Vietnam expects 100,000 Indian tourists

Vietnam hopes to welcome 100,000 Indian tourists in the near future when the two countries have great potential to develop bilateral relations in this field, said Nguyen Quoc Hung, Deputy Director General of Tourism Vietnam (VNAT).

My Son Sanctuary (Quang Nam) - one of the most attractive destinations for Indian tourists

Finally, a tourism promotion conference Vietnam-India Aviation Cooperation will be held in Hanoi on November 29 with the participation of 22 leading travel agencies of India and the newspapers, Hung said at a press conference on June 21.

The conference was organized within the framework of a farm tour organized by Tourism Authority and is designed for the Indian market, held from November 23 to 29, he added.

Officials outlined a number of measures to strengthen the tourism and aviation links between the two countries, such as inviting the Indian travel agencies and journalists to Vietnam to study the market and increase the activity promotion in India.

Indian Ambassador in Vietnam Preeti Saran shared that most Indian tourists in favor of cultural and historical points, especially those related to Buddhism and Hinduism. Therefore, the cultural heritage sites in the world of My Son Quang Nam and the ancient temple is an attractive destination for holiday makers in India.

She suggested Vietnam tourism promotion strengthen its cuisine of Indian tourists as Vietnam has a lot of fresh vegetables and fruits to meet the tastes of India, especially those vegetarian.

The diplomat also call attention to the visa policy and price competition with Thailand and Cambodia.

Currently 10,000 Indian tourists to Vietnam every year due to lack of information on tourism in Vietnam and a direct route between the two countries.

However, in May, India, Jet Airways has launched nonstop service between New Delhi and Mumbai and Ho Chi Minh City. Vietnam Airlines and Vietjet Air also plans to run direct flights to the locality of India. The opening of direct flights is expected to help boost tourism ties between the two countries.

Source: VNA

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Hanoi, Da Nang named the most attractive destinations in Asia

The online travel magazine top Asian, Smart Travel Asia, was named Da Nang and Hanoi in the top 10 most attractive destinations in the region in 2014.

This is the second consecutive year the two cities of Vietnam earned points in the journal.

Criteria magazine to add to the list include experience true quality of tourism products, meet and brand reputation and destinations in the Internet community, the select list of the Top 10.

Danang, Hanoi and Singapore are all set to No. 8 on the list. Where the first position of the Bali of Indonesia.

Smart Travel Asia has over a million readers around the world who travel frequently. Earlier, the magazine listed Hanoi and Hoi An are two of the best resorts in Asia.

Source: CPV
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Ca Mau - A peaceful destination

Ca Mau has always welcomed visitors with an atmosphere of light and peace. People can immerse yourself in the river, fields and gardens.

Every time you set foot in Ca Mau, my mind recalled the verse: My Fatherland as a ship, the bow that is Mui Ca Mau. The nose is the southernmost of the country in immense waves, scenery and warmth of the locals.

The final milestone of the S-shaped country is a must-see for any visitor to the area. Mui Ca Mau featuring national flags flying in the blue sky dotted with white clouds. Looking beyond the horizon, the people of Vietnam can be proud of this land.

In Mui Ca Mau National Park, vast mangrove trees grow straight up into the sky, and roots deep into the soil fasciculate, alternating with each other to create odd shapes. The flowers are green and white gold embellishing the dense green foliage. Deeper into the forest, the air grew colder and colder, the forest is in absolutely pristine condition.

After stripping the surf boat, passing through the villages along the river, visitors can see the bustling wharf where people gather to buy and sell. You can feel the breath of the sea with the smell of fish sauce and salty sea wind.

When light of a new day begins, looming behind the flap forests, sparkling rivers, and forests suddenly woke up to greet the new life of all creatures. At the end of the day as the sun slowly disappeared, the family gathered to leave behind a busy day.

It would be a pity to Ca Mau, but missed a chance to stay at the locals. The pattern has become familiar homestay with local families, so visitors from the South to the North, or even Western tourists are not strangers to them. Visitors can come to the house to explore extensively the daily life of rural residents between the rivers and waters. They can relax on a hammock in the porch, watching the line of palm tree with fragrant yellow flowers gently permeated the air after a shower in the afternoon.

The houses here are often surrounded by a canal full of mangrove trees, large and small yellow flowers with buds and tender. On the canal, people can spread their nets or boats to go fishing. In an overview, the entire surface of the water is so quiet that even a falling leaf may cause ripples.

Dinner is served with a hearty dish of the basin, including fresh skates just pulled into the river, red and brown shrimp fried spinach relatives. The home side also cook many types of seafood they caught or bought from the neighborhood to serve. Besides mudskippers, or Mudskipper, a regional specialty in port, guests will be treated with many types of seafood such as oysters, razor shells and other special kinds of fish. The negotiations at the kitchen table idle even alive when no distance between employer and client.

The owner of the house familiar to tourists. They treat their customers like family. Everyone can freely move around, detect everything, inside, lying in a hammock or go fishing.

Silent night that I could even hear the sound of insects and fish jump in the canal. Before sunrise, the landlord was preparing breakfast was simple but tasty. Leaving Mau, my heart still lingering sense of belonging. The journey to this land brings me feel back to my dear family.

Source: SGT Read more: Sapa tours overview

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Nha Trang receives about 190,000 Russian tourists in ten months

Nha Trang city in the central coastal province of Khanh Hoa greeted about 190,000 Russian tourist arrivals in the first ten months this year, said Phan Thi Thanh Truc, Deputy Director of the provincial Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism.

The central city is expected to welcome another 60,000 Russian tourists during the closing months of the year, bringing the total figure for the whole year to about 250,000. The tourists to Khanh Hoa are from the Russian Far East, Moscow and Saint Petersburg.

Currently, together with Russian tourists served by Pegas Anh Duong and Focus Travel companies, other travel businesses such as Turkey’s Anex Tour and Nhat Minh Ltd., Co are providing services for the market.

Over the past ten months this year, the Khanh Hoa tourism sector received more than 3 million tourist arrivals, in which over 685,000 were foreigners. The province earned a total tourism turnover of over VND5.04 trillion./.

Source: CPV

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Bustling Binh Ba

Located some 15 kilometers off Ba Ngoi Wharf to the east and 60 kilometers off the coastal city of Nha Trang to the south, Binh Ba Island is quite small, covering an area of three square kilometers only.

