1001 ways to celebrate the victory at AFF Cup 2008 of Vietnamese football fans.
And more here: Flickr.com
30 Dec 2008
22 Dec 2008
On the northern roof of Vietnam, a Ha Giang special
The road from northwestern Lao Cai Province to Ha Giang Province is one of steep slopes, mountain after fog-covered mountain, and twists between rising cliffs.
and bottomless abysses. And at the end of this road is just reward for any or all the nervousness endured on the way.
It is rather cold in Ha Giang these days, with temperatures of 2-30C. But this is also the time that adds an extra zing to the many specialties that the province has on offer.
This land, 320 kilometers north of Hanoi, is inhabited by many ethnic groups including the Mong, Dao, Tay, Lo Lo and Giay, giving the province a cultural diversity that visitors find very attractive.
Like other areas in Vietnam, Ha Giang adds its particular flavor to many of its culinary specialties, whether it is the steamed sticky rice eaten with a mixture of salt and peanut powder, the pickled or boiled bamboo shoots accompanied with salt and sesame, or a variety of meat dishes that include horse meat, chicken, piglets and dry-preserved buffalo or cow meat. Hot-tasting vegetables round off the menu.
Early on a cold morning, another Ha Giang special comes up. The rice-flour cake with chicken-egg fillings is ideal foil for the cup of hot tea. The sauce for this cake is soup stock garnished with some spring onions and minced pork.
The province also has a collection of special beverages worth tasting, not to mention taking home - Shan tea and Bac Ha corn wine.
Shan tea, also called Tuyet or Shan Tuyet tea, is fragrant, strong and very clean as it is cultivated on high mountains.
Bac Ha corn wine is also fragrant, pure and strong. People distill it using dried corn plants as firewood.
Another must-try and must-buy product is Dong Van honey, produced from the violet flowers of a species of wild plant, greenish yellow with a sweet taste and unique aroma.
Daily life in the province, especially its markets, bustle with traders and ethnic women in colorful clothes selling and buying a wide variety of usual and not so usual goods, is another Ha Giang attraction.
Particular places of interest include the Lung Cu Flag Pole in the northernmost part of the country, the Vuong Palace and the Ma Pi Leng Mountain.
More Ha Giang' Photos:
and bottomless abysses. And at the end of this road is just reward for any or all the nervousness endured on the way.
It is rather cold in Ha Giang these days, with temperatures of 2-30C. But this is also the time that adds an extra zing to the many specialties that the province has on offer.
This land, 320 kilometers north of Hanoi, is inhabited by many ethnic groups including the Mong, Dao, Tay, Lo Lo and Giay, giving the province a cultural diversity that visitors find very attractive.
Like other areas in Vietnam, Ha Giang adds its particular flavor to many of its culinary specialties, whether it is the steamed sticky rice eaten with a mixture of salt and peanut powder, the pickled or boiled bamboo shoots accompanied with salt and sesame, or a variety of meat dishes that include horse meat, chicken, piglets and dry-preserved buffalo or cow meat. Hot-tasting vegetables round off the menu.
Early on a cold morning, another Ha Giang special comes up. The rice-flour cake with chicken-egg fillings is ideal foil for the cup of hot tea. The sauce for this cake is soup stock garnished with some spring onions and minced pork.
The province also has a collection of special beverages worth tasting, not to mention taking home - Shan tea and Bac Ha corn wine.
Shan tea, also called Tuyet or Shan Tuyet tea, is fragrant, strong and very clean as it is cultivated on high mountains.
Bac Ha corn wine is also fragrant, pure and strong. People distill it using dried corn plants as firewood.
Another must-try and must-buy product is Dong Van honey, produced from the violet flowers of a species of wild plant, greenish yellow with a sweet taste and unique aroma.
Daily life in the province, especially its markets, bustle with traders and ethnic women in colorful clothes selling and buying a wide variety of usual and not so usual goods, is another Ha Giang attraction.
Particular places of interest include the Lung Cu Flag Pole in the northernmost part of the country, the Vuong Palace and the Ma Pi Leng Mountain.
