Mountains in Vietnam. Vietnam
marble mountains(more precisely, hills, since they still do not reach the mountains 🙂) these are natural limestone-marble formations. So many years ago there was a sea here, and these hills were islands. Now the sea has receded and hills covered with lush vegetation have formed.
Marble mountains in Vietnam
Each of the 5 hills of the Marble Mountains has its own name: the hill of Water, Earth, Wood, Metal and Fire. Inside the hills there are caves, in some of them Buddhist temples have been equipped for a long time, which are a place of pilgrimage for local residents.
Previously, marble was mined in these mountains and the inhabitants of neighboring villages lived very well at the expense of this. Now it is forbidden to extract valuable rocks in the Marble Mountains, so marble for numerous figurines, which can be bought as souvenirs near the entrance, is brought from other regions.
Where are the Marble Mountains
The Marble Mountains are located in Vietnam, 10 km from Danang Airport and 20 km from the center.
Marble Mountains: how to get there
The easiest option to visit the Marble Mountains is to buy a tour, but I still advise you to visit this attraction on your own. How to get to the foot of the Marble Mountains (hills 🙂):
- On foot. This option is possible if you settled in the southern part of Da Nang (by the way, there are excellent hotels near the mountains themselves on the seashore, I will write about them below in the article).
- By taxi. Depending on the distance - from $ 5
- On regular bus , which runs between Da Nang and Hoi An city. The bus goes along the road along the sea, the Marble Mountains are visible from afar, just ask the driver to stop at the bus stop in front of these mountains. The fare costs a penny (I won’t say the exact amount, I didn’t travel in this way), a bus leaves from the northern bus station of Hoi An.
- On rented bike . We rented a bike for $5 per day right outside our hotel in Hoi An.
Don't be afraid to ride a bike to the Marble Mountains. Traffic in this part of Vietnam (on the road along the sea between Hoi An and Da Nang) is very calm, unlike traffic in and even in. We drove from Hoi An to the Marble Mountains in 15-20 minutes, the road is almost empty. If you are planning to stay in Hoi An city, my article will be useful for you:
parking
A few words about parking near the Marble Mountains. As soon as we turned off the road from the sea to the sights, the Vietnamese began to rush to us almost under the wheels of the bike with a desire to park our bike right at their store or cafe. Do not pay attention, but drive further, closer to the mountain and the entrance. There, too, you will have to park the bike near some store. We did not see the official parking for bikes, but the parking for the car is 10,000 VND ($0.5).
When asked how much it would cost to park a bike near a store or cafe, the Vietnamese woman said that it was free, but if we buy something, then what would we buy from her. Well, anyway, on our return from the mountain, we were very thirsty and bought water and cane juice in the shop. Prices, of course, are higher than in the store, but not critical. For example, a bottle of water - 15,000 dong (in a store 10,000 dong), cane juice - 15,000 dong (in other places 6,000 -10,000 dong).
We drive up to the entrance. On all sides there are shops with marble statues Hours of operation of the complex
Officially, the Marble Mountains complex in Da Nang is open from 7:00 to 17:30. But no one forbids coming later: we have not seen doors that can be closed at night 🙂
Cost of visiting the Marble Mountains
The cost of visiting the cave Am Phu - 15,000 VND (~ $0.75)
The cost of visiting all the caves and other structures on the most great sorrow Thủy Sơn- 15,000 VND (~ $0.75)
You can climb the mountain by elevator - 15,000 VND (~ $ 0.75) one way
For those who like hiking, there is a climb up a long wide staircase 🙂 I choose comfort, especially in the 40-degree May heat, so we go up the mountain by elevator 🙂 But don’t think that when you come to the mountain you won’t have to climb further on foot. Numerous stairs and paths lead up from the elevator.
Here is an elevator that takes the middle of the mountain to the top for 15,000 VND 
Hooray, there's an elevator! 🙂 
Entrance to the stairs leading to the mountain 
For those who like walking up the mountain, there is a wide staircase. We went down it. It's not that long 🙂 But still, I prefer the elevator! 
Our tickets to one of the marble mountains - Mount Thủy Sơn Plan-scheme of the complex of the Marble Mountains
Plan-scheme of the entire complex Marble Mountains: 5 hills 
Plan-scheme of the most visited and most big mountain Thủy Sơn. Such a map-scheme can be bought at the box office Am Phu Cave
We visited this cave first - it happened by accident, we just parked closer to it, and not to the passage to the mountain. Then I realized that it was the right decision: after walking through the caves, temples and observation platforms on the mountain, I would hardly have gone to another cave. Namely Am Phu Cave I remember the most.
We go to the cave Am Phu The entrance to the cave is decorated with marble figurines. At the entrance there are several marble benches for rest.
Near the entrance to the cave are various marble figurines. 
At the entrance to the cave, you can relax on the benches. So good to sit for a few minutes in the cool, after the hot Vietnamese sun 
Crowd of sacred elders Am Phu Cave symbolizes Hell and Paradise. Immediately after entering, we find ourselves in Purgatory, where they determine where to send a person: to hell or to heaven? Well, first let's go down to the very inferno, to Hell. The faint of heart do not watch 🙂
Now let's go to Paradise. The path to Paradise is not easy, you will have to overcome more than a dozen slippery steps. But at the very top we are waiting for an observation deck with a great view of the surroundings!
We begin the difficult climb to Paradise 
We pass by the altar and many statues of the Buddha 
And this is us already at the top and look from Heaven to Hell 
Temple at the top of the observation deck 
Sea view from above Caves and temples on Mount Thủy Sơn
As I said above, the Marble Mountains complex in Da Nang consists of five hills, on top of which there are pagodas - temples and caves, but tourists (and we too) visit only the most big mountain Thủy Sơn.
