The White Villa

 Bach Dinh (or the White Villa) is a historical site in Vung Tau beach town and has become a popular tourist attraction for visitors to the seaside city.

Heading down the seaside streets of Ha Long and Tran Phu in Vung Tau, in the province of Ba Ria-Vung Tau, a white villa can be seen in a nearby forest.

Passing by Nui Lon (Big Mountain), visitors will see Bach Dinh (the White Villa) emerge through the trees.

Bach Dinh is situated on a six-hectare plot with trees, ornamental plants and flowers.

It is approximately 30 m above sea level, 28 m long, 15 m wide and stands 19 m tall.

There are two entrance points, one along a curvy road and one paved with blue stones.

Stepping into the area gives the feeling of walking into a deep, mystical forest.

In the old days, Nui Lon was an important strategic location for military experts.

A fortress called Phuoc Thang was built here in 1788 during the Nguyen dynasty to control the sea.

Gunshots from the fortress destroyed many French warships in 1859 as they passed by Vung Tau on their way to attack Saigon-Gia Dinh.

Today, rock cannons are still preserved as relics of the former fortress.

In 1898, the French governor of Indochina Paul Doumer, who later became France’s president until his assassination in 1931, had a villa built on the mountain at the site of the former fortress.

He named the villa after his daughter, Villa Blanche, or “White Villa” and had the three-story building painted a pale hue.

Visitors to Bach Dinh can also enter a museum with a large number of ancient Chinese ceramics excavated from a shipwreck off the shore of Vung Tau and there are great panoramic views of the city and sea from the balcony on the third floor.

Thanks to its beauty and peaceful forest setting, Bach Dinh has become a favorite place for many

Vung Tau residents and tourists to escape to.

A yearly international event celebrating world peace and the Buddha is set to propagate a message of harmony to all corners of the world

A set of stairs nestled in the forest leads to Bach Dinh (the White Villa) in the seaside town of Vung Tau

Ha Tien boasts eclectic mix of sun, sand, gemstones

 Despite having no major natural attractions or even facilities like quality hotels and resorts, Ha Tien Town in the southern province of Kien Giang is an extremely attractive place thanks to its primitive beauty.

Ha Tien, around 300km from HCM City, sprung up in the late 17th century amidst mountains, seas, and islands.

The town sits on Dong Ho Lagoon near To Chau Mountain’s green pepper gardens and the famous pagodas of Phu Dung and Tam Bao.

Legend has it that because of the region’s enchanting landscapes, Tien (fairies) would come there. Ha Tien derives its name from this saga.

It is said that Ha Tien has a little bit of the landscapes of all famous nature spots in the country. It has caves resembling those in the northern mountainous province of Lang Son, rocks erupting from the sea like in Ha Long Bay, and limestone cliffs like those found in the northern province of Ninh Binh.

Ha Tien also has mausoleums like those in Thuan Hoa region – the old name for Quang Binh, Quang Tri, Thua Thien-Hue, and part of Quang Nam provinces — in the centre and beautiful beaches like as those in Nha Trang and Ba Ria-Vung Tau.

Binh San Mountain is a terrific vantage point for viewing Ha Tien. The town, seen from the top, appears extremely fetching: on one side is the East Sea and on the other is the Voi Phuc (kneeling elephant) mountain. Scattered all around are limestone mountains.

Eight hundred meters from Ha Tien is Lang mountain. Close to it is a splendid lotus pond which used to be an irrigation canal built during the time of the Mac Thien Tich Dynasty.

The Thach Grotto, also called Van Son, is another attractive destination. Situated 3km from the town, the cave abuts a giant green rock. Inside the cave are hundreds of stalactites and stalagmites in bizarre shapes.

Other sights

Among Ha Tien’s other attractions are the area surrounding Dong Dinh Cave and Dong Dinh Lagoon, locally known as Dong Ho (east lake). Dong Ho is most beautiful on moonlit nights, but even during the day it is pretty as a picture and tranquil. For fishermen it is a natural refuge, offering protection from storms.

Close to the sea is Den Mountain. Standing on its top is an ancient lighthouse that has guided ships for over 500 years.

The sea off Ha Tien is widely known for its turquoise waters, clean beaches, and odd-shaped rocks.

Mui Nai Beach is an ideal place for swimming. It is not very deep, has clean, brown sand, clear water, and gentle waves.

Bang Beach is lined with hundreds of ancient sea almond trees (Indian almonds).

Phu Tu (father and son) Islet, which lies more than 100m offshore, is considered to be a symbol of Ha Tien. For tourists coming to Ha Tien, it is a magnet. A curious rock formation with one lying on top of another, called the Father and Son Rock, was destroyed a few years ago by the elements.

Chong Islet and Binh Tri and Hai Tac archipelagos are also great places to enjoy the ocean and try activities like swimming and snorkeling.

After visiting Hang Pagoda which lies in a deep cave adjoining the sea, tourists can take a 10-minute ride by canoe to get to Gia Long grotto which too has many beautiful stalactites and stalagmites.

In addition to its beautiful landscapes, Ha Tien also has many places of historical significance, such as ancient tombs and pagodas and the mausoleum of Mac Cuu, a Chinese migrant who is credited with building Ha Tien. The mausoleum is located on a large hill surrounded by giant old trees.

