When talking about Central Highlands, perhaps no one is unknown Ban Don (Don Village) with the crooning song about funny baby elephants. Currently, Don Village is a tourist destination located on Krongna Commune, Buon Don District, Dak Lak, and about 40 kilometers from Buon Ma Thuot to northwest of the provincial road towards.
Riding the elephant
Don Village has tradition of hunting and taming wild elephants, so there will be no wonder that elephants with the weigh of several tons totally obey the mahout controls. Elephants here are very friendly, they are willing to take visitors to sit on the back and go around the village. From elephants’ back, peaceful and dreamy scenes of Don Village are in sight. It is like a beautiful island of Central Highlands which was erected in the center of Sre Pork River. Riding elephants in Lak lake make visitors feel peaceful, but in Don Village, travelers will be try the adventurous feeling. It is time to grasp the handrails elephants slowly wade through Serepok River. This is the largest river in river systems in Dak Lak, composed of, so water flow is always strong. You'll feel the distance between you and the river was shortened and a bit chilly when being in the middle of the river. It takes only about an hour to ride elephant and explore Don Village, Highlands’ breath will be in your mind forever.
The Tomb of Elephant King
Coming to Don Village, tourists do not forget to visit the graves of Nob Khun Yu, who was dubbed as elephant king of Ban Don with 400vhunting elephants. Located in Don Village Tourist complex Ban Don, the tomb of Elephant King has M'nong and Laos’s architecture. This is works built by Bao Dai King to thanks for that white elephant gift which elephant king gave him and helped him construct the military. Another one is the tomb of elephant king’s successors - R'leo K'Nul, built in the motif of Cambodia cone sharp. This is like an immutable evidence of the formation and development of the Don Village in hunting and taming wild elephants.
The ancient stilt house
If visitors want to know about the story of the elephant king in Don Village, go to the ancient stilt house in A Tri village. The house has 3 spaces, 3 roofs with the shape of pointed tip which was made according to the architecture of Laotian ethnic groups and home of elephant king - Khun Yu Nob.
Until now, the house only remains two spaces after undergoing hundreds of years and is the most unique house in Vietnam. The house is completely made of fine wood species of Buon Don Jungle.
There are a lot of memorabilia about the life and hunting gear of Khun Yu Nob and successors as the copper tray and images about hunting work of Ama Kong - Khun Yu Nob’s grandchildren. Ama Kong is also a “elephant hunter" who is just behind his grandfather - Khun Ju Nob with 298 elephants
Specialties in Don village
The featured dishes in Don village is grilled chicken, baked forest meat , Com Lam, Ama Kong wine…In which, Ama Kong's wine is the most famous associated with forest elephant story. The name of this kind of wine is taken from the name of the living legend Ama Kong in Don Village, the grandson of elephant king- Khun Yu Nob. A special feature of this wine is soaked from natural ingredients as some trees in Buon Don Forest.
Don Village is an interesting destination for visitors to explore and relax after hard - working days. Let’s come here and enjoy the atmosphere of Highlands.
Saturday, February 22, 2014
Thursday, February 20, 2014
Vietnamese New Year Customs
We present some time-honored traditions for welcoming Vietnam's Lunar New Year
WRAPPING SQUARE CHUNG CAKES AND WATCHING OVER THE CAKE POTS
The practice of wrapping chung cakes dates back to era of the Hung Kings. According to legend, these cakes were invented by Prince Lieu Wrapping chung and tét rice cakes reminds people of their ancestors and helps them to pray for the proliferation of all beings (including paddy plants), affluence, success and good luck in the New Year. This custom still continues. Square Chung cakes are wrapped in the North and cylindrical tét cakes in the South. lo the past, each family made chung cakes. Today. with less time. most people buy their cakes.
INAUGURAL CALLIGRAPHY
Inaugural calligraphy is typically performed by scholars and writers to greet the New Year. It is intended to exalt learning. The first brushstrokes also symbolize the beginning of learning, working or writing career. Nowadays, inaugural calligraphy is not necessarily started after New Year's Eve, but on a good day during the first days of the New Year.
LETTER GIVING
These verses by the poet Vu Dinh Lien remind us of a fine tradition: giving letters for the New Year. The tradition of scholars exhibiting their dark ink and red papers has been revived. This custom represents our respect for studying and knowledge and our wishes For letters to welcome good luck and a prosperous year.
PLUCKING BUDS
On New Year's Eve, people pick twigs with small buds and visit pagodas to pray for fortune and happiness. In Vietnamese "lộc" means both a "fragile bud" and "fortune". In the past, on New Year's Eve, people gathered around centennial trees in temples or pagodas to pick budding twigs and display them in their home or on their altar to welcome good fortune. This custom continues.
LUCKY MONEY
Lucky money used to take the form of symbolic coins in a cent unit. These coins were given to represent proliferation, progress and flourishing. Nowadays, coins have been replaced by notes. People generally present red envelopes containing crisp new bank notes to children or elderly folk.
RELIGIOUS VISITS
After making year-end sacrifices. Vietnamese love to visit pagodas, temples and shrines to pray for good fortune, happiness, good health and affluence for themselves and their families. Fortunetelling strips are highly sought after. Visitors once consulted fortune-tellers or astrological books to select the luckiest day and direction For departing on their journey. Nowadays, most pilgrims no longer take lucky dates and directions seriously.
NEW YEAR WISHES
Vietnamese people extend wishes of good health and good Fortune to their fellows and avoid mentioning their ancestors' birth names or past mistakes. Those who suffered accidents or calamities in the old year are told: "Lost wealth is better than lost life" or "Overcome your disasters" Those who have done wrong are treated with forgiveness and tolerance. Nowadays, New Year wishes are simpler than in the past, yet still respectful and sincere.
FOLK GAMES
The following folk games are played to celebrate the New Year.
Hide and seek:
Players line up and form pair, then enter an open field in turn. Both are blindfolded. On player hides and the other seeks. The one who is hiding is supposed to make some noise to help the seeker.
Blindfolded pot striking:
This game is popular in Northern rural regions at Tết. It is usually played in the courtyard of a communal temple or on a field. Two pillars are planted 5m apart. Pots are hung from a rope between the two pillars. Blindfolded players must use a stick to try to break the pots. Those who succeed receive small gifts, as written on bit of paper inside the pots.
Cock fights:
Cock fights remain popular during the Tet holidays. Villages famous for cock fighting include Dinh Bang (Bac Ninh), Tho Ha, and Yen Phu (Yen Phong). There contests attract enthusiastic crowds.
Lim wrestling festival:
The Lim Festival draws many tourists thanks to its romantic "quan ho" songs and its traditional games. Wrestling matches are especially popular. When the festival drums roll, spectators crowd closer. The wrestlers display a strong martial spirit.
WRAPPING SQUARE CHUNG CAKES AND WATCHING OVER THE CAKE POTS
The practice of wrapping chung cakes dates back to era of the Hung Kings. According to legend, these cakes were invented by Prince Lieu Wrapping chung and tét rice cakes reminds people of their ancestors and helps them to pray for the proliferation of all beings (including paddy plants), affluence, success and good luck in the New Year. This custom still continues. Square Chung cakes are wrapped in the North and cylindrical tét cakes in the South. lo the past, each family made chung cakes. Today. with less time. most people buy their cakes.
INAUGURAL CALLIGRAPHY
Inaugural calligraphy is typically performed by scholars and writers to greet the New Year. It is intended to exalt learning. The first brushstrokes also symbolize the beginning of learning, working or writing career. Nowadays, inaugural calligraphy is not necessarily started after New Year's Eve, but on a good day during the first days of the New Year.
LETTER GIVING
"When peach blossoms mile
I see an old scholar
Exhibit his bright lines
In the crowded quarter"
These verses by the poet Vu Dinh Lien remind us of a fine tradition: giving letters for the New Year. The tradition of scholars exhibiting their dark ink and red papers has been revived. This custom represents our respect for studying and knowledge and our wishes For letters to welcome good luck and a prosperous year.
PLUCKING BUDS
On New Year's Eve, people pick twigs with small buds and visit pagodas to pray for fortune and happiness. In Vietnamese "lộc" means both a "fragile bud" and "fortune". In the past, on New Year's Eve, people gathered around centennial trees in temples or pagodas to pick budding twigs and display them in their home or on their altar to welcome good fortune. This custom continues.
LUCKY MONEY
Lucky money used to take the form of symbolic coins in a cent unit. These coins were given to represent proliferation, progress and flourishing. Nowadays, coins have been replaced by notes. People generally present red envelopes containing crisp new bank notes to children or elderly folk.
RELIGIOUS VISITS
After making year-end sacrifices. Vietnamese love to visit pagodas, temples and shrines to pray for good fortune, happiness, good health and affluence for themselves and their families. Fortunetelling strips are highly sought after. Visitors once consulted fortune-tellers or astrological books to select the luckiest day and direction For departing on their journey. Nowadays, most pilgrims no longer take lucky dates and directions seriously.
NEW YEAR WISHES
Vietnamese people extend wishes of good health and good Fortune to their fellows and avoid mentioning their ancestors' birth names or past mistakes. Those who suffered accidents or calamities in the old year are told: "Lost wealth is better than lost life" or "Overcome your disasters" Those who have done wrong are treated with forgiveness and tolerance. Nowadays, New Year wishes are simpler than in the past, yet still respectful and sincere.
FOLK GAMES
The following folk games are played to celebrate the New Year.
Hide and seek:Players line up and form pair, then enter an open field in turn. Both are blindfolded. On player hides and the other seeks. The one who is hiding is supposed to make some noise to help the seeker.
Blindfolded pot striking:
This game is popular in Northern rural regions at Tết. It is usually played in the courtyard of a communal temple or on a field. Two pillars are planted 5m apart. Pots are hung from a rope between the two pillars. Blindfolded players must use a stick to try to break the pots. Those who succeed receive small gifts, as written on bit of paper inside the pots.
