Cambodia, stands behind its neighboring countries, Thailand and or Vietnam in terms of facilities but in terms of tourism it has things to say and actually a lot to offer. If you are a first-time traveller to Cambodia we will give you all the reasons to travel along the most beautiful places on your Cambodia tours. Find step by step guide on some highlights in a row for a perfect mix of culture, nature, history, adventure and and relaxation for a perfect holiday for a first-time traveller to Cambodia. Phnom Penh: a good starting point Located at the bank-side of the Mekong river, the capital of Cambodia and a destination where you will undoubtedly plan to visit and the quickest way of transport is the bus, because roads are limited in Cambodia. Do not expect hysterical traffic and towering rooftop bars. Phnomh Penh is not Bangkok or Kuala Lumpur or Ho Chi Minh city. A long promenade along the Tonle Sap river is where it all happens. Here you will find the backpacker area, but also the more luxurious hotels and an endless strip of good and affordable restaurants offering all sort of foods from Khmer dish to western foods. Also worth a visit: the Royal Palace, where the king of Cambodia reside along with the handsomely decorated Silver Pagoda. Killing field Angkor Wat temples Boat to Battambang
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Despite being recently introduced and operated, Halong Bay tours seaplane has created many extraordinary and unique experiences for visitors. 1. High technology Seaplanes Cessna Grand Caravan Seaplane Ex is the most modern one in America. Each aircraft has the maximum capacity of 12 passengers, at the speed of 300 km/h and being capable of landing both on conventional airport or on the water. 2. VIP check-in desk at the airport Customers using seaplane services won't need to spend hours on queuing at the airport's check-in desk. More especially, they will have the privilege of checking in a private area and be instructed by professional staff. Moreover, all the information of customers has been well prepared so they just need to get there and take their airfares away. 3. Private shuttle bus After completing the registration procedure, there will be a private shuttle bus waiting to carry customers to the seaplane park. The crew consists of an experienced captain and a Vietnamese copilot who will give customers a warm welcome and great services during the tour. 4. Spectacular views from above The Halong Bay seaplane with 2 pilot and 12 passenger seats and spacious windows will help customers to have the overview of Halong Bay at the high of 150 - 3000m above the sea level. With the speed of 260 km/h, customers will not only travel to a number of famous historical sites in just in a nick of time but also have a incredible scene, making a unique experience for them. 5. Adventurous Experience on Halong Bay Seaplane The best part is that, you will be taking off from the water and your landing will be on the water. It is the adventure you must try once in a lifetime which will give you memorable moments. 6. Courtesy and professional staff In the end of the tour, the captain and the copilot will assist customers on getting on the shuttle bus. During the time, they are also carefully served with cold towels and soft drinks. Nevertheless, the staff can share customers information about touring destinations as well as interesting stories. VIETNAM TOUR PEDIA
With over 10 years experience in the field of tourism, Vietnam Tour Pedia is constantly growing and providing the greatest Vietnam holiday packages around Hanoi, Halong Bay, Hoi An, Ho Chi Minh City, etc. Besides, we are also experts in creating Indochina tours withing Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia and Myanamar. Chat online with us or send your emails anytime if you need any assistance. Despite temples, astonishing nature and the ease of traveling, Laos has become more and more attracted by travelers with different kinds of traveling style and age variation, this is despite to Laos was a cool destination for young-backpackers whom have choose it for a fun place to travel overland and make their way between Vietnam, Cambodia and or even to Myanmar. Anyways, since the tourism is booming and Asia and particularly Indochina is on target for many traveler then why not planning for a Laos tours and come to see what this beautiful land has to offer. Here are some enough reasons to visit Laos The album of Halong Bay and Bai Chay Beach in 1991 has been recently published by a German photographer. This photos will give you a deeper understanding about Halong Bay’s history. According to the photographer, he