Asia Pacific Travel Team
More international tourists come to Mekong Delta
The Mekong Delta received 7.3 million visitors in the first quarter of this year, an increase of 20.9 per cent compared with the same period last year.
They included 540,175 international tourists, an increase of 14.4 per cent.
An Giang attracted the highest number (2.6 million), and Kien Giang accounted for the highest tourism revenue (VND624 billion, $29.7 million).
Dong Thap, Bac Lieu, Soc Trang, and Hau Giang provinces saw the most impressive growth in the number of visitors.
The delta provinces focus on developing eco-tourism and island tourism, its strengths.
Source: VNS
Charming of Mot Islet in Nha Trang
Tourists to Mot Islet should not miss the chance to watch the coral anemone reef and flocks of fish in various sizes and colors under the sea.
As the coral reefs are near the shore, those who do not want to dive can admire the beauty of the coral and fish by sitting on bamboo basket boats with their bottom made of transparent glass.
Source: SGT
Ba Moi Vineyard in Ninh Thuan
Upon arrival at Ba Moi Vineyard in the south-central province of Ninh Thuan, we felt as if all discomfort brought by sizzlingly hot summer had disappeared. We spent time indulging ourselves in a cool and airy atmosphere in a grape farm, and enjoying the fresh grapes on the spot.
Located seven kilometers from downtown Phan Rang City, Ba Moi Vineyard is in Hiep Hoa village, Phuoc Thuan Commune, Ninh Phuoc District and is easy to find thanks to its popularity.
The vineyard belongs to a man named Ba Moi, who charges no fee on visitors in hopes that more people will know about this specialty of his hometown, Ninh Thuan, one of a few areas in Vietnam that can grow this fruit.
Once entering the vineyard, we completely left behind all about the heat and busy life and just enjoyed walking under succulent grapes in the garden.
Visitors are allowed to touch the grapes but are asked to be gentle with ripe ones to make sure they would not drop.
After touring the vineyard, we were also invited to taste the fresh grapes and grape syrup made by Ba’s family. All are offered for free. It is worth giving it a try.
Source: SGT
Ban Gioc Waterfall listed in top 10 greatest waterfalls in the world
Recently, Ban Gioc Waterfall (Viet Nam) has been listed in top 10 greatest waterfalls in the world by WondersList website - a dedicated blog to present top 10 lists from around the world in a variety of categories.
Located in Dam Thuy Commune, Trung Khanh District, Cao Bang Province, Ban Gioc Waterfall is considered as the largest one in Southeast Asia and the world’s fourth largest cross-border natural falls.
The fall comprises high fall and low fall with 100m in width, 60m in height and 60m in deepth; in which the high fall is usually waterless in the dry season. The best time to visit Ban Gioc Waterfall is from June to October, when the summer rains and harvest is in full swing.
Besides Ban Gioc Waterfall, nine other ones are also honored including Iguazu (Brazil and Argentina); Victoria (Zimbabwe and Zambia); Niagara (Canada); Angel Falls (Venezuela); Kaieteur (Guyana); Vinnufossen (Norway); Blue Nile (Ethiopia); Gullfoss (Iceland); and Jog Falls (Karnataka).
Pham Thanh
Visit Na Hang - Ha Long Bay of the hills
Earlier, it took several days to reach there from Tuyen Quang City. However, as the road to Na Hang has been upgraded and widened, it takes visitors only two hours by car to reach there.
The site sprawls across 21,000ha, of which Na Hang Lake makes up for 8,000ha.
The lake is also compared to "Ha Long Bay in the high mountains and thick forest". It is a meeting point of 99 mountains of different shapes, and all of them stand out against a blue sky and green water that make tourists marvel at its beauty.
According to Le Thanh Son, head of the management board of Na Hang Eco-Tourism Zone, 10 relics around the lake have been recognised as national relic sites, such as Phia Vai and Phia Muon Caves, Song Long Cavern, Pac Ta Temple, and Phuc Lam Pagoda.
"Eco tours on the lake began five years ago. It takes visitors about six hours to discover the lake and know every legend behind the name of each spot here," said Son.
