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Vietnam Open Tour News & EventsWEDNESDAY 06 JANUARY, 2010 |
 Quality street
Quan Thanh is home to one of Hanoi’s most beautiful temples as well as a number of classy restaurants, high end shops and well-run hotels. Going with the traffic Quan Thanh street runs from the top of Hanoi’s old quarter all the way across to the south of West Lake. It takes its name from the famous Quan Thanh temple but originally this street was established by the French colonial forces and was known as Route du Grand Bouddha (Great Buddha street). Once a tram ran down the street transporting passengers from Hoan Kiem Lake or Dong Xuan Market all the way to Buoi Market on the southwest of West Lake.
Today the street is a typically busy thoroughfare where both the modern and the ancient rub shoulders – you’ll see temples and French villas next to office blocks and high-end fashion shops. You will also find our office as Vietnam Investment Review – Dau Tu recently relocated from 175 Nguyen Thai Hoc to 47 Quan Thanh and yes, we’re very proud of our new prestigious address! Spiritual centre Every temple (den) in Vietnam is dedicated to a particular saint, deity or Vietnamese hero. The aforementioned Quan Thanh temple honours one of the four guardian saints of Hanoi (or Thang Long as the capital was originally known), Tran Vu, so the temple is sometimes also referred to as Den Tran Vu. Tran Vu is a legendary or semi-mythical figure. According to legend he was a saint who assisted An Duong Vuong, who ruled over Au Lac from 257 to 207BC after defeating the state of Van Lang and uniting the two tribes Au Viet and Lac Viet. Tran Vu helped the king by banishing a ghostly spirit during the construction of Co Loa Citadel. Tran Vu also surfaces in Chinese legends as a saint who helped safeguard the northern border. Quan Thanh temple was built during the reign of King Ly Thai To (1010-1028). The temple has a majestic three-door entrance and a large bell tower. In the 18th century, the temple was renovated and the statue of Tran Vu was cast in bronze. The four-tonne statue is considered a masterpiece of bronze casting and is well worth checking out. The house of literature The tile-roofed villa at 80 Quan Thanh street was once the official base of the writer’s group called Tu luc van doan, which literally translates as the “Self-Reliance Literary Group”. Established by the Vietnamese writer Nhat Linh with some fellow authors in 1933 this literature group pretty much invented modern Vietnamese literature. The group disbanded in 1942 and today you won’t find a museum or even a plaque outside denoting the villa’s proud literary past. The house has been surrounded by a number of cheap modern structures. Inside the villa has been divided up and is home to a number of families – close to 50 people live inside. Although there’s nothing to see from time to time literary students or overseas Vietnamese come to have a look at the old villa. Sadly, they can do little but stand outside and imagine what might have passed indoors during a glorious period of Vietnamese literature. Shopping spree Quan Thanh street is now home to a host of fashion shops. Lare Boss Fashion at 138 Quan Thanh is well known for stocking Men’s fashion with brands such as Pabini from Italy. You will also find a number of stylish accessories such as sunglasses or belts as well as perfumes and aftershave. At 118 Quan Thanh street, Alcado stocks excellent Italian style office wear for women. Alcado is well regarded for their emphasis on smart and charming designs. Other recommended shops include Legend Boutique at 64, Jojo Max at 112 and Phan Nguyen Collection at 70, where you can find ZARA designs for both men and women. On the east side of Quan Thanh street you will find Quan Thanh Park, one of the few open spaces in this part of town. The park is a nice shaded spot to take a load off while walking or driving around. There are also a number of decent cafes opposite the west side of the park where you can recharge the batteries with a “ca phe sua” (coffee with sweet milk).