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Vietnamvisaco.com officially announces that every passport holder of United Kingdom (the UK), France, Germany, Spain and Italy will be able to be exempted from Vietnam visa for stays of maximum 15 days in Vietnam, according to the recently issued Resolution No 46/NQ-CP by Vietnamese Government. The policy will take effect for one year from July 1, 2015 to June 30, 2016. All citizens from five mentioned above countries traveling to Vietnam will enjoy visa exemptions with all types of passports and immigration reasons if they meet the conditions required by Vietnamese law. Vietnam will grant visa for passport holders of five countries, including the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Spain and Italy Up to now, Vietnam has unilaterally exempted 15-day-visa for citizens of seven countries, including Russian, Japan, the Republic of Korea, Norway, Finland, Denmark, Sweden, and Belarus. Also, Vietnam has bilaterally granted 30-day visa exemption for citizen from 9 out of ten ASEAN countries. Thanks to the current visa exemption policy, Vietnam tourism sees the increasing number of tourists coming from Japan, the Republic of Korea and Russia in recent years. Therefore, the new policy of free visa for five countries in Europe is expected to boost the Vietnam tourism industry by attracting more and more tourists from other countries all over the world. Please be noted that the visa exemption for five countries in Europe is applied for stay of maximum 15 days in Vietnam. In case ones want to stay more than 15 days in Vietnam, applying for visa on arrival is highly recommended to save cost and time. Applying for Vietnam visa on arrival at here

Vietnam, a country that can offer you a chance to experience breathtaking beauty, explore a new culture, click memorizing pictures and more, also offers you an opportunity to know the locals more closely. It is by the souvenir shopping, which Vietnam has to offer. Every country has a special list of products which tourists must buy as souvenirs and Vietnam too has these which you must buy when you travel to Vietnam. So, here is a list of top 10 souvenirs which you can gift family members, friends and all others. 1. Silk In Vietnam, you can find gorgeous silk scarves for men and women and it’s a popular souvenir from this country. The silk here is still made on traditional handlooms and the best place to buy this is at the silk village in Hanoi (named as Van Phuc) and Hoian as well. Silk in Vietnam is renowned for brilliance and you can easily find some unique souvenirs here. 2. Ceramic Ceramic products are another popular souvenir which you can take home from Vietnam. The beautiful variety one can find here is simply appealing, but just travelling can be tricky where you must handle the same very carefully. You can easily find here ceramic vases, lacquer vases and more such variety in a plethora of sizes, shapes and colors. All these ceramic items are hand crafted by trained Vietnamese people who still rely on the traditional methods. 3. Bamboo and wooden products Bamboo and wooden products in Vietnam are all hand woven and available in a large variety of colors. You can buy the same as beautifully carved bamboo hats or salad bowls, trays, baskets and more such items made out of bamboo and wood, bamboo baskets are another specialty made by the Vietnamese people. Apart from being cheaper alternatives they are also eco-friendly in nature. 4. Silk Paintings Silk paintings in Vietnam are a very unique product and depict an iconic art form of the artisans living here since olden times. The mystical, simple and poetic themes used in silk paintings make these particularly attractive. The paintings make use of the natural silk colors and textiles as the backdrop which is usually colorful. You can find such paintings on wall hangings, scarves and even on the traditional Ao dai (Long dresses) 5. Musical instruments Musical instruments here are hand crafted which include mini T’rung that are xylophones and bamboo flutes. Carrying these is very easy and can make that perfect souvenir for all music lovers, reminding you of your Vietnam tours for long. 6. Lacquerware Lacquerware in Vietnam is distinct in its style of using resin from son tree. The art links to the French influence in Vietnam and the same is work-intensive art form. It’s said that high quality lacquer products go through 20 stages of development and can be used to craft dishes, bowls, vases, and more in beautiful colors and intricate designs. There are some galleries exclusively dedicated to this art where you can find some really great collection. 7. Vietnamese embroidery An art passed down from ages, embroiders in Vietnam make use of Chinese techniques largely. It’s said that one can become master in this art in a span of 8-10 years. You can find a museum dedicated to embroidery in Nha Trang and can see embroiders working here live. The mastery and explicit craft is bound to amaze you. So, when on a Vietnam trip don’t forget buying at least one embroidered piece from there. 8. Guoc Moc Guoc Moc or wooden clogs are traditional footwear for males and females in Vietnam. Females in Vietnam wear these with the traditional Ao Dai to add to their gratefulness. Now the use might have faded away, but you can still buy these at some traditional stores in Vietnam. 9. Conical Hats Referred as leaf hat or non la, these are a symbol of Vietnam and can be seen on drums as old as 3000 years. The same can be used as an umbrella during rains and sun protector during summers. The conical hats are available in a large variety, which you can buy as a souvenir which is restricted to only this part of the globe. 10. Ao Dai Recognized as a national garment for females in Vietnam, it’s a tight-fitted long dress worn over long pants. The style and traditional variety may have seen an evolution over the years, but the same is still being used by Vietnamese women. The bottom line Vietnam, from Ha Noi to Hoi An and Ho Chi Minh City is flooded with diverse markets and an amazing mix and match of culture and tradition. Each place offers a distinct experience which can be more closely seen with its souvenirs collection. So, stop by when on your shopping spree to get amazed and enticed with the exotic and beautiful yet distinct delights that await you as top Vietnamese souvenirs.

