Po Rome Tower – The Last Tower Made from Brick of the Cham

The whole construction includes two towers: the main tower worshipping Po Rome King – one of the kings that are sacrificed by Cham people and the second one worshipping the Queen.

Po Rome Tower belongs to Hau Sanh village, Phuoc Huu commune, Ninh Phuoc district, Ninh Thuan province, being considered the imperfect copy of Poklongarai Tower.

The whole construction includes two towers: the main tower worshipping Po Rome King – one of the kings that are sacrificed by Cham people and the second one worshipping the Queen. Nowadays, the Cham people usually implement rituals for the tower in their festivals and ceremonies.

The tower is about 8m high, the bottom is nearly 8m wide, and the statue of Po Rome King inside is estimated 1.2m. Besides the king statue, there is a half-body statue of a woman which the Cham call statue of Po Bia Sancan Queen, is about 0.75m high. The statue of Sucih Queen stands outside the tower.

The main side of the tower faces the East. The tower has three floors built based on the ancient pattern. On each floor, there are four corner towers; the shape of fire appears on four corners. The top of each corner tower is decorated by a rocky lotus bud. In each fake cavity, there is the image of a god sitting and clasping hands in praying posture. In the corner of the tower’s entrance, there is the statue of God of cow Nadin carved from a black stone. The construction built behind the tower is the place worshipping the queen. The tomb of Po Rome King is very close to this sub-construction, being the burial place chosen by Po Rome King himself.    

About the architectural type, Po Rome is the last tower of the Cham which is made from brick and also the last big tower of Champa kingdom. Despite of being big tower architecture, Po Rome Tower’s size and shape are much coarser and poorer than the older remaining towers’.  However, although the tower is not as elegant and sophisticated as the older ones, it is great and majestic brick architecture of the Cham which is strongly valuable in architecture art. Currently, Po Rome Tower has only the main tower, the sub-tower has collapsed.

Vietnamese Teachers day of overseas students

Wearing colorful ao dai, the Vietnamese traditional costume, many young people walked around big streets in the city and showed their love to their country through slogans like “We love Vietnam” and “We love ao dai.”

According to Melbourne Overseas Vietnamese Student Association, the event’s organizers, the parade was held with the hope of introducing the image of Vietnam to international friends as well as creating chances for overseas students to meet and relax after the year-end exam.

Below are some photos taken at the parade by Nguyen Chi Anh Dai:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Come to My Tho for tasting Hu Tieu

Hu Tieu (My Tho noodle soup) is a traditional dish, so specific to Southern Vietnam. As a Chinese long-aged dish, this food was reciped to taste My Tho delta people to become well-known nationwide.

Back in the 1960s, a shop in My Tho, 70 km from Ho Chi Minh City started serving this dish. Ever since then, its reputation has grown to become a very well known meal in Vietnam. It is said that the most delicious noodle soup is made with Co Cat rice, from the most famous rice growing area of My Phong village, a suburb of My Tho City.

A bowl of Hu tieu

My Tho seafood noodle soup is different from Chinese noodle soup, Nam Vang soup, as well as Hue beef noodle soup. The intersting thing is its secret recipe. In stead of herbs and lettuce, you will be tried the flavour of soy bean, lemon, chili, and soy sauce.

How does it taste?

The sweet aroma of the broth comes from the meat, dried squid, and special condiments. Not less important is the broth to cook from shinbone, pork, squids, additives and seasonings to taste subject to family secret as revealed by Chef Ba Chau to a well-selling shop in Trung Trac Street, My Tho City.

Taken as a national dish and something to recollect the delta land of My Tho, this noodle soup reciped in the Southern cuisine is second to none in meeting with various appetites of both oriental and western diners.

Can you find a bowl of Hu Tieu in Ha Noi?
You are in Hanoi, and wondering if such a My Tho’s specialty appears in Hanoi or not. Of course, My Tho noodle soup comes up quite often in many streets of Hanoi. It is better to ask your hotel receptionist to recommend a place nearby or you can refer to the following reliable address: Arab Kebab, 9B Thai Van Lung Street, Ha Noi.

Tuong (Hat Boi)

Tuong, also called Hat Boi in the south, is a kind of drama of the national theatre. Tuong came into being over five hundred years ago, reflecting the rich and special culture of Vietnam.

The acting seen in this theatre is a dramatic art form in which the actors make use of their technical mastery to describe the actions and states of mind of the characters. This type of acting is different from other styles which require the actors to give up their individuality to transform themselves into the characters of the play.

Tuong stage has a very concise symbolization. Only with some actors on the stage, the whole scene of the court with all the officials who are attending royal ceremonies could be seen, or two generals with some soldiers fighting also show a battle with hundreds of thousands of troops and horses fighting fiercely, and even a gourd of wine and four wooden cups also express a lowish banquet. It is a mistake to deal with Tuong without mentioning the art of making up. It is because just looking at a made-up face; we may guess the personality and social class of that character. For example, a canthsus drawn toward one's ears show that he is a great gentleman and hero. As for beards, a black, curly beard is for a fierce man, three-tuft beard for a gentleman; a dragon's beard for Kings and mandarins and for majesty; a mouse's whisker, a goat's beard and a fox's whisker for cunning and dishonest men. Beardless man must be students. 

The gestures of characters on the stage are stylized with symbolization, which attract the viewers passionately. To a western-style drama, when a general rides a horse, it must be a real one or a horse-like costume; but, to an actor of Tuong, only a white, brown red or black whip also means many kinds of horses: black, sorrel or white. The actor of Tuong acts very concisely. Only with a whip, he is able to make the viewers passionate through delicate acting's with horses galloping or at full gallop, of which there are good-mannered or restive ones... With an oar, the actor of Tuong is able to show the viewers the boat fast sailing, wavering due to waves, making the viewers feel as through they were onthe boat.

The accompanying tomtoms in Tuong are very important, because they start the actor's sentiment; they bring the past time and space to the present; they unite the character's sentiment with the stage, and the actor with the audience. The art of Tuong in Vietnam includes those of painting, sculpture through the ways of making up, costumes and dance, pantomine, singing, saying through the actings of actors; as well as the combination of traditional musical instruments of Vietnam. The art of Tuong has raised the lofty view of desire to the true - the good - the beautiful (Chan - Thien - My) as well as the viewpoints of life of the ancients: Benevolence - Righteousness - Civility - Knowledge - Loyalty ( Nhan - Le - Nghia - Tri - Tin) through special characters who are benevolent and righteous. Tuong is one of the valuable pearls reflecting the rich and special culture of Vietnamese people.

