Wishing you a Russian Christmas at Tan Cang

The riverside Tan Cang Tourist Park will organize the Russian Food Festival for Christmas from 5:30 p.m to 9:30 p.m, December 24 to 26.

Around 60 Russian dishes many of them grilled will be served with Russian Fifth Ocean beer, at the park that is next to Saigon Bridge in Binh Thanh District.

Chiem Thanh Long, director of Binh Quoi Tourist Village, which manages Tan Cang, told the Daily the tourist village has invited master Russian chef, Sarhat Nabioglu Khalivov to run the kitchen.

“He has been training our chefs for a month,” he said.

This is the first time that Binh Quoi Tourist Village has organized a foreign food festival instead of promoting local food and culture.

Long said the tourist village would hold the Russian Food Festival every year. “HCMC has many programs to promote European and Chinese gastronomy so we want to bring a new food culture of Russia to Saigonese,” he said.

A ticket costs VND450,000 per adult, VND200,000 per child. Contact Tan Cang at A100, Ung Van Khiem Street, Binh Thanh District. Tel: 08 899 1120.

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Enjoy a Saigontourist Christmas and New Year

A couple at Gio Noi Restaurant in the Que Huong – Liberty 4 Hotel in HCMC’s District 1 - Photo: Courtesy of Saigontourist

With only one week left till Christmas and New Year just around the corner, some hotels, resorts and restaurants under the management of Saigontourist are organizing some great parties and food to celebrate.

Rex Hotel Saigon (141 Nguyen Hue Boulevard, HCMC’s District 1, tel: 3822 8380)

The Rex Hotel will adopt a red and white theme with its decorations and entertainment activities. Revelers can join the Christmas party at the Rooftop Garden from 7 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. on December 24. Enjoy the tasty food and listen to singers, DJs and try your luck in the lucky draw.

Tickets are priced at US$80++ per adult and US$39++ per child, inclusive of drinks and wine.

For New Years Eve, also at the Rooftop garden, guests can join a buffet from 7 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. Music shows, fashion shows and DJs and a lucky draw will guarantee a fun night. Tickets US$99++ per adult and US$45++ per child, inclusive of drinks and wine.

Que Huong - Liberty 4 Hotel (265 Pham Ngu Lao Street, HCMC’s District 1, tel: 3836 5172)

A buffet program will be served from 6 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. on December 24 and 31. Buffets will feature the delicious Vietnamese taste of grilled shrimp, barbecued squid, assorted seafood and deer. On December 24, children will receive gifts from Santa Claus and the snow princess. Lucky guests will win gifts in the lucky draws on both big nights.

Tickets are priced at VND380,000 per adult and VND190,000 per child, inclusive of drinks and beer. Anyone buying tickets before December 20 and booking accommodation at the hotel will be discounted 10%.

Liberty Central Hotel (179 Le Thanh Ton Street, District 1, tel: 6291 7977)

The hotel will prepare buffets from 5:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. on December 24 and 31 with seafood, turkey, soups, and a selection of cakes. Tickets are VND399,000++ per adult and VND200,000++ per child. Buy 10 tickets in advance get one free.

From December 25 to January 1, the hotel will have a special menu with new dishes for friends and family. New dishes include shrimp soup with garlic in French style, grilled sheep ribs with mint sauce, smoked turkey served with cream and bread and vegetables.

Van Thanh Tourist Area (48/10 Dien Bien Phu Street, Binh Thanh District, tel: 3512 3025)

Join Van Thanh Tourist Area’s Christmas party between 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. on December 24 to enjoy the beautiful garden atmosphere, Flamenco band and a visit from Santa Claus, who will be handing out gifts to guests. Tickets are priced at VND450,000 per adult and VND300,000 per children.

Saigon Ship Hotel (Bach Dang Wharf, District 1, tel: 3823 0393)

Christmas and New Year celebrations will take place on board from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. and from 7:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. on December 24 and 31 and January 1. The first and the second decks will serve a set menu. The third deck will offer buffets from 7:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. with Noel traditional dishes such pumpkin soup, fried turkey with honey, steamed rabbit with wine and Christmas cakes. Get up and dance to live band Latin Eyes and watch the dance shows, juggling and circus performances. Tickets are VND500,000 per adult and VND300,000 per child.

