VietNam Travel

Tuesday, December 28, 2010

Sailing in Vietnam – Where is the wind?

A customer sails an RS Feva in front of the Manta Sail Training Center in Mui Ne - Photo: Michael Smith

A kilometer offshore… The fishing port to my left, the flat blue horizon on my right with a couple of fishing boats working their nets within waving distance... I’m heading just to the right of the point at Mui Ne. The sail pulled on tight as the boat beats upwind. My sailing coach and one of his staff are couple of hundred meters ahead in separate dinghies. The Lasers they are sailing are much faster than my RS Feva and they have a lot more experience than me. It’s my first time out in a boat on my own. It’s magic.

I can hear the boat hum when I find the wind and it tilts and picks up speed. I keep my gaze on a fixed point ahead and steer for it. If I take my eyes off it for more than a few seconds I will lose my bearings - the boat will go everywhere – and I could end up in the drink again. A quick look up at the sail, then back at the water churning around the rudder, it’s time for my next tack. I push the tiller slowly across the boat and duck under the sail.

A minute later my boat’s on the edge of the fishing fleet. A brown-faced local sailor in his hammock after lunch opens one eye to watch me go slowly past his anchored wooden boat. I can see my coach, Nick, and his off-sider, Tung, pulling up on a beach just short of the point. Getting there against this wind will be a nice challenge to apply my new knowledge.

Sailing has been a dream for years. So when I found out about Manta Sail Training Center in Mui Ne, I went for it. Living the dream – isn’t that what life’s about.

On my first day, one of the coaches, Nick Newman, sat me down in the club house for a bit of theory with a diagram about beating, running, reaching and some safety stuff. Then showed me how to rig up a boat with one sail and we hit the water. No longer a spectator in the sport, I was straight-away learning hands-on how to set the sail with the mainsheet.

After half an hour of studying the wind and sailing together, he takes his hands completely off the controls when he hands me the tiller and moves to the front of the boat. All of a sudden I have both the sail and the tiller in my hands and we capsize for the first time with about five dunkings to go. I don’t seem to have enough hands. The strong wind lost me, I don’t know where it is coming from, so Nick resumes his place in the stern.

About five more sessions over the next few days with the two Vietnamese assistant coaches and I am ready to go solo. The feelings range from exhilaration when the wind is strong; to a gentle ease and oneness when the boat is steady.

The sailing center only opened in November. A British sailing instructor, Julia Shaw, opened it and equipped it with about 20 boats including RS Fevas and Teras, Laser Radials and Standards, 420s, Flying Fish and Bics. There has been a steady trickle of customers since the boats became available.

One customer, Phil Clandillon, who’d been sailing small dinghies since he was a kid, said he’d searched online in London for sailing in Vietnam before he came, but couldn’t find anything.

“When I found this place it was perfect. Good sheltered conditions, nice new boats, warm water. Couldn’t be better for learning,” said Clandillon who was using an RS Feva to teach his girlfriend, Dulcie, to sail.

The introductory price is US$30 an hour for a boat or US$50 an hour for a boat and coach.

For bookings contact Julia Shaw 0908400108 or juliashaw2@gmail.com or Nick Newman 0908370293 or nick610newman@hotmail.com or go to the Manta center at 108 Huynh Thuc Khang St on the beach near the fishing port.

Friday, December 24, 2010

Vietnam welcomes five-millionth foreign visitors

The Vietnam National Administration of
Tourism (VNAT) presented a gift and an insignia to Chinese visitor Zhu
Ying, the five-millionth foreign visitor of Vietnam this year, who
descended at Noi Bai National Airport on the evening of Dec.
24.

She was also offered a package tour of Hue-Da Nang-Hoi An for two people by the Vietnam-Hanoi Tourism Company.

VNAT
General Director Nguyen Van Tuan described it as an important event of
the tourism sector, affirming the position of Vietnam on the world’s
tourism map.

The tourism sector also presented gifts and
insignias to two other Chinese tourists, who were the 4,999,999th and
5,000,001st visitor to Vietnam.

