Journey to Ta Phin Village

On the way to Sapa Town in the northwest province of Lao Cai, Ta Phin Village located about four kilometers off the center of town is awaiting your presence.

 

Tourists tramp around Ta Phin Village in Sapa Town 

Nestled in Sa Peng Commune, Sapa District, Ta Phin is home to Dao people and to reach the village there is a splendid view of the valley on one side and mountain on the other. Under the valley is a crystal water stream winding along green terraced rice fields and in the distance are lines of corn trees, ensuring tourists feast their eyes as they discover a new land.

Visitors will be firstly amazed at the Dao ethnic ladies, with their red scarves covering their hair, as they flock to welcome travelers. They are dressed mostly in black costumes with colorful patterns hemmed in collars, sleeves and laps together with a white hat and shoes. All Dao women shave the hair on their foreheads and eyebrows following their traditional custom.

On the tramp around the village, some Dao women or children will chase after visitors to ask them to buy their brocade products. The village is studded with simple houses with girls sitting sewing products by hand. Bright smiles and the laughter of children will also make an unforgettable memory.

Strolling for about 1,000 meters, excursionists will meet a huge cave at the foot of a high mountain, which legend states was the place where Dao people’s ancestor settled.

The cave is named Dinh Binh Ta Thanh Long Dong and tourists will pay VND50,000 for a guide with a flashlight as they encounter the mysterious grotto with colorful stalactites in weird shapes. The cave is also the start of Ta Chai Stream running through a primeval forest, creating picturesque scenery worthy of anyone’s admiration.

Near the cave is also a brocade-making craft village where tourists can buy and witness artisans making costumes, handbags, hats, carpets as well as many kinds of jewelry. The village is also famous for tasty fruit such as peach, plums, apple and persimmon and many ethnic cakes and indigenous wines as well which tourists should stock up on for gifts for family and friends.

A view of Dai Binh Ta Thanh Long Cave in Ta Phin Village - Photos: Dang Hoang Tham

Con Co Island – floating green pearl

Located close to the mainland, the small island of Con Co off Quang Tri Province has a long and interesting history of its own. To describe the island from offshore, it looks like a plump pearl emerging amidst the ocean. Experts consider the island’s geology, biology and scenery as a museum of diverse nature.

The evergreen island is 80% natural forest and that primeval forest despite the passage of time still remains in pristine condition. The island was formed by a volcano and the remaining vestiges are giant basalt rocks in weird shapes and many stunning and pristine beaches, making the island more charming and splendid.
The flora system on the island is diverse with a lot of giant trees with trunks measuring some 15 to 20 feet long.
Some of the trees are unique to islands, such as the stripped-trunk variety like dau mau, sam cau or nhau nhau and many kinds of wild potatoes with huge leaves.
The island is also home to enriched marine life with 113 coral, 57 seaweed, 19 crustaceans, 224 saltwater fish and 164 flora and 68 fauna species, and seafood such as oysters, lobsters, holothurians, crabs and mussels.
Especially, there are two crab species which are able to live on the ground or water and are strictly protected as they are endangered.
The island also has historical relics with a 20-kilometer-long military tunnel, many blockhouses along the beaches and firecracker houses.
People from the mainland came here to settle from the primitive ages with so many soldiers sacrificing themselves for the island.
The local authorities will invest about VND300 billion to develop an infrastructure system on the island to serve local living standards and promote tourism.
If you had gone to the more primitive Con Co several years ago, you would be certainly surprised at the island today. It now not only has heaving rocks, dense primeval forests and barracks but also high buildings, including the headquarters of the district’s People’s Committee, the police and tax offices, a health center, power and water services as well as television and telecommunications are also available.
However, it has no guest houses or hotels for tourists and other tourism services are still poor. In the next three years local authorities and residents will put great effort into making the island a tourist haven.
 
Source: SGT
 

Awaking Ninh Thuan tourism

Ninh Thuan Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism Director Pham Quoc Anh talked about the preparation of the second culture, sports and tourism festival of the Cham ethnic group in an interview with Vietnam Economic News' reporter Thanh Tam.
Which outstanding points will the 2012 culture, sports and tourism festival of Cham ethnic minority group create to attract tourists?
The festival will see provinces and cities where Cham people live, such as Ninh Thuan, Binh Thuan, Phu Yen, Dong Nai, An Giang, HCMC, Quang Nam and Tay Ninh.
The festival will take place from October 14-16, 2012 at four locations. There are two outdoor locations, including the Po Klongirai Tower tourist area and the stadium in Huu Duc Village and two traditional villages, including My Nghiep brocade fabric village and Bau Truc pottery village in Phuoc Dan Town, Ninh Phuoc District, Ninh Thuan Province.
Exciting activities will be included in the festival, such as the opening ceremony associated with art and traditional costume performance programs of Cham people; introducing the Cham food culture; workshops on Cham cultural preservation and development; and promoting tourism in cultural heritages of Cham people.
The festival will be held before the Kate traditional ceremony of Cham people, with the participation of provinces and cities where Cham people live, Cham cultural researchers, artists and intellectuals. The festival continues to be the occasion to honor and promote culture, sport and tourism activities of Cham people to the country as well as visitors.
In addition to beautiful landscapes, Ninh Thuan also has unique Cham cultural treasures. Has Ninh Thuan exploited these potential assets for tourism development?
Nature has bestowed a diversity of natural landscapes on Ninh Thuan with famous beaches, such as Ninh Chu, Ca Na, Vinh Hy and Binh Tien and unique natural landscapes, such as Nam Cuong-Mui Dinh tourist area covering on an area of hundreds of hectares of natural sand dunes, Phuoc Binh National Park with 513 species of plants and 170 species of rare animals, Chua Mountain and South Central Sea. In addition, Ninh Thuan also has a community of architecture and rich cultural festivals of Cham people. However, much potential is still in the form of raw resources and have not been developed. Therefore, although the number of tourists to Ninh Thuan increases by the year, this figure only reached 820,000 in 2011.
The number of tourists to Ninh Thuan in 2011 was low. What is the reason of this limitation?
Ninh Thuan tourism has potential but local government has not paid much attention to the development of tourism. Plus poor infrastructure, inconvenient transportation, monotonous tourism products and limited investment capacity, Ninh Thuan tourism needs to be waken up.
What specific plans will Ninh Thuan implement?
According to socioeconomic development strategy of Ninh Thuan until 2020, with a vision to 2030, tourism is ranked second in the four economic pillars and six key economic sectors. This is a huge advantage. Ninh Thuan targets to reach 1.3-1.4 million of visitors until 2015, of which international visitors account for 14-15 percent; and by 2020 receiving 2.5-3 million of visitors, contributing 8 percent of GDP and solve employment for 10 percent of labor. To achieve these targets, tourism needs to be developed comprehensively to exploit advantages, including marine tourism, eco-tourism, and cultural tourism and travel services. Ninh Thuan tourism in the coming years will develop due to three directions. Firstly, it is necessary to construct and upgrade transport infrastructure connected to tourist areas and train professional human resources. Secondly, the construction of highly competitive and attractive tourist services and the mobilization of investment capital to build unique local products will be focused on. Thirdly, the construction of advanced forms of tourism, such as golf courses, hotels and resorts to attract high-income tourists will be developed.
In addition to three fundamental directions for sustainable tourism development, it is necessary to have the consensus of all involved sectors in the province to build brand for Ninh Thuan tourism. When advantages have been exploited, Ninh Thuan tourism will have opportunities to sustainable develop.
 
