Posted by admin on March 31, 2011 under Vietnam Travel in the Central, vietnam beauty | 
Visitors to Dalat City in southern Vietnam will find transfixing views of terraced fields which will bring to mind the mountainous Northwest.
Travelling around the outskirts of Da Lat, tourists can enjoy viewing terraced fields of vegetables and flowers, like the work of an artist.
In Da Lat, terraced fields surround small houses and winding roads curve around wooded hills, creating a romantic and peaceful space.
Many local vegetable and flower growers say Da Lat’s terraced fields have their own special beauty. They are most beautiful in the morning sunlight.
Further information about dalat hotel, please kindly visit http://Vietnamhotels.net/.
Some photos of Da Lat terraced fields:
Despite not being as famous as terraced fields in the Northwest, Da Lat fields have their own unique beauty
Vegetables are mostly grown in the fields, along with flowers
Terraced fields surround houses
You can see terraced fields from the surburban outskirts
Terraced fields besides pine tree-covered hills
Valley of terraced fields
Curving terraced fields look like artistic creations
An extremely peaceful and poetic space
Posted by admin on March 30, 2011 under Vietnam travel News |
Vietnam has for the first time participated in the Putrajaya International Hot Air Balloon Fiesta, which took place in Malaysia from March 17-20.
Along with five balloons carrying Hạ Long bay posters, Vietnamese team also had a stall advertising Halong bay in the festival to call on international friends to vote for Hạ Long Bay as one of the world’s seven natural wonders.
The festival saw a total of 27 balloons of the US , Japan , Belgium , Switzerland , Netherlands , New Zealand , France , Germany , the UK , India , Thailand , Malaysia , Vietnam and Dubai ( United Arab Emirates ).
According to the Organising Board, the event attracted 300,000 domestic and foreign spectators.
Posted by admin on March 29, 2011 under Vietnam Travel Guide, Vietnam Travel in the North |
A group from the US expressed their excitement when they related their trip to Ho Village, 20km northwest of Sa Pa.
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| Northern trekking: Foreign travellers visit Ho Village. — VNA/VNS Photos Pham Hau |
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| Relaxing destination: Jumping Stone Waterfall in Ho Village. |
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| 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).
Collected by Vietnam hotel
Posted by admin on under Vietnam travel News |
Travel firms re-open tours to Tibet
The HCMC tourism sector will welcome foreign travel agents and media to promote the city’s image as they change their marketing strategy, an official said.
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A foreign tourist takes photos of the artists who perform at Tan Son Nhat International Airport to welcome the first international visitors to HCMC early this year.(Photo: SGT)
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La Quoc Khanh, deputy director of the city’s Department of Culture, Sport and Tourism, told the Daily that due to budget constraints there would be changes across the board.
Company trips to travel fairs in foreign countries will be cut but familiarization trips will be encouraged as the department focuses on marketing programs and will join travel fairs in new markets like the Middle East and Northern Europe.
“With the major markets we will join up with the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism (VNAT) to save money,” he said.
This year, VNAT has planned to join travel exhibitions such as TRAVEX 2011 in Cambodia, FITUR in Portugal, MITT in Russia, ITB Berlin in Germany, JATA Travel fair in Japan, ITB Asia in Singapore, and World Travel Market in England.
Khanh said the tourism department asked for VND15 billion from the State coffers for its promotional activities. “The city government will give around VND7.8 billion, others will discuss their contribution later. This year will be difficult for the industry,” he said.
The city’s tourism sector has spent around VND19 billion on promotional activities last year, with around VND12 billion of the sum contributed by businesses and other sources.
The department expects HCMC to welcome 3.5 million foreign visitors this year, up 11% compared to last year and hopes to earn VND49 trillion, up 20%.
* Some travel firms in HCMC will re-launch tours to China, including trips to Tibet, during the favorable weather from May to early November.
Saigontourist Travel Service Co. will start a nine-day China tour to take tourists to Shenzhen, Chengdu, Lhasa, and the famous mountains of Shizhong and Emei.
The tour costs VND34.1 million per tourist. Saigontourist expects the first group to start the tour on May 3 from the city.
Viking Travel & Media has planned a nine-day tour from HCMC to Tibet from July. Along with popular programs to the rooftop of the world, the company will offer a two-day tour for tourists to drive Toyota Landcruiser 4500 cars to visit Namtso Lake. The lake was selected as one of the five most beautiful lakes in China by Chinese National Geography magazine along with other attractions in Shigatse.
