Original wine cellar in Vietnam

Built in the early 20th century by the French, Debay wine cellar in Ba Na resort (Danang city) has a unique architectural style in Vietnam. Standing the test of time, the structure remains primeval and mysterious.

This special cellar was built in 1923 for French military officers and businesspeople, as well as rich Vietnamese. It was named after Debay, a French officer, who built the structure. On May 15, 2012 the cellar was restored for tourism purposes.

The arched structure simulates the French-style architecture. It is 100m long, 2.5m high and 2m wide. No bulbs are installed along the passageway of the cellar.

Temperatures inside the cellar are rather low, ranging between 16-20 degrees Celsius during the daytime and dropping to below 10 degrees Celsius at night. Bottles of wine can be placed along the passageway of the cellar.

Bottles are stored in locked compartments to prevent wine being exposed to heat, light, temperature fluctuations, and humidity that can spoil wine aroma and flavour.

Not only grape wine, but rice wine distilled in Ba Na was also stored in the cellar to serve French military officers and rich Vietnamese businesspeople at the time.

Big compartments were marked by the name of the wine maker. The wine was formerly deposited in the cellar for use by upper classes in society.

The lighting system was only installed at the middle of the cellar, where parties or other formal functions were held by the French.

A fire place was put up to warm up the cellar during the winter time

Coming here, visitors have the chance to taste wine of different kinds

Thousands of tourists visit Ba Na and the cellar every day.

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Hue displays all its old structures to boost tourism

Tourists to the ancient capital of Hue will have the chance to enjoy the real life of the old city rather than just viewing relics or landscape as they usually do.

Pillars of strength: Undamaged 120-year-old nha ruong (old-style house) owned by Ho Van Te in Phuoc Tich Village. Such houses will be used for community-based tourism to improve villagers' lives.

Community-based tourism was included in the city authorities' strategy to attract 3 million tourists by 2015, confirmed Ngo Hoa, deputy chairman of Thua Thien-Hue Provincial People's Committee.

With the support from the Japan International Co-operation Agency (JICA), the city chose the model of traditional markets on Thanh Toan tile-roofed bridges in Thuy Thanh Commune to develop.

In fact, the Thanh Toan market day was revitalised during the Hue Festival and gained tourists' applause. However, only the tourists who went on tours were introduced to the spot. In addition, few local households got involved in providing the service so the number of beneficiaries remained limited.

JICA will help set up an office for the village's tourism management which will monitor the local tourism quality and enlarge the service scale so more local residents can take participate in tourism.

Travel agencies and information providers are encouraged to co-operate in bringing more tourists to the destination. Field trips will be organised to test out tour quality.

Elsewhere in Phong Dien District's Phong Hoa Commune, Phuoc Tich ancient village, which is home to 40 hundred-year-old nha ruong (houses built with many beams and pillars), has been selected to develop homestays.

JICA also sent Mizokami Yoshihiro, a Japanese ceramic expert to help the village maintain its traditional ceramics production by creating new products based on their traditional technique. More than 20 villagers, most of them old artisans, took part in the programme.

The community-based tourism does not only refresh tourism in the old city but help create more jobs and improve the incomes of local people.

Apart from JICA, the Netherlands Development Organisation SNV helped 70 local residents get jobs as tourism service providers and craft sellers for Huyen Tran cultural centre in An Tay Ward.

This was a good way to promote Hue cultural values and the easiest way for local people to market their traditional crafts, Hoa said.

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Visitors to Hoi An will enjoy discounts of up to 30 percent next month

Hoi An’s ancient architecture and craft products attracts many visitors Tourism businesses in ancient Hoi An in central Vietnam will offer discounts of up to 30 percent to domestic and foreign travelers next month, Hoi An City People’s Committee Deputy Chairman Truong Van Bay announced. During the first phase of the discount program from March 26 to the beginning of April, visitors will receive free meals when staying for more than two days at local hotels rated four stars and above. Discounts of up to 20 percent on food and beauty services will be offered to tourists staying at hotels of two to three stars. Holidaymakers will also enjoy discounts of between 10 to 30 percent at local attractions, shops and restaurants. UNESCO-listed Hoi An is a popular tourist destination in central Vietnam, known for its charming ancient architecture, craft products and nearby beaches. Hoi An welcomed about 450,000 visitors last year, 320,000 of whom were from outside the country, an increase of 6 percent on 2007. Source : TUOITRE/Son Phuoc

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