Active Travel Asia's Posts - Tripatini2024-03-29T07:46:51ZActive Travel Asiahttps://frugalnomads.ning.com/profile/ActiveTravelAsiahttps://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/106881738?profile=RESIZE_48X48&width=48&height=48&crop=1%3A1https://frugalnomads.ning.com/profiles/blog/feed?user=1u9amigld04ty&xn_auth=noA Sweet Little Town Amid Awesome Landscape in Northern Vietnam's Highlandstag:frugalnomads.ning.com,2021-09-20:3169359:BlogPost:3203342021-09-20T11:25:55.000ZActive Travel Asiahttps://frugalnomads.ning.com/profile/ActiveTravelAsia
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<div style="text-align: justify;"><br/> If you set off from <strong>Vietnam</strong>'s capital <strong><a href="http://activetravel.asia/destination/vietnam/hanoi/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Hanoi</a></strong> in the early morning, you can be in another world by the afternoon – <strong>Dong Van</strong> (spelled <strong>Đồng Văn</strong> in Vietnamese) is the country's northernmost town, sitting more than 1,000 metres above sea level in a green valley surrounded by rocky, awe-inspiring mountains in the province of <strong>Ha Giang</strong>, one of the most spectacular rural destinations in all <a href="http://activetravel.asia/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">southeast <strong>Asia</strong></a>. It's truly a far cry from the stifling heat/humidity and hectic streets of Hanoi, especially at the height of summer.<br/> <br/> Dong Van is also the capital of the district of the same name, one of four bordering <strong>Dong Van Geopark</strong>, a plateau featuring large swaths of karst landscape, distinctively pointed limestone including with many fossils of creatures that walked the earth 400 to 600 million years ago. The plateau’s average elevation is 1,400-1,600 meters above sea level, and the route up the mountains to the town is precipitous and slow-going, but the views of the imposing rocky mountain ranges make the trip a constant pleasure.</div>
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<div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="text-align: justify;">In the town itself, one of the highlights is the Sunday-morning market, when H'Mong come down from villages in the surrounding hills to sell their wares including produce, meat, brocaded fabrics and fighting roosters, as well as eat, drink, and socialize with friends and prospective romantic partners.<br/> <br/> On our visit we also came across a group of H’Mong preparing for a music contest that was to be held in the morning. Some of them were playing <em>khen</em> (pan-pipes) and <em>ken la</em> (leaf-horns), while others were harmonizing their sweet voices.</div>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">Dong Van’s old quarter was lit up with red lanterns hanging from the window ledges of houses along every street and all around the market. As night fell, the town took on a wonderfully fanciful light in the midst of the mysterious rocky highland.</div>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">The locals always celebrate full-moon nights on the 14th, 15th and 16th of the lunar calendar to preserve and promote the town’s cultural heritage and customs. During these festivals, cultural and artistic activities take place in the old market. Visitors can taste the local cuisine, watch musical performances, check out some of the traditional handicrafts, and much more.</div>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">In the evening, an ebullient crowd of H’Mong begins to gather. Soon there are more than 300 artisans and artists from all corners of Ha Giang province ready to perform. A small stage has been set up for the occasion and there is music and dancing; everyone is happy to be part of the show. We listen to the melodies as well as the sounds of the valleys, forests and mountains, and everyone is smiling.</div>
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<div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="text-align: justify;">There are 40 houses in the centre of Dong Van’s old quarter, which are most beautiful at sunrise or sunset when the dark grey houses are suddenly brightened by golden sunlight. The town was built in the early 20th century and, in the beginning, mainly Tay and Hoa people lived here. During the 1940s and 1950s, the Kinh, Dzao and Nung tribes also settled in the area. The two-storey houses are a combination of architectural styles and there is influence from the Zhongnan region of China. The houses are built with thick earthen walls, dark brown wooden frames and stairs and dark grey Chinese yin and yang tile roofs. Each house has a yard and three-step staircase made from bluish limestone pillars. The houses are designed according to the principles of feng shui, balancing the natural and structural energy that courses through the environment.</div>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">By nine in the evening, the old quarter is empty and quiet. The ceremony is over; the winners have been awarded their prizes and almost everyone has wandered off home. I stroll over to the old market which was built in 1920 as a central trading place for local tribes to exchange clothes and tools. At night, the market is closed for business but open for romance. Some of the young women are beautifully dressed and the young men do their best to woo the ladies by playing their <em>khen</em> or <em>ken la</em>.</div>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">Leaving the young ones, I step into <strong>Pho Co Café</strong> (above), located in one of the oldest houses in town (the owners claim it was built in 1890). By a flickering oil lamp I sit sipping my hot tea and gazing out at the street through the faded wooden window bars. I can hear the sound of a <em>khen</em> and a <em>ken la</em> playing in response.</div>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">The café stays open till midnight and I am perfectly consent to sit there, soaking up the sense of mystery exuded by Dong Van town. As I walk home through the shadows in the still night, I am already looking forward to the first rays of golden sunlight that will herald the dawning of the day.</div>
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<div style="text-align: justify;"></div>A very Good Trip to Sapa, Vietnam with Active TraVel Asiatag:frugalnomads.ning.com,2021-05-23:3169359:BlogPost:3134062021-05-23T08:02:12.000ZActive Travel Asiahttps://frugalnomads.ning.com/profile/ActiveTravelAsia
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<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">Our first trip with</span> <a href="http://www.activetravel.asia/" style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">Active travel</a> <span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">was the</span> <a href="http://www.activetravel.asia/destination/vietnam/sapa/" style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">Sapa</a> <span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">valley trek homestay with…</span></div>
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<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">Our first trip with</span> <a style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;" href="http://www.activetravel.asia/">Active travel</a> <span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">was the</span> <a style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;" href="http://www.activetravel.asia/destination/vietnam/sapa/">Sapa</a> <span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">valley trek homestay with ecolodge option. Everything was handled very professionally for this by Active Travel Asia.</span></div>
<p><br/> We were picked up by an agent at our hotel exactly on time and they actually escorted us right onto our train for our night trip to Lao Cai. The train station at <a href="http://www.activetravel.asia/destination/vietnam/hanoi/">Hanoi</a> can be somewhat intimidating and getting tickets can be frustrating so this was really appreciated. <br/></p>
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/activetravelvietnam/"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 490px; height: 322px;" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5227/5689406541_6ac1a47fdf_o.jpg" border="0"/></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Sapa, Vietnam</span></div>
<p>Our guide and driver were waiting for us when we arrived in Lao Cai. They drove us to Sapa where we had breakfast and then our guide, Duc, took us on a walking tour around Sapa. Duc spoke very good English and he was very informative and receptive to all of our questions and needs. We then did a short drive to a trailhead and our trek began <a name="more" id="more"></a>. If you want to get away from the tourist horde then you really need to go with a guide and be prepared do some walking. The tourists really thinned out after a couple of hours. Our first night of homestay was excellent, great food, nice sleeping quarters and even a hot shower! Duc prepared all of our meals for us and was an excellent cook! <br/> <br/> Our next day was 7 hours of walking. I would not recommend this trip to people unaccustomed to long walks in hilly and sometimes unstable terrain. We hike in the mountains at home a lot so it was no big deal. Very beautiful views. We had lunch in a local village house, and then pushed on to our next homestay. Again, decent enough sleeping quarters and a delicious meal prepared by Duc. <br/> <br/> Our last day was a stay at the Tapas ecolodge and was this ever worth the money! Beautiful accommodations, great food, and 5 star views. <br/> <br/> We were picked up the next morning and returned o sapa by van. Duc met us there and we did a trip to cat cat village and saw H’mong dancing. Duc arranged some cheap scooter rides for us back to <a href="http://www.activetravel.asia/destination/vietnam/sapa/">Sapa</a> as he could tell that we were pretty worn out. (Thank you Duc!) <br/></p>
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/activetravelvietnam/"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 480px; height: 330px;" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5099/5455385570_9e49c46a79_o.jpg" border="0"/></a><span style="font-style: italic;">The ethnic Mong girl</span></div>
<p>Duc and driver then escorted us back to Lao Cai and we had extra time so they drove us to see the Chinese border! Cool! Duc then took us to the train station, waited with us, and personally escorted us to our compartment for the night trip back to Hanoi. <br/> <br/> As I stated in other reviews, we usually shy away from guided trips as we don't like being part of the herd, but seriously this trip was the opposite of that. We left the tourists behind in the sapa valley and I really don't see how you could do this without having a guide. <br/> <br/> Other big thanks to our guide Duc who made the whole experience very memorable. I would very much recommend Duc and Active travel. <br/> <br/> <span style="font-style: italic;">Supported by:</span> <a style="font-style: italic;" href="http://www.activetravel.asia/">ActiveTravel Asia</a> <br/> <br/> <span style="font-weight: bold;">Recommended tour:</span> <br/> <br/> <a href="http://www.activetravelvietnam.com/tour.php?op=detail&tourId=25" title="Sapa Trekking & Homestay" class="title_tour">Sapa Trekking & Homestay</a> <br/> <a href="http://www.activetravelvietnam.com/tour.php?op=detail&tourId=47" title="Sapa trek & Topas Eco Lodge" class="title_tour">Sapa trek & Topas Eco Lodge</a></p>The Top 10 Allures of Luang Prabang, Laostag:frugalnomads.ning.com,2020-03-08:3169359:BlogPost:4259682020-03-08T17:02:22.000ZActive Travel Asiahttps://frugalnomads.ning.com/profile/ActiveTravelAsia
<p><br></br> <a href="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/4033914119?profile=original" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img class="align-center" src="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/4033914119?profile=RESIZE_710x" width="750"></img></a> <a href="https://www.istockphoto.com/es/foto/vista-a%C3%A9rea-drone-de-luang-prabang-laos-gm875478076-244407727" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: 8pt;"><em>Marcin Kilarski</em></span></a></p>
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<p><br></br> This city of 55,000 on the Mekong River in north central Laos is the country's top tourism magnet for good reason: it's a…</p>
<p><br/> <a href="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/4033914119?profile=original" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img src="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/4033914119?profile=RESIZE_710x" width="750" class="align-center"/></a><a href="https://www.istockphoto.com/es/foto/vista-a%C3%A9rea-drone-de-luang-prabang-laos-gm875478076-244407727" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><span style="font-size: 8pt;"><em>Marcin Kilarski</em></span></a></p>
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<p><br/> This city of 55,000 on the Mekong River in north central Laos is the country's top tourism magnet for good reason: it's a UNESCO World Heritage Site because of its remarkable ancient , Luang Prabang in Laos is one of the most visit places in Asia before it turns into another common tourist place. On my visit there, I had a chance to explore and experience the best of Luang Prabang which is also an UNESCO World Heritage Site, so here are 10 things you can do in Luang Prabang in no particular order.</p>
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<div><p><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><b>The Old Town</b></span></p>
<p><br/> Explore <a href="http://www.activetravellaos.com/tour.php?op=detail&tourId=58" target="_blank" rel="noopener">this beautiful and well maintained old quarter</a> on foot to see the amazing heritage buildings with traditional Lao as well as French colonial architecture, now occupied by hotels, guesthouses, restaurants, cafes, and shops. There are absolutely no modern buildings or anything above two floors in this unique district. <br/> </p>
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<div><p><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><b>The Public Markets</b></span></p>
<p><br/> There are a couple of such markets in town, but the most popular is the daily <a href="http://www.activetravellaos.com/tour.php?op=detail&tourId=63" target="_blank" rel="noopener">night market</a>, with hundreds of tents lining the street and selling anything you can imagine, including art, crafts, food, and much more (its a great place for souvenirs). There's also a day market in which the vendors are Hmong tribesman, often dressed in traditional clothes - also great for crafts and souvenirs. And you'll also see local paintings being sold around town..</p>
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<p><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><b>Delicious Lao Food</b></span></p>
<p><br/> Tasty, varied, and very affordable, great specialties include the local baguettes, a legacy of the French that are sold around town (great with strong - often sweet and iced - Lao coffee, another French legacy). Sticky rice is a staple, and top dishes include <em>larb</em>, <span>a spicy mixture of marinated meat or fish that is sometimes raw (ceviche style) and served with</span> <span>herbs, greens, and the </span><span>spicy green papaya salad <em>som tam</em>. </span>You can find much of this served by street vendors as well as in the restaurants along the Mekong riverside; one particularly good pick for a fusion of French and Lao is the upmarket L'Elephant Restaurant.</p>
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<p><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><b>Golden City Temple </b></span></p>
<p><br/> Known as Wat Xieng Thong, one of Luang Prabang's (and the entire country's) oldest and most important Buddhist temples, where kings were crowned, was built in 1560. Its fascinating and graceful traditional architecture includes dramatic sloped roofs and detailed wall images depicting geometric designs and Lao mythology, which have been restored to their original glory; various Buddha images throughout the compound include a rare reclining Buddha. </p>
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<div><p><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><b>Other Wats (Temples)</b></span></p>
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<div><p><br/> You can visit any of the <a href="http://www.activetravellaos.com/tour.php?op=detail&tourId=63">more than 30 wats</a> in town on foot. The most popular is Wat Mai, right on the main street, founded around 1780, richly decorated and recently refurbished. Check out some of the temples with schools for the younger monks where among other things they learn woodwork, painting, and also English. </p>
<div><p><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><b><br/> Phu Si Hill</b></span></p>
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<div><p><br/> Also known as Chomsy Hill or Mount Phousi, this easy to climb hill is one of the best spots in Luang Prabang to catch amazing sunsets and panoramic views over the city; there's also a temple up here. You get up here via the main street or a path behind the Ethnic Museum. It's best visited around sunset. <br/></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><b>Tad Sae Waterfalls</b></span></p>
<p><br/> For nature explorers, various excursions are offered to <a href="http://www.activetravellaos.com/tour.php?op=detail&tourId=69">this beautiful set of low cascades</a> and turquoise pool located in a park 13 kilometers from town. There is an entrance fee of KIP 8,000 into the park where restaurants and other facilities are available. The best time to visit the waterfalls is during the rainy season, from May through October; otherwise the water flow can be minimal. </p>
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<p><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NH5Vlloba_8/UHaCa7Gz5lI/AAAAAAAABxQ/blZsC0kaQlg/s1600/40519_elephant+laos.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NH5Vlloba_8/UHaCa7Gz5lI/AAAAAAAABxQ/blZsC0kaQlg/s320/40519_elephant+laos.jpg?profile=RESIZE_710x" width="750" class="align-center"/></a></p>
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<p><b><br/> <br/> <span style="font-size: 12pt;">Elephant Park & Trekking</span></b></p>
<p><br/> The Elephant Park Project Area is located about 15 km out of town on the banks for the Khan River with wonderful mountain views. Rescued elephants are caref for here, and visitors may take guided rides. In additional, an easy half day trek (3-4 hours) will lead you out into a local Khammu village where you get an insight in every day life and culture of this ethnic minority.</p>
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<div><p><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><b>Ban Xang Hai Whisky Village</b></span></p>
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<div><p><br/> This Lao craft village is en route to Pak Ou Caves (see below), and tour boats make a half-hour stop here (you can also come by road). The highlight here is <em>lao-lao</em>, a rice whiskey that is a national staple; some versions come with snakes and insects pickled in the liquor! Another specialty here is the fine silk (which you'll see woven in front of you) and other fabrics; and crafts of all sorts are also on offer. </p>
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<p><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><b>Pak Ou Caves</b></span></p>
<p><br/> Also known as the <a href="http://www.activetravellaos.com/tour.php?op=detail&tourId=68" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Buddha Caves</a>, this pair of fascinating caverns are quite a sight, filled with thousands of Buddha statues. Even better, it also involves a scenic boat ride 25 kilometers up the Mekong that give visitors an eye-opening look at daily life along the river. </p>
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</div>Paragliding in Vietnamtag:frugalnomads.ning.com,2019-11-18:3169359:BlogPost:6968342019-11-18T02:56:03.000ZActive Travel Asiahttps://frugalnomads.ning.com/profile/ActiveTravelAsia
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Travelers usually rave about Vietnam’s magnificent natural beauty, rich culture along with unique traditional lifestyle from north to south. Furthermore, by…</p>
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Travelers usually rave about Vietnam’s magnificent natural beauty, rich culture along with unique traditional lifestyle from north to south. Furthermore, by motorbike or on tours is the typical way most travelers choose to discover those features. However, there is alternative transportation to get a splendid bird’s eye view of the stunning landscapes. Have you ever wondered what it’s like to fly, to feel nothing but the air beneath you and the wind taking you on a journey? Of course you have! It’s everyone’s fantasy dream as a kid, but with paragliding, it’s as close as you get a real thing!<br/>
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Following is a comprehensive paragliding guide and a list of the top five breathtaking places to try paragliding in Vietnam and make your fly dream comes true!<br/>
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<strong>Important Tips for Safe Paragliding</strong><br/>
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For anyone who wants to fly but don’t have any paragliding experience: If you don’t have the paragliding techniques, you will need a tandem paraglide. This means doing a flight with a guide. You will be loosely harnessed together then you’ll both need to jog for take-off. Once you’re airborne, you’ll be in the seated position with your guide sat behind you (you’ll pretty much be sat on your guide’s lap). Your guide will tighten you into position in the harness and then away you go!<br/>
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For anyone who desires to learn and experience paragliding by themselves. Here are some essential tips before, during, and after going for a glide: A canopy parachute is required for the purpose of paragliding in Vietnam; and with the help of wind and gravity the person can keep sailing for a long time. But the take-off and landing are considered to be the most difficult parts and thus cause the maximum number of accidents.<br/>
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As of that, you need to be trained before going for a glide. Take note of these paragliding guides which can help you experience this activity perfectly and safely. You have to be equipped carefully to fly. This will include wings, harness, variometer, radio and global positioning system, etc. Just consult your instructor for detailed paragliding guide about the equipment and take his advice before buying any of them.<br/>
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The weather is the most important thing. Never go for paragliding when it is raining or under any other bad weather conditions. Never fly when the wind measures more than 25-30 mph speed-wise. Be careful with the place where you will be practicing. You should not run on a slope of more than 15 degrees to take off as it will create problems in controlling the balance. Just clear up obstructions so as to avoid accidents at the time of taking off. If you are required to run on a slope, speak to your instructor for any doubts.<br/>
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Most accidents happen at the time of landing, thus the landing site should be clear. In case of emergency landing, try and look out for trees. No doubt they will hurt you but will also reduce the risk of fatality. Always carry a sharp object, like a knife, as it will help you in an emergency if you are entangled in wires. Take all the safety gear in order to be safe at all times. Helmets are especially compulsory as a head injury can be fatal.<br/>
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Keep these paragliding guides in mind and you can go for a safe glide. If anything goes wrong while you are gliding, keep calm and use your sense to get out of the problem as there are no advanced techniques to improve the glide. And of course, your common sense will be activated while training with the instructors.<br/>
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<strong>Top 5 Paragliding Places</strong><br/>
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<strong>Bu Hill (833), Hoa Binh Province</strong><br/>
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Bu Hill (833), just 40 kilometres from Hanoi to the southwest, has an altitude of 633 metres. It is a beautiful mountain range with the gentle slopes of about 1.5km in length, which is a good condition for travelers to experience paragliding. The road to Bu Hill is truly severe with steep slopes and winding turns, only the local experienced drivers are able to pass this way. As of that, it is highly recommended that you should book a paragliding tour to reach Bu Hill. For advanced technique pilots, Bu Hill is not really an ideal destination for paragliding, it is better for the beginners and tandem paragliding.<br/>
Takeoff coordinates: 20.8086, 105.5686<br/>
Takeoff elevation: 620m<br/>
Landing elevation: 65m<br/>
Takeoff direction: North<br/>
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<strong>Mount Bai Nha, Hoa Binh Province</strong><br/>
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Another destination totally wonderful to go paragliding in Vietnam is this mountain at Ngoc Son Commune, Lac Son District, Hoa Binh Province. XC flying is most suitable at Bai Nha because the thermal is always stable. Experts agree that Bai Nha is the best paragliding spot of not only Vietnam but also Southeast Asia.<br/>
Takeoff coordinates: 20.4421, 105.3826<br/>
Takeoff elevation: 480m<br/>
Landing elevation: 60m<br/>
Takeoff direction: North<br/>
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<strong>Mu Cang Chai, Yen Bai Province</strong><br/>
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280 km from Hanoi, Mu Cang Chai, a mountainous district of Yen Bai Province is designated as one of the country's best places for paragliding. Mu Cang Chai offers a brilliant view with vast terraced rice fields, demonstrating the ingenuity of the human hand in the mastery of nature to create the unique beauty that captivates the heart of all travelers. To reach Mu Cang Chai, you will pass Khau Pha Pass, one of Vietnam’s four most hazardous passes at a height of about 1,270m ASL. According to the evaluation of both domestic and international pilots, Khau Pha Pass is one of Vietnam’s four best destinations for paragliding, in terms of weather condition as well as natural and human landscapes.<br/>
Takeoff coordinates: 21.75533, 104.26593<br/>
Takeoff elevation: 1262m<br/>
Landing elevation: 774m<br/>
Takeoff direction: East and northeast<br/>
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<strong>Son Tra Peninsula, Da Nang</strong><br/>
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Most travelers to Da Nang are familiar with Son Tra, a peninsula in the south creating a seductive and beautiful bay. Paragliding here, you get a chance to admire the wonders on the high mountains, rolling clouds, lush forest strips on the high mountain bends stretching to the edge of the sea, making up a vast ecoregion. Location landing is usually Tho Quang beach at foothills of Son Tra or Pham Van Dong beach.<br/>
Takeoff coordinates: 16.1179, 108.2738<br/>
Takeoff elevation: 600m<br/>
Landing elevation: 0m<br/>
Takeoff direction: Southeast<br/>
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<strong>Mount Hon Hong, Phan Thiet</strong><br/>
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"Pink Mountain" is located very near to the famous tourist spot Mui Ne, about 45 kilometers away from the center of Phan Thiet city. With a height of 235 m, many pilots come here to practice and also enjoy the wonderful scenery of Mui Ne. The takeoff site is flat, on sand dune and near the beach, enough space for 10 open canopies at the same time. Hon Hong offers ideal conditions for beginners.<br/>
