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Vietnam Open Tour News & EventsFRIDAY 18 SEPTEMBER, 2009 |
 New caves discovered in Quang Binh
The dry caves are about 400 metres deep, 40 to 45 metres high and 50 metres wide while the water-filled caves are about 150 metres deep, 20 to 25 metres high and 15 metres wide. They were all discovered north of the Truong Son Mountain Range. Recently, there have been seven new caves containing beautiful stalactites and stalagmites found in the district of Minh Hoa. The chairman of Minh Hoa People’s Committee, Dinh Minh Chat, says that the discovery of the new caves shows the potential for tourism in Quang Binh and will attract both scientists and investors, especially those involved in ecological tourism. VietNamNet/VOV
Culture of Ba kites Everyday, people see thousands of kites soaring in the blue sky over the crowded residential area in north-west Hanoi.
To local villagers, Ba kites are not only the pride of the village but also a means for villagers to send their prayers for warm weather and abundant crops into the sky. Kites symbolize good luck and if kites fly higher and higher, the harvest will be better. Bathed in the glistening rays of the sunset in a peaceful countryside, layers and layers of Ba kites soar and swing over the Nhi Ha river, and under them, kids, young couples and families lie on the embankments of immense green rice fields and enjoy the sweet melodies and rhythms in harmony with the whispers and laughs of the people, sometimes. Taking us on a winding road to the village, Dinh Van Truong, a local officer of Hong Ha commune, Dan Phuong district, said, "We believe the kite is a symbol of yin and yang, connecting heaven and earth. The sound from the flutes of the kites can drive away miasma and epidemics." The kites are also means for weather forecast, he added. Whatever meanings they may have, Ba kites are the passion of most local villagers. Unlike Hue kites, which are colorful and have many shapes, Ba kites' shapes are simple without tails but the flutes are delicate, filled with emotions and feelings, rhythms, carrying artisans' hearts. In Ba Duong Noi village, kites seem to be stamped on the minds of each child. The passion is handed down from generation to generation. "I'm excited to fly kites after a working day, especially under a full-moon with twinkling stars, I can find peace and escape the bustling noise of daily life," said Nguyen Van Quyet, a local kite lover. "To me, whenever I have problems, I often fly kites to seek tranquility for my soul," said another enthusiast of kites. Nguyen Huu Kiem, a chairman of the Ba Giang traditional kite club, said, "Kites have lived with us for thousands of years, and the club is aimed at preserving the passion, soul and cultural heritage of the village handed down by our forefathers. The club is attracting more and more players at all ages." Dinh Van Tuong said villagers were keen on the kite flying festival early next year to mark the 1,000th anniversary of Thang Long-Hanoi. The village also intends to hold a kite flying festival on the embankment of the Nhi Ha river next month to celebrate the mid-autumn festival. VietNamNet/SGT Exploring the Central Highlands Gia Lai province in the Central Highlands is famous for its splendid scenery, magnificent waterfalls, poetic lakes and endless forests and mountains. Taking a trip to the Central Highlands to discover the wonders of nature is a worthwhile experience in the fall, according to baogialai.vn.