Asean countries must do more to woo Japanese visitors

More than 50 representatives of national tourism organisations (NTO), including those from Vietnam, Laos, Myanmar, Cambodia, the Philippines and Thailand participated in the event. They were advised to build tourism identities and revise strategies to better position themselves in tourists' mind in the long term, and all enthusiastically listened and unveiled plans to draw more tourists.

Asean tourism authorities and private sectors are yet to be more proactive, if they want to draw more international tourists, particularly affluent visitors from Japan.

Each year, more than 10 million Japanese travel abroad. In the first half of this year, despite the sluggish economic growth, 8.96 million Japanese made overseas trips, according to Japan Tourism Marketing Co.

Among Asean nations, Thailand is the most popular destination for Japanese tourists, followed by Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia and Vietnam. Still, the number of Japanese visitors to Thailand so far this year is far below 1 million, compared to 1.4 million going to the US and 1.3 million to France.

These were some of the facts shared at a recent five-day training on tourism in Thailand, hosted by Japan's Asean Promotion Centre on Trade, Investment and Tourism (Asean-Japan Centre or AJC).

More than 50 representatives of national tourism organisations (NTO), including those from Vietnam, Laos, Myanmar, Cambodia, the Philippines and Thailand participated in the event. They were advised to build tourism identities and revise strategies to better position themselves in tourists' mind in the long term, and all enthusiastically listened and unveiled plans to draw more tourists.

Khin Than Win, director for Tourism Promotion of Myanmar - the country that has opened its doors after five decades of isolation - said his government expects to complete its national tourism master plan this year or early next year. Under the master plan, infrastructure and hotel development will be key.

It is expected to have five more hotels with 1,450 rooms next year in addition to the existing 25,000 nationwide, of which 8,000 rooms are located in Yangon. More commercial complexes are also under construction, to facilitate the tourism industry.

From January-September this year, 724,000 visitors travelled to Myanmar, increasing by 24 per cent from 582,000 during the same period last year.

Sieng Ngak, tourism representative of Cambodia, urged Japan to develop a special Japan-Mekong route in order to boost Japanese arrivals to Cambodia and Laos.

Tran Quang Hao, deputy director of Vietnam National Administration of Tourism's personnel department, said it is preparing to set up a tourism office in Japan, aiming to woo more Japanese visitors. Cambodia aims for 6 million to 6.5 million visitors this year, up from 6 million in 2011.

Early this year, the Tourism Authority of Thailand, Vietnam's National Administration of Tourism and Laos' National Tourism Administration organised travel fairs in Tokyo targeting repeat tourists.

The AJC wants Cambodia, Indonesia and Laos to immediately build their brand while Myanmar needs to add more hotel rooms and improve air-travel access.

Cambodia, in particular, is urged to promote the image of other big cities as well as the capital in key tourism markets. Japanese tourists feel more familiar with Bali than with Indonesia so they should be advised about attractive places in Jakarta and other islands.

Laos was selected by the New York Times in 2008 as one of 53 places to visit but it is still unpopular among international tourists.

Despite some improvement, Myanmar still needs more airline economy seats along with hotel rooms while Vietnam is welcoming a lot more Japanese but faces a lack of Japanese speaking guides.

The AJC urged all nations to differentiate tourism products before the launch of the Asean Economic Community (AEC). It also asked members to improve service quality and build their tourism image in order to cope with the growth of travel in the region in the long term.

For tourists from Japan, tourism operators also need special services.

Fuchigami Joukei, AJC assistant director, said that a large number of Japanese want to travel to CLMTV countries (Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam). However, there is lack of good sources of information about hotels, air service, restaurants, tour guides and contact persons in Japan.

Further, the Japanese find it difficult to select destinations for their next trips due to the lack of a tourism image.

"Expanding infrastructure and building a tourism image are very important as these are good methods to woo Japanese tourists," said Joukei.

He also urged each country to create and infuse their own character and focus on that strength.

The lack of Japanese-speaking guides is also apparent in Laos with only 18 guides compared to thousands in Thailand. The whole region is also urged to develop a budget airline network to link local cities in Japan and major cities in Asean.

Crisis communication management is also needed in every country and tourists should be able to use public phones free of charge when in crisis.

Air service frequency between Japan and Myanmar must be boosted immediately as currently there are only three flights a week with all business class while more flights can go to Vietnam from the current 60 a week. There are 125 flights per week from Japan to Thailand.

Importantly, only Thailand, Malaysia, Philippines and Singapore have opened tourism offices in Japan. The AJC sees it as a must for all Asean countries to set up offices and appoint marketing teams in Japan, or at least have travel fairs in big cities, if they want to draw more Japanese visitors.

Riding elephant in Buon Don, Vietnam

Travel to Buon Don Village are memorable for an experience of a lifetime – riding on the back on an elephant.

Buon Don village is the only place in the country where it is legal to ride these great beasts in the beautiful Central Highlands. If tourists with Vietnam travel guide  fancy braving it from Saigon you take National Road No. 14 for 500km to Binh Phuoc and Daklak Province. Located about 50 kilometers northwest of Buon Ma Thuot City, is Buon Don which is home to the M’Nong, Ede, Lao and Thai ethnic minority groups and for the last two centuries has been the center of elephant hunting and taming in Vietnam.

Buon Don is the name for the three villages of Yang Lanh, Buon Don and Buon Tri in Krong Ana Commune, Buon Don District in Daklak. The elephant riding festival is annually held at the old airport area in the immense forest and it attracts thousands of tourists from over the country and beyond. The festival is amazing due to its number of fun performances such as elephants playing football and wading down the river.

Walking along the stilt houses under the shade of giant trees, tourists in Vietnam tours will be amazed to see elephants tramping on the street with locals or tourists on their back. Sitting on the elephants’ back and ambling with careful steps, tourists will feel life in the slow lane and more peaceful. You can ride elephants through the forests and rivers to explore splendid and wild scenery after getting some valuable advice from mahouts who take care of these amazing animals.

If you have time and feel adventurous, you can hire an elephant to cross the Serepok River. Then walk across the 100m-long Buon Don Bamboo Bridge under the shade of banyan trees. It is veiled by vines and roots but the swinging bridge is not for the feint-hearted.

To have more fun, tourists in Vietnam tours should buy some sugarcane or some other fruits to lure the elephants.

