5:6 JULY-AUG 2016
No 5, Vol.6, July - August 2016
CONTENT
COV E R STO RY CULTURE
8 12 sacred pagodas in Vietnam 14 Offering one body to save another
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PHOTO CONTEST
16 Hoi An - Untold stories RELIGION
18 Dancing in the spirit SPORTS
20 Where eagles dare
ADVERTORIAL
22 Treasures at Vietnam National Museum of History 24 Sofitel Saigon Plaza conjuring up culinary magic 26 Above the blue of the Pacific in Cam Ranh Riviera Beach Resort & Spa
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PHOTOGRAPHY
28 ‘The Light for Life’ – A Buddhist Photo Album 30 32 34 36 38 39 54
CRAFTS
The charming cheer of red pottery
Duckweed dynasty EVENTS
VALUE FOR MONEY
WHAT THE PAPER SAY DIRECTIONS BUYABLE
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Cover photograph:
A photo from the book ‘The Light for Life’ by Tran The Phong
Photo: Tran The Phong
Published by the Cultural Heritage Association of Vietnam
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Vietnam Heritage
Vietnam Heritage
Vietnam Heritage is published monthly, produced in Vietnam and printed at Army Printing House No 2. © All rights reserved.
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Truong River, Tam Hai, Quang Nam Province, South Central Vietnam Photo: Tran Binh An
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sacred pagodas in Vietnam
Compiled by Huong Giang The article in Vietnamese printed on websosanh.vn
To beg for good fortune, one can go to Tay Ho Temple or Warehouse Lady Temple. For marital matters one can go to Ha, Ong or Duyen Ninh Pagoda. To continue one's New Year's fun, one can pilgrimage to Yen Tu or Perfume Pagoda. Photo: Nguyen Ba Ngoc
Temple of Literature (Hanoi)
During the New Year, domestic and foreign visitors flock to the Temple of Literature in hopes of having a year of academic success. In recent years, the stone tortoises carrying steles are more strictly guarded, because all students want to touch their heads in hope of ‘passing the stormy gates’. Many scholars come here to offer calligraphy. There is a big demand for this, because it’s a souvenir, a talisman and home decoration combined. The price is normally not negotiated because this merchandise is special.
Ha Pagoda (Hanoi)
Ha Pagoda, located in the Dich Vong ward of Cau Giay, Hanoi, is well known and frequented by the people of Hanoi on the occasions of monthly full moon and New Year’s. The Pagoda is believed to have the power of match fixing. The lone souls, unlucky in sentiments and marital matters, come in hope of better luck. Young couples come to pray for deeper, smoother and more bonding feelings. At Ha Pagoda, visitors don’t offer as much as at the other places; just a little votive gold paper, flowers, betel and areca on a small tray. They never forget to put some small change to support the pagoda.
Situated in the South of the old Thang Long capital, the Temple of Literature or Nation’s Children School is Hanoi’s richest and most diverse historical site. Today, the site has been ranked by the Prime Minister among 23 special national treasures. The architectural complex of Temple of Literature includes Literary Pond, Evaluation Garden, and the main edifice, which is both a Shrine for Confucius and the Nation’s Children School, Vietnam’s first higher education institution.
There are two legends about the pagoda’s establishment. The first goes that King Ly Thanh Tong (reigned during 1054-1072) at 42 still had no heir. He went to a pagoda to pray for a son, and later had Prince Can Duc. The pagoda was named the Pagoda of the Lord (later renamed Ha) to commemorate this event. The second legend says Ha Pagoda was built as King Le Thanh Tong’s (reigned during 1460-1497) tribute to Nguyen Trai, Nguyen Xi and Dinh Liet, the loyal mandarins who hid and supported him during the times of turbulence and intrigues.
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Photo: Vo Van Tuong
Tran Temple (Nam Dinh Province)
Photo: Vo Van Tuong
Stock Lady Temple (Bac Ninh Province)
Stock Lady Temple stands on the slope of Warehouse hill at Co Me, Vu Ninh Ward, Bac Ninh City, Bac Ninh Province. This is not only a valuable part of Co Me relic complex (which includes temples, pagodas and shrines), but also a spiritual pilgrimage destination for all Vietnamese. Co Me Temple, dedicated to the Stock Lady, commemorates a woman who organized people to produce and accumulate provisions and to guard national stores before and after the Nhu Nguyet victory during the Ly dynasty era. She helped Ly King in matters of logistics from Warehouse Hill and gave her life in the war against Sung (Chinese) invaders on the 12th of the first lunar month of 1077. For her contributions, the King named her the Wealth Lady. Lovingly, the folks built a temple at the old warehouse place on Warehouse Hill to worship her, and respectfully named her the Stock Lady. According to folk legend, during New Year’s people come to her temple to beg for the goods She dropped on her way. Business people come to borrow money to do business in the new year, believing that it will be smooth and profitable if they do so. All people come to her door. They do whatever it takes to place their offerings in front of Her and pray. Only then She would give them ‘scattered wealth’ or open her stock and lend them money. But borrowing money is a bit of a fussy affair with quite a bit of red tape. Most come only to ask for ‘dropped wealth’. But the vast majority comes only to pay respect to Her. For many, especially the business community, attending the Stock Lady festivities has become a habit.
Tran Temple, located at Tran Thua Rd., Loc Vuong Ward, Nam Dinh City (near National highway no. 10), is dedicated to the Kings of Tran Dynasty and their loyal servants. The temple was built on the ground of the Tran family’s royal temple of ancestors, destroyed by Chinese Minh invaders in XV century. Tran Temple consists of three parts; Thien Truong Temple (High), Co Trach Temple (Low) and Trung Hoa Temple. On the five-door gate is a big sign with Chinese characters meaning Direct South Gate and Tran Temple. Behind the gate is a rectangular pond. Right behind the pond is the Thien Truong Temple at the centre. Trung Hoa Temple stands on the West side of Thien Truong, and Co Trach on the East. All three temples share the same architecture and scale. Each consists of a five-room front edifice, a five-room middle edifice and a three-room main mausoleum. The front and middle edifices are connected by a roofed altar (to burn incense.) The 14th day of the first lunar month each year, Nam Dinh organizes a New Year Sealing. The activity only begins at nightfall, but a week before that, people from everywhere to Thien Truong prefect to burn incense and take a spring meditative stroll. According to folk hearsay, the seal only has power if offered within an hour before midnight. So people elbow and scramble to get it within the sacred hour. The organizers distribute queue tickets in the morning, for which people also have to stand in queues. But when time comes, no queue can be sustained. If you and your family plan to visit Tran Temple for a seal, you may be quite fussy, because on this day the air is only human breath and incense smoke.
Photo: Nguyen Ba Ngoc
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CULTURE King Quan Shrine or Nghia An Hoi Quan Pagoda (Ho Chi Minh City)
The pagoda is situated at 676 Nguyen Trai St, Ward 11, District 5, Ho Chi Minh City, amidst a vibrant urban commercial area. This is a spiritual center of Chinese and some Vietnamese communities. Crowds of worshipers are seen here every day. The temple is dedicated to Guan Gong, aka Quan Yunchang, a hero of the Three Kingdom era. To the Chinese, he was an ideally well-rounded man of virtues. That’s why the temple is called the King Quan Shrine. The place is the meeting place of Chinese migrants from Chaozhou, and they call it Nghia An guildhall. It’s not grand in scale, but the word about its love blessing power has spread very far. Many young people come here to pray for the Lord’s blessing in matters of love and marriage.
Perfume Pagoda (Ha Tay)
Tay Ho Temple (Hanoi)
Magnificent Hanoi has no lack of age old-temples and pagodas. Among them, Tay Ho Temple is perhaps the holiest. For that reason, during New Year celebrations, not only people from Hanoi, but tourists and guests from near and far come here to burn incense and ask for a lucky and peaceful year. The temple resides on a small peninsula jutting into the West Lake from the East side, which used to be an ancient village of the old Thang Long capital. At the village gate, there is a temple for Lady Lieu Hanh, a virtuous talented woman, musician, and poetess, deified by the folk as the Sacred Mother. Every New Year’s Eve at midnight, a multitude of pilgrims come here to pay tribute to the Sacred Mother, to ask her for luck and good fortune, and to contemplate the beautiful scenic West Lake. If your family is considering combining a sight-seeing tour with spiritual activities in order to ask for godsend, keep this holiest destination in mind.
Every year, when apricot blossom cover Huong Son Mountains in white, millions of Buddhists and elegantly dressed people from all directions come here to attend this festival, which takes place from the 6th of the first lunar month until late of third month. The high season is between the first full moon and the 18th of second lunar month. A day before it starts, smoke of incense cover all pagodas and temples and shrines. Called a festival, it actually has no festivities, rituals, shows or games as usually seen elsewhere. People simply sit in boats to enjoy the scene and feel of heaven and earth, trying to absorb the meditative air of natural spirituality. During the festive time, the young ones spend their energy, elder people refill their energy from the air of spiritual fulfillment, and everybody has their share of happiness. Lines of people gleam on mountain slopes. Whoever is coming in or is on the way out, all seem to float on bobbing clouds. They meet and greet each other, acquainted not, with a prayer ‘Glory to Buddha Amitabha’, respectfully and warmheartedly.
Photos: Nguyen Ba Ngoc
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Yen Tu Monastery
Yen Tu has been considered the country’s Buddhist capital since the XIII century. That’s why every New Year, tens of thousands from all over the country pilgrimage to this sacred mountain. After Perfume Pagoda festival, this is pilgrims’ second biggest event. Yen Tu festival begins on the 10th day of the new year and also lasts until the end of spring. The grandeur of the mountains, the solemnity of temples, pagodas and towers amidst pine, juniper, golden bamboo, apricot and frangipani trees that line the paths to those edifices give people the feeling of relaxation and tranquility despite the steepness of the stairs. Today, the telpher system is operating, bringing visitors to Hoa Yen Pagoda at 534m above sea level, where two 700-year-old frangipani trees are blossoming. From there, visitors and pilgrims can climb the path to Dong Pagoda, stopping by other temples on the way. The path to Dong Pagoda is often immersed in clouds.
Bac Le Temple (Lang Son Province)
If you are single and want the warmth of a family, you should visit this place. Folks in the region believe that this is the most wonder-working temple in the area and maybe in the whole country. Bac Le Temple is situated in Tan Thanh Commune, Huu Lung District, Lang Son Province. It stands on a high hill, surrounded by century-old trees. This is a typical temple of the Lady Mother of our country. The biggest festival in the year takes place from the 18th to the 20th of the 9th lunar month. The temple is dedicated to the Lady of the Mountains. She preserves and distributes the resources of the mountains and forests to mankind. Another deity worshiped in the temple is the Little Songstress, a real historical figure from Bac Le era. This is the Mother’s child in the Vietnamese Lady-Mother faith. The festival includes throne wash ritual, grand feast ritual, and a procession. The air is filled with drum and gong beats, music and colorful dresses of the wealth-bearing dance. The locals believe that this dance brings luck and peace to the attendees.
Photo: Nguyen Ba Ngoc
Duyen Ninh Pagoda (Ninh Binh Province)
Duyen Ninh Pagoda is located in ancient Chi Phong Village, Truong Yen Commune, Hoa Lu District, Ninh Bình Province, 10 km from Ninh Binh City by Trang An Road. Duyen Ninh, Am Tien, Kim Ngan, Co Am and Nhat Tru are millennium-old pagodas in the ancient capital Hoa Lu of the Dinh-Le era that remain active today. Duyen Ninh and Kim Ngan pagodas stand on the West side of the old capital. Like Nhat Tru (Single Pillar), Duyen Ninh Pagoda is dedicated to Buddha and the X century high monks Phap Thuan, Khuong Viet and Van Hanh. It’s a legend that Dinh-Le princesses used to frequent Duyen Ninh Pagoda. This was where Princess Le Thi Phat Ngan and Lord Ly Cong Uan made vows to each other and gave birth to Ly Phat Ma (King Ly Thanh Tong) in the year 1000. Later, having suppressed the Nation Founder rebellion, King Ly Thai Tong renamed the Pagoda to Duyen Ninh. At an old age, Queen Phat Ngan became a nun here to take care of the grave of her father, Emperor Le Dai Hanh. Here, the Queen blessed many wedding couples. Since then, Duyen Ninh became the place to be blessed for marriage. Childless people also come here to beg for a child.
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CULTURE Chu Dong Tu Temple (Hung Yen Province)
Chu Dong Tu Temple (Khoai Chau District, Hung Yen Province) is attached to the love story of Princess Tien Dung and Chu Dong Tu, a poor young man but an extremely loving son. It’s a beautiful story that will live eternally. That’s why people come here to burn incense not only to commemorate one of the ‘immortal four of Vietnam’ together with two beautiful ladies, Princess Tien Dung and Princess Tay Sa, but also to pray to find a true love and a harmonic family.
