Con Son - Kiep Bac festival begins in Hai Duong

The Con Son - Kiep Bac Autumn Festival commenced in the northern province of Hai Duong on September 29 in memory of General Tran Hung Dao, one of the most revered figures in Viet Nam’s history.

Speaking at a ceremony to mark the 715th death anniversary of Tran Hung Dao (or Tran Quoc Tuan), Chairman of the provincial People’s Committee Nguyen Manh Hien recalled the General’s life and career.

Under the Tran Dynasty (1225 – 1400), the Supreme Commander led the Dai Viet (Great Viet Nam) army to victories over three major Mongolian invasions, making him one of the most accomplished military strategists in world history. He passed away on August 20 (lunar calendar) in 1300 at the age of 70.

To commemorate the hero, local residents built Kiep Bac Temple, which was recognised as a national heritage site in 1962 and a special national heritage site in 2012.

Following the ceremony, a military parade was held on boats on Luc Dau River, re-enacting the Tran Dynasty army during the second struggle against Mongolian invaders.

The festival, which will run through October 2, will feature a range of traditional rituals and cultural activities such as incense-offering ceremonies, a water puppetry festival and a boat race.

Located in Chi Linh Town, Con Son – Kiep Bac relic was the site of many important battles between the Tran Dynasty army and the Yuan-Mongolian invaders.

It was also closely associated with the lives and careers of Tran Quoc Tuan and the Great Man of Culture of the World Nguyen Trai (1380-1442), one of Viet Nam's most famous poets and writers.

The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism accredited Con Son-Kiep Bac spring and autumn festivals as national intangible cultural heritage in 2013.

Source: VNA

Best for the Mid-autumn Festival

As always there’s a wide choice of moon cakes available in Hanoi for the upcoming Mid-Autumn Festival.

Gentle breezes blow, yellow leaves fall from the trees and dance to the music of the cool wind. Autumn is coming to town and one of the most popular events for both adults and children during the season is Tet trung thu, or the Mid-Autumn Festival.

A colourful time, the festival comes but once a year, every year, year after year, and this year falls on Sunday 27 September.

At midnight the moon is at its fullest, showering its bright light on to the earth, with streets turned into playgrounds lit by red lights beaming out from lanterns of all shapes and sizes. Masks, drums, paper flutes and toys are stacked everywhere and children and adults alike jostle each other as they shop.

In its partial phases, the moon represents the incompleteness of life and potential for completeness, fullness and prosperity. The festival is therefore a celebration and a prayer for the fullness and completeness of life.

Together with fairytales, plentiful fruit and cheerful dragon dances, moon cakes are a feature of the festival. Some cakes are round and white, called Banh deo (white soft variety), while others are square and golden brown, called Banh nuong (oven baked cake).

There is also another type, in the shape of a carp; a fish that traditionally represents the soul of the moon.

Moon cakes are unleavened and were originally filled with lotus seeds, orange peel, ground beans, egg and flavourful pork fat.

The modern varieties made by chefs at big hotels are usually filled with a range of sweet fillings, from durian, taro, coconut, sour sop, and green tea to chocolate and caramel.

These connoisseur couplings are packed in eye-catching boxes and sometimes accompanied by premium tea or spirits and sell at unbelievable prices.

Buying expensive moon cake as gifts has become the fashion among Vietnam’s wealthy.

Moon cake shoppers eagerly hop, skip and jump Olympian-style from one bakery to another seeking the best in town.

Market leaders include Nhu Lan, Kinh Do, Brodard and Givral in Ho Chi Minh City and Thu Huong, Hanoi Hotel, Bao Phuong, Ninh Huong, Fortuna Hanoi Hotel and Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi Hotel, while recently the JW Marriott, Daewoo and Sofitel Plaza have also joined in.

Following its tradition of offering Chinese-style moon cakes made by the Chef at the May Man Chinese restaurant, Fortuna Hanoi Hotel this year has four authentic flavours – lotus, green tea, taro and red bean.

All-time favourites include Lotus seed paste with a single yolk, four happiness-assorted moon cakes and seven enchanting stars. Making their debut this Mid-autumn Festival are Green bean with a single yolk and Pandean with a single yolk, rounding out the luscious collection.

Along with classic favourites, the exclusive VIP editions, Prosperous with Red Chilean wine, and the Imperial collection, with Johnnie Walker gold bottle limited edition, are delightful treats for those who prefer a taste of luxury. These Mid-Autumn treasures are priced from VND600,000 and available until 27 September at the hotel.

