Vung Tau to host first buffet tour

A food and tourism festival called “Buffet tour – Vietnam’s flavor” will take place in Chi Linh Tourist Village in Vung Tau City, Ba Ria-Vung Tau Province from December 31 to January 2.

The event aims to promote Vietnam’s culture, food, and tourism to local and foreign tourists. It will be expanded to Danang, Quang Ninh, Hanoi and even foreign countries in the future.

Buffet specialties from the country’s three regions will be prepared by famous local cooks, including Nguyen Dzoan Cam Van and Dinh Ba Chau.

The event is being organized by Am Thuc Magazine and Country Eye Group.

(Source: SGT)

Promoting Vietnam’s image to German friends

The Vietnamese embassy in Germany organised a ceremony in Berlin on December 26 to review ‘Vietnam Year’ in Germany.
Counsellor Bui Ngoc Toan reviewed important events in the Vietnamese embassy held on the occasion of Vietnam Year in Germany, especially the Vietnam Festival which took place in Alexander square on August 28-29.

Vietnam’s Consul General in Frankfurt, Nguyen Huu Trang, pointed out activities strengthening the two countries’ relations such as youth exchanges between Hessen State and Vietnam and seminars on law for Vietnamese people studying law in Germany.

Meanwhile, Ambassador Do Hoa Binh said the success of organising Vietnam Year in Germany made contributions to Vietnam-Germany relations, increasing Vietnam’s image to German friends and raising pride for the Vietnamese community in Germany.

At the ceremony, the Vietnamese embassy presented certificates of merit to individuals and groups, who had made excellent achievements in organizing Vietnam Year in Germany.

(Source: VOV)

Tet Flower Festival to return at Tao Dan Park

The Tet Flower Festival will kick off in Tao Dan Park in HCMC’s District 1 on January 28, or five days ahead of the Lunar New Year, displaying flowers of various types and gathering artisans from home and abroad, according to a plan just approved by the city government on December 22.

The 12-day flower festival this year will also incorporate a contest of decorative birds, which has been disrupted for years due to concerns over bird flu disease, according to the HCMC Park and Greenery Company as the festival organizer.

Apart from Tao Dan Park as the main venue, the organizer will also launch a minor flowers festival at Quoc Te Square, or Ho Con Rua as it is commonly referred to.

At the festival, exhibitors and artisans will arrange and showcase flowers, decorative fish and birds, besides miniature models of well-known architecture works including Nha Rong Wharf made from flowers and foliages created by Japanese artists.

Taiwanese exhibitors will also join the festival. The Tet Flower Festival will wrap up on February 8, 2011.

(Source: SGT)

Vietnam woos Malaysian visitors

A gala night to promote Vietnam’s tourism was held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on December 20 as part of Vietnam’s campaign to develop this non-smoke industry in 2011.

The tourism promotion programme aims to introduce Vietnam’s land and people, culture and its incentives for tourists.

The gala night, co-held by the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism (VNAT), the Vietnamese Embassy in Malaysia and Malaysia’s Tourism Administration, was attended by officials as well as representatives from tourist agents and the media of the two countries.

Pham Quang Hung, Director of the International Cooperation Department under VNAT, said Malaysia is Vietnam’s top market among ASEAN. Next year, the tourism industry will focus on Malaysia and Indonesia as these two regional markets are close to Vietnam both in terms of geographical location and culture.

In 2010, Vietnam expects to welcome some 5 million foreign visitors. The country set a higher target for 2011, prioritising near markets while exploring distant others.

However, according to Hung, tourist services should be improved and tourist guides should be trained professionally in order to draw foreign visitors to return.

The tourism promotion programme provided Vietnamese tourist businesses an opportunity to directly meet and work with Malaysian tourist companies and agents to exchange information and discuss contracts.

(Source: VNA)

Miss Earth 2010 praises Vietnam at home

In interviews with the Indian news agencies, Miss Earth Nicole Faria was lavish in her praises to Vietnam, the host country of the Miss Earth 2010 pageant.

Nicole Faria left Vietnam to her country - India – on December 13, 2010 after being crowned as Miss Earth 2010 in Nha Trang on December 4, 2010.
Faria’s return was warmly welcomed by the local media and local people. Hundreds of Indian waited at the Chhatrapti Shivaji Airport in Mumbai to greet Faria. A big party was held to congratulate Faria’s victory.
“My mailbox is full of congratulations. People warmly welcomed me at the airport and I have not had time to see my friends,” she said in an interview with a local newspaper.
She said she brought home the best memories about an interesting trip to Vietnam.
“I had wonderful time in Vietnam and I’ve had many new friends. Vietnamese people are very friendly. Kids are lovely and I’ve learnt how to use chopsticks. I want to return to Vietnam…” she said.
Nicole Faria, 20, is an Indian model and beauty queen from Bangalore. She is the first woman from India to win Miss Earth
Faria has been in the modeling business since 2005. She has shot for fashion magazines like Elle, Cosmopolitan, Vogue among others.
Faria won the Miss India Earth title at the Pantaloons Femina Miss India 2010 beauty pageant in Mumbai. Pantaloons Femina Miss India is a national beauty pageant competition in India, which annually selects three winners to compete internationally. She won along with Manasvi Mamgai, who was crowned Femina Miss India World 2010, and Neha Hinge who got the Femina Miss India International 2010.
Faria represented India in the Miss Earth 2010 beauty pageant in Vietnam, and was crowned Miss Earth 2010.
She won the Miss Talent, the first special award in the 10th Miss Earth pageant. She performed a graceful belly dance that combined Oriental and Middle Eastern style in an event that raised VND100 million, which was donated to the HCM City Red Cross, to support flood victims in the central region of Vietnam.
(Source: VietNamNet

Festival to promote tea growers and brands

The third Lam Dong Tea Culture Festival 2010 will be held in Bao Loc City in the Central Highlands Province of Lam Dong from December 25-27 to promote the trademark and potential of the country’s tea industry.
According to Bui Thang, Bao Loc People’s Committee’s Chairman and head of the festival’s organising board, the highlight of this year’s festival will be a night to celebrate Bao Loc city’s B'lao tea brand which has been around for decades, and honour outstanding tea growers.

