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Are you a beach bum or an adventure lover? It does not matter that you are interested in a relaxing trip, a cultural trip or an adventurous one, Vietnam has it all. Owing to gorgeous natural landscapes, paradise beaches, dynamic cities and unique culture, Vietnam can offer you a vacation with various possibilities.

7 Things to buy in Hue - A Heaven of Handicrafts

The ancient capital of Hue has roots that run far deeper than its Imperial kingdom. The villages in its surrounding areas had been specializing in artisanal handicrafts long before Hue became the seat of the King, and have continued to do so long after he relinquished power. [incredible_toc]Hue has developed into a popular tourist destination since then, but still, most tourists who come to shop in Hue neglect to check out its satellite villages, each of which has a strong passion for the craft in which they specialize. There are around 70 of these villages in Hue Province and a visit to any of them will give tourists a wealth of souvenir options. Incredible Asia Journeys will suggest you 7 best things to buy in Hue!Perfume River Hue1. Non Bai Tho1.1. What is the Non Bai Tho?One of the best things to do in Hue is to go shopping Non Bai Tho (Poem Conical Hat). All tourists know of the conical Palm Leaf Hat (Non La) worn by Vietnamese people in the farmland and occasionally the city, but many don’t know of its Hue-based origins. The farmers of Hue Province invented the hat first because of the strong sun and heavy rain so prevalent in this region. To distinguish their original from the growing popularity of the Non La throughout the country, Hue’s artisans developed embroidery techniques to stitch song lyrics, poems, and iconic Vietnamese scenery between the two layers of palm leaf. This became known as the Non Bai Tho, or Poem Hat, and its words can only be read in sunlight, making it one of the most magical things to buy in Hue.1.2. Where can I buy a Non Bai Tho?Tay Ho Village about 12km from Hue City is the mecca for Non Bai Tho. Girls here start learning to weave poems into palm leaves when they are about 10, with boys helping to collect the materials and iron them for the girls. The tradition started in 1959 and its technique remains unchanged since then because machines lack the dexterity needed for weaving.Non Bai Tho in Hue2. Sinh Folk Paintings2.1. What are Sinh Folk Paintings?The tradition of folk paintings is known across the whole of Vietnam; the north has Hang Trong and Dong Ho paintings in Hanoi, while Hue Province has Sinh paintings. These works of art are made on woodblock and pressed onto Do paper, using brushes made from pineapple tree roots, meaning that it’s a very natural process from beginning to end. Sinh paintings are largely religious and are burned at the end of the year in accordance with Vietnamese folklore.2.2. Where can I buy Sinh Folk Paintings?As long as you don’t adhere too strictly to Vietnamese folklore, you can keep your naturally-made Sinh painting forever. A trip to Sinh Village 9km from Hue will reveal the wealth of choice on offer, with hundreds of colorful, durable paintings hanging from the walls of village houses. Sinh Folk Paintings in Hue3. Ke Mon Jewellery3.1. What is Ke Mon Jewellery?The artisanal jewelry of Hue Province actually stemmed from one single man, Cao Dinh Do, who moved here from Thanh Hoa Province to teach villagers the ways of precious metals. In the past, the gold bracelets, earrings, rings and various other highly-prized pieces of jewellery were admired by Vietnam’s super rich and the royal family in Hue.3.2. Where can I buy Ke Mon Jewellery?Anyone looking for higher-end shopping in Hue should head to Ke Mon Village, lying about 40km northwest of Hue City. Though this is definitely one of the most expensive things to buy in Hue Province, you cannot fault the intricate quality of the material and its decorations. Ke Mon Village also has several pagodas and statues made of gold, meaning it is well worth the trip for tourists who are into precious metals.4. Lien Calligraphy4.1. What is Lien Calligraphy?The large scrolls and banners featuring Chinese letter characters around Vietnam are all examples of Lien calligraphy. Vietnam comes alive with these banners during big celebrations like the Vietnamese New Year (Tet) and the Mid-Autumn Festival (Ram). The banners contain messages of health, money and luck so that households adorned with them can welcome in the new year with the best advantages possible.4.2. Where can I buy Lien Calligraphy?These large banners might be a bit troublesome to take home, but they certainly liven up any room with their vivid colors and bold, beautiful lettering. Chuon Village (also called An Truyen Village) is a place in Hue Province that is known for this kind of calligraphy; the villagers here put in mammoth shifts just two weeks before Tet and a single household can produce over 100 pieces in a day during this time. Chuon Village’s location just 10km northeast of Hue means that it is an easily accessible destination for anyone shopping in Hue.Lien Calligraphy in Hue5. Thanh Tien Paper Flowers5.1. What are Thanh Tien Paper Flowers?Along with Lien calligraphy, the weeks leading up to Vietnamese New Year are very busy for the skilled craftspeople who create these intricate flowers from bamboo and paper. The flowers are admired for their beauty and people like to have them for their homes and during religious rituals. The paper-preparing process starts a year before the finished product; bamboo is dried, split, and dyed before it is destined to become a rose, chrysanthemum, or the ever-popular lotus flower. 