Posted by admin on June 21, 2011 under Vietnam Travel Guide, Vietnam Travel in the South | 
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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.
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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
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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 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 April 25, 2011 under Vietnam Travel in the South, Vietnam travel News, vietnam hotel |
Many hotels, restaurants and resorts of Saigontourist, welcome clients with gastronomic programs on the occasion of the upcoming public holidays, Liberation Day (April 30) and May Day (May 1).
Hotel Majestic Saigon (1 Dong Khoi St., Dist. 1. Tel: 08.38295517)
On April 30, the Serenade Restaurant on the hotel’s seventh floor will launch a special service from 7 p.m.-10 p.m. Customers will be served with Heineken beer, white or red wine, soft drinks or mineral water and enjoy the firework display. The service costs an adult VND429,000 and a child VND215,000.
At the same time, M. Bar on the eighth floor will also offer a similar service. Clients will get a drink— white or red wine, cocktail, Heineken beer, mineral water or soft drinks—as well as enjoy a firework display and a music show. The service prices are VND499,000 for an adult and VND250,000 for a child.
First Hotel ho chi minh (18 Hoang Viet St., Tan Binh Dist. Tel: 08.38441199)
Hoa Su 1 Restaurant will serve a buffet with more than 40 typical Vietnamese dishes of northern, central and southern regions on the night of April 30. During the buffet, diners will enjoy a variety show, join a lucky draw with prizes from Nescafé as the sponsor, and see the hotel’s chefs perform the culinary art. The buffet tickets cost an adult VND300,000 and a child VND180,000.
The First Grill Restaurant will hold a music show with a buffet. The buffet includes delicious dishes that previously won gold medals at national gastronomic competitions. Diners will also join a lucky draw in the end.
The First Hot Pot Restaurant will offer a 10% discount for diners who pay on April 30 and May 1. Clients will also be invited a glass of champagne.
Dong Khanh Hotel (2 Tran Hung Dao B St., Dist. 5. Tel: 08.39236404)
A buffet with more than 30 dishes, including hot pots, will be served from 6 p.m.-9:30 p.m. The hotel will give a 10% discount voucher to those clients who buy 5-10 tickets. Any client that buys 11-15 tickets will be eligible for a Dong Khanh silver card, and a Dong Khanh gold card will go to those who buy more than 16 tickets. The hotel also has special prices for groups of clients.
The buffet costs an adult VND199,000 and a child VND139,000.
Bat Dat Hotel (238 Tran Hung Dao St., Dist. 5. Tel: 08.38551662)
Buffets with selected Vietnamese and Chinese dishes will be served from 6 p.m.-9:30 p.m. on April 30 and May 1. The buffets go with a music show and a sing-together program (clients can sing songs on the stage at their wish). Buffet prices are ND200,000 for an adult and VND120,000 for a child, including drinks, ice-cream and a glass of cocktail. The hotel donates one free ticket to any customer that buys five tickets before April 30.
Que Huong-Liberty 4 Hotel (265 Pham Ngu Lao St., Dist. 1. Tel: 08.38364556)
The hotel will serve buffets with grilled fresh seafood on April 30 and May 1, from 6 p.m.-9:30 p.m. The cocktail and draft beef are complimentary. Buffet prices are VND269,000 for an adult and VND139,000 for a child.
Diners that join a lucky draw will possibly win a voucher for two people to spend a vacation at Madagui Resort in Lam Dong Province. Those that book tickets before April 25 are given a 10% discount.
Liberty Central Hotel (179 Le Thanh Ton St., Dist. 1. Tel: 08.62917977)
The Central Restaurant will serve lunch and dinner buffets with more than 30 dishes on April 30, from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. and 5:30 p.m.-9:30 p.m.
At the dinner buffet, the 120-seat restaurant will give diners a lunch voucher and free soft drinks. Lunch and dinner buffets cost an adult VND199,000 and VND299,000, and VND109,000 and VND199,000 for a child.
