3:8 JULY-AUGUST JUL LY--AUGUST 2015
ISSN 1859-4123
CULTURAL HERITAGE ASSOCIATION OF VIETNAM
Close and warm encounters with mountain
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CONTENT No 3, Vol.8, July-August 2015
COVER STORY TRAVEL - SAPA
28 Close and warm encounters with mountain
8
Travel
8 The lonely sands Commerce
12 Stores on the water Photography
16 Faces of Vietnam Pottery
18 The history of blue porcelain Beverage
20 Bitter leaf, sweet harvest Festival 22 Halfway to Tet
12
16
Art
24 Countrywide exhibition at
the Craig Thomas Gallery
26 Food
Day of the ox, year of the goat
32 What the papers say 34 Events
38 Value for money
22
42 Buyable
43 Directions
58 Laid back
Cover photograph: O Quy Ho Pass, Northwestern Vietnam, connecting Lai Chau and Lao Cai Provinces. Photo: Tran Binh An
Published by the Cultural Heritage Association of Vietnam
26
Publication licence No: 1648/GP-BTTTT from the Ministry of Information and Communications of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam for the English-language edition of The Gioi Di San (The World of Heritage) magazine Editor-in-Chief: Le Thanh Hai; Public Relations Director: Bui Thi Hang; Sub-editing: Erik Johnson; Assistant: Kha Tu Anh; Production: Nguyen Hoang Kim Long; Contributing Photographers: Nguyen Ba Han, Hoang Quoc Tuan, Hoang The Nhiem, Huynh Van Nam, Le Hoai Phuong, Nguyen Anh Tuan; Ngo Nguyen Huynh Trung Tin; Tran Viet Duc Correspondent: Pip de Rouvray; Advertising and Circulation: Green Viet Advertising JSC Advertising and Subscriptions Service: Email: ads.vietnamheritage@gmail.com; Duy Huong 0903 630 489 Email: vietnamheritagemagazine@gmail.com Hanoi Advertising and Subscription: The He Moi MHN Viet Nam Co.Ltd, Mr Song Hao: 0903 476 999 Nha Trang Advertising and Subscription: Bach Cat Co. Ltd,; 22/6A Bach Dang Str. Nha Trang City Tel: (58) 360 7070 Fax (58) 387 0099, Email: bachcatprco.ltd@gmail.com Contact in the US for subscription and advertising: 2628 Sturla dr. San Jose, CA 95148
Vietnam Heritage is published monthly, produced in Vietnam and printed at Army Printing House No 2. © All rights reserved.
28 Vietnam Heritage Editorial Office: 4th Floor, 1/1 Hoang Viet St., Ward 4, Tan Binh District, Ho Chi Minh City Tel: (84-8) 38 11 88 46 Fax: (84-8) 38 11 87 75 Email: vnheritagemagazine@gmail.com vietnamdisan@gmail.com l
www.vietnamheritage.com.vn
Vietnam Heritage
Vietnam Heritage
VIETNAM HERITAGE - JULY-AUGUST 2015
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Sapa, Northwestern Vietnam, May 2013.
Photo: Tran Binh An
TRAVEL
Phan Thiet
The lonely sands
A journey to ‘Vietnam’s Desert’ yields unexpected beauty TEXT BY DANG KHOA; PHOTOS BY NGUYEN DINH THANH
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TRAVEL
O
nce, during our visit to Mui Ne of Phan Thiet City, a local friend told us, ‘If you want to sleep in a desert, you can go to Hoa Thang Commune, about 30 kilometres from here. They have a few very cheap inns near the White Sand Hill tourist area.’ We departed at once, anticipating a story worthy of Scheherazade’s Arabian Nights.
A lonely tree on the way to Bau Trang Leaving Mui Ne, our road was lined with the vast blue sea on the right and endless heaves of sand dunes on the left. Occasional gusts of wind from the sea stirred up whirls of sand. We came to a small fishing village, but saw no inn at all. The road looked like a grey trike of brush over a pale pink sand canvas. Red sunset added a touch of myth
and loneliness to the whole picture. The view was panoramic, like in a Western cowboy movie. Finally, we found a ‘room for rent’ sign. The host, a grocer named Chau said, ‘This is Hong Lam village of Hoa Thang Commune, Bac Binh District, Binh Thuan Province. A double room here costs VND120,000/night. The 60-year-old man told us, ‘I lived lll
VIETNAM HERITAGE - JULY-AUGUST 2015
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Photo: Dang Khoa
TRAVEL
my whole life here. This place used to be completely desolate. Since this road was asphalted and the tourist area nearby was opened, people began to come this way. I built these six rooms for hire five years ago. From time to time, I have a Vietnamese guest. Foreigners are very rare, all seem cautious, some even scared. Perhaps being in a desolate place abroad is quite uncomfortable, but the reality is that the folks here are lll
absolutely harmless.’ 8 p.m. We took a walk outside. It was pitch dark. ‘It’s so quite. So great! Truly an oasis in a desert,’ my companion exclaimed. In the morning, we went to the only place in the village that served breakfast, just a few houses down the road. The fish noodles were exactly like those made in an oasis. Surprisingly, it cost only VND10,000. We approached old people we found here and there to learn more about Hong Lam village. It had about 500 households that dwell on the south of the fresh water White Lake, which is 150 m wide and about 2 km long. The villagers earn mostly by planting
10 • VIETNAM HERITAGE - JULY-AUGUST 2015
lotus, beans, and rice and fruit trees. The lush green around the lake was so bright on the dry, sandy background. An old man told us that Bau Trang (White Lake) was about 20m deep in the rainy season. A long time ago, it was divided into two; the bigger half was named the Grandma Lake, and the smaller, the Grandpa Lake. In summer, it’s so beautiful with lotuses that they call it the Lotus Lake. On the dam separating the lakes there is a temple, named the Temple of Hong Lam Lady. The temple keeper, an 81-yearold man named Mr Sau who spent his whole life in the village, told us many tales about the temple. The most interesting was as follows: ‘Over 200 years ago, there was a princess named Lu Phung Cong, beautiful as a fairy, who possessed the power of commanding heaven’s forces. Once, as she and her entourage journeyed past Hong Lam, a big storm raised a cloud of sand and hid the sun. To protect the village and her followers, she used her power to quiet the storm. After she
TRAVEL
died, the villagers deified her and built the temple to worship her. The temple was almost in ruins, but the worship never ceased. In 2010, people contributed to rebuild it.’ At 11 a.m., the innkeeper served our ordered lunch, which included rice, fish-andsour soup, at VND25,000 per ration. Filled, we took a siesta. Outside, Hong Lam was baked in a gigantic sand oven. Learning that we would go see the White Sand Hill in the afternoon before leaving, Mr Chau said, ‘Nobody can bear the heat of the hill in the afternoon. It’s best to go there at sunrise, when it’s beautiful and cool. People come here from far away only to see the sunrise.’ At 4.30 a.m., we rode about two kilometres to the White Sand Hill, a 100 ha desert within the desert, also called the White Lake Hill because it was on a bank of the other White Lake. On the lake bank, there were three food shops that also lent off-road vehicles and boats.
There were hundreds of domestic and foreign tourists. The moment the rim of the sun came over the horizon behind the sea, all eyes and cameras turned eastward. Seen from a high dune top, the White Sand Hill stood out amongst colourful surroundings; blue sea in the east, peaceful Hong Lam village in the south-south west, reflected in the dark blue water of the lake, and pale pink sand dunes spotted with dwarfish dry bushes in the north. Some people hired cars and off-road vehicles to roar up the dunes; some others hired little boards to slide down 20 metres high dunes. Only then I understood why the White Lake was not only a tourist attraction, but also a source of inspiration for artists and photographers.n Opposite, above: Some chopped trees on the way to Bau Trang. Opposite, below: White Sand Hill. Above: Water lily bloomed on Bau Trang. Below: A boat on Bau Trang
In Phan Thiet City many hotels, inns and cafés have motorbikes for rent at VND150,000 VND180,000/day. Many hotels in Mui Ne have Jeep transport service to White Sand Hills at VND400,000/Jeep (3-4 persons). At White Lake the off-road vehicle rent is VND450,000/30 minutes.
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COMMERCE
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COMMERCE
Stores on the water T BY NGUYEN THANH VU
Phong Dien floating market, Can Tho City. Photo: Ly Hong Van
he floating market is a typical cultural feature in southwest Vietnam, a.k.a. the Mekong river delta. Here, because there are multiple criss-crossing canals, convenient for travelling by boats, the locals came up with the idea of trading right there in the water. Floating bazaars became vital for the people, who spend most of their life on water. The bazaars always gather people, despite all the shopping centres, supermarkets and land bazaars that appear in multitudes. Today, they are not only a trading place, but also a tourist attraction. In the 1990’s, land transport in the delta was very inconvenient; cars and motorcycles were a luxury and the South-Western people only used boats for travel, visiting a friend, going to a function, going to work or for errands. At the age of seven, I went to the bazaar every day
with my mom. Actually, in the countryside, travelling on water with children was not widespread, but my mom had to take me with her because there was nobody to watch over me, and I was a good swimmer besides. We went mostly to Cai Be bazaar in Tien Giang Province, which was five kilometres from our house. Before dawn, dad had to load baskets of oranges, limes and mandarins onto the boat. Then he went to work the fields for pay. Mom carried me, still sleeping, to the boat and we went to the bazaar in the morning cold fog. Mom was a strong and skilful rower, so five kilometres was no big deal to her. The kilometre-long bazaar gathered along the Tan Phong isle, where the Tien River bordered Tien Giang, Vinh Long and Ben Tre provinces. People traded mostly agriculture and food products. This is a famous trading hub between the three South-Western lll
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provinces. Each boat was a shop. They hung what they sold on a bamboo pole for a sign. It was a convenient way of doing business, because the people in this area were mostly illiterate. This custom is preserved until today. If longans are hung on the pole, it’s where to buy longans. If it’s bananas, the boat is loaded with bananas. But sometimes the thing hung there is not what is sold. If it’s clothing, it’s hung just to dry after being washed. Once I asked ‘Mom, whom do they sell coconut leaves to?’ Mom laughed, ‘Silly you, they sell boats, but it’s too big to hang on a pole, so they hang the leaves instead.’ At the bazaar, food was what I loved most. To know what they offered, one had to come near to see in the hold. Mom used to leave me on a food boat of an acquaintance, so I could enjoy noodles and sweets and she could do the buying and selling lll
without me distracting her. Her work done, she would come and take me home. Life nowadays is much easier, but she still goes to the bazaar every day. The bazaar changes every time I come home and go there with mom. Cai Be floating bazaar now is so modern, the goods so diversified. Everything traded on land is also traded here. They even have many tourist packages that take tourists to the bazaar to see, watch, photograph and buy things. There are many other floating bazaars, no less attractive, such as Chau Doc of An Giang Province, Cai Rang and Phong Dien of Can Tho City and Phung Hiep of Hau Giang Province. They really add unique and colourful features to the trading culture of the West of Southern Vietnam.n *The article originally was printed in Van Hoa Phat Giao in issue 161
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Selling fruits at Phong Dien floating market, Can Tho City. Photo: Ly Hong Van
Cai Rang floating market, Can Tho City. Photo: To Hoang Vu
COMMERCE
PHOTOGRAPHY
4
Faces of Vietnam TEXT BY NGUYEN QUOC AND PHOTOS BY ROBERT DODGE
0 years after the conclusion of the ested in Vietnam and took up journalism. a Western jacket. Her feet are clad in sanVietnam War, a book titled: VietThe cover of the book is an image of a dals and her shoulders bear a purse, also of nam, 40 Years Later by Robert middle-aged Northern woman sitting and Western make. Although she has already Dodge, a photographer and former selling bread on the roadside. Robert se- aged to maturity, the woman strove to reach reporter now living in Washington, DC, has lected the photograph because he felt it out to the world beyond in order to connect been released. The book conveys much spoke a great deal about Vietnam’s history. with the global economy. The baguette meaning about the land and people of She wears a traditional conical hat, but dons loaves bring to mind the French colonialVietnam. ization. Behind her are What led him to dediyouths speeding by on cate so much effort to motorcycles. making the book was that In Robert’s eyes, Vietthe war was fought against nam remains a country a backdrop of fierce, conthat lies deep in Asian antentious disputes in Amertiquity, a feeling which is ica. Periodicals, radio profoundly felt once one broadcasts, and television leaves the big cities and were inundated with news goes out to the fields, about the war, bringing it where the people still right into the living rooms labour arduously to proof each household every duce agricultural products. day. That is also the very But in other respects, Vietreason that, since his nam is also a country that Robert Dodge, the photographer and author of Vietnam 40 Years Later, sits youth, Robert was interis reaching out to the wider with a group of school children in Yen Bai Province. Photo: Ly Hoang Long 16 • VIETNAM HERITAGE - JULY-AUGUST 2015
PHOTOGRAPHY
world. People can clearly recognize this everyday in Vietnam’s large cities. Robert shared, ‘Vietnam today is a country of two faces that’s at once primitive, ancient, and somewhat reticent, but also a country that is open-minded and strong, reaching out to receive new things from the world. Vietnam is an amazingly beautiful country, from her mountain and forest landscapes in the northern highlands to the beaches that run along the seacoast. I find Vietnamese people very amicable and openminded. In the capacity of a photographer, I am extremely fascinated by every place I pass through and I always come across people who are willing to let me take pictures of
them. That doesn’t happen in America or Europe, where people display more suspicion and often avoid photographers.’ Robert related that, when he came to Vietnam for the first time, he brought a digital camera with him. When he arrived in Hanoi, as he waited for a train to go to Sapa (in Lao Cai Province), he wandered around the city to take photographs. Looking at the colours that revealed themselves through his camera, he told himself that it wouldn’t do to just take black-andwhite photographs, since Vietnam is so full of colour. Most of the photographs Robert took on that first journey were of landscapes.
Afterwards, Robert felt that he needed to take more photographs and started to take photos of people. To Robert, the most fascinating thing was to explore the lives of the Vietnamese people. From trades and customs to the culture of the country and the people of Vietnam - Robert captured them all through his lens.n For more information about the book please see www.vietnam40yearslater.com Above: A woman wearing heavy clothing to protect herself from the hot sun, carries buckets of salt mined from salt-water ponds north of Nha Trang. Below: A string of billboards line the Saigon River in Ho Chi Minh City awaiting commercial advertisers
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POTTERY
V
The history of blue porcelain
ietnam Heritage has been publishing a series based on ‘2,000 Years of Vietnamese Ceramics’ by Nguyen Dinh Chien and Pham Quoc Quan, published by Vietnam National Museum of History, Hanoi, 2005. This month, the topic is blue and white ceramics. In China, this type of ceramic, which has a vivid bright Persian blue, flowered as early as the Yuan dynasty. In Vietnam, wares with opaque ash-blue, which students of ceramics now called pre-blue and whites, were not produced until the fourteenth century. Many examples have been found, mostly at random. Typical are white bowls, ewers, small tureens and spittoons that have one or two large opaque blue lines around the mouth and two double sprays on either side of the body. Recent excavations at two Tran sites of Xom Hong (Hai Duong) and Kim Lan (Gia Lam, Hanoi) have consolidated the previous opinion on this kind of pre-blue and white ware. On the other hand, more evidences discovered recently have also confirmed that,
as early as the Tran dynasty, cobalt imported from the Middle East was used in Vietnam. Remarkable examples are a few Tran globular ewers with two realistic lotus bushes painted in Persian cobalt blue on the shoulder and cover. Most recently, a bottleshaped vase (yuhuchun) with a phoenix painted in Persian blue has been recovered from Cu Lao Cham shipwreck along with the typical Tran dishes and bowls which have the chrysanthemum motif brown painted in their well. However, true Vietnamese blue and white ceramics were not produced commonly until the fifteenth century. Examples comprise mainly bowls, pots and bottles with well-done clay bodies painted finely with bright cobalt-blue against an ivory-white ground. The most outstanding example is the bottle with the regional date equivalent to 1450 in the Topkapi Saray Museum, Istanbul. However, several bowls and bottles with three to seven decorative bands have been considered Yuan wares by several scholars of ceramics. Of these, a bottle with seven bands of lotus petal, waves and flower sprays, now
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in the Vietnam National Museum of History, has raised much controversy. In fact, most of high-quality Vietnamese blue and whites, like this splendid bottle, have been not found in Vietnam, but abroad. Perhaps, they were produced expressly for export. The very rich collection of blue and white items recovered from the Cu Lao Cham shipwreck, dated to the first half of the fifteenth century, can be a convincing evidence for this opinion. In the sixteenth century, Vietnamese blue and whites increased in quantity, but decreased in quality. Patterns such as lotus petal, flower sprays, phoenixes and carps were no longer painted finely and elaborately as before, becoming more Vietnamese. Nam Sach county (Hai Duong), with Chu Dau and Hung Thang as its two most flourishing kilns, has been firmly determined as the production centre of Vietnamese blue and whites in the fifteenth to sixteenth centuries. In the following periods, this type of ceramics continued to be produced, but in a smaller number.
POTTERY
Opposite: Blue and white ceramics. Top: Blue and white ceramic with a lid. Right: Blue and white vase painted with swans. These items recovered from Cu Lao Cham shippwreck, in the mid of 15th century. Below: Bat Trang bowl painted with a group of bamboo trees, 1788-1792 Photos provided by Nguyen Dinh Chien
So far, only one well-dated bowl has been found, which is painted with the classic Chinese pattern named ‘A group of bamboo trees’ and inscribed with the Chinese characters for ‘Produced in Quang Trung reign’ (1788-1792) on the base. Besides, there are a few wine pots in cracked white glaze, without dates but with a decorative style and manufacturing features similar to that bowl. The nineteenth century saw the appearance of flower vases, single or in pairs, decorated with underglaze light-blue painting and with applied dragons and other motifs.
