Vietnam Heritage - January-February 2016

1:6 JAN-FEB 2016

ISSN 1859-4123

CULTURAL HERITAGE ASSOCIATION OF VIETNAM

Legends of Tet flowers

CONTENT No 1, Vol.6, January - February 2016

10

COVER STORY Culture 8 Legends of Tet flowers Nature

10 The legendary Gianh river History

16 Titov Island

Architecture

16

18

18 Temple of the naughty monkey 20 The Gift of the Sea Art

22 Artist Nguyen Quang Vinh: both born and made Cuisine

24 A secret fish dish Craft

27 H’Mong knives have the edge Food

22

24

30 Bitter, salty, sweet: the three flavors of Vietnam Advertorial

32 Pines over water at Terracotta Dalat Hotel and Resort

34 2015 in Numbers 34 Aside

38 Events

27

Published by the Cultural Heritage Association of Vietnam

32

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: Phuong: 0969 47 3579 Email: phuongvietnamheritage@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.

4 • VIETNAM HERITAGE - JANUARY-FEBRUARY 2016

40 Value for money 43 Directions

Cover photograph: Legends of Tet flower Illustration by Duc Lai 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 l

www.vietnamheritage.com.vn

Vietnam Heritage

Vietnam Heritage

Thu Le wrestling festival is held on the 6th of Tet, from the Nguyen Lords’ time, aiming to select young men with good health to participate in the imperial army. Today, he wrestling festival is an indispensable cultural;a sports acitivity at Tet for Thu Le people in particular and to Quang Dien district people in general. The wrestling festival does not only preserve ancient culture, but also trains the youth of Quang Dien district and keeps them healthy.

Thu Le wrestling festival, Quang Dien District, Thua Thien Hue Province

Photo: Nguyen Duc Tri Third prize - Vietnam Heritage Photo Awards 2014

CULTURE

T

Legends of Tet flowers ết comes when every Vietnamese family showcases an apricot (in the South) or peach (in the North) tree.

No one remembers why these trees are brought into the houses every time New Year is nearing. Some say that apricot tree represents good luck for the whole year, and peach tree has the power of keeping ghosts and demons away and bringing peace, happiness and prosperity to the host family.

ILLUSTRATIONS BY DUC LAI, TEXT BY DUC HOA

Mountain there was a very big peach tree, which belonged to two wizards named Trà and Uất Lũy. Their power was so great that ghosts and demons around dared not come near to disturb peaceful and prospering life of the people in the area. But as each year ended and the wizards were summoned to heaven, the evil spirits flocked to cause havoc all around.

Back from the heaven, learning about the incidents, the wizards advised the people, “From now on, each Northern peach blossom legend: time we are gone at year end, you must Once upon a time on Sóc Sơn take a branch of blossoming peach to

8 • VIETNAM HERITAGE - JANUARY-FEBRUARY 2016

plant at home. Seeing it, the evil spirits will think that we are there and so won’t dare to disturb you again.” Following the wizards’ advice, at year’s end, people cut a peach branch to put in a vase at home to keep the evil spirits away. Some even pull up a whole tree to plant at home in hope of never having to worry about them again.

Southern apricot blossom legend: Once upon a time, there was a girl named Mai (Apricot), daughter of a brave hunter. Under her father’s training, at fourteen, she became a great

CULTURE

warrior, mature in martial arts. At the time, a monster was causing destruction and sorrow in a region and the people put up a big reward for anyone who could kill it.

So the hunter took Mai to go and kill the monster. Job well done, the father and daughter fame spread all over around. A few years later, the father became seriously ill. But at eighteen, the daughter grew strong and became a virtuoso of all fighting arts.

That year a giant snake appeared in another place, and the people there came to beg the hunter and his daughter for help. Before their departure, Mai’s mother gave her a beautiful bright yellow silk dress and Mai promised to wear it on the way back so her mom could see her from afar. The father and

daughter went through mountains and rivers and found the monster. But the father was too feeble and Mai had to fight the giant snake alone. She finally killed it, but in the last contraction it managed to choke her dead in its coil.

Admiring the girl’s chivalry and pitying her mother’s crushing grief, the God of family begged the King of Heaven to let Mai live and rejoin her family for nine days. Since then, every year, she comes back to her family on the 28th of the last lunar month and vanishes on the 6th of the first lunar month. Later, after her parents and relatives died, she never came again but turned into a flowering tree next to the shrine people built to pay tribute to her soul. Seeing a pretty tree that blossomed during the nine days of New

Year celebration, people named it Mai and took its branches to plant at home, believing that it could keep evil spirits away and bring good luck to the household in the coming year.

The folk tales reflect the utmost aspirations of the ancient Việt people yearning for peace, prosperity and happiness. Those are the perpetual dreams of mankind. As plants, the peach and apricot trees are no more sacred than any other. But as a spiritual heritage of Việt people, they should be preserved for future generations because the tradition is full of beauty and meaning. It’s the traditional Tết icon, a cultural value of the Việt people since the beginning of time and hopefully, will remain so forever.n

VIETNAM HERITAGE - JANUARY-FEBRUARY 2016

•9

NATURE

T

The legendary Gianh river

here are 213 rivers in Việt Nam but Gianh river is the only one that lies completely inside one province – Quảng Bình. It’s Quảng Bình’s biggest river, so the locals call it the Mother river, the province’s natural symbol.

2017m-high Cô Pi mountain of the mighty Trường Sơn range and flows northward, then changes its direction toward the South-East, zigzaging through districts of Minh Hóa, Tuyên Hoá and Quảng Trạch to reach East Sea. Almost all tributaries of this 160kmRugged upper reaches long river come from the great Trường Sơn Mother river takes its waters from range or the 99 legendary limestone moun10 • VIETNAM HERITAGE - JANUARY-FEBRUARY 2016

PHOTOS BY TRAN AN; TEXT BY HUU TAI

tains. These big and small streams have flowed for millions of years through easy toerode limestone terrain, thus creating scenic caves such as Minh Cầm, Lạc Sơn. In Nov. 2009, a wonderful multilevel cave was discovered 50m beneath the Tuyên Hóa section of the river.

The upper 70-80 km long parts of river Gianh, winding among mountains,

NATURE

have many perilous cascades. Further down, the flow grows bigger and bigger, and the scenery on the banks also changes dramatically.

The riverbed is very steep near its sources. Gianh river’s average steepness is 19.2%. Therefore, during the flood season from Sept. to Nov., the flow is very violent.

Quảng Bình people say only those who have witnessed the crest of its floods know its power and ferocity.

After the rainy season, Gianh river waters quickly become clear and peaceful. One of the most beautiful and scenic section of

the Mother river is the part that crosses Quảng Trạch district, having an average width of 100m and 5 little isles. At about 10 km from its estuary, the river’s water begins to taste salty, as it mixes with sea water.

A divine river In 1069 under Marshal Lý Thường Kiệt’s command, Lý dynasty’s army defeated Champa army on Gianh river and took back Quảng Bình land for the Great Việt. Since then Gianh river became a vital military frontier for Great Việt’s southward expansion.

In 1406, 800 thousand Chinese Minh troops invaded Great Việt. River Gianh again witnessed many bloody battles between the two countries’ armies, as recorded in history.

In Jan 1471, leading his army fom the Thăng Long (today’s Hà Nội) capital down South, King Lê Thánh Tông stopped his flotillas on Gianh river. Seeing the perilous rugged terrain on both sides, the King thought it was a divine river.

From 1570 to 1786, Gianh river witnessed many wars in the power struggle between the Trịnh and Nguyễn feudal lll

VIETNAM HERITAGE - JANUARY-FEBRUARY 2016

• 11

NATURE

12 • VIETNAM HERITAGE - JANUARY-FEBRUARY 2016

NATURE lords of Great Việt. Those civil wars have left many vivid traces, such as Thầy Rampart, Quảng Bình border gate, and some citadels.

After each war, more Việt people from the North come to settle on both sides of Gianh river, especially around the royal military outpost which today is Ba Đồn town. The new settlements continually expanded, covering both banks of Gianh river.

Rice cultivation and many other trades followed suit. Today’s villages on both sides of the river still practice the trade of those pioneering settlers.

The oldest trade villages concentrate in Quảng Trạch district and Ba Đồn township. In Quảng Trạch people grow rice, plant cotton and weave fabrics, make cone hats and do meshwork. Whereas Ba Đồn, the old royal military outpost, has carpentry, blacksmithing, carving and foundries (Hòa Ninh village of Quảng Hòa commune.)

One of the most famous villages along Gianh river is Lệ Sơn village of Văn Hóa commune, Tuyên Hóa district. It leans on the 99 pensive rocky mountains, facing the river, looking like a heavenly paradise on earth.

Moreover, history recorded that a century ago, Lệ Sơn was the top among 8 villages that had the highest learning spirit and success of Quảng Bình.

The most popular dish of the people of Quảng Bình in general and along Gianh river in particular is small mussels fried with piper lolot leaves or young jackfruit, sandwiched in dry rice pancake. Second is simmered brined goby. These are the two simple food items that Quảng Bình natives carry the taste of their tongue all their life, no matter where they go and what other tastes of life they experience.n

lll

This photo series won the second prize in the Vietnam Heritage Photo Awards 2015 VIETNAM HERITAGE - JANUARY-FEBRUARY 2016

• 13

HISTORY

Titov Island

H

BY HO BAT KHUAT

The most beautiful island in Ha Long Bay is named after a Russian cosmonaut

ạ Long Bay has thousands of differentsized islands with folk names, and only one with a very foreign name: “Titov”.

This island’s shape is also different from that of most of other Hạ Long islands. Looking from above, one will see that only Titov has a beautiful golden beach, like a crescent moon embroidering part of the island, while the others’ rock bases, eroded by sea water, look like fruit stalks.

This island, 8km from shore, used to be called Cát Nàng, a refuge of fishermen. In 1905, a French ship sank in the sea and the recovered bodies of its crew were buried here.

Since then the island was also called the Cemetery Island and superstitious fishers stopped harboring here. The island became desolated.

In January of 1962, Russian cosmonaut Gherman Titov visited Vietnam. Titov was the second person to ever orbit the Earth, and the first to pilot a spaceship and photograph and film the Earth from space. Chairman Hồ Chí Minh took the Soviet hero around Hạ Long Bay. Spotting distinctly scenic Cát Nàng, Chairman Hồ suggested that they take a rest and have lunch on the island. And then, Chairman Hồ proposed to rename the island to Titov. In May of that same year, the Quảng Ninh provincial authorities decided to rename Cát Nàng to Titov.

