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Participate in Tours from Yangon for Myanmar Water Festival 2017!

Known as a famous Buddhist country, Burma has many festivals related to gods. One of the most famous festivals is water splashing festival, which is also known as Thingyan. To travelers, Thingyan must be one of the most interesting things to do in Burma.

This festival can also be seen in Thailand, Laos, and Cambodia. There are many tours from Yangon during the festival. Here are some things to note.

Time

This festival is New Year festival of Burmese, but it does not fall at the end of December or beginning of January, but from 13 to 16 of Burma traditional calendar.

Water splashing water lasts for 4 to 5 days, more than 3 days in other countries. The first day is called a-kyo nei, the second day is a-kyo nei, the third day is a-kyat nei ( this may be 2 days in some years ), and last day is a-tet net. So this long festival is also the busiest time of the year for many Burma travel companies to open Yangon tours.

Meaning

The festival is based on a myth about gods. Burma people wish peace for all things in the world and pray for bless from gods during this time. They believe that water can help them wash away bad things and sins, and welcome a new year with luck and health.

Booking tours from Yangon, tourists can happily slash water with friends, family or even strangers and get unforgettable memories. With water from the sprayer, buckets, sinks…people eagerly pour water on others, from the head to the feet. This season is also the hottest time of the year, so you just need a visa to Burma and book a tour to have a “big shower “.

Travelers book Yangon tour with their friends, lover or just go alone to have unforgettable memories. Many companies can attract tourists from all over the world. They set up many tours and get benefits. Yangon tour may range from cheap to luxurious, for 1 person or a big group.

Activities

There are many activities which help people relax after one working hard year. To prepare for the festival, Burma girls practice traditional dance. Visitors may be impressed by the beauty of Burma young ladies. During Burma day tours, tourists can see girls in colorful traditional dresses and with wreaths on their heads, dancing in very big groups. There is a special flower only blossoming at Thingyan festival, called Pterocarpus macrocarpus which is also known as “Thingyan flower”

At this time, travelers can also see dancers, singers, and artists, enjoying sweet voices and watch many plays on the street. This time is a great time for Burma people to refresh their life, relax and welcome new years with a positive attitude.

Rituals

Tourists who book tours from Yangon can also participate releasing fish, another traditional ritual of Burmese. This ritual is also popular in Vietnam, Laos, Thailand,…Both young and old believe that, when they releasing fish, give them freedom, on vice versa, they also get luck in the new year. This is before releasing fish.

Another traditional ritual held in Thingyan is making cakes to honor time. People both boys and girls all together make mont lone yeibaw, a kind of floating cake. Cake’s shape is round, also the shape of the moon. This cake is made of sticky rice, with palm sugar, jiggery inside. Right before eating, the cake is sopped and be eaten hot. Contacting companies opening Yangon day tours, tourists can try to do this on their own, and try to act as a real Burmese.

Burma people also pay their respect on New Year day. On this day, children visit the elder with water and soap. They help wash the head for the elder, in a traditional way, to pay their respect and the younger. This ritual is not popular even in South East Asia countries.

Now, it is mid-March and there’s coming the water splashing festival soon! Spend time, get Burma visa and book any tours from Yangon to cool your hot days.

Top Things to Prepare for your next Burma Tours?

Are you planning to visit Burma this 2017? Do you not know much about Burma? Any visitors will get some problems if they do not prepare carefully when going to a strange country. These notes bellow can help you have a good preparation before booking any Burma tours. So check it, read it carefully before taking your package and go!

Climate

The best time to take a Burma tour is around November and December. The weather is great this time, it is cool without raining. So travelers do not have to care so much and your package is also lighter.

In hot summer, from March to May, Burma is dry, a bit hot. There is not so much rain. This is a great time to visit Burma and book tours if you want to join Water Splashing Festival. Visiting Yangon is a good idea. Many Burma travel companies also get good profit this time.

Time from June to October has the most rains of the year. With high humidity and hot weather, travelers should prepare carefully before starting their trip.

Currency of money

Burma money is called Kyats. It values from 1, 5, 10, 45, 50, 90, 100 to 200,500 and 1000.
In Burma, there are not many banks to exchange money, and almost shops do not accept USD, so always bring cash instead of credit card and cheque.
Some shops at the center also allow customers to pay in credit card and cheque, but it would take a long time than by normal cash.

Culture-ritual

Burma has many religions and this country really cares about religions and culture.
Known as a Buddhist Asia country with many huge pagodas, it attracts many foreigners to spend their holidays in Burma.

Whoever wants to go inside these famous pagodas, it is a must to take off not only their shoes, high heels,…but also socks and only go barefoot. So we suggest using easily taking off shoes, or flip flops and sandals.
For ladies and women when taking Burma tours, please read the instruction carefully before visiting any pagodas, some do not allow women to come inside, they think that it is not right to let women inside the sacred places. This will be helped with the guide from any Burma tour companies.

Women also have to wear clothes discreetly, no open back or neck, and of course no open chest, either.
When visitors want to give a present or anything to Burmese, remember to use their right hands or better with both hands to express their respect to others. This is a very delicate behavior we have to obey to be a good tourist in Burma.

Means of transport

Tourists do not have a chance to choose transports. Yangon is such a big city that no “bicycle” motorbike is not allowed to be used. The only means of transport is trishaw. It is the way travelers spend time watching Burma life, step by step. Another transport visitors can use is a bus. Bus is popular in “Burma”, in every city. It saves space and a cheap way to save your budget.

Internet

Taking Burma tours, visitors have more time experience beauty of this country than consuming time on the internet. Why?

Burma is very backward so travelers can’t easily find internet or phone here.
Internet is something very luxurious to inhabitants. There are few hotels supplying internet, but the price is quite high.

Tourist should spend time walking around to visit Burma places, because they can’t get access to Facebook, Yahoo, Skype,

To find a SIM card is also a big and expensive thing to do. Price for each sim card is more we often know. Each SIM card with GMS is from 25 to 30 USD, bought at the hospital or trade center. And no matter who you are, you have to show your passport to buy this luxurious item. Almost activities through the internet are checked by Burma Posts and Telecommunication (MPT)

Greetings

Burma people believe that their head if very important, especially the top of the head. Because It is where to express respect. Even when you meet a very young and cute boy/girl, you can’t touch them on their heads. Just greet them in a normal way.

With colleagues, Burma people also are not with hands gripping others’ shoulders flippantly.

As a religious country, “Burma” people cares much about rituals and culture. With good preparation, you will worry nothing but just choose the right time to book Burma tours. This 2017, do not miss “Burma” beautiful places. Again read these notes carefully to have a good trip with your friends!

Top Things to Prepare for your next Myanmar Tours?

Are you planning to visit Myanmar this 2017? Do you not know much about Myanmar? Any visitors will get some problems if they do not prepare carefully when going to a strange country. These notes bellow can help you have a good preparation before booking any Myanmar tours. So check it, read it carefully before taking your package and go!

Climate

In hot summer, from March to May, Myanmar is dry, a bit hot. There is not so much rain. This is a great time to visit Myanmar and book tours if you want to join Water Splashing Festival. Visiting Yangon is a good idea. Many Myanmar travel companies also get good profit this time.

Time from June to October has the most rains of the year. With high humidity and hot weather, travelers should prepare carefully before starting their trip.

Currency of money

Myanmar money is called Kyats. It values from 1, 5, 10, 45, 50, 90, 100 to 200,500 and 1000.
In Myanmar, there are not many banks to exchange money, and almost shops do not accept USD, so always bring cash instead of credit card and cheque.
Some shops at the center also allow customers to pay in credit card and cheque, but it would take a long time than by normal cash.

Culture-ritual

Myanmar has many religions and this country really cares about religions and culture.
Known as a Buddhist Asia country with many huge pagodas, it attracts many foreigners to spend their holidays in Myanmar.

Whoever wants to go inside these famous pagodas, it is a must to take off not only their shoes, high heels,…but also socks and only go barefoot. So we suggest using easily taking off shoes, or flip flops and sandals.
For ladies and women when taking Myanmar tours, please read the instruction carefully before visiting any pagodas, some do not allow women to come inside, they think that it is not right to let women inside the sacred places. This will be helped with the guide from any Myanmar tour companies.

Means of transport

Tourists do not have a chance to choose transports. Yangon is such a big city that no “bicycle” motorbike is not allowed to be used. The only means of transport is trishaw. It is the way travelers spend time watching Myanmar life, step by step. Another transport visitors can use is a bus. Bus is popular in “Myanmar”, in every city. It saves space and a cheap way to save your budget.

Internet

Taking Myanmar tours, visitors have more time experience beauty of this country than consuming time on the internet. Why?

Myanmar is very backward so travelers can’t easily find internet or phone here.
Internet is something very luxurious to inhabitants. There are few hotels supplying internet, but the price is quite high.

Tourist should spend time walking around to visit Myanmar places, because they can’t get access to Facebook, Yahoo, Skype,

Greetings

Myanmar people believe that their head if very important, especially the top of the head. Because It is where to express respect. Even when you meet a very young and cute boy/girl, you can’t touch them on their heads. Just greet them in a normal way.

With colleagues, Burma people also are not with hands gripping others’ shoulders flippantly.

As a religious country, “Burma” people cares much about rituals and culture. With good preparation, you will worry nothing but just choose the right time to book Myanmar tours. This 2017, do not miss “Myanmar” beautiful places. Again read these notes carefully to have a good trip with your friends !

Burma luxury holiday of Thingyan Water Festival in Rakhine Regions

Burma is a land of festivals. Among them, Thingyan Water Festival is the best suggestion for your Burma luxury holiday. However, it is a good idea to experience the festival in different regions across the country.

Thingyan Water Festival, the greatest festival of the year in Burma taking place in every April, is a suggestion for your Burma luxury holiday. Just by pouring water and soaking each other to the bone, Burmese people believe happily that their families and beloved will have a great deal of wealth, wellness and luck during the forthcoming year. The Water Festival is also made to clear away any evils.

It is a good idea to enjoying this merriest festival in different regions of Burma so that you can have an overall view of various cultural traditions during this Burma luxury holiday. One of the best places to visit in Burma is Rakhine Regions. Unlike other Burmese, the locals celebrate Thingyan Water Festival in their own way called Rakhine Custom. For instance, there is lovely pouring water mutually between boys and girls. Rakhine people also erect a big tent with a traditional small boat placed in the middle. In that way, a small boat will be filled with water which may then be used soak any people passing by. Usually, young ladies pour water on young men, which is typical to Rakhine Water Festival.

However, people don’t pour water during the first days of Thingyan in some regions of Rakhine State. For example, in a small village on the small island surrounded by the rivers near Yambye Island, the precepts in the Monastery must be kept so there is no celebration during the Water Festival. And on the 3rd day or 4th day of the festival, having washed Buddha images and Pagodas, the whole village will start to celebrate the Thingyan Water Festival while other villages have already stopped their celebrations. Clearly, you can learn that the way Burmese celebrate the Water Festival is varied according to that village’s custom.

The island mentioned above is called Ghantghar, positioned near the head of Yambye Island throughout the Rakhine Coastline. There are four villages, each of which has between 150 and 200 households living together peacefully on the island.

On the first two days of the water fights, elderly people here go to the Monastery where the whole village makes traditional food and give other villages and Monks for free. This is one of the things to do in Burma.

Having finished cleansing Buddha image and Pagodas, the four villages start water fights and this lasts for three days. The wonderful custom in these island villages will make your Burma luxury holiday unforgettable because young men team in one village have water fights with young women team from another village. On each day, there are three water festival celebrations which start from morning till evening. In the morning, young men team of village 1 will celebrate Water Festival; while in the afternoon, young men team of village 2 come and in the evening, village 3 pour water to the young ladies team. Each team is led by one person. To ask the ladies team to come, young men team play Rakhine traditional musical instrument. Then the ladies team leader orders her team to get ready for the fights. And what the village ladies use to fill water and pour to young men is big glazed earthen jars.

Before the festival, all local teams sing and dance happily together (You can enjoy this happiness any time you take Burma cruises). This is also a chance for a young man to get his beloved lady’s love by inviting her to dance with him and the lady cannot deny his proposal. After the time of dancing and singing happily, all men and women will start pouring water mutually. It just looks like a competition, not mention a riot, in which ladies team are making huge attempts to win over the men who are also trying to soak ladies to the bone.

You can observe an interesting situation in which a man is being surrounded by ladies. Of course, they are pouring water very strongly onto him. However, another man will come soon to help his friend out of that situation. Vice versa, a lady can be met up with a case like that. The festival is really made for young people because grandmothers, grandfathers, uncles, aunties, children and head people of villages are just watching and laughing happily at the water fights. Here across the island, Thingyan Water Festival can be a real competition but sometimes it is not.
Another interesting fact about the water festival here is: The traditional foods can be left onto the roof to dry under the bright sun. Once dried, they can be easily tested, not mention that they are really delicious without decay. How lovely Burma luxury holiday with Water Festival in Rakhine is!

