Vietnam Breaking News

Programme to promote Vietnamese tourism in Cambodia

Programme to promote Vietnamese tourism in Cambodia
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NDO –Vietnam’s General Department of Tourism, under the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism co-ordinated with Cambodia’s Ministry of Tourism and the Embassy of Vietnam in Cambodia to organise a programme promoting Vietnamese tourism in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, on August 29.

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As part of activities to mark the 50th founding anniversary of Vietnam-Cambodia diplomatic relations, the programme aims to boost the exchange of tourists and promote the connection of tourist destinations between the two countries and attracted delegates from 100 travel agencies, hotel and communication agencies of Cambodia.
 
Addressing the event, Deputy Director General of Viet Nam National Administration of Tourism Ha Van Sieu expressed his wish to receive the cooperation of the Cambodian delegates and businesses in introducing the image of Vietnam to more Cambodian tourists. He also expressed his hope that the tourism destinations of the two countries will become more closely connected, becoming a common destination in the region and contributing to attracting more tourists from other countries.
 
From 2009 to 2016, Vietnam has led the number of visitors to Cambodia with millions of people visiting the country each year, while Vietnam is also the first destination of Cambodian tourists when traveling abroad. In 2016 alone, the exchange of visitors between the two countries reached over 1.17 million, of which nearly 212,000 were Cambodian visitors to Vietnam. Cambodia is among the top 15 Vietnam tourism markets and in the first seven months of this year, Vietnam welcomed more than 131,000 Cambodian visitors, up 24% over the same period in 2016.
 
According to the Cambodian Minister of Tourism Thong Khon, in 2016, Cambodia welcomed over 5 million international visitors (up 5% over 2015), of which Vietnam lead the number of visitors with 960,000 travellers.
 
The minister also stated that Cambodia and Vietnam have a lot of tourism potential, not only for the people of the two countries, but also for visitors from other countries. The two countries should continue to increase direct air routes and promote road and waterway connections. The development of new tourism products and the promotion of beach area tourism sites in the two countries promise to boost tourism growth in the region, he said.
 
At the event, the participants had an opportunity to learn about Vietnam’s tourism destinations in general and the tourism products of some localities in particular, in addition to a number of tourist routes and attractive destinations, such as the road routes from Cambodia to the Mekong Delta, Ho Chi Minh City and the Southeast of Vietnam.

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Programme to promote Vietnamese tourism in Cambodia

Programme to promote Vietnamese tourism in Cambodia NDO –Vietnam’s General Department of Tourism, under the Ministry of Culture, Sports and...

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Gourmet grub: Thai fine-diners explore insect cuisine

Gourmet grub: Thai fine-diners explore insect cuisine
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Fried bamboo caterpillars being placed on a watermelon salad inside the kitchen of Insects in the Backyard, which says it offers the first insect-based fine-dining menu, in Bangkok. Photo by AFP/Lillian Suwanrumpha
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At a hip Bangkok diner, foodies with an adventurous palate tuck into a bug-based menu that includes watermelon salad sprinkled in bamboo worms, nachos with silkworm cherry tomato salsa and pasta made from ground crickets.
Abundant and stacked with protein, insects have long been a favourite snack among Thai farmers. But they have often carried a negative image, perceived as “food for the poor” in a country with profound class divides.
Now bugs are creeping onto the menu of some of Bangkok’s high-end restaurants as the capital’s gourmands leap on the latest global food trend with a sustainable agenda.
Ratta Bussakornnun, a 27-year-old who works in the cosmetics industry, admitted she was initially sceptical as she sat for a meal recently at Insects in the Backyard, which says it offers Bangkok’s first insect-themed fine-dining menu.
Many wealthier Thais, she said, think of insects as “unappetizing and dirty”.
But by the end of her meal she was won over.
“I just ate scallops topped with bamboo worms and a fish fillet with an ant egg sauce. It was delicious,” she beamed, a gentle jazz track playing overhead in the dimly lit restaurant.
“The food is well presented,” she added. “This gives an impression of sophistication.”
The restaurant is located in Chang Chui — an arty district in western Bangkok filled with vinyl record stores and local fashion designers.
Feed the world
Co-founder Regan Suzuki Pairojmahakij says insects are more than just a gastronomic trend — they are a potential panacea for an increasingly crowded and meat-hungry world.
The Canadian national used to work in the NGO sector with remote rural communities, many of whom incorporated insects into their cuisine.
“I’ve been working in the climate change, natural resource management fields for a number of years, and a big part of it has been the search for the sustainable forms of protein, food and supply chain,” she told AFP.
With the world’s population expected to hit 9.8 billion in 2050, many experts remain acutely concerned about how the world will feed itself as well as the environmental damage caused by so much meat being consumed.
Insects, she said, require a fraction of the costs and energy needed to farm compared to staples like chicken, pork, and beef.
That is nothing new to many of Thailand’s rural classes.
Insect consumption is particularly popular in the rural northern regions, mainly due to its drought-prone climate, which has created a more varied and less fussy local palate.
For people in the central part of the country that is fertile all year long, insects are eaten more as a snack, often deep fried and served with seasoning or spicy sauce.
But persuading the wealthy middle classes of Bangkok, a city of huge disproportionate wealth compared to the rest of the country, is still a challenge.
“No Bangkokian eats insects because it has a social status connotation,” said Massimo Reverberi, an Italian entrepreneur of a small start-up called Bugsolutely.
Based in Bangkok and Shanghai, his firm says the not-so-welcoming look of insects remains a major turn-off for many.
Instead he looks for ways to use insects in everyday food items like chips and energy bars.
Their current product is a pasta made from cricket flour, which is now sold by a small number of outlets in Japan and New Zealand, but not yet Thailand.
Bug eggs 
Back in the kitchen of Insects in the Backyard, chef Thitiwat Tantragarn says the most important thing is to get the flavours right.
“Giant water bug meat has a similar texture to crab, so that’s why I use it in the ravioli,” he enthused.
Ant eggs are another favourite of his, which he tends to serve with fish.
“They have a sour flavour, which helps reduce the fishy taste. We try to make sure the menu has balance and harmony.”
“My intention is to change diners’ attitude. Insects are edible and delicious,” he added. “It’s not disgusting.”
His culinary approach appears to be working.
Ania Bialek, a British teacher living in Thailand, said she had tried fried insects sold by street vendors but wanted to know what a higher end menu would taste like.
“I will happily eat them again,” she said at the end of the meal.
“But I would need someone else to prepare it for me. I will not be keen on cooking it myself.”
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Edible winged ants being used as garnish for a margarita at Insects in the Backyard, which says it offers the first insect-based fine-dining menu, in Bangkok. Photo by AFP/Lillian Suwanrumpha
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People eating at Insects in the Backyard.  Photo by AFP/Lillian Suwanrumpha
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Edible water beetle inside the kitchen of Insects in the Backyard. Photo by AFP/Lillian Suwanrumpha
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Edible silkworms prepared inside the kitchen of Insects in the Backyard. Photo by AFP/Lillian Suwanrumpha
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Gourmet grub: Thai fine-diners explore insect cuisine Related image(s) 
<img height="200" src="http://bit.ly/2vFj8am" width="200" />

Gourmet grub: Thai fine-diners explore insect cuisine

Gourmet grub: Thai fine-diners explore insect cuisine Fried bamboo caterpillars being placed on a watermelon salad inside the kitche...