Source: VEN

Do you know how to prepare a meal for the next trip?

Traveling in an adventure style will let you have an experience to eat outside such as campaign in a forest or a mountain . So, learning how to make easy camping meals can save you a ton of time on your next camping trip. Though outdoor cooking can be fun, it’s never good to miss out on other outdoor activities because you’re stuck making food for everyone. Use the following guidelines to minimize the work and time it takes to make great meals on your next camping trip.

 

Foil is Your Friend

If there’s one essential item you need to make camp cooking easier, it’s aluminum foil. Almost any food item can be cooked quickly and effectively using it. Simply wrap the food item in the foil, and place it on a grate over the campfire. Some of the most popular foods to cook with aluminum foil include hamburger meant for burgers and pasta dishes, whole potatoes, almost any type of vegetable, and chicken parts. Obviously, cooking times will vary depending on what you’re making. A good rule of thumb for this easy, all purpose campfire cooking method is to assume cooking times to be similar to that of using a grill. Read another post on uses for aluminum foil while camping to learn more.

 

Preparation Before the Trip

Before the invention of the microwave, people used more primitive heating methods to cook leftovers. Following this logic, preparing certain foods in advance can seriously cut down on time and effort spent cooking during your next camping trip. Before you leave, make some simple, hearty foods that fit nicely in the cooler and can be reheated easily over a campfire. Scrambled eggs, spaghetti, Hamburger Helper, and biscuits can all be cooked at home and stashed safely in Tupperware containers for later use. Best of all, their reheating time at the campsite is minimal, giving you plenty of extra time to enjoy the beautiful spot you’re camping at – wherever it may be.

Use a Time Tested Cooking Tool

Let’s face it; non-campers are a little spoiled when it comes to cooking. With microwaves, stoves, and electric ovens at their disposal, they can prepare food a lot more quickly and easily. But you do have an advantage when it comes to campsite cooking; easy camping meals can be made even easier with the use of a Dutch Oven. An all purpose cooking vessel, the Dutch Oven has a tight fitting lid to seal in heat and a very sturdy construction. Almost anything that fits in one will cook nicely. Some popular easy camping meals to make in it include chili, beef stew, and just about any soup you can come up with.

With a little preparation, making easy meals while camping really isn’t all that tough. So, instead of slaving over a hot fire for lengthy amounts of time on your next camping trip, employ the tricks above to allow more time for fun.

It's boom time in Sa Pa's hills

As many as 10,000 visitors are expected to travel to the highlands of Sa Pa on the coming National Day holidays this weekend, said Lao Cai Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism director Tran Huu Son.
Situated in a picturesque part of the northern province of Lao Cai, Sa Pa was the site of a French resort during colonial times, and has since become one of the most popular travel destinations in the country, said Son.
He added that visitors to Sa Pa Township were increasing thanks to expanding homestay services; about 40 per cent of visitors had registered tours to Sa Pa's villages, a 20 per cent increase compared to the same period in 2010.
About 100,000 visitors came to the area during the first six months of the year, which is as high as the total number of visitors throughout 2008.
Son said nearly 100 households in Sa Pa were running homestay services which can serve a total of 1,000 guests.
Communes with homestay services include Ban Ho, Cat Cat, Ta Van and Ta Phin.
Nong Van San, who has been running a homestay service for three years, said visitors staying at his home had helped to increase his family's income. The service had actually brought the family more than incomes from other traditional jobs.
Communes in Bat Xat and Bac Ha districts located 20km and 70km from Sa Pa have recently developed homestay services and can serve up to 100 guests at a time.
According to Luc Xuan Thuong, a senior official of Bac Ha's Ta Van Chu Commune, running a homestay service is not difficult, and about 70 households in the commune are running the business.
"Traditional wooden houses which are equipped with mattresses, blankets, pillows and a clean toilette can be used for a homestay," said Thuong.
Lo Thi Mao, a tourguide from the Viettravelmate company, said many foreign tourists were also opting to stay at ethnic people's houses in villages to get an insight into rural life.
 
