News (11)
The Daily Star has listed the countries that are considered safe, where tourists can avoid terrorism.
Vietnam has decided to extend a visa waiver program benefiting citizens of five European countries, which ended on 30th Jul 2016, as the policy has proved to be successful after one year in effect.
Lung Khuy cave which is located at Lung Khuy village, Quan Ba commune, Ha Giang province and about 10 km from Tam Son town has been considered as the largest cave in this rocky plateau. In the last Tam Giac Mach (Buckweet) festival, the cave was officially opened for visitors.
Lung Khuy cave is around 300m in length with many different branches, magnificent stalactites and fancy shapes stimulating the imagination of visitors. Coming to this cave, visitors must park their vehicles at the local house and walk along the earthen road for more than one kilometer.
Lung Khuy is a beautifully pristine cave which will bring huge value for Ha Giang’s tourism. Therefore, Lung Khuy cave needs to be preserved and protected to become one of the attractive destinations for domestic and foreign tourist
Asia Pacific Travel
"Hat Xam" returns to the big stage
Written by Asia Pacific Travel Team
The event is co-hosted by the Centre for Research, Preservation and Promotion of Vietnamese Traditional Culture and the Centre for Research, Preservation and Promotion of Vietnamese Traditional Music in an attempt to reaffirm the art’s emblematic value to Vietnamese traditional folk music.
Director of the Centre for Research, Preservation and Promotion of Vietnamese Traditional Culture, Professor Hoang Chuong, who is also general director of the performance programme, said the art was very popular in many northern localities and Hanoi during the early 20 th century.
The performance will consist of three parts, traditional Xam, contemporary Xam, and Xam in combination with other musical genres.
The event will feature numerous artists, including Thanh Ngoan, Thuy Ngan, saxophone artist Phan Anh Dung, singer Ha Linh, beat boxer Minh Kien, and the Ha Thanh Xam group.
Quang Ngai preserves gong culture space in H're ethnic minorities
Written by Asia Pacific Travel Team
Preserving and promoting the everlasting echoes of the gongs is becoming increasingly important to those living in the region.
Artisan Dinh Van Rut said the H’re people have always incorporated gongs into festivals and communal activities, representing one of the most central icons in the community. Important occasions are often comprised of playing gongs, dancing, and drinking together.
According to musician Dinh Thien Vuong, the sound of the gong represents the wishes, desires, sentiments, and life philosophies of humankind.
Vice Director of the provincial Department of Culture, Sports, and Tourism Cao Van Chu said the province will focus on preserving and promoting the cultural space of gongs among ethnic minorities in the region with the H’re in particular.
The gong is not just a musical instrument but a precious asset to the H’re community in mountainous areas in the province; the sounds of gongs in the region have traditionally marked the beginning of a month-long celebration to usher in a new fruitful crop.
Ake ome! 2015 - Japanese culture festival to welcome New Year 2015
Written by Asia Pacific Travel Team
Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism has promulgated a decision on the organization of Japanese culture festival to welcome New Year 2015 – Ake ome! 2015. Accordingly, Ake ome! 2015 festival will be organized from 27th to 28th December 2014 in Viet Nam Exhibition Fair Centre (148 Giang Vo Street, Ba Dinh District, Ha Noi) by Viet Nam Exhibition Fair Centre Limited Company and related agencies.
Taking the idea from a Japanese sentence “Akemashite Omedetou” with the meaning of Happy New Year. Ake ome! 2015 festival aims to create a playing ground for young people on the occasion of New Year 2015 and enhance Viet Nam – Japan friendship.
Ake ome! 2015 festival will have commerce – cuisine booths to introduce traditional craft products and delicious foods of Viet Nam and Japan, especially traditional ornaments of Japanese on the occasion of New Year including Kadomatsu made of pine and bamboo, representing longevity and health; or Koinobori - carp shaped lantern, a symbol of bravery, steadfastness and ambition.
