DON CA TAI TU HERITAGE GIVEN MORE PUBLICITY

The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism has given permission to a series of activities aiming at popularising the Don ca tai tu (southern amateur singing) heritage.

Accordingly, 800 sets of 60-minute DVD entitled “The Art of Don ca tai tu music and songs of southern Vietnam” in Vietnamese and English version will be completed within this month. In addition, a CD will be released to introduce the performance of popular artists of Don ca tai tu clubs and groups from southern cities and provinces.Leaflets and books on Don ca tai tu’s history, culture and music will also be published in Vietnamese, English and French to help educating the public about this unique traditional music genre. Don ca tai tu has been recognised as part of the national intangible cultural heritage. Vietnam has also applied to the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) for recognition of the music as an intangible cultural heritage of humankind

“SUPER MOON” DUE THIS WEEKEND

Vietnamese people will have the opportunity to admire the super moon phenomenon this weekend, when the moon is closest to the Earth in the year. 

Dang Tuan Duy from the Ho Chi Minh City Club of Amateur Astronomers (HAAC) said the full moon will take place at 18h34 (Hanoi time) on June 23. The full moon coincides with the time it moves to the perigee to the Earth, at a distance of 356,989 km, so the observers will see the moon bigger than normal. Experts said that this will be the best and the brightest full moon of 2013 and this will only repeat in August 2014. When the super moon takes place, the moon looks bright and larger than normal, especially when it grows in the eastern horizon after sunset, or the atmospheric conditions are favourable for observation. The moon will be about 12-14 percent larger at perigee position and up to 30 percent brighter than normal full moon, said Duy. It is said that the event that the full moon coincides with perigee position will affect climate patterns on the Earth. However, many scientists deny this. Scientists said the super moon will not cause any geological event, it will only make some differences for the up and down of the tide. If it resonates with certain weather conditions, then maybe it will cause some problems in the coastal areas.

Tay Thien natural scenic- the mysterious and sacred beauty

About 80km from Hanoi city to the northwest in Tam Dao National Park, Tay Thien is a historical relic-the unique culture among the majestic mountains in Dai Dinh commune, Tam Dao district, Vinh Phuc province

Tay Thien has become a famous scenic landscape which is well known as a relic architectural complex, also as a paradise with wonderful sight and charming natural scenery, attracting many tourists coming to relax and enjoy. Moreover, Tay Thien is also the research place for ethnologists, culture researchers, and tropical forest researchers…

Certainly, it makes no surprise that visitors will fell immerse with majestic nature when coming here.  Tay Thien has great appeal for tourists and researchers when Tay Thien  Tay Thien forest trees have lived for a thousand years old. The fauna of Tay Thien is quite rich, with 4 classes, 26 sets, 86 families and 281 species, including the rare animals such as turtles golden pheasant, white pheasants, langur nosed monkeys, Tam Dao fish  ... toad diversity with biological systems temples and valuable archaeological culture that Tay  Thien is in the right West direction of the old Nam Viet capital city in which worships the Mother of the country Lang Thi Tieu of Hung King period.

As you know, Tay Thien is in the right West of the old Nam Viet Capital city. According to the legend, Lang Thi Tieu brought 3,000 troops to 3-way crossroad to fight with the invaders to rescue the capital city of Van Lang.. After the victory, she refused to receive titles, perquisite from the court and returned to the marvelous mountain, which is Tay Thien nowadays. When she died, people were honoring her as the Mother of the country - Tay Thien and established many temples. Currently Tay Thien scenic spots also include Tay Thien temple and Tay Thien pagoda.

Tay Thien spot is harmonious combination between nature and creativeness of human being. Silver waterfall pours down like silver pours, together with the wonderful scenery of Lotus pond and Pineapple pond. To the mountain side is the Tay Thien pagoda with blue bamboo and plum tree. There are so many stones in strange shapes along the way from the left of Giai Oan slot up to Sen Pond. ..

Perhaps, thank to the link between the nature and the belief that is easy for visitors to feel comfortable and peaceful in their soul when coming to Tay Thien. Sitting in the cabin of cable car, visitors will have the chance to enjoy Silver waterfall pouring down the mountain foot and record every moment  of the sunshine being slowly down from a height of 200 meters of along the cable route to explore the strange plants and majestic nature.

Resorts suffer as beach disappears

Hoi An's lucrative tourism sector is facing major fears about the impact of erosion along the ancient town's famous coastline, with dozens of resorts in danger of disappearing underwater in the future.