Photos: Nguyen Ba Ngoc
My Nuong Shrine (Hanoi)
My Nuong Shrine is a part of Co Loa Pagoda (Hanoi). In the pagoda, there is a shrine that has a headless statue, beautifully dressed and adorned. Local people say it’s a statue of Princess My Chau, decapitated by her King-father for treason. The deeply moving story of emotions, love and devotion between My Chau and Trong Thuy made people believe that this is the place where love will always be blessed and prayer for love will always be granted. So every New Year, crowds pour in to seek assurance in emotional fulfillment and family happiness.
Photos: Nguyen Ba Ngoc
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OFFERING ONE BODY TO SAVE ANOTHER BY HOA KHANH LE
Intrepid warriors of the sea
Recognizing the importance of expanding the country’s borders and natural resources of the East Sea, especially those of the Spratly (Truong Sa) and Paracel (Hoang Sa) archipelagos, the Nguyen Lords who ruled the Middle of Vietnam in the 17th century established the Hoang Sa Marine Squad. According to the Vietnam Tourism Authority, ‘Hoang Sa Marine Squad had 70 strong sailors from An Vinh and An Hai villages of Ly Son Island and a few others from what is today the Son Tinh and Binh Son Districts of Quang Ngai Province. The squad’s special missions were to patrol the sea and set up sovereignty steles on the islands Hoang Sa and Truong Sa, find precious products of the seas and measure the ocean’s activity patterns. Every year, the squad goes out to sea in the 2nd or 3rd month and in 8th month they come back to Eo estuary (which today is Thuan An in Thua Thien – Hue) to hand in their finds to the court’. After a period of operation, Hoang Sa Marine Squad was reinforced and renamed to ‘Hoang Sa Navy, also in command of the North Sea’. Since its establishment, thousands of troops of the Navy fought bravely on high seas for centuries, defending our sovereignty on the islands of Hoang Sa and Truong Sa. According to family records of old clans of Ly Son Island, countless sailors of Hoang Sa Navy went out to the sea and never came back, because their boats were too small and rudimentary to withstand the violence of the elements.
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Photo: Vo Duy Tuyen
In the mid-17th century, the people of Ly Son built Am Linh Temple to worship those who perished defending the country’s offshore sovereignty. To relieve their own grief about the loved ones whose bodies were never recovered, many families built for them ‘airy graves’, with no body inside. Such graves are scattered all over the 10 km2 island.
The one-of-a-kind ritual
In addition to the temple and ‘airy graves’, since time immemorial, the Ly Son people have conducted the ‘Khao Le The Linh’ sacred ritual to commemorate the perished solders and to pray for the well-being of those who are still in service. Dr. Nguyen Dang Vu, Head of the Dept. of Culture, Sport and Tourism said, ‘khao le’ means a regular annual ritual, and ‘the linh’ means to offering one body to save another (an effigy for a soldier). Culturologists say that this ritual is one of a kind, deeply humane, and thoroughly patriotic. They also share that, in the old times, each clan on Ly Son had their own sacred, meticulously prepared ‘Khao Le The Linh’ ritual. In the evening ofthe 19th of 2nd lunar month, descendants of the clan gather at the family’s shrine to attend the opening ceremony. The offerings include wine, betel and areca, fruits, consecration paper and incense. Instruments played include a big drum, gongs, handheld drums, blowpipes, castanets and cymbals. After a roll of drums, the head of the clan reads an oration and offers wine, tea and incense. The descendants take turns to kowtow in front of the ancestral altar. The ceremony takes about an hour, after which the whole clan prepares for the main event. The centerpieces of the main ritual are a bamboo replica of a boat with sails and flags and bamboo effigies wearing five-colour paper and a name tablet with the name of a missing-in-action Hoang Sa
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sailor. The offerings include wine, betel and areca, fish, rice, salt and roasted sticky rice. At exactly midnight on the 20th, the time Ly Son folks consider the most sublime moment, a shaman reads funeral oration and declares the beginning of ‘Khao Le The Linh’ ritual. The head of clan and those of the branches stand still to watch the shaman while he says magic words and connects with the other world. Having asked the deities and ancestors for their blessing, the shaman sends them the names and the souls of those who will soon join the navy. Finally, the shaman puts the effigies into the boat and signals for the young men to carry it away. Following the boat carriers are the shaman, the head of the clan and the entire family. Thunderous drum beats accompany the procession to a preordained place. Again, the shaman reads magic words beseeching heaven in all four directions, and the soul-carrying boat is launched, meant to send Hoang Sa Marine Squad ships and their sailors’ souls to the rulers of the other world, thus
Hoang Sa Truong Sa
Photo: Nguyen Dang Lam
dispelling the risks hovering over the real sailors. The ritual ends at predawn and the folks come home for a feast. In recent years, the Ly Son administration and the clans of the island have agreed to have one, bigger ‘Khao Le The Linh’ ceremony for the whole population. The modern ceremony retains all ancient rituals, but also combines them with other cultural activities such as a requiem, garlands and lantern celebration, opera show, lion dance and boat race. The island’s ‘Khao Le The Linh’ ceremony takes place at the most venerable Am Linh Temple, which is in the village of An Vinh. In April 2013, the Ministry of Culture, Sport and Tourism decreed the ‘Khao Le The Linh’ ceremony a National Intangible Cultural Heritage. Many researchers regard the ‘Khao Le The Linh’ ceremony not only as an extraordinary expression of love and devotion toward the people and the country, but also as a proud statement of sovereignty of Vietnam over the Hoang Sa and Truong Sa archipelagos. n
Vietnamese historians and many others assert that Hoang Sa and Truong Sa archipelagos are Vietnamese territories because many dynasties and modern governments of Vietnam have continually administered and affirmed sovereignty over them. But in 1974, China used force to invade and occupy Hoang Sa and subsequently a part of Truong Sa. Hoang Sa is about 200 nautical miles from Ly Son Island of Vietnam and 230 nautical miles from Hai Nam Island of China. Truong Sa is 460 km from Khanh Hoa Province of Vietnam and 1,150 km from Hai Nam Island of China.
Photo: Nguyen Dang Lam
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Hoi An - Untold Stories PHOTO CONTEST
The photo exhibition is on at the Golden Sand Resort & Spa, Thanh Nien Road, Cua Dai Beach, Hoi An. Above: Photos are taken by Nguyen Quynh Anh, the first-prize winner Below: Photos are taken by Ngo Viet Khanh Huy, the third-prize winner Right: Photo is taken by Le Huy Tuan, the second-prize winner
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n 4 June, the winners of photo contest ‘Hoi An - Untold Stories’ were announced at Golden Sand Resort & Spa. The contest closed after two months. However, Hoi An’s stories still continue to be told by those who love this ancient town. ‘Hoi An – Untold Stories’ was hosted by the People’s Committee in co-operation with Golden Sand Resort & Spa on the occasion of the 41st anniversary of liberation of Hoi An. It was aimed to introduce and promote the beauty and developments of Hoi An in the recent years to domestic and international visitors. The contest attracted 230 photographers submitting more than 2,000 photos to the website. The three finalist authors were invited to Hoi An to take photos for two days. The first prize went to Nguyen Quynh Anh from Hanoi. The second was Le Huy Tuan from Danang and the third was Ngo Viet Khanh Huy from HCMC. n
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RELIGION
Dancing in the spirit
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TEXT BY BAO KHANH PHOTOS BY VU QUANG NGOC
RELIGION
Once outlawed, spirit possession has come roaring back
T
rance, also called audience with shadows, is a ritual in which the spirits of Four Edifice Mother Sect enter the body of a medium. It’s an ancient ritual for health and wealth.
Those who volunteer to be a medium do it because of personal circumstances, family genetic capacity, or congenital karma. Those who have the ‘karma,’ yet have not presented themselves to the Spirit usually suffer incurable otherworldly illnesses as if punished by the Spirits. As they offer themselves, their health is restored and their business goes smoothly. The mediums are normally overly sensitive and moody. Many of them are ‘half man, half woman’. As servants of the Spirits, depending on the seasonal regulation of each year’s lunar calendar, especially on the occasions of ancestry worship in ‘8th month for Father, 3rd month for Mother,’ the mediums have to conduct a Trance ritual to receive the Spirits from different domains of the cosmos into their body. During the ritual, the mediums wear dresses of different colours, each representing a domain of the cosmos; red colour represents the heaven’s domain, yellow the earth’s, white the water’s, and green the forests’ and mountains’. The Spirits from those four domains, in hierarchical order, include: Mothers (Four Ladies,) Lords (Five Big Men,) Audiences (Four Ladies,) Kings (Five Tutelaries,) Misses (Twelve Highnesses,) Masters (Ten Highnesses,) etc. There are 50-60 Spirits in total. On average only about 20 of them come to each trance ritual. The rituals are conducted in temples and shrines where the Spirits of Four Edifice Mother Sect are worshipped. Under mystic Van music and mythical lyrics, the mediums in blinding bright dresses get more and more ecstatic in their dancing. The dresses show which Spirit is coming. The Lords are majestic, the Audiences ethnically colourful, the Kings elegant, the Misses graceful and the Masters mischievous. Even the colours of the offerings must also match the
colours of the Spirits’ domains. The liveliest part of the ritual is when the Spirits give godsends and utter prophecies. The godsends are simple things like fruits, food or utensils etc. but ‘a bit from God is a load of wealth.’ The prophecies about the past and the future, coupled with a relieving action make each attendant feel safe and confident in the face of what’s coming. Trance rituals always end with a feast of sympathy shared among those who are present. It too is a godsend. Trance rituals are typical of the Viet people. They originated in the North during the Late Le Dynasty (XVI Century), then followed the waves of migration to the Highlands and the South. Solemn, strict and canonical in the North, they becomes cheerful and lighthearted in the South, especially in Saigon. In Hue, there is also collective trance ritual, called fun trance. There was a time for some reasons the Vietnamese banned trance rituals. Today, the tradition has made a triumphant come back, because many consider this a good way to relieve their stress and anxiety caused by the ever-quickening rhythm of modern life. At the end of the day, the trance is exactly the way to help those knocked out of psychological and physiological balance to reunite with the community. Beside this cultural value, the tradition may also have adverse effects as it may be misused by some for their own benefit. The Vietnamese have spread trance ritual to many countries in the world. n
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SPORTS
eagles dare Where
TEXT AND PHOTOS BY HONG DANG
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Nha Trang
Vietnam’s newest sport is up in the air
lmost 30 members of Aeronautic Clubs North and South Vietnam have come to the two new flying zones at Nine Section Mountain (Vinh Thai Commune, Nha Trang) and Khanh Le Pass (Khanh Vinh District, Khanh Hoa Province) At Khanh Le Pass, as the wind rises, a glider makes two steps backward, then turns and runs three steps and soars up into the sky. A perfect take-off. As they glide in pairs and this being a new location, for the first attempt they take-off and immediately head for the landing zone about 4km away. Meeting again at the landing zone, a first-time guest glider said, ‘At the start, my heart was rumbling, my whole body was at the highest degree of tension and my eyes were shut tight . . . Suddenly I felt my legs so light, groundless. Only after five minutes did I dare to half-open my eyes and saw clusters of clouds far away, passes belting mountain slopes beneath me, and cars as small as match boxes. Seen from above, nothing looks the way it does every day. It’s a totally new, panoramic vision . . . so alluring.’ The parachuting discipline has three major branches; skydiving, paramotor and paragliding. Mr Hoang Mong Long, one of the first paragliders in Vietnam, now a trainer of the Aeronautic Club of the North said, ‘The sun’s heat forms columns of hot air, blowing upward. With their experience and skills, the gliders will find and utilize those air columns to get lift. There is another source
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of lift, which is winds turning upward when blocked by mountain slopes. The amount of time one can glide in the sky depends on the number of air columns available in the gliding zone and one’s skill. Some can last only one or two hours here, some can go on as long as 4 hours, going hundreds of kilometres.’ At this time, there are less than 200 paragliders in the entire country. The sport not only serves the Vietnamese attracted by its gracefulness, but also aims at millions of gliders worldwide, especially those from Europe, where the sport is very popular. The European climate allows people to enjoy their favourite sport only a few months out of the year. In Khanh Hoa, after test flights, international gliders highly appreciate the zones. With beautiful beaches, towns and friendly people, Khanh Hoa is an ideal place for them to enjoy the sun, the sea and countryside. Those who can’t glide by themselves can also try the flying sensation through the services offered. Trainer Nguyen Ngoc Linh from the Northern Aeronautic Club remarked, ‘Khanh Hoa has the best conditions to develop the paragliding sport; sun all year round, low humidity, high density of hot air columns, convenient transportation . . .’ Khanh Le flying zone has easy platforms for beginners and challenges that even the most experienced gliders want to conquer. Just follow Khanh Le pass for 12 km, then hike for less than 10 minutes to the takeoff station at an ideal height (755m above sea level,) with the most seductive view of plains, gorges and patches of paddies. To get to Nine Section mountain flying zone, one needs specialized transportation, because the path is newly opened. But once there, the difficult road is totally paid off by the clearest sky over golf courses, Nha Trang Bay, the white beach line, big and small islands spotting the blue sea, and a vibrant city bustling by the shore. There are about 20 licensed flying zones in the country. But according to the opinion of most of paragliders, the Northern zones have fewer hot air columns and lots of wet rice paddies and trees on the ground. The Son Tra zone of Danang has the sea on three sides, which is not very ideal for gliding. The zone at Lang Biang hilltop, though panoramically beautiful, is not active all year round because of the weather. But the two flying zones in Khanh Hoa Province are, according to them, not to be missed. n
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Treasures
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at Vietnam National Museum of History he Vietnam National Museum of History is currently holding a vast collection of over 200,000 precious items, rich in material and cultural diversity, vividly displaying the life of humans from prehistoric times. Many are one of a kind, historically representative and invaluable. Based on the National treasure classification criteria, the Museum has proposed a list for the Antique Assessing Committee of the Ministry of Culture, Sport and Tourism and the National Cultural Heritage Committee to assess and to present to the Minister of Culture, Sport and Tourism. Consequently, the Prime Minister had signed Decisions to recognize 16 National Treasures. The Museum is documenting other relics that meet the criteria to submit to the Committees.
