Archive for the Category »Vietnam Destinations «

2900-meter lantern parade in Phan Thiet
Friday, August 26th, 2011 / admin

02d96 le hoi trung thu phan thiet 200 2900 meter lantern parade in Phan Thiet

A foreigner takes a photo of children in a lantern parade in the Mid-Autumn Festival last year in Phan Thiet City - Photo: Khai Nguyen

Authorities in Phan Thiet City have mapped out detailed plans for the upcoming Mid-Autumn Festival.

Offering a healthy and happy playground for kids, the program will take place from September 10-12 with a lantern parade, lantern making contest and festivities in residential areas.

The lantern parade, which will be 2900-meters long, will be attended by students from elementary and high schools and will take place at 6 p.m. on September 10 at Nguyen Tat Thanh Square area. Students will parade through Nguyen Tat Thanh, Ton Duc Thang, Thu Khoa Huan, Tran Hung Dao, Nguye Du, Phan Thiet intersection, Tran Phu and Le Hong Phong Bridge.

The festival will also have music and dance shows performed by the kids.

(Source: SGTO)

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Snapshots At Mui Da Beach
Friday, August 19th, 2011 / admin

The coastal township of Lagi in Binh Thuan Province is famous for breathtaking landscapes such as Duong Hill, Cam Binh and Nganh Tam Tan beaches, Ba Islet and Thay Thim Temple. But another place luring photographers is Mui Da Beach in Tan Phuoc Commune, where visitors can see the typical daily activities of fishing villages.

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Fishermen sew nets on Mui Da Beach in lagi Township in Binh Thuan Province

In the early morning when it is still cool, dewdrops spatter on the leaves and the sun has not yet risen, photographers wake up and head to the beach in time to catch glimpses of fishermen returning to Mui Da Beach.

Strolling on the path leading to the wharf and listening to the pine trees singing in the breeze, tourists will feel at peace. The beach lies deep in the green pine forest, with an asphalt road heading toward the sandflat where some simple bamboo barriers mark the wharf.

Many colorfully-painted coracles are dried on the sandbanks, and the seawaves ripple there. The stillness overwhelms the immense sea in the evening, while animated atmosphere engulfs it in the morning. Even though it is quite early, locals get ready to serve food on the beach. They light fires to boil water and set up tables and chairs for guests.

The sea is still dark in the very early morning but the space is getting crowded. Some sit gazing at the sea, while others are busy taking the oxcarts close to the sandbank and feeding the oxen. Meanwhile, photographers look encumbered carrying their cameras, lenses and bags, anxious for that perfect shot.

Everything is ready on the beach to welcome the returning boats. The aroma of breakfast dishes fills the air. From the open sea, the light illuminates the sky and some boats are seen heading toward the beach. Giant boats with fishing nets, lifebuoys and catches of fish ride the waves to the shore. The beach is bustling and the oxcarts are waiting at the water’s edge.

Due to the shallow sea, big boats have to anchor far away and as such tourists cannot see them clearly from the beach. Locals use smaller motorized boats to transfer aqua-products and equipment ashore.

Upon reaching shallow water where the boats touch bottom, fishermen turn off the motors and drag them onto the sand. Oxcarts are responsible for pulling them ashore. Some fishermen bring the motors home for safekeeping, others take out fish from the nets and sort them.

As the sunrise shines its glory, more boats sail back and the oxcarts have to work non-stop, despite the short distance.

Since fishermen were working throughout the previous night, they have to wear raincoats in a bid to resist the cold. In the daytime, however, it’s scorching. They return in the morning exhausted.

Along Vietnam’s coastline, there are many such fishing ports but while some are popular, others have their own potential. Lagi Township has a large fishing port with modern fishery service infrustracture, but the very nestled fishing villages with scenes like these are typical in every region.

For instance, tourists are intrigued to see the way locals use oxcarts to drag the boats ashore, or fishermen shaking fishing nets on the sandflat. From 9 a.m., when the morning catches are finished, cart owners leisurely sit smoking on the sand while the oxen freely graze by the immense sea.