5.2. Where can I buy Thanh Tien Paper Flowers?Just 7km from the center of Hue City is Thanh Tien Village, where villagers have been producing paper flowers for decades. The popularity of Thanh Thien paper flowers is fading nowadays and many of the younger generation opt to move into Hue City rather than carry on the legacy of the town, leaving the flower-making to their parents.Tourists with Thanh Tien Paper Flowers6. Zeng Textiles6.1. What are Zeng Textiles?The traditional clothing of the Ta Oi tribe who live in the southwesterly reaches of Hue Province is a very sophisticated affair. A plain black background with humbly-coloured geometric shapes is the repeated motif of Zeng, which was on the brink of extinction before a Ta Oi woman, Mai Thi Hop created workshops for the now-sought-after textiles, which has grown from a workforce of 4 to a mini-empire spread across 3 factories.6.2. Where can I buy Zeng Textiles?A Luoi District bordering Laos is where these 3 factories are based. It’s a 60km journey, but anyone with a love for textiles and authentic tribal culture in Vietnam will get a lot of value out of a visit. Textiles here are very cheap and buying them helps the economies of many of the tribes in the region, as Zeng has recently become a cross-tribal venture.Zeng Textiles7. Healing the Wounded Heart ShopHealing the Wounded Heart Shop is a well-known establishment in the city and is a must-visit for anyone shopping in Hue. This little charity shop stands out because it uses recycled materials to create its amazing handicrafts. A team of disabled craftspeople runs the shop and warmly welcomes tourists, showcasing their unique bags, jewelry, and various home decorations. Most of the profits from the shop are used to support disabled children in Hue Province, while the rest goes to the disabled artisans. Visiting and purchasing from Healing the Wounded Heart Shop is not only emotionally rewarding but also supports a great cause.Check the best tours to Hue and other cities in Central Vietnam:Hue City Full Day TourLuxury Tour Discover the Beauty Of VietnamHighlight Vietnam Tour PackageThat's all about the best Hue products that we want to recommend tourists buy in Hue tours. If you have any other unique Hue items, share your thought with us!

Best Things to Do in Ninh Binh

Vietnam’s tourism industry is setting its sights firmly on Ninh Binh for the coming years. The region has seen a quick development in recent times and will soon see a lot more as the sometimes-oversaturated regions of Halong Bay and Sapa are turning tourists into alternative destinations in Northern Vietnam.[incredible_toc] Ninh Binh claims a huge amount of activities to do throughout the entire province and tourists visiting now will be able to boast of going to Ninh Binh ‘before it was cool’. For anyone with a few spare days free in Hanoi, follow us in this Ninh Binh guide as we will list the top 5 best things to do in Ninh Binh. The Beauty of Ninh Binh 1. Boating in Ninh Binh The quintessential Ninh Binh activity; sitting on a sampan boat rowed by a local villager using their feet. The tranquillity factor is high with this serene activity, enjoyable in several locations around Ninh Binh Province. 1.1. Where To Take Ninh Binh Boat Tour its magnificent limestone complex and beautiful landscape. Thus, taking a boat tour to witness the natural beauty is a must-do activity. Tam Coc is easily the most popular place to relax on a boat. The magic of floating down the Ngo Dong River between its rice paddies and under its dark caves remains long in the memories of visitors to Ninh Binh. As beautiful as it is, Tam Coc can sometimes get a little crowded, making other destinations a little more preferable. Trang An is also a fairly well-known boating destination for its wide river and undulating scenery, but the risk of crowding during good weather is also quite high. The best alternatives are the untouched wetlands at the Van Long Scenic Reserve, as well as Kenh Ga, a beautiful floating village translating to 'Chicken Canal' for the chickens plucked in the local hot springs. Then, if you wonder boat tour in Tam Coc or Trang An, which one this better? Contact Incredible Asia Journeys to help you plan your Ninh Binh tours from Hanoi with personalized interests! 1.2. When To Take Ninh Binh Boat Tour High and low seasons in Tam Coc are completely dictated by the rice harvest. For the best scenery, head there between May and July when the rice is a beautiful shade of gold. The main draws of the other locations are not based on rice, so as long as you can avoid the wet season between July and September and maybe the cold season between December and February, then Trang An, Van Long Scenic Reserve and Kenh Ga are all attractive options. Boating in Ninh Binh 2. Climbing in Ninh Binh Of all the things to do in Ninh Binh that afford the best views, climbing to the top of one of the gorgeous limestone mountains and surveying the golden rice from below will be one of the most memorable. 