How I love these bright flowers! They are everywhere in Da Nang! 
Turquoise sea in the distance. It is a pity that it is not warm all year round, otherwise it would be possible to safely winter in Da Nang 
One of the marble hills The first Van Thong cave with bats inside. After a huge hall with an altar, the cave narrows, then you need to climb through a narrow passage and preferably with a flashlight and comfortable shoes, we decided not to go any further.
Huyen Khong Cave is huge with a leaky "roof", the sun's rays break through the crevices in the rock. Scary statues below 🙂
The largest cave on this mountain is Huyen Khong Cave. Entrance to the cave 
We go down into the cave 
Inside sits a large white Buddha 
Place for prayer 
Scary muzzles 
From above, the sun breaks through a crevice in the rock There are several active pagodas on the mountain, we even went to the territory where the monks live and rested there in the shade of trees all alone.
One of the temples on the mountain. Ton Tam Pagoda 
Linh Ung Pagoda 
Big Buddha sitting 🙂 
We also went up to several viewing platforms.
High up in the mountains above Da Nang! 
View of the surroundings from one of the observation decks on Mount Thủy Sơn Back we tired went down the stairs. Yes, it is not an easy job to walk in the heat in the mountains and caves! I really wanted to take a cold bath 🙂 But we went further to explore the sights of Da Nang 🙂
And another beautifully bright tree Marble mountains in Da Nang. Video
The Marble Mountains are an unusual and interesting attraction in Da Nang and Hoi An. It is definitely worth visiting them, especially if you are not spoiled by such large caves as, for example, the Phong Nha Kebang caves.
- The territory of the Marble Mountains complex is large, you will have to walk a lot, expect to spend 3 hours or even more
- Wear comfortable shoes. I saw how some tourists walked barefoot and carried their shoes in their hands 🙂
- Take more water. You can also buy water upstairs, but prices are higher than downstairs
- If you plan to climb the undeveloped part of the cave, take a flashlight with you
- Buy a map below or take a picture of the plan. There are signs at the top but it's hard to know where to go.
- The Vietnamese are very fond of sightseeing, so avoid visiting the Marble Mountains on weekends and public holidays. Yes, and on weekdays there are a lot of people here ... we arrived at 10 am and found crowds of Vietnamese tourists. But at one in the afternoon it became good, empty, only a few Europeans examined the caves and temples
- Prices for marble souvenirs under the mountain are high, bargain, the price can drop two or three times!
There are signs on the mountain, but still, without a map-scheme, it’s not easy to figure out where to go and what to see 
On the mountain you can buy water and something to eat. Tourist prices 
Xa Loi Tower Other hotels in Da Nang can be selected and booked.
brief information about country
Date of Independence
Vietnamese
Form of government
Parliamentary republic
Territory
331,210 km² (66th in the world)
Population
92 477 857 people (14th in the world)
Vietnamese dong (VND)
Timezone
Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi
$276.6 billion (42nd in the world)
Internet domain
Telephone code
Vietnam- a multinational republic, the culture of which was formed under the influence of local tribes, neighboring countries and colonizers. As a result, we have a modern country with a developed economy, which plays an important role in the Association of States South-East Asia and in the world as a whole. Direct access to the China Sea and rich nature gave impetus to the development of tourism - today Vietnam is one of the most popular countries among lovers of exotic holidays.
Video: Vietnam
Basic moments
The population of Vietnam, which covers an area of 331,210 km², according to the latest data, is about 90 million people. Representatives of such ethnic groups as the Vietnamese, Thai, Thai, Khmer and others live here. Official language Vietnamese in the country, but schools also study English, French, Chinese, so there are problems with communication in big cities will not be. Employees of the tourism sector also often speak Russian.
Vacationers choose Vietnam primarily for the sea and clean beaches. Also of great interest are culture and ancient history country, which dates back to the 4th-3rd centuries. BC.
Brief history of the country
Modern Vietnam with its unique traditions is the result of a mixture of cultures and customs of different tribes. On its territory, powerful civilizations arose and fell into decay, which were forced all the time to restrain the raids of stronger neighbors, including China and Mongolia.
For a long time the country was fragmented, and only at the end of the 18th century Vietnam after a long civil war became a single state under the leadership of the Nguyen dynasty. The 19th century brought a new yoke here, which this time came from Europe. So, France captured the entire southern part of Vietnam, and the northern and central regions were under its direct influence, albeit less tangible. It was a French colony until the outbreak of World War II, when it was taken over by Japan. As a result of a series of unanimous decisions of representatives of the communist movement, in 1945 a coup took place, and Ho Chi Minh took power.
The Democratic Republic of Vietnam tried to establish relations with France on equal terms, but the negotiations did not lead to anything - the First Indochina War began, which lasted 9 years.
The ever-increasing influence of the Communist Party was the reason that the United States provoked the disruption of the general elections that would have allowed the creation of a unified state. A military conflict arose, in which the forces of America and the USSR were involved. A long bloody war ended with the merger of the North and South into a single Socialist Republic Vietnam, which was reformed in 1992 and headed towards liberalization and democratization.
In our time, the state is rapidly developing in economic, scientific and industrial directions. Tourism plays a significant role.
Cities of Vietnam
All cities in Vietnam
Nature of Vietnam
Relatively small in area, Vietnam is distinguished by its natural and climatic diversity. In this regard, the country is clearly divided into three zones: North Vietnam (Bakbo), Central Vietnam(Chungbo) and South Vietnam (Nambo). It is this division that predetermined internal differences in the economy and the general way of life of people in different regions of Vietnam.
