Vietnam, Cambodia among World’s Top 30 Honeymoon Destinations

Once synonymous with war and genocide, Vietnam and Cambodia are coming into the second decade of the 21st Century as one of the world’s premier honeymoon hot spots.

Hoi An Beach, Quang Nam - Vietnam

Virtuoso, a leading luxury travel network in the U.S., recently unveiled the 30 Top Honeymoons chosen by some of its most experienced honeymoon specialists. And Vietnam and Cambodia were prominent on the list.

“We’re in the midst of a remarkable journey,” said Herbert Laubichler-Pichler, general manager of The Nam Hai in the central of Quang Nam province, one of the resorts featured in Virtuoso’s ‘Romantic Southeast Asia’ honeymoon promotion. “From all over the world, people are dropping into this region for a distinguished honeymoon.”

Honeymooners have been in the Caribbean or Greek and done that. Now, they’re raising the bar on their expectations.

In its current honeymoon campaign, Virtuoso looked to TheKnot.com, the No. 1 online wedding planning resource, to create an email and website promotion that will be viewed by millions of registered brides-to-be., the No. 1 online wedding planning resource, to create an email and website promotion that will be viewed by millions of registered brides-to-be.

Angkor Temples, Cambodia

The nine-night escape to Vietnam and Cambodia includes stays at The Nam Hai in Hoi An, Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi and Siem Reap’s Hotel de la Paix — three of the premier properties in Southeast Asia — for reasonable price per couple. Renowned regional tour operator, Trails of Indochina, takes care of the ground transportation.

The trip is arranged by TravelCorp International’s Luke Breaux, one of 24 featured Virtuoso honeymoon specialists. The U.S.-based consultant has 15 years experience arranging memorable itineraries for visitors to Southeast Asia.

“Vietnam and Cambodia possess a kind of cultural and exotic appeal that you can’t find anywhere else,” said Laubichler-Pichler. “Between its abundance of UNESCO World Heritage sites, dramatic beaches and world-class accommodation, the region has everything a couple could want.”

Situated on 35 hectares of landscaped tropical gardens, The Nam Hai is an all-villa property managed by GHM and featuring 60 one-bedroom villas and 40 pool villas ranging from one to five bedrooms, each with its own infinity pool.

Opened in 1901, Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi reigns as the Grande Dame of Vietnamese hospitality and one of Southeast Asia’s most iconic hotels. In 2009, the hotel became the first in the Sofitel portfolio to acquire Accor’s Legend brand distinction.

Located in the heart of Siem Reap, close to the cultural and historic heart of Cambodia, Hotel de la Paix is a luxury boutique hotel within easy reach of colorful markets, vibrant nightlife and the breathtaking complexes of Angkor Wat, often referred to as the eighth wonder of the world.

Source: Vietnambusiness

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Dong Ho Painting

Dong Ho Painting is a kind of Vietnamese folk painting originating in Dong Ho Village in Song Ho Commune, Thuan Thanh District, Bac Ninh Province. Dong Ho paintings have about 300 years of history in the north of Vietnam.

Dong Ho pictures are printed on a special kind of Dzo paper. The printing paper is made of bark of a tree called "Dzo". Artists use pine leave brushes to coat Dzo paper with sea bivalve mollusk powder to create a sparkling colorful background. Colors of the painting are refined from various kinds of tree leaves, which people can easily find in Vietnam. Traditional artists use all-natural colors for their pictures: burnt bamboo leaves for black, cajuput leaves for green, copper rust for blue, pine resin for amber, and crushed egg shells mixed with paste for white. The painting is covered by a layer of sticky rice paste to protect the painting and their colors. They are so long lasting,so that it is very difficult to make them dimmer even time or daylight.

Dong Ho Painting has produced hundreds of famous works such as the romantic and humorous “Catching coconuts”, “Teacher” which captures old educational practice and “Jealousy scene” satirizing the polygamous system. But the most famous ones are the pictures of pigs with Ying and Yang circles on the bodies. People in the countryside used to buy Dong Ho pictures for decoration during Tet.

In the past, December was the month households started to produce pictures for Tet. Dong Ho pictures were sold at most rural markets. Those who went shopping for Tet never failed to bring home several Dong Ho pictures, believing they would bring good luck.

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Indochina's top must-see destinations

Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam offer some outstanding travel gems you may not have considered.

The past decade saw a tourism boom in Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos. High on everyone’s lists were destinations like Cambodia’s Angkor temples, Laos’s Plain of Jars, and Vietnam’s Hoi An and Hue cities. Those sights are fantastic. By all means see them. But much of Indochina’s best still remains off the radar, while many old favorites have begun reinventing themselves since they were first thrust under the spotlight. Below are ten such places that should be on everyone’s must-see list for 2010.

A temple festival at 7th century Phnom Chhnok, East of Kampot.

Oozing French colonial charm, this scenic town nestled on the east bank of Kampot River is Cambodia’s most under-rated destination. If the crumbling French architecture, shady boulevards and riverfront dining aren't cause for love at first sight, visits to Kep beach resort, the ancient Funan Empire-era temple ruins or a hike in Bokor National Park will ensure you're permanently endeared to this Cambodian beauty spot.

A Bahnar communal lodge in Kon Tum, Vietnam.

Guidebooks send tourists to Vietnam’s far northern hill station of Sapa for hill-tribe encounters, long overlooking the architectural extremes of Kon Tum’s ethnic Bahnar suburbs. The provincial capital is surrounded by minority villages; their log homes with white-washed mud walls are raised on poles that encircle towering communal lodges called nha rong.

Phou Khao Khouay National Park, Laos

The development of national parks like Phou Khao Khouay are important for the survival of Muntjac deer, which are hunted for meat and their unusual horns.

Phou Khao Khouay, or ‘Buffalo Horn Mountain' Nature Reserve is Laos’s most accessible protected area, just 40km (25 miles) from Vietniane. Rounding out the attractions are wild elephant herds, Hmong village homestays and cascading waterfalls. The sandstone mountain range hides a further treasure-trove of biological diversity, including white-cheeked gibbons, clouded leopards and green pea-fowl.

