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Seven famous hot springs in North Vietna

When the cold wind comes, it’s time for tourists to visit hot mineral springs. Not only relaxing, bathing in these springs helps restore health, cure some skin, joint and heart diseases. Below are the seven hot springs for you in the northern Vietnam.

1. Quang Hanh in Quang Ninh province

Located in Cam Pha town, more than 10 km from the center of Ha Long city, Quang Hanh hot spring is familiar to local people. Lying on the tourism road from Ha Long to Van Don and Mong Cai, Quang Hanh hot spring is also the favorite stop for many tourists.

You can choose your own bathroom or bath in a big outdoor hot mineral pool. Despite the cold, you will not feel shaky when soaking in hot mineral water of Quang Hanh. The mineral hot water not only helps the body relax but also works to prevent a number of diseases of the skin and joints. It is very good for health.

2. Tien Lang in Hai Phong city

18 km south of the center of Hai Phong is the hot mineral spring of Tien Lang, which is no stranger to the people of Hai Phong and domestic and foreign tourists.

Hot mineral water here is considered one of the best 5 mineral water springs in Vietnam, which is in the same kind with the source of famous mineral water in Russia, Czechoslovakia, Bulgaria and France.

Being brought up from the deep drilling of 850m underground, the Tien Lang hot mineral spring makes visitors feel excited and grateful. You can enjoy other services here such as mud baths, massage, herbal steam and others.

3. Kim Boi in Hoa Binh

The natural hot spring of Kim Boi in Mo Da village, Ha Bi commune, Kim Boi district, Hoa Binh province is 70 km from Hanoi. Among the hot springs in Vietnam, this spring has the lowest temperature, which ranges from 34-36°C.

It is not hot enough to form steam on the water but the temperature and mineral content here are good enough for disease treatment and skin relaxing.

After the bath, you can enjoy ethnic food culture and travel to nearby tourist sites such as Mai Chau and Hoa Binh waterfall.

4. Thanh Thuy in Phu Tho province

    Located in La Phu Commune, Thanh Thuy district, Phu Tho province, 65 km from Hanoi to the northwest, Thanh Thuy hot spring is an ideal place to relax whether it is summer or winter.

The average temperature of this hot stream is from 37 to 43°C, the highest is 53°C. Thanks to multiple micronutrient content, the Thanh Thuy hot spring is capable of rehabilitation, helps blood circulation, good for the heart. In the summer, the water is treated through the radiator to reduce the temperature to about 27°C. In winter, the water is warm enough to bath.

5. My Lam in Tuyen Quang province

Located in Yen Son forest, 15 km from Tuyen Quang town along Highway 37, My Lam mineral spring is an ideal address for medical tourists from everywhere.

My Lam mineral stream is very clear and very hot, with temperature up to 60°C, taken directly from the depth of more than 150 m. With high levels of sulfuahydro, My Lam mineral spring is also called "sulfur spring." It is rated as one of the few good mineral water mines in the North.

Besides reasonable service prices, tourists are also attracted by the peaceful and beautiful natural scenery, charming, gentle and hospitable people.

6. Ban Moong in Son La province

The hot spring of Ban Moong in Hua La commune in Son La town is an interesting stopover. About 7 km from the center of town, the spring attracts domestic and international visitors by its mineral water of 36-38 degrees, which is very good for health.

Compared with other hot streams, Ban Moong is special with traditional houses-on-stilts and Thai cultural characteristics. After moments of bathing in mineral hot water, Northwest cuisine will be greeting visitors before leaving.

7. Kenh Ga in Ninh Binh province

  Kenh Ga hot spring is in Kenh Ga village, Gia Thinh commune, Gia Vien district, nearly 20 km from the city of Ninh Binh.

To come to the hot spring, you have to take a boat across the Hoang Long River to the floating village of Kenh Ga. The hot water flows from the Hang Ca mountain, with the stable temperature of 53ºC all the year round.

The water is colorless, odorless, tasting slightly tart, contain high levels of salts. Kenh Ga is listed among the top five hot springs in Vietnam.

Source : http://english.vietnamnet.vn/fms/travel/84151/seven-famous-hot-springs-in-north-vietnam.html

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Vietnam vows to attract tourists as the “kitchen of the world”

Vietnam has been suggested to introduce its diversified and special cuisine to the world to attract travelers. But what should it do?

A common courtesy statement Vietnamese usually hear from the South Korean actors when they visit Vietnam is that: “I love pho (noodle soup served beef or chicken, a Vietnamese traditional dish).

In the US and Europe, pho has also been the Vietnamese food most mentioned by the people who have been to Vietnam. Only in recent years, have the western tourism publications added nem (spring rolls) and banh mi (bread) into the list of the Vietnamese popular food.

Meanwhile, Vietnam not only has pho to introduce to the world.

However, the limited knowledge of foreign travelers about Vietnamese cuisine shows Vietnam’s shortcomings in popularizing its specialties.

In Vietnam, every locality, from the north to the central region or the south, has its specialties. Different personalities of local people and different ways of processing allow creating different dishes.

