Vietnam _ La Terre du Dragon - Civilisation et Culture - Documentaire voyage - AMP

Sounds, smells, images, flavours. A trip to Vietnam in the spirit of a birthday party. At the crossroads of history and civilization, Vietnam retains the heritage of the cultures that have imbued it. A population still in motion, spreading to the bustling cities, projecting towards the future. The coming and going of bicycles, the cries of the merchants echo the reception in the pagodas. From the northern mountain tribes to the southern fishermen, it's hard to get Vietnam on a postcard. This country has much more to offer. A history in motion, of extraordinary wealth. Ho Chi Minh City, the old Saigon, crystallizes all the paradoxes of today's Vietnam, caught between an ancient history, its colonial past, the communist regime and the forced march towards the flamboyant horizons of the consumer society. Here, the changes sweeping Vietnam are the most obvious. This city attracts people from all over the country, in the hope of improving their situation. Here, we touch the heart and the paradoxes of modern Vietnam. Motorbikes, cell phones and miniskirts of the new generation cohabit with the pagodas, political convictions and the religious faith of the elders. Marx speaks to you and MTV answers him. Ho Chi Minh City hasn't broken with its old name. The people here still call it Saigon. Direction Cholon, the Chinese district. The Binh Thai market is a masterpiece of Chinese architecture, with the Clock Tower in its center. The rice comes from the earth, the sea and the rivers bring the fish. These two ingredients lay the foundations of Vietnamese cuisine. The very large length of their coasts offers the Vietnamese an important diversity of crustaceans, shells and fish. Several stages are specialized in the cutting and preparation of fish according to the recipes. We also find in the heart of this Chinese district the flagship products of this cuisine, such as duck. If we can judge from a cuisine the diversity of the products offered, undeniably, Vietnam is at the top of the basket. After the star products, in the second rolls, we count a myriad of acrid roots and aromatic plants, which give the anchovies, the soup, the ragout, their crunchy and original flavor. We find a little bit of everything, this noodle soup, it constitutes a complete and balanced meal, practical and economical. The walking merchants contribute to animate the markets by playing the balance in the middle of the crowd with their system of swings. A little everywhere in the city, we find religious buildings, mainly pagodas of various styles, Chinese or Vietnamese. Four great religions have shaped the spiritual life of the Vietnamese people, Buddhism, Confucianism, Taoism and later Christianity, introduced by the missionaries. But the vast majority of the population declare themselves Buddhist. We can easily enter the pagodas only if we take off our shoes to enjoy the meditative calm of the places, the prayers of the monks and the steam of incense. Near the market is a pagoda built by the Canton Congregation at the beginning of the 19th century. The Tien Ho pagoda is dedicated to the goddess of the sea. The belief is that this divinity can cross the oceans on a carpet and overcome the clouds to save the boats in difficulty. The families of fishermen come here to ask for the protection of the goddess. The volutes of incense rise like so many requests. On the altar, three statues of Tien Ho in Indian thread are framed by two guardians. A vestige of colonization, the Notre-Dame Cathedral dates from 1883. At the time of the mass, we see a crowd gathering. Many remain on the pavement, sitting on their motorcycles. Many foreigners come to attend the office and the priests speak indifferently Vietnamese, French or English. Just in front, the post is a monument of colonial inspiration to the French. This type of architecture, quite common in Vietnam, gives French visitors the impression of déjà vu. But be careful, no arrogant attitude. This country has inflicted a devastating defeat on us and we know how the most powerful army in the world got involved. The Vietnamese proudly claim their identity. Among the many markets covered, the Ben Thanh is the liveliest and most colorful in the city. The main entrance, topped with a cold bath and a clock, has become the emblem of Saigon. There are all kinds of food products. Built in 1914, the Ben Thanh market was called the Central Hall by the French. The great variety of fruits and vegetables and spices in the south, linked to the proximity of Mekong, offer a great variety of products at the origin of a tasty cuisine. Curries have been cooked there since the dawn of time, even if, contrary to the original Indian version, they are not very popular. The artistic life is very rich and often influenced by the region. The Yat Park has a superb collection and in particular works by Pham Hoang, an original artist from Haiphong, seduced by the beauty and spirituality of the non-Buddhists. Formerly called the Museum of Chinese and American War Crimes, the Museum of War Memories is one of the most visited by Westerners. Most of the atrocities shown here have been widely broadcast in the West. Nevertheless, the details of these executions, presented by the victims themselves, remain very impressive. The war has left deep traces here, where practically