Source: VietNamNet/VNS

More than 4.3 million foreign tourists visit Vietnam

Vietnam greeted nearly 525,300 foreign visitors in August 2012, bringing the figure for the first eight months of the year to more than 4.38 million, a year-on-year increase of 9.4 percent, reported the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism.
Over the past eight months, the number of tourists coming Vietnam by sea reached more than 46,600, recording the largest growth with a year-on-year rise of 74.7 percent. The number of foreign tourists arriving by air and road were more than 3.64 million (up 9.2 percent) and 653,500 (up 7.6 percent), respectively.
Numerous Asian markets witnessed rises in the number of tourists to Vietnam, such as the RoK, up 35 percent, Malaysia (23 percent), Japan (19 percent) and Thailand (19 percent).
With these results, the tourism sector target of welcoming 6.5 million foreign tourists in 2012 is 67.5 percent fulfilled. The number of tourists to Vietnam is expected to grow in the rest of the year, thanks to the major holidays of the National Independence Day on September 2, Christmas Day and Western New Year./.
 
Source: CPV

Silk village – treasure of Hoi An

If you are fortunate enough to take in the splendor that is Hoi An ancient town in Quang Nam Province should not miss a new tour to Lang Lua (silk village) by QuangNamSilk Company at 28 Nguyen Tat Thanh Street.

 

Tourists inspect an artisan weaving fabric at Silk Village in Quang Nam 

From an idea of an original Quang Nam people who has long time attached to silkworm and mulberry tree in Duy Xuyen Commune of Dai Loc District, the village was born to restore the culture of weaving fabric career and to provide tourists more knowledge on the history of this traditional career. Hoi An in the past was a port shipping silk to the world. Local people take pride of the place where the silk road on the sea took shape.

The village is where tourists can get a glimpse into the making process of Quang Nam’s traditional silk and Cham people’s brocade cloths. Tourists to the venue can study 40 kinds of mulberry, ancient styles of looms and silkworm breeds, among others.

“The Silk Village is where we preserve a precious collection of related items to the weaving fabric career and a collection of ruong houses (traditional houses in Quang Nam architectural styles). Additionally, we also make Quang Nam silks here,”  said Le Thai Vu, director of QuangNamSilk Company.

“For over ten years, I have put effort on collecting ruong houses nationwide, hundreds of years old mulberry kinds and ancient looms to equip for the village,” Vu added.

Tourists can also admire a collection of old costumes by 54 ethnic minority people in Vietnam displayed in ancient houses there. Those who wish to have a tailored costume or eat traditional Quang Nam food like cao lau (a soup made with noodles, pork and greens), mi Quang (noodles in Quang Nam style) and com nieu (rice cooked in earthenware pot) can ask artisans at the village.

Silk Village is located on the road leading to Hoi An ancient town. This tourist and cultural site is 30km away from Danang downtown to the Road 607. Tourists can take a 30-minute bus which costs them VND20,000 (around US$1) to get to the site. For further information, contact the QuangNamsilk at 28 Nguyen Tat Thanh Street, Tan An Ward, Hoi An City, Quang Nam Province, tel: (84-510) 392 1144.

Con Co Island – floating green pearl

Located close to the mainland, the small island of Con Co off Quang Tri Province has a long and interesting history of its own.

 

A view of Con Co Island in Quang Tri Province - Photo: Offi cial website of the province

To describe the island from offshore, it looks like a plump pearl emerging amidst the ocean. Experts consider the island’s geology, biology and scenery as a museum of diverse nature.

The evergreen island is 80% natural forest and that primeval forest despite the passage of time still remains in pristine condition. The island was formed by a volcano and the remaining vestiges are giant basalt rocks in weird shapes and many stunning and pristine beaches, making the island more charming and splendid.

The flora system on the island is diverse with a lot of giant trees with trunks measuring some 15 to 20 feet long.

Some of the trees are unique to islands, such as the stripped-trunk variety like dau mau, sam cau or nhau nhau and many kinds of wild potatoes with huge leaves.

The island is also home to enriched marine life with 113 coral, 57 seaweed, 19 crustaceans, 224 saltwater fish and 164 flora and 68 fauna species, and seafood such as oysters, lobsters, holothurians, crabs and mussels.

Especially, there are two crab species which are able to live on the ground or water and are strictly protected as they are endangered.

The island also has historical relics with a 20-kilometer-long military tunnel, many blockhouses along the beaches and firecracker houses.

People from the mainland came here to settle from the primitive ages with so many soldiers sacrificing themselves for the island.

The local authorities will invest about VND300 billion to develop an infrastructure system on the island to serve local living standards and promote tourism.

If you had gone to the more primitive Con Co several years ago, you would be certainly surprised at the island today. It now not only has heaving rocks, dense primeval forests and barracks but also high buildings, including the headquarters of the district’s People’s Committee, the police and tax offices, a health center, power and water services as well as television and telecommunications are also available.

However, it has no guest houses or hotels for tourists and other tourism services are still poor. In the next three years local authorities and residents will put great effort into making the island a tourist haven.

Foreign arrivals up 9.4 percent in eight months

Vietnam has welcomed almost 4.4 million visitors in the first eight months of 2012, a year-on-year increase of 9.4 percent, according to the General Statistics Office.

Most of the tourists came from the Republic of Korea, followed by Malaysia, Thailand, Japan, Taiwan and France.

During the period, Vietnam also saw a sharp drop in the number of American, Chinese, Australian and Cambodian visitors to the country.

The number of international visitors in August is estimated to be 525,292, up 6.5 percent against July but down 4.3 percent against the same period last year.

The 8-month figure has helped the country’s tourism sector meet 67.5 percent of its target to attract 6.5 million visitors in 2012.

Vietnam expects to welcome many more foreign visitors as important events are scheduled during the rest of the year.

Vietnam Airlines recently offered discounts up to 50 percent on international air routes to entice more foreigners to the country.

