As winter is approaching, yellow flowers are in full bloom on the outskirts of Hanoi.
Young people often gather on weekends at Thanh Tri bridge pier, Phu Dong-Gia Lam dyke, in Yen Vien fields, or along the embankment of the Duong River to pose for beautiful photographs that make use of the romantic atmosphere.
The yellow flowers reach full bloom in March and November.
Following are several photos snapped by reporters:
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A culture and food festival, which feature the specialties of Vietnam and the Republic of Korea (RoK) will take place in Hanoi from November 2-4. As part of activities to celebrate the 20th anniversary of Vietnam-RoK diplomatic ties, the event will be organised by the RoK’s Embassy in Vietnam, the RoK’s Rural Development Administration, Korean Tourism Organisation and the Vietnamese Ministry of Agricultural and Development.
About 50 booths of the two countries’ businesses will display their typical agricultural products at the festival.
There will be outdoor activities with traditional games and contests to cook Vietnamese and Korean dishes.
Dishes from the RoK and Vietnam including Kim Chi (salted vegetables), bulgogi, and Tteokbokki, mixed noodles, Pho (Vietnamese noodle soup), Bun cha (grilled pork noodle soup) will be featured during the two-day festival.
The event will be opened free to visitors and money from selling foods at the festival will be contributed to charitable activities in Vietnam.
Source: Vietnam+
The One Pillar Pagoda, a historic Buddhist temple in Hanoi, has been recognised by the Asian Records Organisation as having the most unique architecture on the continent, the Vietnam Records Organisation said on October 17.
Originally dubbed Dien Huu, which means long-lasting happiness and good luck, the pagoda was built in 1049 on the orders of King Ly Thai Tong.
During the Ly Dynasty, to mark Vesak or Buddha’s birthday, it was the site where an annual royal ceremony to celebrate the event was held.
Legend has it that Ly Thai Tong, who had no children, used to go to pagodas to pray to Buddha for a son. One night, he dreamt that he met Bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara, the Goddess of Mercy, sitting on a great lotus flower in a square-shaped pond and handed him a baby boy.
Months later, when the Queen gave birth to a boy, the King was advised by a monk to erect a pillar in the middle of a lotus pond, similar to the one he had seen in his dream, in honour of the Goddess of Mercy.
It was built of wood on a single stone pillar 1.25m in diameter, 4m high and resembled a lotus blossom, the Buddhist symbol of purity.
With all its architectural and historical values, the pagoda was classified as a national historic site in 1962. On May 4, 2006, it was recorded in Vietnam ’s Guinness Book of Records as the pagoda with the most unique architecture in Vietnam .
During its long history, the complex has undergone a number of renovations and has become one of the most interesting architectural complexes in Hanoi, attracting large numbers of domestic and overseas tourists alike.
Source: VNA
Asia Book of Records has recognised Hanoi’s One Pillar Pagoda as one of Asia’s most unique pieces of architecture.
One-pillar pagoda is a tourist attraction in Hanoi
According to Dai Viet Su Ky Toan Thu, The Complete History of Great Viet, the pagoda was built in the winter of 1049 under the reign of King Ly Thai Tong who dreamed of seeing the Goddess of Mercy sitting in a lotus throne and talking him to it. When awaking, the king told his mandarins about his dream and one of them thought that it was a bad omen. Monk Thien Tue advised him to build a pagoda and a lotus-shaped tower just as he had seen in his dream. When the pagoda was inaugurated, monks went around the pagoda and recited the Buddhist scriptures to pray for longevity of the king. For this reason, the pagoda is also called Dien Huu (long lasting happiness and good luck).
The temple is built of wood on a single concrete pillar 1.25 metres in diameter. It is designed to resemble a lotus blossom, which is a Buddhist symbol of purity, since a lotus blossoms in a muddy pond.
After being repaired many times, the pagoda was destroyed by the French colonists in 1954. In 1955, the government had the pagoda rebuilt. The present wood pagoda is in the shape of square with each side and a curved roof. It was designed to resemble a lotus stretching up out of the square pond and placed on a pillar including two blocks which are connected together. This stone pillar is approximately 4 metres high (excluding the underground section) and 1.2 metres in diameter. The pagoda structure also shows the harmonious combination of imagination and unique architecture with a system of wood beams that create the solidity and beauty for the pagoda.
With its architectural and historical values, the pagoda was classified as a historical relic on April 28, 1962. On May 4, 2006, it was recorded in the Vietnamese Guinness Book as the pagoda with the most unique architecture in Vietnam.
Visitors to Hanoi at this time of year have the chance to enjoy the feel of its romantic and poetic scenes.
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| Sunset over West Lake |
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| A woman selling flowers on Yen Phu street |
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| Ancient houses |
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| Hoa sua (Milk flowers) |
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| Hanoi flag tower |
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| Museum of History |
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| Sun flowers |
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| A sesame tree (Loc Vung) by Hoan Kiem Lake |
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| A woman selling flowers on Phan Dinh Phung street |
The 11th annual meeting of the Council for Promoting Tourism in Asia (CPTA) will be held in Hanoi from October 9-13, expecting to attract delegates from Tokyo, New Delhi, Seoul, Taipei, Jakarta, Kuala Lumpur, Bangkok, Ulaanbaatar, and Tomsk.
