The world's most colourful landscapes

The Wave, Arizona

The colourful sandstone rock formation in the Coyote Buttes North Area of the US state features a pattern of beautiful curves and dates back to the Jurassic age.

Picture: Fotolia/AP

Salar de Uyuni, Bolivia

The world's largest salt flat, formed from several prehistoric lakes, is laid out over a source of brine which contains nearly half of the world's lithium reserves.

Picture: Fotolia/AP

Northern Lights

Elusive and ethereal, the Northern Lights are one of the great, timeless thrills of travel, a beautiful, shifting dance of nocturnal rainbows that many viewers find a humbling and spiritually uplifting experience. They occur most commonly in the Arctic region, and in recent years the chance of enjoying the spectacle has become a prime reason to fly north for a winter break, writes Telegraph Travel's Nigel Tisdall.

The Northern Lights: Trip of a Lifetime

Picture: Fotolia/AP

Caño Cristales, Colombia

This river, famous for its red-coloured underwater plants in the remote La Macarena National Park, is a good illustration of locals taking a hand in tourism. A local community, formerly controlled by FARC, a revolutionary guerrilla organisation, now manages the river and Colombian tourists are already coming to explore an area they had only previously read about in newspapers, writes Chris Moss, Telegraph Travel's Colombia expert.

Colombia travel guide

Picture: Alamy

Keukenhof, Netherlands

Set in the heart of the Netherlands’ prime bulb region south-west of Amsterdam, the Keukenhof claims to be the most beautiful spring garden in the world. Artistically presented across its 79 acres are arcs and curves, lines and strips of tulips, narcissi and hyacinths in unnaturally vivid colours, interspersed by reflective ponds and whimsical sculptures, writes Telegraph Travel's Fred Mawer.

Picture: Fotolia/AP

Rice terraces, Vietnam

The rice paddies in Vietnam form one of the most striking green landscapes in the world. The country is the second largest exporter of rice in the world.

Picture: Fotolia/AP

Quebrada de Humahuaca, Argentina

This Unesco World Heritage site is set in the Jujuy province of north-west Argentina. The region has been populated for at least 10,000 years. The Rio Grande river runs through the valley during the summer.

Picture: Alamy

Grand Prismatic Spring, Wyoming

Stretching 250ft by 380ft, the Grand Prismatic is the largest hot spring in Yellowstone National Park and the third largest in the world. Set in the Midway Geyser Basin, green algae forms its inner circle, followed by a yellow rim that fades to orange and red on its outermost border.

Picture: Fotolia/AP

Dallol, Ethiopia

At Dallol, in the Denakil Depression, Africa dips to a depth of 116m below sea level, and the temperature soars. Dallol has the highest average air temperature in the world, calculated at 34.4°C. Head across the salt plain to the Dallol volcano, the lowest on earth, if that's not hot enough for you.

Picture: Alamy

Chocolate Hills, Philippines

Bohol Island's 1,200 or so Chocolate Hills are a bit like giant Maltesers melted across a huge tray – which makes this attraction a mouth-watering prospect for those legions among us with a weakness in that direction. Pleasantly unusual to behold rather than stunning, these unique mounds of limestone vary in height, up to nearly 400 feet. To savour the hills at their tastiest, go in the summer (January to May) when they’ve dried out to brown, writes Telegraph Travel's Steve Lunt.

Philippines: an introductory guide

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Great Barrier Reef, Australia

Rated as one of the seven wonders of the natural world, this World Heritage Site stretches for 2,300 kilometres (1,430 miles) along the Queensland coast – from Bundaberg to the Torres Strait. In addition to being the world’s largest coral reef ecosystem, it is also the planet’s largest protected marine area, supporting 400 types of coral, 1,500 species of fish and 4,000 types of mollusc, writes Mark Chipperfiled. Telegraph Travel's Australia expert.

The Great Barrier Reef: Trip of a Lifetime

Picture: Fotolia/AP

Mendenhall Glacier cave, Alaska

These caves have icy walls in varying depths of blue, that shimmer as meltwater seeps over them. There are several caves within the glacier, some that can be reached on a trek, others that are much harder to get to.

Alaska cruise guide

Picture: Fotolia/AP

Antelope Canyon, Arizona

The mouth of the upper Antelope Canyon is one of the most popular and accessible slot canyons in the south-western United States, writes Telegraph Travel's Jolyon Attwooll, who visited the area where Danny Boyle's 127 Hours film was shot.

