking the outer edge.<br /><br />According to the history, from 1808 King Bodawpaya ordered to construct a gigantic pagoda, a gigantic bell and a gigantic lion during his reign until he . Mingun bell was cast to go with Mingun Pahtodawgyi.<br /><br />Cast in 1808, this 90-ton-bell became the world’s heaviest functioning bell from its first suspension in 1810 until 23rd March 1839, when it was knocked off its supports by a huge earthquake. The Mingun Bell was resuspended in March 1896 by a team from the Irrawaddy Flotilla Company. Then it was again the world's heaviest functioning bell until 1902. The Mingun Bell regained its status as the world’s heaviest functioning bell in 1942. It continued dominating the title of the world’s largest ringing bell until 2000.<br /><br />The original weight of the bell is 55,555 viss, equivalent to 90,718 ton. This number is conveniently remembered by many Burmese people as a mnemonic "Min Hpyu Hman Hman Pyaw" with the consonants representing the number 5 in Burmese astronomy and numerology. This weight and mnemonic words are written on the surface of the bell in white.</div>
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<i><b>Recommended tours:</b></i></div>
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<li> <a href="http://www.myanmartour.com/hpa_an_caving_and_mawlamyine_explore_t212.html" target="_blank">Hpa-an caving and Mawlamyine exploration</a></li>
<li> <a href="http://www.activetravel.asia/mandalay-active-travel-on-pedals-t263.html" target="_blank">Mandalay active tour on pedal</a></li>
<li> <a href="http://www.activetravel.asia/myanmar-heritage-adventure-t293.html" target="_blank">Myanmar heritage adventure</a></li>
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<div class="blogger-post-footer">Follow ActiveTravel.Asia on the social web <img alt="" src="http://www.activetravelvietnam.com/resources/icons/facebook.gif" /> <a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Active-Travel-Asia/67878574405">Facebook</a> <img alt="" src="http://www.activetravelvietnam.com/resources/icons/myspace.gif" /> <a href="http://www.myspace.com/activetravel">MySpace</a> <img alt="" src="http://www.activetravelvietnam.com/resources/icons/twitter.gif" /> <a href="http://twitter.com/Active_Travel">Twitter</a></div>Active Travel Asiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17720226021825421230noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-422882030703736977.post-79717687939228413182015-11-27T18:57:00.001-08:002015-11-27T18:57:29.393-08:00Not Temples Only - What to Do in Siem Reap<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b>1. Street eat: real feasts</b><br />
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<a href="http://www.activetravel.asia/food-in-cambodia-g122.html" target="_blank">Food in Cambodia</a> is also as varied and great as that in Vietnam and Thailand. Whether for lack of familiarity, fear of “prahok” condiment (Cambodia’s pungent fish sauce) or hygiene worries, few travelers to the kingdom indulge. Consuming a morning to wander around the city’s food markets and street food stalls with the Scottish chef Steven Halcrow or the American writer Lina Goldberg on a Siem Riep Food Tour, any doubts will be defeated. Surely gourmets will be pleased after a feast of original dishes like grilled fish paste pancakes wrapped around spicy cucumber pickles, dumplings oozing with coconut cream, jujube fruit stewed in smoky palm sugar and pumpkin, soy milk shakes.</div>
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To feel traditionally local savors, be ready to stuff additionally “num banh chok”, cool, slippery rice vermicelli doused with coconut-fish or chile-chicken gravy tossed with vegetables and herbs. You may desire enjoy more after visiting the village where many families still make noodles by hand.</div>
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<i>Nom banh chok</i></div>
<b><br />2. Shopping: contemplate unusual items</b><br />
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Growing number of weird boutiques is evident for Siem Riep’s creation and liveliness. Take a street browse, possibly commence your shopping spree in Pop-up shop, where the Australian owner loves Scandinavia style and combine it with Angkorian designs, create not-your-usual souvenirs (watermelon-half pillows and block-print note-cards for instance). Next, pass over three blocks to Kandal Village, a community of shop, café, restaurant and spa. The owner have altered two lines of once-bland storefronts into one of Siem Reap’s coolest mini hoods. Here, adorable items, like silk scarves with modern ikat patterns, boldly colored diamond-quilted cotton blankets, delicate silver spoons and miniatures, plus one-off pieces like geometric 19th-century weaving designs from France, can be seen at Louise Loubatieres.<br />
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Continue pacing to uncanny Trunkh, where cotton shirts and pants with daring patterns, dragonfly silk-screened sarongs, primitive animal figurines made of unfired river mud, carousel animal, even old signals drawn by hand, are on display. Sirivan Chak Dumas boutique, owned by the same name Cambodian designer, specially features well-priced but fashionable costumes in bright and neutral-toned linen, silk and featherweight cotton. If tailor-made is your style, drop in Neary Khmer, where you can opt richly hued raw silks and order some sewn stuffs in the spot.</div>
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<i> Trunkh boutique</i></div>
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<b>3. To market: Cambodian products only</b><br />
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Recharge with an iced Cuban (espresso shot, sugar syrup, milk) at Litter Red Fox Espresso, then head northward over two blocks to Oum Khun street for Made in Cambodia market, a showcase for Cambodian design and craftsmanship with Cambodia products only truly made in Cambodia. Inspect more than 40 stalls with diverse products for sales, from silk scarves, wallets and document cases made from recycle materials, Cambodian-styled jewelry, Sombai infused rice liqueur, to beautiful vegetal lacquerware made from natural pigments. Several things is for everyone, such as a delightful march from an orchestra.</div>
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<b>4. Frozen treats: house-made cream</b></div>
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Get to Glasshouse Deli Patisserie for Siem Reap’s best house-made ice-cream, a shining cafe on the ground floor of the Park Hyatt. Taste divinely rich, black chocolate ice-cream or confuse yourself by natively inspired flavors such as cinnamon swirl, lemongrass and pandan.</div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ufTFo1tV4yQ/Vla5FJmfD6I/AAAAAAAAJcU/OJ0L-nvatYY/s1600/Glasshouse-Deli-Patisserie-Siem-Reap-1.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Siem-Reap-house-made-cream" border="0" height="480" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ufTFo1tV4yQ/Vla5FJmfD6I/AAAAAAAAJcU/OJ0L-nvatYY/s640/Glasshouse-Deli-Patisserie-Siem-Reap-1.JPG" title="Siem-Reap-house-made-cream" width="640" /></a><br />
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<b>5. Circus: Cambodian style </b><br />
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No hope to see animal dancing in Phare, but this Cambodian circus will offer a wide range of interesting performances from theater, music, dance, storytelling to circus arts coming together in an elaborate, long show staged by students and graduates of Phare Performing Social Enterprise’s Battambang school. You may spend about $35 for a best seat, nearest to the stage and accompanied a bottle of iced water. Keep your ticket and arrive early to saunter Phare’s small craft shops or grab a juice at the cafe. Shows vary monthly.</div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-im0OQEpF2ys/Vla5qsQ2uwI/AAAAAAAAJcg/WCQTAHyEcb0/s1600/Phare-circus-Siem-Reap.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Siem-Reap-Phare-circus" border="0" height="426" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-im0OQEpF2ys/Vla5qsQ2uwI/AAAAAAAAJcg/WCQTAHyEcb0/s640/Phare-circus-Siem-Reap.jpg" title="Siem-Reap-Phare-circus" width="640" /></a></div>
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<b>6. Cuisine: by special youths</b><br />
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Grab a tuk tuk for a short ride to Marum, a hospitable training restaurant that its members are disabled Cambodian youths, operated by Friends-International, with alike restaurants also in Phnom Penh and Laos.<br />
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Dwelling in a lovely teak mansion, Marum has best seats for diners at a stunning garden shaded by trees and strung with fairy-lights. Its menu tends to Spanish tapas style, both original (crisp and creamy silkworms with spicy green mango salad) and creatively Cambodian (rice paper rolls with grilled peppers, goat cheese and tamarind chile dip). The stir-fried beef in a silky sauce soured with red tree ants, over crunchy water spinach leaves, will amaze you, in a great way. Reserve a space in your belly to enjoy thick, spicy chocolate and Kampot pepper cake with passionate fruit syrup.</div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-lPRGrP9a7wM/Vla5_nlNQpI/AAAAAAAAJco/HZ59mK0KovQ/s1600/Marum-Siem-Reap.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Siem-Reap-Marum-restaurant" border="0" height="430" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-lPRGrP9a7wM/Vla5_nlNQpI/AAAAAAAAJco/HZ59mK0KovQ/s640/Marum-Siem-Reap.jpeg" title="Siem-Reap-Marum-restaurant" width="640" /></a></div>
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<b><i><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Source: The New York
Times</span></i></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><b>ACTIVETRAVEL ASIA</b> would like to recommend <b><a href="http://www.activetravel.asia/biking-angkor-wat-t318.html" target="_blank">Biking Angkor Cambodia and more</a></b> tour. </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">This 3-day cycling tour brings you to explore Siem Reap, not only its highlighted Angkor Complex, but also small local villages, markets, pagodas, to have an opportunity to interact with local passers-by and immerse in Cambodian cultures. </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Particularly, you will cycle deeply through the jungle, where remains a lot of mysterious temple ruins, to have authentic look about Khmer history. </span></div>
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<div class="blogger-post-footer">Follow ActiveTravel.Asia on the social web <img alt="" src="http://www.activetravelvietnam.com/resources/icons/facebook.gif" /> <a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Active-Travel-Asia/67878574405">Facebook</a> <img alt="" src="http://www.activetravelvietnam.com/resources/icons/myspace.gif" /> <a href="http://www.myspace.com/activetravel">MySpace</a> <img alt="" src="http://www.activetravelvietnam.com/resources/icons/twitter.gif" /> <a href="http://twitter.com/Active_Travel">Twitter</a></div>Active Travel Asiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17720226021825421230noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-422882030703736977.post-80648091405240905272015-11-24T18:00:00.000-08:002015-11-24T18:00:15.263-08:00Overslept Ancient Town in Dong Van Rock Plateau <div style="text-align: justify;">
<i>Used to be a busting border town in Dong Van plateau (Ha Giang province), but now Pho Bang is sunk into oblivion. It has seemingly overslept for a few decades.</i><br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-p3MRtpmQjsA/VlLPHkxKrXI/AAAAAAAAJaQ/OP4IxRzUS7Y/s1600/Pho-Bang-Ha-Giang-Vietnam.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Pho-Bang-Ha-Giang-Vietnam" border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-p3MRtpmQjsA/VlLPHkxKrXI/AAAAAAAAJaQ/OP4IxRzUS7Y/s1600/Pho-Bang-Ha-Giang-Vietnam.jpg" title="Pho-Bang-Ha-Giang-Vietnam" /></a></div>
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In a <a href="http://www.activetravel.asia/west-to-east-biking-exploration-t286.html" target="_blank">journey to Ha Giang</a> that travelers desire to find authentic tastes, they won’t miss Pho Bang. Dong Van district has two ancient towns
of Dong Van and Pho Bang, in which Pho Bang’s population is about 500
Chinese people alternate with Hmong ethnics. <i><b> </b></i><br />
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<i><b>Way to the overslept town</b></i><br />
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17 km from Yen Minh town, way to the town features tortuous slopes with radiant grounds of buckwheat flowers and wild marigold along 4C highway and on foot of sharp, soaring mountains.<br />
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There is a T-junction with ahead way to Sung La and the left turn to Pho Bang. Commonly, travelers will move straightly from Quan Ba – Yen Minh to Sung La – Lung Cu – Dong Van town and skip Pho Bang 5km away from the T-intersection. Owning to being sequestered and inconvenient to reach, so hard to see strange guests in this town except several curious Vietnamese backpackers. That’s why it’s dubbed as an overslept town.<br />
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The T-junction to Pho Bang is a cloudy road dipping into dense fog in winter. On the foot of towering, pointed hills, adjoining soil houses like in fairyland stand silently and peacefully in Sung La valley.<br />
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If departing from Dong Van old quarters to go up to Pho Bang, travelers will take a nearly 20km craggy route of passes, protruding with one side is deep chasms and the other side is high mountains covered with leaden, rugged rocks. Corn farms are green in a startled way due to occupation of rock and rarity of soil. <br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-og-Wadvtx3E/VlLQIpILR-I/AAAAAAAAJaY/LVneUwHKWHM/s1600/Pho-Bang-Ha-Giang-Vietnam-2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Pho-Bang-Ha-Giang-Vietnam-1" border="0" height="428" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-og-Wadvtx3E/VlLQIpILR-I/AAAAAAAAJaY/LVneUwHKWHM/s640/Pho-Bang-Ha-Giang-Vietnam-2.JPG" title="Pho-Bang-Ha-Giang-Vietnam-1" width="640" /></a></div>
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<b><i>A hot-spot of trading formerly</i></b><br />
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This border town, geographically not distant, especially road to here
is not difficult, but image of a hectic place, a
stinging, hot-spot several decades ago, when opium and drug occupied Pho
Bang as a hub, was gone far away; just a peaceful town left.<br />
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Formerly, Pho Bang was an administrative – economic – social center of Dong Van district. However, after the district was moved deeply interior barely 20km, Pho Bang has become an overslept woman among mountains and forests.<br />
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Also a frontier ward but Pho Bang is located deeply inside inland than
Lung Cu flag pole and Dong Van town. However, it’s at a higher
altitudes, so the climate is colder with a freezing winter as snowy as
in Sapa and Mau Son.<br />
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Cross Sung La – the sole “rain navel” of the water-lacked, grey-rocked Dong Van district - then overcome another out-of-the-way jungle stage, Pho Bang suddenly appears halfway. It is the scarce valley in this area, because if you stop on roadside, look before and behind, turn left then right, you just only find vast, superb mountains at all four sides. If someone misses a roll of hand grip, they can get right to hedges bordered between <a href="http://www.activetravel.asia/vietnam-adventure-travel-guide-gl14.html" target="_blank">Vietnam</a> and the neighbor country China.<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Fyc1mWX2Yy0/VlLRq9knkSI/AAAAAAAAJak/j02xEcS_lnE/s1600/Pho-Bang-Ha-Giang-Vietnam-3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Pho-Bang-Ha-Giang-Vietnam-2" border="0" height="355" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Fyc1mWX2Yy0/VlLRq9knkSI/AAAAAAAAJak/j02xEcS_lnE/s640/Pho-Bang-Ha-Giang-Vietnam-3.jpg" title="Pho-Bang-Ha-Giang-Vietnam-2" width="640" /></a></div>
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<b><i>Portrait of the overslept town </i></b><br />
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Lost in Pho Bang, it brings feeling like in a big film studio with setting of olden days. The town includes traditional houses with moss ying-yang roofs and damp, dark yellow soil walls.<br />
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Pho Bang only remains sparely two quite deserted streets with about one hundred ancient roof-tops, aged above 100. It’s inhabited mainly by Chinese people alternative to Hmong tribe, but this is not enough to change sad and still appearance of this mountain town. Colors of time cover all corners. In front of each houses, there is a couple of Chinese parallel sentences having changed colors. A few grocery stores are opened to sell essential things behind square windows while some aged, wooden shut-doors are always dormant.<br />
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Life in the town passes slowly and monotonously, a calm, simple life among a solitary highland. Some women sit in front to pick up vegetables, chop wood, sew or embroider. Some elders on chair fondle back of lazy cats. Some garrulous children plays marble shooting game. Street sides becomes yards to dry corns and soybeans, which are hang fully on every rooftop. Cloud drifts through streets. When twilight falls, the weather is colder, the streets quickly sinks into ethereal fog. All the town just wakes up suddenly on backward rotating markets, which is hold every 6-day from morning to noon.<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-nHctB4Wuv8Q/VlLSUJnWYmI/AAAAAAAAJaw/ctT_Ek2UNVg/s1600/Pho-Bang-Ha-Giang-Vietnam-4.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Pho-Bang-Ha-Giang-Vietnam-5" border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-nHctB4Wuv8Q/VlLSUJnWYmI/AAAAAAAAJaw/ctT_Ek2UNVg/s1600/Pho-Bang-Ha-Giang-Vietnam-4.jpg" title="Pho-Bang-Ha-Giang-Vietnam-5" /></a> </div>
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<b><i>More information: </i> </b><br />
<ul>
<li>Pho Bang is dubbed as the "valley of roses" thanks to brilliant, picturesque rose fields spreading along slopes around the ward. </li>
<li>It features many stunning sights of peach, plum, pear blossoms and also buckwheat flowers like many other areas in Ha Giang. </li>
<li>Way to Pho Bang border gate is really scenic by untouched rock mountains. </li>
</ul>
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--0RPZPBCSPc/VlLSUKg_e-I/AAAAAAAAJas/ZXekbThFpsM/s1600/Pho-Bang-Ha-Giang-Vietnam-1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Pho-Bang-Ha-Giang-Vietnam-6" border="0" height="366" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--0RPZPBCSPc/VlLSUKg_e-I/AAAAAAAAJas/ZXekbThFpsM/s640/Pho-Bang-Ha-Giang-Vietnam-1.jpg" title="Pho-Bang-Ha-Giang-Vietnam-6" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="blogger-post-footer">Follow ActiveTravel.Asia on the social web <img alt="" src="http://www.activetravelvietnam.com/resources/icons/facebook.gif" /> <a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Active-Travel-Asia/67878574405">Facebook</a> <img alt="" src="http://www.activetravelvietnam.com/resources/icons/myspace.gif" /> <a href="http://www.myspace.com/activetravel">MySpace</a> <img alt="" src="http://www.activetravelvietnam.com/resources/icons/twitter.gif" /> <a href="http://twitter.com/Active_Travel">Twitter</a></div>Active Travel Asiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17720226021825421230noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-422882030703736977.post-44587897801338360412015-11-24T17:50:00.003-08:002015-11-24T17:58:32.122-08:00Only in Myanmar: Top Special Experiences<div style="text-align: justify;">
<i>Whatever your itinerary takes you, <a href="http://www.myanmartour.com/" target="_blank">travel in Myanmar</a> (Burma) is sure to bring an abundance of unusual experiences. As a strange country, things you encounter, see, search out and feel in Myanmar are also unlike any place you have ever known before.</i></div>
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<b>1. Breakfast in a local teahouse</b></div>
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<a href="http://blog.activetravelmyanmar.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/Burmse-teahouse.jpg"><img alt="Burmse-teahouse" class="aligncenter wp-image-642" src="http://blog.activetravelmyanmar.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/Burmse-teahouse.jpg" height="421" width="630" /></a></div>
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From Yangon’s traffic-jammed streets to soiled village lanes, it’s not hard to find a Burma-styled teahouse. Enthusiastic waiter boys needle through tables, slopping tea into saucers and serving up deep-fried snacks. Patrons air kiss loudly to draw the staff’s attention while their eyes on the soccer match on TV and their minds on teashop gossip. Warm stomach by a bowl of mohinga – the nation’s beloved noodle soup, or change taste with e kyar kway (youtiao or Chinese doughnut) dipped in a yummy cup of sweet, milky tea.
