Thursday, December 29, 2011

Vietnam’s Top Ten Cultural, Sports and Tourism Events in 2011


The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism on December 27th 2011 has announced the list of top ten cultural, sports and tourism events in 2011.

Five cultural events include UNESCO’s recognition such as:
1. The Ho Dynasty Citadel as a world cultural heritage site.
2. Hat Xoan (Xoan Singing) as intangible cultural heritage in need of urgent protection.
3. A show of traditional costumes of all Vietnamese ethnic groups.
4. The 100th founding anniversary of the Hanoi Opera House.
5. The 1st International Tea Festival in Northern Thai Nguyen Province.

Three sports events are Vietnam’s third position assumption at the 26th SEA Games in Indonesia, with a total of 288 medals (96 gold, 92 silver and 100 bronze), gymnast Phan Thi Ha Thanh’s winning a bronze medal at the International Aerobics Championship in Japan, and swimmer Hoang Quy Phuoc’s winning two gold medals for the 100m – butterfly event at the 26th SEA Games, both eligible for the 2012 London Olympic.

Besides, two tourism events include Halong Bay’s being listed among the world’s new seven natural wonders, and Vietnam’s six millionth international arrivals.

Source: English.vietnamnet.vn

Vietnam Jeep Tours (VJT) – organizer of adventure tours in Vietnam, featuring various types of activities including Jeep, motor biking, cycling, trekking, and culture exploration in Vietnam.

VJT also was the first company introduced used Jeep to international travelers, transforming the image of vehicles left from the war to a symbol of fun, friendly and active travel experience. Details of company and travel offers please visit www.vietnamjeeptours.com

Monday, December 26, 2011

Aerosvit Airlines Opens New Route from Kiev (Ukraine) to Ho Chi Minh City (Vietnam)


Ukraine’s Aerosvit Airlines has launched direct flights between Kiev and Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC), operating twice a week using wide-body Boeing 767 aircraft and starting Dec 23rd 2011, the carrier announced Thursday.

Flights will depart the Ukrainian capital on Wednesdays and Saturdays, returning from Ho Chi Minh City on Mondays and Fridays. It takes about 10 hours to fly.

Representatives of the airline held a press conference in HCMC on Thursday for the new service, which is said to “serve primarily tourist, ethnic and business traffic flows to Vietnam.”

Ho Chi Minh City is the largest City in Vietnam. In Ho Chi Minh City, visitors can visit several tourist attractions as the major attraction sites of Saigon include Re-Unification Palace, Central Post Office, Notre Dame Cathedral, and the War Remains Museum. Then from there travelers can easy visit some famous destination as Cu Chi Tunnels, Tay Ninh Holy See Temple, Mekong Delta and Cat Tien National Park about 200 km.

Related programs to Ho Chi Minh City:
Saigon City Tour by Jeep
Holiday in Saigon - Experience Old Saigon On Vespa

Related programs to Cu Chi Tunnels and Mekong Delta:
Half Day Cu Chi Tunnels by Jeep
Full Day Cu Chi Tunnels & Tay Ninh Holy See Temple
Biking to explore My Tho (Mekong Delta)
2 Days 1 Night Explore Rural Mekong Delta on Motorcycles
3 Days Deep into Mekong Delta

Wednesday, December 21, 2011

Adventure Activities: Biking and Motorcycling Tours in Vietnam


Nowadays, more and more tourists choose Vietnam as their destination. There are many ways to discover this beautiful S-shape country via motorbike tours, trekking tours, biking tours, etc. and the easy way to discover Vietnam is biking deep into the countryside and villages of Vietnam. The cycling tour programs vary with levels of difficulty.

The most interesting areas for biking tours to explore Vietnam are highly recommended as below:

Far North West of Vietnam – undoubtedly the great place to cycling or motorcycling in the country. The landscape is stunning, amazing karstic rock formations, stilted houses with thatched roofs, mountains nestled between limestone outcrops and the highest concentration of hill – tribe people in the country.