The year 2010 is the
first year that Vietnam set a record growth of foreign tourists with
an increase of 1.2 million people from last year.

The year also sees the highest number of foreign arrivals to Vietnam over the past 20 years.

The achievements were attributable to tourism promotion campaigns launched in 2009 and 2010./.

Local tour guides provide an insight into the real Sa Pa

by Minh Thu

Steps to heaven: The familiar terraced fields in Sa Pa attract many domestic and foreign visitors. — VNS Photos Truong Vi

Gracious guides: Many local women work as souvenir sellers and tour guides to lead tourists to discover their hometown's lifestyle and hidden charm.

Bridging the divide: A foreign tourist tries to cross the May (Rattan or Cloud) Bridge in Sa Pa, a destination for adventurous tourists.

It's a strange land that leaves me with different feelings whenever I come to rediscover it.

Sa Pa is an incredibly picturesque town in the Hoang Lien Son Mountain Range near the Chinese border in northwestern Viet Nam, 350km from Ha Noi.

It can be explored almost year-round from March to early December. Vietnamese most like to visit during June and July to escape the summer heat in other parts of the country. Sa Pa is 1,500m above sea level so the weather is quite mild, and cold at night.

The best time to go to Sa Pa is on a weekday, as weekenders tend to flock here. However, the famed "love market" only takes place on Saturday nights, so visitors often extend their tour to Saturday to experience it.

Tourists can see many hill tribe people, their villages and rice terraces. The ethnic minority groups generally retain their lifestyles and traditional costumes.

The area's high mountains, deep ravines and lush vegetation rise to the peak of Mt Fansipan – the highest point in Indochina. The combination of fresh mountain air, relaxed ambience, sweeping panoramas and fascinating hill tribes make Sa Pa a must-see destination.

A trek took us deep into a hill tribe region where tourists are still something of a novelty. Staying in village homes allowed us to experience firsthand a lifestyle that has been little touched by the modern world and a curiosity from our hosts just as great as our own. The trekking is fairly strenuous at times but the spectacular scenery and sense of adventure make it worth the effort.

I can't explain why all of the local tour guides are women. All are under 30 and haven't yet married. Thao Thi Ru, a Dao ethnic woman, has guided tourists since she was 12, after starting her career as a souvenir vendor. Sometimes, to get tourists buy her hand-made souvenirs, she has offered herself as a guide for free. Gradually, she has learned English from them, learned to cook dishes to their tastes, and acquired the experience to become a professional tour guide.

"Being local, we have an advantage over tour companies," Ru said. "Foreign tourists prefer us to guide them because we know the ways and easily lead them to villages and local houses. They love to understand the local customs as told by locals like us."

Under Ru's direction, we visit Ta Van, Ta Phin and Ban Ho communes and get a greater understanding of the Mong and Dao people's stone-carving, weaving, jewelry-making, metalwork and embroidery crafts.

Ta Phin Cave, at the far end of Ta Phin village, is an attractive destination which tourists often bypass without a local guide's suggestion.

The cave requires a guide with a flashlight, and the guide will shine the torch on a variety of stalactites.

Some of the locals invite visitors to go to their homes to show how they live and what they have, and tell them about their families. On following them to their houses, tourists find out how simply they live. The tour guides suggest you to buy the merchandise you like from them as repayment for what they have shown for you.

Local tour guides also lead the trips to the forests and mountains because they know thoroughly the terrain.

Before starting a tour, the guides remind tourists to bring food, shoes, sleeping bags and other necessities, said Giang Thi Co, a Mong woman.

"I have learned from the elders folk medicines to treat stomach aches, muscle pains and snake bite," Co said. "Once, a Western woman couldn't walk anymore because her legs were sore, so I picked some leaves to apply to her swollen calves. She felt better and said ‘good, good!' to me."

