A glimpse of Bac Me

If you travel on National Road 34 from Ha Giang to Cao Bang Municipality, do not forget to drop by Bac Me to view the fascinating landscape of the Gam River and visit places of interest in the northern locality. (A scene view of Bac Me Town and the Gam River.)

Situated more than 60 kilometers from Ha Giang Municipality, Bac Me is a quiet town thriving on the left bank of the Gam River, and is striking enough to tempt passers-by to stop at its historical and cultural attractions.
Cang Bac Me, or Bac Me Prison, nestled in a forest of old trees, is a destination for those who want to look back into history to the time when the French ruled the region. Historical documents say the French used Cang Bac Me as a military base before 1938 but then converted it into a prison for revolutionaries.
The prison in Yen Cuong Commune is surrounded by a stone wall of some 190 meters long and two meters high. Though the watch tower and other components of the national historical site were restored five years ago, many ruins remain, giving visitors a glimpse of the hard life of the revolutionaries.
Cang Bac Me has more to offer. As the site is perched on the side of mountains and overlooks the Gam River, it becomes a place of choice for relaxing at a destination of beautiful mountain and water landscape.
The Gam River itself is a wonder that the Nature Mother has given to Bac Me and other parts of northern Vietnam. The river runs along the National Road 34 section of Bac Me District in Ha Giang Province and weaves its ways through mountains and hills, carving stones along its banks into art works of different shapes. The riverside scenery is beautified by terraced paddy fields and old trees standing straight or falling across either of the banks.
The best place to view and take pictures of Bac Me Town is a slope which is about 500 meters from Ha Giang Town. There, the scenery is like a painting, with red-roof houses partly hidden behind branches of old trees, mountains silhouetted in the clear water of the Gam River and boats arriving and leaving the wharf near the town.
Travelers who have negotiated the bumpy road from Bac Me to Bao Lac are rewarded with the beauty of the scenic riverside. On the road sections under construction, friendly local people smile at the passers-by and herds of butterflies in different colors fly out from bushes and the river to greet them.
In Bac Me, there is a plan to develop a tourist complex comprising of Cang Bac Me as well as Dan Cum and Na Chao caves as a destination with both historical and archeological attractions.
Archeologists have found tools and artefacts believed to be used by the people who had lived in the region more than 10,000 years ago.
(Source: SGT)

Worshipping open-mindedness in a temple visit

Ho Chi Minh City ( HCMC) is one of the most desirable destinations in Vietnam, having attracted thousands of visitors and immigrants who bring with them their own customs, mores and beliefs. (Foreigners visit Lady Thien Hau Temple.)

The city features a number of impressive buildings reflecting this blend of Vietnamese, Chinese and European cultures. One example is Cho Lon in HCMC’s District 5, also known as Chinatown, where the Lady Thien Hau Temple is a popular venue for worship by the Chinese community.
As such, the Lady Thien Hau Temple is a worthwhile stop on any tour of Chinatown in HCMC. At this temple visitors can learn more about the confluence of the Taoist, Confucian and Buddhist religions, and how they relate to the moral values of present daily life.
The temple, located at 710 Nguyen Trai Street in District 5, was built in 1760 in typical Chinese architectural style by a group of Chinese from Guangdong, Guangzhou and Fujian. It was restored in the 1800s and again in 1916. The inner temple is for worship and the outer area is for sacrifices.
The temple commemorates Lady Thien Hau, the Goddess of the Sea, who was born in China on March 23 of the lunar year in AD 940, and passed away in September 9 of lunar year. Legend tells that in her sleep her spirit flew to the sea and at the sight of endangered sinking vessels the goddess flew to the sailors and saved them. She was thus worshipped as the protector of the Chinese fishermen.
Later, in the 17th century during the mass evacuation of Chinese from mainland China to Vietnam the Chinese prayed to Thien Hau for her magic power to guide them and upon safe landing they collected money and gold to build temples dedicated to her to thank her for her protection. One temple is in Hoi An and the other is the temple in Cho Lon, HCMC. The temples tell stories about gratitude.
After viewing the main chamber where the statues of Lady Thien Hau, her mother and her sister are seated, one can look up and see spiral incense hanging from the ceiling. To show respect, an old man beats the drum every time a donation is made as recognition of a good deed. This custom was brought to the temple by Taoists.
The figurines on the walls of the temple decorated with turquoise tile pieces are evidence of how the Chinese pay tribute to great men. They represent national heroes, a king, a scholar or mandarin, the temple’s founders, an old man, a rich person and a wood cutter.
The Chinese and Vietnamese have long practiced indiscriminate worshipping. Little time and energy is spent differentiating which is Buddhist and which is Taoist. Meanwhile, the influence of Confucianism is reflected in the philosophy of the five moral teachings, Righteousness, Benevolence, Courtesy, Wisdom and Faithfulness, which are still performed in their ways of living.
In other words, worshippers here pay their respect to the gods and goddesses, lead a good life and accumulate fortune for the future and for their children’s heritage.
The annual Lady Thien Hau Temple festival is on the 23rd day of the third lunar month on the occasion of the Lady’s birthday anniversary. The festival attracts both Vietnamese and Chinese Buddhists to raise their prayers to the Lady.
(Source: SGT)

