Wednesday, May 7, 2014

Discovering The Red River Delta

As a city with over 1.000 years of history, central Hanoi is filled with many enchanting historical landmarks and incredible architectural heritage. One of the capital’s most visited areas is the old Quarter, a centuries-old bustling center of industry and trade that is home to a mesmerizing street life, no shortage of restaurants and bars catering for tourists, but also thin streets and many of whom still ply traditional trades.

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Tran Quoc Pagoda, Ha Noi City
Elsewhere, every day visitors and locals alike flock to Hoan Kiem Lake, West Lake and Truc Bach Lake, each one a becalming focal point in a city filled with millions of motorbikes. You can also learn more about Vietnamese spirituality by visiting building such as Tran Quoc Pagoda, The temple of literature (Vietnam’s first University), Bo de pagoda of Co Ngu Street where you will find one of old gateways to Thang Long (the old name for the capital).
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Hoan Kiem Lake, Hanoi city

After discovering the city, it’s also well worth your time to organize a one-day tor to the Red river so you can learn evern more about Northern Vietnam’s fascinating craft villages, where skilled artisans have been chiseling away for generations. The Red River Delta area the bread basket of the north as well as the cradle of Vietnamese civilization – is also home to an array of sacred temples where gods, local deities, legendary heroes and other patron saints ar worshipped.

If the stuffy summer heat, a trip out of Hanoi and into the heart of the northern delta can also be simply refreshing – you can organize an itinerary the mathches your interest and travel by boat, car or mini-van
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Thăng Long, Ha Noi city

Two of the famous temples, Dau Temple (Chùa Đậu) and Dai Lo Temple (Đền Đại Lộ), can be found in Ha tay province. Both temples honor the Mother of Water, one of the three Mother Goddesses in northern culture together with the Goddess of Heaven and Goddess of Forest and Mountains.

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Đậu Temple, Ha Tay Province

Another sacred place of interest is Chu Dong Tu temple (often called the temple of love, Vietnamese Đền Chữ Đổng Tử) in Hung Yen province. This temple, also known as Da Hoa Temple, honors Saint Chu Dong Tu and his wife Tien Dung, once a princess, but disowned by the king for marrying a lowly fisherman. After their marriage, Chu Dong Tu Travelled overseas where he met a monk and attained enlightenment. Whe he returned, he and Tien Dung roamed the delta to preach religion and provide medical care. Today he is revered as one of the country;s four immortal heroes, who introduced practices that transformes the fledgling civilization.

 
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Chu Dong Tu Temple

There are many more wonderful pagodas in Bac Ninh Province, such as But Thap temple (Vietnamese: Chùa Bút Tháp), Dau Temple (Chùa Dâu) and Chua Keo – the latter two are two are amongst the two oldest pagodas in northern and were closely linked to the Luy Lau citadel, originally constructed in the 2nd Century A.D.

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Bút Tháp Temple, Bắc Ninh

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Dâu Temple, Bac Ninh Province

Another worthwhile destination is in Hung Yen Province’s Pho Hien (Phố Hiến), an ancient architectural complex consisting of 60 historic sites and many temples. Hien Temple is home to the oldest longan tree in the province. Planted in the 16thcentury, today, the tree is still green and healthy and the fruit it bears has thick pulp yet a thin peel, small grains and a cool sweet taste.
 
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Phố Hiến, Hưng Yên Province

One highly enjoyable addition to your itinerary could be a performance by Quan Ho Singers who will coo traditional love duet, a form of music recognized by UNESCO as an intangible cultural heritage, as you float down the Red River. 
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Red River (Vietnamese: Sông Hồng)

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Red River (Vietnamese: Sông Hồng)

In the past, many of the craft villages in the Reds River Delta (Đồng Bằng Sông Hồng) , where home to guilds of artisans that supplied the royal family in Thang Long (Ascending Dragon) with various products. One of the most famous is Bat Trang village, which has been producing porcelain and pottery on the bank of the Red River, just outside Hanoi, for centuries. The village is a fascinating place for visitor with a labyrinth of alleyways and lanes, where dozens of pottery houses can be found churning out bowls, dishes, vases, terracotta seats, porelain figurines and much more. It’s a great place to pick up some souvenirs and if you’re really inspired, you can sign up for a pottery class,too.
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Ho Chi Minh mausoleum, Hanoi city

Another place of interest is Phu Thi commune (Gia Lam District, Hanoi) which has retained many of the typical features of a typical northern village – in the past villages were laid out by following local feng shui principles (for example, many villages would have a communal house, a banyan tree and the gateway)

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This is also the homeland of a number of prominent intellectuals, including the philosophy Chu Manh Trinh, The panter Duong Bich Lien, the poet Nguyen Thi Hong Ngat and the writer Duong Thi Xuan Quy. In Phu Thi village, every visitor simply mus order a plate of banh cuon Phu Thi, Steamed rice rolls (served thicker than other versions of banh cuon you may have tried). You can also eat a wonderful tofu dish with a special nutty taste. From around April to Jyly, it is the best time to eat Vo Soup (a special soup with the short-lived insect called Vo).

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The delta is also the home of banh duc (a savory cake made from rice flour), banh da (a cracker no unlike an Indian papadum) and many other scrumptious snacks. You can also look out for voi tea or a simple, cleansing cup of Vietnamese green tea.

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Between visiting landmarks, craft villages, and eating local specialties, visitor to the Red river Delta can simply appreciate the lush landscapes and peaceful green fields while imagining how it all began here for Vietnam thousands of year ago.

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