Co To - blue seas and unspoiled beaches

For beachgoers looking for somewhere relatively untouched, Co To Island’s beaches in Quang Ninh Province are the perfect spot, the best destination in Vietnam. To get to Co To, take a boat ride from Cai Rong Wharf in Van Don Island District. Though the cruise can be rough, it is worth taking to see the breathtaking limestone islands sitting like sleeping dragons on the water. These islands inspired a local legend

Once upon a time, when Vietnam was invaded, the Jade Emperor sent a mother dragon with a herd of little dragons to earth help the people defend their country. When the enemy boats came towards the shore, dragons vomited thousands of pearls and gems that turned into stone islands to prevent the enemy’s approach. After defeating the invaders, the dragons did not return to heaven but stayed on earth. The place the Mother Dragon resided is now Halong Bay and the young dragons turned into the islands of Bai Tu Long Bay which contains the Co To island group. After about one and half hour on the boat, green, misty mountain ranges and white sandy beaches of Co To Island appear on the horizon. East of Van Don Island, Co To Island District comprises dozens of islands on about 46.2 square kilometers. Among them, Co To Lon, Thanh Lan and Tran are three largest and most attractive islands along with three main beautiful beaches and other smaller unnamed ones. From the Co To wharf tourists can easily see a 15 km beach lengthening to the end of the island. It’s commonly called Uncle Ho beach, the main beach of islanders and the most crowded place. A paved path winds along the edge of the sandy beach, lined with houses, shops and a market. The beach is deserted and not quite polluted by modern industrial society. It is typical with white sands and blue water as clear as crystal. On the mountain of 5 km distance from the town lays an imposing lighthouse, the highest point of the island. The pathway from mountain foot to the light house is deserted and tortuous with rough stones. From the balcony of the light house, tourists shall take an overview of spectacular green island with Co To, the farthest inhabited island from the mainland. Wildlife adventure lovers often camp here. Tourist can also spend one day to explore this pristine tiny island in a trip carried out by young islanders in the weekends. Thanh Lan Island is nearer with surrounding white sand beach. On the island, oranges are a special harvested fruit. During harvest time, the island turns a splendid orange-yellow colour. From Hanoi, tourists can travel to Van Don by bus at Luong Yen or My Dinh Bus Station every one hour from the morning to 5.30 pm. Some Popular tourists’ activities: Walking on the romantic beaches; Bathing in the blue water; Trekking, biking to explore Co To or scuba diving in the deep blue waters..... Over the past few years, Co To’s rustic beauty has attracted small groups of young tourists who are seeking adventure Vetnam tours and do not care about hotels and organized tours. Tourists to the islands can’t help but become absorbed by the fantastic, unspoilt beaches. The smooth white sand of the beaches under the shining sunlight creates a peaceful, romantic setting for tourists who would like to explore Vietnam's islands and beaches. (Vietnamtourism)

 

Eat a horse : Bac Ha Market in the north-western province of Lao Cai

If you are so hungry you could eat a horse, Bac Ha Market in the north-western province of Lao Cai is the place for you. And you have it straight from the horse's mouth.

Giang Seo Sau, a 65-year-old resident of Lao Cai's Bac Ha District, is known for his expertise in cooking thắng cố (horse meat soup).

He says the dish appeared in the area nearly 200 years ago when the H'mong people settled down in the district, and to this day, the specialty of the ethnic mountainous people is said to be the most delicious at Bac Ha.

Although the recipe itself is quite simple, experience is necessary to produce tasty thắng cố, Sau says.

He explains: After a horse is slaughtered, the meat, bones and innards are washed and cut into pieces. These are marinated in a mixture of salt, black cardamom and grilled địa điền (a spice used in north-west Vietnam) before being placed in a big pan and fried. Water is then added to the pan and simmered for several hours.

HOW TO GET THERE

- The Bac Ha Market is open every Sunday in Bac Ha District, Lao Cai Province, 354 kilometers from Hanoi. - Tourists can book a tour to the market via travel companies like Sinh Café (http://www.sinhcafe.com.vn) and Viet Sail Travel (www.vietsailtravel.com). - If tourists prefer to travel independently, they can take a train or bus from Hanoi to Lao Cai Town. From here, they can catch a bus for a two and a half hour trip to Bac Ha District.

Visitors are likely to get an enticing whiff of the thắng cố cooking as they enter the Bac Ha Market. The horse is slaughtered earlier at the homes of the soup vendors and brought for cooking to the market.

