Living in Vietnam can bring moments of total pleasure and those of total wonder. When is a hot dog not a hot dog? Well, that answer came to me through experience some 10 years ago when I began my teaching career here in Vietnam. It was only weeks after I arrived in Ho Chi Minh City to start a new life journey and I had already experienced my first episode of 'Vietnam Belly.' I wasn’t feeling all that great and I found that the local food and cheap beer just weren’t what my body wanted. I met a fellow Australian expat who introduced me to his employer – a major name in Vietnam’s teaching industry. Despite my unreliable health, I interviewed with the company. I was just hoping things would hold themselves together long enough to get the job, and they did. When I found out I got the job, my only thoughts were about how much I hoped I would be able to recover by the time I started classes. Early the next morning, my phone rang. It was the school asking if I could cover a class … [Read more...] about A hot dog that isn’t a hot dog in Vietnam
Vietnam traditional
Hoa Binh Province in Vietnam delights travelers with northwest beauty, uniqueness
Situated over 70 kilometers from Hanoi, Hoa Binh Province overflows with cultural identities and charming venues to lure visitors. As the gateway to the northwestern region, the province, which boasts various unspoiled tourist destinations, has attracted numerous travelers over the past few years. Some must-visit places are recommended to holidaymakers in Hoa Binh. Mai Chau: Hoa Binh’s most popular tourist area Mai Chau is the province’s most famous tourist site, which is favored by not only in-the-know tourists from Hanoi and neighboring provinces, but also international visitors. The place is often selected for a weekend trip to relax and relieve stress. Apart from enjoying the fresh air in the majestic mountainous area, travelers might also admire a picturesque view shrouded by clouds at Thung Khe Pass or Da Trang (White Stone) Pass en route to the heart of Mai Chau District. Also, the mountainous district features a variety of cultural traits and the Thai ethnic … [Read more...] about Hoa Binh Province in Vietnam delights travelers with northwest beauty, uniqueness
Kick-off of the UNESCO-recognized Saint Giong Festival
One of Hanoi's most fascinating and historic events, the festival is a tribute to Saint Giong, one of Vietnam's four immortals. The 2023 Giong Festival kicked off last week at Phu Dong Temple in Hanoi's suburban Gia Lam district. The festival's opening ceremony also marked the recognition of Phu Dong Commune as a new rural area. The opening ceremony of the Giong Festival at Phu Dong Temple in Phu Dong Commune of Gia Lam District. Photo: Hoang Quyet/The Hanoi Times Speaking at the ceremony, Nguyen Duc Hong, Vice Chairman of Gia Lam District People's Committee, said the district is an ancient land of cultural convergence of Thang Long (original name of Hanoi) and Kinh Bac (an old name designating the northern provinces of Bac Ninh and Bac Giang) and the holy place where Saint Giong was born. "The festival is in commemoration of Saint Giong, or Heavenly King of Phu Dong, who led the country against foreign invaders during the reign of the Sixth Hung King. The … [Read more...] about Kick-off of the UNESCO-recognized Saint Giong Festival
Tourism week “The Golden Color of Tam Coc – Trang An” opens in Ninh Binh
As annual tourism activity held by the local authorities, the event aims to promote and introduce unique, attractive and outstanding values of tourism resources of Ninh Binh, especially UNESCO-recognized World Cultural and Natural Heritage - Trang An Scenic Landscape Complex. Via the annual event, Ninh Binh continues affirming its brand and position as a safe and friendly destination, as voted by many renowned newspapers, magazines and travel websites worldwide as one of the top 10 ideal destinations for a wonderful family vacation in 2023. The event offers a chance for visitors to admire a 9,500sq.m painting using rice as material on vast fields of Tam Coc stretching along the winding Ngo Dong river. The painting symbolizes abundance and the bountiful water element that supports the sustainable development of green tourism in the ancient capital of Hoa Lu, a land of cultural heritage for thousands of years. Rice fields in Tam Coc have been voted as one of the most beautiful in … [Read more...] about Tourism week “The Golden Color of Tam Coc – Trang An” opens in Ninh Binh
Tourism week “The Golden Colour of Tam Coc – Trang An” opens in Ninh Binh
The 2023 Ninh Binh tourism week attracts crowds of tourists (Photo: VNA) Ninh Binh (VNA) - The 2023 Ninh Binh tourism week themed “The Golden Colour of Tam Coc - Trang An ” kicked off in Hoa Lu district of the northern province of Ninh Binh on may 27. As annual tourism activity held by the local authorities, the event aims to promote and introduce unique, attractive and outstanding values of tourism resources of Ninh Binh, especially UNESCO-recognised World Cultural and Natural Heritage - Trang An Scenic Landscape Complex. Via the annual event, Ninh Binh continues affirming its brand and position as a safe and friendly destination, as voted by many renowned newspapers, magazines and travel websites worldwide as one of the top 10 ideal destinations for a wonderful family vacation in 2023. The event offers a chance for visitors to admire a 9,500 sq.m painting using rice as material on vast fields of Tam Coc stretching along the winding Ngo Dong river. (Photo: … [Read more...] about Tourism week “The Golden Colour of Tam Coc – Trang An” opens in Ninh Binh