Hue Heritage Week hopes to attract tourists

 

The central province of Thua Thien-Hue has announced plans for a culture and tourism week entitled “Hue Heritage—a Week for Tourists”, scheduled for December 24 to 30.

The week is part of celebrations for the 20th anniversary of UNESCO officially recognising Hue Imperial City as World Cultural Heritage. 

Its organisers hope the event will introduce Hue’s many attractions to both domestic and foreign tourists.

The week’s concluding highlight will be a Royal Night held on December 30.

During the week, the 2,000,000th visitor to Hue will be honoured and presented with gifts. 

The Hue Relics Preservation Centre will also present gifts to the three travel agents responsible for bringing the largest number of visitors to Hue in 2012.

Many travel agents and tourism service providers are offering discounts to tourists considering experiencing the former capital city.

Source: VOV

 

Food Festival opens in HCM City

 

 

50 leading hotels and restaurants in 25 countries and territories are taking part in the 7th Food Festival in Ho Chi Minh City from December 12-16.

The highlight of the festival will be famous chef Martin Yan’s “Yan Can Cook” demonstration of food preparation and introduction of unique international gastronomy.

In addition, 100 watermelon lanterns will be created by professional cooks for Vietnamese Guinness recognition.

Other activities include making Vietnamese dishes from cooked rice paper, preparing Korean food and serving drinks with the participation of five-star hotel chefs.

Visitors to the festival can also enjoy art performances, folk games, fashion shows, traditional and rock music, dance sport, aerobic and Thai Muay.

The annual event, jointly held by the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism and Tourism Association of the city, provides a good opportunity for the public to learn more about the cultural values of culinary arts from different nations, prestigious hotels in the world, restaurants and trustful addresses to serve foreign and local tourists in Vietnam.

Source: VOV

 

Dog meat special

One of the first questions Vietnamese people, especially men, ask a foreigner is ‘Can you eat dog meat?’
A direct translation from Vietnamese, the question is not so much asking whether the person ‘likes’ dog meat as whether they can handle it. After all, the consumption of dog meat is not just about how apparently ‘delicious’ it is, as the fact people see it as a ‘manly’ food, imparting virility to the consumer.  In other words, if you can’t eat dog meat, you’re not a man.

At certain times of the lunar month, the consumption of dog meat is considered lucky, which may explain why women sometimes eat it. And of course, it could after all be true that to some people dog meat is actually ‘ngon’.

This can cause a dilemma for westerners in Vietnam, particularly the English. Napoleon called England ‘a nation of shop-keepers’, but most Europeans nowadays know it a nation of dog lovers.

Just about every household in rural England has a pet dog or two. There are popular TV shows devoted to dogs, magazines about the animals with nationwide readerships, and an annual competition for the best-behaved and best-looking dogs called ‘Crufts’, which is actually more like a national institution.

Queen Elizabeth’s dogs, of the Corgi breed, are more famous than some members of the Royal Family.  Households that have no pet dogs often still have portraits of dogs hanging on the walls, and porcelain statues of pooches by the fireplace.

So an Englishman presented with a platter of dog meat at a Vietnamese table may find himself conflicted. On the one hand, the English are excessively polite: the words ‘sorry’, ‘please’, ‘excuse me’, ‘thank you’ form the foundation of their everyday vocabulary. He will firstly not wish to offend anyone by refusing. The Englishman abroad - of a certain type, anyway – is furthermore motivated by the adage ‘when in Rome, do as the Romans do’, to the point where he often brings Rome to Rochester.

English culture, however parochial it may sometimes seem, is a blend of foreign influences, from the Fish and Chips invented in London by Portuguese and Irish immigrants, to the tea imported from colonies in Africa and India. The current national dish, an Indian curry called ‘Chicken Tikka Masala’ was invented in Birmingham. When overseas, naturally, like a modern TE Lawrence, he wants to try ‘new things’.

On the other hand, this plate of dog meat, while looking like, variously, cooked ham, salami, and curried chicken, in fact has ‘Fido’ written all over it.  What’s more, to the Englishman’s nose, that cooked ham smells a lot like the odour coming off a pooch when it’s been out in the rain for a while: somewhat unappetising.

And although not as superstitious as in the past, and certainly no believer in animal spirits, the idea of a dog having a ‘personality’ is hard-wired into his brain.  He remembers Spot, Woof, even Tintin’s Snowy, not to mention the American dogs he grew up watching on TV: Goofy, The Littlest Hobo, the lovable Beethoven...