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<b>2. Transfer like a real local</b></div>
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<a href="http://blog.activetravelmyanmar.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/circular-train-in-Yangon.jpg"><img alt="circular-train-in Yangon" class="aligncenter wp-image-646 size-full" src="http://blog.activetravelmyanmar.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/circular-train-in-Yangon.jpg" height="367" width="550" /></a>
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In Myanmar, people also transfer by plane, train and boat, but these modes are not usual.</div>
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Domestic flights are jokingly called as “buses on air” (with many layovers to pick more passengers along way), and accompanied an old style of “paper ticket”, “sticker”, “no booking online”, “no seat allocation”, and some other uncanny things (<a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog.activetravelmyanmar.com/experiencing-old-style-on-myanmar-domestic-flights/" target="_blank">view more here</a>). One step on a Myanmar’s domestic flight, one step come back the past.<br />
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Train’s not more normal as well. The railway system is oldest and most longstanding in the world. Though it brings discomfort of late time and specially shake, local trains are great chances to understand and feel the ingredient daily life - meet and talk with normal residents, monks, hawker ladies and manual workers. Let take a Yangon circle train or train through imposing Gokteik viaduct from Mandalay to Pyin Oo Lwin.</div>
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<i>>> <a href="http://www.myanmartour.com/train_travel_adventure_in_myanmar_n94.html" target="_blank">Myanmar train travel guide</a></i><br />
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Despite transfer boat in Inle lake or on Kespanadi river from Sittwe to Mrauk U, it has an awesome noise. Traditional sailboats are also impressed. To be more local, let take a horse-cart, ox-cart or pedicab.<b> </b><br />
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<b>3. Downstream the Irrawaddy</b><br />
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<a href="http://blog.activetravelmyanmar.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/downstream-the-rrawaddy.jpg"><img alt="downstream-the-rrawaddy" class="aligncenter wp-image-647" src="http://blog.activetravelmyanmar.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/downstream-the-rrawaddy.jpg" height="473" width="630" /></a></div>
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Irrawaddy (or Ayeyarwady) river curls south from foothills of the Himalayas, passing Mandalay and Bagan’s temple-covered plain before spilling its silt-rich currents into the Andaman Sea. Covering on it is rustic, ordinary beauty of riverside life. As the Myanmar’s most important waterway, it focuses everything from luxury steamer ships to ponderous government ferries and leaking speedboats. It is said that having not experienced a day floating on Irrawaddy river yet, having not understand Myanmar. Embark on a <a href="http://burmatours.asia/ayeyarwaddy-adventure-tour-burma/" target="_blank">Ayeyarwady river cruise</a> to see a slice of riverside life – and remember to mind rare Irrawaddy dolphins.<b> </b><br />
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<b>4. Return Raj era</b><br />
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<a href="http://blog.activetravelmyanmar.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/Pyin-Oo-Lwin.jpg"><img alt="Pyin Oo Lwin" class="aligncenter wp-image-649" src="http://blog.activetravelmyanmar.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/Pyin-Oo-Lwin.jpg" height="600" width="495" /></a>
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From peeling <a href="http://www.myanmartour.com/yangon_british_colonial_streets_n109.html" target="_blank">Yangon’s colonial-era buildings</a>, rusty railways and creepy Gokteik viaduct, to classical Western villas in Kalaw, is reminiscent of British Burma over 100 years ago. Even traces of a melting-pot Burma retain by distinct cultural nuances from India, Nepal, Iraq, China, Jew, etc, easily realized on Yangon streets, in Kalaw or Mandalay. The era’s vestiges can be seen anywhere around Myanmar. But perhaps nowhere recalls better than Pyin Oo Lwin, a former hill station, where horse-drawn carriages leisurely amble over classical teakwood mansions, and a bell cast for George V’s Silver Jubilee still chimes from the town’s Purcell Tower.<b> </b><br />
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<b>5. Join a Nat ceremony </b><br />
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<a href="http://blog.activetravelmyanmar.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/Nat-ceremony-Nat-Kadaw-Myanmar.jpg"><img alt="Nat-ceremony-Nat-Kadaw-Myanmar" class="aligncenter wp-image-650" src="http://blog.activetravelmyanmar.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/Nat-ceremony-Nat-Kadaw-Myanmar.jpg" height="427" width="630" /></a></div>
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Nat is a deity in Burmese folk belief. In this ceremony, people give offerings and dance around a transvestite “natkadaws ply” - a middle-aged lady with whisky as she gyrates to music from a traditional orchestra – who is believed that Nat god’s spirit possesses her body. Members of the audience tuck 1,000-kyat notes into her costumes. Though unruly nats exist and hurt community due to excessively cost requirement of alcohol, music and money – contrasts sharply to Buddhism’s emphasis on restraint and tranquility, many Burmese people happily trust in both. Take the country’s biggest Nat ceremony (Nat kadaw) in Taungbyone each August, or ascend Mount Popa, the Myanmar’s hottest hub of Nat worship.<b> </b><br />
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<b>6. Nourish a Burmese chocolate addiction</b><br />
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<a href="http://blog.activetravelmyanmar.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/jaggery-candy-Myanmar.jpg"><img alt="jaggery-candy-Myanmar" class="aligncenter wp-image-651" src="http://blog.activetravelmyanmar.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/jaggery-candy-Myanmar.jpg" height="420" width="630" /></a></div>
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Jokingly dubbed as “Burmese chocolate”, lumps of jaggery candy are made from boiled toddy palm sap, soft, fine yellow and shiny-honeyed. It’s exceedingly addictive whether plain or dusted atop aromatic sesame seeds and white grated coconut, an awaited sweet to the locals after each meal. Unhappy it might cause you to have to see your dentist, but a serious jaggery habit is certainly healthier than another Myanmar’s tooth decay tradition – chewing kun-ya (a mixture of betel leaves with areca nuts, tobacco and slaked lime paste).<b> </b><br />
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<b>7. Sip toddy, and get tipsy</b><br />
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<a href="http://blog.activetravelmyanmar.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/toddy-palm-wine-Myanmar.jpg"><img alt="toddy-palm-wine-Myanmar" class="wp-image-652 aligncenter" src="http://blog.activetravelmyanmar.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/toddy-palm-wine-Myanmar.jpg" height="600" width="450" /></a> </div>
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Throughout Myanmar countryside, when spindly bamboo ladders appear intermittently into rows of jaggery trees, it’s time the locals absorbedly cut buds of jaggery to get toddy juice then bring home to make palm sugar and wine. The palm’s sweet, white sap ferments naturally into “toddy”, a cloudy, lightly alcoholic beverage also called “palm wine” or “tan-ye”. As the Myanmar’s only home-produced alcoholic drink, toddy is only available in village bars near where it’s made, making it an unmistakable flavor among Burmese styles.<b> </b></div>
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<b>8. Wandering alone in countryside </b><br />
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<a href="http://blog.activetravelmyanmar.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/Kalaw-trekking.jpg"><img alt="Kalaw-trekking" class="aligncenter wp-image-653" src="http://blog.activetravelmyanmar.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/Kalaw-trekking.jpg" height="420" width="630" /></a></div>
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In an early, misty morning that somewhere cocks crow to wake up dawn, let roam on peaceful countryside paths, encounter mild water buffaloes leisurely grazing, and enjoy fresh breezes gone with wild odor of natural fields. To actually experience bucolic life first-hand far away from urban scramble, get to the hills in Shan State with an incredible <a href="http://www.myanmartour.com/trekking_from_kalaw_to_inle_lake_myanmar_t204.html" target="_blank">trek from Kalaw to Inle lake</a>; or head north to the less-visited area around Hsipaw and Kyaukme, further, approach isolated, iced Himalaya area of Putao; or turn east to Golden Triangle of Kyaing Tong, Tachilect; or turn west to stupa-covered villages in Mrauk U. A choice for discovering eerie races’ life is set on an <a href="http://www.myanmartour.com/best_trail_for_trekking_from_kalaw_to_loikaw_t211.html" target="_blank">adventure trip to Loikaw</a> to visit long-necked Padaung tribe’s villages, or a <a href="http://www.activetravel.asia/trekking-to-chin-village-t223.html" target="_blank">trek in Chin state</a> to meet face-tattooed women.<br />
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Whichever hike, it’s possible to have a unique overnight in monasteries or homestay.</div>
<div class="blogger-post-footer">Follow ActiveTravel.Asia on the social web <img alt="" src="http://www.activetravelvietnam.com/resources/icons/facebook.gif" /> <a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Active-Travel-Asia/67878574405">Facebook</a> <img alt="" src="http://www.activetravelvietnam.com/resources/icons/myspace.gif" /> <a href="http://www.myspace.com/activetravel">MySpace</a> <img alt="" src="http://www.activetravelvietnam.com/resources/icons/twitter.gif" /> <a href="http://twitter.com/Active_Travel">Twitter</a></div>Active Travel Asiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17720226021825421230noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-422882030703736977.post-71417025612371680512015-11-24T17:38:00.001-08:002015-11-24T17:44:14.594-08:00Elaborate Face Washing Rite in Mahamuni Pagoda<div style="text-align: justify;">
<i>Early morning in the Mahamuni pagoda (Mandalay) is peaceful, solemn and sacred irrespective of outside life.</i><br />
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Mandalay is the city located in the central country beside the gentle Irrawaddy river. The city has retained so many precious things which remain mysterious in eyes of foreigners.</div>
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Mandalay has Shwenandaw monastery - where keeps extremely sophisticated wooden sculptures, Kuthodaw Paya pagoda – where reserves the world’s largest set of Buddhist scriptures including “729 pages” engraved on big marble, the Royal Palace – the symbol of a kingship period, <a href="http://www.activetravelmagazines.com/longest-teak-wood-bridges-magnificence-in-sundown.html" target="_blank">U Bein bridge</a> – the world’s oldest and longest wood teak bridge, Mahagandayon monastery in Amarapura, Mingun Bell in the opposite riverside, and specially the Mahamuni pagoda with a great Buddha image.</div>
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<a href="http://blog.activetravelmyanmar.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/Mahamuni-image-Mandalay.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Mahamuni-image-Mandalay" class="aligncenter wp-image-629" src="http://blog.activetravelmyanmar.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/Mahamuni-image-Mandalay.jpg" height="400" width="600" /></a></div>
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The image has a unique posture: the Buddha sits for meditation. He has a round face and pierced long ears. He wears a hat and dresses a golden robe. The image was cast of brass 6.5 tons in weight and 1.8 meters in height. The stupa where contain the statue has 3 passage-ways at two sides and in front of it. The ceiling, walls to the body of the image all emit radiantly golden lights.</div>
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Millions of Buddhism devotees came to the pagoda and applied laminated gold leaves commonly the size of 2 thumbs on the Mahamuni image, causing the thickness of the body to increase by 6 inch (15 cm).</div>
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In Mahamuni pagoda, women are not allowed to approach and enter the section in front of and near the image while men have this right. Women are just only permitted to knee, sit or stand behind the enclosure 30 m from the Buddha image. However, the number of women buying gold plates is much more than that of men. Several special men are always available in the pagoda to do the duty of applying gold leaves on the image replacing for women.</div>
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The traditional face washing rite for the Mahamuni image is carried out daily in early morning at 4 AM or 4.30 A.M, comprising two main parts: washing the face and brushing the teeth.</div>
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When everyone gathers fully ahead of the image, the ceremony starts to be carried out with elaborate rituals lasting over an hour by a senior monk dressed in monastic attire. He is assisted by several men dressed in white and wearing formal headdress. A scaffolding is placed in front high to the chest of the Buddha in order that the senior monk can stand on it at an appropriate altitude to reaches the face easily.</div>
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<a href="http://blog.activetravelmyanmar.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/Mahamuni-face-washing-rite.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Mahamuni-face-washing-rite" class="aligncenter wp-image-631" src="http://blog.activetravelmyanmar.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/Mahamuni-face-washing-rite-1024x576.jpg" height="338" width="600" /></a></div>
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As soon as the drums are stricken, the senior monk enters the sanctum and begin the ceremony with a series of fresh towels, offered by devotees. Firstly, he covers the body with yellow cloth. A shiny metal vase containing water is used to spray on the face to be wet. After that, the monk uses a clean towel to wide carefully and moderately the whole face from forehead to eyes then two bridges of nose. Particularly with the mouth, the monk holds a soft paintbrush, lightly brush the teeth many times before cleaning with fresh towels sequentially again. Next, sandalwood paste is applied to the statue and it is cleaned one more time with towels then eventually splashed with scented water.</div>
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<a href="http://blog.activetravelmyanmar.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/Mahamuni-face-washing-rite-1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Mahamuni-face-washing-rite-1" class="aligncenter wp-image-632" src="http://blog.activetravelmyanmar.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/Mahamuni-face-washing-rite-1.jpg" height="421" width="600" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://blog.activetravelmyanmar.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/Mahamuni-face-washing-rite-3.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Mahamuni-face-washing-rite-3" class="aligncenter wp-image-634" src="http://blog.activetravelmyanmar.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/Mahamuni-face-washing-rite-3.jpg" height="399.5" width="600" /></a></div>
<i>Photo: Wikipedia<a href="http://blog.activetravelmyanmar.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/Mahamuni-face-washing-rite-3.jpg">
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During the ceremony, the chanting sounds sotto voce. Everyone all highly concentrates. Devotees offer food and other items. It is said that the rite has existed since the Buddha statue was brought to the pagoda; and only the monk having the high position in Mandalay Buddhism Community can assume this important job.</div>
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At the eventual rite, the monk employs a fan to gently dry the Buddha face, while many local men reach very closely the Buddha image, knee down and implement a praying rite. After the ceremony is accomplished, the used towels are returned to the devotees who keep these towels with homage in their home shrines. The ceremony finishes, monks commence walking on streets with bare foot and begging for alms.</div>
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<a href="http://blog.activetravelmyanmar.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/Mahamuni-face-washing-rite-4.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Mahamuni-face-washing-rite-4" class="aligncenter wp-image-635" src="http://blog.activetravelmyanmar.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/Mahamuni-face-washing-rite-4.jpg" height="388" width="600" /></a></div>
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About Mahamuni pagoda:
- The pagoda is located between 82 street and 84 street in <a href="http://www.activetravelmagazines.com/exploring-mandalay-tachileik-chiang-mai.html" target="_blank">Mandalay city</a>.
- It opens for visiting from 6 AM to 8 PM.
