Tourism Indochina: Vietnam Cambodia Thailand Tour By Sea Route is Popular

Tourism Indochina: Vietnam Cambodia Thailand Tour By Sea Route is Popular

(Tourism Indochina:Date: 2007-10-28): An agreement to this effect was reached by the tourism authorities and relevant agencies of localities from the three countries at a meeting in the Phu Quoc island district, Kien Giang province, from October 24-25. There will be two trips a week along this line by a high-speed ship, capable of carrying 300 people. Visitors will depart from Vietnam ’s Ha Tien township, travel to Cambodia ’s Shihanouk Ville port city and finally arrive in an eco-tourism site in Thailand ’s Chanthaburi province. Kien Giang province, the Vietnamese partner in the project, is mobilising capital to upgrade its infrastructure and entertainment facilities in Ha Tien and Phu Quoc.

Phú Quốc is the largest island in Vietnam. The island is part of Kiên Giang Province, has a total area of 574 square kilometres (222 sq mi) and a permanent population of approximately 85,000. The district of Phú Quốc includes the island proper and 21 smaller islets. The district seat, Dương Đông, is located on the west coast, and is also the largest town on the island. The economy is centered around fishing, agriculture and a fast-growing tourism sector; Phú Quốc being one of the most popular tourist destinations of Vietnam. Located in the Gulf of Thailand, Phú Quốc island lies just off the Cambodian coast, 62 nautical miles (115 km; 71 mi) from Rạch Giá, 8.1 nautical miles (15.0 km; 9.3 mi) from Kampot province of Cambodia, and nearly 290 nautical miles (540 km; 330 mi) from Laem Chabang, Thailand. Roughly triangular in shape the island is 50 kilometres (31 mi) long north to south and 25 kilometres (16 mi) east to west in the north at its widest. A mountainous ridge known as "99 Peaks" runs the length of Phú Quốc, with Chúa Mountain being the tallest at 603 metres (1,978 ft). The island's monsoonal sub-equatorial climate is characterized by distinct rainy (June to November) and dry seasons (December to May). The annual rainfall is high, averaging 2,879 millimetres (9.446 ft). In the northern mountains up to 4,000 millimetres (13 ft) has been recorded. April and May are the hottest months, with temperature reaching 35 °C (95 °F).

Ha Tien is a seaside town in Kien Giang Province in Southern Vietnam. It is at the western end of the Mekong Delta close to the Cambodian border. Although a tourist spot it hasn't yet seen many western visitors due to its remoteness. As a result the English literacy of even the hotel staff is next to nothing. However, the opening of the border to Cambodia for international travelers recently is likely to change that in the near future. The bus terminal is west of the city center (it was moved there from To Chau on the other side of the bay around January 2008). There are buses from Ho Chi Minh City's Mien Tay terminal (about 8h) as well as from Can Tho and Chau Doc. The connection from Can Tho often requires a change in Rach Soi or Rach Gia from where it is about 1h. The border near Ha Tien (7km to the north) was opened for tourists in 2007. NEW!! NO VISA NEEDED; As of late 2010,it is possible for tourists of most nationalities to enter Vietnam via this border crossing without the need for a visa.It applies only for stays of up to 15 days,and you can only visit the so called "Special Economic Zone",which is essentially the town of Ha Tien,and the area between the town and the border,including Mui Nai beach.You must not travel further into Vietnam (There is some dispute over whether you can travel to Phu Quoc island having entered with this visa free entry). From Kampot you can get a motobike taxi for $9-10 or from Kep for $7 to the border on the Cambodian side. The road can vary in condition from paved and bumpy to packed dirt and bumpy, be prepared for a slightly white knuckled ride depending on the daring nature of your driver. Also, be aware that there seem to be Vietnamese drivers now waiting well inside the Cambodian side waiting to pickup (poach) prospective travelers to take them across the border into town. Your driver may stop here to talk with them and seem to suggest you go with them. A ride to town should be $3-4 or less (it is only 7 km and the road is well paved on the Vietnamese side.) If you can't agree on a price there you can simply have your Cambodian driver take you to the border where you can cross over and have the drivers on the other side fight over you.

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Tourism Indochina: Jennifer Hawkins Visited Vietnam

Tourism Indochina: Jennifer Hawkins Visited Vietnam

(Tourism Indochina:Date : 2006-12-01): Jennifer Hawkins on December 1 arrived in Vietnam at the invitation of the Australian national television station, Seven Network. The universe?s most beautiful girl spent Saturday all day filming at Hoan Kiem Lake. Jennifer Hawkins looked like a travelling western backpacker, quite unlike how she did when she walked on the catwalk. Vietnamese people, who were at Hoan Kiem Lake on Saturday, did not realise that they saw Miss Universe. Meanwhile, many foreigners asked to take pictures with the beauty. It is cold in Hanoi these days. The temperature is hovering at 16oC. However, Jennifer appeared on Hanoi?s streets in T-shirts and shorts. She dropped into a fashion shop on Hang Dao street in the centre of Hanoi to buy an overcoats for children, and she was very pleased with what she bought. She did not hesitate to stay in the crowd to buy a stamp for a souvenir. Always smiling, waving hello, Miss Universe proved to be very friendly. This is the first time Jennifer has been to Vietnam, but she said she liked Vietnamese cuisine very much. There is only one thing she does not like in Vietnam: the bad traffic. The beautiful girl dares not cross the road if nobody helps her. Acting as the collaborator of the television shows on Seven Network, specialising in tourism, Jennifer will go to many other sites in Vietnam and Thailand. Her work in Thailand has been finished. In the next few days the beauty will go to Hue, Da Nang, Mui Ne. (Source: VNE)

Jennifer Hawkins (born 22 December 1983) is an Australian beauty queen, model and television presenter best known as Miss Universe 2004 and the face of Australian department store Myer. Hawkins was born in Holmesville, New South Wales, and currently resides in Sydney. She attended West Wallsend High School in West Wallsend, New South Wales. She is one of four children, and her parents are of Australian heritage. Hawkins was a former cheerleader for the Newcastle Knights rugby league team, and the Hunter Pirates basketball team and also worked as a model. It was as a model that she was cast as Miss Australia for the Miss Universe competition. Hawkins also worked as a choreographer for a dance team that toured Australia specialising in Hip-Hop and Ballet.

