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SOUTH VIETNAM
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Chi Minh City (formally called Saigon) |
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Ho Chi Minh City is located in the northern edge of the
Mekong Delta and along the Saigon River (the name of a fantastic river
flowing across the city. This river gave birth to Saigon).
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This city
is one of the three biggest municipalities in Vietnam, with population of
over 5 million also the largest city in Vietnam and also the center of
industry, commerce, tourism and international communication.
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Being a big
city (as Ho Chi Minh City) with a focus of many valuable products, tasty
fruits, large hotels enclosed excellent services, consumer goods and a
great deal of handicrafts attracting tourists and interesting places such
as: Nharong Wharf where president of Ho Chi Minh left home to look for the
way of national salvation in 1911, Unification Assembly Hall, the city is
a leading tourist center of the whole country. Besides, there are such
places of interest as the Museum of history, the municipal zoological
garden, lacquer production factories... That is the "Pearl of the Far
East" which is called formerly, nowadays it becomes an attractive
place for tourists and foreign investors proposing diplomatic relation and
co-operation in travel and trading.
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| Cu
Chi Tunnels |
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Situated
about 75 km from Ho Chi Minh City, Cu Chi Tunnels is the best known place
for during the Vietnam War. Cu Chi Tunnels lay above network of
underground tunnels which reach a total length of 250 km, and enable
resistance fighters to move around unobserved. Visitors can go down into a
section of the tunnels which have been maintained.
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| Tay
Ninh |
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It is about
99 km from Ho Chi Minh City, and is a place attracted by Cao Dai religion.
Coming here, visitors can take sightseeing to Caodai Holysee. The best
position to see is from a balcony which overlooks the chequered floor of
the nave. From there, beyond the highly decorative pillars you can see a
great globe with a large eye perched on top of the main altar.
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| Song
Be |
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This is a
South-east Vietnam province measuring 9,859 sq. km with its north-south
length of 200 km and east-west width of 80 km, bordering Cambodia in the
North, Ho Chi Minh City in the South, Danang Province in the east and
Tayninh in the West.
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- Chau
Thoi mountain.
- Dau
Tieng Lake.
- Lo
O Spring Tourist Zone.
- Binh
An Lak Tourist Zone and Soc Siem.
- Thien
Hau Thanh Mau's Temple.
- Tibetan
Pagoda.
- Lai
Thieu.
- Fruit-tree
Gardens.
- Hoi
Khanh Pagoda.
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| Cat
Tien |
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The Cat
Tien forest borders on three provinces: Dong Nai, Lam Dong and Song Be, is
about 200 km from Ho Chi Minh City. This is a primeval forest with an area
of about 10,000 ha, suitable for life environment of animal, of rare and
unusual creatures with a number of animals such as birds, crocodiles,
species of python, and etc. Besides, numerous species of insect attract
visitors who like to discover and to inspect them.
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| Vung
Tau |
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Situated
125 km from Ho Chi Minh City, is a famous seaside resort in
Vietnam, known under the French as Cap Saint - Jacques. Vung Tau
beaches are easily to reach from Saigon. There are main beaches
including front beach and back beach. Visitors can take bathing at
back beach. Besides, visitors also pay visit to mountains by
climbing into it for sightseeing Peninsula's mountains.
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A number of
interesting religious sites around town consist of several pagodas and
huge standing statue of Jesus blessing the East Sea. Vung Tau is nowadays
considered as the center of producing oil. Many foreign companies have
come here for investing and exploring on oil.
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- Nirvana
Meditation retreat (Niet Ban Tinh Xa).
- Whale
Temple (Lang Ca Ong).
- Giant
Jesus.
- White
Villa (Bach Dinh).
- The
Lighthouse (Nui Nho).
- Buddha
Shrine (Thich Ca Phat Dai).
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| Binh
Chau |
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About 150
km from Ho Chi Minh City is the Binh Chau thermal spring (maximum
temperature: 85 degree Celsius) which is said to have curative properties
for a number of diseases. A hot bath in a tub will make visitors feel
fresh and relaxed after a long trip. The diversified photography of
forests, beaches, lakes, hills and creeks also create favorable conditions
for such outdoor activities as camping, trekking, fishing...the area is
also convenient for scientific research work on primeval fauna and flora
of tropical sea and forests.
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- Thermal
Spring.
- Ho
Coc Beach.
- Primeval forests.