A special feature of the dish is that it is typically served in a cauldron, so customers do not have thắng cố alone. Several people sit around the cauldron and fill up their own bowl for a sumptuous meal, exchanging stories about trading, the crop, hunting and their children.

For young men and women, a turn at thethắng cố cauldron is an opportunity to socialize and even find their soul mates. Many people who have met over a bowl ofthắng cố soup have gone on to solemnize their vows.

For the men, maize wine is an indispensable accompaniment to thắng cố. In fact, there is a saying among the H'mong people in Bac Ha to the effect that those who have thắng cố without drinking maize wine from Ban Pho Commune (also in Bac Ha District) have not enjoyed the dish yet.

When the dish is had as a family, the usual accompaniment is cơm nắm(rice balls) and mèn mén (steamed maize powder).

Thắng cố is famous not only for its taste, but also for the animated and friendly atmosphere in which it is enjoyed.

The traditional dish of the H'mong people has become a cultural glue that brings people closer together.

In the old days, thắng cố was only made with horse meat, but these days it is substituted with meat of the buffalo, goat or pork. All these thắng cốvarieties are available at Bac Ha Market.

A giant thắng cố pan with a diameter of three meters weighing 1.6 tons was displayed at the Bac Ha Market on the occasion of the Bac Ha tourism and cultural week in May 2008. It was recognized as Vietnam's largest thắng cố pan. Three horses were slaughtered and cooked in the pan to serve around 1,000 visitors at the fair.

The market is open every Sunday. Various ethnic groups living in Bac Ha District and surrounding areas bring to the market many kinds of mountainous produce: tea, fruit, honey, wine, brocade, and orchids, not to mention horses, buffaloes and pigs.

The colorful brocade dresses and scarves of H'mong girls as they move about in the market are itself an attraction; and visitors can also buy brocade and handmade pictures here.

In fact, the general ambience here is not of trading, but of a hospitable, amiable place for people to meet and make friends, swap stories and have a good time. It is not surprising that this mountainous market was ranked first in the list of ten most attractive markets in Southeast Asia by Serendib Magazine's first issue in 2009.

 

CRUISE THE OLD QUARTER BY ELECTRIC BUGGY : Dinh Tien Hoang Street

Tuan and other drivers of Dong Xuan Joint-Stock Co. take tourists from Dinh Tien Hoang Street by the lake and then to nearly 30 streets in Hanoi's Old Quarter. Shops in old buildings along the way sell food, clothes and souvenirs.

 

O Quan Chuong, which is the gate vestige of the former Thang Long Palace whose central citadel has just been recognized as a world cultural heritage site, stands intact to greet newcomers in the city. Dong Xuan Market and hundreds of old buildings are historic landmarks that Tuan points out to his passengers.

The tour by electric buggy is a must-try for visitors, either during the day or in the evening. It's a no-sweat way to observe local life and smell Hanoi's food specialties sizzling on the hot coals on Ma May and other streets.

The electric vehicle runs around Guom Lake, also known as Sword Lake, before returning to the starting point on Dinh Tien Hoang Street.

Dong Xuan Joint-Stock Co. launched the electric buggy tour about one month ago to provide both foreign and Vietnamese visitors to Hanoi an eco-friendly way to explore the capital city in the run up to the extravagant celebration of the 1000th anniversary of Thang Long-Hanoi.

Tuan told the Daily that Dong Xuan has put a dozen electric buggies into service to transport individuals and groups around Hanoi. The first trip leaves at 8:30 a.m. and the last trip is at 10 p.m. everyday.

You can hop on the buggy at the station by Guom Lake and wait until there are seven passengers aboard for the trip, while a group of seven travelers can hire the buggy for VND105,000 (around US$5.5).

 

Children under three years old can take a free ride.

The buggy is one of the best ways to travel around the Old Quarter and Guom Lake. The Xich lo or cyclo is also a great way to experience the city from the comfort of a seat.

Many local citizens and visitors still opt for xich lo because it's inexpensive and slow enough for passengers to see everything.

 

 

STONE AGE ARTEFACTS UNEARTHED IN SON LA

The objects, unearthed by Viet Nam Archaeology Institute graduates, have been identified as being from the Palaeolithic era (around 20,000 years ago) to Neolithic (3,000-4,000 years ago). They were found at Huoi So, Tua Thang communes and Muong Lay town of Dien Bien District. 

