Vietnam's unique horse races

Following an annual tradition, a horse racing festival will take place this summer on June 19 in Bac Ha District, Lao Cai Province. Perhaps, nowhere in the world such a unique, pristine and genuine event such as this is held. An image of last year's horse race. The jockeys are of Dao, Mong and Tay ethnic descents and race without any kind of protection. The only things they are equipped with are a plastic hat in replacement for a helmet and a pair of plastic slippers, not even a saddle is used. The man and his horse will use all their skills and determination to win the race and bring pride to their village. The winner of the 2009 race, jockey Vang Van Thuc (30 years old, of Tay ethnic descent, from Na Hoi Tay Hamlet, Na Hoi Commune) shares, "We don't use a saddle on our horse. We use a rectangular piece of linen that we bind across their back and a rope that we use for their rein. It's impossible for us to whip the horse since we have to use both of our hands to control the horse and keep our balance. As easy as this may sound, it's not easy to do. There is only one spot on the back of the horse that allows us to keep our balance. Our two legs would have to grip tight to the sides of the horse and we have to adjust our body up and down according to the horse's running rhythm. If we accidentally fall, we have to know how to fall to avoid serious injuries." Since the beginning of May, Bac Ha District has been busy preparing for the 2010 Horse Race and it was reported that organisers for this year's event have been selected. The race this year is going to be held on a larger scale. It is estimated that over 150 horses will participate in the march before the race and about 100 will compete in a 1,500 metre race. The horse race is an annual event of Bac Ha District in response to the tourism program of 3 provinces: Lao Cai - Yen Bai - Phu Tho. It has been considered a highlight tourist attraction. According to the district's statistics, the 2009 horse race welcomed 15,000 visitors both domestic and international. Festival Hue | Hue Da Nang | Da Nang Hoi An | Hoi An Hue | Du Lich Hue | Du Lich Hoi An | Du Lich Da Nang | Du Lich Sapa | Du Lich Da Lat | Du Lich Phu Quoc | Du Lich Lao | Du Lich Cambodia | Du Lich Thai Lan |Du Lich Singapore | Du Lich Malaysia | Du Lich Trung Quoc
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Free Properties Management System introduced in Vietnam

Thien Minh Travel JS Company has set up a joint venture with Wotif Group, a leading provider of online accommodation bookings in Pacific Asia. The joint venture named ViVu LLC will first introduce free Properties Management System (PMS) in Vietnam. This is software used to automate the operations of small and medium sized hotels (under 25 rooms). Thien Minh – Wotif will provide support for this software free of charge. Facilities from guest houses to 3-star-hotels throughout Vietnam can benefit from the system. The PMS will be also convenient for tourists while, among other things, making room reservations or checking in or out. It also helps hotels with revenue management and keeping track of their room conditions. The free PMS will also be integrated with iVIVU.com, an online accommodation bookings website of VIVU LLC. "Considering the popularity of Internet in Vietnam, we see high potential for the online travel industry. In fact, there are only 500-700 hotels that can handle online accommodation services in the country," said Mr Tran Trong Kien, Chairman of Thien Minh Group Festival Hue | Hue Da Nang | Da Nang Hoi An | Hoi An Hue | Du Lich Hue | Du Lich Hoi An | Du Lich Da Nang | Du Lich Sapa | Du Lich Da Lat | Du Lich Phu Quoc | Du Lich Lao | Du Lich Cambodia | Du Lich Thai Lan |Du Lich Singapore | Du Lich Malaysia | Du Lich Trung Quoc
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Festival honors war hero Nguyen Trung Truc

A Cultural Festival commemorating the 143rd death anniversary of national hero Nguyen Trung Truc opened in Rach Gia City in the Mekong Delta Province of Kien Giang on September 23. Festival commemorating the 143rd death anniversary of national hero Nguyen Trung Truc opened in the Mekong Delta Province of Kien Giang. (Photo: Sggp) An incense offering ceremony honoring the national hero for his great patriotism and glorious sacrifices during the first year of the anti-French Resistance War was held on September 24. The festival includes various cultural activities from September 23 to 25, such as a parade, kylin and dragon dances, exhibitions, food fairs, folk games and other ceremonial offerings that will take place throughout the city. An exceptional feature will be a display of a replica of the French warship 'Esperance' that was destroyed on the Nhat Tao River in 1861. The replica will be brought to life with an enactment by a film crew who will relive the glorious exploits of Nguyen Trung Truc as took place during the war. The event is expected to attract more than 800,000 visitors. Nguyen Trung Truc (1839-1868) was the leader of the anti-French colonial uprising in South Vietnam and is remembered for his famous quote, "Only when all the grass in Vietnam has been pulled out then only will there be no Vietnamese person to fight the aggressors." Festival Hue | Hue Da Nang | Da Nang Hoi An | Hoi An Hue | Du Lich Hue | Du Lich Hoi An | Du Lich Da Nang | Du Lich Sapa | Du Lich Da Lat | Du Lich Phu Quoc | Du Lich Lao | Du Lich Cambodia | Du Lich Thai Lan |Du Lich Singapore | Du Lich Malaysia | Du Lich Trung Quoc
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Hanoi sets to expand tourist electric bus fleet