Seeing tourism as a source of strength for sustainable development, the meeting will focus on evaluating the work implemented during the past years and design plans to carry out new projects.
Participant will define responsibilities of state tourism management agencies and municipal governments, as well as tourism agencies and businesses in developing tourism sectors in CPTA member cities.
During the meeting, CPTA member cities will seek measures to lure more visitors to Asia through cooperative projects, programmes and campaigns.
The meeting will also focus on strengthening cooperation between member cities as well as between tourism promotion agencies and businesses.
The host city of Hanoi plans to introduce its tourist potentials, tradition, culture, history, beauty spots and tourist products and services as well as that of its surrounding areas.
Vietnam Tourism – Hanoi is honored to organize the tour programs for all delegates participating in this Meeting.
Source: VNA
The 11th annual meeting of the Council for Promoting Tourism in Asia (CPTA) will be held in Hanoi from October 9-13, expecting to attract delegates from Tokyo, New Delhi, Seoul, Taipei, Jakarta, Kuala Lumpur, Bangkok, Ulaanbaatar, and Tomsk.
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The meeting will evaluate the work implemented during the past years and design plans to carry out new projects.
Participants will define responsibilities of state tourism management agencies and municipal governments, as well as tourism agencies and businesses in developing tourism sectors in CPTA member cities.
They will seek measures to lure more visitors to Asia through cooperative projects, programmes and campaigns.
They will also focus discussions on strengthening cooperation between member cities, and between tourism promotion agencies and businesses.
The host city of Hanoi plans to introduce its tourist potential, tradition, culture, history, beauty spots and tourist products and services.
The scorching heat has gone and a temperate climate has pervaded Hanoi, particularly at night and in the early morning as a sign of the start of autumn - or the romantic season as many people call it.
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| The scene of Hoan Kiem lake in Hanoi in daytime |
The signs of Hanoi in autumn are hoa sua (milky flower) in blossom on Nguyen Du Street, the scent of hoang lan flower overwhelming Phan Dinh Phung Street and its vicinity. These integral parts of Hanoi have inspired a large number of poets and musicians, including Phu Quang.
Hanoians say a stroll on Thanh Nien Street between West Lake and Truc Bach Lake will help visitors fully understand what autumn in Hanoi is like and why it brings lovers closer. Autumn in Hanoi is very beautiful but many argue it is an even more romantic setting in October.
Capital folk say the autumn there has to be felt to be properly appreciated. This is why numerous poems and ballads have been produced but are considered unfinished stories, leaving the chance for others to continue the next chapters.
Hoan Kiem (Sword Lake) during autumn sunset
Visitors to Hanoi will soon have two more options for city routes run by solar electric cars, set to be put into operation in December.
Electric car tours operate in Hanoi
The tours, launched by Dong Xuan Joint Stock Company, will take tourists to visit a number of famous sites in the city, including Hoa Lo Prison, the Opera House and Quan Su Pagoda.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+
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)
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.
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.
A magnificent, unending beach was right outside our door. And the food: would we choose Asian or Western, would we eat poolside? Such decisions...
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.
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.
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| A view of Vang Pagoda in Tam Dao Tourist Area in Vinh Phuc Province |
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.
On Sunday 12th August, 2012 a ceremony to honor the enterprises which receive the title “100 SUSTAINABLE VIETNAMESE BRANDS 2012” is organized at Hanoi Opera House. Mr. Luu Nhan Vinh – the General Director of Vietnamtourism-Hanoi JSC, attends the ceremony to receive the cup of “100 SUSTAINABLE VIETNAMESE BRANDS” on behalf of the company. This program is implemented in the cooperation between Vietnam Union of Science and Technology Association (VUSTA) with related departments. This is the award to encourage Vietnamese enterprises to apply achievements of technology and science in production and honor those which make great effort in building sustainably developing brands. In order to receive this honorable title, the enterprises must meet many criteria such as being the brand whose 5-10 year development, earning high revenue, having large market, being aware of by the public, being awarded such titles: Vietnamese brands, Vietnamese quality, Vietnamese Star, Vietnamese high-quality product; being excellent brand, applying international standardized science and technology to improve local economy…..With over 50 year development, always being one of the leading tour operators in Vietnam, Vietnamtourism-Hanoi which keeps attempting to serve clients and contribute to national economy and brand is worthy of this honorable award.
Dishes made of soft noodle soup are diverse such as vermicelli and fried chopped meat, Bun Thang, vermicelli and sour crab soup, stewed vermicelli and boiled lean meat, etc. The popular dish is vermicelli and sour crab soup whilst Bun Thang is for con-noisseurs, unique and available in 
3. Bun cha 
Banh Cuon (Vietnamese Steamed Rice Rolls/Crepes) is the perfect holiday detox food. Banh cuon is a very light crepe often with ground pork, minced wood ear mushroom, and onions and eaten with Vietnamese ham (cha lua), steamed beansprouts, and cucumbers. Another variation arising from a village in .jpg)
One of 
