Chef Gordon Ramsay in Vietnam

Gordon's gastronomic tour of South East Asia brings him to Vietnam.

In Vietnam the culinary rule seems to be that if it moves, eat it. Gordon samples a host of surreal, challenging and delicious foods, including still-beating snake heart, freshly slaughtered barbecue duck, and basket-caught squid.

In Ho Chi Minh City Gordon visits the city's finest snake restaurant.

In Hanoi he grapples with the ferocious Madam Duck and begs her to reveal her secret duck recipe. He also rises to the challenge of broth maker Di Hai to sell over 80 broths in a tiny boat at a floating market in the Mekong Delta.

Gordon travels hundreds of miles to the tropical hot spot Mai Chau to learn how to prepare rice cakes.

Gordon's final challenge is to host a dinner of pork for several of Vietnam's most discerning and critical food connoisseurs.

Video by Gordon Ramsay

Chef Struggles to Cook Vietnamese Rice - Gordon Ramsay

In this clip Gordon visits a village that is celebrating the end of the rice harvest.  

Video by Gordon Ramsay

Channel Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/user/gordonramsay

Introduction to Vietnam

Vietnam has a population of more than 88 million people, comprised of 54 different ethnic groups that possess historically rich cultural backgrounds and interesting folk arts. The country has more than 1,000 historical, cultural, and architectural sites which have been officially classified as "Heritage Sites". Five of these sites have been recognized as world cultural heritage sites by UNESCO (United Nations Educational and Scientific Cultural Organization), including Halong Bay, Phong Nha - Ke Bang National park , the ancient capital of Hue, the ancient town Hoi An, Thang Long Imperial Citadel, Ho Dynasty Citadel and My Son Holy Land. It will become clear from excursions to these sites that Vietnam is a country with a long-established history.

Source: sunnyland.vn

Hanoi Capital

Hanoi is the capital of Vietnam and the country's second largest city. Its population in 2009 was estimated at 2.6 million for urban districts,6.5 million for the metropolitan jurisdiction. From 1010 until 1802, it was the most important political centre of Vietnam. It was eclipsed by Huế during the Nguyen dynasty as the capital of Vietnam, but Hanoi served as the capital of French Indochina from 1902 to 1954. From 1954 to 1976, it was the capital of North Vietnam.

Introduction by vietnamtourism.org.vn

Perfume Pagoda

The Perfume Pagoda or Perfume Temple (Vietnamese: Chùa Hương) is a vast complex of Buddhist temples and shrines built into the limestone Huong Tich mountains. It is the site of a religious festival which draws large numbers of pilgrims from across Vietnam. The centre of the Perfume Temple lies in Huong Son Commune, My Duc District, former Ha Tay Province (now Hanoi). The centre of this complex is the Perfume Temple, also known as Chua Trong (Inner Temple), located in Huong Tich Cave.

It is thought that the first temple was a small structure on the current site of Thien Tru which existed during the reign of Lê Thánh Tông in the 15th century. Legend claims that the site was discovered over 2000 years ago by a monk meditating in the area, who named the site after a Tibetan mountain where Lord Buddha practiced asceticism. A stele at the current temple dates the building of a terrace, stone steps and Kim Dung shrine to 1686, during the reign of Le Hy Tong, at around the same time that Chua Trong was being constructed. Over the years some of the structures were damaged and replaced. The original statues of Lord Buddha and Quan Am were cast from bronze in 1767 and replaced with the current statues in 1793. More recently, damage was done during both the French and the American wars. Both the gate and the bell tower at Thien Tru Pagoda were destroyed, the bell tower rebuilt in 1986 and the gate completed in 1994.

Perfume Pagoda - Introduction by vietnamtourism.org.vn

Hoi An Ancient Town

Hoi An is a beautiful city in Vietnam, just south of Da Nang. The Old Town of Hoi An is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The ancient architecture of Hoian is a fascinating combination of Vietnamese traditional characters with Chinese and Japanese influence. There are plenty to see in this delightful town, some of which are the famous Japanese Covered Bridges, the Pottery Museum, the 200 years old Tamky House, the Chua Ong Pagoda, the vibrant market. Today we include these on a walking tour past many low tiled houses scattered along the small streets and assembly halls which reflect the town's multi-cultural past. The remainder of the day will be free for your own exploration of the town and catching up on some shopping areas.