During the festival, a seminar on measures and conditions for the development of Vietnam ’s tea sector, a tea products exhibition, a tea drinking night and a parade will take place.

Vietnam now ranks fifth in tea exports in the world. The country’s tea products are present in 110 countries and territories.

In 2009, Vietnam earned 178 million USD from export of 133,000 tonnes of tea, a year-on-year increase of 21 and 27.3 percent in value and volume, respectively.

The country expects to ship 120,000 tonnes for 200 million USD in 2010.

Tea growing and processing started in Bao Loc in the 1930s. The acreage for tea trees makes up 50 percent of agricultural land in the locality.

The city gains an annual output of 72,500 tonnes with a revenue of 500 billion VND (25 million USD), equal to 20 percent of the local industrial production value.

(Source: VNA)

Southern music seeks UNESCO recognition

Efforts are being to compile a national dossier on Nghe thuat don ca tai tu (Southern amateur music) to be nominated to UNESCO as a mankind intangible cultural heritage. March 2011 is the deadline for Vietnam to forward its dossier, said the Head of Vietnam’s National Academy of Music Associate Professor Le Toan, adding that there will be an international seminar held on southern amateur music in Ho Chi Minh City in January, 2011. A film crew from the institute began a fact-finding tour in mid-November to shoot a documentary on southern amateur music in 14 southeastern and Mekong Delta provinces over two months. Professor Tran Van Khe said that there has been no study affirming the date of southern amateur music but many researchers say that this art was formed in when land in the South of the country was reclaimed at the end of the 19th century and early 20th century. This kind of folk art is performed by southerners after their working day is over, he added. The instruments, namely the dan co (also known as a dan nhi), the Vietnamese two stringed fiddle, dan tranh (also known as the dan thap luc) or 16 string zither and the doc huyen cam (monochord), are used in this art but nowadays the monochord has been replaced with a guitar. Southern amateur singers’ groups have now formed into semi professional clubs to meet the demands of tourists for this genre of music. Officials say that they hope to the compilation of a dossier to ask UNESCO for recognition of the music as an intangible culture would contribute to protecting the nation’s cultural heritage at an international level and raise the community’s awareness of the art while promoting the country’s image to attract more tourists. Professor Tran Quang Hai said that the north boasts ca tru or ceremonial singing and quan ho (love duets) while the central has nha nhac (Hue royal court music) and the Central Highlands is famous for its gongs but southern amateur music has not yet been honoured. Although it has existed for more than 100 years, southern amateur music has traditionally been accompanied by cai luong theatre. Southern amateur singers’ clubs can be found everywhere from Ho Chi Minh City to Can Tho, My Tho, Bac Lieu and Ca Mau and this model should be developed for researchers to explore and complete a dossier, said Hai. Tran Viet Dung, Acting Head of the Cultural Section of the Ca Mau Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, said that his province has more than 600 clubs that confirms the strength of this form of art. Meanwhile, authorities of the Can Tho Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, said that the music is very much in southern people’s blood and everyone can sing even a little. This remains an art that cannot be replaced in the future, they said. The Deputy Director of Can Tho Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism Ho Van Hoang, said that southern amateur music originated from Vietnam court music and was taken long ago to the South of the country.

(Source: VNA)

Month of discounts for HCMC visitors

The hub of Vietnam’s tourism, HCMC, will launch a month-long promotion for visitors to the city with attractive discounts from December 15 to January 15. It will promote the city as a tourist destination during the high season, the tourism department said.
The city’s Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism and Department of Trade and Industry has organized the month of discounts in cooperation with entertainment parks, shopping centers, restaurants, hotels, travel agents, transport providers and many other trade and tourism services.

The capital city of Hanoi and the central city of Danang have organized similar programs for tourists.

A ceremony on December 21 as part of the program will welcome the 3-millionth foreign visitor to HCMC.

The department estimated that HCMC would welcome 3.1 million international visitors this year, up 20% year-on-year. Tourism revenue will reach VND41 trillion, up 17% year-on-year.

The tourism department expects to welcome 3.5 million foreign visitors next year, and hopes to earn VND49 trillion. SGT

(Source: SGT)

Con Dao listed in top ten islands in 2011

Con Dao Island has been voted as one of best ten islands of the world for a romantic holiday in 2011 by Lonely Planet Magazine (England).

Con Dao comprises 16 islands and islets and was known worldwide for the political prisons during the French colonial time and American war time. At present, it is considered as a heaven for tourism with smooth beaches shaded by evergreen trees, fresh air, clear blue waters, primitive forests and abundant wildlife. White sand dunes slope gently to the sea, luring tourists not only to swim, play with the waves and discover the beauty of the coral reefs with scuba diving, but also to fish or squid.

Apart from Con Dao Island, the list of top ten islands includes: Socotra (Yemen), Torres Strait (Australia), Yaeyama (Japan), Iles du Salut (Guyana), Ulleungdo (Korea), San Blas Archipelago (Panama), Penghu (Taipei, China), Bay Archipelago and Hog Island (Honduras), Ssese (Uganda).

The Lonely Planet Magazine has also chosen Halong Bay among the top ten destinations by boat. Other destinations in the list include Fjords (Norway), Amazon River (South America), Franklin River (Australia), Quetico Provincial Park (Canada), Backwaters of Kerala (India), Milford Sound (New Zealand), Greek islands and Disko Bay (Greenland), Galapágos Islands (Ecuador).

Thuy Hang (Edited)

(Source: TITC)

Ha Giang receives UNESCO certification on Dong Van Plateau

A ceremony to receive UNESCO recognition of Dong Van Stone Plateau as a member of the Global Network of National Geoparks (GGN) was held in the northern mountainous province of Ha Giang on December 1.
The chief Representative of the UNESCO Office in Hanoi , Katherine Muller Marin and Secretary General of UNESCO Vietnam National Committee Pham Sanh Chau, handed over the UNESCO certificate to Ha Giang Province.

Addressing the ceremony, Secretary General of UNESCO Vietnam National Committee Chau said that the success of Dong Van Stone Plateau Geological Park is the result of pure determination to create Vietnam ’s first geological park in Ha Giang.

