Best places to travel in Vietnam during Tet

Tet is the Lunar New Year for Vietnam and falls on the same day as the Chinese New Year. For the Vietnamese, Tet is like Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s Eve all rolled up in one. Moreover,  this is a great time to be in Vietnam for travelers. Everyone is in a very festive spirit and the streets are filled with flowers.

Moc Chau plateau

200 kilometers apart from Hanoi, Moc Chau is a well-known destination for backpackers. The best time to go to Moc Chau is from the end of January to February, when plum blossoms and sakura bloom everywhere, making the plateau looks like a white heaven.

Tam Dao

It is quite hot in Vietnam this winter, and if you miss the feeling of those cold winds blowing to your face, why don’t you come to Tam Dao where the weather is always cool? Visiting the Van Pagoda, Silver Waterfall, Sky Gate and enjoying local dishes like chayote, hill chicken, man pig as well.

Dalat

With no doubt, visiting the “City of flower” in the blooming season is a great plan for your Tet holiday. You can hire a motorbike and wander around this city to enjoy its quiet beauty and of course flowers. Must-thing to do when you come to Dalat is visiting Dalat Flower Garden. You can even find an impressive cacti garden, many of them originally from Africa. The garden is in the center of the city, so don’t miss it.

See more: 10 traditional Vietnamese New Year dishes

Hoi An

Used to be a South-East Asian trading port from the 15th to the 19th century, it seems like Hoi An is left by the modern world and still sleeping in its glorious past. With the well-preserved ancient architecture, it makes you feel like you are coming back to hundreds of years ago. It is a small town, so you should spend around 1 to 2 days here.

Hanoi

Hanoi is quite quiet during the holiday because a lot of Vietnamese people visit their family. So let's take advantage of this holiday to avoid traffic jams in this city. Wandering around Hoan Kiem Lake, you can enjoy the holiday decorations and locals in traditional clothing. In addition, you can visit Ngoc Son Temple and Tran Quoc Temple to enjoy the atmosphere of the holiday.

Sapa

Another Northern destination in this list must-visit Vietnam. If you come to Vietnam and you don’t visit Sapa, it’s such a pity. The breathtaking mountainous scenery of Hoang Lien Son range, the terraced fields on rolling hills, the villages of Highland ethics, the colorfulness of brocade fabric. You just don’t want to miss it.

See more: 5 traditional activities during Tet holiday for families

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8 snowy destinations in Asia for mountain and winter lovers

When people talk about Asia, some of the first things come to mind are the spectacular islands, crystal clear waters, beach parties, or anything that you can incorporate into summer and tropical weather. While this is not surprising as this is what Asia, particularly southeast part is mostly known, tourism wise, did you know that Asia can also be a great destination for a snowy getaway? Here is a list of some of the best snowy destinations in Asia for those who love the winter.

1. Sapporo, Japan

There are many places in Japan to experience snow, but one of the most popular is Sapporo. This city has a lot of ski resorts only 20 to 60 minutes ride away by car, so adding that to your day trip itinerary would be bearable.

If you’re a beginner, you could try sledding or snow-tubing, on the other hand, if you’re not interested in snow games, you may want to time your visit during Snow Festival which usually takes place in February. Despite the freezing cold temperatures, more than 2 million people go to the Hokkaido capital to witness the snow come alive annually and Japan is well-known as one of the snow countries in Asia.

See more: Visit Japan in Winter

2. Yunnan, China

The second one is Yunnan Province where the small mountain range of The Jade Dragon Snow Mountain – one of the most beautiful snow places in Asia is located. Soaring throughout the headwaters of the Yangtze River, this mountain range is famous for their far-fetched views and is a portion of a high altitude nature reserve.

3. Yongpyong, South Korea

Another place to go if you are looking for some ice adventure in Asia is Yongpyong, South Korea. This place has a lot to offer for those who are looking to go skiing or snowboarding. You will find a trendy ski resort on the slopes on Mount Balwang. Some other popular activities here include floodlit night skiing and a cross-country hiking. Just like in Sapporo, they also hold a snow festival every February.

See more: Best winter activities in South Korea

4. Sapa, Vietnam

Being surrounded by many top summer destinations like Bali, Phuket, and Boracay, it may come as a surprise to you that Vietnam also experiences snow. Even though snowboards and toboggans aren’t common places to Vietnam, you will surely fall in love when what used to be green fields of rice in summer turn to white during the winter.

Sapa located in northwestern part of Vietnam is now becoming more and more popular among visitors from all over the world. The natural beauty of rugged mountain ranges along with the interesting cultural diversity of the ethnic minorities living in the regions is what attracts many tourists here all year round. 

5. Taichung, Taiwan

Another unpopular winter destination is Taiwan. Located in Heping District, Taichung, Xueshan or Hsuehshan or all known as Snow Mountain is the second-highest peak in the country standing 3,886m. This mountain is often ignored by many tourists who opt for Mt. Jade hiking as it is the tallest one. However, Snow Mountain offers a more scenic and interesting hike.

