Sapa Tours

Dalat’s Hung King Temples

Sapa Tours — Wed, 08 Dec 2010 10:38:36 +0000

Sapa tours – Ten kilometers from Dalat City on the road to HCMC is the beautiful Prenn Waterfall and a temple site to commemorate the Hung Kings. The temples by skilled artisans from Hue in 2004 for local people that can’t travel to Phu Tho Province in the lunar March for the Hung King’s death anniversary.

The temples are one of the1,420 relic sites related to Hung Kings from the north to the south of Vietnam. On the Hung King day, people walk up the 500 meter path to the site, with lower, middle and upper temples which are replicas of the original temples in Phu Tho.

In front of the Upper Temple is Lac Long Quan-Au Co Park which has the six-meter high statues of Lac Long Quan and Au Co, the father and mother of Vietnamese people. A hundred rocks symbolize the eggs of Au Co Mother from the legend. The park also contains 18 large stones that are carved with the faces of national heroes such as Hai Ba Trung, Ba Trieu, Ngo Quyen, Tran Hung Dao, Le Loi, Ho Chi Minh.
Source: The Saigon Times

A training course on collecting folklore literature and art

Sapa Tours — Wed, 08 Dec 2010 10:37:37 +0000

Sapa tours – The Vietnam Folklore Literature and Art Association has cooperated with the southern Ca Mau provincial Literature and Art Association to provide a training course on collecting and researching folklore literature and art.

The training course aimed to promote the collection of folklore, teach folklore cultural heritages, and contribute to the promotion and preservation of folklore culture.

The training course drew the participation of over 100 members from the Ca Mau provincial Association of Literature and Arts, cultural workers, teachers and students from provincial culture and art school and teachers’ training college.

Many cultural workers from the southern provinces of Bac Lieu and Soc Trang also participated the training course.

Basic knowledge about collecting and researching Vietnamese folklore literature and art, specific traditional culture of Viet, Khmer and Hoa ethnic minority groups in southern Vietnamese were introduced.

Over the past years, members from Ca Mau provincial Literature and Art Association has conducted research about folklore culture in localities, contributing to the diversification of Vietnam folklore culture.

Source: CPV

Vietnamese delegates to join world youth festival

Sapa Tours — Wed, 08 Dec 2010 10:35:46 +0000

Sapa tours – will send 135 youth delegates to the 17th World Festival of Youths and Students in South Africa, according to the country’s youth union.

The festival will take place from December 13-21 in Johannesburg.

The world youth’s most significant forum this year will host daily conference sessions on social, political and economic issues facing today’s youth.

It will also feature a cultural program that includes a poetry and song contest, and young filmmakers’ meeting.

About 30,000 delegates from all over the world are expected to attend the event, which is held every four years by the World Federation of Democratic Youth with 153 member countries.

Source: Tuoi Tre News

Russian festival to bring iconic arts to Vietnam

Sapa Tours — Thu, 11 Nov 2010 05:25:23 +0000

Sapa Tours – Russian troupes will perform some of their celebrated art forms like ballet, classical music, and circus at the Russian Cultural Days in Vietnam festival later this month in three cities.

There will also be a photo exhibition in Hanoi on November 14 and the public film screening of five feature films “We are from the future”, “One war”, “Tsar”, “Kandahar” and “I’m still ok” at the National Cinema Center in Hanoi, Thang Long Cinema in Ho Chi Minh City, and Le Do Cinema in Danang.
The highlight of the program will be an exchange between the visiting Russian artists and students at the Vietnam National Music Institute.
The event, organized by the two culture ministries, will be held from November 14 to 22. It will be the second such festival after the first one in 2007. Source: Tuoitrenews.vn

Halong Bay Tours

Vietnam Holidays

Mysterious Cham towers in central Vietnam

Sapa Tours — Sat, 30 Oct 2010 11:09:48 +0000

Sapa Tours – Ninh Thuan is home to many old monuments of the Cham people, particularly Cham towers.

