Vietnam’s Son Doong Cave through U.S. photographer’s lens

American photographer Ryan Deboodt has shot a striking photo collection of Son Doong Cave, the current largest cave in the world, located in central Vietnam.

Deboodt, who now lives in Ho Chi Minh City, did the collection late last year when he traveled to Hang En and Son Doong Caves in Phong Nha - Ke Bang National Park, situated in Quang Binh Province, along with members of the British Cave Research Association, according toDaily Mail.  

He arrived at the park after traveling by plane and car before taking treks of up to four hours through the jungle to reach the caves, Daily Mail said.

Son Doong Cave, which has a large fast-flowing underground river inside, was found by a local resident named Ho Khanh in 1991.

The cave became famous after a group of British scientists from the British Cave Research Association, led by Howard and Deb Limbert, conducted a survey in Phong Nha-Ke Bang which was recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in April 2009.

According to Limbert, Son Doong Cave is five times larger than Phong Nha Cave which was once considered the biggest cave in Vietnam.

The largest chamber of Son Doong is more than five kilometers long, 200 meters high, and 150 meters wide.

With such large dimensions, Son Doong has overtaken Deer Cave in Malaysia to take the title of the world's largest cave.

Scroll up for the spectacular pictures of Son Doong Cave provided toTuoi Tre newspaper by Oxalis Co. which offers tour packages ranging from US$3,000 to $6,000 to the world’s largest cave.

Top 10 Tourist Attractions in Vietnam

Most travelers to Vietnam are attracted by the country’s wonderful natural beauty: From the green rice fields in the north to the fascinating bustle of the Mekong Delta in the south. Vietnam however is also a country with a long history and ancient traditions. It has many historic attractions and old temples. An overview of the most amazing tourist attractions in Vietnam.

10. Nha Trang

Nha Trang is Vietnam’s most popular seaside resort town located along the second most beautiful bays in the country. It features beautiful beaches with fine and clean sand and clear ocean water with mild temperatures. The city has about 300,000 inhabitants and is more lively and urban in character than other beach destinations like Mui Ne and Phu Quoc. It’s also the scuba diving center of Vietnam.

09. Cu Chi Tunnels

The Cu Chi Tunnels are an immense network of connecting underground tunnels located about 40 km northwest of Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon). The tunnels were used by Viet Cong guerrillas as hiding spots during the Vietnam War, and were the base of operations for the Tết Offensive in 1968. The tunnels have become a popular tourist attraction, and visitors are invited to crawl around in the safer parts of the tunnel system.

08. Mekong River (Mekong Delta)

The Mekong Delta is the region in southern Vietnam where the Mekong River approaches and empties into the sea. It is a very rich and lush area, covered with rice fields, that produces about half of the total of Vietnam’s agricultural output. Subsequently, life in the Mekong Delta revolves much around the river, and all the villages are often accessible by river rather than by road.

07. Mui Ne

The formerly little-inhabited beach south of the fishing village of Mui Ne has seen some serious development in the last 15 years. Due to strong sea breezes it is a popular destination in Vietnam for kite- and windsurfing. No trip to Mui Ne is complete without a trip to the famous sand dunes located a short distance north of the town. The vast sandy expanse provide some great panoramic views especially during sunset.

06. Sa Pa Terraces

Sa Pa is a town in northwest Vietnam not far from the Chinese border. Rice terraces can be found in the Muong Hoa valley between Sa Pa town and the Fansipan Mountain, on a backdrop of thick bamboo woodlands. Local mountain people, the Hmong, Giay, Dao, Tay, and Giay, grow rice and corn on these paddy terraces, along with vegetables.

05. Phu Quoc

Located in front of the Cambodia coast, Phu Quoc is the largest island in Vietnam. Phu Quoc is what Phuket would be if it hadn’t been overrun by development. The island features pristine tropical forests, undamaged coral reefs and great beaches. One of its beaches, named Bai Dai (Long Beach), was chosen by the ABC News as one of five beautiful and clean beaches. Phu Quoc is famous for producing the best nuoc mam or fermented fish sauce in the world.

04. Hoi An

This fishing-village-turned-tourist-attraction is situated on the coast of the South China Sea. Hoi An has been an international port from the 16th century although the serious shipping business has long since moved to the city of Da Nang. The heart of the city is still the Old Town, full of winding lanes and Chinese-styled shops. It is sometimes called the “Venice of Vietnam” because of the narrow canals that cut through part of the town.

03. Hoan Kiem Lake (Hanoi)

Located in the historical center of Hanoi, Hoan Kiem Lake is one of the major scenic spots in the city and serves as the locals’ favorite leisure spot. Hoan Kiem means “returned sword”, and the name comes from a legend in which King Le Loi was given a magical sword by the gods, which he used to drive out the invading Chinese. Later he returned the sword to the Golden Turtle God in the lake.

02. Thien Mu Pagoda (Hue)

With seven stories, the Thien Mu Pagoda in Hue is the tallest pagoda in Vietnam. The pagoda overlooks the Perfume River and is regarded as the unofficial symbol of the former imperial capital. The temple was built in 1601 during the rule of the Nguyễn Lords. The initial temple was very simply constructed, but over time it was redeveloped and expanded with more intricate features.

