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Vietnam Open Tour News & EventsTUESDAY 01 SEPTEMBER, 2009 |
 Starwood expanding high-end hotels chain in Vietnam American's Starwood Hotels & Resorts is planning to open three new high-end hotels and resorts in well-known tourist destinations in Vietnam in the next three years.
The 30-story hotel will be the tallest building in the coastal city and all of its 284 guest rooms will enjoy breathtaking views of the bay. "Besides the international, the local market is an important market for us. 80% of the tourist arrivals to Nha Trang are domestic, so we will be offering a special promotion that will help local residents experience the services of the new Sheraton Nha Trang Hotel & Spa and enjoy the fantastic view of the bay", Neo said recently in Hanoi. Another Starwood outlet - Sheraton Hoi An Resort & Spa - is also scheduled to open in 2011, with 242 rooms which is situated in a new destination along Vietnam's popular China Beach and will offer exclusive beach access to the resort's guests. Neo told the Daily that the hotel management group would open Westin Resort & Spa, Cam Ranh in Nha Trang in 2012, featuring 330 rooms and a range of Westin products and services including Westin Heavenly Bed, Westin Workout and Heavenly Spa. Starwood said Cam Ranh Bay - a protected inlet off the Eastern Sea situated between Phan Rang and Nha Trang and about 290 kilometers northeast of HCMC - would help lure both high-end domestic and international travelers to the Westin. The U.S. hotel manager is operating two hotels in Vietnam, namely Sheraton Saigon Hotel & Towers and Sheraton Hanoi Hotel. The three hotels and resorts under development are part of the long-term business strategy of Starwood in Vietnam's hospitality market. "We are also actively working on potential projects in HCMC, Dalat and Danang. When Sheraton Nha Trang joins the Starwood family in Q4 of this year, it will give us presence in all of north, south and central Vietnam, said Neo. Neo said the growth and stability of the Vietnam market in relation to other Southeast Asian nations were bringing opportunities in expanding Starwood brands to key destinations across Vietnam. "The growing demand presents us with tremendous opportunities with the demand for travel infrastructure, including hotels. We continue to see growth opportunities and potential even during this time" said Neo. "We're planning ahead for the recovery so we can come out of the gate fast, ahead of the competition. We also believe that today's reduced travel budgets, cancelled meetings and staycations are tomorrow's pent up demand". VietNamNet/SGT Teen beauty pageants out of control? Many beauty contests for schoolgirls and schoolboys have sprung up in Vietnam, with prizes up to 120 million dong. The contests emphasize physical beauty, leading some to question the real costs for participants.
The Miss Teen 2009 website’s advertisement states: “Based on the success of the beauty contest named Miss Audition 2006 & 2007. . . the first beauty contest for schoolgirls named ‘Miss Teen Vietnam’ has been organized. The contest aims to honor the beauty of Vietnamese schoolgirls from 16 to 19 years old.” “Everyone has a dream and what is the dream of schoolgirls? Becoming famous, attracting thousands of admirers, and demonstrating your values. Many people may think ‘dreams are only dreams,’ but the truth is that opportunities are always there for those who dare to live their dreams. Joining Miss Teen Vietnam 2009 means that your image and information will be become popular throughout the teen world . . . You may catch the eye of a fashion company, become an actress or even gain a position as a famous television host.” The advertisement targets teen girls, many of whom dream at one time or another to become a model, TV host or actress. “Miss Teen” is a beauty pageant for teenage girls that focuses on beauty above other attributes. The contest has been advertised from In addition to these national contests, there are many smaller ones with names like “Hot Teen.” The winners of these contests are advertised as “new stars” in Hidden costs of 120 million dong
One contest is called “Class Ambassadors,” a beauty contest for young people aged 16 to 22. Originally the competition was called “Mr. and Miss Teen,” but the organizers changed it to obtain their license more easily. Similar to a pageant contest, “Class Ambassadors” includes field trips, charity activities, a talent competition and taking photos on the beach, along with a fashion performance, interview, and a knowledge test. Two gold-level prizes are awarded, one to a girl and one to a boy, worth 120 million dong each. Such lucrative prizes are much higher than many adult pageants and contests. At the introductory press conference, journalists questioned the organizers about the huge amount of prize money, especially for teens. They argued that the “Ambassadors” could use the money unwisely and become involved in scandalous activities. The organizers replied that such risks must be born by the contestants’ families. This pageant had two separate juries, one for the knowledge portion of the competition and another for the beauty competition. Curiously, the names of the first jury were not disclosed at the press conference, while the second jury’s members were touted to include a sub-editor of Model Magazine, two supermodels, Xuan Thu and Huynh Thanh Tuyen, Miss Sea Lam Thu Hang, two make-up artists and a photographer. Artificial Beauty over Academic Achievement?