From the Le-Trinh period (1548-1786) Vietnamese ceramics in general, and Vietnamese blue and whites in particular, declined, due to the strong expansion of Chinese ceramics and porcelain all over the world. Especially, the Nguyen dynasty commissioned a large number of Chinese wares with some Vietnamese features for royal temples and palaces. At the time, Bat Trang was the unique representative of traditional Vietnamese ceramics, while other centres at Mong Cai (Quang Ninh), Lai Thieu (Binh Duong) and
Cay Mai (Saigon) developed under the influence of Southern Chinese kilns. At the same time, some production centres of unglazed stoneware appeared in the provinces of Vinh Phu, Quang Binh and Thua Thien-Hue.n Vietnam National Museum of History 1 Trang Tien St, Hanoi 216 Tran Quang Khai St, Hanoi Tel: (04) 3824-1384 www.baotanglichsu.vn Open 8 a.m. to 4.30 p.m. Closed every first Monday of months
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BEVERAGE
Bitter leaf, sweet harvest
A
nh Son District of Nghe An Province has long been known as a land of green tea. I do wonder when it began. It is said that 50 years have passed since Anh Son District was founded, and the people here had already seen green tea plantations before that. I don’t know how true that statement is; only that Anh Son is where I was born and grew up. Therefore, whenever I go, I always turn my mind to Anh Son and the typical image that is closely associated with this land is green tea. On any day-ordinary or special, cold or hot, every family has a pot of green tea. Hence, green tea has become an ingrained part of the culture of people in Anh Son District. Green tea is familiar, not only to the working class, but also those in offices. Every day, from commune to district, a server often simmers a boiling hot pot of green tea in the office so that everyone can drink. Many people are so addicted to green tea that in the
TEXT BY LE VAN; PHOTOS BY SACH NGUYEN PHOTOGRAPHY
early morning, they will feel restless if they do not drink a cup of green tea. They miss green tea like missing their lover. What a strange, fond remembrance! Referring to Anh Son District means referring to verdant hill slopes; maybe you will see lots of different trees, but never can you mistake tea trees for others, because it is a specific feature to this land. Especially, in spring, how wonderful it is for me to get up early to deeply inhale then quicken my steps in green tea plantations. A fragrant breath of
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wind, coming from the distance, brings along the singing of wild birds. Not only do all of them give pleasure to me, but they also make me keep opening my eyes as though embracing the splendid natural scenery. More interestingly, I can both have tea with my beloved people and make the most of the new spring together. You can imagine how surprised many visitors are each time they come here and see immense, green trees across this exhausted land. In fact, tea trees can grow easily without any pestilent insect harming them. Therefore, it takes people here little time to cultivate them. Unlike others, tea trees can grow well without manure or irrigation and can be harvested all year round. Thanks to these advantages, there are over 2.000 hectares of green tea. Not only do they give materials to the Anh Son Tea Factory, but also they are bought by people around here to simmer and drink by themselves. Economically, selling green tea makes high profits. However, it is
worth mentioning that Anh Son District has not trademarked its green tea yet. Therefore, it is like the saying, ‘good wine needs no bush,’ but it doesn’t have a legal personality. The scent of the green tea is special and cannot be mistaken for others. People tell the differences between green tea and other plants here because of its small leaf, thick edge and brittleness. When asked why the green tea here has such a delicious scent, many people answered that soil, the source of water and climate played an important role in making the delicious tea. If you want to draw out the scent and aroma of the tea, you must use well water, which comes from the mountain. When you want to bring out stronger aroma in teas, you use higher water temperatures, and when you want to extract a sweeter and richer scent, try using low temperature water. For green tea addicts, at first, green tea tastes acrid, but it becomes sweet after drawing. It is wonderful for many people to drink together, and those who don’t have breakfast can
drink 3-4 cups of green tea, then work as usual. Those who have a backache because of working too hard will feel stronger after making this tea with honey. Green tea is not only a familiar and healthy beverage, but it also has become part of the culture in the daily lives of the people here. Farmers take time to enjoy a cup of green tea. Many families cook a pot of green tea to invite other people to enjoy and palaver together. It is not an overstatement to say that drinking green tea has become a fine custom. National traditions as well as good neighbourhoods originate from such simple acts in daily lives. When seeing green hills of tea trees, I think that the green tea adds spice, aroma and quintessence to life. At the same time, it also contributes to feeding the people here. Therefore, it is time that this green tea got its own name and a foothold in the market.n Left and right: Green tea plantations in Long Son Commune, Anh Son District, Nghe An Province
FESTIVALS
Halfway to Tet
T
earing a page from the calendar hanging on the wall, my mum said ‘Time passes so fast. Tết Đoan Ngọ is approaching.’ It means it has been half a year since Tet holiday. Tết Đoan Ngọ, or Double Fifth Festival, is held on the fifth day of the fifth month on the lunar calendar. The festival takes place in Vietnam, China and Korea. However, every country has different origins and their own features. Tết Đoan Ngọ is also called Tết Đoan Dương. ‘Đoan’ is beginning. ‘Ngọ’ means noon. ‘Dương’ is sun. ‘Đoan Dương’ means the hottest period of the year. Tết Đoan Ngọ is an occasion for people to worship and mark a new season bringing bright and peaceful days. My family celebrates this festival every year, 22 • VIETNAM HERITAGE - JULY-AUGUST 2015
BY TU ANH
but I do not know the origin of the festival. I only know the festival is not any less exciting than Tet. Moreover, I can enjoy bánh ú or bánh bá trạng and bánh tro or bánh gio, specialties in the festival. I and my mother go to the market early to buy fruit, flowers and bánh ú for worshiping gods and ancestors, and a bundle of leaves to hang in front of the house, which is believed to chase away ghosts and other unlucky things. In this day, the market is more crowded than ordinary days. It is full of stacks of bánh ú and different kinds of leaves and the noisy cries of sellers. Bánh tro is made of glutinous rice, which is soaked in ash water one night, and beans mixed Above: Selling bánh ú in Tết Đoan Ngọ, Ho Chi Minh City. Photo: Kim Chi Below: A bundle of leaves hanging in front of the house in the festival. Photo: Tu Anh Opposite: Ingredients for making bánh tro. Photo: Tu Anh
with sugar. Then they are covered with bamboo leaves or dong leaves and boiled. Bánh bá trạng is made of glutinous rice, peanut, shiitake mushroom, bean, salted egg, pork and dried shrimp. They are covered by banana leaves or dong leaves and then boiled. Bánh tro and bánh bá trạng have a small and large pyramid shape, respectively. In Vietnam, Tết Đoan Ngọ is also called ‘Tết Nửa Năm’ (MidYear Festival) or ‘Tết Giết Sâu Bọ’ (Parasite-Killing Festival). I wonder why it is called ‘Tết Nửa Năm’ when the festival just falls in the fifth month of the year. In ‘Lai Ban Ve Nguon Goc Tet Doan Ngo’, Nguyen Ngoc Tho wrote that ‘In ancient times, Vietnamese used the Kien Ty calendar. The eleventh month of the year is considered as the starting time of a new year. So, the fifth month will fall in the period of a half year. Besides, there is another legend explaining the origin of Tết Đoan Ngọ. One day, farmers had a headache because the crops were attacked by harmful insects. Suddenly, a man appeared and taught the farmers that every household should prepare bánh tro and fruit for worshipping then go to their courtyard and do exercise. Every one obeyed his words and soon, all the insects fell out and ran away to the fields. He added that the insects became more ferocious in that day every year. If people obeyed what he instructed the people would be able to handle them. After that the old man disappeared. To commemorate the event, people named that day ‘Tết Diệt Sâu Bọ’. Some called it Tết Đoan Ngọ because the worship happened at noon. Tết Đoan Ngọ is an occasion for members of the family togather and have a meal together. There are different dishes and activities in many places. In Hanoi, ‘Sữa chua nếp cẩm’ (yogurt with black glutinous rice) is a very popular dish. Many people believe that worms hide deeply in the digestive parts of humans. They will emerge on the fifth day of the fifth month, so people will kill them by eating sour fruit and yogurt with black glutinous rice, and drinking rice wine. In Central and South Vietnam, people usually cook bánh tro and bánh bá trạng. A friend said that it is not a good day for ducks because duck is also a favourite dish in that day.n
ART
‘
Countrywide exhibition at the Craig Thomas Gallery
T
rifurcation’ is not a word you come across every day, but there it was in the literature for the Craig Thomas Gallery’s latest exhibition. The customs, cuisines, language and even perhaps the character of the people of Vietnam differ in the three regions of North, Centre, and South. This extends, I learned recently, to Art-as the three main art schools of Hanoi, Hue and Saigon tend to
produce artists who employ differing styles and techniques. As part of its sixth birthday celebration, the Craig Thomas Gallery currently is holding an exhibition of twenty-eight frames by fifteen artists from across the country. It is aptly named ‘One Country’. Along with other writers and art luminaries and art lovers, I was invited to the premier held at the gallery, which is housed in a charming
24 • VIETNAM HERITAGE - JULY-AUGUST 2015
BY PIP DE ROUVRAY
villa at the end of a cul-de- sac in a quiet area of HCMC’s District One. All but five of these pictures are either portraits or feature people. I have noticed in general, Vietnamese regard a photograph without a person in it as a waste. This often seems to be the case for art, too. Two pairings facing each other were in stark contrast. A Hanoi artist has two pictures of angry policemen, while the duo opposite by an artist
ART
from Ho Chi Minh City depicts everything in the garden as fine, with children happily playing while a beaming Uncle Ho benevolently looks down upon them from a tree. The exhibition got off to a flying start as somebody bought a policeman painting‘Glorious’ by Nguyen Hung Son with a price tag of $6,000. The portraits can be realistic. One, perhaps reaffirming Vietnam’s reputation of being one of the world’s happiest countries, is of a smiling young lady under her conical hat. Another, entitled ‘Alone’ has another young woman, feet up on a chair eating rice at a table. The more abstract portraits play to the observer’s emotions with titles such as ‘Dreamy Age’ ‘Land of Memory’ and ‘In the Midst of Life’. There are also a couple of nude paintings, which amply illustrate the Spanish architect Gaudi’s dictum that ‘the straight line belongs to God; the curve to
woman (slightly misquoted). Regarding techniques and materials used, oil on canvas seems to the most popular. There is also mixed media and acrylic on canvas. Oil and lacquer on wood takes one back to former times while digital art on canvas brings us up to date. Acrylic on Do paper and lacquer, glass, and inox are perhaps the most unusual materials in use. I have noticed before Vietnamese artists as a whole love colour. The most favoured colours in this exhibition are shades of blue, red and gold. If you are interested in Vietnamese art and want the ‘big picture’, the Craig Thomas gallery is one place to find it. Mr Thomas has assembled a wide range of paintings that show what the country as a whole is capable of producing and is to very high standards. This exhibition rams home the point that variety is the spice of art as well as life
in general. There is something here for everybody’s taste. Catalogue price range from $400 (VND8,400,000) to $10,000 (VND210 millions). The exhibition is on till 25 July.n
Craig Thomas Gallery
27i Tran Nhat Duat St, Tan Dinh Ward, Dist.1, Ho Chi Minh City Email: cthomasgallery@gmail.com www.cthomasgallery.com 12:00 - 18:00 - Tuesdays through Saturdays; 13:00 - 17:00 - Sundays and Mondays; Otherwise by appointment, call Craig at 0903 888 431 or Thu at 0937 112 341 Opposite: ‘Alone’, oil on canvas, by Lim Khim Ka Ty Left: ‘In The Midst of Life’, collage, acrylic on canvas, by Ngo Van Sac Right: ‘Ho Chi Minh’ by Tran Quoc Tuan Photos provided by Craig Thomas Gallery
VIETNAM HERITAGE - JULY-AUGUST 2015
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FOOD
Day of the ox, year of the goat
T
his year, the Yoshino Restaurant in Lotte Legend Hotel Saigon is offering a special unagi meal through 30 July. Saigon is home to many wonderful Japanese restaurants, but when we en-
Photos: Lotte Legend Hotel Saigon
BY JONATHAN BAR-ON
tered the Yoshino Restaurant we knew we were in a special place. The Yoshino is a beautifully decorated restaurant where one can enjoy an exquisitely traditional Japanese meal. The sakura blossoms on the backlit ceiling are reflected
26 • VIETNAM HERITAGE - JULY-AUGUST 2015
in the mirror-like floor, and the ambience has the simplicity and elegance for which Japanese interiors are famous. We were greeted by our hostess, Ms Nguyen Thi Dong Hai (Ms Julia) and invited to enjoy a wonderful variety of
FOOD
Mr Johnny Peh, the manager of Yoshino Restaurant. Photo: Jonathan Bar-On
dishes made from unagi for lunch. I am a fan of Japanese cuisine, but had never eaten grilled unagi. Unagi is the Japanese word for freshwater eel, especially the Japanese eel. It is different in taste and texture from anago (saltwater eels) and is a great favourite in Japanese cuisine. The unagi is rich in protein and vitamins and is considered a summer food that gives strength and stamina to face the hot, humid days. There is even a special day in July, the Day of the Ox, on which it is customary to eat unagi. We began with a cold glass of Sapporo beer and a wonderful introduction to the tradition of eating unagi by Mr Johnny Peh, the restaurant manager and a legend among Japanese restaurateurs. Mr Peh worked for years with the Shangri La group and founded and managed restaurants in Singapore, Malaysia, China, and Hong Kong. His wife is Vietnamese and they have lived in Vietnam now for ten years. Mr Peh joked that he is the only Chinese who has made a career out of Japanese restaurants. Our lunch arrived with the various dishes arranged clockwise, from the lightest foods to the heavier fare. We started in the
upper right-hand corner with a light uzaku of cucumbers and seaweed simmered in rice vinegar and sweet sake in an unagi crust. Following was a wonderful flan-like dish made with fish stock and topped by a fillet of grilled unagi. For balance, there was a small dish of tsukemono, the Japanese pickled vegetables found at nearly every meal. We followed with a clear soup made with fish stock, seaweed and colourful vegetables. Mr Peh personally served us clear sake especially imported from Japan. It had a wonderful dry aftertaste and I enjoyed two glasses ‘bottoms up’ style. Later in the meal, Mr Peh also served a cloudy sake with a sweet aftertaste. The pièce de résistance was the Unadon, a donburi-style dish of steamed rice topped with fillets of grilled unagi prepared in the kabayaki style. The eels are first grilled, then steamed to remove excess fat, then coated in a sweet sauce and grilled a second time to caramelize the sauce and make the skin crisp. The result is a dish to please even the most discerning palates. To accompany this, we were served a marvellous dish made from unagi, eggs, burdock root and onions.
The meal ended with Vietnamese coffee and a bowl of black sesame ice cream. Afterwards, we brought out our cameras for photos with our charming and vivacious host and hostess. For those concerned with the zodiac, the day of the ox in the year of the goat is considered an inauspicious time, since both are strong earth signs that tend to clash. Add to it that this is a yin wood year and the recipe for disaster is complete. However, wood also stands for the quality of kindness, and a yin wood year holds out the possibility for compromise, flexibility and creativity. So I decided to compromise and adopt the Japanese designation of the year as the Year of the Sheep. Hopefully, this July the sky will be as gentle as a lamb and send us cloudy days and cooling rain. But just in case, I am going back to Yoshino Restaurant for more unagi.n
Lotte Legend Hotel Saigon
2A-4A Ton Duc Thang St, Ben Nghe Ward, Dist.1, Ho Chi Minh City Tel: (08) 3823-3333 www.lottehotel.com
VIETNAM HERITAGE - JULY-AUGUST 2015
• 27
TRAVEL - SAPA
Close and warm encounters with mountain
I
BY PIP DE ROUVRAY
t is a marvel what the French and Hanoi on the new freeway and then the Vietnamese made of a sandthirty five kilometres of twisting mounbank for that is the translation of tain road affording great views of the the word Sapa. With a high density cascading rice terraces we stopped just of hotels and restaurants, long ambling outside my hotel greeted by smiling lanes and a pretty artificial lake Sapa has young Hmong women most with a a great deal of charm. Intended as a hill baby on their backs (Some of these station to escape the sweltering lowbairns must be ‘rented’, I thought, they lands and the din and pollution of the could not all be mothers). cities, Sapa still serves that purpose. After checking into my luxury room However there is little point in coming with full mountain view and a quick here if you have Sapa town as a destinawash and brush up I found myself tion. Better to use it as a base to explore the mountains considered to be the eastern ex- seated on the terrace of the elegant U Sapa amazing forest and rice terrace scenery and tremity of the Himalaya Range. Hotel with its fine French facade overlookthe huge bio and ethno diversity of these After a six hour coach journey from ing he famous love market square. With me 28 • VIETNAM HERITAGE - JULY-AUGUST 2015
TRAVEL - SAPA
Lao Cai Province
were Mr Phil Hoolihan and his wife Hoa of Ethos Adventure Day Tours, the general manager of U Sapa, M Stephan Chaline, and three young Black Hmong ladies resplendent in their traditional attire. We talked about the current situation of tourism in Sapa and how much the local ethnic groupings benefit from it. Phil then asks a very interesting question of one of the young women who has just had a baby daughter: ‘Will you teach your daughter how to make traditional clothing?’ The answer is a definite, ‘Yes’. Phil and Hoa strive to help maintain ethnic minority traditions and to ensure the indigenous people get a fair deal out of tourism. They even have two Hmong girls semi adopted and living with them. Opposite, top: O Quy Ho Pass, Northwestern Vietnam, conneciting Lai Chau and Lao Cai Provinces. Photo: Tran Binh An
Opposite, below: The author and his guide, Mrs Ke. Photo provided by Pip De Rouvray
Above: Children in Sapa. Photo: Tran Binh An
With 'Ethos Tours' you are free to involve yourself as much as you like in the planning of your trip. The basic outing on my first full day was a walk, then to visit the guide’s house and have lunch with the family. My particular cultural wish was to hear the ‘Khen’ played. This is a six holed flute like instrument with bamboo tubes protruding laterally from a central one of cedar wood. I also requested trying out the local alcoholic beverage. We were headed for the village of Sau Chua, the highest in Vietnam at around 1,800 metres (5,900 feet) above sea level. My guide was Miss Ke. The Hmong are often after named after objects which are important in their daily lives and Ke means ‘basket’. Accompanying us was Mi, a fourteen year old trainee guide. The village does look far from town but it was a circuitous road that took us on a forty minute taxi drive to our dropping off point. We stopped at a viewing point on the way with a huge rock with a pool behind it and in front a sheer drop of several hundred
metres. Ke pointed out a lone tree down in the valley. ‘That’, she said, ‘is the spirit tree’. We Hmong cleared the forest for habitation and farming. We left that tree to guard the spirit of the forest. Anyone who harms the tree will fall ill’. Soon we were out of the car and our walk began. It is curious what similarities there are between mountain folk worldwide. There was dry walling just as I have seen in Wales. The Hmong I saw store their maize kernels in little wooden granaries raised from the ground by pillars to keep out rodents and with slits in the walls for ventilation. This I have seen in Spain and Portugal. Some of the crops though that I saw were new to me. Ke showed me hemp and indigo. Ke's English was really good. She had learned a lot of quite technical words and explained in detail how her people made their clothes from hemp and how they obtained and used the indigo dye to colour them. lll
VIETNAM HERITAGE - JULY-AUGUST 2015
• 29
TRAVEL - SAPA lll There was one very pleasant surprise on this walk. Mi pulled foliage out of a bush. Within half a minute she had fashioned and presented to me a little horse. Green Hmong origami! ‘All H'Mong children do this’, Mi explained. We reached a couple of small buildings. Clambering up a slope we found ourselves at Ke's house - a one storey wooden building with a small outside loo and a sty with six pigs. There was a hen whose chicks were constantly being shooed out of the house, There was air was smokey as the indoor cooking was over a wood fire. Ke introduced me to her husband and to a cousin. The cousin's wife wearing the black hat that gives the name to the Black Hmong. She was taking care of a baby while a two-year-old boy scampered about providing amusement. We three men ate separately. They did not speak English and I soon found myself learning Hmong phrases for ‘This is good’, ‘To your health and let's drink’. The meal of pork, rice and water spinach was accompanied by copious glasses of home made rice wine. Just as with the Kinh majority there was a lot of toasting. However my companions were notably less boisterous than lowlanders. As we were eating Ke sat down by me and told me of the Hmong way of life. She told me of her father who is a shaman who cures illnesses by driving out evil spirits. Her mother is a herbalist and uses the forest as a
pharmacy. She spoke also of Hmong marriage which can be arranged, love, or by kidnapping. The later she explained had strict rules with the girl being held for no longer than three days and having the right to refuse marriage. Phil told me later that this custom can range from having the collusion of the girl to considerable coercion. Then at the height of the merriment a Khen musical instrument was produced and the cousin treated me to a performance. I am not a musician but I had a go and was able to produce, with a little instruction, some fairly pleasant sounds. Finally the cousin donned traditional clothing and we all went outside
30 • VIETNAM HERITAGE - JULY-AUGUST 2015
where the cousin played more performing an extraordinary dance. He gyrated and swirled quite close to the ground. I could not see a meaning but perhaps he was imitating the mating dance of some exotic bird. I hope I have whetted your appetite for some Sapa adventure. I had only had a mere taste of it. Two days in Sapa should be the absolute minimum stay. A week or more is needed. This is an area to savour and not just tick off a list. The rice terraces are amazing but it is the gentle peoples who work them that is the biggest draw. They lead difficult lives but not the often agitated life of a city dweller like me who needs the occasional escape. ‘Go Sapa’ is my advice to you and I hope you find yourself in as welcoming, knowledgeable ,and culturally sensitive hands as I experienced with the U Sapa Hotel - Ethos Tour Company partnership.n
U Sapa Hotel
8 Cau Mo St, Sap Town, Sap District, Lao Cai Province Tel: (020) 3871-996 www.usapavietnam.com Ethos Tours Tel: 0166 689 2536 Email: ethosadventuressapa@gmail.com www.ethosspirit.com
Above: H’mong women going home from market. Photo: Nguyen Van Dong Below: On the village road, Sapa Photo: Tran Binh An
AN EXCELLENT STOPOVER
Free pick up and drop off. offf. f. Five minutes drive from the airport. Far away from the noise. Restaurants: Buffet, Beefsteak and Coffee. Bufffet, fet, Grill, Korean/Japanese Restaurant, R Cofffee. f fee. center,, bingo club, Entertainment & Sport: Swimming pool, tennis courts, gym center sauna/massage.
18 Hoang Viet Street, Tan Binh District, HoChiMinh City.
Tel: (84.8) 38 44 11 99 - 09 35 89 18 18
WHAT THE PAPERS SAY of the north latitude and 112 degrees east longitude in Viet Nam's Hoang Sa waters.
Saigon Notre-Dame Basilica to undergo years-long major revamp
Unusual cold weather hits Sapa in northern Vietnam
Viet Nam News, 6 July Sapa, the favourite resort town in northern Vietnam, is going through the second winter in only six months. The town became suddenly cold on Monday morning and many people had to wear extra coats to deal with the temperature, which fell to 12.6 degrees Celsius (54.7 degrees Fahrenheit) at 7 a.m., right in the middle of summer. The cold weather is even stranger considering the country has been going through the hottest year in a decade, with heat wave gripping northern and central Vietnam for months now.
Fishermen complain over Chinese action
Viet Nam News, 15 June The Vietnam Fisheries Association has denounced Chinese ships for obstructing the rescue of Vietnamese fishermen and attacking Vietnam's fishing vessels. In a recent statement sent to ministerial agencies, the association said the actions were inhuman and violated the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). Vietnam's rescue vessel SAR 142 was blocked by a Chinese ship on May 31 while it was on the way to save a distressed fisherman on fishing boat QNa 90927 TS near Tri Ton Island of Hoang Sa (Paracel) archipelago of Vietnam. Earlier, Vietnamese fishing vessel BD 96680 TS was attacked by a Chinese coast guard ship while it was fishing at 15 degrees
Viet Nam News, 18 June A large-scale restoration, which may take several years, is expected to start on the 135-year-old Saigon NotreDame Basilica in three months. Restorers were poised to visit France and meet producers of coloured glass and tiles that may go well with the church's architecture. According to officials, damage is most serious in the edifice’s tile roofs due to accumulative rainwater, which leads to further structural impairments and imperils its overall force sustaining system. The bell tower, which is over 60 metres tall, also poses a safety challenge. Built in 1877 and opened to the public in 1880, the 135-year-old church has not seen any major restoration.
Beached dolphin rescued in Vietnam beach town
Viet Nam News, 22 June A dolphin found stranded on a beach of the resort town of Vung Tau was rescued and released back into the sea by local residents on Thursday. Beach residents found the dolphin, which is about 1.5 metre (5ft) long and weighed about 60 kg. As it looked weak, they decided to take it to a snail farming pond nearby to take care the dolphin. After four hours, the dolphin recovered well and was released back to the ocean.