Among the mysterious towers are Hoa Lai, Poklong Garai and Porome; all recognised as historical architectural works by the the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism.

Just a short trip from the south of Nha Trang City in Khanh Hoa Province, to Ninh Thuan Province, you will see Hoa Lai Tower which is located next to National Highway 1A at Bon Thap Village, Tan Hai Commune, Ninh Hai District.

Built in the early 19th century, the tower is situated on a rectangle-shaped piece of land that’s about 200 metres long and 125 metres wide. In the past, it consisted of three small towers, but there are only two left today.

According to art historians, Hoa Lai Tower is among the most ancient and beautiful historic monuments of the Cham people, an ethnic group in Southeast Asia. The people are concentrated between the Kampong Cham Province in Cambodia and central Vietnam’s Phan Rang-Thap Cham, Phan Thiet, Ho Chi Minh City and An Giang areas.

In Phan Rang City, PoKlong Garai Tower is a must-see. It was built between the last half of the 13th century and early 14th century.

Currently, PoKlong Garai has three small towers built by the Cham. Cong Tower is 8.56 metres high, Lua is 9.31 meters high and Chinh stands at 21.59 metres. The latter was where King PoKlong Garai was worshipped.

The structure of each small tower is a special architectural work. Each floor and side is decorated with ceramics and stones in different shapes of humans, dragons and leafs, showing artistic and religious meaning of the Cham people.

Experiencing ups and downs, the sophisticated design on PoKlong Garai Tower is still preserved with door bells and pillars.

The tower is considered as the tourism symbol of the cactus region of Phan Rang.

Ninh Thuan is also known for Porome Tower which is seen as a version of PoKlong Garai Tower. Porome is built on a hill, 50 metres high in Hau Sanh Village, Phuoc Huu Commune, Ninh Phuoc District.

To date, Cham towers in Ninh Thuan remain a mysterious style.

Some photos of Cham towers in Ninh Thuan:

Sa Pa tourism trademark to be promoted

Sapa Tours — Sat, 21 Aug 2010 10:11:34 +0000

Sapa Vietnam “Representatives from travel agencies, hotels and restaurants and experts from the Netherlands Development Organisation (SNV) gathered in Lao Cai province’s Sa Pa resort town on August 18 discussing measures to promote Sa Pa tourism services and products.”
The participants cited cultural identities, natural conditions and agricultural cultivation methods, as well as the State management as major factors in efforts to promote the trademark.

They agreed that it is necessary to define unique souvenir products of Sa Pa.

Sa Pa is one of Vietnam ’s top holiday and relaxation destinations a t the height of 1,600m above sea level, the average temperature of the area is 15-18°C. It is cool in summer and cold in winter.

Visitors to Sa Pa in summer can feel the climate of four seasons in one day.

The best time to witness the scenic beauty of Sa Pa travel is in April and May. Before that period, the weather might be cold and foggy; after that period is the rainy season.

In April and May, Sa Pa is blooming with flowers and green pastures. The clouds that settle in the valley in early morning quickly disappear into thin air.

Sa Pa has many natural sites such as Ham Rong Mountain , Silver Waterfall, Rattan Bridge , Bamboo Forest and Ta Phin Cave.

Sa Pa is also the starting point for many climbers and scientists who want to reach the top of Fansipan Mountain , the highest mountain in Vietnam at 3,143m. Hoang Lien Mountain Range is also called the Alps of the North Sea area since Fansipan Mountain is not only the highest peak in Vietnam , but also in the Indochina Peninsula . The pyramid-shaped mountain is covered with clouds all year round and temperatures often drop below zero, especially at high elevations.

Sa Pa is home to various families of flowers of captivating colours, which can be found nowhere else in the country.

Sa Pa is most beautiful in spring. Apricot, plum and cherry flowers are splendidly beautiful. Markets are crowded and merry, and are especially attractive to visitors. Minority groups come here to exchange and trade goods and products.

Visitors to Sa Pa will have opportunities to discover the unique customs of the local residents.