Three quarters of Viet Nam's territory consists of mountains and hills. Viet Nam is divided into four distinct mountainous zones. The Northeastern Zone (Viet Bac) This zone stretches from the Red River Valley to the Gulf of Tonkin. The mountainous area of Viet Bac is scattered with famous sights: Dong Nhat Grotto, Dong Nhi Grotto, and Tam Thanh Grotto in Lang Son Province; Pac Bo Grotto and Ban Gioc Waterfall in Cao Bang; Ba Be Lake in Bac Kan; Yen Tu Mountain and Ha Long Bay in Quang Ninh; and Tay Con Linh, the highest mountain peak in the region reaching 2,341 meters above sea level. The Northwestern Zone This zone is comprised of mountains that run from the north of the Sino-Vietnamese border to the west of Thanh Hoa Province. This magnificent mountain range is nationally known for its resort town of Sapa in Lao Cai Province, which is perched 1500 meters above sea level. Several ethnic groups, such as the H'mong, Dao, Kinh, Tay, Giay, Hoa, and Xa Pho, still reside in this region. The northwestern zone is also famous for the historical site of Dien Bien Phu and Fansipan Mountain, which measures 3,143 meters above sea level at the peak. The North Truong Son Zone This zone runs from the western part of Thanh Hoa Province to the Quang Nam-Da Nang Mountains. This region is known locally for its picturesque Phong Nha Grotto and its two breathtaking passes, the Ngang Pass and the Hai Van Pass. It is also known worldwide for being the location of the legendary Ho Chi Minh Trail constructed during the second great resistance war. The South Truong Son Zone This zone is located to the west of the south central coast provinces. Behind these huge mountains is a vast area of red soil known locally as "Tay Nguyen" (the Central Highlands). There are numerous legendary accounts of the flora and fauna and of the lives of several different ethnic minorities living in the Central Highlands. Dalat, established during the 19th century, is a popular resort town in this part of Viet Nam. Viet Nam has two major deltas, including the Red River Delta in the north and the Mekong River Delta in the south. The Red River Delta, or Northern Delta This region stretches for15,000 sq. km. Over time, deposits of alluvium carried from the Red River and Thai Binh River have accumulated to form the delta. The ancient Viet people settled at the junction of the two rivers . At that time, the wet rice civilization was established The Mekong River Delta, or Southern Delta This region is approximately 40,000 sq. km. The land is very fertile and has favorable climate conditions for agriculture. As a result, it is the largest rice growing region in Viet Nam. Viet Nam is crisscrossed by thousands of streams and rivers. There is a river discharging every 20 kilometers along Viet Nam's coastline. The waterways are a very convenient means of transport with major rivers like the Red River in the north and the Mekong River in the south.

The major religious traditions in Viet Nam are Buddhism (which fuses forms of Taoism and Confusianism), Christianity (Catholicism and Protestantism), Islam, Caodaism and the Hoa Hao sect. Buddhism Buddhism was first introduced to Viet Nam in the 2nd century, and reached its peak in the Ly dynasty (11th century). It was then regarded as the official religion dominating court affairs. Buddhism was preached broadly among the population and it enjoyed a profound influence on people's daily life. Its influence also left marks in various areas of traditional literature and architecture. As such, many pagodas and temples were built during this time. At the end of the 14th century, Buddhism began to show signs of decline. The ideological influence of Buddhism, however, remained very strong in social and cultural life. Presenty, over 70 percent of the population of Viet Nam are either Buddhist or strongly influenced by Buddhist practices. Catholicism Catholicism was introduced to Viet Nam in the 17th century. At present the most densely-populated Catholic areas are Bui Chu-Phat Diem in the northern province of Ninh Binh and Ho Nai-Bien Hoa in Dong Nai Province to the South. About 10 percent of the population are considered Catholic. Protestantism Protestantism was introduced to Viet Nam at about the same time as Catholicism. Protestantism, however, remains an obscure religion. At present most Protestants live in the Central Highlands. There still remains a Protestant church on Hang Da Street in Ha Noi. The number of Protestants living in Viet Nam is estimated at 400,000. Islam Islamic followers in Viet Nam are primarily from the Cham ethnic minority group living in the central part of the central coast. The number of Islamic followers in Viet Nam totals about 50,000. Caodaism Caodaism was first introduced to the country in 1926. Settlements of the Cao Dai followers in South Viet Nam are located near the Church in Tay Ninh. The number of followers of this sect is estimated at 2 million. Hoa Hao Sect The Hoa Hao Sect was first introduced to Viet Nam in 1939. More than 1 million Vietnamese are followers of this sect. Most of them live in the south-west of Viet Nam. Mother Worship (Tho Mau) Researchers describe the Vietnamese mother-worship cult as a primitive religion. Mother, Me in the Vietnamese language, is pronounced Mau in Sino-­script. The mother worship cult might be originated from the cult of the Goddess in ancient ages. In the Middle Ages, the Mother was worshipped in temples and palaces. Due to the fact that it is a worshipping custom and not a religion, the Mother worshipping cult has not been organised as Buddhism and Catholicism have. As a result, the different affiliations of the cult have yet to be consistent and different places still have different customs. The custom of Mother worship originated from the north. In the south, the religion has integrated the local goddesses such as Thien Y A Na (Hue) and Linh Son (Tay Ninh). In fact, the Mother worship cult was influenced by other religions, mainly Taoism.

