TRAVELLING TO TAM DAO NATIONAL PARK

Tam Dao natural park is located in Ho Son Commune, Tam Duong District, and 70km northwest of Hanoi. Situted on the Tam Dao mountain range, the park covers an area of 36,883ha.

Many local people said that Tam Dao was a miniature of Sapa. Apart from the cool climate and the mountain-based location, 2 destinations are intrinsically different. Tam Dao means 3 Islands, a mountain range is far 70km from North of Hanoi. The significant shorter distance from Hanoi to Tam Dao compared with Sa Pa gives the national park many advantages. One can easily combine the visit to the mountain retreat area with a road trip from Hanoi. The cool climate and extensive green is another advantage, especially in the summer when Hanoi always seems overheated. Unlike tropical parks in Vietnam like Cuc Phuong or Cat Tien, Tam Dao represents a different type of fauna and flora that adapts to its cooler and drier air. Tam Dao for travelling to Vietnam is more with a relaxing retreat than an intense adventure. Accommodation facility is readily available, as well as restaurants and easy walks. The road that leads from lowland to highland is breath-taking: those that are into physical activities can never afford to miss a biking tour. Tam Dao specialties are various and one person should not leave the mountain resort without trying lon man - a special type of pork and su su - both delicious things with its fruits and its leafy vegetables. In the winter, be prepared with warmer clothes since it can get quite cold. In the summer, it is pleasantly sunny but avoid sun burn by using plenty of sun block before hitting road.

Vietnam plans helicopter tourism

The Northern Service Flight Company of Vietnam Helicopter Corporation under the Ministry of National Defense convened on June 6 to discuss use of helicopters as a means to exploit tourism.

Ba Ria-Vung Tau. (Photo: Internet)

With a view to better exploit the country’s tourism potential, participants at the meeting said that use of helicopters will add a new service in tourism and also attract high income earners and foreign holidaymakers. This new service will also offer diversity in tourism to meet a growing demand.

At the meeting, representatives from Hanoi and the northern province of Quang Ninh spoke of tourism potential in the two regions.

Air operators also introduced flights, such as the North Flight Service Company plans to launch 20 flights from Hanoi to famous tourist destinations like Ha Long Bay, Cat Bi, Cat Ba, Mong Cai, Lao Cai, Dien Dien, Hoa Binh, in the North; Thua Thien-Hue, Vinh, Da Nang in Central Vietnam and Vung Tau, Con Dao and Can Tho in the South.

At the meeting, tourist operators, embassies and five-star hotels had a chance to exchange information and sign contracts to introduce potential customers to various helicopter services.

VN rejects rumor of UNESCO’s elimination of Cat Tien park

Local officials have rejected the rumor that UNESCO has eliminated Cat Tien National Park as a candidate for its “Natural World Heritage” title, explaining that the Dong Nai’s People’s Committee has withdrawn the application to revise and update it.

The Cat Tien National Park, one of the country's key wildlife sanctuaries

According to Tran Van Mui, head of the Cat Tien application project, the provincial People’s Committee on May 16 asked the Vietnam National Commission for UNESCO and the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism to allow it to retrieve the application file submitted earlier to be revised and updated following UNESCO experts’ advice during their survey of the park.

The application was prepared in 2007, therefore data in the file needs to updated, Mui explained.

The committee will submit the new application by September 30.

The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), UNESCO’s counseling body, sent an inspectorate to Cat Tien National Park last September.

While the experts highly appreciated the park’s rich biodiversity, they also spelled out several revisions that need to be made, including the park’s borders, updated numbers of rare flora and fauna species, and the park’s management plans.

UNESCO’s World Heritage Convention is set to meet in Cambodia from June 16 to 27, during which the organization is expected to make its decision on whether to grant the title to the park.

The organization also urged Vietnam to step up control and management of Cat Tien to tackle rampant threats of construction of hydropower plants, rock exploitation, illegal logging, and wildlife poaching and trading, as well as unstable tourism development in the area.

Cat Tien National Park, located approximately 150 km north of Ho Chi Minh City, is a key national park. It covers an area of roughly 720 km² and serves as a sanctuary for one of the largest areas of lowland tropical rainforests left in Vietnam, as well as diverse flora and fauna.

Cat Tien initially comprised of Nam Cat Tien and Tay Cat Tien back in 1978. Another area, Cat Loc, was announced as a Rhinoceros Reserve in 1992 upon the discovery of a population of the Vietnamese Javan Rhinoceros, which brought the park international attention. The three areas were combined to form the current park in 1998.

Though the Javan Rhinoceros is now extinct in Vietnam, the park is still home to 40 IUCN Red List species, and protects around 30% of Vietnam's species.

Chi Linh Star Golf & Country Club - international standard Club

Chi Linh Star Golf & Country Club with beautiful valley, surrounded by rolling forest hills,large lake and complex model restaurant ,resort spa... will give you a nice tour.

Location: Sao Do Town, Chi Linh District, Hai Duong Province, 48km from Hanoi along the road going to Halong Bay.
Characteristic:Chi Linh Star Golf & Country Club is an international standard Golf and Country Club which is in the center of the strategic Economic development and Tourism triangle of the North of Vietnam: Hanoi - Haiphong - Halong (Quang Ninh). Chi Linh Star Golf & Country Club is an ideal destination for golfing tourists.

Chi Linh Star Golf & Country Club

The Chi Linh Star Golf Course features a 36-hole golfing challenge, with every hole constructed and designed to international standard. "The Best Place To Play" begins with nine holes, opened in November 2003.

The 160ha site on which the course is being constructed lies within a beautiful valley, surrounded by rolling forest hills, and nestles beside a large lake complete with rolling creeks and natural water flowing from the surrounding area. 11 holes over 36 have water risks (6 over water and 5 touching water). The hotel of golf club features 90 deluxe rooms and suites, two restaurants, conference facilities, resort spa services, tennis court, swimming pool and spa, 24 hour room service, nightclub and two bars.

A visit to Chi Linh will no doubt leave a lasting impression, whether it be for a great round of golf, or simply having made the visit to a truly special place, transformed with care and attention to every detail.

If tourists in Vietnam Travel have chance to visit Hai Duong province, you should go to Chi Linh Star Golf & Country Club to try playing in here!

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.