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Packed schedule for biggest-ever Vietnam Hat

Players competing at 2008’s Vietnam Hat Tournament - Photo: The organizers

Organizers have arranged an action packed schedule for players at the seventh Vietnam Hat ultimate Frisbee tournament that starts on Saturday at RMIT International University Vietnam, 702 Nguyen Van Linh Boulevard, District 7, HCMC.

Ten teams will be made-up from nearly 200 Ultimate Frisbee players from more than 10 countries. Teams will play between six and nine matches each, depending on if they progress into the final rounds on Sunday.

The organizers, Saigon Ultimate Club and RMIT Ultimate Club, said the teams are larger this year so players will have plenty of time to rest and rehydrate. The registration party is on at Le Pub tonight, 175/22 Pham Ngu Lao, District 1. (see www.lepub.org for info and directions) from 7pm till late. The tournament party on Saturday night with a costume theme of Beauty and the Beast will be at Lush Bar, 2 Ly Tu Trong, District 1 from 9pm. If not in costume, dress code applies.

The Saigon Times Daily is the proud media sponsor of the Vietnam Hat.

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Drifting through the delta

Phu Tu Island in Phu Quoc offshore Kien Giang Province

If central Vietnam is my favorite place to travel and learn about history, the Mekong Delta region is where I am touched by the hardship that these people endure.

My journey starts from Dong Tam Snake Farm in Tien Giang Province. It is one of the country’s largest snake-farms where venom is produced for local use and export. The center also has other rare animals such as bears, monkeys and golden turtles.

Down the river to An Giang Province, I had time to visit many places such as Ba Chua Xu Temple, built in 1820 at the foot of Sam Mountain, Chau Doc District, where people pray to Ba Chua Xu for better crops and lives. From Sam Mountain visitors can see the Vietnam and Cambodia border and That Son Mountain Range where there are many old pagodas.

I also had a chance to see artisans weaving brocades in Cham Chau Giang craft village. And visited Dong Thap to see the tomb of Sinh Sac, the father of Uncle Ho.

A seller at Cai Rang Floating Market in Can Tho City at dawn Photos: Dang Khoa

Then I left for Kien Giang Province, a must-see for all travelers to the delta. I went first to Ha Tien Town and looked around Mui Nai Beach, Thon Van Stone Cave, Chong Islet and many historical and cultural relics.

From the center of Ha Tien Township, I stopped at the royal tombs and temples of the Mac Cuu family at Binh San Mountain. They were the family who first settled the town 300 years ago. The mountain was nice to trek around then I cooled off at some of the temples and the ancient Phu Dung Pagoda

If you go to Kien Giang Province, you shouldn’t miss the boat ride to Phu Quoc Island, to see the peaceful tropical paradise and float in the warm turquoise waters of the Gulf of Thailand.

I came back via Can Tho City, checked out Cai Rang Floating Market – listening to the cries of sellers drifting along the canals and rivers.

In Can Tho, I also watched a performance of don ca tai tu (southern opera singing).

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Drifting through the delta

Phu Tu Island in Phu Quoc offshore Kien Giang Province

If central Vietnam is my favorite place to travel and learn about history, the Mekong Delta region is where I am touched by the hardship that these people endure.

My journey starts from Dong Tam Snake Farm in Tien Giang Province. It is one of the country’s largest snake-farms where venom is produced for local use and export. The center also has other rare animals such as bears, monkeys and golden turtles.

Down the river to An Giang Province, I had time to visit many places such as Ba Chua Xu Temple, built in 1820 at the foot of Sam Mountain, Chau Doc District, where people pray to Ba Chua Xu for better crops and lives. From Sam Mountain visitors can see the Vietnam and Cambodia border and That Son Mountain Range where there are many old pagodas.

I also had a chance to see artisans weaving brocades in Cham Chau Giang craft village. And visited Dong Thap to see the tomb of Sinh Sac, the father of Uncle Ho.

A seller at Cai Rang Floating Market in Can Tho City at dawn Photos: Dang Khoa

Then I left for Kien Giang Province, a must-see for all travelers to the delta. I went first to Ha Tien Town and looked around Mui Nai Beach, Thon Van Stone Cave, Chong Islet and many historical and cultural relics.