Hoan Kiem Lake (Vietnamese: Hồ Hoàn Kiếm, meaning "Lake of the Returned Sword" or "Lake of the Restored Sword", also known as Hồ Gươm - Sword Lake) is a lake in the historical center of Hanoi, the capital city of Vietnam. The lake is one of the major scenic spots in the city and serves as a focal point for its public life. According to the legend, emperor Lê Lợi handed a magic sword called Heaven's Will which brought him victory in his revolt against the Chinese Ming Dynasty back to the Golden Turtle God (Kim Qui) in the lake and hence gave it its present name (the lake was formerly known as Luc Thuy meaning "Green Water"). The Turtle Tower (Thap Rùa) standing on a small island near the centre of lake is linked to the legend. Large soft-shell turtles, either of the species Rafetus swinhoei or a separate species named Rafetus leloii in honor of the emperor, have been sighted in the lake. The species is critically endangered and the number of individuals in the lake is unclear.

Near the northern shore of the lake lies Jade Island on which the Temple of the Jade Mountain (Ngoc Son Temple) stands. The temple was erected in the 18th century. It honors the 13-century military leader Tran Hung Dao who distinguished himself in the fight against the Yuan Dynasty, Van Xuong, a scholar, and Nguyen Van Sieu, a Confucian master and famous writer in charge of repairs made to the temple in 1864. Jade Island is connected to the shore by the wooden red-painted The Huc Bridge (The Huc, meaning Morning Sunlight Bridge).


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Tourism Indochina: Vietnam to Cambodia by the New Travel Route

Tourism Indochina: Vietnam to Cambodia by the New Travel Route

(Tourism Indochina:Date : 2007-08-23): A sea service will bring tourists from Ha Tien Town to the famous beach city of Kep twice a week while four buses run between Rach Gia City and Kampot Town with four weekly departures. Businesses from the two provinces have reached agreements on five tourism infrastructure projects totaling over VND 60 billion (USD 3.7 million), in the hope of starting construction in year 2008. (Source: VNA)


Ha Tien is a seaside town in Kien Giang Province in Southern Vietnam. It is at the western end of the Mekong Delta close to the Cambodian border. Although a tourist spot it hasn't yet seen many western visitors due to its remoteness. As a result the English literacy of even the hotel staff is next to nothing. However, the opening of the border to Cambodia for international travelers recently is likely to change that in the near future. The border near Ha Tien (7km to the north) was opened for tourists in 2007. NEW!! NO VISA NEEDED; As of late 2010,it is possible for tourists of most nationalities to enter Vietnam via this border crossing without the need for a visa.It applies only for stays of up to 15 days,and you can only visit the so called "Special Economic Zone",which is essentially the town of Ha Tien,and the area between the town and the border,including Mui Nai beach.You must not travel further into Vietnam (There is some dispute over whether you can travel to Phu Quoc island having entered with this visa free entry). From Kampot you can get a motobike taxi for $9-10 or from Kep for $7 to the border on the Cambodian side. The road can vary in condition from paved and bumpy to packed dirt and bumpy, be prepared for a slightly white knuckled ride depending on the daring nature of your driver. Also, be aware that there seem to be Vietnamese drivers now waiting well inside the Cambodian side waiting to pickup (poach) prospective travelers to take them across the border into town. Your driver may stop here to talk with them and seem to suggest you go with them. A ride to town should be $3-4 or less (it is only 7 km and the road is well paved on the Vietnamese side.) If you can't agree on a price there you can simply have your Cambodian driver take you to the border where you can cross over and have the drivers on the other side fight over you.

Rạch Giá is the capital city of Kien Giang province, Vietnam. It is located around on the coast of Gulf of Thailand, 250 kilometers from Ho Chi Minh City. East of city borders Tân Hiệp and Châu Thành town, Gulf of Thailand surrounds west city, south of city borders to Châu Thành and An Biên town, north of city borders to Hòn Đất and Tân Hiệp. Rạch Giá city is the first city which Vietnam government applies "lan bien" project (build a new city out to the ocean to expand territory). "Lan bien" project expand the city to become one of the biggest new cities in the southwest of Vietnam. This project adds 2 more new wards in Rạch Giá. Beside that, several future construction projects such as industrial center Rach Vuot and urban city Vinh Hiep which will be started after finishing Lac Hong bridge project will expand Rạch Giá to the east.

Kampot is the capital of Kampot Province in southern Cambodia. The city is a quiet riverside town just a few kilometers from the Gulf of Thailand. Kampot was best known for its famous black pepper, which is still widely available in Cambodia. The fresh climate and soil type of Kampot as well as the experience from several generations of pepper farmers make this pepper unique and much sought-after by gourmets worldwide. It is also famous for its Kampot fish sauce. Kampot is the base for trips up the Dâmrei and Bokor Mountains. Stunning panoramic views over Cambodia and Vietnam can be enjoyed from the mountain tops. Waterfalls, boating and rafting on the river can be enjoyed in town, and popular attractions are the Kompong Trach caves with their ancient ruins and the durian and pepper farms. The little island of Koh Tonsay can be visited from Kampot by boat. Visitors can enjoy long stretches of golden sand and tasty local crab curry. Kampot is an up and coming tourist destination and the city has recently undergone many changes. There are a number of charming hotels, guesthouses and resorts in the towns of Kampot and Kep, while home stays can be found in the rest of the province. The province is connected to the rest of the country and Vietnam by well-maintained road.

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Tourism Indochina: Vietnam in an effort to Draw Tourists to the Country

Tourism Indochina: Vietnam in an effort to Draw Tourists to the Country

Vietnam National Administration of Tourism: The Vietnam National Administration of Tourism is the government agency of Vietnam which manages tourist operations and activities throughout the country. It has full control in terms of business development, planning, public relations, personnel training, conducting research, and instructing and inspecting the implementation of policies and other regulations in the tourism sector.

Tourism Indochina: Vietnam in an effort to Draw Tourists to the Country:
(Tourism Indochina:Date : 2010-08-05): A two month campaign to reduce prices during the low season has been launched in the major cities of Vietnam in an effort to draw tourists to the country.

A number of shops, hotels, restaurants and transportation firms in Ha Noi, Ho Chi Minh City and Da Nang have signed up to 'The Grand Sale' and agreed to reduce their prices by ten to 40 per cent during August and September, reported the Vietnam News.

"This is a good campaign," Hanoitourist director Luu Duc Ke told the news agency.

"Our company will co-ordinate with transport companies and hotels to provide discounts of 10 to 30 per cent."

Upon the presentation of their passport, tourists will receive a Tourist Privilege Card or shopping coupons for participating merchants.

As part of the larger 'Vietnam: Your Destination 2010' campaign, The Grand Sale is hoped to bring in increased revenue from tourist spending.

The Viet Nam National Administration of Tourism (VNAT) with the Trade Promotion Department, the Ministry of Industry and Vietnam Airlines introduced the campaign following the success of similar programmes in Thailand, Malaysia and Singapore.

