Go Shopping in Ho Chi Minh city
Posted by: huongpr2389 on: June 10, 2009
Visitors to Ho Chi Minh City are spoilt for choice for shops and most of them are within easy walking distance of each other. Many shops are found along Dong Khoi, which used to be the trendy Rue Catinat in French colonial times. Close by are Hai Ba Trung, Le Thanh Ton and Le Loi, which are also worth a look. Off-the-peg clothing is always a good buy but even better is to have clothes made up by one of the many tailors. There is always a good range of colored silk to choose from. For silk clothes and accessories try Khoi Silk, 81 Dong Khoi. Hand-embroidered tablecloths and napkins are very popular and luxury household items can be found at Song, 76D Le Thanh Ton.
Items such as boxes and vases made from lacquerware are extremely good value. The hill tribes of the Central Highlands and the north of the country now sell colorful woven bags and clothing in the city. Good souvenirs are marble figurines and vases and silk paintings and greetings cards. Busy Ben Thanh Market on Le Loi is crammed with items of interest to the visitor, such as clothes and souvenirs, as well as more general household items, food and flowers. It is open from early morning with an evening night market.
Shops are generally open seven days a week from around 0800 until between 2000 and 2200. All shops tend to be on the small side but now there are several very smart department stores including Diamond Plaza on Le Duan, Saigon Center at 65 Le Loi and Lucky Plaza on Dong Khoi. VAT is structured on a four-tiered system (at 0%, 5%, 10% and 20%). It is included on most items sold and 10% is the standard, but there is no system for foreign visitors to be able to claim this back at the moment. However, the duty-free shop on the corner of Nguyen Hue and Le Loi in the center of downtown Saigon (tel: (08) 823 4549), will allow foreigners to make tax-free purchases of their stock. A passport and stamped yellow entry customs form must be shown. During the first five days of your visit, you can take goods away; otherwise they will be delivered to the international airport for you.
How to get Vietnam visa from Singapore?
Posted by: huongpr2389 on: May 27, 2009
Every Singaporean, who is going to visit Vietnam, is supposed to get a visa in advance. Both of Visa code and Visa on arrival are accepted.
How to get a visa code? The Vietnamese Embassy in Singapore is responsible for this. You go to the Vietnamese Embassy located at 10 Leedon Park Street and carry out the steps required. You will get your visa code from the Embassy after several working days. The fee for visa code is about 80USD to 100USD including stamping fee.
How to get a visa on arrival? A Vietnamese visa service is in charge of it, with the cooperation with the Vietnam Immigration Department. Your work is to fill in the provided application form, then send it to the company visa email. After 2 days (for normal service, 1 day for urgency), you will receive a visa approval letter issued from the Vietnam Immigration Department. Just print it out and bring it to your arrival airport to get it stamped. The visa fee (including service and stamping fee) depends on the type of visa you apply (it can fluctuate from 50USD for 1 month single to 150USD for 6 month multiple, …). In general, it is a bit cheaper than visa code.
A wonderful world of fabric
Posted by: huongpr2389 on: May 22, 2009
Tucked away on the outskirts of Hanoi, the Ninh Hiep Fabric Market is the northern region’s largest textile market.Established around 10 years ago, the market comprises more than 1,000 trading households in Nanh Village of Gia Lam District’s Ninh Hiep Commune.
First-time visitors will be surprised to see such a diverse range of colorful fabrics throughout the village. New products appear continuously in assorted designs and textures. According to experienced shoppers, it’s a great way to see what the next fashion trends will be.
Customers can buy cloth by the kilo, one-tenth of a kilo, or by the meter and most fabrics are very inexpensive. Savvy shoppers can find great bargains.
Fabrics at Ninh Hiep, according to the sellers, are cheaper than other places as village traders bring them directly from China and South Korea. The materials are often priced half to one-third lower than products at Dong Xuan, Hom and Phung Khac Khoan fabric markets in urban Hanoi. And almost no one leaves the market empty-handed.
Ninh Hiep Fabric Market also sells other goods including specialty laces, zippers and ready-made garments priced lower than similar clothing found in the city.