(Source: VNA)

‘Grand Sale’ to lure shoppers

Sapa Tours — Mon, 26 Apr 2010 05:29:45 +0000

Culture, sports and tourism departments of Ha Noi, HCM City and Da Nang have joined hands with the Viet Nam National Administration of Tourism (VNAT) to promote the Impressive Viet Nam Grand Sale 2010 programme.

VNAT has completed talks with relevant authorities in the three cities for the joint programme set for August and September.

During the two months, shopping centres, retail outlets, and other traders will offer promotions, discounting products and services by 10 per cent to 40 per cent.

The Impressive Viet Nam Grand Sale 2010 is part of a national marketing campaign called Viet Nam – Your Destination.

SaPa gets ready for culture week

A week-long cultural event called “Walking in a Cloud in Sa Pa” will be held from April 30 to May 4 to showcase the rich and distinctive aspects of Sa Pa’s diverse ethnic cultures.

Visitors can discover how local ethnic minorities dye, weave, and decorate their garments and make their sandals. They can take part in forest tours to pick medicinal herbs and learn how to use them, and prepare traditional meals eaten by the various ethnic minority groups.

The organisers also plan to make the famous lovers’ market as authentic as possible. The market, held on every Saturday night, offers a destination and opportunity for young, single Mong, Dao, Tay and Ray ethnic people to go and find their true love. Those already married also seldom miss the event, since it offers them an opportunity to relive their youthful love.

There will also be a photography exhibition and fairs of north-western cuisines and orchids.

Tour firms shrug off volcano woes

Vietnamese tour operators have been affected by the eruption of the Icelandic volcano that has closed most of Europe’s air space but the impact is not as severe as initially feared.

HCM City-based tour operators say there are few Vietnamese visitors to Europe and European travellers to Viet Nam during the current low season.

Saigontourist Travel Service Co. said two groups of 50 French visitors have cancelled tours to Viet Nam while four other groups of French tourists scheduled to return home on April 20 had to change their plans due to flight cancellations.

Ben Thanh Tourist said a group of Vietnamese tourists cancelled their tour to France and Italy to have departed on April 18 while G7 Travel Group said four groups of tourists from France cancelled tours of Viet Nam.

Vietravel unveils Nha Trang tours

Vietravel is offering discounts of VND200,000 to 400,000 for tours from HCM City to Nha Trang departing on May 1.

The three-day Nha Trang-King Yacht-Doc Let tour by air, including lodging at the Novotel Nha Trang Hotel, is priced at VND6 million (US$314). The same tour by bus and train and stay at the Diamond Bay Resort will cost VND3.6 million.

Visitors will also be taken to Vinpearl Land Resort and Spa where they can watch water music, Yangbay Waterfall and Doc Let Beach.

Novotel holds beach clean-up

Novotel Nha Trang organised a beach clean-up yesterday to public create awareness about the importance of sustaining the environment.

The activity was part of Earth Guest Day begun by the hotel owner, the Accor chain.

The three-hour event began at 7am with participants of staff, guests and more than 140 students from the Nha Trang Vocational Education and Training College and representatives from the City Environment Company.

Accor holds the day, which is held on the same day as International Earth Day, to encourage its 150,000 employees around the world to organise initiatives and events to promote sustainable development. — VNS

Exhibit on Vietnam’s sea, island history opens

Sapa Tours — Mon, 26 Apr 2010 04:34:49 +0000

An exhibit of more than 100 images, photos, and documentary films on the history of Vietnam’s seas and islands opened on April 22 in the central province of Quang Ngai. Along with reiterating the country’s inviolable sovereignty over its sea and islands, the exhibit is part of activities in the lead up to the 1,000th anniversary of Thang Long-Hanoi and the 35th anniversary of the liberation of South Vietnam.