 

They include simple tools like stone pestles, mortars, and ceramic objects. 

 

Institute Professor Nguyen Khac Su said the objects were from tribes living in connected groups along the Da River, judging from the groups of objects. 

 

From an initial social network, the so-called Son Vi culture was formed in the north of Viet Nam, he said. Son Vi culture (20,000-12,000BC) is the name given to the Upper Palaeolithic tradition of highland Viet Nam. 

 

(The Upper or late Palaeolithic era is the latest of the three periods of the Palaeolithic era, about 40,000 to 14,000 years ago, when modern human beings first appeared). 

 

Su said further study of the relics would identify special cultural features of the region as well as the process of developing prehistoric cultures in the north of Viet Nam in the context of other civilisations in Viet Nam, south China and Southeast Asia. 

 

The project of excavating and moving objects from excavation sites in the Son La Hydroelectricity Plant's reservoir has been implemented in the north-western provinces of Dien Bien, Son La and Lai Chau. Dien Bien was the first to be completed. 

 

In Saigon, Vietnam, shopping is great frenzied fun

Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam — GOOD morning, Saigon: Another shopping day is breaking on the wide, tree-lined boulevards of the city's central business district. Proprietors are sweeping sidewalks, saleswomen are rearranging displays, tourists are drifting out of their hotels in search of bargains.

They won't have much trouble finding them. Hong Kong and Tokyomay be the hot spots in Asia for high-end shopping, but Ho Chi Minh City — which most people here still call Saigon — is a low-end shopper's fantasy.

With tourism flourishing, shops and boutiques are springing up and offering designer wear and artwork at a fraction of what they cost in the West. The best buys: clothing, especially custom-tailored suits ($100 to $200) and silk fashions (a woman's raw-silk jacket and skirt, $55); also ceramics, ethnic fabrics and lacquerware.

More than 30 years after the fall of Saigon and the end of the Vietnam War, the nation is on the rise. In the last decade, the economy has mushroomed, growing an average of 7.4% annually, second to China.

And leading the race is Ho Chi Minh City, bulging with more than 7 million residents in its metropolitan area and 4 million motorbikes. The commercial capital of the nation is also Vietnam's most populous city, packed with young adults who came from the countryside looking for work. They can expect to earn an average annual income of $1,800; elsewhere in the nation, it's less than $700.

Ho Chi Minh City, once called the Paris of the East, has evolved since the war, which residents call the American War. The city is noisy, crowded and lively. Shady boulevards still grace the downtown, but there's a kind of chaotic energy that's at its most frenzied level during rush hour, when the crush of motorbikes and the honking of horns is nearly overwhelming.

The city draws most of the tourists who visit Vietnam, which has meant continuing improvement in facilities. In the '90s, clean, efficient hotels were difficult to find. Now international brands are staking out prime real estate.

The Park Hyatt Saigon Hotel, which opened in July 2005, added high-end luxury downtown and joined several other mid- and upper-range hotels. Restaurants continue to develop, featuring Vietnamese or Western cuisine. Most have English-language menus.

And then there's the shopping. Low labor costs have made prices attractive to Westerners; Vietnam's burgeoning fashion industry has made the merchandise interesting.

"In the past, local designers focused on traditional styles, such as the ao dai, or long dress, and relied heavily on locally made textiles like silk and taffeta," said Luong The Phuc, editor of Heritage Fashion, the in-flight magazine for Vietnam Airlines. "Today's young designers are mixing Western and Asian styles and playing with unusual fabrics."

Many of the designer shops are on Dong Khoi, the street that originally inspired the city's nickname as the Paris of the East. Trees and colonial-era buildings flank it, along with busy boutiques and galleries.

And for bargain-basement shoppers, there's hyperactive Cholon "Big Market," in the Chinese district, where you can get almost anything at a discount. Cholon's wholesale Binh Tay Market is a colorful maze of walkways and stalls where you can find heaps of cooking utensils, produce, spices and clothing, even ducks bound for the dinner table.

At the center of the market is a small shrine where sticks of incense burn. "Sellers come here when the day isn't going well," a guide said. "They pray for better luck."  source

 

Fruit and floating markets: Life in Vietnam's Mekong Delta

Can Tho, about 100 miles southwest of Ho Chi Minh City, is the Mekong Delta's largest city. Picturesque and modern, the city is one of the region's most popular tourist destinations. But it's less touristy than Ho Chi Minh or Nha Trang, so its hotels and restaurants here are relatively inexpensive. Nice meals average $5 per person. Comfortable hotels cost about $30 a night.

