KHMER PEOPLE CELEBRATE TRADITIONAL NEW-YEAR FESTIVAL

Khmer people in southern provinces are celebrating their traditional New Year festival, Chol Chnam Thmay, with joy and happiness.

In border Giang Thanh district of Kien Giang province, one of the country’s largest rice bowls, the bumper winter-spring crop has made locals eager in preparing for the festival. Danh Tuoi, a Khmer man in Vinh Dieu commune, said his family has prepared all necessary things for the festival better than the previous year thanks to profits from the recent crop. According to Nguyen Thanh Hai, Secretary of the Party Committee of Phu My commune, besides organisingfestive activities, the commune plans to visit and present gifts to the poor so that all local residents can enjoy a happy new year. Lam Tien Dung, Secretary of the Thanh Giang district Party Committee said that since the district was established in 2009, the living standards of localpeople have been much improved with a remarkable reduction in poverty rate and better infrastructure facilities. In An Giang province, home to over 90,000 Khmer people, the local authorities have visited and presented gifts to 18 local Khmer pagodas, policy beneficiary families and armed forces on the occasion of Chol Chnam Thmay festival. The provincial leaders praised contributions that Khmer people have made to local socio-economic development. They also lauded religious dignitaries’ efforts in mobilising Khmer people to follow the policies of the Party and State and strengthening solidarity in the community. On the occasion, An Giang leaders also visited and extended New Year greetings to people in the neighbouring Cambodian provinces of Ta Keo and Kandal. The Chol Chnam Thmay festival, which falls annually in mid-April, is one of the most important festivals of the year for Khmer people. It is usually held at pagodas during which people wish and pray for a lucky new year.

GENTLE VIETNAMESE GIRLS IN AO DAI

Twenty-five photos featuring charming and gentle Hanoi girls in ao dai by photographers Hoang Manh Cuong and Xuan Chinh are on display at the Sofitel Metropole Hanoi.

Hoang Manh Cuong and Nguyen Xuan Chinh work at the same press agency and they have the common interest in taking photos of young girls in Vietnamese ao dai on the streets of Hanoi. The two photographers were born and raised in the capital city so every street corner, each row of trees in Hanoi have become too familiar with them. Ao dai in pictures by Manh Cuong and Xuan Chinh are always associated with the old space, which help reflect the traditional beauty of Vietnamese girls. The 25 pictures in the exhibition describe Hanoi in the four seasons: the autumn winds, an almond leaf that is changing color, the white color of milky flowers, a lotus buds, an old French-styled house.... all are combined with young girls in the ao dai. The exhibition will lasts on August 31. The terrace with sun rays through the door in an ancient house. he girl on the centenarian bridge of Long Bien.

Resorts suffer as beach disappears

Hoi An's lucrative tourism sector is facing major fears about the impact of erosion along the ancient town's famous coastline, with dozens of resorts in danger of disappearing underwater in the future.

Part of Cua Dai Beach in the central city Da Nang. In the last couple of decades,
rising sea levels and changes to the river flow in the Thu Bon River estuary have
resulted in a 20ha area of Cua Dai beach eroding away. — Photo www.otofun.net

In the last couple of decades, rising sea levels and changes to the river flow in the Thu Bon River estuary have resulted in a 20-ha area of Cua Dai beach eroding away, the head of the city's natural resources and environment office Nguyen Van Hien has claimed.

"It's the worst situation of its kind that I've ever seen. The beach is dramatically disappearing. It stretched out 200m just 10 years ago, but now it has narrowed to 40m. The rest is underwater now," he said.

"The erosion has even approached a main section of the 1.5km road connecting the beach with Hoi An. We can often see waves crashing heavily against it," he added.

The road in question has already had to be extensively repaired once following damage sustained during a storm two years ago.

Hien blamed the erosion on the booming construction of resorts on the beach and the lack of proper environmental assessments before dredging occurred in the estuary.

"The building of resorts near the sea has changed the flow and currents and taken away sand from the beach every year. This, in combination with rising sea levels, has deepened the erosion taking place on the beach."

Pham Hong Trang, a staff member at the Victoria Hoi An Beach Resort and Spa, said the resort's beach is now no wider than 10m during the summer.

"The resort was launched in 2000 with a beach that stretched out for 40m, but it is much smaller now. During summer, the view is mostly just waves crashing against the resort's dyke," Trang said.

Similar accounts have been reported at the Sunrise, Golden Sand and Palm Garden resorts along Cua Dai beach.

The rising sea level has eroded 10,000sq.m of the Hoi An sea eco-tour company's 30,000sq.m property and it is now having to invest heavily in order to save what is left.

The city has responded by launching a construction project for a 1.5km embankment at a cost of VND115 billion (US$5.5 million). The dyke will help protect the most heavily damaged section of the road from erosion.

"The embankment is one of the city's seven projects in the fight against climate change. We will also dredge rivers and upgrade roads," said Hoi An City's People's Committee Deputy Chairman Nguyen Van Dung.

