Sophie's Art Tour - HCMC

Looking something a little different, not into the same old boring tours? If that's you, continue reading, for my thoughts on Sophie's Art Tour right here in Vietnam's largest city, Ho Chi Minh City!

Yesterday I hit the galleries with two other travelers and Sophie, who took us through the history of art in Vietnam.

 
A fascinating journey which took you through decade's of local art, discovering Vietnamese artists, their stories and the many influences that made Vietnamese art in to what it is today.

Topics ranged from the beginning of Vietnamese art, Vietnamese history, to the Chinese and French influence, to local war time artist before finally emerging back out in to "today" and a visit to a funky new exhibition by 3 young female Vietnamese artist. 

And while you maybe thinking "I'm not into art", the tour itself was much more than just art tour. It was really a history and art tour, which was conducted in a friendly, relaxed atmosphere. Sophie's knowledge is amazing and her passion for all things art is obvious from the get go. 

 
So let go of your paint brushes, slick back ya hair and do yourself a favor, follow the links to book you're tour. It's a fab day out!

Adam's rating - 10 / 10 - Do it! 

Tour Info:

Tours run from 9am - 1pm. 

Snacks are provided.
Transport is an air-conditioned van.
Tours are escorted by Sophie.

For more info and bookings, visit:

www.sophiesarttour.com

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Flower Power - Saigon

Tours - South Vietnam and Cambodia Unveiled - 13 Days / 12 Nights

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District 1 - Saigon

Travel Asia - Click for Details

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Savoring the Essence of Southeast Asian Culture With Cambodia Tours

© Photographer: Adam Hurley | Agency: Dreamstime.com

If you wanted to get the 'essence' of a global sub-region, you have to look for a place that embodies many of the common values of that region. This means, of course, religion and food but it goes deeper than that. Culture has many facets. Culture impacts the design of traditional buildings, it colors how people dress, it dictates rules on how they are to politely interact In other words, culture is the operating software for the hardware of the human body. We may all have the same body parts and same needs but how meet those needs and how we get along are functions of culture. This is why traveling is so much fun, we get to see the differences in how regions meet certain basic needs. Cambodia is no different. If you go on Cambodia tours, you will quickly see that Cambodia embodies many of the cultural traits of the Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, and Cambodia region. Here are just some of the key reasons why going on Cambodia tours helps you get a full understanding of Southeast Asian culture.

Buddhism

Buddhism is the main religion in Southeast Asia. While there are many populous Muslim and Catholic regions in Southeast Asia, when it comes to Indochina, Buddhism is the only game in town. In fact, Buddhism is established from Southern China all the way to the western fringes of Myanmar. Moreover, the Buddhism practiced in this region is very distinct from the type of Buddhism that is big in Tibet or China. Theravada Buddhism is all about individual enlightenment and doesn't have as much of the mysticism of Tibetan Buddhism. This is definitely one aspect your will see on your Cambodia tours.

Love for family

Southeast Asians place lots of importance on their families. The family unit is very big-it includes multiple generations and multiple lines. In fact, cousins twice removed are as welcome in a home as brothers and sisters. The Southeast Asian focus on the family arose partly due to economic reasons. Big and cohesive families are needed due to the heavy labor requirements of traditional rice farming. This is why, until the proliferation of contraception, Southeast Asian families tended to be big on children. It was only until the spread of antibiotics that family sizes exploded. Many families wanted many children but due to infant mortality, the numbers were kept down.

Indian and Chinese influence

Indonesia is a Muslim country and you would think that there is very little Indian or Chinese influence there since it is quite a ways from the Indochina. Think again. Indians actually brought Buddhism to Indonesia. In fact, there are some Buddhist temples in Indonesia. These are relics of a time when Indonesia was predominantly Buddhist. After this time, Indian traders then began spreading Islam and now the country is predominantly Muslim. Similarly, Indian influence is big in Thailand and Cambodia. As you go on your Cambodia tours, you will see the Indian influence in sculpture and art. As for Chinese influence, much of Southeast Asia's business revolves around Chinese traders and middle class.

Kaden wants to share his love in travel with friends around the world. He's booking many Cambodia tours to explore this country. Will you visit Cambodia like Kaden does? Act Quickly register cheap tours in Cambodia.

