Asia Pacific Travel Team
Some attractive sites in Tien Giang province
Dong Tam snack farm
Tram cot house - ancient work of sculptural architecture
Built during five years between 1898 and 1903, the house was meticulously carved with precious woods such as: kingwood, redwood, ebony and iron wood in the style of houses of rich families in the Central Highlands. Over 100 years old, the house is preserved as what it used to be.
Specific feature in style carved wood is next to describe the style of skiful precise is stylized liberal style make it more plentiful and lively. All are designed in harmony of architectural features as possible to solemn and full of magnificent architecture and sculpture traditional. The House was recognized as a historical – cuture in 1997 by Ministry of Culture – Information.
The house is located on an area of 882m2 and surrounded by a garden area of over 4,400m2. Included spaces and two roofs. The pillars and walls were carved skillfully as bas-reliefs with images of dragons, phoenixes, turtles and lions and flowers. The house now has 120 pillars, comprising 68 round pillars and 52 square pillars; it originally had 160 pillars when it was built, said Tran Thi Ngo, wife of Ngo.
Inside the house, many wooden utensils such as tables, beds and trestle-beds as well as plates which are intricately carved and many ceramic objects of the Nguyen Dynasty are still carefully kept.
Hanoi Hilton (Hoa Lo prison)
The Hoa Lo Prison, later known to American prisoners of war as the "Hanoi Hilton", was a prison used by the French colonists in Vietnam for political prisoners and later by North Vietnam for prisoners of war during the Vietnam War.
There's not much left of the infamous "Hanoi Hilton," the prison that once housed captured American servicemen during the Vietnam War, including U.S. Air Force pilot Douglas "Pete" Peterson, the first U.S. ambassador to Hanoi. What does remain, however, is a small section of the old prison, which is now a museum, and the tree under which Do Muoi, the aging former general secretary of the Communist Party, used to sit while writing on the backs of leaves during his imprisonment by the French in the years of Vietminh resistance.
Hoa Lo Prison Museum is a blunt reminder of the horrors of colonialism and wartime imprisonment. Here, through the front gates of the old French Maison Centrale (Central House, or Prison), built in 1896, you can get a handle on what life was like for Vietnamese prisoners held during France's occupation of Vietnam. (The number of prisoners under the French grew from 615 in 1913 to 2,000 in 1953.) In the southern hall, beyond the grisly guillotine and body basket, are cells where death row prisoners, including Hoang Van Thu, Tran Dan Ninh, and Nguyen Van Cu (who escaped and became a powerful early leader of modern Vietnam), were held. These cells are dank, dark, and anything but welcoming.
On exhibit upstairs are Vietnamese propaganda photos of American POWs, including Senator John McCain and former Ambassador Peterson, cheerily shooting pool, cooking, and writing letters. You won't be able to see the building where the American pilots were kept since it has been torn down, as has the cell from which Do Muoi and 100 other prisoners escaped in 1945 through the maze of sewers that ran under the prison, parts of which are on display in the courtyard.
If you're looking for historical detail about the prison, you may be disappointed by the museum's guidebooks, which are far more inclined to talk about the size of the cells than reveal any nuggets about what took place behind the musty yellow walls. Note, too, that there's little information in English at the museum.
Ho Chi Minh museum
The Ho Chi Minh Museum in Hanoi is a dedicated museum. It was built in memory of a great man whose name is written in golden alphabets in the history of Vietnam. The special person was a great revolutionary and statesman and went on to become first the Prime Minister and then the President of North Vietnam. The great man was none other than Ho Chi Minh. The common people of Vietnam are indebted to him for what he has done for his country and as a mark of their gratitude the museum was dedicated to him apart from a city and a mausoleum which also shares his name.
The Ho Chi Minh Museum in Hanoi is the preserver of everything memorable related to the great revolutionist, Ho Chi Minh. The Museum consists of five extensive floors and was inaugurated on 2nd September, 1990, celebrating the 100th birthday occasion of the beloved President.
Features of Ho Chi Minh Museum in Hanoi
- The museum has an extensive collection of military order's, mementos, photo's of the Communist Party's earlier achievements, the great August and October revolutions, the country's fight against Fascism and the imperialist power and the world movement led by Ho Chi Minh.
- The best way to explore the Museum is to start from up and then go down. The Top floor has a beautiful centerpiece. It is a gargantuan gold lotus flower which also consists of smaller exhibits related to Ho Chi Minh's political activities.
- You can make your way from the Past section to the Future by following the symbols made in the shape of labyrinthine murals. The section houses automobile models.
- The National Liberation Movements are symbolized by a "volcano", bright red in color and surrounded by national totems.
- The Museum is also an example of fine Soviet architecture and so the visitors have he opportunity to enjoy both- the exhibits and structure.
- For safety reasons, no bags or cameras are allowed inside the museum.