The city will also invest VND7.5 billion ($357,000) to replant 140ha of Nipa palm along the Thu Bon river. It is hoped that this ecological forest will protect the city from sea erosion and ease the flow of the river as well as reducing sand drift on the beach.

The majority of forest land in the area was destroyed in recent years to make way for aquaculture farms. Many of these have now been revoked so that the replanting can commence.

Cua Dai beach is 5km from Hoi An's old quarter. It is a favourite location for tourists visiting the UNESCO-recognised city.

Tourism year to focus on Highlands

The mountains and forests of the Central Highlands will come into sharp focus at the year-long National Tourism Year 2014 event, organisers said last Friday.

Riding elephants is a popular tourist pastime in Central Highland provinces.

Accordingly, the event, held in Lam Dong and other provinces in the region throughout next year beginning December 27 this year, will have "High Mountains and Thick Forests of the Central Highlands" as its main theme, said Nguyen Van Huong, director of the province's Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism.

He was speaking at a meeting held in Da Lat on Friday between representatives of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the organisers of the national tourism year.

The tourism year will comprise nine programmes and 17 events, 13 of which will take place in Da Lat, the capital city of Lam Dong, and four others in Kon Tum, Gia Lai, Dak Lak and Dak Nong provinces.

Major events of the National Tourism Year 2014 will include the Cultural Week to Celebrate the UNESCO Viet Nam Heritage Festival, a festival of brocade arts, a Central Highlands fashion show, a festival of Central Highlands wooden statues; and an international gong festival.

A festival marking the 120th founding anniversary of Da Lat City and the Fifth Da Lat Flower Festival will also be held to promote tourism in Lam Dong province, Huong said.

A series of sporting events including an elephant race, a boat race, and several folk games will also be held during the year.

A Central Highlands Ethnic Minority Food Festival will be the gastronomic highlight of National Tourism Year 2014.

The Central Highlands has been recognised as a land of mysterious mountains and forests with a significant population of ethnic minorities whose varied customs and lifestyles are an anthropologist's delight.

The region is also home to some of the most endangered species in Viet Nam and Southeast Asia, such as the Indochinese tiger, the gaur, the wild Asian water buffalo and the Asian elephant.

Its rich and unique natural beauty and cultural diversity make it an ideal site for tourism development.

Hoang Thi Diep, Deputy Director of the Viet Nam National Administration of Tourism, said the National Tourism Year 2014 aims to encourage localities in the region to develop tourism as a way to boost the economy and improve the living standards of local residents.

Speaking at the Friday meeting, Hoang Tuan Anh, the Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism, said National Tourism Year 2014 will be an international event that introduces images of the natural landscape and people of Viet Nam's Central Highlands in general and Lam Dong - Da Lat in particular, to local and international friends.

Anh asked organisers of the event as well as Lam Dong authorities to enhance tourism management and stop fraud and overcharging for products and services provided to tourists, making Da Lat City and Lam Dong Province a safe and attractive destination in 2014 and the years to come.

10 MOST FASCINATING ACITIVITIES FOR A VISIT TO PHU QUOC (PART 1)

If you plan to pay a visit to Phu Quoc – the largest and the most beautiful island in Vietnam in this summer, you should not miss 10 interesting activities below.

Phu Quoc island is listed as the spotlight of Southwest region tourism by Vietnam National Administration of Tourism. There will be many types of tourism here such as: adventure tourism, ecotourism, and relaxation tourism. Besides, the orentation of tourism development in Phu Quoc is to focus on ecotourism and marine ecology, along with MICE  - meetings and events. Therefore, your journey to Phu Quoc will be more perfect if you discover this island with interesting activities below. 1. Relaxing at the largest resort in Phu Quoc In Phu Quoc island, there are many famous and modern resorts. You should choose a resort lying on a white sandy beach. Two of the largest resorts in Phu Quoc are 4-star Chen Sea Resort & Spa Phu Quoc and 4-star Long Beach Resort. Chen Sea Report & Spa is located in a tranquil bay, Ong Lang beach. Coming to the resort, tourists can enjoy a romantic outdoor dinner. However, the price for that dinner is quite expensive, it costs 5,567,000 VND/room /night. Although Long Beach Resort is quite far from the centre, it is still an ideal place for relaxation. The resort lies on Bai Dai beach so it attracts a lot of travellers, especially foreign tourists. The price here is lower than that in Chen Sea Report. It costs 4,205,000 VND/room/night. 2. Enjoying a romantic dinner on Sao beach Sao beach is the most beautiful beach in Phu Quoc. The beach is located in An Thoi town. The beach has a long white smooth sand that is more than 7 kilometers in length. It is considered as the cleanest beach in Phu Quoc. 3. Contemplating coral reefs In Phu Quoc, An Thoi archipelago is the most suitable place for diving to see coral reefs. Especially, Coral reefs are one of the most biologically diverse ecosystems on earth. Diving to contemplate stunning coral reefs here is an unforgettable experience. Moreover, Mong Tay and Doi Moi isles in the north of Phu Quoc island also have an abudant marine ecosystem. They are an ideal places for tourists who are keen on exploring the ocean. 4. Exploring the primeval forest and national park Da Ngon ecological reserve, located in the lower section of streams of Ham Ninh mountain, is a very nice place for outdoor activities, mountaineering, exploring primeval forest and swimming in streams. In addition, Phu Quoc National Park, located in the northeast of Phu Quoc, is still intact. 5. Visiting Phu Quoc Prison Phu Quoc Prison is a relic that is 400 hectares in width. It was built by French colonialists in wartime. Surrounding the prison, there are barbed wire fence with electric light system. Exploring the relic, you will learn many things about Vietnam history.

