Where to go in Vietnam Independence Day

Independence Day in Vietnam, like what of any other nations in the world, is one of the most important celebrations of the country in year. In this vacation, native residents have different ways to celebrate their vacation in different regions along the country.

Vietnam Independence Day - not simply national holiday

Nation's Holiday is not only an occasion for local residents, but also for foreigners, visitors grasping their chance to explore different cultural activities. While many of people make the use of their vacation time to famous tourist destinations in coastal areas, big cities, etc., some choose them peaceful, adventurous and authentic experiences in mountainous regions in the North of Vietnam.

For the time happens Independence Day is also the best time to witness the most stunning and beautiful scenes in mountainous regions of Vietnam, it is noteworthy to arrange a trip up there.

Colorful local market in Independence Festival in Moc Chau

The first most appealing destination to visit is Moc Chau, as Nation Independence Day is also the Independence Festival of the Mong ethnic group inhabiting here. For the Mong living in Moc Chau, the day President Ho Chi Minh announced the Declaration of Independence at Ba Dinh Square was also the day marking their freedom. Annually, Mong ethnic group in Moc Chau celebrate their Independence Day as their biggest event in year with various distinctive cultural activities. From famous Love Fair, to games, performances as well as colorful local markets selling local specialties, visitors will find their spirits be animated  in the highest senses.

Stunning rice terraces in Mu Cang Chai during September

Another destination travelers can not over look is definitely Mu Cang Chai, as September is also the most beautiful time in year in this region. September in Mu Cang Chai is not only when the local harvest
ceremony happens with a lot of fascinating activities, but also when visitors can witness the most stunning, magical and majestic scenes of immense rice terraces. Going up there this time, travelers will have chance to attend many activities of the Festival, as well as to contemplate poetic views of the fields being close to be harvested. 

Ha Giang is the third considerable place to visit this season. Like other Northern regions of Vietnam, Ha Giang still keep its intact state in both natural beauty as well as local cultures. In September, Ha Giang is the destination which will take your breath away by its magical scenes of hill-side fields, and especially its unique magical flower named Tam giac mach. As Tam giac mach flower plays significant role not only in tourism but also in the region's economy, there occurs annually a Festival of its name in Ha Giang that attracts a large number of visitors. There will be a variety of excellent art programs travelers can enjoy, or take a look at the products from Tam giac mach flowers and watch street folk performances, colorful ethnic costumes of Ha Giang...

Tam giac mach Flower - what creates Ha Giang

And travelers also can not pass Sapa without stopping by this scenic region. Sapa must not be unfamiliar to travelers who already have known about Vietnam or ones are planning to have a trip here. September is believed the best time to visit Sapa as the weather is not too cold but cool, fresh and airy. Up there, visitors will experience what is the most  wonderful of the highland nature, simultaneously experience authentic cultural livings of the ethnic minorities with distinctive lifestyles. September is also the best time for trekking in Sapa, which will surely bring adventurous travelers with memorable moments in their journey.

September is the best time for trekking in Sapa, Vietnam

However, for this time is very ideal to travel, these destinations also have to face common problem of being crowded. As a result, visitors coming to these places will find it quite hard in managing for accommodation. Solution suggested for accommodation is staying with local people in homestays.

Inviting homestay for authentic and fantastic experiences

In Moc Chau, visitors can find several homestays lying among immense green tea fields with very affordable prices such as Homestay Moc Chau, Mr. Tuan Ha Homestay,...

In Mu Cang Chai there are several nice homestays can be found such as Mr. Sanh Homestay, Mr. Em Homestay, Tong Van Don Homestay, Lo Van Doi Homestay… They are all large Thai traditional stilt houses accommodated to many people. The hosts are also very friendly, plain and hospitable.

Ha Giang is where travelers can experience interactive travel in Dzao ethnic group's homestay with Ly Dai Duyen Homestay and Ly Quoc Thang Homestay whose hosts are really plain, friendly and hospitable.

For Sapa is so popular in authentic tourism, there are a large deal of choices for homestay can be found here. The most well-known homestay is May Kieu Homestay where visitors would not only witness local livings, but also can truly engage in. That are what travelers can also find when staying in Black H'mong Homestay. Other ideal homestays in Sapa are Sapa Musician House, or Sapa Cloudy 

Fabulous Mu Cang Chai, Vietnam

Mu Cang Chai is the region located in the Northeastern of Vietnam (Yen Bai Province). This is one rural area suffered by the poor, but now has emerged as one of the most famous tourist destinations of Vietnam.
Mu Cang Chai is the home of many minority groups of what H'Mong is the major. The H'Mong make their lives among rice and corn cultivation, build wooden houses and guard boxes spotted between the terrace fields, bring the place with gorgeous poetic  scenery. In Mu Cang Chai, there are splendid rice terrace fields creating amazing landscapes stretching down the mountain sides. The magical view will take your breath away for the time your eyes caught it.