More Ha Giang' Photos:
Reported by Dinh Ha/ Thanhniennews
Photos from Flickr.com
Photos from Flickr.com
Cakes galore
With all natural ingredients, these two traditional cakes from the south combine sweet and savory flavors.
Roll-Cake
Banh ong (pipe cake) and banh day (roll cake) are traditional dishes of the Khmer people in the Mekong Delta. They are made for special occasions and traditional Khmer festivals such as Ok Am-bok (Moon God Festival) and Chaul Chnam Thmey (New Year Festival).
The provinces of Tra Vinh and Soc Trang are well-known for making the delectable treats.
The pipe cake consists of rice flour, refined sugar, coconut flesh, juice and salt.
To make pipe cakes, the ingredients are mixed together to create a dough. The dough is then stuffed into bamboo or metal pipes about 20 centimeters in length and three centimeters wide. Next, the pipes are covered with tin lids and steamed in a saucepan.
Pipe-Cake
When the cakes are well-cooked, they are removed from the pipes and placed on green banana leaves.
Nowadays, many people also use the juice from the leaves of dua thom (Pandanus amaryllifolius) plant. The leaves can be kneaded with flour to create fragrant green cakes.
Pipe cakes are eaten with a mix of salt and sesame. The sweet smell and rich taste of coconut juice makes the treat especially delicious, while the hint of salt adds a savory element. The cakes are meant to be eaten slowly and savored.
While the Khmer in Tra Vinh Province are famous for their pipe cakes, the Khmer in neighboring Soc Trang Province are renowned for their banh day.
This kind of cake is made from wheat flour, soft coconut flesh, sugar and peanuts, and is shaped into rolls.
Part of the fun is watching the expert cake-makers create the treats before your eyes. The cakes are best when eaten hot and fresh and cost just VND2,000 (11 cents) each.
Roll-Cake
Banh ong (pipe cake) and banh day (roll cake) are traditional dishes of the Khmer people in the Mekong Delta. They are made for special occasions and traditional Khmer festivals such as Ok Am-bok (Moon God Festival) and Chaul Chnam Thmey (New Year Festival).
The provinces of Tra Vinh and Soc Trang are well-known for making the delectable treats.
The pipe cake consists of rice flour, refined sugar, coconut flesh, juice and salt.
To make pipe cakes, the ingredients are mixed together to create a dough. The dough is then stuffed into bamboo or metal pipes about 20 centimeters in length and three centimeters wide. Next, the pipes are covered with tin lids and steamed in a saucepan.
Pipe-Cake
When the cakes are well-cooked, they are removed from the pipes and placed on green banana leaves.
Nowadays, many people also use the juice from the leaves of dua thom (Pandanus amaryllifolius) plant. The leaves can be kneaded with flour to create fragrant green cakes.
Pipe cakes are eaten with a mix of salt and sesame. The sweet smell and rich taste of coconut juice makes the treat especially delicious, while the hint of salt adds a savory element. The cakes are meant to be eaten slowly and savored.
While the Khmer in Tra Vinh Province are famous for their pipe cakes, the Khmer in neighboring Soc Trang Province are renowned for their banh day.
This kind of cake is made from wheat flour, soft coconut flesh, sugar and peanuts, and is shaped into rolls.
Part of the fun is watching the expert cake-makers create the treats before your eyes. The cakes are best when eaten hot and fresh and cost just VND2,000 (11 cents) each.
By Diem Thu/ Thanhniennews
Photo by: Metinfo.vn
Photo by: Metinfo.vn
17 Dec 2008
Take a back to the west of Ca Mau
On the way to Ca Mau, the southern tip of the country with more than 300-kilometers of coastline, tourists may catch sight of the harmonious picture of forest and sea. Located about 350 kilometers from HCMC, the Mekong Delta province of Ca Mau is famous for verdant mangrove forests and bird sanctuaries. The provinces most popular tourism attractions are in the western districts of U Minh and Tran Van Thoi in Ca Mau Province.