The venue, which used to be crowded with tourists on weekends only, is now turning a favorite destination as more and more people are visiting this place anytime, especially during summer.

Tourists can stop by Cam Ranh coach station, catch a taxi to Da Bac Port and then head for the island by boat. On average, there are four trips at three-hour intervals to Binh Ba every day, with each trip costing VND40,000 a person. Visitors can also choose to hire a private boat to reach the island.

The earliest trip at 7 a.m. in the morning is the most wonderful time when the sun begins to have its first light reflected on the ocean waves. Tourists will have a chance to gaze at a number of massive rocks in various shapes. Aside from ships taking visitors to Binh Ba and fishing boats, there are many smaller boats by islanders carrying necessities to and from the island.

Binh Ba is seen as a bustling island at the mere sight of its wharf area where visitors can find some small cafes to rest after a long journey on the sea. There are colorful electric vehicles available to take them to accommodation venues. The island does not actually have a lot of big hotels. However, most tourists prefer staying at locals’ homes for a new experience at an affordable price of VND50,000-100,000 a person for one night.

In the center of the island is a market where various fruit and vegetables as well as local specialties are sold while food stalls serving breakfast are always crowded. Besides, it is not easy to spot some restaurants offering an assortment of seafood dishes with fancy smell in the air. They are so irresistible that tourists have to stop by these places to try some local seafood dishes. On top of that, Binh Ba is dubbed the island of lobsters where tourists will have an opportunity to enjoy grilled lobsters caught fresh from the sea with appealing smell. Seafood on the island is fresh and cheap, attracting more and more travelers to Binh Ba.

Nom Beach is one of the most beautiful beaches of the island with its incredibly white sand, crystal clear water and solid rocks standing tall nearby. Every evening, the beach becomes a busy place for local traders to do business. Meanwhile, tourists can admire beautiful coral reef and schools of fish swimming around on Chuong Beach, which is two kilometers far from the center of the island. They can also pay a visit to other great places such as Sa Huynh, Bo De and Nha Lau beaches.

Binh Ba Island has got livelier than before thanks to an increasing number of travelers going there. Local islanders can take advantage of their own homes as lodgings for visitors. A lot of local folks say they are very happy on seeing a lot of people visiting the island, thus making life there more dynamic. However, it is such a bustling and noisy part that has somehow taken the tranquility away from the island.

Source: VIR

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A lone world traveller's faith in second chances

 

Pablo Rojas visits Hanoi on his year-long journey to 18 countries. Photo credit: Pablo Rojas

After surviving altitude sickness in the Himalayas and a near-deadly brush with a pair of scissors in Mexico, Pablo Rojas arrived in Ho Chi Minh City on his way around the world.

The 24-year-old Chilean-Canadian said he funded his trip by spending two years living with his parents and working in retirement planning..

“The idea for this trip started in high school eight years ago when I first left Canada to visit Germany for my sisters’ wedding," he said.

From there, he loosely planned a trip across Europe. Rojas’s itinerary changed from country to country depending on the situation and he ended up visiting 18 countries.

“Saving for the trip itself was just a matter of work work work and budgeting. I had the advantage of living at home with my parents so I did not have to pay rent and my job didn’t give me much more time to go out and spend my money.”

Traveling alone isn't always easy, he said, but it has afforded him the freedom to do anything, meet anyone and get into situations he might not with a friend at his side.

During his journey, Rojas learned French and Muay Thai, climbed the Himalayas and almost got stabbed in Mexico trying to save a kid from having his gold chain robbed in a local market.

“If you are adventurous and curious, if you want to see new cultures and experiences then you should toss yourself out there.”

Rojas has made countless friends -- so many, he says, he can't name them all.

“In Vietnam, I was lucky to have an excellent guide who showed me everything the country has to offer whether it be catching a gigantic fish in the market or singing karaoke.”

“The most memorable thing about connecting with the locals in general is how proud each person was to show me his country.”

Rojas said he is lucky to have parents who supported his decision and will welcome him home when he returns.

He's also lucky to have a boss who is willing to take him back.

Ultimately, Rojas says his desire to take big risks and travel the world came from his parents. By 30, the couple had secure careers in Chile. His father was a teacher and his mother a nurse. They had worked hard throughout their 20s to achieve that stability, and had recently bought an apartment and a luxury car, despite coming from poor families.

They built their entire lives from nothing by sheer hard work.

But, according to Rojas, the 1970s a military dictatorship took over the country and deadly shoot-outs erupted in the streets.

His parents sold everything they had to buy plane tickets to Canada, losing a whole 10 years of their lives to emigrate as refugees.

Once in Canada, they began again in low-wage restaurant jobs.

“The point is they started from nothing twice in their lives. There are always ways to succeed. Never give up!”

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High quality speed-boat to run from Ha Long and Van Don to Co To

The Ka Long Transportation JSC, announced on November 16th plans to introduce a new high quality, speed-boat service running from Ha Long and Van Don to Co To Island.

The new routes will meet the increased demand from tourists as well as actively contributing to socio-economic development, ensuring security defense in the nation’s northeast island.

As planned, on December 25th, the first ever 132-seat, luxury speed-boat bound for Van Don - Co To island will be launched. The second boat is expected to be ready for service next April 2015.

Total capital for the first phase of the project is around VND20 billion.

On this occasion, the company also opened the Van Don - Hanoi bus route, running from 18h00pm daily./.

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400 visitors book tour to world largest cave

Four hundreds visitors from many countries have booked an adventure tour to the world largest cave Son Doong in Phong Nha – Ke Bang National Park next year after two days the tour was opened by Oxalis Travel Company in the north central province of Quang Binh.

The 400 visitors include 150 Americans, 90 Australians and 80 Vietnamese. The rest people come from Asian and European nations.

Explorers from the British Caving Association and local doctors are working on an online question system to ensure that the visitors are fit to attend the six day walking tour to explore Son Doong Cave, said Oxalis Company’s director Nguyen A Chau.

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First Thai ethnic cultural festival 2014 to open

According to Decision No.2425/QĐ-BVHTTDL on August 01, 2014 of Miniser of Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism about organizing the first Thai ethnic cultural festival in Lai Chau; Minister of the MOCST signed Decision No.3377/QĐ-BVHTTDL about the Project to organize the festival.

