Viet Nam grabbed one gold and one silver in the aerobics event at the Asian Indoor Games yesterday, November 3.
The Vietnamese partnership of Vu Ba Dong and Tran Thu Ha brought home gold in the mixed doubles in Hai Phong Gymnasium with a total of 20.875 points, leading the artistic and execution categories.
They defeated South Korea's Kyung Ho-lee and Yeonsun Park and Thailand's Nattawut Pimpa and Roypim Ngampeerapong, with 20.200 points and 20.125 points, respectively.
They triumphed at the 24th Southeast Asian Games' sport aerobics in Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand, two years ago.
Dong and Ha continued to co-ordinate with Nguyen Tien Phuong in the trio group to grab silver with total of 20.889 points behind China's trio who scored 21.250 points. The bronze medal went to South Korea's trio with 20 points.
In the men's singles, China's Xiaofeng Zhou beat eight contenders to take gold, with 20.500 points.
Runner-up was Jong Kun Song of South Korea with the same number of points overall, but less artistic points. Third was Nattawut Pimpa of Thailand with 20.100 points.
Vietnamese Tien Phuong gained second place in the qualifying round, but only managed fourth in the final.
Viet Nam also took another gold medal, this time in the men's 73kg kurash event thanks to the efforts of Nguyen Tuan Hoc.
In the other 66kg final of the men's kurash, Kazakhstan took a gold medal thanks to Meirzhan Kaltayev who defeated Peng-Yao Hsu of Chinese Taipei.
Orapa Senatham of Thailand was defeated by Olessya Kutsenko of Kazakhstan in the women's 57kg final.
Vietnamese athletes continued to shine yesterday when Pham Thi Van Anh beat Kim Eonkyung of South Korea to take another gold for Viet Nam in the women's single jujitsu&beltwrestling, 62kg final.
The northern port city's fans also had the chance to see the archery qualification round at Hai Phong Gymnasium yesterday.
In the men's compound, Reza Amaninejad of Iran led with 585 points, while Vietnamese Nguyen Tien Cuong came second with 580 points, and Reza's teammate Abdollah Kiaei was third with 575 points.
In the qualification round of the women's rucurve, South Korea's Jang Mi-yu led with 587 points, while Siyi Lu of China and Mi So-shim of South Korea were runners-up with 583 points and 582 points, respectively.
Vietnamese Nguyen Thi Kieu Trang was eliminated after ranking 12th out of 28 archers.
Viet Nam men's team beat Laos 2-0 while China beat Thailand 2-1 in the semi-finals of the shuttle cock event.
In the women's section, Viet Nam-defeated Chinese Macao 2-0 in the first semi-final, while China defeated Laos 2-0 in the second.
Viet Nam now has a total of 19 golds after four competition days in the medal tally.
Located 15 minutes north of the Phu Quoc airport, the Mango Bay Resort offers a uniquely relaxing atmosphere with two deserted white sand beaches facing Vietnam’s best ocean sunsets.
The resort covers twenty hectares, including one kilometer of coastline and two beaches - “Coconut Beach” and “Casuarina Beach”- and is surrounded by protected forest. Offshore there is a reef and smooth rocks, offering great snorkeling amongst coral and fish.
There is no air-conditioning, television sets or telephones in the rooms for a true fusion with nature at the island’s first eco-friendly resort. All rooms and bungalows have open sea views and offer mosquito nets, overhead fans, al fresco bathrooms, and solar powered hot water.
Location
Mango Bay is 15-20 minutes north of Phu Quoc airport. The island of Phu Quoc is located southwest of Vietnam off the coast of Cambodia and can be reached by a quick flight from Ho Chi Minh (50 minutes - 3 flights a day) and by ferry from Rach Gia (2.5 hours - 2 boats a day).
Restaurant & bar
Mango Bay’s restaurant sits overlooking the ocean, atop smooth rocks against which the waves gently lap. The restaurant is casual, open air, and built on a large tree frame, with leaf-thatched roof, rammed earth walls and hand-finished aggregate floor. The restaurant can sit up to 40 with a 270-degree view of the sea.
Rooms
Plantation Bungalow: The newest addition to Mango Bay, these stand-alone bungalows each have a spacious room and deck, overlooking the beach and garden. All have outside bathrooms and natural wooden decks.
Rammed-earth Bungalows: These are the first Rammed earth buildings in Vietnam, an efficient environmentally friendly building technique using locally available soil to form walls with an attractive natural finish, complete with leaf thatched roofs and spacious decks. Outdoor bathrooms with solar powered hot water look straight out into jungle.
Fisherman’s bungalows: These are traditional Phu Quoc fishermen’s houses, transported and reassembled individually. With spacious rooms, they are suitable for families. All have outside bathrooms and natural wooden decks.
Verandah Rooms: The Verandah is a large wooden and shaded area, built from 60 year-old seasoned timber. The Verandah rooms are more communal in nature and look out under the shadow of coconut palms onto the sea. All have private bathrooms, one of which is outdoors.
All rooms and bungalows have open sea views and offer mosquito nets, overhead fans, al fresco bathrooms, and solar powered hot water.
For your booking, please contact:
Add: Ong lang Beach, Phu Quoc, Vietnam Tel: International +84 903 382 207 - Vietnam: 0903 382 207
Viet Nam's e-sports team will take part in the third Asian Indoor Games (AIG) with the aim of bringing home a gold medal.
Duong Vi Khoa, the team's head coach, said, "Although the team is only aiming for a gold, we've got some skilful players who have been training hard. Viet Nam's e-sport team will do its best and hopefully spur the development of the sport in the country."
Khoa, who has devoted himself to e-sports since it appeared in Viet Nam, said, "I paid attention to the e-sports event seven years ago. In 2003, Viet Nam had ADSL, and I had a strong attachment to the event. Those who had an interest, got together and we organised tournaments ourselves."
The team includes four coaches and 16 gamers convened in Ha Noi at the weekend and took part a training course to prepare for the Games organised by the Viet Nam Multimedia Corporation.
This event will take place at Ha Noi's Bach Khoa Gymnasium on November 1-4 with the participation of 200 gamers from 15 teams to compete for six sets of medals in the individual and team events.
Viet Nam's gamers will play including FIFA 09, Starcraft: Broodwar, Counter Strike, Dota All-stars.
According to e-sports experts, To Trung Hieu is expected to lead the team to a medal in this event after he showed his great talent in the World Cyber Games Asian Champions in July.
Viet Nam emerged at the World Cyber Games Asian Champions with two gold wins in Dota All-stars and FIFA 2009 after beating 13 countries from around Asia, including South Korea, China, Singapore, Malaysia, India, Australia and New Zealand.
The consultant conference and AIG 3 media check took place in Hanoi, with the presencet of Mr. Dan Hubp – Media Specialist of the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA).
At the conference, Mr. Hoang Vinh Giang, the AIG 3 Organizing Committee Deputy-General and General Secretary of Olympic Committee of Vietnam reported on the preparations and management process of the Vietnam AIG Organizing Committee (VAIGOC) to the representative of the OCA. VAIGOC has an important and influential role which links directly to the media, press, IT and protocol departments. Additionally, during the session, representatives of two Protocol and Hospitality Sub-Committees; Communication, four stations of Vietnam Television (VTV), Ho Chi Minh Television (HTV), Vietnam Sports newspapers, the Physical and Sports Culture Information Center – the General Department of Physical Culture and Sports Culture were also informed by the OCA about the volunteer training, protocols, the projects of building the International Business Communication centres (IBC – in Hanoi and HCM City), the Main Press Center (MPC) and IT solutions at the Games.
