Mu Cang Chai in late rice harvest season

Though farmers in Mu Cang Chai are harvesting paddy on the last parts of their terraced fields, the remote mountainous district of Yen Bai Province still boasts its charms that are hidden in the scenic rice fields and thin blankets of fog at the beginning of the winter. (Two ethnic minority farmers harvest rice in their terraced rice field.)

The popular attraction of Mu Cang Chai lies in its terraced rice fields which are primarily situated in the district’s Che Cu Nha, La Pan Tan and De Zu Phinh villages. These imposing fields draw a large number of both Vietnamese and foreign travelers who love to take pictures of and indulge themselves in the amazing beauty of the national heritage site.
Visitors do not have to exert much effort to view the natural wonder; they can see a picturesque range of terraced fields along National Road 32 after going through Khau Pha Pass, which winds more than 20 kilometers when coming from Hanoi.
That is the option for those who do not have enough time to wander up and down hills and mountains of the terraced fields. Of course, when one is further from the road, the more beautiful terraced rice fields are visible.
Bui Thi Ha of Suoi Mo Guesthouse in Mu Cang Chai told the Daily that many travelers visited Mu Cang Chai from late September to early October to see waves of terraced rice fields, as this is when the fields turn brilliant yellow and shine in their fullest beauty.
This is also the time when the fields become full of life as Mong ethnic minority farmers in their traditional attire harvest the ripe rice grains, and shoulder bags of the fruit home through mountains and hills as well as over swinging suspension bridges.
It is normal to see ethnic minority mothers use cloth as a cradle to carry their infants on their back when they are harvesting paddy in the fields in the northwest of Vietnam. Children of the farmers run here and there in the fields, chatting with their parents and giggling in tune with the joy of their parents during the harvest season.
It is in late harvest season that visitors can distinguish the atmosphere of terraced fields in the rice harvest season and off the season. The real charm of yellow fields and the fields without paddy, and above all the type of soil and the attempts of the farmers to produce paddy, are most obvious at this time.
Believe me! My experience shows that it is in Mu Cang Chai that you can see more beautiful terraced rice fields than Hoang Su Phi in the mountainous province of Ha Giang and other sites that have become famous for terraced rice fields and captured the great interest of travelers near and far.
There in Mu Cang Chai, terraced rice fields rise and fall around hillsides and mountainsides as well as streams and rivers, making them look like giant yellow staircases for people to step from earth to heaven.
Terraced rice fields have been not only a source of food and income for the Mong people; they are an intrinsic part of their culture and Mu Cang Chai, which is itself a quiet town on the bank of the Nam River.
Fashioned over many centuries, the yellow terraced fields are now a symbol of the mountainous district and make it one of the top destinations for those who seek to look into the life of ethnic minority groups in the countryside and the natural surroundings.
Mu Cang Chai is about 300 kilometers from Hanoi, and can be accessible only by road.
(Source: SGT)

Financial crisis cuts into tourism targets

Even though the peak tourism season is in full swing, the number of foreign tourists to Viet Nam has not increased, according to statistics by the Viet Nam National Administration of Tourism (VNAT). (Tourists visit Bat Trang pottery village in Gia Lam District, Ha Noi. The country will likely miss its target for tourism this year.)

Statistics show that the number of foreign tourists coming to Viet Nam from June to August decreased 15 per cent from the same period last year.
The trend continued in September, with only 315,000 overseas visitors in the country, 50,000 less than September 2007.
Most of the foreign tourists to Viet Nam in September came from China, Russia and Germany.
According to reports from several five-star hotels in HCM City and Ha Noi, not as many foreigners spent part of their summer holidays (from June to September) in Viet Nam as last year.
One director of a tourism company, who asked not to be named, said his hotel saw a 50 per cent drop in reservations from overseas travellers, even though booking a room there is now easier than in past years.
Experts blame the plummeting figures on the global financial crisis.
Moreover, climbing prices for tours to Viet Nam many also be behind the decrease of foreign tourists.
While tours to Thailand, Malaysia and Singapore only increased 5 to 10 per cent, tour prices to Viet Nam jumped 15 to 30 per cent because of the skyrocketing cost of air tickets and hotel rooms in the country.
Moreover, a lack of advertising for Vietnamese tourism and services at tourist sites are also likely responsible for fewer international travellers.
According to Le Dinh Tuan from the Tan Hong Tourism Company, the tourism industry should replace media advertising methods with hosting various events to attract overseas tourists.
Vu The Binh, head of the VNAT’s Travel Department, said that tourism management agencies needed to established a direct relationship with overseas partners to publicise tourism in Viet Nam.
"However, tourism companies should not ignore the State’s role in establishing relationship with foreign partners," he said.
Some experts believe that tourism to Viet Nam could see a boost in the remaining months of the year thanks to the number of business people attending meetings, incentives, conferences and events, also known as MICE in the tourism industry.
The strong development of the local export and processing industry could create an attractive market for overseas enterprises, especially from Nigeria and Italy, and bring in more guests.
Many Nigerians have recently come to Viet Nam for business. Over 200 Italian business people are expected in the country at the beginning of November.
(Source: Viet Nam News)

A visit to Dam Long-Bang Ta forest eco-tourist area

One cannot help feeling surprised when visiting Dam Long-Bang Ta forest eco-tourist area for the first time. Dam Long provides an escape from the bustle and hustle of urban life as one breathes the fresh air and embraces the tranquility of the mountains, forests and landscapes.

A view of a lake in Dam Long - Bang Ta forest eco-tourist site.

A tram ride runs through the primeval forest from which one can see deer, muntjac and stags eating leaves. Alternatively, one can ride a bicycle around the forest to breathe the fresh air in the morning.
Dam Long eco-tourist area is located at the heart of Ba Vi tourist complex, 70 kilometers from Hanoi to the west. The area covers 70 hectares including 50 hectares of water surface and 20 hectares of forest.
Bang Ta is a primeval forest with four layers of trees. The highest layer mainly consists of trees on average from 30 to 35 meters tall. The next layer is chestnut trees and fuchsia, between 20 and 25 meters high. The third layer is mainly ricinus, oleander, mulberry, soapberry trees, and bead trees, and the lowest layer includes a variety of fern and mistletoe, creating a beautiful look. The fauna and flora here are abundant, with 240 species of trees and many species listed in the red book. The most profuse is a group of 76 valuable medicinal herbs.
Going through paths full of liana, tourists will discover the wildness and mystery of the forest, enjoy the singing of tens of species of birds, and observe herds of spotted deer roaming in the silent space.
Leaving from the forest, tourists will contemplate the beauty of Dam Long, an immense lake filled with lotus spreading their fragrance in summer, and birds, reptiles such as suamp hens, boucals, geckos, and lizards.
Fish caught on the lake can be broiled in floating houses which are decorated with multi-coloured lanterns. Breakfast and soft drinks are served in the houses.
Water sports in swimming pools or games on rope bridges or cau khi, characteristics of the southern region will excite young people.
The tourist area has 56 hotel rooms and four bungalows available for massage and karaoke, a meeting hall with 300 seats and a dining room serving 1,000 guests.
Hotels here are modern and well-equipped while maintaining the beauty of nature.
Stilted Muong ethnic minority houses are suitable as camping sites, to enjoy camp-fires, ruou can or wine drunk out of a jar through pipes, and traditional music.
Furthermore, tourists can take part in local markets to buy souvenirs, specialties of Ba Vi, and visit Ngoc Nhi stork garden, Suoi Hai or Hai Stream, and Ao Vua or Pond of Kings.

(Source: SGT)

Canadian food festival to be held in Hanoi

The Canadian Cuisine Festival will be held at Hanoi’s Sofitel Plaza Hotel from November 7 to 14 to celebrate the 35th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Vietnam and Canada. (Canadian chef Derek Furlani will prepare Canadian specialties for next month’s Canadian Cuisine Festival in Hanoi)

The event, co-hosted by the Embassy of Canada and Sofitel, will feature a range of traditional Canadian dishes, including prime Alberta beef, traditional roast prime rib and geoduck clams.
Seafood lovers can enjoy dishes such pan-seared Canadian clearwater scallops and maple-marinated fresh Atlantic salmon.
The food will be prepared by Canadian guest chef Derek Furlani.
The event will also showcase fine Canadian wines including Canadian ice wine and famous table reds and whites from the Niagara-on-the-Lake wine region in Ontario.
Tickets are available for US$39++ per adult and $21++ for children under 1.2 meters tall at the hotel, 1 Thanh Nien Street, or by calling (04) 38 238 888.
Reported by Phuong Anh

Touring in the Mekong Delta region

The HCMC-based Ben Thanh Tourist is promoting a series of tours to the ecological tourist area of the Mekong Delta region. The six-day and five-night tour to the region will give foreign travelers a comprehensive understanding of the impressive region.(A view of the Phong Dien market in the Mekong Delta city of Can Tho.)

