Today's Hoi An

Hoi An is recognised as one of the UNESCO World Heritage's sites as it has drawn the attention of the public due to impressive historical and cultural relics, a wide range of shops, and a tranquil riverside setting. It nests in central Vietnam, a coastal city that was considered as a commercial port that brought Chinese, Japanese, Dutch, and Indian traders here to do settle down. They spent a lot of their wealth on temples and clan houses.

Nowadays, Hoi An wears a quite new appearance with a combination of Vingroup high-class real state properties that include 500 five-star apartment looking down at a river or towards a city sky.

The photograph courtesy of Tuoi Tre Online

Hanoi in a photograph

A total of 50 pieces of photography depicts Hanoi in twelve follower seasons, organised by the Hanoi administration. All entries circle around the theme: "I Love Hanoi", describing typical types of flowers such as flamboyant, apricot, white daisy and peach.

Hanoi's climate includes four distinct seasons. Autumn and spring are time for travelling. While the winter in Hano bitterly cold cuts meat, the summer is covered by a hot and muggy sky. Hanoi boasts as a land of thousand-year history and culture, a place to organise festivals to retain its cultural values when the spring comes in the corner. 

The photograph courtesy of Tuoi Tre Online

Ban Gioc Waterfall

The photo above depicting Ban Gioc Waterfall in Cao Bang Province is worth a wander. Sunset at this waterfall is an excellent opportunity for photographic professionals and enthusiasts to capture the beauty of nature if they view from the opposite side to the waterfall. On paddy fields, you see buffaloes ploughing and farmers threshing paddy to bring their produce to a market. Apart from these fun scenery on fields, Ban Gioc Waterfall is one of the main tourist attractions to tourists.
 
Cave Bac Po gives a little interest to travellers, but this waterfall is worth a try to discover the magic beauty of nature. In addition to these, on weekends, minority ethnic people like Tay, Nung,... group into a market spanning along a some-mile road. They are clad in traditional wear to sell their products in the market. To know these events, once checking-in a hotel, you ask them about this schedule to observe a kind of impromptu market.

The photograph courtesy of Tuoi Tre Online

H'hen Nie is called timeless beauty by Missosology

H'hen Nie, Miss Universe Vietnam of 2017, overcame 112 other women from different countries to top the shortlist of the timeless beauty by Missosology. Winning the Timeless Beauty Accolade of 2018 added another feather to her cap. She is the first Vietnamese and third Asian who was crowned the Timeless Beauty since its inception in 2010.

Her account of a path to achieving the glory has spellbound readers. Born in an ethnic minority family, she used to refuse a marriage that, by custom, had been offered at 14. With her tiredless effort, she graduated at a university and diversed her destiny in the art of beauty. After holding the title of  Miss Vietnam 2017, she participated in many international prestige pageants and won many of them. An admirable contribution to her home community is to spend part of her prize money to build a library for students in this far remote region.

The photograph courtesy by Tuoi Tre Online

VIetnam to fight Indonesia in youth champion semifinal

After completing a group-stage match against Thailand in null-score draw, Vietnam advanced in a group A as a group leader and will face Indonesia that stands as the B-group second finisher. Young star Marinus Mariyanto scored for Indonesia two goals against Cambodia who already got 6 points before this match and positioned as a B-group leader.

Vietnam versus Indonesia competition will happen at 15:30, 24 Sunday February while host team Campuchea will face Thailand at 18:30 on the same day.

The 2019 AFF U-22 Youth Champion is the first edition of under 22 tournament in South East Asia that includes 8 teams.  

The photograph courtesy of Tuoi Tre Online

The First Test of VinFast Car Safety in Europe

According to VinFast source, Vietnam's indigenous car manufacturer plans to test their car safety parameter in Europe on March 6 to ensure that their flaship product meets international standards. The company executive stated VinFast Hai Phong factory manufactured the first body shell of the Lux A2.0, a sedan that meets the highest quality requirements.

Vinfast, the first conglomerate of the car industry in Vietnam, boasts its first two car models, a sedan ands SUV. Both of them showed up at the Paris Motor Show last October that has caught the attention of the media and enthusiasts. 

The photograph courtesy of VN Express Online

Spring in Sapa welcomes tourists

In addition to Fansipan Mountain, Sapa has attracted tourists with endless tea plantations dotted by cherry trees, particularly in spring. Spring in Sapa starts in January with warm climate (average temperature is about 15 - 18 degrees C). Sapa gives an attractive appearance of the beauty of nature with the blending of pink cherry flowers and white pearl flowers. It is a fantastic opportunity for photographic professionals and enthusiasts to capture breath-taking images for their collections. 