The Hanoi Daewoo Hotel has introduced four different types of moon cakes this year, ranging from Lotus seed and young sticky rice to Fresh taro and chestnut in Basic, Deluxe, Premium and Luxury packages priced from VND660,000 to VND13,600,000 (for a luxurious box of six moon cakes and 18 year-old Macallan wine) based on the type of package.

The Crystal Jade Palace restaurant at the JW Marriott Hotel Hanoi is celebrating its first Mid-Autumn Festival in Vietnam by offering exquisite, signature moon cakes.

Customers can enjoy six different types, from the mellow touch of green bean paste and the buttery taste of red or white lotus paste with double egg yolk to the richness of almonds and melon kernel seeds in the mixed nuts and ham.

Prices start from VND585,000 per box of four (180 grams each) or VND648,000 per box of eight (60 grams each), with various discounts on large quantities.

Amid the fierce competition, moon cakes baked with traditional Vietnamese flavours still outsell their more modern counterparts.

Around a month before festival Hanoians begin flocking to several moon cake shops selling those with traditional flavours. For people who want to buy luxurious yet elegant Vietnamese traditional moon cakes as special gifts, the

Mid-Autumn treasures should be the first choice. They’re a very special ‘traditional mix’, filled with sausage, ham, and marinated pork fat combined with a variety of fruit candy and nuts, each a convergence of heaven and earth and wrapped in grapefruit flower scented dough.

In addition to the Metropole’s traditional varieties such as Traditional Mix and Lotus with Young Rice, there are now five new flavours – Red bean and mango, Caramel with dry fig and candied orange, Black sesame and coconut, Chocolate and cookie crumble, and Green bean and dried apricot, presented in red lacquered wooden boxes.

Those for children include Banh deo (white soft variety) in the shape of a sophisticated moon or a carp shape at VND950,000. Its very special moon cakes weigh 250 grams each and are accompanied by a bottle of wine in a luxurious lacquer box, at VND3,680,000.

All of these moon cakes are preservative-free and hand-baked by Executive Sous Chef Nguyen Thanh Van and her team from authentic recipes and infused with the Metropole’s gourmet touch.

Source: talkvietnam

Hoi An listed among top romantic destinations

Hoi An in the central province of Quang Nam has been ranked fourth among the top 10 most romantic destinations in the world by the US news station CNN thanks to its ancient beauty and delicious food. 

Recognised as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1999, Hoi An is famous for its old quarter with traditional architecture dating back to between the 17th and 19th century.

Its buildings and religious architectural works tell the story of the formation and development of the city.

Additionally, visitors to the city can visit coastal eco-resorts and Cu Lao Cham, which was recognised by UNESCO as world natural biosphere reserve in 2003.

Hoi An is widely known as the culinary capital of Vietnam with numerous cheap and tasty foods including Cao lau (rice noodles mixed with stock as well as slices of barbecue pork, pork crackling, bean sprouts, lettuce and herbs), Quang noodles and chicken and rice.

For a couple on a tight budget, Hoi An is an ideal place in the world to explore.

Other top romantic destinations on the list include Udaipur, India; Waiheke Island, New Zealand; Cafayate, Argentina; Quirimbas Islands, Mozambique; Middleburg, USA: Mostar, Bosnia;

Herzegovina Peter Island, the British Virgin Islands; Vernazza, Italy and Galle, Sri Lanka.

Source: Nhan dan

Traditional culture values are the future of Vietnam tourism

Recently, US online newspaper Huffington Post has posted the article with the title “The future of Viet Nam travel is anchored by deep traditions” written by Tamar Lowell, CEO of Access Trips tour operator in Washington State (USA). 

Tamar Lowell said that Viet Nam is a name that stirs the senses and emotions. It conjures visions of proud farmers in conical straw hats tending their rice paddies. It conjures smells of lemongrass, ginger and mint, savory spices used in Vietnamese cooking. It conjures the romance of a bygone colonial era, and the hope of a resilient people who look to a modern future, even as they retain the exotic culture and deep traditions of their ancient past.

Tamar Lowell’s article was begun like that. Tamar traveled to Viet Nam and her greatest feelings are exciting, even mesmerized by Viet Nam.

From an early age, Tamar read everything she could on Viet Nam, watched every movies, and even participated in a course in college on French and American Indochina wars. So when the USA and Viet Nam normalized the diplomatic relation in 1994, Tamar immediately planned a trip before her graduation. In July 1994, she was among the first Americans to visit Viet Nam after the war.