Asian tourists push arrivals up 9.4%

The number of foreign tourists who visited Vietnam reached 4.38 million in the first eight months of this year, up 9.4 percent against the same period last year.

Tourists visit Ha Long Bay

With this result, it is possible for the industry to realise its target of 6.5 million by the end of this year.

The good performance stemmed from the rising figures of some markets. Particularly, visitors from South Korea saw a sharp increase at 34.4 percent from the corresponding time last year. Next, visitors from Malaysia accelerated by 23.2 percent, Thailand at 19.6 percent and Japan at 18.9 percent, as well as Taiwan and France.

In contrast, the decline of some markets has partly reined in growth. Cambodian tourists decreased strongly by 23.9 percent, as did Australians, who went down 4.6 percent. Mainland China went down 1.9 percent and the US went down 0.8 percent.

Local tourists hit 20.5 million during the period, a year-on-year increase of 6 percent.

As a result, the non-smoking sector earned a total revenue of VND86 trillion ($4 billion) from international and domestic tourism.

The industrial experts attributed the good result to the fact that the industry had enhanced tourism promotion, improved the quality of tourism products and services, developed tourism infrastructure, trained the labour force and completed a legal framework to bolster the sector's development.

Nguyen Van Tuan, director of the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism (VNAT), said that large-scale and high-quality projects have helped develop infrastructure, such as high-class resorts in Da Nang City and Binh Thuan Province.

Some key tourism areas have formed such as Ha Noi and Quang Ninh in the northern region; Da Nang, Nha Trang and Binh Thuan in the central area; and HCM City and Vung Tau City in the southern region.

The Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism, Hoang Tuan Anh, asked the VNAT to build up specific tourism development plans next year and the up-coming years; improve qualification of the industrial leaders; promote key tourism markets; tighten co-operation among relevant ministries and State bodies to further promote Vietnam's image; and publish the tourism development strategies by 2020 and orientation by 2030.

Under the strategies ratified by Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung last March, Vietnam's tourism sector aims for an annual growth rate of 11.5-12 percent.

Herein, Vietnam expects to approach 10-10.5 million international tourists and 47-48 million domestic ones with a total income of $18-19 billion, contributing about 7 percent of the country's gross domestic products (GDP) by 2020. The industry will likely generate 870,000 jobs.

It is estimated that the industry's total revenue by 2030 will double that of 2020.

Phu Quoc international airport in use this December

 

The southern province of Kien Giang has said Phu Quoc international airport will be put into operation in December this year. Construction of the airport began in Duong To commune, Phu Quoc district in November 2008.
The air terminal is being built on an area of more than 900ha at a total cost of VND16.2 trillion. The project includes a runway, a passenger terminal, and a VHF omnidirectional range station (VOR).
The runway, which is 3,000m long and 45m wide, will enable the airport to accommodate Boeing 777s, Boeing 747-400s and other similar aircraft.
Contractors are putting the finishing touch to the runway and passenger terminal to ensure that they will be inaugurated on schedule.
The airport will serve passengers to capital Hanoi, northern provinces, and countries in the region and the world, in order to take advantage of local economic potential, especially ecological and marine tourism, as well as investment and trade.
 
Source: VOV

The 9 Best Things To Do In Vietnam

Vietnam is one of my favorite places in Asia. So much history, so much natural beauty, and the Vietnamese people themselves are renowned for their graciousness and good cheer. They harbor no resentment toward Americans despite a decade of bombings during the war. In fact they hold us in the highest favor -- increasingly consuming our globalized bounty of pop culture -- and welcome Americans with open arms.
A hopeful current is buzzing throughout much of the country, and it's a thrill to watch the chaos and order play out their yin and yang amidst honking horns, noodle stands, crumbling colonial remnants and high-rises. Here is my list of the nine best things to do in Vietnam.
#9 -- Access ethic tribal minorities at villages nestled in the lush hills near Sapa, and share a cup of tea with locals in their rustic mountain homes.

#8 -- Dine at the epicenter of culture at an exclusive dinner at the Temple of Literature in Hanoi.
#7 -- Enjoy a private reception at a first-rate art gallery in Hanoi. The curator is our longtime friend, and the crème of Hanoi's artists are in attendance.
#6 -- Take a private cooking class with a gourmet chef, our friend of two decades who is frequently featured on Vietnamese cooking shows.
#5 -- Visit the collection of antiques and photographs of the "American War" by our friend Cuong, who photographed the fall of Saigon and was later sent to a Marxist re-education camp. His life story has been the subject of a PBS documentary.
#4 -- Enter a state of blissful oblivion at the breathtaking Six Senses Con Dao beach resort, located on a white sand beach of stunning natural beauty.
 

 

#3 -- Navigate the alleyways of the ancient port town of Hoi An by bicycle, to explore the syncretic cultural influences of Southeast Asia's most important port from the 17th through 19th centuries.
#2 -- Cruise the waterways of the Mekong Delta to glimpse the timeless rural scenes of farmers working the fertile land and fishermen with their nets. Stop in a home to see them making rice paper, one at a time, with a ladle and griddle.
#1 -- Take a private overnight cruise through Halong Bay on a restored junk, a traditional Chinese sailboat. This bay is on anyone's short list for the greatest natural scenery in Asia. From sea kayaking into caves to visiting locals in their fishing villages on tucked-away islands, Halong Bay is a must on any trip to Vietnam.
Honorable mention: joining locals in a crowded café for a cold "33 Export" beer and a hot bowl of pho (pronounced "fuh"), a beef, noodle and fresh vegetable soup that is eaten obsessively in this strange and wonderful land.
Source: by Marilyn Downing, The Huffington Post
 

1,000-year-old Cham tower unearthed

The remains of a unique Cham tower have been found in Phong Le Village, Cam Le District in the central city of Da Nang, an area not known for Cham relics.

