Tuesday, July 28, 2015

Ha Long Bay will become Asia’s emerald in 2035

Vietnam's Ha Long Bay will become Asia’s emerald in 2035

Hoang Thi Thu Nga, a 31-year-old woman from Hanoi, pictures the UNESCO-recognized Ha Long Bay, secluded in the northern province of Quang Ninh, as an Asian gem in 2035 in her submission to the “Ky Vong Viet Nam 20 Nam Toi” (“My Expectations for Vietnam in 20 Years”) writing contest.

I first visited Ha Long and fell in love with the city in 2006. Over the past nine years, I’ve always spent time each year in the gorgeous city and realized its abundant potential to take off in the future.

I aspire that in the next 20 years, Ha Long will grow into a green, dynamic city which is ranked among the world’s most worth-living cities, and an alluring tourist attraction to domestic and international tourists alike.

I’d also like to suggest “Ha Long - An emerald of Asia” as the city’s slogan.

A luxury scenic spot

Ha Long Bay is already a unique heritage and an astounding place of interest among local and foreign holidaymakers. In my dream, Ha Long in 2035 would make even more amazing breakthroughs compared to the present and turn itself into a topnotch tourist spot which draws travelers in their own aircraft and yacht.

Ha Long City would then be free from air pollution and wow tourists with its lush greenery, turquoise sea and blue sky. The space dedicated to trees would occupy up to half of the total area. The on-sea and underground space would make up between one fourth or one fifth of the city’s entire area.

Ha Long tourism would stand out for its specialities, with a system of lavish undersea system and hotels being a key highlight. Apart from current floating houses and cruisers, tourists would feel pampered inside houses boasting two submerged floors and one floating floor. Vacationers would be served delectable seafood, go fishing and diving or engage in thrill-packed adventure games.

Tours would be offered to allow tourists to explore hundreds of untouched islands within Ha Long Bay.

Adventure seekers would row their kayaks on the lakes in the islands, and scale the mountains. They would also be treated to picturesque sunsets over sand strips which stretch as far as the eyes can see. Some hundred manmade islands would also be built and scattered between Ha Long Bay and the islands of Co To, Quan Lan,and Minh Chau. Apart from culinary and entertainment delights, these islands would also be home to marine museums and commercial port models.

Visitors to Ha Long would be indulged with premium, hospitable services and benefit from dedicated, professional tour guide assistance. Rips-off would definitely be a thing of the past.

Orientations for a future green city

In 2002, the Prime Minister issued Decision 142 regarding preserving, zoning and tapping into Ha Long Bay’s values into the year 2020.

However, for Ha Long to soar in 2035, the State needs a new zoning plan, with particular orientation to turn Ha Long into a green city. Leading local and international experts in urban development would be summoned for opinions.

The key to this zoning plan is a switch from the mining and electricity industries to tourism. State and provincial budget allocation would be prioritized for the development of tourism infrastructure. The need to turn the city into a green one will be publicized to every household.

The State should also issue special policies to draw investment for the implementation of mammoth projects in the city. Major global tourism groups would also be wooed to contribute to the city’s growth by building streets and sea-crossing floating house complexes which would be scattered from Hon Gai and Bai Chay to the islands of Co To, Minh Chau and Quan Lan.

The government would keep the construction under strict surveillance to ensure that there are no adverse environmental impacts and good scheduling. The government must also request construction units to pay due respect to the bay’s natural assets and build sustainable ecological tourism.

It’s also advisable that “tourism complexes” be established, and Ha Long Bay and its core and peripheral areas be “circled” and high fees be charged to visitors to the UNESCO-recognized natural heritage. Teams of foreign reconnaisance and tourism reporters should also be set up to provide counseling on how to design unrivalled tours which are unique only to Ha Long.

Such tours may include luxury programs meant for just one or two persons or a family who would spend their time on a pristine island. There they would be pampered with lavish hotel services, along with once-in-a-lifetime experiences such as diving and coral exploring, beholding Ha Long from above, mountaineering and exploring islands, going angling at lakes, and relishing their drinks inside caverns.

Ha Long Bay’s peripheral areas, sea ports, and coastal residential areas would be zoned into clean agricultural and aquatic product raising supplies of fresh, hygienically ensured food, the tastes of which would linger in tourists’ minds.

In addition, human resources also require urgent attention. Local youth who wish to join the smokeless industry would be sent to such countries as Thailand, Singapore and Switzerland for training in tourism and hotel and catering management.

Catering and tourism services also need to be further computerized. Hotels and travel firms are supposed to have their own websites which offer specific, helpful information. Staff should also be arranged to work around the clock to receive room and tour bookings from guests the world over and be willing to pick up their feedback and provide answers to their queries.

It’s also desirable that the tourism sector organize carnivals on an annual basis to lure more international tourists to the islands. The city is also advised to facilitate the organization of other uniquely alluring tours which allow tourists to explore fishing villages, participate in traditional crafts and relish mouth-watering delicacies.

~News courtesy of Tuoi Tre~

Saturday, July 18, 2015

Reasons to visit Hoi An, in French photographer’s opinion

Reasons to visit Hoi An, in French photographer’s opinion

A French photographer living in central Vietnam has recently caught the attention of foreign tourists and photo lovers with his beautiful shots published on an international website.

Hoi An-based Rehahn C, who is known for his huge collection of photos of Vietnam, especially portraits of minority people, recently had his work displayed at http://www.boredpanda.com/, which has more than two million followers on Facebook.