(Source: SGTO)

Category: Vietnam Beaches, Vietnam Destinations  Tags: , , ,  Leave a Comment
Ba Kiet is Tien Giang treasure
Thursday, July 28th, 2011 / admin

In the Mekong Delta there are many old homes for tourists to visit but there is none quite like Tien Giang Province’s Ba Kiet Old House.

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External view of Ba Kiet Old House
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An ancient oil lamp in Ba Kiet Old House

Cai Be District is known for its winding canals, orchards and a floating market where tourists can buy local specialties from dried foods to fruit and seafood.

But that is merely scratching the surface as the real treasure is located in an orchard on an area of 1.8 hectares in Phu Hoa Hamlet, Dong Hoa Hiep Commune.

Ba Kiet Old House was built in 1924 and is a popular model for traditional houses in the South in Can Tho, Vinh Long or Tien Giang.

It has five areas and more than 100 wooden pillars and the house is in great condition thanks to a renovation in 1998 at a cost of VND1.8 billion (USD87,378) by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).

It is famous for its meticulously-detailed and elegant carvings on the walls, pillars, doors and gate. There are also finely preserved antiques such as a set of settees, oil lamps and a balcony carved with patterns presenting landscapes and flowers of the four seasons.

Tran Van Binh inherited the house and it has been developed as tourist site for visitors to the province.

(Source: SGT)

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Discovering Dinh An mat craft village
Tuesday, July 19th, 2011 / admin

Visitors to Sa Dec Town in the Mekong Delta province of Dong Thap can admire gardens full of colorful flowers in spring time or visit Huynh Thuy Le House where French hit movie L’amant (The Lover) was filmed.

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A winding road in Dinh An Village is covered with dyed mats – Photos: Lam Van Son

But there is another side to this area of the delta and tourists should take time to have a look at Dinh An sleeping mat craft village in Dinh Yen Commune, Lap Vo District.

Located around 33 kilometers from Sa Dec Town, the craft village lies along the bank of Hau River. Through the passage of time and industrial development, the village has stood strong for almost 100 years and it is a source of pride for locals and an attractive tourist site.

For a long time, sleeping mats were a way of life in Vietnam. People still use the mats to sleep or sit on and not only in homes as they are used in religious ceremonies or sacred places or festivals. In Vietnamese culture, a beautiful sleeping mat is very important for newly-weds and the mat is considered part of many love stories.

The main material to make sleeping mats is lat trees. Every household, in the village, has one or two weaving looms. The craft is handed down to younger generations in the craft village. It is a fascinating spectacle for visitors to see the whole family gather to make mats as they choose lat strings to dry, weave and decorate.

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A family in Dinh An Village in the process of weaving a sedge mat

(Source: SGT)

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Visiting Pongour Waterfall in the rain
Sunday, July 17th, 2011 / admin

Tourists heading for Lam Dong Province in central highlands Vietnam should not miss the Pongour Waterfall which has seven majestic levels and some of the spectacular views have to be seen to be believed.

0f959 pongourfall Visiting Pongour Waterfall in the rain

From a height of 30 metres the mass of water speeds and booms down seven floors into a big pool, creating sonorous thunder-like sounds, especially in the rainy season when it is more violent

Pongour is located in Duc Trong District of Lam Dong Province and is 50 kilometres from Dalat City.

Strolling on a red dust road to the west for about 5km, tourists will arrive at Pongour eco-area.

Pongour has a festival every year on the 15th of the first lunar month and this is a spring treat for Dalat and Lam Dong teenagers with many traditional games and cultural festivities of local people.

This beautiful area was captured by The Saigon Times Daily’s Kinh Luan.

cad88 pongourfall Visiting Pongour Waterfall in the rain

Tourists enjoy a stream under Pongour Waterfall, which means the landlord of a white-clay area.

(Source: SGT)

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Let’s Discover Vietnam – Summer Vacations For All
Friday, July 15th, 2011 / admin

Spending a few days at a coastal resort on hot, dry days or visiting pagodas during summer retreats are among many things for tourists to experience. Why not start your vacation today and discover Vietnam in all its glory beauty.