After this event, the quiet and

pristine Titov beach, washed by daily tides, began to draw visitors to enjoy the sun, the sea and the sand.

In the summer of 1999, returning to the island bearing his name, Mr. Titov uttered, “How come so crowded?” He died a year later.

Recognizing Titov’s natural, historical and touristic potential, in recent years, Quảng Ninh has preserved the scenery on the island and at the same time built tourist service facilities such as a dock, bars, and a watch tower on the top peak of the island.

Today, Titov has become one of the most attractive spots on Hạ Long Bay, with popular services such as water scooter rental, pulled parachutes, swimwear and float rent, fresh water supply and showers. Thousands of people come to Titov every day.

In 2013, the authorities decided to build Titov monument on the island. The stone statue standing on a 106 m2 base cost 7 billion VND.n

Top: G.X. Ti Top.Photo: Trung Tin Right: Ti Top Island, Quang Ninh Province, 2015. Runner-upprize in Vietnam Heritage Photo Awards 2015

16 • VIETNAM HERITAGE - JANUARY-FEBRUARY 2016

Photo: Nguyen Ba Hao

HISTORY

VIETNAM HERITAGE - JANUARY-FEBRUARY 2016

• 17

ARCHITECTURE

F

Temple of the naughty monkey

ollowing national highway no.

1A, passing Tam Xuân 1 commune, Núi Thành district, Quảng Nam province, you would see the Khương Mỹ complex of Champa temples, covered by the traces of time.

The group includes 3 triple-roofed sandstone towers with pointed tops.

The northern tower is the smallest and is partly ruined. The middle one is bigger and better preserved. The southern tower is the biggest and best-preserved.

Culturologists think that Khương Mỹ is dedicated to Vishnu.

If one stays for a while at the towers to contemplate a thousand years of now peaceful, now turbulent weather and history covering the seemingly forgotten temples, one can enjoy the mysterious sandstone sculptures of the ancient Champa.

Among the multitude of reliefs on the walls of the Chăm temples, many depict lively, mischievous and cute monkeys. A peculiarity is that all the monkeys’ sexual organs are vividly expressed.

Here, three monkeys carry baggage on their shoulders and heads. There, another

Champa religious sculpture features monkeys with human-like traits

tired three: one with its back bent down, hugging a gourd, a middle one picking up something, and a left one sitting on a rock, its chin resting on its hand. In another scene, three monkeys beat drums and cymbals and dance jubilantly, perhaps celebrating a victory.

The most remarkable scene, perhaps, is the funny one depicting a little monkey, its

18 • VIETNAM HERITAGE - JANUARY-FEBRUARY 2016

PHOTO & TEXT BY MAI HONG LAM

penis being bitten by a tortoise, while another monkey stands by their side, scratching its head with one hand, the other pointing at the tortoise.

In 2007, at the Khương Mỹ site, archeologists excavated 17 unique sandstone sculptures, among which some depict monkeys. These sandstones are now on display at the Champa Sculpture Museum of Đà Nẵng.

Culturologists think that the monkey is the Chăm totem. Among Chăm architectural remains in Quảng Nam province, Khương Mỹ temples have the most images of monkeys; in many postures, expressing the most nuanced of feelings, all highly stylized.

Quảng Nam province has many other Chăm spiritual sites, such as Mỹ Sơn complex, Bằng An tower, Chiên Đàn complex, An Phú vestige, and 26 other scattered Chăm relic sites.

The sculptures at Khương Mỹ, according to Chăm culture experts, seem to be related to the epic poem Ramayana, a story about the fight of prince Rama (an incarnation of Vishnu) and his army of monkeys against Lanka King Ravana to free his wife Sita.n

ARCHITECTURE

T

The Gift of the Sea

ừ Vân (aka Snail) is a pagoda situated at Cam Linh ward, Cam Ranh city, only about 60 km from Nha Trang, famous for its Bảo Tích tower, which was built with millions of coral and shell pieces collected from the nearby shore. The tower was designed, built and decorated by the monks themselves and is over 30m high.

His holy highness, Thích Hồng Danh, the “main author” of the Snail tower told us, “Từ Vân pagoda was established in 1968, but the tower construction began almost 30 years later, because the pagoda and the local people were all very poor. At that time, the Cam Ranh shores were packed with

corals and shells, washed up from the sea. I thought heaven gave them to us to build the tower.”

In spring of 1995, Từ Vân monks began the tower construction. Every day, 12 monks and lay brothers took turns mixing mortar, carrying and laying corals for over 4 years until it was completed.

The Snail tower is 9.5m in diameter, 3 storeys high, built without any concrete or steel reinforcement. The internal structure is simple, but the decoration is intricate. The walls are built from dead corals only. All the designs, patterns on the walls, ceilings, pillars, floors, stairs and the outsides of the 49 surrounding little towers are shell mosaics.

20 • VIETNAM HERITAGE - JANUARY-FEBRUARY 2016

BY BAO CHAN

Photos by Nguyen Thanh

Khanh Hoa Thích Hồng Danh Province explained, “The floors are rounds with the same centre and 8 doors representing the virtuous ways on the road of enlightenment leading to Nirvana. The monks have dedicated their aspiration for opening the way of people’s virtues to the tower construction.”

In the pagoda’s courtyard, the monks also built 18 levels of hell, so that after experiencing the persecution of sin, the pilgrims would understand that it’s better to lead an honest, virtuous life, which is the best salvation.n

W W W.YE N S AO K H A N H H OA . CO M .V N

ART

I

Artist Nguyen Quang Vinh:

both born and made

had first come across the work of the artist Nguyen Quang Vinh at an exhibition two months previously. I had been delighted by his expressive series of seascapes. Now, I was on my way to his studio cum home out in the boondocks of Binh Thanh District to see his private exhibition. I was soon to learn that there was much more about him than meets the eye. I had been told it was behind the Oncology Hospital. That I found easily. It was clearly marked by a sickly-looking middle-aged gentleman with a cigarette drooping from his mouth seated by a wall with the sign 'Benh Vien Ung Buou' directly above spiraling smoke. Then I turned into a labyrinth of alleyways. This is not going to be easy, I thought. But no, by following the number system I soon found myself at the Q'Vinh Studio, though you have to admit that it is quaintly odd to have six separate houses all

BY

numbered 110. And there to greet me was the congenial Ong Quang Vinh himself.

Ong Quang Vinh is now fifty-two years old. For the last twenty years, he has worked as a teacher at the Fine Arts University. This exhibition is on three levels and it is crammed with pieces from all periods of his life. There are plenty that he has only just recently completed and even one that is still work in progress. But this is also a retrospective of a remarkable and varied career dating back to his student days in Moscow.

He has never been one to stand still or rest on his laurels, it seems. These days, it is the seascapes he concentrates on, but there are also abstract works, classical still life pieces, a series which feature inserts of the Mona Lisa, portraiture, anthropomorphic portraits of dogs and cats dressed in jackets, city paintings of Hanoi and Saigon and even one nude painting.

22 • VIETNAM HERITAGE - JANUARY-FEBRUARY 2016

RICH PICKENS

First, a look at the paintings from his Russian experience, most of which were part of his course work. There is a haunting portrait of a Russian woman, probably in her late fifties. It is realistic, but it is her character,

ART

Photos provided by Artist Nguyen Quang Vinh

warm and wise, that he seems to have captured best. Then, there is a frieze in traditional oriental style of the legendary giant Saint Going, who defended the Viet from aggression from the North. Equivalent perhaps to King Arthur of English legend, we see him in many scenes in armour, on horseback, dragons flying about him and wielding his lance and when that breaks, a bamboo pole.

At first, I thought this was a lacquer painting, but it is just clever technique that creates that illusion. As with most of the collection (a notable exception uses ceramic tiles), it is, in fact, acrylic on canvass. From the Russians, Q'Vinh learned classical still life with pitch-black backgrounds. ‘You have to paint many layers’, the artist explained to me. If it were not for the oriental plates and pots and the tropical fruits, you might have thought these pieces that relax the viewer so were produced by a European Grand Master some centuries ago.

It was the half-dozen or so cat and dog portraits that gave me the light relief. I hope that was the intent. The colourful and exaggerated eyes and extra floppy ears enhanced the natural cuteness of these creatures.

Then, under those heads, you see the animals dressed smartly in jackets and shirts. I

asked the artist if he had ever heard of the English artist Louis Wain, whose sole genre was anthropomorphized cats and kittens.

He had not, but seemed intrigued. Perhaps one day people will say of Vietnamese cats and dogs what was said of Wain's animals"English cats that do not look and live as his cats are ashamed of themselves." But then this is only one of many topics that versatile Q' Vinh treats.

There was a period when this artist fell seriously under the muse of the Mona Lisa.

There are a number of pieces which are mainly abstract but feature square cameos of Leonardo's famed sitter. There is even one which hearkens back to Andy Warhol’s Campbell soup pop art. It is a whole frame of American dollar banknotes with the lady in question replacing George Washington.

On to the artist's current preoccupation; namely the seascapes. Ah the sea! What a topic to paint. How beautiful and majestic she can be. She is the mother of all life on earth and yet how quickly she can switch to broody moods and how quickly our attitude toward her can change from awe-inspiring to dark fears of it engulfing our civilisations and of reclaiming us by drowning. Quang Vinh's seascapes-more expressive than re-

alistic-achieve all this with waves crashing onto rocks, rain pouring down on turbulent water and raging storms. To capture the full grandeur of the ocean means painting on a large canvass. This he does both vertically and horizontally; one of the latter would fit well on my stairway wall, I dreamed. There are two smaller ones, though, of Ke Ga Island with its lighthouse and the waters around it looking dark and somber in contrast to the bright sunny days of my two visits there.

In an age when anyone can pile up bricks in a corner and call it art and himself an artist, it is refreshing to encounter a professional who not only has innate ability, but has applied himself over many years to master new techniques. Quang Vinh is not one to let the grass grow beneath his feet, but is in constant exploration for new riches within himself. I have not come across an artist with such courage and versatility before. If you put four or five of his pictures of different genres in an exhibition you would think they were by different artists. Now that is what I call a true Master of Art!n The Q' Vinh private studio is located at 5/101/6 No Trang Long Street, Binh Thanh District, HCMC.