Takeoff coordinates: 11.0352, 108.4039<br/>
Takeoff elevation: 200m<br/>
Landing elevation: 0m<br/>
Takeoff direction: South, Southeast</p>
<p><br/> Hopefully this has been useful! for more detailed advice and to plan paragliding trip in Vietnam, contact us at <a href="http://www.activetravel.asia/?fbclid=IwAR0x7YLthvvZUSeObOzf3l7Gs0tOEJdQXwvCOT4e3a3oPC3jCfqrvRjuD3I" target="_blank" rel="noopener">ActiveTravel.Asia</a>.</p>
<p></p>7 of the Most Thrilling Adventure Experiences in Vietnamtag:frugalnomads.ning.com,2019-06-22:3169359:BlogPost:6920062019-06-22T20:55:53.000ZActive Travel Asiahttps://frugalnomads.ning.com/profile/ActiveTravelAsia
<div><img alt="" height="599" src="https://www.activetravel.asia/images/canyoning-dalat-vietnam5-LEAD(3).jpg" width="900"></img></div>
<div><br></br><div><br></br> As much as a destination for culture, history, and great food, Vietnam offers some amazing adventure and ecotourism possibilities. And here are seven of our favorites!</div>
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<h3><strong>Canyoning/Abseiling Down waterfalls in Da Lat</strong></h3>
<div><br></br> Most people come to Da Lat, “the City of Lovers” to chill, but for adventure seekers, Da Lat has a plenty of activities to get your heart racing, inclusive of canyoning, scrambling, zip…</div>
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<div><img src="https://www.activetravel.asia/images/canyoning-dalat-vietnam5-LEAD(3).jpg" alt="" width="900" height="599"/></div>
<div><br/><div><br/> As much as a destination for culture, history, and great food, Vietnam offers some amazing adventure and ecotourism possibilities. And here are seven of our favorites!</div>
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<h3><strong>Canyoning/Abseiling Down waterfalls in Da Lat</strong></h3>
<div><br/> Most people come to Da Lat, “the City of Lovers” to chill, but for adventure seekers, Da Lat has a plenty of activities to get your heart racing, inclusive of canyoning, scrambling, zip lining, jumping and swimming. Among them, canyoning is the most attractive for travelers. </div>
<br/> Usually canyoning here includes various separate abseils down from different parts of Da Lat's large waterfall complex, with challenge levels increasing gradually. Canyoning and abseiling allow you to discover the wonders and mysteries of nature in its purest form. During a canyoning trip you'll experience a lot of challenges, such as rappelling down the waterfalls, taking a zipline across the falls down the river, sliding down the waterfall, and hiking through the jungle. Don’t worry if you haven’t done any of this before, as you will be accompanied by canyoning professionals and expert guides during the whole trip. You just need a brave heart and adventurous spirit!</div>
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<div><img src="https://www.activetravel.asia/images/B%C3%A0-Na-Hills-Journey-Vietnam(1).jpg" alt="" width="900" height="526"/></div>
<div><br/><h3><strong>A Spectacular Cable Car Ride in Ba Na Hills</strong></h3>
<div><br/> Ba Na Hills is a giant recreational complex some 35km southwest of Da Nang city, and a cool escape from the heat of the coast. It is located on a mountain overlooking the Hai Van Pass, Son Tra Peninsula and Marble Mountains (on a clear day). Ba Na Hill Station is famous worldwide for the Golden Bridge (a pair of giant hands lift a 150-meter long bridge), an iconic wonder off Vietnamese architecture. It also possesses an impressive cable car system, so long (11,587 meters) it logged four Guinness World Records. During a cable-car ride you get a chance to contemplate the spectacular scenery of the dense forest cloaking the mountain, which is home to over 500 species of plants and 250 types of animal. The cable ride is a great hit for travelers who come up here at night to admire the lights of Da Nang twinkling far below. </div>
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<div> <img src="https://www.activetravel.asia/images/curso-de-perfeccionamiento-de-kitesurf-en-alcudia(1).jpg" alt="" width="900" height="600"/></div>
<div><h3><strong><br/> Kitesurfing in Mui Ne</strong></h3>
<div><br/> One of southern Vietnam's most attractive beach destinations, the capital of Binh Thuan province is four hours away from Ho Chi Minh City. Once a quiet fishing village, Mui Ne has become a water sports mecca, most notably for kitesurfing, whether you are an experienced kiteboarder or a complete novice. There are two seasons here, with good wind conditions for 70 percent of the year. Two wind directions prevail with mainly southerlies in the summer season, which runs from May to October. In winter, from late October to the end of March, it switches to northerly with stronger and more consistent winds.</div>
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<div><br/> <br/><h3><strong>Exciting ATV Rides Over the Sand Dunes of Mui Ne</strong></h3>
<div><br/> Those oceanic winds so great for kitesurfing have also sculpted Mui Ne's famous dunes, and you can book ATV tours in town (sunrise is a favorite time of day for this).Unfortunately, these days the dunes can be crowded with tourists - but don’t be too put off by this, as there are a lot of them to wander around, and veering off the beaten path can take you to your own epic adventure while everyone else throngs the higher dunes.</div>
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<div><img src="https://www.activetravel.asia/images/Cam-Thanh-Village-Basket-Boat(1).jpg" alt="" width="900" height="450"/> </div>
<div><h3><strong>Paddling a Bamboo Basket Boat in Hoi An</strong></h3>
<div><br/> Just 5km from the ancient town of Hoi An, Cam Thanh is a serene and picturesque fishing village with warm, hospitable people and a unique seven-hectare ecosystem of water coconut trees.Local fishermen will show you how to paddle their <em>thung chai</em> (round, woven-bamboo coracles) as well as catch purple crabs. You might also get to join a <em>thung chai</em> race and learn how to make traditional <em>bahn xeo</em> pancakes.</div>
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<div><img src="https://www.activetravel.asia/images/7f4cf7f35c6bbc35e57a.jpg" alt="" width="900" height="418"/></div>
<div><br/><h3><strong>Biking the Fertile Mekong Delta</strong></h3>
<div><br/> Referred as the “rice bowl of Vietnam”, the Mekong Delta is blessed with a diversity of cultures and traditions as well as rice paddies and tropical fruit orchards. A<span> </span><a href="https://www.activetravel.asia/Biking-Tours-tl343.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Mekong cycling trip</a><span> </span>is the best option to explore the quintessence of this region, biking past the paddies and orchards as well as the houses, schools, temples and markets clustered around them, with rice, herbs, joss sticks and anything else that requires drying spread out on the edges of the thin ribbons of roadway. These lanes are too narrow for cars to negotiate, so small motorbikes, cyclists and pedestrians rule the road.</div>
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<div><br/> <br/><h3><strong>Squeezing Through the Tight Cu Chi Tunnels</strong></h3>
<div><br/> About an hour and a half from Ho Chi Minh City, these are a byzantine maze of underground passages, chambers and booby traps used by both Viet Minh and Viet Cong guerrillas during Vietnam-US war of the 1960s and earl 1970s. Here you can squeeze through these tight passageways and learn how people lived and performed daily activities like eating, sleeping, going to school, getting medical attention, and more.</div>
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<div><br/> <br/> Of course, words and a couple of pictures don't do all these things justice. So put them on your <a href="https://www.activetravel.asia/travel-guides.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Vietnam bucket list</a><span> </span>and<span> </span><a href="https://www.activetravel.asia/tour-customize.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">contact us</a><span> </span>for more details!</div>
<div>For more exciting adventures in Vietnam, click <strong><a href="https://www.activetravel.asia/top-15-thrilling-adventure-experiences-in-vietnam-part-i-g451.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here</a>.</strong></div>Trekking in Vietnam's Cuc Phuong National Parktag:frugalnomads.ning.com,2019-05-22:3169359:BlogPost:6920052019-05-22T12:50:20.000ZActive Travel Asiahttps://frugalnomads.ning.com/profile/ActiveTravelAsia
<div><img alt="Trekking in Cuc Phuong National Park" class="align-center" height="480" src="https://www.activetravel.asia/images/cuc4.jpg" width="800"></img></div>
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<div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><br></br> Cuc Phuong National Park is located in Ninh Binh province, 120 kilometers from Hanoi to the southwest and 45 km from Ninh Binh city to the northwest. Cuc Phuong covers an area of 25,000 hectares, bordered by three provinces, Ninh Binh, Hoa Binh and Thanh Hoa. The forest is like a massive natural museum where keeps the most plentiful and richest flora and fauna system…</div>
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<div><img src="https://www.activetravel.asia/images/cuc4.jpg" alt="Trekking in Cuc Phuong National Park" class="align-center" width="800" height="480"/></div>
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<div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><br/> Cuc Phuong National Park is located in Ninh Binh province, 120 kilometers from Hanoi to the southwest and 45 km from Ninh Binh city to the northwest. Cuc Phuong covers an area of 25,000 hectares, bordered by three provinces, Ninh Binh, Hoa Binh and Thanh Hoa. The forest is like a massive natural museum where keeps the most plentiful and richest flora and fauna system in Vietnam. </div>
<div style="text-align: left;"><br/> This primitive forest has a complex topography full of mysterious and unique landscapes, lots of diverse eco-system, valuable culture, and history, and has become one of Vietnam’s most outstanding and atractive ecotourism destinations. Refer to Active Travel Asia’s complete guide below to get an answer why you should experience<span> </span><a href="https://www.activetravelvietnam.com/trekking-cuc-phuong-national-park-t26.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">a wilderness trip in Cuc Phuong National Park</a>.</div>
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<h3><strong>Best Times to Visit</strong></h3>
<div><br/> The climate here is tropical monsoon, with an average temperature year-round about 25°C. From November through January, the weather in North Vietnam is usually cold, so you should avoid visiting the jungle during this time. In April and May there are thousands of colorful butterflies in Cuc Phuong jungle in this time, creating the most beautifully romantic scenery ever. The best time to visit is May-August, when the weather is sunny, though sometimes you may encounter heavy rains and storms. </div>
<h3><strong><br/> How to Get Here</strong></h3>
<div><br/> From Hanoi, you can transfer to Cuc Phuong National Park in two ways: Catch a bus from Giap Bat Bus Station in Hanoi to Nho Quan Bus Station. From there, grab a taxi or hop on a local motorbike for the approximately 10-km transfer to the park. If you rent a motorbike yourself, from Hanoi follow the Highway 1A to Gian Khau junction, then keep driving along Highway 12 to Nho Quan town and continue a further 2 km you will arrive at Cuc Phuong National Park.</div>
<div> <img src="https://www.activetravel.asia/images/cuc1.jpg" alt="Trekking in Cuc Phuong National Park" class="align-center" width="800" height="533"/></div>
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<div><br/><h3><strong>Top 8 Musts in Cuc Phuong National Park</strong></h3>
<h4><strong><br/> Trekking<br/></strong></h4>
<div><br/> Various jungle trek routes with different itineraries and time. Some you can hike yourself, while others accompanied by a park guide and local scout. The route of camping and overnight in Muong Village (above) is the most adventurous and challenging - 30 km of walking in two to three days; the minimum group size is five people. During the time you stay at Muong, besides the Buoi River, locals while treat you with hospitality and share their traditional customs with you.</div>
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<div><img src="https://www.activetravel.asia/images/cuc3(1).jpg" alt="Beautiful butterfly season in Cuc Phuong National Park starts from the end of April to the early of May" class="align-center" width="800" height="523"/><br/><h4 style="text-align: left;"><strong>Bird- and other Wildlife Spotting<br/></strong></h4>
<div style="text-align: left;"><br/> The rainforest has an abundance of fauna and flora - 2,234 species of higher plants and mosses (of which 433 species are medicinal plants, 229 are edible); 122 species of reptiles and amphibians; 66 species of fish, nearly 2,000 species of insects and 135 species of mammals. And with 336 bird species, many endemic to Vietnam and Indochina, Cuc Phuong has long been an ideal spot for birdwatchers. Both day and nighttime wildlife-spotting tours are available. One of the most attractive things is the butterfly season from the end of April through early May - get ready to be mesmerized by thousands of colorful butterflies fluttering around you (above).</div>
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<h4><strong>Visit the Conservation Centers</strong></h4>
<div><br/> If you have a strong liking to listen to the origin of all kinds of animals, insects, reptiles, etc, don’t miss a chance to stop over at these conservation centers in Cuc Phuong National Park:<br/> <br/> <u>Visitor Centre:</u><span> </span>Built by AusAid and sponsored by FFI, this is the first education centre established in Indochina, and is also the place to check into the national park. </div>
<div><u>Cuc Phuong Botanical Garden:</u><span> </span>Established in 1985 as one of Vietnam’s three botanical gardens, preserved genetic resources and rare plants, forming a semi-wild garden, with easy access and three km of trails.</div>
<div><u><br/> Endangered Primate Rescue Centre:</u> It focuses rescuing individual rare primates such as the grey langur and Cat Ba langur, rehabilitating and releasing animals to nature as well as conducting research on their living habits and environment. <br/> <br/> <u>Cuc Phuong Museum</u><strong>:</strong> Built for the preservation of insects (butterflies, dragonflies, cicadas, beetles), birds, and mammals (bear, leopard, monkey, etc.), it is also home to more than 50 fossil specimens, including those of reptiles dating from 230 to 250 million years ago. Cuc Phuong Museum currently holds 82 animal samples, 2900 insect species, and more than 12,000 specimens of plants.</div>
<div><img src="https://www.activetravel.asia/images/cuc5.jpg" alt="Langur is one of the endangered animals preserved in Cuc Phuong National Park" class="align-center" width="800" height="449"/></div>
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<h4><strong>Explore Prehistoric Caves</strong></h4>
<div><br/> Some of must-visits include the Cave of Prehistoric Man (contains the vestiges of a shelter and graves of prehistoric people, dated from 7,500 years ago), Mang Chieng Cave (another relic of Stone Age tribespeople, containing many artifacts as well as animal and human remains), and Trang Khuyet Cave (Crescent Moon). </div>
<div><img src="https://www.activetravel.asia/images/cuc2.jpg" alt="Cycling through the Cuc Phuong jungle is one of most interesting activities" class="align-center" width="800" height="533"/></div>
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<h4><strong>Kayaking & Village Cycling<br/></strong></h4>
<div><br/> Renting a bicycle and cycling through the jungle lets you feel the peace of the mountainous environs and the rhythm of wildlife. Also don’t miss a chance to experience kayaking on Mac and Yen Quang lakes. You should spend at least two days in Cuc Phuong National Park if you want to both explore the jungle and engage in these outdoor pursuits.<strong><br/> <br/></strong> <br/> <strong>Admire the Thousand-Year-Old Tree</strong></div>
<div><br/> This East Indian almond tree is 45 m high and five m in diameter - more than 20 people embracing together. <br/></div>
<h4><strong>Conquer May Bac (Silver Cloud) Peak</strong></h4>
<div><br/> Standing 648 m above sea level, you get a chance to enjoy the panorama out over Cuc Phuong National Park; to be mesmerized by the stunning Bai Dinh Pagoda (a Southeast Asia’s largest Buddhist complex); and take in the view of Trang An ecotourism complex in North Ninh Binh. The hiking route to May Bac Peak has many rocky slopes, so requires a certain level of fitness; usually it takes four hours to both conquer the peak and get back to your starting point. </div>
<h3><strong><br/> What to Eat Locally<br/></strong></h3>
<div><u><br/> Ninh Binh goat:</u> This goat meat is toned, low fat, and aromatic. It is said that because in Ninh Binh there are many rocky mountains, allowing goats to run freely so that their muscles are firmer, less fat than goats grazing on hills. To fully enjoy the flavour of Ninh Binh goat meat, you should eat with burned rice and drink with Kim Son or Nho Quan wine. </div>
<div><u><br/> Ninh Binh Burned Rice:</u><span> </span>A crispy and yummy dish of Ninh Binh province made from steamed rice slices into flat round wedges. After drying, the slices of steamed rice are fried in hot oil pan until they turn yellow and crisp, then mixed with spices including fish sauce, pepper, red chilli, onion, and salt.</div>
<div><u><br/> Cuc Phuong Chicken:</u><span> </span>A grilled-chicken speciality of the Nho Quan District of Ninh Binh Province.</div>
<div><u><br/> Cuc Phuong Snail:</u> Appearing only from March to July, these mountain snails are thick, with a very particular taste due to eating algae, leaves, and roots of forest trees. </div>
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<div><br/> Cuc Phuong National Park offers various trekking routes and lots of interesting outdoor activities, you will find yourself immersed in a fresh, natural atmosphere. Active Travel Asia’s local experts are always ready to<span> </span><a href="https://www.activetravel.asia/tour-customize.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">customize your adventure experience in Vietnam</a>. <br/> <br/></div>Trekking in Vietnam's Ba Vi National Parktag:frugalnomads.ning.com,2019-03-01:3169359:BlogPost:6878502019-03-01T14:47:32.000ZActive Travel Asiahttps://frugalnomads.ning.com/profile/ActiveTravelAsia
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<div><br></br> <em><strong><br></br> Undoubtedly Ba Vi National Park is one of Vietnam’s most awesome trekking trails, with loads of scenic views. But this destination is less known than other Vietnamese trek routes in the international expat community. Check out the reasons why you should not miss trekking experience in Ba Vi National Park and let yourself continuously stand astounded by many interesting things found on…</strong></em></div>
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<div><img src="https://www.activetravel.asia/images/%C4%90%E1%BA%B9p%20m%C3%AA%20h%E1%BB%93n%20r%E1%BB%ABng%20hoa%20D%C3%A3%20qu%E1%BB%B3%20-VQG%20Ba%20v%C3%AC(1).jpg" alt="" width="800" height="450"/></div>
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<div><br/> <em><strong><br/> Undoubtedly Ba Vi National Park is one of Vietnam’s most awesome trekking trails, with loads of scenic views. But this destination is less known than other Vietnamese trek routes in the international expat community. Check out the reasons why you should not miss trekking experience in Ba Vi National Park and let yourself continuously stand astounded by many interesting things found on the trekking route.</strong></em><br/> <br/> <span>Located in Ba Vi Mountain Range, about 60 kilometers to the west of Hanoi, Ba Vi National Park, originally a French hill station (a getaway for Indochina's French colonizers), is considered as a fascinating destination for a weekend escape from the capital. With a total area of over 10,000 hectares, the park offers an amazingly biodiverse area of resorts along with a string of mysterious French ruins and a host of intriguing mini-hikes and trekking trails.</span><br/> <br/> No matter your trekking experience or physical fitness, you’ll find a trek route in Ba Vi National Park for you. Below, we’ve listed out some striking features why a strenuous climb in Ba Vi should be priority in your Hanoi day tour. </div>
<h3><strong>Location</strong></h3>
<div><br/> Usually, to travel from Hanoi to other tourist attractions, you may need at least a half day for transferring along with one night to take a rest. But Ba Vi National Park is easily accessible in about an hour and a half by motorbike or 45 minutes by car, <a href="http://www.activetravel.asia/everything-you-need-to-know-before-visiting-ba-vi-national-park-vietnam-g430.html">Read here for details</a>.</div>
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<div><br/> <br/> For one day trip visiting Ba Vi National Park, you can easily conquer the highest peaks in the mountain range, discover a host of ancient relics hidden deep inside the jungle or simply celebrate a jungle picnic party with friends. Besides, some travelers prefer a <a href="http://www.activetravel.asia/ba-vi-hard-trek-2-day-jungle-trek-with-active-travel-asia-t384.html">two-day trip in Ba Vi National Park</a><span> </span>combining harmoniously between adventure and relaxing. With an ideal greenery space of the jungle, a variety of trekking trails catering to all skill levels, plus five-star services at some upscale resorts located amongst the mountain range.</div>
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<div><img src="https://www.activetravel.asia/images/2018-04-26%20at%2009_35_02(1).png" alt="" width="800" height="450"/><br/> <em>Make sure you explore the Ba Vi jungle with a local guide as he can introduce you to many fauna and flora species in detail.</em></div>
<div><br/><h3><strong>Wildlife and Biodiversity Conservation</strong></h3>
<br/> The park's wildlife and biodiversity are truly extraordinary, for starters home to 1,209 plants, 503 of which are precious medicinal herbs; some rare and valuable plants found in the jungle include calocedrus macrolepis and podocarpus neriifolius, etc. Meanwhile, the fauna include 66 species, mostly small or medium ones such as chrotogale owstoni, arctictis binturong, felis temminckii, capricornis sumatraensis, and lophura nycthemera. The most numerous animals, of course, are insects, with 552 species found, seven of which are listed in Vietnam’s Red Book, including mantis religiosa, lethocerus indicus, attacuc atlas, actias selene, lamproptera curius, troides helena, and graphium antiphates. A trained guide will help you get the most out of flora and fauna spotting.</div>
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<div><img src="https://www.activetravel.asia/images/hinh-anh-rung-nguyen-sinh-phu-quoc-va-nhung-kham-pha-thu-vi-4(2).jpg" alt="" width="800" height="531"/><br/> <br/> <br/><h3><strong>Various Trekking & Hiking Trails</strong></h3>
<br/> <br/> Comparing to Vietnam’s northwest and southeast mountain slopes, Ba Vi Mountain Range is much steeper. The average slope of the area is 250, from an altitude of 400m above sea level, the average slope is 350 attaching with many exposed stone walls. As of that, moving in the park can be dangerous, and with its unpredictable topography it's best to go accompanied by a professional guide. <br/> <br/></div>
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<div><span style="font-size: 8pt;"><em>Stunning panoramic view of Ba Vi National Park from King Peak at 1,296m above sea level.</em></span></div>
<div><br/> <br/> Lots of adventure seekers are into trekking in Ba Vi National Park. Before your trip, we highly recommend you get a good idea to assess your level of fitness as well as arrange a logical itinerary to conquer the three summits of Ngoc Hoa Peak at 1,131m above sea level, Tan Vien Peak at 1,226m, and King Peak at 1,296m, the highest point in the jungle. You should research Ba Vi’s topographic in advance as each peak is located at different directions. Usually, for<span> </span><a href="http://www.activetravel.asia/ba-vi-1-day-jungle-trekking-with-active-travel-asia-t381.html">Hanoi day trip</a>, travelers prefer combining two out of these three peaks. The reward for this strenuous climb is the chance to capture the gorgeous mountain panoramas - incredibly magnificent and truly worth your effort!<br/></div>
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<div><em><span style="font-size: 8pt;">People all around Vietnam gather at Temple of President Ho Chi Minh to commemorate Vietnam's founding father</span>.</em></div>
<div><br/><h3><strong>Historical Ruins & Sacred Temples</strong></h3>
<div><br/> Ba Vi used to be an upscale resort during the French colonization in Indochina. Due to a pleasant climate year-round as well as convenient way from Hanoi to Ba Vi, from 1932 – 1944, the French constructed many projects there such as the summer camp, the church and military zone. </div>
<div><br/>Especially, at an altitude of 1,000 – 1,100m above sea level, there is a system of secret French political prisons built solidly to confine Vietnamese communists and others fighting against colonialism. With an area of 2,500 square meters, it could hold retain up to 200 prisoners. Inside there are still many imprints of shackles and large stone mills with a diameter of nearly 4m used to torture prisoners. <br/><br/></div>
<div>Besides an array of French historical ruins, Ba Vi Mountain range is also considered as the most sacred mountain in Vietnam with the Temple of President Ho Chi Minh (a national hero and founding father) and the Upper Temple worshipping the God of Ba Vi Mountain Range, one of The Four Immortals in traditional Vietnamese mythology.</div>
<br/> To reach the Temple of President Ho Chi Minh at King Peak, from the foot of Mount Ba Vi, you have to pass 12km of a winding road then continue to climb more than 1,320 stone steps. Annually, on 21st July (Lunar New Year), Vietnamese leaders from ministries, departments, Hanoi capital along with people all around the country will gather here to offer incense to commemorate President Ho Chi Minh. </div>
<div><br/>Overall, it’s not easy to show you all the quintessence and appeal of Ba Vi Mountain Range in mere words. Just refer our<span> </span><a href="http://www.activetravel.asia/travel-guides.html">travel guide</a><span> </span>and plan your upcoming<span> </span><a href="http://www.activetravel.asia/trekking-hiking-tours-tl340.html">Vietnam trekking tours</a><span> </span>in Ba Vi National Park on the soonest day. Want more information about Ba Vi?<span> </span><a href="http://www.activetravel.asia/tour-search.html?start=&type=&duration=&keyword=ba+vi">Active Travel Asia</a><span> </span>is always here to help you<span> </span><a href="http://www.activetravel.asia/tour-customize.html">customize your adventure tour. </a></div>Four seasons in Sapa, Vietnamtag:frugalnomads.ning.com,2019-01-29:3169359:BlogPost:3328872019-01-29T03:30:00.000ZActive Travel Asiahttps://frugalnomads.ning.com/profile/ActiveTravelAsia
