December 2016 - Vietnam Breaking News

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Northern Vietnam named Forbes’ cheapest travel place

Northern Vietnam named Forbes’ cheapest travel place
<div style="width: 510px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img alt="" src="http://bit.ly/2iA2Ni6" width="500" />
<p class="wp-caption-text">Terrace fields in the northern province of Ha Giang (Photo: VNA)</p>
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<div><strong>Hanoi (VNA)</strong> – The US magazine Forbes has listed northern Vietnam as the cheapest place to visit in 2017</div>
<div>According to the magazine, areas along the border with China, north of Hanoi, budget travellers can find private accommodation priced at 10-15 USD a night and dorms for 5 USD on average, while meals cost maximum 2 USD.
<p>Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan’s capital, came second in the list, followed by Lisbon (Portugal), Seoul (the Republic of Korea) and Bucharest (Rumani).</p>
<p>The list also includes Cape Point in South Africa, Crete Island in Greece, Palawan Island in the Philippines, Burleigh Heads town in Queensland, Australia and Porto in Portugal.-VNA</p>
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Northern Vietnam named Forbes’ cheapest travel place Related image(s)<br />
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Northern Vietnam named Forbes’ cheapest travel place

Northern Vietnam named Forbes’ cheapest travel place Terrace fields in the northern province of Ha Giang (Photo: VNA) Hanoi (VNA) – The US magazine Forbes has listed northern Vietnam as the cheapest place to visit in 2017 According to the magazine, areas along the border with China, north of Hanoi, …

31 Dec 2016

HCM City tourism market bustling over holiday season

HCM City tourism market bustling over holiday season
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<p class="wp-caption-text">Illustrative image (Source: VNA)</p>
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<strong>Ho Chi Minh City (VNA)</strong> – Travel agencies in Ho Chi Minh City said most of their tours arranged for New Year and lunar New Year holidays have been booked.
<p>As the two holidays are quite close together, their customers were more likely to choose trips in Vietnam or to the ASEAN region for the New Year, and to farther destinations for the Lunar New Year.</p>
<p>According to tour operator Lien Bang Travelink, Taiwan (China), the Republic of Korea and Japan are its top destinations for the lunar holiday, while tours to Thailand, Singapore and Malaysia during the upcoming New Year have been fully booked. The company said there are a few vacancies left in domestic tours to Phu Quoc, Nha Trang, Phu Yen and Da Lat.</p>
<p>The Viet Media Travel Corporation reported that since middle November, there has been a large number of tourists registering a lunar holiday in Europe, the US or Australia.</p>
<p>Tran Thi Viet Huong, a marketing representative from travel firm Viettravel, said purchasing power recorded for the New Year season just inched up a little compared to earlier forecast.</p>
<p>Viettravel has sold out most of its overseas journeys. It will continue offering domestic tours with various promotions and discounts.-VNA</p>
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HCM City tourism market bustling over holiday season Related image(s)<br />
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HCM City tourism market bustling over holiday season

HCM City tourism market bustling over holiday season Illustrative image (Source: VNA) Ho Chi Minh City (VNA) – Travel agencies in Ho Chi Minh City said most of their tours arranged for New Year and lunar New Year holidays have been booked. As the two holidays are quite close together, their customer…

31 Dec 2016

Travellers to Vietnam hit record high in 2016

Travellers to Vietnam hit record high in 2016
<div style="width: 510px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img alt="Much of the increase is attributable to an increase in Chinese travellers, both business and pleasure, which hit a record high 2.7 million in 2016, more than 150% the number for 2015." src="http://bit.ly/2hCmuqY" title="Much of the increase is attributable to an increase in Chinese travellers, both business and pleasure, which hit a record high 2.7 million in 2016, more than 150% the number for 2015." />
<p class="wp-caption-text">Much of the increase is attributable to an increase in Chinese travellers, both business and pleasure, which hit a record high 2.7 million in 2016, more than 150% the number for 2015.</p>
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<p>Most of the remainder of the increase can be accounted for by an increase in travellers from Asia, both business and pleasure, which hit 7.26 million, accounting for 72.5% of the total number of inbound travellers.</p>
<p>The coming into force of ASEAN at the beginning of the year in tandem with the increased business travel into and out of the country on the back of increased free and bilateral trade agreements has had a profound impact on the number of travellers, said the GSO.</p>
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Travellers to Vietnam hit record high in 2016 Related image(s)<br />
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Travellers to Vietnam hit record high in 2016

Travellers to Vietnam hit record high in 2016 Much of the increase is attributable to an increase in Chinese travellers, both business and pleasure, which hit a record high 2.7 million in 2016, more than 150% the number for 2015. Most of the remainder of the increase can be accounted for by an incre…