City lovers may find Sa Pa is not the place for them as its rich ethnic lifestyle is far removed from modern life. If you expect to go shopping in malls, Sa Pa has nothing to offer. The only way to go shopping is to go to the local market where you can find unique handicrafts, jewelry and fabrics with colourful embroidery. While tourists don't know how to bargain or choose the best items, the local guides are ready to help.

Sa Pa is famous for its "love market" where local young people go to show off and find partners. It is held every Saturday night and provides a unique and unforgettable experience.

The love market is a tradition in the culture of the Mong, Tay and Dao. All the people around Sa Pa live in isolated villages and can only get together once a week during the Sunday morning market. The night before, young men and women from all around come to the love market to meet and express their emotions through playing the khen (pan pipe) and singing according to traditional customs of their people.

The experience of Sa Pa trip is not something that everyone can buy, but adventurous people and those who seek to know the hidden charm of Vietnamese hill tribes living in their old traditional mountain villages cannot miss this place. — VNS

Charming roads in winter

A winding section of the road from Nha Trang to Dalat - Photo: Mong Binh

The mild winter is pervading all roads and houses in the Central and Central Highlands regions with cold breezes and scenic landscapes of old, bare trees enveloped in the misty fog.

The romantic scenes welcome both locals and visitors along the roads in Lam Dong and other provinces in the regions. Anyone can feel and experience poetic sights when traveling on National Highway 28 and the road connecting Dalat and Nha Trang City in the central coastal province of Khanh Hoa.

The Dalat-Nha Trang road offers a breathtaking view of picturesque but safe-to-drive sections, where the road winds its way through pine-clad hills and mountains. Running waters of clean streams and clouds of mist suddenly come and disappear, giving travelers a feeling of being on the way to a fairy world.

National Highway 28 linking Di Linh District of Lam Dong Province and Phan Thiet City in Binh Thuan Province offers travelers different experiences when they pass roadside old and beautiful-shape trees and farms of coffee trees with pleasant-to-smell blossoms at the moment.

The two roads are situated in different locations and terrains, but present imposing and beautiful natural scenes, enriched by mist, and many trees with yellow and brown red leaves. Various wild flowers dot greenery and rock hills by the route.

National Highway 20 between Dalat City and Di Linh District also cuts through many areas which are beautified by wild sunflowers waving in tune with gentle winds and the evergreen tea trees stretching ranges of hills until the horizon.

So, if you have much time driving and traveling around, the journey from Nha Trang up the mist-covered road to Dalat and down to national highways 20 and 28 is the right choice. Just ask locals to make sure that you travel on the right roads when you are in Nha Trang and Dalat cities.

Thursday, December 23, 2010

Charming roads in winter

A winding section of the road from Nha Trang to Dalat - Photo: Mong Binh

The mild winter is pervading all roads and houses in the Central and Central Highlands regions with cold breezes and scenic landscapes of old, bare trees enveloped in the misty fog.

Crazy Sales at Vincom Center

To welcome Christmas and New Year, Vincom Center (72 Le Thanh Ton Street, District 1) is holding a Crazy Sales 2010 program with discounts up to 50% until Dec. 31.

More than half of the furniture, fashion, cosmetics and children’s wear stores have discount programs up to 50% with many attractive prizes. Famous brandnames like Levi’s, FCUK, Axara, G2000, Noir., Nike, Puma, Nine West, Bonia and Carlo Rino are at amazing prices.

If you spend VND1 million you will receive a gift voucher worth VND100,000. Together with the Crazy Sales program, other promotions like “Buying branded goods, winning luxury cars” and “Vincom Center Loyalty” are still available. Vu Tuyet Hang, director of the management board of the Vincom Center said in a statement, “Crazy Sales 2010 program aims to give customers a good chance to own their favorite items at the best prices and to experience a shopping style like other developed countries. Through the program, we do hope Vincom Center will become a shopping paradise for both local and international customers.”

Where to celebrate Christmas and New Year?