The MCOST had Document No.3532/BVHTTDL-VHDT on October 08, 2014 sending to People’s Committee in some provicnes to participate into the festival; arrange the budget for some local delegations to organize the festival. The MOCST proposed that Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism participate into the festival based on the project. From that, it will create more chance to prepare and build action plan for organizing the festival in a best way.

Source: cinet.vn

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Untapped beauty of Phu Yen

Although Phu Yen is not quite a well-known destination in Vietnam’s tourism map, the province is surely “a promised land” thanks to its wild but romantic landscapes. There are numerous nature-endowed scenic spots in the south-central province for visitors to explore, including unspoiled beaches.

The provincial capital city of Tuy Hoa is adjacent to the sea. Beaches there are normally crowded with people going swimming when the sun begins to cast its first light or go down beyond the horizon. Watching the vast blue sea and white smooth sand can help people relieve themselves of the tiredness after working for long hours.

Phu Yen has some renowned tourism spots including Da Dia Reef and Dai Lanh

Cape as the country’s easternmost point. Da Dia Reef which was recognized as a National Heritage Site looks like an orderly beehive. For a long time, the reef has fascinated anyone paying a visit with a host of legends and stories about the site. Da Dia Reef is famous because the landscape is made of thousands of pentagonal rocks, causing passers-by to stop and contemplate the unusual and magnificent work of nature.

Meanwhile, Dai Lanh Cape where visitors catch the first rays of sunlight on the east coast of the country offers a special feeling. There, one side is the green mountains and forests while the other side is the deep ocean with its blue color combined with the light blue color of the sky as well as multi-shaped vertical cliffs. Under the cape is Mon Beach, a very clean and stunning beach where freshwater flowing from high mountains creates a lovely picture.

The province has many large and small beaches that are described as primitive. Some beaches untouched by visitors are where local fishermen set sail to catch fish. Long Thuy Beach has swaying coconut trees while a fishing village is located in Vung Bau Beach. Bang Beach runs along the rock reef.

Phu Yen also possesses several attractive roads. One leading to Da Dia Reef undulating through mountains and forests overlooks hidden villages, busy markets and small houses scattered around. The road to Dai Lanh Cape is larger, running through Ca Pass to other famous heritage sites. Such winding roads along the mountainside and through the forest surely bring a sense of adventure to visitors.

It takes just a few minutes on foot to reach Nhan Mountain where there is a Champa-style temple. In daytime, tourists can gaze at the panoramic view of Tuy Hoa City, Binh Ngoc flower village, Da Bia Mountain, the East Sea and two bridges crossing the Da Rang River. During nighttime, they can admire the shimmering landscape as lights are turned on.

Phu Yen is also attractive to people owing to its signature Ninh Hoa Nem (Ninh Hoa meat roll), girdle-cakes served with muong fish, O Loan cockles and Phu Yen steamed savory rice cakes. All these dishes have unique flavors of Phu Yen Province where human and nature are closely bonded.

It took more than 14 hours to reach Phu Yen from HCMC on a sleeper coach. I arrived at the coach station lying close to a local busy market bustling with trading activities taking place in the sun and sea breeze. Traders only have breakfast for relaxation following intense work starting early in the morning. Street food stalls selling steamed sticky rice, noodle soup and sandwiches are full of customers checking in and out while another stall nearby sells an assortment of sweetened soup.

Source: SGT

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Noi Bai airport’s director apologizes for poor services

The director of Noi Bai International Airport in Hanoi issued a public apology and pledged to improve the quality of service at the country’s second biggest airport, news website Dan Tri reported.
Mr. Vu The Phiet made his comments during a meeting on aviation security and quality chaired by Minister of Transport Dinh La Thang on Thursday.
During the proceedings, Phiet said Noi Bai deserved to be placed fifth on a list of Asia’s Top Ten Worst Airports.
He was referring to a list recently published by The Guide to Sleeping in Airports (www.sleepinginairports.net) a travel blog maintained by a Canadian woman.
The survey, though little known to foreign media, made local headlines and sparked a national dialogue.
“I apologize to passengers for the services at Noi Bai. The services are poor because of both the airport’s poor infrastructure and the quality of our staff,” he said.
Phiet said Noi Bai is the one of 22 airports in Vietnam that operates at its double capacity, which places significant strain on staff and facilities.
He said the building of a new terminal recently turned Noi Bai into a crowded construction site, leaving many passengers uncomfortable and nonplussed.
The airport’s management board has taken drastic measures to improve the quality of its staff, according to Phiet.
“Over the last six months, around 10 employees have been fired and around 40 were demoted for poor performances.
“We started polling passenger in April and the results showed that the majority are displeased with the airport’s cleanliness, followed by a dearth of trolleys and hard to understand loudspeakers.”
He explained that many of the poor services were provided by state-owned firms, adding that the airport has allowed private companies to bid on contracts to provide some services at the airport.
The Guide to Sleeping in Airport's respondents described Noi Bai as being hot, chaotic and not especially clean.
“In spite of its tropical location, air conditioning seems to perpetually be a problem - and the constant crowds exacerbate overheating,” the site charged, adding that sweaty travelers are further frustrated by the poor signage and limited flight information.
The site claimed the airport lacked some key facilities – including foreign exchange bureaus and sufficient chairs.
But it also stated that just before publication, the airport installed 14 sleep pods in its international terminal and now offers free Wifi.
Meanwhile, Ho Chi Minh City's Tan Son Nhat International Airport, the biggest airport in Vietnam, was ranked eighth on the list and generally described as functional and reasonable.
Facilities are generally average, and cleanliness levels fluctuate, according to the survey.

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Vietnam ministry blocks controversial cable car to world’s largest cave

A half-cocked plan to build a gondola lift to Son Doong, the world’s largest cave, in Quang Binh Province was seemingly derailed this week by national tourism officials who insisted on further research.
On Wednesday, the Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism released a dispatch charging that the cable car project lacked sufficient input from experts at the World Heritage Center of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and its advisory body, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).
“Therefore, the construction of the cable car cannot be incorporated into the aggregate planning of the Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park [home to Son Doong Cave] at this stage,” the dispatch, dated November 7, read.
The communiqué had been sent to the Ministry of Construction following widespread public outrage about the provincial government's efforts to ramrod the plan into action.

