Posted by admin on February 25, 2011 under Vietnam Travel in the Central, Vietnam travel News | 
German restorers are using traditional Vietnamese methods to restore the facade of the Imperial Palace in Hue.
Restoration work is currently being carried out on Buu Thanh Gate and screens around King Tu Duc tomb.
The German foreign ministry has commissioned experts from the German Conservation, Restoration and Education Project (GCREP) to renovate six murals dating from the Nguyen Dynasty in the lobby of An Dinh Palace.
The artwork is magnificent, but heavily damaged. Before attempting to restore the murals, team leader Andreas Teufel sent samples back to Germany for chemical analysis.
The team are using traditional mortar made from molasses, lime and sand to restore the works. Teufel said the restored parts of the palace will be indistinguishable from the original work.
“Previous restorers tried to preserve the original works but they didn’t know how to do it properly and didn’t have access to modern technology,” she said.
“That was why relics at the site have largely been left unrestored. The work they did was far from perfect and bore little resemblance to the original. People in the past used different painting techniques. The Vietnamese restorers used modern pigments and techniques,” she said. “I discovered that the original painting technique was similar to that used in Italy .”
The German restorers have used traditional pigments, which are applied to the wet mortar. The colour will be fixed when the mortar dries. Bacteria will grow on the walls during the drying process, which helps to make the artwork more durable.
The restoration work is in keeping with UNESCO’s 1964 Charter.
According to Phan Thanh Hai, vice director of the Centre for Restoration of Hue Relics, the techniques used to restore the palace would be applied to other sites.
Find hue hotels at http://Vietnamhotels.net!
Source: VNA/VIR
Posted by admin on under Attractions, Vietnam Travel Guide, Vietnam Travel in the South |
Ho Chi Minh City, or Saigon as it was once known, is Vietnam’s largest city and most chaotic. I love the chaos, though you need to be careful walking across the street! Connections to Vietnam’s turbulent history are visible all over the city, from the War Remnants Museum to the Cu Chi Tunnels. The city has a lot to offer, great shops, fantastic nightlife, and delicious food. After Hoi An, it is my next favorite city in Vietnam.
Costs in Ho Chi Minh City
- Hostel Prices: A private room costs from 140,000 VND per night.
- Budget Hotel Prices: A night in a budget hotels costs from 150,000 VND.
- Average Cost of Food: By eating at street stalls and markets you can get a meal for 19,000VND. Sit down restaurants are also inexpensive at around 75,000VND.
- Cost of Internet: Internet access is extremely cheap in the city at around 100VND per minute.
- Transportation Costs: Public buses around the city will cost 3,000 VND, taxis are more expensive at 12,000VND for the first kilometer then 10,000VND per kilometer thereafter.
Things to do in Ho Chi Minh City
- Cu Chi Tunnels. Crawl through the extensive network of nearly 500 km of tunnels utilized by the Viet Cong in the 1960s. Tours involve a description of the tunnels, after which tourists are allowed to crawl about the maze and fire AK47s at shooting targets.
- Chinatown. Chinatown is the predominately Chinese district of Saigon. A hive of activity, it is a maze of temples, restaurants, jade ornaments, and medicine shops. Aside from the sprawling Binh Tay market, you’ll find some fascinating temples in the area including the Chinese Chua Quan Am Temple and Cha Tam, which is a Catholic cathedral.
- Museum of Ho Chi Minh City. Not to be confused with the “Ho Chi Minh Museum”, the city museum’s history has included a Governor’s Palace, committee building and Revolutionary Museum. Nowadays its picturesque grounds attract newlyweds posing for photographs. You’ll find a collection of weaponry and memorabilia from the country’s revolutionary struggle and captured U.S fighter planes and tanks.
- Vietnam History Museum. The History Museum is a great place to learn about the colorful events of Vietnam’s past. The museum houses a fantastic collection of ceramics, weaponry and cannons. For your cultural fix, there are photographs, clothes and household objects dating back as far as the 1700s.
- Emperor Jade Pagoda. Emperor Jade is one of the most impressive pagodas in Vietnam. The intricate carvings and depictions of deities including the Emperor Jade himself are hugely photogenic and it’s no wonder this pagoda is as popular with tourists as worshipers.
- Notre Dame Cathedral. The Notre Dame Cathedral is an imposing red brick building built between 1877 and 1883. The two towers that front the cathedral tower over visitors at nearly 200 feet tall while the neon lit statue of the Virgin Mary is also an arresting site.
- War Remnants Museum. The War Remnants Museum is a must see for anyone with an interest in Vietnam’s history of combat with both the French and the Americans. Inside you’ll find hugely informative exhibits focusing on biological warfare, weaponry and in depth statistics of Vietnam’s armies during the conflicts. The museum’s best exhibit is the collection of bombs, tanks, planes and war machinery which can be found in the courtyard.
- Cao Dai Holy See Temple. The Cao Dai religion is relatively new at less than 100 years old. The temples are distinguished by the “all seeing eye” which dominates its architecture and as the Cao Dai temple is the central to the religion, it is hugely ornate and impressive. Many people combine a trip to the temple with the Cu Chi Tunnels excursion.
