Gia Lai is an ideal destination for travelers wanting to explore the wild nature and the unique culture of the Central Hughlands ethnic groups who are known for their gong heritage. When visiting Gia Lai, you do not need to go far to find beautiful scenery. Right in its provincial capital, Pleiku, you can find scenic Bien Ho (Sea Lake), Bien Ho Che (Tea Sea Lake), Chu Dang Ya and Ham Rong volcanoes and Chu mountain. All you need is a motorbike to drive around in Pleiku in the sun and wind of the Central Highlands to reach the best sightseeing places in town. You can enjoy the gorgeous view of Bien Ho with its cool and clear air or wander in immense green tea hills in Bien Ho Che. You can also see beautiful wild sunflowers dyeing yellow the sides of old volcanoes which have slept for millions of years, or enjoy the wild and dreamy beauty of rubber forests in their season of changing leaves. For those who love adventurous trips, Kon Chu Rang and Kon Ka Kinh (an ASEAN heritage park) … [Read more...] about Gia Lai – Ideal place for travelers wanting to explore wild nature
Grow tall naturally
Cultural diplomacy raises Vietnam’s position worldwide
In an interview granted to the Vietnam News Agency, the official noted that Vietnam has focused on including the cultural content into the activities of high-ranking leaders during their overseas trips and the country’s reception of foreign leaders; and on promoting deep and wide integration in the fields of culture, science and education at international forums. According to him, Vietnam hosted significant regional and international conferences and events last year, including the 31st SEA Games and the Vietnam day program in the Republic of Korea, Austria and India. The country was elected to the Intergovernmental Committee of the UNESCO Convention for the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage for the 2022-2026 term with the highest number of votes. The first official visit to Vietnam by UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azoulay was a highlight, putting the country, its culture and people on the radar of international media, Ngoc said. The guest said she was impressed by … [Read more...] about Cultural diplomacy raises Vietnam’s position worldwide
Ritual to erect “Neu” pole re-captured
PANO - The Hue Monuments Conservation Centre on February 11 th re-captured a ceremony to erect the “Neu” (bamboo) pole at the Hue Royal Palace in Hue city, Thua Thien Hue province, to welcome the 2015 Lunar New Year (Tet) festival. During the Nguyen Dynasty (1802-1945), the ceremony was held on December 23 rd of the lunar calendar, starting the Tet holiday. A tall bamboo pole was erected with some ritual items, like a seal, pen brush and swords, which were guarded by soldiers, to be hung on its top. The pole is believed to help prevent evils, and to worship their ancestors and drive the past year's bad luck away and welcome good luck for the Lunar New Year. Soldiers in formal uniform prepare the “Neu” pole. A music troupe playing "nha nhac" (Hue royal court music) gets ahead of the procession. Preparing a gold-trimmed seal, which will be hung on the pole’s top. The ceremony conducted from Hien Nhon … [Read more...] about Ritual to erect “Neu” pole re-captured
Champion to defend WBA belt in hometown next month
"After many days of waiting, the date is finalized. I will have my first pro match in my hometown, the land that fed me and saw my growing up," he wrote on his Facebook page. "I will try my best to give boxing lovers and my home a beautiful match. See you at Buon Ma Thuot city on February 26." Hoang, 32, has a perfect professional record after three pro bouts. He became Vietnam's first WBA Asia East Super Middleweight champion after defeating Korean rival Lee Gyu-hyun in 2019. On February 2, 2020, he knocked out Yuttana Wongda of Thailand to lift the WBA Asia belt. In his most recent outing, Hoang floored Indonesian Robert Kopa in the 'LEAD: The Beginning' event last October. Last month, he cruised to a gold medal at the ninth National Sports Games, which he declared his last amateur boxing competition. Source: VNA … [Read more...] about Champion to defend WBA belt in hometown next month
What’s on January 30-February 5/2023
EXHIBITION HCMC-Exhibition ‘No more, not yet’ Opening: Feb 3, 06:30 pm EMASI Nam Long, 147 Street No.8, Nam Long Residential area, D7, Display: Feb – June, Wed & Fri, 10 am – 04 pm EMASI Nam Long (D.7) Tues & Thurs, 10 am – 04 pm EMASI Vạn Phúc (D.Thủ Đức) *and every last Saturday of the month From the organizer: Nguyen Art Foundation (NAF) proudly invites you to the opening of ‘No more, not yet’, an exhibition that looks back on Nguyen Thi Thanh Mai’s shapeshifting artistic practice in all its multiplicity. Winner of the Artist Excellence Award (inaugural edition, initiated by The Factory Contemporary Arts Centre and managed by in-tangible institute), her work is presented here alongside nearly 20 artists whom she calls her colleagues and friends. The exhibition will be on display from February to June 2023 across the campuses of EMASI Nam Long and EMASI Van Phuc. Hanoi-Exhibition “This is not A Dream” Exhibition: Until Mar … [Read more...] about What’s on January 30-February 5/2023
2022 destination selection trend of Vietnamese tourists