Travelling in Sapa brings tourist a chance to strike up conversations with the ethnic minority people who have the hospitality.

The photograph courtesy of Tuoi Tre Online

Valentine's Day Gift in Vietnam

It is said that Vietnamese men seek way to their sweethearts through stomach on this special day. The photo above depicts a bouquet-shaped cake. Under an unspoken law, days designed for women such as Valentine's Day, Women's Day, are an opportunity for men to express their love towards their loved ones by offering them delicacies like cakes or chocolates. In addition, it is a chance to show their humorous wisdom rather than solely love.

The photo above describes a heart-shaped fried sticky rice cake a young man cut a sticky rice cake into a shape of heart and cooked to for his girlfriend. This gift is not expensive but original to express his sense of humour. Another man pushed humour a bit further by making a combo of these fried cakes. 

The photograph courtesy of Tuoi Tre Online

Duck Massage

A new type of massage business arises in Vietnam, particularly near Phong Nha Cave, Quang Ninh Province. A 20-year man imitates this kind of business that has attracted many international tourists in Thailand.

He raises around 120 ducks in a farm, named Duck Heaven, where tourists come to hold feeds to feed ducks, ducks eat on their hand, giving a feeling of touches of their pecks. That's very interesting and relaxed.

For newcomers, the owner gives the instruction to them how to feed ducks. A Polish tourist has fed ducks for the first-ever, saying that she couldn't image hundreds of ducks approach her to eat that gives her an amazing experience.

The photograph courtesy of VN Express Online

Da Lat City was overcrowded during Tet

Da Lat City is a popular tourist attraction during The Lunar New Year as is blessed with a year-round cool climate. Annually the exodus of thousands of visitors to this city made all the hotels fully booked. This year, the local administration banned any vehicle with 16 seats and above from entering the Prenn Pass that sits in the southern entrance of Dalat in a bid of avoiding overcrowding in the city and massive traffic congestion.

However, a lot of tourists came to Dalat by motorbikes or personal cars, leading to a traffic jam in many main streets in the city. Around 1400 hotels and hostels were run out of books that made many tourists set up tents near Xuan Huong lake despite the temperature of 15 degrees Celsius.

The photograph courtesy of Tuoi Tre Online

A Reverse Exodus After the Lunar New Year

Tet is one of the greatest traditional events in Vietnam. As usual, millions of city-dwellers left their city for their homeland before the Lunar New Year holiday that lasted more than one week. The photo depicts a huge reverse exodus from suburban to a city that created a massive traffic jam on the day before the one they will be back to work. Vehicle honks were produced loudly and repeatedly as buses, cars, container trucks stuck for hours so that many passengers were no longer patient and left their bus to walk rather than sitting in immobile buses.

The photograph courtesy of VN Express Online

Three tourist hotspots in Vietnam

The three cities, including Saigon, Hanoi and Ha Long, are respectively ranked 39th, 51st, and 53rd among the world's 100 travel destinations, says a Euromonitor International Report. This report predicts that Saigon is expected to host 5.8 million visitors this year, up to 5.9 per cent against a year earlier.

According to the Telegraph, Saigon has cracked various lists of top attractions for solo and retiree tourists due to cheap prices for backpackers. Following it, Hanoi will be anticipated to receive 4.6 million visitors this year. 

Flower Street

When another lunar new year is coming around the corner, Flower Street Nguyen Hue is established to celebrate a special traditional event that has attracted domestic and international visitors. The street is officially opened for the public on Feb 2, 2019. Thousands of people from every corner of the city poured in the street to admire characteristics of this year's flower display and to selfie to post their personal social media. The street named Ho Chi Minh is 720 metres long has a title "Stable steps to further advance".

Tet is an opportunity for the Vietnamese to gather such as a year-end party, new year party, and praying. Normally, those are a chance for people to drink. They encourage together to drink as much as possible, leading to traffic accidents due to getting drunk to drive.  In addition, the influence of drinking too much on these days may take the effect on their health later.

The photograph courtesy of VN Express Online

Ivy Tran

Ivy Tran, a Vietnamese American girl, has just come to Vietnam with her parents to celebrate the Lunar New Year of 2019. She appeared at the Ho Chi Minh City Cultural House in Vietnam's traditional dress. She said Tet wishes to all visitors so nicely that many people have been attracted by her cute appearance. Some of them uttered that she looked like an angel.

