Come to visit Nam Giao Esplanade

Emperors under feudalism often regarded themselves as "thien tu" (son of the God). Hence, to express their respect to Father God, they often held annual offering ceremonies to worship.

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Location and history

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That's why Nam, Giao Esplanade was built by King Gia Long after being crowned, in Duong Xuan Village, south of Hue City. It was started constructing on 25th March, 1806. At the beginning of 1807, its first God worship ceremonies were held there. Among several offering terraces of previous dynasties, Nguyen's is the only one that still exists until today.

Architecture

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The open-air monument obviously reflects the old misconception of people about the universe (circular heavens and square earth), follows the principles of Yin and Yang and also represents 5 elements of the nature: Metal, Wood, Water, Fire and Earth (in order: Kim, Moc, Thuy, Hoa, Tho).

As well, the esplanade is designed to symbolize oriental theory of 3 agents: Heaven, Earth, Man (Thien, Dia, Nhan respectively). Each is represented by one terrace with distinctive color and shape: circular blue heaven, square yellow earth. The bottom terrace is square and red-painted which stands for Man, as there is a phrase “red child” (xich tu – con do) to call the normal people. The top terrace (Heaven) is the place to hold offering ceremonies to God, Earth and Nguyen Dynasty’s ancestors and also called Vien dan. The middle one (Tung dan) is for worshipping the Sun, Moon, Stars, Cloud, Rain, Wind, Lightning, Year and Month, Mountain, Ocean, River, Lagoon, Lake, etc. and all other kinds of holy spirits throughout Vietnam. The last terrace is where to offer sacrifice.

Along with the main esplanade, there are several other building sites to support the offering ceremony like “Trai cung” (where the king stays before the ceremony), “Than tru” (the kitchen to prepare sacrifice), “Than kho” (the warehouse to place ceremony’s tools).

In the past, Nam Giao Esplanade was surrounded by a thick basalt wall which has been destructed. Pine trees were also planted around, as Emperor Minh Mang has followed his father’s tradition and asked all his sons and mandarins to plant their own pines with their name card on it and take care of their own trees.

Nam Giao Esplanade plays a very important role in religious and political life of Nguyen Dynasty. It took the Protocol and Administration Ministries many months to prepare for the ceremony. Before the sacrifice offering day, all villages and communal in Thua Thien-Hue had to complete making triumphal arches, to put alters on both sides of the route where the Emperor would pass by from Ngo Mon Noon gate to Trai Cung. During the ceremony, big flags with different colors were hung on all four doors of the esplanade: black flags on the north door, blue on the east, red on the south and white on the west. The kings often had to operate the ceremony on his owns. In case he wasn’t capable, his son or one of his mandarins would be ordered to take this task.

Today, visitors can come here to understand about the religious and political belief of Oriental feudal society in general and Nguyen Dynasty in particular, which is completely different from that of Western people.

How to get there

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Follow Dien Bien Phu Street till the end. There stands the esplanade. Suggested means of transport include: bike, motorbike and car.

When to get there

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The site is open for tourists all the time, but it’s highly recommended to get there when the ceremony is held.

The royal ceremony is especially often restored on the occasion of Hue Festival (in 2002, 2004 and 2006 already), to pray for a peaceful country and prosperous people. This is a particular performance you can’t find anywhere else. Similar ceremony will be held again in Festival Hue 2012, which will take place on April.

Categories: Hue

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Hang market _ the most famous fairs in Haiphong

In recent years, Hang market, the most famous fairs in Haiphong with the goods such as bonsai trees, traditional domestic animals, becomes quite crowded flea markets with sufficient items, bringing many choices for residents and visitors to the fair.
Bustling old items market

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At 5 am, on every Sunday, street of Hang market (Le Chan district) is crowded by motorcycles, passenger cars of all kinds of goods, domestic appliances from around sold at Hang market. The weird thing is the goods sealed and carriers are often thrown them from the vehicle without fear of damage. Each bag is opened and poured out on wrinkled available covering cloth.

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Hang market Bustling with sellers and buyers

Goods in this area are the old items. Secondhand goods corner of Hang market stretches on roads being less than 200 meters from the house no.465 to no.517 on Market street with diversify in types such as sophisticated electronics as loudspeakers, Karaoke machines, televisions, wireless computer mouse and compass, cross-head screwdriver screws, the wire supplying water to rusty automatic heater advertised as a Japanese goods carried by ocean vessels to Vietnam travel.

