Con Dao Islands - Phu Quoc Tour

Con Dao Island - Phu Quoc Tour

Con Dao Islands are a group of 16 islands. The largest island is known as Con Son. Con Dao served as a prison island for political prisoners during the French colonial era, when it was known as Paulo Condore, and in later years the Saigon regime imprisoned opponents of the regime in the infamous cells known as the "tiger cages".

Con Dao

The old prison buildings are still standing and are open to the public as a small museum tracing the island's history. The prison system is similar to the prisons on Phu Quoc except that Viet Cong were held here during the American war while the prisons on Phu Quoc were for the regular North Vietnamese Army. Being traitors to their own country, the conditions on Con Dao were especially harsh.

A Bird-Eye View

Surprisingly jailers and former inmates live here in peace. Con Dao is also an island of immense natural beauty with forested hills, deserted sandy beaches and extensive coral reefs making for some excellent diving. The Con Dao Islands separated from the mainland about 15,000 years ago. This has resulted in the development of dozens of undiscovered or undocumented species of wildlife. The entire archipelago falls under the oversight of the Con Dao National Park. 

Coral Reef

Con Dao is another sad example of a National Park doing little to preserve the environment. However due to its remote and little known location it has been preserved from the effects of development. 80% of the land area of the archipelago is a National park offering primary jungle teeming with interesting life such as the endemic black squirrel and the crab eating macaque. Beautiful beaches and hidden lagoons are also to be found here, with very few tourists Con Dao is a paradise off the beaten track. Most of the surrounding marine are is a no-take marine protected area (MPA). 

Colorful Fish

The national park is in no way responsible for the amazing health of the pristine reefs that surround the islands, home to a large variety of marine life incomparable to anywhere else in Vietnam. The tourists should consider carefully and ask around on the island before using any of the National Park services. International oversight is desperately needed to be sure the environmental abuses are halted. Despite the overall lethargy, the National Park seems to be rousing from its long sleep as more and more pressure is brought to bear by international visitors. Some real positive actions have been noted and while credit is due, these actions are the job of the Park. 

Con Dao Museum

Entrance to Con Dao Museum

Located in the center of town adjacent to the longest jetty where early prisoners first caught sight of the island, the Con Dao Museum was once the home of island governors, regardless the French, South Vietnamese, or American. 

Con Dao Museum’s Front Gate

The building was converted to a museum after the island prisons were overrun and liberated by Viet Cong troops in 1975, and this is now the place to begin any exploration of the island's brutal history. 

Con Dao Museum

Aimed mostly at Vietnamese visitors, it's a very important patriotic sight and a pilgrimage for people who were held here or who lost loved ones. The collection tells the tale of the prison isle, from grisly photos of emaciated prisoners shackled together, to artwork by past internees of their desperate conditions, to the very rifle butts and clubs that were used to torture prisoners.

Inside the Museum

The last room in a clockwise loop through the building tells of the liberation of Con Dao, chronicles the reconciliatory returns of the many prisoners who were housed here, and has a rather faded collection of German and Russian state gifts to the people of Vietnam. 

Tiger Cages

Many members of the current Hanoi administration did tenure in these horrific halls, and the museum has their pictures and information in the entrance. There are good English-language descriptions of the island's history, lists of official French and U.S. policies toward prisoners, and information about the many uprisings and incidents of armed resistance by prisoners to their jailors.

Many Tourists Visiting the Museum

To visit the actual prison sights listed in the guide, you'll have to wait for a group to coalesce and for one of the docents to walk you to the two nearby prison sights. More comprehensive tours of island sights include a visit to the few surviving French "tiger cages" where prisoners were kept in open pits and monitored from above by jailors. 

Trai Phu Hai Prison

Trai Phu Hai Prison

Built in 1862, this is the oldest prison of the island prisons. The door opens with a clang and a creak as your docent unhitches the heavy hasp on the massive door out front. Low guard towers loom over the open courtyard, and thick, high walls are topped in shards of glass. 

Guard Tower

The guardhouse still has a chalkboard with smudges on it from the lists of names of the last residents. At the center of the broad space is a small Christian chapel built later in 1963, a bit of irony really, considering the atrocities committed here. Comprising the bounds of the courtyard are the sloping terra-cotta-tiled roofs and shaded walkways of cellblocks. 