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Tourism Indochina: The Windsor Plaza Hotel Organized Oktoberfest Beer Festival

Tourism Indochina: The Windsor Plaza Hotel Organized Oktoberfest Beer Festival


(Vietnam-hotels): The Windsor Plaza is located at the heart of Ho Chi Minh City, mid-way between the business district and the historic Chinatown district (Cho lon). It takes you only few minute to access the majority of attractions in the City.

True sense of 5- Star Windsor Plaza Hotel is the combination of the whole world-class accommodation. As the tallest building in the city centre area, each of its rooms guarantees a spectacular view of a 360 degree of the City.

The hotel also offers professional services with the widest selection of shopping, entertainment, dining and meeting facilities in Vietnam. For boutique and perfect gifts, let come to An Dong Shopping Plaza. For entertainment, let join the America Discotheque- the largest disco in Vietnam, etc.

Whether you come to Saigon for business or pleasure, Windsor Plaza Hotel with perfect value packages is truly what you are looking for.

Oktoberfest Festival:

Oktoberfest is a 16–18 day beer festival held annually in Munich, Bavaria, Germany, running from late September to the first weekend in October. It is one of the most famous events in Germany and is the world's largest fair, with more than 5 million people attending every year. The Oktoberfest is an important part of Bavarian culture, having been held since 1810. Other cities across the world also hold Oktoberfest celebrations, modeled after the Munich event.

The Munich Oktoberfest originally took place during the sixteen days up to and including the first Sunday in October. In 1994, the schedule was modified in response to German reunification so that if the first Sunday in October falls on the 1st or 2nd, then the festival would go on until October 3 (German Unity Day). Thus, the festival is now 17 days when the first Sunday is October 2 and 18 days when it is October 1. In 2010, the festival lasted until the first Monday in October, to mark the 200-year anniversary of the event. The festival is held in an area named the Theresienwiese (field, or meadow, of Therese), often called Wiesn for short, located near Munich's center.

Only beer which is brewed within the city limits of Munich is allowed to be served in this festival. Upon passing this criterion, a beer is designated Oktoberfest Beer. Oktoberfest Beer is a registered Trademark by the Club of Munich Brewers. Large quantities of German beer are consumed, with almost 7 million liters served during the 16 day festival in 2007. Visitors may also enjoy a wide variety of traditional food such as Hendl (chicken), Schweinebraten (roast pork), Schweinshaxe (grilled ham hock), Steckerlfisch (grilled fish on a stick), Würstl (sausages) along with Brezn (Pretzel), Knödel (potato or bread dumplings), Kasspatzn (cheese noodles), Reiberdatschi (potato pancakes), Sauerkraut or Rotkohl/Blaukraut (red cabbage) along with such Bavarian delicacies as Obatzda (a spiced cheese-butter spread) and Weisswurst (a white sausage).

Tourism Indochina: The Windsor Plaza Hotel Organized Oktoberfest Beer Festival:

(Tourism Indochina:Date : 2007-08-29):


The Windsor Plaza Hotel is preparing to organize the Oktoberfest Beer Festival 2007 highlighting German beer, food and other activities, which will be held in the hotel's Jade Ballroom from October 3 to 7. The hotel said that the five-day Oktoberfest Beer Festival will give everyone a chance to celebrate as well as enjoy live music performed by a German band named "Die Notenhobler", dance, eat German food and have a fun-packed party. At the opening ceremony, the Consul General of Germany will perform the "O'zapft is", which is the traditional tapping of the first beer barrel that signals the opening of festivities. Visitors can party the night away with all the draught Krombacher and bottled Schneider Weisse beers they can drink. The hotel says a champagne bar will also be open to everyone, and to complement the drinks will be a massive German buffet with plenty of sausages, sauerkraut, pork knuckles, pretzels and potato salad among others. Other entertainment and activities for attendees to enjoy include “Stoa-lupfa”, a German weight pulling contest, and the “Haut den Lukas'”, also a German power game where contestants swing a hammer to propel a small iron (called the mouse) past five levels and up to a bell that rings if they succeed. During the festival, the Jade Ballroom will also feature an art exhibition giving visitors the impression they are in Bavaria, the event's place of origin. Paintings by 50 local artists will be displayed on ballroom walls that depict Bavarian customs and traditions, surrounding everyone with colors and shades of a German countryside. The festival will open at 6:30 p.m. and last until late from Wednesday to Saturday and from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday. Children under 16 may join in the fun on Sunday. Ticket prices start at US$30 each. However, prices will vary depending on the day of the week and the number of tickets bought. (Source: SGT)

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Vietnam tours=> http://www.tourismindochina.com/vietnam/tours/
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Tourism Indochina: Vietnamese Traditional Folk Music

Tourism Indochina: Vietnamese Traditional Folk Music


Traditional Vietnamese music is highly diverse and syncretistic, combining native and foreign influences. Throughout its history, Vietnam has been heavily impacted by the Chinese musical tradition, as an integral part, along with Korea, Mongolia and Japan.

The ancient Indochinese kingdom of Champa also had an historical effect upon this music, because the Vietnamese court found it intriguing. However, even with these foreign influences, Vietnam has a unique musical tradition stemming from its native roots.

Vietnamese Traditional folk music festival kicks off:

(Tourism Indochina:Date : 2007-10-03):

Nearly 500 artisans, actors and folklorists from 14 provinces and cities nationwide gathered at a festival featuring the traditional folk music of northern mountainous ethnic minorities that opened in the northern mountainous province of Cao Bang on October 3.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, Vice Chairman of the provincial People’s Committee Nong Thi Thanh Tam, head of the festival’s organsing board, said that the event, the second of its kind in the country, is a preparation for asking the UNESCO to recognise then singing and dan tinh, a traditional musical instrument of the Tay, Nung and Thai ethnic minorities, as world intangible cultural heritages. The festival not only is an exchange between artisans but also represents a respect for this unique kind of art and raise the sense of creating new then tunes, said Tran Chien Thang, Deputy Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism. The then singing is a general performance of music, singing and dancing which is usually performed at traditional festivals, funeral and wedding ceremonies, providing a vivid reflection of the spiritual life and customs of the ethnic minorities. Dan tinh - the main instrument in the then singing - is a stringed musical instrument of plucking branch and consists of a neck, a resonator, surface, a head and strings. It has two kinds, two strings or three strings. During the development process, the ethnic minorities have created a plentiful and diversified then singing and dan tinh cultural space which is evaluated to have similar cultural values as the Space of the Central Highlands Gong Culture, Vietnamese Court Music and Quan Ho singing.