Hanoi's local government has approved a plan to expand the operation of electric powered tourist buses to the city's famous beauty spots. The buses will be allowed to operate in the entire Hoan Kiem District, instead of just the Old Quarter. The new routes will include stops at the Temple of Literature, the citadel, One-pillar Pagoda, Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum and Ba Dinh Square. Other places include Quan Thanh Temple, Hoan Kiem Lake, Ngoc Son Temple, Turtoise Tower, Presidential Palace, West Lake, Truc Bach Lake, and Bach Ma Temple. The city earlier granted the Ho Tay One-liability Limited Company the right to import 30 buses for a pilot project around West Lake. In July 2010, Hanoi began operating tours of 40 streets in Hoan Kiem District to serve tourists who want to travel around the Old Quarter. The buses have capacity for eight to 10 people and charge of VND15,000 (USD0.7) a person. Festival Hue | Hue Da Nang | Da Nang Hoi An | Hoi An Hue | Du Lich Hue | Du Lich Hoi An | Du Lich Da Nang | Du Lich Sapa | Du Lich Da Lat | Du Lich Phu Quoc | Du Lich Lao | Du Lich Cambodia | Du Lich Thai Lan |Du Lich Singapore | Du Lich Malaysia | Du Lich Trung Quoc
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Hanoi, Hoi An among Asian top ten best destinations

Hanoi and Hoi An's Old Town are rated among the top ten best destinations in Asia for 2011, according to an online poll conducted by Smart Travel Asia magazine. Hanoi is ranked sixth, while Hoi An in Quang Nam Province was jointly rated seventh, according to votes by millions of voters in the poll organised by the magazine which is regarded as a leading authority on the regional travel industry. The Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi and the Nam Hai in Hoi An shared top billing as Asia's best leisure properties for 2011. The destination shortlist was compiled by travel journalists. Hanoi Hue Da Nang | Da Nang Hoi An | Hoi An Hue | Du Lich Hue | Du Lich Hoi An | Du Lich Da Nang | Du Lich Sapa | Du Lich Da Lat | Du Lich Phu Quoc | Du Lich Lao | Du Lich Cambodia | Du Lich Thai Lan |Du Lich Singapore | Du Lich Malaysia | Du Lich Trung Quoc
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Co To offers pristine beach getaway for weary tourists

If you are tired of crowded beaches like Do Son in Hai Phong city or Sam Son in Thanh Hoa province, the beaches of Co To Island may offer you an ideal destination for your holidays. Co To Island Co To, one of the farthest inhabited islands from the mainland, is over 100km from Ha Long city in the northern province of Quang Ninh. Still far off the beaten tourist path, the island retains its natural beauty. A 1.5-hour journey on high-speed boat will bring you there. On the northeast of the island is Hong Van. It's hard to put into words. White sandbanks stretch away to the horizon. Coral reefs are easily to be seen in the limpid water. With an islet nearby blocking winds from the sea, the water is as calm as a clear pond. Tourists visit this expansive beach to swim as well as to see locals catching oysters. Van Chai Beach on the west of the island, appeals' to visitors with rocks of different shapes at either end of the beach. The middle of the beach is flat, the sand clean and smooth, and it offers the best place on the island to watch the sunset. To get another panorama of Co To Island, visitors should go to a lighthouse built in the 19th centur, from which one could see nearby Little Co To and Thanh Lan islands. At the centre of town, standsthe statue of President Ho Chi Minh built in 1968 to commemorate the day he visited the island. This is the only place the late president gave permission to erect a statue of himself while he was alive. A temple was built in 2005 on the occasion of his 115th birthday and to mark the 50th anniversary of his visit, and the site was recognised as a national historical and cultural vestige by the culture ministry. Some tourists visit the site and light incense to the late president when they first set foot on the island. Co To Island is one of the best choices for a getaway from noisy and crowded city life, suited to people looking to enjoy a holiday swimming, taking photographs, walking along the beach, cooking a beach BBQ and singing karaoke with friends. Spending three days on the island, Vu Thu Ha of Hanoi said it was a place worth visiting but the site could be promoted better. "It's a paradise for backpackers but tough for people who want to relax in comfort," she said. "They need to develop infrastructure here such as hotels and entertainment areas. I know that natural beauty is good, but most tourists want hotels with modern conveniences." Island resident Nguyen Khanh Linh said tourism on Co To has developed over the past two years. "Co To received hundreds of visitors over the summer, especially during the busiest times – national holidays and weekends," he said. "In 2010, there were only two guesthouses on the island and most of the tourists had to stay in local people's houses. This year, five new guesthouses have been opened to better meet the demands of tourists." Hue Da Nang | Da Nang Hoi An | Hoi An Hue | Du Lich Hue | Du Lich Hoi An | Du Lich Da Nang | Du Lich Sapa | Du Lich Da Lat | Du Lich Phu Quoc | Du Lich Lao | Du Lich Cambodia | Du Lich Thai Lan |Du Lich Singapore | Du Lich Malaysia | Du Lich Trung Quoc
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Khát vọng cùng nghề vươn xa