Chau also highlighted the selection of a geological park development model by Ha Giang People’s Committee to eradicate hunger, reduce poverty and step up socio-economic development.

The plateau is Vietnam ’s first pilot model of a geological park for the future and this will promote Vietnam ’s image around the world, said Chau.

It will help eliminate hunger and reduce poverty for more than 250,000 local people on the plateau, he added.

Dong Van Stone Plateau was recognised as GGN member on October 3, 2010. The plateau has now become Vietnam ’s first geological park and only the second geological park in Southeast Asia, after the Langkawi Geological Park in Malaysia .

Dong Van, which has remained untouched for hundreds of millions of years, has mammoth rocks spread over the four districts of Quan Ba, Yen Minh, Meo Vac, and Dong Van, and is 1,000m above sea level.

The plateau is 80 percent limestone and has the fossils of thousands of species of prehistoric creatures from 400-600 million years ago.

It is also home to several cultures that have sprung up over the centuries. The 574 sq.km plateau now houses 250,000 people belonging to 17 different ethnic groups.

(Source: VNA)

Ha Noi to host National Fine Arts Exhibition 2010

The National Fine Arts Exhibition 2010 representing Viet Nam's fine arts industry will open at the Viet Nam Exhibition Centre for Culture and Arts in Ha Noi on December 1.
The event has been organised by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism in co-ordination with the Viet Nam Fine Arts Association.

On display will be representative works from the 2006-2010 period to gauge fine arts development during the process of national industrialisation and modernisation towards global integration.

863 works of art by 735 artists including paintings, graphics, installations and sculptures will be displayed to reflect contemporary life and society from different angles.

The exhibition will run until December 15 at Hoa Lu Street, Ha Noi.

(Source: VNS)

Binh Thuan reschedules international yacht festival

The organizing committee of the first international sailing festival in Binh Thuan Province

has rescheduled the event to January 15-18, 2011 citing possible bad weather as the key

reason. The festival was originally scheduled to take place from December 8 - 11, 2010 said
Le Thi Thanh Lien, deputy director of the province’s Department of Culture, Sports and

Tourism.

However, Lien said, the organizing committee is worried about bad weather would affect yacht

performances. “The change of the date has nothing to do with the pace of preparations for

the festival. Things are going on schedule.”

The organizing committee worked with HCMC in August to promote the forthcoming event which

will feature around 200 yachts cruising from Ham Tien and Mui Ne to Khe Ga Cape and Hoa

Thang beach in the Province.

Along with the event, there will be conferences on how to promote the country’s tourism and

yacht sectors, and music, art and cultural festivals.

The organizing committee has invited several foreign music bands to come to the Province to

entertain guests. Admission will be free.

Binh Thuan is teaming up with agencies and companies such as the Vietnam National

Administration of Tourism, Vietnam Airlines and XT Asia INC to host the upcoming yacht

festival.

Lien said that together with the festival, the Province would be organizing an international

windsurfing competition from February 25 to March 4, 2011 to attract tourists who are fond

of this water sport.

“We’re in the process of enriching our tourism products and services,” Lien said.

Binh Thuan expects to lure around 2.5 million local and foreign tourists in 2010.

(Source: CPV/SGT)

Korean fine crafts on display in Hanoi

        Sixty fine craft items made of ceramic, porcelain, fabric, wood, paper, and metal by 21 artisans from the Republic of Korea are currently on dislplay at the Republic of Korea Cultural Centre in Hanoi.

The objects, ranging from a ceramic apple, to business card holders, jewelry and lamps, are made by a group of artisans headed by Hyang Lim who have been exhibiting their works in Europe since 2008.

The works are very diversified which include a Korean mirror stand made of lacquerware inlaid with mother of pearl, a traditional appliqued Korean apron, paper boxes, a porcelain makgeolli (Korean rice wine) set, and brooches made of wood and lacquer.

At the opening on November 20, Keum Gi Hyung, director of the RoK Cultural Centre said, “These crafts are made by contemporary artists following the traditions of folk art passed down through the generations. They represent very sophisticated, skillful, and fine Korean crafts.”

Vak Mi Hwa, one of nine artists from the group who are in Hanoi for the exhibition, said, “Ceramic is often used for everyday utensils such as cups or plates so I think this exhibition is very close to people; not only Koreans, but also Vietnamese people who share many similarities in their culture.”

Tran Le An, lecturer at Vietnam’s Open University Design Faculty, likes the sophistication of each work, their skilful production, and elegant lines and colours. “I really like the stone ceramic work entitled ‘The Night of Mt Misityeong’ by Hyang Lim which beautifully reflects the soul of rivers and mountains.” The exhibition, which is being shown in Vietnam by the group for the first time, will run until December 4.

(Source: ND)

“I love Vietnam 2010” photo contest in France

A photo contest themed “Vietnam’s land and people” has been launched in Nantes, a city on the out skirts of Paris, with the aim of strengthening solidarity and closeness between Vietnamese and other youths in France.
The photos will showcase Vietnam’s beauty through daily life, cultural identities, costumes, festivities, landscapes, and historical relics.

Contestants will be all Vietnamese students in France and French friends who have been to Vietnam to record beautiful moments of Vietnam’s land and people.

The organizing board will choose 50-100 outstanding photographs to exhibit at the Vietnamese Cultural Festival in Nantes in early December.

(Source: V

Vietnam Cultural Heritage Day to be held in Hanoi

The 6th Vietnam Cultural Heritage Day (November 23) this year will take the main theme of the culture of Thang Long-Hanoi and the role of young people in preserving the national cultural heritage.
A series of activities will be held to mark the day at the Vietnam Exhibition Centre for Arts and Culture in Hanoi from November 20-24.
Visitors will be able to see many exhibitions on the cultural heritage of Vietnam including regional specialties and traditional art performances.
An exhibition of artifacts and relics discovered during the archaeological excavation of the Thang Long Royal Citadel, which has been recognised as a world cultural heritage, will be the focus of the activities to mark the day.



(Source: VNA)

Vietnamese images promoted in Morocco

A seminar which aimed to promote Vietnam’s tourism potential was held in Casablanca city, Morocco in early November, attracting representatives of travel agents, tourism service suppliers and aviation companies.