Viet Nam is located in both a tropical and a temperate zone. It is characterized by strong monsoon influences, but has a considerable amount of sun, a high rate of rainfall, and high humidity. Regions located near the tropics and in the mountainous regions are endowed with a temperate climate. The monsoon climate also influences to the changes of the tropical humidity. In general, in Viet Nam there are two seasons, the cold season occurs from November to April and the hot season from May to October. The difference in temperature between the two seasons in southern is almost unnoticeable, averaging 3ºC. The most noticeable variations are found in the northern where differences of 12ºC have been observed. There are essentially four distinct seasons, which are most evident in the northern provinces(from Hai Van Pass toward to the north): Spring, Summer, Autumn, and Winter. Every year there are 100 rainy days and the average rainfall is 1,500 to 2,000mm. The humidity ranges around 80%. The sunny hours are 1,500 to 2,000 and the average solar radiation of 100kcal/cm2 in a year. Because Viet Nam is affected by the monsoon, that why the average temperature is lower than the other countries which are located in the same longitude in Asia. The annual average temperatures range from 22oC to 27oC. In comparing with these countries, the temperature in winter is colder and in summer is less hotter in Viet Nam. Under influence of monsoon, and further because of the complicated topography, the climate in Viet Nam always changes in one year, between the years, or between the areas (from North to South and from low to high). The climate in Viet Nam is also under disadvantage of weather, such as typhoons (advantage there are 6-10 storms and tropical low atmosphere in year, floods and droughts are threaten the life and the agriculture of Viet Nam). Ha Noi: In Ha Noi there are four distinct seasons: Spring, Summer, Autumn, and Winter. But it is able to be divided into two main seasons: the rainy season from May to September (it’s hot, heavy rain), and the dry season from October to April (it’s cold, little rainfall). The annual average temperature is 23.2oC, but in winter the average temperature is 17.2oC. The lowest temperature ever recorded was 2.7oC in 1955. The average summer temperature is 29.2oC, with the highest ever recorded being 42.8oC in 1926. On average, there are 114 rainy days a year with around 1,800mm of rainfall. Hai Phong: It's one province in the North then Hai Phong is influenced by a tropical monsoon climate too. There are 4 seasons and the annual average temperature is between 23oC and 24oC. Rainfall total is between 1,600 and 1,800mm. The weather is warm throughout the year. Quang Ninh: The climate is symbolic of the climate of North Vietnam; featuring all four seasons. In summer (from May to September), it's hot, humid and rainy, while monsoons flourish. In winter (from October to April), it's cold, dry, and sees little rainfall.The average temperature is over 25oC. Annual rainfall totals between 1,700 and 2,400mm. Thua Thien Hue: It features a tropical monsoon climate, featuring all four distinct seasons: spring, summer, autumn and winter. The spring is cool and warm, the summer is hot, the autumn is cool and the winter is cold. Average temperature is 25oC. The best time for tourists is from November to April next year. Da Nang: Its climate is tropical, with two distinct rainy and dry seasons. The average annual temperature is between 28oC and 29oC, and storms hit the area every year in September and October. Khanh Hoa: The climate here is oceanic tropical monsoon, but is quite mild. The average annual temperature is 26.5oC. Annual rainfall totals over 1,200mm. Lam Dong: The climate here is cold, with an average annual temperature of 18oC. Da Lat is a city town, the climate is temperature and there are the beautiful natural landscapes with the waterfalls, lakes and pine groves, and is well known as Viet Nam’s flower city. Ho Chi Minh City:The climate is divided into two seasons, with the rainy season lasting from May to November. The average annual temperature is 27.5oC without winter, and yearly rainfall totals 1,979mm. Tourism is convenient for all 12 months of the year. Ba Ria-Vung Tau: The climate here is tropical monsoon. The average annual temperature is 27oC, rarely stormy, rich in sunshine. Vung Tau is without winter so resorts can active throughout the year.