The harvest season in mid September, also the only harvest of the year, is the most important event in Mu Cang Chai. The rice cultivation in Mu Cang Chai is different from other regions such as Red and Mekong Deltas. The locals built terraces alongside the slope of the hills. In April to May, those fields are flooded to prepare for the planting of seeds and wait for four months until the harvest.
Time
Mu Cang Chai is most crowded in the harvest time. In September to November, ripe rice fields with blending colors of yellow, green and black generates romantic and breathtaking scenery, which lies between superb mountain views of the Northern region.
Flooding time in April or May is also an ideal period to visit Mu Cang Chai. During this season, Mu Cang Chai wears a mysterious and obsessed coat, when rice terraces are full of water, making them look like huge mirrors.

Route
There are many routes for you to move from Hanoi to Mu Cang Chai, but the most common is along Highway 32, across the bridge Trung Ha, Thanh Son (Phu Tho), then through Nghia Lo town, Tu Le commune ( Van Chan district) of Yen Bai before crossing Khau Pha pass to to Mu Cang Chai. Travel time is about 7 hours. Since the Noi Bai - Lao Cai high way was operated, you can also run through this route to the city and to Nghia Lo, Yen Bai. Additionally, you can also go on the route of Noi Bai - Lao Cai, Sa Pa and up O Quy Ho Pass, then through Than Uyen and Tan Uyen, Lai Chau and to to Mu Cang Chai. You are recommended to pick one line on the way up and the other for the way back to get more experiences.

In Mu Cang Chai, most convenient way to travel is to rent motorbikes, with prices ranging from 100,000 VND to 200,000 VND per day depending on the time.
Attractions
On the road to Mu Cang Chai, visitors cannot ignore Tu Le commune, the Lim Mong village, Cao Pha fields, Khau Pha Pass ... and points having the most beautiful terraces such as La Pan Tan Commune, Che Cu Nha, Thai village, Triple Bridge House, the raspberries hill (from the center of Mu Cang Chai district, about 10 km). If traveling from Noi Bai - Lao Cai, go experience the feeling on O Quy Ho Pass, the scenery along the way through and Tan Uyen Uyen (Lai Chau)...

Stay
Visitors coming here can stay right in Mu Cang Chai, or Tu Le (40km far away), or Nghia Lo (100km away). While Nghia Lo is a busy place with many big hotels namely Nghia Lo, Western, Muong Lo... with price from 300.000-500.000VND/night, Mu Cang Chai and Tu Le have fewer options for accommodation with little hostels. If travelers come in peak season, they have to make the reservation long before arriving. Solution suggested for accommodation is staying with local people in homestays. In Mu Cang Chai there are several nice homestays can be found such as Mr. Sanh Homestay, Mr. Em Homestay, Tong Van Don Homestay, Lo Van Doi Homestay... They are all large Thai traditional stilt houses accommodated to many people. The hosts are also very friendly, plain and hospitable.

SPECIAL FESTIVAL IN SEPTEMBER IN MOC CHAU, VIETNAM

Autumn season from August to October is the best time to experience greatest things in Northern regions of Vietnam. Being one amongst wonderful destinations to visit, Moc Chau has been favorite place for travelers to drop by on their way throughout Vietnam which contains stunning natural scenery and unique local culture of ethnic minorities. Up to Moc Chau, visitors will not only be overwhelmed by endless immense green tea fields and unique highland love fairs, but also by distinctive colorful Independence Festival occurred only in Moc Chau in September 2^nd every year.

Gorgeous Moc Chau, Vietnam in September

About Independent Festival

Independent Festival is distinguished celebration of the Mong ethnicity group. For a long time, the Mong people in Moc Chau and Son La in general was considered 2^nd September, the day President Ho Chi Minh read the Declaration of Independence at Ba Dinh Square and also the history of the country's National Day, one of the traditional holiday of the region. This is the occasion to organize Hmong cultural and artistic activities to show love to country. With ethnic Hmong, an independent New Year has become a significant festival for many years. In celebration of this significance, the people celebrate the festival even more monumental than the traditional Lunar New Year.