Article Source: Kaden_Wilson

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Saigon Panoramic

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History Museum - Ho Chi Minh City

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Photography - The Ho Chi Minh Campaign Museum

The Ho Chi Minh Campaign Museum - 2 Le Duan st, D.1 - Saigon

Great little museum. Entrance is free of charge. Opened daily except Mondays. 

Located 100 meters from the HCMC Zoo. 

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Free in Hanoi - 5 Travel Ideas

Old Quarter - Hanoi

The capital of Vietnam, Hanoi, which is located in the north of the country, is a great city to just wonder the streets, meet great people and take in the sights. Many of the things you can see won't cost you a single Dong, but will make your journey more memorable.

Here are a few ideas on where to go.

1. Hanoi could be considered the city of Lakes. Through out this sprawling city you will find many lakes, surrounded by beautiful park lands and cafes. In the central area there is Hoan Kiem Lake, a beautiful and shady lake/park area to wonder around. Get there early in the morning to see locals out doing their morning exercise and practicing Tai Chi. 

2. Further out of the city to the north, is West Lake, Hanoi’s largest lake. Right next to that is Truc Bach Lake. Splitting the two lakes is Thanh Nien Street. Following this street you will be able to visit Tran Quoc Pagoda, the cities oldest pagoda. West Lake is a great place to relax as generally there are fewer travelers and fewer kids selling postcards.

3. Markets are also a great way to experience the local culture and to get a feel for a city. Hanoi is no different! There are some 50 markets around Hanoi, the largest being Dong Xuan Market. A number of smaller food markets are located in and around the Old Quarter making them easy to reach and explore.

4. If you’re into Art them Hanoi is a great place to wonder through the galleries and check out the local talent. Many art shops have popped up along Hang Gai and Hang Bong Street, along with the streets running of them. Check out the Vietnam News Paper (English) for other local exhibitions in the city.

5. It really goes with out saying, but just walking the streets and lanes of the Old Quarter is a great experience. You will get lost, but that’s half the fun! Make sure you take your camera; you’ll some amazing shots of buildings, people and markets. And always take a hotel business card - if you get lost, it's a life saver! 

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Three Things for Travelers - Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

With a population of almost 10,000,000 people, some 4,000,000 motorbikes hitting the streets daily and quickly approaching 1,000,000 cars Ho Chi Minh City may not be the capital, but it is the largest city in Vietnam.

But in among the chaos and madness there are plenty of places to see and visit. Check out these three idea's for your next trip to Ho Chi Minh City.

War Remnants Museum - 28 Vo Van Tan St, District 3

Every story has two sides and this museum clearly gives you the Vietnamese version of the happenings and history surrounding the Vietnam War.

Inside you will find a photographic exhibition with images by War Correspondents from around the world. Many of the images are graphic, powerful and in your face.

Outside there is a collection of military hardware from armored vehicles, artillery pieces, bombs, planes and helicopters. The Museum is open daily (closed at lunch) and entrance is 30,000VND per person. 

More info at www.warremnantsmuseum.com/

Saigon Unseen 

Saigon Unseen offer three great tours around Saigon.

Urban Kaos Moto Tour, a half motorbike tour taking you to the unseen parts of Saigon were most travelers are unlikely to see.

Moto Foto which offer half day photography tours lead by a professional Australian photographer. Along with photographic tuition, you also get to travel by motorbike through the streets of Saigon!

Bitexco Financial Tower 

Urban Walk and Talk. A guided walking tour through the lanes, local markets, pagodas and other interesting and off the beaten track areas.

Saigon Unseen offer hotel pick up and full details, timings and costs can be found on their website - www.saigonunseen.com

Bitexco Financial Tower Sky Deck - Ha Trieu Street

Built to resemble a Lotus Bud, the Bitexco Financial Tower is 68 stories or 262 meters in height. On the 49thfloor you can visit the Sky Deck for amazing 360' views of Ho Chi Minh City and beyond!

Comprising of a mix of commercial and retail space, you will also find Adidas on the ground floor, next to Hogs Breath Restaurant. There is also a cafe located on the 50th floor and a members only club on the 51st.

You can visit the Skydeck day or night and tickets are 200,000VND (approx 10USD) per person. Discounts for children and seniors (60+). Details at www.saigonskydeck.com/

Images by Adam Hurley

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