Vietnam's Beaches Holiday

Harvest time on the shores of Tam Giang Lagoon

2011-06-05T21:09:00.000-07:00

The yellow paddy fields alongside Tam Giang Lagoon in the central province of Thua Thien-Hue provide a visual treat.

People hurry to complete the harvest, with villages busy with farm work. Locals are cutting the paddy and then taking it home for drying.

According to people in Loc Binh Commune, Phu Loc District, the location of their fields, next to the brackish water of Tam Giang Lagoon, provides their rice with a sweet taste and unique fragrance when cooked.

The attractive local scenery is popular with photographers and DTiNews presents some images from the location:

The yellow fields viewed from a nearby hill

The fields around the lagoon

A small hut on the lagoon

Boats on the lagoon

Houses and coconut trees

Rows of trees

Farmers are just specks in the immense fields

Women harvesting

Carrying rice home

A girl playing in a field

A fascinating picture

Kites add colour to Cua Dai Beach

2011-05-23T00:09:00.001-07:00

Nearly 200 kites, flown by 21 teams from across Vietnam, competed in the kite festival on Cua Dai Beach.

The 7th annual kite festival, which took place on May 21, was organised by the Hoi An Sports and Culture Office along with the Victoria Hoi An Hotel. This year’s theme was “Victoria-Hoi An and Sea”, and focused on raising awareness of problems facing the local ecological system.

This year’s festival was grander than in past years.

The first prize was awarded to Nguyen Truong Huy, whose kite resembled an octopus.

In the meantime, a ray kite and a starling kite won the second prize.

Photos of the festival:

Kite made to look like a flag

Flying frogs

Mandarin kite

Parrots take wing

Diver in the sky

The octopus

Lobster kite

A squid above

Kites add colour to a bright day

A pilgrim to Uncle Ho’s home town

2011-05-19T21:19:00.001-07:00

Sen village in Kim Lien commune, Nam Dan district, Nghe An province is only 45 kilometres from the central city of Vinh.

The village is the place where the late president Ho Chi Minh was born and spent most of his childhood and many things have remained intact with the passage of time.

They are Coc well, the banian tree, the village temple and the thatched cottage of the second best examinee Nguyen Sinh Sac, father of Uncle Ho.

Sen village was recognised as one of the national cultural historical relics by the Ministry of Culture and Information (now the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism) in 1979.

The board of honour granted by King Thanh Thai to Nguyen Sinh Sac, father of Ho Chi Minh, in 1901

Promoting Quang Binh tourism

2011-05-15T19:43:00.000-07:00

A series of cultural and sporting events will delight tourists at the Culture and Tourism Week 2011 in the central province of Quang Binh beginning on June 5.

Son Doong Cave is the largest one in the world

The week aims to promote the province's many tourist attractions including its numerous spectacular caves and attract investment in the province, said Le Hung Phi, director of the provincial Department of Culture, Sport and Tourism.

The Culture and Tourism Week will include the Cau Ngu (Fish Worshipping) Festival to pray for a good fishing season and safe seafaring, a volleyball tournament from May 26 to June 4, and the dedication of Bao Ninh – The Sea Square.

The main events will be held from May 27 in Dong Hoi city and at the UNESCO-recognised World Natural Heritage Site of Phong Nha-Ke Bang.

A programme called Discovering the Magnificent Beauty of the Caves will be held at Thien Duong (Paradise ) Cave on June 11 and broadcast live on VTV2 to reveal the mysterious and irresistible beauty of the local caves.

During the week, the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism will also offer tours to Chay River and Hang Toi (Dark Cave). The Chay River tour will take tourists by boat into primeval forests, with waterfalls and whirlpools. The province's traditional cuisine and folk music will be featured to introduce visitors to the customs and unique culture of the local people.

Last year, nearly 730,000 visitors came to Quang Binh province, according to the department.

Rau Mut - seaweed specialty

2011-05-08T23:29:00.000-07:00

The Tam Hai Commune in Nui Thanh District in the central province of Quang Nam is known for its seaweed specialty ‘Rau Mut’.

Rau Mut soup

‘Rau Mut’ is a kind of seaweed, which is normally available during lunar October until January. This is the roughest time at sea and local residents set out to sea in search of the vegetable.

The plant grows mainly in the Ban Than Cape in the commune. It appears black in color and has very thin narrow leaves. During winter months, it serves as a staple food for people in Tam Hai.

The time to pick Rau Mut is when the ocean tide recedes, exposing the seaweed plant on slippery rock surfaces.

After picking Rau Mut, local residents usually cook it with sea fish or meat to make a special soup, which has a crisp taste.

The leftovers of the plant are dried and preserved for later use and at times even sold. One kilogramme of dried Rau Mut fetches from VND600,000-700,000 (USD33).

What music says about you

2011-04-22T02:47:00.001-07:00

Usually when someone asks you what kind of music you like, they are trying to get to know you a bit better. Combined with a few details – gender, age, education – the kind of music you like can say a lot about you. It’s almost as reliable as a mathematical formula. For example, a teenage girl + too much time in front of MTV = Justin Beiber. Like languages, these formulas are different in every culture.

For example, “hot” news about one particular American singer might not be such “hot” news for Vietnamese people.

I’m sure everyone reading the English version of this blog has heard of Bob Dylan, at least by now, after his gig in Saigon. Some of the songs that made him most famous, which played such a large role in the counter culture movement of the 1960s and 70s, gained new meaning with his concert earlier this month.

The fact his music is still so strongly associated with the “Vietnam War” is testament to the importance the war still holds in the hearts of many people in Western countries, at least according to my experience.

When I was doing my undergraduate degree five years ago, I only knew Vietnam through Hollywood films like Apocalypse Now, Platoon and Full Metal Jacket. Every one of these films portrays Vietnam as an impoverished country, wrecked by decades of war.

After some vigorous googling, I went to the library to mug up on Vietnamese culture, economy and “doi moi” – only to find a bunch of books on, you guessed it, The Vietnam War.

That all changed when I got here, of course, and learned to think like a Vietnamese person through my friends. For them, the decades of conflict didn’t even register in their lives, eclipsed instead by matters of importance, such as how to get money, how to develop the economy and whether the nude photos of model Ngoc Quyen were artistic or not.