The remains of a unique Cham tower have been found in Phong Le Village, Cam Le District, Da Nang City.

Archaeologists from the city's Museum of Cham Sculpture and Faculty of History at the University of Social Sciences and Humanity discovered the site last year and earlier this month found that the foundations of the structure, which measure 16m by 16m, said Vo Van Thang, director of the museum.

"We have unearthed this vestige dating back 1,000 years ago and the foundations are still intact," he said. "Experts were surprised because this is the first archaeological vestige relating to Cham culture found in Da Nang and it's different from other Cham relics found in other regions."

"The discovery is very important," he said.

The excavation was prompted by the discovery of many valuable c at the same site last year.

The Champa Kingdom originated in India and spread along the coast of modern-day Viet Nam between the 4th and 13th centuries. Cham culture, including Cham towers, folk songs and dances and traditional festivals, are an important part of Viet Nam's cultural diversity.

Discover the wonders of nature in Bao Loc

Located 16 kilometers from Bao Loc city, through a wide tea farming area is the Dambri Waterfall, the most famous ecotourism site in Bao Loc.

Dambri is a beautiful fall at a height of 60 meters. Despite the dry season, the waterfall is always full of water, creating massive clouds of white foam and water bubbles below a wonderful rainbow if it is sunny.

There are two routes for tourists to climb down to have a better view of the waterfall, on the lift or on foot down the cement stairs.

There is a smaller waterfall near Dambri named Dasara, which tourists can reach via the overhead motoray.

Dambri was built as an ecotourism destination but tourists coming in groups may find it is also a great venue for team building games and activities.

The Dambri waterfall seen from a distance

A second waterfall is not too far away from Dambri Waterfall - Photos: Pham Thai

A team-building game takes place in the area

Hanoi, Hoi An among best Asian destinations

Hanoi and Hoi An continue to be named among the top ten destinations in Asia this year by Hong Kong-based travel and trade journal, Smart Travel Asia.  According to an online poll conducted by the magazine, regarded as a leading authority on the regional travel industry, Hanoi remains in sixth position, as recorded last year, while Hoi An is rated seventh.
 

 

Hanoi (Vietnam)

 

Hoi An (Vietnam)

 

Bali island in Indonesia ranks first, followed by Phuket in Thailand and Hong Kong.
The Hanoi Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism said the title helps the capital city’s tourism sector promote its image and position in the eyes of domestic and international friends.
The magazine’s representative presented the title to the department in Hanoi on Aug. 22.
 Source: Vietnam+
 

Historic homes offer tranquil tourist retreat in Nha Trang

The coastal city of Nha Trang is located in Khanh Hoa Province in the south-central region of Vietnam, 440km north-east of HCM City. Known for the friendliness of its people, the city is flanked by nearly 10km of white-sand coastline, where the clear waters are warm all year round.

Leafy: Nguyen Xuan Hai's house has been singled out to serve sightseeing tours.

Gnarly: Hai often entertains visitors with tables and chairs he sculpts from tree roots.

Shady: The house sits in the middle of a massive garden, providing a complete cool atmosphere.

But don't be fooled into thinking Nha Trang is just a beautiful beach-side location – there's so much more. You can check out the city's ancient houses, a fascinating example of the cultural heritage that is being preserved by local people.

According to the provincial Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, Khanh Hoa has around 50 old houses, mostly located in the districts of Dien Khanh and Ninh Hoa, and Nha Trang City. One-third of the houses are more than 100 years.

About 4km from the city centre, Phu Vinh Village in Vinh Thanh Commune, is well-known in the area for its old houses, many of which bear unique characteristics. The city's culture sector has singled out six houses that are almost intact, including old-style interior decor as well as vintage household objects.

Visiting these houses will give you an insight into old customs, worship practices and the way local people lived many years ago.

There are two different ways to Phu Vinh Village: by car or by boat. Under the August scorching sun, I decided to take a boat along the Cai River, which starts 900m above sea level in the Central Highlands province of Dak Lak and runs through Nha Trang.

It turned out to be a smart choice. As I was heading up river to the village, I felt completely relaxed. Along the way you can see some quintessentially Vietnamese landscapes of palm trees on the river banks and makeshift bamboo bridges crossing the river.

About 30 minutes from the pier at the foot of the Po Nagar Temples complex, the boat stops at a small pier on the property of 72-year-old Nguyen Xuan Hai. His property in the village is open to visitors as an example of the area's traditional architecture. Surrounded by a garden, from the pier to the house you will stroll along a path filled with green trees blowing in the breeze.

This is one of the only six antique houses left in this village. The houses were all built according to a layout of three rooms in a structure supported by 36 pillars.

Hai's house has been extremely well preserved and he boasts that the house has never undergone major repairs during the six generations that have lived here.

Built 200 years ago, the house still has its original wooden doors, altars and pillars, which are carved with inscriptions. In accordance with tradition, altars for worshipping the family's ancestors take a central position in the house.

Like other houses in the village, Hai's faces the southeast and has a roof of yin and yang tiles. That's why Hai told me "you would feel like there is an air conditioner running inside the house even when it's hot outside".

The house is located in the middle of a massive garden covering more than 1,000sq.m and filled with fruit trees and indigenous plants. If you come at the right time, Hai may even treat you with some seasonal fruit in his garden.

The house's owner also spends his free time sculpting tables and chairs from tree roots from the area. He regularly entertains visitors to the house and garden, sipping green tea or a soft drink and enjoying the pleasant atmosphere.

It's easy to see why this part of south-central Vietnam attracts people from all over the world. From the laid back atmosphere of the magical islands and beaches to the old houses by the Cai River, all give you a sense of the diversity and beauty of Vietnam.