Dan Nhi Two-string Fiddle The Dan Nhi is popular among several ethnic groups in Vietnam. It is also referred to as Dan Co in southern provinces of Viet Nam. Dan Nguyet – Two-String Guitar The Southerners of Vietnam refer to this instrument as Dan Kim. Dan Nguyet has two strings and the resonator resembles the moon, that is probably why it is named Dan Nguyet, which means moon lute. Dan Ty Ba or Four-string Guitar The Dan Ty Ba is a four-string instrument which is frequently present in a traditional orchestra. Dan Tranh 16-string zither The Dan Tranh is also known as Dan Thap Luc or sixteen-stringed zither. Its shape resembles a bamboo tube that has been sliced vertically in half. Dan Tam Three-string Lute This three-stringed lute is used by several ethnic groups in Vietnam. The Viet call it Dan Tam, whereas the Ha Nhi call it Ta in. This instrument exists in three sizes: large, medium, and small. The small is the most popular. Bamboo Flute The bamboo flute has long been attached to the cultural and spiritual life of the Vietnamese. It can be said that the bamboo flute contains the musical essence of the Vietnamese countryside together with the four tranquil seasons. T’rung T'rung is one of the popular musical instruments closely associated with the spiritual life of the Bahnar, TSedan, Giarai, Ede and other ethnic minority groups in the Central Highlands of Vietnam. Tam Thap Luc The Tam Thap Luc is a sort of zither with thirty-six brass strings as it is called. It has the shape of an isosceles trapezoid, with a slightly convex sound board made of light, porous, unvarnished wood. Trong Com (Rice Drum) The Trong Com (rice drum) gets its name from the practice of placing a pinch of hot steamed rice in the middle of the drum skin to "tune" the instrument. Dan K’Ni The K'Ni is a stringed musical instrument, sawing bow branch and is popular among many ethnic minority groups living in northern highlands (central Vietnam) such as Bahnar, Gia Rai, E De, Se Dang, Pako, and Hre... Dan Day Dan Day is a special instrument of Vietnamese origin. This three-stringed lute is used incorporate the peculiarities of the two-stringed lute (dan Nguyet), the four-stringed pear-shaped lute (dan Ty Ba), and the three-stringed lute (dan Tam). H’mong Pen Pipe The Pen-pipe is a musical instrument of the wind family with the free vibrated reed, popular among almost all of Vietnam's ethnicity in different forms. The Kinh (Viet) group calls it Khen, while the Mong ethnic minority call it the Kenh, and the Ede in the Central Highlands use a similar instrument called Dinh Nam. Cong Chieng The Cong Chieng is a kind of musical instrument casted from mixed copper and belongs to the idiophonic family. In Vietnamese language, the word "Cong" points to a musical instrument with a bossed part in center (bossed gong) and "Chieng" without it (flat gong). Gong Zither The gong zither is a stringed musical instrument of flipping branch. It is popular among some ethnicity in the North of the Central Highlands. Klong Put The Klongput is the Xe Dang language name of a musical instrument of the wind family, air driving-in branch. Lithophone The Dan da (lithophone) is a set of stone slabs of different sizes and shapes fabricated through an elementary technique. Lithophone is composed of a set of eleven resonant stones.

Central Vietnam has its own spicy, strongly-flavored cuisine, distinct from the Chinese-influenced fare of the North and the light tropical flavors in the steamy South. Hue, capital city of the ancient Nguyen empire, is famed for its imperial cuisine—a banquet-style procession of elaborate dishes—but it also boasts a colorful, snack-heavy street food culture. Hoi An, a historic trading port-turned Unesco World Heritage site, is influenced by a confluence of Vietnamese-Japanese-Chinese-Mediterranean cuisine, and is home to both a noodle soup of mythical proportions and what might be the best bahn mi in all of Vietnam. Between the two cities, there are enough unique dishes to almost make you forget about the food other parts of Vietnam. Banh Ep Uncooked banh ep look like little dough balls with bits of barbecued pork; they’re flattened in a weighted griddle and scattered with fresh scallions and fried shallots before serving. Banh Trang Trung prep Banh trang trung starts with a crisp rice cracker, which is thrown on the griddle and cooked with scrambled egg, pork pate, scallions, fried shallots, and your choice of decorative topping (see the aforementioned hotdog and mayo). Banh Beo A taste of Hue’s imperial cuisine minus the pomp and ceremony, banh beo—steamed glutinous rice cakes with shrimp and pork rinds—are a popular street snack. You’ll see stacks of empty two-bite bowls piled high on certain corners, though there are also restaurants that specialize in different varieties of miniature steamed banh. Banh Khoai Yet another pancake-family Hue specialty, banh khoai are like the smaller cousin of southern Vietnam’s famed banh xeo. The crisp yellow shell is made from an egg and rice flour batter, which is folded around slices of barbecue pork, sausage and shrimp, then topped with pickled vegetables and fresh bean sprouts. Bun Bo Hue Hue’s eponymous soup, a fiery rice noodle number chock full of