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The mausoleum of King Khai Dinh, one of the famous historical and tourist sites in Hue City

Subsidiaries of Saigontourist Holding Company are launching summer tours of various itineraries and prices so that customers can easily choose one tailored to their interests.

First-class tours

As an annual tradition, Saigontourist Travel Service Company provides a variety of tours from HCM City for customers to enjoy a summer vacation.

These tours are chosen by many people thanks to their diverse itineraries, convenient starting dates and acceptable service quality. On these tours, customers will stay at luxury seaside resorts and hotels. These tours last two to three days and cost from VND3.9-8 million (US$185-381) a guest.

Apart from package tours, the company also has Free & Easy tours. People taking this service are not provided with a tour guide and do not have to follow fixed itineraries but can enjoy such services as room and air ticket booking, and airport pickup. Since early June, many people have enjoyed tours to Vinpearl Nha Trang, Vinpearl Danang and Hon Tam Resort. The Vinpearl Nha Trang tour includes two nights’ stay in villa rooms at the five-star Vinpearl Resort, visits to the theme park and the aquarium, and free use of across-the-sea cable cars or speedboats.

The Hon Tam Resort tour lets people spend two nights in a bungalow, enjoy two meals at the five-star resort and free massage service at its healthcare center. These tours take three days and are priced at VND13.6-17.6 million each.

This summer, Saigontourist Travel Service is also launching cost-saving IKO Travel tours. From Hanoi, on July 24 or July 27, people can take a tour of the southern region. They can choose a tour to visit Can Tho, Chau Doc and Ha Tien, or Can Tho and Con Dao. On these tours, when arriving in Can Tho, tourists can study the lifestyle of people in Can Tho as well as the Mekong Delta by visiting Cai Rang Floating Market, orchards and ancient houses, and enjoying a traditional southern music show. These tours last four days and cost each tourist about VND7.3-9.5 million. A tour of this kind helps each save VND2-2.4 million.

Saigontourist also has IKO Travel tours in the central region and the Central Highlands. These tours start on Monday, Wednesday and Saturday every week. The tour of Danang-Hoi An-Hue lasts four days and costs a customer roughly VND3.6 million, excluding the air ticket. Other tours include the two-day tour of Phan Thiet, the four-day tour of Dalat, or the three-day tour of Nha Trang. These tours cost a customer from at least VND1.8 million and can save more than VND500,000.

Discovering central, northern regions with Fiditour

Fiditour has launched summer tours of the central and northern regions. The tours start in HCM City every week. In addition, customers in Can Tho City can also take a tour but will have to transit in HCM City.

To visit the central region, people can take a tour of Danang-Ba Na-Hoi An, or a tour of Danang-Ba Na-Hoi An-Hue, or a tour of Danang-Hoi An-Ba Na-Hue-Phong Nha. These tours last three to five days and cost each customer from VND6-8.4 million.

For visiting the northern region, there are tours of Hanoi-Bac Ninh-Halong-Tuan Chau-Yen Tu, Hanoi-Bai Dinh-Trang An-Halong-Tuan Chau-Yen Tu, or Hanoi-Sapa-Bac Ninh-Yen Tu-Halong. These tours last three to six days and cost a customer about VND8.8-10.8 million.

Taking a central region tour, tourists will visit scenic spots and world heritage sites such as the ancient town of Hoi An, My Son Relic, the ancient capital of Hue and Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park. Arriving in Danang, tourists will discover Son Tra Peninsula, Da Spring and But Beach. In Hoi An, tourists will visit ancient houses and family temples and eat cao lu (rice noodle with pork and vegetables).

When in Hue, tourists will visit the ancient citadel with the royal court of the 13 kings of the Nguyen dynasty (1802-1945), enjoy a royal music show and take a scenic boat trip on theHuong River. They can also enjoy Hue folk music performed live on the boat by local artists and release lanterns on the river for good luck.

Crossing Latitude 17, which once divided Vietnam into two regions for two different political regimes, tourists will head for Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park, one of the world’s two biggest limestone mountains, where they can visit magnificent caves.