Son noted that for sightseeing, visitors can hire motor boats or canoes at the boat station.
On boats, visitors can get a close view of many poetically beautiful sites on the lake. One of the first such sites can be Pac Ta Mountain, the highest mountain in the district. It looks like an elephant stooping down over an alcohol jar, and this picture reflects in the green lake.
If you are lucky enough, you can also see a troop of monkeys swimming in the lake.
At the foot of the mountain stands an old temple dedicated to a concubine of General Tran Nhat Duat from the 13th century.
The temple is famous for its beautiful scenery and sacredness and is a must-see destination for visitors.
Sailing down the lake, you will have a chance to enjoy many spectacular spots, such as natural rocky platforms in strange forms, famous waterfalls such as Mo, Khuay Sung, Khuay Nhi, and Khuay Me.
Along the way, as the climate gets colder, the scenery gives visitors a heavenly feeling.
The five-storey high Mo waterfall, also known as Pac Ban waterfall, a nationally ranked landscape with a huge, silver water block will appear before visitors. Visitors can reach the top with the help of a ladder. Here, water flows smoothly, streaming between rocks and on moss-covered green rocks that look like velvet carpets.
Standing at the top of this majestic waterfall, a cool steam punches fatigue, awakening inspiration among visitors who also get to admire the panoramic view of Na Hang.
Tat Ke-Ban Bung Nature Reserve is also an attractive adventure tourism site. Spread across 42,000ha, this sanctuary has 40 mammal species, 70 bird species, 20 reptile species, and 17 species of vascular plants. Endangered species recorded in the Red Book include snub-nosed monkey, white-cheeked monkey, moon bear, and plants that are eons old. The reserve plays an important role in protecting water sources for Tuyen Quang hydropower reservoir and regulating downstream flooding.
Visiting Phia Vai Cave, one can see the artefacts of ancient Vietnamese people, dating back 10,000 years.
One can also walk in primeval forests, which act as green lungs, making the climate in the area very pleasant.
On the way to forests, Tay ethnic people from Dao hamlets appear amid the green-canopied forest, adding to the peaceful landscape.
"In Na Hang, I get to relax, walk around the beautiful landscape, and enjoy myself," said a Hanoian tourist, Nguyen Thu Thuy.
The 40-year-old teacher said that she also had a chance to enjoy some local fish preparations and Shan Tuyet tea, a speciality of Na Hang. Thuy added that she also visited the Thuong Lam highland market, held every Thursday and Sunday. The market is a meeting ground of many ethnic groups such as Dao, Tay, Nung, and San Diu, whose cultural diversity supports local tourism.
With the development of the beautiful mountainous region, Na Hang Eco-Tourism destination has become one of the three key tourism zones in Tuyen Quang province.
90 Days in 90 Seconds: Life on the Mekong River
Daily life moments of the Mekong River region was recreated authentically by American photographer David Guttenfelder through clip “90 Days in 90 Seconds: Life on the Mekong River”.
His video recorded the honest moments about simplicity of life of peole living in Mekong River in some countries such as: Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, Thailand, China.
Video was recorded and edited by him during three years of working here for research about impact of hydroelectric dams to Mekong River upstream for the downstream.
“I try to captured anything, from what we eat, people we met, waded for catching fish served for lunch, bored things to difficult things” said, Guttenfelder.
Let us see the video and some honest moments from video:
ASIA PACIFIC TRAVEL
Con Co Island
Seventeen miles off Cua Tung beach, central Quang Tri province, lies Con Co Island, which is set to become a national tourist hotspot and a driving force of economic growth in the province, according to Nguyen Lanh, Chairman of the Con Co Island District People’s Committee.
Covering an area of 2.3 square kilometres in the south of the Gulf of Tonkin, Con Co Island is blessed with diverse tropical marine ecosystems. Thanks to its large forests, beautiful beaches and pristine coral reefs, the island has huge potential for tourism development.
It is also renowned as a pivotal battlefield during the war against the United States, and much evidence remains there of Vietnam’s ultimate victory. Authorities believe that this also makes the island a great place to develop for tourists with a taste for history.