What to see

In the Independence Celebration, visitors will catch the images of local Mong males and females in colorful traditional costumes hands in hands making way through the crowd to the centre of the town. Coming to Moc Chau this time, travelers will have opportunity to witness one of the biggest and most fantastic Love Fairs in Northern region. The Festival was originally celebrated by only the Mong in Moc Chau, but this occasion has also attracted the Mong ethnic people in the Song Ma district, Thuan Chau, Yen Chau, Phu Yen... in Son La, even the Hmong in Thanh Hoa, Nghe An comes up; the Hmong in Lai Chau, Dien Bien, Lao Cai, Ha Giang comes down to join...  There are families who have overcome distance of nearly 100 km hill to get in the atmosphere.

Local markets always attract a large deal of visitors come to explore

During these days, guests coming here will find decorative offerings flooding all the ways in town. They will be amazed and impressed with the experience and feeling brought by the beauty of colorful cultures of the Mong ethnic people. From 31/8 onward, through all the streets as Mai Chau, Bac Yen, there easily catches the pictures of strange people from different regions making friends, chatting, drinking together in the most animated atmosphere can be seen.  

What to do

Visitors attending the Festival will not only have chance to eye the beauty of ethnic traditional costume outside, but also to participate and learn a variety of activities. This year th Independence Celebration will host cultural festival of ethnic minorities in Moc Chau district includes tug, push sticks, firing crossbows, dance, beat tu lu, pounding thick cake, “con” tossing, cultural performances, ethnic groups’ cuisine, along with the cultural program as performances of folk dancers, ethnic musical rhythm...

Apart from joining the largest Love fair of the North in this occasion, visitors also can spend time wandering around local markets which are only opened in this Festival. For a few years, people from the ethnic Hmong in Lao Cai, Yen Bai also brought some products, specialties, particularly textiles and Mong skirt to exchange, purchase and sale creating a picture of colorful cultural costumes of various ethnic groups.

Love fair - one of the most fascinating feature of Moc Chau, Vietnam in Independence Celebration

The night in 1^st September is called the “white night”, night of love exchange market where the boys and girls send to each other all their missing, love, and emotional moments. Guests can visit this special fair but remember not to disturb the deposition moments of lovers. Let them have private, sacred moments dissolving along with heaven and earth. Then the next morning, the Mong woman returned to cultivation, fields and gardens, and the men come back to their common livelihood.

Many animated cultural activities during the Festival

Where to stay

Moc Chau, like other Northern regions of Vietnam, bears the most beautiful natural scenery along with many fascinating cultural activities and festivals in this season. As a result, Moc Chau this time annually attracts a large volume of not only visitors who would love to discover local features, but also Mong people from other regions coming to join the Celebration together. It also means that travelers visiting Moc Chau during this time will find it difficult to find accommodation to stay as it is too crowded and prices are pushed up high. Fortunately, in Moc Chau there are homestays of local people where visitors can stay and experience the most authentic and fantastic moments with the residents. At present, Vietnam Homestay is working as a bridge developing homestays and connecting travelers with local dwellers. The homestay network is promised not to stop but continually expanded, providing travelers with far better options for interactive stay. There in Moc Chau, travelers can stay at Homestay Moc Chau, Mr. Tuan Ha Homestay, Mr. Tri Homestay, and Mr. Tuan Homestay. Specially, in this year’s Celebration, there will be special offer for travelers booking homestay in Moc Chau via vietnamhomestay.vn as special thanks. Turning to details, guests will receive 10% off for booking before 25^th August 2016.

Lovely Homestay in Moc Chau, Vietnam

What are you waiting for? It’s time to go up to Moc Chau to explore one of the most fantastic Festivals of the year.

Visit us for special offer in this intersting Festival: http://www.vietnnamhomestay.vn

Top things to do in Vietnam

Whatever perspectives people gain about Vietnam, it can hardly be denied that this country is still one of the best destinations worth visiting in Southest Asia. Passing through thousand years of history with ups and downs, everything of Vietnam from the food to the architecture embodies different foreign influences, contributing to create a colorful fascinating culture. Over the decades, Vietnam has raised to become one of the centers of economic development in Asia, and also one of the remarkable tourist destinations in the region. Making way around Vietnam, travelers will find their senses to be awaken. Though the whole country is the whole awesomeness, there are still specific things that make travelers to fall for Vietnam like love at the first sight. Let’s explore the bests of Vietnam.  