The local residents in coastal provinces use the common material – seafood – for their dishes, but the food tastes differently. Quang Ninh province has been well known for “cha muc” (grilled chopped cuttlefish), while Hai Phong City people make “nom sua do” (sweet and sour grated salad with nettlefish) very well. While Nha Trang City has wonderful dried cuttlefish, HCM City has been famous for sea snails.

The most outstanding feature of the Vietnamese cuisine is that it has two culinary centers with quite different styles, including Hanoi – the symbol of the northern delta, and Hue City – the land of the royal style.

Besides, Vietnam also has the so called “hybrid food style” – or the “street food,” which travelers can taste at all the noisy tourist centers like Hanoi, Quang Ninh, Hai Phong in the north, Nha Trang, Da Nang in the central region, or HCM City in the south.

What should Vietnam introduce to the world? Pho has been popularized for a long time that it has been automatically considered the Vietnamese traditional food. However, this may not be true when people are not in Hanoi or HCM City.

Therefore, it would be a difficulty for tour guides to talk about the local traditional dishes when they lead tourists to Da Nang City or Khanh Hoa, where pho is not the local specialty.

A tourism expert has noted that the tourism promotion campaigns with the focus on popularizing pho has led to the inaccurate understanding of travelers about the Vietnamese cuisine. Travelers may think that pho is typical for the Vietnamese cuisine, and pho is everything Vietnam has.

Meanwhile, other special dishes still have not been introduced to travelers.

Hue City, the ancient royal capital city, has too many good dishes to offer, from the main courses to desserts, from royal to popular dishes. The culinary art of Hue food is always a part of the tours to the city as a cultural value worth of being discovered by tourists.

However, Hue still has not found a dish which is most typical for the city which it should focus on when running advertisement campaigns.

Meanwhile, Nguyen Cong Hoan, Deputy Director of Hanoi Redtour, complained that the firm can only introduce local specialties to the small inbound groups of tourists. Meanwhile, the infrastructure conditions are not good enough to receive big groups of travelers.

Source : http://english.vietnamnet.vn/fms/travel/81187/vietnam-vows-to-attract-tourists-as-the--kitchen-of-the-world-.html

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Japanese bio-cafe offers green alternative to tourist dining

Thinking green: Usuda Raiko from the Japanese city of Kawasaki opened an eco-friendly cafe in Hoi An City. — VNS Photo Hoai Nam

by Hoai Nam

HOI AN (VNS)— Three years ago, Usuda Raiko from Japan's Kawazaki City opened her own cafe and settled down for a peaceful life in Hoi An City.

In that time, she has transformed her business - which can be found on the banks of the Hoai River bank in Cam Chau village, just a 10 minute drive from the old quarter – into arguably the only truly eco-friendly coffee shop in the ancient city.

The 500sq.m building, situated in a small alley connecting with Tran Quang Khai Street, was designed by Japanese architects to be as good to the environment as possible.

Wastewater from the three-storey cafe biologically treated to breed ornamental fish, before being released into the river.

It's become a rendezvous for biology students from universities in Japan and Viet Nam learning about wastewater treatment systems and hundreds visit annually.

Visitors can have a coffee or snack beside pools of treated sewage with cool air blowing from the river.

The house's heat-insulating walls were designed with two layers of bricks, so the owner does not use air conditioners.

Eco-friendly: Raiko checks the quality of sewage water at her cafe in Hoi An. Wastewater is treated thoroughly before being released into the Hoai River. — VNS Photo Ha My

Raiko, who works as a volunteer of the Japan-Viet Nam Friendship Association in Kawasaki City has, with other members, donated more than 10,000 bicycles to poor students in Da Nang and Quang Nam Province since 2003.

"The friendly and helpful people in Hoi An are the reason that I decided to live in the city. I have loved this town so much from the very first time I visited," said Raiko.

She said she opened the cafe with its well run wastewater system to raise awareness of environment protection and looking after the world.

"Hoi An is a very lovely city. If the people here conserve the river and marine environment, it will be even lovelier," Raiko stated.

She said she'll do her best to protect the town with Vietnamese friends. However, she admitted that she collects little profit for the sewage treatment system, which costs at least VND1 million for power per month. 

Raiko, a retired odontology technician, wants to spend her time in Hoi An, and develop the cafe as a way of boosting the friendship between Japan and Hoi An.

"My U-Cafe will offer an example of an environment-friendly building that every one can emulate. I want to create a cleaner living area, reducing pollution for all," she explained.

"Looking after the environment now will benefit the next generation by giving them a livable and healthier existence." She revealed that the name of the cafe means U (yes) and is also the initial letter of her family name.

Raiko is now increasingly turning her attention to promoting cycling as a way of being good to the globe.

"I use a motorbike to go to Da Nang, but I always try to use bicycles around the city. It is a small place, so this is convenient. It is already known as the first city in Viet Nam to launch a ‘car free' campaign, so there is optimism that it will avoid the worst pollution. I hope the local government maintains roads for bicycle users to travel safely, while raising education for local people about environmental protection."

