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)


Cambodia tours=> http://www.tourismindochina.com/cambodia/tours/
Vietnam tours=> http://www.tourismindochina.com/vietnam/tours/
Laos tours=> http://www.tourismindochina.com/laos/tours/
More about Cambodia Rice Exporter, please visit: http://www.cambodiaorganic.com/

Read more...

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)

Cambodia tours=> http://www.tourismindochina.com/cambodia/tours/
Vietnam tours=> http://www.tourismindochina.com/vietnam/tours/
Laos tours=> http://www.tourismindochina.com/laos/tours/
More about Cambodia Rice Exporter, please visit: http://www.cambodiaorganic.com/

Read more...

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)

Cambodia tours=> http://www.tourismindochina.com/cambodia/tours/
Vietnam tours=> http://www.tourismindochina.com/vietnam/tours/
Laos tours=> http://www.tourismindochina.com/laos/tours/
More about Cambodia Rice Exporter, please visit: http://www.cambodiaorganic.com/

Read more...

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)

Cambodia tours=> http://www.tourismindochina.com/cambodia/tours/
Vietnam tours=> http://www.tourismindochina.com/vietnam/tours/
Laos tours=> http://www.tourismindochina.com/laos/tours/
More about Cambodia Rice Exporter, please visit: http://www.cambodiaorganic.com/

Read more...

Tourism Indochina: Cambodia golf Top 10

ASIA Golf: Golf holidays in Cambodia are a new introduction, yet pioneerng golfers are finding it a fascinating country in which to play a few rounds. Golf is a relatively new pastime in Cambodia yet is developing fast. Until the mid 1990s golf was unheard of in the country, but with its entry in to ASEAN and top Cambodian officials meeting on a regular basis with their contemporaries in the more developed golfing Asian nations such as Japan, South Korea, Singapore and Thailand it was only a matter of time until the popularity of golf grew. And what more could a nation ask for as a golfing ‘ambassador’ than the Prime Minister himself – yes Cambodia’s Premier Hun Sen, is an avid golf player with a handicap of 15.

Phnom Penh, Cambodia's laid back capital, has 2 full scale 18-hole golf courses on its western outskirts. However, the real golfing excitement is in Siem Reap, the home of the magnificent Angkor Wat temples. In early 2007 the Sofitel Phokeethra Country Club opened, and this was followed in early 2008 by the Nick Faldo designed Angkor Golf Resort - it is claimed this course could emerge as not only the finest in Cambodia, but one of the best in the Asia-Pacific region. In 2009 Siem Reap’s third PGA-rated course, the Siem Reap Lake Golf Resort, opened making Cambodia a true golfing vacation destination.

Cambodia golf Top 10 after third round in:

(Tourism Indochina:Date : 2007-12-02):

Siem Reap (Cambodia) Dec 1 - Despite error-filled stretches on the front nine and over par cards, India's Harmeet Kahlon and Arjun Singh stayed in the top-10 of the leaderboard at the end of the third round at the Johnnie Walker Cambodian Open Saturday. Both Kahlon (73) and Arjun Singh (74) slipped from overnight seventh and sixth places, while Australian Adam Groom (70) held on to a narrow one-stroke lead over American Bryan Saltus (71). Groom is 13-under 203. The six other Indians who made the cut were all way behind. Four of them, Gurbaaz Mann (75), Rahil Gangjee (73), Vikrant Chopra (73) and Gaganjeet Bhullar (73) were all tied 48th at three over 219. Amandeep Johl, who started with a birdie and an eagle shot had a score of 74 and Rahul Ganapathy brought in a card of 81. Johl was tied 56th at four-over, while Ganapathy was 70th and last at 10-over. Kahlon, struggling with his form this season, had two bogeys for a 38 on front nine but had two birdies against one bogey on back nine for a total of 73. Arjun also had a poor front nine with a bogey on first and double bogey on seventh. He had two birdies and one more bogey on back nine. Groom, currently ranked 47th on the Asian Tour's UBS Order of Merit, shot three birdies against just one bogey as he made his way to come closer to his maiden Asian Tour title. He is now 13-under-par 203. Saltus stayed in contention after a 71 with a similar performance by American Anthony Kang in the $300,000 Asian Tour event. Thai trio of Thaworn Wiratchant, Chapchai Nirat, and Prom Meesawat were four strokes behind the leader also in joint third spot having fired a 67, 68 and 69 respectively at the Phokeethra Country Club. England's Yasin Ali, who is ranked 70th on the money list, kept his hopes alive for a card next season when he blasted his second straight 68 to lie in lone seventh spot while Ted Oh of Korea posted a 69 for a 209 total in ninth place.

Cambodia tours=> http://www.tourismindochina.com/cambodia/tours/
Vietnam tours=> http://www.tourismindochina.com/vietnam/tours/
Laos tours=> http://www.tourismindochina.com/laos/tours/
More about Cambodia Rice Exporter, please visit: http://www.cambodiaorganic.com/

Read more...