Hanoi and Hoi An among best Asian destinations

Hanoi and Hoi An ancient town in the central province of Quang Nam continue be named among the top ten destinations in Asia this year by Hong Kong-based travel and trade journal, Smart Travel Asia.

According to an online poll conducted by the magazine, regarded as a leading authority on the regional travel industry, Hanoi remains in sixth position, as recorded last year, while Hoi An is rated seventh.

Bali island in Indonesia ranks first, followed by Phuket in Thailand and Hong Kong .

The Hanoi Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism said the title helps the capital city’s tourism sector promote its image and position in the eyes of domestic and international friends.

The magazine’s representative presented the title to the department in Hanoi on Aug. 22.

(Source: VNA)

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A Vietnamese adventure: Gourmet delights and new adventures

My first time in Vietnam, and driving in from Hanoi Airport in the gloom of pre-daylight I felt elated, almost like being 20 again and staying out till dawn.

I was still sleepy, though, with half the night lost to the time-change, and glad enough to crawl under a crisp, white king-size duvet for an hour or so at the Movenpick Hotel – which offered calm luxury and a great, late breakfast – before sallying out to explore.

Rock stars: The limestone formations of Ha Long Bay are among Vietnam's main attractions

With six million people and three million motorbikes, Hanoi certainly hums. Girls ride the bikes, their long hair flying out from helmets, and couples pin toddlers between them. It's a thrilling, throbbing, moped-dodging city – and a challenge to life and limb.

I saw noodle-cooking on pavements, squatting flower sellers, unfamiliar foods and, when I could drag my eyes away from the pulsing pavements, right above the tight-packed little stores were glimpses of the dilapidated, centuries-old French colonial architecture.

Flagging a bit by evening and, with an early start next day to the Red River Delta and Ha Long Bay, my husband Michael and I ate in the hotel. It was a gourmet experience without the fuss – steamed sea bass and a light spicy Vietnamese chicken curry were both delectably good.

On the way to Ha Long Bay, the rice fields were stubbly, waiting for the weather to warm them, but it was a new and appealing landscape. We stopped at a shopping complex for coffee where the beautiful, lacquered papier-mache dishes and boxes on sale were irresistible.

And Ha Long Bay, when we arrived, was a dramatic sight. Extraordinary rock formations sprout out of the water and you can make out strange shapes: a lion's head, a dragon, a cup with a handle.

Our Hanoi guide, Mr Binh, had arranged a boat trip and we chugged out among the rocks, passing a floating fishing village before mooring at a tiny hilly island to see a cave. It was a bit damp and chilly, and as we climbed some steep steps, I have to admit that my heart wasn't entirely in the expedition.

But then we were suddenly in a cavern the size of a stadium. The cave was elegantly lit, with stalactites meeting stalagmites, and it was spell-binding. Mr Binh told us that the cave was only discovered in 1910, by a farmer climbing the hill to cut wood.

He fell 90ft through a hole, but somehow lived to tell the tale.

'Where can we eat tonight that's cheap, fun and local?' I asked Mr Binh.

He smiled. 'Quan An Ngon in Phan Boi Chau Street. It's a short walk from your hotel. Good local food and a very few dollars.'

What we found there was a buzzing emporium of an eatery, outdoors under huge sail-like canvasses and packed with talkative families and upwardly mobile young locals.

We loved the whole new experience. Michael's 'seafood hotpot' arrived as a plate of uncooked fish, shellfish and veg, and a cauldron of hot water set to boil on a burner.

He looked at it all in complete panic. A group of giggling waitresses soon gathered, bursting to practise their English and show him the ropes. 'I see you on television,' one said, which seemed highly unlikely. But we weren't complaining; both the fish– once cooked – and the bill were a treat.

We flew south towards our final destination, Ho Chi Minh City, stopping first for a fleeting visit to Hue, Vietnam's ancient capital, now a world heritage site, where we hit a rainy day.

This was a pity as it was our only chance to see the Citadel and stay in the famously elegant La Residence Hotel on the banks of the Perfume River. Heads down and encouraged by our effervescent new guide, Mr Thong – whose English, learned from the BBC and Voice of America, had a powerful American GI's twang – we squelched round the vast walled site of the Citadel.

Colours of the past: The Citadel in Hue was heavily damaged in the war - but retains its charm

Seat of the Nguyen emperors of the 17th and 18th Centuries, and with its own Forbidden City in which the emperor, queen and a multitude of concubines used to reside, it was sadly war torn.

'My kids don't think about the war,' Mr Thong said, pointing out shrapnel scars and a shattering bullet hole in a magnificent mirror. 'It's the past.'

Not for him, we felt. Hue had suffered some of the most aggressive bombing of the war. The Citadel had survived, stripped of many treasures yet still remarkable and memorable.

With only one night in Hue, we checked out TripAdvisor for somewhere interesting to eat, and a small cafe called Bloom that was associated with a charity for homeless children won our vote.

The set menu seemed a brave choice at first, but it was great. We were served with an array of small dishes, flavourful soup, slivers of vegetables and beef and a piquant mango salad. The girl serving us was delightful and once again the bill was incredibly small.

La Residence Hotel, colonial home of past French governors, seemed a splendidly appropriate place to stay, with its fine period style and dramatic setting on the Perfume River.

It gained its name from a legend about scented grasses that once lined its banks and which permeated the whole town with their aroma.

Off promptly in the morning to Hoi An, we took the main highway that hugs the South China Sea, or 'the Eastern Sea' as Mr Thong corrected us firmly. 'China needs watching. We have to guard our backs,' he added.

The road wound over the Cloudy Mountain range that was true to its name, passing lush paddy fields and fish ponds on the way to the city of Da Nang. Beyond were pure white sandy beaches – that saw the first landings of American troops – and stretched down the coast for 20 miles.