Vietnam National Museum of History 1 Trang Tien St, Hanoi 216 Tran Quang Khai St, Hanoi Tel: (04) 3824-1384 www.baotanglichsu.vn 8 a.m. to noon and 1.30 p.m. to 5 p.m. Every day except Monday of the first week of each month.
Dao Thinh Bronze Jar of the Dong Son Culture, 2500 – 2000 years old
Hoang Ha Bronze Drum of the Dong Son Culture, 2500 – 2000 years old
Ngoc Lu Bronze Drum of the Dong Son Culture, 2500 – 2000 years old
Ceramic Vase with blue flowers and swans, early Le Dynasty, 15-16th centuries
Bronze lamp in the shape of a kneeling person, 2000 – 1700 years old
Bronze statue of one person carrying another and blowing bamboo pipes, Dong Son Culture, 2500 – 2000 years old
‘Decreeing Power Seal’ from the 8th Minh Menh year (1827)
Van Ban Bronze Bell from the 13-14th centuries
Mon Ha Sanh Bronze Seal from 1377 of King Tran Due Tong
Viet Khe Wooden Grave, 2500 – 2000 years ago
‘The Revolution’s Way’ book by Nguyen Ai Quoc (later Chairman Ho Chi Minh), published in Guangzhou (China), 1927
Stone Stele from Nam Giao Temple of Thang Long citadel (Hanoi), erected in the 4th Vinh Tri year of King Le Hy Tong (1679)
Autographed copy of the ‘Call for nationwide resistance’ by Chairman Ho Chi Minh on Dec 19, 1946.
Canh Thinh Bronze Drum of Tay Son Dynasty, 1800
Vo Canh stone stele from Vo Canh, Vinh Trung, Nha Trang, Khanh Hoa Province, 3-4th centuries AD. This one of the oldest steles of South-East Asia, showing the influence and expansion of Sanscrit and Buddhism into ancient Champa Kingdom and South-East
Asia
The work, ‘Prisoner’s Diary’ by Chairman Ho Chi Minh, 1942-1943
ADVERTORIAL
Sofitel Saigon Plaza
conjuring up culinary magic BY PIP DE ROUVRAY
T
Chef Marko Rankel
hat great cathedral dedicated to French hospitality and taste that sits on leafy Le Duan Street in HCMC, ‘The Sofitel Saigon Plaza’, has recently acquired a new highly experienced master chef, Marko Rankel, who won the 1 st place by the Accor-Azubi Award of the Cooks in Germany 450 Hotels four times in succession, and cooked for British Prime Minister Tony Blair, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and US 67th Secretary of the State Hillary Clinton. He also received the ‘Silver Bernache Award for Innovation’ from the Accor Group in 2007. Lucky me and our dear editor-in-chief Madame Le Thanh Hai were invited the other day to enjoy the company of Chef Marko Rankel over the dinner table at the hotel's famed French restaurant ‘L'Olivier’. The overwhelming thing we learned is that Marko has taken to his new situation like a duck to water. What really marks out the Mediterranean table for me is a double cruet of olive oil and vinegar. Whilst the decor of ‘L'Olivier’ is tasteful but simple and the atmosphere not too formal, without a doubt this is fine dining. Here the condiments came in a paintbox-like container with the palettes filled with a
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Photos: Sofitel Saigon Plaza
tomato puree, an olive puree, olives, and extra virgin olive oil. To enjoy these flavours, the breads in shades of white, grey and brown appeared along with Perrier water. This bounty was in contrast to the daily French stick with which the Good Lord normally provides me. Marko told us the story of his life. He grew up in the historic city of Hannover in Northern Germany. The family's greatest pursuit was to go sailing in the North Sea and he initially dreamed of being a ship’s captain. But close to school-leaving age, he realised his calling was to be a chef despite the fact that nobody in his family had ever tried this. The long hours and gruelling work of the apprenticeship almost made him give up, but with a stern lecture from his mother he persevered, eventually even earning his culinary master's degree. That was one story he told. The other was how he came to Asia and his experience here. Almost as in a fairy tale, Marko had impressed an influential mentor in Germany so much that he granted him a wish. At the time, he said he was quite happy and needed nothing. However, a little later on, Marko felt the wanderlust and asked the mentor to help him obtain his first
post in Asia. He has to date worked in Beijing, Manila and Cambodia. He has learned to adapt to the Asian workplace. ‘In Germany, it is work before family but in Asia, quite the opposite,’ he affirms. He has learned also to be less directly demanding of his teams in Asia, adopting a softer approach. He loves Saigon where he finds the people very friendly and he has made a few friends from his daily early morning exercise in the Zoological Gardens. On to the dishes which we were served. First came the exquisite marinated scallop and crab, decorated with colourful squiggles of sauce and balsamic reduction. It was accompanied by a glassful of gazpacho the size of which you would serve a noggin of spirits in. Having only ever had this soup in its native land of Southern Iberia where they serve it freezing cold with shaved ice, I was surprised to have it here fairly warm but the intensive flavours of tomato and herbs were just as refreshing and delicious. The next extravaganza was more filling — the tagliatelle with crab and cheese. I have to admit to feeling strange eating noodles with a knife and fork instead of chopsticks but of course this made no difference to the enjoyment of this piece of culinary mastery. Then came the piece de resistance — the roast Barbary duck breast. Like many of the ingredients here, the duck is flown in from Paris. Served with purees of pumpkin and potato, the duck had the appearance of a slice of the tenderest beef. It was truly melt-in-your-mouth, dipped as it was in morel sauce with its layers of crispy skin and juicy duck fat. There were a couple of honeycomb-shaped objects accompanying it that looked like blackberries. They certainly did not taste like blackberries. As Marko explained, these were morel mushrooms — very sought after by connoisseurs and very expensive. I can tell they are pure heaven. If you have not already tried this, make sure you put it on your ‘to taste before you die’ list! Finally, of course, something which is a novelty to those of us who lead a Vietnamese life — the dessert. We had tiramisu cake with ice cream. Ah, the tiramisu, so ubiquitous these days as it never fails to astound the taste buds and amazing to think it was only invented in the 1970s. Marko is a name which hitherto I had associated with magicians. This Marko, of course, whips up his magic for you to enjoy in the kitchen. Should you visit the Sofitel Saigon Plaza for a meal, you will not enjoy the warmth of Marko as a dinner companion as I did, but in all probability, you may find yourself calling him over to your table to present him with your compliments having being spellbound by his culinary tricks.
Sofitel Saigon Plaza
17 Le Duan St, Dist.1, Ho Chi Minh City Tel: (08) 3824-1555 www.sofitel.com
ADVERTORIAL
Above the blue of the Pacific in Cam Ranh Riviera Beach Resort & Spa BY NATHALIE SOKOLOVSKAYA
I
Nha Trang
f you are flying to Nha Trang seaside resort city, make sure to ask for a window seat, as the plane flies along the vast and sunlit southern coastline, low enough to see the waves crashing against the shore. The approach for the landing offers one of the most impressive sea views to contemplate in Vietnam- over the sparkling Nha Trang Bay with huge emerald green beading necklaces of verdant islands and islets, all set in goldcast by bright rays of tropical sun falling on the sands through shallow water. The highway from the airport to brand new Cam Ranh Riviera Beach Resort & Sparaces neck and neck with cheerful white and velvet rows of blooming bougainvillaea, grown to serve a median strip from one side and the blue continuum of the Pacific from the other. After aquick shuttle bus ride, Cam Ranh Riviera Beach Resort & Spa’s main building appears at one‘s view, looking impressive yet from a distance with its contemporary and light architecture. Its smooth and flowing lines reminds one of a luxurious sea cruise liner anchored on the sandy shore. The amusing feeling of boarding a cruise liner gets stronger once one enters a spacious lobby, with no doors and windows but all opened to the breeze and overlooking the vast and uninterrupted spaces of the sea. As I get to my Deluxe Sea View room with a full board ticket in hand and step out on the airy balcony with transparent glass sides I almost believe I m actually contemplating the blue of the Pacific Ocean from a 8-floor-high ship deck. The main building
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examined from the seafront side impresses with excellent architects’ design featuring light curves of balcony lines, imitating waves and smooth and pleasant-to-the-eye combinations of snowy white colour and cooling glass of the balconies. All these features reveal an excellent work by the architect, not as often seen in Vietnam as desired. Far below are 10 hectares of Riviera resort premises with spectacular layout of infinity pool, huge blossoming lotus pond and a seafront pool with villas and bungalows with private pools under the shadow of young and juicy green coconut trees, all of them put on the green canvas of neatly kept lawns. Green lawns are also grown on the curved roofs of snowy white villas to put them in perfect harmony with floral surroundings. The rooms interiors please the eye with modern and refreshing design, spacious bathroom with glass wall, wooden floor and contemporary yet cosy furniture, where it feels like the space is organised to put an accent to the immediate proximity of the sea and its striking panorama at one’s full sight from all the rooms without exception. The corridors and passages are built like whole-floor-long balconies overlooking a striking panorama of the picturesque valley with mountains at the backdrop. The resort area is truly expansive, with exquisite accommodations, featuring 226 rooms, ranging from elegant Deluxe Sea View rooms, studios and suites to luxurious Beach Front and Ocean View villas, with all of them overlooking the sea. To ensure the utter comfort and to provide memorable pleasures of the guests’ pastime at
such an impressive institution are two elegant restaurants, a spa centre, modern gym with a state of the art equipment, beach club and entertainment programs comprising open-air cinema sessions, live music and entertaining programs for small guests. The 200-meter-wide private sandy beach which is a part of mesmerizingly beautiful and yet relatively pristine beach in Nha Trang surroundings looks sensational. With calm waters and gradual descent from shallow to deep, a swim here turns into a pleasure worth treating one’s self to for one full day, at least. The Riviera resort also offers rejuvenating sessions of early bird yoga and later in the day Zumba and aquaerobics sessions under the guidance of a very inspiring and enthusiastic lady coach. Cam Ranh Riviera Beach Resort & Spa has everything the most discerning traveller may need for an excellent seaside retreat, starting from bright new exquisite accommodation and facilities and direct access to the sea with private beach that few hotels in Nha Trang can offer to the small details and personal approach successfully performed by resort staff that make one’s stay truly memorable. Cam Ranh Riviera Beach Resort & Spa Nguyen Tat Thanh, Cam Hai Dong, Cam Lam, Khanh Hoa Province Tel: (058) 3989-898 Email: info@rivieraresortspa.com www.rivieraresortspa.com
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PHOTOGRAPHY
‘Light for Life’
A Buddhist Photo Album BY RITCH PICKENS
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Photo book shows slices of life along the Middle Way
hat do Buddhist monks and nuns do all day long? Many people may think they must occupy their time sitting under trees and meditating or trudging slowly through streets with begging bowls in their hands. Tran The Phong, a devoted Buddhist himself has produced an album of photographs to shatter such myths and show you that while they be not be of the world they are very definitely in it. The book begins with showing monks and nuns care for the young, presumably at an orphanage. Then we see images of juniors in Buddhist robes. Mostly they are playing like normal children at chess, tug-of-war and arm wrestling but also feeding small animals and tending to flowers. This led me to reflect on my early Christian upbringing and Sunday school, which was all about acquiring knowledge. The emphasis here seems to be opening up kids to religious experience. At the other end of life, there is a convent where the nuns give residential care to many geriatric females. I have visited this place with a Japanese charity and can bear witness to the saintliness of these people. They are Buddhist Saint Teresas and deserve at least a nomination for the Nobel Peace Prize. You see the nuns in packed wards, chatting to families old ladies and feeding and washing them. You may think monks do not actually do work. Phong shows you otherwise. He has captured them at gentle pursuits such as gardening, cooking, painting, sweeping floors and washing cars. However, to put sedentary folk like me to shame, he also has caught them at hard physical labour; hauling huge stones, pushing heavily-laden carts and road building. Glad to see these chaps are not corrupt like our Christian monks who were instrumental in concocting some delicious beers and wines. The nearest to that here is a shot of a monk making soya sauce. Many monasteries are centres for Eastern martial arts.