At the seminar jointly held by the Vietnamese Embassy, travel tourism agency Privilege Group and Morocco’s Diplomatic magazine, Ambassador Cao Xuan Than affirmed that Vietnam is an ideal, safe and reliable destination for foreign tourists.

The Vietnamese government always creates favourable conditions and supports tourism enterprises to ensure safety and security for foreign visitors, he said, adding that the embassy in Morocco will act as a bridge to provide information and facilitate visa processing for Moroccan tourists.

On the occasion, he also asked airlines which offer flight services to Vietnam, such as AirFrance and Qatar Airways, to pay more attention to promoting sale promotion campaigns and offer preferential airfare conditions for Moroccan companies conducting tours to Vietnam.

Head of the Moroccan Foreign Affairs and Cooperation Ministry’s Department of Asia and Oceania Badre Eddine Allali hailed the Vietnamese Embassy’s initiative of organising the seminar to promote the images of Vietnamese people and land to Morocco, a country of 30 million people, which welcomes 8-9 million foreign tourists, bringing in 7 billion USD a year.

Chairman of Casablanca travel agents’ association Ahmed Berkhmis said Vietnam will become a favourite destination for Moroccan visitors.

He also asked the Vietnamese embassy in Morocco to support local tourism enterprises in information exchange and seeking partners from Vietnam.

Vietnam is still an unusually strange destination to Morocco. Every, only 200 Moroccans come to Vietnam to seek business opportunities or visit. This is a limited number in comparison with the number of Moroccan visitors to other Southeast Asian countries every year.

Statistics show that about 4,000 Moroccan tourists visit Thailand every year, and the figure to Malaysia and Indonesia is double that.

(Source: VNA)

Thai Nguyen to host International Tea Festival

The International Tea Festival will be held in 2011 by the northern province of Thai Nguyen and mark the development of the local trade promotion. This event is highly significant for the local tea enterprises to share experience with international partners and promote tea trademarks to the world, said the Ministry of Industry and Trade.
Thai Nguyen tea is famous nationwide for its quality and special taste, such as Tan Cuong, La Bang and Tuc Tranh whose trademarks are protected by the State.

Since 2005, the province has held many tea festivals and tea culture weeks to advertise its products to both domestic and foreign markets.

In June, 2010, the Thai Nguyen Trade Promotion Centre introduced the two potential tea importers-Pakistan and Sri Lanka-to local tea enterprises.

(Source: VOV)

Mui Ne International Yacht Festival 2010

Mui Ne International Yacht Festival 2010 with the theme “Yacht - Sea - Sun” is scheduled to take place from December 8 to 11, 2010 in Mui Ne, Phan Thiet City, Binh Thuan Province. This will be an ideal opportunity to advertise Mui Ne as an international centre for entertainment sailing.

The organization board announced 6 official places where the festival’s activities will be held. They include wharf building area in Hon Rom, international Pop & Rock art program in Doi Hong, two gala dinners in Novotel Hotel and Siva Mui Ne Resort, international exhibition and convention about yacht in Sea Links City and “Flower Road” in Road 706B.

The organization board also said that until now international sailing groups from Russia, France, Greece, Spain, Turkey, Iceland, Australia, South Korea, Cambodia and Viet Nam registered to attend the festival.

This is the first time Binh Thuan has hosted an international yacht festival. The festival is expected to become an annual event in Binh Thuan, along with the international paragliding and windsurfing tournaments.

Mr Nguyen Van Thu, Vice Chairman of Binh Thuan People’s Committee, said the festival aims to promote the Binh Thuan tourism industry in general and Ham Tien – Mui Ne Tourist Area in particular to domestic and international visitors.

With 192km of coastline, Binh Thuan has many beautiful beaches which are an advantage in developing sea tourism. Of which Mui Ne Beach is rated as one of the best for sailing in Asia by the International Yacht Association.

Thuy Hang (Edited)

(Source: TITC)

Male embroidery artist holds show in Hanoi

Embroidery is not everyman’s favorite hobby, which makes the exhibition at The Bui Gallery even more interesting. Lionel Descostes has spent a decade to produce the 200 pieces of embroidery in his show “10 Years in Hanoi”.
After teaching himself and nine assistants the technique of single-thread embroidery, Lionel began a journey that would culminate in this comprehensive solo exhibition. With the craft rapidly disappearing, Lionel decided to use art to keep embroidery alive and support his community. The results of his unceasing commitment to experimentation and technique are extraordinary to behold, from mesmerizing grids to faces – masks – that gaze out from their frames.
For this exhibition, Descostes presents three groups works: squares, grids and masks. Each of these groups explores from a different perspective the same theme: anonymity
The exhibition runs till November 21. The Bui Gallery is located at 23 Ngo Van So Street, Hanoi.

(Source: SGT)

Vietnamese-Japanese cultural club opens in Hanoi

On October 24 the Vietnam-Japan Friendship Association officially opened the Vietnam-Japan Culture Club in Hanoi and marked the first anniversary of the Vietnam-Japan Business Club.

The Vietnam-Japan Business Club was established in November 2009, attracting hundreds of Vietnamese entrepreneurs as well as Japanese entrepreneurs who invest in Vietnam.

Over the past year, the club has forged ties with Japanese organizations such as the Japan Industry and Trade Association in Vietnam, and chambers of commerce and industry in Japan’s prefecture or cities. It has also established direct transactions between Vietnamese and Japanese enterprises.

In addition, the club has helped to train Vietnamese workers and promote the projects to manufacture high-grade steel, refit ships, and build ports.

The Vietnam-Japan Culture Club, headed by renowned Vietnamese artist Chu Thuy Quynh, comprises many poets, writers, artists and lovers of Japanese culture.

At the ceremony, former Japanese Prime Minister Hatoyama said he was excited by the establishment of Vietnam-Japan Culture Club and promised to promote large-scale projects funded by Japan’s ODA.

(Source: VOV)

French, Vietnamese artists bring Hanoi to Paris

Books and photos on the capital city of Hanoi by French and Vietnamese writers and photographers are on display at an exhibition entitled “Hanoi Today” that opened in Paris on October 18.
It is being jointly held by the General Union of Vietnamese in France (UGVF), the Vietnam modern information and documentation centre, the Vietnamese Cultural Centre in France and the France-Vietnam Friendship Association.

