Vietnam Travel & Tourism

Dong Van Stone Plateau welcomed nearly 4,000 domestic and foreign tourists during Lunar New Year’s Eve (Tet), bringing total tourism turnover of VND 3 billion, Vice Chairman of Ha Giang’s People Committee Mr. Sen Chin Ly said. On the first day of Lunar New Year, the northern mountainous province of Ha Giang received a large number of tourists travel to Vietnam to visiting landscapes.

Coming to Ha Giang on Tet holiday, tourists not only had a chance to enjoy traditional festivals of ethnic groups such as buffalo-fighting, cock-fighting festivals…, but also joined in their traditional folkgames. According to the Ha Giang’s official, the province had organized sporting cultural activities and traditional festivals as well as well-prepared tourism promotion activities to attract tourists to Vietnam . [...Read more]

A 15-minute drive and 20-minute boat ride from Dalat, you can climb into a makeshift seat atop an elephant and begin a bumpy and pleasant ride into the jungle, guided by a tiny, barefooted man who straddles the elephant’s head with ease.

Tea and English

Sometimes I remember the story beginning as we stepped out of the airport, greeted by a wave of oppressive humidity and hundreds of Vietnamese holding signs for someone named “Nguyen.” Getting into a Vietnamese taxi that wove its way through a sea of cars and bikes and motorbikes that would’ve terrified us had we not been too tired to care after the 17-hour flight. But in reality, we spent our first two hours in Vietnam trying to leave the airport. Trying to convince the customs officers that, although we did attend a Baptist university, we weren’t there to convert the defenseless masses. Our first encounter with a communist nation.

The entrance to Tan Son Nhat airport, Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam

Most visitors to Vietnam have come to experience what they imagine is a culture about as foreign to their own as any still in existence. But what most Vietnamese are anxious to show visitors is how well they can speak English. As we walked [...Read more]

The idea of Vietnam conjures strong images in the Western mind. Many come from a few iconic Vietnam War films. The country still features those lush rustic landscapes, peaceful now, of course, but modern Vietnam has grown beyond the definition of misty paddy fields and peeling houses, captivating as these certainly are.

Sapa Field, Vietnam

Remnants of war – the Cu Chi tunnels near Saigon, for example – have been preserved for visitors to witness. However, the Vietnamese [...Read more]

The ACTIVETRAVEL ASIA (ATA) team spent 4 days (18-22 Dec 2010) to scan three communes of Thanh Van, Quyet Tien and Tung Vai in order to locate the potential spots for home-stay and seek for walking and biking routes that links those spots.

This survey is the first step of the tourism project named “Quan Ba District Integrated Community Development Project, Ha Giang province” which is implemented by Caritas Switzerland in Vietnam.

This project aims to set up sustainable livelihood for the poorest households and the poorest community with attention to indigenous knowledge, strengthening the culture which is facing a risk of oblivion, and obtaining sustainable maintenance of the environment resources.

The ATA team spent 4 days to scan three communes of Thanh Van, Quyet Tien and Tung Vai in order to locate the potential spots for home-stay and seek for walking and biking routes that links those spots.

With the distinguishing natural and cultural features the area has great potential in following tour categories:

Adventure Travel:

Adventure travel is a type of tourism, involving exploration or travel to remote, exotic and possibly hostile areas. Adventure tourism is rapidly growing in popularity, as tourists seek different kinds of vacations. With extreme terrain Quan Ba is ideal for developing adventure tours such as trekking, biking, motorcycling and even river kayaking.

The way to Lung Tam Cao village

Culture Exploration:

Another highlight of the area is ethnologic value which can also be an attraction for tourism. There are a huge number of travelers nowadays travel to remote area to experience and learn [...Read more]

Each foreign tourist arrives in Hanoi and when they return to their home, they all have an individual impression. Hanoi is ancient and peaceful; Hanoi bustles and is full of vitality; Hanoi has precise and unique gastronomy; Hanoi is brilliant with colours; and Hanoi is passionate and charming.

Common impressions for tourist to easily recognize are the friendly, enthusiastic and hospitable people of Hanoi. Living in California, US, Dr Gish chooses Hanoi capital as the tourism destination for his family. He said that his family had visited many famous landscapes, enjoyed traditional delicious dishes in Hanoi and contacted many people. However, the most memorable impression for his family was the vibrant vitality of Hanoi’s traditional culture.

Sword Lake, Hanoi, Vietnam

“Hanoi leaves good impressions for me because the city has preserved its cultural heritages, for example, Tortoise Tower in Sword Lake, daily life and business activities of inhabitants in the Old Quarter. I think that Hanoi is trying to preserve its essential cultural values of previous years and be determined to develop a modern city at the same time,” Dr Gish said.