Cock fights:
Cock fights remain popular during the Tet holidays. Villages famous for cock fighting include Dinh Bang (Bac Ninh), Tho Ha, and Yen Phu (Yen Phong). There contests attract enthusiastic crowds.
Lim wrestling festival:
The Lim Festival draws many tourists thanks to its romantic "quan ho" songs and its traditional games. Wrestling matches are especially popular. When the festival drums roll, spectators crowd closer. The wrestlers display a strong martial spirit.
Nguyet Anh
Wednesday, February 19, 2014
Ban Me Thuot: A Journey to Fresh Ideas
When I recently yearned for an escape from the city, I chose to visit Ban Me, an enticing land of green meadows, golden tree marigolds, the fierce Draynur waterfall, perennial inactive volcanoes that produced red basalt soil, and particularly the mystery of nature that endowed us with the choicest coffee beans. A trip to Ban Me also filled me with desire to place this capital of coffee on the tourist map.
On the very first day I set foot in the vast wilderness with my traveling companion, I was overcome with strong emotions. Having lived in urban areas, I found myself on deserted basalt roads pondering the sky above bright red maize fields, the wooden stilt houses dwarfed in the boundless green of mountains, the idle clouds roaming day and night. These natural vistas seemed more fascinating to me than the busy streets of the city.
In the afternoon when the sun still shone, we embarked on our journey to the sacred land of Madrak. The waterfall was humming and wild leaves were murmuring then suddenly grew silent. Look! Purple rose myrtles, a petrified tree and wild flowers hiding themselves under dried leaves on the precipitous cliffs-they all greeted us. What a picture of contrasting colors, of life and death and the majesty of nature.
Heavy clouds suddenly gathered to darken the sky. Under a veil of rain, we left the forest. Despite the slippery ground, we managed to make it through the downpour thanks to a local Ede boy's instructions to skew our soles and lean on sticks.
Reaching the fountain at the forest edge, we continued to pass through spiky cliffs. As the rain ended, there cliffs were still warm in contrast with the cold fountain. The roots of some white-trunked plants poked through the fountain and cliffs, showing their insatiable vitality.
After our journey to the highlands, we picked up brown printed pebbles and put them on an ostrich eggshell to make a work we called "Position and Power;' inspired by our interesting journey in search of a balance and referencing the Vietnamese idiom "throwing the egg against the rock."
Night fell and the moon peeked out behind a dark cloud. We had a late dinner at a rustic house in the for est. We were all tipsy, by the forest or the wine? Our midnight stories filled my mind with novel ideas. The silence of the forest fell hard, soothing our weary senses. The heaven and the earth seemed to converge on this night. The moon reflected itself in the lake, while the bellows of geese and the chirps of crickets would have stirred any wanderer.
Dawn broke and the sun presided over mountains. By a stone table under a red Barringtonia tree, we were both comforted with calm and warm feelings. I rose up, took a deep breath and stared at the clouds, which looked like a soaring dragon on the horizon. The day grew brighter and I felt incredible gratitude for the new day that arrived!
On the very first day I set foot in the vast wilderness with my traveling companion, I was overcome with strong emotions. Having lived in urban areas, I found myself on deserted basalt roads pondering the sky above bright red maize fields, the wooden stilt houses dwarfed in the boundless green of mountains, the idle clouds roaming day and night. These natural vistas seemed more fascinating to me than the busy streets of the city.
In the afternoon when the sun still shone, we embarked on our journey to the sacred land of Madrak. The waterfall was humming and wild leaves were murmuring then suddenly grew silent. Look! Purple rose myrtles, a petrified tree and wild flowers hiding themselves under dried leaves on the precipitous cliffs-they all greeted us. What a picture of contrasting colors, of life and death and the majesty of nature.
Heavy clouds suddenly gathered to darken the sky. Under a veil of rain, we left the forest. Despite the slippery ground, we managed to make it through the downpour thanks to a local Ede boy's instructions to skew our soles and lean on sticks.
Reaching the fountain at the forest edge, we continued to pass through spiky cliffs. As the rain ended, there cliffs were still warm in contrast with the cold fountain. The roots of some white-trunked plants poked through the fountain and cliffs, showing their insatiable vitality.
After our journey to the highlands, we picked up brown printed pebbles and put them on an ostrich eggshell to make a work we called "Position and Power;' inspired by our interesting journey in search of a balance and referencing the Vietnamese idiom "throwing the egg against the rock."
Night fell and the moon peeked out behind a dark cloud. We had a late dinner at a rustic house in the for est. We were all tipsy, by the forest or the wine? Our midnight stories filled my mind with novel ideas. The silence of the forest fell hard, soothing our weary senses. The heaven and the earth seemed to converge on this night. The moon reflected itself in the lake, while the bellows of geese and the chirps of crickets would have stirred any wanderer.
Dawn broke and the sun presided over mountains. By a stone table under a red Barringtonia tree, we were both comforted with calm and warm feelings. I rose up, took a deep breath and stared at the clouds, which looked like a soaring dragon on the horizon. The day grew brighter and I felt incredible gratitude for the new day that arrived!
Color of spring on the mountainous Northwest of Vietnam
The mountainous Northwest of Vietnam is brightened every spring by the colors of nature and the costumes of the local communities.
Vietnam's Northwest is home to majestic nature and a variety of ethnic minorities, which together from a diverse and unique culture. The region is especially vibrant in springtime, thanks to flamboyant swaths of wild mountain flowers and colorful festivals filled with traditional costumes.
Flowering bauhinia plants are the symbols of love, spring and the souls of the locals. Forests and terraces from Son La to Lai Chau are lushly sprinkled with immaculate bauhinias, with the greatest density in the valley on historical Pha Din Pass. Bauhinias in full bloom also herald thick fog in the Northwest. The fog falls hard on cliffs or lies idly on roofs, creating a fairy-tale mingling of flowers and fog, clouds and cliffs.
Apart from bauhinias, peach, plum and apricot blossoms also add colors of life to the spring landscape of the Northwest. Miao peach trees are humble, scraggy and fragile, yet hide an ·extraordinary valor to survive the winter and nurture their tiny buds, which give rise to floral splendor in the spring. Over the Tet (Lunar New Year) holidays, Miao peaches burst into bloom. From Sapa to Muong Khuong, valleys, villages and street corners are adorned with the gentle pink invasion of peach blossoms. Every peach tree flaunts its own petals like butterflies in spring breezes.
Bauhinias and peach blossoms also joyfully announce the start of the festive season, enlivened by twirling and bamboo stick dances on vast flower carpets. Girls and women from the highland communities dress in their most beautiful outfits, such as harmonious com tunics with rows of silver buttons or dark skirts with glistening xa tich chains loosely jangling by their side. The most outstanding accessory worn by Thai maidens is pieu headscarf besides keeping the neck and the chest warm in wintry breezes, charming pieu scarves are also serve as gifts or love tokens.
Muong women make an impression with body-hugging skirts, waistbands, bust-length overcoats, loosely bound robes, colorful silk scarves, green belts and white headscarves. Traditional costumes of the Mong, Dao and Ha. Nhi ethnicities are flamboyant and radiant, revealing incredible mastery of textile craftsmanship. Hmong maidens have developed a rich diversity of decorative patterns, with warm and fresh colors on thei attire. They usually put on their choicest costumes for spring markets.
Pipe dances of boys and the folded skirts of girls are the two most memorable images of the festivals of Gau Tau and Long Tong (opening furrows) that usually take place in the springtime. Tay women in their simple indigo costumes show off with sophisticated headscarves and waistbands. Between the natural beauty of spring flowers and the cultural charm of the highland ethnic communities, a trip to Vietnarn,s Northwest in the springtime is a magnificent journey.
Vietnam's Northwest is home to majestic nature and a variety of ethnic minorities, which together from a diverse and unique culture. The region is especially vibrant in springtime, thanks to flamboyant swaths of wild mountain flowers and colorful festivals filled with traditional costumes.
Flowering bauhinia plants are the symbols of love, spring and the souls of the locals. Forests and terraces from Son La to Lai Chau are lushly sprinkled with immaculate bauhinias, with the greatest density in the valley on historical Pha Din Pass. Bauhinias in full bloom also herald thick fog in the Northwest. The fog falls hard on cliffs or lies idly on roofs, creating a fairy-tale mingling of flowers and fog, clouds and cliffs.
Apart from bauhinias, peach, plum and apricot blossoms also add colors of life to the spring landscape of the Northwest. Miao peach trees are humble, scraggy and fragile, yet hide an ·extraordinary valor to survive the winter and nurture their tiny buds, which give rise to floral splendor in the spring. Over the Tet (Lunar New Year) holidays, Miao peaches burst into bloom. From Sapa to Muong Khuong, valleys, villages and street corners are adorned with the gentle pink invasion of peach blossoms. Every peach tree flaunts its own petals like butterflies in spring breezes.
Bauhinias and peach blossoms also joyfully announce the start of the festive season, enlivened by twirling and bamboo stick dances on vast flower carpets. Girls and women from the highland communities dress in their most beautiful outfits, such as harmonious com tunics with rows of silver buttons or dark skirts with glistening xa tich chains loosely jangling by their side. The most outstanding accessory worn by Thai maidens is pieu headscarf besides keeping the neck and the chest warm in wintry breezes, charming pieu scarves are also serve as gifts or love tokens.
Muong women make an impression with body-hugging skirts, waistbands, bust-length overcoats, loosely bound robes, colorful silk scarves, green belts and white headscarves. Traditional costumes of the Mong, Dao and Ha. Nhi ethnicities are flamboyant and radiant, revealing incredible mastery of textile craftsmanship. Hmong maidens have developed a rich diversity of decorative patterns, with warm and fresh colors on thei attire. They usually put on their choicest costumes for spring markets.
Pipe dances of boys and the folded skirts of girls are the two most memorable images of the festivals of Gau Tau and Long Tong (opening furrows) that usually take place in the springtime. Tay women in their simple indigo costumes show off with sophisticated headscarves and waistbands. Between the natural beauty of spring flowers and the cultural charm of the highland ethnic communities, a trip to Vietnarn,s Northwest in the springtime is a magnificent journey.
