Ton Thanh Pagoda

The ancient pagoda of Ton Thanh is located in My Loc Commune, Can Giuoc District, Long An Province. The 200 year-old pagoda is the place where Nguyen Dinh Chieu, a great poet and patriotic scholar lived and d the most celebrated works in Vietnamese literature.

According to history books, Ton Thanh Pagoda with its initial name of Lan Nha was built by Buddhist monk Vien Ngo in the year of the 7th Gia Long (1808). In the year of the 5th Thieu Tri, Buddhist monk Vien Ngo, who followed the Buddhist religion for 40 years but did not reach the peak of the way in his religion, decided to sit in meditation without drinking water for 49 days and then passed away. To commemorate the monk who devoted his whole life to the Buddhist religion, the locals call the pagoda Tang Ngo or Ong Ngo and Lao Ngo. 

Ton Thanh Pagoda is the oldest one in Long An Province.
According to “Dai Nam Nhat Thong Chi” (Essays on the United Great Vietnam)
Ton Thanh Pagoda was the most famous one in Gia Dinh Area (in the past). 
Despite being restored several times, Ton Thanh Pagoda built in 1808 retains its 19th
century architectual style.
Beautiful patterns of the pagoda's roof.
Visiting the pagoda, tourists have a chance to learn about the ancient architectural work
and its historical value.

Sixteen years latter, Ton Thanh Pagoda became famous for being the place where poet Nguyen Dinh Chieu wrote “Van Te nghia si Can Giuoc” (Funeral Oration for the Partisans of Can Giuoc). During three years living in the pagoda, from 1859 to 1861, the blind poet wrote many literary works and made up medicine to treat the locals. In a surprise attack on Tay Duong Military Post in Truong Binh Market on the night of the 15th day of lunar calendar in the Year of Cock (1861), one of the three wings of Can Giuoc Insurgent Army started from Tan Thanh Pagoda. The insurgent army killed a mandarin of the French, called Hai Phu Lang Sa by the locals. Being moved and fired up by the courageous sacrifices of Can Giuoc soldiers, poet Nguyen Dinh Chieu created “Van te nghia si Can Giuoc” at Ton Thanh Pagoda.

At present, the relics of poet Nguyen Dinh Chieu and the “Van te nghia si Can Giuoc” are still preserved at the precinct of the pagoda. They are two steles, one about poet Nguyen Dinh Chieu built in 1973 and the second excerpting “Van te nghia si Can Gioc” built in 1998. In the garden of the pagoda, there are a three-story tower in the shape of hexagon, 4.5m high, of monk Vien Ngo with the highest storey inscribed with scripts “Glory to Buddha Amitabha” and a square three-storey Tower, 3m in height of Buddhist Monk Tac Thanh.

After being restored several times, the pagoda has experienced a lot of changes. It now consists of a complex of a worshiping hall, a sanctum, a preaching house and corridors in the west and the east. Particularly, the pagoda only preserves the old architectural style with a system of four pillars in the main sanctum, several Buddhist statues from the early 19th century, parallels and the most valuable statue of Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva which is 110m high and is made from bronze.

The central chamber of Ton Thanh Pagoda.
The ancient bell in Ton Thanh Pagoda.
A row of Arhats inside Ton Thanh Pagoda.

With historical values, Ton Thanh Pagoda has become a destination, attracting a large number of tourists.

Finding treasure on Pirate Island

Stories about a violent past serve as a major source of entertainment on a small island off the Mekong Delta province of Kien Giang.

 Hai Tac (Pirate) Island, officially known as Tre (bamboo) or Đốc Island,
in Kien Giang Province is a worth visiting place in the Mekong Delta

Many people say the only fun you can have in Ha Tien Town is on Hai Tac (Pirate) Island, which is officially known as Tre (bamboo) or Đốc Island.

Curious, we went to Kien Giang Province and got on a motorboat heading for the island, which is some 11 nautical miles, or 21.7 kilometers off Ha Tien.

We arrived at the Nam (south) beach after two hours and managed to catch the sun going down into the sea, and gazed at a sight one can never tire of, one that never fails to strike awe.