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State-owned aviation firms soon for heavy divestment

State-owned aviation firms soon for heavy divestment
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Amid growing interest among foreign investors in the aviation market, Vietnam Airports Corporation and Vietnam Airlines – the two most influential corporations in the aviation sector – will continue to divest large state stakes to fund future development plans.
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Deputy Prime Minister Vuong Dinh Hue signed Decision No.1232/QD-TTg on August 17, approving the state stake divestment for state-owned enterprises (SOEs) and corporations in 2017-2020, with Vietnam Airports Corporation (ACV) and the flag carrier Vietnam Airlines (VNA) both named among the many in line for divestment.
 
ACV will have to sell off 20 per cent of its state stake in 2018 and 10.4 per cent in 2019, while VNA will have to sell 35.16 per cent in 2019, thus cutting state ownership in the firms to 65 per cent and 51 per cent, respectively.
 
“The divestment will be a good chance for foreign investors to join the local aviation market. Many foreign investors are interested in acquiring stake in the firms,” Deputy Transport Minister Le Dinh Tho told VIR.
 
According to Thomas Treutler, partner and managing director of Tilleke & Gibbins Consultants Limited, foreign investors will certainly be interested in investing in well-established airlines. Travel to Vietnam for business and tourism will continue to rise, as will outbound travel for Vietnamese businesses reaching out internationally to investors and Vietnamese citizens travelling internationally for tourism.
 
“Domestic travel within the country is also booming, with more affordability. Thus, it certainly has the potential for continued development and can be a lucrative investment,” Treutler said.
 
ACV and VNA are quite appealing to foreign investors, both having demonstrated solid performance in 2016.
 
ACV – the operator of 22 airports across the country – made a net revenue of VND13.4 trillion ($609 million) last year, up 23 per cent on-year, while its pre-tax profits rose 58 per cent on-year to over VND4 trillion ($181.8 million).
 
VNA – which holds a 42 per cent market share in the domestic airline sector – reaped consolidated revenue of VND76 trillion ($3.45 billion) last year, up 10 per cent on-year. It also achieved record-high consolidated pre-tax profits, raking in VND2.5 trillion ($113.6 million), up 140 per cent on-year.
 
The two groups are also planning ambitious future investments to increase operational efficiency. Specifically, the Hanoi-based carrier has decided to invest a large sum to increase its fleet from 93 to 120 aircraft by 2020. It is also set on maintaining its annual growth of 16.1 per cent during the next three years.
 
The robust performance and future potential of the aviation industry has made it very attractive to foreign investors compared to other forms of transportation. 
 
According to the Civil Aviation Administration of Vietnam (CAAV), Vietnam’s aviation industry, which contributes $6 billion to the country’s GDP annually, grew 29 per cent on-year in terms of passengers in 2016.
 
In addition, Vietnam’s passenger:population ratio is less than 1:1, compared to rates of 4:1 or 5:1 in more developed markets like Singapore, Hong Kong, and the US. Thus there is plenty of room for future growth.
 
“Foreign investors often target large-scale firms and firms that are in the same business field as they are. VNA and ACV are good examples of past targets,” said another senior official in the Ministry of Transport.
 
In 2016, the stake sales by VNA and ACV were among the hottest in the aviation industry, as many multi-national corporations lined up to take part in the auctions.
 
Paris Aéroport, which manages 37 airports, outbid rivals including Singapore’s Changi Airport International, and Japanese investors Taisei and JATCO to become ACV’s strategic foreign investor.
 
Also last year, VNA gained a valuable partner when ANA Holdings – Japan’s largest airline – bought an 8.8 per cent stake in the state-owned firm for VND2.38 trillion ($108 million).
By Tung Anh

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State-owned aviation firms soon for heavy divestment Related image(s) 
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State-owned aviation firms soon for heavy divestment

State-owned aviation firms soon for heavy divestment Amid growing interest among foreign investors in the aviation market, Vietnam Airport...

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Saigon’s much-anticipated first street food zone opens for business

Saigon’s much-anticipated first street food zone opens for business
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Ho Chi Minh City opened its first street food zone in District 1 on Monday as part of the district’s acclaimed efforts to clean up its sidewalks.
If you hadn’t already heard, the campaign is taking a zero-tolerance approach to remove cars, bikes, vendors and structures that invade the sidewalks and rob pedestrians of their space.
The first zone on Nguyen Van Chiem Street has been designated for low-income vendors who will not have to pay a fee to sell their goods in the zone.
Each of the 20 stalls takes up just a third of the sidewalk, giving pedestrians enough room to move around freely.
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The first street food zone on Nguyen Van Chiem Street, District 1. Photo by VnExpress/Thanh Nguyen
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Wearing a uniform provided by district authorities, a vendor named Phuong said she used to sell food in an alley near her home but decided to apply for a license to operate in the new zone as soon as she heard about it.
“My family and I received food safety training a couple of days ago. We hope we will earn more money than before here,” she said.
Another vendor told VnExpress that she can run her business “in peace” now because she no longer has to watch out for officers and be ready to make a run for it at any moment as before.
Vu Ngoc Duong, who works near the zone, said she usually buys street food for breakfast but is always worried about the quality.
“Now the authorities have rolled up their sleeves to manage this area, I feel more secure about the food.”
The street food zone stretches 40 meters on the sidewalk of Nguyen Van Chiem behind the Notre Dame Cathedral, and is open from 6 a.m. to 9 a.m. and 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
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Selected vendors are allowed to do business in the street food zone free of charge. Photo by VnExpress/Thanh Nguyen
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The city’s second street food zone is expected to open at Bach Tung Diep Park near the Reunification Palace in a month.
District 1 authorities started the sidewalk cleanup campaign early in February in a bid to take back the sidewalks for their original purpose and turn the district into a “Little Singapore”.
They have put up barriers and deployed police to stop motorbikes from driving on the sidewalks. They have also been towing vehicles, including government and foreign diplomatic cars, and destroying any invasive constructions that spill out onto the street, some of which belong to five-star hotels.
The project, led by the district’s vice chairman Doan Ngoc Hai, has been widely applauded by locals, but it has also raised concerns for being too extreme. Street vendors across District 1 are possibly the unhappiest and have been seen crying and yelling when police seize their food stands.
The campaign hit a four-month hiatus when Hai mysteriously stepped out of the campaign in April, telling local media that he had to do so as “requested by district leaders”.
With Hai’s hands tied, the mission was passed down to local units, and things returned to the old days before resuming earlier this month.
Upon his return, Hai asked for a “carte blanche to punish anyone that breaks the rules, even officials.”
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Saigon’s much-anticipated first street food zone opens for business Related image(s) 
<img height="200" src="http://bit.ly/2wLXfLJ" width="200" />