- February is the time of the festival in Mahamuni pagoda, attracting thousands of Buddhism devotees to participate.</div>
<div class="blogger-post-footer">Follow ActiveTravel.Asia on the social web <img alt="" src="http://www.activetravelvietnam.com/resources/icons/facebook.gif" /> <a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Active-Travel-Asia/67878574405">Facebook</a> <img alt="" src="http://www.activetravelvietnam.com/resources/icons/myspace.gif" /> <a href="http://www.myspace.com/activetravel">MySpace</a> <img alt="" src="http://www.activetravelvietnam.com/resources/icons/twitter.gif" /> <a href="http://twitter.com/Active_Travel">Twitter</a></div>Active Travel Asiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17720226021825421230noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-422882030703736977.post-85282813904761189962015-10-18T19:04:00.002-07:002015-10-18T19:04:32.752-07:00Must-See Locations in Vientiane<div style="text-align: justify;">
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<b>1. Buddha park (Xieng Khuan)</b></div>
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<i>Location: Thadeua village, 25km away to the east from central Vientiane. </i></div>
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<i>There is a small fee for entering here as well as for photography. </i></div>
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It was constructed in 1958 by the monk Bounleua with an area of 4 ha. The park is considered as a monumental carved construction with more than 200 Buddha statues of various shapes and sizes made of cement, ancient moss imbued with color of time.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSOHaHx02H7zIyR8nCg6C-0t0Qtv29UVbSsJfiTnDxcpalnH5izrKprZKCATqJZjGYs35gbPxr0nAtv6LQq8kCwO87NmJ86rmjmYoZbsBAmGF3yMcIjLAu1Wx0zuT_SmyhmpO8HNqRoROw/s1600/Buddha-park-Vientiane.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Buddha-park-Vientiane" border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSOHaHx02H7zIyR8nCg6C-0t0Qtv29UVbSsJfiTnDxcpalnH5izrKprZKCATqJZjGYs35gbPxr0nAtv6LQq8kCwO87NmJ86rmjmYoZbsBAmGF3yMcIjLAu1Wx0zuT_SmyhmpO8HNqRoROw/s640/Buddha-park-Vientiane.JPG" title="Buddha-park-Vientiane" width="640" /></a></div>
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The most prominent statues comprise Indra - the king of Hindu gods riding the three-headed elephant (aka Erawan and Airavata), a four-armed deity sitting on a horse and an artistic god with 12 faces and many hands, each holding weird objects. They are all obviously impressive not only because of their enormous size but because they are full of interesting details and uncanny motifs.</div>
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There is also another outstanding sculpture resembling an enormous pumpkin. It has 3 stories representing 3 levels: Hell, Earth and Heaven. Travelers are able to get into it via an opening looking like a mouth of a demon head. Each story contains sculptures depicting its level. Climbing over staircases from hell to heaven will lead to the top, where has a vantage point to see panorama of the whole park.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixTYtHqP6fo44XsA5nTUfU5R_XkDERLzokFw4qZ1OxUSSIszBO5IbFfPIGbBfF8DV74oa9HzrkVjinqlQVW1G5vGJx8BJDjENS9pNhGo5cOKS5nW8m-vEK3wGECGgJYaCeNMkuXHyO41e-/s1600/pumpkin-statue-buddha-park-vientiane.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Pumpkin-statue-Buddha-park-Vientiane" border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixTYtHqP6fo44XsA5nTUfU5R_XkDERLzokFw4qZ1OxUSSIszBO5IbFfPIGbBfF8DV74oa9HzrkVjinqlQVW1G5vGJx8BJDjENS9pNhGo5cOKS5nW8m-vEK3wGECGgJYaCeNMkuXHyO41e-/s640/pumpkin-statue-buddha-park-vientiane.jpg" title="Pumpkin-statue-Buddha-park-Vientiane" width="480" /></a> </div>
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<b>2. Pha That Luang</b></div>
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<i>Location: at the end of Lan Xang street</i><br />
<i>Opening time: Monday to Sunday, morning: 8h – 12h, afternoon: 13h – 16h.</i></div>
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This world’s cultural heritage is the symbol of this Buddhism country of thousand elephants. It is the biggest and most beautiful stupa in Laos, built from 1566 on ruins of an Indian pagoda dating back 13th century and inlaid with gold. The That Luang's main tower is embraced by 3 grand layers of wall, decorated with red-lacquered-and-gilded lotus petals and glorious small towers. Surrounding it are green-grass ground along with roofed corridors. In this stupa site, there are 2 small pagodas: Wat That Luang Neua in the north and Wat That Luang Tai in the south.<br />
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<i>Before entering this location, travelers if wear short or short skirt will be required to borrow sarong to wrap their leg. </i></div>
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<b>3. Haw Phra Kaew </b></div>
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<i>Location: Setthathirath road</i><br />
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This temple is famous for precious sculpture works, as the most second well-known pagoda in Vientiane only behind Pha That Luang. It was constructed from the 17th to the 18th century by the King Setthathirath when he moved capital from Luang Prabang to Vientiane. Now this site has still saved lots of valued document involving Buddhism. Therefore, it is considered as the national precious thing.<br />
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Although Haw Phra Kaew is called as “pagoda”, no monk has ever stayed in it yet. It is surrounded by sophisticated bronze Buddha images.<br />
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<b>4. Patuxai triumphal arches </b><br />
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<i>Location: At the end of Lang Xang Avenue in the heart of Vientiane</i><br />
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Patuxai (means: Victory Gate) is the victory symbol of Laotian people. Formerly, it was called as Anousavary (means: memory) and built since 1958. Architecture of the triumphal arches’ bottom and outside was modelled on Arc De Triomphe (Paris, France), but its top and inside showed Laos’ typical architectural features and embossment. From the Patuxai’s highest story, it is easy to observe peaceful rhythm of life of residents in Vientiane capital.<br />
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<b>5. COPE Visitor centre</b><br />
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<i>Location: Khouvient street</i><br />
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Laos country has a grievous past because of war; and to learn about that terrible history, travelers should come to COPE Visitor center. Between 1964 and 1973, the American army dropped more than 260 million bombs down to Laos, made it become the top country in the world that incurred the most severe consequences of war. About 30% of these bombs remain unexploded that killed and injured 20,000 people so far. Reaching COPE center, you will feature the history that the Lao underwent. The money donated here has been used to make artificial limbs for victims affected by bombs and mines.<br />
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<i>Adventures to Vientiane:</i></div>
<ul>
<li><a href="http://www.activetravel.asia/nature-adventure-nam-leuk-vientiane-t309.html" target="_blank" title="Trekking Nam Leak - Vientiane"><i>Trekking Nam Leak - Vientiane</i></a></li>
<li><i><a href="http://www.activetravel.asia/elephant-forest-explorer-vientiane-t308.html" target="_blank" title="Trekking elephant jungle - Vientiane">Trekking elephant jungle - Vientiane</a></i></li>
</ul>
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<div class="blogger-post-footer">Follow ActiveTravel.Asia on the social web <img alt="" src="http://www.activetravelvietnam.com/resources/icons/facebook.gif" /> <a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Active-Travel-Asia/67878574405">Facebook</a> <img alt="" src="http://www.activetravelvietnam.com/resources/icons/myspace.gif" /> <a href="http://www.myspace.com/activetravel">MySpace</a> <img alt="" src="http://www.activetravelvietnam.com/resources/icons/twitter.gif" /> <a href="http://twitter.com/Active_Travel">Twitter</a></div>Active Travel Asiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17720226021825421230noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-422882030703736977.post-51276022864821955722015-09-29T01:58:00.002-07:002015-09-29T01:58:39.904-07:00Apsara - The Cambodian Traditional Dance<div style="text-align: justify;">
<i>In <a href="http://www.activetravelmagazines.com/destinations/cambodia" title="Cambodia">Cambodia</a>, it is easy to encounter pretty belles performing Robam Tep Apsara (Dance of the Apsara Divinities) at ancient temples and magnificent palaces or beside rivers.</i></div>
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Apsaras were fairies of cloud and water present in Cambodian folk tales, Hindu and Buddhist mythology. When they frolicked, sang and danced, vegetation and animals multiplied. Therefore, Cambodian people honored Apsaras as Prosperous Goddesses. The most beautiful farriers were Uvasi, Menaka, Ramba and Tilotama, who frequently appeared in Khmer works of poems, music and paintings. The fairies were also the owners of palaces (as they were wives of the Gandharvas, a heaven beings) and specialized in singing and dancing to serve Gods in victory feasts against ghosts and devils. There would be 26 fairies singing and dancing together on every banquet.</div>
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Relying on dancing movements of the fairies, Cambodian people created the fairy dance – Robam Tep Apsara to perform on festivals that extolled merits of Gods, Goddesses and Royalty. The dance, which has existed for many years, became the imperial dance. Then now it is into the familiar dance of belles on festivals, gauds and weddings.</div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Niyt0PXMYWc/VgEi6emCFHI/AAAAAAAAJXg/dF4KN4Vys8E/s1600/Apsara-dance-Cambodia-1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Apsara-dance-2" border="0" height="352" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Niyt0PXMYWc/VgEi6emCFHI/AAAAAAAAJXg/dF4KN4Vys8E/s640/Apsara-dance-Cambodia-1.jpg" title="Apsara-dance-2" width="640" /></a> </div>
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Apsara is a classical dance, mild and famous for its elegance and grandeur with gentle postures and gestures. So far Apsara is the national heritage and the spirit of Cambodia. The people who had the greatest merit in conserving and developing Apsara are the Queen Sisowath Kossamak and Princess Norodom Buppha Devi. In the 1940s, Queen Sisowath Kossamak re-created the ancient Apsara dance by educating her first grand daughter, Princess Norodom Bopha Devi, to become an Apsara dancer. Since 8 years old, the prince carried out Apsara dance in the Royal Palace. Later, she brought this fairy dance over the frontier and introduce it to the entire world. </div>
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Born in at least 2,000 years ago, the first images of the dance have still been seen on many decorative embossments, citadels and moats over hundreds of meters long in <a href="http://www.activetravelmagazines.com/top-three-temples-in-cambodia.html" title="Cambodian ancient temples">Cambodian ancient temples</a> such as <a href="http://www.activetravelmagazines.com/angkor-wat-cambodia-special-journey-to.html" title="Complex of Angkor">Complex of Angkor</a> as well as many other religious constructions throughout the country.</div>
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Postures and curves of the dancer’s arm and body as well as the dancing costume made of gold, silver, jewels, pearls with designs of flowers and leaves were originated from pictures in the old temples, which depicted Indian epic poetry Ramayana or the fight of scrambling for the holy water vase between Demons and Gods that the dance about it includes 100 appealing and meaningful gestures.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-piltq6CCLDQ/VgEpV7DXeeI/AAAAAAAAJYQ/VeuJBwyAbWU/s1600/Apsara-dance-Cambodia-3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Apsara-dance-Cambodia-3" border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-piltq6CCLDQ/VgEpV7DXeeI/AAAAAAAAJYQ/VeuJBwyAbWU/s640/Apsara-dance-Cambodia-3.jpg" title="Apsara-dance-Cambodia-3" width="456" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Photo by Anders Jiras</i></td></tr>
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By the dance, Cambodian residents wanted to voice their wishes about a peaceful, thriving life, praised the beauty of nature, country, deities and contribution of the ancestors. Besides, the dance also reflects stories about birth, aging, sickness and death - the four periods every person has to overcome - so as that next generations can understand thoroughly, experience in observing and preserving great cultural and mental values of the nation.</div>
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Annually, thanks to the patronage of the royalty, the Apsara artists can go on tour everywhere. In order to maintaining and enhancing this traditional dance, steadily there are art groups coming to schools to select small girls for educating, especially orphaned and poor ones. Girls at the age of 8 to 9 years will learn to dance and practice at school and the palace. They drills numerous attractive postures, particularly dancing acts with extraordinarily flexible hands that fingers can bow behind very close to wrist, legs can kick highly and knees can bend behind to the back. In every afternoon, the girls again sing, dance and frolic at temples in front of Apsara embossments, appealing to many travelers to admire.<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ylgu5Ir1rA8/VgEjqrMLftI/AAAAAAAAJXs/vS4MBLzJGEY/s1600/Apsara-dance-educating.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Apsara-dance-4" border="0" height="480" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ylgu5Ir1rA8/VgEjqrMLftI/AAAAAAAAJXs/vS4MBLzJGEY/s640/Apsara-dance-educating.jpg" title="Apsara-dance-4" width="640" /></a></div>
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Today, apart from dancers serving Royalty, there are 300 dancers performing in hotels, restaurants and Chaktomuk Theatre near the Imperial Palace in pulsating melodies with brilliant and graceful costumes. <br />
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<div class="blogger-post-footer">Follow ActiveTravel.Asia on the social web <img alt="" src="http://www.activetravelvietnam.com/resources/icons/facebook.gif" /> <a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Active-Travel-Asia/67878574405">Facebook</a> <img alt="" src="http://www.activetravelvietnam.com/resources/icons/myspace.gif" /> <a href="http://www.myspace.com/activetravel">MySpace</a> <img alt="" src="http://www.activetravelvietnam.com/resources/icons/twitter.gif" /> <a href="http://twitter.com/Active_Travel">Twitter</a></div>Active Travel Asiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17720226021825421230noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-422882030703736977.post-17340086345688190752015-09-07T02:46:00.001-07:002015-09-14T00:32:44.137-07:00The Land of Free Storks and Little Cormorants<div style="text-align: justify;">
<i>Some motorboats get deeply into the forest that makes flocks of birds perching on tree branches clap wings then soar on high, creating a lively picture in Tram Chim national park, Dong Thap province, southern Vietnam.</i></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-K_kaHfJ2kO4/Ve03VIaUYEI/AAAAAAAAJUk/sCOL5bLylO0/s1600/Tram-Chim-nationa-park-Vietnam.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Tram Chim national park 1" border="0" height="426" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-K_kaHfJ2kO4/Ve03VIaUYEI/AAAAAAAAJUk/sCOL5bLylO0/s640/Tram-Chim-nationa-park-Vietnam.jpg" title="Tram Chim national park 1" width="640" /></a></div>
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Tram Chim national park, the first Ramsar area in <a href="http://www.activetravelmagazines.com/mekong-delta-a-river-tours-vietnam-down-in-the-delta.html" target="_blank" title="Mekong delta">Mekong delta</a> has an area of 7,000 ha, keeping an important role in the map of the world’s biological diversity. When Mekong delta is in flood season, flocks of birds in turns immigrate. </div>
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There remains some still stay to spy out and seek out food grounds, resting places and good habitat to call their flock back. In spring, flocks of birds will return here to reside and search for food.</div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gZX7AYn_5lU/Ve08aXjmzAI/AAAAAAAAJUw/lXwueznYkpI/s1600/Tram-Chim-nationa-park-Vietnam%2B%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Tram Chim national park 2" border="0" height="426" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gZX7AYn_5lU/Ve08aXjmzAI/AAAAAAAAJUw/lXwueznYkpI/s640/Tram-Chim-nationa-park-Vietnam%2B%25281%2529.jpg" title="Tram Chim national park 2" width="640" /></a></div>
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When motorboats move deeply into the cajuput jungle, birds hearing sound in a passive way immediately soar on high.<br />
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With the aim of sustainable tourism development, the administration of Dong Thap province, Management Board of Tram Chim national park, World Wide Fund and Coca-Cola Vietnam company coordinated and deployed the project “Preserving biological diversity & developing ecological tourism based on community” in Tram Chim with total investment budget of nearly 1.2 million USD.<br />
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The project helps to protect rare birds, improve the management of hydrology and water lever adjustment, nourish aqua species and recover vegetation.</div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Nt4qlSvYVVU/Ve09CbEKyXI/AAAAAAAAJU4/5GeCx0KBf00/s1600/Tram-Chim-nationa-park-Vietnam-%25282%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Tram Chim national park 3" border="0" height="426" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Nt4qlSvYVVU/Ve09CbEKyXI/AAAAAAAAJU4/5GeCx0KBf00/s640/Tram-Chim-nationa-park-Vietnam-%25282%2529.jpg" title="Tram Chim national park 3" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Birds perching on branches of tree are really equanimous. If sitting on boat drifting slowly, it is easy to see nests of birds built all over places. According to statistics of WWF, surrounding the Tram Chim area there are about 12,000 Asian openbill storks, over 10,000 oriental darters, above 1,500 little cormorants and 6,000 little egrets inhabiting and reproducing.</span></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jU_L_D-1vb4/Ve0-aJxANPI/AAAAAAAAJVE/LufVJLtES9I/s1600/Tram-Chim-nationa-park-Vietnam-%25283%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Tram Chim national park 4" border="0" height="426" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jU_L_D-1vb4/Ve0-aJxANPI/AAAAAAAAJVE/LufVJLtES9I/s640/Tram-Chim-nationa-park-Vietnam-%25283%2529.jpg" title="Tram Chim national park 4" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Tram Chim national park of Dong Thap province is anticipated that it will become a special attraction in the flood season. In 2014, there is about 60,000 tourists <a href="http://www.vietnamtour.com/vietnam_birding_tour_t151.html" target="_blank" title="traveling to Tram Chim">traveling to Tram Chim</a>, increasing 4 times compared to the number of 2013. Above 200 households living around Tram Chim are also permitted to exploit and use the resources in a reasonable way in the flood season. This will grow averagely by 1,460,000 VND per month in income of each household.</span></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Tud5gouzRk0/Ve1Aaog820I/AAAAAAAAJVQ/TswhGASahc4/s1600/Tram-Chim-nationa-park-Vietnam-%25284%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Tram Chim national park 5" border="0" height="426" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Tud5gouzRk0/Ve1Aaog820I/AAAAAAAAJVQ/TswhGASahc4/s640/Tram-Chim-nationa-park-Vietnam-%25284%2529.jpg" title="Tram Chim national park 5" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">It is predicted that the Dong Thap tourism festival will take place from 25th to 27th September in the national park with the theme: “Tram Chim in flood season”.</span></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-WPaYbbWYAQI/Ve1A9BYTQbI/AAAAAAAAJVY/8hCenxATdag/s1600/Tram-Chim-nationa-park-Vietnam-%25285%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Tram Chim national park 6" border="0" height="426" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-WPaYbbWYAQI/Ve1A9BYTQbI/AAAAAAAAJVY/8hCenxATdag/s640/Tram-Chim-nationa-park-Vietnam-%25285%2529.jpg" title="Tram Chim national park 6" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">“The project “Preserving biological diversity, developing ecological tourism based on community” has implemented smoothly and acquired results as expectation. Hoping that the management and conservation of Tram Chim continue to be maintained in order to keep firmly the appellation “Ramsar” and become an experience or a lesson for other wetlands in Mekong Delta.” said Mr. Hoang Quoc Viet, the coordinator of the project by WWF.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-LhM9yrCRkScqSkrcAmkTFaxui4jhYAW897kr4zQA-Mv6Bnc4gCElXC3ZvxMYyttY0_yrQR2_0hrdvubyo_L-E0FD7kEzaXD2rFYKElRFmfaQMkzRSjwYkqZClER6NNhydCwgG9hobgw/s1600/Tram-Chim-nationa-park-Vietnam-%25286%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Tram Chim national park 7" border="0" height="332" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-LhM9yrCRkScqSkrcAmkTFaxui4jhYAW897kr4zQA-Mv6Bnc4gCElXC3ZvxMYyttY0_yrQR2_0hrdvubyo_L-E0FD7kEzaXD2rFYKElRFmfaQMkzRSjwYkqZClER6NNhydCwgG9hobgw/s640/Tram-Chim-nationa-park-Vietnam-%25286%2529.jpg" title="Tram Chim national park 7" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">About the reason of choosing Tram Chim national park to preserve and invest, Mr. Nguyen Khoa My, the Director of Communications and External Relations of Coca-Cola Vietnam company notified: “In Vietnam, there are a lot of national parks, but this area has influenced evidently by climate change because it is located right in the basin of <a href="http://www.activetravelmagazines.com/exploring-the-mekong-river-from-laos-to-vietnam.html" target="_blank" title="Mekong river">Mekong river</a>. Therefore, pursuing this project will help to save ecological environment, giving back the best natural status quo for the residents and rare animals so as that they can return to reside. </span></div>
