Travel Center

Travel Center :Vietnam is a land full of adventurous riches

admin — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 09:56:03 +0000

Vietnam is a place full of adventure – from cultural experiences or mountain treks, there’s always some destination waiting to be explored.According to Lonely Planet, the Southeast Asian nation is a prime location for some adrenaline-inducing thrills.”Whether you prefer to scale the

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Vietnam is a place full of adventure – from cultural experiences or mountain treks, there’s always some destination waiting to be explored.According to Lonely Planet, the Southeast Asian nation is a prime location for some adrenaline-inducing thrills.”Whether you prefer to scale the heights of jagged peaks or plumb the depths of coral reefs, Vietnam will deliver something special… just being here is one long adventure, but these experiences will take it to a whole new level,” states the travel experts.In Halong Bay, travelers can go kayaking into hidden lagoons and caves inaccessible by regular boats. If paddling sounds like too much work, they can float along the water’s surface while kite surfing. In addition, the reefs off Nha Trang and Con Dao are perfect for scuba diving.The famous Mekong Delta is one of the best places to ride a bicycle, as the area is fairly remote, but still has established paths. The views are spectacular and there’s always the option of taking a boat trip down the river as a break from all that peddling. In north side of the country, motorbiking is a great way to trek through the mountains.Vietnam is best explored with a small group of adventure travelers. Source: gadventuresRecommended tour: Motorcycling the Ho Chi Minh Trail – Half ChallengeTrekking Cat Ba National Park and Kayaking Halong BayFollow ActiveTravel.Asia on the social web Facebook MySpace Twitter

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Travel Center :The real dirt bike on the northwest Vietnam

admin — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 09:56:03 +0000

Bike tours to the rugged region of Vietnam offer a more direct experience of the life of its people.It is probably not everyone’s cup of tea, but discovering Vietnam’s rugged and scenic northwest on a motorbike is more than an exhilarating experience.Those who have undertaken

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Bike tours to the rugged region of Vietnam offer a more direct experience of the life of its people.It is probably not everyone’s cup of tea, but discovering Vietnam’s rugged and scenic northwest on a motorbike is more than an exhilarating experience.Those who have undertaken it say it enables them to see “life as it truly is for the Vietnamese people.”Dramatic landscapes and sweeping panoramas become more direct and intense when the visitor is not enclosed within a vehicle. Watching the rural population doing about its business also becomes a more intimate affair.“We started the itinerary to four mountainous provinces – Hoa Binh, Son La, Dien Bien, Lao Cai – in the northwest region with a 130 km ride to Mai Chau,” said Andre Prince, who took the 7-day journey with six friends from Canada.Mai Chau, VietnamTogether with a tour guide, they left Hanoi at 8:30 a.m. and rode the dirt-bikes (175cc and 250cc Yamahas and Hondas) west to Mai Chau, home to the Thai ethnic minority.They traveled on road No. 6 passing expansive rice paddies and scenic villages and stopped for refreshment before tackling 70km of undulating roads with great views of mountains and valleys before reaching Mai Chau at noon.“We were really impressed by the traditional stilt-houses, the dances and meals at Pom Coong, a village of the White Thai ethnic minority,” said Andre.The group left for Son La Province the next morning. Kien, the tour guide, said the motorbike trip of about 1,000 km is wonderful for those who have good health and like more adventure in their travels. The tour is also great for finding several vantage spots for photography, he added.Besides the tea plantations in Moc Chau Plateau – the destination of the best green tea in Vietnam that grows along the roads on the hillsides in Son La, the valley of Dien Bien Phu also offers magnificent views.Here “the ride is more adventurous with more winding roads and longer passes, while offering more colorful minority groups and more stunning scenery,” said Andre, adding that the highlight of Dien Bien Province could be the impressive Pha DinPass, which means Heaven-Earth. According to local legend, it was the frontier between Heaven and Earth. Pha Din is some 1,000m above sea-level.“Climbing and descending the slopes with their many bends and deep gorges is a really unforgettable experience,” Andre said.The fourth day was scheduled for Lao Cai, where stops at H’mong and Dao villages refreshed the crew after a 225 km ride along stunning gorges and the Nam Na River.Fittingly, Sa Pa was the pinnacle of the trip, where the group stayed for two days and visited several ethnic minority villages deep in the forest.“Sa Pa is a paradise for trekking lovers. It has so many routes with views of beautiful terraced fields, diverse minority groups and the highest peak in Indochina, the Fansipan.”The group also got off their bikes to take a jeep ride downhill to the Muong Hoa Valley, where they trekked on dirt paths through pine forest, terraced fields and H’mong villages. En route they stopped to visit minority schools and had a picnic lunch by the river.Reported by Hoang KienRecommended tour by Activetravel AsiaWest to East Biking Exploration: Our unique biking trip in northern Vietnam takes place against a backdrop of endless lush green paddy fields and irregular tree-covered limestone mountains. Providing a fleeting insight into the traditional lives, friendly tribes and exotic landscapes of north-west and north-east Vietnam, our trip also delivers surprisingly good riding across the mountainous area of northern Vietnam. There are technical sections, easy hills, huge flowing descents and some glorious singletracks. More details please visit http://www.activetravelvietnam.com/tour.php?op=detail&tourId=20Follow ActiveTravel.Asia on the social web Facebook MySpace Twitter