Besides the general difficulties (such as a lack of finance for projects), another obstacle which impacts on VAIGOC’s media and press projects is the lack of information about the number of athletes, 45 team delegation members, journalists and media agencies that will attend and work at AIG 3. For example, the project of the IBC has to plan for the maximum of booths for television journalists but if AIG 3 does not use all the booths, this will lead to a waste of money. The AIG 3 Communication Sub-Committee Deputy-Chief stated that, VAIGOC has experience in executing projects for the media and press at the 22nd SEA Games. However, the AIG 3 is a continental event. Therefore, VAIGOC needs a lot of help from the OCA in order to achieve the highest target. Moreover, the Communication Sub-Committee also wants help from the OCA regarding press guidelines, media reporting techniques (especially for new sports), AIG 3 information management (main system), the AIG 1 and AIG 2 information consultants, media specialists and press agencies to help VAIGOC.
At the moment, based on the information for VAIGOC, Mr., Dan Hubp said, right at this time, to increase the execution of media and press plans, VAIGOC needs to complete the detailed competition schedule. This will facilitate the international and domestic media to plan programs and cooperate with the event. Presently, with this responsibility, Mmr. Dan Hubp will help Vietnam through the OCA.
According to the schedule, after this meeting, Mr. Dan Hubp will investigate some AIG 3 competition venues.
The Ana Mandara Villas, Dalat just openned on late 2006. The villas consists of charmingly, restored, French colonial villas, which are nestled in 35 acres of parkland, in the rural highlands of Dalat. The villas retain the unique personalities of their original owners while being lovingly restored to their former glory, with all care taken to preserve original design, d�cor and charm.
Ana Mandara Villas are in well converted buildings, and have original antique items and fittings. On request, guests can enjoy breakfast served on their villa terrace. Leisure facilities available include a Six Senses Spa which offers a range of treatments. This is an ideally perfect place for spend your vacation time in Dalat, Vietnam.
The 57 room resort, restaurant and spa set in the rural highlands of Dalat, Vietnam comprises seventeen fully restored French colonial villas each originally constructed between the 1920's and 1930's. The villas retain the unique personalities of their original owners while being lovingly restored to their former glory, with all care taken to preserve original design, d�cor and charm.
Set in the Central Vietnam highland city of Dalat, the region was popularised by French occupation at the turn of the 20th century. Alexandre Yersin, a contemporary of the famed Louis Pasteur discovered and pioneered the location that is now known as Dalat in approximately 1897. With the cool European climate (the area sits at an altitude of 1500 metres above sea level) and the rolling mountainous, pine treed terrain, Dalat became the summer hill-station retreat for royalty and high society.
Sited on approximately 35 acres of suburban parkland that forms its own unique compound, the area Evason Ana Mandara Villas Dalat occupies was originally known as the 'Bellevue Quarter', a nod to the rich French influence. Striking views of the surrounding town, countryside and flourishing vegetable fields abound from all areas of the gently sloping hillside property.
Of the seventeen villas on site, fifteen have been converted into fully serviced hotel accommodations with the remaining two villas being converted into our Restaurant and Six Senses Spa, respectively.
Dive in central Vietnam with Furama Resort Danang - Dive Center offers a new and exciting destination for divers in Asia. With its crystal clear waters, coral formations and white sandy beaches, this region of Vietnam has just being discovered by dive enthusiasts from around the world.
All photos were taken at on Tra Peninsula (Monkey Mountain) where crystal blue waters reveal magnificent corals and an amazing variety of sub-tropical sea-life.
Blue Ocean Resort under management by Life Resorts Management Company boasts of avant-garde designs, vibrant play of colors and offers modern features, facilities and amenities.
Located in Mui Ne, a destination that promotes fun and activities for the whole family, the Blue Ocean Resort is a perfect get-away for couples and families with a wide variety of day time and night time activities that the whole family can engage in.
Known for its beautiful beaches, Mui Ne is also the country’s capital for kite-surfing and kite-boarding. These are but some of the many water sports to choose from.
Phan Thiet is a tourist site indispensable for travelers who desire to get a true relaxing Vietnamese experience. It is fairly close to Ho Chi Minh City (approximately 200kms) where the temperature remains enjoyable all year. It is well-know as a stunning coastline stretching for more than 20 kilometers beneath thousands of great coconut palms.
Modeled in the style of an authentic fishing village, Ocean Star Resort resides within three hectares of swaying palms and tropical flora, framed to the East by the pristine sand and crystal waters of Mui Ne beach.
Ocean Star Resort gives you a variety of seven different types of accommodation. Therefore, it will be adapted to the customers’ purposes of stay.
With a well-trained professional team used to experience at highly standardized international hotel, Ocean Star Resort, a four star lodging property has come out in gestation of doing something to modify the perfection of the hospitality service and the pleasure of experience in Phan Thiet , which only a come face to face with reality speaks up the meaning . A new concept, a new look, a new though, a new experience : being all of what the management and the staff ring a bell to the customers.
Ocean Star resort aim to create a real sensation of relaxation where time and stress should be forgotten during your stay. All you may experience here will go beyond your expectations, from the breath-taking white sand beach to the smiley faces from our friendly staff.
Our goal is to bring the professional attention to the detail of all requirements to ensure that all stay with us become a memory of satisfaction.
Pho Hoi Riverside Resort in Hoi An offers world class accommodation near the center of the city. As soon as you step inside the Pho Hoi Riverside Resort in Hoi An, you would remain spell bound with the mesmerizing interior. The hotel offers the latest of amenities and services. With excellence in every aspect - from rooms to hotel amenities, the hotel makes an earnest effort to give the guests more than their money's worth. Let's glance through the various features of this hotel:
Location of Pho Hoi Riverside Resort in Hoi An
The location of the hotel is excellent, being situated a few minutes' driving distance from the center of the city. The Location of at Pho Hoi Riverside Resort in Hoi An is 800 meters from the city center.
The place where the hotel is situated has good connectivity with the rest of the city. There are quite a few tourist attractions close to the hotel.
Room facilities at Pho Hoi Riverside Resort in Hoi An
Bask in ultimate luxury in the cozy rooms of Pho Hoi Riverside Resort in Hoi An. The rooms of this hotel are spacious and are elegantly furnished. Every one of them is designed exquisitely and is adorned by impressive decor. Each of the rooms is appointed with meticulous care to ensure that you have the most comfortable stay.
Also, every one of the rooms dons bright wall paints that exude a lot of warmth and cheer. Room facilities at Pho Hoi Riverside Resort in Hoi An feature a wide range of modern and beautiful lightings.
Hotel Amenities and Services at Pho Hoi Riverside Resort in Hoi An
The mind blowing span of hotel amenities and services at Pho Hoi Riverside Resort in Hoi An encompasses every aspect of comfort and pleasure. The hotel gives equal attention in the matters of fitness and recreation. There are several sports activities offered. Some of them are Billiards, Boating, Fishing, Badminton and many more.
The hotel houses a great restaurant. Authentic cuisines are brought to table by the chefs. There are 200 seats in this restaurant. The awesome ambience of this beautiful restaurant is really enchanting.
The hotel also offers upscale business facility. So, come to Pho Hoi Riverside Resort in Hoi An and you would be treated to a fine time indeed.