Big plan
UNESCO recognized Phong Nha – Ke Bang National Park as a global heritage site in 2003. Years later, a local man led a British team into Son Doong Cave which occupied a virtually unexplored part of the park.
The cave, which contains at least 150 individual grottos, a dense subterranean jungle, and several underground rivers became known as the world's largest cave.
The five-kilometer-long Son Doong is 150 meters high and 200 meters wide. It took over as the world’s largest from Deer Cave in Malaysia, which is 148 meters high and 142 meters wide at the widest part.

Late last month, Quang Binh’s provincial leaders revealed plans to build a US$212-million cable car system that would end somewhere inside Son Doong.
The north-central province tapped the Sun Group, a real estate and resort developer in the central city of Da Nang to survey the Phong Nha - Ke Bang National Park before installing the system.
During a press briefing held on November 4, local authorities described plans to build a 10.6km, two-section cable car system linking Tien Son and Son Doong caves.
The initial design called for 30 intermediary cable support towers that would each occupy around 10 square meters and buttress a 360-degree camera to help alert park staff of forest fires or other threats.
The plan sparked fierce opposition from civil society and conservation groups as well as tourists. As of press time, nearly 65,000 people from all over the world have signed a petition in protest over the project.
Its defenders say the cable car will make it easier for tourists to explore the cave, giving local tourism a much-needed boost that would increase revenues and create jobs.

Problems arise
But those in the opposing camp say that the proposal's much-touted benefits pale in comparison to its possible drawbacks.
The naysayers point to a lack of preliminary studies on the geographical, topographical and ecological impacts the system could have on the park. A massive injection of tourists, they warn, could potentially wreak havoc on Son Doong's structural integrity.
Worse still, the conservationists say construction of the cable car could undermine UNESCO's recognition of Phong Nha – Ke Bang National Park.
An International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) team was on a field mission in September to gauge whether the park is eligible to have its world heritage status renewed -- this time in recognition of its biodiversity.
Following their visit, the ICUN team alerted UNESCO about the planned cable car system, prompting the UN agency to request a thorough analysis of its potential environmental impact.
Vietnam is expected to hand in its report by February 2015.
UNESCO will then dispatch another team to Vietnam to study the feasibility of the plan, before advising the country whether or not to proceed.
“Since UNESCO does not yet have complete information about the cable car project, it is impossible for us to start guessing what impact it may have on the preservation of the World Heritage site,” Roni Amelan, a UNESCO spokesperson, told Thanh Nien News. “As to the World Heritage status of the site, we cannot speculate about the future decisions the World Heritage Committee may make when it receives all the information it needs.”

 ‘Not a well thought-out plan’
First discovered in 1991 by local resident Ho Khanh, Son Doong shot to international fame in 2009 after being explored by members of the British Cave Research Association with Khanh’s help.
Interest in the cave has made the once-remote and bomb-ravaged province a major destination where visitor numbers now rival established central destinations like Hue and Da Nang.
The jewel in the crown has always been Son Doong, which remains extremely hard to access.
Taxing, multi-day hikes into the cave have only been offered by a single private company, Oxalis Adventure Tours. Up until now, tourists willing to pay thousands of dollars to take such a trip had to put their name on a one-year waiting list.
It seemed like the province was happy enough with the program.
Despite several hiccups, it deemed a trial program run between August 2013 and August 2014 “successful.” During the one-year trial, 243 adventure travelers from 34 countries explored the cave on six-day trips that cost each of them $3,000.
But in a bizarre about-face, Quang Binh authorities have promoted the cable car project as a silver bullet to lift locals out of abject poverty.
Conservationists are not buying it.
They say in a country where provincial leaders are too-often evaluated by GDP growth alone, environmental concerns are likely to be sidelined in the design and construction of something like a cable car system.
“I understand Quang Binh authorities want to development their province, but a cable car built by an outside investor at a cost of $200 million, which is a huge amount of money … is not a well-thought out plan,” Pamela McElwee, an assistant professor of human ecology at Rutgers University who has extensively researched Vietnam's protected areas, told Thanh Nien News.
“How will they recoup this huge investment? By selling $10 tickets? Unlikely,” she said.
A smarter idea, according to McElwee, would be to raise the quality of tourism services provided in Quang Binh. She recalled a recent Thanh Nien News piece detailing several tourists (both foreign and local) who had been harassed and made to feel unwelcome.
“That is something Quang Binh authorities need to fix to attract more people,” she said.

The big 'no-no'
The tourism ministry’s abrupt objection to the cable car project indicates that Quang Binh's leadership pushed for it apparently without securing approval from national authorities.
Other than the tourism ministry, the government’s news website has also run several articles criticizing the project and questioning its feasibility.
In a piece posted on the site on November 1, Tran Hoang Mai, an official at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, was quoted as saying that UNESCO often threatens to de-list World Heritage sites facing threats and alluded to the possibility that Phong Nha – Ke Bang faces a similar threat.
Not surprisingly, the idea of building a huge infrastructure project designed to draw as many visitors as possible to a carefully protected ecological wonder has not gone over well with conservationists.
“If the province bothered to upgrade training and services for tourism, such as professional guides who can help tourists understand the area, they could get tourists to stay longer and spend more money, which would raise employment and bring more tax revenue to the province,” McElwee said.
“Vietnam seems to have this deep insecurity that its natural beauty and scenic landscapes are not enough -- they must be ‘improved’ with cable cars, casinos, or loud karaoke… It’s a real shame”.

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Hau Giang to revive famous market

Nga Bay floating market, one of most famous floating markets in the Cuu Long (Mekong) Delta, is an attractive destination in Hau Giang Province.

At the market, hundreds of boats hang samples of their products, mostly agricultural produce, on bamboo poles. Sales begin early in the morning and end by noon.

When the floating market was established in 1915, it was located at the meeting point of seven canals and rivers in Nga Bay town.

It became one of the delta's busiest markets. However, when local authorities moved the market 10 years ago to a site three kilometres away to ensure traffic safety, sales began to fall.

The provincial People's Committee has approved a project to revive the floating market for tourism purposes, which will include a 55.6-metre-long tourism boat wharf, road and other infrastructure.

The project, which will cost about VND35 billion (US$1.7 million), will be implemented from 2015 to 2019. — VNS

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The land of garlic

Ly Son Island some 30 kilometers off the central province of Quang Ngai is better known as “the kingdom of garlic” thanks to its vast garlic fields with a pungent aroma.