Saigon’s much-anticipated first street food zone opens for business

Saigon’s much-anticipated first street food zone opens for business Ho Chi Minh City opened its first street food zone in District 1 on Mon...

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Pet-friendly China acupuncturist gets tails wagging again

Pet-friendly China acupuncturist gets tails wagging again
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“Dan Jiao” (“Egg Dumpling”), a partially paralysed dog receives acupuncture treatment with needles known as meridians at the Shanghai Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) Neurology and Acupuncture Animal Health Centre in Shanghai. Photo by AFP/Chandan Khanna
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Looking like a furry brown pincushion, eight-month-old French bulldog “Dan Jiao” whimpers nervously as he waits for the end of a Chinese acupuncture session aimed at curing partial paralysis caused by a puppyhood injury.
“Dan Jiao” (“Egg Dumpling”), would obviously rather be chewing on a bone somewhere than sitting strapped against his will into a harness that resembles a medieval torture device, pricked by several long needles hooked up to a mild electric current.
But the Shanghai clinic of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) practitioner Jin Rishan at least provides hopeful owners an alternative to putting down the beloved family dog or cat, the typical fate of pets immobilized by severe spinal and nervous-system injuries.
“We’re getting more and more customers,” said Jin, 53, whose Shanghai TCM Neurology and Acupuncture Animal Health Centre is operating at full capacity of around 20 patients per day, and growing.
Many dogs suffer from tough-to-treat back injuries or spinal deterioration that can render them unable to walk. A range of breeds including Bulldogs, German Shepherds, Collies, Basset Hounds and Shi Tzus are particularly prone.
“Seventy percent of the animals here suffer from spinal disc herniation, leading to paralysis of the hind legs or all four legs,” Jin said, adding that acupuncture is “more effective” than modern medicine.
“Western medical practices can’t do much,” he said.
Signs of hope 
It appears to be working for “Dan Jiao,” who was completely paralyzed when his owner Michael Xu first brought him in for treatment after a fall that broke his back.
“After three days of acupuncture, he was slowly able to crawl on his front paws. By the seventh day he was able to limp on all four legs.”
On Friday, patients ranging from a gangly black Labrador to a tiny teacup poodle were carried in by their owners or carted in baby prams.
They were eventually strapped into harnesses before the thin acupuncture needles were inserted into their problem spots.
Others sniffed nervously as smoking moxibustion cups — a form of heat therapy that involves burning aromatic plants — were applied to their hides.
But the place had not completely gone to the dogs. The day’s sole feline patient looked particularly put out, being completely strapped down to prevent it squirming around.
Wang Ping, the owner of “Mei Mei” (“Little Sister”), has fresh hope of getting the five-month-old teacup poodle back on her tiny feet after a paralyzing neck injury suffered three months ago.
“I went to traditional clinics with “Mei Mei” but the vets said she was too small for surgery,” Wang said.
Doctors initially recommended euthanasia before referring Wang to Jin’s clinic.
“So I came over and she’s much better, at least she can lift her head and crawl a bit now.”
Jin’s practice is based on the feeling that a pet is like a human member of the family, entitled to the same loving care.
“In the past, Chinese people had a very weak notion of what a pet was. But now more and more families treat pets as a companion or family member. So they care so much about their pets, it is not like in the past.”
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Dong Jinling holds his partially paralysed dog Lulu as it receives acupuncture treatment with needles known as meridians at the Shanghai Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) Neurology and Acupuncture Animal Health Centre in Shanghai. Photo by AFP/Chandan Khanna
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Li Temiao embraces her partially paralysed dog Danfoer as it receives acupuncture treatment with needles known as meridians at the Shanghai Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) Neurology and Acupuncture Animal Health Centre in Shanghai. Photo by AFP/Chandan Khanna
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A partially paralysed cat receives acupuncture treatment at the Shanghai Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) Neurology and Acupuncture Animal Health Centre in Shanghai. Photo by AFP/Chandan Khanna
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Pet-friendly China acupuncturist gets tails wagging again Related image(s) 
<img height="200" src="http://bit.ly/2wLmbTi" width="200" />

Pet-friendly China acupuncturist gets tails wagging again

Pet-friendly China acupuncturist gets tails wagging again “Dan Jiao” (“Egg Dumpling”), a partially paralysed dog receives acupunctur...

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Cable car plan for cave kingdom a stark reminder of Vietnam’s development mania