Raiko and her partners from Kawasaki City have worked tirelessly to help underprivileged children in Quang Nam and Da Nang City through their bicycle donation programme over a number of years.

She said it is just a small step to improve lives while promoting the 40-year friendship between Viet Nam and Japan.

Source : http://vietnamnews.vn/life-style/244765/japanese-bio-cafe-offers-green-alternative-to-tourist-dining.html

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Ho Xuan Huong, rendezvous of lovers

Located in the heart of Da Lat city, Xuan Huong Lake is the place attracting numerous tourists and couples by its graceful and poetic beauty.

  Dreamy Xuan Huong Lake in sunsets. Photo: SGGPdaily .

Witnessing many ups and downs in the history of Da Lat, Xuan Huong Lake - the heart of Da Lat city - was previously a swamp of lac grass which was used to wave mat and the rice fields of the Lach tribe, who lived along the Da Lach stream - now known as Camly spring.

In the process of building the city of Da Lat, in 1919, the stream was stopped by French and Vietnamese engineers to build a dam from Thuy Ta restaurant to the intersection of Ba Huyen Thanh Quan, Nguyen Thai Hoc and Dinh Tien Hoang, creating a beautiful artificial lake. At that time, the lake had a French name as Grand Lac (Big Lake) but later in 1953 it was renamed as Xuan Huong Lake.

The mirror of the sky. Photo: Lam Linh.

Xuan Huong Lake has a circumference of more than 5 km, covering the area of up to 38 hectares. Wide sidewalks are built around the lake with willow and apricot cherry blossoms in spring.

All roads around Da Lat lead to Xuan Huong Lake. Around the lake are the road to the old railway station of Da Lat, the road to the famous church of Con Ga (Chicken) or to the Bao Dai Palace and the bustling Da Lat Market.

The city flower garden with lots of beautiful flowers is also on the road along the lake. This is also the road for cyclists. It takes them over one hour to pedal around the lake.

The "heart" of the resort city. Photo: vietnamairlinestickets

Xuan Huong Lek is the meeting place of the city of flowers. There are many hotels and cafes with romantic views to the idyllic lake. On the sunny days, the lake is a flat mirror reflecting the blue sky, with gentle ripples. On rainy days, the lake water is in red color. In the early morning, Xuan Huong Lake is covered by clouds, creating unreal scenes. At night, the lake is covered with surreal smoke. From high above, amid the green of trees is gentle Xuan Huong Lake reflecting the clouds and the sky.

Everyone who visits Da Lat drops at the Xuan Huong Lake, which is not only a splendid landscape but also a very poetic place. The Lake is the meeting point of the city’s lovers, the romantic place for taking wedding photographs and the scene witnessing many romantic love affairs.

Along with the pine forest, the Love Valley, Xuan Huong Lake brings poets with endless inspiration.

Source : http://english.vietnamnet.vn/fms/travel/83637/ho-xuan-huong--rendezvous-of-lovers.html

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Conquering the Happiness road in the rock plateau

To see the spectacular scenery and beautiful life on this stretch of road, tourists have to pass the towering passes like Bac Sum and Cong Troi to Lung Cu.

Highway 4C with 185 km in length through the rocky plateau of Dong Van, Ha Giang is named Hanh Phuc (Happiness). This is the road which was formed by the effort and even the blood and bones of thousands of young volunteers from the 50s – 60s of the 20th century.

For backpackers and those who love exploring the highlands, Hanh Phuc Road is a special journey. The towering passes like Bac Sum, Cong Troi (Heaven Gate), Can Ty, Mau Due will bring them to cloudy Lung Cu, and especially the famous wall Ma Pi Leng, which will be always worthy for their effort.

Leaving peaceful Ha Giang city with the Km 0 landmark of Highway 2 to conquer the Hanh Phuc road on the rocky plateau, after 20 miles of relatively flat road is the Heaven Gate Pass. Standing on the peak of Heaven Gate, tourists will see Tam Son town in the heart of the valley, with villas and beautiful houses stretching to the foothills. The Quan Ba mount, which is in the shape of a young girl’s breast, looks striking amid the Tam Son vast field.

Riding a motorbike through passes and hills, tourists will see peaceful scenes in the valleys. The villages of the highland ethnic groups in Quan Ba, Yen Minh, Dong Van, Meo Vac have changed. People have no longer grown poppies but corn on the arid rock.

Dong Van Plateau is not only a geological park of the world, but also a land containing the typically historical evidence of upland people of Ha Giang province. Before the Hanh Phuc Road was built, Quan Ba was separated to the plains by the Heaven Gate pass.

Children go to school on Hanh Phuc road.

Located adjacent to Hanh Phuc road and 14 km from Dong Van town today is evidence of the Wang clan. The King of H’Mong people Vuong Duc Chinh was the first who ruled the ethnic minorities here.

Commercial exchange between the H’mong King with the North is clearly shown in the architecture of the residences of Vuong family. The whole building is surrounded by stone walls of over 1m thick, with the height of 2.5 to 3 m. A huge volume of rare wood and blue stones was used to build this massive work.