Visitors should also be sure to sample some of the traditional dishes available at the market including filtered flour cakes, oyster porridge, grilled birds, boiled corn, and boiled sweet potatoes. After a trip to the market, tourists can also visit 17th century temples, pagodas and other ancient relics nearby.
Ninh Hiep Fabric Market is located 20 km north of Hanoi. To get there, visitors can take a bus numbered 10, 54 or 203 from Hanoi, or alternatively, take a tour offered by the Kham Pha Viet Tourism Joint Stock Company (Tel: 04-3 878 7551). The tour, which costs VND210,000 (US$11.80), includes a shopping trip to Ninh Hiep Fabric Market as well as sightseeing at Giong Temple and Co Loa Citadel.
Vietnam visa entry requirements
Posted by: huongpr2389 on: May 18, 2009
Visas are required of all travelers, with the exception of:
Citizens of Bulgaria, Cuba, North Korea, and Romania;
Citizens of Malaysia and Thailand, who are exempt for stays no longer than 30 days;
Citizens of the Philippines, who are exempt for stays no longer than 21 days;
Transit passengers set to depart within 72 hours, if they hold valid tickets for return or onward passage.
To apply for a visa, contact your local Vietnamese Embassy or Consulate. Visas at border gates may be issued if you are an official guest of a Vietnamese government official or organization, or if you’re part of a Vietnam tourist package tour. Some Vietnamese travel agencies may also get your visa for you.
Visa applicants must submit:
- A fully-accomplished entry permit form;
- Three passport-sized photos;
- Original passport;
- Visa fee ($43-$50, depending on the type of visa issued)
Tourist visas are valid for one month from date of entry. Visas can be extended for another month at extra cost.
You also can get a Visa on arrival to Vietnam. Visa on arrival is a rather new way as it is ordered online. You just go online and work with a Vietnamese visa service. They will provide you with an application form to fill in. The procedure is carried out online. You send them a visa application email and get the confirmation email from them. After 2 days (1 days for urgent situations), you will receive an approval letter issued by the Vietnamese Immigration Department. The rest of your work is to print it out and bring it with you to your arrival airport to get visa stamp. The visa fee depends on the type and number of visas you order.
Please remember to bring along two (2) photos. Following is the list of regulations regarding passport-style photographs:
- Photographs must be 2×2 inches in size, identical, taken within the past 6 months.
- The image size from the bottom of the chin to the top of the head should be between 1 inch and 13/8 inches.
- The photographs may be in color or black and white.
- They must be full face, front view with a plain white or off-white background.
- Photographs should be taken in normal street attire, without a hat or headgear that obscures the hair or hairline.
- Uniforms should not be worn in photographs with the exception of religious attire which is worn daily.
- If prescription glasses, a hearing device, wig or similar articles are normally and consistently worn, they should be worn when the picture is taken.
- Dark glasses or nonprescription glasses with tinted lenses are not acceptable unless required for medical reasons. A medical certificate may be required to support the wearing of such glasses in the photographs.
Tu Le-a small beautiful valley of Vietnam
Posted by: huongpr2389 on: April 14, 2009
Situated along National Highway 32, which traverses the northern province of Yen Bai, Tu Le embodies the quintessence of the northern countryside: small villages and beautiful scenery.
Crop fields, terraced rice paddies and small canyons flank the highway from Nghia Lo to Tu Le and Mu Cang Chai.
The ethnic Thai communities of Tu Le Valley cultivate rice year round. In the planting season, the valley turns grey as farmers plow the mud fields. The area then turns dark green as the rice grows healthy. Then before the harvest, Tu Le turns a golden yellow as the crops ripen.
The view from Khau Pha Pass looking down on the valley is superb in the springtime: the sun shines bright over the fields, dotted with the dark roofs of houses and a few human figures with red and green blouses twinkling in the sea of rice. A twisted red-earth road roves through the valley to Lim Mong Hamlet—an ethnic Mong community. A motorbike carrying two people can hardly move on some sections of the road because of its steep slopes.