Tamar vividly remembers the day she arrived in Sai Gon, the overwhelming wave of excitement. The city looked exactly as she pictured it. The Vietnamese (particularly the Southerners) are very outgoing, although they knew that she’s an American. She can't profess to understand how or why the Vietnamese people were able to move on, despite having lost. In all her time in Viet Nam, she has never, not once after that first day, been uncomfortable about being an American.

“I have always been treated graciously, kindly, and warmly. I was scheduled to stay for two weeks, but the following day I extended my stay to a month. It was not always an easy trip, but it was incredible, and life-changing in so many ways. I was about to start my first job in the travel industry, and I vowed I would one day come back to Viet Nam to work.”

Over the past two decades, Tamar always watched Viet Nam embrace rapid change while still retaining its distinct character, longstanding traditions, and the warmth and openness of its people.

Since that first trip, 20 years passed and now she is a director of a tour operator, which has just launched a culinary tour to Viet Nam. Her tour highlights the experience of culture, cuisine from the North to the South, creates opportunities for visitors to visit UNESCO world heritage sites (Complex of Hue Monuments, Hoi An Ancient Town…) and connect with villagers, urban hipsters, street food, vendors, artists, allowing them to experience the evolution of complex and rich Vietnamese culture.

“The first time I was there, Viet Nam was very much a communist country in name and in practice, and the service levels, or lack thereof, reflected it. I clearly remember thinking that this country had so much to offer visitors, but they needed to get their act together and understand what Westerners expected service-wise, or people would not come. Well, they did just that. Tourism to Viet Nam has grown almost six-fold over the past twenty years, and the service we experience now in hotels, in restaurants, and in stores, is excellent. Unlike other developing countries, you are not bombarded by hawkers on the street - approached, yes, but respectfully. In taxis, if you tell them you want to use the meter, they turn on the meter, no hassle. I'm so inspired by both the individuals I've met in Viet Nam, and by the resilience and spirit of the society as a whole.” Tamar said.

At the end of the article, Tamar Lowell stressed, “The country is moving forward, but the charm remains: in the beautiful old buildings; the hanging silk lanterns; the women who still wear traditional cone hats, not because they're iconic, but because they are functional; and in the kindness and warmth of the locals. It is truly amazing how Viet Nam tourism has evolved in the last twenty years, without losing its soul or its character.”

Thu Giang - vietnamtourism.org.vn

7 things often to do in Hanoi

The majority of Hanoians have done a few things below at least once or even never arrived tourism places where tourists frequent visit
Here's what tourists arriving in Hanoi do in their plan
 

1.    Enjoy Hanoi street food tour

In Hanoi, the best and fastest way for you to discover the cuisine and culture of the city is to enjoy Hanoi street food tour. Especially, the kind of these tours honour to be listed top 10 culinary tours in the world according to LonelyPlanet travel magazine. You’ll have a chance to discover unique architectures or historical stories at the tourist attractions around Hanoi. A truly unique way to discover Hanoi and the Old Quarter.

2.    Visit the museums

Hanoi has 16 museums which spread throughout the districts in the city and mainly open scheduled hour every day. To get entrance, visitors must purchase tickets under regulations of each museum. These visits are mainly tourists from other countries

3.    Visit Van Mieu - Quoc Tu Giam ( the temple of Literature) on weekdays
 

The temple of Literature has always been one of the highlight tourist attractions in Hanoi city tour. The temple of Literature is listed one of 23 special national heritages. Especially, Hanoi people are proud of Van Mieu - Quoc Tu Giam as a symbol of the city. However, they do not always visit this site. At the time, local people often flock to Van Mieu - Quoc Tu Giam is the first day in the year or graduating a university. This temple is destinaiton

4.     Visit the Hoa Lo Prison

Most of Hoa Lo prison visitorsis the foreign tourists.
Hoa Lo Prison was built in 1896 and used to be a detention of many political prisoners during French colony. After 1954, Hoa Lo managed by Vietnam has also held the American pilot parachutes including Mr Senator John McCain.
Today, Hoa Lo is a place to visit for tourists. Opening hours to visit Hoa Lo is from 8am to 17 pm Most tourists is foreigners.

5.    Water puppet show
 

In Hanoi, the most popular water puppet show is Thang Longtheater, No. 57B Dinh Tien Hoang Street. With many interest performances in a day from 13:45 to 21:15, this is often  a destination for many tourists. About Hanoi people, almost anyone comes here at least once in their lifetime but nowadays, they sometimes return only for reasons such as introducing culture or take the children to enjoy. Fares in theaters now in the range of 60,000 to 100,000 VND.

