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Majestic wins 2nd Class Labor Medal

An outside view of the Majestic Hotel Saigon in HCMC’s District 1 - Photo: My Tran

The Majestic Hotel Saigon will receive the Second Class Labor Medal awarded by the State President on Thursday. It will also be awarded the prize “Golden cup for excellent profits and products 2010” by the online booking site Rakuten.com.

From 2005 to 2010, despite the economic slowdown the hotel met its targets with high average growth of 24% in annual turnover. The pre-tax profit in 2010 was more than four times the figure in 2005.

The hotel also has good environmental credentials with environmentally friendly products and green tourism development.

Nguyen Anh Vu, director of the hotel, said during 2011 the hotel will expand its operation into the third phase; building a twin tower with 24 floors, 336 rooms, a new ballroom and 12 conference rooms. The hotel will continue upgrading rooms into five-star standard and expand its business into Northeastern Asia to promote the brand name in the region.

The Majestic Hotel Saigon, under management of Saigontourist, was built in 1925. At 1 Dong Khoi Street in HCMC’s District 1, it has 175 rooms designed with French décor with Saigon River views.

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New bar at Sheraton Nha Trang rules the sky

The five-star international hotel, Sheraton Nha Trang has added a highpoint to the local bar-scene with the opening of the Altitude Bar on the hotel’s 28th floor making it the highest bar in the central coastal city.

Open from 4  p.m. to 8  p.m. daily, the bar with stunning sunset views of one of the world’s most beautiful bays offers a wide selection of wines, champagne, cocktails, mocktails, juices, spirits, beers, coffee and soft drinks.

Michiel de Kleer, the hotel’s director of food and beverage (F&B), says both hotel guests and Nha Trang locals would enjoy the Altitude bar. “This is one of the best spots to watch the sunset in Nha Trang and enjoy the scene of the seaside city lit up at night.”

The hotel is launching a series of F&B and spa promotions in March. On March 8 or Women’s Day, every female guest will receive a rose and complimentary soft drinks when she has lunch at Steam n’ Spice, the dim sum and noodle shop on the first floor, and a special mocktail of the day with the dinner buffet at Feast.

One complimentary manicure or pedicure session will be given to female customers who purchase any spa package or 90-minute massage at the Shine Spa. For the entire March, guests can enjoy the Shine Romantic Package of a relaxing bath, 60-minute Shine Facial therapy and one-hour soothing Shine Aroma Massage from VND3.29 million for two persons.

Throughout March, guests who dine at Feast will stand a chance to win a prize of a two night weekend stay at Sheraton Saigon.

For more information and reservations, call (058) 388 0000 or email dining.nhatrang@sheraton.com.

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Rest and relaxation in Vung Tau

Vung Tau Beach seen from the light house

I went to Vung Tau last week to unwind. The popular weekend getaway may not be famous like Nha Trang or Mui Ne with their stunning beaches, islands, islets and sand dunes. But Vung Tau has its own charms and is an amazing
escape at weekends for Saigonese who haven’t got the time to go farther.

It took me about three hours on motorbike. When I arrived the red sun was setting so I rode straight to the ocean and sat there until the aches and stresses of my long journey melted away. 

Pilgrims climb the steps to the Jesus statue in Vung Tau City - Photos: Le Vi

I took a hotel room by the sea, then went down to the beach where couples were walking hand in hand. Some stalls were selling delicious fresh seafood. The wind blew in my face, a sea breeze for a city soul. The lights of boats in the distance were like stars on the water making the scene romantic and mysterious.

In the sand I saw words written, ‘I love you,’ ‘I miss you’ together with their names in hearts. I felt life was so beautiful and happiness was simple.

Early the next day, I woke up to go to the lighthouse to enjoy the dawn and admire the sun rising over the ocean. The view included Lon and Nho mountains and a bird’s eye look at the town.

Some local women were on their way to the market and some men were swimming while most tourists still slept. The day began in that way, simple and carefree.

After taking breakfast, I went to the Jesus monument where many Catholic pilgrims go everyday to pray.

As the sun warmed, I went back to the beach to swim. It was busy and disappointing as none of the girls were wearing bikinis, preferring instead to swim in their shorts and T shirts. Some of them wore long-sleeves and masks to protect them from the sun.

A lot of people sat at tables under umbrellas enjoying the seafood that the vendors cooked for them.

After a while I got tired of playing with the waves as the water is not very clean. So I said goodbye to Vung Tau feeling revitalized enough to return to the congestion of HCMC.

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Saigontourist offers pilgrimage tours

Tourists at Thien Mu Pagoda in Hue City - Photo: Kinh Luan

In Vietnam, the first month of the Lunar New Year is time to make pilgrimages to pagodas to pray for a happy life, good luck and good health in the year ahead. Pilgrimage tourism is becoming a part of modern Vietnamese culture and an attractive tourist product for foreigners.

Pilgrimage tours to the north visit famous pagodas and temples, providing inner peace and interesting architecture such as Tran Temple in Nam Dinh Province, But Thap Pagoda in Bac Ninh Province, Temple of Literature, Tran Quoc, Ngoc Son and Quan Thanh Pagda in Hanoi.

Yen Tu Mountain in Quang Ninh Province is known as the mother land of Vietnamese Buddhism. The mountain is 1,068 meters high and is where the Truc Lam Buddhism sect was first based. 