The exhibition showcases photos taken by two French photographers Dominique de Miscault and Daniel Frydman and Vietnamese photographer Nguyen Hai Son, featuring the daily life of Vietnamese people as seen from different angles.

Besides, a book entitled “Live with Hanoi ” by Philippe Papain and Laurent Pasicousset will also be introduced at the event, depicting the land and people of Vietnam as well as other Asian countries.

The event will wrap up on October 28.

(Source: VNA)

Spanish theatre group to join Hanoi celebrations

Spanish and Vietnamese artists will be staging a theatrical extravaganza in Hanoi on October 2 to mark the millennium.

About 19 Spanish artists from Els Comediants and 18 members of the Circus Federation of Vietnam will be putting on a free show featuring music, acrobatics, dance and fireworks.

The show, entitled ‘Festival of Dragon’, celebrates the legendary founding of Thang Long-Hanoi, and will combine local traditions with the Mediterranean culture of Els Comediants, said Spanish Ambassador to Vietnam Fernando Curcio.

The one-hour performance will take place in the open space in front of My Dinh Stadium, and about 15,000 people are expected to attend.

Festival of Dragon is part of the official programme of celebrations for the Millennium of Hanoi, and the principal acttivities will be held during the first half of October.

Els Comediants will arrive in Vietnam on September 27 when its artistes will begin practising with their Vietnamese counterparts.

The show will begin at 7.30pm.

(Source: VOV)

‘One-day' paintings depict famed Ha Noi landmarks

An exhibition of paintings by seven Ha Noi-based artists features famous locations in the capital city. The show, titled Mot Ngay (A Day), has a special theme that required each artist to paint their pictures within a single day. "We revelled in the festive atmosphere of the city's millennial anniversary and now we also want to present our love for the city, which is a source of limitless inspiration for artists," said painter Le Thiet Cuong, who had the idea for the show. "Outdoor painting can sometimes bring more inspiration to an artist than when he or she is locked away in the studio," said Cuong. "That's why I asked other painters to go out for their ‘One-Day' paintings." The artists made their paintings on October 1, the day when Ha Noi began its millennial celebrations. Each painter chose a different spot in the city to paint. Pham Tran Quan found inspiration in Long Bien Bridge and the Hang Dau Water Tower while Dao Hai Phong chose to paint Thien Quang Lake. The The Huc Bridge on Hoan Kiem (Sword) Lake and Ha Noi Flag Tower are depicted in two paintings by Nguyen Dinh Vu, while Le Thiet Cuong, who is well known for minimalist art work, painted Ha Noi's famous St Joseph's Cathedral. Other famous spots featured in the exhibition include the Temple of Literature, Dong Xuan Market and the Ha Noi Opera House, painted by Nguyen Phan Bach and Nguyen The Dzung. Le Thi Minh Tam, the only female artist participating in the show, contributed a collection of 10 coloured stones to the exhibition. The exhibition also includes photographs and a video that examine the creative process for each artist. The One Day exhibition is open until October 25 at the Trung Nguyen Creative Space, 36 Dien Bien Phu Street, Ha Noi. < p>

(Source: VNS)

Winners of World Travel Awards announced

Organizers of the World Travel Awards have named four hotel and spa properties in Vietnam in the list of Asian winners for the prestigious industry accolade in 2010 based on the votes cast by travel professionals and consumers worldwide.

Travel professionals have chosen InterContinental Asiana Saigon as Vietnam’s Leading Hotel, Sheraton Hanoi Hotel as Vietnam’s Leading Business Hotel and Evason Ana Mandara properties including the one in Nha Trang as Vietnam’s Leading Resort and Leading Spa Resort.

The properties were selected as the winners of the 2010 World Travel Award Winners for Asia based on different categories, including services and business performance. The survey attracted votes from 183,000 travel professionals, including travel agencies, tour and transport companies and tourism organizations in over 160 countries and territories.

Jolyon Bulley, vice president of operations for South East & South West Asia of InterContinental Hotels & Resorts (IHG), said in a statement that the Leading Hotel accolade was great testament to a new property like InterContinental Asiana Saigon, which was opened on September 9 last year.

Thomas Schmelter, IHG area general manager in Vietnam, said the InterContinental Asiana Saigon hotel and residences as well as IHG management had successfully dealt with the challenges of opening a new complex and have delivered good results.

Winners of the regional arena will be qualified to compete in World Travel Awards 2010 Grand Final in London before World Travel Market kicks off on November 7.

(Source: SGT)

Vietnam's Luxury Travel Guide Book.

The number of travelers to Vietnam and beyond countries has continued increasing and more people seek luxury travel of these exotic lands. Luxury Travel Co., Ltd is Vietnam’s first luxury travel operator which announces to publish its first version of Luxury Travel Guide Book or luxury guide for short.

This first issue focuses on luxury travel with all the trappings and informs luxury travelers, of the very best that Vietnam can offer to make the stay of guests the most memorable and comfortable. Inside the Luxury travel guide book there are all the favorite subjects that interest luxury travelers and that they want to experience.

Luxury travelers will find the escapes, optional day trips and excursions based in each of these destinations. They will guide travelers through exotic adventures and the finest restaurants and cooking schools. Visit villas converted to gourmet restaurants to have a meal prepared by an outstanding chef.

Luxury travel guide book can fly guests first class or charter a jet to their desired destinations. They will seek out the best rooms at 4 - 6 star destination resorts, luxury boutique hotels or private villa establishments that provide a private master suite, fitness facility, full service spa and a personal concierge.

They will be set apart from the crowd with a private tour in a limousine/hummer, hot air balloon, helicopter, jet and or yacht. Golf, tennis and skiing are among the favorite outdoor activities.

Luxury travel guide book will guide travelers through booking the best seats in the water puppet theatre, meeting the artists after the show and going to the concert. Whether guests want designer shopping or unique paintings of well known artists.