The tour will visit the center city of Can Tho as well as the Cai Rang floating market, where the locals shop for everyday food and vegetables and other consumer goods. Since the unique market opens early in the morning, a visit will be scheduled at 4:00 am, to see the locals living their daily life and conducting business on the floating market.
These kinds of markets are very popular on the waters of the rural region, and during their time there the tourists will visit similar markets in the region.
In the city, the tour includes Bang Lang stork garden and the crocodile farm, among other tourist sites. Visitors to the southern region will not miss a chance to hear the special traditional music, known as don ca tai tu (the southern amateur opera). The tourists will float on the Hau River to enjoy the music.
Another sight on the list is the Cong Tu Bac Lieu (Bac Lieu Dandy) hotel in Bac Lieu. The hotel was the home of Tran Trinh Huy also called Cong Tu Bac Lieu, a wealthy landowner known in the southern region for his lavish lifestyle in the early 20th century.
The house was built in 1919 based on a French architect’s blueprint. The building materials, including steel, marble floor tiles and decorated iron frames, were custom-made in France. Inside the Western architecture-styled house, which locals called Nha Lon (big house), the owner displayed his collection of precious wood furniture, pottery and bronze objects.
Next stop will be Ca Mau Province, home of the Ca Mau tip. The strip of land projecting into the sea is located at Mui Commune in Ngoc Hien District, some 100 kilometers from Ca Mau City. Each year, the west of the tip advances some 50 meters more into the sea so that people often compare the cape to a huge prow going out to sea.
The local agency has built a high tower on the tip to afford an overall picture of the Ca Mau tip, the mangrove forest, and the sea from afar.
Other sights included in the tour of the Mekong Delta are Rach Gia City, Ha Tien Town and Chau Doc.For further information about the tour, contact Ben Thanh Tourist on tel: (08) 3 520 2020 or (08) 3 821 8989.
(Source: SGT)

Local tourism learns to attract Russians

About 100 participants from local travel companies, hotels, resorts and tourism agencies joined a seminar in HCMC last Friday to learn about ways to develop the Russian market, an emerging market for the local inbound tourism sector.(“Local companies are promoting luxury tours to Russia but in this situation they need to offer other kinds of tours with cheaper prices that suit their pockets.”)

Speaker Sorokin Andrey, manager of the China and Vietnam market department of Capital Tour, one of the three Russian travel companies regularly sending travelers to Vietnam, said Russia’s outbound market was emerging with over 30 million people traveling to foreign countries a year.
“Most Russians who have traveled to Vietnam say they were pleased with the tours there. I think Vietnam’s tourism sector could receive around 150,000 Russian visitors by 2015 compared to some thousands now,” he said at the seminar organized by PATA Vietnam.
Most Russians have chosen destinations such as Turkey, Tunisia and Egypt. However, the travelers are changing their destinations to countries in Southeast Asia.
“The financial crisis has made people cancel outbound trips but it has not badly impacted Vietnam’s tourism because most travelers choosing long-haul destinations like Vietnam are high-income people,” Andrey said.
However, he noted that in the current economic situation the local tour operators need flexibility in arranging tours. “Local companies are promoting luxury tours to Russia but in this situation they need to offer other kinds of tours with cheaper prices that suit their pockets.”
He noted that few of the visitors are fluent in English so the local hotels and resorts need to provide guide-books, menus and other related materials in Russian.
Regarding promotion activities and air service, he said that the local travel agencies needed to speed up promotion activities in the media and on the Internet and operate more flights to Russia.
“Around 70% of Russian visitors live in big cities and are using the Internet at home and in the offices. So, taking promotion activities on the Internet is a good way,” Andrey said.
He said a difficult thing in calling more Russian travelers to Vietnam is the lack of flights between the two countries.
(Source: SGT)

Village of Vietnamese ethnic groups to open in 2010

The Culture-Tourism Village of Vietnamese Ethnic Groups will welcome tourists in 2010, coinciding with the 1,000th anniversary of the country’s capital city - Thang Long-Hanoi. (The Culture-Tourism Village of Vietnamese Ethnic Groups will become a national cultural, sports and tourism centre and a live museum of ethnology.)

The village covering a total area of over 1,500 ha in the southern part of Dong Mo-Ngai Son Lake is located about 35-40km from the centre of Hanoi. Once totally completed in 2015, the village will become a national cultural, sports and tourism centre and a live museum of ethnology which features unique characteristics of Vietnam’s 54 ethnic groups. A recreational centre and a restaurant-hotel complex will be built to serve visitors in addition to an area of world cultural heritages and cultural works. The village is expected to become an attractive destination for domestic and foreign tourists in the next several years, especially when the Lang-Hoa Lac Highway is completed, enabling tourists to travel 30 minutes by car from Hanoi’s downtown to the location.
(Source: VNA)

Ha Long – a bird’s-eye view

The stunning beauty of Ha Long Bay in Vietnam’s north has long been appreciated by seafaring visitors but now, sightseers can take in the awe-inspiring landscape from a completely different perspective. (Visitors to northern Vietnam’s Ha Long Bay can now see the majestic world heritage site by helicopter)

Since August 2008, The Northern Serviced Flight Company has been offering helicopter tours around the bay, giving tourists a bird’s-eye view of the imposing limestone outcrops and surrounding area.
After taking off from Hanoi’s Gia Lam Helicopter Station and flying to an altitude of 300 meters (1,000 feet), Ha Long Bay can be seen in its entire panoramic splendor.
The thrilling ride costs US$110 per person and package deals are available that include helicopter flights from Hanoi to Quang Ninh Province – home of Ha Long Bay – costing from $350-550.
The Northern Serviced Flight Company began offering flights this summer to meet the increasing tourism demand in the north.
The EC -130 B4 helicopter can accommodate up to seven people and the tours are already popular for weddings and family vacations, say the tour operators.
Initially, the only tour routes available were from Hanoi to Ha Long Bay in Quang Ninh Province and around Hanoi’s outskirts.
The routes have now been expanded, with other offered destinations including Ha Long, Cat Bi, Cat Ba, Mong Cai, Lao Cai, Sa Pa, Dien Bien Phu, Hoa Binh, Thanh Hoa, Vinh, Hue, Da Nang, Vung Tau, Con Dao, Can Tho, Ca Mau, and Phu Quoc.
From February 2009 onwards, the price of a helicopter tour around Ha Long Bay and round-trip flights from Hanoi will increase to $130 and $650 per person respectively.
The Gia Lam Helicopter Station is located on Highway No. 5 in Gia Thuy Ward, Long Bien District, Hanoi.

Reported by Kim

Dragonair launches Hong Kong-Hanoi route

Hong Kong-based Dragonair Sunday launched the Hong Kong-Hanoi route using A320 and A321 aircraft, offering daily return tickets for US$380.
Hanoi is the eighth destination of Dragonair since it became a subsidiary of Cathay Pacific, said Peter Sanderson, Dragonair’s general director and captain of the Hong Kong-Hanoi first flight.
Sanderson expressed his confidence in the route’s success citing Vietnam’s rapidly growing economy and open tourism market, adding the airlines’ next destination will be Ho Chi Minh City.
Dragonair possesses a fleet of 32 passenger aircraft and 5 freighters, providing service to 34 destinations in the region.
Source: VNA

National carrier does away with fuel surcharge

Vietnam Airlines Monday announced it will stop imposing any fuel surcharge on all domestic routes starting November 1.
The current surcharge for one-way tickets on the Hanoi-Da Nang, HCMC-Da Nang, Hanoi-Hue, HCMC-Hue, HCMC-Pleiku and HCMC-Chu Lai routes is VND80,000 per ticket (US$4.8).
For one-way tickets on the Hanoi-HCMC, HCMC-Hai Phong, Hanoi-Nha Trang, Hanoi-Da Lat, Hanoi-Buon Ma Thuot, HCMC-Vinh, HCMC-Can Tho, and HCMC-Dong Hoi routes, the surcharge is VND120,000.

