"Haunted" Da Lat house gets facelift for curious visitors

Da Lat is said to have a number of “haunted” houses, but few as “infamous” as one house at the foot of Prenn Pass, Mimosa Valley built in 1930, which has undergone numerous repairs until, in 1986, it was sold to a French-Vietnamese man who died in a plane crash soon after buying it.

The house was abandoned, but it has attracted “stories” of murder and ghosts. A security guard committed suicide there in 1997, and taxi drivers in the city tell of one driver, who took a woman there on a short drive and died a few days later.

As rumours about the house grew, it attracted more and more curious visitors. But years of neglect left it in a shambles.

In early 2015, the house was sold to a businessman in HCM City. He cleaned up the garden, gave the house a facelift, and has reopened it for visitors.

"Haunted" Da Lat house gets facelift for curious visitors

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Waste collection tours offered on Ly Son Island

Ly Son is an attractive and interesting tourist destination but many travelers complain that they saw garbage everywhere, along the embankments around the island and at famous tourist attractions such as Cau Cave, To Vo gate, Hang Pagoda, and Duc Temple.

With the desire to improve the environment on the island and raise awareness of tourists, travel firm Viet Mark has designed a special tour to Ly Son, which combines sightseeing with collecting garbage and pulling weeds in garlic fields with local people. 

The first tour of over 80 people, mostly young people, was held in early October.

These travelers picked up garbage on the coast and tourist areas to transport to waste treatment facilities. Their action attracted the support and participation of many local residents. Everyone was very happy to do a meaningful task for the island.

Director of Viet Mark Travel Company, Do Tuan Anh, said this idea was launched in October and it mainly attracted youth. The company organized the first rubbish-collecting tour to Ho Tram for the first group of 30 tourists.

“I wish that through these tours, participants will be more aware of their responsibilities to the environment. This meaningful act will spread to many other people to preserve the beautiful landscape of the country,” Tuan Anh said.

Waste collection tours offered on Ly Son Island

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Aroma young glutinous rice of Vietnam Northwest

It’s the most joyous time of the year when people harvest young rice to make “Cốm” – green glutinous rice. People are busily sift and winnow rice, roast, and grind to make many dishes from young glutinous rice.   

Thai people in Nam Co, Mu Cang Chai District, Yen Bai Province say that in the past they used only terraced glutinous rice to make “com” because this variety has plump and glutinous grains and sweet aroma. Now the acreage of terraced fields has reduced, they use mostly Tan and Luong Phuong varieties grown in wet fields.

The harvest time of young rice to make “com” is when the grains look yellowish and are tasted as sweet as milk. Young rice is processed immediately after being harvested. Lo Thanh Phuong lives in Co hamlet of the Thai in Nam Co commune: “We harvest when the rice grains are not too old or too young. The grains should still have rice milk.”

The rice is hand-harvested and then winnowed using large, flat bamboo trays. The grains are then slowly, carefully dry roasted over a wood-fire and then transferred to a large mortar and pestle. 

The women gently pound the grains to remove husks to leave plump and glutinous green rice.  Lo Thi Hien in Co hamlet says: “We let the roasted grains to cool down and grind so the green rice grains don’t stick together. After grinding for a while, we sift the husks until we have pure green rice.”

Nam Co Commune has about 420 ha of rice fields, half of which is used to grow glutinous rice. In the past Thai women only made young green rice for their family or as gifts for their close relatives and distinguished guests. Now they make large quantity to serve tourists. 

Lo Thanh Phuong says: “Skillful women make delicious young green glutinous rice. When our grandmothers and mothers are old, young girls learn the craft to preserve our group’s culture.”

Nam Co is in the ripen rice season. Tourists to the northwestern region can enjoy the picturesque yellow terraced rice fields as well as the tasty young green rice of local ethnic groups.

Aroma young glutinous rice of Vietnam Northwest

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Million-years-old volcano sedimentary cliffs on Ly Son Island

After many years of study, Prof. Dr. Nguyen Hoang from the Japan National Science and Technology Institute found that volcanic activity on the island of Ly Son occurred in two main periods The first was approximately 10-11 million years ago and the second was about a million years ago (coinciding with the volcanic activity in Ba Lang An and Binh Chau). 

According to Prof. Nguyen Hoang, the volcanic eruption on the island of Ly Son varied, from the deep to shallow sea and on land. Each eruption formed lava layers of different thickness, which are still intact until today. This can be considered a “natural museum of volcanic activity” that is very rare in the world.

Experts said that the volcanic island of Ly Son was formed during a robust and complex tectonic environment, with litho-logical composition, mainly basalt rock, with geochemical nature diversity. 

Findings of the Vietnam Archaeology Institute showed that Ly Son island district was formed by the ruins of the activities of volcanic eruptions millions of years ago. The island has a volcanic terrain that occupies 70% of the area. There are many relics created by volcanic eruptions like Cau Cave, Hang Pagoda, Duc Temple, the archway … that have great value for tourism.

Volcano tectonic activity created the unique Hang Pagoda on the seaside of Ly Son Island. In addition to the volcano onshore, experts also found many volcanic sediments with different sizes on the seabed.

