Vietnam Breaking News

Co To Island’s Van Chay recognised as tourism beach

Co To Island’s Van Chay recognised as tourism beach
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<div><span>Co To island in Quang Ninh province (Photo: VNA)</span></div>
<p><strong>Quang Ninh (VNA) –</strong> Van Chay beach on the Co To resort island has been verified as meeting the requirements for a tourist beach, according to Tran Nhu Long, Chairman of the island district’s People’s Committee in the northern province of Quang Ninh.</p>
<p>The recognition was issued by the provincial People’s Committee and will be valid for five years from the date of issuance.</p>
<p>This is part of the province’s efforts to standardise and improve the quality of local beaches to better serve tourists.</p>
<p>To be eligible for the status, the beach must satisfy a set of requirements regarding the quality of sand, transport infrastructure leading to the beach, supply of electricity and fresh water, safety signs, and rescue forces.</p>
<p>Quang Ninh now has many eligible tourist beaches, including five in Ha Long city. The best among them are the 200,000sq.m beach in Ha Long Ocean Park in Ha Long City, and the 15,000sq.m Luong Ngoc Beach in Cam Pha city.</p>
<p>Co To, a popular tourist destination off the coast of Quang Ninh, is renowned for its pristine beaches and abundant fresh, diverse seafood. The island, dubbed the “green pearl”, is one of the farthest inhabited islands, located 80km from the mainland. From Cai Rong port in Van Don, travellers can take high-speed boat trips that take just an hour and a half.</p>
<p>The island district is comprised of Co To Lon (large Co To) island, Co To Be (small Co To) island, and 15 islets.</p>
<p>Its attractions include its turquoise sea and tranquil beaches, along with a tropical forest eco-system almost in its primary conditions.</p>
<p>Large stretches of untouched, white sandy beaches are a key feature on Hong Van, Van Chay, Co To Be, and Thanh Lan islands, where the best beaches of Co To are found.</p>
<p>Thanks to such spectacular nature, the island district has been experiencing soaring tourism development. Statistics show that the number of tourists to Co To has surged in recent years. In 2013, the district welcomed some 56,000 visitors, with the figure going on to double in the following years.</p>
<p>Last year, the island served 320,000 tourists. During peak holiday months, Co To can welcome some 7,000-10,000 tourists per day.</p>
<p>Recently, a master plan for the socio-economic development of Co To towards 2020 was approved, aiming to make the island district a national-level eco-tourism and resort area. This would place it together with the high-end sea and island eco-tourism area of Van Don, and become a key destination on the popular Cat Ba-Ha Long-Van Don-Co To-Mong Cai-Tra Co tour with diverse tourism products, including sports and entertainment centres.</p>
<p>A plan for tourism development for 2020 with a vision to 2030 has also been approved, along with an action programme to make tourism a spearhead sector of the district. –VNA </p>
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Co To Island’s Van Chay recognised as tourism beach

Co To Island’s Van Chay recognised as tourism beach Co To island in Quang Ninh province (Photo: VNA) Quang Ninh (VNA) – Van Chay beach on...

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Vietnam Airlines maintains Skytrax four-star rating for three consecutive years

Vietnam Airlines maintains Skytrax four-star rating for three consecutive years
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<div>The prestigious 4-Star Airline certification is an acknowledge for Vietnam Airlines’ major recent improvements in quality of its product and service standards. Vietnam Airlines has always endeavored to fulfill the commitment that all of its services are ranked 4-star.</div>
<div>The recognition has added Vietnamese airline into the list of the world’s most reputable airlines, including Air France, British Airways, Emirates, Japan Airlines, Korean Air and Lufthansa..</div>
<div>The carrier underwent a dramatic transformation with 4-star service upgrade including check-in counter for business class, special class and economy class in flights to Japan, Australia and Western European countries.</div>
<div>Alongside with this, tax-free Lotus shop in Vietnam Airline planes is a new convenience for passengers.</div>
<div>The 2018 certification of Skytrax will be impetus for the carrier to strive for five-star recognition in the future.</div>
<p>By BICH QUYEN – Translated by UYEN PHUONG</p>
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<div><a>Vietnam Airlines</a> <a>certified</a> <a>maintains</a> <a>Skytrax four-star rating</a> <a>three consecutive years</a></div>
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Vietnam Airlines maintains Skytrax four-star rating for three consecutive years

Vietnam Airlines maintains Skytrax four-star rating for three consecutive years The prestigious 4-Star Airline certification is an acknowl...

