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

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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

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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

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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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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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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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07 Reasons Why You Should Spend Your Holiday In Vietnam

Our brains are magnificent organs, complex and effective at what they do, but they do a lot of work day in and day out, and require a break every now and then. A holiday spent abroad allows your mind to relax, and as you stop worrying about your job and social life, you can focus on recharging your batteries, having fun, learning new things and broadening your horizons. It is good to travel as far away from home as possible, and really immerse yourself in a different culture.

As far as history, culture, nature, architecture, and fun activities go, Vietnam has a lot to offer. It can accommodate all types of travelers, from those looking for a relaxing beach holiday to hikers and adventurers, and provide you with an unforgettable experience. Let’s look at the seven main reasons for visiting Vietnam.

1. The majestic islands of Halong Bay are perfect for both adventurers and casual tourists

Halong Bay is probably the most popular tourist destination within Vietnam, and it is not that difficult to see why. There are a large number of small islands clustered around the bay, with sheer cliffs ideal for adventure-seeking climbers and beautiful sandy beaches, as well as tons of interesting activities such as kayaking and helicopter rides. The less adventurous folk can simply relax on lovely cruise boats with large sails (traditional sampan rig style). Adventure, natural beauty, and classy accommodations are what draw the crowd to Halong Bay.

2. Hiking through the hills of Sapa and experiencing the rich culture of local tribes

Sapa is a Vietnamese market town located in the Northwest. The area around it features beautiful hills and valleys, great hiking and trekking trails, and breathtaking terraced rice fields. Several ethnic minorities live in the area and tend to the fields, each with their own distinct culture and way of life.

Meeting the locals is an incredibly pleasant experience—they are quite hospitable and used to tourists visiting the area frequently. There is a lot to be seen, and a lot to be learned about the unique culture of the tribes residing in the hills of Sapa, making it a great place to spend a few days and explore in more detail.

3. Take in classic architecture and culture at the Temple of Literature

Vietnam has a large number of well-preserved temples that stand as witnesses to the highly developed culture spanning hundreds and hundreds of years. The Temple of Literature in Hanoi is devoted to Confucius and scholars in general. Built in 1070, it hosts Vietnam’s first national university.

A large number of stelae were raised to commemorate the achievements of great scholars throughout the years, and it is truly a sight to behold. It is a unique piece of history and a great example of the kind of culturally significant sites available for modern scholars and history enthusiasts to explore.

4. Explore the unique rainforest flora and fauna at the Cuc Phuong National Park

Vietnam’s oldest national park, Cuc Phuong, boasts some jaw-dropping scenery and diverse wildlife that you can explore for days on end. The Limestone Mountains and thick vegetation are home to over 2,000 plant species, more than 250 reptile and mammal species, and over 300 bird species, making it a prime location for naturalists and nature lovers. You can have a fairly long trek through the forest and get to see a myriad of different animals, and explore the caves where you’ll find the remains of people who lived in these parts over 7,000 years ago.

There are plenty of other curiosities like a reptile fossil that is over 200 million years old.  The indigenous Muong tribe still resides there in stilt houses, living off the land and producing interesting garments using simple looms.

5. The unique marriage of Western and Eastern architecture (Vua Meo)

As Western countries strove to grow their colonial power, Britain, France, Spain, Portugal, and the Netherlands conquered countries on different continents. Vietnam was under French rule from the late 19th century up until the First Indochina War in the mid-20th century.

At certain periods tensions were high, but during this time a unique blend of Western and Eastern architecture emerged, and one of the most beautiful examples of this is the Vua Meo villa built by the French for the leader of the Hmong people. Interestingly enough it was once dubbed “The Opium Palace”, as one of its cellars stored large amounts of opium, and the walls were decorated with poppy-seed and flower designs.

6. Plenty of opportunity to help a good cause by volunteering

For those who want a more active break from everyday life, and wish to help out others and make a difference in the world, there are several great volunteering opportunities in Vietnam. The great thing about helping a cause is that the trip and accommodations are fairly affordable, and you have an opportunity to meet lots of new people, delve deeper into the local culture, learn useful skills, and experience the pleasure of helping those in need.

Whether it is teaching the local youth, helping orphaned children, improving healthcare standards in rural areas, or working at a wildlife rescue center, you have a chance to make a big positive change.