Christmas decoration at the Atrium Cafe of the Legend Hotel Saigon - Photo: Courtesy of the hotel

The festive season is a time to celebrate and make merry with family and friends. This year, the two important holidays, Christmas and New Year fall on the weekend so people have more time to relax and enjoy entertainment and dining with family and friends. In the Daily’s issues on Dec. 10 & 17, TravelLiving features Chritsmas and New Year programs of hotels and tourist areas under the management of Saigontourist. Here are some more interesting venues for you to choose for your holidays.

ENTERTAINMENT ACTIVITIES

*September 23 Park in HCMC’s District 1:

The fifth “Tastes of the World” festival will take place from Dec. 26 until Jan. 2 in the park with 60 booths from 24 countries. Apart from honoring local and international cuisines, the festival features a bartender contest, a ceremony to set Vietnam’s record for the biggest banh xeo (pancake), and a cooking contest with celebrities. Delegations from the Republic of Korea, Russia, Germany and Vietnam will perform traditional dances and folk songs in their national costumes. Youth Advertising Company.

*Dai Nam tourist area in Binh Duong Province:

The tourist area will launch a 20-minute science movie projected onto a dome screen. The dome movie theater is a combination of film making technologies, an 18m diameter dome a surround stereo system with 18 speakers and six projectors. The theater which seats 200 will screen a nature movie. The tourist area will organize a fireworks display on New Years Day Jan. 1.

*Suoi Tien Theme Park in HCMC’s District 9:

The children choir at the Christmas tree lighting ceremony at the Caravelle Hotel Saigon - Photo: Courtesy of the Caravelle Hotel Saigon

For Christmas, Suoi Tien will be transformed into snowy mountains and forests with Santa Claus riding his reindeer sleigh as angels and a snow princess give gifts to children.

An ornament festival will be held from today until Jan. 1 featuring 60 booths from cities and provinces nationwide. Some contests on bonsai, orchids, ornamental fish and dogs will be held.

*Dam Sen Cultural Park in HCMC’s District 11:

The park will launch a special “Sweet Noel & New Year” program from Dec. 24 until Jan. 2. A new drama for children named “Vi than may man’ (A lucky genie) produced by Idécaf will stage for four days Dec. 24, 25, 31 and Jan. 1. A hip-hop battle called “Red Lotus 2011” featuring break-dance, Deejay, Rap, Graffiti, Beatbox by Vietnamese dance groups and a judging panel from Thailand will be organized all day Jan. 1 at the musical fountain stage from 7am to 6pm. An ice sculpture show featuring images of the world wonders including Vietnam’s One-Pillar Pagoda, Thailand’s Golden Pagoda, Lao Pagoda, the Hanging Gardens of Babylon, the Champs-Élysées and the Leaning Tower of Pisa is on display until next September.

*Saigon Zoo & Botanical Garden (2 Nguyen Binh Khiem Street, District 1, HCMC)

On Dec 24 and 25, the central Youth Union in conjunction with Yeah1 TV will hold the Yeah1 Wonderland festival. The festival lineup includes a Hip Hop Supernova contest for hip hop and break dance groups, a cosplay show, a carnival, a street parade with performance art, musicians and dancers and a swapping festival.

*The Canal Area of Phu My Hung Urban Zone in HCMC’s District 7:

The Canal Area will be decorated in the Christmas theme with images of Santa Claus and the reindeer sleigh, the Snow Queen, dwarfs and penguins until Dec. 26.

DINING OUT

*Caravelle Hotel (17 Lam Son Square, Dist. 1, HCMC, tel: 3823 4999)

On Dec. 24, 25, 31 & Jan. 1, the hotel’s Nineteen Restaurant and Reflection Restaurant will serve buffet lunch and buffet dinner with a live jazz quartet. Price is VND998,000++ to VND2.1 million++. At the Saigon Saigon Bar, there’s a countdown dance party with live entertainment featuring Cuban band Luna Negra for VND800,000++.