had to take two ferries (Binh Ferry and Rung Ferry), embark on Hai Phong Province then Quang Ninh in Summer of 1991. At that time, because Halong City hadn’t existed, the center of Halong Province was Hong Gai Town. Thanks to its natural beauty, the blue and clear seawater and the serene atmosphere, Bai Chay Beach was considered to be one of the best ones in the Northern Vietnam. In 1990s, it took 30 minutes to reach Hon Gai Island by ferry. At that time, even though the tourism services were still simple and modest like this, many company took their staff there to enjoy a great summer holiday each year. The services just included in floats and swimming suits renting, photography and commune bathrooms. Before 1986, taking photos with floats was a popular posing style. The picture tells us that Bai Chay area used to be a petrol station for most of boats and shippers around the Halong Bay. Tour services on Halong Bay hadn’t included dining and staying on cruise overnight. Instead of a modern Halong Bay Cruise, the only way to sightsee the bay was taking a small boat like this. Tourists were transferred to Dau Go Cave and Sung Sot Cave then went back. The itinerary was only within half of the day. There were 1969 islands in total and 40 of them were dwelled on by local citizens. This was the place for boats to drop their anchor near Bai Chay Beach. In 1991, Bai Chay Pier was still used by both tourism and fishing boats.The trip by boat around Halong Bay usually lasted about 2 – 3 hours. According to the Buzzfeed’s survey, Halong Bay ranked 16th in the list of 26 most beautiful destinations all over the world. This was a fishing family on the Bay in 1990s. The boat was the home to a parents and their children to live in. The local people made their living by catching fishes, exploiting coral reefs and selling them for tourists. In 1994, Halong Bay was recognized as one of the natural world heritages by UNESCO then the government had duties on preserving the nature, environment and landscapes. As you can see, here is a nice coral reef taken from the bottom of the bay. In the past, children got used to the life on the sea. They had a great sailing skills and even could help their parents sell seafood and coral reefs for tourists. According to the photographer, Halong Bay was still a wonder which challenged all the scientists to explore its tectonic process. In a nut shell, the desire to learn new things was an incentive for the photographer to travel around the world in order to discover and take photos of stunning beauties. On visiting Cambodia, do not hesitate to get your head out of the temples and admire Cambodia's traditional dances. These kinds of arts will captivate you with outstanding costumes and color of. Here are four traditional dances in Cambodia that you should attend at least once on your trip to Cambodia. Apsara Dance – The ethereal dance of the ancientsTo begin with, Robam Apsara is one of the most Cambodia's traditional dances. This dance used to be confined mainly to the courts of the royal palace. Interestingly, the Apsara dance is inspired by the carvings in Angkor temple complex. As evidenced in by these Apsaras (celestial dancers), the dance has become part of the Khmer culture for more than a millennium. This traditional dance is various in meaning because it constitutes a link between the different religions in Cambodia (Animism, Hinduism, and Buddhism). Indeed, every single movement of the fingers has a particular meaning. While can worship the spirits of nature by depicting a blossoming flower or refer to one of the hundreds legends of Buddhism or Hinduism. Therefore, your Cambodia tour packages will not be complete if you can’t join in the show. Ramayana – A narrative on moralityThe second type of dancing show you should attend is Ramayana (Reamker in Cambodia). This dance might have reached Cambodia through the contact with the South Indian kingdoms. Ancient Hindu temples here provide the earliest references of Ramayana and the world famous Angkor Wat temple depicts various episodes from the epic. In the Reamker, issues of trust, loyalty, love, and revenge are played out in dramatic encounters princes and giants, monkeys and mermaids, and a forlorn princess. Coconut Shell DanceThe Coconut Shell Dance is one of the most popular and well-known folk dances. Thanks to the tropical climate, coconuts are densely grown up through out Cambodia. That's likely the reason why coconuts embody in a Cambodian traditional art. For more details, after the meat of the coconut is carved out, Cambodian people often save the shells, polish and use them in many practical ways. This Cambodian traditional