beef, pork, cartilage and offal (if you ask nicely). The broth is laced with tomatoes and lemongrass, and the dish, like most Vietnamese soups, comes with your own DIY platter of raw vegetables and herbs to munch on between bites. Bun Thit Nuong A cool vermicelli noodle salad laced with tangy nuoc cham, pickled vegetables, bean sprout and fresh herbs, topped with delicious smoky-sweet grilled pork and a scattering of crushed peanuts. Bun thit nuong is all over Hue (and much of Vietnam in general), but the trick is finding a restaurant or vendor with superior pork. Nem Lui Hue A novel new take on the “meat-on-a-stick” idea: ground pork is molded around lemongrass stalks and charcoal-grilled, then served with raw veggies (starfruit!), fresh lettuce and herbs, and a viscous peanut and pork liver dipping sauce. Com Hen and Bun Hen Hen are tiny freshwater clams, beloved in Hue as a topping (along with everything else on this platter—pork rinds, roast peanuts, crushed garlic, shrimp paste, etc)—to rice (“com”) or vermicelli noodles (“bun”). The finishing touch is a ladle full of clam broth and a handful of torn cilantro. Vegetarian Delight Hue is also the historic capital of vegetarianism in Vietnam, and there are several health-minded veg restaurants in town. This simple stir-fry of fresh corn, mushrooms and scallions was a much-needed break from all the grilled pork. Cao Lau Hoi An’s most famous dish, and one only available in this tiny town, thanks to a generations-old legend stipulating that the noodles can only be made with water from a special, bottomless local well. Cau lao is hawked on every corner in Hoi An, and while I doubt every bowl is made with this special water, most renditions are still delicious: thick udon-esque wheat noodles in a smidge of ultra-rich pork broth, with roast pork, fresh herbs and fried noodle “croutons” for crunch on top. White Rose Dumplings Named for their supposed resemblance to the flower, these delicate steamed dumplings are filled with shrimp and pork, then topped with crunchy fried shallots and served with a sweet dipping sauce. Like cau lao, the translucent wrapper dough is supposed to be made with the special well water, so white roses are a dumpling variety native to Hoi An and Hoi An alone. Fried Wontons On the complete opposite of the dumpling spectrum in Hoi An are these deep-fried wontons, which are almost like Vietnamese nachos. The wonton filling is minimal—this dish is really just a vehicle for the sweet-and-sour tomato/pepper/onion/shrimp topping, which wasn’t all that different from the Chinese. Com Ga, aka Chicken Rice A close cousin to the Hainanese dish of the same name (and likely a holdover from Chinese traders in Hoi An centuries ago), Hoi An’s com ga features shredded chicken mixed with herbs and copious amounts of raw onion, served over rice that’s been cooked in chicken broth and pickled veggies on the side. Banh Mi Phuong Let’s just get this out of the way: yes, Anthony Bourdain featured the banh mi from Hoi An’s Banh Mi Phuong on “No Reservations” a few years back, so the stall isn’t exactly a hidden gem, but their sandwich remains, quite simply, the Platonic ideal of banh mi perfection. I am still dreaming of this thing: a manageably-sized, crusty-on-the-outside-soft-on-the-inside baguette with carefully arranged meats, a light-handed scattering of pickled vegs, and Phuong’s secret weapon: an addictive hand-ground chile sauce on top.

Xoi chien phong (Bloating fried sticky rice) A round plate of Xoi chien phong, placed next to a plate of buttery roasted chicken, is always attractive to anyone. A lump of sticky rice will become a plate of Xoi chien phong as big as a grape-fruit by talent chefs. In the past, Xoi chien phong was offered only in the Binh Duong Restaurant, Dong Nai Province. At present, you can taste the dish in star classified hotels in Ho Chi Minh City. Lau mam (Mixed vegetable and meat hot pot) At present, Lau mam folk dish in the past hundred years - become a luxurious specialty in the South. Chau Doc fish sauce made from fresh-water fish, a kind of sweet- smelling and greasy fish, which must be as required to have a delicious Lau mam dish. Substances to prepare for Lau mam, including fresh food-stuffs such as snake-head fish, "keo" fish, pork, peeled shrimps, eel, beef, and so on, accompanied with at least 10 kinds of vegetable, sometime amounting to 24 kinds of vegetable. They include water-lily, egg-plant, balsam-apple, straw mushroom, bean sprouts, chilly, etc. When boiled, the flavors of the sauce, which is mixed with citronella, chilly, vegetables, fish, shrimp and meat, are very sweet-smelling. Lau mamroam is scoop out into bowls and served with soft noodle soup, simply but deliciously. Goi Buoi (Salad of shaddock) Goi buoi is available at the majority of famous restaurants in Ho Chi Minh City. The major substances to prepare for the dish include shaddocks mixed with fresh shrimps, pork, and dry cuttle-fish. The dish is originated in Miet Buoi, Bien Hoa City. Goi buoi dish is especially flavored with slightly sour, sweet, peppery-hot and buttery tastes. It is also added with spice vegetable, white sesames, coconut and dry cuttle-fish. Therefore, the dish will be appeared on dining table