Golden sands of Sa Huynh offer guests diverse break from city life

Stretching for 6km along National Highway No 1, far from the noisy city, Sa Huynh offers a quiet escape along the central coast.

The area was a major salt production centre during the Nguyen Dynasty; its name means "golden sand". Today, tourists can visit the Sa Huynh salt field, where farmers still collect salt for production.

In the 20th century, French archeologists discovered many tombs containing jars and other artifacts. They revealed that the Sa Huynh civilisation was spread over a vast area, from Ngang Pass in the central province of Ha Tinh to Dong Nai and the Central Highlands. At Ma Vuong Hill, visitors can see many of these ancient relics.

"Tourists have many options for day trips. From Sa Huynh beach resort, you can take a half or full day to see the beach, travel in a boat or trek in the forest on Monkey Island," said Sa Huynh resort tour operator Thuy Kieu.

Home to 500 wild monkeys, the island offers adventurers a challenge. "You have to climb up a mountain to land on the island, although you can also rent a boat from local fishermen to explore the island by sea," Kieu said.

Seaside paradise: A corner of Sa Huynh beach in the central province of Quang Ngai. The beach attracts tourists with its golden sand, beautiful surroundings, culture and seafood. — Photos courtesy Sa Huynh Beach Resort

Visit on the 16th day of the third lunar month to see the annual fish-worshipping festival. Even on an ordinary day, there are plenty of watery activities. Kieu recommended hunting freshwater crabs in Sa Huynh lagoon with a local guide or visiting Thach Tru hot springs, 30km northeast of Sa Huynh. Discovered in 1837, the spring always has temperatures between 60 and 80oC; local people believe that bathing in it is good for their health.

"I visited Sa Huynh with my family last summer. We did a three-day and two-night stay and loved the ocean air and pristine beach. My children and I will never forget joining local fishermen to catch fish and enjoying grilled seafood over a campfire," said Vu Hong Thanh, a tourist from Ha Nam Province. "We hope to come again to relax and explore the culture and lifestyle of local people."

Seafood

Seafood delight: The spanner crab is a specialty at Sa Huynh beach.

Sea urchin is one of Sa Huynh's specialties. Salted urchin was a frequent offering to King Minh Mang during the Nguyen dynasty; today, divers hunt deep in the sea for this local delicacy, which can be grilled with onion and oil or placed in hot broth to make soup.

"Sea urchin is a very special food. It revives you after hard work or a long journey," said Nguyen Hoang Khanh, a self-described "gourmet" from Ha Noi. "My friends say it can even treat Alzheimer's!"

The red frog crab or spanner crab is another specialty.

"Binh Dinh and Sa Huynh have the best spanner crab," Khanh said. "I like it either steamed or grilled."

Sa Huynh's three restaurants can host around 1,000 visitors. There are also two hotels and nine bungalows.

Located in central Quang Ngai Province, Sa Huynh is easily accessible by car, train or plane. You can book a tour from travel agencies or go there on your own.

Fly to Chu Lai Airport in Quang Nam Province, 90km away from Sa Huynh, or Phu Cat Airport inBinh Dinh Province. Or take a train to Quang Ngai, followed by an hour-long bus ride.

Sa Huynh is often crowded on summer holidays and weekends. The tourism site attracts 15,000 visitors each year, of which 20 per cent are foreigners.

One day in Hanoi - where should we go?

Hanoi is an ancient and peaceful city that there are many destinations for you to visit. If you take the first visit to Hanoi, don’t miss major places in Hanoi such as: Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, Hoan Kiem Lake, Tempe of Literature, Long Bien Bridge. The travelling in Hanoi is very easy, you can go by taxi, Motor taxi, bicycles or any vehicles that you want. Considering the period for travelling in Hanoi that bases on where you go, because besides a destination to visit, Hanoi is the transshipment terminal among Northern provinces.

One day in Hanoi-where should we go?

After tasting a bowl of “Pho” in an early morning in Hanoi, you should depart for Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum first because this mausoleum opens in the morning except for Morning and Friday mornings.

Ho Chi Minh mausoleum

Next, you should go for the Temple of Literature, eat vermicelli and grilled chopped meat and “hot” steamed rolled rice pancake in the old wards.

In the afternoon, you should go round Hoan Kiem lake or walk along on the old wards, pass by The Opera House and the French street and freely go shopping some souvenirs to taste “street-style” dishes.