7. A large number of beautiful sandy beaches

In the end, after all the excitement and exploration, some may just want get some sun on their skin, swim and have fun on a beach of fine sand. Well, as we’ve already mentioned, Halong Bay is an excellent place for both adventure and the traditional beach vacation, but there are a whole lot of other incredible beaches in Vietnam, like the quiet Long Beach in Phu Quoc, or the lovely City Beach in Nha Trang.

You can find the right place for yourself, depending on whether you want something more secluded, where you can be alone with a significant other, or want to be in an urban environment, but have the ability to get down to the beach for a quick swim in a matter of minutes.

If you are looking for an exotic location, with lots of fun and worthwhile things to do, Vietnam is definitely the place to visit. Even if you don’t have a clear idea of what you want out of your vacation, there’s something for everyone in this proud country.

BY IVAN DIMITRIJEVIC - Source: LifeHack

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Over 900 years old of the Craft of Casting Bronze in Tong Xa

For over 900 years, bronze casting in Tong Xa Village, Yen Xa Commune in the district of Y Yen in Nam Dinh Province has been preserved and strongly developed, bringing a good life to the local people

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By the end of the 12th century, Nguyen Minh Khong who is considered the ancestor of bronze casting settled in Tong Xa to reclaim new lands and taught the local people the craft to help them earn their living. 

Pouring the bronze liquid into moulds

The craftsman in Tong Xa Village make mould of the statute before casting.

Carving bronze products.

Skillful hands make sophisticated carvings on product.

Thanks to the secrets handed down by their ancestors together with their skillfulness, creativeness and the application of advanced technology, the local people have not only preserved but also strongly developed their traditional craft. Previously, they only cast household items and worshipping objects in small sizes, namely Buddhist statues, incense burners, basins and pots. 

However, they now make various kinds of products in large sizes that require high skills and techniques. In recent years, the artisans in Tong Xa Village and its neighbouring village, Van Diem, cast successfully several grandiose bronze monuments and statues. They are the Monument of Dien Bien Phu Victory, 16.2m in height and 220kg in weight located in Dien Bien and the statue of King Ly Thai To, 10.1m in height and 45 tonnes in weight in Hanoi. There are also the statue of The Great Buddha, 35 tonnes in weight on Non Nuoc Mountain, Soc Son Province, and three statues of Buddha, weighing 50 tonnes in Bai Dinh Pagoda in Ninh Binh Province.

Besides large monuments and statues ordered by customers, the villagers also make traditional items, including incense burners, bronze urns, statues of sacred animals, statues of famous people and statues of leaders in small and medium sizes. The statues of celebrities and leaders of the country made by Ngu Xa artisans are rendered beautifully thanks to painstaking care using delicate strokes. 

To make high quality products, the villagers combine traditional techniques and secrets of modern technology. Therefore, the village’s products have gained prestige in the market.

Statue of President Ho Chinh Minh

A bronze urn.

Patterns on a bronze drum.

A statue of rhinoceros made from bronze.

Visiting the village, one will see with his own eyes the bustling life in the 900-year-old craft village. Along the main road in the centre of Lam Town in Yen Xa Commune are a series of shops selling Tong Xa products, which are always full of customers. The products are not only sold to local people, but also to other provinces nationwide and exported to foreign countries.

In the village, there are now about 150 workshops producing bronze fine arts items, providing jobs for over 1,500 people, each earning 3 - 4 million VND/month. Sales from the whole village reaches over 600 billion VND/year.

Apart from small scale establishments, many private enterprises with large scale production, such as Tan Tien, Quang Ha, Duong Ba Phong and Duong Ba Tan, were established, making a great contribution to shifting the traditional and small scale production into an industrial and modern direction, expanding production, increasing productivity and improving the quality of the village’s products. 

To meet the demand of the domestic and foreign markets, a mechanical casting area was established in Lam Town in the district that involves the participation of many households. At present, both the villagers and private enterprises have invested in machines, expanded markets and sought new partners. It is a sound direction, promising a bright prospect for bronze casting in Tong Xa and making a contribution to developing the local economy.

Story: Thuc Hien - Photo: Trinh Van Bo / Source: VNP

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Cape of Ca Mau - Ca Mau Peninsula, which constitutes not only the end of mainland Vietnam but of Southeast Asia as well

Ca Mau Cape is the tip of the cape, under Dat Mui Hamlet, Dat Mui Commune, Ngoc Hien District. The cape tip is shaped weird and heading out West Sea (Gulf of Thailand) at speeds from 50m to 80 m per year. This is considered to be the southernmost point on the mainland of Vietnam Fatherland. On the national landmark, there is pentagram numbered GPS 0001. Ca Mau Cape icon is shown the coordinates 8037'30" North latitude - 104043' East longitude.

