Festivals of Con Son Pagoda honour ‘Great Man of Culture'

Two festival seasons have been held annually in Con Son Pagoda in the Chi Linh District of the northern province of Hai Duong.

Repository: Con Son Pagoda is known for its historic relics associated with the lives of many Vietnamese heroes. (Photos: VNS)

The spring festival season originated on the 22nd day of the first lunar month in 1334 and marks the anniversary of the death of monk Huyen Quang, one of the founders of Truc Lam Zen Buddhism.

The autumn festival season begins on the 16th day of the eight lunar month, to mark the anniversary of the death of Nguyen Trai, a famous poet and politician during the Le Loi King in the 15th century. He wrote Binh Ngo Dai Cao, a declaration of freedom for the country.

The autumn festival was first held in 1962 and became an official national event in 1980 when Nguyen Trai was honoured as the Great Man of Culture by UNESCO.

Located 80km away from Ha Noi, Con Son Pagoda is known for its historic relics associated with the lives of many Vietnamese heroes and famous persons.

Tourists will be attracted to the charming mountains, rivers and forests that form the poetic and beautiful landscape.

Make a wish: The water from Pearl Well is offered during rituals at the Con Son Pagoda.

Con Son Pagoda is one of three centres, Con Son, Yen Tu and Quynh Lam of Truc Lam Zen of the Tran dynasty in the 13th century. The pagoda was built between two mountain ranges, Phuong Hoang and Ky Lan, before the Tran dynasty and was restored and expanded under the Le dynasty in the 15th century.

Over the years Con Son Pagoda has become small and hidden under green trees. If tourists visit out of the festival seasons, they will find a very peaceful atmosphere.

Visitors will see many pine trees as they pass through the three-door gate and be fascinated by the old stone steles in the pagoda's ground. The one on the right was autographed by King Tran Due Tong (1337-77) when he visited in 1373.

There are about 385 statues in the pagoda. Buddhist nun Tue Tam said that "some statues were created according to the portrait of famous monks and mandarins".

During the French resistance war, the small statues and many objects for worship were hidden in the mountain.

According to the story, one night during a thunderstorm, the pagoda's master monk could not sleep and decided to visit the statues in the next morning. When he arrived, he saw that the two unknown statues had been broken open to reveal two life-preserving amulets. They were identified as the great national hero Nguyen Trai and his concubine Nguyen Thi Lo.

The pagoda was recognised as a national heritage in 1962 and was then recorded as an important relic worth preserving 32 years later in 1994.

Dang Minh Tower, built with blue stones at the grave site of Huyen Quang monk, stands behind the pagoda. At the foot of the tower rests Pearl Well.

A wide path with ancient pine trees growing on both sides and footsteps leading to the peak of Ky Lan Mountain lies behind the grave tower.

Walk this way: Tourists attend Kiep Bac Temple Festival every year on the 15th to 20th day of the eighth lunar month. — File Photo

Legends say that on the full moon night of the seventh lunar month, monk Huyen Quang received an omen about a water source. He went to the mountain and found a well containing fresh, cool water. Since then, the water in Pearl Well has been offered during rituals at the pagoda.

From Con Son Pagoda, it's a 600-step climb up to the peak of Ky Lan Mountain. Bach Van (White Cloud) Shrine, where Nguyen Trai lived at the end of his life, is at the peak.

Next to the shrine is Ban Co Tien (fairy chessboard) and several other large flat stones called "immortal chessboards" by local residents. Local people were believed to have been travelling along the misty path to the peak when suddenly they heard human voices and laughter.

But all they found was a never-ending chessboard. They decided heavenly deities must have ridden clouds to Ky Lan Mountain to play chess.

The stone path down to the base of the mountain leads to Thach Ban (stone table), two large, smooth and flat rocks that sit beside the Con Son Spring. It is said that Nguyen Trai used to sit on these rocks to think and write poetry.

Next to Con Son Spring is a temple dedicated to Nguyen Trai that was built in 2000 and inaugurated in 2002 in celebration of his 600th birthday.

About 7km west of Con Son Pagoda in the valley of Rong Mountain is Kiep Bac Temple, the estate and garrisoning camp of Tran Hung Dao (1228-1300) after the first victory over the Yuan invaders in 1258. He was a brave general whose army defeated 500,000 Mongol invaders in the mid-1280s and he is now a revered Vietnamese folk hero.

Every year from the 15th to 20th day of the eighth lunar month, tens of thousands of people throughout the country attend the Kiep Bac Temple Festival.

The beautiful temple was built in 1300 where Tran Hung Dao is said to have died. It was built not only for the general, but also to honour other notabe members of his family.

Within the temple complex there's a small exhibition on Tran Hung Dao's exploits. The Tran Hung Dao Festival is held every year from the 18th to the 20th day of the eighth lunar month, which usually falls in October.

Con Son Pagoda and Kiep Bac Temple are two of three areas to be protected as special preserved areas in Hai Duong Province because of their cultural and historical significance, according to the chairwoman of the province, Nguyen Thi Minh.

The preservation plan needs an investment capital of VND1,600 billion, which will be mobilised from the local budget, tourism and economic sectors, Minh said.

VietNamNet/Viet Nam News

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Southern tourism triangle in the offing

HCMC has reached agreement with two other provinces to develop what will become a southern tourism triangle through a variety of joint product development and marketing projects from now to 2012.