Several photos capturing Hoi An, in the central province of Quang Nam, and its people by Rehahn have been showcased in a post titled “15 photos that will make you want to visit Hoi An.”

The Frenchman, who has lived in Vietnam for more than three years, told Tuoi Tre News that tourists said they visit Hoi An because the town is not noisy or crowded and they can appreciate the food, traditional lifestyle and old architecture there.

“I meet tourists every day, and 99 percent of them love Hoi An more than other cities,” he said. “They can ride bicycles around without any danger. Some international magazines call Hoi An the Venice of Asia.”

Rehahn added that he has captured 10,000 photos of Hoi An and is thinking about publishing a book on the town in the future.

“I like the lifestyle and the peaceful daily life here,” he said. “Yellow walls make a perfect background.”

He said Hoi An is an open air studio where each person is a potential model, calling it a paradise for photographers.

“My favorite models are the old people in small villages around here,” he added.

Last year, he released a book titled “Vietnam – Mosaic of Contrasts,” featuring 150 of the best portraits of people across Vietnam among the 30,000 Rehahn said he has taken over the last six years.

In March, Rehahn held his first exhibition in Ho Chi Minh City, starting his world tour through France, Toronto, San Francisco, London and other locations.

Besides putting his works in exhibitions and books, Rehahn also displays his photos on his Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/Rehahn.Photography, where he has more than 217,000 followers.

Below are photos of Hoi An provided by Rehahn:



A street vendor walks by a yellow wall, the typical feature of Hoi An.



Hoi An's Cua Dai Beach



A hidden smile from Hoi An. This photo has been used on the cover of Rehahn's book "Vietnam – Mosaic of Contrasts"



Hoi An seen from the sky



Beautiful lanterns in Hoi An



Morning sunlight



Morning work



Old couple



Sunset



Sunset in Hoi An



Hoi An's Tra Que Village



A woman dressed in “ao dai” walks by a yellow wall, the typical feature of Hoi An



Tranquility



Rehahn's gallery in Hoi An

~News courtesy of Tuoi Tre~

Friday, July 17, 2015

chợ đêm


chợ đêm
夜市
night market

chợ 市场 market
đêm 夜晚 night

Monday, July 13, 2015

My Son Sanctuary delays plan to hike entrance fees

My Son Sanctuary delays plan to hike entrance fees amid criticism


Tourists visit My Son in the central province of Quang Nam.

Tourism firms concerned over entrance fee hike at My Son Relic

The management of My Son Sanctuary has delayed a plan to increase entrance fees following complaints from tourism agencies that send tourists to the UNESCO heritage site in central Vietnam.

Huynh Tan Lap, who manages the site, said the popular tourist destination with a cluster of 4th century Hindu temples needs more money to improve infrastructure and services.

“We will increase ticket prices in September, two months later than previously planned,” he said.

My Son in Duy Xuyen District is some 40 kilometers from Hoi An, an old town and another favorite place in Quang Nam Province and nearly 70 kilometers southwest of Da Nang.

Last month, the management of My Son announced that it would increase entrance fees by up to 70 percent from July. Accordingly, the fees would go from VND100,000 (US$4.60) to VND150,000 for foreigners, and from VND60,000 to VND100,000 for locals.

Many tourism agencies have complained about the short notice, arguing that such a hike is unreasonable considering the unimproved services.

Lap said his team is carrying out a VND20 billion project to improve relevant services, including preserving a church, building roads, ticket booths, toilets, buying electric vehicles and hiring Cham music performers.

My Son welcomed 132,000 tourists in the first half of this year, a 4.8 percent increase over last year.

The site, which was recognized by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site in 1999, is expected to attract 250,000 tourists this year.

~News courtesy of Thanh Nien~

trung tâm thế đức thế thảo


trung tâm 中心 Centre
thế đức 运动 Exercise
thế thảo 体育 Sports

Wednesday, July 1, 2015

Street vendors fined for overcharging foreign tourists in HCMC

Street vendors fined for overcharging foreign tourists in HCMC


A street vendor follows two foreign tourists in Ho Chi Minh City downtown.

Authorities in Ho Chi Minh City's District 1 have fined five street vendors VND150,000 (nearly US$7) each for selling coconuts to foreign tourists at prices five to 20 times what locals pay.

Nguyen Vo Phuong Quynh, chairwoman of Ben Thanh Ward, said the vendors said they are migrants from the Mekong Delta and mostly sell their coconuts around the Independence Palace.

“We’ve asked them for a written commitment they will not repeat [it].

“Now there are no vendors following and harassing foreign tourists into buying coconuts around the palace.”

Tuoi Tre newspaper reported earlier this month that around 30 members of a family from the delta tried to sell coconuts to foreigners at high prices near the Independence Palace, War Remnants Museum, and the Ho Chi Minh City Museum.

They would target those who look confused, and charge them VND100,000-200,000, or $5-10, for a coconut, it claimed.

Quynh said her ward is trying to impose “strict penalties” to stop the problem of street vendors harassing tourists.

The problem is most common in the downtown area near the palace, war museum, Notre Dame Cathedral, Post Office, and Ben Thanh Market.

Tourists can call a hotline at 08 39826371 to meet officials from District 1 for assistance if they have trouble with street vendors or for other security concerns.

~News courtesy of Thanh Nien~