On the sidelines of the three-day festival, an exhibition featuring then singing and a workshop on how to preserve and develop the traditional music will be held. (Source: VNA)


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Tourism Indochina: Best Hotel in Ho Chi Minh City

Tourism Indochina: Best Hotel in Ho Chi Minh City


(Tourism Indochina:Date : 2007-10-04):

Park Hyatt Saigon has been named "Best Business Hotel in HCMC" in the Annual Readers' Choice Awards conducted by Business Traveler Asia Pacific magazine.

The hotel announced that these awards were based on the results of a reader survey held throughout the Asia-Pacific region between May and July of this year. A total of some 16,000 poll forms were sent to the magazine's subscribers around the world. The hotel has also won second place in the category of "Best New Business Hotel in Asia Pacific". First place went to the Four Seasons in Hong Kong. The hotel has won a number of awards since it opened in 2005 including "Best Hotel in HCMC" awards in two publications this year; the luxury travel and lifestyle publication Destin Asian magazine's 2nd Annual Readers' Choice Awards in February 2007 and the Asia Money 2007 Travel Poll held by Asia Money magazine, a leading capital markets publication based in Hong Kong that boasts a global circulation among senior decision-makers from the corporate, investor and banking communities.

In November 2006 the hotel received recognition as the "Best Business Hotel in HCMC" in the 11th annual World's Best Business Hotels poll conducted, by Travel + Leisure magazine. (Source: SGT)

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Vietnam tours=> http://www.tourismindochina.com/vietnam/tours/
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Tourism Indochina: Vietnam National Administration of Tourism

Tourism Indochina: Vietnam National Administration of Tourism


The Vietnam National Administration of Tourism is the government agency of Vietnam which manages tourist operations and activities throughout the country. It has full control in terms of business development, planning, public relations, personnel training, conducting research, and instructing and inspecting the implementation of policies and other regulations in the tourism sector.


The Vietnam National Administration of Tourism (VNAT) has submitted to the government a scheme on advertising Vietnam’s tourism on CNN, said Pham Huu Minh, Head of Tourism Promotion Department. Under this scheme, Vietnam will pay US$400,000 for a 30-second advertising clip to be broadcast for three months on the famous CNN channel. The clip will be broadcast several times each day during “golden hours” of CNN. Mr. Minh said that CNN had agreed to make the clip free of charge (worth around $40,000-$50,000). If the government approves, the clip will be broadcast on CNN in the third quarter of 2007. In the first four months of 2007, Vietnam welcomed more than 1.4 million foreign visitors, an increase of 12.5% compared to the same period of 2006.


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Vietnam tours=> http://www.tourismindochina.com/vietnam/tours/
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Tourism Indochina: Tourists to Ho Chi Minh City on the Rise

Tourism Indochina: Tourists to Ho Chi Minh City on the Rise

Ho Chi Minh City, formerly named Saigon (Vietnamese: Sài Gòn) is the largest city in Vietnam. Under the name Saigon, it was the capital of the French colony of Cochin-china and later of the independent state of South Vietnam from 1955 to 1975. In 1976, Saigon merged with the surrounding Gia Định Province and was officially renamed Hồ Chí Minh City after Hồ Chí Minh (although the name Sài Gòn is still commonly used.) The city center is situated on the banks of the Saigon River, 60 kilometers (37 mi) from the South China Sea and 1,760 kilometers (1,090 mi) south of Hanoi, the capital of Vietnam.

Today, the city's core is still adorned with wide elegant boulevards and historic French colonial buildings. The most prominent structures in the city center are Reunification Palace (Dinh Thống Nhất), City Hall (Ủy ban nhân dân Thành phố), the Municipal Theatre (Nhà hát thành phố, also known as the Opera House), City Post Office (Bưu điện thành phố), State Bank Office (Ngân hàng nhà nước), City People's Court (Tòa án nhân dân thành phố) and Notre-Dame Cathedral (Nhà thờ Đức Bà). Some of the historic hotels are the Hotel Majestic, dating from the French colonial era, and the Rex Hotel, Caravelle hotel some former hangouts for American officers and war correspondents in the 1960s and 1970s.

The city has various museums, such as the Ho Chi Minh City Museum, Museum of Vietnamese History, the Revolutionary Museum, the Museum of Southeastern Armed Forces, the War Remnants Museum, the Museum of Southern Women, the Museum of Fine Art, the Nha Rong Memorial House, and the Ben Duoc Relic of Underground Tunnels. The Củ Chi tunnels are northwest of the city in Củ Chi district. The Saigon Zoo and Botanical Gardens, in District 1, dates from 1865.

Besides the Municipal Theatre, there are other places of entertainment such as: the Bến Thành and Hòa Bình Theaters and the Lan Anh Music Stage. The Đầm Sen Tourist and Cultural Park, Suoi Tien Amusement and Culture Park, and the Can Gio Eco beach resort are three recreational sites inside the city which are popular with tourists. Ho Chi Minh City is home to hundreds of cinemas and theatres, with cinema and dramatic ticketing revenue accounting for 60–70% of Vietnam’s total revenue in this industry. Unlike other dramatic teams in Vietnam’s provinces and municipalities, those in Ho Chi Minh City live on their own income and keep their theaters active everyday, and are not subsidized by the Vietnamese government. The city is home to most of the private movie companies in Vietnam. Like many of Vietnam's smaller cities, the city boasts a multitude of restaurants serving typical Vietnamese dishes such as phở or rice vermicelli. Backpacking travelers most often frequent the "Western Quarter" on Pham Ngu Lao street in District 1.

Tourism Indochina: Tourists to Ho Chi Minh City on the Rise:

(Tourism Indochina:Date : 2007-10-17):

In the first nine months of 2007, HCMC greeted an estimated 1.9 million foreign tourists, an increase of 13.7% year on year, reaching 71.6% of the yearly target, said the city’s Tourism Department. Of this figure, about 1.5 million foreigners visited the city by air, up 11% year on year, 25,000 foreigners came by sea, up 38%, and the overland visitors were up 25%. The number of foreign tourists surged over the nine months because the trans-Asia road route has been completed, more international border gates have been upgraded in the North-Western and Eastern provinces as the city’s promotion of caravan tours got underway. The five leading countries posting great number of foreigners to visit Vietnam are the US (up 8%), Japan (up 15%), Taipei (up 8%), the Republic of Korea (up 33%), and Australia (up 37%) year on year. In spite of not listing in top ten, the Russian tourists, mainly via MICE (meeting, incentive, conference, and exhibition) type, achieved a high growth (81%) and this is expected to develop strongly in Vietnam if the Vietnam tourism promotion campaign is carried out successfully.