In the signing ceremony in the city’s coastal district of Can Gio late last week, the three parties – HCMC, Lam Dong and Binh Thuan – will initially link their key tourist destinations.

They will also organize conferences along the way to call for investors to diversify tourism products while issuing joint marketing brochures and implementing joint promotion programs.

They will jointly participate in tourism exhibitions at home and abroad, arrange local and foreign familiarization trips and connect their tourism and travel websites, among others, according to the pact between the three provincial tourism departments.

In addition to that, the tourism associations of the three localities clinched a similar cooperation deal to develop four tourism routes between HCMC, Dalat and Phan Thiet.

La Quoc Khanh, deputy director of the HCMC Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, said cooperation between the three provinces had been in place since 2007 and had produced some good results.

“HCMC-based travel companies now contribute around 45% of total tourist arrivals in Lam Dong and have many tours linking sites of interest in HCMC, Lam Dong and Binh Thuan,” he said.

In terms of investment, he noted, HCMC companies are also at the top in the other two provinces.

But officials and travel firms at the signing ceremony conceded the three provinces had yet to make full use of marketing activities and promotional events in and outside the country.

The relationship between tourism firms in HCMC, Lam Dong, and Binh Thuan has remained loose and this might make it hard to translate the tourism triangle goal into reality.

“We’re aware of the limitations and will try to resolve them. The three tourism associations on Tuesday signed the cooperation deal that will help us strengthen the link between travel firms,” Le Thi Thanh Lien, deputy director of Binh Thuan Province’s Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, said last Friday.

According to reports by the three tourism departments, Lam Dong has 242 tourism projects worth nearly VND47 trillion, with investors from HCMC accounting for 100 projects capitalized at VND29 trillion, and those from Binh Thuan having three projects valued at VND90 billion. Lam Dong is famous for its hilly resort town of Dalat.

Binh Thuan, which is known for the seaside resort town of Phan Thiet, has 253 tourism projects committed by investors in HCMC with total investment capital of VND37 trillion.

Source: SGT

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Magical mystery tour

- Thien Duong is Vietnam’s longest cave and filled with magical and mysterious formations, no wonder Quang Binh province hope to entice tourists into the dark.

On a train from Hanoi station, my friends and I travel south into the night. Our destination is Quang Binh province, but ultimately we are heading for Thien Duong (Paradise) Cave, which is, we are told, the most spectacular cave in Vietnam.

At 31km, Thien Duong is certainly the longest dry cave found in Vietnam so far. Discovered in 2005 by the British Cave Research Association, the cave runs through the Phong Nha – Ke Bang Park’s conservation area. It is said that the cave’s beauty is reminiscent of an imperial palace and it’s hoped that the cave can become a substantial tourist site.

Currently a 500m section is open to tourists and Truong Thinh Group has already invested over VND40 billion ($2 million) into a tourist project that aims to “draw visitors from all over the world.”

On a train from Hanoi station, my friends and I travel south into the night. Our destination is Quang Binh province, but ultimately we are heading for Thien Duong (Paradise) Cave, which is, we are told, the most spectacular cave in Vietnam.At 31km, Thien Duong is certainly the longest dry cave found in Vietnam so far. Discovered in 2005 by the British Cave Research Association, the cave runs through the Phong Nha – Ke Bang Park’s conservation area. It is said that the cave’s beauty is reminiscent of an imperial palace and it’s hoped that the cave can become a substantial tourist site. Currently a 500m section is open to tourists and Truong Thinh Group has already invested over VND40 billion ($2 million) into a tourist project that aims to “draw visitors from all over the world.”

A national symbol

The cave is in the heart of a limestone mountain range, surrounded by the pristine forests of Phong Nha-Ke Bang national park. It’s a pleasant trek to the mouth of the cave. Inside there are stunning four-metre-long stalagmites and stalactites, thousands of years in the making.

In the opinion of Phuong, our 24-year old tour guide, the system of stalactites and stalagmites is as beautfiul as Vietnam’s cultural symbols from north to south such as terraced fields of Sapa, the communal houses or gongs from the Central Highlands, or the Champa towers found throughout the southern half of the country.

“The stalactites here have a lot of quartz which is why they’re sparkling,” says Phuong. The magnificent structure of the cave and the magical beauty within left those first-time explorers flabbergasted. Here is a majestic underworld and so the British explorers called it “Paradise” (Thien Duong). If size is beauty, the stats are certainly alluring: the cave boasts a width of 30m to 150m and a height of up to 80m. The British spelunkers immediately declared Thien Duong as “the largest and most beautiful cave in the Phong Nha-Ke Bang area.”

Opening the cave up to the world

Prior to 2005, scientists believed the cave was no longer than 5km but on their return, they discovered the remaining 26km section.

Unlike Phong Nha or Tien Son caves, which are also within the Phong Nha – Ke Bang area, the atmosphere in Thien Duong is always cool and moist with an average temperature of 20-21 degrees. Sitting in front of the cave you can feel a cold blast of air; a pleasing respite from the 30-35 degree heat outside. At the beginning of the cave, there is a huge arch which is said to symbolise the Mountain Genie who will defend the prevailing peace inside.

Compared to Phong Nha Cave, the stalagmites in Thien Duong are more various in shape and size – there are some which stretch for up to 60m, some which are said to look like the three Vietnamese gods of Happiness, Fortune and Longevity. Others are said to look like tigers, elephants and fish.