no family has been spared. Another spectacular place witness to the conflict, the Palace of Reunification, astonished by its modern architecture. Symbol of the South Vietnamese government, the building remained as it was on April 30, 1975, the day the Republic of Vietnam ceased to exist. In the chaotic traffic of Saigon, one often feels like being in a video game. Motorbikes and cyclists arrive from everywhere. The rule of the game is simple, avoid the impact. It is often believed that one's last hour has arrived. Yet, at the last moment, everyone miraculously finds a gap. The game runs out in the event of a flood, but obviously, everyone seems to be used to driving in these conditions, without regretting many accidents. At night, the center of Saigon continues to live at a frantic pace, always carried by the turbulence of the motorcycles that hang between the old French colonial buildings. The old city hotel is one of the main landmarks of the city, an easy point of rendezvous to continue until the end of the night. Leaving Saigon for the extreme south of the country, we reach the Mekong Delta. A trip to Vietnam's Ari Gorge makes it possible to better understand the importance of the farmers who work every day to feed the country's 85 million inhabitants. The Mekong Delta not only feeds its inhabitants, but the whole country, and provides an important part of its production to export. The Mekong Delta sparkles in multiple colors, from the sparkling green of the rice fields to the blue and white uniforms of the schoolchildren on bicycles. Too bad that pollution deprives us of the smile of the elegant Vietnamese. Can Tho is the main city in the region. Political and cultural center of Mekong, the local economy is mainly agricultural. This welcoming and throbbing city is linked to the other agglomerations of the delta by a network of canals and rivers. The floating markets are home to many farmers and farmers. Unlike the Thai markets, where small wooden boats hide in narrow canals, Vietnamese markets are generally located in places where the river is wide. Markets usually start early in the morning to avoid the heat of midday. It is also necessary to count on the tide because the largest boats must wait for the water to be high enough to sail. The big fishers arrive with the largest boats full to the brim. The goods are transported on smaller boats that feed the local markets. Here, in the middle of this perpetual movement, the Mekong really gives the impression of being an essential artery of the economic life of the South. Merchants erect long poles on their boats so that we can identify the products that they sell. The abundance of food throughout the delta is linked to the presence of the river. Formed by lemons, the delta does not cease through a permanent sedimentation process to gain land on the sea at a rate of 80 m per year. The river is so wide that the tide occurs twice a day. In addition to the many rice fields and pisciculture farms, the rich fertilized land produces fruits, coconuts and sugarcane. The delta region, which is mainly rural, is one of the most populated in Vietnam and almost every hectare is subjected to intensive agriculture. The Mekong is one of the largest rivers in the world and its delta is one of the largest. Life in a regularly flooded plain is not without problems for the inhabitants. Houses are built on piles to protect themselves from the rising water. Movements are made by boat on thousands of canals that must be regularly dragged to remain navigable. The manufacture of rice crêpes is a traditional activity. They are used to make spring rolls and nem that are fried. The rice crêpes are steamed by a brazier system powered by rice straw. In ancient Indian language, rice is called dhania, which means support of the human race. This word also describes the importance of rice for the Vietnamese. According to a local legend, it was a time when rice did not need to be harvested. It was asked for by prayers and it was sent from heaven in each house in the form of a big ball. One day, a man asked his wife to sweep the floor in anticipation of the arrival of rice. But when the huge ball arose, she swept again and accidentally hit it, breaking it into a thousand pieces. Since that day, the Vietnamese have had to work hard and harvest the rice by hand. We begin our climb to the north, towards the region of the high plateau of the Centre. In Dala, we arrive at the Lam Thi Pagoda, whose gate is the work of the master of his unique bonsai, Vien Thuc, a cultivated man who made a fortune by painting instantaneous paintings that he sold for a few dollars. He is still there to bless visitors as well as practitioners of the city. This hard-working and a little eccentric works for the richest man in the region. He planted flowers and decorated gardens of different styles, including a Japanese garden sprinkled with bonsai. Shaded alleys and tunnels complete the ornamentation of this place imbued with serenity. Gem of the high plateau, the Dala region is sprinkled with lakes, waterfalls, gardens and forests. Its cool climate and magnificent nature make it one of the most pleasant destinations in Vietnam. Dala used to be famous for hunting big crickets. The hunt was so good that most of the big species have disappeared. Now protected, the crocodiles can sleep peacefully in the sun. On the occasion of