The highlight of the pilgrimage to the North is Huong Pagoda. The pagoda is in natural surroundings so pagoda visitors can explore the mountain, caves, streams and forest. Discover the mystique of the incense filled Huong Tich Cave, boat tours from Duc Wharf and the picturesqueYen Stream.

The Hung King Festival will be held at Hung Temple in Phu Tho Province April 6-12 with traditional artistic shows, ethnic rituals and indigenous foods.

In the South, most provinces have pagodas and temples such as Vinh Nghiem, Ong  and Giac Lam Pagoda in HCMC, Dai Giac, Long Thien and Buu Phong pagodas in Dong Nai Province.

Binh Duong is famous for Ong and Ba pagodas. Dalat, the city in mist and pine trees, has Truc Lam Monastery Zen, Thien Vuong Co Sat and Linh Phuoc pagodas.

The interlacing canals of the Mekong Delta will transport you to floating markets, fertile orchards and fascinating pagodas like Ba Chua Xu and Thoai Ngoc Hau , Tay An and Nguyen Trung Truc in in Chau Doc Town, An Giang Province. Ha Tien, a province known for beautiful beaches, like Mui Nai, Bai No, Bai Ot, has Tam Bao, Thach Dong and Mac Cuu temples. If My Tho is famous for Vinh Trang Pagoda, Tra Vinh is well-known for Hang Pagoda.

Temples and pagodas in the Central are very imperial and elegant. Thien Mu Pagoda and Truc Lam Bach Ma Monastery Zen in Hue City, Long Son Pagoda and Cham’s Posah Inu Temple in Nha Trang City or Linh Son Truong Tho in Phan Thiet name a few. If visitors climb Ba Na Mountain in Danang City, there’s Linh Ung Pagoda.

Pilgrimage tours offered by Saigontourist Travel Service Company include a four-day tour to Huong Pagoda-Hanoi and Halong Bay priced at VND3.7 million to VND4.8 million, a four-day tour to Hanoi, Hung Temple and Halong Bay departing on April 12 and priced at VND3.7 million, a two-day tour to Do Temple and Yen Tu Mountain priced from VND1.6 to VND1.7 million, departing from Hanoi on Feb. 17, 19, 24 and 26 and March 3, 5, 10, 12, 17 and 19, a three-day tour to Linh Ung Pagoda priced at VND2.5 million to 2.9 million, departing from Danang on February 18 and 25 and March 4, 11 and 18, a four-day tour to Hoi An City to enjoy Nguyen Tieu Festival priced at VND2.7 million to VND3.2 million, exclusive of flight ticket and departing from Danang, a four-day tour to explore Hue City priced at VND2.7 million to 4.1 million, departing from Danang on February 19 and 26 and March 5, 12 and 19 and a four-day tour to Cai Be-Vinh Long-Can Tho-Chau Doc and Ha Tien in Mekong Delta priced at VND2 million to VND2.8 million, departing on February 17, 19, 24 and 26 and March 3, 5, 10, 12, 17 and 19.

Saigontourist Travel  Service Company is at 45 Le Thanh Ton Street, HCMC’s District 1, tel: 3827 9279, email: info@saigontourist.net.

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Lake reflects the heavens in An Giang

Teams compete every year in a dragon boat race - Photo: Lam Van Son

Bung Binh Thien (Peaceful Lake of Heaven), is a fresh-water lake in An Giang Province that is popular for weekend getaways.

Located in An Phu District, in the Mekong Delta province of An Giang, the lake links the communes of Khanh Binh, Nhon Hoi and Quoc Thai. Fed by Binh Di River and Hau River, the natural lake is tranquil all year round.

It covers about 200-300 hectares and is four meters deep in the dry season. As it is connected to the Mekong River system its width triples in the rainy season, with the depth increasing up to seven meters. It is the largest fresh water lake in the southwest.

The stillness of Bung Binh Thien reflects the sky while water-lilies and lotus sway in the wind.

Bung Binh Thien is home to many ethnic Cham people who have maintained their amazing culture and traditional festivals such as Roya Phik Trok and Ramadan. On full-moon nights, young couples often take a boat and sing love songs.

The lake plays host to local boat races and water games in August. Tourists are welcome.

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Artist recalls his boyhood in paintings

Artist Ton That Bang sings his song “Co gi dau” at the press conference at Phuong Mai Gallery in HCMC’s District 1 - Photo: My Tran

A painting exhibition named “Memories: Leaves and Flowers” by artist Ton That Bang will open at Phuong Mai Gallery, 129B Le Thanh Ton Street in HCMC’s District 1 on Sunday.

The artist uses his brush to recollect his childhood in 30 oil paintings on canvas.

His memories are wooden horses, girls whose dresses are sewn of leaves and skirts weaved of reeds and an old woman with a giant leaf on her head. Some of the subjects stand solidly on the ground, others seem about to topple, while some are weightless. Coins and dices represent life as a game of chance.

Bang says, “Childhood is the time people embrace in their memories and heart. My memories are simple with my mother, my wife and my daughters. I owe them a debt of gratitude as they share everything in this life, protect me and support me to paint.”

The exhibition runs till February 28.

Ton That Bang was born in 1963 in Quang Tri Province and his paintings have been in many group and solo exhibitions in Vietnam, Australia, the U.S., the U.K., Hong Kong and Singapore. He is also a musician and poet.

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