Binh Quoi 1 Tourist Area (1147 Binh Quoi St., Binh Thanh Dist. Tel: 08.35565891)
Buffets with more than 70 southern dishes and traditional southern music will be served from April 29-May 3. On April 29, there will be one buffet from 5 p.m.-8:30 p.m. On the other days, two buffets will be held from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. and 5 p.m.-8:30 p.m.
The buffets cost an adult VND200,000 and a child VND110,000.
Van Thanh Tourist Area (48/10 Dien Bien Phu St., Binh Thanh Dist. Tel: 8.35123025)
There will be dinner buffets with over 40 dishes on April 30 and May 1. Diners will also play folk games for prizes and children can entertain themselves with games such as painting statues, making flour objects and making sand pictures. Buffet prices are VND190,000 for an adult and VND120,000 for a child.
Oscar Hotel (68A Nguyen Hue Blvd., Dist. 1. Tel: 08.38292959)
From April 26 to May 1, the hotel will serve dinner buffets with more than 45 selected Vietnamese dishes, especially seafood. Drinks are complimentary. Buffets on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday cost an adult VND240,000 and a child VND110,000. Buffet prices on Friday, Saturday and Sunday are VND270,000 for an adult and VND130,000 for a child.
Grand Hotel saigon (8 Dong Khoi St., Dist. 1, Tel: 08. 3823 0163)
Chez-Nous restaurant launches a buffet program ‘Tastes of countries’ on April 30 and May 1 from 6.30 p.m. to 9.30 p.m. featuring French style lobster cream soup, baked turkey American style, Russian style barbecue, Korean roll rice and sushi. Customers will get a complimentary drink of Chilean wine or Russian draught beer, soft drink and mineral water. Classical music will be played during the buffet. The price is VND499,000 per adult and VND399,000 per child.
Continental Hotel (132 Dong Khoi St., Dist. 1, Tel: 08 3825 7679)
Next weekend a gala buffet featuring 30 European style dishes will be held at La Fayette restaurant. Free drinks are served to guests. Buffet prices are VND450,000 per adult and VND230,000 per child.
Tan Cang Tourist Area (A100 Ung Van Khiem St., Binh Thanh Dist., Tel: 08 3512 8775)
A buffet featuring 80 grilled dishes and hot pots will take place at the garden space next to Saigon River for the holiday weekend. Guests will be offered a free glass of Fifth Ocean draught beer for every ticket. The buffet will be scheduled from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. The prices are VND250,000 per adult and VND140,000 per child. Tickets can be delivered to customers.
Saigon Ship Restaurant (Bach Dang Wharf, Nguyen Hue Blvd., Dist. 1, Tel: 08 3823 0393)
A lunch buffet with more than 48 dishes will be held from 11 a.m. to 1.30 p.m. next weekend. The ship departs at 11:30 a.m. and follows the round turn of Bach Dang Wharf and Thanh Da Peninsula. Tickets are priced at VND190,000 per adult and VND120,000 per child.
A dinner buffet will be scheduled from 5.30 p.m. to 6.30 p.m. (boarding time is 5 p.m.) and from 8 p.m. to 9 p.m. (boarding time is 7 p.m.). The ship will follow the Bach Dang Wharf – Ben Nghe Wharf – Bach Dang Wharf route.
Posted by admin on April 21, 2011 under Vietnam Travel in the South, Vietnam travel News |
After living in the nation which founded the ancient sport, you would have thought that by now I would have gone at least a dozen times.
But no, for some reason I had maybe gone to the dogs literally but not physically. Greyhound racing is a great spectacle and even inspired Damon Albarn of English BritPop band Blur to feature his favorite pastime, away from music, on the front cover of the award-winning Parklife album.
So a trip to Vung Tau with a group of friends didn’t see me believing I had much chance of fulfilling my ambition. Greyhounds in Vietnam? Not likely.
We checked into the Petro Hotel and when I was coming down the lift I looked out the window and in my amazement saw a greyhound track. Double-take time but yes at reception they confirmed that races were taking place as they do every Saturday evening at the 5,000-capacity Lam Son stadium in 15 Le Loi Street.
