The “odd” coffee shop in Da Nang (photo)

VietNamNet Bridge – A coffee shop which is built on 5,000sq.m, with ancient style, has become a tourist site in the central city of Da Nang.

The coffee shop is built on 5,000 hectares of land, in L-shape.

Entering the coffee shop, visitors will see a pair of rock-made dragons.

Next to the dragons are a lion-shaped rock and bonsais.

On the left are eight pictures on the wall, featuring the four seasons of the
year and the four trees - yellow apricot, orchid, daisy and ivory bamboo.

On the left is the zone for visitors, where they can sip coffee and enjoy the landscape.
Amid is a 2m stature of Maitreya, made of yew.

Another 3m Maitreya statue.

The stairs are carved by stone-carving artisans from Non Nuoc village.

The coffee shop’s highlight is a cycad of 596 years old, which was brought
from southern Vietnam in 2010.

In the front is an ancient house.

The house is decorated in ancient style, with sacred parallel sentences.

There are many antiques in the house.

The owner says that total investment in this coffee shop is up to VND470 billion (over $23 million).
Beltel and areca trees.

Water jars, fishing-tackles and carambola trees.

On the evening, music shows are held at three stages. Loudspeakers
are hidden inside small houses.

Royal architecture.

Ancient fan.

Outdoor tables.

Many visitors take photo inside the coffee shop.

An adventure to Red Isle

Red Isle may be a far cry from Saigon lying in the north of the central Ninh Thuan Province but the pristine beach with its millions of years old coral is worth the 350 kilometer journey. 

 However, the road or rail trip is just half the battle because once you arrive in the nearest area to the Red Isle at Ninh Hai Commune, tourists have to then pass through a shrimp damp, climb on a rocky cliff and then walk along a beautiful beach for more than 2 kilometers.

You can also settle at a camp there to enjoy the beautiful beach that views the black, ancient isle that lies within touching distance. The only way to get to the isle is to walk on foot but never mind because the stunning scenery on the way won’t disappoint the weary visitors. You just have to be careful to avoid the sharp stones made from dead coral and thorn bushes along the way.

Another choice for tourists is to camp on the rocky beach made from millions of pieces of coral stones. It will be a little uncomfortable to walk barefoot on the beach but tourists will soon forget the uneasy feelings as they enjoy the clean, blue water of the beach. Scuba diving equipment is recommended for those who want to see the living coral in the sea base that lies just a few hundred meters from the beach. 

 Because the location is in a deserted area, disturbances from pedlars are extremely limited.

From the sea, tourists can also enjoy the beautiful landscape made from hundreds of yellow and black stones in various shapes. A local guide is recommended for your trip.

(Source: SGT)

TP1202 Sihanoukville beach: Beach resort & jungle course 8 days

Tour route : Phnom Penh - Tatai - Sihanoukville - Ream National Park - Bamboo Island - Phnom Penh

Brief description : After your arrival at the airport, you will transfer to your eco-elegant and eco-intelligent boutique hotel for check-in. Depending on your arrival time, you will have free time before evening. You can relax, go for a swim, have a beauty and health treatment at the spa, or get out and explore the excitement of Phnom Penh. Unfortunately there are not many “Green” activities or places in Phnom Penh, but you can visit landmarks such as the National Museum, the Royal Palace, the Silver Pagoda and also designer shops and art galleries....

Phu Tho prepares for Hung Kings’ Temple Festival

The northern midland province of Phu Tho is working with five other provinces and cities to prepare a range of activities to commemorate the death anniversary of the Hung Kings and celebrate the Hung Kings Temple Festival. 

According to Ha Ke San, Vice Chairman of the Phu Tho provincial People’s Committee, the five-day festival, which starts from March 27 (the fifth day of the third lunar month), will be combined with tourism programmes promoting the homeland of the nation’s legendary founders – the Hung Kings, in Phu Tho.

Apart from traditional worshipping rituals dedicated to the nation’s legendary father and mother, Lac Long Quan and Au Co, as well as the Hung Kings, the festival will honour Xoan singing, the ceremonial singing originating in Phu Tho which has been recently recognised by the UNESCO as a world intangible cultural heritage in need of urgent protection.

There will also be a photo exhibition on places of worship dedicated to the Hung Kings and relics related to the Hung Kings period nationwide.

The festival aims to educate people about patriotism and continue completing the dossier on worship rituals dedicated to the Hung Kings to seek recognition as part of the World Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

(Source: VNA)

“Heritage Tourism” helps to highlight Vietnamese traditional culture

“Heritage Tourism” has been selected as the official theme of the National Tourism Year of the North- Central-Hue 2012 in Hue.

The National Tourism Year 2012 and Festival Hue will bring a colorful cultural event to domestic and international tourists. However, how to promote Viet Nam’s heritage values to the world?