Tourism Indochina: Finland to Cambodia Direct Flight

Tourism Indochina: Finland to Cambodia Direct Flight


(Tourism Indochina:Date : 2007-12-08):

PHNOM PENH, Cambodia - A direct commercial air route between Cambodia and Europe was opened for the first time Friday with the arrival of an Air Finland flight, officials said.

The Air Finland Boeing 757 landed with 215 passengers on board at the main airport in Phnom Penh, Cambodia's capital, said Khek Norinda, a spokesman for the airport's operator, the French company Scoot Concessionaire Des A Roports. Khek Norinda said Air Finland plans to operate three charter flights to Cambodia each month using its 219-seat B-757. The plane's arrival Friday was the first by a European commercial airline, he said, saying he hoped the direct link would help increase the number of European visitors to Cambodia and reduce the country's dependence on neighboring countries' airports and carriers. "However, we need more time to assess accurately the effects of direct flights from European countries. We're just at the beginning," he said. Air travel to and from Cambodia is currently dominated by foreign-owned airlines. Last month, the government signed a joint venture agreement with two Indonesian companies to form a national airline to tap the country's growing tourism industry.

Cambodia received 1.4 million visitors between January and September this year, up nearly 19 percent from the same period in 2006, according to statistics by the Tourism Ministry. It has forecast that total tourist arrivals this year will exceed last year's 1.7 million. The ministry said South Korean, Japanese and U.S. nationals respectively lead the list of foreign arrivals in Cambodia.


Cambodia tours=> http://www.tourismindochina.com/cambodia/tours/
Vietnam tours=> http://www.tourismindochina.com/vietnam/tours/
Laos tours=> http://www.tourismindochina.com/laos/tours/
More about Cambodia Rice Exporter, please visit: http://www.cambodiaorganic.com/

Read more...

Tourism Indochina: Introduction to Cambodia Association of Travel Agents (CATA)

Tourism Indochina: Introduction to Cambodia Association of Travel Agents (CATA)


Cambodia Association of Travel Agents (CATA) was formed in the year 1996 with the main objective to bring together the strong bodies of tourist agencies under one umbrella. The main concern was to develop one magnificent force for the growing tourism industry to support it in the blooming travel market. CATA emphasizes on building up strong travel economy in coordination with major players like the Ministry of Tourism, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the APSARA Authority that oversees Angkor Wat including other private sector groups like airlines, civil aviation authorities, hotels and hospitality based associations.

CATA is the only dominating body in tourism industry in Cambodia and is representative of Cambodia Tourism Agents and Tourism Industry Associations. It is mainly focused on upraising the level of local tourism and affiliated tourism associations on global platform. The main criteria is to expand the standard of tourism, strategic tourism services, and national /international networking, which in turn will result in long-term benefit of Tourism and People.

Membership of CATA is available to all individuals who are involved in business related to Travel Tourism, Travel Transportation and Associated Professions. It is mandatory that all the memberships are approved by the Membership Sub Committee and the CATA BOARD. There are mainly three types of memberships provided by CATA:

Honorary Lifetime Membership: This membership is the most productive opportunity open to members with strong background. Lifetime membership may be appointed to such members by a majority vote of the membership.

Corporate Membership: Being the backbone of Organization, Corporate Membership is open to those companies or corporates who are involved in travel services and legally approved by Ministry of Tourism, Cambodia.

Associate Membership: This membership is mainly open to person or company who is held liable for directing the business conducted by following companies: Auto Rental, Bus, Certified Air Carrier, Charge Card, Credit Card, Cruise Line, Travel Related Automation Company, Travel Management Consulting Firms, Travel Management Companies and other travel professional services, firms or associations.

For proper regulation of business and consistent growth of association, CATA has a Board comprised of Members of Executive Committee, Chairman and Vice Chairman of Steering Committee & Disciplinary Committees, Head of Sub-Committee and Members of Advisory Team. The Board is responsible for framing all rules and regulations, policies and goals of the organization. Meetings are organized by the Board at least once in a month and presided over by the President.

For instance, a great activity of announcement, according to a website of Tourism Indochina posted on 21-02-2008: Cambodia Association of Travel Agents (CATA) would like to announce that the Iron Bridge close to Banteay Srey has been damaged and can not be used since 09th Feb 2008. As the above mention, for all means of transportation from Siem Reap to Banteay Srey have been using the Detour at intersection road to Kulen mountain and to Banteay Srey to the north instead of the damaged bridge. The Detour is being temporarily used under the construction of Apsara authority management and it will be finished 10 days after the Notification issued.

Visit the website of Cambodia Association of Travel Agents (CATA)>>>

Cambodia tours=> http://www.tourismindochina.com/cambodia/tours/
Vietnam tours=> http://www.tourismindochina.com/vietnam/tours/
Laos tours=> http://www.tourismindochina.com/laos/tours/
More about Cambodia Rice Exporter, please visit: http://www.cambodiaorganic.com/

Read more...