Reported by Xuan Toan

Financial crisis knocks on door of tourism industry

It is now the high tourism season, but there are not many foreign tourists coming to Vietnam at this moment. The number of businessmen at big hotels in HCM City has also decreased. The world’s financial crisis has knocked on the door of the tourism industry.

Number of tourists down by 30%

It is now the high tourism season, but there are not many foreign tourists coming to Vietnam at this moment. The number of businessmen at big hotels in HCM City has also decreased. The world’s financial crisis has knocked on the door of the tourism industry.

The official number of tourists in October has not been revealed yet, but the director of a travel firm said that the number might see a decrease of 30%. Five-star hotels in HCM City and Hanoi say that the number of clients staying at the hotels is smaller than during the same period of last year, though it is now the high season for western tourists to come to Vietnam on their winter vacation.

The director of a travel firm that specialises in serving MICE tourists complained that the number of clients has decreased by 50%. He said that in previous years, it was very difficult to book hotel rooms, but now travel firms can easily negotiate room rates.

Local planning and investment departments in HCM City, Binh Duong and Dong Nai provinces have also confirmed that the number of foreign investors coming to learn about investment procedures has decreased. The staff responsible for providing information at the Vietnam-Singapore Industrial Zone Management Board said that if the board previously received some 10 investors, it was now receiving only 3-4 investors.

(According to the Deputy Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Tran Chien Thang, the ASEAN Tourist Forum (ATF) 2009 will take place from January 5-12, 2009 in Hanoi. This is the first time Vietnam will host the annual regional forum.
Thang said that the ATF 2009 will focus on improving service quality and improve administrative procedures in order to create the best conditions for inner-ASEAN tourism. In the immediate time, when far markets like Europe and North America have decreased, ASEAN tourism should pay attention to medium-size markets like Japan, Australia and South Korea, and especially, to ASEAN tourism with reasonable prices.)

Struggling with the financial storm

An official from the Foreign Investment Agency under the Ministry of Planning and Investment said that it is not a surprise to see the number of investors decrease in the current difficult conditions.

Foreign tourists on HCM City’s streets“What we need to do now is to make a breakthrough to urge investors to disburse for licenced projects when they are considering the places to inject money into,” he said, adding that only by doing so can Vietnam prove that it is an attractive destination.

The official said that recently, a delegation of Nigerian businessmen came to Vietnam to seek investment opportunities. A delegation of 200 Italian investors will arrive in Vietnam earlier the next month with the same purpose. The governor of the US’ Idaho state has led a delegation of US businessmen to Vietnam to market US farm produce.

At the Vietnam-Nigeria Business and Investment Forum held in Hanoi on October 24 by the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Mustafa Bello, Managing Director of the Investment Promotion Committee, said that Vietnam’s strong industries could be an attractive market for Nigerian businessmen to export materials to.

Explaining the reason that brought hundreds of Italian businessmen to Vietnam in the last few days, Marco Saladini, Italian trade commissioner in Vietnam, said that Vietnam is really an attractive market for Italian investors as it imports several billion dollars worth of equipment and production tools per year. Vietnam has caught the attention of investors also as a fast-growing retail market in the world.

The director of a tourist firm has urged state management agencies to take action to attract clients in the current difficult period. “While other countries have been trying to promote tourism, Vietnam still keeps quiet,” she said.

The director said that hotels owners in Vietnam should think about the fact that room rates in Vietnam are still 25% higher than in regional countries.

(Source: Tuoi tre)

Visiting Cat Ba Island – world’s biosphere reserve

The Bai Tho (Poem) Cruise to Cat Ba Island, which a group of reporters and I from HCMC and Hanoi were on as part of a ‘fam’ (familiarization) trip with Vietravel, departed from Bai Chay Tourist Wharf in Halong Bay and arrived in the island’s town at about 5 p.m.(Tourists kayaking in Lan Ha Bay in Cat Ba Island.)

When we arrived I was chilled with the cool weather of the autumn in the north, but I felt an instant love for the pure sea breeze and the quietness and peacefulness of the coastal town.
We stayed at the Holiday View Hotel, a 120 – room hotel on road 1/4 in Catba island, overlooking the Lan Ha Bay and just a five minutes walk to the three beaches on the island. We spent one night there, hoping that tomorrow would be a sunny day for a discovery tour to the bay. However, we had a bit of bad luck as it was raining heavily early the next morning due to a sudden tropical low pressure, but when it stopped we hurried down to the wharf for a cruise to Lan Ha Bay on the southeastern side of the island.
Lan Ha Bay covers an area of over 7,000 hectares, of which 5,400 hectares is under the management of Cat Ba National Park. While the cruise moved slowly through small islets and floating fishing villages, I found the landscape to be as magnificent as Ha Long Bay.
Though the journey is a bit rougher than cruising Halong there are over 100 small sandy beaches between the blocks of rocks on the islands, 30 of which are ideal for a swim or a picnic.
Other interesting activities in the bay are fishing, kayaking, and a visit to Monkey Island, home to over 5,000 monkeys, or a long hike in Cat Ba National Park. The trek is approximately 11 kilometers long through three mountains to Viet Hai, a small fishing village. On the way one can take a short rest at Frog Lake, a beautiful, tranquil lake in the middle of the forest.
Cat Ba National Park is a highly diverse biosphere and the endangered golden headed langur can be found here.
We were leaving for Haiphong in two hours and consequently did not have enough time for the trek, so we chose to return to town and went sightseeing at Cat Co beach. On our walk back to the hotel we saw many foreign tourists jogging in the beach and walking leisurely on the hilly streets of the town. Regretting that we were not staying longer, I gathered some brochures from the travel center at the hotel to learn about other destinations on the island, such as Quan Y cave, which served as a military hospital and shelter for locals in the war, Phu Long village and Thien Long, a primitive and beautiful stalactite, stalagmite cave.
Huynh Thu Dung, head of Vietravel’s press office, told me that this season is the best time of year for foreign tourists doing a tour of the north because the weather is so mild and beautiful and the sights are not as crowded since it is low tourist season in Vietnam. This also falls on the winter holiday period for most of the tourists from Western countries.
She said that Vietravel recently opened a new branch in Hai Phong City to serve as a bridge to link important destinations between Halong and Cat Ba, as well as the northeastern side of Lang Son and Cao Bang, and create new tours from Halong to Cat Ba and Ninh Binh.
(Source: SGT)

Meandering along the Mekong

Drifting on narrow waterways under shades of coconut trees, tourists will discover that the rivulets and canals teem with life – from the bustling floating markets to locals harvesting paddies and raising bees. (A panoramic view of a floating market in the Mekong Delta, where vendors and buyers engage in a flurry of activities daily.)