The Opera House

When you get tired of walking, you can visit some café restaurants to take a view of Hanoi wards (café in ancient ward Hang Gai, or some restaurants with more beautiful views like Ham Ca Map building near Hoan Kiem Lake. In the evening, you can take a walk or ride a bicycle into Long Bien Bridge, take a view to reach of the Red river gentle by a busy city. For your dinners, you can try baked dishes in Hang Bong Street, eat shellfishes on Dinh Liet street or fermented pork roll at Tam Thuong gate Hang Bong street and take a cup of ice tea on Ly Thai To ward.

Price for landscape views: Temple of Literature: 20 thousand dongs; Ngoc Son Temple, Hoa Lo prison, The national Museum: 25 thousand dongs.

Places for taking meals in Hanoi

In the mornings, you should taste “Pho”, to taste this unique dish, you have two options: Pho Bat Dan (49 Bat Dan), Pho Thin (11 Lo Duc). For lunches: Vermicelli and grilled chopped meat at 67 Duong Thanh or at 47c Mai Hac De can be great choices for you. In addition, restaurants of steamed rolled rice pancake are an alternative choice, such as Thanh Van steamed roller rice pancake at 14 Hang Ga or chain store systems of Gia An steamed roller rice pancake. In the evenings, you can taste baked dishes on Hang Bong street, eat shellfishes on Dinh Liet street or Nem Tai ba Hong on 35 Hang Thung street. Café “ancient wards” in Gate 11 Hang Gai street has been a famous address with a nice view to Hoan Kiem lake. If you want to try a true café favor, you should taste café Lam at 60 Nguyen Huu Huan.

 What vehicles can be used to travel in Hanoi?

You can use taxi and walking, or travelling by taking a bicycle. Going around Hanoi isn’t difficult. With travel destinations far from the centre of the city, you can go by motorbikes, buses or private cars.

Travel in Hanoi

Around Hanoi, there are many tourist destinations within 2 days of your weekends, or even 1 day. Below are suggestions for you:

-         Tam Dao: 80 kilometer-away from Hanoi

-         Dai Lai lake: 50 kilometer-away from Hanoi

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Resort areas around Ba Vi Mountain: Dam Long, Suoi Tien, Ho Tien Sa…

Ba Vi Mountain resort (with swimming pools with open air to go camping)

These destinations have available travel facilities, standard motels and by services which are suitable for relaxing and entertainment.

About vehicles, you can go by private cars of your families or your groups of friends’motorbikes.

Traditional craft villages near Hanoi

Famous craft villages around Hanoi including: Pottery Village Bat Trang, Van Phuc silk village, Non Chuong village which are interesting villages to come.

You can make a your own pottery pridducts

 Bat Trang Pottery Village: you can go there within a day. Come there, you will have a direct view to explore the tradition way of producing pottery products and explore the production procedures here by yourself. If you go to van Phuc silk village, you can visit some ole churches in the former province Ha Tay like: Tram Gian, Tram churches, or you can go along Day lake (to visit the Northern province villages)

Churches around Hanoi

Some churches in the suburbs of Hanoi that you can pass by like: Thay Pagoda, Dau pagoda, Boi Khe pagoda, But Thap pagoda, Do Hong picture village and Phu Lang pottery village… 

Conquering “the spine of dinosaur”

Let’s follow a backpacker’s journey to conquer “the spine of dinosaur”  on the top of Ta Xua mountain.

Imposing Ta Xua range creats a natural boundary between Yen Bai and Son La. To go to Ta Xua mountain range, you have to start from Ta Xua village belonging to Ban Cong commune, Tram Tau district, Yen Bai province). Ta Xua mountain range has three peaks. The highest peak of the mountain is where Vietnam flag tower is put at the height of 2,850 meters. At the second peak, there is still an old flag tower built in French colonial period. The third peak is in the middle and it is like a connecting line making the spine of dinosaur. There are two ways that help you to conquer “that spine”. One starts from Ta Xua village and another starts from Bac Yen. Leaving Ta Xua village, when the path to the top of Ta Xua become slippery and steep, you go to the forest edge. In your journey, you will see a cliff whose shape is similar to the head of a turtle. Many people take photos here. The turtle’s head stays at the height of 2,120 meters. It will be very exciting to meet an old turtle at that height. Ta Xua has a lot of flowers covering the whole forest and mountain-sides. It will take you two days of trekking in the forest to go to “the spine of dinosaur”. Therefore, you can camp under chestnuts with blooming white flowers overnight. Crossing the forest with burnt trees, you will meet steep cliffs. Coming here, because there is no path to go to two adjacent peaks, you have to cling to the cliffs to swing from this side to other side of mountain. When you come to the peak, you can see “the spine of dinosaur”. People call it like that because there is only a small path being as thin as a back of knife blade. Its height is around 2,500 meters.

