Kate Festival

Time: From the 30th day of the 6th month to 2nd day of the 7th month according to Cham calendar (around at the end of September and the beginning of October according to solar calendar).
Place: Po Inu Nagar Temple, Po Klong Garai Tower, Po Rome Tower (Ninh Thuan Province)
Objects of worship: Goddess Po Inu Nagar, King Po Klong Garai and King Po Rome.
Characteristics: Ritual of the Cham people. Mekong river tours

Kate Festival is the most unique festival of the Cham people. It associates with ancient towers where values of Cham culture are stored and other cultural aspects such as offerings, costumes, music instruments and hymns praising kings who made great service to the Champa Kingdom and Cham people. The festival is also an occasion for the participants to enjoy traditional arts performances of Cham people such as Apsara dance, Ginang and Paranung drum-beat, Saranai trump...

The first day is for the ritual of receiving Goddess Po Inu Nagar's costume at Po Inu Nagar Temple in Huu Duc Hamlet, Phuoc Huu Commune, Ninh Phuoc District. Legend has it that Ra Glai people are Cham people's brother. Whenever upheavals come, kings of Cham people leave their country to seek refuge and commit their royal costumes to the Ra Glai people. Therefore, at the Kate Festival every year, the Cham people have to do a ritual to welcome and receive the costumes from the Ra Glai people. In the afternoon, the Ra Glai people in Tra No Hamlet, Phuoc Ha Commune, Thuan Nam District, Ninh Thuan Province bring costume of Goddess Po Inu Nagar to Cham people. The ritual of receiving Goddess Po Inu Nagar's costume is held first because Cham people consider Po Inu Nagar as ancestress of the Cham people. She taught local people to grow rice, plant cotton, weave clothing...

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The second day (main festival day) is for Kate Festival at Po Inu Nagar Temple, Po Klong Garai Tower and Po Rome Tower. The festival takes place in three areas at the same time. In the early morning, the Ra Glai people in Phuoc Dong Hamlet, Phuoc Hau Commune, Ninh Phuoc District arrive at Po Klong Garai Tower in Do Vinh Ward, Phan Rang - Thap Cham City to hand King Po Klong Garai's costume over to the Cham people. When the procession arrives at the tower, a group of dancers will perform a welcome dance in front of the tower. After that, the ritual to ask permission of God Siva to open tower's door is held. The offerings include wine, egg, betel and areca, water mixed with aloe wood. The following rituals are bath and wear for the statue of King Po Klong Garai. Finally, a man (Kadhar) sings hymns to invite over 20 gods to attend great ritual. At the same time, participants pray the gods for health, happiness, abundant crop... The great ritual ends with a dance of ba bong (Muk Pay'u).

The similar rituals are also held at Po Inu Nagar Temple and Po Rome Tower in Hau Sanh Hamlet, Phuoc Huu Commune, Ninh Phuoc District.

The third day is for Kate Festival at Cham villages. Each Cham village worships its own God. In the morning, the ritual of worshipping God is held to pray for health, happiness, abundant crop... The offerings include 2 chickens, 5 trays of food, banh tet (cylindrical glutinous rice cake), fruits...  During the festival, many cultural activities and games are held, such as competitions of weaving, carrying water jar on one's head, football, singing.le bring breakfast to monks and listen to the sermon. At noon, they burn the lamps, offer sacrifice gifts and bring fragrant water to bathe Buddha statues. After the ceremony at the temple, the monks go to the grave to pray for the souls of those who died. Then they go home and do Buddha bathing ceremony at their own home in order to receive forgiveness for the mistakes in the previous year.

Halong Phoenix Cruiser - Luxury cruises

Cruise Description:

Halong Phoenix Cruiser consists of three wooden junks, which are excellently decorated and outstandingly managed. If you want to enjoy the natural beauty of Vietnam, then you must plan a visit to the Halong Bay which is the biggest tourist destinations in Vietnam. If you want to spend some time away from the hustle and bustle of the city, then you must travel through this luxurious Halong Phoenix Luxury Cruises.

The Halong Phoenix Cruise offers luxurious service, appreciable accommodations and great food to its guests. It comprises of sundecks, massage parlours, bars, dining halls, restaurants and beautified cabins which are wonderfully decorated with traditional and modern Vietnamese facilities. You can have an excellent time in this excellent Halong Phoenix Luxury Cruise by eating, drinking, swimming, kayaking, playing, fishing, dancing as it offers endless enjoying activities to its guests.

If you ever plan to visit Vietnam, then you must plan a visit to see the exquisite and intimate sites of the Halong Bay. You are definitely going to love the experience and it will definitely be the most memorable experience of your life.