as a fresh colorful picture and attractive to customers. Ca tai tuong chien xu ("Tai tuong" bloating fried fish) "Tai tuong" fish is classified as a kind of luxurious food-stuffs. The fish is as white as chicken, delicious and sweet smelling but not crushed. There are two ways to prepare for the dish: Boiled down or bloating fried. In bloating fried way, pour plenty of oil into pan, wait for the oil to boil before placing the fish in. In boiled oil, fish scabs would be raised up as porcupine's feathers. As serving, place the fish on to the plate, arrange boiled quail eggs around with, fried potato, fresh onion and tomato slices at the edge, season with chilly. Finally, pour soup and sprinkle fried peanuts and crashed onion on to the fish. The dish is served with sour and sweet sauce of fish. Ca tai tuong chien xu is an unique and luxurious specialty in the South. Ca nuong trui (Bare fried fish) The Southern villagers in countryside areas usually have fried fish in the field. They use a bamboo piece to cross through the fish. Pitch the head side to ground, pile up rice straws at the wind-swept place to smoke fish. As serving, use hand to remove the burned fish scabs. Fish will become as white as chicken. Place the hot fish on a lotus leaf, take up each piece of fish and dip it in peppery salt, squeeze with some lemon drops, roll in fig leaf or sesame young shoot to experience the dish. Bowl and chopsticks are not necessary. At home, the dish can be served with dry pancake, soft noodle soup and vegetables. Ca nuong trui is a dish that accompanies drinking. It is popular and exciting. Ca kho to (Dry-boiled catfish) Fish, which used to prepare for the dish, can be catfish, anabas or snake-head fish. Necessary spices include dry garlic, fresh lemon, onion, chilly, sugar, glutamate, fish sauce, grease, and a spoon of pepper and wine. Although Ca kho to is a popular dish in the South, it is also a cheap specialty. As serving, pick up fish to other bowl, boil the bowl of fish on a low fire and sprinkle some peppers to have sweet-smelling: Keep fire when serving, Ca kho to can be served with such boiled vegetables as shallot, white cabbage, spinach to dip in Ca kho to sauce. It is more convenient to serve it with pickles such as vinegary beet or green pineapple. Cua rang muoi (Fried salted crabs) The Westerners, especially those in land-locked countries, usually appreciate the dish as soon as they firstly experience it. At parties, a plate of bright red Cua rang muoi is usually acted as aperitif. Customers suddenly feel sweet-smelling of spices and delicious buttery flavor of crab at the same time. Highly qualified chefs in Vung Tau coastal area usually select brackish water crabs with much meat and liver-pancreas. A delicious crab dish also depends on the soup, added to frying crabs in pans, including star aniseed, cinnamon, cardamom. The connoisseurs immediately experience the dish as it is still very hot, mixed with some lemon drops.

Pho (Rice noodle soup) Pho, a typical dish of Ha Noi people, has been existing for a long-time. Pho is prepared not only in a sophisticated manner but also in the technique which is required to have sweet but pure bouillon, soft but not crashed noodle, soft and sweet-smelling meat. Only in cold days, having a hot and sweet-smelling bowl of Pho to enjoy, would make you experience the complete flavor of the special dish of Ha Noi. Bun thang ("Ladder" soft noodle soup) Dishes made of soft noodle soup are diverse such as vermicelli and fried chopped meat, Bun Thang, vermicelli and sour crab soup, stewed vermicelli and boiled lean meat, etc. The popular dish is vermicelli and sour crab soup whilst Bun Thang is for con-noisseurs, unique and available in Ha Noi only. A bowl of Bun Thang includes lean pork paste, thin fried egg, salted shredded shrimp, chicken, onion, shrimps paste, and a little Belostomatid essence. Especially, Bun Thang bouillon made from shrimps and meat must be very sweet and pure. Without enjoying Bun Thangwhen arriving to Ha Noi, it somewhat seems to lack of a part of taste ofHa Noi. Mon oc (Snail dish) Snail dish is a popular but unique dish of Ha Noi people. It is easy to order some dishes like snail steamed with ginger leaf, gingered snail, snail sauted with carambola, snail boiled with lemon leaf, snail steamed with Chinese herbs, and so on, in many small restaurants, restaurants, and even hotels. However, vermicelli and snail sour soup is the most attractive to young ladies because of brittleness by snails, the slightly sour taste by snail soup, and hot by chilly boiled down, making even gorged people keep eating. Com (Grilled green rice) Every autumn, around September and October, when the cool north-westerly wind brings a cold dew, the sticky rice ears bend themselves into arches waiting for ripe grains because these rice grains are at their fullest and the rice-milk is already concentrated in the grains, predicting that thecom season has arrived. Better than any other person, the peasant knows when the rice ears are ripe enough to be reaped to begin making com. Com is made from green sticky rice that is harvested in blossom period, roasted in many times, crashed and sieved. Com is a speciality; at the same time, it