The largest mangrove swamp in the country, which is found in U Minh Forest, is habitat to hundreds of precious fauna and flora species. It has 31 kilometers of coastline with two large river entrances, namely Khanh Hoi and Huong Mai.
U Minh is also famous for the 43-kilometer Cai Tau River, contiguous to Trem River. Cai Tau River was the site of well-known naval combats in war time. Today it is also renowned for an immense mulberry garden and two traditional crafts of knitting and mat weaving.
In 2006 Vo Doi,a forest of specific purpose, one of the sections of lower U Minh was turned into U Minh Ha National Park. Covering an area of about 8,268 hectares, U Minh Ha is home of 78 fauna species, 23 mammals, 91 birds, 36 reptiles and 11 amphibians, some of which are on the Red List (endangered) including pangolin, hairy-nosed otter and king cobra.
Currently, U Minh Ha National Park is an ideal eco-tourist destination, attracting 200 visitors a month in the rainy season. Tickets are priced at VND 8,000. In dry season, the park is closed due to danger of fire.
About 2.5 kilometers from the main road tourists can climb up to a 25-meter tower to enjoy a panoramic view of the immense cajuput forest stretching into the horizon, with channels knitting together like a chessboard.
A fishing tour, priced at VND100,000 per seven people, is recommended for fishing pleasure as well as an opportunity to experience the traditional cuisine of the southern tip region with outstanding fish dishes.
Not to be missed is the Hon Da Bac Island (the silver stone), nestled in Tran Van Thoi District, where the endless white sky blends with the reed flowers and the red color of channels.
In the past travelers had to take a boat at a price of VND10,000 per person to the island from the mainland, but nowadays there is a bridge built by Minh Nhat Company linking the mainland and the island. Visitors can stay in the Hon Da Bac Hotel for VND150,000 to VND200,000.
Hon Da Bac covers an area of 6 hectares, including a cluster of islands, namely Hon Ong Ngo, Hon Troi and Hon Da Bac. Hon Ong Ngo and Hon Da Bac are blanketed in tree shadows, mostly bodhi trees.
Hon Da Bac is a primeval flora floor. The island is formed from shiny granite rock of 180 million years old which make the shore sparkle in the sunlight. Some of them have weird shapes that people have named, San Tien (fairy yard), Gieng Tien (fairy well), Ban Chan Tien (fairy foot) and Ban Tay Da (stone hand).
The highest rock on Hon Da Bac is 50 meters. At the peak tourists can visit a temple having a 13-meter-giant whale skeleton placed on the altar for worship.
Every year the Fish Worship Festival takes over the island on the 23rd of the fifth lunar month. Strolling on Hon Da Bac, tourists can watch farmers find oysters or enjoy a view of the sunset on the sea, to get a lost to nature and discover its mysteries.
The largest mangrove swamp in the country, which is found in U Minh Forest, is habitat to hundreds of precious fauna and flora species. It has 31 kilometers of coastline with two large river entrances, namely Khanh Hoi and Huong Mai.
U Minh is also famous for the 43-kilometer Cai Tau River, contiguous to Trem River. Cai Tau River was the site of well-known naval combats in war time. Today it is also renowned for an immense mulberry garden and two traditional crafts of knitting and mat weaving.
In 2006 Vo Doi,a forest of specific purpose, one of the sections of lower U Minh was turned into U Minh Ha National Park. Covering an area of about 8,268 hectares, U Minh Ha is home of 78 fauna species, 23 mammals, 91 birds, 36 reptiles and 11 amphibians, some of which are on the Red List (endangered) including pangolin, hairy-nosed otter and king cobra.
Currently, U Minh Ha National Park is an ideal eco-tourist destination, attracting 200 visitors a month in the rainy season. Tickets are priced at VND 8,000. In dry season, the park is closed due to danger of fire.
About 2.5 kilometers from the main road tourists can climb up to a 25-meter tower to enjoy a panoramic view of the immense cajuput forest stretching into the horizon, with channels knitting together like a chessboard.