In an unusual move, the “Class Ambassadors” competition accepted contestants with plastic surgery while typically beauty contests in A reporter questioned the organizers if they encouraged teens to undergo plastic surgery. The organizers protested that plastic surgery was a modern phenomenon, not something new encouraged by the contest. Concerns about what trends these competitions may perpetuate, especially in exploiting beauty at such a young age, created public protests about ten years ago when people compared these contests to “selling young rice.” Events that only honor outward appearances with promises of lucrative prizes may not be necessary or beneficial. Moreover, if the contests suggest that beauty is everything, why should Vietnamese teens study hard? Should they have plastic surgery to become famous instead? VietNamNet/TTOL Consultants sought for long-term tourism development plan The Vietnam National Administration of Tourism is looking for foreign experts to help map out a national tourism development strategy for 2011-2020 and with a vision toward 2030. The tourism industry would be calling for foreign and local investment capital to better infrastructure and services in the years to come. VietNamNet/SGT Vietnam Airlines begins web check-in service Vietnam Airlines on August 25 launched a system allowing passengers to check in at www.vietnamairlines.com for domestic flights from Noi Bai, Tan Son Nhat and Danang international airports.
The new service is one of the benefits that Vietnam Airlines has launched for its passengers flying on the domestic routes. The web check-in service is not applicable to the passengers who want to check in luggage have requests for special services except orders for a specific meal, and are not allowed on the Vietnam Airlines plane, and beneficiaries of discount tickets. Trinh Hong Quang, deputy general director of Vietnam Airlines, said in a statement on August 25 that the web check-in provided passengers with more options to save time at check-in counters at the airport. Quang called for passengers to comment on the web check-in when the national flag carrier tested the new service between August 25 and November 25 this year to help the airline improve the service before applying it to other routes. The new service is one of the benefits that Vietnam Airlines has launched for its passengers flying on the domestic routes. Currently, business-class passengers of Vietnam Airlines on flights to and from Danang are free from the course use fee when playing golf at Montgomerie Links in the central province of Quang Nam until December 15. Each boarding pass is valid for one week and only subject to the benefit for one time. This benefit does not include the fees for caddies and use of golf carts. VietNamNet/SGT Destinations for National Day On the occasion of National Day, September 2, Ben Thanh Tourist is offering two clusters of tours, both short and long, to meet the demand of those who do not have much time to be away from home, as the holiday falls on a Wednesday, but want a reward for months of hard labor.
A view of Ho Coc beach. Located in the coastal province of Ba Ria-Vung Tau, about 150 kilometers from HCMC, Binh Chau-Phuoc Buu, a 11.3-hectare forest with 15 kilometers of coast line, is endowed with natural dreamlike lakes such as Coc, Tram and Linh and edges the stunning Ho Coc beach. Tourists can take therapy treatments in Binh Chau Hot Spring, an attractive destination with hot spa waters and hot mud baths in fresh forest air and by the sea. About 50 kilometers from HCMC, the Can Gio Mangrove Forest, a world-class bio-reserve recognized by UNESCO in 2000, is proving to be a top tourist destination for nature lovers who want an easily-reached ecological area with features like history, culture and especially a vast wilderness with a system of canals and spectacular ocean scenery. The 2.2-hectare Vinh Sang Tourist Area, located on An Binh isle on the Tien River in the Mekong Delta province of Vinh Long, is home to many species of rare wild animals including crocodiles, ostriches, bears, spotted deer, monkeys, pythons, pelicans and rabbits. Visitors should bring binoculars. If you don’t see a rare animal in the wild, you can still take some minutes to ride an ostrich, feed a crocodile, catch a fish or stroll on grassy trails through endless multicolored orchards. Three day/two night tours to Nha Trang bay, Phu Quoc island, Dalat and Buon Ma Thuot are available as good choices for those with more time. Nha Trang bay and Phu Quoc island are famous for their stunning beaches, luxury resorts, snorkeling, diving, squid fishing, surfing and coral sightseeing cruises. Dalat, the city covered in mist and surrounded by pine trees, offers waterfalls, lakes, flowers, ancient pagodas and cooler weather. Langbiang Mountain offers a panoramic view of wonderful landscapes. Buon Ma Thuot preserves its ethnic groups with sacred melodies of gongs and peaceful stilt houses. An elephant ride is a good way to see the magnificent landscapes. The Mekong Delta is known for its interlacing canals, orchards, endless rice fields, mangrove forests, ancient pagodas and floating markets. The four day/three night tour to Can Tho city, Soc Trang, Bac Lieu and Ca Mau provinces reveal many of the charms of the bottom of one of the world’s greatest rivers. For more information, contact Ben Thanh Tourist at 86 Ly Tu Trong street, District 1, HCMC, tel: 3520 2020, email: inbound-e@benthanhtourist.com or visit www.benthanhtourist.com. VietNamNet/SGT Travel agencies and hotels preparing for post-crisis period Though the coincidence of global economic crisis and flu pandemic has cratered Vietnam’s tourist market, some tourism sector heavyweights have concluded that now the right time to restructure themselves, improve service quality, and launch marketing campaigns.