Aisle in Trai Phu Hai Prison

Where elsewhere in Vietnam the faded yellow plaster, heavy timbers, and umber tile work of French colonial architecture looks quaint and inviting, here it takes on a rather sinister aspect. The first cell on the left numbered 9 is set up like the prisons in their heyday, when over 5,000 men were held here, with 80 to 100 shackled together in large common cells. Concrete mannequins, disturbingly lifelike, are rendered in all manner of contorted positions, just as the inmates were: one leg shackled to a long steel rod, one prisoner crammed against the other, surrounding an open area at center. Docents light a handful of joss sticks, and visitors are invited to make an offering at a small Buddhist altar at the center of the room. With the majority of the people who live from here. 

Trai Phu Son Prison

Trai Phu Son Prison

Just adjacent to Trai Phu Hai, this prison is more of the same: a large courtyard surrounded by large common rooms of high yellowed walls. The prison's claim to fame is its most notorious revolutionary prisoners the likes of early revolutionary Le Hong Phuong, and later Le Duan, who succeeded Ho Chi Minh as the president of Vietnam at the end of the Vietnam War. 

Outside Trai Phu Son Prison

Plaques listing the names of famous internees are next to each door. At Trai Phu Son, tourists will be taken into a small isolation cell and will proceed to close the door, shutting out all light, leaving just the smell of wet cement and blinding dark to give you an idea of what solitary is like. Vietnamese tour groups scream wildly. 

Lady Phi Yen Temple

Lady Phi Yen Temple

This small local temple was built in homage to Lady Phi Yen, wife of Nguyen Emperor Gia Long, who was sequestered on the island. Just north of town, the temple is a 1958 remake of a late-19th-century original (destroyed by the French). 

Festival

The story goes that Phi Yen accompanied her husband in exile after defeat at the hands of the Tay Son. Under threat and desperately seeking French support, help that he would receive, but with many concessions to the French that heralded the beginning of Vietnam's French colonization, his wife expressed doubt, preached peace, and was suspected by Gia Long of treason. 

Statues of Lions

Lady Phi Yen was thrown into an isolated cell and left to die after he left the island, fleeing Tay Son, but she survived with the help of mythical creatures (a monkey and a tiger), only to commit suicide later. The temple honors her tragic tale, her fortitude, and her love of peace.

Con Dao National Park 

Entrance to Con Dao National Park

Con Dao National Park is one of only two terrestrial and maritime National Parks in Vietnam which encompass both terrestrial and marine natural resources. Con Dao has largely escaped the exploitation and destructive fishing that have been the fate of other reefs in Vietnam and is considered one of the best examples of marine conservation in the country. 

Con Dao National Park

Historically, although the French wardens forced prisoners to collect live coral and turn it into lime, the coral reefs have survived. The Con Dao National Park was established in 1977, but protection extended only to the flora and fauna on land. The park now covers fourteen of the sixteen islands and their surrounding marine areas. 

Monkeys in the Park

The forest cover on the islands is dense: a sizable proportion is in pristine condition, particularly the humid hill forest growing above 500m above sea level. Over a thousand hectares of Con Dao National Park’s coral reefs survive in the shallow waters. It officially covers 45,000ha, encompassing beautiful beaches and forests. It is home to 882 species of floral species, 135 species of animals, and more than 1,300 species of marine creatures. The park includes a part of the island and the surrounding sea. The national park is characterized by a diverse ecosystem.

A Harmony of Nature

Many species of corals and especially the sea turtle are found here. In 2006, a delegation of UNESCO Vietnam representatives surveyed the area and concluded that the park is eligible to be a natural-cultural mixture world heritage. Con Dao’s environmental significance is recognized internationally and is included in the list of areas of highest regional priority in The World Bank Global System of Marine Protected Areas.

Natural Environment

The entire marine area is rich in biodiversity: over 1,300 species of sea animals have already been identified. The ecosystems on Con Dao are favorable habitats for rare species such as the Hawksbill, Green Turtles & Dugong, the strange creatures popularly known as ‘sea cows’ and believed to be the source of the mermaid legends from their habit of sunbathing on rocks. The World Wide Fund for Nature has been active in protecting sea turtles and dugong. 

