Today's Hoi An

Plentiful visitors to Hoi An Ancient Town makes it a bustling place of business, gradually losing original features of its tourist attraction. The change in owners of old houses rapidly makes Hoi An disappear the native "breath".

On the evening of 12 December 2019, Hoi An was again named by the world as the Asian Cultural Destination at the 2019 World Tourism Award Ceremony. This is the 4th title this city received. Honoured with the 'rain' title, many managers in Hoi An city have had a concern about the fragile reputation.

According to a survey, out of more than 600 ancient houses, 155 are currently used for business. To serve the business, house owners have made a profit of the most area, narrowing down a living space to make more displace of goods. Also, 115 among 470 old houses have been changed owners, even some old houses transfer from 2 to 5 owners. Business people who bought houses have a general trend, taking space for goods display. As a result, many places of worship and spaces for daily life have regularly changed or removed. 

This leads to intangible cultural values associated with monuments such as beliefs, lifestyles, cultural activities to be sunk in silence.

If you liked to check in 'miniature' Sapa

The highland district of Binh Lieu, Quang Ninh Province, is considered as a 'miniature' Sapa, where you take favourites photos. It has mountains that meander like the backbone of a dinosaur.

You may not know about a very different Quang Ninh Province that tourists rarely visit. That is the highland district of Binh Lieu border. The weather and climate in Binh Lieu is the reason for people to call it Sapa. Summer temperatures here are usually 4 - 6 degrees lower than other places, and the snow falls in winter.

As a tourist, you should know Binh Lieu is always in beautiful seasons, but late autumn and early winter are still the most beautiful occasion. When zooming around, you will the small villages on the edge of a forest faintly shrouded in mist, looming the Dao and Thai girls fluttering in the brilliant ethnic traditional dress; or golden terraced fields, fragrant with glutinous rice. Any visitors will not forget taking beautiful photos of the northwestern mountainous region.

Coffee shop in Saigon

A coffee shop with green leafy walls, two indoor and outdoor areas and the space of a bar brings relaxing feelings. It is a favourite place of Ho Chi Minh City dwellers because of the feeling of relaxation from the greenery on the wall. The first impression is the large porch with leafy walls just outside the shop.

The green wall behind the shop is installed with automatic sprinklers and misting systems, making the air here cool, even without air conditioning. Its interior style combines modern and classic features. The menu includes coffees, smoothies, juices, alcohol drink and cakes.

What tourist activities are on the Dam River!

The submerged area near Tam Ky possesses a pristine landscape dotted local dinghies. Reed area, River Da area of Tam Thang commune has a natural area of about 18 hectares, with the beauty of many trees such as reeds, sedge, lotus and water-lily.

Dam River flows smoothly between the reeds and rushes. According to historical documents, Dam Rive and reed area relic with Ky Anh Tunnel is a revolution base area of eastern Tam Ky area during years of revolution. Reeds are mostly overgrown with the water of 1.6 meters deep, so during a war, only terrain-savvy people could use anti-pole boats to go along small ways, leading reed areas.

On rainy days on Dam River, the local people catch snails from 1:30 am to 6 am in the morning, in addition to their additional income from fishing, raising ducks and growing lotus.

What do you know about Dam River in terms of tourism? Recently, fishermen of the wharf of Dam River have joined a 12-member rowing cooperative group to serve you participating in fishing activities, removing fishing nets on the river and visiting fishing villages in this area.

Miss Supranational Anntonia Porsild

 

Anntonia Porsild, a 22-year-old Thai model, surpassed 76 contestants to win the crown in the Miss Supranational final, in the morning of December 7.

Anntonia is the first beautiful Thai to be crowned Miss Supranational. She cried when hearing the result the host announced and received congratulatory hugs of Namibian contestant, who won the 1st runner-up. Anntonia received a crown from her predecessor Valeria Vazquez and a reward of $35,000.

The newly-crowned Miss Supranational has two Thai and Danish bloodlines, 1.73 meters, currently a fashion model. She used to be the top ten in the contest of Thailand's Face version. She has experienced a year of her hometown's success in international beauty contests - winning Miss International and ranking the 3rd in the competition of Miss Grand International.  

In the Q&A of the top 5, the Thai beauty answered intelligently and fluently a question about her big challenges in life. She thinks that people are not treating together well enough. She says "We do not spend time enough understanding other people's personalities and judging their appearance. If we form an opinion about a person in various aspects, the world becomes great and people will be much happier.  

Hoa Binh Lake

Hoa Binh reservoir was constructed after the building of a hydro-electric embarkment dam to prevent Song Da River to build the tank. This is one of the largest artificial pools in Vietnam, with a length of 230 km, extending from Hoa Binh Province to Son La Province.

