6 tips for preventing theft in Vietnam

Travelers are often targeted by thieves – it’s sad but true. There is no exception in Vietnam. Travelling in Vietnam can be a life changing experience with its beautiful scenery and rich cultural history. The main hassles you’ll encounter will be the milder sort, such as pushy vendors and over enthusiastic touts. Nevertheless, petty theft is on the rise.

Travellers tend to be targets not just because of the cameras or money they carry but also due to their unfamiliarity of their surroundings. These circumstances can make you vulnerable and put a bulls-eye on your back for thieves.

While the country is assuredly a friendly and safe place to travel, a little common sense and a few precautions can make your trip smooth and trouble-free.

1. Utilize your camera strap. It may get uncomfortable wearing it in the warmth and stickiness however it’s simple for a cướp giật (theft on a motorbike) to take hold of your fresh out of the plastic new Canon or Nikon DSLR and head out.
2. Utilize your front pockets. The back pocket of your shorts or trousers is a simple imprint for any accomplished pick pocket. Surprisingly better, utilize a cash belt!
3. Put your stuff away. Most robberies experienced by voyagers are violations of chance and leaving your iPad or charge cards out is a major welcome sign for a criminal. On the off chance that your gear has a lock, use it.
4. Secured your adornments. Criminals on motorbikes love neckbands as they are anything but difficult to snatch and sufficiently little to take a while later.
5. While strolling in the city, wear your pack over your shoulder. Likewise, change the sack to within the walkway to make it harder for an eventual cheat.
6. At the point when checking Google Maps on your iPhone or other cell phone, hold it with two hands!

We hope “6 tips for preventing theft” help make your trip to Vietnam as safe as can be and hope these tips can keep your trip as enjoyable as possible.

The Vietnam Tourism

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Quang Binh - The Land of caves in Vietnam

Visit gentle central strip, famous scenic unspoiled nature and magnificent – Quang Binh, tourists should not overlook certain caves incredibly unique and magnificent, the pride of the people here. Owning many cool cave system is such ingenious sculptural paintings of natural hand, Phong Nha, Son Doong Cave, Tien Son … has made countless tourists stupor and impressive.

1. Phong Nha Cave

Tourism is always mentioned first when talking about Quang Binh, Phong Nha Cave once considered Thien Nam De Nhat Dong of Vietnam, was recognized as the World Heritage and was been the British Royal Associations voted as one of the world’s most beautiful caves. Phong Nha cave located Ke Bang limestone mountain area, Son Trach commune, Bo Trach district, Quang Binh province, covered by tropical forests. Inside the cave are countless strange shapes, varies from the extremely lively stalactites, outside the mountain river surrounded glamorous, all contributing to the same famous for tourist attractions present.

1. Son Doong Cave

Newly discovered recently made the interesting waves spread throughout the world, animated Son Doong is currently one of the attractions of Quang Binh most popular tourist attraction in the province. Son Doong Cave belongs Son Trach commune, Bo Trach district, located in the caves of Phong Nha-Ke Bang. Son Doong cave is currently winning record the largest natural cave in the world and has been the New York ranked eighth in the list of 52 places in the list of places to travel to in 2014.

1. Paradise (Thien Duong) cave

One of the natural children of Quang Binh most favor it is Paradise (Thien Duong) Cave, was dubbed the underground palace, is one of the wonders of the magical and most beautiful sparkling world. Paradise (Thien Duong) Cave West Branch from the edge near the Ho Chi Minh road 4 km of Son Trach commune, Bo Trach District, Quang Binh Province, the center of the city about 70 kilometers Dong Hoi northwest. Bring the beauty of the poetic but no less mysterious, magical, Paradise (Thien Duong) Cave has always been one of the famous tourist spots of Quang Binh.

1. Tien Son Cave

Along the populations Heritage Site Phong Nha – Ke Bang, Tien Son cave, also known as the Dry famous for magnificent beauty and attraction. Tien Son uplink crooked, curved, surrounded by lyrical natural scenery and vast, make people feel the smallness of man and of all things, before the vast expanse of heaven and earth. A beauty that space genie, mystery, previously Tien Son cave people in the area also known as Tien Cave.

