Poor mountainous provinces to tap tourism potential

Representatives from the eight northwestern mountainous provinces met in the resort town of Sa Pa in Lao Cai province on November 14 to examine ways to develop the tourism market by promoting the natural beauty of the area and the unique local tribal cultures.

Sapa town, Lao Cai Province

A famous tourist attraction in North Vietnam

They acknowledged that all of these attractions could lure foreign tourists but are not made the most of, while poor regional infrastructure, particularly sub-standard transport connections from Hanoi , remains a huge obstacle to the success of the hospitality industry in the region. The meeting was wrapped up with the signing of an agreement of cooperation, focusing on policy-making in relation to local tourism management and development, promoting tourist products and services, advertising and the development of local human resources. The northwestern region includes Lao Cai, Yen Bai, Phu Tho, Ha Giang, Lai Chau, Dien Bien, Son La and Hoa Binh provinces.
(Source: VNA)

Food for a moon god

Of all the festivals in the Mekong Delta, the Khmer Ok-OmBok Festival is arguably the biggest and most anticipated. ( A Khmer woman prepare com dep, a Mekong Delta traditional dish, at the Ok-Om-Bok Festival in Soc Trang Province)

The annual event falls in the middle of lunar October in southern Soc Trang Province, where the largest Khmer ethnic minority community and the majority of Khmer pagodas are concentrated.
The festival is a jubilant time for worshiping the God of the Moon and also a time to pray for good crops, prosperity, and a happy life.
Participants take part in activities such as releasing paper lanterns and ngo boat racing. On the eve of the festival, people display a tray with offerings to the moon god such as flowers, fruits, lamps, and com dep (a glutinous rice dish made with coconut flesh and sugar).
Com dep is a common but indispensable dish included in a tray of offerings.
The newly-harvested rice grains that still contain milk are roasted in an earthen pot, stirred continuously until crispy, and then put into a mortar to be pounded with a wooden pestle which is about 1.5 meters long.
Traditionally, a young man and woman pound the grains together. The couple stands face to face, holding a pestle in one hand and a stick in the other. They use the pestle to flatten the grains and use the stick to remove them from the pestle.
The tradition, however, has faded over time and nowadays, tourists can see two women pounding the grains or they can try it out themselves.
When the husks of the grains come off, other people sieve the flattened cores of the grains to separate them from the husks and dust.
When visiting the Ok-Om-Bok Festival, tourists will likely be invited to eat com dep. The Khmer people believe the glutinous rice dish is an invaluable gift from the God of the Moon, so they enjoy sharing the delicious dish with others.
Reported by Diem Thu

National Geographic: Hanoi’s old quarter and Hoi An in 110 historic places

Every five years, the American-reputed magazine, National Geographic, releases its ranked list of 110 historic destinations in the world. From Vietnam, Hanoi’s Old Quarter and the ancient town of Hoi An are both on the list.

(Hoi An ancient town)

This year, the number-one destinations on the list include Wachau valley and Welk monastery (Austria), Rideau Canal (Canada), Ghent City (Belgium), and Nikko (Japan). At the bottom of the list are the City of Central (USA), and Phnom Penh (Cambodia).

Vietnam’s Hanoi ranks at the 94th while Hoi An is at the 83rd position.
Here are National Geographic’s comments about Hanoi: “"The old part of Hanoi is attractive but is becoming very busy, commercial, and somewhat over-developed. Pedestrian zones are recommended."
"Hanoi is not a Hong Kong or a Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon), or a Shanghai undergoing constant high-rise construction. Surprisingly, some of the back streets in the old French Quarter and the strip parks around the inner lakes retain immense charm."
"The parks and public areas are very well maintained, and the visit to Ho Chi Minh's tomb is still an exceptional experience."
"The 36 Streets area of Hanoi is lively and full of charm, but low on authenticity. The Thang Long citadel is authentic but presented without interpretation and therefore meaningless; in fact, boring to visit. Other so-called historic sites in Hanoi are all modern reconstructions. The problem in Hanoi is that while the city is beautiful and full of charm and an easy urbanity, the story told to the tourist is heavy handed and just not historically accurate."
About Hoi An, it wrote: “"A great place to be when the tourism buses have left in the afternoon."
"Authentic, accurately restored, and well-managed small town that has been brought back from sure death by culture-tourism industry. The problem is that it is just too small to accommodate all the tourists who want to visit it."
"What makes it unique is the historical blending of cultural influences."
"Beautiful architecturally, but the whole town has been 'repurposed' as a shopping opportunity for tourists; ultimately not a satisfying experience to visit."
(Source: SGGP, National Geographic)

Spiritual spaces on offer in Nha Trang

Travelling to Nha Trang City offers tourists not only a beautiful view of the coast, but pagodas dedicated to preserving the country’s ancient Buddhist traditions. (Buddha relaxes: The Lying Buddha stone statue at Long Son Pagoda is one of many spiritual attractions.)