Tran Tan Vinh
Monday, February 17, 2014
Grand is the first ever hotel with pub cum restaurant Vung Tau ever had. Built before a century - was a favorite place for the soldiers who would unwind their stress in the evenings flocking together in the Grand pub during war times. The renovations and restorations over years have changed the shape. But the soul of the architecture and the heart soothing landscape still carries the heritage. To meet the modern living style, the upgradations of facilities are done with care to meet needs of every customer and the treasure of the vintage architecture is also maintained.
In the destination of the new millennium Viet Nam, 125 km from the historic city of Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City) located in the port city of Vung Tau on the most picturesque location facing the beach is the vintage heritage hotel The Grand. With the elegance of the French architecture, the heart soothing landscape makes the Grand a distinctive place for your stay. The enchanted ambience and the most attentive personalized service will make your stay a memorable one. May it be a business trip or a week end escape from the hectic city life , we offer you the comfort and convenience with dedicated service to become your favorable home in Vung Tau.
Grand Hotel
Address: 02 Nguyen Du Str., Ward 1 Vung Tau City, Ba Ria Vung Tau Province, Vietnam
Email: info@grandhotel.com.vn
Tel:(+84-64) 3856 888 / 3856 787 - Fax: (+84-64) 3856 088
In the destination of the new millennium Viet Nam, 125 km from the historic city of Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City) located in the port city of Vung Tau on the most picturesque location facing the beach is the vintage heritage hotel The Grand. With the elegance of the French architecture, the heart soothing landscape makes the Grand a distinctive place for your stay. The enchanted ambience and the most attentive personalized service will make your stay a memorable one. May it be a business trip or a week end escape from the hectic city life , we offer you the comfort and convenience with dedicated service to become your favorable home in Vung Tau.
Grand Hotel
Address: 02 Nguyen Du Str., Ward 1 Vung Tau City, Ba Ria Vung Tau Province, Vietnam
Email: info@grandhotel.com.vn
Tel:(+84-64) 3856 888 / 3856 787 - Fax: (+84-64) 3856 088
Sunday, February 16, 2014
Pilgrimage Village (Thua Thien Hue)
Pilgrimage Village is ideally located in the quiet countryside in rustic village setting surrounding by lush tranquil gardens, yet near to famous historical landmarks. The resort embodies the subtle connection of traditional stylish and modern art concept.
The nearest airport is Hue airport – just 20 minutes away, whilst Danang international airport is 90 minutes by car.
Pilgrimage Village offers the harmony of soothing natural environment and local culture. Delicious meals, sound sleep, and the peaceful life of our quiet countryside combine to refresh your spirits and help to forget the troubles of life. It is also a place where skillful artists carve, polish and weave to create authentic works that are beautiful remembrances reflecting the traditional culture of Hue.
With 99 rooms & villas, the resort is as warm and inviting as it is fresh and full of vision. Each of categories is individualized, has private gate and garden, and 02 private balconies that leads out onto the lakes and countryside. The essence of Pilgrimage Village flows into the Vedanā spa.
Standing in the heart of this historic and picturesque region, visitors can visit Hue and Danang – two favorite tourism cities in Vietnamese central. Hue has various points of ecological & historical interest, such as the Citadel, the royal tombs of Tu Duc, Khai Dinh, and Minh Mang, Thien Mu pagoda, Dong Ba market, and Thanh Toan tile roof bridge,… other attractions near the resort include Bach Ma national park, Lang Co beach, Truc Lam zen monastery, and Thuan An beach. The hotel offers a shuttle bus service to and from Hue city centre.
Unwind with renowned Vietnamese fusion cuisine or delight in specialties of Hue in Junrei restaurant, a breakfast in the open space and fresh air beginning a new day of your journey in Valley restaurant or enjoy famous spirits in the candle bar, peanut bar or slope lounge. Pilgrimage Village will bring you an exquisite dining experience.
Vedanā spa at Pilgrimage Village blends ancient traditional healing wisdom from the east with therapies from the west. Meditation, Jacuzzi, sauna & steam bath, tai chi or yoga classes help you find balance and peace in your mind and soul. A private or group class is provided upon request.
Pilgrimage Village
130 Minh Mang road, Hue, VietNam.
t:+84 54 3 885 461, f: +84 54 3 887 057
email: info@pilgrimagevillage.com
The nearest airport is Hue airport – just 20 minutes away, whilst Danang international airport is 90 minutes by car.
Pilgrimage Village offers the harmony of soothing natural environment and local culture. Delicious meals, sound sleep, and the peaceful life of our quiet countryside combine to refresh your spirits and help to forget the troubles of life. It is also a place where skillful artists carve, polish and weave to create authentic works that are beautiful remembrances reflecting the traditional culture of Hue.
With 99 rooms & villas, the resort is as warm and inviting as it is fresh and full of vision. Each of categories is individualized, has private gate and garden, and 02 private balconies that leads out onto the lakes and countryside. The essence of Pilgrimage Village flows into the Vedanā spa.
Standing in the heart of this historic and picturesque region, visitors can visit Hue and Danang – two favorite tourism cities in Vietnamese central. Hue has various points of ecological & historical interest, such as the Citadel, the royal tombs of Tu Duc, Khai Dinh, and Minh Mang, Thien Mu pagoda, Dong Ba market, and Thanh Toan tile roof bridge,… other attractions near the resort include Bach Ma national park, Lang Co beach, Truc Lam zen monastery, and Thuan An beach. The hotel offers a shuttle bus service to and from Hue city centre.
Unwind with renowned Vietnamese fusion cuisine or delight in specialties of Hue in Junrei restaurant, a breakfast in the open space and fresh air beginning a new day of your journey in Valley restaurant or enjoy famous spirits in the candle bar, peanut bar or slope lounge. Pilgrimage Village will bring you an exquisite dining experience.
Vedanā spa at Pilgrimage Village blends ancient traditional healing wisdom from the east with therapies from the west. Meditation, Jacuzzi, sauna & steam bath, tai chi or yoga classes help you find balance and peace in your mind and soul. A private or group class is provided upon request.
Pilgrimage Village
130 Minh Mang road, Hue, VietNam.
t:+84 54 3 885 461, f: +84 54 3 887 057
email: info@pilgrimagevillage.com
Camping trip organised for Central Highlands tourism year
The province of Dak Nong organised a camping festival at its Nam Nung historical tourism site on February 14-15, in the latest activity arranged for the 2014 Central Highlands – Da Lat National Tourism Year.
The event attracted the participation of more than 300 young people, who came to meet and build connections.
The festival was also attended by more than 1,000 tourists from inside and outside the province.
It offered a chance for visitors and entrepreneurs to understand more about the culture, history and people of Dak Nong.
On the occasion, a ceremony to worship spirits was also performed to make visitors aware of the unique ritual, which is practice by the M’Nong ethnic group
The event attracted the participation of more than 300 young people, who came to meet and build connections.
The festival was also attended by more than 1,000 tourists from inside and outside the province.
It offered a chance for visitors and entrepreneurs to understand more about the culture, history and people of Dak Nong.
On the occasion, a ceremony to worship spirits was also performed to make visitors aware of the unique ritual, which is practice by the M’Nong ethnic group
Source: : VNA
Friday, February 14, 2014
Thursday, February 13, 2014
Festival opens to honour Mountain God
The Tan Vien (the God of the Mountain) festival opened on February 13 (or the 14th day of the first lunar month), in Hanoi’s district of Ba Vi, attracting a crowd of visitors from all regions of the country. Besides a traditional ritual and an incense offering ceremony held in the relic site of Ha (Low), Trung (Middle) and Thuong (Upper) temples, many folk games, sports and performances were organised.
Legend in the northern delta has it that Tan Vien, also called Son Tinh, was the God of the Mountain and governed all creatures on land. He taught people to grow crops, hunt animals, catch fish, practise martial arts and hold festivals.
Opposite to Son Tinh was Thuy Tinh, the God of the Sea, responsible for the rising water levels that damaged crops, destroyed animals and drowned people. Son Tinh beat Thuy Tinh in a competition to win the heart of Princess My Nuong who was the daughter of the King Hung XVIII.
Tan Vien embodies the aspiration to triumph over natural disasters, especially floods.
The same day, a festival dedicated to him also opened in Va temple in Son Tay town. The festival will run until February 16.
In Vietnamese folklore, Tan Vien is one of the four immortals, along with Chu Dong Tu, Saint Giong and Goddess Lieu Hanh. The God of the Mountain is worshiped in many localities in Ba Vi district.
Legend in the northern delta has it that Tan Vien, also called Son Tinh, was the God of the Mountain and governed all creatures on land. He taught people to grow crops, hunt animals, catch fish, practise martial arts and hold festivals.
Opposite to Son Tinh was Thuy Tinh, the God of the Sea, responsible for the rising water levels that damaged crops, destroyed animals and drowned people. Son Tinh beat Thuy Tinh in a competition to win the heart of Princess My Nuong who was the daughter of the King Hung XVIII.
Tan Vien embodies the aspiration to triumph over natural disasters, especially floods.
The same day, a festival dedicated to him also opened in Va temple in Son Tay town. The festival will run until February 16.
In Vietnamese folklore, Tan Vien is one of the four immortals, along with Chu Dong Tu, Saint Giong and Goddess Lieu Hanh. The God of the Mountain is worshiped in many localities in Ba Vi district.
Source: : VNA
Ben Tre strives to welcome 1 million tourists
The Mekong Delta province of Ben Tre has put forth a number of measures to welcome 1 million tourists in 2014, in a bid to fulfill its tourism development goals by 2015.
Tran Duy Phuong, Deputy Director of the provincial Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, revealed the plan at a February 12 meeting with representatives from travel companies.
To reach the figure, the province has poured 315 billion VND (14.8 million USD) into its key tourism development programmes that include expanding weekend tours, attracting tourists from Ho Chi Minh City and granting quality certifications to souvenir gift shops .