Under the theme “Quang Ngai, Hoang Sa, Truong Sa: Vietnam’s history of sovereignty over its seas and islands”, the exhibition aims to affirm that the Hoang Sa (Paracel) and Truong Sa (Spratly) archipelagos belong to Vietnam as well as recount the historical and cultural traditions of Vietnam’s ancestors in defending their sovereignty over the archipelagos.

It displays the private collections of researchers and journalists, archival materials, domestic and foreign publications as well as relics from families living on Ly Son Island, offshore Quang Ngai Province, and along Quang Ngai Province’s coastline.

The event, jointly organized by the provincial Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Pham Van Dong University, will last until May 7.

Also the same day, the State Committee for Overseas Vietnamese announced that it will send a delegation to visit the island district of Truong Sa from April 25-28 on the occasion of the 35th anniversary of liberation of the Truong Sa archipelago, the 55th anniversary of the Vietnam People’s Navy and as part of activities in the lead up to the millennium anniversary of Thang Long-Hanoi.

During the visit, the delegation will present gifts to soldiers and people in the island district and take part in activities such as the commemoration of martyrs and ceremonials held by the Vietnam Buddhist Church.

(Source: VNA)

Aviation-tourism cooperation benefits the nation

Sapa Tours — Mon, 26 Apr 2010 04:33:45 +0000

Aviation-tourism cooperation is a vital path for the two sectors’ development, benefiting the country, said Director General of the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism (VNAT) Nguyen Van Tuan.

Speaking at a seminar on cooperation for aviation-tourism development held in Hanoi on April 22, Tuan said that between 70-80% of passengers travelling by air do so for tourism purposes and up to 80% of foreign tourists come to Vietnam by air.

Vietnam boasts a large tourism potential and diversified products and its tourism market has the potential to compete against other major regional tourism markets, said Deputy Head of the Civil Aviation Administration of Vietnam (CAAV) Lai Xuan Thanh.

The aviation sector plays an important role in the task of serving national tourism development, stressed Thanh.

Deputy Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Tran Chien Thang said that both the aviation and the tourism sectors need to be brought into play in promoting Vietnam’s image abroad.

Both sectors should collaborate in providing information on tourism destinations and products for tourists before planes land, he said.

Vietnam now has around 20 airports for regular civil flights. Apart from the Vietnam national flag carrier, there are more than 20 foreign airlines operating in the country. The nation also boasts more than 800 international and thousands of domestic travel agents.

Vietnam’s aviation sector is opening new air routes and modernizing its fleet to increase its competitiveness. These are advantages for both sectors in terms of cooperation for development, said the seminar.

This year, both administrations plan to jointly offer promotional and discount programmes to attract foreign tourists through a goods discount campaign at major retail outlets in Hanoi, the central city of Danang and HCMC. This is part of the “Vietnam – your destination” stimulus programme slated for August-September 2010.

(Source: VNA)

Cat Cat Village – sketchy trait in mountainous region of Sapa

Sapa Tours — Thu, 22 Apr 2010 10:54:49 +0000

It would be a big loss for travelers for not visiting Cat Cat Village located in Sapa Town, Lao Cai Province because of its beautiful and wild terrace fields, curling stone road and long-standing culture of the Mong ethnic minority people.

Because this is mountainous terrain, tourists have to walk from downtown Sapa Town for about 45 minutes to get to Cat Cat Village instead of using a car to contemplate the landscapes.

On the way, tourists can capture the peaceful images of Mong girls smiling in their colorful costumes or selling brocade bangles or Mong women knitting brocades in different patterns of flowers, trees, leaves and animals in front of their house or cute children with rosy cheeks eating candy.

Mong people are quite friendly and have been attached to their traditional work of planting cotton trees, terrace fields and corn fields and weaving brocade cloth. Coming to Cat Cat, travelers should taste some specialties of the Mong people including corn wine, thang co (a mixture of animal meat and zangs) and chicken’s blood curds among others.

Cat Cat Village could be a hide-way destination for those living in noisy and animated cities to escape. Once visiting this village, our fatigue was replaced with excitement and refreshment with wild nature and the good-natured Mong people.
(Source: SGT)