Photo: Internet

Located in the southern province of Tay Ninh, Ba Den Mountain is always crowded by Vietnamese people and tourists coming from across the country during the Year-end Thanksgiving season. This event is a sacred moment of each person making pilgrimages to the spiritual legends, returning offerings, and thanks to what they asked for at the beginning of the new year.

The stunning beauty of a complex of famous spiritual works here includes the Ba Pagoda system (Linh Son Tien Thach Tu), where Linh Son Thanh Mau (Linh Son Holy Mother Bodhisattva) is situated and worshiped. In the religious life of Southern people, Linh Son Thanh Mau is the highest spiritual symbol that guides and nurtures them with compassion and mercy for sentient beings. The Ba Pagoda complex also encompasses Hang Pagoda, Trung Pagoda, Quan Am Pagoda, and others, all of which have a history of nearly 300 years, drawing millions of tourists annually for worship and prayers for peace.

On every Saturday night in the last month of the year, thousands of Sun World Ba Den Mountain cable cars carry people to the top of the sacred mountain to attend the most magical spiritual ceremony of flower garlands and lanterns offerings. To fill the night sky with illuminating lights, locals and tourists assemble and inscribe their wishes on the lanterns themselves, contributing to a distinctive and sacred experience on the highest mountain in the South.

Source: Collected

The consecration ritual for the magnificent statue of Maitreya Buddha on Ba Den Mountain will take place on January 28, 2024. In the opening ceremony, an unparalleled event will take place on top of Ba Den mountain, where more than 2024 lanterns will be offered by Buddhists and tourists from different places. It will see the presence of more than 500 Buddhist monks and nuns from the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha.

Photo: Collected

As special interest tourism such as sports tourism or wellness tourism has become a booming market across the globe, NovaWorld Phan Thiet in Vietnam with its international facilities and top-notch services will definitely bring comprehensive rexperience to foreign sports tours.

NovaWorld Phan Thiet is hoped to help boost Vietnam’s sports tourism and luxury tourism segment due to several factors:

First, NovaWorld Phan Thiet has an overall area of 1.000 hectares, with NovaWorld Sport Complex accounting for 38,7 hectares. For sports tours, international customers can get access to more than 20 different sports facilities including Nova Football - an international football academy with a leading professional coaching team, a Olympic-standard swimming pool, basketball courts, tennis fields, 36-hole PGA golf course and and utility infrastructure to meet all needs of accommodation, dining and entertainment after training sections. In addition, the weather in Vietnam is warm and bright, which is perfect for playing sports all around the year.

According to NovaWorld Phan Thiet, they had welcomed a group of 500 young Korean football players coming to Vietnam for 2 months to attend the 2023 Korean Youth Football Congress, together with training and relaxing when South Korea was in a winter season.  

Second, sports tourism is undoubtedly a potential market, especially in correlation with wellness tourism, which are the two main focuses of NovaWorld Phan Thiet. 

This 1.000-hectare area is a hotspot including a variety of accommodations such as separate resort villas and 4 to 5-star hotels. There are also stylish bungalow resort clusters with influences from Korean and European designs. In addition to the Sport Complex, international sportsmen can enjoy other attractions there such as Circus Land Amusement Park, Festival Street which offers over 50 different brands for shopping and dining, Bikini Beach Marine Park, and Wonderland Water Park.

Third, NovaWorld Phan Thiet is also a tourism-friendly hub catering to open the easiest routes to get there. Either traveling by air or by car, visitors can be amazed by the stream-lined connection between major entry ports and NovaWorld Phan Thiet, which is located in Binh Thuan province. 

With the Dau Giay - Phan Thiet Expressway came into force in 2023, it only takes around 1 hour and 40 minutes car drive from Ho Chi Minh City to Phan Thiet. If you enter Vietnam through Long Thanh International Airport, NovaWorld Phan Thiet is only 55 minutes away from you. Then, let’s relax after a tough training session and hop in a car to Phan Thiet City which is famous for its crystal-clear beaches and endless sand dunes, 15 minutes for a remarkable experience!