superb hikes in the forests, you can go up the rivers and discover many waterfalls. Dala has kept the features of an old colonial city. Its cathedral with its tarabiscuited architecture was completed in 1942 for French residents and holidaymakers. The train station in Kremayer also shows this flamboyant An old Russian steam locomotive is exhibited inside. The Kremayer, which has been linked to Tapcham since 1928, has been reopened for tourist purposes for nearby destinations. Here you can visit the magnificent pagoda of Lin Phuoc, whose construction was completed in 1952. Inside, the Buddha sitting in front of the awakening tree is adorned with five neon tubes. It is 4 o'clock and the streets of the village are lively with the school leaving. If at home the co-driving has a hard time developing, here the motorcycles act as a common transport. And for the less fortunate who have to rely on their two legs, the return home is not so sad. There is a candy shop on the way. The sun rises on the lake at the heart of Dala. The lake is named after a Vietnamese poetess of the 17th century famous for her virulent attacks against social conventions. Dala did not usurp her reputation as a jewel of the high plateau. The mist rising reveals an absolutely magnificent scenery where a nostalgic vision of Vietnam Dala cultivates her colonial past, her surrounded atmosphere. The French presence of the time of India is still palpable. Dala is home to Sompthus, whose villa was owned by Emperor Bao Dai. During the Vietnam War, the city was subjected to an acid agreement that spared it attacks and bombings. The South Vietnamese officers trained at the academy while the notables of the Saigon regime rested in their villa and the Viet Cong dignitaries did the same in their nearby residence. The city surrendered to the North Vietnamese troops on April 3, 1975. Climbing up the Lang Bian mountains, you enter a world of forests where many ethnic minorities live, such as the Lat. They populate this region and try to keep the ancestral traditions alive. Often allied with the Americans during the war, the Vietnamese government made them pay dearly for their emancipation dream. The Lat houses are built on piloti and the walls are made of boards. Kraja Mai learned French with missionaries in the 1950s and remembers a time when the Lat were free. The colored pole is the memory of the past. That means that before being Christians, we were animists. We had many gods, tigers, elephants and many other animals. To honor them, we had killed a buffalo with the colored pole. These mountaineers are very fond of rice culture. They do not like wars and claim their ancestral lands and the fact of being able to practice their old religion. In response, the government imposes a policy of forced integration by establishing Vietnamese in these regions. The Lat, like many minorities of the central plateau, are condemned to a life of misery. Embroidery on silk is a very popular Vietnamese art. Specialized craft centers exhibit the most beautiful pieces that are sold at high prices. Capital of the province of Kanoa, Nha Trang exhibits a magnificent seaside resort, one of the most famous in Vietnam. An impressive fishing port houses multicolored boats that swim here at low tide. On the quays, fish dry in the sun. Fishermen go to sea at night mainly, the day being rather dedicated to rest and maintenance of equipment. Many fishermen still use the thong, a traditional round boat made from braided bamboo. The most fortunate have small boats. The islands around Nha Trang house many fish farms that are both workplaces and life for many fishermen in the region. These natural aquariums are full of the great diversity of species found in these waters. Thongs are the indispensable means of transport to go from one farm to another. Some islands are real harbors of peace. In Ninh Van Bay, a sumptuous complex of villas with wooden roofs allows you to stay here and enjoy the beauty of this seaside where the days pass quietly at the rhythm of the waves of the fishing boats. Right in front of Nha Trang, On My is an island where many fishermen At the time of the break or while waiting for the tide, the fishermen play their favorite game, dominoes. But this world gives the impression of a perpetual movement where there is always something to do. On the dock, a man makes sure that the thongs are perfectly waterproof. They are dried in the sun, then the braided bamboo is coated with a mixture of palm oil and sugar. This mixture is particularly effective to prevent water infiltration and navigate in the dry. On My is a living and authentic island where we share the existence of these people of the sea of ​​the Vietnamese coast. Away from the lagoon, we discover incredible religious buildings of the Chan dynasty. The site of Po Nagar was built between the 7th and 12th centuries on a place of Hindu worship that dates back to the 2nd century. Today, Chinese and Vietnamese Buddhists come to pray and make offerings. The towers house the Sanctuary of Yangino Po Nagar, goddess of the Dua clan who reigned over the south of the Cham kingdom. On the other side of the city, the Lonesone Pagoda deserves a detour. Built at the end of the 19th century, it houses a lying Buddha. At the top of the hill, a huge white Buddha of 14 meters high sits on a lotus flower and dominates the city, offering a superb view