Cruise Itinerary:

The Halong Phoenix Cruise offers overnight packages to its guests. The two and three days itineraries offer excellent sightseeing and wonderful adventures. The cruise welcomes its guests and serves them with delicious wines at the start of its journey. Luscious sea food is served in lunch in the cruise by the crew. The cruise reaches the Sung Sot Cave nearly around 3 pm, where the tourists get a chance to invade the caves. The area is enriched with natural beauty and one may find it the most exciting tour of one’s life. Travel to Vietnam

You can enjoy boating and kayaking with the facilities provided by the cruise. In addition, you can enjoy dancing with the pleasurable background music which constantly entertains the people in the cruise. The cruise then takes its visitors to the Luon Cave, where the cruise spends its overnight anchorage. The dinner is served at the cruise which comprises of excellent meals for the tourists.

Halong Phoenix Cruiser - Luxury cruises

The next day tour includes a trip to Ti Top Island, where tourists get an opportunity to swim, and enjoy. You can also capture the captivating beauty of the island in your cameras to save the most memorable moments of your life. The cruise ends its trip at 4 pm the next day.

Who will enjoy:

The Halong Phoenix Cruise is the best for small families; small group of friends and for couples as well. The great mix of activities offered by the cruise is very suitable for all kinds of people to enjoy. All in all, the Halong Phoenix Cruise offers everything to the tourists to make their trip worth paying for.

Luon cave Halong Bay

Luon cave is located in the northeast of Bo Hon Island and more than 1km away from Sung Sot Cave. This is one of the most famous places in Halong Bay to travelers in recent years. In front of the grotto is Con Rua Islet, and the Sky Gate is on the right. Here the cliffs stretch vertically out of the pure blue and smooth water. Everything painted an amazing vivid picture.

If you love kayaking, you shouldn’t miss Luon Cave because of the round lake with emerald water hiding inside the cave. The lake is surrounded by luxuriant trees and high dangerous limestone walls. Thus, you can only get inside the cave via a natural gate with a lot of beautiful stalactites on the ceilings. That is also the reason why local people call this place as Luon Cave (means Tunnel Cave). The gate has 4-meter-wide, 100-meter-long, and about from 2.5 to 4-meter-high depending on the tide level. Looking at the arched entrance, you can easily realize that weathering process still occur here, water still drop off slowly from the stone.

3 best places for kayaking in Halong Bay

3 outstanding features of Paradise Cruise Halong Bay

 After passing the pretty gate, you will see great scenery with cycads, ferns and benjamin’s fig trees shade the landscape and many orchids hang their sweet-scented flowers. If you're lucky, you will have chance to contemplate and take pictures of beautiful golden monkeys jigging up and down on the trees around the cliffs. Of courses, they are so lovely and friendly with tourists. Below the calm emerald water’s surface in lake, there is a vibrant life of many species like shrimp, fish, crab and cuttlefish, etc.

Luon cave Halong Bay

The size of mouth’s grotto isn’t enough for cruising. However, you can either reach easily the cave’ inside by kayak or by small boats rowed by local people and need to spend about 20 minutes for return route. You will be instructed to wear life jackets according to the provisions of Management’s Ha Long Bay in order to ensure tourist’s safety.

Luon Cave (Tunnel Cave) possesses beautiful scenery, great values of geology and paleontology so that we can do sightseeing or research, etc. It’s hard to find anywhere else in Ha Long Bay being as amazing as Luon cave which is the mingling of a number of factors: the mountain’s size and form, the color of the water and the clouds.

Top 5 river cruises in Vietnam

Vietnam is a country of immense natural beauty and contrasting cultures. For those wanting to experience the real Vietnam and see Vietnamese daily life outside of the cities, a river cruise offers a pleasant sight seeing alternative. Whether it’s a luxurious cruise through the Mekong Delta, a foodie cruise on the Saigon River or a more peaceful journey meandering through one of the provinces, Vietnam’s rivers offer travellers a different cultural perspective and the chance for quiet contemplation.

Here are our top five river cruises in Vietnam.

Vietnam’s Mekong River
Huong River
Vietnam’s “Perfume River”, Huong River leads silently, gently, to Hue City, the capital of the Thua Thien-Hue province on the central coast of Vietnam. Travel the 22-kilometre river in a traditional dragon boat to see Vietnamese houses, gardens, pagodas and mausoleums. Along the way, visit Thien Mu Pagoda, Hon Chen Temple, Tu Duc Tomb, Minh Mang Tomb and Khai Dinh Tomb. Book a night cruise and enjoy dinner and live local Vietnamese music on board.

