Places

The 10-meter tree at the Gian Gua relic site in Nhon Nghia Ward, Phong Dien District, survived the wars. Its canopy spreads around 3,000 square meters. The banyan is part of the mulberry family. The roots of the tree drop from its trunk and branches. Ba Ho, 64, an employee at the relic, said: "The exact number of roots has not been determined but it is for sure more than 1,000. Because of its myriad roots, the tree absorbs enough water and nutrients to sustain itself." Four groups of people take turns to tend the tree and clean the area. The origin of the banyan remains a mystery even to people living here. Many say the tree was already large when they were children, including the relic staff. Many new roots continue to grow from the branches. Its main trunks are not gigantic like a typical old tree’s. The biggest only encompasses half an adult’s embrace. The twisting branches are intertwined, giving the place an air of mystery. Visitors have to walk … [Read more...] about The tangled matrix that is Mekong Delta’s first heritage tree

A person spends on average $451 in Hanoi exclusive of rent, and the figure is $1,596 for a four-member family, the Cost of Living Index from Numbeo, whose database is user-contributed, shows. In Ho Chi Minh City, the average monthly expense is $430 and $1,543 respectively. The index measured the cost of restaurants, house rent and groceries and local purchasing power to come up with the index comprising 92 Asian cities. Japan's capital Tokyo was the most expensive costing a single person $1,108 a month without rent, followed by Seoul in South Korea, Tel Aviv-Yafo in Israel, Osaka in Japan, and Singapore. Several Southeast Asian cities also appeared in the top half of the list, including Thailand’s Bangkok (19th), Pattaya (22nd) and Phuket (25th); Cambodia's Phnom Penh (29th); Indonesia’s Jakarta (33rd); and Malaysia’s Penang (37th). Around 82,000 foreigners live and work in Vietnam, mainly in its two largest cities, with recent global surveys touting the country as a … [Read more...] about Hanoi, HCMC among Asia’s more expensive cities, survey finds

Around 15 kilometers from downtown Hue, Vietnam’s former imperial capital, Ru Cha is a tiny islet on the Tam Giang Lagoon in the central province of Thua Thien-Hue. The islet was formed by large scale encroachments by locals that narrowed down the mangrove forest to its 5-hectare area today. Ru means forest and Cha is a tree species, so the name means a forest of Cha trees (excoecaria agallocha, a mangrove species) that used to grow densely in the area.   This five-hectare wonder is the only preserved primeval mangrove forest in Hue, still serving the dual function of preventing saline encroachment and mitigating storm impacts.  Apart from those who come to enjoy its beauty and take pictures, it also attracts environment researchers, for whom it is a valuable source of biodiversity. An aerial photograph captures a magnificent color divide, with the yellow on one bank of the river or stream, green on the other, and blue of the water in between. In … [Read more...] about Autumn yellows return to Ru Cha mangrove forest

At around 3 a.m. fishing boats gather at a wharf in Ha Long Bay, adjacent to Hon Gai seafood market, after a long night out at sea. The wholesale market is open from early morning until 10 a.m., but its busiest time is between 7 a.m. and 9 a.m. when traders rush to buy the freshest fish. Rocky islets amid mist at 6:30 a.m. The bay in Ha Long, which literally means "descending dragons," was formed by millions of years of geological activity, which created thousands of islets. It became a fixture on the world tourism map after being recognized as a world heritage site by UNESCO in 1994. A boat on the emerald green waters surrounded by limestone karst. While hordes of people come to explore the majestic beauty of the bay, not many know about the legend and mystery associated with it. Legend has it that in the earliest days of the nation Vietnamese had to fight off hostile invaders attempting to enter through the sea. The Jade Emperor sent the Mother Dragon and her children … [Read more...] about Explore Ha Long, the land of ‘descending dragons’

Thi Tuong lagoon (Photo: Ngoc Anh) Legend has it that Thi Tuong lagoon was named after Mrs. Tuong, a brave lady who helped locals chase away aggressive tigers when this region was first reclaimed. Thi Tuong lagoon is located in three districts - Cai Nuoc, Tran Van Thoi, and Phu Tan. It was formed by alluvial sediment from the My Binh river, the Ong Doc river, and numerous canals. The lagoon is 12 kilometers long, 1.5 meters deep, and 2 kilometers at its widest point. It is divided into three parts - Dam Trong (Inside Lagoon), Dam Giua (Middle Lagoon) and Dam Ngoai (Outside Lagoon), of which the Middle Lagoon is the largest. To reach Thi Tuong lagoon, visitors used to traverse a paved zigzag path with lush green foliage on either side. Canoes glide through the calm water, taking visitors around the lagoon to enjoy the cool breeze and stunning views.    On the lagoon are the scattered stilt houses and canoes of oyster farmers. The lagoon is fringed by green nipa palms … [Read more...] about Thi Tuong lagoon – a major tourist attraction in Ca Mau province