Myanmar luxury holiday of Thingyan Water Festival in Rakhine Regions

Myanmar is a land of festivals. Among them, Thingyan Water Festival is the best suggestion for your Myanmar luxury holiday. However, it is a good idea to experience the festival in different regions across the country.

Thingyan Water Festival, the greatest festival of the year in Myanmar taking place in every April, is a suggestion for your Myanmar luxury holiday. Just by pouring water and soaking each other to the bone, Burmese people believe happily that their families and beloved will have a great deal of wealth, wellness and luck during the forthcoming year. The Water Festival is also made to clear away any evils.

It is a good idea to enjoying this merriest festival in different regions of Myanmar so that you can have an overall view of various cultural traditions during this Myanmar luxury holiday. One of the best places to visit in Myanmar is Rakhine Regions. Unlike other Myanmar people, the locals celebrate Thingyan Water Festival in their own way called Rakhine Custom. For instance, there is lovely pouring water mutually between boys and girls. Rakhine people also erect a big tent with a traditional small boat placed in the middle. In that way, a small boat will be filled with water which may then be used soak any people passing by. Usually, young ladies pour water on young men, which is typical to Rakhine Water Festival.

Having finished cleansing Buddha image and Pagodas, the four villages start water fights and this lasts for three days. The wonderful custom in these island villages will make your Myanmar luxury holiday unforgettable because young men team in one village have water fights with young women team from another village. On each day, there are three water festival celebrations which start from morning till evening. In the morning, young men team of village 1 will celebrate Water Festival; while in the afternoon, young men team of village 2 come and in the evening, village 3 pour water to the young ladies team. Each team is led by one person. To ask the ladies team to come, young men team play Rakhine traditional musical instrument. Then the ladies team leader orders her team to get ready for the fights. And what the village ladies use to fill water and pour to young men is big glazed earthen jars.

Before the festival, all local teams sing and dance happily together (You can enjoy this happiness any time you take Myanmar cruises). This is also a chance for a young man to get his beloved lady’s love by inviting her to dance with him and the lady cannot deny his proposal. After the time of dancing and singing happily, all men and women will start pouring water mutually. It just looks like a competition, not mention a riot, in which ladies team are making huge attempts to win over the men who are also trying to soak ladies to the bone.

You can observe an interesting situation in which a man is being surrounded by ladies. Of course, they are pouring water very strongly onto him. However, another man will come soon to help his friend out of that situation. Vice versa, a lady can be met up with a case like that. The festival is really made for young people because grandmothers, grandfathers, uncles, aunties, children and head people of villages are just watching and laughing happily at the water fights. Here across the island, Thingyan Water Festival can be a real competition but sometimes it is not.
Another interesting fact about the water festival here is: The traditional foods can be left onto the roof to dry under the bright sun. Once dried, they can be easily tested, not mention that they are really delicious without decay. How lovely Myanmar luxury holiday with Water Festival in Rakhine is!

Top 4 Beaches to visit in your Burma Adventure Tours

Burma is a religious country famous for its religion and Giant Buddha statues. Thousands of tourists come here every year to enjoy themselves in peace.

There are also many other great places to discover in this Asia country. Burma has a 2000km coastline with long white sands. Among them, these 4 beautiful beaches should be listed as your destinations for an “adventure tour” in “Burma”.

Ngapali Beach

This beach located in the Rakhine state of Burma, which means it takes you 45 minutes on the flight from Yangon. Not too far to go.

Its 7km white sandbank is really impressive to visitors for the first time of them. Tourists can join many kinds of sea sports such as swimming, diving or surfing. They can also do research about people life, wander around local markets and fishing villages. Some Burma travel tours can also introduce their tourists to hire a bike and slowly discover the beach. This way can help your cool yourself with natural winds and feel how great the sea is.

All the year, the seawater is clean and blue. Travelers can enjoy peaceful and fresh air at the same time. They can enjoy seafood at famous restaurants such as Sea queen, Ngapali kitchen, Ocean pearl.
To have great pictures and discover this beach easily, you should start your journey around December and April, when the weather is great.

Spend holidays in Burma with your lover is a great idea, you can choose this beach to take romantic photos and make wedding videos in the future.

Ngwe Saung Beach

This beach is to the South of Burma, 48 kilometers from Pathein, in Ayeyarwaddy area, 190 kilometers from Yangon, opposite to Bengal Bay.

This 15-kilometer beach is known as “Silver Beach” of Burma. Ngwe Saung Beach is the longest beach in South East Asia. It is famous for wild beauty, really interests visitors who like discovering new things. This destination should be in a list of every “adventure tours” in “Burma”.

The most impressive thing is beautiful rows of palm trees. Tourists can feel its serenity and relax after stressful days at work.
Walking along the beach is interesting to do. Some popular sports are surfing, swimming,…Visitors can also hire a boat to discover other islands near there. They can book a “biking tour” to discover “Burma” fishing villages there, too.
This beach is home of a collection of oil wells, without any dangerous creatures. Traditional Bullock cart riding will give you great experiences.

Tourists can enjoy seafood such as lobster, squid, crab at Eskala Hotels and Resorts, The Emerald Sea Resort, Bay of Bengal resort,…

Kanthaya Beach

Kanthaya Beach is in southern Rakhine State on the Bay of Bengal. This is an ideal destination for whom want to find a private and peaceful place. It is very wild and not affected by human beings.

One special thing is you cannot find shops or restaurants to buy things or souvenirs. No kinds of sports are available. Booking hotels in advance are impossible, you have to come in person.

But this 4,5km long beach will meet your expectation with light yellow sandbank, no noise at all. Tourists can walk along the beach and enjoy fresh air after hard working days.

One more thing is that seawater is really warm during water splashing festival, so if you are kind of reserved person, this place is really an ideal place for your Burma adventure tours.

Chuang Tha Beach

240 km to the West of Yangon, Chuang Tha is one of the most famous Burma beaches that is visited by many tourists all the time. Burma day tours can attract visitors during the year, especially at the weekend and during holidays.

Frankly, said that Chuang Tha Beach is not as beautiful as Ngwe Saung and Ngapali beaches, but it is very popular with foreigners.

Burma travel tour operators can also have customers from big cities in the country. Many middle-class families in the city spend their weekend at this noisy beach. There is one solution for this situation is to take a boat tour and discover some other islands, or dive into the sea to see the ocean.

These are the most beautiful and famous beaches which are really excellent destinations for you to start your Burma adventure tours, don’t hesitate to write them down in a list of your Burma must-go places and start your trip now!

Promised Land of Vietnam Holiday Tour Package – Bao Son Paradise

If you have not chosen a suitable place to visit on your next Vietnam 7-day tour, Bao Son Paradise can be a good choice. Located on a large and airy space of area, which is 6 kilometers far from the National Convention Center along Thang Long avenue, Bao Son Paradise is the sole entertainment center to combine economy and tourism values.

It is the place of a harmonious combination between tradition and modernity, between natural and artificial beauty, between ancient and modern architectures. It is the paradise to maintain the traditionally cultural values, the paradise of arts, technology, ecology, entertainment, and cuisine. Besides, the fresh air here will bring to tourists comfortable and relaxing time after hard working and study for long hours when coming here for a Vietnam holiday tour package.

One notable mark of Bao Son Paradise is its Natural Reserve area: The Marine Palace – a miniature ocean with two artificial mountains created based on the typical tale the Kissing Rocks of Vietnam. This is the magical world of thousands of fish from all continents in the world such as sharks, rays, arapaima, seals, etc. All of these make tourists have the feeling of floating along with the emerald water of the sea for a unique tour in Vietnam. It is such an overwhelming impression to live with the glamourous beauty of nature and watch various kinds of fish to swim around coral reefs and anemones.

During a Vietnam holiday tour package, tourists can be strongly surprised with the sight in the Natural Reserve area, which is considered one of the rare and precious zoos in Vietnam. There are many animals from South Africa and tropical zones such as white tigers, white lions, spotted hyenas, giraffes, zebras… as well as tremendous lizards and birds are preserved here like basilisks, dragon land, green-wing red parrots, etc. There is no other feeling can compare to the joyfulness of exploring the wildlife of animals around us in a Vietnam land tour package. Moreover, you can also come to visit other attractive places in the natural reserve such as the royal garden, orchid garden…, each of them is highly interesting and remarkable in its own way.

Recently, Bao Son Paradies has also invested more in the work of scenic renovations in the natural reserve, the entertainment zone, and make more favorable geographic conditions for photography and check-in, which attracts a lot of young people to visit. In the royal garden, there has been an entirely new and glamourous face here with an immense covering of cherry blossom, red maple forest, rose gate or some artificial sights created by skillful gardeners. All of those totally fit with the reasonable price for a Vietnam local tour package.
Converging all the most attractive, romantic and poetic but also delicate factors, Bao Son Paradise help tourists to have unforgettable experiences in a Vietnam holiday tour package like scenes in movies. With its aim to ceaselessly improve and diversify the services to meet the demand of tourists and customers, the multipurpose stage has brought about impressive performances to young people and especially children.

There is also an antique town with 20 houses constructed in the architectural design of Hanoi in the last 20th century and the early of the 21st century. The cuisine area includes 13 famous trade villages of the Northern Vietnam and some traditional cuisine features, which can satisfy the need of tasting specialties in this country of every tourist thanks to its airy and large space. Especially, visitors can also take part in the Vietnam traditional market for a Vietnam ground tour to try some unique foods coming from all three regions of the country and even the best dishes in other countries in Asia and Europe made by a famous Thais chef.

Bao Son Paradise can be your next destination in the list of your Vietnam holiday tour packages. With the above features of a promised land, it will bring to you some most impressive experiences once you decide to come here for your next holiday. For a tour package to Bao Son Paradise, which does not cost too much but still ensure the quality, you can fulfill the days with most memorable moments of life.

Precious Gift of Nature- Ban Gioc Waterfall for Vietnam Tour Deal

Vietnam is a peaceful country with tremendous beautiful sceneries that can give tourists the profound impressions once coming to visit. Nowadays, many people all over the world choose Vietnam as a destination to enjoy their holiday in a Vietnam tour deal because they want a different experience, which is homely, gentle but impressive in its own way. So why do not include here an outstanding name in Cao Bang province? Cao Bang of Vietnam is known as the first revolutionary base of Vietnam during the struggling period for National Liberation. Once mentioning this place as a destination for tourism, people often talk about a very outstanding name: Ban Gioc Waterfall, located in Trung Khanh district, with its wild, natural and magnificent beauty.

Source: Dantri.com.vn

Ban Gioc Waterfall is located on the border between Vietnam and China, at the part crossing Trung Khanh district of Cao Bang province. It is about 90 kilometers far from the center of Cao Bang city. This is considered as the most beautiful natural waterfall in Vietnam and the biggest waterfall in Southeast Asia , ranks fourth in the list of waterfalls which land on borders in the world. Besides, Ban Gioc waterfall also marks the boundary between Vietnam and China. When visitors come to this place, there are tremendous things to be learned in such unique tour to Vietnam. With its splendid mountains and the stream lasts for over 300 meters from the latitude of 53 meters, the waterfall flows through 3 overlapped steps, creates streams different in sizes.

Ban Gioc waterfall is divided into 2 parts: The main part and the subpart. The main part of the waterfall is very large (100 meters in length and 60 meters in depth). Looking from distance, the main part of the waterfall is like a white soft silk ribbon across the hillside. This scene is, indeed, really impressive for a Vietnam tour deal.
The subpart of the waterfall has less water with a gentle flow. Once here, tourists can hire boats and row to the stream middle to discover the entire beauty of Ban Gioc waterfall.

Source: National Geographic

Not only witnessing the beauty of Ban Gioc waterfall, tourists also have a chance to see stilt houses of the Tay who live there, a special experience in a local tour in Vietnam.

Phuong Thi Kiu (57 years old), a resident living near Ban Gioc waterfall said: “From when the resort and the Buddha Temple were built, the waterfall had attracted numerous tourists and residents to visit. I hope that there would be more and more internal and external tourists to come here in a Vietnam tour deal and enjoy the pristine but gorgeous beauty that nature has given to our country, so as to develop the tourism service in Vietnam.”

According to the board of administration of the waterfall estate, Ban Gioc waterfall attracts over 40,000 tourists annually including both internal and external tourists, which makes it one of the most Vietnam typical tours.
Recently, it has been inaugurated in the place a temple named Phat Tich Truc Lam Ban Gioc Pagoda, which was designed with a lot of the outstanding traditional architectural features of Vietnam. Therefore, it is highly appreciated as one worthy destination to a Vietnam tour deal.

Source: Dantri.com.vn

When stepping in Ban Gioc waterfall, tourists will experience a quite new, strange but interesting life with the native people here. The differences are in their daily life customs, activities and their enthusiasm that are revealed clearly every day. You will feel it if you spend some time to visit here in a Vietnam travel tour package. Besides, tourists can also taste some famous specialties of Cao Bang such as sauté cakes, canarium sticky rice, planch, coong phu cake, Trung Khanh chestnuts and smoked buffalo or cow meat… while enjoying interesting traditional art performances here like Then singing, poetry, puppetry, etc.