The night market in Ha Tien is another must-see. It sells odd and interesting souvenirs and other items, from simple handicrafts made of stone, shells, glass, and plastic to luxurious jewellery made of gold and precious stones.

Ha Tien’s cuisine is popular and extremely delicious. Canh chua ca kem (sour fish soup), chao trang va ca kho to (rice gruel with braised anchovy), hu tieu nam vang hai san (noodle with seafood), bun ken dua (ken dua vermicelli), and fruits like palmyra and durian are among the most popular with visitors.

Hotels to dish up feasts for moms

 On the occasion of the traditional custom of Mother's Day, which falls on May 1, children once again have a special day to honor and thank their mothers for their dedication to taking care of the family.

Small gifts, a phone call, a bundle of flowers or simply a short moment beside their beloved moms make them feel happy on that day. Hotels in town are introducing programs to create a venue for children who want celebrate the special day with their moms.

Caravelle Hotel

The hotel's Nineteen Restaurant will prepare royal feasts to honor moms, offering a special Sunday brunch and dinner buffet menu on Mother's Day. From appetizers to deserts, the brunch and dinner will feature succulent seafood, riveting roasts and savory sauces.

A photo featuring a cake served at Park Hyatt Hotel on occasion of the Mother's Day.

"Women do so much for their families every day," said John Gardner, the hotel's general manager, adding that the hotel wanted to roll out the red carpet and give everyone a chance to show their mothers how much she's appreciated.

To help pay tribute, the hotel's chef Timo Reus will prepare desserts, including a New York cheese-cake with ripened raspberries on top and a white chocolate fountain surrounded by juicy strawberries and marshmallows.

Diners can also enjoy the buffet with a selection of free-flowing Italian and Chilean wines, as well as unlimited margaritas and martinis.

Each buffet is priced at US$45++ per person with includes a high tea voucher at Lobby Lounge for all mothers.

Legend Hotel

Like other hotels, the hotel is also preparing a special food program for families celebrating the special day by going out for dinner together.

Sunday Brunch is priced at US$32++ per adult and US$16++ per child, while the dinner buffet is priced at US$40++ per adult and US$20++ per child inclusive of free flow wines, soft drinks, fresh fruit juices coffee, tea, and a special gift for every Mother.

Sofitel Hotel 

The hotel will celebrate Mother's Day with a special brunch for all families who want to honor and express gratitude toward their mothers. The brunch will feature festive delights such as foie gras and French delicacies. The program also includes red roses for moms. The brunch buffet is priced at US$40++ per person.

Park Hyatt Hotel

The hotel's restaurant Square One is preparing a special menu for lunch and dinner on Mother's Day. Chef Takeuchi Satoru and his team will prepare seafood on ice, featuring a variety of chilled shellfish and a smoked salmon fish cake among others. Price for the menu is at US$38++ per person.

Meanwhile at the Opera Restaurant, the hotel's pastry chef Victor will prepare cakes as special gifts for children to give their mother on that day. The cake, which is large enough for ten people, is priced at US$30++ each. It can be ordered with 48 hours notice. 

Dragon boats to race in Chau Doc

 In love with Vietnamese traditional culture? Excited by Vietnamese folk games? Do not walk away. You’re invited to join a festival in a sacred place in Chau Doc, An Giang Province.

The fourth “Dragon Boat Races” will begin on May 25 near the Chau Doc Sports Center and Victoria Hotels and Resorts to promote Chau Doc as a destination for local and foreign tourists.

The Dragon Boat Races are held annually as part of the Lady Xu Festival and take place on the Bassac River from the Chau Doc Basa Fish Park to the Victoria Chau Doc Hotel.

 Around 15 teams will compete this year.

 The races will take place at the April 30 Park – Basa Park from 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m with prizes of up to VND2 million (US$125).

Later, guests can join the biggest festival in Chau Doc, the Lady Xu Festival, which is held annually at Lady Xu Temple from 23rd day to the 27th day of the fourth lunar month, or May 27-31 this year.

The washing of the statue is the main event of the festival. Although the temple was built fairly recently, the statue dates from the sixth century and is more reminiscent of statues found in India, Cambodia or Laos. 

Pearls in the East Sea

 Con Dao Archipelago, a group of islands off the shore of Ba Ria-Vung Tau Province, is an ideal getaway combining land and sea

Con Dao promises tourists a delightful and relaxing vacation this summer.

Earlier this week, we traveled to Con Dao on a well-equipped boat that had been upgraded from a fishing vessel.

The boat ran at a smooth speed of about 20 km/h, the perfect speed to relax, sightsee and take plenty of photos.

The vessel anchored one kilometer off the shore of Bay Canh Islet and our large group was divided in two.

One group went off to swim in the sea and the other began a diving tour.

Underwater, we discovered a world of brilliant coral.

Various species of colorful fish swam around the reefs and we were told we might even see a large, yet gentle sea turtle.

The best places for diving to view coral are Con Son Bay, Bay Canh Islet, Tai Islet, and Tre Islet.

Of these, Bay Canh Islet is the most favored by tourists as it is an ideal spot to swim, dive, have a delicious seafood lunch, and take a lazy nap outdoors.