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Vietnam tours=> http://www.tourismindochina.com/vietnam/tours/
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Tourism Indochina: Cruise Ships Bring Visitors to Nha Trang Vietnam

Tourism Indochina: Cruise Ships Bring Visitors to Nha Trang Vietnam

Nha Trang is a coastal city and capital of Khanh Hoa province, on the South Central Coast of Vietnam. It is bounded on the North by Ninh Hoà district, on the East by the South China Sea, on the South by Cam Ranh town and on the West by Diên Khánh district. The city has about 300,000 inhabitants, a number which is projected to increase to between 500,000 and 600,000 inhabitants by 2020[citation needed] according to an estimation of Nha Trang Administrative Board Statistics.

Nha Trang is well known for its pristine beaches and excellent scuba diving and is fast becoming a popular destination for international tourists, attracting large numbers of backpackers as well as more affluent travellers on the Southeast Asia circuit. It is already very popular with Vietnamese tourists. Nha Trang Bay is widely considered as amongst the world's most beautiful bays. Tourists are welcome to participate in the Sea Festival, held biennially. Nha Trang was the site of the Miss Universe 2008 Pageant on July 14, 2008 and Miss Earth 2010 held December 4, 2010.Besides, Nha Trang was also approved to host 2016 Asian Beach Games.

Nha Trang is one of the most important tourist hubs of Vietnam, thanks to its beautiful beaches with fine and clean sand and the clear ocean water with mild temperatures all year round. There are several resorts - such as Vinpearl, Diamond Bay and Ana Mandara - and amusement and water parks, both in the city and on islands off the coast. The possibly most beautiful street of Nha Trang is Tran Phu Street along the seaside, sometimes referred to as the Pacific Coast Highway of Vietnam.

Lying off Nha Trang is the Hon Tre Island (Bamboo Island), with a major resort operated by the Vinpearl Group. The Vinpearl Cable Car, a gondola lift system, links the mainland to the five-star resort and theme park on Hon Tre Island.

Nha Trang is a stopover for annual yacht races starting in Hong Kong. In recent years, the city has welcomed many five-star sea cruises. In addition to sail boat racing, Nha Trang provides a rich variety of tourist activities for visitors. Island hopping, scuba diving, water sports and other sporting activities can be enjoyed in the city. The Nha Trang Tourist Information Center (a non-governmental organisation), located near the Cho Dam Market has been set up to provide information for visitors.

Cruise ships bring visitors to Nha Trang Vietnam famous bay:

(Tourism Indochina:Date : 2007-10-18):


Cruise ships bring visitors to Vietnam’s famous bay Bahamas’ Seveseas Mariner ship brought 674 visitors, mainly from Australia, Canada, Panama and the US to Nha Trang in the central province of Khanh Hoa on October 17. The visitors made a sightseeing tour of country landscapes and places of cultural interest in the province. They planned to leave for Ho Chi Minh City in the afternoon of October 18. On October 12, another cruise ship Saphhire Peinceis, brought 2,650 tourists to the province.

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Tourism Indochina: The Vung Tau International Tourism of Vietnam

Tourism Indochina: The Vung Tau International Tourism of Vietnam


Vũng Tàu is a city in southern Vietnam. Its population in 2005 was 240,000. The city area is 140 km2 (54 sq mi) including 13 urban wards and one village. It is the capital of Ba Ria-Vung Tau province, and is the crude oil extraction center of Vietnam. It is also known as one of the most beautiful cities of tourism in Vietnam. Located near Ho Chi Minh City and Binh Duong province, Vũng Tàu in association with these two places forms a triangle of economic power.

To most tourists, however, Vũng Tàu is more interesting for its extensive beaches. Tourists often prefer swimming at Back Beach (Bãi Sau) but sightseeing in Front Beach (Bãi Trước). Back Beach is well-known for its over 10 km of fine sand. As Vũng Tàu is only 130 km away from Ho Chi Minh City, it is a favourite resort destination for those wishing to get away from the city. In recent times, the number of foreign tourists visiting Vũng Tàu's beaches increased.[citation needed]. Vũng Tàu also allows access to nearby less visited beaches like Long Hai, Ho Tram and Ho Coc.

Vũng Tàu is also home to one of Vietnam's most well-known golf courses located at Paradise Vũng Tàu Golf Resort.

A big resort project has just been licensed by the Vietnamese government, the Saigon Atlantis. Upon competition, this entertainment project worth US$300 million in capital investment will include resorts, shopping, sailing. The investor of this project is proposing to raise the investment capital to US$4 billion.

Two other noteworthy entertainment projects awaiting licensing are Vũng Tàu Aquarium, which will cost USD 250 million, and Bau Trung, a Disneyland-like entertainment park which will cost US$250 million. This project includes Landmark Tower, a 88-story skyscraper proposed to be built and completed by 2010 in Vũng Tàu by a USA-based company, Good Choice Import – Export Investment Inc, once built will likely be the highest building in Vietnam. The project is under consideration for approval by the local provincial government.

International tourism fair kicks off in Vung Tau City:

(Tourism Indochina:Date : 2007-10-20):

The Vung Tau international tourism fair 2007, opened in Vung Tau City, southern Ba Ria-Vung Tau Province on October 19. The five-day fair attracted local businesses and those from 12 foreign countries and territories, including Australia, Canada, China, India and the Republic of Korea. On display at 250 booths are high-tech products applied in banking, information technology, telecommunications, transportation and handicraft items. During the fair, series of cultural activities, such as food and art shows and a workshop on how to attract foreign visitors to Ba Ria-Vung Tau Province will be held. (Source: VNA)

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Tourism Indochina: Halong Bay World Cultural Heritage Site in Vietnam

Tourism Indochina: Halong Bay World Cultural Heritage Site in Vietnam


Ha Long Bay is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and a popular travel destination, located in Quang Ninh province, Vietnam. Administratively, the bay belongs to Hạ Long City, Cẩm Phả town, and part of Van Don district. The bay features thousands of limestone karsts and isles in various sizes and shapes. Ha Long Bay is a center of a larger zone which includes Bái Tử Long bay to the northeast, and Cát Bà islands to the southwest. These larger zones share similar geological, geographical, geomorphological, climate, and cultural characters.

Ha Long Bay has an area of around 1,553 km2, including 1,960–2,000 islets, most of which are limestone. The core of the bay has an area of 334 km2 with a high density of 775 islets. The limestone in this bay has gone through 500 million years of formation in different conditions and environments. The evolution of the karst in this bay has taken 20 million years under the impact of the tropical wet climate. The geo-diversity of the environment in the area has created biodiversity, including a tropical evergreen biosystem, oceanic and sea shore biosystem. Ha Long Bay is home to 14 endemic floral species and 60 endemic faunal species.