Because there aren’t a lot of goods, the owner of booths don’t need to ship or sale goods early as flowers and domestic animals corners. Mr. Nguyen Hong Quan having sold old items for nearly 2 years old at Hang market said: “Although my house is near Sat Market, with small capital source I only retail some old and sundry furniture, and irregular volumes, I do not dare to hire booth here. Every Sunday morning, I sell old items at Hang Market”.

Each fair, people selling old furniture pay 5,000 VND for the local market ticket and extra cost of renting seats in doorstep of households in fairgrounds. The owners of stalls pay fees depending on are of stalls and the agreement. Averagely, one old items stall is under 2 square meters, with about 100 -120 thousand per month. For those stalls selling electronics using power of the household will have to pay more.

At 8 am, as usual, Hang market is crowded. Previously this road was only the space to park vehicles since there is corner for old items; each market session, streets in Hang market are always filled with people. The cars accidentally “falling into” this way can not move, despite loud honking.

Both buyers and sellers are happy
Because it is a market selling old items and do not pay too much money for business surcharge, so commodity prices here are much cheaper than in other business stalls. A new California karaoke machine is about VND 2 million, but the price of used goods being intact stamp of manufacturer is sold for nearly VND 500 thousand.
Apparently, you get what you pay for. However, this is a notable choice for customer groups with average incomes. Besides traders, some people aged nearly 70 still sell to enjoy their life. Their commodities are items, components seemingly only seen in black and white films of the last century as pedals, chain axis, fenders Phoenix bicycle, mechanical clock.

Mr. Hoang Van Duy, an owner of shall in front of the house no. 507 in Hang market said: “The highest commodity is only VND 20 thousands, the stall has about 50 items. Even, bicycle pedals are usually sold in pair, sellers ask to buy one piece, so there isn’t any profit. I am sitting here to sell, mainly looking for a place to exchange and talk with people. At home is so sad”. Mainly supply source of owners of second-hand stalls here are from people who sell junk, or purchase of acquaintances.

Mr. Hoang Van Duy added: “In the corners of old items, there are many salesmen used to be a mechanic, they can recognize items are still able to use. Many items which seem to be broken, but they pick them up, repair and resell”

However, the old and fragmentary items which no one wants to buy sometimes are difficulty to find. Nguyen Van Hung, who likes to collect antique bikes, in No. 229 of Mieu Hai Xa street cheerfully: “I’ve just found an intact motors generating power for bicycle lights, with VND 15 thousands. After long time looking, finally I found it in my “village market”. Maybe some people those in need to find old things like Mr. Nguyen Van Hung. And the area of market selling secondhand goods is increasingly wider, creating more jobs as well as attracting many people to the unique market session of Hai Phong city.

Categories: Vietnam-Destination

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American habits to save you in Vietnam

American habits to save you in Vietnam

Never carrying cash

Haggling 101: Tell the seller you don’t have that much cash on you, tell them you live there, stick to that strategy. That feeling when you know all those amounts of stuff you can buy at ridiculously cheap rates because you’re “out of cash” is almost like highway robbery. And if you’re genuinely an American, maybe you don’t have to lie because you actually don’t have the cash on you for real.

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Sincere and friendly smile of Vietnamese people

Speaking your mind

“No, I’m not gonna pay 100k vnd for these coconuts. No, please don’t try to sell me any cocaine. Yes, I can see you staring at me? Would you like anything? Want me to kick that cute little ass? No? Ok, then let’s move on, shall we?”

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Showering more than necessary

If it’s April through October, you’re sweaty. If it’s October through April, you’re wet and sweaty. Luckily, you’ve got this hygiene thing down to an art.

Watching your six

You’ve watched way too many episodes of The X-Files, and wherever you go, you “trust no one”. Your eyes are in your back watching for that motorbike pulling a U-turn and driving up to you a little too slowly. You take a second to summon your ninja skills and BAM! You’re wrestling for your bag and some karate chops later, they drive off empty-handed.

That relentless optimism and can-do spirit

You don’t even bat an eye when that man on the side of the road patches your tire with an old piece of rubber and a lit cigarette. Crazier things have happened, say Kim Kardashian being taken seriously. And you think handing over that 50 cents is totally worth it. Will this tire stay good in the next six months> you bet. However, 50 cents for a story and a tire is not bad.