Do The Chinh, a 22-year-old tourist coming from Thai Binh said: “This is the first time I come to Ban Gioc waterfall. And what I feel is it is really impressive, exactly like what I have been known so far about it. The sceneries as well as the so kind and friendly people here bring to me an unforgettable peaceful feeling. It is just a worthy investment because the expenditure is unremarkable compared to the average Vietnam tour package price. I promise myself to come back here one day soon, not for once but many times later.”

The beauty of the natural waterfall, which combines with the peaceful and rustic scenes here will bring to tourists profound impressions when coming to this place. Once deciding to have a free time to enjoy in your Vietnam tour deal holiday, do not skip this perfect destination in your list. The experiences you may have when visiting the waterfall will bring to you unforgettable impressions for the entire life. Nothing can compare to spending some nice days in one of your holidays with friends, lovers of family here and experience the unique feeling that you can only have in Ban Gioc waterfall.

Top High Quality Hotels in Yangon for the Best Burma Tours

Famous as ”London of Asia”, Yangon attracts many tourists every year. It is famous for huge pagodas, beautiful nature and delicate cuisine. In this ancient capital, there are numbers of hotels in Yangon to serve visitors. Among them, of course there are better ones. Here are top “best” hotels to choose before start your Burma tours.

Taw Win Garden hotel

Address:

This is one of the best 4-star hotel in Yangon. It is right at Yangon center, 200m from Pyay Road and on the main road leading to Taw Win Shopping Center, Yangon International Airport and Aung Mingalar Bus Station, such a convenient location for travelers to visit famous destination in Yangon. Many Burma tour operators often book this hotel for their customers.

Rooms:

Taw Win Garden hotel has more than 500 rooms. All are spacious, clean equipped with all the modern conveniences expected of a 4 star hotel. Some suites have extra dining tables, mini bar and tea makers.
The unique highlights these rooms are colorful carpets, large glass doors leading to the balcony with a set of tables and chairs to help guests sunbathe and enjoy the beauty of the city.

Services:

This hotel supplies spa, sauna,…to help visitors relax. There are good dishes ranging from traditional Burma cuisine to Europe and Asia food.
One more special thing is that the hotel organizes Burma traditional dance performances, which really attracts travelers to view. This will help you experience best Burma tours ever.
To help tourists relax, Taw Win Garden serves spa, sauna and gym, too.

Sule Shangri-La hotel

Address:

This high-end hotel is right at the city center, 300m away from Yangon train station, save time to move to the airport, and other famous shopping sights: Bogyoke market, China Town, Yangon international museum,…

Rooms:

Sule Shangri-La hotel has 479 rooms with a simple design. All rooms are well- furnished, together with mini bar and coffee markers.
One advantage of this high-end hotel is that it designs glass windows to make the room more spacious. Tourists do not need to go out but still experience the beauty of Yangon city right from their rooms.

Services:

Outdoor swimming pool, beauty salon, gym, hot tub, steam room,…
The hotel’s restaurants, bars, and cafes offer a wide variety dinning, including Yangon dishes and even Indian, Chinese and Asian food.
Besides supplying rooms for tourists, this hotel is also chosen by many Burma travel companies for their wedding tours.

Best Western Chinatown hotel

Address:

Right at city center, 5-10 minutes walking to Bogyoke, Yangon center station, Yangon international airport,…This is one of the most booked hotels in Yangon.

Rooms:

Best Western Chinatown hotel supplies more than 90 rooms with all well-appointed. Furniture is elegant, warmly designed with deep color. Bathrooms are convenient for tourists with hot water tank. During March and May, the hottest time of the year, tourists can have a great time relaxing with air conditioners. No worry to spend your holidays in Burma with excellent massage service at this hotel after all day walking.

Services:

This hotel serves 3 meals per day: breakfast, lunch and dinner. Both Yangon and Europe meals are served each day.
One great thing better than other hotels is that this hotel has one internet room free, with photocopy machine and fax available to help you working during the holiday.
This is really a good choice for foreigners who want to have “best” time with families without interrupting by sudden work. You can experience everything during your “Burma tour” can still work well.

Clover City Center Plus hotel

Address:

This hotel locates at the city center, 5-10 minutes to move to shopping sights such as Scott market, 30 minutes to Yangon international airport and another 5 minutes to Yangon Center Railway Station.

Rooms:

This budget hotel has 74 rooms simple design, very clean and well-equipped. Clover City Center Plus cares about their customers’ life, so even small things like hairdryers and super speed kettle are also served well.

Services:

One thing to note that this hotel does not have both spa service and swimming pool. But enthusiastic staff are willing to help tourists with hiring cars, tour guiding, reception service,… This is really more than what you expect from a 3-star hotel.

These are top hotels which are well-equipped, good quality and close to city center. These are also the most booked hotels in Yangon. We hope you have a great time spending your holidays and get “best” experiences during your “Burma tours”. Now let prepare your visa to Burma and start your trip.

Top Hotels to Stay in Yangon for Your next Myanmar Tours

Taw Win Garden hotel

Address:

Rooms:

Services:

This hotel supplies spa, sauna,…to help visitors relax. There are good dishes ranging from traditional Myanmar cuisine to Europe and Asia food.
One more special thing is that the hotel organizes Myanmar traditional dance performances, which really attracts travelers to view. This will help you experience best Myanmar tours ever.
To help tourists relax, Taw Win Garden serves spa, sauna and gym, too.

Sule Shangri-La hotel

Address:

Rooms:

Services:

Best Western Chinatown hotel

Address:

Right at city center, 5-10 minutes walking to Bogyoke, Yangon center station, Yangon international airport,…This is one of the most booked hotels in Yangon.

Rooms:

Best Western Chinatown hotel supplies more than 90 rooms with all well-appointed. Furniture is elegant, warmly designed with deep color. Bathrooms are convenient for tourists with hot water tank. During March and May, the hottest time of the year, tourists can have a great time relaxing with air conditioners. No worry to spend your holidays in Myanmar with excellent massage service at this hotel after all day walking.

Services:

Clover City Center Plus hotel

Address:

This hotel locates at the city center, 5-10 minutes to move to shopping sights such as Scott market, 30 minutes to Yangon international airport and another 5 minutes to Yangon Center Railway Station.

Rooms:

Services:

These are top hotels which are well-equipped, good quality and close to city center. These are also the most booked hotels in Yangon. We hope you have a great time spending your holidays and get “best” experiences during your “Myanmar tours”. Now let prepare your visa to Myanmar and start your trip.

Visiting Cat Ba island and Advice for Tourists in Vietnam Tours

Included in the world cultural heritage collection Ha Long Bay, Cat Ba is considered the biggest island with 367 isles in different sizes. The total acreage is up to 350 square kilometers. This summer, have you decided somewhere to go for Vietnam tours? This article provides you some suggestions for an exciting trip to Cat Ba, an outstanding destination for any tourist.

There are reasons for that Cat Ba was honored to be recognized by the famous travel magazines Rough Guide as one of five most attractive places for foreign tourists when coming to Vietnam. Recently, the images of Cat Ba have appeared overwhelmingly in the blockbuster movie of Hollywood in 2017 “Skull Island”.

Visiting Cat Ba in any of Vietnam tours, tourists not only have chances to enjoy and watch the exciting natural beauty of this place such as the immensely emerald sea, marvelous mountains, lovely and pristine beaches, or join in the adventure to explore the mysterious caves which bring interesting experiences to visitors once being here. Moreover, tourists can also learn about a long-standing culture which can be seen clearly in the local customs and practices on the island 30-kilometer far from the mainland in a Vietnam land tour package.

One of the most attractive sceneries in Cat Ba can be gathered in Lan Ha Bay, which is located in the East of Cat Ba Island. With the total acreage is 7,000 hectares, Lan Ha Bay is outstanding for its spectacular beauty of nearly 400 isles in all sizes and shapes. Going for a trip to Cat Ba in this season, Lan Ha Bay is an ideal choice for tourists who love swimming and pristine sights.

If visitors come to Lan Ha Bay in the time period among February and March, the weather is fairly cold with drizzles of spring, which creates the fanciful bay immersing in the foggy atmosphere. It is like you are in a fairy tale. All of what you look for a unique tour in Vietnam can be found here. It is even more interesting to enjoy all the best charming attractions that nature gives to Lan Ha Bay in a tour in the summer with blue sea, white sand and sunshine, etc.

Especially, to tourists who love exercises, explorations and experiences, Cat Ba is considered an ideal destination. Tourists can join in various activities during a tour package, like any other local tour in Vietnam, from the marine experiences such as visiting Ha Long and Lan Ha Bay on yachts, rowing Kayak, swimming, diving to watch colorful coral reefs, visiting fishing villages or going fish and squids catching… to activities ashore like trekking in Cat Ba national forest, mountains climbing, caves exploration, sightseeing around the island on motorbikes, going to some historical relics, etc.

Cat Ba is also very famous for its caves, whose beauties have attracted a lot of people when coming to this ecotourism destination. Among Vietnam tours, tourists should not forget this experience, to explore the beauty of natural caves. Tung Gau is the sole place in Cat Ba to be chosen to film the movie Kong due to its charming natural beauty. Besides, you cannot skip other most well-known caves here namely Quan Y cave, Hoa Cuong cave, Phu Long cave and especially Trung Trang cave. Trung Trang is the biggest valley in Cat Ba Island with the total acreage up to 300 hectares. Visitors often choose this cave to visit for a Vietnam typical tour in Cat Ba Island. Throughout thousands years being formed and abraded, this cave has become a masterpiece of nature. With the length of 300 meters throughout a mountain, this cave can contain hundreds of tourists at once, which is impossible to the other caves.

Some outstanding activities in this place as in a Vietnam travel tour package:
– Visiting Cat Ba national forest: Quan Y cave, Trung Trang cave, Ngu Lam peak…
– Visiting Lan Ha Bay, Ha Long Bay by yachts: fishing villages, Kayak rowing, swimming, diving to watch coral reefs…
– Homestay overnight in the sea, go fish and squids catching at night…
– Visiting Tung Gau sceneries – the chosen place for filming the movie Skull Island.

If you have spare time, just spend your holiday for one of Vietnam tours in this amazing destination for once in your life. You will never feel regretful if choosing this place to visit with all the stunning sceneries and unforgettable experiences. For both tourists and backpackers, Cat Ba Island should always be included in your list to come.

Top 7 Strangest Things to Know for Your Next Myanmar Tours

Every country has its own beauty and different things. Beside famous Water Splashing Festival and huge pagodas, there are many interesting things to know about this Myanmar. Travelers can set up their own trip or book Myanmar tours and gain interesting experiences only in this Buddhist Asia country.

1.Transportation: No motorbikes and bicycles

Yangon is a trade center and also the biggest city of Myanmar. People here includes both inhabitants and Chinese,… With high population and development of tourism, the government does not allow motorbikes and bicycles to appear in the city. So tour companies in Myanmar can introduce trishaws, buses and pickup trucks instead. By this way, tourists can discover Yangon like local people. The rate for each means is not expensive, around 1000 Kyats for a short travel.

2.New Year on Mid-April

Burma people does not hold their New year at the end of December or early in January. Their New Year, also called Thingyan, falls from 13 to 16 of April. This time is also a great time to take Burma tours because travelers can experience Water splashing festival and also Myanmar special rituals.

There are many Myanmar tours during this time, ranging from cheap to luxurious ones. Visitors can really enjoy themselves and get interesting experiences.

3.The Hi-speed Internet is luxurious

Myanmar is still a backward country, so it is difficult to get hi-speed internet even though it is easy to access to a free Internet spot. Most of 3-star hotels, restaurants, and coffee shops in main cities offer free Wi-fi while the speed is a different issue. The access for Facebook, mail or chatting is quite good, yet you may still suffer some delays. Video calls or high-data download like sending photos or big files are big problems because it takes very long to get them done. The good news is the SIM card is very cheap as about 1-2US$ each. You must register for a data package or your account will be “eaten up” with just some hours after activating. Myanmar uses GMS (SIM-based) and 3G technology. The favorite network provider for tourist is Oordedo. Micro or nano SIM for mobiles is available too.

Please be aware that hi-speed WI-FI in some hotels, especially luxurious ones, might be very expensive. HIT Myanmar strongly advise you should clear the prices with receptionists before getting connected.

4.Men wears dress

It is popular for Myanmar men to be in a dress. Both young and old are in the dress. They wear a long dress with a knit at the waist. Many say wearing dresses is better in hot weather. If you want to buy one like a souvenir, you can ask the tour guide from your travel tour company to help.

5.Flip flops and sandals all the year.