Top 5 river cruises in Vietnam

Ngo Dong River
A river with a different view, the 100-kilometre long Ngo Dong River in Vietnam’s Hoa Lu District, boasts three magnificent limestone caves. The first cave, Hang Ca, known as “the fish cave” is 127 metres in length, offering challenging climbing opportunities as well as hidden lagoons, accessible only by boat. As you emerge from the third cave, purchase a refreshing drink and a souvenir from a local seller in a sampan.

• AMA LOTUS CRUISE
• SONG XANH CRUISE

My Tho
Just two hours from Ho Chi Minh City, in the Mekong Delta in Thien Giang province sits the ancient port of My Tho. The traditional gateway to the Mekong Delta, My Tho’s bustling waterfront is a fascinating insight into the region’s rich agricultural industry. As you cruise by My Tho you’ll see lush green rice fields and orchards. Take a smaller boat to Phoenix Island, Thoi Son Island and be sure to visit My Tho’s most popular attractions, Vinh Trang Pagoda and Dong Tan Snake Farm.

Vinh Long – Cai Be
Vietnam’s “Majestic Dragon”, Vinh Long is located between two arms of the grand Mekong, the Tien and Hau Rivers. Stop here on your way to Sa Dec to find one of the busiest floating markets in Vietnam, Cai Be, with its hundreds of hawkers in sampans, selling fresh produce, grown locally. Surrounded by silt-rich soil, the area features abundant rice fields orchards that can be seen via the smaller arroyos, or man-made canals. The local people’s daily lives here are built around the water and houses on stilts line the banks of the river.

Hau River
Vietnam’s Hau River is one of the great Mekong Delta’s tributaries. Experience the sights and sounds of Cai Rang, one of the largest and prettiest floating markets in Vietnam, which features sellers in sampans who offer fresh seasonal produce, agricultural goods and breakfast. The best of this river is to be discovered at sunrise. To get there, you’ll cruise just five kilometres from Ninh Kieu Quay in Can Tho.

Mekong Delta Travel Tips

1. Time does matter

Life in Mekong Delta is woven by water and season. It is most vibrant in spring (flower season or Tet Holiday: late January - February) and early summer (fruit season: April - May). The flood season (September - November), however, sweeps everything away and brings a new face to the delta with its rich brown alluvial water. This is also the income season for local people with abundant fish source and water vegetables. The waterfront life is most fascinating in this season.

2. You must do this!

The must see in Mekong Delta is of course its floating market. Again timing is very important if you do not want to be disheartened. The most incredible moments on the water of Mekong Delta are sunrise and sunset. The Mekong Delta floating markets reveal their best in very early morning. “To get the best view of the places, there is no other way but getting up EARLY and start the trip at 5.30 (usually recommended) or 5am (I do suggest this since you will be able to see the sparkle stars above the sky quickly transferring to pinkish sunrise and shining yellowish daylight afterwards.”
The must eat in Mekong Delta is deep fried elephant-ear fish (“Ca tai tuong chien xu”) rolled with herbs in rice sheet and served with dipping sauce.

Mekong Delta Travel Tips

The must do in Mekong Delta is getting in a small rowing sampan to explore its complicated canal system, cycling through tranquil villages and lush rice fields, and visiting a local market in the mainland.

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• AMA LOTUS CRUISE
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3. A good tour guide makes your trip worthwhile

A self-guided tour sounds tempting, but not everyone is aimed with strong discovery spirit. A proficient guide will bring you a chance to study about the delta and local life. Also, as the distance from one floating market to another, as well as to other destinations in Mekong Delta is pretty far, there would be nothing boring than sitting on board for a long time. A great guide will fill the gap with fun: chatting with you and teaching you to weave jewelry and flowers from coconut leaves.

4. Set your expectations right!

Many customers were disappointed with their trip in Mekong Delta: the floating market is not colorful, the crowded boat trip, dull scenery, etc. You must know that “fruits and vegetables sold here are seasonable. Therefore, there are times you can find tens of tropical kinds (From Jan to April, usually) which can give your cameras amazing shots, so is time of lacking types due to seasons and crops. Cai Rang and Phung Hiep are big, noisy produce wholesale markets. Phong Dien, Cai Be, Nga Nam, Ca Mau or Tra On floating markets are small and quieter. Neither are romantic, beautiful little markets that you might see on tourist brochures, unless you come in right moments. Also as the floating markets in Mekong Delta are just local way of life and not a planned tourist site as in Thailand, you go to them for authenticity.