It was a gorgeous foretaste of what was in store at our resort hotel, The Nam Hai, where we planned three wonderful days of beach walks and relaxation. The Nam Hai's accommodation was resplendent: individual villas had indoor and outdoor showers, lavish Jacuzzis and lounger beds.

A magnificent, unending beach was right outside our door. And the food: would we choose Asian or Western, would we eat poolside? Such decisions...

Hold on tight: Swarms of motorbikes buzz in the narrow streets of Hanoi

I fell in love with the little town of Hoi An at first sight. Small shops sold very cheap silks while sophisticated boutiques, cafes and lively restaurants lined the river bank, whose bridge at nightfall was lit by glowing lanterns.

It was with-it, stylish and original, Vietnam's answer to St Tropez – but without the topless girls. We ate at Miss Ly's Restaurant on the recommendation of the manager at La Residence who knew Miss Ly's American husband, Nathan. The food was perfect and, again, amazingly cheap.

Inspired, I signed up for one of the cooking classes offered by The Nam Hai. First, we shopped in the market (a photographer's dream), bought banana flower – shredded by a stallholder with a fearsome knife – uncooked shrimp and yellow rice noodles. We picked herbs in the hotel gardens then cooked it all up to create an authentic Vietnamese dish.

The Nam Hai spa was a final indulgence. We had a kind of marital massage, both being firmly, yet relaxingly pummelled on beds side by side in a lakeside space. Life felt as good as it could get.

We continued south by air to Ho Chi Minh City, where it was hot, hot, hot. It was muggy too, but I never mind that; it's sexy weather to me.

We were booked into the Park Hyatt as part of our package. Outside was a high-rise madhouse. More people live in Ho Chi Minh City than Greater London, yet here, in the Park Hyatt's tropical gardens, sound-proofed by the surrounding hotel buildings, was a stunning pool.

We lounged in basket armchairs, sunbathing, swimming and luxuriously unwinding from the flight. It was Sunday and too late for much sightseeing so we explored the nearby streets, dodging a couple of chickens incongruously clucking around on the city pavements, before an early night in advance of an action-packed last day.

We spent our final day on a river boat in the Mekong Delta, the rice bowl of Vietnam, lunching in an ancient Mandarin house. The restaurant was family-run and had been their home for generations.

We made it back to the city just before the Independence Palace – now the Reunification Palace – closed. We toured it briefly, keen to see the room where the Vietnam War document of surrender was signed. The desk in it was bare, with no pen and no blotter, which was a little disappointing.

Fabulously fruitful: Food and produce is always visible on the streets of Vietnam's cities

I thought the palace was a bit sterile, although worth seeing, and we did discover in the basement a film in English charting the various stages of the war. It was hardly unbiased, but did include that seminal moment when the Viet Cong's tanks rumbled in through the palace gates.

We left the palace a little more sober, but wondering at the irrepressible energies of all the young people up and down the land, moving on and busy building new lives.

Vietnam is knitted together, comfortable in its sort of entrepreneurial-communist skin, thriving, growing, a land of infinite variety and a joy to visit.
Travel Facts

Cleveland Collection (0207 843 3531, www.clevelandcollection.co.uk) offers a ten-night tour of Vietnam from £2,395 per person, including flights, transfers, three nights at the Movenpick in Hanoi, one night at La Residence in Hue, four nights at the Nam Hai in Hoi An and two nights at the Park Hyatt in Ho Chi Minh City with breakfast and guide.

ACTIVETRAVEL ASIA release more options for summer promotion 201

Accomodation is one of biggest concerns before traveling? It is turning to dust now with ATA’s Summer Promotion 2012.

                                 

Travelers will get 1 night at 3 Star Hotel in Hanoi Old Quarter (Calypso Boutique Hotel) for FREE. Deluxe room with luxury equipments and services are designed to ensure that you will have the unforgettable trip with ACTIVETRAVEL ASIA.

In case you cannot visit Hanoi or you would like to arrange accommodation on your own, we are delighted to offer a dinner for 2 people at every destinations on your tour.

Besides, we have just deciced to add more option by adding 75 minutes massage body at Touch Hanoi Spa. By choosing suitable massage treament, we aim to help travellers feel relax after active time of running, trekking, or ridding on road. 

This promotion is valid for bookings from May 01, 2012 to Sep 30, 2012, applied for tours which cover Vietnam in its itinerary and price for over $500.

Summer promotion provides all adventure lovers real experiences in Vietnam without concerning about accommodation, food, and activities.

We hope to meet you there!

ACTIVETRAVEL ASIA, offers a wide selection of Vietnam , Laos , Cambodia adventure tours, including hiking and trekking, biking, motorcycling, kayaking, overland tours and family travel packages. Our tour packages and custom itineraries will take you through exotic destinations to really experience the culture, history and nature of Asia .

Vietnam wins second prize in National Geographic Traveller Photo Contest

 

The work titled “My Balloon” by Vo Anh Kiet depicting a group of H’mong children playing with their balloons on a foggy day in Moc Chau won second prize in the National Geographic Traveller Photo Contest 2012.
During this year’s contest, photographers sent their works under the four themes of Travel Portraits, Outdoor Scenes, Sense of Place and Spontaneous Moments.
The organising board of the contest selected 11 outstanding pictures from more than 12,000 entries by 6,615 talented photographers in 152 countries around the globe. These photos represented beautiful moments of the life and experience of each photographer.
The first prize was awarded for Cedrin Houin's photo which depicted the daily life of a nomadic family in a remote area in Afghanistan. The third price went to Andrea Guarneri for a photo depicting an Easter parade in Tripani, Sicily.
The organising board awarded nine honourable prizes for nine other entries and one prize by the audience.
Source: CPV
 

Miss Vietnam 2012 pageant launched in Da Nang

 