Rhino horn demand plunges
Viet Nam News, 25 June Rhino horn demand has decreased by 77 per cent in Hanoi and 38 per cent across Vietnam, more than a year after a campaign was launched to eliminate its use. The Humane Society International and the Vietnam Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna
32 • VIETNAM HERITAGE - JULY-AUGUST 2015
and Flora started the campaign in 2013. Vietnam needed to spread the message that South African authorities have injected poisonous chemicals into rhinos' horns to prevent them from being illegally killed there. According to the Vietnam Customs Department of Anti-smuggling Investigation, most rhino horn is transported by plane from South Africa. In the first 6 months of the year, the department seized four illegal rhino-horn traffickers.
Hoi An faces risk of losing beach to coastal erosion
Viet Nam News, 29 June Experts and authorities in a central Vietnamese province that houses a UNESCO-recognized old town have been spooked by the grim prospect that a stunning beach along its coastline could disappear altogether due to alarming soil erosion. Cua Dai Beach, which is a gem of Hoi An Town's tourist industry and a major draw to international tourists, is being wiped out by sea waves at an alarming rate. The beach has seen relentless, devastating coastal erosion since October last year, with the damage spiraling out of control recently. Experts at several seminars held to address the issue have unanimously agreed that the malady is mostly put down to hydroelectric dams, which block the silt and sand currents from upstream, and rampant sand mining along the Vu Gia-Thu Bon, a major river system in the area.
Work-related lung disorders affect many
Thanh Nien News, 26 June Nearly 28,000 people suffer from occupational diseases in Vietnam, reports released at a scientific conference on lung cancer and work-related lung diseases in Hanoi said on Wednesday. The number could be higher, the reports at the conference organized by the National Lung Hospital said, adding there were six work-related lung diseases. Nearly 2 million workers, or nearly four per cent of the country's workers, underwent health examination in 2012, the health ministry said.
WHAT THE PAPERS SAY Royal Caribbean gives port upgrade
Thanh Nien News, 6 July The US-based cruise line Royal Caribbean International has invested $5 million to upgrade a major port in Central Vietnam to bring more cruisers to the country. Work is scheduled to finish by the end of this month to make it ready for cruise ships of more than 360 metres long like the Quantum of the Seas, which is currently the secondlargest cruise ship in the world and one of the most luxurious. John Tercek, vice president of commercial development at RCI, said that while improving its infrastructure, Vietnam also needs to promote itself as a cruise ship destination to attract tourists with deep pockets. He added that many cruisers have known about Brazil, Russia, Thailand and Singapore, but they are not very sure what to do when stopping by Vietnam.
Killing festivals to be eliminated
Tuoi Tre News, 6 July Vietnamese Minister of Culture, Sports, and Tourism Hoang Tuan Anh has recently confirmed the elimination of brutal festivals in which animals are killed as a sacrifice to god. “As the Minister of Culture, Sports, and Tourism and a National Assembly deputy, I confirm that the barbaric animal sacrifice rituals in festivals, such as the pig slaughter festival in northern Bac Ninh Province or the buffalo killing fest in Phu Tho Province in the northeastern region, must definitely be terminated and disposed of,” the minister said at a conference on reviewing the festival management during the first six months of the year held in Hanoi early this month. He also expressed his resolve to end those festivals, saying that if those events keep being organized, it will prove the state management agencies’ impotence and indifference to public opinion.
Reserve recognized as World Biosphere Reserve
Tuoi Tre News, 12 June The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) earlier this week recognized Lang Biang natural reserve in the Central Highlands of Vietnam as a
new World Biosphere Reserve. Lang Biang Biosphere Reserve, covering a total area of about 275,440 hectares, hosts rich biodiversity including many threatened species. The newly recognized biosphere reserve includes one large primeval forest area with a core zone in Bidoup-Nui Ba National Park, which is rated as one of four centres of biodiversity in Vietnam. Local and international scientists noted this area is home to 153 species in the Vietnam Red Book and 154 species listed on the Red List of the Switzerland-based International Union for the Conservation of Nature.
Firm reconstructs sacred whale’s skeleton
Tuoi Tre News, 15 June Ngo Xuan Pha, board chairman of Bao Toan Automobile Co., said that his company had rebuilt a whale’s skeleton, which measures 33 metres in length and four meters in width and 100 metric tons in weight. The company purchased the skeleton from a local residing on Phu Quoc Island. The reconstruction only brought the bones 30 percent back, as they have sustained irreversible damage after some 60 years of burial, according to authorities. The skeleton is currently placed inside the Nha Mat Complex in Bac Lieu City so that locals and tourists can admire it and pay their respects to the animal.
Scholar gives rare East Sea records to State
Tuoi Tre News, 16 June A Hue researcher has presented copies of rare Vietnamese royal chronicles to the National Boundary Committee under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The researcher believes the books could serve as evidence of Vietnam's sovereignty over the Truong Sa (Spratly) and Hoang Sa (Paracel) archipelagoes. He said Dai Nam Thuc Luc (Great South Real Record) was a trusted collection of documents that justified Vietnam's sovereignty over the two archipelagos. In the chronicles of the Nguyen Dynasty (1802-1945)’s Minh Mang era, the Hoang Sa and Truong Sa are described as part of Viet-
nam territory. Other records show how the dynasty's emperors deployed personnel to the islands and controlled fishing in the area.
Veteran musicologist Tran Van Khe dies at 95
Tuoi Tre News, 28 June Professor Tran Van Khe, known as the master of traditional Vietnamese music, died at the age of 95 early on Wednesday. Professor Khe, a veteran musicologist, academician, writer and teacher, as well as performer of traditional music, died at Gia Dinh People's Hospital. He was suffering from various illnesses of the lungs, heart and kidney. Professor Khe was born in 1921 in My Tho City in southern Vietnam. The researcher fulfilled his childhood passion for the music of his country by working his way through college in France in the early 1950s. He was the first Vietnamese person to get a doctoral degree in musicology in France. He was a professor at Sorbonne University in Paris and was a honorary member of the International Music Council (UNESCO).
Vietnamese designer wins Japan's Fukuoka Prize for helping develop fashion
Tuoi Tre News, 8 July Vietnamese designer Dang Thi Minh Hanh was named the winner of the arts and culture category of the Fukuoka Prize, which honors people for their contributions toward developing fashion and promoting outstanding culture in Asia. The prize aims at honoring individuals and organizations for conserving and developing the diversity of Asian culture. Hanh is the second Vietnamese to win the award after historian Phan Huy Le who collected the academic prize in 1996. Hanh is a fashion designer specializing in ‘ao dai’. She is well known for her creative, unique designs which impress both local and international enthusiasts. Jun Yanagi, an envoy of the Japanese Embassy, said that he has seen a lot of Hanh’s designs and is greatly moved because those are exquisite artworks which make him feel the beauty of Vietnamese women.
VIETNAM HERITAGE - JULY-AUGUST 2015
• 33
EVENTS HANOI
EXHIBITIONS Of circles Till 17 July
A group exhibition, named ‘Chon Chon’, by 11 artists from Hanoi and 12 artists from Hue is on at the Centre of Contemporary Art till 17 July. Inspired by round shapes, the authors introduce their paintings, sculpture and installation artworks. Centre of Contemporary Arts, 17 Thanh Cong St, Ba Dinh Dist., Hanoi After that, the exhibition will be on display at Hue Museum of Culture, 23-25 Le Loi St, Hue. Nature photos Till 19 July
L’Espace organizes an exhibition, ‘Another Expedition’, by photographer Pipo Nguyen Duy till 19 July. He presents 40 cyanotype prints (monochrome photographic technique). It is a collection of botanical and geological specimens in Claude Monet’s garden at Giverny, France. Pipo Nguyen Duy was born in Hue and emigrated to the United States in 1975. He earned a Master of Arts in Photography, followed by a Master of Fine Arts in Photography, from the University of New Mexico at Albuquerque. He is now a Professor of Art at Ober-
lin College. Entrance free. L’Espace, 24 Trang Tien St, Hanoi. Tel: (04) 3936-2164 Queen of Heaven Till 23 July
Vu Thanh Nghi was born in 1972 in Hai Phong, graduated from Vietnam University of Arts in 1998. He had two solo exhibitions in 2008 entitled ‘Len Dong’ and ‘The journey of soul’. Now, he is introducing 25 paintings about the Mother Goddess religion in Vietnam at Heritage Space till 23 July. Heritage Space, Dolphin Plaza, 28 Tran Binh, My Dinh, Hanoi France/Vietnam 22 to 26 July A photo exhibition, themed ‘Disorientation’, by Matthias Meyer is held from 22 to 26 July at the Goethe Institute. The exhibition includes 20 photos used the double exposure technique in order to depict an interesting connection between Paris and Hanoi. Matthias Meyer was born in Gottingen, Germany in 1969. Meyer is currently residing in Hanoi and is teaching a course for photographers from all around the globe. Entrance free. Goethe Institute, 56-58 Nguyen Thai Hoc St, Ba Dinh Dist., Hanoi MUSIC Get cosy with music 16, 23 and 30 July ‘The Music Emporium’, a live music event, will be held at 8.30 p.m. every Thursday night at Hanoi Social Club. Guests can enjoy the music in a 100-year-old house with classic, intimate architecture.
34 • VIETNAM HERITAGE - JULY-AUGUST 2015
Hanoi Social Club, 6 Hoi Vu St, Hanoi. Ticket: VND50,000 Guitar heroes 17 July
Vietnam International Finger-Style Guitar Festival 2015 will be held at 7 p.m. 17 July at the Youth Theatre of Vietnam in Hanoi with the performance of six artists including Huang ChiaWei from Taiwan. Agustin Amigo from Spain, Andy Ngew from Malaysia, Paddy Sun from China, Masa Sumide from Japan and Jacques Stotzem from Belgium. Tickets range from VND300,000 to VND1,000,000. Vietnam Youth Theatre, 11 Ngo Thi Nham St, Hai Ba Trung Dist., Hanoi
T
Farmer at Le Club Till 30 August African-American Jazz diva Kathryn Farmer will perform from Tuesday to Sunday at 8.45p.m. till 30 August at Le Club of the Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi, 15 Ngo Quyen St, Hanoi.
OTHER Food from the Malay Peninsula Till 2 August Singaporean Food Festival is on at Oven D’Or Restaurant at the Sheraton Hanoi till 2 August. Besides the unique culture and exhibition of Singapore’s famous cuisine, there will also be a weekly lucky draw, in which the highest prize is a round trip from Hanoi – Singapore on Singapore Airlines and a two-night stay with breakfast at the Westin Singapore. The price of the voucher is VND990,000 per person, including buffet dinner, free flow of lobsters and draught Tiger beer. Sheraton Hanoi Hotel, 11 Xuan Dieu St, Hanoi. Tel: (04) 3719-9000
Vietnam’s future tennis stars
2-9 August hanks to players like Li Na (China) and Kei Nishikori (Japan), tennis in Asia is taking off and Vietnam is hoping to produce the tennis stars of tomorrow. For the first time this year, Vietnam will be competing in a WTA Future Stars Tournament in conjunction with the WTA Finals at the end of October 2015 featuring the world’s top 8 women of tennis. The Future Stars Tournament will showcase the top-ranked Under-14 and Under16 junior girls’ players in the Asia-Pacific region from a total of 18 invited federations. Vietnam will participate in the 2015 event, along with countries like New Zealand, China, Japan and Thailand. Each country who wishes to participate will host a ‘Junior Road to Singapore’ qualifying event in the two age categories to determine who will be represented in Singapore at the WTA Future Stars tournament. While in Singapore, the WTA Future Stars will take part in various off-court activities, including a Welcome Dinner, the WTA Finals Draw, Opening Ceremonies, the WTA Fan Zone and a community service activity, in addition to learning about highlevel athlete development, life in the public eye, media responsibilities and empowerment through tennis. Vietnam’s ‘Junior Road to Singapore’ qualifying event will be held 2-9 August, 2015 in Nha Trang (20-8 Khanh Hoa Tennis Club, 75C Nguyen Thi Minh Khai St). For more information, visit www.vtf.org.vn
NHA TRANG
Water Puppetry Afternoon and evening everyday Nha Trang Water Puppetry Theatre stages 16 performances per week, which depict stories of Vietnam’s pastoral life and history and re-create traditional dances. On the performing list are excerpts from famed plays and tunes in ‘tuong’ (traditional Vietnamese opera) and ‘bai choi’ (the central Vietnamese region’s folk game and art), folk songs and dances of ethnic communities living across the province, and traditional music performances. The theatre hosts three shows at 3 p.m., 5 p.m. and 8 p.m. on Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday and two shows at 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. on the remaining days. Nha Trang Water Puppetry Theatre, 46 Tran Phu St, Nha Trang, Khanh Hoa Province. A walk to remember Holiday Diving Company has launched ‘Sea Walking’ at Hon
Tam Island, Nha Trang. Everyone, old or young, swimmer or nonswimmer, can get to the bottom of the sea. Tourists wear a special helmet with oxygen supply and follow a tour guide on a walk for 15 to 20 minutes on the seabed at a depth of 4 to 6 metres to view coral and other sea creatures and feed the fish. Ticket: VND800,000/person Holiday Diving Company, 2D Lam Son, Phuoc Hoa, Nha Trang, Khanh Hoa Province. Tel: 0935.626.090 Snakes alive! Nha Trang Snake Show has opened at Phuoc Dien Village, Phuoc Dong Commune, Nha Trang. The centre is 5,000 meters square, including a snake zoo with 20 rare species, a stage with 400 seats to watch professional artists perform with snakes, and a souvenir shop with products made from snake skin. Each show lasts 20 minutes. Ticket: VND150,000
EVENTS
HO CHI MINH CITY
EXHIBITIONS Art that grows on trees Till 20 July
The exhibition runs till 25 July. Craig Thomas Gallery, 27i Tran Nhat Duat St, Tan Dinh Ward, Dist.1, Ho Chi Minh City. Open: Tuesday to Saturday 11 a.m. to 6p.m.; Sundays 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.; and by appointment. Community craft Till 30 July
More than 20 ink paintings on bark paper by Trang Thanh Hien from a collection of about 60 paintings created during 2011 and 2013 are on at Hong Hac Gallery till 20 July. The author used the traditional paper of the Nung An people in the northern mountainous area, paper which is used for writing sutras and making votive papers in funeral and rituals. The paintings involve women’s love stories and their fates as well as spiritual symbols and the author’s research about Buddhism. Hong Hac Gallery, 23 Ly Tu Trong St, Dist.1, Ho Chi Minh City A world in the mundane Till 28 July 20 collected paintings, created during the period from 2006 to 2012, by Mai Hoang Minh or Ty are on at Tu Do Gallery till 28 July. Most of the subjects in his paintings are farmers and fishermen performing their daily activities, yet depicting his deepest emotions. The paintings were displayed in several exhibitions in France and USA. Tu Do Gallery, 53 Ho Tung Mau St, Dist.1, Ho Chi Minh City. Tel: (08) 3821-0966 One nation under art Till 25 July Craig Thomas Gallery is very pleased to announce an exhibition, ‘One Country’ by 15 artists from the North, Centre and South, gathering at the gallery to show their works, including oil paintings, lacquer paintings, sculptures and digital paintings.
A group exhibition, including Tran Tuan from Hue, Orawan Arunrak from Bangkok and Ta Minh Duc from Hanoi, is being held at Saigon Domaine till 30 July. Tran Tuan chooses to experiment with video installation instead of sculpture, telling the story of his grandfather, father, and uncles, and the harsh decisions they had to make along different periods of wars. Orawan Arunrak presents other evidence of curiosity into Vietnam’s history. Her installation is the result of a foray into the dream of Vietnamese people at the current period of development and peace restored after centuries of wars and invasions. Ta Minh Duc made a trip to both ends of Vietnam to film stories that represent two extremes on the subject of trapping animals. Duc’s work poses the question: To what extent are we affected or aware of the fabrics of the place we are born in? Saigon Domaine, 1057 Binh Quoi, Ward 28, Binh Thanh Dist, Ho Chi Minh City Asian artefacts Till 31 October Some 250 artefacts, most of them never before shown in public, are on display till 31 October at
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EVENTS
the Ho Chi Minh City History Museum, 2 Nguyen Binh Khiem St, Dist.1, Ho Chi Minh City. The items on show at ‘A 40year collection of artefacts’ exhibition include a gemstone earring in a skull dating back 2,500 years, a bronze jar from the 1st-3rd centuries, and ceramic oil lamps from the 19th-20th centuries. They have been excavated, gifted, or bought over the past 40 years. While most of the items belong to Vietnamese cultures, some are from Cambodia, China, India, Japan, Laos, and Myanmar. THEATRE AO! AO Show is on at Opera House at 6 p.m. on 17, 20, 27, 28, 30, 31 July and 8 p.m. on 18, 25, 26 July A O Show is a new kind of art performance, acknowledged globally as new type of circus. 60 minutes of using bamboo and basket boats, traditional music of Don Ca Tai Tu, visual creations
and lighting, and audiences see themselves walking on a small walkway of sweet and breezy Southern Vietnam, and wandering past the surging dunes of the Southern Central only to find themselves front of a lotus swamp. Tickets range from VND504,000 to VND1,176,000. Opera House, 7 Lam Son Square, Dist.1, Ho Chi Minh City. Tel: (08) 3829-9976
MUSIC Cartoon concert 19 July A night of classics from Walt Disney with Dutch conductor Jan Stulen will be shown at 8 p.m. at the HCMC Opera House. The artists will perform soundtracks of famous movies by Walt Disney, including The Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast, Hunchback of Notre Dame, Aladdin, Pocahontas, The Lion King, Pirates of the Caribbean, The Jungle Book and a Mary Poppins Medley.
36 • VIETNAM HERITAGE - JULY-AUGUST 2015
will be organized at Suoi Tien Theme Park in District 9, Ho Chi Minh City from 1 June and lasts for three months. The festival features a floating fruit market with more than 70 boats, collections of rare and huge fruits from the countryside in Vietnam and international art performances.
Tickets range from VND150,000 to VND800,000. HCMC Opera House, 7 Lam Son Square, Dist.1, Ho Chi Minh City, tel: (08) 3823-7419
FAIRS Floating fruit market Till the end of September Southern Fruit Festival 2015
Safe foods fair 18 and 19 July, 22 and 23 August Saigon Green Fair is a monthly activity at Café D’anver, with 30 stalls selling safe food, organic products and environmentally friendly products. It is aimed to create a 'playground' for citizens and tourists and build good habits for using safe and clean food. There will be other activities, including a talk show about how to recognize clean food, live music, food fair and a lucky draw. The event will be held on 18 and 19 July, 22 and 23 August. Café D’anver, 96B Le Thanh Ton St, Dist.1, Ho Chi Minh City. Entrance free.
VALUE FOR MONEY HOTELS
Baoson International Hotel
50 Nguyen Chi Thanh St, Dong Da Dist, Hanoi Tel: (04) 3835-3536 www.baosonhotels.com Baoson International Hotel, a four-star hotel, located in the centre of Hanoi, has a promotion from 15 July to 15 August. The prices start from VND1,480,000 per room per night including welcome drink and a 10 per cent discount on food and beverage at Rose Restaurant. Those who book at least seven nights will get free laundry service of 3 items or a massage voucher.
Möôøng Thanh Dalat Hotel
No 04, Phan Boi Chau St, Dalat, Lam Dong Province Tel: (063) 3578-888 www.dalat.muongthanh.vn Mường Thanh Dalat Hotel has a ‘Summer Promotion’ at VND2,290,000 per room for two nights with a complimentary meal and a 10 per cent discount on city tour and food and beverage at the restaurant.
An Lam Saigon River
21/4 Trung St, Vinh Phu Ward, Thuan An Dist., Binh Duong Province Tel: (0650) 3785-555
Möôøng Thanh Hoi An Hotel
Block 9, Phuoc Trach – Phuoc Hai New Urban Area, Au Co St, Cua Dai Ward, Hoi An, Quang Nam Province Tel: (0510) 3666-999 www.hoian.muongthanh.vn Mường Thanh Hoi An Hotel has a promotion at VND4,089,000 per room for two nights in a Deluxe Room with a 60-minute foot massage at White Sand Spa &Massage, lunch or dinner at Tra Que Restaurant and shuttle bus to Hoi An.
Green World Hotel Nha Trang
44 Nguyen Thi Minh Khai St, Loc Tho Ward, Nha Trang Tel: (058) 3528-666 www.greeenworldhotelnhatrang.com Green World Hotel Nha Trang is running a summer promotion till 30 August. It offers a 35 per cent discount on published room rates, which start from VND2,200,000 per room per night.
Liberty Central Nha Trang Hotel
7-9 Biet Thu St, Loc Tho Ward, Nha Trang, Khanh Hoa Province Tel: (058) 3529-555 www.libertycentralhotel.com
Liberty Central Nha Trang Hotel is offering a special rate at VND2,950,000 per room for two nights in a Premier Ocean View Room including breakfast, an egg tub at 100 Eggs Mud Bath, shuttle bus to 100 Eggs Mud Bath, and a 10 per cent discount on food and beverage. The offer is till 31 December and applicable to weekdays.
book two nights. Those who book three nights get a 100 per cent discount on the third night. The offers are valid till 31 October. It costs VND3,150,000 per room per night including breakfast, service charge and VAT.