“The Luxury travel guide book is to help our travel partners in their promotion efforts and make the job of selling these destinations easier and our in house guests to find their right experiences while traveling with us. We have filled the pages of our Luxury travel guide book with as much useful information as we can, while at the same time, keeping it interesting and enjoyable to read. We ensure a memorable travel experience for all travelers to our country. As the leader in the luxury tourism industry, we promote Vietnam as an emerging luxury travel destination in the world tourism map.” said Pham Ha, Founder and CEO of Luxury Travel Company.

Luxury Travel Co., Ltd  is a 100% fully registered and privately-owned Vietnamese company. Luxury Travel has won numerous travel awards. Luxury Travel is headquartered in Hanoi and has offices around Vietnam and management offices in all over Southeast Asia destinations.

(Source: Luxury Travel)

Halong Vietnam

Halong Bay Vietnam

Situated in the North-East region of Vietnam, Halong Bay is a bay in the Gulf of Tonkin comprised of regions of Halong City, the township of Cam Pha, and a part of the island district of Van Don. Halong Bay borders Cat Ba Island in the southwest, the East Sea in the east, and the mainland, creating a 120 km coastline.
Halong Bay is made up of 1,969 islands of various sizes, 989 of which have been given names. There are two kinds of islands, limestone and schist, which are concentrated in two main zones: the southeast (belonging to Bai Tu Long Bay), and the southwest (belonging to Halong Bay). This densely concentrated zone of stone islands, world famous for its spectacular scenery of grottoes and caves, forms the central zone of Halong Bay, which has been named a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The bay itself has an area of 43,400 ha, consists of 775 islands, and forms a triangle with the island of Dau Go (Driftwood Grotto) to the west, the lake of Ba Ham (Three Shelter Lake) to the south, and the island of Cong Tay to the east.

Viewed from above, Halong Bay resembles a geographic work of art. While exploring the bay, you feel lost in a legendary world of stone islands. There is Man's Head Island, which resembles a man standing and looking towards the mainland. Dragon Island looks like a dragon hovering above the turquoise water. La Vong Island resembles an old man fishing. There are also the islands of the Sail, the Pair of Roosters, and the Incense Burner, which all astonishingly resemble their namesakes. The forms of the islands change depending on the angle of the light and from where the islands are viewed. At the core of the islands, there are wonderful caves and grottoes, such as Thien Cung (Heavenly Residence Grotto), Dau Go (Driftwood Grotto), Sung Sot (Surprise Grotto), and Tam Cung (Three Palace Grotto).


Halong Bay has many links to the history of Vietnam. For example, there are such famous geographical sites as Van Don (site of an ancient commercial port), Poem Mountain (with engravings of many poems about emperors and other famous historical figures), and Bach Dang River (the location of two fierce naval battles fought against foreign aggressors).

It has been proven by scientists that Halong was one of the first cradles of human existence in the area at such archeological sites as Dong Mang, Xich Tho, Soi Nhu, and Thoi Gieng. It is also a region of highly-concentrated biological diversity with many ecosystems of salt water-flooded forests, coral reefs, and tropical forests featuring thousands of species of animal and plant life.

With all this in mind, the 18th meeting of the Committee of the World Heritages of UNESCO (in Thailand on December 17th, 1994), officially recognized Halong Bay as a natural heritage site of worldwide importance.

I. Grottoes
Dau Go (Driftwood) Grotto
Dau Go Grotto is found on Driftwood Island, formerly known as Canh Doc Island. The name Driftwood Grotto comes from the popular story of the resistance war against the Nguyen Mong aggressors. In a decisive battle, Tran Hung Dao was given an order to prepare many ironwood stakes to be planted on the riverbed of the Bach Dang River. The remaining wooden pieces were found in the grotto and, as a result, the grotto was given its present name. The entrance is reached via 90 steps up the island. The grotto is divided into three main parts. In the first chamber, many forms can be seen in the rock, depending on the imagination of the observer. In the middle of the chamber, on the top of the pillar, there appears to be a monk draped in a long, dark cloak, with his right hand clasping a cane. Moving into the second chamber, visitors pass through a narrow "door", naturally formed through erosion. The light here is mysterious, and new images appear in the stone. At the end of the grotto is a well of clear water surrounded by four ancient walls.

In this grotto, there remains an engraved stone stele singing the praises of Halong Bay ordered by Emperor Khai Dinh when he came to visit the grotto in 1917. Dau Go is 40 minutes from Bai Chay. Admission is 15,000 VND per person, 5,000 VND for children under 15, and children under 6 are free.

Trinh Nu (Virgin) Grotto-Trong (Male) Grotto
The Virgin Grotto is situated in the island range of Bo Hon, in the system comprised of the Surprise Grotto, Dong Tien Lake, and Luon Grotto. The grotto is 15 km south of Bai Chay Beach. For some fishermen, the Virgin Grotto is home, while for young lovers it is a popular romantic rendezvous site.

According to legend, there once was a beautiful fisherman's daughter, whose family was so poor that they were in service of the rich administrator of the fishing zone, who forced the family to give him their daughter as a concubine. However, the fisherman’s daughter already had a lover and refused to marry the administrator. The administrator got angry and exiled her to a wild island where she suffered from hunger and exhaustion. One frightful night she turned to stone. On this same night, her lover, knowing of her danger, rowed his boat in search of her. However, a tempest destroyed his boat, and he floated to a nearby island. In a flash of lightening, he saw his lover in the distance, but his calls were driven away by the wind. In his final exhaustion, he also turned to stone (today’s Male Grotto).

When visiting the Virgin Grotto, you can still see the petrified girl with her long hair hanging down and eyes looking towards the mainland. Opposite the Virgin Grotto, the Male Grotto is still home to the lover whose his face is turned towards his mate. At times, his passionate calls and blows against the walls of the grotto can still be heard.

Thien Cung (Heavenly Palace) Grotto
This recently discovered grotto is one of the most beautiful in Halong Bay. Thien Cung is situated on the southwest side of the bay, 4 km from the wharf outside of Halong City. It is located in a small range of islands that resemble a throne embracing two superb grottoes at its core. The way to Thien Cung is perilous, covered on both sides by thick forest. After entering a narrow gate, the magnificent, 130 m long grotto opens up.