Myanmar people have a special culture, it is to take off shoes and socks before coming inside the house or pagodas. They believe that it is more polite when you walk barefoot to visit sacred places. With this culture, it is difficult and takes time if they wear normal shoes, so it is funny that a polite man with bright suit wears flip-flop instead of shiny shoes. To be convenient during Myanmar tours, tourist should prepare flip flops instead of high heels and normal shoes.

6.New and clean money

Myanmar travel companies suggest that visitors should always keep their money clean and new. There is quite interesting opinion that clean money values more than the dirty one. Never fold your money and put in the pocket. Even such a small tear on your bank note, it reduces your money’s value. Travelers can keep money in a small bag or in a book to keep banknotes flat.

7.Eating culture

Spending holidays in Myanmar, you should care about their eating culture.
Myanmar people always wash their hands carefully before eating. They just have 2 main meals: breakfast at exactly 9 am, and dinner at 5 pm. Lunch is just a slight meal. Their food is quite dry, so prepare water if you are not used to with this. They have main dishes with shrimp and vegetable.
According to Myanmar ancient people, eating with the right hand is polite. Because Myanmar people use left hands for personal hygiene. To be a smart tourist, never pay money for food, clothes or anything with your left hand. The best way to do is used both hands, in case you forget which hand to use, it is also more polite and accepted in any countries.

Be a smart visitor and beloved by local people are what you need to have a successful trip. These tips can help you enjoy yourself when taking part in any Myanmar tours, at wherever in this country. What you need now after good preparation is just a visa to Myanmar, to start your journey to discover this Burma

Top 7 Strangest Things You Should Know for Burma Tours

Every country has its own beauty and different things. Beside famous Water Splashing Festival and huge pagodas, there are many interesting things to know about this Burma. Travelers can set up their own trip or book Burma tours and gain interesting experences only in this Buddhist Asia country.

1.Transportation: No motorbikes and bicycles

Yangon is a trade center and also the biggest city of Burma. People here includes both inhabitants and Chinese,… With high population and development of tourism, the government does not allow motorbikes and bicycles to appear in the city. So tour companies in Burma can introduce trishaws, buses and pickup trucks instead. By this way, tourists can discover Yangon like local people. The rate for each means is not expensive, around 1000 Kyats for a short travel.

2.New Year on Mid-April

There are many Burma tours during this time, ranging from cheap to luxurious ones. Visitors can really enjoy themselves and get interesting experiences.

3.The Hi-speed Internet is luxurious

Burma is still a backward country, so it is difficult to get hi-speed internet even though it is easy to access to a free Internet spot. Most of 3-star hotels, restaurants, and coffee shops in main cities offer free Wi-fi while the speed is a different issue. The access for Facebook, mail or chatting is quite good, yet you may still suffer some delays. Video calls or high-data download like sending photos or big files are big problems because it takes very long to get them done. The good news is the SIM card is very cheap as about 1-2US$ each. You must register for a data package or your account will be “eaten up” with just some hours after activating. Myanmar uses GMS (SIM-based) and 3G technology. The favorite network provider for tourist is Oordedo. Micro or nano SIM for mobiles is available too.

Please be aware that hi-speed WI-FI in some hotels, especially luxurious ones, might be very expensive. HIT Indochina strongly advise you should clear the prices with receptionists before getting connected.

4.Men wears dress

It is popular for Burma men to be in a dress. Both young and old are in the dress. They wear a long dress with a knit at the waist. Many say wearing dresses is better in hot weather. If you want to buy one like a souvenir, you can ask the tour guide from your travel tour company to help.

5.Flip flops and sandals all the year.

Burma people have a special culture, it is to take off shoes and socks before coming inside the house or pagodas. They believe that it is more polite when you walk barefoot to visit sacred places. With this culture, it is difficult and takes time if they wear normal shoes, so it is funny that a polite man with bright suit wears flip-flop instead of shiny shoes. To be convenient during Burma tours, tourist should prepare flip flops instead of high heels and normal shoes.

6.New and clean money

Burma travel companies suggest that visitors should always keep their money clean and new. There is quite interesting opinion that clean money values more than the dirty one. Never fold your money and put in the pocket. Even such a small tear on your bank note, it reduces your money’s value. Travelers can keep money in a small bag or in a book to keep banknotes flat.

7.Eating culture

Spending holidays in Burma, you should care about their eating culture.
Burma people always wash their hands carefully before eating. They just have 2 main meals: breakfast at exactly 9 am, and dinner at 5 pm. Lunch is just a slight meal. Their food is quite dry, so prepare water if you are not used to with this. They have main dishes with shrimp and vegetable.
According to Burma ancient people, eating with the right hand is polite. Because Burma people use left hands for personal hygiene. To be a smart tourist, never pay money for food, clothes or anything with your left hand. The best way to do is used both hands, in case you forget which hand to use, it is also more polite and accepted in any countries.

Be a smart visitor and beloved by local people are what you need to have a successful trip. These tips can help you enjoy yourself when taking part in any Burma tours, at wherever in this country. What you need now after good preparation is just a visa to Burma, to start your journey to discover this Burma

Tours to Saigon, Vietnam- Where should you visit ?

It couldn’t be better if you have a chance to go on Vietnam tours to Saigon in two weeks. Because this city is quite unlike any other city in the world. There are many colorful things waiting for you in this cities, which need moths to explore.

Below are top sights and must things you should try once you go on the private tours in Vietnam especially Saigon.

Visit the War Remnants Museum

Photo: Tripadvisor

This is the best place to go when you have Vietnam travel tour packages to Ho Chi Minh city (HCMC). The War Remnants Museum is the one that sticks in mind of many visitors when they come to this city. It is not alike other war memorials around the world such as Pearl Harbour or Hiroshima. You will see the harsh realities and the imagery of what happen during the Vietnam War. You could go out the museum without joy but I’m sure that you can get a lot of valuable experience.

Take a day trip to the Cu Chi Tunnels

Photo: Bunnik

You should go to the Cu Chi Tunnels because the museum cannot give you enough harsh realities and the imagery about Vietnam War. This is a large warren of tunnels which was built by the Vietnamese during the war. The tunnels were lived by thousands of Vietnamese, it is also the witness of many combats went down there. This place is pretty fascinating and spooky. You can come to this place in less than 1 hour from Saigon when you have a chance to go on Vietnam tours.

Visit the Ben Thanh market

Photo: travelfish

Ben Thanh market is a unique market I’ve ever come when I have tour packages in Vietnam. You not only can buy fruits, vegetables but also can be served food in this market. Sounds like a small supermarket, sure? The most memory of me about this market maybe the fruits. Some kinds of fruits not only have strange look but also have a strange smell.

Have you ever try durian? It is not only famous in Thailand but also a local fruit sold a lot in Ben Thanh market. I really like durian but my boyfriend does not. He even couldn’t smell its smell. The hostels I lived even didn’t let us bring durian onto their premises because of the stench so that if you want to buy some fruits to eat, you should buy more rambutan – a local fruit too.

Day trip to the Mekong Delta

Photo: iccse

Another place you shouldn’t forget when you have a chance to go on Vietnam tours in two weeks is the Mekong Delta. There are many interesting things waiting for you to explore here such as:
• Boat along the small canals of the Mekong Delta at My Tho
• Meet local fishermen then see how villagers make banana and coconut leaf cakes
• Enjoy fresh river food in the heart of the Mekong
• Walk across the famous Monkey Bridge
• Enjoy traditional southern Vietnamese folk music
• Visit the 4 fabled islets of Unicorn, Dragon, Tortoise and Phoenix

All of above things are really excited and unforgettable. Plan your Vietnam tours carefully to have enough time to try all these tasks.

Drink Vietnamese coffee and seek out some street Bia Hoi

Photo: foody

There are two kinds of drink you shouldn’t miss the chance to try when you have a chance to go on the Vietnam tours, they are coffee and Bia Hoi (a special kind of beer you ever try). This kind of drink you can find easily in every corner of Saigon city with many different prices based on where you drink.

I once tried Trung Nguyen coffee after asked a local where he went for coffee and followed his direction. I never forget the taste of such velvety smooth, bold and rich creamy coffee.

And I tried Bia Hoi several times when I followed private tours of Vietnam. This drink is very popular with local people not only in this city but all around Vietnam. This could be the best if you drink it in a street side restaurant, sat on a child-sized plastic chair while hearing the whizz of motorbikes. You never can forget this memory once you got a chance to try.

Thingyan Water Festival- Burma Luxury Holiday

How do you define a Burma luxury holiday? Joining a tour of Thingyan Water Festival will offer you the best definition. You might have no idea how it will go beyond the wonderful.

Thingyan Water Festival is a Burma luxury holiday worth enjoying. It is to celebrate the beginning of New Year in Burma. It lasts for three days, from 13th to 16th April. Songkran festival in Thailand or Singhalese New Year in Sri Lanka can be unforgettable moments in your life, but Thingyan will be much more appealing. Here is some useful guide to make the most out of the tour:

THE INITIARY

In the early morning, the water fight will break the silence with loud cheers and horns across all the streets. You can imagine hundreds of people, including Burmese and foreigners, are parading eagerly for the forth-coming Water Festival. Among are two youngsters standing on a wooden pole, trying to keep balance and hammering a bell. Following them are monks asking for temple offerings from people at the both sides of the streets.

At exactly 9.00 AM, the festival will officially kick off! Merry-makers keep throwing water on each other until a lunch break at 12.00 PM. Then, you should take time to dry or change clothes before getting soaking wet again from 15:00 PM to 18:00 PM.

IN BURMA, DO AS BURMESE DO!

Thingyan Water Festival actually starts with a ceremony called Burmese Zodiac. At the temple (one of the best places to see in Burma), you have to pour water on the statue of the animal representing your birth year, at the foot of a Buddha statue: nine small cups of water on the Buddha statue, then five small cups of water on the fhat statue right below the Buddha. This ceremony plays the most important role in Thingyan Festival. It is believed to protect people away from evils and offer us wealth, health and luck in the next year, which makes this become a true Burma luxury holiday.

9:00 AM: HERE COMES THE FIGHT!

As soon as the clock strikes nine, the whole tranquil streets totally turn into a party at the size of a town. Every corner of the street is cramped with small stages, water pools, and hosepipes. People, especially the young, throw water on anyone who passes by. There is no exception at all! You can feel this unbelievable, but a riot is really being run.

12:00 PM – 15:00 PM: TIME FOR LUNCH BREAK

At the mid-day, people will put down all of buckets, hoses,.. on their hands to get some rest. It is also time to change clothes. However, do not expect to stay dry even for some minutes. You can get wet again on walking across a corner. All you can do is to run as fast as possible and wish no child will come towards with a bucket of water. The faster, the driver. (It is advisable for you to bring 2-3 sets of clothes per day.)

15:00 PM– 18:00 PM: GOLD TIME FOR WATER PARTY

At any city in Burma, you can find a huge stage set up on the main road which all transport means will pass by. It is equipped with high powered water pipes, ready to soak anyone. The ideal position makes this kind of stage become the center of water fights. It welcomes all people, even drunken ones, comes and make huge crowds for soaking.

After 18:00 PM: APPEALING CONCERTS AT NIGHT

Now the main stage will become a center of live music which is televised and broadcast. You will listen to local bands singing or celebrities speaking. This is a chance to stay quite dry despite no guarantee. However, there is no denying in that this makes your Burma luxury holiday unforgettable.

THE END OF THINGYAN

On the third day – the last day – of Thingyan, people will welcome the evening of the lunar New Year by fighting from early morning till late night. However, there is no surprise that fewer people join the fight and they look tired after following what to do in Burma so hard. Those days of the festival have already taken a lot of energy from merry-makers. Luckily, your holiday ends with a countdown and fireworks lighting up the skies, celebrating a happy new year.

BONUS: STAY HUNGRY DURING THINGYAN

During three or four days of the Water Festivals, you will find it difficult to buy necessities including food. Don’t worry, generous local people will continuously offer you free food. After the festival, you can probably not forget – the Thingyan special treat. It is a kind of sweet made of sticky rice balls, flavored with coconut and filled with jagger palm sugar. At temples, these sweets are cooked quickly in boiling water by helpers.

We believe that Water Festival will make your definition of a Burma luxury holiday go beyond any limits of the wonderful. Book the tickets and get ready to enjoy Burma holidays now!

Suggestion for Your Best Yangon Sightseeing Tours

If you are wondering which city to visit in Myanmar, Yangon is always a good idea. To make most of Yangon sightseeing tours, you had better arrive there in the middle of April. Thingyan Water Festival in Yangon will make you happier than ever.

If you want to express “Happy New Year!” in the Burmese way, why don’t enjoy the Thingyan Water Festival from 13 to 18th April in the city of Yangon? Taking one of Yangon sightseeing tours around the city of beautiful colonial buildings and appealing pagodas, you will have a deep insight to one of the biggest festivals in Myanmar. Here is an ideal daily routine:

DAY 1 (13 APRIL): YANGON

Welcome to Yangon on Thingyan Akyo Day – the eve of Thingyan. On the first day, you should quickly head for your hotel and have lunch before a visit to the main sites in this city. Taking a round-the-city tour to the magnificent Sule Pagoda, the incredible mix of faded colonial buildings and many other places of interests is among ideal tours in Yangon.