Categories: Travel-tips

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Special list of products to buy in Vietnam

Travelers always want to bring home some souvenirs that remind them of their journey. However, they often get into trouble of deciding what to buy. Here is a special list of products that you should buy as souvenirs when you travel to Vietnam.

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 Silk

Silk used to be a luxurious and notable material. It signified social status since it was only worn by Vietnamese royalty. It is now an affordable product.

The silkworms after feeding on mulberry leaves will attach themselves to the mulberry tree then spin cocoons. Silk is woven from that cocoons. Silk products of Vietnam are famous for its brilliance, skilful technique, and its color.

Van Phuc Silk Village is the best place to buy silk products. It’s the cradle of Vietnam’s silk

Conical hats

Non la or conical hat is circular cone made of bamboo and young palm leaves, notable for its romantic adornment. It is an indispensable tool for Vietnamese people of all age. It is rain and sun protector.

Non la is a typical cultural symbol in Vietnam.

Depending on the quality, the price may range from 30,000 – 100,000 VND at souvenir shops.

Ao Dai

Ao Dai is the traditional dress of Vietnamese women. It’s a great work of art signifying women’s elegant beauty. Ao dai has changed with many innovations through the impacts of time. It current form is a tight-fitted long silk tunic worn over long pants.

If you want to get an ao dai, you will need to pick the fabric first then bring it to a tailor. It may take about a week until you can get the product.

An ao dai may cost about 700,000 – 1,500,000 VND

“Ao dai” – Vietnam’s traditional costume

Ceramic products

You can easily find various kinds of ceramic products in Vietnam such as vases, plates, cups, bows, etc. They are hand-crafted by experienced Vietnamese people.

Bamboo and wooden products

These products are hand woven and available in Vietnam with a large variety of colors.  They are eco-friendly in nature.

Bamboo dragonfly

“Guoc moc” – Wooden clogs – typical kind of footwear in Vietnam

Embroidered paintings

Hand embroidery is a 700-year-old tradition in Vietnam. It’s made from the patience and skill of the artisans sewing, tinting tiny threads then create a graceful work. Theme can be varied. It can be picturesque natural scenes or it can be life scenes or portraits.

A small hand embroidered product may cost about 500,000 VND. The bigger ones may cost 2,000,000 VND.

Spring – Summer – Autumn – Winter

Silk paintings

Silk paintings are a unique art of Vietnam. Silk paintings have elegant beauty due to its rustic and poetic themes including the countryside, pagodas, and scenes of daily life.

You can easily find them in many gift shops or find art galleries in Hanoi and Saigon city. Price may range from $5 – $50/piece.

Categories: Travel-tips

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Before venturing into the wilderness by motorbike

Before venturing into the wilderness by motorbike, you will need a little plan and preparation to have memorable outdoor experiences in your life. Here are some of basic things and travel tips that you should bear in mind.

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Take care of your motorcycle

So you’re going to leave the campground behind and pass through winding roads full of rocks and potholes by motorbike. Then motorbike maintenance is absolutely necessary. You should carry some essential items such as a screwdriver, a wrench, and pliers, etc

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Fill the gas tank

Beside rugged roads, gas station is another problem. There will be not many gas stations along your trip and the running-out-of-gas problem will put you into a terrible dilemma. Hence, don’t forget to fill your gas tank.

Pack essential items

If you think that backpacking is similar to a normal trip and you stuff your suitcase with a heap of clothes, shoes, and hats, then you should reconsider. You should pack in a smart way and carry only essential items.

The way you pack can save a lot of hassle. Have cooking gear, water, and some other items close to the center of your rucksack, essential items near the top, and bulky items at the bottom.

Do a research on local culture

It’s imperative that you study about cultures of places you are heading to since customs and norms differ from place to place. Knowing local norms will allow you to avoid looking like a awkward traveler.

Pick a reliable and experienced leader

Knowledgeable company is good for your trip. He must be experienced and capable of handling bad situation. The safety of your journey depends much on him.

Pay attention to the weather

If you backpack to mountainous area with erratic weather, you need to check the weather forecast to ensure safety for yourself and your companion. Driving on steep mountainous passes with dense fog and heavy rain is really dangerous and difficult.

 

Categories: Travel-tips

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