Red hot summer tour

LONDON -- Chelsea's Thomas Tuchel said he was "the happiest manager in the world" despite earning a red card at the end of a stormy 2-2 draw with Tottenham Hotspur in the Premier League on Sunday. Tuchel went through mixed emotions on a sweltering afternoon at Stamford Bridge -- anger at both of Tottenham's goals, the second scored by Harry Kane in the sixth minute of stoppage time, and joy when Reece James initially restored Chelsea's lead. Former Chelsea manager Antonio Conte was also shown a red card after the second clash of the day with Tuchel, this time after the final whistle. It was easy to have some sympathy with Tuchel whose impressive side dominated after a home-debut goal for Kalidou Koulibaly in the 19th minute. "I'm not disappointed I'm the happiest manager in the world," the German told Sky Sports . "We were absolutely brilliant. Only one side deserved to win and that was us. Both their goals cannot stand." Tuchel felt that Kai Havertz had been fouled in the … [Read more...] about Tuchel ‘happiest manager in world’ despite red card in tempestuous derby

In June Linh Chi of Hanoi booked a ticket to Da Nang for traveling this week for VND4.2 million ($180). She recently booked a ticket on the same route for a friend who will accompany her, and the fare had fallen by nearly 20 percent to VND3.5 million. On the Vietnam Airlines website, the fares from Hanoi and HCMC to Da Nang, one of the busiest tourist hotspots this summer, have declined by 50-60 percent since late June. On Vietjet Air and Bamboo Airways, the fares are VND1.6-2.5 million. A month ago a return trip from Hanoi to Phu Quoc cost VND7 million, but has now fallen by nearly half. Airfares on the Hanoi-HCMC route, one of the world's busiest, were up to VND6 million last month but are now no more than VND5 million. A Vietnam Airlines spokesperson said with travel demand showing signs of slowing down and the summer tourism season coming to an end, airfares are coming down. As children prepare to return to school after nearly three months and families wrap up their … [Read more...] about Travel becomes cheaper as peak summer tourism season ends

The Czech Republic last week joined Germany and Spain in denying new visas related to Vietnam’s new passport, with all three citing a lack of birthplace information. They said the new passport model does not meet the technical standards of International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) parameters. Outbound tours to Europe rocked by passport tangle, illustration photo “The Czech Republic agrees with other member states of the EU and will stop recognising the new passports. The decision is effective from this moment,” said a notice posted on the website of the Czech Embassy in Vietnam on August 2. The moves have damaged the plans of some travellers who had already booked tours with specialised travel agents. Nguyen Van Tai, director of Vietsense Travel, told VIR that the company has cancelled the tours of five customers who bought tickets to visit Eastern Europe in September. “The company has been heavily affected, losing hundreds of millions of VND (equivalent to … [Read more...] about Outbound tours to Europe rocked by passport tangle

Domestic tourism is on a rapid recovery after a two-year hiatus, but this sudden and rapid recovery also makes both tourists and workers feel tired. Tra My, who lives in Hanoi, took a trip to Dak Lak last weekend. My said it took her more than 40 minutes to check in and go to the airport, instead of the usual 15 minutes. “The airport becomes too crowded for the number of passengers that need to be served every day. Congestion occurs as soon as you reach the airport. Luckily, the flight was delayed for 30 minutes, so I was not late,” My said. A bumper summer for domestic tourism The same situation also tends to occur with road and waterway routes to some tourist destinations such as Quang Ninh and Haiphong. Minh Quan from Bac Giang shared that his family had to wait more than four hours to take the ferry from the mainland to Cat Ba island during a trip to Haiphong a few days ago. “Each large ferry can carry nearly 20 cars, and a small ferry can carry nearly 10, but … [Read more...] about A bumper summer for domestic tourism

Muoi Sau (Sixteen) Dessert Soup Stall in Hanoi’s downtown is a well-known place for those who love the sweetness of Hanoi desserts. Che or sweet soup is a Vietnamese dessert that originated in northern Vietnam a nearly century ago. This has long been a familiar nosh of Hanoians to cool off on hot summer afternoons. From the simple sweet porridge cooked from lotus, black or green mung beans, over time, it has become more diverse with different variants. A specialty of Hanoi The mixture of lotus and young rice sweet soup. Photo: Moc Van Interestingly, you can enjoy che in both Summer and Winter. There is no better way to refresh your body in the middle of a hot summer day than having a cool fresh glass of che , and warm your body up with a hot bowl of Vietnamese sweet soup on a freezing winter night. che may be served hot or cold, in bowls, glasses, or over ice. Unlike che from other provinces, Hanoians are very careful in the selection of … [Read more...] about [Quintessence of Hanoi’s cuisine] Muoi Sau sweet soups – quintessence of Hanoi’s nosh