Rice Seedlings in Hoang Su Phi

In June (late May of the lunar calendar) when rainfalls pour over drought terraced fields on rocky mountain areas in Hoang Su Phi, a mountain district in the northern border province of Ha Giang, the Dao, Mong and Nung people begin transplanting paddy seedlings.

Visiting Hoang Su Phi during this time, visitors will have not only a chance to see the terraced fields that are beautiful like a water – colour painting, but also see the lifestyle of ethnic groups. During this time, villagers often gather together to transplant rice seedlings from fields far from the hamlet to the closer fields.

Each of them has a task. Men till the fields while women clean and transplant the rice seedlings. It takes them about one week to complete the work and the terraced fields are covered by the green rice seedlings.

Here, children also follow their mothers to go to the fields to enjoy the bustling atmosphere of the season and learn how to farm. It is the way that the ethnic people hand down to the next generations the method of growing rice.

In early June, terraced fields in Hoang Su Phi in Ha Giang Province are covered by green rice seedlings. The only time of the year for the ethnic people to transplant the seedlings. Pulling up the seedlings. The seedlings are cleaned before being transplanted. Children follow their mothers to go to the fields to learn how to transplant the seedlings. A familiar image of the ethnic people in the mountainous area during the time of transplanting. The terraced fields are like a beautiful water-colour painting.

Bai Hom - Neglected island in Khanh Hoa

On a weekend, singer Pham Anh Khoa invited his friend to his hometown for a summer vacation trip. All gathered in a place of Khanh Hoa before joining a boat to come to a neglected island and playing the role of Robinson.

In fact, the destination is Bai Hom – is a 5ha wide valley which is in the middle of stone mountains (50m and 100m high). In order to come here, visitors have to use a coach from Ba Ngoi township (Cam Ranh, Khanh Hoa) to the national road no 1A to Binh Tien (Ninh Thuan) and Binh lap (Cam Lap – Cam Ranh), then taking a 15-minute walk and 20-minute on boat to the island. We also could take the boat from Ba Ngoi port, but it takes longer. Upon the arrival, everybody settled the tent, food and cooking stuff to the place of striking camp which is right next to the beach. While women were in charge of doing the hammock and the new tent, men takes charge of finding firewood, go fishing or diving to “hunt”. Soon, Mr Bay – a local person – caught a 5-kilogram ray fish, a sliver snapper, a paper amberjack and an eel. Beside the rocky mountain corner, the friend of Anh Khoa caught some cuttlefish, fish out a full pot of sea urchin and sweet snail. Food for diner has been ready, everybody go swimming or playing football in the smooth white sand bank which is considered most beautiful on the island. The sea is peaceful due to the Binh Ba island blocks the entrance from the East, and the water is pure and limpid to witness the fish on the bottom. Two other singers dived in the depth of about two meters to see the actinia and coral, holothurians with different colors. All then come to boat to discover the coral range in Rang beach at the back of Hom beach. Debu, a friend from Nepal told that “This is the most desolated and beautiful that I’ve known.” In the evening, after the meal, people were invited to taste the fresh alive sea food: cuttlefish, fish, sea urchin with the wasabi and lemon. In the mood of tipsy with the heady bouquet of alcohol and the firelight, the real singers as well as the amateur one was singing passionately together with the sea wave. All created a peaceful sound. In sleeping time, some brought their children to the tent, some lied on the hammock or the canvas. Some followed the local one (Pham) to bury themselves in the sand to avoid wind from the sea and being lulled by the wave. Among the enormous sea and sky, people let them easy in mind with the daily stuffs, they thought they were Robinson in the middle of desolated island but we were with 20 other friends but not only “Friday”!

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Vietnam - Hypnotic Venture

Hanoi - The maze of limestone peaks sprouting almost ceaselessly out of the crystalline, emerald waters was breathtaking as our Asian junk boat sailed through Halong Bay.