Vietnam's Mekong Delta

Vietnam's Mekong Delta is a vibrant, lush landscape of increasingly modern cities amid sprawling rice fields and jungle. The Mekong River and its branches shape life in the region. People live, shop, sell and eat from and in their vessels and homes on the water.

Here, the sun rises on the Hau River. Like much of the rest of Vietnam, the day here begins at the crack of dawn when the weather is still cool.

Protective gods worshipped at temples on capital's four corners

For the millennium that it’s been the capital city of Viet Nam, Ha Noi has been under the protection of four tutelary gods, worshipped in four temples located in the four corners of the city. Tens of thousands of tourists and travellers visit these sites every year, according to figures from the Viet Nam National Administration of Tourism.

East

White knight: Quan Thanh Temple is famous for its poetic atmosphere and the famous bronze statue of Tran Vu.

Bach Ma (White Horse) Temple is located at 78-80 Hang Buom Street. Founded in the 9th century, there remains very little of the original thousand-year-old structure today. The present temple itself dates back to 18th and 19th century reconstruction work, and stands as one of the grandest temples in Ha Noi’s Old Quarter. It was originally named Long Do Temple, to venerate the hero.

Legend has it that when King Ly Thai To moved the capital from Hoa Lu in present day Ninh Binh Province to Thang Long (former name of Ha Noi), work on the citadel could not begin before the King himself prayed at the temple. After the ceremony, a white horse appeared from behind the altar. After running around the city, it flew off into the sky. The King decided to build the citadel in the horse’s footsteps. Long Do was then elevated to the position of a tutelary deity or protector of the city and people started referring to it as White Horse Temple.

West

Linh Lang, or Voi Phuc (Crouching Elephant) Temple is located inside the precinct of Thu Le Zoo. Linh Lang was the fourth son of King Ly Thai Tong, and was immortalised as one of the capital’s tutelary gods for his glorious victory over the northern invaders.

The temple recently underwent restoration and is now home to many traditional activities including an annual festival on the 11th day of lunar February. On that day, a statue of Linh Lang is ushered into the temple on a sedan chair carried by young men wearing light brown and red clothing. He is carried around an island that is situated in the middle of the zoo. In keeping with tradition, the speed and height at which the chair is carried must change from time to time, but the balance is maintained.

North

Standing on ceremony: Musical performances take place at the temple during the festival in the honour of the guardian of the city. (Photos: VNS)

Quan Thanh is a Taoist Temple. After many geographical changes to the city’s layout, it is now located on the corner of Quan Thanh and Thanh Nien street, facing the West Lake. Dating back to the 11th century, the temple is dedicated to Tran Vu, one of the principle deities of Taoism.

During its long history, the site has been renovated several times, most recently in 1893 when the principal gate and the shrine were rebuilt, giving the architecture a mixture of the many different styles of the imperial area. The main features of the temple are a large yard shaded by a giant banyan tree and a shrine that contains a famous bronze statue of Tran Vu built in 1677. The statue measures 3.96m in height, weighs around 3,600kg and depicts Tran Vu as a deity with his two symbolic animals, the serpent and the turtle.

With its history, architecture and location, Quan Thanh temple is one of the most popular tourist attractions in the city. It is also a training venue for several traditional martial arts including Vovinam.

South

Cao Son Temple is located in Kim Lien village, Tay Ho District. Cao Son has appeared not once but twice in the ancient legends of the country. On the first occasion, he helped Son Tinh (Mountain Genie) in his victorious battle against Thuy Tinh (Water Genie) and he was on hand again to help King Le Tuong Duc put down an outrageous revolt, reviving the Le dynasty.

Built on a mound overlooking Dong Lam Lake, the temple is a typical example of ancient architecture.

An annual festival is celebrated on the 16th of lunar March at Cao Son Temple. Among the many traditional games and activities that take place at the festival are bird fighting, a water see-saw and a cooking competition which takes place on boats.

The four tutelary gods of former royal capital Thang Long may have come from different times and beliefs, but have all been remembered and worshipped as heroes and protectors for over a thousand years by Hanoians. Their history may be contained in books filled with pages about wars, but the four sacred temples have always been there, giving their blessings to the people of the capital city.

