If the three first places have yet to satisfy your thirst for an escape, stay tuned! Here are 4 more fantastic places to go on adventures!
Van Phuc silk village
Situated 10 kilometers away from the center of Hanoi, Van Phuc silk village is proud to have been standing there for about 1200 years. It has the reputation for its traditional weaving and premium quality silk products.
Walking into the village, there’s high possibility that tourists will get lost in the world of silk with countless products like dresses, shirts, ties, crafts,… Doing your internship in Vietnam, if you want to bring a meaningful souvenir that represents the spirit of Vietnamese people, this is a perfect chance for you. Van Phuc silk has been renowned for its smooth, light-weight and elegant appearance, together with its superb quality that brings wearers the warmth in winter and coolness in summer.
Producers hanging their silk in the sun. Source: govietnam.info
Don’t worry about the antiquated style or the pure simplicity that may not fit in with your modern fashion. Producers in Van Phuc have been expanding their production, by adopting new methods and fashion styles.
Ba Vi national park
Ba Vi national park opens a great getaway for Hanoians in the weekend, as well as an appealing destination for foreign tourists who wish to explore more about the natural beauty on the outskirts of Hanoi. Located 60 kilometers to the west, it is quite distant from the center of the capital city compared to other tourist attractions. However, it still draws pretty much attention thanks to its natural and historical values.
Firstly, the park offers a great escape from the city with cool fresh mountain air with mystical atmospheric backdrops of clouds and the tropical forest. From the three peaks of the mountain, there are superb vistas of the city in particular and the Red River valley in general. On the way to the summits, up through the jungles, tourists are met with a lot of streams from the fast-flowing Da river, thousands of flora types that provide natural medical treatments, bird and orchid gardens, etc. What’s more, besides driving motorbikes or cars, walking or hiking are the best travel options for adventurous tourists who love to immerse themselves in lush tropical foliage with plenty of forest trails and mountain slopes.
One waterfall in Ba Vi National Park. Source: sunkissedsuitcase
Vista from one peak of the mountain. Source: vietnamnet.vn
Regarding historical and cultural values, there are some worshipping constructions, the most popular of which is 11th century shrine that memorializes the Mountain God. Besides, once a French military station, Ba Vi national park also keeps French architectures such as the church remains, which is now a favorite spot for newly-weds to take pictures.
If you are wondering about the services, there is much to enjoy. At the foot of the mountain, Tan Da Spa Resort offers a host of natural therapies including hot springs, mud baths, wet steam baths, herbal baths, etc. in unique stunning settings.
Don’t wait until the end of your internship in Vietnam to enjoy Ba Vi in a wasting hasty way.
Duong Lam ancient village
50 kilometers away from Hanoi center lies Duong Lam village, one of the first ancient villages in the country. Throughout 1200 years of history, it still retains the basic traditional characteristics of Vietnamese villages, with banyan trees, deep wells, communal house’s court, temples, etc. The village owes its prestige to not only styles of an ancient village but also the homeland of two Vietnamese kings – Phung Hung and Ngo Quyen. Therefore, it is undeniable that its historical values are of utmost importance.
While the Old Quarter in Hanoi and Hoi An represent the urban lifestyles of Vietnamese people in the old times, Duong Lam village is symbolic of Vietnam’s rural life dating back a thousand years ago. In terms of tangible cultural values, Duong Lam has 21 relic sites, including temples, pagodas and tombs, ten of which have been classified as national and provincial relics. For intangible cultural relics, Duong Lam has preserved various festivals, customs and literature on the people and land of Duong Lam through different periods of time. Regarding ecological contributions, Duong Lam has many beautiful scenes linked with legendary stories such as Guom Hill, Ho Gam Hill and tales on the two kings Phuong Hung and Ngo Quyen.
The yard at one traditional rural house in the village. Source: vietnamworldheritages.org
So, if you feel overwhelmed by the busy city life, come to Duong Lam and reward yourself with a tranquil experience with the ancient village.
Thanh Chuong Viet Palace
Different from all other tourist attractions that have existed either for long or by nature, Thanh Chuong Viet Palace is famous for its new-born cultural and historical integrity. To be more specific, this 40-km-from-Hanoi is just about 15 years of age, but magically, it bears the weight of thousands of years of Vietnamese cultures.
The whole structure was initially the house and studio of Thanh Chuong, a prestigious comtemporary artist. Now, it’s a cultural preservation resort, a spiritual legacy of Vietnamese art and culture. Lying on a hill leaning against Soc Son Mountain, the site covers over 10,000 square meters and keeps thousands of cultural and historical artifacts of dynasties Dinh, Ly, Tran and Le which artist Thanh Chuong spent his lifetime to collect and store.
The simple path to every corner of the site is accompanied with various images of Eastern rice civilization such as water ladles, rice mortars, bamboo beds and green-moss stone steps, all that brings tourists nostalgic and cozy feelings. Cottage houses with earthen walls are not cold and alone in the world of Vietnamese culture at all but they inspire visitors to think back to their forefathers. Once visiting the complex, visitors also have a chance to contemplate old houses belonging to many varied regions and cultures such as the old stilt house of the Muong ethnic people. Exploring further, you will be astonished by a large pond, a stone bridge, old temples carved with meticulous and elegant patterns and decorated with many parallel sentences and bas-relief, etc.
The lotus pond in the palace. Source: baodansinh.vn
Another highlight is a complex of statues made of stone, wood, bronze or ceramic, installed and displayed in the houses and yards around the site. Amazing paintings created out of the harmony between past and present, folk and contemporary by Thanh Chuong are also demonstrated as a striking feature.
At the palace, you can also folk music performances of quan ho, dan ca and water puppet shows.
Thanh Chuong Viet Palace will make guests feel as if they were living simultaneously in ancient and modern times, as they can see with their own eyes the lost beauties of Vietnam now being resuscitated.
In conclusion, if doing internship in Vietnam takes up so much of your time that you cannot go here and there to explore every aspect of Vietnamese traditional culture, Thanh Chuong Viet Palace offers the best solution with everything you wish to know.
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