Atop Lim Mong point is the best spot for a panoramic photo of Tu Le Valley. Khau Pha Pass can be seen in the distance above the vast valley surrounded by three mountain ranges and cut by a tortuous stream.
Tu Le Town, Van Chan District, has only a few dozen houses. The two guesthouses and several restaurants here are quite good. On moon-lit nights, visitors can join Thai residents to bathe in the hot springs at a nearby hamlet.
Tu Le’s sticky rice (glutinous rice) enjoys fame for its sweet fragrance and stickiness. Visitors will never forget a breakfast of steamed rice and grilled Muong pork slices and hill chicken from Tu Le.
The valley, about 250 km from Hanoi, is most beautiful in September and October, during the sticky rice harvest.
Where to visit in Mui Ne?
Posted by: huongpr2389 on: April 6, 2009
Vietnam’s landscape is a source of endless fascination, with a huge variety of climate and scenery ranging from long beaches and endless rice paddy to the cool mountains of the Central Highlands.
In the Mui Ne-Phan Thiet area alone, you can see stunning beaches, tropical forest, Sahara-like sand dunes, a beautiful harbor and ancient buildings such as the Hindu Cham towers and the Van Thuy Tu Temple.
All of these create unique opportunities for visitors to explore in and around the area.
Takou Mountain
Takou Mountain is a must for any visitor. About one hour’s drive from Mui Ne, it has its own special magic. Hike up the mountain or take the gondola through beautiful tropical rain forest full of birds and wildlife to the Mountain Pagoda at the peak. Here you can see tomb towers, a cave and what is said to be the largest reclining Buddha in Vietnam, measuring 49 meters in length.
Phan Thiet Harbor
Phan Thiet Harbor is at the mouth of the Ca Ty River (formerly known as the Phan River). The harbour, with its hundreds of colourful fishing boats, is a delight for photographers. Also, check out the bridges and parks around the harbor, which are delightful, especially at night. Exploring the town’s many good shops and restaurants will occupy at least half a day.
The Phan Thiet Water Tower
The Phan Thiet Water Tower was built between 1928 and 1934 and was designed by Prince Suphanouvong of Laos who, at that time, was chief engineer for the Vietnamese government. The elegant tower is the most important landmark in Binh Thuan Province.
The Prince’s Castle
The Prince’s Castle is on a hill overlooking Phan Thiet. The “castle” is in fact the ruin of a large French estate house built in 1911. On the hills in the same area are Cham towers (built in the late 8th century AD), a pagoda and the tomb of a famous poet. From the hills there are fine views of the town and the surrounding countryside.
Van Thuy Tu Temple
Van Thuy Tu Temple, built in 1762, has a special claim to uniqueness: it is the final resting place of more than 100 whales, whose skeletons are on display, the largest being 22 meters long. Whales were believed by local fishermen to be helpful and benevolent animals, and whenever one became stranded on the beach, its body was taken to the temple, which is on Ngu Ong St (Fisherman St).
The Sand Dunes of Mui Ne
The Sand Dunes of Mui Ne are the most important tourist attraction apart from the beaches of Mui Ne and Phan Thiet. Some 65 km northeast of Phan Thiet, the massive dunes range in colour from gold to white.
There are also red dunes to be found further south, close to Mui Ne. The best times to visit the dunes are at sunrise and sunset, when the light is perfect for photography.
Make sure you bring plenty of water; this is a small desert, after all.
Festivals in Nha Trang, Khanh Hoa
Posted by: huongpr2389 on: April 3, 2009
Khanh Hoa Province is grearing up the Nha Trang Sea Festival, which will run from June 6-12 with the theme Nha Trang (Khanh Hoa) – Civilisation and Friendship.
A host of activities will mark the run up to the event, starting with a musical show on May 19 to commemorate the birthday of late President Ho Chi Minh.
During the rest of the month, other performances will be held to herald the fest, including a show by ethnic children in Khanh Hoa, Phu Yen and Ninh Thuan provinces. An official campaign to clean up local beaches and an exhibition of metalwork will also be held.
A grand fireworks display will announce the opening of the festival with musical performances sponsored by VinaCapital.