- Restaurants Located in a French-designed villa at 95 Quan Thanh street, Seasons of Hanoi Restaurant was established back in 1995. The interior is a charming blend of classical and modern designs with Vietnamese antiques, stylish furnishings and Bat Trang ceramics. The cuisine is Vietnamese with classics such as spring rolls and pho noodle soup done exquisitely well. Recommended by Qantas, Thai Airways and many more famous travel companies, Seasons of Hanoi does a roaring trade with tourists as well as locals looking for great local food in an atmospheric setting. Cau do Restaurant at 168 Quan Thanh street is also in an old French style villa. With green areca-nut trees and lacquer vases the restaurant is an invitation into the heart and soul of Vietnam. Its splendid interior, great food and wonderful service make this a highly relaxing and enjoyable spot for dinner. Accommodation If you’re staying in the neighbourhood, or looking to recommend a hotel for a business client or family friend, you could try the Star View Hotel at 120 Quan Thanh. Recently refurbished and renamed (formerly it was Sunny Hotel Hanoi), the three-star Star View Hotel offers highly professional service in a central location. There are 52 well-appointed rooms equipped with air conditioning, cable TV, internet access, refrigerator and a private bathroom. Zen Hotel at 43 Quan Thanh is also a good choice with a stylish and modern interior in a classic tube style house. The combination of French colonial period and Asian designs works wonderfully well and certainly evokes Hanoi’s long history. The hotel offers well-decorated and high standard rooms with a choice of VIP, Deluxe or Standard rooms. VietNamNet/Time-out
A good stop for New Year trip Wide sunflowers and other flowers swaying in the breeze and the sweet sound of running water in the distance are waiting for you at the site of Yaly Hydropower Plant and Dam in the Central Highlands province of Gia Lai this season.
The site has more than what visitors can read about on the internet when they come to watch with their own eyes and then admire what is on offer at one of the attractions in the Central Highlands. So why don’t you tick the Yaly as one of the stops during your longer-than-usual weekend trip by car on the upcoming New Year occasion in Gia Lai or the region. It is easy to reach the Yaly, as you can drive a car 15 kilometers on National Highway 14 from Pleiku to Kontum until you see a three-way crossroad. Turn left for another 25 kilometers, then there’s the entrance to Yaly. An admission ticket of VND15,000 (less than US$1) sold at the entrance is the passport for a tour within the Yaly site, in which you can wander or take a drive by car to explore what you wish for as long as you want during the daytime. A smooth asphalt road from the entrance leads you through the dam and the memorial for the people who sacrificed their lives to the national construction on the right, then river sections of stones and boulders on the left. The asphalt road runs down to the entrance of a tunnel, where you get off your car for a security check before you are allowed to pass the gate and walk down about 300 meters to four generators of the seven-year-old construction. Some imaginative people describe the area of these four generators as a palace as it features yellow and red, or the two common colors at any palace you have ever seen. Of course, it is not a real palace, but photo shooting is allowed and recommended. On the left on the way out of the tunnel is a small room where models and maps depict the structure and procedures of generating electricity at the Yaly. The Yaly is said to be a destination for those interested in learning how a hydropower plant operates and generates electricity. To me, the Yaly is a place appropriate for nature lovers and those who want quiet and peaceful moments and to hide themselves by the Se San River from the boisterous atmosphere of the cities and recreational parks during public holidays. VietNamNet/SGT
Da Lat hopes to link flowers with ecotourism A seminar January 3 in the central resort town of Da Lat highlighted the importance of developing ecotourism in conjunction with the region’s flower-growing capacity. Ideas for capitalizing on the area’s vast blossoms to boost tourism were presented at the annual Da Lat Flower Festival in the province of Lam Dong. The application of high technology in agriculture, especially in planting vegetables and flowers, has been increasing in Da Lat over the past five years. At present, Da Lat has greenhouses with automatic water supply systems covering more than 1,500 hectares. In addition, new technology has been applied to Da Lat flower production in manufacturing new materials and creating over 60 different varieties of daisies, 20 kinds of roses, and hundreds of orchids. Over 10 million flower seeds are sold at home and abroad each year at one-third the price of imported seeds, said Mr. Nguyen Van An, director of the Lam Dong Province Department of Agriculture and Rural Development. Many flower production companies including Dalat Hasfarm, Bonie Farm, Rung Hoa Da Lat (DaLat flower forest), Huong Sac Da Lat (Da Lat fragrance and beauty) and Dai Viet, all which specialize in growing high-quality flowers, have been successful in building brand names and securing regular customers. In