Learning Vietnamese... to be continued

I have friends who’ve lived here for much longer than me who cannot speak a word of Vietnamese. Really. If you’ve lived here for more than 5 years and cannot order a Sinh tố dừa, something’s wrong. Brian Webb Let me back up, in case I seem like a hypocrite. There is a Christian saying that goes something like, “People who live in a glass house should not throw stones.” I...

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One commune in Central Vietnam is “Cajuput kingdom”

For hundreds of years, Loc Thuy Commune, in the central province of Thua Thien- Hue, has been famous for producing cajuput oil. The oil not only has an attractive fragrance, but is also very useful in easing aches and pains. A cajuput oil bottle Nguyen Van Hao, owner of a cajuput oil production facility, said, “In the past, the Loc Thuy region had forests of cajuput. When locals burned the wood, they noticed the pleasant smell. This is what incited...

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Vietnam tourism promoted in Dubai

A conference to promote Vietnamese tourism was jointly held by the Vietnamese Embassy in UAE, the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism, the Vietnam Airlines and the Sharaf Travel in Dubai on February 23. Speaking at the conference, the Vietnamese Ambassador, Nguyen Quang Khai, reviewed the industry’s achievements over the past years. Despite the global financial crisis, the number of tourists coming to Vietnam reached 5.1 million in 2010,...

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Halong Bay

Recognized by Unesco as a World Heritage Site since 1994 for it thousands of natural islands, Ha Long Bay is a legendary world,, and one of the most magnificent scenic spots in Vietnam as well. Situated in North-East of Vietnam (150km from Hanoi), the Bay is in the Gulf of Tonkin which comprised of regions of Halong City, the township of Cam Pha, and a part of the island district of Van Don. It abuts Cat Ba Island in the southwest. Toward...

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Discover Stunning Terraced fields in Northwest Vietnam

The terraced fields in the mountain district of Mu Cang Chai in Yen Bai, Vietnam are associated with the developmental history of the Mong ethnic minority group. They are considered not only a source of food production but also an asset for developing local tourism.When we arrived, Giang A Su, a farmer in Che Cu Nha commune, was carrying his hoe to his 5,000 sq.m of terraced fields to expand their area. Seeing everyone’s surprise at his traditional...

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Northern natural beauty, traditions call out to adventurous travellers

What do you think of when you read the fol-lowing lines about Viet Nam by the famous Vietnamese poet To Huu: How amazing my country is! Lean against Truong Son Mountain Range Reach to Truong Sa (Spratly) Islands From north-eastern most Tra Co with populous forest To southernmost Ca Mau with mangroves If you are a traveller cherishing your exploration of the country, you will most likely share the same impressions with your...

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Head into the clouds on a journey through Vietnam's hill country

According to the young Red Dao woman with the incisor decoratively encased in gold, her village of Ta Phin had not seen the sky, let alone the sun, for six long weeks. The winter had been so cold and hard, she explained as we slopped along the muddy track (she in her plastic sandals, me in my hiking boots), that many villagers, including her own family, had lost at least one of their precious water buffalo, animals that cost upwards of eight...

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Commercialization threatens traditional festivals

Well-known traditional festivals in Vietnam like Lim – Bac Ninh love duet or Vieng – buying good luck, selling bad luck are being commercialized. Their traditional values are being eroded. Preserving traditional festivals so that they are original and “old” is a difficult task but visitors still want them to maintain their “soul” and spiritual beauty.. Vieng Market Festival becomes gambling arena The Vieng Market Festival in Vu Ban district,...

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Lanterns make an ancient city glitter

The contest of lanterns, which just wrapped up on February 16 in Hoi An, lit up the old city with in a multitude of colours. The contest gave out prizes in several categories: education, commerce and economics.This is the third festival of its kind held in Hoi An, central Quang Nam Province. The festival, which started on February 2, attracted nearly 200 lanterns made by nearly 70 different artisans. Thousands of visitors came to see the Hoai River...

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Spanish magazine spotlights ‘Great Wall of Vietnam’

Spanish writer Mark Jenkin has extolled the wonderful beauty of Son Doong (Mountain River Cave) in Quang Binh central province. In a reportage entitled “Vietnam Cave” published in the National Geographic magazine in January, M. Jenkin wrote “There is a jungle inside Vietnam’s mammoth cavern.” M. Jenkin cited his teammate Jonathan Sims, who was a member of the first expedition to enter the cave, as saying that his team could explore two and a half miles of Son Doong before a 200-foot wall of muddy calcite stopped them. They named it...

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Hanoi discovery

Each foreign tourist arrives in Hanoi and when they return to their home, they all have an individual impression. Hanoi is ancient and peaceful; Hanoi bustles and is full of vitality; Hanoi has precise and unique gastronomy; Hanoi is brilliant with colors; and Hanoi is passionate and charming. Common impressions for tourist to easily recognize are the friendly, enthusiastic and hospitable people of Hanoi. Living in California, US, Dr Gish chooses...

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Valentine’s Day a business opportunity for students

In the cities of Can Tho and Danang there is an abundance of flower and souvenir stalls around colleges and universities during Valentine’s Day. Often, the owners of these stalls are students, who would rather make money instead of making a date. Flower stalls in Danang One group of friends, including Thu Ha, Kieu Trinh and two others, opened a stall in front of Phan Chu Trinh High School, trying to catch eyes with their colourful wares for...

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US TV station highlights Vietnam’s tourist attraction

KPVI News 6, the local NBC (National Broadcasting Company) affiliated television station for Idaho, has advised Americans to tour Vietnam to get to know “Southeast Asia's rising star". According to the TV station, as the world discovers more of Vietnam's treasures, this Southeast Asian country is climbing higher on travellers' must-see lists. A Vietnam tour is often the most effective way to take in the best of this fascinating country's attractions including the highlands of the far north and the beaches of the south. In its website,...

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Hue agencies consider creating tours based on city's heavy rain

Touring in the rain: Foreign tourists enjoy walking along Hue's Trang Tien Bridge in light rain. Local authorities and travel agencies are thinking hard to design tours targeting Hue's rainy days. — VNA/VNS Photo Quoc Viet Royal treatment: Tourists visit one of Hue's royal palaces. — VNA/VNS Photo Huy Hung The song Remember Ha Noi's Autumn by late composer Trinh Cong Son has inspired Saigontourist to design a tour of the city's...

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Isle escape

The pristine turquoise waters of Mai Nha Isle are the perfect escape for city dwellers. If you are like me and have had enough of vacations spent lazing in luxury resorts and fancy restaurants, head to the virtually uninhabited Mai Nha (Roof) Isle in the central province of Phu Yen for a refreshing, adventurous holiday. Just 30 kilometers north of Tuy Hoa Town, Mai Nha Isle is a great spot for a day trip or overnight camping. Barely four kilometers from the famous O Loan Lagoon, the isle has everything a wary urbaner can ask for and...

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Danang’s full of flowers for Tet

Despite the gloomy weather, an abundance of colourful flowers, here to welcome the new year, could be seen in the streets of Danang. The flower markets were opened on January 29. They can be found on many streets, such as Ham Nghi, Nguyen Huu Tho, Nguyen Ven Linh and Square No. 29/3. Like pretty much all prices this year, the cost of flowers has increased between 30% and 40%. One flower seller, Nguyen Van Quang, said, “A peach branch costs about...

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