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Travel Centre :ACTIVETRAVEL ASIA completed the survey of responsible tourism project in Pu Hu Nature Reserve, Thanh hoa province, Vietnam.

admin — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 09:56:03 +0000

The survey team spent 3 days 2 nights on exploring the jungle Pu Hu by trekking. This marked the first steps to discover and develop the potential tourism in this area.This is the next step of responsible tourism project called “Protection of the forest and wildlife” implemented

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The survey team spent 3 days 2 nights on exploring the jungle Pu Hu by trekking. This marked the first steps to discover and develop the potential tourism in this area.This is the next step of responsible tourism project called “Protection of the forest and wildlife” implemented by GIZ Vietnam. This project encourages tourists come to Pu Hu. The tourists not only explore the wild-life beauty of Pu Hu but also discover illegal cutting of trees, hunting and other illegal activities in the forest. Their movement in the forest will help to keep these illegal activities under control and is therefore very important!“With the distinguishing nature, diversity of plants and animals Pu Hu has great potential in trekking” said by Mr. Tony Tran, product manager of ATA.Pu Hu has a plentiful floristic composition which creates interesting trekking routes. Tourist may see waterfalls from height of 50m-100m flowing down at any time on the way. The green of trees, the eco of forest bring the fresh experience for explorers during the trip.After the trip, ATA inspection team will proposal a formal program tour and suitable routes which would make Pu Hu nature reserve to be a tourist site. ATA also works with GIZ Vietnam to run and manage the potential trip tours here to complete one of the most important parts of project.Follow ActiveTravel.Asia on the social web Facebook MySpace Twitter

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Travel Centre :Beach gems tucked away in Lan Ha Bay

admin — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 09:56:03 +0000

Lan Ha Bay is part of the Halong Bay community but unlike its more famous neighbor it boasts some amazing sandy beaches. Tourists take a kayak trip in Lan Ha Bay, Cat Ba Island.Located east of Cat Ba Island, a World Natural Heritage site which is famous for its dreamlike and