At 5 p.m., in the center of Con Dao Island, we took a car to Tinh Yeu (Love) Peak.

As the sun began dropping below the western skyline, the whole area changed to luminous shades blue, red, yellow and violet.

It was truly spectacular.

The Con Dao District of Ba Ria-Vung Tau Province consists of 14 islands, the biggest of which is Con Dao (Con Lon/Con Son) Island with an area of 51.5 square kilometers.

Con Dao’s coastline stretches 200 kilometers boasting many beautiful beaches, mountains and forests.

To get to Con Dao Island, visitors can take a plane or boat starting from either the beach town of Vung Tau which is 185 km from the island or from Ho Chi Minh City which is 230 km away.

Beauty and the beach

 Lang Co is a quiet but breathtaking beach that so far has avoided the tourist boom, but for how long can this beach stay off the beaten track?

I’m probably not the only traveller who on the road to Danang from Hue has whizzed past a pristine, beautiful beach without even knowing it. For years Lang Co has been Vietnam’s most conspicuous secret. I first spotted this stretch of white sand going over the Hai Van Pass.

I remember thinking I would find out where this beach was and check it out on my next trip. Lang Co is only 40 kilometres from Danang – not that much further than the highly popular Cua Dai beach. Three years ago, however, it took forty minutes just to conquer Hai Van pass in a large tourist bus.

The climb over Hai Van, which means pass of the ocean clouds, was notoriously treacherous. Break downs and accidents were common. Now the drive to Lang Co from Danang takes less than an hour, thanks to the opening of Hai Van Tunnel, the longest road tunnel in Southeast Asia.

Accidents have occurred in the tunnel but it is much safer than driving over the pass with heavy trucks, buses and cars driving on a steep, winding road. By taking the tunnel road you will miss that magical feeling as you move through the cloud at the top of the pass as well as overlooking the cobalt sea below.

However you will get to Lang Co quicker and there you can dive into the very same cobalt sea while soaking up the spectacular views of the swaying pine trees and majestic mountains that lie inland. The beach, which seemingly runs endlessly, (a local claims it’s over 10km long), is also uncommonly empty. There are no hawkers, no postcard sellers or large groups of tourists. This is a hassle free paradise.

At midday in the restaurant at Lang Co Beach Resort you might find group of tourists stopping for lunch, who are either on their way to the former Imperial City of Hue or Hoi An. With the waiters occupied I decide to have lunch later on and stroll along the beach. Though it isn’t long before I find a hammock and decide there’s no need to be too ambitious when I have everything I need.

Happily I loll under the shadow of the palm trees and enjoy the sound and the smell of the sea breeze. It’s no exaggeration to say this is a heavenly experience for an urban dweller. Just yesterday I was breathing in toxic fumes while stuck in a traffic jam. Nearly 100 years ago, Emperor Khai Dinh was inspired by the beauty of Lang Co. He composed a poem to describe the area on a stone, which is preserved in a rarely visited mall village nearby.

However, Lang Co might not be a hidden charm for long. Local authorities hope that it will become a member of The Most Beautiful Bays of the World Club. Currently there are just a few resorts and a small number of guest houses. The largest is Lang Co Beach Resort with 70 spacious and private villas built in traditional Hue style. Right next door is Thanh Tam, a small resort which is currently expanding.

In the distance bulldozers are levelling ground for the construction of luxury resorts. The Singapore-based Banyan Tree group is said to be building a $1 billion resort in the area, featuring more than 1,200 rooms and a golf course. For the time being it’s just you and Mother Nature. All around Lang Co you can discover canyons, mountain springs and lagoons nestled in a tropical forest. One local I meet tells me I can go night fishing with local fishermen.

The thought of fishing reminds me it’s lunchtime. Seafood is foremost on my mind. Off the coast of Lang Co I’m told you can find lobster, crabs, squid and clams. Yet, there are no seafood restaurants on the beach. I walk towards Thanh Tam Resort but I’d rather enjoy seafood away from a resort. My friends have already consulted our driver who assures us he knows just the spot.

We drive back towards Danang and just before the entry into Hai Van tunnel, there’s a line of seafood restaurants on the banks of a lagoon. We choose Be Den, a rustic looking spot with a stunning panoramic view of the lagoon and majestic mountains above. A nice setting though the service at first is worryingly incompetent. Judging by the crowd the restaurant is well known to tour operators, truck drivers and expats living in the locale. At lunchtime the flustered staff can hardly cope.

Our first waitress answers ‘yes’ as if she heard our order clearly but then she disappears without a trace and our dish never materialises. When we complain to another waitress about the service, she quickly turns the tables and barks at us: “You should have ordered all your dishes at once.

We can not serve you plate by plate. We have a lot of customers to serve!” The seafood however is fresh and delicious. We order steamed squid, grilled clams, grilled shrimp, crab in tamarind sauce and plenty of Saigon beer to quench our thirst. Soon everyone is completely stuffed. Well, not everyone. For dessert one of my travelling companions orders another plate of steamed squid. “Hey, it’s really delicious and sweet,” he says in his defence. 

