Posted by admin on July 29, 2011 under Attractions, Vietnam Travel Guide | 
Quiet yellow-sand beaches and historical sites may lure visitors to Con Dao but it’s the old tropical trees that protect them from the scorching sunshine in the archipelago off the southern province of Ba Ria-Vung Tau.
There are a number of cay bang trees which are over 100 years old and hang over Ton Duc Thang and other roads in Con Dao to provide respite from the heat for tourists, who ride past on their motorbikes or stroll around.
Strong winds and sunshine may be not be your idea of a nice break but these noticeable characteristics have turned out to contribute to shaping the trees into distinctive bonsais. The trees are spread out over two lanes of the seaside roads and they shield pedestrians taking a leisurely stroll on the pavement between the tree lines and mossy yellow walls of the old prisons, from the sun.
From tourists resorts, beyond the lines of tropical trees in the esplanade, you can witness the calm of the sea, with fishing boats bobbing on the water and the distant mountains.
At a little coffee shop called Con Son, you can sip a cup of coffee and rest after a long trek at the seaside or in the forests.
Breaths of wind blow in from the ocean sending red leaves of the tropical trees down onto your table as drops of coffee are slowly seeping through the filter, and whet traveler’s appetite for more adventure in the quiet town of Con Dao.
Inside and outside this small town there are other types of ancient trees including the banyan whose roots cover the ruins of historical sites. Underneath these roots contain untold stories about the bravery of revolutionary fighters who shed blood for the independence of Vietnam.
Source: SGT
Posted by admin on July 25, 2011 under Attractions, Vietnam Travel Guide, Vietnam Travel in the Central, vietnam beauty |
Admiring the bay from the Hai Van Pass, going fishing in the bay or swimming in the blue water are among pleasures of tourists at the Lang Co Bay in the central province of Thua Thien – Hue, one of the most beautiful bays in the world.
Lying between Da Nang and Hue cities, Lang Co is the third bay in Vietnam being admitted to the World’s Most Beautiful Bays Club (Worldbays Club) following Ha Long Bay and Nha Trang Bay.
The bay was selected for its preserved natural beauty, which harmonizes with local people and attracts a lot of tourists.
Lang Co Bay has a 13-kilometer long beach with white sand and blue water. It has Lap An lagoon, a brackish water lagoon extended to 1,500 hectares with rich natural resources.
The bay adjacent to Hai Van Pass lies in the central area, where visitors can reach four world cultural heritages in Vietnam, namely Hue relics, royal court music, Hoi An ancient town and My Son relics, within a radius of 70 kilometers.
The bay is also included in many travel tours and is the nucleus of four national tourism complexes as well as one of the three main points of Thua Thien-Hue Province’s tourism.
Let’s discover the bay through photos:
On July 9-10, the Lang Co – World’s Beautiful Bay Festival took place, with various activities like painting exhibition…
… Kite flying
Beach volleyball
Swimming
The afternoon in Lang Co
Lang Co at sunset.
VNE
Posted by admin on July 21, 2011 under Attractions, Vietnam Travel in the Central, vietnam beauty |
When the sun is about to cast its last beams over ranges of mountains and hills surrounding Nha Trang Bay and the central coastal city, the Altitude Bar has soft music mixed with the sound of gentle waves slapping against the ocean shore beneath.
Nha Trang Bay at sunset taken from the Altitude Bar
Then as the afternoon breezes from the world-recognized bay come in, they awaken and breathe new life into the Altitude on the five-star Sheraton Nha Trang’s 28th floor.
Considered the highest bar in Nha Trang, it offers an incomparable spot for visitors to have a bird’s-eye view of Nha Trang bay and the city.
The Altitude is open to both hotel guests and visitors from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. daily, but the hotel’s director of food and beverage Michiel de Kleer says the best time to visit the bar is from around 5 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. when the sun is going down behind the mountain ranges and hills in the west, leaving a lot of beautiful colors in the sky as dusk settles.
As darkness comes, we see the city at night. From the Altitude, guests can spot the Ponagar tower, the giant statue of Buddha and other city attractions lit up in all their glory.