Cái nắng chói chang lẫn những cơn mưa bay lãng đãng bao phủ kinh thành Huế vào dịp lễ hội Festival vẫn còn hừng hực trên đất Thần kinh cổ kính. Thả mắt ngắm nhìn sông Hương huyền thoại, anh Trần Quang Hào - Giám đốc Huetourist chân tình trao đổi cùng phóng viên tạp chí Du lịch & Giải trí! Khiêm tốn và nhỏ nhẹ, Hào kể cho tôi nghe về cái nghiệp làm du lịch mà anh đã có hơn 13 gắn bó. Tốt nghiệp chuyên ngành ngoại ngữ, Hào bắt đầu đến với nghề bằng công việc của một hướng dẫn viên cho các du khách quốc tế. Có làm việc với người nước ngoài, Hào thường chợt "ớ" ra vì luôn gặp phải những câu hỏi rất bình thường nhưng vô cùng hóc hiểm của họ về văn hóa lịch sử và kiến trúc xưa của Huế. Nỗi ấm ức "ú ớ" ấy được anh biến thành quyết tâm học, học từ thực tế đến lí thuyết chuyên môn, học càng nhiều càng tốt. Nghĩ và làm, Hào quyết tâm trui rèn bản thân bằng cách lăn xả tìm tư liệu trong các thư viện và gặp các nhà văn hóa Huế để học hỏi. Với khối kiến thức được tích lũy ngay từ thời ngồi trên giảng đường cùng sự cần cù khám phá thực tế cùng cơ hội xuất ngoại Du học ở Pháp 3 năm đã trui rèn cho anh một số vốn tri thức kha khá. Năm 2006 Hào đã tự tin chính thức khai sinh Huetourist - đứa con cưng mà anh vô cùng kỳ vọng! Trải qua nhiều khó khăn, biến cố giờ đây Huế Tourist đã cứng cáp và gây được lòng tin với khách hàng. Hiện nay, ngoài công việc điều hành anh còn tham gia công tác giảng dạy. Với cái nhìn của một nhà sư phạm, anh giám đốc trẻ tự đặt cho mình một mục tiêu: "làm du lịch phải có trách nhiệm với quê hương và cộng đồng"! Đây cũng chính là động cơ khiến anh mạnh dạn xây dựng kế hoạch nghiên cứu và lập những dự án du lịch kết hợp bảo tồn, du lịch sinh thái cộng đồng để phát huy những gia trị truyền thống dân gian, qua đó người dân sẽ có thêm thu nhập và việc quy hoạch bài bản này sẽ giúp cho ngành du lịch Việt luôn có được những cái mới hay và lạ để thu hút du khách gần xa khi viếng thăm Huế. Tôi bị Hào cuốn hút khi lắng nghe câu chuyện về những dự án du lịch giúp cộng đồng người dân tộc Cơ tu và Tà ôi mà anh đang thực hiện, dần dà câu chuyện được anh bắt qua dự án mới tại cầu ngói Thanh Toàn cổ kính mà anh đang dày công khảo cứu và chuẩn bị xây dựng trong tương lai… Qua anh, người ta hiểu được, người làm nghề du lịch chân chính cần phải có "lửa" nghề mãnh liệt, thì mới thường trăn trở và tự mình lăn lộn tìm một con đường đúng để doanh nghiệp thực hiện song hành hai nhiệm vụ: quảng bá hình ảnh quê hương và thực hiện việc kinh doanh du lịch một cách trọn vẹn. "Làm du lịch cần phải có một chiến lược và học hỏi mỗi ngày để tự làm mới mình", qua đó việc đào tạo con người được anh chú trọng hàng đầu! vì với anh, yếu tố "Nhân hòa" là quan trọng nhất! Tạm biệt anh giám đốc 7X đầy tâm huyết và luôn cầu tiến của Sông Hương Núi Ngự, trước khi chia tay, anh chia sẻ thêm: "những việc tôi làm chưa phải là nhiều lắm, chỉ mong trong tương lai tôi vẫn còn sức để phát triển nghề nghiệp ổn định, đảm bảo Huetourist là mái nhà ấm cúng mà bao đồng nghiệp đã cùng tôi xây dựng ngày càng vững chắc và vững tiến đi lên! Hơn thế nữa tôi ước ao sẽ truyền nghề cho các em sinh viên chuyên ngành để họ là những thế hệ kế tiếp sẽ phát huy du lịch Việt trở thành chim đại bàng vươn cánh trên vùng trời Châu Á"! Với cái nhìn của một nhà sư phạm, anh giám đốc trẻ tự đặt cho mình một mục tiêu: "làm du lịch phải có trách nhiệm với quê hương và cộng đồng"! Đây cũng chính là động cơ khiến anh mạnh dạn xây dựng kế hoạch nghiên cứu và lập những dự án du lịch kết hợp bảo tồn, du lịch sinh thái cộng đồng để phát huy những gia trị truyền thống dân gian, qua đó người dân sẽ có thêm thu nhập và việc quy hoạch bài bản này sẽ giúp cho ngành du lịch Việt luôn có được những cái mới hay và lạ để thu hút du khách gần xa khi viếng thăm Huế. Hue Da Nang | Da Nang Hoi An | Hoi An Hue | Du Lich Hue | Du Lich Hoi An | Du Lich Da Nang | Du Lich Sapa | Du Lich Da Lat | Du Lich Phu Quoc | Du Lich Lao | Du Lich Cambodia | Du Lich Thai Lan |Du Lich Singapore | Du Lich Malaysia | Du Lich Trung Quoc
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Discovering the mysteries inside Tham Nam Caves