The five star Movenpick Saigon is spending $25 million on an 18 month upgrade to its rooms and services, focusing in particular on the hotel’s Nishimura, Café Saigon and Movenpick executive Dominik Stamm said that the Mulligan Bar will turn into a late night club. This move is in anticipation of guidance from the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism (VNAT) allowing more four and five star hotel services to stay open till 2 am. Phan Huy Tien of the Berjaya - Hotay joint venture that owns the Sheraton Hanoi told VietNamNet that guests are scarce at most of Hanoi’s five star hotels. Only the Hanoi Hilton and the Melia come near filling their rooms. Though the Sheraton’s occupancy ratio fell to 47 percent in the first half of 2009, it is working hard on plans for the post crisis period. “We’re planning ahead for the recovery so we can come out of the gate fast, ahead of the competition, said Patricia Neo of Starwood Hotels & Resorts. We also believe that today’s reduced travel budgets, canceled meetings and ‘staycations’ (stay-at-home vacations) are tomorrow’s pent-up demand.” Starwood plans to open the Sheraton Nha Trang in November. The group has put into operation a telephone number (free of charge) which clients can use to book hotel rooms at 950 hotels run by Starwood worldwide. And launching marketing campaigns Travel agencies also say they are ready to receive the international tourists who will surge back to Saigontourist Director Vo Anh Tai said that his firm has been expanding Saigontourist’s system in Tai commented that other countries seem to have had a more rapid economic recovery and have better dealt with the flu pandemic than Expressing the same viewpoint, a Mexico Tourism Board official noted at a recent workshop that Baron Ah Moo of the Vietnam Business Forum’s tourism consultative group, says he was been told that the initial budget for promoting National Administration for Tourism General Director Nguyen Van Tuan told the workshop that his agency will focus in five areas to get ready for the recovery of tourism: 1/ continue the ‘Impressive Vietnam’ discounted services campaign; 2/ advertise Vietnam at home and abroad as a tourist destination; 3/ organize professional training; 4/ continue upgrading facilities and 5/ improving the quality of the tourism experience. Ha Yen - VietnamBridge Dak Nong’s lesser-known falls
Arriving at the falls, any visitor is sure to be charmed by the wild flowers splashing out in all different colors. Song birds welcome the new day in full chorus. The crystal clear water shimmers under a vast blue sky. Dieu Thanh falls, also known as Lieng Nung in the local M’nong language, consists of three waterfalls, the largest of which is 15 meters high, feeding into the Dieu Thanh Brook. It’s a great place for swimming in the cool current or lying on the green carpet of grass beside the river bank. Or relax under the shade of the giant old trees and take in the untouched scenery. A hike to explore the dense forests on either side of the brook is a great way to spend a morning or afternoon. In the still of the night, the sound of the crashing water can be heard from more than two kilometers away as it reverberates through the surrounding mountains and forests. At the foot of the waterfalls, M’nong and Ma villages welcome visitors who want to stay for a night. By the campfire, tourists and villagers can sing and dance with the villagers to the song of gongs and the roaring water. And no one should refuse the locally made ruou can (wine in a jar), drunk through a communal straw. A dinner of local specialties is a great way to converse with residents about the local culture and history. During the wet season from May to September, visitors can easily net fish from the brook to cook with wild bamboo shoots. Located in Dak R’Lap District’s Nhan Co Commune, the waterfall serves as a natural border between Nhan Co and the neighboring Quang Tan communes, about seven kilometers down the Dakrtit River from Gia Nghia, the provincial capital of Dak Nong. Tourists have to explore Dieu Thanh Waterfall by themselves as no travel company offers tours to the place. From Ho Chi Minh City, travel about 230 kilometers on the National Highway No. 14 to Gia Nghia Town then take a xe om (motorbike taxi) to Dieu Thanh. You should also hire a local as a tour guide to ensure a safe trip. VietNamNet/Thanh Nien Vietnam seeks shorter international air routes The Civil Aviation Administration is negotiating with neighboring countries to shorten some commercial air routes. Success in the negotiations not only will bring economic benefits to airlines, but also help bring more money to
