Exploring the pristine Nam Du Archipelago

Nam Du archipelago is located in Kien Giang with many large and small islands that appeal to lots of tourist coming to explore.

It takes you five hours to reach the Nam Du Islands, 52 miles off the coast of Rach Gia City. The archipelago has 21 islands, which can only be reached by boat and covers only 40 square kilometers. The archipelago stretches over two communes of An Son and Nam Du with a population of 10,000 people working in fishing and sea-related services. Formed from a volcano, it has numerous six-meter creeks which are advantageous for transportation. As it is endowed with high mountains, Nam Du also is suggested as a great spot for offshore fishermen to flee rough storms.

You should start the exploration with conquering Hon Lon, the largest and highest island in the center of An Son commune. When reaching to the top of island, you will have the chance to see an overview of 20 other islands in Nam Du; it is an extremely interesting feeling. Overlooking the East is An Son fishing village, the West is Bai Ngu fishing village; a distance is Hon Ngang island including house, boat close together floating on the sea. Besides, Hon Lon has a big and bright lighthouse. At night, the lighthouse is considered as the light heart of island.

Lighthouse in Nam Du

Next, you can travel to other islands: Nom Ngoai, Nom Giua, Nom Trong in the south; Dam, Hang, Moc, Tre, Nhan Island in the North. Here, there are many beautiful cliffs, created from countless rocks, formed the vivid sculptures. Besides, you should not miss Ngang Island because it is center of Nam Du commune; even you can rent rooms overnight with cheap and affordable prices. Not far from here, there are Mau, Dau islands and some peaceful fishing villages; so you will have the opportunity to feel salty taste of fish, of sea, and the friendliness of local people.

2013 Street Carnival Festival at Hai Phong

In the exciting atmosphere of the opening ceremony in Hai Phong, the impressive repertoire of the street carnival progam has brought the vibrant color for port city-Hai Phong.

With the participation of nearly 2,000 actors and artists of 35 countries and territories, 295 diplomat delegation and 8 international art troupes, the art repertoires of the provincial have stirred stage and attracted many tourists.

The outfits featuring Red River Delta region as well as the smooth melodies, the street carnival festival this year has left good impressions in visitors's mind.

Here are some of exciting pictures at the opening ceremony:

2013 Hue Traditional Crafts Festival draws 65,000 visitors

This year’s five-day Hue Traditional Crafts Festival, which closed May 1, drew 65,000 tourists who visited, shopped at the stalls displaying the hand-made products, and watched artisan demonstrations of how to produce them.

On the closing day, some 200 seasoned artisans from 21 well-known craft villages nationwide participating in the festival, themed “Tinh hoa nghe Viet” (The quintessence of Vietnamese traditional crafts) and held in central Hue city, took part in rituals and processions to pay homage to their ancestors.

According to the organizers, the festival attracted around 65,000 visitors, up by 16% compared to the 2011 Traditional Crafts Festival. Many of them visited and shopped at the exhibition and fair, with revenue totaling VND18 billion (US$857,050).

Performances and other communal activities held during the festival also appealed to a good number of tourists.

In Hue’s iconic nha ruong (wooden houses), the artisans showcased their dexterity in such crafts as silk, brocade weaving, embroidery, pottery, lacquer, lattan items, copper casting and silversmithing. Spectators could also make their own items in some crafts with the artisans’ guidance.

This year’s festival also featured the first-ever international textile exhibition themed “Metamorphoses” from France, and another exhibition on bamboo products by Japanese artist Ueno Masao.

Nguyen Dang Thanh, vice chair of Hue People’s Committee, said that after the festival, the province will carry out projects to develop its traditional crafts and craft villages and make the best of them in tourism services.