The tourist’s initial impression of Angkor Wat (admission to all of Angkor: 1 day/3 days/1 week US$20/40/60), the last construction of Khmer genius, is simply staggering, matched by only a few select spots on earth such as Peru’s Machu Picchu or Jordan’s Petra. Angkor Wat, one of the most inspired and spectacular monuments ever conceived […]
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Banteay Srei HINDU TEMPLE Taken into account by many to be the jewel in the crown of Angkorian art, Banteay Srei – a Hindu temple devoted to Shiva – is cut from stone of a pinkish hue and includes many of the most beautiful stone carving anywhere on earth. Begun in AD 967, it is […]
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It’s hard to imagine any building huger or more gorgeous than Angkor Wat, but at Angkor Thom the sum of the parts add up to a greater whole. There are the gates that grab you first, flanked by a monumental representation of the Churning of the Ocean of Milk, 54 demons and 54 gods engaged […]
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Sights Ta Prohm BUDDHIST TEMPLE The final Indiana Jones fantasy, Ta Prohm is hidden in stippled darkness, its decomposing towers and walls locked in the relaxed, strong encirclement of huge primary systems. If Angkor Wat, the Bayon and other temples are witness to the mastermind of the ancient Khmers, Ta Prohm reminds people equally of […]
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Things to do Ho Chi Minh’s Mausoleum In the tradition of Lenin, Stalin and Mao, Ho Chi Minh’s Mausoleum is a monumental marble edifice. Contrary to his desire for a simple cremation, the mausoleum was constructed from materials gathered from all over Vietnam between 1973 and 1975. Set deep in the bowels of the building […]
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Things to do War Remnants Museum Ho Chi Minh City , Vietnam Address Street 28 Ð Vo Van Tan Extras cnr Ð Le Quy Don Telephone +84 8 3930 5587 Prices admission 15,000d Opening hours 7.30am-noon & 1.30-5pm Once known as the Museum of Chinese and American War Crimes, the War Remnants Museum is consistently popular with Western tourists. […]
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Things to do Jade Emperor Pagoda Ho Chi Minh City , Vietnam Address Street 73 Ð Mai Thi Luu Opening hours 7am-6pm, on 1st & 15th of lunar month 5am-7pm Built in 1909 in honour of the supreme Taoist god (the Jade Emperor or King of Heaven, Ngoc Hoang), this is one of the most spectacularly atmospheric temples […]
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Beautiful beaches The beaches of Vietnam are superb. Nha Trang is the perfect combination of a long sandy beach for relaxing days under the palm trees and a town with restaurants and bars to pass the balmy evenings. Boat trips take you out to nearby islands and divers can explore the nearby coral reefs. Alternatively, […]
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Vietnam Food and Drink Vietnamese cooking is varied and usually superb, as the profusion of Vietnamese restaurants in New York, London and Berlin contest. It is a mixture of Vietnamese, Chinese and French traditions, with a plethora of regional variations. As in all countries of the region, rice or noodles usually provide the basis of […]
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Shopping in Vietnam For anyone who likes handicrafts and a bargain, Vietnam is nirvana. Wooden water puppets, with ingenious mechanisms, silk, lacquerware, ceramics, colourful hill-tribe bags, clothing and hand-painted silk greetings cards are all a must-buy. Clothes are particularly good value and tailors can make up clothes within 24 hours in many places, particularly Hoi […]
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