Vietnam is widely known as a country with a hidden tropical charm. With the beautiful S-shaped strip of land closely surrounding the mysterious Indochina, Vietnam can easily fascinate visitors. Coming to Vietnam, visitors will have a chance to not only enjoy numberless beauty spots that the nature has generously endowed this country with but also find out about about plenty of traditional and modern Vietnamese cultural backgrounds. And, one of the most outstanding features of Vietnamese tourism is Nha Trang (Khanh Hoa).
Coming to Vinpearl, you will feel as if you were lost in a wonderland. With the typical tropical climate, Nha Trang is brilliant with blue sea, white sand, beautiful sunlight. The beautiful and poetic sea tourism city is named “Brilliant flower basket on the bank of the East Sea, “Sunny deck”. It is not accidental that 100 years ago, the talented scientist Alexandere Yersin left splendid Paris for Nha Trang, where he stayed and worked until his death. Nha Trang Bay is ranked as one of the most 29 beautiful bays in the world. As flowing across here, some sea currents suddenly blend with each other to create “a common home” for all beings to reside and grow. Nha Trang Bay is not only rich in natural resources, beauty spots but also closely linked to sea culture and unique cultural-tourist attractions… And the story of Nha Trang is now continued with the fame of Vinpearl Land, Vinpearl Resort & Spa, a sparkling pearl glued on the crown of the Sea Queen.
Vinpearl Land has become a great pride of the locals as well as of Vietnamese people in general. It’s hard for tourists to imagine how much energy and money has been spent on creating such a wonderful island as this.
After just 5 – 7 minutes traveling by motor-boat or 13 minutes enjoying Nha Trang’s panorama from Vinpearl Cable-car system, the longest sea-crossing cableway in the world, visitors then set their foot on Vinpearl Land – The Vietnamese Pearl. Located in the North of Hon Tre Island, leaning on Dam Mong Mountain and towards Nha Trang Bay, Vinpearl Land is an international-class 5-star entertainment-tourism complex with all modern comforts; however, it is still an attractive and wild Pearl Island located in the middle of one of the most beautiful bays in the world. Vinpearl Land blends a modern style with the enriched national character. The modern Western style is mainly used in the interior composition, service, operation…, meanwhile the traditional Eastern style here is found in curved roofs up to the sky, the tiles or the thatched huts in the peaceful home-village space of Vietnam; it is an open space for natural environment to pour in every moment. Just open the window to welcome the wind and lean on the balcony to enjoy the sunrise, you will feel the serenity all around and find the peace in your mind.
Visitors in Vinpearl Land will enjoy their stay in a 5-star hotel resort and spa. With 485 marvellously designed rooms, including 17 luxurious rooms and 2 Presidential Suites, the resort can satisfy the most fastidious visitors by bringing them comfort, privacy, convenience, and perfect service. Vinpearl Resort and Spa also has the most beautiful 700m long natural beach in Nha Trang and modern outdoor swimming pools covering an area of 5,700m2 (the largest one in the Southeast Asia) beautified with lots of coconut trees, green grass, nice plants and trees…… Besides, there are beauty and health care services in Viet Spa and other relaxing activities, tours in combination with sports for all ages. A diversified system of restaurants will meet all your eating and drinking demands from typical Vietnamese flavor to other Asian and European one… You will also freely do shopping in Shopping Mall, play games in the Amusement Park, the Water Park, and enjoy wonderful musical fountain shows at the Amphitheatre or discover the beauty of the ocean in the splendid Vinpearl Underwater World. To meet the MICE tourist demands as well as to organize big events, Vinpearl Land also has an adequate system of meeting rooms, an Event Hall with 1500-seats and a 5000-seat lean-to outdoor stage. .
A great number of cultural-entertainment events has been held here in Vinpearl Land, especially major Vietnam and World beauty contests such as Miss Vietnam, Miss World Vietnamese, Miss Earth, and Miss Universe… Therefore, apart from the lovely name “Vietnamese Pearl,” this place is also named “Beauty Island,” “Paradise Island”…
Your 5-star Gateway to “World Heritage Road” in central Vietnam and four UNESCO-listed World Heritage sites
The luxurious Furama Resort Danang is a true icon of Vietnam tourism. This 5-star haven on world-famous China 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 daily domestic flights to Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh city, Buon Me Thuot, Pleiku, Nha Trang and Quy Nhon. There are international direct flights from Bangkok and Singapore with plans for future flights from Macau, Tokyo and Korea. Furama Resort Da Nang is just 15 minutes drive from Da Nang International Airport.
Furama Danang Resort & Spa has become the first five-star beach resort in Vietnam to provide in-room high speed internet access since August 25, 2006. The installment was just before the 3rd APEC Senior Official Meeting (APEC SOM 3) organized in Danang and Furama was selected as the host for the meeting. Before that, Furama Danang provide free wireless internet to its all public areas including lounges, restaurants, bars, ballrooms and meeting rooms.
Furama Resort & Spa 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 Jiang Zemin – People's Republic of China's former Secretary General, Thailand's former Prime Minister Thaksin, Queen Sophia of Spain, Prince Henrik of Denmark, 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.
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Awards & Accolades
Awards received in 2009
- Top Ten five-star Hotels Vietnam 2008 Award presented by Vietnam Tourism Association (VITA) for the 7th consecutive year. - Golden Dragon Award 2008 from Vietnam Economic Times and Ministry of Planning and Investment for the resort’s excellent business performance and outstanding social contribution. - Top Trade Services Award from Vietnam’s Ministry of Trade and Industry which recognized the resort’s invaluable contribution to the country’s tourism industry. - The Guide Award 2008 - 2009 by Vietnam Economic Times and its tourism and hospitality magazine The Guide that noted the excellent performance of Furama Resort Danang with the appended remarks: "Efficient and reasonably priced resort at one of Vietnam’s best beaches, gold standard"
Awards received in 2008
- Third place of Top 10 Dream Hotels from the WorldHotels portfolio. - The Guide Awards 2008 by Vietnam Economic Times’ The Guide Magazine. - Vietnam’s Leading Resort by World Travel Awards, the most prestigious awards in the international travel industry. - One of the top 10 beach resorts in Southeast Asia by Singapore-based online hotel booking site Agoda Company. - One of the 20 most outstanding architectural works in Vietnam during the country’s “doi moi” process selected by the Vietnam Architecture Association on April 26. - Perfect Quality - Services Award from the City’s Youth Newspaper on Jan 15 for the resort’s invaluable contribution to the country’s tourism industry. - Top Trade Services Award from the Ministry of Trade and Industry on Jan 6 for its high growth speed, excellent business performance, and competitive ability and affirm its strong trademark in the market. - Best Conference Hotels in Asia, 2007 by readers of online travel magazine SmartTravel Asia.com.
Awards received in 2007
- Top Ten Hotels in Vietnam 2006 Award on July 9, 2007 from the Vietnam Tourism Association (VITA). - This is the sixth year in succession Furama Resort Danang has received a Top Ten Hotels Award in Vietnam. - The Guide Awards 2007 on June 15, 2007 by The Vietnam Economic Times’ The Guide Magazine noting the excellent performances of the Furama Resort Danang. - "Vietnam the Best" award on May 26, 2007 by the e-newspaper Vietnamnet, in cooperation with the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI) for outstanding brand name in tourism industry in Vietnam. - Century International Quality Era Award on April 23, 2007 in the Gold category by the Spain-based Business Initiative Directions (B.I.D) for Excellence and Business Prestige. - Winner of the Trophy for the year 2007 on January 2007 by the Selection Committee for the 32nd International Award for Tourist, Hotel and Catering Industry, an award created by Spain-based Editorial Office’s Publishing House in collaboration with the Trade Leaders’ Club to honour the most outstanding establishments in the tourist, hotel, restaurant and catering fields. - "Seven Stars and Stripes® Award" on January 31, 2007 by Seven Stars and Stripes Inc., based in New York, USA. The exclusive award recognizes the Furama Resort Danang as having best services in Vietnam.