Sharing these thoughts with Dr Gish, Mr. George Saxton also loves to visit historical sites in Hanoi. For him, these are memorable places during his visit. “I’m sure to remember [...Read more]

The lunar calendar shows that Tet is coming, and from now until then, all things are Tet. The streets are Tet, the talk is Tet, the thoughts are Tet, the shopping is Tet, it’s a Tet world in Vietnam right now and everybody knows it.

Tet is the most cherished time of the year in Vietnam. It is when the cities empty out and thousands go back to the countryside where they were born. City dwellers often choose to spend time at home. The streets empty out. The horns quiet, the traffic no longer congests and the hustle and bustle of city life, for a few days every year, comes to a halt.

New year’s Eve in Vietnam

As Vietnam develops and its expat population grows, the holiday has also come to hold a special meaning with foreigners as well.

“For me, Christmas was always the big holiday but now, Christmas is just a sign that Tet is approaching,” shared Karen Merlin who has lived in Hanoi for over 4 years now. “It’s hands down the best time of year, it is a time to catch your breath, relax and reflect on the last year.”

Hitting the streets, Tet for foreigners residing in Vietnam means various things. For Stephen McGrath, living in Ho Chi Minh City, “Tet is a cultural event that perplexes and entertains me, but no-one ever knows when it is until a week beforehand,” he said jokingly.

Paula, a long-time ESL teacher in Vietnam said for her, “Tet is the one true break I get all year. I cherish every moment and usually spend half in the city with my Vietnamese friends and half traveling somewhere outside of Hanoi.”

As vendors try to stock up and sell as much as they can, many foreigners make plans to travel and get as far away as they can.

“I get as far out of the city as possible. It’s the one time every year that I don’t want to be in the city, I want to be out and traveling. It’s so quiet it is lonely so I always grab a bag and hit the road. For me, Tet is my only chance for a big trip every year, so I take it,” shared NGO worker Jason.

Adam, who is married to a Vietnamese woman said, “Tet is obviously a very important holiday. It’s family time. We do all the traditional activities and it has been a remarkable cultural experience for me. Local food, local people, local everything. We go out to the countryside and celebrate with a huge and loving family.”

Foreign friends enjoying a traditional Tet meal with a Vietnamese family

One resident of Hanoi for over 15 years griped, “As much as I love Tet, it is also the time of year where for two months, the price of anything and everything goes up. From a business standpoint, Tet is terrible but once the day arrives, and my wife’s family gathers, I realize that I love it. It’s really my Christmas now.”

For the plethora of teachers living and working in Vietnam, many refer to it simply as, “Tet is for travel.”

Tet’s meaning can also change drastically as it did for Eric Burdette, “My first four Tet’s used to mean time off for continuous partying… However, over the past two years I have courted (and recently married) a Vietnamese woman. Now that I have a family in Vietnam, Tet has a completely different meaning. After over five years of living in Vietnam, being accepted into a family and having a real home during Tet makes me feel like I truly belong here.”

Eric’s Family in Vietnam during Tet holiday

Tet is a time for family and friends and has different meaning for different people. It is a holiday that like Christmas, both Vietnamese and foreigners have come to embrace and celebrate. It is East meets West. It is a time of joy for all. One embassy worker I spoke with simply said, “It’s Tetmas.” And this is Tet through the eyes of some foreigners.

Source: dtinews

The New Year is fast approaching, so now is a good time to consider next year’s break. With the economy slowly but surely improving, why not travel to somewhere a little more exciting in 2011?

Vietnam holidays are certainly an option worth considering, with the Far East nation offering visitors spectacular landscapes, a fascinating culture and a friendly population. A nation that has successfully emerged from the ravages of war, Vietnam is being explored by an increasing number of travellers, all of whom are keen to experience this most unique of destinations. While its recent history is inescapable, so too is its soaring mountains, stunning coastline and iconic rice fields.

Kayaking tour in Halong Bay, Vietnam

With so much to take in, travellers arriving in Vietnam will want to arrange their transport as early as possible. Trains are perhaps the most comfortable way of travelling around the country, although there is only one major line; that linking Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh, a journey that takes around 30 hours to complete.

Notre Dame Cathedral, Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam

Buses are a cheaper option, with intercity services tending to depart at the crack of dawn in order to beat the morning rush. Services take a while, however, so be prepared to give up a day or two here and there for travelling. Once you’ve arrived at your chosen destination, you will certainly want to get out and explore your surroundings; in which case, car rental might be an option worth considering.

While hiring your own car is only possible in Vietnam‘s main cities, you can hire a vehicle with a driver elsewhere. So, not only will you avoid having to negotiate the country’s often hectic road network, you will be able to take advantage of local knowledge, possibly discovering places a little off the beaten track and learning a bit of Vietnamese along the way.

The Far East is a long way to travel, so there’s no reason to limit your trip to a single country. Neighbouring Cambodia is another nation that has fully embraced tourism. Fortunately, then, there are a number of Vietnam and Cambodia tours for travellers to take advantage of.