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Lan Ha Bay is part of the Halong Bay community but unlike its more famous neighbor it boasts some amazing sandy beaches. Tourists take a kayak trip in Lan Ha Bay, Cat Ba Island.Located east of Cat Ba Island, a World Natural Heritage site which is famous for its dreamlike and fresh beauty, tourists cannot ignore a pit-stop here when visiting Haiphong Province.Lan Ha has an astonishing 139 sandy beaches. Some of them are tucked between giant rock mounts and thus are more quiet spots without big, crashing waves and are ideal places for a quiet swim.The bay is over 7,000 hectares wide, of which 5,400 hectares is managed by Cat Ba National Park. This is a peaceful bay with 400 islands and islets of varied sizes.The bay is endowed with limestone mountains which give the sea small islands and islets as well as fascinating caves. Some caves have wonderful stalactites in diverse colors and shapes in Ham Rong, Do Cung and Ca grottoes. There are also hundreds of rocks in various shapes such as Guoc Islet (shoe) or Doi Islet (bat).Diving to admire colorful corals is a must in Lan Ha with Van Boi and Van Ha beaches, Sen, Cu and Khi islands as good choices.Tourists can also drift along canyons and small islets by kayak or wooden boats. There are also some pearl farms in Cat Dua Beach to discover.Lan Ha Bay also features a scattering of fishing villages which are also must-see places for travelers to learn more about the daily life, culture and customs of fishermen.Source: SGTRecommended tour:Trekking Cat Ba National Park and Kayaking Lan Ha BayFollow ActiveTravel.Asia on the social web Facebook MySpace Twitter

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Travel Center :The Top 10 Things to Do While Visiting Ho Chi Minh City

admin — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 09:56:03 +0000

If you are planning a visit to Vietnam, you are probably wondering what the top 10 things to do in Ho Chi Minh City are. Hence and as a former resident of Ho Chi Minh City, here is my list of the top 10 things to do while visiting Ho Chi Minh City. 1. Visit the newly refurbished War

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If you are planning a visit to Vietnam, you are probably wondering what the top 10 things to do in Ho Chi Minh City are. Hence and as a former resident of Ho Chi Minh City, here is my list of the top 10 things to do while visiting Ho Chi Minh City. 1. Visit the newly refurbished War Remnants Museum. Housed in the former home of the US Information Service and once known as the War Crimes Museum, the War Remnants Museum offers visitors the official Vietnamese view of the Vietnam War. Nevertheless, its three floors of exhibits are well worth visiting to give you an idea of just how destructive the Vietnam War was along with the lingering effects from the use of Agent Orange. In fact and near the entrance to the museum, there will usually be several people who purportedly suffer from the effects of agent orange and you will be encouraged to donate to a fund intended to help them.War Remnants Museum2. Take a tour of the Reunification Hall.Formerly the home of South Vietnam’s Presidents, the Reunification Hall looks the same as it did when North Vietnamese tanks crashed through the front gates at the end of the war. On display are momentos from the war and all the trappings of power left behind by South Vietnam’s last Presidents.Reunification Hall3. Eat Pho. A staple of Vietnamese cuisine, Pho is a Vietnamese noodle soup served with rice noodles and your choice of either beef or Chicken plus a whole plate of greens that you can throw into the bowl after its served to you. Pho is commonly available from street food vendors, at coffee shops and at restaurants dedicated to serving Pho.The famous “Pho”4. Have a “Banh Mi” Sandwich. A legacy of French rule, the “Banh Mi” (in Vietnamese, “Banh Mi” means bread) sandwich combines both French and Vietnamese ingredients to make one very tasty sandwich. Be warned though: If you order one from a street food vendor, he or she will likely use their bare and probably unwashed hands when making you your Banh Mi sandwich!5. Drink Coffee. Besides being one of the world’s leading coffee exporters, coffee drinking is very much a part of Vietnamese culture. In fact, no visit to Vietnam will be complete without having either a hot or iced Café Sua – strong coffee served over a thick layer of sweetened condensed milk at the bottom of the cup.6. Have drinks at the Rex Hotel’s rooftop bar. Once the site of the “Five O’Clock Follies” where US military offers gave their briefings about how they were winning the Vietnam War, the Rex Hotel’s rooftop bar remains a popular watering hole for expatriates and tourists alike.7. See a water puppet performance. Originating from the Red River delta around Hanoi water puppetry is a uniquely Vietnamese form of entertainment that is often now staged in water filled tanks inside theaters. In order to tell a story, water puppeteers stand in the water hidden behind a screen and then maneuver their puppets through the water without the use of strings to the sounds of a live musical orchestra.Water puppet performance8. Do a day trip to the Cu Chi Tunnels and Cao Dai Holy See. In the backpacker district, you will find countless one day tour offerings to the Cu Chi Tunnels, which were used by the Vietcong during the war, and the Cao Dai Holy See, the colorful center of a unique home grown religion that combines both Asian and Western elements. Cu Chi Tunnels complexCao Dai Holy See Temple9. Visit the Mekong Delta. Likewise, visitors can opt for a one day or a multi-day tour of the vast Mekong Delta where residents still live in stilt houses or on boats and shop in floating markets. There are even specialized tours for fans of Marguerite Duras’ book “The Lover” to see locations that appeared in the book and later in the movie.10. Rent or ride a motorbike. Finally and if you don’t find it dangerous enough just crossing a street given the millions of motorbikes in the city, why not just rent one and join them! On the other hand, you will also find someone on nearly every street corner who, for the right price, will take you to where ever you wish to go on their motorbike.Source: Blog of Asia Follow ActiveTravel.Asia on the social web Facebook MySpace Twitter