Along with Thien Duong, Phong Nha, Tien Son caves, Quang Binh province also wants to add the recently-discovered Son Doong cave to its tourism development strategy. That cave was found in 2008 and is estimated to be five times larger than Phong Nha Cave, previously considered the biggest in Vietnam.

Just a few kilometres away from Thien Duong you can make your way down the mountain to visit Tam Co (Eight Ladies) Cave. This is where eight young female volunteers and five soldiers died in November, 1972.

At that time, Quang Binh was carpet bombed during the US-Vietnam war as the US military sought to obliterate the Vietnamese supply line, which connected the north to the south – part of the so-called Ho Chi Minh Trail. The eight women and five men trapped in a cave after a bomb landed on the mountainside by Quyet Thang road. For nine days people tried to save the people inside but all efforts were in vain. It wasn’t until 25 years later that the cave was reopened and the remains were removed and exhumed.

Quang Binh on the rise

Away from the magic of the cave, Quang Binh is an impoverished area. It is the authorities’ great hope that the caves can prove to be a boon for tourism in the locality. There is also a stretch of unspoiled beach, the spectacular Truong Son Mountain range, and of course, the UNESCO reognised National Park of Phong Nha-Ke Bang. All of these natural attributes, together with the expanding Sun Spa Resort, can help the province attract all kinds of tourists – surfers, adventurers, nature-lovers, hill walkers and pleasure-seekers.

Source: http://www.vietnamnews.us/travel/magical-mystery-tour/

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10 Things Travel Guidebooks Won't Say

1. We’re already out of date.

After more than a week in $5-a-night hostels in Peru, Caitlin Childs was looking forward to a hot shower and a comfortable bed. But when she got to the Hotel Paracas, there was no hot shower, no bed – and no hotel. “It had been leveled in an earthquake the year before,” says Childs, a graphic designer and frequent traveler. It turned out her Footprint Peru Handbook – the latest edition – had been published a year and a half before her July 2008 trip.

Even without earthquakes, much of the information covered by guidebooks changes too fast for book publishers to keep up. Restaurants close, quaint markets lose their cachet, and trains change their schedules. If it’s essential to your trip, make a phone call before you go, says Peggy Goldman, the president of Friendly Planet Travel, a tour operator. Never rely on a guidebook for key information like whether you’ll need a visa to enter a country and how much it will cost, or what vaccinations you might need, Goldman says, because those facts can change rapidly. Although the guidebook’s web site may have more up-to-date information, travelers should still check with the consulate and look for CDC alerts for the latest information.

2. No news is bad news.

There’s simply not space in most guidebooks to include negative reviews – so a hotel or restaurant that isn’t in the book might not have made the cut for a reason, says Thomas Kohnstamm, a former Lonely Planet guidebook writer and the author of the memoir, “Do Travel Writers Go to Hell?” Guidebooks are also trying not just to inform but to sell potential travelers on the idea of a particular destination, he says. The end result: Every beach is beautiful, and the people of every country are “some of the nicest people in the world.” “It’s supposed to be an unvarnished take on places but you have to be pretty PC about everything,” Kohnstamm says.

It’s true that space is limited, so if something isn’t in the book, “there may be a reason,” says Ensley Eikenburg, the associate publisher of Frommer’s travel guides. The exception: “There are certain iconic places that can be overrated, and that’s something we encourage our writers to say,” she says.

3. We haven’t actually been there.

It’s called a “desk update": Writers use the phone, the Internet, stories from other travelers and even old-fashioned books to research a destination, but they never actually go there. The practice is common throughout the travel industry, Kohnstamm says. And with tight budgets, some publishers simply never ask how writers are getting their information.

Eikenburg, of Frommer’s, admits that the company does desk updates, but only on a few titles that cover multiple countries, while Lonely Planet’s Americas publisher, Brice Gosnell, says that the company’s contracts with writers always require travel to the location they’re covering.

4. We’re relying on you to catch our mistakes.

There’s essentially no fact-checking process for most guidebooks, Kohnstamm says. “They might do a random check, but mainly they’re trying to rely on the writer” to get things right, he says. (Lonely Planet and Frommer’s say fact-checking is the writer’s responsibility.) In practice, and with the prevalence of the “desk update” (see No. 2), that may mean waiting for readers to point out errors or out-of-date information. Jeffrey Ward, the founder of Savvy Navigator Tours, says he once wrote to Fodor’s to let them know that the index to their South Africa guide was from a previous edition, making it very difficult to quickly look up restaurants or sites while out walking around. Ward says the company sent him a free copy of a corrected book within a couple of months.

5. That “easy” hike is only easy for experts.

In 2007, a 32-year old hiker died taking what a guidebook had described as the “easy way” up Tryfan, a 3,000-foot mountain in Wales. “The definition of ‘easy’ is relative depending upon your experience, your physical ability, your footwear, clothing and kit, and your party,” explains Chris Lloyd, a spokesman for the local Ogwen Valley Mountain Rescue Organization. Death by hiking is fortunately uncommon, but Brian King, the publisher of guidebooks for the Appalachian Trail Conservancy, says his organization frequently hears complaints from less-experienced hikers who feel the books make scrambling over boulders sound like an easy day’s stroll. “We could probably do a better job of accommodating the day hiker,” King says.