VIETNAM HERITAGE - JANUARY-FEBRUARY 2016

• 23

CUISINE

H

A secret fish dish

anoi cuisine has long been famous for its richness and diversity. Each attractive dish is considered unique.. Referring to Hanoi cuisine means referring to famous dishes such as Hanoi noodles, Westlake shrimp cakes, steamed rolled rice pancakes and of course, Cha Ca La Vong (delicious fried chopped fish with vermicelli) named after a Chinese historical figure “Lã Võng” (Jiang Ziya). One of the most famous specialties in Hanoi, not only does the Cha Ca La Vong move expatriates, but it also goes down in the hearts of most visitors as a cultural beauty.

For the past 100 years, the Cha Ca La Vong has been famous through North and South Vietnam. It is said that, originally, the Cha Ca La Vong was only a folk dish prepared at House No. 14, Cha Ca Street, Hoan Kiem, Hanoi by the Doan family. This restaurant was established in order to hide our troops from the eyes of French. However, thanks to its moreish and specific aromatic flavor, the Cha Ca La Vong gradually became famous.

Many people come here not only to enjoy this dish but also to listen to the history of ancient Hanoi.

The Cha Ca La Vong is “one of the 10 dishes you should try before death” according to a US news agency. It is more delicious when it is still steaming hot and each piece of fried fish is sprinkled with boiled liquid lard. The rich combination of different flavors-turmeric, dill and shrimp paste-make a strong impression on eaters, especially international visitors. It is the reason why, before leaving the restaurant, many of them praised: “we are extremely happy to visit this

PHOTO BY THANH VAN, TEXT BY LE VAN

beautiful place and particularly enjoy this moreish dish.”

At first glance, it seems simple to cook; however, few people can do it. It is said that it is necessary for house wives to be scrupulous in processing this dish. First, they mix all ingredients for the marinade and combine them with a special kind of fish. Then, they cover and marinate the fish for at least 1 hour or overnight in the refrigerator so that the pieces of fish can absorb all of the spices.

Normally, the fish used is Hemibagrus.

However, this fish is very scarce, so it can be replaced by sheat-fish, especially Semilabeo notabilis. To create its typical flavor, making the dipping sauce is also an extremely important step. Cooks combine sugar, shrimp paste (mam tom), distilled wine, hot oil,

24 • VIETNAM HERITAGE - JANUARY-FEBRUARY 2016

chili and mix well. While constantly stirring, they will squeeze in the juice of half a lemon until it foams. The fish is fried on the table with turmeric and dill and served with cold vermicelli and peanuts. How cosy it is for all family members to gather together to enjoy a hot bowl of fried chopped fish in the piercing cold of winter days in Hanoi!

Although Hanoi is expanding with many high-rise buildings and supermarkets, the streets also have become bustling with many restaurants.

Therefore, it is easy for everyone to find a place to enjoy any dish, including the Cha Ca La Vong.

However, if you want to explore Hanoi’s culinary history as well as enjoy the perfect flavor of the Cha Ca La Vong, the restaurant at No. 14 is still the best choice for you. Hanoi now has lots of restaurants serving this dish, but no one of them can match this 100-year-old restaurant in terms of quality and flavor. However, I always wonder why after many years of business, everything in restaurant remains unchanged, especially the old wooden stairs? Is it true that for good luck in business, they don't want to change anything?

Or maybe it is the way for the owner to think of the past as well as remind them of the traditional flavor of the Cha Ca La Vong.

It can be said that Hanoi cuisine is a crossroads of many different cuisines, but each dish here contains a distinction of Hanoians. Furthermore, Hanoians clearly know how to enjoy their cuisine and prove finical about their food. If you have an opportunity to travel to Hanoi, you should enjoy this unique and original specialty; surely, it will not let you down.n

Bavico Holiday Package

Hot Deal From VND

Included: - 01 night in Superior/ Deluxe River View room - 01 lunch/ dinner set menu for 02 persons with 02 free glasses of draught beer - Free upgrade to Ocean view room (subject to availability) - Extra bed: VND 650.000/room/night (included meals) - Complimentary 01 room/night when book up to 20 rooms/nights

1,599,000 Night(*) (*) Validity until: 20 December 2016 Not valid during special promotion or festivities celebrations

For further information, please contact us at: BAVICO INTERNATIONAL HOTEL NHA TRANG 02 Phan Boi Chau, Xuong Huan ward, Nha Trang | Tel: (058) 6266 555 | Fax: (058) 6266 556 Email: Reservation@bavicohotelnhatrang.com | Website: www.bavicohotelnhatrang.com

CRAFTS

H’Mong knives have the edge

T

he fame of H’mong master blacksmiths made me climb the steep rocky slopes of Nà Trôn mountain to Sử Pán commune (Sa Pa). The sound of hammering added rhythm to my steps. It was Mr. Chầu A Giáo, 45, who made the diligent sound. A red-hot piece of iron looked so docile under the muscles of his sturdy arm.

The pride of Sử Pán, he told me, the trade is an age-old tradition of the H’mong at Sử Pán. On these harsh rugged mountains, one can’t survive without a machete or ax good enough to cut trees, a strong plough or hoe to soften the soil, or a good sickle to harvest. The H’mong here used to make all sorts of iron tools. But nowadays, they only make machetes.

I asked how to make a good knife. Mr. Giáo said that one needs good iron and has to know how to forge it. Kinh people use pitcoal, but the H’mong use charcoal from strong forest wood. Red-hot iron is hammered to take the thin, sharp head of a knife, and then tempered to be stronger. This is the most important stage. Not enough heat, the iron will be soft. Too much heat, the knife edge will be brittle and easy to jag. The tempering water is another age-old secret. It helps give the knife toughness without being brittle, durable sharpness that makes it last longer than human life. Wild banana trunk is an ingredient used in the preparation of that water.

The H’mong at Sử Pán have another secret in making bronze rings to cover knife handles.

They cut strips

TEXT AND PHOTO BY TUAN NGOC

from bronze sheets, curl them to fit the handle and solder the stripe ends to make the rings.

In the past, they used silver and some other rare and expensive substances for the solder. Nowadays, electric welding is more convenient.

Yet welding bronze requires skills, because a clumsy weld is easy to break. Welding bronze is a hard skill to master. It takes a lot of patience and deft.

Mr. Châu A Chính, who lives nearby, is also a lifelong blacksmith. Due to old age and blurred eyesight, he has quit forging, and his son took over the family’s business. He told us, “H’mong men are inseparable from their knife. It’s both a work tool and a self-defence weapon. Our H’mong ancestors at Sử Pán have forged precious experience and family secrets to make good knives.

This is also an ethnic feature that generations have preserved and passed down.”

On Nà Trôn Mountain, beside the big masters like Mr Giáo and Mr, Chính, there are about 30 other H’mong households that follow this traditional trade.

The H’mong blacksmith workshop at Sử Pán is very simple. A dirt mound for a furnace, a few anvils, bellows, hammers and pliers are all there is. Except for harvest seasons, the furnaces of Sử Pán are always red hot, and the sounds of hammers and

Heating iron on charcoal

anvils make life here vibrant.

The H’mong knives of Sử Pán were primarily a life necessity. But recently, the knife trade began booming. Many households make knives to sell to tourists. Sùng A Dơ, who specializes in knives for tourists that visit Sa Pa said, they love ones that are not only good, but also very beautiful.

Commercial knives must have an elegant shape, shining blade and a carved curve handle wrapped in many dandy bronze rings. The sheaths also have to be eye-catching and light. A sharp knife in a wooden sheath normally sells for 150,000 – 200,000 VND. But one with handle and sheath made of buffalo horn can be worth 400,000 – 500,000 VND.n

VIETNAM HERITAGE - JANUARY-FEBRUARY 2016

• 27

CUSTOMS

Y

Those who dance on fire

oung Pà Thẻn men dance barefoot on red hot coals. Now and then, one squats down, grabs the burning coal and throws it up. Myriads of sparks spread like fireworks amongst excited shouts of admiring spectators.

This is the unique and esoteric ritual of the Fire Dance Fest of the Pà Thẻn people at Hồng Quang commune, Lâm Bình district, Tuyên Quang province.

Fire Dance Fest, the Pà Thẻn counterpart of the “new rice offering” of many other ethnic minorities of Việt Nam, has been held for over 300 years. The date is not fixed; it falls after the autumn harvest (anywhere from the middle of the 10th lunar month to the first full moon of the next year.) This is also the coldest time of the year. The most important ritual takes place from 7 to 11 pm.

Fire Dance Fest is to thank the supreme Pà Thẻn god – the god of Fire – and heaven and earth for good crops and for dispelling diseases and evil spirits; it also honors courage that helps people face danger.

The ritual takes place at a large clearing in a village the centre. At nightfall, people gather around 2 firewood stacks about 4-5 m3 each. The organizers have already prepared all the offerings such as a musical instrument, a chicken, a bowl of rice, 10 glasses of wine, and bamboo paper which is only used in Pà Thẻn faith-related rituals.

At a certain time, the wood stacks are ignited and the shaman begins the ritual.

While the shaman communicates with the spirit world, the dancers sit in front of him to get into a trance and renew their spirit.

After about 2 hours, the communication is done and the dancers seem to have been spirited. The dance begins and continues until the coal turns to ashes, at about 11pm.

The dancers then get drowsy and fall asleep immediately. The next morning they don’t remember what happened the previous night.

Miraculously, the dancers’ feet show no injury whatsoever.

Phù Văn Minh, a boy of 17 from Thượng Minh village, told me he felt quite anxious

28 • VIETNAM HERITAGE - JANUARY-FEBRUARY 2016

TEXT & PHOTO BY VU TUAN

before the dance, especially when sitting in front of the shaman. But after listening to the shaman’s murmuring under the music he played for a while, Minh felt as if hypnotized and began trampling the fire and grabbing the coal to throw it in the air.

This was the first time Minh took part in the dance. Pà Thẻn men at Thượng Minh must perform the fire dance without injury to show their maturity. To Minh, the first fire dance was like passing the life test for his adulthood to be “recognized” by the shaman.