Chau Doc, Vietnam

Mekong Delta, Vietnam

The Mekong Delta town of Chau Doc sits like an island above endless rice-paddies, rivers, canals and flood-plains. Its atmospheric synthesis of Khmer, Muslim Cham, Vietnamese and French cultures is key to its charm. Take a ferry across the Bassac River to visit Cham villages; their wooden stilt houses decorated with little rooftop spires, crescent moons, and stars, or head to the Buddhist pilgrimage site of Sam Mountain for vast sunset views.

Phnom Penh, Cambodia

Phnom Penh, Cambodia

Though the pain of genocide will take generations to heal, with the ongoing Khmer Rouge Tribunal, Phnom Penh is turning a new corner and taking leaps toward the future. No longer just a transportation hub between Bangkok, Siam Reap, and Ho Chi Minh City, Cambodia’s booming capital is now a entrepreneur’s playground and a fashionable destination for boutique hotels, international cuisine and trendy shops selling some of the region’s best silk.

Mui Ne Beach, Vietnam

It took a solar eclipse and 15 years to turn an isolated coconut grove into Vietnam’s top beach resort (Mui Ne was the preferred spot to observe the October 1995 eclipse). Though renowned for its kite-boarding, Saharan dunes and year-round sunbathing, the area’s cultural richness is yet unexploited by the tourism industry. Summer brings several fishermen’s whale-worship festivals, while the fall brings the Hindu Cham New Year and a Sorcerer’s festival.

Danang, Vietnam

Da Nang Beach, Vietnam

Often overlooked for neighboring Hoi An, Vietnam’s third-largest city has quietly blossomed into an off-the-radar resort destination with intriguing attractions like the Museum of Cham Sculpture, Ba Na Hill Station and Monkey Mountain. Danang’s China Beach, namesake of the old ABC television series, now hosts the new Montgomerie Links golf course and the luxurious Furama Resort.

Luang Prabang, Laos

Yes, Luang Prabang has magnificent Buddhist temple architecture and the morning monk procession has erupted into one of Asia’s biggest, and at times circus-like, photo-opportunities. This cultural epicenter’s exalted perch on the banks of Mekong and Khan rivers, surrounded by mountains, doesn’t hurt the ambiance either. What is relatively new however are all the upscale spas, boutique hotels, great restaurants and the ever-expanding handicraft night market. This UNESCO World Heritage City is ground zero for the new Indochina Chic.

Quy Nhon, Vietnam

Warm, dry weather for most of the year, with deep blue skies and clear waters, makes the beach town of Quy Nhon a prime holiday destination. It’s also one of the country’s most archaeologically significant cities, with half a dozen ancient Cham temples and the Cha Ban Citadel ruins all within a few hours’ drive.

Jungle Beach, Vietnam

Nha Trang Beach, Vietnam

Vietnam’s finest beach is hidden about an hour north of Nha Trang on a remote stretch of the Hon Khoi Peninsula. The boundaries of air and water are indistinct in the crystal sea, where night swimming with bioluminescent algae is on the regular activities list. The most intriguing views from this unique bamboo cabana homestay are the troupes of Black-shanked Douc Langurs, one of Indochina’s rarest primates.

Source: cnngo

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RoK, Vietnam sign tourism pact

TVietnam and the Republic of Korea (RoK) signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on bilateral tourism cooperation in Seoul on June 25.

LookAtVietnam - TVietnam and the Republic of Korea (RoK) signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on bilateral tourism cooperation in Seoul on June 25.

It was signed by Vietnamese Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Hoang Tuan Anh and his RoK counterpart Yu In-chon during Mr Anh’s visit to Seoul.

During their talks, both hos and guest discussed ways to increase bilateral exchanges in the fields of culture and tourism.

Yu In-chon said the RoK will send more delegations to Vietnam and work closely with relevant Vietnamese agencies to boost tourism in the near future. He said he believe Vietnam would become the No 1 destination for RoK tourists.

Minister Anh said Vietnam and RoK have great potential for tourism cooperation. The RoK is a promising tourism market and Vietnam is making efforts to lure tourists from the country, he said.

Every year, about 400,000 RoK tourists visit Vietnam.

Source: VOV

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Vietnamese wine

When we say that Vietnam is warming with reds these days, we aren't making a political statement, of course. We're talking about wine. With the easing of government restrictions, both commercial and cultural, the past ten years have seen a welcome increase in wine importing and awareness. You can now find a good quality Bordeaux in most upscale and many mid-range restaurants or chic wine bars and shops in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City. Nevertheless, while international wines are making headway, the most interesting vintner we find on the market are local contenders.

Rice alcohol. Alcohol has been called spirit because it symbolizes for men willingness in the old time. Besides tea, plain rice alcohol is also offered respectfully on the ancestor altar in rituals or ceremonies to show deep gratitude such as wedding parties, ground - breaking, Tet holiday... Vietnamese also drink alcohol to celebrate joy to reduce sadness or wish for blessings.

However, the way Vietnamese drink alcohol is worth mentioning. Unlike Western countries where bigger cups or glasses are frequently used, buffalo - eyed cup is more preferred to serve in Vietnam.

How can rice become wine?

Yes, Vietnamese alcohol is made from rice so it is called rice alcohol. Firstly, rice is steamed, and then fermented for a couple of days before being distilled. With several traditional methods and materials, you will have many kinds of rice alcohol; however, their flavors are totally different from each other. In some cases, herbs or snakes are pickled in alcohol jar to use as medicine.

Can wine. The name can wine comes from the reason that Vietnamese call a stem - a small bamboo straw- to consume wine from the jar. This kind of wine is the most special one in Vietnam even it belongs to minority groups in highland and some other places in Vietnam.

Can wine is special for the way it is made and served.

Firstly, simple available local materials such as cassava, tapioca, sweet potato are altogether fermented by wild herb in a pottery jar for days. Of course, its taste is total different from rice alcohol or any kind of wine - can wine is so bitter or strong that may lead you dizziness. Its sweet taste would make you drunk - a sweet and slow drunk - without any predictable consciousness.