Sand, stones and surf

 Though there’s a lovely beach, people really come to Co Thach for the famous coloured stones. Long stretches of brilliant white sand, old pagodas and colourful stones are only some of the attractions at the Co Thach tourism area in the central coastal province of Binh Thuan.

With 78 hotels and resorts located along its beaches, Binh Thuan Province holds the record of having the most hotels and resorts in the country.

The province’s popular resort area Mui Ne is mentioned in Viet Nam’s Guinness Records for having the biggest sand dunes, which change shape with the wind, while Co Thach Beach in Tuy Phong District’s Binh Thanh Commune is popular for its beautiful stones and pagodas.

Co Thach is a rocky mountain created from thousands of large and small rocks piled on each other as though they were arranged by people, not nature. The rocks form many mysterious caves and grottos.

The tourism area, which lies between the rocky area and the turquoise water, has clean beaches and is distinctive because of the stones of different sizes and colours scattered on the beach.

Said to have existed for hundreds of years, the rocky area spreads over an area 1.5km wide and 20km long, also recognised as a Viet Nam Guinness Record for being the largest of its kind area in the country.

Tourists enjoy swimming and looking for beautiful stones in Co Thach. The stones, which have different shapes and sizes, appear in seven colours, including immaculate white, black, light yellow, grey brown, dark violet and cobalt blue.

Another attraction is the Hang Pagoda which is located inside the Co Thach Rock. The pagoda, about 64m above sea level, was built in the mid-19th century by Bonze Bao Tang.

It was restored many times from 1956 to 1964 and was officially recognised as a national relic by the Ministry of Culture in 1993. Its varied architectural style is derived from its many restorations over the years.

A three-door temple gate leads to a long path to the main hall, which is surrounded by tall blocks of marble.

On the right of the gate is a statue of a sitting tiger and on the left a lying elephant.

Ancestral temples, a preaching hall, and a refectory can be seen as well as a bell and drum towers.

The pagoda is adorned with solid altars made of valuable wood, on which stand dozens of Buddha statues of different sizes and ages.

Many rare relics are also kept in the pagoda’s buildings, including parallel sentences inscribed in gilded Chinese and Nom (traditional Vietnamese script) calligraphy and inlaid with mother-of-pearl, netlike panels, scrolls and other old documents.

The Dai Hong Bell and Sam Drum at the Hang Pagoda belong to early 19th century.

Southwest of the pagoda is a stretch of brilliant yellow beach. Legend has it that because of the region’s enchanting landscapes, tien (fairies) would take a bath there and then fly to a nearby well to drink. The Gieng Tien (Fairy Well) derives its name from this tale.

In addition to beautiful landscapes, Co Thach’s cuisine also lures travellers. Muc mot nang (cuttlefish dried in the sun) and dom nuong (grilled clams of different colours) are among the most popular dishes with visitors.

Accor expands luxurious hotel system in Vietnam

 From mid-2008 to 2010, the Accor group will open 10 high-class hotels in Vietnam.

These are four and five star hotels in Hanoi, Lao Cai, Vung Tau, Phu Quoc, Ha Long and Nha Trang, bearing Pullman, Mercure and Novotel brands.

 This year Accor will inaugurate two Novotel hotels in Ha Long city, Quang Ninh province and Nha Trang city, Khanh Hoa province.

 On June 6, Accor, the Hanoi Tourism Corporation and SIH Ltd. kicked off the construction of Novotel Hanoi on the Park hotel, near Thong Nhat Park in Hanoi.

This hotel belongs to the Hanoi Tourism Corporation and SIH, a joint venture between VinaCapital, Accor and River Nile, and will have 376 rooms. It is considered a resort in the city’s hub and an ideal place for conferences in Hanoi.

 Novotel Hanoi on the Park is the fifth hotel of Accor in Hanoi. This group is managing Sofitel Metropole Hanoi, Sofitel Plaza Hanoi, Mercure Hanoi la Gare (which will open in 2009) and Mercure Hanoi Hado (2010).

Accor is a world-famous hotel managing group present in nearly 100 countries, employs over 150,000 staffs with over 40 years of experience.

Visit Da Nang for a wonderful tour

 Da Nang is the third largest city in Vietnam, after Ho Chi Minh City and Ha Noi, and it is the largest in the Central region. It has an area of 1,300 square kilometers and a population of 1 million. The city’s Hoang Sa district is an archipelago consisting of 18 islands.

Da Nang’s cultural history dates back only 300 years; It was settled by Vietnamese long after the North. Highlights for visitors include the Museum of Cham Sculpture and the ancient pagodas of Hai Chau Pho Da Long Tho.

Da Nang is on the end of an East-West Economic Corridor which stretches over Vietnam, Laos, Thailand and Myanmar. Therefore, it is easy to organize international tours to the city.

Da Nang International Airport is located in the center of the city. It is Viet Nam’s third largest international airport and a gateway to the Central region. The airport has domestic flights to Ha Noi, Ho Chi Minh City and Quy Nhon, as well as international flights to Bangkok and Singapore.

If you travel by sea, you can arrive at the port of Tien Sa. If you drive or take a bus, you can take National Highway 1 or National Highway 14B.

When the Hai Van tunnel opened in 2005, it reduced the distance between Da Nang and Hue by 20km. This saved 30 to 60 minutes compared to  travel over the old Hai Van Pass route.