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| Con
Dao |
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About 100
miles of Vung Tau, is a group of 14 islands with an area of 20 square
kilometers, heavily forested, ringed with bays, beaches and coral reefs.
The island is mountainous with peaks at almost 600 meters height. There
are superb views of ocean, sandy beaches and few hotel rooms not
luxurious.
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Coming to
this island of 2000 inhabitants, tourists can pay visit to "Chuong
Cop, "Chuong Bo" where they were used as prisons for opponents
of French colonialism
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The Mekong
Delta, in the south, boasts the richest agricultural land in
Vietnam as well as the hottest and most even climate. Temperature in
the summer range to 38 degree Celsius with very humidity and in the
winter season the lowest is in the high of 23 degree Celsius. The
delta is covered with green rice paddies and orchards coconuts, mangos
pineapples, bananas and oranges. The Mekong River is offered to as the
"a mystic dragon with nine tails". This river which is a
braid of nine branches by the time it reaches the Mekong Kampuchea.
Most Vietnamese call it "Cuu Long" - the river of Nine
Dragons - which protects communities as well as isolating them. Now
the area, one of the rice bowls of Vietnam which has experienced more
than its fair share of savagery, welcomes visitors from all over the
world. Visitors may enjoy various fruits grown. Tourist can arrange
tours to Mekong Delta all year round including the rainy season (from
April to November).
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| My
Tho |
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This
town has been rebuilt since receiving almost unimaginable pounding
during the Vietnam War. Row upon row of neglected wooden buildings
overhang the waterfront: junks, sampans and other curious craft glide
by on the river. During September or October, the muddy waters of the
Mekong look extremely threatening but still the river life goes on.
One of the things which first strikes the visitor is the abundance of
river and canals. Everywhere there are fish farms where "Tai
Tuong" (Elephant's ears), a variety introduced from Indonesia,
are kept in their thousands. My Tho is dotted with Buddhist pagodas
and surrounded by rice fields and fruit gardens. The 150 year old Vinh
Trang Pagoda combines Vietnamese Khmer and French architecture which
reflects the religion and history of the land.
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With
its capital, Mytho, only 75 km away from Hochiminh City, this province
can be visited on a day trip from the city. Easily accessible by car
and bus or ferry boat, this capital city of Tien Giang Province
receives more tourists than any other in the delta.
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- Orchard Island (Phung Island, Thaison Island)
- Vinh Trang Pagoda
- Snake Farm
- Truong Dinh's Tomb
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| Long
An (Plains of Reeds) |
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Dong
Thap Muoi (Plain of Reeds), 75 km southeast of Hochiminh City and
stretching over 6,000 hectares in Long An Province alone is an area
covered by cajuput swamps. It used to be a guerilla stronghold during
the Vietnam War. After the war, people displaced by the flights began
to come back there in increasing number to start their life anew. The
atmosphere is peaceful and quite-away from the noisy chaos of urban
life
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- Cajeput forest
- Boat ride on Vam Co Tay River
- Marshall Nguyen Huynh Duc's tomb
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| Vinh
Long |
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The
provincial capital, easily reached within three hours (140 km) by bus
or car from Saigon, lies on the river Co Chien. Lacking character and
containing few points of interest, it is still an attractive place
where tourists will linger for long. Another ideal place is Tra Vinh
where tourists can visit the Khmer people's villages or their hamlets
along route 7A in an easterly direction from Vinh Long until you reach
a wide canal, the Mang Tri. Traveling through the province visitors
will notice smaller Khmer Shrines dotted around the countryside. Some
look very dilapidated but many are still used.
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- Highlights
of Vinh Long Market:
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- Vinh
Long Market
- Boat
ride on the Mekong River.
- Khmer
Pagodas and Khmer villages in Tra Vinh.
- Phan
Thanh Gian's Temple
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Can
Tho |
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The
capital city of Hau Giang Province, Cantho is located on the
right bank of the Hau River, the lower branch of the Mekong.
Because of its cosmopolitan nature and highly successful
business ventures, this city was once called the "Western
Capital". It was established towards the end of the 18th
century and expanded greatly.
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Now,
it is the political and transportation center, a sprawling
mass of rather ramshackle buildings which house its 220,000
habitants. You can take a boat ride on the river for about USD
1/hour and see what the City looks like from the water. It
takes about 170 km from Saigon to Can Tho by car or bus.
