Hoi An's traditional silk village

A silk village in Hoi An, Quang Nam Province, somewhat overlooked for a while, has seen a revival of tourism of late, attracting tourists.
Ma Chau Village in Duy Xuyen District is just one kilometre away from centre of Hoi An City.
The combination of eco-tourism and traditional handicraft product development has helped to preserve the cultural life of people in Quang Nam.
Now, the village appears much more like in the past. Old looms in wooden houses, long unused, have been activated again. Besides the sight and sound of the moving looms, village also has green mulberry gardens and silkworm baskets.
Scarves and dresses made of silk are on display throughout the village, showing off the traditional craft of the residents.
Visitors also have the chance to learn something about the fabric-weaving method of the Cham ethnic minority people as well as see special products of the area. 

By Khanh Hien | dtinews.vn |

UNESCO recognizes Xoan singing as intangible cultural heritage

UNESCO has cast ballots approving Vietnam’s Xoan folk singing as a world intangible cultural heritage that needs urgent protection.

The approval was made at 11.30am (Vietnam time) on November 24, according to the Cultural Heritage Department under the Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism.
UNESCO previously considered Vietnam’s dossier seeking its recognition of this type of singing as one of the best dossiers submitted.

Hat xoan or Xoan singing is done to worship a village’s tutelary god in the midland province of Phu Tho in northern Vietnam.
The hat xoan clubs often mark each new spring in a temple or communal house. Singing takes place at the door of the communal house.
The vice director of the Cultural Heritage Department, Nguyen Huu Toan, said that the Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism will formulate long-term, specific programs to protect and promote hat xoan heritage.

| VOV |

Quang Nam province to boost tourism industry

The central province of Quang Nam hosted a record 2.3 million tourists in the first eight months of this year, earning VND3 trillion (US$143 million).

The figure was announced on Thursday at a conference in Hoi An Town to sum up 15 years of Quang Nam tourism.

Last year, the province, home to world heritage sites Hoi An, My Son sanctuary, and Cham Island biosphere reserve, hosted 2.5 million tourists.

In 1997 the province earned only VND47 billion ($2.2 million).

"We have made efforts in building charming destinations while travel agencies have made great contributions to the province having gained record earnings from tourism," said Vice Chairman of Quang Nam People's Committee Tran Minh Ca, adding that Hoi An had launched free wireless internet for tourists in the Old Quarter.

"The province plans to be the centre of the tourism industry among the central provinces by 2020. We have made efforts to create the most favourable conditions for investors in tourism," he said, adding that the province had already attracted 110 tourism projects.

Investors had built 80 international standard hotels and resorts with a total 5,000 rooms while the provincial tourism industry had created 15,000 jobs, he said.

"We are proud that the province still preserves cultural values as well as a healthy environment and friendly hospitality," said Vice Chairman of Hoi An People's Committee Truong Van Bay.

"Hoi An has boosted sustainable development in tourism and promoted environmental protection," Bay said. "We also are looking at developing eco-tour sites in the town."

Quang Nam Provincial People's Committee has co-operated with international organisations in building Hoi An and My Son Sanctuary as safe and green destinations.

(Source: VNS)

Vietnam’s first balloon festival a big success

Vietnam’s first ever International Hot Air Balloon Festival came to an end in the central province of Binh Thuan on September 3.

During the six-day event, 17 balloons from 12 countries and territories took to the skies above Phan Thiet City.

A wide range of activities, including kite displays, tourism and trade fairs and a culinary gala, were also held as part of the festival.

Binh Thuan plans to create a new kind of attraction, which the province hopes will open up opportunities for it to develop other products. Tourism itself has helped raise the province’s profile, as well as promote its nature and people in particular and Vietnam in general, to international friends.

Ngo Minh Chinh, Director of the provincial Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, said that the central province will now hold the festival annually to become a regular feature on the tourism calendar.

(Source: VNA)

Nguom Ngao Cave – a must-see natural wonder

Nguom Ngao, an astonishing cave with numerous formations, is the most famous limestone grotto in the northern mountain province of Cao Bang due to its distinctiveness and scale.

Visiting Nguom Ngao, you are immediately captivated by its wild beauty when you view it cavernous spaces and impressive stalactites and stalagmites. The formidable echo only adds to the experience.
Nguom Ngao literally means “tiger’s cave” in the language of the local Tay ethnic minority. It is said that a long time ago, many fierce tigers sheltered in the cave and would enter the nearby village to hunt for livestock and even villagers.
The main entrance to the cave is 2km from Ban Gioc waterfall, just off the road to Cao Bang.The wonderful beauty of Nguom Ngao spreads throughout the cavern. A British study in 1995 found the grotto to be 2,144m long, reaching heights of up to 60m, with three main entrances known as Nguom Ngao, Nguom Lom and Ban Thuon.
At its main entrance you can feel the fresh, cool air from the natural filtering inside. Nature has endowed the cave with amazing rock formations that resemble humans, trees, plants and mythical animals.
The cave was formed due to the weathering process of limestone mountains by wind and water over many years. As a result, numerous sparkling multi-coloured stalactites hang from the high stone walls throughout the cave system. Along the way are stalactites of various shapes that resemble boats, cacti, forests, and terraced rice fields, reflecting the mountainous regions of Vietnam and the poles and valleys that are said to create a link between the earth and the heavens and the loving bond between men and women.
Nature has been busy with its work over the years to create attractive stone statues, such as those that resemble human forms, forest trees, animals of fairy tales, a huge lotus bulb and even a fairy combing her hair. Stalagmites appear to grow from the ground, but in fact are fed by dripping stalactites that vertical or horizontal. Many locations feature a large cluster of formations to indulge visitors. One of the most impressive stalactite clusters is one that forms an upside-down lotus chandelier, featuring fairies with flowing long hair on the corners. It is nestled a little below the oncoming path for perfect viewing.
Local people discovered Nguom Ngao in 1921, but the cave was not officially opened to tourists until 2006 when paths were built to lead visitors to many corners of the cave. The electricity system is due to be installed, but it's probably sensible to take a torch.
The main cave is enormous, with one branch reaching almost all the way to the waterfalls, where there is a 'secret' entrance. Normally a guided tour will take about an hour and will only go about 400m into the cave; but ask if you would like to see more. A full tour takes about two hours.
Here are some photos of Nguom Nao cave:

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