The beautiful smiles of mountain children

Travellers in the northwestern mountains of Vietnam will be dazzled by the breathtaking scenery, culinary specialities, and the beaming faces of highland children.

Their beauty, joy, spirit and purity can hardly be captured perfectly through the lens of any camera.

Vietnam boasts 54 ethnic minority groups. In addition to the majority Kinh, which accounts for 80 percent of the country’s population, the remaining 20 percent belong to 53 ethnic groups, most of them living in mountainous areas, across the country.

The country has more to offer than just its well-known metropolitan areas of Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City. Much of its allure lies in the fascinating tribal cultures of the Tay, Nung, Mong, Dao, Muong and Thai ethnic minorities that inhabit the northern mountains along the Chinese border.

The adventurous and those intrigued by the “hidden charm” of Vietnam are attracted to this region. Exploring the colorful ethnic minority groups and experiencing the sheer thrill of travelling through wild and rugged terrain is something that cannot be found anywhere else in Vietnam.

Many visitors agree that one of the most enchanting sights in the region is ethnic children playing in their colorful costumes and smiling brightly in the spring sunshine while swiftly harvesting the golden rice in the spectacular terraced fields.

That scene can cause a visitor’s heart to beat faster and their footsteps to slow down. The rich ethnic lifestyle is very different from the usual modern life.

"When I look at children playing in the upland terraced fields or wandering through the village, I wish to be one of them enjoying freedom in a world of their own,"said one visitor.

These children learn to help their families from an early age. They begin to contribute to the family finances by selling unique handicrafts and colorful embroidered tribal fabrics. Although their living conditions might be considered very poor compared to a modern life in lowland Vietnam, they seem quite happy with their families and unique cultures.

While the traditional agrarian economy is still based on family farms producing food and cash crops, such as cardamom and vegetables, more children are now able to go to school and study the written language and traditional culture of their own ethnic group.

The majority of ethnic minority children in Vietnam are now three times more likely to read the Vietnamese language with accuracy and they are excited about going to school.

A fifth grade schoolgirl in Ha Giang province says, “I like to go to school very much because it is fun. We learn in groups and we can participate in extra activities like drawing, singing and embroidering. I feel proud of that”.

Tips for going to sea

Being immersed in cool sea water, leisurely taking a stroll in smooth white sands or contemplating clear blue sky are interesting things you can do as going to beautiful beaches in the summer.

Location

Your trip will be safer and happier as you always have at least a partner to take care for each other and share happy moments. When you want to swim, you need to tell your friends. They are likely to be the quickest rescuer for you in case of emergency.

You should not walk barefoot in rocky beaches. Moreover, swimming too far from the seashore is not a good ideal.

More importantly, you should choose safe and clean beaches to freely play with sea waves or jump on sand.

Luggage

Flip-flops, sandals, wide-brimmed hats and colourful costumes are necessary items you should bring.

You should tie your hair with colorful headband to limit the amount of hair that's exposed to direct sunlight.

Do not forget to bring fashionable sunglasses to protect your eyes from the sun, wind and sand. Sunscreen with SPF45 is always in the top priority to reduce your risk of skin damage and skin cancer.

Bringing a wide-brimmed hat is useful because hats provide excellent coverage.

Food

Activities on the beach like swimming, volleyball, etc will lose your power. Therefore, you need bring food like bread, water, sweet cake, fresh fruit so you can enjoy them after being tired or hungry.

Make-up

As travelling, too much make-up will not be suitable and necessary. Natural make-up is better. You just need tinted moisturize for your face and sun lipstick for your lips. Using glossy lipstick also make your lips attractive and plump.

Besides, you have to use suncream all day so you can use pink or coral pink blush to make you look natural in the sunshine.

Bikini

Choosing a right swimsuit for your body is not easy.

If you are not confident with you body, do not worry about it. Bikini is now very various with many sizes and styles designed to fit body shapes, different personalities and help you hide your body’s weakness. To be more prominent, you can choose an eye-catching bikini with floral prints, polka dots.

Souvenir

After a trip, souvenir will be interesting gifts for your friends and family. There are many things for you to choose such as sedge hat, chain ring screws petite, flowers made ​​of sea shells, etc.

http://www.vietnamtourism.org.vn/travel-guide/travel-with-us/tips-for-going-to-sea.html