Restored

In celebration of the 1,000th anniversary of Ha Noi, historical sites all over the capital city are receiving special care. Quan De Temple at 28 Hang Buom street in the Old Quarter recently underwent restoration. Although it is quite the youngster being only 200 years of age, the site had been gravely damaged by natural causes. However, when it was reopened to the public last month, "90 per cent of the original design was restored", said Pham Tuan Long, deputy head of the Ha Noi Old Quarter Management Department.

"It will act as a meeting place for local people, and an information centre to welcome visitors who are interested in the history of Ha Noi’s Old Quarter," Long said.

Re-opened in March, the centre will provide and promote activities to celebrate the city’s cultural heritage. It will also provide tourists and tour guides with information about the city, and in a city moving to modernisation at the speed that Ha Noi is, it is refreshing to know that cultural and traditional values are still appreciated, cherished and thriving.  source

 

MUNCHIES IN THE OLD TOWN

Online Travel Vietnam: Hoi An is well known for its culinary delights, so visitors are recommended to work up an appetite before hitting the streets.

 

 

I have visited Hoi An umpteen times but I never tire of going. The Old Town might be increasingly busy due to the constant stream of tourists but I am from Hanoi. I don't label Hoi An as busy. Popular, yes, but ultimately it's still a relaxing destination filled with wonderful architecture, great food and cool café-bars.

The town is extremely popular with domestic tourists as well as backpackers, flash-packers and high-end travelers from overseas as Hoi An has broad appeal. You can enjoy a day at the seaside, order a whole new set of clothes at a tailor's, stroll around and examine the various cultural attractions, or take a river trip.

Whatever you get up to during your days, just make sure you work up an appetite. Hoi An is a town where feasting is a window into the local culture. The town's rich cultural heritage extends to the kitchen. In a small simply-decorated restaurant on Tran Phu street we browse a simple menu. We opt for a bowl of cao lau, a dry noodle dish and one of the town's most famous delicacies.

The 67-year old chef-slash-waitress explains that the thick, yellow noodles are made from rice flour that has been soaked in ash water and cooked by firewood three times. On the cao lau noodles there are slivers of pork, a handful of bean sprouts and some fresh herbs and lettuce.

Famously, the noodles are made with water from a specific local well, making it impossible to replicate the noodles elsewhere in Vietnam. "My family has been making cao lau for three generations," says the chef. "But honestly around Hoi An, the quality of cao lau has gone down."

Elsewhere, on the pavements roving hucksters roll trolleys down the road and set up shop on the kerb. One is selling a half-hatched egg, or trung vit lon in Vietnamese, and a Swedish tourist hesitates.

"They look terrible but I will try one," she says.

She watches nervously as the huckster prepares the egg, which has a partially-developed embryo. It's been boiled and is safe to eat. The Swede is nervous but she's told to wait as the egg is added to a small bowl with some spices, pepper, ginger and other herbs.

"You think that I will like it now?" laughs the tourist. "I can see the blood vessels on the embryo and there are also some black parts - oh my god, is that the duck's hair!?"

 

Eventually she takes a spoonful with her eyes closed. In the end she is pleasantly surprised. 

"It tastes quite good. It is like when you are eating liver pâte," she says. "But I dislike the egg's soft bones and the hair!"

 

Across the road, a Finnish tourist by the name of Flemming, is ordering a sandwich from a vendor selling banh my (Vietnamese baguettes). He has already sampled a roll and is back for seconds.

"It is because the bread has so many fillings," he says, "I can not keep myself away from this stall."

When the vendor asks what he wants, he instructs her to put in "everything". "I have already eaten bread in Hanoi, but this banh my is the best I have tried. In general the food in Hoi An is very good," he says while enjoying the dish with a glass of local fruit juice.

Later that night on the pavement of Nguyen Truong To street an elderly man trundles down the street, crying out that he's selling "chi ma phu", a dish originating from China that is said to be medicinal.

The vendor implores us to try the dish so he can earn some money before returning home. We quickly concede.

He explains the dish is made from ground black sesame seeds mixed with sugar, vegetable juice and ‘thanh dia' - a kind of Chinese medicinal herb. The mixture is boiled into a pudding. The dish is served in small bowls for VND5,000 a pop.

"This dish is a tonic able to help you recover from illness," says the 78-year old vendor, whose name is Trieu Thanh Tu. He says has been making and selling this dish for 50 years.

"My wife died 40 years ago," says Tu. "I would have retired a long time ago, but my family is very poor. My kids can't afford to take care of me, so I have to keep working.