Vietnam is a country of mountains and mountain plateaus. For 1200 km from the northwest to the southeast stretches the chain of Annam mountains (Chyongshon), reaching an altitude of 2500-2700 m above sea level. These are not the highest mountains in Vietnam: highest point country, Mount Fanshipan (3143 m), is located in the north, "occupied" by the spurs of the Yunnan Highlands. The mountains of North Vietnam are steep, with rugged slopes and narrow river valleys. Toward the south, the Annam Mountains pass into low (on average 1000 m above sea level) plateaus separating Vietnam from Laos and Cambodia. Five such plateaus - Kontum, Pleiku, Darlak, Lamvien and Zilin - are united under the general name Tainguen, or "Western Plateaus".
The plains in Vietnam stretch in the deltas of the largest Mekong and Red rivers, and also stretch in a narrow strip along the sea coast. Above sea level, the plains are raised by only 1-3 m, and some areas even lie below the zero mark. During the monsoon rains, they are completely flooded with water and turn into real lakes. During typhoons, coastal areas of the plains are often invaded by sea waves, washing over sandy banks and dunes.
Climate
Although Vietnam is located south of the Tropic of the North, average temperature the air here is lower than in neighboring countries lying at the same latitudes. The reason for this is the mountains, which occupy 80% of the territory of Vietnam. In addition, almost all the mountain ranges in the country stretch from north to south and do not shield the country from the intrusion of cold air masses from Tibet and Central Asia. As a result, in winter in the northern part tropical Vietnam real climatic anomalies are not uncommon, when the temperature drops to +10 °С and even + 5 °С. The difference between average winter and summer temperatures in Hanoi is quite large: from +17 °С in winter to +29 °С in summer. Because of the winter "frosts" in Bakbo, many tropical fruits do not grow well, and rice yields are not as high as in the South.
The climate of Vietnam is largely determined by the winds prevailing at one time or another of the year. In summer it is the south and southwest monsoons bringing rain, and in winter it is a dry wind blowing from the northeast.
While Northern Vietnam suffers from sudden changes in air temperature, the South of the country enjoys serene warmth all year round. The difference between the lowest and highest temperatures in Nambo is only 4 degrees (+26/+30°C). Central Vietnam is a kind of transition zone between North and South: it is hotter here than in Bacbo and cooler than in Nambo.
The city of Dalat is considered the best and most comfortable in terms of climate: here the temperature is + 24 ° C all year round.
Vietnam is not only mountains and winds, it is also a country of water. On average, 2000-2500 mm of moisture is shed on it per year. The rains that fall in the Chungbo Mountains are especially generous. Here, the “wet” season comes much later than in the rest of Vietnam: the summer southwest monsoon pours downpours on the western, Lao slopes of the Annam Mountains, and only moisture delivered by winter winds from the Gulf of Tonkin falls on “its” territory.
In the north, in the Red River Delta, in the dry winter months, a specific local rain, mya fun (or krashen), is often drizzling, unable to really wet the ground, but helping plants survive the seasonal drought on a starvation water ration.
Spring and autumn in Vietnam are a time of monsoons and changeable weather. In addition, in autumn, the coastal regions of Bakbo and Chung-bo are annually visited by typhoons once or even twice.
Rivers and lakes
Major rivers flow in the south and north of the country. The palm belongs to the Mekong (Ku-ulong in Vietnamese). Of the 4400 km of its total length, Vietnam accounts for the shortest section of the lower reaches, but the Vietnamese are not upset - they completely own the delta of the "Father of the Rivers". The water level in the Mekong Delta is completely dependent on the amount of precipitation falling in the upper reaches of the river. If in the rainy summer months it carries 100 thousand cubic meters of water per second into the sea, then in winter the flow decreases to 4 thousand cubic meters. The Mekong Delta is replete with muddy channels and wetlands, sometimes stretching for tens of kilometers.
Halong Bay
In the northern part of the country, not far from the capital, one of the most picturesque bays peace, great views which annually attracts tens of thousands of tourists from all over the world. listed world heritage UNESCO and is rightfully considered one of the wonders of the world. It is famous, first of all, for its limestone islands crowned with dense vegetation. In total, there are about three thousand of them, and, according to legend, these are the bends of the body of an ancient dragon, trying to hide under water from the wrath of a god. By the way, this is where the famous scene of the movie "Avatar" was filmed.
The two most big islands the bays are inhabited, there is also a large floating village - the houses are built right on the water, and the only mode of transport is boats and boats.
Hoi An (Hội An)
Small fishing town central area Vietnam - favorite place foreign tourists. It is chosen for a visit due to its clean sandy beaches and a large number of historical and cultural attractions, visiting which will make your vacation interesting. This city is sometimes called the "museum under open sky"and" Vietnamese Venice ". About his former glory as a big seaport reminiscent of the canals that have survived to this day, passing through several blocks. A unique atmosphere reigns here, so it is worth setting aside a few days to visit Hoi An.
Nha Trang
Chosen by those who are accustomed to outdoor activities and eventful city life. This resort attracts with its 7 kilometers of beach, as well as clean water. Tourists who come to Vietnam to improve their health can visit a mud bath and hot springs. Also here is one of business cards countries - a pagoda with a white figure of Buddha sitting on a lotus flower.