Unlike Phù Văn Minh, another Pà Thẻn young man named Lý Văn Trụ has already taken part in the fire dance many times. Trụ danced on fire not only in his commune’s fest but also in the fest of Pà Thẻn people in Bắc Quang district of Hà Giang. Trụ said, the most important thing in the ritual is the shaman’s capacity. There have been many cases when dancers got burnt. That’s because the shaman conducted the ritual incorrectly, and the dancer jumped into the fire before being told.n

FOOD

Bitter, salty, sweet: the

Hà Nội rice noodle

Rolls of steamed rice flour sheets from Thanh Trì

N

Multi-flavor rice vermicelli

Due to differences in climate, landscape and other elements, the North, Middle and South of Vietnam enjoy very distinct tastes and flavors in their foods and drinks. But they are all extremely attractive.

orthern style does not focus on any single flavor. Most of the food has moderate, neutral taste.

The typical Northern food specialties include Hà Nội rice noodles, Hà Nội multi-flavor rice vermicelli, Hà Nội rice vermicelli with grilled pork, West lake prawn cake, rice vermicelli with snail, curdled meat, Vòng steamed green flake, spring rolls, glass vermicelli fried with crab, etc.

Northern food bears the signature of an age-old culture. As the capital of many dynasties, Hà Nội is the culmination of the culinary art. Northern food, from seasoning to presentation, is relatively simple, but actually it is deeply and uniquely refined.

The menu here is rich with all sorts of cakes, pickles, wrapped food, jams and preserved fruits…not to fill the stomach but just to offer more choices. The preparation

30 • VIETNAM HERITAGE - JANUARY-FEBRUARY 2016

processes defined by previous generations encompass carefully calculated harmony between ying and yang.

Mid-Vietnam is the land of sun, wind, persevering people and hot food.

Typically Huế food is considered as representing the region. From common dishes to royal delicacies, it all creates a taste that uniquely, unmistakably associates with this thin strip of land. The common dips include

three flavors of Vietnam

Huế sour pickled shrimp

Mỹ Tho rice noodle (hutieu)

Huế rice vermicelli with beef

Paddy rat fried in coconut milk

egg-plant sauce and sour pickled shrimp.

Typical Mid-Vietnamese dishes include Huế rice vermicelli with beef, bloating cake, rice sheet wrap, smashed girdled cake sandwich and rice vermicelli with fish, fried rolls with shrimp and pork.

Mid-Vietnam is also rich with cakes and wraps but the preparation is much more complicated than in the North, and the variations are more diverse. However the taste can be changed while eating, making it easy for these dishes to be spread into other territories.

The Midsection of Vietnam is not blessed with fertile land and resources. So the people value everything given by nature

and turn it into wonderful pieces of art that bond the tastes with crystal-clear memories about the land that offered it.

Southern food is a mixture of many food cultures such as Chinese, Cambodian, Thai, etc.

Hot pot with walking fish (Pseudapocryptes elongatus) For example, there are many variations of Chinese rice noodle (hutieu).

Cambodian and Thai influence can be felt in the taste and flavor of sugar and coconut milk.

All Southern dishes bear the character of the Southern landscape and people, wild and generous. Just a few ingredients one can

FOOD

pick up anywhere in the nature are enough to create the tastes and styles pertaining to this part of the country. Multitudes of variations in seasoning, preparation and eating habits don’t affect this peculiarity.

The popular meats and fishes are often pickled or salted and dried to preserve as materials waiting for use in future dishes.

Wild animal meat can be made into delicious dishes such as paddy rats fried in coconut milk, large flying fox steamed with pickled soya curd, and monocle cobra in rice soup with green peas, coconut lava bathed in fish sauce, etc.n Compiled by Vietnam Heritage

VIETNAM HERITAGE - JANUARY-FEBRUARY 2016

• 31

D

Photos provided by Terracotta Hotel & Resort

Pines over water at

Terracotta Dalat Hotel and Resort

alat, the most European-looking of all towns in the country, amazingly elegant with its French colonial architecture, cool climate and hilly terrain, gets almost impossibly, strikingly beautiful in autumn.

The road snakes through the town with a riot of juicy bright greenery, endless thick groves of graceful pines and whole fields of wild marigolds at full bloom rising from the canvas of terracotta-colored clay soil with a backdrop of the still, dark-green waters of Tuyen Lam lake. Each meter of the landscape is truly spectacular and seems to be the very picture of a photographer’s heaven.

Everything around looks so scenic that I almost start to dream of being driven another 50 km, but the road ends too soon and suddenly I’m at the bright new 4-star Terracotta Dalat resort where I am booked.

The lines of villas built in the best traditions of modern romantic functionalism and minimalist style with flat roofs, glass

walls, spacious terraces and cubism concepts seem to be inspired by Frank Lloyd Wright’s architectural philosophy of naturalism, surprising in mountainous Dalat, being a locus of French colonial architecture in Vietnam.

21 villas with intriguing botanical and natural names like Cerasus, Jacaranda, Panorama and Aurora, housing 75 bedrooms, are hidden in lush pine woodlands and look truly spectacular with bright spots of flower beds masterly laid out by the gardeners. Together with the faint sounds of classical music flowing from outdoor speakers and forest birds chirping in the treetops, they are an image of serenity capable of deeply affecting those not easily impressed.

Villa interiors with 1 to 3 bedrooms are refreshingly spacious and contemporary, with high ceilings, glass panoramic walls, cozy modern design living rooms and kitchens, as well as huge and bedazzling stone verandahs to meditate on the stunning lake seen through the green veil of

32 • VIETNAM HERITAGE - JANUARY-FEBRUARY 2016

BY NATHALIE SOKOLOVSKAYA

young pine trees. The rooms feature tasteful modern unobtrusive designs with a fine blend of hazel, beige and brown tones, harmonious combinations of wood, stone and glass bringing the prime views of the lake and pine forest to the forefront.

The Superior and Deluxe accommodations within the two wings of residential compounds follow the same open-to-nature space concept, with floor-to-ceiling panoramic windows, open-air passages, panoramic terraces and outdoor stairs.

Here, every detail, starting from the furnishing and interior design of resort accommodations to the architectural style, garden and resort layout, is tailored to bring its guests as close to charming nature surroundings as possible, while staying current with all modern comfort and facilities that 4-star international standards require. The vast pine park area with cobble-stoned paths, garden statues, cozy modern alcoves invite relaxed walks in pine-scented, cool

ADVERTORIAL

air-which are priceless after the hectic mayhem of Hanoi and HCMC. With on-spot Montagne restaurant, featuring indoor and outdoor seating areas, 400 m² Grand Ball room and two conference rooms, Terracotta resort offers a great stage set for memorable events.

The resort‘s guests are also offered to rejuvenate and recreate themselves in the large spa center with its extensive list of treatments, indoor heated pool and well-

equipped gym.

An atmospheric Zen monastery, scenic Datanla waterfall and boat and pedalo pier for river journeys to Elephant Island, all being within walking distance from Terracotta Dalat resort, provide an inspiring experience of local sights, discovery and meaningful active leisure for sporty travellers.

The 8 km distance between Dalat city center and the resort is quickly covered on a

shuttle bus which conveniently departs from the hotel 3 times per day.

With 240 superior and deluxe rooms in living compounds and 21 ultra-modern design villas within Terracotta Dalat Resort & spa premises, the space somehow, surprisingly, gives one a feeling of privacy and tranquility. It offers a redolent and scenic pine forest, the green slopes of the whole lake peninsula, stunning views and the mountainous air to no one else but you.n

2015 IN NUMBERS

2015 in Number Lottery ticket company’s managers earn 730 million VN dong a year

The online news wire vnexpress.net released that each manager in the lottery ticket company in the Mekong Delta province of Tien Giang earns an average of 730 million VN dong, or 33,000 US dollar a year. Their employers get a half of their total, 16,500 US dollars a year each.

The earning is high compared to the average annual income of Vietnamese white collars, around 6,000 dollars a year. In Vietnam, almost every locality has one lottery ticket company and the companies are State-owned.

Many blamed the companies for the spread of illegal gambling. High income rates among the companies’ employers indicates the social unfairness while lottery ticket sellers, who are often the old, the underprivileged, and the disable, earn about 1,100 US dollars a year on their maximum daily sale. All of them have to wander around on the streets despite the weather.

Four Vietnamese mobile service providers earn 360 trillion VN dong

Four Vietnamese mobile service providers, including Mobifone, Vinaphone, Viettel and Vietnammobile, earn a total of 360 trillion VN dong, or 16 million US dollars.

The figure shows the large number of people use mobile phones in the country. Currently, the four providers have 169 million subscribers, 190% bigger than total population of Vietnam. This suggests that each user might subscribe to between one to four mobile numbers, as the elderly and very young children do

not use cellphones.

This also says that the management and statistic work of total subscribers have not been firmly done, leading to the vague situation of low service but higher charge. The online news wire vnexpress.net reported that Vietnam is among the four countries applied highest charge on 3G service in 11 ASEAN countries.

Despite the Ministry of Telecommunications and Information has managed to control the unclear status of telecom operation, the figures related to the four service providers showed that things remain out of control..

Purchase of imported cars costs Vietnamese USD3 billion

Vietnamese in 2015 have spent a total of 3 billion US dollar to purchase imported vehicles.

A report by the General Department of Statistics said the number of imported vehicles in the year was 125,000, an increase of 76 per cent in quantity and 87 per cent in value over the year 2014’s figures.

Compared to figures in the year 2012, 2015’s are 2.5 times bigger in quantity and five times higher in value. The largest imports were from Thailand, South Korea, China and India respectively.

To get full ownership of an imported vehicle, Vietnamese customers pay about three times the actual price of a car, particularly luxurious ones, as tax levied on imported vehicles is 240 per cent.

This shows that Vietnamese dare to spend large amount s of money despite high tax, condensed traffic, and low quality road infrastructure in Vietnam not being suitable for expensive cars.

US$89,000 – the highest rate for

Tet bonus this year

Ho Chi Minh City’s Department of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs said they reported a historic Tet (Lunar New Year) bonus in a foreign direct-invested business, of 2 billion VN dong or 89,000 US dollars.

34 • VIETNAM HERITAGE - JANUARY-FEBRUARY 2016

This is the highest ever Tet bonus and it is a shocking number as many Vietnamese could not earn that amount in their lifetime.

Vietnam’s GDP per capita is now 2,200 dollars but many people live on income rate that much lower than that figure. Every year, when the Tet comes, teachers, especially those in mountainous area based schools, become jealous with bonus in economic sector, as they often get around 100,000 VN dong or 5 US dollars for year-end bonus.