This expedition to Sapa District – located in Lao Cai province, 350 km from Hanoi, close to the border with China. Most of visitors travel to Sapa, especially for the first time are anxious of having a memorable vacation, an opportunity to explore this remote part of the country with its hidden values, admiring beauty of the rich nature, meeting local ethnic minority peoples with their interesting culture,… all should be realized in a proper way as what they wished.

Next, Ha Giang is a province in northeastern Vietnam. It is located in the far north of the country, and contains Vietnam’s northernmost point. When visit Ha Giang, travelers should not miss to visit Hoang Su Phi, where tourist will be charmed by the pristine of wild mountains and authentic culture of Ethnic Minority people. Come to Hoang Su Phi travelers will ride through the gorgeous terraced fields, to some colorful villages, then climb up to green tea – plant hills, cross to some old bamboo forest.

The nearest mountainous village from Hanoi is Mai Chau. The first sighting of Mai Chau, where the gorgeous terraced fields and thatched stilt houses is particularly striking during winter and autumn days when they are shrouded in fog and clouds. Mai Chau is a little village surrounded by green mountains and dotted with lakes, paddy fields, rivers and houses on stilts of the local Thai people. Biking from Ha Noi to other remote areas, most travelers would stop at the entrance to Mai Chau, which offers the breathtaking panoramic view of mountains, valleys, sugarcane farms, rice paddies, tea plantations and peaceful villages.

Next, Central of Vietnam – Pedaling on quiet streets, along the river, crossing the hundred year old bridges, on the rice field, in contact with soft, calm and friendly locals is the real explore Hue Citadel, Thien Mu Pagoda, Royal Tomb of King. Travelers will face the most highlight challenge of cycling from Hue to Hoi An via Danang or vice versa is Hai Van (Ocean Cloud) Pass (bike from Hue – Danang – Hoi An) which is renowned for its scenic beauty. Presenter Jeremy Clarkson, host of the BBC Top Gear featured the pass during the show's 2008, Vietnam Special calling the road "a deserted ribbon of perfection – one of the best coast roads in the world, but once you have overcome the challenges; you will be rewarded with a tranquil and tantalizing setting of paddy fields and eucalyptus forests. Then arrive Hoi An Ancient Town, we will leave our bike or motorbike to walk deep into the heart of Hoi An in narrow streets to observe and photo-hunt the tiled – roof houses constructed of rare timbers and decorated with lacquer panels engraved with Chinese characters and pillars carved with ornamental designs. The original structure of some of these streets is still virtually intact.

Continue ride through the Central Highlands: Kon Tum – Buon Ma Thuoc – Lak Lake – Dalat. Kon Tum – Buon Ma Thuoc and Lak Lake are home to ethnic minority people and with the old traditions is well kept. While winding across the plantations of rubber, pepper, tea and coffee, fields and flowers farms around Central Highland towns and villages, riders will find local unique communal houses – they made from wood, bamboo, cane, or rattan.

Traveling into Vietnam Central Highland– the homeland of Vietnamese coffee and tea, the visitors should not miss a cozy morning of tasting cups of finest coffee or tea then a memorable night of home-staying in Ethnic Stilt house and sharing the traditional dance with a local ethnic group by the fire.

Then arrive to Dalat, where is considered as the highland city of thousand flowers. Da Lat is characterized by pine forests, lakes, waterfalls, beautiful flower fields and French architecture. Traveling in Da Lat visitors can not only adore the fresh nature beauty and the temperate climate but also the colorful legends of ethnic people. For those that seek more adventures, riders may pedal to trail head of forests belonged to Lang Biang Mountain then on foot climb up to reach this mountain summit and the winners will get a reward of the amazing panoramic of Lang Biang Mountain for their victory. Another interesting choice for travelers is enjoying the water abseiling and canyoning at the great Datanla Waterfall.