Another reason to visit is the dive centers. This resort is recognized as the most the best place for scuba diving - in addition to the rich wildlife, divers are attracted by coral gardens. You can see the bay from above by purchasing a ticket for cable car, which is the longest in the world.
Main article:
Caves of Vietnam
The nature of this country never ceases to amaze - in addition to the sights located on the surface, there are also a huge number of underground wonders. national park Phong Nha-Kẻ Bàng (Vườn quốc gia Phong Nha-Kẻ Bàng) – real paradise for speleologists. A unique ecosystem with rare species of plants and birds is preserved here. It is surrounded by impenetrable forests and high mountains. For visiting as part of special groups, the caves of Thien Duong, Thien Son, Phong Nha are open. The latter is famous for karst formations of bizarre shapes, whose names speak for themselves: "Lion", "Royal Court", "Buddha" and so on.
The highlight of the park, which was discovered not so long ago, is Son Doong Cave (Sơn Đoòng), recognized as the largest in the world. This is a whole underworld with rivers, lakes, vegetation.
culture
The Viet culture was originally formed as a culture of rice farmers. The main occupation of people determined the way of life, the menu of national cuisine, the nature of holidays and entertainment. Rice crops, cultivated for the first time in Indochina, occupy 85% of the total area of plowed land in Vietnam. Other food crops in Vietnam are grown only on those lands that, for some reason, are unsuitable for rice crops. The Vietnamese are familiar with about 200 varieties of this cereal - with white, yellow, reddish and even black grains. IN South Vietnam“floating” rice is grown, yielding crops in any flood: no matter how high the water rises, the ear of the plant always remains on the surface due to the rapidly elongating stem ... The most important property of rice is that its grains, covered with a dense skin, can last a long time. time to be stored in a humid climate without the need for expensive elevators. The word "rice" for Viet is a synonym for the word "food". If he does not empty at least one cup of rice at a meal, no delicacy will give him the feeling of a full, finished meal. Once in Vietnam, it was even customary to greet a friend with a polite phrase, “Did you eat rice?”.
rice checks (so called specially flooded fields) in the flat regions of the country they form an almost continuous water mirror, streaked with lines of dams and roads, dotted with islands of villages. In water-filled fields, fish are often bred, which brings a double benefit - it not only goes to food, but also eats the larvae of harmful insects. There are no fences between the neighbors' fields - they are replaced by small dams that serve as paths for the peasants. The Viet villages are not particularly picturesque, moreover, the buildings are often hidden from the eyes of a stranger by trees and bamboo thickets. At the same time, any, even the smallest village, is a cozy, harmoniously arranged and completely ordered world, where everything is in its place.
Unlike many peoples of Southeast Asia, the Vietnamese build their traditional dwellings not on stilts, but directly on the ground. Anything can be used as wall material - from split bamboo to brick. The center of the peasant estate is a residential building, which is adjoined on both sides outbuildings, forming a secluded courtyard. In front of the kitchen there are usually large water vessels made of stone or fired clay. The main place in the master's house is the ancestral altar, decorated with lacquer plates with the names of deceased family members and their photographs. Traditional furniture is simple and unsophisticated: a wooden chest for utensils and several wooden bunk beds. The roof of the house rests on pillars, between which a hammock is hung for midday rest. The Viet peasants successfully replace the dining table and bedding with wicker mats. Traditional utensils are made from bamboo and clay, and in the South also from coconut shells.
The traditional Viet costume consists of a loose straight blouse with patch pockets, wide trousers, a belt and a headdress. Peasants most often sew everyday clothes from black or dark brown cotton fabric. The traditional dress of women is called ao dai (in the south - ao ai). This outfit consists of trousers and a straight-fitting tunic dress with a stand-up collar and deep side slits. Festive ao zai is sewn from silk fabric of bright colors and looks extremely impressive. Married Vietnamese women collect their hair in a bundle and wrap it around their heads, the hair of unmarried women is usually loose. In hot and rainy weather, people of both sexes wear the famous conical non hats, tied under the chin. These hats, woven from palm leaves, have become the most famous symbol of Vietnam around the world. The Vietnamese, in turn, borrowed something from the Europeans. So, on the head of a village man in northern Vietnam, you can often see a khaki headdress, introduced by the French colonialists and firmly established in the army.
Vietnamese cuisine
Vietnamese cuisine was formed taking into account natural features countries, as well as under the influence of China and Japan. It is dominated by seafood, pork, nuts and legumes. Separate place in traditional cuisine occupies Fig. It is used to make noodles, flatbreads and "paper", which serve as the basis for many dishes.
The Viet use cattle as draft power: cow and buffalo meat is rarely eaten, and milk is drunk only if it is coconut or soy. By the way, soy milk, and with it the soy "cottage cheese" (known to us as tofu) came to Vietnam from China and became widespread in the northern regions of the country. Another dish borrowed from the Chinese is noodles. She obviously came to court here: throughout the country, from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City, the day of a Vietnamese city dweller cannot be imagined without a few cups of pho soup, consisting of broth, noodles, boiled meat, soy sprouts and greens.
The composition of Vietnamese cuisine includes a variety of products and spices - tomatoes, cucumbers, herbs, beans, tapioca, peanuts, garlic, onions, sesame seeds, ginger, peppers ... Many dishes in Vietnam are made from banana, while some of its varieties are good only fried or baked. Of the traditional condiments, nuoc mam salty sauce (better known as fish sauce) and nuoc leo sauce are especially popular. The first is made from small fish fermented with salt in large clay vats. This sauce is suitable for long-term storage. In restaurants, you can often find on the table nuok cham - a liquid seasoning consisting of fish sauce, garlic, vinegar, rice wine and pepper. Nuok leo is made from pork fat, liver, garlic, onion, peanuts and sesame seeds - it is served with portioned dishes. In southern restaurants, fish dishes are often served with tamarind and mango sauces.