Tham Nam Caves have wowed visitors who make the journey with its magnificent features and stunning sights. The caves are located inside Pha Chang Limestone Mountain by Nam Non River, Huu Khuong Commune, Tuong Duong District, Nghe An Province. Tham Nam's caves cover thousands of square metres and are filled with unique stalactites and stalagmites in various shapes. How they look can vary depending on the imagination of visitors. Discovering the mysteries of these caves followed by enjoying fish caught fresh from the river that runs through it, is a delightful experience for those who visit Tham Nam. However, not many locals realise its value in terms of culture and tourism partly because of its geographical location. Many years ago, the journey would take about a week, forcing those brave enough cross the Nam Non River and then over 150 waterfalls and rapids, trekking their way through jungles to get there. But nowadays, it's easy to get to Tham Nam. Civilians said that they have found many ancient artifacts there such as daggers and statues of female dancers. There are places inside the caves which have enough space for hundreds of people to relax and enjoy fascinating cave formations developed over thousands of years and sparkling quartz scattered all over the caves roof. There is also a stream running through the cave with cool, clean water that has an abundance of shrimp and fish. In the past, several cultural activities were often held in Tham Nam and other neighbouring caves. However, these activities are no longer organised and the caves remain rarely visited. Vi Tan Hoi, Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of Tuong Duong District shared, "In the near future, Tham Nam will be an attractive and enchanting destination for tourists. They will have an unforgettable experience." Cross over Nam Non River to get to Tham Nam caves Soaking in the scenary on a boat Trekking through the jungle to reach the caves Entrance to the cave Discovering the natural scenery Wonderful stalactites and stalagmites Flashlights are needed in the caves Cool off on hot summer days Stalactites and stalagmites in the caves are natural masterpieces A cool stream flows the caves Tham Nam caves from afar Hue Da Nang | Da Nang Hoi An | Hoi An Hue | Du Lich Hue | Du Lich Hoi An | Du Lich Da Nang | Du Lich Sapa | Du Lich Da Lat | Du Lich Phu Quoc | Du Lich Lao | Du Lich Cambodia | Du Lich Thai Lan |Du Lich Singapore | Du Lich Malaysia | Du Lich Trung Quoc
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Famous Ca Na fish sauce of Ninh Thuan Province