Commercial aircraft fly along designated corridors between waypoints . An article in Tuoi Tre Daily reports that Vietnam’s Civil Aviation Administration (CAAV) has proposed to establish a new international air route between the Cam Ranh waypoint and ‘Mesox,’ a move which if approved would cut five minutes from the flight time for service between HCM City’s Tan Son Nhat airport and points in Northeast Asia. Agreement to a proposed corridor between Phu Cat/Chu Lai and ‘Bunta’ would shorten CAAV is also negotiating to set up some other international air corridors, including Vientiane-Siem Riep-Tan Son Nhat and Pakse/Vibun ( Difficult negotiations Senior CAAV official Bui Van Vo said that the agency is in a second round of negotiations with CAAV Deputy Director Lai Xuan Thanh believes that revised air routes would not only bring economic benefit to A member of the negotiations taskforce said that talks with One minute of flight = $400 According to Thanh, the proposed adjustments to flight corridors will bring high benefit, though the exact economic benefit for airlines still remains unknown pending the outcome of the negotiations. Vietnam Airlines has estimated that it can save $400 per every flight minute reduction. The national air carrier has estimated that, following the shortening of four domestic routes, it can save several hundred billion dong annually. (One billion dong = $56,000.) VietNamNet/TT The edge of nirvana
The giant Buddha statue on Ta Cu Mountain in the central province of Binh Thuan, the longest reclining statue of its kind in Southeast Asia. In addition, the popular tourist attraction boasts the longest reclining Buddha statue in all of Southeast Asia – perched atop the mountain. Ta Cu is located in Ham Thuan Nam District near National Highway 1A and 28 kilometers south of Phan Thiet Town. With its peak situated nearly 650 meters above sea level, Ta Cu finds itself ensconced in verdant flora and maintains year-round temperatures of 18-22OC. To reach the mountain peak requires two hours of hiking along a path of rocky steps and steep slopes. But for the adventurous, the trip provides stunning scenery including overgrown ancient trees with creeping roots, trickling springs and jagged outcrops. For those looking for a more gentle ascent, a 1,600-meterlong cable car system is available to whisk visitors to the mountaintop. The gondola also allows for spectacular bird’s-eye views of the rolling green hills and mountain foliage. While passing Bang Lang Slope, visitors can see ancient trees with delicate violet flowers and flocks of diminutive butterflies floating over wild blossoms next to fresh-water springs. Tourists may find themselves entering a soft white cloud of mist as they near the mountain peak, adding to the mystical feel of the area. From high above, visitors can also see down to National Highway 1A, along with the twisting road, houses with red-tile roofs, winding rivers, terraced rice fields, and breathtaking gardens. As the cable car approaches the final station, visitors will be able to see the Ham Tan coastline far below in the distance. Located near to the peak is the Linh Son Truong Tho Pagoda and behind it lies the imposing 49-meter-long statue of Sakya Mouni Buddha, ready to enter nirvana. Visitors too may feel as if they are on the precipice of heaven as they contemplate the awe of the great, arresting statue surrounded by nature in all its splendor. VietNamNet/Thanh Nien Hoe Nhai pagoda with strange statue Hoe Nhai, also called Hong Phuc, is one of the large ancient pagodas in the Thang Long Citadel. The Pagoda was built under the Ly Dynasty (1010-1225) on an area of 3,000m2 on present-day Hoe Nhai Street, Hanoi. The space of the Pagoda is shaded by areca and lush green Bodhi trees. The Pagoda consists of two worshiping houses, each having five compartments, a sanctum with three compartments and an ancestor-worshipping chamber with seven compartments. Standing on the Pagoda’s ground are two three-storey towers and two large stone steles among 28 steles inside the Pagoda. A stele was built in the 24th Chinh Hoa Year (1703) under the Dynasty of King Le Hy Tong (1676-1705) and clearly noted by Doctor Ho Tong Muc that the Pagoda’s location was in Hoe Nhai Ward in Dong Bo Dau (the East Wharf). The Pagoda has now retained a bronze plaque, 1m high and 1.5m wide cast in the Year of the Tiger dated to the 3rd Long Duc Year (1734) under the Dynasty of King Le Than Tong (1619-1662), a bronze drum cast in the Dynasty of King Tu Duc (1848-1883) and a series of statues made from precious woods and fumigated bronze. Each statue has its own artistic value, lively