"This is the most precious thing in my life," he adds patting the side of his food trolley. After our midnight snack we walk through the quiet streets to our hotel. Suddenly rain starts to fall. As we enter the hotel door we can hear the old man in the distance, crying out "Who wants to eat hot chi ma phu?", in the hope of using the good luck he got from us.

 

 

Source:  VietnamNet.

 

Cruise ship docks at Danang port

Costa Classica cruise ship on Tuesday anchored at Tien Sa Port in the central city of Danang, bringing aboard 1,000 tourists from Hong Kong and China to the city.

The visitors helped bring the number of foreign tourists to the city so far this year to nearly 212,250, a year-on-year increase of 26 percent.

Of the total, 20,142 people came to the city through the Tien Sa Port, an increase of 31 percent over the same period last year.

The coastal city is also an attractive destination for domestic tourists, with increases of 15-20 percent forecast for this summer. Major travel agencies say it is difficult to find rooms for large tour groups at beach hotels from now through the national holiday of September 2.

Meanwhile, large hotels in the city's downtown have been offering discounts to attract domestic visitors during the summer holiday. Hoang Anh Gia Lai Hotel reduced between 40-50 percent of room prices for package tours, while the five-star Furama offers $81 per person a night with many services.

Danang has emerged as a new destination besides other sea havens like Nha Trang, Mui Ne and Vung Tau thanks to convenient transport.

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Halong Bay Cruises, New Site For Yours

 

Whether you are looking a relaxing cruise in the wonders of Halong Bay and Bai Tu Long. We specializes in providing Halong Bay Cruises with the top experience and most reasonable price. From the Deluxe Cruises to Valued for money Halong Bay Cruises, we provide the biggest variety for you to choose. On a Halong Bay tours you can explore the caves, experience its flora and fauna on a kayak, laze on one of its fine sand beaches, and a whole lot of activities to make your visit a truly experience of life time. Halong Bay Cruise "Named & designed after a real Chinese junk plied the rivers,seas and harbors of the Far East, from Singapore to northern China." The Red Dragon is with five deluxe cabins and designed with sophistication and attention to details, this is built small so we can get much closer to the natural wonders, pocket lagoons, and its small fishing communities of Ha Long and Bai Tu Long bay. As soon as you board the Red Dragon, you will be surrounded by the handmade woodwork of arts whether you are relaxing with comfort on your cabin, lounging on the spacious sun desk, or dinning in the cozy restaurant. This masterpiece is a wonderful option for those who are looking for a small group cruise of less than 10 persons aboard. While all those who visit Halong Bay are charmed by the archipelago's beauty, few visitors are aware that the three-thousand islands that dot this bay are home to many rare plants, including species found nowhere else in the world. We chose our boat's name-Red Dragon- because, like an ancient junk boat in China. With its classic sails, polished woodwork and refined, Asian décor, the Halong Red Dragon Cruise offers an unforgettable ambiance of relaxed elegance. Tired of touristy places but you would like to admire the beauty of Halong bay, Bai Tu Long bay, join us today on Red Dragon Cruise. Discover the untouched area of the bay. Visit the local fishing villages. You rarely see other crowded tourist groups.

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River ferries proposed to ease traffic jams

HCM CITY — A plan to develop public waterway routes is expected to be approved by the HCM City People's Committee, according to the city's Transport Department.

Under the plan, one route would extend from District 1's Bach Dang Wharf to Binh Quoi station in Thu Duc District's Linh Dong Ward.

Boats would run on the Sai Gon River passing through Binh Thanh District's Thanh Da Canal and District 2. The boats would stop at 10 stations located near bus stations.

The other route would depart from District 1's Bach Dang Wharf to District 8's Phu Dinh station, running on Ben Nghe – Tau Hu Canal via Districts 5 and 6.

The route has seven stop-overs close to footbridges along the East – West Highway.

Both routes are 11 kilometers long and have an estimated travelling time of 30 minutes from the departure to the final destination.

The city's Department of Transport's Division of Waterway Management is working with Thuong Nhat Ltd to develop a detailed plan.

A public waterway bus system that is financially feasible and affordable compared to other transport means would be in accordance with the city's ports and river waterway system, officials have said.

It would also help ease road traffic congestion, especially during peak hours, according to the transport department.