Picture: Fotolia/AP

Okama, Japan

This crater lake at the centre of Mount Zao in Honshu, the largest and most populous island of Japan, is surrounded by three mountain ranges - the Kattadake, Kumanodake and Goshikidake.

Picture: Alamy

Lavender fields, Provence

Bright-striped lavender fields are one of Provence's key sights in the summer, before the harvest. The ripples of colour mark out the contours of the region's gently undulating hills and are much photographed by eager tourists.

Provence travel guide

Picture: Fotolia/AP

Fly Geyser, Nevada

This geyser is said to have been "accidentally" created as a result of well drillings which took place nearby in the mid-Sixties, which caused the build-up and eruption of dissolved minerals. Its colours come from thermophilic algae which thrive in high temperatures.

Picture: Alamy

Lake Natron, Tanzania

This salt and soda lake looks like something you might expect to see on the planet Mars. A blaze of cracked magenta, the lake is deadly and calcifies any animals that have the misfortune to take a dip in its fiery shores.

Picture: Alamy

Kelimutu craters in Flores, Indonesia

Local legend holds that at least one of these three lakes is inhabited by evil spirits and, when they can turn as dark as an inkwell, you can see why. Each crater lake changes colour and in the past they have been variously brown, red, turquoise and blue.

Picture: Alamy

Shubazakura Hill, Japan

Set in Hitsujiyama Park overlooking the city of Chichibu, around 400,000 pink moss flowers come to bloom between April and May on this hill spanning 17,600 square metres. Nearly 1,000 cherry trees also blossom in April.

Picture: Alamy

Verdon Gorge, Provence

The Gorge du Verdon, France's answer to the Grand Canyon, plunges 1,000ft to the emerald-green river below. Just across the breathtaking void is La Palud-sur-Verdon, the rugged highland village in which we began our tour of the region known as La Provence Verte, writes Telegraph Travel's Ray Kershaw.

Provence travel guide

Picture: Fotolia/AP

By Telegraph

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Wrestling bout bustles Hue village

Hundreds of people flocked to the 200-year-old Thu Le Village in Thua Thien Hue Province yesterday to enjoy a traditional wrestling competition. The competition is held annually on the sixth day of Lunar New Year for wrestlers from the province's Quang Dien District.

Village elders said the event aimed to emphasise the importance of training and hard work. Wrestlers compete with respect for each other, and no vicious behaviour is allowed.

A ring is set up in the yard of the village's communal house. — VNS Photo Phuoc Buu

Fighters are only allowed to grapple and topple their rivals. — VNS Photo Phuoc Buu

In addition to strength, fighters must be tactical. — VNS Photo Phuoc Buu

Hundreds of people cheer on the fighters.— VNS Photo Phuoc Buu

Picking up a competitor does not mean a win. — VNS Photo Phuoc Buu

They must make their competitors ‘dirty on the back' or ‘white on the stomach'. — VNS Photo Phuoc Buu

The beat of a drum drives the atmosphere. — VNS Photo Phuoc Buu

The wrestler with the red belt has succeeded in making his rival ‘dirty on the back'. — VNS Photo Phuoc Buu

The referee watches closely to decide the winner of each game. — VNS Photo Phuoc Buu

Source: VNS

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Phong Nha-Ke Bang greets over 15,000 tourists on New Year days

Over 15,000 holiday-makers visited the Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park in the central province of Quang Binh during the first five days of the Year of the Goat (February 19-23), up over 10 percent against the same period last year.

Phong Nha and Tien Son caves were the most attractive destinations in the park, drawing nearly 8,900 visitors.

Le Thanh Loi, Director of the Phong Nha-Ke Bang Tourism Centre, said his agency offered a 10 percent discount on food and services at the centre’s restaurants, while adding traditional dishes to restaurant’s menu during the holiday.

During the occasion, historical and spiritual tourist sites in the province such as Than Dinh Mountain, Tam Co cave, Lieu Hanh princess temple also attracted a large number of tourists.

Established in 2001, the Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park is among the 238 most important ecological zones in the world. It was recognised by the UNESCO as a World Natural Heritage Site on geological and geomorphologic criteria in 2003.

Recently, the Vietnam Records Organisation listed four tourism sites in Quang Binh amongst the top 50 must-see travel destinations in Vietnam, including Phong Nha Cave, Ngang Pass, Nhat Le Beach and Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park.

With the opening of Son Doong Cave in 2013, Quang Binh was instantly catapulted onto the bucket lists of travellers all over the world.