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Here you can see pictures of child monks thrusting out their fists with extreme concentration on their faces. An elderly monk demonstrates how to fell an opponent while seated child monks look on. The fact that this takes place in the tranquillity of woods gives contrast to the action. Another monk's physical and mental absorption is shown as he practices tai chi with a large fan outspread. Another monastic pursuit is medicinal gardening and the preparation of herbal remedies. Monasteries with their pharmacies are a good place to source traditional medicine. Nuns are pictured watering the greenery and tending to the plants. Another is joyfully carrying away a basket of freshly harvested herbs. Then there are nuns raking through carpets of herbs while others sort through them in baskets. Presumably there are looking for the best picks. Finally, two nuns are shown serving a mother and young child in the pharmacy. Like the rest of us, monks and nuns have to eat and there is a series on the monastic kitchen. A group of monks sit down together to make banh chung for the Tet festival. One cook is sweating away over a steaming pan. Another portrait which might be entered for a prize has a black robed monk sampling soup from a ladle surrounded by huge aluminium pots. He is cooking for a hungry mass. The word ‘light’ comes in the title and this photographer uses light to great effect when shooting his subjects. He also has an eye for colour. Light is, of course, a religious word too. There is a huge sense of joy on the faces of the people and in the scenes portrayed. It made me feel quite envious of the monastic way of life. The cover page picture is of a monk's hand holding a rosary. The final pages feature processions, including one over an iconic Hanoi bridge. On the very final page appears the cliché of a saffron-robed monk meditating under a tree. This is a photo album where you get not what you may have bargained for-full action monastic life. n
‘The Light for Life’ by Tran The Phong is published by Nha Xuat Ban Tre at VND360,000. It won the prize A – Excellent National Photography Award from Vietnam Association of Photographic Artists in 2015. The book can be found at Tribooks, 158 Dong Khoi St, Dist.1, Ho Chi Minh City.
CRAFTS
The charming cheer of red pottery
O
TEXT BY THANH HUYEN
Vinh Long is the Mecca of ceramics
ver a century ago, Vinh Long people made traditional building materials such as tablet bricks, floor tile bricks and ying-yang roof tiles for houses, temples and pagodas. In 1960, these materials began to be made by modern machines. In 1980, a German company came to Vinh Long to make pottery for export while local kiln owners sent people to Binh Duong and Bien Hoa to learn about modern pottery. Since then, the pottery-making technique at Vinh Long became similar to that of other places, but their products are completely different. Vinh
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CRAFTS Long makes primarily red pottery. Vinh Long pottery makers’ success is due to their perfect baking techniques and their baking fuel, rice husk, which is available in abundance. After decades of being the favourite of domestic and foreign customers, the Vinh Long Terra Cotta trade mark was patented on 8 June, 2011 by the National Office of Intellectual Property of Vietnam. According to the Vinh Long Dept of Industry and Commerce, the distinguishing feature of Vinh Long red pottery is that underneath the enamel it is pinkish with white veins. The shapes and designs also reflect the particular charm of Vietnam’s Southern granary. Beside red pottery, thousands of Vinh Long artisans are also engaged in making black, bronze, enamelled pottery to decorate gardens, courtyards and for exterior and interior design. Many people, including tourists, call Vinh Long the ‘Kingdom of all sorts of kilns’. The highest concentration of kilns is from the famous My Thuan Bridge where Co Chien River separates from the Tien River down 30km to the Mang Thit River. The area has over 1,000 pottery baking kilns and looks like a Muslim pilgrim camp site. This chunk of road is always bustling in the hectic fun typical of a pottery and ceramic trade village. Photographer Nguyen Huu Thanh said ‘Unlike other pottery or ceramic products, Co Chien terracotta is not kneaded but pressed in ready-made moulds. Each product is usually made of several parts which can be ‘printed’ individually. Printing means pieces of clay are pressed tightly into a hard gypsum mould to take the desired shape. As they are still sticky, the printed pieces are put together to self-bond. The completely formed and shaped piece of clay is then rubbed softly with a wet sponge to become polished. Then comes the baking, which lasts 7 days and nights. During the first 4 days the temperature in the kiln is kept at 100-200oC. After that, the temperature is gradually increased to finally reach 900oC 0n the last day. At last, the kiln worker removes the fire, caulks the kiln openings with clay and leaves it to cool down until it can be opened.’ n
Co Chien Terracotta Village, Vinh Long Province Photos: Nguyen Huu Thanh (opposite top and above) Photo: Nguyen Thanh Hai (opposite below)
Vinh Long
Located at the centre of Mekong River Delta, Vinh Long has the largest clay reserve while its soil has less alum than in other provinces. So it is also known as a land of pottery, especially red pottery, which has become famous all over the country for the last 50 years. Vinh Long pottery has been exported to Europe, US, Australia, South Korea, Taiwan, Hong Kong and Japan.
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CRAFTS
Photo: Do Huu Liem
Duckweed dynasty BY PHUC DAT
Once thought to be from the West, the humble duckweed has created a thriving trade Photo: Nguyen Doan Ket
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CRAFTS
Kien Giang
Opposite, above: Collecting duckweed on a river Opposite, below: Weaving duckweed Right, above: Packaging dried duckweed Right, below: Washing duckweed products Photo: Nguyen Doan Ket
I
n 1905, a kind of South American duckweed appeared in Vietnam. Because of their habit of calling everything foreign ‘Western’, the Vietnamese started calling this floating plant ‘Western duckweed.’ In some southern localities, they call it the vase plant because its stalks swell out like a vase. The duckweed is 30cm-60cm tall, with round green leaves which wrap around each other like a flower. In summer, it blossoms light violet flowers, with 3 long and 3 short upright pistils and hair-like fibrous black roots that can be up to 1m long.
Photo: Nguyen Doan Ket
The duckweed quickly multiplies and covers rivers, canals and ponds. In many places, farmers use it as food for pigs and to make muck. The first person to have tried and found ways to make export products from this duckweed was Mr Trieu Vinh Thinh from Tet Mau Than St, Ward 4 of My Tho City, Tien Giang Province. Early in 2000, he sent abroad a few tiny items made of the plant, which attracted Western customers’ interest. Since then, the duckweed handicraft trade began to develop. Today the duckweed handicraft trade
has strengthened and spread to many villages in Vinh Long, Hau Giang, Dong Thap, Kien Giang provinces (in the South), Ninh Binh Province in the North and some provinces in Mid-Vietnam. Diverse duckweed products such as newspaper stands, wine bottle hand baskets, paper trays, baskets, boxes, flowerpots and chairs have been exported to Denmark, Germany, Taiwan, Japan and China. The material is three-month-old western duckweed plants, dried in the sun for three days. According to the Vietnam Association of Trade Communities, the duckweed weaving techniques are quite simple, all based on wooden frames. There are basically only three weaving knots, namely ‘rice grain’, ‘fish bone’ and ‘spider web’ knots. The final product keeps the material’s original colours and is ornamented with grass, glass or plastic beads. Thanks to the duckweed weaving trade, many poor farmers have extra work and income. So duckweed is considered ‘the poor’s plant’ or ‘rescuer from hunger.’ Vinh Hoa Hung Bac Village in Go Quao District, Kien Giang Province, is one of those duckweed trade villages that attracts many tourists. There, thousands earn their living just by working the duckweed. n
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EVENTS
EXHIBITIONS
HANOI
‘Non’ performance 21 July
‘Who am I’ From 11 July to 10 September
‘Who am I’ is the first solo exhibition of artist Nguyen Minh Chau. The exhibition will be held from 11 July to 10 September at Toong Co-Working Space, 3rd 8 Trang Thi St, Hoan Kiem Dist., Hanoi. It includes 19 lacquer paintings with many themes. MUSIC
Vietnam gets the finger-style 19 July International Finger-Style Guitar Festival (IFSGF) comprises a series of international finger-style guitar concerts. This is an annual event that has been organized continuously since 2010 in Asia. It includes famous finger-style guitarists from many countries. This year, IFSGF is on at 8 p.m. 19 July at the Youth Theatre, 11 Ngo Thi Nham St, Hanoi. Tickets range from VND600,000 to VND1,200,000. Tickets are available at Youth Theatre, 11 Ngo Thi Nham St, Hanoi, Guitar Plus, 14B Hao Nam St, Hanoi.
‘Non’, a contemporary dance accompanying with Vietnamese traditional music, will be performed 8 p.m. at L’Espace, 24 Trang Tien St, Hanoi. The show includes choreographer – dancer Vu Ngoc Khai, music composer Ngo Hong Quang and program producer Van Quy Ngoc Ai. ‘Non’ features the skilful mixture of the interesting body movements of the contemporary dance and the melodic flows performed acoustically of chieng day (String Gong), dan tinh (a 3-string instrument from Tay ethnic minority), dan moi 3 la (3-piece mouth harp), dan moi 1 la (1 piece mouth harp), dan bau (monochord) and singing. Ticket prices: VND300,000VND and VND250,000
Song and dance routine 29 and 30 July
A night of concert and ballet will be held at 8 p.m. 29 and 30 July at Hanoi Opera House, 1 Trang Tien St, Hoan Kiem Dist., Hanoi. Part 1 includes ‘Passacaglia’ by G.F. Handel, ‘Stabat Mater for soprano and alto’ by Giovanni Battista Pergolesi with the performance by conductor Le Phi Phi, sopranos Le Thi Vanh Khuyen and Tran Thi Trang, altos
Nguyen Thu Quynh and Nguyen Phuong Dong, and artists from Vietnam National Opera and Ballet. Part 2 is a 45-minute contemporary ballet ‘An absent-minded Guy’ with the music of Roderick Vanderstraen, choreographer Pham Minh and dancers from Vietnam National Opera & Ballet. Tickets range from VND200,000 to VND500,000. Booking tickets in advance to get better seats at www.ticketvn.com Oh what a feeling 5 and 6 August ‘Toyota Concert Tour 2016’ will be showed at 8 p.m. on 5 and 6 August at Hanoi Opera House with conductor Honna Tetsuji, pianist Vu Hoang Linh and artists from the Vietnam National Symphony Orchestra. The program includes overture opera ‘Russian and Ludmila’ of Glinka, ‘Piano Concerto no. 2’ of Rachmaninov and ‘Symphony no.5 E-minor, op.64’ of Tchaikovsky. Tickets range from VND300,000 and are available at Hanoi Opera House, 1 Trang Tien St, Hoan Kiem Dist., Hanoi. For free delivery please call 0983067996, 0913489858.
Music Festival 13 and 14 August
‘Vietnam Connection Music festival 2016’ will be organized at 8 p.m. 13 and 14 August at Hanoi Opera House, 1 Trang Tien St, Hoan Kiem Dist., Hanoi. The event has participations of Vietnamese and International virtuosi. Tickets range from VND300,000 to VND600,000. Booking tickets in advance to get better seats at www.ticketvn.com
‘Pathetique’ 17 August Conductor James Judd and artists of the Asian Youth Orchestra will perform ‘Symphony No. 6, Pathetique’ of Tchaikovsky and ‘Symphony No. 8’ of Dvorak at 8 p.m. on 17 August at the Grand Hall of Vietnam National Academy of Music, 77 Hao Nam St, Hanoi. Tickets range from VND200,000. For free delivery please call 0983067996, 0913489858. Subscription Concert Vol.93 24 and 25 August
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EVENTS Conductor Le Phi Phi, pianist Nguyen Viet Trung and artists from the Vietnam National Symphony Orchestra will perform ‘Subscription Concert Vol.93’ at 8 p.m. on 24 and 25 August at Hanoi Opera House, 1 Trang Tien St, Hoan Kiem Dist., Hanoi. Tickets range from VND200,000. For free delivery please call 0983067996, 0913489858.