Vietnam's central province of Ninh Thuan not only attracts tourists with its beautiful beaches but also with its high quality fish sauce called Ca Na. The place where fish sauce is made is called nha thung (house of barrels) because of the large wooden barrels in which the sauce is prepared (Photo: Ngoc Anh) Fishermen in the province each year catch more than 31,000 tons of fish, mainly anchovies, an important ingredient in making fish sauce. Over 60 fish sauce manufacturers from Ca Na Ward supply about ten million bottles of fish sauce to stores across the country. This fish sauce industry has been a boon for fishermen in the ward who are netting in the money. Pham Dung, an experienced fisherman said he started from scratch when he moved to the ward 30 years ago, but today is a rich man, just by catching anchovies. Dung added that not only him but also many other fishermen such as Nguyen Van Bong, Truong Van Ton, Trieu Ba and Pham Bo in the ward have become billionaires in the trade. Fisherman Dinh Van Giac expressed his delight, saying that recently he has earned ten million dong per day, as this is peak time for catching anchovies. Others in the trade, such as Le Hong Van, owner of Nhat Tan fish sauce enterprise, said his family has been making this special product for the last 30 years. Ca Na fish sauce from the central province of Ninh Thuan is very famous for its excellent taste. However, it is sold in retail outlets without any brand name and hence difficult to distinguish from other products in the country. Many fish sauce manufacturers in the province are try to establish a brand name for their product. The fish sauce manufacturing trade has been prevalent in Ca Na since the French colonial rule. Ninh Thuan Agricultural Products Export Joint Stock Company tried to register a brand name for Ca Na fish sauce in 2007, causing much public concern. The government now needs to aid manufacturers in the province to register their own brand name for this excellent product. Hue Da Nang | Da Nang Hoi An | Hoi An Hue | Du Lich Hue | Du Lich Hoi An | Du Lich Da Nang | Du Lich Sapa | Du Lich Da Lat | Du Lich Phu Quoc | Du Lich Lao | Du Lich Cambodia | Du Lich Thai Lan |Du Lich Singapore | Du Lich Malaysia | Du Lich Trung Quoc
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Ke Ga Lighthouse - Binh Thuan treasure

Ke Ga Lighthouse, located on Ke Ga Island about 30 kilometres south of Phan Thiet City, is a must-see attraction in Binh Thuan Province where visitors can experience a fabulous panoramic view of the open sea. Built in 1899, the lighthouse is not only an historical relic but also an attractive destination for visitors. To reach the lighthouse, tourists can travel by bus or motorbike along the coast to Ke Ga Island or take a canoe from Phan Thiet City or from Vinh Hy Bay, Nha Trang City. At the lighthouse, tourists can hire a fishing boat priced at VND100,000 (USD4.8) with a capacity for four people. Visitors can also stay on the island overnight for a spot of fishing which is an unforgettable experience. The lighthouse with its unique architecture is about 60m tall. From that height, visitors are able to see a vast expanse of sea and sky, as well as enjoy cool ocean winds. The most beautiful moment to visit the lighthouse is at sunset. Hue Da Nang | Da Nang Hoi An | Hoi An Hue | Du Lich Hue | Du Lich Hoi An | Du Lich Da Nang | Du Lich Sapa | Du Lich Da Lat | Du Lich Phu Quoc | Du Lich Lao | Du Lich Cambodia | Du Lich Thai Lan |Du Lich Singapore | Du Lich Malaysia | Du Lich Trung Quoc
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Equality and the family dilemma