Awards received in 2006
- The Furama Resort Danang is honorably awarded “The resort that has the best marketing and sales team” at the APEC Tourism Fair which is organized by APEC member economies to remark the APEC Tourism Ministerial Meeting in Hoi An, Quang Nam province on Oct 16-18. - Top Trade Services Award by the readers of Vietnam Trade Newspapers, February 2006. Awards received in 2005
- "Da Nang Beach is one of the six most luxurious beaches in the World"-voted by Forbes Magazine, October 2005. - "Best Resort Vietnam", voted sixth-year in a row by readers of Vietnam Economic Times and The Guide magazine. - Best Service Resort by the readers of the Trade newspapers Vietnam.
Awards received in 2004
- "Best Resort", voted fifth-year in a row by readers of Vietnam Economic Times and The Guide magazine. - WorldHotels Members Choice Award, the Furama Resort was voted amongst 500 leading hotels and resorts for its identification with WorldHotels, and the quality of product, service and cooperation towards other member hotels in 2004. - Gold Award for Best International Incentive by ITMA (International Travel & Meeting Association) – United Kingdom. - Voted one of the Asian region's top resorts by the online hotel reservations web site: www.asiahotels.com. - Named Vietnam's top resort in the prestigious "Top Ten" hotels awards by the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism for the fourth consecutive year. Awards received in 2003
- Named one of the region's top resorts by the online hotel reservations web site: www.asiahotels.com. - Selected as Vietnam's top resort in the prestigious "Top Ten" hotels awards by the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism, fourth year running. - Awarded "Best Resort Trophy" 2003 by The Guide Magazine, voted by readers of Vietnam Economic Times and the Guide Magazine, fourth year running. - Certificate of Merit for outstanding contributions to the tourism development of Da Nang by Paul Stoll from the People's Committee of Da Nang, Major Nguyen Ba Thanh in January 2003. - Certificate of Merit for outstanding contributions to the tourism development of Da Nang by the Furama Resort from the Peoples Committee of Da Nang, Mayor Nguyen Ba Thanh in January 2003. - One of Asia's Best Hotels and Resorts in the first edition book of Asia Hotels and Euro Hotels (300 Hotels & Resorts were selected of 3800 hotels & resorts in Asia) January 2003. Awards received in 2002
- One of the 25 Best Spas in the world by “The Mail on Sunday” Magazine, U.K, issue 29 December 2002. - Gold Star award for quality tourism by the business initiative directions, Spain, 20 December 2002. - Certificate of Thanks for outstanding contributions of the Furama Resort for water safety and commitment to the aims and objectives of the Royal Life Savings. Society by the RLSS Commonwealth President, in August 2002. - Customer Hotel Award 2002 by Asia-Hotels.Com - Top Ten Hotel 2001 (positioned 1st place among foreign invested and managed hotels), by the VNAT - Mr. Fix-it, Paul Stoll, GM - FR, by the Hotel Asia Pacific Magazine. - Best Resort, by the Vietnam Economic Times & The Guide Magazine. - Certificate of Appreciation, the Department of Navy, Army, Airforce of USA. - PADI Resort (No.R-6604), by the PADI International Resort Association. - Certificate of Merit, by the People's Committee of Da Nang. - Certificate of Merit, by the Trade Company Union. - Certificate of Merit, by the Trade Union. - Certificate of Merit, by the People's Committee of Da Nang. - Trophy 2002, by the Trade Leaders Club of Spain.
Awards received in 2001
- Ten Best Dream Hotels in Asia, by the Esquire Magazine HK, May 2001. - PATA Member, by the VNAT, since 1 March 2001. - National Tourism Star Medal, Paul Stoll, GM - Furama Resort, by VNAT (23 July 2001). - Certificate of Merit, by the Vietnam Insurance Company. - Top Ten Hotel 2000 (positioned 1st place among foreign invested and managed hotels), by the VNAT. - International Quality Century Award, by the Business Initiative Directions of Spain. - Trophy 2001, by the Trade Leaders Club of Spain. - Certificate of Merit, Paul Stoll, GM - FR, by the People's Committee of Da Nang. - Certificate of Merit, by the Social Insurance Company. - Certificate of Merit, by the Medical Insurance Company. - Certificate of Appreciation, by the Quang Nam Tourism Authorities.
Awards received in 2000
- 5 Star Recognition, by the VNAT (1 February 2000). - Trophy 2000, by the Trade Leaders Club of Spain. - Top Ten Hotel 1999, by the VNAT (First award ceremony). - Asian Best Resort Hotel, by the Epicurean Revue, USA. - Certificate of Merit, by VNAT. - Certificate of Merit, by the Da Nang Trade Union. - Certificate of Merit, by the People's Committee of Da Nang.
The name "Palm Garden Resort " was derived from its location, which ideally situates on 5-hectare of unspoiled tropical garden, features more than 400 palm trees and complexes of bungalows and suites that intermingle among a grass-covered landscape.
The Resort is located on Cua Dai Beach , Hoi An Town, and Quang Nam Province. The traveling time to the resort is 25 minutes by car from Da Nang International Airport and another 5 minutes to Hoi An Ancient Town .
The Resort is landscaped with several unique species of palm and coconut trees, as well as furnished it with selective Vietnamese products of silk, wood, and natural ceramics.
The planning of the Resort with all of its individual bungalows and guest facilities reflects a lifestyle that is calm and soothing. This wonderful ambience of the design and the resort's high standards of service add to a wonderful holiday experience.
The Sofitel Metropole Hanoi is currently undergoing construction work between 8:00 and 19:00 but will remain open to guests.
This is simply the place to stay in Hanoi. The hotel itself dates back to 1901, to the French colonial days, and it shows in every detail. In most East Asian capitals, the premier hotel is an ultra-modern Peninsula or Mandarin Oriental, or something like Singapore's Fullerton, a 21st-century hotel in an historic shell.
The Metropole is a bit more of a time machine, with its French Colonial exterior, and its period interiors — though the Opera Wing is brand-new, and up-to-date in the more typical international style. The luxury here is not a function of the number of switches and buttons on the bedside control panel; this is an old-school five-star hotel, with a discreet atmosphere and service fit for executives and statesmen alike. The sheen of novelty may be missing from the Metropole, but the experience is no less rich and comfortable.
There are two very fine restaurants, quite natural for an ex-colony — Spices Garden serves upscale traditional Vietnamese cuisine, and Le Beaulieu (the haunt of diplomats and journalists for a hundred years) is well-known for fine French cuisine and an extensive selection of wines. There are three bars, a swimming pool, extensive conference facilities, and a well-equipped health club — in short, everything one expects from a capital city's top hotel.
What one does not necessarily expect is to be so thoroughly steeped in history, or so aware of the lingering presence of French culture. This sense of not-so-distant past is what gives the Metropole its unique personality, and sets it apart from the shiny new mega-hotels of the East. On the whole, an utterly fascinating experience — we challenge you to stay here without remembering The Quiet American.
