Top underrated destinations in Vietnam

Unless you have a local friend or you’re actively looking for exotic experiences in Vietnam, you’ve probably never heard about these obscure places. Let us introduce you to a Vietnam you didn’t know.

Tan Lap Indigo Forest (Long An Province)

Tan Lap Indigo Forest is located in Long An Province, 40km to the West of Ho Chi Minh City. It is home to a five-kilometre canopy walkway that has recently become a favourite site for locals’ weekend retreats or team activities. You can also explore the giant swamp at the end of the scenic walk for roughly US$2 per person.

Mount Lao Than (Lao Cai Province)

The 2800-metre high mountain of Lao Than in Lao Cai Province is a sought-after campsite and is literally heaven for trekkers. After two days and one night of climbing the rocky pathways, you reach the summit of Lao Than, one of the highest mountains in Northern Vietnam. There, you will be able to stand in a sea of clouds, taking in the breathtaking view of the Northern highlands while savouring a well-deserved cup of hot tea.

Tam Chau Tea Terraced Fields (Lam Dong Province)

Tam Chau is the biggest tea terraced field in South Central Vietnam. Since it’s just opened for tourism very recently, Tam Chau is still largely undisturbed and offers a fresh experience of Vietnamese tea culture for both local and foreign visitors. You should visit the place at the break of dawn to see firsthand the translucent dewdrops glistening on fresh tea leaves and to enjoy the early breeze that carries an exquisite aroma of freshly ground tea.

Po Long Garai and Po Rom Temples (Ninh Thuan Province)

The sandy province of Ninh Thuan saw the glory days of the Champa Kingdom as one of its main territories. Today, it is home to the Cham descendants and magnificent Cham relics, such as Po Long Garai and Po Rom ancient Hindu Temples. Unlike Cham relics in other Cham territories along the Central Coast, Po Long Garai and Porom were the most complex and extensive remnants of Cham architecture that luckily remain in their primitive state today. If you’re interested in the history of the Cham people and their mysterious architecture techniques, this is the place for you (be ready to climb hundreds of stairs though!).

Tram Chim National Park (Dong Thap Province)

Tram Chim is the biggest birds reserve and education centre in Vietnam. There, you will be amazed at the rich biodiversity across 7,600 hectares of wilderness, as well as the number of bird species that thrive there. Besides the natural habitat of the birds, you can glean some insights about the active efforts of local authorities and the science community in protecting endangered species. Don’t forget to hang back until sunset to watch thousands of cranes soaring overhead.

Ban Gioc Waterfall (Cao Bang Province)

Ban Gioc Waterfall lies at the border between China and Vietnam, in Cao Bang Province, North Vietnam. The grand waterfalls, therefore, is divided into two parts – Vietnam and China. Experience straddling two countries at once at the breathtaking nature spot.

See more: Top beautiful towns in Vietnam

Source: Internet

The weirdest foods to try in Cambodia

A visit to Cambodia will reveal some weird and wonderful delicacies that will leave you either licking your lips for more or gagging, because in the Kingdom of Wonder almost anything goes. Here, we throw the spotlight on some of the more unusual dishes you’re likely to come across during your travels.

Tarantula

The snack of deep-fried tarantula goes down a treat in Cambodia, with locals loving to munch on the crunchy spiders. Commonly deep-fried with chilli, the tarantula is crispy on the outside, with the body often containing a warm liquid centre of intestinal juice. And if you’re lucky, you may even bite into a pregnant female full of eggs. Yum. Skuon, in between Siem Reap and Phnom Penh, is where the majority of tarantulas are caught – by hand – in the jungle before being sold across the country. They can be bought at many street carts across the country, or Romdeng restaurant in Phnom Penh plates them with black pepper and lime sauce.

Scorpion on a stick

If chomping down on a spider doesn’t appeal, then try scorpion instead – Angelina Jolie sampled the delights of scorpion and tarantula during a 2016 trip to the country. The predatory arachnids are skewered on a stick and barbecued, before being scoffed as another crunchy snack, said to be filled with protein. These are sold by street vendors in the popular tourist traps of Siem Reap centre and along Phnom Penh’s riverside.