But the island has more on offer for tourists, so Ly Son is emerging as a good destination for many visitors owing to its blue sea, while sand and yellow sunshine. Given numerous hearsays about the island, I decided to make a visit all on my own to Ly Son for relaxation.

It took me more than 20 hours to reach Quang Ngai City from HCMC on a sleeper coach. Then I took a bus running from the provincial city to Sa Ky Fishing Port at 6 a.m. and later it took me another 40 minutes to board a ship to visit the island.

There is only a daily trip to Ly Son Island by high-speed vessel or wooden ship. So, if one does not book tickets in advance or queue up to buy tickets early in the morning, they will have to wait until the next day.

June-September is the most wonderful period to go to Ly Son Island because of its golden sunlight and blue sea and sky. But those who want to witness how garlic is cultivated and harvested, the time between October and the year-end is ideal.

Despite the ocean waves, the high-speed vessel headed straight to the island, taking us to Ly Son in about one hour. The trip could take a longer time of 2.5 to 3 hours if travelling on a wooden ship.

Ly Son catches tourists’ eyes with its bustling and hustling port occupied by hundreds of both islanders and visitors. Islanders carry cargo of any kind on wooden ships from the mainland to the island. The port is always busy at the time between 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. with a lot of boats checking in and out.

Residents lead a peaceful and simple life on the island where hospitality and catering services are not well-developed. Lodgings are mostly located in the area surrounding the port with the Ly Son Hotel being the largest on the island. The room tariff at the hotel ranges from VND350,000 to VND400,000. However, one can choose to stay at locals’ homes at much lower prices of VND50,000-100,000 only for one person per night, or they can even set up a tent on the coast.

Ly Son Island is quite small, covering a total area of 10 square kilometers but it is home to more than 20,000 inhabitants, mostly residing in An Vinh and An Hai communes on the big island. In fact, Ly Son is the name of the biggest island among a cluster of several islands. There are also about 1,000 people living in An Binh Commune located on another smaller island.

Paying a visit to Ly Son between June and September, tourists will have a chance to enjoy local shallots and water melons. Shallots are planted virtually everywhere at the foot of Thoi Loi and Gieng Tien mountains. If ones reach the top of the mountains, they will have a chance to experience a panoramic view of green shallot beds that are looked after by a few farmers. Meanwhile, water melons there are not so big as ones in the mainland, but its flavor and tastes are said to be better.

Those traveling to the island during the final three months of the year will be able to enjoy the island’s renowned garlic and take part in the harvest of garlic with local farmers. Similar to shallots, garlic is grown on large areas with virtually every household having several garlic beds.

The total area under garlic cultivation is around 300 hectares, with an annual yield of 1,500 tons. The price of Ly Son-grown garlic is some VND100,000 a kilo, with the special garlic fetching up to VND1 million a kilo.

Despite its limited area, Ly Son is home to dozens of big and small historical and cultural relics such as Duc Pagoda, Hang Pagoda, To Vo Gate, Hoang Sa and Truong Sa army squadrons memorial, Am Linh Tu Temple and some ancient homes in Ly Son District. Especially, on climbing the winding and rugged road leading to the top of Thoi Loi Mountain, visitors can admire the vast sea with spectacular waves far away. The scenery of Ly Son is also beautified by various cliffs overlooking the sea, and several caves formed by the erosion of seawater.

Traveling to Ly Son, visitors can also taste a number of delicious dishes. In addition to signature garlic salad, there are urchin porridge, black sticky cake, and king crab, among others. Notably, visitors can participate in the Hoang Sa soldiers commemoration festival taking place in late February or early March of the lunar calendar.

Source: SGT

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Thua Thien Hue trains tourism staff to serve Japanese visitors

More than 200 representatives from travel agents and hotels in the central province of Thua Thien Hue are taking a training course on Nov. 5 and 6 on how to improve service quality for Japanese tourists.

The course is co-organised by Vietnam National Administration of Tourism (VNAT) and Japan Association of Travel Agents (JATA) to help the province attract more tourists from Japan , which is the fifth largest international market for the locality.

Experts from JATA provided participants with valuable information about characteristics of the Japanese tourism market and recommendations on how to build a tourism trademark for the region.

VNAT officials outlined the orientation to attract more Japanese visitors to Vietnam in the coming time.

According to the provincial Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, the number of foreign tourists will increase sharply from now towards the end of the year. Besides Japan , the province will carry out marketing and promotion activities targeting other markets such as the UK , Thailand , and Cambodia .

In the first ten months of this year, Thua Thien-Hue welcomed 2.39 million visitors, of them, 852,275 were foreigners, up 8.6 percent compared to the same period last year.

The province hopes to receive 2.8- 3 million of visitors this year, including 1.2-1.3 million foreigners.

Source: VNA

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Fansipan climbers get medals

Since the end of last month, the Hoang Lien Son National Park in the northern province of Lao Cai has organised ceremonies to honour tourists who have climbed Mountain Fansipan, Viet Nam's highest mountain.

National park representatives welcome tourists before their climb and after they finish, they are presented with a commemorative medal and certificate.

It takes tourists about three days to trek to the mountain peak and back. Tourists begin at Tram Ton camp, which is 1,900m above sea level. The 12-km route has three rest camps. During the route, tourists will enjoy the beauty of bamboo forests, springs and other stunning views.

Mount Fansipan, which is 3,143m above sea level, is part of the Hoang Lien Son mountain range and managed by Hoang Lien Son National Park.

Fansipan is one of the most beautiful destinations in Sa Pa, a world-famous town in northwestern Viet Nam. The ideal time to climb the mountain is from late August to November. — VNS

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Mountain pass offers stunning panoramic vista of Ha Giang

On a cool autumn day, my friend and I were lucky enough to visit Ma Pi Leng Pass, considered the king of all passes in Viet Nam, which locates in Meo Vac district in the northern mountainous province of Ha Giang.

Ma Pi Leng Pass, also called the Great Wall of Viet Nam, is one of the four highest passes in the country, alongside Khau Pha in Yen Bai Province, O Quy Ho in Lao Cai Province and Pha Din in Lai Chau Province.

The pass is located in the globally recognised geological park Dong Van. It is not long, only 20km, but dangerously steep cliffs and deep mountainous slopes make the path difficult.