The way can wine is served clearly shows the community unity and hospitality of highlanders. Now, let’s see how Vietnamese drink ruou can to serve dear guests, special celebrations or ceremonies. At these moments, the spirit container would be fixedly placed in the middle of the yard, house or even communal long house (called nha rong - in central highland). Then, both host and guest take seats around while fresh water from a buffalo horn will be slowly leaked out through a small holed. Now, it should be time for the village master to try through one of stems dipped into the jar. In some cases, he can offer it to honorable guests. After that, turns will come to the rest whenever they want. Every body will try to offer stems to each other to show their willingness and respect. The container would never be dry, it always requires fully filled with water by ladies. Besides, there would be gong performance, which is usually accompanied by dancing during the time.

Snake Wine. It is an alcoholic beverage that can be found at Snake Village near Hanoi, any major city of Vietnam as well as other countries across South East Asia. The snakes are immersed in 100% rice wine in special glass bottles and then, they are sealed and stored in a cellar for five years. The wines which contain substances necessary for the human body are high quality tonics. Regularly drinking appropriate quantities of the wines can moisturize your skin, improve your appetite, as well as strengthen your bones, tendons and muscles. They are used to treat general fatigue, hair loss, migraine headaches, rheumatism and neurasthenia. Surprisingly, the tonic wines do not cause dryness syndrome, such as constipation, thirst, dryness of the throat and nose. People of all ages and both sexes, including pregnant women can drink them in four seasons.

Vang Da Lat. As with most other Asian countries, wine is not the first commodity that comes to mind when thinking about Vietnam. However, Dalat, with its cool central highland climate and strong French heritage, is an anomaly that producing artichokes, asparagus, strawberries and most recently- wine.

Unlike its more sophisticated brethren in France, Northern California and South Africa, Vang Dalat uses table grapes from nearby Phan Rang - a Vietnam's main grape-growing region. Nguyen Van Viet who has been with his wine company since 1999 explains that Vietnam has a limited history with wine. The French introduced an elite wine culture pre-1954, and during the past decade, due to the improvement in living standards, more people fond of traveling overseas and being exposed to foreign wines.

With this in mind, Nguyen considered how Vang Dalat could produce a European-style wine similar to traditional Vietnamese wines that any family could afford. Today, his company produces 1.5 million liters of wine a year, including a Superior Red (all grape, 11% alcohol), Strong Red (grape/mulberry blend, 16% alcohol) and even a sparkling white…

In the meantime, Vang Dalat is just one more good reason to visit Vietnam. If you make it to Dalat, we recommend dinner at Maison Long Hoa, a genteel establishment run by a Vietnamese Francophile. Classical rather than tinny pop plays over the stereo, hearty Vietnamese food offers comfort against the chill outside, and—along with the strawberry wine made by the owner's wife—Vang Dalat vintages top the wine list.

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Tea with longan and lotus seed

Tea with longan and lotus seed is considered as the Vietnamese quintessence...

With longan and lotus seeds, the Vietnamese can create a kind of special-flavor tea. It is considered the quintessence of the heaven and earth. The tea is aromatically fragrant with an original flavor.

Containing longan fruit pieces and lotus seeds, this kind of tea is fragrant with a full-bodied taste. The original and naturally flavored beverage is rich in glucose, sucrose, proteins, and other minerals. Longan flesh is sweet and contains niacin, which aids metabolism and keeps the skin, nervous, and digestive systems healthy. Lotus seeds can treat nervous depression and sleeplessness.

Longan and lotus tea is a nourishing drink with natural sweetness. When both of the ingredients combined, it is effective in fighting against anemia and fatigue, and boosting energy levels. Or in other words, they are good in building blood and regenerating Qi. It has a pleasant taste and high nutritional value, and is recognized as valuable medicinal herb.

The flavoured tea is tasty and refreshing; and can easily satisfy your thirst as well as refresh your minds. The rich composition of natural nutrient factors entails the tea with healthy characters, which makes you keep up your spirits among the clean, free and happy mood. If you would like to make a cup of the flavoured tea yourself, you are able to try the simple direction as follows:

Ingredients:

12 lotus seeds, washed and cooked

10 longan fruit pieces, pitted

5 cups of water

Method:

1. Boil and simmer ingredients in 5 cups of water for 45 minutes until the liquid is fragrant and tasty.

2. Serve warm.

When you are in Vietnam, this kind of tea should be a must try of Vietnamese local product. The taste is excellent and it is a health drink. It could help ease sleep problem if you drink a cup of longan and lotus tea before going to bed.

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Vietnamese Silk Painting

Silk painting is the traditional Vietnamese art of silk painting which originates from painting and drawing on home made rice paper. Today this art has become famous around the world for its simple poetic themes and vibrant colors. Vietnamese artists find the technique to be a unique way to create mystique in their paintings.

The Vietnamese style of silk painting emphasizes softness, elegance and has a flexibility of style. The success of a silk painting very much depends on the quality of the silk. Differently with other kinds of paintings, the silk canvas are usually not painted. The Vietnamese traditional silk painting style tends to use the silk canvas directly as the background of the painting.

Vietnamese silk paintings typically showcase the countryside, landscapes, pagodas, historical events or scenes of daily life. The colors are used delicately with the canvas to make Vietnamese silk paintings. The delicate white color found in the sky, water, or human portrait, is the color of silk. The color of silk is well known to describe human figure in the paintings of many famous vietnamese artists. Delicate color and silk background give the paintings such an harmony with the nature. Whatever style they follow, silk painters must have an intimate knowledge of the material and fully exploit its shininess and its attractiveness. Painting silk is full of changing and unexpected characteristics, and a wrong stroke of the brush is irreversible.

Silk represents an important language of Vietnamese painting after lacquer. Its capacity of absorption and dilution given to the works an impression of mellowness spreading through the woofs and wefts of silk, adding a certain vibration to the forms and colours.

Vietnamese silk painting has its own unique character and colours that are distinctly different from those from ancient China and feudal Japan. Each painting is a great description of the beautiful nature and talented skills of the Vietnamese. By using contemporary colours, Vietnamese silk painting has won the hearts of many art lovers nationally and Internationally.