I grabbed my friends quickly and dragged them along and what a great experience it was. A seat close to the finish-line and the chance to have a beer as you put a few bets on, what more can a man wish for? A winner, perhaps and with two races to go it duly arrived but not a big lift as it was second favorite. I was unfortunate with my forecasts of 1-2-3. Three times having 1-2-4. I then did a spot of digging and found out this is the only greyhound racing track in the country.
It was the brainchild of Aussie Bevan Williamson in 2002 with the initial investment to finance the air-conditioned 400-meter track coming from Australia but the sand, of course, comes from Vung Tau beach.
Sunday and time to go home but not before we got down to the real business of the trip – the beach and the seafood. The beach I was warned was not great but as it is the closest to Saigon, it is popular but I thought it was nice and everyone I met seemed to be loving being away from the city.
On our way home my friends told me we would be missing the chance of a lifetime if we didn’t go to seafood restaurant Ganh Hao, and boy were they right – it was out of this world.
Honestly, I’d eaten seafood almost daily since relocating to Vietnam but nothing prepared me for the crab and prawn delights of this piece of heaven. Wow. Even thinking about it now makes my mouth water and it was so cheap.
It’s worth going to Vung Tau just to dine at Ganh Hao on 3 Tran Phu Street alone. What’s a three-hour drive or 90 minute ferry journey to this little gem of a restaurant. It’s fair to say my first visit to the Ba Ria–Vung Tau region won’t be my last.
(Source: Saigon Times)
Collected by Vietnam hotel
Posted by admin on April 16, 2011 under Vietnam Travel in the South, Vietnam travel News |
It’s Tourism Year 2011, so where else can you visit to mark the occasion than the central province of Phu Yen.Sea tourism has such a huge potential in Phu Yen with its 189 kilometers of coastline including popular resorts like Cu Mong, O Loan lagoons, Vung Ro, Xuan Dai bay, Bai Mon Beach or Mui Dien Cape. Of which, Da Dia Cliffs is one of the most striking locations with its huge pile of hexagonal and pentagonal shaped basaltic rocks with part of the area under sea.
Due to the sea crashing onto the cliffs all year round, the black and yellow rocks look very smooth and shiny. In the center of the cliffs is a depression filled with still water.
Moreover, there are many stunning beaches that tourists should not miss such as Bai bang, Bai Bau and Bai Rang.
Phu Yen is also a land of long tradition, enriched culture and home to many historical relics and events. Coming to Phu Yen, tourists have the chance to listen to a Tuy An dan da (stone musical instruments) performance, a fish worshipping ceremony or gongs festival with mountainous ethnic groups.
Phu Yen beach
The Saigon Phu Yen hotel, under management of Saigontourist, is an ideal site for tourists’ accommodation. Opened last August, the hotel has 87 rooms, 10 villas, a hall with a capacity of 300 people and a restaurant serving Vietnamese, Western and Asian food and a bar.
The hotel has introduced two new food programs including a buffet on weekend evenings, featuring more than 30 dishes and priced at VND59,000 per adult and VND49,000 per child with a discount room rate at VND400,000 per night.
For tours around the province, tourists can book at Saigon Phu Yen Tourist Joint Stock Co. with tours to Da Dia Cliffs, sunset and dawn at Dai Lanh lighthouse, discovering Vung Ro Bay, beach games, trekking to primeval forests or visiting craft villages.
Posted by admin on April 15, 2011 under Vietnam Travel Guide, Vietnam Travel in the South, vietnam beauty |
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Clean and primitive, Mui Ke Ga (Ke Ga Cape) is the most favorite destination for visitors to the central province of Binh Thuan.
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Over 20 kilometers from the city of Phan Thiet, Binh Thuan Province, tourists can travel by bus or motorbike along the coastline to Ke Ga Island. At Ke Ga Cape, visitors are able to wander around and clamber over cliffs and boulders piled up all over the place.
There are many international and domestic ships and fishing boats coming and going in the area. As there are reefs in the area, French and local people decided to erect Ke Ga lighthouse to warn ships of the danger.