1. Sapa

If you once heard about Vietnam, you must know about Sapa as one of the best tourist destinations in this country. Sapa is an amazing town located in the Northern Vietnam with typical monsoon climate, scenic views of the gorgeous cloudy mountains, fantastic rice terraces, and fascinated rustic villages. Travelers who want to experience authentic and eco travel will find Sapa as one ideal place as this destination contains distinctive local cultures compounded by various ethnic minorities. For adventurous travelers, Sapa is the paradise for activities such as hiking and trekking. Read more

2. Ha Giang

Located at the North-end of Vietnam, Ha Giang bears its own wonderfulness. Not being like Sapa or other Northern regions which has been commercialized due to the booming tourism, Ha Giang still remain the intact state of a mountainous regions with stunning wild nature and unique rustic local cultures.

http://vietnamhomestay.vn/homestay-news/have-you-ever-found-ha-giang.html

In Ha Giang, visitors also cannot miss a specialty coming from natural offering. Visiting Ha Giang in Autumn during September to October, travelers will be overwhelmed by magical flower called Tam giac mach (Fagopyrum). Read more

3. Ha Noi

You cannot miss Hanoi for you trip in Vietna, which is the bustling Capital city of the country, with rich, fascinating long history. Hanoi bears both the charming of ancient capital city blending of East and West, combining traditional Sino-Vietnam motifs with French flairs, and the hustling breath of a rapidly developing city.   http://vietnamhomestay.vn/ha-noi-homestays

Staying in Hanoi, visitors would have a lot of choices for entertainment, as well as exploration of native cultures with distinctive indigenous family lifestyles. Read more

4. Hoi An

There hardly found any bad word about Hoi An Ancient Town. Hoi An is one among rarest destinations still keep the old town in perfectly intact state. This place is the blend of cultures and architectures of East and West, from France to China, Japan as this town was once a major port. Now Hoi An bears its own endless charm of a romantic, graceful, historic and wealthy town with amazing culinary. Hoi An has become one of the most important Vietnamese tourism centers. Read more

5. Mekong Delta

Mekong Delta is described as “rice bowl” of Vietnam with immense green of gardens and blue of labyrinth waterways. Whilst the North of Vietnam is famous for colorful fairs in the freeze weather of highland monsoon climate, Mekong Delta has its own artery of floating lives in the South with houses, canals, rivers, streams criss-cross the landscape. Besides the plentiful biodiversity, the most distinctive feature of Mekong River is floating market compounding the bustling commerce of a water land and countryside pace of life with local agricultural specialties.  Read more

6. Banh mi

People know Vietnam as one of the best paradises for street food experiences. Visitors travelling to Vietnam can never miss out to try the best Sandwich in the world whose Vietnamese name is Banh mi. Banh mi is the real art of gastronomy with the sophisticating combination of Vietnamese native ingredients blending in unique Vietnamese baguette. Banh mi is not only tasty, but nutritious also for a street food with affordable price. Read more

7. Coffee

Coffee in Vietnam is the real attack in gustation. The uniqueness of Vietnamese coffee emerges not only from its excellent quality, unique taste, but also in the distinctive way of how to enjoy the drink. The majority of travelers visiting and staying in Vietnam has admitted that coffee in Vietnam is not simply a specialty, but more than a cultural feature that cannot be found in anywhere else in the world. Read more

8. Homestay

Homestay is one tourism model which has already known broadly in the world, but hasn’t been popular in Vietnam. Lately, homestay has emerged largely in almost all regions of Vietnam bringing visitors opportunities to discover distinctive local cultures and immerge in local lifestyles. Vietnam Homestay, constituted by passionate member who are ambitious in sustainable tourism, has been working as a bridge connecting travel communities with local residents, enabling visitors experiencing authentic and interactive moments. Vietnam Homestay is proud of delivering unique values to travelers dropping in Vietnam by making unceasing effort to find, train, develop homestay network all over the country. Read more

Greenest Homestays Must Not Be Missed In Vietnam

Homestay has grown as a new trend among travel lover communities as well as people who care about the sustainability of tourism and the society in this present day and age. In the world, Homestay has long been known popularly among Western countries. In Vietnam, Homestay is also emerging as one model of new tourism which is more about orienting to the long lasting development attaching with cultural and natural protection. Within this concern, Vietnam Homestay was established as an ideal organization taking charge of seeking, developing, introducing and spreading homestay all over Vietnam. Vietnam Homestay works as a bridge connecting indigenous people with visitors from outside the country, contributes to make homestay model grows more and more popular in Vietnam.