That’s why most of my Vietnamese friends (though not all) didn’t know about or care much for Bob Dylan, a man who is most famous (whether he likes it or not) for writing about the past. And that is why, I guess, the concert hall was half empty when he performed. By all accounts it was a very entertaining concert, so hats off to the organisers. But that didn’t make it relevant to a Vietnamese audience. It did more to evoke the West’s obsession with the Vietnam War.

Just a week later, I was wriggling away to the trippy beats of Vietnamese DJ Tri Minh and guests at Hanoi Sound Stuff Festival, along with hundreds of other sweaty fans, Vietnamese and foreigner alike. It was a festival that broke down all boundaries as children yelped, parents sipped beers, teenagers did some break dancing and a couple of hippies swished their skirts – all in time to the music. Judging by the ecstatic expressions on people’s faces and the “electric” atmosphere, it’s a kind of new music (in Vietnam) that can reach out to many different people. Innovation + style = the future (I hope).

Hung Kings’ worship seeks UNESCO title

2011-04-06T19:47:00.001-07:00

Vietnam has submitted documents on the worship rituals dedicated to Hung Kings in the midland province of Phu Tho to the UNESCO to seek its Intangible Cultural Heritages of Humanity recognition.

At the worshipping ceremony (Source: VNA)

The worship rituals dedicated to Hung Kings, the nation’s legendary founders, have existed through thousands of years, deeply taking root in the Vietnamese people’s mind and t he annual festival to commemorate the Hung Kings, which falls on the 10 th day of the third lunar month, was recognised as a national event in 2007.

Nguyen Tien Khoi, Director of the Hung Kings’ Temple Relic Complex said that “Hung Kings worship rituals” is part of the Vietnamese people’s culture of worshiping ancestors. Throughout history, Hung Kings’ worship rituals have always been the source of the national culture’s internal power, contributing to fostering national pride, solidarity and patriotism of the Vietnamese people.

The Hung Kings worship rituals represent not only the belief in the protecting saints in the spiritual cultural life of the Vietnamese people but also the nation’s ethic of gratitude to the predecessors, Khoi said.

He noted that there are over 1,400 places of worship dedicated to the Hung Kings across the country and numerous festivals are held every year, every where to commemorate the nation’s founders. The festival at the Hung Kings’ Temple in Phu Tho province is the main and official event dedicated to the Kings.

This year’s festival will be held from April 7-12 with a wide range of cultural activities, taking place in Viet Tri city to the Hung Kings’ Temple and surrounding areas.

The festival will draw participation of several provinces nationwide, including Tuyen Quang, Hoa Binh , Nam Dinh, Quang Ngai and Dong Thap province, which represent the three regions of the country.

Some 5-6 million visitors will make the pilgrimage to Phu Tho to offer their respect.

Intrepid journey to Ho Village leads to fairytale experience

2011-03-30T02:34:00.000-07:00

A group from the US expressed their excitement when they related their trip to Ho Village, 20km northwest of Sa Pa.

Northern trekking: Foreign travellers visit Ho Village. — VNA/VNS Photos Pham Hau

Relaxing destination: Jumping Stone Waterfall in Ho Village.

Panoramic view: An overview of Ho Village.

It was a fairytale region, said group leader Duong Quang Thieu.

The group of seven people had been transported to an inn in the village where they hired local guide Vang A Duong, a Tay ethnic man whose household was among the first to co-operate with tour agencies.

"Duong led us to tour Hoang Lien National Park, where fauna and flora are abundant, to see the Da Nhay (Jumping Stones) Waterfall, and we took advantage of the 18-25oC temperature to soak in a fresh clean stream," Thieu said. "It was one of my best memories."

After lunch at Duong's house, they were led to a Dao ethnic hamlet further up the mountain to have a bath with 18 traditional medicinal herbs.

"Although you must trek 3km up to the hamlet, you should not miss this rare opportunity because the Dao people have to go deep in to the jungle to collect the herbs," Duong said. "They are then dried and buried under the earth for a month before use.

"Soaking in the wooden tub with hot herbs leaves you comfortable and certainly more cheerful," he said.

Ho village deputy chief Nguyen Van Minh said the traditional herbs had been handed down through generations of the Dao group.

"They are already approved by the Traditional Medical Institute," Minh said.

In the area, the Lave and Muong Hoa streams weaved through boulders, hills, mountains and terraced paddy fields of Mong, Dao and Tay ethic groups in the breathtaking Valley of Muong Hoa.

Minh said Ho Village encouraged tour guiding.

"We've trained 50 guides and given them English lessons so they can introduce the traditional culture and unique habit and customs of each ethnic group to travellers."

In addition, volunteers from Sa Pa had opened a cooking class and tour guide courses for other young people in the village, Minh said.

Duong said Ho Village was worth the somewhat difficult journey to get their because of its views and the opportunity to discover the daily activities of the Tay people.

On the way to the Jumping Rocks Waterfall, which was named by locals after seeing fish jumping out of the water in the old days, Duong's group passed water running along bamboo pipes which locals had laid down to channel water to their terraced paddy fields.

The channels also fed the wooden houses perched on the sides of rolling hills and ensured the wild flowers flourished, Duong said.

In the dry season, the boulders in Lave Stream resembled works of art; in the wet season from May till September the water formed colourful sprays as it hit the boulders.

Ho Village is divided into three hamlets: Ta Trung Ho, Xeo Trung Ho and Hoang Lien. Nearly 50 households in the village had signed tourism contracts with travel agents and welcomes 500,000 visitors a year.

In the evening Thieu's group walked around the village and watched brocade weaving, bought brocade souvenirs for VND25,000 each, or joined locals performing folk songs and dances at a traditional house.

"We joined locals performing the bamboo pole dance which was not so difficult," said group member Frank Robert, adding that he could thoroughly recommend a visit to the village and the region.

The trails and roads from Ho Village also led to the peaceful Red Dao Village of Nam Toong and other ethnic communities, where trekkers enjoyed even more beautiful scenery.

Transport to Ho Village is mainly by motorbike (VND30,000 each way) or jeep (VND300,000 return).

Festival focuses on tourist spots

2011-03-24T19:01:00.001-07:00

This year's HCM City Tourism Day 2011 will highlight special aspects of five popular destinations – HCM City, Da Lat, Binh Thuan, Phu Quoc and Hai Phong, organisers of the annual event said.