And then he forgets all of that and pops a slice of salami in his mouth.  Xin mời.

Cua Dai Beach – second call for Hoi An tourists

Hoi An is not only charming due to its old houses and sparkling colorful lanterns, it is also endowed with the stunning Cua Dai Beach which is about 4 kilometers from downtown Hoi An  ancient town. Spanning 3km, the stunning beach has the most beautiful and relaxing blue water and is a must for any tourist in the area.

 

Tourists walk along Cua Dai Beach in Hoi An Ancient Town under the sunset - Photo: My Tran 

One thing about the beach that visitors should note is the gently sloping white sand with lapping waves, this is a swimming beach and definitely not one for the surfers. Not really secluded and rarely deserted, the sheer size of this beach guarantees there is a spot for all.

Don’t worry about the time, after strolling around the ancient town, you can run out to the beach to clean off the sweat and refresh after a long tiring walk. Also treat yourself to fresh seafood on the beach for a relaxing lunch or dinner. As with almost all Vietnamese beaches, Cua Dai has its fair share of commercialism. Deckchairs, umbrellas, rubber tubes, or plastic or rattan mats can be hired and there is no shortage of food and drink vendors.

For accommodation, the phrase ‘No worries’ springs to mind because the beach has a stack of restaurants, hotels and newly-built modern resorts; roads are lined with colorful clusters of wild flowers planted to relax visitors and palm trees lines to give them shade.

If you bring the kids, don’t worry as the beach is a stretch of white sand, with moderately salty, shallow water which stays a lovely shade of blue all-year-round, so kids can play on the sand or swim all day long. At night, the surface of the sea is filled with the pinpoints of lamps from thousands of fishing boats, allowing visitors to imagine it as a lantern city on the sea.

What more do you want than lying on canvas chairs, breathing in the sea air and waiting for fresh seafood served and admiring the sunset? Try it once and you will see you are like a king or queen having the power to enjoy life and nature in your own time.

Cua Dai’s waters are plentiful with sea life, making fishing a popular form of entertainment for tourists. Visitors can hire small boats to go out on the sea and hunt. It may give you the peace and tranquility you need to see your life from a different perspective.

Hanoi at night

Sébastien Laval, a French photographer has spent six years working on his set of photos depicting Hanoi at nighttime, being dislayed at L'Espace, 24 Trang Tien Street, Hanoi.

The photos show both the silence of the streets and the life which hides behind closed doors.

Explaining why he chose the time from 6pm to 6am to take photos, Sébastien Laval said, “6pm is the time for people to stop their work to return home, so the streets are often very crowded. But, later, the streets become more deserted. 6:00 a.m is the time for them to leave home for work. Between 6pm and 6am is the time for Hanoians to take a rest after a working day and this period is very beautiful to take photos.”

Mr. Le Ha, an elderly visitor, said the photos show a profound view of different aspects of the life in Hanoi. The collection is not portrait-oriented, however many photos capture intimate images of people.

The photos that make up the the exhibition were taken between 2007 and 2012, and are called called "Hanoi 18h/6h". The exhibition will last until January 13, 2012.

Government to finance preserving Hue monuments

The government has decided to fund VND800 billion (USD38.4 million) for a project to preserve Hue’s monuments, an official has said.

 

The recently restored royal park in Hue’s Imperial Citadel

Dr Phan Thanh Hai, Director of the Hue Monuments Conservation Centre, said that the prime minister approved the project on December 12.

As a result, around VND100 billion (USD4.8 million) will be used on conservation annually during the 2013-2020 period, he said.

Due to economic difficulties, only VND50 billion (USD2.4 million) would be allocated to next year and the remainder offset in the following years.

According to him, capital for the project would be sourced from funds for the national programme on culture for the 2013-2020 period.

More funding may be allocated to the project based on the increase in the annual state budget revenues, plus official development assistance funds.

“This is an important decision by the government to preserve and uphold the values of the former capital at Hue through until 2020. The project will benefit several monuments and remnants found within the Imperial Citadel,” Hai added.

International tourism hits one billion

 

 

One billion tourists have travelled the world in 2012, marking a new record for international tourism – a sector that accounts for one in every 12 jobs and 30% of the world’s services exports. On the symbolic arrival date of the one-billionth tourist (13 December 2012), UNWTO revealed the actions tourists can take to ensure their trips benefit the people and places they visit, as voted by the public.