Baby Turtles Released to the Sea

Since 1995, more than 300,000 baby turtles have been released to the sea and nearly 1,000 mature turtles have been tagged. Con Dao National Park is now considered one of the best examples of marine conservation in Vietnam, complete with regulations to limit fishing activities and prohibit destructive fishing, and is a model for marine conservation throughout the country. 

Con Dao Fishing

Con Dao Fishing

Con Dao fishing is an option both day and night; however squid fishing is only available at night. Unlike many areas where the fish and squid are found in deep waters or hiding behind stone falls, fish and squid are abundant around Con Dao and are easy to catch. Services are available such as boat, fish rods and bait, as well as high-tech fishing equipment. There are many types of fish to catch. 

A Visitor with Her Fish

Families and friends often gather together for seafood parties. Shark can be reached overland and boat, junk and canoe trips which can also be arranged from Con Son town center or Ben Dam Port to seven sceneries, Mui Dai Cape, Big Bamboo, and Small Bamboo Islands, where visitors can indulge in the splendid island sceneries as well as freely drop their fishing rods and relax after a tiring working day. 

Fishing at Night

At night the shimmering lights, gaudy colors and fake squid lure the squid swimming in the darkness of the sea. The best places for squid fishing are 914 Pier, Ben Dam Port, Mui Dai Cape, to name just some off-shore sites. Nhat Beach on Love Top is known for romantic sunsets as well as wonderful shark fishing. This is the best place for fishermen hoping to conquer a shark.

Vo Thi Sau Tomb in Hang Duong Cemetery 

Hang Duong Cemetery

Seeing the lekima flower in full bloom, Vietnamese people are always reminded of a heroine who died for future generations. The young lady so full of vitality fought against the enemies with firm spirit and even death could not force her to yield. The song echoes in the mind of everybody who visits Hang Duong cemetery in Con Dao district, Ba Ria – Vung Tau Province.

Vo Thi Sau’s Headstone

Vo Thi Sau, the heroine mentioned in the song, was executed by the French colonialists at the foot of Chua Mountain in the early morning of January 23, 1952. 60 years later, her immortal patriotism and glorious sacrifice still shine in the heart of every Vietnamese person, particularly those who live on Con Dao Island, once called hell on the earth. 

A Lot of Graveyards

The 20-hectare Hang Duong cemetery holds the graves of more than 20,000 martyrs, including revolutionary martyr Le Hong Phong, patriot Nguyen An Ninh, and hero Cao Van Ngoc. Visitors are moved to see grave after grave, some were named, some were unnamed, stretching over the hill. Vo Thi Sau’s grave, set in gravel and soil shoveled by her fellow prisoners, lies in section B. The cemetery is most crowded at weekend. Visitors and locals come here to burn incense and pray for those lie here and for the health and peace of those who are still living.  Sau’s headstone is made of marble with words engraved that say: “Vo Thi Sau, born in 1933 and died on January 23rd, 1952, at the age of 19”. Sau, whose most valuable possession was her patriotism, sacrificed her youth and her life to the fatherland. 

A visitor Praying for Her

Joining the revolutionary movement at the age of 14, Sau was eventually caught and sentenced to death by the French. Not daring to kill her in the mainland, they took her to Con Dao Island for execution. Although sister Sau passed away at a very young age, her image lives forever in the hearts of Vietnamese people. Especially, people who live on Con Dao Island all come to Sau’s grave to burn incense and pray and share their feelings and thoughts with Sau. Nobody misses sister Sau’s grave when they visit Hang Duong cemetery. They always stop by her grave to burn incense and pay tribute to her. That brave young lady is a bright example for the younger generations to follow. 

Vo Thi Sau Statue

She encourages all of Vietnamese people to contribute to their nation and be worthy of the sacrifices made by Sau and other martyrs. Sau has become a symbol of respect and patriotism. Her grave is always surrounded by fresh flowers and the fragrance of burning incense. The first thing anyone should do upon arrival at Con Dao is visit the Hang Duong Cemetery and burn incense at Sau’s grave as well as those of other martyrs. Sister Sau’s was already a legend when the ship carrying her docked at Con Dao island in 1952. At the execution, the young lady refused to be blindfolded, wanting to admire the motherland’s landscape and sing till her last breath. Many families on Con Dao Island have set up altars to worship sister Sau, whose legend has become eternal in each Vietnamese heart.