1. Tu Lan Cave

Modest and less known than the caves above, but Tu Lan Cave always mentioned when people mention the name of the brightest pearl of tourism in Quang Binh. Perhaps precisely because of elusive beauty and its conquest, as pretty girl “hard”.Tu Lan cave system located in the village of Tan Hoa, Minh Hoa district, about 70km from Phong Nha northwest, including about 8 different caves. Visitors must pass through the jungle, wading stream, surpassing many difficult and dangerous to get to the cave. And the most interesting point is the visitors have to swim in the dark cave to admire the unique beauty of the adjacent 5 cave. Water where the clear, cool, that visitors could not amused and impressed.







So far, perhaps you have begun more excitement with stunning caves and famous incomparable magnificent of Quang Binh. This is the priceless gift of nature bestowed Quang Binh, and ready waiting for you once travel to explore.

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Lotus - National flower of Vietnam

Lotus aromatic, excellent flavor to existence. Every circumstances, Lotus contained in  it: subtle, pure, beautiful. It really is the most iconic symbol for culture and manners of the Vietnam humanities.

The Vietnamese has a famous folk poems meaning that “In the pond, nothing’s more beautiful than lotus, the flower of the dawn”. The elegance of the lotus is often cited in the Vietnamese folk songs and poems. To the Vietnamese, lotus is known as an exquisite flower, symbolizes the purity, serenity, commitment and optimism of the future as it is the flower which grows in muddy water and rises above the surface to bloom with remarkable beauty. At night, the flower closes and sinks under water. It rises and opens again at dawn. How it blossoms and recedes at certain times of the day makes the flower remain untouched by impurity. Thus, the lotus symbolizes the purity of heart and mind. And just like the lotus, Vietnam has a strong affinity with the water. From history to present, Vietnamese farmers working on the paddy fields while fishermen make livelihood from the rivers and streams. Vietnamese civilization sprung out of the Red River delta, Mekong delta where wet-rice cultivation along with fishing and rice planting was the mainstay of living.

One interesting research reported that the lotus has the remarkable ability to regulate the temperature of its flowers to within a narrow range just as humans and other warmblooded animals do.

Such is the Vietnamese love for the lotus that it was voted as the country’s national flower.— for which one of the criteria was that it “must be found in many localities”, and it would be hard to travel through Vietnam during lotus season without coming across a pond or lake filled with them.

Early in the morning, elderly ladies push off in their boats to cut the flowers ready for selling later that day. Later in the day, young lovers and groups of girls dressed up along to the ponds for both professional and amateur photo shoots. Enterprising land — or pond — owners have put up bridges jutting out into the ponds and charge for the privilege of taking photos on the bridge or out on small boats among the flowers. Pink lotus being considered the supreme of all lotuses.

As well as being beautiful to look at, and having a wonderful fragrance, lotus flowers have other uses: the young stems are used in salads, the stamens can be dried and made into a herbal tea and the lotus seeds are eaten raw, dried or boiled. The sweet soup is particularly tasty.

Lotus flowers are beautiful in both appearance and smell. The color of lotus flowers usually are pink, red, white, blue and purple, each color has different meaning but they all have pleasant smell and people simply love them at first sight.

You can come up with in the lotus fields at Dong Thap Muoi of the Mekong Delta to experience great of Lotus – National flower of Vietnam. Contact us at Mekong Delta Tours – Sinhcafe Travel for pleasure to assist you.

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10 foods should not miss while visiting Hanoi

10 foods should not miss while visiting Hanoi - 10 Things You Must Eat In Hanoi

False dog dish (bun gia cay)

To this day, I’m still not quite sure what this is exactly. Everyone around us seemed to be getting this, so we got it as well and prayed that it really is false dog. It turned out to be pork, thank goodness! After poking around google for a bit, I understand that this dish is named so because it is prepared in the same manner as dog…. Whaaa? Seeing how I’ve never eaten dog, I wouldn’t know. But the meat was tender and the soup was very herby and salty, so it was all good.