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Travel Info :Floating on the Delta

admin — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 09:56:03 +0000

Every visitor to Can Tho will inevitably spend at least a morning at Cai Rang floating market, a vibrant, colourful and revealing symbol of the MekongDelta’s largest city.Life at Cai Rang floating market rises before the sun. By 5am the market is up and running. It is essentially

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Every visitor to Can Tho will inevitably spend at least a morning at Cai Rang floating market, a vibrant, colourful and revealing symbol of the MekongDelta’s largest city.Life at Cai Rang floating market rises before the sun. By 5am the market is up and running. It is essentially a floating, wholesale greengrocer’s. Traders come from across the Mekong’s network of waterways and canals to buy and sell fruit and vegetables.The floating market is like a village. People come for the wholesale market but additional trades flourish as a result of this mercantile gathering. You can buy breakfast – half-hatched egg, hu tieu or pho noodle soup, chao ca (rice porridge with fish). You can also find medicine, clothes, cosmetics, and many other odds, and ends. You can even find people selling lottery tickets. The floating market on Mekong DealtaThe boats also double as homes. People hang washing ‘on the line’ or place potted plants on the deck. Inside you will find furniture – tables and chairs, and beds.Some locals tell us that the floating market is not as crowded as it used to be as many merchants sell their products on the river bank. Although it is still an appealing destination for visitors, many of the traders want the market to be managed more carefully in order to preserve the market and improve living conditions.Follow ActiveTravel.Asia on the social web Facebook MySpace Twitter

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Travel Centre :18 Tips for harmonious family travels

admin — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 09:56:03 +0000

Keeping the whole family happy and content for two solid weeks was always going to be a huge ask! But make some plans and get the ground rules in place and the toddler tantrums and teen dramas will be minimised (hopefully!)1. Slow right down– Children work on a whole different timescale

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Keeping the whole family happy and content for two solid weeks was always going to be a huge ask! But make some plans and get the ground rules in place and the toddler tantrums and teen dramas will be minimised (hopefully!)1. Slow right down– Children work on a whole different timescale and anyway it’s not about ticking off the seen items on your to-do list. Chill out and take it slow.2. Kids Eat Free– Save money on family meals by looking out for deals where kids eat free or two people eat for a set fee.3. Plan ahead– Make a rough itinerary suitable for all the party, allow plenty of interesting stops for all ages and include a few rest stops too! But prepare to be flexible too as your choice of activity might not be ‘cool’ enough!4. Take Your Own Stroller– Using your own baby stroller or pushchair at some theme parks and attractions can save you from hiring one.5. Go prepared– Make sure you have a capsule first aid kit, a few snacks and drinks. Also pack any toiletries you might need; wipes, tissues, spare clothes etc6. Multi Day Passes– Find out if attractions offer multi day passes or discounts and take advantage of them.7. Focus– Turn the mobile off and enjoy quality time with your family. This is your vacation too, so enjoy it.8. Use The Pool– If you’ve paid extra for a hotel for a pool then make sure you use it. Or consider booking a hotel without all the usual amenities if you won’t use them.9. Child Spending– Set your children a daily or weekly budget on what they spend on souvenirs and gifts to save any bickering later on.10. Get back to nature– Try camping and make educational trips fun, which will probably work better with younger children. Spot and identify wildlife, plants and birds.11. Student Discounts– Many attractions offer student, children, senior and family discounts. Check in advance and carry your ID with you.12. Lead by example– Encourage your children to explore and try new things. Try that zipline experience and sample those local ‘speciality’ dishes – adventure is the spice of life!13. Capture the moment– Take a few photos, video or even keep a scrapbook.14. Routine– Try to stick roughly to your home routines, such as bedtimes but do allow some flexibility as a holiday is meant to be fun after all.15. Discount Vouchers– Many local newspapers and magazines offer local attraction deals such as 2 for 1 entry etc, which will save families money. Also look out for promotional leaflets in hotels.16. Loyalty Vouchers– Other organizations also have offers from their partners – make sure you’re signed up to receive post from your credit card companies, supermarkets etc.17. Make it count– If you want to go off and explore an art gallery by yourself then make sure you do it; you don’t have to be together 24/7. Likewise try to spend some quality one-on-one time with each of your children.18. Rules– If you are going to let your children explore by themselves make sure you have ground rules in place. Make sure they know when and where to meet up with you and make sure they have working mobile phones for emergencies.Follow ActiveTravel.Asia on the social web Facebook MySpace Twitter