International tourism has continued to grow in 2012, despite global economic uncertainty, to reach over one billion international tourist arrivals. The figure cements tourism’s position as one of the world’s largest economic sectors, accounting for 9% of global GDP (direct, indirect and induced impact), one in every 12 jobs and up to 8% of the total exports of the world’s Least Developed Countries (LDCs). 

Recalling the positive impact even the smallest action can have if multiplied by one billion, UNWTO launched the One Billion Tourists: One Billion Opportunities campaign to celebrate this milestone, showing tourists that respecting local culture, preserving heritage or buying local goods when travelling can make a big difference. The public was asked to vote for the Travel Tip that would have the greatest benefit for the people and places they visit and to pledge to follow that tip when traveling.     

The winning tip, revealed on the arrival date of the one-billionth tourist, was Buy Local, encouraging tourists to buy food and souvenirs locally, or hire local guides, to ensure their spending translates into jobs and income for host communities. A close second, Respect Local Culture calls on tourists to learn more about their destination’s traditions, or some words in the local language, before leaving home.   

“Today, we welcome the symbolic arrival of the one-billionth tourist” said UNWTO Secretary-General, Taleb Rifai. “Your actions count. That is our message to the one billion tourists. Through the right actions and choices, each tourist represents an opportunity for a fairer, more inclusive and more sustainable future.”   

As it is impossible to know exactly where the one-billionth tourist arrived, many countries are celebrating the occasion by welcoming tourists arriving on 13 December. UNWTO is celebrating in Madrid, Spain, home to its headquarters, by welcoming the symbolic one-billionth tourist in the Museo del Prado, Madrid’s most-visited tourism attraction, together with the Ministry of Industry, Energy and Tourism of Spain.

Source: UNWTO

 

Dig turns up trove of artefacts

A Cham tower complex has been found in Hoa Vang District after a three-month excavation, including 629 objects dating from the 10th-14th centuries, archaeologists from the National Museum of Vietnamese History announced yesterday.

Objects found at a Cham tower excavation in Hoa Vang District in Da Nang are displayed at the Da Nang ChamSculpture Museum. Archaeologists unearthed 629 objects at the site.

The discovery of the towers reveals that Da Nang was part of a prosperous region of the Champa Kingdom. The structures appear to have been built to worship a mandarin, whose ashes were buried there.

"It's the first time that a complete Cham tower complex has been found. We discovered a system of three major towers – the centre, the north and the south – along with an entrance tower and a long house," said archaeologist Nguyen Ngoc Chat.

The team unearthed hundreds of objects, including fragments of ceramic vases, blocks with carvings of garuda (a large mythical bird) and broken pottery jars, which were used to contain the remains of the tower's owner.

"We found ashes and fragments of burnt bones mixed in broken jars. We also dug up yoni and linga (female and male sex organs) – typical objects found in Cham towers – in what must have been holy holes," Chat added.

Vo Van Thang, director of the Cham Sculpture Museum in Da Nang, said this was the first time archaeologists had excavated the inside of a Cham tower.

"We hope to unearth more Cham towers in the city in the next two years, since it was a key region of the Champa Kingdom," Thang said.

The National Museum plans to enlarge the excavation to an area of 1ha next year.

In August, a large Cham tower foundation built in the 10th century was found in Phong Le Village in Cam Le District.

Ninh Thuan receiving more long-stay tourists

 

 

Since early November, Ninh Thuan has received over 550 Russian tourists, who are to stay in the province for 10-13 days, according to the provincial Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism. 

The number of Russian visitors to Ninh Thuan for long-stay tourism is expected to increase to 570 by the end of December. This is the first time Ninh Thuan receives such a big number of foreign long-stay tourists.

Ninh Thuan is forecast to receive 950,000 tourists this year, up 16% against last year.

The province is calling for investment in key tourism projects and human resources training for tourism industry, and promoting its tourism at home and abroad.

Source: VGP

 

Stimulating tourism demand during off-season

 

 

Some of Da Nang’s seaside and inner-city hotels are seeing low numbers of domestic and foreign guests in this rainy season. 

According to the Da Nang Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, the city has witnessed a sharp decrease in tourist arrivals in September.  In particular, the number of tourists was equal to only about 20% of the total tourist arrivals over the summer.  Although some of the local large travel agencies, including Vitours and Viettravel, offered attractive tours plus big discounts, their number of customers between September and December was only equal to about 30% of the total figure during the peak travel season.  As a result, there was a considerable decline in tourist stays in the city.

