Taking a farm trip to discover Long Son Island

Vung Tau is not just a seaside destination for beaches filled with sunlight and non-stop winds, as one first comes to mind when describing it. There are also salt-water rivers with a number of fish and oyster farms comparable to those in the Mekong Delta, making a boat tour of the area a worthwhile addition to any traveller's itinerary.

The farm-trip tour to Long Son Island, which was recently launched at the Vung Tau tourism festival, is a journey that will take travellers to Long Son Island to discover the daily activities of the people in the island. The tour departs from Ganh Hao Restaurant, which is located not far from the heart of Vung Tau City. From there travellers board a simple raft, made of drums tied closely together, and will be transferred to an anchored boat.

In truth, tourists who are prone to sea-sickness should be discouraged from boarding the boat because of the constant waves on the river. However, they need not worry, as the boat is large enough to remain steady, especially since the tour runs close to the mainland and does not head far off shore. Thus travellers won’t have to ‘dance’ too much with waves!

The voyage to the island affords a chance to leisurely contemplate the landscapes of the sea and to get close to the daily activities of fishermen working with nets to catch fish. The pilot of the boat is an easy going man, and will respond favourably to travellers who ask for a try at taking the wheel to control the boat for the experience of ‘being a pilot for one minute!’

Weather permitting, after around 45 minutes to one hour the boat will slowly go into the Cha Va River, where the floating rafts carrying the oyster and grouper, among others, dock at the island. At this point, the group will leave the boat and be treated to a guided tour of the region. The journey will continue by bus to visit one of the salt-fields on the island, where travellers will have a chance to see and learn how salt is made. The next stop is a well-known tourist site of the island called Nha Lon, or Great House, an example of old Vietnamese architecture when houses were built with roofs continuously joined together, making one large house. It was built in 1910 and finished in 1928 by a man known to the locals as Mr. Tran. He built the complex on four hectares comprising houses, market and a school. At present, his descendants are managing and preserving the house for future generations.

The final stop in the tour is for lunch in a pavilion built on a raft floating on a river. Of course, the lunch is not lacking for in regional seafood and tourists will be treated to oyster, sea-bass and shrimp, to name but a few.

The tour is designed for groups of 12 to 15 travellers and costs VND 385,000 per person, inclusive of lunch.

(Source: SGT)

Biking to Vietnam and around the world

On the dusty and hot Hau Giang street in District 6, Ho Chi Minh City Vietnam , a foreign couple is riding on a strangely designed bike that can be found nowhere else in Vietnam.

They are Rita and Heiko Spanier, a German husband and wife biking to Vietnam all the way from Germany since July 27, 2006.

They have gone through ten countries on bicycles from Germany to Poland, Russia, Latvia, Lithuania, Mongolia, China, Laos, Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam.

On their route, only in Russia did they catch a train because the weather was getting cold, and in Mongolia they hired a car to traverse the desert.

Married for more than thirty years, they could not forget a time in 1982, when they hopped on a bus to travel to the United States, Mexico and Alaska.

Now, in their fifties, Heiko is fifty seven and Rita is fifty six, they asked themselves why not do it again. Rita and Heiko are frequent travelers. Heiko said that they have worked for four years to save for money for one year of traveling.

However, this journey is not usual, and at first Rita thought of the idea as insane.

Rita and Heiko had to prepare carefully for the journey, finding an unusual kind of bicycle to satisfy their purpose. The bicycles used for the journey are designed to not cause pain in their arms, shoulders and backs after riding for a long time. They said that in their home town, there are just thirty two bicycles like this.

The bikes have drawn much attention from the locals of the countries in which they have traveled. Heiko remembers with amusement that whenever they stop to ask for directions, people do not answer but stare at their bicycles with amazement as children swarm around the bicycles.

Rita told a funny story about when they were in China. They stopped on a street in a village to ask for directions. On the opposite side of the street was a wedding, and after they had their questions answered, they turned back to see all the guests standing up and staring at them and their bicycles.

Having gone through cold weather in Russia, hot weather in the Gobi desert in Mongolia, spent days climbing steeps and mountains, and arriving hot and dry to Ho Chi Minh City Vietnam in March 22, 2007, they have reached the final destination.

Last Saturday, they packed their bicycles and flew to Australia to visit their friends and then will return to Germany on May 27, 2007. There are pictures of the countries Rita and Heiko have visited on their home page www.rita-heiko-bikeforschool.de.

Being asked why they chose to travel to many countries on bicycles, an adventurous journey that requires the stamina of athletes, the young-at-heart couple told the Daily that they wanted to see the world in a different view, not the view from the seat of a comfortable car.

They wanted to communicate with people and feel the real world with their five senses, and be part of it.

(Source: SGT)

Nha Trang festival: Sea festival in Nha Trang

The sea festival this year, named Nha Trang-Khanh Hoa Vietnam, Civilization and Friendliness, will be held from April 28 until May 4. This is a cultural event with many cultural activities and special festivals.

