Thua Thien-Hue to host National Tourism Year 2012

The National Tourism Year 2012 themed “Hue-Ancient capital city-New experiences” will be held in central Thua Thien-Hue Province. The event is expected to promote Vietnam’s tourism products and cultural heritages, attract more foreign tourists and boost domestic tourism.  Hue Festival – a quintessential biennial event of Vietnamese cultural heritages – will be the major cultural draw card. Lying on the north-south railway and main road connected to Laos and northeastern Thailand and with the Phu Bai International Airport and the Chan May Seaport, Thua Thien-Hue Province will be a stopover for central and nationwide tourists.  In particular, Hue City – the local tourism centre – was the capital city of the Nguyen feudal dynasty and is the sole place in the country preserving the Vietnam court music recognised by UNESCO as masterpieces of oral and intangible heritage of humanity. Thua Thien-Hue is also well known for its cuisine, craft products and folk festivals, including the Cau Ngu festival, the boat race on the Huong (Perfume) river and Hue Festival. The system of tombs and pagodas together with beautiful beaches like Lang Co, Thuan An and Canh Duong and the Tam Giang-Cau Hai lagoon will be especially attractive destinations for tourists. The National Tourism Year 2011 themed “Exotic Beaches and Islands” took place in central coastal Phu Yen Province on April 1.

Cham civilisations in the spotlight

An international seminar on Cham civilisations - the links between Vietnam and India , opened in central coastal city of Da Nang on June 26.

Addressing the two-day event, the first of its kind in Vietnam , Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Hoang Tuan Anh affirmed the Cham ethnic people are among Vietnam ’s 54 ethnic groups.

The group has a rich cultural treasure, the most typical examples of which are the world cultural heritage site of My Son in central Quang Nam province, traditional festivals and numerous archaeological sites. Influence by the Indian culture could be seen most clearly in the Cham architecture, arts, beliefs and religions, said the minister.

For his part, Indian Ambassador to Vietnam , Rajit Rae, said the seminar will study various aspects of century’s old cultural exchange and open up opportunities for sharing experiences in the restoration and preservation of the My Son sanctuary.

This is also a chance for experts from the Archaeology Survey of India to acquire expertise from Vietnamese scholars and for Vietnamese, Indian and foreign scholars to discuss effective methods for future cooperation, said the Indian diplomat.

During the event, participants will hear scholars’ speeches on the Cham sculpture, explore the links between Vietnam and India , the Cham temples and intangible cultural heritage, as well as share expertise in restoring and preserving the world’s heritage sites.

The Indian government is to provide Vietnam with three million USD to restore and preserve the My Son sanctuary. The project will be carried out by the Archaeological Survey of India, which has previously restored with critical acclaim, the temples at Angkor Wat and Ta Prohm in Cambodia and Wat Phou in Laos.

Rome travel guidea

Rome is like a moveable feast of endless courses. No matter how much you gorge yourself on its splendours, you rarely feel you’ve made it past the antipasti.

Few cities offer such variety and few visitors leave without a fervent desire to return. As the seat of the Italian government and home to the Vatican, Rome is a city with genuine capital credentials. From the remains of its imperial glory days to the Renaissance and Baroque riches of its historic centre, Rome is a glorious architectural patchwork, a living masterpiece.
But while there’s no escaping Rome’s illustrious past, modern Romans embrace the present. So do as they do and throw yourself in to the life of the city. Walk the cobbled streets between centuries-old ruins, drink too much wine and coffee, browse heritage markets and grand museums, and eat too much gelato. After all,  that’s what the dolce vita (sweet life) is all about.

Japan Travel Guide

Japan is swathed in natural beauty, from the snow festivals and lavender farms of the northern isle of Hokkaido to the sun-drenched beaches and turquoise waters of the subtropical islands of Okinawa. Whether climbing volcanic Mount Fuji, wandering the pine forests of Mount Koya, taking in the springtime beauty of the sakura cherry blossoms or the spectacular maple leaves in the autumn, a journey to Japan is a wealth of unforgettable natural landscapes. In recent years, the powdery snow of Japan’s ski fields has also been attracting international visitors.

Culturally, Japan offers a unique and exciting fusion of the traditional and the modern. The speed at which new technological developments are realised in Japan is as impressive as the longevity of traditional art forms and customs. Whilst it is no longer the economic powerhouse it was for the greater part of the 20th century, Japan is still a world leader in innovative design and fashion, and continues to offer superb customer service, clean and punctual trains and meticulously prepared and presented cuisine.

Thailand: which beach is right for you?

It isn’t fair, really – there are over 200 countries around the globe and Thailand has managed to snag a disproportionate amount of the world’s top beaches.
These aren’t your average stretches of sand; you’re about to uncover perfect powder-soft dunes and dramatic limestone crags that pop straight out of the impossibly clear waters. Robinson Crusoe, eat your heart out!

Hat Phra Nang, Railay

This beauty will shock and awe. Perfect sand, limestone cliffs and caves, emerald water and colourful long-tail boats make this photographic bliss. It’s little more than a cosy nook, and tends to get crowded in high season.

Decoding Italy’s menu mysteries

The search for common ground between food lovers and weight-watchers, bargain-seekers and luxury-lovers ends in the most unlikely place: Italy. The country has reached the end of the reign of culinary extremists like chef Elena Fabrizi, whose restaurant sign on Rome‘s Isola Tiberina commanded non solo primi (no first courses only) as mercilessly as any emperor’s edict at an ancient Roman bacchanal. Tourist menus may still try to convince novices that pasta, mains and dessert are essential to the Italian restaurant experience, but Italians are no longer buying the three-course mandate.