01. Ha Long Bay

Ha Long Bay is situated in north Vietnam round a 120 kilometer long coast line and is literally translated as “Bay of Descending Dragons”. The top tourist attraction in Vietnam, Ha Long Bay features thousands of islands, each topped with thick jungle vegetation, forming a spectacular seascape of limestone pillars. Several of the islands are hollow, with enormous caves, others islands include lakes and some support floating villages of fishermen.

More Vietnam tourist attractions and travel information can be found in the Explore Vietnam page.

Source: touropia

Fish massage: A ‘fishy’ way to unwind in Vietnam

If you’re seeking both relaxation and a tingling massage, why not go for a fish massage, available at cafes and spas in Ho Chi Minh City? Although fish massage has been a service offered in the southern city for some time, its novelty has not worn away yet.

The practice is simple: one simply places their feet and calves into a fish tank and enjoys the tingling bites from schools of tiny “massage fish,” which feed on their “prey’s” dead skin.
Fish massage at cafes
At a café that offers fish massage services on Truong Chinh Street in District 12, a group of local high school students arrived on a hot weekend for a 30-minute massage.
The students’ initial anxiety changed to intrigue and delight as they put their legs into the fish tank.
Instantly a school of thousands of tiny fish swarmed between their legs, enthusiastically ripping away the youths’ dead skin with their small, toothless mouths.
“It was quite tickly at first, and then it began to tingle curiously. We had a great time, having smoothies, making jokes, and watching the fish gently gnawing at our legs,” shared Thao, a member of the group.
According to attendant Thuy Vy, the tank is the café’s largest, home to over 7,000 fish.
“The fish’s sense of smell is particularly acute; one just needs to put their legs in the water for a few seconds before they swim over. The school can serve up to some hundred clients a day without slowing down a bit,” Vy said.
The attendant’s job involves serving drinks, watching over their clients, and making sure that they move their legs gently so as not to accidentally crush the fish to death.
A 30-minute massage session and a drink costs VND50,000 (US$2.4) each. Students get half-price discounts, so the venue is invariably packed on weekends.
Clients gather around the fish tanks, with their drinks placed on the edges of the tanks or on a small floating platform in the middle of the water.
Several local families have also chosen the place for weekend outings.
“My children told me to come here so that the fish will eat away all my peeling leg skin. The small creatures did an excellent job, and it was really fun,” said 70-year-old Tran Thanh, of Tan Binh District, who came with his grandchild.
A number of female clients also request a body fish massage, believing that dipping their bodies in the water and having the fish “sanitize” them some 40 minutes a week can help perfect their complexion.
Before doing so, clients must shower to cleanse themselves of all cosmetics and chemicals, which may poison and kill the fish.
Fish massage enters spas
A sign advertising “Fish Massage” is hung at spa B. on Dong Khoi Street in downtown HCMC, drawing attention from tourists, particularly foreigners.
The spa, which boasts two round fish tanks and some 2,000 fish, can serve up to 100 clients, mostly foreigners, a day.
Tourists at the spa enjoy dipping their feet in warm water and having them washed by the spa attendants before “falling prey” to the fish.
Attendants also make sure that clients do not have any open wounds or skin diseases.
“Many American and Australian tourists really love fish massage, as such services aren’t as popular in their countries. Several also ask to immerse their entire bodies in the water, but we don’t allow that. When the attendants aren’t looking, some even hold their breath and soaking their faces in the water for the fish to ‘massage’ them,” Nhat Linh, spa manager, said.
While the fish intensely work on clients’ legs, female masseuses massage their arms, shoulders, and necks.
Clients can also relax over hot ginger tea. The 30-minute massage package costs some VND210,000 ($10).
Kazuo Ito, a 29-year-old Japanese tourist, once took his 6-year-old daughter to the fish massage spa.
“My elder sister found the service relaxing during her trip to Vietnam and told everyone back in Japan about her rewarding experience. During our 4-day trip, my daughter insisted that I take her here,” said Ito, adding that the service is not so popular in Japan.
According to Vuong, manager of spa Z. on Bui Thi Xuan Street in District 1, the service requires painstaking care of the fish.
Fish massage enters homes
According to fish massage dealers in HCMC, to prevent sharing the tanks with others and risking their health, some people choose to install their own tanks at home.
La Nghia Hung, of Tan Hung Ward in District 7, one of the local major dealers, said that those with spacious houses and gardens prefer building cement tanks, while those with less space choose to have glass aquariums.
Such tanks cost some VND20-25 million ($1,179).
Hung also warned that on the local market, several types of fish are advertised as massage fish and fetch considerably high prices, some VND20,000-40,000 ($0.95-1.9) apiece, but not all of them are actually capable of massaging.
“Without careful inspection, one may buy Chinese anabas fish, which grow teeth when they are older. Their bites can be painful and cause bleeding,” he warned.
Healthful, but …
According to Dr. Nguyen Thi Dieu My, of HCMC-based Dermatology Hospital, just like any massage method, fish massage beneficially stimulates nerve ends, relieving stress and tension.
However, fish massage can directly transmit disease-carrying parasites to humans or serve as the medium of transmitting human-to-human diseases.
Dr. My stressed that though the risks do exist, they can be minimized if fish massage providers strictly comply with safety and hygiene procedures.
They can also arrange separate tanks for those suspected of having transmittable diseases.

