Destinations in Red river delta in North

1 - Ha Noi - The Capitale

Hanoi is the capital of Vietnam created in 1010. It is the city of lakes, greenery, the perfect mix between the style of French colonial architecture and old oriental towns.

Hoan Kiem Lake or Lake of Restored Sword with Ngoc Son Temple in Jade Mountain:

During the French colonial war, Ha noi has been chosen by French people as Indochina’ capital. They built many administrative buildings, residential areas… which still are preserved today.

Ancient palace of Indochina’s governor – Presidential palace today:

The Temple of Literature was built in 1076 to venerate Confucius and to train government officials – the first university of Vietnam.

Steles carried by turtles to mark the names, surnames, places of origin ... of doctorate s after a royal successful  competition to be minister in the Royal Court.

Inside Quan su pagoda:

Old town:

Ha Noi Garnier opera built by French people in 1911:

Vietnamese history museum:

Biggest lake among 17 lakes in the city: West lake:

Hang Be traditional market:

A ancient house:

Hoang Dieu street:

Ngoc Ha flowers village:

2 - Ha Long bay on land

At two hour’s drive in South of Hanoi, Halong Bay on Land is located in Ninh Binh province. This is the same karsts formation for 400 million years old, as in famous Halong Bay, but in the continent. That is why it is called Halong Bay on Land.

This place used to be a lot of scenes shot in the Indochina film.

This is the heavenly landscape: Lime stone rocks, rice fields, lotus ponds, daily life of inhabitants…

 

A rowed boat ride on the rivers to zigzag between limestone rocks surrounded by rice fields is not to be missed:

Bich Dong Pagoda, nestled in a rock:

Walk on foot between rocks surrounded by rice fields to discover the daily life of people in remote villages:

A bike ride is also proposed:

View from a cave:

3 - Kenh ga floating village: Located in the Ha Long Bay on Land, 100 km in South of Ha noi - country's capital, the Kenh Ga village is surrounded by water:

 

Each family has a boat in which, people lives, on arrival of rain season:

A bamboo cage to raise fish inside:

 

4 - Phat Diem Cathedral

 

It takes 1 hour and half drive from Ha Long Bay on land.It's a complex of cathedrals, churches built over a hundred years but by adopting the architecture style of local temples:

The main materials are stone and wood but meticulous sculpted:

The central cathedral has one hundred m in length, made in wood with foundations of one million bamboo sticks:

Inside the prayer room made in lacquered wood:

A Sunday mass: 30% of the local population are Catholics in relation to 10% of whole country. 

 

5 -Parfum Pagoda

Located at two hour’s drive from Hanoi, the Perfume Pagoda is in reality a complex of dozen Buddhist and animists temples in the limestone rocks.

The only way to come there is rowed boats. A very nice ride of two hours round trip on a river surrounded by rice fields and limestone rocks is amazing for everybody:

In a magical landscape:

With scenes of daily life: A woman looking for snails:

Thien Tru central pagoda nestled in a rock:

In the January, February, March and a part of April, it is high season for Vietnamese tourists. They come for the scenery, to honor the Buddha but also to express the wishes:

This is the season to avoid for Westerners.

Local pilgrim on the river to come to Thien Tru pagode:

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