In the tour of the northern region, Hanoi is an attractive destination with Sword Lake, 35 ancient streets and Temple of Literature. From Hanoi, tourists will go east to visit Ha Long Bay, a world natural heritage site with thousands of islands and illets. Other well-known destinations are Yen Tu, where King Tran Nhan Ton (1258-1308) practiced Buddhism in his old age, and Sapa, a tourist town in the mist.

Pilgrimage tours with Lotus

Lotus Tours has launched pilgrimage tours from June onward to meet increasing demands of clients. There are two kinds of tours: the Long Thanh (Dong Nai)-Ba Ria (Ba Ria-Vung Tau) tour and the Long An-My Tho tour. These are daily tours.

Taking the Long Thanh-Ba Ria tour, tourists will have a vegetarian breakfast at Di Lac Pagoda, then visit Minh Duc Meditation Monastery, a famous tourist site at Dinh Mountain, Ngoc Son Dinh Pagoda and Ngoc Thanh Pagoda. They will take lunch at Van Phat Quang Dai Tong Lam, one of the biggest Buddhist monasteries in Vietnam, and continue visiting Thien Hoa, Pho Chieu and Hue Chieu monasteries.

On the Long An-My Tho tour, guests will have a vegetarian breakfast at Thien Khanh Pagoda, and then visit Vinh Trang and Pho Duc ancient pagodas, which give free medical exams and treatment to the poor. They will take a vegetarian lunch at Thien Phuoc Pagoda before visiting Ngoc Lam Monastery and Kim Cang Pagoda, where Buddhist scripts carved in wood and age-old statues are preserved.

The Long Thanh-Ba Ria tour costs one person VND369,000 and the Long An-My Tho tour costs VND339,000. They start on July 23, July 30 and August 13.

(Source: SGTO)

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Famous mountain range in Lao Cai
Tuesday, July 12th, 2011 / admin

Hoang Lien Son is the most towering mountain range with its Fanxipang peak being 3,143 metres high above the sea level.

Lai Cai province is divided into low-lying and high-lying areas. The imposing mountains are mainly in the northern districts of Sa Pa, Bat Xat, Muong Khuong, Bac ha and Si Ma Cai and the lower mountains in the southern and south-western districts of Bao Yen, Nam Thang, and Van Ban.

Ngu Hanh Son Mountain in Ta Giang Phinh village, Sa Pa district is 3,090 metres high. It is the second highest mountain in Vietnam and the most beautiful one in the north-western region.

Hoang Lien Son range includes famous mountains such as Pu Luong (2,985 metres), Lung Cung (2,918 metres) and Sa Phinh (2,871 metres).

To the east, Tay Con Linh range runs from Ha Giang to Bac Ha-Si Ca Mai with high peaks like Ta Cu Ty (1,856 metres), Quan Than San (1,800 metres) and Lau Thi Ngai (1,638 metres).

Cao Son mountain in Muong Khuong and Con Voi mountain in Bao Yen along the Hong and Chay rivers are home to Tay, Nung, Dao and Mong ethnic minority groups.

Almost every locality has its own mountainous symbol with legendary stories such as Ham Rong in Muong Khuong town, Ba Me Con in Bac Ha town, Phu Gia Lan in Khanh Yen town, Nhiu Co San in Y Ty and Nhac Son in Lao Cai City.

Lao Cai mountains and forests look most beautiful and romantic at sunrise and sunset.

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Fanxipang peak

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Pu Luong mountain

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Con Voi mountain range

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Ham Rong mountain in Muong Khuong town

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Ba Me Con mountain in Bac Ha town

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Phu Gia Lan in Khanh Yen town

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Nhiu Co San mountain in Y Ty

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Co Tien mountain in Muong Khuong

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Cao Son mountain

(Source: VOV)

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Elephants, waterfalls and “ruou can”
Thursday, June 30th, 2011 / admin

Not many tourists make it to Daklak, which is one of the reasons why it’s attractive. But it’s easy to get to from Saigon – eight hours by bus or 40 minutes by plane (Air Mekong or Vietnam Airlines, for around VND1 million one-way) to Buon Ma Thuot, the spacious and relaxed regional capital.