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Vietnamese people

The Vietnamese people (Vietnamese: người Việt or người Kinh) are an ethnic group originating from what is now northern Vietnam and the lower reaches of southern China. They are the majority ethnic group of Vietnam, comprising 86% of the population as of the 1999 census, and are officially known as Kinh to distinguish them from other ethnic groups in Vietnam. The earliest recorded name for the ancient Vietnamese people was known as the Lạc peoples.


Although geographically and linguistically labeled as Southeast Asians, long periods of Chinese domination and influence have placed them culturally closer to East Asians, or more specifically their immediate northern neighbours, the Southern Chinese and other tribes within the proximity of South China.

The ancient Vietnamese people were first known simply as the Lac or Lac Viet in recorded history and the country of Vietnam during that time was known as Văn Lang. Archaeological evidence of the bronze age Dong Son Culture, also known as Lac Society, suggest the ancient Vietnamese people were among the first to practice agriculture.

In 258 BC, An Dương Vương founded the kingdom of Âu Lạc in what is now northern Vietnam. In 208 BC, Chao Tuo (known as Triệu Đà in Vietnamese), a former Qin Dynasty general from China, allied with the leaders of the Yue peoples in what is now modern-day Guangdong and declared himself King of Southern Yue. He defeated An Dương Vương and then combined Âu Lạc with territories in southern China and named his kingdom Nam Việt, or Southern Yue (Nam means "south"). Việt is cognate to Yue, which is the pronunciation of Yue in ancient Chinese and some modern southern Chinese dialects. The term was used in bai yue ("hundred Viet") for the various peoples in what is now southern China, including the regions of northern Vietnam.

According to a research study done by the Hopital Saint-Louis in Paris, France: "the comparison of the Vietnamese with other East Asian populations showed a close genetic relationship of the population under investigation with other Orientals," with the exception of seven unique markers. These results, along with remnants of Thai enzyme morphs, indicate a dual ethnic origin of the Vietnamese population from Chinese and Thai-Indonesian populations. According to a recent HLA study headed by laboratories at the Mackay Memorial Hospital in Taipei, Taiwan, the Vietnamese people are classified in the same genetic cluster as the Miao (Hmong), Southern Han (Southern Chinese), Buyei and Thai, with a divergent family consisting of Thai Chinese and Singapore Chinese, Minnan (Hoklo) and Hakka.

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Vietnamese Water Puppet (Mua Roi Nuoc)

If you are ever in Hanoi it will be regretful to miss the Water Puppet Theater - even if you think you are not a puppet kind of person. Water Puppets literally means “puppets that dance on the water”. This show is not just geared for kids, but meant to delight adults as well.

History:

Vietnamese Water Puppet originated from the Red River Delta of Vietnam in the tenth century. Some of the earliest troupes are in Nguyên Xá commune, Đông Hưng district, Thai Binh province. Water puppetry is deeply imbued with the cultural characteristics of the people of this area. This unique art first appeared around the 15^th century, when post-harvest, artists who were also farmers would gather to perform and relax. The custom remains today in many localities in the Red River Delta such as Dao Thuc, Phu Da, Dong Ca, Nguyen Xa, Dong Ngu, Nhan Hoa and Nam Chan.

In ancient Vietnam, the rural Vietnamese believed that spirits controlled all aspects of their life, from the kitchen to the rice paddies. That is the reason why the farmers in this region devised a form of entertainment and worship to satisfy these spirits. Water puppetry is the lively creation of farmers who spent their days in flooded rice fields. At some point, they discovered that the water was an excellent medium for puppetry: it not only concealed the puppeteers' rod and string mechanisms, but it also provided exciting effects like waves and splashes.

When water puppetry became more popular, villages competed against each other with their puppet shows. This led puppet societies to be secretive and exclusive, including an initiation ceremony that involved drinking rooster blood.

So far this art form has been unique to North Vietnam. Tourists can enjoy this kind of art all days in a week at Thang Long Puppet Theatre, which is the most well known one in Ha Noi.

Performance

For over a thousand years, performers in Vietnamese Water Puppet Theater’s feet have always suffered in cold and wet condition. Water puppetry is performed in a chest-deep pool of water, with the water's surface as a stage. The puppeteers stand behind a screen and control the puppets using long bamboo rods and string mechanism hidden beneath the water surface.

The puppet is carved out of wood and often weighs up to 15 kg. A large rod supports the puppet under the water and is used by the puppeteers to control them. The appearance is of the puppets moving over the water. The puppets enter from either side of the stage, or emerge from the murky depths of the water. In the past when the rice fields were flooded the villagers would entertain each other using this puppet form.

A traditional Vietnamese orchestra provides background music accompaniment. Singers of Cheo (a form of opera) with origin in North Vietnam sing the songs which tell the story being acted out by the puppets. Performances of up to 18 short scenes are usually introduced by a pig-tailed bumpkin known as Teu, and accompanied by a small folk orchestra. The musicians and the puppets interact during performance; the musicians may yell a word of warning to a puppet in danger or a word of encouragement to a puppet in need.

Along with singing the atmosphere, while the decorations set the stage for each particula, traditional musical instruments like drums, wooden bells, cymbals, horns, two-string Chinese violins and flutes create r style of water puppetry. Researcher Nguyen Huy Hong believes that water puppetry combines sculpture, architecture, painting, music, stage and literature.

Content

The theme of the skits is rural and has a strong reference to Vietnamese folklore. It tells of day-to-day living in rural Vietnam and Vietnamese folk tales that are told older generation to younger generation. Of which stories of the harvest, of fishing and of festivals are highlighted.

The water also provides the best setting for the puppeteers' theme: day-to-day village life. Water puppets bring wry humor to scenes of farming, fishing, festival events such as buffalo fights, and children's games of marbles and coin-toss. Fishing turns into a game of wits between the fisherman and his prey, with the fisherman getting the short end (often capturing his surprised neighbor by mistake). Besides village life, scenes include legends and national history. Lion dogs romp like puppies while dragons exhale smoke and shoot sprays of water at the audience. Teu, a pig-tailed bumpkin, is the character who usually plays the role of introducing the performances. The introduction is always accompanied by a small folk orchestra. Spotlights and colorful flags adorn the stage and create a festive atmosphere.