HO CHI MINH CITY
EXHIBITIONS
Fairies! Till 27 July Craig Thomas Gallery presents an exhibition by Saigon-based artist Khoa Le, an illustrator, writer and author of picture books for children. The exhibition displays her paintings made from many materials. Each painting is a story of a fairy world. The event runs till 27 July at Craig Thomas Galley, 165 Calmette St, Nguyen Thai Binh Ward, Dist.1, Ho Chi Minh City. Tel: 0903888431. Opening hours: Tuesday to Saturday 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Sundays 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.; and by appointment. ‘Sketching Vietnamese History’ Till 2 August
art installation, the wood of jackfruits become lively, referring to a myriad of social and cultural histories of Vietnam in style and subject. Over two years of work with a team of expert wood carvers and carpenters from Hoi An, the exhibition contains a series of stories about this ancient town. ITE re-up 8 - 10 September Following the growth of the tourism industry and the success of ITE HCMC 2015, organizers are proud to present ITE HCMC 2016 on 8 - 10 September at the Saigon Exhibition and Convention Centre (SECC), 799 Nguyen Van Linh St, Tan Phu Ward, Dist.7, Ho Chi Minh City. The annual ITE HCMC is an effective trade platform for domestic and international enterprises to explore opportunities for both inbound and outbound travel businesses in Vietnam and the Mekong region. ITE HCMC 2016 provides exhibitors an excellent stage to launch and better understand the tourism market in this region. At the 12th edition ITE HCMC 2016, it is expected to attract 270 companies and brands from 21 countries and 27 provinces of Vietnam, 20 International media and 30,000 trade and public visitors during the three-day event. MUSIC
A whole ‘new world’ 19 July
event that has been organized continuously since 2010 in Asia. It includes famous fingerstyle guitarists from many countries. This year, IFSGF is on at 8 p.m. 20 July at the HCMC Conservatory of Music, 112 Nguyen Du St, Dist.1, Ho Chi Minh City. Tickets range from VND600,000 to VND1,200,000. Tickets are available at Doremi shop, 150/47AB Nguyen Trai St, Dist.1, HCM. ‘Non’ performance 27 July ‘Non’, a contemporary dance accompanying with Vietnamese traditional music, will be performed 8 p.m. at Idecaf, 28 Le Thanh Ton St, Dist.1, HCMC. Ticket prices: VND500,000 and VND400,000. See more information about the show in Hanoi section.
A O Show 6 p.m. on 18, 20, 21, 25, 26, 27, 28 July and 8 p.m. on 17, 24, 30, 31 July
A O Show is a 60-minute performance with a mix of bamboo cirque, acrobatic acts, contemporary dance and theatrical visual art. It depicts the charming beauty and richness in culture of Vietnamese lives in the countryside and the country’s urbanization. It will be on at 6 p.m. on 18, 20, 21, 25, 26, 27, 28 July and 8 p.m. on 17, 24, 30, 31 July at HCMC Opera House, 7 Lam Son Square, Ben Nghe Ward, District 1, HCMC. Tickets range from VND530,000 to VND1,250,000.
‘The Music of Johann Sebastian Bach’ 9 August
‘Sketching Vietnamese History’ is the first large-scale solo exhibition by senior artist Quach Phong. It showcases colour sketches of historical events from the legendary era of Hung Kings 2000BC until the early of Le Dynasty in the 1500s. The sketches are drawn on paper scrolls 50 metres in length. The highlight of the exhibition is that the first 12 sketches will be made on lacquer. The event is on till 2 August at HCM Fine Arts Museum, 97 A Pho Duc Chinh St, Dist.1, Ho Chi Minh City. ‘Dislocated’ wood Till 23 August An installation exhibition by Bui Cong Khanh is on till 23 August at the Factory Contemporary Art Centre, 15 Nguyen U Di St, Thao Dien, Dist 2, Ho Chi Minh City. It is themed ‘Dislocate’ which is his largest exhibition. In his
Conductor Le Phi Phi and artists from the Ho Chi Minh City Ballet Symphony Orchestra and Opera will perform Antonin Dvorak’s ‘From the New World’ at 8 p.m. on 19 July at Ho Chi Minh City Opera House, 7 Lam Son Square, Dist.1, HCMC. The program also has participation by talented Macedonian flautist StrashoTemkov. Tickets from VND200,000. Tel: (08) 38237419 or 0903604539. Vietnam gets the finger-style 20 July International Finger-Style Guitar Festival (IFSGF) comprises a series of international finger-style guitar concerts. This is an annual
A music night of Johann Sebastian Bach will be on at 8 p.m. 9 August at the Opera House, 7 Lam Son Square, Ben Nghe Ward, District 1, HCMC. The concerts including Vietnamese classical virtuosos from HCMC Ballet Symphony Orchestra and Opera, Vietnam National Symphony Orchestra and Vietnam National Academy of Music. Moreover, there will be the participation of artists from International Chamber Players from America. Tickets range from VND200,000 to VND500,000. OTHERS
Outcast Boho Market 14 August
Outcast’s Bohemian Market is a monthly Sunday market exhibiting unique, handmade, vintage and creative goods. The first edition of the Outcast Boho Market will take place on Sunday 14 August from 2 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Saigon Outcast, 188/1 Nguyen Van Huong St, Thao Dien, Dist.2, Ho Chi Minh City. Tel: 090 236 57 80
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VALUE FOR MONEY HOTELS
Hoi An River Town Hotel 26 Thoai Ngoc Hau St, Cam Pho Ward, Hoi An, Quang Nam Province Tel: (0510) 3924-924 www.hoianrivertown.com
Hoi An River Town Hotel has a 40 per cent discount on public rates for those who book from now till 30 July for stays till 30 September. The promotion is applicable for Superior, Deluxe, Triple and Connecting Rooms. There will be a complimentary four-course Vietnamese set menu lunch or dinner for those who book at least two nights. Grand Hotel Saigon 8 Dong Khoi St, Ben Nghe Ward, Dist.1, Ho Chi Minh City Tel: (08) 3823-0163 www.grandhotel.vn Grand Hotel Saigon has room promotions for those who book directly from its website from now till the end of year will get a 40 per cent discount; those who make bookings 30 days in advance from now till 30 September for stays from now to 31 December will get a 25 per cent discount.
RESORTS AND SPAS
La Residence Hotel & Spa 5 Le Loi St, Hue Tel: (054) 3837-475 www.la-residence-hue.com
La Residence Hotel & Spa has a two-night package ‘Summer Promotion’ till 31 October. It costs VND3,520,000 per Superior Room per night for two with breakfast, a 45-minute massage, a one-way Hue airport transfer and a 50 per cent discount on hotel’s car service. The price includes service charge and VAT. Golden Sand Resort & Spa Hoi An Thanh Nien Road, Cua Dai Beach, Hoi An, Quang Nam Province Tel: (0510) 3927-555 www.goldensandhoian.com Golden Sand Resort & Spa Hoi An is running a promotion at VND4,144,000++ per room for two nights in a Premier Garden View, breakfast, shuttle bus to Hoi An ancient town, a 20 per cent discount on spa, a 20 per cent discount on lunch and dinner and a 10 per cent discount on laundry service. The promotion is valid till 30 September. Hoa Co 2 Villas 236 Cua Dai Beach, Cam Chau Ward, Hoi An City, Quang Nam Province Tel: (0510) 3930-093 Hoa Co 2 Villas is offering a two-night promotion at VND850,000++ per person in a twin sharing room with breakfast, free use of bicycle, free use of tennis court at Palm Garden Beach Resort & Spa and a 50 per cent discount spa voucher on body massage at Palm Garden Beach Resort & Spa and 15 per cent off on services at Palm Garden Beach Resort & Spa. The promotion is valid till 31 December. Amiana Resort Turtle Bay, Pham Van Dong, Nha Trang, Khanh Hoa Province Tel: (058) 3553-333 www.amianaresort.com Amiana Resort has a spa set menu including Barefoot luxury signature body massage, Deep tissue, Amiana Fusion back massage, Vietnamese green tea or rice scrub, Vietnamese natural facial care, Herbal hot ball compress, Amiana ocean fresh facial and Bamboo Experience. It costs VND1,250,000 for 90 minutes, VND1,550,000 for 120 minutes and VND2,250,000 for 180 minutes. Sheraton Nha Trang Hotel & Spa 26-28 Tran Phu St, Nha Trang, Khanh Hoa Province Tel: (058) 3880-000 In July, Shine Spa, at the Sheraton Nha Trang Hotel & Spa, has a special promotion ‘Buy 1 massage or treatment on Shine Spa Menu to get the second one at 50 per cent discount’. Besides, the spa is offering a spa package at VND420,000 for 30 minutes to eliminate toxins, stimulate blood circulation and reduce severity of migraines and headaches.
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Allezboo Beach Resort & Spa 8 Nguyen Dinh Chieu St, Ham Tien, Phan Thiet, Binh Thuan Province Tel: (062) 3743-777 www.allezboo.com Allezboo Beach Resort & Spa is running a three-night package till 15 October. It includes breakfast, a 15-minute massage and upgrade to Premier Deluxe Room upon availability. The prices start from VND1,450,000 per room per night. The price includes service charge and VAT. Bamboo Village Beach Resort & Spa 38 Nguyen Dinh Chieu St, Ham Tien Ward, Phan Thiet, Binh Thuan Province Tel: (062) 3847-007 www.bamboovillageresortvn.com Bamboo Village Beach Resort & Spa has a two-night ‘Summer Flavour’ at VND1,991,000 per Deluxe Room per night with a dinner, a jeep car tour to White Sand Dune and a coupon for nail care service. Romana Resort & Spa Km 8, Phu Hai, Mui Ne, Phan Thiet, Binh Thuan Province Tel: (062) 3741-289 www.romanaresort.com.vn
Romana Resort & Spa is running a summer promotion at VND1,39,000 per night per room in a Deluxe Ocean View Room for two with a choice of lunch, dinner, hot pot or spa service, a two-hour free use of bicycle and a 20 per cent discount on food at Panorama restaurant. It is valid till 31 October. MGallery La Veranda Resort Phu Quoc Tran Hung DaoSt, Ward 7, Duong Dong Town Tel: (077) 3982-988 www.laverandaresort.com MGallery La Veranda Resort Phu Quoc launched a promotion: ‘An Inspired Summer’ designed for ‘Very Important Kids’ with many entertaining activities for families and for those who want to find a serene place or a memorable wellness package. It costs VND3,265,000++ per night in a Deluxe Garden View Room. It is valid till 31 October.
FOOD PROMOTIONS Sheraton Hanoi Hotel 11 Xuan Dieu St, Hanoi Tel: (04) 3719-9000 Oven D’or Restaurant, at the Sheraton Hanoi Hotel, has ‘Lobster Night’ on Tuesdays and Thursday in July, accompanied by delectable buffet stations including seafood, BBQ and desserts. VND1,100,000++ including free flow of draught Tiger Beer. Hoi An Beach Resort 1 Cua Dai, Hoi An Tel: (0510) 3927-011 Cua Dai Beer Garden, at the Hoi An Beach Resort, has just opened at the end of June to provide extra activities on the beach for guests. It has a capacity of more 200 seats and serves fresh cold beer and choices of grilled skewers. Live music is performed in the weekend. Open daily from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. Free entrance. InterContinental Nha Trang 32 - 34 Tran Phu St, Nha Trang Tel: (058) 3887-777 www.nhatrang.intercontinental.com Cookbook Café, at the InterContinental Nha Trang, is offering ‘International Buffet’ from Sunday to Wednesday and ‘Seafood Buffet’ from Thursday to Saturday. The price is VND740,000++, including free f low of Tiger draught beer. Also, those who buy a bottle of wine will get a complimentary assorted cheese dish at Lobby Bar from noon to 10 p.m. everyday. Gartenstadt Restaurant 34-36 Dong Khoi St, Dist.1, Ho Chi Minh City Tel: (08) 3822-3623 Gartenstadt Restaurant is introducing a feast of US Beef cheese sausage, Peppered strip loin steak, Rib eye steak, and Beef tenderloin, served with spicy potato wedges, mixed garden salad, asparagus, red cabbage, corn and steamed broccoli. VND1,250,000++ including three complimentary glasses of Krombacher draught beer or soft drinks. Kissho Restaurant 14 Nguyen Hue Blvd., Dist.1, Ho Chi Minh City Tel: (08) 3823-2223 Kissho Restaurant is offering ‘Haru Flavor Set’ at VND 999,000++ including grilled baby lobster with cheese, mixed sashimi, cobia in hot paper pot, and mixed tempura with rice. Also, every day from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m., diners enjoy 30 per cent off on sushi, sushi maki, sashimi, sake and shochu. Lotte Legend Hotel Saigon 2A-4A Le Thanh Ton, Dist.1, Ho Chi Minh City Tel: (08) 3823-3333
VALUE FOR MONEY Atrium Café Restaurant, at the Lotte Legend Hotel Saigon, is offering lunch buffet with a wide range of dishes including shrimp, oyster, lamp and beef at VND550,000++ including free flow of soft drinks, coffee and tea. From now to 31 August, the restaurant is offering a 30 per cent discount for all ladies on the lunch buffet every Monday.