More young people couldn’t find jobs

A report by the General Department of Statistics said the percentage of unemployed among people aged 15-24 is on the rise, three times higher than the average rate of all ages.

The report did not reveal an exact number for the total unemployed young people, but it said they are on the top of the list. An expert said many graduates could not adopt themselves into working environment, which is totally different from academic ambiance.

The high rate of unemployment among young people suggests that training programmes in universities and vocational schools could not match with actual need from labour market; and the labour sector and the training sector must work together to deal with it.

Observers are concerned about the pressure to society if the unemployment rate among the youth continues to rise.

Vietnamese consume litre of beer in 2015

3.4 billion

Vietnam Beverage Association said its members sold out 3.4 billion liters of beer in 2015, an increase of 10 per cent over the year of 2014’s figure and 40 per cent over the 2010’s.

This suggests that one Vietnamese drinks about 376 liters of beer a year. However, the old and children do not drink, and very few women do, so one Vietnamese man’s consumption of beer a year should be tripled the average number, of about 1,128 litres.

Compiled by Ha Nguyen

ASIDE

Vietnamese Puppies that sell for more than cars 'The Daily Mail' of the UK reports the remarkable story of Catherine Lane of Brighton,England who has successfully imported the first Phu Quoc Ridgeback dogs into Europe. This is a species with a genetic makeup owing a lot to the jackal and is unique to Vietnam. It is very rare, with only around eight hundred individuals meeting the certified standard of the Vietnamese Kennel Club.

Importing these dogs into England required Ms Lane to make several trips to Vietnam and a lot of paperwork to meet the stringent quarantine regulations of the UK, a country that is free rabies-free and is keen to maintain that status.

The Vietnamese dogs are happy in their new country have produced a litter of four puppies. Such is their uniqueness in Europe that they command a price of 10,000 GBP a pup, which could buy a very nice family car in the UK.

Phu Quoc Ridgeback dog (for illustration only). Photoby James Gordon

Elephant race. Photo: Tran Vu Dung

EVENTS HANOI

EXHIBITIONS ‘On the Tracks’ Until 26 January Vietnam in Focus, 46 Hang Vai St., Hoan Kiem Dist.

A street photography exhibition entitled ‘On The Tracks’ is on display at ‘Vietnam in Focus’ gallery. The exhibition features amazing pictures by photographers on extremely popular tours exploring the residential areas along Hanoi’s railway tracks. Free entrance.

‘No to sorrow’ 14 to 28 January

Goethe-Institut Hanoi, 56 -58 Nguyen Thai Hoc St., Ba Dinh Dist.

A Lomography exhibition by Hanoi-based photographer Maika Elan is on display at Goeth Institut. Lomography is a style of analog photography, which works with the unpredictable image qualities of cheap cameras, like colour changes and negative effects. Maika Elan has been taking photographs with different Lomo-cameras since 2009. The artist’s pictures play around with colours, shades, focus and perspective. They show both the trivial and exceptional scenes from the photographer’s life, and always reflect her optimism and happiness. On display will be a range of different photographs, from the areas of portrait, fashion and documentary photography.

Free admission.

Fantastic Voyage, An offbeat look at France 8-31 January A photo exhibition entitled ‘Fantastic Voyage, An offbeat look at France’ by young photographer Maia Flore is on display at L’E

space Exhibition Hall, 24 Trang Tien St., Hoan Kiem Dist., Hanoi.

In this series of 25 photographs, the photographer has created a character that appropriates in each place, to make it surprising and poetic. Sometimes actor, sometimes spectator, this recurring character animates and renews the 25 cultural sites such as castles, museums and monuments that the artist visited during a tour of France for 66 days between July and September 2013.

Contemporary Art Fair 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. from 22-31 January Hanoi Creative City No.1, Luong Yen St., Hai Ba Trung Dist, Hanoi Continuing the success of Tet Art 2015 program, TeT Art 2016 unites and showcases more than 200 curated original artworks by more than 80 leading Vietnamese and international modern and contemporary artists. The program also features a series of Art Talks on Artist and Art Creation, Art Collection and Art Investment; Art Performance; Workshops; Art Tour, and an Art Film section. Notably, all artworks on display will have especially concessional prices during Tet Art 2016 as a commitment of the organizer and all the participating artists to the development of Vietnamese arts and art lovers. Visit: www.facebook.com/hncreativecity.

Tet market 4 to 8 p.m. daily from 29 to 31 January Metropole Hotel Hanoi has a Tet market from 29 to 31 January, fromunning 4 p.m. to 8 p.m., to help travellers discover and experience local Vietnamese culture.

During the festive period, there

36 • VIETNAM HERITAGE - JANUARY-FEBRUARY 2016

will be bamboo stalls selling food, fresh products, handicrafts and colourful paper paintings from the nearby Dong Ho village. In between the action, visitors can also stop for a warm bowl of pho and have their portrait painted by a Vietnamese artist. Join us for various competition such as banh chung making contest, Nom or Vietnamese salad making contest, Banh cuon –rice pancake making contest and drawing competition.

Free entrance. Contact: Metropole Hotel Hanoi, 15 Ngo Quyen St., Hoan Kiem Dist., Hanoi; tel: (04) 3826 6919.

Tet celebration at Vietnam Museum of Ethnology From 9 a.m., 13 & 14 February, 2016

Vietnam Museum of Ethnology, Nguyen Van Huyen St., Cau Giay Dist., Hanoi The Vietnam Museum of Ethnology will organize Tet celebrations featuring the nation’s customs through folk games, ethnic arts and traditional cuisine on 13 & 14 February, 2016. Visitors to the museum will have the opportunity to explore traditional rituals and exotic games of ethnic minority groups such as H’Mong, Ede, Thai, Dao and Nung. There will also be folk games of the King people as well as folk performances such as water puppets, lion

dance and stilt-walking. Traditional Vietnamese cuisine is another highlight. Visitors will have the opportunity to learn how to make delicacies of different regions in Vietnam. The cost of admission is VND40,000 per adult and VND10,000 per children.

Contact: Vietnam Museum of Ethnology, Nguyen Van Huyen St., Cau Giay Dist., Hanoi; tel: (04) 3836 0352

MUSIC A Spring Night - Concert and Ballet 8 p.m., 21 January Hanoi Opera House Conductor Nguyen Thieu Hoa, bamboo flute soloist Hoang Anh, Vietnamese two-chord fiddle The Dan and other artists from Vietnam National Opera and Ballet will perform the Overture ‘William Tell’, Don Bassilio’s aria from opera ‘Il barbiere di Siviglia’, Rossina’s cavatina from opera ‘Il barbiere di Siviglia’ by composer Rossini and ‘Concerto Thang Long’ for Bamboo Flute and Orchestra by Nguyen Thieu Hoa, as well as ‘Valse’ from the ballet ‘Sleeping Beauty’ by Tchaikovsky, La Gitana-Chorus from opera ‘Travatore’ by Verdi and Finale Chorus from Opera ‘Magic Flute’ by Mozart. The performance starts at 8 p.m. on 21 January. Tickets: VND200,000 VND350,000 & VND500,000.

Call: 0983 067 996 or 0913 489 858 for free delivery.

Alluring Jazz music Le Club, Metropole Hanoi Hotel Every Tuesday to Sunday night in January & February from 8.45 p.m.

Le Club Lounge at Metropole Hanoi Hotel will exude a distinctly international flavour with the introduction of our latest Jazz diva. Maya Nova, a dynamite vocalist and entertainer, has delighted audiences across the world and will now bring her style to Hanoi.

Jazz concert with Timo Vollbrecht & Band 8 p.m., 22 January Goethe-Institut Hanoi, 56 -58 Nguyen Thai Hoc St., Ba Dinh Dist.

The performance features best pieces of music composed by Rossini, Donizetti, Mozart, Lehar, Puccini, Verdi and Napoletana.

Ticket prices: VND200,000VND350,000- VND500,000. For free delivery, call 0983 067 996 or 0913 489 858.

HOI AN

The Goethe-Institut presents the Southeast Asian tour of acclaimed jazz musician Timo Vollbrecht and his band Fly Magic.

The distinct and warm sound of band leader Timo Vollbrecht’s saxophone is inspired by the music scenes of Berlin and New York – the cities between which he commutes. Every song creates a new universe for itself – jazz elements merge with post rock, minimalism, new music and contemporary song culture. After the opening event in Hanoi, the musicians and their refreshingly different style of music will travel further to HCMC, Phnom Penh and Bangkok. Free tickets are available from 15 January at Goethe-Institut Hanoi VNSO 2016 Season Opening Gala 8 p.m. 27 & 18 February Hanoi Opera House No 1 Trang Tien St., Hoan Kiem Dist., Hanoi The Vietnam National Symphony Orchestra will have a VNSO 2016 Season Opening Gala for the New Year of 2016 with the presence of special guests Italian soprano Angela Nisi and Japanese conductor Tetsuji Honna. Born in Brindisi, Nisi began her studies with Manuela Custer and Margaret Baker, later perfecting her singing at the Teatro Stabile di Torino with Davide Livermore and at the Accademia di Santa Cecilia in Rome with Renata Scotto.

She made her debut in 2010 in Bizet's ‘Carmen’ as Micaela at the Festival di Bassano del Grappa, then singing principal roles in Italian theaters and abroad, including the Teatro Regio di Torino, Teatro San Carlo di Napoli, and Aalto-Theater Essen.

Tet in Hoi An 2 to 17 February Tourists visiting Hoi An on Tet holiday in February will have chance to experience the exciting atmosphere of traditional Tet in this beautiful ancient town. There are many activities taking place, including Spring flower market from 2 to 7 February on Tran Hung Dao Street, Nguyen Hue Street and Hoang Dieu Street and on Hoai river, Photo exhibition: 55th anniversary of the Hoi AnThanh Hoa twin city relationship from 2 to 22 February at An Hoi Sculpture Garden, folk games and learning how to make lanterns and flower lanterns, folding coconut leaves from 7 to 14 February at An Hoi Sculpture Garden, traditional song and dance welcoming new spring, fireworks performance in the evening of 7 February (Lunar New Year Eve).

On 13 February, there will be a boat race held on Hoai River at 8 a.m. You can see details of Tet activities at www.HoiAnWorldHeritage.org.vn or www.HoianAncientTown.vn.