The neon lights along the seaside street of Tran Phu point hungry travelers towards the restaurants that serve a wide selection of seafood and specialties of the city and the central region as a whole.
The moon appears in the clear, summer night, radiating its light all over Nha Trang Bay, which has been called one of the most beautiful bays in the world.
Under the moonlight, tourists and locals swim in the calm sea of summer, stroll hand in hand or chat in groups along the arch-shaped beach with some sitting down on the white sand to take it all in.
And you can see it all from the Altitude Bar. Guests can order a cocktail, mocktail, fruit juice, wine, champagne, beer, coffee and other drinks as they look onto the bay. Or they can sit indoors and immerse themselves in the music and enjoy their beverages. For more information and reservations, call (058) 388 0000.
Source: SGT
Posted by admin on June 28, 2011 under Vietnam Food and Drink, Vietnam travel News |
Lau tha, a seafood hot pot, is a very popular dish in the central coast city of Phan Thiet City which is a must for visitors to the area.
And there is no place better to try it out than the Sea Horse Resort and Spa, 16 Nguyen Dinh Chieu Street, Ham Tien Ward, Phan Thiet City.
The delicacy is based on typical materials and flavors of the coastal area. Lau tha is made of fish, shrimp, pork, vegetables, green mango,
banana flowers, rice paper cake, rice noodles and fried eggs. The fish is mixed with lemon, shrimp and pork which are all sliced into small pieces and put into the soup. The fish sauce is flavored with fried peanut and chili, which gives the dish that snappy taste.
At the resort the meal is prepared wonderfully – like a beautiful flower with ten petals. The banana flower petals are filled with vegetables, green mango, cucumbers, fried eggs and sliced steamed pork. The base of the plate is the fish and the dish is completed with a bowl of soup, rice pan cake, noodles and fish sauce.
The finished article can be enjoyed with or without water. After putting all your ingredients in a bowl you can put in water to make it a soup or just have it dry. Either way it is delicious. The attractive dish has the savory flavor of fish, fat of peanut, crisp of paper cake, sweet of pork and aroma of vegetables.
Posted by admin on June 23, 2011 under Attractions, Vietnam Travel in the Central, Vietnam travel News, vietnam beauty |
Phong Nha Ke Bang National Park has come to be well-known for the Phong Nha Cave and its natural beauty. Starting in June, the park’s management board launched a tour from the Chay River to Hang Toi (Dark Cave).
|
|
|
Boat trips along Chay River
The tour is environmentally friendly, and offers visitors a chance to try out the local cuisine of Quang Binh Province.
The Chay River begins at the limestone plateau of Ka Bang, with the clear and blue waters of the Son River’s tributary.
The stone peaks provide a lovely foil to the surrounding corn fields, making unique and picturesque scenery.
Hang Toi or “The Dark Cave” is 5,258 metres in long, and 80 metres in high. It is also the home of a number of animals, from bats to swallows.
Hang Toi
Underwater lime stone caves of Hang Toi
Grandiosity puts human life in perspective
Soure: Dtinews
|
Posted by admin on June 21, 2011 under Vietnam Travel Guide, Vietnam Travel in the South |
|
|
Each Sunday, just after sunrise, I take a taxi out to Van Hanh Temple in the Phu Nhuan District to attend the morning meditation session.
|
|
|
The neighborhood is non-descript – a jumble of clothing shops, food stalls, bicyle repair shops – nothing that would indicate this isle of tranquility is nearby.
The temple itself is situated on the grounds of what once was the Vietnam Buddhist University, a complex of dormitories, cafeterias and gardens.
A red gate in the walled compound signifies the entrance. A small courtyard opens into, gardens lined by austere dorms and offices. Religious libraries flank the main hall.
Prior to 1975, the complex has been home to movements against war, poverty and social injustice. Successive governments have had their issues with the temple, but today it is home to research institutes and training centers for monks.
It also provides the general public with an open space for reflection and meditation.
Sites like Dharma Web say that the followers of Thich Nhat Hanh (perhaps one of the best-known Buddhist monks in the West) have their roots here.
