Protected by 10km long, two meter thick walls and the Perume Tiver, the immensity of the citadel is impressive. In front of the walls and facing the river is a 37 meter high flagpole, the tallest in Vietnam.

Hue’s other main draw is the royal tombs that spread along the banks of the Perfume River to the south of the city. Accessile either by boat or motorbike, part of the attraction opulence, reflecting the decline of the dynasty that ruled the country from 1802 to 1945.

Thien Mu Pagoda is to the south west of the city. The original pagoda was built in 1601, although it has been rebuilt many times since. It is seen by many as the symbol of Hue

Beyond the obvious sites, the massive appeal of Hue is simply wandering around the city, crammed with interesting monuments, pagodas and old buildings, often in incongruous settings. Of particular interest are the garden houses.

Designed according to the principles of Feng Shui, the houses offer a harmony between architecture and nature. The ubiquitous expanse of water makes for a very tranquil setting. Many are open to the public on an informal basis, some even offering food or accommodation. Kim Long, the area between the citadel and Thien Mu Pagoda, is a good place for discovering garden houses, including the Temple of Princess Ngoc Son on Nguyen Chi Thanh street. Hue’s temple of Literature is also located nearby

Hue is also famous for its cuisine. Thanks to Emperor Tu Duc, Imperial Hue cuisine has a reputation for being some of the finest in the country. For those on a less than royal budget, the city also has some excellent street food including the spicy noodle soup excellent street food including the spicy noodle soup “bun bo hue” and local rice cakes, “banh beo” and “banh cuon”. One thing is for sure, you will never go hungry in Hue – neither for food nor culture

Also, in 2006 the sector exported textiles and garments to the value of US$5.8 bn, making it Vietnam’s second largest export earner after crude oil. Buyers from a number of the world’s leading textile and apparel companies have sourced apparel from Vietnam including Express, Hucke, Itochu, JC Penney, Jupitar, Kmart, Kowa, Lee Cooper, Li & Fung, Mast Industries, Nichimen, Nissho Iwai, Otto, Sara Lee, Seidensticker, Sumitomo, Tomen, Tommy Hilfiger, Victoria’s Secret, and Wal-Mart.

Three major developments over the past 20 years have led to the industry’s present vibrancy. One was the introduction in 1986 of the so-called Doi Moi economic reforms which—notwithstanding the government’s communist leanings—gave encouragement to the private sector and allowed market forces to determine the allocation of resources. A second was the collapse of the Comecon (Council for Mutual Economic Cooperation) bloc in 1990-91 and that of the Soviet Union in 1991. These events caused initial hardship but prompted the country to forge links with the West and enter the international community. The third was the granting by the USA of normal trading relations (NTR) or most favoured nation (MFN) status in December 2001, which led to a dramatic reduction in import tariffs in the US market.

The future for the textile and garment industry in Vietnam looks promising. Vietnam joined the World Trade Organisation (WTO) at the beginning of 2007 and seems set to build upon its recent export success. Moreover, the Vietnamese government is highly supportive of the textile and garment sector, and there are strong incentives to attract foreign investment. The government has outlined ambitious plans for the industry’s development. If these plans are fulfilled, employment and exports in the sector will double by 2010.

According to socialists’ analysis, small family size is making good contribution to sex equality, minimizing troubles and quarrels which often happen in multi-generation families. In the past, women had many babies. With limitation to 2 babies, women now have more time to participate social activities, making considerable contribution to the development of the nation. They are more fairly treated and have opportunities to improve their education as well as profession. However, small family size has some side effects: Care for old people is limited, children and old people are more lonely. A survey in Hanoi shows that 30% family living in the centre revealed they did not have or had little time to care and educate their children.

Small family size, children live separately from their parents when getting married, makes old people more lonely and difficult in life, especially when social insurance for old people is very limited in rural areas in Vietnam.

In addition, open development of the economy makes Vietnam families at risk of social evils such as: addiction, prostitution etc…These side affects challenge life organization for old people, family services and baby care. Predicting these challenges, authorities have made some tough measures to enhance sense of family and its role in the modern time.

Bicycling in big cities can be a bit hectic, but once you get to the rural areas you’ll be glad you decided to take a bicycle tour of Vietnam. The scenic mountains of northwest Vietnam and the Central Highlands will give you a great sense of satisfaction after a tough day of pedaling. A leisurely ride (more or less) along the coast from Hue, south to Nha Trang or even further, will expose you to some great historical and cultural centers of Vietnam. What ever you plan calls for you’ll experience unique cultures and friendly faces though out Vietnam. Riding a bicycle is a way of life in Vietnam. Everyone does it. Foreigners on bicycles attract a lot of attention. You’ll meet friendly and curious Vietnamese, especially if you’re on an upscale mountain or touring bike. Caution: Some roads in Vietnam will tear up a fancy road bike.