Efforts will be exerted to step up waste treatment in tourist areas and raise local people’s hospitability, with a view to further improving the quality of tourism products and meeting tourists’ needs.
Ben Tre together with the regional provinces of Tien Giang, Vinh Long, and Tra Vinh has signed an agreement on establishing coastal tours along the localities.
Last year, Ben Tre received more than 800,000 tourists, earning 429 billion VND (20.16 million USD) , a year-on-year surge of 25 percent.
Tran Duy Phuong, Deputy Director of the provincial Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, revealed the plan at a February 12 meeting with representatives from travel companies.
To reach the figure, the province has poured 315 billion VND (14.8 million USD) into its key tourism development programmes that include expanding weekend tours, attracting tourists from Ho Chi Minh City and granting quality certifications to souvenir gift shops .
Efforts will be exerted to step up waste treatment in tourist areas and raise local people’s hospitability, with a view to further improving the quality of tourism products and meeting tourists’ needs.
Ben Tre together with the regional provinces of Tien Giang, Vinh Long, and Tra Vinh has signed an agreement on establishing coastal tours along the localities.
Last year, Ben Tre received more than 800,000 tourists, earning 429 billion VND (20.16 million USD) , a year-on-year surge of 25 percent.
Source: : VNA
Wednesday, February 12, 2014
Ba Be Lake Ecotourism area - the convergence of the beauty-spot
Located in the northeast mountainous tourism sub-region, about 200 km away from Hanoi, Ba Be Lake ecotourism area has about 20 unique destinations. It has a great potential for eco-tourism and culture.
Recent years, Ba Be Ecotourism area has attracted millions of tourists to visit and explore the exciting landscapes here. Among the tourist destinations, the most typical ones which are known widely are the following places:
Ba Be Lake is one of the one hundred largest freshwater lake in the world and the largest natural freshwater lake in Vietnam. It is located in Ba Be National Park which is recognized as a national tourist destinations in Vietnam. The lake was formed over 200 million years ago. Ba Be Lake is at the altitude of 145 m above sea level with an area of about 500ha, and is surrounded by limestone mountains with many caves and underground streams . It has three interconnecting branches: Pe Lam, Pe Lu và Pe Leng. The panorama of the lake is like a picture which captivates many tourists from past to present . In addition, the maximum value of Ba Be Lake is unique geological landscapes, outstanding values of geology and geomorphology and great value to biodiversity.
Ba Be National Park - a precious natural heritage, has an area of 23 340 ha. This is a system of primary forest on limestone mountain which surrounded by the fresh lake. Here, there are 417 species of plants and 299 species of vertebrates. Many endangered animals like the phoenix land, pheasant, snub-nosed monkey ... are also conserved here.
Puong Cave is located on Nang River. This cave has the length of about 200 meters and the average height of from 25 meters to 30 meters with many shapes, grandeur buttresses. There are tens of thousands of bats living and residing in the cave. Moreover, there is also a spectacular waterfall called Dau Dang waterfall. With the length of about 2 kilometers, the waterfall and primary forest landscapes create a memorable impression.. Not only that, there is a rare fish species, called Ca Chien (there are people over 10 kg heavy).
Ao Tien is a small lake with width about 3 hectares and is located on the mountain. Being surrounded by tropical forest, the climate here is cool and fresh. The legend told that fairies in the sky often fly down to bath and play chess here.
Khao Phya is also interesting tourist place in Cho Don district, where the climate is mild, clean environ. The climate is warm in winter and cool in summer. Many motels were built here during the French colonization
Kim Hy nature conservation area has an area of thousands of hectares, is the one to save and conserve genetic resources of rare plants animals. This is also a tourist destination, ecological research place in the future.
Ba Be Lake ecotourism area is a worth present which nature gives to Viet Nam. The local government continues to keep and develop Ba Be Lake becoming a famous tourisms area of the Viet Nam. Welcome to Bac Kan to enjoy, relax and experience new feeling.
Recent years, Ba Be Ecotourism area has attracted millions of tourists to visit and explore the exciting landscapes here. Among the tourist destinations, the most typical ones which are known widely are the following places:
Ba Be Lake is one of the one hundred largest freshwater lake in the world and the largest natural freshwater lake in Vietnam. It is located in Ba Be National Park which is recognized as a national tourist destinations in Vietnam. The lake was formed over 200 million years ago. Ba Be Lake is at the altitude of 145 m above sea level with an area of about 500ha, and is surrounded by limestone mountains with many caves and underground streams . It has three interconnecting branches: Pe Lam, Pe Lu và Pe Leng. The panorama of the lake is like a picture which captivates many tourists from past to present . In addition, the maximum value of Ba Be Lake is unique geological landscapes, outstanding values of geology and geomorphology and great value to biodiversity.
Ba Be National Park - a precious natural heritage, has an area of 23 340 ha. This is a system of primary forest on limestone mountain which surrounded by the fresh lake. Here, there are 417 species of plants and 299 species of vertebrates. Many endangered animals like the phoenix land, pheasant, snub-nosed monkey ... are also conserved here.
Puong Cave is located on Nang River. This cave has the length of about 200 meters and the average height of from 25 meters to 30 meters with many shapes, grandeur buttresses. There are tens of thousands of bats living and residing in the cave. Moreover, there is also a spectacular waterfall called Dau Dang waterfall. With the length of about 2 kilometers, the waterfall and primary forest landscapes create a memorable impression.. Not only that, there is a rare fish species, called Ca Chien (there are people over 10 kg heavy).
Ao Tien is a small lake with width about 3 hectares and is located on the mountain. Being surrounded by tropical forest, the climate here is cool and fresh. The legend told that fairies in the sky often fly down to bath and play chess here.
Khao Phya is also interesting tourist place in Cho Don district, where the climate is mild, clean environ. The climate is warm in winter and cool in summer. Many motels were built here during the French colonization
Kim Hy nature conservation area has an area of thousands of hectares, is the one to save and conserve genetic resources of rare plants animals. This is also a tourist destination, ecological research place in the future.
Ba Be Lake ecotourism area is a worth present which nature gives to Viet Nam. The local government continues to keep and develop Ba Be Lake becoming a famous tourisms area of the Viet Nam. Welcome to Bac Kan to enjoy, relax and experience new feeling.
Dien Bien province expects 400,000 arrivals in 2014
The northern province of Dien Bien, where the historic 1954 Dien Bien Phu victory that put an end to French colonial rule in Vietnam took place, has set a target of welcoming 400,000 tourists, including 70,000 foreign visitors, this year.
To reach that goal, the mountainous province has mapped out plans to develop tourism and attract more visitors to the locality, especially during the 60 th anniversary of the Dien Bien Phu Victory (May 7).
Since the beginning of this year, the provincial Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism has restored and embellished Dien Bien Phu historical relic sites.
The province is expected to finish at an early date the construction of a museum showcasing the historical victory related exhibits.
Deputy Director of the Dien Bien Phu Victory Museum Vu Thi Tuyet Nga said that nearly 2,000 documents and objects will be displayed at the museum.
During the Lunar New Year holiday, thousands of people flocked to Dien Bien Phu historical relic sites, including the Dien Bien Phu Campaign headquarters, A1 Hill, De Castries Bunker and Muong Thanh bridge.
The Dien Bien Phu Campaign complex is home to nearly 40 historical sites that have been recognised as special national relic sites.
To reach that goal, the mountainous province has mapped out plans to develop tourism and attract more visitors to the locality, especially during the 60 th anniversary of the Dien Bien Phu Victory (May 7).
Since the beginning of this year, the provincial Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism has restored and embellished Dien Bien Phu historical relic sites.
The province is expected to finish at an early date the construction of a museum showcasing the historical victory related exhibits.
Deputy Director of the Dien Bien Phu Victory Museum Vu Thi Tuyet Nga said that nearly 2,000 documents and objects will be displayed at the museum.
During the Lunar New Year holiday, thousands of people flocked to Dien Bien Phu historical relic sites, including the Dien Bien Phu Campaign headquarters, A1 Hill, De Castries Bunker and Muong Thanh bridge.
The Dien Bien Phu Campaign complex is home to nearly 40 historical sites that have been recognised as special national relic sites.
Source: VNA
Tuesday, February 11, 2014
Ha Long hosts annual sakura festival
The Japanese cherry blossom festival will be held annually from now on in the northern province of Quang Ninh after its successful debut last year, said a local official.
The move aims to promote friendship between Quang Ninh and Japan, and through that to improve investment opportunities for Japanese businesses, said vice chairman of provincial People's Committee Dang Huy Hau.
This year the festival will be held in mid-March. The scale of this event will be expanded, with more than 120 cherry blossom trees and about 20 to 30 stalls presenting and promoting bilateral tourism, cuisines and souvenirs of Viet Nam and Japan.
In the opening ceremony, the people of Ha Long and visitors will enjoy traditional cultural and art performances from the two countries.
The first cherry blossom festival was organised last April, with more than 100 cherry blossom trees being planted at the Bai Chay tourist site of Ha Long City and Yen Tu of Uong Bi City.
The move aims to promote friendship between Quang Ninh and Japan, and through that to improve investment opportunities for Japanese businesses, said vice chairman of provincial People's Committee Dang Huy Hau.
This year the festival will be held in mid-March. The scale of this event will be expanded, with more than 120 cherry blossom trees and about 20 to 30 stalls presenting and promoting bilateral tourism, cuisines and souvenirs of Viet Nam and Japan.
In the opening ceremony, the people of Ha Long and visitors will enjoy traditional cultural and art performances from the two countries.
The first cherry blossom festival was organised last April, with more than 100 cherry blossom trees being planted at the Bai Chay tourist site of Ha Long City and Yen Tu of Uong Bi City.
Source: VNS
Sunday, February 9, 2014
Tourists flock to Lao Cai during Lunar New Year (Tet) 2014
The northern mountainous province of Lao Cai greeted over 20,000 tourists during the recent traditional Lunar New Year (Tet) festival, recording a year-on-year increase of 5 percent.