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<div class="blogger-post-footer">Follow ActiveTravel.Asia on the social web <img alt="" src="http://www.activetravelvietnam.com/resources/icons/facebook.gif" /> <a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Active-Travel-Asia/67878574405">Facebook</a> <img alt="" src="http://www.activetravelvietnam.com/resources/icons/myspace.gif" /> <a href="http://www.myspace.com/activetravel">MySpace</a> <img alt="" src="http://www.activetravelvietnam.com/resources/icons/twitter.gif" /> <a href="http://twitter.com/Active_Travel">Twitter</a></div>Active Travel Asiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17720226021825421230noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-422882030703736977.post-41555196866908923002015-08-18T20:06:00.000-07:002016-01-19T19:35:50.504-08:00Paradise Island Koh Rong Under Camera Lens Of A Traveler<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<i><b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Koh Rong is renowned as
one of paradise islands in Cambodia having retained the pristine feature with
rainforests and glorious beaches.</span></b></i></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Gc1jwA-hbwo/VdPnHMzOn4I/AAAAAAAAJRM/GF_fD3Dj_OU/s1600/Koh-Rong-island-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Koh-Rong-island-1" border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Gc1jwA-hbwo/VdPnHMzOn4I/AAAAAAAAJRM/GF_fD3Dj_OU/s1600/Koh-Rong-island-1.jpg" title="Koh-Rong-island-1" /></a></div>
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With an area of 78 km<sup>2</sup>,
Koh Rong is the second largest island in Cambodia kingdom, located in Thailand
bay. Most travelers reach here are foreigners. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMu3avEf9gf3S7nPY5NxykmhJ8Gp8rk7JbUTf6ZsMk0LYFxweubf_dfMz_Fb0oqGmhv5JDliDwxpq2ay5-PvK1SHypzU_age7OdreBCXBfigeuTGUEVO-zweg5pJn3rY8GEXdYQIN55q0/s1600/Koh-Rong-island-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Koh-Rong-island-2" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMu3avEf9gf3S7nPY5NxykmhJ8Gp8rk7JbUTf6ZsMk0LYFxweubf_dfMz_Fb0oqGmhv5JDliDwxpq2ay5-PvK1SHypzU_age7OdreBCXBfigeuTGUEVO-zweg5pJn3rY8GEXdYQIN55q0/s1600/Koh-Rong-island-2.jpg" title="Koh-Rong-island-2" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Many travelers getting
to here cannot avoid surprise to beauty of the island. White sandy coasts
stretch and surround clear, blue sea, which will bring you a relaxing,
comfortable feeling.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY_6ywoJnrfcQyGgR5_TeYej4xAsxi9X6BOFHxC7bQ-NU_zKFFfg8nPnl_ICp_TAYFX6gMD8L_dZJ8TLN8yhIjGUWifHgcIym_N1NsOCU-fKQd-1doIZExJ-ScdbrEgWaUHOaXEepini8/s1600/Koh-Rong-island-3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Koh-Rong-island-3" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY_6ywoJnrfcQyGgR5_TeYej4xAsxi9X6BOFHxC7bQ-NU_zKFFfg8nPnl_ICp_TAYFX6gMD8L_dZJ8TLN8yhIjGUWifHgcIym_N1NsOCU-fKQd-1doIZExJ-ScdbrEgWaUHOaXEepini8/s1600/Koh-Rong-island-3.jpg" title="Koh-Rong-island-3" /></a></div>
Romantic beaches are
roused by activities like fishing, surfing and rowing. You can select an active
activities to explore the island.<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-NlIHqAbWxSM/VdPnkdRE9eI/AAAAAAAAJRk/BlGrOzkMF6g/s1600/Koh-Rong-island-4.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Koh-Rong-island-4" border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-NlIHqAbWxSM/VdPnkdRE9eI/AAAAAAAAJRk/BlGrOzkMF6g/s1600/Koh-Rong-island-4.jpg" title="Koh-Rong-island-4" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> </span>The number of resorts
is not many but it is still enough to meet demand of travelers.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz7SE7Po7P62lyjXyd5b4CV8nuqwUBDrkPjVYQ-Z30QqWtSr4Shv-GT69hrahmGMKtLfH0m8U5ZyiVYFxXObxW-T6JhPjadb5dZZ6Jtz0BxE-gSYR1XT7C5EGJwLl5APGOfM5YdGsTURg/s1600/Koh-Rong-island-5.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Koh-Rong-island-5" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz7SE7Po7P62lyjXyd5b4CV8nuqwUBDrkPjVYQ-Z30QqWtSr4Shv-GT69hrahmGMKtLfH0m8U5ZyiVYFxXObxW-T6JhPjadb5dZZ6Jtz0BxE-gSYR1XT7C5EGJwLl5APGOfM5YdGsTURg/s1600/Koh-Rong-island-5.jpg" title="Koh-Rong-island-5" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> </span>Along coasts of the
island, you will find a mass of big canvas beds arranged neatly, which are free
for travelers to rest. Therefore, you can enjoy agreeable moments as putting
down your back here. Besides, let spend a little time to enjoy delicious, fresh
sea food from vendors along beaches. In this way, you not only know typical
flavours of this island but also obtain chances to <a href="http://www.activetravelmagazines.com/top-10-cambodian-foods.html" target="_blank">discover Cambodian cuisine</a>.</div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TPTD0ycJYa0/VdPnlB9GMPI/AAAAAAAAJR0/BAlok1ORzlk/s1600/Koh-Rong-island-6.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Koh-Rong-island-6" border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TPTD0ycJYa0/VdPnlB9GMPI/AAAAAAAAJR0/BAlok1ORzlk/s1600/Koh-Rong-island-6.jpg" title="Koh-Rong-island-6" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"></span>For any inquiry need to
be cleared up, let contact to the information section for travelers in a house
adjoining to the coast. </div>
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Koh Rong makes a strong
impression on travelers not only because of its fresh, windy sea and sky, but
also thanks to enthusiasm and hospitality of locals.</div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Lmci0cIfZ4M/VdPnlUcV6GI/AAAAAAAAJSE/kunY2aAGhac/s1600/Koh-Rong-island-8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Koh-Rong-island-8" border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Lmci0cIfZ4M/VdPnlUcV6GI/AAAAAAAAJSE/kunY2aAGhac/s1600/Koh-Rong-island-8.jpg" title="Koh-Rong-island-8" /></a></div>
Koh Rong island is an
interesting, alluring destination with poetic, tranquil beauty. This place is
really relevant to travelers to enjoy pure, silent atmosphere and escape from
bustling life. </div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Before starting this
journey, you should plan, book hotel and means of transport two weeks in
advance. 3 days and 2 nights are enough for you to reveal totally the island.
To reach Kor Rong, firstly you have to arrive Sihanoukville. After that,
you take a boat to get in the island. There are two boating options for
you. One, slow boat with travel time is 2 hours. Two, canoe, which will take
you 45 minutes. </span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">You can experience <a href="http://www.activetravel.asia/cambodia-adventure-tours-tl346.html" target="_blank">active Cambodia adventures</a> to explore hidden parts then relaxing, enjoying an amazing holiday in this lovely island. </span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><b>Photo: Lamtom</b> </span></i></div>
<div class="blogger-post-footer">Follow ActiveTravel.Asia on the social web <img alt="" src="http://www.activetravelvietnam.com/resources/icons/facebook.gif" /> <a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Active-Travel-Asia/67878574405">Facebook</a> <img alt="" src="http://www.activetravelvietnam.com/resources/icons/myspace.gif" /> <a href="http://www.myspace.com/activetravel">MySpace</a> <img alt="" src="http://www.activetravelvietnam.com/resources/icons/twitter.gif" /> <a href="http://twitter.com/Active_Travel">Twitter</a></div>Active Travel Asiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17720226021825421230noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-422882030703736977.post-80403786800816694612015-08-03T02:45:00.002-07:002015-08-03T02:45:22.698-07:00Motorcycling – Cushiest Way to Explore Southeast Asia<div style="text-align: justify;">
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Southeast Asia - the land of motorbikes and scooters! Small motors nimbly, smoothly move on streets. In spite of Luang Prabang, Ho Chi Minh city or Chiang Mai, it is easy to ride a motorbike around streets and even small lanes, reveal indigenous cultural features in a peculiar way.<br />
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Having low cost and compact design, easy to control, motorbike become the most common mean of transport in Southeast Asia countries. Motorbikes appear everywhere, every corner, used by both locals and foreign travelers for transfer. </div>
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Moving by motorbike is truly flexible and convenient to explore cities, villages, fields or coastal areas. In addition, by traveling in the way of native residents, you will obtain authentically local experiences. On two wheels, it is possible to drive to ways and corners you want, stopping at anytime and anywhere to snap unique moments or take interesting conversations with locals. One day on a motorbike threading over the most hidden parts will bring fascinating experiences during your journey. </div>
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So, when traveling in an area in Southeast Asia, you can select a motorbike as a companion and simply go. This lists below will show you some ideas for <a href="http://www.activetravelmagazines.com/" target="_blank">Southeast Asia discovery</a> on motorbike. </div>
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<b>Yogyakarta – Indonesia</b></div>
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So many travelers reach Yogyakarta only to contemplate sunrise in Borobudur – the greatest Buddhism monument in Indonesia. However, many other hidden parts in this area you may not know and desire to discover. Yogyakarta city seems to be a typical slice of Indonesia with endless rice paddies, rustic villages and meandering road systems. </div>
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You can visit this famous Hindu temple, Prambanan, as crossing over Kaliurang town, lying on the foot of the volcano Merapi. Scenery of this place can be beyond very much your imagination. Except the traffic jam in the entrance of the town, remaining things are all smooth.</div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Gp5EYylomdE/Vb8oXfK7FLI/AAAAAAAAJPI/pasc4qwu6aQ/s1600/Yogyakarta%2Bmotorcycling.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Yogyakarta motorcycling" border="0" height="480" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Gp5EYylomdE/Vb8oXfK7FLI/AAAAAAAAJPI/pasc4qwu6aQ/s640/Yogyakarta%2Bmotorcycling.jpg" title="Yogyakarta motorcycling" width="640" /></a></div>
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<b>Luang Prabang – Laos</b></div>
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Do you want to ride around appealing streets in this ancient city? Just simple, walk to a motorbike rental shop, take one and ride. <a href="http://www.activetravelmagazines.com/discovering-laotian-culture-in-ancient-city-of-luang-prabang.html" target="_blank">Luang Prabang</a> is a peaceful city with lovely 2-story blocks of dwellings, quaint small houses, colorful tuk tuks and long queues of monks walking moderately on bare foot to beg for alms in the quite atmosphere. Perhaps you will be excited as encountering an old temple quite Chinese in style. Bring along a map if it is necessary for you.</div>
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Getting out of this safe and sound city toward surrounding areas, more challenges are waiting travelers to conquer. You can head to Kuang Si and Tad Sae, two superb, emerald waterfalls. The roads are relatively convenient. Passing over jungles, many beautiful landscapes will disclose. </div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-vjiFm7-kYtU/Vb8sRgzEvuI/AAAAAAAAJPU/9CRbXi8LavU/s1600/Luang%2BPrabang%2Bcity.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Luang Prabang motorcycling" border="0" height="480" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-vjiFm7-kYtU/Vb8sRgzEvuI/AAAAAAAAJPU/9CRbXi8LavU/s640/Luang%2BPrabang%2Bcity.jpg" title="Luang Prabang motorcycling" width="640" /></a></div>
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<b>Ho Chi Minh city - Vietnam </b></div>
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Traffic in Vietnam always make a deep impression on any oversea traveler first time stepping on this country. Amazing. Incredible. Thousands of motors moving smoothly in narrow space among disorderly whistling noise; and patience of residents in traffic jam are unforgettable images. </div>
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You can take a <a href="http://vietnamtour.com/sai_gon_city_tour_by_vespa_t217.html" target="_blank">Saigon Vespa tour</a> to get around the city. Classic but graceful Vespa scooters will take travelers to discover incredible street food, to original bars, restaurants and lovely hidden streets. This is a great way that helps you find less well-known places and enjoy real local cuisine. If you are impossible to ride, you can sit in the rear position and comfortably sightsee streets. </div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-R-LcyX_4SUI/Vb8soHQ_8XI/AAAAAAAAJPc/d2PZrkC-kCQ/s1600/Sai%2BGon%2Bvespa%2Btour.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Saigon Vespa tour" border="0" height="425" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-R-LcyX_4SUI/Vb8soHQ_8XI/AAAAAAAAJPc/d2PZrkC-kCQ/s640/Sai%2BGon%2Bvespa%2Btour.jpg" title="Saigon Vespa tour" width="640" /></a></div>
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<b>Chiang Mai, Thailand</b></div>
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Chiang Mai is located in a highland of Thailand so this city has a natural beauty actually mind-blowing. The region is dominated by forests, strawberry fields, rivers, streams and many other ecological sites.</div>
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You can trek 14.5 km to reach the mountain top and visit the sacred Wat Phra That temple – one of the most renowned spots in the city. However, paying attention that you can encounter the traffic congestion, especially at the end of the day.</div>
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Or, you can liberate and ride motorbike to visit historic places in the central Chiang Mai city. Let reach Buddhism pagodas built since the city newly established (about 700 years ago). If it is hot, you can take some breaks, rest, enjoy the “pad Thai” dish then continue your journey.</div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-qJ_HjW5iGMw/Vb8vrcfgm8I/AAAAAAAAJQI/UdBZ1sk1lnM/s1600/Chiang%2BMai%2Bmotorcycling.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Motorcycling Chiang Mai" border="0" height="346" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-qJ_HjW5iGMw/Vb8vrcfgm8I/AAAAAAAAJQI/UdBZ1sk1lnM/s640/Chiang%2BMai%2Bmotorcycling.jpg" title="Motorcycling Chiang Mai" width="640" /></a></div>
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<i> Photo: Peanuts or Pretzels</i></div>
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<b>Sumatra, Indonesia</b></div>
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If having scanty time, you can get to Maninjau – the lake formed from the crater of the former volcano in Sumata, Indonesia. Around the lake is small fishing villages, rice fields, schools and mosques. Here, you are never stuck in traffic. </div>
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<b>Koh Lanta, Thailand</b> </div>
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Koh Lanta is an island district in Thailand. Not famous like Koh Phi Phi or Phuket, but it is an ideal destination for excursions by scooters or motorbikes. On the island, though the way is just only 26 km long, you still can have a lot of awesome experiences: local life, fabulous scenery and traffic. </div>
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Almost the streets have pavements, safe and not crowded. Spend all your day to contemplate the stunning beach like paradise or visit the old quarter, where retains memories of the island. You can admire traditional houses lying near the sea, nice café and peaceful space. </div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-EFRaM2vv1PE/Vb8vF8C23HI/AAAAAAAAJQA/4qgTjytOpnE/s1600/Koh%2BLanta%2Bmotorcycling%2B1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="motorcycling Koh Lanta" border="0" height="456" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-EFRaM2vv1PE/Vb8vF8C23HI/AAAAAAAAJQA/4qgTjytOpnE/s640/Koh%2BLanta%2Bmotorcycling%2B1.jpg" title="motorcycling Koh Lanta" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="blogger-post-footer">Follow ActiveTravel.Asia on the social web <img alt="" src="http://www.activetravelvietnam.com/resources/icons/facebook.gif" /> <a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Active-Travel-Asia/67878574405">Facebook</a> <img alt="" src="http://www.activetravelvietnam.com/resources/icons/myspace.gif" /> <a href="http://www.myspace.com/activetravel">MySpace</a> <img alt="" src="http://www.activetravelvietnam.com/resources/icons/twitter.gif" /> <a href="http://twitter.com/Active_Travel">Twitter</a></div>Active Travel Asiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17720226021825421230noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-422882030703736977.post-22579014803489158742015-07-22T21:21:00.001-07:002015-08-03T01:28:33.493-07:00Travel Like a "Real" Burmese<div style="text-align: justify;">
<i>One of best ways to discover a country is immersing in the local life, eating their food, wearing their costumes, staying at their home, talking to them or traveling like them.</i></div>
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Just opening recently, Myanmar has still maintained unique features which are hard to find in any other country. To understand more deeply about Burma, travelers can transfer like native people and be one of them.</div>
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<span style="color: #993300;"><span style="color: #333333;"><b>1.</b><b> Pedicab</b></span></span></div>
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Myanmar’s pedicabs are really classical in style, which evoke some typical images of the past 100 years ago.</div>
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<a href="http://blog.activetravelmyanmar.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/Pedicabs-before-Custom-House-Strand-Road-Yangon-Myanmar.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Pedicabs before Custom House, Strand Road, Yangon, Myanmar" class="aligncenter wp-image-606" src="http://blog.activetravelmyanmar.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/Pedicabs-before-Custom-House-Strand-Road-Yangon-Myanmar.jpg" height="400" title="Pedicabs before Custom House, Strand Road, Yangon, Myanmar" width="600" /></a></div>