<div style="text-align: justify;"><i><b>The four seasons are distinctly felt in <a href="http://www.activetravel.asia/destination/vietnam/sapa/">Sa Pa</a>, <a href="http://www.activetravel.asia/destination/vietnam/">Vietnam</a> when nature changes her costume.…</b></i></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/activetravelvietnam/"><img border="0" height="424" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-CCDnM6aHLVo/TnwD5GDj5II/AAAAAAAAAUM/H0OuNCXpbHA/s1600/SP2.jpg" width="546"></img></a></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;"><i><b>The four seasons are distinctly felt in <a href="http://www.activetravel.asia/destination/vietnam/sapa/">Sa Pa</a>, <a href="http://www.activetravel.asia/destination/vietnam/">Vietnam</a> when nature changes her costume.</b></i></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/activetravelvietnam/"><img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-CCDnM6aHLVo/TnwD5GDj5II/AAAAAAAAAUM/H0OuNCXpbHA/s1600/SP2.jpg" width="546" height="424" border="0"/></a></div>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">The four seasons are distinctly felt in Sa Pa when Nature changes her costume. Spring in the season of pear, peach and plum flowers. Summer comes blooming with Gladioli, Pancies, Dahlias, Sun-flowers and numerous temperate fruits. Autumn is the time for perfume mushrooms, woodears and plenty of specious medicinal plants such as Black Ginseng, Amomum,Cinnamon, Anise etc.</div>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">The sky is the vividly brightened with golden sun-rays and playful white clouds which seem to land on the ground, over the heads of people or on tops of trees. In Winter, the forest is almost whitened with snow, making the landscapes look more attractive.</div>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">But Summer is said to be the most charming season in the year. It is extremely interesting to experience all the four seasons within a summer day time: spring in the morning, summer at noon, autumn in the afternoon and winter in the evening and at night.</div>
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<div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="http://www.activetravel.asia/destination/vietnam/sapa/">Sa Pa</a>, with its surprisingly wonderful and orginal nature, the sky, the air, the clouds, the flowers and fruits there is openly inviting…</div>
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<div style="text-align: justify;"><i>Source: Sapabeauty</i></div>
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<div style="color: red; text-align: justify;"><b>Recommended Tour By <a href="http://www.activetravel.asia/">Active Travel Asia</a>: Sapa Trekking & Homestay</b></div>
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<div style="text-align: justify;"><b>Night 1: Night train to Lao Cai</b></div>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">Transfer from your hotel to Hanoi Railway Station for the night train to Lao Cai. Overnight in AC soft sleeper cabin.</div>
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<div style="text-align: justify;"><em>Summary:</em></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">Transfer hotel – railway station: AC vehicle</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">Accommodation: Soft sleeper in AC cabin</div>
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<div style="text-align: justify;"><b>D</b><b>ay 1: Transfer to Sapa – Trek to Giang Ta Chai Village</b></div>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">Arrive in Lao Cai around 5.30 am. We will take 1hr bus ride uphill to the beautiful town of Sapa. The ride give you a glimpse of the stunning vistas and impressive rice terraces. Upon arrival in Sapa Town we have breakfast in local restaurant and prepare for a great trek down to the picturesque valley of Muong Hoa.</div>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">You will commence your journey from Sapa by car to Lao Chai village, a Black Hmong ethnic minority village. You will then be able to walk from Lao Chai to Tavan village where the Giay ethnic minority hill tribe lives. After lunch the walk continues through a bamboo forest to Giang Ta Chai, a Red Dao ethnic minority village where we will have unique homestay experience among hill tribe people. Pinic lunch on the way. Dinner and overnight in the local house.</div>
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<div style="text-align: justify;"><em>Summary:</em></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">Transfer Lao Cai – Sapa: 45 mins</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">Trekking: 5-hr trek/dirt paths/downhill</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">Accommodation: Homestay</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner</div>
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<div style="text-align: justify;"><b>Day 2: Trek Giang Ta Chai – Su Pan – Thanh Kim - Thanh Phu Village</b></div>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">After breakfast, we start the trek through the rice terraces to the village of Su Pan then continue to Thanh Kim for lunch. After lunch time, we will trek along a narrow valley downhill for 2 hour to the Ngoi Bo River, then uphill for 1 hour to Muong Bo Village at the center of Thanh Phu Commune - a village of Tay minority. We will have dinner and stay overnight in a wooden Tay stilt house.</div>
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<div style="text-align: justify;"><em>Summary:</em></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">Trekking: 7-hr trek/dirt paths/downhill</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">Accommodation: Homestay</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner</div>
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<div style="text-align: justify;"><b>Day 3: Thanh Phu Village - Sapa</b></div>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">After breakfast, we walk down hill to Thanh phu bridge to take a beautiful drive back to Sapa. Upon arrive in Sapa we take shower and spend the rest of the day exploring Sapa town. 5.30 pm we will be transferred to Lao Cai for the night train back to Hanoi.</div>
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<div style="text-align: justify;"><em>Summary:</em></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">Trekking: 3 km - Introductory grade ( 1 hours trekking)</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">Transfer Sapa - railway station: 1-hr</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">Meals: Breakfast</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">Accommodation: Soft sleeper in AC cabin</div>
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<div style="text-align: justify;"><b>Day 4: Back to Hanoi</b></div>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">Arrive in Hanoi around 5 am. Tour ends at Hanoi Railway Station.</div>
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<div style="text-align: justify;"><i><b>For more information and booking this tour, please access <a href="http://activetravelvietnam.com/tour.php?op=detail&tourId=25">ATA's website</a> or contact us through ATA's email: <a href="mailto:info@activetravel.asia">info@activetravel.asia</a></b></i></div>Trekking in Ba Vi National Park Near Hanoitag:frugalnomads.ning.com,2019-01-01:3169359:BlogPost:6853272019-01-01T17:20:29.000ZActive Travel Asiahttps://frugalnomads.ning.com/profile/ActiveTravelAsia
<div><br></br><div><a href="https://www.activetravel.asia/images/%C4%90%E1%BA%B9p%20m%C3%AA%20h%E1%BB%93n%20r%E1%BB%ABng%20hoa%20D%C3%A3%20qu%E1%BB%B3%20-VQG%20Ba%20v%C3%AC(1).jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img class="align-center" src="https://www.activetravel.asia/images/%C4%90%E1%BA%B9p%20m%C3%AA%20h%E1%BB%93n%20r%E1%BB%ABng%20hoa%20D%C3%A3%20qu%E1%BB%B3%20-VQG%20Ba%20v%C3%AC(1).jpg?width=800" width="800"></img></a></div>
<div><br></br> <br></br><p><span>Located in the Ba Vi Mountain Range, about 60 kilometers to the west of Hanoi,</span> the Ba Vi National Park is without a doubt one of Vietnam’s most awesome trekking trails with the picturesque views - but it's still less known than other…</p>
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<div><br/><div><a href="https://www.activetravel.asia/images/%C4%90%E1%BA%B9p%20m%C3%AA%20h%E1%BB%93n%20r%E1%BB%ABng%20hoa%20D%C3%A3%20qu%E1%BB%B3%20-VQG%20Ba%20v%C3%AC(1).jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img src="https://www.activetravel.asia/images/%C4%90%E1%BA%B9p%20m%C3%AA%20h%E1%BB%93n%20r%E1%BB%ABng%20hoa%20D%C3%A3%20qu%E1%BB%B3%20-VQG%20Ba%20v%C3%AC(1).jpg?width=800" class="align-center" width="800"/></a></div>
<div><br/> <br/><p><span>Located in the Ba Vi Mountain Range, about 60 kilometers to the west of Hanoi,</span> the Ba Vi National Park is without a doubt one of Vietnam’s most awesome trekking trails with the picturesque views - but it's still less known than other Vietnamese trek routes in the international community. A fascinating weekend getaway, this onetime <span>French hill station has total area of over 10,000 hectares, with amazing biodiversity, resorts, a string of mysterious French ruins, and of course a host of intriguing mini-hikes and trekking trails.</span></p>
<br/> No matter your trekking experience or physical fitness, you’ll find a trek route in Ba Vi National Park for you. Below, I've listed out some striking features why a strenuous climb in Ba Vi should be priority in your Hanoi day tour. </div>
<h3><strong>Location</strong></h3>
<div><br/> Oftentimes day-trip destinations from Hanoi may require at least a half day's travel plus an overnight. But Ba Vi can be reached by car in just 45 minutes (90 by motorbike); for more details, click <a href="http://www.activetravel.asia/everything-you-need-to-know-before-visiting-ba-vi-national-park-vietnam-g430.html">here</a>.</div>
<div><a href="https://www.activetravel.asia/images/23032652_378427742576080_1049174476427478992_n(1).png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img src="https://www.activetravel.asia/images/23032652_378427742576080_1049174476427478992_n(1).png?width=800" class="align-center" width="800"/></a><br/> <br/> On one day trip you can easily conquer the highest peaks in the mountain range, discover a host of ancient relics hidden deep inside the jungle or simply celebrate a jungle picnic party with friends. Besides, some travelers prefer a <a href="http://www.activetravel.asia/ba-vi-hard-trek-2-day-jungle-trek-with-active-travel-asia-t384.html">two-day trip to Ba Vi</a>, <span>a harmonious mix of</span> adventure and relaxation. With an ideal greenery space of the jungle, a variety of trekking trails catering to all skill levels, plus the five-star services of some upscale resorts located amongst the mountains, definitely Ba Vi National Park is always a brilliant option for<a href="http://www.activetravel.asia/hard-trek-ba-vi-1-day-jungle-trek-with-active-travel-asia-t383.html"><span> </span>Hanoi Day Tour</a>, offering a chance to capture the quintessence of one of Vietnam’s most important conservation areas. </div>
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<div><a href="https://www.activetravel.asia/images/2018-04-26%20at%2009_35_02(1).png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img src="https://www.activetravel.asia/images/2018-04-26%20at%2009_35_02(1).png?width=800" class="align-center" width="800"/></a><br/><h3><strong>Wildlife and Biodiversity Conservation</strong></h3>
<br/> Ba Vi National Park’s wildlife and biodiversity are truly extraordinary. It's home to more than 1,200 plants, more than 500 of which are precious medicinal herbs; some rare and valuable examples include <em>calocedrus macrolepis</em> and <em>podocarpus neriifolius</em>. Among its fauna are 66 mostly medium-size or small species such as chrotogale owstoni, <em>arctictis binturong</em>, <em>felis temminckii</em>, <em>capricornis sumatraensis</em>, and <em>lophura nycthemera</em>. Insects are the most numerous species anywhere, and here is no exception, with 552 including the praying mantis, lethocerus indicus, attacuc atlas, actias selene, lamproptera curius, troides helena, and graphium antiphates. Make sure you explore the jungle with a local guide (above), who can provide fascinating information and viewing opportunities.</div>
<div><img src="https://www.activetravel.asia/images/hinh-anh-rung-nguyen-sinh-phu-quoc-va-nhung-kham-pha-thu-vi-4(2).jpg" alt="" width="800" height="531"/><br/> <br/><h3><strong>Trekking & Hiking Trails</strong></h3>
<br/> Comparing to Vietnam’s northwest and southeast mountains, Ba Vi is much steeper; the average slope here is 250m (an as much as to 350), from an altitude of 400m above sea level. That's another reason why a seasoned guide is not just desireable but highly advisable, as moving around this unpredictable topography can be risky for the uninitiated. I'd also highly recommend you assess your level of fitness, as well as research an itinerary. There are three peaks Ngoc Hoa Peak at 1,131m, Tan Vien Peak at 1,226m, and the hiighest, King Peak at 1,296m. On a <a href="http://www.activetravel.asia/ba-vi-1-day-jungle-trekking-with-active-travel-asia-t381.html">Hanoi day trip</a>, most visitors combine two of the three. The climbing can be strenuous but oh, so rewarding, with spectacular panoramas!</div>
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<div><a href="https://www.activetravel.asia/images/Ba-Vi-national-park-6(3).jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img src="https://www.activetravel.asia/images/Ba-Vi-national-park-6(3).jpg?width=800" class="align-center" width="800"/></a></div>
<h3><strong>Historical Ruins & Sacred Temples</strong></h3>
<div>Ba Vi used to be an upscale resort during the French colonization OFIndochina. Due to a pleasant climate year round, as well as convenient access from Hanoi to Ba Vi, from 1932 to 1944 the French constructed many projects there, including a summer camp, a church, a military zone, and at an altitude of 1,000-1,100m, a secret political prison built to confine Vietnamese Communists and others battling colonialism. With a total of 2,500m2, it held up to 200 prisoners, and inside you can still see shackles and large stone mills with a diameter of nearly 4m used to torture the prisoners. </div>
<div>Besides this array of colonial ruins, Ba Vi Mountain range is also considered as the most sacred mountain in Vietnam with the Temple of President Ho Chi Minh (below, the founder of modern Vietnam) and the Upper Temple worshipping the God of Ba Vi Mountain Range, one of The Four Immortals in traditional Vietnamese mythology. </div>
<div><a href="https://www.activetravel.asia/images/14095788_963808700431229_8113047198111647881_n(2).jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img src="https://www.activetravel.asia/images/14095788_963808700431229_8113047198111647881_n(2).jpg?width=800" class="align-center" width="800"/></a></div>
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<div><br/> <br/> To reach the Temple of President Ho Chi Minh at King Peak, from the foot of Mount Ba Vi, you have to navigate a 12km winding road, then climb more than 1,320 stone steps. Annually, on 21st July of the Lunar New Year, Vietnamese leaders from ministries, departments, Hanoi capital along with people all around the country will gather here to offer incense to commemorate President Ho Chi Minh. </div>
<div>Overall, it’s not easy to show you all the quintessence as well as the glamour of Ba Vi Mountain Range by words. Just refer to our <a href="http://www.activetravel.asia/travel-guides.html">travel guide</a><span> </span>and plan your upcoming<span> </span><a href="http://www.activetravel.asia/trekking-hiking-tours-tl340.html">Vietnam trekking tours</a><span> </span>in Ba Vi National Park. Want more information about Ba Vi?<span> </span><a href="http://www.activetravel.asia/tour-search.html?start=&type=&duration=&keyword=ba+vi">Active Travel Asia</a><span> </span>is always here to help you<span> </span><a href="http://www.activetravel.asia/tour-customize.html">customize your adventure tour.</a></div>
</div>Everything you need to know before visiting Ba Vi National Park, Vietnamtag:frugalnomads.ning.com,2018-09-24:3169359:BlogPost:6852912018-09-24T14:21:02.000ZActive Travel Asiahttps://frugalnomads.ning.com/profile/ActiveTravelAsia
<p><strong><em>Just 2-hour driving from Ha Noi, Ba Vi National Park is an ideal destination for hiking, trekking, swimming and having a picnic. Thinking of taking a day trip or a weekend getaway to Ba Vi National Park? Here’s everything you need to know before planning a trip to this wonderful place.</em></strong></p>
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<p><strong><span>Ba Vi National Park is one of Vietnam’s most outstanding natural areas. Although located near Ha Noi city, Ba Vi National Park is still a new tourist…</span></strong></p>
<p><strong><em>Just 2-hour driving from Ha Noi, Ba Vi National Park is an ideal destination for hiking, trekking, swimming and having a picnic. Thinking of taking a day trip or a weekend getaway to Ba Vi National Park? Here’s everything you need to know before planning a trip to this wonderful place.</em></strong></p>
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<p><strong><span>Ba Vi National Park is one of Vietnam’s most outstanding natural areas. Although located near Ha Noi city, Ba Vi National Park is still a new tourist attraction for international tourists. There is not a lot of online information about this destination, so if you are planning a trip to explore and trek in Ba Vi Mountain Range, just consult our travel guide. </span></strong></p>
<h3><strong>How to get to Ba Vi National Park</strong></h3>
<div><img src="https://www.activetravel.asia/images/Screen%20Shot%202018-04-26%20at%2009_21_38.png" width="800" height="449" alt=""/></div>
<div><em>The overview of Ba Vi National Park, Vietnam.<br/></em></div>
<div>Just 60km far from Ha Noi, you could easily get to Ba Vi National Park in about 2 hours by motorbike. Just take the Thang Long highway and keep driving until you see the signs to Son Tay and Ba Vi. The ride up to Ba Vi National Park can be a bit tricky and bumpy, especially in the rainy reason, so be sure that you are confident in your driving skills. </div>
<div>If you don’t drive a motorbike, it’s also possible to take a taxi or a bus. However, of course, you’ll miss a lot of interesting adventure experiences along the way. To get to Ba Vi National Park by bus, catch the Bus route 214 from Yen Nghia Bus Station (Ha Dong District, Ha Noi) to Xuan Khanh, or Bus route 71, 74 from My Dinh Bus Station to Xuan Khanh. The final stop of these routes are just 5km far from Ba Vi, from there, you can easily grab a taxi to arrive in the national park. </div>
<div>Usually, for tourists who don’t know well about Ba Vi travel route, renting a private car with driver or taking part in a<span> </span><a href="http://www.activetravel.asia/trekking-hiking-tours-tl340.html">Ba Vi customized tour</a><span> </span>are the best choices. </div>
<h3><strong>Best time to visit Ba Vi</strong></h3>
<div>Ba Vi Mountain offers a pleasant climate year-round. Each season has its own specific beauty so you can travel to Ba Vi National Park at any time in a year. However, the best time to visit is usually from April – September when the weather is dry and cool, or from November – December, when the beautiful wild sunflowers start blooming. </div>
<h3><strong>What to visit in Ba Vi National Park</strong></h3>
<div><img src="https://www.activetravel.asia/images/sododulichweb1.jpg" width="800" height="800" alt=""/></div>
<div><em>Consult the detailed Ba Vi National Park Tourist Map above to plan your itinerary.<br/></em></div>
<div><strong>Thien Son Waterfall & Waterpark:</strong><span> </span>With its natural treasures of large waterfall, lakes and water park, Thien Son – Suoi Nga tourism area has become a favorite tourist attraction to go swimming, go fishing, go camping and relax in villas built on stilts. It is located on the east side of the Ba Vi Mountain Range. To get there, you drive to the entrance of the park, however, instead of going inside, continue driving to the left of the entrance. It costs 150,000VND to get into the tourism and water park area.<br/> </div>
<div><strong>Cactus Garden:</strong><span> </span>It is where up to 1,200 cactus species are planted and preserved. The ecosystem here is rigidly protected, offering an abundance of colorful cactus flowers that you have never seen in other places.<br/> </div>
<div><strong>French ruins:</strong><span> </span>Ba Vi was used as a holiday resort during the French colonization in the 19th century. Nowadays, there are many ruins of these resort scattering throughout Ba Vi Mountain Range. Covered by moss layers, these French ruins can offer you a lot of nice photos.<br/> </div>
<div>The first set of French ruins you may encounter while driving up the mountain inside the park is the French Summer Camp, followed by The Old Church and the French Military Zone. It’s better if you park your bike and walk up to The Old Church as the road is very steep. The hike could be tiring but the church is gorgeous and well-worth your effort. </div>
<div><img src="https://www.activetravel.asia/images/ba-vi-national-park-vietnam.jpg" width="800" height="555" alt=""/></div>
<div><em>The Old Church in Ba Vi Jungle.<br/></em></div>
<div><strong>Trekking to the summits of the mountain:</strong><span> </span>There are 3 peaks in Ba Vi Mountain Range that any trekker desires to conquer once visiting there, including the King Peak, Tan Vien Peak and Ngoc Hoa Peak. </div>
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<li><strong>King Peak:</strong><span> </span>The highest summit at 1,296m where you have a chance to trek through the majestic landscape of the whole park, pay a visit to Temple President Ho Chi Minh on the top point and stand astounded by the magnificent view of surrounding areas from Bao Thien Power. </li>
<li><strong>Tan Vien Peak:</strong><span> </span>At the height of 1,226m, Tan Vien Peak is where you can visit the Upper Temple worshipping the God of Ba Vi Mountain Range, one of The Four Immortals in traditional Vietnamese mythology. </li>
<li><strong>Ngoc Hoa Peak:</strong><span> </span>The third highest summit at 1,131m, famous for Tieu Dong Peak and Old Green Cypress Populations. </li>
</ul>
<div><img src="https://www.activetravel.asia/images/Ba-Vi-national-park-6.jpg" width="800" height="532" alt=""/></div>
<div><em>The stunning panoramic view from the King Peak at 1,296m.<br/></em></div>
<div>These peaks are usually covered with fogs and clouds and you will be challenged with steep slopes as well as slippery jungle roads while trekking downhill through the jungle. In case you haven’t had trekking experienced yet, you’d better take a<span> </span><a href="http://www.activetravel.asia/hard-trek-ba-vi-1-day-jungle-trek-with-active-travel-asia-t383.html">Ba Vi Trekking Tour</a><span> </span>to get a good care during the journey. </div>
<h3><strong>Tips for trekking in Ba Vi National Park</strong></h3>
<p><strong>Hire an experienced guide:<span> Getting a trekking tour guide is essential as they have in-depth knowledge of the route and know the ideal places for unique sceneries. Especially in an emergency, it’s easier to solve the problem with their professional first-aid skills. Moreover, you will also have a better chance to explore the local culture and learn about the meaningful stories hidden in each historical site. </span><br/> <br/> Plan a Ba Vi trekking tour in advance:<span> Actually, before any tour, you should find information about the destination which you will visit and trek. The weather in the jungle could be unpredictable. As of that, you’d better check the forecast to decide your trekking tour duration and consider to have a picnic in Ba Vi Jungle or not. We highly recommend you to plan your trekking tour at least 1 week in advance, as you will have enough time to prepare all necessary items as well as a good health. Also, we guarantee the Ba Vi trekking tour’s itinerary is customized flexibly if you are traveling with your children. However, if you are hardcore trekkers, definitely we’ll make special arrangements to bring your trip up to higher level. </span><br/> <br/></strong></p>
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<div><em>Tourists are trekking to Upper Temple, at 1227m above sea level.</em></div>
<p><strong><br/> Respect nature:<span> You will be provided with full of necessary equipment while trekking in Ba Vi with us to avoid littering and protect the environment. </span><br/></strong></p>
<div>Hopefully, our travel guide will help you plan a perfect trip to Ba Vi National Park. If you desire to conquer the three peaks of Ba Vi Mountain Range, just contact us and let us take care of everything during your<span> </span><a href="http://www.activetravel.asia/hard-trek-ba-vi-1-day-jungle-trek-with-active-travel-asia-t383.html">Ba Vi Trekking Tour.</a></div>Southeast Asia’s Leading Destination Manager Company - Active Travel Asiatag:frugalnomads.ning.com,2018-08-23:3169359:BlogPost:6834072018-08-23T08:17:10.000ZActive Travel Asiahttps://frugalnomads.ning.com/profile/ActiveTravelAsia
<p>Since 2006, Active Travel Asia started out as a tour operator in Vietnam delivering a wide selection of adventure tours for global travelers to Indochina. Over the years, Active Travel Asia has become a Southeast Asia’s leading DMC specializing in offering premium all-inclusive adventure tours to Vietnam.…</p>
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<p></p>
<p>Since 2006, Active Travel Asia started out as a tour operator in Vietnam delivering a wide selection of adventure tours for global travelers to Indochina. Over the years, Active Travel Asia has become a Southeast Asia’s leading DMC specializing in offering premium all-inclusive adventure tours to Vietnam.</p>
<p><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/106881901?profile=original" target="_self"><img width="750" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/106881901?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024" width="750" class="align-left"/></a></p>
<p><a href="https://www.activetravel.asia/tour-search.html?start=&type=&duration=&keyword=mekong">Active Travel Asia</a> is passionate about getting travelholics into the amazing adventure experiences. With various adventure styles comprising of <strong><em>trekking, paragliding, kayaking, motorbiking and biking, etc</em></strong>, we desire to share our expertise to help you get a one-of-a-kind experience.</p>
<p>Our adventure tours are not only designed for independent travelers but also completely suitable for the big group as well as the families with children. With our professional local escorts, we take pride in catering to the most sophisticated needs of our customers as well as offering seamless services to an extensive global network.</p>
<p>We have always valued our customers' satisfaction and safety as the top priority. Also, all of our tours are subject to essential standards of tourism and respect the indigenous lifestyles. Protecting wildlife, conserving nature and minimizing the footprint are our basic rules.</p>
<p><strong>Paragliding Vietnam</strong></p>
<p>Paragliding is not a unique experience over the world but in Vietnam, it’s a completely new adventure experience to explore Vietnam’s beauty from the air and Active Travel Asia is proud to be the first and only one could make your flying dream come true with Active Travel Asia!</p>
<p><a href="https://www.activetravel.asia/trekking-hiking-tours-tl340.html"><strong>Trekking tours</strong></a></p>
<p>The far north of Vietnam holds a magnificent wild allure. Currently, our local guides are the pioneers in exploring various off-the-beaten-track trekking trails through the mountainous areas such as “Sapa, Hoang Su Phi, Dong Van Karst Plateau Geopark, Mai Chau, etc”. Also, we offer various trekking tours to Vietnam’s most outstanding national parks including “<a href="https://www.activetravel.asia/tour-search.html?start=&type=&duration=&keyword=ba+vi">Ba Vi National Park</a>, Cuc Phuong National Park, Ba Be National Park, Tram Chim National Park, etc”. All trekking trips are always prepared and instructed carefully to put the safety as the top priority</p>
<p><strong>Kayaking/ Diving/ Rafting</strong></p>
<p>Extraordinary water adventures will let you immerse in the wonderful natural beauty. Kayaking is the best way to uncover the breathtaking scenery of <a href="https://www.activetravel.asia/tour-search.html?start=&type=&duration=&keyword=halong+bay">Halong Bay</a> (one of seven UNESCO World Heritage Sites), Phong Nha Cave (one of the world’s largest wet caves endowed with thousands of unique colorful stalactites in various shapes) along with many other tourist attractions in Vietnam. Get ready for joining a large number of water sports for all ages and experience with us.</p>