6.    Cyclo riding

This vehicle used to be popular in the last century, now cyclo is only traditional culture of Hanoi and mainly serves international visitors.On the streets of the capital, the cyclo also does not appear much but you will easily see them at the Old Quarter because this transport is used for tourism service.You can experience and discover Hanoi with a trip around the old quarter to catch the landmarks or daily life of local people. With the hustle and modern, Hanoi people mainly use motorcycles and cars to commute every day.

7.    Shoppinglacquer paintings or leaf hats

Walking in the Old Quarter, you can easily catch the image about lacquer shops with unique and sophisticating products. Most buyers are foreign tourists who mainly buy as souvenirs or gifts bearing Vietnamese culture. With leaf hats as well, now mostly international tourists buy and use them in theirVietnam exploration.

Hoi An Ancient Town to offer free addmission during Lunar New Year holiday

Visitors will be offered free admission to Hoi An Ancient Town in Quang Nam Province and some other related tourism destinations from February 18 to 21, on the occasion of the upcoming Lunar New Year (Tet). 

The tourism destinations include the Chua Cau (Bridge Pagoda); Cam Pho Temple; Tuy Tien Duong Minh Huong (Minh Huong Communal House); Quan Cong Temple; Old House of Quan Thang, Duc An, Phung Hung, Tan Ky; some club houses and museums, along with the XQ embroidery workshop and tombs of Japanese businessmen Gusokukun, Tani Yajirobei and Banjaro.

Additionally, aiming to create favourable conditions for locals in preparation for the Tet holiday, the ‘Walking Street’ program will stop temporarily from February 8 to 21.

Hoi An Ancient Town was recognised as a World Cultural Heritage by UNESCO on December 4, 1999, and presented four awards in heritage management, protection and promotion.

In 2013, Hoi An was ranked first in the world’s top 10 favourite cities by Wanderlust, a leading British tourism magazine. It beat Cusco in Peru, Kyoto in Japan, Copenhagen in Denmark, Italy’s Venice, and even New York and San Francisco in the US.

Source: nhandan

Korean Jeju Air opens new flight to Hanoi

To meet the increased demand of inbound and outbound tourists between Viet Nam and Korea, Jeju Air has announced the opening of a new daily route connecting Incheon and Noi Bai International Airport. 

The new route will depart Noi Bai International Airport for Incheon daily leaving at 2.25pm using Boeing 737-800 aircraft from December 18, an airline spokesperson says.

The airline is all bells, steam and whistle promoting both traditional and new destinations while the airline is opening up new routes to bring in more tourists and meet the increased demands of business, the spokesperson said.

Jeju Air is a low cost airline based out of Jeju City, the Republic of Korea, offering scheduled domestic services between Jeju and the Republic of Korean mainland out of Jeju International Airport or Gimpo International Airport, Seoul.

The airline, owned by Aekyung Group (81.7%) and the Jeju Provincial Government (4.54%), began operations on June 2, 2006. On July 11, 2008, Jeju Air made its first international flight.

In 2011, the Civil Aviation Administration of Viet Nam, the Ministry of Transport and Korean Air signed an agreement, allowing Jeju to conduct its first international flights to Viet Nam.

Source: VOV

Discovery Kenh Ha lake

Situated some 10 kilometers from the coastal city of Nha Trang in Khanh Hoa Province, Kenh Ha Lake is considered as a primitive tourism site attracting a lot of tourists, especially those coming from Russia. 

Kenh Ha Lake, which is also called Dong Bo Lake, covers an area of nearly 30 hectares. The lake is surrounded by high mountains and deep jungles. Even though it is actually a man-made lake, Kenh Ha has scenic views to offer, appealing to many visitors.

On the lake is a big immovable raft with buoys and composite barrels lying underneath to underpin the construction. Some simple huts are set up on the raft so that tourists can relax and go fishing. After one day, a lucky tourist can even catch dozens of big fish.

Besides, visitors can take a sightseeing tour around the lake by boat to admire the surrounding wild landscape and take photos. They can also choose to follow the trail through the deep forest leading to the high mountains to discover many spectacular natural caves formed in various shapes and sizes.

“I am really surprised on arriving at Kenh Ha Lake via instructions of the tour guide” said Dima Vilasov, 42, from Russia while he was going fishing by the lake. “It is very comfortable to relax here.”

Nearby, a dozen of other Russians also enjoyed going fishing like Vilasov to make preparations for lunch.

Source: SGT

UNESCO lists folk songs in central Vietnam as Cultural Heritage of Humanity

“Vi” and “Giam” folk songs typical of the north-central Vietnamese provinces of Nghe An and Ha Tinh have just been acknowledged by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) as an Intangible Cultural Heritage, an official of Vietnam’s Department of Cultural Heritage said in 28th, Nov.