I've always thought Vietnamese women were strong. In the U.S., you rarely see women carrying a basket full of bricks on their heads, or pushing around carts full of garbage. Those difficult jobs are left for men back home. In Vietnam I see it all the time. I've heard many stories about Vietnamese women war heroes. The new generation of women have not lost this strength, I'm sure because I have seen it. But it seems that in modern society it shows up in different ways. _______________________ I've taught in Hanoi, as so many other foreigners have. And also learned a few things from my students. One of the things I learned is the difference between the roles between sexes. In one way, they seem to be much more strict than what I'm used to. For example, yesterday a female friend of met me at my house for coffee. As we were leaving my house we decided that it would be best to take one motorbike. Since mine was already parked inside, we took hers. She drove. I was on the back. As we approached the street, the woman who sells tea near my house made fun of me for being driven on the back of a motorbike by a girl. But my feeling is that the attitudes towards such things are changing quickly. While I was teaching, I met a number of bright, capable, strong-minded young ladies. I'm sure many of them will become very successful. I wouldn't doubt that one of them could be Prime Minister one day. This is a great thing, in my opinion. On the other hand, as women start to become more financially successful, more independent and more self-assured, it will inevitably change Vietnamese society. Some of these changes will not be welcomed by everyone. For example, it is a simple historical fact that around the world, once women begin to make more of their own money - maybe even more than their husbands - the divorce rate will go up. A woman who is financially independent is much less likely to put up with a husband who does not treat her right. If she feels that she has the option to leave, she is much more likely to do so. I know that The Family is, and has been, the cornerstone of Vietnamese society. But it seems to me that progress and development, things that everybody seems to want, will change the Vietnamese Family. ____________________ One of the most intelligent, young students I've ever had once told me that, although she loved her family, she also felt it was like a prison. Now I'm not saying that all, or even most, women feel this way. But as the economic realities change in Vietnam, it will definitely have an effect on the Vietnamese family. "Economic Development" and "Women's Equality": both sound good. I doubt many people would argue with that. But, unless this country is different than every other nation in the world, the "Vietnamese Family" will ultimately change along with the first two. Of these three, which is most important? Hue Da Nang | Da Nang Hoi An | Hoi An Hue | Du Lich Hue | Du Lich Hoi An | Du Lich Da Nang | Du Lich Sapa | Du Lich Da Lat | Du Lich Phu Quoc | Du Lich Lao | Du Lich Cambodia | Du Lich Thai Lan |Du Lich Singapore | Du Lich Malaysia | Du Lich Trung Quoc
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“New life” in Son Dong craft village

Son Dong craft village in Hoai Duc district, Hanoi, is Vietnam's largest craft village making wood statues of Buddha and objects of worship. The village has set many national records for the quantity and quality of its wooden products and the number of people involved in the profession. Arriving in the village in early July, the first impression for tourists is the strange but interesting sound of people busing carving the wood. In every nook and cranny of the village, the workers are concentrating on different kinds of statues. Each worker has his own task; some saw the timber while others carve the wood and paint the statues. After painstakingly painting a horizontal lacquered board, Nguyen Viet Da, an 85 year-old artisan in the village, tells visitors about his village's profession. According to Da, the imitation antique statues are often made from three different types of timber brought in from the central highlands, Hai Phong or even imported from Cambodia. Only jackfruit wood can be used to carve the reproduction antique Buddha statues, as it is soft, durable and easy to carve. From the raw timber, the skillful workers easily carve statues of Amitabha (the Buddha of Infinite Light) and the God of Prosperity, or create horizontal lacquered boards with parallel sentences. The workers must go through dozens of steps before finishing a product including selecting the wood, carving it, then painting it. This highly skilled work requires great patience and concentration. "These wooden objects are for worship, therefore the maker must have a good heart and mind," said Da. Sharing his point of view, Nguyen Viet Loi, another popular artisan in the village said the statutes can only be perfect if the workers put all their concentration into the work. This is why the statues made in Son Dong village are quite easily distinguished from others. Sustainably preserving and developing the craft village and tourism is a concern of all the workers in Son Dong workers. To achieve that, the village has made considerable changes. Along with wooden statues, the villagers are now making objects that contain traditional and spiritual elements of the Vietnamese culture. The familiar image of the areca nut, betel leaf, calabash and luffa can now be seen in many of the village's unique products. Moreover, the statues of Buddha and fairies are now being made colourful and small enough to fit in a man's hand. Entering the shop of Nguyen Chi Thanh, is one of the trailblazers in making new products, and when visitors enter his shop they feel that they are in a mini museum displaying carefully designed wooden statues. Thanh said that these new products have been very popular and preferred by the international markets. Foreign visitors are willing to pay high prices for these products, which helps generate work for most of the villagers. However, the villagers still want their products to reach domestic customers and for their village to become more popular and attract more domestic tourists. "I am considering a price frame for our products so that they will be appropriate for each particular market and also trying to fill a niche in the home market," said Thanh. Wood carving has existed in the village for more than 300 years and during some periods it seemed that the villagers could not maintain their handicraft. However, some of them secretly preserved their traditions and passed them on to the younger generations. Nguyen Duc Dau (1896-1988) is respected by the whole village for his outstanding skill. In 1986, he opened training courses for the villagers and worked with the Hanoi University of Industrial Fine Art to provide them with the necessary scientific knowledge and techniques for their work. Thanks to these courses, the traditional craft has been well preserved and today many villagers are owners of a traditional woodworking shop. Hue Da Nang | Da Nang Hoi An | Hoi An Hue | Du Lich Hue | Du Lich Hoi An | Du Lich Da Nang | Du Lich Sapa | Du Lich Da Lat | Du Lich Phu Quoc | Du Lich Lao | Du Lich Cambodia | Du Lich Thai Lan |Du Lich Singapore | Du Lich Malaysia | Du Lich Trung Quoc
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Short trips attract tourists on National Day

