Vietnam General Information – Vietnam Visa

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Unique in Southeast Asia, differ from Laos and Cambodia, Vietnam is a fascinating meld of Confucian values, western capitalism and the somnolent pace of life that is so characteristic of the far east.

While the legacy of both the war and Vietnam’s seductive French colonial era remain well evident, both are being pushed well into the background as the very young, vivacious and enterprising Vietnamese population concentrate fully on the future.

For the independent traveler and tourist, Vietnam offers enough experiences and attractions to fill a lifetime. From sitting on a barge in the Mekong Delta eating freshly caught crispy fish, to the breathtaking vistas of Haling Bay or the charming yet cheeky novice that takes you around his village pagoda, traveling in Vietnam is an experience you’ll never forget.

Sitting in a Saigon streetside cafe you can enjoy steaming noodles, while just down the road, cyclo drivers — relics of yesteryear — badger and bark at each other over a game of checkers, only to look up, catch your eye, and break out into that amazing Vietnamese smile.

Open to foreign tourists for well over a decade, Vietnam has rapidly developed a well-trodden trail of tourist attractions. In the north, hanoi charms, while the vistas of Ha Long Bay and the hilltribes of Sapa draw tourists in their thousands. In the centre of Vietnam the remnants of the war can still be seen around the DMZ, the Imperial capital of Hue offers a glimpse into yesteryear and the incredibly popular Hoi An attracts shoppers in their droves. South again to the beach strips of Nha Trang and Mui Ne offering the opportunity of a bit of sun and sand, before reaching the country’s southern capital Saigon. Below Saigon the Mekong Delta offers much to the independent and intrepid traveller — be sure to palm of the organized tours and do it yourself — you won’t regret it.

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Ancient crater still holds water

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Pleiku City in the central highlands province of Gia Lai is famous for its magnificent waterfalls, green forests, rugged mountains and charming lakes, . . .
LookAtVietnam – Pleiku City in the central highlands province of Gia Lai is famous for its magnificent waterfalls, green forests, rugged mountains and charming lakes, of which Bien Ho is a must-see destination for tourists to the city.


A view of Bien Ho in Pleiku City. (Photo: SGT) About six kilometers north of Pleiku City, Bien Ho, or Sea Lake, is a crater that has been dormant for millions of years. Its surface area is about 250 hectares and its average depth is from 20 to 40 meters.

A visit to Bien Ho and its surrounding mountains and pines is an escape from the chaos of the city. There is a watchtower affording spectacular mountain views and simple boats for hire to cruise around the giant lake for an amazing summer experience.

Bien Ho is an eco-tourist site for nature lovers, a romantic rendezvous for couples and a provider of water for hundreds of locals. This lake has never been known to dry up.

To reach Pleiku City, book with a travel agent on Pham Ngu Lao Street or catch a bus from Mien Dong Bus Station for around VND200,000.
VietNamNet/SGT

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Tam Dao – ideal destination for holidays

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LookAtVietnam – About 86km from Hanoi, the Tam Dao mountain range extends for 50km with natural landscapes, a romantic and quiet atmosphere, and fresh air. It might be the ideal destination for relaxation.

Driving about an hour from Hanoi, travelers will reach Phuc Yen Town of Vinh Phuc Province. Then, for another half an hour, travelers follow a narrow road along the foot of the mountains under the shadows of pine trees to reach Tam Dao Town.
Those who set foot in this area for the first time will be surprised to feel a change in the weather when they are about ten kilometers from Tam Dao. Being situated at a height of more than 1,000 meters above sea level, the weather in Tam Dao is similar to Sapa’s in Lao Cai Province, which offers tourists the ability to experience four seasons in one day.
The day starts with spring winds, turns hot at noon like in the summer, has the mild weather of autumn when it turns dark, and is rather cold at night like in the winter.
Visiting this place, tourists also enjoy the feeling of returning to nature with beautifully landscaped valleys, hills, mountains and waterfalls as well as other tourism sites such as Thac Bac (Silver Falls), Suoi Tien (Stream of the Goddess), Cau Hen Ho (Dating Bridge), Cong Troi (Gate of Heaven), Den Thanh Tran (Temple of the Tran God), and the Tam Dao National Park that has a total area of 19,000ha with many rare species of fauna and flora.

Tam Dao in mist.