addition, smaller family-based flower growing operations such as Quynh De, Sang Coi, Trung Phuong, and Huong Duong have earned VND1 billion (US$50,000) per hectare per year. Da Lat also wants to become a high-quality tourism destination by offering a variety of new entertainment, recreation and healthcare services. Outdoor excursions through the forest and flower gardens have now become especially popular. According to Ms. Nguyen Thi Nguyen, deputy director of the Lam Dong Province Department of Culture, Sport and Tourism, ecotourism has become big business in Sapa, Hoi An and Mekong Delta provinces, but Da Lat city still hasn’t reached its full potential. Dr. Pham S., director of the Lam Dong Province Department of Science and Technology, said local authorities should prioritize development of more flower villages to attract tourists; upgrade walkways that cross through flower fields; design greenhouses to ensure aesthetic quality; and call on residents and investors to become involved in ecotourism efforts. The Central Highlands province of Lam Dong recently recognized Thai Phien flower village in Da Lat City’s Ward 12 as the first traditional trade village in the province. The provincial government hopes the village will become a hub for flower growers to exchange products and information, and become an attractive destination for visitors, said Chairman of Da Lat City’s Ward 12 People’s Committee M. Nguyen Dinh Huong. Leading Dutch florist Mr. Aart Jan Schep also traveled to Da Lat to introduce the art of European flower arrangements at Sofitel Dalat Palace on January 3. The event was organized by Dalat Hasfarm Agrivina Ltd. and Sofitel Dalat Palace with support of the Dutch Embassy in Hanoi. VietNamNet/SGGP
Tourism dollars up despite crisis Foreign tourist numbers dipped markedly last year. Institute for Tourism Development Research director Ha Van Sieu spoke about moves to increase the rate of tourism. The number of foreign tourists visiting Viet Nam dropped in the past year. Did the situation happen partially because of shortcomings in the tourism sector in addition to difficulties caused by the global economic crisis?
Fluctuations in European and northern America, for instance, have caused a decrease in the flow of foreign tourists from these markets visiting Viet Nam. A report released by the tourism sector found about 30 per cent more Vietnamese people travelled abroad over the past year. What do you think about this trend? Recent years have seen a rapid increase in the number of Vietnamese people travelling abroad. Despite the impact of the global economic crisis on Viet Nam, the number of high income earners has continued increasing, paving the way for them to travel abroad. Besides this, travel companies are providing more diverse services with more overseas tours offered. This accounts for the 30 per cent increase in Vietnamese people travelling abroad last year. The number of international and domestic tourists is equal in other countries. But it is not the case in Viet Nam where there is a widening gap between the two. How will the tourism sector develop domestic tourism last year? Travel companies have borrowed loans at preferential interest rates, or been given tax exemptions, tax reductions or delays for tax payment thanks to the Government’s stimulus packages. Thanks to that support, the tourism sector launched the Impressive Viet Nam campaign. As part of this, participants including travel companies, hotels, and airlines were asked to reduce their service prices between 20 per cent and 50 per cent, and organise advertising activities to attract tourists. As a result, the programme contributed to cutting costs and attracting more tourists. It also prevented a plummeting in the number of international tourist arrivals while stimulating regional tourism. Specifically, the number of international tourist arrivals to Viet Nam dropped from over 20 per cent in the first months of last year to more than 10 per cent in September and October. However, tourism income still increased last year compared with the previous year, up to VND78 trillion (US$4.3 billion) in turnover. What is your forecast for this year? I think Viet Nam’s tourism will recover its growth rate this year and surpass last year’s. It is forecasted that Viet Nam will see between 4-6 million international tourists (an increase of between 18-21 per cent), and about 28 million domestic tourists (an increase of between 8 per cent and 12 per cent). Income earned from tourism will total about VND75 trillion-78 trillion ($4.1 billion-4.3 billion) (an increase of 7.1-11 per cent). VietNamNet/Viet Nam News
News for Sunday 03 January, 2010
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