National park weekend getaways

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To escape the hustle and bustle of city life and enjoy the fresh, crisp air of forests, head to one of the Southern region’s stunning national parks.

Bu Gia Map, Nam Cat Tien and Lo Go-Xa Mat are among the best national parks the region has to offer and come highly recommended for visitors.

BU GIA MAP NATIONAL PARK

Lying around 200 kilometres from Ho Chi Minh City, Bu Gia Map National Park in Binh Phuoc province, covers more than 26,000 hectares. Among this area are 21,316 hectares of natural forest home to 724 species of plants and 473 animals including rare or threatened species. In Bu Gia Map, travellers can experience trekking routes through beautiful sites including Dac Mai Cascade, S’tieng ethnic people’s village, Dak Ka Stream, Luu Ly Cascade and Dak Bo Cascade. Tours encompassing these trekking routes give tourists a chance to immerse themselves in nature, enjoy the beauty of the park’s cascades and learn more about local life.

There are two roads leading to the national park. Travellers can follow a ring road along the Dak Huyt River, known as a natural border between Vietnam and Cambodia. The other route is via Dak Nong province.

The tours offer several exciting activities, including fishing, swimming in Dak Ka Stream, Luu Ly and Dak Bo cascades and staying the night in a tent. Visitors can try local specialties made with fish caught from streams and wild vegetables foraged from forests.

In November, paths in the national park take on a special beauty when they are carpeted with wild sunflowers.

NAM CAT TIEN NATIONAL PARK

Around 150 kilometres from Ho Chi Minh City, the 700-square-kilometre national park stretches across Dong Nai, Lam Dong and Binh Phuoc provinces. More than 60 species of orchid and 40 rare animals living in Nam Cat Tien have been listed in the Red Book. The national park itself is a UNESCOrecognised World Biosphere Reserve. At Bau Sau (Crocodile Lake) in Nam Cat Tien National Park tourists can admire crocodiles and birds. The biosphere reserve also features Dao Tien (Fairy Island), an area fenced to protect rare animals and plants, and a bear rescue station where bears that are found injured in the forest are rehabilitated. Visitors to Ta Lai can learn about the local life of Ma, S’tieng and Tay ethnic groups and try local specialties. Those who want to stay overnight can set up camp in the forest or book eco motels nearby. The national park, about 150 kilometres from Ho Chi Minh City, spans more than 16,000 hectares in Tay Ninh province. Its geographical location, height of land and hydrological regime are greatly affected by Vam Co Dong River’s flow and significantly contribute to the local vegetation. According to scientists, the national park comprises semideciduous forests, lowland deciduous forests, evergreen forests and melaleuca forests.

The national park is home to a number of rare species including langurs, whitechested bears, Asian openbill storks, Alexandrine parrots and Sarus cranes.

LO GO-XA MAT NATIONAL PARK

Walking through the forest and taking in the sights, sounds, smells and fresh air, taking a boat trip along the river and catching mussels are amongst the enticing activities on offer for visitors. A tour in Lo Go-Xa Mat also enables visitors to experience historical relics deep in the forest or a tour of Da Ha Stream where they can learn forest survival skills from a ranger.

Hoang MaI

Vienna-the world’s most liveable city

Vienna - the Austrian capital has been named the world’s most liveable city for the second year running.

With an overall rating of 99.1 out of a possible 100, Vienna has topped the city liveability chart compiled by The Economist Intelligence Unit, beating Australia’s Melbourne and Sydney, into second and third place.

Whether you call it Wien or Vienna, the historic city is arguably one of the finest in the world. Its imperial ways, modern structuralism and rich history along with its world renowned honing of art and music has repeatedly led it to the top spot on the list of best cities.

Vienna City Hall

In Vienna, imperial trappings still linger in the air, people still greet each other with a casual Grüß Gott (May God be with you), and numerous grand and beautiful palaces and museum complexes dot the skyline. All the must-see museums, including the Art History Museum, the Natural History Museum and the Leopold Museum, are located in Vienna’s MuseumsQuartier in the old Habsburgian Imperial Palace.

If modern art is your thing, head down to the Museum of Modern Art to feast your eyes on a fantastic array of 20th and 21st-century contemporary art, including a large collection of nouveau realism and pop art. From Pablo Picasso to Andy Warhol and Franz West, the collection and special exhibitions represent a blend of tradition and experimental from the past through to the present.

A major part of Vienna’s cultural identity lies in its taste and keen participation in music. More famous musicians have lived here than in any

A festival at City Hall

other city of the world including such greats as Beethoven, Mozart, Vivaldi, Schubert and Salieri. While legendary names make the history of the city of music, contemporary Vienna is all about preserving its reputation for music and creating newer gems for the world.

Throughout the year, a number of world-class festivals are held all over the country, from outstanding classical music events to pop concerts – where the most innovative playing can be heard. One of the most popular events is the Vienna Festival Weeks, encompassing everything from dance, music, and fine art to theatre performances, all of which spice up Vienna’s cultural life during the summer. Emerging as a "demonstration of Austria's will to survive", the festival is proof to the world that a city marked by the ravages of war is able to engage in cultural activities.

Besides the excellent infrastructure, it is the clean, safe and green living environment and the rich culture that contribute to Vienna’s first place in the liveability chart. Vienna is also chosen as No.1 of the 25 “Best Cities for Young People to Live in”. Indeed, all year round, there are several cultural events to soak up - from Wiesn (Oktoberfest) to museums - to ensure you'll never get bored of living in Vienna.

Vienna offers a unique ensemble of traditional heritage and modernity. The city holds its past close, incorporating it into everyday life, keeping the good and reinventing traditions which are no longer fit for purpose while retaining a deep sense of self. It’s marvellous to see how with years of history, art, music and development Vienna retains its class, retaining its royal air. It is truly a city that is simply impossible not to fall in love with.