Source: http://bookingyourtravel.blogspot.com/2014/06/con-dao-islands-phu-quoc-tour.html

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Landscape Sapa  - Sapa Discovery Tour

Located in the northwest of the country, Sa Pa is a mountainous district of Lao Cai province, a land of modest, quietly but contains various wonders of the nature. The natural scenery of Sa Pa is associated with human creativity, the mountains, green forests, like a painting in a harmonious layout. Immersed in clouds, Sapa is as a magical city in mist, drawing up a charming picture. 

City Covered by Clouds 

There is an invaluable resource and that is the fresh cool climate with a diversity of natural scene. Located at an average altitude of 1500m - 1800m, the climate of Sapa is at the average temperature of 15-18 ° C. Sa Pa has Fansipang Mountain Peak which is at the height of 3.143 meters on Hoang Lien Son Range. Call the Hoang Lien Son mountain range by only on this celandine, a kind of medicinal herbs and rare. Also Hoang Lien longer "mine" of information valuable timber species such as oil, of which birds, such as grouse, bear, monkey, antelope and thousands of medicines. 

Hoang Lien Son Mountain Range

The National Forest of Hoang Lien Son has 136 species of birds, 56 species of mammals, 553 species of insects Sa Pa District is located in Lao Cai Province, north-west Vietnam, and 380 km north-west of Hanoi, close to the border with China. The Hoang Lien Son Range of Mountains dominates the district, which is at the eastern extremity of the Himalayas. This range includes Vietnam's highest mountain, Fansipan, at a height of 3143 m above sea level. The town of Sa Pa lies at an altitude of about 1500 meters above sea level. The climate is moderate and rainy in summer, and foggy and cold with occasional snowfalls in winter. 

Fansipan Mountain Peak

Sa Pa is a quiet mountain town and home to a great diversity of ethnic minority peoples. The total population of 36,000 consists mostly of minority groups. Besides the Kinh people, there are mainly 5 ethnic groups in Sapa and that is Hmong, Dao, Tay, Giay, and a small number of Xa Pho. Most of the ethnic minority people work their land on sloping terraces since the vast majority of the land is mountainous. Their staple foods are rice and corn. Rice, by its very nature of being a labour intensive crop, makes the daily fight for survival paramount. The unique climate in Sa Pa has a major influence on the ethnic minorities who live in the area. With sub-tropical summers, temperate winters and 160 days of mist annually, the influence on agricultural yields and health related issues are significant. 

Terrace Rice Field

The geographical location of the area makes it a truly unique place for many interesting plants and animals, allowing it to support many inhabitants. Many very rare or even endemic species have been recorded in the region. The scenery of the Sa Pa region in large part reflects the relationship between the minority people and nature. This is seen especially in the paddy fields carpeting the rolling lower slopes of the Hoang Lien Mountains. 

Hmong Ethnic Communities

The impressive physical landscape which underlies this has resulted from the work of the elements over thousands of years, wearing away the underlying rock. On a clear day, the imposing Peak of Fansipan comes into view. The last major peak in the Himalayan Chain, Fansipan offers a real challenge to even the keenest walker, the opportunity of staggering views, and a rare glimpse of some of the last remaining primary rain forest in Vietnam. 

Sa Pa Culture Museum

Visiting a museum is not top of most people's list of things to do when visiting Sapa, but for those interested in the history of the region and the culture of its inhabitants, the Sa Pa Museum is worth half an hour of your time. The museum is housed in an attractive stilt house with a static exhibit upstairs which runs uninspiringly through the history of the Sa Pa Region before moving on to some slightly more engaging exhibits about the culture of the ethnic minorities. 

Red Dao Ethnic Minority

It's like the Ethnology Museum or Women's Museum in Hanoi, but far smaller and dustier. Downstairs was home to a sponsored exhibit about the crafts and customs of the Hmong and Red Dao people. It specifically focuses on their handicrafts as part of the Sa Pa Fair Craft project to promote these traditional crafts and help provide new economic opportunities. Entry is free but a stall is located inside so you may end up paying more than you expect, it's not a hard sell though. 