grew out of a popular game that used the coconut shells. The game is played during weddings and engagements. The most interesting scene is especially at the time the groom is escorted in a procession to the bride’s house. In its original form, this was a one-man show. In the modern-day version, an equal number of male and female dancers perform the dance, personifying friendship and courtship. Fishing Dance – An expression of joy and romanceAnother dance which you cannot miss to include in your Cambodia tour packages is fishing dance. In general, this dance showcases the traditional methods of catching fish in Cambodia. However, the main reason why this dance plays an important role in Cambodian culture is that fishing quarter is the place for young people to meet and get to know one another. At the beginning of the dance, young men come down to the river on one side and women from the other then they catch fish with their extreme joy. While fishing, they flirt with each other then fall in love. At the end of the dance, the group returns to tease and congratulate them. The show definitely brings a lot of exciting and relaxing moments for attendants. A fine place to begin an exploration of Vietnamese culture is in the kitchen, which, according to Vietnamese tradition, is the home of the God’s kitchen. This powerful deity is charged with monitoring each family’s behavior and reporting back to heaven. The kitchen god makes his annual journey to heaven on the twenty-third day of the twelfth lunar month, riding aboard a carp. On this day, families throughout Vietnam release a live carp into a stream or river. The kitchen god’s account will affect the family’s fortune in the coming year. This myth emphasizes the importance that Vietnamese families place on preparing and sharing meals. Not only does food nourish the body, it is also a means of strengthening bonds between families, communities and the living and the death. On the first three days of the Lunar New Year, the first and fifteenth days of each lunar month, and the death anniversaries of ancestors, people place offering of food on their ancestral altars and invite the deceased to enjoy a meal with the living. Offering typically include sticky rice, boiled chicken, rice wine, and fruit. In the south of Vietnam, during the Lunar New Year, people place an offering of custard apple, coconut, papaya and mango on their altars, since the names of these fruits, when spoken in the southern dialect, form a prayer for prosperity and happiness. Vietnam Tet Holiday – the Taste of TetVietnam has many festivals, which, collectively, are called “Tet”. The most important of these is Tet Nguyen Dan, the Lunar New Year, an event marked by family offering ceremonies and feasts, visits to friends and relatives, and community amusements like lion dances, human chess games and traditional folk operas. This period could be one of the best time to visit Vietnam as well. However, to be in Vietnam during the Lunar New Year you will need a well-planned holiday as almost all country is on the new-year break and you might have trouble finding hotels and other travel related services. The food served at various Tets carries a great deal of symbolic meaning. “Banh Tet” are long, cylindrical cakes of fatty pork and bean paste wrapped in sticky rice and steamed in a banana leaf, the shape of which represents the linga, or the male genitals. These cakes are always accompanied by “Banh Giay”, a round cake that represents the female genitals. Another essential dish during the Lunar New Year is “Banh Chung”, a square cake with ingredients similar to those used to make “Banh Tet”. [caption id="attachment_70" align="aligncenter" width="995"] Banh Chung, Banh Tet, and Banh Giay[/caption]Vietnam Tour Pedia – Trip to Vietnam the way you wantVietnam Tour Pedia is a pioneer travel agent based in Hanoi offering a large numbers of Vietnam tour packages as well as bespoke holiday deals within Indochina (Laos, Myanmar and Cambodia) – come with us and let the journey of discovery begin In October, every talk is all about Ha Giang. You can describe it, yes — rolling hills, dark mountains, black rock, deep green foliage, terraced fields, winding roads, alpine furs, adobe houses and especially the buckwheat season. However, your Vietnam Holiday deals will be incomplete if you miss the chance to choose a homestay in Ha Giang. 