Historical research surveys have shown the presence of prehistorical human beings in this area tens of thousands years ago. The successive ancient cultures are the Soi Nhụ culture around 18,000–7000 BC, the Cái Bèo culture 7000–5000 BC and the Hạ Long culture 5,000–3,500 years ago. Hạ Long Bay also marked important events in the history of Vietnam with many artifacts found in Bài Thơ Mout, Đầu Gỗ Cave, Bãi Cháy.

500 years ago, Nguyen Trai praised the beauty of Hạ Long Bay in his verse Lộ nhập Vân Đồn, in which he called it "rock wonder in the sky". In 1962, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Vietnam listed Hạ Long Bay in the National Relics and Landscapes publication. In 1994, the core zone of Hạ Long Bay was listed by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site according to criterion vii, and listed for a second time according to criterion viii.

Star Cruises resumes tours to Halong Bay Vietnam:

(Tourism Indochina:Date : 2007-10-21):

The Star Cruises group will cooperate with the Saigon Tourist Corporation (Saigontourist) to resume weekly tours to Halong Bay in northern Quang Ninh Province as from December, 2007. The group, which operating 20 cruise liners, plans to use the Super Star Libra and Super Star Virgo ships to carry tourists to the UNESCO-recognised world heritage site. As scheduled, the two ships will leave Hong Kong, China, for Halong every seven days with around 1,000-2,200 tourists aboard. Previously, the Star Cruises group used to offer Halong Bay tours on its Super Star Leo and Super Star Gemini ships, carrying 80,000 tourists every year on average to Halong Bay. (Source: VNA)


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Tourism Indochina: Hoi An World Cultural Heritage Site in Vietnam

Tourism Indochina: Hoi An World Cultural Heritage Site in Vietnam


Hội An is a city of Vietnam, on the coast of the South China Sea in the South Central Coast of Vietnam. It is located in Quang Nam province and is home to approximately 120,000 inhabitants. It is recognized as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.

The city possessed the largest harbour in Southeast Asia in the 1st century and was known as Lâm Ấp Phố (Champa City). Between the seventh and 10th centuries, the Cham (people of Champa) controlled the strategic spice trade and with this came tremendous wealth. The boats still used today in Hoi An probably have the same hull shape as those used by the Champas for ocean voyages.

The former harbour town of the Cham at the estuary of the Thu Bồn River was an important Vietnamese trading centre in the 16th and 17th centuries, where Chinese from various provinces as well as Japanese, Dutch and Indians settled. During this period of the China trade, the town was called Hai Pho (Seaside Town) in Vietnamese. Originally, Hai Pho was a divided town with the Japanese settlement across the "Japanese Bridge" (16th-17th century). The bridge (Chùa cầu) is a unique covered structure built by the Japanese, the only known covered bridge with a Buddhist pagoda attached to one side.

Hoi An clocks in high numbers of Thai tourists:

(Tourism Indochina:Date : 2007-10-23):

Visitors from Thailand to the old town of Hoi An in the central province of Quang Nam have seen a sharp increase with more than 4,000 booking tours to the world heritage site. Hoi An welcomed nearly 2,000 Thai tourists on October 22 and over 1,600 the previous day. The town was recognised by the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) as a world cultural heritage site in 1999...

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Tourism Indochina: Vietnam Gives Tourists a Glimpse of Life in Rural Areas

Tourism Indochina: Vietnam Gives Tourists a Glimpse of Life in Rural Areas


A bike tour through the western and northern sections of Vietnam gives tourists a glimpse of life in rural areas including the ethnic people in the Central Highlands. That's an ideal cycling route avoids crowded highways and intense climbs and sticks to peaceful village roads shaded by trees, green fields and orchards. While crossing the Cu Mong or Hai Van passes, tourists are able to stop roadside to contemplate the sunrise or sunset and admire the beautiful view on one side lies giant mountains, while on the other are picturesque beaches.

Tour participants are not required to bike for the entire trip; participants ride a maximum of 50 kilometres a day. Cars, canoes, and boats cover the distance not traveled on bike. To ensure the health and safety of riders, professional medics often accompany the tour. Of Saigontourist’s bike tours, its trip to the western portion of Southern Vietnam is its most popular. The tour departs from Ho Chi Minh City and stops first in Long An Province. Tourists then travel by car to Tan An District to visit the Cao Dai Holy See. Following the religious site, the tour rides 20 kilometres. along the Bao Dinh Canal to My Tho. On the way to My Tho, tourists stop by orchards to enjoy fresh coconut juice and fruit. Next, tourists visit the Vinh Trang Pagoda, which was built in the early 19th century and houses a collection of bronze statues carved in the Mekong Delta. The tour then travels to the port to visit Thoi Son Islet in Tien Giang Province by canoe. On the second day of the journey, the tour heads to Ben Tre Province. The group travels leisurely through village roads to view the landscape, get fresh air roadside and speak with locals. Tourists can visit the village market and green fields to see firsthand the cultivation technique of the farmers and life in the country. On the third day, tourists visit Cai Mon District to see a number of activities of the local people including fishing, cooking, leisure and sport. Tourists take part in a home-stay at the home of a Cai Mon resident and eat ca loc nuong trui dish (grilled snakehead fish), taste local rice wine and listen to don ca tai tu (amateur southern folk music). The following day, tourists travel by ferry to visit the center of Vinh Long Province and continue to ride through Long Ho village for 20 kilometres. to Ba Can to visit the village of the Khmer people and a market specializing in tofu.

The journey continues to Can Tho Province for tourists to visit the floating markets of Phong Dien and Cai Rang. Tourists then ride for 20 kilometres. to Bang Lang Park. The tour concludes with a car ride back to Ho Chi Minh City the following day. (Source: SGT)


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Tourism Indochina: Vietnam One Among the Most 10 Attractive Tourism Destinations For Chinese

Tourism Indochina: Vietnam One Among the Most 10 Attractive Tourism Destinations For Chinese


Firstly, why we can say that?

Well, Most travelers to Vietnam are attracted by the country’s wonderful natural beauty: From the green rice fields in the north to the fascinating bustle of the Mekong Delta in the south. Vietnam however is also a country with a long history and ancient traditions. It has many historic attractions and old temples. The most amazing tourist attractions in Vietnam like Nha Trang, Cu Chi Tunnels, Mekong River (Mekong Delta), Mui Ne, Sa Pa Terraces, Phu Quoc, Hoi An, Hoan Kiem Lake (Hanoi), Thien Mu Pagoda (Hue), and Ha Long Bay...