From the center of Ha Tien Township, I stopped at the royal tombs and temples of the Mac Cuu family at Binh San Mountain. They were the family who first settled the town 300 years ago. The mountain was nice to trek around then I cooled off at some of the temples and the ancient Phu Dung Pagoda

If you go to Kien Giang Province, you shouldn’t miss the boat ride to Phu Quoc Island, to see the peaceful tropical paradise and float in the warm turquoise waters of the Gulf of Thailand.

I came back via Can Tho City, checked out Cai Rang Floating Market – listening to the cries of sellers drifting along the canals and rivers.

In Can Tho, I also watched a performance of don ca tai tu (southern opera singing).

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• Drifting through the delta
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Drifting through the delta

Phu Tu Island in Phu Quoc offshore Kien Giang Province

If central Vietnam is my favorite place to travel and learn about history, the Mekong Delta region is where I am touched by the hardship that these people endure.

My journey starts from Dong Tam Snake Farm in Tien Giang Province. It is one of the country’s largest snake-farms where venom is produced for local use and export. The center also has other rare animals such as bears, monkeys and golden turtles.

Down the river to An Giang Province, I had time to visit many places such as Ba Chua Xu Temple, built in 1820 at the foot of Sam Mountain, Chau Doc District, where people pray to Ba Chua Xu for better crops and lives. From Sam Mountain visitors can see the Vietnam and Cambodia border and That Son Mountain Range where there are many old pagodas.

I also had a chance to see artisans weaving brocades in Cham Chau Giang craft village. And visited Dong Thap to see the tomb of Sinh Sac, the father of Uncle Ho.

A seller at Cai Rang Floating Market in Can Tho City at dawn Photos: Dang Khoa

Then I left for Kien Giang Province, a must-see for all travelers to the delta. I went first to Ha Tien Town and looked around Mui Nai Beach, Thon Van Stone Cave, Chong Islet and many historical and cultural relics.

From the center of Ha Tien Township, I stopped at the royal tombs and temples of the Mac Cuu family at Binh San Mountain. They were the family who first settled the town 300 years ago. The mountain was nice to trek around then I cooled off at some of the temples and the ancient Phu Dung Pagoda

If you go to Kien Giang Province, you shouldn’t miss the boat ride to Phu Quoc Island, to see the peaceful tropical paradise and float in the warm turquoise waters of the Gulf of Thailand.

I came back via Can Tho City, checked out Cai Rang Floating Market – listening to the cries of sellers drifting along the canals and rivers.

In Can Tho, I also watched a performance of don ca tai tu (southern opera singing).

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• Drifting through the delta
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Drifting through the delta

Phu Tu Island in Phu Quoc offshore Kien Giang Province

If central Vietnam is my favorite place to travel and learn about history, the Mekong Delta region is where I am touched by the hardship that these people endure.

My journey starts from Dong Tam Snake Farm in Tien Giang Province. It is one of the country’s largest snake-farms where venom is produced for local use and export. The center also has other rare animals such as bears, monkeys and golden turtles.

Down the river to An Giang Province, I had time to visit many places such as Ba Chua Xu Temple, built in 1820 at the foot of Sam Mountain, Chau Doc District, where people pray to Ba Chua Xu for better crops and lives. From Sam Mountain visitors can see the Vietnam and Cambodia border and That Son Mountain Range where there are many old pagodas.

I also had a chance to see artisans weaving brocades in Cham Chau Giang craft village. And visited Dong Thap to see the tomb of Sinh Sac, the father of Uncle Ho.

A seller at Cai Rang Floating Market in Can Tho City at dawn Photos: Dang Khoa

Then I left for Kien Giang Province, a must-see for all travelers to the delta. I went first to Ha Tien Town and looked around Mui Nai Beach, Thon Van Stone Cave, Chong Islet and many historical and cultural relics.

From the center of Ha Tien Township, I stopped at the royal tombs and temples of the Mac Cuu family at Binh San Mountain. They were the family who first settled the town 300 years ago. The mountain was nice to trek around then I cooled off at some of the temples and the ancient Phu Dung Pagoda

If you go to Kien Giang Province, you shouldn’t miss the boat ride to Phu Quoc Island, to see the peaceful tropical paradise and float in the warm turquoise waters of the Gulf of Thailand.

I came back via Can Tho City, checked out Cai Rang Floating Market – listening to the cries of sellers drifting along the canals and rivers.

In Can Tho, I also watched a performance of don ca tai tu (southern opera singing).

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• Drifting through the delta
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