<p><strong>Motorbiking & Cycling tours</strong></p>
<p>We take pride to be the leading operator in the motorbiking tour with the amazing experiences. Challenge yourself with the most authentic adventure on Vietnam’s most popular mode of transport through the coastal lines, narrow village roads in <a href="https://www.activetravel.asia/tour-search.html?start=&type=&duration=&keyword=mekong">Mekong Delta</a>. </p>
<p><strong>Education & Volunteer tours</strong></p>
<p>Annually, we welcomed hundreds of global students over the world to spend your vacations on the educational and volunteering tours in Vietnam. There were many built roads, painted schools and beautiful yards made by Active Travel Asia every year!</p>Ultimate Road Trip: Vietnam's Northern Looptag:frugalnomads.ning.com,2013-10-04:3169359:BlogPost:5413242013-10-04T09:00:00.000ZActive Travel Asiahttps://frugalnomads.ning.com/profile/ActiveTravelAsia
<div style="text-align: justify;">Anyone who has been to this country (and even some of those who haven't) will no doubt be skeptical about the words "Vietnam" and "road trip" in the same sentence. It's true: In a city like Hanoi, the traffic can make you freeze up like an opossum. But outside of the cities, where vehicles are few and far between, the scenery is unforgettable, the culture vibrant, and the road trip experience unparalleled.…</div>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">Anyone who has been to this country (and even some of those who haven't) will no doubt be skeptical about the words "Vietnam" and "road trip" in the same sentence. It's true: In a city like Hanoi, the traffic can make you freeze up like an opossum. But outside of the cities, where vehicles are few and far between, the scenery is unforgettable, the culture vibrant, and the road trip experience unparalleled.</div>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">Driving the legendary Northwest Loop is the best way to get a glimpse of the rural side of a country in the throes of relentless, voracious development. In the less-visited north, you can explore the Vietnam of rice terraces, karst formations draped in verdant jungle, purple mountains, and thundering waterfalls.</div>
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<div style="text-align: justify;"><b>START IN HANOI</b></div>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">The Northwest Loop begins in Hanoi. If you're going to tackle this route in a car or truck, it's best to get a 4WD. Most of the route is sealed, but heavy rains can occasionally wash small rocks and debris onto the road in the mountains. And speaking of rain, since you're in the mountains all bets are off when it comes to the weather. It's true that Vietnam's dry season runs from October until April, but if you try this during "rainy" season in the summer months you can still get away with it. And remember, as you get higher up, the temperature will drop, so you may use both the A/C and the heater in the same trip.</div>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">But be warned, the small twisty roads were drawn into the hills for the pleasure (and ease) of two-wheeled travel. The trip can be done on a 125 cc semi-automatic "motoscooter," which are incredibly easy for even non-riders to get a handle on quickly. You can rent one in Hanoi for less than $10 a day from an outfitter like Flamingo Travel, who provides helpful English-language service. Flamingo also provides guided tours for those who don't want to tackle the country alone.</div>
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<div style="text-align: justify;"><b>HIT THE OPEN ROAD</b></div>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">After you've explored Hanoi's bustling Old Quarter (the Essence Hanoi is a great boutique hotel option) and filled up on Hanoi's legendary street food, it's time to brave the traffic on the highway from hell out of the city. This is a straight-shot, get-it-over-with drive to the first stopover. Look on the bright side: You will never again complain about traffic back home. Just under 30 miles southwest of Hanoi on Highway 6, you'll have the chance to turn left onto a skinny two-lane secondary road. Take it! This is what you've come for. The road weaves its way through rice terraces, bypassing the truck-heavy main drag. You'll meet up with H6 again soon enough, which you'll take the rest of the way to Mai Chau.</div>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">Once in Mai Chau, take a day or two to explore the surrounding countryside, which is home to many of the White Tai ethnic minority. The lush, rice paddy-filled valley is a world away from the noise of Hanoi, the horns and hawker shouts replaced with gurgling irrigation rustling leaves. Here you'll find one of the best accommodation options in northern Vietnam: the terrific Mai Chau Lodge.</div>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">When you leave Mai Chau, you will follow weaving valley roads and mountain switchbacks up H6 to Son La. The journey is not far, but you will stop so frequently to take in the view, so budget extra time. A good idea is to break up the day with pit stops in the small towns you'll find on the way, where you can refill with Vietnamese iced coffee or pho.</div>
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<div style="text-align: justify;"><b>CHOOSE YOUR OWN ADVENTURE</b></div>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">After Son La, you can head directly to the big city in the north, Sapa, but you'd be wise to head to Dien Bien Phu on the QL279 turnoff instead, where you can view the site of one of the most decisive and game-changing military victories in modern history. DBP is where the French rule of Vietnam came to an ignominious end—think Custer's Last Stand in Indochina. Walk around Hill A-1, and then visit the ranks of unmarked graves in the war cemeteries. It's a grim reminder of the war-torn history of the beautiful surroundings.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.activetravelvietnam.com/tour.php?op=detail&tourId=68" target="_blank">Motorcycling Northern Vietnam</a></td>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">On to Sapa, the center of northern Vietnam. A former French hill station, the town overlooks a valley of waterfalls and rice paddies, and frequently finds itself in puffy white fog as clouds roll into the town center. This is great place for trekking and mountain biking. Trekking Sapa leads multi-day tours around the area, showing off the natural beauty and the culture of the local Hmong hill tribes. For a place to stay, try Thai Binh Sapa.</div>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">It will take a solid day to drive back to Hanoi from Sapa, so it's wise to break up the trip into two pieces, sleeping the LaVieVuLinh ecolodge homestay near Thac Ba Lake on the way back. If you have time, though, spend an extra couple of days and head east to Ba Be National Park. This remarkable area is up for UNESCO status as a World Heritage Site, but is seldom visited because it is tough to access using public transportation. The park plays host to countless species of fauna, including bears, tigers, and the king cobra. Stay in one of the stilt-house homestays in Pac Ngoi village, which cozies up to the shores of Ba Be Lake, the freshwater centerpiece of the park.</div>
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<div style="text-align: justify;"><b>ACTIVETRAVEL ASIA</b> would like recommend <i><b><a href="http://www.activetravelvietnam.com/tour.php?op=detail&tourId=68" target="_blank">Motorcycling West to East Northern Vietnam</a></b></i> tour.This motorcycling trip reveals a different route to get from Son La to Thac Ba. It offers adventurous riders stunning scenery and great tribal culture exploration. The route is not yet popular thus you do not share the roads with other tourist but mainly share the roads with the locals who are on their Honda to the farm. The perfect itinerary and the support crew ensure you get the most out of the trip in terms of comfort, enjoyment and adventure.</div>
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<div style="text-align: justify;"><b>Highlights: </b></div>
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<li style="text-align: justify;"> Stunning scenery</li>
<li style="text-align: justify;"> Challenging roads</li>
<li style="text-align: justify;"> Thac Ba Reservoir</li>
<li style="text-align: justify;"> Colorful ethnic minorities</li>
</ul>Five Reasons to Visit Vietnamtag:frugalnomads.ning.com,2013-09-06:3169359:BlogPost:5357142013-09-06T22:36:34.000ZActive Travel Asiahttps://frugalnomads.ning.com/profile/ActiveTravelAsia
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<div style="text-align: justify;"><p><i>Written by Ellie</i></p>
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<div style="text-align: justify;"><p><i><b>Having spent some time travelling in Thailand, I’m eager to visit more of south-east Asia, and visiting Vietnam is next on my list!</b></i></p>
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<div style="text-align: justify;"><p>After researching the country and jealously listening to recommendations given by other travellers, I’ve come up with a list of my top…</p>
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<div style="text-align: justify;"><p><i>Written by Ellie</i></p>
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<div style="text-align: justify;"><p><i><b>Having spent some time travelling in Thailand, I’m eager to visit more of south-east Asia, and visiting Vietnam is next on my list!</b></i></p>
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<div style="text-align: justify;"><p>After researching the country and jealously listening to recommendations given by other travellers, I’ve come up with a list of my top reasons why I want to travel to Vietnam.</p>
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<div style="text-align: justify;"><p><b>1. Delicious Food</b></p>
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<div style="text-align: justify;"><p>Despite the huge focus on other Asian cuisines such as Thai, Chinese and Indian food, I’ve heard great things about Vietnamese food and some of the dishes sound divine. Vietnamese food is also considered as one of the healthiest cuisines in the world which is always a plus!</p>
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<div style="text-align: justify;"><p>Many Vietnamese recipes include fresh ingredients such as lemongrass, ginger, lime and basil which all contribute distinct flavours to a recipe. Some dishes I’ve been recommended are Cha ca Thang Long which is fish marinated in turmeric topped with dill, Phở, a herby noodle soup served with either beef or chicken and the strange-sounding elephant ear fish, which is crispy, salted and served with herbs and vegetables. They all sound delicious and I plan on trying as many as possible on my Vietnam trip!</p>
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<tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><p><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xJLy6aVsxm0/Uhi8U2L03hI/AAAAAAAAEPk/Qu84oKxER5k/s1600/PhoVietHung-3499+copy.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xJLy6aVsxm0/Uhi8U2L03hI/AAAAAAAAEPk/Qu84oKxER5k/s640/PhoVietHung-3499+copy.jpg" border="0" height="470" width="640"/></a></p>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><p><a href="http://www.activetravelvietnam.com/tour.php?op=detail&tourId=43">Phở</a></p>
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<div style="text-align: justify;"><p><font style="font-weight: bold;"> </font></p>
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<div style="text-align: justify;"><p><b>2. Halong Bay</b></p>
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<div style="text-align: justify;"><p>No Vietnam travel experience is complete without a visit to the stunning Halong Bay, and winding round the limestone islands and visiting the ancient caves sounds like something special.</p>
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<div style="text-align: justify;"><p>I’ve heard the sunsets and sunrises are incredible to watch so it would be amazing to see these – I'm planning to stay overnight on one of the traditional Halong Bay junk boats so hopefully it will be easy enough to see both.</p>
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<tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><p><a href="http://www.activetravelvietnam.com/tour.php?op=detail&tourId=43"><font style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rUVzYbUJEK0/Uhi829Wu7vI/AAAAAAAAEPs/MlvAgYscgec/s640/halong_0+copy.jpg" border="0" height="480" width="640"/></font></a></p>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><p><a href="http://www.activetravelvietnam.com/tour.php?op=detail&tourId=43">Halong Bay</a></p>
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<div style="text-align: justify;"><p><b>3. Tropical Beaches</b></p>
<p><b> </b></p>
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<div style="text-align: justify;"><p>Again, it seems that Vietnamese beaches are underrated with more focus given to the famous Thai beaches. I'd take advantage of this by spending some time on the deserted white sands before other tourists catch on...</p>
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<div style="text-align: justify;"><p>With white sands, towering palm trees and aqua blue waters some of the Vietnamese beaches such as this one on the tropical paradise island of Phu Quoc below looks heavenly. Perfect for catching some rays and lounging with a cold beer...</p>
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<table class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;" align="center" cellspacing="0">
<tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><p><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Qc1U3EV6N20/Uhi9FcbA4GI/AAAAAAAAEP0/Vi8lFaCwURg/s1600/da-nang-china-beach+copy.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Qc1U3EV6N20/Uhi9FcbA4GI/AAAAAAAAEP0/Vi8lFaCwURg/s640/da-nang-china-beach+copy.jpg" border="0" height="414" width="640"/></a></p>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><p><a href="http://www.activetravelvietnam.com/tour.php?op=detail&tourId=43"><font style="text-align: justify;" size="3"> Tropical Vietnam Beaches</font></a></p>
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<div style="text-align: justify;"><p><b>4. Atmospheric Cities</b></p>
<p><b> </b></p>
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<div style="text-align: justify;"><p>Vietnam is home to cities full of character and there are several that I would love to visit. Hanoi, the lively capital is full of classic Vietnamese architecture, food and things to do, such as visiting the preserved body of the former president Ho Chin Minh – something a bit different!</p>
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<div style="text-align: justify;"></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;"><p>Not forgetting the smaller city of Hoi An where you can wonder round the narrow streets, lounge on the city’s nearby beaches or shop in Hoi An’s world-famous Vietnamese tailors.</p>
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<div style="text-align: justify;"><p>Lastly Ho Chi Minh City (the largest in Vietnam) is packed with museums, shops, bars and restaurants so there is plenty to do!</p>
<p></p>
<p></p>
<table class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;" align="center" cellspacing="0">
<tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><p><a href="http://bustling%20hanoi/"><font style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-tkLKMUdxplw/Uhi9P593BkI/AAAAAAAAEP8/7AvTkRDs9EU/s640/Bia+hoi+copy.jpg" border="0" height="428" width="640"/></font></a></p>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><p><a href="http://bustling%20hanoi/"> Bustling Hanoi</a></p>
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<div style="text-align: justify;"><p><b>5. Local People</b></p>
<p><b> </b></p>
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<div style="text-align: justify;"><p>Finally, the people of a country can really complete your experience and I’ve only heard great things about the people of Vietnam – that they love to smile and are friendly and genuinely interested in getting to know the travellers that visit their country.</p>
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<div style="text-align: justify;"><table class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;" align="center" cellspacing="0">
<tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><p><a href="http://www.activetravelvietnam.com/tour.php?op=detail&tourId=43"><font style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-n_51LVGRweY/Uhi9t0_5h8I/AAAAAAAAEQE/brgVFyPn0fk/s640/sapa-meet-local1-GALLARY+copy.jpg" border="0" height="448" width="640"/></font></a></p>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><p><a href="http://www.activetravelvietnam.com/tour.php?op=detail&tourId=43">Meet local people in Sapa</a></p>
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<div style="text-align: justify;"><p>I hope to meet them as soon as I can so I’d better get saving!<br/></p>
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<div style="text-align: justify;"></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;"><p><span class="font-size-1"><em><b>ACTIVETRAVEL ASIA</b> would like recommend <b><a href="http://www.activetravelvietnam.com/tour.php?op=detail&tourId=43">Kayaking Halong Bay 3 days</a></b> tour.</em></span></p>
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<div style="text-align: justify;"></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;"><p><span class="font-size-1"><em>This tour offers you a great chance to discover Halong Bay, the wonderland of karst topography with 3,000 limestone and dolomite islets sprinkled over an area of 1,500 square km. The calm sea provides an ideal location for sea kayaking as we paddle through a maze of islets amid dramatic natural scenery. With our modern kayaking equipment, we are able to maximize on speed and maneuverability as we explore the open sea and the many hidden lagoons and stalagmite caves that are difficult to access by any other means. As with our other kayak tours, this tour offers flexibility in activity levels while still combining the best of sea kayaking. Designed with this in mind it is a good tour for both novice and experienced kayaker alike with a little more time to spare.</em></span></p>
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<div style="text-align: justify;"><p><span class="font-size-1"><em><b>Highlights:</b></em></span></p>
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<ul>
<li style="text-align: justify;"><span class="font-size-1"><em>Amazing limestone formations</em></span></li>
<li style="text-align: justify;"><span class="font-size-1"><em>Inclusive junk for overnight</em></span></li>
<li style="text-align: justify;"><span class="font-size-1"><em>Beautiful and different kayaking route</em></span></li>
<li style="text-align: justify;"><span class="font-size-1"><em>Support boat all the time</em></span></li>
<li style="text-align: justify;"><span class="font-size-1"><em>All meals included</em></span></li>
</ul>Trekking Sapa, Northern Vietnamtag:frugalnomads.ning.com,2013-08-22:3169359:BlogPost:5352342013-08-22T08:30:00.000ZActive Travel Asiahttps://frugalnomads.ning.com/profile/ActiveTravelAsia
<div style="text-align: justify;">I was beaten, destroyed to the core and past the point of no return. I was exhausted, shattered, cracked, smashed, distort, deranged, confused, broken, in pain and ruined – and that’s just the travellers diarrhea! I haven’t even started to tell you about the way I felt after an obscenely long hike through Sapa’s remote wilderness. The day before, Nic and I had talked with the hostel manager and booked a day hike through remote villages and wilderness. Before…</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">I was beaten, destroyed to the core and past the point of no return. I was exhausted, shattered, cracked, smashed, distort, deranged, confused, broken, in pain and ruined – and that’s just the travellers diarrhea! I haven’t even started to tell you about the way I felt after an obscenely long hike through Sapa’s remote wilderness. The day before, Nic and I had talked with the hostel manager and booked a day hike through remote villages and wilderness. Before his recommendation on which tour we should do, he simply asked “are you fit?” I strongly responded in my gladiator stance “I’m fit enough to carry a small ox”, he must of been in awe at my sheer adventure man attitude that he didn’t hear Niki say “no, not really, I just want a easy walk through some local villages and rice paddies”. 15kms into our intense 28km trek the next day, Niki flopped onto a rock, her eyes confirming that our marriage was being tested for the first time. I didn’t dare tell her that I just confirmed with our guide that with the exception of climbing Mt Fansipan, this is the hardest trek in the region. I was going to kill the hostel owner if I ever saw him again!</div>
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<table class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;" align="center" cellspacing="0">
<tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><a href="http://www.activetravelvietnam.com/tour.php?op=detail&tourId=58" target="_blank"><img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-hWtAq2fORac/UgmgMJGP3PI/AAAAAAAAEIc/Td5-t4WQrPs/s400/IMG_1450+copy.jpg" border="0" height="266" width="400"/></a></span></td>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small; text-align: justify;"><a href="http://www.activetravelvietnam.com/tour.php?op=detail&tourId=58" target="_blank">Trekking Sapa, Northern Vietnam</a></span></td>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">Trekking, we started the morning meeting our Hmong guide, a young lady by the name of Xo. After the introductions our motorbikes arrived and we jumped on and started our day’s tour. We weaved high up into the mountains on this chilly wet morning, the wind in our hair, cascading waterfalls in the distance and a happy wife, I felt raw adventure pumping through my veins. This was what I wanted, no mass tours or well trodden paths, a real off the beaten experience. After 20mins we arrived into the mighty Tram Ton Pass, also known as Heavens Gate. Unfortunately though, heaven had blanketed the whole area with fog to keep the secret from us. So after a disappointing start we headed back down the pass to the Silver Waterfalls. With recent rains the waterfalls were flowing at full strength whilst falling from an incredible height. Getting a few romantic photographs in our wet weather gear, Nic then wandered off to find a bathroom – she would come back a changed women, never able to bring the strength to talk about her experience with the toilet, she has since developed a nervous twitch in her left eye when approaching an Asian bathroom.<br/> <br/><table class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;" align="center" cellspacing="0">
<tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><a href="http://www.activetravelvietnam.com/tour.php?op=detail&tourId=58" target="_blank"><img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_eRx4PDH46k/UgmhMJ13-VI/AAAAAAAAEIo/NXN9OiubUbQ/s400/duluontule10-1376302774_500x0+copy.jpg" border="0" height="247" width="400"/></a></span></td>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.activetravelvietnam.com/tour.php?op=detail&tourId=58" target="_blank">Sapa</a></td>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">After the Silver Waterfalls we headed to the starting point of our hike – the local rubbish tip! Arriving here I was a little shocked, this wasn’t exactly the perfect picturesque start I thought of, the second thought was we were about to be murdered and our dead bodies dumped here. We jumped off our bikes and watched our riders ride off in the distance. We then watched our guide simply walk to the edge of the ridge we were on and simply disappear down a very steep track leading down a rivine – game on! The first part of our trek was 2 hours straight down the side of the ridge. The track was slippery, muddy, incredibly steep and full of leaches. Climbing through prickly plants, over logs and fending of giant lost in time mosquitoes. As we hiked Xo explained the various plant varieties and what the Hmong traditionally used them for; from medicinal reasons to cooking. It was an amazing ecotourism experience. When the first leach of the day took hold of Xo’s ankle she gave a mighty squeal, even the strongest people have their weakness. This wouldn’t be last of the little blood suckers. We passed slowly down the mountainside, passing buffalo, livestock and local village children playing or working. At one point we came across six kids just sitting on buffalo and herding cows. At which point I turned to Xo and asked one of the dumbest questions I have ever asked anyone in my life – “What’s the difference between a cow and a buffalo?” She gave me a look of are you kidding me and Niki adding to it “Peter, are you serious? Can’t you tell?” Xo simply said whilst laughing, “Horns”. Hmmm that wasn’t the best impression I could give her of Australians.</div>
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<div style="text-align: justify;"><table class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;" align="center" cellspacing="0">
<tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><a href="http://www.activetravelvietnam.com/tour.php?op=detail&tourId=58" target="_blank"><img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-3UN_spOaUjA/Ugmhcq8rF0I/AAAAAAAAEIw/Rd2fPR5ab7g/s400/phong+pix+002+copy.jpg" border="0" height="300" width="400"/></a></span></td>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.activetravelvietnam.com/tour.php?op=detail&tourId=58" target="_blank">H'mong Women and Sapa Buffalo </a></td>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">We stopped at a small waterfall for lunch at the bottom of the mountain. Niki was showing tiredness from the hard walk, however was still full of optimism. After we finished, Xo pointed to a long winding road up the side of a tall mountain in the distance, this was where we were heading. Niki gulped and then made the most fatal mistake of any trekker, she asked how much longer? When Xo responded “about 4 hours, with 3 hours going continually up “, I saw her optimism fall, it wasn’t til about 3 minutes later when she realised that she couldn’t turn back that I saw the last bit of hope leave her body. She was in it for the long haul and there was no going back, no matter how hard she tried to escape from the inevidable climb ahead. I could see in her eyes, this wasn’t want she expected when she said “I want an easy walk”. I could see in eyes that she was going to find away to blame me for this.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;"><br/><table class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;" align="center" cellspacing="0">
<tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><a href="http://www.activetravelvietnam.com/tour.php?op=detail&tourId=58" target="_blank"><img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-endrnvvDLM4/Ugmi-icNWmI/AAAAAAAAEJI/GqCaEPUKmtI/s400/Red+Dzao+-+Sapa+copy.jpg" border="0" height="300" width="400"/></a></span></td>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.activetravelvietnam.com/tour.php?op=detail&tourId=58" target="_blank">Red Dzao- Sapa</a></td>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">The next three hours was a gruelling climb following ridge after ridge after ridge. We passed the most amazing views of wide deep valleys, with dotted corn crops and chiseled rice paddies. We hiked through small villages with basic infrastructure and charming people. It felt like spring, with baby pigs, puppies, calves and chickens everywhere. The piglets were easily our favourite. Half way through our trip we came across a stranded calf calling for its mother, however she was no where to be seen. It was saddening to know this calf would die if help didn’t arrive. About 10 minutes down the track we came across an incredible site, a child on a buffalo calling to the calf and getting a response. The small boy was communicating with his animals, it was a touching moment. After 2 hours and intense sun, Niki finally hit her wall. She sat down on her rock and rested. On the edge of her physical limits, it was all down to her will to go on. She had asked earlier on the day “who would help me if I hurt myself?” the response “no help, don’t hurt yourself”. My beloved wife knew she had to keep going, so after a random piece of cucumber for energy, she got back up and kept on trotting.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="text-align: left;"></div>
<table class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;" cellspacing="0">
<tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><a href="http://www.activetravelvietnam.com/tour.php?op=detail&tourId=58" target="_blank"><img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-GKKoDsigKB4/UgmkZYVnOzI/AAAAAAAAEJY/oLDdfnM5lFA/s400/Sapa+terrace+field+9+copy.jpg" border="0" height="400" width="255"/></a></span></td>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.activetravelvietnam.com/tour.php?op=detail&tourId=58" target="_blank">Sapa Terraced Field</a></td>
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Rule No. 5 of being married – Don’t take your wife on a 28km hike for your honeymoon, its not considered romantic.</div>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">We finally climbed down the final ridge into the village of Ta Phin. Not before passing through an area that Xo said “move quickly I smell snake”, there was no need to tell me twice. We arrived in this quaint village destroyed, sore and limping as if we had just done a 14 day trek. Ta Phin was stunning! We passed other tourist who had arrived by car into the village, they gave us one of two looks; the first one of ultimate awe that we had hiked this far or secondly, why would you do that you sadistic people? On arrival into a small Dzao home, a relaxing warm medicinal bath was waiting for us in barrels. The saviour for our aching muscles. After the cool down, we jumped back on our bikes and headed back to Sapa. Our hostel manager was eagerly waiting out front for our return, I was ready to explain to him the difference of an easy hike and a bloody hard hike, instead Nic and I both got off our bikes and told him that was one of the best hikes we had ever done. His response “That’s great, I can now sell it to other travellers. Your the first tourists to do that trek since it was reopened, it’s been closed for a long time due to dangerous political issues”. With that, we thanked Xo for her excellent guiding, shook our heads at our manager, then went and downed a large local beer.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;"><i>Source: Travel Project</i><br/> <i><br/></i></div>
<p><b><i>Recommend Trekking tour in Northern Vietnam by ACTIVETRAVEL ASIA:</i></b><br/> <b><i><a href="http://www.activetravelvietnam.com/tour.php?op=detail&tourId=58" target="_blank">Conquer Mount Fansipan - Heaven Gate Route</a></i></b><br/> <b><i><br/></i></b> <b>Highlights</b> :<br/></p>
<ul>
<li>Awesome scenery</li>
<li>Great view from the summit</li>
<li>Challenging trails</li>
<li>Fully supported</li>
</ul>Nearly 5.3 million tourist arrivals to Quang Ninh in seven monthstag:frugalnomads.ning.com,2013-08-14:3169359:BlogPost:5344122013-08-14T09:13:37.000ZActive Travel Asiahttps://frugalnomads.ning.com/profile/ActiveTravelAsia
<p style="text-align: left;">Nearly 5.3 million tourist arrivals to Quang Ninh in seven months<a href="http://news.activetravelvietnam.com/2013/08/ha-long-bay-ranks-6th-among-top-10.html" target="_blank"><img class="align-left" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-luM98Bu3DpA/Uf8qB41YdeI/AAAAAAAAEGk/ERn433MPZUg/s400/Tau+Halong.jpg?width=200" width="200"></img></a> <br></br> <br></br> Quang Ninh welcomed nearly 5.3 million tourists in the first seven months this year, a year-on-year rise of 12 percent and 70.3 percent of the year’s plan.<br></br> <br></br> Of these, foreign arrivals reached more than 1.4 million, 55.2 percent of the year’s plan, and…</p>
<p style="text-align: left;">Nearly 5.3 million tourist arrivals to Quang Ninh in seven months<a target="_blank" href="http://news.activetravelvietnam.com/2013/08/ha-long-bay-ranks-6th-among-top-10.html"><img class="align-left" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-luM98Bu3DpA/Uf8qB41YdeI/AAAAAAAAEGk/ERn433MPZUg/s400/Tau+Halong.jpg?width=200" width="200"/></a><br/> <br/> Quang Ninh welcomed nearly 5.3 million tourists in the first seven months this year, a year-on-year rise of 12 percent and 70.3 percent of the year’s plan.<br/> <br/> Of these, foreign arrivals reached more than 1.4 million, 55.2 percent of the year’s plan, and tourists staying overnight numbered over 2.3 million, 78.3 percent of the year’s plan and a year-on-year increase of 19 percent.<br/> <br/> In July alone, the province greeted more than 529,000 tourist arrivals. Total tourism revenue this month reached an estimated VND359 billion, raising the figure during the Jan-July period to over VND2.93 trillion, 56.2 percent of the year’s plan and up 12 percent of the same period last year.<br/> <br/> Aiming to attract tourists to Quang Ninh, the province will continue to improve service quality, promote tourism and conduct tourism stimulus programmes. In addition, the provincial tourism sector will carry out policies to attract domestic and foreign investors in high-quality service projects, prioritise investment in tourism areas and research the development of new tourist products.<br/> <br/> (Source: CPV)</p>
<p></p>Touring Vietnam by Motorcyletag:frugalnomads.ning.com,2013-07-25:3169359:BlogPost:5309682013-07-25T15:00:00.000ZActive Travel Asiahttps://frugalnomads.ning.com/profile/ActiveTravelAsia
<div><i>by Elise</i></div>
<div><br></br> Of the two months we spent in Vietnam a good portion of that was riding every day. We booked a Motorbiking the Ho Chi Minh Trail tour from <a href="http://www.activetravelvietnam.com/tour.php?op=detail&tourId=33" target="_blank">Activetravel Asia</a>. Our tour is about 3500km from Hanoi to Saigon (much to the horror of our parents!). We took our time, made many small stops in towns as well as major cities and really got a feel for…</div>
<div><i>by Elise</i></div>
<div><br/> Of the two months we spent in Vietnam a good portion of that was riding every day. We booked a Motorbiking the Ho Chi Minh Trail tour from <a href="http://www.activetravelvietnam.com/tour.php?op=detail&tourId=33" target="_blank">Activetravel Asia</a>. Our tour is about 3500km from Hanoi to Saigon (much to the horror of our parents!). We took our time, made many small stops in towns as well as major cities and really got a feel for Vietnam.</div>
<div><br/> Along the way we met so many travellers who were shocked, awed, surprised and inspired by what we were doing and many a times the question they all asked was ‘Is it safe?’ Every time without fail our answer was <b>‘Yes!</b>’.</div>
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<tbody><tr><td><span><a href="http://www.activetravelvietnam.com/tour.php?op=detail&tourId=33" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Hq6hIIWk_7M/Uei8OL6wyGI/AAAAAAAAD-s/Dg8JYhMLAg0/s640/motorbike+north+VN+ATA+2.jpg" width="640"/></a></span></td>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption"><a href="http://www.activetravelvietnam.com/tour.php?op=detail&tourId=33" target="_blank">Motorbike tour in Vietnam</a></td>
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<div>There were of course many things that made our trip more not only safe but more enjoyable. If you’re considering doing the same thing we did or even just hiring a bike for a few days, read these 6 tips below on how to make your trip as safe as possible.</div>
<div><b>1. Forget What Road Rules You Already Know</b></div>
<div><b> </b></div>
<div>Riding a motorbike in Vietnam (or any vehicle in South East Asia for that matter!) is very different to what you may be used back at home. The first thing you should know is that while road rules do exist, when on the road they cease to exist-if you get my drift! Forget trying to indicate, using your mirrors or going the speed limit-it just doesn’t happen. At first this may take some getting used to but after a while it works. So many times we would see Vietnamese on their Moto’s pulling out of a road onto a major highway without even looking! It’s just a given that everyone moves around them or out of their way. </div>
<div><br/> Now while I’m not saying you should never look when pulling out (a lot of things you’ll still do instinctively) but rather you need to flex your rules to how the Vietnamese do things. For example, while Anthony was riding, if we needed to cross lanes, merge, turn or even slow down I would just stick my hand out (either left or right depending which way) and give it a little shake. Who needs indicators when you have a good old hand wiggle! The thing is, it worked. People knew where we were trying to go. It might seem a little awkward at first, trying to adapt but after a while their driving becomes second nature.</div>
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<div><b>2. Keep Up With The Flow Of Traffic</b></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption"><a href="http://www.activetravelvietnam.com/tour.php?op=detail&tourId=33" target="_blank">Check Your Speed</a></td>
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<div>This is probably one of the most important things you can do whilst on a bike. When you first get on, you make feel like you want to go slow (because it feels safer) but in all honesty, doing that will get you into an accident. In larger cities-because there are so many motorbikes-there is an ebb and flow to the traffic. Keeping up with this so called ‘pulse’ makes it easier to move on the road. If you’re travelling on major highways, always keep to the very edge of the road and try and go about 60km/h. It’s unlikely you’ll be able to go any faster and going slower is likely to cause more accidents.</div>
<div><b><br/> 3. Have Tea Breaks</b></div>
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<div>If you’re on the road for most of the day (we only ever tried to ride about 3-4 hours a day MAX), it is important to stop for tea breaks. Along both main and country roads there are countless teahouses that will offer you an ice-cold cup of ‘tra da’ (iced tea) for less than a dollar. Many of these places will also serve a soup or a rice dish too if you’re hungry. These stops are important so you can stretch your legs and have a bit of a break from riding, but they are also a great place to meet locals, have a chat with them and get a view into their daily life.</div>
<div><b><br/> 4. Get A Decent Road Map</b></div>
<div><b> </b></div>
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<tbody><tr><td><span><a href="http://www.activetravelvietnam.com/tour.php?op=detail&tourId=33" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-FnaT2-BcHKw/Uei9sqtm_vI/AAAAAAAAD-8/qDeSvVSxKkI/s320/Motorbike+HCM+trail+VN+_ATA+2.jpg" width="320"/></a></span></td>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption"><a href="http://www.activetravelvietnam.com/tour.php?op=detail&tourId=33" target="_blank">Checking the Next Destination</a></td>
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<div>Now while it may sound adventurous and rather ‘Bear Grylls’ of you to travel without a map, it is smarter idea to carry one with you on your trip. Not only can you decide where you want to ride to next, you can also pick and choose places a little more easily. We bought maps that were detailed, had how many km’s there was between towns and also had tourist sites for some places.</div>
<div><br/> Road signs are actually pretty good in Vietnam and many places/roads were labeled and corresponded to our map. On the off chance they didn’t, or we weren’t sure where we were going, we just pulled up somewhere and asked the locals for some help. We would show them the town on the map and then they would point us in the right direction. Everyone we met was willing and happy to help (so boys, don’t worry about asking for directions!) Not only will a map help keep you safe it is also great to keep check of everywhere you visited in Vietnam.</div>
<div><b><br/> 5. Take Back Roads</b></div>
<div><br/> When you can, take the back roads to your next stop. Not only will they allow you travel slower and be less crowded, but more often than not the sights are breathtaking and the people very friendly.</div>
<div>Running pretty much the entire length of the country is Highway 1. It’s busy, dusty and very fumy. However, to get to coastal towns, there are times when you’ll have to travel on this. Otherwise opt for the scenic and beautiful, Ho Chi Minh Trail. This road is very quiet, smooth and much more pleasant. Take your time and travel these smaller quieter roads, wherever possible.</div>
<div><b><br/> 6. Don’t Ride At Night For Long Periods</b></div>
<div><br/> Riding at night is ok if you’re just going out to eat or visit markets etc, but try not to travel at night on your bike. Many of the roads have no streetlights, so at night it is more difficult to see what may be ahead of you. There are many dogs, chickens, cows they are constantly on the road, so running into one of them on the road wouldn’t be pleasant or safe. Also, some Vietnamese don’t travel with their headlights on which makes them harder to see. The bottom line-don’t travel at night for a long period of time.</div>
<div><b><i> Now Enjoy The Freedom!</i></b></div>
<div class="separator"><a href="http://www.activetravelvietnam.com/tour.php?op=detail&tourId=33" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="372" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dOpokIfMrNI/Uei-HQbUChI/AAAAAAAAD_E/9J-Yir872e8/s640/motorbike+north+VN+ATA.jpg" width="640"/></a></div>
<div><br/> With these tips in mind, get out there are enjoy riding through Vietnam! You now have the freedom to go wherever and whenever you’d want. Stumbling upon little towns you never thought existed or meeting some of the friendliest people in the world, will surely be an amazing experience. It is hands down the highlight of my trip so far and I know Anthony feels the same. Hopefully you’ll enjoy it just as much as we did!</div>
<div><br/> Recommend an itinerary<a href="http://www.activetravelvietnam.com/tour.php?op=detail&tourId=33" target="_blank"> Motorbiking</a> the Ho Chi Minh Trail - Complete Challenge of <a href="http://www.activetravelvietnam.com/tour.php?op=detail&tourId=33" target="_blank">Activetravel Asia</a>.</div>
<div>Hanoi - Mai Chau - Vinh - Huong Khe - Phong Nha - Dong Hoi - Dong Ha - Khe Sanh - A Luoi - Hoi An - Da Nang - Phuoc Son - Kon Tum - Buon Ma Thuot - Dalat - Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City)</div>
<div>18-day trip with 11-day motorcycling</div>
<div>Motorcycling grading: Moderate to challenging</div>
<div><b><br/> Highlights </b></div>
<ul>
<li>Stunning scenery</li>
<li>Historical sites</li>
<li>Charming ancient trading town of Hoi An</li>
<li>Relaxing in Dalat</li>
<li>Encountering ethnic minorities</li>
<li>Just you, no others travelers</li>
</ul>
<p><span>Read more detail at: </span><a href="http://www.activetravelvietnam.com/tour.php?op=detail&tourId=33">http://www.activetravelvietnam.com/tour.php?op=detail&tourId=33<br/> <br/></a></p>
<p></p>A Day to Explore Bac Ha Market in Sapa, Vietnamtag:frugalnomads.ning.com,2013-07-18:3169359:BlogPost:5289872013-07-18T14:23:45.000ZActive Travel Asiahttps://frugalnomads.ning.com/profile/ActiveTravelAsia
<div><span>Visitors to <a href="http://www.activetravelvietnam.com/city/sapa.html" target="_blank">Sapa</a> should not miss Sapa's <a href="http://www.activetravelvietnam.com/city/sapa.html" target="_blank">Bac Ha market</a>, a famous highland market throughout the northwest region<br></br> <br></br> Along the way, visitors will see the high mountain, the terraced fields and encounter each ethnic group laughing gurglingly and leading horses to market to sell. To keep up with the market, they have to…</span></div>
<div><span>Visitors to <a href="http://www.activetravelvietnam.com/city/sapa.html" target="_blank">Sapa</a> should not miss Sapa's <a href="http://www.activetravelvietnam.com/city/sapa.html" target="_blank">Bac Ha market</a>, a famous highland market throughout the northwest region<br/> <br/> Along the way, visitors will see the high mountain, the terraced fields and encounter each ethnic group laughing gurglingly and leading horses to market to sell. To keep up with the market, they have to get up early. Some sellers have even started their journey to market the previous day.<br/> <br/></span></div>
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<tbody><tr><td><span><a href="http://www.activetravelvietnam.com/city/sapa.html" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="414" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-N_3xNhUEQjQ/Ud9331ymXmI/AAAAAAAAD6Y/duHxFi23Wig/s640/Bac+Ha+market+ATA.jpg" width="640"/></a></span></td>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption"><span><a href="http://www.activetravelvietnam.com/city/sapa.html" target="_blank"><span>Bac Ha market</span></a></span></td>
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<p><span><span><br/> Previously, <a href="http://www.activetravelvietnam.com/city/sapa.html" target="_blank">Bac Ha market</a> took place on a sloping hill, but then this market was built on a concrete floor and divided into sales area so it lost its original beauty.<br/> <br/> Bac Ha market sells all products of the highlands, the necessary items for the ethnic minorities such as plow, hoe, shovel, knife, fruits, honey.<br/> <br/> Booths selling jewelry, dresses, brocade and even attan baskets always attract many tourists. Here, you can optionally select brocaded products, dazzled with the brilliant colors of dresses of Hmong, Red Dzao.<br/> <br/></span></span></p>
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<tbody><tr><td><span><a href="http://www.activetravelvietnam.com/city/sapa.html" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="424" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pPPGFUc4n-Y/Ud94a8wgwUI/AAAAAAAAD6g/76hoeYmk0g8/s640/Bac+Ha+market+ATA+2.jpg" width="640"/></a></span></td>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption"><span><a href="http://www.activetravelvietnam.com/city/sapa.html" target="_blank"><span>Ethnic minority people in Sapa</span></a></span></td>
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<p><span><span><br/> Foreign tourists often like to admire the paintings that are hand-woven with vivid motifs, harmonious colors.<br/> <br/></span></span></p>
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<tbody><tr><td><span><a href="http://www.activetravelvietnam.com/city/sapa.html" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="424" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9N2wPgvfEoI/Ud95F53k45I/AAAAAAAAD6o/dy1Sc-Qs6oI/s640/Bac+Ha+market+ATA+3.jpg" width="640"/></a></span></td>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption"><span><a href="http://www.activetravelvietnam.com/city/sapa.html" target="_blank"><span>The booths of jewelry attract many tourists</span></a></span></td>
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<p><span><span>For men,<a href="http://www.activetravelvietnam.com/city/sapa.html" target="_blank"> Bac Ha market</a> is also a place where they can meet their friends and drink around the “thang co” pot (large pot).<br/> <br/> Tourists to Bac Ha are very interested in exploring the lives and customs of the locals.<br/> <br/></span></span></p>
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<tbody><tr><td><span><a href="http://www.activetravelvietnam.com/city/sapa.html" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="390" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-PCq6dc1r290/Ud95hMdnLlI/AAAAAAAAD6w/fnuKQ3qOONw/s640/Bac+Ha+market+ATA+4.jpg" width="640"/></a></span></td>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption"><a href="http://www.activetravelvietnam.com/city/sapa.html" target="_blank"><span>Tourist & local people</span></a></td>
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<p><span><span><br/> The ethnics usually bring baskets of vegetables, potatoes, maize or other crops to sell at Bac Ha market, as well as cows and pigs. The place selling horse always attracts men most, they come from remote villages, even those from the provinces of Bac Giang and Ha Tay, coming here to buy horse.<br/> <br/> In the trend of commercializing the highland markets, Bac Ha market is one of the rare places retaining ethnic identity, unique features of the old market.<br/> <br/></span></span> <span style="font-size: 13px;">At an elevation of 1,600 meters, Sapa is a delightful former French hill station situated in the mountainous region of Vietnam's northwest, close to the Chinese border. The region is home to many ethnic minority groups, each wearing traditional and colorful attire. This trip includes a trek through the hills and valleys of the Sapa region, discovering several different minorities along the way. You will experience overnight accommodation in the hospitable villages of Giay and Tay ethnic minorities. The apparent hardships are worth it though as we walk through some of the most spectacular scenery that Vietnam has to offer and experience unique villages culture.</span></p>
<div><span> </span></div>
<div><div><b>Highlights</b> include a<span style="font-size: 13px;">wesome scenery, r</span><span style="font-size: 13px;">ice terraces, c</span><span style="font-size: 13px;">olorful minority groups, and h</span><span style="font-size: 13px;">omestays in minority villages.</span></div>
<div><span>A <a href="http://www.activetravelvietnam.com/tour.php?op=detail&tourId=25" target="_blank">Sapa trekking</a> & homestay itinerary from ACTIVETRAVEL ASIA is a 4-day tour with 2-day trek and 2-night homestay. Hanoi - Lao Cai - Sapa - Hanoi.<br/> <br/></span></div>
</div>In Vietnam, Visiting the Villages of the Sapa and Other Ethnic Minoritiestag:frugalnomads.ning.com,2013-07-05:3169359:BlogPost:5229812013-07-05T20:30:02.000ZActive Travel Asiahttps://frugalnomads.ning.com/profile/ActiveTravelAsia
<div><i style="font-size: 13px;"><b> </b></i></div>
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<tbody><tr><td><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Vz0Ctqb3JmA/UdVCJLnBEsI/AAAAAAAAD0k/0h6cqdLKoeY/s500/trek+Sapa,+VN,+ATA+3.jpg" target="_blank"><img class="align-center" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Vz0Ctqb3JmA/UdVCJLnBEsI/AAAAAAAAD0k/0h6cqdLKoeY/s400/trek+Sapa,+VN,+ATA+3.jpg?width=400" width="400"></img></a></td>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption"><span class="font-size-1"><a href="http://www.activetravelvietnam.com/tour.php?op=detail&tourId=25" target="_blank">Visiting minority…</a></span></td>
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<div><i style="font-size: 13px;"><b> </b></i></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption"><span class="font-size-1"><a href="http://www.activetravelvietnam.com/tour.php?op=detail&tourId=25" target="_blank">Visiting minority villages</a></span></td>
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<div><br/> At an elevation of 1,600 meters, Sapa is a delightful former French hill station in the mountainous region of Vietnam's northwest, close to the Chinese border. The region is home to many ethnic minority groups, each with its own traditional and colorful attire. A visit here includes a trek through the hills and valleys of the Sapa region, discovering several different minorities along the way and staying overnight accommodation in the hospitable villages of the Giay and Tay ethnic minorities. The apparent hardships are worth it though as you walk through some of the most spectacular scenery that Vietnam has to offer and experience unique village culture.<br/> <br/> The following tips can make your experience both more enjoyable and considerate of the locals:<b><br/> <br/> Visit in Small Groups</b></div>
<div><br/> For many people, one of the highlights of travelling in <a href="http://www.activetravelvietnam.com/tour.php?op=detail&tourId=25" target="_blank">Sapa</a> is the experience of visiting minority villages.</div>
<div>If at all possible, it’s preferable to visit these villages as a part of a small group, ideally four people or less, as this causes least disruption and allows for greater communication. There is a whole debate about the ethics of cultural tourism and its negative impact on traditional ways of life. <span style="font-size: 13px;">Most villagers are genuinely welcoming and hospitable to foreigners, appreciating contact with Westerners and the material benefits which they bring.<br/> <br/></span></div>
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<tbody><tr><td><span><a href="http://www.activetravelvietnam.com/tour.php?op=detail&tourId=25" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ArhZaJ3aEhQ/UdVCzDZ0Q_I/AAAAAAAAD0s/bD-04xNHJ5w/s400/trek+Sapa,+VN,+ATA+4.jpg" width="400"/></a></span></td>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption"><span class="font-size-1"><a href="http://www.activetravelvietnam.com/tour.php?op=detail&tourId=25" target="_blank">Dress modestly, in long trousers</a></span></td>
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<div><div><b><br/> Remember You are a Guest</b></div>
<div><br/> Behavior that we take for granted may cause offence to some ethnic minority people; remember you are a guest. Apart from being sensitive to the situation and keeping an open mind, be courteous and follow the following simple guidelines<br/> <br/> - D<span>ress modestly, in long trousers or skirt and T-shirt or shirt.</span></div>
<b><br/> -</b> When taking photographs, b<span style="font-size: 13px;">e sensitive to people’s wishes when taking photographs, particularly of older</span></div>
<div><span style="font-size: 13px;"> people who may be suspicious of cameras; always ask permission first.</span></div>
<div><b><br/> -</b> <span style="font-size: 13px;">Only go inside a house when invited, and remove your shoes before entering.</span></div>
<div><b><br/> -</b> <span style="font-size: 13px;">Small gifts, such as fresh fruit from the local market, are always welcome. However, there is a view that</span></div>
<div><span style="font-size: 13px;"> even this can foster begging, and that you should only ever give in return for some service or as a sign of</span></div>
<div><span style="font-size: 13px;"> appreciation for hospitality. A compromise is to buy craftwork produced by the villagers - most communities</span></div>
<div><span style="font-size: 13px;"> should have some embroidery, textiles or basketry for sale.</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption"><span class="font-size-1"><a href="http://www.activetravelvietnam.com/tour.php?op=detail&tourId=25" target="_blank">Trekking through villages</a></span></td>
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<div><b><br/> -</b> <span style="font-size: 13px;">As a mark of respect, learn the local term of address, either in dialect or at least in Vietnamese, such as</span></div>
<div><span style="font-size: 13px;"> <em>chao ong</em> and <em>chao ba</em>.</span></div>
<div><b> - </b><span style="font-size: 13px;">Try to minimize your impact on the often fragile local environment; take litter back to the towns and be</span></div>
<div><span style="font-size: 13px;"> sensitive to the use of wood and other scarce resources.</span></div>
<div><b> - </b><span style="font-size: 13px;">Growing and using opium is illegal in Vietnam and is punished with a fine or prison sentence; do not</span></div>