Ninh Kieu Hotel 2 Hai Ba Trung St, Ninh Kieu Dist., Can Tho City Tel: (0710) 3821-171 Email: info@ninhkieuhotel.com www.ninhkieuhotel.com
Sofitel Saigon Plaza 17 Le Duan St, Dist.1, Ho Chi Minh City Tel: (08) 3824-1555
www.sofitel.com
L’Olivier Restaurant, at the Sofitel Saigon Plaza, boasts a new a la carte menu prepared by German Chef Marko Rankel. Some signatures in the menu include Red prawn Carpaccio, lightly dabbed in white balsamic topped with old parmesan shave and paired with yogurt lemon timbale; Crispy-skin French duck breast dipped in a tad of morel sauce, going with truffle cauliflower mouse and parisienne potato; smoky pan fried foie gras served on Brioche; Creamy risotto cooked finely in herbs and spinach with aromatic grilled mushroom; Curry sardines and escargots in herb butter; Quail breast a la sous vide, Vietnamese coffee framboise cream with red wine ice cream, and Greek yogurt terrine with mint and strawberry macadamia salad Lemon sorbet.
Windsor Plaza Hotel 18 An Duong Vuong St, Dist.5, Ho Chi Minh City Tel: (08) 3833-6688 Café Central An Dong, at the Windsor Plaza Hotel, serves Asian and western buffet. In July, diners can enjoy Garoupa cooked with many styles. Dinner Buffet, 6p.m. to 10p.m., Monday – Friday, VND558,000++ and Saturday & Sunday, VND628,000++ including free flow of beer.
OTHERS
The five-star Muong Thanh Luxury Moc Chau Hotel has opened in Moc Chau District of Son La Province. The hotel is located on the beautiful, immense plateau and near travel spots in the mountainous Northwest regions of Vietnam. The hotel’s architecture is modern Europe style with 169 standard rooms, bar, and restaurants serving Asian, International and local delicacies. Also, it has full-equipment meeting rooms, fitness centre, spa and indoor swimming pool. The hotel is adjacent to a commercial centre.
Located near Ninh Kieu Wharf, a popular destination of locals and tourists, the four-star Ninh Kieu Hotel will be opened on 22 July with 109 standard rooms, a la carte restaurant, bar, wedding and conference halls, massage and karaoke services. All rooms overlook Hau River and Can Tho City. From the hotel, guests can see Can Tho Bridge, a cable-stayed bridge which has the longest span in Southeast Asia. There is a 30 per cent off on accommodations and a 20 per cent off on conference rooms from 1 August to 31 October. REX Sen Vang Theater Rex Hotel, 141 Nguyen Hue Street, Ben Nghe Ward, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City.
From September 2016 Rex Sen Vang Theatre will stage daily water puppetry performances which depict stories of Vietnam’s pastoral life and history and re-create traditional dances at the Vertical Garden, Rex Hotel. On the performing list are excerpts from famed plays and tunes in ‘tuong’ (traditional Vietnamese opera) folk songs and dances of ethnic communities, and traditional music performances. Regular show will start at 8 p.m. and last for 1 hour. The Vertical Garden (Vuon Hong) can seat up to 160 guests. Shows during day time for groups are available upon order. Please contact: 0929300099 Ms. Tam Thanh. Also at Rex Hotel, a discount of 34% is on offer for room bookings made at www.rexhotelvietnam.com from now until August 30th. Tel: 08 38292185 nnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn
Rates may be subject to 5-per-cent service charge and 10-per-cent VAT if there is no statement to the contrary.
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WHAT THE PAPERS SAY World Premier Film Festival held in Manila. Produced by the Vietnam Feature Film Studio, the film tells the story of Yen and Hanh, two children who grow up together and get married at a very early age as arranged by their parents. The handiwork of Vietnamese director Dinh Tuan Vu is based on the script ‘Vang – Da’ (Gold - Rock) by writer Ho Hai Quynh, reflecting the cruel reality of society in 1945 when women suffered a lot of hardship.
British couple runs motorbike tour for disabled foreigners in Ho Chi Minh City
Tuoi Tre News, 6 June British expat Andy Gowler and his wife of Vietnamese origin, Ly Cam Tu, co-founders of the Saigon Buddy Tour, have recently begun running motorbike tours accessible to disabled people in Ho Chi Minh City. In preparation, Saigon Buddy Tour has partnered with the Centre of Disability Research and Capacity Development Vietnam (DRD), a nonprofit organization working on supporting disabled people in Vietnam, attending training courses on the awareness and skills required to work with disabled people.
Overloading to blame for ship overturn in central Vietnam: official
Tuoi Tre News, 6 June Overloading has been identified as the cause of an incident in which a cruise ship capsized in the central Vietnamese city of Danang on 4 June, while local port authorities are being held accountable for letting the boat operate without a license. The cruise ship Thao Van 2 submerged in the Han River about 10 minutes after its departure at around 8:30 p.m., with most passengers being brought to safety, including four Malaysians. Three missing victims were found dead in the next day.
Vietnamese movie wins big prize at Filipino film festival
Tuoi Tre News, 7 June ‘Cuoc Doi Cua Yen’ (The Life of Yen) grabbed the Grand Festival Prize, which was among nine main category contenders at the
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Vietnam, Portugal release stamp set
Tuoi Tre News, 4 July A stamp set celebrating 500 years of bilateral trade between Vietnam and Portugal was released in early July in Hoi An City and the Portuguese capital of Lisbon. The stamp set comprises two designs. One of the designs depicts a piece of Vietnamese Chu Dau pottery against the background of a blue ocean and a panorama of Hoi An Ancient Town. The other design illustrates a Portuguese ceramic plate against the background of the ancient coastal city of Lisbon. The two designs are drawn by Vietnamese artist To Minh Trang, together with artists from Portugal. The stamp set is set to be sold to the public in 192 countries and territories from July 1 till the end of 2017.
Shining the light on Hanoi's poor
Tuoi Tre News, 5 July Vietnamese families living in slums along the Red River in Hanoi are using red plastic buckets and old printers to help light homes, cook meals and slash electricity costs by as much as a third. The recycled goods form the blades and motors of electrical generators that power old motorcycle batteries to illuminate lamps with a brightness equivalent to a 45-watt light bulb. Though the output is small, it makes a significant difference for families previously denied power because they lived too far from a power station or had to ration because of the expense, at an average cost of $9 a month. The clean energy innovation on the floating village about 5 km from Hanoi's central business district is the brainchild of Le Vu Cuong, a lecturer at a Hanoi university.
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Body of missing British tourist found in ravine
Thanh Nien News, 9 June Vietnamese rescuers have found the body of Aiden Shaw Webb, a British tourist, after a week missing during a mountain trek. Webb, 22, was reportedly attempting to climb the Fansipan, Vietnam's highest mountain in the northwestern province of Lao Cai, on 3 June. His girlfriend, Bluebell Eloise Baughan, lost contact with him in the morning of 4 June. Before they lost contact, he called her and said that he had fallen into a waterfall, hurt himself and was lost.
Province demands $180 million for fish deaths
Thanh Nien News, 4 July Around 100 tons of dead fish washed ashore in Quang Binh and nearby provinces Ha Tinh, Quang Tri and Thua Thien-Hue in April. Formosa Ha Tinh Steel Corp., which has a plant in Ha Tinh, took the blame on June 30, admitting that its sewage discharge caused the problem, following a grand investigation led by the environment ministry. The company said there were faults in the operation trial. It pledged a compensation fund of $500 million for the disaster. The government said the compensation process will be transparent. Scientists joining the environment ministry’s investigation said coral reefs in the affected region will require at least 50 years to recover from the toxic spill.
Vietnam may deport illegals
Thanh Nien News, 6 July The Vietnam National Administration of Tourism has called on Danang authorities to check the operations of all travel agents and expel illegal Chinese tour guides, following accusations that they distorted Vietnamese history while showing tourists around. They could also face a ban on entering Vietnam ever again. Last week, Danang authorities said they would verify accusations that some 60 Chinese tour guides are operating illegally and providing incorrect information about Vietnam to tourists. In videos provided by many local guides, Chinese tour guides could be seen operating illegally and using yuan instead of dong.
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
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
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-
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)
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A quare 1. B aD inh S Ba Dinh Square
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2. H oa L oP Hoa Lo Prison rison
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3. S ’s Cathedral Cathedral Stt Joseph Joseph’s
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ouse Opera House 4. Hanoi O pera H
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Cot Co Tower 5. C ot C oT ower
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Women’s Museum 6. Women’s
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Ho Chi Minh 7. H oC hi M inh Museum
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Citadel Thang Long hang L ong 8. IImperial mperial C itadel of T
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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
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ausoleum 12. H oC hi M inh M Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum
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13. Ngo on T emple Ngocc S Son Temple
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14. Dong Da H ill Hill
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15. Dong X uan M arket Xuan Market
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An entry in the Directions section is either editorial or advertising To advertise, and be certain that your entry appears, please contact
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Ms. Thuy Phuong Mobile: 0969 47 3579
STREET GUIDE
Ba Trieu...................E3, E4 Bac Son.........................D1 Bach Dang.....................F2 Bach Mai........................E4 Bat Dan..........................E2 Bich Cau........................C2 Buoi................................A1 Cat Linh..........................C2 Cha Ca....................E1, E2 Cua Bac.........................D1 Cua Dong.......................D2
Da Tuong.......................E3 Dang Tat.........................D1 Dao Duy Anh.................D4 Dao Duy Tu.............E1, E2 Dien Bien Phu................D2 Doc Ngu.........................A1 Doi Can.............A1, B2, C2 Duong Thanh.................E2 Gam Cau........................E1 Giai Phong.....................D4 Giang Vo.....A3 ,B3 ,B2,C2
Hai Ba Trung.....E2, E3, F3 Ham Long......................E3 Han Thuyen....................F3 Hang Bac.......................E2 Hang Bo.........................E2 Hang Bong.....................E2 Hang Buom....................E2 Hang Can.......................E2 Hang Chuoi....................F3 Hang Cot........................E1 Hang Da.........................E2 Hang Dao.......................E2
Hang Dau.......................E1 Hang Ga.........................E2 Hang Gai........................E2 Hang Khay.....................E2 Hang Khoai....................E1 Hang Ma.........................E1 Hang Quat......................E2 Hang Trong....................E2 Hang Chieu....................E1 Hang Luoc......................E1 Hao Nam........................C2 Hoa Ma...........................F3
Hoang Dieu.............D1, D2 Hoang Hoa Tham............... ....................A1, B1, C1, D1 Hoang Van Thu..............D1 Hoe Nhai........................E1 Hung Vuong............D1, D2 Huynh Thuc Khang........A3 Kham Thien.............C3, D3 Kim Ma..............A2, B2, C2 La Thanh.................B3, C3 Lang Ha..........................B3 Nguyen Chi Thanh.........A3
Le Dai Hanh...................E4 Le Duan............D2, D3, D4 Le Hong Phong.............D2 Le Lai..............................F2 Le Thai To.......................E2 Le Thanh Tong...............F3 Le Van Huu....................E3 Lieu Giai........................A2 Lo Duc......................F3, F4 Lo Su..............................F2 Luong Ngoc Quyen.......E2 Luong Van Can..............E2
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Ly Nam De..............E1, E2 Ly Quoc Su....................E2 Ly Thai To.......................F2 Ly Thuong Kiet........E3, F3 Mai Hac De..............E3, E4 Ngo Quyen.....................F3 Ngo Si Lien....................D2 Ngo Thi Nham................E3 Ngoc Ha.........................C1 Ngoc Khanh...................B2 Nguyen Canh Chan......D1 Nguyen Cong Hoa.........B2
Nguyen Dinh Chieu............ .................................E3, E4 Nguyen Du..............D3, E3 Nguyen Huu Huan........ F2 Nguyen Khuyen.............D2 Nguyen Luong Bang.....C3 Nguyen Thai Hoc....C2, D2 Nguyen Thuong Hien......... ........................................D3 Nguyen Van To..............E2 Nha Chung.....................E2 Nha Tho.........................E2
Nui Truc..........................B2 Pham Dinh Ho................F3 Pham Ngu Lao...............F3 Phan Boi Chau.......D2, D3 Phan Chu Trinh..............F3 Phan Dinh Phung..........D1 Phan Huy Chu................F3 Pho Duc Chinh...............F3 Pho Hue...................E3, E4 Phu Doan.......................E2 Phung Hung............E1, E2 Quan Su..................E2, E3
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Quan Thanh...................D1 Quang Trung...........E2, E3 Quoc Tu Giam...............D2 Son Tay..........................C2 Thai Phien......................E4 Thanh Cong...................B3 Thanh Nien....................D1 Tho Nhuom.............E2, E3 Thuy Khue.......................... ....................A1, B1, C1, D1 To Hien Thanh...............E4 Tong Dan........................F2
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Ton Duc Thang..............C3 Tran Hung Dao................... ...........................D3, E3, F3 Tran Huy Lieu................B2 Tran Khanh Du...............F3 Tran Khat Chan..............F4 Tran Nguyen Han..........F2 Tran Nhan Tong......D3, E3 Tran Nhat Duat..............E1 Tran Phu........................D2 Tran Quang Khai............F2 Tran Qui Cap.................D2
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Tran Quoc Toan......D3, E3 Tran Thanh Tong............F3 Tran Xuan Soan................. .................................E3, E4 Trang Thi........................E2 Trang Tien................E2, F3 Trieu Viet Vuong......E3, E4 Trinh Hoai Duc...............C2 Tue Tinh.........................E3 Yen Phu..........................E1 Yersin..............................F4 Yet Kieu..........................D3
DIRECTIONS HANOI HANOI
Finland 31 Hai Ba Trung St, Hoan Kiem Dist., Hanoi Tel: (04) 3826-6788
(TELEPHONE CODE: 04) EMBASSIES
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
42 • V I E T N A M
HERITAGE
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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
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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) Parkside Sunline Hotel 72-74 Dai Co Viet St, Hai Ba Trung Dist, Hanoi Tel: (04) 3974-7272 Email: info@jhm.com.vn www.parksidesunline.vn Pullman Hanoi 40 Cat Linh St, Hanoi Tel: (04) 3733-0808 www.pullman-hanoi.com From VND2,448,600 ($115.50) Sunline Hotel 18 Bao Khanh Lane, Hoan Kien Dist, Hanoi Tel: (04) 3934-1818 Email: info-sunline@ jhm.com.vn www.sunlinehotel.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) 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) 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 sach41trangtien@gmail.com Thousands of magazines and books by hundreds of publishing houses worldwide SHOPS
Craft Link 43 and 51 Van Mieu St, Hanoi Tel: (04) 3843-7710 Email: craftlink@hn.vnn.vn Ha Dong Silk 102 Hang Gai St, Hanoi Tel: (04) 3928-5056 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 J U LY - A U G U S T 2 0 1 6
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
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VIETNAM HERITAGE
• 43
DIRECTIONS NINH BINH, NGHE AN, QUANG BINH, HUE, DANANG NINH BINH
HOTELS, RESORTS
(TELEPHONE CODE: 030) Emeralda Resort Ninh Binh
Note: Prices at many hotels depend on occupancy and change daily Alba Spa Hotel
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 www.ninhbinhlegendhotel.com From VND1,575,000 ($75)
NGHE AN
(TELEPHONE CODE: 038) Muong 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
Hue Riverside Boutique Resort & Spa
(TELEPHONE CODE: 052) HOTELS, RESORTS
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
588 Bui Thi Xuan St, Thuy Bieu Dist., Hue Tel: (054) 3978-484 Email: sales@hueriversideresort.com www.hueriversideresort.com 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) La Residence Hotel & Spa
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
(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 UNESCO World Heritage in 1993. Hue is also known for its particular cuisine.
