Thanh Khuc (or Tranh Khuc) Village at Duyen Ha Commune, Thanh Tri District, Hanoi is famous for making their traditional Chung cake. This is a place where the spirit of Tet comes alive the earliest in Hanoi.

Tranh Khuc Village is particularly busy at the end of the year. Although Tet is approaching next month, the entire village is preparing to make Chung cake. You cannot find such a traditional feature of Tet anywhere other than here.

  La dong is bought from Thanh Hoa, Nghe An and Northern mountainous provinces

Chung cake is a traditional Vietnamese cake which is made from glutinous rice, mung bean, pork and other ingredients. Its origin is told by the legend of Lang Lieu, a prince of the sixth Hung King, who became Hung King 's successor thank to his creation of Chung cake and Giay cake, which symbolised respectively the Earth and the Sky. Considered an essential element of the family altar on the occasion of Tet. The making and eating Chung cake during this time is a well-preserved tradition of Vietnamese people, and the specialty of Tranh Khuc Village.

Exploring Vietnam's Central Highland's pine tree forests, waterfalls and coffee plantations by motorbike

Despite breathtaking mountain scenery and a rich diversity of hill tribe cultures, Vietnam’s Central Highlands remain one of the least 'tourorized' areas of Southeast Asia. This region of pine tree forests, waterfalls and coffee plantations is far from the coastal beach resorts where most tourists flock, and this remoteness is all part of the charm.

Lying in Tan Hiep commune, in the central province of Quang Nam’s Hoi An town, Cu lao Cham or Cham island is a cultural historical monument that is closely associated with the establishment and development of Hoi An town for a thousand years.
 
The island has become one of 15 Vietnamese maritime reserves since 2007. However, in May, 2009, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) accepted Cham island as a world biosphere reserve thanks to its topography, the biodiversity value and the unspoilt and attractive landscape.

Visiting Bac Ha Highland in Lao Cai province on early spring days, tourists will be treated with a pure and special selection of beautiful Tam Hoa plum flowers covering villages with its white colour.

Villages of ethnic minorities such as the Mong Hoa, Tay, Nung, Phu La in Ta Chai, Na Hoi, Ban Pho, Nam Mon, and Lung Phin areas, all of which are 1,000 metres above sea level, are covered with white plum flowers. That’s also the reason why Bac Ha is called, “A white Highland”.

In colonial days, the mountains surrounding Sapa were known as the Tonkinese Alp for the quasi-European climate, with the town functioning as a former hill station, built by the French as a retreat from the heat for vacationing military officers. It is also home to Vietnam’s highest peak, Mount Fansipan, which towers above the town at a height of 3,143 metres.

Planning a cycling trip in these remote areas of Vietnam as a solo traveller might not be the wisest decision, primarily due to the need for special permits in the less well-discovered areas, but I knew I could do without, having lived for nearly 8 years in Vietnam.