Popular place: Flowers bloom in Da Lat, one among five highlighted destinations on HCM City Tourism Day. — VNA/VNS Photo Thanh Ha

La Quoc Khanh, deputy director of the city's Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, said at a press briefing that a photographic exhibition will present markets in Sai Gon market, flowers in Da Lat, beaches in Mui Ne, Phu Quoc island, and the red flamboyance of poinciana flowers in Hai Phong.

The central province of Quang Binh had become the first destination to be promoted under the department's plan begun last year to highlight a different destination or destinations every year.

"The HCM City Tourism Day is an important festival that can stimulate tourism demand at a difficult time," Khanh said.

It can be seen as a supermarket where travel companies promote and sell their products, and customers can freely choose what they like."

Other countries have achieved significant results by organising similar events, notably Singapore (29 years) and Malaysia (22 years), he said, adding that this was the seventh year in Vietnam.

However, this "supermarket" remains a relatively new concept in Vietnam and both travel companies as well as customers were yet to use such events as a major resource, he said.

Hence, most travel companies who participate in the event focus on promoting their brand name instead of selling their product directly.

However, 92 per cent of travel firms that joined the event last year have registered to so again, proving its success, Khanh said.

"Using the insights gained by the department from Tourism Day festivals in other countries, it has given practical suggestions to travel firms on ways to participate in the event and gain maximum benefits," he added.

Khanh said major firms like Saigontourist, TST and Viet Media Travel are expected to leave significant impressions on this year's event.

In the context of inflation and an increase in prices of most goods and services, the festival will enjoin participants to stand by the Government's efforts to keep prices stable as much as possible, Khanh said.

The city Tourism Association has petitioned the Ministry of Finance to cut value-added tax by 50 per cent, corporate income tax by 50 per cent and allow travel companies to pay taxes two months late, an association representative said at the briefing.

The four-day event is being organised at the city's September 23 Park in downtown HCM City from April 7.

The event will feature a travel fair, a Southern food festival, Golden Voice of HCM City Tourism contest, tai tu traditional music performances as well as the photo exhibition.

Though the organisers were expecting to attract 80 companies to fill 150 booths, an additional four booths have been booked this year.

"The event aims to help travel companies publicise their brands and promote their services for the coming summer season," Khanh said.

A dominant theme of HCM City Tourism Day 2011 is "Tourism Brand" and those brands that have made a mark in domestic and overseas markets will be honoured at the festival.

It will name the top ten names in many categories including: destinations, inbound travel companies, outbound travel companies, domestic travel companies, tourism websites, luxury hotels, shopping stores, hotels for businesspeople, hotels for MICE (Meeting-Incentive-Conference-Event), tour companies and restaurants.

A grand closing ceremony honoring top Vietnamese tourism brands will be broadcast live on the HTV9 channel.

Organisers said they expect to attract 200,000 people to the HCM City Tourism Day 2011 festival who will book tours and take advantage of other tourism services.

Buon Ma Thuot hosts third coffee festival

2011-03-13T18:51:00.000-07:00

500 artists from around the country performed in the opening ceremony of the third national coffee festival held in the Central Highlands city of Buon Ma Thuot last night.

The opening night featured performances designed to show coffee’s significance in the economic, social and cultural life of the Central Highlands.

Speaking at the ceremony, Nguyen Ngoc Cu, Chairman of the Dak Lak Provincial People’s Committee said this festival was an important event of the province this year.

Cu said Dak Lak coffee had been exported to 80 countries worldwide, helping to make Vietnam the world’s second biggest coffee exporter.

The festival is taking place at March 10 Square in Buon Ma Thuot City.

Photos by T.B.D

Si Ma Cai covered in red flowers everywhere

2011-03-11T17:47:00.001-08:00

Going to the Si Ma Cai highland this season, tourists will be able to admire the beauty of the gorgeous red cotton tree flowers that nature kindly shared with the land in Lao Cai Province.

For ages, the people in Lao Cai in particular, and in the Northwestern region of Vietnam in general, have always treasured and adamantly protected the cotton trees (also known as "bombax ceiba") growing in the region. Perhaps, that is the reason why many great cotton trees still bloom every spring.

Lao Cai authorities have recently moved dozens of cotton trees from the highland to the side of Red River with the hope to restore the once famous land for its splendid beauty and cotton tree forest.

Below are some beautiful pictures that DTiNews was able to capture in Can Cau Commune, Si Ma Cai District.

Women featured in Hue photo exhibition

2011-03-09T17:38:00.000-08:00

Pictures by 34 woman artists opened in Hue on March 8, to commemorate Women’s Day.

Forty-two pictures feature various aspects of women’s lives.

Painter Dang Mau Tuu, former chairman of Thua Thien-Hue Provincial Literature and Arts Association, said, “These pictures might help to make viewers more sympathetic to the plight of Vietnamese women. Many of the artists have had to overcome great hardship.”

This exhibition is 16 years running, Tuu added.

A corner of the gallery

Teacher, mother, daughter

On the way to the market

Soft rain

Fishing

Dance, full of grace

Reading

A childhood memory

Whispers

Cleansing bath

Deep in thought

Woman with flowers

Exuberant fashion

Captured moment

Bathing in stream

Offerings for marriage

Folk dancing

Sharing books on a boat

Mountainous regions turned yellow with colza flower

2011-03-07T23:57:00.001-08:00

The mountains of regions of northwest Vietnam turn into a dazzling sight in spring, because of Hoa Cai, or colza flower fields.

Along with the peach and apricot blossoms, the hillsides in this part of Vietnam create an impressive and unique atmosphere.

The abundant fields of colza flower make for great photos, and also create inspiration for many artists.

In case you cannot visit yourself, here are some images of the spring scenery in the northwest:

Vietnam's Saint Giong Festival receives UNESCO cultural heritage status

2011-03-06T17:54:00.001-08:00

Vietnam’s Saint Giong Festival was among 46 other candidates recognised as world intangible cultural heritages on November 16.

By now Vietnam has had 6 world intangible cultural heritages.

The Saint Giong Festival is a unique tradition in Vietnam, held annually from the 6th-12th of the fourth lunar month at Phu Dong Temple (in Gia Lam District) and Soc Temple (Soc Son District) in Hanoi. The festival commemorates the legendary folk hero who grew from a three-year-old child into a giant overnight to help drive out invaders from the country.