RESORTS AND SPAS
Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi
15 Ngo Quyen St, Hanoi Tel: (04) 3826-6919 www.sofitel-legend.com Le Spa du Metropole, at the Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi, has a 105-minute spa treatment, including a 60-minute Vietnamese-inspired treatment and a 45-minute Clarins customized facial massage. It costs VND2,355,000++
AVANI Quy Nhon Resort & Spa
An Lam Saigon River is offering a ‘Summer Promotion 2015’, with prices starting from VND6,000,000 per An Lam Suite per night to VND15,910,000 per Riverfront Pool Villa 2 Bedrooms per night. The prices include breakfast, lunch and shuttle boat transfers to city. The promotion is valid till 30 September.
Alcove Library Hotel
133A Nguyen Dinh Chinh St, Ward 8, Phu Nhuan Dist., Ho Chi Minh City Tel: (08) 6256-9966 www.alcovehotel.com.vn The Alcove Library Hotel offers a promotion till the end of July. Starting from VND1,200,000++ per room per night in a Standard Room including a voucher for a 10 per cent discount at Bookmark Restaurant.
The Island Lodge
390 Ap Thoi Bình, Thoi Son Ward, My Tho City Tel:(073) 6519-000 www.theislandlodge.com.vn
The Island Lodge is offering a 50 per cent discount on the second night for those who
38 • VIETNAM HERITAGE - JULY-AUGUST 2015
Ghenh Rang, Bai Dai Beach, Quy Nhon, Binh Dinh Province Tel: (056) 3840-132 www.avanihotels.com/quynhon AVANI Quy Nhon Resort & Spa is offering a special promotion for those who book four nights. It costs from VND4,100,000 per room per night in a AVANI Deluxe Studio Room or AVANI Junior Ocean Suite with breakfast, two dinners, one kayak tour with picnic lunch, one mountain biking excursion with picnic lunch and roundtrip airport transfers. The promotion runs till 31 May, 2016.
La Residence Hotel & Spa
5 Le Loi St, Hue Tel: (054) 3837-475 www.la-residence-hue.com La Residence Hotel & Spa has a ‘Summer Getaway’ at VND4,200,000++ per room per night in a Superior Room with a welcome Shirley Temple mock-tail and a dinner. The promotion is valid till 31 October.
Poshanu Resort
Quarter 5, Phu Hai Ward, Phan Thiet City, Binh Thuan Province Tel: (062)3812-233 www.poshanuresort.com Poshanu Resort is offering a special at VND1,850,000 per room per night for weekday (Sunday to Thursday) and VND2,050,000 per room per night (Friday and Saturday). The special includes breakfast, lunch or dinner, a 20 per cent discount on food at Champa Restaurant, a 10 per cent discount on beverage at Champa Restaurant, a 20 per cent discount on laundry service and a 20 per cent discount on spa treatment. It is valid till 30 September and is not applicable to holidays. The price includes service charge and VAT.
The Cliff Resort & Residences
Zone 5, Phu Hai Ward, Phan Thiet, Binh Thuan Province Tel: (062) 3719-111 www.thecliffresort.com.vn The Cliff Resort & Residences is offering a ‘Hello Sunny Package’ at VND3,890,000 for two nights’ stay in an Azul Sea View Room for whole family, including parents and 2 children under 12 years old. It includes breakfast, indoor and outdoor activities for kids and a voucher valued at VND200,000 for using in the resort. Those who book on weekday from Sunday to Thursday will get a 5 per cent discount on the rate. The package runs till 31 August. The price includes service charge and VAT.
Sandunes Beach Resort & Spa
5 Quarter, Mui Ne Ward, Phan Thiet, Binh Thuan Province Tel: (062) 3748-868 www.sandunesbeach.com
30 per cent discount on spa services, a 10 per cent discount at Hippocampe Restaurant and Non La Pool Bar, a 5 per cent discount at Seahorse Bistro Restaurant and shuttle bus from Phan Thiet Railway Station to resort. Those who buy 10 vouchers get free one voucher applying to weekend. Those who buy 5 vouchers get free one voucher applying to weekday (Thursday to Sunday) till 30 August or weekend from 3 September to 31 October. The vouchers are not applicable to public holidays and runs till 31 October. The price includes service charge and VAT. Guests can combine more vouchers for a long stay. Also the resort has a two-night package at VND3,699,000 per room in a Deluxe Room with breakfast, lunch, dinner, shuttle bus from Phan Thiet Railway Station to resort, a 5 per cent discount on the price for those who book from Thursday to Sunday till 30 August and a 5 per cent discount for those who book from Monday to Sunday from 3 September to 31 October. The promotion is not applicable to public holidays.
Ana Mandara Villas Dalat Resort & Spa
Le Lai St, Dalat, Lam Dong Province Tel: (063) 3555-888 www.anamandara-resort.com
Sandunes Beach Resort & Spa has a ‘Summer Promotion’ at VND1,399,000 per room per night in a Deluxe Ocean View Room with breakfast, lunch or dinner, a 10 per cent discount on beverage at the restaurant and a 10 per cent discount on a Mui Ne tour. The offer is valid till 31 October.
Seahorse Resort & Spa
Nguyen Dinh Chieu St, Ham Tien Ward, Mui Ne, Phan Thiet, Binh Thuan Province Tel: (062) 3847-507 www.seahorseresortvn.com
fast, lunch or dinner, shuttle bus to Dalat centre, biking, fishing and kayaking on the Tuyen Lam lake. The promotion is valid till 30 September.
Dalat Edensee Resort
Tuyen Lam Lake, Zone VII.2, Dalat, Lam Dong Province Tel: (063) 3831-515 www.dalatedensee.com
Dalat Edensee Resort has a ‘Summer Revival Package’ till 31 October. It costs VND5,880,000 per room for two nights for two in a Mimosa Superior Room with breakfast, a dinner, two vouchers for a 60-minute treatment at La Roseraie Spa, sports and entertainment activities, round-trip airport transfers and a shuttle bus to Dalat City. An extra night is VND2,100,000 per room. The prices include service charge and VAT.
Six Senses Con Dao
Ana Mandara Villas Dalat Resort & Spa is running a ‘Le Petit Summer Package’ for those who book at least two nights. It costs VND2,420,000 per room per night in a Le Petit Room with breakfast, a credit of VND840,000 for food and beverage or spa treatments, a 20 per cent discount on spa, a 10 per cent discount on food and beverage and a 10 per cent discount on tours. The package is till 30 September. Surcharge VND630,000 per room on weekend (Friday to Sunday) and holidays. The price includes service charge and VAT.
Binh An Village Resort
Seahorse Resort & Spa is offering vouchers valued at VND1,899,000. The voucher includes a one-night stay in a Deluxe Room with breakfast, lunch, free sauna from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., free tennis court from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., a
VALUE FOR MONEY
Tuyen Lam Lake, Ward 4, Dalat, Lam Dong Province Tel: (063) 3800-999 www.binhanvillage.com Binh An Village Resort is offering a ‘Summer Package 2015’ for those who book at least two nights. It costs VND2,519,000++per room per night in a Suite Room for two with break-
Dat Doc Site, Con Dao Dist, Ba Ria Vung Tau Province Tel: (064) 3831-222 www.sixsenses.com/resorts/con-dao/ destination Six Senses Con Dao is offering a special promotion with the price starting from VND7,500,000++ per villa per night including breakfast, roundtrip airport transfers, free access to the children’s club and activity program. The offer is applied for Vietnamese residents and expatriates. It is valid till 31 October.
InterContinental Asiana Saigon
Corner Hai Trung St & Le Duan Blvd, Dist.1, Ho Chi Minh City Tel: (08) 3520-9999 www.intercontinental.com/Saigon Spa InterContinental, at the InterContinental Asiana Saigon, has a 90-minute spa package ‘Cooling Treatment’ at VND1,420,000++, including cucumber body wrapping, a choice of an aroma therapy massage for body or Essential Mineral and Vitamin remedy to nourish the face.
Mango Bay Resort
Ong Lang beach, Phu Quoc Island Tel: (077) 3981-693 www.mangobayphuquoc.com
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VALUE FOR MONEY
Mango Bay Resort has a package ‘Stay 3 Pay 2’ till 31 October. The prices start from VND1,320,000 ($60)++ per room per night for two with breakfast and round-trip airport transfers.
Vietjet
OTHERS
Novotel Danang Premier Han River
36 Bach Dang St, Hai Chau Dist., Danang Tel: (0511) 3929-999 www.novotel-danang-premier.com Pier 36 Terrace Restaurant, at the Novotel Danang Premier Han River, serves BBQ buffet every Saturday from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. with a selection of grilled meat and seafood. It costs VND560,000++.
Hyatt Regency Danang Resort & Spa
17 June, 2015, at The Paris Air Show 2015, Vietjet President & CEO Nguyen Thi Phuong Thao and President and CEO of Airbus Fabrice Brégier both signed the contract to purchase six more A321 jets worth a total of $682 million for responding to the airline’s rapid growth. Airbus’ A320 and A321 have become the world’s bestselling and most modern single-aisle products.
FOOD PROMOTIONS
Hanoi Daewoo Hotel
360 Kim Ma St, Hanoi Tel: (04) 3831-5000 www.daewoohotel.com Edo Restaurant, at the Hanoi Daewoo Hotel, serves Unagi (eel) dishes including Unagi Kamameshi, Unagi Kabayaki - grilled eel in Teriyaki from VND150,000++ to VND1,200000++. Unagi Special Set Menu is at VND1,200,000++ including a carafe of Japanese Sake imported from Japan.
Movenpick Hotel Hanoi
83A Ly Thuong Kiet St, Hanoi Tel: (04) 3822-2800 Lounge 83, at the Movenpick Hotel Hanoi, serves an eclectic selection of cocktails and snack menu every Friday, 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. VND 180,000++ including free flow of house wine, beer and soft drinks.
Novotel Ha Long Bay
160 Halong Road, Bai Chay Ward, Halong, Quang Ninh Province Tel: (033) 3848-108 Square Restaurant at the Novotel Ha Long Bay is serving ‘Taste of Asia Buffet’ with over 70 dishes every Saturday, 6.30 p.m. to 9.30 p.m. VND525,000++ for adults and VND262,500++ for children. Accor Plus members will get a 10 per cent discount on the price.
Truong Sa Street, Hoa Hai Ward, Ngu Hanh Son Dist, Danang Tel: (0511) 3981-234 www.danang.regency.hyatt.com Korean guest chefs from Grand Hyatt Incheon will cook at Hyatt Regency Danang Resort & Spa till 19 July. Chef Kim and Chef Um will prepare Korean dishes, including Haemul jab chae, tofu kimchi and Bulgogi. VND720,000 including two bottles of Bière Larue.
Palm Garden Beach Resort & Spa
Lac Long Quan St, Cua Dai Beach, Hoi An, Quang Nam Province Tel: (0510) 3927-927 www.palmgardenresort.com.vn Palm Garden Beach Resort & Spa Hoi An is serving Quang Nam-style meals in Central Vietnam prepared by local chefs including boiled pork rolls in rice papers, fried Quang Nam spring rolls, Quang noodle, fish soup with star fruit, fish cooked with soy sauce. The price is VND300,000++ per person.
Sheraton Nha Trang Hotel & Spa
26-28 Tran Phu St, Nha Trang, Khanh Hoa Province Tel: (058) 3880-000 www.sheratonnhatrang.com Feast Restaurant, at the Sheraton Nha Trang Hotel & Spa, has ‘Spice Market Buffet’ every Saturday. The buffet features Indian, Thai, Middle East, western and international cuisines. VND639,000++including free flow beers and soft drinks.
Eastin Grand Hotel Saigon has ‘Saigon’s Best Dining Offer’ – ‘4 dine pay 2, 8 dine pay 4 and 12 dine pay 6’, till the end of August, for those who eat Thai-style buffet at Café Saigon, ‘All you can eat’ Dim Sum at Lotus Court Restaurant and ‘All you can eat’ sushi, sashimi at IKI Restaurant. Café Saigon: Lunch, Monday – Friday, VND399,000++ Dinner, Friday – Sunday, VND799,000++ Children below 16 enjoy half price Lotus Court and IKI Restaurant: Lunch and dinner, Monday to Sunday, adults: VND399,000++. Children below 16 enjoy half price
Sheraton Saigon Hotel & Towers
88 Dong Khoi Street, District 1, HCMC Tel: (08) 3827-2828 www.sheratonsaigon.com Saigon Café, at the Sheraton Saigon Hotel & Towers, serves a selection of hot pot every Friday night, 6 p.m. to 10 p.m., in July. Guests can enjoy various kinds of broth including spicy tom yam goong, shabushabu ‘Japanese kale’ stock, double boiled vegetable broth and rich chicken broth with truffle oil served with thin sliced US beef strip loin, chicken thin sliced, beef and pork balls, octopus, salmon, alive scampi, alive flower crabs and king crab legs. There are also wide choices of noodle such as fresh rice vermicelli, egg noodle, rice vermicelli, glass noodle and udon served with different kinds of vegetable and mushroom. VND 1,100,000++ including free flowing sparkling wine, house wine, coffee and tea
Tandoor Indian Restaurant
39A - 39B Ngo Duc Ke St, Ben Nghe Ward, Dist.1, Ho Chi Minh City Tel: (08) 3930-4839 www.tandoorvietnam.com
Eastin Grand Hotel Saigon
253 Nguyen Van Troi St, Phu Nhuan Dist., Ho Chi Minh City Tel: (08) 3844-9222 www.eastingrandsaigon.com
40 • VIETNAM HERITAGE - JULY-AUGUST 2015
Tandoor Indian Restaurant, established since 1997, has moved to a new location on Ngo Duc Ke St., Dist.1, Ho Chi Minh City. This new location, which is just off Nguyen Hue Street, has a large dining area. Its architecture is plush and chic, giving a warm Indian dining experience.
Rates may be subject to 5-per-cent service charge and 10-per-cent VAT if there is no statement to the contrary.
BUYABLE
Ceramic cups, from VND51,000
Ceramic tea box, VND500,000
A set of ceramic teapot and six cups, VND946,000
Ceramic vase, VND297,000
Ceramic teapot, VND490,000 and cup, VND66,000
DONG GIA ENTERPRISE 114 Xuan Thuy St, Thao Dien Ward, Dist.2, Ho Chi Minh City Tel: (08) 6296-0147 Email: maidonggia@gmail.com www.dong-gia.com
Ceramic turtle, VND70,000 42 • VIETNAM HERITAGE - JULY-AUGUST 2015
DIRECTIONS SAPA, HALONG, HAI PHONG EMERGENCIES Police: 113 Fire: 114 Ambulance: 115
SAPA
(TELEPHONE CODE: 020) Sapa is a former French hill station in northwestern Vietnam, in Lao Cai Province, near the Chinese border. A number of minority cultures including the H’mong, Dao and Tay live in villages in the countryside around Sapa. HOTELS, RESORTS Note: Prices at many hotels depend on occupancy and change daily Cat Cat View Hotel 46 Fan Xi Pang St, Sapa, Lao Cai Province Tel: (020) 3871-946 www.catcathotel.com VND735,000 to VND3,780,000 ($35 to $180) Cha Pa Garden Boutique Hotel & Spa 23B Cau May St, Sapa, Lao Cai Province Tel: (020) 3872-907 Email: hotelchapagarden@gmail.com
www.chapagarden.com From VND1,470,000 ($70) Chau Long Sapa Hotel
Topas Ecolodge Thanh Kim Ward, Sapa, Lao Cai Province Tel: (04) 3715-1005 reservation@topasecolodge.com www.topasecolodge.com From VND2,300,000 ($110) Victoria Sapa Resort and Spa Xuan Vien St, Sapa, Lao Cai Province Tel: (020) 3871-522 Email: resa.sapa@victoriahotels.asia
www.victoriahotels.asia From VND3,657,000 ($172) RESTAURANTS Buffalo Bell Restaurant 25 Cau May St, Sapa, Lao Cai Province Tel: (020) 3873-455 Delta Restaurant 33 Cau May St, Sapa, Lao Cai Province Tel: (020) 3871-799 Fansipan Restaurant 23 Cau May St, Sapa, Lao Cai Province Tel: (020) 3871-556
HALONG
(TELEPHONE CODE: 033) With around 1,600 islands and islets in the Gulf of Tonkin, Halong Bay, about 170 km east of Hanoi, is well known for its limestone seascape. Overnight boat trips out of Halong City are a popular way to see it. HOSPITALS
Bai Chay Hospital Gieng Day Ward, Halong Tel: (033) 3846-557 www.benhvienbaichay.vn
24 Dong Loi St, Sapa, Lao Cai Province Tel: (020) 3871-245 Email: resa@chaulonghotel.com.vn www.chaulonghotel.com.vn From VND2,100,000 ($100) Holiday Sapa Hotel 16 Muong Hoa, Sapa, Lao Cai Province Tel: (020) 3873-874 Email: info@holidaysapa.com www.holidaysapa.com VND588,000 to VND2,100,000 ($28 to $100) Mường Thanh Sapa Hotel No 044, Ngu Chi Son, Sapa, Lao Cai Province Tel: (020) 3887-766 Email: sales@sapa.muongthanh.vn www.muongthanh.vn From VND900,000 ($43) Royal Hotel 54B Cau May St, Sapa, Lao Cai Province Tel: (020) 3771-131 Email: info@royalsapahotel.com www.royalsapahotel.com
Traditional Medicine Hospital Cot 8, Hong Ha Ward, Halong Tel: (033) 3838-113 Vietnam-Sweden Hospital Thanh Son Ward, Uong Bi Commune, Halong Tel: (033) 3854-037 www.bvubqn.tk TRAVEL
Halong Tourism 1 Halong St, Halong Tel: (033) 3846-272 Quang Ninh Tourism Company Ha Long St, Bai Chay Ward, Halong Tel: (033) 3846-350 Syrena Cruises Hung Thang new urban area, Bai Chay, Halong Tel: (033) 3847-043 Hanoi Sales Office: Syrena Tower, 3th Floor, 51 Xuan Dieu St, Hanoi Tel: (04) 3719-7214 Email: se@syrenacruises.com www.syrenacruises.com HOTELS, RESORTS
Note: Prices at many hotels depend on occupancy and change daily
Asean Halong Hotel Hau Can St, Bai Chay Ward, Halong Tel: (033) 3640-034 Email: sm@aseanhalonghotel.com www.aseanhalonghotel.com From VND1,600,000 ($76) Halong Hidden Charm Hotel Block 22D, Tuan Chau Villas, Halong Tel: (033) 3842-360 infor.halonghiddencharmhotel@gmail.com
www.hiddencharmhotel.com.vn From VND350,000 ($17) Halong Palace Hotel 1, Block 20 Dong Hung Thang, Hoang Quoc Viet St, Bai Chay Ward, Halong Tel: (033) 3619-819 Email: info@halongpalacehotel.com www.halongpalacehotel.com From VND3,800,000 ($181) Halong Plaza Hotel 8 Ha Long St, Bai Chay Ward, Halong Tel: (033) 3845-810 Email: info@halongplaza.com www.halongplaza.com VND1,500,000 to VND3,800,000 ($71 to $179) Heritage Halong Hotel 88 Ha Long St, Bai Chay Ward, Halong Tel: (033) 3846-888 Email: saleheritagehl@gmail.com www.heritagehalonghotel.com.vn VND2,310,000 ($110)
equipped rooms, with many breathtaking views of Halong Bay RESTAURANTS
Co Ngu Restaurant Halong St, Halong Tel: (033) 3511-363 Jumbo Vietnam Floating Restaurant 119 Le Thanh Tong St, Halong Tel: (033) 3624-888 Sea Food Restaurant Halong St, Halong Tel: (033) 3845-822
Halong Gold Restaurant Halong St, Halong Tel: (033) 3845-142
BARS & CAFÉS
Emeraude Café 6A Le Thanh Tong St, Hon Gai, Halong Tel: (033) 3849-266 www.emeraude-cruises.com Royal International Gaming Club and Villa Bai Chay, Halong Tel: (033) 3848-777
HAI PHONG CITY (TELEPHONE CODE: 031) HOTELS, RESORTS