Cable car plan for cave kingdom a stark reminder of Vietnam’s development mania
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Plans for another cable car in Vietnam’s UNESCO-listed Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park have raised more questions than answers in a country where economic interests all too often eclipse limited environmental safeguards.
The most troubling question is, according to experts, whether the masses stand to benefit from a project that is being promoted in the name of economic development.
Authorities in the central province of Quang Binh proposed the cable car system across Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park, which UNESCO recognized as a global heritage site in 2003, at a meeting with Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc on Friday.
Phuc said that although the idea has raised widespread eyebrows, he and government agencies “agree in principle” with the plan. He said the project must “not interfere with the heritage site nor be overexploited”, asking the culture and tourism ministry to assess the project’s possible impacts and consult UNESCO on the matter.
The cable car system is set to run 5.2 kilometers (3.2 miles) from a section of the Ho Chi Minh Highway to En (Swallow) Cave, which was catapulted into global fame when it was aired live on U.S. talk show Good Morning America in May 2015.
En Cave, a feeder to the world’s largest cave <a href="http://bit.ly/2jrQYxB">Son Doong</a>, stretches 1,645 meters into the mountain and has been named one of the most captivating caves on earth by National Geographic. It is also believed to be the world’s third largest cave, according to CNN.
Phong Nha – Ke Bang is home to over 300 caves and grottoes that date back some 400 million years. Around 30 caves are now open to visitors, which has created a tourism boom and lifted the poor, war-torn province.
Supporters of the cable car say it will make it easier for tourists to explore the cave, giving local tourism a much-needed boost that would increase revenues and create jobs. They also say it affords opportunities for the elderly and disabled, and not just able-bodied people, to visit more remote beauty spots.
But those in the opposing camp say that the proposal’s much-touted benefits could pale in comparison to its possible drawbacks.
“The construction of large cable car base stations, towers, café-souvenir shops and parking lots will destroy the view,” said Tim Doling, a British author who has studied Vietnam’s history and tourism extensively. “The noise and disturbance associated with a heavy throughput of tourists can cause permanent damage to the natural landscape, wildlife and ecology.”
More importantly, “there are also serious questions to be answered about who ultimately benefits – the company which built and operates the cable car or the local community,” Doling said.
In Vietnam, the idea of building a huge infrastructure project designed to draw as many visitors as possible to a carefully protected ecological wonder has not gone down well with conservationists.
“Over the past 20 years, Vietnam’s tourism sector seems to have been led by a simple mantra – ‘big is beautiful’. But it rarely is,” said Mark Bowyer, a tourism expert in Vietnam who runs the website <a href="http://bit.ly/2wSZI64">rustycompass.com</a>. “Huge investments have been the prize most provinces have sought. Most other priorities have been neglected.”
In a country where local leaders are judged chiefly by how much their cities have grown, regardless of whether it is sustainable, local media have reported story after story in which cities and provinces often compete with each other by building airports, seaports or golf courses. This leads to a glut of infrastructure projects that only help to boost local gross domestic product thanks to construction, infrastructure, money flowing through banks and new employment in the short term.
Instead of focusing on projects that add value in the long term, local authorities are fixated on boosting GDP figures, analysts say. As a result, they ignore the environment and long-term planning.
“But worst of all is the systematic destruction of the country’s unique natural sites, the very reasons many foreigners visit the country, in the name of modernization and economic development,” Doling said.
“A slew of natural wonders are constantly destroyed or threatened across the country where local leaders are too preoccupied with short- sighted economic performance.”
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Cable car-obsessed
It is not the first time Quang Binh has been caught up in the cable car controversy. Local authorities first suggested the construction of a similar system in 2014 when it unveiled plans to build a $212-million gondola lift into Son Doong, the world’s largest cave, inside Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park.
Widespread opposition, including an <a href="http://bit.ly/2iHYAMO">online petition</a> signed by thousands and concerns from UNESCO, eventually prompted the government to ask the province to scrap the project. The government has also guaranteed that no construction will take place in the entire cave system until at least 2030.
But it’s not just Quang Binh that is raising public hackles. Elsewhere in Vietnam conservationists lament that the country is sacrificing nature for tourism. Many Vietnamese tourist sites, including the world-famous Ha Long Bay and the country’s highest peak Fansipan, are already crisscrossed by cable cars.
Elsewhere in the world, such as Hong Kong and Singapore, it is standard practice to carry out a full environmental assessment before the construction of a cable car can start at a natural heritage site.
This ensures that they are built only in the least ecologically vulnerable areas with a design that is sensitive to the environment. It also imposes strict regulations about wastewater during both construction and operation.
“As there is so little transparency here about the way in which these cable cars are built and operated, it’s very difficult to know if such procedures are applied in Vietnam,” Doling said.
A 2015 report by Pact, an international environmental group, pointed to a raft of loopholes that have plagued Vietnam’s environmental assessment, marginalizing the masses in the decision-making process for public projects that otherwise directly affect their lives.
Although consultation requirements relate to contact with local governments, “there is no requirement for open public involvement and no requirement or guidance provided on more effective consultation methods,” the report said.
“While these bodies are considered by the government to be representative of communities, the hierarchical political system in Vietnam ensures they are often under pressure from higher levels of government to give their approval for the projects,” it said.
“They do not always accurately reflect the opinions and concerns of local communities, particularly disadvantaged or voiceless groups in Vietnamese society such as landless households or ethnic minority groups that can be the most significantly affected by projects.”
Conservationists say every country in the world faces trade-offs between conservation and development, but Vietnam has no safeguards in place against the most damaging actions.
Vietnam neither allows class-action suits nor enables non-affected parties to file public interest lawsuits. The laws also prevent public interest movements like environmental groups from intervening on behalf of the people affected.
“All too often, it seems the voices who are heard with regard to the trade-offs only seem to be the well-connected, politically powerful or rich people, and the benefits of the trade-offs seem to accrue to those powerful and wealthy people as well,” said Pamela McElwee, an assistant professor of human ecology at Rutgers University who has conducted extensive research on Vietnam’s protected areas.
A report by the World Bank and the Ministry of Planning and Investment acknowledged last year that in Vietnam, growth has to a large extent come at the expense of the environment.
“Growth in the past 25 years has imposed significant environmental costs,” the report said. “Rapid depletion of natural resources is a particular concern. Vietnam’s greenhouse gas emissions have grown the fastest in the region, while the environmental quality of its air, land and water has deteriorated considerably.”
Experts say conservation victories will remain scarce in Vietnam unless radical changes are made. Without a major shakeup, ordinary people will continue to bear the brunt of economic development.
“Up to now,” Doling said, “sadly it is certainly the case that economic interests in the exploitation of both natural and built heritage sites has tended to be given precedence over conservation concerns.”
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Cable car plan for cave kingdom a stark reminder of Vietnam’s development mania Related image(s) 
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Cable car plan for cave kingdom a stark reminder of Vietnam’s development mania

Cable car plan for cave kingdom a stark reminder of Vietnam’s development mania Plans for another cable car in Vietnam’s UNESCO-listed Phon...