At a nearby fishing port, local people were busy unloading their catch, buying and selling. Various marine creatures were being sold: flower crabs, squids, prawns, and many kinds of fish, at quite affordable prices of around VND70,000-80,000 (US$3.31-3.78) per kilogram.

If we, as visitors, were tempted to make a purchase here, the sellers themselves would arrange to have it cooked without any fuss. Tourism services might be scant on the island, but the locals more than make up with their hospitality and friendliness.

Actually, visitors can even catch their own seafood under instructions from local volunteer tour guides. During our visit, we had a lot of fun catching crabs at rock reefs at night. Equipped with powerful flashlights, we looked for the crustaceans that usually head to the shore, seeking food and/or mates, and to lay eggs. Once you find a crab, it is important to keep the light’s focus on its eyes, which will “paralyze” it. Then follow the light and impale it with a fork.

A lucky or good catcher can harvest several kilograms of crabs a night to cook with porridge or steam them in beer. Flower crabs steamed in beer is a highly recommended specialty for anyone who visits Pirate Island.

The next morning we got up early and watched sunrise at sea, as bewitching as the sunset, before heading to Dua (pineapple), one of the famous beaches on the island. Getting narrower and narrower until it disappears under the water, the beach is also known as Duoi Ha Ba, which means “sea god’s tail,” translated literally.

Then there is the “floating turtle” – a little bay with coconut palms and rocks known as Dong Dua (coconut cavern). Not far from the “turtle,” is the Chen (bowl) Beach. The two-kilometer long beach is mostly covered with rocks that look like overturned bowls when the tide is low.

Since the island is just some 15 kilometers long with a road on one side and sea on the other, tourists can rent a motorbike and go around the island without being afraid of getting lost.

We met a veteran fisherman named Tu who told us about the legend of pirates on the island. It is a story that his grandfather told him, Tu said.

A long time ago, the island was the base of a pirate gang called Canh Buom Den (black sail). They targeted ships operating in the waters between Ha Tien and Rach Gia towns, as well as a large part of waters in the Gulf of Thailand. It is said that the pirates hung a broom on the ship’s mast, implying that they would “sweep up” all the property from their victims.

Tu said several people believe the pirates have buried a treasure somewhere on the island. One day in March 1983, locals arrested two people as they were digging for the treasure. They claimed they had a 300-year-old map handed down through generations in their families.

Their claimed was never verified, and to add more mystery, in 2009 some local fishermen found a quite large amount of ancient coins when they were diving to catch snails and seahorses.

Meanwhile, going by historical records, between 1,700 and the early 20th century, Ha Tien was a trading port that welcomed many ships from the west and the east, including those transporting pottery and silk from Spain and Portugal to Asia.

Thus, islands around the port, especially in the Gulf of Thailand, became ideal bases for pirate gangs. Canh Buom Den was one of the most infamous, haunting trading ships until the early 20th century.

It is difficult to ascertain how much of the pirate stories we get to hear are true, but whatever happened in the past, it is true now that the telling and retelling of these stories keep visitors and residents entertained.

Life is very different from those days. The island is now home to more than 1,000 families who live mainly on fishing. There are schools, clinics and post offices, and the pleasant, peaceful island bears no resemblance to its popular name.

 GETTING THERE

Đốc and 15 other islands make up the Hai Tac (pirate) Archipelago. A landmark graved with the archipelago’s location and name can be found in the west side of Đốc. It was built in 1958.

Ha Tien is some 350 kilometers from Ho Chi Minh City. Tourists can take a direct bus to the town. Or go to Rach Gia Town by bus or by air, and then take a bus to Ha Tien, which is some 100 kilometers away.

Bus tickets to Ha Tien and Rach Gia can be bought at HCMC’s Mien Tay (Western) Bus Station – 395 Kinh Duong Vuong Street, Binh Tan District.

From Ha Tien, tourists can take a boat with the fare of VND36,000 ($1.7) per person, and reach Đốc more than one hour later. The boat leaves Ha Tien at 9:30 a.m. and returns at 3 p.m. every day.