1. Culturally richer experiencesThere is no better way to get an inside understanding about a culture than living with locals. When choosing a homestay in Ha Giang, you will immerse yourself into the culture of ethnic people, witness how they live on a daily basis, how they communicate, celebrate and dress up. They are all the things every traveler hopes for. 2. You don’t feel lost and lonely in a new placeLocals in Ha Giang are very friendly. Want to spend someday in one’s house? Just ask, they will let you in immediately. Likewise, the friendliness of Ha Giang people also makes you feel like visiting an acquaintance from another community and culture. Therefore, it gives you the comfort of both a hotel and a home. 3. “Real” traditional foodsThis is one of the most important aspects for any travel-lust because you get to eat what the local populace eats on a regular basis. In hotels, the food you get is usually not as bona fide and regional since it is typically westernized to suit the fundamental taste of visitors. 4. CheaperThey’re cheaper when compared to the experiences and services they offer. Hotels can get pretty damn expensive and if they’re the low-priced ones, they are usually not too clean and hygienic. 5. A home-stay, on the other hand, gives you personalized services.Hotels tend to be highly professional with high-end managers, reception desks and too many visitors. If you need some tailored adjustments in the stuff you like to eat, it’s easy to work that out. You are treated as guests, not as clients. 6. Living in a homestay is cool and different.Living in a hotel is sometimes too commonplace and boring. One of the finest aspects is that they generate income for the local people and you’d feel good for having done something for the natives of the place you’re travelling to. It’s a fruitful effort towards the direction of eco-tourism. 7. Living with locals lets you become familiar with a place on an altogether different level.You can sit with the family and talk with them for hours. They can also help you with regional knowledge of things and places. Moreover, they aren’t tied up with organizations or companies that might try to con you. In fact, your host can assist you in finding fair-priced deals for all the activities you look forward to doing. 8. Being a part of the number of travel storiesGuests are treated as family and thus are invited to various family functions and local ceremonies. You’d actually make much more memories while residing in a home-stay than you could have imagined whilst staying at a hotel. 9. A refreshing return to simplicityAs someone always says “Our life is frittered away by details”. That means the more you have, the more you have to worry about. It seem to be that the modern life with accustomed to cable TV, mattresses and air-conditioning makes people forget how much we don’t really need any of it. You will be amazed at how happy you are when there is only a hammock on the porch to lie on, a dinner in a circle on the floor or some homemade “ruou” (rice wine). 10. Instructed by best tour guidesOne of the things any traveler fantasizes about is trekking in the majestic but dangerous mountains in Ha Giang. However, everything will go easy in case you are instructed by a local people who you live with. They will instruct you to pass through small rickety villages, stare down at immense valleys, and watch the scenery change. [caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="960"] Man is just a speck of dirt on the majesty of nature.[/caption]As for Cambodian people, water is so important. Thanks to the Mekong River, which runs through the country from the north to south, people can grow their own crops, catching fishes and the country can become home to an incredible array of extraordinary sights from waterfalls, river rapids, flooded forests, beautiful islands and the famous Irrawaddy (fresh water) dolphins. Therefore, people spend three days on celebrating the Cambodia Water Festival each year. When is the Cambodia Water Festival celebrated?The Water Festival is usually celebrated on the 14th and 15th day of of November, which is the waxing moon and the 1st day of the waning moon in the mouth of kadek. The 15th day of the waxing moon is the last full moon day. The rationale of celebrating Water FestivalThe festival ushers in the fishing season, marks a change in the flow of the Tonle Sap and the ebbing-water season and is seen as thanksgiving to the Mekong River for providing the country with fertile and abundant fish. At the height of the rainy season, the water of the Mekong River forces the Tonle Sap to reverse its current and to flow up to the Tonle Sap Lake. As the water of the Mekong River begins to subscribe, the swollen Tonle Sap Lake flows back to the Mekong River through the Tonle Sap and empties into the sea, which leaves behind vast quantities of fish. This, indeed, is a remarkable phenomenon of the Tonle Sap. Vivid