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Elephants in the river at Buon Don

Daklak’s charms are waterfalls, elephants, and the milky fermented drink called ruou can. But coffee is what’s most in evidence – tall bushes growing, not in large fields, but in dense plantations clustered round small farmhouses. Vietnam is now the world’s second largest coffee producer after Brazil.

As good a place as any to stay in Buon Ma Thuot is the White Horse (Bach Ma) Hotel on Nguyen Duc Canh, with rooms from US$37. It’s clean, comfortable, and even has orange-juice, coffee and fried eggs in the breakfast buffet.

The best way to get around is to rent a motorbike for the day, with or without a driver. None of the main attractions is close by, and though there are buses, relying on them restricts your independence in a way that a sturdy bike never does. The cost with a driver should be around VND200,000 to VND300,000 per day.

Daklak is part of Vietnam’s Central Highlands, and the road from Saigon is a gentle but continuous climb. It’s currently being made the first section of the new road from Saigon to Hanoi so you necessarily have to take the rough with the smooth. Even so, coming all the way by bike, as one lady I met said she’d done, seemed unnecessarily arduous.

The best waterfalls are to the south of the city, and you can easily see several in one day. The best I saw was Thac Dray Nur, where a huge amount of water cascades down over a wide cliff, even in the dry season. There’s little you can do except be photographed against such scenic splendor, but it’s a fine experience nonetheless.

Less dramatic is Thac Gia Long, some 20 minutes’ ride from Thac Dray Nur. But this series of falls has the advantage that you can clamber over the rocks above and between them. It’s a different kind of experience, but in its way equally attractive.

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Rickety bridge at Thac Gia Long waterfall - Photos: Bradley Winterton

To get to the elephants, head north to Buon Don, around an hour’s drive away. You won’t see wild herds, but going for a ride on a tame one (two people per animal) is easily arranged. They wade through a fast-flowing river, and then climb back up onto the bank using their knees.

You can also take a boat trip on the same river, with around ten people to a vessel. Elephant and boat trips both last around 15 minutes, though longer excursions can be arranged. The elephant rides cost VND80,000 (for two people), while the boats are VND20,000 per person.

Daklak’s altitude of around 500 meters means that, like Dalat, it’s cold at nights. But during the dry season it’s sunny and crisp by day, so early to bed, and then an early start in the morning, is recommended. Besides, Buon Ma Thuot doesn’t have a lot to offer in the way of nightlife.

But there’s always ruou can. This fermented rice wine is around 20% alcohol per volume, and is drunk communally through long straws from large jars. But water is continually added, so the strength varies and, just when you feel you’ve had enough, more of the watered-down version is offered. Taken in moderation it’s a very congenial drink, with little in the way of unpleasant after-effects. It’s on sale everywhere in Daklak.

(Source: SGTO)

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Biosphere reserve offers ideal summer holiday destination
Tuesday, June 28th, 2011 / admin

Pu Mat National Park, located in the central province of Nghe An and classified as a World Biosphere Reserve (the largest in Southeast Asia ) by UNESCO in April, has long been known for its bio-diversity.

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Pu Mat National Park

Covering 1.3 million ha, the park includes the Pu Huong and Pu Hoat reserve zones, creating a 500km green corridor along side the Vietnam – Lao border.

Le Thanh Do, responsible for tourism promotion of the park, told the English-language daily Vietnam News that the park receives around 9,000 visitors per year on average.

“The high peak tourism season falls between April and September,” he said adding, “two thirds of tourists are foreigners.”

In co-operation with local tourism agencies, the park has developed a tourist map linking Cua Lo Beach, Kim Lien village (hometown of President Ho Chi Minh) and Pu Mat National Park.

Do said that, apart from the 30 rooms for rent inside the park itself and hundreds of privately-owned hotels in nearby Con Cuong town, additional accommodation and entertainment services were essential in managing greater tourist numbers.

Established in 2001, Pu Mat park hosts 896 different species of plants, 220 valuable herbs, hundreds of vegetables and fruits, 241 types of mammals, 137 types of birds and 25 types of reptiles. The forest is also the habitat of the largest herd of elephants in Vietnam as well as endangered animals such as the ‘Sao La” (a rare species of twin-horned wild cattle), tiger, panther and leopard.