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Travel Centre :Summer promotion 2012 – Book and get 1 night FREE at 3 star hotel

admin — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 09:56:03 +0000

Accommodation is one of biggest concerns before traveling? It is turning to dust now with ATA’s Summer Promotion 2012Travelers will get 1 night at 3 star Hotel in Hanoi Old Quarter (Calypso Boutique Hotel) for FREE. Double room with luxury equipments and services are designed to

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Accommodation is one of biggest concerns before traveling? It is turning to dust now with ATA’s Summer Promotion 2012Travelers will get 1 night at 3 star Hotel in Hanoi Old Quarter (Calypso Boutique Hotel) for FREE. Double room with luxury equipments and services are designed to ensure that you will have the unforgettable trip with ACTIVETRAVEL ASIA.In case you cannot visit Hanoi and enjoy 1 night at the hotel or you would like to arrange accommodation on your own, we offer you a meal FREE for 2 people at every destinations on your tour.How to get this great promotion ?So easy, just make your decision and book tour with us.This promotion is valid from May 01, 2012 to Sep 30, 2012, applied for tours in Vietnam and costs from 0 only.The promotion provides all travelers real experiences in Vietnam without concerning about accommodation, food, and activities. This makes it suitable for all types of groups and those who love any kind of adventure tours.We hope to meet you there!Please access our website to discover all the great tours which have been dedicated just for you.- ACTIVETRAVEL ASIA (ATA).- ACTIVE TRAVEL VIETNAM (ATV).- ACTIVE TRAVEL CAMBODIA (ATC).- ACTIVE TRAVEL SHOP (ATS). or contact us at: info@activetravel.asia for more informationIn case you need further information about the hotel, please find more details follow this link:(http://www.hanoicalypsohotel.com/vi-VN/home.aspx)ACTIVETRAVEL ASIA, offers a wide selection of Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia adventure tours, including hiking and trekking, biking, motorcycling, kayaking, overland tours and family travel packages. Our tour packages and custom itineraries will take you through exotic destinations to really experience the culture, history and nature of Asia. Outdoor enthusiasts will enjoy an unforgettable active vacation. We run the most adventure tours available in the area. Our active trips are designed for all levels of outdoor enthusiasts.Follow ActiveTravel.Asia on the social web Facebook MySpace Twitter

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Travel Info :The expression of Peter about the way he became a pirate of Halong Bay

admin — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 09:56:03 +0000

Arriving at the pier in Halong Bay to board our beautiful teak Junk was an exciting moment. I felt like I was a pirate boarding a mighty vessel to drink some rum and find me some loot..Once we received the welcome spiel and our complementary fruity drink, we were assigned to our cabins.

