Vietnam Travel: Vietnam Tours: Touring 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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The five leading countries posting great number of foreigners to visit Vietnam

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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More than 200 Khmer dignitaries, monks, nuns and people from Mekong Delta localities flocked to Can

More than 200 Khmer dignitaries, monks, nuns and people from Mekong Delta localities flocked to Can Tho City to celebrate the Sene Dolta Festival. This year’s Sene Dolta Festival is being held from the 29th day of the 8th lunar month to the first day of the 9th lunar month, which falls on October 8-10.

The event is the 2nd largest annual festival after the Chol Chnam Thmay (New Year) of the Khmer people in the Mekong Delta. Local Khmer people have gathered at pagodas to pray for bumper crops and pay tributes to their ancestors, and enjoy traditional song and dance performances and other light-hearted activities after a hard working year. To mark the occasion, leaders of Tra Vinh Province visited and presented gifts to 25 pagodas and 95 families of the Khmer group in the province. Meanwhile, an ox race was held in An Giang Province on October 9 with over 30,000 local people and domestic and foreign visitors coming to watch.

The majority of the Khmer population, around 1.3 million people, is living in the southwestern region, which has 453 Khmer pagodas that are home to almost 10,000 monks and nuns.

(Source: VNA)

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Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam tourism cooperation

VietNamNet Bridge - Tourism ministers of Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam issued a joint declaration on trilateral cooperation at their meeting in Ho Chi Minh City on October 5. The three countries agreed to encourage their national tourism agencies to boost exchange of information and experiences in tourism development and promotion. They agreed to jointly hold and attend tourism events and tours and cooperate in personnel training.

The three countries will take measures to facilitate tourists’ travel, boost tourism and cultural activities among their sister cities and heritage sites, as well as encourage public-private partnerships with regard to tourism development. Vietnamese Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism said that the meeting of tourism ministers of the three countries, the first of its kind, was an important milestone in boosting trilateral cooperation to a new height matching their potential. He expressed his belief that the scheme “three countries – one destination” would help build the three countries into a single tourist destination with diverse, unique and sustainable tourism products and high competitiveness in the region. Sharing the host’s view, Cambodia Tourism Minister Thong Khon and Lao Minister and Chairman of the Lao National Tourism Administration Somphong Mongkhonvilay said their meeting laid a foundation for stronger tourism cooperation among the three countries, which will contribute to fortifying sustainable tourism development in the Greater Mekong Sub-region and the ASEAN.

(Source: VNA)

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Vietnam hotel industry records growth

Record growth in visitor arrivals, hotel occupancy and room rates and an increase in interest from major hotel groups all occurred in 2006, according to a new survey conducted by financial and accounting firm Grant Thornton Vietnam. Five-star hotels in Hanoi and HCMC recorded significant increases in average room rates and occupancy rates last year, the survey said.

Northern Vietnam remained the market leader in terms of occupancy with over 70% in 2006, according to Grant Thornton’s annual Vietnam Hotel Survey 2007. Grant Thornton surveyed 29 hotels with 3,946 rooms in different cities in three main regions of the country during 2005 and 2006. This third survey by the firm serves as an overview of hotel industry market and reports how Vietnamese hotels are performing. The survey showed a price increase in the average room rate of 7.7%, from US$55.78 in 2005 to $60.06 per room night in 2006. Average prices saw an increase of 21.1% in the North and 15.7% in the central region while the South saw no change. In 2006, average occupancy and price of five-star hotels were 73.1% and $69.06 per room night, respectively. Net income as a percentage of revenue of four - and five-star hotels was 21.1% and 39.7%, respectively, much higher than the 0.4% of three-star hotels. Room sales made up more than 60% of total revenues in both 2005 and 2006. Reservations via the internet, travel agents and tour operators increased, from 44.76% in 2005 to 57.35% in 2006 (as a percentage of room sales). A significant decrease occurred in direct reservations, from 41.21% to 29.80%. Favourite destination Survey results indicate that Vietnam is becoming a more appealing destination for Asians and Europeans. An important trend was the strong 6% increase (from 77% in 2005 to 81.6% in 2006) in international arrivals reported by hotels participating in the survey. Foreign visitor arrivals in 2006 reached 3.6million, of these, 22.7% were business travelers, and 59.9%, tourists. East Asia remained the largest international market segment for Vietnam’s tourism and hospitality industry, accounting for 38% of total international arrivals. Of the 18million Vietnamese tourists who traveled within the country in 2006, many stayed at luxury hotels, the survey discovered. Domestic tourists in 2006 generated $2.25billion in tourism revenue. Grant Thornton said the lack of new hotel development since the Asian financial crisis had finally caught up with demand, resulting in a lack of rooms at certain peak times in both Hanoi and HCMC and particularly around the APEC summit meeting in November of 2006. This shortage still exists, the firm said. The survey shows that hotel developers and operators are now showing renewed interest in the market in the five-star hotel, resort and spa sectors. Such groups include Kingdom Hotels with the Raffles, 4 Seasons and Movenpick brands, Banyan Tree, Colony Resorts and Intercontinental. With the huge volume of money being channeled into investment funds focused on real estate investment in Vietnam, a number of sales of interest in major hotel properties that took place in the last two years included the Hilton, Sofitel Metropole and Guoman in Hanoi, the Duxton and Omni in HCMC, and the Furama in Danang. The group Accor Hotels continues to dominate the scene as the group has the largest number of city hotels and with the Six Senses/Evason spas/resorts under its management.