It earned over 30 billion VND (1.41 million USD) in revenue from tourism activities, 19 percent higher than the same period last year.
The number of foreign arrivals to the locality in the period reached 13,000, making up over 60 percent of the total. Most of them were from China and European countries.
Foreigners were attracted by celebratory local festivals and many extended their stay in the locality to join these for longer.
This situation demonstrates the locality’s tourism development, and it is expected to create more jobs and improve income for the province.
According to Le Manh Hao, Director of the Culture and Sports office of Sa Pa district, accommodation facilities in the locality have been upgraded and repaired, while many attractive activities were organised during the Tet holidays to win over holiday-makers.
Travel agencies also opened new tours and diversified products to lure more visitors during Tet festival.
It earned over 30 billion VND (1.41 million USD) in revenue from tourism activities, 19 percent higher than the same period last year.
The number of foreign arrivals to the locality in the period reached 13,000, making up over 60 percent of the total. Most of them were from China and European countries.
Foreigners were attracted by celebratory local festivals and many extended their stay in the locality to join these for longer.
This situation demonstrates the locality’s tourism development, and it is expected to create more jobs and improve income for the province.
According to Le Manh Hao, Director of the Culture and Sports office of Sa Pa district, accommodation facilities in the locality have been upgraded and repaired, while many attractive activities were organised during the Tet holidays to win over holiday-makers.
Travel agencies also opened new tours and diversified products to lure more visitors during Tet festival.
Source: VNA
Thursday, January 23, 2014
Golden Central Hotel Saigon: Touches the heart of Saigon
Situated in the heart of Saigon center and just one minute of walking distance from the historic Ben Thanh Market, the international 4-star Golden Central Hotel Saigon is Ho Chi Minh City’s most convenient hotel to stay. With 120 fully equipped rooms and suites combined with other supplementary services, Golden Central Hotel Saigon is ideal for all travelers, either for leisure or business purposes.
The facilities and services provided by Golden Central Hotel Saigon ensure a pleasant stay for guests. Guests of the hotel can enjoy on-site features like coffee shop, room service, Wi-Fi in public areas, car park, 24-hour room service.
Experience high quality room facilities, including hair dryer, non smoking rooms, desk, television LCD/plasma screen, air conditioning, to help you recharge after a long day. The hotel offers an excellent variety of recreational facilities, including fitness center, massage, outdoor pool, sauna, spa. Whatever your reason for visiting Ho Chi Minh City, the Golden Central Hotel Saigon is the perfect venue for an exhilarating and exciting break away.
Under the motto of “The guest is King”, our team strives to meet every guest’s expectations and to make their stay as memorable as possible.
Come, enjoy, and let The Golden Central Hotel evoke all the best of your emotions.
Golden Central Hotel.
140 Ly Tu Trong, Ben Thanh Ward, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City.
Tel: (84-8) 38.270.666 – 38.270.578
Fax: (84-8) 38.270.566 – 39.112.066
Email: info@goldenhotelsaigon.vn
The facilities and services provided by Golden Central Hotel Saigon ensure a pleasant stay for guests. Guests of the hotel can enjoy on-site features like coffee shop, room service, Wi-Fi in public areas, car park, 24-hour room service.
Experience high quality room facilities, including hair dryer, non smoking rooms, desk, television LCD/plasma screen, air conditioning, to help you recharge after a long day. The hotel offers an excellent variety of recreational facilities, including fitness center, massage, outdoor pool, sauna, spa. Whatever your reason for visiting Ho Chi Minh City, the Golden Central Hotel Saigon is the perfect venue for an exhilarating and exciting break away.
Under the motto of “The guest is King”, our team strives to meet every guest’s expectations and to make their stay as memorable as possible.
Come, enjoy, and let The Golden Central Hotel evoke all the best of your emotions.
Golden Central Hotel.
140 Ly Tu Trong, Ben Thanh Ward, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City.
Tel: (84-8) 38.270.666 – 38.270.578
Fax: (84-8) 38.270.566 – 39.112.066
Email: info@goldenhotelsaigon.vn
Son Doong cave makes New York Times (NYT) travel list
The Central Quang Binh Province has been included in a list drawn up by the New York Times of 52 global places to go to in 2014.
The New York Times put the province in the eighth place on the list, behind other destinations in Africa, America, Europe and New Zealand. It has been selected for its cave system, especially Son Doong cave, the world's biggest. It is said to have been created 2 to 5 million years ago due to river water erosion of the limestone underneath a mountain.
The cave, which was discovered in 2009 by British caver Howard Limbert and earlier by a local man, is said to have enough space to accommodate 40-storey high skyscrapers and 100-feet tall trees.
The cave has made headlines in prestigious magazines and on television channels, including the National Geographic in 2011. It has been made accessible to tourists from August last year, thanks to tour programmes organized by Oxalis Adventure Tours, which is the only one authorized by local authorities.
However, an exclusive report from Oxalis said that bookings had been full until the end of this year due to the heat generated in this marvellous cave.
Explorers are recommending an adjacent cave Tu Lan instead, for a more affordable tour and a less busy exploration schedule.
At 35th place on the NYT list is Mekong River's Cambodia-Viet Nam section, on which sailing tours between HCM City in Viet Nam and Siem Riep in Cambodia have been proposed.
Recently, global prestigious magazines have listed destinations in Viet Nam among places that should be visited. Experts believe local tourism authorities should improve travel services to lure more visitors.
Source: VNS
Furama Resort Danang
The luxurious Furama Resort Danang is a true icon of Vietnam tourism. This 5-star haven on world-famous Da Nang beach is celebrated as Vietnam's most prestigious resort – counting royalty, presidents, movie stars and international business leaders among its celebrity guests.
A multi-award winner for its unfaltering commitment to world-class service and facilities, the Furama is not only consistently voted Vietnam's No 1 resort, leading international polls also rank it among the very best resorts in Asia.
But the Furama is much more than an idyllic tropical retreat, it is also a premier base for exploring one of Asia's most exciting new destinations – in the early days of being "discovered" by international tourism.
Just a short drive from Danang lay four UNESCO-listed World Heritage Sites: the former imperial city of Hue (2 hours), the ancient 'Silk Road' trading port of Hoi An (30 minutes away), the spiritual centre of the Champa civilization, My Son (90 minutes) and the mystical Phong Nha Caves in Quang Binh province (7 hours), considered by some an access to the inner earth!
Da Nang has its own International Airport with domestic flights to Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh city, Buon Me Thuot, Pleiku, Nha Trang, Quy Nhon and Da Lat. There are international direct flights from Bangkok and Singapore with plans for future flights from Macau, Japan and Korea. Furama Resort Da Nang is just 15 minutes drive from Da Nang International Airport.
Furama Danang provides free wireless internet to all public areas including lounges, restaurants, bars, ballrooms and meeting rooms.
The Furama Resort Danang has created a lasting impression for both local and international visitors. This is not only due to the government's confidence in its attentive care for dignitaries such as Hu Jintao - People's Republic of China's Secretary General, Jiang Zemin – People's Republic of China's former Secretary General, President Nathan of Singapore, President Papulias of Greece, Queen Sophia of Spain, Prince Henrik of Denmark, Crown Prince of Japan, Royal Highness Prince Bolkiah of Brunei Darussalem, ASEAN Secretary General Pitsuwan as well as Miss World 2008 Ksenia Sukhinova, Miss World 2006 Tatama Kucharova, Miss World 2004 Maria Julia Mantilla, Miss Grand Slam Asia 2009 Tran Thi Huong Giang, Miss Earth-Water 2006 and Miss Philippines-Earth 2006 Catherine Yu Untalan and Miss Vietnam Ao Dai Runner up 1995 Chung Vu Thanh Uyen but it is also because the Furama is a place that has been selected to host significant events at both the national and international level.
Our "Diving Base" is meanwhile pioneering international-standard scuba diving in Vietnam – as the resort also develops as a renowned venue for events, conference and incentive travel.
Address: 68 Ho Xuan Huong St, Bac My An, Danang, Vietnam.
Tel: 84-511-3 847 888
Fax: 84-511-3 847 666
E-mail: reservation@furamavietnam.com
Web site: http://www.furamavietnam.com
Sales Office: R.706, 37 Ton Duc Thang, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City
Tel: 84-8-38211 888 - Fax: 84-8-38213 246
Email: salesoffice@furamavietnam.com
A multi-award winner for its unfaltering commitment to world-class service and facilities, the Furama is not only consistently voted Vietnam's No 1 resort, leading international polls also rank it among the very best resorts in Asia.
But the Furama is much more than an idyllic tropical retreat, it is also a premier base for exploring one of Asia's most exciting new destinations – in the early days of being "discovered" by international tourism.
Just a short drive from Danang lay four UNESCO-listed World Heritage Sites: the former imperial city of Hue (2 hours), the ancient 'Silk Road' trading port of Hoi An (30 minutes away), the spiritual centre of the Champa civilization, My Son (90 minutes) and the mystical Phong Nha Caves in Quang Binh province (7 hours), considered by some an access to the inner earth!
Da Nang has its own International Airport with domestic flights to Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh city, Buon Me Thuot, Pleiku, Nha Trang, Quy Nhon and Da Lat. There are international direct flights from Bangkok and Singapore with plans for future flights from Macau, Japan and Korea. Furama Resort Da Nang is just 15 minutes drive from Da Nang International Airport.
Furama Danang provides free wireless internet to all public areas including lounges, restaurants, bars, ballrooms and meeting rooms.