More villas are built in Tam Dao.

Chayote – Tam Dao’s specialty.

The road to the television tower.

The television tower is built at Tam Dao’s highest site.

From Tam Dao peak, visitors can see Nui Coc Lake, a landscape in Thai Nguyen Province.

The old church in Tam Dao, which attracts many domestic and foreign tourists.

Source: SGT/VNE

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Developing orchard tours in Mekong Delta

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With a favorable location, a variety of delicious fruits and rich indigenous culture, the Mekong Delta has many advantages to develop orchard tours.

With a favorable location, an interlacing river system, a variety of delicious fruits and rich indigenous culture, the Mekong Delta has many advantages to develop orchard tours. But, orchard tour development is still unproportional with the potential due to a number of planning problems.

Mekong Delta provinces to join hands in developing tourism

Mekong Delta region waving in the national tourism year

Mekong Delta battles climate change and rising tides


With 269,000 hectares of fruit, the Mekong Delta is the largest fruit growing area in Vietnam, which accounts for 70 percent of the country’s total fruit area. With a diverse range of fruits, which have high economic value such as Lo Ren Vinh Kim star apple, Hoa Loc mango, Cho Gao dragon fruit, Tan Phuoc longan and Cai Be mandarin and attractive tourist sites such as Thoi Son Island, Cai Be floating market…, the Mekong Delta has a lot of advantages to develop tourism. At a Vietnam Fruit Festival which recently took place in Tien Giang province, managers, scientists and businesses discussed weaknesses and suggested solutions to develop the region’s tourism.

According to associate professor, Dr. Luu Thanh Duc Hai, the deputy head of the Economics and Business Administration Department of the Can Tho University, Mekong Delta’s tourism should not only rely on available advantages. The delta needs to invest in infrastructure and technological development, strengthen human resources, diversify its range of tourist offerings, improve service quality, promote advertising and expand the market. In addition, it is necessary to focus on environmental protection based on inter-regional and interdisciplinary cooperation.

In reality, the Mekong Delta has not fully taken its available advantages. Nguyen Ngoc Minh, the director of the Tien Giang Province Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, said that the biggest difficulty is the lack of an overall plan for orchard development that pertains to eco-tour development. Especially, the region does not pay proper attention to transport infrastructure system, including roads to orchards. Therefore, it is necessary to have inter-regional cooperation to overcome difficulties and utilize the advantages.

According to Dr. Tran Van Ngoi, the director of the management board of the Mekong Tourism Development Project, the region’s tourism development is still unproportional with the potential. A matter of concern is cooperation among provinces to establish brands for tourist offerings and create development breakthroughs. In addition, it is necessary for the Mekong Delta to invest in infrastructure and human resources and improve tourism services towards professionalism. Unqualified tourism staff and tourist sites, which are facing with the risk of degradation, are creating a lot of obstacles to tourist attraction.

Recently, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism approved the Mekong Delta Tourism Development Project to 2020. According to the project, investment capital in tourism from 2010-2015 is estimated at US$959.6 million, while US$963.7 million being demanded for the 2015-2020 period. The region is striving to attract 7.7 million tourists (including 2.7 million foreign visitors) by 2015 and 10.4 million (including 3.9 million of foreign visitors) by 2020 and create 236,600 jobs for local people. To reach the target, it is important to issue proper development policies and avoid inconsistent investment.

Source: Vietnam Economic News

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Vietnam tourism growth ranked fourth in the world

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Vietnam stands fourth in the world in terms of tourism growth in the first four months of this year, according to a new report by the World Tourism Organization.

LookAtVietnam – Vietnam stands fourth in the world in terms of tourism growth in the first four months of this year, according to a new report by the World Tourism Organization.

The United Nations group said very few countries have been able to record double-digit growth in tourism this year.

But Vietnam grew 36 percent, just after Sri Lanka, Arab Saudi and Israel.

Vietnam had attracted 1.8 million visitors by the end of April, up 35 percent year-on-year, including 432,600 last month for a 31.3 percent increase over April last year, according to the National Administration of Tourism.

Malaysia’ minister of tourism Ng Yen Yen was recently quoted by the country’s Star Online as saying Vietnam and Cambodia are emerging as fearsome tourism opponents in Asia.

The World Tourism Organization ranked Malaysia ninth among the countries attracting the most visitors in 2009.