Current popular tours on the island include scuba-diving, canoeing, fishing and marine sports. However, these activities are mainly offered by local residents who still struggle to do business professionally due to a lack of adequate infrastructure, such as power and accommodation, together with a lack of transport to the island, Lanh conceded.
Hundreds of tourist groups visit Con Co annually and the demand is increasing every year, the chairman stated. He added that in order to meet this demand the island district has been focusing on building necessary infrastructure, such as power, water and passenger ships.
Should Con Co become a national resort island, as hoped by the Quang Tri provincial People’s Committee, this status should attract local and foreign tourism investment to the island.
Source: VNA
Khau Vai love market festival 2015
Thousands of domestic and international tourists gathered for the 2015 Khau Vai Love Market Culture-Tourism Week, which kicked off on May 13th in Meo Vac district of the northern mountainous province of Ha Giang.
The week, which will run through May 16th, features a wide variety of activities including the northernmost beauty contest, cow fighting festivals, horse races, traditional dish exhibitions, and incense offerings at two temples in Khau Vai commune.
Vice Chairman of the district People’s Committee Tran Kim Ngoc, who is also head of the organising board, said the week aims to preserve and uphold the traditional ethnic minority culture in the province.
The Khau Vai Love Market has its origins in a legend about a couple who were deeply in love but were forbidden to be together because they hailed from differed ethnic groups. The two promised to meet once every year in Khau Vai on the 27th of the third lunar month.
The “Phong Luu” market of Son Vi commune is also a highlight of the event, drawing crowds of local residents and neighbouring Chinese people to join and enjoy the event’s art performances and games, according to Ngoc.
During the event, tourism service quality, social order and traffic safety have been ensured to serve tourists, he added.
The century-old festival, which is held annually in the third lunar month, is a popular meeting place for ethnic groups in the locality, particularly those in love.
Source: CPV
Cao Pha Valley in the monsoon season
Here it’s the season of rainbows and raindrops and a time when tourists flock to the region to enjoy the picturesque terraced rice paddies at their best, overflowing with water.
The season is commonly referred to by local people as ‘the season of falling water’ referring to the torrential downpours that saturate the paddies sending the water cascading down the mountainside.
Viet Nam’s highway 32 is infamous for its many attractive tourist destinations and exotic beauty stretching from Tu Le to Mu Cang Chai in Yen Bai province.
Vietnam Airlines offers more 4040 flights during summer holiday
The national flag carrier Vietnam Airlines (VNA) announced on May 13 that it will offer 4,040 additional flights from May 23 to August 31 to meet increased travel demands during the summer holidays.
Extra flights will be added to 20 domestic routes and provide up to 620,000 additional seats, an increase of 21% from the normal schedule and up 12% compared to the same period last year.
Additional flights will be added to routes from Hanoi to major domestic tourist hubs, including Ho Chi Minh City, Da Nang, Nha Trang, Phu Quoc, Da Lat, Buon Me Thuot, Quy Nhon, Tuy Hoa, Vinh, and Dong Hoi; and routes from Ho Chi Minh City to Da Nang, Phu Quoc, Nha Trang, Dong Hoi, Buon Me Thuot, Da Lat, Con Dao, and Quy Nhon; along with routes from Da Nang to Hai Phong and Buon Me Thuot.
Most notably, the carrier will provide 2,400 additional flights from June 20 to August 10.
The airline has also launched a website mobile version at www.vietnamairlines.com.
The new Vietnam Airlines mobile site features new online functions such as retrieving booking records made on the website, at Vietnam Airlines ticketing offices and through travel agents; checking-in online and receiving e-boarding passes; tracking flight statuses, including departing and arriving times, schedule changes, and other information; checking Vietnam Airlines flight schedules.
Additionally, Golden Lotus Plus members can book, select awarded flights, pay fees and taxes, print e-tickets and complete redemption requests easily and conveniently on the Vietnam Airlines mobile application.
The mobile site works best with devices using mobile OS, such as Android 4.0 and up, iOS 5.x and up, Blackberry OS 7 and up.
Source: VOV