Shining with heritage tourism
Viet Nam is known with a lot of national level heritage, world heritage, historic relics, and traditional festivals…With high efforts to preserve and develop natural and cultural values, Viet Nam’s heritage has become a unique tourism product attracting visitors.

In the frame of National Tourism Year 2012, there are more than 30 grand festival, art and cultural activities around the country. Many famous national and international travel companies will offer tours linking Viet Nam’s ancient capitals, cultural heritage sites of the Central region with other destinations. In addition, to prepare for the National Tourism year 2012, many monuments, heritage areas, and tourist attractions have been preserved and restored to serve tourists such as Hue ancient capital, Hoi An ancient town...

Developing historical - cultural tourist products will bring a breakthrough to Viet Nam tourism industry. But, its success depends on attractive tourist environment and products that can bring benefits to local people who get involved in tourist services, traditional crafts…

Honoring intangible cultural heritage
Besides tangible heritage, architectural works, arts and museums, international tourists tend to pay more attention now to intangible cultural heritage.

Nowadays, many Viet Nam’s intangible cultural heritage forms have been introduced around the world throughout traditional art-performances such as: Vietnamese Water Puppet, Hue Royal Court Music, Central Highland Gong Festival, Ca Tru and the Quan Ho Bac Ninh folk songs…Therefore, visiting Viet Nam’s historic relics, landscapes as well as discovering intangible cultural heritage will help tourists learn more about Vietnamese people and traditional values. And Viet Nam could be selected as the destination for repeater tourists in the future.

According to Department of Cultural Heritage (the MoCST), Viet Nam has over 40 thousands historical - cultural relics and attractions and some one thousand intangible heritage forms. So, linking tourism and heritage not only brings economic value but also contributes to promotion of the value of Viet Nam heritage.

(Source: By Thanh Pham (TITC))

UNESCO week highlights culture’s role in development

The United Nations Education, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO), in cooperation with the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, launched a “Culture and development” week from Mar. 5-9 in the capital city of Hanoi.

This is the first time the event has been held in Vietnam to review UNESCO-funded projects on culture and development and set orientations to enhance culture’s role in sustainable development.

A wide range of activities will be held during the week, including policy dialogues and seminars on culture and tourism in relation with social development in Vietnam.

On the framework of the event, audiences in Hanoi will have chances to enjoy free film screenings, introducing documentaries made by young Vietnamese filmmakers. The documentaries, produced during training courses funded by UNESCO, examine different cultural aspects from a community perspective. They address various issues and challenges the Vietnamese society faces, including ethnic minorities’ integration in Hanoi, and the life of residents under Long Bien Bridge in Hanoi.

(Source: VNA)

Preservation of Thang Long – Hanoi royal citadel continues

On February 28th, in Hanoi, the Steering Committee of the Japanese Fund-in-trust held a meeting to review the project for the preservation of Thang Long – Hanoi cultural relics. 

Katherine Muler Martin, UNESCO chief representative in Vietnam; Vice-chairwoman of Hanoi City People’s Committee Nguyen Thi Bich Ngoc; and historical and cultural researchers attended the meeting.

Over two years, the project helped collect materials and documents to improve research about Thang Long royal citadel relics, and improve the capacity of people who directly carry out relic preservation activities.

Based on research results, the Centre for the Preservation of Thang Long – Hanoi Cultural Heritage coordinated with relevant agencies to make plans for managing the Thang Long – Hanoi royal citadel, a world cultural heritage.

In 2012 and 2013, the centre will cooperate with related agencies to build a data base and infrastructure for the geography information system mapping to preserve excavated objects and remains at the spot and outdoor pilot preservation.

(Source: CPV)

26 countries to participate in Hue Festival 2012

To date 36 art troupes from 26 countries and territories have registered to participate in Hue Festival 2012, according to organisers.

Europe and America will send 14 troupes, Asia 11, and the rest will come from other continents, said representatives of the Hue Festival Centre.

France remains the traditional and special partner at this year’s festival, which will send Smooth band (hiphop , funk and jazz), Carabosse troupe from Poitou Charentes region, street band Jazz Combo Box, and artist Francois Audrain to the event.

Two Russian art troupes will take part in the festival, the Piatnisky Song and Dance Ensemble, specialising in Russian folk music, and the Raduga dancing group.

The UK, Belgium, Argentina, Cuba, Mexico, Australia, Poland, Japan and the Republic of Korea are expected to give impressive performances at the festival, said organisers.

More than 300 media workers have registered to cover the event. There will be 17 official information sponsors, including Vietnam Television (VTV), Voice of Vietnam (VOV), and Vietnam News Agency (VNA).

This year’s festival will take place from April 7-15 to mark the National Tourism Year in the North-Central Midland region.

(Source: VOV)