When the Nho Que River is completely hidden under the canyon, Meo Vac town appears. The lives of the people in the North-most region of the country are still very poor but the bud of "happiness" is blossoming on the stones.

source : http://english.vietnamnet.vn/fms/travel/83642/conquering-the-happiness-road-in-the-rock-plateau.html

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Beautiful Bac Kan still sitting pretty

War veteran Ta Ngoc Tho and his comrades in Ha Noi's Hai Ba Trung were recently invited to Bac Kan to attend the 65th anniversary of Phu Thong victory over the French. They visited several of the province's tourist destinations, such as Thanh Temple, Puong Cave and Dau Dang Waterfall.

Emerald expanse: Ba Be Lake, a UNESCO heritage site in Bac Kan.

Tho said he would never forget the fight by the Viet Nam Battalion 11 in an attack killing about 100 enemy soldiers on the French army's Phu Thong post in the northern province of Bac Kan's Bach Thong District on July 25, 1948.

"That fight had a strong impact on the French military post network in Viet Nam's northern resistance base known as Viet Bac, because the colonists had intended to use Phu Thong as a strategic position to attack surrounding areas and put down our people's patriotic movements," Tho said.

He quoted General Vo Nguyen Giap as saying:"The Phu Thong Victory is of great significance because it was the first time the Vietnamese foot soldiers overan a French fortified position. Our army gained much confidence and experience in attacking reinforced posts of the enemy, which later helped them in winning the campaign to liberate border province [in 1950], the Dien Bien Phu Battle [1954], and the entire 30-year struggle for national independence."

Phu Thong Town is located on cross-roads linking Highway 3 and Road 258 about 18km from Bac Kan township. From Phu Thong one can go to Thai Nguyen and Ha Noi in the south, go to Cao Bang in the north or northwest to Ba Be Lake, a natural landscape recognised by UNESCO as world heritage.

The Phu Thong Post has been listed as the nation's historical relic site.

After joining the celebrations, Tho and his comrades visited the town's Thanh Temple in Phuong Linh Commune. It is a big temple, the most outstanding in the commune, and was built on the top of Don Dien Hill.

Nature's miracle: A section of Dau Dang Waterfall.

Legend has it that Thanh Temple was a place to worship a prince who was credited with stamping out gangs of robbers in the region.

During a duel fight with the rebels at the Na Phai field, the prince was killed, and his head fell into the Na Mo rice fields. Remarkably, his body still remained on his horse's back until reaching Don Dien Hill before falling off, Tho said.

Local people built the temple to worship him as a saint, while the court placed the temple in royal annals. Since then people call it Thanh Temple and an annual spring festival is held in the first lunar month.

Tho and his comrades burned jossticks to worship the saint and then continued to visit Na Hai Hamlet's Quan De Temple to worship General Duong Tu Minh who was killed after fierce fighting with the enemy.

After these places of historical interest, Tho and his comrades visited Bac Kan's beautiful Puong Cave and Dau Dang waterfall. Tho said many of the landscapes around the cave were still virgin country compared with 65 years ago when his army pass through.

Puong Cave is located on the Nang River in Ba Be District, about 5km from Cho Ra Town.

Tour guide Nong Thi Thu said that the cave was about 300m long and 30m high with many colourful stalactites. She added that the cave had been formed when the Nang River ran through the Lung Nham limestone mountain millions of years ago.

There are many bats living in the cave. They have become acquainted with visitors.

Tho said he was excited when his boat floated through the cave on the Nang River.

Thu said many travellers consider Puong Cave a giant shark opening its mouth to swallow dug-out canoes that follow each other downstream. From the mouth of the cave, visitors can see strong men casting their nets as if in a water-colour painting created by nature.

She told guests that after passing through the mountain, the Nang River flows down to Hua Tang Hamlet where it is blocked by hundreds of giant stones to create Dau Dang Waterfall.

"We've escaped from pollution and noise in the big city to swallow ourselves in such natural surroundings," Tho said, sitting on a large rock to enjoy the beautiful views and canoes full of Tay girls wearing indigo costumes floating along the river.

Tho's friend Lai Van Hoan said he was interested in enjoying chien, a type of fish which weighs up to 10kg and is a speciality of the region.

Hoan said its taste was quite different from other species.

"I've never eaten such delicious fish." He asked the tour guide to buy him several kilograms of the fish for his wife at home.

"Next time I will invite my parents and my wife to the region to enjoy the natural beauty," Hoan said.

Tho told Viet Nam News that the trip was unforgettable for him and his comrades because they were now elderly and may have no chance of making another visit.

Party time: Ethic girls join Ba Be Spring Festival from the 19th to 21st days of the first lunar month.

The last leg of their journey was to the Cho Don Safe Zone, one of Viet Nam's most outstanding revolutionary bases.

The site is among relics of the Viet Bac revolutionary base where the resistance forces worked out plans to end the French colonialists in Viet Nam.

The resistance war against the French ran from 1945 to the French surrender at Dien Bien Phu in 1954.