What can be seen in Da Nang?

Marble Mountain is a cluster of marble and limestone hills. In Vietnamese it is called Ngũ Hành Sơn, literally "five-element mountains". It is located in Ngu Hanh Son District, south of Da Nang. The five 'mountains' are named after the five traditional elements of universe: metal (Kim Son), water (Thuy Son), wood (Moc Son), fire (Hoa Son), and earth (Tho Son).

All of these mountains have cave entrances and numerous tunnels. It is possible to climb to the summit of one of the peaks. Several Buddhist sanctuaries can also be found, making it a tourist attraction.

Champa Museum

The Champa museum founded in 1915 is located near the intersection of Tran Phu Street and Le Dinh Duong Street and is open daily from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. The museum introduces the history of the Champa people. Inside is a veritable treasure trove with more than 500 Champa objects.

These objects show an advanced culture and civilization, including statues of the gods of Siva, Lasmi and Skanda. In the solemn and quiet atmosphere inside the museum, one can not only enjoy the cultural masterpieces of the ancient Champa people, but also listen to a guided tour of their legends, histories and beliefs.

One can then make educated guesses as to their aspirations for the future. To help one get into the spirit of things, visitors can also watch Champa dance performed by expert dancers from the Museum Hall.

Da Nang Cathedral

Known to locals as Con Ga church because of the weathercock on top of the steeple, Da Nang Cathedral was built for French and other Catholic residents in 1923. It is on Tran Phu Street. Other places to visit are Caodai Temple, Phap Lam Pagoda, Pho Da pagoda, and Ba Na hill station.

You can enjoy Da Nang beautiful beaches including My Khe beach, Thanh Binh Beach, Nam Beach, and China Beach.

Da Nang is creating  a shopping street between the Hung Vuong-Phan Chau Trinh and Hung Vuong-Pham Ngu Lao intersections in the hope of luring more tourists to the coastal city’s downtown

Sheraton remains leading business hotel in Vietnam

 The five-star Sheraton Hanoi hotel has received the title as “ Vietnam’s Leading Business Hotel in 2008” awarded by the World Travel Awards.

This is the second consecutive year the hotel was honoured by the prestigious award programme for the global tourism industry which saw the voting from 167,000 travel experts and passengers worldwide.

Situated on the picturesque shore of West Lake, Hanoi’s largest lake, Sheraton Ha Noi includes 299 guest rooms and suites featured by a classic design and modern facilities.

Last year, the hotel was elected as one of ten best convention hotels in Asia and among the top fifteen best convention hotels in the continent in 2006 by Smart Travel Asia’s Best In Travel Poll.

The awards of World Travel Awards are considered the most prestigious event on the travel calendar with travel professionals voting worldwide.

Foreign media eye Vietnam tourism

 Almost 20 reporters and photographers from 13 world leading tourism magazines have arrived in Vietnam with the aim of promoting Vietnam’s tourism.

The reporters from the National Geographic, CNN Traveller, Lifestyle Travel Asia, Business Traveller, The Improper will make field trips major tourism destinations such as Ho Chi Minh City, Nha Trang, Danang, Hoi An, Halong Bay.

According to Director General Department of International Cooperation Nguyen Van Tinh, the department division has so far welcomed more than 10 groups of foreign reporters and televisions to make films on Vietnamese culture and tourism.

The department will push up promotion campaigns on Vietnam’s landscapes and heritages, and the “Impressive Vietnam” campaign on the world leading tourism journals, including UNESCO’s World Heritage, Jestar Aviation, and Asta of the US Association of travelling agents, Tinh said.

Photographers snaps Vietnam’s diversity

An exhibition of 80 photographs by Minh Loc, featuring the beauty of the northern town of Sapa and the Mekong Delta region, are on display at Binh Quoi Tourist Village in HCMC until September 18.

The photos of Sapa, a hilltop town located in Lao Cai Province, capture the area’s fascinating landscapes and the culture of the H’Mong, Dao, Tay, Day, Kinh and Xa Pho ethnic minorities who live in the region. 

Yellow-terraced fields at harvest time, spring peach blossoms, snow on tree branches and grass, young smiling girls, festivals and colourful costumes are all vividly depicted. 

Loc has also focused his lens on the red-headed crane, a rare species of bird living in Tram Chim National Park in the Dong Thap Province in the Mekong Delta. 

Proceeds from the exhibition will be donated to the Nguyen Dinh Chieu School for the Blind Children in HCMC, and the photos will be presented to the Lao Cai Museum. 

Minh Loc (Nguyen Minh Loc) was born in 1937 in Dong Thap’s Cao Lanh District, and is a member of the Vietnam Artistic Photographers’ Association. 

Since 1975, he has participated in 49 solo exhibitions. He won first prize in the Moscow News Contest in 1968, the silver medal in the Iraq Photo Contest organized by the International Journalists Association in 1978, and the grand prix from the Trade Union Council of the Soviet Union in 1978. 

In 1990, he received a prize for excellence from the Red Cross and Red Crescent of the Soviet Union.