According to the plan, 16 boats worth VND32 billion (US$1.7 million) would be used, half of which would have a capacity of 100 passengers while the rest would accommodate 40 passengers. — VNS

source

 

rice season : lo lo

Nicolas Harkonen posted a photo: Lo Lo. Cao Bang

 

A Taste of Vietnam for Gourmet Lovers

 

Hanoi, Vietnam, August 06, 2010 -- The new Luxury Travel trip (www.luxurytravelvietnam.com) features a 12-day itinerary of Vietnam's most popular spots, with many special opportunities to discover and savor the surprisingly varied tastes of this fascinating land. Along with exploring new cultures, one of the great joys of travel is the discovery of new cuisine. Those unfamiliar with Vietnamese food are in for a treat, as the national cuisine is flavorful, colorful and extremely healthy. North: Northern Vietnam has long been influenced by its proximity to China. As the only part of the country that experiences four seasons, many dishes are only available in season. Overall, the food tends to be milder and lighter than that found in the rest of Vietnam. Central: The pundits claim that central cuisine is the most culturally authentic food in the country. Heavily influenced by the Imperial court cuisine of Hue, the food is generally spicy and well seasoned. South: Southern cuisine is the most varied of the three. Rich in vegetables, rice and seafood, it has incorporated French, Cambodian and Thai influences into a style that is distinctively its own. It is more heavily seasoned and tropical, spicier and at times sweeter than northern food. Luxury Travel's "A Taste of Vietnam" trip is designed for the traveler with limited time and an unlimited appetite for a culinary adventure. The trip features a 12-day itinerary of Vietnam's most popular spots, with many special opportunities to discover and savor the surprisingly varied tastes of this fascinating land. This culinary odyssey will take travelers from tasting the dishes of the North to the delicacies of Hue, down to the unsurpassed bounty of the Mekong Delta with its cinematic abundance of fruits and vegetables. Gourmet lovers will experience the tangy flavor of cha ca (charcoal grilled fish), sample Vietnam's signature pho, become acquainted with infinite types of noodles and rice, and try nuoc mam (Vietnamese fish sauce). "Our ultimate goal is to give our clients a food and wine experience that will last them a lifetime," said Hung Nguyen, sales and marketing manager of Luxury Travel Company. Along the way from North to South travelers will delight in a medley of elegant foods prepared to please the eye as well as the palate, including traditional Vietnamese fare and dishes influenced by international cuisine. The food and tour is well planned, and travelers save precious time by flying or traveling by overnight train. Highlights include the wonders of Ha Long Bay, one of five World Heritage-listed sites in Vietnam, as well as shopping and a market visit to the capital city of Hanoi with its alluring Old Quarter. Enjoy a Royal banquet dinner in this former Imperial Capital to enrich your experience in Hue, one of five World Cultural Heritage sites of Vietnam. Travelers will also visit the picturesque and artsy port town of Hoi An, a favorite with many travelers, and the ever-vibrant Ho Chi Minh City on the bank of the Saigon River. This trip is designed to discover the food, culture, sights and style of this unique country, combining local charm and luxuries from North to South Vietnam. For more information and bookings, visit http://luxurytravelvietnam.com/EN/Vietnam_tours/VietnamCulinaryTours/atasteofvietnam.htm

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Luxury Travel Vietnam Group Company Promote Helicopter Tour

 

Hanoi, Vietnam, August 06, 2010 --Hanoi-based luxury travelers can now save several hours of travel time by helicopter transfers from Hanoi to Halong Bay. Luxury Travel is offering a helicopter ride and a private luxury junk cruise. The use of helicopters between the Vietnamese capital and the UNESCO World Heritage site means travel time between the two points, traditionally a six-hour journey by road, has been cut down to just one hour. "Viewing Halong Bay by helicopter is a great way to get a panoramic view, we organize this helicopter tour every Saturday or private charter upon request," said Tony Pham, Product Manager of Luxury Travel. At 7:00 am there is pick up for discerning guests at the hotel in Hanoi, they will be transferred to Gia Lam Heliport for a 45-minute flight by helicopter MI 8 to Halong Bay. (MI 8 and 17 can carry 20 passengers, MI 172 VIP 24 passengers. Travelers arrive at Halong Heliport on General Giap Hill. They transfer to the Halong Harbor. Travelers will board on a private boat for a four-hour cruise of this stunning area, stopping along the way to visit one of the limestone caves in the area. Passengers will be treated with a sumptuous local seafood lunch on boat. "It is really amazing floating around the spectacular landscape of Halong Bay. How wonderful it is," said Carlos Romero, Vice President of Amadeus Asia Pacific. Travelers will be transferred back to Halong Heliport. At 2:30 pm guests board the helicopter for 45-minute ride back to Hanoi. "Travelers can opt for staying overnight in Halong Bay on luxury junks and travel back to Hanoi by road if time permitted with additional charge," added Tony.