The event this year will introduce a street festival including pedicabs of flowers, tandems, carriages decorated with flowers which will parade the streets, a beer festival with the participation of the beer firms present in Vietnam.

In addition, a festival of picture (Vietnam picture, Nha Trang picture) embroidering will be held with unique rites by the XQ Nha Trang Company, which has built a house to worship embroidering ancestors at 64 Tran Phu Street.

Kite flying with the participation of traditional kite clubs from Hue City, Ho Chi Minh City and Binh Dinh Province will also join the event at the April 2 Square.

In addition, exhibitions on pottery, calligraphy as well as artistic performances and fashion performances will take place during the Nha Trang sea festival. Ending the Nha Trang festival will be the day of walking.

(Source: SGT)

Visiting Yen Tu the Buddhism capital of Vietnam

In Vietnam, the mountainous region of Yen Tu in Thuong Yen Cong Commune, Uong Bi District, Quang Ninh Province is famous all over the world for its beautiful landscapes, historical relics and hundreds of ancient pagodas and towers, earning its name as the Buddhism capital of Dai Viet, Vietnam’s former name.

Tourists should not miss the Yen Tu festival which occurs every spring from the tenth day of the first month to the third month of Lunar New Year.

From Hanoi, it is a 115 kilometers drive to Quang Ninh Province, passing Uong Bi District, then turning onto Vang Danh Street for 9 more kilometers, and then turning left to the street leading to the region.

In the past, tourists to Yen Tu had to climb the six-kilometer track, on steps made from rock, through the bamboo and pine tree forest leading to Yen Tu.

Today they have the option of going by cable car, which has been operating since 2002, which will carry tourists to the Hoa Yen pagoda, and from there they can walk to visit other landscapes in the region.

In the cool weather of spring many tourists still prefer following the track for a leisurely climb to all the tourism sites in Yen Tu. All the pagodas and sites here bear legendary stories of Vietnamese King Tran Nhan Tong leaving the court to follow a religious life in Yen Tu in the thirteen century.

In order to contemplate the beauty of all the pagodas and temples here, tourists should follow the Giai Oan Stream (Vindication Stream), then go to Tung and Truc streets to the Tower and Hoa Yen Pagoda, and from there to Mot Mai, Bao Sai pagodas, visiting An Ky Sinh statue and Dong (Bronze) Pagoda on the right side.

On the way to Dong Pagoda, which is the highest pagoda in Yen Tu, there are more than 20,000 constructions with small and large relics. Near Hoa Yen Pagoda is a street called Tung (pine tree) street because it has two rows of ancient pine trees, dating back 600 to 700 years.

Passing this street, tourists will see an ancient rock tower, To Tower, rising to the mountain with the name “Dragon’s Forehead”. A short distance from To Tower is Ngu Doi waterfall.

The more adventurous can go up 800 meters to visit Bao Sai Pagoda, one of the earliest pagodas here. And going even higher brings visitors to the Vong Phu stone, which resembles a mother embracing a child, standing out from the view of forests and mountains. The last stop is Dong Pagoda on the peak of Yen Tu mountain, 1,068 meters above sea level.

Dong Pagoda has been rebuilt at a cost of more than VND21bil. The copper pagoda is 20 meters square in area with a height of 3,35 meters.

The whole pagoda, including more than 3,500 items of statues, bells, and more, weighs around 70 tons. The pagoda is skillfully carved and from far away looks just like a golden lotus.

As the journey comes to an end, tourists climb down and enjoy the vegetable dishes in Nang Tam Restaurant. In Truc Lam Zen Monastery, at the foot of Yen Tu Mountain, tourists can hear the supreme monk lecturing about the history and the dogma of Buddhism.

(Source: SGT)

SaPa Vietnam's highest mountain celebrates tourism week

SaPa culture and Sapa tourism week kicks off this weekend with a gruelling hike up Vietnam's highest mountain.

Nearly 200 runners from Vietnam, China and Japan are expected to enter the race to reach Fansipan's 3,143m summit.

Also on Saturday, food fanciers will be able to sample the culinary delights of 28 chefs from Lao Cai Sapa and eight other northern provinces who will be rustling up some 60 traditional Vietnamese dishes.

The highlight of the week will be the "Festival on the Cloud" at Ham Rong Mountain Tourism Area. The festival will feature various activities, including a photo exhibition, handicraft making, and folk games, dances and music.

There will also be a display of more than 200 varieties of flowers and bonsai trees.

SaPa Vietnam was built as a hill station during French colonial days to serve as a respite from the stifling summer heat in Hanoi.

Tourists flock to SaPa Vietnam to visit the famous Love Market, trek in the hills and to visit local hill tribe villages.

Among the ethnic groups living in the province are the Mong, Dao, White Thai, Giay, Tay, Muong, and Xa Pho.