However, thing that will capture your attention right away is probably merit making and religious activities. And at nightfall, you can probably not stop falling in love with this city due to celebrations. All of streets and villages at that time will be full of small wooden stages and the atmosphere will be filled with excitement and happiness from singing and dancing performances, making this become of the most memorable Yangon sightseeing tours. Like other Burmese all over the country, the Yangon people throw water on each other during the Thingyan Water Festival. They are in the belief that bad things will be washed away and the new year is coming with health, wealth and luck.

It is a good idea to take some photos of the festival, but remember to prepare plastics bags to keep your camera as well as important belongings dry and safe. It is not exaggerating to say that taking part in this festival requires much careful preparation. Make sure to wear water-proof clothes and shoes. And it can be unpleasant that most markets, offices, and restaurants in Myanmar are closed during the Thingyan Festival, so you had better finish all stuff related to business, transaction or shopping before its start.

To call it a day, you should treat yourselves with dinner of delicious Burmese cuisine.

DAY 2 (14 APRIL): YANGON

Today is expected to be the most memorable in your Yangon sightseeing tours, called Thingyan Akya Nei (the day of Thingyan)! Right after a symbolic cannon fire, people come out with pots of water that they playfully throw onto each other. You can imagine the whole city has just turned into a big fight, not mention a riot.

You can rent an open-air truck to enjoy the Thingyan Water Festival like Myanmar locals, one of things to do in Myanmar. It might be difficult to move because everyone is travelling from this place to another to splash and to be splash, just like you. Another striking feature in Yangon streets is platforms and stages erecting along the roads. They are equipped with a lot of water hoses, ready to soak anyone pass by. They are also places where singing and dancing performances will take place later. You are really encouraged to join the locals!

DAY 3 (15 APRIL): YANGON – NGWE SAUNGE

Your wonderful tour are still going on today – Thingyan Akyat Nei. However, insteading of enjoying Myanmar’s lively water festival in Yangon, you can head for the peaceful and tranquil beach Ngwe Saung and celebrate the water fight at a different pace.

Approximately 190 kilometers from Yangon (a 4- or 5-hour drive), Ngwe Saung Beach is located on the Bay of Bengal. This is home to clear blue waters, white-crested waves, and unspoiled natural surroundings. Here, Mother Nature offers you a chance to admire its beautiful natural scenery and world-class hotels.

DAYS 4 (16 APRIL): NGWE SAUNG

The festival has turned its fourth day called Thingyan Akyat Nei. There are still celebrations of the festival here but on a much smaller scale. All you desire to is keep relaxing on the beach at Ngwe Saung. You can either swim in the ocean or lie in the sun at your seaside hotel. For dinner, there are plenty of food for you to choose, especially delicious fresh-caught seafood. You can find the beach busier because there are more and more people including locals and foreigners coming to enjoy a holiday away from the Yangon city center.

DAYS 5 (17 APRIL): NGWE SAUNG – YANGON

The festival day today is called Thingyan A Tat Nei and the celebrations continue. It’s time to say goodbye to leisure time in Ngwe Sauing and come back to Yangon for the last day of the festival.

DAY 6 (18 APRIL): YANGON

Myanmar’s Thingyan Water Festival has seen its last day – Hnit Hsan Ta Yet Nei, the actual New Year’s Day. After days of chaotics, peace are now everywhere in Yangon and Myanmar. All Buddhists throughout the country show respect to elders, cleanse Buddha images, and clean the pagodas. That is the way to follow the peaceful path of Buddha.

Shwedagon Pagoda is one of the ideal destinations for your to observe the Buddhist way of life and meritorious deeds of the Burmese. Here, merit seekers release birds from cages or release fish into nearby lakes and ponds so that they can “earn merit,” an important aspect of their religion.

Also, Buddhists spend time looking after their elder friends and family members by washing and bathing them with special soap made from acacia fruit and the bark of the linden tree. Observing Buddhist New Year’s Day at Shwedagon Pagoda is such an enriching and enlightening experience that your Yangon sightseeing tours can be completed.

Suggestion for Your Best Yangon Sightseeing Tours Ever

If you are wondering which city to visit in Burma, Yangon is always a good idea. To make most of Yangon sightseeing tours, you had better arrive there in the middle of April. Thingyan Water Festival in Yangon will make you happier than ever.

DAY 1 (13 APRIL): YANGON

It is a good idea to take some photos of the festival, but remember to prepare plastics bags to keep your camera as well as important belongings dry and safe. It is not exaggerating to say that taking part in this festival requires much careful preparation. Make sure to wear water-proof clothes and shoes. And it can be unpleasant that most markets, offices, and restaurants in Burma are closed during the Thingyan Festival, so you had better finish all stuff related to business, transaction or shopping before its start.

To call it a day, you should treat yourselves with dinner of delicious Burmese cuisine.

DAY 2 (14 APRIL): YANGON

You can rent an open-air truck to enjoy the Thingyan Water Festival like Burma locals, one of things to do in Burma. It might be difficult to move because everyone is travelling from this place to another to splash and to be splash, just like you. Another striking feature in Yangon streets is platforms and stages erecting along the roads. They are equipped with a lot of water hoses, ready to soak anyone pass by. They are also places where singing and dancing performances will take place later. You are really encouraged to join the locals!

DAY 3 (15 APRIL): YANGON – NGWE SAUNGE

Your wonderful tour are still going on today – Thingyan Akyat Nei. However, insteading of enjoying Burma’s lively water festival in Yangon, you can head for the peaceful and tranquil beach Ngwe Saung and celebrate the water fight at a different pace.

DAYS 4 (16 APRIL): NGWE SAUNG

DAYS 5 (17 APRIL): NGWE SAUNG – YANGON

The festival day today is called Thingyan A Tat Nei and the celebrations continue. It’s time to say goodbye to leisure time in Ngwe Sauing and come back to Yangon for the last day of the festival.

DAY 6 (18 APRIL): YANGON

Burma’s Thingyan Water Festival has seen its last day – Hnit Hsan Ta Yet Nei, the actual New Year’s Day. After days of chaotics, peace are now everywhere in Yangon and Burma. All Buddhists throughout the country show respect to elders, cleanse Buddha images, and clean the pagodas. That is the way to follow the peaceful path of Buddha.

Visiting the Rock Church in Vietnam Sapa Tour

Sa Pa Rock Church is an important destination for tourists who want to experience an interesting Vietnam Sapa tour. The old church in Sa Pa is an interesting place for tourists to experience during their tours in Vietnam. Indeed, this place brings to visitors the feeling of mental values and impression of an ancient architecture. The place is famous for its romantic scenes of love markets at the beginning of the year. Besides, the church also brings to tourists experiences about mental values that you can hardly feel in other places.

Located right in the center of Sa Pa city, the Sa Pa rock church was built in 1895. It is considered as the most well-preserved ancient French architectural relic and definitely a remarkable note in a tour in Sapa. The church has been repaired to be an outstanding symbol of the foggy Sa Pa town, so it is highly worthy to come here for a Sapa tour in Vietnam.

The old church in Sa Pa is also known as the Sa Pa rock church, Sa Pa stone church or the name “the Church of our Lady Man Coi”, a highly interesting place for any Vietnam typical tour. It is located in a prime location, with Ham Rong Mountain shielding in its back and a large and flat land area in the front. The geographical advantages of the relic lead to more investments in broadening its cultural constructions to meet the demand of social activities of the citizens and tourists to come for a Vietnam Sapa tour.

From all directions around the relic, tourists can easily watch it and two other French architecture works including the Chu Cau mansion (renamed as Hoang Lien Hotel now) and the former District Commission building (rebuilt as the Lao Cai Tourism Information Center now). All of the three make up an equilateral triangle of unique architecture designs in the French style. Going there to visit in the summer, tourists can find a place to remove the hot and uncomfortable weather and feel the cool and fresh air in the mountainous Sa Pa town instead.

To Christians, it is very spiritually important to choose the right direction for the church. The head of the relic is toward the East, where the Sun rises, to receive the light source of God. The back of the church is in the West, where God Kito was born. It is a very interesting thing to know in a Sapa tour in Vietnam.

The Sa Pa rock church is the most well-preserved remaining relic of French architectures at the moment in Sa Pa. It is right in the center of Sa Pa town. There is a large stadium in front of the relic. People in this town gather here every day to exchanges goods, which can be seen as an outstanding feature in any Vietnam travel tour package. Therefore, the purchase activities are carried out here in an extremely hustle and bustle manner, which also makes your Vietnam Sapa tour more interesting.

The total area of the relic is up to 6,000 square meters, which helps to provide places for all function parts namely: church, parsonage, monks’ house, angels’ house, breeding area, the front yard, fence, and Holy ground, each of them has its own attraction for a unique tour in Vietnam. The buildings of parsonage are designed to be parallel with the church areas, which consists of 5 large rooms.

The Sa Pa Rock church area consists of 7 rooms, each of them is more than 500 square meters. The part of Bell Tower is 20 meters in height. There is a 1.5-meter-height bell inside. This bell was made in 1932; its weight is half a ton and its echo is audible in a radius of nearly 1 kilometer. Nowadays, there are still carved marks about some contents like the number of people who donated to make the bell on its surface. The shelf under the bell is made of Vietnam Hinoki wood, which is remained in quality after the restoration.

The Sa Pa rock church is an interesting destination for many tourists in every Sapa tour from Hanoi or every corner in Vietnam. Although having been restored and repaired several times due to the consequences of wars and the harsh destruction of nature, the church still remains its charm and the soul for a religious architecture work.

Never skip this dream place for tourism in your list of interesting destinations. Sa Pa is more than a town; it is a city of unique culture and wonderful nature. Once coming to a Vietnam Sapa tour, you will not feel regretful having spent time and money for one worthy experience. And Sa Pa Rock Church should also be noted if you choose Sa Pa for your destination in this holiday.

Prepare to Thingyan Water Festival for Best Myanmar tours

You might find out one of the best Myanmar tours to enjoy in the next few days, but it is advisable for tourists to spend time preparing carefully. Especially when you come to Myanmar for festivals like Thingyan, your preparation can never be enough.

Want to have the best Myanmar tours? Joining festivals is the best choice for you! Festivals are the distinguishing cultural feature in Myanmar. Hardly a month goes by without Myanmar people (Burmese) celebrating a particular festival. Purposes or meanings of festivals are varied; they can be made for merry-making, enhancing traditions, preserving religions, competition or commerce.

One of the most outstanding festivals in Myanmar is Thingyan Water Festival, which takes place in April and is considered as the merriest one. Here are some guidelines on making the most of Thingyan Water Festival an have a luxury Myanmar tour:

1. GET READY TO BE SOAKING WET

Thingyan Water Festival means being thrown water from every single direction and getting extremely wet. People can use anything to keep and throw water to others; let’s take squirts, tin cans, bowls, buckets, sprinklers, garden watering pipes and fire-hoses as examples. Whether you intend to join the festival or not, you will definitely not be an exception. In other words, no one who pass by Thingyan can avoid being thrown water by merry-makers; especially when you are a foreigner, you will be the centre of attention. In that case, do not get angry but smile delightedly! That will surely make this become one of the best Myanmar tours for you to tell your friends.

2. SO, WHAT TO WEAR?

To come safely through the wetness, you are advised not to put jeans on because they will be heavy with water. Say “No” to flip-flops and high-heels or else you will get injured. It is difficult to walk on wet long roads or getting in a car. Instead, strapped sandals or light shoes are the best choices including this water festival. Besides, bringing along some accessories is advisable. They might be suggested by Myanmar travel guide:

– Sun glasses (Be aware of getting lost or broken)
– A hat
– Sun cream

And of course, all other accessories you take must be water-proof.

3. FORGET ABOUT BUSINESS:

During Thingyan, if you think of going to somewhere for business, you are the only to do so. It is because all the offices and enterprises close down for three or four days to have some fun in Thingyan, instead of making money. In this way, you should have finished all stuff related to business, transaction or shopping before the start of Thingyan. It can be somehow unpleasant, but you will then be served with full of water, full of lights, skits, dancing and singing beyond midnight.

4. ORGANISE TRANSPORTATION MEANS BEFORE IT’S TOO LATE:

You will hardly find transport to travel before, during and even a few days after the festival. To make it worse, all flight seats have been booked and all left behind are double-priced tickets. That is why you should book transportation means as soon as possible. However, if you can not reserve tickets in full buses or flight, you should travel by train because tickets can only be bought one day beforehand.