During the 12-day event, candidates will pose for photoshoots set in the Lifestyle, Vinpearl, Intercontinental, Hayatt and Crown resorts, and compete in the Talent and Sea Miss sub-contests.
The beauties will also take the opportunity to visit and deliver gifts to Agent Orange (AO)/dioxin victims.  
The preparations for the final round of Miss Vietnam 2012 pageant have been finalized, from communications, accommodations to stage decorations, security work, and medical care, said Deputy Director of Danang’s Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism Nguyen Huu Chien.
According to the preliminary assessment by the organising board, all this year’s contestants are university and college students aged 20-22, and they are in good form. Many have won prizes in beauty contests in their localities.   
The Tien Son Sports Palace in Danang is scheduled to receive over 5,000 visitors and hundreds of reporters when it hosts the final round of the Miss Vietnam 2012 pageant on August 25./.
Source: VGP news
 

Adventurous summer vacation in Thung Nai

As soon as the school year ended, we decided to reward ourselves with a relaxing trip but it turned out more of a war with the weather but it was worth it for a great holiday.

After probing our list of destinations we finally chose Thung Nai, a new tourist area in Cao Phong District, about 25 kilometers from Ho Binh Town and 110 kilometers from Hanoi.

 

A windmill in Thung Nai Tourist Area attracts many travelers to take snapshots 

We departed from Hanoi by motorbikes and it rained during the day, making the sinuous journey tougher with the heavy rain soaking our faces, strong winds blowing through our hair and the mountain wall-lined road was getting more slippery by the moment and the surrounding area getting more romantic and colder. Finally we reached Thung Nai and the only means of exploring the valley is by boat.

In the past, this was a valley surrounded by mountains blanked in mist all-round year. People say that its name came from the story that there were many deer coming to the valley to take water and graze on the grass on the stream banks. Since the hydropower plant on Da River was built, the area has become a lake for the hydropower plant and when the water rises high, it forms many small islands amidst Hoa Binh Lake.

Our first stop was Ba Chua Thac Bo which is dedicated to worship a guardian goddess of the northwest mountainous region, who protects locals from drowning in the river.

After burning some incense, we moved to Thac Bo Cave. When the water rises high, tourists can take a cruise into the cave and in the dry season, travelers can walk into the cave to see stalactites in the darkness.

We took a cruise around the small mount, islands and islets like we were getting lost in Halong Bay. When noon came, we stayed at Coi Xay Gio house which offers services such as food, hiring boats and camp fire. This is also a place for us to take many snapshots of windmills, sunset views reflecting over the water and fishing boats.

The sky then became darker and the waves more golden.

Thung Nai is home to ethnic people. So tourists will be also attracted by local cultures and the splendid scenery.

Visiting Mau Temple and Vang Pagoda in Tam Dao

Tam Dao Tourist Area, just 70 kilometers north west of Hanoi and about 25 kilometers from Vinh Yen City in Vinh Phuc Province, was originally built by the French as a hill station to escape from the oppressive humidity of Hanoi.

A view of Vang Pagoda in Tam Dao Tourist Area in Vinh Phuc Province

Tam Dao is endowed with a lot of beautiful landscapes, the romantic combination of forests, streams and mountains; clouds driven by the wind; the sounds of the cascades echoing far and wide, mingled with the songs of forest birds.

There are remnants from the French colonial-designed villas, now reduced to rubble, scattered around the mountain walls where visitors can stay to experience the romance of Tam Dao and explore the vestiges of time.

With three magnificent peaks which are over 1,000 meters above sea level, people say Tam Dao resembles a giant man with his hands to the sky and standing imposingly in the mist. There is Ban Thach in the middle which is 1,338 meters, Thien Nhi Mount to the left at 1,375 meters and on the right is the 1,400-meter Phu Nghia.

Tam Dao is blessed with ideal temperatures of about 21 degrees Celsius and it appears to have four seasons in one day. The cool wind in the morning makes people think of spring, the sun at noon is like summer, the romantic sunset makes you think of autumn, while the chill at night is like wintertime.

Coming to Tam Dao, after strolling amidst the pine forests, tourists should make a stop at Mau Temple and Vang Pagoda to discover the ancient architecture and find some peace and balance for the soul.

Nestled right at the foot of Thien Thi Mountain after its 200 stone steps, Ba Chua Mau Thuong Ngan Temple is apparently a sacred place luring many pilgrims daily, especially during festivals to pray for love and bearing children.

Moreover, Vang Pagoda is where tourists can admire many large Buddha statues and goddess as well as many artworks of bas relief and parallel sentences and scrolls.

After that, tourists should trek about 1,200 steps to a television tower on Thien Nhi Mountain to enjoy the panoramic view of Vinh Yen City below like a colorful picture.

Last king’s palace opened to tourists

The Centre for Preservation of Hue Relics has opened Khai Tuong Lau (An Dinh palace), where Vietnam’s last king Bao Dai and his family lived from 1945 to 1955, to tourists.

The palace was built in 1917-1918 by King Khai Dinh, before he enthroned, by his own money.

Khai Dinh’s son, Bao Dai, lived here from 1922, and 17 years laters, it became the assets of Bao Dai’s eldest son, Bao Long.

Before 1945, An Dinh Palace was managed by the Nguyen Dynasty. After August 1945, it became the home of King Bao Dai’s mother and Bao Dai’s family.

In 1954, Ngo Dinh Diem administration confiscated the palace.

Bao Dai’s mother bought the house at No.79 Phan Dinh Phung to stay until she died.

After 1975, the revolutionary administration took over and gave the palace back to Bao Dai’s mother but she donated the palace to the government.

An Dinh Palace was then managed by the Hue Labor Cultural House before it was handed over to the Center for Preservation of Hue Relics in early 2012.

The palace was restored in 2007-2008. The Center for Preservation of Hue Relics and German experts restored the 2,000sq.m mural in the palace.

The An Dinh Palace at present: