The Blissful, Tranquility of Ba Be Lake

Ba Be lake is north of Hanoi, about 240 kilometers, though if you're driving your own bike it might feel seem farther, depending on some of the roads (though most are fine and well-paved). It's a beautiful place. As in stunning, tranquil, gorgeous, dazzling, lovely and spectacular. Framed by high mountains covered in primary rainforest and filled with a large variety of wildlife, it's an area mainly inhabited by ethnic Tay people.

They live in traditional stilt houses, though those that double as guesthouses, nha nghis, are hardly primitive, with modcons like television and sit down toilets.

Duy Tho's in the tiny village of Pac Ngoi is one such place, with plenty of room for at least ten people to sleep comfortably in sectioned-off rooms, and a wide and varied menu, all cooked by his wife.

Though modern by local standards, the wood house still boasts a cook fire in the bamboo-floored kitchen, where all the meals are cooked.

The locals are friendly, waving to you when you pass by and there's none of the touting or hassle of other tourist areas (though Ba Be is hardly a busy tourist area). People here are modest and nearly anyone will help you if they can. They're more laidback than in the cities (obviously) and many things and possessions seem to be of a communal nature, such as boats. Anyone can borrow one to cross the lake provided it's put back afterwards.

People fish in the lake and cross it in a small, very, very narrow boats, sometimes made from hollowed out tree trunks. Anyone can hire one to take them around the lake, or to the famous island - Po Gia Mai.

The lake itself is deep, over 20 meters, and so clear you can see fish swim far below. It's about eight kilometers long. One of the only mountain lakes in Vietnam, it's in a protected national park, meaning that while the locals can fish, they're prohibited from cutting down trees or hunting the wildlife. Though with so much healthy livestock (chickens and pigs roaming the streets), they don't need to.

The conclusion ? Get here if you can.

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Phu Quoc - Discover Island Secrets

Southwest of Vietnam, in the Gulf of Thailand. The island of Phu Quoc is rapidly becoming one of the nation's foremost destinations for those seeking relaxation on remote sands. Basking in the tropical sun and traipsing through Phu Quoc national forest, visitors find a unique natural beauty, one not yet sullied by massive tourism.

After just a one hour flight from Saigon, our Vietnam Airlines (VNA) plane at Phu Quoc Airport. We disembarked, beginning our journey on this unfrequented island. The reputation of Phu Quoc as a true haven for nature-lovers had enticed us. As a contingent for VNA, we came to see the hidden treasure of Phu Quoc.

We stayed at the luxurious four-star Saigon - Phu Quoc Resort, conveniently located near the island's center, which was adorned by century-old tree canopies, tropical palms, and fresh flowers. The resort apartments had a natural wood motif and were designed in a quaint Vietnamese style. The ocean views from the balconies were, simply put, magnificent.

The sea called out to our adventure sides, luring us with her waves and cool breezes. We began with a fishing tour, led by a tour guide who easily dispelled our morning fatigue with his of humor. A yacht from Saigon - Phu Quoc Resort brought us to a reservation area, inhabited by multicolored coral and a variety of tropical fishes. Our guide explained that from November until April, lucky visitors could observe the cui fish (Dugong), wich is a rare species that lurks in the southern seas off of Phu Quoc.

After fishing, we roasted and stewed our catches to share with the whole group. It was the first time some of us tasted such delicacies. As we munched our fresh meal, we were already discussing the possibility of another fishing tour. For bigger catches, the tour uses sliver-cheeked fish to bait cod and barracuda, which typically weigh between 5 and 10 kilograms. A smaller possibility, though equally exciting, was catching cuttlefish.

The following day, we set out on a cultural journey to discover the local area. We visited a pepper garden, a fish-sauce factory, a Phu Quoc dog-breeding farm, and we went on a shopping tour by horse-dawn carriages. After a long day of trekking, the Phu Quoc cuisine was unfailingly wonderful. Commonly, we'd settle down at Saigon Restaurant at the Saigon - Phu Quoc Resort to gaze out over the Thailand bay, the bright sun setting in the distance.

As if natural wonders were not enough, the amenities continue to grow on Phu Quoc. Before leaving, our guide informed us that next year there will be a new electronic game station at Saigon - Phu Quoc Resort. Don't say we didn't tell you ... see you there !

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A Fusion of Spiritualities

Vietnam has a very rich and diverse spiritual life. With a tradition of open-mindedness, the Vietnamese people have adopted foreign religions and integrated them into native religions and beliefs. When Western missionaries and tradesmen came to Vietnam centuries ago, they learned from Confucian scholars and Mandarins that Vietnamese people practiced three religions : Confucianism, Buddhism and Taoism. In observing people's behavior, however, Westerners soon came to a different conclusion. Unlike Christian people in Western countries, Vietnamese people did not belong to organized religious congregations. Westerners thus hastily concluded that Vietnamese people practiced animism, or even atheism.