The festival is a chance for visitors to watch the performance of traditional rituals and artistic activities which have been handed down from generation to generation.

The list of 47 new world intangible cultural heritages were announced at the 5th section of the Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritages in Nairobi, Kenya.

Among 147 nominations from 32 countries for recognition as world intangible cultural heritage status were submitted to UNESCO in 2010, 54 were selected for the 2nd round.

However, at the meeting held in Nairobi from November 15-19, only 47 nominations from 29 countries won the recognition. These new world intangible cultural heritages include 6 traditional handicrafts, 12 festivals, 6 traditional know-hows, 20 performing arts, and 3 traditional cuisines.

By now, 212 heritages from 106 countries have been recognised as world intangible cultural heritages. Vietnam has 6 heritages on this list. They include: Hue royal court music, Tay Nguyen (Central Highlands) gong culture, the Bac Ninh love duet singing, the Thang Long Royal Citadel, the 82 doctoral stone steles in the temple of literature and now, the Saint Giong Festival.

Up a Hill and Down a Mountain

2011-03-04T17:41:00.001-08:00

My last day in the Mekong Delta brings me to the foot of Sam Mountain. Having filled my plate with magical visits to My Tho, Can Tho, floating markets, rural schools and mud-floored huts, I look forward to a peaceful, uneventful hike up this hill of a mountain near Chau Doc and the Cambodian border.
My driver and guide, Bay, strolls with me through the tombs of Thoai Ngoc Hau, where colorful flowers grow wild between ancient stones. We climb higher where countless temples and pagodas pepper the trailside; small and seemingly make-shift buildings with corrugated tin roofs, these tiny, modest structures reveal their Chinese influence in the characters framing the darkened doorways. Weary from hundreds of miles of driving, Bay returns to our hotel for a well-earned nap, giving me the freedom to climb this enchanting mountain on my own. Enjoying my solitude, I creep through an inviting yellow temple and poke my head into an incense-filled shrineroom. Turning around, I am startled by a wrinkled and storied face looking at me calmly. Motioning with his hands and speaking his best broken English, a brown-robed monk tells me of his difficult path to monastic life, having spent three years in prison while serving during the war. Although past hardship is revealed in his aged face, there is an unmistakable gleam of peace in his eyes. We bow before I continue up the mountain where dogs and chickens communally dart across the trail looking for morsels dropped by tourists but I am the only visitor.
Further up, I stumble upon a little girl diligently doing her homework along the trail. Undisturbed by my presence, she continues her studies as I look closely. I can't help her. I also can't help but notice her school materials: a weathered book, a thin notebook and a small leather book bag. It reminds me of the bare bones conditions of the schools I had visited earlier during my journey through the delta, where students sit four to a wooden bench and pencils are a rare commodity. Yet, like the other students I observed, this little girl remains undaunted in her task, bare feet and all.
Carrying the precious image of the little girl's face up the mountain, I encounter harder faces at an outdoor cafe near the top. A group of men, including an officer in olive drab khakis sporting red shoulder patches, are drinking and smoking and carrying on. Matching those red shoulder patches, the officer's glance seems particularly menacing as I sip a Coke and look out on the vast horizon to Cambodia.
"Have a drink with us," he demands in surprisingly well-spoken English. Avoiding the alcohol, I join the group with my Coke and share my experiences of the Mekong Delta. The officer's face lights up when I talk of my school visits.
"Come with me!" he commands, escorting me to a motorcycle while his friends nod and smile. My God! What did I say? We peel off to the top of the mountain as the officer tells me of a school he wants me to see. We stop at an army outpost at the top of the mountain where he runs in and out in a hurry, perhaps getting permission from a superior to perform his civic duty. As we twist and turn down the dirt road, I clutch the red shoulder patches of the officer, trying not to think about how much he has had to drink.
Containing my nerves, I arrive safely on the other side of Sam Mountain at Truong Trung Hoc High School. We are greeted by the principal and vice-principal, both of whom, to my pleasant surprise, are women. With other staff joining us, including an English teacher who interprets for the principal, we sit and talk over lemonade as I learn of the enormous drop out rate among Chau Doc students: 40% at the middle school level, another 20% at the high school level, and finally only a handful actually going on to university. I also learn that teachers earn between 20 and 40 dollars per month, not including any emergency funds they are required to pay by the state--for example, in case of floods. Lastly, noticing a mural of a hammer and sickle on the wall, I ask, "Do you teach only Marxism?"
"Of course we teach Marxism," she explains through the interpreter. "But we teach all philosophies." The soldier nods and smiles.
Saved by the bell, school is out and uniformed students collect their bikes and start for home. Curious boys in red ties and girls in graceful white ao dai dresses stop to smile and wave as I quickly tour the stark library before being whisked away, back to my hotel--the officer was late for duty. How many of these students will graduate from college? Will the little girl back by the trailside of Sam Mountain make it to middle school? The soldier--I never learned his name, but he went through a transformation from an authority I wanted to avoid to an indispensable guide--delivers an informal salute and heads off, leaving me with many questions and an unforgettable experience.
My uneventful hike up a hill had become a mountain of insight into the people of Chau Doc, and a fitting end to a magically educational journey through the Mekong Delta.
See also these stories on the Mekong:
Life on the Mekong, Photography ~ Lou Dematteis, Text ~ Sarah Tilton (March/April 1995)
Mekong, A Journey on the Mother of Waters, Photography ~ Michael Yamashita (May/June 1997)
Traveling to Tra Vinh ~ F.R. Fritz Nordengren (May/June 1997)

Hidden beauty of an old village

2011-03-03T18:53:00.001-08:00

Loc Yen village, in the central province of Quang Nam, is made attractive by its old houses and stone alleys.

Approaching the village, visitors will be treated to a place that looks like it could be from a fairytale, with narrow and winding roads, green fields and ancient houses.

This little village has more than 10 houses that are 200 years old or older. The uniquely designed houses, particular to Quang Nam Province, are made with jackwood. They usually have three rooms and two lean-tos. The backs of houses abut the mountain behind, leaning against it. The fronts face a deep stone valley. Such spectacular views make these modest houses seem like villas.

Nguyen Thi Kim Suong, a member of the fifth generation of her family living in the same house, one of the oldest in the town, said that even though the village does not appear in popular tourist guidebooks or maps, they sometimes welcome tourists, including foreign ones.