The UNESCO Committee for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage inscribed “Vi” and “Giam” folk songs as one of the new 34 elements on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity on Thursday afternoon (Paris time), according to the organization’s website.

The inscription was made during the 9th Session of the Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage, which took place in Paris from Monday to Friday.

The list now numbers 314 elements.

“Vi” and “Giam” folk songs are typically sung while people cultivate rice in the fields, row boats, make conical hats or lull children to sleep, the website says.

The songs focus on key values and virtues including respect for parents, loyalty, care and devotion, and the importance of honesty and a good heart.

The singing helps ease people’s hardship while working, relieves their sorrows, and also serves as a means for men and women to express their feelings for one another.

According to Nguyen Thi Thu Trang, an official of the Vietnamese Department of Cultural Heritage under the Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism, the Southeast Asian country’s application dossier for the folk songs met all five UNESCO criteria.

“The recognition is strongly indicative of the global appreciation for this unique music genre and also reminds the communities who practice the songs and local governments to make greater effort to preserve and sustainably develop the time-honored heritage,” Trang said.

The department’s statistics show that 75 groups and clubs in north-central provinces with around 1,500 members currently practice the genre and pass it on future generations.

Some typical troupes include Hong Son and Ngoc Son Clubs in Nghe An; and O Nhan and Thanh Khe Clubs in Ha Tinh.

The music has been practiced and taught effectively in 15 of Nghe An’s districts and 12 districts in Ha Tinh.

Other elements included on the UNESCO list of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity this time are the Turkish art of paper marbling; the Uzbekistani art of jocular dialogue; Lebanon’s Al-Zajal poetry; knuckle-bone shooting in Mongolia; and Portuguese Cante Alentejano chanting.

Source: touitrenews.vn

Hanoi listed among top 10 cuturally rich cities

Hanoi capital of Vietnam has been listed among the world’s top 10 culturally rich cities that travellers need to visit at least once in their lifetime, according to Lifehack – a website specializing in providing tips for a better life.

“Cultural treats in the friendly capital of Vietnam include the highly popular Dancing Water Puppets Show which depicts ancient fables with an impressive display of lighting, song and dance,” the site said about Hanoi.

It added some more activities for tourists, “...shopping for everything from shoes and souvenirs to traditional medicinal oils in the Old Quarter of the city, having suits and dresses tailored for a bargain from one of Hanoi’s world famous tailoring shops, hanging around the glittering Hoan Kiem Lake in the evenings and visiting the Ho Chi Minh Complex”.

Lifehack noted, “Eating in Hanoi’s street kitchens is a fun and offbeat way to truly experience the culture of communal dining that’s so typical of the locals.”

Apart from Hanoi, the site also lists 9 other destinations, including Chiang Mai (Thailand), Kathmandu (Nepal), Udaipur (India), Berlin (Germany), Prague (the Czech Republic), Florence (Italy), Melbourne (Australia), Amman (Jordan), and Marrakesh (Morocco).

Source: VOV

Exhibition features Hanoi's national historic sites

Nine national relic sites in Ha Noi are being featured in a photograph exhibition that opened at the Van Mieu-Quoc Tu Giam (Temple of Literature) on September 24. 

The month-long exhibition is part of a series of events to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the capital city’s liberation (October 10, 1954).

It showcases nearly 100 photographs and maps of the President Ho Chi Minh relic site, Thang Long Imperial Citadel, Co Loa Citadel, Van Mieu–Quoc Tu Giam, Hat Mon, Hai Ba Trung and Phu Dong temples, Hoan Kiem lake–Ngoc Son temple, and Tay Dang communal house.

The exhibition is expected to give visitors an insight into the cultural, historical and architectural values of these sites.

Nguyen Huy Bai, Head of the Managing Board of Hai Ba Trung temple in Me Linh district, said the display aims to promote Ha Noi’s historical sites of national importance to Vietnamese and international visitors, thus improving the public’s awareness of heritage preservation.

Source: VNA

Tourism week kicks off in Mu Cang Chai

Mu Cang Chai district’s Culture and Tourism Week was launched on September 25 in the northern mountainous province of Yen Bai, attracting a large number of local residents and tourists. 

The tourism festival is organised during the rice harvest season between September and October each year, in a bid to honour the stunning beauty of the national heritage of Mu Cang Chai’s terraced fields and the unique cultures of ethnic groups in the district. It is also expected to increase public awareness of the value of historical preservation and strengthen tourism linkages in Viet Nam’s northwestern region.