6. We ruined that secluded spot we mentioned.

Brian Ghidinelli thought he and his wife were the only tourists in Old Hanoi’s winding streets – until they walked into a Lonely-Planet-recommended restaurant, which was packed with other travelers, some with their own Lonely Planet Vietnam guides on their tables. “While we ate, several more pairs walked in with guidebook in hand,” Ghidinelli, an entrepreneur and experienced traveler, says. Accidentally walking into a tourist trap can have financial consequences, too. In Ghidinelli’s experience, hotels and restaurants recommended by the guidebook tended to cost 25% or 30% more than those that didn’t cater to tourists.

7. We’re terrified of your smartphone.

Ten years ago, guidebooks to popular destinations like Walt Disney World or Paris were common on the New York Times best-sellers list, says Michael Norris, a senior analyst for Simba Information, a market research firm that covers publishing and media. These days, the physical books just don’t sell as well as they used to, in part because so much information is now available for free online – TripAdvisor, anyone? – and can be accessed on the spot with a GPS-equipped phone.

8. Going to Estonia? We don’t really care.

Guidebook writers sent to less well-traveled destinations are often hindered by tiny budgets, Kohnstamm says, explaining that books about popular destinations command the majority of the companies' resources. “The rest get sort of short shrift,” he says. Other publishers see it differently. Frommer’s doesn’t spend more on the more popular guides either, Eikenburg says. “If one of our customers buys our guide to Panama and it’s not accurate, then we’ve lost that customer to the competition when they go out and buy an Italy guide or an Alaska guide,” she says.

9. We’re tourists too.

Guidebooks can’t always be trusted for “insider” tips on what the locals eat, how they behave or what the cultural norms are in a country, says Bryan Schmidt, who has traveled to six countries on four continents over the last ten years. Guidebooks for Brazil, for example, will recommend places to get “authentic” feijoada, a traditional meat and bean stew – but Schmidt, whose wife is Brazilian, says even those meals are designed for tourists. Of course, some may see that as a blessing: The truly authentic dish involves “a lot of pig ears and pig snouts,” Schmidt says.
“It’s possible to overcome the challenge of not being from a place, but it just takes a lot of time,” says James Kaiser, the author of several independent guidebooks to national parks. Kaiser says he likes to spend about two years doing research so he can get to know locals and see how a place changes over time. Of course, even locals can make mistakes. Kaiser grew up near Acadia National Park in Maine, but his first guide to the area included a recommendation of a picnic spot for families that he came to regret. “Nude bathing was not uncommon,” Kaiser says. “I learned the hard way to triple-check my information.”

10. Don’t take all of our advice.

Some travelers feel guidebooks encourage a frenzied, see-it-all approach to tourism. “I have a really good friend who’s a lawyer, and she prepares for a trip the same way she prepares for a murder trial,” says Friendly Planet Travel’s Goldman. Relying on a guidebook for minute-by-minute planning robs a trip of spontaneity, she says. “The true reason for travel is the absolute thrill of discovering something all by yourself.”

Correction: The name of Peggy Goldman's company is Friendly Planet Travel. An earlier version of this article called it Family Planet Travel.


Source: SmartMoney.com

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Third private carrier flies Viet Nam’s skies

VietNamNet Bridge – Air Mekong, Viet Nam’s third private airline, received its Air Operator’s Certificate from the Civil Aviation Administration of Viet Nam (CAAV) in southern Kien Giang Province on Friday.

On the same day, the carrier also launched its first two routes, Ha Noi – Phu Quoc and HCM City – Phu Quoc.

"The Vietnamese aviation market is dramatically developing. The aviation demand, especially for domestic flights, will increase considerably in the next few years," said CAAV deputy director Dinh Viet Thang.

"The introduction of Air Mekong is essential to meeting market demand, diversifying aviation services and increasing competitiveness," Thang said.

"The CAAV’s certificate will open up a new page for our development", said Air Mekong chairman Doan Quoc Viet.

Air Mekong would start commercial operations since Saturday with eight flights from Ha Noi and HCM City to Phu Quoc, Con Dao, Buon Me Thuot, Pleiku, Viet said, adding that they would expand operations to 10 flights from November including destinations of Da Lat in the Central Highlands and Da Nang City.

The airline has launched a promotional offer until November 9 with 1,000 tickets at prices ranging from VND400,000 to VND1.2 million (US$20.50-$61.50) for flights on all its domestic routes. Tickets are on sale at travel agents and via Air Mekong’s website and customer care centres.

Air Mekong was establish in 2009 by Ha Long Investment and Development Company and is based at Phu Quoc Airport. The existing two private carriers operating in Viet Nam are Indochina Airlines and VietJet AirAsia.

The CAAV said there were also a number of other organisations and individuals planning to launch airlines. To qualify, private operators must have a charter capital of at least VND500 billion ($26.3 million) to fly internationally and VND200 billion ($10.5 million) to launch domestic flights. They must also meet strict aviation and security standards.

VietNamNet/Viet Nam News

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Cham people celebrate Kate festival in Ninh Thuan

VietNamNet Bridge – Thousands of Cham people in the central province of Ninh Thuan on October 7 attended Kate festival, the biggest annual festival of Cham people who are Balamon followers, at Poklong Giarai tower.

Ninh Thuan province has nearly 70,000 Cham people, including around 40,000 Balamon followers.

Poklong Giarai is a group of Cham temple towers which was built in honor of the legendary king Po Klaung Garai, who ruled Champa from c.1285 to 1307 A.D.

