|
 Trekking
: Though specialist agencies may be able to arrange some trips,
organised trekking is not yet available.
Sports : Water sports are available at the more developed
beach resorts, and there are numerous golf courses, though some
require a member to accompany visitors.
Wildlife : Specialist agencies offer wildlife tours in some
of the national parks.
Drinking : Green tea is the most common drink, and is offered
as a courtesy to guests or visitors. The two most popular local
beers are Saigon Export and Saigon Lager, but imported beers are
available, at roughly double the price. Vietnam produces several
varieties of rice wine - known as Ruou. However, bottles of Ruou
commonly contain a pickled snake, the inclusion of which is thought
to impart health-giving elements. There are also numerous varieties
of locally distilled spirits, which do not include the reptilian
element - even if they may taste as if they do. Fruit wines, such
as apricot, orange or lemon, are also common, and Soft drinks are
processed from the many varieties of tropical fruits. Bottled drinking
water should be checked to ensure that the cap or seal is original
and intact.
 Eating
: Vietnam's elaborate cuisine has achieved international recognition,
with such dishes as pho (noodle soup) gio lua (pork sausage) nem
ran (spring rolls) and cha ca (fish balls), and cooking is itself
seen as something of an artform. Most meals consist of a number
of side dishes served with one of a variety of rices. Some of the
best Vietnamese food can be sampled at the proliferation of pavement
food stalls around towns and cities. Mon canh consists of a soup
made with pork or spare-ribs, crab meat, and fish, while Mon an
kho consists of dishes of pork, fish, shrimp, and vegetable stirred
in fat, and served with vegetable pickles among other condiments.
Entertainment : There is a wide range of cultural entertainment
available around Vietnam to suit the most diverse of tastes from
traditional ethnic minority dances to symphony orchestras and ballets.
One particularly indigenous cultural show is roi nuoc - water puppetry
- with its origins dating back to the Ly Dynasty (1010-1225). Developed
around village ponds in the Red River Delta, puppets rise out of
the water to move and dance on the surface, accompanied by percussion
music. The country's best puppeteers now stage regular shows in
Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City.
Another unique artform is Cheo drama - a combination of song, dance
and narration, the script embellished with the lyricism of folk
songs, proverbs, and popular sayings.
 SHOPPING
& SOUVENIRS |
Thanks to the dexterity and creativity of its people, Vietnam is
a country rich in handicrafts. This has long been a source of cultural
pride and income for local people for centuries, with the skills
being handed down through countless generations. It should be noted
that the export of Vietnamese antiques is forbidden.
Hanoi
Dong Xuan Market - Hanoi's biggest market, was destroyed
by fire and reconstructed in 1996. Now a 3-storey structure, Dong
Xuan has a very interesting ambience and employs several thousand
people.
Ho Chi Minh City
Ben Thanh Market - A large indoor market spilling out into
the surrounding streets. It was built in 1914, originally called
the Halles Centrales, and occupies an area of 11 square km.
Best Buys
Ceramic and porcelain items - Produced in Vietnam for centuries
and still glazed in the traditional method, ceramic and porcelain
products are well known in Bat Trang (Hanoi), Quang Ninh, and Hai
Phong.
 Copperware
- Fabricated by the skillful hands of coppersmiths in Nam Ha, Ngu
Xa (Hanoi), Dong Son (Thanh Hoa), and Long Tho.
Embroidered articles and silk products - The most famous
are from the regions of Ha Dong, Nam Ha, Thai Binh and Hu?.
Jewellery & Metalwork - Can be found in Hanoi, Thai
Binh and Hai Hung, while stonework is produced mainly in Da Nang
Lacquerware - With 2,000 years of history, Vietnamese lacquerware
has established an enviable reputation for quality and detail -
functional, decorative, and as the highest forms of artistic expression.
A wide variety of attractive items are available, including vases,
trays, furniture, boxes, decorative items, jewellery, and office
products.
Wool tapestries - Available in Hanoi and Hai Phong. Jute
tapestries from Hung Yen, Hai Phong, Hanoi and Thai Binh, are much
sought after.
Wood products & Carvings - The best can be found in
Phu Xuyen, Hai Phong, and Hu?.
Woven - tapestries and "tho cam" handbags are
fabricated by the dexterous fingers of ethnic ladies living in the
Northwest regions such as Cao Bang.
|