2.1. Where to Climb in Ninh Binh The 450 winding stone steps of Lying Dragon Mountain pose a small challenge for anyone looking to get that perfect photo of Ninh Binh. The mountain stairs are very accessible; just 6km out of Ninh Binh City; also featuring Mua Cave at the bottom and a huge dragon statue at the top. Climbing in the Lying Dragon MountainBich Dong Pagoda at Tam Coc Village, one of Ninh Binh tourist attractions also offers great views from its peak and features many interesting religious highlights along the way. Part of the climb heads through a temple built into a cave and just beyond the pagoda’s inner walls lies a small lake to which you can descend past wild mountain goats. 2.2. When to Climb in Ninh Binh Again, the rice-harvesting season provides those most remarkable views, but any time after Vietnamese New Year will do nicely because of the fresh abundance of sprouting green rice. Try to avoid the July to September wet season if possible as the rain can make the steps of both Lying Dragon Mountain and Bich Dong Pagoda very slippery. 3. Cycling in Ninh BinhThere are so many things to see in Ninh Binh that sometimes walking around just isn’t fast enough. Motorbikes are one alternative, but nothing beats the slow serenity of a bicycle ride. 3.1. Where To Cycle in Ninh Binh Many of Tam Coc’s cyclists are amazed at the landscape when the view from the village road opens up for miles around them. Naturally, Tam Coc is the busiest place for bicycles and motorbikes sharing the road, but there is a large, beautiful area around nearby Thung Nham Bird Park, which sees very little traffic. Vietnam’s first-ever national park, Cuc Phuong, provides a bit more of a challenge than the flatness of Tam Coc. Hilly in parts but definitely manageable, Cuc Phuong boasts 40km of road that circles around the inside of the park, flanked by jungle on both sides with stops for checking out prehistoric caves and attractive segments of wetland throughout. 3.2. When To Cycle in Ninh BinhAlong with all the rest of the top things to do in Ninh Binh, avoiding the rainy season is your best bet. Locally rented bicycles in Tam Coc that are fine during the dry season can sometimes skid during the wet (that’s why they cost $1 for a full-day rental). More substantial bikes can be rented at the entrance to Cuc Phuong and much of the path is shaded, meaning that the small hills can be traversed during the summer with little sweaty backlash. Cycling in Ninh Binh 4. Ninh Binh Sightseeing Aside from Ninh Binh’s many sites of natural splendor, the province features a great amount of remarkable and very surprising architecture from the many stretching roots of its history. 4.1. Where To Go Sightseeing in Ninh Binh Home to a plethora of religious buildings of different faiths, Ninh Binh’s remarkable Christian and Buddhist architecture is some of the most fascinating in the country. None more so than Phat Diem Cathedral, an amazing blend of European and Sino-Vietnamese construction that demonstrates the region’s devotion to God. Hoa Lu is the more expected Vietnamese scene, but not one that lacks anything in comparison to Phat Diem Cathedral. Hoa Lu was the capital of Vietnam for 44 years; the two kings that ruled during this time have been immortalized in two magnificent temples here; visiting both on a day trip from Hanoi is a very popular activity in Ninh Binh. There is no shortage of Buddhist and Christian buildings in Ninh Binh. Chau Son Monastery, Non Nuoc Pagoda, and Thai Vi Temple are just a few that add a religious element to the diverse province. Therefore, there are many places to visit in Ninh Binh in your sightseeing tour! 4.2. When To Go Sightseeing in Ninh Binh These religious buildings are available to view at any time, but naturally, they get busy around the holidays. Hoa Lu gets a bit full for its festival around April (depending on the lunar calendar) and Phat Diem gets busy during Easter and Christmas. If you’re into religious culture then this might be a great time to check out these stunning sites, but more casual tourists might want to steer clear. Trang An Complex Heritage 5. Go Trekking in Ninh Binh If cycling the shared road with motorbikes is too dangerous for you, then you can’t get safer than your own two feet. 5.1. Where To Go Trekking in Ninh Binh It’s harder to find a more wholesome thing to do in Ninh Binh than trekking through Cuc Phuong National Park. Towards the northern end of the park, there are various treks available of different lengths. A 3-hour return trek to a thousand-year-old tree is one of Cuc Phuong’s big draws, whereas the longer treks require a bit more planning – a 6-hour return trek to the Khanh Village where the Muong hill tribe live, or a 2-day trek to a further away Muong Village with cave stops in between. Around the rest of Ninh Binh, there are no well-known trekking routes established yet. The road between Tam Coc and the Mua Cave is a very scenic one and worth a look for anyone into trekking, but Cuc Phuong is the only recognized trekking route. 5.2. When To Go Trekking in Ninh Binh Trekking in Cuc Phuong National Park in Ninh BinhThe oppressive heat and insistent rain of summer make doing the Cuc Phuong treks quite the task. March is known for its humidity in Northern Vietnam, so try to avoid this too. Most other times will do nicely.