5. Be clear with what you get, bargaining hard yet you pay for the quality

You must enquire for what is included and destinations of the tour. Mekong Delta is very big comprising 12 provinces and 1 central town. Can Tho, My Tho and Chau Doc are touristy yet vibrant (in high season). Ben Tre, Long Xuyen and Dong Thap are less visited and more typical of Mekong Delta.

It is up to you whether to book a Mekong Delta tour with big agencies or a small local tour seller or independent operator for a private tour. Just remember "Pay nuts, get monkey". There are big travel agencies offering you really cheap tours in big - noisy - crowded boats comparing to private, king/queen-feel, warm service, friendly guides and impressive keepsakes on small boats with a bit high but reasonable price. In short, you pay for quality. So, don't get upset hearing someone else having a lower-price trip than you. Also, during the trip, buying stuff in markets, coffee shops or in restaurants, do not forget to ask the price first for no "surprise" later.
With small tour sellers, you will sometimes felt obligated to pay lunch for the guide and boat/ car drivers. Some even ask you to tell other tourists about your Mekong Delta tour with them. Do not agree to talk to any other customers about your experience, you can offer to write a review and that's probably best.

Cách phân biệt nhung hươu thật giả

Hàng quý tộc khó kiểm định

Đặc tính của hươu nai giong là chỉ con đực mới mọc sừng. Khi mới mọc, sừng non (thường gọi lộc nhung) có chiều dài khoảng từ 5-20cm, mềm, mặt ngoài phủ đầy lông tơ màu nâu nhạt, phía trong sừng có nhiều mạch máu. Theo ông Lê Tá, một chủ trang trại từng nuôi hươu nai khai thác lộc tại quận 12 (TPHCM) nay đã giải nghệ, nhung hươu đẹp nhất nặng từ 5-6 lạng (500-600gram). Một đời hươu đực trải qua 16-18 lần cắt nhung, mỗi năm cho nhung một lần.

Ông Tá tâm tình: Khi đi mua nhung huou nguyen chat, vì sợ lầm hàng, người sành điệu chỉ mua lộc khi họ được tận mắt chứng kiến cảnh cưa cắt mà thôi. Nhưng không phải ai cũng có kinh nghiệm, thời gian, tiền bạc, sức khỏe để lặn lội hàng chục, thậm chí hàng trăm kilômet đến các trang trại đặng chứng kiến tận mắt cảnh cắt cưa ấy. Điều này đồng nghĩa với việc nhiều người phải mua lộc nhung qua các mối trung gian. Tận dụng cơ hội đó, dân buôn lộc trời ơi thường gả những cặp lộc quá lứa cho khách với giá hàng xịn.

Theo các chuyên gia, lộc nhung tốt là loại mềm, chưa phân yên, nghĩa là khi dùng dao cắt sẽ thái được toàn bộ chứ không đụng xương tảng, không đứt (dấu hiệu chuyển sang sừng).

Cách phân biệt nhung hươu thật giả

Lương y Đỗ Mạch, ở phố thuốc Hải Thượng Lãn Ông (Q.5, TPHCM) chỉ rõ cách nhận biết giá trị thực tế của lộc nhung hươu, nai. Hươu có lông đen mịn, có đốm, còn nai thì to hơn hươu, lông cứng hơn, có màu xám hoặc nâu. Mùa thu hoạch nhung hươu thường vào tháng 2-3 âm lịch, mùa nhung nai chậm hơn 1-2 tháng sau đó. Nhung nai có màu sẫm, lông nâu, to, nặng và rẻ hơn nhung hươu. Nếu như lộc nhung nai có giá khoảng 5 triệu đồng một kilôgam thì lộc nhung hươu có giá trị hơn, khoảng từ 6-7 triệu đồng. Vấn đề ở chỗ nếu không biết cách nhận biết đâu là nhung hươu, nai thì khách rất dễ bị luộc.

Lương y Mạch tiết lộ xảo thuật làm giả lộc nhung huou tuoi nai của phường gian thương: Bọn gian tạo hình lộc nhung bằng cách nhét tiết lợn cùng xương thỏ băm nhỏ vào da chó, da dê con rồi dùng một loại keo đặc biệt dán chặt. Để chắc ăn, tiếp đó họ sẽ bôi thêm phẩm đỏ hoặc phẩm có màu nâu nhạt đặng xóa vết dán. Thấy cặp nhung đỏ màu tươi rói, nhiều người lao vào mua và… dính đạn.