The Mekong Delta, long considered Vietnam’s rice basket, encompasses 13 southern provinces and the starting point of the tour for most visitors begins in Ho Chi Minh City. After traveling around 80 kilometers southwestward, visitors will arrive at the town of My Tho and get on boats or canoes to continue their journey exploring the matrix of waterways that weave through the region.
Most tours offer visits to the four islets – Long, Lan, Quy, Phung – resembling the four mythical creatures honored by the Chinese and Vietnamese.
Located about a 30-minute boat ride from My Tho Town, Phung Island is the place where the late monk Ong Dao Dua purportedly spent three years in meditation, surviving solely off of coconuts.
Locals harvest paddies in the Mekong Delta, long considered Vietnam’s rice basket
A group of children walk along a skinny bamboo bridge in a village in the Delta
An artist troupe gives a traditional performance of southern folk songs
Canoes and small boats offer the most efficient mode of travel along the myriad waterways that snake around the entire Delta region
Meanwhile, the tiny area of Thoi Son, also known as Lan Island, hosts a community of some 6,000 residents and has been recently developed into an attractive destination.
This ecotourism village covering only 10 square meters features areas for aquatic sports, camping and handicraft-making.
Nguyen Van Quoc, from the Tien River Tourism Center in Tien Giang Province, said Thoi Son is considered the “focus” of all the tours the agency offer.
“We want Thoi Son to uplift visitors after having traveled the long road from HCMC to Tien Giang,” Quoc said. “We want to incorporate the unique environmental settings and locals’ routines into our tours.”
Visitors get a glimpse of southerners’ lives through visiting local homes, orchards and fish-raising grounds, and sampling tea flavored with honey.
A Japanese tourist named Keiko marveled at the green waterways that border many village roads in the Mekong Delta and the flurry of activities that occur daily on these channels.
“I am really impressed with residents carrying loads of goods on their backs and scampering dexterously back and forth across skinny bamboo bridges,” she said.
In the southern province of Can Tho, visitors can stop by at the Cai Rang floating market, where droves of hawkers and vendors make circles with their boats pitching sales.
Another tourist named Nick said he has visited Vietnam’s Mekong Delta twice and enthusiastically recommends the exotic dishes the region has on tap.
“I absolutely adore the fried fish wrapped in lotus’ leaves, dipped in tamarind soy sauce,” he said.
Tourism challenges
But experts in the tourism industry say inadequate infrastructure systems and the lack of environmental protection measures are among the main reasons why the region is still underdeveloped in terms of attracting visitors.
In an online forum discussing the potential of promoting tourism in the Mekong Delta, Vo Hung Dung, director of the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Can Tho, said a foreign tourist only visits the region for one day on average.
It is estimated that of the 1.5 million international tourists who came to HCMC in the first six months of this year, around 110,000 split off to go see Can Tho City compared to 420,000 and 315,000 visitors for the central towns of Hue and Hoi An.
A major deterrent to visiting the Mekong Delta are inconvenience. Nine provinces among the 13 that constitute the region are connected by a single highway, National Highway 1A, that runs straight through without any alternative roads that would make commuting between the provinces easier.
For example, tourists must travel 300 kilometers from Bac Lieu Province through Soc Trang and Can Tho before reaching Kien Giang Province, while that distance could be reduced to 100 kilometers if there were a sectional highway.
Littering has also become a major issue, as many tourists have complained of trash being dumped into the river – enough rubbish to transform the scenic floating markets into a gathering place for bobbing fruit peels.
“Guests are seriously disturbed after seeing so much litter contaminating rivers and canals,” said Le Thanh Quy, director of the Saigon-Can Tho Hotel. “They wouldn’t be so excited about returning after wading through such wastes in their canoes.”
Ernst Sagemueller, general director of the European-Indochina Institute for Tourism in HCMC, said the key to developing tourism in the Mekong Delta has to do with protecting the environment rather than building resorts, casinos, or cable car systems across the rivers.
It’s all about preserving the environment the way it is, he said.
Reported by Hoang Thai

Like a bird

Just 200 kilometers from Ho Chi Minh City, Phan Thiet Town in Binh Thuan Province has many amazing delights. (Adrenalin lovers paraglide at Hong Islet in Phan Thiet Town)

But the stand-out entertainment activity is definitely paragliding. Paragliding was invented in Europe in 1970 as a means for mountain climbers to descend. It soon became a popular pastime all over the world.
Paragliding was introduced to Vietnam in 1997 by two French athletes, Stephane and Didie. But back then few Vietnamese were interested in this “sky” game.
Only when Duy Long, considered the first Vietnamese paraglider, established the Vietwings Club in 2003, did Vietnamese people start to recognize the attraction. Vietwings Club now has 20 members, including four women.
Hon Hong (Hong Islet) is an ideal place for paragliding in Phan Thiet. About 27 kilometers from town, with many sand dunes and strong sea breezes, Hon Hong is an appropriate location for “ridge soaring.”
Before trying paragliding, tourists will receive technical instruction from a Vietwings member, including how to take off and land, how to fly and how to handle emergency situations.
“Paragliders should strictly comply with all the rules and aviation laws,” Long said. “As well as having a basic knowledge of aerodynamics, you must also have a good frame of mind and remember to always keep calm.”
People interested in paragliding must register at least 24 hours in advance. Tourists can try a tandem flight with a trainer.
To try paragliding, you must be between 40 and 100 kg in weight, be able to run 10 meters, have no arthritis, high blood pressure or cardiovascular diseases. For VND600,000 (US$36), you will get a 15-30 minute flight. Remember to take along sport shoes, sunglasses, a windcheater, camera and sun cream.
For those who want to become a “master of the air,” you can take a Vietwings paragliding course and spend about $2,000 on a parachute, gloves and a walkie–talkie.
You can register for paragliding at the website: www.vietwings-hpg.com (in Vietnamese) or email info@vietwings-hpg.com for detailed information.
Reported by Kim

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TRAVEL IN BRIEF 24/10/2008

Cultural fest highlights attractions in Binh Thuan
The three-day Binh Thuan Culture-Tourism Days 2008 event concludes today in Phan Thiet after presenting many animated, unique activities. The event included volleyball competitions, surfing races on the smooth sand dunes of Ham Tien with well known local and international athletes. The festival has also helped promote the most attractive features of the resort capital with culinary contests, art and fashion shows and water sports.
Plan on movie studio complex targets tourists
A detailed plan for the Vina Universal Tourism and Movie Studio Complex was presented by Tan Tao Group on Wednesday.
The US$50 million complex, to be built in the central province of Quang Nam, will be the biggest movie studio in Viet Nam.
It will cover an area of nearly 2,600ha and include a tourist area along with the Vina Universal Studio. The complex will offer visitors diversified tourist services, including cultural tourism, marine tourism and eco-tourism.
Tan Tao Group expects the complex will be a national-standard studio.
Thanh Hoa cave proposed as world heritage site
Thanh Hoa Province and the Viet Nam Archeology Institute have proposed that the Con Moong Cave in Thach Thanh District’s Thanh Yen Commune be recognised as a world cultural heritage by UNESCO.
Discovered in 1975, the Con Moong Cave is located in the buffer zone of the Cuc Phuong National Park. Archeological studies have showed the cave has cultural relics of the people from the Son Vi, Hoa Binh and Bac Son civilisations dating back between 7,000 and 13,000 years.
Nation’s first safari park opens in Binh Duong
A first-of-its-kind safari park was inaugurated last week by Dai Nam Joint-stock Corp, the owner of a huge tourism complex in the southern province of Binh Duong.
The 12.5ha open zoo is part of the 450ha Lac Canh Dai Nam Van Hien Entertainment Complex in Thu Dau Mot Town, 40km northwest of HCM City. The park is home to rhinos, white lions, tigers, elephants, bears, ostriches, chamois, zebras, gnus, squirrel-monkeys, and foxes, many of which are not typically found in Viet Nam.
The VND50 billion (US$30 million) park offers more space than regular zoos to animals while humans get to observe them at a closer level. Tran Dang Trung, manager of the park, said deep spaces and various safety methods had been applied to protect visitors.
The zoo is open every day until 9pm, and admission is VND20,000 for adults and VND15,000 for children.
(Source: Viet Nam News)

Touring Halong Bay in one day and more

When deciding to visit Ha Long Bay, the UNESCO World Heritage site in Quang Ninh Province, visitors with a shortage of time could find themselves mesmerized with the beautiful images of the thousands of limestone kasts and islets of the bay, and unsure about the best spots to visit.

The answer is the popular one-day boat tours to enjoy the beautiful islets. There is a four-hour trip to Thien Cung Grotto, Dau Go Cave, Dinh Huong Islet and Ga Choi Islet and an eight-hour trip to Thien Cung Grotto, Dau Go Cave, Dinh Huong Islet, Ga Choi Islet, Sung Sot Grotto and Titov Beach. There is also a two-day and one-night tour which allows for time to go kayaking and cuttle fishing in the bay at night.
On these routes tourists can contemplate the beauty of many of the areas that have contributed to the recognition of Halong Bay, including two of the largest and most beautiful grottos in the bay: Thien Cung (Celestial Palace) grotto (covering 3,000 square meters) and Sung Sot (Surprise) grotto (covering 10,000 square meters).
Both grottos are divided into three chambers containing ornamental stalactites and stalagmites formed millions of years ago. The Sung Sot grotto is also known as “surprise” grotto because its third chamber suddenly opens to a large, monumental palace with natural works of rocks and stalactites.
Dinh Huong Islet, the icon of the bay that resembles an incense burner made of stone, and the Ga Choi Islet, an islet that looks like two fighting cock facing each other are also part of the tour.
After touring these beautiful spots there is time to relax at the beach of Titov Island, about 13 kilometers from Bai Chay Tourist Wharf.
The island was originally named Cat Nang. However, in 1962 President Ho Chi Minh and Russian astronaut Giecman Titov visited the island and Uncle Ho renamed it after the astronaut to mark the visit and the Vietnamese – Russian friendship.
The island offers sun-bathing on a sandy white beach on one side and a climb up to a watch-tower gazebo at about 100 meters above the sea level for a panoramic view of Halong Bay on the other side.
Tourists departing from HCMC could contact Vietravel Tourism Company, 190 Pasteur St., Dist. 3, HCMC, tel: (84.8) 3822 8898. The company offers tours from HCMC to the north, such as Hanoi – Yen Tu – Halong – Tuan Chau – Lao Cai – Sapa, Halong – Lang Son. There is also a new three-day two-night yacht cruise on Halong Bay which includes popular spots in Hanoi in the autumn, the most beautiful time of the year in the north, kayaking and fishing in the bay and spending a night on a three-star yacht. The tour is priced at VND7,859,000 per guest departing every Friday.
(Source: SGT)

Jetstar launches new Bangkok, Siem Reap flights

Jetstar Pacific, Vietnam’s low-cost airline, on October 21 announced the changes to a plan to launch daily direct services from Ho Chi Minh City to Bangkok , Thailand and Siem Reap, Cambodia.