The Director of the Da Nang Tourism Promotion Centre, Mr Nguyen Xuan Binh, suggested that to deal with this matter, local travel agencies should launch central region heritage tours of Hoi An-My Son Sanctuary, Hue Citadel and Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park in the rainy season.  He added that although unfavourable weather conditions prevail, the city should receive a large number of foreign visitors because it is their peak travel season.  He also stressed the need for the city to take advantage of its modern transport and tourism infrastructure to develop MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions) tourism.  He said that thanks to the increasing number of direct flights to Da Nang planned for the future, the tourism sector should find it easier to launch MICE tourism fairs and develop e-commerce services for this kind of tourism to attract more international tourists.

First of all, Da Nang will concentrate on promoting its great potential for tourism.  In particular, local airlines, taxi companies, hotels, restaurants and souvenir shops will increase their mutual support activities and boost cooperation.  It is also necessary to simplify entry/exit procedures for foreign tourists.  The focus will be on promoting the strengths of the local tourism services featuring the regional cultural values to extend tourists’ stays in Da Nang.  They will include arts exhibitions and Vietnamese traditional musical performances, or tours discovering local people’s lifestyles.

Source: Danang Today

 

Visiting Cham houses in Delta’s Phum Soai Village

Phum Soai Village is not only the first Muslim Cham people’s village in An Giang but is also home to many old Cham stilt houses which are worthy of a visit from tourists.

A delightful old Cham house in Phum Soai Village in An Giang Province - Photo: Huy Nguyen 

The village is located in Chau Phong Commune, Tan Chau District which can be reached from HCMC by heading to Chau Doc Town in the Mekong Delta province, then take a cruise to Chau Giang Ferry, turn left and go straight for about 300 meters to reach Phum Soai Village.

Ho Sa Ich, the head of the traditional craft village of Phum Soai, said that the village has 28 Cham old houses which are over 100 years old.

The owner of the oldest house is named only Ali who is the richest villager. The house’s roof is designed in the shape of banh it (three-cornered glutinous rice cake) and covered by tile like fish scales.

A large wooden pillar is set up right in the center of the house and the wall has three layers of mortar outside, bamboo in the middle and a wooden inside layer. The whole floor is covered in wood so it is very cool in summer and warm in winter.

The house was handmade and decorations and carvings on the wooden walls and pillars were made by talented Cham artisans meticulously.

Ich said that all 28 houses will be dedicated to serve as home-stays for tourists to An Giang Province. Staying at houses, tourists will be entertained with traditional musical instruments show and music and dance performances by four artists in the village. Moreover, tourists will have a chance to enjoy traditional Cham food and culture.

Traditional arts programme to wow Women's Museum visitors

 

 

A performance highlighting some of the best Vietnamese traditional arts will be performed every Monday morning and Saturday evening at the Viet Nam Women's Museum.

The show features musical instruments such as dan bau (monorchord), nhi (two-string Chinese violin), cheo (traditional opera) and ca tru (ceremonial singing).

The highlight of the show will be xam folk singing, which is a unique culture hailing from Ha Noi's old quarter. Historically xam tau dien is well known for being performed on the city's trams. There are two main genres - xam cho (xam singing performed at markets) and xam co dau (performed in groups at drinking establishments).

The show aims to make foreign visitors aware of the differences between traditional arts, from the lyrics sung to the costumes and performance style adopted.

The one-hour show will begin at 10am on Mondays and 8pm on Saturdays.

Source: VNS

 

ACTIVETRAVEL ASIA launches “Big Save for Great Indochina Vacation” promotion for Christmas and New Year 2013.

Christmas and New Year Eve is in air, ACTIVETRAVEL ASIA’s promotion now is available for all travels who book the adventure tour of ATA.

Christmas and New Year Eve is in air, ACTIVETRAVEL ASIA’s promotion now is available for all travels who book the adventure tour of ATA.

For the sight, the sounds and the taste of an unique and special Christmas and New Year Eve in Indochina (Viet Nam, Laos and Cambodia) , ACTIVETRAVEL ASIA (ATA) has launched “ Big save for great Indochina vacation"  promotion for all invaluable customers who are going to book a tour from December 15, 2012 to Febuary 15,2013. From the bottom heart, ATA would like to express gratitude and appreciation to all customers who traveled with ATA in the past and would be in the future with huge discount up to 10 % off and the hundred surprise gifts, already prepared for you.

As a leading position of an adventure travel agent in Indochina and South East Asia, ATA always commits to bring unforgettable trip for travelers. Furthermore, ATA is a local expert, had 6 years experience in operating many kinds of adventure motorcycling, trekking, hiking, biking, kayaking tour which was designed suitable with all level of fitness.