According to legend, a beautiful young lady named May (cloud) caught the eye of the Dragon Prince and he fell in love with her. They were betrothed and got married in the very center of the grotto. All of the scenes of their wedding, which lasted for seven days and seven nights, have been seemingly fossilized in the grotto.

In the center, there are four large pillars supporting the "roof of heaven". From the base to the top, many strange images seem to exist in the stone, including birds, fish, flowers and even scenes of human life. On the north wall of the grotto, a group of fairies seems to be singing and dancing in honor of the wedding. Under the immeasurably high roof, stalactites form a natural stone curtain. There is also the sound of a beating drum made by the wind blowing through the stone.

In the last chamber of the grotto, a natural gushing stream of water babbles throughout the year. Here there are three small ponds of clear water. One path meanders out of the grotto.

Quang Hanh Grotto
Located 9 km west of Cam Pha, Quang Hanh Grotto is the longest grotto in Halong Bay. It is 1,300 m long, and stretches throughout the stone mountain of Quang Hanh. The French named it "Le Tunnel," or Tunnel Grotto.

Quang Hanh Grotto is accessible by either boat or car, but the entrance only appears when the tide is out. Ba Co Shrine (shrine of three girls) is in the grotto beside a smooth stone block. Legend tells that three girls, who were once journeying on the sea, came to the grotto to take shelter from the rain. They were so engrossed with the beauty of the grotto, that they did not notice the rising tide. They drowned, only to become water goddesses.

Quang Hanh Grotto is extremely beautiful. A small boat will take you through the stone passageway by flashlight, casting magical colors on the hanging stalactites.

II. Islands

Bai Tho Mountain (Poem Mountain)
Bai Tho Mountain is 106 m high. It runs along the coast, half on land and half in the sea. Sailing in the bay, one or two hundred meters from the mountain, one can see a poem carved on a flat stone cliff.

In 1468, Emperor Le Thanh Tong, who was also a poet, made an inspection tour of the North-East region. He stopped at the foot of the mountain, and inspired by the magnificent beauty of his surroundings, he wrote a poem. Later, he had the poem engraved on the wall of the mountain. It is very interesting to climb the mountain and enjoy the panoramic view of the bay.

Tuan Chau Island
Situated 3 km west of Dao Go Islet, Tuan Chau Islet has an area of 300 ha. On the islet, there is a very simple bamboo house built by the inhabitants of Quang Ninh for Uncle Ho to rest after visiting Halong Bay. The house is now carefully preserved by the locals.

III. Beaches

Bai Chay
Bai Chay is a resort located along the coast of Halong Bay. This is a windward ocean resort which has a year round average temperature of 20oC (68oF).

Bai Chay is a low gently sloping range of hills that runs along the sea for more than 2 km. Blended in among the pine trees are large hotels and small villas with distinguished architectural styles. Traveling down the asphalt road along the coast, visitors see long white stretches of sand and green rows of Casuarina trees, tucked under which are small family-run restaurants. After swimming at the beach, tourists can enjoy cold drinks and cool off in the breeze that sweeps in from the sea.
(Source: www.vietnamtourism.com)

Sapa Tourism

Located 38km from Lao Cai City, Sapa is a mountainous district of Lao Cai Province. Sapa District is very well-known with Sapa Townlet, a beautiful and romantic resort. At the height of 1,600m above sea level, the average temperature of the area is 15-18oC. It is cool in summer and cold in winter. Visitor to Sapa in summer can feel the climate of four seasons in one day. In the morning and afternoon, it is cool like the weather of spring and autumn. At noon, it is as sunny and cloudless as the weather of summer. And it is cold in the evening. With no advance warning of a thunderstorm short and heavy rains may come at noon on any summer day. Subsequently, a rainbow appears, transforming Sapa into a magic land, which for years has been a constant source of poetic inspiration, lights up the whole region. The best time to witness the scenic beauty of Sapa is in April and May. Before that period, the weather might be cold and foggy; after that period is the rainy season. In April and May, Sapa is blooming with flowers and green pastures. The clouds that settle in the valley in early morning quickly disappear into thin air. Sapa has many natural sites such as Ham Rong Mountain, Silver Waterfall, Rattan Bridge, Bamboo Forest and Ta Phin Cave.Sapa is also the starting point for many climbers and scientists who want to reach the top of Fansipan Mountain, the highest mountain in Vietnam at 3,143m. Hoang Lien Mountain Range is also called the Alps of the North Sea area since Fansipan Mountain is not only the highest peak in Vietnam, but also in the Indochina Peninsula. The pyramid-shaped mountain is covered with clouds all year round and temperatures often drop below zero, especially at high elevations. The first thing you notice when approaching the resort town are some detached wooden mansions and villas perched on a hill top or hillside, behind thick pine forests and almost invisible on this foggy morning. Old and new villas with red roofs now appear and now disappear in the green rows of pomu trees, bringing the town the beauty of European towns. Fresh and cool air in Sapa is an idea climate condition for growing temperate vegetables such as cabbage, chayote, precious medicinal herbs, and fruit trees such as plum, pear... Sapa is home to various families of flowers of captivating colours, which can be found nowhere else in the country. When Tet, the Lunar New Year Festival, comes, the whole township of Sapa is filled with the pink colour of peach blossom brought from the vast forests of peach just outside the town. Sapa is regarded as the kingdom of orchids. Here, orchid lovers are even amazed by the choice, when trekking in the forest filled with several hundred kinds of orchids of brilliant colours and fantastic shapes, such as Orchid Princess, Orchid of My Fair Lady's Shoe. Some orchids are named after lovely singing birds such as the canary, salangane's nest, and more. Sapa is most beautiful in spring. Apricot, plum and cherry flowers are splendidly beautiful. Markets are crowded and merry, and are especially attractive to visitors. Minority groups come here to exchange and trade goods and products. Market sessions are also a chance for locals to promenade and young men and women in colorful costumes to meet, date or seek sweethearts. Visitors to Sapa will have opportunities to discover the unique customs of the local residents.  (Source: www.vietnamtourism.com)

International Tourism Festival to mark Hanoi’s 1000 year anniversary

An International Tourism Festival will be held at Hanoi’s Bao Son Paradise Theme Park from October 2-5 to celebrate the 1,000th anniversary of Thang Long-Hanoi and National Tourism Year 2010.