Under the plan, flights from HCM City to Bangkok and Siem Reap will start on December 19 of this year, seven weeks late than scheduled. Jetstar Pacific’s one-way fares on the HCM City to Bangkok route will start from 12 USD and from 40 USD one way to Siem Reap. Jetstar Airlines has made a deal with Bangkok Airways to fly those who already bought fares from HCM City to Bangkok from October 31 to December 18. Those who bought fares from HCM City to Siem Reap from November 3 to December 18 will take flights by Siem Reap Airways.
(Source: VNA)

Vietnam drops plan to organize tourism year 2009

The annual tourism year will not take place in 2009 following a decision from the Government, citing the lack of tourism facilities and the running-out time required for preparation following the refusal of Daklak Province to serve as host for the program.

Under the new decision issued by Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Thien Nhan, the year-long tourism program has been canceled, said Nguyen Manh Cuong, deputy head of the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism under the Ministry of Culture, Sport and Tourism.
Earlier this year, the country’s tourism body chose the Central Highlands province of Dalak as host to the national tourism year in 2009 with an aim to develop the hospitality industry in the high-terrain province and neighboring localities. Main events such as the opening and closing ceremonies were scheduled to take place in Daklak while other neighborly provinces Dak Nong, Kon Tum, Gia Lai and Lam Dong would join forces by organizing a series of festivities throughout the year.
However, only months after it was chosen, Daklak backed off from the position, citing the lack of tourism facilities and money.
“After Daklak withdrew itself from the position, its neighboring province of Gia Lai has sought the national tourism authority’s approval to become host to the events, but now comes the final answer to shelve the tourism year plan,” Cuong told the Daily.
Cuong blamed Daklak for the hiccup in this case, saying the province had abruptly changed the plan although the national tourism authority had asked the province to organize the tourism year much earlier on. Daklak Province’s withdrawal has left the tourism body little time to look for a replacement.
“There is not any similar program to replace the national event but other festivals and events earlier planned to take place in the region during the tourism year will still take place,” Cuong said.
Vietnam’s tourism industry has been making efforts in organizing the national tourism year as a way to attract more tourists, especially international travelers. However, after six years since the first event was launched, such a big name has drawn little attention and proved not attractive.
“We need to think more about the way activities are organized. There seems to have been some wrong approach in choosing main subjects for the national program. We’re just making festivities for locals while the main purpose is to attract foreign tourist,” he said.
To deal with the situation, Cuong said that the country’s tourism body should redress its inappropriate activities, especially the choice of main topics for the program so as to bring out right products and marketing plans to ensure high efficiency for the tourism year.
“We will rethink activities soon, especially after the ministry has asked the tourism authority to make a long-term plan in organizing the tourism years until 2020,” Cuong said.
The national tourism authority has proposed a plan to choose the capital city of Hanoi as host to the tourism year 2010. However, the central Government has not given its final say.
Early this month, Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Thien Nhan has agreed to choose the central province of Phu Yen as home to the national tourism year 2011.
The current national tourism year Mekong Can Tho 2008 is taking place in the Mekong Delta City of Can Tho.
(Source: SGT)

Vietnam’s tourism potentials to be shown in UK

Vietnam’s tourism potentials and landscapes will be introduced to the World Travel Market (WTM) fair scheduled for London, the United Kingdom, from Nov. 10-13.

Visitors will have the opportunity to explore various tourism forms available in Vietnam such as ecotourism, countryside tourism, sea tourism, adventure tourism and cultural tourism as well as its special culinary, said the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism (VNAT) on Oct. 21.Information updates on a series of major tourism events to be hosted by the country in 2009, including the ASEAN Tourism Forum (ATF 09), the Year of Central Highlands Tourism, the Da Lat Flower Festival and activities in the lead up to the 1,000th anniversary of Hanoi-Thang Long will be available at the annual fair.Worthy of note is the ATF 09 that will be held in Vietnam for the first time, expecting to draw 1,500 foreign delegates, including those from 400 travel firms in North America, Europe, Asia and Australia. The future event is seen as a valuable chance for the country to introduce its land, people and culture to international holidaymakers and partners.According to the General Statistics Office, Vietnam welcomed 315,000 foreign tourists in September, bringing the total number in the first nine months of the year to 3.3 million, up 5.8 percent over the same period of 2007. China topped the list of foreign tourists to Vietnam, followed by the Republic of Korea.
(Source: VNA)

Hanoi Travel Guide

Hanoi is Vietnam's capital, lies on the banks of the Red River. It is cosy with tree-lines, boulevards, lakes, parks, French colonial buildings, elegant squares..
As the capital of Vietnam for almost a thousand years, Hanoi is considered to be the cultural centre of Vietnam, where every dynasty has left behind their imprint. Even though some relics have not survived through wars and time, the city still has many interesting cultural and historic monuments for visitors and residents alike.
Hanoi is reknowned for being one of Vietnam's greenest cities, and as well as being covered with trees the centre is dotted with lakes. One of the most beautiful is Hoan Kiem Lake. It is in the historical center of Hanoi, and one of the major scenic spots in the city and serves as a focal point for its public life. West Lake is the largest lake in the northwest center with a perimeter of 17 km. It is an oxbow lake created from a curved part of the Red River.
A variety of options for entertainment in Hanoi can be found throughout the city. Modern and traditional theaters, cinemas, karaoke bars, dance clubs, bowling alleys, and an abundance of opportunities for shopping provide leisure activity for both locals and tourists.
Unique to Hanoi is the chance to watch 'Mua roi nuoc', Vietnamese water puppetry. Mua roi nuoc literally means "puppets that dance on water." The tradition dates back as far as the tenth century when it originated in the Red River Delta area of northern Vietnam. When the rice fields would flood the villages, villagers would entertain each other using this puppet form. The puppets are built out of wood and the shows are performed in a waist-deep pool. A large rod supports the puppet under the water and is used by the puppeteers to control them. The appearance is of the puppets moving over the water. When the rice fields would flood the villagers, would entertain each other using this puppet form. Eventually, villages would compete against each other with their puppet shows. This led puppet societies to be secretive and exclusive, including an initiation ceremony that involved drinking rooster blood. Only recently were women allowed to join the puppet troupes.

Halong Bay Travel Guide

Perhaps one of the most iconic features of Vietnam, Ha Long Bay is a breathtaking location like no other. With as many a 2,000 limestone islands and rocks, covered with wildlife and filled with caves and grottoes, its UNESCO world heritage status is well deserved.
A place that must be seen to be seen to be believed, Halong Bay has risen to become one of Vietnam's most popular tourist destinations, and is likely to be voted #1 in the New 7 Wonders Of the World.
Most visitors get a bus to Halong from Hanoi, before embarking on a boat trip of 2-3 days, where they can sleep on a junk boat, swim in the waters and go kayaking or canoeing. The quality of tour does vary (you do get what you pay for!) but even the bargain trips aren't bad, as you can quite happily spend your day looking at the beautiful scenery and ignoring the less beautiful boat you're sat on.
Don't be put off when you first arrive in Halong by the sheer number of tourists - most of the tours set off at the same time and it will appear very crowded, but soon after leaving the docks the boats split up and head off in different directions - it may not seem it at first but it soon becomes a very peaceful journey as its not hard for the boats to hide behind one of the thousands of islands.
One interesting feature of Halong bay is the floating villages you will see nestling in the sheltered bays between the stones. These ingenious construction allow landless people to farm fish - each house will be built on planks bordering nets where they raise fish, crabs and shrimp in the sea water below.