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- Floating
Markets in Phung Hiep and Phong Dien
- Original
Khmer pagodas in Soc Trang
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| Dong
Thap |
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Another
interesting place in Mekong Delta is Dong Thap with its capital of Cao
Lanh at 145 km from Saigon. This province is the home of nearly 150
species of bird. 15 of which are considered rare and precious,
especially flamingoes (called red-headed cranes by the locals). You
will enjoy the wild maiden landscape of this province in visiting the
national reserve of sarus red headed cranes (in February, March and
April) and a sanctuary for thousand of stocks; cross immense rice
fields flooded by Mekong swelling water; visit boundless cajuput
forest and pink lotus ponds. Also belonging to this province is Sa
Dec, a town lately made well-known by a French film
"L'amant" (the Love).
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- National
reserve of Tram Chim
- Stock
sanctuary
- Cajeput
forest and pink lotus ponds
- Flower
village at Sa Dec
- President
Hochiminh father's tomb
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| Chau
Doc |

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The
town is situated in an idyllic spot on the west bank of the
Hau River, five kilometers away towards the west is Sam
mountain where many people head along here on the 23rd to 26th
the fourth lunar month when the Lady Chua Xu Festival is held
on Sam mountain. This is the highest place on the delta and
can be seen from every direction. You can't miss the Tomb of
Thoai Ngoc Hau, where the Hero of the war of
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resistance
against French colonialist was worshipped as you walk down
from the Lady Chua Xu, you will see a huge head, this marks
the entrance. Don't forget to look at Phuoc Dien Tu Pagoda
with its interesting architecture. Chau Doc is reached in six
hours (245 km) by car or bus from Saigon.
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- Sam
Mountain.
- Temple
of Lady Chua Xu and Thoai Ngoc Hau's Tomb
- Floating
village of fish-breeding raft on Vinh Te Canal
- Cave
Pagoda (Phuoc Dien Tu Pagoda)
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| Ca
Mau |
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Being
the south most in the Mekong Delta, Ca Mau is surrounded by brackish
water; the area is home to an abundance of birds and insects which
live in the swampy forest. Traveling by "vo lai" along Khmer
sampan which reaches speeds of 30km/hour, tourists can visit bird
sanctuaries in the cajuput reserve of U Minh or the mangrove reserve
at Cape Ca Mau. Camau with its lush tropical rain forest is the
perfect place to study Vietnam's natural landscape and fascinating
wildlife.
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- U
Minh cajuput forest
- Shrimp
breeding pond and bird sanctuary of Ngoc Hien
- Mangrove
forest at Cape Ca Mau
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| Rach
Gia |
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Situated
on the coast of the Gulf of Thailand, this large town of Rach Gia
impress visitors by the bustling market set up on the wharves at the
edge of Kien Giang River. From here, fishing boats depart in fleet,
their decks laden with folded nets, for the warm fishing waters of the
Gulf.
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Long
low - lying passenger ferries shuttle to and from crowded hamlets can
then out of the surrounding island of Tho Chu, Hon Tre, Nam Du and Phu
Quoc. Rach Gia is famous for its historical temples and pagodas.
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- Nguyen
Trung Truc Temple
- Big
Buddha Pagoda
- Khmer
pottery village
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| Ha
Tien |
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338 km
southeast of Hochiminh City; it is reached by a floating bridge over
the Chau River. As well as having many important sites which have
affiliations with the Mac family, it has countless glorious landscapes
that years of weathering have molded into fantastic shapes
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| Phu
Quoc Island |
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This
island, which is under the jurisdiction of Kien Giang Province, is the
largest one of which are scattered from North to South in the Gulf of
Thailand. Phu Quoc has 40,000 inhabitants who are accommodated in five
villages and one town. Its capital is Duong Dong, where is the center
of exploring the island. Boats are available at the quay which will
take you on a three-hour journey into its interior. During the cattle
fish season, many boats arrive here from Singapore and Thailand. An
exciting time to arrive is from January to April. The island can be
reached by flying from Saigon. Another way to get here is use one of
the motor boats hired out but it takes a long time to reach to Phu
Quoc.
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- Highlights
of Phu Quoc Island:
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- Primeval forest
- Fishing villages.
- Fish Sauce Factory.
- Pepper Gardens.
- Khmer Beach.
- Sung Hung Pagoda.
- Su Muong Pagoda.
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