President Ho Chi Minh had chosen Cho Don as an ATK (Vietnamese abbreviation for "Safe Zone") together with others such as Tan Trao in the nearby province of Tuyen Quang.

These areas became consolidated political, military and economic hubs pivotal to the national revolution of August 1945. They have been declared historical treasures by the Government.

The Cho Don ATK was located in Bang Lung Town in a district of the same name. Last Monday it was alive with flowers, banners and flags to celebrate the 65th anniversary of the August 1945 Revolution and the National Day, September 2.

Tho and his comrades were moved as they proudly remembered the past glories and struggles of the nation. "I'm happy to come back here after 65 years. The province has changed remarkably," said Tho.

The Director of the Bac Kan Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, Cao Sinh Hanh, said the province received hundreds of visitors a day and that the Government planned to invest billions of dong to upgrade its historical relics.

"We then expect to welcome double or triple the number of visitors in coming years," Hanh said.

Source : http://english.vietnamnet.vn/fms/travel/82942/beautiful-bac-kan-still-sitting-pretty.html

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Bai Lu - Da Lat in the sea in Nghe An

VietNamNet Bridge - With pine forests reaching out to the sea, Bai Lu is the perfect alternative for Cua Lo – a popular tourist site in Nghe An province.

Vast pines that make visitors compare Bai Lu with Dalat. Photo: bailuresort

Located in Nghi Loc district, Nghe An province, 20 km from Cua Lo, Bai Lu is the ideal place for visitors to rest and relax in the fresh and cool air of the nature. After 4 km road winding between green rice fields from the National Highway 1A, you will come to "Da Lat on the sea" in Nghe An.

That comparison is made because Bai Lu owns immense pines reaching out to the sea. From afar, Bai Lu appears with winding yellow sand beaches hugging the sea. The beach is covered by cool green pine trees. Walk under the canopy of pine leaves on hot days is wonderful.

In Bai Lu, the sea water is very clear that you can small pebbles. According to studies, the water in Bai Lu contains high mineral concentration from the sediments of rocks. Bai Lu is the combination of sea and mountains so it is very good for health.

The waves here are gentle along with the sloping sandy beach so you can enjoy playing volleyball, football here. In the afternoon, you can relax on the bike spinning around romantic Bai Lu.

Sandy beach in Bai Lu. Photo: bailuresort

  Going to Bai Lu, you will have two options. You can rest in the seaside resorts or be backpackers, with many interesting destinations around. The first destination is Lu Mountain which stands for thousands of years next to the sea. Running round up to the mountain peak, you can see the islands of Song Ngu, Dao Mat and Lan Chau clearly in the distance or the islands of Hung Linh, Rong, Nui Co, Nui Kiem which are closer to the mainland.

Kenh Sat is also an attractive sight for tourists on the way to Bai Lu. Besides the blue water, dyed by iron ore at Thiet Son Mount, this place also has the Temple of Mountain Deity and the Holy Spirit Temple.

Cuong Temple located on the road to Bai Lu. Photo: truyenhinhnghean.

  If traveling from Hanoi, you can stop at Cuong Temple, less than 10 km from Bai Lu. This is the sacred place of Nghe An, which is located halfway up of Mo Da mountain, close to Highway 1A, worshipping King An Duong Vuong.

Bai Lu, Mo Da mountain, Cuong temple, Hien sanctuary, Kenh Sat make a spiritual and eco tourism complex in Nghe An. Now you can go to Nghe An by land,

Source : http://english.vietnamnet.vn/fms/travel/82880/bai-lu---da-lat-in-the-sea-in-nghe-an.html

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The fairyland in Ngu Hanh Son

VietNamNet Bridge – Visiting the Huyen Khong grotto, you will feel like stepping into a fairyland. This place is not only attractive to pure tourists but also to many travelers on religious topics.

The magical space in the cave.

    Down the coastal road from Da Nang to Hoi An, it is more than 10 km long to arrive at Non Nuoc - Ngu Hanh Son.

To reach Huyen Khong grotto, tourists must go through the Hoa Nghiem cave, located on the edge of a mountain, with fresh and pleasant air.

Walking for a few steps, the fairy scene appears. Going to a cave, many people will think about going into a dark cave with electric light as many other places, but the Huyen Khong grotto is completely different.

From the door, a blast of sunlight illuminates the cave, making everything float in space. Huyen Khong Cave has a lot of big and small holes on the ceiling, which look like windows, where sunlight comes in to illuminate everything in the cave.

Road to the Huyen Khong cave.

The light moves from time to time during the day, lighting up every corner in the cave. Light dances inside the wide cave, with high ceiling, creating magical beauty to Huyen Khong. Any visitor steps into the cave being surprise of the scene.

There are several altars and temples in the cave, with many statues of Buddha and deities.

Huyen Khong Cave does not have many stalactites but it has special natural beauty and the spiritual atmosphere.

The Dharmapala statue at the entrance of the cave.

  At the mountain foot are a lot of souvenir and handicraft shops selling all kinds of statues and jewelry made from Non Nuoc stone.