Even though this took my last place, it doesn’t mean I didn’t like it!  Honestly I liked EVERYTHING we had in Vietnam.

Crab noodle soup (bun rieu)

Bun rieu is a northern crab and tomato noodle soup made with thin round rice noodles (instead of wide & flat like pho). There  are no real crab meat pieces in there, but rather small clusters of crab egg. The soup has a light, tangy tomato flavor with a hint of the sea. A bowl costs just under US $2 in a restaurant, but out on the street? A mere 70 cents.

Stir fried noodles (pho xao)

This is like Vietnam’s version of chow mien, using pho noodles! The rice noodles are wok fried with greens and meat (most likely, beef). This was interesting because I’ve never seen pho noodles cooked in this way before, but why not?! Everyone loves fried noodles! This is a good alternative for if you get bored with noodle soup (though I don’t see how that’s possible).

Vermicelli & tofu with shrimp paste (bun dau mam tom)

This was one of the stranger things we’ve tried, but it pleasantly surprised us! This dish consists of fried tofu, fishcakes, pork, and tightly compressed vermicelli noodle “patties” cut into cubes. These are then eaten dipped into a shrimp paste and accompanied with fresh herbs (as everything in Hanoi is). Yum! But beware, the shrimp paste is super pungent so only a tiny dab will do!

Where to eat: There is a restaurant at the corner of  main street Nguyễn Hữu Huân and Cau Go, only open during the morning and early afternoon hours. In the evening, the place changes to a seafood restaurant!

bun dau mam tom vendorstreet bun dau mam tomHanoi street eating
We even tried a street version of this! We saw a tiny lady making this on the sidewalk and just had to stop by and try, even though the sanitary conditions looked suspicious. Eating on tiny stools on the sidewalk is the ultimate Vietnamese dining experience, so don’t be afraid to try it!

Spring rolls (bun nem)

Now who doesn’t love spring rolls?! Spring rolls in Hanoi are made with thin rice paper wrapping, which crisps up really flakey and crunchy. You can find vendors selling them almost anywhere on the streets. A popular specialty is the crab rolls. Try it if you see it!

Steamed pork wraps (banh cuon)

making banh cuonHanoi banh cuon lady tableHanoi banh cuon
Banh cuon is made with a pork and mushroom filling wrapped in freshly steamed rice paper, then topped with crunchy fried shallots. Fish sauce, chilis, and fresh herbs are served alongside. Eat it all in one bite for maximum deliciousness! Often, cinnamon pork will be offered as an accompaniment too. You won’t miss banh cuon vendors! They’re the ones sitting next to a big steamer with buckets of rice flour mix.

Where to eat: The most popular one is at Ban Cuon Gia Truyen (Tripadvisor page here), located at 14 Pho Hang Ga. One order costs 45,000 VND or just over US $2. However, you can find banh cuon vendors everywhere and they are all just as good.

Vietnamese sandwich (banh mi)

I think the Vietnamese sandwich is one of the most ingenious France-meets-Asia creations ever! A fluffy baguette is stuffed with pate, cold cuts, cucumber, and pickled carrots & dikon. In Hanoi, this sandwich will be finished off with hot sauce and mayo drizzled on top. At 20,000 VND, or less than US $1, this was one of my favorite meals on the quick.

Where to find: Banh mi carts can be found absolutely everywhere in Old Quarter.

Sticky rice (xoi xeo)

Xoi Yen eating areaxoi yen food counterxoi yen pate rice
The concept is simple: sticky rice with various toppings. But the sticky rice doesn’t just come plain. A very popular option is sticky rice with a layer of mung bean paste and lard. It’s clearly a favorite for the Hanoi locals. We tried it once, and sadly, we didn’t like the paste too much, but we do LOVE just the plain sticky rice! Our favorite toppings are pate and boiled chicken. This was one of our go-to breakfasts!

Where to find: The absolute best place to go is Xoi Yen, an institution in Hanoi. Located at the corner of main street Nguyễn Hữu Huân & Hàng Mam. A bowl of sticky rice is under US $1, and various meat toppings run from 35 cents to a dollar.