Part of Cua Dai Beach in the central city Da Nang. In the last couple of decades,
rising sea levels and changes to the river flow in the Thu Bon River estuary have
resulted in a 20ha area of Cua Dai beach eroding away. — Photo www.otofun.net

In the last couple of decades, rising sea levels and changes to the river flow in the Thu Bon River estuary have resulted in a 20-ha area of Cua Dai beach eroding away, the head of the city's natural resources and environment office Nguyen Van Hien has claimed.

"It's the worst situation of its kind that I've ever seen. The beach is dramatically disappearing. It stretched out 200m just 10 years ago, but now it has narrowed to 40m. The rest is underwater now," he said.

"The erosion has even approached a main section of the 1.5km road connecting the beach with Hoi An. We can often see waves crashing heavily against it," he added.

The road in question has already had to be extensively repaired once following damage sustained during a storm two years ago.

Hien blamed the erosion on the booming construction of resorts on the beach and the lack of proper environmental assessments before dredging occurred in the estuary.

"The building of resorts near the sea has changed the flow and currents and taken away sand from the beach every year. This, in combination with rising sea levels, has deepened the erosion taking place on the beach."

Pham Hong Trang, a staff member at the Victoria Hoi An Beach Resort and Spa, said the resort's beach is now no wider than 10m during the summer.

"The resort was launched in 2000 with a beach that stretched out for 40m, but it is much smaller now. During summer, the view is mostly just waves crashing against the resort's dyke," Trang said.

Similar accounts have been reported at the Sunrise, Golden Sand and Palm Garden resorts along Cua Dai beach.

The rising sea level has eroded 10,000sq.m of the Hoi An sea eco-tour company's 30,000sq.m property and it is now having to invest heavily in order to save what is left.

The city has responded by launching a construction project for a 1.5km embankment at a cost of VND115 billion (US$5.5 million). The dyke will help protect the most heavily damaged section of the road from erosion.

"The embankment is one of the city's seven projects in the fight against climate change. We will also dredge rivers and upgrade roads," said Hoi An City's People's Committee Deputy Chairman Nguyen Van Dung.

The city will also invest VND7.5 billion ($357,000) to replant 140ha of Nipa palm along the Thu Bon river. It is hoped that this ecological forest will protect the city from sea erosion and ease the flow of the river as well as reducing sand drift on the beach.

The majority of forest land in the area was destroyed in recent years to make way for aquaculture farms. Many of these have now been revoked so that the replanting can commence.

Cua Dai beach is 5km from Hoi An's old quarter. It is a favourite location for tourists visiting the UNESCO-recognised city.

Banana sweet gruel recipe

Today I will show you a delicious dish that is easy to make! I am sure that you will feel happy!

Ingredient:

- 2 pineable leaf

- 2 liters water diluted with 25gr of coconut milk

 - 250gr coconut- Vani-1kg of manioc

- 1kg of sweet potatoes

-250gr of Palm sugar- Bananas

- jaggery fruit

- salt

How to make?

Step1: - Boiling water along with coconut milk, cooking under medium heat - Then, add pineapple leaf and a little vani cooking together Step 2: - with sweet potatoes, you need to peel and cut it into 1.5-inch cubes (3-4cm)., then cook with the mixture of coconut milk and palm sugar Step 3:- Steam mamnioc well ans cut it into 1.5-inch cubes (3-4cm) Step 4: - Add sliced bananas to cook with the mixture Step 5:- Then add mamnioc and cook under low heat Step 6: - Add coconut milk and gently stir the mixture  Step 7: - Finally, add the jaggery fruits and turn off the heat and transfer to serving bowl

You can enjoy when it is hot or not, it is great!

You can add a little pomegranate jelly, sesame to enjoy together

A perfect summer in Quang Ninh

Mentioning Quang Ninh, everybody often think about Ha Long Bay with thousands of limestone karsts and isles in various sizes and shapes, and stunning caves, etc.

Ha Long Bay

Ha Long Bay has an area of 1,553 square kilometers, including 1,969 isles, most of which are limestone. The world heritage site recognized by UNESCO has an area of 434 square kilometers, including 788 isles with a special value on culture, aesthetics, geology, biology, and economy.

On the bay, there are many isles, caves, beaches and beautiful landscapes, which is a great advantage to develop attractive forms of tourism. The most attractive caves are Thien Cung, Dau Go, Sung Sot, Trinh Nu, Tam Cung, etc.