5. DO IT AGAIN WITH ACCOMMODATION

Again, you should book accommodation in advance if you do not want to be homeless for a few days. This is because a huge number of Burmese people come back home from big cities for merry-making. Also, a great deal of travelers can go to visit somewhere else to experience the festival. Their destinations might be Yangon, Mandalay, Bagan and Inle. Beaches are also ideal tourist attractions. The more people, the more expensive the room price is, double or triple maybe.

6. SMILE AT ALL CHAOS

Apart from getting wet through and difficulties in access to necessities, tourists can be faced up with an absolute riot. Of course, all you have to do is smile to yourselves “This is among the best Myanmar tours ever!”. Thingyan Festival is described as a party at a size of town. Throughout that huge party, many temporary stages are set up on main roads, equipped with pipes for watering any passer-by. Merry-makers even get crowded into jeeps, trucks or cars, taking a round-the-city tour and poking others with full of water. Again, just accept that kind of tour or you can even join this fun in order to enjoy Myanmar holidays.

7. AFTER THINGYAN…

It will come as no surprise if you get hangovers or throat after a few days of screaming and shouting during the festival. You should also be careful with drinking too much alcohol and having some unexpected fights. So, get yourselves equipped with medical treatment and insurance.

Thingyan Water Festival is the way Myanmar people celebrate a new year coming. Join with them and you will have one of the best Myanmar tours full of fun and unforgettable memories.

Quy Nhon- Heaven for Backpackers in Vietnam Unique Tours

Recently, Quy Nhon, the coastal city in the middle of Viet Nam, has become a favorite destination in the dream list of Vietnam luxurious places to come of many backpackers and tourists. All of its outstanding natural features such as the marvelous mountains, long sandbank along the coastal line soaked with sunbeams and wonderful sceneries make an unforgettable impression in tourists to come in this Heaven in the real life. For Vietnam unique tours, do not forget to note down this place due to its pristine and mysterious beauty that no other can compare to.

Located 25 kilometers far from the city center, with its deep blue clean water, white sand combining with some rocks emerging on the water surface, Ky Co beach still maintains its pristine beauty made up with natural lakes created by many cliffs and waves from the sea. Coming to this place among choices for Vietnam unique tours, tourists may not only have a chance to swim with clear and cool salty water but also take part in some adventure games such as climbing up the rocky rapids and jumping down to the sea to experience the feeling of flying in the air before immersing the body into the water and making up cool white.

Around Quy Nhon city, there still exists many Cham ruins, namely 14 towers such as twin tower, Canh Tien tower, Duong Long tower, etc. Reaching this destination for one of the unique tours in Vietnam, tourists also have a chance to explore the special and unique culture which has lasted for 4 decades. This is a favorite shooting scene for numerous photographers and backpackers as well.

Quy Nhon is also well known for its uniquely beautiful isles, each of them has its own attractive features that distinguish it from others. For instance, Hon Kho is an extremely pristine beautiful isle whereas Cu Lao Xanh gives tourists an overwhelming impression about the majestic appearance of mountains and sea. What an outstanding destination in Vietnam unique tours of any backpacker.

At the moment, Cu Lao Xanh is only supplied with electricity in two-time slots: 9h – 11h and 17h – 23h, which is highly suitable for those wanting to explore the wild life near the sea. Tourists can go trekking to the lighthouse, the flagpole and the fairy well before sightseeing the unexplored beaches or diving down the water to watch colorful coral reefs and sea fish. During a north-to-south Vietnam tour, the moments like this are really valuable.

If coming to Quy Nhon, tourists should not skip Eo Gio, which is really remarkable for a local tour in Vietnam. It belongs to a channel in Nhon Ly commune. Eo Gio is surrounded with bow shaped mountains. Because of the topography featuring like a horse saddle, which is located between two mountain peaks near the sea, it is named “Eo Gio”, meaning a channel filled with the wind. With its pristine beauty and ranges of mountain and rock falls in various shapes surrounded, this place looks like a picture drew by nature whose beauty can only be seen entirely from a high altitude.

The most stunning feature of Eo Gio is the rocks and water. Tourists should not skip this place in their unique tours in Vietnam. The abrasion of water and wind has created 19 unique bird nest caves. Once here, tourists can experience the scenes, lie on a large rock to listen to the sound of waves. They can even take part in some interesting activities such as going fishing, diving to watch coral reefs, swimming, etc.

Going along the rocky slopes, tourists can be easily attracted by the Da De rocky area with its special feature. According to many local citizens, one thing to note about this place is its name, which derives from the fact that the rocks here never disappear; there are more and more rocks growing every day. This is highly interesting for any local tour package in Vietnam.

With the increasing development of tourism, the need for accommodation grows as well for a luxurious holiday in Vietnam. As the result, services in Quy Nhon also appears in a great deal, which meets the demand of nature exploration and sceneries sightseeing of tourists.

There are resorts, 5-star hotels with the view toward the sea. They also bring to tourists new experiences. High-quality services in the resorts can satisfy the elite class to look for relaxing space of Vietnam luxury in coastal areas.

Realizing this fact, the ecotourism FLC Quy Nhon Beach & Golf Resort has been built on an area of more than 1,300 hectares. This resort includes 1,500 hotel rooms, an international conference center, 1,500 golf courses, 36 Eco parks, spiritual areas… equipped with adequate international standardized services for Vietnam luxurious holiday packages of any tourist.

At this time, the project has finished and has been run in the first stage with 100 villas, 326 hotel apartments, 18-hole linked-like golf courses, restaurants, bars, cafés, spas, gyms, etc. All are ready to serve for a luxurious Vietnam tour. From FLC Quy Nhon Golf Resort, tourists can witness the beauty of dawn and twilight on the windy long coastline.

In the forthcoming time, the project will start its second stage with hundreds of shophouses, shoptels and villas in Nhon Hoi, one place of the FLC Quy Nhon Beach & Golf Resort project. This will be the new interesting and modern experiences for tourists apart from pristine sceneries of the destination with other names in Vietnam unique tours.

Preparation for Thingyan Water Festival to be your Best Burma Tours

You might find out one of the best Burma tours to enjoy in the next few days, but it is advisable for tourists to spend time preparing carefully. Especially when you come to Burma for festivals like Thingyan, your preparation can never be enough.

Want to have the best Burma tours? Joining festivals is the best choice for you! Festivals are the distinguishing cultural feature in Burma. Hardly a month goes by without Burma people (Burmese) celebrating a particular festival. Purposes or meanings of festivals are varied; they can be made for merry-making, enhancing traditions, preserving religions, competition or commerce.

One of the most outstanding festivals in Burma is Thingyan Water Festival, which takes place in April and is considered as the merriest one. Here are some guidelines on making the most of Thingyan Water Festival an have a luxury Burma tour:

1. GET READY TO BE SOAKING WET

2. SO, WHAT TO WEAR?

– Sun glasses (Be aware of getting lost or broken)
– A hat
– Sun cream

And of course, all other accessories you take must be water-proof.

3. FORGET ABOUT BUSINESS:

4. ORGANISE TRANSPORTATION MEANS BEFORE IT’S TOO LATE:

5. DO IT AGAIN WITH ACCOMMODATION

6. SMILE AT ALL CHAOS

Apart from getting wet through and difficulties in access to necessities, tourists can be faced up with an absolute riot. Of course, all you have to do is smile to yourselves “This is among the best Burma tours ever!”. Thingyan Festival is described as a party at a size of town. Throughout that huge party, many temporary stages are set up on main roads, equipped with pipes for watering any passer-by. Merry-makers even get crowded into jeeps, trucks or cars, taking a round-the-city tour and poking others with full of water. Again, just accept that kind of tour or you can even join this fun in order to enjoy Burma holidays.

7. AFTER THINGYAN…

Thingyan Water Festival is the way Burma people celebrate a new year coming. Join with them and you will have one of the best Burma tours full of fun and unforgettable memories.

Myanmar Tours ideas in 2017

HIT Myanmar Tours, a local tour operator in Myanmar, has reviewed the last year of 2016 and announce the trend of Myanmar tours by oversea travelers in 2017. The most nominated tendency in 2017 is predicted that to keep the mainstream ideas since 2016 while adding some new itineraries as the result of Myanmar more open to the remaining part of the word.

New ideas for your Myanmar Tours in 2017

1. Myanmar tours with Indochina countries

After few years of opening, many regional airline carriers established direct flights to and from Yangon. The most popular ideas for your pre and post tours in Myanmar is Bangkok (Thailand) and Sai gon (Vietnam). Cheap airlines like Air Asia and Vietjet Air opened daily flights to connect those cities. From Bangkok, you can easily connect to your international flights with some stopover trips. From Sai gon, you can explore Mekong delta or world-class beaches via some hour’s road transfer. That beaches in Vietnam will definitely fulfill beach lovers when they finally find beaches in Myanmar have to shut in the summer time.

Bangkok and Sai gon also offer the best and cheapest ways to connect to Siem Reap (Cambodia), Kula Lumpur (Malaysia) or Singapore.

2. Short but insight excursions for ocean cruise passengers

The year of 2016 witnessed the blooming numbers of huge, oceania cruise ships visiting Myanmar – Thilawa port – 1-hour drive from Yangon. The docking durations vary from 1 day up to 3 days. Those durations are not long enough to cover the whole overland package tours but they are enough to see an insight picture at a stop.

The top loved off shore excursions are Yangon city tours, and its surroundings like Bago, Dala, and Twante. The longer, overnight stay docking will offer its passengers traveling further with overnight trips in Yangon or Bagan or Inle lake. Experiences of those excursions are exotic and luxurious.

3. Myanmar Adventure tours

Myanmar adventure tours are emerging as a star in 2016 of our trips. Even though the adventurous activities in Myanmar is quite limited in trekking, hiking, and cycling. Water related sports mostly in Mergui with diving and snorkeling. The most popular trekking trails are in Inle Lake and surroundings such as Kalaw and Loikaw with stunning natural beauty. Adding to those places, Putao is the most wanted spot with breathtaking views under Himalaya shadows. However, due to its location shared the border with China and political policies, Putao sometimes is shut down without prior notice.

Biking in Myanmar is the top activity in an adventure in Myanmar. It’s easy to join and the hardship can be customized to fit various physical conditions. For the novice, bikers can take some days biking in the package tour in Myanmar and the remaining parts are with private vehicles. For more professional ones, you can take the grand over land Myanmar on bikes with up to 50 – 60km biking per day.

Best Places in Myanmar are still very hot

1. Bests of Myanmar tour and its variations

This was the hot picked tour during the whole year of 2016. After few years of opening, Myanmar was just known as the whole country and most of the travelers’ ideas wanted to catch its best places to visit. Then the tour Bests of Myanmar in 12 days covering Yangon, Bagan, Mandalay, Inle Lake, and Ngapali in a very nice itinerary was mostly selected.

This Myanmar tour has many variations – shorter or longer versions – very much depending on the traveler’s schedule. The most popular variations seen are the shorter ones – in 10days and the longer ones in 14 – 15 days. This will be much better options for those ones having an easy travel plan because that longer versions definitely give more inside look at each stops.

2. Myanmar photography tour

Myanmar country is absolutely beautiful and can satisfy professional photographers. HIT Myanmar Tours see many travelers who actually are freelance photographers hunted for lifetime moments in Myanmar.

The top favorite topics are portrait photos, natural scenery (such as in Inle lake), stupas and pagodas photos – especially in Bagan, sunset hunting, photo shooting from balloons and ethnic people. The masterpieces from those photography tours can astonish any viewers.

Late 2016, HIT Myanmar tour was honored to serve Mr. Michael Kennedy a professional photographer for 20 years, primarily a photojournalist. He achieved publication in many newspapers and magazines, including Sports Illustrated, a prominent American magazine. And he shared these stunning images of Myanmar.

3. Myanmar biking tour

A cycling tour is a top favorite adventure in Myanmar this last year. The mix of different terrains including semi-safari, sandy road, mountain trails, and quiet village roads is a real enjoyable challenge to riders.

The best cycling Myanmar itinerary is often in 10 – 14 days covering all top things to see in Myanmar with average cycling distance around 30 – 50km per day. The riders are expected to relatively fit in physical health. The passenger used a bicycle to traverse around the country with a support truck escorted along.

For those ones less active, the short bicycle trip added at each destination as active intervals during sightseeing trips. The mode of transport mostly was private cars and flight to connect among main spots.

4. Hot air balloon and Balloon festival

Despite the fact that the prices for hot air Balloon are quite expensive – around 300$ per person per 45 minutes ride, this activity option was still hot picked in Myanmar tours. The balloon was often overbooked and the booking in several months in advance was always advised to travelers.

The hot air balloon strongly depends on weather conditions and only run from October to April next year. However, the view from the balloon, especially balloon over Bagan, is so inevitably superb that no one wants to miss this if they can afford it. The passenger must inform their weight when booking hot air balloons. The cancellation due to bad weather will be refunded.

