The home of Uncle Ho’s father

To mark 81 years since the death of Nguyen Sinh Sac (1862-1929), the father
of the late Vietnamese President, Ho chi Minh, the Mekong Delta province of Dong Thap
has inaugurated the Nguyen Sinh Sac Tourist Area in Cao Lanh City.

The area, which was expanded to 9.3 hectares from 3.6
hectares at a cost of VND5 billion, has Vietnamese culture and history displays
and an ancient village.

 

When completed the replica village will comprise nine wooden
houses built in traditional southern style. Displays will include palm leaf
weaving, metal forge and carpentry, all jobs that Nguyen Sinh Sac did in Dong
Thap.

 

The village will also feature canals, rows of coconut trees,
vegetable farms, cornfield and sugarcane.

 

Dang Van Hoang, director of the Department of Culture,
Sports and Tourism in Dong
Thap Province,
said the village will open for tourists in mid-2011 adding that visitors would
be able to participate in traditional farming and learn about southern culture.

 

 

In 1917, Nguyen Sinh Sac came to Hoa An Village to teach and
give medical treatment to local residents. He joined the revolutionary
activities till he died in 1929.

Dai Lanh Cape

VietNamNet Bridge –
Dai Lanh cape is located in Phuoc Tan village, Dong Hoa district, Phu Yen
province in central Vietnam.
It is a branch of the Truong Son mounts running to the sea.

 

The cape is called Varella after the French man who  discovered it

The French built a light house here in 1890. It operated
well until 1945 and resumed operation in 1961. However, Dai Lanh-Vung Ro was a
coastal military base during the Vietnam War, when it welcomed nameless ships
that carried weapons for the southern battlefield. the light house was closed
until 1997.

 

The Dai Lanh light house is 26.5 meter high from the ground
and 110m over the sea level. The house has 110 wood-made stairs. The light can
be seen from a distance of 27 nautical miles. This is one among 45 national
light houses in Vietnam.

 

On the road to Dai Lanh cape, visitors see a beautiful and
peaceful beach, which is named Bai Mon, with white and smooth sand washed
bygentle waves,.

 

Standing in the light house one can enjoy the vast view of the
sea.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Travel firm hires airplanes for Vietnamese football fans

Immediately after Vietnam
beat Singapore 1-0 to enter
the semi-finals of AFF Cup 2010, hundreds of fans called travel agents to book
trips to Malaysia, where Vietnam and Malaysia will meet in the first
semi final game on December 15.

A local tourism company, Vietravel, hired two Vietnam
Airlines airplanes, totaling 360 seats, which will both depart from Hanoi and HCM City to Kuala Lumpur
and return from Kuala Lumpur to Vietnam on
December 15, to serve football fans.

 

The trip from HCM City is priced at VND8.9 million and VND9.9 million
for the trip from Hanoi.

 

The firm also offers 2-4 day tours to Malaysia, including ticket for the game between Vietnam and the
host.

 

Hanoi Redtour booked 40 seats on Vietnam Airlines flights to
Malaysia.
Its four-day tours to Malaysia,
plus a ticket to the semifinal match, are priced $469. Nearly 20 tourists
booked the tour on December 9 morning.

 

Hanoi Tourist said travel firms are worrying about the
shortage of air tickets to Malaysia.
This company only received a booking for a group of 16 people to Malaysia on
December 15.

 

On online forums, members called on each other to self
organize tours to Malaysia
to watch football.

Tourism to boom during Christmas, New Year

Two tourists prepares for kite surfing on a beach of the coastal resort town of Phan Thiet. The tourism industry is projected to generate US$4.6 billion this year, according to local tourist authorities.

 

Travel firms reported an increasing demand for domestic and outbound tours on Christmas and New Year holidays this year. Many cited the fact that the holidays fall on weekends, which is a motivating factor for the enthusiasm.

 

Doan Thi Thanh Tra, marketing manager of the Ho Chi Minh City-based Saigontourist, said most domestic air tours during the holidays were sold out by mid-November.

 

Meanwhile, the number of bookings for outbound tours increased 17 percent from last year, she said.

 

Lai Huu Phuong, a senior official at the HCMC-based Ben Thanh Tourist claimed that although few have booked holiday tours, he remains very optimistic.

 

Last-minute bookings have become a popular trend and business is booming, he said.

 

“Normally, few people travel in October and November,” Phuong said. “But this year, the situation was different. Our company had 3,000 guests in November – the highest ever.”

 

Moreover, the number of local travelers heading abroad went up this year, too, despite the US dollar rising against the dong.

 

This Christmas and New Year’s, domestic tourists continue to favor popular spots like Da Lat, Phu Quoc, Con Dao, Da Nang, and Phan Thiet. Outbound tourists, meanwhile, are packing their bags for Hong Kong, Singapore and Malaysia, tour operators said.

 

“Air tourism is developing very fast,” said Tu Quy Thanh, director of Travelink. “As long as we have air tickets, we can sell the tour.”

 

The government said economic recovery has spurred tourism. But the tourism boom appears to have outpaced economic growth.