Huge resort project gets going

A resort project worth a staggering US$8 billion in Quang Nam Province will still get moving ahead after comments from relevant ministries, despite earlier concerns about the viability of this mammoth project.
Provincial authorities have heard positive opinions about the Dragon Beach resort project from six ministries, and have asked the investors to make amendments as required, said Dinh Van Thu, vice chairman of the province.
“The ministries have given good comments on the project,” Thu told the Daily on Tuesday, explaining that the ministries have asked the investors to clarify some key factors such as investment capacity and environmental impacts.
Two American investors from California – Tano Captial, LLC and Global C&D, Inc. – have joined forces to set up the Dragon Beach Company to develop the resort complex of the same name.
The province, upon these comments, has requested the U.S investors make changes to the project’s development plan, he said.
Thu said that the provincial Department of Planning and Investment had met with the investors to talk about the new requests, and the investors were in the process to do so to complete procedures for the project.
Each of the two founding companies has a chartered capital of US$50 million and has submitted papers to verify their financial capacity. However, the ministries have also requested investors to prove the investment capacity to make sure that they can build the big-scale project.
The tourism-entertainment complex, to be located on 400 hectares in Dien Duong Commune in Dien Ban District, will feature many luxury facilities including hotels, resorts, international conference centers, entertainment facilities as well as slot machines for foreigners.
“We (the provincial government) will give an investment certificate if the ministries’ demands are met,” he said. In September, Quang Nam Province passed the project dossiers to relevant ministries for consultation before giving an investment certificate to the company.
In the original plan, the investors wanted to develop casino services there. However, the Prime Minister rejected this request by the investors because casino is a highly-conditional service that requires strict criteria.
(Source: SGT)

PM approves upgrade of Phu Quoc int’l airport

The Prime Minister has approved the development plan of Phu Quoc International Airport in the resort Phu Quoc island in southern Kien Giang province till 2020 with orientation to 2030.(Phu Quoc island)

Under the plan, the airport will be upgraded to meet the grade 4E standards of the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) and the second level for a military airport with a combined capital of 16 trillion VND (941.1 million USD). By 2020, the airport will be capable of receiving B767 and B747-400 planes with a runway of 3,000m x 45 m. The airport’s annual capacity is projected to reach 2.5 million passengers by 2020 and 7 million passengers by 2030, while its cargo throughput is designed at 14,300 tonnes a year by 2020 and 27,600 tonnes by 2030.
(Source: VNA)

Trying biking tours in the heart of Mekong Delta

Biking is an interesting and authentic way to explore the countryside in Vietnam. Victoria Can Tho Resort has recently launched a new selection of biking tours to offer its guests the opportunity to discover daily life in the heart of the Mekong Delta region. (Expat guests biking in the Mekong Delta.)

The adventurous trips lead riders through a series of small paths, luscious green fields and tropical fruit orchards with the resort’s own fleet of quality mountain bikes.
The biking routes range from 57 to 87 kilometers with a choice of different itineraries and are suitable for most people with normal fitness levels. Highlights include small river crossings on local boats, handicraft and rice paper making villages and the famous little town of Sa Dec, where Marguerite Duras, a French author of the well-known novel The Lover, spent her childhood.
Guests who wish to extend their biking tour with a luxurious treat can opt for the Can Tho – Long Xuyen – Chau Doc itinerary, mixing biking and cruising aboard our converted traditional rice barge, Le Jarai.
They will be able to feast on a freshly prepared lunch, enjoy massages, cooking class or even sunbath on the upper deck while relaxing in the tranquility of the Mekong.
For a more cultural experience, the Long Xuyen – Chau Doc route will take guests through small provincial towns to see Cham villages as well as Muslim mosques near the Cambodian border, renowned for an eclectic mix of Cham, Khmer, Chinese and Vietnamese cultures.
Victoria Can Tho offers biking tours at prices starting from US$97 per person upwards, including professional mountain bikes, safety helmets, a repair kit and a supporting mini van at disposal at all times.

Members of USTOA, who represent the entire spectrum of vacation packages and tours available, are required to adhere to strict code of ethics in order to maintain the highest standards of professionalism and services, as well as demonstrate ethical and financial responsibility in their business conduct.
(Source: SGT)