Born 85 years ago in Central Vietnam, Hanh studied Zen and Mayana yoga as a monk.
He attended Columbia University, met Dr. Martin Luther King and returned to Vietnam to engage in the peace movement.
Despite Hanh’s international significance, the temple was surprisingly devoid of Western visitors, during recent visits.
The main hall is styled after the imperial buildings in Hue, but has been refurbished by gifts from Taiwanese Buddhists.
Shoes line the long steps leading into the massive main hall.
A gigantic white Buddha sits on a lotus flower beckoning visitors to meditation. Light pours in through the windows and open doors. A gentle breeze blows into the room as the city noise subsides.
At seven, the service begins (in Vietnamese).
I cannot follow the lecture, but quietly listen to the soft voice of the abbot. With hand gestures, he seems to beckon his followers to close their eyes, breathe and be mindful – at least, I think so.
Following the service, the half-hour meditation session begins.
I struggle to get my 6-foot plus Western form into position as everyone around me, effortly settles into form. Time is suspended as several worshippers breath in and out in total silence.
I end up retreating to a chair and space out for the remainder of the session.
Van Hanh Temple
When it’s all over, the group awakes – rubs their faces, arms, legs and stretches their bodies.
As I recover my shoes, a student approaches me and invites me to speak to the abbot.
The pair lead me into the dining hall and we sit across from one another. The abbott exudes a radiant glow as he recalls his visits to US monasteries in perfect English.
I learn more, in the ensuing hour, about meditation than I have in decades of reading and occasional practice.
He assures me that Buddhism is not about a particular seated position or ridding your mind of thoughts. Thoughts come and they go – do not dwell on them, he says.
One can meditate while walking or eating. One can meditate while at rest or in just about any location or situation.
“Count your breath” he says “one in, two out, up to ten. Do not labor at it. It does not need to go deep unless it naturally goes deep. Let the thoughts come and let them go.”
He invites me to return to the great hall and return to my chair. With my feet well-planted on the ground, my back more erect and my newfound awareness, I return to meditation.
I emerge more at peace, as if waking from a comfortable, eight-hour snooze – the perfect start to my Sunday in Saigon.
Source: thanhniennews
|
Posted by admin on May 30, 2011 under Attractions, Vietnam Travel in the South, vietnam beauty |
The plan on developing the Bai Dai tourist area kicked off seven years ago in 2004, when 50 investors registered investment projects. However, it is surprising that the wonderful tourist area remains deserted.
The tourist area in the north of Cam Ranh peninsula, or Bai Dai, with its wonderful charm, is considered the ideal place to develop tourism. That explains why tens of investors come here to seek business opportunities. However, licensed investors have still been slow in implementing projects.
Why hasn’t the wonderful tourist area woken up?
In 2004, the Khanh Hoa provincial authorities approved the plan to develop Bai Dai tourist area which covers an area of 2300 hectares. More than 50 investors immediately registered to make investment in the area.
In order to help investors to speed up their projects, the provincial authorities requested local relevant agencies to build infrastructure items, including the 110KV transformer station, the water supply and drainage system and the waste water treatment system.
However, investors have been very slow in implementing the registered projects. In 2007, the provincial people’s committee revoked the investment licenses from the investors of 20 projects who had bad financial capability.
In an effort to force investors to take more responsibility for the projects’ implementation, the provincial authorities requested investors to advance the money for land leasing. Nearly 30 investors paid 560 billion dong in rents. However, the projects’ implementation speed has not been improved.
There are 30 valid projects in Bai Dai tourist area. Of these, only projects have got the permission for construction, and six projects have completed the procedures relating to the land leasing. Meanwhile, other projects are still following legal procedures: some investors are still projecting the construction, while others are trying to complete legal procedures.
To date, only three projects have been officially started, while others have not taken any move.
The Khanh Hoa provincial authorities have pointed out that all the tourism projects in Bai Dai area have been implemented at a snail’s speed. Some projects got the permission for construction three years ago, but they have not fulfilled any commitments made to the provincial authorities.