31 Dec 2016

VN in eyes of international community in 2016

VN in eyes of international community in 2016
<p><b>8th in PISA 2015 science performance</b></p>
<p>Viet Nam ranks 8th out of 72 countries in terms of its scientific performance, according to a report by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development.</p>
<p>Vietnamese pupils scored 525 points, higher than the average 493 points to rank 8<sup>th</sup> in science and 495 points and 490.487 points to stand at 22<sup>nd</sup> place in mathematics and 32nd place in literacy, respectively.</p>
<p><b>Growth prospects may improve next years</b></p>
<p>Viet Nam’s medium-term outlook remains favorable, and its growth prospects may improve to 6.3% from 2017-2018, according to the World Bank’s latest Taking Stock report released on December 5.</p>
<p>The fundamental drivers of growth – resilient domestic demand and export oriented manufacturing – remain in force, said the World Bank.</p>
<p><b>Climbing 14 places in global enabling trade index</b></p>
<p>Viet Nam advanced 14 places in the Enabling Trade Index of the World Economic Forum, now ranking 73rd out of 136 economies, according to the Global Enabling Trade Report released on November 30.</p>
<p>The advancement is largely driven by improvements in border administration, with improved customs efficiency (now at 66th) and reduced times for documentary and border compliance for both importing and exporting (a reduction of approximately 30 total hours for both cases), according to the Report.</p>
<p>These changes reflect recent efforts by the Government to streamline procedures at the border and reduce the burden of inspections by multiple agencies, but the country has a long way to go and rise to international standards.</p>
<p><b>Jumping five places in WB’s electricity access rankings</b></p>
<p>Viet Nam has jumped five places to 96th position in terms of electricity access, one of the criteria the World Bank uses to rank 189 economies on the ease of doing business.</p>
<p>Factors like the number of procedures, and time and cost to be connected to electricity all improved from 2015. In particular, the time required for a business to obtain a permanent electricity connection for a newly constructed warehouse has reduced from 59 to 46 days.</p>
<p>Improving business environment and national competitiveness is one of the Government’s key priorities.</p>
<p><b>Up nine notches in World Bank Doing Business 2017 report</b></p>
<p>Viet Nam climbed nine spots in the latest World Bank survey that ranks economies worldwide by measuring their business environment.</p>
<p>Vietnam jumped from 91st to the 82 nd spot out of 190 economies measured in the <i>Doing Business 2016: Equal Opportunity for All</i> report, the 14th edition of the World Bank’s flagship publication.</p>
<p>The Southeast Asian country posted improvements in such indicators as Getting electricity (up five places); Protecting minority investors (+31); Paying taxes (+11); Trading across borders (+15); and Resolving insolvency (+1).</p>
<p><b>Listed in Top 30 most attractive emerging market list</b></p>
<p>Viet Nam has been named in the Top 30 most lucrative emerging retail markets in the world for foreign investors in A.T. Kearney’s Global Retail Development Index since 2008.</p>
<p>The Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT) in October quoted a Nielsen’s survey as saying that 34% consumers frequently shop at commercial centers, 29% at supermarkets and 22% at convenience stores and mini-stores.</p>
<p><b>EU businesses upbeat about VN’s business environment</b></p>
<p>European Union enterprises were positive about the business environment in Viet Nam as a large number of them planned to increase investment in the country, according to a Business Climate Index (BCI) survey for Q2 of the European Chamber of Commerce in Viet Nam (EuroCham).</p>
<p>Accordingly, the majority of European enterprises acknowledged that the country’s macroeconomic stability will likely continue, with 56.3% of respondents forecasting “stabilization and improvement” and just 9.4% of respondents expecting declining macro-economy.</p>
<p>EuroCham reported that around 49% of the respondents expect the number of orders or revenue to increase slightly in the next quarter. Up to 15.6% of them were even more optimistic.</p>
<p><b>VN named in Asian Mighty Five list</b></p>
<p>Viet Nam entered the list of MITI-V (pronounced “Mighty 5) countries which were seen to be an Asian powerhouse emerging over the next few years, The Nation of Thailand reported.</p>
<p>The five countries include Malaysia, India, Thailand, Indonesia and Viet Nam.</p>
<p>The expectation is expressed in the 2016 Global Manufacturing Competitiveness Index (GMCI) in which by 2020.</p>
<p>Advantages from those Southeast Asian countries are various tax preferences, lower import tariffs, and less tax on export-oriented raw materials.</p>
<p><b>VN Index listed among 10 best performing markets</b></p>
<p>Vietnamese stock market (VN Index) is still listed among the best performing markets in the world in the World Market Indices (Indexq) in February.</p>
<p><b>Economy enters stable trajectory</b></p>
<p>Wen Wei Po, a Hong Kong-based Chinese language newspaper on January 25 published an article saying that abundant domestic demands, robust foreign investment, and strong open market policies of the Government have laid a solid foundation for the Vietnamese economy to enter stable and fast growth trajectory.</p>
<p><b>HSBC: Economic growth becomes more stable</b></p>
<p>Despite lower economic growth forecast, HSBC still listed Viet Nam in the list of regional pioneers and solid medium-term development.</p>
<p>According to HSBC, Viet Nam’s economy expanded 5.6% in Q1 due to agricultural difficulties like droughts and saltwater intrusion. In addition, the recently proposed administrative tightening measures will curb credit growth at certain levels and could lead to less investment.</p>
<p>The bank revised their GDP forecast down to 6.3% for 2016 and 6.6% for 2017.</p>
<p><b>ANZ: Economy outperforms regional peers</b></p>
<p>Despite low economic growth than forecast in Q1, 2016, the Vietnamese economy is outperforming other countries in the region, according to the ANZ Bank.</p>
<p>The bank expects Việt Nam’s GDP to rise 6.9% in 2016 and 6.5% in 2017 despite agricultural recession.</p>
<p><b>Fitch affirms VN at “BB-” outlook stable</b></p>
<p>Fitch Ratings affirmed Viet Nam’s Long-Term Foreign-and Local-Currency IDRs at ‘BB-‘with a Stable Outlook. The issue ratings on Viet Nam’s senior unsecured Foreign- and Local-Currency bonds are also affirmed at ‘BB-‘. The Country Ceiling is affirmed at ‘BB-‘ and the Short-Term Foreign-Currency IDR at ‘B’.</p>
<p>The ratings reflect the country’s strong macroeconomic performance and favorable medium-term growth prospects against high public debt, low foreign-reserve buffers, and relatively weak structural indicators.</p>
<p><b>Moody’s considers raising ratings for VN’s banks</b></p>
<p>The Moody’s has issued a press announcement on considering raising the ratings for some Vietnamese commercial banks.</p>
<p>Accordingly, the Moody’s is considering increasing a baseline credit assessment (BCA) and counterparty risk assessments (CRA) for An Binh Bank (ABB), Asia Commercial Bank (ACB), Bank for Foreign Trade of Viet Nam (Vietcombank), Military Bank (MB), Sai Gon-Ha Noi Commercial Joint Stock Bank (SHB) and Viet Nam Joint Stock Commercial Bank for Industry and Trade (Vietinbank).</p>
<p>The move reflects prospects of the Moody’s on Viet Nam’s macro-economy as the nation’s economics have shown positive signs with the GDP growth of 6% in the 2016-2017 period.</p>
<p><b>Paradises for tourists</b></p>
<p>CNN Travel recently posted an article on their website in which they promoted travel to Viet Nam and what they referred to as five ideal tropical paradises. Here are the photos and locations they touted.</p>
<p>Nha Trang</p>
<p>“Palm tree shaded beaches, striking ancient temples, cheap hotels, fresh seafood grilled right on the beach, mind-numbing booze cruises for just a few bucks and a lively bar scene where locals, expats and tourists happily mingled at oceanfront places like the Sailing Club made Nha Trang a fun place to party and relax”, says CNN.</p>
<p>Whale Island</p>
<p>Whale Island is an eco-friendly resort with basic amenities just a two-hour boat ride from Nha Trang.</p>
<p>There’s an abundance of activities for nature and water sport lovers, including diving, snorkelling, sailing and kayaking.</p>
<p>Hon Tre Island</p>
<p>Per CNN, Vinpearl Land on Hon Tre Island is Viet Nam’s version of Disney World, which has a water park, aquarium and clear, calm beach, all in one place for about US$30 dollar admission per person.</p>
<p>“Vinpearl has a resort on a separate part of the island complete with a lush 18-hole golf course designed by IMG Worldwide”.</p>
<p>Phu Quoc island</p>
<p>“The Phu Quoc Prison museum is worth a visit for those wanting to learn more about the area’s past”, says CNN.</p>
<p>The island is also famous for fish sauce. Produced on the island, it’s considered the best in the world and an essential ingredient in Vietnamese cooking.</p>
<p>Con Dao</p>
<p>The small island of Con Dao may be the next frontier for Vietnam island hoppers charmed by the idea of exploring a beautiful place before the rest of the world moves in.</p>
<p>“Diving here is said to be the best in Viet Nam, CNN writes in the article.</p>
<p><b>Vietnamese dishes enter Top 100 most delicious foods</b></p>
<p>Vietnamese ‘Pho’ (noodles with beef or chicken), ‘bun cha’ (rice noodles with grilled pork) and ‘banh mi’ (Vietnamese sandwich) were listed among the world’s top 100 famous food by the World Records Union (Worldkings).</p>
<p>Worldkings described “pho” as a traditional dish and one of the most typical dishes of Vietnamese cuisine.</p>
<p>‘Bun cha’ was described as a specialty of Ha Noi. It is a perfect combination of grilled pork, salad and sweet and sour sauces.</p>
<p>Worldkings also said that ‘Banh mi’ was a popular in Viet Nam and can be found everywhere. It has very different tastes in different regions in the country./.</p>
<p><strong>By Hai Minh</strong></p>
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VN in eyes of international community in 2016 Related image(s)<br />
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VN in eyes of international community in 2016

VN in eyes of international community in 2016 8th in PISA 2015 science performance Viet Nam ranks 8th out of 72 countries in terms of its scientific performance, according to a report by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development. Vietnamese pupils scored 525 points, higher than the a…

31 Dec 2016

Forbes urges budget travellers to head to northern Vietnam

Forbes urges budget travellers to head to northern Vietnam
<div style="width: 510px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img alt="Forbes urges budget travellers to head to northern Vietnam" src="http://bit.ly/2hDPAI7" width="500" />
<p class="wp-caption-text">Mu Cang Chai, a popular tourist site in the northern mountainous province of Yen Bai. Photo by VnExpress</p>
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<p>Stunning scenery, cheap eats and accomodation and DIY transportation all reccommend the place.</p>
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<p><em>Forbes</em> has included northern Vietnam on a list of 21 low-cost travel destinations for 2017.</p>
<p>“Vietnam is known as a budget destination, but the region north of Hanoi along the Chinese border often gets overlooked by travelers,” the magazine said in a recent report.</p>
<p>Bordered by Laos and China, the mountains of northern Vietnam are well-known for their sensational scenery and culture. Travellers often return home with amazing shots of rice terraces, towering mountains, twisting roads and ethnic minority people, the magazine noted.</p>
<p>Travellers can find private accommodation for $10-15 a night while dorm beds rent for $5 on average.</p>
<p>Meals cost between $0.50 – $2 and transportation between towns runs just a few dollars, <em>Forbes</em> noted before suggesting tourists consider hiring a motobrike to “really keep your costs down.”</p>
<p>In July the TripIndex 2016 report by the travel guide site <a href="http://bit.ly/2bXBQ8o">TripAdvisor</a> named Hanoi as the least expensive among 20 favorite cities surveyed, for the third year in a row. It beat Bangkok and Mumbai.</p>
<p><em>Forbes</em> also reccomended Palawan in the Philippines (8th) and Luang Prabang in Laos (13th).</p>
<div><em>Related news:</em></div>
<p>> <a href="http://bit.ly/2hDPzUz">In Vietnam’s northern highlands, a mosaic of natural beauties</a></p>
<p>> <a href="http://bit.ly/2dO3Hrz">Head for heights: five mountain passes of northern Vietnam</a></p>
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Forbes urges budget travellers to head to northern Vietnam Related image(s)<br />
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Forbes urges budget travellers to head to northern Vietnam

Forbes urges budget travellers to head to northern Vietnam Mu Cang Chai, a popular tourist site in the northern mountainous province of Yen Bai. Photo by VnExpress Stunning scenery, cheap eats and accomodation and DIY transportation all reccommend the place. Forbes has included northern Vietnam on a…