Visitors can also stay on the island overnight to go fishing. Fishing during the full moon is another unforgettable experience. People can taste the baked sea fish they have caught themselves and then stay up to see the first sunlight.
At Ke Ga Cape stands a lighthouse, built in 1899, it is considered as the tallest and oldest existing lighthouse in Vietnam.
The lighthouse is called Ke Ga by local people. Ke Ga Lighthouse was built on the top of Ke Ga Island, which has a total area of about 5ha in the coastal area of Tan Thanh Ward, Ham Thuan Nam District, about 30km away from Phan Thiet City to the South East.
This lighthouse was designed by a French architect named Chnavat to guide ships to go back and forth. The construction started in February 1897 and was completed by the end of 1898, and the lighthouse was put in operation in 1900. To mark the construction period, local people put a big granite panel carved the number 1899 at the lighthouse entry gate. The lighthouse has now been operating for 108 years.
The light house with its unique architecture is about 60m tall. From that height, visitors are able to see a vast expanse of sea and sky, as well as enjoy cool ocean winds. The most beautiful moment to visit the lighthouse is at sunset. People can see a fantastic sight with splendid colors. Sometimes they can not distinguish the boundary of the sky and sea. Only 500m from the coast, people can walk to the island when the tide is low.
Ke Ga Lighthouse was built grandiosely and is classified as Vietnam’s tallest lighthouse. It was built from granite stones brought from France. A unique character of this lighthouse is that the granite stones were carved out of different cells, shapes, sides that are well-fit. So in building, they were put together and stuck by mortar.
On the lighthouse, there is a big light of 2000W, which was brought from France and used to give signals ships back and forth. Presently, Ke Ga Lighthouse has become a tourist attraction, not only for its art and architecture, but also for its beautiful natural landscape.
Besides the beautiful landscapes, Mui Ke Ga is an interesting experience for visitors, from tours to the seafood market in the early morning, to fishing in the sea, catching crabs at night, and seeing the sunset on the mountain top.
The beauty of Mui Ke Ga:
The early-morning fish market:
Source: Vietnam-beauty/VNE
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Posted by admin on April 5, 2011 under Vietnam Travel in the South, vietnam beauty |
Nestled peacefully on Huynh Thuc Khang Street under the shade of coconut lines, Mui Ne fishing village boasts its rare charms from early twilight to sunset, literally waving at passers-by to stop and admire the splendid sceneries and take photos.
A small area of 1,000 meters of coastline in Mui Ne Ward, Phan Thiet City, Binh Thuan Province, the fishing village is endowed with calm waves all year round so naturally it is the home pier for fishermen in the city. Considered as the miniature of Binh Thuan Sea, Mui Ne Fishing Village is attractive not only by its spectacular surroundings but also by the bustling rhythms of daily coastal life.
Every moment of the day is different. From the deafening silence at twilight when hundreds of boatpeople have some shuteye, to hustle and bustle of morning with some boats anchoring off for a new day, while others return from off-shore fishing with loads of catches to sell. The boats go about their business out in the calm waters at noon, before the fishermen return with their haul at sunset just in time to keep the local seafood restaurants in business.
Le Van Bay, a 72-year-old fisherman said: “If you want to sense the daily life here, you must come between 3 a.m. to 8 a.m. to see the peak time of the village with images of tired men coming back from the sea, while their radiant wives and daughters pick them up and quickly unloading baskets of seafood to sell during the day.”
The seafood market in the village is jam packed during early morning. Together with local market visitors, this hotspot is popular with foreign tourists who are keen to buy fresh seafood at a bargain price.
Book mui ne resort at http://Vietnamhotels.net/ soon to enjoy the people’s lives there!
Source: SGT
Posted by admin on March 24, 2011 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 4, 2011 under Vietnam Travel Guide, Vietnam Travel in the South, vietnam beauty |
By Dang Hoang Tham in Kien Giang
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| The beautiful Hon Nghe Islet off Kien Giang Province – Photo: Dang Hoang Tham |
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 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.
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