The pass's name literally means "nose of the horse". But figuratively, it means the mountain is difficult to access and riddled with obstacles – it's as vertical as a horse's nose.

On the way to Ma Pi Leng, we met children walking along the road. They liked watching visitors, and seemed glad when we gave them cakes, candies and scarves.

Sometimes on the side of the roads we saw small pubs that brought a wild beauty to the place. Some H'Mong men got tipsy and sat nodding by the roadside.

When we took in the view from the peak of Ma Pi Leng, mist covered the whole trail. We had never seen it look so mysterious before. It looked like paradise.

The pass's majestic and wild beauty makes it unique.

As we looked to the north and northeast, we saw thousands of grey mountains spreading up toward the horizon.

Next to the path lied a chasm, and below us the Nho Que River ran like a colourful thread through the cliffs.

The H'Mong people's houses, surrounded by stone fences, perched on the edge of the chasm.

Some of the houses' walls were made of neohouzeaua, a kind of bamboo, which remained sturdy despite the region's wind and rain.

The Ma Pi Leng area was named a national sightseeing by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism on November 16, 2009.

According to the ministry's decision, Ma Pi Leng Pass is considered a special heritage area. Ma Pi Leng's mountain top is one of the most beautiful observation points in Viet Nam, and Nho Que river's alley is one of the most unique tectonic valleys in Viet Nam.

Historical road

In addition to beauty, a history of volunteer youths building roads memorialises the Ma Pi Leng area.

The 185km road that goes to Ma Pi Leng Pass is called Hanh Phuc (happiness). It runs from Ha Giang City to Meo Vac District. It connects isolated mountainous districts and helps ethnic minorities access the plains.

Thousands of young people from 16 ethnic minority groups built the road between 1959 and 1965. They had to string themselves up on the rock cliffs to make it through the dangerous 11-month building process.

At the beginning, the pass was only wide enough for pedestrians and horse-drawn carts. Later, it was widened so cars and vans could use it.

At the peak of Ma Pi Leng Pass and at the highest point of Hanh Phuc Road, we stopped to take photos of Nho Que river, enjoying a thrilling feeling. We also saw an old stone stele used for marking lengths during the pass's construction.

It took the previous generation six years to make Hanh Phuc Road.

About 11 months of that time was spent making the 20km pass over Ma Pi Leng. But it took us only one day and one hour to trek across both. A feeling of admiration for the builders overwhelmed us. The road instills happiness in ethnic minorities and visitors who have the chance to go and contemplate the country's boundless beauty. — VNS

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The 20 Best Places To Live Overseas

Tired of your old job? Looking for a new environment? There are a lot of reasons to leave your home country behind in search of greener pastures, but picking where to go can be an overwhelming decision. There are a lot of conflicting factors: job opportunities, salary considerations, quality of life, safety, and childcare are just a few. HSBC has made the decision a whole lot easier with its latest annual Expat Explorer survey.

The survey ranks the best places to go based on experience, economics, and raising children abroad, with subcategories for each group. We’ve picked out the top 20 places overall. (But you can also personalise the rankings based on what factors matter to you.)

While Vietnam ranks highly in economics, where Vietnam really shines is disposable income, ranking second. There are lower prices for everything, from transport to entertainment, and great public transportation makes domestic travel easy.

Food is a major plus in the country as 87% of expats say they enjoy the food compared to 72% globally. The country ranks 6th in diet and 3rd in local food. Vietnam ranks 4th in social life and 1st in making friends.

Vietnam is not without its problems however, The country ranks near the bottom for healthcare and quality of life for children.

Source: businessinsider.com

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Hanoi amongst 10 most culturally rich cities worldwide

Hanoi has made the list of the world’s top 10 most culturally rich cities, which was announced by Lifehack, a website that gives practical and effective life advice.

“Cultural treats in the friendly capital of Vietnam include the highly popular Water Puppet Show which displays ancient fables with an impressive display of lighting, song and dance,” the site writes about Vietnam’s capital.

The website highlights a series of things to do in the city, including shopping for shoes, souvenirs and traditional medicinal oils in the Old Quarter, having suits and dresses tailored at one of Hanoi’s world famous tailoring shops, hanging around brightly-lit Hoan Kiem Lake in the evenings, and visiting the Ho Chi Minh Complex.

It praises Hanoi’s cuisine, saying that “eating in Hanoi’s street kitchens is a fun and off-beat way to truly experience the culture of communal dining that’s so typical of the locals.”

The other nine cities on the list are Chiang Mai in Thailand, Kathmandu in Nepal, Udaipur in India, Berlin in Germany, Prague in the Czech Republic, Florence in Italy, Melbourne in Australia, Amman in Jordan and Marrakesh in Morocco.

Last year, Hanoi ranked second on the website Trip Advisor’s list of the 50 cheapest cities for travelers in the world.

Source: VNA

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Viet Nam impresses Europe with tourism highlights

Vietnam’s best and newest tourism sites are currently being presented at the World Travel Market 2014 (WTM 2014), which kicked off in London, UK, on November 4.

During the three-day event, the National Administration of Tourism, Vietnam Airlines, travel agencies, and relevant local authorities are introducing some of their new services, including tours through Son Doong - the world’s biggest cave - and Dong Van Karst Plateau Global Geopark, as well as seaplane tours of Ha Long Bay.

These sights are predicted to become new magnets for European tourists in 2015, joining other popular hotspots including Hanoi, Sapa, Hue, Da Nang, and Hoi An.

The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Vietnamese Embassy in the UK will also conduct a press briefing to promote Vietnam as a continually safe, friendly, and attractive destination.

Last year, WTM 2013 was attended by nearly 50,000 key tourism players from around the globe and had an estimated transaction value of 3.5 billion USD. It is hoped that participation in this year’s WTM will reap positive benefits for Vietnam’s tourism industry.

Europeans are quickly becoming a key tourism demographic to Vietnam. In 2013, the country welcomed more than 1 million European tourists, accounting for 14 percent of all international visitors, a 24 percent increase from 2012.

During the first nine months of this year, the number of European arrivals has already increased sharply from 2013; visitors from the UK have increased by 16 percent, Germany by 75 percent, Spain by 24 percent, and Italy by 15 percent.