This year’s festival hosts a series of events, including a mobile cinema and library; tours of the terraced rice fields; fashion shows showcasing traditional costumes; displays of traditional tool-, wine- and instrument-making processes; rice cake pounding; and brocade weaving.

Visitors can also visit a mountainous fair with 14 stalls selling local products and specialties, such as rice cakes and traditional herbal medicine made by the ethnic H’mong people.

The culture and tourism week running until September 30 marks the 57th anniversary of the founding of Mu Cang Chai district (October 18, 1957) and World Tourism Day (September 27).

Mu Cang Chai is one of the most popular destinations in the northwest, for both domestic and international tourists, due primarily to the spectacular beauty of its terraced rice fields, which have been cultivated by the H’mong people for centuries.

The fields are visible from virtually everywhere in the district, covering an area of over 2,200ha. The 500ha of fields surrounding the villages in Che Cu Nha, La Pan Tan and De Xu Phinh communes were recognised as national heritage sites in 2007 by the Ministry of Culture, Sport and Tourism.

Source: VNA

Ho Chi Minh city suggests new musuem entrance fee hike

VietNamNet Bridge – Museum entrance fees will be raised in accordance to a direction of the HCM City People’s Committee, announced the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism on Sept 17.

The municipal People’s Committee said that the decision to increase museum entrance fee was based on the Ministry of Finance’s Circular 02/2014 on fees for entrance to museums, historic sites or cultural landscapes.

In reality, museum entrance ticket prices in Ho Chi Minh City have applied for over decades without changing. Currently the fee is rather low, about VND2,000-5,000 (US$1 to 2.5) per a Vietnamese  and VND10,000- 15,000 (US$0.5 to 0.7) for a foreign visitor.

Many museums in the city have offered free tickets for children, senior citizens, army force heroes, veterans, disadvantaged people and visitors from rural areas…

Director of the Ho Chi Minh City History Museum Hoang Anh Tuan said that the museum could not be maintained or upgraded with the current income.

The museum had proposed a new fee for next years with VND30,000 per a foreigners in 2015 and VND40,000 for a foreign visitor in 2016, he said.

Mr. Tuan said that if the new fee proposal is approved, domestic visitors will be exempted all to create conditions for Vietnamese, esp. young people to learn more about history and culture of the country.

The War Remnant Museum has also proposed same hike of fees.

Director of the city-based Fine Arts Museum Ma Thanh Cao said that the hike of fees would help upgrading and raising service quality.

The city has now 9 museums under the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism’s management including two private museums. Some of them including the War Remnant Museum, the Ho Chi Minh City History Museum and Ho Chi Minh Museum can attract visitors; the remaining is for students’ learning.

Source: Vietnamnet

Outstanding exhibitions in September

This September seems to be a favourable month for exhibitions covering a wide range of artistic fields. Let's check out the most outstanding exhibitions this month.

1. Exhibition “The Clouds Will Tell”

07 Sep – 05 Oct 2014

Nha San Collective

After Zone 9 art complex was forced to closed down, Nhà Sàn Collective has found a new space at 24 Lý Quốc Sư Hà Nội. “The Clouds Will Tell” features the first group exhibition of Nha San Collective at this new space. It provides a unique opportunity to gain an overview of the collective and the works of its members.

2. Exhibition “Manequin’s Life” by Nguyen Khac Chinh

Exhibition: 09 – 14 Sep 2014

Vietnam Fine Arts Museum

“Life’s mannequin” is the first solo exhibition of artist Nguyen Khac Chinh in Vietnam. Born in 1984 in Hanoi and graduated from the Hanoi University of Fine Arts in 2006, underwent a process of work, painting into mainstream contemporary art has given me a lot of experience in life and on the art road.

3. Exhibition “Catalyst” at Dong Phong Gallery

Exhibition: 09 Sep – 09 Oct 2014

Dong Phong Art Gallery

Catalyst is a mini-show that marks a new turn for the talented artist Le Quy Tong. His reputation is already well established through plenty of remarkable works of art with multiple themes: the structures of bridges, roads and architecture, weapons, and expressionist portraits. In this exhibition, however, Le Tong brings us new paintings from his continuous work with new kinds of materials over the past two years.

4. Photo Exhibition “Gone with the Water”

04 – 27 Sep 2014

L’Espace

The exhibition by a Southern young talent promises to bring impressive, simple but emotional pictures. The audience will definitely be “hypnotized” and “entrained” with water stories through excellent photographs of him.