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Same to many South & Southeast Asia nations, pedicab is also a characteristic mode of transport of Myanmar, especially in big cities like Yangon or Mandalay. But, different from some countries where majorly use cycle rickshaw for tourism, pedicab in Myanmar is just an affordable vehicle that normal residents all can use for daily life’s purposes like going to work, going to pagoda, going to market.</div>
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In Yangon, you can sightsee colonial buildings on a classical pedicab, which can lead you around old streets, old buildings with people surrounding all wear traditional clothes. Feeling like to being lost in Southeast Asia in 1990s. In Mandalay, you can take pedicab to reach Royal Palace or roam around the city.</div>
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<a href="http://blog.activetravelmyanmar.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/Pedicabs-before-Accountant-General-Office-Yangon-Myanmar.jpg"><img alt="Pedicabs before Accountant General Office, Yangon, Myanmar" class="aligncenter wp-image-608" src="http://blog.activetravelmyanmar.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/Pedicabs-before-Accountant-General-Office-Yangon-Myanmar.jpg" height="464" width="600" /></a><i>Pedicabs before Accountant General Office, Yangon, Myanmar</i></div>
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<a href="http://blog.activetravelmyanmar.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/Pedicab-in-Switte-Myanmar.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Pedicab in Switte, Myanmar" class="aligncenter wp-image-609" src="http://blog.activetravelmyanmar.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/Pedicab-in-Switte-Myanmar.jpg" height="399" width="600" /></a></div>
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<i>Pedicab in Switte, Myanmar</i></div>
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<b>2.</b> <b>“Crazy” train</b></div>
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Called as “crazy” train, train in Myanmar is truly a horror. Why??? Foremost, it shakes very much, continuously, swaying up, down, left, then right, such an extent that you can jump from a place to another place though you are sitting. (Can you imagine, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TtPpyTshcTQ" title="Myanmar train video">view this video</a> to know clearly). Secondly, why it shakes really much. Perhaps because the railway system is old, degraded and not upgraded regularly. Train in Myanmar is even extremely much older than in Vietnam though Vietnam’s trains are old-fashioned. However, if you accept this terrible thing, you will have a real adventure, a fun, unique experience that you just only find in Myanmar. Burmese people still travel by this crazy train every day. They do that, and you can do that too. :)</div>
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So, let view some recommends below for this “unforgettable” experience.</div>
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<b>-<i> Circular train in Yangon</i></b></div>
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This 1 USD train will take you through countryside around Yangon city. Burmese people usually use the train for daily life. Forget a high-class board with air-conditioning if you want to have a clear view about poor Burmese people or an authentic challenge; let choose the normal type. In this way, you can see how labors go to market or go to work.</div>
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<a href="http://blog.activetravelmyanmar.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/Yangon-circular-train-normal-type.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Yangon circular train - normal type" class="aligncenter wp-image-611" src="http://blog.activetravelmyanmar.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/Yangon-circular-train-normal-type.jpg" height="400" width="600" /></a></div>
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<i>Yangon circular train - normal type</i></div>
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<i><b>- Creepy train through Gokteik viaduct – most majestic bridge in Myanmar</b></i></div>
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<a href="http://www.activetravelmagazines.com/train-to-most-myanmar-majestic-bridge.html">Train from Mandalay to Pyin Oo Lwin</a> will pass over this impressive viaduct, the highest bridge for train in Myanmar, which was completed in 1900. As crossing Gokteik, the train will move at the speed of walker with the total time of 25 minutes. Spectacular scenery and creepy feeling are gifts you will receive on this adventure.</div>
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<a href="http://blog.activetravelmyanmar.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/train-through-Gokteik-viaduct.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="train through Gokteik viaduct" class="aligncenter wp-image-612" src="http://blog.activetravelmyanmar.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/train-through-Gokteik-viaduct.jpg" height="406" width="600" /></a></div>
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- <i><b>Yangon to Mandalay</b></i>
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Be an adventurous person and want to challenge yourself, you can think of this “adrenaline” train journey, which lasts “15 hours”. However, before deciding to attempt it, let make sure that you are strong enough to survive to the final minutes.</div>
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<i>>> Anthony Bourdain traveled on a Myanmar crazy train. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MjmDgHq8fZI" title="Anthony Bourdain meets crazy train in Myanmar">View his video</a>.</i><br />
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<b>3. Horse cart & ox cart</b>
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Horse cart & ox cart are an outstanding, typical mean of transport in Myanmar, especially in rural areas. On a cart, you can relax, enjoy scenery and feel the mood of Burma.</div>
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In Bagan, horse cared has been used for tours. A cart ride can lead travelers to off-beaten-track temples and hidden craft villages.</div>
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<a href="http://blog.activetravelmyanmar.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/Bagan-horse-cart.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Bagan horse cart" class="Bagan horse cart aligncenter wp-image-613" src="http://blog.activetravelmyanmar.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/Bagan-horse-cart-1024x682.jpg" height="400" title="Bagan horse cart" width="600" /></a></div>
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One of remarkable features in Pyin Oo Lwin (Maymyo) is classical, colorful horse carts, which can bring you a special way to contemplate landscape of this lovely town, old British colonial houses, stunning flowers gardens and strawberry farms.</div>
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<a href="http://blog.activetravelmyanmar.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/Pyin-Oo-Lwin-horse-cart.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Pyin Oo Lwin horse cart" class="Pyin Oo Lwin horse cart aligncenter wp-image-614" src="http://blog.activetravelmyanmar.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/Pyin-Oo-Lwin-horse-cart.jpg" height="480" title="Pyin Oo Lwin horse cart" width="600" /></a></div>
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It is also fabulous to enjoy an exotic ox-cart on beaches like Ngapali or Chuang Tha.<br />
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<a href="http://blog.activetravelmyanmar.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/Ox-cart-Chaung-Tha-beach.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Ox-cart Chaung Tha beach" class="Ox-cart Chaung Tha beach aligncenter wp-image-615" src="http://blog.activetravelmyanmar.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/Ox-cart-Chaung-Tha-beach.jpg" height="455" title="Ox-cart Chaung Tha beach" width="600" /></a></div>
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<b>4. Boat</b>
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Travelers can try traditional boats or boats that Burmese inhabitants usually use. Some can be really noisy with naked engine, but the experience is actually interesting.</div>
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Small boats are the main transferring mode in Inle lake. Boating is the best way to discover life on this unique lake, where you can witness leg-rowing fishermen, floating houses, floating gardens, trade boat, etc.</div>
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On the way to Mrauk U, it is possible to boat along with locals. There are two kinds, slow boat and speed boat. Hiring a private boat if you want to be alone. However, immersing in local life is better to discover a country.</div>
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Travelers can also attempt other kinds of original boats on Irrawaddy river for deep exploration or on the way from Mrauk U to <a href="http://www.activetravelmagazines.com/from-culture-to-facial-tattoo-of-chin-people-in-myanmar.html">Chin villages</a>.</div>
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<a href="http://blog.activetravelmyanmar.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/traditional-sailboat-on-Kaladan-river-to-Chin-villages.jpg"><img alt="traditional sailboat on Kaladan river to Chin villages" class="traditional sailboat on Kaladan river to Chin villages aligncenter wp-image-616" src="http://blog.activetravelmyanmar.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/traditional-sailboat-on-Kaladan-river-to-Chin-villages.jpg" height="450" title="traditional sailboat on Kaladan river to Chin villages" width="600" /></a><i>Traditional sailboat on Kaladan river to Chin villages</i></div>
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<b>5. Plane</b></div>
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In fact, domestic airline in Myanmar has an old, classical style. This style bring passengers experiences of the past which are no longer today in many countries like PAPER ticket, STICKERS and free seat (no seat allocation.). A whole country has numerous domestic airlines with small fleet of about 2 – 5 planes, most of them are ATR aircrafts. Truly these planes commonly stop at one or some places (called LAYOVERS) to collect more passengers then they just continue flying to the last destination. With this reason, they are so-called as “buses on air” or “commuter buses”.</div>
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To know more bizarre airline system in Myanmar, you can <a href="http://blog.activetravelmyanmar.com/experiencing-old-style-on-myanmar-domestic-flights/">view here</a>.</div>
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<i>By Xuan Tran (ActiveTravel Asia)<br />Photo: Internet & ATA</i></div>
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<div class="blogger-post-footer">Follow ActiveTravel.Asia on the social web <img alt="" src="http://www.activetravelvietnam.com/resources/icons/facebook.gif" /> <a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Active-Travel-Asia/67878574405">Facebook</a> <img alt="" src="http://www.activetravelvietnam.com/resources/icons/myspace.gif" /> <a href="http://www.myspace.com/activetravel">MySpace</a> <img alt="" src="http://www.activetravelvietnam.com/resources/icons/twitter.gif" /> <a href="http://twitter.com/Active_Travel">Twitter</a></div>Active Travel Asiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17720226021825421230noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-422882030703736977.post-5097194281970832562015-06-24T20:31:00.002-07:002015-09-29T20:04:34.696-07:00Best 10 Temples in Siem Reap<div style="text-align: justify;">
<i><b>With hundreds of temples scattered throughout Angkor - World Cultural Heritage Site in Siem Reap province, you can only select a few priorities of the biggest, most beautiful temples lying in best locations to admire.</b></i></div>
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Angkor Wat means “Temple City” (Angkor: "city" or "capital city") while Angkor Thom means “Great City”. These are two the most important relics in Cambodia, which are considered as supreme constructions of Khmer art and architecture.</div>
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<b>1. Angkor Wat</b></div>
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Angkor Wat is the greatest, best beautiful temple and situated in the best location among all temples in Angkor Complex Site. Angkor Wat was constructed under the dynasty of King Suryavarman II in the first half of 12th century, which is the pinnacle of Khmer architecture. This temple is well-known for long passage-ways carved with hundreds of Hinduism epic relievo statues along with thousands of absolutely stunning Apsara woman dancer statues. </div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-JqfGi_2ryag/VYpjIZmEr6I/AAAAAAAAI2A/8N67GntenrM/s1600/Angkor%2BWat.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img alt="Angkor Wat - Cambodia" border="0" height="424" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-JqfGi_2ryag/VYpjIZmEr6I/AAAAAAAAI2A/8N67GntenrM/s640/Angkor%2BWat.jpg" title="Angkor Wat - Cambodia" width="640" /></a></div>
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<i>To walk and <a href="http://www.activetravel.asia/angkor-wat-highlights-t317.html" target="_blank" title="explore Angkor Wat">explore Angkor Wat</a> entirely, you will have to spend a whole day. This is also the best place to contemplate sunrise in Angkor. </i></div>
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<b>2. Bayon</b></div>
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Lying in Angkor Thom ensemble, Bayon is remembered by hundreds of giant, spectacular four-faced-statues. Bayon was built in 12th century by Jayavarman VII, which is the only national temple in Angkor built for Mahayana Buddhism, dedicated to worship Buddha. After the death of King Jayavarman, Bayon was remodeled to Hinduism style.</div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-09BsxmDYDPY/VYpmGcaQp3I/AAAAAAAAI2U/XfbaYvX0zzE/s1600/Bayon%2BCambodia.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Bayon - Cambodia" border="0" height="480" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-09BsxmDYDPY/VYpmGcaQp3I/AAAAAAAAI2U/XfbaYvX0zzE/s640/Bayon%2BCambodia.jpg" title="Bayon - Cambodia" width="640" /></a></div>
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<i>This is the most impressive temple in Angkor Complex thanks to its majesty about scale along with mysterious, spiritual emotions when admiring this temple.</i></div>
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<b>3. Ta Keo temple</b></div>
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Takeo temple was made of green sandstones, which is the sole temple not completed in Angkor Thom. Ta Keo was erected by King Jayavarman V, the son of Rajendravarman, as he was 17 years old. This temple is dedicated to worship God Shiva. However, Ta Keo was never accomplished due to the death of the king.</div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-CWky9ksyV9U/VYpxpIzuzZI/AAAAAAAAI2w/uhUO1z8OkD4/s1600/Ta%2BKeo%2B-%2BCambodia.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Ta Keo - Cambodia" border="0" height="422" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-CWky9ksyV9U/VYpxpIzuzZI/AAAAAAAAI2w/uhUO1z8OkD4/s640/Ta%2BKeo%2B-%2BCambodia.jpg" title="Ta Keo - Cambodia" width="640" /></a></div>
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<i>A legend was related that the temple had been struck by lightning while it had been constructing, and all work had been stopped in the period that primary structures had been newly completed.</i></div>
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<b>4. Ta Prohm</b></div>
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Built in 1186, Ta Prohm is a Buddhism temple dedicated for the mother of King Jayavarman VII. This is one of a few temples in Angkor having proofs which provide information about inhabitants of the temple. Ta Prohm used to be home of over 12,500 people. After the fall of Khmer Empire in the 15th century, the temple was abandoned. Trunks have grown over the walls creating an occult, extraordinary beauty for the temple. </div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-asfS4KNTFbw/VYpxyd5E5ZI/AAAAAAAAI24/681Ql6fUiAk/s1600/Ta%2BProhm%2B-%2BCambodia.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Ta Prohm - Cambodia" border="0" height="424" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-asfS4KNTFbw/VYpxyd5E5ZI/AAAAAAAAI24/681Ql6fUiAk/s640/Ta%2BProhm%2B-%2BCambodia.jpg" title="Ta Prohm - Cambodia" width="640" /></a></div>
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<i>Someone who used to watch the film Tomb Raider of the star Angelina Jolie will specially want to visit Ta Prohm.</i></div>
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<b>5. Banteay Kdei</b></div>
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The temple located next to Ta Prohm is Banteay Kdei, meaning “A Citadel of Chambers”, also known as “Citadel of Monk’s Cells”. This is a Buddhism temple in Angkor, built in early 13th century under the reign of King Jayavarman VII. This Buddhism monastery now decays a lot due to incorrect construction and poor quality of sandstones. </div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-NWcictCfrQc/VYpzfY-6lvI/AAAAAAAAI3E/SvhQ2NcwKfI/s1600/Banteay%2BKdei%2B-%2BCambodia.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Banteay Kdei - Cambodia" border="0" height="426" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-NWcictCfrQc/VYpzfY-6lvI/AAAAAAAAI3E/SvhQ2NcwKfI/s640/Banteay%2BKdei%2B-%2BCambodia.jpg" title="Banteay Kdei - Cambodia" width="640" /></a></div>
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<i>If you are ones who fancy culture and beauty, you will not miss these ruins with graceful carved motifs on walls of the temple.</i></div>
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<b>6. Pre Rup</b></div>
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Pre Rup temple looks like a miniature Angkor with three towers in the center. The temple was made of grey sandstone, which is less durable than pink sandstone like in several other temples in Angkor. Pre Rup is used as a place to cremate bodies of the Royal lineage.</div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-fsfU9PJ_xYw/VYp1ET81snI/AAAAAAAAI3Q/bCHNn6Sni0w/s1600/Pre%2BRup%2BCambodia.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Pre Rup - Cambodia" border="0" height="417" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-fsfU9PJ_xYw/VYp1ET81snI/AAAAAAAAI3Q/bCHNn6Sni0w/s640/Pre%2BRup%2BCambodia.jpg" title="Pre Rup - Cambodia" width="640" /></a></div>
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<i>Undergoing many centuries it was abandoned, complicated carved details in this temple has been eroded. </i></div>
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<b>7. Preah Khan</b></div>
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This is one of biggest temples in Angkor, constructed by King Jayavarma VII to offer his father – Dharanindra, was also the temporary residence of this king as Angkor Thom was under construction. Preah Khan was surrounded by a layer of citadel. Many construction categories was connected each other by two plus-shaped-corridors divided the temple into 4 parts. At head of each corridor, there is a temple gate with two colossal statues standing guard.</div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_y-xexH9hUU/VYp3OTf0IsI/AAAAAAAAI3k/2dycT0MRbzE/s1600/Preah%2BKhan%2B-%2BCambodia.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Preah Khan - Cambodia" border="0" height="424" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_y-xexH9hUU/VYp3OTf0IsI/AAAAAAAAI3k/2dycT0MRbzE/s640/Preah%2BKhan%2B-%2BCambodia.jpg" title="Preah Khan - Cambodia" width="640" /></a></div>
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<i>This breathtaking temple has retained numerous invaluable masterpieces overlaid by moss through the years. </i></div>
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<b>8. Phnom Bakheng</b></div>
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This Hinduism temple was constructed in late 9th century, the architectural center of the new capital under the reign of King Yasovarman. The temple faces east, lying in a 6-story-pyramid. After accomplishment, Phnom Bakheng had 108 small towers surrounding the temple on the ground and on the floors. </div>
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<i>Located in top of a hill, Phnom Bakheng is one of best places to witness dawn in Angkor.</i></div>