The New York Times named Quang Binh as one of the most attractive destinations in Asia and ranked it eighth out of the world’s 52 must-see sites for 2014, while US magazine Business Insider included Son Doong Cave in its list of the 12 most impressive caves.

VNA/VNP

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Son Doong Cave: A top 10 lifetime trip

When caught with a case of wanderlust, Viet Nam’s Son Doong Cave is one of the few particular places that stand out among the crowd on this beautiful planet, the Huffington Post said on its website. 

Until about six years ago, nobody had EVER explored Son Doong Cave, the world’s largest by most counts - but now it is one of the top 10 trips on our ultimate shortlist of places we’d absolutely love to see, the website added.

Located approximately 500km south of Ha Noi, the cave is more than 200m wide, 150m high and about 9km long. It houses a jungle and a river and could fit a 40-storey skyscraper within its walls.

Source: VOV

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New Year celebrations for overseas Vietnamese

A crowd of overseas Vietnamese gathered in the US city of New York on February 7 (local time) to celebrate the upcoming traditional Lunar New Year (Tet), the most important holiday in Vietnam.

Ambassador Nguyen Phuong Nga, Permanent Representative of Vietnam to the United Nations, highlighted the significance of the founding day of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) to the cause of national construction, liberation and development.

She underlined remarkable achievements made by Vietnam in the Doi Moi (reform) process and international integration process.

The Ambassador also extended her sincere appreciation for the contributions of the Vietnamese community abroad, including those from New York and the US, to Vietnam ’s development.

Despite challenges over the past year, Vietnam expanded its foreign affairs and elevated its position in the global arena. Looking forward, the nation pledges to continue being an active and responsible member of the United Nations, contributing to global peace, security and prosperity.

Event guests enjoyed traditional Vietnamese cuisine and music performances.

On the same day, the Vietnamese Embassy in Argentina held a gathering for Vietnamese expatriates in the host country.

Ambassador Nguyen Dinh Thao highlighted 2015 as a significant year with major celebratory events, including the 70th anniversary of the National Day (September 2) and the formation of the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC).

He reiterated the Party and State’s policy regarding overseas Vietnamese as an indispensable part of the nation.

He also underlined the increasing cooperation between Vietnam and Argentina, with a record-setting trade value of US$1.92 billion in 2014, up 20.6 percent from the previous year.

Source: Nhandan

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The world's most breathtaking waterfalls

Waterfalls aren't just cascading tons of water over the edge of a cliff, they are an example of the power of nature, an earthly wonder and a reminder that something as dainty as water has the power to erode something as tough as rock.

The falls are majestic beauties, sure, but they're more than that. Many cultures have legends that surround major waterfalls, ranging from supernatural tales of witches haunting the pool beneath Yosemite Falls to a deity forming Iguazu Falls to stop his former love from getting away with her new lover in a canoe. Other waterfalls are sites of recorded historical happenings, like the wartime crossings over Ban Gioc-Detian Falls or when Jimmie Angel was the first to fly his plane over his namesake falls.

These spots are more than simple water features and each of them has it’s own backstory to accompany the beautiful sights. Even when it comes to the remote falls of Venezuela or the Faroe Islands, these magnificent waterfalls are worth the trip.

1. Nohkalikai Falls—India

Described by visitors as “magnificent and serene,” Nohkalikai Falls is 1,115 feet tall, making it the tallest plunge waterfall in India. Though visitors today enjoy the calm pouring of water over the cliff, the falls are named for a morose legend. According to the tale, a woman named Likai was driven mad and ran off the edge of the cliff when she discovered her second husband had murdered and cooked her infant, then fed her the child’s remains.

2. Yosemite Falls—California, U.S.

At 2,425 feet tall, Yosemite Falls is the highest waterfall in North America and either the sixth or seventh tallest in the world. Set in the infamous Yosemite National Park, visitors can enjoy views of the falls from many spots around the park or they can hike one of several trails to get a better vantage point. The hike to the top of the falls is tough and will take all day, but another hike will bring you to the base of the falls, which is shorter and easier.

3. Niagara Falls—Between the U.S. and Canada

Straddling the U.S.-Canada border, Niagara Falls is home to some of the best known waterfalls on Earth. Formed by receding glaciers at the end of the last ice age, this natural wonder is composed of three separate falls: Horseshoe Falls (which is the largest and most powerful of the three), the American Falls and Bridal Veil Falls. Horseshoe Falls is the most powerful waterfall on the continent.