Exploring Ba Na with four seasons a day

Ba Na has a special climate with four seasons a day, which makes many tourists be fascinated. To Ba Na, visitors will feel the sense like getting lost in the clouds and smog.

The way from the foot of mountain to the top of Ba Na is 15 kilometers in length. Going by Ba Na cable car, Tourists will start from Vong Nguyet hill, go through cloud and a primeval forest to go to the top. When standing at the top, you can easily contemplate the whole imposing landscapes, Mo stream, and Toc Tien waterfall, etc. This cable car route has set four world records: the longest one line car cable in the world (5,801 meters); the highest difference height between departure and destination (1,368.93 meters); the longest non-stop cable (11,585 meters); and the world heaviest cable rolls (141.24 tonnes). Enjoying the magnificent views from the summit, over the mountain, Ba Na is in green colour of primeval forests and blue colour of sky and sea. Ba Na is sparkling as a landscape photo. Belonging to Truong Son mountain range, Hoa Ninh commune, Hoa Vang district, Ba Na is 25 kilometers from Da Nang city. it has been famous for an ecological system with many species of rare animals and plants such as sandal-wood, mahogany, Asia black bear, gibbons, etc. According to statistics, the flora in Ba Na is abundant with more than 543 species, including 250 species of medical plants, 256 species of vertebrate animals (61 species of animals, 178 species of birds and 17 species of reptiles). Visting Ba Na, tourists will have a chance to enjoy special climate here. You will experience four seasons a day and explore special and interesting things. At the top of Ba Na mountain, tourists can experience the freeze of winter in the summer, feast your eyes on a mysterious view. That is so amazing! Getting up in early morning, the winter’s gone, the spring comes. It is full of sunlight. The temperature at 7 am is about 18 degree Celsius. At the midday, it turns to summer, but it is not as hot as the summer of the Central Vietnam. The hot weather just lasts a few hours and then it turns to autumn in the afternoon. Ba Na is a paradise of flowers. It is considered as the second Sapa in Vietnam. The weather of Ba Na is suitable for many species of  subtemperate flowers such as hydrangeas, and orchids, etc.Since 2004, local people here has built a big pagoda on the summit of Ba Na mountain. It is called Linh Ung pagoda. In addition, they put a Buddha statue that is 30 meters in height. Building a pagoda at the height of 1,500 meters above the sea level is a feat. Nowadays, Ba Na has been a pride of Vietnamese people in general and Da Nang people in particular. It is also a famous tourist attractions to many foreign travellers. Currently, Da Nang is still in the process of renovation, restoration, conservation of Buddhist cultural area, ancient villas and the construction of hotels to meet the needs of sightseeing, leisure for tourists.

Night safari in Cat Tien

Cat Tien National Park, Vietnam’s UNESCO-recognized World Biosphere Reserve, offers night safari trips for tourists willing to brave the jungle in the dark of night.

Birds and animals alike are spotted on the night safari in Cat Tien National Park. The deal is your safari starts at 8 p.m. after you have hired a jeep to explore the forest together with a local tour guide. From the park’s office, the car speeds through the bamboo forests and grasslands and appearing in front of you is a domain where animals often go seeking food. The driver stops and turns off the lights. The tour guide on the hood switches on the flashlight, creating streaks of light a hundred meters long and scanning before discovering some carefree deer grazing. Detecting the light, they lift their head and see tourists via their red and wild eyes in the dark. The truck penetrates deep through the forest and passengers may see a black wild boar, muntjac, porcupine or pangolin searching for food. Tourists jump on a specialized truck to head into the jungle at night. They quickly hide in the deep forest if they encounter humans, though, so be still and quiet if possible. On the road to the jungle, you have to be careful with unexpected long branches of trees which can hit your face.     So many varieties of birds rest on the branches of trees along the two sides of the road. Even when the light shines on them they stand quietly, and it’s an ideal spot for photographers to take some snapshots. When the flashlights and the flashes from cameras turn on, thousands of termite species try to attack the tourists. Cat Tien National Park is a natural reserve stretching over five districts of Tan Phu and Vinh Cuu (Dong Nai Province), Cat Tien and Bao Loc (Lam Dong Province), and Bu Dang (Binh Phuoc Province).