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Ducks raised in the field, a specialty of Vietnam

Ducks raised in the field, a specialty of Vietnam
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<td>Quacking good: A plate of roasted field ducks that could make your mouth water.</td>
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<p>In Vietnam’s Cuu Long (Mekong River) Delta, the country’s rice bowl, ducks enjoy happy and healthy lives. After rice is harvested from the immense fields, thousands of such ducks arrived to live here for several months. They comfortably swim and jump here and there to eat corn, catch shrimp and fish and sleep in any brushwood they like. A duck raiser often pitches a tent in the field to sleep at night, said Huynh Van Mung, a duck raiser from An Giang Province.</p>
<p>“Both the ducks and the raiser live a nomadic life for at least three months until the ducks are grown up thanks to the fields. Each duck can weigh from 1.5 to 2 kg. Locals call it the duck season. It means the ducks are suitable for cooking,” said Mung.</p>
<p>“My mother often boils a duck for my father and several of his neighbours to sip a cup of wine with fresh banana salad before we all gather around a tray to enjoy duck soup,” said Mung.</p>
<p>But Mung’s friend in Hanoi, Nguyen Hong Lam, said he likes roasted ducks and vit om sau (duck simmered with dracontomelon fruit, locally known as qua sau), served by the Quan An Ngon Restaurant chain in the capital.</p>
<p>The soft and sweet duck meat simmers with sau fruits and coconut juice. The aromatic flavour of the dish makes his mouth water prolifically, said Lam.</p>
<p>“It is so enjoyable since having the first bite of the duck meat. The dish is eaten in hot weather but I still feel cool, certainly thanks to the duck’s upbringing in nature, and the sour flavor of sau fruits that defeat the heat of summer,” said Lam, adding that the dish’s mixed fragrant sour and sweet flavour has forced him to learn how to cook the food at home.</p>
<p>Quan An Ngon food expert Le Kim Chi said it’s easy to cook the dish. Ingredients include a natural-raised duck of 1.5-2kg, five to seven sau fruits, three taros, fragrant mushroom, citronella and other spices.</p>
<p>The duck should be salt rubbed to deodorize any fishy smell, cut it into matchbox-shaped pieces then mix them with ginger, dried onion, pepper, MSG and a spoonful of white sugar for 35-45 minutes, said Chi.</p>
<p>“We should fry garlic with cooking oil before putting the cut duck pieces in the pot, stirring it well and cooking it with a light fire for five minutes before pouring one litre of water, sau fruits, taros and citronella in the pot and continuing to fire it until the duck is mostly cooked and can be turned, then put mushroom in and boil it for another five minutes,” she said.</p>
<p>Before eating, you should rub the sau and put coriander in the pot, Chi added.</p>
<p>Apart from the dish of vit om sau, Lam said he is still interested in Quan An Ngon’s roasted duck because it is soaked with mixed special spice so delicious that Chi said she is sorry for not publishing it widely.</p>
<p>Unlike other roasted ducks available in the city, Quan An Ngon’s roasted duck is covered with a rich brown colour that makes you crave it at first glance, said Lam.</p>
<p>“Each piece of roasted duck looks shining but soft and delicious. I feel that I could eat until I’m full without being uncomfortable. Taking the piece with my finger, slowly dipping it in a bowl of mixed soya sauce, garlic and chilli and eating it with coriander and a piece of rice vermicelli and again slowly biting them allows me to enjoy an interesting combination between the crispy duck skin and its soft and fragrant meat. I feel as if I was enjoying the dish in the rising windy fields in the countryside,” said Lam.</p>
<p>Herbalist Nguyen Van Tuat from the National Hospital of Traditional Medicines said duck meat raised in the field is highly nutritious. One hundred grams of duck meat has 25 grams of protein, much higher than beef, pork meat, fish and egg.</p>
<p>Tuat said it is also full of other nutritious content such as calcium, phosphorus, folic acid and vitamins B1, B2, A, D and E.</p>
<p>“Duck, particularly of the male duck with a green head colour that has black bones and a black mouth, can treat diuretic, heat and TB and is very good for organs such as heart, liver, stomach, lungs and kidneys. This kind of duck meat is also very good for weak patients after facing a fever, or who are puffed with oedema or pregnant women who are struggling to produce milk.</p>
<p>“However, duck meat is cold so ill people caught with a cold should not eat it,” Tuat warns.</p>
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Ducks raised in the field, a specialty of Vietnam