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Controversial cable car plan for world heritage site a stark reminder of Vietnam’s development quagmire

Controversial cable car plan for world heritage site a stark reminder of Vietnam’s development quagmire
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Plans for another cable car in Vietnam’s UNESCO-listed Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park have raised more questions than answers in a country where economic interests all too often eclipse limited environmental safeguards.
The most troubling question is, according to experts, whether the masses stand to benefit from a project that is being promoted in the name of economic development.
Authorities in the central province of Quang Binh proposed the cable car system across Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park, which UNESCO recognized as a global heritage site in 2003, at a meeting with Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc on Friday.
Phuc said that although the idea has raised widespread eyebrows, he and government agencies “agree in principle” with the plan. He said the project must “not interfere with the heritage site nor be overexploited”, asking the culture and tourism ministry to assess the project’s possible impacts and consult UNESCO on the matter.
The cable car system is set to run 5.2 kilometers (3.2 miles) from a section of the Ho Chi Minh Highway to En (Swallow) Cave, which was catapulted into global fame when it was aired live on U.S. talk show Good Morning America in May 2015.
En Cave, a feeder to the world’s largest cave <a href="http://bit.ly/2jrQYxB">Son Doong</a>, stretches 1,645 meters into the mountain and has been named one of the most captivating caves on earth by National Geographic. It is also believed to be the world’s third largest cave, according to CNN.
Phong Nha – Ke Bang is home to over 300 caves and grottoes that date back some 400 million years. Around 30 caves are now open to visitors, which has created a tourism boom and lifted the poor, war-torn province.
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En Cave, a feeder to the world’s largest cave <a href="http://bit.ly/2jrQYxB" style="font-size: 10.6667px">Son Doong</a>, stretches 1,645 meters into the mountain and has been named one of the most captivating caves on earth by National Geographic. Photo by VnExpress/Hoang Tao
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Supporters of the cable car say it will make it easier for tourists to explore the cave, giving local tourism a much-needed boost that would increase revenues and create jobs. They also say it affords opportunities for the elderly and disabled, and not just able-bodied people, to visit more remote beauty spots.
But those in the opposing camp say that the proposal’s much-touted benefits could pale in comparison to its possible drawbacks.
“The construction of large cable car base stations, towers, café-souvenir shops and parking lots will destroy the view,” said Tim Doling, a British author who has studied Vietnam’s history and tourism extensively. “The noise and disturbance associated with a heavy throughput of tourists can cause permanent damage to the natural landscape, wildlife and ecology.”
More importantly, “there are also serious questions to be answered about who ultimately benefits – the company which built and operates the cable car or the local community,” Doling said.
In Vietnam, the idea of building a huge infrastructure project designed to draw as many visitors as possible to a carefully protected ecological wonder has not gone down well with conservationists.
“Over the past 20 years, Vietnam’s tourism sector seems to have been led by a simple mantra – ‘big is beautiful’. But it rarely is,” said Mark Bowyer, a tourism expert in Vietnam who runs the website <a href="http://bit.ly/2wSZI64">rustycompass.com</a>. “Huge investments have been the prize most provinces have sought. Most other priorities have been neglected.”
In a country where local leaders are judged chiefly by how much their cities have grown, regardless of whether it is sustainable, local media have reported story after story in which cities and provinces often compete with each other by building airports, seaports or golf courses. This leads to a glut of infrastructure projects that only help to boost local gross domestic product thanks to construction, infrastructure, money flowing through banks and new employment in the short term.
Instead of focusing on projects that add value in the long term, local authorities are fixated on boosting GDP figures, analysts say. As a result, they ignore the environment and long-term planning.
“But worst of all is the systematic destruction of the country’s unique natural sites, the very reasons many foreigners visit the country, in the name of modernization and economic development,” Doling said.
“A slew of natural wonders are constantly destroyed or threatened across the country where local leaders are too preoccupied with short- sighted economic performance.”
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Cable car-obsessed
It is not the first time Quang Binh has been caught up in the cable car controversy. Local authorities first suggested the construction of a similar system in 2014 when it unveiled plans to build a $212-million gondola lift into Son Doong, the world’s largest cave, inside Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park.
Widespread opposition, including an <a href="http://bit.ly/2iHYAMO">online petition</a> signed by thousands and concerns from UNESCO, eventually prompted the government to ask the province to scrap the project. The government has also guaranteed that no construction will take place in the entire cave system until at least 2030.
But it’s not just Quang Binh that is raising public hackles. Elsewhere in Vietnam conservationists lament that the country is sacrificing nature for tourism. Many Vietnamese tourist sites, including the world-famous Ha Long Bay and the country’s highest peak Fansipan, are already crisscrossed by cable cars.
Elsewhere in the world, such as Hong Kong and Singapore, it is standard practice to carry out a full environmental assessment before the construction of a cable car can start at a natural heritage site.
This ensures that they are built only in the least ecologically vulnerable areas with a design that is sensitive to the environment. It also imposes strict regulations about wastewater during both construction and operation.
“As there is so little transparency here about the way in which these cable cars are built and operated, it’s very difficult to know if such procedures are applied Vietnam,” Doling said.
A 2015 report by Pact, an international environmental group, pointed to a raft of loopholes that have plagued Vietnam’s environmental assessment, marginalizing the masses in the decision-making process for public projects that otherwise directly affect their lives.
Although consultation requirements relate to contact with local governments, “there is no requirement for open public involvement and no requirement or guidance provided on more effective consultation methods,” the report said.
“While these bodies are considered by the government to be representative of communities, the hierarchical political system in Vietnam ensures they are often under pressure from higher levels of government to give their approval for the projects,” it said.
“They do not always accurately reflect the opinions and concerns of local communities, particularly disadvantaged or voiceless groups in Vietnamese society such as landless households or ethnic minority groups that can be the most significantly affected by projects.”
Conservationists say every country in the world faces trade-offs between conservation and development, but Vietnam has no safeguards in place against the most damaging actions.
Vietnam neither allows class-action suits nor enables non-affected parties to file public interest lawsuits. The laws also prevent public interest movements like environmental groups from intervening on behalf of the people affected.
“All too often, it seems the voices who are heard with regard to the trade-offs only seem to be the well-connected, politically powerful or rich people, and the benefits of the trade-offs seem to accrue to those powerful and wealthy people as well,” said Pamela McElwee, an assistant professor of human ecology at Rutgers University who has conducted extensive research on Vietnam’s protected areas.
A report by the World Bank and the Ministry of Planning and Investment acknowledged last year that in Vietnam, growth has to a large extent come at the expense of the environment.
“Growth in the past 25 years has imposed significant environmental costs,” the report said. “Rapid depletion of natural resources is a particular concern. Vietnam’s greenhouse gas emissions have grown the fastest in the region, while the environmental quality of its air, land and water has deteriorated considerably.”
Experts say conservation victories will remain scarce in Vietnam unless radical changes are made. Without a major shakeup, ordinary people will continue to bear the brunt of economic development.
“Up to now,” Doling said, “sadly it is certainly the case that economic interests in the exploitation of both natural and built heritage sites has tended to be given precedence over conservation concerns.”
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Controversial cable car plan for world heritage site a stark reminder of Vietnam’s development quagmire Related image(s) 
<img height="200" src="http://bit.ly/2vt21JH" width="200" />

Controversial cable car plan for world heritage site a stark reminder of Vietnam’s development quagmire

Controversial cable car plan for world heritage site a stark reminder of Vietnam’s development quagmire Plans for another cable car in Viet...