So instead of a usual holiday, why do not you travel with ATA to discover a rich culture, history of Asia, enjoining amazing culinary, sightseeing a stunning landscape. And just one click booking you can get the ticket to the fantastic place for experiencing in new way with Asia‘s Christmas and New Year Eve style. This trip will be refresh your spirit, bring to you new inspiration and happiness for New Year.

Seem like Santa Clause’s gift, now travelers have more chance to achieve the best selling tours in 2012. Traveler will be enjoyable the rustic countryside, sightseeing the inspiring vitas, living with Muong ethnic minorities and joining in the outdoor adventure activities in “Cycling and home stay in Ba Khan 2 days 1 night” tour.

Or taking the challenge by trekking the tough trail with awesome scenery, overnight at silt house of mosaic of minority groups in “ Different Sapa, Different Trek” And more best selling tours are waiting you explore. 

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ACTIVETRAVEL ASIA (ATA) offers a wide selection of Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia adventure tours, including hiking and trekking, biking, motorcycling, kayaking, overland touring and family travel packages.

ACTIVETRAVEL ASIA (ATA) Telephone: +844 3573 8569 Fax:        +844 3573 8570 Email: info@activetravel.asia Website: http://www.activetravelvietnam.com      http://www.activetravelcambodia.com http://www.activetravellaos.com Address: Floor 12 Building 45 Nguyen Son Street, Long Bien district, Hanoi, Vietnam.

ACTIVE TRAVEL SHOP  Telephone: +84 4 3935 2576 Fax: Fax: +84 4 3935 2577 Email: shop@activetravelshop.com Website: http://www.activetravelshop.com Address: #9 Hang Buom St., Hoan Kiem Dist, Hanoi, Vietnam

Hanoi transforms craft villages into tourist sites

 

 

Hanoi plans to develop six traditional craft villages into tourist destinations to attract domestic and international tourists from now until 2015. 

They include Phu Vinh rattan and bamboo weaving in Chuong My district, Son Dong fine art sculpture in Hoai Duc district, Bat Trang-Kim Lan pottery in Gia Lam, Van Phuc silk in Ha Dong district, Ngo Ha mother-of-pearl inlay in Phu Xuyen district and Du Du sculpture in Thanh Oai district. 

The city will focus on preserving old houses, restoring historical and cultural sites, building areas for product displays and upgrading the transport system, waste and water treatment facilities. 

Home-stay services will be offered to give visitors the opportunity to learn about local people’s daily life. 

Phu Vinh village will be chosen to pilot the scheme. 

By 2015, Hanoi will develop 14 other village-cum-tourist destinations. 

The city expects to welcome 300,000-500,000 international visitors and 2-3 million domestic tourists to the craft villages.

Source: VNA

 

Exploring Indochina’s heritage in Hanoi

 

 

An exhibition of Vietnamese, Laos and Cambodian heritages opened on December 7 at the Thang Long Imperial Citadel in Hanoi 
Organised by the Thang Long-Hanoi Heritage Conservation Centre and the UNESCO Office in Vietnam, the exhibition comprises of three sections representing the natural landscape and culture of the Indochinese countries, the economic cooperation among the nations, and other regions, as well as the image of Thang Long dragon in Vietnamese culture. 
It is a combined event at nine museums in the three Indochinese countries, presenting six world cultural heritage sites including Angkor, Preah Vihear Temple, Vat Phou, My Son, Ho Citadel and Thang Long Imperial Citadel. 
Vietnam is holding the event for the first time. It is the second country of the three nations to host the exhibition, following an event at Cambodia’s Angkor. 
The exhibition will run until December, 2013.
Source: VNA

 

Vietnam builds 4-star resort in Ban Gioc

A luxury resort with 60 rooms and 24 bungalows will be built next to the famous Ban Gioc Waterfall in Cao Bang Province. It is expected that the resort will open in late 2013.

 

Saigontourist, one of Vietnam’s leading travel firms, last week held a ground breaking ceremony for the four-star Saigon-Ban Gioc Resort, in Dam Thuy Commune in the northern province of Cao Bang.

The resort will cover an area of 31.15 hectares, including a 60-room hotel, 24 bungalows, a 200 seat restaurant, sports and entertainment complex, a conference area, a health spa and area for camping and outdoor activities.
The first phase of construction is expected to complete by late 2013. The investment for the project is about VND170 billion (US$8 million).