Address- 3, Ngoc Ha Street, Hanoi, Vietnam
Contact Number- 04/ 846- 3752
Timings- Open From Tuesday to Thursday and also on weekends. 8 A.M to 11 A.M and 1:30 to 4:00 P.M
National Museum of Vietnam history
The National Museum of Vietnamese History (Vietnamese: Viện Bảo tàng Lịch sử Việt Nam) is located in the Hoan Kiem district of Hanoi, Vietnam.The museum used to be the museum of the Research Institute for Far-East history under French colonial rule (École française d'Extrême-Orient). Today, it is a museum showcasing Vietnam's history with a very large display of every period. It is housed in a colonial French building. The building, designed by the architect Ernest Hébrard is considered as a successful blend between the colonial French architecture and traditional Vietnamese architecture.
This is an exhaustive repository of Vietnamese ancient and historical relics nicely displayed with some bare-bones explanations in English. Housed in a building that was the French consulate until 1910 and a museum in various incarnations since, this collection walks you from prehistoric artifacts and carvings to funerary jars and some very fine examples of Dong Son drums from the north, excavations of Han tombs, Buddhist statuary, and everyday items of early history. It's the kind of place where schoolchildren are forced to go (and be careful if you see buses out front), and for anyone but history buffs, you might feel just as bored as the kids. For those on any kind of historical mission in Vietnam, I recommend contacting a tour agency and booking a knowledgeable guide for an excellent overview and a good beginning to any trip.
Vietnam Military History Museum
Formation
Most tourists have more or less heard of Vietnam’s historical and heroic struggle against mighty invaders from France and the USA. They, as a result, now flock to Vietnam in general and Hanoi in particular so as to figure out how such a small country as Vietnam could win over in the past severe resistance war!
Hence, in order to retain and preserve the factual objects, artifacts, and vivid proofs of the great national heroic struggle, the Ministry of Defence, under the Vietnam Communist Party’s policy, had the building of the Army Museum (to be changed into Military History Museum in 2002) constructed at the end of 1954, and held its opening ceremony on 22nd December, 1959 on the occasion of the 15thanniversary of the Vietnam People’s Army foundation.
Description
Located in the center of Hanoi, near V.L Lenin's statue, the Military History Museum is only 600 m from President Ho Chi Minh's Mausoleum to the East, and covers a 10,000 - square meter area.
Not only is this museum one of the seven national museums but also it acts as the headquarter of the army museum system. The museum exhibitions present the Vietnamese military history from the first period of founding the country to the Ho Chi Minh era. One of the well - known ancient monuments on the grounds of the museum in Hanoi flag Tower, classified as a national historic cultural monument. The construction of the Tower started in 1805 and was completed in 1812, with a height of nearly 31 m and a circumstance of 180 m.
Visiting the museum, tourists can see thousands of exhibits, photographs, maps, scale models of the past Vietnam war. Thanks to this, visitors will have a good general knowledge of the process of the birth, growth and victories of the Vietnamese people's armed forces for the cause of peace, independence and freedom.
These days, the Vietnam Military History Museum is widely open to all visitors, many of whom are from France and the USA, to come and explore the great victory’s secrets. Up to now, it has received more than 17,000,000 visitors including more than 2,141,000 foreigners from 150 countries worldwide.
Taking a Tour of Ha Tien Town to Admire Countless Breathtaking Landscapes
Founded in the early 18th century, Ha Tien Town of Kien Giang Province is situated on the Gulf of Thailand, 8 kilometers from the Cambodian border. The town and its surrounding area are endowed with a cluster of landscapes called the Ten Sights by people in bygone days, including Dong Ho Lake, Binh San Mountain, Thach Dong Grotto, Hon Chong Islet, Mui Nai Beach and Giang Thanh River.Standing on the peak of Binh San Mountain, Ha Tien Town looks like a painting either at dawn or sunset. Tourists in Vietnam travel can catch a unique panorama with a magnificent view of Voi Phuc Mountain on one side and the immense crystal waters of the East Sea on the other.
Thach Dong Grotto is like a man-made carving masterpiece, with mysterious stalactites of many shapes and sizes inspiring the imagination of all who see them. Visitors to Ha Tien should be sure to add Hon Chong Islet, also called Phu Tu Islet, to their itineraries. Here on can get lost in the peace and tranquility of nature and hear the sounds of waves crashing onto the shore. Hang Pagoda, an ancient pagoda filled with legends, is near Hon Chong Islet.
Mui Nai is one of Vietnam’s most popular beaches with clear water and endless white sand. Coming to Ha Tien, watching the sunset over Mui Nai Beach is another must-do. Tourists in Vietnam travel will take the chance to admire blazing red rays at the end of the horizon shine on the surface of the ocean harmonious rippling waves.