4. Bøssdalsfossur Falls—the Faroe Islands

One of the most remote waterfalls out there, Bøssdalsfossur Falls cascades off an archipelago that is set about halfway between Norway and Iceland. The Faroe Islands are an independent country, among the least populated in the world with less than 50,000 total residents to date—the town near the falls was home to only 16 people in 2002. The Islands are best known for fresh fish, wildlife and stunning natural beauty and though the waterfall is one of many beautiful features on the island, it’s one that people love to visit and photograph.

5. Gullfoss—Iceland

Gullfoss, Icelandic for “Golden Falls,” is a top tourist destination in Iceland. The falls that seem to drop directly into the earth have become so iconic that they have appeared on the cover of an album, in a novella and in a music video.

6. Ban Gioc-Detian Falls—Bordering China and Vietnam

A subject of a longtime border dispute between China and Vietnam, Ban Gioc-Detian Falls is currently marked on China’s side. The falls are teeming with history—from serving as a crossing point in the Sino-Vietnamese War to hosting outlaws and their treasure in nearby tunnels and legend has it some of the treasure is still lying undiscovered in one of the gorges.

7. Angel Falls—Venezuela

A UNESCO World Heritage site and the highest waterfall on Earth, Angel Falls stands at a breathtaking 3,212 feet tall. The falls are one of Venezuela’s biggest tourist attractions, but getting there is no easy feat. Angel Falls is located in a jungle and is only accessible by river from June to December, when the river is deep enough for boat travel.

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10 romantic destinations you should know about

Paris is romantic -Everybody knows that. But it doesn't have a trademark on the term, and it's certainly not the only destination out there rousing amorous couples into expressing their love.

With Valentine's Day just around the corner, we've put together a list of 10 little-known spots that are equally dreamy.

Be it a combination of food, wine and a hot tub, a mix of sun, sand and serenity or a pairing of cobblestone streets with colonial facades, each of these destinations presents an alluring backdrop to set the mood for couples.

Udaipur (India)

What's the first place that comes to mind when you hear the word "romance"?

Chances are it isn't India, but the Rajasthan oasis of Udaipur could shatter any preconceived notions about the subcontinent.

Appearing like a mirage on the edge of the Thar Desert, Udaipur is treasure of flamboyant palaces, majestic forts and streets brimming with jewelers and craftsmen.

There are plenty of characters, too.

Men like their mustaches long enough to twirl, women like their saris bright enough to blind and musicians sing their gypsy ballads with enough raw passion to break hearts.

After basking in the Rajput-era opulence along Lake Pichola, it's easy to see why Udaipur is considered one of the most romantic spots in all of Asia.

Waiheke Island (New Zealand)

Waiheke's Delamore Lodge offers stunning views over Owhaneke Bay.

Auckland may be on the horizon, but laid back Waiheke feels miles away from New Zealand's biggest city with its secluded bush walks, sheltered beaches and emerald, boat-bobbing bays.

Add to the mix two dozen boutique wineries where afternoons can be swirled, sniffed and sipped away, and it's possible to see why an increasing number of vacationers are bypassing Auckland altogether for the 30-minute ferry ride across the Hauraki Gulf to this island paradise.

Waiheke is the kind of place where urban multimillionaires mingle with hippie fishermen, where quirky art galleries elbow for prime real estate next to trendy seafood haunts with city-to-sea views.

Cafayate (Argentina)

Cafayate is a scenic tour de force of dramatic pre-Andean peaks, romantic hilltop estancias and seductive street-side cafes.

It also doubles as Argentina's second wine center after Mendoza.

Whereas Mendoza is the big bold land of Malbec, Cafayate is a region dominated by the aromatic Torrontes, a white wine grape that grows exceptionally well in the cold and windswept Calchaquies Valley.

At this Andean anomaly you can sit with a glass of wine among the vines and stare out at a multicolored mountain-scape of twisted sedimentary strata that looks, at least to tipsy eyes, as if it was crafted by an abstract expressionist.

Hoi An (Vietnam)

Widely regarded as the culinary capital of the Vietnam, Hoi An's signature dishes are seldom seen outside of the region, and owe their complexity to centuries of trade in and out of what was one of Southeast Asia's most important ports.

Take cao lau. This culinary globetrotter is a textural puzzle of thick rice noodles resting in a light broth, topped with pork, mint, basil, peanuts, lettuce, sprouts and a pile of croutons.

For a foodie couple on a tight budget, there are few places in the world that can pack such a culinary punch at such a low price in such an absorbing environment.