On the occasion of Vietnam's National Day (September 2), there is an increased demand for travel during the three-day national holiday. Travel agencies are offering tourists a wide variety of short trips and excursions. Despite rising inflation, the prices of most travel packages over the holiday remain unchanged and many travel agencies are even offering massive discounts to attract visitors and promote their brand. Saigontourist, one of Vietnam's leading tour operators, is offering an extensive range of package tours from the Iko Travel package for budget travellers to the Premium Travel for luxury holidaymakers. Most people who purchase a tour will receive free travel insurance as a bonus. In addition, Saigontourist, in cooperation with Vietnam Airlines, are also organising many autumn tours from Ho Chi Minh City to Hanoi. During these trips, tourists will have a chance to explore places of interest in the north at discounted fares. Tourists will get a discount of VND 3 million when they book the six-day 'Hanoi – Sapa Autumn' package, which now costs only VND 8.768 million (US$420.86). The 'Hanoi – Bai Dinh Temple – Trang An – Ha Long' tour, which is one of the most popular, is also discounted up to 46%. Besides these promotions, travel agencies have also designed attractive new short trips so that tourists can have a unique and unforgettable experience during the national holiday. Details of these packages are available on the travel agency websites. Most travellers in the north choose to spend their holiday in mountainous retreats rather than at the seaside as the storm and rainy season is not yet over. Major destinations in the north are the beautiful towns of Sapa in Lao Cai province and Tam Dao in Vinh Phuc province, as well as the Bai Dinh Temple Complex in Ninh Binh province. Hanoi-based Luxury Travel is launching interesting new day trips from Hanoi to Tam Dao National Park. The trips start at US$69 per person for a party of six, and include a private car with individual pick-up and drop-off, entrances fees, meals and an English-speaking guide from Hanoi. Luxury Travel is also offering a four-day tour of Hanoi, where visitors can experience the fascinating Old Quarter and join a cooking class to taste and make the finest cuisine in Vietnam. For those interested in exploring UNESCO heritage sites in Vietnam, their choices include the Phong Nha – Ke Bang National Park in Quang Binh province, the Hue Monuments Complex, the ancient town of Hoi An, and the My Son Relics Sanctuary in Quang Nam province. In the south, attractions include amusement parks in Binh Duong province, scenic spots in the Mekong River Delta and resorts in Dalat (Lam Dong province), Buon Don (Dak Lak province) and Bien Ho (Gia Lai province). Trips to famous beaches and islands are also ideal for adventure lovers. Travellers in Ho Chi Minh City can choose three-day trips to the paradise island of Phu Quoc or the Con Dao islands, one of Southeast Asia's most breathtaking and untouched getaways. Hue Da Nang | Da Nang Hoi An | Hoi An Hue | Du Lich Hue | Du Lich Hoi An | Du Lich Da Nang | Du Lich Sapa | Du Lich Da Lat | Du Lich Phu Quoc | Du Lich Lao | Du Lich Cambodia | Du Lich Thai Lan |Du Lich Singapore | Du Lich Malaysia | Du Lich Trung Quoc
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Hue Monuments Conservation Center

THIEN MU PAGODA

Located beside the picturesque Huong River, Thien Mu Pagoda, with its ancient architecture, adds its charm to this beautiful natural setting. The sound of Thien Mu bell is like the soul of Hue, ever resounding over the Huong River flow winding its way in front of the Citadel to the sea, resonating in the hearts and minds of the people and of visitors to Hue, the ancient capital.