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
J U LY - A U G U S T 2 0 1 6
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 Samdi Hotel
203-211 Nguyen Van Linh St, Danang Tel: (0511) 3586-222 Email: info@samdihotel.vn www.samdihotel.vn Sandy Beach Non Nuoc Resort Danang Vietnam, Managed by Centara
Note: Prices at many hotels depend on occupancy and change daily
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
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
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
HOTELS, RESORTS
5 Le Loi St, Hue Tel: (054) 3837-475 Email: resa@la-residence-hue.com www.la-residence-hue.com Step back in time to Art Deco's golden age with a stay at La Residence Hue Hotel & Spa, MGallery by Sofitel. Nestled
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
VedanÄ Lagoon Resort & Spa Zone 1, Phu Loc Town, Phu Loc Dist., Hue Tel: (054) 3681-688 Email: info@vedanalagoon.com www.vedanalagoon.com
(TELEPHONE CODE: 0511)
HUE
I
238 Bach Dang St, Danang Tel: (0511) 3223-399 info@greenplazahotel.vn www.greenplazahotel.vn Sitting along the Han River, the four-star hotel boasts elegance and unique accommodations in Vietnamese design and a stunning view of river, mountain and city
DANANG
Oxalis Adventure Tours Phong Nha Commune, Son Trach Village, Bo Trach Dist., Quang Binh Province. Tel: (052)3677-678 www.oxalis.com.vn
HERITAGE
Lang Co Beach Resort
RESTAURANT
Note: Prices at many hotels depend on occupancy and change daily
44 • V I E T N A M
Green Plaza Hotel
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.
Email: info@ninhbinhlegendhotel.com
along the fabled Perfume River overlooking the former Imperial Citadel, La Residence is a one-of-a-kind masterpiece with luxurious cultural and culinary experiences. This former governor's residence with 122 guestrooms and suites offers visitors a warm hospitality and a chance to relive the pleasures of a bygone era.
DIRECTIONS HOI AN, QUY NHON, NHA TRANG MUSEUM
Marina Silk Beach Resort & Spa
River-Beach Resort & Residences Hoi An
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 No 74 18 thang 8 St, Cam Pho Ward, Hoi An City, Quang Nam Province Tel: (0510) 3938 888 Pho Hoi Riverside Resort
Aurora Riverside Hotel & Villas 242 Cua Dai St, Hoi An City, Quang Nam Province. Tel: (0510) 3924-111 www.aurorahoian.com Hoi An Coco River Resort & Spa 999 Tran Nhan Tong St, Cam Thanh, Hoi An, Quang Nam Province Tel: (0510) 3930-777 Email: sales@cocoriverresort.com www.cocoriverresort.com Golden Sand Resort & Spa Hoi An Thanh Nien Road, Cua Dai Beach Hoi An, Quang Nam Province Tel: (0510) 3927-555 reservation@goldensandhoian.com www.goldensandhoian.com VND3,759,000 to VND7,644,000 Hoi An Silk Village 28 Nguyen Tat Thanh Str, Tan An Ward, Hoi An City,Quang Nam Province Tel: (0510) 392-1144 www.hoiansilkvillage.com 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)
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 01 Nguyen Tri Phuong St, Xuyen Trung, Cam Nam Ward, Hoi An Tel: (0510) 3862-628 Email: info@phohoiresort.com www.phohoiresort.com Pho Hoi Riverside Resort has 38 bedrooms with three separate areas designed inan Eastern architectural style. The architecture ranges from Cham to Japanese and modern Villa styles. All rooms have views of the ancient town or of Hoai River, so tourists can enjoy the beauty of the city at night from the colourful lanterns hung on yellow walls and mossy tiled roofs
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.
www.bavicohotelnhatrang.com. Best Western Premier Havana Nha Trang Hotel
Note: Prices at many hotels depend on occupancy and change daily
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)
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)
reservation@bavicohotelnhatrang.com
HOTELS, RESORTS
Le Belhamy Hoi An Resort & Spa Ha My Beach, Hoi An Tel: (0510) 3941-888 Email: info@belhamy.com www.belhamy.com
Palm Garden Beach Resort and Spa
Bavico International Hotel 02 Phan Boi Chau St, Nha Trang, Khanh Hoa Province Tel: (058) 6266-555 Email:
QUY NHON
AVANI Quy Nhon Resort & Spa Ghenh Rang, Bai Dai Beach, Quy Nhon, Binh Dinh Province. Tel: (056) 3840-132 Email: quynhon@avanihotels.com www.avanihotels.com/quynhon From VND3,024,000 ($144)
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
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
(TELEPHONE CODE: 056)
Kiman Hotel & Spa 461-463 Hai Ba Trung St, Hoi An, Quang Nam Province Tel: (0510) 3920 430 kimanhoianhotel@gmail.com Website: kimanhoianhotel.com
Hoi An Historic Hotel 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
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
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 Tel: (0510) 3914-555 Email: hoian@anantara.com www.hoi-an.anantara.com
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.
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
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
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 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
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DIRECTIONS PHAN THIET
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.
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
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
Au Lac do Brazil III 101 Trinh Phong St, Tan Lap Ward, Nha Trang Tel: (058) 351 6661 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
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
HERITAGE
Mom Da Chim - Lazi Beach Resort
HOTELS, RESORTS
RESTAURANTS
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Tel: (062) 3812-799 Email: info@phuhairesort.com www.phuhairesort.com
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Km8, Nguyen Dinh Chieu St, Phu Hai Ward, Phan Thiet City, Binh Thuan Province J U LY - A U G U S T 2 0 1 6
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 City Resort & Golf 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
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
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
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
Russia 40 Ba Huyen Thanh Quan St, Dist.3, Ho Chi Minh City Tel: (08) 3930-3936
Cathay Pacific Airways 72-74 Nguyen Thi Minh Khai St, Dist.1, Ho Chi Minh City Tel: (08) 3822-3203
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DIRECTIONS HO CHI MINH CITY Emirates Airlines 170-172 Nam Ky Khoi Nghia St, Dist.3, Ho Chi Minh City Tel: (08) 3930-2939 Japan Airlines 88 Dong Khoi St, Dist.1, Ho Chi Minh City. Tel: (08) 3821-9098
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
www.hotelnikkosaigon.com.vn From VND4,830,000 ($230) Hotel Equatorial Ho Chi Minh City
Philippine Airlines 2nd Floor Saigon Royal Building 91 Pasteur St, Dist.1, Ho Chi Minh City Tel: (08) 3827-2105
www.libertycentralhotel.com
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
HOTELS
Note: Prices at many hotels depend on occupancy and change daily Caravelle Saigon 19-23 Cong Truong Lam Son St, Dist.1, Ho Chi Minh City Tel: (08) 3823-4999 www.caravellehotel.com Duxton Hotel Saigon 63 Nguyen Hue Blvd, Ben Nghe Ward, Dist.1, Ho Chi Minh City Tel: (08) 3822-2999 enquires@saigon.duxton.com.vn www.duxtonhotels.com Eastin Grand Hotel Saigon
242 Tran Binh Trong St, Dist.5, Ho Chi Minh City Tel: (08) 3839-7777 Email: info@hcm.equatorial.com www.equatorial.com Facebook: www.facebook.com/equatorialhcmc Hotel Equatorial Ho Chi Minh City is an international 5-star hotel, located where the borders of the city's four main districts intersect; hence in the heart and true centre of Ho Chi Minh City. Tan Son Nhat International Airport can be reached conveniently within 30 minutes, while the city's major commercial and entertainment area is only a mere 8minute drive.
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
Vietnam Airlines 115 Nguyen Hue St, Dist.1, Ho Chi Minh City Tel: (08) 3832-0320
253 Nguyen Van Troi St, Phu Nhuan Dist., Ho Chi Minh City Tel: (08) 3844-9222 Email: Info@eastingrandSaigon.com www.eastingrandsaigon.com
Vietjet Air 8Bis Cong Truong Quoc Te, Dist.3, Ho Chi Minh City Tel: (08) 3827-0123 www.vietjetair.com
First Hotel
Asiana Travel Mate 113C Bui Vien St, Dist.1, Ho Chi Minh City. Tel: (08) 3838-6678 www.atravelmate.com
Kelly Hotel
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. 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
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
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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
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
Hotel Nikko Saigon 235 Nguyen Van Cu St, Dist.1, Ho Chi Minh City, tel: (08) 3925-7777 reservation@hotelnikkosaigon.com.vn
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1 Dong Khoi St, Dist.1, Ho Chi Minh City. Tel: (08) 3829-5517 majestic@majesticsaigon.com.vn www.majesticsaigon.com.vn 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
TRAVEL
HERITAGE
Northern Hotel Saigon 11A Thi Sach St, Dist.1, Ho Chi Minh City. Tel: (08) 3825-1751 reservation@northernhotel.com.vn www.northernhotel.com.vn From VND1,505,000 ($71) Three-star boutique hotel, 99 rooms in Superior, Deluxe and Suite categories, a short walk from major entertainment and shopping venues.
Hotel Majestic
United Airlines Suite 708 Sun Wah Tower, 115 Nguyen Hue St, Dist.1, Ho Chi Minh City Tel: (08) 3823-4755
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Email: frontdesk.lcc@libertyhotels.com.vn
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
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
Jetstar Pacific Airlines 112 Hong Ha St, Tan Binh Dist., Ho Chi Minh City Tel: (08) 3955-0550
Tel: (08) 3827-1717 177-179 Le Thanh Ton St, Dist.1 Tel: (08) 3823-9269
Renaissance Riverside Hotel Saigon
42-44 Thu Khoa Huan St, Dist.1, Ho Chi Minh City. Tel: (08) 3823-3364 Email: info@kellyhotel.com.vn www.kellyhotel.com.vn From VND750,000 ($36) An elegant and cosy hotel with good service. Within walking distance to Ben Thanh market, Independence Palace and several museums. Vietnamese food is served at reasonable prices. Liberty Central Hotels in Ho Chi Minh City 17 Ton Duc Thang St, Dist.1
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)
DIRECTIONS HO CHI MINH CITY The Reverie Saigon
18 An Duong Vuong, Dist.5, Ho Chi Minh City Tel: (08) 3833-6688 services@windsorplazahotel.com www.windsorplazahotel.com RESTAURANTS
22 - 36 Nguyen Hue Blvd. & 57 - 69F Dong Khoi St, Dist.1, Ho Chi Minh City Tel: (08) 3823-6688 Email: info@thereveriesaigon.com www.thereveriesaigon.com Rex Hotel 141 Nguyen Hue St, Ben Nghe Ward, Dist.1, Ho Chi Minh City Tel: (08) 3829-2185 Email: rexhotel@rex.com.vn www.rexhotelvietnam.com From VND4,620,000 ($220) Sheraton Saigon Hotel & Towers 88 Dong Khoi St, Ben Nghe Ward, Dist.1, Ho Chi Minh City Tel: (08) 3827-2828 Email: sheratonsaigon@sheraton.com www.sheratonsaigon.com 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)
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 pastries and cakes and a cup of coffee from selected premium blends.