Source: VNA

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A day at city museums

Saigonese often go to cafés, theaters, cinemas or tourist destinations when they have free time on weekends or holidays while many visitors to HCMC opt for visits to museums to get an insight into culture and history of the country and to entertain themselves with contemporary arts on display at some of the museums and the greenery around these buildings.

Hereafter are some of the museums in HCMC for visitors to learn about almost everything about Viet Nam within a day if they do not have much time in the city.

War Remnants Museum, 28 Vo Van Tan Street in District 3
Opened in 1975, the three-storey museum has eight exhibition rooms and especially a courtyard where tanks, a helicopter, weapons, and other remnants of war are on show. The exhibits are divided into the themes of Historical Truths, Requiem - a war photography collection, Vestiges of War Crimes, Imprisonment System, Viet Nam War and Peace, International Support, and War and Peace depicted via children’s paintings.

More foreigners come to the museum than the other ones in the city as wars in Viet Nam are possibly the first thing in their mind before they arrive in this country.

“As I worked for the U.S military and I was excited to see what happened to Viet Nam during wars, I rushed to the museum right after I arrived in the city for the first time. My heart was painful when it saw the remnants,” said Dana, an American who is a teacher of English in Saudi Arabia.

HCMC Fine Arts Museum, 97 Pho Duc Chinh in District 1
This grand colonial-architecture mansion is a must-see destination for those who are keen on Viet Nam’s arts. The yellow-white museum not only keeps valuable collections of iconic Vietnamese artists but also holds regular exhibitions for both local and international artists.

Thien Hao from the museum said foreigners come there because they admire the contemporary arts of Viet Nam.

Historical Museum, 2 Nguyen Binh Khiem Street in District 1
Opened in the 1920s, the Indochinese-architecture museum is a venue for lovers of carved Cham sculptures, Buddha images across Asia, ethnic minority costumes, clothing, and household items made in the Nguyen dynasty (1802–1945), and archaeological artifacts unearthed in Sai Gon.

The museum is located next to the Botanical Garden and Zoo and is busy every day. “I took my kids to the museum one day and we were surprised. We have since come back many times, and my kids and I have learned so much about our history,” said Nguyen Bac Son, a citizen in HCMC.

Southern Women Museum, 202 Vo Thi Sau in District 3
The museum provides visitors with lessons about traditional Vietnamese women who are not only good at home but also contribute much to protecting, preserving and developing traditions of the country.

On the display are a collection of 350 production tools such as weaving looms, embroidery frames, a mat hand-loom, hand-sewing machine and farming tools, a costume collection of 600 items accompanied and a jewelry collection of 1,155 items.

Ho Chi Minh Museum, 65 Ly Tu Trong in District 1
Visitors to the museum can find pictures and exhibits related to the fights of locals to protect the city and the nation. There are also images of the General Uprising in the Mau Than Spring (1968) and the historical Ho Chi Minh campaign (1975) to reunite the country.

Of course, there are many more museums to visit in the city. The Museum of Southeast Armed Forces at 247 Hoang Van Thu Street in Tan Binh District is for people to learn more about Viet Nam’s history and Fito Museum, 41 Hoang Du Khuong in District 10 to get a glimpse of traditional Vietnamese medicines dating back to the Stone Age.

Source: SGT

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Conquering the Fansipan

The Fansipan, often dubbed the Roof of Indochina since it at 3,143m is the highest mountain in Indochina, is becoming a favorite destination among professional mountain climbers.

Challenges, of course, are numerous, with some life-threatening, especially so for amateur mountaineers. But the rewards, as it is told, are magnificent. So we set out to look for wonders and to test our physical and mental strength as well.

The mount, part of the Hoang Lien Son Range, is located in the northern province of Lao Cai, about nine kilometers from Sapa Town.

Cannot back down!

We start off from Tram Ton Pass, or Heaven Gate, at the gate of Hoang Lien National Park at an altitude of 1,800 meters. Covering this route, stretching a total 16 kilometers and usually used by amateur climbers, would take two days and one night.

Before starting, every member in my team feels eager to conquer the “Roof of Indochina” but we start off hyperventilating due to fatigue, palpitations and tired leg as soon as we just pass the first stone stairs, cross a small stream and a few slopes.

We continue to pass narrow and difficult forest trails that are clogged with roots. We have to use gloves to cling to trees and swing up the steep slopes that can break our will and energy.

The trip is really the greatest challenge to one’s health and courage. It is more and more dangerous with high and sharp cliff on one side and deep abyss on the other. Our hands are swollen and bodies fell like wearing heavy stones.

We reach the first stop at an altitude of 2,200 meters for a lunch break after two-hour climbing. Discouragement begins to surface when we know the summit is still 1,000 meters from here. Legs want to be buckled and ankles seem to be broken under the body weight.

However, the native porter tells us that the road to the peak will only be 1,000 meters if we continue to go up while the back way is three times longer. So what is the better choice? We obviously have to continue the arduous trip given no other choice after having a “hearty” lunch with meat, eggs, vegetables and tea.

Never give up!

Our team reaches the next stop at a height of 2,800 meters in the late afternoon. By night, the outdoor temperature is below ten degrees Celsius, and we feel the cold creeping over us.

Fog is too dense to see anyone in front. Despite using sleeping bag, we still have to curl ourselves to keep the body warm as the cold wind blows into tents like needles biting into the skin.

We have to get up early the next morning as the remaining track is extremely difficult. Cold weather and thin air make us lose energy and oxygen quickly while the body cannot recover after a day of uninterrupted climbing.

We also have to face more difficult obstacles than before, including wild insects and snakes, harsh weather condition, slipping stones as well as abrupt mountain slopes. The hikers must have good health condition and the readiness for any difficulties.

Triumph

And our happiness burst when we hear other groups screaming. The summit appears in front of our eyes with a steel block carved with the words “Fansipan – 3.143m”.

From the high position, we can see incredibly beautiful and stunning scenery. It is an immense green of forest and fields downside as well as fabulous scene of the blue sky and white cloud around the mountain and around us. Standing on the peak of the Fansipan is an amazing and victorious feeling and we understand that miserable trekking days are worthwhile.

Climbing the Fansipan is not only a journey to conquer the highest peak in Vietnam but also a chance for us to overcome ourselves. Each step requires an effort to conquer physical and mental fatigue, in which the mental weakness is the most difficult task.