is very popular. One can enjoy com with tieu ripe banana. When eating com, you must eat slowly and chew very deliberately in order to appreciate all the scents, tastes, and plasticity of the young rice. Com is an ingredient also used in many specialities of Viet Nam, includingcom xao (browned com), banh com (com cakes), che com (sweetenedcom soups), etc. Com may be obtained anywhere in the North of Viet Nam, but the tastiestcom is processed in Vong Village, 5km from Ha Noi, where com making has been a professional skill for many generations. Cha ca La Vong (La Vong grilled fish pies) Cha ca La Vong is a unique specialty of Hanoi people, therefore one street in Ha Noi was named as Cha Ca Street. Cha ca is made from mud-fish, snake-headed fish, but the best one is Hemibagrus (Ca lang). Fish bone is left away to keep fish meat only, then seasoning, clipping by pieces of bamboo, and frying by coal heat. An oven of coal heat is needed when serving to keep Cha ca always hot. Cha ca is served with roasted peanuts, dry pancakes, soft noodle soup, spice vegetables and shrimps paste with lemon and chilly. The Cha ca La Vong Restaurant on No.14 Cha Ca Street is the "ancestor restaurant" of the dish. Banh cuon (Rolled rice pancake) Banh cuon is popular to Vietnamese as disk for breakfast. The cake preparing process includes grilled rice which is steamed and oil-spread to have sweet-smelling. Banh cuon is prepared available. Leaves of cake put on plate as the customers ask for the disk. The cake is called Banh cuonThanh Tri due to its origin is Thanh Tri Village of South Ha Noi. Besides Banh cuon Thanh Tri, there is rolled rice pancake with the filling of the cake is made from minced pork mixed with Jew's ears and thin-top mushrooms. The cake, placed on plate, serve with salted shredded shring and fried dry onions. The customers immediately experience the disk as it is just finished and stilI very hot. It is the sauce of the cake that fascinates the customers. The cake-makers have their own know-how, some of them prepare Banh cuonwith Belostomatid essence to have sweet -smelling to attract to the customers. Lon quay Lang Son (Lang Son roasted pork) Anyone who arrives in Lang Son Province could find it difficult to say no toLon quay dish. Lon quay Lang Son is delicious for many reasons, however, the main specific taste of the dish comes from the unique flavor of a kind of leaf called "Mac mat" (meaning "sweet leaf"). The leaf is soaked with spices, fish sauce, glutamate, flavoring powder, then stuffed into clean pig belly and placed on reverted furnace. Pig is fried the spread with watery honey so as to make the skin turn golden and brittle, and pork is soft and sweet-smelling as finish. Banh tom Ho Tay (Ho Tay fried shirmp cake) All people who used to live in Ha Noi are familiar with Banh tom Ho Tay Restaurant on the Thanh Nien (Young) Street. The cake preparing process includes wheat flour mixed with potato fibres, placing on shape with shrimps upper, then fried with oil. The cake is brittle, soft, sweet-smelling, and served with vegetable pickles and sweet and sour fish sauce for best taste.

Vietnam's festivals follow the Chinese lunar calendar – the country’s culture and festivals are strongly influenced by the country’s past as a Chinese vassal state. Thus many of the festivals in the list below are moveable relative to the Gregorian calendar; while the dates relative to the lunar calendar do not change, the dates relative to the Gregorian calendar do. Some of these festivals are celebrated nationwide; as some provinces have their own series of festivals unique to the locals, we’ve tried to include some of the more notable local ones too. Hoi An Full Moon Festival Every 14th day of the lunar month, Hoi An’s old town bans all motorized traffic and transforms itself into a massive performance venue for Vietnamese arts contemporary to the old trading town’s heyday in the 18th to 19th century – Chinese opera, Chinese chess, and of course, the region’s famous food. Shops put up brightly-colored lanterns, turning the narrow old streets (even theold Japanese bridge, pictured at left) into a radiant, festively-illuminated light spectacle, augmented by the haunting strains of traditional music audible from just about everywhere in the old town. Just for the night, you won’t be required to buy or show a ticket to enter Hoi An’s old attractions. The temples are at their busiest during the Full Moon Festival, as the locals honor their ancestors during this auspicious time of the month. Tet Festival Tet is Vietnam's equivalent to the Chinese New Year, and is just as auspicious . The Vietnamese consider Tet to be the year's most important festival. Family members gather in their hometowns, traveling from across the country (or the world) to spend the Tet holidays in each other's company. On the stroke of midnight, as the old year turns into the new, Vietnamese usher out the old year and welcome the Kitchen God by beating drums, lighting firecrackers, and goading dogs to bark (a lucky omen). Lim Festival On the 13th day of the first lunar month, visitors come to Lim Hill in Bac Ninh province to watch performances of "quan ho", traditional songs performed by both men and women from boats