Windsor Plaza Hotel
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 Tel: (08) 3823-8811 www.authentiquehome.com
GALLERIES Artists Long & Ngoc Gallery Grand Hotel (at the lobby), 8 Dong Khoi, Dist.1, Ho Chi Minh City TeL: (08) 2246-6839 Mobile: 0908 229 708 Email: ngoclongfineart@yahoo.com Apricot Gallery 50 Mac Thi Buoi St, Ben Nghe Ward, Dist.1, Ho Chi Minh City Tel: (08) 3822-7962 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.
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
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
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
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
Mam Son Restaurant 35 Ton That Thiep St, Dist.1, Ho Chi Minh City Tel: (08) 3915-3653 Tandoor Restaurant
Handed by crafts from Vietnam 47 Dong Khoi St, Dist.1, Ho Chi Minh City Tel: 0908 447 282 IPA Nima 85 Pasteur St, Ben Nghe Ward, Dist.1, Ho Chi Minh City, tel: (08) 3824-2701 IPA Nima is well-known for its bags.
Sonnet Saigon Hotel
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
Tel: (08) 3910-6903 Email: molinari@vnn.vn www.caffemolinari.com
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 BARS & CAFÉS
Elle Cafe 45 Ngo Duc Ke St, Bitexco Financial Tower, Ho Chi Minh City Tel: (08) 6291-8769 Caffe Molinari 5 Le Duan St, Dist.1, Ho Chi Minh City
Lu's Handmade 240 Ly Tu Trong St, Ben Thanh Ward, Dist.1, Ho Chi Minh City Facebook: Lu's Handmade Tropic Shop 89 Dong Khoi St, Ben Nghe Ward, Dist.1, Ho Chi Minh City Tel: (08) 3822-3714 www.ofcvn.com/tropic
COOKING CLASSES
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
SIGHTSEEINGS
Notre Dame Cathedral Cong Xa Paris Square, Dist.1, Ho Chi Minh City Built in 1877, and the Cathedral opened to the public in 1880. The bricks used to build this marvellous structure were shipped from Marseilles. Ben Thanh Market Le Lai St, Ben Thanh Ward, Dist.1, Ho Chi Minh City The original market was located on the bank of the Ben Nghe River by the old Gia Dinh Fort. In 1859, when the French invaded Saigon and overtook Gia Dinh Fort, Ben Thanh Market was destroyed. It was rebuilt shortly after and remained standing until it was moved to its present location in 1899. Now, Ben Thanh market is a trade centre and a favourite tourist destination, offering a wide range of Vietnamese handicraft, fresh fruits and local specialities. Chinatown – Cho Lon It was set up at the end of the 18th century when the Minh Dynasty in China was overthrown. Chinatown has many shops and private workshops. The most interesting places are Binh Tay market, Soai Kinh Lam fabric whole-sales market, the street of herbal medicine located on Hai Thuong Lan Ong and Thien Hau Temple on Nguyen Trai Street.
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CENTRE OF HO
1. Independence Independence Palace Palace
D3
2. Notre Notre Dame Cathedral Cathedral
E2
3. Vietnam Vietnam History History Museum
F2
4. Fine Fine Arts Arts Museum Museum of of Ho Ho Chi Chi Minh Minh City City E4 E4 5. Ho Ho Chi Chi Minh Minh City City Museum
E3
6. Southern Women omen Museum Southern W
C1
7. War Wa ar Remnants Remnants Museum
D2
Ben Thanh Thanh M arket 8. Ben Market
E3
9. Tao Tao Dan Park Park
D3
10. Post Post Office Office
E2
Zoo 11. Z oo
F2
Nha Wharf 12. N ha Rong W harf
F4
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STREET GUIDE
3 Thang 2..........A2, A3, B2 Alexandre De Rhodes........ ........................................E2 An Duong Vuong....A4, B4 Ba Le Chan....................D1 Ba Huyen Thanh Quan...... ........................................C2 Ban Co...........................B3 Ben Chuong Duong........... .................................D4, E4 Ben Van Don...........D4, E4
Bui Thi Xuan..................C3 Bui Vien...................C4, D4 Cach Mang Thang Tam..... ......A1, B1, B2, C2, C3, D3 Calmette.........................E4 Cao Thang.....................B3 Chu Manh Trinh.............F2 Co Bac.....................C4, D4 Co Giang............. ...C4, D4 Cong Quynh............C3, C4 De Tham........................D4
Dien Bien Phu..................... A3, B2, C2, D1, D2, E1, F1 Dinh Tien Hoang............E1 Do Quang Dau...............C4 Do Thanh.......................B3 Doan Cong Buu.............C1 Doan Nhu Hai..........E4, F4 Dong Du.........................F3 Dong Khoi................E3, F3 Hai Ba Trung....................... ...........................D1, E2, F3 Hai Trieu.........................F4
Ham Nghi.................E4, F4 Han Thuyen....................E2 Ho Hao Hon...................C4 Ho Tung Mau...........E3, E4 Ho Xuan Huong.............C2 Hoa Hung.......................A2 Hung Vuong...................A4 Huyen Tran Cong Chua..... ........................................D3 Huynh Thuc Khang........E3 Huynh Tinh Cua.............D1 Ky Con.....................D4, E4
Ky Dong...................B2, C1 Le Duan...................E2, F2 Le Hong Phong.................. ...........................A2, A3, A4 Le Lai.......................C3, D3 Le Loi..............................E3 Le Quy Don....................D2 Le Thanh Ton...................... ...........................D3, E3, F2 Le Thi Hong Gam............... .................................D4, E4 Le Thi Rieng............C3, D3
Le Van Sy.......................B1 Luong Huu Khanh.........C3 Ly Chinh Thang.......C1, C2 Ly Thai To......................A3 Ly Tu Trong......................... ...........................D3, E3, F2 Ly Van Phuc...................E1 Mac Dinh Chi...........E1, E2 Mac Thi Buoi..................F3 Mai Thi Luu..............E1, F1 Nam Ky Khoi Nghia............ ...................C1, D1, D2, D3
CHI MINH CITY D
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Ngo Duc Ke....................F3 Ngo Thoi Nhiem ....C2, D2 Ngo Van Nam.................F2 Nguyen Binh Khiem.............. .....................................F1, F2 Nguyen Cau...................D1 Nguyen Cong Tru............... .................................D4, E4 Nguyen Dinh Chieu............ ......B3, C2, C3, D2, E1, F1 Nguyen Du..............D3, E3 Nguyen Hue.............E3, F3
Nguyen Khac Nhu.............. .................................C4, D4 Nam Quoc Cang.....C3, C4 Nguyen Phi Khanh.........E1 Nguyen Sieu...................F3 Nguyen Son Tra................. .................................B3, C3 Nguyen Tat Thanh..........F4 Nguyen Thai Binh............... .................................D4, E4 Nguyen Thai Hoc....D3, D4 Nguyen Thanh Y............E1
Nguyen Thi Dieu............C2 Nguyen Thi Minh Khai........ .................................B3, C3 Nguyen Thien Thuat........... .................................A3, B3 Nguyen Thong........B2, C2 Nguyen Thuong Hien........ .................................B2, C3 Nguyen Trai.............B4, C4 Nguyen Trung Ngan......F2 Nguyen Trung Truc........E3 Nguyen Truong To.........E4
Nguyen Van Cu..............B4 Nguyen Van Thu......E1, F1 Pasteur................................ ...............D1, D2, E2, E3,E4 Pham Ngoc Thach.........D1 Pham Ngu Lao........C4, D4 Pham Viet Chanh...........B3 Phan Ke Binh..........E1, E2 Pho Duc Chinh...............E4 Phung Khac Khoan.......E2 Suong Nguyet Anh........C3 Thach Thi Thanh.....D1, E1
Thai Van Lung................F3 Thi Sach.........................F3 Thu Khoa Huan.......D3, E3 To Hien Thanh................A1 Ton That Dam..........E3, E4 Ton Duc Thang..............C3 Tran Binh Trong......A3, A4 Tran Cao Van.................E2 Tran Dinh Xu...........B4, C4 Tran Hung Dao.......C4, D4 Tran Minh Quyen...........A3 Tran Nhan Tong.......A3, A4
Tran Phu.........................A4 Tran Quang Dieu...........B1 Tran Quang Khai.....D1, E1 Tran Quoc Thao......C1, D2 Tran Quoc Toan......C1, D1 Truong Dinh............C1, C2 Tu Xuong.......................C2 Vinh Vien........................A3 Vo Thi Sau........C2, D1, E1 Vo Van Tan..............C3, B3 Vuon Chuoi..............B2, B3 Yersin..............................D4
DIRECTIONS VUNG TAU, LONG HAI, CON DAO, CAN THO, MY THO, CHAU DOC HOTELS, RESORTS
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
Note: Prices at many hotels depend on occupancy and change daily
Romeliess Hotel 31 - 33 Thuy Van St, Vung Tau Tel: (064) 3613-366 Email: sales@romeliss.com www.romeliesshotel.com
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)
White Palace 6 Tran Phu St, Ward.1, Vung Tau Tel: (064) 3852-605 Open daily 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Muong 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
Fito Museum 41 Hoang Du Khuong S, Ward 12, Dist. 10, Ho Chi Minh City Tel: (08) 3864-2430 www.fitomuseum.com.vn Open daily from 8.30 a.m. till 5.30 p.m. Ticket: VND50,000 The first museum of traditional Vietnamese medicine
Independence Palace 135 Nam Ky Khoi Nghia St, Ben Thanh Ward, Dist.1, Ho Chi Minh City Tel: (08) 3822-3652 www.dinhdoclap.gov.vn Open daily, 7.30 a.m. to 11.30 a.m., 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.
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)
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
A popular beach resort town for residents of Ho Chi Minh City, Vung Tau is about 128 km southeast of HCMC. It can be reached either by road or by a 90-minute hydrofoil boat from HCMC. Sitting on a peninsula that sticks out into the East Sea, Vung Tau does not have the most beautiful, or cleanest, beaches in Vietnam but can act as a quick getaway from the buzz of the city.
HERITAGE
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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 Tel: (064) 3852-014 Email: info@petrohousehotel.vn www.petrohousehotel.vn From VND1,260,000 ($60)
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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
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
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.
MUSEUM
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
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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
CON DAO
257 Le Hong Phong St, Ward 8, Vung Tau Tel: (064) 3584-179 Email: quanly@kieuanhhotel.com www.kieuanhhotel.vn
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.
MUSEUM
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)
Note: Prices at many hotels depend on occupancy and change daily Golf Can Tho Hotel 2 Hai Ba Trung St, Tan An Ward, Ninh Kieu Dist., Can Tho Tel: (0710) 3812-210 golf4.cantho@vinagolf.vn www.vinagolf.vn
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 Ancarine Beach Resort
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
Group 3, Ong Lang. Cua Duong, Phu Quoc Tel: ( 077) 3996685 Email: ancarineresort@gmail.com 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)
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
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
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BUYABLE VND777,000
H’mong quilting rectangle scarf
VND504,000
H’mong Appliqué triangle scarf VND1,029,000
Sapa rectangle scarf
VND609,000
Pinpoint rectangle scarf VND504,000
Cross Edge triangle scarf
VND399,000
Pinpoint triangle scarf VND777,000
VND1,029,000
Kantha Patchwork rectangle scarf
Kantha Patchwork triangle scarf
Papier mache painted vases Small: VND168,000 (11cmx11cmx12cm) Big: VND189,000 (16cmx16cmx18cm) Tall: VND210,000 (13cmx13cmx26cm)
Mekong + Ho Chi Minh City: 68 Le Loi St, 1st Floor, Dist.1 - Tel: (08) 2210 3110 Hanoi: 13 Hang Bac St, Hoan Kiem Dist. - Tel: (04) 3926 4831 Hoi An: 136 Tran Phu St, Hoi An, Quang Nam - Tel: (0510) 3861 531 www.mekong-plus.com
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Bowl edge stich embroidery newspaper (set of 3) VND462,000/set size: 5.5cmx11cm 6.5cmx15.5cm 7cmx18cm
Bowl flowers with lid embrodery newspaper VND252,000 (size: 12cmx12cm) VND273,000 (size: 14cmx14cm) VND294,000 (size: 16cmx16cm)