The tour costs over VND51 million per person.
Tran Xuan Hung, director of Viking, is also excited about an alternative 21-day trip. He said: “It’s a special pilgrimage tour of Tibet.”
Hung said that in the first weeks guests travel on a similar program but from day eight the magic begins with the special pilgrimage tour to Kailash Mountain in western Tibet and other attractions.
VietNamNet/SGT
Collected by Vietnam hotel
Posted by admin on March 28, 2011 under Vietnam festival, Vietnam travel News |
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.
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| 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 Dalat, 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 saigon 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.
Posted by admin on under Vietnam Travel in the North, Vietnam tour, Vietnam travel News |
VIETNAM – In a fitting tribute to its French colonial history, Emeraude Classic Cruises is now offering guests complimentary crêpes on every journey through the splendors of Ha Long Bay.
Guests will enjoy this new interpretation of an old tradition on the sundeck of the paddle steamer every day from 3:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. The Emeraude’s award-winning cuisine is displayed to best effect with this crêpe station, which will offer a selection of fillings inspired by European and Asian dishes.
The first Emeraude paddle steamer was built by a French family, the Roques, who were investors in Indochina in the late 19th century. The current near-replica, which comes complete with en suite bathrooms, air conditioning and classically appointed cabins, hearkens back to the days of French colonial adventures in Vietnam.
Crêpes, an enchanting afternoon treat reminiscent of the Emeraude’s origins, are a delightful addition to the variety of amenities Emeraude Classic Cruises offers its guests in ongoing efforts to add variety and flair to its renowned Halong Bay cruises.
Posted by admin on March 24, 2011 under Vietnam Travel in the Central, Vietnam festival, Vietnam travel News |
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An exclusively royal ritual conducted through hundreds of years during the feudal regime was resurrected for the fourth time in the former capital of Hue on March 20.
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| The ritual, Le Te Xa Tac (Worshipping the Genies of Earth and Crop), is one of the most important rituals performed by kings under successive feudal dynasties to pray for peace and good harvest.
Xa Tac worship ritual is re-enacted in Hue (Source: VNA)
Performed on the Xa Tac Worship Platform, the event included all worship rituals such as a royal procession of elephants and horses, and a worship ceremony which attracted the participation of 550 artists.
Phung Phu, Director of the Hue Monuments Conservation Centre, said that the restoration of the worship rituals aimed to honour the traditional cultural values of the nation, the performance space of royal music forms such as Nha Nhac (royal court music) and royal dancing, as well as the beauty of the ritual culture and traditional costumes of the Hue imperial palace.
The Xa Tac Worship Platform was built in 1806 under the reign of King Gia Long (the first king of the Nguyen dynasty). At present, the restoration of the platform has been implemented./.
Vietnam+
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Posted by admin on under Vietnam Travel in the South, Vietnam festival, Vietnam travel News |
International athletes at the 2011 International Yachting Festival in Mui Ne
| THE 2011 INTERNATIONAL YACHTING FESTIVAL SCHEDULE |
| • MARCH 17
8 a.m. to 9 a.m.: Opening ceremony at Hon Rom Beach, Km 20, Mui Ne Ward, Phan Thiet Town
10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.: Yachting performance on beaches stretching from Hon Rom to the center of Phan Thiet
8 p.m. to 10 p.m.: International music gala at the foot of the sand dunes in Mui Ne with performances by rock musicians from Australia, Russia and the Czech Republic
• MARCH 18
8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.: Seminar on “Building Vietnam’s sea tourism brand name” at Sealinks Hotel, Km 9, Nguyen Thong Street, Phu Hai, Phan Thiet.
10 a.m. to 3 p.m.: Yachting performance on beaches stretching from Hon Rom to the center of Phan Thiet.
8 p.m. to 10 p.m.: International music gala at the foot of the famous sand dunes in Mui Ne with performances by rock musicians from Australia, Russia and the Czech Republic.
• MARCH 19
10 a.m. to 3 p.m.: Yachting performances on beaches stretching from Hon Rom to the center of Phan Thiet.
8 p.m. to 10 p.m.: International music gala at the foot of the sand dunes in Mui Ne with performances by rock musicians from Australia, Russia and the Czech Republic.
• MARCH 20
10 a.m. to 3 p.m.: Yachting performance on beaches stretching from Hon Rom to the center of Phan Thiet.
8 p.m. to 10 p.m.: The closing ceremony of the festival at Sealinks Hotel, Km 9, Nguyen Thong Street, Phu Hai, Phan Thiet.