<div><span style="font-size: 13px;"> encourage its production by buying or smoking opium.</span></div>
<div><b>Trekking Practicalities</b></div>
<div><br/> Foreigners are now permitted to stay in minority villages, which has opened up the possibility of trekking and created a small industry focused on Sapa.You can arrange a tailored individual programme through a tour agent; it is important to ask for a guide with a good level of English who is familiar with the villages and the minorities’ culture traditions.<br/></div>
<div>Note that it’s not a good ideal to turn up at a minority’s village and expect to find accommodation; you host may find themselves in trouble with the authorities and there’s also a growing problem of petty crime, particularly around Sapa. Far better to make arrangements beforehand with someone who know the current situation. If you go with local guide, you are also less likely to cause offence and will probably have a more interesting time.<br/></div>
<div><b>Clothing For Hiking in the Mountains</b></div>
<div><br/> It is very important to ear the right clothing when walking in these mountains; strong boots with ankle support are the best footwear, though you can get away with training shoes in the dry season. Choose thin, loose clothing - long trousers offer some protection from thorns and leeches; wear a hat and sun block; take plenty of water; rain coats and carry a basic medical kit.</div>
<div>If you plan on spending the night in a village you will need warm clothing as temperatures can drop to around freezing, and you may want to take a sleeping bag, mosquito net and food, though may be provided on organized tours.</div>
<div><b><br/> Carrying a Stick When Trekking</b></div>
<div><br/> Finally, dogs can be a problem when entering minority villages, so it is a good ideal to carry a strong stick when trekking, and always be watchful for the poisonous snakes that are common in this area.</div>
<div><em>We offer a <a href="http://www.activetravelvietnam.com/tour.php?op=detail&tourId=25" target="_blank">Sapa Trekking</a> & Homestay itinerary from ACTIVETRAVEL ASIA: 4-day tour with 2-day trek and 2-night homestay. <span style="font-size: 13px;">Read more for detail: </span><a href="http://www.activetravelvietnam.com/tour.php?op=detail&tourId=25" style="font-size: 13px;">http://www.activetravelvietnam.com/tour.php?op=detail&tourId=25</a></em></div>Luang Prabang Trekking - The Great Outdoor Side of Laos' Ancient Citytag:frugalnomads.ning.com,2013-06-29:3169359:BlogPost:5133902013-06-29T14:07:17.000ZActive Travel Asiahttps://frugalnomads.ning.com/profile/ActiveTravelAsia
<div><i>by Barry<br></br> <br></br></i></div>
<div>Northern Laos is famous for its natural beauty: rolling green hills and mountains interspersed with rice fields and countless water buffalo. From the moment we arrived in South East Asia, a <a href="http://www.activetravellaos.com/tour.php?op=detail&tourId=58" target="_blank">trekking adventure</a> through the countryside and staying with a local tribe family was top of our list of things to do. Once we arrived in Luang Prabang, we knew this was…</div>
<div><i>by Barry<br/> <br/></i></div>
<div>Northern Laos is famous for its natural beauty: rolling green hills and mountains interspersed with rice fields and countless water buffalo. From the moment we arrived in South East Asia, a <a href="http://www.activetravellaos.com/tour.php?op=detail&tourId=58" target="_blank">trekking adventure</a> through the countryside and staying with a local tribe family was top of our list of things to do. Once we arrived in Luang Prabang, we knew this was the place to do it.<br/></div>
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<tbody><tr><td><span><a href="http://www.activetravellaos.com/tour.php?op=listByCategoryId&catId=9" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="428" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-UKVsxIWDUOU/UcLZ64LQ2QI/AAAAAAAADg8/pUCC_WSG308/s640/trek+Luang+Prabang,+ATA.jpg" width="640"/></a></span></td>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption"><a href="http://www.activetravellaos.com/tour.php?op=listByCategoryId&catId=9" target="_blank">Luang prabang, Laos</a></td>
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<div><br/> Luang Prabang sits at the intersection of two mighty rivers: the Mekong (which we sailed down for two days) and the Khan, providing the lifeblood to this quaint, french colonial town. Luang Prabang also nestles itself within a range of lush green hills and mountains, surrounding the town and its twin rivers.</div>
<div><br/> We had heard that there were villages and tribes in the mountains surrounding Luang Prabang, and we decided on a two day trek with an overnight stay with a local Khumu family. What followed were two of the hottest and sweatiest days we have experienced yet, with hours of ascending (and then descending) a mountain, fighting off wild horses and pot bellied pigs, and seeing some of the most incredible views of Northern Laos. The highlight of our trip so far was about to begin.<br/></div>
<div><b><a href="http://www.activetravellaos.com/tour.php?op=detail&tourId=58" target="_blank">Luang Prabang Trekking</a> & Homestay</b></div>
<div><br/> After a hearty breakfast of banana pancake and fresh fruit, we packed a day bag loaded with high factor sunscreen & mosquito repellent and set off on our adventure. As it later transpired, we had our own personal guide ‘Cha’. We jumped into a boat, and sped up the river towards the beginning of our trek.<br/></div>
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<div><br/> The first part of the trek took us through pristine rice fields, where we spoke with local farmers as they harvested their crop. It was one of those jaw dropping moments, hundreds of rice paddies melting away into the distance as rolling hills and mountains filled the skyline. We stood and marvelled for only a few minutes, but we’ll never forget it. It was one of the best moments of our trip so far.<br/></div>
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<div><br/> After an hour or so we stopped at the first of three villages on our trek. It was a small village of 10 families, but with the school holidays in full swing, we were excitedly greeted by shouts of ‘falang falang’ by many curious children. They were far more curious of us than we were of them, and followed us round for the short time we were there. We were sad to leave them, even after a brief stay! <br/></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption"><a href="http://www.activetravellaos.com/tour.php?op=detail&tourId=58" target="_blank">Children in Luang Prabang</a></td>
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<div><br/> The village was of basic construction as you may expect, but it had a calm and serene feeling as villagers went about their daily lives of planting and harvesting the rice crops. </div>
<div><br/> After leaving our new friends behind, we walked for an hour through more rice paddies and jungle, arriving at another small village of 4 families and a beautiful lake for lunch. Afterwards, we would begin the assault on our Everest. </div>
<div>And so came our attack on the summit. The backpack was tightened. All talking ceased, the fun was over for now. Upwards we went, sometimes quite literally as we clambered over boulders, under fallen trees and along precipices and ravines. Three hours later after the darkness of the jungle, we started to see the sun again, the vegetation began to clear, we reached the top and had our reward. <br/></div>
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<div><br/> We stood in awe at the miles of rolling green mountains and ravines. We would have sat and marvelled but the track we were walking along wasn’t wide enough even to perch on. After a few fleeting moments, our time to descend came. We were already tired from the ascent, but what followed was a further two hours of gruelling trekking, descending and ascending in blistering heat. On came the factor 50 cream, hats and long sleeves top to protect us from the intense sun. That day the thermostat peaked at 40 degrees, it was hot.<br/></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption"><a href="http://www.activetravellaos.com/tour.php?op=detail&tourId=58" target="_blank">Trekking Luang Prabang</a></td>
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<div><br/> Two hours later we completed our descent, we’d made it! Our guide told us the village was on the other side of a field. In the UK that means perhaps 10 minutes or so across a well cultivated field. In Laos, it roughly translates as ‘an hour through 10 foot high jungle with only the faintest hints of a track to follow’. </div>
<div><br/> At this point the sweat was running down our faces and backs, reeds and plants were constantly hitting us in the face, arms and legs and we were almost out of water. We assume this was the point where Laura accumulated over 20 mosquito and bug bites on her legs (lesson learned to wear trousers next time!).</div>
<div>And then finally, a clearing, and civilisation. We could hear children playing in the distance, and as we got closer hear cries of falang falang drifted on the breeze. We had made it, and boy were we glad. </div>
<div><br/> We were staying with a Khumu tribe for the evening. The village itself was home to about 400 people, and we were again blown away by it. Bamboo huts on stilts, dried dirt throughout the village, and an assortment of hens, chickens and pigs wandered around as the villagers went about their daily business.</div>
<div><br/> The local families welcomed us with a nod and smile, with the children in particular intrigued by our pasty white skin and long noses (their words not ours!). Our mother for the evening made our dinner, and as usual with our experiences of homestays, she cooked up some of the best food we’ve had in Asia: Pumpkin soup, followed by cabbage and spinach stew and sticky rice. Delicious; we wolfed it down after our arduous journey. </div>
<div><br/> Over the two days we visited three villages, all of which seemed authentic despite our concerns of over tourism. We saw no tourists on our trek and homestays, no one tried to sell us anything whilst there, and aside from children running around us shouting ‘Falang’! Falang’! (their term for tourist), we were left to our own devices. </div>
<div><br/> Almost all of the villagers were universal in their greeting to us…a smile and a ‘sabaidee’. Our impression was they didn’t mind us coming to stay for a night, and seemed more curious, intrigued and slightly amused by us. The village also receive a donation for our stay, ensuring they are compensated for our experience. </div>
<div><br/> We booked through <a href="http://www.activetravellaos.com/tour.php?op=detail&tourId=58" target="_blank">ACTIVETRAVEL ASIA(ATA)</a>, who offers a wide selection of <a href="http://www.activetravellaos.com/tour.php?op=detail&tourId=58" target="_blank">Laos adventure tours</a>, including hiking and trekking, kayaking, biking, motorcycling, overland touring and family travel packages. ATA’s packages and custom itineraries will take you through exotic destinations to really experience the culture, history and nature of Laos. Outdoor enthusiasts will enjoy an unforgettable active vacation. And we’d happily recommend them!</div>Vietnam Caving & Home Stay_Unforgetable experiencetag:frugalnomads.ning.com,2013-06-27:3169359:BlogPost:5171362013-06-27T07:41:02.000ZActive Travel Asiahttps://frugalnomads.ning.com/profile/ActiveTravelAsia
<div><b>R<i>eviewed by Pretty-Rough-Ranch, Eustace, Texas on Trip Advisor</i></b><br></br><br></br>I worked online with Miss Candy at ActiveTravel Asia to create a 3 day tour in the middle of our month long trip to Laos and Vietnam in January, 2013. From my first contact to managing changes occurring during the last moments of our tour, Miss Candy was quick, competent, professional and truly intent on making us happy. She did. Our <a href="http://www.activetravel.asia/" target="_blank">ATA…</a></div>
<div><b>R<i>eviewed by Pretty-Rough-Ranch, Eustace, Texas on Trip Advisor</i></b><br/><br/>I worked online with Miss Candy at ActiveTravel Asia to create a 3 day tour in the middle of our month long trip to Laos and Vietnam in January, 2013. From my first contact to managing changes occurring during the last moments of our tour, Miss Candy was quick, competent, professional and truly intent on making us happy. She did. Our <a href="http://www.activetravel.asia/" target="_blank">ATA Vietnam</a> caving/home stay tour was absolutely fabulous.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption"><a href="http://www.activetravelvietnam.com/tour.php?op=detail&tourId=71" target="_blank">Son Doong Cave</a></td>
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<p><br/><span>My husband and I were scheduled to do the Son Doong cave tour. However, the day before we were scheduled to go on the jungle trek to the cave, the rivers flooded, became impassible and our planned trip was washed away. Not a problem! Within a couple of hours, Miss Candy had 3 new alternative plans for us - one including a refund which I am so glad we did not choose.</span></p>
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<p><br/><span>We chose the trip that included a driver, English speaking guide, river boat trip, visit to </span><a href="http://www.activetravelvietnam.com/tour.php?op=detail&tourId=73" target="_blank">En Cave</a><span>, a 2-night Chap Lay homestay and a 7 kilometer hike into Paradise Cave, the longest dry cave in the world.</span><br/><br/><span>ABOUT MISS CANDY - Use her to plan your trip. Trust her. ABOUT </span><a href="http://www.activetravel.asia/" target="_blank">ATA </a><span>- Clearly a very well-connected company, just what you want when unexpected events occur. Trust them. It will work out.</span><br/><br/><span>ABOUT THE CHAP LAY HOMESTAY - We stayed in a guest house behind our host's home in the middle of a field outside a small Vietnamese village. We had a private toilet and shower, no hot water, slightly uncomfortable in January but would not be a problem at any other time of the year. The hostess and daughter-in-law cooked our meals (8-10 delicious food choices) over an open fire in a thatched roof kitchen and they let me watch and help. Even though we didn't speak the same language, we 3 women were still able to communicate and share the important details of our lives.</span><br/><br/><span>The men, through the interpreter, sat on the porch and talked. During the meals, when we were all together, our hosts were warm, open and gracious enough to answer all of our questions.</span><br/><span>The Chap Lay setting was beautiful and peaceful. Watching the children and farmers and water buffalo at work was remarkable.</span><br/><br/></p>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption"><a href="http://www.activetravelvietnam.com/tour.php?op=detail&tourId=73" target="_blank">Paradise cave, Vietnam</a></td>
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<p><br/><span>ABOUT PARADISE CAVE - The hiking group included my husband and I, one couple from Japan, our English speaking guide and 2 porters. The 9am to 3pm trek took us through tiny spaces to gigantic cathedral-sized caverns. Using only headlamps, I think we saw and touched every type of cave formation possible. Words are inadequate to describe the awesome beauty of this cave tour. It was a stunning experience, one that I will never, ever forget.</span><br/><br/><span>ABOUT THE DRIVER AND GUIDE - They were at our service. If we said, "go over there", they went over there. If we said, "we would rather do this than do that", we did. Our wishes took priority over the ATA schedule, which is just how a private tour should be. Our interpreter was great. During conversations with others, his personality was completely in the background. But when asked for his thoughts and while explaining the history, he was charming and knowledgeable.</span><br/><br/><span>SUMMARY - My husband and I dislike group tours and wouldn't do one, but we also are well-travelled enough to know when to hire the experts who can make our trip a 5-Star event. </span><a href="http://www.activetravelvietnam.com/tour.php?op=detail&tourId=73" target="_blank">Active Travel Asia</a><span> were the experts we needed in Vietnam. I would highly recommend them.</span><br/><br/><span>ATA would like to inform that Son Doong Cave has been temporarily closed to public. The cave might be reopened by the end of this year. For now, for those who are seeking for an amazing caving experience in Phong Nha National Park we would like to recommend another option of 2 days trekking, caving and camping to En Cave.</span><br/><br/><span>New experience of adventure_</span><a href="http://www.activetravelvietnam.com/tour.php?op=detail&tourId=73" target="_blank">En Cave </a><span>& Phong Nha National Park Discovery</span><br/><br/><span>Dong Hoi Town – Phong Nha National Park – Dong Hoi Town</span><br/><span>2 days trek & camping</span><br/><span>Trekking grade: Moderate to Challenging</span><br/><br/><span>Hang Én (Swallow Cave) in Phong Nha Caves in Quang Binh province in central. However, it’s paradoxical that few visitors know the site. The Swallow Cave is 1.645 m long and has three mouths. One is halfway up a mountain and two others are located on another mountain which has its foot on the south-east and north-west alongside Rao Thuong Stream. All of these make the cave different from other well-known caves in the country.</span></p>5 Tips for Planning a Southeast Asia Motorbike Tourtag:frugalnomads.ning.com,2013-06-22:3169359:BlogPost:5040922013-06-22T17:22:07.000ZActive Travel Asiahttps://frugalnomads.ning.com/profile/ActiveTravelAsia
<div><b><i>Many adventure travelers says there’s no better way to see a country than getting on a motorcycle and going on a<a href="http://www.activetravel.asia/ata_adventure/motorbiking/"> tour</a>.…</i></b></div>
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<div><b><i>Many adventure travelers says there’s no better way to see a country than getting on a motorcycle and going on a<a href="http://www.activetravel.asia/ata_adventure/motorbiking/"> tour</a>.</i></b></div>
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<div>There is a silence on a motorcycle, even amid the low rumble of the engine. The wind on your face and the new smells. A leisurely pace through the countryside and the ability to stop when the impulse strikes and see things on your own terms.<br/></div>
<div>Driving conditions can be dangerous in many South East Asian countries, so there is certainly some risk involved, but traffic is much slower once you get out of the cities (although you do need to still watch for people passing carelessly on blind corners in your direction). At any rate, I personally find the rewards worth the risks; though, you’ll have to make your own decision in this department.<br/></div>
<div>Whether in <a href="http://www.activetravel.asia/ata_adventure/motorbiking/" target="_blank">Vietnam</a> or Laos, <a href="http://www.activetravelcambodia.com/tour.php?op=detail&tourId=66" target="_blank">Cambodia</a>…or anywhere else in the world, for that matter, getting on a bike opens up a whole new world of possibilities. Here are some trips for planning your own biking tour. <br/></div>
<div><b>1. Make sure you’re legit</b></div>
<div>Before you plan your trip, find out about the laws in that country. You might need to get a license for the specific country you’re in, or you may be able to get a permit for your stay. In other cases, the occasional fine paid to a policeman who stops you is enough.</div>
<div><b><br/> 2. Know how to ride</b></div>
<div>If you’ve never ridden a motorcycle before, take a safety course in your home country before you go, as standards are usually higher. Even seasoned riders learn a lot that is counter-intuitive when they take a rider safety training class. You’ll still need some actual riding experience, but if you start off your journey slow and give yourself some time to adjust, you’ll learn as you go and come out the other end a seasoned rider.</div>
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<div><b><br/> 3. Plan your trip</b></div>
<div>Planning a trip is usually not too difficult as you will be hard pressed to find a place where people have not gone before you. Get on the Internet and start your Googling. Think about the destinations you definitely want to see, and feel free to mix and match them a little bit to come up with a route that appeals to you.</div>
<div>You might want to do a loop so you can bring the motorcycle back to the place you rented from and fly out of the same city, but if not, you might be able to ship it across the country for a fair price. Do your research on shipping costs ahead of time or speak to the people at the shop to see if they have options for you (keeping in mind that some may not want to rent to you when they find out how far you’re going).</div>
<div><b><br/> 4. Rent a bike</b></div>
<div>The Internet is your friend once again because renting from just any shop you see is a good way to overpay, get a shitty bike, and possibly get ripped off in the process. So, find out which bike shops in your departure city are reputable, and then check out the bike thoroughly before signing anything. Make sure gears shift smoothly, test all the breaks, and experiment with all lights as well. Take note of all the big dents or scratches and include them on the contract so you have both confirmed which ones were already there.</div>
<div>Also, never leave your passport with the bike shop! If they won’t take a cash deposit and a copy of the passport, go somewhere else.</div>
<div><b><br/> 5. Take your time</b></div>
<div>Once you’re on your road tour, take your time. The more open your schedule, the more you get out of the experience. You can take detours on small one-land roads and cruise off through endless rice paddies or stay in a charming mountain town for a week or two—this is what motorcycle touring is really all about.</div>
<div>Just make sure you stay current on your visas, and if you have to hop on a visa run or stop by the embassy in a bigger city you pass through on the way, so be it.</div>
<div><br/> Whoever said traveling was more about the journey than the destination was surely referring to motorbike tours; there is nothing like the pace of a bike down country roads on the other side of the world. The vivid jungle colors, the sunsets as you drive along lost tropical coasts, and the simple things you see along the way that you surely would have missed on a tourist bus.</div>
<div><br/> And indeed, the destination is so much sweeter when you get there for all you’ve put into earning its rewards.</div>
<div>Dreaming of a South East Asian escape? Are you looking for that great motorcycle tour holiday in an exotic south-east Asian country? Take a look through all our trips to find the one that blows your hair back. Look no further, you've found the right spot. This is where it's at for a brilliant motorcycle touring holiday in Asia with Activetravel Asia at: <a href="http://www.activetravelcambodia.com/tour.php?op=detail&tourId=66">http://www.activetravelcambodia.com/tour.php?op=detail&tourId=66</a></div>
<div><br/> <em>About Activetravel Asia(ATA): ATA is one of the Indochina's leading adventure travel companies. ATA offers a wide selection of Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia and Myanmar adventure tours, including hiking and trekking, biking, motorcycling, overland touring and family travel packages. ATA’s packages and tailor-made private itineraries will take you through exotic destinations to really experience the culture, history and nature of Asia.</em></div>
<div><br/> <em>Got any tips of your own? Leave them in the comments section below.</em></div>Kayaking Travel Great Tonlé Sap Lake – An Unforgettable Experience in Cambodiatag:frugalnomads.ning.com,2013-06-20:3169359:BlogPost:5128282013-06-20T04:00:00.000ZActive Travel Asiahttps://frugalnomads.ning.com/profile/ActiveTravelAsia
<div>Siem Reap isn’t known for its water sports, but one enterprising local has now made it possible to kayak down the more undiscovered parts of Tonlé Sap lake.<br></br><br></br></div>
<div>The Tonle Sap Lake (otherwise known as the Great Lake) is a combined lake and river system in Cambodia. It is the largest fresh water lake in Southeast Asia and the richest fishing lake in the World.…</div>
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<div>Siem Reap isn’t known for its water sports, but one enterprising local has now made it possible to kayak down the more undiscovered parts of Tonlé Sap lake.<br/><br/></div>
<div>The Tonle Sap Lake (otherwise known as the Great Lake) is a combined lake and river system in Cambodia. It is the largest fresh water lake in Southeast Asia and the richest fishing lake in the World.</div>
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<div>We would like to invite you to join and experience the wonders of the Great Tonle Sap Lake by Kayak in the amazing floating village! </div>
<div><br/>There are two tours available, the full day or the half-day tour. Both take in Me Chrey floating village while the full day also includes a trip to a silk farm, to Pouk market which is famed for its grilled chicken, a visit to a pagoda which in the rainy season becomes a floating pagoda, and lunch at the house of a local family.<br/><br/></div>
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<div>Our tour explores the spectacular Cambodian village life and is designed for all levels and abilities. We use modern kayaking equipment and our professional trained guides will lead you through this fantastic tour.</div>
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<div>Our journey begins by witnessing the beautiful rice paddies and the daily lifestyles of the local people before arriving at the boat dock. Here we will board a quaint local boat which will take us to the amazing floating village for your unique kayaking experience. On arrival, you will be amazed as you kayak gently through this floating village where you will be welcomed by warming smiles from the humble Cambodian people who live on this fantastic lake or you can cruise on the boat in the village and kayak gently to the Tonle Sap Lake with great scenery and seeing rare birds.</div>
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<div><br/>Our professionally trained guide will be able to explain the local customs on how the local people live, work, and trade before stopping a great spot for a stunning sunset (afternoon tour only) over great Tonle Sap Lake if you choose to do the sunset before transferring back by boat where our air conditioned vehicle will be waiting to transfer you back to Siem Reap town. <br/><br/></div>
<div class="separator"><a href="http://www.activetravelcambodia.com/"><img border="0" height="312" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6B_9kka9u8Y/UcF-YbhqOaI/AAAAAAAADeg/V3pXEvV4jVc/s640/kayak+cambodia+3.jpg" width="640"/></a></div>
<div><b><br/>Highlight</b></div>
<div>• Small groups and personalized service </div>
<div>• Friendly environment</div>
<div><div>Siem Reap isn’t known for its water sports, but one enterprising local has now made it possible to kayak down the more undiscovered parts of Tonlé Sap lake.</div>
<div>The Tonle Sap Lake (otherwise known as the Great Lake) is a combined lake and river system in Cambodia. It is the largest fresh water lake in Southeast Asia and the richest fishing lake in the World.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption"><a href="http://www.activetravelcambodia.com/">Kayaking on Great Tonle Sap Lake</a></td>
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<div><br/>We would like to invite you to join and experience the wonders of the Great Tonle Sap Lake by Kayak in the amazing floating village! </div>
<div><br/>There are two tours available, the full day or the half-day tour. Both take in Me Chrey floating village while the full day also includes a trip to a silk farm, to Pouk market which is famed for its grilled chicken, a visit to a pagoda which in the rainy season becomes a floating pagoda, and lunch at the house of a local family.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption"><a href="http://www.activetravelcambodia.com/">Kayaking on Great Tonle Sap Lake </a></td>