The Furama Resort Danang has created a lasting impression for both local and international visitors. This is not only due to the government's confidence in its attentive care for dignitaries such as Hu Jintao - People's Republic of China's Secretary General, Jiang Zemin – People's Republic of China's former Secretary General, President Nathan of Singapore, President Papulias of Greece, Queen Sophia of Spain, Prince Henrik of Denmark, Crown Prince of Japan, Royal Highness Prince Bolkiah of Brunei Darussalem, ASEAN Secretary General Pitsuwan as well as Miss World 2008 Ksenia Sukhinova, Miss World 2006 Tatama Kucharova, Miss World 2004 Maria Julia Mantilla, Miss Grand Slam Asia 2009 Tran Thi Huong Giang, Miss Earth-Water 2006 and Miss Philippines-Earth 2006 Catherine Yu Untalan and Miss Vietnam Ao Dai Runner up 1995 Chung Vu Thanh Uyen but it is also because the Furama is a place that has been selected to host significant events at both the national and international level.
Our "Diving Base" is meanwhile pioneering international-standard scuba diving in Vietnam – as the resort also develops as a renowned venue for events, conference and incentive travel.
Address: 68 Ho Xuan Huong St, Bac My An, Danang, Vietnam.
Tel: 84-511-3 847 888
Fax: 84-511-3 847 666
E-mail: reservation@furamavietnam.com
Web site: http://www.furamavietnam.com
Sales Office: R.706, 37 Ton Duc Thang, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City
Tel: 84-8-38211 888 - Fax: 84-8-38213 246
Email: salesoffice@furamavietnam.com
Tuesday, January 21, 2014
Bamboo Village Beach Resort & Spa
Emerging on the tourism map just since the late 20th century, Mui Ne, the tourist section of the seaside City of Phan Thiet 200km north of Ho Chi Minh City, features very long sunny hours and average temperature of 27o C round the year. It did not take Mui Ne so long before being talked about by the continents' industry.
Visitors who now flock to this Cape land all have their own reasons. Many love it here as they can leisurely wander along endless palm-shaded roads and pristine sandy beach. Many others have their bath warmed up by the clear waves or freshened by the tropical breeze over the dunes around.
Many simply observe how the winds daily change the shape of flying-sand hills and do not reject a board slide down from dunes top. Many others like footing in the cool streams making ways through colorful canyons impressively formed by years of rains.
Many are pleased riding to visit centuries-old brick towers possessed by a bygone kingdom and share the surprise about how the ancients could build them up without using any kind of mortar. Many others are even ready for traveling further to trek up rock steps to the 49-m long reclining Buddhist statue, the largest in South-East Asia.
Many are seen contemplating the biggest collection of whale skeletons preserved downtown while many others cannot wait visiting fishing villages at the other end of the locality to recall how the families of the old days fished and lived.
And many among them come for Bamboo Village - the best resort in Mui Ne, Phan Thiet.
Bamboo Village Beach Resort & Spa
38 Nguyen Dinh Chieu St., Ham Tien Ward, Phan Thiet City, Binh Thuan Province, Vietnam
Tel: (84) 62 3 847 007 - Fax: (84) 62 3 847 095
Email: info@bamboovillageresortvn.com
Web: www.bamboovillageresortvn.com
Sales Office in Ho Chi Minh City
90 Tran Dinh Xu St., Co Giang Ward, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
Tel: (84) 8 38389358 - Fax: (84) 8 38389357
Visitors who now flock to this Cape land all have their own reasons. Many love it here as they can leisurely wander along endless palm-shaded roads and pristine sandy beach. Many others have their bath warmed up by the clear waves or freshened by the tropical breeze over the dunes around.
Many simply observe how the winds daily change the shape of flying-sand hills and do not reject a board slide down from dunes top. Many others like footing in the cool streams making ways through colorful canyons impressively formed by years of rains.
Many are pleased riding to visit centuries-old brick towers possessed by a bygone kingdom and share the surprise about how the ancients could build them up without using any kind of mortar. Many others are even ready for traveling further to trek up rock steps to the 49-m long reclining Buddhist statue, the largest in South-East Asia.
Many are seen contemplating the biggest collection of whale skeletons preserved downtown while many others cannot wait visiting fishing villages at the other end of the locality to recall how the families of the old days fished and lived.
And many among them come for Bamboo Village - the best resort in Mui Ne, Phan Thiet.
Bamboo Village Beach Resort & Spa
38 Nguyen Dinh Chieu St., Ham Tien Ward, Phan Thiet City, Binh Thuan Province, Vietnam
Tel: (84) 62 3 847 007 - Fax: (84) 62 3 847 095
Email: info@bamboovillageresortvn.com
Web: www.bamboovillageresortvn.com
Sales Office in Ho Chi Minh City
90 Tran Dinh Xu St., Co Giang Ward, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
Tel: (84) 8 38389358 - Fax: (84) 8 38389357
Monday, January 20, 2014
Ha Long Spring Fair 2014 opens
On Jan. 19, at Children Cultural Palace (in Ha Long city), the Quang Ninh Trade Promotion Center (under the Trade and Industry Department) held an opening ceremony to open the Ha Long Spring Fair 2014. Vice Chairwoman of QNPPC Vu Thi Thu Thuy attended the meeting and cut the inauguration ribbon.
This is an annual trade promotion event with a purpose of supplying goods to Ha Long city, contributing to the price stabilization. This is also a chance for all Quang Ninh’s enterprises to exchange, expand their markets and seek for investment opportunities.
According to the Fair organization Board, the fair drew the participation of over 200 goods stores from 120 enterprises of Quang Ninh and other provinces. Goods displayed at this fair are mainly garments, households, handicraft and many local agricultural products.
As scheduled, the fair closes on Jan. 26.
Source: baoquangninh.com.vn
Sunday, January 19, 2014
Ethnic minority culture remains a focus in 2014
The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism will continue speeding up projects on preserving and developing the ethnic minority culture in 2014, radio The Voice of Vietnam reported on January 15.
Deputy Minister Huynh Vinh Ai said the ministry plans to build a set of cultural development indicators for ethnic minority groups by 2020, take an inventory of ethnic minority cultural heritage, support cultural development of at least 16 ethnic minority groups and repair 300 relics.
It will strive to develop a healthy cultural environment, comprehensively upgrade grassroots-level culture and sports institutions, and raise the ‘Cultural Family’ rate to 87 percent and the ‘Cultural Village’ rate to 68 percent.
Most ethnic minority groups have devised plans to preserve and develop their culture till 2020 and set up a steering committee to oversee it.
Ethnic minority festivals have been organised in line with the Party’s guidelines and State laws. People are fully aware of their cultural identities, and are actively getting involved in creating new cultural values and preserving others.
In 2013, the ministry successfully organised the Vietnam Ethnic Minority Cultural Day on April 19 and implemented three projects on preserving villages, hamlets and communes of ethnic minority groups.
It also built entertainment sites for children in remote, mountainous and island areas in Lai Chau, Dak Nong, Lao Cai, Quang Nam and Dien Bien.
Deputy Minister Huynh Vinh Ai said the ministry plans to build a set of cultural development indicators for ethnic minority groups by 2020, take an inventory of ethnic minority cultural heritage, support cultural development of at least 16 ethnic minority groups and repair 300 relics.
It will strive to develop a healthy cultural environment, comprehensively upgrade grassroots-level culture and sports institutions, and raise the ‘Cultural Family’ rate to 87 percent and the ‘Cultural Village’ rate to 68 percent.
Most ethnic minority groups have devised plans to preserve and develop their culture till 2020 and set up a steering committee to oversee it.
Ethnic minority festivals have been organised in line with the Party’s guidelines and State laws. People are fully aware of their cultural identities, and are actively getting involved in creating new cultural values and preserving others.
In 2013, the ministry successfully organised the Vietnam Ethnic Minority Cultural Day on April 19 and implemented three projects on preserving villages, hamlets and communes of ethnic minority groups.
It also built entertainment sites for children in remote, mountainous and island areas in Lai Chau, Dak Nong, Lao Cai, Quang Nam and Dien Bien.
Source: VNA
Saturday, January 18, 2014
Da Nang becomes an attractive tourist destination for Japanese
In addition to its popular tourism markets which include China, South Korea and Russia, Da Nang will focus on attracting more Japanese tourists to the city in 2014 to increase the tourist arrival numbers as well as local revenue.
Da Nang is emerging as an attractive destination for Japanese tourists thanks to its healthy environment, friendly residents, and the sharing of many similarities in cultural values. Mr Sakai Jiro from Tokyo said that he had booked a New Year tour to this beautiful seaside city because of its safe tourism environment and linking tours to the central region’s World Heritage Sites of Hue Citadel, Hoi An and My Son Sanctuary. Another Japanese tourist, Ms Momose Katsusuke, said that during her first visit to Da Nang she was very impressed by its beautiful beaches, delicious dishes and peaceful life, unlike the hustle and bustle in other urban areas in Viet Nam.
Da Nang is emerging as an attractive destination for Japanese tourists thanks to its healthy environment, friendly residents, and the sharing of many similarities in cultural values. Mr Sakai Jiro from Tokyo said that he had booked a New Year tour to this beautiful seaside city because of its safe tourism environment and linking tours to the central region’s World Heritage Sites of Hue Citadel, Hoi An and My Son Sanctuary. Another Japanese tourist, Ms Momose Katsusuke, said that during her first visit to Da Nang she was very impressed by its beautiful beaches, delicious dishes and peaceful life, unlike the hustle and bustle in other urban areas in Viet Nam.
Thanks to effective tourism promotion strategies, the number of Japanese tourist arrivals to the city last year increased by 53% year-on-year to 41,000. Accordingly, Japan ranked third among Da Nang’s tourism markets, after China and South Korea.
The Director of the HIS Song Han Viet Nam Tourist Company, Mr Ha Tan Vinh, said that local travel agents are expected to enjoy a bumper year thanks to an increasing number of young Japanese tourists to the city. He added that many travel companies are launching a wide range of new tourism services for young tourists with a focus on offering 3-day/2-night tours which depart at weekends.
In an attempt to attract more Japanese tourists, the city’s tourism sector is giving top priority to launching tourism promotion programmes as well as developing new tours. In addition, special attention will be paid to training tourist staff who can speak the Japanese language fluently to make Da Nang more attractive to visitors from this country.