Ducks raised in the field, a specialty of Vietnam Quacking good: A plate of roasted field ducks that could make your mouth water. ...

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Vietnamese dishes favored in Russia

Vietnamese dishes favored in Russia
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<p>Typical Vietnamese dishes like “phở” noodle soup, spring rolls, summer rolls, and sandwiches called “banh my” are now available in many restaurants across Russia, including the Ligov restaurant in St Petersburg and Cafe Bo in Moscow. These restaurants have become popular with many Russians.</p>
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<td>Pho noodle soup at Ligov restaurant</td>
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<p>Since it opened early this year, Ligov restaurant has been attracting fans of Vietnamese food from all over Russia. The restaurant’s menu includes beef noodle soup, spring rolls, grilled pork and noodles, and northwestern barbecue.</p>
<p>Ligov’s executive director Pham Manh Cuong, who has 16 years working in the restaurant business, says he loves his job because it allows him to promote Vietnamese cuisine to his Russian friends.</p>
<p>“We had problems in the beginning, but everything has gotten better since the World Cup season began. We get a lot of customers from Vietnam, Indonesia, Thailand, and Singapore. Ligov’s owner is passionate about Vietnamese cuisine and wants to promote Vietnam’s cuisine and culture to the world.”, said Cuong.</p>
<p>The day’s first group of customers arrived at the restaurant at 8:30 am. They were football fans from Vietnam who came to Russia for the World Cup. After a 10-hour night flight, they looked much less tired after eating a bowl of pho at Ligov.</p>
<p>“This restaurant’s pho is amazing, very close to the authentic dish in Vietnam. I noticed that all the customers finished their pho, leaving nothing in the bowl. That’s better than good for a restaurant,” fan Nguyen The Duong told VOV.</p>
<p>Cafe Bo, owned by Tran Manh Hung, has a prime location beside the Moscow river. Customers enjoy an amazing view of the river in summer with cruise ships going back and forth.</p>
<p>“This is my first visit to the restaurant and it’s wonderful. I’ve been to many places in Vietnam like Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi, and Mui Ne and I love the Vietnamese food. I just ordered beef noodle soup and a mango smoothie. I find the restaurant’s location wonderful,” said Aleksander, a Russian customer.</p>
<p>Vietnamese Cafe Bo’s owner Tran Manh Hung said more and more Russia are visiting Vietnam and have loved Vietnamese cuisine. They often come to Bo to find the taste of the authentic Vietnamese food they had enjoyed during their trips to Vietnam.</p>
<p>“To ensure the authenticity of our dishes, all the ingredients are imported from Vietnam, including the various kinds of herbs. Our fresh rice vermicelli is made daily by a shop we trust. Our cook and most of our staff are Vietnamese,” said Hung.</p>
<p>In addition to typical Vietnamese dishes, Cafe Bo offer diners specialties like Saigon beer and Vietnamese mango smoothies to give them a taste of Vietnamese street food. During World Cup 2018, the restaurants is serving as many as 800 bowls of pho daily, and earning around US$16,000 a day.</p>
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<p>VOV</p>
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Vietnamese dishes favored in Russia Related image(s)<br />
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Vietnamese dishes favored in Russia

Vietnamese dishes favored in Russia Typical Vietnamese dishes like “phở” noodle soup, spring rolls, summer rolls, and sandwiches called “ba...