HO CHI MINH CITY

Music with ‘Private Affair’ 9 p.m. till late nightly

Saigon Saigon Bar at Caravelle Hotel (19 Lam Son Square, Dist.1, HCMC) presents a new fivemember band Private Affair from

Kiev in the Ukraine. The band was formed by a group of friends in 2010 and quickly rose to popularity playing in some of the capital’s best bars and collaborating with top Ukrainian musicians and artists. Motivated by a love of adventure, the band uprooted to Asia a few years later. Before arriving in Ho Chi Minh City, Private Affair played to enthusiastic audiences in venues such as Hard Rock Café Angkor in Cambodia and Genting Club at the Genting Highlands in Malaysia. Private Affair will perform classics such as Michael Jackson hits as well as covers of newer tracks from artists such as Bruno Mars and Beyoncé.

The exhibition “Legend world” 23-31 January “Legend World” is the title of the exhibition by Vietnamese artist Nguyen Thi Mai, taking place from 23 to 31 January at Ho Chi Minh Fine Arts Museum (97 Pho Duc Chinh, Dist.1, HCMC).

Mai is a self-taught artist who began her art journey in 2004 after she worked in different fields. Her legend world features a world of natural colours, women’s forms, Vietnamese culture with the motif of bronze drums, highland gongs and folk music, lively movement of classic music, country music, Rock and Rap. The exhibition will display 45 lacquer paintings created from 2010 to 2015. Her paintings aim to express the love of nature, people and life.

HCMC RUN 2016 24 January

HCMC Run 2016 is an annual community sport event held to encourage people who love run-

EVENTS

ning and to promote and contributing to the further development of the youth sports department of Vietnam. This year, the route is around Crescent Lake and Phu My Bridge, at Phu My Hung, Dist.7, HCMC with the beautiful view of the new urban development Phu My Hung when you reach the top of Phu My Bridge. The runners can join the races for different distances, including 5km, 10km and 21 km.

The event also has a Warm-up Day on 23 January, with interesting activities, including race for children from 6 to 9 years old for a distance of 340m, sports nutrition talks, sports workshops, music concert and dances. The fee is VND10,000 per person. Contact: (08) 3824 -1813, Email: info@pulse.vn. For sponsorship, email: marketing@pulse.vn Nguyen Hue Flower Street festival 5 to 12 February

“Peace, Prosperity and Development” is the theme of Nguyen Hue Flower Street Festival 2016 along Nguyen Hue Street, District 1 and surrounding areas. The organizer will display a model of the monkey family (the mascot of the year 2016), 36 giant pots of yellow apricot blossom trees along the area of Statue of Ho Chi Minh.

Fresh flower and natural materials such as rattan and bamboo as well as recycled products will be used to create a beautiful space and a friendly environment on the pedestrian Nguyen Hue for visitors to enjoy. Besides this, the organizer also presents florist exhibitions, door show performances, an artistic lighting program and ‘book streets’ along Mac Thi Buoi, Nguyen Hue and Ngo Duc Ke Streets.

VIETNAM HERITAGE - JANUARY-FEBRUARY 2016

• 37

VALUE FOR MONEY HOTELS

Novotel Ha Long Bay

160 Ha Long St, Bai Chay Ward, Ha Long Tel: (033) 3848-108 www.novotelhalongbay.com Novotel Ha Long Bay is running a meeting package at VND550,000++ for a half-day meeting and VND650,000++ for a full-day meeting with welcome tea & coffee, LCD projector, multimedia equipment and 10 per cent off on food and beverage.

In addition, Lobby Bar at the hotel is offering VND100,000++ a glass of Blue Ha Long cocktail with flavor of Appleton Jamaica Rum special, Blue Curacao, Malibu and Pineapple Juice. It is valid till 29 February. For booking, contact +84(0) 333 848 108 or email to sales@novotelhalong.com.vn.

Evason Ana Mandara Nha Trang Beachside Tran Phu St, Nha Trang, Khanh Hoa Province Tel: (058) 3524-705, www.sixsenses.com

Evason Ana Mandara Nha Trang is offering a promotion ‘Spring and Tet Offer‘starting from VND4,300,000 per room per night including round-trip airport transfers and breakfast. It runs from 12 January to 8 April.

Sheraton Hanoi Hotel

11 Xuan Dieu St, Tay Ho Dist., Hanoi Tel: (04) 3719-9000 www.sheratonhanoi.com Sheraton Hanoi Hotel has a room promotion at VND3,260,000++ per room per night till 31 March including breakfast, a complimentary ticket at the concert performed by Vietnam National Symphony Orchestra artists at Hanoi Opera House, one-way transfer to the theatre, a dinner and 10 per cent off on laundry.

RESORTS AND SPAS

Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi

15 Ngo Quyen St, Hanoi Tel: (04) 3826-6919 Le Spa du Metropole, at the Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi, is offering a 120-minute spa package ‘Festive Spa indulgence’ at

VND3,230,000++, including Sisley facial treatment and herbal Vietnamese body massage.

Hyatt Regency Danang Resort and Spa

5 Truong Sa, Ngu Hanh Son Dist., Da Nang City; www.danang.regency.hyatt.com Hyatt Regency Resort and Spa worldwide has a ‘Greeting season promotion,’ featuring 20% off on available rooms. The promotion also applies to all other Hyatt resorts in the world until 15 March In Vietnam, the promotion is valid until 29 February, 2016. The Hyatt Regency brand is an energizing hotel brand that connects travellers to whom and what matters most to them. More than 150 conveniently located Hyatt Regency urban and resort locations in over 30 countries around the world serve as the go-to gathering space for every occasion – from efficient business meetings to memorable family vacations.

InterContinental Nha Trang

32-34 Tran Phu St, Nha Trang, Khanh Hoa Province Tel: (058) 388-7777 Spa at InterContinental Nha Trang presents a promotion: complimentary extra 60 mins for booking 60 mins body massages for 2 person from 9am-2pm; 10% discount on spa menu, complimentary extra 30 mins scalp therapy, foot therapy or back massage for booking 90 mins body massage or facial treatment from 9am-8pm.

Dalat Edensee Lake Resort & Spa Tuyen Lam Lake, Dalat. Tel: (063) 383 1515

Alba Hot Springs Resort

Phong Son, Phong Dien, Thua Thien Hue Tel: (0540) 355 3225

Alba Hot Springs Resort offers a Spa Package at VND398,000 per person, including entry ticket and access to hot mineral water in the Alba Zone, a body or foot massage, a facial treatment and a steam bath, and set menu with one bottle of mineral water. A zip line and High wire Package is also available, at VND278,000/ adult and VND128,000/ child.

The package includes an entry ticket and access to hot mineral water in the Alba Zone, a zip line ride or one paper mask for each child, a high wire adventure course, and a set menu and one bottle of mineral water. Packages are valid until 29 February.

Diamond Bay Resort & Spa

Nguyen Tat Thanh Blvd, Phuoc Ha, Phuoc Dong Dist., Khanh Hoa Province Tel: (058) 3711-711 www.diamondbayresort.vn Diamond Bay Resort & Spa is offering a ‘Spring Promotion’ till 31 March at VND2,930,000 per room per night, including breakfast, a 20 per cent discount on food and beverage and shuttle bus from resort to city.

The price includes service charge and VAT.

40 • VIETNAM HERITAGE - JANUARY-FEBRUARY 2016

Dalat Edensee Lake Resort & Spa offers a ‘Dalat in Love Special’, valid in January and February at VND5,880,000 for two. The packages includes a two-night stay in a Mimosa Superior room with daily breakfast, a welcome drink and fruit plate, one extensive dinner for two at Riesling Restaurant, two vouchers for a 60-minute treatment of your choice at La Roseraie Spa, free use of sports and entertainment activities, round-trip airport transfers, and a shuttle service from/to Dalat.

Terracotta Resort Dalat

Tuyen Lam Lake, Dalat. Tel: (063) 388 3838 Email: info.dalat@terracottaresort.com

Terracotta Resort Dalat is offering Honeymoon Package valid until 30 March (except public holidays) at VND2,760,000 per couple.

The package includes a two-night stay in a honeymoon-decorated Superior room, a romantic dinner with a bottle of wine at Montagne restaurant, free one hour-use of a bike to pedal around the resort, and a 10% discount on spa treatments.

VALUE FOR MONEY

and foot reflexology. It is valid till 29 February.

The price includes service charge and VAT.

Windsor Plaza Hotel

18 An Duong Vuong St, Dist.5, Ho Chi Minh City Tel: (08) 3833-6688

The Reverie Saigon

22-36 Nguyen Hue St, Dist.1, Ho Chi Minh City Tel: (08) 3823 6688

VND1,700,000 for adult including wines, beers, soft drinks and Grand Marnier Cocktails.

Café Central An Dong, at the Windsor Plaza Hotel, serves a selection of international and local delicacies for breakfast, lunch and dinner. In January, diners can enjoy grilled meats, seafood and vegetables in the Japanese teppanyaki style, which features cooking performances by professional chefs. The restaurant is offering ‘Dine 4 pay 3’ for lunch and dinner buffet till the end of January. Lunch buffets starts from VND358,000++ and dinner buffet from VND558,000++.

Anh Viet Tourist

TOUR

Anh Viet Tourist Company will open Ho Chi Minh City Tour ‘Hop on – Hop off’ for foreigner tourists starting from 1 December, 2015. The full-day tour by 45-seat bus will take tourists to visit 12 of the most interesting sights in Ho Chi Minh City such as: War Remnants Museum, Reunification Palace, Notre Dame Cathedral, Central Post Office, Ben Thanh Market, Historic Museum, Cha Tam Church, Chinese Medical Street Hai Thuong Lan Ong and Thien Hau Pagoda in Cho Lon – China town. The tour will depart daily at 8am and end at 5.30pm, pick-up and return 30 minutes per coach. The tour has Interpreter with 4 languages: English, French, China and Spain and English speaking tour guide. Tour ticket is VND200,000 ($9). It’s available to buy ticket at 275F Pham Ngu Lao St., Dist.1 (Backpacker area) or booking online at http://www.hopon-hopoff.vn.