Throughout its long history, Vietnam has experienced many important religions. During 11th, 12th, and 13th centuries, Buddhism was considered the national official religion be the Vietnamese monarchy. During the 15th and 16th centuries, the throne adopted Confucian thought and subsequently rejected Buddhism. Despite this change, Vietnam never experienced a religious war. The Vietnamese people were generally allowed to express their own beliefs without constraints set by the state.

The Vietnamese people used to believe that every natural object had a spirit. From a big stone to a tree to a single leaf, each object had its own spirit for men and women to worship. People used to express their respect by placing incense at the foot of a tree or beside a stone. The common belief was that everything on earth shares human feelings like pain, affection, or anger, so the incense appeased these objects and protected them from harm. Rivers, lakes, and mountains also had ruling spirits, which created names such as God of the Mountain, God of the Soil, God of the River. At each of these locations, people built small temples where they could worship by placing incense at the temple altar on the first and the fifteenth days of the Lunar month. Many of these rituals are still practiced today.

The most lingering belief of Vietnamese people is the Mother Spirit, or the Mother Cult. The prevalent image of the Mother is protecting her children and guiding them through all aspects of life. The Mountain Mother (Mau Thuong Ngan) helps people to bear children, the River Mother (Mau Thoai) protects travel and helps people overcome difficulties or accidents. There are many other Mother Spirits who exist beside people to help them in a specific areas of life.

Mother Spirits were worshiped in separate temples, each temple with its own worshiping calendar. Since the Mother Spirit worship normally involves witchcraft or sorcery rituals, much like shamanism in other Asian countries, ceremonies serve as communication tools between human beings and spirits. The Mother Cult was historically vilified by Confucian scholars as overly superstitious. More recently, the Mother Cult is still criticized by authorities. But many ordinary people, especially women, still keep a very strong attachment to the Mother Cult.

Confucianism infiltrated Vietnam along with the Chinese invasion in the first century BC. Confucianism is not a religion, but an education and ethical system of social regulation. It values ancestor worship, which lays the foundation for the strong value in family and communication that pervades Vietnam today. Confucianism also led to worshiping those who had outstanding merits in settling and guarding their villages. Thus, each village has a temple for the God of Tutelary.

Vietnamese people also worship forsaken and unfortunate spirits. Throughout the country, at a crossroad or at a gate of the village, there is often a pagoda where the villagers came for incense worship, wishing that the forsaken spirits can be reincarnated into other human lives. In some places, the crooks of old banyan tree roots are stuffed with incense burners and bowls or rice gruel, denoting that unfortunate spirits are being worshiped. This tradition is called "banyan-tree gruel worshiping". All these customs reflect how Vietnamese tradition values sympathy towards others. When Buddhism came to Vietnam in early centuries AD, the first people who adopted the religion were the intellectuals and aristocracy, who were interseted in its underlying philosophies. For the masses, Buddhism was interpreted as a way of life; a religion aimed at finding life's truth through years of spiritual cultivation. Since Buddhism doesn't discriminate against other beliefs, when Vietnamese people worship by saying "praise God and Buddha", they place Buddha at an equal standing with their other local deities.

Some Vietnamese people accepted the Catholicism propagated by Western missionaries in the middle at the 17th century. At the beginning, Catholicism was less easily accepted because it rejected other traditional beliefs, such as ancestor worship. Furthermore, missionaries evangelism went hand in hand with Western colonialism. The prejudice against Catholicism has since dissolved into a curious phenomenon of cultural acceptance, which is especially apparent nowadays during Christmastime, which Vietnamese often celebrate as a common festive day for everyone.

Previously, women were seend as the most religiously active, as men are rarely seen at places of worship. This is a custom that remains from long time ago, when Confucianism still dominated. During that era, men only worshiped the founders of Confucianism at the Temple of Literature and worshiped their families at their ancestor temple. Women, on the other hand, visited all places of worship to pay their respects. Presently, although this custom has changed and now men play a role in the religious rituals, women sill keep an important role in preparing ceremonies.

Though the varying forces that historically contributed to Vietnamese religions, spirituality has developed into a multi-faceted and rich component of contemporary life.

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The New Vietnam

Join us on a journey to three of Vietnam's most fascinating region. This tour begins with a dynamic Saigon and fresh sea breezes and stunning sandy beaches touching crystal clear blue water. Paying speccial attention to the highland tranquility of Dalat.

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Northern Highlights

The remote north of Vietnam features the country's highest mountains and some of its most rugged terrain. It is the home of Vietnam's most diverse mixes and stunning scenery - for travellers seeking a truly remote and authentic culturel experience. This is a great trip for traveller wishing to explore more of Highlights of Vietnam.

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Images of Vietnam

There is something for everyone on this adventure through Vietnam. Discover from the bright lights of Saigon to the street life of Hanoi. Discover the green and riverine world of the Mekong Delta. The tour is especially for relaxation, travellers will have plenty of leisure on the white sandy beaches of Nha Trang and Ninh Chu beach. And travellers also enjoy the spectacular scenery of Halong Bay.

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