*Duxton Hotel Saigon (93 Nguyen Hue Blvd., Dist. 1, HCMC, tel: 3822 2999)

Celebrate this festive season at The Grill and earn a Duxton Cash Voucher from our Festive Point Program. Christmas & New Year Eve Buffet Dinner: US$59++/person (Dec. 24 & Dec. 31), Christmas & New Year Day Buffet Lunch: US$25++/person (Dec. 25 & Jan. 1) and Christmas & New Year Day Buffet Dinner: US$38++/person (Dec. 25 & Jan. 1).

*Legend Hotel Saigon (2A-4A Ton Duc Thang St., Dist. 1, HCMC, tel: 3823 3333)

Enjoy Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve with a gala dinner buffet, novelties, variety entertainment, and live performance by the Essence Band at the hotel’s Pool Side. At the Atrium Café, Santa will give gifts to your kids. A midnight toast with a glass of sparkling at the New Year’s Eve countdown with a balloon drop and guitar & violin duo will make the start of 2011 memorable.

*Hotel Equatorial (242 Tran Binh Trong St., Dist. 5, HCMC, tel: 3839 7777)

Festive activities include carol singing, a Christmas bazaar and festive dishes at the Orientica and Chit Chat at the Café restaurants. The two restaurants present glorious menus of festive cuisines. Party on New Year’s Eve with sizzling menus, exciting entertainment, a lucky draw and the official countdown.

*InterContinental Asiana Saigon Hotel (corner of Le Duan Blvd. and Hai Ba Trung St., Dist. 1, HCMC, tel: 3520 9999)

The Christmas Royal Afternoon Tea at The Library lounge, some Italian home-style delights at Basilico, and a lunch or dinner at Market 39 with special Christmas treats are some highlights. At the Spa InterContinental, a “Get Your Glow Back” package has been created.

*Mövenpick Hotel Saigon and Mövenpick Hotel Hanoi:

At both hotels in HCM City and Hanoi are launching special brunches and buffets to celebrate the holidays. In HCM City, Santa Claus will be hading out Christmas gifts to the kids in the lobby. In Hanoi, special Christmas activities will be available to children in the playroom. Gift Hampers are also available at the two hotels.

*Park Hyatt Hotel Saigon (2 Lam Son Square, Dist. 1, HCMC, tel: 3824 1234)

A variety of menus have been created by the hotel’s celebrated chefs at the two award-winning restaurants, Opera and Square One, especially for Christmas and the New Year from VND1.5 million++ to VND2.7 million++. To welcome in 2011 and party in style, customers can revel at 2 Lam Son bar with the savvy Saigon crowd and guest DJ till 2 a.m.

*Ramana Hotel Saigon (323 Le Van Sy St., Dist. 3, HCMC, tel: 3843 9999)

Be entertained by live dance and choir music, a lucky draw, gifts for kids from Santa Claus and a Gala Buffet Dinner at The Café with more than 90 mouthwatering dishes for US$30++ for adults, half price for kids under 10. New Year’s Eve will have live music, lucky draw and a free glass of champagne for the countdown - only US$35 for adults, half price for kids under 10. The hotel offers its Year-End party package for only USD$16++ per person. Customers are offered a choice of menus, standard festive decorations with lighting and sound system, dance floor and one festive banner.

*Renaissance Riverside Hotel Saigon (8-15 Ton Duc Thang St., Dist. 1, HCMC, tel: 3822 0033)

Festive specialties prepared hot at live cooking stations are served at Riverside Café while Kabin Chinese Restaurant offers promotions at its private dining rooms during the season. At the 21st Poolside Terrace, there is a festive BBQ and live music. Kid corners are available to keep your kids entertained while gifts from Santa Claus will complete the little guests’ wishes for the night. For the New Year countdown, thousands of balloons drop at the crack of the New Year. You can pop the balloons to discover your prizes.

*Sheraton Saigon Hotel & Towers (88 Dong Khoi St., Dist. 1, HCMC, tel: 3827.2828)

The Gingerbread House is offering a wide range of gifts for guests to buy from a chocolate Santa Claus to a gingerbread snow man and Christmas yule logs. Christmas at Saigon Café has carol singers and gifts from Santa Claus for the children besides festive dishes. At New Years Eve, there is the countdown party at the Night Spot bar.