Mường Thanh Halong Hotel No.7, Block 20, East of Hung Thang, Bai Chay Ward, Halong Tel: (033) 3812-468/ (033) 3819-777 Email: info@halong.muongthanhhotel.vn www.muongthanhhotel.vn From VND1,400,000 ($67) Novotel Ha Long Bay 160 Ha Long St, Bai Chay Ward, Halong Tel: (033) 3848-108 Email: info@novotelhalong.com.vn www.novotelhalongbay.com From VND2,625,000 ($125)
Note: Prices at many hotels depend on occupancy and change daily Catba Princes Hotel
Saigon Halong Hotel Ha Long St, Bai Chay Ward, Halong Tel: (033) 3845-845 info@saigonhalonghotel.com www.saigonhalonghotel.com From VND950,000 ($45)
303 Nui Ngoc, Cat Ba Island, Hai Phong City Tel: (031) 3888-899 Email: sale@catbaprinceshotel.com www.catbaprinceshotel.com From VND500,000 ($24) Catba Sunrise Resort Cat Ba Island, Hai Phong City Tel: (031) 3887-360 Email: info@catbasunriseresort.com www.catbasunriseresort.com From VND3,045,000 ($145)
StarCity Halong Bay Hotel
168 Halong St, Bai Chay Ward, Halong Tel: (033) 3846-058 Email: sm1.north@och.vn www.starcityhalongbay.com In the centre of Halong, StarCity Halong Bay Hotel offers 152 well-
Avani Hai Phong Harbour View 12 Tran Phu St, Ngo Quyen Dist., Hai Phong Tel: (031) 3827-827 Email: haiphong@avanihotels.com www.avanihotels.com From VND2,772,000 ($132) ENTERTAINMENT
Do Son Casino Zone 3, Do Son town, Hai Phong Tel: (031) 3864-888
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A quare 1. B aD inh S Ba Dinh Square
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9. Vietnam off H History F3 istory F 3 Vietnam National National Museum Museum o 10. Vietnam Vietnam Military Military History History Museum D2 illar 11. O ne P One Pillar
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ausoleum 12. H oC hi M inh M Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum
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13. Ngo on Temple Temple Ngocc S Son
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STREET GUIDE
Ba Trieu...................E3, E4 Bac Son.........................D1 Bach Dang.....................F2 Bach Mai........................E4 Bat Dan..........................E2 Bich Cau........................C2 Buoi................................A1 Cat Linh..........................C2 Cha Ca....................E1, E2 Cua Bac.........................D1 Cua Dong.......................D2
Da Tuong.......................E3 Dang Tat.........................D1 Dao Duy Anh.................D4 Dao Duy Tu.............E1, E2 Dien Bien Phu................D2 Doc Ngu.........................A1 Doi Can.............A1, B2, C2 Duong Thanh.................E2 Gam Cau........................E1 Giai Phong.....................D4 Giang Vo.....A3 ,B3 ,B2,C2
Hai Ba Trung.....E2, E3, F3 Ham Long......................E3 Han Thuyen....................F3 Hang Bac.......................E2 Hang Bo.........................E2 Hang Bong.....................E2 Hang Buom....................E2 Hang Can.......................E2 Hang Chuoi....................F3 Hang Cot........................E1 Hang Da.........................E2 Hang Dao.......................E2
Hang Dau.......................E1 Hang Ga.........................E2 Hang Gai........................E2 Hang Khay.....................E2 Hang Khoai....................E1 Hang Ma.........................E1 Hang Quat......................E2 Hang Trong....................E2 Hang Chieu....................E1 Hang Luoc......................E1 Hao Nam........................C2 Hoa Ma...........................F3
Hoang Dieu.............D1, D2 Hoang Hoa Tham............... ....................A1, B1, C1, D1 Hoang Van Thu..............D1 Hoe Nhai........................E1 Hung Vuong............D1, D2 Huynh Thuc Khang........A3 Kham Thien.............C3, D3 Kim Ma..............A2, B2, C2 La Thanh.................B3, C3 Lang Ha..........................B3 Nguyen Chi Thanh.........A3
Le Dai Hanh...................E4 Le Duan............D2, D3, D4 Le Hong Phong.............D2 Le Lai..............................F2 Le Thai To.......................E2 Le Thanh Tong...............F3 Le Van Huu....................E3 Lieu Giai........................A2 Lo Duc......................F3, F4 Lo Su..............................F2 Luong Ngoc Quyen.......E2 Luong Van Can..............E2
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Ly Nam De..............E1, E2 Ly Quoc Su....................E2 Ly Thai To.......................F2 Ly Thuong Kiet........E3, F3 Mai Hac De..............E3, E4 Ngo Quyen.....................F3 Ngo Si Lien....................D2 Ngo Thi Nham................E3 Ngoc Ha.........................C1 Ngoc Khanh...................B2 Nguyen Canh Chan......D1 Nguyen Cong Hoa.........B2
Nguyen Dinh Chieu............ .................................E3, E4 Nguyen Du..............D3, E3 Nguyen Huu Huan........ F2 Nguyen Khuyen.............D2 Nguyen Luong Bang.....C3 Nguyen Thai Hoc....C2, D2 Nguyen Thuong Hien......... ........................................D3 Nguyen Van To..............E2 Nha Chung.....................E2 Nha Tho.........................E2
Nui Truc..........................B2 Pham Dinh Ho................F3 Pham Ngu Lao...............F3 Phan Boi Chau.......D2, D3 Phan Chu Trinh..............F3 Phan Dinh Phung..........D1 Phan Huy Chu................F3 Pho Duc Chinh...............F3 Pho Hue...................E3, E4 Phu Doan.......................E2 Phung Hung............E1, E2 Quan Su..................E2, E3
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Quan Thanh...................D1 Quang Trung...........E2, E3 Quoc Tu Giam...............D2 Son Tay..........................C2 Thai Phien......................E4 Thanh Cong...................B3 Thanh Nien....................D1 Tho Nhuom.............E2, E3 Thuy Khue.......................... ....................A1, B1, C1, D1 To Hien Thanh...............E4 Tong Dan........................F2
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Ton Duc Thang..............C3 Tran Hung Dao................... ...........................D3, E3, F3 Tran Huy Lieu................B2 Tran Khanh Du...............F3 Tran Khat Chan..............F4 Tran Nguyen Han..........F2 Tran Nhan Tong......D3, E3 Tran Nhat Duat..............E1 Tran Phu........................D2 Tran Quang Khai............F2 Tran Qui Cap.................D2
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Tran Quoc Toan......D3, E3 Tran Thanh Tong............F3 Tran Xuan Soan................. .................................E3, E4 Trang Thi........................E2 Trang Tien................E2, F3 Trieu Viet Vuong......E3, E4 Trinh Hoai Duc...............C2 Tue Tinh.........................E3 Yen Phu..........................E1 Yersin..............................F4 Yet Kieu..........................D3
DIRECTIONS HANOI HANOI
(TELEPHONE CODE: 04) EMBASSIES
Finland 31 Hai Ba Trung St, Hoan Kiem Dist., Hanoi Tel: (04) 3826-6788
Algeria 13 Phan Chu Trinh St, Hoan Kiem Dist., Hanoi Tel: (04) 3825-3865
France 57 Tran Hung Dao St, Hoan Kiem Dist., Hanoi Tel: (04) 3944-5782
Argentina 41A Ly Thai To St, Hoan Kiem Dist., Hanoi Tel: (04) 3831-5263
Germany 29 Tran Phu St, Ba Dinh Dist., Hanoi Tel: (04) 3845-3836
Australia 8 Dao Tan St, Ba Dinh Dist., Hanoi Tel: (04) 3831-7755 Austria 53 Quang Trung St, Hoan Kiem Dist., Hanoi Tel: (04) 3943-3050 Bangladesh Villa D6B 5 – Khu Vuon Dao Ngo 675, Lac Long Quan St, Tay Ho Dist., Hanoi Tel: (04) 3771-6625 Belarus 52 Ho Tay St, Tay Ho Dist., Hanoi Tel: (04) 3829-0494 Belgium Hanoi Tower, 49 Hai Ba Trung St, Hoan Kiem Dist., Hanoi Tel: (04) 3934-6179 Brazil T72-14 Thuy Khue St, Tay Ho Dist., Hanoi Tel: (04) 3843-2544 Brunei Villa 8-9 No 44/8-44, 9 Van Bao St, Ba Dinh Dist., Hanoi Tel: (04) 3726-0001 Bulgaria 5 Nui Truc St, Ba Dinh Dist., Hanoi Tel: (04) 3845-2908 Cambodia 71A Tran Hung Dao St, Hoan Kiem Dist., Hanoi Tel: (04) 3942-7636 Canada 31 Hung Vuong St, Ba Dinh Dist., Hanoi Tel: (04) 3823-5500 China 46 Hoang Dieu St, Ba Dinh Dist., Hanoi. Tel: (04) 3845-3736 Cuba 65 Ly Thuong Kiet St, Hoan Kiem Dist., Hanoi Tel: (04) 3942-4775 Czech Republic 13 Chu Van An St, Ba Dinh Dist., Hanoi; Tel: (04) 3845-4131 Denmark 19 Dien Bien Phu St, Ba Dinh Dist., Hanoi Tel: (04) 3823-1888 Egypt 63 To Ngoc Van St, Tay Ho Dist., Hanoi Tel: (04) 3829-4999
Hungary 12th floor of Deaha Building, 360 Kim Ma St, Ba Dinh Dist., Hanoi Tel: (04) 3771-5714 India 58-60 Tran Hung Dao St, Hoan Kiem Dist., Hanoi Tel: (04) 3824-4990 Indonesia 50 Ngo Quyen St, Hoan Kiem Dist., Hanoi Tel: (04) 3825-3353 Iran 54 Tran Phu St, Ba Dinh Dist., Hanoi Tel: (04) 3823-2068 Iraq 66 Tran Hung Dao St, Hoan Kiem Dist., Hanoi Tel: (04) 3942-4141 Ireland 8th floor of Vincom Tower B, 191 Ba Trieu St, Ha Dong Dist., Hanoi Tel: (04) 3974-3291 Israel 68 Nguyen Thai Hoc St, Ba Dinh Dist., Hanoi Tel: (04) 3843-3141 Italy 9 Le Phung Hieu St, Hoan Kiem Dist., Hanoi Tel: (04) 3825-6256 Japan 27 Lieu Giai St, Ba Dinh Dist., Hanoi Tel: (04) 3846-3000 Laos 22 Tran Binh Trong St, Hoan Kiem Dist., Hanoi Tel: (04) 3942-4576 Libya 298B Kim Ma St, Ba Dinh Dist., Hanoi Tel: (04) 3845-3379 Malaysia 43-45 Dien Bien Phu St, Ba Dinh Dist., Hanoi Tel: (04) 3734-3836 Mexico Coco Villa T-11, 14 Thuy Khue St, Tay Ho Dist., Hanoi Tel: (04) 3847-0948 Mongolia 5 Van Phuc, Kim Ma St, Ba Dinh Dist., Hanoi Tel: (04) 3845-3009 Myanmar 298A Kim Ma St, Ba Dinh Dist., Hanoi Tel: (04) 3845-3369
46 • VIETNAM HERITAGE - JULY-AUGUST 2015
Netherlands 6th floor of Deaha Building, 360 Kim Ma St, Ba Dinh Dist., Hanoi Tel: (04) 3831-5650 New Zealand 63 Ly Thai To St, Hoan Kiem Dist., Hanoi Tel: (04) 3824-1481 North Korea 25 Cao Ba Quat St, Ba Dinh Dist., Hanoi Tel: (04) 3845-3008 Norway 8th Floor, Hanoi Tower, 49 Hai Ba Trung St, Hoan Kiem Dist., Hanoi Tel: (04) 3974-8900 Nigeria 44/1 Van Bao St, Ba Dinh Dist., Hanoi Tel: (04) 3726-3610 Palestine 6 Dang Van Ngu St, Dong Da Dist., Hanoi Tel: (04) 3852-4013 Philippines 27B Tran Hung Dao St, Hoan Kiem Dist., Hanoi Tel: (04) 3943-7948 Poland 3 Chua Mot Cot St, Ba Dinh Dist., Hanoi Tel: (04) 3845-2027 Romania 5 Le Hong Phong St, Ba Dinh Dist., Hanoi Tel: (04) 3845-2014 Russia 191 La Thanh St, Ba Dinh Dist., Hanoi Tel: 3833-6991 South Africa 31 Hai Ba Trung St, Hoan Kiem Dist., Hanoi Tel: (04) 3936-2000 South Korea 4th floor of Deaha Building, 360 Kim Ma St, Ba Dinh Dist., Hanoi Tel: (04) 3831-5111 Spain 15th floor of Deaha Building, 360 Kim Ma St, Ba Dinh Dist., Hanoi Tel: (04) 3771-5207
MEDICAL CENTRES Acupuncture Institute 49 Thai Thinh St, Dong Da Dist., Hanoi Tel: (04) 3563-1069 Hanoi French Hospital 1 Phuong Mai St, Ba Dinh Dist., Hanoi Tel: (04) 3577-1100 International SOS Clinic 1 Dang Thai May St, Tay Ho Dist., Hanoi Tel: (04) 3934-0666 Thuy Tran Otolaryngology Clinic 6 Do Quang St, Cau Giay Dist., Hanoi (6/61 Tran Duy Hung Avenue) Tel: (04) 3556-6124 Mobile 098 368 0276 Email: thuyent12@yahoo.com www.taimuihongthuytran.com Vinmec international hospital 458 Minh Khai St, Hai Ba Trung Dist, Hanoi, Tel: (04) 3974-3556 AIRLINES Air France 1 Ba Trieu St, Hoan Kiem Dist., Hanoi Tel: (04) 3825-3484 Qatar Airways Hilton Hanoi Opera Building, M floor, 1 Le Thanh Tong St, Hoan Kiem Dist., Hanoi Tel: (04) 3933-6767 www.qatarairways.com Singapore Airlines 17 Ngo Quyen St, Hoan Kiem Dist., Hanoi. Tel: (04) 3826-8888 Vietnam Airlines 25 Trang Thi St, Hoan Kiem Dist., Hanoi Tel: (04) 3823-0320 TRAVEL
Amega Travel Hancorp Plaza, 72 Tran Dang Ninh St, Cau Giay Dist., Hanoi Tel: (04) 3783-3570 www.amegatours.net
United Kingdom 31 Hai Ba Trung St, Hoan Kiem Dist., Hanoi Tel: (04) 3936-0500
Buffalo Tours 10th Floor, 70-72 Ba Trieu St, Hoan Kiem Dist., Hanoi Tel: (04) 3828-0702 www.buffalotours.com Emeraude Classic Cruises 46 Le Thai To St, Hanoi Tel: (04) 3935-1888 www.emeraude-cruises.com Email: info@buffalotours.com Exotissmo 3rd Floor, 66A Tran Hung Dao St, Hoan Kiem Dist., Hanoi Tel: (04) 3828-2150 www.exotissimo.com Email: go.vietnam@exotravel.com
United States 7 Lang Ha St, Dong Da Dist., Hanoi Tel: (04) 3772-1500
Topas Travel 52 To Ngoc Van St, Hanoi Tel: (04) 3715-1005
Sweden 2 Nui Truc St, Ba Dinh Dist., Hanoi Tel: (04) 3726-0400 Thailand 63-65 Hoang Dieu St, Ba Dinh Dist., Hanoi Tel: (04) 3823-5092 Turkey 14th Floor, HCO Building, 44B Ly Thuong Kiet St, Hoan Kiem Dist., Tel: (04) 3822-2460
DIRECTIONS HANOI Email: sales@topastravel.vn www.topastravel.vn HOTELS Note: Prices at many hotels depend on occupancy and change daily Fortuna Hotel Hanoi 6B Lang Ha St, Ba Dinh Dist., Hanoi Tel: (04) 3831-3333 Email: fortunahanoi@fortuna.vn www.fortuna.vn From VND1,920,000 ($91) Hanoi Daewoo Hotel 360 Kim Ma St, Hanoi Tel: (04) 3831-5000 Email: sales@daewoohotel.com www.daewoohotel.com Hanoi Emotion Hotel 26 – 28 Hang Bot St, Hanoi Tel: (04) 3848-9848 Email: info@hanoi-emotion.com www.hanoi-emotion.com The hotel also provides Vietnamese, Japanese and International cuisine Hilton Hanoi Opera Hotel 1 Le Thanh Tong St, Hanoi Tel: (04) 3933-0500 Email: hanoi.opera@hilton.com www.hanoi.hilton.com Hotel de l’Opera 29 Trang Tien St, Hoan Kiem Dist., Hanoi Tel: (04) 6282-5555 Email: H7832-RE@accor.com www.hoteldelopera.com Melia Hanoi Hotel
44B Ly Thuong Kiet St, Hanoi Tel: (04) 3934-3343 Email: melia.hanoi@melia.com www.melia.com Mövenpick Hotel Hanoi 83A Ly Thuong Kiet St, Hanoi Tel: (04) 3822-2800 hotel.hanoi@moevenpick.com www.moevenpickhotels.com/hanoi From VND3,622,500 ($172.50) Hotel Nikko Hanoi 84 Tran Nhan Tong St, Hanoi Tel: (04) 3822-3535 mc.nikko@hotelnikkohanoi.com.vn www.hotelnikkohanoi.com.vn From VND4,620,000 ($220) Pullman Hanoi 40 Cat Linh St, Hanoi Tel: (04) 3733-0808 www.pullman-hanoi.com From VND2,448,600 ($115.50)
Commune, Tu Liem Dist., Hanoi Tel: (04) 6287-06 04 Opening hour: 8 a.m. to 11.30 a.m. and 1.30 p.m. to 5 p.m. Free entrance
Silk Path Hotel Hanoi 195-199 Hang Bong St, Hoan Kiem Dist., Hanoi Tel: (04) 3266-5555 Email: info@silkpathhotel.com www.silkpathhotel.com From VND2,173,500 ($103.50)
Tan My Embroidery 66 Hang Gai St, Hanoi Email: tanmyhuong@fpt.vn Tel: (04) 3825-1579
Sheraton Hanoi Hotel 11 Xuan Dieu St, Hanoi Tel: (04) 3719-9000 reservations.hanoi@sheraton.com www.sheraton.com/hanoi From VND4,956,000 ($236)
Mekong Quilts 13 Hang Bac St, Hoan Kiem Dist., Hanoi Tel: (04) 3926-4831 www.mekong-quilts.org
Ho Chi Minh Museum 19 Ngoc Ha St, Ba Dinh Dist., Hanoi Tel: (04) 3846-3752 www.baotanghochiminh.vn Open: 8 a.m. to noon (Monday and Friday), 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. (other days) Entry fee: VND25,000
Dome Yen The 10 Yen The St, Hanoi Tel: (04) 3843-6036
Imperial Citadel of Thang Long 12 Nguyen Tri Phuong St/ 9 Hoang Dieu St, Ba Dinh Dist., Hanoi Tel: (04) 37345427 hoangthanhthanglong@gmail.com www.hoangthanhthanhlong.vn Open: 8.30 a.m. to 11.30 a.m. and 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. (Closed on Mondays) Entry fee: VND30,000
Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi 15 Ngo Quyen St, Hanoi Tel: (04) 3826-6919 Email: h1555@sofitel.com www.sofitel-legend.com From VND6,090,000 ($290) Sunway Hotel Hanoi 19 Pham Dinh Ho St, Hanoi Tel: (04) 3971-3888 Email: reservation@sunwayhotel.com.vn www.hanoi.sunwayhotels.com RESTAURANTS Com Chay Nang Tam Restaurant 79A Tran Hung Dao St, Hanoi Tel: (04) 3942-4140 Green Tangerine 48 Hang Be St, Hoan Kiem Dist., Hanoi Tel: (04) 3825-1286 www.greentangerinehanoi.com Serving French food with a Vietnamese cuisine Hoa Vien Brauhaus 1A Tang Bat Ho St, Hai Ba Trung Dist., Hanoi Tel: (04) 3972-5088 www.hoavien.vn The restaurant has been famous for its production of Czech beer Le Tonkin Restaurant 14 Ngo Van So St, Hoan Kiem Dist., Hanoi Tel: (04) 3943-3457 www.letonkinrestaurant.vn Serves Vietnamese food
BOOK STORE
Infostones Bookshop 41 Trang Tien St, Hoan Kiem Dist., Hanoi Tel: (04) 3826-2993 Email: sach41trangtien@gmail.com Thousands of magazines and books by hundreds of publishing houses worldwide SHOPS
Craft Link 43 and 51 Van Mieu St, Hanoi Tel: (04) 3843-7710 Email: craftlink@hn.vnn.vn Ha Dong Silk 102 Hang Gai St, Hanoi Tel: (04) 3928-5056
Viet Culture 1 Trang Thi St, Hanoi Tel: (04) 3934-7417
FURNITURE/ INTERIOR Dome Au Co 9 Au Co St, Hanoi Tel: (04) 3718-5866 Email: sales@dome.com.vn
SIGHTSEEINGS
Ba Dinh Square 36A Dien Bien Phu St, Ba Dinh Dist, Hanoi Ba Dinh Square, where President Ho Chi Minh declared Vietnam’s independence in September 1945, is a complex of historic sites. Cot Co Tower 28 Dien Bien Phu St, Ba Dinh Dist, Hanoi Cot Co Tower, the so-called Flag Tower, is now part of the Vietnam Military History Museum complex. The Tower was built in 1950, under the Nguyen Dynasty, with the help of French engineers. The tower has 36 flower-shaped windows. At the top of the tower flies the flag of Vietnam. Hanoi Opera House 1 Trang Tien St, Hoan Kiem Dist, Hanoi Designed by a French architect along the lines of the Paris Opera House, it is embellished with wonderful Gothic statuary. For many decades, Hanoi Opera House has been a centre for theatre, traditional music and dance, symphonies, traditional and classical music. This, the largest theatre in Vietnam, was completed in 1911. Hoa Lo Prison ‘La Maison Centrale’, the prison on Hoa Lo Street in Hanoi, was built by the French in 1896 and became the place where generations of Vietnamese freedom fighters were held. St Joseph’s Cathedral 40 Nha Chung St, Hoan Kiem Dist., Hanoi Fresh missionaries built this cathedral in the late 19th century. The small but beautiful panes of stained glass were created in Paris in 1906. Also of note is the ornate altar, with its high gilded sidewalls. MUSEUMS
Hanoi Museum 2 Pham Hung (next to Vietnam National Convention Centre), Me Tri