Passionate members of Vietnam Homestay has unceasingly worked for years in order to find, orient and open many training classes in rural areas, where contains potentials of developing tourism as international visitors have strong demand in exploring Vietnamese local cultures. Many distinctive homestays have been discovered and joined the web. It is really interesting to stay in a local house in cozy atmosphere as a member of the family and experience the indigenous cultures. Nothing would give visitors a comprehensive view about daily chores of indigenous people than experiencing homestay. In addition to learn fancy culture with friendly people, visitors can also have opportunities to taste local specialties of the area. Homestays in different regions bear different features that are unique and distinguished. In the Central Highlands, tourists will be invited to stay with ethnic minority people and work in the forest while in the Mekong Delta, they live in a home that is typical for a region having a labyrinth of waterways, work on the paddy field or in the farm, and catch fish.

Making way throughout Vietnam, visitors can hit a lot of choices for homestay, but there are some ideal options visitors should not miss. Developed by Vietnam Homestay, below are greenest homestays over Vietnam that can bring guests with fantastic experiences while visiting the country. 

In Sapa

One way to escape from the heat of summer is go up to mountainous regions where you can enjoy fresh and cool air. Visitors going to ‪#Sapa‬, Vietnam often know about May Kieu Homestay, or Black H'mong Homestay. Very few of them know about the existence of an amazing homestay uphill called SAPA MUSICIAN HOUSE, which reminds you of fascinating Western fairyland. This homestay is located uphill heading to the Fansipan peak and just about 10-14 min walking from the Sapa town center. Visitors will not be offered with stunning view of Sapa, but breakfast with various options including either bread with butter, or Vietnamese noodle, or pancake with fresh fruits and coffee, or self-cooked meal using hosting kitchen.

In Mu Cang Chai

TONG VAN DON Homestay in #MuCangChai is another green homestay can be found in the Northern region of Vietnam. This large house follows the model of traditional stilt house of the Thai ethnic, which sunk among the green of surrounding hills, mountains and fields. All rooms of the house have windows open to the view of the garden and surrounding landscape of peaceful countryside with outside patio area. 

In Dien Bien Phu

Similar to Tong Van Don Homestay, MR CHUA HOMESTAY in #DienBienPhu has the same portrait of a stilt house of Thai ethnic, which was majorly made from wood not industrial materials. The house will impress visitors with a large garden and a fish pond which bring green and fresh atmosphere to the place. This is where guests can sit back to take the view, read books and enjoy the quietness.

In Ha Noi

You will never found such fanciful Homestays as ones you found in ‪#‎vietnamhomestay‬. Vietnam Homestay has provided travelers with memorable experiences with unique homestay, think GREEN HOMESTAY OF MR. TRUONG in #Hanoi. The house is newly built in 2014 with the host’s careful attention in every detail. Even though this house is not located in the center Hanoi but the out-of-town location gives it a spacious place to make the homestay greener and friendlier to natural environment. Not only does the homestay located in a green area nearby spacious places, but the host also spares space on the 4th floor for a lovely garden.

In Hoi An

Coming to #Hoian, travelers must not miss the best Homestay in town named RED HOUSE HOMESTAY. The house has a small, green, full-of-flowers yard that is very lovely to sit down in the morning to enjoy quietness or relax in afternoon for leisure tea and coffees. Red House Hoian homestay was built in garden full of flowers and green in 1.000 square meters area. The house has ideal location with 10 minutes to the center of Hoian Ancient Town and 15 minutes to Cua Dai Beach by bike, especially, it takes 35 minutes to drive to Danang Airport or Train Station, therefore visitors can easy visit Hoian Ancient Town. The homestay has a total 5 rooms which are well-designed with open window. Especially, there are 3 rooms with flower garden view and private balconies making you feel relax and comfortable. Moreover, the host of the house is very fond of playing guitar and very happy to share with the guest music lovers.

In Can Tho

Keeping down to the South, visitors will find a lot of fascinating homestays with gardens typical for Mekong Delta area. Amongst those, MUOI CUONG HOMESTAY in #Cantho is one of the best house proving guests with extremely green space. The house is very big and open to the air as I love natural light.  There is a line of bungalow in the wide garden with a front yard for plants and flowers. In front of the bungalow, there is a cool, nice yard for relaxing, reading, coffee chatting or sun bathing. The house is totally covered by the immense greenness of surrounding gardens of trees and flowers, like you have lost in the forest and found a lovely house in a fairy tale.

You want more ideal travel offers? Visit our website: www.vietnamhomestay.vn