5. Myanmar tours with river cruises.

The river cruises in Myanmar mostly connects three main places Yangon, Bagan, and Mandalay via the giant Irrawaddy River. The most popular rout is between Bagan and Mandalay and vice versa. That means instead of taking flights between two places, the travelers would board on a river cruise and stay overnight in a private, en-suite cabin for 2 or 3 days. The cruise itinerary includes with several short excursions to discover local life along river banks.

This is a very good alternative to classic travel in Myanmar that mostly use the domestic flights. In 2016, HIT Myanmar tours observed the good increase of those itineraries in Myanmar.

6. Myanmar beach breaks

The most beautiful beach of Myanmar is Ngapali beach with hot, sunshine weather all year round. This beach is very famous for its calm water and white sandy beach. Customers to Myanmar last year tended to add the beach stay by the end of their Myanmar holidays before ending up in Yangon. Ngapali beach can be connected by short domestic flights from all top places such as Inle Lake, Bagan, Mandalay or Yangon.

However, Ngapali beach is not regretfully available during summer time from May to Sep due to very bad weather of those months. This is the rainy season, the beach becomes muddy and most of the accommodation shut down. If you travel during this time, HIT Myanmar strongly recommends a short extension to Vietnam. The flight from Yangon to Sai gon (Vietnam) is cheap by Vietjet Air, the beaches with few hours road transfer such as Vung Tau, Mui Ne will surely get you lost in tropical heavens by their crystal water, silver waves, and tranquil coconuts, white and endless sand dunes.

Electric items in Myanmar

Once a British colonial country, Myanmar electrical system has not changing much since the old time. Travelling to this beautiful country require some attention so that you would be able to enjoy the best moment without worrying about power shortage or cut-off.

Prepare for your Myanmar tours will not be completed if you fail to keep your electronic items full charged. Your phone shut down when in emergent calls, your camera running out of battery when you are facing stunning views etc. just because you forget to bring with correct adapter. This guide will give you an insight view of Myanmar electric plugs for your best preparation of your Myanmar holiday.

Most of hotels will normally have two different sockets with many having the UK 3 flat pin as well as a 2 round pin. The electrical voltage is 220 – 230V and frequency is 50 Hz.

Below are some photo of electrical plugs for visual imagination:

Type 1:

This is a two-wire plug and has two round pins. It is popularly known as the Euro-plug and widely use internationally. Except in United Kingdom and Ireland. In Myanmar, this type of plug is sometimes find in local house only.

(Picture from: https://www.quantumbalancing.com/worldelectricity/electricityif.htm)

Type 2:

This plug has three large round pins in a triangular pattern and it was originally used in Great Britain before 1962. This type is normally used for big device/machine like fridges, air-conditions… uncommon in Myanmar hotel.

Type 3:

This type of plug is quite common in most hotel in Myanmar with 3 rectangle pins (1 is above and 2 flat) or 2 flat pins. The hotels booked by HIT Indochina are generally having this type of sockets.

How to use electric items in Myanmar

Most of hotels will normally have two different sockets with many having the UK 3 flat pin as well as a 2 round pin. The electrical voltage is 220 – 230V and frequency is 50 Hz.

Below are some photo of electrical plugs for visual imagination:

Type 1:

(Picture from: https://www.quantumbalancing.com/worldelectricity/electricityif.htm)

Type 2:

Type 3:

This type of plug is quite common in most hotel in Myanmar with 3 rectangle pins (1 is above and 2 flat) or 2 flat pins. The hotels booked by HIT Indochina are generally having this type of sockets.

Myanmar Struck By 6.8-Magnitude Earthquake: Roughly 187 Temples Spoiled

Last Wednesday a powerful earthquake struck at 5:04 p.m. local time in Central Myanmar. Its epicenter was 143 km west of Meiktila city, 25km east of Chauk town (which is 34km south of Old Bagan) and 58km northwest of Yenangyaung city.
A statement of the United States Geological Survey (USGS) said that the preliminary magnitude of the quake was at 6.8 and it hit at a depth of about 84.1 km. According to estimation from computer models of this organization, about 41.8 million people across the region may have felt the temblor, comprising 1.5 million people who may have experienced strong shaking. Tremors were felt across the region as well, involving in contiguous Bangladesh, eastern India, Thailand, Laos and China, making panicky residents rush onto streets.

As for Myanmar, its Department of Relief and Resettlement notified at least 4 people were deceased after the quake, including 1 dead in Pakokku and 2 deaths in Yenangyaung. Other details about casualties were not yet declared.

Myanmar’s Ministry of Information stated about 187 stupas, pagodas, temples and other structures were ruined or collapsed in several cases. Damage was reckoned in Salin town and majorly Bagan ancient town, which features more than 2,200 antique religious monuments.

Among the victims in Bagan, there are a few famed temples such as Htilominlo, Sulamani, Dhammayangyi and Pya That Gyi. However, no reports of damage of mainly visited temples in this archaeological site are available until now.

The earthquake also spread its affection to Mrauk U – another Myanmar attraction – after a 15-second-long shaking, resulting in damage to three Buddhist shrines, namely Koe Thaung temple, Yandan Man Aung pagoda and Yadana pagoda, flowing to U Kyaw Lwin, a senior official from Rakhine State’s Department of Relief and Resettlement.

The national organization is continuing to collect data of damage.

This natural disaster occurred while Myanmar Government is trying to submit Bagan to be inscribed on the list of UNESCO Heritages.

Here are some photos of the earthquake in Myanmar on 24th Aug 2016.

The earthquake struck at 5:04 p.m. local time

Most stupas have tips fell

Sulamani Temple after the earthquake

Dhammayangyi temple after the earthquake

The military cleans Htilominlo temple after the earthquake

Travelers are still able to visit Bagan.

Siem Reap in 25 Experiences: What to Do, See and Eat

From magnificent, gigantic Angkor Complex to effervescent streets, exciting markets and inspiring art & craft centers, this northwestern province is the most must-see attraction in Cambodia. Come for adorable monuments, stay for impressive culture, and experience for the unconventional local life.

Explore Angkor Wat

As Cambodia’s most iconic temple, Angkor Wat worship Vishnu, a supreme God within three primary deities in Hinduism. It is the most well-preserved temple in the area and still hold the role of the religious hub until now. The construction appears on Cambodian national flag, and is also the symbol and pride of Cambodia. Exploring this majestic, grandiose temple is commonly put on bucket list of many travelers, and the first thing you can consider to do on your travel to Siem Reap.

Spend a couple of days walking around Angkor Complex

Besides Angkor Wat, Angkor Complex includes more than 1,000 temples, tombs and other monuments with original Khmer architecture, rated as the largest religious complex in the world. There are three different kinds of entrance fee to visit Angkor Complex: $20 for one day, $40 for three days and $60 for seven days.

Take a hot air balloon ride to watch dawn or twilight over Angkor

An extraordinary way to reveal Angkor is beholding aerial view of Angkor Complex from hot air balloon, especially at sunrise or sundown. The higher the balloon flies, the more imposing the aerial view is. Remember to take some stunning photos of this magnificent sight to keep memories.

Tour around by tuk tuk

As tuk tuk is a common mode of transport in Siem Reap, travelers can use it to tour around the area, and to experience an unusual vehicle not available in your country as the locals. Noticeably, the native riders can be helpful tour guides.

Visit the art & craft center of Artisan D’Angkor

Artisan D’Angkor is a social business created to assist the rural youth in finding work near their home village, also to maintain and develop Khmer art through manufacturing handicraft products, in which comprise silk fabrics and garments, stone and wood carving, lacquer ware, polychrome products, silver plating and silk painting. As a real showcase for Khmer workmanship, this center actually revives traditional Khmer Arts and Crafts.

There is a diverse collection of unique hand-made, high-quality clothing and home furnishings in Artisan D’Angkor that travelers buy as presents for family and friends.

Learn to make pottery

This experience can be carried out at Khmer Ceramics & Fine Arts Center. A majority of the products in this center is made completely by hand by artisans and skilled craftsmen.

Take a walk around Old Market

So-called Phsar Chas, this market area is sited in the heart of Siem Reap and has over 100 stalls with a wide range of reasonably priced products is displayed. Silk scarves and wood carvings are the two most popular lines in here.

Shopping at Angkor night market

Angkor night market is a must-see place for ones who truly want to find out about Cambodian culture. It usually opens from 4p.m until midnight. It features numerous various lines, in which the most outstanding ones are scarves, silver items and jewellery.

Photo: My Shutter Speed

Fish pedicure

Massaging your foot by feeding your deed skin to hungry fish, this weird experience is called fish pedicure. Countless massage stores are in close proximity to each other on two sides of streets with the prices of $2-10.

Photo: The Roaming Family

Shopping at “Made in Cambodia” market

Organized on Saturday of the first and the third week of each month, “Made in Cambodia” market is an ideal address for travelers to shop typical handicraft products of Cambodia and immerse in effervescent live music performances.

Drink beer at Pub Street

Pub Street is a very cool place attracting a lot Western travelers. It includes two rows of adjoining restaurants, shops, pubs and bars, which are absolutely vibrant and animated at night. Almost of the pubs here open all day, but they are just actually active from 5p.m onward until midnight and even till morning of the next day.

Enjoy cocktail at Miss Wong restaurant

If you don’t like noisy, energetic music at pubs or bars, but still want to enjoy a luscious cocktail, let come to Miss Wong restaurant.

Take a culinary Vespa tour

Joining in this trip, traveler will have a superb chance to discover exotic Khmer cuisine and enjoy popular dishes of the country under lead of local guides. Combining with classic Vespa scooters threading through busting streets, the tour is expected to bring a lot of interesting experiences.

Taste bamboo cooked rice

This dish is an amazing speciality of Cambodia, cooked by the way that aromatic glutinous rice is put into fresh bamboo tubes, which is then slowly roasted over a glowing charcoal fire. With natural, mild flavor, bamboo cooked rice is deserved to put into list of awesome dishes should be tried.

Savor scorpion papaya salad at Bugs Café

To Cambodian people, food made of insects has highly nutritional value. Therefore, it’s very easy to enjoy strange insect dishes everywhere in Siem Reap, especially crunchy, delicious scorpion papaya salad at Bugs Café.

Watch circus at Phare

In evenings in Siem Reap, if you don’t know what to do to relax and entertain, this can be a great recommendation for you: coming to Phare – a famed circus, purchasing a ticket, and enjoying absorbing circus performances. Phare’s circus shows conspicuously have a blend of traditional and modern cultures, which is suitable for both children and adults.

Visit a floating village

To understand and feel the floating life on river of Cambodian residents, travelers can reach a floating village and explore around it on a small sampan boat. The two most well-known floating villages in Siem Reap are Kompong Phluk and Kompong Khleang.

Take a trip to Cambodian Landmine Museum

As one of must-see attractions in Sieam Reap, Cambodian Landmine Museum is very informative, effective, interesting and touching, with real individual stories, personal testimonials and pictures included that offer details about weapons and landmines used during the wars and its aftermaths. It not only gives travelers partly the sight of landmines in Cambodia and over Khmer Rouge, but also in the Vietnam war.

Stop by Senteurs D’Angkor

This brand supplies authentic fragrances and flavors of Cambodia. Indeed, Senteurs D’Angkor is a company producing and selling handmade, natural scented products such as natural body care cosmetics, traditional balms, candles, incenses and pure oils, along with native flavors like honey, jams, teas, coffees, rice liquors and a range of Cambodian spices. The ingredients are sourced from around the country and mixed in traditional ratios. Aromatic heritage of Cambodia maintained here consists of lotus, jasmine, frangipani and many others.

Stopping by Senterurs D’Angkor and you can pick up some unique products only in the country: body scrubs, massage oils, soaps, lip balms, etc.

Take a cooking class

A great way to search out Siem Reap cuisine is joining a cooking class, having fun culinary experiences and knowledge, and learning some special dishes to cook for your family and friends.

Add a photography tour

To ones who are professional photographers or just photography lovers, this tour will be a fabulous opportunity to capture spectacular photos, as it will take travelers to marvelous, honestly local but less-touristy locations.

Zip line

An adventurous activity for adventure travelers in Siem Reap is the zip line tour. Some zip line spots even offer view of Angkor from afar.

Ride horse

Riding horse is a delightful activity and a special way to reveal countryside in Siem Reap. An excellent choice for this experience is The Happy Ranch Horse Farm.

Photo: Never Ending Voyage

Talk with the locals

Cambodian inhabitants are exceedingly friendly to foreign travelers from hotel staff to drivers. Even in many circumstances they may be great travel guides.

Take a dip in a pool

Because the climate in Siem Reap is dry and hot, taking a dip in a pool is an awesome thing travelers can do after an exhausting day trip. Almost all the 4 and 5 star hotels have pools. Even though you don’t stay at such hotels, you can use other available pools with relatively low cost.

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Accessing Co To Island (Vietnam) Now Acceptable to Foreign Travelers without a Permit

Oversea travelers now can visit the border island of Co To without permission, said Mr. Hoang Ba Nam, Chairman of the People’s Committee of Co To district, Quang Ninh province.