Another reason is that, Vietnam is also shares its border with China, so Chinese people can come to visit Vietnam easily.

Vietnam is among ten attractive tourism sites for Chinese:

(Tourism Indochina:Date : 2007-11-01):

Vietnam is one among the most ten attractive tourism destinations for Chinese travelers, according to the China National Tourism Administration. Other nine top destinations of Chinese tourists are Hong Kong, Macao, Japan, Thailand, the Republic of Korea (ROK), Russia, the United States, Singapore and Malaysia. China remains Asia 's largest source of outbound tourists, Zhu Shanzhong, a tourism promotion official with the China National Tourism Administration told Xinhua news agency. Nearly 30 million Chinese travelled abroad in the first nine months of the year, up 17% as against the same period of last year, according to the administration’s statistics. Last year, about 34 million Chinese people travelled abroad. (Source: VNA)

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Tourism Indochina: Introduction to Vietnamese Handicraft Villages

Tourism Indochina: Introduction to Vietnamese Handicraft Villages


In the past, after harvest time, Vietnamese people made handicraft works to meet their own needs. Their products are very skillful and sophisticated, even though they are farmers and do not specialize in handicrafts. The techniques were kept secret, but taught to relatives or fellow villagers.

The village, therefore, became a very important institution in the handicraft industry. The village's name became the trademark of handicraft products made by its villagers. Đình làng- the village's temple became the place of worship and tổ nghề the man who first taught the villagers to do these handicraft works.

When urbanization came to Vietnam, many people came to towns/cities and professionalized in the handicraft works they had done in their old village. They did not compete with one another but gathered in phường/hội, the new form of handicraft village, to help others to improve.

The Vietnamese government has recognised about 1500 handicraft villages, of which about 300 are traditional handicraft villages. These villages maintain the country's handicraft heritage.

Vietnam Festival celebrates handicraft villages:

(Tourism Indochina:Date : 2007-11-13):

Festival celebrates handicraft villages

A festival honouring handicraft-making villages, which play an important part in Vietnamese culture, kicked off in Hanoi on November 14.
The festival showcases 200 prominent handicraft villages out of the 2,000 villages throughout the country that produce handiwork art and craft, from pottery to kites.

The Bat Trang pottery village, which lies about 15km from Hanoi, brings to the event simple but delicate products.

The Bat Trang pottery exhibit also includes a tea set that can serve up to 250 people, a feat considered the largest so far. The set can use up to five kilos of tea for one sitting.
The Doi Tam drum makers are also making some noise with their showcase of 60-drum set to be played by 60 girls for a 7-minute performance.

A competition of hand-made kites made by artisans nationwide will take place during the festival in which a 12m four-flute-carried kite made by Dong Anh District artisans is expected to fly. Apart from showcasing hand-made items, the festival will give visitors the chance to enjoy love song duets, songs of strolling blind musicians, water puppet and traditional children plays, and the art of calligraphy writing. Ten Japanese businesses are taking part in the festival. (Source: VNA)


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Tourism Indochina: The Central Highlands in Vietnam

Tourism Indochina: The Central Highlands in Vietnam


Geographically, the Central Highlands of Vietnam is an area of stunning natural beauty which extends from the Cat Tien National Park in the south as far as Quang Nam in the north. For practical purposes most visitors to the region will travel between Dalat in the south and Kon Tum in the north.

This region is not visited by many tourists so the transport options of the coastal route are not available. We hired a vehicle with driver to travel from dalat to Hoi An over five days and these days were without doubt the highlight of our time in Vietnam.

Travelling through Vietnam via the magnificent Central Highlands is a fabulous alternative to the much trodden coastal route. To do so by public transport can prove quite challenging as local bus services are the only option. Also it is necessary for foreigners to carry permits in order to be allowed into parts of the Central Highlands.

We took this route as a 5 day private tour beginning in Dalat and ending in Hoi An. We travelled in a 9 seater Mercedes accompanied by a guide and driver. Each evening our guide, Phu, and driver, Tam, stayed at the same place as us and took us out to local restaurants that they knew and which would be impossible to go to without a local connection. This was a tremendous and most unexpected addition to what was the highlight of our time in Vietnam. If you're travelling from the north you head inland from Hoi An and follow the route described in this section in reverse.

Vietnam Exhibition features unique culture of Central Highlands:

(Tourism Indochina:Date : 2007-11-19):

Exhibition features unique culture of Central Highlands

An exhibition on space of gong culture, a UNESCO-recognised “Masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritages of Humanity,” opened in Central Highlands Dak Lak Province on November 19. The event is part of the Central Highlands Gong Festival scheduled for November 21-24 in an effort to uphold the unique culture heritage. Documents, objects and valuable images featuring cultural characteristics of each ethnic group in the region are displayed, attracting the attention of both local people and foreigners. It also provides visitors a good chance to have better understanding on gong culture. (Source: VNA)

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Tourism Indochina: Hanoi The Attraction Place in Vietnam

Tourism Indochina: Hanoi The Attraction Place in Vietnam

Wikipedia: Hanoi is the capital of Vietnam and the country's second largest city. Its population in 2009 was estimated at 2.6 million for urban districts, 6.5 million for the metropolitan jurisdiction. From 1010 until 1802, it was the most important political centre of Vietnam. It was eclipsed by Huế during the Nguyen dynasty as the capital of Vietnam, but Hanoi served as the capital of French Indochina from 1902 to 1954. From 1954 to 1976, it was the capital of North Vietnam. The city is located on the right bank of the Red River. Hanoi is located at 1,760 km (1,090 mi) north of Ho Chi Minh City. October 2010 officially marked 1000 years since the establishment of the city. On this occasion, Hanoi was named by Frommer's travel guide as one of the world's "Top Destinations 2010".

Hanoi features a warm humid subtropical climate (Köppen Cwa) with plentiful precipitation. The city experiences the typical climate of northern Vietnam, where summers are hot and humid, and winters are, by national standards, relatively cool and dry. Summers, lasting from May to September, are hot and humid, receiving the majority of the annual 1,680 millimetres (66.1 in) of rainfall. The winters are short, relatively dry, and mild, while spring can bring light rains.

As the capital of Vietnam for almost a thousand years, Hanoi is considered one of the main cultural centres of Vietnam, where most Vietnamese dynasties have left their imprint. Even though some relics have not survived through wars and time, the city still has many interesting cultural and historic monuments for visitors and residents alike. Even when the nation's capital moved to Huế under the Nguyễn Dynasty in 1802, the city of Hanoi continued to flourish, especially after the French took control in 1888 and modeled the city's architecture to their tastes, lending an important aesthetic to the city's rich stylistic heritage. The city hosts more cultural sites than any city in Vietnam, and boasts more than 1,000 years of history, and that of the past few hundred years has been well preserved.