There’s a style for every type of bicycle tourist. Organized tours attract a lot of participants. Many of these tours are fairly expensive. They provide support vehicles, meals, hotels, domestic transportation, mountain or touring bike (if needed) and other amenities for those on tour. Historic and cultural sightseeing excursions may be included. These tours start at about $1500 for 14 or 15 days. Airfare included from the west coast US start about $3000. Shop carefully!

A self guided bicycle tour including international airfare from the west coast of the US can be had for the same price as a group land tour. $1000 for airfare and $25 to $30 a day for a self guided tour can be easily worked out. Planning a trip like this is half the fun. Find a good guide book and you’re on your way!

It is recommended that, even though inconvenient and costly, you bring your own bike. Bike rentals for adequate equipment is $10 + per day. Or you could buy one when you arrive. A 3 speed will be top of the line gear wise. Locally made bikes and Chinese imports will not hold up to the rigors ahead. Give renting or buying a bike careful research before committing. Once you leave home it’s too late.

The support vehicle is usually a major concern for touring bicyclists. Because there are so many bicycle riders in Vietnam this is easily overcome. You wait by the side of the road, with your crippled ride, for a bus or truck to the next town.

You should check full information on Vietnam prior to your trip. You should note some typical features of Vietnam culture. Follow Vietnam Laws, avoid involving in illegal issues. Should not bring with you high valued things when going out. Ask your hotels to keep your papers: Passport, air tickets and other important things.Take a hotel card before going out, thus you will easily contact your hotel if lost the way. Should not go out late with anyone you do not know. Should call a taxi instead of a Motorbike taxi when going out in the evening. Should check carefully luggage for the trip, ask your travel agent what should be brought with for your trip.

Respect the habits of the Local people. Do not point your figures towards local altar for it is considered to be rude. Should not dispose empty bottle when trekking, for you are not sure the bottle is safe or without risk of dental problems. Should not wear shorts when visiting temples or pagodas. Should take off your shoes before entering some one’s house. Should learn some useful Vietnamese for emergency cases. Bargain when purchasing something except for fixed price. Take a careful look before crossing streets. Taking care of yourself with safe food, cheap or street food may result in low quality and poor conditions.

Should hire a tour guide if you think necessary for a guide knows how to help you avoid unnecessary problems. Only bring with you necessary things. Should bring with you some dollars, for the dollar is the most popular currency in Vietnam. Should exchange for some Vietnamese currency (at airport or bank); Vietnam currency will be necessary for some of your small payments. If possible, get the address or phone number of your Embassy in Vietnam. Make sure that your visiting areas are safe and no risk of natural problems. Should visit Vietnam from August – March, for this period is really suitable for traveling (good climate). Buy travel insurance prior to your trip.

Should not photograph someone if he does not want you to. Avoid involving in issues of local people, everything should be settled in peace. Should not approach restricted areas especially army zones. Be sure that you bring with you necessary medicines.Should print emails or bring with you fax sent by Vietnam partner, or should notify Vietnam partner your coming 3-4 days prior to your departure to make sure that you will be picked up at the airport in time. Before going to Vietnam you should do some searches for a general idea about prices in Vietnam. On the internet, you can easily find information about prices of going by taxi or some other means of transportation.

The first flourishing of Vietnamese art occurred with the emergence of the Dongson culture on the coast of Annam and Tonkin. The inspiration for the magnificent bronzes produced by the artists of Dongson originated from China: the decorative motifs have clear affinities with earlier Chinese bronzes. At the same time, the exceptional skill of production and decoration argues that these pieces represent among the first and finest of Southeast Asian works of art. The period during which the central Vietnamese kingdom, centered on the Annamite coast was under the Champa rulers saw the ‘golden’ period of the Vietnamese art and architecture. Valuable works of Vietnamese Art comprise of the historic and treasured form of art executed on extravagant, fine and delicate silk. Created by artists including Le Pho, Mai Trung Thu and Vu Cao Dam these pieces of art are pristinely preserved. Lacquer practice has held a major role throughout the history of Vietnamese Art, and particularly so in 20th Century Vietnam, when a new approach, through color and form, was employed to develop this ancestral technique in order to promote it as an aesthete that is unique to Vietnam.