France topped the list.

Source: VNA

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International Tourism Conference opens in Hanoi

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LookAtVietnam – More than 300 senior tourist officials from 17 nations and territories in the Asia Pacific region have gathered in Hanoi for an International Tourism Conference which opened on May 10.

The important event has been held for the first time in Vietnam by the World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) in collaboration with the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism.

In an opening speech, Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Hoang Tuan Anh said as a developing country, tourism development is essential for Vietnam to reduce poverty in mountainous and remote areas, create more jobs, improve people’s income and attract foreign currencies thus boosting socio-economic development.

Tourism development has helped Vietnam promote cultural exchanges, solidarity, friendship and mutual understanding between the Vietnamese people and international friends, providing a wealth of opportunity for cooperation, investment and economic development.

The Vietnamese Government’s due attention has been given to tourism development by the available potential to turn tourism into the country’s key economic sector.

UNWTO Director Taleb Rifai praised the Vietnamese tourism sector’s development over the past years in the face of the global economic downturn in 2009, which seriously affected the world tourism sector.

The conference served as a forum for tourism policy makers, experts and entrepreneurs to share information and experiences in tourism development to generate jobs, improve infrastructure facilities, reduce poverty in regional countries.

After the opening ceremony, delegates heard lectures from UNWTO experts and delegates from the Maldives, Pakistan and Vietnam.

On the occasion, the Vietnam Administration of Tourism and the Hanoi municipal People’s Committee introduced major activities to mark the 1000th anniversary of Thang Long-Hanoi, including an exhibition on Hanoi’s fine arts and handicraft products.

Source: VOV

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Luxury Travel offers promotion tour to Myanmar

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VietNamNet Bridge - Hanoi-based agency Luxury travel has begun a promotion; six days and five nights touring in Myanmar.

The tour is the best choice for Vietnamese and worldwide travellers when Thailand – the traditional favourite destination in the Southeast Asian region – has been in political crisis.
Myanmar has emerged as quite a safe and peaceful site for tourists rather Thailand.
Luxury Travel, which is a 100% fully registered and privately-owned Vietnamese company and Vietnam’s first luxury tour company with full travel service agency, has offered travelers an option for week long in the Buddhism country.
Upon arrival in Yangon International airport, warmly welcome by a local tour guide, tourists will start the first day trip by visiting the magnificent Shwedagon pagoda, landmark of Myanmar and one of the greatest wonders of the world.
Buffet dinner with traditional culture show serve at Karaweik Hall which is a classy modern restaurant standing in water. Overnight in Yangon.
Early morning of the second day, travelers will fly to Mandalay, where they take an excursion to Amarapura, City of Immortality, founded in 1783 AD. Here, one can see Mahaganthayon monastery the largest teaching monastery in Myanmar. Daily at around 10:30 a.m. about 700 monks queue up for their last meal on this day.
The great serenity of U Bein wooden Bridge, which constructed in 1849, will be the next step. It is about three quarter of a mile with 1086 posts and enchanting Taung- ta-man lake.
Maha Muni Buddha image temple, completely covered with gold leaf, is the last visit before lunch.
After lunch time, travelers will visit the reconstructed Mya Nan San Kyaw Palace, Kuthodaw Pagoda, often called the world’s largest book (a set of 729 huge stone slabs on which the Buddhist scriptures are inscribed) and Shwekyaung monastery which is what remains from Mandalay palace after second World War.
The entire monastery was built with teak wood and carved all over with motifs and mythical creatures. The day tour will finish by visiting Mandalay Hill, the natural watch-tower where visitors can watch the sunrise or sunset over the city plains.
Visitors will start the third day in Mandalay by visiting Sagaing Hill where over 600 monasteries for monks and nuns are located for Buddhist studies and meditation.
U min Thonze or thirty caves pagoda has many Buddha images in a crescent shaped colonnade, Ywahtaung Village where you can see silver workers producing bowls and other silver items by traditional methods and the most impressive Soon Oo Pon Nya Shin Pagoda nearby.
Private boats float to Mingun that is famous for its huge and incomplete Pahtodawgyi Pagoda built by King Bodaw Badon in 1791 and Mingun Bell the biggest hanging bell in the world. There are handicraft workshops such as bronze molding, gold leaf beating, and marble stone carving.
A flight to Bagan, where sightseeing leads to Nyaung Oo Market, Shwezigone Pagoda in which the Frontlet Relic of Buddha were enshrined, Gubyaukgyi Temple, where is noted for its wall paintings, Htilominlo Pagoda one of the largest temples of Bagan is noted for its fine plaster carvings Ananda Temple.
The finest, largest and best preserved of all the Bagan temples, Ananda Okkyaung, a brick monastery with 18th century mural paintings and Dhammayangyi Pagoda, extending approximately 255 feet on each of its four sides, is Bagan’s most massive shrine.
A visit to a local family lacquer ware workshop, this is one of Myanmar’s best-known handicrafts. Manuha Temple is considered one of the earliest temples in Bagan and Nanpaya temple — a unique sandstone monument and Thatbyinnyu Pagoda, the Bagan’s tallest temple at almost 217ft.
The sunset from Shwesandaw Pagoda is breathtaking, the most popular sunset-viewing spot in Bagan. Dinner and overnight at Bagan.
The last day will start with a fly to Yangon. Travellers will visit Chaukhtatgyi reclining Buddha image which is one the largest image and then take Sule pagoda surrounding — city hall and the largest collection of British colonial buildings.
At the Gem mart where the qualities of gems are displayed.

