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HAIPHONG |
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| Located 100km east of Hanoi on the Cua Cam River, one of the main
channels of the Red River Estuary, HAIPHONG has long been North
Vietnam's principal port, and its history runs the gamut from major
seventeenth-century trading centre through bombardment by both the
French and the Americans. These days it's a small, orderly city of broad
avenues and subtle, cosmopolitan charms, with good ferry links to Cat Ba
Island and Hong Gai (for Ha Long Bay), but not much else of interest.
The city's crescent-shaped nineteenth-century core lies between the
curve of the Tam Bac River and the loop of the train tracks. To the
north of the main artery, Dien Bien Phu , you'll find broad avenues and
colonial architecture. To the south is the merchants' quarter, these
days a dilapidated area of street markets between Tran Trinh Street and
Cho Sat. Opposite Cho Sat on the south side of Tam Bac Lake, no. 124
Nguyen Duc Canh houses Hang Kenh Carpet Factory , where you can watch
the carpets being hand-woven on old wooden looms (Mon-Sat 7-11.30am &
1-5pm, Sun 7-11.30am). The temple of Den Nghe , about ten minutes' walk
east of the factory along Me Linh, is noted for its carvings,
particularly on the massive stone table in the first courtyard. |
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