Source: VIR

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Bao Loc – the city of waterfalls

A lot of hearsays have it that Bao Loc City in the Central Highlands of Lam Dong is home to numerous wonders. The most typical one, as widely agreed, is certainly the Dambri Waterfall, but the wonderland is also said to be well known for other extravagant venues, such as Suoi Mo, or Fairy Stream, and Seven-Storey Waterfall among others. So we set out for the town.

Bao Loc around this time of the year is soaked in constant drizzles and chilly weather. But at this time, waterfalls there also turn the most magnificent due to higher water flows.

Departing from downtown HCMC at 1 a.m., it takes us only four hours on a bus, and here we are in Bao Loc when it is only 5 a.m. The small city at this time is still blanketed in mist, chill and still sleeping while we shiver in the cold.

We are not in a hurry, we have time, so we refrain ourselves from the desire to visit Dambri first. Our itinerary therefore is added with new and primitive attractions, starting from Ta Ngao Waterfall, which is also a magnificent and unspoiled site.

When the first sun rays start beaming on endless green tea plantation, we ride a motorbike for about 20 kilometers from the center of Bao Loc, then make a right turn to Dai Binh T-Junction and go straight ahead to Ta Ngao Commune in Loc Thanh District. Here and there on the deserted and shady road are farmers going to and from their coffee plantations, so we ask them how to reach the waterfall in the fastest and safest way.

After passing through the bamboo forest for about a kilometer, we see a small wooden bridge from there we can hear the peculiar sounds of the waterfall and murmurs of streams flowing. Wow, what we have heard about it is true.

It is almost untouched as it is not a popular site, and the area still retains its primitive charm and gives us a feeling that we are pioneers discovering a lost city.

Seven storeys of the waterfall stand dozens of meters high and are separated by the lakes under the fall. At each storey are giant rocks where tourists can take a seat and admire the beauty of nature. However, as the lakes under the falls are deep and the water flows swiftly, tourists are advised not to swim there but should move to other gentle sections of the stream to swim and play among the spumes.

Trekking up and down along the stream to explore stunning landscapes under the shade of ancient giant trees, we fell as if we were lost in a wonderland.

We return to Bao Loc downtown at noon to have lunch to revitalize ourselves, then with thrilling excitement, we continue the journey to Suoi Mo, or Fairy Stream, which have heard of from friends with information and photographs on Facebook.

Located 14 kilometers from the city center, the stream is located in a small rough alley in Dai Lao Commune. One needs to ride southward for eight kilometers to reach Dai Lao Bridge, and move on for six more kilometers to arrive at a small alley with a fabric signboard ‘Giao Xu Suoi Mo’ (Suoi Mo Parish). Just a short walk into the small alley, for about 500 meters, one will see the stream to the right.

We laugh a lot when gossiping about the name of the stream, believing that it is just like an exaggeration. However, we are amazed at mere sight of the stream with very pure and cool water flowing through thousands of rocks in diverse sizes and shapes.

There are many strange fruits, wild flowers and lianas which we have never seen before.

After conquering nearly one kilometer of the stream, we reach upon a waterfall with two layers. The fall is not imposing by its height but the water stream is like a silver carpet exposing itself in the immense greenness of forest all around. We linger there on a giant rock to take a rest, admire the surroundings, enjoy snacks before setting out for the ultimate destination: Dambri Waterfall, an icon for the city for long.

Actually, we have visited Dambri for a few times before. However, it is a must for travelers to the city, so we decide to renew our memories about it and to see whether it has changed.

About 18 kilometers from the city center, the Dambri Ecotourism Site is not only splendid for the 60-meter-high waterfall but also for many additional attractions such as a fossil cave, a zoo, a monkey island and a craft village of Ma ethnic minority people.

Well, the fall still looks amazing as we have seen before and our excitement is still like previous times. However, while Ta Ngao and Suoi Mo offer no tourist service, Dambri gives us more relaxation with games on pipeline coaster, swings, speed boats and skiing.

We are richly rewarded after taking the day-long journey to Bao Loc City. And the hearsays are substantiated.

Source: SGT

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Moscow - Cam Ranh direct air route launched

The Russian airline Transaero has launched a direct air route from Domodedovo in Moscow to Cam Ranh in the central province of Khanh Hoa.

The first flight numbered UN 9563 using Boeing 767 aircraft carrying 220 Russian passengers arrived in Cam Ranh international airport on November 1, opening the two-way air route from Domodedovo to Cam Ranh.

The new service will be operational with a flight every 10 days. It takes about ten hours and 30 minutes from Moscow to Cam Ranh.

The cooperation between Transaero Airlines and Nhat Minh International Tourism Company aims to serve the growing traveling demands of Russian visitors to Vietnam.

Source: SGGP Daily

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Vingroup opened five-star resort in Phu Quoc

Vinpearl Phu Quoc Resort welcomed 4 charter flights from the Republic of Korea, China, and Russia on its inauguration on November 1 after ten months of construction.

The five-star resort, which belongs to Vingroup, consists of 750 rooms, a modern entertainment area, and a 27-hole golf course of international-standard.

The resort also includes an 1,500 square metres conference room and a sport, spa, and swimming pool system which covers 5,000 square meters.

The highlight of the resort is Vinpearl Land-the island’s most modern entertainment area. It include Games World, out-door areas for adventure games, 3,000-seat musical fountain stage, and a special aquarium showcasing hundreds of varieties of fish and other aquatic creatures like penguins, crocodiles, King Crabs, turtles and dolphins. The resort will also offer water sports such as surfing, sailing and scuba diving.

From here, it takes visitors a short time to reach famous tourism destinations of the island such as Ganh Dau, Pristine Khem Beach, Da Ban Spring, Tranh stream, PhuQuoc National Park, Ho Quoc Temple, and Phu Quoc Prison.

Addressing the opening ceremony, Vingroup Vice Chairwoman Vu Tuyet Hang said Vinpearl PhuQuoc project is part of an expansion strategy of Vinpearl-a brand representing luxurious tourist resorts.

She added that this is also a way to grasp the development trend of tourism industry, contributing to helping Phu Quoc Special Economic Zone become a shangri-la of Vietnam.

VinpearlPhuQuoc will also host Miss Vietnam 2014’s finals from November 26-December 6 with the performance of world famous singer Kelly Clarkson.

Source: VOV

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