In the festival, visitors can also participate in some cultural activities to welcome New Year in Japan such as omikuji (drawing lots in New Year), buying omamori luck charms and Daruma traditional dolls, trying Yukata costume (summer kimono) of Japan... In particular, young people will have the opportunity to wallow in Yosakoi Japanese traditional dance or participate in colorful fashion and cosplay shows.
Thu Giang
The 1st Hoi An - Gwangju handicraft and Fine Arts exchange 2014
Written by Asia Pacific Travel Team
Co-organized by Hoi An city and Gwangju city, Korea on the occasion of the 15th anniversary of the UNESCO-World cultural heritage of Hội An Ancient Town (04/12/1999-2014).
The event aims to build up the friendly relationship as well as the cooperation on culture – art, fine arts and crafts between Hoi An city and Gwangju city, Korea. It will also help to promote the traditional handicraft of the two cities to all the visitors.
There will be various activities such as craft products display (lanterns, Thanh Ha potteries, Kim Bong furnitures, sycamore hammocks, Quang Nam silk and products made from bamboo or coconut leaves,..) and craft presentation.
The craftmen from Gwangju, Korea will bring here their traditional crafts such as weaving, papermaking, bamboo art.. Along with it, the traditional art performance will be held every evening during the event by Hội An city. Meanwhile, the photo exhibition will take place at the same venue.
On the occasion, Hoi An city in cooperation with the International Labor Organization (ILO) and Korean craftmen will hold a talk “The development of handicraft and fine arts in Hoi An and Gwangju” taking place at 14:00 on Dec 2nd, 2014.
This program will contribute to the introduction and promotion of cultural professions and traditional handicraft products in Hoi An and Gwangji cities to domestic and foreign tourists.
The 3rd Sakura Festival to be opened in Quang Ninh
Written by Asia Pacific Travel Team
Remarkably, many sakura branches from the area that was ruined by the tsunami will be displayed at the festival as a thank to all the Vietnamese in general and Quang Ninh people in particulary for their support for Japan during their hard time.
Furthermore, the festival draws the participation of 40 goods booths introducing the products of the two provinces. Also, there will be a gastronomy exchange program and an art show performed by famous trouples of Quang Ninh and Japan.
Hoi An provides 2000 more rooms for visitors in 2020
Written by Asia Pacific Travel Team
Hoi An had 203 accommodations with a total of 4,967 rooms as of June 30, including 1,898 at four-star and five-star standards, and 956 three-star rooms. Thousands of rooms are being built, increasing the number of rooms in the city to 6,393 in 2015.
The city is expected to provide 8,046 rooms to serve more than three millions tourists per year by 2020.
The Hoi An People’s Commitee encourages the development of villas, garden houses and homestays to preserve the nature and landscapes of villages and allows the building of hotels meeting two-star and three-star standards with under 50 rooms.
The city will also establish Cua Dai tourism clusters in Cam Thanh, Cam An, Cam Chau and Cam Pho wards.
The increase of rooms contributes to developing more competitive establishments, which will promote the development of the city’s commercial services and tourism.
Jetstar Pacific opens Hanoi - Bangkok air route
Written by Asia Pacific Travel Team
This is the second direct flight route between Vietnam and Thailand operated by Jetstar Pacific. Earlier, the carrier opened ticket sales for the Ho Chi Minh city – Bangkok route, scheduled to depart from December 10th.
The Hanoi – Bangkok route is planned to be operated from March 29th, 2015 with a daily return flight. Flights from Hanoi numbered BL667 will depart at 12:25 pm while the return numbered BL668 will leave Bangkok at 15:35 pm. Every Tuesday, Wednesday and Saturday, the flights from Hanoi will depart at 12:00 pm and the return from Bangkok will take off at 14:40 pm.
Aiming to meet the demand for tickets soon and saving fees, tickets for the Hanoi – Bangkok route are being sold at www.jetstar.com and booking offices nationwide, or call 19001550.
