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Post:Hannal
On a direct Eva Airways flight from Hanoi, we landed in the beautiful island nation of Taiwan for a survey trip organized by the Taiwan Tourism Bureau's Kuala Lumpur office. According to the itinerary, we were scheduled to explore the capital city of Taipei, Sun Moon Lake, and Kaohsiung.
Modern Taipei
Known as a center of industry and high technology, Taipei not only attracts a large workforce from countries in the region but also captivates tourists from all over the world. Despite arriving late in the afternoon and feeling tired, the members of the group couldn't hide their excitement to explore the city.
After checking into the Howard Plaza Hotel in the city center, we visited Longshan Temple. Not far from the city center, the temple was a completely different world. As soon as we arrived, we all felt a sense of peace pervading the space, with elderly people playing chess, musical instruments, or practicing Tai Chi. Longshan Temple, built in 1738, is one of the largest and oldest temples in Taiwan. Many of its original details and architectural designs remain intact. Surrounding the temple are traditional restaurants, antique shops, Buddhist bookstores, and traditional Chinese medicine shops.
Leaving the peaceful temple, it was already twilight, and the city lights were coming on. In just a moment, the entire city lit up, sparkling brightly. Cool night breezes began to spread everywhere. People started flocking to the city's night markets. Night markets reflect the colorful and vibrant life in Taiwan. We also joined the crowd heading to the Hwashi Night Market. This market always attracts a large number of people, from students to the elderly, from middle-aged to young people who have just finished work, coming to the market to have dinner, chat with friends or colleagues. The market not only sells a wide variety of goods at reasonable prices but is also famous for its many stalls selling delicious and unique snacks.
Not far from the night market is Ximending Shopping District, one of the city's busiest shopping areas. With a variety of fun activities and diverse goods, the shopping district mainly attracts young tourists. We took a stroll around the market and picked out some small souvenirs before returning to the hotel and enjoying a good night's sleep in our comfortable beds.
Additional information:
- MoveEva Airways offers direct flights from Hanoi to Taipei at reasonable prices.
ButHotelTaipei offers a wide range of hotels, from budget-friendly to luxury. You can stay at the Howard Plaza Hotel at 160 Ren Ai Road, District 3, Da'an Ward, Taipei 106, with prices starting from 2.5 million VND per night.
- CuisineBeef noodle soup is a favorite dish among Taipei residents and is widely available on the streets. Besides beef noodle soup, there are many other delicious dishes such as stinky tofu, pepper cakes, Tian Bu La (a type of Chinese noodle soup), and sticky rice in bamboo tubes...
- SightseeingXimending Shopping District, Longshan Temple, Hwashi Night Market, National Palace Museum, Martyrs' Memorial, Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall, shopping malls and Taipei 101 Tower…
Sun Moon Lake scenic spot
Sun Moon Lake is one of the 13 most famous scenic spots on the island of Taiwan. From La Lu Island in the middle of the lake, visitors will see that the eastern side of the lake resembles the sun, and the western side resembles the moon, hence the lake's name. The lake's clear, emerald-green water, nestled amidst pristine mountains and forests, creates a scene as beautiful as a traditional ink painting. The lake complex has many attractions for tourists. We visited the Wen Wu Temple, Xuanzang Temple, Tze En Temple, Ita Thao Village, and took a boat trip on the lake.
The Wenwu Temple, situated on a mountainside, was built in 1938 and later rebuilt in 1969 to worship Confucius, the God of War Guangong, and the Creator God. The Xuanzang Temple is dedicated to the monk Xuanzang, revered as a Saintly Master during the Tang Dynasty. If you prefer a tranquil setting, the temples surrounding the lake are the perfect place for you.
Tze En Temple, located on Mount Sha Ba Lan near Sun Moon Lake, was built by Chiang Kai-Shek in 1971 to commemorate his mother. From here, one can enjoy panoramic views of Lalu Island and Sun Moon Lake. Ita Thao Village is home to many Thao people and is the most populous village in the Sun Moon Lake area.
Additional information:
- MoveThe quickest way to get from Taipei to Sun Moon Lake is to take the HSR train to Taichung HSR station, which takes about 50-60 minutes. From there, take a direct bus to Sun Moon Lake.
ButHotelYou can stay at Mei Jen House Hotel, No. 125, Chungshan Road, Sun Moon Lake, Nantou.http://www.mayzen.tw). Or: Laurel Villa (http://www.laurelvilla.com.tw.
- CuisineThe President's Fish dishes are made with fish caught from the lake. Other fish and shrimp dishes include Chili fish, lake shrimp, steamed or grilled aruzay, steamed chicken with onions, stir-fried bamboo shoots, etc.
Kaohsiung is dynamic.
We then traveled to Kaohsiung, Taiwan's second most populous city. Kaohsiung is a major manufacturing, oil refining, and transportation hub in Taiwan. Unlike Taipei, Kaohsiung's streets are wider and traffic flows more smoothly. Under the guidance of our enthusiastic and cheerful tour guide, we explored the Spring and Autumn Pavilion, visited the British Consulate, and shopped at Dream Mall, one of the largest shopping malls in Asia, boasting the most extensive area and numerous stores in Taiwan. It's also home to world-renowned fashion brands, luxury goods, and trendy items.
Afterward, we admired the Love River flowing through the city – beautiful and romantic. The river has been developed into a park and decorated with tall pillars and iron chains. It's an ideal dating spot for many couples. To end our day in Kaohsiung, we visited the Liuhe Night Market, a bustling market in the city. A major destination for tourists visiting Kaohsiung, it's one of the largest night markets in Taiwan. The market sells all kinds of Chinese food in general, and especially local Taiwanese food.
We returned to Taipei and continued exploring the city's attractions, such as Taipei 101 Tower and the National Palace Museum. We took advantage of the remaining time to shop for souvenirs before returning to Hanoi, concluding our exciting and memorable trip to Taiwan.
Additional information:
- MoveFrom Sun Moon Lake, you can take a bus (Website:www.taiwantrip.com.tw/Besttour/Info/?id=8) to Taichung, then from Taichung take a train to Kaohsiung.
ButHotelGrand Hi Lai, No. 266, Cheng-kung 1st Street, Kaohsiung, District 801, Taiwan. Tel: 120-32-103 (toll-free number in Vietnam). Or: Hotel Sunshine, No. 75, Jhonghua No. 4th Street, Lingya District, Kaohsiung, District 802, Taiwan. Tel: 120-32-103 (toll-free number in Vietnam).
- CuisineGrilled chicken skewers, sticky rice cakes with pork blood, meat or peanut buns, oyster omelets, meat patties with leeks...