Located 25km from Con Cuong town, the 500m high Khe Kem Waterfall has always been popular among tourists, resembling a white silk scarf against the green canopy of the forest.

Lying 40km from the park main office along the Tuong Duong – Ky Son route, the peaceful valley is covered by thousands of 20-40m high “Sang Le” trees, which belong to the family of “Bang Lang” (Lagerstroemia speciosa).

“The valley, filled with violet blossoms in summer, has inspired countless poems and songs based on the romantic beauty of its green and whitish grey colours,” Do said, adding that “although many have called it the Green Valley, he prefers the name Violet Flower Valley.”

The Sang Le forest hosts both recognisable and unknown trees, luring both domestic and foreign scientists, according to Do.

The forest, currently covering 70ha, will expand to 300ha under new park management plans, help protect local residents against flooding, prevent soil erosion and save water for community consumption.

Nguyen Thanh Nhan, director of Pu Mat National Park, said that local Thai ethnic minority from nearby Quang Thinh village, which tourists are allowed to visit along with close lying caves, have done much to protect the Sang Le forest.

According to Nhan, the park presents a perfect backdrop for preserving the traditional weaving art, dance and gong playing of the Thai; the art of playing lip instruments and bamboo flutes by the Mong; water rice agriculture of the Tay Poong; sitting-sleeping customs of the Dan Lai and traditional dancing and singing of the Kho Mu.

As many as seven ethnic groups with a combined population of more than 800,000 are currently living in the park, Nhan added.

Ho Duc Phoc, chairman of the Nghe An provincial People’s Committee, admitted that local authorities faced a problem in creating a balance between preserving biodiversity and natural resources, promoting social economic development and maintaining the traditional cultural values of local ethnic groups.

(Source: VNA)

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Exquisite eco tourism sites in central region of Vietnam
Friday, June 24th, 2011 / admin

The central region of Vietnam has the most natural, diverse and rich ecosystem in the country despite its harsh weather conditions of a hot, dry and windy summer and severe floods during the rainy season.

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View of Cu Lao Cham in Quang Nam Province’s Hoi An Town (Photo: SGGP)

Located at a height of 1,000-1,450 metres, Bach Ma ecotourism site in Phu Loc District of Thua Thien-Hue Province is well-known for its year-round cool weather and diversified variety of flora and fauna.

The 37,500 hectare Bach Ma was recognized as a National Park in 1991. Scientists have so far identified over 2,000 species of plants, 132 of animals, 358 of birds, 894 of insects, 57 of fish and 52 reptiles and amphibian species.

Local authorities have developed the park in a unique manner so as to make it an ideal tourist spot that attracts both domestic and foreign visitors.

One hundred kilometers from Bach Ma National Park is Cu Lao Cham Island in Hoi An of Quang Nam Province. It comprises of eight islands naturally laid in a bow-shape on the Hoi An – Danang sea.

The 15 kilometre Cu Lao Cham stretch has an exquisite seascape and forest ecosystem with over 1,000 wildlife species including fishes, snails, seaweed and rare corals and over 500 plant species in the forests.

Many wild species on the island are listed in the Vietnam Red Book, like long-tailed macaques and swiftlets.

Cu Lao Cham was recognized as a World Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO in 2009.

Seventy kilometers from Cu Lao Cham is Phu Ninh Lake, a beautiful historical site in Nui Thanh District of Quang Nam Province.

The part natural and part manmade Phu Ninh Lake is the largest irrigation reservoir in the central region and second largest in Vietnam after Dau Tieng Lake in the southern province of Tay Ninh.

Phu Ninh Lake was built in 1986 covering over 3,400 hectares and containing over 344 million cubic metres of water. Each year it provides water to 23.000 hectares of farmland covering half of Quang Nam.

Within the lake, there are 38 islands and 23,000 hectares of protected forest. The most unique is the monkey island in the middle of the lake where monkeys abound in the dense forest.

(Source: SGGP)

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