Bai Chay

Bai Chay is a large and beautiful beach being adjacent to Ha Long Bay. Its sand is more than 500 meters in length and 100 meters in width. In the early morning or late afternoon, thousands of people come here to swim, which make the beach animated.

There are many legends associated with the name Bai Chay. According to an ancient legend, when the fleet carrying food for the Yuan-Mongolian invaders led by Truong Van Ho came Vietnam, they was defeated by the Vietnamese troops and local people under the leadership of Tran Khanh Du. Many enemy boats were burned and the northeast wind blew the fire to the west coast of Cua Luc then burned dry forests there. The area is called Bai Chay today.

Yen Tu Mountain

Yen Tu Mountain is a high mountain in Dong Trieu range in the northern Vietnam. The moutain belongs to Thuong Yen Cong commune, Uong Bi city, Quang Ninh province. Being dubbed “ancestral land of Vietnam Buddhism”, Yen Tu moutain preserves many historic monuments.

The top of the mountain is often covered with clouds so formerly, it was called Bach Van mountain (“white cloud” mountain). The total length of the road to the top of Mountain is about 6,000 meters. Therefore, you will have to spend 6 hours walking continuously through thousands of stone steps.

Nowadays, the way to Yen Tu is not as hard as it was thanks to the cable car system 1 completed in 2002 and th cable car system 2 put into operation in 2008.

Yen Tu has become the center of Buddhism since King Tran Nhan Tong gave up the throne to started leading a religious life and established Truc Lam Yen Tu Zen. King Tran Nhan Tong has become the first progenitor with the religious name Dieu Ngu Giac Hoang Tran Nhan Tong (1258-1308).

He ordered building hundreds of constructions on Yen Tu Mountain for leading a religious life, and preaching. After his death, Phap Loa Dong Kien Cuong (1284 - 1330) was the second progenitor of Truc Lam Zen.

During 19 years of religious life, Tran Nhan Tong compiled a set of book "Thach that ngon ngu" and ordered the building of 800 pagodas, shrines and towers with thousands of valuable statues.

Tuan Chau island

Tuan Chau island is located in the southwest of Ha Long City. Tuan Chau Island is the only schist island of 1,969 islands located in the connection of the world natural heritage. The island has an area of approximately 400 hectares, endowded with stunning natural landscapes.

It's featured with 2-square kilometer green pine forest, white sand beach stretching 6 kilometers. These all features make Tuan Chau Island an ideal place for visiting and relaxing.

Besides the attractive and mysterious beauty of natural landscapes, Tuan Chua is also anarchaeological site of Halong Cultures in late-Neolithic period with a lot of stone tools found such as ware table, stone axes, piece of pottery.

Before 1997,  Tuan Chau was a poor island with an area of 250 hectares, belonging to Ha Long city. The local people on the island mainly earn their living by fishing with rudimental instrumments. There were no electricity, no water, no market on the island.

Especially the traffic was separated from the mainland, making their material and spiritual culture of the local peoples on this island had even more difficulties.

Since 1998, the local people’s lives on Tuan Chau island began to improve when Au Lac Company invested to build a road with the length of 2,145 meters and the width of 15 meters connecting the island with the National Highway 18A, opened a leisure center with many famous constructions. Since then, the name of Dao Tuan Chau Island has been known and became the place to oganize the important national and international events.

Tourists can play on famous Tra Co beach sloping gently to the sea with smooth white sand. In addition, they can take part in a lot of funny activities and water sports such as beach volleyball, windsurfing, boating, skiing motor, etc.

Especially, tourists will have a chance to enjoy delicious dishes in Vietnam cuisine garden. The garden was built in unique style, imitating the traditional Vietnamese imperial palace architecture in 17th and 18th century.

Co To island

Co To island attracts tourists by pristine beaches with white sand and blue water. There are large Co To island and small Co To island, Thanh Lam island, Tran island and a lot of other isles here. Besides swimming, tourists can visit natural forest, lighthouse, pier, fishing villages, and natural rock, etc.

Cua Van fishing village

Cua Van fishing village lies in a calm sea, surrounded by mountains.Located in the heart of Ha Long Bay, Cua Van fishing village has been a tourist attraction for domestic and foreign tourists.

Coming to the village, touists have a chance to contemplate immersed in a tranquil space and contemplate charming beauty of nature, as well as learn about cultural life of fishmen.

Cua Van fishing village has an origin from two old fishing villages which are Giang Vo and Truc Vong. The village has 176 families, totaling more than 750 people. Most of them earn their living by fishing.

When the night falls, visitors can go sailing around the village and go fishing for squid with fishmen.