In the minds of the people of Vietnam, Ca Mau Cape has been a long-lasting point to verify the national sovereignty. Ca Mau Cape is the only place on the mainland to watch the sun rise over the sea from the East in the morning and the sun set into the sea west in the afternoon. Ca Mau Cape is surrounded by shallow sea areas. As the largest tide, the seawater only floods around 1 meter.

At the low tide, mudflats are exposed, stretching out to sea some kilometers. This is a place where two ocean currents of North - South and West - South meet each other, with 2 modes of diurnal and semi-diurnal tide making up the sedimentation (Bai Boi dune) large in tens of thousands of hectares along the West - South coast of Ca Mau province.

   

 Ca Mau cape is annually accreted from 50 to 80 meters. Photo: Thanh Dung.

Ca Mau Cape is located in the area of Ca Mau Cape National Park, with more than 42,000ha of inland and shoal. There are Nam Can mangrove forest, majestic Khai Long beach. Surrouding Ca Mau Cape area is a typical and diversified natural flora and fauna. Animals have fish, shrimp, crab, oysters, mud clamp, snail, etc. Plants are “mam”, mangrove, vet, coc, “ban” trees, etc. The “mam” tree is a pioneer species in sea penetration. Mangrove species follows to keep land and alluviate Ca Mau Cape always spreading to the sea.

The core area of Ca Mau cape National Park. Photo: Huynh Lam

Ca Mau Cape has Cultural Park - Ca Mau Cape Tours. Coming here, tourists can see the sacred national landmark, downward Thuy Ta restaurant to enjoy fresh seafood dishes typical of Dat Mui, climbed 20.5 meters high Vong Lam Dai to broaden eyes far to feel the majestic beauty of the country at the first wave place; visit wartime model of forest villages, the “every water can is saved, eat avicenniaceae fruit due to being hungry” of coastal residents of Rach Goc, Tan An.

From Ca Mau Cape, overlooking the East Sea is green, majestic Hon Khoai island appearing in the vast sea. Domestic and international tourists once arrived at Ca Mau, rare of them do not wish to visit Dat Mui one time.

Bestowed with natural features, Ca Mau, the southernmost province of Vietnam, with Ca Mau cape located a national coordinates landmark, is geographical tourism destination very attractive to domestic and foreign visitors.

Corner of Hon Khoai. Photo: Thanh Dung

With two interlaced ecosystems of mangrove and brackish water forest, among tree forests are snaking rivers, formerly was open point of Ho Chi Minh sea route (Vam Lung station, Ngoc Hien District); where witnessed, saw off children the South to the North, carrying along star apple trees for presenting Uncle Ho (Ong Doc estuary, Tran Van Thoi district); rivers with many glorious victories (Tam Giang, Cai Lon, Cai Tau, Ong Doc river, Dam Doi).

Strawberry garden, Cai Tau, U Minh district. Photo: Huynh Lam

Under the forest canopy are the shrimp ponds, rice fields and orchards, wild bird yards with a variety of rare precious birds etc. creating attractive ecotourism. Islands of Hon Khoai, Hon Chuoi, Hon Da Bac, Hon Buong, Khai Long Beach etc. still retain the original beauty of nature.

Sunset on Khai Long Beach. Photo: Thanh Dung

In addition, Ca Mau has many historic relics of national level, provincial level; many traditional festivals such as Nghinh Ong, Via Ba, Dua Ghe Ngo (Ngo Boat Racing) etc. that imbued with cultural identities of three ethnic groups of Kinh - Chinese - Khmer.

Cajuput forest eco-tourism. Photo: Tan Diep

Coming to Ca Mau, tourists can hear story of Uncle Ba Phi, Don Ca Tai Tu (amateur music), boat on the river, enjoy special dishes of the forest, the sea etc.

MOST ATTRACTION PLACES:

• Ca Mau Cape National Park
• U Minh Ha National Park (Lower U Minh)
• Ca Mau Cape World Biosphere Reserve
• Thi Tuong lagoon (also called Dam Ba Tuong)
• Khai Long Beach
• Bird yard in the heart of Ca Mau City
• Ong Trang Dune
• Trem River
• 184 Ecotourism area

Some beauty photos of Ca Mau:

Source: Director Board of Ca Mau monography - Ca Mau Provincial Statistics Department

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