A volcano erupted in Iceland on Wednesday near the capital Reykjavik, spewing red hot lava and plumes of smoke out of a fissure in an uninhabited valley after several days of intense seismic activity. The eruption was around 40 kilometres (25 miles) from Reykjavik, near the site of the Mount Fagradalsfjall volcano in southwestern Iceland that erupted for six months in March-September 2021, mesmerising tourists and spectators who flocked to the scene. On Wednesday, a strip of glowing red lava could be seen gushing from the ground, spouting 20-30 metres (65-100 feet) into the air before spreading into a blanket of smouldering black rock. As it cooled, blueish smoke rose up from the hilly landscape on the Reykjanes peninsula. About 100 curious onlookers quickly made their way to the scene, bewitched by the sight of the bubbling lava and the intense roar that could be heard rising up from the ground as the lava erupted, an AFP reporter at the scene said. The Icelandic … [Read more...] about Deja vu as volcano erupts again near Iceland capital

FLC Luxury Hotel Quy Nhon. (Photo: flc.vn) Hanoi (VNA) - Australian magazine Traveller has listed Vietnam among the eight "best places to go in Asia for a holiday." It recommended December-March, when the weather is "pleasant," as the ideal time to visit the long, sandy beaches of Vietnam. It particularly recommended Quy Nhon, the beach resort town on the south-central coast . "Long a staid domestic destination, beautiful beach-flanked Quy Nhon has acquired hipster mojo and is tipped as the next Da Nang." The magazine also advised tourists to explore Ninh Binh, famous for paddleboat tours through limestone karsts and paddy rice fields. In the Central Highlands, Da Lat, a summer retreat of the French during the colonial period, is well known for adventure sports such as trekking, mountain biking and rafting, it said. A lesser-known destination in the northwest not to be missed is Dien Bien Phu, which used to be a major battlefield during the war, it said. … [Read more...] about Vietnam among Asia’s best places for holiday: Australian travel magazine

Hanoi, (VNA) - The following is a list of selected news summaries last weekend by Vietnam News Agency. – Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh on August 14 attended a conference reviewing the 30-year cooperation between the President Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum Management Board and the All-Russian Scientific  Research Institute of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants (VILAR) in preserving the corpse of the late Vietnamese leader. In 1992, when the agreement between Vietnam and the former Soviet Union became invalid, with permission by the Vietnamese and Russian Governments, the Mausoleum Management Board and VILAR switched to direct cooperation in preserving the corpse of the President. Read full story - Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh on August 13 asked relevant ministries and sectors to uphold their responsibilities in solving difficulties and problems arising at the Ha Bac Fertiliser Plant under the Vietnam National Chemical Group (Vinachem), whose expansion was completed seven years ago. … [Read more...] about ☀️ Morning digest August 15

Global wheat consumption is headed for its biggest annual decline in decades as record inflation forces consumers and companies to use less and replace the grain with cheaper alternatives, amid growing food insecurity. Consumers may face even higher wheat prices in the second half of 2022 as importers, who until now have supplied cargoes bought several months earlier at cheaper prices, pass on the costs from when wheat prices scaled decade highs in May. Global wheat consumption in July-December could drop by 5%-8% from a year ago, analysts, traders and millers say, much faster than the U.S. Department of Agriculture's forecast 1% contraction. "There is going to be a drop in wheat demand for animal feed in Europe and China. Wheat demand for human consumption has also slowed in key importing countries around the world," said Erin Collier, an economist at UN's Food and Agriculture Organisation. "High prices have raised food security worries in parts of Asia and Africa where … [Read more...] about Analysis: As wheat prices soar, the world’s consumers vote with their feet

Hanoi (VNA) - The following is a brief review of the day’s events as reported by the Vietnam News Agency on August 5. - President Nguyen Xuan Phuc met with newly-appointed ambassadors of South Africa, Saudi Arabia and Belgium, who came to present their credentials, in Hanoi on August 5. Read full story - Vietnamese Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son stressed the importance of dialogue, trust, and sense of responsibility while attending the East Asia Summit (EAS) Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in Phnom Penh on August 5. The event took place as part of the 55th ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting (AMM-55) and related meetings in the capital city of Cambodia. It drew the participation of foreign ministers from ASEAN member states and EAS partners, namely China, Japan, the Republic of Korea, Australia, New Zealand, India, Russia, and the US. Read full story - Joining the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) was the first step of Vietnam in the process of … [Read more...] about ☕ Afternoon briefing on August 5