Yen Tu - the sacred mountain

Situated about 130 km from Hanoi, a few kilometer north of the principle street to Ha Lengthy at Uong Bi, is Yen Tu Mountain, the location of a complex of eleven pagodas and as regards to 100 shrines and towers. Many are dedicated to the early founders of Vietnamese Buddhism who lived and worked there.

Closely visited through household pilgrims all over the early part of the yr, it is worth the long, steep climb now not just for its ancient passion, but also for the attractive landscape and views. A cable car is a contemporary innovation. 

The heroic battles of Bach Dang

The Bach Dang estuary, the web site of two of Vietnam’s greatest victories, lies between Ha Long and Hai Phong. In 938 AD, Vietnamese rebels led by Normal Ngo Quyen defeated a massively awesome Chinese language army by means of sinking sharpened iron picket stakes into the dust in order that the enemy ships had been impaled while the tide fell, therefore ending 1000 years of Chinese occupation. Three hundred and fifty years later, Common Tran Hung Dao humbled the mighty hordes of Kublai Khan’s Mongol military, the use of the equivalent strategy in precisely the similar position, suggesting that the Great Khan will have to have studied Chinese military historical past! 

Aside from some of the stakes nonetheless in their unique place, little physical proof of the battlefield continues to be seen. Alternatively, the small the town has a good commune house, a good museum, and is positioned in a tranquil area of traditional villages and agriculture.  

Cam Pha and coal mining

Cam Pha, 20 km east of Ha Lengthy Town, has one of the crucial largest open cast coal mines in the world. It is a ways from stunning; however the scale of operation (and air pollution!) is impressive. A seek advice from needs careful planning, regardless that - we need to negotiate access with the mine authorities. 

Within the Cua Ong district of Cam Pha, the Cua Ong Temple is a lucrative talk over with, particularly throughout the festival duration within the 3 lunar months of spring. Its classic structure and hanging engravings are word worthy. 

Abandoned seashores

Past Cam Pha, there are several ‘soil’ large islands created by alluvial deposits from the Purple River. Their sea-facing shores are long sandy beaches, and their far flung region implies that few people talk over with them, and those is nearly no development of any kind. A ship takes several hours to achieve them.  

The best of these is Quan LAN, a relaxed island with a small population. There's a 3 puts to stay. Two are very elementary but a lately-built small hotel is a possibility. 

Closer to the shore, and therefore more evolved, Van Don Island’s seashore is long and sandy, and overlooks the eastern extreme of the limestone towers of Ha Long Bay. There are a few local hotels and restaurant. A more up-market ‘resort’ is being developed. 

Mong Cai and Tra Co Seashore

In the extreme northeast of the area is the large border town of Mong Cai, devastated all over the abortive Chinese invasion of Vietnam in 1979 and now re-built. Not far away and best reached through hydrofoil from Ha Long Town, is Tra Co Island. It has a long beach of laborious sand - extensive and virtually deserted. There may be a village with a fascinating commune house and pagoda. Accommodation is available in Mong CAI. A new five-megastar hotel with a casino has opened within the town, however it's principally geared toward providing overnight accommodation for other folks passing despite the fact that the border gate to and from China.