Like the Chinese, the Vietnamese are known for their fondness for exotic foods that not every European would dare to try. Such are silkworm pupae, scorpions, crickets... Along with marine mollusks, the Viet willingly eat land snails, and marine crustaceans coexist on their table with freshwater "rice crabs".
Perhaps the most famous dish of Vietnamese cuisine is German pancakes. They are prepared like this: pork stuffing, vegetables and spices are wrapped in the thinnest rice “paper” (banchang). Very similar to it are various steamed dishes made of glutinous rice or tapioca stuffed - the word "banh" is included in the names of such dishes.
You should definitely try the rice paper rolls. The filling can be anything - from meat to fruit. These dishes are very satisfying, but at the same time light and healthy.
For tourists, Vietnamese cuisine has prepared many surprises. Here you can try culinary masterpieces, whose names alone shock many people. However, the most daring dare to experiment and discover the taste of baked bat, salad with cobra and other delights.
Snakes - the Vietnamese have a special relationship with them. These reptiles are eaten here just as freely as we, say, chickens. Moreover, they are considered healing - for example, by eating the raw heart of a cobra, a person gains health and longevity. In this case, the blood organ must be swallowed while it is still beating.
From the meat of the snake, which is butchered right in front of the visitors, another 2-3 dishes are prepared. It can be rolls, soup, salad with vegetables, as well as fried skin. You can order such delicacies in tourist restaurants in the city center, however experienced tourists advised to go to small cafes where they rest locals. They have a special atmosphere, and prices are several tens of dollars lower. On average, such a dinner will cost from 470,000 VND (approximately $ 21) - the cost depends on the level of the restaurant and the poisonousness of the snake.
If you have never tried fried bamboo, you should definitely go to Vietnam. This dish is especially popular here, as young shoots have many useful properties. The only negative of all this is an extremely unpleasant smell, which, by the way, can be said about many traditional dishes, including fried herring.
Another exotic animal whose meat is worth tasting when going to Vietnam is the crocodile. It is desirable that it be a young individual - then it will be soft and juicy. Soups, salads and other delicacies are prepared mainly from “sirloin” parts - paws and tails. The price for such a delicacy ranges from 130,000-450,000 VND, in dollars it is about $ 6-20.
There is a traditional delicacy in Vietnamese cuisine that causes an ambiguous reaction among the most squeamish foreigners. We are talking about duck eggs with embryos. In appearance, they are quite frightening, but the delicate taste compensates for external shortcomings. At the same time, tourists can choose eggs that have more yolk, or are almost filled with “meat”. They are inexpensive and sold right on the streets - this is an analogue of our fast food, only instead of pies and sandwiches - unhatched chicks.
In addition, in Vietnamese cafes specializing in national dishes, you can order dog meat, fried rats, bats with spicy sauce, sea worms, pond and pig frogs, and other exotics. Of course, before you eat any of the above, you need to make sure that the food preparation took place in appropriate sanitary conditions.
In a village house, food is served on a large round wicker tray with a deep bowl of rice in the center. She is surrounded by cups with spices, bowls of vegetable soup and other dishes.
If rural Viet people traditionally drink green tea, then city dwellers prefer coffee brought to Vietnam during the era of French rule. Vietnamese coffee is excellent, and it is prepared in a cafe in a very peculiar way. "Coffee maker" is a metal container with a lid, put on a glass. Several holes are drilled in the bottom of this device, thanks to which steep boiling water slowly seeps into the glass through a layer of ground coffee. The resulting fragrant drink is drunk in the morning with condensed milk, and in the hot time of the day - with ice cubes.
Rice for the Vietnamese is not only food, but also the raw material for making wine zieu (ruou). This drink is especially favored by the inhabitants of the "rice baskets" - the Mekong Delta and the Red River. The most common variety of rice wine is village mash, which is made from boiled rice aged in an earthenware vessel for three months. Such a drink is served on the table in a ceramic jug, closed with a lid with small holes. Bamboo tubes are inserted into them according to the number of participants in the feast. Wine is drunk through a straw directly from a jug standing in the center of the table. An appetizer can be dried fish or vegetable slices topped with nuok mam fish sauce. Most often, tourists manage to taste such a drink in the Mekong Delta, in the vicinity of Ho Chi Minh City.
Vietnamese people love beer. In the evenings, in any street tavern, you can see people relaxing after work with a glass of bia hoi - a traditional light beer sold on tap. The aluminum jar of this peculiar "malt lemonade" can be found under the sign Bia Tuoi (bia tuoi, or "fresh beer"). Especially a lot of these signs can be found in the Hanoi Old Town, on the corner of the streets of Ta Hien (Ta Hien St.) and Luong Ngoc Quyen (Luong Ngoc Quyen St.). Influenced by Europeans at the beginning of the 20th century. in the country began the production of lager beer familiar to us, now existing in the form of various brands. The most common brands are "Tiger", "Saigon" and "333" - the latter name sounds like "ba-ba-ba" in Vietnamese.
Traditional soft drinks include coconut milk, iced lemon juice (tian da) and freshly squeezed orange juice (kam wata).
In Vietnam, especially in the south, there is no shortage of fruits. Along with the well-known pineapples, bananas or citrus fruits, visiting the country gives you the opportunity to taste such curiosities as lychee, cherimoya, mangosteen, tamarind, papaya or the famous durian. This fruit has earned the nickname "king of fruits" due to its taste, but the smell of the peel of a ripe durian is considered disgusting by many. In some countries in Southeast Asia, entering public places with durian is strictly prohibited.
public holidays
Vietnam has official holidays with a fixed date.