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Located nearly 30 km from Angkor Wat, but Banteay Srei is the temple cannot forget in Angkor. This temple with delicate, charming contours was built to worship Gods of Hindu and Shiva. Banteay Srei or “the temple of women” is a wonderful picture about sculpture art on laterite and red sandstone.</div>
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<i>The temple is rated as the pinnacle of art with relievo statues and motifs created in a subtle, ingenious way for every small detail.</i></div>
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<b>10. Preah Palilay</b></div>
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Preah Palilay is a very small temple which is little known, situated in the behind precinct of Elephant court. This is a Buddhism temple based on Bayon style, although there are a number of Hinduism carved parts. The temple is striking with the chimney-shaped tower and sculpture statues of God Naga really fabulous from the gate. </div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Zl8UBOVWAv0/VYp8-bkpIZI/AAAAAAAAI4E/jZwGSOBYJQ0/s1600/Preah%2BPalilay%2B-%2BCambodia.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Preah Paliay - Cambodia" border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Zl8UBOVWAv0/VYp8-bkpIZI/AAAAAAAAI4E/jZwGSOBYJQ0/s640/Preah%2BPalilay%2B-%2BCambodia.JPG" title="Preah Paliay - Cambodia" width="528" /></a></div>
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<i>The small temple ruins, hiding deeply inside Angkor Thom area but it is really attractive under cool shade of a green tree garden.</i><br />
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TIP: To discover Angkor Complex site, you can trek or <a href="http://www.activetravel.asia/biking-angkor-wat-t318.html" target="_blank" title="bike over Angkor">bike over Angkor</a>. Animated activities will make your discovery more interesting and bring you new experiences, especially as you go through forests and encounter amazing ruins. </div>
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<div class="blogger-post-footer">Follow ActiveTravel.Asia on the social web <img alt="" src="http://www.activetravelvietnam.com/resources/icons/facebook.gif" /> <a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Active-Travel-Asia/67878574405">Facebook</a> <img alt="" src="http://www.activetravelvietnam.com/resources/icons/myspace.gif" /> <a href="http://www.myspace.com/activetravel">MySpace</a> <img alt="" src="http://www.activetravelvietnam.com/resources/icons/twitter.gif" /> <a href="http://twitter.com/Active_Travel">Twitter</a></div>Active Travel Asiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17720226021825421230noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-422882030703736977.post-18741729460998300552015-06-09T01:37:00.002-07:002015-06-09T01:37:26.645-07:00New Draft Law Banning Travelers from Touching Angkor Wat<div style="text-align: justify;">
The new draft law of conduct, which stipulates prohibitions for travelers like banning from wearing scantily and touching ancient constructions, can be executed by the Authority for the Protection and Management of Angkor and the Region of Siem Reap (APSARA).</div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dxMcozRmMcM/VXaiVjT8gdI/AAAAAAAAIvg/v_qJ4LkKC4Y/s1600/Angkor%2Btemple%2Bsite.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Angkor temple site" border="0" height="424" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dxMcozRmMcM/VXaiVjT8gdI/AAAAAAAAIvg/v_qJ4LkKC4Y/s640/Angkor%2Btemple%2Bsite.jpg" title="Angkor temple site" width="640" /></a></div>
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APSARA notifies that they are completing the new draft law which has been built for 2 years to apply for tourists visiting this historic site. According to Mr. Sok Sangvar, the head of tourist management of APSARA, in this early June, they will send the draft to experts of International Criminal Court to review the code’s legality.</div>
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“Basically the code directs to regulations of things that tourists not to do when <a href="http://www.activetravel.asia/biking-angkor-wat-t318.html" target="_blank" title="visiting Angkor Wat">visiting Angkor Wat</a> like not dressing inappropriately and not touching ancient constructions.” – said Mr. Sok Sangvar. When the process of drafting this new code is coming to the final step, many indecent, illegal actions of some tourists happened as they took “naked” photos inside this sacred, ancient temple site. </div>
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Following to Mr. Long Kosal, the spokesman of APSARA, when being accomplished, the rule books will able to be distributed to people who work in tourism indusstry. “We will propagate this new law widely to related authorities, departments and organizations, and hand the rule books to tourism workers such as tour guides, travel companies, hotels, etc. We need cooperation from them to achieve good results in enforcement of this law.” Mr. Kosal added.</div>
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Mr, Sangvar told that APSARA also find all ways to disseminate things must not to do for travelers. The law is mainly about the sustainable development of Angkor. This code will be also executed for other historical sites in Cambodia, but Angkor temple complex is first. </div>
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<div class="blogger-post-footer">Follow ActiveTravel.Asia on the social web <img alt="" src="http://www.activetravelvietnam.com/resources/icons/facebook.gif" /> <a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Active-Travel-Asia/67878574405">Facebook</a> <img alt="" src="http://www.activetravelvietnam.com/resources/icons/myspace.gif" /> <a href="http://www.myspace.com/activetravel">MySpace</a> <img alt="" src="http://www.activetravelvietnam.com/resources/icons/twitter.gif" /> <a href="http://twitter.com/Active_Travel">Twitter</a></div>Active Travel Asiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17720226021825421230noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-422882030703736977.post-61069608125798236602015-06-02T01:45:00.000-07:002015-06-09T23:45:53.488-07:00Active Travel Asia Introduces New Website Interface<div style="text-align: justify;">
ACTIVE TRAVEL ASIA (ATA) – the travel company offers real adventure travel in Asia excitedly introduces the new website interface <a href="http://www.activetravel.asia/" target="_blank" title="www.activetravel.asia">www.activetravel.asia</a>. So as to serve customers better, this website was redesigned. It now has an easy-to-use interface with an eye-catching appearance and a plain structure. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3dj5os19A-LYqazRti6cfNY2Cyr5tEwQXkX4w6gRWacSgZehOa3LllmMl65Hrfe-wZIQBmZRzFyElHJwKNCMtKbRfCRxK98slLCJVIXFjgLzah0QPjanX0u1QAmZzSkmPT6WdWtjw4us/s1600/1.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Active Travel Asia new website interface" border="0" height="624" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3dj5os19A-LYqazRti6cfNY2Cyr5tEwQXkX4w6gRWacSgZehOa3LllmMl65Hrfe-wZIQBmZRzFyElHJwKNCMtKbRfCRxK98slLCJVIXFjgLzah0QPjanX0u1QAmZzSkmPT6WdWtjw4us/s640/1.png" title="Active Travel Asia new website interface" width="640" /></a></div>
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Compared to the old website interface, this new one has some dominant features following:</div>
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• <b>One-stop booking for adventures to all Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia and Myanmar.</b></div>
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The new website is the synthesis of all tours from four main satellite websites: <a href="http://activetravelvietnam.com/" target="_blank" title="Active Travel Vietnam">Active Travel Vietnam</a>, <a href="http://www.activetravelmyanmar.com/" target="_blank" title="Active Travel Myanmar">Active Travel Myanmar</a>, <a href="http://www.activetravellaos.com/" target="_blank" title="Active Travel Laos">Active Travel Laos</a> and <a href="http://www.activetravelcambodia.com/" target="_blank" title="Active Travel Cambodia">Active Travel Cambodia</a>, but divided by destinations (countries) and activities.</div>
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With a new general and united website, it is expected that the view of tours will be more convenient. As users can see the whole of tours, they will have more appropriate choices for their likes, time or budget. </div>
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•<b> Allow visitors easy to search for adventures by destinations, activities and duration.</b></div>
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A new search tool was created on this new interface for users to seek tours they need. Users can search by places of departure, types of tours (activities), duration and special keywords. With this new search tool, users can find out quickly in a simple and time-saved way. </div>
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Beside the search tool, this new website also supplies a “sort tool”, which allows to sort by Price and by Day that help visitors easily look up to the most suitable adventure to their schedule as well as budget. </div>
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• <b>User-friendly and responsive interface to mobile and tablet screen.</b></div>
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The new interface is eye-catching though on desktop, mobile or tablet screen. Specially, it is really easy to access and use regardless of which devices users employ. It is also friendly in interaction with users via contacts, requests and feedback. </div>
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Applying the newest technology, this new interface is fully responsive to all mobile devices. It means that the interface automatically “adjust” itself about image, text, buttons, icons and others to match to every screen resolution. That makes the online shopping of visitors can be proceed anytime, anywhere as long as their mobile devices are connected to internet. </div>
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•<b> Many options of booking and payment. </b></div>
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Many choices of adventure tours are suggested and given which users can see as accessing a tour site of the web. Beside, customers can customize tour or create own trips then send requests to the company. </div>
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There are many payment policies on the new website that creates favorable conditions and stimulate customers to book adventure tours like paying immediately only 25% out of total, balance later, paying later, etc. The payment system is secured with the SSL standard which encrypts the information that users provide online.</div>
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• <b>Many deals and offers updated.</b></div>
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Deals and offers are updated frequently and set at easy-to-see places. Many tours have a clear table of prices for 1 pax, 2 pax, 3-4 pax, 5-6 pax and single supplement. Particularly, discount prices are counted right on price tables in time of a sales promotion program. </div>
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•<b> Permit users add Feedback right on website.</b></div>
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Users are likely to give their ideas publicly about ATA’s services. That is not helpful to other potential travelers but it shows the ATA’s open idea and confidence with its services. </div>
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With exceptional features in comparison with the old website interface, ATA hopes that this new one will bring simple, convenient and active experiences for users. If you realize any problem when using this new website, please send your comments to ATA. We really thank for this.</div>
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<i>ACTIVE TRAVEL ASIA TEAM</i></div>
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<div class="blogger-post-footer">Follow ActiveTravel.Asia on the social web <img alt="" src="http://www.activetravelvietnam.com/resources/icons/facebook.gif" /> <a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Active-Travel-Asia/67878574405">Facebook</a> <img alt="" src="http://www.activetravelvietnam.com/resources/icons/myspace.gif" /> <a href="http://www.myspace.com/activetravel">MySpace</a> <img alt="" src="http://www.activetravelvietnam.com/resources/icons/twitter.gif" /> <a href="http://twitter.com/Active_Travel">Twitter</a></div>Active Travel Asiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17720226021825421230noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-422882030703736977.post-86843902880152417752015-05-13T03:08:00.002-07:002015-05-13T03:08:46.148-07:00Enjoy Fresh Life in Ba Be National Park<div style="text-align: justify;">
<i>By just staying a few days in Pac Ngoi or any village in Ba Be national park, travelers can come back bustling urban life with a pleasant mood and fresh mind. </i></div>
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Life in Ba Be is so easy-going, where travelers can soak in nature and enjoy an authentic life. With presence of really few modern objects, Be Be is a wonderful place to escape from crowded city and busy life. Wi-fi is erratic, mobile wave and 3G wave are also weak. However, it’s ok. Look at another aspect, everything is still fine. No one and nothing can bother you in this out-of-the-way area. Let try a life without technology and conveniences.</div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-amq56vDO-2Q/VVMHCH7hkSI/AAAAAAAAH5Q/CRYV8VHLemw/s1600/Homestay%2Bin%2BBa%2BBe%2Bnational%2Bpark.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Homestay in Ba Be national park" border="0" height="472" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-amq56vDO-2Q/VVMHCH7hkSI/AAAAAAAAH5Q/CRYV8VHLemw/s640/Homestay%2Bin%2BBa%2BBe%2Bnational%2Bpark.jpg" title="Homestay in Ba Be national park" width="640" /></a></div>
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So as to enjoy this fresh life, you can select a homestay of a Tay family, where you will experience a life at a traditional stilt house. My stilt house overlooks gentle Len stream, a great location to relax in every afternoon. </div>
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In this national park, Ba Be lake is the most striking. Boating around the lake, traveler will be contemplated a charming, breathtaking scene. The scenery changes as moving from south to north. </div>
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The southern part focuses several docks. Here, water has a dark green and sometimes green of jade. Short and rank mountains embrace the lake, and trees are luxuriant. Some islets appear among the lake, in which the most well-known one is “Ba Goa” islet (The Widower islet). With tranquil atmosphere, you will just hear the rumble of boat machines. Ba Be is truly like Halong in land. </div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-O8lfqLIU4aY/VVMJRu4BX3I/AAAAAAAAH5k/UL_575WRnXI/s1600/The%2Bsouthern%2Bpart%2Bof%2BBa%2BBe%2Blake.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="The southern part of Ba Be lake" border="0" height="462" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-O8lfqLIU4aY/VVMJRu4BX3I/AAAAAAAAH5k/UL_575WRnXI/s640/The%2Bsouthern%2Bpart%2Bof%2BBa%2BBe%2Blake.jpg" title="The southern part of Ba Be lake" width="640" /></a></div>
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Up to the north, the landscape become different. Water has a light brown, yellow brown or yellow green. Perhaps this is because of alluvium. The two sides are covered with corn fields. Some herds of buffaloes slowly gaze. Some flocks of ducks and chickens forage. A few houses of thatched roofs are scattered, appear intermittently behind rows of bamboo trees. A number of dugout boats go up and down in the still and secluded space. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb2lugxwHK0t3Dk1NX-u7avBDkqid-1mvuDRZ31HiXHq55vLFaroZfAJasNRAXMBxW4lh1Hi89elATIB6nRWw4BWnVhkF4BxdmCmbGX7YFlQrZAYB-m-bzYeft9-5LL8ClfNUIX2l6TIo/s1600/The+northern+part+of+Ba+Be+lake.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="The northern part of Ba Be lake" border="0" height="466" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb2lugxwHK0t3Dk1NX-u7avBDkqid-1mvuDRZ31HiXHq55vLFaroZfAJasNRAXMBxW4lh1Hi89elATIB6nRWw4BWnVhkF4BxdmCmbGX7YFlQrZAYB-m-bzYeft9-5LL8ClfNUIX2l6TIo/s640/The+northern+part+of+Ba+Be+lake.jpg" title="The northern part of Ba Be lake" width="640" /></a></div>
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If you want to have adventurous feeling, you can <a href="http://www.activetravel.asia/kayaking-trekking-ba-be-national-park-t220.html" target="_blank" title="kayak around Ba Be lake">kayak around Ba Be lake</a> and discover it in your own way, or trekking over the hamlets to reveal the indigenous culture and life. </div>
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In the afternoon, travelers can play at the stream in front of the homestay, wading and splashing on cool water, or just sitting on the lovely small bamboo bridge to silently read book and unwind. Every homestay also has some bikes, so you can ask the owner to borrow one and cycle around villages and visit corn, rice fields. </div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-V5c1SxRCM6M/VVML7cOCtNI/AAAAAAAAH54/NFivk4X04K0/s1600/Len%2Bstream%2B-%2BPac%2BNgoi%2B-%2BBa%2BBe%2Bnational%2Bpark.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Len stream - Pac Ngoi village - Ba Be national park" border="0" height="426" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-V5c1SxRCM6M/VVML7cOCtNI/AAAAAAAAH54/NFivk4X04K0/s640/Len%2Bstream%2B-%2BPac%2BNgoi%2B-%2BBa%2BBe%2Bnational%2Bpark.jpg" title="Len stream - Pac Ngoi village - Ba Be national park" width="640" /></a></div>
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Fresh food in Ba Be is fish, shrimps and vegetables. Fish and shrimps are caught directly from the lake. Locals said that they put lift-nets down to the stream at 4-5 p.m. And at 2-3 a.m, they would pull lift-nets up to gather aquatic products. Most typical vegetable of this area is “bo khoi”, which has a fairly wild taste. A part from “bo khoi”, you can enjoy many other lush vegetables.<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-cQecwTsYyUo/VVMPk3dly8I/AAAAAAAAH6U/0pCDSnQhkiY/s1600/Fish%2Band%2Bshrimps%2Bin%2BBa%2BBe%2Blake.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div>
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Here, there is no place for entertainment. When night falls, the entire space is sunk in darkness, unexpectedly quiet. Then, it is time for a comfortable sleep. Sleep early and wake up early, you will have a good health and cheery mind for activities tomorrow. Get up early, you can also contemplate rustic villages and beautiful fields in sunrise, incredible things that you may rarely see in your life. </div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JpweA0jkJzY/VVMQItfpQ1I/AAAAAAAAH6c/5CtPqFmMelg/s1600/Ba%2BBe%2Bnational%2Bpark.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Ba Be national park" border="0" height="452" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JpweA0jkJzY/VVMQItfpQ1I/AAAAAAAAH6c/5CtPqFmMelg/s640/Ba%2BBe%2Bnational%2Bpark.jpg" title="Ba Be national park" width="640" /></a></div>
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<i>By Xuan Tran (Kimina) - ActiveTravel Asia </i></div>
<div class="blogger-post-footer">Follow ActiveTravel.Asia on the social web <img alt="" src="http://www.activetravelvietnam.com/resources/icons/facebook.gif" /> <a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Active-Travel-Asia/67878574405">Facebook</a> <img alt="" src="http://www.activetravelvietnam.com/resources/icons/myspace.gif" /> <a href="http://www.myspace.com/activetravel">MySpace</a> <img alt="" src="http://www.activetravelvietnam.com/resources/icons/twitter.gif" /> <a href="http://twitter.com/Active_Travel">Twitter</a></div>Active Travel Asiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17720226021825421230noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-422882030703736977.post-13412860564545675612015-05-06T00:56:00.000-07:002015-05-06T19:17:01.484-07:00Cambodia's Mysterious Beauty in Rain<div style="text-align: justify;">
<i>Under a lens of a photographer, famous destinations in Cambodia like Angkor Thom, Killing Fields and Phsar Toul Tom Poung (Russian market) unexpectedly become beautiful in an extraordinary way in rains. </i></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zyhan5jfm-4/VUmZeGxsKyI/AAAAAAAAHw4/1edtwI5msTI/s1600/beauty%2Bof%2BCambodia%2Bin%2Brain%2B1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Cambodia in rain season 1" border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zyhan5jfm-4/VUmZeGxsKyI/AAAAAAAAHw4/1edtwI5msTI/s1600/beauty%2Bof%2BCambodia%2Bin%2Brain%2B1.jpg" height="450" title="Cambodia in rain season 1" width="640" /></a></div>