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Ha Long Bay among 100 most beautiful UNESCO World Heritages

Ha Long Bay among 100 most beautiful UNESCO World Heritages
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<div><span>The US newspaper Newsweek lists Ha Long Bay of Vietnam among the Top 100 most beautiful UNESCO World Heritage Sites. (Photo: VNA)<br /></span></div>
<p><strong>Hanoi (VNA) –</strong> The US newspaper Newsweek has listed Ha Long Bay of Vietnam among the Top 100 most beautiful UNESCO World Heritage Sites, which include both natural and man-made wonders.</p>
<p>Ha Long Bay in the northeastern province of Quang Ninh was placed in the 14th position.</p>
<p>“Ha Long Bay, in the Gulf of Tonkin, includes some 1,600 islands and islets, forming a spectacular seascape of limestone pillars,” the Newsweek described.</p>
<p>“Because of their precipitous nature, most of the islands are uninhabited and unaffected by a human presence. The site’s outstanding scenic beauty is complemented by its great biological interest,” it said.</p>
<p>The Newsweek’s Top 100 most beautiful UNESCO World Heritage Sties have been picked out from the UNESCO list of over 1,000 protected places across the globe.</p>
<p>Ha Long Bay, a must-go place for those who spend holidays in Vietnam, which has been twice recognised by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO). Ha Long Bay has been named one of the seven natural wonders of the world.</p>
<p>The heritage site has become a magnet drawing visitors to Quang Ninh. Last year, the province welcomed a total of 9.87 million tourists, including 4.28 million foreigners.</p>
<p>The province aims to attract over 12 million visitors this year, including 5 million foreigners.–VNA </p>
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Ha Long Bay among 100 most beautiful UNESCO World Heritages

Ha Long Bay among 100 most beautiful UNESCO World Heritages The US newspaper Newsweek lists Ha Long Bay of Vietnam among the Top 100 most b...

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Cross-country railway journey broadcasted

Cross-country railway journey broadcasted
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<div><span>A scene of the TV programme (Photo: vtv.vn)</span></div>
<p><strong>Hanoi (VNA)</strong> – The first episode of a documentary programme on a north-south journey throughout Vietnam by train was aired on the evening of July 16.</p>
<p>The 52-episode programme was produced by the Vietnam Railways Corporation (VNR) and Vietnam Television’s VTV24 news centre.</p>
<p>It tells the stories of people, who experience the journey, alongside invited guests, who are writers, poets and cultural researchers.</p>
<div><span>A train is crossing Hai Van mountain pass (Photo: vtv.vn)</span></div>
<p>Along the north-south railway, built in the late 19th century and one of the most ancient routes of its kind in the world, the cultural features of each destination are depicted.    </p>
<p>To help viewers plan their own journey, the TV programme also gives information on local weather, tours and popular destinations.</p>
<div><span>Foreign tourists inside a train cabin (Photo: vtv.vn)</span></div>
<p>Its episodes are scheduled to be broadcast on VTV1 every Monday starting at 8:05 p.m and VTV3 every Tuesday starting at 6:50 a.m.</p>
<p>The UK-based Telegraph newspaper recently included Vietnam’s North-South railway line on its list of the top ten best train journeys in Asia for international visitors in 2018.</p>
<p>On the website http://bit.ly/2LlI3sa, a tour is recommended on the express train Thong Nhat (Reunification) connecting Hanoi and HCM City, and running through many Vietnam’s famous tourist destinations such as Hue, Da Nang and Nha Trang. The train takes passengers on a 1,600-km journey along peaceful landscapes of ancient pagodas, paddy fields and farmers wearing conical hats, as well as beautiful coastline and mountains.</p>
<p>Vietnam’s railway line boasts a deep-rooted history, with the first railway section spanning 70 km from Saigon to the Mekong Delta city of My Tho was built by the French in 1881, marking the birth of the country’s railway system. -VNA</p>
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Cross-country railway journey broadcasted Related image(s)<br />
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Cross-country railway journey broadcasted

Cross-country railway journey broadcasted A scene of the TV programme (Photo: vtv.vn) Hanoi (VNA) – The first episode of a documentary pr...