- 1st of January - New Year
- February 3 - Founding Day of the Communist Party of Vietnam
- April 30 - Saigon Liberation Day
- May 1 - International Labor Day
- May 19 - Ho Chi Minh's birthday
- July 27 Day - memory of the victims of the war
- September 2 - Independence Day
- December 25 - Christmas
Many major Vietnamese holidays are based on the lunar calendar, so their dates change.
- January February. Tet Nguyen Dan (Lunar New Year), or Tet, the main holiday. Many people celebrate it for a whole week, but the official celebrations last three days.
- January February. Dong Da - commemorates the victory over the Chinese in 1789
- March, April. Thanh Min (Day of Remembrance of the Dead). The Vietnamese visit the graves of deceased relatives.
- April May. Le Fat Dan is the celebration of the birth, enlightenment and death of the Buddha.
- June July. Trung Nguyen (Day of the Wandering Souls), the second most important holiday of the year. People make offerings to the souls of the dead.
- November December. Birthday of Confucius.
I’ll upset you right away so that there won’t be disappointments later, these mountains, of course, are called marble, and the views from the peaks are wonderful, right on the sea, there are caves here, but alas, the mountains are just one name, they are more like just hills than real mountains .
Spending half a day here is more than enough, all the trails are very easy, the longest route will take about an hour. But at the same time, this is a great place to recharge the mind and body!
So, in this article I will talk about the reasons why the Marble Mountains should definitely be visited by all tourists whose route runs through Da Nang or Hoi An.
Oh yes, it's all here, see for yourself!
To the sea - at hand
and this is Da Nang, with its skyscrapers,
Well, of course, the marble mountains themselves and the view of the village around them,
This is an observation deck - an elevator for the lazy, or for those who have very little time.
You can also climb to such views on your own, right through the cave, from the very bottom, up to the beauties.
2. Caves with hidden paths and altars
There are 5 or 6 caves in total, we looked into 4, each has its own zest, some are dead ends, some with a crevice right into the sky, 
somewhere there are temples and altars inside, 
capable of attracting the attention of tourists, 
and in some - paths to neighboring caves, for example, going into this small cave, 
you can find a hole and go up to the observation point 
Lyosha and I are both absolutely neutral in our feelings towards caves, we never go to them on purpose, but these are in such easy reach, yes, they are also associated with trekking, so we stopped by for a short time.
3. Cultural Experience - Temples and Pagodas
There are several temples and pagodas in the Marble Mountains complex, 
all temples are active - you can both look inside and admire from the outside 
There is a snow-white Buddha statue 
The monks also live here, so visitors communicate not only with the gods, 
but also with living representatives of Buddhism 
4. Trekking for health
This is one of the most significant components for me, lately, if we visit some sights, then more often not to see, get impressions, but just have a good time, and even with benefits for the body and health.
You can take a glass elevator to the Pagoda at the top, or you can overcome a hundred steps, which we did 
Further from the pagoda there are several routes, there is a map and signs, so it is impossible to get lost! To enjoy all the trails and climbs in this park, 
it is better to come early in the morning, while the sun is still soft and not so scorching 
Although, even at noon you can find shady routes 🙂 
5. Unusual marble souvenirs
If you like to bring home original souvenirs and gifts, then I’m sure that in the shops near the Marble Mountains you can definitely pick up something interesting, 
absolutely everything is made of marble - from small crafts-trinkets to huge sculptures-statues, marble furniture, dishes and chess 
They do it all in the village at the entrance to the complex, 
every 2-3rd shop is a workshop, work is in full swing right on the street 
Here's to you in the end, a colorful grandmother from such a shop 
Well, in the end, if you are staying in Da Nang, the mountains from it are within easy reach, they are 4 km from the city, and it is also quite close to go from Hoi An to them, about half an hour by motorbike or 15 minutes by car.
A ticket costs less than $1, and there are a lot of impressions 🙂
Marble Mountains coordinates: 16.003922,108.262854
Park map: 
Don't forget to book a hotel in Da Nang or hotels in Hoi An.
Everything interesting is always nearby 🙂
P.S. Have a great week everyone! Stay with us! In the next article about Vietnam, we will tell you about our tour on rare Vespa scooters.
Marble Mountains, located eight kilometers from Da Nang, is a place where tourists can not only enjoy unique beauty caves, but also get acquainted with the ancient Asian culture, Buddhist temples built in the caves, with the religious ideas of the ancient inhabitants of Vietnam about hell and heaven, and the purpose of man on our sinful earth. Five peaks of bizarre coloring are made of limestone and, of course, marble, and huge caves are hidden inside the high hills, in which stalagmites and stalactites are formed by nature. In ancient times, the ocean splashed in this area, the peaks of the Marble Mountains were small islands, and now the Vietnamese have a legend that each peak of these mountains is one of the unshakable components of the vast universe: Mount Tho Son is earth, Thu Son is water, Hoa Son - fire, Kim Son - metal and Mok Son - wood. The caves of the largest mountain, Thu Son, were used by the clergy to organize both Buddhist and Hindu temples, which are now open to tourists.
About the caves
Climbing the stairs or the elevator to Thu Son Peak, you can see tiny prayer houses located on the slope and rather large temples, which are a place of worship for Hindus and Buddhists.