Source: Danangtoday
Royal Hotel Saigon (Kimdo Hotel)
Easily accessible from the airport and train station, the 2-star Saigon Royal Hotel is conveniently located in the business area of District 1. It is within walking distance of Ho Chi Minh City’s downtown, where travellers can experience a variety of bustling markets, sidewalk cafes, vendors and shops. The onsite restaurant offers a variety of delicious, freshly-prepared local dishes. The 40-room hotel also has a well-equipped business centre with a professional staff that can help you with arrangements while you kick back and relax. Other features include travel assistance, car rental, and conference facilities. To reserve your room, please use our secure online booking form.
A 4-star venue offers a level of service and comfort designed to insure that both business and leisure travelers who visit this emerging and bustling new gateway city of Asia will find charming hospitality and personalized service. Perfectly located right in the heart of Ho Chi Minh City, Royal Hotel Saigon offers easy access to government offices, major business buildings, tourist attractions, shopping and entertainment areas.
Rooms at Kimdo Royal are elegantly furnished and are equipped with air conditioning, TV and private bathroom. 24-hour room service is also provided.
Relax with a soak in the Jacuzzi or with a soothing massage. You can also recharge with a work-out at the gym or make arrangements for a day trip with the friendly staff at Kimdo Royal City Hotel's tour desk. The hotel also offers a business center with secretarial services.
Dine at Kimdo Royal City Hotel's on-site restaurant offering a variety of cuisines or unwind with a drink and light refreshments at Rendez-vous Bar.
133 Nguyen Hue Avenue, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
Tel: (84 8) 3822 5914 - 3822 5915. Fax: (84 8) 3822 5913
Email: hotel@royalhotelsaigon.com - hotel@kimdohotel.com
Thursday, January 16, 2014
Nui Coc Lake - The watercolor painting landscape of the lake
The famous song of Pho Duc Phuong, which many Vietnamese know by heart, is the legend of Nui Coc Lake. A sweet song tells about the mysterious legend of a romantic but tragic love story between a girl named Cong and a boy named Coc. Besides the legendary beauty, Nui Coc Lake is well known for its picturesque scenery. Nui Coc Lake, the man-made lake with the area of 25km2, 23m in depth, located in Dai Tu district, Thai Nguyen and it lies in magnificent landscapes of a northern area. The lake is surrounded by mountains and includes 89 islands. The tourism Zone of Nui Coc Lake covers a large mountainous area with natural landscape and exciting entertainment areas. Nui Coc tourism area is divided into two parts: the north and the south of the lake. Visiting the north of the lake, tourists can explore natural beauty of the lake, islands, and mountains as well as enjoy the region’s specialties and take part in entertainment activities.
Many beautiful caves are waiting to be explored such as Legendary Palace, Three Pine Trees and Fairy Tale World. Some parks such as water park, Crocodile Park. A special highlight is the water music display. Visitors are very interested in seeing waters from fountains in the lake dance to melodies of the songs. Besides, visitors can choose to purchase thousands of products of over 90 traditional villages in the country.
Other activity, which attracts a larger number of visitors, is Island travel. Tourism can visit Co Island where many kinds of birds and storks live. Especially, exploring overall Nui Coc Lake on a boat will give tourists many new feelings. Visitor can refresh with entertainment or go fishing on the lake.
The southern zone of Nui Coc Lake shows all kinds of services and a busy tourism zone which can meet diverse needs of tourists. From here, you can see the varsity of the lake. These are also the famous tea regions of Thai Nguyen with the immense green tea hills stretching from Tan Cuong to Phuc Triu, Thinh Đan. The sweet flavor of Thai Nguyen tea makes anyone who has tasted will never forget it. What should not be missed is the region’s specialties such as shrimp, trench bream, bamboo rats…. They have become an indispensable part of Nui Coc tourism area.
Currently, infrastructure facilities in Nui Coc tourism area have been built to diverse needs of tourists. There are many hotels and guesthouses for tourists who want to stay overnight such as Huong Co, Thai Duong hotels. Restaurants with the best services and the abundant menu will give delicious meals in the fresh atmosphere.
It is hard to find a place which has both natural beauty of mountain and lake, and modern beauty of entertainment zone. Because of this reason, Nui Coc tourism zone is an attractive destination that tourists could not miss.
Many beautiful caves are waiting to be explored such as Legendary Palace, Three Pine Trees and Fairy Tale World. Some parks such as water park, Crocodile Park. A special highlight is the water music display. Visitors are very interested in seeing waters from fountains in the lake dance to melodies of the songs. Besides, visitors can choose to purchase thousands of products of over 90 traditional villages in the country.
Other activity, which attracts a larger number of visitors, is Island travel. Tourism can visit Co Island where many kinds of birds and storks live. Especially, exploring overall Nui Coc Lake on a boat will give tourists many new feelings. Visitor can refresh with entertainment or go fishing on the lake.
The southern zone of Nui Coc Lake shows all kinds of services and a busy tourism zone which can meet diverse needs of tourists. From here, you can see the varsity of the lake. These are also the famous tea regions of Thai Nguyen with the immense green tea hills stretching from Tan Cuong to Phuc Triu, Thinh Đan. The sweet flavor of Thai Nguyen tea makes anyone who has tasted will never forget it. What should not be missed is the region’s specialties such as shrimp, trench bream, bamboo rats…. They have become an indispensable part of Nui Coc tourism area.
Currently, infrastructure facilities in Nui Coc tourism area have been built to diverse needs of tourists. There are many hotels and guesthouses for tourists who want to stay overnight such as Huong Co, Thai Duong hotels. Restaurants with the best services and the abundant menu will give delicious meals in the fresh atmosphere.
It is hard to find a place which has both natural beauty of mountain and lake, and modern beauty of entertainment zone. Because of this reason, Nui Coc tourism zone is an attractive destination that tourists could not miss.
Monday, January 6, 2014
Huong Pagoda Festival
Located in Huong Son Site, about 70km from Ha Noi, visitors are very easy to come to Huong pagoda by car. Huong Pagoda is one of the famous pagoda of the Hanoi area and one of the most important religious sites in Buddhist Vietnam.The pagoda complex consists of Buddhist temples and shrines built into the limestone Huong Tich mountains several. Huong Pagoda is in the center of the complex with other name “Trong Pagoda”, which was built inside Huong Tich Cave - the most beautiful cave of the North.
Every year, after the Lunar New Year, in the warm atmosphere of spring, thousands of Vietnamese come here to pray for all the health and happiness for themselves and their family. This festival also attracts a lot of foreign tourists come to enjoy the atmosphere of one of the oldest festivals in Vietnam and tourists will glide along scenic waterways and walk up steep mountain paths visiting the pagodas and temples that were built in this area over the last centuries.
Huong Pagoda Festival lasts from January 6th until the end of March of Lunar calendar. The climax of the festival is from the 15th to 20th day of the second lunar month.
Chua Huong is the harmony architectural overall that the nature gave to man with many caves, temples, mountains, hills, streams,… The combination of natural beauty with hand labor of human populations has created a beautiful landscape recruit.
Perfume Pagoda is famous for the caves which bold colors of folk beliefs - Buddhism with agricultural cultures ( buffalos, pigs, silkworms, ...) and the fertility culture (Co mountain, Cau mountain ...) visitors to Perfume Pagoda to to burn incense to wish for every good thing in the new year
On the days of the festival, the pagoda becomes more crowded with hundreds of passenger boats on Yen stream. The scenery on both sides of the stream is extremely poetic, and charming. One side is a magnificent lime-stone mountain and one side is a vast of green rice paddy. The unique feature of the Huong Pagoda Festival is a fun sightseeing in boats and goes into the realm of Buddha. Therefore, when talking about Huong pagoda, people think of the boat - a cultural identity of Vietnamese boat dwellers from ancient times. And so far, boating festival at Huong Pagoda always inspires intensely for participants and visitors.
Leaving the boats, visitors are immersed in majestic mountain scenery and begin a new journey - the climbing journey to temples. The atmosphere of the festival, the beauty of these amazing caves make visitors just walk away without feeling tired.
When visiting Huong Pagoda, people usually carry fruit trays to offer to Buddha and then receive a piece of their sacrifice to get luck from Buddha.
In the sacred atmosphere of the festival, visitors will also enjoy the folk songs which are showed by local people, for example, Cheo, Tuong ... This is an indispensable activities in Huong Pagoda festival
Beside enjoying the scenery, tourists also do not forget to enjoy the rustic dishes but very famous in this area, such as “ Che Cu Mai”, apricots, Rau Sang soup,…
Visiting Huong Pagoda Festival and visiting pagodas in general have become a beautiful custom of Vietnamese people in the beginning of Lunar New Year.
Every year, after the Lunar New Year, in the warm atmosphere of spring, thousands of Vietnamese come here to pray for all the health and happiness for themselves and their family. This festival also attracts a lot of foreign tourists come to enjoy the atmosphere of one of the oldest festivals in Vietnam and tourists will glide along scenic waterways and walk up steep mountain paths visiting the pagodas and temples that were built in this area over the last centuries.
Huong Pagoda Festival lasts from January 6th until the end of March of Lunar calendar. The climax of the festival is from the 15th to 20th day of the second lunar month.
Chua Huong is the harmony architectural overall that the nature gave to man with many caves, temples, mountains, hills, streams,… The combination of natural beauty with hand labor of human populations has created a beautiful landscape recruit.
Perfume Pagoda is famous for the caves which bold colors of folk beliefs - Buddhism with agricultural cultures ( buffalos, pigs, silkworms, ...) and the fertility culture (Co mountain, Cau mountain ...) visitors to Perfume Pagoda to to burn incense to wish for every good thing in the new year
On the days of the festival, the pagoda becomes more crowded with hundreds of passenger boats on Yen stream. The scenery on both sides of the stream is extremely poetic, and charming. One side is a magnificent lime-stone mountain and one side is a vast of green rice paddy. The unique feature of the Huong Pagoda Festival is a fun sightseeing in boats and goes into the realm of Buddha. Therefore, when talking about Huong pagoda, people think of the boat - a cultural identity of Vietnamese boat dwellers from ancient times. And so far, boating festival at Huong Pagoda always inspires intensely for participants and visitors.