The blue lake is surrounded by high mountains, vibrant and diverse vegetation with many large and small islands such as Ha Long on land. Hoa Binh has drawn the interest of visitors thanks to its unexploited nature and greenery. Along the lake accommodate many Muong, Tay, Thai and Dao ethnic minority people, who live on farming and growing.

Especially when you come here, you can not only enjoy the majestic and poetic beauty of nature but also experience the community-based tourism models. You can't find any hotel or resort here but enjoy a few days at stay homes of these groups. Your visit would contribute to the livelihood of these people. Also, it provides opportunities for you to learn more about traditional stilt houses with cultural practice rich in national identity and the lifestyle in this region.

Thuan Viet traditional fashion collection

Designer Thuan Viet has just launched the first-ever collection of rural fashion named 'Chiec ao Ba b
Ba" (long sleeve, buttoned-down dress). Miss Universe of Vietnam H'hen Nie participated in posing for this album.

The collection is inspired by the rustic lady's shirt, close to the Vietnamese countryside. What makes the collection stand out with this simple name is the mix of hot colours and vivid hand-drawn motifs, describing a daily life of a farmer.

The combination of velvet material makes Ba Ba shirts catch up with modern fashion. Besides, the theme Mai-Lan-Cuc-Truc embroidery and elaborate attachment are also used to refresh the image of a familiar Ba Ba shirt.

Thuan Viet fashion collection was an opening performance of Asian Kids Fashion Week 2000 that was taking place on November 21 and 22 with the participation of Miss Universe of Vietnam H'hen Nie.

This is the 3rd edition of Asian Kids Fashion Week in Ho Chi Minh City. This year, this fashion event attracts 20 collections of different designers coming from 12 countries in Asia such as Japan, Korea, China, Singapore, Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Myanmar and Vietnam.

The 30th Seagames in the Philippines

Miss Earth 2017 Karen Ibasco accompanied Myanmar's sports delegation

The 30 November 2019 is the opening ceremony of the 30th Seagames in the Philippines. 11 beauty queens are highlights at this event when walking with the parade of sports teams of the Southeast Asian Countries. 

This is a great effort of the Philippines to organize sports competitions among countries. The host country has built the over-$250-million New Clark City Complex for 18 months. The quality of this work completely meets the most stringent requirements, including athletic stadiums, water sports centres and athletes' villages. 

However, the 30th Seagames has faced a traffic problem. The traffic congestion is not only an obsession of the people of the host country but also sports teams of the countries. Many teams are late for their rehearsals before official competitions.

H'hen Nie clad in bà ba suit

H'hen Nie is wearing a bà ba suit ( a long sleeve, buttoned-down silk shirt), which is a fashion icon of the women in southern Vietnam. The first image of Miss Universe Vietnam clad with a country-side traditional suit surprises many people and receives a lot of appraisals of her fans.

On her personal page, she uploaded her new series of photos which is quite different from previous ones that show her fashion style at showbiz events

The photo is a hit on social media to attract the attention of viewers. Many commented the suit highlights the gracefulness and slenderness of a girl. The "long legs" appears in three rural traditional dresses with her long feminine hair.

This is one of the new designs of Thuan Viet. Nie wrote on her Facebook to thank him for bringing peaceful and simple features to the countryside fashion style. She loves these clothes because they represent the rural characteristics and simplicity of Ba Ba shirt.

These images promote Vietnamese girl's tradition suit that may sinks in silent for years.

Is it Vietnamese or Chinese traditional dress?

China's fashion brand Harbin Fashion Week released a collection of Chinese traditional dress, named 'a new innovation' in 2018, that looks like Vietnamese ao dai. Its founder Zhang Zhifeng declared his point-of-view that his collection emphasized the beauty and dignity of traditional Chinese clothing.

Accordingly, in the Spring-Summer Fashion Week 2019 in Bejing, opening on October 25, 2019, Ne Tiger has launched many fashion collections that include ao dai which has irritated the Vietnamese. It shows the reproduction of Vietnamese traditional long dress, but the firm was proud of its "creativity" of designers.

Recently, many comments on the online forum accusing the move of Ne Tiger with Vietnamese dress and national costumes, which is like a second cow's tongue plot in the field of culture and fashion.

Y Ty is home to Sapa

Have you heard of Y Ty, sitting 360 km (224 miles) north of Hanoi, Vietnam. After collecting golden rice crops, the highland community of Y Ty is the best-known tourist attraction because is covered with a sea of white clouds, a place for cloud hunting.