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Naked models become living art at S. Korea festival

Naked models become living art at S. Korea festival
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The bodies of dozens of female models were turned into living canvases at a festival in Seoul this weekend, as delicate brush strokes and flamboyant illustrations covered up their bare skin.
Near-naked women — wearing only panties and strategically placed pieces of tape on their breasts — packed the 2017 Daegu International Bodypainting Festival, surrounded by teams of artists and onlookers.
Top artists from across the world took part in the event South Korea’s southeastern city, as their female subjects strutted across the stage in high heeled shoes and exotic headdresses to display their dazzling body art before the cameras.
“I’ve never been naked anywhere but around my husband,” American participant Neome Mullenberg told AFP as artists, equipped with spray paint and brushes, diligently worked on her body.
“The weirdest part is that I feel like I’m fully clothed,” Mullenberg said, adding that the camera flashes and gazes from strangers did not bother her.
“It’s amazing how paint can make you feel like you’re clothed.”
In just six hours, the models were turned into walking works of art as they strutted down an open air stage in front of hundreds of spectators.
One model was transformed into an elegant blue and green peacock, while another looked as if she had just popped out of a fantasy novel, adorned with a pharaoh-like headpiece and with images of the Greek gods painted on her body.
Italian artist Anna Chapovalov said recommendations from her colleagues and photos from previous events were enough to get her to jump on a plane from Austin, Texas for this year’s festival.
“I loved how the event was organized. It’s worth it,” Chapovalov said.
The artists, who compete for cash prizes, are judged on a range of criteria including the use of colour, painting techniques and originality.
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A model representing Emanuele Borello of Italy poses during the Daegu International Bodypainting Festival in Daegu. Photo by AFP/Ed Jones
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A model poses for a photo during the Daegu International Bodypainting Festival in Daegu. Photo by AFP/Ed Jones
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Naked models become living art at S. Korea festival Related image(s) 
<img height="200" src="http://bit.ly/2vsRsWO" width="200" />

Naked models become living art at S. Korea festival

Naked models become living art at S. Korea festival The bodies of dozens of female models were turned into living canvases at a festival in...

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On Chinese Valentine’s Day, businesses woo ‘single dogs’

On Chinese Valentine’s Day, businesses woo ‘single dogs’
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 Florist An Shuai displaying a single dried rose ahead of China’s Valentine’s Day, at a flower market in Beijing.  Photo by AFP/Greg Baker
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Alone on Chinese Valentine’s Day? Gift yourself a dried flower. Or better yet, indulge in a cake shaped like a “single dog”. Eating by yourself? A restaurant will sit a teddy bear across from you.
As couples coo over each other during China’s version of Valentine’s Day on Monday, several businesses will woo a single population that may be unlucky with love but has money to spend.
While Valentine’s Day is on February 14 in other parts of the world, China celebrates its version during the Qixi Festival, which falls on the seventh day of the seventh month of the lunar calendar.
Couples go on dinner dates and exchange flowers and cards. And then there are the “single dogs”, as they are nicknamed in China.
Nearly 200 million people are not married in the country of almost 1.4 billion, according to official figures, many resisting family and cultural pressure to settle down.
Businesses have something else for them.
One of the country’s most popular hotpot restaurants, Haidilao, places a teddy bear across from customers who dine alone.
The bear can make customers “feel at home… not isolated and treated with warmth”, a local Haidilao restaurant manager, Xu Bin, told AFP, adding that this service mainly targets younger customers.
For those with a sweet tooth, the Seven Colour Rainbow bakery makes a cake in the shape of a pooch with his tongue out.
Dubbed “the single dog”, the dessert is 20 percent more expensive than the shop’s more common cake, but it accounts for 15 percent of sales.
“People buy these cakes for their friends as a benign joke,” a staffer surnamed Liu told AFP.
Even US fast food chain Burger King is offering a special discount meal just for singles on Chinese Valentine’s Day: A burger, a fried chicken thigh and a smoothie.
At his flower shop, An Shuai offers singles dried roses encased in glass, which he believes will be a hit on Valentine’s Day.
“People love to celebrate these festivals, and single people can also give flowers to themselves,” An told AFP.
Travelling alone
A range of businesses are targeting singles, including travel, dining, online video games, online video streaming, sports apparels and cosmetics, according to Shaun Rein, founder of China Market Research Group and author of the book “The War for China’s Wallet”.
Travel agency Lvmama says the number of bookings for people without a companion rose almost twofold in the first half of the year compared to the same period in 2016, according to the official People’s Daily newspaper.
In the first 11 months of 2016, solo travellers accounted for 15 percent of the millions of travellers monitored by Ctrip, China’s largest online travel agency, according to the Southern Metropolis Daily newspaper.
“More widespread among the young and single population, travelling alone has become a way for people to realise their spiritual pursuit,” Shi Yuduan, chief marketing officer of Ctrip’s tourism business department, was quoted as saying.
Zhou Kai, 29, feels greater freedom while being single.
“Without the restraint from a relationship or marriage, I can engage more time in personal interests and hobbies and spend more,” Zhou said.
The high-earning urban female population is a major economic player.
Online flower retailer Reflower says almost 80 percent of weekly orders come from female customers, with more than half buying flowers to “comfort themselves”.
“Females who are single especially spend most of their paycheck. Males tend to save more because they want to buy a house later on,” Rein told AFP.
“It’s really being empowered by women, because they are the most optimistic consumers, they tend to have higher paying jobs than men, and they tend to spend more.”
Communist blind dates
But China is concerned about the accelerating drop in its working age population, a consequence of its declining fertility rate and one-child policy, which was relexed to two in 2015.
The Communist Youth League has started to organise blind dates for young people in an attempt to encourage them to settle down.
In eastern Tianjin city alone, the local league committee has arranged blind dates involving 340 people in four venues across the city for the upcoming Qixi Festival.
“In urban areas especially, parents are saying to their girls ‘don’t settle’. Only marry if you want to marry, only have kids if you want to have kids,” Rein said, adding that the phenomenon is signalling social progress.
“I view that as showing female empowerment… I think it’s a very healthy shift, showing more male-female gender equality than ever before.”
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On Chinese Valentine’s Day, businesses woo ‘single dogs’

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Vietnam Airlines listed among top 10 Vietnam’s famous brands in 2017

Vietnam Airlines listed among top 10 Vietnam’s famous brands in 2017
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The carrier has also been listed among the top 10 Vietnam’s famous brands for the third consecutive year. It is not only an affirmation of the Corporation’s position and quality of service, but also a strong legal proof in dealing with Vietnam Airlines’s trademark infringement.