Chicken noodle soup (pho ga)

Hanoi street phopho condimentsHanoi day in the life pho
No matter how many new and interesting Vietnamese dishes I try, I will always love pho! Back at home, the pho in Vietnamese restaurants are served with bean sprouts and herbs on the side, and also bottles of sriracha and Hoisin sauce. But in the north, a bowl of pho comes unadorned, with only white vinegar, lime, pickled garlic, and chilis to adjust the taste to your liking. Chicken pho also seems to be more popular in the north, and I loved the clean flavor. Pho will always make a great meal!

Where to eat: at the corner of Hang Bac and Hang Ga are two pho stalls across the street from each other. Both are delicious and always crowded. One opens in the morning (costs 30,000 VND, or US $1.50) and one opens in the evening (costs 45,000 VND, or US $2).

Grilled pork & vermicelli (bun cha)

Bun cha just means “grilled pork”, but as you can see, you get so much more! First, you get two different kinds of pork: strips of meat and minced pork patties. These are soaked in a light fish sauce soup. Then, I like to dress up the soup by dumping in a lot of red chilis and minced garlic. You also get a plate of vermicelli noodles and a mountain of fresh herbs. Everything is dipped into the soup before delivering to mouth. I think of this as a deconstructed vermicelli bowl. We also add a couple of crab spring rolls to round out the meal. This is SO GOOD!

Where to eat: The restaurant Dac Kim – Bun Cha Nem Cua Be (website) is the absolute BEST, located at 67 Đường Thành. This meal you see here is for ONE PERSON. We can easily share it. Once, we each got our own and I was so full I could throw up. Total cost: 90,000 VND, or US $4.19.

10 foods should not miss while visiting Hanoi - You could spend a week eating your way through the hectic, motorbike-clogged streets of Hanoi’s Old Quarter and never eat the same meal twice. I know I didn’t on my recent trip. Here are 20 dishes and drinks from Hanoi that haunt my hungry dreams.

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5 Things not to do in Vietnam

There are things you should NEVER do in Vietnam in order not to insult, ridicule or offend someone by accident. Don’ts might sometimes save your life, make your journey nicer and smoother and make you see the real side of Vietnam.

1) Don’t wear valuable jewellery and don’t show off your expensive iPod/phone/clothes. Petty crimes happen a lot here.

2) Never wear your bag on your back, always keep it in front of you zipped or locked properly. Thieves sometimes use the knives to rip your bag and they are so smart! You won’t even feel it.

3) Don’t rush people. They hate it. They take their time and there is no rush for them. If you have to wait 10 minutes for your coffee, just deal with it, don’t scream or show how unsatisfied you are because people take things slow and easy.

4) Keep a cool head and remain polite, you’ll have a greater chance of getting what you want.

5) If you travel with your girlfriend or boyfriend don’t show in public how much you love each other. Kissing, touching or holding hands may be perceived inappropriate.

The Vietnam Tourism provides a list of things not to do in Vietnam that can secure visitors and help them to make their trip in Vietnam enjoyable.

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8 Questions to Help You Pick Your Perfect Guided Tour

Guided excursions can open entryways that voyagers all alone could never get to. This is what you have to know not the right trek for you.

In the event that the expression "bunch visit" makes you imagine a group in coordinating coats lining up behind a banner wielding trip pioneer, reconsider. Guided excursion organizations grasp the idea that 21st-century voyagers need special, drawing in encounters that go past just review a destination's notorious highlights.

"It's about valid encounters," says Paul Wiseman, president of Trafalgar, a 68-year-old guided excursion organization. "It's unmistakable that the new era of explorer needs to associate with insider encounters."

That is awesome news for individuals longing to travel, and you can browse a large group of drawing in visits to investigate the world.

Why take a guided trek as opposed to going only it? The United States Tour Operators Association clarifies that gathering treks can spare time, cash and bother. They likewise offer the opportunity to interface with other similarly invested globe-trotters.

Be that as it may, what truly recognizes guided visits are the master aides who lead these unique trips.