Legends and national history are also told through short skits. Many of the skits, especially those involving the tales of day-to-day living, often have a humorous twist.

Water puppetry has always gone hand in hand with festivals. Each Lunar March 13, Bo Duong villagers hold village festival to commemorate their tutelary god. Aside from worship, the festival is also an opportunity for villagers to relax by watching water puppetry, taking in fireworks displays, flying kites and entering cock-fighting contests. The festival always attracts thousands of attendants. Village festivals are great wind down for farmers and artists alike.

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Picturesque Lak lake, Buon Ma Thuot, Vietnam

Tiny and peaceful Lac Thien town, about 56 kilometres south of Buon Ma Thuot City along the National Highway 27, is surrounded with natural forests and a 500-hectare lake which is as beautiful as a white silk strip, creating a picturesque natural scenery.

The Lak lake’s water is always transparent. The lake looks like a miraculous mirror when being viewed from a far distance, which amazes tourists. Particularly in the rainy season, the lake is in the ripples and seems to go far away from its banks, narrowing the distance with Giun, a typical village of M’nong ethnic minority group. In the deep-water area, tourists can travel on a dug-out canoe or a speed boat to enjoy beautiful lotuses on the lake.

The Lak lake is still wild. Despite not as attractive as famous lakes in Hanoi and Da Lat, in economic terms, the lake provides a considerable quantity of fresh-water fish.
It also supplies a giant volume of water for neighbouring fields and keeps humidity so as to cool the region in summer.

It is really wonderful to view the community’s living activities of Mo-nong group’s villages by riding on an elephant. It is also very interesting to view ethnic girls from the Giun village washing their hair by the streams, looking as dainty as fairies.

At night, the village patriarch will hold a party for tourists with grilled meat, bamboo-tube rice and ruou can (wine drunk out of a jar through pipes). At the same time, tourists have a chance to dance around the fire which is accompanied by the gong performance.

Each year, more than 11,000 international tourists join the Lak lake tour, said Dam San Trade and Tourism Company that has invested hundreds of millions of dong (Vietnamese currency) in building the Lak lake resort.

It is hoped that the service quality of the resort will be improved and more attractive products will be made to turn the resort into an interesting destination, attracting more and more tourists.

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“Ô mai” – a dilicious nosh!

“Ô mai” is salted dry apricot or sugared dry apricot that is a favourite nosh for many people in Hanoi and other provinces.

“Ô mai” is produced for traditional method, since chosing material, the company also send staff to gardens in Hung Yen, Hai Hung, Hoa Binh, Lai Chau in order to gather all crop of kinds of sour fresh fruit like plum, apricot, dracontomelum, star, tamarind, kumquat, pineaple, canari, lemon. That is the secret of Hang Duong experts, they plus sugar, ginger, add chilli, stir liquorice to have smooth yellow food with sweet-smelling.

This product is for instant all year and you can enjoy with a pot of tea and a few friends to chat. This is also valuable present from Ha Noi people giving to their friends.

How to make dried apricot?

If you would like to make dried apricot, you can use the following recipe and you can make the perfect nosh. First, you soak the apricots in water to cover overnight. Then, place them to cook in the same water. Cook until tender. Mash them or chop in blender. After that, peel, core, and cut the pineapple into small pieces. Cover with water and cook until tender. Measure the fruits and juices. Last, place equal amounts of sugar with the measured fruits into a heavy kettle and cook slowly until thick and clear.

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“Giò” – Vietnamese dainty morsel in Spring

On the Tet traditional tray of food according to Vietnamese culture, with traditional dishes such as Chung cake, chicken meat, spring rolls and so on, “giò” is one of the dainty morsels. Today, when “giò” almost become daily food and there are more various and attractive dishes on the tray, delicious dish of “giò” cannot be missed...

Fried pie

There are many types of “giò” such as: giò lụa (pork-pie), giò bò (beep dumpling), giò bì (pork and skin paste), giò mỡ (lean and fat pork paste), giò xào (fried pie), etc. Each type has a particular taste but the most important thing to make “giò” dish really attractive is that the fragrance of banana leaves and fish sauce combined in the piece of “giò”.

Giò xào (fried pie)

In all kinds of “giò”, fried pie is the easiest one to prepare, so families often make it themselves when Tet is coming. The main materials are parts of pork such as: ear, nose tongue, pork cheeks and “mộc nhĩ” (cat’s ear). The materials must be subjected to premilitary treatment, boiled through hot water, sliced, mixed with spices, pepper and fried.

After wrapping the fried pie, keep it in the refrigerator so that all the materials link together. The pie that is delicious must be wrapped carefully, raw materials must not be too dry and the dish will stir fragrance of the spices.

Giò bò (beep dumpling)

Beep dumpling

Also processed as fried pie, beep dumpling is often added for more fat so that it is not too dry. When cutting a piece of beep dumpling, it is slightly pink as the color of the beef. Especially, pungency and fragrance of pepper feature the typical characteristic of beep dumpling.

Giò lụa (pork-pie)

Pork is chosen to make pork-pie must be lean, delicious and fresh meat. It is continuously ground until the meat is fine. These days, the meat is ground by machine, which makes the process more quickly and helps to save the maker’s strength.

However, the pork-pie is make in the traditional way remains the delicious flavor that is different from the one ground by

Pork-pie

machine, since the makers must use more strength so they take proper care of their product. Fish sauce for making pork-pie must also be tasty and fragrant. When being cut, the pie must has the color of ivory-white and the surface has some small holes, surely that the pie is so delicious!

Giò bì (pork and skin paste)

Pork and skin paste is a local specialty of Pho Xuoi (Hung Yen Province). It is also made from uncooked pork-pie and pork skin that are sliced, then wrapped into small ones like fingers. Pork and skin paste is delicious, it means that pieces of pork skin must be white, clean, boiled, cut into small ones and mixed with uncooked pork-pie. The piece of pork and skin paste is so crispy and crunchy.