After that, our riding trip will bring you through the charming hide-away beaches of Nha Trang, Phan Thiet, and Mui Ne which connected the southern coastal lines of Vietnam. Nha Trang is well known for its pristine beaches and excellent scuba diving and is fast becoming a popular destination for international tourists, attracting large numbers of backpackers as well as more affluent travelers on the Southeast Asia circuit. It is already very popular with Vietnamese tourists. Beside wonderful beach, tourists will have chance to enjoy many activities when coming to Nha Trang as wind–surfing and rafting.

Ride ahead southward, travelers will arrive at Phan Thiet City – located in Binh Thuan Province. Phan Thiet - Mui Ne has long been considered as the "Hawaii "of Vietnam. It boasts shady roads under coconut trees, a beautiful beach and cliffs battered by the waves of the sea. The typical scenery of Mui Ne lies in the moving lines of golden sand caused by the wind and when they are seen from afar they look like moving waves. The scenery looks more fascinating at dawn, when young Cham girls in green dresses go to work. That's why no photographer fails to visit this area.

Mui Ne is an ideal place for rest and relaxation. Visitors can certainly enjoy swimming in the blue water of the sea, climbing the sand dunes or relaxing by a swimming pool. In fact this oasis enters – people of all ages, and furthermore, provides an endless inspiration to the artists' creation.

Vung Tau Beach City – Is also famous for the huge statue of Jesus Christ lies on the top of Tao Phung Mountain. On the top of this mountain, scenery is so beautiful. You can take photograph here and enjoys the fresh air while having a look at the statue. Everyone come here cannot resist the curious feeling to go inside the statue and climb up the hand of it, where you can see the whole beach of Vung Tau. Then leave those beaches to Ho Chi Minh City, on the way you will have chance to experience the busy traffic of Vietnam via Cat Lai Ferry where hundreds of motorbikes, cars, bicycles crossing the river on the ferry at one time. You will also witness one of the busiest ports of Vietnam at this point.

Arrive Ho Chi Minh City – the largest city in Vietnam, where is bustling with activities from morning to night. Then cycling or motorcycling through the countryside and sleepy villages of the Mekong Delta, this journey will takes you deep into the agricultural of the country, visit the countryside, fruitful orchard gardens, and discover daily lives of local on the waterfront when we stay overnight at their places and enjoy the hospitality with the families. Life in the Mekong Delta revolves much around the river, and many of the villages are often accessible by rivers and canals rather than by road. The region is home to “Don ca tai tu” – a form of Vietnamese folk opera. Preparing the dinner together and sharing the life experience with people whose lives are as simple as in the old time will give us so many thoughts about lives, people and culture which in the busy daily life we might have missed.

Travel through the length of Vietnam from Northern to Southern via the beaches, small town and central coast. Travelers will discover the real daily life of Vietnamese in the countryside. The Mountain bikers will love these biking trips for the variety of trails – from good single track paths, undulating rough jeep trails to some climbs that are rewarded with ultimate descents.

There is no neither ideal nor bad time to visit Vietnam as there are distinct regional weather variations between the Northern, Central and Southern regions.

Vietnam Jeep Tours offers many bike and motorbike tours from North to South of Vietnam. For more information about those tours, click here or contact via adventure@vietnamjeeptours.com / hotline: +84 909 602 370.

Related biking programs in Vietnam:
Biking to explore My Tho (Mekong Delta)
Full Day - Biking Off-road to South of Dalat
2 Days Discover Ancient Phuoc Tich Village on Bike
Biking Through The Ancient Paths - Hue & Hoi An
Biking Hidden Paths of Mai Chau & Ninh Binh
9 Days Bike North Vietnam
19 Days on Bike from Saigon to Hanoi

Related motorcycling programs in Vietnam:
Full Day - Explore Mekong Delta by Motorbikes
3 Days Taste of Ho Chi Minh Trail
2 Days 1 Night Explore Rural Mekong Delta on Motorcycles
5 Days Southern Coastal Lines on Motorbikes
5 Days Motorcycling West to East Northern
11 Days Motorcycling the Ho Chi Minh Trail - Half Challenge
14 Days Motorcycling Adventure in Northern Vietnam

Tuesday, December 20, 2011

Vietnam Airline Opens New Route from Taiwan to Can Tho in Vietnam

The Director of the Vietnam Airlines office in Can Tho City said on Dec 15th 2011, that the national flag carrier will operate 11 direct flights from Taiwan – China to Can Tho – Vietnam and vice versa during the 2012 Lunar New Year.