Da Lat Travel Guide

Dalat is a hilly romantic city with a cool 'western' climate. The French named the city Dalat from the latin 'Dat Aliis Laetitiam Aliis Temperiem' ("Giving Pleasure to Some, Freshness to Others", and it is commonly known as 'the City of Eternal Spring', which has made it a popular destinations for holiday makers who want to beat the heat, and for Vietnamese couples, for whom it is known as the city of love.
The average temperature is is 17°C, and does not exceed 25°C in the hottest season. Early mornings, the city arises to mystic fog over the lake. Its temperate climate is ideal for agriculture. It provides most of flowers and vegetables for the massive southern markets. Dalat is also very well-known for many sorts of orchids as well as pine forests. Travellers who have been away for a long time find it a very familiar climate and it is not a bad place for those who are missing home.
The Lang Bain mountain is 2169m above sea level and is the highest mountain in the Southern Vietnam. It is not only visited for its stunning vistas of the surrounding areas but also for its abundant wildlife.
Truc Lam Pagoda is the second biggest Zen centre in Vietnam after the original one in Yen Tu Mountain, Ha Long city. It is surrounded by Tuyen Lam lake and pine forests.
Bao Dai-the last emperor had three summer palaces built on hills with views in every side.It is a bit modern for palace. All his belongs were moved but there are a massive impressive dinning
It is quite easy to get here, there are daily direct flights from both Saigon and Hanoi. Also the regular buses run every two hours and take 6 hours from Ho Chi Minh. The best time to visit is November to May, it is less rain and good temperature. It is a great place to rent a bike of your own to explore the hills, or you could take on one of the 'Easy Riders' who have earnt a great reputation as excellent guides to explore the area and Vietnam as a whole.

Vung Tau Travel Guide

While Vung Tau may not be my favourite place in Vietnam, it makes for a very quick escape from the city. With a ticket on the hydrofoil from Ho Chi Minh City costing just over $10 and taking just over an hour you can escape the big smoke and be on the beach long before you go stir crazy.
Despite a slightly seedy reputation (famous for being the place where they caught Gary Glitter) its not a bad place to get away when you're short on time and can't face the journey to Mui Ne. Once a popular destination for the colonial French the town is overlooked by a huge statue of Jesus on top of a nearby hill, similar to the one that looks out over Brazil.
The town itself looks out onto a pretty harbour full of brightly painted blue fishingboats typical of southern Viet Nam.
To the right of the bay is a road that snakes around the coast beneath Jesus' feet, leading to a huge long beach bustling with fellow escapees from Saigon, where there are many restaurants, cafes and hotels.
If you follow the road to the right you will find a far quieter bay, with two huge statues on the hill - one of Mary holding Jesus, and further down the coast a huge statue of Buddha.
Food, drink and accomodation in Vung Tau is all pretty cheap and there are some great deals to be had. There is also a wide range of accommodation from high quality hotels to cheap guesthouses and homestays which can be had for under $10 a night.

Saigon Travel Guide

While it may not be the capital of Vietnam politically, you only need to spend a short time in Saigon to see how it the pace of change in the south is shaping the country. The largest city in the country, with over 6 million inhabitants (and over 8 if you count temporary residents), Saigon is a crowded, fast, noisy, and overwhelming place at first. Dig a little deeper, though, and you'll find there is an energy and vibrancy to the city that can be very infectious.
Brimming with life, Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC or Saigon as the majority of its residents still call it) offers a great deal for travellers and expatriates alike. There's a great deal to see and do, and no shortage of delicious treats to eat, whether at top restaurants or equally delicious street stalls for a couple of dollars.
The pace of change in the city is staggerring - on a daily basis buildings are pulled down so newer, shinier ones can be errected in their place. In around ten years the city went from a city of 3,000,000 bicycles to 5,000,000 motorbikes, leading the Saigon's very unique brand of traffic. Now car use is on the rise gridlock threatens to set in, but it is yet another reminder of how fast lives are changing in HCMC, and how more and more people are working their way out of poverty.
Yet with a closer look you can find beautiful old buildings as well as striking new ones, cool, calm cafes with gardens that are set back from the road to give you a moments rest from the madness outside, relaxing spas and cool pools to swim in.
There's also a number of great day trips that can be done from the site, whether to Tay Ninh mountain and the Cao Dai temples in the North West, the famous Cu Chi Tunnels where the resistance launched sneak attacks on the US forces based in Saigon, boat trips to Vung Tau, the Mekong Delta or to Can Gio, the huge area of mangrove swamps to the south, known as 'the lungs of the city'.

Nha Trang Travel Guide

Nha Trang, a university town at the mouth of a beautiful bay with a huge sweeping beach, is possibly one of my favourite places in Vietnam - one day I plan to live there!
As a beach destination it takes some beating, with delicious restaurants, great bars, beautiful diving and crystal clear water. There are boat trips out to the islands for divers and non-divers alike, snorkelling and fishing trips and if its a little chilly you can go and bathe in the hot springs.
More recently there has been an explosion in watersports, with catamarans, jet skis and paragliding available for hire on the beach, as well as kayaks, windsurfers and bodyboards.
Yet unlike other beach destinations in Viet Nam it offers a lot more - with a popular university as well as training for Vietnam's Navy the town has a distinct character of its own.
It's a great place to hire a bike and cruise up and down the boulevard that lines the seafront on a bright breezy day - its very popular with the students in the evenings too!
Things to do in Nha Trang
Have an evening cocktail on the roof of the Sunrise Hotel
Go for a dive or snorkel and see the array of beautiful fish in the waters
Spend a lazy day at the Louisiane Brewhouse eating cake, swimming in their pool and drinking fresh beer
Visit the Thap Ba hot springs, get covered in mud and bathe in a pool sized 38C bath before having a very good value massage
Hire a motorbike or motorbike taxi (xe om) and ride up the coast past the town to one of the spectacular seafood restaurants at the waters edge for great food and a fantastic view back on Nha Trang
Head back down the other way and up the hill to Bao Dai's palace for some culture and more great views (Bao Dai was a collaborator king of Vietnam during the French occupation)
Visit the Cham temples - remnants of an anchient Indian civilization that colonized much of South Vietnam and Cambodia ~500AD
Take the cable car across to the island for a day at an off the wall theme park
Swim!
Eat drink and be merry - as well as hundreds of good restaurants and bars catering to the tourists, there are many local specialities to try. Some of my favourites are fresh fish at a barbeque restaurant and Nem Nuong... mmm nem nuong...
Have a civilized meal at the Sailing Club in the evening, before returning later on for some decidedly uncivilized dancing

Hue Travel Guide

Hue is the ancient capital of Imperial Vietnam, where the Nguyen Lords based their government during their reign over Vietnam between the 17th and 19th century. It remained the national capital until 1945, when Bao Dai (the collaborator king) escaped into exile and Ho Chi Minh declared independance from France in Hanoi.
As a result the city of Hue and its surroundings are covered with impressive monuments, temples and palaces. Despite suffering from its central position during the Vietnamese/American War it truely deserves its status as a UNESCO World Heritage site, as everywhere you go there are impressive buildings jumping out of the countryside - to say nothing of the imperial palace of Hue itself.
While the city of Hue is developing, the residents of Hue are reknowned for their traditionalism - even the young feel it is their duty to preserve Hue's customs, traditions and architecture for generations to come. They are known throughout Vietnam for the way they speak Vietnamese, their traditional style of dress and their food, which without a doubt is some of the best Vietnam has to offer.
The emperors used to demand the very best delicacies, and thousands of special dishes were developed to satisfy their tastes. The result is a huge selection of light, delicate and immaculately crafted dishes, designed to allow the emperor to eat at leisure, each one unique, and deliciously individual yet not so heavy as to prevent him trying more dishes.
The city is split by the Perfume River, with the imperial city and markets to the North and the newer buildings of the city of Hue to the South. Hue remains a relatively small town, and getting around is easy enough, whether by bicycle, cyclo or motorbike. (though thankfully motorised vehicles are banned from inside the Imperial city)
While the Imperial city is a fantastic place to explore, your visit to Hue would not be complete if you didn't explore the huge array of tombs, temples and ruins in the countryside. The best way to explore is to hop on the back of a motorbike and let the driver take you to his favourite sights - as you pass through the countryside you will see many more beautiful old building leap out of the paddy fields.
You can also spend a beautiful day taking a boat trip up the river, and while it is possible to see several monuments and pagodas from the water's side, we highly recommend joining a motorbike driver for a drive once you have made your way up the river, to see more of the scenery. The countryside around Hue is stunning and made all the more magical for the sights you will encounter.