of the bay. These landscapes invite relaxation. In Nha Trang, we can take advantage of many traditional healings. We also teach meditation there. It is a good way to apprehend these Asian cultures where the body and mind must function together and harmoniously. Some centers offer music sessions accompanied by traditional instruments. In traditional Vietnamese medicine, many diseases are attributed to pernicious winds. The pose in front of everyone is a way to fight these bad winds. It is a treatment that is also practiced in families. The Kop Yin helps to eliminate stress and toxins without leaving a trace on the body. It comes from traditional medicine. A stay in Nha Trang would not be complete without a visit to the Moi Market, the fish market. It is one of the most extraordinary fish markets in the world. The number of species is absolutely impressive. Everything that lives in the water and can be eaten is here. Confrontations can be surprising and a Westerner may have a hard time imagining that some of these animals could end up on his plate. Da Nang lies on the west bank of the Han River. The city is bordered on one side by the sea and on the other by five large mountains of marble. But today, most of the marble used in Vietnam is imported from China to avoid the massive extraction that would harm tourism and destroy the mountains. Each of them represents an element of oriental cosmology. Water, wood, fire, metal, earth. Tuy Son, the water, contains many natural caves where, over the centuries, Hindu and Buddhist sanctuaries A large chimney-shaped cave houses a sanctuary. At the end of a corridor, two mandarins guard the entrance. A few more meters and the spectacle is eye-catching. We find ourselves in the huge cave of Nguyen Khon, which houses several Buddhist and Confucian hotels. During the war, this cave was used as a hiding place for Vietnamese soldiers and then as a hospital. On the southern bank of Tuy Son is the Nguoc Dam. It is here that craftsmen make magnificent marble sculptures. An impressive work which is a great success for an Asian clientele. Near the marble mountains is a gigantic beach, China Beach, which owes its name to an American TV series. During the war, American soldiers were parachuted here for a few hours or a few days of rest. For some, the China Beach picnic was the last meal before returning to the helicopter. A real living museum, Hoi An is a port city. It is full of charm and its enchanting setting invites you to stroll. Known under the name of Fai Fo, at the time of the first Western merchants, it was from the 17th to the 19th century one of the main international ports of Southeast Asia. However, at the end of the 19th century, the rise of other ports in Vietnam marked the decline of Hoi An. The consequence of this economic disinterest frozen the aspect of the city and preserved it from a mismanaged expansion like, alas, many cities in Vietnam and in the rest of Asia. Hoi An exhales a scent of history and culture and maintains the illusion of a suspended time. The old city extends on the banks of the Tu Bon River. It is here that the activity is the most intense, with its floating market. Strolling in this labyrinth, smelling the odors, looking at the faces, listening to this incessant bustle, observing this ordinary life makes you touch one of the aspects of today's Vietnam where a large part of the population leads a traditional existence and not always easy. Each year, the rainy season in October and November brings its share of rain. The most important in 1964 has completely engulfed the seaside houses. On the small island of Cam Khi, this couple has lost everything in the last floods. Here, this kind of displeasure seems to be part of the order of things. Cam Khi is known for its ebony houses. Most of the ornamentation of the buildings and sculptures found in Hoi An are made here. The Tran Khi house, built two centuries ago for a rich Vietnamese merchant, illustrates all the talent of the ebonists of the region. Its arrangement reveals the Japanese and Chinese influences on local architecture. The ceiling is supported by three beams of different sizes. Some columns hang Chinese poems inscribed in encrusted acres. The mythological and legendary bestiary is of all beauty. Outside, the walls have kept the traces of the last floods. But after a few weeks, the streets are clean again and nothing reminds us of the violence of the phenomenon. Classified since 1999 as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the old city of Hoi An benefits from a regulation that strives to preserve its heritage by opening historical and cultural monuments to the public and limiting the traffic of motorized vehicles. In these conditions, Hoi An has a chance to preserve this peaceful atmosphere that makes its charm and reputation. When leaving the city, the countryside offers its rice fields where the peasants go to restore the plots after the floods. The fields of Yassin have also been devastated. Qua Dai is located about 5 km from Hoi An. Bordered by palm trees, the beach is 30 km long and extends to Da Nang. The walks are very pleasant. Here we find some families of fishermen who do not hesitate to go out with their tongs to cross the bar. Leaving Hoi An, we take the cloud pass to switch to the other side towards Lang Ko and its lagoon. Bordered by palm trees, Lang Ko is a pleasant beach