FOOD PROMOTIONS

InterContinental Hanoi Westlake

1A Nghi Tam St, Tay Ho Dist., Hanoi Tel: (04) 6270-8888 Café de lac Restaurant, at the InterContinental Hanoi Westlake, serves Sunday Brunch in January with dishes ranging from Vietnam to International. VND1,110,000 for adult and

Hoi An Beach Resort

01 Cua Dai St, Hoi An, Quang Nam Province Tel: (0510) 3927-011 Email: reservation@hoianbeachresort.com.vn www.hoianbeachresort.com.vn River Breeze Restaurant, at the Hoi An Beach Resort, serves ‘Vietnamese Tet Dinner Buffet’ on 7 February, 6.30 p.m. to 9 p.m. , with a selection of BBQ and seafood, VND339,000++.

Also, the restaurant has ‘Banh Chung – Banh Tet (Tet cakes) Cooking Class’ on 7 February, noon to 2 p.m., at VND139,000++ per person. Free for children joining with parents.

Novotel Nha Trang

50 Tran Phu St, Nha Trang, Khanh Hoa Province Tel: (058) 6256-900 Novotel Nha Trang has Valentine’s Day dinner by the pool at VND735,000 per person with chocolate-making session at the hotel, a five-course set menu, acoustic music and lucky draw.

Bamboo Village Beach Resort & Spa

Mui Ne, Phan Thiet Tel: (062) 384 7007, (08) 3838 9358 Bamboo Village Beach Resort & Spa is offering a ‘Blissful Four-Day Spa Package,’ valid until 31 January at VND3,332,000. The package includes luxury relaxation with a four-day spa treatment at Water Lily Spa and complementary drinks. Day 1: Sauna, steam bath, Vietnamese massage. Day 2: Sauna, steam bath, hot stone aromatherapy. Day 3: Sauna, steam bath, herbal ball massage. Day 4: Sauna, Jacuzzi, organic body scrub, aromatherapy, aloe vera facial.

Caravelle Saigon

19-23 Cong Truong Lam Son St, Dist.1, Ho Chi Minh City Tel: (08) 3823-4999 Kara Spa at the Caravelle Saigon has a ‘New Year’s Retreat’ at VND1,700,000, including a 60-minute facial with products from Thann and a 60-minute neck and shoulder therapy,

In January, Café Cardinal at Reverie Saigon offers Sunday Brunch with authentic French delicacies, Vietnamese and Asian cuisine and a wide selection of fresh seafood. VND 988,000++ per person including coffee, tea, and one glass of Henkell Trocken Kardinal sparkling wine.

Hotel Nikko Saigon

235 Nguyen Van Cu St, Dist 1, Ho Chi Minh City Tel: (08) 3925-7777 La Brasserie In January, Seafood Dinner Buffet with fresh seafood including lobsters, crabs, salmons, oysters, and mussels; food connoisseurs will enjoy international favourites as well as Japanese culinary delicacies from our stunning Sushi, Sashimi and Shabu Shabu live stations. VND 1,200,000 VND++ / person including free flow of house wine, beer, soft drinks, juices, peach iced tea, coffee & tea.

Nipponham Vietnam gets new restaurant

Nipponham Vietnam recently opened another restaurant in Ho Chi Minh City’s municipal District 1, in an effort to to bring the luxurious service of Le Cochon D’or to more gastronomists in the city.

Located at 51 Ham Nghi Street, the new restaurant takes gourmets several steps downtown to enjoy the best food in the city. Nipponham gives the highest guarantee for the food safety of ham products, produced with clean ingredients imported from Japan and processed and tested under strict quality codes by the company.

Nipponham is offering gifts and 5 to 10 per cent discount to regular customers. Home delivery is available for orders of more than 300,000 Vietnam dong.

Rates may be subject to 5-per-cent service charge and 10-per-cent VAT if there is no statement to the contrary.

VIETNAM HERITAGE - JANUARY-FEBRUARY 2016

• 41

LIFESTART BUYABLE FOUNDATION WORKSHOP

14 Nguyen Thai Hoc, Hoi An Quang Nam Province Tel: 0167 355 9447 Email: lifestartfoundation@mail.com www.lifestartfoundation.org.au The workshop was established to provide opportunities for those living in difficult situations, particularly adults with disabilities. Initiatives such as training and capacity building, together with a supportive community network, ensure both transformative change and self-sufficiency.

Workshop members receive 100 % of all profits earned from the sale of their products after expenses. You can support the workshop by purchasing direct from the Lifestart Foundation Workshop located in Hoi An or at Lifestart Foundation Workshop Online Shop.

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 44, 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) 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) Saigon Halong Hotel Ha Long St, Bai Chay Ward, Halong Tel: (033) 3845-845 info@saigonhalonghotel.com www.saigonhalonghotel.com From VND950,000 ($45) 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-

equipped rooms, with many breathtaking views of Halong Bay Tuan Chau Island Holiday Villa Halong Bay Tuan Chau Island, Halong Tel: (033) 3842-999 Email: rsv@tuanchauresort.com.vn www.holidayvillahalongbay.com 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

Note: Prices at many hotels depend on occupancy and change daily Catba Princes Hotel

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) 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)

VIETNAM HERITAGE - JANUARY-FEBRUARY 2016

• 43

A quare 1. B aD inh S Ba Dinh Square

D1

2. H oa L oP Hoa Lo Prison rison

E3

3. S ’s Cathedral Cathedral Stt Joseph Joseph’s

E2

ouse Opera House 4. Hanoi O pera H

F3

Cot Co Tower 5. C ot C oT ower

D2

Women’s Museum 6. Women’s

E3

Ho Chi Minh 7. H oC hi M inh Museum

D2

Citadel Thang Long hang L ong 8. IImperial mperial C itadel of T

D1

CENTRE O

B

C

1

Vietnam History F3 9. V ietnam National National Museum of History Vietnam Military History 10. V ietnam M ilitary H istory Museum D2 illar 11. O ne P One Pillar

C2

ausoleum 12. H oC hi M inh M Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum

D1

13. Ngo on T emple Ngocc S Son Temple

E2

14. Dong Da H ill Hill

C4

15. Dong X uan M arket Xuan Market

E1

2

3

An entry in the Directions section is either editorial or advertising To advertise, and be certain that your entry appears, please contact

1 4 14

4

Mr Song Hao Mobile: 0903 476 999

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

OF HA NOI D

E

F

12 1 11

15 8

7 5 10 13 3

2

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

6

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

4

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

9

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 Morocco 9 Chu Van An St, Ba Dinh Dist., Hanoi Tel: (04) 3734-5586 Mongolia 5 Van Phuc, Kim Ma St, Ba Dinh Dist., Hanoi Tel: (04) 3845-3009

46 • VIETNAM HERITAGE - JANUARY-FEBRUARY 2016

Myanmar 298A Kim Ma St, Ba Dinh Dist., Hanoi Tel: (04) 3845-3369 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 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 United Kingdom 31 Hai Ba Trung St, Hoan Kiem Dist., Hanoi Tel: (04) 3936-0500

United States 7 Lang Ha St, Dong Da Dist., Hanoi Tel: (04) 3772-1500 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 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

DIRECTIONS HANOI Topas Travel 52 To Ngoc Van St, Hanoi Tel: (04) 3715-1005 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)

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) 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 Au Lac do Brazil II 6A Cao Ba Quat St, Ba Dinh Dist, Hanoi Tel: (+84-4) 3845 5224 Fax: (+84 - 4) 3747 4330 Email: pr_hanoi@aulacdobrazil.com 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

Pullman Hanoi 40 Cat Linh St, Hanoi Tel: (04) 3733-0808 www.pullman-hanoi.com From VND2,448,600 ($115.50)

Craft Link 43 and 51 Van Mieu St, Hanoi Tel: (04) 3843-7710 Email: craftlink@hn.vnn.vn

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)

Ha Dong Silk 102 Hang Gai St, Hanoi Tel: (04) 3928-5056 Tan My Embroidery 66 Hang Gai St, Hanoi Email: tanmyhuong@fpt.vn Tel: (04) 3825-1579

Viet Culture 1 Trang Thi St, Hanoi Tel: (04) 3934-7417 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

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 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

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 Spa de Palace Fortuna Hotel Hanoi, 6B Lang Ha St, Tel: (04) 3831-3333

VIETNAM HERITAGE - JANUARY-FEBRUARY 2016

• 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

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) Lang Co Beach Resort

Alba Spa Hotel

Email: info@ninhbinhlegendhotel.com

www.ninhbinhlegendhotel.com From VND1,575,000 ($75)

NGHE AN

(TELEPHONE CODE: 038) Mường Thanh Song Lam Hotel 13 Quang Trung St, Quang Trung Ward, Vinh, Nghe An Province Tel: (038) 3737-666 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

29 Tran Quang Khai St, Hue Tel: (054) 3828-444 Email: info@albavietnam.com www.albavietnam.com Indochine Palace Hotel 105A Hung Vuong St, Hue Tel: (054) 3936-666 Email: info@indochinepalace.com www.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

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

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

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 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

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

Van Long Reserve, Gia Van Commune, Gia Vien Dist., Ninh Binh Province Tel: (030) 3658-333 Email: info@emeraldaresort.com www.emeraldaresort.com Ninh Binh Legend Hotel Tien Dong Zone, Ninh Khanh Ward, Ninh Binh City Tel: (030) 3899-880

Tel: (0511) 3981-234 Email: danang.regency@hyatt.com www.danang.regency.hyatt.com From VND5,225,000 ($243)

588 Bui Thi Xuan St, Thuy Bieu Dist., Hue Tel: (054) 3978-484 Email: sales@hueriversideresort.com www.hueriversideresort.com

48 • VIETNAM HERITAGE - JANUARY-FEBRUARY 2016

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) 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)

Le Belhamy Hoi An Resort & Spa Ha My Beach, Hoi An Tel: (0510) 3941-888 Email: info@belhamy.com www.belhamy.com 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

From VND3,024,000 ($144) Royal Hotel and Healthcare Resort Quy Nhon 1 Han Mac Tu St, Quy Nhon, Binh Dinh Province Tel: (056) 374-7100 Email: reservation@royalquynhon.com www.royalquynhon.com VND1,155,000 to VND1,365,000 ($55 to $65) 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 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

Hoi An Historic Hotel

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

Note: Prices at many hotels depend on occupancy and change daily

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) 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 Jolie Villa Hoi An Homestay 14 Luu Trong Lu St, Tan An Ward, Hoi An. Tel: 0934 847788 Email: Joliehomestay@gmail.com www.joliehoianhomestay.com Kiman Hotel & Spa

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

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 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.