Visiting Can Tho ancient market

Most tourists coming to Can Tho are impressed by Can Tho ancient market lying on Hai Ba Trung street . Local people here often call it Hang Duong market or “six-province” market.

Can Tho ancient market was built in 1915. It is considered as the most beautiful architectural market in Mekog Delta. The market was repaired and upgraded in 2005. It attracts many tourists with the harmony of architecture, and the charming beauty. The market has a total area of 1,723 square meters. It is very interesting for tourists to go shopping and buy colorful costumes, traditional handicraft products, etc in tranquil atmosphere among a bustling city. Formerly, the market had Sao Hom restaurant serving Asian and European dishes for tourists. Also, Coming here, tourists can enjoy traditional dishes of the southern Vietnam and fruit in Mekong Delta. In recent years, Can Tho city has planed to build walking treets and cuisine area in Ninh Kieu, and in the ancient night market. Stopping here,  tourists can comtemplate charming Hau river curving behind the market.

Top famous hot springs in Viet Nam

Kim Boi, Bang, Van Hoi, Binh Chau... one of the most famous hot springs by the heat and natural beauty in Vietnam.

1. Kim Boi Hot Spring in Hoa Binh 

If you want to take a day off after long tiring journeys, Kim Boi Hot spring is the ideal place. About 30km drive from Hoa Binh town, tourists in Vietnam travel can easily access Ha Bi commune, Kim Boi district. The district covers an area of 682 km2 and lies in the hot spring of a mineral stream.

Clear water continually spouts from the fountains, generally between 34 degrees C and 36 degrees C. According to some scientific researchs, Kim Boi water resources can reach the required standard for quality; therefore, it  is proved to be suitable for drinking and bathing.

In fact, the Kim Boi mineral water is bottled for refreshment. It has almost the same composition as certain famous foreign brands of mineral water in the world. Moreover, it is believed that heated water can hold more dissolved solids and have a high mineral content including calcium or lithium or radium. As a result, this water is considerable as a highly effective therapy for rheumatism, intestinal diseases, high blood pressure etc. This can even be a good location for rehabilitation clinics for those with disabilities.

As for tourists in Vietnam travel, depending on their budget they can choose to stay at any hotels in the resort area. Wherever they are, the same point is that they can hear the sound of water spouting out, which is very relaxing. Being immersed in a large mineral water deposit of Kim Boi stream is also not unmemorable for every visitor. Certainly, no one will refuse to spend time in such a spot!

2. Bang Hot Mineral Spring in Quang Binh

Located in Bang Hamlet, Kim Thuy Commune, Quang Binh Province.

 Arriving at Bang Spring, tourists has the feeling of being in a fairy-land with the foggy nature by the steam from the Spring.

The Spring has been recorded as the only hot water source in Vietnam with an on-spot temperature of 105 degrees C.

Besides, the miraculous mineral spring, Bang spring is also a tourism attraction in Vietnam. While Phong Nha Ke Bang attracts tourists in Vietnam travel by its magnificent nature, Bang Spring is attractive with its fanciful, poetic scenery. Travelers can also boil things by the hot water in the spring. It is such a present that nature gives to Quang Binh that once coming here, tourists do not want to leave.

3. Kenh Ga Hot Spring in Ninh Binh

This spring is not only an eco-cultural tourist site with remarkable scenery but also an ideal resort for tourist in Vietnam travel, located in Ninh Binh province, it has unique hot salty water with a stable temperature of 53 degrees C, KCl, NaCl, Calcium and Bicarbonate that help medical treatments.

Vietnamese scientists have confirmed the good quality of this spring that is similar to the quality of convalescent areas of Germany and Russia. Until now, the main branches of the spring have been built to channel water into some pools for swimming and soaking. If visitors do not want to have a bath, they can get water from the spring to drink; The water is excellent for skin ailments such as scabies and vitiligo and curing a variety of stomach ailments and obesity.

4. Tay Vien Hot Spring in Quang Nam

About 3 kilometers  from My Son vestige towards the west is Tay Vien hot spring where is very well-known for bringing tourists in Vietnam travel enjoyment and relaxation. This spring is taken form from some earthquakes in the entrails of the earth millions of years ago.

The water is very clear, with the average temperature of about 85 degrees C. This is an ideal place for travelers to steam bath. It’s water contains many precious mineral substances such as calcium, sulphur, potassium and iron.Tourists can also have a mud – bath here, which can help them to relax and cure some sickness.