of fine sand, similar to an island. It faces a blue-turquoise lagoon on one side and the sea of China The splendid landscapes of Lang Ko are visible north of Hai Van Hill. Here too, time seems to have stopped. On the sea side, fishermen keep methods and ancestral boats. On the land side, where men and buffalos work hard, images of a Vietnam that we would believe to be eternal. In the rice fields, the inhabitants always practice a traditional fishing method which consists of hitting bamboos to make the fish escape and lead it to nets. Approaching Vinh Yen, we come across strange constructions. These are tombs and family temples. At the same time spacious, opulent and colorful, the families compete to offer the most beautiful buildings to their ancestors. The Vietnamese call this place the City of Tombs. This island has seen the exodus of many boat people. It is today the Vietnamese from overseas who finance these amazing buildings. In the Hue region, the former imperial capital, the cult of the dead takes on an even more spectacular dimension. The majestic tomb of Thu Duc, built between 1864 and 1867, lies in the middle of the frangipaniers and pine trees. Thu Duc was buried in this harmonious monument that he had drawn himself. The expense was huge and the workers rolled up in force. Thu Duc, whose reign was the longest of the Nguyen dynasty, lived in immeasurable luxury. Despite his 104 wives and his innumerable concubines, he left no offspring, probably sterile after contracting smallpox. Another impressive tomb of this valley of Vietnamese kings is that of Emperor Khai Dinh, who reigned from 1916 to 1925. The construction of the imperial tomb lasted longer than his reign. Eleven years were necessary for its completion in 1931. This tomb is distinguished among other imperial tombs of Hue in that it combines Vietnamese and European elements. This cultural mixture is even visible on the Eurasian faces of the stone mandarins representing the guards of honor. This tomb, built during the colonial period, illustrates the Vietnamese cultural decline. Hue is the former imperial capital. It is in fact a first-class cultural and religious center. The magnificent tombs of the Nguyen dynasty attract tens of thousands of visitors each year. Without tourism, the cultural sites of Hue would probably be forgotten because they were politically judged to be incorrect by the communist government. The construction of the citadel surrounded by doves on a perimeter of 10 km was started in 1804 on a site chosen by the geomancers of Emperor Jialong. The imperial city, located in the citadel, is itself protected by a canal and brick walls 6 meters high. Inside the citadel, many buildings were destroyed during the head offensive in 1968. These monuments testify to the fast surrounding the Nguyen dynasty which reigned and strengthened the unity of the country for a century and a half until the French colonization. In Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh, the hero of independence, has nothing to envy to the emperors of the past. The last residence of Uncle Ho establishes the cult of the character. His mausoleum is the most visited monument in Vietnam. It is closed to the public for 3 months during which the mummified body of Ho Chi Minh is sent to Russia to undergo care and maintenance. The district of the presidential palace is made up of former colonial residences occupied today by the embassies and the army chiefs. The palace itself occupies a colonial residence of 1906, magnificently restored, which was once the palace of the Indochina The unique pillar pagoda is a venerated place in Hanoi. Made of wood, it rests on a stone pillar. Destroyed by the French in 1954 before they left the city, it was rebuilt by the new government. Endowed with timeless grace, the capital of Vietnam endures better the passing of the years than many of its Asian contemporaries. After the partition of Vietnam in 1954, Hanoi fell into a deep sleep which it only came out of 40 years later thanks to economic reforms. A wonderful example of French colonial architecture, Hanoi escaped the evil spell of American bombs and Soviet urbanization. Very lively, the old city has been a commercial hub for 800 years. It is the ideal place to take the pulse of this renaissance city. The trades and merchants are grouped by activity. Forgers, carpenters, ironsmiths, masons. An entire street is dedicated to bamboo. Elsewhere, we will find all the painted lanterns that illuminate the different holidays of the calendar. Here we can see the fantastic puppet show on the water. Originally, it was a hobby of northern peasants working in the rice fields. They would have considered the surface of the water as a scene all found or after a flood of the delta of the Red River, they would have adapted the traditional puppet show. Anyway, this millenary art has kept all its magic. In the heart of Hanoi, Lake Hoan Kiem is a wonderful waterfront. The aborigines know a great activity from 6 a.m. The inhabitants of the neighborhood come to practice the traditional tai chi, do jogging or play badminton. Mixing Asian serenity and Parisian elegance, Hanoi cultivates the paradoxes in a communist country where the boutiques of chic neighborhoods display the last cry of international fashion. Here again, the nostalgia of the colonial era is full with superb buildings with French decoration