The seven-day programme includes 70 different events in culture, art, sports, economics and science.
Folk culture will also get a special mention, with the Cau Ngu festival (fish worshipping ceremony) and Cham performances.
There will also be coracle racing, a human chess contest, an exhibition of calligraphy, art kite launching and a sand sculpture contest.
Organisers are also intending to break several national records, including the largest folk orchestra in Viet Nam, the biggest wifi cafe at the seaside, the longest piece of embroidery work and the largest pho (noodle soup) bowl in Viet Nam.
This year’s festival will feature a broad range of culture, sports and tourism activities, including street festivals, exhibitions of books, photos and calligraphy, French film screening, art performances and water sports competitions.
The fest has drawn art troupes from France, Ukraine, Japan and South Korea. The organising board will also invite beauty queens from the 29 countries with the most beautiful bays in the world to attend the festival.
Other highlights include a national conference on urban planning, a beach football tournament, an international book fair and a joint Viet Nam-South Korea concert.
The province has now completed all necessary preparations for the event, the fourth of its kind so far, said Le Xuan Than, vice chairman of the provincial People’s Committee and head of the organising board.
“The Nha Trang Sea Festival 2009 aims to attract more domestic and foreign tourists to the province,” he said.
Organisations and businesses both inside and outside Khanh Hoa have to date pledged to contribute almost VND10 billion (US$562,000) to support the festival.
The provincial trade and tourism department will give VND60 billion ($3.37 million).
Nha Trang is one of the most important tourist hubs of Viet Nam, thanks to its white beaches clear ocean water and year-roud mild temperatures.
The Sea Festival is held in Nha Trang city every two years. In 2007, around 250,000 tourists attended, according to the organising board.
Foreign visitors who are interested in the festivals can apply visa code or visa on arrival to Vietnam. Both types of visa are accepted.
Go shopping in Hanoi
Posted by: huongpr2389 on: April 1, 2009
It’s a capital of Vietnam and it’s coming to its one thousandth birthday anniversary. It’s surely colorful and beautiful. Apart from the history and the French legacy that can be seen in the city, there’s something else that you have to make sure you don’t miss: The joy of shopping in Hanoi.
The 3.2 million-people city is divided into several sections with the central two are the Old Quarter and the French Quarter. While the French Quarter is full of French houses, building and green trees, then the Old Quarter is the trading center and the most dynamic part of the city. The Old Quarter is also the most touristy part of the city.
Back to time, a thousand year ago when the city was founded, artisans from different parts of Vietnam gathered near the King’s palaces in order to supply their merchandise. As time went on, those who did the same kind of trade moved closer to each other to find partnership. Interestingly, from that on, the city began to witness the birth of many merchandise names like the Oil street, the Mat street, the Salt street…
But who goes here to buy Oil nor Salt. And more over, only some streets here retain the old merchandise, the others have changed or combined with other kinds of trade. In fact, what Ha Noi is famous for in term of shopping include: Embroidery painting, lacquered paintings and and lacquer wares, galleries and silk.
Embroidery painting: It may take several months for one skillful worker to make a 50*50 cm painting of this kind. His work revolves around the needle and the colorful threads. It’s amazing seeing these works and how detailed it could be.
Lacquer wares and lacquered paintings: Together with China, Japan, Vietnam has had its lacquer wares history dating back from thousand years ago. But it is the very first country in the world to make painting from lacquer (which is in fact a sap coming from the Son plant). A true piece of lacquered painting can never be perfectly copied due to the complicated processes of making and rubbing it. A lacquered painting can last for hundred years without changing much. So, get one and enjoy a lifetime. Best way to see is to visit the Fine Art Museum in No. 66 Nguyen Thai Hoc street. Besides, many galleries in town offers you a wide selection of artistic lacquer paintings.
Silk: Thousands years ago, silk worms have been raised in Vietnam to make silk. And thousands years now, people still use pretty much using the same methods in raising silk worms ant getting the silk from it. The only difference is maybe the modern techniques that help them create smoother silk. Strolling around Hang Gai street, you can find lots of good silk shops in Hanoi.