Formerly, following to the Government’s Decree No. 71/2015/ND-CP dated September 3 2015, international travelers, though having full immigration procedures as passport and visa, must apply for a permit to enter border areas like Co To island.

Last July 15, Quang Ninh Provincial Police Department declared that Co To island district is a local tourism site in accordance with Decision 1288/QD-UBND promulgated by the People’s Committee of Quang Ninh province. Foreigners, who are inhabiting legally in Vietnam and have passports or valid alternative paper, now can reach the island without applying a permit. This results from the Decree 71 of the Government, which state that abroad travelers are exempt entry procedures when entering local tourism sites.

This move is expected to bring more international travelers as well as opportunities of development for the island next time.

Owning to the permit requirement, during the last years not many international tourists traveled to Co To. In the first six months of this year, the island has greeted about 15,000 visitors, most of them are domestic tourists. In 2016, it targets to welcome about 250,000 travelers.

Note: Co To is a beautiful, deserted and tranquil island near Ha Long city. On the same occasion cruising on Ha Long bay, you can spend 2 days on escaping to this island to gain agreeable time. This island offers travelers chances to discover Vietnamese fishing villages, walking or lying on a long, white, silent coast, cycling under on romantic trails covered with cool canopies, seeing one of the best dawn scenes in Vietnam, and enjoying incredible seafood.

Fishing boats on Co To island

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Motorcycling Ho Chi Minh Trail, Legend Keeps Telling Bigger Story

Motorcycling along Ho Chi Minh trail is a legend of motorcycling tours in Vietnam. This trail offers beautiful scenery plus the traffic not heavy by locals. The motorcycling adventure was first introduced by Active Travel Asia in 2006 and still has kept its record as the most loved riding trail across Vietnam. Till this summer of 2016, ActiveTravel ASIA decided to add a ride down to Mui Ne beach after our inspection. The spectacular winding road from Highland Central to the coastline absolutely stuns all motor riders with no doubt.

A quick look into the original programs

Originally, since 2006, we started launched the tour “Motorcycling Ho Chi Minh trail – Complete challenge” in 14 days, that started from Hanoi and ended in Ho Chi Minh City. This program was not only the extension of “Motorcycling Ho Chi Minh Trail – Half challenge” but leading you, our motor lovers, to a series of different visiting sites. That ensures none of our tour routes being overlapped completely by the others.

This overland Vietnam motor-biking tour took advantage of nature features as well as historical aspects then created an enjoyable trip. You would depart from Hanoi before wheeling along twisting mountainous trails of the marvelous Mai Chau valley and stopover at the famous Quang Binh province with well-known Phong Nha National park where the biggest and third largest caves over the world marked their names, Son Doong and Hang En caves.

Quang Binh is the place where your experience is transparent between nature and history. This is the first province of DMZ with Truong son cemetery, Dong Ha before the famed names of Ben Hai bridge, Dong Loc interjunction to be called in Ha Tinh province and finally Khe Sanh battlefield. We end up the historical ride in the ever-charming Hoi an.

The last part is Highland Central of Vietnam that merges the beauty of vast coffee plantations with the historical stories of the most aggressive battlefield during wartime in the 1960s – 1970s. The hot destinations await you are Kon Tum, Buon Ma Thuot, and Dalat before ending up in Sai gon or Ho Chi Minh City since 1976.

Winding routes from Central Highland to the beach, Mui Ne added

The newly added part of this Vietnam motor tour is a ride from Dalat to Phan Thiet (Mui Ne beach) that leads to one (01) extra day at the beach prior to the last ride to Sai gon. Mui Ne is so famous for its semi-dessert colorful sand dunes and crystal clear sea that makes Mui Ne the absolutely desirable destination, especially after a long ride over the mountainous area. We applied the changes as the pilot operation in April 2016, Thomas and his squad were our very first riders enjoyed the new update (see the photos of his journey here https://www.facebook.com/Active.Travel/photos/tab=album&album_id=10154310469699406). That looked really awesome.

To sum up, our “Ride Ho Chi Minh Trail – Complete Challenge” new version now lasts for 15 days, motorcycling across Vietnam from North to South on the Honda Future Neo 110CC by default. This is the typical motorbike – semi-automatic bikes – of Vietnam, where motorbikes are very much nominated. Bigger and dirt bikes are always available and the program can be customized for longer and harder experiences, too. The upgraded options (surcharges applied) are Yamaha XTZ 125C, Honda XR 250CC, and Suzuki DRZ 400 CC, of which Yamaha XTZ 125CC is most picked.

The price is 1560US$ per person without Support truck with briefing as follows:

Day 1: Arrival in Hanoi
Day 2: Hanoi – Mai Chau
Day 3: Mai Chau – Tan Ky (Nghe An)
Day 4: Tan Ky – Phong Nha National park
Day 5: Phong Nha – Hue, former citadel
Day 6: Hue – Hoi An
Day 7: Free time in Hoi An – a day off
Day 8: Hoi An – Phuoc Son
Day 9: Phuoc Son – Kon Tum
Day 10: Kon Tum – Buon Me Thuot
Day 11: Buon Ma Thuot – Lak Lake – Dalat
Day 12: Da Lat touring around
Day 13: Da Lat – Mui Ne
Day 14: Mui Ne – Sai Gon
Day 15: Saigon – Departure

The detailed program of the new version “Ride Ho Chi Minh trail – Complete Challenge” with day by day activities, riding routes are posted here. http://www.activetravel.asia/ride-ho-chi-minh-trail-complete-challenge-t355.html

The inclusion of the Ride along Ho Chi Minh trail is:

• Semi-automatic gear Honda 125 CC
• Best Rated Hotel Accommodations
• Unlimited Mileage
• Helmets for the driver and passenger
• Daily breakfast
• Other meals plan Day 1: Dinner/ Day 2: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner/ Day 3-6: Breakfast, Lunch/ Day 7: Breakfast/ Day 8-14: Breakfast, Lunch/ Day 15: Breakfast.
• Homestay permission
• Professional English speaking motorcycling tour guide
• Water & Snacks on driving days
• First-aid kit
• National Park and other Entrance Fees
• Preparation and Orientation
• All taxes, fees, and environmental surcharges

Top 5 Islands to Enjoy Lobsters in Vietnam

Lobster paradises disperse the coast of Vietnam, ensuring travelers will immerse in aroma of snow-white flesh melting in your mouth, and making even lobster gourmets also satisfied.

1. Binh Ba, Khanh Hoa – Lobster Island

Based in Cam Ranh Bay and nicknamed Lobster Island, Binh Ba is obviously a paradise for seafood lovers, where almost every household has an open-air lobster farm. Thanks to clean saltwater that churn out high-quality lobsters, Binh Ba island has emerged as the leading supplier for deluxe restaurants throughout Vietnam, and also an abroad exporter.

Aromatic baked lobster with cheese is the most must-try recipe in this island, best enjoyed in evening. Lobster meat is fresh and tough. Biting a piece makes eaters desire to bite more. The flavor of cheese spread around stimulates the sense of taste. To those who naively remove the lobster heads, it is a pity! The advice is that it’s better to not do so, as the delicious lobster roe is quite much.

Where to buy: Along Binh Ba dock

Baked lobster with cheese on Binh Ba island

2. Binh Hung, Khanh Hoa – Inexpensive lobsters

Boasting one of the most marvelous coastal province in Vietnam, Khanh Hoa offers multiple selections for lobster fans.

Binh Hung, similar to Binh Ba, possesses cool, blue coastlines, fine, white sands, and a flourishing seafood farming industry that offers travelers the chance to experience fishing, explore fish and lobster farms, as well as get insight into life of the local fishermen.

This island has inside it a tranquil, pristine beauty with wild nature. It’s not as much crowded as Binh Ba, so the lobster prices are more reasonable.

Where to buy: Binh Hung farm at the dock.

3. Ly Son, Quang Ngai – Finding lobster is never a problem

A part from well-known specialities like garlic, fish sauce, seaweed, king crab and turban snail, Ly Son is also famed for lobsters. At present, this island has roughly 150 lobster farms densely sited along rivulets leading to the anchored area of An Hai ward, making the finding of this seafood is never a problem.

Where to buy: An Hai dock

4. Con Dao, Ba Ria – Vung Tau – The sole place having fire lobsters

Only found in Con Dao, as exceedingly great speciality of the island, red lobster, or fire lobster, is a small kind growing very slowly, unable to raise in farms and only available in the wild. Fire lobster distinguishes itself through very tough, fresh and shrunk meat, and clusters of nutritious yellow roe inside that grows along its back and into a large piece at its head.

Where to buy: Con Dao market

Fire lobsters in Con Dao island

5. Phu Quy, Binh Thuan – Crunchy, fibrous lobster meat

Literally translated into “prosperous”, Phu Quy island feature all kinds of seafood such as king crab, lobster, moon crab, cobia and grouper that create really tasty dishes unlike anywhere else. Lobsters here offer a unique fibrous texture thanks to tendons hidden in the meat that makes the food fresh, firm and crunchy. This dish is cooked in a variety of styles: steamed, grilled, left raw with salad, or as soup.

Where to buy: Phu Quy dock, local restaurants.

Are you ready for a great sea & island adventure in Vietnam with magnificent beaches and adorable seafood. Let contact ActiveTravel Asia via info@activetravel.asia.

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The Alluring Beauty of Buddhist Countries around Asia

Photographer Jeremy Horner made pilgrimages to 16 Asian countries to record enchanting images of Buddhist countries.

Buddhist monks gather together for the annual mass inauguration of new monk at the Wat Phra Dhammakaya, a Buddhist temple in Khlong Luang District, Pathum Thani Province north of Bangkok capital, Thailand. The temple is the metropolis of The Dhammakāya Tradition, a Buddhist sect founded in the 1970s and led by Phra Dhammachayo.

Lightning strikes over the floodlit Potala Palace during a thunderstorm in Lhasa city – the capital of Tibet – that appears with full of impression. The palace was once the seat of Tibetan government and winter residence of 14th Daila Lama. It represents Tibetan Buddhism and plays the role of preserving and spreading traditional Tibetan culture.

A Buddhist monk meditates in prayer at one of the thousands of shrines in Amarapura, one of the former capitals in Myanmar.

A Burmese monk pilgrimages to Kyaiktiyo (or Golden Rock) pagoda, one of the three most sacred Buddhist pilgrimage sites in Myanmar. The pagoda is famous for the giant granite boulder perched at the summit of Mount KyaiKtiyo, and covered with gold leaves stuck by devotees. The rock balances precariously over a cliff and appears to be on the verge of rolling down the hill that seems to defy gravity. According to the legend, it is perched on a single hair of Lord Buddha which keeps it from sliding down the chasm.

Buddhist monks of the Gelugpa University of Buddhism in Tibet wear their characteristic yellow hats while waiting to debate outside the main Prayer Hall (Grand Sutra Hall) of Labrang monastery.

Buddhist monks of Shaolin monastery (or Shaolin temple), a Chan Buddhist temple on Mount Song in Zhengzhou, Henan province, China are practicing in front of the stunning background of the holy temple.

A pilgrim walking the kora pauses for prayer, whilst Buddhist monks dress red robbers congregate outside the main Prayer Hall of Labrang monastery (in Gansu province, China), for Losar prayers at Tibet’s New Year. Established in 1709, Labrang had ever housed above 4,000 monks at its peak, but now only 1,500 monks reside here.

Shwedagon pagoda, known as the Great Dagon Pagoda and the Golden Pagoda, is the most sacred, grandiose pagoda in Myanmar. Atop the main stupa features a diamond crown tipped with 5,448 diamonds and 2,317 rubies, sapphires and other gemstones. All over its body, 1,065 golden bells and 420 silver bells are hung with peculiar sounds. Specially, the diamond bud – the very top of the stupa – is tipped with an incredible 76 carat diamond.

U Bein bridge spans over Taungthaman lake near Amarapura (a township of Mandalay) and consists of more than 1,000 pillars. The 1.2 km long bridge is believed to be the oldest, longest teakwood bridge in the world. Every afternoon, it is very busy with hundreds of locals, saffron-robbed monks and tourists walk and cycle over it.

A child monk enters the Buddhist temple of Wat Mai in Luang Prabang, Laos through its golden portico with meticulously decorative motifs.

A Buddhist pays homage to the huge sitting Buddha image in Wat Si Chum temple of Sukhothai historical park, Thailand. The temple can be visible via the narrow opening in the temple wall.

In luminously saffron-robbers, novice monks return prayer studies after a break in the courtyard of Simtokha Dzong (castle monastery) near Thimphu, Bhutan.

Stupas and hollow temples are scattered in mist along the Irrawaddy river in Bagan, an ancient city in Myanmar.

Thien Tru (Heaven Kitchen) Pagoda, also known as Chua Ngoai (Outer Pagoda) of the Perfume Pagoda complex (Chùa Hương), is the most vital Buddhist pilgrimage site in Vietnam.