Nem Ran or Cha Gio (fried spring roll)

Nem Ran or Cha Gio (fried spring roll)
This dish is called Nem Ran by northerners and Cha Gio by southerners. In Hanoi, the introduction of Nem Ran dates back to a time when Cha Ca had not existed. Although it ranks among Vietnam's specialty dishes, Nem Ran is very easy to prepare. Consequently, it has long been a preferred food on special occasions such as Tet and other family festivities.
Ingredients used for Nem Ran comprise of lean minced pork, sea crabs or unshelled shrimps, two kinds of edible mushroom (Nam Huong and Moc Nhi), dried onion, duck eggs, pepper, salt and different kinds of seasoning. All are mixed thoroughly before being wrapped with transparent rice paper into small rolls. These rolls are then fried in boiling oil.

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Chung cake

Banh Chung (Sticky Rice Cake)
Sticky rice cakes are a Vietnamese traditional dish that must be part of Tet meals. As a matter of fact, every Vietnamese family must have sticky rice cakes among the offerings placed on the altar to their ancestors.
Bang chung is made of glutinous rice, pork meat, and green beans paste wrapped in a square of bamboo leaves, giving the rice a green colour after boiling.
According to the legend, under the reign of the Hung Kings, Prince Lang Lieu created sticky rice cakes and presented them to his father. Bang chung won high acclaims from the King who awarded the prince his throne.
Making sticky rice cakes is a very meticulous job. To obtain the best cakes, rice has to soak in water for an entire day. The pork meat must include skin and fat, the green beans must be of the same size, and the bamboo leaves must be fresh. Squaring off and tying cakes with bamboo strings requires skilful hands.
Sticky rice cakes are available at any time of the year, although one is sure to enjoy them with relatives and friends during Tet. During Tet, rice cakes are served with gio lua and hanh muoi– lean meat pie and salted sour onions.

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China Beach and the Marble Mountains

Although the ruins of the American airbase still rest along the beach, China Beach is nonetheless one of the top tourist destinations in all of Vietnam. A miles long, gorgeous white sand beach lies along the edge of clear blue waters, which is rapidly becoming a major attraction for tourists the world over.

There are many major developments springing up along the coast road to Hoi An, and Danang's China Beach is set to become a premier luxury destination for travellers to South East Asia. Already completed are a number of golf courses and even a casino, as well as some incredible five star resorts.

The nearby Furama Resort is one of the best and most luxurious hotels in all of Vietnam. The hotel offers guests comfortable, luxurious accommodations, along with easy access to scuba diving, snorkeling, windsurfing, jetskis, and more. For more relaxing activities, you can check out the resort's Tai Chi classes, play volleyball or tennis in the resort's elaborate gardens, and on rainy days you can stay inside the clubhouse and play table tennis or video games.

Surrounding China Beach is another one of Vietnam's most popular attractions, the Marble Mountains. Honey-combed with caves that have housed Buddhist sanctuaries for hundreds of years, the Marble Mountains consist of five marble hills not far from the beach. Climbing the Marble Mountains is a challenging but rewarding hike. From the top, you'll be treated with a panoramic view of the beach, Danang, and the surrounding countryside.

It was inside the Marble Mountains that the Vietcong had their own base during the Vietnam War. Today, the monastery walls of the ancient Buddhist temples in the Marble Mountains are pock-marked with bullets from the area's far less peaceful recent history. A visit to the Marble Mountains is a great way to spend some time outdoors, as well as a great way to understand both the ancient and recent history of the area.

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