Faded garments fluttered from a flotilla of rickety, wooden craft that dotted the choppy waters around the foot of the enigmatic mountains as we ventured deeper into the sea. Toddlers hung precariously to the edge of the “houses” while their parents unflappably went about their household chores. The “floating villages” danced rhythmically with the rise and fall of the churning waters. This was Halong Bay in Vietnam, which I had only known through those horror movies depicting American warplanes spitting lethal bombs and leaving behind a trail of untold destruction. The nostalgia of my early teens, when my siblings and I huddled before the big screen in our far-flung rural home, hit hard. Flashbacks of gory scenes of innocent civilians being maimed and killed. Torrents of images of women being wantonly raped flooded my mind. But this was not the time of day-dreaming and seeing phantoms. The real country lay in vast expanse before my naked eyes, in the labyrinth of mystic peaks partly dressed in tufts of shrubs. Temple pillars frame the Perfume River meandering lazily through the city of Hue city in central Vietnam. INDEPENDENT NEWSPAPERS I was careful not to be overly hypnotised by Halong Bay’s picturesque beauty, because I also wanted to discover the mystic splendour that lies in the caves below. Above the roofs of the caves are sand dunes or sea waves. Their walls are like giant curtains ceaselessly flapping in the wind. And then you have this god-like male figure perched atop the caves’ entrance as if enjoying a panoramic view of the bay with his menacing “Big Brother is watching” pose. The solitary man’s glance seemed fixed at the garbage floating in the water, which blighted the bay’s splendid view. Like the natives in the floating villages, the man may enjoy permanent residence in one of Unesco’s heritage sites, but we were temporary visitors, staying overnight in a luxury boat. With its en-suite cabins and an upper deck offering an enchanting view, the boat was the perfect way to enjoy the unique spectacle. Halong Bay was an ideal escape from the frenetic life of Vietnam’s capital city, Hanoi. Scarcely had we enjoyed the tranquillity of the city’s surrounding green landscape dotted with a network of dykes and villas – after touching down at the local airport – than we found ourselves enmeshed in its congested centre. Suddenly, the beauty of the Red River, aptly named because of its reddish-brown, murky waters, had given way to a muddled milieu of derelict, rectangular houses along the winding streets and narrow alleys. A few high-rise, brightly painted buildings were interspersed with the slum buildings, highlighting the co-existence of squalor and wealth. “Some 20 years ago, there weren’t houses like these. And there were only about 800 000 people, but the population has increased to six million,” said our guide, Cuong, referring to the influx to the city after the war ended. If township folks back home felt uneasy about those intricate webs of electric power lines hanging precariously in the informal settlements, I thought, Vietnam’s nest-like, jumbled mass of power lines criss-crossing the streets and narrow alleys were a serious blot. But even that was not as astounding as the mass of motorbikes swarming its streets. Here, turns at busy intersections are taken with scant regard for fellow road users. “Don’t look! Just go,” said Cuong, trying to assure us about the trick about crossing the road. After a few nervous stutters, I waddled across the street. Chuffed at making it to the other side, I stole a quick glance at my travel mates, wondering if they had taken notice of my achievement. Aware of our bewilderment with the traffic mayhem, Cuong added: “Hanoi has a population of about six million. There are about four million motorbikes.” We found some respite deeper in Hanoi’s Old Quarter as we embarked on a voyage on rickshaws, wagon-like bicycles that take you on a sightseeing tour through the streets bustling with markets. Each street has its own speciality, providing a convenient market. The most peculiar thing about Vietnam was seeing the many women covering their faces and arms with a doek. “The women here are certainly paranoid about the sun,” I thought to myself, as soon as Cuong explained the mystery. Hard as they try to stay beautiful, though, Vietnam’s younger generation are not as narcissistic as their elderly counterparts. We saw an elderly woman at the Dong Ba Market in the imperial city of Hue dying her teeth black. “It was an ancient belief about beauty, just as the current generation spend lot of money on cream and lotion and whitening their teeth,” said Cuong. For all their obsession with beauty, however, many Vietnamese women – especially those in middle age – seem to struggle to find suitors who may spare them the grim prospect of spinsterhood. Cuong reckons the long, drawn-out war could be a factor. “After joining the war, many of the girls couldn’t get married. They were too old to marry.” “So what is the [common] marriage age?” asked one of my travel mates, to which Cuong replied: “It all depends, but in the cities like Hanoi, the average age is 25 years. It’s between 18 and 20 in the countryside.” The youthful nuptial years have to do with the patriarchy among Vietnam’s minority groups in the countryside, especially along the border with China and Cambodia. “Today, we have utmost respect for women and they have lot of opportunities. [But] in the minority and countryside, arranged marriages still happen,” said Cuong. “A man still tries to be important even if he doesn’t have anything.” If Halong Bay offered an escape from Hanoi, in Central Vietnam lies Hue, which offers an idyllic connection with the country’s archaic culture and sovereign history. Vietnam’s capital between 1802 and 1945, the town was once the home of the Nguyen emperors. And if Hanoi boasts the Red River, Hue has the Perfume River to brag about – named for the abundance of flowers falling into the waters and imbuing the town with a perfume-like scent. It’s on the banks of this river that emperors lived their extravagant lives. A cruise on a dragon boat will lead you to the imposing fortress that is the citadel, lined with the lofty, seven-tier pagoda – one of each of the Buddha’s reincarnations – lined with palaces and gigantic royal tombstones. Our timing was perfect –we arrived just as the monks and the nuns were busy performing their sacred rites. Weighed down by the omnipresence of the emperors, I found Hoi An – also in central Vietnam – an idyllic escape for its tranquil ambience. Another of Vietnam’s Unesco listed sites, Hoi An has preserved its impressive ancient outlook despite the array of swanky office and residential buildings springing up along the South Asia Sea beach. Pagodas and museums are interspersed with eye-catching art stalls, tailors, opulent restaurants and markets. Shopping in Hoi An is laid-back, but the shopkeepers’ determined approach mingled with a touch of aggression can be upsetting to the sensitive tourist. Once you step inside, however, it’s the meticulous measurement by the tailors and how they knit your garments while you wait that is gratifying. To reach this town, however, you will have to negotiate the meandering route cutting through the mountain before you reach the Hai Van Pass (Pass of the Clouds), which gives a splendid view of the South Asia Sea and Hoi An’s scenic landscape. A strategic passage linking Hue and Da Nang, the third biggest city in Vietnam, the pass was the site of some of the fiercest fighting in the war. An old gun tower atop the pass is among the eerie reminders of the war. Business was not as frenetic in the Mekong Delta, which is abundant with exotic orchards and rice fields along the rivers, canals and lakes. For those missing the frenzy of Western boutique shopping, Ho Chi Minh city, otherwise known as Saigon, is the place to be. “This is the New York of Vietnam,” said Cuong as we approached the city centre. Less than an hour’s drive from the city centre in the countryside lie the Cu Chi tunnels – the most poignant reminder of the Vietnam war. Reluctantly, I crouched and crept into the narrow shaft like a rat into a burrow. Suddenly, I had disappeared into the abyss of a seemingly endless, intricate web of guerrilla fortifications from which the Vietnamese sprang lethal ambushes on the foe. “We are a country that is still coming from war. We have nothing. I suffered a lot, fighting in the jungle and the tunnels. It was awful,” Cuong said, as our bus headed for Hanoi city centre. Cuong, as he later explained, is a war veteran who was part of a Vietnamese regiment that fought the Americans using guerrilla tactics in the Cu Chi tunnels. Loud red flags with a giant yellow star at the centre fluttered from the high-rise buildings – the type of array so reminiscent of South Africa during the 2010 World Cup. “Politically speaking, we are a communist country, hence the Socialist Republic of Vietnam,” said Cuong amid the incongruity of the country being rebuilt the old-fashioned capitalist way. Imagine visiting a foreign country and having people stop to stare at you. That was the experience I had to contend with when I recently went on a tour of Vietnam. And being the only “darkie” among my travel mates made it look like I was this effigy fit to be paraded. “Hi, I really like your skin,” the women would say, waving their hands as I walked by. But being the pitch-black Afro that I am, it wasn’t as if the sharp glares from the Vietnamese people scrutinising my dark pigmentation weren’t expected. I have been too hard-bitten by the more spiteful prejudices back home to be troubled by the constant stares. It was the reality of a dream trip to Vietnam coming true that mattered. For while a skinny teenager, my siblings and I huddled before the big screen watching those horror movies of American warplanes scouring Vietnam’s thickly forested landscape and spitting lethal bombs. We’d gasp in unison as the planes left behind a trail of mass destruction and manslaughter. So when I got an offer to visit Vietnam, I thought I was hallucinating. My excursion began sumptuously when we were upgraded to business class. Flying business class on Qatar Airways – voted the Skytrax airline of the year for 2011 and 2012 – was the ultimate experience for the “boy from the village” heading to South East Asia. There was a two-hour stopover in Bangkok, Thailand, to connect with another flight after a transit via Doha in Qatar. But our passage through the airport security checkpoints went smoothly. We were processed quickly, thanks to our hosts, Qatar Airways, Flight Centre and On the Go Tours. They pre-arranged all the details, from visas to accommodation and entrance to the tourist sites, as for any normal tour. So all we had to do was let ourselves be swallowed up in the wonders of Vietnam. If You Go... Lebogang Seale travelled as a guest of Flight Centre and On the Go Tours, on the 10-day Very Vietnam tour which departs year-round and starts at R14 540 excluding flights. Price includes: airport arrival/departure transfers, seven nights in four-star hotels, one night deluxe junk boat, one overnight sleeper train, breakfast daily, four lunches and one dinner, all transportation and guided sightseeing with local Vietnamese tour guide. Qatar Airways serve Vietnam daily from Joburg with economy flights starting at R7 550 and business flights from R36 250 Special offer for Saturday Star readers: Flight Centre is offering 10 percent off Very Vietnam for all tours departing before next October, booked by November 30.