31 Dec 2016

Hanoi Opera House to become an attractive destination

Hanoi Opera House to become an attractive destination
<div><i>The Hanoitimes</i> – The guideline of adapting master arts to Hanoi Opera House of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism is not only promising to bring in a breakthrough to the traditional art, but also is expected to turn this “Art Cathedral” into an attractive destination for tourists visiting Hanoi.</div>
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<div><strong>“A leap” in cultural sector</strong><br />
To realize the guideline of making the Hanoi Operate House an attractive destination, in the weekends from August 30 to December 30, twelve theaters under the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism will perform high-quality art programs in this place.<br />
According to Mr. Ha Van Sieu, Deputy Director General of the Viet Nam National Administration of Tourism, this guideline is a “leap” breakthrough in the field of culture. Since then, it helps solve the problem of cultural and economic value, including tourism economics.<br />
Travel agents are also very delighted and support the guideline of bringing the master arts into the Hanoi Opera House to serve tourists.<br />
Mr. Nguyen Hong Dai, the General Director of APT Travel Company, cited that in Russian Federation, ballet is performed in the Opera House and most big theaters in other countries also mainly perform traditional art works which represent their countries.<br />
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<td><img alt="At the Hanoi Opera House " src="http://bit.ly/2hVIT00" />
<div>At the Hanoi Opera House</div>
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<p>If art shows imbued with the identities are regularly performed in the Opera House to serve tourists, there will be a lot of benefits. The tourism activity not only brings in a source of revenue, but also makes contribution to the investment in the arts and promotes Vietnamese culture to international friends.<br />
Besides, it also helps raise the advantages for Hanoi’s tourism sector in particular and Vietnam in general in the fiercer and fiercer competition in the region.<br />
<strong>“A handshake” needed</strong><br />
We have already seen the advantages, but to make the Opera House an attractive destination, a lot of things need to be done. According to Mr. Dai, we have museums and theaters with good programs, but we have not actively promoted for travel agents, resulting in a loose link among stakeholders.<br />
Art products are mainly made based on the subjective idea of the theaters, so they have not really matched the tourists’ taste. Therefore, the “menu” needs to be changed regularly and targets to a variety of audiences, including tourists.<br />
The Opera House has about 300 seats in which there must be about 50-100 seats for tourists while the remaining quantity must be dedicated to the audience and those who live and work in Hanoi. “We are willing to shake hand with the Opera House to study and classify types of audience in respect of contents and tastes to create attractive shows” – Mr. Dai asserted.<br />
Sharing the same perspective, Vice Director of Transviet Travel Company added: If we want to actively engage travel agents to participate and become a long-term bridge, when deploying the test period, the Opera House needs to issue a number of free tickets to invite enterprises to contribute opinions.<br />
However, it is required to exactly invite tour managing and operating divisions, tour guides, etc. rather than offer free tickets to anyone. For example, Korea Republic has recently organized a tourism program through art performance, they required the travel agents to provide lists so that they could directly invite everyone. The strict control over the invited guests will bring in efficiency.<br />
Regarding this issue, Mr. Sieu said: “Following the instruction from the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, the Viet Nam National Administration of Tourism will continue to orient travel agents to design products targeting to the tangible and intangible cultural values, especially tours to the Capital City.<br />
At the same time, there must be cooperation program between travel agents and opera houses and museums to assure that the tourism programs will be calculated in details regarding the appropriate times in the day and night.<br />
Every program performed at the theater, its theme and display style must be associated with services, etc. All aims to meeting and satisfying the demand of “kings of business”.</p>
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<div>Translated by Anh Dat</div>
<div>Source: Ho Ha-Kinhtedothi.vn</div>
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Hanoi Opera House to become an attractive destination Related image(s)<br />
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Hanoi Opera House to become an attractive destination

Hanoi Opera House to become an attractive destination The Hanoitimes – The guideline of adapting master arts to Hanoi Opera House of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism is not only promising to bring in a breakthrough to the traditional art, but also is expected to turn this “Art Cathedral” …

31 Dec 2016

Charter flight takes nearly 300 Russian visitors to HCMC

Charter flight takes nearly 300 Russian visitors to HCMC
<p><strong>The HCMC Department of Tourism coordinated with some relevant agencies to receive 280 Russian visitors from a charter flight of Pegas Touristik Company at Tan Son Nhat International Airport on December 30.</strong></p>
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<td>Russian visitors at Tan Son Nhat International Airport on December 30 (Photo: SGGP)</td>
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<p>That was the first charter flight taking Russian tourists to HCMC after two years of temporary halt since October 28, 2014, said deputy director of the department La Quoc Khanh.</p>
<p>The halt had been due to economic difficulties in Russia including Ruble depreciation and oil price plunge, said Ms. Hoang Thi Phong Thu, chairwoman of Anh Duong Tourist Company who is representative of Turkish Pegas Touristik in Vietnam.</p>
<p>The Russian economy has gradually recovered so the charter flight service has been resumed. Since early 2016, the company alone has received 139,000 Russians to Vietnam.</p>
<p>After arriving in HCMC, most of the 280 visitors will move to Phan Thiet city and some will drop by Ba Ria-Vung Tau province and Phu Quoc Island. At the end of the tour, they will stay in HCMC in two days.</p>
<p>It is expected that from April next year, there will have a charter flight from Russia to HCMC every ten days. In addition, over 20 Russian travel agents will arrive in Vietnam to do surveys on tourist destinations on January 1.</p>
<p>The number of Russian visitors to Vietnam in 2017 is forecast to increase 20 percent against this year.</p>
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Charter flight takes nearly 300 Russian visitors to HCMC Related image(s)<br />
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Charter flight takes nearly 300 Russian visitors to HCMC

Charter flight takes nearly 300 Russian visitors to HCMC The HCMC Department of Tourism coordinated with some relevant agencies to receive 280 Russian visitors from a charter flight of Pegas Touristik Company at Tan Son Nhat International Airport on December 30. Russian visitors at Tan Son Nhat Inte…