Tam Coc – Ha Long Bay on land

Located about 100 km far from Hanoi city, Tam Coc is tourist destination under Trang An scenic and it looks like Ha Long Bay on land.

Along with the historic monument of Hoa Lu and Trang An eco-tourism, Tam Coc is a scenic spot under Trang An, Ninh Binh province.

While Hoa Lu is famous for its temples dedicated to the Dinh and Le Kings which were built in the 10th century, Tam Coc is known as a place where the Le King lived a secluded life.

Tam Coc is located in Van Lam commune, Ninh Hai village, Hoa Lu district, Tam Coc has three caves: Ca, Hai and Ba formed by the Ngo Dong River.
Ca Cave (about 127m in length) runs through a big mountain. Its mouth is more than 20m in width. Hai Cave, nearly 1km from Ca Cave, is 60m in length and Ba Cave 50m in length.

From the centre’s pier, visitors can go for a row in the cool and clear weather, and see the breathtaking scenery.

On their way, they can stop at Thai Vi and Tam Coc temples along the Ngo Dong River. 

Tam Coc is pristine scenic, you will definitely have interesting moments of experiences here. Let's spend time exploring Ha Long Bay on land by yourself.

Source: VOV

Son Tra- Kingdom of rare primate

Son Tra Nature Reserve is not only a well known ecotourism destination but also the kingdom of brown/red shanked doue langers (Pygathrix nemaeus) with the world's largest number of about 530 doue langers. 

The brown/red shanked doue langer (Pygathrix nemaeus) in Son Tra Nature Reserve.

The brown/red shanked doue langer (Pygathrix nemaeus) is called as the “queen of langers” for its five characteristic colors.

Doue langer is listed in the Vietnam Red Book and classified as critically endangered on the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species.

American postgraduate Jonathan said that the brown/red shanked doue langer is a rare specie that has been found in a few locations in the world.

He chose Son Tra Nature Reserve to make Ph.D. thesis research for the highest number of doue langer.

Founded in 1969, the brown/red shanked doue langer has attracted many domestic and international survey research groups and film crews.

According to researcher Nguyen Ai Tam of the Green Viet, a biological diversity center, doue langers have a habit of living in a family group, searching for food at 6 am and at 3 pm, and sleeping at 11 am.

Da Nang City’s government and the municipal forestry have many activities to protect langers’ living environment.

The People’s Committee has also approved the project on biological diversity conservation in Son Tra Nature Reserve costing VND40 billion, and ended forestry tours that badly damaged environment in the reserve.

Vietnamnet

The beautiful smiles of mountain children

Travellers in the northwestern mountains of Vietnam will be dazzled by the breathtaking scenery, culinary specialities, and the beaming faces of highland children.

Their beauty, joy, spirit and purity can hardly be captured perfectly through the lens of any camera.

Vietnam boasts 54 ethnic minority groups. In addition to the majority Kinh, which accounts for 80 percent of the country’s population, the remaining 20 percent belong to 53 ethnic groups, most of them living in mountainous areas, across the country.

The country has more to offer than just its well-known metropolitan areas of Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City. Much of its allure lies in the fascinating tribal cultures of the Tay, Nung, Mong, Dao, Muong and Thai ethnic minorities that inhabit the northern mountains along the Chinese border.

The adventurous and those intrigued by the “hidden charm” of Vietnam are attracted to this region. Exploring the colorful ethnic minority groups and experiencing the sheer thrill of travelling through wild and rugged terrain is something that cannot be found anywhere else in Vietnam.

Many visitors agree that one of the most enchanting sights in the region is ethnic children playing in their colorful costumes and smiling brightly in the spring sunshine while swiftly harvesting the golden rice in the spectacular terraced fields.

That scene can cause a visitor’s heart to beat faster and their footsteps to slow down. The rich ethnic lifestyle is very different from the usual modern life.

"When I look at children playing in the upland terraced fields or wandering through the village, I wish to be one of them enjoying freedom in a world of their own,"said one visitor.

These children learn to help their families from an early age. They begin to contribute to the family finances by selling unique handicrafts and colorful embroidered tribal fabrics. Although their living conditions might be considered very poor compared to a modern life in lowland Vietnam, they seem quite happy with their families and unique cultures.

While the traditional agrarian economy is still based on family farms producing food and cash crops, such as cardamom and vegetables, more children are now able to go to school and study the written language and traditional culture of their own ethnic group.

The majority of ethnic minority children in Vietnam are now three times more likely to read the Vietnamese language with accuracy and they are excited about going to school.

A fifth grade schoolgirl in Ha Giang province says, “I like to go to school very much because it is fun. We learn in groups and we can participate in extra activities like drawing, singing and embroidering. I feel proud of that”.