  Hoi An Ancient Town - Introduction by vietnamoturism.org.vn

PHU QUOC island

Phú Quốc is a large tropical island off the coast of Cambodia, though is part of, and only accessible from, Vietnam.
Phu Quoc is famous for producing the best nuoc mam or fermented fish sauce in the world. Phu Quoc is also famous for its pepper. It also has some of the best unspoilt beaches in South East Asia.
Visitors from any country arriving to Phu Quoc by cruise ship no longer need a visa for stays of up to 15 days. A passport with at least 45 days' validity is still necessary.
Visitors arriving in Phu Quoc by any other means (eg. plane) are still subject to normal visa regulations.

 PHU QUOC island - Introduction by vietnamoturism.org.vn

Ba Be lake - The Great Lake in the misterious north of Vietnam

Ba Be is Vietnam's largest natural lake and is now the centrepiece of an extensive National Park. The park and the surrounding area is limestone country, so lakes, waterfalls, caves and unusual rock formations abound. The whole area is richly forested and home to many ethnic minority communities.

Source: vietnamtourism.org.vn/

VietNam Beautiful Scenery

Photographer & Director: Dang Minh Tung
Author: Marc Lavoine
Production: D.M.T Media
Song: Hello Vietnam - Singer: Pham Quynh Anh

Mekong Delta Vietnam

Southern Vietnam covers the Mekong Delta, the extreme southern end of the Mekong River, and the area around Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon), Vietnam.
As all deltas, it receives the bounty of the siltation from the upper Mekong, and as such is a very rich and lush area, covered with rice fields. It produces about half of the total of Vietnam's agricultural output (in fact the delta produces more rice than Korea and Japan altogether), and is the place for timeless sceneries of farmers planting or harvesting rice.
The Mekong splits in Cambodia into two main rivers, the Bassac (Hậu Giang) and the First river (Tiền Giang), then in Vietnam into a more complex system, creating a maze of small canals, rivers and arroyos interspersed with villages and floating markets.
Life in the Mekong Delta revolves much around the river, and all the villages are often accessible by river as well as by road.

Source: vietnamtourism.org.vn

Hai Van Pass - Da Nang

The Hải Vân Pass (Vietnamese: Đèo Hải Vân, "ocean cloud pass"), is an approximately 21km long mountain pass on National Road 1A in Vietnam. It traverses a spur of the larger Annamite Range that juts into the East Sea, on the border of Đà Nẵng and Thừa Thiên-Huế Province, near Bach Ma National Park. Its name refers to the mists that rise from the sea, reducing visibility. Historically, the pass was a physical division between the kingdoms of Champa and Dai Viet.

The twisting road on the pass has long been a challenge for drivers traveling between the cities of Huế and Đà Nẵng. Since the completion of Hai Van Tunnel, traffic flow and safety have improved. The pass has been the scene of at least two of Vietnam's most serious rail accidents, and at least one air crash.

Source:vietnamtourism.org.vn

Ho Chi Minh city from above at night

Saigon the largest city in Vietnam - Ho Chi Minh City is the most dynamic city in Vietnam. It is featuring very westernized when the night fall. All the lights are on that would make Saigon more colorful & sparkling, especially in city center of district one

Ho Chi Minh city from above at night

Ba Be lake - The Great Lake in the misterious north of Vietnam.

Ba Be is Vietnam's largest natural lake and is now the centrepiece of an extensive National Park. The park and the surrounding area is limestone country, so lakes, waterfalls, caves and unusual rock formations abound. The whole area is richly forested and home to many ethnic minority communities.

Source: http://www.vietnamtourism.org.vn

Mekong Delta Vietnam

Southern Vietnam covers the Mekong Delta, the extreme southern end of the Mekong River, and the area around Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon), Vietnam.