Vietnam National Museum of History 1 Trang Tien St, Hanoi 216 Tran Quang Khai St, Hanoi Tel: (04) 3824-1384 www.baotanglichsu.vn Open 8 a.m. to 4.30 p.m.Closed every first Monday of months Entry fee VND 20,000 ($0.95) for adults and VND10,000 ($0.48) for children Vietnam Fine Arts Museum 66 Nguyen Thai Hoc St, Ba Dinh Dist., Hanoi Tel: (04) 3733-2131 Email: btmtvn@vnfam.vn www.vnfineartsmuseum.org.vn Open 8.30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Entry fee VND20,000 ($0.95) Vietnam Military History Museum 28A Dien Bien Phu St, Hanoi www.btlsqsvn.org.vn Open 8 a.m. to 11.30 a.m. and 1 p.m. to 4.30 p.m. Closed on Mondays Entry fee VND30,000 ($1.43) Vietnam Museum of Ethnology Nguyen Van Huyen St, Cau Giay Dist., Hanoi Tel: (04) 3756-2193, www.vme.org.vn Open 8.30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Closed on Mondays Entry fee VND40,000 ($2) Women’s Museum 36 Ly Thuong Kiet, Hanoi Tel: (04) 3825-9936 www.womenmuseum.org.vn Open 8 a.m. to 4.30 p.m. Closed on Mondays Entry fee VND30,000 ($1.43) SPA
Elite Fitness & Spa 51 Xuan Dieu St, Tay Ho Dist., Hanoi Tel: (04) 3718-6281 info@elitefitness.com.vn www.elitefitness.com.vn
VIETNAM HERITAGE - JULY-AUGUST 2015
• 47
DIRECTIONS NINH BINH, NGHE AN, QUANG BINH, HUE, DANANG NINH BINH
(TELEPHONE CODE: 030) Emeralda Resort Ninh Binh
UNESCO World Heritage in 1993. Hue is also known for its particular cuisine. HOTELS, RESORTS Note: Prices at many hotels depend on occupancy and change daily
Van Long Reserve, Gia Van Commune, Gia Vien Dist., Ninh Binh Province Tel: (030) 3658-333 Email: info@emeraldaresort.com www.emeraldaresort.com
463 Lac Long Quan St., Lang Co Town, Phu Loc Dist, Thua Thien Hue Province Tel: (054) 3873-555 Email: langco@dng.vnn.vn www.langcobeachresort.com.vn
NGHE AN
Email: sales@songlam.muongthanh.vn
www.songlam.muongthanh.vn
QUANG BINH
(TELEPHONE CODE: 052) HOTELS, RESORTS
Note: Prices at many hotels depend on occupancy and change daily Bao Ninh Beach Resort Ha Duong, Bao Ninh, Dong Hoi City, Quang Binh Province Tel: (052) 3854-866 Email: sales@baoninhbeachresort.com.vn www.baoninhbeachresort.com.vn From VND1,120,000 ($53) Sun Spa Resort My Canh, Bao Ninh Commune, Dong Hoi City, Quang Binh Province Tel: (052) 3842-999 Email: info@sunsparesortvietnam.com www.sunsparesortvietnam.com From VND1,870,000 ($89) TRAVEL
105A Hung Vuong St, Hue Tel: (054) 3936-666 Email: info@bwp-indochinepalace.com www.bwp-indochinepalace.com From VND2,940,000 ($140) The hotel is surrounded by lush green gardens that make it an outstanding landmark in Hue and give the city the feel of a resort. This luxurious, international standard hotel is created to appeal to Vietnamese and international visitors to Hue. Century Riverside Hotel Hue 49 Le Loi St, Hue Tel: (054) 3823-390 Email: info@centuryriversidehue.com www.centuryriversidehue.com Hotel Saigon Morin
30 Le Loi St, Hue Tel: (054) 3823-526 Email: info@morinhotels.com.vn www.morinhotel.com.vn From VND2,173,500 ($103.50) Hue Riverside Boutique Resort & Spa
Oxalis Adventure Tours Phong Nha Commune, Son Trach Village, Bo Trach Dist., Quang Binh Province Tel: (052)3677-678 www.oxalis.com.vn
Pilgrimage Village Boutique Resort & Spa 130 Minh Mang Road, Hue Tel: (054) 3885-461 Email: info@pilgrimagevillage.com www.pilgrimagevillage.com Vedanā Lagoon Resort & Spa Zone 1, Phu Loc Town, Phu Loc Dist., Hue Tel: (054) 3681-688 Email: info@vedanalagoon.com www.vedanalagoon.com RESTAURANT
Thien Tam Vegetarian Restaurant 110A Le Ngo Cat St, Thuy Xuan Ward, Hue Tel: (054) 3898-220 www.thientamrestaurant.com Thien Tam Vegetarian Restaurant features a Hue garden house with a simple design and a serene atmosphere. The restaurant serves a variety of Hue vegetarian food, from royal to local dishes, at a reasonable price. The menu has many choices, with prices starting from VND45,000 per dish. The restaurant also serves as an art playground for Hue artists. Guests have chance to get their portraits drawn by the owners at a reasonable price. Vegetarian cooking classes are also available. The restaurant is about 1-2 km from Tu Duc tomb
DANANG
(TELEPHONE CODE: 0511) HOTELS, RESORTS
Note: Prices at many hotels depend on occupancy and change daily
HUE
(TELEPHONE CODE: 054) Hue is a city on the Perfume River in lowland central Vietnam and was the capital of the Nguyen dynasty from 1802 to 1945. Many imperial structures remain. They were named part of
588 Bui Thi Xuan St, Thuy Bieu Dist., Hue Tel: (054) 3978-484 Email: sales@hueriversideresort.com www.hueriversideresort.com
48 • VIETNAM HERITAGE - JULY-AUGUST 2015
Tel: (0511) 3981-234 Email: danang.regency@hyatt.com www.danang.regency.hyatt.com From VND5,225,000 ($243) Pullman Danang Beach Resort Vo Nguyen Giap St, Khue My Ward, Ngu Hanh Son Dist., Danang Tel: (0511) 3958-888 Email: info@pullman-danang.com www.pullman-danang.com Novotel Danang Premier Han River 36 Bach Dang St, Hai Chau Dist., Danang. Tel: (0511) 3929-999 Email: H8287@accor.com www.novotel-danang-premier.com
BW Premier Indochine Palace
Email: info@ninhbinhlegendhotel.com
(TELEPHONE CODE: 038) Mường Thanh Song Lam Hotel 13 Quang Trung St, Quang Trung Ward, Vinh, Nghe An Province Tel: (038) 3737-666
Lang Co Beach Resort
Banyan Tree Lang Co Hotel Cu Du village, Loc Vinh Commune, Phu Loc Dist., Thua Thien Hue Province. Tel: (054) 3695-888 reservations-langco@banyantree.com www.banyantree.com
Ninh Binh Legend Hotel Tien Dong Zone, Ninh Khanh Ward, Ninh Binh City Tel: (030) 3899-880 www.ninhbinhlegendhotel.com From VND1,575,000 ($75)
Imperial Hotel 8 Hung Vuong St, Hue Tel: (054) 3882-222 Email: info@imperial-hotel.com.vn www.imperial-hotel.com.vn From VND2,940,000 ($140)
Grand Mercure Danang Lot A1, Green Island, Hoa Cuong Bac, Hai Chau Dist., Danang Tel: (0511) 3797-777 Email: H7821@accor.com www.accorhotels.com/7821 Hyatt Regency Danang Resort & Spa Hoa Hai Ward, Ngu Hanh Son Dist., Danang
Sandy Beach Non Nuoc Resort Danang Vietnam, Managed by Centara
255 Huyen Tran Cong Chua St, Ngu Hanh Son Dist., Danang Tel: (0511) 3961-777 Email: cdv@chr.co.th www.centarahotelsresorts.com/cdv VND1,785,000 to VND5,670,000 ($85 to $270) Ho Chi Minh sales office: 4th Floor, Ben Thanh TSC Building; 186-188 Le Thanh Ton St, Dist.1, Ho Chi Minh City Tel: (08) 3914-7940 Vinpearl Luxury Danang Truong Sa St, Hoa Hai Ward, Ngu Hanh Son Dist., Danang Tel: (0 511) 3968-888 Email: info@vinpearlluxury-danang.com www.vinpearl.com MUSEUM
Danang Museum of Cham Sculpture 2, 2 Thang 9 St, Danang Tel: (0511) 3572-935 www.chammuseum.danang.vn Open 7.15 a.m. to 5 p.m. Entry fee VND30,000 ($1.43)
HOI AN
(TELEPHONE CODE: 0510) A major port town from the 15th to 19th centuries, Hoi An has well preserved vestiges of Vietnamese, Chinese and Japanese cultures. The buildings are now often used for tailor’s shops. The old town is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Hoi An is a little over 30 km south of Danang, on the central coast. HOTELS, RESORTS
Note: Prices at many hotels depend on occupancy and change daily Anantara Hoi An Resort 1 Pham Hong Thai St, Hoi An, Quang Nam Province
DIRECTIONS HOI AN, QUY NHON, NHA TRANG Tel: (0510) 3914-555 Email: hoian@anantara.com www.hoi-an.anantara.com Golden Sand Resort & Spa Hoi An Thanh Nien Road, Cua Dai Beach Hoi An, Quang Nam Province Tel: (0510) 3927-555 info@goldensandresort-spa.com.vn www.goldensandresort-spa.com.vn VND3,759,000 to VND7,644,000 Ancient House River Resort Hamlet 2, Cam Thanh Village, Hoi An, Quang Nam Province Tel: (0510) 3930-777 Email: sales@ancienthouseriver.com www.ancienthouseriver.com From VND2,310,000 ($110) Hoi An Beach Resort 1 Cua Dai St, Hoi An, Quang Nam Province Tel: (0510) 3927-011 info@hoianbeachresort.com.vn www.hoianbeachresort.com.vn From VND3,415,500 ($163)
Sunrise Hoi An Beach Resort Au Co Road, Cua Dai Beach, Hoi An, Quang Nam Province Tel: (0510) 3937-777 Email: sales@sunrisehoian.vn www.sunrisehoian.vn Palm Garden Beach Resort and Spa
Lac Long Quan St, Cua Dai Beach, Hoi An, Quang Nam Province Tel: (0510) 3927-927 Email: info@pgr.com.vn www.palmgardenresort.com.vn From VND4,485,000 ($214) River-Beach Resort & Residences Hoi An
5 Cua Dai St, Hoi An Tel: (0510) 3927-888 saleshoian@river-beachresort.com www.river-beachresort.com From VND1,350,000 ($65) ($179 to $364)TRAVEL
Kiman Hotel & Spa
NHA TRANG
(TELEPHONE CODE: 058) On the central coast, Nha Trang is a city originally known for beautiful beaches but these have lately been found to suffer from pollution due to modern life, development and tourism, like other popular resort areas in Vietnam. It has large numbers of foreign tourists, island-hopping, scuba diving, sightseeing and lounging on the beach. HOTELS, RESORTS
Hoi An Historic Hotel
Hotel Royal Hoi An, Mgallery Collection 39 Dao Duy Tu St, Hoi An, Quang Nam Province Tel: (0510) 3950-777 reservation@hotelroyalhoian.com www.mgallery.com
MUSEUM
Quang Trung Museum Block 1, Phu Phong town, Tay Son Dist., Binh Dinh Province Tel: (056) 3580-320 Open 7 a.m. to 11.30 a.m. and 1.30 p.m. to 5 p.m. Entry fee VND10,500 ($0.50). Free for children under six
Hoi An Riverside Resort & Spa 175 Cua Dai St, Hoi An, Quang Nam Province Tel: (0510) 3864-800 reservation@hoianriverresort.com.vn www.hoianriverresort.com From VND1,650,000 ($79)
10 Tran Hung Dao St, Hoi An, Quang Nam Province Tel: (0510) 3861-445 Email: reservation@hoianhotel.com.vn www.hoianhotel.com.vn From VND2,127,500 ($101)
Tel: (056) 374-7100 Email: reservation@royalquynhon.com www.royalquynhon.com VND1,155,000 to VND1,365,000 ($55 to $65)
Rose Travel Service co..ltd 37 - 39 Ly Thai To St, Cam Chau Ward, Hoi An, Quang Nam Province Tel: (0510) 3917-567 Email: sales@rosetravelservice.com www.rosetravelservice.com.vn
QUY NHON
(TELEPHONE CODE: 056)
reservation@bavicohotelnhatrang.com
www.bavicohotelnhatrang.com. Best Western Premier Havana Nha Trang Hotel
38 Tran Phu St, Nha Trang, Khanh Hoa Province Tel: (058) 3889-999 Email: info@havanahotel.vn www.havanahotel.vn Diamond Bay Resort & Spa Nguyen Tat Thanh Blvd, Phuoc Ha, Phuoc Dong Dist., Khanh Hoa Province Tel: (058) 3711-711 Email: info@diamondbayresort.vn www.diamondbayresort.vn Evason Ana Mandara Nha Trang Beachside Tran Phu St, Nha Trang, Khanh Hoa Province Tel: (058) 3524-705
Note: Prices at many hotels depend on occupancy and change daily
reservations-nhatrang@evasonresorts.com
Champa Island Nha Trang Resort & Spa 304 2/4 St, Vinh Phuoc, Nha Trang Email: sales@champaislandresort.vn www.champaisandresort.vn Hotline: 0123 6009 777 With architecture reflecting nearby Po Nagar temple, Champa Island Nha Trang offers exquisite cuisine and many entertainment services that promise a memorable stay in Nha Trang
Galina Hotel and Spa 5 Hung Vuong St, Loc Tho Ward, Nha Trang Tel: (058) 3839-999 Email: info@galinahotel.com.vn www.galinahotel.com.vn
Bavico International Hotel
www.evason-resorts.com
Green World Hotel Nha Trang 44 Nguyen Thi Minh Khai St, Nha Trang, Khanh Hoa Province Tel: (058) 3528-666 sales@greenworldhotelnhatrang.com www.greenworldhotelnhatrang.com InterContinental Nha Trang Hotel 32-34 Tran Phu St, Nha Trang Tel: (058) 3887-777 www.intercontinental.com
MUSEUM
Hoi An Centre for Cultural Heritage Management and Preservation 10B Tran Hung Dao St, Hoi An Tel: (0510) 3862-367 www.hoianheritage.net Open daily 8 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Tel: (058) 6266-555
02 Phan Boi Chau St, Nha Trang, Khanh Hoa Province
Liberty Central Nha Trang Hotel 9 Biet Thu St, Nha Trang, Khanh Hoa Province Tel: (058) 3529-555 Email: frondesk.lcn@odysseahotels.com www.odysseahotels.com
HOTELS, RESORTS
Note: Prices at many hotels depend on occupancy and change daily 461-463 Hai Ba Trung St, Hoi An, Quang Nam Province Tel: (0510) 3920 430 Email: kimanhoianhotel@gmail.com Website: kimanhoianhotel.com Le Belhamy Hoi An Resort & Spa Ha My Beach, Hoi An Tel: (0510) 3941-888 Email: info@belhamy.com www.belhamy.com
AVANI Quy Nhon Resort & Spa Ghenh Rang, Bai Dai Beach, Quy Nhon, Binh Dinh Province Tel: (056) 3840-132 Email: quynhon@avanihotels.com www.avanihotels.com/quynhon From VND3,024,000 ($144) Royal Hotel and Healthcare Resort Quy Nhon 1 Han Mac Tu St, Quy Nhon, Binh Dinh Province VIETNAM HERITAGE - JULY-AUGUST 2015
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DIRECTIONS PHAN THIET Michelia Hotel 4 Pasteur St, Nha Trang, Khanh Hoa Province Tel: (058) 3820-820 Email: sales@michelia.vn www.michelia.vn From VND2,200,000 ($105)
Email: info@vinpearlresort-nhatrang.com www.vinpearl.com SHOPPING
Mường Thanh Nha Trang Hotel 6 Duong Hien Quyen St, Vinh Hoa Ward, Nha Trang, Khanh Hoa Province Tel: (058) 3552-468 Email: info@nhatrang.muongthanh.vn www.nhatrang.muongthanh.vn From VND1,400,000 ($66)
Khanh Hoa Salanganes Nest Company 248 Thong Nhat St, Nha Trang, Khanh Hoa Province Tel: (058) 3822-472 yensaokh@yensaokhanhhoa.com.vn www.yensaokhanhhoa.com.vn
PHAN THIET
Six Senses Ninh Van Bay Ninh Van bay, Ninh Hoa, Khanh Hoa Province Tel: (058) 3524-268 reservations-ninhvan@sixsenses.com www.sixsenses.com/resorts/ninh-vanbay/destination From VND18,837,000 ($897) Sheraton Nha Trang Hotel & Spa 26-28 Tran Phu St, Nha Trang, Khanh Hoa Province. Tel: (058) 3880-000 reservations.nhatrang@sheraton.com www.sheratonnhatrang.com Sunrise Nha Trang Beach Hotel & Spa 12-14 Tran Phu St, Nha Trang, Khanh Hoa Province Tel: (058) 3820-999 Email: info@sunrisenhatrang.com.vn www.sunrisenhatrang.com.vn VND2,520,000 to VND4,305,000 ($120 to $205)
(TELEPHONE CODE: 062) Sitting on the coast about 200 km north of Ho Chi Minh City, Phan Thiet is a beach city with many resorts and hotels. HOTELS, RESORTS
Anantara Mui Ne Resort & Spa 12A Nguyen Dinh Chieu St, Ham Tien Ward, Phan Thiet City, Binh Thuan Province Tel: (062) 3741-888 Email: res.amui@anantara.com www.mui-ne.anantara.com
Vinpearl Luxury Nha Trang Hon Tre Island, Nha Trang, Khanh Hoa Province Tel: (058) 3598-598 Email: info@vinpearlluxury-nhatrang.com www.vinpearl.com
Quarter 14, Mui Ne Ward , Phan Thiet City, Binh Thuan Province Tel: (062) 2220-222 Email: info@muinebayresort.com www.muinebayresort.com VND2,205,000 to VND6,195,000 ($105 to $295) Mui Ne Unique Resort 152 Nguyen Dinh Chieu St, Ham Tien Ward, Phan Thiet City, Binh Thuan Province . Tel: (062) 3847-858 Email: info@hoangngoc-resort.com www.hoangngoc-resort.com VND1,600,000 to VND6,090,000 ($75 to $287) Phu Hai Resort 20B, Nguyen Dinh Chieu St, Ham Tien Ward, Phan Thiet, Binh Thuan Province Tel: (062) 3741-617 Email: info@muineuniqueresort.com www.muineuniqueresort.com From VND2,898,000 ($138)
Note: Prices at many hotels depend on occupancy and change daily Allezboo Beach Resort & Spa 8 Nguyen Dinh Chieu St, Ham Tien, Phan Thiet, Binh Thuan Province Tel: (062) 3743-777 Email: info@allezbooresort.com www.allezbooresort.com From VND2,100,000 ($100)
Romana Resort & Spa Km8, Nguyen Dinh Chieu St, Phu Hai Ward, Phan Thiet City, Binh Thuan Province Tel: (062) 3812-799 Email: info@phuhairesort.com www.phuhairesort.com Mom Da Chim - Lazi Beach Resort Km 8, Phu Hai, Mui Ne Ward, Phan Thiet, Binh Thuan Province Tel: (062) 3741-289 Email: info@romanaresort.com.vn www.romanaresort.com.vn
Bamboo Village Beach Resort & Spa
Ly Thai To St, Tan Tien, Lagi, Binh Thuan Province Tel: (062) 3874-458 Email: contact@lazibeachresort.com www.lazibeachresort.com From VND1,900,000 ($90)
Vinpearl Resort Nha Trang Hon Tre Island, Nha Trang City, Khanh Hoa Province Tel: (058) 3598-188
Muine Bay Resort
Hoang Ngoc (Oriental Pearl) Beach Resort & Spa
MUSEUM
Alexandre Yersin Museum Pasteur Institute, 10 Tran Phu St, Nha Trang, Khanh Hoa Province Tel: (058) 3822-406
Novotel Nha Trang Hotel 50 Tran Phu St, Nha Trang, Khanh Hoa Province Tel: (058) 6256-900 Email: rsvn@novotel-nhatrang.com www.novotel-nhatrang.com From VND2,100,000 ($100)
38 Nguyen Dinh Chieu St, Ham Tien Ward, Phan Thiet City, Binh Thuan Province Tel: (062) 3847-007 info@bamboovillageresortvn.com www.bamboovillageresortvn.com From VND2,835,000 ($135)
Saigon - Suoi Nhum Resort Thuan Quy, Ham Thuan Nam Ward, Binh Thuan Province Tel: (062) 3683-240 info@saigonsuoinhumresort.com www.saigonsuoinhumresort.com From VND1,700,000 ($81) Sandunes Beach Resort & Spa
Muine de Century Beach Resort & Spa 16 Huynh Thuc Khang St, Ham Tien Ward, Phan Thiet, Binh Thuan Province Tel: (062) 3743-668 reservation@muinedecentury.vn www.muinedecentury.vn From VND1,701,000 ($81)
www.phuhairesort.com 50 • VIETNAM HERITAGE - JULY-AUGUST 2015
Muine Ocean Resort & Spa 10 Nguyen Dinh Chieu St, Ham Tien Ward, Phan Thiet City, Binh Thuan Province Tel: (062) 3741-616 Email: sale.muineocean@gmail.com www.muineoceanresort.com From VND1,050,000 ($50)
5 Quarter, Mui Ne Ward, Phan Thiet City, Binh Thuan Province Tel: (062) 3748-868 Email: info@sandunesbeach.com www.sandunesbeach.com Saigon Mui Ne Resort 56 - 97 Nguyen Dinh Chieu St, Ham Tien Ward, Phan Thiet City, Binh Thuan Province
DIRECTIONS DALAT, BINH DUONG, HO CHI MINH CITY Tel: (062) 3741-044 Email: saigonmuineresort@hcm.vnn.vn www.saigonmuineresort.com.vn From VND1,908,000 ($90)
Province; Tel: (062) 3741-660 Email: info@villaariamuine.com www.villaariamuine.com From VND2,520,000 ($120)
Seahorse Resort & Spa
White Sands Resort KM8, Nguyen Thong St, Phu Hai Ward, Phan Thiet City, Binh Thuan Province Tel: (062) 3741-175 Email: frontoffice@whitesandresort.com www.whitesandresort.com From VND1,344,000 VND ($64) MUSEUM
Km 11 Nguyen Dinh Chieu St, Ham Tien Ward, Phan Thiet City, Binh Thuan Province Tel: (062) 3847-507 reservation@seahorseresortvn.com www.seahorseresortvn.com From VND1,680,000 ($80)
Cham Culture Exhibition Centre Song Mao intersection, Phan Hiep Commune, Bac Binh Dist., Binh Thuan Province; Tel: (062) 3641-456 Open: 7.30 a.m. to 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. Monday to Friday Free entrance
Sea Links Beach Hotel Km 9, Nguyen Thong St, Phu Hai Ward, Phan Thiet City, Binh Thuan Province Tel: (062) 2220-088 Email: sales@sealinksbeachhotel.com www.sealinksbeachhotel.com From VND1,995,000 ($94)
(TELEPHONE CODE: 063) Dalat, founded in 1893, has Frencharchitecture, pine forests and a perpetually cool climate. It is in the southern Central Highlands, about 300 kilometres from Ho Chi Minh City.