“Ho Chi Minh City – 100 interesting things” program

 Ho Chi Minh City’s Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism has co-operated with municipal Tourism Association to introduce “Ho Chi Minh City – 100 interesting things” program to the public on August 8, 2009.

This program aims at raising and standardizing tourism service quality in Ho Chi Minh City as well as attracting domestic and international tourists.

Taking part the program, tourists will have opportunity to vote the most interesting things in Ho Chi Minh City based on the norms from organization board such as: national character, differences of Ho Chi Minh City, tourists’ psychology and taste, food safety, service quality…

After collecting and classifying, the organization board will promulgate result to the public.

Artists installations exhibition portrays 1,000 years of Hanoi

 A group of more than 20 Vietnamese and foreign artists will join together to present their works in an event celebrating the 1,000th anniversary of Thang Long-Ha Noi.

A group of more than 20 Vietnamese and foreign artists will join together to present their works in an event celebrating the 1,000th anniversary of Thang Long-Ha Noi.

It is one of three main events for the one-year contemporary art project Dong Chay Ngan Nam (1,000-Year-Old Flow), which is led by popular visual artist Dao Anh Khanh.

The event will take place from October 30 to November 1 at the 5,000m² Anh Khanh Studio in Long Bien District, and along a 600m section of the Ngoc Thuy - Long Bien Dyke.

Twenty visual artists and four sound artists will present their works during the three-day event, entitled Hoi Tu Anh Sang (Light Gathering).

According to Khanh, all the artworks will focus on expressing the beauty of the people and land of the capital, its mighty history, as well as other practical issues of a modern society.

An installation by female painter Dang Thi Khue will feature an A-shaped tunnel, recalling the glorious victory of the nation’s "Dien Bien Phu Battle in the Air" on December 1972, when Hanoians and soldiers protected themselves against attacks by US B-52 bombers.

Painter Nguyen Bao Toan will bring a splendid atmosphere to the dyke section with his impressive installation, created by 300 paper human-shaped sculptures swinging in the air.

Light will also be used as an effective material for artists to express their ideas.

Painter Quach Dong Phuong will use light from sources such as electricity, candles and fire to present the image of a developing city.

Artist Khanh will present his installation Dau An Thoi Gian (Mark of Time), which includes four 4m-high leaves.

"Each leaf will have a different colour, symbolising the four different seasons. Portraits of Hanoians with different expressive features will be placed in front of each leave," Khanh says.

Besides the Light Gathering show, the art project will also include a musical performance. 

Ancient tomb dated back 1,800 years unearthed

 An ancient tomb with exterior and interior coffins has been unearthed in the northern port city of Hai Phong, according to the city’s museum.

An ancient tomb with exterior and interior coffins has been unearthed in the northern port city of Hai Phong, according to the city’s museum.

The tomb was found by construction workers who were digging into the Thanh Den Mountain’s side to expand the acreage of the Tan Phu Xuan cement plant.

The exterior coffin is made from large pieces of ironwood while its boat-shaped interior coffin is carved out from a big tree trunk, a style belonging to the Dong Son culture, which existed more than 2,000 years ago.

No vestiges of bones were found except a rush map used to cover the dead.

Archaeologists also found seven large trays, four human statues, plates, bowls and combs, all made from wood, and several terracotta pots, jars and bowls with beehive and line patterns.

According to archaeologists from the Hai Phong Museum , the tomb is believed to date back to the 2nd-3rd centuries AD or 1,800 years ago.

Germany helps conserve Hue relic

 The Germany Ministry of Foreign Affairs will provide nearly VND3 billion to conserve the Buu Thanh gate and screens of King Tu Duc Tomb, part of Hue ancient capital’s relic system

The Germany Ministry of Foreign Affairs will provide nearly VND3 billion to conserve the Buu Thanh gate and screens of King Tu Duc Tomb, part of Hue ancient capital’s relic system.

The project, worth in total VND 3.4 billion, will help preserve and reveal the aesthetic and historical value of the monument, following the international standards regulated in UNESCO’s 1964 Venice Charter on the conservation and restoration of monuments and sites.

The restoration will be undertaken by a skilled technical staff from the Centre for Hue Relic Conservation.

Mekong-Japan Tourism and Culture Festival

 The Mekong-Japan Tourism and Culture Festival is aimed to promote Mekong Delta tourism and woo more visitors to the region, affirmed Deputy Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Tran Chien Thang at a press briefing in Hanoi on October 26.

He said that the event is expected to create a new vitality for the Mekong Delta region, which is the Vietnam’s rice basket, but still has an underdeveloped economy, making tourism a top priority in the region’s development plan in the future. He reaffirmed that the festival will provide a prime opportunity to promote tourism in the Mekong Delta region in particular and in Vietnam in general.

The festival is scheduled to be held in the Mekong Delta city of Can Tho from December 1 to 5, 2009 as part of the Mekong-Japan Exchange Year with the participation of 1,000 representatives from local and international travel organisations and countries including Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand and Japan.

The opening ceremony of the festival will take place on the banks of the Hau River in Cai Khe Ward, Ninh Kieu District with the art performance of troupes from the six participating countries.