Sofitel Metropole Hanoi 15 Ngo Quyen Street Hanoi, Vietnam
363 Rooms Style: Traditional Elegance Atmosphere: Lively
Located at Lam Son Square in the centre of Ho Chi Minh City, the 9-storey Park Hyatt Saigon hotel is within walking distance of main tourist attractions, restaurants and parks. A 5 star luxury hotel in the true sense of the word, Park Hyatt Saigon is host to world-class restaurants and the exclusive Xuan Spa. Honored by Travel + Leisure as Best Business Hotel in Ho Chi Minh City, hotel Park Hyatt Saigon is within easy reach of the exhibition centre and central business district. Ho Chi Minh International Airport Tan Son Nhat is only 7 km away.
Centrally located in Hanoi’s elegant French Quarter, the Hilton Hanoi Opera hotel is a short walk from the famous Old Quarter and the city’s bustling business district. Voted ‘Vietnam’s Leading Hotel’ for the last five years by the prestigious World Travel Awards, the Hilton Hanoi Opera is a landmark in the city.
Relax in the comfort of a traditionally furnished Vietnamese room with high-speed internet access, cable TV and separate work areas. Guests staying in Executive Rooms also enjoy complimentary breakfast and refreshments in the Executive Lounge.
Swim laps in the outdoor pool with Opera House views, work out in the fitness center or unwind in the jacuzzi and saunas. Dine on contemporary Vietnamese cuisine in Ba Mien restaurant or enjoy a cocktail and listen to the live jazz in the Lobby Lounge. There are seven spacious meeting rooms at the Hilton Hanoi Opera hotel including a ballroom and business center.
“Com hen Song Huong” is a dish served at room temperature, made with mussels and leftover rice. It is a complicated recipe that includes sweet, buttery, salty, sour, bitter and spicy flavors.
Com hen Song Huong (or Com hen in short) is the very simple and low-priced specialty of Hue, the ancient citadel of Vietnam. Accordingly, the way of serving this special kind of food is of great ancience, simplicity and deliciousness.
Com hen has a sweet-smelling flavor of rice, onion, and grease, as well as strange tastes of sweet, buttery, salty, sour, bitter, and peppery-hot. You have to arrive to Hen river-islet in the Perfume River to have the original Com hen. However, you can find out the dish on some streets in Hue City. It requires 15 different raw materials to prepare for the dish, including mussel, fried grease, watery grease, peanuts, white sesames, dry pancake, salted shredded meat, chilly sauce, banana flower, banana trunk, sour carambola, spice vegetables, peppermint, salad, etc.
Com hen is always attractive to many customers since it is tasty and, at the same time, economical to anybody.
What makes this simple kind of food popular is revealed in the great endeavor to adopt and process its main ingredient – mussel. Mussels are sea species, which must be dipped in water for a long while before being processed. Accordingly, people often say that com hen somehow expresses the strenuous work of the maker.
Where to find it? Very easy as it is popular everywhere in Hue and these days, elsewhere in Hue restaurants in Vietnam. More favorably, it is a low-priced specialy, thus you could eat it in luxurious restaurants in Hue or even in vendoring mobile shops on the streets.
“Visiting Hue could not miss Com hen, or else you have not come to Hue ever!” is the most common remark of visitors elsewhere to Hue. So, please come and enjoy it yourself!
Hue beef noodle takes its origin from the Royal Hue City of Central Vietnam. The broth is from cooking beef bones for a long period of time as well as a variety of different spices including lemongrass.
How does it taste? Well, having a bowl of Hue beef noodle, you will easily recognize that it is completely different from Pho since the former’s beef broth is much more spicy.
How to make it? Learning how to make a clear broth from bone and meat is quite a difficult task. After being selected from the market, the fresh beef will be shredded, boiled and taken out of the water to obtain a delicious clear broth. A typical version of Hue beef noodle must include pork, roast beef, pig’s blood, Vietnamese salami, Hue’s style salami, shrimp sauce and chopped lettuce.
The interesting thing is that, the amount of salt put in the beef noodle recipe varies between seasons. For example, during summer, Hue beef noodle soup is served with soy bean, mint and different kinds of lettuce while in the winter, the recipe is saltier added with lemongrass and fish.
The best Hue beef noodle comes from the street vendors who work from dawn to early morning. In Hue, when night lights are on, you can enjoy a good bowl of this noodle soup at restaurants in front of No. 84 Mai Thuc Loan Street. This hot dish represents just a few of the treasures of Hue's traditional cuisine. Clam-rice and the flour pies like beo (streamed flour cupcakes), nam (wrapped shrimp pies) and loc (tapioca and shrimp pies), for examples, are part of the ancient capital's culinary heritage.
Where to have Hue’s beef noodle in Ha Noi?
You are in Hanoi, and wondering if such a Hue’s specialty appears in Hanoi or not. Don’t worry, Hue beef noodle come up quite often in many streets of Hanoi from morning till night. It’s better to ask your hotel to recommend a place nearby or you can refer to the following reliable addresses:
No. 4 Ly Thuong Kiet Street, Hanoi No.467 Đoi Can Street, Hanoi No.7 Thai Phien Street, Hanoi No.22 Phan Boi Chau Street, Hanoi No.175 Lang Ha Street, Hanoi No.G23 Huynh Thuc Khang Street, Hanoi
Sun Spa Resort is set amidst a spacious 29 hectares of landscape garden along pristine white sand Bao Ninh Beach and on the banks of the legendary of Nhat Le river. Located in the picturesque Central Vietnam city of Dong Hoi, 30 kilometers from the mystical, UNESCO recognized caves of Phong Nha and 150 kilometers north of the Imperial city of Hue. Sun Spa Resort offers luxurious accommodation, excellent facilities and perfect gateway to discover the World Heritage.
Mui Ne is a coastal resort town in the Binh Thuan Province of southeastern Vietnam, located on an arm of the South China Sea. The town is close to the city of Phan Thiết. Tourism has transformed Mui Ne into a resort destination since 1995, when many visited to view the total solar eclipse of October 24, 1995.
Mui Ne Beach is a popular tropical beach. Strong sea breezes make it very popular for kitesurfing and windsurfing. The tourist season is from December to May. The average temperature is 27°C, and the climate is hot and dry for most of the year.
Travel to Mui Ne, every day in the morning and late afternoon, children and adults alike gather at the yellow sand dunes in Mui Ne in Phan Thiet to fly their colorful kites for fun at dawn or sunset while viewing the far away ocean and the shining sand.
They usually run up and down the sand dunes for several seconds to give their kites a good start before flying high in the sky. On windy days, there's no need to run, just stand still on top of the dunes as strong winds blow the kites as high as people can see.
Flying high in the sky are many kites in the shapes of bats, butterflies, dragons and other figures in black, red, yellow, orange and the combination of different colors.
As usual, people fly kites of different colors and big sizes so that they can see them in the very far distance, especially when the sun has gone down the western horizon.
Travel to Mui Ne, you can bring your own kites to the sand dunes for them to blow in the wind or you can buy the kite of your choice from an old man who does not want to tell visitors his true name but asks them to call him "the man who sells kites."
The man sells his kites for VND25,000 (US$1.50) to VND70,000 (US$4.30), and of course offers discounts to good bargainers. The most expensive kite is the bat-shaped one in black that the man says is an imported product and made of durable fabric so it can withstand very strong winds. However, this black kite does not look distinctive from other flying kites, particularly when the darkness pervades the sky.
It is easy to find the man. Just go up to the sand dunes from the trunk road from the heart of Phan Thiet City to Mui Ne, and the kite seller often stands or sits near several trees that grow well on the dry sand dunes.