Come to My Tho for tasting Hu Tieu

Hu Tieu (My Tho noodle soup) is a traditional dish, so specific to Southern Vietnam. As a Chinese long-aged dish, this food was reciped to taste My Tho delta people to become well-known nationwide.

Back in the 1960s, a shop in My Tho, 70 km from Ho Chi Minh City started serving this dish. Ever since then, its reputation has grown to become a very well known meal in Vietnam. It is said that the most delicious noodle soup is made with Co Cat rice, from the most famous rice growing area of My Phong village, a suburb of My Tho City.

My Tho seafood noodle soup is different from Chinese noodle soup, Nam Vang soup, as well as Hue beef noodle soup. The intersting thing is its secret recipe. In stead of herbs and lettuce, you will be tried the flavour of soy bean, lemon, chili, and soy sauce.

How does it taste?

The sweet aroma of the broth comes from the meat, dried squid, and special condiments. Not less important is the broth to cook from shinbone, pork, squids, additives and seasonings to taste subject to family secret as revealed by Chef Ba Chau to a well-selling shop in Trung Trac Street, My Tho City.

Taken as a national dish and something to recollect the delta land of My Tho, this noodle soup reciped in the Southern cuisine is second to none in meeting with various appetites of both oriental and western diners.

Can you find a bowl of Hu Tieu in Ha Noi?

You are in Hanoi, and wondering if such a My Tho’s specialty appears in Hanoi or not. Of course, My Tho noodle soup comes up quite often in many streets of Hanoi. It is better to ask your hotel receptionist to recommend a place nearby or you can refer to the following reliable address:Arab Kebab, 9B Thai Van Lung Street, Ha Noi.

Cheo Opera - A Form of popular theatre in Vietnam

Cheo opera is an integral part of Vietnamese theater and is well-enjoyed by people in both country and town, and by foreign spectators as well.

Cheo which has its roots in ancient village festivals is a form of popular theatre in Vietnam. It consists of folk songs with pantomime, instrumental music and dances, combined with instructive or interpretive sketches dealing with stories from legends, poetry, history or even daily life. Also brought into play are acrobatic scenes and magic. Cheo tells tales of chiefs, heroes and lovely maidens and offers an eclectic mix of romance, tragedy and comedy. Traditionally Cheo was composed orally by anonymous authors. Today's playwrights compose Cheo operas along traditional lines: the characters in the plays sing time-tested popular melodies with words suited to modern circumstances. The costumes, makeup, gestures and language create typical characters familiar to every member of the audience. The props are simple. As a result, there is a close interchange between the performers and the spectators. A Cheo play could be put on stage in a large theater, but it could also be performed successfully on one or two bed mats spread in the middle of a communal house with a cast of only three: a hero, a heroine and a clown. The sound of the Cheo drum has a magical power and upon hearing it, villagers cannot resist coming to see the play. The clown in a Cheo play seems to be a supporting role, but actually he or she is very important to the performance. The clowns present a comic portrayal of social life, with ridiculous, satirical words and gestures, they reduce the audience to tears of laughter. The national Cheo repertoire includes among others Truong Vien, Kim Nhan, Luu Binh - Duong Le, and Quan Am Thi Kinh, which are considered treasures of the traditional stage. Cheo opera is an integral part of Vietnamese theater and is well-enjoyed by people in both country and town, and by foreign spectators as well. It is particularly relished by foreign tourists who travel to Vietnam and overseas Vietnamese on a tour to Vietnam - their country of origin.

Fan Makers in Vietnam

Fans are made from paper, silk, and wood, they are a cultural feature only found in Asia.

The fans embodied the grace and reserved character of women, as well as the elegance and strength of men. They are also means of showing love between couples and have played a key role in poetry, songs, plays and Vietnamese daily life for thousands of years. Moreover, these decorative products are now exported to Japan, Great Britain and France. Trang Son Village in Thach That district, Ha Tay province (30 kilometers from Hanoi to the North West), specializes in making some of the most famous fans for nearly one thousand years. When using Trang Son Village's fans tourists are offered a unique chance to know Vietnam culture travel, simple but profound. The craftsmen of the went to Hanoi in the 18th century to create the famous Hang Quat street (fan makers and sellers) which sadly does not exist anymore where these fans are made, nowadays.

Quy Chau - Nghe An Lures

Quỳ Châu district is 160km far from Vinh city on the Northwest. It is a valley located in the old mainland with volcano actions and popular with various caves. Recently, the important archaeological discoveries have shown a number of diverse relics. With values of landscape, archaeology, in 1996 Ministry of Culture – Information (formerly) decided to recognize Bua cave as a national relic. 