In Vietnam, once try to taste these kinds of “giò”, it is certaintly that you cannot forget the tasty flavor and fragrance of the dainty morsels...

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Phan Thiet - Mui Ne travel information

Further south, and just 200km north of Ho Chi Minh City, is the small fishing town of Phan Thiet.

While Phan Thiet is a pleasant enough town, the real attraction is the nearby Mui Ne Peninsula and its 10km of sandy beaches and coconut groves. Many attractive small-scale beach resorts have opened up in recent years amongst the palm trees of Mui Ne and it has become a popular place to rest up for a few days.

At the end of the peninsula near to the fishing village are some enormous sand dunes that look as if they belong in the Sahara rather than southern Vietnam.

For golfers Phan Thiet offers one of the best links golf courses in the region, the Nick Faldo-designed Ocean Dunes Course.

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Lai Chau to open airport in 2012

An airport will be built in Lai Chau to serve both civil and military purposes, announced the Ministry of Transportation and the Lai Chau People’s Committee on June 13.

LookAtVietnam - An airport will be built in the northern mountainous province of Lai Chau to serve both civil and military purposes, announced the Ministry of Transportation and the Lai Chau People’s Committee on June 13.

The Lai Chau airport will be located on 117 hectares in Tan Uyen town, 60 km southwest from Lai Chau’s centre. It is scheduled to open in 2012 and will serve 73,000 passengers per year.

The airport will include a terminal capable of handling 40,000 passengers and 100 tons of freight a year. Figures are expected to reach 110,000 passengers and 300 tons of cargo once the airport is upgraded in 2030.

The total investment is estimated at 4.35 trillion dong (US$228.9 million).

Lai Chau is a border province holding significant social-economic and defence-security importance.

PV

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Thanh Hoa Travel Guide

Capital city: Thanh Hoa
Area (sq km): 111,680
Population: 3,509,600
Average temp: 23 - 24°C

Ethnic data: Viet/Kinh, Dao, H’mong, Lao, Lu, Muong, Red Thai, Thai, Tho.
Districts/wards: Bim Son, Ba Thuoc, Cam Thuy, Dong Son, Ha Trung, Hau Loc, Hoang Hoa, Lang Chanh, Muong Lat, Nga Son, Ngoc Lac, Nhu Thanh, Nhu Xuan, Nong Cong, Quan Hoa, Quan Son, Quang Xuong, Sam Son, Thach Thanh, Thieu Hoa, Tho Xuan, Thuong Xuan, Tinh Gia, Trieu Son, Vinh Loc, Yen Dinh.

Description:
Thanh Hoa is located at the head of the narrow waste that connects with the \'head\' of northern ViêtNam. It is bordered on the north by Son La, Hoa Binh and Ninh Binh; on the south by Nghe An; on the east by the coast of the South China Sea; on the west by the Laos border.

Economy:
Forestry, marine resources and minerals.

Natural beauty sights:
Sam Son Resort with wide, smooth beaches lapped by emerald waters (2), and a view of the Truong Le Mountain.

Markets:
Nga Son Mat Market, Thanh Hoa; Flower Garden Market, Le Van Phuong Street, Lam Son, Thanh Hoa

Transport:
Thanh Hoa is 153 kilometres south of Ha Noi; 139 kilometres north of Vinh; 502 kilometres north of Hué; 16 kilometres west of Sam Son Beach. Thanh Hoa is serviced by rail and road.

Rail:
Thanh Hoa is a scheduled stop for Express Trains.

Road
Bus
Services from Ha Noi’s Southern Bus Station are scheduled every four hours en route to Ninh Binh, Vinh and other destinations on National Highway 1

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Tramcars to run in Hanoi next month

LookAtVietnam - The pilot project to operate tramcars around the Hoan Kiem Lake and Hanoi’s Old Quarter for tourists will be kicked off in July 2010.

Hanoi Vice-Chair Nguyen Van Khoi met with Hoan Kiem district officials last week to discuss the plan.

The tramcar route will start from Dinh Tien Hoang Street and stop at 53 Hang Duong – Dong Xuan Market – 25 Hang Chieu – 9 Hang Vai – 97 Hang Buom – 80 Ma May – 42 Hang Bac – 6A Hang Bo – 22 Bat Dan – 47 Hang Quat – 14 Le Thai Tho – Bo Ho Post Office – Ba Kieu Temple.

Khoi told Hoan Kiem District to put this route into operation as of July and also requested that the Department of Transportation and Police Agency submit the rules for tramcar operation before June 20.

The tramcar project was scheduled to start before Tet Nguyen Dan 2010 (Vietnamese traditional New Year) but tramcars couldn’t hit the streets because the Law on Road Transport did not cover licensing for tramcars.

CA

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Hanoi lures tourists by cheo

LookAtVietnam - Besides water puppetry, tourists to Hanoi can enjoy traditional cheo (traditional operetta) extracts, quan ho (love duets) and chau van.

To attract tourists, the Hanoi Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism has designed a special traditional art program at Hanoi Cheo Theatre. It was introduced for the first time to travel firm representatives on June 8. The show is around 60 minute long, comprising typical folk art music of Vietnam like cheo, quan ho, ca tru, hat xam, chau van, martial arts, dan bau (mono-chord), and circus.

Luu Duc Ke, Hanoitourist’s director, remarked that foreign tourists have only seen water puppetry in Hanoi. Visitors who stay for several days or return to the city a second time need new shows.

Ke praised the Hanoi Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism’s efforts, but recommended that the show should be changed a little in terms of costumes and actors.

Phan Duc Man, Kim Lien Tourism Company Chair, added that the content and length are appropriate, but items need to be more lively and the show needs to have exchanges between actors and the audience.

Some others proposed that the organizers need to pay more attention to translation and to print leaflets in various languages.

This show will be held at the Hanoi Cheo Theatre from 8mp everyday from June to December 2010.