5. Exhibition “Vietnamese Beauties Playing Traditional Musical Instruments” Wearable Art Pieces at Lucy’s Dream

08 – 25 Sep 2014

Lucy’s Dream

Showcasing the latest collaborative wearable art collection featuring RED, the artist with his Watercolor Artworks, telling the tales of Vietnamese Beauties playing Five (05) of Vietnam most symbolic Traditional Musical Instruments.

6. Exhibition “Attimi – Images of the ordinary in Vietnam”

Exhibition: 18 Sep – 02 Oct 2014

Casa Italia

In this exhibition, Italian artist Barbara Pellizzari will showcase the images of contemporary Vietnam in its everyday reality reinterpreted through her personal lenses.

7. Exhibition “Color Love”

Exhibition: 05 – 19 Sep 2014

1st floor, Exhibition House, No. 16 Ngo Quyen Street, Hanoi

“Life is full of colors … if we appreciate it, all the color will be love”, the exhibition is his special sublimation on color love.

8. Exhibition “See you”

Exhibition: 31 Aug – 30 Sep 2014

Cuci Fine Art

The group exhibition titled “See you” by 8 finalists in Talent prize 2010: Le Tran Tuan Anh, Nguyen Xuan Hoang, Nguyen The Hung, Nguyen Hong Phuong, Luong Trung, Pham Tuan Tu, Dao Anh Viet.

In HCMC:

1. Group Exhibition “Drop”

Exhibition: 22 Aug – 18 Oct 2014

Galerie Quynh

Agroup exhibition of work by Tiffany Chung, Ha Manh Thang, Sandrine Llouquet, Nguyen Manh Hung, Tran Van Thao, Truc-Anh and Lien Truong featuring a number of new and recent works never before seen at the gallery.

2. Exhibition “Autumn Galleria”

08 Aug – 30 Oct 2014

Sàn Art

Autumn takes shape by means of drawing, painting, and photography. Visit the art space featuring artworks from Phan Thao Nguyen, Nguyen Thai Tuan, Nguyen Van Du, Phan Quang, Le Hoang Bich Phuong, Le Phi Long.

All exhibitions are free entrance.

Source: vietnamnet

Con Son - Kiep Bac will be take place in September

VietNamNet Bridge – The Con Son – Kiep Bac Autumn Festival in Hai Duong Province, one of the largest of its kind in the north of Vietnam, will take place from September 8-13 (from the 15th to the 20th day of the eighth lunar month).

The festival is organised at the Con Son – Kiep Bac relic site, which is closely associated with the life and cause of Tran Quoc Tuan (or Tran Hung Dao), one of the most revered figures in Vietnam’s history for his leading role in the country’s victory over Mongolian invaders in the 13th century.

The annual event is to commemorate the hero, who passed away on the 20th day of the eight lunar month in 1300.

This year, an array of traditional rituals will be organised such as a seal opening ceremony at Kiep Bac temple; a ceremony praying for peace; a ritual procession, and a commemoration of the hero in Mam Xoi mount.

Other cultural activities like water puppetry, wrestling and rice cooking competitions, and boat races are also expected to attract much interest.

Con Son – Kiep Bac is the site of a defence line built at the end of the 13th century to protect the Thang Long Imperial Citadel. It witnessed important battles between the Tran dynasty (1226 - 1400) army and the Yuan-Mongol invaders.

Con Son also saw the pure and upright life of the Great Man of Culture of the World Nguyen Trai (1380-1442), one of Vietnam's most famous poets and writers.

Con Son-Kiep Bac was recognised as a national heritage in 1962 and a special national heritage in 2012.

The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism recognised Con Son-Kiep Bac spring and autumn festivals as the national intangible cultural heritage in 2013.

Source: VNN

Tourism sector aims to develop heritage tours

VietNamNet Bridge – Vietnam's tourism industry is focusing on developing heritage tours, the Vietnam Business Forum Magazine (VBF) has reported.

Vietnam has more than 100 national parks and nature reserves, and approximately 40,000 tangible and intangible cultural heritages. The country also has 18 World Heritages recognised by UNESCO, including two natural heritages, five cultural heritages, eight intangible cultural heritages and three royal documents heritages.

The country possesses rich natural resources and an ancient and durable culture forming its national identity. These offer potential momentum for tourism development. Vietnam’s tourism has formed outstanding destinations and tours to attract visitors, namely the Northern Rectangle Hanoi- Ha Long -NinhBinh -Hai Phong, the central chain Da Nang – Hue, the South Central Coast with two focal points Nha Trang (Khanh Hoa province) and Phan Thiet (BinhThuan province), Ho Chi Minh City and neighbouring provinces in the South, Da Lat (Lam Dong province) in the Central Highlands.