5. Dam Rong Hot Spring in Lam Dong

Located at Da Long commune, Dam Rong District, Lam Dong province, from Da Lat about 70 km to the northeast, Dam Rong Hot Spring is a point of eco-tourism and medical treatment in the country attractive fog fascinating.

This area is covered by natural forest and artificial trees with diverse types and has a stone table systems and interlocking slate. Hot water erupting underground upward look like clusters of fireworks exploded, the average temperature of the water is always at around 40- 45 degrees C, higher concentrations of sulfur hot springs in many other areas to treat skin diseases, arthritis, hypertension, cardiovascular disorders is very effective.

Tac Tinh Waterfall

“Tác Tình” Waterfall also known as Love waterfall, located in Binh Lu commune, Tam Duong District, Lai Chau province. This is one of the attractive landscape of Lai Chau province, attracting many visitors prefer to explore the natural beauty.

“Tac Tinh” Waterfall lies between a huge mountain area, from the far distance it likes a soft silk range are left itself in the immense space of majestic mountains. For long time ago, when the life of the Dao and local residents have been inextricably linked with the waterfall, cooling water source, following from year to another. The waterfall is key factor for the agricultural production and life of locals here.

Love Waterfall is so beautiful waterfall, but few people know the behind the stunning beauty that is a sad love story. The story tell that for long time ago, in a Dao ethnic at the foot of the waterfall there was a beautiful Lo Lan girl, her beauty is such as orchids flower . She fell in love with a guy in the same village and they had happy time together. But happiness was not long before the disaster has occured with two people, their love has faced with many obstacles. In order to fulfill all their love and loyalty vows between two people, she left herself into Lo Lan waterfall. Impressed by the action of  the young girl, locals here named it- Love waterfall to honor her with the desire to protect for the love story of two people.

With pristine natural scenery of northwestern mountains and intense love story, loyalty of the couple has created a waterfall just brought back the glamor has captivated mystery hearts.

Time goes by, the waterfall still remains the pristine beauty, tourists in Vietnam travel come to this place remains the impression will not fade away for waterfall of love.

Explore the various types of ecosystem in Chu Mon Ray National Park

Visiting Chu Mom Ray, tourists will be explored the villages of ethnic minorities such as HLang, Gia Rai, Ko Dong, Ro Mam. Guests will rest in the hollow or the cool community houses, enjoy dishes like as bamboo rice, Can wine, herbs and will have a great feeling when trekking in the National park.

Chu Mom Ray National Park has an are of 56.621ha, located in Sa Thay and Ngoc Hoi District, in the west of Kontum province, next to two conservation areas Virachey National Park of Cambodia and Southeast Ghong conservation area of Laos.

Scientists have noted in Chu Mom Ray National Park has nearly 1,500 species of plants which has 131 species identified as threatened such as orchids and 2,000 species of rare plants like as, kim giao, bamboo, etc. Having identified 620 species, including 11 species of mammals, 370 birds, 45 reptiles, 20 species of freshwater fish.

Highlights of the National Park boast up to 114 species in the Red Book of Vietnam and the world. In particular, the pasture (Ja Book Valley) on the largest type of Vietnam's areas (over 9,000 ha), in Chu Mom Ray National Park has many hoofed mammals and predators buff such as tiger, bull, bull, elephant, bear, and reptiles.

Visiting Chu Mom Ray, tourists will be explored the villages of ethnic minorities such as HLang, Gia Rai, Ko Dong, Ro Mam. Guests will rest in the hollow or the cool community, enjoy dishes like as rice, Can wine, herbs.

Con Ong Trang, an attractive spot of Cape Ca Mau National Park

Thanks to Mother of Nature, Con Ong Trang has several sand dunes which are covered with "mam " trees, looking as far as the picturesque scene in the immense sky. And each winter arrives, tourists could a chance to watch swarms of migratory birds en route srom the cold north to the warm south.

Ca Mau National Park, covered an area of 41,862ha, located in Dat Mui commune, Ngoc Hien district, Ca Mau province, nearly 400km away from Ho Chi Minh City. The National Park is originally covered by natural mangrove forest; nevertheless, the vast majority was destroyed during the Second Indochina War. Most of the aqua cultural ponds have been abandoned and now support extensive areas of re-colonizing mangrove forest. There are extensive mudflats which are also being colonized naturally by mangrove. These areas are continually growing due to accretion rates along the coastline of up to 50m per year in places.