Costume of Ha Nhi ethnic people in Ha Giang province. (Photo: VietnamPlus) It is hoped that 2022 will be a more optimistic year for the tourism sector. A survey revealed that up to 80 percent of Vietnamese people said they are planning vacations to make up for what the COVID-19 pandemic has deprived them of, and 43 percent said they want to experience a lesser-known place, instead of the destinations too familiar to them. It is also noteworthy that booking by tourists in Vietnam to share popular destinations is becoming a dominating trend. Ethnic minority culture paradise Up to 84 percent of Vietnamese tourists said they want to visit Meo Vac in Ha Giang province. It is a small but attractive valley in the northeast, surrounded by limestone mountains and inhabited by H’Mong and Ha Nhi ethnic groups, boasting a unique dish – thang co – cooked from the inner organs of cattle, of which 70 percent of Vietnamese tourists said they want to try during their 2022 tours. For … [Read more...] about 2022 destination selection trend of Vietnamese tourists
Vietnam’s tourism in 2022: measures for recovery, acceleration
Dawn breaks over Da River lake.(Photo: VietnamPlus) Hanoi (VNA) - As vaccination coverage is expanding, the severity of the SARS-CoV-2 virus is showing signs of dying out. As a result, Vietnam’s tourism needs to quickly work out harmonious measures for the coming period of recovery. A sad economic year for the tourism sector has come to an end after many tremors caused by successive outbreaks of COVID-19 . Vietnam’s green economy in 2021 failed to recover as seen through the statistics of the yearly review, yet many experts still believe that in 2022, accelerations will be created with attention and assistance from the government. Although the pandemic is still spreading with new variants, there are grounds for us to hope the constantly expanding vaccination coverage has helped weaken the severity of the SARS-CoV-2 virus. The clock is ticking towards the day when the world can contain and roll back the pandemic, opening up chances for socio-economic recovery. That is … [Read more...] about Vietnam’s tourism in 2022: measures for recovery, acceleration
Vietnam’s tourism, trade, FDI rosy amid China’s reopening: HSBC
According to its latest report on Southeast Asia, HSBC said Thailand will benefit the most from China’s reopening. It said further that tourism in Vietnam was also expected to perform well as Chinese tourists account for some 30% of international arrivals to the country. This month Khanh Hoa Province is expected to have nine charter flights which will bring Chinese visitors to Vietnam after a 3-year suspension due to the pandemic. Hotels in Hoi An, in the central province of Quang Nam, have also received bookings from Chinese tourists. Regarding trade, since 2020 ASEAN has surpassed the E.U. to become China’s largest trading partner. Last year Vietnam was one of three Southeast Asian countries, along with Indonesia and Malaysia, reporting increases in exports to China. Vietnam is also benefiting from more favorable trade ties with China because exports no longer have to undergo strict Covid testing. Concerning FDI, Japan and South Korea are the leading countries in terms of … [Read more...] about Vietnam’s tourism, trade, FDI rosy amid China’s reopening: HSBC
Debt buries farmers trying to flip property in frozen market
Like so many others in Lam Dong Province and other rural areas of southern Vietnam, Toan saw the value of his agricultural land skyrocket in 2020-2021. He took it as an opportunity to start flipping properties for profit. But the market froze last year and short-term loans at high interest rates have now sunk him and many other farmers-turned-inexperienced-traders in impossible debt instead. The veteran coffee grower sold his land 7 km from the center of Di Linh District for several billions of dong in profit during a property price bubble in 2021. He then took out short-term, high-interest loans and used them plus money he made from his land sale to by several more plots he planned to resell for profit in what he thought would be at most 1-2 months. He said he thought he’d be able to sell some of the land back in even just a couple of weeks. But the properties still haven’t sold. In early 2022, Toan poured another VND15 billion ($635,600), including VND6 billion from another … [Read more...] about Debt buries farmers trying to flip property in frozen market
Viet Nam among world’s 10 biggest recipients of remittances
Remittance flows into Viet Nam approximated $19 billion in 2022. — Photo baotintuc.vn Viet Nam remains one of the 10 countries receiving the most remittances in the world, according to the recent Migration and Development Brief by the World Bank and the Global Knowledge Partnership on Migration and Development (KNOMAD). Despite the COVID-19 pandemic’s major impacts on the global economy over the last two years and growing inflation in many countries, remittance flows into Viet Nam remained relatively stable compared to previous years, the report noted. Total remittances to Viet Nam increased by nearly 5 per cent in 2022 and may go up 3.6-4.5 per cent in the following years after growing 5 per cent in 2021, according to statistics of WB and KNOMAD. Last year, the value rose about US$1 billion to approximate $19 billion, making the country one of the three biggest recipients in the Asia-Pacific and among the top 10 globally in terms of remittances. Some banks perceived that … [Read more...] about Viet Nam among world’s 10 biggest recipients of remittances