The village has a peaceful beauty

Stone alleys lead to old houses

Alleys are long and winding

Green spaces

Flowers

Mossy stone wall

Sunlit alley

Nguyen Dinh Hoan’s house is among the oldest in the village

Built against a mountain

Stone courtyard

Small garden compliments the house

Village road looks like a mountain path

Tall stone wall in front of an old house

Peaceful countryside atmosphere

Experience the island life of the Mekong Delta

2011-03-02T19:05:00.001-08:00

On my trip to Kien Giang Province, in the far south of Vietnam, I traveled to Kien Luong coastal district to see what is reputedly the most beautiful island in the Mekong Delta. To get to Hon Nghe Islet I took National Road 80 to Nga Ba Hon wharf and caught a boat.

The beautiful Hon Nghe Islet off Kien Giang Province. (Photo: SGT)

The cruise departed early in the afternoon and we seemed to get lost in a wonderland, a small Ha Long Bay in the south. The cruise glided past many islands. The famous mountainous Phu Tu Islet was to the north surrounded by many smaller islands. The little islands have weird shapes - a stone castle, a whale and there’s the coconut tree covered Ba Lua Island.

After two hours we arrived at Hon Nghe Islet and went ashore in a small wooden boat. The first thing I saw, halfway up Lau Chuong Mountain, was a 20-meter-high statue of the Sakyamuni Buddha. The limestone mountain has many stalactite caves.

We decided to go to the old Lien Ton Co Tu Pagoda. We had to conquer hundreds of stone steps to get the sanctuary. On the way, we passed the statue of Sakyaminu Buddha and Chuong (Bell) giant rock which will made a “boong... boong” sound like a bell when I struck it with a small rock.

Further up are beautifully carved Arahat statues.

The pagoda is about 20 meters inside a stone cave. On the mountain walls are many statues of lion, tiger and dragons.

Night time in the pagoda is really peaceful and still. It was a full moon, so the ocean that looked amazing. The pagoda was blanketed in mist. Sometimes, the monks struck the wooden bell while they prayed. The gongs of the bell resonated with the other sounds in the forest.

Early in the morning, I got up to enjoy the dawn. It was a contrast to the stillness of the night; the islet was very busy with fishing boats, fishermen and traders.

Hon Nghe Islet is 320 meters high and 380 hectares. Tourists can take a boat trip to a fish farm to buy fish and discover the lives of local fishermen. The islet is also home to many species of birds.

Phat Co Don Cave can be accessed by a winding path. Inside, it is like a living room and there is a Buddha statue. Some other caves are also worth a visit.

VietNamNet/SGT

Falling blossoms hurt growers

2011-03-01T17:28:00.000-08:00

This year peach blossoms are in early bloom that saddening the growers.

“We cannot do anything to hold the bloom now even the weather becomes colder,” said Thong at Team 3, Tu Lien, Tay Ho District, Hanoi.

Tet is coming next 10 days but peach blossom gardens are in full bloom due to warm and humid weather during recent days.

This year blossom growers at Nhat Tan, Tu Lien face with a tough harvest. This year, peach blossoms are in early bloom, saddening news for growers.

“We cannot do anything to hold the bloom now even as the weather becomes colder,” said Thong, at Team 3, Tu Lien, Tay Ho District, Hanoi.

Tet is coming in 10 days but peach blossom gardens are in full bloom due to warm and humid weather recently.

This year, blossom growers at Nhat Tan, Tu Lien are dealing with a tough harvest.

Blossoms in full bloom 10 days before Tet

Early bloom saddens growers

Young people enjoying the blossom garden

Blossoms falling to the ground

Blossoms are in full bloom before buyers are ready

Saddened growers

Watching the whole garden in full bloom

Growers don’t bother to nurse their blossoms

Blossom trees cut off before the arrival of Tet

Like a fly on the wall

2011-02-28T17:38:00.001-08:00

Thanks to a tremendous amount of feedback and suggestions from Dan Tri/DTiNews readers, my inspired quest to find a local watering hole will continue, only now, I have a map.

I have been bombarded by more emails than I know what to do with from concerned people who feel the same way I do and are eager to help me. This is a good thing. I have a growing list of bars, cafes, restaurants and lounges that our readers have sworn by. Many have told me that I must try other cities such as Danang, Hue, Ho Chi Minh and more. I'll get there, but for now, there are so many places that I have been asked to visit in Hanoi that I will need some time to see them all, but rest assured, I shall try.

I am choosing places on the list randomly, and my next destination was Dragonfly Bar. Located near Hoan Kiem lake, I set out on a Friday night with my friend to see what this place had to offer. I was quite excited because of the abundance of readers who insisted that I try it out.

I parked my faithful scooter across the street and walked towards the door. As I approached, I noticed the words "Mi Casa Es Tu Casa" written along the front. This hit home for me, as it is a very famous Spanish expression used widely where I'm from. It means, "My house is your house." This is an excellent way to welcome your guests. So far, so good.


	Inside Dragonfly

I walked in and casually took mental pictures of the bar. It was still early and relatively empty. I continued to make my way towards the back and to my delight, I noticed two bonuses for any establishment that sells alcohol. Dragonfly has a pool table and foosball! These are always going to be a plus in my book, a great way to make petty wagers, meet new people, and enjoy some friendly competition. The downstairs area was spacious and had plenty of room for late-night crowds. The music was of the club/dance variety and worked well with the dim lighting and flashing green laser lights which were ideal for dancing, something I had no intention of doing on this night.

I made my way up the stairs to see what else Dragonfly had in store for me. There are 2 separated lounge rooms upstairs with another bonus: Sheesha. Sheesha has been growing in popularity around Southeast Asia and is worth trying for those who haven't. Both rooms played different music and were very inviting. There was no shortage of staff, as it seemed like there was an army of servers standing around, identifiable by their red-shirts.

Unless I missed something, I think every single staff member was a guy. While I personally might prefer ladies, it is actually irrelevant because ultimately, it makes no difference if the service is good, so I can't judge a place for that. We picked a room and found a table. I slouched into the cozy chair, ready to relax after a long week. I ordered a beer for myself, a Coke for the lady, and a menu so that I could jot down the prices for reference. Beer prices were a little steep but not too bad, VND 40,000 for a Heineken, 25,000 for a Coke and 55,000 for a cocktail. Our drinks arrived and it was time to observe the vibe.