Located just outside the city’s centre, Trai Thuy Mountain is the well-known site of three such pagodas: Long Son, Hai Duc and Linh Phong.
Buddha on a big scale
Buddha relaxes: The Lying Buddha stone statue at Long Son Pagoda is one of many spiritual attractions.Long Son Pagoda is regarded as the most famous pagoda in the city. The pagoda is located in Phuong Son Ward, at the foot of Trai Thuy Mountain, just 400m west of the railway station.
Long Son Pagoda was originally built in 1886 under the abbotship of Thich Ngo Chi (1856-1935), an active participant in the anti-French resistance war. The entrance and roof are decorated with a dragon mosaic made of glass and ceramic tiles.
In 1900, the pagoda was damaged by a large cyclone and had to be restored and moved to its current location, farther down the mountain. In 1936, the Buddhist Studies Association made it the headquarters of the Buddhist Association in Khanh Hoa Province.
Every year tourists visit the pagoda to study a large white statue of Kim Than Buddha. The 24m tall statue was built on the site of the original pagoda. Surrounding the figure of the Buddha are seven smaller statues of monks who sacrificed their lives for the country. A pair of dragons guards the Buddha, which is surrounded by lotus flowers. The statue, perched 152 steps above the pagoda, is visible in the distance as one enters the city by train or car and offers an excellent view of Nha Trang City. The statue was recognised as the biggest outdoor statue in the country by Viet Nam’s Guinness Records.
Zen monastery
Line up: Monks of the Long Son Pagoda take part in a ceremony.Located west of Trai Thuy Mountain, Hai Duc Pagoda was built under the reign of King Tu Duc (1829-83) of the Nguyen dynasty. Until 1891, the pagoda was larger and included monk’s quarters.
Now the pagoda is used as the Buddhism Studies Academy of central Viet Nam and attracts people who want to learn about the doctrines of Buddhism. Hai Duc Pagoda is considered one of the best places in the country to lead a religious life. Enormous trees offer shade and tranquillity and the pagoda’s 50-year-old library contains many rare and valuable documents and Buddhist prayer books.
Even from far away, people can hear the 1,010kg bell singing from atop the academy.
Strolling along the path which connects the Long Son and Hai Duc pagodas, tourists can enjoy the fresh air and pure silence of the solemn site.
Five sights not to miss
On the southern slope of Trai Thuy Mountain, Linh Phong Pagoda is nestled among the shade of ancient trees. After climbing up hundreds of stone steps, visitors are led to a three-door gate and guided into the pagoda.
First, tourists are shown a statue of Mitreya Buddha, sitting on a lotus throne with a kind, merciful smile.
Next visitors stroll down a path which leads to the Loc Uyen Garden. Six white stone statues stand in the centre of the garden: a large statue of Buddha surrounded by five kneeling disciples.
The magnificent inner sanctum, which lies 40m above sea level, was restored in 2001 by the master bonze and his followers, who spent five years on the construction. The tiles used to cover the roof were designed and made by the head monk himself.
The sanctuary preserves and worships ancient statues of Sakyamuni Buddha and two colossal guarding gods. Many other Buddha statues, such as Amida Buddha, Kwanyin Bodhisattva and 18 Arhats are displayed in the marvellous space.
A collection of discourses (Sutra Pitaka) for prayers are sculpted on the walls of the shrines, describing the tenets of Buddhism.
Kwanyin Bodhisattva is also worshiped at the hexagonal pavilion. A 3m granite statue stands at the centre of the shrine, guarded by a couple of stone lions. In front of the chamber, green stone dragons seem to cast admiring glances at the Bodhisattva.
The final chamber is a vestige of the old Buu Phong Pagoda, which was built to worship Guanyu and his legendary red-haired horse. After a number of historical upheavals, Buu Phong Pagoda was incorporated into what is now Linh Phong Pagoda, but the tradition and beauty of the old pagoda has been preserved thanks to the dedication of Monk Thich Chi Vien.
After a trip to see the three pagodas, Nguyen Kim Ngan, a visitor from Ha Noi, spoke admiringly of the Buddhist constructions.
"I have visited many simply decorated pagodas in northern Viet Nam. They are very different from these pagodas, which have sophisticated and solemn architecture," she says.
After enjoying a relaxing day on the beach and the entertainment of the city, visiting the pagodas offers tourists a peaceful and educational outing.
The number of the tourists to Nha Trang City in the first six months of this year was 1 million, 29 per cent higher than last year. Profit from tourism has reached to VND800 billion (nearly US$47.6 million), 40 per cent higher than the same period last year.
(Source: Viet Nam News)