Hoian Travel Guide

Hoi An is a charming little riverside town famed for its beautiful old buildings, its narrow, quiet streets and its history as a merchant trading post. As the citizens of the town grew richer from trading with China, Japan and the rest of Southeast Asia, they spent their money on building attractive houses and pagodas.
It is now one of the most popular tourist destinations in Vietnam, and rightfully so. The architecture in the town is beautiful, the atmosphere relaxed and the food fantastic. There is a long beach not far from the town and plenty of shops and tailors within the town that encourage travellers to stay for a while.
Despite the high numbers of tourists Hoi An manages to retain its charm - perhaps many of them stay hidden away inside the many hotels and resorts that fill the town. The main evidence is the number of shops and tailors lining the central streets, but even this doesn't detract too much from the atmosphere.
In fact, many people come to Hoi An specifically for the tailors - reknowned throughout Viet Nam for their skill and value for money, they can produce just about any garment to order, be it a suit from $50, a copy of your favourite piece of clothing or a reproduction of a dress from a photo in a magazine.
The tailors are great value but it does pay to look around - examine the quality of the samples in their shop, and try visiting stores a little further away from the main tourist streets.
There are also a number of workshops in Hoi An for people who would like to learn to cook Vietnamese food, or perhaps to make their own silk lantern in the Hoi An style, which you can take home as gifts for friends and families.
Most of all though you can find a lot of pleasure in strolling around the quiet streets (as motorbikes and cars are banned from many of them), sitting quietly by the river, visiting museums and merchants houses and generally taking life at a slower pace than you might elsewhere in the country.

A natural man-made park

Just four kilometers away from the heart of the famous resort town of Da Lat, the Doi Mong Mo(Hills of dreams) Tourist Park is a surprisingly efficient, symbolic marriage of culture and nature.

The retreat has hundreds of bonsai and flowers that are gorgeous and will never fail to strike admiration in every heart, but it is a host of cultural replicas scattered throughout the park that catch the eye.
The Great Wall of China is 6,700 kilometers long from east to west, 1,000 kilometers at its highest point and has existed for over two centuries.
Mong Mo Hill presents a two-kilometer long version of this amazing monument that offers visitors a chance to reflect on the real history that happened far away, a long time ago, aided by that well known Vietnamese saying: Bat dao truong thanh phi hao han (One cannot be a hero if one has never set foot on the Great Wall).
The park is at its best early in the morning, it seems, as one listens to the real sounds of the artificial waterfall, and observes a flock of pigeons perched on a 300-year-old house transported from central Binh Dinh Province.
Other park attractions include a stage for cong chieng (gong) shows that are performed by the ethnic minority from the plateau every weekend.
At the end of some stone steps is the wine cellar displaying a variety of ruou can (fermented rice wine that’s sipped from a ceramic jar through long bamboo straws).
Local wines are on sale here for souvenir shopping, or visitors may pause at the rattan table and chairs for a cup of wine before continuing their walk.
A few houses on stilts, museums in their own right, including a traditional brewery where visitors can get a first-hand look at how locals make their wine and catch warm wine drops from a large brewing pot, offer other opportunities to relax and unwind.
Reported by Thuy Nhien

Cafe cinema

Though not the only cafe in town that’s now screening movies, M&M Saigon is a new kind of Vietnamese café. (Among the dozens of modern Ho Chi Minh City cafés, M&M Saigon in District 10 stands out for its distinctive mini-movie theater.)

Located amid the bridal shops of Ba Thang Hai Street, the new M&M Saigon Cafe is not just a place for coffee, but also for classic films like “Gone with the Wind” and “Breakfast at Tiffany’s.”
The cafe in District 10 opened late last month and features a mini-cinema. The cafe selects films to screen and customers can also bring their own DVDs, but must sign up at least one day in advance.
Screenings are often spontaneous and not scheduled for specific times, so show up early and request one.
Phuong, the cafe’s 26-year-old owner, says, “The cafe is new and doesn’t have the most convenient location, but I think its originality can still draw customers.”
The decor is a cozy blend of unassuming reds and yellows with an array of decorative plants. The cafe is spacious and airy with plenty of room between tables so customers can talk freely and privately without disturbing others nearby.
Patrons can adjust the brightness of their own table lamp and an employee is always on duty in the cinema.
M&M Saigon Cafe devotes one Sunday a month to showing children’s films from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
M&M Saigon Cafe serves a wide range of beverages and ice-cream, including vanilla, caramel and almond-flavored mochas. Its fruit juices are blended with fresh milk from Australia. Most beverages cost between VND30,000 and 40,000 (US$1.90-2.50).
The cafe also serves office lunches from Monday to Friday at VND28,000 ($1.80) per helping.
Reported by Diem Thu

Tourism emerges as spearhead economic sector

The tourism sector promises to become a spearhead of the economy, with its continual growth over recent years. ( Despite the difficulties faced by both the local and global economy, more than 3.3 million foreign visitors arrived in Vietnam in the first nine months of the year, a year-on-year increase of 6 percent.)

Despite the difficulties faced by both the local and global economy, more than 3.3 million foreign visitors arrived in Vietnam in the first nine months of the year, a year-on-year increase of 6 percent. The number is expected to hit 5 million by the end of the year, bringing in 5 billion USD. The names of Vietnam and its tourism attractions have become familiar in regional and world tourism contests, ranging from natural beauty to hotel services. The government also pins its hope on the non-smoke industry, with the national plan of action for tourism in the 2006-2010 period setting the goal of turn the country into a first-class tourism destination in the region.According to the Head of the Travel Department of the Viet Nam Administration of Tourism Vu The Binh, the sector is investing heavily in human resources and infrastructure to meet this target. Tourism promotion activities have also been increased. Beside organising tourism events in the country and attending events abroad, the sector has launched advertisements on local and foreign television stations like VTV, CNN and BBC.
However, experts call for a “coordinator” to put an end to the spread investment in the sector.All 63 provinces and cities nationwide are spending big money on promoting tourism but their actions lack clear and long-term planning as well as cooperation on large scale. As a result, the rate of return on investment is low and growth is unsustainable.
(Source: VNA)

Duong Lam Commune a ‘sleeping beauty’

Duong Lam Commune in Son Tay Township of Ha Noi is not well known as a tourist destination, despite having hundreds of well preserved ancient houses and 16 historic relics - of which seven are recognised as national historic monuments.

Duong Lam Commune was having trouble attracting tourists because of poor promotion and lack of services, said Pham Hung Son, head of the Management Board of Duong Lam Ancient Village.
The commune is home to over 900 old houses, 57 of which are more than 200 years old. But it is still a "sleeping beauty", according to Son.