Vietnam has longstanding folk traditions. Techniques and styles are often handed down within families from generation to generation. Vietnamese Art shows a strong Chinese influence. Traditional Buddhist art forms are very much evident on the sculptures and paintings of Vietnamese artists. These art forms are made to complement and enhance traditional practices found in temples, monasteries, centers, hermitages, the home and places of retreat. Contemporary artists may use traditional or contemporary forms separately or in combination e.g. film, sculpture or in painting used together in an installation piece. While there may be a deeply felt spiritual context to the work, it would not necessarily be intended to go in a monastery, center or temple and would not have to be made according to econometric recommendations.

Many contemporary artists also use themes such as impermanence, delusion; interdependence, compassion commonly studied in Buddha dharma, and may feel a link with Buddhist ideas without necessarily calling themselves Buddhists. Contemporary art also assists in viewing the Vietnam War and war experience in general through art. It helps to forge a link between the common man, soldier, art and history. Contemporary Vietnamese art focuses on analyzing how art relates to historical themes and issues, interpreting and understanding art as a tool of communication, synthesizing and assimilating information from different disciplines into demonstrated comprehension, and further developing abstract and critical thinking that can be applied throughout the learning process.

Despite the limitations of the war years, a few world literature was carefully translated into Vietnamese and widely distributed gradually. This translated world literature greatly influenced the spiritual life of Vietnam. Efforts of contemporary Vietnam artists have been successful in reviving the exquisite and inimitable elements, not only of erstwhile Vietnam but have also raised some of the present-day humanitarian issues. With a stride ahead towards presenting South-East Asia, Vietnamese art has been considered a cultural patron in the field of global fine arts.

This large Vietnamese city is filled with a rich culture and history and there are plenty of things to do and places to visit.

Ho Tay Lake Water Park

An ideal place to visit for families visiting traveling to Hanoi is certainly the Ho Toy Lake Water Park which is one of the newest amusement parks in town. There are a number of swimming pools located there including a wave making pool and there are currently twelve different slides.

St. Joseph’s Cathedral

One of the most significant Catholic buildings in the country is St. Joseph’s Cathedral which first opened its doors to its followers in 1886. It is located right in the heart of the city’s tourist area. The opening hours at this wonderful cathedral are daily from 05:00 until 22:00.

Army Museum

If you are interested in learning more about one of the infamous Vietnam wars then you should head down to the National Army Museum. You can learn more about the French and American wars and you can view weaponry, presentations and special exhibitions. There is in fact even a Russian fighter jet located at the entrance to this interesting museum.

Temple of Literature

Another amazing tourist attraction which all travelers should visit is the Temple of Literature. This temple was founded almost a thousand years ago by a local King so as to promote education and literature and is home to the first university of Hanoi. Opening hours of the Temple of Literature are daily 08:00 until 17:00.

Thong Nhat

This beautiful location in the city is also known as Lenin Park and the Now Reunification Park. It is home to a wonderful large lake and the grounds were adorned by Ho Chi Ming with statues, beautiful trees, plants and path ways. It is the ideal place to spend a few hours in a relaxing environment. The park is open daily from 06:00 until 21:00.

Lien Phai Pagoda

No visit to Hanoi can be complete without visiting one of spectacular pagodas which are located in the city. My personal favorite one is the Lien Phai Pagoda which was built by Lord Trinh Thap close to three hundred years ago.

Going to Hanoi, international travellers will be enjoyable with the antique beauty of pagodas, museums, temples and poetic beauty of lakes. Hanoi is really a destination for those want to find quietness and ancientness.

Indeed, there is no looking back for Vietnam now. It is moving forward. However, it is not just looking forward towards the future. There is an element of retrospection involved also. Thus, the modern Vietnamese perspective comprises not just looking ahead, but also looking back, in an effort to sort out the past.

Till recent times, Vietnamese modern art has been facing a peculiar identity crisis. Questions about the extent of Western influence on Vietnam’s modern art, and how deep its traditional moorings actually go, have plagued the artists of Vietnam for long. It has not been long since they seem to have finally come to terms with the origin of their modern art.

Modern paintings in Vietnam took roots in the amalgam of two very different forces – French liberalism and Vietnamese traditionalism. Two of the strongest influences that molded Vietnamese modern art were that of brutal French colonialism on one hand, and a relentless current of Vietnamese patriotism. Before ‘Doi Moi’, or Vietnam’s Perestroika (renovation) began in 1986, the origin of Vietnamese modern art was little discussed in Vietnam because such a discussion would necessarily touch upon the role of the Ecole Superieure des Beaux-Arts de l’Indochine (Indochina Fine Arts College) founded by the liberal-minded French artist Victor Tardieu. During its 20 years of operation between 1925 and 1945, the Ecole trained more than 100 Vietnamese painters, sculptors and architects who formed the core group of pioneers in Vietnamese modem art. Even though the Vietnamese pioneers were primarily inspired and driven in their artistic creation by Vietnamese tradition, the Ecole was thought to be too closely associated with French colonialism to deserve mention. It was almost a taboo.