Quirimbas Islands (Mozambique)

Anantara Medjumbe Island Resort sits on a tiny island in the Quirimbas Archipelago.

Move over Seychelles and Mauritius, there's a newcomer to the world of high-end Indian Ocean resorts.

The Quirimbas Islands off the northeastern coast of Mozambique aren't much more than a collection of bone-white dollops of sand jutting out of a turquoise sea, but now that they're dotted with lavish, beachside digs they're fast becoming one of Africa's top getaways for diving, birding or simply lounging.

Much of the 32-island archipelago is protected as part of the Quirimbas National Park, keeping development at bay and the views unadulterated.

If couples are seeking an escape from the crowds -- not to mention the trappings of the 21st century - this is the place.

Middleburg, Virginia (United States)

Virginia may be known for its historic battlefields, rolling hills and politically minded Washington commuters, but in recent years the Old Dominion State has grown a reputation for something altogether different: fine wine.

Virginia has blossomed from a place with just 64 wineries at the turn of the 21st century to one with 250 and growing, making it the fifth-largest wine producing state in the United States.

The 18th-century village of Middleburg, one hour west of the nation's capital, lies in the nucleus of this thriving industry and makes an ideal base from which to soak up the area's old world elegance and down-home country charm.

It's the kind of place where fox hunters rub shoulders with equestrians and couples meander from heritage B&Bs along shop-lined streets into a bucolic countryside of white picket fences, undulating vines and barn-chic wineries.

Middleburg is refined without being stuffy, historic without being antiquated and an impossibly romantic getaway little known outside of the Beltway.

Mostar (Bosnia and Herzegovina)

The Old Bridge in Mostar, Bosnia and Herzegovina.

There was nothing romantic about Mostar two decades ago when it was a bombed-out battleground of the Bosnian War.

However, this medieval city has bounced back to its prewar glory thanks to $15 million in UNESCO and World Bank funding and more than a decade of meticulous restoration.

Mostar's revived Old Bridge Area (Stari Most) epitomizes the city's kaleidoscope of cultures and ideas with its pre-Ottoman, Eastern Ottoman, Mediterranean and Western European architectural features.

The bridge itself is something of a symbol of reconciliation and ethnic harmony in the Balkans -- not to mention the heart and soul of an enchanting old town known for its cobblestone streets, colorful shops and multi-ethnic restaurants clambering for space along the banks of the turquoise Neretva River.

Mostar's battle scars remain in plain sight, but if the constant stream of lovers on Stari Most is any indication, its history-imbued streets remain undeniably alluring.

Peter Island (British Virgin Islands)

Who doesn't dream about having their own private island with crystalline waters and sugary crescents of shady palm-lined sand?

That, in essence, is what's on offer at Peter Island, a private resort and spa within the paradisaical puzzle that is the British Virgin Islands.

With one marina, two recreation areas, three room types, four dining options, five beaches and innumerable opportunities for sailing, snorkeling or scuba diving, you can easily do a little bit of everything or a whole lot of nothing on this 1,800-acre tropical hideaway.

For indulgence, quietude and exclusivity, it's hard to find a more majestic Eden.

Vernazza (Italy)

Vernazza is one of the five fishing villages that make up the Cinque Terre.

Picture a quintessential Mediterranean harbor town of cobblestone streets and cliff-clinging casas, encase it in terraced olive groves and plop a medieval castle on top of it all and you can begin to envision Vernazza, a pint-sized gem of the Italian Riviera where the diet -- wine, pesto, focaccia, antipasto -- is as agreeable as the seaside views.

Vernazza is but one of five fishing villages collectively known as Cinque Terre, a UNESCO World Heritage Site dating to the 11th century.

The Sentiero Azzurro (blue trail) links each of these car-free havens along a rugged coastal path that includes a famous stretch known as Via dell' Amore (Lovers Lane), located between the postcard-perfect villages of Riomaggiore and Manarola.

This is the place to pack a picnic lunch, take a hike through the hill-hugging vineyards and let the landscape set the mood.

Galle (Sri Lanka)

Streets imbued with history? Check.

Fine art, inspiring cuisine and luxurious lodgings at bargain basement prices? Check, check and check.

In Galle, crumbling Dutch-colonial buildings house fusion restaurants and fragrant spice shops fight for tourist dollars alongside breezy galleries of ethnic-inspired art.

Located in the heart of a perfectly preserved hexagonal stone fort and within eyeshot of a serene stretch of sand, Sri Lanka's whimsical southern charmer ticks all the boxes on romantic travel checklists

By CNN

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