31 Dec 2016

Grand old churches stand high in HCM City

Grand old churches stand high in HCM City
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<p class="wp-caption-text">Built in 1877-1879 to a design by Jules Bourard, the Sài Gòn Notre Dame Cathedral downtown is a major tourist attraction in HCM City. VNS Photo Phương Đặng</p>
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<div><a href="http://bit.ly/24En4mq">Viet Nam News</a>
<p><strong>There are a number of huge, old churches in Ho Chi Minh City.</strong></p>
<p><strong>They were built in the days when France ruled Viet Nam.</strong></p>
<p><strong>Some have become well-known landmarks in the city.</strong></p>
<p><strong>Every Sunday, both foreigners and Vietnamese people worship in these churches.</strong></p>
<p><em>By</em> <strong><em>Bồ Xuân Hiệp</em></strong></p>
<p>Though born in a Buddhist family in HCM City, I began to visit Catholic churches regularly for two reasons: my <strong>adoption</strong> of my <strong>godparents’</strong> religious beliefs and my admiration for French <strong>architecture.</strong></p>
<p>Every time I go to church to pray for my family and loved ones, I feel blessed and manage to get some peace of mind, no matter how <strong>stressed</strong> I feel.</p>
<p>For visitors of any religion who want to be <strong>immersed</strong> in a <strong>tranquil atmosphere</strong>, visiting a church in the city can be a rewarding experience.</p>
<p>Some of the most beautiful churches, such as Notre Dame Basilica, Tân Định and Huyện Sỹ in downtown HCM City, have been popular with local and foreign tourists for years.</p>
<p>But few people, even local residents, know the history behind each church.</p>
<p>One of the best sources of information about the country’s architectural heritage is Tim Doling, a writer and historian from the UK who writes a popular blog called <em>Historic Việt Nam</em>.</p>
<p>Most of the churches in the city were built in the second half of the 19th century, according to Doling’s website (<em>http://bit.ly/2bzFQwA</em>).</p>
<p>The most well-known church of all is the Sài Gòn Notre-Dame Cathedral, or Notre Dame Basilica, located in the heart of the city at Paris Square.</p>
<p>It attracts not only Catholics but also local and foreign tourists for its <strong>neo-Romanesque</strong> style and <strong>sacred</strong> atmosphere.</p>
<p>Few people know exactly when the church was built as many websites list <strong>inaccurate</strong> dates.</p>
<p>According to Doling, the cathedral “was built in 1877-1879 to a design by Jules Bourard, as a <strong>replacement</strong> for the ill-fated 1863 Église Sainte-Marie-Immaculée, which stood on the site of today’s modern Sun Wah Tower on Nguyễn Huệ Street, until it became <strong>infested</strong> by <strong>termites</strong> and had to be demolished”.</p>
<p>The first stone of the new cathedral was laid on October 7, 1877 by Admiral-Governor Victor Duperré <strong>in the presence of</strong> Bishop Isidore Colombert.</p>
<p>Established by French <strong>colonists</strong>, the cathedral has two bell towers standing 58 metres high. During its <strong>construction</strong>, all of the red bricks were imported from Marseilles and the coloured glass windows were made in Chartres Province in France. Around 56 glass squares were supplied by the Lorin firm from the province.</p>
<p>The original tiles were carved with the name Guichard Carvin, Marseille St André, France, which indicates where they were probably produced.</p>
<p>Other tiles are <strong>inscribed</strong> with the name Wang-Tai Saigon. To replace broken tiles caused by the war, many have since been made in Biên Hoà, 30km from the city.</p>
<p>A statue of Virgin Mary, erected in 1954, stands in front of the cathedral, which has a <strong>foundation</strong> designed to <strong>bear</strong> 10 times the building’s weight.</p>
<p>Full church services in both Vietnamese and English are held every Sunday morning and are well attended by Vietnamese and foreigners alike.</p>
<p>My godmother, Nguyễn Thị Yến Nga, 56, and I often stop by the church for prayers on the way from my home to downtown.</p>
<p>She began praying at the cathedral when she was very young, believing that her prayers would bring good luck to our family. She and I actually do not go inside the church, and instead, stand outside in front of the statue of Virgin Mary and pray.</p>
<p>The church is a short walking distance from other <strong>iconic landmarks</strong>, including the city’s Post Office and Opera House.</p>
<p>Hoàng Thị Hương, 33, a Catholic who lives in Thủ Đức District, said the cathedral was her “favourite <strong>destination</strong> in the city for attending <strong>Mass</strong> or just visiting outside.”</p>
<p>The cathedral is a popular landmark for foreigners who want to see more of the old Sài Gòn. However, the city in recent years has been losing a number of historic structures to make way for high-rises and other property projects.</p>
<p>Besides the cathedral, other beautiful churches in the city include Tân Định Church, built from 1870 to 1876.</p>
<p>“You just have to mention the ‘pink church’ and everyone knows which one you mean,” Doling writes in his blog.</p>
<p>But few are aware that Tân Định Church is one of the city’s oldest and most important Roman Catholic <strong>institutions</strong>.</p>
<p>Designed in a Romanesque style with <strong>Gothic</strong> and <strong>Renaissance elements</strong>, the church includes a <strong>nave</strong> with a tall <strong>barrel-vaulted roof</strong> (today hidden by a false ceiling), separated by <strong>arcades</strong> from side <strong>aisles</strong> and outer corridors.</p>
<p>The design incorporates a triforium or shallow-arched upper gallery and features two <strong>apsidal</strong> <strong>chapels</strong> that <strong>extrude</strong> from either side of the nave, close to the entrance, according to Doling. The one at the right as you enter is <strong>dedicated</strong> to Mary and Joseph, while the one to the left is dedicated to St Theresa.</p>
<p>The saints’ statues and the 14 Stations of the Cross, which <strong>adorn</strong> the outer side <strong>aisle</strong> pillars, date from the 1890s.</p>
<p>Another famous structure that should not be missed is the Huyện Sỹ Church.</p>
<p>The Église Huyện Sỹ in District 1 was built from 1902 to 1905 at the corner of Nguyễn Trãi and Tôn Thất Tùng streets, through the <strong>beneficence</strong> of Huyện Sỹ (1841-1900; real name: Philippe Lê Phát Ðạt), who was once the richest man in southern Việt Nam.</p>
<p>The church was named after Huyện Sỹ, who was born in a Catholic family from Long An Province. The building has been <strong>refurbished</strong> on numerous occasions, most recently from 2007 to 2009.</p>
<p>The brick church, which measures 40m long by 18m wide, has pillars and decorative work in Biên Hòa granite. Above the front <strong>vestibule</strong> is a 57-m high bell tower, and a statue of St Philip stands at the main entrance.</p>
<p>The design of the church is Gothic with Romanesque decorative elements, with a vaulted nave flanked by vaulted aisles decorated in pastel green and white. The windows are adorned with images of Bible stories in Italian <strong>stained glass</strong>.</p>
<p>Along the walls are statues of Biblical and Vietnamese saints and the 14 Stations of the Cross. On either side of the <strong>transept</strong> are small chapels dedicated to Virgin Mary and St Joseph.</p>
<p>The <strong>chancel</strong> features a richly decorated marble high altar, which stands on an open platform and features <strong>ornate gilding work</strong> and <strong>exquisitely</strong> carved <strong>bas reliefs</strong> of biblical scenes, including The Last Supper and The Angel Gabriel Visits Mary.</p>
<p>Huyện Sỹ passed away in 1900 before the church was completed. When his wife Huỳnh Thị Tài died in 1920, he was reburied alongside his wife in the <strong>axial</strong> memorial chapel immediately behind the chancel.</p>
<p>Elaborately carved from the finest marble, the tombs feature full-length <strong>effigies</strong> of the couple. <strong>Busts</strong> of Huyện Sỹ and Huỳnh Thị Tài are also installed on the walls.</p>
<p><strong>Chợ Quán, Cha Tam churches</strong></p>
<p>Besides these structures, visitors should also stop by the Chợ Quán Church in District 5. The Catholic Church with <strong>solemn</strong>, magnificent architecture opened in 1896.</p>
<p>The church is decorated in a French Gothic style with a pointed <strong>dome</strong> and large bell tower. From the top of the tower, tourists can see a <strong>panoramic</strong> view of the city. The ringing of the church bells emits a sense of peace and <strong>tranquility</strong>.</p>
<p>The Cha Tam Church, commonly known as St Francis Xavier Parish Sài Gòn, was built in 1900 and completed in 1902. Its <strong>distinctive</strong> character reflects a mixture of European, Chinese and Vietnamese architectural styles.</p>
<p>The church has Gothic architecture like many churches in Europe, but Chinese features are incorporated, including a name written in kanji, a tiled roof, a curved sword, and a two-sided cross.</p>
<p>On the roof of the church are a lotus and two painting scrolls written in kanji. The four main pillars are red, a feature rarely seen in Catholic churches.</p>
<p>During the Christmas holiday, all of these historic churches are adorned with decorations that attract both foreign and local tourists.</p>
<p><strong>Heritage tours</strong></p>
<p>Besides his heritage blog, Doling has written a new walking tour guidebook called <em>Exploring</em> <em>HCM City.</em></p>
<p>He also runs Heritage Tours, which introduces a wealth of lesser-known places of interest, alongside the city’s better-known historic sites.</p>
<p>Originally trained as a <strong>medieval</strong> historian, Doling has spent most of his career in the cultural sector, running theatres and arts centres in Coleraine (Northern Ireland), Horsham (England) and Hong Kong, and undertaking cultural projects in Asia, Africa and Europe.</p>
<p>First visiting HCM City in 1989 on holiday from Hong Kong, where he was working as chief executive of the Hong Kong Arts Centre, he found the city so beautiful and interesting that he sought to return.</p>
<p>In 1990, Doling organised a research trip to Việt Nam to set up cultural exchanges between his arts centre and Vietnamese arts organisations, beginning his long connection with Việt Nam. <strong>– VNS</strong></p>
<p><strong>GLOSSARY</strong></p>
<p>Though born in a Buddhist family in HCM City, I began to visit Catholic churches regularly for two reasons: my <strong>adoption</strong> of my <strong>godparents’</strong> religious beliefs and my admiration for French <strong>architecture.</strong></p>
<p><strong><em>Adoption</em></strong> <em>means taking on something that was not yours in the beginning. The writer’s adoption of her godparents’ religion happened because she was born Buddhist but took on another religion.</em></p>
<p><strong><em>Godparents</em></strong> <em>are people who parents choose to guide their children in their religious ways.</em></p>
<p><strong><em>Architecture</em></strong> <em>is the science and art behind the designing of houses.</em></p>