To satisfy your passion for flying a kite above sand dunes and stunning ocean views, you will pass through a group of children who closely follow and ask you to rent their plastic boards to ski from the top of the sand dunes to the bottom.
If this is not your cup of tea, keep going up the dunes to buy the kite you like and the children will disperse when they know your real interest.
Remember that bigger kites fly higher, as the kite seller says. One thing you should bear in mind is a kite that is made of durable fabric will not be torn by strong winds.
Travel to Mui Ne Vietnam, you can see kite flying is a common hobby of many Vietnamese children, particularly those in the countryside. On windy and beautiful afternoons, children go to the fields near their homes to fly kites that they have usually make themselves for fun or to mingle with the dreams of flying in reality.
Phu Quoc (known as Koh Tral by Cambodians) is the largest island of Vietnam. Situated in the Gulf of Thailand, the island is part of Kiên Giang province. The district of Phu Quoc includes the island proper and 21 smaller islets. The district seat, Dong Duong, which is located on the west coast, is also the largest town on this island, whose total area is 574 km²...
Next to Saigon's Cathedral sits the Central Post Office. Even if you do not need to send anything, do get in, and admire its huge hall.
By the way, if you are visiting Vietnam, I have to tell you that communications have improved a lot recently.
Internet is very pervasive. You will find internet access everywhere in Vietnam. Even in the remotest and smallest towns, I found internet access. Internet connections was, most of the times, very fast. In some cases I had to avoid "rush hours", that is, afternoons; when kids leave school and go to the internet cafes in mass. Most of the cafes have web cams and microphones, a much cheaper alternative than telephones.
If you are staying in Vietnam for a long time, you can bring your mobile phone and buy a local prepaid card.
The Ao Dai is the most recognizable traditional dress seen in Vietnam, and though western style clothes are popular, this beautifully styled outfit is still actively worn throughout the country during Tet, at work, to weddings, and other national celebrations.
The word Ao Dai means ‘Long Dress,’ and is a two piece garment. The bottom part consists of loose pants that reach the ankles. The top is a tight fitting tunic with long sleeves and a high collar with two panels that float loosely down the front and back.
The Ao Dai is famously known to ‘cover everything, but hide nothing,’ and it perfectly accentuates the long, lithe body possessed by Vietnamese women. When choosing to wear the Ao Dai it pays to have a similarly shaped figure.
Historically the Ao Dai is believed to come from China, when the newly crowned king Nguyen Phuc Khoat decreed in 1744 that the Ming Chinese style of dress would be adopted by all his subjects. Since then, both men and women have worn different variations of the Ao Dai. It has never been an official ceremonial dress, and has always been used an everyday outfit.
In Viet Nam, the ao dai is the traditional dress for women. Developed from Chinese court clothing in the 1930s, this style of clothing went out of fashion in the north in 1954 and in the south in 1975. Recently, however, it has made a comeback and is regaining popularity in the south among schoolgirls and office workers, and is being worn at formal functions. An indication of social standing, the ao dai is worn by women who work as shop assistants or who have a higher social status, while manual workers typically wear a loose top and baggy pants called an ao ba ba.
The ao dai is considered to be an elegant, yet demure, garment. Traditionally, long, wide- legged trousers are worn under a high-necked, long-sleeved, fitted tunic with slits along each side. The outfit’s pants reach to the soles of the feet, often trailing along the ground. Over time, the dress tunic has evolved, keeping with fashion trends, and has grown shorter and shorter until it now falls just below the knees. The ao dai can also be identified by its mandarin-style or boat-neck collar. Young girls wear only pastel colored or white garments while married women wear either dark or bright tunics over black or white trousers.
Historically, Vietnamese men dressed in mandarin style suits. With a tunic shorter and fuller than the ao dai, the suit’s color was traditionally determined by the man’s class and social rank. For example, a purple suit denoted a high rank while blue denoted a low rank. Status was also indicated through a variety of embroidered symbols. Today the mandarin suit is rarely worn except for in traditional dance or music performances.
In general, Vietnamese people dress conservatively. Although some young women wear more close-fitting, Western-style clothing, it is considered inappropriate to wear revealing clothes during the day. One Westerner teaching English in Viet Nam was advised to tuck her shirt into her trousers if she expected respect from her students. It is considered inappropriate for educated people to wear their shirts untucked.
Ao Dai history
Ao Dai History A lasting impression for any visitor to Vietnam is the beauty of the women dressed in their ao dais. Girls dressed in white pick their way through muddy streets going home from school or sail by in a graceful chatter on their bikes. Secretaries in delicate pastels greet you at an office door and older ladies in deep shades of purple, green or blue cut a striking pose eating dinner at a restaurant. The ao dai appears to flatter every figure. Its body-hugging top flows over wide trousers that brush the floor. Splits in the gown extend well above waist height and make it comfortable and easy to move in. Although virtually the whole body is swathed in soft flowing fabric, these splits give the odd glimpse of a bare midriff, making the outfit very sensual. Rapidly becoming the national costume for ladies, its development is actually very short compared to the country's history. Pronounced 'ao yai' in the south, but 'ao zai' in the north, the color is indicative of the wearer's age and status. Young girls wear pure white, fully lined outfits symbolizing their purity. As they grow older but are still unmarried they move into soft pastel shades. Only married women wear gowns in strong, rich colors, usually over white or black pants. The ao dai has always been more prevalent in the south than the north, but austerity drives after 1975 meant it was rarely anywhere seen for a number of years as it was considered an excess not appropriate for hard work. The nineties have seen a resurgence in the ao dai's popularity. "It has become standard attire for many office workers and hotel staff as well as now being the preferred dress for more formal occasions," says Huong, a secretary for a foreign company. "I feel proud of my heritage when I wear it." For visitors, the pink and blue of the Vietnam Airlines uniform creates a lasting memory as they travel. Early versions of the ao dai date back to 1744 when Lord Vu Vuong of the Nguyen Dynasty decreed both men and women should wear an ensemble of trousers and a gown that buttoned down the front. It was not until 1930 that the ao dai as we know it really appeared. Vietnamese fashion designer and writer Cat Tuong, or as the French knew him, Monsieur Le Mur, lengthened the top so it reached the floor, fitted the bodice to the curves of the body and moved the buttons from the front to an opening along the shoulder and side seam. Men wore it less, generally only on ceremonial occasions such as at weddings or funerals. But it took another twenty years before the next major design change was incorporated and the modern ao dai emerged. During the 1950s two tailors in Saigon, Tran Kim of Thiet Lap Tailors and Dung of Dung Tailors, started producing the gowns with raglan sleeves. This creates a diagonal seam running from the collar to the underarm and today, this style is still preferred. Its popularity is also spreading well beyond Vietnam's borders. For years Vietnamese immigrants preferred to adopt Western dress and blend with their new community but now the ao dai is seeing a revival amongst overseas Vietnamese. At least here in the United States this may be partly due to the arrival of Tram Kim, known as Mr. Ao Dai. He shifted to California in 1982 and opened a new branch of Thiet Lap Tailors in Garden Grove, Orange County, leaving his Saigon store to his son. There are even annual Miss Ao Dai pageants held and the prestigious Long Beach show attracts entrants from across the country. The clothing has also inspired French designers including top names such as Christian Lacroix and Claude Montana, and variations of the tight sleeves, fitted bodice, high collar and flowing trousers have been seen on the catwalks of Europe. Every ao dai is custom made, accounting for the fit that creates such a flattering look. Stores specialize in their production and a team of cutters, sewers and fitters ensure that the final product will highlight the figure of the wearer. Thuy, a fitter in Ho Chi Minh City, says, "To create the perfect fit, customers take their undergarments and shoes with them for the fittings." The pants should reach the soles of the feet and flow along the floor. Comfort has not been forgotten at the expense of fashion and beauty. The cut allows the wearer freedom of movement and despite covering the whole body, it is cool to wear. Synthetic fabrics are preferred as they do not crush and are quick drying, making the ao dai a practical uniform for daily wear. Its popularity may be its undoing as the garment is now being mass produced to make it more available and cheaper. The gown length appears to be gradually shortening and today is usually just below the knee. Variations in the neck, between boat and mandarin style, are common and even adventurous alterations such as a low scooped neckline, puffed sleeves or off the shoulder designs are appearing as ladies experiment with fashion. Colors are no longer as rigidly controlled and access to new fabrics has created some dazzling results. But most visitors to Vietnam agree that the tailors already have the perfect cut. It is hard to think of a more elegant, demure and yet sexy outfit, that suits Vietnamese women of all ages, than the ao dai.