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<div>Our tour explores the spectacular Cambodian village life and is designed for all levels and abilities. We use modern kayaking equipment and our professional trained guides will lead you through this fantastic tour.</div>
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<div>Our journey begins by witnessing the beautiful rice paddies and the daily lifestyles of the local people before arriving at the boat dock. Here we will board a quaint local boat which will take us to the amazing floating village for your unique kayaking experience. On arrival, you will be amazed as you kayak gently through this floating village where you will be welcomed by warming smiles from the humble Cambodian people who live on this fantastic lake or you can cruise on the boat in the village and kayak gently to the Tonle Sap Lake with great scenery and seeing rare birds.</div>
<div class="separator"><a href="http://www.activetravelcambodia.com/"><img border="0" height="312" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lPPjIftArVY/UcF9x5slCRI/AAAAAAAADeY/eqqhgk9OjUw/s640/kayak+cambodia+5.jpg" width="640"/></a></div>
<div>Our professionally trained guide will be able to explain the local customs on how the local people live, work, and trade before stopping a great spot for a stunning sunset (afternoon tour only) over great Tonle Sap Lake if you choose to do the sunset before transferring back by boat where our air conditioned vehicle will be waiting to transfer you back to Siem Reap town. </div>
<div class="separator"><a href="http://www.activetravelcambodia.com/"><img border="0" height="312" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6B_9kka9u8Y/UcF-YbhqOaI/AAAAAAAADeg/V3pXEvV4jVc/s640/kayak+cambodia+3.jpg" width="640"/></a></div>
<div><b>Highlight</b></div>
<div>• Small groups and personalized service </div>
<div>• Friendly environment</div>
<div>• Enjoy delicious Khmer delicacies in a wooden floating house </div>
<div>• Delivering safe & professional tour</div>
<div>Moreover, take a trip in this summer, travelers no need to worry too much about the price of tour. It is supported by the ATA’s summer promotion. In addition, in this time the flight ticket is always at moderate.</div>
<div><b>Summer promotion 2013:</b></div>
<div>ATA has launched “Great summer holiday with lucky travels” for summer promotion 2013 in Vietnam, Lao, Cambodia. The program applies for all customers request tour on website from 25 March to 30 September 2013. Variety gifts such as discount up to 15% on tour request, free city tour, free one night at a luxury cruise or at hotel, free meal at elegance restaurant and others are in listing lucky gift. </div>
<div>For more information: <a href="http://www.activetravel.asia/special_offer/2013_summer_promotions.html">http://www.activetravel.asia/special_offer/2013_summer_promotions.html</a></div>
<div><b><i>Travel Facts</i></b>:</div>
<div>ACTIVETRAVEL ASIA (ATA) offers a wide selection of Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia adventure tours, including hiking and trekking, biking, motorcycling, kayaking, overland touring and family travel packages. For more information, please contact ATA for tailoring your very own tour via:</div>
<div>ACTIVETRAVEL ASIA (ATA)</div>
<div>Telephone: +844 3573 8569</div>
<div>Fax: +844 3573 8570</div>
<div>Email: info@activetravel.asia</div>
<div>Website: <a href="http://www.activetravel.asia/">http://www.activetravel.asia/</a></div>
<div>Address: Floor 12 Building 45 Nguyen Son Street, Long Bien district, Hanoi, Vietnam.</div>
• Enjoy delicious Khmer delicacies in a wooden floating house </div>
<div>• Delivering safe & professional tour</div>
<div>Moreover, take a trip in this summer, travelers no need to worry too much about the price of tour. It is supported by the ATA’s summer promotion. In addition, in this time the flight ticket is always at moderate.</div>
<div><b>Summer promotion 2013:</b></div>
<div>ATA has launched “Great summer holiday with lucky travels” for summer promotion 2013 in Vietnam, Lao, Cambodia. The program applies for all customers request tour on website from 25 March to 30 September 2013. Variety gifts such as discount up to 15% on tour request, free city tour, free one night at a luxury cruise or at hotel, free meal at elegance restaurant and others are in listing lucky gift. </div>
<div>For more information: <a href="http://www.activetravel.asia/special_offer/2013_summer_promotions.html">http://www.activetravel.asia/special_offer/2013_summer_promotions.html</a></div>
<div><b><i>Travel Facts</i></b>:</div>
<div>ACTIVETRAVEL ASIA (ATA) offers a wide selection of Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia adventure tours, including hiking and trekking, biking, motorcycling, kayaking, overland touring and family travel packages. For more information, please contact ATA for tailoring your very own tour via:</div>
<div>ACTIVETRAVEL ASIA (ATA)</div>
<div>Telephone: +844 3573 8569</div>
<div>Fax: +844 3573 8570</div>
<div>Email: info@activetravel.asia</div>
<div>Website: <a href="http://www.activetravel.asia/">http://www.activetravel.asia/</a></div>
<div>Address: Floor 12 Building 45 Nguyen Son Street, Long Bien district, Hanoi, Vietnam.</div>Four Vietnamese places among Top 25 Asia Destinationstag:frugalnomads.ning.com,2013-06-17:3169359:BlogPost:5105782013-06-17T08:01:01.000ZActive Travel Asiahttps://frugalnomads.ning.com/profile/ActiveTravelAsia
<div><span><i><b><a href="http://www.activetravel.asia/destination/vietnam/hanoi/" target="_blank">Hanoi</a>, <a href="http://www.activetravel.asia/destination/vietnam/" target="_blank">Ho Chi Minh City</a>, <a href="http://www.activetravel.asia/destination/vietnam/hoian/" target="_blank">Hoi An</a> and <a href="http://www.activetravel.asia/destination/vietnam/halongbay/" target="_blank">Halong</a> are four of the Top 25 Travellers’ Choice Asia Destinations recognized by the world’s largest…</b></i></span></div>
<div><span><i><b><a href="http://www.activetravel.asia/destination/vietnam/hanoi/" target="_blank">Hanoi</a>, <a href="http://www.activetravel.asia/destination/vietnam/" target="_blank">Ho Chi Minh City</a>, <a href="http://www.activetravel.asia/destination/vietnam/hoian/" target="_blank">Hoi An</a> and <a href="http://www.activetravel.asia/destination/vietnam/halongbay/" target="_blank">Halong</a> are four of the Top 25 Travellers’ Choice Asia Destinations recognized by the world’s largest travel site, TripAdvisor</b></i>.</span></div>
<div><span>Hanoi is rated fourth on the list while HCM City, Hoi An and Halong rank 15th, 17th and 25th, respectively.</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption"><a href="http://www.activetravel.asia/destination/vietnam/hanoi/" target="_blank">Hanoi, Vietnam</a></td>
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<div><span>“The charming Vietnamese capital has aged well, preserving its Old Quarter, historic monuments and colonial architecture, while making room for modern development. Lakes, parks, shady boulevards and more than 600 temples and pagodas add to the appeal of this city,” is what the TripAdvisor website says about Hanoi.</span></div>
<div><span> </span></div>
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<div><span> </span></div>
<div><span>The travel site also describes HCM City as Vietnam's largest, bustling largest hub which sets the cultural and economic pace of the country.</span></div>
<div><span> </span></div>
<div><span>Hoi An on the central Vietnamese coast is a well-preserved example of an important Southeast Asian trading port from the 15th-19th centuries, and Halong is famous for its stunning limestone islands, rock formations and caves. </span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption"><a href="http://www.activetravel.asia/destination/vietnam/hoian/" target="_blank">Hoi an, Vietnam</a></td>
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<div><span> </span></div>
<div><span>The fifth annual awards recognise 412 outstanding destinations in 38 markets across the globe, including with separate lists for Africa, Asia, Australia, the Caribbean, and Central America, as well as China, Europe, India, Mexico, the Middle East, South America, the South Pacific, and the United States.</span></div>
<div><span> </span></div>
<div><span>The awards are given in two categories: Top 25 Travellers’ Choice World Destinations and Top 25 Travellers’ Choice Asia Destinations. The Travellers' Choice Destinations awards recognize the top travel spots worldwide based on millions of reviews and opinions from TripAdvisor travellers. Award winners were determined based on the popularity of the destinations, taking into account travellers' favourites and most highly rated locations.</span></div>
<div><span> </span></div>
<div><span>If you inspire to explore <a href="http://www.activetravel.asia/destination/vietnam/" target="_blank">Vietnam</a>, check out our exciting tours_Activetravel Asia, from day trips to many day experiences. All tours are run by local operators who know Hanoi and Vietnam like the back of their hand: giving you an authentic Vietnamese adventure!</span></div>
<div><span> </span></div>
<div><span>About <a href="http://www.blogger.com/"><span id="goog_771010371"></span>Activetravel Asia<span id="goog_771010372"></span></a>(ATA): ATA is one of the Indochina's leading adventure travel companies. ATA offers a wide selection of Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia and Myanmar adventure tours, including hiking and trekking, biking, motorcycling, overland touring and family travel packages. ATA’s packages and tailor-made private itineraries will take you through exotic destinations to really experience the culture, history and nature of Asia.</span></div>Hanoi Named the Cheapest Destination in Asiatag:frugalnomads.ning.com,2013-06-13:3169359:BlogPost:5078152013-06-13T07:47:16.000ZActive Travel Asiahttps://frugalnomads.ning.com/profile/ActiveTravelAsia
<div>The capital city of Vietnam, <a href="http://www.activetravel.asia/destination/vietnam/hanoi/" target="_blank">Hanoi</a> has just been named the cheapest city in Asia and the second cheapest city in the world!</div>
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<div>The…</div>
<div>The capital city of Vietnam, <a href="http://www.activetravel.asia/destination/vietnam/hanoi/" target="_blank">Hanoi</a> has just been named the cheapest city in Asia and the second cheapest city in the world!</div>
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<div>The respected TripAdvisor TripIndex for Summer 2013 compares costs across 49 cities in Europe, Americas, Africa, Oceania and Asia. In the comparison are a 4 star hotel, taxi trip, cocktails and dinner, all based on two travellers.</div>
<div>Overall Hanoi has the cheapest dinner for two people out of all 49 cities at 36.71 USD, thanks to a fantastic array of local restaurants in the city. There are a few international restaurants but the majority of the dining in Hanoi is focused around authentic Vietnamese cuisine, with street food remaining a popular option for food on the go.</div>
<div>Daily life in Hanoi proceeds at a frenetic pace and there’s always something going on. The Old Quarter district provides a fascinating insight into the former French colonial rule, with rich period architecture, narrow streets ad traditional shopfronts. The museums are a great way to while away a few hours, with the Museum of Ethnology, Vietnam Women’s Museum and the Fine Arts Museum my particular favourites. </div>
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<tbody><tr><td><span><a href="http://www.activetravel.asia/destination/vietnam/hanoi/" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="285" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4lW7vxWiKa8/UblsiVpdwYI/AAAAAAAADak/UCA95FntVyM/s400/hanoi+ATA+2.jpg" width="400"/></a></span></td>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption"><a href="http://www.activetravel.asia/destination/vietnam/hanoi/" target="_blank">Hoan Kiem Lake</a></td>
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<div>At the center of Hanoi is the serene Hoan Kiem Lake where you can (almost) forget the constant buzz of mopeds. And you can’t leave Hanoi without visiting the two key sites of the former leader Ho Chi Minh himself. His official residence is fascinating: with his books, furniture and cars on display. In fact he chose to live his last years in the modest wooden house on site rather than in the Presidential Palace. And the soviet-style Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum is a must-see where Uncle Ho lays embalmed whilst travellers and locals shuffle by.</div>
<div>If you inspire to explore <a href="http://www.activetravel.asia/destination/vietnam/" target="_blank">Vietnam</a>, check out our exciting tours_Activetravel Asia, from day trips to many day experiences. All tours are run by local operators who know Hanoi and Vietnam like the back of their hand: giving you an authentic Vietnamese adventure!</div>
<div>About <a href="http://www.blogger.com/"><span id="goog_771010371"></span>Activetravel Asia<span id="goog_771010372"></span></a>(ATA): ATA is one of the Indochina's leading adventure travel companies. ATA offers a wide selection of Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia and Myanmar adventure tours, including hiking and trekking, biking, motorcycling, overland touring and family travel packages. ATA’s packages and tailor-made private itineraries will take you through exotic destinations to really experience the culture, history and nature of Asia.</div>
<p><span>Got any tips of your own? Leave them in the comments section below, or post them on</span><span> </span><a href="https://twitter.com/Active_Travel">twitter</a><span> </span><span>and</span><a href="https://www.facebook.com/Active.Travel">Facebook.</a></p>An Unforgettable Exploration of Vietnam's Great Mekong Deltatag:frugalnomads.ning.com,2013-06-12:3169359:BlogPost:4885372013-06-12T18:26:00.000ZActive Travel Asiahttps://frugalnomads.ning.com/profile/ActiveTravelAsia
<div>The <a href="http://www.activetravelvietnam.com/city/mekong_delta.html" target="_blank">Mekong</a> is a long river that stretches through the borders of 6 countries in Southeast Asia. I’d already travelled on the Mekong crossing from Thailand into Laos, so it was pretty cool to continue the journey on the same river through another 2 countries.…</div>
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<div>The <a href="http://www.activetravelvietnam.com/city/mekong_delta.html" target="_blank">Mekong</a> is a long river that stretches through the borders of 6 countries in Southeast Asia. I’d already travelled on the Mekong crossing from Thailand into Laos, so it was pretty cool to continue the journey on the same river through another 2 countries.</div>
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<tbody><tr><td><span><a href="http://www.activetravelvietnam.com/tour.php?op=detail&tourId=19" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="410" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yCZWKUmQTes/UaR_MPVXDEI/AAAAAAAADMg/l3jHIBlnETQ/s640/An+giang+ATA3.jpg" width="640"/></a></span></td>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption"><a href="http://www.activetravelvietnam.com/tour.php?op=detail&tourId=19" target="_blank">Mekong Delta, Vietnam</a></td>
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<div>The border formalities on the river were quick and painless, and surprisingly informal. As we floated down the river further into Vietnam the scenery started to get really interesting. We saw basic looking houses right on the river built on stilts and rustic wooden fishing boats. Many of the people especially the kids would wave and yell “hello!” as we passed by. The orange sun was setting on the river and our hotel in the small town of <a href="http://www.activetravelvietnam.com/city/mekong_delta.html" target="_blank">Chau Doc</a>was in sight… when suddenly our boat stopped. We were less than 5 minutes away but the boat had run out of gas. Luckily another boat on the river was there to help bring us ashore.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption"><span><a href="http://www.activetravelvietnam.com/tour.php?op=detail&tourId=19" target="_blank">Wooden fishing boats in Mekong Delta, Vietnam</a></span></td>
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<div>The view from the hotel was fascinating, we could see boats buzzing across from all directions and small little houses right on the river built on stilts. The next day we got to explore the <a href="http://www.activetravelvietnam.com/city/mekong_delta.html" target="_blank">Mekong river</a> in more detail. We visited fish farms where people live and farm fish right in the water. The floating houses are built on top of fish cages. You lift up the floorboards and there they are splashing around underneath the house. The fish are fed a mixture of vegetables and fish bones. It was really interesting to see but it also made us question the healthiness of the farmed fish in the rather polluted looking river. After the fish farms we visited a local Cham village, part of the very small Muslim community in Vietnam. From there we visited a massive food market with fish, meat, fruits and vegetables. There were many fruits and vegetables I’d never seen before, and it was fun to experience the hustle and bustle of a local market that was selling food instead of cheesy souvenirs.</div>
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<tbody><tr><td><span><a href="http://www.activetravelvietnam.com/tour.php?op=detail&tourId=41" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_rj4JcZBgZY/UaSAyoyLBRI/AAAAAAAADM4/_EbRYK2Jk1E/s320/Mekong+Delta+ATA.jpg" width="213"/></a></span></td>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption"><a href="http://www.activetravelvietnam.com/tour.php?op=detail&tourId=41" target="_blank">Floating Market</a></td>
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The next day we made our way to Can Tho, a fairly populated area along the <a href="http://www.activetravelvietnam.com/city/mekong_delta.html" target="_blank">Mekong Delta</a>. Along the three hour bus ride one could track the rapid progress of development in the country. Basic shacks built on stilts slowly gave way to more modern looking houses with TV antennas on the roofs. This was also the first time I truly understood how popular motorbikes were in this country.</div>
<div>The road was completely packed with motorcycle drivers who seemed to view lanes and basic traffic laws as mere suggestions. We arrived at our hotel in Can Tho mid afternoon with enough time to have a happy hour drink by the pool and unwind. The next day we had an early 5:30am start to see the floating market on the Mekong River. It was pitch black when we left and the sun started coming up just as our boat arrived. There were hundreds of wooden boats big and small, most of them carrying produce and food. We got to latch on to a boat selling produce and climb onto the roof for a birds eye view of the bustling market while eating fresh pineapple. At this point it was barely 7am and I really had to admire the work ethic of all the merchants who had already been up and working for hours.</div>
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<div>After our tour of the market we had a Vietnamese cooking course. We learned how to make fresh and deep fried spring rolls, Vietnamese salad and deep fried prawns. Our cooking instructor was a very kind and patient young lady, although she did laugh at our deformed rolls saying “I’ve never seen one like that before”. We were quite impressed at how delicious our own creations were, especially the deep friend spring rolls. It probably helped that we were very hungry by that point. Later that evening we took a shuttle boat to the city centre to find something for dinner. It happened to be international women’s day which locals celebrated by bringing their girlfriends, wives and mothers out for dinner. </div>
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<tbody><tr><td><span><a href="http://www.activetravelvietnam.com/tour.php?op=detail&tourId=19" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LCKSzJanKkw/UaSCbYsGjxI/AAAAAAAADNQ/aThxGVgyspc/s640/8739893853_c409a78fbd_z.jpg" width="640"/></a></span></td>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption"><span><a href="http://www.activetravelvietnam.com/tour.php?op=detail&tourId=19" target="_blank">Spring rolls </a></span></td>
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<div>The charming public square by the river was full of mostly young couples, some holding roses or heart shaped balloons that they’d just bought. Everywhere we went people would say hello and some would even strike up conversations and ask where we were from. I think a lot of people like to practice their English and were also just genuinely friendly. For dinner we found a place on the river and I had chicken and veggies with soft noodles. Someone next to me had the crispy noodles which I wish I tried because they looked really good.</div>
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The next day we departed Can Tho and made our way towards Ho Chi Minh City. On our way we made a stop in Cai Lay, a small community in the Mekong Delta area. We took a short boat ride down a peaceful narrow river then rode bicycles through narrow little paths that wound through the bamboo forests. As we went children would excitedly say hello to us and wave their hands in the air.<br/> <br/> <br/> After about an hour we stopped at an old couples house where they had a gorgeous little fruit orchard. We had the pleasure of tasting the freshest and most delicious exotic fruit I’d ever had in my life. </div>
<div>Our local guide explained to us that the family would work 4 days out of the week then get drunk the other 3 days. I joked that I was going to stay behind, to which the old farmer replied by sitting me in the hammock and singing to me! Trust me it was very hard to leave this little slice of paradise. Our next stop was at a hundred year old house where we had a very tasty Vietnamese lunch which of course included deep fried spring rolls, which we were actually starting to get a little sick of by this point. Once we finished lunch it was time to get back on the bus and continue on towards Ho Chi Minh City.</div>
<div>I really felt like I got a good feel for the variety of people and cultures living in and along the Mekong River area and it was interesting to see how things changed as we got closer to the big city. It was a great introduction to the friendly people and incredible food in Vietnam which would only impress me more as the trip continued.</div>
<div><br/> To find out more about travelling Mekong Delta with ACTIVETRAVEL ASIA(ATA) , you can refer: <a href="http://www.activetravelvietnam.com/tour.php?op=detail&tourId=19">http://www.activetravelvietnam.com/tour.php?op=detail&tourId=19</a></div>
<p><span> Plus you can become a fan of ATA's </span><a href="https://www.facebook.com/Active.Travel?ref=hl" target="_blank">Facebook page</a></p>Laos selected as World Best Tourist Destination for 2013tag:frugalnomads.ning.com,2013-06-12:3169359:BlogPost:5068252013-06-12T10:23:59.000ZActive Travel Asiahttps://frugalnomads.ning.com/profile/ActiveTravelAsia
<div><a href="http://www.activetravellaos.com/" target="_blank">Laos</a> has been selected by the European Council on Tourism and Trade (ECTT) as the World Best Tourist Destination for 2013.</div>
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<div><a href="http://www.activetravellaos.com/" target="_blank">Laos</a> has been selected by the European Council on Tourism and Trade (ECTT) as the World Best Tourist Destination for 2013.</div>
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<div>Minister of Information, Culture and Tourism Bosengkham Vongdara hosted a press conference on May 8 to announce the award, according to the <a href="http://www.activetravellaos.com/" target="_blank">Lao </a>News Agency KPL.</div>
<div>The World Best Tourist Destination is the world’s highly privileged award, which is granted on an annual basis by the ECTT to only one country, the minister told the conference, adding that an official presentation ceremony will be held on May 9 in Vientiane Capital.</div>
<div>“This award is offered to a country that complies with the United Nations Tourism Division, UNESCO and the European Union Council on Tourism and Trade principles on fair tourism, ethical tourism and safety standards and the preservation of cultural, historic and natural tourist sites,” Bosengkham said.</div>
<div>Countries previously awarded with the title included Syria in 2007, Turkey in 2008, the United Arab Emirates in 2009 and 2011, the Republic of Korea in 2010 and the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago in 2012.</div>
<div>(Source: VNA)</div>
<div>Learn more about Laos package tours at: <a href="http://www.activetravellaos.com/">http://www.activetravellaos.com</a></div>
<div>ACTIVETRAVEL LAOS(ATL) is member of ACTIVETRAVEL ASIA offers a wide selection of Laos adventure tours, including hiking and trekking, kayaking, biking, motorcycling, overland touring and family travel packages. ATL's packages and custom itineraries will take you through exotic destinations to really experience the culture, history and nature of Laos. Outdoor enthusiasts will enjoy an unforgettable active vacation. ATL runs the most adventure tours available in Laos and Indochina</div>Angkor Wat One Day Guide: The Best of Angkortag:frugalnomads.ning.com,2013-06-12:3169359:BlogPost:5066522013-06-12T04:47:10.000ZActive Travel Asiahttps://frugalnomads.ning.com/profile/ActiveTravelAsia
<div>One day in <a href="http://www.activetravelcambodia.com/tour.php?op=detail&tourId=67" target="_blank">Angkor</a>. Guidebooks recommend spending at least three to get the most out of it. I chose to do it in one, and a one-day Angkor itinerary, while not optimal, is absolutely possible.</div>
<div>I put together this one-day guide to Angkor for people who appreciate temples, but don’t live and die by them. I’m not ashamed of admitting that I fall into that category. While I’m crazy…</div>
<div>One day in <a href="http://www.activetravelcambodia.com/tour.php?op=detail&tourId=67" target="_blank">Angkor</a>. Guidebooks recommend spending at least three to get the most out of it. I chose to do it in one, and a one-day Angkor itinerary, while not optimal, is absolutely possible.</div>
<div>I put together this one-day guide to Angkor for people who appreciate temples, but don’t live and die by them. I’m not ashamed of admitting that I fall into that category. While I’m crazy about modern architecture, ancient temples don’t really do it for me.</div>
<div>That being said, Angkor is amazing. Trust me, you’ll be impressed. But I could only take so much of it.</div>
<div>If you’re only able to spend one day in Angkor, here’s what to see:</div>
<div><b>Part I: Sunset at Phnom Bakheng</b></div>
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<div>Your one-day ticket gives you access to Angkor from 5:00 PM on the previous day. Join the masses and go for sunset at Phnom Bakeng. Your driver will take you right there.</div>
<div>Be aware that much climbing is involved and you’ll be one of hundreds of tourists. But seeing the sun slowly set over the Cambodian countryside is nothing short of divine.</div>
<div><b>Part II: Sunrise at <a href="http://www.activetravelcambodia.com/tour.php?op=detail&tourId=67" target="_blank">Angkor Wat</a></b></div>
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<div>I hope you’re willing to get up at 4:30 AM, because your guide will be picking you up from your guesthouse at 5:00! (You also definitely shouldn’t be doing shots at 2:00 AM at the bar called Angkor WHAT?! the night before, but that’s another story for another time.)</div>
<div>Once you get to Angkor, there will be vendors selling coffee, tea, baguettes and fruit. Get a cup, if you’re so inclined, and make your way to the lake in front of Angkor Wat.</div>