Hue is home to many of the most beautiful sites and ancient pagodas in Vietnam The oldest pagoda in Hue is Thien Mu Pagoda whose establishment is associated with the early actions of the first Nguyen Lord in Dang Trong (South Vietnam).  This legend relates how, when Nguyen Hoang was sent to Thuan Hoa (now Central Vietnam) to rule this area, he himself made a survey of the terrain to choose a site for settling down. As he rode his horse upstream along the Huong River side he saw a small hillock beside the river, whose terrain looked like a dragon turning its head back. This hill was called Ha Khe. The local people told a story that every night an old lady in a red blouse and green trousers appeared here saying that a true Lord would come to this place and build a pagoda for the prosperity of the country. Thus this place became known as Thien Mu Son (Heavenly Lady Mountain). It seemed that the grand ideas of Lord Nguyen Hoang matched the people's desires so he ordered a pagoda to be built on the hillock, facing the Huong River and to be named "Thien Mu Tu" (Thien Mu Pagoda).  In fact, a pagoda of the Champa people had previously stood on this site - a relic mentioned in the book O Chau Can Luc written by Duong Van An in 1553. It was not until 1601 that the pagoda was built following the decision of Lord Nguyen Hoan. With the development, prosperity and spread of Buddhism in Dang Trong, the pagoda was rebuilt on a larger scale in the reign of Lord Nguyen Phuc Chu (1691-1725).  In 1710, this Lord ordered that a big bell with an inscribed teaching be cast. And in 1714, he again had the pagoda renovated and many great architectural structures added. These new additions included the Thien Vuong, Dai Hung and Thuyet Phap buildings, Tang Kinh Pavilion, Monks' rooms and a house for religious meditation. Many of these buildings no longer exist today.  Nguyen Phuc Chu himself wrote a narrative description describing the construction of the buildings here, praising the philosophy of the Buddhism, and relating the merits of the Buddhist monk Thach Liem, who was instrumental in helping Lord Nguyen boost Buddhism in Dang Trong. The inscribed stele was placed on a big stone turtle with simple decorations which enhanced its beauty. With its enlarged scale and natural landscape, Thien Mu pagoda was said to be the most beautiful one in Dang Trong at that time. During the ups and downs of history, Thien Mu was once the place for sacrifices to the Deity under Tay Son's reign in 1788 and was restored many times under the Nguyen reign. In 1844, on the occasion of the 80th birthday of Queen Thuan Thien Cao Hoang Hau (Gia Long's wife and Thieu Tri's grandmother), the pagoda was again renovated together with the construction of Tu Nhan Tower (later renamed Phuoc Duyen), Huong Nguyen temple and two steles inscribed with Thieu Tri Emperor's poems. Phuoc Duyen Tower is a famous symbolic link with Thien Mu Pagoda. It is 21 metres high, has seven storeys, is located in front of the pagoda and is visible from the Huong River. On each of the seven storeys there is a statue of Buddha. Inside the tower a spiral staircase leads to the top storey where formerly a gold Buddha statue was displayed. Huong Nguyen temple is in front of the Tower. Thien Mu Pagoda was ranked one of the twenty most beautiful landscapes in Hue with the poem Thien Mu chung thanh, composed by the emperor Thieu Tri, inscribed on the stone stele set near the Pagoda gate. In 1862, during the reign of Tu Duc, who prayed for a child, the Emperor was afraid that the word Thien profaned Heaven because it means heavenly.  So Tu Duc renamed the Pagoda as Linh Mu which means Holy Lady. It was not until 1869 that the Emperor allowed the reuse of the old name Thien Mu meaning Heavenly Lady. The Pagoda is still known by both names today. In 1904, a terrible storm seriously damaged the Pagoda. Many structures were ruined and Huong Nguyen Temple was destroyed. Through many re-constructions and restorations Thien Mu Pagoda still retains valuable architectural structures such as Phuoc Duyen Tower, Dai Hung, Dia Tang and Quan Am temples, the stone steles and bronze bells.  Thien Mu Pagoda is also home to many valuable antiques of both historical and artistic value and importance, such as the statures Ho Phap, Thap Vuong, Di Lac Buddha, the three Buddhas symbolizing Past, Present and Future Lives, lacquered boards and panels with parallel texts that mark the glorious periods in history of the Pagoda.   The Pagoda is surrounded with a garden of flowers and plants that are carefully tended every day. There is a bonsai of the ancestor of Vietnam Tuong (Classical drama), Dao Tan, situated next to the car left in 1963 by the Superior Buddhist monk, Thich Quang Duc, before burning himself to protest the policy of Ngo Dinh Diem regime in suppressing Buddhism. At the end of the garden is the Tower of the Superior Buddhist monk Thich Don Hau, a famous head of Thien Mu Pagoda who devoted his whole life to the promotion of Buddhism and the good of society.

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