Sunny Beach Resort & Spa
64-66 Nguyen Dinh Chieu St, Ham Tien, Phan Thiet City, Binh Thuan Province Tel: (062) 3741-355 Email: info@sunnybeach.com.vn www.sunnybeach.com.vn From VND2,940,000 ($140) The Cliff Resort & Residences Zone 5, Phu Hai Ward, Phan Thiet City, Binh Thuan Province Tel: (062) 3719-111 reservation@thecliffresort.com.vn www.thecliffresort.com.vn From VND2,667,000 ($127) Victoria Phan Thiet Beach Resort & Spa Phu Hai Ward, Phan Thiet City, Binh Thuan Province Tel: (062) 3813-000 Email: resa.phanthiet@victoriahotels.asia www.victoriahotels.asia From VND3,633,000 ($171)
DALAT
HOTELS
Note: Prices at many hotels depend on occupancy and change daily Dalat Edensee Resort Tuyen Lam Lake, Zone VII.2, Dalat, Lam Dong Province Tel: (063) 3831-515 info@dalatedensee.com www.dalatedensee.com From VND2,450,000 ($117) Ana Mandara Villas Dalat Resort & Spa
Le Lai St, Dalat, Lam Dong Province Tel: (063) 3555-888 reservation-dalat@anamandara-resort.com www.anamandara-resort.com From VND3,150,000 ($150) Saigon-Dalat Hotel
Villa Aria Mui Ne
60A Nguyen Dinh Chieu St, Ham Tien Ward, Phan Thiet City, Binh Thuan
180 Ba Thang Hai St, Dalat, Lam Dong Province Tel: (063) 3556-789 Email: hotel@saigondalat.com ; resvn@saigondalat.com www.saigondalathotel.com
Located in the heart of Dalat, SaigonDalat Hotel is a four-star-standard hotel, comprised of 160 luxurious and comfortable rooms with air-conditioning throughout and other modern amenities. Four restaurants, two bars, one tennis court, one indoor swimming pool, one fitness centre and one beauty salon and spa help make your getaway experience complete.
BINH DUONG
(TELEPHONE CODE: 0650) An Lam Saigon River
21/4 Trung St, Vinh Phu Ward, Thuan An Dist., Binh Duong Province Tel: (0650) 3785-555 Email: rsvn.sr@anlam.com www.anlam.com
HO CHI MINH CITY (TELEPHONE CODE: 08) CONSULATES
Australia 5B Ton Duc Thang St, Dist.1, Ho Chi Minh City Tel: (08) 3829-6035 Belgium 91 Nguyen Huu Canh St, Ward 22, Binh Thanh Dist., Ho Chi Minh City Tel: (08) 3512-7968 Cambodia 41 Phung Khac Khoan St, Dist.1, Ho Chi Minh City Tel: (08) 3829-2751 Canada Metropolitan, 235 Dong Khoi St, Dist.1, Ho Chi Minh City Tel: (08) 3827-9899 China 175 Hai Ba Trung St, Dist.3, Ho Chi Minh City. Tel: (08) 3829-2457 Cuba 45 Phung Khac Khoan St, Dist.1, Ho Chi Minh City Tel: (08) 3829-7350 France 27 Nguyen Thi Minh Khai St, Dist.3, Ho Chi Minh City Tel: (08) 3829-7231 Germany 126 Nguyen Dinh Chieu St, Dist.3, Ho Chi Minh City Tel: (08) 3829-2455 India 55 Nguyen Dinh Chieu St, Dist.3, Ho Chi Minh City Tel: (08) 3822-7853 Indonesia 18 Phung Khac Khoan St, Dist.1, Ho Chi Minh City Tel: (08) 3825-1888
Japan 13-17 Nguyen Hue St, Dist.1, Ho Chi Minh City; Tel: (08) 3822-5314 Kuwait 24 Phung Khac Khoan St, Dist.1, Ho Chi Minh City, tel: (08) 3827-0555 Laos 93 Pasteur St, Dist.1, Ho Chi Minh City Tel: (08) 3829-7667 Mexico 11 Tra Khuc St, Tan Binh Dist., Ho Chi Minh City Tel: (08) 3848-6290 Netherlands 29 Le Duan St, Dist.1, Ho Chi Minh City Tel: (08) 3823-5932 New Zealand Metropolitan, 235 Dong Khoi St, Dist.1, Ho Chi Minh City Tel: (08) 3822-6907 Panama 7A Le Thanh Ton St, Dist.1, Ho Chi Minh City. Tel: (08) 3825-0334 Russia 40 Ba Huyen Thanh Quan St, Dist.3, Ho Chi Minh City Tel: (08) 3930-3936 Singapore Saigon Centre, 65 Le Loi St, Dist.1, Ho Chi Minh City Tel: (08) 3822-5173 South Korea 107 Nguyen Du St, Dist.1, Ho Chi Minh City Tel: (08) 3822-5757 Switzerland 42 Giang Van Minh St, Dist.2, Ho Chi Minh City Tel: (08) 3744-6996 Thailand 77 Tran Quoc Thao St, Dist.3, Ho Chi Minh City Tel: (08) 3932-7637 United Kingdom 25 Le Duan St, Dist.1, Ho Chi Minh City Tel: (08) 3825-1380, (08) 3829-8433 United States 4 Le Duan St, Dist.1, Ho Chi Minh City Tel: (08) 3822-9433
HOSPITALS
Columbia Asia Gia Dinh International Hospital 1 No Trang Long St, Binh Thanh Dist., Ho Chi Minh City Tel: (08) 3803-0678 FV Hospital 6 Nguyen Luong Bang St, Dist.7, Ho Chi Minh City Tel: (08) 5411-3500 Stamford Skin Centre 254 Dien Bien Phu St, Dist.3, Ho Chi Minh City Tel: (08) 3932-1090 Email: info@stamfordskin.com www.stamfordskin.com
VIETNAM HERITAGE - JULY-AUGUST 2015
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DIRECTIONS HO CHI MINH CITY AIRLINES
TRAVEL
Air France 130 Dong Khoi St, Dist.1, Ho Chi Minh City Tel: (08) 3829-0981
Asiana Travel Mate 113C Bui Vien St, Dist.1, Ho Chi Minh City. Tel: (08) 3838-6678 www.atravelmate.com
All Nippon Airways 115 Nguyen Hue St, Dist.1, Ho Chi Minh City Tel: (08) 3821-9612 American Airlines 69 Ba Huyen Thanh Quan St, Dist.3, Ho Chi Minh City. Tel: (08) 3933-0330
Buffalo Tours 81 Mac Thi Buoi, Dist.1, Ho Chi Minh City Tel: (08) 3827-9168 Email: travelagency@buffalotours.com www.buffalotours.com.vn Buffalo Tours operates in Vietnam, Thailand, Cambodia and Laos. The Buffalo Tours portfolio caters to all types of tours.
Asiana Airlines 39 Le Duan St, Dist.1, Ho Chi Minh City Tel: (08) 3822-8710, (08) 3829-3038 . British Airways 170-172 Nam Ky Khoi Nghia St, Dist.3, Ho Chi Minh City Tel: (08) 3930-2933 Cathay Pacific Airways 72-74 Nguyen Thi Minh Khai St, Dist.1, Ho Chi Minh City Tel: (08) 3822-3203 Emirates Airlines 170-172 Nam Ky Khoi Nghia St, Dist.3, Ho Chi Minh City Tel: (08) 3930-2939 Japan Airlines 88 Dong Khoi St, Dist.1, Ho Chi Minh City. Tel: (08) 3821-9098 Jetstar Pacific Airlines 112 Hong Ha St, Tan Binh Dist., Ho Chi Minh City Tel: (08) 3955-0550 Philippine Airlines 2nd Floor Saigon Royal Building 91 Pasteur St, Dist.1, Ho Chi Minh City Tel: (08) 3827-2105 Qatar Airways 1-5 Le Duan St, Dist.1, Ho Chi Minh City Tel: (08) 3827-3888 Royal Brunei Airlines 787 Tran Hung Dao St, Dist.1, Ho Chi Minh CityTel: (08) 3924-5100 Singapore Airlines 29 Le Duan St, Dist.1, Ho Chi Minh City Tel: (08) 3823-1588
Hotel Nikko Saigon 235 Nguyen Van Cu St, Dist.1, Ho Chi Minh City, tel: (08) 3925-7777 reservation@hotelnikkosaigon.com.vn www.hotelnikkosaigon.com.vn From VND4,830,000 ($230) Hotel Equatorial Ho Chi Minh City
Exotissimo 261/26 Phan Xich Long St, Phu Nhuan Dist., Ho Chi Minh City Tel: (08) 3995-9898 www.exotravel.com Saigon Tourist 45 Le Thanh Ton St, Dist.1, Ho Chi Minh City. Tel: (08) 3827-9279 www.saigon-tourist.net Trails of Indochina 10/8 Phan Dinh Giot St, Tan Binh Dist., Ho Chi Minh City; Tel: (08) 3844-1005 Email: dosm@trailsofindochina.com www.trailsofindochina.com Transviet Travel Travel House, 170-172 Nam Ky Khoi Nghia St, Dist.3, Ho Chi Minh City Tel: (08) 3933-0777 www.transviet.com.vn HOTELS
Note: Prices at many hotels depend on occupancy and change daily Caravelle Hotel 19-23 Cong Truong Lam Son St, Dist.1, Ho Chi Minh City Tel: (08) 3823-4999 www.caravellehotel.com Duxton Hotel Saigon 63 Nguyen Hue Blvd, Ben Nghe Ward, Dist.1, Ho Chi Minh City Tel: (08) 3822-2999 enquires@saigon.duxton.com.vn www.duxtonhotels.com
Vietnam Airlines 115 Nguyen Hue St, Dist.1, Ho Chi Minh City Tel: (08) 3832-0320
18 Hoang Viet St, Ward 4, Tan Binh Dist, Ho Chi Minh City Tel: (08) 3844-1199 Email: first.hotel@hcm.vnn.vn www.firsthotel.com.vn
Vietjet Air 8Bis Cong Truong Quoc Te, Dist.3, Ho Chi Minh City Tel: (08) 3827-0123 www.vietjetair.com
Grand Hotel Saigon 8 Dong Khoi St, Ben Nghe Ward, Dist.1, Ho Chi Minh City. Tel: (08) 3823-0163 Email: info@grandhotel.vn www.grandhotel.vn
52 • VIETNAM HERITAGE - JULY-AUGUST 2015
Email: frontdesk.lcc@libertyhotels.com.vn
www.libertycentralhotel.com Eastin Grand Hotel Saigon
253 Nguyen Van Troi St, Phu Nhuan Dist., Ho Chi Minh City Tel: (08) 3844-9222 Email: Info@eastingrandSaigon.com www.eastingrandsaigon.com Lotte Legend Hotel Saigon 2A-4A Ton Duc Thang St, Ben Nghe Ward, Dist 1, Ho Chi Minh City Tel: (08) 3823-3333 www.lottehotel.com
242 Tran Binh Trong St, Dist.5, Ho Chi Minh City Tel: (08) 3839-7777 Email: info@hcm.equatorial.com www.equatorial.com Facebook: www.facebook.com/equatorialhcmc Hotel Equatorial Ho Chi Minh City is an international 5-star hotel, located where the borders of the city's four main districts intersect; hence in the heart and true centre of Ho Chi Minh City. Tan Son Nhat International Airport can be reached conveniently within 30 minutes, while the city's major commercial and entertainment area is only a mere 8minute drive. InterContinental Asiana Saigon Corner Hai Ba TrungSt. & Le Duan Blvd, Dist.1, Ho Chi Minh City Tel: (08) 3520-9999 Email: saigon@ihg.com www.intercontinental.com/Saigon Kelly Hotel
Northern Hotel Saigon
11A Thi Sach St, Dist.1, Ho Chi Minh City Tel: (08) 3825-1751 reservation@northernhotel.com.vn www.northernhotel.com.vn From VND1,505,000 ($71) Three-star boutique hotel, 99 rooms in Superior, Deluxe and Suite categories, a short walk from major entertainment and shopping venues. Novotel Saigon Centre 167 Hai Ba Trung St, Dist.3, Ho Chi Minh City. Tel: (08) 3822-4866 Email: H7965@accor.com www.novotel-saigon-centre.com Palace Hotel Saigon 56-66 Nguyen Hue Blvd, Dist.1, Ho Chi Minh City Tel: (08) 3829-2860 Email: sales@palacesaigon.com www.palacesaigon.com
First Hotel
Thai Airways International 29 Le Duan St, Dist.1, Ho Chi Minh City Tel: (08) 3829-2809 United Airlines Suite 708 Sun Wah Tower, 115 Nguyen Hue St, Dist.1, Ho Chi Minh City Tel: (08) 3823-4755
Built in 1930, the Ancient Wing of Grand Hotel Saigon offers a cozy and elegant atmosphere. The Luxury Wing, opened in November 2011, adds a modern style. 230 rooms and suites, a ballroom, recreation area, VIP Lounge, Western & Asian restaurants, Bars & Grand Café at Roof Garden
42-44 Thu Khoa Huan St, Dist.1, Ho Chi Minh City. Tel: (08) 3823-3364 Email: info@kellyhotel.com.vn www.kellyhotel.com.vn From VND750,000 ($36) An elegant and cosy hotel with good service. Within walking distance to Ben Thanh market, Independence Palace and several museums. Vietnamese food is served at reasonable prices. Liberty Central Hotels in Ho Chi Minh City 17 Ton Duc Thang St, Dist.1 Tel: (08) 3827-1717 177-179 Le Thanh Ton St, Dist.1 Tel: (08) 3823-9269
Park Hyatt Saigon 2 Lam Son Square, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City Tel: (08) 3824-1234 Email: saigon.park@hyatt.com www.saigon.park.hyatt.com From VND 7,887,850 ($376) PARKROYAL Saigon 309B – 311 Nguyen Van Troi St,Tan Binh Dist., Ho Chi Minh City Tel: (08) 3842-1111 enquiry.prsgn@parkroyalhotels.com
www.parkroyalhotels.com Renaissance Riverside Hotel Saigon 8-15 Ton Duc Thang St, Ben Nghe Ward, Dist.1, Ho Chi Minh City Tel: (08) 3822-0033 www.renaissance-saigon.com
DIRECTIONS HO CHI MINH CITY Royal Hotel Saigon 133 Nguyen Hue St, Dist.1, Ho Chi Minh City Tel: (08) 3822-5915 www.royalhotelsaigon.com From VND1,092,000 ($52) Rex Hotel 141 Nguyen Hue St, Ben Nghe Ward, Dist.1, Ho Chi Minh City Tel: (08) 3829-2185 Email: rexhotel@rex.com.vn www.rexhotelvietnam.com From VND4,620,000 ($220) Sheraton Saigon Hotel & Towers 88 Dong Khoi St, Ben Nghe Ward, Dist.1, Ho Chi Minh City Tel: (08) 3827-2828 Email: sheratonsaigon@sheraton.com www.sheratonsaigon.com
Chit Chat Restaurant Hotel Equatorial Ho Chi Minh City, 242 Tran Binh Trong St, Dist.5, Ho Chi Minh City Tel: (08) 3839-7777 Email: info@hcm.equatorial.com www.equatorial.com New daily menus for lunch and dinner buffets, all served in a relaxing atmosphere. Eight live cooking stations with over 60 varieties of mouth-watering domestic and international dishes. A meeting place to enjoy delicious house-made pastries and cakes and a cup of coffee from selected premium blends. Kim Lam Restaurant
Sofitel Saigon Plaza
17 Le Duan St, Dist.1, Ho Chi Minh City Tel: (08) 3824-1555 Email: h2077@sofitel.com www.sofitel.com From VND3,864,000 ($262) Sonnet Saigon Hotel
23 Dong Khoi St, Ben Nghe Ward, Dist.1, Ho Chi Minh City Tel: (08) 6299-0879 Email: kimlam@galaxyfood.com.vn www.kimlam1galaxyfood.com The restaurant serves Vietnamese food from the North, Centre and South with emphasis on artistic garnish. It has three floors and can hold one hundred and twenty people. The restaurant is a treasure trove of Vietnamese culture with art objects serving as the decor Kobe Teppanyaki Restaurant 13A Tu Xuong St, Ward 7, Dist 3, Ho Chi MInh City Tel: (08) 3932-0187
14 Truong Dinh St., Ward 6, Dist.3, Ho Chi Minh City Tel: (08) 3930-1999 reservation@sonnetsaigonhotel.com www.sonnetsaigonhotel.com From VND925,000 Windsor Plaza Hotel
Lemongrass Restaurant 4 Nguyen Thiep St, Dist.1, Ho Chi Minh City Tel: (08) 3822-0496 www.bongsencorporation.com Mam Son Restaurant 35 Ton That Thiep St, Dist.1, Ho Chi Minh City Tel: (08) 3915-3653 Tandoor Restaurant
BARS & CAFÉS Elle Cafe 45 Ngo Duc Ke St, Bitexco Financial Tower, Ho Chi Minh City Tel: (08) 6291-8769 Caffe Molinari 5 Le Duan St, Dist.1, Ho Chi Minh City Tel: (08) 3910-6903 Email: molinari@vnn.vn www.caffemolinari.com Sax N’ Art Jazz Club 28 Le Loi St, Dist 1, Ho Chi Minh City Tel: (08) 3822-8472 www.saxnart.com Thao Nguyen Café Floor 7 and Rooftop of Restaurant Ngon 138 138 Nam Ky Khoi Nghia St, Ben Nghe Ward, Dist.1, Ho Chi Minh City Tel: (08) 3827-9666 Open from 7 a.m. until 10.30 p.m. SHOPS
Handed by crafts from Vietnam 47 Dong Khoi St, Dist.1, Ho Chi Minh City Tel: 0908 447 282 IPA Nima 85 Pasteur St, Ben Nghe Ward, Dist.1, Ho Chi Minh City Tel: (08) 3824-2701 IPA Nima is well-known for its bags. Lu's Handmade 240 Ly Tu Trong St, Ben Thanh Ward, Dist.1, Ho Chi Minh City Facebook: Lu's Handmade Tropic Shop 89 Dong Khoi St, Ben Nghe Ward, Dist.1, Ho Chi Minh City Tel: (08) 3822-3714 www.ofcvn.com/tropic SPA
Vspa & Skincare
Dist., Ho Chi Minh City Tel: (08) 3844-5500 Email: sales@vca.com.vn www.vca.com.vn Saigon Cooking Class 74/7 Hai Ba Trung St, Dist.1, Ho Chi Minh City Tel: (08) 3825-8485 www.saigoncookingclass.com GALLERIES
Artists Long & Ngoc Gallery Grand Hotel (at the lobby), 8 Dong Khoi, Dist.1, Ho Chi Minh City TeL: (08) 2246-6839 Mobile: 0908 229 708 Email: ngoclongfineart@yahoo.com Apricot Gallery 50 Mac Thi Buoi St, Ben Nghe Ward, Dist.1, Ho Chi Minh City Tel: (08) 3822-7962 Cactus Contemporary Art 17/12 Nguen Huy Tuong St, Ward 6, Binh Thanh Dist., Ho Chi Minh City Tel: (08) 7300-1270 info@cactusartgallery.com www.cactusartgallery.com Craig Thomas Gallery 27i Tran Nhat Duat St, Dist.1, Ho Chi Minh City Mobile: 0903 888 431 Email: cthomasgallery@gmail.com www.cthomasgallery.com Open: 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. Closed Mondays and Sundays Galerie Quynh Level 2, 151/3 Dong Khoi St, Dist.1, Ho Chi Minh City Tel: (08) 3824-8284 www.galeriequynh.com Tuesday to Saturday, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sàn Art 48/7 Me Linh St, Ward 19, Binh Thanh Dist., Ho Chi Minh City Tel: (08) 6294-7059 www.san-art.org Opening: 10.30 a.m. to 6.30 p.m. every. Closed on Sunday and Monday Tu Do Gallery 53 Ho Tung Mau St, Ben Nghe Ward, Dist.1, Ho Chi Minh City Tel: (08) 3821-0966 www.tudogallery.com Opening: 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. everyday SIGHTSEEINGS
18 An Duong Vuong, Dist.5, Ho Chi Minh City Tel: (08) 3833-6688 services@windsorplazahotel.com www.windsorplazahotel.com RESTAURANTS
Beef No.1 Restaurant 1 Hoang Viet St, Ward 4, Tan Binh Dist., Ho Chi Minh City Tel: 0935891818/ 0919898253
39A-39B Ngo Duc Ke St, Ben Nghe Ward, Dist.1, Ho Chi Minh City Tel: (08) 3930-4839 www.tandoorvietnam.com Vatel Saigon Bistronomique-Lounge 120 Bis Suong Nguyet Anh St, Ben Thanh Ward, Dist.1, Ho Chi Minh City Tel: (08) 5404-2220 www.vatelsaigon.com
15B/25 Le Thanh Ton St, Dist.1, Ho Chi Minh City Tel: (08) 3827-9484 Email: reception.vspa@gmail.com www.vspa.com.vn COOKING CLASSES
Mint Culinary School 778/45 Nguyen Kiem St, Phu Nhuan
Notre Dame Cathedral Cong Xa Paris Square, Dist.1, Ho Chi Minh City Built in 1877, and the Cathedral opened to the public in 1880. The bricks used to build this marvellous structure were shipped from Marseilles. Ben Thanh Market Le Lai St, Ben Thanh Ward, Dist.1, Ho Chi Minh City The original market was located on the bank of the Ben Nghe River by the old Gia Dinh Fort. In 1859, when the French invaded Saigon and overtook
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1. Independence Independence Palace Palace
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2. Notre Notre Dame Cathedral Cathedral
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3. Vietnam Vietnam History History Museum