 

Officials expect the economy to grow 6.7 percent this year. Meanwhile, the tourism industry is projected to generate US$4.6 billion for the country, a sharp increase from last year’s $3 billion.

 

Prices unchanged

 

Representatives from many travel agencies such as Saigontourist, Travelink, Ben Thanh Tourist said tour prices for Christmas and New Year holidays have not changed.

 

“The tour price for the holidays this year is relatively stable,” said Nguyen Ngoc An, head of Fiditourist’s domestic travel department.

 

“Only a few tours have experienced a slight increase in prices as local service providers raised their fees,” he said. “Tours to Con Dao have seen the highest hike – more than 10 percent.”

 

On the other hand, tours for the New Lunar Year, which falls in early February, will cost much more as suppliers are expected to raise prices for travel, food and hotel rooms, tour operators said.

 

A supermarket in Ho Chi Minh City is crowded with shoppers. Vietnam’s retail industry has grown 25 percent so far this year.

 

Inbound markets

 

Vietnam’s tourism industry has plans to increase advertising activities throughout Asia and Europe, an official said.

 

Vu The Binh, head of the Travel Department under the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism, said his agency has pinned high hopes on these markets owing to high traffic from these regions over the past several years.

 

China and ASEAN are considered the largest per capita suppliers of tourists while Europe, Japan, and Korea supply more moneyed visitors, he said.

 

Vietnam received 4.6 million foreign tourists in the first 11 months of this year, a 36.5 percent increase over the same period last year, according to the General Statistics Office.

 

The 11-month figure has exceeded the target of 4.5 million visitors for the whole of 2010 set by the National Administration of Tourism.

 

According to the government, Vietnam may be able to attract more than five million tourists by the end of this year – surpassing the record of 4.23 million in 2008.

Son Tay ancient citadel needs preservation

The citadel was built in 1822 in Son Tay town, around 60km from Hanoi’s hub. It is now a
national historical relic and a tourist attraction in Hanoi.

 

The citadel was built in Vauban architectural style under
King Minh Mang’s dynasty. It used to be the capital of three provinces of Son
Tay, Hung Hoa and Tuyen Quang in the Nguyen Dynasty.

 

The citadel was the base of military of the Nguyen Dynasty
against the French in the 1870-1880s. It was lost to the French in 1883.

 

Son Tay ancient citadel is in square shape, with 400m long
sides, totaling around 16 hectares in area. Its four gates face East, West,
South and North. It was built from laterite, with walls of 4.5-5 meters long.
There is a 3m deep, 20m wide and 1795m long moat outside the wall, which is
connected to the Tich Giang river.

 

At present, two gates have been damaged. They are being
restored.

 

So far, three preservation projects have been carried out in
1995, 2001-2005 and one since late 2009.

 

The citadel in pictures:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The three gates of the citadel.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The walls of the citadel

 

 

 

 

 

 

A preservation project is underway

 

 

 

 

 

 

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The citadel
was built from laterite

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Natural getaway

Visitors go for a swim in a stream at Bach Ma (White Horse) National Park in the central province of Thua Thien-Hue. Located in the central province of Thua Thien-Hue, Bach Ma (White Horse) National Park is a must-see for anyone with a love of nature.

Established in 1991 to protect the center of the last corridor of forest stretching from the East Sea to the Truong Son mountain range and the border of Laos, the park covers an area of about 22,000 ha. With its steep mountains and dense forests, the park is recognized for its abundant biodiversity. Bach Ma is home to over 2,100 species of flora and some 1,500 types of fauna, many of which are listed in Vietnam’s Red Book of endangered species. Seven types of pheasants make their home in Bach Ma, including the rare endemic Edward’s pheasant (Lophura edwardsi), which was thought to be extinct for more than 50 years. It was rediscovered in the park and has since become the symbol of Bach Ma. The park also offers a variety of other attractions for tourists including accommodation, conference halls, and an exhibition center detailing the many species found in Bach Ma. Most people visit during the summer to escape the heat and the park is particularly busy during weekends in June, July and August. The first torrential rainfalls in September mark the end of the high tourist season and the return of silence and serenity to the area. For those who love trekking, the national park is a wonderful choice with many trails and great views. Cars and guides are also available for hire to take visitors up to the peak of the mountains, on a village garden tour, or to go bird watching. Bach Ma National Park is relatively easy to access from Hue (40 km away), Da Nang (65 km away) and Hoi An (90 km away). The park headquarters and entrance is about three km from the small town of Cau Hai, where the park road meets the National Highway No. 1. There are frequent buses (both local and tourist) from Hue and Da Nang, as well as a railway station in Cau Hai. Private motorcycle taxis can also take tourists for a small fee.

Highland village envelops visitors in legendary ambience

Houses on stilts

To enter the Jun Village is to step into a time of highland legends and poetry.

Houses on stilts built in the distinctive architectural style of the Central Highlands stand in the shadow of century-old trees; and women work on looms, still dressed in the traditional attire of the ethnic minority community they belong to.

The village, located on the shores of the Lak Lake in the district of the same name, is home to 30 families of the  M’nông R’lăm community. The largest village in Dak Lak Province’s Lak District has preserved its traditional culture through generations.