and all you have to do is pull the curtains to believe you are in Paris. Looking on the lake, the opera extends the walk on the Panama Desert. Fortunately, Hanoi also has magnificent monuments of traditional architecture. Two kilometers from Lake Hoan Kiem, the Temple of Literature is a real haven of peace. Built in 1070 by Emperor Lê Thanh Tông, it was dedicated to Confucius to honor the literate and the great writers. Here was inaugurated in 1076 the first university of Vietnam intended for the instruction of the sons of mandarins. Leaving Hanoi, we go back to the northwest of the country where we find the most extraordinary landscapes. These mountainous areas also house ethnic minorities whose way of life, for some, has remained unchanged for generations despite external influences. Since their migration from China in the 19th century, the Hmong have become one of the most important ethnic communities in the country. They live at an altitude where they raise animals, grow rice and medicinal plants including opium. They are divided into several subgroups, the Hmong black, white, red, green and flower, visible by subtle variations of their traditional costumes. But their ancestral culture is fragile and their way of life is evolving rapidly. The government tries to sedentarize the tribes with schools as an anchor point. Language and education also become means of integration without taking into account the specificity of these populations. However, the sense of identity remains strong, even among the young who, in the details of their clothing, translate their attachment to their culture and their tradition. An important element of the outfit is the winding gaiters We, the Hmong, we have to wear them because we don't have pants. And when we go to the mountains, it's a good way to protect ourselves from snakes and mosquitos. The traditional beautiful and cheap clothes are made with natural materials that are not fixed. Most of the fabrics are susceptible to stain on everything they touch with a strange blue-green color. Just look at the arms and hands of the Hmong to be convinced. For these minorities, life has always been difficult. Their most fruitful crop is opium, a gold that has never done well with the Vietnamese authorities. Vietnamization only makes things worse. Tourism, based on the respect of these cultures, could provide an element of response for the survival and development of these regions. Almost daily, the mountaineers of the surrounding areas wear their most dazzling costumes and make their way to the Sapa market. The charm of Sapa lies in the meeting between the Hmong and Dao minorities, the best represented in the region. Very poor, these mountaineers learn quickly to do business. The majority of them have not been educated. You will be surprised by the way the youngest speak English and French. It is difficult to come to Vietnam without going to the legendary bays of the Tonkin Gulf. Bathed by the Red River and the sea, the fertile region of the North is the cradle of Vietnamese civilization. The historic and turbulent relationship between Vietnam and China is born in these places. The island of Cat Ba is a first step towards these peaceful bays, and whose beaches are unfortunately the issue of treatment to install hotels. On the other hand, inside the island, the authorities had the good idea to create a natural reserve that houses several endemic species. Birds, mammals, medicinal plants, rare woods and thousands of butterflies can live here quietly. Our adventure leads us immediately to one of the most beautiful landscapes in the world. Imagine 3,000 islands coming out of the waters towards the emerald of the Tonkin Gulf. The Bay of Halong is the wonder of Vietnam. This is what a Chinese traveler said in 1668. The appearance of these sugar loaves confuses our imagination. Sometimes, if you contemplate them, they offer you the appearance of wild animals or red-headed sitting warriors. Halong means where the dragon descends into the sea. According to legend, the mountain would have housed a huge dragon that, one day running towards the sea, created with the beating of its tail valleys and crevasses. When it plunged into the water, the holes were filled, revealing only a few emerged lands. The dragon that gives birth to the bay may be part of the legend, but the sailors claim to have seen a mysterious marine creature known as Tarasque. The most paranoid military claim that it would be a spy for the imperialists. The eccentric travelers believe to see the Vietnamese version of the Loch Ness monster. Meanwhile, the monster continues to haunt the bay, escaping for the moment successfully to the maritime police and the customs. This bay was classified as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1993. A second registration was recently requested by the Vietnamese authorities to state its ecological value. This, under the pressure of the international scientific community, is in order to preserve it from the pollution that lurks at the bottom of the cliffs. The succession of hotel boats coming to spend the night in the bay is not without danger. This dragon is probably the true spirit of Vietnam. Mysterious, unspeakable, playing meandering in search of a difficult story to resurface where we do not expect it. Ready at any moment to spit fire, without forgetting to seduce us all the time.