"They take you to puts out of the way that you'd never find all alone," says Lucas Bialecki, U.S. Bunches business advancement administrator for G Adventures. "They demonstrate individuals a method for travel that will interface them with local people however much as could reasonably be expected."

What sort of guided visit would it be a good idea for you to take? There are several outings accessible, so you'll need to contract down your decisions to the sorts of visits that will give you an affair that takes into account your own inclinations.

Put forth these 8 inquiries to choose the best journey for you: 

1. Where would I like to go? Altogether, visit organizations, for example, Trafalgar and G Adventures go to every one of the 7 mainlands, with treks to more than 100 nations. The conceivable outcomes are huge—and apparently overpowering. Take some an opportunity to investigate the maps, schedules and recordings on visit administrators' sites to figure out where your hunger for something new will lead you.

2. What's my travel style? Guided get-aways are customized for generally distinctive hobbies. Browse exemplary excursions (London, Paris, Tuscany), dynamic schedules (biking and trekking, or high-adrenaline enterprises in Alaska), relaxation trips (a more casual pace with overhauled solaces) and family visits (age-fitting exercises and sustenance for the particular).

3. What number of other individuals would I like to go with? Picture your optimal colleagues before picking your excursion. In case you're praising a commemoration, you won't not need a gathering with heaps of youthful children. Be that as it may, if the trip is expected to open your youngsters' eyes to the world, going with different families could be perfect. A littler gathering constructs fellowship and mixes in at the destination all the more effortlessly, however a bigger gathering has its own particular advantages. You have the opportunity to become more acquainted with more individuals, and costs frequently are less costly.

4. What exercises would I like to experience? This is the place guided treks truly sparkle—with the one of a kind, hands-on exercises curated for your gathering. Cooking with an Italian culinary specialist, buddy farming in Montana, whisky tasting at a Scottish refinery, biking in British Columbia, trekking with a learned nearby guide and salsa moving in Guatemala are all conceivable on a guided excursion. You should simply consider what sorts of trips identify with you.

5. What am I hungry for? Extraordinary food can be a standout amongst the most paramount parts of your excursion, yet everybody has distinctive tastes. It is safe to say that you are a bold eater (broiled scorpions), a locavore (farmstead cheddar) or more conventional (cheeseburger, please)? Measure an outing's feasting choices with your culinary inclinations.

6. Where would I like to rest? Your hotel can offer far beyond a decent night's rest. It's an involvement in its own privilege. Alternatives range from a boutique inn in the heart of the city to a revamped lakeside royal residence or a homestay in the nation.

7. How would I like to get around? Consider how the visit will explore at the destination. Perhaps you'd favor the solace and dependability of a ventilated transport. Then again, taxis and prepares (or camels and rickshaws) let you rub shoulders with local people and decrease your travel foot shaped impression.

8. How unconstrained would I like to be? A few treks offer more adaptability than others. Consider whether you'd like downtime with the opportunity to investigate all alone or on the off chance that you'd rather stay with your gathering day in and day out and stick to a preplanned plan.

So what'll it be? Seeing intriguing animals in the Galápagos or cycling in Central America? Cooking in Charleston or paddling California's Pacific Coast? Tasting sangria in Spain or trekking in Tibet? Guided visits can take you anyplace—from the United States, Caribbean and Mexico to Europe and the Arctic. Pick your pleasure, and leave the rest to the experts.

Begin envisioning about—and arranging—your next getaway with Trafalgar and G Adventures. As a NEA part, you'll save with our restrictive rebates.

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"Kong: Skull Island": When Hollywood comes to Vietnam

Hollywood movie producers for 'Kong: Skull Island' came to Vietnam not long ago, bringing along a feeling of polished skill that nearby Vietnamese infrequently encountered. 

In spite of the fact that not the first run through a Hollywood film team has picked Vietnam as a shoot area, it absolutely has been a while since the Vietnamese last got very close with American-style filmmaking. 

This might clarify the media buildup encompassing the occasion, with many columnists and paparazzi flooding the open air film set in Phong Nha, a town in the north-focal territory of Quang Binh. 