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CNN commercials boost Hanoi’s foreign tourist arrivals

CNN commercials boost Hanoi’s foreign tourist arrivals
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<div><span>The Hanoi Opera House, a popular tourist attraction of Hanoi. (Photo: VNA)<br /></span></div>
<p><strong>Hanoi (VNA)</strong> – The 2-million-USD deal between Hanoi and the US television network CNN from 2017 – 2018 has spurred international tourist arrivals to the capital city over the past year.</p>
<p>TV commercials aired by CNN have been introducing the best of the 1,000-year-old capital to people around the world since early 2017, sparking an interest in the city among foreigners.</p>
<p>Last year, CNN broadcasted two TV promotional videos – “Hanoi – Heart of Vietnam” and “Hanoi – Cradle of Heritage” on its cable television network and online platforms across Asia-Pacific, North America, Europe, the Middle East and South Asia. Both videos feature Australian travel writer and blogger Phoebe Lee exploring the city’s most popular attractions.</p>
<p>Audience can experience the charms of Hanoi through the lens of local photographers on CNN’s #MyHanoi series and also see the capital city from a different point of view on the network’s Hanoi POV programme.</p>
<p>In 2018, “Hanoi – Heart of Vietnam” and “Hanoi – Cradle of Heritage” will continue to be aired by CNN alongside the newly-released ad “Hanoi – History, Culture, People.”</p>
<p>These promotional clips have had an impact on the public. A recent survey by the UK’s research consultancy, BDRC Continental, showed 62 percent of CNN viewers remember the promotional videos about Hanoi. Among them, 94 percent said they developed an interest in Hanoi as a holiday destination. The survey also found that 17 percent of the respondents who regularly watched CNN would be likely to travel to Hanoi, higher than non-regular viewers.</p>
<p>Hanoi has been welcoming an increasing number of holidaymakers. In 2017, international tourist arrivals to the city were estimated at 4.95 million, up 23 percent from the previous year and 15 percent higher than its yearly target. The number included 3.53 million accommodated visitors, a year-on-year increase of 22 percent.</p>
<p>In the first half of this year, the capital received more than 3 million foreign arrivals, including more than 2.2 million accommodated tourists, up 26 percent and 27 percent, respectively, year-on-year.</p>
<p>Hanoi has also been well-received by overseas travel firms and magazines. The online marketplace and hospitality service Airbnb has named the city among the world’s top 10 intriguing travel destinations in 2018 while the city made it to the list of the world’s top 13 destinations for international travellers in March based on a poll by readers of the US-based Business Insider magazine.</p>
<p>With average temperatures ranging from 18 to 23 degrees Celsius and colourful flowers blooming, Hanoi is a good place for visitors to spend time roaming around the old quarter, experiencing open-air eateries, and hearing the noise of whizzing motorbikes, Business Insider said. Hoan Kiem Lake provides a peaceful respite from the frenzy, as do numerous Buddhist temples and pagodas, it added.</p>
<p>Earlier this year, Hanoi also secured 12th place on the TripAdvisor list of the world’s top 25 destinations.</p>
<p>In June, the capital city claimed the Best Marketing Campaign Award for its innovative marketing campaign on CNN between 2017 and 2018 at the 8th Tourism Promotion Organisation for Asia-Pacific Cities Forum held in Ho Chi Minh City.</p>
<p>The local Department of Tourism has proposed the city to expand the deal with CNN to 2019 – 2021. –VNA </p>
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CNN commercials boost Hanoi’s foreign tourist arrivals

CNN commercials boost Hanoi’s foreign tourist arrivals The Hanoi Opera House, a popular tourist attraction of Hanoi. (Photo: VNA) Hanoi (V...

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