The towers were constructed during the early 14th century during the reign of King Jaya Simhavarman III, and are thus classified as belonging to the Pô Klông Garai or Late style of Cham architecture (14th-17th centuries).

The complex was built on the site of an earlier temple and originally comprised six towers: a main tower at the centre and five lesser towers, all facing eastward. However, the two towers in the south west and north east respectively have long since fallen into ruin. The main tower was dedicated to revered local King Pô Klông who, according to legend, won a contest with Prince Pô Đam to see who could construct a temple in the shortest time.

All four remaining towers were extensively renovated by Polish conservation agency PKZ in the period 1981-1990 and are now in the care of local experts. Particularly noteworthy are the central kalan, with its intricate decoration and elegant roof towers, and the mandapa, with its horse-saddle shaped roof. During numerous excavations at the site a number of gold and silver bowls have been found. Each year during the 8th and 9th lunar months (September-October) this temple complex is one of the most important venues for the ceremonies of the Kate (Chăm New Year) Festival.

The Kate festival in photos:

PV

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Vietnam attends tourism exhibition in France

VietNamNet Bridge – Vietnamtourism, Saigontourist, Vietnam Airlines, and many prestigious companies such as La Palanche, Bai Tho Junks and Vietventures have taken part in the 32nd International French Travel Market Top Resa tourism exhibition being held in Paris, France from September 21-24.

Photo: VOV

This is a good opportunity for Vietnamese travel agencies to present Vietnam’s countryside in time for the capital’s 1,000^th birthday, said Pham Van Hoa, Director of Bai Tho Junks.

The event involves 600 groups and companies from across the world operating in tourism, transport, and hotels.

VietNamNet/VOV

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Vinpearl autumn packages for families and honeymoons

VietNamNet Bridge – Newlyweds and families can ensconce in five-star luxury from September 25 to November 30 with special packages at the Vinpearl Resort & Spa in Nha Trang City.

Hotel guests ride jetskis and catamarans at Vinpearl Resort & Spa - Photo: Courtesy of the Vinpearl Resort & Spa

The “Honeymoon package” for US$399++ for three-days and two-nights or US$529++ for four-days-three-nights for two includes a welcome flower bouquet, five-star standard room decorated with fresh flowers and three free buffets a day. Vinpearl will pamper the happy couple with free massage vouchers at Vietspa, a romantic diner for two and a free tour to Nha Trang Bay or city tour.

The “Happy family” package for US$499++ for three-days and two-nights and US$669++ for four-day-three-night for a family of two adults and two children under 12 offers a five-star standard room with three free buffets a day, free tour to Nha Trang Bay or a city tour, a free cake with candles and shuttles to and from the airport/station.

The packages also provide Vinpearl souvenirs and free entertainment activities at Vinpearl Land Amusement Park including games, 3D movies, underwater world, music fountain stage and free facilities including swimming pool, gym and Vinpearl’s private beach.

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Is Vietnam the Right Destination For Adventure Travel?

An exciting experience from any dangerous situation is called “Adventure”. It may cause physical dangers, financial or psychological risks. Adventure experience creates physical or mental arousal. It can be positive or sometime negative. Most of the travelers are interested to explore adventurous areas. They love to be the adventurers. The adventure traveling activity includes skydiving, mountain climbing, scuba diving, skiing and any kind of extreme sports.

Sapa Vietnam
I would like to watch only adventurous sports. It creates an excitement and makes us to avoid moving. It was the initial stage when I attracted towards this adventure. My first adventure started traveling on mountainous areas for mountain walking. Slowly I moved to the next step of trekking. Now, my interest includes mountain walking, hiking, trekking and mountain climbing.
I found Vietnam is a wonderful destination for your trekking. Vietnam is surrounded by beautiful mountains. They are feasible for trekking or hiking or mountain walking. The queen of the mountains in Vietnam is Sapa. It is a wonderful destination for the beginners as well as for the experienced trekkers.
Sapa looks spectacular with lofty mountains. The fabulous scenery surrounding sapa attracts more trekkers into Vietnam. It is easy to undertake hikes through the valleys around Sapa. It has endless places for hiking. The nearest village within walking distance is Cat Cat. It is steep and wonderful place for hiking. Another popular trekking area is Phin village.
You can enjoy adventurous hiking experience on the Hoang Lien Mountain range which is surrounding the sapa. It is called as Tonkinese Alps by the French. It is at the tail end of Himalaya.
Sapa is accessible in all the season. Trekkers should be fit and well equipped to face the challenges. The walking space is very wet and can be slippery. The climate is cold on the mountains. Travelers should be prepared to travel to Sapa.
Black Virgin Mountain is also a wonderful place for your mountain walking in Vietnam. The mountain has some historical story. It is called as the center of a myth about Ba Den, a Vietnamese woman. This mountain has theme park. Study their weather and start your trekking trip.
Thinks you should consider before your hiking trip:
1. It is essential to be fit before taking any trip. It is better to do a medical fitness check up done. It is good to have a vaccination for malaria, cholera, tetanus, typhoid and hepatitis according to your travel destination. It is advisable to carry medicines related to ailments from which you are previously suffering.
2. Dehydration is a common issue when you go for trekking. Keep enough fluid items to keep you rehydrate.
3. Choose proper shoes for trekking. Rough pair of shoes can severely hurt your feet while trekking.
4. Remember to carry food items that made up of carbohydrates. It will help you to hike with enough energy.
5. Always take important medicine and first aid box with you.
6. It is important to cover your neck area, mainly in frequently changing weather.It can lead to serious neck problems and pains.
7. Do not forget to wear stockings or thick woolen socks while trekking. You can also use Synthetic blended socks as these socks are especially designed to prevent feet moisture.Get things ready before going for trekking. Enjoy your hiking in the majestic mountains of Vietnam.
Best Vietnam Adventure travel Website