VinaLand is the largest hotel investor in the foreign-invested sector, according to Grant Thornton. Hotels participating in the survey are located in the cities of Hanoi, HCMC, Halong, Danang, Hoi An, Hue, Nha Trang, Phan Thiet, Vung Tau and Dalat.

( Source : Vietnam News )


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Forget France, Angelina Jolie Wants to Move Family to Cambodia

There have been reports that Angelina Jolie is adamant on moving the Jolie-Pitt family to France. When on holiday there, the pair reportedly looked at several estates. But Angelina has revealed that she would prefer an even more distant country, far away from the United States. Where does she want to live? "Not in Hollywood, that’s for sure," she tells the French magazine Public.

Angelina says she wants to move to Maddox's native country of Cambodia in ten years and cover her body in tattoos. “I’m sure everyone would leave me in peace over there,” she says. But if Jolie wishes to be left alone why does she continue to take on multiple movie roles and attend red carpet events? Some observers don't buy the idea that Jolie wishes to settle down anywhere. She seems to love the lifestyle of constant travel and that has reportedly caused a lot of problems with her boyfriend Brad Pitt. Her globe-trotting lifestyle is causing tension, reports In Touch Weekly. Even though Brad, 43, wants to settle in LA with the kids, Angie told Public magazine her dream is to live on an isolated farm in Cambodia.

A tiny village in Southeast Asia is miles away from the modernist architecture and pampered lifestyle Brad is used to. And he’s right to have concerns — not just for himself, but for their kids. “It breaks Brad’s heart that the kids are always jet-lagged,” the confidant adds. “They need routines and regular bedtimes. They desperately crave stability.”

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Cambodia Travel, Cambodia Tours, Cambodia Culture: The kites and Khmer ( Cambodian ) people

Cambodia Travel, Cambodia Tours, Cambodia Culture: The kites and Khmer ( Cambodian ) people

Eerie yet strangely soothing, a high pitch lullaby floats though the dark night. It is the sound of Khleng. Mr. Reun Sareth, manager of Phnom Penh’s Kite Museum, said kite flying as a religious ceremony has had a long history in Cambodia, from before the 4th century BC, until the reign of King Ang Doung (1840 – 1859).

[Image: Khmer Kite- Khlaeng Aek] Kite flying is still common in rural Cambodia, though city dwellers fly Khleng only at the end of the rainy season, Pithy Bon Om Tuk (water festival), Pithy Banghos Khleng (kite flying festival) and during full moon ceremonies. Farmers fly kites to celebrate a successful harvest and give their thanks to Preah Peay (god of the wind) Reun added. “[Preah Peay] brings the rain for the farmers to do their farming and stops the rain when they harvest,” he said. “On the occasion of kite flying, farmers are praying for good weather and a comfortable harvest. “ Of more than 20 kinds of kite, the most popular is Khleng Ek, also called Khleng Pnong. “Khleng Ek originated from Ethic P’nong [a north-eastern hill tribe] who flew them to pray to Preah Sen to help them in their farm world and get good crops,” said Reun. “Khleng Ek curve like hammocks and make sweet sounds when they catch the wind. khleng Ek are part of Khmer identity.” Made from inexpensive materials such as bamboo and bee’s wax, Khleng Ek come equipped with Ek, a simple instrument which produces melodic tones as the kite flies. Farmers often fly Khleng Ek and Khleng Kaum (lantern kites) above open field at night, trudging home to chat with family and friends accompanied by the mellifluous tones and rich glow of the kites. Rural Cambodians also fly kite during the dry season, from November to March, because rice fields are dry and covered only with stubble, although there is no religious symbolism involved, said Neun, just “peace and happiness.” Cambodian children can be seen flying Khleng Kandong (tailless kites), khleng Kantaung (pouch kites), Khleng Prabao (packet kites, Khleng Hloh (parasol kites) on windy days because these are easy to get airborne without the help of an adult. Though variants of Khmer can be seen throughout south-east Asia, only the kite Museum, established in late 2003, has examples of every style. “We established the kite museum because we want to keep the tradition of Khmer kites safe for the younger generation,” Neun said. It is part of the national identity. Moreover, we are proud of our culture and want to show it to foreign tourists. The Kite Museum is playing very important role in this.” More than just a glass-case display, the museum explains construction techniques, religious significance, and history of Khmer kites. “We want to teach people how to make and fly kites, “explained Neun. “Sometimes we go outside to teach people, if they ask. We are happy to do it.” International promotion of the little-known culture is also a priority. Khmer Khleng Ek have appeared 18 times in international kite festivals since 1994, including events held in France, Italy, the UK, India, Malaysia, Indonesia, Vietnam, and China. Regardless of its growing renown, kite flying is an entertainment enjoyed by all, a pastime many see as an expression of peace and freedom.

Whenever there is free time, kites will dot the sky – some Khmers say Khleng Ek represents the mother of Cambodians. “Khleng Ek not only adds color to Khmer culture, they also convey a symbolic idea of peace and unity to young Cambodians and across the world too,” Neun said. “I hope that soon everyone around the world will know about our Khleng Ek.”

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