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4. Fine Fine Arts Arts Museum Museum of of Ho Ho Chi Chi Minh Minh City City E4 E4 5. Ho Ho Chi Chi Minh Minh City City Museum
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6. Southern Women omen Museum Southern W
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7. War Wa ar Remnants Remnants Museum
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Ben Thanh Thanh M arket 8. Ben Market
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9. Tao Tao Dan Park Park
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10. Post Post Office Office
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Zoo 11. Z oo
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Nha Wharf 12. N ha Rong W harf
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STREET GUIDE
3 Thang 2..........A2, A3, B2 Alexandre De Rhodes........ ........................................E2 An Duong Vuong....A4, B4 Ba Le Chan....................D1 Ba Huyen Thanh Quan...... ........................................C2 Ban Co...........................B3 Ben Chuong Duong........... .................................D4, E4 Ben Van Don...........D4, E4
Bui Thi Xuan..................C3 Bui Vien...................C4, D4 Cach Mang Thang Tam..... ......A1, B1, B2, C2, C3, D3 Calmette.........................E4 Cao Thang.....................B3 Chu Manh Trinh.............F2 Co Bac.....................C4, D4 Co Giang............. ...C4, D4 Cong Quynh............C3, C4 De Tham........................D4
Dien Bien Phu..................... A3, B2, C2, D1, D2, E1, F1 Dinh Tien Hoang............E1 Do Quang Dau...............C4 Do Thanh.......................B3 Doan Cong Buu.............C1 Doan Nhu Hai..........E4, F4 Dong Du.........................F3 Dong Khoi................E3, F3 Hai Ba Trung....................... ...........................D1, E2, F3 Hai Trieu.........................F4
Ham Nghi.................E4, F4 Han Thuyen....................E2 Ho Hao Hon...................C4 Ho Tung Mau...........E3, E4 Ho Xuan Huong.............C2 Hoa Hung.......................A2 Hung Vuong...................A4 Huyen Tran Cong Chua..... ........................................D3 Huynh Thuc Khang........E3 Huynh Tinh Cua.............D1 Ky Con.....................D4, E4
Ky Dong...................B2, C1 Le Duan...................E2, F2 Le Hong Phong.................. ...........................A2, A3, A4 Le Lai.......................C3, D3 Le Loi..............................E3 Le Quy Don....................D2 Le Thanh Ton...................... ...........................D3, E3, F2 Le Thi Hong Gam............... .................................D4, E4 Le Thi Rieng............C3, D3
Le Van Sy.......................B1 Luong Huu Khanh.........C3 Ly Chinh Thang.......C1, C2 Ly Thai To......................A3 Ly Tu Trong......................... ...........................D3, E3, F2 Ly Van Phuc...................E1 Mac Dinh Chi...........E1, E2 Mac Thi Buoi..................F3 Mai Thi Luu..............E1, F1 Nam Ky Khoi Nghia............ ...................C1, D1, D2, D3
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Ngo Duc Ke....................F3 Ngo Thoi Nhiem ....C2, D2 Ngo Van Nam.................F2 Nguyen Binh Khiem.............. .....................................F1, F2 Nguyen Cau...................D1 Nguyen Cong Tru............... .................................D4, E4 Nguyen Dinh Chieu............ ......B3, C2, C3, D2, E1, F1 Nguyen Du..............D3, E3 Nguyen Hue.............E3, F3
Nguyen Khac Nhu.............. .................................C4, D4 Nam Quoc Cang.....C3, C4 Nguyen Phi Khanh.........E1 Nguyen Sieu...................F3 Nguyen Son Tra................. .................................B3, C3 Nguyen Tat Thanh..........F4 Nguyen Thai Binh............... .................................D4, E4 Nguyen Thai Hoc....D3, D4 Nguyen Thanh Y............E1
Nguyen Thi Dieu............C2 Nguyen Thi Minh Khai........ .................................B3, C3 Nguyen Thien Thuat........... .................................A3, B3 Nguyen Thong........B2, C2 Nguyen Thuong Hien........ .................................B2, C3 Nguyen Trai.............B4, C4 Nguyen Trung Ngan......F2 Nguyen Trung Truc........E3 Nguyen Truong To.........E4
Nguyen Van Cu..............B4 Nguyen Van Thu......E1, F1 Pasteur................................ ...............D1, D2, E2, E3,E4 Pham Ngoc Thach.........D1 Pham Ngu Lao........C4, D4 Pham Viet Chanh...........B3 Phan Ke Binh..........E1, E2 Pho Duc Chinh...............E4 Phung Khac Khoan.......E2 Suong Nguyet Anh........C3 Thach Thi Thanh.....D1, E1
Thai Van Lung................F3 Thi Sach.........................F3 Thu Khoa Huan.......D3, E3 To Hien Thanh................A1 Ton That Dam..........E3, E4 Ton Duc Thang..............C3 Tran Binh Trong......A3, A4 Tran Cao Van.................E2 Tran Dinh Xu...........B4, C4 Tran Hung Dao.......C4, D4 Tran Minh Quyen...........A3 Tran Nhan Tong.......A3, A4
Tran Phu.........................A4 Tran Quang Dieu...........B1 Tran Quang Khai.....D1, E1 Tran Quoc Thao......C1, D2 Tran Quoc Toan......C1, D1 Truong Dinh............C1, C2 Tu Xuong.......................C2 Vinh Vien........................A3 Vo Thi Sau........C2, D1, E1 Vo Van Tan..............C3, B3 Vuon Chuoi..............B2, B3 Yersin..............................D4
DIRECTIONS VUNG TAU, LONG HAI, CON DAO, CAN THO, MY THO, CHAU DOC Gia Dinh Fort, Ben Thanh Market was destroyed. It was rebuilt shortly after and remained standing until it was moved to its present location in 1899. Now, Ben Thanh market is a trade centre and a favourite tourist destination, offering a wide range of Vietnamese handicraft, fresh fruits and local specialities. Chinatown – Cho Lon It was set up at the end of the 18th century when the Minh Dynasty in China was overthrown. Chinatown has many shops and private workshops. The most interesting places are Binh Tay market, Soai Kinh Lam fabric whole-sales market, the street of herbal medicine located on Hai Thuong Lan Ong and Thien Hau Temple on Nguyen Trai Street. MUSEUMS
Ao Dai Museum 206/19/30 Long Thuan St, District 9, Ho Chi Minh City www.baotangaodaivietnam.com Open daily, closed on Monday from 8.30 a.m. until 5.30 p.m. The entry ticket is VND100,000 for adults Fine Arts Museum of Ho Chi Minh City 97A Pho Duc Chinh St, Nguyen Thai Binh Ward, Dist.1, Ho Chi Minh City Tel: (08) 3829-4441 www.baotangmythuattphcm.com Open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Closed Mondays
War Remnants Museum 28 Vo Van Tan St, Ward 6, Dist.3, Ho Chi Minh City, Tel: (08) 3930-5587 Email: warrmhcm@gmail.com Open daily 7.30 a.m. to midday and 1.30 p.m. to 5 p.m. (TELEPHONE CODE: 064) A popular beach resort town for residents of Ho Chi Minh City, Vung Tau is about 128 km southeast of HCMC. It can be reached either by road or by a 90-minute hydrofoil boat from HCMC. Sitting on a peninsula that sticks out into the East Sea, Vung Tau does not have the most beautiful, or cleanest, beaches in Vietnam but can act as a quick getaway from the buzz of the city. HOTELS, RESORTS
Note: Prices at many hotels depend on occupancy and change daily Grand Hotel Vung Tau 2 Nguyen Du St, Ward.1, Vung Tau Tel: (064) 3856-888 Email: sales@grandhotel.com.vn www.grandhotel.com.vn From VND2,058,000 ($98) Mường Thanh Vung Tau Hotel No 09, Thong Nhat St, Ward 1, Vung Tau Tel: (064) 3835-567 sales@vungtau.muongthanh.vn www.vungtau.muongthanh.vn From VND1,890,000 ($90) Kieu Anh Hotel
257 Le Hong Phong St, Ward 8, Vung Tau Tel: (064) 3584-179 Email: quanly@kieuanhhotel.com www.kieuanhhotel.vn
The History Museum 2 Nguyen Binh Khiem St, Ben Nghe Ward, Dist 1, Ho Chi Minh City Tel: (08) 3829-8146 www.baotanglichsuvn.com 8 a.m. - 11.30 p.m. and 1.30 p.m. - 5 p.m. Tuesday to Sunday. Closed on Monday
63 Tran Hung Dao St, Ward 1, Vung Tau Tel: (064) 3852-014 Email: info@petrohousehotel.vn www.petrohousehotel.vn From VND1,260,000 ($60) Romeliess Hotel 31 - 33 Thuy Van St, Vung Tau Tel: (064) 3613-366 Email: sales@romeliss.com www.romeliesshotel.com MUSEUM
White Palace 6 Tran Phu St, Ward.1, Vung Tau Tel: (064) 3852-605 Open daily 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.
LONG HAI
Long Hai is a beach town, 30km northeast of Vung Tau and 124 km southeast of HCMC. The Grand Ho Tram Strip Phuoc Thuan, Xuyen Moc, Ba Ria-Vung Tau Province. Tel: (064) 3788-888 Email: info@thegrandhotramstrip.com www.thegrandhotramstrip.com
MY THO
The Island Lodge
Petrosetco Hotel 390 Ap Thoi Binh, Thoi Son Ward, My Tho City Tel: (073) 6519-000 contact@theislandlodge.com.vn www.theislandlodge.com.vn
CAN THO
12 Truong Cong Dinh St, Ward 2, Vung Tau Tel: (064) 3624-748
56 • VIETNAM HERITAGE - JULY-AUGUST 2015
Note: Prices at many hotels depend on occupancy and change daily Golf Can Tho Hotel 2 Hai Ba Trung St, Tan An Ward, Ninh Kieu Dist., Can Tho Tel: (0710) 3812-210 golf4.cantho@vinagolf.vn www.vinagolf.vn Victoria Can Tho Resort Cai Khe Ward, Ninh Kieu Dist., Can Tho Tel: (0710) 3810-111 Email: resa.cantho@victoriahotels.asia www.victoriahotels.asia From VND3,700,000 ($175) MUSEUM
Can Tho Museum 1 Hoa Binh St, Tan An Ward, Can Tho Tel: (0710) 3820-955 Open: Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday (8 a.m. to 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. to 5 p.m.); Saturday and Sunday (8 a.m. to 11 a.m. and 6.30 p.m. to 9 p.m.). Closed on Friday. Free admission
CHAU DOC
(TELEPHONE CODE: 076) HOTELS
Note: Prices at many hotels depend on occupancy and change daily Victoria Chau Doc Hotel
Six Senses Con Dao Dat Doc Beach, Con Dao Dist., Ba Ria - Vung Tau Province Tel : (064) 3831-222 reservations-condao@sixsenses.com www.sixsenses.com/resorts/ con-dao/destination From VND14,490,000 ($690)
Palace Hotel 1 Nguyen Trai St, Ward 1, Vung Tau Tel: (064) 3856-411 Email: sales@palacehotel.com.vn www.palacehotel.com.vn From VND2,062,000 ($97)
Southern Women Museum 202 Vo Thi Sau St, Dist.1, Ho Chi Minh City Tel: (08) 3932-7130
the area’s economic, transportation and cultural centre. Sitting on the Mekong River, Can Tho is popular for its nearby floating markets, canals and rivers that can be explored by boat. HOTELS, RESORTS
CON DAO
41 Hoang Du Khuong S, Ward 12, Dist. 10, Ho Chi Minh City Tel: (08) 3864-2430 www.fitomuseum.com.vn Open daily from 8.30 a.m. till 5.30 p.m. Ticket: VND50,000 The first museum of traditional Vietnamese medicine
Independence Palace 135 Nam Ky Khoi Nghia St, Ben Thanh Ward, Dist.1, Ho Chi Minh City Tel: (08) 3822-3652 www.dinhdoclap.gov.vn Open daily, 7.30 a.m. to 11.30 a.m., 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.
Petro House Hotel
VUNG TAU
Fito Museum
Ho Chi Minh City Museum 65 Ly Tu Trong St, Ben Nghe Ward, Dist.1, Ho Chi Minh City Tel: (08) 3829-9741 www.hcmc-museum.edu.vn Open daily 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Email: sales@petrosetco.com.vn www.petrosetcohotel.vn From VND1,085,700 ($52)
(TELEPHONE CODE: 0710) Can Tho is the largest city in the Mekong Delta, about 170 km southwest of Ho Chi Minh City, and acts as
1 Le Loi St, Chau Doc Town, An Giang Province Tel: (076) 3865-010 resa.chaudoc@victoriahotels.asia www.victoriahotels.asia From VND3,169,000 ($149) Victoria Nui Sam Lodge Vinh Dong 1, Nui Sam, Chau Doc, An Giang Province. Tel: (076) 3575-888 resa.nuisam@victoriahotels.asia www.victoriahotels.asia MUSEUM
An Giang Museum 11 Ton Duc Thang St, My Binh Ward, Long Xuyen City, An Giang Province Tel: (076) 3956-248 Open hour 7a.m. to 11a.m. and 1.30 p.m. to 5 p.m. Closed on Monday Entrance fee: VND42,000 ($2)
PHU QUOC
(TELEPHONE CODE: 077) Phu Quoc Island, off the southern tip of Vietnam in the Gulf of Thailand, has some of the most beautiful beaches in the country. White-sand beaches, scuba diving around coral reefs or exploring the protected jungle. Accessible by either the Rach Gia hydrofoil boat or a 50-minute flight from Ho Chi Minh City. Modest family-owned bungalows on the beach to fivestar resorts. HOTELS, RESORTS
Note: Prices at many hotels depend on occupancy and change daily Chen Sea Resort & Spa Phu Quoc, Centara Boutique Collection Bai Xep, Ong Lang, Cua Duong, Phu Quoc Island Tel: (077) 3995-895 Email: cpv@chr.co.th www.centarahotelsresorts.com From VND3,381,000 ($161) Eden Resort Phu Quoc
Cua Lap Hamlet, Duong To Ward, Phu Quoc District, Kien Giang Province Tel: (077) 3985-598 reservations@edenresort.com.vn www.edenresort.com.vn La Veranda Resort
Tran Hung Dao St, Ward 7, Duong Dong Town Phu Quoc Island Tel: (077) 3982-988 contact@laverandaresorts.com www.laverandaresorts.com VND5,082,000 to VND8,694,000 ($242 to $414) Sai Gon Phu Quoc Resort 1 Tran Hung Dao St, Phu Quoc Island Tel: (077) 3846-999 Email: sgphuquocresort@hcm.vnn.vn www.sgphuquocresort.com.vn VND2,499,000 to VND4,011,000 ($119 to $191)
CANADA
(Telephone code: 1) Xe Lua 254 Spadina Ave, Tonronto, Ontario Canada M5T2C2
DIRECTIONS PHU QUOC, OVERSEAS Tel: (1-416) 703-8330 Xe Lua has been open since 1996 and serves phở for $6 a bowl Open: 11.30 a.m. to 12 p.m Chau Kitchen and Bar 1500 Robson St. Vancouver, British Columbia Tel: (1-604) 682-8020 www.chaukitchenandbar.com Serves Vietnamese dishes with prices starting at $7 per dish.
FRANCE
(Telephone code: 33) CLEMONT-FERRAND Kim Anh 6 Bis r Elie Gintrac Tel: (33-4) 7391-9364 Serves traditional Vietnamese food, from €12.80 per dish Open 11.30 a.m. to 3 p.m. (closed on Sundays). GRENOBLE Kim Ngan 22 r Nicolas Chrier Tel: (33-4) 7649-0847 Serves Vietnamese food with prices starting at €8 per dish
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
Minh’s Vietnamese 2500 Wilson Blvd Arlington, VA 22201 Tel: (1) 703-525-2828 Prices start at $15 per dish Open 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. (closed on Mondays) WASHINGTON-WC Ho Bac 1314 S Jackson St Seattle, WA 98144 Tel: (1) 206-860-8164 Kieu Nga Lemongrass Restaurant 514 12th Ave Seattle, WA 98122 Tel: (1) 206-860-8164 Moonlight Café 1919 S Jackson St Seattle, WA 98144 Tel: (1) 206-322-3378 Massachusetts-MA Saigon Hut 305-307 Meridian St. Boston, ] MA 02128; Tel: (1) 617-567-1944 Xinh Xinh 7 Beach St (Washington St.) Boston, MA 02111 Tel: (1) 617-422-0501
UNITED KINGDOM
(Telephone code: 44) Little Saigon Restaurant 6 Bigg Market, Newcastle upon Tyne, England Tel: 01912330766 Vietnamese dishes
AUSTRALIA
(Telephone code: 61) La Mint 62–64 Riley St, East Sydney NSW 2010 Tel: (61) 293-311-818 Email: service@lamint.com.au www.lamint.com.au French and Vietnamese dishes
INDONESIA
(Telephone code: 62) Pho 24 Pondok Indah, Plaza I, Jln. Taman Duta 1Blok UA 35 Jakarta Selatan Tel: (62) 0217-505-909 JIn. Wolter Mongonsidi No. 71, Kebayyoran Baru, Jakarta Selatan Tel: (62) 0217-278-8411 Pacific Place Mall, 5th Floor, SCBD, JIn. Jendral Sudirman Kav. 52-53, Jakarta 12190 Tel: (62) 0215-140-0531
(Telephone code: 1) CALIFORNIA-CA Emerald Restaurant Pacific Gateway Plaza 3709 Convoy Street, Ste 101, San Diego, CA 92111 Tel: (1) 858-565-6888 Serves Vietnamese food
Hung Ky Mi Gia 5237 El Cajon Blvd, San Diego, CA 92115; Tel: (1) 619-229-2188 Serves noodle varieties with prices starting at $5 per dish Open 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. International Restaurant 1 4444 – A University Ave, San Diego, CA 92115 Tel: (1) 619-281-9999 Little Saigon 7 Linden Ave (Railroad) South San Francisco, CA 94080 Tel: (1) 650-589-1398 New York-NY Saigon Grill 620 Amsterdam Ave, New York, NY 10024 Tel: (1) 212-875-9072 Serves over 100 Vietnamese dishes including vegetarian options Open 11 a.m. to 12 a.m. Mai Lan Vietnamese 505 N State St Syracuse, NY 13203 Tel: (1) 315-471-6740 www.mailanrestaurant.com L’Annam 121 University Pl New York, NY 10022 Tel: (1) 212-420-1414 VIRGINIA-VA VIETNAM HERITAGE - JULY-AUGUST 2015
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LAID BACK
Photo:Tran Cong Viet
Photo:Tran Minh Quan Photo: Nguyen Anh Tuan
Photo: Bui Dac Ninh
Clockwise from top left: Using a tool to bring sea water to salt fields; A swimming contest on river, Hue; Cutting a tét cake with 11m in length, Quang Trung Museum, Binh Dinh Province; A foreign tourist playing tug of war in a festival, Sapa; At Mud-Wrestling Festival in Bac Giang Province 58 • VIETNAM HERITAGE - JULY-AUGUST 2015
Photo: Pham Bang