<p>For visitors of any religion who want to be <strong>immersed</strong> in a <strong>tranquil atmosphere</strong>, visiting a church in the city can be a rewarding experience.</p>
<p><em>To be <strong>immersed</strong> in something means to be very involved in it.</em></p>
<p><em>A <strong>tranquil atmosphere</strong> means a peaceful mood.</em></p>
<p>It attracts not only Catholics but also local and foreign tourists for its <strong>neo-Romanesque</strong> style and <strong>sacred</strong> atmosphere.</p>
<p><strong><em>Romanesque</em></strong> <em>is the style of designing buildings that was popular in Europe from the end of the Roman Empire until about the year 1200. Neo-Romanesque is the style shortly after that.</em></p>
<p><strong><em>Sacred</em></strong> <em>means holy.</em></p>
<p>Few people know exactly when the church was built as many websites list <strong>inaccurate</strong> dates.</p>
<p><strong><em>Inaccurate</em></strong> <em>means incorrect</em>.</p>
<p>According to Doling, the cathedral “was built in 1877-1879 to a design by Jules Bourard, as a replacement for the <strong>ill-fated</strong> 1863 Église Sainte-Marie-Immaculée, which stood on the site of today’s modern Sun Wah Tower on Nguyễn Huệ Street, until it became <strong>infested</strong> by <strong>termites</strong> and had to be demolished”.</p>
<p><strong><em>Ill-fated</em></strong> <em>means unfortunate.</em></p>
<p><strong><em>Infested</em></strong> <em>means occupied by something awful.</em></p>
<p><strong><em>Termites</em></strong> <em>are a type of insect.</em></p>
<p>The first stone of the new cathedral was laid on October 7, 1877 by Admiral-Governor Victor Duperré <strong>in the presence of</strong> Bishop Isidore Colombert.</p>
<p><em>If the stone was laid <strong>in the presence of</strong> the bishop, it means the bishop was there when it happened.</em></p>
<p>Established by French <strong>colonists</strong>, the cathedral has two bell towers standing 58 metres high.</p>
<p><strong><em>Colonists</em></strong> <em>are people who come from one country to another country to rule it and behave as if it is their own country.</em></p>
<p>During its <strong>construction</strong>, all of the red bricks were imported from Marseilles and the coloured glass windows were made in Chartres Province in France.</p>
<p><em>A building’s <strong>construction</strong>, in this case, is the time when it was being built.</em></p>
<p>Other tiles are <strong>inscribed</strong> with the name Wang-Tai Saigon.</p>
<p><em>If a name is <strong>inscribed</strong> into a tile it is written into that tile.</em></p>
<p>A statue of Virgin Mary, erected in 1954, stands in front of the cathedral, which has a <strong>foundation</strong> designed to <strong>bear</strong> 10 times the building’s weight.</p>
<p><em>The <strong>foundation</strong> of a building is the underneath part that supports it from the ground.</em></p>
<p><em>To <strong>bear</strong>, in this case, means to tolerate.</em></p>
<p>The church is a short walking distance from other <strong>iconic landmarks</strong>, including the city’s Post Office and Opera House.</p>
<p><strong><em>Iconic landmarks</em></strong> <em>of HCM City are places in the city that make people think of the city.</em></p>
<p>Hoàng Thị Hương, 33, a Catholic who lives in Thủ Đức District, said the cathedral was her “favourite <strong>destination</strong> in the city for attending <strong>Mass</strong> or just visiting outside.”</p>
<p><em>A <strong>destination</strong> is a place people travel to.</em></p>
<p><em>A <strong>Mass</strong> is a Catholic church service.</em></p>
<p>But few are aware that Tân Định Church is one of the city’s oldest and most important Roman Catholic <strong>institutions</strong>.</p>
<p><strong><em>Institutions</em></strong> <em>are places where things happen according to special rules.</em></p>
<p>Designed in a Romanesque style with <strong>Gothic</strong> and <strong>Renaissance elements</strong>, the church includes a <strong>nave</strong> with a tall <strong>barrel-vaulted roof</strong> (today hidden by a false ceiling), separated by <strong>arcades</strong> from side <strong>aisles</strong> and outer corridors.</p>
<p><strong><em>Gothic</em></strong> <em>is a certain style that dates back to Europe in the 12<sup>th</sup> to 16<sup>th</sup> Centuries.</em></p>
<p><strong><em>Renaissance</em></strong> <em>is a style that comes from Europe centuries ago.</em></p>
<p><em>A <strong>barrel vaulted roof</strong> is a design of roof seen in many old European cathedrals as well as in ancient Egyptian and Roman architecture.</em></p>
<p><em>An <strong>arcade</strong> is a covered passage with arches along one or both sides.</em></p>
<p><em>An <strong>aisle</strong> is a passage between rows of seats in a building such as a church or theatre, an aircraft, or train.</em></p>
<p>The design incorporates a triforium or shallow-arched upper gallery and features two <strong>apsidal</strong> <strong>chapels</strong> that <strong>extrude</strong> from either side of the nave, close to the entrance, according to Doling.</p>
<p><em>A <strong>chapel</strong> is a small church. Cathedrals often have <strong>chapels</strong> within them. <strong>Apsidal chapels</strong> are chapels that are part of a large semicircle-shaped end of a cathedral.</em></p>
<p><em>The chapels <strong>extrude</strong> from either side of the nave because its looks as if they are being pushed out of the nave.</em></p>
<p><em>A <strong>nave</strong> is the central part of a church building.</em></p>
<p>The one at the right as you enter is <strong>dedicated</strong> to Mary and Joseph, while the one to the left is dedicated to St Theresa.</p>
<p><strong><em>Dedicated</em></strong> <em>to Mary and Joseph means built to remember them.</em></p>
<p>The saints’ statues and the 14 Stations of the Cross, which <strong>adorn</strong> the outer side aisle pillars, date from the 1890s.</p>
<p><strong><em>Adorn</em></strong> <em>means decorate.</em></p>
<p>The Église Huyện Sỹ in District 1 was built from 1902 to 1905 at the corner of Nguyễn Trãi and Tôn Thất Tùng streets, through the <strong>beneficence</strong> of Huyện Sỹ (1841-1900; real name: Philippe Lê Phát Ðạt), who was once the richest man in southern Việt Nam.</p>
<p><strong><em>Beneficence</em></strong> <em>is an action that is done for the sake of being good to other people.</em></p>
<p>The building has been <strong>refurbished</strong> on numerous occasions, most recently from 2007 to 2009.</p>
<p><em>To <strong>refurbish</strong> a building means to do building work on it to change the inside of it.</em></p>
<p>Above the front <strong>vestibule</strong> is a 57-m high bell tower, and a statue of St Philip stands at the main entrance.</p>
<p><em>A <strong>vestibule</strong> is a small room at the door of a building.</em></p>
<p>The windows are adorned with images of Bible stories in Italian <strong>stained glass</strong>.</p>
<p><strong><em>Stained glass</em></strong> <em>is coloured glass.</em></p>
<p>On either side of the <strong>transept</strong> are small chapels dedicated to Virgin Mary and St Joseph.</p>
<p><em>A <strong>transept</strong> is a cross-shaped church.</em></p>
<p>The <strong>chancel</strong> features a richly decorated marble high altar, which stands on an open platform and features <strong>ornate gilding work</strong> and <strong>exquisitely</strong> carved <strong>bas reliefs</strong> of biblical scenes, including The Last Supper and The Angel Gabriel Visits Mary.</p>
<p><em>A <strong>chancel</strong> is the part of a church near the altar.</em></p>
<p><strong><em>Ornate</em></strong> <em>means elaborately or highly decorated.</em></p>
<p><strong><em>Gilding work</em></strong> <em>means work that is painted in gold.</em></p>
<p><strong><em>Exquisitely</em></strong> <em>means absolutely beautifully.</em></p>
<p><em><strong>Bas reliefs</strong> are a</em> <em>kind of sculpture in which shapes are carved so that they are only slightly higher than the flat background.</em></p>
<p>When his wife Huỳnh Thị Tài died in 1920, he was reburied alongside his wife in the <strong>axial</strong> memorial chapel immediately behind the chancel.</p>
<p><em>An <strong>axial</strong> chapel is one that is built around an axis</em></p>
<p>Elaborately carved from the finest marble, the tombs feature full-length <strong>effigies</strong> of the couple.</p>
<p><strong><em>Effigies</em></strong> <em>are little statues.</em></p>
<p><strong>Busts</strong> of Huyện Sỹ and Huỳnh Thị Tài are also installed on the walls.</p>
<p><em>A <strong>bust</strong> is a sculpture of a person’s head, shoulders, and chest.</em></p>
<p>The Catholic Church with <strong>solemn</strong>, magnificent architecture opened in 1896.</p>
<p><strong><em>Solemn</em></strong> <em>means formal and dignified.</em></p>
<p>The church is decorated in a French Gothic style with a pointed <strong>dome</strong> and large bell tower. From the top of the tower, tourists can see a <strong>panoramic</strong> view of the city.</p>
<p><em>A <strong>dome</strong> is a type of round roof.</em></p>
<p><em>A <strong>panoramic</strong> view is an all-round view.</em></p>
<p>The ringing of the church bells emits a sense of peace and <strong>tranquility</strong>.</p>
<p><strong><em>Tranquility</em></strong> <em>means calmness.</em></p>
<p>Its <strong>distinctive</strong> character reflects a mixture of European, Chinese and Vietnamese architectural styles.</p>
<p><strong><em>Distinctive</em></strong><em>, in this case, means unique.</em></p>
<p>Originally trained as a <strong>medieval</strong> historian, Doling has spent most of his career in the cultural sector, running theatres and arts centres in Coleraine (Northern Ireland), Horsham (England) and Hong Kong, and undertaking cultural projects in Asia, Africa and Europe.</p>
<p><strong><em>Medieval</em></strong> <em>means relating to the Middle Ages.</em></p>
<p><em>WORKSHEET</em></p>
<p><em>Find words that mean the following in the Word Search.</em></p>
<ol>
<li><em>A church within the Christian religion.</em></li>
<li><em>A word that describes the religion into which</em> <strong><em>Bồ Xuân Hiệp</em></strong> <em>was born.</em></li>
<li><em>The colour of Tân Định Church.</em></li>
<li><em>A saint to which a chapel at</em> <em>Tân Định Church is dedicated.</em></li>
<li><em>The part of the world in which you would find a place called</em> <em>Horsham.</em></li>
</ol>
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<p><strong><em>n</em></strong></p>
</td>
<td>
<p><strong><em>e</em></strong></p>
</td>
<td>
<p><strong><em>n</em></strong></p>
</td>
<td>
<p><strong><em>g</em></strong></p>
</td>
<td>
<p><strong><em>l</em></strong></p>
</td>
<td>
<p><strong><em>a</em></strong></p>
</td>
<td>
<p><strong><em>n</em></strong></p>
</td>
<td>
<p><strong><em>d</em></strong></p>
</td>
<td>
<p><strong><em>y</em></strong></p>
</td>
<td>
<p><strong><em>i</em></strong></p>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p><em>ANSWERS: 1. Catholic; 2. Buddhist; 3. Pink; 4. Theresa; 5. England.</em></p>
</div>
<br />
Grand old churches stand high in HCM City Related image(s)<br />
<img height="200" src="http://bit.ly/2inccK0" width="200" /><br />

