Warm weather

The capital has left a good impression on Southeast Asia sports delegations and international reporters attending the 31st Southeast Asian Games (SEA Games 31). Foreign correspondents and athletes attending the 31st SEA Games shared with The Hanoi Tim es their profound feelings about Hanoi - the warm and thoughtful welcome the city has accorded them. Hanoi welcomes delegates attending the SEA Games 31. Photo: Duy Khanh/ The Hanoi Times Ahmad Munawwar Helmi Salim, medical team leader for the Malaysian sports delegation: Impressed with the strong development of Hanoi Ahmad Munawwar Helmi Salim, medical team leader for the Malaysian sports delegation. Photos: Do Huong This is the first business trip of our delegation after a long period of the Covid-19 pandemic. We have about 40 medical staff including doctors and nurses attending the event. The schedules and locations of the competitions held in Hanoi and some neighboring … [Read more...] about Hanoi gives SEA Games 31 warm, thoughtful welcome

Your browser does not support the audio element. I confess I’m a soup lover, yet another reason for Vietnam to be at the top of my list of foodie destinations since there is no shortage of options day or night. The beauty is although the common Vietnamese soups share the same name and unique place of origin, the ingredients and preparation are different depending on local tastes in each region as well as what’s readily available and fresh. Da Lat is a destination that’s on nearly everyone’s list and the city features unique and delicious food, but, like anywhere, the best hideaways aren’t always easy to find. These places aren’t found in foodie blogs nor in tourist magazines – their success is strictly based on word-of-mouth. They’re makeshift, worn and old, a couple don’t even have addresses, and popular among locals but otherwise not well known. After lengthy searches and comparisons they are the best I’ve found at what they serve. Mi Quang Da Lat Style As most people … [Read more...] about Three great street soups in Da Lat

Nguyễn Thị Huyên (first, right) and UNDP Resident Representative in Việt Nam, Caitlin Wiesen (second, right) at last week's conference in Hà Nội. UNDP Photo HÀ NỘI - Nguyễn Thị Huyên, 65, now lives in a safe house thanks to a programme initiated by the Government, the UN Development Programme (UNDP), and the Green Climate Fund (GCF). Huyên, from Tuyết Điệm 1 Village in the central coastal province of Quảng Ngãi, suffers from sciatica and lives alone. Every day, she relied on neighbours to bring her food and daily necessities. She lived in difficult circumstances in an old shanty house that had its roof blown off during bad weather. She said: “Incidentally, I was advised by my nephew to apply for the safe house programme by the Government. So I registered and very quickly I received a reply. “I sent my thanks to the donors and local authorities who helped build me a stable and warm shelter two years ago.” Huyên's house was one of 4,100 built by the programme. “The … [Read more...] about More safe houses against storms and floods built in Việt Nam

Ninh Binh Province in northern Vietnam is the country’s newest backpacking hotspot thanks to its stunning natural scenery, historical sites, and delicacies. Ninh Binh is a mountainous province located in the southernmost part of the Red River Delta, roughly 100 kilometers from Hanoi. It is home to numerous prominent beautiful destinations, including Hoa Lu Ancient Capital, Trang An Scenic Landscape Complex, and the Tam Coc - Bich Dong landscape complex, as well as many important spiritual venues, such as Phat Diem Stone Church and Bai Dinh Pagoda. The province covers over 1,400 square kilometers of land and has a population of approximately 1.12 million people and features typical northern Vietnamese weather – chilly, wet winters and warm summers - similar to Hanoi. Most visitors to Ninh Binh stay for 1-2 days, but to truly conquer all the area’s most popular tourist attractions takes at least 3 days. The ideal time to visit Ninh Binh can be visited at any time of year, … [Read more...] about The best things to do in Vietnam’s stunning Ninh Binh Province