There will be six flights from Taipei, Kaohsiung and Taichung to Can Tho and five flights from Can Tho to these destinations, with the first flight from Taipei to Can Tho on January 17, 2012.

Each flight is capable of carrying 100-130 passengers on Airbus 321 aircraft.

Can Tho City is the biggest city in Mekong Delta of Vietnam and it is about 169 km from Ho Chi Minh City. Can Tho is connected to the rest of the country by National Road 1A and Can Tho Airport. The Can Tho Bridge which is now completed and is the longest cable-stayed bridge in South East Asia.

Can Tho City is famous for its floating markets, Cai Rang and Phung Hiep, where people sell and buy things on the river, its bird gardens (Bằng Lăng), and Ninh Kieu port.

For more information about accommodation in Can Tho City, click here.

Related program to Can Tho City:
3 Days Deep into Mekong Delta
3 Days Discover Hidden Beauty of Mekong on Motorbike
5 Days Deep into Mekong Delta by Motorbike
6 Days Discover Mekong Delta and Phu Quoc Island

Thursday, December 15, 2011

Asiana Airline Opens New Route Seoul – Danang City in Vietnam


The Republic of Korea’s Asiana Airlines – under the Kumho Asiana Group, officially operated its first flight linking Seoul with Da Nang City on the evening of December 14th 2011.

The Central Airport Corporation said that the airline will operate two non – stop flights a week on Wednesday and Saturday, using the Airbus 321-200 with 177 seats.

Flights will depart from Incheon International Airport to Danang International Airport and from Danang International Airport to Incheon International Airport.

Asiana Airlines has been operating 37 flights a week between the Republic of Korea and Vietnam.

Source: en.baomoi.com

Danang is the largest City in Central Vietnam. From there travellers can easy visit several World Heritage Sites such as Royal Hue, Hoi An Ancient Town, and My Son Holy Land about 100 km.

For more information about accommodation in Danang City, click here.

Related programs to Danang City:
8 Day Vietnam Abseiling Package
11 Days Motorcycling the Ho Chi Minh Trail - Half Challenge
19 Days on Bike from Saigon to Hanoi
25 Days Vietnam Expedition

Related programs to Royal Hue and Hoi An:
Full day - Cham Island Snorkeling
Hue - Paddling the Perfume River
3 Days Ancient Royal City Discovery
Biking Through The Ancient Paths - Hue & Hoi An

Thursday, December 8, 2011

Royal Hue City Opens Night Street


Royal Hue City is located in the central of Vietnam and was listed as World Heritage Site by the UNESCO. Nowadays, Royal Hue is become a must-visit destination and attracts not only the local but also foreign travellers when travel to Vietnam.

Nguyen Dinh Chieu Street has been a pedestrian-only street since Hue Festival 2004 and through the numerous festivals that take place in the city; the street has always attracted a large volume of tourists to community activities, festivities and souvenir shops.

The night street will be built on the busy Nguyen Dinh Chieu, running from Truong Tien Bridge to Phu Xuan Bridge. The vibrant area attracts many tourists as it runs along the stunning Huong River.

The night street will open from 5 p.m. to 12 p.m. daily with around 150 stalls selling fashion, fine art products, household products and foods.

The night street will open for the Christmas holidays and is expected to be a hot-spot for tourists.

For more information about accommodation in Hue, click here.