The music was a little loud for normal conversation, but not obnoxiously loud, you could still hold a conversation however, we had to keep our faces fairly close in order to hear each other. It might not have been the ideal place for me to try learn some Vietnamese from my friend but people watching was interesting enough. The crowd and noise gradually grew as time went on. There were two large groups of party-goers in the room that I was in and they were having a great time.

Overall, Dragonfly was a cool place to go. I would classify the service as ordinary. If you got the attention of a server they were quick to get you a cold beverage, but nobody checked to see if we needed anything else or offered to replace empty drinks. However, when you managed to grab a server they were happy to help.

Dragonfly is definitely a good place to go, especially with a large group of friends in the mood to party. Ii isn't necessarily the ideal place for conversation or "pub" talk but the ambiance was nice. I'm told different nights feature different music as well. It seemed to be a young and enthusiastic crowd with a mixture of locals and foreigners. Depending on your mood and what you're looking for, Dragonfly can certainly satisfy your night. Give it a try, and until next time, leave your comments and suggestions.

The way children play in mountainous regions

2011-02-27T18:26:00.000-08:00

The games children play and entertain themselves in Vietnam’s mountainous region are different than that of most children and intriguing to visitors.

If you go through roads in mountainous areas in the Northwestern region of Vietnam, you might catch the sight of children racing wooden bicycles down roads.

They drive self-made vehicles to carry firewood to their houses or ride “bicycles” made from chunks of bamboo to race one another on mountain sides whenever they come back home from schools.

Many children here also often ride buffalo calves or bathe in streams and rivers on warm days.

Recently, some adolescents “borrowed” their parents’ motorbikes to practise to be drivers.

Crystalline waters shine in Ha Long Bay

2011-02-24T17:47:00.001-08:00

Fishing boats sail on the waters of Ha Long Bay on a sunny afternoon in April. The bay covers an area of 1,553 square kilometers (600 square miles) and has 1,969 islands. It was designated a World Heritage Site in 1994 and again in 2000 by Unesco for its natural beauty and geological value. By Kim Mi-ju.

Last April, I finally had a chance to get a glimpse of the country where my maternal grandfather fought in the Vietnam War. Based on the stories my grandfather told me while I was growing up, I arrived in Vietnam expecting to see evidence of the war. Instead I was surprised to see how modern the country is.

But honestly, the thing that really impressed me was the food, and the bakeries in particular. Although we have bakeries in Korea, the coffee and bread in the bakeries of Vietnam overwhelmed me with their flavours, a mix of tastes and textures from France and Asia, surely a remnant of the country’s colonial past.

I was in Vietnam at the invitation the Vietnamese Foreign Ministry and Asia Europe Foundation to report on an Asia-Europe Meeting workshop that took place from April 28 to 29 in Ha Long Bay in Quang Ninh Province in the northeastern corner of Vietnam. At the workshop, ASEM workshop participants agreed to forge stronger ties through cultural diplomacy linking Asia and Europe.

The sunset over Ha Long Bay.

Passengers fill their plates with food from the sumptuous buffet offered on the cruise around Ha Long Bay (above) before going out to enjoy the view on the deck (top).

On the last day of the workshop, the Vietnamese Foreign Ministry took us on a cruise of Ha Long Bay, which covers 1,553 square kilometers (600 square miles) and has 1,969 islands. After the 10-minute ride from the Halong Plaza Hotel where we were staying we arrived at the pier and boarded a waiting cruise ship.

The other passengers and I sat down at tables set out on the deck and were treated to a feast that was a mixture of Western and Asian cuisine. Around us, thousands of limestone islets rose out of crystalline emerald waters that glistened in the sun.

Pham Sanh Chau, director general of the department for cultural relations and Unesco under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Vietnam, said Ha Long Bay is the first World Heritage Site in Vietnam. Unesco recognized it as a World Heritage Site in 1994 and again in 2000 in recognition of its natural beauty and geological value.

“Ha Long Bay deserves to be named as one of the seven new wonders of nature because it’s like paradise. There is nothing like it anywhere in the world,” Chau said. “It’s not an area just for tourism. It also serves as buffer zone against climate change. It’s rich in marine biodiversity and many scientists say this should be a geological park.”

As we sat back with our plates full of food, fishing boats large and small passed us on their way to their next catch. People exclaimed in excitement when they saw a small tent set up on the waters of Ha Long Bay. The tent, we learned, had been built to accommodate fishermen in need of a break or a place to sleep.

Our trip around the bay was nothing if not idyllic, but our tour guide explained that tourists who visit the area usually take overnight cruises to Ha Long Bay. The cruise starts with lunch aboard the ship and continues with stops at various caves for kayaking and swimming. Guests then sleep on the boat that night.

Because of my tight schedule, I had to return to my hotel that night and wasn’t able to take advantage of what sounded like a lovely diversion, but before I did I took a tour of the boat’s lower deck, where the sleeping rooms are located. The rooms are cozy and designed to accommodate two people. Each one is fully furnished with a bed, sofa, shower booth and toilet, just like in a hotel.

Although my journey to Vietnam was short, I picked up a few tips for my next trip that I’d like to share. First, you don’t have to set an alarm because there is an endless stream of honking motorbikes whizzing by every morning in Hanoi and the noise is enough to force your eyes open. Most Vietnamese people start the day early and most offices open at 7:30 a.m.

Second, you need to be extremely brave when crossing the street. There are no street lights like the ones you find in other major cities. When you try to wade into the traffic that is rushing by, drivers of cars and motorcycles swerve around you without slowing down. On my first day in Hanoi, I stood on the street for 10 minutes waiting for the right time to cross when I finally found a group of Vietnamese women intent on jaywalking.

Third, although the traffic is insane, make sure you stroll around the city on foot. This is the best way to experience a typical day in the life of the Vietnamese people. Women balance poles laden with heavy baskets of vegetables and flowers on their shoulders, passing people who squat on the sidewalk or sit in plastic chairs, sipping tea and eating pho (beef noodle soup) at outdoor food stalls. This is where you can feel the energy of the people.