Mr. Tran Hung Viet, General Director of Saigontourist, said the resort will encompass the natural surroundings of the area with enough open spaces for the guests to enjoy the view. The building material used will be bamboo, wood, thatch and stone and will merge well with the local culture of the border area.

The Saigon-Ban Gioc resort, the first of its kind in Cao Bang province, plays an important role in provincial tourism development, border defence and development.

It is part of a cooperation program between Ho Chi Minh City and Cao Bang province.

Ban Gioc Waterfall is located on the border between Vietnam and China. Vietnam owns half of the main waterfall and the waterfall branch. China owns the remaining half in the northern shore of Quay Son River. The area at the foot of the waterfall is for tourism development of the two countries.

Vietnam Tourism Awards for excellence of Vietnamtourism-Hanoi - Top ten International & domestic tour operators 2011

 

 

This year, Vietnamtourism-Hanoi is honored to receive not only the title “Top ten International Tour Operator in Vietnam” that the company receives every year but also “Top ten Domestic Tour Operator in Vietnam” as the first time. Despite the economic downturn, with the spirit “common goal, collective action”, Vietnamtourism-Hanoi strived to gain many achievements in 2011: signing and becoming an agent of Mekong Air, expanding product distribution channel by opening 1 more agent in Thanh Hoa and signing a franchise contract with Dat Viet company in Hanoi, receiving “100 Sustainable Vietnamese Brands 2012”, organizing the 44th Annual Meeting of Asian Development Bank, Tourism Promotion Program of VNAT in China, maintaining traditional markets, expanding new inbound markets, diversifying outbound and domestic product… As a result, the numbers of inbound, outbound and domestic tourists and profit increased in comparison to those in 2010. This motivates Vietnamtourism-Hanoi to keep going forwards. 

Since “Top ten tour operators in Vietnam” was born in 2009 (the former is “Top ten International Tour Operators and Hotels in Vietnam”), Vietnamtourism- Hanoi has obtained this reputable award successively. This is the most annual prestigious prize granted to tourism-related businesses by Vietnam National Administration of Tourism and Vietnam Tourism Association. The ceremony to honor the winners was held in Hanoi Opera House on 8th December 2012. 

Vn-Tourism

Viet Nam tourism to set new record

 

 

According to General Statistics Office (GSO), the number of international arrivals to Viet Nam in November 2012 was estimated 655,701, increasing by 24.4% in comparison with October 2012 and 7.2% over the same period of 2011. 

In November, by means of transportation, international arrivals to Viet Nam by air reached 560,080, an increase of 27.4% over November 2011; by sea: 13,524 (up 91.1%); by road: 82,097 (up 2.1%).

With this impressive result, the total of international arrivals to Viet Nam in 11 months is over 6 million arrivals, increasing by 11.4% over the same period of 2011, fulfilling 92.8% of international arrivals target in 2012.

International arrivals from most markets achieved positive growth, led by South Korea (31.5%), followed by Malaysia (25.6%), Thailand (24.6%), Japan (20.8%), Taiwan (17.0%), France (6.5%), USA (2.7%), China (0.8%), and Australia (0.2%).

Thus, with the market trend in the last peak months of the year, Viet Nam tourism sector will successfully complete the target of 6.5 million arrivals in 2012.

Source: VNTNews

 

Boisterous Christmas atmosphere in HCM City

Many shops in HCM City have decorated their stores and streets with colourful ornaments to prepare and celebrate Christmas.

The most boisterous place may be Saigon Tax Trade Centre, where Santa's reindeer were put on display. Snowmen and the Christmas tree also attract a lot of people to the centre.

On the other hand, Saigon Centre is still the biggest venue for Christmas decorating, and kept a happy atmosphere for the night.

Christianity was first introduced in Vietnam in 16th century and strengthened its presence when Vietnam was a French colony. Compared with Vietnam's original major regions of Buddhism, Christianity is still new to many Vietnamese.

It has been rumored that the first Christmas celebration was held in the 17th century by a wife of Lord Nguyen Hoang. She was baptized and dedicated her life to the Christian faith.

Nowadays young Vietnamese have been embracing Christmas without the religions connotations. Most see it as a sort of festival and an occasion to have fun with their friends and loved ones.