- Ben Thanh Market. Though the market is crowded and rife with pickpockets, it is the ideal place to pick up a bargain or try some traditional (and inexpensive) Vietnamese food. Vietnamese traders drive a hard bargain but you’ll be hard pushed to find a better selection of souvenirs!
- Can Gio Island. The Can Gio island is popular with tourists and Ho Chi Minh locals attempting to get out of the rat race. The beaches here aren’t mind blowing but it’s a great place to relax and enjoy a meal at one of the many seafood restaurants. The island’s monkey sanctuary and mangroves are great for wildlife fans.
Budget Tips for Ho Chi Minh City
- Taxis. Taxi drivers will rip you off so agree to a price ahead of time.
- ATMs. These offer the best exchange rates and there are plenty dotted round the city.
- Markets. When shopping in any of the city’s markets you may feel like a wallet on legs as the traders call out to you. Be firm and be ready to walk away.
(Source: nomadic matt travel site)
Posted by admin on under Attractions, Vietnam Travel Guide, Vietnam Travel in the South, vietnam beauty |
The economic centre of Southeast Asia’s rising economic star, Ho Chi Minh City is one of the planet’s most exciting cities, where influences from France collide with the Orient, and where the Vietnam War is remembered like it was yesterday. And with skyscrapers, landmarks and fashion cenres galore, never has there been a better time to head to a place that, despite the global recession, is still very much alive and kicking.
Photo credits – Colin Purrington
Authentic Vietnamese
Vietnamese cuisine is taking off around the world, but there is still no better place to find it than in the country’s gourmet capital. Join the likes of Bill Clinton at Pho2000 near Ben Thanh Market, which proudly proclaimed “Pho for the President” along with various photos of the then President of the United States enjoying a bowl of pho at the iconic restaurant. The menu here is long and varied, and is packed with locals and tourists alike. Those looking for something a little more fusion should head to Xu Bar, which is not only one of the cornerstones of night life in the city, but is also the place where the celebrated Chef Nguyen is attempting to revamp traditional Vietnamese cuisine.
Photo credits – Kirk Siang
Coffee & Cafe
The Ho Chi Minh City is brighten up by various lights at night, giving it a laid-back atmosphere that give rise to the prevalence of cafes dotted along the streets. Vietnam is one of the world’s most renowned producers of coffee, and caffeine lovers will find themselves in aromatic heaven trying out the varied local brews here. For a sure-fire way to refresh and relax, pick a random cafe at a bustling street corner and order a local brew. Sit back and enjoy as you laze yourself and watch the various pedestrians passing by.
Photo credits – alex.ch
Hitting the Town
Other than a pick of bustling cafes to relax and sip your time away, the Ho Chi Minh City also plays host to numerous trendy bars that is a favorite of both locals and expats. The Q Bar, Saigon Saigon Bar, Xu Bar, Lush and Velvet are but a few in the long list of popular hangout spots for the party crowd, each with their own distinct trendiness and appeal.
Photo credits – Wilson Loo
Iconic Landmarks
It’s pretty easy to navigate the sprawling metropolis of Ho Chi Minh City on foot, particularly since most of the places of interest is located in District One. Start with the Notre Dame Cathedral, an outstanding red-brick building adorned with staiend glass, then move on to Saigon Central Post office, a French colonial building with a classic interior. This also operates all postal services from the city and is the best place to buy a phone card. The Opera House typifies the city, showing both western operas and traditional Vietnamese performances. The Reunification Palace was the home of the former Viet Cong leader who the city is named after and is a grand colonial building overlooking the city centre.
Photo credits – Lynt
Bikers Gang
After exploring the iconic landmarks of District One by foot, rent a motorbike and cruise along the streets for a way of transportation that has become ingrained into the fabric of society. Throngs of Vietnamese commuters travel by motorbike, and although it may not be one of the safest way to travel, it is certainly one of the most authentic.
Photo credits – nerdcoregirl
War Remnants
One of Vietnam’s biggest tourist attractions, the Cu Chi Tunnels are a network of underground caverns built during the Vietnam War. About 121 kms long in total, visitors can take a tour of the tunnels and see for themselves the conditions in which the Vietcong waged a bloody war against the machineries of US. The War Remnant Museum, also known as the Museum of American Atrocities, is another tourist attraction worth visiting. It’s extremely biased and one sided, but still an important insight nevertheless into the Vietcong’s reaction to the war.
Photo credits – martywindle
Shopping Seasons
Aside from eating most visitors to Vietnam’s number one city find themselves spending most of their time here shopping. Ben Thanh Market is a major market in Ho Chi Minh City and is the place to find souvenirs. There is a wide selection of t-shirts sporting the likes of “Good Morning Vietnam” and “Miss Saigon” to lacquerware and embroidery, and for those that love a good brew, some of the best coffee beans in the region. Ladies will want to try out the Ao Dai, the Vietnamese national dress, which is one of the most exquisite in the region, combining trousers and a dress.
Find hotels ho chi minh city, vietnam hotel, please visit the website http://Vietnamhotels.net/
(Source:unearthingasia.com)
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