*Sofitel Saigon Plaza (17 Le Duan Blvd., Dist. 1, HCMC, tel: 3824 1555)

On Dec 24, Café Rivoli serves a delightful Christmas Eve buffet dinner with a traditional five-course set menu and a glass of Taittinger Champaign and unlimited Bordeaux wines at VND1.6 million++ per person. An enticing New Year’s Eve dinner buffet awaits you at Café Rivoli to feast for this festive night with a selection of fine French wines on free flow at VND 1,800,000++ per person. Then, indulge yourself with a “Magnifique” lobster brunch, for Jan. 1, with a wide range of desserts at VND900,000++ per person.

*Windsor Plaza Hotel (18 An Duong Vuong St., Dist. 5, HCMC, tel: 3833 6688)

The Windsor Plaza Hotel is also serving up special holiday fare at the three award-winning in-house dining establishments. Café Central An Dong will host special Holiday brunch and dinner buffets on Dec. 24, 25, 31 and Jan. 1. Dinner buffets feature two free glasses of wine or beer.

For a more traditional Eastern take on the Holidays, Ngan Dinh Restaurant, on the hotel’s fifth floor will serve a classic eight-course menu with a bottle of imported red wine on Dec. 24, 25, 31 and Jan. 1. While the TOTT Bar & Restaurant, located on the 25th floor, is where to enjoy the scenery and the sumptuous cuisine with two glasses of wine or beer on Dec. 24, 25, 31 and Jan. 1.

*Lion Restaurant (11-13 Lam Son Square, Dist. 1, HCMC, tel: 3823 8514)

Buffet parties will take place at the restaurant from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. on the nights of Dec 24 & 31, with more than 40 dishes. The parties will rock along with Filipino singers, a Christmas choir, circus and magic performances, games, dances and comedy performances for the New Year’s Eve. Participants will get gifts from Santa Claus and take part in a lucky draw. Ticket prices are VND579,000 for adults and VND379,000 for children.

*Victoria Hoi An Beach Resort and Spa (Cua Dai Beach, Hoi An Town, Quang Nam Province): There will be a traditional Christmas food program for guests, accompanied with a music performance by the hotel staff choir.

*Golden Sand Resort and Spa Hoi An (Hoi An Town, Quang Nam Province, tel: (0510) 3927 555): The Christmas celebration will start from 7 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. on December 24 with a party, Filipino band and lucky draw. Tickets are US$48 per adult and US$28 per child, free for kids under six.

*Furama Resort Danang (68 Ho Xuan Huong Street, Bac My AN, Danang City, tel: (0511) 3847 333): Enjoy music and dance performances and admire the flower with light displays. The resort also offers tours to heritages sites, martial arts on the beach and sport coaching for children such as tennis, flying kites and dragon dances.

*Silver Shores Hotel and Resort (8 Son Tra Dien Ngoc Street, Ngu Hanh Son District, Danang City, tel: (0511) 3818 888): The hotel will prepare a buffet with Asian dishes such as sashimi, Vietnamese soup, steamed shrimp with chili sauce, Thai duck curry and salads.

Other Christmas promotions include rooms for US$185-US$245 per night, including buffet breakfast, Xmas and New Year parties, and half price for the fourth night.

For New Year celebrations in Hoi An, visitors can enjoy the New Year’s Eve countdown at Hoai River with activities such as a dan tranh (16-chord zither) solo performance, dragon dances, rock and Aspara dance shows. The program starts 7 p.m. on December 31 to 2 a.m. January 1.

VietNam Travel

Tuesday, December 28, 2010

Sailing in Vietnam – Where is the wind?

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Friday, December 24, 2010

Vietnam welcomes five-millionth foreign visitors

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Local tour guides provide an insight into the real Sa Pa

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Charming roads in winter

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Thursday, December 23, 2010

Charming roads in winter

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Crazy Sales at Vincom Center

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Where to celebrate Christmas and New Year?

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