During the festival, Vietnam National Administration of Tourism (VNAT) will organize a seminar named “Sustainable tourism development in the Mekong Delta” to showcase its potentials in the fields of cultural and natural resources, the current state of infrastructure, human resources, and tourism products, as well as Mekong-Japan tourism cooperation and development.

Ministers of Culture and Tourism from participating countries will attend a conference under the theme “Mekong – a river connecting cultures” to link the region’s cultural assets with attracting Japanese tourism to promote sustainable development and prosperity.

Among the activities are a travel fair, a photo exhibition on Mekong-Japan Tourism and Culture, traditional art performances of Japan and the Mekong sub-regional countries, a volleyball competition, a traditional boat racing, don ca tai tu performance and a gastronomy festival as well as local tours for visitors.

The city will also host a march for poor and studious students in the Mekong sub-regional countries.

The festival is expected to contribute to the success of the Mekong-Japan Exchange Year 2009. The government will spend VND8 billion of the total cost of VND10 billion (US$560,000) for the festival, and Can Tho City will spend the rest.

By the end of November, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism will hold an international press conference in Hanoi to introduce the festival to foreign guests.

Elephant Race Festival

 This festival is held in the spring, around the 3rd month of the lunar calendar. It is usually held in Don Village or in forests near the Sevepoi River (Dac Lak).

The race track is on even ground where there are only has a few big trees. The width of the track is large enough for 10 elephants to stand in a line at the same time and the length of the track runs 1-2 km.

With the signal of the horn (a wind instrument), the mahouts command their elephants to go to the starting line. When the command to start the race is released, all of the elephants rush ahead, excited by the sound of the drums, gongs, and cheering from the viewers. At the end of the race, the winning elephants lift their trunks above their heads to wave to the viewers. They walk deliberately flapping their ears gently, gazing through half-closed eyes to receive sugarcane from their viewers.

The elephant race is the biggest festival in the middle highland. It bears the martial spirit of the M'nong ethnic group, who are very famous for their bravery and skill in hunting wild elephants.

Starting Dates in Western Calendar  2003 Apr 11, 2004 Apr 28, 2005 Apr 18, 2006 Apr 07, 2007 Apr 26, 2008 Apr 15

Many promotions for low season

 From now till the end of September is the "low season" for Vietnam's hospitality industry. Consequently a variety of special promotions have been launched for this season to attract tourists, especially in the Central and the South, where most of Vietnam's deluxe hotels and resorts are located.

The promotions are also an opportunity, according to some hoteliers, to express appreciation to their customers, which is possibly why some promotions last until December, the "peak" time of Vietnam's hospitality.

From the Central

Hoi An Beach Resort in the coastal central province of Quang Nam is launching the 'Cham Island Discovery' summer package from May 3 till the end of September. The special rate of only US$218 for two people includes a three-day and two-night stay, a half-day tour to Cham Island by speed boat including snorkeling and a seafood set lunch, one candle-lit Asian set dinner at Cua Dai Riverside Restaurant with lanterns floating on the river and piano and guitar music.

Melia Sunrise Nha Trang in Nha Trang City, Khanh Hoa Province is offering a special promotion available only when booking through the Internet. There are three options, the One Nighter for one-night stay, the Quickie for minimum two-night stay, and the Five Nighter for five-night stay. For the last one, guests only pay for four nights. All of the offers are applicable until June 30 and include complementary pick-up from the airport and welcome drinks in the room.

Novotel Ocean Dunes Golf Resort in Phan Thiet in Binh Thuan Province is offering a Summer Weekend Meeting promotion which will run until December 31, 2008.

Priced at US$25 to US$57 per person, the package consists of welcome banner at the entrance of the hotel, one-day use of the meeting room and its equipment, wireless ADSL Internet connectivity, writing materials, flower arrangement, tea and coffee with fresh fruits and pastries and special golf rates at the course. A premium option, highlighted by a barbecue seafood dinner featuring the region's freshest daily catch is also available.

To the South

The Omni Saigon Hotel is launching a "100% Business Express" promotion for summer 2008, lasting until the end of August. Designed for the business traveler the promotion, priced at US$125++ per room per night, includes welcome fruit basket and complimentary use of facilities at Saigon Gym and swimming pool.

From May 1 till Sept 30, La Veranda Grand Mercure Resort & Spa in Phu Quoc Island, Kien Giang Province is offering a special package with two-or three-night-stay option, from US$97++ to US$108++ per person per night (bases on twin-share).

Enjoying a dinner featuring Phu Quoc specialties and relaxing at Le Spa with 60-minute body massage are just two of the highlights of the package.

Top 45 Vietnamese hotels and tour operators in 2008

 Vietnam Tourism Association has just announced list of top 45 Vietnamese hotels and tour operators in 2008. In addition, the association also votes best tourism transportation company and shopping centre.

Vietnam Tourism Association has just announced list of top 45 Vietnamese hotels and tour operators in 2008. In addition, the association also votes best tourism transportation company and shopping centre.

In the last years, the association only chose top ten Vietnamese hotels and tour operators but this year awards for domestic tour operators as well as 3-star and 4-star hotels are added.

List of top 45 Vietnamese hotels and tour operators in 2008

Top ten international tour operators: Saigontourist, Exotissimo - Cesais, Vietnamtourism in Hanoi, Fiditourist, Ben Thanh Tourist, Peace Tour, Vitours, Vietnamtourism in Ho Chi Minh City, Huong Giang Travel and Vidotour.