Photo: Collected

Hue foods are not only famous for the way they are prepared but also for their meticulous decoration. Each dish is like a work of art with a sophisticated appearance, rich flavors, and substantial health benefits.

There is only one way to better understand the uniqueness of Hue food: try them all. Or at least you should finish the list of the 16 most famous dishes below. Read carefully for the best taste of Hue!

1. TOP 5 Hue noodles - Among the best Hue food

1.1. Banh Canh Nam Pho (Nam Pho Thick Noodle Soup)

Nam Pho thick noodle soup is an impressive Hue appetizer, which is highly recommended by locals. It is also a wonderful breakfast choice that can set you up all day long. 

Banh Canh Nam Pho is served hot, with thinly sliced pork belly and prawns on top. The soul of this dish is the pure, naturally sweet broth made of crab and shrimp. Fresh herbs are added for additional aroma to make the dish even more delectable.

1.2. Bun Thit Nuong (Vermicelli with grilled pork)

"Once you taste it, you will never forget it"—that is how tourists describe the grilled pork vermicelli—one of the most iconic treats of Hue cuisine.

This dish's ingredients are simple, including vermicelli, pork, pickles, peanuts, and fish sauce. But its flavor is not that rustic. Instead, Bun Thit Nuong always comes with a pleasant and enjoyable taste. 

Bun Thit Nuong is considered a must-try when visiting Hue (Source: Collected) 

1.3. Bun Bo Hue (Hue Beef Noodle Soup)

Hue Beef Noodle Soup is a delicious and nutritious choice for all-time eating: breakfast, lunch, and even dinner. This is the most popular Hue food in Vietnam. However, only in Hue can tourists find the best version of the most traditional one.

Thick vermicelli, thin slices of beef, and an unmistakably spicy broth are three things that make Bun Bo in Hue stand out from other regions. The broth with beef bones, fish sauce, and local spices will satisfy even the pickiest eaters. 

1.4. What to eat in Hue? Banh Canh Ca Loc

Banh Canh Ca Loc (snakehead fish thick noodle soup) is a great hot dish to enjoy on rainy or cold days. The noodle is soft, moderately chewy, and comes in an amazing clear white. Meanwhile, the snakehead fish has a rich taste, not fishy or broken. And the broth is crystal-clear but tastes perfectly rich.

Banh Canh Ca Loc is one of the dishes that best represents the quintessence of Hue food (Source: Collected) 

1.5. Banh Uot Thit Nuong (Rice Noodle Rolls with Grilled Pork)

Banh Uot Thit Nuong (Rice Noodle Rolls with Grilled Pork) is a famous Vietnamese food in Hue. The dish is served with barbecued meat, noodle rolls, dipping sauce, local herbs, and vegetables.

Banh Uot Thit Nuong is a popular Hue street food (Source: Collected) 

What makes this dish special is the signature dipping sauce made of soybean paste. All the ingredients of this dish together produce a fusion of flavors and textures: the thin and soft noodle rolls; the slightly spicy, creamy dipping sauce; the tender, well-seasoned grilled meat; and the fresh, fragrant herbs. 

2. Iconic Hue dumplings and crispy pancakes for your bucket list

2.1. Banh Khoai (Hue Crispy Rice Pancake)

Banh Khoai is a well-known royal dish of Hue food. Everyone who enjoys it will love its fragrance and crispiness. This famous pancake has a complex recipe with so many ingredients. Even the dipping sauce is made of ten different spices and herbs, among other components. 

2.2. TOP 16 mouth-watering Hue foods? Banh Nam (Flat Steamed Rice Dumpling)

Banh Nam is made from tapioca flour, rice flour, shrimp, and banana leaves. It remains the most popular Hue street food because of its delicacy and unique shrimp flavor.

When presented, Banh Nam has a milky white tint with a lovely orange color from the shrimp on top. On tasting, the dish is soft but not greasy. It is best when paired with sweet-and-sour fish sauce.  