The serene town, with a populace of around 1,000, turned out to be exuberant overnight when many local people relinquished their day by day work to get A-rundown stars Tom Hiddleston, Brie Larson, and Samuel L. Jackson in the substance.

Absolute confidentiality

Local people say the lake being recorded, which up to this point has just filled irrigational needs, is fascinating even to Vietnamese individuals, and voyagers are infrequently seen going to the fascination in spite of its magnificence. 

Reporter daily paper columnists took after Giang, a neighborhood authority, to the film set however were halted 1km from the scene by a gathering of security gatekeepers. 

The columnists were just permitted to remain focused condition that no recording gadgets were to be utilized. 

There have been past cases, Giang said, where security has needed to grab spectators' telephones to delete clasps and photographs they took of the film set. 

There are three separate security checkpoints, says a head of one security group. The checkpoints lie at 1,000m, 400m, and 100m from the scene. 

"The producers put secrecy at the highest point of their need list while arranging the agreement with us," said a gatekeeper when requested consent to get closer to the set. "With a financial plan of a huge number of dollars for the film, a minor hole about its substance can cost the makers a fortune, so we can't go for broke." 

The film set is by all account not the only thing being kept mystery. All data with respect to the film group is likewise secret. 

An authority at Quang Binh's Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism said the makers of 'Kong: Skull Island' requested complete privacy about the film, including the particular place every performing artist and on-screen character remains. 

The newspaper correspondents, planning to get more data about the film, went inside an inn where one of the team's vans was stopped outside, yet it was futile. 

"We have marked a classification contract with the group," a director let them know. 

Polished methodology 

Downpour began Tuesday evening on the second day of recording, yet the team hinted at no stress as they immediately snatched plastic sheets to cover hardware. Then, the cast wore overcoats and kept recording. 

A Vietnamese driver enlisted by the team told the newspaper journalists on Wednesday how awed he was by the force of their working timetable and the exertion and obligation every part put into their employment, paying little heed to their position. 

Stopped close to the set were many little trucks and trailers conveying the team's devices, and additionally a rescue vehicle prepared to react to on-set crises. 

Among the armada were three outfit trucks with clothes washers, two trucks saved for make-up, one for hairdressing, and three others conveying fuel, water, and sustenance. 

A portion of the trucks are restored to look like manufactured homes within, with every one of the necessities required for the taping process. 

All these exhaustive logistical arrangements are to offer the cast some assistance with focusing on their employment without being occupied by trifling matters, said Leann Emmert, the group's executive of settings. 

The scene happens on an island unfamiliar by people, she included, so everybody on the team needed to take after specific ways when moving around the set so as not to bother its primitiveness and guarantee the film's rationale. 

The team halted for a smorgasbord lunch around 1:00 pm, with a wide decision of dishes from Western to Vietnamese foods. 

Showcasing official Gregg Brilliant said it was a gigantic measure of work get ready nourishment for many individuals in the meantime, however the cooks were working their hardest to 're-empower' the team. 

"I'd likewise get a kick out of the chance to talk for the benefit of my partners," Brilliant said, "that your nation is really a wonderful and perfect spot for both taping and working. We are taping scenes that have never been known not world. Contrasted with Hawaii and Australia, where we recorded before coming here, Vietnam has scenes that no place else does." 

"We have never seen such polished methodology!" Ho A Phong, chief of Quang Binh's Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, shouted after watching the film set. 

'Kong: Skull Island' recounts the account of a gathering of swashbucklers who set foot on an uncharted island in the Pacific Ocean – one so stunning that individuals think of it as incredible. Much to their dismay they just strolled into the region of the fanciful King Kong. 

The film, delivered by Legendary Pictures and dispersed by Warner Bros. Pictures, is relied upon to hit films in March 2017.

Some images:

Locals gather near the 'Kong: Skull Island' film set in Quang Binh, Vietnam. Photo: Instagram/voteroberts

Brie Larson tries out the traditional costume of Hmong, an ethnic minority in Vietnam, at the set of ‘Kong: Skull Island’ in Quang Binh, Vietnam
Photo:

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