and from the Lim Pagoda. The songs cover numerous topics, such as greetings, exchanging love sentiments, and even trivial objects like village gates. Bac Ninh is only twenty minutes' drive from Hanoi, and worth a side trip after exploring the capital's must-see sights. Huong Pagoda Festival The Perfume Pagoda is Vietnam's most famous Buddhist pilgrimage site, welcoming hundreds of thousands of pilgrims who arrive at the sacred cave to pray for a happy and prosperous year ahead. This stream of pilgrims reaches its peak at the Perfume Pagoda Festival - devotees travel through a picturesque gauntlet to the sacred caves, first boarding boats that pass a landscape of rice paddies and limestone mountains, then going by foot past historical shrines and up hundreds of stone steps. Phu Giay Festival At Phu Giay Temple in Nam Dinh province, tribute is paid to Lieu Hanh, one of the Vietnamese "four immortal gods", and the only one based on a real person (a princess of the 16th century who died young). Many devotees from all over make a pilgrimage to Phu Giay Temple, located about 55 miles east from Hanoi, to join the festival, taking advantage of the traditional lull in work during the third lunar month. Traditional diversions like cock-fighting, "keo chu", and folk singing are held all throughout the festival. Hue Festival A biennial (once every two years) festival celebrated in the former imperial capital of Hue, the Hue Festival last took place from April 7 to 15, 2012, and the next one is scheduled to occur on April 12 to 20, 2014. The Festival condenses the best of Hue’s culture into a single week-long festival: theater, puppetry, dance, music, and acrobatics will be performed in different places around the city, although most of the activities are conducted around the grounds of the Hue Citadel. Chu Dong Tu Festival Downstream from Hanoi on the Red River, the Da Hoa and Da Trach temples in Khoai Chau district host a festival to Chu Dong Tu, one of the four immortal gods worshiped by the Vietnamese. The festival is topped off with traditional games and activities like human chess, wrestling, and Vietnamese dances. Thay Pagoda Festival If any Buddhist monk deserved worship, it was Tu Dao Hanh, innovator and inventor. He made numerous advances in medicine and religion, but is mainly remembered for inventing Vietnamese water puppetry. The Thay Pagoda Festival celebrates Tu Dao Hanh's life with a procession of the monk's worshipping tablet, borne by representatives from four villages. The festival is celebrated by laymen with many water puppetry performances, particularly at the Thuy Dinh House in front of Tu Dao Hanh's pagoda. The Thay Pagoda is located about 18 miles southwest from Hanoi, or about a 30 minute drive from the capital. Hung Festival This festival celebrates the legendary birth of Vietnam’s first kings, the Hung Vuong. Details of their origin remain sketchy, but the story has become rather embellished over the years: born from the union of a mountain princess and a sea dragon, the Hung Vuong came from a hundred sons hatched from a hundred eggs laid by said princess. Half the sons went back to the sea with their father, while the rest stayed behind with their mother and learned to rule. Lang Ca Ong (Whale Festival) Vietnamese fishermen believe whales are their protectors on the high seas. The Lang Ca Ong festival thanks the whales for their support and prays for prosperity in the coming year. This festival occurs in the middle of the third lunar month, and is common in fishing communities throughout Vietnam. Devotees offer prayers to the whale god for his continued protection, and proffer sacrifices (which do not contain seafood). At dawn on the second day, a fluvial procession is performed to propitiate the whale gods. The Whale Festival takes place on most of the month of April. Buon Don Elephant Races Vietnam’s Buon Don district has long been famous for its M’Nong wild elephant tamers and trainers. Demand for their skills may have dried up somewhat, but Buon Don continues to celebrate its proud heritage every year with its annual Elephant Races, held every year in the forests near the Sevepoi River. The race takes place on a short racetrack a mile or so long, set on level ground. Each elephant is ridden by two jockeys; one steers the elephant, while the other manages the animal’s speed. Elephants can move at a surprisingly fast clip (25 mph), especially when encouraged by crowds yelling and beating gongs! Buddha's Birthday Buddha's Birthday is celebrated with much gusto in Vietnam, despite its nominal Communist status. Most Buddhist temples and many towns throw great festivals in honor of the Buddha, drawing thousands of devotees from nearby towns. Mid-Autumn Festival The Mid-Autumn festival, or Tết Trung Thu, is marked with fanciful lanterns to help a legendary moon-bound figure back to Earth. The Mid-Autumn Festival is a favorite with children, as the occasion calls for more toys, candies, fruit, and entertainment than any other time of the year. Mid-Autumn parties serve cakes like the banh deo and banh nuong, shaped like fish and the moon. Finally, lion dances are commonly performed by traveling troupers who go from house to house to perform for a fee.