Snake Wine

You’ll definitely need something to wash these snacks down with, so why not try some snake wine? The daunting looking beverage is usually made by infusing a whole snake – or scorpion – into a bottle of home-brewed rice wine packed with medicinal herbs. This is left to steep for several months. Another version sees the body fluids of snakes mixed into the wine and drunk straight away as a shot. According to Traditional Chinese Medicine, snake wine is believed to have many healing properties including curing hair loss and boosting sex drive.

Fried Crickets

Another common munch to keep hunger at bay is deep-fried crickets. Cooked with garlic and chilli – these flavours overpower any taste of insect, so don’t worry – they are literally devoured like the western world scoffs chocolate by Cambodians. Also packed full of protein, crickets and other similar insects are said to be one solution to global food poverty by the World Health Organisation, making them a sort of super food.

Duck Foetus

You will commonly come across the sight of a Cambodia chowing down on what innocently seems to be a hard-boiled egg on the outside. However, the inside reveals a whole different story because often these will be duck, or chicken, eggs with a foetus inside. The fertilised egg is usually incubated for 14 to 21 days and then boiled or steamed. The contents are then eaten directly from the shell, usually warm. The development of the embryo differs, with some of the bones are soft and easy to chew, while other eggs come complete with an almost baby bird containing a few feathers.

See more: 10 best signature dishes in Cambodia

Source: Internet

A short trip in Can Tho, Vietnam

Can Tho comes from ‘cam thi giang’ which means ‘river of poems’ and is the largest city in the Mekong Delta in Vietnam. Of all the things that the city is known for, a few aspects stand out such as its floating markets, Buddhist pagodas, delicious food, and fresh fruits. There are many things to do in Can Tho which makes it an attractive and frequently visited tourist destination for many from across the world.

Go Shopping in Cai Rang Floating Market

Heading to Cai Rang, the biggest floating market in the Mekong Delta is one of the most recommended things to do in Can Tho Vietnam. Make sure you carry a camera here to click pictures around the bridge which is a very photogenic point. The best time to visit the market is between 6 am and 7 am since you can beat the swarms of tourists that come in as well as the heat.

Taste Mekong Delta Specialties

No trip is ever complete without tasting the indigenous specialties and the same holds true for Can Tho. There are many dishes that you should try while in Can Tho such as the Cai Rang grilled rolls made out of pork and served with pineapple, cucumber, bitter banana, star fruit, and thin rice paper. Other dishes you should try are bun ca (fish noodles), hu tieu Sa Dec (dry noodles), bun rieu (crab noodles) and lau mam (fish hot pot).

Visit Pitu Kohsa Rangsay Pagoda

Trying to hide down a quiet backstreet, but gloriously gold, this three-level Theravada Buddhist pagoda from 1948 contrasts sharply against the grey adjacent buildings. Carved detailed wall patterns, painted columns, a huge Buddha statue, and city views from the balcony are all impressive. Its charitable pursuits include helping disadvantaged youths to study.

Take Up Cacao Farming

One of the things that The Mekong Delta is known around the world for is its agriculture. Another popular place to visit in Can Tho is the Mien Tay Homestay, which is also a small cacao farm run by Lam The Cuong and his family. Take a small tour of the farm for a modest fee and get educated about the process of making cacao products from the fruit of a cacao tree. You also have the option to stay overnight in this homestay.

See more: Top hostels for backpackers in Can Tho

Live Locally

Photo MekongSmile

You should experience Can Tho with authentic Vietnamese spirit by staying in a homestay. There are many local homestays here are the owners are warm and friendly people who will look after you like one would treat a family member. They let you cook with them and even enjoy meals with their family. They will also be willing to take you out on tours around the city, make you take part in their farming activities, and even take care of their homes with them.

Source Internet