Buzz
This is the quickest and most economical way. Vietnamese travelers can now fly directly from Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City to Cao Hùng without needing to transit in other cities. Round-trip ticket prices are reasonable, and if you catch a promotion, it can be as low as less than 3 million dong. The flight time is 2 hours 25 minutes from Hanoi and 3 hours 15 minutes from Ho Chi Minh City. There are many airlines to choose from such as Vietjet Air, Vietnam Airlines, China Airlines...
Taking the High-Speed Train
If you want to combine a trip to Cao Hùng with your Taiwan tour, you should use the high-speed rail (HSR), which is very fast and convenient. From Taipei to Cao Hùng, travelers only need 1 hour 30 minutes. How to buy: travelers can visit the booking website with the destination set as Zouying (the station in Cao Hùng city). One-way tickets cost 1490 TWD (around 1.1 million dong).
Alternatively, you can also take a bus or slow train, but the travel time is around 5 hours.
Taiwan Visa
For traveling to Taiwan in general and Cao Hùng in particular, Vietnamese travelers need to apply for a visa. However, in recent years, regulations have been relaxed. For those who have entered the US, Canada, Japan, South Korea, Australia, New Zealand, the UK, Schengen countries (with residency cards or visas still valid or expired within 10 years), you will be granted an online visa by filling out the form on the website. After being granted a visa, you print it out, clip it to your passport, and go through immigration security.
For those who have never entered the borders of the aforementioned countries, you proceed with normal procedures, submitting at the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Hanoi (21st floor, PVI Building, No. 1 Pham Van Bach, Cau Giay District, Hanoi) - for citizens with residency from Hue upwards to the North and Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Ho Chi Minh City (336 Nguyen Tri Phuong, Ward 4, District 5) - for citizens with residency from Danang downwards to HCMC.
Main Tourist Spot
Pho Guang Shan
This is the largest complex of Buddhist structures in Taiwan, welcoming numerous tourists and Buddhists from around the world every year. The complex spans over 100 hectares, with over 20 grand halls and towers. At its center stands a 108-meter tall Buddha statue, the tallest bronze statue in the world, flanked by two imposing pagodas. Here, many precious artifacts are preserved, holding significant importance to Buddhists, such as numerous gold-plated Buddha statues and 100,000 copies of Buddhist scriptures. Visitors also have the rare opportunity to admire the priceless Buddha tooth relic.
Lian Tri Reservoir - Long Ho Reservoir - Xuan Thu Park
The Lian Tri Reservoir - Long Ho Reservoir - Xuan Thu Park complex is situated in the heart of the port city of Kaohsiung, ranking as the second most popular tourist destination in the city after Pho Guang Shan. Visiting Lian Tri Reservoir in the summer, you'll find yourself immersed in fragrant and gentle lotus ponds, amidst the refreshing greenery of the surrounding foliage, admiring the prominent lotus blossoms amidst the cool greenery.
Right on Lian Tri Reservoir stand the Long Ho Towers, depicting one side as a sacred dragon, and the other as a mighty tiger, significant in East Asian culture. There's only a single path leading to the Dragon Tower and likewise only one path leading out through the Tiger Tower. Locals believe that this structure can dispel negative energy and bring prosperity to visitors. Entering through the Dragon's mouth is said to invite good fortune, while exiting through the Tiger's mouth wards off misfortune. Rent a bicycle to explore the breezy lakeside paths, marvel at the Long Ho Towers, the Xuan Thu Pavilion, and Confucius Temple.
Liuhe Night Market
Not falling behind Taipei, Kaohsiung also entices tourists with its bustling night markets and the tantalizing aroma of street food. One of the most famous night markets is Liuhe, stretching over 300 meters on Liuhe Road. It's also the largest night market in Taiwan, established since the 1940s, offering a variety of famous Taiwanese products such as bubble tea, stinky tofu, steamed buns, papaya milk, fried fish balls, fried chicken fillet, beef noodles, and more.
Formosa Station
Despite being just a train station, Formosa Boulevard Station tops the list of check-ins in Kaohsiung and is ranked among the world's most beautiful train stations. The highlight of this structure lies in the Dome of Light, composed of 4,500 stained glass panels imported from Germany. It's also a public art masterpiece comprised of the world's largest single-piece stained glass panels.
The artworks are themed around different topics, depicting various stages of life on the planet such as 'Water: The Origin of Life', 'Earth: Prosperity and Development', 'Light: Creative Minds', and 'Fire: Destruction and Rebirth'. Moreover, the station is free to enter, so you can visit anytime.
Tháp 85 Sky Tower
The 85 Sky Tower is the second tallest tower in Taiwan, following only the iconic Taipei 101. From here, visitors can enjoy an unrestricted 360-degree panoramic view of the city, especially popular at night when many seek to admire the sparkling cityscape. The observation deck charges an entrance fee but allows you to comfortably bring your own food - a rare convenience at such tourist spots. This area also boasts numerous restaurants and cafes for you to dine and enjoy the city view.
By Ha Nguyen/Star (Photo: Kosu Blog, The Smart Local)
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Reference: Mytour Travel Guide
MytourJune 6th, 2019