Angkor Wat Temple, Cambodia

Angkor Wat is arguably the jewel in Cambodia‘s crown. The huge temple complex, one of the finest examples of classical Khmer architecture, has become the nation’s symbol. Dating back to the 12th century, Angkor Wat is the World’s largest religious building and has pride of place on Cambodia‘s flag.

While Cambodia is awash with culture and historical artefacts, travellers will inevitably want some downtime during their Far Eastern adventure. Sihanoukville, known among tourists as Snookyville, is a popular seaside town and home to the country’s best beaches. Seemingly becoming more popular as each year passes, Sihanoukville was recently referred to by the New York Times as “Asia’s next trendsetting beach”.

Seemingly a million miles away, Phnom Penh, Cambodia’s capital, is referred to as one of the Far East’s remaining undiscovered destinations. Despite being deeply affected by war and revolution, Phnom Penh is a city of optimism and colour; a place of Buddhists, spice markets and a burgeoning economy. It’s likely you’ll visit the city during your Cambodian adventure, and while the inevitable assault on the senses may exhaust you, it’s certainly worth spending a day or two here.

No visit to the eastern corner of Asia can be complete without seeing some of the region’s wildlife, so a visit to the 1,581 sq km Bokor National Park comes highly recommended. Home to green peafowl, chestnut-headed partridge and even tigers, the park is well worth a visit, even if it’s just to see the deserted French hill station, Bokor, that it contains.

Vietnam and Cambodia are two nations opening their arms to tourism. Why not discover each country next year before everyone else does?

Source : forres-gazette

Active Travel Vietnam ( www.activetravelvietnam.com ) has updated discount policies for travelers who plan to travel Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia. ATV also offers special discount for loyal travelers and their relatives or friends in 2011

Book a private tour or more and take the advantage of our discounts to save the money. Get discount when travelers travel with their family and friends, get discount when travelers book more than one tour at the same time… Travelers can save up to 10% or more. Enjoy our discount now!

Kayaking tour in Halong Bay, Vietnam

Travel with Family and Friends and save money

6 or more – Save 3%: If a group of 5-8 people travels together, a discount of 3% per person applies to the LAND-only portion of their tour. So it pays to get together with their family and friends!

9 or more: If 9 or more people travel together, ATV offers attractive group discounts based on how many people travel. In a group of 9 passengers, 1 traveler qualifies for a 50% discount off the LAND-only portion of the tour. In a group of 16 passengers, 1 traveler qualifies for 100% discount off the LAND-only portion of the tour.

Important: All traveling passengers’ names must be advised to ATV at the time of booking in order to qualify.

When travelers book a second tour

Book two ATV tours for a reduction of 5% off the LAND-only portion of the second tours.

Important: Tours must be booked at the same time. The discount is per person only. This discount is not combinable with the discount for Loyal customer.

Sapa, Vietnam

Loyal customer

Already made a trip with ATV and now come back to book another trip. 5% off the LAND-only portion.

Important: Applied only for booking of package tour. This discount is not combinable with the discount for When you book a second tour

Child discount

Children under 12 years is generally granted a reduction of 50% of the land tour, 25% of airfare, provided that they are accompanied by at least two full-paying adults and stays in the same room. An extra bed is fully charged as adult.

Get our interesting Travel Gift

Either travelers book the whole country package or a shorter set departure tour travelers will receive our Travel Gifts, which can be Water Puppet Show ticket or silk sleeping bag, airport transfer or private half-day city tour and more… ATV’s travel consultant would advice travelers the available gifts at the time of booking and travelers can choose the one travelers like.

Modern Vietnam has many attractions, says Tim Jepson, but one event from its recent past still looms above all others.

Don’t mention the war. This, more or less, is the gist of my Rough Guide to Vietnam. Or, more accurately – and I’m paraphrasing here – don’t become obsessed by the war. But it’s hard when visiting a country where the association, for me at least, is immediate and inescapable: Vietnam – war.

Countryside in Dalat, Vietnam – Photo by Getty

The closeness of the real world must have been the strangest thing, I think, as I sit reading the guide and looking down on miles of jungle during my flight from Bangkok to Ho Chi Minh City, better known by its former name, Saigon. It’s just an hour from the Thai capital to a city synonymous with war: just an hour for all those GIs between fighting and the various pleasures afforded by a few days’ leave in Bangkok. [...Read more]

By CHOU K. S.

Nothing is more romantic than cruising Halong Bay in a rustic wooden junk.

After several days of being caught in the hustle and bustle of Hanoi, we badly needed to escape the chaos of Vietnam’s second largest city. So we did what most tourists here do — head for Ha Long Bay, 170km east of Hanoi.

The bay, dotted with countless mist-shrouded limestone islands, offers a stunning seascape that must rank as one of the most spectacular sights in Vietnam. [...Read more]