8 p.m. to 10 p.m.: International music gala at the foot of the sand dunes in Mui Ne with performances by rock musicians from Australia, Russia and the Czech Republic. |
The 2011 International Yachting Festival opened yesterday in the famous Mui Ne resort town, with organizers claiming that it will lay the foundation for a yachting industry in the county and promote sea tourism in the south-central province of Binh Thuan.
The festival, which will run until March 20, has attracted the participation of more than 100 athletes with 60 yachts from 20 countries and territories. Their performances are expected to draw huge crowds of locals and tourists, as well as spark an interest in the sport.
Many professional athletes of late have discovered Mui Ne as an ideal place to sail their yachts or go windsurfing. Coming from many different countries, including Russia, France and Germany, they’ve said they were excited to learn that Mui Ne offers plenty of wind and sunshine all year round.
Jimmy Diaz, chairman of the Professional Windsurfers Association (PWA), said he had not heard about Mui Ne as a hot spot for water sports, but he knew it for certain after holding an international windsurfing contest here earlier this month.
Addressing the opening ceremony of the yachting festival, Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Thien Nhan said, “Mui Ne is one of the outstanding tourism spots in Vietnam. Therefore, Binh Thuan should continue to promote the beautiful beach and make it more popular to tourists all over the world.”
Mui Ne is currently home to 125 three- to five-star resorts with 1,600 rooms.
Ngo Minh Chinh, director of Binh Thuan’s Culture, Sports, and Tourism Department, said with the windsurfing competition and the yachting festival,
Binh Thuan is developing Mui Ne as a world famous tourism spot.
“For years, we have mentioned that potential Mui Ne has but haven’t introduced unique tourism products. Water sports in Mui Ne will become a real tourism product. It serves not only tourists but also athletes around the world.”
Chinh also expected the festival to draw increased interest from local and foreign businesses to invest in Binh Thuan’s marine tourism sector.
Reported by Que Ha – Diep Duc Minh
Posted by admin on March 11, 2011 under Vietnam Travel in the North, vietnam beauty |
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 For these H’mong and Dao ethnic women, life is a hard struggle. To make their living in Sapa mountain, these women, including young girls, have to walk around 10km per day to sell brocatelle. |
| Sapa mountain, Lao Cai, is located in the North of Vietnam. With the natural beauty and the cool climate, Sapa attracts thousands of tourists every year. Tourists from all corners of the world come here to enjoy their vacations amidst the beautiful nature. However, not all people you find in Sapa have the privilege of such a luxurious lifestyle.
These pictures from VnExpress show that in the quiet beauty and glamour of Sapa, many H’mong and Dao women are busy fighting for their lives in Sapa.
In the early morning, these H’mong women have to walk about 10km per day to sell brocatelle in Sapa
Two 3 and 4 year-old girls engage in selling brocatelle wallets and cellphone cases to tourists. They speak Vietnamese quite well
These women have to walk many streets, wait outside many sapa hotels to find customers for their brocatelle handicraft
This 10 year-old H’mong girl also follows her mom to the market
Dao women are sewing brocatelle for customers
Approaching hotels, or food stores, to find foreign customers
At Sapa market, this 70 year-old Dao woman is selling and sewing brocatelle
Source: tuoitrenews.vn
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Posted by admin on under Vietnam Travel Guide, Vietnam tour |
Mention Can Gio, the most remote district of HCMC, and people think of mangrove forests, mudflats and coconut trees. However, there is a different Can Gio, with friendly locals, shady roads and quaint villages on a small peninsula that awaits discovery.
From Ho Chi Minh City, travelers can take a motorbike on Nguyen Tat Thanh Street in District 4, then turn to Huynh Tat Phat Street in District 7, cross Binh Khanh Ferry then head for 40 kilometers along Rung Sac road.
The recently sealed Run Sac road used to be a nightmare of mud and puddles,
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Locals shop in Can Gio Market – Photos: Minh Tam
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but now it’s a smooth highway through forests full of birds and monkeys.
A stop at a guesthouse at Can Thanh Town will give you insight into the lives of local fishermen. There are no luxury hotels but it’s very peaceful and clean.
In the afternoon, walk to the wharf to watch the small fishing boats putter home from sea with fish, crab and shrimps.
Then stop by Can Gio Market by the sea to visit the local fishmongers.
The small restaurants on Duyen Hai Street are not to be missed with seafood straight off the boats for VND15,000 to 120,000 a dish.