A fishing tour, priced at VND100,000 per seven people, is recommended for fishing pleasure as well as an opportunity to experience the traditional cuisine of the southern tip region with outstanding fish dishes.
Not to be missed is the Hon Da Bac Island (the silver stone), nestled in Tran Van Thoi District, where the endless white sky blends with the reed flowers and the red color of channels.
In the past travelers had to take a boat at a price of VND10,000 per person to the island from the mainland, but nowadays there is a bridge built by Minh Nhat Company linking the mainland and the island. Visitors can stay in the Hon Da Bac Hotel for VND150,000 to VND200,000.
Hon Da Bac covers an area of 6 hectares, including a cluster of islands, namely Hon Ong Ngo, Hon Troi and Hon Da Bac. Hon Ong Ngo and Hon Da Bac are blanketed in tree shadows, mostly bodhi trees.
Hon Da Bac is a primeval flora floor. The island is formed from shiny granite rock of 180 million years old which make the shore sparkle in the sunlight. Some of them have weird shapes that people have named, San Tien (fairy yard), Gieng Tien (fairy well), Ban Chan Tien (fairy foot) and Ban Tay Da (stone hand).
The highest rock on Hon Da Bac is 50 meters. At the peak tourists can visit a temple having a 13-meter-giant whale skeleton placed on the altar for worship.
Every year the Fish Worship Festival takes over the island on the 23rd of the fifth lunar month. Strolling on Hon Da Bac, tourists can watch farmers find oysters or enjoy a view of the sunset on the sea, to get a lost to nature and discover its mysteries.
By Cuc Tan/ The Saigon Times
14 Dec 2008
CUBE Cafe - 219B Nguyen Dinh Chieu Street
Address: 219B Nguyen Dinh Chieu, District 3
Tel: 62908514
Cube in English means cube. Bar owners - want Cube cafe called through to send the message: Even though life has many aspects, but when you come to this Cube, who will feel his heart good, more gently.
CUBE Cafe is a modern design, with close to the image throughout the square block, they appear in the phase of the counter, tables and chairs, pictures to the theater, logo. Com blue sofa are statistics for the corner khuất, suitable for the group you people.
The chairs are gray with pillow point to blank tựa do very well known. White and blue, 2 gam color trends easy to make people forget about the hot sun of Saigon, which is on the wall, ánh light ne-he, which makes the consistency becomes cool usually strangers.
Although the Cube in any time, you are also serving enthusiastic. The breakfast, lunch om office, food, light with other types of drinking water, cream, cakes always looked slightly from processing to decorating. Especially, the drinks with fruit mixture pressure as Squeeze Strawberry, Berry Berry Light sour milk or dental dam is a lot of people preferred by your strange, cool and be beneficial for health.
From Monday to Friday, bar - cafe Cube is always a five-star hotels, where you can receive a set of commands and transactions. Came here on Thursday evening, you can enjoy performances by bands Philippines, but to the Fri. evening, Saturday, Sunday, you can participate in the Hat together.
In addition, Cube also with international films selected, each winning high in the film festival. The type of report is updated every day also helps you get information in a fully. Bar - cafe Cube would be a place for you to organize birthday parties, Event.
Tel: 62908514
Cube in English means cube. Bar owners - want Cube cafe called through to send the message: Even though life has many aspects, but when you come to this Cube, who will feel his heart good, more gently.
CUBE Cafe is a modern design, with close to the image throughout the square block, they appear in the phase of the counter, tables and chairs, pictures to the theater, logo. Com blue sofa are statistics for the corner khuất, suitable for the group you people.
The chairs are gray with pillow point to blank tựa do very well known. White and blue, 2 gam color trends easy to make people forget about the hot sun of Saigon, which is on the wall, ánh light ne-he, which makes the consistency becomes cool usually strangers.
Although the Cube in any time, you are also serving enthusiastic. The breakfast, lunch om office, food, light with other types of drinking water, cream, cakes always looked slightly from processing to decorating. Especially, the drinks with fruit mixture pressure as Squeeze Strawberry, Berry Berry Light sour milk or dental dam is a lot of people preferred by your strange, cool and be beneficial for health.