Active Travel Vietnam is a website dedicated to profesional adventure travel in Vietnam. This is a professionally designed website where you can easily find useful travel information on popular adventure destinations in the country, the different and unique available tours include trekking, biking, kayaking, motorcycling, and about the country itself. The website also has informative articles about the Vietnamese culture, its history, and its holidays. There is also a page advising you what you can do and what you should not do in Vietnam in order to have a pleasant journey.
Motorcycle Vietnam is a website dedicated to motorcycling travel in Vietnam. This is a professionally designed website where you can easily find useful information on popular motorcycle trails or dirt road in the country, the different and unique available motorcycle tours, and about the country itself. The website also has informative stories about the Vietnamese culture, its history, and its holidays from travel motorcyclists. There is also a page advising you what you can do and what you should not do on roads in Vietnam in order to have a memorial journey.
Source: booshnews

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UNWTO: Vietnam a top growth tourist destination

VietNamNet Bridge – The United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) has put Vietnam in the list of the top Asian countries with strong tourism performance in the first half of this year.

International tourists visit a perfume store at a commercial center in HCM City. (Photo: SGT)

UNWTO said in a statement about global tourism that international tourist arrivals are estimated to have grown by 7% in the first six months. Asia Pacific with the growth of 14% and the Middle East with 20% led growth in the global tourism industry in the period.

The organization said Vietnam and Myanmar had the same growth of 35%, ranking the two countries as particular countries which had strong results in the period, behind Sri Lanka and Japan.

“Asia in particular is experiencing a very dynamic rebound, with strong results from Sri Lanka (49%), Japan (36%), Vietnam (35%), Myanmar (35%), Hong Kong (China) (23%), Macao (China) (23%) and Singapore (23%),” says the report.

UNWTO said Asia had once again shown a strong capacity for recovery. International tourism has been a driving force in the region, currently the second most visited region in the world with 181 million international tourist arrivals, or 21% of the world total.

However, the organization still maintained its forecast that the global tourism sees continued growth but risks remain. “Although we are witnessing a clear recovery in international tourism, we must remain cautious,” UNWTO Secretary-General Taleb Rifai said in the statement.

Nguyen Van Tuan, head of the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism, earlier told the Daily that local travel remained a key pillar for the country’s tourism, with up to 17 million Vietnamese people traveling in the first half, representing over two-thirds of the figure for all of 2009.

Growth in international visitor arrivals was 32.6% in the first half, with more than 2.51 million foreign visitors coming to the country. The number reached nearly 3.35 million in the first eight months, up 35.2% year-on-year.

VietNamNet/SGT

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Foreign tourist arrivals on the rise

VietNamNet Bridge – Visitors to Viet Nam in August increased by 4.4 per cent over July, to a total of 427,900 for the month, the General Statistics Office said.

Tourists enjoy ethnic hand-made products at Bac Ha Culture Market in the nothern mountainous province of Lao Cai. Viet Nam has launched a range of tourist programmes since the beginning of this year, with foreign visitor numbers in August increasing by 4.4 per cent over July. (Photo: VNS)

Of those, 80,500 visitors arrived by road; 343,000 by plane and 4,500 by sea, the office said.

The number was up 37.7 per cent against August last year, bringing the total for the first eight months of this year to 3.35 million visitors.

The highest increase was from Cambodia, up 104.4 per cent, followed by mainland China (98.5 per cent), Thailand (36.1 per cent), South Korea (29 per cent,) Australia (28.3 per cent), Malaysia (21.6 per cent), Japan (21.3 per cent), Taiwan (21 per cent), France (13 per cent) and the US (0.7 per cent).

The industry expects to be busy with its "Impressive Viet Nam" sale this month and next.

Meanwhile, people have been frantically searching for outbound tours since Friday was declared a holiday for State employees, bridging the gap between Independence Day, on Thursday, and the weekend.

Hong Mai of Ha Noi said she had made plans to take her family to the countryside until the extra day off was announced, making a trip out of the country a viable option.

However, the decision came to late, she said. Mai could not find a suitable tour because most were full.

Tour companies said they had either closed off many tours or there were only a few isolated seats left.

Ha Noi Redtour deputy director Nguyen Cong Hoan said he had been swamped with customers the day after the announcement was made last week.

On the first morning, 15 people booked Singapore tours, 10 chose Hong Kong tours and 17 selected Malaysia, he said.

Vietsky Travel spokeswoman Thu Hien said all outbound tours were full and they had turned away many disappointed customers.

VietNamNet/Viet Nam News

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Air tickets for September holiday running out

VietNamNet Bridge – Representatives of the national air carrier Vietnam Airlines and Jetstar Pacific Airlines have said that flight tickets for August 30-31 and September 1 on some “golden air routes” like Hanoi – Nha Trang are nearly running out. Meanwhile, tickets for flights on some other routes are also running short.