In front of Thẳm Bua there is a large valley where local festivals are often held. It is next to Chiêng Ngam valley – a residential area of Thái people with busy and happy villages. This is a crossing of three rivers: Quàng river, Việc river and Hạt river. The stalactites from time upheavals create vivid shapes: the old man with cyst in the shoulder, a giant hammer, etc. Inside the cave, there is a smooth flagstone named "Chong Nang", meaning lady’s bed, connected with the legend of love between Mr. Khủn Tinh and Ms. Ni and it is the yeast to lure polite boys and nice girls to visit the cave. The terraced fields also appear in the cave thus making visitors feel in their dreams. Just only one drop of water falling into the ground can break through the quite space in the cave. In the cave, some area is large in hundreds of square meters, with capacity for hundreds of visitors. This is also a place for people in Châu Tiến to organize different cultural activities, namely: drinking rượu cần, gong festival and Lăm Vông dancing. Also in Châu Tiến commune, far from Bua cave by some 4km on the West, visitor will see Hoa Tiến traditional brocade village. With natural area of 317 hectares, the villages therein are located in form of chessboard. Once arrival, visitors shall have an opportunity to listen to hát xuôi (a type of singing), nhảy sạp (a type of dancing) and see the sophisticated brocades made by skillful hands of people in Hoa Tiến village. At present, this product is sold in the big cities nationwide and in Laos.   To end the journey to Quỳ Châu, visitors should travel toward Hiếu river, visiting Đũa waterfall. On the boat to reach Đũa waterfall, seeing the water running to the field, you will feel the lyricalness and endlessness of the landscape herein. Đũa waterfall is the biggest one in Hiếu river, Quỳ Châu district. From distance of 200m, visitors can hear the noise from the waterfall as greeting. After choosing a site for relaxing, Thái girls will serve their traditional dishes in the waterfall. They are cơm lam and canh lam cooked in the young bamboo, pork with grapefruit leaves and other wild vegetables.

When Hermes Still Smiles in Vietnam

It should be clarified right in the beginning of this piece that the Hermes I’m going to talk about here is not one of the 12 Olympian gods in Greek mythology, the one who is believed to have invented the lyre.

The Hermes I’m discussing is the Paris-based, high-fashion luxury-goods manufacturer who earlier this year was announced by the World Luxury Association as the world’s most luxurious brand, followed by Louis Vuitton, Chanel, Christian Dior, and Versace. Four years ago, the 170-year-old brand name first arrived in Vietnam with a boutique in Hanoi, and over the past week, the second arrival was marked with a new boutique in Ho Chi Minh City. Hermes chairman Patrick Thomas also arrived in the country to attend this special event. As this is the first time a top Hermes official visited the country, his presence is seen as an appreciation that Vietnam is a potential market. At first I felt little interest in the fact that a top fashion boss had come to Vietnam, but soon startled recalling a story about Hermes bags a local top model recently told me. The model said the Hanoi Hermes boutique had imported ten sets of the latest fashion bags, each of which contained four bags with different colors. Each set fetched US$140,000, or VND2.9 billion, and customers are only allowed to buy all four of them. I was shocked at the ten-figure price in Vietnam, and told her that those bags must be only for display, as who could afford such exorbitant rates? But the model just smiled and, well, shocked me the second time in minutes. “The bags were immediately sold out. Some customers also complained that the boutique manager hadn’t reserved the products for them,” she said. The model said Hermes never manufactures at large quantities, and ten sets of bags for Vietnam was a big favor to this market. Steady growth vs. gloomy economy Ten sets of bags, worth $1.4 million, or VND29 billion, were sold out in seconds! Doesn’t it sound like a joke? But it is a reliable fact, as it was the Hermes chairman who told local media that the firm has enjoyed steady annual growth of 20 to 30 percent during its four years in Vietnam. I then asked the model who the real customers of those luxuries were, and she asserted that the bags are even beyond the reach of models. “We just went to the boutique for window-shopping. Even the business tycoons dating models don’t dare to give them Hermes bags,” she said. So who bought the bags? “The ladies, and young ladies,” she answered. Dozens of thousands of local businesses have vanished from the national economy, and a huge number of realty moguls are depressed by the frozen market. Small manufacturers are struggling to survive from the exorbitant bank loan interest rates. The Ministry of Finance has even expressed concern that the state budget will not be able to increase the basic wages of civil workers, who are already suffering soaring prices. But the Hermes boss still wore a broad smile when announcing the inauguration of the second boutique in Vietnam, which he said is among the very few worldwide boutiques that sell all 16 product divisions of the company. “It’ll be very interesting to find out who really buy the Hermes bags, belts, and watches worth seven to eight-figures in Vietnam dong amid these hard economic times,” many local reporters who attended the inauguration ceremony of Hermes in HCMC told me.

Ecstatic with Dai Loc Girdle - Cake

Girdle-cake is not only thin, flexible but also aromatic and attractive anyone enjoying.

Coming to Quang Nam, when mentioning girdle-cake, everyone adverts Dai Loc girdle-cake.  These big round and smooth white girdle-cakes are made from rice creating an unique flavor and always attractive anyone who enjoys. Coming to Quang Nam, when mentioning to girdle-cake, everyone advert Dai Loc girdle-cake.  These big round and smooth white girdle-cakes are made from rice and create a unique flavor, and attractive anyone who enjoys. Dai Loc district is located in the northern of Quang Nam province. Almost people's lives are here associated with agriculture. In addition to sericulture, weaving, knitting…the profession of making girdle-cake in Dai Loc also had a long-standing brand in the market. If having chances to go through Quang Nam land, you should visit some famous villages for making this cake, and have the opportunity to witness the diligence, skill of the famers when making delicious ones and providing them inside and outside the province. In addition to the sweet girdle-cake, sesame girdle-cake, coconut girdle-cake….here mainly makes stuffed pancake.  Girdle-cake Dai Loc has a unique flavor in comparison with popular ones in Quang land, particularly indispensable in the trays of the Tet holiday or other feasts… When being away from the home, whenever wanting to enjoy girdle-cake,  Quang Nam people must find and buy a few from the market immediately. Also having vegetables, seasoning sauce, pork, but everything seems less delicious because it is lack of the fragrant smell of new rice and crispness. To have delicious ones, it requires maker to be skilled in the preparation of ingredients as well as manipulate to coat cake on the stove. After washing rice, you must soak it thoroughly and constantly in two days, then decorticate finely. Mixing flour is also very important. You have to mix it carefully to be smooth, and just enough water so that the flour mixture is not too liquid or too solid, affecting to the quality of cakes.

Ancient Cham towers in Binh Dinh

According to domestic and foreign researchers, in terms of architecture, the Cham towers in Binh Dinh are the largest in Southeast Asia, mainly centered in Quy Nhon City and three districts of Tuy Phuoc, An Nhon and Tay Son in the area of Do Ban Citadel, the last kingdom of the ancient Champa Kingdom.