Banh Nam is an indispensable dish on the Hue street food tour (Source: Collected) 

2.3. Banh Bot Loc (Hue Clear Shrimp and Pork Dumpling)

Banh Bot Loc is loved in many Vietnamese localities. The authentic taste, however, can only be appreciated by savoring it in Hue.

When enjoying it, diners first feel the soft yet chewy wrapper before soaking in a rich filling of simmered shrimp and pork. This is an experience that everyone must try at least once.

2.4. Banh Beo (Steamed Water Fern Rice Cake)

Banh Beo is a quite simple street food in Hue. However, this dish can enrich visitors’ Hue food tours with its unique flavors. This cake is served in a ping-pong bowl with shrimp filling, green onions, and sweet-spicy fish sauce. Everything matches beautifully, creating a true Hue royal vibe. 

Banh Beo Hue is cheap yet delicious (Source: Collected) 

2.5. Banh Ep (Thin Scallion Pancakes)

Hue food is always distinct and flavorful, and Banh ep is one such dish. The pancake is thin and as small as the palm of your hand, but the inside is full of yummy shrimp paste. When it comes to “heirloom” dipping sauce, no one can get enough of it. 

2.6. TOP must-try Hue street food? Banh Ram It

Besides popular Hue foods like Bun Bo or Banh Canh, tourists should try Banh Ram It once when coming to Hue. This dish has a very eye-catching appearance, and its flavor is exquisite, too, thanks to the excellent combination of softness and crispiness. 

Banh Ram It in Hue (Source: Collected)

3. AWESOME rice dishes in Hue to satisfy your hunger

3.1. Com Am Phu

Com Am Phu is served with white rice, spicy chili garlic fish sauce, and many of Hue's delicacies. To fully enjoy the delightful taste of this dish, diners should mix the rice well with other ingredients and drizzle a little fish sauce.

3.2. Best food in Hue? Com Hen (Clam Rice)

Calm Rice is a combination of rice, clams, and local spices. This simple dish is one of the best Hue foods that can offer foodies the most distinctive flavor of the city. Usually, this dish will be served with various toppings such as clam water, fish sauce, local herbs and veggies, etc. 

Clam rice is attractive with the color of many ingredients (Source: Collected)

4. Other unmissable Hue food

4.1. Va Tron (Hue Mixed Figs)

Previously, Hue Mixed Figs were only cooked at family parties or holidays, but now visitors can order this type of Hue food from any restaurant. 

In fact, this dish has a simple preparation and uses familiar ingredients like meat, herbs, fish sauce, and figs. However, once you try this, you will definitely remember it forever.

4.2. Nem Lui (Hue Lemongrass Pork Skewers)

Nem Lui in Hue is always something tourists cannot leave without taking a bite. The dish is mainly made from pork and pork skin. Locals cook it on a charcoal grill to create an appealing aroma.

Hue Lemongrass Pork Skewers (Source: Collected)

Nem Lui is best when eaten hot with rice paper, local herbs, and the signature dipping sauce.  

4.3. Hen Xuc Banh Trang

Hen Xuc Banh Trang is not as famous as other Hue foods, but it is certainly worth trying. The dish is a mixture of dry roasted clams, spices, and crispy fried rice paper. When eating, diners will use rice paper as a spoon to collect clams and eat them together. 

Hue is not huge, but there are many specialties to taste, things to do, and destinations to visit. Among them, the Mausoleum of Emperor Khai Dinh, the Tomb of King Thieu Tri, Trang Tien Bridge, and Perfume River are some famous stopovers. With that in mind, travelers should carefully consider selecting suitable accommodations in advance. 

Source: Vinpearl.com

Photo: Collected

Saigon Zoo and Botanical Garden is a perfect spot in Ho Chi Minh City that accommodates thousands of exotic flora and fauna. Stroll through the lush gardens, observe wildlife, and enjoy fun-filled games with your family and friends!