The entrance to one of the caves, marked on the map as Hyen khong Cave, with its mysterious appearance takes visitors to fabulous, legendary times, and then a giant space opens up before your eyes, where the walls are artistically illuminated and the floor is covered with beautiful tiles. Inside the cave is a small temple built in honor of the Buddha.
At the bottom of the mountain, under the elevator, there is a cave, marked on the map as Am Phu. The entrance to this cave is paid separately and the ticket costs 15,000 VND. The cave is known in the tourist environment for its beautiful altar.
Behind this cave, on the way to which you can see amazing marble statues, for example, with the inspired face of a musician and monks frozen in the walls, a cave opens up where unforgettable journey into hell, judgment seat and paradise carved in stone. A gloomy sacrificial altar also rises here. Narrow passages lead visitors through the cave "hell", tourists climb up and down the numerous stairs, and the cave "paradise" is decorated in warm and joyful colors. And this place takes the visitor of the cave up the stairs to a small observation deck, where an impressive view of the green world stretched below opens before your eyes.
At the top of the peak, the bullet-carved Ong Chon gate will open, behind which stands the Tham Thai pagoda and the cells of the monks with beautiful orchids growing next to them. Through the tunnels connecting the caves, one can get into the cavities inside the rock, where there are monumental Buddha statues and carved, large stones, whose age is attributed to the Cham period, are stored.
bypass everything marble caves during a short excursion it is impossible, but even if you visit the Marble Mountains on your own, you can visit three or four main places in at least three hours.
Especially a lot of time is required in the Marble Mountains for tourists involved in rock climbing. Mountaineering instructors can only be found in Da Nang.
Prices for visiting the caves of the Marble Mountains are very affordable, only 30,000 dong, that is, one and a half dollars. Tourists who have visited the caves are advised to wear sturdy shoes, either sneakers or sports sandals, as you will have to walk a lot, climb the mountain and wander through the caves. It is also advised to take plenty of drinking water with you. It is best to come to the Marble Mountains from the very early morning, until it appears in this famous place a huge number of tourists who want to join the beauty of the Marble Mountains. If you intend to explore the caves without a guide, then you need to take a lighting device.
How to get to the Marble Mountains
Two roads lead to the Marble Mountains. One road is the main highway leading to Hoi An, regular buses run along it. Buses start their route from the northern station of Hoi An. The second road goes along the sea and its length to the mountains is eight kilometers. Taxi both ways will cost only five dollars.
At the entrance to the mountains, in front of the gate, there is a factory where marble sculptures of amazing beauty are made. These statues are very expensive and, after walking along picturesque park, where marble figures are exhibited, tourists can then safely say that they rested in a park that costs many millions of dollars.
The city of Sapa is located in the very north of Vietnam, 380 kilometers northwest of Hanoi. To be honest, I did not know what to expect from him, I relied on other participants in our trip. I heard only that it is necessary to go for two days, with an overnight stay. So what I saw there was a pleasant surprise for me.
And I saw this:
In Shapa I managed to look at the beautiful mountains, rice terraces, cute piglets, and village life. I didn't see it all right away...
Let's start with the fact that I was going to write a post about the town of Sapa (Sapa in English, or Sa Pa in Vietnamese. It turns out that the Vietnamese have all the names we know consist of two words: Ha Noi, Sai Gon, etc.) And only using with my own, I learned that in Russian the city is called Shapa and not Sapa. That is, vice versa.
So, from Hanoi to Shapa 380 km. You will probably think - well, this is a couple of hours maximum on a normal train. I thought so too. But in Vietnam, the trains are not like, they do not run at a speed of 300 km / h. So you have to drive all night, nine hours. Yes, average speed Vietnamese railway somewhere around 43km/h. Bed in a compartment sleeping car costs $40 each way. It looks exactly like the Soviet coupes of my childhood (these are considered luxury here, only tourists can afford this luxury).
Eh! If I had known that everything would look so nostalgic, I would have stocked up on meatballs and boiled eggs. I already thought that all South Asian sleeping trains are similar to the one that.
This train does not go all the way to Shapa, but goes to the town of Laokai right at the Chinese border. From there, you need to go to Shapa for about an hour by minibus or taxi. It is difficult to get lost here - all drivers know that tourists from trains from Hanoi go to Shapa. You should not pay more than 50,000 for a seat on a minibus, or $25 for one taxi, they say sometimes you can bargain cheaper.
The road is constantly going uphill. Shapa is located at an altitude of 1500m above sea level. On the sidelines, villages constantly flicker. All life here passes along the road. The kids are going downstairs to school. So in the evening they will have to go up home.
At the entrance to Shapu there is a lake, beautiful houses around. For a second, you might think that you are in some kind of mountain resort in Switzerland.
But this feeling quickly disappears when you arrive at the main square. Long live socialism! The people and the Party are united.
Every minibus and taxi at the entrance to the city is tracked and surrounded by aunts from surrounding villages. They are dressed in traditional attire. "Come with me! I'll show you my village, which is the most beautiful!" they vying with each other in very good English. Some even know a couple of words in Spanish or French.
The fact is that the mountains around Shapa are inhabited by ethnic minorities. The Hmong, Za, Zai and Tai peoples live here. Each of them has its own language, traditions, and villages in the area. For centuries these people lived agriculture, but lately Shapa has become tourist center, and every village is trying to attract visitors, because in this way you can earn much more money than selling rice. Therefore, every morning, women put on their traditional clothes (it is easiest to distinguish nationalities from each other by them) and gather in Shapa. Everyone knows the train schedule, and they arrive just when taxi drivers begin to pick up tourists.