It is a major tourist attraction now, presenting visitors with a breathtaking landscape of mountains and lakes in which they can ride on elephants, and enjoy cultural performances put on for their benefit.

An incredible highlight of a visit to the village would be to sit at the door of a stilt house on a full moon night, feeling the cool wind blowing in from the Lak Lake, and inhaling the scent of mountains and forests that it carries with it.

Gathering around a keg of the Can Wine –a special kind brewed in the western highlands – and listening to elders recount ancient legends, visitors are transported effortlessly to the land of dreams and fairy tales.

The Jun Village also offers visitors the chance to go rowing in dugout canoes on the Lak Lake and enjoy a feast of Lam rice, grilled in bamboo sections, served with special fish and eel delicacies cooked in the highland style.

Hundreds of acres of farmland add to the rustic beauty of the village, and visitors during the festival season can round off their experience  in a carnival atmosphere as the air is filled with the sights – of traditional dances – and the sounds – of gongs and other instruments.

The peak tourism season in Jun Village is from March to August.

A village in solitude

From Da Lat Town in Lam Dong Province, visitors can head to Lang Tranh, a village of the Chil ethnic group in the Bidoup-Nui Ba jungle, by motorbike.

Simply make a left turn instead of carrying on toward Langbian Mountain. Steep slopes will lead the way to a picturesque landscape of Dankia-Suoi Vang at the end of an asphalt road. From here, the journey continues along a dirt road. At this time of the year, only a few people travel along the dirt road, which the Chil people opened to link their village with Da Lat. An elderly Chil woman uses one of the two telephones in Lang Tranh Village. To get to Lang Tranh, located in the heart of the jungle, you have to cross “Heaven’s Gate,” a mountain peak that has plenty of pines, fog and rain. After crossing the peak, the slope descends for about 25 kilometers until houses can be seen twinkling in the fog. This is Lang Tranh. The village sits amidst large trees and mystical fog surrounded by several small streams. Lang Tranh, which is located in Dung Kno Commune of Lac Duong District and 45 kilometers from Da Lat, sits at the border between Lam Dong and Dak Lak provinces. The locals make a living by growing coffee and raising livestock. Villagers communicate with the outside world by using two public wireless telephones. The Chil live in solitude in the jungle and are very hospitable and welcoming of guests. In the cold weather and forest rain, the offer of a glass of rice wine from the villagers is always welcome. Their kindness and generosity never fail to leave a lasting impression. Tips for visiting Lang Tranh Always use a reliable motorbike and check its brakes carefully before starting the trip. Divide the journey into four or five sections to reduce fatigue. Bring along tools for repairing the motorbike, raincoats, warm clothes, first-aid items, food, drinking water, and a camera.

Visitors have a whale of a time at traditional fest

Local fishermen celebrate Nghinh Ong Festival

More than 40,000 local and foreign visitors flocked to the opening ceremony of the 2008 Nghinh Ong Festival (Whale Worshipping Festival) on Monday in HCM City.

The celebration of the traditional festival in Can Gio District saw a wide variety of programs staged including Hat Boi, the Vietnamese classical opera.

The district is also home to the Can Gio Biosphere Reserve, recognized by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) in 2000; Sac Forest, a renowned revolutionary base for Vietnamese soldiers during the war; and Monkey Island, home to thousands of mischievous monkeys and hundreds of crocodiles.

The Nghinh Ong Festival, is a traditional among southern fishermen that includes the Ca Ong rites, the taking of procession of Ca Ong on sea on a big decorated boat with flag and flowers, hat boi performances and folk games.

The festival is usually held from the 16th to the 18th day of the eighth lunar month in Can Thanh town. People pray for safe fishing trips; a good catch of shrimps and fish; and the prosperity and happiness for the whole fishing community.

Can Gio holds another Nghinh Ong Festival on 15th of the tenth lunar month on Thanh An island.

This year’s festival, ending today, has seen a year-on-year increase of 25 percent in the number of arrivals, organizers said.

Phong Nha – Ke Bang and Fansipan go back on voting list

Phong Nha- Ke Bang Cavern in Quang Binh Province and Fansipan Mountain Peak in Lao Cai Province have been added to a list of 77 candidate sites to be voted on as world natural wonders again. Phong Nha – Ke Bang were taken off the voting list about four months ago. Phong Nha – Ke Bang were added to the list Tuesday. Four months ago, the organizer, the NewOpenWorld Foundation, left the two sites off the said list, saying that the governments of Quang Binh and Lao Cai Provinces had failed to establish an official support board that could formally call on the public to vote online for the two sites. Before the rejection, Phong Nha- Ke Bang was ranked second and Fansipan was ranked third respectively among the world’s 77 most favorite wonders. After being put on to the list again, Phong Nha – Ke Bang is now ranked 13th and Fansipan is ranked 14th. Ha Long Bay in Quang Ninh Province, a Vietnamese site on the list which was not been subjected to the rejection, remains in third place. In September 2009, 21 of the 77 wonders will be selected to enter a second round. The final seven will be announced in the summer of 2010.