1. Where is Saigon Zoo and Botanical Gardens?

Location

• Address: 2 Nguyen Binh Khiem Street, Ben Nghe Ward, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City

Source: Collected

Saigon Zoo and Botanical Gardens is the biggest zoo in Vietnam and one of the oldest zoos in the world. This botanical garden and zoo was established in 1864.

Opening hours: If you plan to visit Saigon Zoo and Botanical Gardens, make sure you arrive within Saigon Zoo opening hours:

• 5 AM - 6:30 AM: The time frame for people who come to the zoo for morning exercise.
• 7 AM - 6:30 PM: The time frame for visitors.

2. The history and significance of Saigon Zoo and Botanical Gardens

Saigon Zoo and Botanical Gardens was commissioned in 1864 and has since become one of the oldest zoos and botanical gardens in Vietnam. It has played a crucial role in preserving and showcasing the region's diverse flora and fauna. 

Over the years, the zoo and botanical garden has gained recognition for its conservation efforts and educational initiatives. It has contributed significantly to the preservation of biodiversity and the promotion of environmental awareness.

Visitors to the Saigon Zoo and Botanical Garden can explore a wide range of animal and plant species. 

• The zoo is home to a diverse array of animals, both indigenous and exotic, providing visitors with a unique opportunity to observe and learn about different species.
• The gardens boast a stunning collection of botanical wonders, including rare and exotic plants from various regions.

In addition, the Saigon Zoo and Botanical Garden serves as a popular recreational destination for both locals and tourists. The tranquil atmosphere, beautiful landscapes, and educational exhibits make it an ideal place for family outings, nature enthusiasts, and those seeking a peaceful retreat within the bustling city. 

The Saigon Zoo and Botanical Gardens play a vital role in biodiversity conservation, education, and providing a unique recreational experience for visitors (Source: Collected)

Saigon Zoo and Botanical Garden is a brilliant destination if you want to get away from all the hustle and bustle of the hectic city life. And to make your visit to the zoo even more exciting, we will show you a bunch of exciting things to experience here.

1. Start your day early and arrive at the zoo when it opens at 7:00 am. This will give you plenty of time to explore the zoo and botanical gardens.

The Saigon Zoo and Botanical Gardens opens at 7:00 am and closes at 6:00 pm. Arriving early will give you plenty of time to explore the zoo and botanical gardens without feeling rushed. You can buy tickets at the entrance gate for VND 60,000 per person.

2. Begin your visit by exploring the animal conservation area. You'll see a wide variety of animals, including tigers, elephants, monkeys, and more.

The animal conservation area is home to a wide variety of animals from all over the world. You'll see tigers, elephants, monkeys, and many other animals. Be sure to take your time and enjoy the scenery. There are also feeding shows for some animals such as elephants and giraffes that you can attend.

Source: Collected

3. After you've finished exploring the animal conservation area, head over to the plant conservation area.

Here you'll find a wide variety of rare and valuable plants from all over the world.

The plant conservation area is home to many rare and valuable plants from all over the world. You'll see species of cacti, ferns, and plants that have been imported from Africa and other countries. Take your time and enjoy the beauty of nature. There are also guided tours available for visitors who want to learn more about the plants.

4. Take a break and enjoy a picnic lunch in the orchid garden. This is a great place to relax and take in the beauty of nature.

The orchid garden is a great place to relax and take in the beauty of nature. It's a perfect spot for a picnic lunch or just to sit and enjoy the scenery. There are also food stalls available if you don't want to bring your own food.

Source: Collected

5. After lunch, head over to the amusement park area. Here you'll find rides and attractions for all ages.

The amusement park area is home to many rides and attractions for all ages. There are rides for children as well as adults, so everyone can have fun. Some popular rides include bumper cars, roller coasters, and water rides.

Source: Collected

6. End your day by exploring the rest of the botanical gardens. There are many beautiful plants and flowers to see, so take your time and enjoy the scenery.

The rest of the botanical gardens is home to many beautiful plants and flowers from all over the world. Take your time and enjoy the scenery as you explore this beautiful place. There are also benches available if you want to sit down and relax.

Reference: Vinpearl.com