Related program to Royal Hue:
Hue - Paddling the Perfume River
3 Days Ancient Royal City Discovery
Biking Through The Ancient Paths - Hue & Hoi An

Wednesday, December 7, 2011

Travel Attraction: Explore Rural Mekong Delta in Vietnam


Vietnam has two big deltas, the Red River Delta in the North, and Mekong Delta in the South. The Vietnamese name for the Mekong is Cuu Long which means "nine dragons" and this is represented by the nine exit points of the Mekong River as it flows into the sea.

The Mekong Delta was once part of the Khmer kingdom, and was the last region of modern-day Vietnam to be annexed and settled by the Vietnamese.

Life in the Mekong Delta revolves much around the river, and many of the villages are often accessible by rivers and canals rather than by road. The region is home to “Don ca tai tu” – a form of Vietnamese folk opera.

The Mekong Delta is a great place for travelers to visit by bicycle and motorbike. The terrain is flat and the roads are well-maintained. Traffic is not too heavy, especially on back roads off Highway 1A.

Cycling through rice paddies, orchards, along and over a myriad of small irrigation canals will let you see a rural Mekong delta. Along the roads, you will see farmers working their fields and walking their buffalos and ducks back home in the evening. People dry rice, coconut husks, lemongrass and other spices on the side of the road. Thus, you also can smell the rice and straw that is the characteristic of the countryside.

On the way exploring rustic Mekong Delta, travelers will have some stops for boarding a few boats along the mighty Mekong River and its tributaries to view the daily lives of people who work and play on the waterways of the Mekong Delta.

The highlight of any Vietnam trip to the Mekong Delta is experience a home-stay with the friendly local hosts. Hence, you will get a taste of local custom by sharing a home-cooked meal and possibly a few glass of rice wine after your dinner.

The uniquely southern charm with its welcoming introduction to life along the river is the real draw, and travelers can explore quaint riverside towns, sample fruits trade in the colorful floating markets or dine and stay at local hosts.

Besides, one of the great rewards of traveling through the Mekong is sampling the extraordinary array of fruits available at markets, orchards and street stalls all over the region such as Buoi (pomelo), Du Du (papaya), Chom Chom (rambutan), Dua (pineapple), and so on.

The most renowned places in the Mekong Delta are My Tho and Cai Be near Ho Chi Minh City, then, more to the heart of the region, Vinh Long, Sa Đec, and Can Tho, whence it is possible to reach the remotest confines of the delta, South towards the mangroves and the South China Sea, North towards Chau Đoc, or West towards the island of Phu Quoc.

Vietnam Jeep Tours organizes bike tours and motorbike tours to Mekong Delta around the year for travelers who want to discover the real Vietnam. Hence, Come to enjoy and discover the spectacular nature, the friendliness of the local people and relax at the home-stay with our package tours.

Nowadays, Mekong Delta is a must-see destination and attracts not only the local people but also foreign visitors who love explore the countryside and enjoy at home-stay with the local hosts when touring in Vietnam.

For more information and advices about those tours please contact Vietnam Jeep Tours at www.vietnamjeeptours.com and www.bikemekong.com or contact via adventure@vietnamjeeptours.com / hotline: +84 909 602 370.

Monday, December 5, 2011

Travel Attraction: Da Dia Rapids in Phu Yen Province


Da Dia (Stone Plate) Rapids are located in Tuy An District, Phu Yen Province, Vietnam. With strange rock formations, foamy rapids, a fissure with multi-colored fish and a deep cave, etc. Da Dia Rapids was listed as a National Heritage Site by the Ministry of Culture and Information.

Da Dia Rapids is a baffling and beautiful riddle of Nature, and set in stone for all time. It’s like a giant jigsaw, irritatingly made of the same shaped pieces, and forming a solidified structure that has proved more than just a curiosity for thousands.

The stones in Da Dia Rapids are bazan stones of dark black and light yellow. There are large stones of tons and small stones with different shapes such as round, pentagon, and polygon and so on.