Ngu Hanh Son or the Marble Mountain is about 10 km from Da Nang, more than 20 km from Hoi An. You can rent motorbikes to come here very easily.

Source : http://english.vietnamnet.vn/fms/travel/82382/the-fairyland-in-ngu-hanh-son.html

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Art exhibition celebrates National Day

A new exhibition of 163 paintings, sculpture and other art works has opened at the HCM City Fine Arts Museum as part of celebrations of the 68th National Day, which falls on September 2.

  The association has awarded nine top works with a prize of VND10 million (US$476), many of which highlight the nation's seas and islands.— Photo tuoitre

Uyen Huy, chairman of the HCM City Fine Arts Association, said: "On display works are the results of eight creative camps that the association had launched since August 2012."

He said the works reflected a wide range of topics, covering daily life, city's development over the years, the task of protecting the nation's seas and islands, and learning important lessons from President Ho Chi Minh.

The association has awarded nine top works with a prize of VND10 million (US$476), many of which highlight the nation's seas and islands.

These include: Thong Diep Hoa Binh (Message of Peace), an engraved painting by Nam Anh; Trai Tim Bien Dao (Heart of Seas and Islands), a sculpture made with general materials by Tran Van Binh; and Binh Minh Tren Dao Nam Du (Dawn on Nam Du Island), a water colour by Truong Lo.

Seventeen other works were selected for prizes of VND7 million each.

Ten young artists were given prizes of VND3.5 million each to nurture promising talent.

Huy said the works of a large number of young artists were being displayed at the exhibition.

"We highly appreciate their efforts and will continue to encourage and support young talents in creating art," he said.The exhibition will be open to the public at 97A Pho Duc Chinh Street in District 1 until August 30.

Source : http://english.vietnamnet.vn/fms/art-entertainment/82949/art-exhibition-celebrates-national-day.html

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Mubarak Mosque – heart of An Giang Cham community

Mubarak is one of the oldest mosques of the Muslim community of Cham people in the Mekong Delta province of An Giang, and it lures many tourists to explore the culture and religion as well as architecture.

A view of Mubarak Mosque in An Giang Province.

Located in Tan Chau Township, Mubarak Mosque is near Chau Doc City and can be reached by the river. After some minutes on Chau Giang ferry, tourists will see the onion-shaped peak in the distance and crescent moon patterns in – a typical feature of Muslim architecture.

If taking a boat cruise along the river, tourists can sense deeply the peace and fresh feeling of the sanctuary in the morning, at noon or sunset.

Ho Xa Ich, one of the leaders in the mosque, said that the mosque was built in 1750 with bamboo pillars and cottage-style roof. In 1808, the mosque was renovated with wooden pillars, brick walls, rock ground and tiled roof. He said the mosque is the spiritual symbol of the community.

Rapana drums are kept in Mubarak Mosque.

The mosque is also highlighted by a collection of ten Rapana drums which are rumored to be 500 years old. Drums are played in traditional ceremonies as well as festivals in the community. Locals say currently there are about seven people who can play the drums but they are trying to find a protégé to keep the tradition alive.

Source : http://english.vietnamnet.vn/fms/travel/82356/mubarak-mosque---heart-of-an-giang-cham-community.html

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The village for artists on Saigon River bank

In the last 15 years, the village of Ham Long in District 2, with charming landscape, has become the home to many Saigon artists.

Watercolor painter Ly Khac Nhu – one of the founder of Ham Long Village – talks with visitors.

"It’s great that amid a big city, a valuable art space like this is still preserved. I feel this is the pride of Vietnam," a Taiwanese tourist said. The tourist said that this was his second visit to the village, this time with his family.

The village was built 15 years ago by a group of Saigon painters.

In late '90s, a group of artists, mostly painters wandered to find a quiet, beautiful place to work. A wide strip of land along the bank of the Saigon River, in Thanh My Loi ward, District 2, HCM City, held their feet by its romantic and wild beauty. Late painter Nguyen Thanh Chau named it Ham Long (Dragon Jaw) based on the shape of the land.

Watercolor painter Ly Khac Nhu – one of the founder of Ham Long Village – recalled: "Initially, I just dug a pond to breed fish and built a tent here, as a place to work. Gradually I loved the quiet and fresh space in this place so I moved my family here."

After Nhu, many other artists bought land to build their houses in this land because they all love the atmosphere and the landscape here. After 15 years, this desert land has become Ham Long Village, the home to over 40 painters of Saigon.

Each artist contributes a unique style to the village. On the strip of land of less than 10 hectares, the artists have created a unique cultural space featuring houses of the three regions in Vietnam: North - Central - South. Each house has a different style, including stilt houses and charnel-houses of the Central Highlands. The village of artists has its own rules to maintain its style and peace.

Compared with 15 years ago, the artist village has changed a lot. The 15-year journey is relentless efforts to create a diverse cultural space but imbued with national identity in the heart of Saigon. Across the river is the city center with high-rise skyscrapers... On this bank, a miniature village is nestled.

Ham Long Village in pictures:

Since the late '90s, many artists gathered in Thanh My Loi Ward, District 2, Ho Chi Minh City to create their world – Ham Long village.