From Monday to Friday, bar - cafe Cube is always a five-star hotels, where you can receive a set of commands and transactions. Came here on Thursday evening, you can enjoy performances by bands Philippines, but to the Fri. evening, Saturday, Sunday, you can participate in the Hat together.
In addition, Cube also with international films selected, each winning high in the film festival. The type of report is updated every day also helps you get information in a fully. Bar - cafe Cube would be a place for you to organize birthday parties, Event.
(Click to view image full-size)
Photo by CUBE Cafe
An oasis of peace
A new arrival brings a touch of nature and a welcome respite from the hustle of Ho Chi Minh City.
Boathouse bar-restaurant offers a great time and good food that can be enjoyed against a backdrop of chirping birds and murmuring water.
Located in An Phu’s ASPC Compound in District 2, the restaurant is already a neighborhood favorite, offering a casual dining atmosphere. Despite being a members-only club, joining the Boathouse is easy.
“The only thing you need to be a member is a telephone number,” said restaurateur Ron Quinton. “The club membership system just allows us to keep track of what customers like.”
Natural light, greenery and a view of the Saigon River enhance the dining experience. And there are enough wooden chairs, sofas and cushions to ensure everyone gets a comfy place to relax and put their feet up, international style.
“Our spot is a hidden paradise to warm your heart after a day of hard work,” said café manager Brian Cotter. “You will feel like you’re a hundred miles away. We create an escape so that you think you are on holiday with fine décor and fine food.”
The focus of the elegantly-designed Boathouse is surf and turf. As well as the simple breakfasts on offer, lunch comprises a delectable selection of soups, salads and sandwiches while dinner choices include top-end beef from Australia and America and a small range of seafood and pastas. The separate focus of food for lunch and dinner means customers who drop by for lunch can come back in the evening for a different dining experience.
A drink on the beautiful spacious deck overlooking the Saigon River is a great way to spend a Sunday afternoon. The small but carefully-selected wine list features red, white, rose, champagne and sparkling wine.
The restaurant currently hosts a barbeque party every Sunday from noon till late. The party includes salad and fruit bars on small wooden boats as well as an array of fresh and healthy seafood. In the future, the Boathouse will provide a water taxi service for customers from downtown.
Boathouse bar-restaurant offers a great time and good food that can be enjoyed against a backdrop of chirping birds and murmuring water.
Located in An Phu’s ASPC Compound in District 2, the restaurant is already a neighborhood favorite, offering a casual dining atmosphere. Despite being a members-only club, joining the Boathouse is easy.
“The only thing you need to be a member is a telephone number,” said restaurateur Ron Quinton. “The club membership system just allows us to keep track of what customers like.”
Natural light, greenery and a view of the Saigon River enhance the dining experience. And there are enough wooden chairs, sofas and cushions to ensure everyone gets a comfy place to relax and put their feet up, international style.
“Our spot is a hidden paradise to warm your heart after a day of hard work,” said café manager Brian Cotter. “You will feel like you’re a hundred miles away. We create an escape so that you think you are on holiday with fine décor and fine food.”
The focus of the elegantly-designed Boathouse is surf and turf. As well as the simple breakfasts on offer, lunch comprises a delectable selection of soups, salads and sandwiches while dinner choices include top-end beef from Australia and America and a small range of seafood and pastas. The separate focus of food for lunch and dinner means customers who drop by for lunch can come back in the evening for a different dining experience.
A drink on the beautiful spacious deck overlooking the Saigon River is a great way to spend a Sunday afternoon. The small but carefully-selected wine list features red, white, rose, champagne and sparkling wine.
The restaurant currently hosts a barbeque party every Sunday from noon till late. The party includes salad and fruit bars on small wooden boats as well as an array of fresh and healthy seafood. In the future, the Boathouse will provide a water taxi service for customers from downtown.
Reported by Thuy Nhien/ Thanhnien News
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