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Grand old churches stand high in HCM City

Grand old churches stand high in HCM City Built in 1877-1879 to a design by Jules Bourard, the Sài Gòn Notre Dame Cathedral downtown is a major tourist attraction in HCM City. VNS Photo Phương Đặng Viet Nam News There are a number of huge, old churches in Ho Chi Minh City. They were built in the day…

31 Dec 2016

5 V-pop hits for New Year’s Eve

5 V-pop hits for New Year’s Eve
<p>Worried you won’t understand a single lyric? Don’t. You’re not missing much.</p>
<div>
<p><strong>Toc Tien | The Gong Dance</strong></p>
<p>Toc Tien’s <em>Gong Dance</em> shook bars, clubs and street corners last year with its heart-pumping electronic riffs.</p>
<p>The whole country quickly mastered the namesake dance in 2016—a medley of cabbage-patching and crab-walking.</p>
<p>If you haven’t figured it out yet, put it at the top of your resolution list.</p>
<p><strong>365Daband | Bong Bong Bang Bang</strong></p>
<p>A film adaptation of Vietnam’s gruesome Cinderella fairytale, <em>Tam Cam</em>, saw middling success at the box office this August.</p>
<p>Though critics rolled their eyes at the film’s lackluster visual effects and storytelling, the country couldn’t get enough of <em>Bong Bong Bang Bang.</em></p>
<p>The song is essentially an electronic remix of a century-old diddy that Vietnamese Cinderella uses to summon her pet fish — until her evil step-sister kills it, that is.</p>
<p>Sing <em>Bong Bong Bang Bang</em> this New Year’s Eve and hope that a white-bearded fairy godfather appears in your backyard to help you exact revenge on all those who wronged you.</p>
<p><strong>Hoang Thuy Linh | Banh Troi Nuoc (The Floating Cake)</strong></p>
<p>Electrified folk instruments topped the charts for the third time this year when singer Hoang Thuy Linh wandered into Long An’s mystical forests to Ninh Binh’s lime peaks, dressed in a series of gigantic gowns.</p>
<p>Her song, <em>Banh troi nuoc,</em> refers to a four-line poem about the feudal fate of Vietnamese women.</p>
<p>While a somewhat heavy subject for a party tune, the floaty, rising arcs of this ambient ballad make it a pretty sweet soundtrack for drinking beer.</p>
<p><strong>Pham Hong Phuoc | Vietnam – Go, Kiss and Love</strong></p>
<p>Vietnam’s rising pop star, Pham Hong Phuoc, loved every moment of his cross-country travels.</p>
<p>His song about it begs the question where have you gone, who have you kissed and what have you loved this year?</p>
<p><strong>Son Tung M-TP | We don’t belong together</strong></p>
<p>If you went to a bar this year, then chances are you heard the controversial “repackaging” of a Charlie Puth tune by Vietnamese pop prince M-TP.</p>
<p>The weird science video for <em>We don’t belong together</em> (in which a bleached M-TP appears to be assembling a girlfriend out of mannequin parts) netted nearly 90 million views on YouTube and became the most-viewed V-pop video of 2016.</p>
<p>Be warned: you might find yourself humming Tung’s tune into 2017.</p>
</div>
<br />
5 V-pop hits for New Year’s Eve Related image(s)<br />
<img height="200" src="http://ift.tt/1eWmqbm" width="200" /><br />

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5 V-pop hits for New Year’s Eve

5 V-pop hits for New Year’s Eve Worried you won’t understand a single lyric? Don’t. You’re not missing much. Toc Tien | The Gong Dance Toc Tien’s Gong Dance shook bars, clubs and street corners last year with its heart-pumping electronic riffs. The whole country quickly mastered the namesake dance i…

31 Dec 2016

Saigon-Ban Gioc Resort, an ideal get-away destination

Saigon-Ban Gioc Resort, an ideal get-away destination
<p>Saigon-Ban Gioc Resort, an ideal get-away destination</p>
<p>Nguyen Tien</p>
<div style="width: 510px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img alt="" src="http://bit.ly/2hU0xS1" width="500" />
<p class="wp-caption-text">The beauty of Ban Gioc Waterfall</p>
</div>
<p>The Saigon-Ban Gioc Resort, an affiliate of Saigontourist Holding Company, is an ideal destination for travelers to discover Ban Gioc Waterfall, one of Asia’s wonders, in the northernmost upland province of Cao Bang.</p>
<p>The 31.15-hectare luxury resort offers 53 guestrooms and a ballroom for over 200 guests. Its restaurant serves local, Asian and Western specialties. In this first four-star resort in the northeastern region of Vietnam, modern facilities and local nature and culture exist in harmony. A stay at the Saigon-Ban Gioc resort gives guests a chance to discover the stunning beauty of Ban Gioc Waterfall, mysterious Nguom Ngao Cave, and peaceful, picturesque sights in the border area.</p>
<p>Ban Gioc Waterfall, which the hotel is named after, is a must-see destination. From the height of 30 meters, water races down in a cascade. In the middle of the waterfall lies a moss-covered stone which splits the water flow into three streams looking like three white ribbons.</p>
<p>The water falling down day and night with countless sprays splashing over a large area. During sunny days, tourists will have a chance to admire a beautiful rainbow at the waterfall. There is a peaceful lake right at the foot of Ban Gioc, surrounded by grass fields and forests. Tourists should spend time to admire the nearby Nguom Ngao Cave which is 3km long.</p>
<p>Ban Gioc has cold weather year round with four specific seasons. Its average temperature is from 25 to 28 degrees Celsius and the winter’s temperature is at 16 or 17 degrees Celsius.</p>
<p>When the night falls, a popular activity for tourists is to dance and sing together at a fire camp at the waterfall and to have an exchange with Tay and Nung ethnic minority people in the location.</p>
<p>Tourists can also explore other sightseeing spots in Cao Bang, including Pac Bo Cave, Lenin Stream and Thang Hen Lake and Phat tich Truc Tam Ban Gioc Pagoda, and to enjoy unique dance moves of local people.</p>
<p>The Saigon – Ban Gioc Resort is having many promotions for guests. It is located at Dam Thuy Commune, Trung Khanh District, Cao Bang Province, tel: 026 3829228, email: saigonbangiocresort@gmail.com, website: http://bit.ly/2hCsVvW.</p>
<br />
Saigon-Ban Gioc Resort, an ideal get-away destination Related image(s)<br />
<img height="200" src="http://bit.ly/2hU0xS1" width="200" /><br />

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Saigon-Ban Gioc Resort, an ideal get-away destination

Saigon-Ban Gioc Resort, an ideal get-away destination Saigon-Ban Gioc Resort, an ideal get-away destination Nguyen Tien The beauty of Ban Gioc Waterfall The Saigon-Ban Gioc Resort, an affiliate of Saigontourist Holding Company, is an ideal destination for travelers to discover Ban Gioc Waterfall, on…

31 Dec 2016

Amid Chinese tourism boom, Vietnam’s prime beach province diversifies

Amid Chinese tourism boom, Vietnam’s prime beach province diversifies
<div style="width: 510px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img alt="Amid Chinese tourism boom, Vietnam's prime beach province diversifies" src="http://bit.ly/2ioZ49D" width="500" />
<p class="wp-caption-text">Khanh Hoa Province’s Cam Ranh Airport overloaded with Chinese tourists. Photo by VnExpress</p>
</div>
<p>Seeing record numbers of Chinese visitors, officials look to create interest elsewhere.</p>
<div>
<p>The lure of beaches, luxury resorts and golf courses has brought an increasing number of foreign tourists to the south-central province of Khanh Hoa in 2016.</p>
<p>The Vietnam National Administration of Tourism has logged an 18-percent annual increase in Khanh Hoa for the past five years.</p>
<p>Most visitors head to the beach town of Nha Trang, where international tourist arrivals are expected to hit 1.1 million this year, slightly down from last year’s 1.3 million, according to local tourism authorities.</p>
<p>Despite the mild downturn, Khanh Hoa’s Chinese visitors leapt from 33,000 in 2014 to 600,000 this year — a figure that accounted for half of the province’s total international arrivals.</p>
<p>“We have no reasons to believe that a huge surge in Chinese tourists has driven away tourists from some traditional source markets,” Tran Viet Trung, head of the provincial tourism authority told the <em>Saigon Times</em>. “Nevertheless it is time to revive our long-standing tourist markets and tap into new ones.”</p>
<p>Trung said local tourism should not heavily rely on the Chinese, who often travel in large groups, and pointed out that his agency has already begun reaching out to operators in Germany, South Korea and Japan.</p>
<p>Vietnam Airlines will begin offering direct flights from Germany in April, said Nguyen Van Thanh, vice chairman of the Nha Trang – Khanh Hoa Tourism Association.</p>
<p>“We will sit down with local travel operators to create tours that appeal to Japanese visitors,” said Thanh.</p>
<p>Foreign visitors to Vietnam hit 10 million this year, a 26 percent increase over 2015’s numbers.</p>
<p>China ranked first in Vietnam’s top 10 tourist source markets and official statistics showed that Chinese tourism soared 53 percent from a year ago to 2.7 million.</p>
<p>Vietnam’s top tourist destinations for the Chinese are usually Khanh Hoa, Da Nang, Phu Quoc Island and lately Da Lat in the Central Highlands.</p>
<p><em>Related news:</em></p>
<p>> <a href="http://bit.ly/2gumgDT">Vietnam named a favorite destination for Chinese tourists</a></p>
<p>><a href="http://bit.ly/2ioOeka">Flowery Da Lat hooks up with China on direct flights</a></p>
</div>
<br />
Amid Chinese tourism boom, Vietnam’s prime beach province diversifies Related image(s)<br />
<img height="200" src="http://bit.ly/2ioZ49D" width="200" /><br />