Leaving the boats, visitors are immersed in majestic mountain scenery and begin a new journey - the climbing journey to temples. The atmosphere of the festival, the beauty of these amazing caves make visitors just walk away without feeling tired.
When visiting Huong Pagoda, people usually carry fruit trays to offer to Buddha and then receive a piece of their sacrifice to get luck from Buddha.
In the sacred atmosphere of the festival, visitors will also enjoy the folk songs which are showed by local people, for example, Cheo, Tuong ... This is an indispensable activities in Huong Pagoda festival
Beside enjoying the scenery, tourists also do not forget to enjoy the rustic dishes but very famous in this area, such as “ Che Cu Mai”, apricots, Rau Sang soup,…
Visiting Huong Pagoda Festival and visiting pagodas in general have become a beautiful custom of Vietnamese people in the beginning of Lunar New Year.
Thursday, January 2, 2014
Chung cake and Tet cake: A Taste of History
"Special tet cakes have a long and meaningful history and remain Vietnamese tradition for Lunar New Year."
There are two integral types of savory cakes in the traditional Vietnamese Tet (Lunar New Year) celebration: chung cake and tet cake. Though very different in shape and size, both are made of glutinous rice, fatty pork and mung beans and wrapped in green banana leaves. As legend has it, chung cake was invented at the very dawn of the country when Prince Lieu, the son of a Hung King, selected the choicest ingredients of the wet-cultivation civilization to create a culinary symbol of his country. Tet cake, on the other hand, was created long afterwards in association with the southern territorial extension of Vietnamese migrants. Geographically, chung cake is unique to the North, home to rural areas that were established millennia ago, while tet cake is southern, reflecting the claiming of newfound lands in the South and territorial extensions of migrants.
Cultural researchers assume that chung cakes and their square shape complement round rice buns in reference to the "round sky and square earth" conception of the universe held by the ancient Vietnamese. However, no one is able to explain the significance of the tet cake. I am a Hue native and a descendant of migrants who left behind their homeland to populate the frontier land of the South over seven centuries ago. For me, the legacies of tet cakes are always linked with "the pole of the nation" by my ancestors during their territorial claims. Thanks to their toils, Vietnam acquired the shape it has today. The "national pole"of the center bears resemblance to the hard life of every Vietnamese mother who sustains the two ends of the country, the North and the South.
Unlike chung cakes that will perish after a short time, tet cakes are durable and can be left intact for even a week without losing their original taste. This was an invention of migrants as a solution for their mobile lives. During wartime, southern people lost their festive joy for many years because of military conflicts; tet cake were the only delicacy of Tet they could take for solace in those turbulent times.
Why the name tet? Many assume that the elongated shape of the cake allows cutting and peeling ( tet), thus its current name. The dictionary explains that all three words Tet (Lunar New Year), tet (tet cake) and tiet (period) were derived from the Chinese word. The word has various meanings, including Lunar New Year holidays. Hence, tet cakes can also be understood as the "cake of Tet holidays;' despite the fact that locals in the Center and South consume the cake all year round.
From the quintessential cake of migrants that was made of glutinous rice, tet cakes evolved into a specialty of Tet holidays when filled with fatty pork and green beans; they are also a sacrifice on ancestral altars in New Year celebrations and a formal, familiar food offered to visiting guests on Tet holidays, memorial ceremonies or weddings. In many impoverished regions in the Center, tet cakes were not filled with pork and green beans
but instead red beans stuffed into white glutinous rice.
Chuon village in Hue, also known as. An Truyen Village in Phu Vang D1str1ct, is known for its tet-making traditions. Nowadays, the village's specialty is on sale all year round, although Tet holidays are still the peak sale season of this renowned culinary village. Its tet cakes are made out of the sticky, quality glutinous rice of Dinh. According to historical accounts of the Nguyen Dynasty, the court each year required hundreds of top-notch glutinous liquor jars to sacrifice to Heaven, Earth and the deities in New Year sacrifices as well as to ancestors in memorial ceremonies. Thus, the court had the Ministry of Internal Affairs select superior glutinous rice species and assign liquor-making villages in Thua Thien Province to be dedicated to the king. An Truyen Village in the southeast of the Citadel was among the recipients of these superior glutinous rice species for liquor making and emerged to be the best-known liquor making village in the capital. Fertile fields of this peaceful village were sufficient not only for supplies of rice to make ceremonial liquor, but also for the making of the village's signature tet cakes, colloquially known by the name of Chuon Village.
When year-end rains temporarily cease and farm work is over, Chuon Village enters the peak season of tet cakes. Lush green banana leaves are spread across large sieves to be cleaned of their pollen. Men chop bamboo trees to make strings. Women sort out rice grains, soak green beans and slice pork to prepare the fillings. While the making of chung cakes largely relies on molds to shape the square cakes, tet cakes require years of experience to produce a perfectly cylindrical shape. In the last week before Tet, villagers are busy rolling banana leaves, pouring green beans, stuffing fillings and wrapping cakes as fires smolder day and night. The quality and shape of final products depend on the tying. Bamboo strings are tied in pairs at a finger knuckle's distance, which also dictates the size of each bite before being peeled off.
Two days before Tet (December 30th of the Lunar calendar), tet vendors from Chuon Village travel throughout Hue to sell their products for the year end Tet eve feast. After ceremonies, tet cakes are taken from altars, peeled open and served with pork and fermented cabbage for the last reunion dinner of the year; this meal signals the conclusion of the whole year and welcomes the spring.
There are two integral types of savory cakes in the traditional Vietnamese Tet (Lunar New Year) celebration: chung cake and tet cake. Though very different in shape and size, both are made of glutinous rice, fatty pork and mung beans and wrapped in green banana leaves. As legend has it, chung cake was invented at the very dawn of the country when Prince Lieu, the son of a Hung King, selected the choicest ingredients of the wet-cultivation civilization to create a culinary symbol of his country. Tet cake, on the other hand, was created long afterwards in association with the southern territorial extension of Vietnamese migrants. Geographically, chung cake is unique to the North, home to rural areas that were established millennia ago, while tet cake is southern, reflecting the claiming of newfound lands in the South and territorial extensions of migrants.
Cultural researchers assume that chung cakes and their square shape complement round rice buns in reference to the "round sky and square earth" conception of the universe held by the ancient Vietnamese. However, no one is able to explain the significance of the tet cake. I am a Hue native and a descendant of migrants who left behind their homeland to populate the frontier land of the South over seven centuries ago. For me, the legacies of tet cakes are always linked with "the pole of the nation" by my ancestors during their territorial claims. Thanks to their toils, Vietnam acquired the shape it has today. The "national pole"of the center bears resemblance to the hard life of every Vietnamese mother who sustains the two ends of the country, the North and the South.
Unlike chung cakes that will perish after a short time, tet cakes are durable and can be left intact for even a week without losing their original taste. This was an invention of migrants as a solution for their mobile lives. During wartime, southern people lost their festive joy for many years because of military conflicts; tet cake were the only delicacy of Tet they could take for solace in those turbulent times.
Why the name tet? Many assume that the elongated shape of the cake allows cutting and peeling ( tet), thus its current name. The dictionary explains that all three words Tet (Lunar New Year), tet (tet cake) and tiet (period) were derived from the Chinese word. The word has various meanings, including Lunar New Year holidays. Hence, tet cakes can also be understood as the "cake of Tet holidays;' despite the fact that locals in the Center and South consume the cake all year round.
From the quintessential cake of migrants that was made of glutinous rice, tet cakes evolved into a specialty of Tet holidays when filled with fatty pork and green beans; they are also a sacrifice on ancestral altars in New Year celebrations and a formal, familiar food offered to visiting guests on Tet holidays, memorial ceremonies or weddings. In many impoverished regions in the Center, tet cakes were not filled with pork and green beans
but instead red beans stuffed into white glutinous rice.
Chuon village in Hue, also known as. An Truyen Village in Phu Vang D1str1ct, is known for its tet-making traditions. Nowadays, the village's specialty is on sale all year round, although Tet holidays are still the peak sale season of this renowned culinary village. Its tet cakes are made out of the sticky, quality glutinous rice of Dinh. According to historical accounts of the Nguyen Dynasty, the court each year required hundreds of top-notch glutinous liquor jars to sacrifice to Heaven, Earth and the deities in New Year sacrifices as well as to ancestors in memorial ceremonies. Thus, the court had the Ministry of Internal Affairs select superior glutinous rice species and assign liquor-making villages in Thua Thien Province to be dedicated to the king. An Truyen Village in the southeast of the Citadel was among the recipients of these superior glutinous rice species for liquor making and emerged to be the best-known liquor making village in the capital. Fertile fields of this peaceful village were sufficient not only for supplies of rice to make ceremonial liquor, but also for the making of the village's signature tet cakes, colloquially known by the name of Chuon Village.
When year-end rains temporarily cease and farm work is over, Chuon Village enters the peak season of tet cakes. Lush green banana leaves are spread across large sieves to be cleaned of their pollen. Men chop bamboo trees to make strings. Women sort out rice grains, soak green beans and slice pork to prepare the fillings. While the making of chung cakes largely relies on molds to shape the square cakes, tet cakes require years of experience to produce a perfectly cylindrical shape. In the last week before Tet, villagers are busy rolling banana leaves, pouring green beans, stuffing fillings and wrapping cakes as fires smolder day and night. The quality and shape of final products depend on the tying. Bamboo strings are tied in pairs at a finger knuckle's distance, which also dictates the size of each bite before being peeled off.
Two days before Tet (December 30th of the Lunar calendar), tet vendors from Chuon Village travel throughout Hue to sell their products for the year end Tet eve feast. After ceremonies, tet cakes are taken from altars, peeled open and served with pork and fermented cabbage for the last reunion dinner of the year; this meal signals the conclusion of the whole year and welcomes the spring.
Tran Duc Anh Son
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