Lương y Mạch khẳng định: Đây chính là cội nguồn của hiện tượng nhiều con buôn không nuôi hươu nai nhưng nếu khách có nhu cầu bao nhiêu cặp lộc nhung thì họ sẵn sàng đáp ứng trong thời gian ngắn nhất. Do vậy nếu không trực tiếp thấy chủ trang trại cắt lộc thì đừng… xông trận.

Cẩn trọng kẻo mất mạng!

Qua nghiên cứu, cả Đông lẫn Tây y đều đi đến kết luận, lộc nhung có tác dụng giúp người bệnh ngủ ngon, giảm mệt mỏi, tăng sức đề kháng cho cơ thể, giúp vết thương chóng lành và nhất là có tác dụng tốt với các chứng bệnh như tim, nhược năng, bệnh thần kinh thực vật…

Để bán được hàng và bán được với giá cao, nhiều ông bà chủ trang trại hươu nai nhân kết luận đó mạnh miệng tuyên bố thêm, nam-phụ-lão-ấu ai dùng lộc nhung cũng tốt. Người có bệnh thì dùng chữa bệnh, không bệnh thì giúp bồi bổ sức khỏe, ngăn ngừa bệnh tật.

Lại có vị chủ trại cam đoan ai dùng lộc nhung do trang trại mình cung cấp sẽ có nước da láng mịn, mái tóc mượt mà, đàn bà sung mãn, đàn ông thăng hoa. Các chứng bệnh như vô sinh, lao phổ, viêm gan, xơ gan… cũng bị dược tính của lộc nhung đẩy lùi mà dứt tiệt.

Nói đến đây, lương y Mạch lắc đầu: Không chỉ đồn uống rượu ngâm lộc nhung không lo chưa đến chợ đã hết tiền, nhiều ông bà chủ còn tuyên bố chắc nịch uống rượu lộc nhung có sức bắn phá lung tung, bắn chỗ nào là dính con trai chỗ nấy. Một đồn mười, mười đồn trăm, vậy là hình thành trào lưu… nguy hại.

Như lương y Mạch, lương y Hoàng Linh ở nhà thuốc Vạn Xuân cho rằng, lộc nhung có vị ngọt, mặn, có công năng bổ tủy, trợ thận âm…, biết dùng rất tốt cho sức khỏe nhưng nếu lạm dụng sẽ phản tác dụng bởi không phải ai dùng cũng tốt, càng không phải là thuốc tiên chữa bách bệnh.

Lương y Linh cảnh báo: Nhung hươu là chất bổ âm, chỉ dùng tốt với người thận dương không đủ. Những người bị cao huyết áp, có hội chứng âm hư với biểu hiện người gầy, hay có cảm giác sốt về chiều, môi khô, miệng khát, đại tiện táo, tiểu tiện sẻn đỏ… tuyệt đối không được dùng lộc nhung. Người còn trẻ hoặc có sức khỏe bình thường khi dùng lộc nhung phải tiến hành theo dõi tình trạng sức khỏe. Nói chung mọi người không được tùy tiện dùng lộc nhung khi chưa có chỉ định hoặc tham khảo ý kiến của các lương y, bác sĩ. Đã có nhiều trường hợp tự ý sử dụng lộc nhung và sử dụng vô tội vạ dẫn đến hậu quả thương tâm: Toàn thân bị co giật, động huyết, ngực phát nóng, liên tục đổ mồ hôi trộm… để rồi khỏe đâu không thấy, chỉ thấy bệnh tình càng nặng thêm.

Squid fishing on Halong Bay

Night Squid fishing in Halong Bay at night is an interesting activity at which tourists can experience the feeling of being a fisherman. Tourists will have the instruction from local fishermen about how to fish a squid in the sea.

Night Squid fishing is the most interesting activity and wonderful pleasure of the night journey on Halong Bay. Tourists are provided with fishing rods and racquets so that they can actively use them to catch squids. Tourists must be excited to clearly see light-drunken shoals of squids lazily hovering around; and, step by step each squid is enticed and picked up, remaining totally fresh and striving convulsively. Especially, during the squid season, it would be common to see large shoals of squids surrounding the cruiser and each tourist may catch an average of 30 squids for each squid fishing night. Read more: Map Halong bay

The squids caught will be used to make dishes for tourists. This is also an ideal time to gaze Halong bay by night. The sea water surface is sparkling with reflected light from cruises anchored on the bay. Foreign tourists are extremely fond of boiled whole squids because when eating, they can enjoy the interesting feeling of ink line breaking out pitch-black in the mouth, splashing all over the face and taking pictures. The tourists eat while singing Karaoke and dancing. In alcohol yeast, everyone becomes enthusiasm and excited singers and dancers. visit North Vietnam tours