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Amid Chinese tourism boom, Vietnam’s prime beach province diversifies

Amid Chinese tourism boom, Vietnam’s prime beach province diversifies Khanh Hoa Province’s Cam Ranh Airport overloaded with Chinese tourists. Photo by VnExpress Seeing record numbers of Chinese visitors, officials look to create interest elsewhere. The lure of beaches, luxury resorts and golf course…

30 Dec 2016

Ideal places near Hanoi for New Year holiday

Ideal places near Hanoi for New Year holiday
<p><em>If you want to spend the New Year holidays with your close friends or family at a nice place near the capital city, here’s a good choice for top destinations.</em></p>
<p><em><br /></em></p>
<table>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>
<p><img alt="Image result for nha tho do nam dinh" src="http://bit.ly/2hTpLjq" /></p>
<p>Around 120km far away from Hanoi, you can visit an old collapsed church in the northern Nam Dinh province where you can see daily life activities of fishermen as well as sunrise and sunset</p>
<p><img alt="Image result for canh dong huong duong nghe an" src="http://bit.ly/2hBBzdM" /></p>
<p>Ongoing sunflower festival in the central province of Nghe An is seen as a highlight of entertainment activities.</p>
<p><img alt="Image result for tam dao vinh phuc" src="http://bit.ly/2hTl5d7" /></p>
<p>Tam Dao in northern Vinh Phuc province, with fresh air and wonderful scenery, has become a popular destination for young travellers.</p>
<p><img alt="Image result for dong mo" src="http://bit.ly/2hBGv2k" /></p>
<p>Dong Mo, 50km from Hanoi, is a perfect place for outdoor activities like camping, and boat racing</p>
<p><img alt="Image result for ninh binh" src="http://bit.ly/2hTqO2D" /><br />
Around 100km from the capital city, Ninh Binh is famous for beautiful natural landscapes like Trang An, Bai Dinh, Tam Coc, Bich Dong and Van Long.</p>
<p><img alt="Image result for sapa" src="http://bit.ly/2hBD3VL" /><br />
Sapa with magnificent mountains and unique cultural identifies of ethnic minority people attracts the large number of tourists</p>
<p><img alt="Image result for ba vi" src="http://bit.ly/2hTk0C0" /></p>
<p>Around 60km from Hanoi, Ba Vi National Park in Ba Vi district is an ideal place for relaxation after hard working days</p>
<p><img alt="Image result for moc chau" src="http://bit.ly/2hBIofp" /></p>
<p>You can contemplate white blooming flowers and wild sunflowers in Moc Chau, 200km from Hanoi</p>
<p><img alt="Image result for thung nai" src="http://bit.ly/2hTjHHx" /></p>
<p>Thung Nai in Hoa Binh province is likened to Ha Long Bay on land.</p>
<p><img alt="Image result for ho dai lai" src="http://bit.ly/2hBFNlM" /></p>
<p>Dai Lai Lake in Vinh Phuc province is also a good place to enjoy fresh air and natural beauty</p>
</td>
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<td></td>
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</tbody>
</table>
<p><em><br /></em></p>
<p><em>VOV/VNN</em></p>
<br />
Ideal places near Hanoi for New Year holiday Related image(s)<br />
<img height="200" src="http://bit.ly/2hTpLjq" width="200" /><br />

thumbnail

Ideal places near Hanoi for New Year holiday

Ideal places near Hanoi for New Year holiday If you want to spend the New Year holidays with your close friends or family at a nice place near the capital city, here’s a good choice for top destinations. Around 120km far away from Hanoi, you can visit an old collapsed church in the northern Nam Dinh…

30 Dec 2016

Railway investment lags far behind road expenditures

Railway investment lags far behind road expenditures
<p><em>VietNamNet Bridge – The modest investment in railways in the last 100 years, as well as high management costs and ticket prices have pushed the railway sector into an impasse.</em></p>
<p><img alt="In 2014, when the Noi Bai – Lao Cai highway was opened, the Hanoi – Lao Cai railway, which was once of the most crowded rail routes, lost 10-15 percent of passengers within one month." src="http://bit.ly/2iLdRIe" title="In 2014, when the Noi Bai – Lao Cai highway was opened, the Hanoi – Lao Cai railway, which was once of the most crowded rail routes, lost 10-15 percent of passengers within one month." /></p>
<p>In 2014, when the Noi Bai – Lao Cai highway was opened, the Hanoi – Lao Cai railway, which was once of the most crowded rail routes, lost 10-15 percent of passengers within one month.</p>
<p>The rail route still cannot attract passengers, even though Hanoi Railway Transport JSC lowered the ticket price to VND399,000.</p>
<p>Passengers now tend to turn their back to railway transport, mostly because they only have to spend three hours to travel between Hanoi and Lao Cai by coach, while it takes 6-7.5 hours to travel by rail.</p>
<p>Doan Duy Hoach, deputy general director of the Vietnam Railway Corporation, said infrastructure has become too old as rail structure was set up 100 years ago, while the corporation doesn’t have money to upgrade the railways as the state investment is modest.</p>
<p>While the state has been allocating big capital to road development, it seems to have forgotten about the railway.</p>
<p>A report shows that in 2001-2010, the total investment capital for transport infrastructure projects was VND160.08 trillion, of which 88 percent was allocated to road projects, while only 3 percent went to railways.</p>
<table>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td><strong>The modest investment in railways in the last 100 years, as well as high management costs and ticket prices have pushed the railway sector into an impasse.</strong></td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p>In 2011-2015, when the investment capital for transport infrastructure increased sharply to VND330 trillion, 90 percent of capital went to roads (VND299 trillion) and only 3 percent was reserved for railways (VND9.2 trillion).</p>
<p>As a result, railways had 1.14 percent of passenger transport and 2 percent cargo transport. Meanwhile, the figures were 95 percent and 65 percent for roads.</p>
<p>The capital allocated by the state budget is just big enough to satisfy 60 percent of the demand for maintaining the existing railways.</p>
<p>The project on upgrading and modernizing the Thong Nhat Route from Hanoi to HCMC has been approved, but the disbursement has not been made.</p>
<p>Pham Sanh, a renowned transport expert, commented that because of the delays in developing railways, Vietnam may lose important opportunities to develop a transport network in a comprehensive way, thus leading to higher logistics costs and lower economic competitiveness.</p>
<p>While the state capital for railway development is modest, it is difficult to call for capital from private investors.</p>
<p>Hoach said it is easy to persuade investors to inject money into road projects because they can take back investment capital by collecting tolls. But they cannot do this with railway projects.<br /></p>
<table>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>related news</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
<ul>
<li><a href="http://bit.ly/2iezi7C"></a>
<p>HCM City: Nearly $225 mln for metro underground section</p>
</li>
<li><a href="http://bit.ly/2iLam4z"></a>
<p>VN needs double-track railway for further development: experts</p>
</li>
</ul>
</td>
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</tbody>
</table>
<p><em><strong>Thanh Lich</strong></em></p>
<br />
Railway investment lags far behind road expenditures Related image(s)<br />
<img height="200" src="http://bit.ly/2iLdRIe" width="200" /><br />

thumbnail

Railway investment lags far behind road expenditures

Railway investment lags far behind road expenditures VietNamNet Bridge – The modest investment in railways in the last 100 years, as well as high management costs and ticket prices have pushed the railway sector into an impasse. In 2014, when the Noi Bai – Lao Cai highway was opened, the Hanoi – Lao…