Cheap clothes + watches: Wander around Hang Dao street, this this where you have a horison of clothes to choose. You can have a 4$ Lacoste T-shirt or a 5$ Versace. Well, as expensive are Switch watches. They are good, believe me.
Galleries: Don’t know from when, but the word Vietnamese paintings has become a must-have thing. These art pieces could be found in many galleries in Hanoi, especially around Trang Tien Street, Hang Bong Street and Hang Gai Street. They have thousands of stunning oil paintings and lacquered paintings that can be purchased with much lower price than once they are in a foreign galleries. Come for it.
Don’t miss asking for Trang Tien Plaza (Trang Tien Street) and VinCom Tower (Ba Trieu Street) in case you would like to see a modern shopping malls.
Let’s go shopping in Hanoi
Posted by: huongpr2389 on: April 1, 2009
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Hanoi is a great place for shopping. There are lots of things to buy at very reasonable prices. Most stores are concentrated in the old quarter. For silk and other clothes, walk down Hang Gai. The street in front of the big French cathedral, Nha Tho, also has some nice shops. Clothes-
Khai Silk (121 Nguyen Thai Hoc)- very high quality silk and linen clothing with innovative designs and price tags to match. There are several branches, but the headquarters with three floors has the widest selection. F Silk (40D Hang Manh)- also high quality with innovative designs, a little cheaper than Khai Silk. Other branches in Hanoi Towers and on Hang Gai. Thuy An (179 Hang Bong)- quality silk but few designs. If you know what you want and just need the cloth and tailor, this place has reasonable prices. Co (18 Nha Tho)- very good tailor for both men and women when you know what you want to get made. Good work, but are not fast.
Lan Vietnamese Handicrafts (4b Yen The)- not-for-profit that provides education and training for young handicapped people. Specializes in quilts but also has other smaller items like hand-made cards and small dolls. Craft Window (99 Nguyen Thai Hoc)- a few stores down from Khai Silk headquarters; has a nice selection of craft products. They have another store two doors down with a wide selection of women’s bags. Other-
Ipa Nima (59G Hai Ba Trung)- innovative women’s bags and purses made for export to New York, Tokyo and elsewhere, with prices reflecting the non-Vietnam clientele. Pinoccohio (129 Hang Bong)- nice wooden women’s shoes (about $14). Asia House (38 Hang Hom)- lovely wooden furniture; they can arrange for shipping.
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A fascinating evergreen valley near Dalat
Posted by: huongpr2389 on: March 25, 2009
dankia
Some 20 kilometers on rough mountain roads from Dalat is worth the trip to Dankia Lake, where travelers can indulgent stunning scenery and clean fresh air. The lake is perfect for a picnic so don’t forget to pack a lunch.
The road is lined with lush valleys, pine forests, meadows, crop fields and Da Lat’s famous flower farms, which make the area the horticultural capital of Vietnam.
The photo ops are plenty as the hills roll off to the horizon and picturesque farming life takes place in the villages below the road.
Lettuce and cabbage fields are dotted with houses both old and new. In the sunshine, the countryside sparkles. In the calm fog, it exudes a mysterious charm.
Nature lovers will delight in the buffalo herds crossing the roads and wandering through the meadows in the distance.
Upon arriving at Dankia Lake, travelers will first see wildflowers and several murmuring brooks, belonging to Suoi Vang (Gold Creek) area. Above the lake towers over Lang Bian Mountain, 2,400 meters high. Lang Bian is popular with hikers as the summit boasts the indisputable best view of the Da Lat countryside.
Lie down on the pine leaves, look out at the sky and listen to the chirping birds and babbling brook, Gold Creek area is the perfect place to stop for a picnic.
Just past the creek is the lake, nestled in a small valley of green hills. Hikes around the surrounding area can lead to waterfalls, other lakes and ethnic minority villages. Such journeys are best taken with a hired guide.
But head out to Dankia fast if you want the real au-natural experience as the upcoming “Romantic City” project aims to transform the area into a golf resort-hotel-casino in the near future.