At the meeting between the Khanh Hoa provincial authorities and investors on May 18; investors blamed the delay in the projects implementation on the legal procedures. Some said they met difficulties in the site clearance work, while others said they still have not fulfilled necessary procedures due to the changes in the planning and investment capital.
The investor of Bai Rong project said that the investor has decided to make some changes with the project. Since the project now has a bigger investment scale, the investor needs to wait for the decision from the central agencies; because this is beyond the jurisdiction of the provincial authorities. The investor also blamed the changes in the regulations on ranking resorts for the delay.
Stronger sanctions to be applied to speed up projects’ implementation
The Khanh Hoa Construction Department has denied the reasons; stressing that the projects have been slow in implementation not because of the changes in the investment capital. The department’s representative affirmed that the reasons cited by investors were not reasonable.
Vo Tan Tai, Director of the Khanh Hoa Planning and Investment Department, also said: “There is no problem in the investment procedures. The projects’ implementation has been slow because of the problems in the investors’ capability”.
Chair of Khanh Hoa People’s Committee, has stated that if investors do not speed up the projects’ implementation, the provincial authorities will revoke the investment licenses and allocate the projects to more capable investors.
Thang said an inspection team will be set up which will supervise the implementation of the projects in Bai Dai, and that stronger sanctions will be applied to speed up the projects. He wants to see the projects become operational by 2014 at the latest, and promises to give preferences to the projects which can begin operation in 2013.
Source: SGTT
Posted by admin on May 18, 2011 under Vietnam tour, Vietnam travel News |
‘Free & Easy’ tour service which arranges air travel tickets and hotel bookings without tour itineraries and tour guides is gaining popularity in Vietnam due to escalating prices in domestic travel.
Local tour operators offer cheap deals in a bid to maintain domestic customers, though the popularity of the ‘Free & Easy’ service has made many tourism agencies unhappy in recent time.
The number of people registering for ‘Free & Easy’ tours increased sharply this year. By choosing ‘Free & Easy’ tours people can meet their tightened budget but tour companies have seen a reduction on package tours this year.
Pham Duc Hoa, deputy head of the Domestic Travel Department of Saigon Tourist, said that the number of people registering for package tours has dropped considerably; hence, the company has been compelled to promote ‘Free & Easy’ tours.
During the recent four-day long holiday, the number of people registering for ‘Free & Easy’ tours was about 25-30%.
Now not just tourist agencies but also airlines seem to exploit this service for domestic and foreign destination travellers.
Hoa believes that the widespread popularity of this service will surely affect businesses and sales in tourist agencies.
Package tours were always the best choice for the elderly, but ‘Free & Easy’ tours are very popular with the young who need not depend on tour schedules and can afford a reasonable rate.
Hoa thinks that single tourists or those wanting to travel in small groups are more interested in this service because they can arrange more personalized tours. Customers can call the company to ask for ‘Free & Easy’ service and book air tickets or hotel rooms and plan their vacation as per these bookings.
Source: SGGP
Collected by Vietnam hotels
Posted by admin on May 16, 2011 under Attractions, Vietnam Travel in the South, Vietnam travel News |
Thirty to forty percent of foreign tourists to the southern province of Binh Thuan are Russian, and 95 percent of them go to Ham Tien – Mui Ne water area.
In recent years, people always use the nick name “Russian village”, instead of “resort capital” when talking about Ham Tien – Mui Ne in Phan Thiet City of Binh Thuan province, a famous tourism destination of Vietnam. If someone goes to resorts, guest houses, bars, restaurants, shops drug stores in Ham Tien and Mui Ne, he would hear Russian words among visitors.
Russian travelers – who are they?
First arrived in Ham Tien – Mui Ne three years ago, Polina from Saint-Petersburg loves the sea there and decided to work as a sailing coach, the job which allows her to stay there for nine months a year.
She said Russians like traveling to the places where there are beautiful, sunny, windy and quiet beaches. Therefore, Ham Tien – Mui Ne is the ideal destination for Russian travelers with mild weather, sunny but not too hot, with much wind and long seashores suitable to play windsurfing and parasailing – the hobbies of many Russians. Local residents are peaceful and friendly, streets are not noisy, while security is good.