People gathered around Saigon Tax Trade Centre to take pictures

Saigon Centre

Pink Christmas

Christmas tree set up by Vincom Centre A

 

A unique Christmas tree in the Caravelle Hotel

 

Diamond Plaza's humourous display

 

White Christmas tree of Royal Hotel Saigon

 

 

 

Bitexco Financial Tower and Saigon Skydeck also celebrate with bear family

 

Santa Claus attract people's attention

The streets vibrant with colourful lights

Souvenir shops

Hanoi transforms craft villages into tourist sites

Hanoi plans to develop six traditional craft villages into tourist destinations to attract domestic and international tourists from now until 2015. 
They include Phu Vinh rattan and bamboo weaving in Chuong My district, Son Dong fine art sculpture in Hoai Duc district, Bat Trang-Kim Lan pottery in Gia Lam, Van Phuc silk in Ha Dong district, Ngo Ha mother-of-pearl inlay in Phu Xuyen district and Du Du sculpture in Thanh Oai district. 

The city will focus on preserving old houses, restoring historical and cultural sites, building areas for product displays and upgrading the transport system, waste and water treatment facilities. 

Home-stay services will be offered to give visitors the opportunity to learn about local people’s daily life. 

Phu Vinh village will be chosen to pilot the scheme. 

By 2015, Hanoi will develop 14 other village-cum-tourist destinations. 

The city expects to welcome 300,000-500,000 international visitors and 2-3 million domestic tourists to the craft villages.

Vietnamese silk - a national treasure

The Vietnamese Ao Dai has graced the world’s catwalks, acclaimed for its luxuriously elegant appearance as well as its softness and lightness.

The beauty of the traditional long dress partly rests on the hand-made silk from traditional craft villages throughout the country. It is not surprising that Vietnamese designers are using the home-spun materials to wow fashion circles in Paris and Milan.

Chinese, Japanese, and Italian silks enjoy good reputation but Vietnamese silk can boast an unbleached, natural quality with its own distinctive charm in Asia.

According to the Book of Han, Lac Viet's silk production dated back to 2000 BC: "In a year, there were two rice crops and eight silk crops". Some historical documents proved silk appearance in the sixth dynasty of Hung Vuong (ancient Vietnamese).

Silk, called lua in Vietnamese, was considered an extravagant luxury in feudal times, associated with wealth and success. It was only worn by Kings, Queens, and mandarins. Vietnam’s various dynasties developed strict rules regimenting the colour, ornamentation, style, and fabric of clothes worn by aristocrats.
Yem- traditional silken bra in Vietnam

The obvious value of Vietnamese silk is undeniable when many tourists are seen leaving the country with at least one piece of material, those in different designs such as highly durable Lismore Bud silk, plain silk, embroidered silk, and the versatile and absorbent satin silk. 

Silk weaving is ubiquitous in Vietnam, but one of the most traditionally illustrious silk villages is located in the northwest of Ha Dong Town, around 10 km from Hanoi. Van Phuc is proud to be the most ancient silk village, which has produced smooth, lightweight silks for more than 1,200 years. The special beauty of Van Phuc silk has inspired many Vietnamese poems, songs, and movies (including the award-winning film The White Silk Dress). 

The decorative patterns of Van Phuc silk are used as models by Vietnamese craftsmen and artisans when applying images to other thin and fibrous materials. Weavers here draw, spin, glue, and knit cords into silk, brocade, satin, chiffon, bang, que, sa, and dui (traditional types of cloth). They feature sophisticated patterns of birds, animals, flowers and leaves-even the famous 20m long “two dragons kowtowing the moon”. 

The woven flower patterns are startlingly realistic and their weavers so skilled that almost any customer request can be met. Most tourists therefore insist on visiting Van Phuc village to explore the traditional silk-making industry during their stay in Hanoi. 

Nowadays, the fine and lustrous cloth that originates from the cocoon of the silkworm has become more affordable for ordinary folk. Vietnamese silk is currently enjoying a fashion renaissance, its adaptability perfect for the range of designs required by modern life. 

Though the days when Vietnamese silk was reserved for nobility are long gone, its connotations of romance and luxury will never fade. 2,000 years of Vietnamese weavers have burnished the fabric with the aspirational dreams and sentiments of generations.

Transcending the mundane in An Giang

It is common knowledge in Vietnam that the Mekong Delta in Vietnam has two seasons, the “dry” one between December and April, and the “rainy” one between May and November.

 

Tourists pick dien dien (Sesbania sesban) flowers in the Mekong Delta province of An Giang. The flower is one of the characteristics of the delta’s high-tide season that starts in the seventh month and ends in the tenth month of the lunar calendar.