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Arriving at the pier in Halong Bay to board our beautiful teak Junk was an exciting moment. I felt like I was a pirate boarding a mighty vessel to drink some rum and find me some loot..Once we received the welcome spiel and our complementary fruity drink, we were assigned to our cabins. Our a/c cabin was honestly amazing, with beautiful teak furnishings, an oriental atmosphere, a marble bathroom and a big 4 pane window that opened onto the bay. This was truly the way to sail and I felt like I had just added a tick to my list of things to do before I die. Looking at the other boats sailing by, ours was easily the most impressive and elegant.Swimming and jumping off from the top level on the junkAfter lunch, which had never ending delicious food, Nic and I decided to go kayaking. Okay, so Nic and I have a rather turbulent history when it comes to Kayaking, some may even say explosive, the word apocalyptic also comes to mind. See a year before we went to Laos and kayaked down the Mekong in a double kayak. The person in front controls the pace, the person behind controls the steering, or something like that. In this simple setup is where it all falls apart us – both of us want to steer and both of us want to set the pace. In the confusion we go no where, paddles start flying all over the place, insults start getting thrown around, a misguided paddle hits my head, water gets thrown at Niki and inevitably we both sit there saying nothing, sulking and seething whilst we get closer and closer to hitting a whole heap of rocks. Needless to say Halong Bay was no different. However getting past our wedded bliss, the kayaking was truly mesmerizing and tranquil as you slowly passed local water villages, spiritual grottos and colourful birds fluttering around the karsts.The rest of the afternoon was spent swimming and jumping off from the top level on the Junk, which isn’t for the faint hearted. I was living out every pirate and lost on a tropical island fantasy I’ve ever had. That is until I lost my balance as I was jumping from the top deck and landed sideways in the water. All I remember as I fell sideways was “shit, this wasn’t the way I was meant to die”. Nursing a few sore ribs, the evening finished off with Niki sipping a perfect G&T, and I a whisky and coke whilst lying on the sundeck watching the Milky Way go round. This was what travel was all about and I felt truly relaxed for the first time in a year. Moored under giant karsts, we went to sleep with the windows wide open and a soft breeze slowing rocking us to sleep.By: PeterFollow ActiveTravel.Asia on the social web Facebook MySpace Twitter

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Travel Info :Vietnam’s best beaches

admin — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 09:56:03 +0000

Vietnam might have been late to Southeast Asia’s beach party, but it was worth the wait. The country has more than 3,400km of coastline, with infinite stretches of powdery sand, hidden coves, lovely lagoons, impossible boulder formations and tropical islands ringed with yet

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Vietnam might have been late to Southeast Asia’s beach party, but it was worth the wait. The country has more than 3,400km of coastline, with infinite stretches of powdery sand, hidden coves, lovely lagoons, impossible boulder formations and tropical islands ringed with yet more beaches.Nha TrangThe heavy weight champion of Vietnam, Nha Trang has been knocking out visitors for years. True, the town is brazen and brash, but the beach is bold and beautiful and a gateway to a cluster of quieter islands.Mui NeSet on a seductive swathe of sand, Mui Ne is an absolute charmer with swaying palms and towering dunes. Get pummelled on the beach by a masseur or pummelled by the waves with some water sports – this place blends action and inertia to perfection.Phu QuocSimply the most beautiful island in Vietnam, Phu Quoc is liberally sprinkled with picture-perfect white-sand beaches and cloaked in dense, impenetrable jungle. Long Beach is sophisticated, Ong Lan Beach is romantic, and Bai Sao is simply irresistible.Con DaoThe Con Dao Islands have been protected from over-exposure by their isolated location off the coast. Enjoy it while it lasts, with their smattering of resorts and an overdose of idyllic beaches, as this is sure to be the next big thing in Vietnamese beaches.Doc LetWhile the rest of the world is sunning itself in Nha Trang, slip up the coast to this little teaser, home to some atmospheric resorts and some squeaky white sand; a place to get away from it all.Ho CocVung Tau to Phan Thiet is almost one long beach, but much of it remains mercifully inaccessible to the masses. Sample its potential with a retreat to Ho Coc, a glorious sandbar about midway along this stretch.Follow ActiveTravel.Asia on the social web Facebook MySpace Twitter

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