Chau van or hat van is a traditional Vietnamese folk art which combines trance singing and dancing. Its music and poetry are combined with a variety of instruments, rhythms, pauses, and tempos. Hat chau van originated in the 16th century and spread quickly. The main musical instrument used in hat van performance is the dan nguyet or moon-shaped lute. The genre is famous for its use in rituals for deity mediumship. Chau Van serves two purposes: to help hypnotize the medium to receive the deities and to accompany the medium’s actions with appropriate music. Cheo is a form of generally satirical musical theatre, often encompassing dance, traditionally performed by Vietnamese peasants in northern Vietnam. It is usually performed outdoors by semi-amateur touring groups in a village square or the courtyard of a public building, although it is today increasingly also performed indoors and by professional performers. Quan ho singing is a Vietnamese folk music style characterized both by its antiphonal nature, with alternating groups of female and male singers issuing musical challenges and responses, and by the fact that most of the songs in the repertoire deal with topics of love and sentimentality. Quan ho was recognised as a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2009. Quan ho originated in what is now Bac Ninh Province, was first recorded in the 13th century and has traditionally been associated with the spring festivals that follow the celebration of Tet (the Vietnamese New Year). There are a huge number of quan ho melodies, with thousands of different songs recorded and written down. Ca tru (also known as hat a dao) is an ancient genre of chamber music featuring female vocalists, with origins in northern Vietnam. For much of its history, it was associated with a geisha-like form of entertainment. Ca tru is inscribed on the list of Intangible Cultural Heritage in need of Urgent Safeguarding in 2009. Xam or hat xam (Xam singing) is a type of Vietnamese folk music popularized in northern Vietnam, but is considered nowadays as an endangered form of traditional music. In the dynastic period, xam was generally performed by blind artists who wandered from town to town and earned their living by singing in common areas. Xam artists often play dan bau or dan nhi to accompany the songs themselves, sometimes they form a band with one singer and others who play traditional instruments such as drum or phach. Dan bau is a Vietnamese monochord. While the earliest written records of the Dan Bau date its origin to 1770, many scholars estimate its age to be up to one thousand years older than that. Water puppetry is a tradition that dates back as far as the 11th century CE when it originated in the villages of the Red River Delta area of northern Vietnam. Today’s Vietnamese water puppetry is a unique variation on the ancient Asian puppet tradition. The puppets are made out of wood and then lacquered. The shows are performed in a waist-deep pool. A large rod supports the puppet under the water and is used by the puppeteers, who are normally hidden behind a screen, to control them. Thus the puppets appear to be moving over the water. When the rice fields would flood, the villagers would entertain each other using this form of puppet play.

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Hallowed ground

Lam Kinh was once the second capital of Dai Viet and home to a rich array of outstanding structures built by the posterior Le Dynasty.

The youngest of three sons, Le Loi hailed from Lam Son in northern-Vietnam (Thanh Hoa province today), which was formerly a frontier of Dai Viet (Vietnam) and far from the royal court’s sphere of influence.

Born in 1385, Le Loi grew up in somewhat troubled times. The Ho Dynasty held sway over Dai Viet but by 1407 Ming Emperor Yongle of China was looking to invade Dai Viet.

The Ho Dynasty quickly capitulated but the Ming would face stiff resistance, especially in the countryside. Le Loi himself said that he chose the path of revolt after witnessing the brutal destruction of a Vietnamese village by Ming forces.

A 10-year long campaign against the Ming began the day after Tet in 1418. Supported by several prominent families from his native Thanh Hoa province, initially Le Loi merely wanted to liberate the land. But over time as the unquestioned leader of the revolt, he became a realistic candidate for the throne.

Unable to muster the military forces required to defeat the Ming army in open battle, he waged a guerilla style war against a large and well organised Chinese army. But by 1427, the revolt had spread throughout the country and the original Ming army of occupation had been ground down. The Ming attempted one last military surge by sending 100,000 more troops south but Le Loi, now leading a sizeable army in the region of 350,000 men, outmanoeuvred and routed the Chinese .

The royal capital

Le Loi took the throne as Le Thai To and quickly set about reorganising his government and securing long-term peace with the Ming. This wise, benevolent and heroic ruler was much revered and so when he died it was decided to construct a secondcapital in his homeland. Lam Kinh was established in Lam Son in 1433, where a series of monuments and a mausoleum were built in tribute to the late King, who had been replaced by the regent Le Thai Tong, as Le Loi’s son was too young to rule.

The “second capital” bordered the Dau Mountain in the north, the Chu River and the Muc Mountain in the south. It was to become a spectacular site replete with resplendent mausoleums, pavilions, temples and a palace.

Le Loi is still considered to be one of the country’s greatest heroes and Lam Kinh remains hallowed ground for patriotic Vietnamese. Time, however, was not so kind to the site. After the Le Dynasty ended, Lam Kinh was abandoned and neglected for hundreds of years thereafter. Vietnam’s struggle for independence through much of the 20th century meant cultural sites and relics – no matter how eminent – were furthered ignored.

In 1962 Lam Kinh became an official “national historical and cultural” site but this did little to restore the site. In 1994, the government approved a project to comprehensively renovate the Lam Kinh site in the hope of transforming it into a tourist site. The project suffered cash shortages and faced difficulties over site clearance all of which slowed down the project.

But now, efforts are underway to accelerate the project though it is already drawing in more tourists than before. “Previously, the site was visited by locals only. But it is now visited by more than 30,000 local and foreign tourists each year,” says Nguyen Manh Hai, a local tour guide.

Most of the site’s magnificent architecture is now destroyed. However, five of the six royal tombs have been uncovered and remain intact. One of the largest tombs belongs to Queen Ngo Thi Ngoc Dao – the mother of Le Thanh Tong. Another significant structure is the Vinh Lang tomb, which commemorates Le Thai To.

It is also home to the stone stele which bears extracts from the Binh Ngo Sach (Book on Defeating the Wu), compiled by Nguyen Trai, who was Le Loi’s closest adviser and primary strategist in the victory over the Ming.

This three-metre high stele is made of precious stone and erected on a big stone tortoise, which represents longevity, happiness and harmony according to the principles of feng shui.