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<div class="alt_imgEditor">Photo for illustration. Source: nld.com.vn </div>

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Speaking at the awarding ceremony, Deputy-General Director of VNA said: “Being as one of the top 10 Vietnamese famous brands helps VNA protect better it’s trademark in the market, especially when the infringement of its trademark has increased recently. In addition, it affirmed that VNA’s position, brand name as well as the service quality of the four-star carrier have already been recognized by customers.”

The “Vietnamese Famous Brand” and “Vietnamese Competitive Brand” awards are organized by the Vietnam Intellectual Property Association with the aim of recognizing and honoring outstanding enterprises in the era of international integration and competition.

The annual program with the participation of enterprises across the country such as VNPT, Techcombank, Vingroup, Traphaco, helps to widely popularize to consumers some of the Vietnamese high quality products and prestigeous trademarks. At the same time, the program also provides an occasion for enterprises to see the benefits, and how to protect their trademarks and prevent trademark infringement on domestic and international markets.

Translated by Thuy Duong

 
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Vietnam Airlines listed among top 10 Vietnam’s famous brands in 2017

Vietnam Airlines listed among top 10 Vietnam’s famous brands in 2017 The carrier has also been listed among the top 10 Vietnam’s famous bra...

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Vietjet becomes official transportation sponsor for Miss Universe Vietnam 2017

Vietjet becomes official transportation sponsor for Miss Universe Vietnam 2017
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Accordingly, all contestants as well as organizers of the beauty contest will fly with Vietjet.
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<div class="alt_imgEditor" style="text-align: justify">Low-cost airline Vietjet announces its official transportation sponsorship for the Miss Universe Vietnam Contest 2017 at a recent press conference. (Photo: Vietjet) </div>

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The airline will present the winner of Miss Universe Vietnam 2017 one year of free flights on all domestic and international routes operated by Vietjet and also be invited to be Vietjet’s special guest for all the airline’s on-board activities.

Miss Universe Vietnam is a prestigious contest with the international copy right of Miss Universe Organization, which aims at honoring charm, confidence, bravery and intelligence of Vietnamese women in the new era. The winner of this year contest will represent Vietnam to participate in Miss Universe – one of the most prestigious, famous and attractive beauty pageants in the world.

Apart from bringing flight opportunities for millions of Vietnamese people with reasonable and affordable air fares, Vietjet always accompanies social community, cultural and sporty activities of great significance such as Hot air balloon festival, the music night to commemorate Trinh Cong Son musician, IRONMAN 70.3 Vietnam, Miss Universe Vietnam, Miss Vietnam, The Face Vietnam, National University Entrance Exam Support Campaign, Da Lat flower festival, etc… Vietjet continuously brings many promotional programmes as well as accompanies meaningful activities with a lot of benefits to passengers and people.

Established in 2007, Vietjet is now leading the domestic aviation market in Vietnam and actively expanding its international flight network. After five years of operations, the airline has flown nearly 40 million passengers, and been awarded 32 domestic and nine international accolades, including being named one of the Top 500 Brands in Asia 2016, “Vietnam’s Most Favorite Airline”, “The Best Asian Low Cost Carrier 2015” at the TTG Travel Awards 2015.

Vietjet is a member of the International Air Transport Association (IATA) with the IATA Operational Safety Audit (IOSA) certificate. The airline’s operation safety and technical reliability rates have always been among the highest in Asia Pacific region with a modern and well-furbished fleet and amazing diverse and friendly services.

Currently, the airline operates a fleet of 45 aircraft, including A320s and A321s, and operates over 350 flights per day. It currently flies 73 routes in Vietnam and across the region to international destinations such as Hong Kong, Thailand, Singapore, the Republic of Korea, Malaysia, Cambodia, Taiwan, Hong Kong, China and Myanmar. Vietjet has flown nearly 40 million passengers so far.
 
Source: VNA
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Vietjet becomes official transportation sponsor for Miss Universe Vietnam 2017 Related image(s) 
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Vietjet becomes official transportation sponsor for Miss Universe Vietnam 2017

Vietjet becomes official transportation sponsor for Miss Universe Vietnam 2017 Accordingly, all contestants as well as organizers of the be...

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Museums to use 3D technology

Museums to use 3D technology
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Museums in HCM City will use 3D technology as part of a project launched by the Youth Union’s Youth Centre of Science and Technology Development.
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<td>Wonders of technology: Museums in HCM City will use 3D technology for the Online Museum project to introduce Việt Nam’s history and culture to the world. VNS Photo Phương Mai</td>
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Young artists and software designers at the centre have completed an Online Museum that produces 3D images featuring objects, paintings, photos and documents stored by museums.   
 
The images, all of which are accompanied by sound and light effects, use real-time rendering technology to depict objects.
 
Touchscreens on computers and smartphones can be used to search for information and write feedback during real-time discussions.
 
The Online Museum not only helps people around the world learn more about Việt Nam but also assists local museums in recording information about their holdings.  
 
The Southern Women’s Museum and Historic Relics and the Củ Chi Tunnel Complex will begin using the Online Museum early next year and will also offer free wifi.
 
Trần Vĩnh Tuyến, deputy chairman of the city’s People’s Committee, said the Online Museum had received support from the city government and all museums would use the software in coming years.
 
“Around VNĐ21 billion (US$930,000) will be sent to expand the project,” he said.
 
Few museums in Việt Nam offer online showcases and exhibitions.
 
In 2013, the Museum of Hồ Chí Minh City organised an online showcase of historic objects of Buddhism, attracting thousands of foreign and domestic visitors. But no museum has offered similar online services since that time.
 
The city’s Hồ Chí Minh Museum welcomes more than 800 visitors each day, including around 100 foreigners.
 
Visitors can view many documentaries and images about the late President Hồ Chí Minh.
 
“Visitors can learn more about his life and career, particularly about the great contributions he made to the country and people,” Nguyễn Thị Hoa Xinh, the museum’s director, said.  
 
“Online Museum will help us organise online showcases and exhibitions with different themes to provide visitors more choices,” she added.
Source VNA

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Museums to use 3D technology

Museums to use 3D technology Museums in HCM City will use 3D technology as part of a project launched by the Youth Union’s Youth Centre of...

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HCM City: Bui Vien pedestrian street opens for tourists

HCM City: Bui Vien pedestrian street opens for tourists
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The street is reserved exclusively for pedestrians from 7pm to 2am at weekends.