The National Day holiday is long this year, lasting four days, so many families decided to take trips during the holiday. As the demand for traveling increases, it is very difficult to obtain air tickets from big cities to tourism sites.

According to the budget airline Jetstar Pacific, the Hanoi – Nha Trang and HCM City – Nha Trang flights are the “hottest” air routes now, since many families like spending time on beautiful beaches. The airline said the demand for traveling has increased by 30-40 percent from ordinary days. All the seats on the flights from Hanoi and HCM City to Nha Trang on September 1 have been booked. Passengers can now only book tickets for earlier or later flights on August 29-31 and after September 3.

Vietnam Airlines has said the air carrier is planning to provide more flights on some air routes on the days close to September 2, National Day. To date, tickets for short and medium distance flights have nearly run out because of the high demand for air travel. There have been no tickets available for the flights from Hanoi and HCM City to Nha Trang on September 1.

Passengers need to book air tickets right now for flights on August 30-31 or September 2. Meanwhile, air tickets for flights on other routes like Hanoi – Da Nang, Hanoi – Hue, or Hanoi – Da Lat are also running low, especially flights during “golden hours” (in the morning or afternoon).

The owner of the booking agent on Tran Hung Dao street in Hanoi has confirmed that the number of passengers booking tickets to fly on holiday days with Vietnam Airlines and Jetstar Pacific has increased sharply over the last few years. “A lot of passengers are still calling to book tickets for flights on September 1, but we have to tell them that we have no more tickets,” he said.

According to the booking agent, unlike Tet holiday, the “hottest” air routes on National Day holiday are the ones which link big cities and tourism destinations like Nha Trang, Da Lat, or Da Nang. Meanwhile, passengers still can book tickets now for the Hanoi - HCM City flights on August 30-31 and September 1-2. Since both Vietnam Airlines and Jetstar Pacific have been focusing on developing the two air routes, the supply of tickets for these flights remains abundant. At the moment, passengers can still book cheap tickets on the Hanoi – HCM City route.

In related news, the budget airline Jetstar Pacific has announced a campaign to sell thousands of cheap air tickets for domestic flights on August 31. The sales campaign is in honor of the 1,000^th anniversary of Thang Long – Hanoi.

The air carrier will sell tickets from 8am to 5pm on August 31. The tickets will allow passengers to fly roundtrip on these routes: Hanoi - HCM City, Hanoi - Da Nang, HCM City - Da Nang, HCM City - Hai Phong. The flights will depart between September 7 and October 27.

Tickets for the Hanoi – Da Nang and HCM City – Da Nang routes will cost 315,000 dong, while tickets for Hanoi – HCM City will cost 615,000 dong. The HCM City – Hai Phong route will cost 600,000 dong.

On August 20, Jetstar Pacific also launched a campaign to sell cheap air tickets. Nearly 6000 passengers successfully booked tickets.

Source: VnExpress

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Viajes Indochina Introduce New Viajes Vietnam Website

Viajes Vietnam tour and travel guide with tips, advice and useful information on travel activities on tours provided direct from local tour operators. This guide helps travelers find out what to see and do and plan the travel itinerary.


Viajes Indochina is pleased to announce the launch of a new website section that features Viajes Vietnam tours which are supplied direct from tour operators based in Vietnam. Take no chances with the next vacation, travel with those who know the destination by experience.

Vietnam is a premier travel destination in Indochina, offering many beautiful sightseeings, UNESCO’s Heritages to explore, and cultural depth unlike anything else seen on earth. The Natural sights and culture tours complemented with modern amenities makes Vietnam becomes an ideal vacation destination on several levels.

Vietnam is a country most people have heard of but until recently few have had the opportunity to visit. It was not until the early 1990s that the first intrepid travelers started arriving. Things have come a long way in the past decade and visitors from all over the world are now discovering what a hidden gem of a country Vietnam is. Brilliant green rice fields, exotic temples and pagodas, grand colonial buildings, bustling city streets, thatched bamboo huts, grand colonial buildings, exotic temples and pagodas, deserted sandy beaches, breathtaking mountain scenery, conical straw hats, colorful ethnic minorities, graceful women in ao dai tunics, delicious cuisine, great out door activities luxurious hotels, stunning resorts and more, much more, it’s all here in Vietnam.

The two great metropolises of the country are the elegant capital city Hanoi and the dynamic, economic powerhouse Ho Chi Minh City. Since 1993 UNESCO has declared five World Heritage Sites in Vietnam, four in central Vietnam and one in the north. The four sites in central Vietnam are the former imperial capital Hue, the historic trading port of Hoi An, the centre of the former Cham Kingdom, My Son, and Phong Nha Caves. The fifth World Heritage Site is the spectacular natural wonder that is Halong Bay in northern Vietnam, breathtakingly featured in James Bond and other films.

A Vietnam tour should make every first-timer's itinerary to Indochina, with no exception. The sightseeings systems are beautiful, the unique culture is unmatched anywhere on earth, all without giving up the comfort of civilization, with hotels and other amenities located nearby.

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Century old cathedral in Phu Yen

VietNamNet Bridge – Amidst the greenery and serenity of a small quiet commune of An Thach in Phu Yen Province stands Mang Lang Church, a building that has weathered over a hundred years in the harsh central region.

The 120 year-old Mang Lang Church in Phu Yen Province. (Photo: SGT)

The burning heat in the dry season, and downpours and storms in the rainy season have not ruined Mang Lang, but have left a grey-black layer on the façade of the oldest church left in the province which is better known for its natural attractions such as Da Dia Cliffs.