A city between the rivers, built from lowland, Hanoi has many scenic lakes and sometime is called "city of lakes". Among its lakes, the most famous are Hoan Kiem Lake, West Lake, Halais Lake (Hồ Thiền Quang in Vietnamese), and Bay Mau Lake. Hoan Kiem Lake, also known as Sword Lake, is the historical and cultural center of Hanoi, and is linked to the legend of the magic sword. West Lake (Hồ Tây) is a popular place for people to spend time. It is the largest lake in Hanoi and there are many temples in the area. There are small boats for hire and a floating restaurant.

In 2007, Hanoi welcomed over 1 million foreign visitors:

(Tourism Indochina:Date : 2007-11-20):

Hanoi welcomes over 1 million foreign visitors

The number of foreign tourists to Hanoi in the first 11 months of this year is estimated at 1.15 million, equivalent to 95% of the city’s yearly plan and up 11.5% over the same period last year. Strong growths have been seen in the numbers of visitors from China, the Republic of Korea, Japan, Australia, France and the US. The Hanoi Tourism Department has designed many new tours such as health treatment tours, helicopter sightseeing and visits to local celebrities.

The department is working on a file to propose that the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) recognise the Thang Long Imperial Citadel as a world cultural heritage. (Source: VNA)

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Tourism Indochina: Vietnam Gong Culture

UNESCO, The Space of Gong Culture: The cultural space of the gongs in the central highlands of Vietnam covers several provinces and seventeen Austro-Asian and Austronesian ethno-linguistic communities. Closely linked to daily life and the cycle of the seasons, their belief systems form a mystical world where the gongs produce a privileged language between men, divinities and the supernatural world. Behind every gong hides a god or goddess who is all the more powerful when the gong is older. Every family possesses at least one gong, which indicates the family’s wealth, authority and prestige, and also ensures its protection. While a range of brass instruments is used in the various ceremonies, the gong alone is present in all the rituals of community life and is the main ceremonial instrument.

The manner in which the gongs of Vietnam are played varies according to the village. Each instrumentalist carries a different gong measuring between 25 and 80 cm in diameter. From three to twelve gongs are played by the village ensembles, which are made up of men or women. Different arrangements and rhythms are adapted to the context of the ceremony, for example, the ritual sacrifice of the bullocks, the blessing of the rice or mourning rites. The gongs of this region are bought in neighbouring countries, and then tuned to the desired tone for their own use.

Economic and social transformations have drastically affected the traditional way of life of these communities and no longer provide the original context for the Gong culture. Transmission of this way of life, knowledge and know-how was severely disrupted during the decades of war during the last century.Today, this phenomenon is aggravated by the disappearance of old craftsmen and young people’s growing interest in Western culture. Stripped of their sacred significance, the gongs are sometimes sold for recycling or exchanged for other products.

Vietnam Gong Culture Festival kicks off:

(Tourism Indochina:Date : 2007-11-21):

The Central Highlands Gong Culture Festival 2007 opened at the Central Highlands Dak Lak provincial museum on November 21. Vice State President Nguyen Thi Doan joined around 10,000 people at the opening ceremony of the festival. The four-day festival, the largest of its kind in the Central Highlands, will include performances by 25 domestic and foreign gong troupes and art troupes from Laos and the Republic of Korea.

Local street festivals, a photo exhibition on the cultural tradition of Vietnam’s gong and a gong casting demonstration will be held alongside an exhibition of gong cultural space.
An exhibition-cum-fair on the Central Highlands and a workshop on the history of the gong are also on the festival’s agenda.
The festival, titled “Old forest night”, promotes the cultural traditions of the Central Highlands gong, recognised as “Masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritages of Humanity” by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation in November 2006.


During the festival Vice State President Doan also opened the Central Highlands Exhibition-cum-Fair 2007 with the participation of 136 businesses.
The Vice President attended the launch of a special set of stamps on the cultural tradition and history of the Central Highlands gongs. (Source: VNA)

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Tourism Indochina: The Rural Vietnam on Bicycle

Tourism Indochina: The Rural Vietnam on Bicycle

An ideal cycling route avoids crowded highways and intense climbs and sticks to peaceful village roads shaded by trees, green fields and orchards. A bike tour through the western and northern sections of Vietnam gives tourists a glimpse of life in rural areas including the ethnic people in the Central Highlands.

While crossing the Cu Mong or Hai Van passes, tourists are able to stop roadside to contemplate the sunrise or sunset and admire the beautiful view on one side lies giant mountains, while on the other are picturesque beaches. Tour participants are not required to bike for the entire trip; participants ride a maximum of 50 kilometres a day. Cars, canoes, and boats cover the distance not traveled on bike. To ensure the health and safety of riders, professional medics often accompany the tour. Of Saigontourist’s bike tours, its trip to the western portion of Southern Vietnam is its most popular. The tour departs from Ho Chi Minh City and stops first in Long An Province. Tourists then travel by car to Tan An District to visit the Cao Dai Holy See. Following the religious site, the tour rides 20 kilometres. along the Bao Dinh Canal to My Tho. On the way to My Tho, tourists stop by orchards to enjoy fresh coconut juice and fruit. Next, tourists visit the Vinh Trang Pagoda, which was built in the early 19th century and houses a collection of bronze statues carved in the Mekong Delta. The tour then travels to the port to visit Thoi Son Islet in Tien Giang Province by canoe. On the second day of the journey, the tour heads to Ben Tre Province. The group travels leisurely through village roads to view the landscape, get fresh air roadside and speak with locals. Tourists can visit the village market and green fields to see firsthand the cultivation technique of the farmers and life in the country. On the third day, tourists visit Cai Mon District to see a number of activities of the local people including fishing, cooking, leisure and sport. Tourists take part in a home-stay at the home of a Cai Mon resident and eat ca loc nuong trui dish (grilled snakehead fish), taste local rice wine and listen to don ca tai tu (amateur southern folk music). The following day, tourists travel by ferry to visit the center of Vinh Long Province and continue to ride through Long Ho village for 20 kilometres. to Ba Can to visit the village of the Khmer people and a market specializing in tofu.

The journey continues to Can Tho Province for tourists to visit the floating markets of Phong Dien and Cai Rang. Tourists then ride for 20 kilometres. to Bang Lang Park. The tour concludes with a car ride back to Ho Chi Minh City the following day. (Source: SGT)

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