Italy’s modern meal plan

Never fear, Italy has not gone on a diet – che orrore! the horror! – only become a bit more practical over the past decade. In Italy’s urban centres, tighter budgets have made ordering ample first courses such as pasta or risotto a decadent yet sensible choice. Many modern Italian workplaces are following Milan‘s trend-setting example of reducing the traditional three-hour pausa (break) between noon and three to a more literal lunch hour (well… hour and a half). This abbreviated lunchtime is good for shopping, and bad for sobriety. Beware Milan’s stylish Quadrilatero d’Oro, where Franciacorta and espresso imbibed in rapid succession with a light pasta can induce a woozy, giddy state that make psychedelic Pucci-print halters seem like must-haves with Missoni zig-zag tuxedo pants.

Exploring the mysteries of Sicily

Sicily, the Mediterranean’s largest island, has a culture entirely of its own and harbours a sinister history. Lift the lid on Italy’s volcanic island with Lonely Planet Magazine’s guide.

Diverse Sicily: Palermo

Sicily’s indefinable qualities are apparent in the island’s food. A fantastic dish like pasta con le sarde – pasta with sardines and raisins – has its roots in the Arab invasion, with a sweet and sour taste that you will find nowhere else in Italy.
Sicily’s capital Palermo is a layer cake, each tier representing a different outside influence. Walking its streets is like travelling through time. The Cappella Palatina, or Palatine Chapel, is an extraordinary blend of Norman, Byzantine and Arab art, and a few streets away is the castle of La Zisa, built for a Norman king by Arab craftsmen. The post office is a huge, white, Neoclassical fascist temple, now a monument to Mussolini’s failed experiment to destroy the Mafia’s power and popularity. Veering off behind it in every direction is a honeycomb of tiny little streets – so narrow that it would be pointless trying to squeeze through in any vehicle larger than a three-wheeler – each with lines of washing hanging all along them.

Hue festival honours “ao dai” in fashion show

The elegant beauty of “ao dai”, Vietnam ’s traditional long dress, will be honoured with a special performance taking place as part of the 2012 Hue Festival.

With the theme “Lotus in the fine arts”, the show will be a combination of the lotus, which is on way to becoming the national flower, and the “ao dai”, underlining their aesthetic value in the souls of Vietnamese people.

With nearly 20 designers from the length and breadth of the country and 150 models, the 90-minute show is expected to attract a large audience.

Explaining why lotus was chosen as the major theme for the show, Minh Hanh, a leading designer, said that the lotus is very familiar to Vietnamese people, especially those who live in Hue .

It is not easy to represent the beauty of the lotus in a long dress as the flower embraces all the spiritual hallmarks and purity of the Vietnamese people. However, using their own creativeness the designers have created numerous romantic images of the lotus on “ao dai”, said the designer.

According to Hanh, the traditional and mysterious beauty of the “ao dai” is very easily understood. The national traditional long dress had previously been showcased at seven Hue festivals.

Vietnamese designers are also making an effort to promote the image of the “ao dai” overseas as many foreigners have shown an interest in the dress.

Vietnam ’s traditional long dress is beautiful in the eyes of foreigners because of its gracefulness and contours, said the French based General Director of the Big C Group.

The “ao dai” show will take place on the bank of the Huong (Perfume) river, where a huge conical hat made of leaves is also on display. Both are expected to become high points of the Hue Festival.

Vietnam to open first international film festival

The first international film festival will be held in Hanoi on October 17-21, organised by Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism. On October 11, 90 films from 30 countries had been registered for the event. The event aims to honour Asia’s cinematography, push for cultural exchange, and encourage cooperation and development among regional and international film makers, while introducing the latest films of stage directors in the South East Asian region. The festival is scheduled to attract 500 delegates, including 30 Vietnamese artists.  The organising board will award prizes for categories such as feature film, short film, documentary, stage-director, actor, actress and media.

Festival to celebrate Delta's ‘Plain of Reeds'

Dong Thap Province plans to organise the biggest ever festival in the Mekong Delta region to mark the 30th anniversary of the Dong Thap Muoi (Plain of Reeds) sub-region.  As many as 500 booths in the ornamental plant and trade festival will feature various products and activities. They will review the achievements of the region during the past 30 years and promote tourism in the area. Besides showcasing beautiful trees, flowers and bonsai creations, several conferences will be held on developing the Dong Thap Muoi region and promoting investment in the Mekong Delta. Several contests will also be part of the December 1-5 festival in Cao Lanh city. Le Minh Hoan, deputy secretary of the province's Party Committee, said the festival will honour the economic social, cultural achievements of the region that has great potential for tourism.  The province expects to attract more domestic and foreign tourists to the area, especially through eco-friendly tours. Hoan said one of the important events during the festival would be the opening ceremony of the Nguyen Sinh Sac historical site. The site comprises the village and tomb of the late President Ho Chi Minh's father, Nguyen Sinh Sac. According to organisers, ecological tours to the Sa Dec Flower Village and other beautiful destinations in the province will promoted during the festival. Thirty years ago, when the Dong Thap Muoi region spanned the three Provinces of Long An, Tien Giang and Dong Thap, it was a fallow marsh famous for its lotus blooms. Agriculture was even then the region's mainstay, with the three provinces that comprise it being top exporters of rice in the country, according to local officials. Of late, however, tourism, industry and trade are being developed in the region.