depicting the portraits of new-born Sakyamuni, Amitabha Buddha and Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva, particularly Senior Monk Thich Duc Nhuan who glorified the Vietnamese Buddhism in the 20th century. However, the most salient characteristic of the Pagoda is the statue of Buddha sitting on the back of a prostrating king. It was said that the statue was sculpted in accordance with the legend of a king voluntarily prostrating to be the bed for Sakyamuni to sit to preach. According to the legend, King Le Hy Tong (1675-1705) applied a draconian code of ethics to Buddhism. Therefore, Most Venerable Chan Dun – the second Senior Monk in Hoe Nhai Pagoda, wrote a petition then put it in a casket to submit to the King. He said that there was a germ in the casket. When the King opened the casket, he did not see the germ but see a petition writing that the Le Dynasty (1428-1527) ruled the country for a long time thanks to Buddha’s assistance and protection. Then, King Le Hy Tong gave out an imperial decree showing his penitence and changed the policies on Buddhism. With its artistic and religious value, Hoe Nhai Ancient Pagoda attracts a large number of visitors.
VietNamNet/Vietnam Pictorial Tourists return historic edicts Ten Vietnamese royal honour-conferring edicts have been given back to the Vietnam History Association by American tourists. VietNamNet/ND Underwater wonder
A visitor enjoys an ice-cream cone at the Tri Nguyen AquariumA visitor enjoys an ice-cream cone at the Tri Nguyen Aquarium Situated five kilometers south of the beach resort town of Nha Trang and part of the Tri Nguyen Resort, the aquarium has long been a popular tourist destination since it was built in 1976. Here, visitors will enjoy seeing an abundance of marine diversity and a myriad of colorful creatures which have been collected from different regions around the country. Sharks, sea turtles, and a brilliant array of coral are just a few of the attractions. In addition, children will delight in the aquarium’s amusing décor, which includes giant shrimp, crab and mushroom decorations. To get to the aquarium, visitors can take a motorboat departing from Cau Da Port in Nha Trang out to Tri Nguyen Resort. The scenic ocean trip takes about half an hour. The aquarium is part of a larger three-floor complex shaped like a ship and surrounded by a rock embankment. The first floor contains several large aquariums, the second floor is a retail area where souvenirs and handicrafts are sold, and the top floor is a restaurant. Also known as the Water Palace, the “ship” boasts several look-out posts and a replica of a cannon where visitors can gaze out at the sea. For several years, the Tri Nguyen Aquarium had just two areas where ornamental fish were raised, but in 1997 the Khanh Hoa Tourism Company spent VND10 billion (US$561,800) to expand and upgrade the facility, building larger aquariums and refurbishing the complex to resemble an ancient ship. Following a trip to the aquarium, visitors can take a boat to visit other nearby islands in the bay of Nha Trang and camp, fish, sample the local seafood, or explore fishing villages to learn about the local trade. Also nearby Tri Nguyen Aquarium is Bai Soi (Pebble Beach) where tourists can swim in azure waters or take a leisurely stroll and simply relax. VietNamNet/Thanh Nien Thu Le Park and zoo provide relaxation for city dwellers
Lovers tour Thu Le Lake on swan boats in Thu Le Park. "I don’t care how many fish I catch, the most important thing for me is the relaxation and the peace that I can find here," he says while putting bait on his hook. His grandson sits next to him, curious and impatient to see how a fish is caught on the line. "I love following my grandfather here. It’s much better than staying at home." Bang is not the only "fisherman" here. He’s made quite a lot of friends since he first arrived. Since he lives close to the zoo he comes to the park several times each week, and is happy to meet his fishing buddies without having to make plans beforehand. Thu Le Park has become an ideal destination for Ha Noi lovers not only to discover a wide number of animals but also to relax. I found myself at Thu Le Park, 5km from the capital’s centre, on one sunny afternoon. Though it was very hot outside, the great number of trees in the park helped shade me from the burning rays. Not surprisingly, many stone benches and patches of grass under the trees were already occupied by young lovers. But the park is not only for young couples, pretty much anyone can find something to do here: gymnastics, a visit to the zoo, fishing, picnics and more await all visitors. Two favourite things