For a panoramic view of the sea Nai Vang Hill is an ideal choice. On the top of the hill, passers-by can contemplate the splendid landscape while enjoying a cup of coffee, talking with friends and even dancing as there is a dancing stage here. At night, one may stroll around Ha Tien markets, especially Dong Ho night market, to buy indigenous specialties. Dong Ho night market is always busy and is one of the most popular attractions of Ha Tien Town.
For coffee aficionados, Phuong Thanh Café is the place to appreciate a flavorful cup while enjoying the sweet melodies of swallows in harmony with folk songs. Many nests of swallows live in the roof of the coffee shop.
A tour of Ha Tien should always include the mausoleum of Mac Cuu, the founder of the area. Built 300 years ago, the mausoleum is located on a large hill surrounded by giant old trees, and the tombs of many of Mac Cuu’s family members are near the mausoleum. Carved figures of dragons, phoenixes, lions and guardians decorate all of the tombs.
Enjoy Dreamlike Beauty of Mui Nai Beach- Ha Tien- Kien Giang
Annually, Mui Nai Beach in Ha Tien attracts thousands of tourists in Vietnam travel coming to visit. The beach is very beautiful and dreamlike with brown sand and blue sea. Tourists can swim and see the sunset in the evening. Tourists can enjoy sunbathing on Mui Nai beach without being disturbed. There are some lifeguards along the beach to keep people safe and prevent stealing or conflicts.
Additionally, Mui Nai built a mini water park for the children nearby the beach. The children can play games, swim together and their parents do not have to worry about them. Next to the beach, there is a small market that sells sea food such as lobsters, sea crabs and squids. This market also sells souvenirs which are made from tortoise-shells for tourists in Vietnam tourism to buy as presents for their relatives and friends.
Mui Nai Beach- Ha Tien- Kien Giang
If you plan to come to Vietnam on the occasion of your holidays and especially you are a lover of beach, Mui Nai in Ha Tien, Kien Giang should not be missed on your journey!
Hon Chong Beach- An Ideal Tourist Attraction of Ha Tien- Kien Giang- Vietnam
Hon Chong beach is one of the most popular destinations for beach holidays in Vietnam. It is situated in Ha Tien, Kien Giang province. This ideal retreat is just perfect for the vacationers and holiday makers who come to this beach to explore the natural beauty, charm and magical splendor of the island. The period of December and May is considered the best time to visit the beach.
Hon Chong in Ha Tien is a beautiful beach marked by white sands and calm tropical waters of the sea. The long stretches of the beach can be ideal if you want to take a stroll along the beach and experience the charm of the place at its best. The swaying rows of palm trees all over the place add to the natural beauty of the beach. A large numbers of tourists and travelers from all over the world visit this beach every season to enjoy a few days in complete relaxation away from the rush of the ‘touristy’ places.
If you are a water sports freak, this beach is actually the perfect one for you. Coming to the Hon Chong Beach, tourists in Vietnam travel can indulge in various water sports like diving, scuba diving, surfing and many others. For the travelers, who come to the Hon Chong Beach during their tours in Vietnam, there are various categories of hotels and modes of accommodations. You can opt for the guest houses, lodges and beach resorts to put up a comfortable stay.
Hon Chong Beach- Ha Tien- Kien Giang- Vietnam
Thanks to its good connection to all other islands of Vietnam, Hon Chong beach in Ha Tien can be reached very easily by tourists in Vietnam travel. The nearby harbors offer convenient jetty service to take tourists to this beautiful beach of Kien Giang.
Hon Trem- A Charming Island in Kien Giang
Although Hon Trem may be a small island, it is definitely a proud one, as the island cradles among the country’s most attractive beach, the Bai Hon Trem. Tourists in Vietnam tourism coming to Kien Giang province are attracted to this charming island where they have chance to admire its golden yellow sand, crystal clear water and attractive coconut groves.
The beauty, however, does not end on its beaches’ warm sand. To its far end, an attractive resort sits on a cliff not very distant below the Chung Son Mountain. Filled with several fancy bungalows lined halfway up to the hill and an 80-room hotel built inshore to the hill base, the entirety of Hon Trem Resort is a perfect holiday getaway.
The little cape may be an attraction in itself, but anyone who comes for a visit will discover an incomparable panorama only to be seen atop from the resort. When the darkness covers the poetic view of the island at night, the lights peeking from windows of homes along the island twinkling in harmony with the tiny lamps from fishing boats of different sizes is equally as panoramic.
With the numerous options for recreation, including snorkeling at the beach front, scuba diving, boat trips, horse riding, walking along the beach and enjoying the water itself, tourists in Vietnam travel will never run out of things to see and do. Aside from sightseeing tours, fishing tours, guests can also sign up for guided to nearby attractions like Hang (Cave) Pagoda, Phu Tu (Father and Son) Island, and Tien (Fairy) Well.
If you want to find somewhere in Vietnam and enjoy your vacation, staying in Hon Trem Resort of Kien Giang will be a good ideal.