But when you talk to local people, they will tell you about the “floating” – or high-tide – season when more water from the Mekong Delta River flows into its tributaries in Vietnam – the Tien and Hau rivers. Starting in the seventh month and ending in the tenth month of the lunar calendar, the off-the-book season is marked with flooded fields, but the flooding also brings alluvium that enriches the soil, not to mention the abundance fresh water produce – read fish. That all this could be lost to upstream dams in China, Laos and Thailand, and that the delta is imperiled by climate change is a sobering thought.

Somewhat surprisingly, the “floating” season is also a favorite season for travelers, and once you are there, you understand why. Not only does nature put her liveliest foot forward at this time, the liveliness seeps into locals as well. It is at this time that traditional songs known as vong co (literally “longing for the past”) are sung by people when rowing their boats along rivers to harvest the season’s produce, including some special ones like the dien dien (Sesbania sesban) flowers. The dishes made from the special produce, including the dien dien flowers and ca linh (a fish species under the same family with carps), are also a draw.

With the season nearing its end, I decided that I could not let it go without a visit. I picked a tour to An Giang Province, which hosts the region’s biggest lake and one of its most famous forested wetlands, for a high-tide season traveling trip.

Lake in the sky

Located among Khanh Binh, Khanh An, and Nhon Hoi communes in An Phu District, Bung Binh Thien (Lake in the sky) looked out of place when we saw it. Its clean and blue water was in contrast to the muddy look of the Binh Ghi River, which flows into the lake, caused by the increase in alluvium during the high-tide season.

A tour guide explained to us that a special kind of seaweed in the four-meter deep lake helped filter the muddy water flowing into it.

Thanks to this facility, the lake is home to hundreds of species of freshwater fish and flowering plants commonly used in local cooking like water lilies and lotus. So, it is not rare to see local farmers fishing on small boats there, making the scene a photographer’s delight.

Another interesting aspect of this lake is that while its area is nearly 300 hectares during the dry season, it can expand by another 200 hectares during rainy season.

However, the lake’s name indicates its real character – a tranquility that locals feel makes it a transcendental place.  One tends to agree, watching boats row through hanging branches of dien dien full of yellow flowers.

A mosque of the Cham people that stands near the lake adds to the sacred feeling. The Masjid Khay Ri Yah carries typical details of Islamic architecture: a dome with a white star on the top, and overturned-U-shaped doors. It has spacious interiors, numerous columns, white floors and ceilings painted blue, representing freedom and peace.

Mohammed Li, deputy chief of Bung Binh Thien Hamlet, said it is one of seven Cham hamlets in Chau Doc Town, where some 13,700 Muslims live.

After seeing the mosque, we headed for dinner at the official’s house. He explained to us about the culture of the Cham people and their religion over the past two years.

He treated us to specialties of the high-tide season, like grilled ca linh with a dip made of fish sauce and tamarind, banh xeo (rice pancake) with ca linh, and the traditional Vietnamese soup, canh chua (sour soup), modified with ca linh and dien dien flowers.

We did not have to sit on the floor and eat with our fingers as the Cham do. Li had considerately prepared spoons and chopsticks for us. He also treated us to various stories about the Cham people’s customs, as well as the daily life of people living around the lake.

Sanctuary wetland

The next day, we visited the Tra Su Cajeput Forest, which is located in Van Giao Commune, Tinh Bien District.

One of the Mekong Delta’s largest forested wetlands, the 1,500-hectare forest hosts some 140 plant species, mainly cajeput tress, 11 animal species and 23 kinds of fish. These include red-listed wading birds like oriental darters (Anhinga melanogaster), and water birds like painted storks (Mycteria leucocephala).

During the floating season, the forest’s population increases as thousands of fish and birds and many other species flock there.

When we arrived at the forest, we were in for a feast for the eyes: the fresh green of duckweed covered the water’s surface, and there were lotus leaves as well.  As we entered the forest on a motorboat, it felt as though we were riding on a flying carpet of green duckweed.

Later, we switched to a small rowboat to go deeper, so that we would not disturb the forest’s residents with the noise of the motor.  From the feeling of being on an adventure, it became a journey of peace as we slowly passed rows of century-old cajeput trees. Above our heads, birds of all kinds called to each other.

There was also a 25-meter tall tower for visitors to change their view of the forest – observing it from a height with the That Son Range in the backdrop.

Other not-to-be missed high tide season destinations in An Giang include the Vam Nao River that flows through Tan Trung Commune in Phu Tan District. Visitors also have homestay options during which they can join locals in their daily activities, rowing boats, fishing and picking dien dien flowers.