Recent events, however, have pointed to a conscious effort to put things in balance, recognizing both the catalyst role of the Ecole and the crucial contribution of the Vietnamese pioneer artists in the development of Vietnamese modern art. The year 1996 saw the Government awarding the prestigious Ho Chi Minh Prize to 7 Vietnamese artists, all of whom graduated from the Ecole Superieure des Beaux-Arts de l’Indochine. In 2000, the Hanoi College of Fine Arts and other local art institutions sponsored a large reunion of former students of the Ecole and their relatives to mark the Ecole’s 75th anniversary.

So how does one interpret the modern art scenario in Vietnam today? It will be perhaps apt to say that it has a strange duality. While Western trends continue to make their presence felt in style and techniques, there is an overwhelming local essence to be noticed in themes. Vietnamese modern paintings today draw heavily upon local themes and Vietnamese culture and tradition.

This duality is strange feature of Vietnamese modern paintings today. It may be a base so that Vietnamese can introduce the international to their paintings that express Vietnamese’ lifestyle.

In the very north of the country, you can go to Sapa, which is very suitable for someone who is interested in trekking, high-mountains climbing, or just for relaxation. They have all kinds of flowers here, especially many kinds of orchids. Sapa is also famous for its food. Free-ranged chickens here are the best in the country. Also, you can do no wrong with the plenty of fruit here from apple, mango, Asian pear, passion fruit. It seems they have everything here like fresh air, trekking, and good food. IF you are interested in traditional textiles, you can purchase tons of them here from scarves to skirts. They are all beautiful and handmade, which is quite impressive to me because I do not know from the bank of trees they could make those beautiful scarves and skirts.

We cannot miss Hanoi as well because it is the capital of Vietnam. Here you can wander around the French quarter and Old quarter. Most of expats gather here, and if you are in Vietnam, you would definitely spend several days in the old town. For local people, it seems unremarkable, but for foreigners it is very interesting. Imagine you are walking 36 streets, which are very narrow, crowed with many people, and the streets have existed for more than 100 years and nothing changes. It feels like something old, and traditional around here. If you can do shopping here too, however, it might be a little expensive because the price here is designed for expats, but not for Vietnamese local people. So, if you want to get a good deal, you should ask a local person, and they will tell you where to go.

Down to the central Vietnam, Hue is also a good place to go. Hoi an is like the old town in Hanoi, but it is much quieter, and peaceful. If you do not want to be in a crowded street, and just relax while want to feel like something old, you definitely want to go to Hoi An. Hoi An has many old houses which can be there for a couple of hundred years, and also nothings changes since then. Many people prefer Hoi an than the old town in Hanoi, because of its origins and its quietness.

If you are a businessman, or want to experience something more modern, you definitely want to go to Saigon. It is a new and a developing city, where you can find anything you want, go to a restaurant where you feel like you are in New York or Tokyo. One friend of mine say that In Saigon people live faster, get up earlier and stay later at night. It is all because of the new city with full energy and tons of people from all over the country rushing here to make money.

Places above are considered the most typical areas where international meet various kinds of climate, eating and drinking and landscapes. Also, some interesting places are worth being visited such as HaLong Bay, Phong Nha Caves.

Even though the manufacturing processes are the same all over the world, the specialty in Vietnam bamboo flooring is that freshly cut bamboo strips are used for processing. Freshly cut bamboo has the added advantage of offering high-quality flooring material. The major portion of bamboo used in flooring is grown in the Pacific Rim.

The beginning of bamboo flooring industry is traced to 1990. It was then that Doug Lewis, the founder of bamboo hardwoods, moved to Vietnam to set up a factory producing bamboo flooring. Over the years, the bamboo market in Vietnam has grown, and many traders are joining the bamboo flooring market.

A number of companies in Vietnam are employed in the manufacturing and exporting of bamboo flooring. The manufacturing process consists of a number of steps, starting with the slicing of freshly cut bamboo shoots into strips. These strips are then treated with boiled water to remove the starch, and then they are dried. Finally, bamboo floorings are made by laminating the strips into solid boards. To protect the flooring from pests, it is treated with a preservative either before or after lamination. Urea-formaldehyde (UF) adhesive is usually used in the lamination.

Bamboo flooring is available mainly in two shades: natural and carbonized or amber color. The darker shade (caramelized) is obtained by the prolonged pressure heating of bamboo. The shade of bamboo flooring might differ with different companies, and it is available as single-layer and double-layer bamboo flooring.

High export-quality bamboo flooring from Vietnam exhibits hardness, brightness, and freshness and is now one of the most favored forms of flooring.