AO DAI The National Costume - source: http://www.acjc.edu.sg
The words luxury, opulence, grandeur and elegance define the best Intercontinental Hanoi Westlake Hotel. As a new venture of Intercontinental group, the hotel offers a serene and sumptuous lifestyle to its guests. The prime location, attentive hospitality, exclusive facilities and seamless services of Intercontinental Hanoi Westlake hotel truly make everyone a privileged visitor.
Rooms at Intercontinental Hanoi Westlake Hotel With contemporary Vietnamese design, vibrant color and modern conveniences, 359 guestrooms have been adorned here. Each room is adjoined with a large private balcony from where boarders can explore the breathtaking view of the city, pool or the lake. The Hotel Intercontinental Hanoi Westlake provides a myriad range of rooms including Deluxe Room, Atelier Rooms, Club Intercontinental, Lotus Suite, Westlake Suite, and the Presidential Suite. Needless to say, all the rooms are furnished meticulously with satellite TV, in-room safe, private bar and many more. Truly, the rooms at Intercontinental Hanoi Westlake Hotel are the address of a luxurious lifestyle.
Facilities and Services at Intercontinental Hanoi Westlake Hotel
With unmatched facilities and services, Intercontinental Hanoi Westlake Hotel serves its guests impressively. The personal services of the hotel include the services like concierge, valet car parking, currency exchange, cash machine, just to name a few, while the business services of the hotel comprise of a business center available round the clock, photo copy facility, courier service, broadband connectivity, limousine service, secretarial service, interpretation service and many more. With a large swimming pool, children's pool, a health club providing cardio equipment, sauna, stream room, aerobic and yoga classes, the hotel has taken care of the recreational part as well.
On the other hand, the restaurants and bars of the hotel can please individuals' palate. The wining and dining experience at Milan Saigon, Café du Lac, The Sunset Bar, and The Diplomat Lounge is an epicurean delight indeed.
Location of Intercontinental Hanoi Westlake Hotel
Intercontinental Hanoi Westlake Hotel is located at the center of Hanoi. From Noi Bai International Airport, it takes hardly 40 minutes by car to reach the hotel. By boarding at the hotel, travelers can easily explore various tourist destinations of the city.
Washed ashore above the Mekong Delta, some 40km north of the South China Sea, HO CHI MINH CITY is a city on the march, a boomtown where the rule of the dollar is absolute. Fuelled by the sweeping economic changes wrought by doi moi, this effervescent city, perched on the west bank of the Saigon River, now boasts fine restaurants, immaculate hotels, and glitzy bars among its colonial villas, venerable pagodas and austere, Soviet-style housing-blocks. Sadly, Ho Chi Minh City is also full to bursting with people for whom progress hasn't yet translated into food, lodgings and employment, so begging, stealing and prostitution are all facts of life here. Petty crime has increased dramatically in the last few years, particularly bag snatching, and care should be taken at all times with personal belongings whilst walking the streets, or travelling on cyclos and motorbikes – especially after dark and around tourist nightspots.
Ho Chi Minh City started life as a fishing village known as Prei Nokor and, during the Angkor period (until the fifteenth century), it flourished as an entrepôt for Cambodian boats pushing down the Mekong River. By the seventeenth century it boasted a Khmer garrison and a community of Malay, Indian and Chinese traders. During the eighteenth century, Hué's Nguyen dynasty ousted the Khmers, renamed Prei Nokor Saigon, and established a temporary capital here between 1772 and 1802, after which the Emperor Gia Long used it as his regional administrative centre. The French seized Saigon in 1861, and a year later the Treaty of Saigon declared the city the capital of French Cochinchina. They set about a huge public works programme, building roads and draining marshlands, but ruled harshly. After a thirty-year war against the French, Saigon was finally designated the capital of the Republic of South Vietnam by President Diem in 1955, soon becoming both the nerve-centre of the American war effort, and its R&R capital, with a slough of sleazy bars catering to GIs on leave of duty. The American troops withdrew in 1973, and two years later the Ho Chi Minh Campaign rolled through the gates of the presidential palace and the communists were in control. Within a year, Saigon had been renamed Ho Chi Minh City.
The HCM City-based Tre (Youth) publishing house has published a special guidebook featuring 100 top tourist sites in cities and provinces across Viet Nam.
The guidebook, Kham Pha 100 Diem Den Thu Vi (Discovering 100 Interesting Tourist Sites), features attractions such as city cafes, traditional handicraft villages, scenic landscapes and places of historic interest.
The 131-page book includes colour photos and text by cultural experts who offer detailed information on history, culture and lifestyle as well as geographic and climate conditions of each tourist site.
The book, published in Vietnamese, is the result of a national competition in April organised by Nokia Viet Nam and its partner, Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper.
The event encourages young people to tour the country to learn more about its history and beauty.
The aim was to list the 100 most favourite tourist sites selected from submissions from more than 2,000 individuals and groups, who sent photos and texts their trips through the website www.tuoitre.com.vn/khampha100diemden.
The top 100 sites were selected and voted on by the website’s users and judges who are professional cultural researchers and travellers.
"We hope our book will be entertaining for local and foreign readers, particularly those working in history, culture and tourism, and will offer them new and useful knowledge," Nguyen Ha Duc Minh, marketing manager of Nokia Viet Nam, said.
More than 2,000 copies of the book will be delivered to local and foreign tourist agencies and companies in major cities including Ha Noi, HCM City and Da Nang.
Quality guidebooks
The guidebook, professionally designed with striking photos and concisely written text, is a departure of sorts from most locally published guides.
In recent years several billion dong have been spent on national tourism campaigns covering local media, advertising and marketing activities abroad.
Tourist authorities, however, are still not paying adequate attention to producing their own guidebooks, a commodity in high demand among visitors keen to explore the country, industry experts have said.
Foreign guidebooks, written by foreign writers and editors, dominate the market.
Tourism officials said that while the number of local and foreign tourists was rising, few publishing companies and tourist services have printed quality guidebooks.
Many locally produced guidebooks translated in foreign languages suffer from poor writing or uninteresting information and lose out to higher quality productions published abroad.
"Both local and foreign visitors prefer guidebooks detailing specific events related to Viet Nam’s culture, lifestyle and history and the books published by some local printing producers are not to their taste," said Van Thien Dung, a freelance tourist guide in HCM City.
"Many foreigners have heard about our city through relatives or friends. But they complain that they have found it hard to find comprehensive information about local tourist attractions.