Despite the impacts of time, the mysterious Cham towers that are one thousand years old have remained in the windy and sunny land of Binh Dinh in the Central region as vivid evidence of the flourishing period of the ancient Champa Kingdom in the 10th-15th centuries. The ancient Champa Kingdom was founded in the early Christian era and flourished in the 10th -15th centuries. Binh Dinh is known as its central location with a complex of 14 ancient towers remaining. In Hinduism, a Cham tower is a typical architectural style of the Ba La Mon religion with a peak, which is the symbol of the legendary Meru Mountain where genies live. During their period of ruling the country, the ancient Champa dynasties ordered many temples and shrines built, especially the Cham towers in Binh Dinh that were built from the 11th century to 15th century. It is an architectural style imbued with cultural features of the Champa people and influenced by Hindu architectural art. The traditional Cham towers were built in the shape of a square with many floors. Each tower consists of two main parts: the square body and the tower peak with a curved surface. The corners of the towers were decorated with the statues of Garuda bird genies raising their hands to prop up the roofs. The architectural construction looks imposing with simple decorative patterns and the arch has the shape of a spearhead peak. These towers were the harmonious combination between the architectural art of the Champa and Khmer so they look different from the complexes of Cham towers built in the previous and following periods. Located in a romantic setting in the central city of Quy Nhon, the complex of Hung Thach twin towers was built in the 12th century, including the North Tower, 16m high, and the smaller South Tower. The towers have the most typical style of the ancient Champa architecture using the technique of polishing and grafting stone blocks in a firm position. The tops of the towers were decorated with reliefs carved with bird and animal genies according to the religious beliefs of the Cham people. In Dai Loc Village, Phuoc Hiep Commune, Tuy Phuoc District, 10km from Quy Nhon to the north, there is a complex of Banh. It towers, also known as Bac, that were built during the 11th-12th centuries. The complex consists of four towers, about 2m high, located on a high hill in the peaceful countryside, full of sunlight and wind all year round. In the east about 15km away, is Binh Lam Tower in Long Mai Hamlet, Phuoc Hoa Commune, Tuy Phuoc District. The tower is 20m high and divided into three floors. It is one of the towers first built in Binh Dinh, at the end of the 10th century and in the early 11th century.   In An Nhon District, there is Canh Tien Tower, also called Dong Tower, located on a mound in Nam An Village, Nhon Hau Commune. The Tower was built in the 12th century with delicate and sophisticated patterns. The most imposing and grandiose is the area of Duong Long Towers or Nga Towers, built in the 12th – 13th centuries on the land of two villages: Van Tuong in Binh Hoa Commune and An Chanh in Tay Binh Commune, Tay Son District. The complex of these towers looks beautiful and magnificent among the remaining Cham towers in the Central region. The middle tower is 40m high while the two others are 38m. The bodies of the towers were built with bricks and the corners were grafted from large stone blocks which were skillfully carved. The upper half of the towers are large stone blocks heaped up together that were carved with Garuda bird genies, bats and eagles. The walls were decorated with leaves and images of singing and dancing performances. At present, the Cham towers in Binh Dinh, except Hon Chuong Tower in Ba Mountain, Phu Cat District, are well preserved. The archeological excavation at these towers, with its many new discoveries about the date, structure and materials, help open the mysterious curtain of the system of the Cham towers in Binh Dinh. Many researchers supposed that most of the adhesive used to build the Cham towers in Binh Dinh is a complicated substance, including the main ingredient which is a resin of a variety of tree growing mainly in the Central region. The resin is very sticky, durable and water-resistant. For over thousands of years, the Cham towers in Binh Dinh have existed sustainably and contain many cultural and artistic values. For this reason, the local authorities have a plan to build up a file to submit to UNESCO to recognize the Cham Towers in Binh Dinh as a world’s cultural heritage site.

Bun Dau Mam Tom: It's worth a try

When talking about the street food culture of Vietnam, we can’t forget to mention “bún đậu mắm tôm” – noodles with tofu and shrimp paste.

Vietnamese dishes seek Asian Records Shrimp paste or “mắm tôm” is popular in many parts of Asia including Vietnam.As a matter of fact, “mắm tôm” or shrimp paste has long been in the list of “worst smelling foods in the world”. I know what some of you may react to this: “Ewww”, but come on. One of the reasons why you travel is to see (hear, smell, touch, taste, feel) the world in all its diversity, isn’t it? So why not give “mắm tôm” a chance? Besides, to you,” mắm tôm” may smell like a rotten animal, but to many local people, it is an aroma that makes their mouth water only thinking about it. After two or three times, trust me, you may feel pity for those who refuse to try this seemingly gross local food. Basically, “mắm tôm” is made from shrimps and salt. The typical aroma comes from an enzyme which is available in the intestine of shrimps. Actually, “mắm tôm” smells exactly like the smell of the mustard-colored stuff in shrimp heads. The fermentation may take from six months to one year before mắm tôm can be served, normally with “nộm” sweet and sour grated “rau muống” water morning glory, “cà pháo” egg-plants, “thịt chó” dog meat and of course, “bún đậu mắm tôm”. You can surely guess, “bún đậu mắm tôm” includes noodles “bún”, tofu “đậu”, shrimp paste “mắm tôm” and, last but not least, odoriferous herbs “rau thơm”, which is optional but they will make the difference. “Rau thơm” can be basil “rau húng” or cockscomb mint “kinh giới”. It is not difficult to find a street vendor that offers you this yummy dish. You will notice that the vendors do something to the shrimp paste before giving it to you: (s)he will add a few drops of a fresh lemon or satsuma “quả quất” and then some boiling oil from the same pan they are using to fry tofu. You will have to mix the whole thing well until the bowl is full of soft tiny white bubbles, which is how they make the smell less strong . Dip a piece of tofu, some noddles and a basil leaf into the sauce and eat them all together, you will feel heaven (my mouth is watering!). However, it shouldn’t be a big deal if you don’t like it first time. Remember when I had my first bite of durian, I almost threw up. Guess what, now I’m deeply in love with this fruit. A dish of “bún đậu mắm tôm” in the street should cost from 20,000 VND (US$1), quite cheap, which is one of the reason why I love street foods. Of course, the vendors will always give you two options: “mắm tôm” or fish sauce “nước mắm”. But, you know, there must be some reason why peole call it “bún đậu mắm tôm” and never “bún đậu nước mắm”. Last thing, you may want to prepare some pieces of chewing-gum to have after eating this very special food. I do hope after reading this, instead of referring to “bún đậu mắm tôm” as “one of the weirdest foods”, you may want to recommend it to your friends as a special feature of Asian cuisine. http://vn-minmax.blogspot.com/

Pu Luong Natural Reserve in Thanh Hoa

Located in the two districts of Quan Hoa and Ba Thuoc in the northwestern area of Thanh Hoa Province, Pu Luong Natural Reserve has preserved a primitive landscape and plentiful and diversified flora and fauna. With the above natural values, it has now become a fascinating destination for those who love to discover the beauty of nature.