Cat Cat Village

Cat Cat Village

Nestled in a beautiful valley about three kilometers from Sapa Town, Cat Cat- the old village of ethnic groups- attracts tourists from all over the world for its distinctive customs and practices which have been lost in almost ethnic villages. Cat Cat Cultural Village was formed in 19th century by the gathering of some families belonging to some ethnic groups living in mountainous areas of northern Vietnam, especially Black H’Mong.

Sa Pa

Rice and corn were grown in terraced fields, while traditional handicrafts such as twisting flax and weaving fabric have been well-kept. Through times, Cat Cat Village has transferred to one appealing feature of Sa Pa’s tourism. Visiting Cat Cat, tourists will be impressed by the peacefully picturesque sceneries. People can easily catch sight of women sitting in front of the loom with colorful pieces of brocade, while children playing around with pets or even livestock. 

A Group of Tourists Visiting Cat Cat Village

Moreover, many residents of Cat Cat Village are also skillful at manipulating sophisticated gold and silver jewelry. The original architect of H’Mong people is interesting as well. Their house typically contains three rooms with three doors and po mu wood roof, while the walls’ material is sawn timber.Cat Cat Village gives tourists a chance to have a glimpse into the daily life of local ethnic people, as well as take part in traditional activities such as weaving fabric. 

A Souvenir Shop

It is also a good opportunity to purchase some traditional souvenirs and handicrafts right from the craftsmen. People can also try some local food selling the way upcoming to the hill. In addition, the road leading to Cat Cat Village is an easy and interesting route for trekking. The hike through mountains will offer tourists the wonderful picture of rice paddies, water fall, or even water buffaloes grazing leisurely. The visitor can have a chance to visit. 

Ta Phin Village

Ta Phin Village

Though Sa Pa has long been familiar with tourists, Ta Phin Village is still a new name to almost everybody. Located about 17 km in the west of Sa Pa, Ta Phin is a village of Red Dao’s people possessing a rich culture that has not been damaged by the modern life. From Sa Pa, it will take about 30 minutes to reach here by motorbike. The mountainous road can make it difficult for cars to move, so the best solution is to hire a “xe om”, or motorbike taxi, and the experienced driver will take you to right place at a very reasonable price with many useful advices and tips.

 Coming to Ta Phin, you will immediately catch sight of groups of Red Dao’s women gathering together, keeping inside their hands colorful reels of thread and cloths. They sew continuously, even when offering the goods to the customers. Amazingly, most of them can speak quite well, some use Vietnamese less than English. Since 1998, Ta Phin has officially become the brocade village, where tourists can find the distinctively hand-made brocades made by ethnic people. All of the products are eye-catching with numerous bright colors and patterns, ranging from bag, scarf, purse, to skirt, and even backpack and coat. 

Tourists visiting Ta Phin village

Ta Phin is also the main supply of brocades for shops in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, and the products are exported to foreign countries as well. Through times, Ta Phin Village, however, still can remain its special traditions. If you are lucky enough, you can have a chance to participate in a Red Dao’s wedding, seeing how carefully they prepare and many complicated customs for this occasion. There are also several local festivals such as dancing festival, greeting for the new house, oath-taking ceremony that will help you understand more about the simple but happy and amiable life of ethnic people. 

Hoang Yen Chao Castle
 

Hoang Yen Chao Castle

Hoang Yen Chao Castle is a unique architectural construction combining Eastern style and Western style. Built in the 20th century, it belongs to Na Hoi Tho Village, Bac Ha District. Its proximity to Bac Ha Market makes it increasingly popular in the recent years. The castle was built as the resident of Hoang Yen Chao, and later, his son Hoang A Tuong. With two-floor architecture, it also functions as a fortress. The castle possesses a vital location that enables its residents to influence and control the whole Bac Ha Valley. 

Inside Hoang Yen Chao Castle

From afar, you can easily notice the white castle standing vividly against the blue sky and the green fields of Lao Cai. High fences, blockhouses and deep trenches, as well as invincible defending towers used to protect the castle from the enemies in the past. Unfortunately, time has swiped away those wonderful features. However, you can still see the system of dangerous strap full of real spikes built around the castle. After strolling around the construction, make sure that you go inside and take a look at all the vestiges that survive the destructive flow of time.