Standing on the top of the Rapids, you can see fishing villages with many rows of coconut trees along the Xuan Dai Gulf and in front of you – where the boats are smoothly sleeping on the sea. Hence, visitors also can see the local people pass through the rapids to do their daily job on the sea.

In the middle of the rapids, there is a small fissure filled with rain water and sea water. In this fissure, rocks stick out at odd angles. Hence, when travel to this area, visitors can also enjoy the fresh air and refresh after a long drive.

However, visiting Da Dia Rapids – you will have chance to learn about many species of marine creatures, especially jam seaweed is a type of kelp which is sticks to the stones, looking like a network and the local use it as a special food.

Besides, a must-see destination nearby Da Dia Rapids is Mang Lang Church with the ancient architecture. Mang Lang Church is small but it owns a large yard with many green trees, and the best time to visit the Church is from noon till early afternoon, when tourists can see or attend the local noon mass.

When touring to Da Dia Rapids, travelers should not miss a pause at Xuan Dai Bay – it is over 45 km from the North of Tuy Hoa City, Phu Yen Province. The National Highway 1A runs along the western bank of Xuan Dai Bay, to the North and to the South, on arriving at the top of Doc Gang slope, visitors can easily enjoy a partial view of Xuan Dai Bay.

Vietnam Jeep Tours has posted a topic about Xuan Dai Bay. You can find more information at http://www.vietnamjeeptours.com/travelblog/2011/09/travel-attraction-xuan-dai-bay-in-phu-yen/

This site is quite difficult to be reach, as the landscape is still wild and primitive. Visitors can visit Da Dia Rapids from November to April.

Travelers can reach Da Dia Rapids by motorbike. From Tuy Hoa city, Phu Yen Province you drive on Highway No. 1 for 31 kilometers to the north at Ngan Son bridge. Then you follow a 12 kilometer-road leading to the Da Dia Rapids.

Nowadays, Da Dia Rapids, Mang Lang Church and Xuan Dai Bay become famous destination which attracts not only the local people but also the foreign travelers who love relaxing, camping and more outdoor activities in the wild.

Vietnam Jeep Tours organizes biking tours from North to South of Vietnam with stops to visit at above destinations. If you are excited to travel to Da Dia Rapids in Phu Yen Province, please visit Vietnam Jeep Tours or contact via adventure@vietnamjeeptours.com / hotline: +84 909 602 370 for more details and advices.

Friday, December 2, 2011

Marine Ferry Launch New Link From Cambodia To Phu Quoc Island of Vietnam

A marine ferry route linking Kep – one town of Cambodia to Phu Quoc Island in Vietnam, looks set to start next year – 2012, but the timeframe has still to be confirmed.

Kep is 180 kilometers south of Cambodian Capital – Phnom Penh. Kep – that borders with Ha Tien District in Kien Giang Province, Vietnam.

A new port has been put in use in Kep, while a customs office built by the Cambodian
Ministry of Economics and Finance is also in place now.

Phu Quoc is considered as the Pearl Island of Vietnam, and located in Kien Giang Province. From Phu Quoc Island, tourists can continue to other destination of Vietnam by following ways:

1. By air: There are 2 ways:
• Flight from Phu Quoc Island to Hanoi about 2 and haft hours (by Air Mekong)
• From Phu Quoc to Ho Chi Minh City, the flights take about 1 hour and there are 7-8 flights for this route daily. (by Vietnam Airline)

2. By sea: Morning hydrofoils take about 2 and haft hours leaving from Phu Quoc Island to Rach Gia City and Ha Tien Town (Kien Giang Province).

For more information about accommodation in Phu Quoc Island, click here.

Related programs to Phu Quoc Island:
Full Day Trekking Phu Quoc National Park
Fishing Trip at Thailand Gulf (Phu Quoc Island)
Exploring Phu Quoc Island
Full day - Snorkeling Boat Trip at An Thoi Archipelago