Champa Island Nha Trang Resort & Spa 304, 2/4 St, Vinh Phuoc, Nha Trang Tel: (058) 3568-888 Email: sales@champaislandresort.vn www.champaisandresort.vn 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 Bavico International Hotel 02 Phan Boi Chau St, Nha Trang, Khanh Hoa Province Tel: (058) 6266-555 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 Email: reservations-nhatrang@evasonresorts.com

www.evason-resorts.com 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 Green World Hotel Nha Trang 44 Nguyen Thi Minh Khai St, Nha Trang, Khanh Hoa Province Tel: (058) 3528-666 Email: sales@greenworldhotelnhatrang.com www.greenworldhotelnhatrang.com InterContinental Nha Trang Hotel 32-34 Tran Phu St, Nha Trang Tel: (058) 3887-777 www.intercontinental.com 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

QUY NHON

(TELEPHONE CODE: 056) 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

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 VIETNAM HERITAGE - JANUARY-FEBRUARY 2016

• 49

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) Mường Thanh Grand 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) 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) Vinpearl Luxury Nha Trang Hon Tre Island, Nha Trang, Khanh Hoa Province Tel: (058) 3598-598 Email: info@vinpearlluxury-nhatrang.com www.vinpearl.com Vinpearl Resort Nha Trang Hon Tre Island, Nha Trang City, Khanh Hoa Province Tel: (058) 3598-188 Email: info@vinpearlresort-nhatrang.com www.vinpearl.com

PHAN THIET

(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.

SHOPPING

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

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) Romana Resort & Spa

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) 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 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) 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) 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)

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)

Muine Bay Resort

Hoang Ngoc (Oriental Pearl) Beach Resort & Spa 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)

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 Sandunes Beach Resort & Spa

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 Tel: (062) 3741-044 Email: saigonmuineresort@hcm.vnn.vn www.saigonmuineresort.com.vn From VND1,908,000 ($90) Seahorse Resort & Spa

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

MUSEUM

Alexandre Yersin Museum Pasteur Institute, 10 Tran Phu St, Nha Trang, Khanh Hoa Province Tel: (058) 3822-406

Mom Da Chim - Lazi Beach Resort

HOTELS, RESORTS

RESTAURANTS

Au Lac do Brazil III 101 Trinh Phong St, Tan Lap Ward, Nha Trang Tel: (+84-58) 351 6661 Fax: (+84-58) 351 6663 Email: r_nhatrang@aulacdobrazil.com

Tel: (062) 3812-799 Email: info@phuhairesort.com www.phuhairesort.com

Km8, Nguyen Dinh Chieu St, Phu Hai Ward, Phan Thiet City, Binh Thuan Province

50 • VIETNAM HERITAGE - JANUARY-FEBRUARY 2016

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) Sunny Beach Resort & Spa 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) Ocean Dunes Resort 1 Ton Duc Thang St, Phan Thiet City, Binh Thuan Province Tel: (062) 3822-393 Email: info@oceandunesresort.com.vn www.oceandunesresort.com.vn

64-66 Nguyen Dinh Chieu St, Ham Tien, Phan Thiet City, Binh Thuan Province Tel: (062) 3741-355

DIRECTIONS DALAT, BINH DUONG, HO CHI MINH CITY 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) 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) 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 VND1,980,000 ($90) Villa Aria Mui Ne

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 Email: 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

60A Nguyen Dinh Chieu St, Ham Tien Ward, Phan Thiet City, Binh Thuan Province; Tel: (062) 3741-660 Email: info@villaariamuine.com www.villaariamuine.com From VND2,520,000 ($120) 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

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

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

DALAT

(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.

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 AIRLINES

Air France 130 Dong Khoi St, Dist.1, Ho Chi Minh City Tel: (08) 3829-0981 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 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,

VIETNAM HERITAGE - JANUARY-FEBRUARY 2016

• 51

DIRECTIONS HO CHI MINH CITY 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 Thai Airways International 29 Le Duan St, Dist.1, Ho Chi Minh City Tel: (08) 3829-2809

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

Vietjet Air 8Bis Cong Truong Quoc Te, Dist.3, Ho Chi Minh City Tel: (08) 3827-0123 www.vietjetair.com TRAVEL

Asiana Travel Mate 113C Bui Vien St, Dist.1, Ho Chi Minh City. Tel: (08) 3838-6678 www.atravelmate.com 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.

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 First Hotel

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 Northern Hotel Saigon

Hotel Majestic

1 Dong Khoi St, Dist.1, Ho Chi Minh City. Tel: (08) 3829-5517 majestic@majesticsaigon.com.vn www.majesticsaigon.com.vn 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 Email: frontdesk.lcc@libertyhotels.com.vn

www.libertycentralhotel.com 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 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 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 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

253 Nguyen Van Troi St, Phu Nhuan Dist., Ho Chi Minh City Tel: (08) 3844-9222 Email: Info@eastingrandSaigon.com www.eastingrandsaigon.com

Caravelle Saigon 19-23 Cong Truong Lam Son St, Dist.1, Ho Chi Minh City Tel: (08) 3823-4999 www.caravellehotel.com

United Airlines Suite 708 Sun Wah Tower, 115 Nguyen Hue St, Dist.1, Ho Chi Minh City Tel: (08) 3823-4755 Vietnam Airlines 115 Nguyen Hue St, Dist.1, Ho Chi Minh City Tel: (08) 3832-0320

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.

Kelly Hotel

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.

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 Eastin Grand Hotel Saigon

242 Tran Binh Trong St, Dist.5, Ho Chi Minh City Tel: (08) 3839-7777

52 • VIETNAM HERITAGE - JANUARY-FEBRUARY 2016

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 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 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)

DIRECTIONS HO CHI MINH CITY 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 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)

pastries and cakes and a cup of coffee from selected premium blends.

Tel: (08) 3823-8811 www.authentiquehome.com

Mobile: 0908 229 708 Email: ngoclongfineart@yahoo.com

Au Lac do Brazil I 238 Pasteur, Ward 6, Dist.3, HCMC Tel: (+84-8) 3820 7157 Fax: (+84-8) 3820 7682 Email: pr@aulacdobrazil.com

Doma Vina Co., Ltd 50C Tran Binh Trong St, Ward 5, Binh Thanh Dist., Ho Chi Minh City Tel: (08) 3550-0558 www.papercraft.com.vn

Apricot Gallery 50 Mac Thi Buoi St, Ben Nghe Ward, Dist.1, Ho Chi Minh City Tel: (08) 3822-7962

Lemongrass Restaurant 4 Nguyen Thiep St, Dist.1, Ho Chi Minh City Tel: (08) 3822-0496 www.bongsencorporation.com

Dong Gia Enterprise 114 Xuan Thuy St, Thao Dien Ward, Dist.2, Ho Chi Minh City Tel: (08) 6296-0147 www.dong-gia.com

Mam Son Restaurant 35 Ton That Thiep St, Dist.1, Ho Chi Minh City Tel: (08) 3915-3653

Handed by crafts from Vietnam 47 Dong Khoi St, Dist.1, Ho Chi Minh City, tel: 0908 447 282

Tandoor Restaurant

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.

Sonnet Saigon Hotel

Lu's Handmade 240 Ly Tu Trong St, Ben Thanh Ward, Dist.1, Ho Chi Minh City Facebook: Lu's Handmade

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

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

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

BARS & CAFÉS

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 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

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

Authentique Home 113 Le Thanh Ton St, Dist.1, Ho Chi Minh City Tel: (08) 3822-8052 71/1 Mac Thi Buoi St, Dist.1, Ho Chi Minh City

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

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

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

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

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.

Mint Culinary School 778/45 Nguyen Kiem St, Phu Nhuan 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

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 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.

Artists Long & Ngoc Gallery Grand Hotel (at the lobby), 8 Dong Khoi, Dist.1, Ho Chi Minh City TeL: (08) 2246-6839

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

COOKING CLASSES

GALLERIES

VIETNAM HERITAGE - JANUARY-FEBRUARY 2016

• 53

CENTRE OF HO

1. IIndependence ndependence P Palace alace

D3

2. N Notre otre Dame C Cathedral athedral

E2

3. V Vietnam ietnam H History istory Museum

F2

4. F Fine ine A Arts rts M Museum useum of of Ho Ho Chi Chi Minh Minh City City E4 E4 Ho Chi Minh City 5. H oC hi M inh C ity Museum

E3

6. Southern Women omen Museum Southern W

C1

War Remnants ts Museum 7. Wa ar Remnan

D2

Ben T hanh M arket 8. Ben Thanh Market

E3

9. T ao Dan P Tao Park ark

D3

Post Office 10. P ost O ffice

E2

Zoo 11. Z oo

F2

Nha Wharf 12. N ha Rong W harf

F4

A

B

C

1

2

3

4

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

CHI MINH CITY D

E

F

6 4 11 11

7 2

10 10

1

5

4

9 8

4

12 1 2

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 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

Fito Museum

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

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 257 Le Hong Phong St, Ward 8, Vung Tau Tel: (064) 3584-179 Email: quanly@kieuanhhotel.com www.kieuanhhotel.vn

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.

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)

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

390 Ap Thoi Binh, Thoi Son Ward, My Tho City Tel: (073) 6519-000 contact@theislandlodge.com.vn www.theislandlodge.com.vn 12 Truong Cong Dinh St, Ward 2, Vung Tau Tel: (064) 3624-748 Email: sales@petrosetco.com.vn www.petrosetcohotel.vn From VND1,085,700 ($52) Petro House Hotel

VUNG TAU

CAN THO

(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 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

63 Tran Hung Dao St, Ward 1, Vung Tau

56 • VIETNAM HERITAGE - JANUARY-FEBRUARY 2016

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)

Petrosetco Hotel

Southern Women Museum 202 Vo Thi Sau St, Dist.1, Ho Chi Minh City Tel: (08) 3932-7130

(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

Romeliess Hotel 31 - 33 Thuy Van St, Vung Tau Tel: (064) 3613-366 Email: sales@romeliss.com www.romeliesshotel.com

CON DAO

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.

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 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.

Tel: (064) 3852-014 Email: info@petrohousehotel.vn www.petrohousehotel.vn From VND1,260,000 ($60)

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

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.

DIRECTIONS PHU QUOC, OVERSEAS 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 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

(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

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

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 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 VIETNAM HERITAGE - JANUARY-FEBRUARY 2016

• 57