    The houses in the village are built under common rules, for example, houses are separated by fences but the fences must be made of trees or flowers or houses must not be high-storey, etc.

  Houses in the village are of different styles.

  The romantic and peaceful scenery here is the inspiration for many artists.Not many people in Ho Chi Minh City know this place. Located in the heart of Saigon, Ham Long looks like a rural village.

  Sculptural works in the house of artist Ly Khac Nhu.

  The space for work.

  A son tree from Phu Tho province. Resin of this tree is used to make lacquer paintings.

  A house in the old style of northern region.

  The village’s gallery.

  A Muong-styled house of artist Bach Truong Son.

  A corner of Ky Long Garden, which is designed as a miniature village of Vietnam.

Adjacent to the Ky Long garden is the Hue-styled garden of painter Hoai Huong. "Half of me is Hue. I love Hue and I thought why I don’t create a miniature Hue in the heart of Saigon like this," the famous artist for oil paintings shared.A Hue-styled corner of artist Hoai Huong.

  The Hue-styled house of artist Hoai Huong.

The original purpose of the artists is to create an ideal space for working. But gradually the unique, interesting village has attracted the attention of many people. Visitors can come here without having to buy an entrance ticket.

    Source : http://english.vietnamnet.vn/fms/travel/82368/the-village-for-artists-on-saigon-river-bank.html

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Hue restores royal instrument

THUA THIEN-HUE — Hue Monument Complex Centre is restoring a percussion instrument that was used in the royal court music of Hue, in an attempt to popularise the instrument in performances of royal music.

The percussion instrument, known as bien chung, was popular throughout Viet Nam, China and South Korea during the feudal period. The instrument consists of a set of 12 small golden bells, each carrying a single musical note, and was used to make court music in grand feudal ceremonies.

Performance of the music had faded until the centre managed to archive production and performance of the instrument in 2003, after UNESCO named the music as an intangible form of world cultural heritage.

Phan Thanh Hai, director of the centre, said the bells were being made in Hue's Phong Duc Village, famous for its casting techniques.

Excited for the instruments return to prominence, Hai wants more bien chungs for performances, adding that a South Korean artist had come to Hue last year to share performance techniques as part of a special training programme.

Vietinbank Hue is sponsoring the total cost of the project.

Source : http://vietnamnews.vn/life-style/243906/hue-restores-royal-instrument.html

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The most beautiful beaches in Vietnam

1. Tra Co, Mong Cai

Tra Co beach is relatively unspoiled and unpolluted as well as not being too rapidly urbanized. The coastline here is long, wide with big waves, and romantic sunsets. Visiting Tra Co beach, visitors can also enjoy fresh seafood caught from the sea.

2. Cua Dai, Quang Nam

Just 5 km from the peaceful city of Hoi An, Cua Dai Beach is a destination that should not to be missed by any visitor. Recently, the beach was voted by an international tourist site as one of the 25 most beautiful beaches on the planet. Cua Dai has a long coastline, with white sand and blue, windy sea, covered by green coconut trees.

3. Lang Co, Hue

As a destination in the central province of Thua Thien - Hue, Lang Co is famous for its natural conditions and the most beautiful scenery in Vietnam.

It has over 10 km long white sand beach, vast blue sea, flanked by tropical forest and undulating mountains, touted as beautiful as a watercolor painting.

4. Doc Let, Nha Trang

Nha Trang is famous throughout the country with many beautiful beaches, not to mention the most popular Doc Let beach. Doc Let beach has clear water, unspoiled coastal scenery and seemingly endless stretching sand dunes.

5. Phu Yen

Phu Yen has very long coastline, up to 189 km, so it owns many beautiful beaches. The most famous beach is Ganh Da Dia.

6. Mui Ne, Phan Thiet

In recent years, Mui Ne tourism has strongly developed because of the number of tourists increased sharply. Mui Ne is famous for rolling sand hills and vast sand grounds with green coconut trees. Mui Ne Beach is wide and the water is warm and clear. This is an ideal location for swimming.

7. Phu Quoc

As the largest island in Vietnam, Phu Quoc owns many unspoiled beaches that not many people know about. The most famous beach is Sao in the town of An Thoi.

Sources : http://english.vietnamnet.vn/fms/travel/78810/the-most-beautiful-beaches-in-vietnam.html

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Lak Lake – pride of Daklak

VietNamNet Bridge – Waterfalls, forests, rivers and mountains are the pride of locals in the Central Highlands region. For people in Daklak, along with Buon Don Tourist Village, Trung Nguyen Coffee, Draysap and Trinh Nu waterfalls, Lak Lake is the pride of the province.

Tourists take a cruise on Lak Lake in Daklak Province.

After a long night on a sleeper bus from HCMC, we reached Buon Ma Thuot City and were woken up with a hot cup of coffee, warming our hands in the chill of the highlands.

Located about 50 kilometers south of Buon Ma Thuot City and along National Highway 27, the 550-hectare Lak Lake is the largest body of fresh water in Lien Son Township.

