Hue travel

Hue travel guide
An imperial citadel still stands proudly in Hue, despite violent bombardment during the Vietnam War (1954–75) by the Viet Cong and the Americans. Ask Vietnamese about Hue and they’ll often remark that it’s a sad and sleepy city. This may have something to do with the old architecture and crumbling ruins (many of Hue’s residents have built a livelihood based around the city’s past). Hue is also prone to exceptionally rainy weather compared to the rest of Vietnam, particularly in the second half of the year.

Once the capital of Vietnam and the seat of the Nguyen dynasty (1802–1945), Hue is located 12km (7 miles) from the coast on a narrow stretch of land in Thua Thien-Hue province, which borders Laos in the west. It's roughly midway between Hanoi to the north and Ho Chi Minh City to the south. Today, the city is one of Vietnam’s more noteworthy attractions, thanks to its eventful history as well as its cultural and intellectual connections, made all the more inviting by its scenic location along the banks of Song Huong – the Vietnamese name for the Perfume River. Tours indochina
Hue is a pretty city, criss-crossed by dozens of bridges, lakes, moats and canals. On the river’s north bank is the ancient imperial citadel and residential areas, while the new commercial area, the old French quarter and the hotel district are all on the south bank. Further south are several tombs that belong to the emperors of the Nguyen dynasty.
What to see in Hue
If you are a history buff, or simply love discovering exotic cultures, Hue- Vietnam’s former Royal Capital is definitely on the top list of your travel plan. The city represents the outstanding demonstration of the power of the vanished Vietnamese feudal empire, including a complex of monuments, tombs and pagodas that attract tourists coming from all over the world. Travel to Vietnam

Ancient Forbidden City
• Hue Citadel:
Occupying a large, bounded area on the north side of Perfume River; four citadels were comprised to create the Capital City: Hoang Thanh (Imperial City) for royal palaces and shrines, Tu Cam Thanh (Forbidden Purple City) for royal residences, Dai Noi (Inner city) and Tran Binh Dai, which exclusively ancient architecture. Tourists are expected to spend at least one day to visit the whole complex. They can also catch a taxi, hire a bicycle, rent a “xich lo”- Vietnamese cycle if do not feel like walking around the site.
• Emperors Tombs:
There are several tombs of ancient emperors scattering along the Perfume River: such as Minh Mang, Khai Dinh, Tu Duc, Dong Khanh, etc. On Cam Khe Hill, Minh Mang Tomb was built in 1843, with the area of 18 hectare, 3-meter-high defended wall, and nearly 20 architectural constructions. Lying in the middle of a pine forest, Tu Duc Tomb belongs to Duong Xuan Moutain, 8km far from Hue.
• Pagodas:
Featured in various songs and poems, Thien Mu Pagoda has become an essential part of Hue City. With the symbol of the octagonal 21-meter-high tower, the pagoda is the perfect combination of artificial architectural work and picturesque nature. Tourists can also visit other pagodas such as Tu Dam, Tu Hieu, Huyen Khong.

South Vietnam Travel

South Vietnam highlights
Visit the fishing village of Mui Ne
While the town of Mui Ne itself did not impress so much and neither did its beach (razor-thin and even fortified with concrete in places due to erosion), the sights in and around Mui Ne are not to be missed. The old fishing village is extremely picturesque and is famed for its colourful fishing boats. There is also a great little river canyon walk nearby, as well as white sand dunes where you can watch the sunrise or try sliding down the dunes on a board. Tours Indochina Vietnam