Or, from Rach Gia, take hydrofoil. A one-way trip costs VND65,000 ($3.11) per person and takes 45-60 minutes. 

                                                                                Provide by  Vietnam travel guide

Tour discovers Ha Noi's largest market

Join a city walk on Friday, March 8 to discover Ha Noi’s largest market, Dong Xuan, and its surrounding area.

Quan Chuong Gate on Hang Chieu Street, an old eastern gate of Ha Noi. (Photo: Internet)

Hosted by the Friends of Viet Nam Heritage (FVH) – a group consisting of foreigners living in the capital city who work voluntarily to promote and preserve Vietnamese cultural and historical heritage – the Japanese-speaking tour will start from 9.30am until 11.30am.

The walks will commence in front of Quan Chuong Gate on Hang Chieu Street, an old eastern gate of Ha Noi, and go around the Dong Xuan Market area including the wholesale market itself.

To register, contact Yoshiko Tomiyama at herijapan@yahoo.co.jp. The fee is VND70,000, and each tour is limited to eight people. First-ever North-South friendship rugby trophy match to be held

The Ha Noi Dragons Rugby Union Football Club will host the first ever North-South Friendship Trophy rugby match on Saturday. The match will feature two teams Ha Noi Dragons and Sai Gon Geckos which are among the best in Viet Nam.

For anyone that wants to give touch rugby a go, feel free to jump in to learn and enjoy the game. The friendship match will take place from 2-4pm at the Ha Dong Stadium, 27 To Hieu Street, Thanh Xuan District.

Thang Thien Waterfall Ecotourism Resort – Ideal Destination to Relax

It is quite difficult to find a fresh, clean and airy palce escape from the smoky, dusty and stuffy atmosphere during the weekend when living in a crowded urban area. On a day I bumped into a classmate from university, after endless gossips of friends who met after a long time, I was recommended Thang Thien Waterfall Ecotourism Resort as a place to relax and enjoy the beauty of Mother Earth.

A self-organised couchsurfing tour was then arranged among a group of closefriends. We made thorough investigation before settling on this place. We logged in websites to seek for opinions of tourists about the destination. Thang Thien Waterfall Ecotourism Resort is just 53km northwest of Hanoi. It is a complex of natural forests on an area of over 350 hectares in Vien Nam Mountain range in Dan Hoa commune, Ky Son district, Hoa Binh province.

There are four waterfalls falling down the spring and pouring white foam from the height of several dozen to hundreds of meters. I was immediately fascinated by the place despite such a short time of getting to know it.

Arriving at the place, we could not help feeling excited when breathing in the fresh air of the forests. All the noise and hurry of traffic in the city was temporarily left behind, letting us enjoy the quietness of the resort. Joining with other groups of tourists, we felt the energy and excitement inside them when they investigated and discovered new things. Nobody gave up the excursion despite being bitten by terrestrial leeches. 

The challenging journey was filled with laughter and happiness. I was curious to know how many tourists had set foot on this path to witness waterfalls falling down from high above and creating sparkling sights.

Taking nice pictures made us really lured by Thang Thien waterfall. In addition, we were offered delicacies of Hoa Binh mountainous area and traditional music performances of local people. This is an ideal place for weekend trips, offering us a chance to relax as well as to investigate cultural values of ethnic minorities groups in Hoa Binh province. Another thing which surprised me was the conveniences of the neat and tidy houses along the mountain side where we could drop in for a rest during the excursion. There were also entertainment areas, including swimming pools, golf courts and slides.

I learned that Thanh Thang Commerce and Tourism JSC, directed by Mr Long Thai Lam, is the owner of Thang Thien Waterfall Ecotourism Resort. Mr. Lam was born and grew up in Thai Nguyen province. After graduating from the University of Forestry of Vietnam, he decided to invest in Hoa Binh province after conducting lots of surveys in different places.