The board has organised training courses on tourism services, instructing 10 tourist guides and 10 owners of ancient houses on how to communicate with tourists. However, these tourist guides only accompany groups of tourists, while those who travel alone have no guide.
Residents say they also lack the skills needed to run a tourist enterprise successfully.
"Many visitors complain that when they visit ancient houses, the owners ask them to give money for the ancestral altar," said Son.
Ha Nguyen Huyen, owner of a 200-year-old house in Duong Lam Village, said that many residents of the village still do not know how to do business properly.
"Local authorities keep encouraging us to foster tourism in the village, but we have never been in the industry before. We cannot do it without instructions and training," said Huyen.
Son said that the number of visitors to the village has been decreasing recently. Last year, the average number of visitors to the commune every day was about 300 people, but now it is only about 40 people per day.
"Although the board has boosted advertising activities and co-operation with tourism companies, the situation has not improved," said Son.
Meanwhile, Hoi An City in Quang Nam Province - considered one of the top destinations in Viet Nam and also a preserved ancient town - regularly attracts 800 visitors a day, according to statistics supplied by the Department of Trade and Commerce in the city.
Besides various tourism services and activities, residents of the city are encouraged to attract visitors with their hospitality.
"Visitors can come and have a look in our stores, even if they don’t buy anything they will receive a friendly and warm attitude from us," said Nguyen Thu Thuy, owner of a fabric shop in Hoi An City.
Nguyen Van Lanh, head of the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism in Hoi An City, said that the city’s tourism sector was fully aware that fostering tourism is based on human factors.
"Since 1993 the city has waged campaigns to encourage residents, especially those involved in the tourism sector, to develop a civilised attitude as an important skill toward attracting visitors," said Lanh.
The Duong Lam Village management board has so far failed to encourage local residents to embrace such a scheme.
"We can still make ends meet whether tourism is developed or not," said Huyen.
In February, the board started selling tickets to visitors to Duong Lam, which, according to Son, was to finance the preservation and restoration of ancient houses in the village. But, owners say, they have yet to receive a cent.
"The management board promised that owners of ancient houses would receive part of the profits, but until now we have received nothing," said Huyen.
Every day, families in the village who own ancient homes have to prepare drinks and clean their houses to welcome tourists. But they have not yet been paid.
"In the long term, we residents cannot continue this without being paid. Authorities should consider us if they want to develop tourism in the area," Huyen said.
(Source: Viet Nam News)

A temple to honor the kings of Ly dynasty

Located in Dinh Bang Village in Tu Son District of Bac Ninh Province, 20 kilometers from Hanoi, Do Temple or Ly Bat De (Eight Kings of Ly Dynasty) Temple honoring the eight kings of the Ly Dynasty (1009–1225) in Vietnamese history has an important role in the spiritual life of Vietnamese people with its richness in Vietnamese culture.

In fact the Ly Dynasty has eight kings and one queen, but the queen, Ly Chieu Hoang, the last of the dynasty, was worshiped at Rong (Dragon) Temple, two kilometers west of Do Temple.
The Ly Dynasty originally originated in Dinh Bang (Co Phap) Village, one of the oldest villages in the north.
According to Dai Viet Su Ky Toan Thu, a famous book about Vietnamese history written by many generations of Vietnamese historians in the feudal time, Do Temple was built in 1019 by the first king of the Ly Dynasty, Ly Cong Uan or Ly Thai To and was enlarged by his son Ly Thai Tong in 1030. The temple was used by Ly Thai To to meet the people to ask about their opinions on plans to safeguard the country.
The Temple was built on an elevated area of land of 31,250 square meters. It is surrounded by high walls and more than 20 architectural works and is divided to two parts: inner city and outer city.
Access to the inner city is through the Ngu Long (five dragons) gate, which is skillfully carved, and then to Tien Te House, the shrine to worship the first king.
Hanging on the left side of the shrine is the royal proclamation of the moving of the capital city from Hoa Lu to Thang Long (Hanoi) of King Ly Cong Uan. The proclamation has 214 words corresponding to 214 years of rule by the eight Ly kings. The 180 square-meter Co Phap Dien shrine is the site of many relics including ancestral altars, the thrones and the statues of the eight kings and a shrine to worship the kings’ wives, among others.
In the outer city is a half–moon shaped lake with a floating pavilion and Van chi and Vo chi houses. The lake and the floating pavilion, on an area of 9,500 square meters, served as a place for the mandarins to watch water puppetry. An image of this architectural construction was printed on the banknotes of the Bank of Indochina. Van chi and Vo chi houses are places to worship the civil mandarins (van chi) and military mandarins (vo chi) who are greatly respected by the country.
A special tour guide works at Do Temple: Nguyen Duc Thin is a member of the management board of Do Temple, a son of Dinh Bang Village, a labor hero and people’s teacher. Thin has a strong attachment with his homeland and a thorough knowledge of the temple. He guides visitors to the antique and very precious stone stele recording the restoration of the temple by King Le Kinh Tong (1605) on the eastern side of Do Temple.
In 1952, the temple was destroyed by the French army and was restored in 1989 and Thin, who was at that time a member in the teenage guerilla army of Dinh Bang Village in the war against the French, witnessed the French using this stele as a shooting target.
Also on show are photographs taken by Thin and other tourists at Do Temple depicting a strange phenomenon of a cloud formation of a group of people at the head of the temple, which are believed by the locals as the manifestation of the Ly kings in the temple.
A traditional Do Temple festival annually celebrated by the locals on the 15th, 16th and 17th day of the third lunar month to commemorate the coronation of Ly Cong Uan attracts thousands of pilgrims every year.
(Source: SGT)

Facing modernity

The brick-lined alleys of Duong Lam Village look much like they did hundreds of years ago.

For residents of Duong Lam Village on the outskirts of Hanoi, the red hue of hundreds of centuries-old laterite houses in the narrow alleyways snaking through their village represents tradition and culture.
The village has been farming rice for over 1,000 years. Communal houses with tiled roofs and stone walls, used for meetings, create an atmosphere that captures the closeness of small communities of the past centuries.
Duong Lam Village was founded some 1,200 years ago, with most local houses erected around 400 years ago. Located in the city of Son Tay, 45 kilometers from the capital, the village became a National Heritage site in 2006 – the only village in the nation that has received such an honor.
A local resident washes his clothes by the pond.
Large earthen jars store soybeans for the purpose of making soy sauce, a traditional village trade.
Bicyclists in a narrow alleyway lined with antique houses, against a backdrop of new modern homes that are changing the soul of the village.
The village covers nine hamlets, including five – Doai Giap, Dong Sang, Cam Thinh, Cam Lam and Mong Phu – that are interconnected with one another. Mong Phu is the most renowned hamlet, hosting a total of 13 historic residences.
According to some residents, the village’s unique architecture originates from its proximity to two laterite deposits in the Red River Delta, specifically in Ha Tay Province and Bac Ninh Province. The soil is very hard to excavate, but when used for construction purposes, grows thicker and stronger as time goes by. Villagers built their houses, temple walls, gates and wells out of laterite.
A typical laterite house in Duong Lam has a gate constructed resembling the curves of a basket. On rainy days, water would pours into the front yard before reaching the drainage system.
House owners believe the water brings good fortune.
Many of the village’s alleyways are cul-de-sacs, designed to prevent thieves and robbers from escaping. Each residence includes a secret door that leads to the hamlet’s communal house.
Today, urbanization has gradually replaced these ancient structures with high-rise buildings and apartment blocks, as the number of laterite houses in the village continues to decrease. According to Ha Tay Province’s Department of Culture and Information, Duong Lam Village had about 800 historic houses left as of May 2006, of which 140 are more than a century old.
Another report by the village People’s Committee released recently announced there are only 300 laterite residences remaining, with two being at least 300 years of age.
Some families in the village have tried hard to preserve their laterite houses, save the symbolic soul of the community.
Among the local activists are the relatives of Ha Nguyen Huyen, an editor who works for well-known literary journal Van Nghe newspaper.
Though he works in Hanoi, Huyen makes weekly trips to the village to visit his mother and four siblings who make a living selling a kind of sweet soy sauce – a traditional local cuisine.
Living in one of the ancient laterite residences, the family offers tourists home-stays, homemade meals and bicycle rides to visit the area’s famous destinations: Mia Pagoda, Phung Hung Temple and the tomb of King Ngo Quyen.
However, while most residents know their houses’ historic values, several emphasize how living in antique homes poses awkward difficulties.
“With some houses seriously deteriorated and suffering problems ranging from dim lighting to termites, it is a question of safety for those who live inside,” a resident named Phuc said. “Our children want newer houses.”
Phuc also emphasized that it is somewhat awkward for tourists to see residents of these ancient houses use modern appliances; for example, a desktop computer.
Moreover, residents complain they have received almost no support from the government to preserve their ancient houses, while it’s estimated that between 300 and 500 tourists visit the village daily. Tourist tickets cost about VND15,000 per head.
“It doesn’t make sense for us to stay at home, greet tourists daily, prepare tea and receive nothing,” another resident said, adding that only a handful of ancient houses have been renovated with outside help.
Recently, the local government designated the five interconnected hamlets as top priorities for preservation efforts.
But while images of laterite houses in small alleyways and residents draining water from the hamlets’ wells conjure an idyllic view of Vietnam’s countryside, they may all soon disappear.

Reported by Thu Hien