A view of Phu Cuong lake in Gia Lai province. -- Photo: Guide book published by Vietbook Topping the list is Ayun Ha lake with its cool air, blue waters and romantic surroundings. Located in the region between Phu Thien and Chu Se districts, about 70 kilometers west of Pleiku city, Ayun Ha lake is a man-made lake supplying the Ayun Ha area and Pleiku city with a big source of aquatic products. Coming to Ayun Ha, tourists will have a chance to intermingle with romantic scenery and enjoy wild nature and pure air. The atmosphere is jubilant when taking part in water sports or cruising on the lake on holidays or at festivals. Phu Cuong waterfall, 45 km southeast of Pleiku city, with its height and smooth rock walls, is imposing amid the green jungle carpet. Buses come to the foot of the waterfall and tourists continue their trip on elephant. Lying on the current of the Ia Pech stream, the waterfall shows off its beauty with a height of 35 meters as a silver carpet amid the green forest. On the tour visiting Ayun Ha lake and Phu Cuong waterfall, tourists should not miss Ayn Pa which is endowed with attractive landscapes such as Pink Valley-Violet Horizon, Dream Beach and Stone Stream. Gia Lai province has a long-standing history as an ancient culture bearing traits of the ethnic groups of Giarai, Ba Na, Gie Trieng, Xo Dang and K’ho. This is manifested through the architecture of the communal rong (long house), stilt houses and burial grounds. Visitors to this windy and sunny land can not only admire the splendid landscapes but can see the unique architectural style of the statues in funeral houses, investigate local customs and ethnic cultural features and hear some of the folklore. Another attraction is the performance of gongs, soul of the highlands. One day/one night tours are available to these sites at the travel center at 215 Hung Vuong street, Pleiku city, Gia Lai province, tel: 059 3874 571. Gia Lai province is 550 kilometers from HCMC. Tourists can book return flights from HCMC, Hanoi and Danang. By road from HCMC, tourists can book at travel agencies in downtown HCMC. Heading on National Road 13 to National Road 14, or on National Highway 1A to Quy Nhon and then to National Road 19 or to Tuy Hoa, National Road 25 leads into the province. VietNamNet/SGT
Vietnam adjourns revising down tourism target as arrivals revive Tourism officials at a meeting on Monday decided not yet to reduce the target of international arrivals from the old target of 4.5 million this year to around 3.7 to 3.8 million as tentatively agreed, as latest figures show a strong revival in the rest of the year.
Vietnam welcomed over 4.2 million foreign visitors last year. “We are receiving a good signal so we will launch the new decision after receiving the result of this month,” he said. He said the country is pinning high hopes in the recovery of the inbound sector in the high season that is now underway. According to the General Statistics Office, the number of international tourists to Vietnam for the first time this year has increased in August, with nearly 315,000 visitors, up 16% against that in July. Tuan said the substantial increase prompted the national tourism agency to hold an optimistic view for the rest of this year. However, given the big decline in the first few months of the year, a recession in the country’s tourism industry is inevitable. “It’s impossible to say that Vietnam’s tourism can maintain the number of foreign tourists this year, but we want to minimize the decline,” he said. He pinned high hopes on China as the biggest source market for Vietnam. Of nearly 2.5 million international arrivals into Vietnam in the first eight months of this year, visitors from China totaled more than 300,000. Tuan said that both tourism agencies and travel companies have received good feedback from a promotion trip to China late last month. “The rising number of visitors from this leading market will help the whole industry,” Tuan said. It is unlikely Vietnam can welcome 3.9 million international visitors this year given the low figure in the eight months, but Tuan said even the target of 3.7 to 3.8 million was still much better than earlier estimates. In the middle of this year, Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Hoang Tuan Anh feared that the outbreak of the swine flu and the financial crisis would make the number of international arrivals to drop around 20% in this year, or around 840,000, meaning a low scenario of only some 3.4 million visitors. Vietnam welcomed over 4.2 million foreign visitors last year, up 0.6% compared to 2007. VietNamNet/SGT Roving Vietnam tourism promotion launched in Japan
The program, featuring cultural activities such as a fashion show, performances of traditional music and dances, opened in Sakai City, Osaka, where the Consulate General of Vietnam was recently introduced at the beginning of September. “Vietnam Show 2009” is one of the biggest Vietnamese promotional tourism programs in Japan, said the director of Vietnam Airlines (VNA) Representative Office in Japan, Nguyen Quoc Tuan. The event aims to give Japanese people knowledge of the land and people of Vietnam and draw more Japanese visitors to the country. As planned, seminars on tourism will be organized at every destination with the participation of tourist companies from the two countries. The program will give out free Vietnam guide books to visitors. The event, co-organized by the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism (VNAT), VNA and Da Nang City, will move to Nagoya and end in Tokyo on September 18. Together with “Vietnam Show 2009,” the 2009 Hello Vietnam Festival will be organized in Yoyogi Park in Tokyo between September 19 and 20. The festival will include a musical performance and an ao dai show, in which Vietnamese and Japanese artists and members of the Vietnamese Youth and Student Association in Japan will participate. On the occasion, Vietnamese restaurants in Tokyo and surrounding areas will present Vietnamese specialties like pho and nem cuon (spring rolls). The organization committee expects to attract more than 100,000 visitors to the festival. VietNamNet/VNA News for Tuesday 15 September, 2009
View all news for Tuesday 15 September, 2009 on one page Recent News
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