Choen Then is a 300-year-founded village and home to around 50 ethnic minority families who live on farming. You can't see any hotel or resort, but spend some days at some homestays where you learn more about the culture and tradition of this region.  

On these cold days, clouds swoop down over empty fields, valleys, and villages. It brings to you a feeling that you seem to walk in white clouds, enjoying magnificient scenes of mountains. 

Buu Minh Pagoda

Buu Minh Pagoda sits in the north of Pleiku. The above photo depicts the pagoda standing next to coffee plants in bloom. The plants flower two or three times in December and March, which lasts around ten days.

This is one of the photo albums by Phan Nguyen, which showcases the magnificent and scenic landscape of Gia Lai Province. Gia Lai is known for coffee, pepper, rubber and mighty waterfalls.

Nghe An Province

Nghe An Province sits in the East-West Economic Corridor in the connection with Myanma, Thailand, Lao and Vietnam. Nghe An is one of the tourist attractions. In Nghe An would visit you many resorts, Pu Mat National Park, and UNESCO-recognized Western Nghe An Biosphere reserve with primitive rain forest. 

Bay Mau Coconut Forest

A small boat accommodates two passengers only to go along ever-green coconut forest which is named Bay Mau Coconut Forest. This is a popular tourist attraction, only two miles away from Hoi An Ancient Town. Coconut is a typical tree in Mekong Delta regions, where many local people live on the kind of tree, for instance, they produce coconut candies, a speciality of Ben Tre Province. Thus, Bay Mau Coconut Forest is a version of the Mekong Delta region in Middle Vietnam. Rarely know visitors about this tour. This is a must-visit destination in your upcoming plan once coming to Vietnam.

Long Coc Tea Hills

Long Coc tea hills sit in the northern province of Phu Tho. The best time to take its snap falls by the sunrise when mist gently rolls in the air and shrouds hills. Local people live on tea farming, a main source of income.

Collection of Ao Dai (long dress) by Chung Vo

A collection of ao dai by designer Chung Vo, which has just launched in a fashion market, has attracted a significant number of enthusiasts. The collection is named "She of designer Chung Vo" and most well-known fashion models: 2017 Vietnam Universe Queen H'hen Nie, Supermodel Hoang Yen, 2018 Earth Queen Phuong Khanh, Model Minh Tu, 2015 Universe Queen Le Hang ...

My A is the main fabric of this dress. Chung wants to introduce Vietnam's traditional material to the market. It was used to be popular in the '70s.

Ta Pa Rice Field

A photo depicts a rice field after crop harvest. Ta Pa Hill sits in An Giang Province, southern Vietnam. The locals live on growing paddles, their lives much depend upon the climate, particularly raining. The population includes the Khmer People who have hospitality. When you visit this region, you will meet smiling children, friendly adults who enthusiastically help you in your tour.

Life here is pure, natural and keeps away from the hustle and bustle of a city. This is the reason why the influx of visitors comes in An Giang in greeting seasons. 

Sapa on sunrise

A rice terrace field nests in the middle of a range of mountains in Sapa that draw the attention of photographic enthusiasts. Sapa is a small town in Lao Cai Province close to China border, a tourist attraction where visitors come on year-end days to enjoy snow which covers this region. Also, Sapa is home to many tribal communities which provide opportunities for travellers to learn more about the culture and lifestyle of ethnic minority people.

The above photo depicts a boy who is leading to a buffalo to a field, followed by his parents. They are harvesting a rice crop. Far behind them is their cottage house.

Ao Dai Collection Lien Huong

Ao Dai designer Lien Huong has just released a collection of ao dai, presenting ancient constructions of Ho Chi Minh City, named as Saigon oi. Known as a fashion designer specialised in painting flowers on ao dai for 25 years old, Lien Huong has made a breakthrough in their trend by introducing a new style of design.

On the background of an ao dai, Lien Huong creates the remembrance of long-standing buildings such as Notre Dame Cathedral, Post Office, Rex Hotel, Ben Thanh Market, People's Committee Ho Chi Minh City...

Lien Huong revealed that she did not only show her feelings towards the city but also her pride over being its citizen. 

Vinh Trang Pagoda

At the heart of Vietnam's Mekong Delta sits a gorgeous, immense pagoda which is a must for Buddhist worshippers in a tour of pilgrimage every year.  One of the traits the pagoda has attracted the attention of worshippers is the exquisite temple and large garden, surrounding this sacred place. 

Giant Buddhist status towers over an ornate garden in the magnificent sanctuary, decorated with carved and gilded wood. The pagoda is home for abandoned children and donations from local and international helpers.