Chinese tourist Ming Wenjy, in HCM City for a two-week visit, complained that local guidebooks could not compete with overseas publications.
"Your tourist companies are very professional and provide quality services, but they cannot give their customers a simple thing, a good guidebook," said Wenjy, who used a Lonely Planet guidebook while in Viet Nam.
To improve the number and quality of guidebooks, experts have said that tourism authorities and publishing houses must cooperate more closely to produce books featuring Viet Nam’s historic events, national heroes, festivals, landscapes and people’s traditional culture and lifestyle.
Viet Nam attracted nearly four million foreign visitors last year.
The ancient town of Hoi An would lose its attractiveness and mystery if it didn’t have decorative multi-coloured lanterns.
While trading with Vietnam during the 16th-17th centuries, many merchants from China and Japan contributed to the distinguished culture of Hoi An commercial harbour.
The lantern is the result of exchanges among Vietnamese, Japanese and Chinese cultures famous for their various and specific identities. Originating from a popular appliance from life, the lantern has been lifted to an art of decoration. It now has a firm position in Hoi An inhabitants’ minds and lives. With skillful hands and bountiful imaginations, the lantern is made for different purposes. It is not only for living, but also an artistic work with pictures on silk. Having lost its initial shape, Hoi An lanterns nowadays can be seen in all different shapes and sizes.
Though made of diversified materials, lanterns with bamboo frames and silk covers are the most typical. You can choose lanterns with wooden frames, sometimes made from very precious wood, and on each side of the lantern is a painting depicting a legend. Once lighted, lanterns will illuminate with marvelous, mysterious and ethereal light as if the past of hundreds of years prior has returned to the present day.
Besides ancient houses of over 100 years old, lanterns are the most special things in Hoi An. Lanterns are seen everywhere in the ancient town, not only in lantern shops. At night, when all shops are closed, lanterns are lighted up. Tourists can see Hoi An people making lanterns on the pavement.
For many years, traditional coloured lanterns have enchanted visitors of Hoi An, particularly foreign visitors. Every year, tens of thousands of Hoi An lanterns are exported or bought by foreign visitors as souvenirs and gifts. As a cultural and tourist product, the lanterns have helped raise the incomes of Hoi An's residents.
Lanterns are not only a special handicraft item of Hoi An but also a unique characteristic of this ancient town, which can’t be found anywhere else in Vietnam.
Randy Lynch, founder and seasoned traveller of U.S. based luxury travel firm Kipling & Clark has compiled a list of his favourite hotels in the Asian region which has now been released by the guide.
The list features the top ten luxury hotels in all of Asia where wary travellers can rest their bodies after a hard day of sightseeing or shopping. We have listed them in order of rank below:
1. Tawaraya Ryokan and Hiiragiya Ryokan (tie) - Kyoto, Japan
These two hotels belong to the most famous Japanese ryokans (inns) in the historical city of Kyoto, and are located directly across the alley from each other. Since both of these represent the highest levels of service, it would be difficult to distinguish them from one another.
Both Tawaraya Ryokan and Hiiragaiya Ryokan successfully integrate the fine Japanese traditions and wabi-sabi philosophy we hear so much about in the Western world. Known to emphasize simplicity and purity, the added contemporary conveniences offered make for the perfect combination seasoned travelers expect. Both of these Ryokans also offer an optional Geiko or Maiko geisha dinner.
2. Four Seasons, Chiang Mai Thailand
While this hotel is somewhat smaller in scale than the much more expansive Mandarin Oriental Dhara Dhevi in Chiang Mai, the Four Seasons lures travellers with its understated sense of luxury. It encompasses an intimate air that has been compared to a Zen-like feel. To make you feel right at home, the Four Seasons staff are truly sincere and kind. Whatever your wishes, nothing seems too much or too hard. The added Four Season’s Kid’s Club offers families a luxury travel experience rarely found elsewhere. Hotel guests can also choose to partake in the heavenly Spa or cooking classes. http://www.fourseasons.com/chiangmai/
3. Mandarin Oriental Hong Kong and Mandarin Oriental Bangkok (tie)
The Mandarin hotel in Hong Kong represents understated luxury. Travellers find this peaceful within a noisy, bustling city. Recent renovations has seen the Mandarin’s former balconies being converted to lounge/study area extensions, offering stunning Victoria Harbour views to boost.
The hotel also boasts a 130-year old history of tradition and has long held its own as a hotel with the highest level of service. It’s breakfast buffet is legendary and many say it might be the largest, varied breakfast buffet in all of Asia.
4. Gora Kadan Ryokan - Hakone, Japan
The Gora Kadan hotel is situated a 45-minute bullet train ride from Tokyo. It is a quiet, Shinto-Buddhist like oasis. The hotel offers its guests rejuvenating hot mineral springs. The Gora Kadan is the perfect blend of traditional Japanese ryokan hospitality with modern Western design. The hotel’s original building dates back some 300 years and used to be the summer home of the Kan’in-No-Miya imperial family.
5. Raffles Grand Hotel D’Angkor and Amansara - Siem Reap, Cambodia (tie)
Usually described as a luxury five-star hotel/resort, the Raffles Grand Hotel D’Angkorwhile Amansara, part of the Aman Resorts, fits into a higher - elite - category.
The majestic hotel sports an early 20th Century French colonial style while the Amansara is the former guesthouse of Cambodia’s King Sihanouk. The Raffles offers guests many opportunities to mingle with others and is open and airy, while the Amansara is an altogether more private hotel, ideal for those wishing for a bit of privacy after their travels.
6. Peninsula Hotel - Tokyo, Japan
The Peninsula hotel has the best luxury hotel location in Tokyo. It is situated directly across from the lovely Hibiya Park, on the Imperial grounds. Nearby is the popular Ginza shopping district, offering travellers every conceivable wares. The 24-storey hotel was designed by architect Kuzukiyo Sato to look like a giant Japanese lantern. The Peninsula is a successful fusion of traditional Japanese hospitality with understated luxury.
7. Four Seasons - Shanghai, China
The Four Seasons offers a calm interior against the bustle of the outside world, with a high level of service. You can be assured of resting in comfort while your needs are being taken care off. Executive travellers accompanied with their kids can enjoy the range of suites with extra room for kids.
8. Banyan Tree Lijiang — Yunnan, China and Hotel of Modern Art - Guilin, China (tie)
Situated outside the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Lijiang is the Banyan Tree Lijiang hotel. All 55 of its villas overlook the Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, allowing guests to enjoy a spiritual soul-searching atmosphere. The hotel’s Spa offers massages from its Thai staff.
Founded by a Taiwanese business entrepreneur in 1997, the Hotel of Modern Art was and represents a lovely balance of world class sculpture, architecture, and art. It is set against the backdrop of lush grounds. The hotel offers a relaxed, warm ambiance, making you feel right at home.
9. Sofitel Metropole - Hanoi, Vietnam
The Metropole was built in 1901 and combines wonderful French colonial architecture with Vietnam’s cultural traditions. While all rooms are not created equal, the best of them all is the Opera Suite for sure.
10. Maison Souvannaphoum Hotel — Luang Prabang, Laos
Maison Souvannaphoum used to once be the residence of Prince Souvannaphouma. The small hotel is a boutique French-colonial inspired property that is the perfect place to immerse oneself in the local Laotian culture. A friendly, intimate service offers guests a chance to rest their bones with the knowledge they are being taken care off just like with close relatives. Visitors might be delighted to be located on the street for the daily early morning Buddhist monks’ rice offerings.