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The rainy season in Cambodia runs from May to October. Barnaby Jaco Skinner – a Chinese photographer spent a month to <a href="http://activetravelcambodia.com/" target="_blank" title="travel around Cambodia">travel around Cambodia</a> and captured stunning moments about Cambodian people and country in wet climate condition. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVxZHHPWVCs0yGHR-3ZznNtWuYA5NGvDepEyMeaXwrUafFEcj-XpYqLnfyYD8gCSqtgQEQRt2z840XmtHLax4H1YV1cbaNoHg4XwnU8OOAKOL1u33wg0x68pZZXloWkWMouDjaM7l2Lzc/s1600/beauty+of+Cambodia+in+rain+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Cambodia in rain season 2" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVxZHHPWVCs0yGHR-3ZznNtWuYA5NGvDepEyMeaXwrUafFEcj-XpYqLnfyYD8gCSqtgQEQRt2z840XmtHLax4H1YV1cbaNoHg4XwnU8OOAKOL1u33wg0x68pZZXloWkWMouDjaM7l2Lzc/s1600/beauty+of+Cambodia+in+rain+2.jpg" height="640" title="Cambodia in rain season 2" width="452" /></a></div>
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“Shooting photos in the rainy season is a big challenge.” – He told. However, looking at works after Barnaby Jaco Skinner’s journey, anyone also praises and admires as realizing enchanting beauty which is created by combination between ancient features of constructions and glitter of rainy drops.</div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Hn1B0MtLGm8/VUmbv1tfSRI/AAAAAAAAHxM/wp4-Twh38zk/s1600/beauty%2Bof%2BCambodia%2Bin%2Brain%2B3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Cambodia in rain season 3" border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Hn1B0MtLGm8/VUmbv1tfSRI/AAAAAAAAHxM/wp4-Twh38zk/s1600/beauty%2Bof%2BCambodia%2Bin%2Brain%2B3.jpg" height="450" title="Cambodia in rain season 3" width="640" /></a></div>
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Russian market is located in northern Phnom Penh. The name of the market was given after it attracted more and more interest of expatriate Russian people in 1980s. Here, travelers can choose and purchase craft products, gemstone, all kinds of jewelry, souvenirs and textiles.</div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gMAYImS-swg/VUmcUoNVtMI/AAAAAAAAHxU/H5PGoKcs38A/s1600/beauty%2Bof%2BCambodia%2Bin%2Brain%2B4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Cambodia in rain season 4" border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gMAYImS-swg/VUmcUoNVtMI/AAAAAAAAHxU/H5PGoKcs38A/s1600/beauty%2Bof%2BCambodia%2Bin%2Brain%2B4.jpg" height="640" title="Cambodia in rain season 4" width="452" /></a></div>
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Barnaby Jaco Skinner commended: “Russian market is one of the greatest markets in the world, where you can find and buy even motorcycle spare parts.”</div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-PzuvBeNcy0s/VUm-y2jX_nI/AAAAAAAAHx0/eyRuK0C5OsI/s1600/beauty%2Bof%2BCambodia%2Bin%2Brain%2B5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Cambodia in rain season 5" border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-PzuvBeNcy0s/VUm-y2jX_nI/AAAAAAAAHx0/eyRuK0C5OsI/s1600/beauty%2Bof%2BCambodia%2Bin%2Brain%2B5.jpg" height="450" title="Cambodia in rain season 5" width="640" /></a></div>
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Sliver pagoda or Preah Vihear Preah Keo Morakot pagoda lying in the core of Cambodian royal palace is a famous attraction in Phnom Penh. The name of the pagoda has its origin from the fact that there were 5,329 pieces of silver paved on the floor. Every piece is also handmade and weigh 1,125g. </div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-b5YraeuVU2w/VUm-cKVF0uI/AAAAAAAAHxs/oNhr4KnfpuM/s1600/beauty%2Bof%2BCambodia%2Bin%2Brain%2B6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Cambodia in rain season 6" border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-b5YraeuVU2w/VUm-cKVF0uI/AAAAAAAAHxs/oNhr4KnfpuM/s1600/beauty%2Bof%2BCambodia%2Bin%2Brain%2B6.jpg" height="640" title="Cambodia in rain season 6" width="452" /></a></div>
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The memorial for ill-fated victims at Killing Fields, nearly 20km from capital Phnom Penh. This place has still maintained about 8,000 skulls of the people who were massacred by Pol Pot genocide regime. </div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-U0EZfwZnA6A/VUm_5g-6OLI/AAAAAAAAHyA/0TgE-tJ6RbA/s1600/beauty%2Bof%2BCambodia%2Bin%2Brain%2B7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Cambodia in rain season 7" border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-U0EZfwZnA6A/VUm_5g-6OLI/AAAAAAAAHyA/0TgE-tJ6RbA/s1600/beauty%2Bof%2BCambodia%2Bin%2Brain%2B7.jpg" height="451" title="Cambodia in rain season 7" width="640" /></a></div>
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Barnaby Jaco Skinner advised travelers that they should hired a small boat to take photos in Mekong river and contemplated the residents who were fishing in the riversides. </div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ve5E2_Suq7M/VUnA7hruNHI/AAAAAAAAHyI/6s1jmC92g8U/s1600/beauty%2Bof%2BCambodia%2Bin%2Brain%2B8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Cambodia in rain season 8" border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ve5E2_Suq7M/VUnA7hruNHI/AAAAAAAAHyI/6s1jmC92g8U/s1600/beauty%2Bof%2BCambodia%2Bin%2Brain%2B8.jpg" height="450" title="Cambodia in rain season 8" width="640" /></a></div>
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Below the lens of Barnaby Jaco Skinner, an abandoned house in Kampot also becomes attractive thanks to its mystery. </div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-LqHv0DrE76s/VUnCLOSQL9I/AAAAAAAAHyQ/csD7J2PVEb8/s1600/beauty%2Bof%2BCambodia%2Bin%2Brain%2B9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Cambodia in rain season 9" border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-LqHv0DrE76s/VUnCLOSQL9I/AAAAAAAAHyQ/csD7J2PVEb8/s1600/beauty%2Bof%2BCambodia%2Bin%2Brain%2B9.jpg" height="449" title="Cambodia in rain season 9" width="640" /></a></div>
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The moment that dark clouds rolled was shot by the author in the outskirt of Kep city.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEistQg2Q27DzEzLXMvhRhogAMzgjUy_hsfWDLNiepvuk8BLZdy2bXxbJksRDkDkMyEWCZSmn76PiQY29noFhot6uQvwGKWggDsPWyfk7iMT3XkLd8qGC5WnSqi4hsPOcMD8RdWSCKA9vRQ/s1600/beauty+of+Cambodia+in+rain+10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img alt="Cambodia in rain season 10" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEistQg2Q27DzEzLXMvhRhogAMzgjUy_hsfWDLNiepvuk8BLZdy2bXxbJksRDkDkMyEWCZSmn76PiQY29noFhot6uQvwGKWggDsPWyfk7iMT3XkLd8qGC5WnSqi4hsPOcMD8RdWSCKA9vRQ/s1600/beauty+of+Cambodia+in+rain+10.jpg" height="450" title="Cambodia in rain season 10" width="640" /></a></div>
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Barnaby Jaco Skinner enjoyed a pleasure when he stood in the top of hotel Two Moons in Kampot with several bottles of beer and contemplated patchy rays of light in the sky owning to thunder.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieKAMSAb_fMQIDf1xMc0cwfosAdndBUAyEYBx_ACi9Ig2N3s45hU4i3wRqw_Vb4XSVzoPd92QSB0u-lU2P-KtiCAD4w-Cc7COcbmzUFHd4p2-MH_6QE5xQdcTC8-i8S806ACR3BBEwz4c/s1600/beauty+of+Cambodia+in+rain+11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Cambodia in rain season 11" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieKAMSAb_fMQIDf1xMc0cwfosAdndBUAyEYBx_ACi9Ig2N3s45hU4i3wRqw_Vb4XSVzoPd92QSB0u-lU2P-KtiCAD4w-Cc7COcbmzUFHd4p2-MH_6QE5xQdcTC8-i8S806ACR3BBEwz4c/s1600/beauty+of+Cambodia+in+rain+11.jpg" height="450" title="Cambodia in rain season 11" width="640" /></a></div>
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The photo was taken as he was sitting behind a tuk tuk in a heavy rain.<br />
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<i>So, if you desire to have unique photos for your own, let be ready on an amazing <a href="http://www.activetravelcambodia.com/cambodia-discovery.html" target="_blank" title="adventure travel to Cambodia">adventure travel to Cambodia</a> in the rainy season. </i></div>
<div class="blogger-post-footer">Follow ActiveTravel.Asia on the social web <img alt="" src="http://www.activetravelvietnam.com/resources/icons/facebook.gif" /> <a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Active-Travel-Asia/67878574405">Facebook</a> <img alt="" src="http://www.activetravelvietnam.com/resources/icons/myspace.gif" /> <a href="http://www.myspace.com/activetravel">MySpace</a> <img alt="" src="http://www.activetravelvietnam.com/resources/icons/twitter.gif" /> <a href="http://twitter.com/Active_Travel">Twitter</a></div>Active Travel Asiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17720226021825421230noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-422882030703736977.post-41391053276224428282014-12-10T02:46:00.000-08:002016-01-04T00:25:28.212-08:00Vietnam Railways Decreases Fares, Upgades Infrastructure and Launches Online Booking System<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Thanks to Hanoi – Lao Cai
express highway opened for traffic, many passengers switch from travelling by
train to by car. In recent time, to deal with competition, Vietnam Railways has implemented
efforts to enhance its quality services.</span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">SLASH
TICKET FARES</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">From 1</span><sup style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 107%;">st</sup><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">
December 2014, ticket prices of Hanoi – Lao Cai train started to decrease by 3%
to 25%.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">On 1</span><sup style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 107%;">st</sup><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">
December 2014, Vietnam Railways Corporation officially regulated ticket fares </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 17.1200008392334px;">of Hanoi – Lao Cai route for </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">trains: SP1/2, SP3/4, SP5/6 and SP7/8,
with a decrease of 3-25% depending on each category. This is the good news for travelers who tend to take a <a href="http://www.vietnamtour.com/sapa_trek_tour_and_market_tour_t222.html" target="_blank" title="Sapa tour">Sapa tour</a> or <a href="http://www.activetravel.asia/top-sapa-trek-tours-vietnam-tl359.html" target="_blank" title="Sapa trek">Sapa trek</a> and expect to have Vietnam train experience. However, this decrease is not
applied for the national festival days, Tet holiday and peak times in summer.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Accordingly, the lowest price of Hanoi
– Lao Cai route is 145,000 VND (hard seat). To sleeper, the cheapest cost is
325,000 VND (air-conditioned berth in 6<sup>th</sup> department of 3<sup>rd</sup>
floor). <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">The ticket of hard seat
declines from 150,000 VND to 145,000 VND while one of air-conditioned hard seat
falls to just 175.000 VND (the former price is 235,000 VND). The fare for
air-conditioned soft seat drops from 280,000 VND to 220,000 VND (a drop of
60,000 VND, equivalent to 25%).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Specially, rates of
air-conditioned sleeper of all departments also had regulations. Following
this, many prices has a significant decrease of 22% to 25%. For instance, the
cost of berth in 6<sup>th</sup> department 1<sup>st</sup> floor goes down from
500,000 VND to 390,000 VND; the price for sleeper in 2<sup>nd</sup> floor falls
to 370.000 VND, the price of 3<sup>rd</sup> floor decrease from 415,000 VND to
325,000 VND (a decrease of 22%). The air-conditioned berth in 4<sup>th</sup>
department of 1<sup>st</sup> and 2<sup>nd</sup> floor now has a price of
450,000 VND (the before cost was 600,000 VND, drop by 25%).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">On the Tet holiday 2015,
Vietnam Railways Corporation (<b>VNR</b>) will
slash train fares by 17% compared to current fares and <span style="background: white;">20% over the previous Tet holiday. The discount will be
available for the North-South and Hanoi-Lao Cai routes, starting from December
1.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="background: white;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Earlier, VNR launched a big promotion program, with 30-50 percent
discount from September 4 to December 31 for tickets booked in advance with a
distance of 1,300 km or more. Fares of sleepers were declined by 10% and discount
was offered for groups.</span></div>
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<b><span style="background: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">UPGRADE RAILWAYS</span></b></div>
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<span style="background: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">The Vietnamese railway sector has been making an effort to upgrade their
infrastructure, equipment and management. Services are also set to be improved
to win back passengers’ trust.<b><o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">On this time, Hanoi – Lao Cai railway has been upgraded and improved. As
anticipation, the upgrade will be accomplished in the end of first quarter,
2015. After upgrade, the travel time between Hanoi and Lao Cai by train will be
fell by 1.5 to 2 hours. Daytime trains will be also broadened to serve diverse
demands of passengers.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="background: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">LAUNCH ONLINE TICKET BOOKING<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="background: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">On 1<sup>st</sup> December 2014, <b>VNR</b>
opened the system of online ticket booking for train through e-payment gateway issued
by Smartlink Card Services Joint Stock Company and Joint Stock Commercial Bank
for Foreign Trade of Vietnam (Vietcombank). Customers would not have to go to
the station to buy tickets. They could do so from any internet-capable device. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Passengers can access the websites selling e-ticket: <a href="http://www.dsvn.vn/" target="_blank">www.dsvn.vn</a>, <a href="http://www.vietnamrailway.vn/" target="_blank">www.vietnamrailway.vn</a> or <a href="http://www.vetau.com.vn/" target="_blank">www.vetau.com.vn</a> (all are Vietnamese) to look up
information, select routes, cars and seats, proactively book tickets and make payment
in sight on the by international as well as domestic credit cards in a flexible
and convenient way. To be able to carrying out online payment transaction on
e-ticket selling websites of VNR, customers need to register the online payment
service or payment services via Internet Banking of banks (view instruction for
payment at <a href="http://www.smartlink.com.vn/Home/Faqs_Details.aspx?id=196&catid=13&pcatid=13" target="_blank">here</a>). The online system would require passengers to provide full
personal information and their Identity Card numbers so as to avoid fraud. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">After successful online payment, customers print booking code and bring
it along with valid identification papers then coming to the train stations to
take tickets. One customer is enabled to order a maximum of 4 tickets in Tet
holiday and must go to train station to get tickets at least 30 minutes in
advance before train departs. The online ticket system allows passengers to
reserve seats 24 hours before the train departure time.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">To return train tickets purchased through online payment system, customers
go to station to complete procedures and pay fee of ticket return. VNR will
refund fares to bank account of customers within one work-day as from customers
has accomplished ticket return procedures. In circumstance of making payment,
customers contact with Customer Support Center of Vietnam Railways Corporation
via hotline 19006469 for help.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">This is list of 23 domestic banking cards which are accepted to make a
payment for train e-ticket of Vietnam Railways via e-payment gateway supplied
by Smartlink and Vietcombank, including: Vietcombank, Agribank, BIDV,
Techcombank, VIB, Eximbank, Military Bank, HDBank, ACB, Sacombank, VPB,
Maritime Bank, NCB, Viet A Bank, GPBank, OCB, Ocean Bank, BacABank, ABBank,
TPBank, LienVietPostBank, SHB, BaoVietBank. In this December, Smartlink
continues to coordinate with Vietinbank and DongABank to provide online payment
services of train e-ticket for domestic cardholders of these two banks. Up to
15 hour of the first day selling train ticket for Tet holiday (1<sup>st</sup>
December), turn-over of online payment for e-ticket carried out via Smartlink
e-payment gateway was barely 4 billion VND.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglDG5IWJwhiEjvYlO6zFSuukxaH5Ulvmn_nK6oSxim1sBDAazDxCkxrlGfCfIkNYgSBHr_SNJVmN5Ziw1aYGjIHsK9TOY6GE0UT6pUXVjKStqwZKvfpKjbxI6w_gBfY9kDGmwLk4ccMgU/s1600/ve-tau-1417685946949.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglDG5IWJwhiEjvYlO6zFSuukxaH5Ulvmn_nK6oSxim1sBDAazDxCkxrlGfCfIkNYgSBHr_SNJVmN5Ziw1aYGjIHsK9TOY6GE0UT6pUXVjKStqwZKvfpKjbxI6w_gBfY9kDGmwLk4ccMgU/s1600/ve-tau-1417685946949.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<b style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></b>
<b style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">DELIVER ONLINE TICKET TO HOME IN HANOI AND HO CHI
MINH CITY</span></b><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Railway passengers in
Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City who have booked tickets and paid for them online can
have their tickets delivered to their home for free at their request as of next
month. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Accordingly, after
booking and paying for their tickets at www.dsvn.vn, www.vetau.com.vn, or
www.vietnamrailway.vn, passengers in Hanoi can call 04.39423949 (the Hanoi
railway station), and those in HCMC can call 08.38436528 (the HCMC railway
station) to request their tickets to be delivered at home, provided that they
do not live more than 7 km from the respective stations.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Those who have paid for
their tickets online but did not request home delivery are required to pick up
their tickets at least 30 minutes before their scheduled departure.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="blogger-post-footer">Follow ActiveTravel.Asia on the social web <img alt="" src="http://www.activetravelvietnam.com/resources/icons/facebook.gif" /> <a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Active-Travel-Asia/67878574405">Facebook</a> <img alt="" src="http://www.activetravelvietnam.com/resources/icons/myspace.gif" /> <a href="http://www.myspace.com/activetravel">MySpace</a> <img alt="" src="http://www.activetravelvietnam.com/resources/icons/twitter.gif" /> <a href="http://twitter.com/Active_Travel">Twitter</a></div>Active Travel Asiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17720226021825421230noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-422882030703736977.post-77975044309418019352014-11-28T01:42:00.002-08:002014-11-28T01:42:39.725-08:00Top Often-Destinations for Vietnam Adventure Tours<div style="text-align: justify;">
With stunning scenery and impressive culture, these famous destinations in Vietnam will offer travelers exciting adventure trips.<br />
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<b>1. Sapa</b><br />
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This Vietnam’s destination is too famous such an extent that it is always present in Vietnam tourism brochure. However, if just wandering around Sapa town, travelers will miss a chance to have a memorable trip. Sapa town just likes a miniature Hanoi, accompanying colorful minority groups. Thus, let’s carry a rucksack and to be ready for a trekking expedition to remote villages. Scenery, people, culture and everything will be much more fascinating. Trekking trails will lead through jungles, mountains, fields, streams, hidden soil-trails only used by locals, and rest at ethnic minority villages. Along paths, adventurers will encounter “real” minor people, who are doing life activities, or working to earn their living. Specially, contemplating firsthand Sapa rice terrace (which was estimated as one of the 30 most beautiful places in the world by Mother Nature Network), and other stunning scenes is completely different to seeing from an automobile or a hotel at a far distance. Let’s leave cozy hotel-rooms and stay overnight at a homestay to experience a distinctive life with locals: arduous, but funny and valuable.<br />