According to the Binh Thuan provincial authorities, in the last three years, every day, Ham Tien – Mui Ne receives 400-500 new Russian travelers. Suggested that every Russian traveler stays there for 15 days; then, there are at least 5000-6000 Russian people every day at the sea village.
A lot of Russian travelers stay there for a long time, from one to three months. Some others stay for six months. While local newspapers complain that many foreign tourists do not return to Vietnam for the second time, many Russian travelers return to Ham Tien many times.
The owner of the Chau Linh Guest House said that he knows a Russian family with six people, who come to Vietnam in the last four consecutive years and stay there for 3-6 months each time. The family has introduced Ham Tien – Mui Ne to other Russian families, who also travel to Vietnam and stay for long periods.
“Staying for long time and spending much money” is the comment by local residents about Russian travelers. The hotel room occupancy level is always stable at 80-100 percent. A man, the owner of pearl shop, said that Russian travelers spend 2-3 times more than European travelers on shopping. Restaurants also like to serve Russian travelers because the guests always order delicious meals and they are ready to pay for expensive seafood.
Golden opportunities for local businessmen
A lot of shops and restaurants can be seen on the long 10 kilometer road of Nguyen Dinh Chieu – Huynh Thuc Khang. Especially, the words in the signboards hung over the shops and restaurants, are written in Russian. Menus at restaurants, service fee quotations and advertisement leaflets all provide information in Russian. Even vendors, who cannot speak Russian, also have introduction papers in Russian to give to travelers.
Nearly 40 resorts in the region have opened windsurfing, parasailing clubs to serve the demand of Russian travelers. To date, ½ of the Mui ne resort provide the training for the kinds of sports.
Having realized the high demand, local residents have decided to upgrade small guest houses to receive Russian travelers who stay for long time. Chau Linh guest house, for example, which has eight rooms equipped with modern facilities and mini playing field, is the choice of Russian families. Duy An guest house has a large garden, where Russian travelers can pick up fruits, and sleep on hammocks.
The owner of Thanh Oanh restaurant related that Russians began traveling to Mui Ne – Ham Thuan in 2006, and the locality has become a Russian village. Even the drug stores, which once only served local residents, now also serve Russian travelers, who like the herbs that help beautify skin, functional foods, cordials, or massage drug extracted from snake venom.
Source: SGTT
Posted by admin on May 13, 2011 under Vietnam travel News |
With a 2,500-year Buddhist history and over 10 million Buddhist followers at present and a hundred of pagodas, Vietnam can become an attractive destination for Zen tourism.
Zen is a school of Mahāyāna Buddhism. Zen emphasizes experiential Wisdom in the attainment of enlightenment. As such, it de-emphasizes theoretical knowledge in favor of direct self-realization through meditation and dharma practice. The teachings of Zen include various sources of Mahāyāna thought, including the Prajñāpāramitā literature and the teachings of the Yogācāra and Tathāgatagarbha schools.
The emergence of Zen as a distinct school of Buddhism was first documented in China in the 7th century CE. From China, Zen spread south to Vietnam very early, around 580. It developed strongly under the Ly – Tran and Trinh – Nguyen dynasties. As a result, Vietnamese culture and lifestyle has been influenced by Zen philosophy.
Zen tourism has been developed in Vietnam with tours to pagodas and pagoda festivals, which enable tourists to visit Buddhist architectural works, observe and participate in activities of Buddhist priests, enjoy and admire characteristics of Zen arts like flower arrangement, tea ceremony, bonsai and vegetarian food.
There are around 120 pagodas available for Zentourism in Vietnam, including popular names such as Dau in northern Bac Ninh Province; Ba Da and Tran Quoc in Hanoi; Truc Lam Tay Thien in northern Vinh Phuc Province; Tu Dam, Thien Mu and Tu Hieu in central Thua Thien-Hue Province; and Tu An, Giac Lam and Giac Vien in Ho Chi Minh City.
Source: Vietnamnet
Collected by Vietnam hotels