At that time, we already understood that there was nothing special to see in Shapa itself, and after a short trial, we chose the two most sociable (and persistent) aunts. They said that they were from the Hmong village of Hautao, to which we can walk through the mountains, and, if desired, spend the night there. The name of the village did not tell us much, but we thought that most likely they are all similar to each other. So, get acquainted: this is Zuzu (on the left) and Mama-Chi.
We soon realized that the prefix "Mama" in the name "Mama-Chi" means "grandmother".
"Mama-Chi has grandchildren. I don't yet," Zuzu explained. "But my eldest daughter is already fifteen. She is very sexy! She will soon get married, have a baby, and everyone will call me Mama-Zuzu."
"Is fifteen not early?" I asked carefully.
"Normal! What to expect? So I met my husband when we were sixteen. And now I'm thirty-two. It's time to become a grandmother."
The women took us on a hiking track to their village, promising that it would take us four hours to walk along beautiful mountains. As for the mountains, they did not deceive, the path invariably went up. But it was difficult to appreciate their beauty, since everything around was covered with a heavy fog.
We soon realized that it was not so much fog as clouds. The mountains were one of those that go under the very clouds. Other aunts were walking along the path. Some led their tourists, others returned home empty-handed.
"Did you get into the city on foot too?" I asked Mama-Chi.
"No, our husbands bring us to the city on mopeds. We don't ride them ourselves, it's not a woman's business."
But Zuzu's husband came. I still don't remember his name. She said their house was uphill from the road. It seems that the higher - the cheaper "real estate" there, because you need more effort to go up and down every day.
Mama-Chi and Zuzu have many daughters. They all gathered on the porch, and I felt a little sorry for the men - they are in the clear minority at home. Arriving home, our guides threw off their traditional outfits, it turned out that they had very ordinary clothes under all this.
By the way, the village path passes through the porch of the house - some neighbors constantly pass here, from those who live above. They say hello, ask how things are going, share the news of the village...
All my free time passes like this on the porch ... Mr. Zuzu does not speak English, so while we were asking the women about village life, he sat on the sidelines and carefully studied the drawstring on my bag. I don't want to blame anyone for anything, but by the end of the trip I found that the leather cap had come off.
Vitya and Tolik finally decided that the village was enough for them, and asked for a taxi back to the city. And I, Zlata and Slavik decided to stay overnight to try to meet the sunrise at the Tree of Life.
Mama-Chi cooked dinner for everyone. Her husband ate in his corner, not looking up from the TV. This time they showed some kind of Chinese series. Dinner was served with some local liquor, which Mama-Chi called "Happy-water". According to the fortress somewhere around 30 degrees I think. They drank together.
There is not much to do in the village after dark, and after dinner everyone gathered to sleep. We were offered "lofts" under the roof. I love sleeping upstairs.
Zlata and Slavik were placed in the same one on the other side.
Instead of a bed, just a mattress, with insect netting around it. After a long day of walking and Happy-water fell asleep almost immediately...
And woke up with roosters! I always dreamed of saying so, but I rarely go to the countryside, and now, finally! ..
One of the daughters was already wielding something in the "kitchen". As you can see, there is no gas here, everything is very primitive. There is a hearth, lit a fire, boiled water ...
We woke up still dark, but unfortunately the dawn at the Tree of Life did not take place a little due to weather conditions.
No problem! We still had walking tour across the rice terraces!
This time there was no Zuzu. Mama-Chi said that she went back to Shapa to meet the tourists at five in the morning. It turns out there are some trains that come in the middle of the night. And instead of herself, Zuzu sent her eldest daughter, Son. The one who is fifteen, and "very sexy."
The two of them took us along the rice terraces and explained how rice is grown in general. It's a very labor intensive process!
Rice should grow completely covered with water, so in mountainous areas terraces are needed, because otherwise the water will leak! The steeper the slopes, the more often you need to make terraces, it takes a lot of work. Therefore, first use a more gentle terrain. By the way, that's why minorities like the Hmong live in the mountains - it's the same in China, you come to the rice terraces, and there are also some people with their own language and customs. The main ethnic group in the country has long taken all the convenient "flat" land for itself, displacing small peoples to where it is more difficult to grow rice. But the Hmong are hard-working and adapted.
Here you can clearly see that there is water in the terraces. Where it is green, the rice has not yet ripened, when it turns a little yellow, they will reap it, and there will be empty terraces with stems sticking out of the water.
Rice on the ear looks like this:
Cut ears are collected in bunches and knocked on a tarpaulin. Thus, the rice is separated from the ear.
The whole process is incredibly dreary, as the rice fields must be looked after. Vitya said that it was precisely because of this that the Asian peoples were so hard-working. According to him, rice requires more labor, and more prudence than the same wheat. Historically, farmers who are not ready to plan ahead and work hard just starved to death.
As a result, we went down to the Zantochai River, which flows along the bottom of the valley. Everything around is covered with rice fields.
A suspension bridge leads across the river. On it, we almost came face-to-face with another buffalo that wandered there. Fortunately, the young mistress unfolded it in time. It seems that driving cattle is considered an easy job in the villages, so it is always assigned to children.
Along the way, we passed a village of the Zai people. Their grandmothers kept trying to sell us their souvenirs. Later, returning to Shapa, we met a younger aunt. I understand that only those who are already too old to go to the city trade in the village.
Our guides watched this with little interest. The weather cleared, the sun came out, and they opened their umbrellas and took us to another village, from where we could call a taxi back to Shapa.
By evening, we were again shaking in the compartment of the slow Vietnamese train carrying us