Quiet reflection

Today Lam Kinh is a beautiful place and well worth visiting despite the demise of its grand architecture. This remains hallowed ground for Vietnamese. Religious ceremonies are held here throughout the year. The Lam Kinh festival takes place on the 22nd of the eighth lunar month every year with a reenactment of the Lam Son insurrection and Le Loi’s accession to the throne.

There is also a reenactment of General Le Lai’s selfless sacrifice in 1421. Le Loi’s army was under siege and trapped on a mountaintop, so Le Lai disguised himself as Le Loi and launched what looked like a kamikaze-style cavalry charge down the mountain. This valiant attack diverted the Ming army’s attention for long enough so Le Loi could escape. Le Lai and his soldiers fought bravely to the bitter end and Le Loi would live to fight another day.

After Le Loi’s eventual triumph over the Minh, he ordered that on his death, Le Lai’s death anniversary would be commemorated before his own.

VietNamNet/Timeout

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Riding ostriches in Da Lat plateau

VietNamNet Bridge – After a 2-hour flight from Hanoi, visitors will arrive in romantic Da Lat city in the Central Highlands province of Lam Dong to see thousands of varieties of flowers and to ride ostriches.

At the Prenn Waterfall tourist site, around 10km from Da Lat, ostriches line up as battle horses to wait for tourists. These ostriches are trained so they are accustomed to man. After climbing up onto an ostrich’s back and sit firmly on the harness, riders only need to lap on the bird to tell it to run.

Source: VNE

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Sunshine daydream, walk you in the cool breeze

LookAtVietnam - Con Son is a tourist area of historical and cultural relics in Cong Hoa Commune, Chi Linh District, Hai Duong Province. The site includes mountains, pagodas, temples, streams and traces of famous historical figures in culture and literature.

Tourists visit Ban Co Tien in Con Son tourist complex in Hai Duong Province. (Photo :SGT)

The one square kilometer site is surrounded by the Phuong Hoang and Ky Lan mountain ranges so it is perfectly still and poetic. During the Tran Dynasty, the site was one of three centers of Truc Lam Zen along with Yen Tu and Quynh Lam.

Tourists can visit Con Son Pagoda, Ngoc Well, Stone Table, Bach Van Temple and Nguyen Trai Temple.

Con Son Pagoda, also known as Tu Phuc Pagoda and Hun Pagoda, is at the foot of Con Son Mountain under the shade of dense groves of seasoned trees. Inside are statues of Buddha and national hero Nguyen Trai. Built before the Tran Dynasty, the pagoda has four stele houses and a 600-year-old tree in its yard.

Ngoc Well is on the side of Ky Lan Mountain and its clear water, considered sacred, is used in solemn ceremonies.

About 600 steps from Con Son Pagoda, tourists will see Ban Co Tien, a flat, spacious area with a large rock where visitors will see the two-story Bach Van Temple built in ancient architecture. The site is ideal for a panoramic view of the surroundings.

At Con Son, tourists can also stroll through the pine forest to get in touch with nature and find some peace for the soul.

VietNamNet/SGT

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Package tours are short on originality

VietNamNet Bridge – A lot of Vietnamese travelers complain that there’s no point in going to the same place twice. The travel agencies and localities don’t have anything new to offer.

Visitors to the Hanoi area can enjoy the bucolic charm of the Thanh Cuong Palace – if they can find it!

Mrs. Khang loves Nha Trang very much, but this year she’s going to Phan Thiet. talked her family members into skipping it this summer. “If we go to Nha Trang, we will do the things we’ve done every year – going to the beach, swimming, which we did last summers: bathing in the sea, bathing in mud, riding the cable car out to the island, water sports. “There’s nothing new,” Khang says. “I’m fed up.”

In fact, Nha Trang has added new attractions, like surfing, balloon excursions, and diving in the bay. However, those activities aren’t for the average tourist. Khang says the itineraries of the tours offered by travel firms haven’t changed a bit.

Nguyen Cong Hoan at Hanoi Redtours admits that many packaged tours, whether domestic or outbound, are virtually identical. It doesn’t matter what the destination is.

“A lot of small travel firms save costs by copying the products of the bigger companies,” Hoan says. But not all — some travel firms have been trying to ‘renovate’ tours by providing added value. Generally, however, the added value just last for a while, and disappears when the ‘season’ ends.

For example, while the World Cup matches are underway, travelers may be given the bulletins on the results of football matches. Some travel firms are offering opportunities for their clients to watch football matches on giant screen TV’s after a day of sightseeing, and have free drinks. However, these amenities will only last one month, from mid-June until the championship match in mid-July.

Similarly, a number of agencies are arranging special trips from HCM City to Vung Tau for its July 21-25 “World Foods Festival.”

Tran The Dung at the The He Tre (‘Young Generation’) agency agrees that the ‘added value’ that travel firms provide to ‘renovate’ familiar tours tends to be short-lived. Dung says that travelers would be very pleased if they were led to new and attractive destinations.

On a trip to Nha Trang, for example, travelers could be led to visit My Nghiep brocade village or Bau Cat, a Cham pottery village which is said to be the oldest in South East Asia. Visitors to Phan Thiet could be taken to see the lotus blooming at Phan Ri. Not far from Hue is the marvellous Lang Co beach and fishermens’ village and the superb views from atop the Hai Van Pass.

There are many landscapes and beautiful beaches on the north-south route, including the Đai Lanh coast in Phu Yen Province, the Sa Huynh coast in Quang Ngai and Đa Nhay beach in Quang Binh. If they tour the northwest, travelers can be led to the villages of the Tai, Dao and H’mong peoples.

Vietnam has lots of places with a special attraction, Dung concludes, and it is tour leaders who ought to be the ‘living books’ that will help their clients appreciate their country more.

However, Nguyen Minh Quyen of the Thanh Nien Xung Phong [‘Youth Attack’] Travel Agency says that there are many objective reasons why tours become old and uninspired. Vietnam’s infrastructure remains underdeveloped; the number of destinations remains limited while familiar destinations cannot invest in new products to attract travelers

Phuong Ha

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