Quang Ngai province has allowed the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism in coordination with a private company – Doan Anh Duong – to invite experts to compile dossiers of the wreck graveyard in the seabed of Binh Chau, which will be submitted to the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism to consider as national relic site.

Also, they will compile dossiers of Binh Chau to seek recognition as a national geological park. Quang Ngai will also seek recognition of Ly Son district as a special national monument.

The sedimentary volcanic cliffs are in Bai Sau, An Binh Commune, Ly Son District, Quang Ngai Province. They look like two giant arms reaching out to the sea.   Dun cliff, the relic of volcanic activity in An Binh commune, Ly Son island district. Tourists take selfies at the volcanic sedimentary rocks in An Binh commune (Little Island), Ly Son island district. Many young couples go to Ly Son island district to take wedding photos, saving the beautiful moments at the cliffs. The volcanic sedimentary cliffs which look like a dinosaur stretching for kilometers in Dong Ho village, An Hai commune. A volcano sedimentary rock on the beach of Ly Son.

Photo: VNE

Million-years-old volcano sedimentary cliffs on Ly Son Island

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The season of yellow daisies in Ha Giang rock plateau

October and November is the blossoming time of orange daisies in Ha Giang. These trees grow up among rugged rocks.

Tourists are advised to travel by motorcycle to fully experience the beauty of the rocky land.

This is the best time for tourists to take photos.

The season of yellow daisies in Ha Giang rock plateau

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Must-visit pagodas in the Mekong Delta

For those who love to have a spiritual journey, the Mekong Delta is a great destination as it is home to a large number of temples. Here is a list of some famous pagodas in the region, compiled by news website VnExpress.

1. Xiem Can Pagoda

Xiem Can Pagoda in Bac Lieu Province is listed among the biggest and most splendid Khmer pagodas in southern Vietnam.

Built in 1887, it is located on a spacious lot with the gate facing east and Cambodia’s Angkor architectural style.

As a famous religious site of Bac Lieu, the pagoda is filled with locals and visitors who come to pray for good luck and happiness during major Khmer festivals.

Xiem Can Pagoda. Photo credit: VnExpress

2. The Bat Pagoda

The Bat Pagoda in Soc Trang Province is around three kilometers from the province’s downtown. It was built in the 16th century and is one of the oldest pagodas here.

The pagoda is famous for its beautiful architecture, especially its roof that shelters a large bat colony.

The pagoda also houses a full set of Ngu Am, traditional musical instruments that Khmer people often play during major festivals.

The Bat Pagoda

A set of Ngu Am music instruments in the Bat Pagoda

3. The Clay Pagoda

The formal name of this pagoda, also located in Soc Trang Province, is Buu Son Tu (Precious Mountain Temple).

It was founded over 200 years ago by a Chinese family named Ngo and is now run by members of the family’s fourth generation.

As nearly every object inside the pagoda is made entirely of clay, it is commonly called the Clay Pagoda. Visitors to the Clay Pagoda can see more than 1,900 small and large Buddha statues and a large number of prayer objects made of clay.

The gate of the Clay Pagoda

An elephant statue made of clay

4. Vinh Trang Pagoda

This temple stands at the heart of a 2-hectare orchard in a rural village around one kilometer northeast of My Tho City, the capital of Tien Giang Province.

The façade of the pagoda has features of both Asian and European architecture.

The beautiful green garden inside the pagoda gives visitors a relaxing time after a tour.

Vinh Trang Pagoda

5. Ang Pagoda

Ang (full name Ang Korajaborey) is the most ancient Khmer pagoda among 141 Khmer pagodas in Tra Vinh Province.

Located around five kilometers southwest of the province’s downtown, the pagoda mesmerizes with typical Khmer architecture.

Although it was built more than 10 centuries ago, the pagoda still retains its original objects and architectural features. It is surrounded by centuries-old green trees.

The pagoda is a famous spiritual destination of the province and a venue for Khmer festivals.

Ang Pagoda

Must-visit pagodas in the Mekong Delta

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Saigon’s biggest pet market in pictures

This place has become a familiar destination of those with the hobby of raising ornamental pets and plants in the city. Products in this market are rich in species such as plants, fish, birds …, together with many accessories and materials. The rent is from VND3-VND10 million/stall/month on the size. The owner of an ornamental tree shop said that the prices for ornamental trees here are affordable. There are ornamental plants worth ten USD and also those worth several thousand USD. The market also provides tons of rocks for rock-work makers each day.  Customers can purchase rock works priced from VND1 to VND10 million at the market. This is also the source of supply of ornamental fish for large ornamental fish stores in the city. Hundreds of species of birds are sold here. Some stores sell eagles and hawks, priced from VND500,000 to VND1 million/bird of 3-6 months of age. The area for selling and repairing birdcages is always crowded. The owner of a birdcage shop said he sold and repaired hundreds of birdcages each day. A shop selling accessories for making rock works. The market also sells wholesale and retail flower seeds, soil, fertilizers and plant protection products.

Photo: Zing

Source: vietnamnet.vn

Saigon’s biggest pet market in pictures

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