In 2002, the company was officially founded and received enthusiastic support from leaders of the Provincial People’s Committee. With the objective of “Planting, caring for and protecting upper montane forest and exploiting ecotourism at Thang Thien waterfall”, since 2004, the company has completed its forestation plan, spreading trees on 58.9 hectares of land which used to be deforested by the locals for farming land.

The natural forest has now been replanted and the trees now provide shade, creating a pure environment and nice scenery. The company has also put efforts into constructing works (dams, bridges across the stream, entertainment areas and markets) and put into operation 3km of concrete road which leads into the resort, 4.5km of stone-covered paths for internal walking in the resort and 2.5km of road for transportation of seed trees and forest patrolling. Through these activities, Thanh Thang Company has made great contribution to local socio-economic development.

Every year, the company attracts hundreds of thousands of tourists to Hoa Binh and thereby brings the culture and people of Hoa Binh closer to tourists. In the time to come, Thanh Thang Company plans to invest, upgrade and turn Thang Thien Waterfall Ecotourism Resort into a high-class place for relaxation. It is hoped that efforts made by Thang Thien will bring tourists satisfaction and comfort.

The Peak of Hon Ba Mountain

Hon Ba Mountain is considered “Da Lat of the Beach City” when endowed by nature with a cool climate all year round. After a long trek on the winding and misty path, tourists reach the peak of the mountain at an altitude of 1,500m where they have a panoramic view of the magnificent and imposing scenery of the region.

Hon Ba Mountain is located in Cam Lam District, Khanh Hoa Province, 60km north of Nha Trang. The area has a temperate climate and boasts primitive forests hundreds of years old so it is an ideal place for those who want to discover wild, natural beauty. Allured by the charm of the area, we decided to make a trip to Hon Ba Mountain.

Hon Ba Mountain is like a  sleeping fairy in the forest.

Da Giang Stream is located near the road leading to Hon Ba Mountain.

The wild beauty on the mountain.

The road to Hon Ba Mountain.

The abundant eco-system on Hon Ba Mountain.

The diversified eco-system on Hon Ba Moutain. 

A panoramic view of Nha Trang Bay seen from the peak of Hon Ba Mountain.

At 6:30a.m, we started our trip to the peak of the mountain. On the way, we stopped at Suoi Nguon Tourist Area at a height of 300m where we had a delicious meal of grilled chicken, while listening to the murmur of streams running through banana and durian forests and looking at the view of Nha Trang in the distance. We all experienced an interesting feeling when we sometimes walked through floating clouds during our trip. We also visited Hon Ba Nature Reserve. According to statistics, the reserve boasts 529 varieties of vascular plants (tracheophyta) under 401 branches and 120 families, including 43 precious and rare varieties listed in the Red Book, such as Krempt’s Pine (Pinus Krempfii), Fokienia and Rhodoleia Championii. At present, a nursery is being built in the reserve with the aim of breeding and preserving rare plants which are then planted in a 70ha garden.

At 10:30a.m, we were at the middle of the mountain at a height of 900m. Below was the scenery of the land of Cam Lam and above were dense primitive forests with thousands of old trees in clouds, creating a romantic picture.

At 12p.m., we finally reached the peak of the mountain at an altitude of 1,500m. All of us felt very excited and discovered the place where there stands a wooden house of the famous French doctor, Alexandre Yersin (1863-1943) who opened the path to the peak of the mountain 100 years ago. The doctor spent his youth discovering Da Lat, conducting scientific research, establishing monitoring stations and finding many rare varieties of herbal plants.

The house of doctor Alexandre Yersin at the peak of Hon Ba Mountain.

Inside the house of Doctor A.Yersin.

The bedroom of Doctor A.Yersin.

Doctor Alexandre Yersin's nursery tray.

The scenery from Doctor A.Yersin’s house.

The two-floor wooden house covering a total area of 100m2 was restored in 2004. Now it is a library with many objects of great historical value, such as a stone table, chair and bed. However, we were mostly impressed by the garden of medicinal herbs with two hundred-year-old green tea trees (camellia sinensis).
At 1p.m., we left the peak of the mountain during a sudden rain and all of us will surely never forget the memories of this beautiful place.