Sa Pa Market

Sa Pa Market

Located right at the heart of Sa Pa Town, the traditional market, which is bustling until late afternoon, is not only for trading, but also for socializing and unwinding after hard working days. It consists of both indoors and outdoors space. While stalls along the stone stairs outside sell flowers, fresh produce, groceries and food; little workshops on the second floor offer ethnic fabrics. Once getting inside the market gate, tourists will see stalls full of mountain fruits like peach, apricot, pear and plum. 

Handbags and Many Accessories

Buying some fruits for the dinner dessert or enjoy during the trip is a good idea. Dropping by the right hand side stalls, tourists will find trinkets (ethnic silver jewelry), medical herbs and local products that are good for health like forest honey. For the ones who are enchanted by colorful costume of H’Mong, Dao people in Sa Pa, and looking for authentic ethnic fabric, the second floor of Sa Pa Market is a must-visit. Here, one can find a number of embroidered skirts, handbags, blankets, pillow shams and table covers with unique patterns, made by the indigenous. 

Sa Pa Market

Ethnic women who sell brocades here can converse quite well in English. Visiting Sa Pa Market in the morning, travelers will see a lot of local people gather at food stalls to enjoy favorite breakfast of “men men” (steamed corn wheat), “thang co” (horse soup) and corn wine. These are traditional food and beverages of local people in Sapa, and must-try for any tourists who come here. As a weekly market, Sa Pa market only opens on Sunday. Hence, tourists should wake up early on Sunday morning to visit the market and enjoy hearty breakfast with the locals.

Ham Rong Moutain

Ham Rong Mountain

Being shaped like a dragon’s head dimly looming in the thin veil of the early morning, Ham Rong Mountain or Dragon Jaw Mountain is an attractive tourist area in the center of Sa Pa Town. It is a fine combination of man-made and natural landscape. Ham Rong is home to numerous kinds of flowers and orchard gardens. Tourists wander stone paths leading tourists to wild peach forest, then orchid gardens with more than 6000 orchid plants belonging to 194 kinds. Besides, there are a lot of indigenous and exotic flowers grown along the paths like Lily of the Nile, hydrangea, geraniums, ox-eyed daisy and cherry blossom. Mountain fruits like peach, plum, and pear are also found here.

A close view of Ham Rong Mountain

The scenery hidden in the fog and echo sound from bamboo flutes of Mong minority boy change this place into a heaven on the earth. Another interesting activity is conquering San May (Cloud Yard), the peak of Ham Rong Mountain at the altitude of 1800 m to enjoy the imposing panorama of Sapa town. In sunny days, from here tourists can even see the peak of Fansipan under clear sky with white cloud floating around. Along the way to San May, tourists may drop by Cong Troi 1, Cong Troi 2 for resting and photo taking. These places also offer visitors a great view to French villas and terraced fields below. The best time to visit Ham Rong is spring, when all flowers in the mountain blossom, boast their beauty and perfume. The foot of Ham Rong Mountain is only a short walk from Sapa Church. 

Fan Si Pan Mountain

Fansipan Mountain

At the height of 3,143m, Fansipan has been widely known as the highest mountain in Vietnam and the Roof of Indochina. Conquest of Fansipan is dream of many professional climbers as well as adventurous travelers when they come to Vietnam. The Mount Fasipan is located in Lao Cai province, about 9km southwest of Sa Pa Town. It belongs to the Hoang Lien Son Mountain Range, located in the northwest of Vietnam and lying in the border of two provinces: Lao Cai and Lai Chau. 

Fansipan Mountain Peak

The flora in Fansipan is so diverse with 1,680 species of plants, some in which are rare and able to be found only here. Hence, the mountain is an appealing natural attraction for any tourists, especially the ones who are interested in botany. Types of plants vary depending on altitude. Besides, climbers can see beautiful orchids and wild flowers along the way to the peak, especially in spring. There are a number of waterfalls lying around the foot of the Mount Fansipan. These waterfalls are ideal resting places for climbers after a long journey as well as nice places for taking photos.

http://bookingyourtravel.blogspot.com/2014/06/landscape-sapa-sapa-discovery-tour.html

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