<div>Seeing Angkor Wat at sunrise is an incredibly crowded atmosphere as well, but the view is so amazing, you’ll forgive it.</div>
<div><b>Part III: Explore Angkor Wat</b></div>
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<div>As soon as the sun has illuminated the front of Angkor Wat, it’s time to leave. You’ve already seen the best of the sunrise — seeing the silhouette of Angkor Wat illuminated from behind.</div>
<div>At that point, it’s time to run up to Angkor Wat and explore. The crowds will be minimal at this time of day, and you’ll get much of the temple to yourself. That makes for great photo opportunities.</div>
<div><b>Part IV: Explore Angkor Thom</b></div>
<div>Angkor Thom is an ancient city that reached its peak in the 12th century with a population of one million (!!). Today, the wood and straw homes in which people lived were destroyed by the elements, but the stone temples remain.</div>
<div>There are three main temples in Angkor Thom, and each of them deserve a view:</div>
<div><b>IV-A: Bayon</b></div>
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<div>Bayon was my favorite temple at Angkor. The 54 faces carved into the rocks are absolutely scintillating, and I love the tidbit that they bear more than a passing resemblance to the visage of megalomaniac King Jayavarman VII.</div>
<div>Come on, wouldn’t you have done the same thing? It’s good to be the king.</div>
<div><b>IV-B: Baphuon</b></div>
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<div>This temple is still currently being put back together, which is why you’ll see the yard in front of it covered with mismatched bricks.</div>
<div>For a real thrill, climb the stairs in the back — it’s the steepest, scariest staircase I’ve ever seen. I’m still shocked I made it down unscathed! But the feeling of achievement after climbing to the top is pretty unbelievable.</div>
<div><b>IV-C: The Terrace of Elephants</b></div>
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<div>Back in the day, this terrace was where the king would make proclamations to his audience. Public ceremonies took place. I love imagining centuries ago when the million citizens of the Khmer empire came out to hear the king speak!</div>
<div>Also — I love the elephant motif that is present throughout the structure!</div>
<div><b>Part V: Explore Ta Prohm</b></div>
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<div>Feel like Indiana Jones or Lara Croft? This is your place. The temples at Ta Prohm are wrapped in centuries-old tree roots and insanely photogenic.</div>
<div>Consequently, this is where the tourist crowds are at their worst. Good luck getting a picture without any other people in it! Do what I did in the photo above, and find an obscure corner.</div>
<div><b>Part VI: Extras</b></div>
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<div>Honestly, by this point, you’ll likely be templed out. But if you want more, ask your driver what’s good to see.</div>
<div>The best destinations will cost more money and be a lengthy drive away. Figure out in advance if this is something you’d like to do. If not, there are plenty of nearby sites, including the lake above.</div>
<div>If you have more than one day, you can see several more temples that were built in starkly different styles from the rest of the major temples of Angkor. If not, rest assured — you’ve seen the major highlights.</div>
<div>Here are a few more tips:</div>
<ul>
<li>Get a driver: Tourists aren’t permitted to drive themselves. You can hire a driver with a tuk-tuk, motorbike or bike. I chose a bike tour, as it’s cheaper and a hell of a lot more fun.</li>
<li>Once you arrive in Siem Reap and get transferred to your guesthouse, your driver will try to be your driver at the temples. Ask him where he’d take you for the day, determine whether he knows his stuff, then take him up on it. Most Siem Reap drivers know which temples to see.</li>
<li>Once again, take time to relax and chill. You need to take breaks at Angkor, even if you’re only there for one day.</li>
</ul>
<p></p>
<div>Above all, if temples aren’t your thing, don’t force yourself to see every last one of them. Travel is about making yourself happy. Do what makes you happiest. </div>
<div>Or you can refer the bike itinerary of one travel company: Activetravel Asia_one of the Indochina's leading adventure travel companies, offering Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia adventure tours, including hiking and trekking, biking, motorcycling and family travel packages. Read more their Biking Angkor Wat itinerary at: <a href="http://www.activetravelcambodia.com/tour.php?op=detail&tourId=67">http://www.activetravelcambodia.com/tour.php?op=detail&tourId=67</a></div>ACROSS NORTHERN VIETNAM ON TWO WHEELStag:frugalnomads.ning.com,2013-06-07:3169359:BlogPost:5009192013-06-07T04:45:29.000ZActive Travel Asiahttps://frugalnomads.ning.com/profile/ActiveTravelAsia
<div><i>By David Atkinson</i></div>
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<div>Traveling around Vietnam by motorbike, seeing breathtaking landscapes,…</div>
<div><i>By David Atkinson</i></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption"><a href="http://www.activetravelvietnam.com/tour.php?op=detail&tourId=66" target="_blank">Motorbiking North Vietnam</a></td>
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<div>Traveling around Vietnam by motorbike, seeing breathtaking landscapes, beautiful mountain passes, interesting historical relics, colorful, friendly and happy people…makes you love Vietnam more and gives us extremely special feeling.</div>
<div>I love the thrill of the open road. Shades on, foot to the floor and cruising through alien landscapes with the stereo cranked right up.</div>
<div>But Vietnam was just about the last place I expected to find myself on a road trip. Self-drive isn’t really an option here.</div>
<div>And, as for the State-approved backpacker bus trips, well, let’s just say that rubbing knees with the tie-dye clad hordes and eating in the tourist restaurant, where the bus driver always collects his kickback, isn’t my scene.</div>
<div><b>Easy rider</b></div>
<div>It sounded perfect. A way to get my engine running and get out on the highway while staying off-the-beaten-track and seeing the real Vietnam.</div>
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<div>Activetravel Asia is one of the Indochina's leading adventure travel companies. They offer a wide selection of Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia adventure tours, including hiking and trekking, biking, motorcycling, overland touring and family travel packages. ATA’s packages and tailor-made private itineraries take you through exotic destinations to really experience the culture, history and nature of Asia. They have made hundreds of trips into the backwaters of the far north, building up a comprehensive motorbike guide to northern Vietnam.</div>
<div>“The bikes are old 50’s designs straight out of Belarussia. They’re the backbone of the country and used by everyone to haul goods around,” </div>
<div>“They don’t go very fast, use a lot of petrol and billow out a lot of smoke, but they’ll get you anywhere,” he adds.</div>
<div>“Besides, they’re very easy to fix. If you’ve got a stick and a rock you can fix a Minsk.”</div>
<div><b>Cruise control</b> </div>
<div>With the sun in our faces, we join the highway near Hanoi’s Noi Bai airport and start the slow climb northwards. As we progress at a steady 35km/h, overtaking lumbering trucks soon gives way to overtaking lumbering water buffalo who eye suspiciously as we file past the paddy fields.</div>
<div>We stop for dinner that night in Tuyen Quang. It’s a dusty one-ass town dominated by trucker rest stops and so-called bia om or ‘cuddle beer’ outlets where the town’s two attractions make for natural bedfellows.</div>
<div>As we settle down for the night in the shabby state-owned hotel, one of my fellow easy riders, Casey McCarthy from Texas, tells me why she has chosen a severe buttock buffing on a motorbike in the rain for her holiday.</div>
<div>“I’d never seen a Minsk before Vietnam and, although it’s ancient technology, it’s a very easy ride,” she says. “I guess I just wanted to get away from those cattle-truck bus trips and a bike trip is the best way to see the countryside as you decide where and when you want to go.”</div>
<div>The next day we’re up with the light and, after a hearty bowl of Vietnamese pho bo(a rice noodle soup with strips of beef), we’re back in the saddle and on the road for Ha Giang.</div>
<div>As we stop for petrol at what looks like a roadside chemistry set, I ask Digby what kind of people are attracted to the idea of driving around rural Vietnam on a piece of Russian war-era machinery.</div>
<div>“Half are motorbike riders back home or people with some previous experience but not all. I’d never ridden a bike until I came to Vietnam,” he explains, taking a little bottle of engine oil and mixing it with petrol.</div>
<div>“Drive bikes and you will crash but drive slow enough and you’ll be OK,” he adds, handing over a dollar for two litres. “If we go over, we’ll just slide – unless we hit something. But it’s nothing like driving at 130km back home when you get washed up off the road”.</div>
<div><b>Alien invasion</b></div>
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<div>The last 50km to Ha Giang is made up of winding country lanes. It’s a drive not best experienced at dusk when huge trucks with dazzling headlights tear around blind corners with scant regard for approaching fellow truckers, let alone a bunch of foreigners on motorbikes in dayglo jackets.</div>
<div>As we make the final approach, it feels like entering a long-forgotten Wild West outpost. The locals stare at us like aliens just beamed down from another planet but Digby is used to it.</div>
<div>“I regularly go to places where only a handful of strangers have ever been before. Just two weeks ago, I took a tour to a place where only three foreigners had ever visited before the new road was built,” he smiles.</div>
<div>“Just as I was thinking that I’d been everywhere possible, the Vietnamese Government has launched a programme to build roads to each commune so a there’s now a whole bunch of new roads to explore,” he adds.</div>
<div>“That’s why I do this. It isn’t so much a tour as a road trip where the guide is having as much fun as the customers.”</div>
<div>More travel information about motorbike northern Vietnam at: <a href="http://www.activetravelvietnam.com/tour.php?op=detail&tourId=66">http://www.activetravelvietnam.com/tour.php?op=detail&tourId=66</a></div>Top "Must-See" Spots on a Visit to Vietnamtag:frugalnomads.ning.com,2013-06-06:3169359:BlogPost:4816742013-06-06T13:30:00.000ZActive Travel Asiahttps://frugalnomads.ning.com/profile/ActiveTravelAsia
<div>From the island-studded seas of the north to the meandering waterways of the south, Vietnam is a country defined by the diversity of its land and the resilience and generosity of its people. ACTIVETRAVEL ASIA shows you how to take the perfect trip to Vietnam.</div>
<div><b>Halong Bay: best for coast</b></div>
<div>The mystical landscape of Halong Bay, where over 2000 limestone islets rise from the Gulf of Tonkin.…</div>
<div>From the island-studded seas of the north to the meandering waterways of the south, Vietnam is a country defined by the diversity of its land and the resilience and generosity of its people. ACTIVETRAVEL ASIA shows you how to take the perfect trip to Vietnam.</div>
<div><b>Halong Bay: best for coast</b></div>
<div>The mystical landscape of Halong Bay, where over 2000 limestone islets rise from the Gulf of Tonkin.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption"><a href="http://www.activetravelvietnam.com/tour.php?op=listByCategoryId&catId=3" target="_blank">Halong Bay, Vietnam</a></td>
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<div>Once upon a time, a friendly dragon lived in the heavens above Halong Bay. With invaders from the seas threatening Vietnam, the gods asked the dragon to create a natural barrier to protect its people. The dragon kindly obliged, performing a spectacular crash landing along the coast – digging up chunks of rock with its flailing tail and spitting out pearls – before grinding to a halt. This scene of devastation is now known as Halong Bay – Halong literally translates as ‘where the dragon descends into the sea’.</div>
<div>Less exciting explanations of this landscape involve eons of erosion by winds and waves – but nobody disputes the splendour of the end result. Rising from the shallows of the Gulf of Tonkin are thousands of limestone islands – towering monoliths lined up like dominoes, some teetering at worrying angles. The islands’ names testify to the overactive imaginations of sailors who’ve spent too long at sea – Fighting Cock Island, Finger Island, Virgin Grotto. Having largely resisted human settlement, the islands have become home to other creatures. From above, sea eagles swoop down to pluck fish from the waters, carrying their prey – still flapping – high into the air, and squawking congratulations to each other from their nests.</div>
<div><b>Hanoi: best for city life</b></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption"><span><a href="http://www.activetravelvietnam.com/city/hanoi.html" target="_blank">Fruit seller heading to market.</a></span></td>
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<div>It’s rush hour in Hanoi, and the streets of the city’s Old Quarter throng with hundreds of scooters. The pavement and the central reservation are fair game in the chaos; zebra crossings exist more as a personal challenge than a guarantee of safe passage. Hanoi is a city that refuses to grow old gracefully – a millennium-old capital of crumbling pagodas and labyrinthine streets, now undergoing a werewolf-like transformation into a 21st-century Asian metropolis. In the Old Quarter, ancient temples now neighbour karaoke joints, and dynasties of artisans ply their trade next to shops selling cuddly toys the size of grizzly bears.</div>
<div>Few have studied the changing face of the city as closely as Do Hien, an artist who has spent a lifetime painting Hanoi’s streets. He welcomes me to his studio, and idly leafs through sketches of city life – couples waltzing beside the willows of Hoan Kiem Lake, and alleyways where hawkers prepare steaming bowls of pho. ‘Hanoi is a place that runs in your blood,’ Hien says thoughtfully, sitting cross-legged among stubs of incense sticks and paintbrushes strewn across his studio floor. ‘Had I not lived in this city I might not be able to paint like I do.’</div>
<div><b>Sapa: best for walking</b></div>
<div>An evening fog hangs over Sapa. Clouds sporadically open up a bit to reveal a village, a chunk of a mountain, a patch of jungle, before obscuring them from view again, like stage scenery sliding into the wings. Eventually the clouds lift, and the Hoang Lien mountain range emerges. It is a landscape of extraordinary beauty – the Asian highlands half-remembered from childhood picture books and martial-arts films. Above are peaks thick to their summits with greenery. Below, rice terraces run down the hillsides at right angles, as neatly as the folds in origami paper.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption"><a href="http://www.activetravelvietnam.com/city/sapa.html" target="_blank">Sapa Town, Vietnam</a></td>
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<div>Sapa is a town where the weather seems to operate on random rotation – switching between brilliant sunshine, thick fog, driving rain and occasionally a dusting of snow, before coming full circle to brilliant sunshine, often all within the space of a few minutes. A hill station settled by Vietnam’s French colonists, Sapa now serves as a trailhead for hikers happy to run the meteorological lottery of a walk in these mountains. ‘We have four seasons in one day here,’ my guide, shimmying along the edge of a rice paddy as a rain cloud approaches. ‘There’s no way to predict the weather – just be lucky!’</div>
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<tbody><tr><td><a href="http://www.activetravelvietnam.com/city/sapa.html" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="438" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fcsgpK3c_CQ/UZ3J_Clr2CI/AAAAAAAADI0/dXUG0UoNqf0/s640/1-1+copy.jpg" width="640"/></a></td>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption"><a href="http://www.activetravelvietnam.com/city/sapa.html" target="_blank">Sapa, Vietnam</a></td>
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<div>We pass through a village, and our guide points to bamboo irrigation systems that send trickles down the hillsides and into rice pounders that see-saw with the current. ‘There’s a Hmong saying that “we flow with the water”,’ she explains. ‘It means we don’t worry too much, and take things easy.’</div>
<div><b>Hoi An: best for food</b></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption"><span><a href="http://www.activetravelvietnam.com/city/hoian.html" target="_blank">Hoi an, Vietnam</a></span></td>
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<div>Hoi An is a small town that likes a big breakfast. As dawn musters strength on the horizon, a small army of chefs sets to work on Thai Phien street – firing up gas cookers and arranging plastic furniture on the pavements. Soon, the city awakes to sweet porridges; coffee that sends a lightning bolt of caffeine to sleepy heads; sizzling steaks; broths that swim with turmeric, chilli and ginger. In Vietnam, street food is a serious business – a single dish prepared day after day by the same cook, perfected and honed by a lifetime’s craft.</div>
<div>‘Food in Hoi An is about yin and yang,’ explains Le Hanh, a young female chef scrutinising vegetables at the morning market. ‘It’s about balancing hot with cool, sweet with sour, salty with spicy.’ True to Hanh’s philosophy, cooking in Hoi An goes big on contrasting flavours; food that plays good cop/bad cop with the palate. The sharpness of fish sauce blends with the subtlety of fresh herbs; cool lemongrass makes way for the eye-watering panic of accidentally chomping on a red chilli.</div>
<div><b>Mekong Delta: best for river life</b></div>
<div>A heavy rain is falling on the Mekong Delta, flooding the footpaths, swilling in the gutters, turning riverbank mud from light tan to a rich coffee colour. A tangled network of rivers, tributaries and canals, the waters of the delta criss-cross the lowlands of southern Vietnam, before emptying out into the South China Sea through mighty, yawning estuaries. For centuries, life here has ebbed and flowed in tandem with the current of the Mekong – an all-in-one launderette, bathtub, highway, toilet, dishwasher, larder, social club and workplace for the communities surrounded by its waters.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption"><a href="http://www.activetravelvietnam.com/city/mekong_delta.html" target="_blank">Mekong Delta, Vietnam</a></td>
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<div>‘If you live on a river island with twenty other people you have to learn to get along with everyone,’ explains Mrs Bui Nguyen, beckoning strangers to shelter in her bungalow beside the Cai Chanh canal. ‘That’s the reason why people in the Mekong are so friendly!’ A 77-year-old who attributes her longevity to a lifetime avoiding doctors, Mrs Nguyen wistfully reflects on the delta of old – in days when the only artificial light came from peanut oil lamps dotted along the riverbanks; an age long before roads had reached the villages. Times have changed. </div>
<div>However, human life still instinctively congregates on the water’s edge. Lining the riverbank nearby are grocers’ shops, cafés, a gym, a billiards club and a blacksmith’s. Floating markets, too, are still held every morning at nearby Cai Rang – with creaking barges from across the delta bashing into each other as they offload cargoes of watermelons, pineapples and turnips.</div>
<div>Read more: <a href="http://www.activetravelvietnam.com/tour.php">http://www.activetravelvietnam.com/tour.php</a></div>Laos: A beauty spot to rival our owntag:frugalnomads.ning.com,2013-06-06:3169359:BlogPost:4997332013-06-06T04:38:42.000ZActive Travel Asiahttps://frugalnomads.ning.com/profile/ActiveTravelAsia
<div>Pure water, bears and elephants make the waterfalls of Laos well worth the trek, writes Yvonne van Dongen.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption">Bathers at Kuang Xi waterfalls near Luang Prabang, Laos.</td>
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Over the years I have learned to be…</div>
<div>Pure water, bears and elephants make the waterfalls of Laos well worth the trek, writes Yvonne van Dongen.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption">Bathers at Kuang Xi waterfalls near Luang Prabang, Laos.</td>
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Over the years I have learned to be sceptical about claims of outstanding natural beauty in foreign parts. I have been to the Lake District in England and heard the guide whisper, "Oh, but New Zealand lakes are so much more beautiful". I have travelled eight hot, bumpy hours in a van to get to a spectacular watering hole and tropical jungle spot in Guatemala only to find it was - well, okay. And I've gone barefoot on so-called pristine beaches in Asia with piles of rubbish behind me and scraps of floating plastic in the tepid water.</div>
<div>So when my friend suggested we visit the waterfalls not far from the World Heritage city of Luang Prabang in Laos, I greeted the idea with lukewarm enthusiasm. But eventually, after visiting every temple and every wat in the city, after walking the cobbled streets over and over and after becoming so familiar to the shopkeepers they were calling me by name, I gave in.</div>
<div>There are two major waterfall sites within an hour or so of Luang Prabang and each requires a day trip. They can both be reached by minivan or bicycle if you're particularly fit and don't mind becoming a waterfall of sweat yourself.</div>
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<tbody><tr><td><span><a href="http://www.activetravellaos.com/tour.php?op=detail&tourId=58" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="392" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-EGRO7MUaMD0/Ua66075g-jI/AAAAAAAADRA/94qR1Cgc_Ag/s640/kuang+xi+waterfall+ATA2.jpg" width="640"/></a></span></td>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption"><a href="http://www.activetravellaos.com/tour.php?op=detail&tourId=58" target="_blank">Kuang Si waterfall near Luang Prabang, Laos.</a></td>
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<div>We opted for the <a href="http://www.activetravellaos.com/tour.php?op=detail&tourId=59" target="_blank">Kuang Si</a> waterfall first, because it's the largest and most well-known waterfall in Laos, and because it's also the closest, only 30km from the city.</div>
<div>The first thing we saw at Kuang Si was not a cascade of crashing water but the mournful shapes of caged black bears. They're probably pretty happy bears since they've been saved from the poacher's knife and live in a refuge at the foot of the waterfall.</div>
<div>It's their paws the poachers are after, essential ingredients for bear paw soup. So these are very lucky bears indeed, no doubt giving thanks daily to Perth woman Mary Hutton, who in 1993 was so moved by a television story about bears being milked for their bile that she began to campaign to free bears all around the world.</div>
<div>She's since established the world's largest sanctuary for Sun bears in Cambodia and been involved in numerous bear saving projects throughout Southeast Asia, including the refuge at Kuang Si.</div>
<div>There's a charge for walking to the waterfall but that's probably why the walk is so wide and well-groomed. It's not unlike entering a beautifully landscaped tropical resort with fluttering butterflies and preternaturally green and shiny foliage all seemingly polished to perfection.</div>
<div>Soon, we are passing the milky turquoise pools leading to the waterfall and before we see it, we can hear a crowd of young, fit thrill-seekers flinging themselves across the foaming water from a rope tethered to a tree. HQ for these folk is the tourist-oriented village of Vang Vieng where for not much money you can get stoned and go tubing down a frothy river and, when you're done, watch endless reruns of Friends on giant screens. For sheer mind-numbing boredom I couldn't think of anything worse. But it was fun to watch their bodies arc and fall as I lay on my back in the warm water.</div>
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<tbody><tr><td><span><a href="http://www.activetravellaos.com/tour.php?op=detail&tourId=58" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mZpeKiz-VO4/Ua65nc2bXlI/AAAAAAAADQw/pVQ8qe8LolM/s640/20080930133347_tad_sae_waterfall.jpg" width="640"/></a></span></td>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption"><a href="http://www.activetravellaos.com/tour.php?op=detail&tourId=58" target="_blank">Tad Sae water fall</a></td>
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<div><a href="http://www.activetravellaos.com/tour.php?op=detail&tourId=59" target="_blank">Tad Sae's</a> waterfalls, where we went next, do not attract the same crowd and getting there is slightly more complicated. There's a longer minivan journey followed by a boat trip across a fast-flowing river with such a strong current that the boat seems to glide across like a leaf and bump into the opposite bank purely by accident.</div>
<div>We were hauled out of the rocking vessel, scrambled up the muddy bank and the first thing we saw through the trees were - by golly - elephants. It seems waterfalls come with added extras in Laos.</div>
<div>Tad Sae offers elephant rides and a swim in the water, which looked like fun until the elephant tried to drown its rider, which then became a lot more fun for everyone else. It's awful how much you can laugh at someone else's misery.</div>
<div>There are also displays of old implements such as rice crushers and a water wheel. But really Tad Sae doesn't have to try so hard. It is truly spectacular. Gentle tiers of blue-green water rolled toward us and in the middle of the water, clumps of saplings and trees rise up through the dappled light. There are dragonflies everywhere. Up one gnarly big tree is a tree house. Here, there is a wooden board, walk over the water and you find a seating area.</div>
<div>The water is soft and dreamy and an ideal spot to imagine future trips with friends and family who will thank us profusely for luring them to this magical spot.</div>
<div>Even New Zealanders - who generally do have the corner on natural beauty - will be awed. I was.</div>
<div><b>CHECKLIST</b></div>
<div><i>Getting there</i>: Fly to Vientiane and then either fly to Luang Prabang (expensive) or take a bus (12 long but tolerable hours). Any tuktuk or minivan will take you to the waterfalls for about US$6.</div>
<div><i>Where to stay</i>: Guesthouses are plentiful but, increasingly, so are guests. Luang Prabang has been cited as one of the hot destinations of 2012. Prices are climbing accordingly. </div>
<div><i>When to go</i>: October and November are relatively dry and cool.</div>
<div><i>How to take a trip</i>: You can choose the local agencies, who understand deeply destination you came. I recommend you an agency I know: ACTIVETRAVEL LAOS.</div>
<div><b>Contact Details</b></div>
<div>ACTIVETRAVEL LAOS (ATL) is member of ACTIVETRAVEL ASIA offers a wide selection of Laos adventure tours, including hiking and trekking, kayaking, biking, motorcycling and family travel packages. Our packages and custom itineraries will take you through exotic destinations to really experience the culture, history and nature of Laos.</div>
<div>Address: Floor 12th, Building 45 Nguyen Son St., Long Bien Dist, Hanoi, Vietnam</div>
<div>Website: <a href="http://www.activetravellaos.com">http://www.activetravellaos.com</a></div>
<div>Tel: +84 4 3573 8569</div>
<div>Email address: info@activetravel.asia</div>