ActivitiesThe water festival is truly a wonder to behold, and well-included in our Cambodia Tour Packages, because of its myriad of vibrant colour and excitement. On these days, there will be three ceremonies underpin the entire occasion, including: Loy Pratip, Sampeas Preah Khé and Auk Ambok. The first ceremony is called Loy Pratip, on which curious visitors will be amazed by the evening fluvial parade, featuring beautifully-illuminated boats lighting up the waterways. Each government institution will sponsor a boat on the parade. When the moon reaches the fullest shape, people will turn to the second ceremony, the Sampeas Preah Khé. People will salute to the moon, give thanks to the moon on Bon Om Tok, and pray for the bountiful harvest ahead. The last ceremony of the water festival is Auk Ambok. At midnight, celebrants gather at temples to eat “Ambok” (“flattened rice”), which is basically rice fried with the husk still intact. They then pound to remove the husk, and mixed the flattened rice with banana and coconut. There are already a lot of amazing places to discover when it comes to traveling through Indochina, the destinations in the region including Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia makes this part of the South-East of Asia a hard to be missed destination. Here are my top 10 places to visit when visit Indochina # 10 Luang NamTha in LaosNestled in mountainous region of northern Laos and the first place you see after crossing the border from China to Laos. Luang Nam Tha is an excellent base for exploring the many natural beauty, the high mountainous area and a good place to meet with the ethnic minorities. Laos tour packages are improved in recent years, other popular things to do such as trekking and outdoor activities in and around Luang Nam Tha protected area can’t be missed. # 9 Hue city and Imperial citadel in VietnamLocated in central Vietnam, Hue city is one of the historical bases in country which became a very popular stop for almost anyone visiting Vietnam. The imperial citadel will definitely be a site to spend almost half a day to check all its fortifications, palaces and royal tombs. When in Hue, traveler almost opt for countryside adventure via motorbike, there are a numbers of cooking school to which offer half a day cooking demonstrations, don’t miss this out. # 8 Nha Trang beachYou probably been to Thailand and experience a perfect beach stay, however, Nha Trang, located in southern-central coastlines of Vietnam has named as the number one beach destination in Vietnam, there are all kind of luxury resorts, beach activities, boat trips and a stretched line of sand beach that makes your relaxing holiday more perfect, make sure to check out trip to Vietnam that includes beach holiday in Nha Trang # 7 Ha Giang in northern VietnamJust like Sapa, Ha Giang is home to several ethnic minorities whom have been living in the region since centuries, Ha Giang is located within the border with China and its known for its forested limestone and its also among the popular motor bike trails in Vietnam # 6 Hanoi - Capital city of VietnamAs a capital of Vietnam its more of a classic city than a metropolis one, Hanoi is a charming city dotted with lakes and three lined boulevard. Hanoi is home to some of the must see attractions and sites in Vietnam, try to visit Mausoleum of Ho Chi Minh, the first university of Vietnam known as the temple of literature and so on. In the evening the central area of the Hanoi, the HoanKiem lake and Hanoi old quarter is a place for a vibrant nightlife celebrations, join along with the locals and experience a real Vietnamese fun. # 5 LuangPrabang in LaosMany travelers describe LuangPrabang as one of the most laid-back town they ever visited in Asia, the UNESCO heritage town is a place where traveler can spend a couple of day exploring its cultural sites such as royal palace, morning markets, night markets and so much more. Also, When in LuangPrabang traveler will opt for day trips to Kuang Si waterfall, Pak Ou cave and visit ethnic minorities in and around the Mekong Delta. # 4Halong Bay Cruise – VietnamThis is really interesting, Halong is registered as a natural site by UNESCO and it has been recognized as a new wonder of the world as well. On your trip to Vietnam you may plan to visit on a Halong Bay Cruise , the trips are well organized from Hanoi and it is recommended to book through a reliable agency. There are interesting activities to do including rock climbing, dine in caves, swimming and Kayaking as well as visiting floating and fishing villages. # 3 Ho Chi Minh City – southern VietnamI call it New York city of Vietnam, Ho Chi Minh city ( formerly known as Saigon), is located in southern Vietnam and is home to interesting markets, busy streets and a great hub for almost any day trio within Saigon to the Delta of Mekong, most of the traveler opt to stay in and around the district one where there are many cafes, restaurants, hotels and also a good place for the nightlife. # 2 Mekong DeltaMekong is crossing between Southern Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia and it is known as the rice bowl of Vietnam. The interesting places to visit include Ben Tre, Cai Be and the floating markets, coconut waterways and small villages for home-stay. Also, there are a numbers of options to cruise from Vietnam side to Cambodia down to Siem Reap. # 1 Angkor Wat temples in Siem Reap, CambodiaAngkor Wat temples are like a crown sitting on the head of Cambodian tourist attractions and sites, traveler will choose Cambodia to visit and spend at least 2 to 3 day to explore the majestic ancient temples that are nestled in the jungles. Angkor Thom, Bayon, BanteaySrei are hard to miss when visiting the temples. There are helicopter ride, balloon and guided tours are available to visit the temples, make sure to check out Cambodia tour packages that include visiting temples. Of all trip to Vietnam as it is a a country full of new surprises, a beautiful country with amazing landscapes from north to the south and train traveling is something that everyone would love it especially if it’s on traveling through a scenic country like Vietnam. If you have more time than money, then traveling by train is surprisingly one of the best and most economical way in Vietnam. The most favorites train trails in Vietnam are roads to Lao Cai, near Sapa in northern Vietnam, trains from Hanoi to Hue and Hoi An to Nha Trang as well as the newly maintained railway from Nha Trang to Ho Cho Minh city. Train classesGenerally train traveling in Vietnam are classified under SE which are smartest and fastest and also book faster as well, while those referred to as TN are slower and older which are not popular for the long distance traveling. [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="960"] Train No. SE1 - See the Vietnam Railway Map for more details[/caption]Overnight trains are pretty much popular by young traveler as this option enables them to rest well and save more money while traveling, anyway, the express service are more expensive and they are easy to book due to limited number of cabins in each train. If you are traveling as part of a planned Vietnam tour packages then you are not required to do anything as this is already booked for you, However, if you are doing for an overnight train in Vietnam or are simply curious about long distance train travel in this surprising country, you’ll find this list of ‘things to know before you go’ useful through this travel blog. Onboard DiningThere is food for purchase on board, served at your seat in 1st and 2nd class, but it is no great shakes and not cheap either. Plan ahead and bring your own meal along on board. Breakfast on board starts at about 70.000VND for an uninspired standard, while dinner runs 160 VND or more. Besides meals, stewards carrying buckets filled with ice cold soft drinks and beer will pass by endlessly. You'll also enjoy a never-ending parade of independent food vendors who board the train or approach your window at stations and other stops. This is pretty much similar everywhere you travel in South-East of Asia. Book in advanceJust like other related services for any trip to Vietnam and to avoid the fully booked condition and especially if you are traveling during the peak tourism season from and September to December you are required to book your ticket in advance, try a travel agent that sells the ticket, once you buy them you will receive a voucher that need to be converted into a ticket when you check in to board the train. [caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="960"] Breaking Dawn on Quy Nhon Beach[/caption] [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="960"] A train view in Ninh Thuan[/caption] [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="960"] A train ride will bring you precious experiences that go beyond your imagination.[/caption]Vietnam Tour Pedia With a team of dedicated travel experts are more than happy to plan any trip to Vietnam and Indochina. Find out more interesting packages and travel blogs available at : http://www.vietnamtourpedia.com |
Vietnam Tour PediaSouth East Asia is always a great surprise to everyone. Plan your next holiday at Vietnam Tour Packages Archives
February 2017
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