Time has left its mark on the church’s two bell towers that attract many tourists, Catholic and non-Catholic.

The church is equally appealing behind its walls. It has stained glass windows with the Cross and other Christian images and yellow arches along the corridors that run down both sides of the building.

The silence inside Mang Lang is overwhelming when there aren’t any prayer sessions or services underway. The beautiful paintings and carvings about Christ and saints shed light over the quietude. The stained glass filtered sunlight bathes the inside of the church during the day while it is lit by lanterns at night.

The combination of Eastern and Western architecture makes Mang Lang worth a visit and Catholics may want to peruse the documents about the life of Saint Andrew Phu Yen. His statue stands solemnly on a small hill in the church yard.

Saint Andrew Phu Yen was the first Vietnamese martyr who was canonized in March 2000. Documents say he was martyred in July 1644 at the age of 19, three years after he was baptized and 248 years before work began on the church.

French priest Joseph de la Cassagne started building Mang Lang Church in a paddy field in 1892. No doubt, the building has not experienced much change since that time, when there were many plants with purple pink blossoms called Mang Lang, from which the church takes its name.

Mang Lang is a famed destination for Catholic pilgrims but is still reasonably unknown compared to other Phu Yen attractions. But, it is easy to visit as it is situated on the way to Vietnam’s nearby national site Da Dia Cliffs.

Mang Lang is less than two kilometers from National Highway 1A and just over 10 kilometers from Da Dia Rock Cliffs. The church can be reached by car and the best time to go is from noon till early afternoon.

VietNamNet/SGT

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Blue seas and unspoiled beaches

VietNamNet Bridge – Beaches in the North are always crowded so the romance of nature seems to be lost. However, for beachgoers looking for somewhere relatively untouched, Co To Island’s beaches in Quang Ninh Province are the perfect spot.

Unspoiled Van Chai beach on Co To Island in Quang Ninh Province. (Photo: SGT)

East of Van Don Island, Co To Island District comprises dozens of islands on about 4,000 square kilometers. Among them, Co To Lon, Thanh Lan and Tran are three largest and most attractive islands.

To get to Co To, take an hour boat ride from Cai Rong Wharf, which is an hour and a half bus ride from Halong City. 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 Ha Long Bay and the young dragons turned into the islands of Bai Tu Long Bay which contains the Co To island group.

After an hour on the boat, green, misty mountain ranges and white sandy beaches of Co To Island appear on the horizon.

The island boasts many beaches, of which the most popular is Bac Ho Beach, a long stretch of sand bordered by pine forest. A paved path winds along the edge of the sandy beach, lined with houses, shops and a market.

Van Chai and Hong Van are the two must-see beaches in Co To. Van Chai Beach is still unspoiled. Tourists can relax and play in the big waves and stay overnight in small bungalows. Hong Van beach is always quiet with small waves.

Bac Van Beach is known for the different kinds of coral that the authorities are trying to conserve.

At Co To, trek up to the lighthouse to take in a panorama of the whole island. On the way, there is a pine forest full of wild flowers and butterflies.

Tourists can take photos of many tamed monkeys on the island.

At the end of the day the sunset looks spectacular from the wharf as it sinks behind the mountains leaving a darkening purple sky.

VietNamNet/SGT

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Ha Long Bay ranks 2nd in world wonders voting

VietNamNet Bridge - Vietnam’s Ha Long Bay won second largest number of international votes over the past four weeks in the campaign voting for the world’s seven new natural wonders.

Ha Long Bay listed among the world’s most surreal landscapes

The information was released by the NewOpenWorld on its website

The voting for Ha Long Bay has achieved satisfactory results in several countries like Japan , the Republic of Korea , France and Mexico .

Recently, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism has worked with the Ha Long Bay Management Board to open a photo exhibition in New York City of the US from August 11-18.

In the coming time, a wide range of activities to vote for Ha Long Bay will continue to take place in many countries across the world.

To voted for Ha Long bay, twice recognised by the UNESCO for its landscapes and geological values, please visit the website www.new7wonders.com/nature/en/vote_on_nominees.

Source: VNA

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List of Official Vietnam Public holidays in 2010

List of Official Vietnam Public holidays in 2010

The dates for the 06 specified public holidays for 2010 are as follows: (Don‘t miss out our essential advice before you leave for Vietnam)

New Year‘s Day (Tết Dương Lịch)	Friday	1 January 2010
Lunar New Year (Tết Nguyên Đán)	Saturday to Tuesday	13-16 February 2010
Hung Kings Commemoriations (Giỗ Tổ Hùng Vương)	Friday	23 April 2010
Liberation Day	Friday	30 April 2010
Labour Day (Quốc Tế Lao Động)	Saturday	1 May 2010
National Day (Quốc Khánh)	Thursday	2 September 2010

* As LUNAR New Year (falls on Saturday 13 February 2010 and Monday 15 February 2010, the next day, Tuesday 16 February 2010, will be a public holiday.

2. The list of public holidays for 2010 is available on the Wikipedia

REMINDER ON APPLYING FOR A VISA DURING HOLIDAYS

3 . Since Vietnamese Embassies and Immigration Dept are closed on public holidays, it is strongly advised that you apply for a visa in advance to avoid delay of your flights during the holiday time.

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