If you are planning a trip to Vietnam, I recommend you go to Hanoi first, take a tour of Hoan Kiem Lake and the Old Quarter and then take the overnight cruise of Ha Long Bay. There are travel agencies that arrange rides to the bay from Hanoi in the morning, which takes nearly four hours by car. The cruise starts at noon and the price of the overnight cruise starts at $120.

Two great tourism events in focus for promotion in Vietnam

2011-02-23T17:44:00.001-08:00

This year, the tourism sector will focus on promoting two great events, namely the National Tourism Year 2011 programme in the southcentral coastal region and Phu Yen and the seventh International Tourism Fair in HCM City due to take place from September 14-19.

The two events were introduced by the Vietnam Administration of Tourism (VAT) at the ASEAN Tourism Forum (ATF) 2011 Travex Fair held in Phnom Penh, Cambodia.

The tourism sector will continue to promote the two events in China, western Europe and northeast Asia and in other traditional markets.

Phu Yen, Vietnam

According to the VAT, the tourism sector last year attracted more than 5 million international tourists thanks to the celebration of the 1000th anniversary of Thang Long-Hanoi, the National Tourism Year 2010 in Hanoi and Vietnam’s ASEAN Chair.

The National Tourism Year 2011 programme on the theme “Sea and Island Tourism” will take place in eight cities and provinces in the south-central coastal region, starting from Da Nang City to Binh Thuan province.

In preparation for such events, Phu Yen upgraded tourism infrastructure facilities and opened three-and five-star hotels such as Saigon-Phu Yen, CenDeluxe-Thuan Thao and Long Beach.

Phu Yen will provide 100 places of accommodation and 10 tourist and recreational sites with a total of nearly 2,500 rooms, including 900 meeting three-star standards.

Source: VOV

Vietnam to hire consultancy firm for tourism marketing?

2011-02-22T17:48:00.000-08:00

The Vietnam National Administration of Tourism VNAT is, for the first time, considering hiring a consultancy firm to promote Vietnam’s tourism, according to VNAT’s General Director Nguyen Van Tuan.

In the interview given to Tien phong newspaper, Tuan said that after choosing the new logo and slogan for Vietnam’s tourism for 2011-2015 “Vietnam – a different Orient” suggested by Cowan Vietnam, VNAT is consulting the choice with tourism experts, travel firms, relevant ministries and press agencies. If a consensus can be reached, VNAT will ask the Government for the permission to use the new logo and slogan for the tourism promotion activities in the time to come.

VNAT plans to hire Cowan to build a strategy on tourism promotion for the new period. This is for the first time a professional consultancy firm is hired to help the Vietnamese tourism industry to carry out its promotional campaigns.

2010 was the last year in the 2000-2010 development period of the tourism industry. What will be new in the next development period?

VNAT is planning the promotion campaign for the national tourism for the 2011-2015 period, targetting both on Vietnam and foreign countries. There are some big tasks for 2011. First, VNAT will suggests the Government should increase the budget for tourism promotion to 70 billion dong in 2011 (the figure was 41 billion dong in 2010). We have proposed the Government and the Ministry of Finance to use one dollar from the income from every foreign tourist for this purpose. This would give the tourism sector five million dollars in 2011, or a total of more than 100 billion dong to carry out marketing campaigns.

According to the General Statistics Office, on average, a foreign tourist spends 1024 dollars in Vietnam. Tourism experts believe every dollar spent on tourism promotion will bring 12-15 dollar in income. 100 billion dong on tourism promotion would be a modest budget compared with those of other countries in the region.

In 2011, Vietnam will increase its promotion campaigns in the nearby markets, including Japan, South Korea, China, Taiwan and ASEAN countries. It will also reach farther, to markets canto provide the tourists withlarge spending habits, such as Western Europe, North America, Russia and Australia. VNAT is determined to enhance the work of its tourism promotion agencies, making the them more capable, powerful and professional.

Some experts say that the problem now for Vietnam’s tourism is the low budget or lack of money, but that the bigger problem lies in the lack of effective promotion strategies . This explains why VNAT have once not used all the allocated money ?

I’ve heard this opinion. It is true that once in the past, we did not use all the money we were allowed to spend. It was because of the too complicated procedures, and the mechanism under which VNAT did not have full power. For example, in order to spend the allocated budget of 41 billion dong in 2010, at first, VNAT had to draw up the list of activities, then submitted the list to the management ministry, and then to the Ministry of Finance. In order to get the money disbursed, VNAT had to, once again, build up the detailed estimates of spending to submit to relevant ministries.

In general, in order to carry out an event, the tourism sector had to spend one third of the time on administrative procedures and disbursement formalities. In many cases, even though we could see specific opportunities to to attract travelers, these were missed because it would have taken too much time to draw a plan and wait for approvals.

In order to settle the problem, we are trying to persuade relevant ministries to accept a new mechanism which gives more power to VNAT. Currently, the Travel Department is in charge of promoting tourism in Western Europe and China, while the Market Department is in charge of promoting tourism in other markets. However, VNAT has proposed to develop the Market Department into a tourism promotion centre. If the plan is approved, the centre will have its own stamp and account, meaning it will operate separately and receive instructions directly from VNAT.

Vietnam attracted the record high number of five million foreign touristsWill VNAT hope for a higher number in 2011?

The figure represents an increase of 1.2 million tourists, or 30 percent, over 2009. This was really a sharp increase, and such a high growth rate will not be seen in the upcoming years. We have even predicted a slowdown in the next years.

We hope to receive 5.3-5.5 million foreign tourists in 2011 and serve 30 million? domestic travelers.

Source: Tien phong

J’rai people’s ritual slaughter

2011-02-21T18:30:00.001-08:00

J’rai ethnic minority people have a unique ritual for slaughtering livestock, showing their solidarity despite their poverty life.

Meat put next to wine jar

This ethnic minority is located in Rac Village, the Central Highlands province of Gia Lai.

Animals: cows, pigs, goats, which are old and weak are slaughtered in a traditional and solemn ceremony.

Owners inform villagers one week before the ritual so that Can wine can be prepared. Then older bovines and goats are kept and cared for, for the fattening. These are considered their final days and the owners want them to enjoy this time.

Animals are carefully bathed before the ceremony, which usually takes place in the morning.

Different parts are clearly separated. The head is kept whole and placed on New Year's Tree or Neu, facing the house. This represents an offering for heaven and also announces the opening of the festival.