<i><br /></i><i>Head off a hiking & homestay Sapa to the most marvelous valley – Muong Hoa and other villages. Visit <a href="http://www.activetravelvietnam.com/tour.php?op=detail&tourId=23" target="_blank" tittle="here">here</a>.</i></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qvdoWuAIQn0/VFrs6yIJMjI/AAAAAAAAHDU/Xe-ZS_s1KBM/s1600/DSC_0174.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img alt="trekking Sapa" border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qvdoWuAIQn0/VFrs6yIJMjI/AAAAAAAAHDU/Xe-ZS_s1KBM/s1600/DSC_0174.JPG" height="424" title="trekking Sapa" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="line-height: 18.546667098999px;"><b>2. Mount Fansipan</b></span></span><br />
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With an altitude of 3,143m, Mount Fansipan is the highest in Indochina, and also dubbed as “The Roof of Indochina”. Fansipan conquest is the dream of many young Vietnamese. For ones who indulge in climbing but not too so fantastic to conquer Everest, Fansipan may be an appropriate choice. This mount is just 9km from Sapa to the southwest. Therefore, as travel to Sapa, travelers can take a hike to this mount on the same occasion.<br />
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The journey with a long trail will be greater, more challenging, but also more beautiful views. However, once immersing in natural pureness, and enjoying the victory of setting foot on this peak, hardship seems to have disappeared. The hike will pass jungles and mountains, so travelers can easily learn local knowledge about the Vietnam’s nature and hill-tribe culture. Yes, learning from reality.<br />
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Toughness, strong will, and determination, those are the meanings Mount Fansipan conquest.<br />
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="line-height: 18.546667098999px;"><i>Consulting at activetravelvietnam.com, <a href="http://www.activetravelvietnam.com/tour.php?op=detail&tourId=60" target="_blank" title="Conquer Mount Fansipan - Sinchai Route">Conquer Mount Fansipan - Sinchai Route</a> - A long trail with a lot of fabulous scenes.</i></span></span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-KbzyFThBlLs/VFrxJY0YmUI/AAAAAAAAHDg/iPhrtnzrkJE/s1600/phong%2Bpix%2B380.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="conquer Fansipan" border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-KbzyFThBlLs/VFrxJY0YmUI/AAAAAAAAHDg/iPhrtnzrkJE/s1600/phong%2Bpix%2B380.jpg" height="480" title="conquer Fansipan" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0dD34Oi7c4g/VFrxLLarXnI/AAAAAAAAHDo/bEuARL4ZWww/s1600/phong%2Bpix%2B375.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="hiking Fansipan" border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0dD34Oi7c4g/VFrxLLarXnI/AAAAAAAAHDo/bEuARL4ZWww/s1600/phong%2Bpix%2B375.jpg" height="480" title="hiking Fansipan" width="640" /></a></div>
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; line-height: 17.1200008392334px;"><br /></span></b><b>3. Mai Chau</b><br />
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Escape from busy cities, let’s experience an extremely peaceful life in Mai Chau. This area is the home of Thai, Muong and H’mong people, which are Vietnamese ethnic minorities. Just only 135 km from Hanoi, it is so easy to reach here. Naturally, it has spectacular scenes and also the original cultural identity like descriptions on websites. But peace is the most impressive. Peace in just landscape: rice terraces, tea plantations, streams. Peace in just the life of locals. Residents here work hard on fields, on forests, on weaving looms…<br />
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Mai Chau’s culture is gentle and lyrical. The rhythm of life is also slow and tranquil. By trek or bike around villages, travelers will feel these. Choosing less touristy roads and villages for the itinerary, it will be much more interesting.<br />
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If opt homestay, travelers will stay at traditional stilt houses and do housework with locals. Yummy cuisines are always ready for guests. At night, the space becomes throbbing by blithe melodies and rhythmical dances. The trip ends with a good sleep in this peaceful heaven.<br />
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="line-height: 17.1200008392334px;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="line-height: 17.1200008392334px;"><i>Get away to peaceful Mai Chau, travelers can take a <a href="http://www.activetravelvietnam.com/tour.php?op=detail&tourId=49" target="_blank" title="trekking">trekking</a> or <a href="http://www.activetravelvietnam.com/tour.php?op=detail&tourId=38" target="_blank" title="biking">biking</a> tour through exotic villages. </i></span></span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-KykHmckQHZw/VFr2OoXXQCI/AAAAAAAAHD0/4qkmnKoXlYA/s1600/IMG_1087.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="biking Mai Chau" border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-KykHmckQHZw/VFr2OoXXQCI/AAAAAAAAHD0/4qkmnKoXlYA/s1600/IMG_1087.JPG" height="420" title="biking Mai Chau" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAHwuvPvBWjdHW8LVGuWqjSrF5s9sgOZsiPkg-4wbm4m5pjSUpaz9mRIQP8766OBpiqpM2TpCdSIrUoP8VH2R_kAtrCUZQl9PQanYQ8xXB7f6ACwiotIxnNNC3dd_DdCn3eudIXYXQdEE/s1600/IMG_1137+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Mai Chau tour" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAHwuvPvBWjdHW8LVGuWqjSrF5s9sgOZsiPkg-4wbm4m5pjSUpaz9mRIQP8766OBpiqpM2TpCdSIrUoP8VH2R_kAtrCUZQl9PQanYQ8xXB7f6ACwiotIxnNNC3dd_DdCn3eudIXYXQdEE/s1600/IMG_1137+1.jpg" height="478" title="Mai Chau tour" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="line-height: 17.1200008392334px;"><b>4. Mekong delta</b></span></span><br />
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Vietnamese people usually say “thang canh co bay”, meaning that land is too large that stocks can fly straightly to endless. This is just one of images of Mekong delta. Located in northwestern Vietnam, this land is the country’s greatest rice basket. The region is covered by an interlaced canal system. So the residents were familiar with waterway-life long ago.<br />
Locals are gentle and rustic. Scenery is tranquil. Travel to Mekong, travelers will refresh your mind.<br />
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The richness and vastness make this plain region have an abundant culture. Taking part in various activities, travelers will understand relatively about this culture.<br />
Cycling around fields and villages is a nice way to see the everyday life of locals. On the roads, travelers can talk to them and try experiencing some of their jobs. Many other places can be visited along biking trail, namely temples, orchards, local primary schools, or local households. Particularly, travelers can visit and discover traditional trade-villages of coconut-candy, rice-paper, rice-wine, snake-wine, pop-rice, pop-corn, etc.<br />
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Adventurers also should not skip a boat trip to floating markets, the special places with a boom of colors, sounds and scents. These market have a lot of beautiful agricultural products, especially fruits. Let’s come and observe how they trade, how they communicate, and how they speak for sale.<br />
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="line-height: 17.1200008392334px;"><a href="http://www.activetravelvietnam.com/tour.php?op=detail&tourId=19" target="_blank" tittle="Mekong delta tours">Mekong delta tours</a> </span><span style="line-height: 17.1200008392334px;">may please someone who are curious. Travelers can learn a plenty of local things, such as how to buy fruits and food, how to cook local cuisines, or how to make traditional conical hats. If love nature, let’s visit mangrove forests as Tra Su, where travelers can observe colonies of water-birds, bats and other rare spices.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="line-height: 17.1200008392334px;"><b><br /></b></span></span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="line-height: 17.1200008392334px;"><i>Explore Mekong delta with many memorable activities. View <a href="http://www.activetravelvietnam.com/tour.php?op=detail&tourId=80" target="_blank" title="here">here</a>.</i></span></span><br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-oWkwlomEL54/VFr4TftLOzI/AAAAAAAAHEI/CTNt8HznseY/s1600/Cox-Kings-Vietnam.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="explore Mekong delta" border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-oWkwlomEL54/VFr4TftLOzI/AAAAAAAAHEI/CTNt8HznseY/s1600/Cox-Kings-Vietnam.jpg" height="426" title="explore Mekong delta" width="640" /></a></div>
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<div class="blogger-post-footer">Follow ActiveTravel.Asia on the social web <img alt="" src="http://www.activetravelvietnam.com/resources/icons/facebook.gif" /> <a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Active-Travel-Asia/67878574405">Facebook</a> <img alt="" src="http://www.activetravelvietnam.com/resources/icons/myspace.gif" /> <a href="http://www.myspace.com/activetravel">MySpace</a> <img alt="" src="http://www.activetravelvietnam.com/resources/icons/twitter.gif" /> <a href="http://twitter.com/Active_Travel">Twitter</a></div>Active Travel Asiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17720226021825421230noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-422882030703736977.post-30192515661054765442014-11-28T01:41:00.001-08:002014-11-28T01:41:00.135-08:00Top Trekking Destinations in Vietnam Captivate Travelers<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<i>Mount Fansipan, mount Hong Linh or Bach Ma national park are enchanting trekking destinations in Vietnam. </i></div>
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Trekking is a long walk to remote villages, jungles, mountains and other distant regions, to discover new lands and experience new life. Three-fourths area of Vietnam is mountains and hills. With mountainous terrain, Vietnam has many ideal areas for trekking and hiking.<br />
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<b><i><span style="font-stretch: normal;">1. Mount </span>Fansipan (Lao Cai province)</i></b></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ckryoxXyYaU/VHfggSNv2YI/AAAAAAAAHE4/GRSW2yrYF0A/s1600/fansipan.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Conquer Fansipan" border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ckryoxXyYaU/VHfggSNv2YI/AAAAAAAAHE4/GRSW2yrYF0A/s1600/fansipan.jpg" height="424" title="Conquer Fansipan" width="640" /></a></div>
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Fansipan is the highest mountain in Vietnam and Indochina peninsula, and also was dubbed as “The roof of Indochina”. It <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 17.1200008392334px;">is just 9 km from Sapa to the southwest, which is a hot attraction of Vietnam travel. </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 17.1200008392334px;">Therefore, if get a <a href="http://www.activetravelvietnam.com/tour.php?op=detail&tourId=83" target="_blank" title="trekking tour to Sapa">trekking tour to Sapa</a>, travelers can take an adventure to this mount on the same occasion.</span></div>
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This peak is regarded as a top conquering target to Vietnamese backpackers. With the height of 3,143 meters, travelers can conquer this mount by three various ways. The easiest route departs from Tram Ton to the peak then come back by just this way. The time trekking lasts 2-3 days.<o:p></o:p></div>
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The second route lasts about 4 days with the road length is 19.5 km, starting from “the spine” of Hoang Lien Son mountain range. Also departing from Tram Ton, but for the return road, travelers will pass through Muong Hoa valley, Cat Cat spring and go along the eastern flank of Hoang Lien range. </div>
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The third route is more difficult as departing from Doc Mit, Binh Lu to the top. This is an extremely dangerous route and just professional climbers with full of equipment dare to take it.</div>
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There are also other routes, which can be longer or shorter, lead climbers pass through some special scenes. Depending on hobbies, healthy and time, travelers can choose a suitable route for self.</div>
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<i>You can consult Fansipan routes at <a href="http://www.activetravelvietnam.com/tour.php?op=listByCategoryId&catId=9" target="_blank" title="here">here</a>.</i></div>
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<span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><b><i>2. Apachai (Dien Bien province)</i></b></span></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ejfcxlalJHY/VHf3HCjcM7I/AAAAAAAAHFY/FbKP6tSyung/s1600/81228022.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img alt="Apachai trekking 1" border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ejfcxlalJHY/VHf3HCjcM7I/AAAAAAAAHFY/FbKP6tSyung/s1600/81228022.jpg" height="424" title="Apachai trekking 1" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-YRL9jKKsQE4/VHf3V8dMr-I/AAAAAAAAHFo/oLxuleUn6Dc/s1600/DSC0989.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Apachai trekking 2" border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-YRL9jKKsQE4/VHf3V8dMr-I/AAAAAAAAHFo/oLxuleUn6Dc/s1600/DSC0989.jpg" height="428" title="Apachai trekking 2" width="640" /></a></div>
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Known as the westernmost point of Vietnam, Apachai is located in Xin Thau commune, Muong Nhe district, Dien Bien province. This is the special border fork of Vietnam, Laos and China. The road is not too hard like one to Fansipan. But trekking tours to this region still make many travelers depressed.<o:p></o:p></div>
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The Apachai landmark conquest usually takes place in the day-time. Depending on weather conditions, travelers will have to spend 3 to 5 hours for ascending and descending. After a long journey of coming over blady grass hills high over a person’s head and the primeval forest, you will see firsthand this historical landmark.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Apachai landmark is at the altitude of 1,400 meters above the sea level. It was made of granite with the square platform facing three directions. Each side was engraved a country name by Vietnamese alphabet and a national emblem of three countries Vietnam, Laos and China.</div>
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<b><i><span style="font-stretch: normal;">3. </span><span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;"> </span>Ham Lon mountain (Hanoi city)</i></b><o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2QqlSbeF658/VHf5lpuqBgI/AAAAAAAAHGE/hBk62Xa1Zvc/s1600/15450004.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Ham Lon climbing" border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2QqlSbeF658/VHf5lpuqBgI/AAAAAAAAHGE/hBk62Xa1Zvc/s1600/15450004.jpg" height="424" title="Ham Lon climbing" width="640" /></a></div>
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Located 40 km from the central Hanoi, Ham Lon mountain is an ideal weekend trekking destination for many people. With the height of 462 meters, this mount is usually opted as a practice and rehearsal place for trekking tours of Fansipan or Apachai.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Travelers normally have 2 routes to conquer this peak. With the easier one, hikers follow a flat trail, few bushes and it takes about 2 hours. The second way is appropriate to adventurous people, going along the stream. The travel time is around 4 hours.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Hikers should bring along camping tents to stay overnight on the mountain to contemplate amazingly beautiful scenery of the dawn and the sunset.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<i><b><span style="font-stretch: normal;">4. </span>Pu Luong national park (Thanh Hoa province)</b></i><o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-f48UOZ7Fw_s/VHf8Ul5YUjI/AAAAAAAAHGc/5mnWrhNBjVs/s1600/1159497430trekking-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Trekking Pu Luong nature reserve 1" border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-f48UOZ7Fw_s/VHf8Ul5YUjI/AAAAAAAAHGc/5mnWrhNBjVs/s1600/1159497430trekking-2.jpg" height="480" title="Trekking Pu Luong nature reserve 1" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH2rrCiwV3uI9k8mq5DGSrCujYnQgb0zVo1TlutUA0SIqCbFl6jGdxMuqyRRqMwNKGRcVp3w3XToA_FbsQMzGRGc3W_AcR3UDdnoOiSRqdQk960YDcACcBmikYxFQc1_l4wvusplaRMtg/s1600/vietnam-trekking-tours-02.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Trekking Pu Luong nature reserve 2" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH2rrCiwV3uI9k8mq5DGSrCujYnQgb0zVo1TlutUA0SIqCbFl6jGdxMuqyRRqMwNKGRcVp3w3XToA_FbsQMzGRGc3W_AcR3UDdnoOiSRqdQk960YDcACcBmikYxFQc1_l4wvusplaRMtg/s1600/vietnam-trekking-tours-02.jpg" height="404" title="Trekking Pu Luong nature reserve 2" width="640" /></a></div>
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Pu Luong national park is a nature reserve zone located in the northwest of Thanh Hoa province. This area belongs to the locality of two districts: Quan Hoa and Ba Thuoc.<o:p></o:p></div>
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With the area of 17,662 ha, this is the largest karst forest and lowland that remains in northern Vietnam. Pu Luong has mainly three kinds of thick forest, comprising lowland and low-mountain jungles, jungles on limestone mountains, and floristic composition of bamboos and shrubs. Not only that, this national park has mount Pu Luong with the height of 1,700 meters. <a href="http://www.activetravelvietnam.com/tour.php?op=detail&tourId=30" target="_blank" title="Trekking in Pu Luong nature reserve">Trekking in Pu Luong nature reserve</a> attracts many travelers. With 5 hours for conquering targets, climbers will gain unforgettable experiences.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<i><b>5. Hong Linh mountain (Ha Tinh province)</b></i></div>
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As the most famous mountain in Ha Tinh, mount Hong Linh is so-called as Ngan Hong or Ru Hoong. The mountain lies between Hong Linh township and two districts of Nghi Xuan, Can Truong. This is one of a few place names carved into “Bach khoa thu cuu dinh” presently placed in Hue Imperial Citadel (9 big bronze incense burners, which have been used as an encyclopedia).<o:p></o:p></div>
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Hong Linh has many summits, from the northwest to the foot, there are included the tops of Nam Ban, Yen Xuan, Da Hong and Cot Co. Besides, the area owns numerous caves, consisting of 12 Cua cave (12-Entrance cave), Che Hai, Da Hang, Ham Rong, along with 26 rivulets flowing from the mountain. Conquering this mountains, climbers can search more about interesting legends and historical stories.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<b><i>6. <span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Bach Ma national park (Thua Thien Hue province)</span></i></b></div>
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“Da Lat of the Centre” is the name people give for Bach Ma national park. Located about 40 km from the south of Hue city, Bach Ma looks like a white horse stretching its legs out the big sea (Bach: white, Ma: horse). The area is a part of North Truong Son range (Annamite Mountains) and the centre of the forest strip stretching from Bien Dong (the East Sea) to the border of Vietnam and Laos.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Reaching the peak of Bach Ma at the altitude of 1,500 meters, travelers have to overcome a long journey with the road length of 19 km from the mountain foot. The way is meandering and steep. However, the higher the hiking up, the more spectacular the scenery is, which make travelers rejoice. Trekking duration is about 3 to 4 hours. </div>
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<div class="blogger-post-footer">Follow ActiveTravel.Asia on the social web <img alt="" src="http://www.activetravelvietnam.com/resources/icons/facebook.gif" /> <a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Active-Travel-Asia/67878574405">Facebook</a> <img alt="" src="http://www.activetravelvietnam.com/resources/icons/myspace.gif" /> <a href="http://www.myspace.com/activetravel">MySpace</a> <img alt="" src="http://www.activetravelvietnam.com/resources/icons/twitter.gif" /> <a href="http://twitter.com/Active_Travel">Twitter</a></div>Active Travel Asiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17720226021825421230noreply@blogger.com0