to do for Nguyen Mai Hoa’s family is visiting the zoo and having a picnic. She lives in Dong Anh District (a Ha Noi suburb), more than 10km from the zoo, and often accompanies her husband and her three-year-old daughter to the park. "Thu Le is like a small forest. It’s so nice to be able to discover the animals and relax at the same time," she says, standing next to an ostrich cage with her daughter. The little girl’s face brightens as she was watches the strange, giant bird. Every time her family comes to the zoo, they bring food and fruit from home or buy food from nearby restaurants. When they want to rest for a while before continuing their excursion, they sit down on the grass and enjoy a nice picnic in the shade of some of the trees. "After a stressful day at work, we really enjoy those moments of peace," Hoa says. Before leaving the park, they always take some photographs to keep as memories of their trip. While small families often like to take picnics to the park, young lovers enjoy hopping on the swan boats, paddling around Thu Le Lake and getting to know each other a little better. Gone fishing Nguyen Quang Huy’s family likes to fish at the park. Twice a week, he and his son walk from their house to the park with two fishing rods. "You can buy the fishing rods on Hang Giay Street or along Nguyen Thai Hoc Street. The seller can tell you what bait is best for what fish," Huy says. "For me, I often buy thinh (grilled rice). It costs only VND20,000 per packet, and it attracts a lot of fish when sprinkled on the water." There are numerous parks across the capital, and people can find many ideal places to relax after busy work weeks. Each park is unique in its own right. Besides Thu Le, other popular parks include Bach Thao on Hoang Hoa Tham Road, Thong Nhat on Tran Nhan Tong Street and Tuoi Tre along Vo Thi Sau Street. They are known as the green lungs of Ha Noi. When walking past the parks, nature lovers can wallow in the shade of the trees and the sounds of the forests, with bird’s singing, children frolicking and ancient trees swaying in the wind. In all of the parks, one can find older people doing gymnastics, breathing in the fresh air and walking around, while couples take wedding photos and children learn how to ride bikes. Most adults keep a souvenir of at least one time they visited one of the parks with their parents or friends. VietNamNet/VNS Rocky mountain high Sacred to Vietnam’s millions of Buddhists, Yen Tu Mountain in Quang Ninh Province boasts breathtaking scenery along with hundreds of temples, other man-made structures, and religious objects.
On the top of sacred Yen Tu Mountain looking down. A Vietnamese saying warns that “Though you practice charity and do good deeds for a hundred years, you will not achieve perfect enlightenment if you have not been to Yen Tu.” The majestic scenery and the tranquility of its temples inspired King Tran Nhan Tong, who reigned from 1279 to 1293, to pass the throne to his son and lead the life of a Buddhist monk at Yen Tu. There, he founded the first Vietnamese School of Zen Buddhism: Truc Lam. The sect soon attracted thousands of followers so Tran Nhan Tong ordered the construction of hundreds of buildings and other structures on Yen Tu Mountain. Religious devotion At an altitude of 1,068 meters, the summit of Yen Tu Mountain is covered by clouds most of the time. Until early last year, religious devotees and adventurous tourists had to trek through six kilometers of dense bamboo and pine to reach the top. Now there’s a cable car. The ease of the high-wire trip to the summit goes down poorly with Minh Ha from Hai Phong, who reckons a true Buddhist should ascend the peak on foot so as to show sincerity and be suitably rewarded. “Many people claim that it’s difficult to reach the peak of Yen Tu Mountain by foot, yet hundreds of elderly people manage it,” says Ha pointedly. Nguyet, 58, heartily endorses the idea of trekking to the summit. “I have never felt so alive and excited as when I climbed to the top one step at a time,” she exclaims in delight. Rock at Heaven’s Gate The best-known feature of Yen Tu Mountain is the rocky outcrop called An Ky Sinh, which stands two meters tall on the summit and is aptly known as Heaven’s Gate. It is named after the legendary Chinese Taoist An Ky Sinh, who dwelt on the summit of Yen Tu thousands of years ago and turned to stone after achieving enlightenment, or so the story goes. Some of the thousands of pilgrims who flock to Yen Tu every year, especially for the spring festival, rub money on the rock in the belief that it will bring financial prosperity and help them run their business better. It’s