In the USA, she has learned Vietnamese tradition, custom, and language. It is a way to help her know her origin.

The photogragh courtesy of Thanh Nien Online

Bread Inspired Outfit

H'Hen Nie, Miss Vietnam of 2017, is a representative of Vietnam at Miss Universe 2018 and impresses the audience with a bread inspired outfit which is one of top four national costumes. This year, this contest takes place in Thailand that has attracted the participation of over 90 contestants from many countries and territories all over the world. H'Hen's outfit wins lots "likes" of Miss Universe page fans.

A collection of photographs that feature H'Hn to play a street vendor, carrying a tray of bread from her waist got many polarizing opinions. Some who praises these poses think it is out of a box, bringing a nice feeling to viewers, whereas, detractors fault-find that although the idea is daring but gives a sense of wrapping paper which looks cheap. 

The photograph courtesy of VN Express Online

O Long Tea Hill

Sapa is one of the tourist attractions in northern Vietnam due to its natural scenery, tea hills that produce well-known tea brand such as O Long Tea. Alternatively, it is an opportunity for local and international tourists to learn about the life of the ethnic minority tribes who live on farming and make crafty items to sell to tourists.

Tea is one of the most traditional drinks for the Vietnamese. From the 20th century, tea has been grown so popularly in northern Vietnam and the Middle of Vietnam that it becomes a daily talk in the life of Vietnamese people. Tea is very amiable to Sapa's soil and climate that is cool.

The photograph courtesy of Tuoi Tre Online

Amy Fashion Show

Designer Hang Nguyen introduced a new collection of ao dai (Vietnamese traditional dress) at Da Lat City in the evening of 9 December 2018. It has attracted the media attention across the country. The 2nd edition of Amy Fashion Show with a topic "I walk at night" takes rose and hydrangea as main flowers that are decorated on dresses.

The photograph courtesy of Tuoi Tre Online

Conic Hat Street

A street has attracted the attention of thousands of young people who pour out in it to take selfies. It is Street Dao Duy Tu, Hanoi, which is decorated with conic hats, spanning 200 meters. A conic hat is one of the identities of Vietnam, along with ao dai (a long dress). It is also a traditional crafty item of Hue, Middle Vietnam. It is why the street brings the impression to local people that they are living in Hue.

It's a celebration of the 13th anniversary of Vietnam's Cultural Heritage Day, which showcases artefacts of Vietnamese feudal dynasties such as the ancient statue of Buddha and reproduced products of the national museum. Notably, an exhibit of royal costumes gives an opportunity for international and local tourists to learn about the dressing style of each dynasty.

These activities are to promote Vietnam's tourism and retain features of Vietnam's culture and history.

The photograph courtesy of Tuoi Tre Online

It's time to travel

Mortiz Alexy, a German tourist, realized a tour across cities and provinces in Vietnam such as Cantho, Ho Chi Minh, Dalat, Kontum, Hoi An, Sapa ... This travel took 9 weeks, spanning 8,000 km by a motorbike.

From 2012, Mortiz, a software engineer, left Germany to make a tour around the world, going to 40 countries, which include Vietnam. Vietnam is a nation he has travelled nine times and taken a collection of photos of locations he stayed.

Mortiz has a way to make his voyage which he hasn't thought about a plan ahead. Instead, he visits places on the base of suggestions of people he meets on a journey or interesting sites he finds on Google.

During his visits to Vietnam, he strikes up conversations with local people in Mekong River Delta and is interested in finding their hospitality that makes him realize the collection of photographs to recall his memories in this country.

The photograph courtesy of Tuoi Tre Online

Sapa

Sapa is known for its fine, rugged scenery and cultural diversity as it is host to terrace fields, lush vegetation, Fansipan Mountain and hill tribes as well. Sapa is nowadays a tourist hotspot where you find a throng of vendors who surround tourists aggressively to sell their wares. However, your interesting exploration of this countryside would be worth trouble.

One of the interests that have attracted you is that you have an opportunity to learn about the culture of the ethnic minority people in Sapa, which include H'mong, Dao, Tay, Giay, Muong, Thai, Hoa. Many of them make crafty items or blankets to sell. Striking up a conversation would make you surprised as their ability in English is considerably impressive. Since tourism has developed in Sapa, many people have indulged in learning English to see this language as a way of livelihood.