During the festival, there will be a trade fair with 315 booths representing150 domestic and foreign businesses and a wide range of cultural and sports activities, including music and dance performances, folk games, human chess, and street festivals.

Visitors will have the chance to see Hanoi artisans demonstrate how to make handicrafts, mainly by hand.

The organising board is also planning a tourism conference to promote famous tourist destinations in Hanoi and other Vietnamese provinces and cities.

(Source: VOV)

Cliff climbs add adventure to Dalat tour

Keren Taub and Alex Keagel from Israel got the buzz they wanted from their adventure tour in Dalat. Using ropes they had climbed down cliffs and the wet rock face of a waterfall, before diving into the icy cold pool at the base

“It was really nice to abseil down the rocks,” Keagel told the Daily after he leapt into the rock pool at Datanla waterfalls about 5km from the Highland city.

He said he was really nervous at the beginning of the adventure tour, but excitement had gradually taken over and he overcame his fears.

Most tourists feel the same way Taub and Keagel did, when they look at the vertical cliff face they have to climb down.

They feel slightly safer though, when the travel companies in Dalat give them a short course on basic climbing skills and prepare them for any mishaps on the way down.

Tran Tuan Hiep, a trainer from travel firm Highland Holiday, says it is important for people to know how to maintain their balance during the rope-assisted climb down, but it’s crucial that they know how to regain their stance if they slip. Abseiling is not as easy as it sounds.

Staying calm is the best advice for climbers, as it will help them think clearly if they encounter a problem.

At the end of the climb, as a kind of trophy for scaling the waterfall, participants are given shorts and a printed T-shirt.

A one-day cliff and waterfall adventure costs VND600,000 (US$31.5) per person for a group of two to five guests and VND400,000 (around US$21) per person for a group of at least six people. The price also covers transfers between hotel and the area where the adventure begins, and sandwiches for lunch.

Book a cliff and waterfall adventure by contacting travel companies in Dalat. Hotel staff in your hotel should be able to help.

(Source: SGT)

Hanoi’s lakes reflect the city’s unique beauty

Hanoi has been endowed with a myriad of lakes of different sizes lying scattered across the city, which, with their own distinctive beauty and history, have added a special cultural trait typical of Hanoi.

With more than 100 lakes of all sizes, Hanoi has more lakes than any other capital city in the world.

Of all the natural and man-made lakes, Ho Guom or Hoan Kiem lake (Lake of the Restored Sword) and Ho Tay (West Lake) are the largest and the most beautiful.

The history of Hoan Kiem lake is closely associated with the founding history of Thang Long – the country’s former capital, which nowadays is called Hanoi.

The lake used to be called Luc Thuy Lake or “Green Water Lake” since the water was green all year round. In the 15 th century, it was named Hoan Kiem lake after the legend of King Le Thai To and the large tortoise that grabbed his sword.

The legend dates back to the time of the Le Dynasty six centuries ago. During the war against the Minh aggressors (1417-1427), King Le Thai To chanced upon a precious fairy sword. After 10 years of struggles, the King finally defeated the northern invaders and reclaimed the nation’s independence. After that, one nice day, while the King was boating on lake Luc Thuy, a large tortoise swam towards him and asked him to return the sword. The tortoise grabbed the sword with its mouth and then dived again.

Hence, King Le Thai To named the lake Hoan Kiem or Lake of the Restored Sword.

Through the many ups and downs of history, the lake has remained a green pearl inside the city. Vietnamese, no matter how far they are from home, cannot help but feeling nostalgic about Hoan Kiem lake, where the image of the old Tortoise Tower is reflected under the pure green, sparkling water and the beautiful willow trees bend over the lake to see their reflections in the water.

The vivid and colorful scenery, the red arched The Huc Bridge and Thap But (Pen Tower) have also found their way into many songs and poems.

Tay Ho (West Lake) in Hanoi, meanwhile, is often described as the most romantic place, resplendent in its beauty and vastness.

Covering an area of more than 500 hectares, the lake was formerly known as Dam Dam or Lagoon of Mist, until the 15 th century and a favourite place for the kings of the Ly, Tran and Le dynasties to rest and relax.

West Lake becomes even most beautiful during the autumn. During this time, the dew and mist mingle together to make the lake duskier and more romantic, especially with the faint echo of the bell in Tran Quoc pagoda.

Walking along the small paths around the lake, one can see the vivid colours of hundreds types of flowers as the lake is surrounded by the three famous flower-growing villages of Nhat Tan, Quang Ba and Nghi Tam.

Hanoi’s lakes, that cover 1,165 ha, play a very important role in regulating the rainfall and preventing floods during the stormy season.

(Source: VNA)

The best way to travel in Vietnam

Although more expensive than buses, trains are undoubtedly the most comfortable way to travel overland in Vietnam. There is one major train line in Vietnam, the 1723-kilometer trunk between Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, on which the Reunification Express runs. HCMC to Hanoi is more than 30 hours, and overnight hops between major destinations are usually possible, if not entirely convenient. It's a good way to see the countryside and meet upper-middle class locals, but unless you are traveling in a sleeper car it is no more comfortable than buses.

AC Soft or hard sleeper is recommended, and purchasing as early as possible is a good idea as popular berths and routes are often bought out by tour companies and travel agents well before the departure time (hence being told the train is sold out at a station ticket window or popular tour company office does not mean there are no tickets available--they've simply been bought by another reseller). Booking at the train station itself is generally the safest way, just prepare on a piece of paper the destination, date, time, no. of pax and class. However, unsold tickets can often be bought last minute from people hanging around at the station--a train is rarely sold out for real, as the railway company will add cars when demand is high. Commissions on these tickets will drop away as the departure time draws nearer.

Be cautious when using a travel agent to purchase your train tickets, since there is nothing printed on the ticket saying the class you are booked in. This results in a common scam with private travel agents where you will pay them to book a soft-sleeper ticket, they then book you a cheaper hard-sleeper ticket, and you don't know you've been scammed until you board the train and your berths are in the lower class. By then with the train on the verge of departing it is too late to go back to the scamming agent to demand compensation.