Relax in the quiet town of Hoi An
Hoi An is mainly famous for being the one place where you can get custom-tailored clothes at rock bottom prices. Many a traveller leaves Hoi An with a tailor-made suit or dress in their backpack!
Beyond that, it’s also a generally charming, quiet and pedestrianized town—which stands in strong contrast to the major cities I described above. While Hoi An is very touristy, it isn’t too in-your-face about it, which I really like. There are a couple of interesting sights in the area and there is a decent beach nearby, so it makes for a good base for a couple of nights.
Ho Chi Minh City
Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC) is Vietnam at its most dizzying: a high-octane city of commerce and culture that has driven the country forward with its pulsating energy. A chaotic whirl, the city breathes life and vitality into all who settle here, and visitors cannot help but be hauled along for the ride. South Vietnam travel packages
From the finest of hotels to the cheapest of guesthouses, the classiest of restaurants to the tastiest of street stalls, the choicest of boutiques to the scrum of the markets, HCMC is a city of energy and discovery.
Wander through timeless alleys to incense-infused temples before negotiating chic designer malls beneath sleek 21st-century skyscrapers. The ghosts of the past live on in buildings that one generation ago witnessed a city in turmoil, but now the real beauty of the former Saigon’s urban collage is the seamless blending of these two worlds into one exciting mass.
Cai Rang Floating Market
Just 6km from Can Tho in the direction of Soc Trang is Cai Rang, the biggest floating market in the Mekong Delta. There is a bridge here that serves as a great vantage point for photography. The market is best around 6am to 7am, and it's well worth getting here early to beat boatloads of tourists. This is a wholesale market, so look at what's tied to the long pole above the boat to figure out what they're selling to smaller traders.
Cai Rang can be seen from the road, but getting here is far more interesting by boat (US$10 to US$15). From the market area in Can Tho it takes about 45 minutes by river, or you can drive to the Cau Dau Sau boat landing (by the Dau Sau Bridge), from where it takes only about 10 minutes to reach the market.
U-Minh Forest
Bordered by Ca Mau, the largest mangrove forest beyond the Amazon basin covers 1000 sq km. Home to endangered mammals – including the hairy-nosed otter and the fishing cat – and 187 bird species, the forest was a hideout for the VC during the American War. Thirty-minute boat trips around the forest cost 140,000d.
Ca Mau Tourist can arrange boat tours (US$180), but you can try to get a speed boat to Thu Bay (two hours), followed by a motorbike for 90,000d.
During the American War, the Americans tried to flush out the VC with chemical defoliation, which caused enormous damage to the forests. The heavy rainfall slowly washed the dioxin out to sea and the forest is returning. Many eucalyptus trees have also been planted here because they have proved to be relatively dioxin-resistant.
Unfortunately today the mangrove forests are being further damaged by clearing for shrimp-farming ponds, charcoal production and woodchipping, although the government has tried to limit these activities. In 2002 an area of 80 sq km was preserved as U Minh Thuong (Upper U-Minh) National Park.

Beaches in Thailand

Top beaches in Thailand
Patong Beach

Patong is the largest beach on the island of Phuket. It has been Thailand’s number one beach destination for years. Once a fishing village, it is now one of the island’s two cities. Patong is the main tourist and entertainment district on the island of Phuket, with a large number of pubs, bars, and restaurants catering to every nationality. Indochina tours in Thailand

Patong Beach stretches 4 km in length and has a wide coastline with silky white sand and warm water. There are a number of water sports to be enjoyed here, including jet skis, windsurfing, wake boarding, water skiing, and para sailing. Accommodation in a Phuket hotel can be more expensive than other areas of Thailand, but there is a wide variety of accommodations to choose from; everything from budget hotels to five star suites.

The beach is lined with lounge chairs and sun umbrellas which are available for rent. Food, drinks, and clothing are all available from hawkers who sell their wares on the beach all day.

Karon Beach

Karon Beach is the second largest beach in Phuket. Despite the large resort complexes in the area, there is not a lot of development on the beach itself. However, the ongoing development of bars, nightclubs, and luxury hotels in the area has already begun to wreak havoc on the environment. Tours in Thailand



Karon is less crowded than Patong and offers a full range of beach facilities and activities. There are also several fine dining establishments in the area. The sand here is a bit coarser compared to other beaches in Phuket.

The southern point of Karon Beach has a gorgeous stretch of coral reef which is perfect for snorkeling. Sun chairs and umbrellas are also available for rent here.

Kata Beach

If you’re looking for a quiet beach in Phuket, Kata Beach is your best option. Palm trees, warm water and stunning scenery haven’t found juxtaposition alongside massive shopping malls and luxury hotels just yet.

Kata Beach is well-known as an excellent surfing beach, but is less than ideal for families with young children, especially during the low season. There are a number of water activities on Kata Beach, including diving, banana boats, and jet skis. Kata also has several 4 star hotels, seafood restaurants, and shopping places located along the beach.

Railey Beach, Krabi

Though it’s technically on the mainland, Railey Beach is only accessible by boat and has a desert island feeling you won’t find on most of the country’s popular beach destinations. Clear blue waters, small islands on the horizon and majestic cliffs surround the small beach, which is generally not crowded except during peak season.

Aside from rock climbing, swimming and snorkeling, there’s not much else to do here but admire the gorgeous scenery, so bring a book and prepare to relax. Though Railey Beach is still much quieter and less developed than most popular Thai beaches, there is more development there every year, and during high season it can feel crowded.

Maya Bay, Koh Phi Phi Ley

This small stretch of sand is the quintessential Thailand beach and might just have the best scenery of any in the country. Part of a little island adjacent to Ko Phi Phi, the beach is nestled in a small bay and surrounded by tall limestone cliffs. Maya Bay can only be visited on day trips by boat, since there are no accommodations here. Hordes of people visit during high season, but the beauty makes dealing with the crowds worth it.

Hua Hin Beach, Hua Hin

This beach on the Gulf of Siam is immensely popular for locals and international visitors, thanks to the flat stretches of beach, plenty of things to do and the ease of travel from Bangkok. The beach slopes very gently into the gulf, so while it’s not the best beach for real swimming, it’s a great place for families with small children