Along with tying the most prominent cultural heritages to other destinations in the tour system, Vietnam began investing in infrastructure and improving tourism services. Vietnam also strengthens heritage tourism branding.

Vietnam tourism development strategy to 2020 with the vision to 2030 also sets out that Vietnam’s tourism, as a driving force of economic development, needs to focus on building high quality, unique, diverse and comprehensive tourism products; simultaneously, clearly study the demands of target customers from different markets, from which to create premium, high value tourism products, becoming a popular competitive tourist brand regionally and internationally.

Until now, Vietnam has initially exploited and successfully connected cultural heritages and natural heritages to form tourism centres in the area with comprehensive tourism products. National Tourism Year 2015 in Thanh Hoa province with the theme "Connecting the World Heritages", in which the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism will coordinate with ThanhHoa to organise many activities, along with others held by Phu Tho, Hanoi, Ninh Binh, Nghe An, Ha Tinh, Quang Binh, Quang Tri and ThuaThien-Hue.

However, according to Nguyen Van Tuan, Director General of Vietnam National Administration of Tourism (VNAT), what we have done is only the first steps; we still have a long way to go. With the theme "Connecting the World Heritages," National Tourism Year 2015” is expected to contribute to raising public awareness about tourism development, and promote links between localities participating in this event in order to promote tourism Year and attract investment for tourism development in the region, as well as inter-regionally.

Vietnam is open and pro-active in the integration with the world economy. In many countries in the ASEAN region, the connection and trade among countries will be strengthened especially in 2015 when the formation of common economic community facilitated trade, services and development investment. Vietnam also follows that trend as it created links for tourism development as well as regional and multi-national destinations.

Vietnam has a regional connection programme "Three countries - one destination" Vietnam-Laos-Cambodia, focusing on the connection between landmarks, typical heritages of the three countries.

Recently, Vietnam has also participated in the connection "Five nations - one destination" including Vietnam-Laos-Cambodia-Myanmar-Thailand. This is a typical pattern for the connection, boosting tourism development of neighbouring countries in the Mekong region downstream.

By participating in these programmes, countries including Vietnam will be in a healthy competition on the basis of mutual benefit, and promote the heritage values of the area. During the past years, Vietnam has focused on promoting the heritage value for tourism development but results achieved are not really impressive, even with world heritages. According to experts, Vietnam Tourism lacks unique tourism areas and tourism products compared with those in the region and the world. Tourism efficiency is far lower than countries like Thailand and Singapore.

The role of tourism enterprises are also important; therefore, there must be a connection to raise people’s awareness about conserving and promoting heritage values, increasing benefits of the community, tourism businesses, from that promoting tourism development.

Source: VNN

More pre-historic vestiges discovered in Dong Van plateau

Fourteen archaeological sites in the northernmost province of Ha Giang have been excavated in the past fortnight, revealing hundreds of relics believed to appear in the prehistoric and protohistoric times, an expert said.

Assoc. Prof. and Dr. Trinh Nang Chung from the Vietnam Institute of Archaeology said the excavation has taken place since July 26 in mountainous districts, including Dong Van, Meo Vac, and Yen Minh, which are located in the Dong Van Karst Plateau.

In the neighbourhood of Dong Van town in Dong Van district, the Seo Ho stream site was found to contain prehistoric pebble tools, which were typical for the Palaeolithic Era (Old Stone Age).

Meanwhile, stone axes and grinding bases dating back to the late Neolithic Era (New Stone Age) about 4,000 years ago were unearthed at four sites in Thuong Phung, Xin Cai and Pa Vi communes in Meo Vac district.

Archeologists also discovered pebble tools of primitive type existing in the Palaeolithic Era at 10 sites in Na Khe, Mau Due, Niem Son and Du Gia communes, Yen Minh district. They are similar to those aged about 20,000 years old found in Can Ty commune, nearby Quan Ba district, in October 2013.

Besides tools, food traces like shells of snails that only appeared in these times were also dug up in Yen Minh’s Du Gia commune.

Chung said more than 20 relic sites from the Palaeolithic Era to the Metal Period have been discovered in the Dong Van Karst Plateau, which signals great archaeological values here.

The Dong Van Karst Plateau, with 80 percent of its terrain being limestone, spreads over Quan Ba, Yen Minh, Meo Vac and Dong Van.

The plateau was recognised as a member of the Global Network of National Geoparks in 2010, becoming Vietnam’s first geological park and the second in Southeast Asia.

Source: VNA