Hiking here is pretty safe even during the winter and the scenery is spectacular. However, you have to make sure to sign up months prior if you are planning to hike as they limit the number of hikers during the snowy season.

6. Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia

A few hundred miles away from Beijing, Mongolia’s capital, Ulaanbaatar is another place ideal for all the winter lovers out there.

If you’re an adventurous soul who wants to try something exciting, you are able to enjoy snowboarding and skiing just outside the city at the mountain called Bogd Khan Mountain, which is a protected mountain range that lies in the southern part of Ulaanbaatar. Keep in mind, though that temperature here tends to be very low. During the months of November to March, the temperature can get as low as -35°C, positioning Mongolia as one of the coldest snowfall countries in Asia.

7. Putao, Myanmar

Another country in Southeast Asia where you can experience snow is Myanmar. Famous for Bagan and Inle Lake – pictured above – what might not be so well-known are its snowcapped mountain ranges. Putao which is located in the northernmost town of Kachin State is a dream place for nature lovers. The region also has some of the tallest mountains in this part of Asia, one of which is Khaka Bo Razi, standing splendidly tall at 19,296 ft.

8. The Himalayas mountain range, Nepal

The Himalayas is a landmark of the earth. This mountain range is the most famous and also the most beautiful mountains in the world. Dates back to 80 million years ago when dinosaurs still exist, The Himalayas is the youngest and highest of its kind.

Every year, The Himalayas attract thousands of adventure seekers, nature lovers, and explorers who follow innumerable trails among wonderful forests and icy peaks searching for prehistoric monuments and spectacular panoramas. Himalayan mountains show an exhilarating range of mountain backdrop that will surely take your breath away. You will be stunned with various snowcapped mountain peaks, ever popular alpine grazing land, several stunning lakes, numerous high glaciers, and some of the gorgeous snow-fed rivers.

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Have you ever tried these Sai Gon's signature dishes?

Street foods in Sai Gon are very tasty and abundant. There are more hundreds of kinds of street foods but here are the best signature dishes you cannot miss when traveling to Sai Gon and you can be addicted to those dishes.

One of the densest populations cities in Vietnam, Sai Gon is not only a financial center but also a place gathered most of the unique street food both tasty and reasonable. Most street food stalls usually serve foods with simple recipes. You just simply sit in a plastic chair, hold a pair of chopsticks and enjoy the street foods.

Com tam (Broken rice) 

Com tam is literally translated to ‘broken rice’ in Vietnamese and is traditionally served with diced green onions and a variety of toppings. Toppings options include barbecued pork chop, shredded pork skin, fried eggs, and steamed pork and an egg patty. Com tam also comes with a side of pickled vegetables, cucumber slices, and specially prepared Vietnamese fish sauce. While it’s a popular choice for breakfast or lunch, it can be enjoyed any time of the day as it is relatively inexpensive.

Pha lau (Offal stew)

Pha lau, an exotic street food commonly found in Sai Gon, is an offal stew filled with pig or cow innards and cooked with herbs and seasoning in a way similar to curry, although not as spicy. What makes this dish unique is the chewy pieces which are yet soft enough to melt in your mouth.

If you are wondering, “Would the taste or smell of the organs is too strong for me?” Then do not worry since the long cooking process had eliminated any unpleasant taste and odor. Each vendor will have its unique way of flavoring the broth. You can also order some bread to eat along with this rich broth. Locals also dip the organs into a fish sauce with minced chilies to enhance the flavor.

Banh cuon

Bánh cuốn is a type of Vietnamese steamed fermented rice batter dish, filled with a mixture of cooked seasoned ground pork, minced wood ear mushroom, and minced shallots. It's usually eaten with a dipping sauce which is a specially made fish sauce or you can add some chả (Vietnamese sausage) or bánh tôm (Vietnamese shrimp tempura) as a side dish.

Goi cuon (Vietnamese spring rolls)

A Vietnamese traditional dish consists of pork, prawn, vegetables, bún (rice vermicelli), and other ingredients wrapped in rice paper. Contrary to popular belief that they are from China, the fresh spring roll's origin is from Vietnam since the ingredients are different. Due to its subtle flavor, goi cuon is usually dipped into ground chilies and a hoisin-based dipping sauce topped with crushed peanuts. These rolls are considered to be a very popular appetizer in Vietnamese restaurants. 

Another popular variant is the summer rolls (known as Chả Giò), which is a deep-fried egg roll made with a combination of mung bean noodles, minced pork, and various spices.

Sup cua (crab soup)

Fresh stripped crab meat is the star of this delicious dish. Crab soup is a perfect comfort food that many Vietnamese are familiar with. The soup has crab, tapioca starch, shitake mushrooms, snow mushrooms, and quail eggs.

One must-try location would be the stall on the Nguyen Du Street corner near the Notre-Dame Cathedral. But you can also easily find this soup at big wet markets such as Thiec, Ho Thi Ky and Pham The Hien.

See more: Eating your way through the streets of Saigon

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