As all deltas, it receives the bounty of the siltation from the upper Mekong, and as such is a very rich and lush area, covered with rice fields. It produces about half of the total of Vietnam's agricultural output (in fact the delta produces more rice than Korea and Japan altogether), and is the place for timeless sceneries of farmers planting or harvesting rice.
The Mekong splits in Cambodia into two main rivers, the Bassac (Hậu Giang) and the First river (Tiền Giang), then in Vietnam into a more complex system, creating a maze of small canals, rivers and arroyos interspersed with villages and floating markets.
Life in the Mekong Delta revolves much around the river, and all the villages are often accessible by river as well as by road.

Source: http://www.vietnamtourism.org.vn

Ba Na Hills

Ba Na is located 1,487 meters above sea level in the Truong Son mountain range. Ba Na was formerly a 1920's French resort and once boasted 200 villas, restaurants, and clubs. It is well known as the second DaLat or Sa Pa in central Vietnam. Its temperate climate, unspoiled forest, and spectacular views over the South China Sea and the Lao mountain range made Ba Na a popular retreat for both the French and the wealthy Vietnamese. Today the area still attracts locals and tourists alike, although extra effort and a four-wheel drive are required to reach Ba Na as the roads are quite rough. Come to Ba Na Hill! Visit this exclusive hidden gem of Central Vietnam!

Source: http://www.vietnamtourism.org.vn

Dai Nam Tourism Park - Cultural - Historical Zone

Built as a spiritual tourism spot that preserves the traditional culture and history of VietNam, Dai Nam is also well worth a visit by fun-seekers. An assorttment of thrilling rides such as the roller coaster on square ralls, electric car racing, water plume ride and the swing across the waterfall are similar to the offerings at Dam Sen, Suoi Tien or Nha Trang's Vinpearland except that they are larger in scale to challenge action enthusiasts. A state of the art 4D cinema may be a good alternative if you don't mind the sudden drop in temperature to minus 12 degrees Celsius inside Snow World, which is just around the corner. Dai Nam also house Vietnam's first zoo where visitors can get a close up view of formerly wild animals.

Hoi An Ancient Town - Phố cổ Hội An

Hội An vào rằm tháng bảy. This video gives you a free bicycle ride around Hoi An Ancient Town at sunrise (around 5-6am) and a wander at Full Moon Festival (7th lunar month). It also presents the specialties of Hoi An such as Cao Lau & White Roses.
Hoi An is located in Central Vietnam, 30km from Danang City.

Clip created by: Helen's Journeys

Phong Nha Cave - Động Phong Nha

Phong Nha - Ke Bang National Park ( Vườn quốc gia Phong Nha-Kẻ Bàng) is a UNESCO World Heritage Site located in Quang Binh Province, about 500 km south of Hanoi and 500km north of Danang City.

This video carries you on a boat to the world's largest water cave called Phong Nha Cave.

Clip created by: Helen's Journeys

Vietnamese Mid-Autumn Festival - Tết Trung Thu

The Vietnamese version of the holiday recounts the legend of Cuội, whose wife accidentally urinated on a sacred banyan tree, taking him with it to the Moon. Every year, on the mid-autumn festival, children light lanterns and participate in a procession to show Cuội the way to Earth. Besides the indigenous tale of the banyan tree, other legends are widely told including the story of the Moon Lady, and the story of the carp who wanted to become a dragon.
One important event before and during Vietnamese Mid-Autumn Festival are lion dances. The dances are performed by both non-professional children group and trained professional groups. Lion dance groups perform on the streets go to houses asking for permission to perform for them. If accepted by the host, "the lion" will come in and start dancing as a wish of luck and fortune and the host gives back lucky money to show thankfulness.

(Wiki)

Clip created by: Helen's Journeys

Vietnamese traditional dress - Ao Dai

In Vietnam, plain white ao dai is chosen to be high school uniform. This video features the innocence and modesty of Vietnamese high school girls in traditional Ao Dai. Recorded on inauguration day at Phan Chau Trinh High School, Danang City.

Clip created by: Helen's Journeys

>> Vietnamese Ao Dai Pictures