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HANOI, DANANG FIRST CITIES TO BEGIN GRAND SALE

The capital city of Hanoi will kick off the Impressive Vietnam Grand Sale 2010 on August 11 and the central coast city of Danang on August 19. HCMC has yet to decide the start date for the program. 

 

The Vietnam National Administration of Tourism (VNAT) plans to start the two-month program this month as part of the national tourism marketing campaign "Vietnam - Your Destination". 

 

At the request of VNAT, the departments of culture-sports-tourism and industry-trade of the three cities would have to team up to carry out the program. In two months, local and international tourists could enjoy discounts of 10% to 40% at shopping centers, supermarkets, and retail outlets among others in Hanoi, HCMC, and Danang. 

 

However, unlike similar big sale programs in neighboring countries like Thailand and Singapore, promotional activities for the event have remained insufficient. Other incentives like visa fee exemptions for international travelers and VAT refunds have not been worked out. 

 

 

 

Source: Vietnam Tourism.

 

DELTA TO HEAT UP TOURISM INDUSTRY

The plan, which extends to 2020, will aid in the country's economic transformation and help reduce hunger and poverty, according to the ministry.

 

The main goals are to diversify tourism products and fully exploit the country's tourism potential.

The plan calls for linkage among provinces and cities in the region and additional investment in tourism projects of international standards.

Under the plan, the Mekong Delta region would focus on the overseas Vietnamese community and Southeast Asian tourism market, especially Cambodia, while maintaining current markets in Northeast Asia, Western Europe and North America.

Domestically, the area aims to attract more tourists as well, particularly from HCM City and Ha Noi, and the southeastern region.

The Delta region hopes to welcome 2.7 million foreign visitors and 5.3 million domestic tourists by 2015, according to the plan.

By 2020, the region expects to receive 3.9 million foreign tourists and 6.5 million local visitors. By 2015, there would be 37,150 hotel rooms and a total of 50,000 by 2020.

The aim is to employ 154,700 people in the Mekong Delta tourism sector by 2015 and 236,600 by 2020.

Officials estimate that revenue in the region would reach US$723.1 million, with a GDP of $491.6 million by 2015, and revenue of $1.35 billion, with a GDP of $877.1 million by 2020.

The Mekong Delta region would focus on developing rural tourism (orchard and river tours combined with home-stays); cultural tourism (exploration of ethnic cultures), eco-tourism (tours of ecological systems in the area), and high-quality spa therapy tourism (including Kien Giang Province's Phu Quoc Island and Ha Tien Town).

Tourism growth

In recent years, the Mekong Delta has attained significant achievements in tourism, according to Huynh Vinh Ai, deputy minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism.

For example, in 2009 the number of foreign visitors to the region reached 1.2 million, three times higher than in 2000, while local tourists were 8 million compared to 3.4 million in 2000, resulting in revenue of VND2 trillion for the tourism industry.

Tourism in the Mekong Delta region has also created stable jobs and raised the income of local residents, according to Ai.

Viet Nam attracts millions of tourists each year, with its more than 3,000 kilometres of coast, thousands of islands and 125 beaches.

The Mekong Delta has 700 kilometres of coast and a territorial seawater area of 360,000 square kilometres.

The country's coastal areas have lured nearly 70 per cent of foreign visitors and more than 50 per cent of local tourists, accounting for nearly 70 per cent of the gross income of the country's tourism industry.

Call for investment

According to the recently approved plan, the Mekong Delta region would concentrate investment in hotels, high-quality resorts and recreational sites of an international standard.

It would also aim to preserve and enhance the environment, develop festivals to diversify tourism products, train more tourism staff, and conduct research on applying technology in the tourism industry.

The Mekong Delta can be reached by air, land, river or sea. The region has airports in Can Tho City, Phu Quoc Island, Rach Gia Town and Ca Mau Province.

Under the ministry's plan, two international airports will be built.

Located in southwest Viet Nam, the Mekong Delta region, with an area of nearly 40,000 square kilometres and a population of 18 million, includes 12 provinces and one major city, Can Tho. The region extends from Long An Province in the north to Ca Mau Province in the south.

 

Source: VietNamNet.