30 Dec 2016

Seven waterfalls in Vietnam’s Central Highlands

Seven waterfalls in Vietnam’s Central Highlands
<p><em>Dray Nur, Dray Sap, and Trinh Nu to name a few are beautiful and imposing waterfalls in the Central Highlands for visitors to discover for their New Year holidays.</em></p>
<p><em><br /></em></p>
<table>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td><img alt="discovering 7 waterfalls in mysterious central highlands hinh 1" src="http://bit.ly/2hyr2yv" />
<p>Dray Sap in DakLak</p>
<p><img alt="discovering 7 waterfalls in mysterious central highlands hinh 2" src="http://bit.ly/2iwob7D" /></p>
<p><img alt="discovering 7 waterfalls in mysterious central highlands hinh 3" src="http://bit.ly/2hypW61" /><br />
Dray Nur waterfall is around 30km from Buon Ma Thuot City in Dak Lak province.</p>
<p><img alt="discovering 7 waterfalls in mysterious central highlands hinh 4" src="http://bit.ly/2iwqHuC" /></p>
<p><img alt="discovering 7 waterfalls in mysterious central highlands hinh 5" src="http://bit.ly/2hygFdW" /></p>
<p>Thuy Tien or Ba Tang (three layer waterfall) is around 56km from Buon Ma Thuot City, Dak Lak province</p>
<p><img alt="discovering 7 waterfalls in mysterious central highlands hinh 6" src="http://bit.ly/2iwqlEw" /></p>
<p><img alt="discovering 7 waterfalls in mysterious central highlands hinh 7" src="http://bit.ly/2hyyARJ" /></p>
<p>Krong Kma waterfall originates from the highest peak of Cu Yang Sin mountains in Dak Lak province.</p>
<p><img alt="discovering 7 waterfalls in mysterious central highlands hinh 8" src="http://bit.ly/2iws2l0" /></p>
<p><img alt="discovering 7 waterfalls in mysterious central highlands hinh 9" src="http://bit.ly/2hymnwJ" /></p>
<p>Bay Nhanh waterfall in EaWer, Buon Don district, Dak Lak province</p>
<p><img alt="discovering 7 waterfalls in mysterious central highlands hinh 10" src="http://bit.ly/2iwqg3m" /></p>
<p>Gia Long is the upper reach of three waterfalls: Gia Long, Dray Nur and Dray Sap in Serepok River.</p>
<p><img alt="discovering 7 waterfalls in mysterious central highlands hinh 11" src="http://bit.ly/2hymR5W" /></p>
<p><img alt="discovering 7 waterfalls in mysterious central highlands hinh 12" src="http://bit.ly/2iwskIT" /></p>
<p>Trinh Nu waterfall in Ea T’ling town, Dak Nong province</p>
</td>
</tr>
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<td></td>
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</tbody>
</table>
<p><em><br /></em></p>
<p><em>Zing/VOV</em></p>
<br />
Seven waterfalls in Vietnam’s Central Highlands Related image(s)<br />
<img height="200" src="http://bit.ly/2hyr2yv" width="200" /><br />

thumbnail

Seven waterfalls in Vietnam’s Central Highlands

Seven waterfalls in Vietnam’s Central Highlands Dray Nur, Dray Sap, and Trinh Nu to name a few are beautiful and imposing waterfalls in the Central Highlands for visitors to discover for their New Year holidays. Dray Sap in DakLak Dray Nur waterfall is around 30km from Buon Ma Thuot City in Dak Lak …

30 Dec 2016

Five places to celebrate New Year in northern Vietnam

Five places to celebrate New Year in northern Vietnam
<p><em>New Year is coming and you will want to find a perfect place to share this special time with your loved ones. Here are top 5 ideal destinations in Vietnamese northern region to spend Tet holidays:</em></p>
<p><strong>Trang An in Ninh Binh province</strong></p>
<p><strong><br /></strong></p>
<p><strong><img alt="five ideal places to celebrate new year in northern region hinh 0" src="http://bit.ly/2iwoKyg" /><br /></strong></p>
<p><strong><br /></strong></p>
<p>Trang An tourism complex is called an ‘outdoor geological museum’ with numerous caves, mountains, valley water, trees and historic relics. The site was also listed on the UNESCO World Heritage List of Natural and Cultural Sites in June 2014.</p>
<p>Trang An is home to about 577 plant species including 10 species listed in the Red Book of Vietnam.</p>
<p>It is known not only as a scenic destination but also as a Buddhist sacred place. Bai Dinh is a complex of pagodas in Vietnam-the largest and one of the most important centers of Buddhism in the country and also Southeast Asia.</p>
<p><strong>Tam Dao in Vinh Phuc province</strong></p>
<p><strong><br /></strong></p>
<p><strong><img alt="five ideal places to celebrate new year in northern region hinh 1" src="http://bit.ly/2hy9H90" /><br /></strong></p>
<p><strong><br /></strong></p>
<p><strong><br /></strong></p>
<p>Tam Dao, 70 km north of Hanoi, is one of the largest national parks in Vietnam, which is home to 281 species of fauna from 281 genera, 84 families and 26 orders belonging to 4 main classes of animals, birds, reptiles, and amphibious ones.</p>
<p>The average temperature is 22.9 C all the year round. This is ideal holiday makers to enjoy the fresh, pure and cooling air, beautiful scenery, and delicious food.</p>
<p>Travellers will be impressed by not only the landscapes but also “clouds of butterflies” in Tam Dao.</p>
<p><strong>Dai Lai in Vinh Phuc</strong></p>
<p><strong><br /></strong></p>
<div style="width: 510px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img alt="Dai Lai is bestowed charming scenery of mountain and water by the Creator." src="http://bit.ly/2iwnGdQ" title="Dai Lai is bestowed charming scenery of mountain and water by the Creator." />
<p class="wp-caption-text">Dai Lai is bestowed charming scenery of mountain and water by the Creator.</p>
</div>
<p><strong><br /></strong></p>
<p><strong><br /></strong></p>
<p>To the north of the lake is Tam Dao Mountain Range with untouched green forests. The hillocks closing to mountain slopes are extended by soil dams to create a solid wall for maintaining water of the lake. The harmonious combination between lake and mountains creates a vivid natural picture.</p>
<p>After sightseeing Dai Lai Lake, visitors take only 3 minutes by canoe or 10 minutes by boat to visit Ngoc (Pearl) Island in the middle of the lake.</p>
<p>Especially, visitors can also choose duck-shaped pedalo water boat to relax and discover many fascinating landscapes around the lake.</p>
<p>Visitors also have an opportunity to enjoy many delicious dishes of the mountainous region such as bamboo-tube rice, mountainous pork, fried small fish, grilled chicken…</p>
<p><strong>Moc Chau in Son La province</strong></p>
<p><strong><br /></strong></p>
<div style="width: 510px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img alt="At an altitude of over 1,000 meters, Moc Chau Plateau is in flowered throughout the year. Its stunning beauty has made Moc Chau a popular tourist attraction." src="http://bit.ly/2hyi842" title="At an altitude of over 1,000 meters, Moc Chau Plateau is in flowered throughout the year. Its stunning beauty has made Moc Chau a popular tourist attraction." />
<p class="wp-caption-text">At an altitude of over 1,000 meters, Moc Chau Plateau is in flowered throughout the year. Its stunning beauty has made Moc Chau a popular tourist attraction.</p>
</div>
<p><strong><br /></strong></p>
<p><strong><br /></strong></p>
<p>Spring is the best time to admire the stunning beauty of Moc Chau Plateau when its mountain slopes are covered with peach flowers. Getting lost in vast fields of peach trees whose pink and white flowers dance in the wind will surely be an impressive new experience for you.</p>
<p>Moc Chau guarantees beautiful, romantic photos you can share with your friends when you return.</p>
<p><strong>Sapa in Lao Cai province</strong></p>
<p><strong><br /></strong></p>
<div style="width: 510px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img alt="Located in the northern mountainous province of Lao Cai, Sapa is known for its picturesque mountain scenery, green valleys, quaint traditional tribal villages, rice terraces and breathtaking views." src="http://bit.ly/2iweTIV" title="Located in the northern mountainous province of Lao Cai, Sapa is known for its picturesque mountain scenery, green valleys, quaint traditional tribal villages, rice terraces and breathtaking views." />
<p class="wp-caption-text">Located in the northern mountainous province of Lao Cai, Sapa is known for its picturesque mountain scenery, green valleys, quaint traditional tribal villages, rice terraces and breathtaking views.</p>
</div>
<p><strong><br /></strong></p>
<p>At the height of 1,600m above sea level, the average temperature of the area is 15-18°C. It is cool in summer and very cold in winter.</p>
<p>Sapa is also famous for its love market, which takes place on Saturday evenings. It is a rendervouz for loving couples.</p>
<p><em>VOV</em></p>
<br />
Five places to celebrate New Year in northern Vietnam Related image(s)<br />
<img height="200" src="http://bit.ly/2iwoKyg" width="200" /><br />

thumbnail

Five places to celebrate New Year in northern Vietnam

Five places to celebrate New Year in northern Vietnam New Year is coming and you will want to find a perfect place to share this special time with your loved ones. Here are top 5 ideal destinations in Vietnamese northern region to spend Tet holidays: Trang An in Ninh Binh province Trang An tourism c…

30 Dec 2016

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