During this time, vendors are allowed to display their merchandise on the pavement, but not on the road.

Two stages for live music performances are also set up at the two ends of the street, promoting both Vietnamese folk songs and international music.


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<div class="dbox"><a title="Trái"><img alt="left" src="/image/images/left.png" /></a><a title="Giữa"><img alt="center" src="/image/images/center.png" /></a><a title="Phải"><img alt="right" src="/image/images/right.png" /></a><a title="Xóa"><img alt="del" src="/images/red-error_16px.gif" /></a></div>
 
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<div class="alt_imgEditor">Thousands of local and foreign tourists flocked to Bùi Viện Walking Street. Source: vietnamnews.vn </div>

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In addition, tourists can enjoy free Wi-Fi services, public toilets and other tourist-related services.
Foreign visitors have already praised the street for selling “cheap beer” and “providing good services”.

Mahlet Christie from Australia said it was a very good idea to open the walking street. “We love it as everything here is so accessible. It was interesting to sit on the street watching everyone going past.”

“The food is amazing as always. Vietnamese beer is very good. Saigon beer is the best,” she said.

Vu Ngoc Khiem of Bình Thạnh district said, “This is more fun, definitely a more exciting place to hangout for foreign visitors and even locals like me.”

Located in Pham Ngu Lao ward in District 1, the city’s new pedestrian street is expected to offer local residents and tourists a range of entertainment activities.

Since the middle of July, authorities in District 1 have piloted a vehicle ban from 7pm to 2am on weekends, while also carrying out upgrades to pavements along the street.

While eateries, cafes, clothing stores, and souvenir shops are open to customers in the morning and afternoon, restaurants, bars, and pubs bring a more exciting atmosphere to the street from the evening until midnight.

Some 146 businesses are operating on Bui Vien street, said Nguyen Thi Thu Huong, Vice Chairwoman of the District 1 People’s Committee.

Among them are 23 hotels, 25 eateries, 15 cafes, 33 souvenir, handicraft, and clothing stores, 14 pubs, 9 beer bars, 12 salons, 8 travel agents, among others.

Opening specialized streets has been an emerging trend in the city, improving trade and services as well as creating distinctive tourism products for the city.

In 2015, Nguyen Hue Boulevard, the city’s first pedestrian street, opened to visitors and has become a popular venue for both locals and tourists at the weekend.

Nguyen Van Binh, the city’s book street, has also been a popular stop for local bookworms and visitors.

According to Vice Chairman of the municipal People’s Committee Tran Vinh Tuyen, local authorities will do their best to make the pedestrian street attractive to both local and foreign visitors.

HCM City is one of the country’s most popular tourist destinations. It welcomed 2.43 million foreign tourists in the first half of this year, a 12 percent increase from the same period last year, according to city authorities.

Source: VNA
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HCM City: Bui Vien pedestrian street opens for tourists Related image(s) 
<img height="200" src="http://bit.ly/2fZ2UXG" width="200" />

HCM City: Bui Vien pedestrian street opens for tourists

HCM City: Bui Vien pedestrian street opens for tourists The street is reserved exclusively for pedestrians from 7pm to 2am at weekends. D...

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Bùi Viện pedestrian street opens for tourists

Bùi Viện pedestrian street opens for tourists
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Thousands of local and foreign tourists flocked to Bùi Viện Walking Street in the popular backpacker area of HCM City’s District 1 as it officially welcomed walkers at its grand opening last night.
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<td><img src="http://bit.ly/2vVBypc" style="width: 600px;height: 450px" /></td>
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<td>Hitting the street: Thousands of local and foreign tourists flocked to Bùi Viện Walking Street as it officially opened to tourists last night. – VNS Photo Bồ Xuân Hiệp</td>
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The street will be reserved exclusively for pedestrians from 7pm to 2am at weekends.
 
During this time, vendors will be allowed to display their merchandise on the pavement, but not on the road.
 
Two stages for live music performances will also be set up at the two ends of the street, promoting both Vietnamese folk songs and international music.
 
In addition, tourists will enjoy free Wi-Fi services, public toilets and other tourist-related services.
 
Foreign visitors have already praised the street for selling “cheap beer” and “providing good services”.
 
Mahlet Christie, from Australia, said it was a very good idea to open the walking street. “We love it as everything here is so accessible. It was interesting to sit on the street watching everyone going past.”
 
“The food is amazing as always. Vietnamese beer is very good. Sài Gòn beer is the best,” she told Việt Nam News.
 
Vũ Ngọc Khiêm, of Bình Thạnh District, said, “This is more fun, definitely a more exciting place to hangout for foreign visitors and even locals like me.”
 
Located in Pham Ngũ Lão Ward in District 1, the city’s new pedestrian street is expected to offer local residents and tourists a range of entertainment activities.
 
Since the middle of July, authorities in District 1 have piloted a vehicle ban from 7pm to 2am on weekends, while also carrying out upgrades to pavements along the street.
 
While eateries, cafes, clothing stores, and souvenir shops are open to customers in the morning and afternoon, restaurants, bars, and pubs bring a more exciting atmosphere to the street from the evening until midnight.
 
Some 146 businesses are operating on Bùi Viện Street, said Nguyễn Thị Thu Hương, vice-chairwoman of District 1.
 
Among them are 23 hotels, 25 eateries, 15 cafes, 33 souvenir, handicraft, and clothing stores, 14 pubs, 9 beer bars, 12 salons, 8 travel agents, among others.
 
Opening specialised streets has been an emerging trend in the city, improving trade and services as well as creating distinctive tourism products for the city.
 
In 2015, Nguyễn Huệ Boulevard, the city’s first pedestrian street, opened to visitors and has become a popular venue for both locals and tourists at the weekend.
 
Nguyễn Văn Bình, the city’s book street, has also been a popular stop for local bookworms and visitors.
 
According to HCM City’s Vice Chairman Trần Vĩnh Tuyến, local authorities will do their best to make the pedestrian street attractive to both local and foreign visitors.
 
HCM City is one of the country’s most popular tourist destinations. It welcomed 2.43 million foreign tourists in the first half of this year, a 12 per cent increase from the same period last year, according to city authorities.
Source VNA

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Bùi Viện pedestrian street opens for tourists Related image(s) 
<img height="200" src="http://bit.ly/2vVBypc" width="200" />

Bùi Viện pedestrian street opens for tourists

Bùi Viện pedestrian street opens for tourists Thousands of local and foreign tourists flocked to Bùi Viện Walking Street in the popular ba...

+ Read more »