Ba Be Lake - a haven of serenity

Ba Be can be described as a place of peace and serenity. The beautiful lake in the northern province of Bac Kan is listed as one of the world’s 20 largest freshwater lakes. (Ba Be Lake still and serene in the morning.)

Ba Be, meaning three lakes, was created by the confluence of river tributaries Pe Lam, Pe Lu and Pe Leng after earthquakes tens of millions of years ago. The lakes are part of Ba Be National Park.
The earthquakes are also believed to have shaped the Nang River, an additional attraction in Ba Be National Park and a natural water way that leads you to a world of surprises.
To get there you need to drive six kilometers from the administration center of Ba Be National Park to Buoc Lom Wharf, where you board a motored boat on the Nang River. The boat drifts through the bends of the river and past scenic high cliffs, mountains and crop fields on both sides of the bank. Some 15 minutes later, the boat is driven into the 300-meter-long, 30-meter-high Puong cave for you to explore the world of bats which fly just above the head and perch on stalactites.
Bamboo creepers on the cliffs by the river make the tour special. Le Van Phuong, a travel guide from the park’s tourism center, says this endemic variety is a rare plant that only grows well in Ba Be National Park and is listed as one of the endangered floral species in Vietnam.
The tour then takes in a small quiet village at the foot of mountain ranges, where 20 households of the Tay people live. You can see locals farming and buffalos grazing grass near them. The boat passes the waterway to Ba Be and continues its downstream move to a wharf on the Nang River. Here you will step onto the right bank and walk one kilometer downstream to Dau Dang Waterfall. The Nang River runs down 900 meters of stones and boulders, creating the striking waterfall.
Orchids in the riverside trees sway in the wind to welcome vistors back to the crossroads between the Nang River and the way to Ba Be. You turn right into the tributary of light blue water and then head for Ba Be Lake. At this area, it is easy to differentiate the water of the river as it is full of alluvium.
The tributary leads to Lake 3, which is the second largest lake. Surprisingly, there is a natural pond that is separated from this lake. Nestled amidst old trees and mountains, the pond is called Ao Tien (fairy pond) as a legend says it was a place where fairies used to bathe and play. The pond is never out of water and its water is as clear as the water of the third lake, which is why locals are sure there are underground links between this lake and the ponds.
Leaving Ao Tien, the boat runs slowly through Lake 2 to Lake 1, which is the biggest lake. Birds sing in the trees and fly alongside the boat while monkeys sound out greetings. Many islets dot Ba Be Lake and their names are attached to legends or true stories which travel guides will tell you during the tour in this lake. Among the islets are Ba Goa (widow’s islet) and the islet on which a temple was built to commemorate the generals of the Mac family.
If time is short, just take the boat ride along the Nang River and Ba Be Lake that is still and serene in the early morning, in the sunlight and at the sunset.
Not many tourists visit Ba Be National Park so it still offers a haven of peace and tranquility away from the bustle of city life. In addition to the river and lake tour you can trek to local villages where Tay and Mong peoples live and keep their traditions.
This park was established 16 years ago. Phuong of the national park’s tourism center says it takes three days to visit the attractions of the park, whose core area covers more than 10,000 hectares.
The eight-kilometer-long, 1.7-kilometer-wide Ba Be Lake covers 500 hectares and is surrounded by a primitive forest on limestone mountains. It is home to 106 fish species and other diverse flora and fauna species, including rare ones.
Ba Be National Park is nearly 300 kilometers from Hanoi and 50 kilometers from Bac Kan Municipality. The tour to this national park can be booked at travel firms in Hanoi.
(Source: SGT)