One surprise is that the path to the lake is not surrounded by coffee plantations or pepper farms but is actually lined by immense rice fields. We were informed that Lak District is the main rice granary for the province as the soil there is mixed with sand and also has the advantage of a fresh water source from the lake.

We hired a room in nha dai (long house) – a traditional house of the local ethnic community on the site. Admission was a mere VND60,000 per person, which was inclusive of breakfast.

The best moment to admire the stunning landscapes on the lake is at dawn and sunset. That is also the moment which attracted many photographers.

We hired bicycles to tramp around the area. Reaching Jun, a village about two kilometers away, we changed our transport to move onto some elephants. With a price of VND250,000 for 30 minutes per couple, we had so much fun and a really unforgettable experience.

Another thing that cannot be missed at Lak Lake is cruising along the lake to admire the peaceful surroundings and take in the calm of daily life. Some birds hovering in the sky, some fishermen sailing their wooden boats slowly and in the distance, a motorboat taking students from school, all create lively picture-perfect moments in our eyes.

Source : http://english.vietnamnet.vn/fms/travel/81486/lak-lake---pride-of-daklak.html

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100 southern glass paintings on display

VietNamNet Bridge - Since 1957, this is the first time that glass paintings - the unique folk painting art of the South – are introduced in a major exhibition.

Many collectors like Tam Ly, Nguyen Anh Kiet, Nguyen Dai Phuc, Huynh Duy Thiet, Huynh Thanh Binh... contributed unique artworks for the exhibition "Glass Paintings of the South 2013."

This event gathers about 100 typical art works from 1,600 works in private collections. These glass paintings are of many kinds, from ancestral paintings to decorative paintings, landscapes, blessed pictures and paintings of gods, Buddhas and Bodhisattvas...

The exhibition takes place from August 18 to 21 at Phat Hoc Xa Loi Temple in District 3, HCM City.

According to researchers, the latest glass painting exhibition in Vietnam was held by Mr. Truong Cung Vinh in 1957 in Saigon. Since then, not a glass painting exhibition had been held until the ongoing event.

However, this art form has existed and flourished, creating glass paintings genres in localities, such as Lai Thieu, Go Cong, My Tho (Tien Giang province), Cho Moi (An Giang province), and the Khmer glass paintings in Tra Vinh and Soc Trang.

In the past over 100 years, glass paintings have met the needs and beliefs of public art throughout the villages from southeast to southwest provinces and become the most popular family artworks.

Paintings on glass appeared in Hue city from the reigns of Kings Minh Mang and Thieu Tri but they were imported products. Until the early 20th century, the Cantonese immigrants who settled in Cho Lon, Saigon, began to open glass and glass painting shops. In the 1920s, glass painting making job moved from Saigon to Lai Thieu.

Special characteristics of the Southern glass paintings are that the topics are changed in regions, so in watching glass paintings, one can imagine the culture of different regions.

Some glass paintings displayed at the exhibition:

Source : http://english.vietnamnet.vn/fms/art-entertainment/82157/100-southern-glass-paintings-on-display.html

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Da Nang, the city of bridges

VietNamNet Bridge - The bridges connecting the two banks of the Han River have created a new face for Da Nang. They are also the appealing subjects for photographers. Below are new pictures of this coastal city.

Dawn on the sea

  Han River Swing Bridge is the main road connecting Da Nang city to the sea. In photo: The swing bridge at 1am.

  When the construction of Tran Thi Ly Bridge is completed, Nguyen Van Troi Bridge will be upgraded.

  The city on the banks of the Han River. The Han Bridge has been the lifeline of Da Nang for years.

  Sunset on the Thuan Phuoc Wharf.

The high-rise hotels located in prime locations, looking to the site where the annual international fireworks festival is held.

  The beautiful moment on Tran Thi Ly Bridge.

  Thuan Phuoc Wharf before the storm.

  Da Nang at night.

  The fanciful Dragon Bridge at night.

  Source : http://english.vietnamnet.vn/fms/vietnam-in-photos/81218/da-nang--the-city-of-bridges.html

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Conquering Chua Chan Mountain

Chua Chan Mountain is the second highest mountain of the South region at 800 meters above sea level.

A view from the pagoda at a height of 800 meters.

Located in Xuan Loc Commune, Dong Nai Province, it is about 130 kilometers from HCMC.

The granite mountain has one of the most beautiful pagodas in the province at a height of 600 meters and a strange tree with one top and three roots in its center where people pray to get rid of bad luck. Because of its height, some people may find it a real challenge to climb to the top.

However, every January and July in the lunar calendar, thousands of people from near and far climb the hundreds of stairs to reach the pagoda to pray for good luck and health for loved ones.

The sacred tree with one top and three roots at the middle of the mountain.

Along the stairway, lots of shops welcome visitors with a resting place and some offer rice pancakes and other herbal materials, helping ease the tired and hungry visitors.

The mountain is an ideal place for anchorites to hide from the world in their private and isolated temple.

Source : http://english.vietnamnet.vn/fms/travel/80985/conquering-chua-chan-mountain.html