Sapa tours
Sapa Travel Pictures
Hotels in Sapa

(Source: Viet Nam News)

Phu Quoc Island popular destination for seekers of relaxation at resorts or on the beach

Phu Quoc Island Vietnam is a popular destination for seekers of relaxation at resorts or on the beach, swimming in the sea and fresh seafood. But the island off mainland Kien Giang Province has recently attracted a large number of tourists who want a holiday combining energetic games and experiences for survival and teambuilding

The travel firm Dau An Viet, or Vietmark, offers a special Vietnam tours that requires participants to use almost all their energy and face risks before they can enjoy themselves to the full.

The tour really starts from an isolated islet called Doi Moi (tortoise shell), where participants are provided with bamboo, ropes and other materials to make a raft in which to cross a 3-kilometer-long section of the sea. Of course, they are taught how to make the raft on the beach and to row it on the waters.

After less than an hour, the raft is launched and the sea-crossing journey starts. A group of five to seven people get on the raft and row it from the islet to Phu Quoc Island Vietnam. They have to push their raft hard to go forward on the waves, which are big enough to capsize the flat-bottomed craft.

But, do not be worried; participants are also provided with life jackets and they are taught how to keep calm and survive in the event that they overturn.

Upon arriving ashore, they have to join energetic games that require good teambuilding techniques from all the participants to complete the games before crossing the forest.

In the dense forest, the game participants have to look for signals as instructions for them to proceed rather than following a tour guide as normal tours often go. Just in case they lose their way Vietmark staff hide themselves in the forest to assist them with signals to keep going forward until they reach the finish.

Crossing the sea and forest is not an easy job and the participants will be tired and probably exhausted after the journey. Some people may wonder about the benefits of the tour.

Vietmark director of marketing Truong Hoang Phuong says the tour is to help participants get a better understanding of teambuilding, as well as techniques for survival.

The tour is also for company executives to determine the leadership skills of their employees and then train them into corporate leaders in the future.

The immediate rewards of the tour are a seafood party, drinking spree, singing and dancing on the beach or at a resort as the happy ending of the strenuous trip to one of the most beautiful islands of Vietnam.

Hotels in Phu Quoc
Phu Quoc Travel Pictures

(Source: SGT)

Responsible Travel

These days the tourism industry plays very important part in the world economy, (nearly 12% of the world’s GDP). Especially for developing countries like Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia. In the year 2006 Vietnam welcomed about 3.5 million foreign tourists, Laos: 1 million and Cambodia: 1.3 million. This represents a heavy injection of foreign funds into these economies.

While this creates many benefits that contribute to national and local development, it can also impact negatively on the environment and local cultures. Issues include the depletion of natural resources, pollution, land degradation, and breakdown of local cultures that have previously survived for thousand years.

By traveling responsibly with Viet Vision Travel, following this simple code of conduct and encouraging others to do the same, you can make a real, positive difference to the people and places you visit. We hope you will follow these guidelines to help preserve the beauty of our world for the next generation.

Responsible Traveler’s Code
Find out about your destination. Buy relevant guidebooks and learn about the culture, politics, geography, religion and customs of the area before you travel.

Learn some basic words and phrases (even just hello, please and thank you). Normally our guides will teach you some simple local words and phrases when the trip starts. A few words will go a long way towards developing communication and understanding with local people.

Dress respectfully. It is very easy to embarrass, shame or offend local people by not covering up or dressing appropriately especially when you visit pagodas, temples, or religious places.

In Indochina, do not touch heads of adults, as they believe that is the place through which they worship to their ancestors. (Touching children’s head is fine.)

Buy locally made goods and use locally provided services. Try to put money into the local economy by encouraging trade and the local manufacture of goods and crafts. Pay a fair price for the goods and services you buy. Haggling is often a part of local life, but make this light and bright - don’t go too far. Keep a realistic perspective. What is a trifling sum to you, could be a significant amount to a poor family (perhaps making the difference of having a meal or not.)

Ask permission to photograph or video – how would you like it if a stranger came along and took photos of you going about your everyday life (hanging out the washing, going to the gym or washing the dog)? But do not pay people for taking their picture. It leads to begging. If they ask, just don't take the picture.

Don't give children candy or sweets because many do not have dental care. If you want to give local people or children something please ask a Viet Vision Travel guide for suggestions. Avoid conspicuous displays of wealth, especially in very poor communities. Not only is this insensitive, you may become the target for thieves or snatchers. Remove watches, rings and expensive jewellery.

Our style of travel is environmentally and culturally responsible and at all times we endeavor to give something to the communities that we visit. Our policy will be provided to you at time of booking, and sets our environmental objectives and practices, and how you can play a part in reducing the impacts on environment and culture in the area visited.

These are some of our aims:
Our operation should maximize the positive impacts of tourism on the host communities. This includes using of the local staff, local suppliers and developing sustainable business.

Minimize the negative impacts of tourism. This is to ensure that tourism does not divert resources away from local communities or drive up prices of local resources.

Provide opportunities for cultural exchange, where the local communities and group members can share and learn from each other

Contribute toward the host community’s welfare. Whenever possible we will engage in partnerships with local agencies to develop programs that can assist the host communities. This may include support for health, education or environmental protection.