The country is known as the world number one producer of precious stones.
Boggyoke market provides an amazing range of Myanmar products which is a shopping paradise for tourists and locals. In the evening, China town will be next visit of the fifth day. After touring amazing Myanmar, fly back to Vietnam.
Tour prices start from US$990 net per-person double rate, this includes accommodation costs, nearly all meals, regional and international flights, private transfers, private pick up and drop off service. The tour can be booked at last minute, and can be customized to suit individual interests and schedules.
“Throughout Myanmar you will savor fresh and exotic cuisine, experience the warmth and openness of the Burmese people and enjoy abundant luxury shopping, this new travel experience brings you absolutely the best of the best Myanmar has to offer” said Dav Nguyen, Sales and Marketing Manager of Luxury Travel Company.
For additional charge, guests are also free to request balloon ride, restaurant reservations, meetings with artists, cooking instructors and designers, shopping recommendations, spa reservations, tours with special-interest lecturers, and exclusive access to local activities and cultural events.
For tour and booking, visit www.luxurytravelvietnam.com
PV

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International cuisine festival to open in Ba Ria-Vung Tau

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The World Culture and Cuisine Festival 2010 will take place in the southern coastal province of Ba Ria-Vung Tau from May 21-25.

According to organisers, 50 countries have so far registered to participate in the large festival that features not only the cuisine but also the culture of those countries.

Also, visitors will have a chance to enjoy artistic performances by domestic and foreign actors and actresses, said the organisers.

The event is expected to set a world Guiness record for being held on the longest site stretching up to 3km along the coast.

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Graffiti disgraces Ha Long Bay’s ancient cave

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As one of the most beautiful grottoes in Vietnam, Dau Go cave maintains the vestiges of the people of over 2 million years ago. But the cave is marred by the youth.

LookAtVietnam – As one of the most beautiful grottoes in Vietnam, Dau Go cave in Ha Long Bay, Quang Ninh province maintains the vestiges of the people of over 2 million years ago. But the cave is marred by the youth.

Source: VNE

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Sofitel Legend Metropole voted as world’s coolest new hotel

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VietNamNet Bridge - Hanoi-based Sofitel Metropole Hotel has made the Condé Nast Traveler Hot List 2010, the publication’s annual list of the “66 coolest new hotels in the world”.

The hotel, over 100 years old, spent over US$20 million in renovations, over the past four years.
Its Le Spa du Metropole, which opened in April, also received recognition as one of the world hottest spas in this year.
The hotel has received numerous other accolades in the past. The Sofitel Metropole was chosen as one of the 500 best hotels in the world by readers of Travel & Leisure and Condé Nast Travel; selected as the best hotel in Ha Noi by Hong Kong’s Destin Asian, Asia Money magazine, and Viet Nam’s VnEconomy; and received an award from the Viet Nam Tourism Association.
Sofitel Metropole Hanoi was also named 2007’s best hotel for businessmen in a capital city, by readers of the Business Traveler Asia Pacific, a leading travel magazine.
PV

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