When the head is removed from the tree, it signals the end of festivities.The meat will be used to make dishes and some meat will be kept and then cut into small pieces of 100 grammes each to be placed next to wine jar. When the party is over, the owners of the jars will be allowed to bring the meat home for their families who were not at the party.

All internal organs are thrown away, except for the heart and liver, which are put into the largest wine jar as an offering. After that, the village elder and the owner drink the wine together, before the rest of the villagers. Everyone should have an enjoyable meal.

People here are very hospitable. Any guest will be readily welcomed, and offered as much wine as they can drink.

Mr. Yan decided to slaughter the cow that his family raised for 10 years in order to treat his neighbours. Each participant brought a jar of wine.

He said happily that, “We are family members. I’ve had this type of party for two days straight.”

People eat all dishes with their hands

A cow head on the Neu Tree

People drink from the wine jar at Mr. Yan’s house

Northern natural beauty, traditions call out to adventurous travellers

2011-02-20T18:07:00.000-08:00

What do you think of when you read the fol-lowing lines about Viet Nam by the famous Vietnamese poet To Huu:

How amazing my country is!

Lean against Truong Son Mountain Range

Reach to Truong Sa (Spratly) Islands

From north-eastern most Tra Co with populous forest

To southernmost Ca Mau with mangroves

If you are a traveller cherishing your exploration of the country, you will most likely share the same impressions with your family and friends when you talk about your experience enjoying the beauty of Viet Nam.

Pristine sands: An aerial view of Tra Co Beach. (Photos: VNS)

Let's start the journey from Tra Co, a beautiful beach in the country's northeastern most province, Quang Ninh.

The winding road to Tra Co doesn't dissuade visitors from continuing the journey thanks to sweeping views of the beautiful landscape. Travellers can also go to Tra Co by boat from Hai Phong or from Bai Chay, another coastal city in Quang Ninh Province.

The locality is endowed with a 17km-long coast line and beautiful beaches from Sa Vy to Mui Ngoc. The full length is one of the most attractive beaches in Viet Nam.

While Nha Trang Beach attracts visitors with its beauty reminiscent of a chic modern girl, Tra Co beach looks like a country girl because its beauty has not been altered from its natural state by development.

The wild beauty of Tra Co allows people to enjoy the peaceful and slow flow of life in the province. Taking a stroll along the white-sand beach, listening to the sound of waves crashing, and freeing your mind as you look up at the immense blue sky and the never-ending sea is a simple and enjoyable way to pass the day.

There are four seasons in Tra Co with comfortable temperatures throughout, neither too hot in the summer nor too cold in the winter. The average temperature is about 220C, going up to about 26-280C in summer. In the moderate heat of summer, the cool and clean sea water beckons to would-be swimmers and waters sports enthusiasts.

Visitors are recommended to wake early one morning to travel the 6km to Con Mang to watch the immense red flame of the sun slowly rising to welcome the day. Likewise, as the day wanes they can find a place to relax along the beach to enjoy the sunset. Lovers and groups of friends alike will find enjoyment as they share in the quiet beauty of the pristine sands and feel their souls mesh in harmony with nature and escape from the troubles and sounds of daily life.

Not far from Con Mang is Sa Vy, the country's northeastern most point, where people can look out across neighbouring China. At Sa Vy point, visitors can pose for a photo next to three popular tree-shaped sculptures. Lines from the poem by To Huu are posted on it.

Another worthy stopping point is Tra Co Church, an old piece of architecture built in 1880. It is a massive structure decorated with beautiful reliefs and an 80-year-old bell. In 1995, the damaged reliefs were restored, returning the structure to its original glory.

The nearby Tra Co Temple is another popular destination which is the pride of the local people. It was built in the 15th century but has gone through some changes over time. However, its typical architectural and decorative features have been maintained.

Villagers worship their ancestors at the temple. According to legend, the ancestors were originally from the northern coastal town of Do Son (Hai Phong City now) and migrated to Tra Co more than 600 years ago.

Six ancestors in particular are still worshipped here for their great contributions to the establishment of the village.

Vietnamese style

Test of time: Tra Co Church was built in 1880. It is a massive structure decorated with beautiful reliefs. It houses an 80-year-old bell.

Tra Co Temple features typical Vietnamese artchitectural style. Although it was built in a border area with China and could easily have included features from the country's northern neighbour, the style is distinctly Vietnamese, confirming that the Vietnamese people have long respected their national cultural identity.

After nearly 600 years, the temple still sits as the witness to the country's ups and downs and acts as a vivid story teller who helps generations of Vietnamese learn more about their traditions.

Tra Co Temple is similar in style to many others in the Hong (Red) River Delta. Decorations include various patterns of four supernatural creatures including dragons, unicorns, tortoises and phoenixes, along with God and humans.

The temple inspired Vietnamese composer Nguyen Cuong to write the song Mai Dinh Lang Bien (Temple Roof in Coastal Village) that has left a deep impression in the souls of many Vietnamese people.

Historian Do Van Ninh said that Tra Co Temple proves the territorial expansion process of the Vietnamese and the connection between the border coastal area with other areas of the country.

Annual festival

People visiting Tra Co during late lunar May and early June can take the opportunity to join in the village's annual festival. From May 30 to June 6 a variety of activities are held to celebrate the village.

Prior to the festival, on May 25, a festive procession from Tra Co begins a return journey to the original hometown of Do Son to honour the ancestors there. It takes them about three days by boat to make the trip to the hometown but only two days to return. They belive that the festive procession can travel faster thanks to support from the ancestors.

On the night of May 30, the temple is bright with candles, lights and smells of burning incense. Locals come to pray for health, wealth and a properous year.

The following morning, a ceremony to escort the King to sea takes place. Dozens of people donned in traditional attire join the procession, some playing musical instruments and others holding colourful flags or weapons. A crowd of people follow creating an exciting atmosphere.

During the festival, the village also hosts activities such as a cooking competition where people can enjoy local specialities, and dancing competitions.

The ritual has been preserved for hundreds of years, consistently enriching the spiritual life of the coastal village residents.

One tourist from Ha Noi, who enjoyed the festival during a holiday to Tra Co, said that she was very impressed by the way the locals preserved their traditions.

"Their performance at the festival helped me learn more about Vietnamese culture, especially the culture in a coastal areas," she said.

VietNamNet/Viet Nam News