Con Ong Trang, an attractive spot of Cape Ca Mau National Park, situated in Vien An Commune, Ngoc Hien district. It including the eco-tourism, water attractions.

Thanks to Mother of Nature, Con Ong Trang has several sand dunes covering with a lots of 'mam' tree, looking as far as the picturesque scene in the immense sky.

When each winter arrives, tourists could a chance to watch swarms of migratory birds en route from the cold north to the warm south. They will stop in here to look for food and then continue on to Australia's remote. With special natural conditions this area is not only meaning of  the significant economy, scientific research, but also a tourist attraction for visitors arriving Ca Mau.

In the future, Con Ong Trang and the area of alluvial soil in the west of Ca Mau will be the promising tourism of Ca Mau.

Cai Rang Floating Market

Together with Cai Be and Phung Hiep, Cai Rang Floating Market in Can Tho City is one of the three biggest in the Mekong Delta. The shops and stalls at the market are boats of different sizes.

Cai Rang Floating market, early morning

One of the most interesting sights in the Delta are the floating markets and associated river life. Cai Rang Floating Market is open all day but it is busiest from sunrise to about 9am. The main items sold there are farm products and specialties of Cai Rang Town, Chau Thanh District and neighboring areas. Every boat has a long upright pole at its bow on which samples of the goods for sale are hung.

During the early morning market hours, larger sized boats anchor and create lanes that smaller boats weave in and out of. The waterway becomes a maze of hundreds of boats packed with mango, bananas, papaya, pineapple, and even smuggled goods like cigarettes. Sellers do not have to cry out about their goods because their goods can be seen in a distance and their cries would not be heard in the vastness of the river and the noise of boat engines. Small boats that sell beer, wine and soft drinks go among the other boats to serve market-goers and visitors. Sellers tie their goods to a

Transporting fruit on a small boat

tall pole so that buyers can see from a distance what they are selling.

Each boat is loaded with plenty of seasonal goods. Activities at the market are also an occasion for tourists to study the cultural aspects of southerners. You can see the market in the distance, it does not look like much, just a mass of boats. The boats all display their wares on a mast so you can see what they have available.

To visit Cai Rang Floating Market, visitors can join a tour of the Mekong Delta. On the way to Can Tho, visitors can stop to visit My Tho and take a boat trip to visit orchards, bee farms and coconut candy establishments in Ben Tre.

Have you been to the Cai Rang Floating Market? If not yet, let’s take a 30 minute boat ride to the market. You will be actually awake and enjoying it! You wind find it very peaceful floating down the river in the early morning. Then, tell us why you think this market is a great place!

Ao dai on the streets of Saigon half a century ago

Images of the graceful ao dai on the streets of Saigon over the past half century ago has been archived by the famous magazine Life of the USA.

The pictures were taken in 1961 in Sai Gon. They portray the beauty of Vietnamese women and the Vietnamese traditional gowns in daily life.

Source: vietnamnet

EXPLORING COMMUNITY TRAVEL IN VAN LONG

Currently, many tourists come to Ninh Binh city to contemplate its charming beauty as well as experience homestay service in Van Long Nature Reserve.

Going along the Highway 1A about 90 kilometers from Hanoi to Gian Khau intersection, turn right and keep going about 8 kilometers and then turn right and go two more kilometers, tourists will come to Van Long Nature Reserve. With an area of more than 3,000 hectares, stretching in seven communes: Gia Hung, Lien Son, Gia Hoa, Gia Lap, Gia Tan, Gia Thanh and Gia Van, Van Long is the largest natural reserve of westlands in the northern Vietnam. It looks like a water-colour painting with spectacular limestone mountains. Limestone mountains here are named after their specific shapes. In these mountains, there are 32 caves such as Ca cave, Bong cave, Rua cave, Chanh cave and Thung Doi cave, etc. Forest ecosystems in Van Long is very abundant with about 722 species of plants, including 687 species of vascular plants, 35 species of aquatic plants; and 39 species of animals, including 12 rare aninals; as well as 38 species of frog, and reptile; and 100 species of birds. Besides the beautiful landscapes, Van Long has many historical and cultural relics such as: Dich Long pagoda, Hoa Lu cave, shrines, etc. Since 2005, local people here not only grow rice or breed cattle and poultry but also do extra jobs like travel services to introduce natural values and special features of local culuture to tourists. Therefore, tourists coming here can not only experience daily life with local people but also have a chance to travel by cart. In near future, Van Long will become a typical ecosystem tourist attraction in Ninh Binh city.