Top five domestic tour operators: Saigontourist, Ben Thanh Tourist, Youth Tourist Company, Hanoitourist and An Giang Tourimex

Top ten 5-star hotels: Sofitel Plaza Hotel, Melia Hotel and Nikko Hotel in Hanoi; Rex Hotel, Renaissance Riverside and Majestic Hotel in HCMC; Evason Ana Mandara Resort, Sunrise Beach Resort, Vinpearl Resort & Spa in Nha Trang and Furama Resort in Danang.

Top ten 4-star hotels: Grand Hotel, First Hotel, Palace and Continental Hotel in HCMC; Sunway Hotel in Hanoi; Yasaka Sai Gon - Nha Trang Resort Hotel & Spa in Nha Trang; Grand Palace Hotel in Vung Tau; Hoi An Hotel in Quang Nam, Hotel Sai Gon Morin in Hue, and Sai Gon - Phu Quoc Resort & Spa in Phu Quoc.

Top ten 3-star hotels: Hotel Que Huong Liberty 1 & 4, Vien Dong Hotel and Phuc Long Hotel in HCMC; Hoa Binh Hotel and Thang Long Opera Hotel in Hanoi; Petrol Song Tra Hotel in Quang Ngai; Rex Hotel in Vung Tau; Festival Hue Hotel in Hue and Cuu Long Hotel in Can Tho.

The marble village

 The Non Nuoc craft village, founded in the 18th century and famous for its marble sculptures, is still alive and well at the foot of the Marble Mountains outside Da Nang.

Known nationwide for its intricate marble designs, Non Nuoc is located in Hoa Hai Ward, Ngu Hanh Son District, where artisans and craftsmen have been using the rocks of the Marble Mountains to produce tools, art and furniture for centuries.

It is said that the craft village was established in the 18th century by Huynh Ba Quat, a man from the north-central province of Thanh Hoa. The first craftspeople from Thanh Hoa settled in Quan Khai Village near the Marble Mountains. Once the goods they made from the surrounding, marble and other rocks became popular, the village moved to the foot of Thuy Son (water mount), one of the Marble Mountains’ five major peaks. At Thuy Son, the artisans were closer to their material sources and business grew to a boom. Soon, travelers and traders from across Vietnam were making the journey to the village to pick up the best marble work in the country.

The boom expanded the village to include what are now the residential areas along Le Van Hien and Huyen Tran Cong Chua streets, where tourists now find all kinds of wares made from marble and other rock.

Local residents say the first craftspeople in the area used to just make mortars and tomb steles. But as their techniques improved, they began making statues and fine art.

The stories of the area’s most famous artisans are still retold to tourists. One popular figure is Huynh Ba Triem, who was the first to fashion a tea set out of the area’s majestic red stones. Then there are the stories of Cuu Dan and Nguyen Van De, who were sent to the former capital of Vietnam at the Hue Citadel to supervise sculpture art at the palaces and mausoleums for the Nguyen Kings in the 19th century.

Nowadays, visitors to Non Nuoc can buy anything from large statues of people, animals and deities to small ornaments or jewelry like bracelets, rings, beads, paperweights and small statues. All the products are made from marble extracted from the Marble Mountains and other colorful local rocks.

Vietnam to offer air taxis to tourist resorts

 A Vietnamese firm plans to offer Vietnam's first air taxi service to several popular resorts to further boost tourism, a company executive said Monday.

Local media and company officials said the firm would negotiate with Boeing Co to buy four new Boeing 787s to lease to national carrier Vietnam Airlines.

Small planes and helicopters would fly to Cam Ranh in central Vietnam near Nha Trang beach resort, Phu Quoc island near Cambodia, the central highland town of Da Lat, and the northern world heritage site of Ha Long Bay.

"We will seek government approval to operate night flights to Cam Ranh and Phu Quoc island," Vietindebank Chief Executive Tran Bac Ha told a news conference.

Unlisted Vietindebank, the country's second-largest lender, formed an aircraft leasing firm this month with four other state-run companies. The firm will hold a majority of shares in the air taxi subsidiary, Ha said.

Vietnam Airlines flies to Cam Ranh but it has few small planes for short-distance routes and can only operate daytime flights because the airport has an insufficient lighting system. Ha said the aircraft leasing firm would invest in the equipment for night flights.

The number of foreign visitors to Vietnam has risen 16.9 percent to more than 2.8 million in the first eight months of this year, according to industry reports.

The government is aiming to double tourism revenues to between $4 billion and $4.5 billion by 2010 from $2.2 billion in 2006.

Vietindebank, Vietnam Airlines, state oil group Petrovietnam, shipbuider Vinashin and Phong Phu textile corporation will investment $200 million between now and 2014 in the project.

Total state ownership would be 79 percent, leaving 21 percent for Vietnamese non-state investors, Ha said.

The leasing firm would raise its registered capital to $1 billion between 2015 and 2025 and look for foreign investors.

Phu Quoc island is known for its clean beach, fish sauce and black pepper production. It has attracted increasing interest of property investors and domestic and foreign travelers.