one of several important rocks on the mountain. Another juts out over a small and often crowded temple in the grounds of Hoa Yen-Mot Mai-Dong Pagoda down below. Temple on the mount Situated at 1,000 meters above sea level near the rock of An Ky Sinh, Dong (copper) Pagoda is usually cloaked in mist and cloud cover, but when it clears the whole panorama of Vietnam’s northeast is laid out in detail. From a short distance away, the pagoda resembles a golden lotus. It was recently rebuilt at a cost of more than VND21billion (US$1.23 million). The entire structure with more than 3,500 statues, bells and such weighs some 70 tons, so building the temple and fitting it was quite a feat. Back to earth Back down in Truc Lam Zen Monastery at the foot of Yen Tu Mountain, the head monk gives public lectures on the history of Buddhism and the lessons it teaches. There is also a vegetarian restaurant called Nang Tam open to everyone. The access road is named Vang Danh and starts in Thuong Yen Cong Commune, Uong Bi District 125 kilometers from Hanoi and 50 kilometers from Ha Long by the famous bay of the same name. Players jump onboard tourism bandwagon
The goal was the focus of last week’s Hanoi-based video seminar on promoting the Mekong River basin by Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia and Japan tourism leaders. The meeting took place amid the countries tackling the global financial crisis and growing concern over influenza pandemics which have reduced flows of international tourists. “The three Indochinese countries are forming a Mekong triangle and tourism promotion is an important pillar for their economic development,” said the World Tourism Organisation in a statement. According to Japan’s Tourism Agency, Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia are among Japan’s most attractive tourism markets and the Japanese government is ready to cooperate with the three countries to promote the region as an Asian destination through official development assistance projects. “Tourism is one of major industries to earn foreign currencies in these countries and so the poverty elimination will be highly expected through the activation of economies by the international tourism development in remote areas,” the World Tourism Organisation said. Tran Chien Thang, Vietnam’s deputy minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism, said the three Indochinese countries’ governments were giving special attention to further tourism cooperation with Japan as the trio were home to attractive tourism destinations including many recognised by UNESCO as world famous heritages. “The three countries are building a joint project named ‘Three Countries-One Destination’ to turn themselves into a shared destination with unique and abundant tourism products,” said Thang, who is also chairman of Pacific Asia Travel Association Vietnam Chapter. “To this end, further cooperation and joint efforts in information exchanges and experiences between governments are vital to design measures to expand international tourist markets,” Thang said. He said the countries had actively engaged in the ‘Explore the Mekong’ campaign and ‘Visit GMS Years 2009-2010’, and were preparing for the Mekong Tourism Forum to take place in Cambodia in 2010 and for the Mekong-Japan Culture and Tourism Days in Vietnam’s Can Tho province in December 2009. Japan Tourism Marketing Company representative director and chief executive officer Masato Takamatsu said Mekong was a much more profitable destination for travel trade than other city or resort destinations in Asia where price competition cut profits. “What attract international tourists to Vietnam is that they want to enjoy Asian atmosphere here, while shopping for handicrafts at low prices and admiring a large number of tourism spots such as Halong Bay, Hue and Hoi An,” Takamatsu said. “In Cambodia, Angkor Wat is wonderful.” “However, there are polluted air, trash and concerns about safety and sanitation in Vietnam, and Cambodia is home to troublesome visa procedures, beggars and drivers not following traffic rules,” he said. According to Japan Tourism Agency’s International Tourism Relations director Yuichi Takehara, these countries only focus on certain tourism spots to lure visitors. “For example, tourists think they come to Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, not to Vietnam or come to Angkor Wat but not to Cambodia, meanwhile they know Laos by name, but hardly recall an image,” Takehara said. VietNamNet/VIRNews for Tuesday 25 August, 2009 View all news for Tuesday 25 August, 2009 on one page Recent News
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