Pu Luong Natural Reserve, covering an area of 17,662ha, is the largest low area of limestone mountain forests left in the north of Vietnam with three major forest types: thick forests on low land and low mountains; forests on limestone mountains and floristic compositions of bamboos, Neohouzeaua and bushes. According to the statistics of Pu Luong Nature Reserve’s Management Board, the reserve has 1,109 species of vascular plants, under 447 branches and 152 families. There are 42 special-use varieties of plants of Vietnam and four species listed in the World’s Red Book. Pu Luong is also the habitat of nearly 600 species of animals, birds and reptiles with 51 precious and special-use species listed in the red books of Vietnam and the world, including 26 species of animals, 5 species of bat, 9 species of birds, 5 species of fresh water fish and 6 species of reptiles. Furthermore, it is the place where there is the second largest population of Vooc mong trang (Trachypithecus delacouri) in Vietnam with 31-38 individuals, after Van Long Nature Reserve inNinh Binh Province. Running through Pu Luong Nature Reserve is Road 15C so visitors can arrive in the reserve from two directions, one from Lac Village in Mai Chau, Hoa Binh to Highway 47 and then Road 15C at Co Luong crossroad or from the Ho Chi Minh Trail and turning right at Cam Thuy Town, Thanh Hoa Province to arrive in Road 15C at Canh Nang Town. In Pu luong, tourists have different choices for their tours, such as discovering the beauty of the natural landscape, ecological forests with plentiful fauna and flora or learning the simple and interesting customs and habits of the Thai and Muong people.                  For those who like adventure, a tour to climb to Pu Luong peak, the highest mountain in the area with an altitude of 1700m, promises to bring tourists an unforgettable experience. The tiredness and hardships of the 5 hour tour are replaced by joy when contemplating the grandiose beauty of Pu Luong Valley at the mountain peak. Visiting Pu Luong by driving on Road 15C, tourists have a chance to mingle with nature, pass through villages located on the mountain side and see beautiful terraced fields and green primitive forests. During their trip, tourists can see immense terraced fields and learn the traditional farming methods of the ethnic people or discover mysterious caves in Hang and Kho Muong Hamlets. One of the destinations that tourists should not miss is Hieu Hamlet. Following a path, not far from Pho Doan Town, tourists can see many water wheels, a typical tool of the Thai people. After crossing over a suspension bridge and climbing a slope, tourists finally arrive in the place where two waterfalls rush noisily. From afar, tourists can hear the rumbling sound of these waterfalls. Here, small branches of a stream run around the hamlet, through houses-on-stilts at the foot of staircases, to paddy fields and then merge into two grandiose waterfalls. After a day discovering Pu Luong, tourists can stay in airy and spacious houses-on-stilts of the local ethnic people. It is a form of eco-community tours that has strongly developed in the locality. The tours are held by the local people based on nature and culture with the aim of improving the living standards and protecting the environment. Sitting near the fire, both the host and the tourists can enjoy delicious dishes, such as Com lam (sticky rice cooked on bamboo tubes) and a salad of banana inflorescence. They can drink Can wine and enjoy traditional dances and songs of the ethnic people. Arriving in Pu Luong Nature Reserve where there are immense green forests and green terraced fields, tourists seem to be lost in a valley, completely separated from the outside world, with many mysteries expecting to be discovered. For this reason, it becomes an ideal destination for both domestic and foreign tourists. http://vn-minmax.blogspot.com/

Dai Lai Lake - An Ideal Tourist Rendezvous

Dai Lai Lake (Vinh Phuc) is about 50km away from the center of Hanoi. This has become an ideal attraction for a long times with the blue vast lake and the majestic Tam Dao mountain range in the distance…

Poetic Dai Lai Lake seen from Flamingo beach Dai Lai Lake is a large artificial lake. Formerly, the lake is a fertile valley lying between a mountain range Lizard, one side of the hills gradually spread out from the foot of Tam Dao range. Rainy season, water streams flow into the cascading, and withdrew very quickly, swept away the fertile silt, making the field eroded, because soils dry. Majestic Tam Dao range Located at the northern gateway, Dai Lai Lake lies at the convenient regional and inter-regional traffic. International travelers and others from remote provinces can come here by road and by air through the Noi Bai International Airport located at Dai Lai Lake less than 10km. From this way, it is easy to move by various means to get to Dai Lai Lake and explore other destinations in the region. Also with the tourists living in Hanoi, movement is more convenient, just one hour, visitors are able to come Dai Lai Lake to enjoy a completely different atmosphere. Besides, visitors can take part in a lot of tours to visit the tourist attractions in the region. Peaceful Thien Vien Truc Lam Tay Thien Coming to Dai Lai Lake, visitors will have many attractive choices. For those who are interested in ecotourism and wanting to find a quiet place, you can choose Dai Lai-Thien Vien Truc Lam Tay Thien tours. Here, visitors can will enjoy the outstanding scenery of the mountains and live in a quiet scenery of the Buddha. For others who would like to explore the nature, you can select Dai Lai-Tam Dao tours to get to romantic Tam Dao land-the place of “Da Lat in the North”. After the journey of discovery, visitors wanting to look for your holidays with unforgettable experiences can choose Flamingo Dai Lai Resort which has the perfect utility services with an ideal space for relaxation. Tam Dao mountain is dim in the haze Spread over an area of 123 hectares, surrounded by primeval forests and over 500 hectares of lake water surface, Flamingo Dai Lai Resort in recent years has really become an attractive destination for many domestic and international tourists. Here, with the luxury resort Villa, the restaurant, bar designed with the style of modern architecture, harmony with nature and the variety of entertainment services is an interesting rendezvous for guests when stopping over Having been blessed with poetic landscape of mountains, blue water in four seasons, Flamingo Dai Lai Resort put into operation Flamingo Beach Club with lot of water sport activities. In November, 2011, Flamingo Yacht Club is well established with many types of unique and new boats bringing strange experiences for travelers such as : canno, Sailing, Kayak, Whitehall, surfing…. The most unique boats in Vietnam Luxury villa in Flamingo Dai Lai Resort After many hard working days, guests come to Dai Lai to refresh the soul and relax in the quiet place.