Life in H'Mong Community

 

A rice terraced field. Credit: Vo Van Phi Long's photo

Vo Van Phi Long, the 32-year-old man, quit his job in Quang Nam's hometown to plant in the village to do his own business in Can Ty 1, Ma Quai commune, Sin Ho district from mid-December 2021.  

The Dien Ban man shared that he used to work for a non-profit social organization so that he could go to many places in Vietnam. Phi Long experiences the ethnic group's cultural identity and culinary specialities of many regions, especially highland villages.  

He celebrated Tet away from his family, but he still felt the warmth because people gave him peach branches, thick cakes and even pork.  

The corner of the wooden house where Phi Long lives the village" still had the Tet atmosphere with blooming peach blossom branches.

Credit: Vo Van Phi Long's photo

Sin Ho Plateau has a cool, cloudy climate, named the second Sa Pa of the Northwest region, with the highlight of the villages lying on the mountainside. The picture above depicts a scene of drifting clouds in Na Ke village.

 "Four years ago, I first set foot in Sin Ho. What impressed me was the wild and beautiful scenery, the friendly and hospitable people. My legs always want to move and help people more this year I return to Sin Ho to celebrate Tet with the people," Phi Long said.

Credit: Vo Van Phi Long's photo

Dotted with plum flowers, houses nest in Pa Chao O village, Hong Thu commune. People in the Sin Ho district grow many peaches, plums and pears, so every spring, flowers bloom. The majority of ethnic groups in Sin Ho are Thai and H'Mong, and the rest are Kinh, Dao, Lu, Khang and Kho Mu.

People's life is still difficult. With his experience, Phi Long stayed in the village on this Tet holiday, with the people doing economic activities, sharing documents on cultivation and animal husbandry.

He supported people to consume agricultural products such as plums, flowers, brown pears, peaches, honey, jade crane mushrooms, and ginseng. Quang Nam boy is helping some people in Can Ty 1 village to grow fruit trees and medicinal herbs. "I'm delighted to do something meaningful like this," said Phi Long.

Credit: Vo Van Phi Long's photo

H'Mong children play spinning tops on Tet. In addition to tug of war, pounding, throwing, the young men and children also like to ply spinning tops. The games of each ethnic group are often different in size, shape, and way of playing, the rules of winning and losing.  

The material of a spinning top is hardwood, cut down round, the lower end gradually shrunk into a sharp point.

Top 10 Most Popular Destinations in Vietnam You Shouldn't Miss on Your 2022 Getaway

 

 Vietnam's Top 10 Tourist Destinations in 2022

Phu Quoc (Kien Giang), Da Lat (Lam Dong), Sa Pa (Lao Cai)... are places Vietnamese tourists want to return to in 2022, according to VnExpress readers' votes.  

Phu Quoc

A lady is standing on the beach in the early morning. Credit: Phan Phuong's photo

Phu Quoc is one of the paradises of sunshine beachs. It's the most favourite destination tourists want to make a getaway this year. VN Express took on a survey on tourist psychology from December 1 to 20, 2021. The survey recorded more than 10,000 responses. 

The island has the pride in 150- km coastline, where there are many beautiful beaches such as Bai Truong, Bai Khem... and primeval forest in the north of the island. The sea area of ​​Phu Quoc includes 22 large and small islands such as Hon Thom, Hon May Rut, Hon Mong. Especially, in recent years, Phu Quoc is developing with rocket speed, offering many experiences of 5-star resort, shopping, world-class entertainment.

Dalat

A couple is riding a scooter on off-street route. Credit: Pham Minh Tai's photo

Dalat ranks the second on the list. You like the year-round cool weather, romantic scenery, and many check-in points. The city always creates a year-round attraction, especially tourists from Ho Chi Minh City on short trips.  

When Da Lat falls in the cherry blossom season, you'll admire the flowers in Lac Duong (at the foot of Lang Biang mountain), Tuyen Lam lake, and Da Quy slope. 

 Sapa

A church in white in winter .Credit: To Ba Hieu's photo

Sa Pa ranks the third place in the record. The town's all-year-round cool weather adds more impression to a must-visit destination Fansipan Peak. Many captivating attractions include Cat Cat village, Ta Van village, and lots of others. 

The picture shows the snow covering the Fansipan peak in February of 2021. Lao Cai province has many famous attractions such as Y Ty (Bat Xat district) with pristine scenery, Bac Ha where the local still retain the identity of the highland ethnic people. 

Da Nang City

Credit: Vuong Khai Thinh's photo

Da Nang, named as the city of bridges, always stands hing in the ranking of the most favorite destinations. The city represents a convergence of many tourism potentials such as a 30-km coastline, Ba Na - Nui Chua nature reserve, Son Tra peninsula.  

In addition, the city owns beautiful resorts, attractions and experiences such as Ba Na Hills, Ngu Hanh Son mountain, and river cruises at night. 

Ha Long 

Credit: Hello Tour

Ha Long ranks the fifth place in the list. The heritage bay possesses 1,600 limestone islands, undulating in green waters. The land islands are inhabited, possessing a rich flora and fauna. In particular, the bay is also home to many beautiful caves, where there are traces of human life from thousands of years ago.

Nha Trang

Credit: Khoa Tran's photo

In the 6th place appears Nha Trang, the capital of Khanh Hoa province, possessing many beautiful beaches, islands and bays. In addition, the city also has many interesting attractions and photography spots such as the Oceanographic Museum, Hon Chong scenic area, embankment with green moss carpet, and Ponagar tower.

Ha Giang

 

A countryside in Ha Giang Province. Credit: Duc Phuoc's photo

Ha Giang ranks the 7th place as it possesses majestic and pristine natural landscapes such as Dong Van rock plateau, Ma Pi Leng pass, Tu San alley and Nho Que river. In addition, the province also captivates tourists by the identity and life of the highland ethnic people, and the annual flower season such as buckwheat, mustard flower, and peach blossom.

Hoi An

Credit: VN Express

Cultural Heritage of Hoi An Ancient Town (Quang Nam) appears the 8th point on the list. Pho Hoi impresses visitors by the peaceful beauty of the Thu Bon River. Once a busy commercial scene, this place preserves the architectural heritage of hundreds of years ago, with the beauty of mixing between Vietnam, Japan, and China. 

Coming to Hoi An, you'll walk in the middle of the street with yellow-painted houses, mossy roofs and confetti in front of the porch. You'll take a basket boat to visit Bay Mau coconut forest or Cu Lao Cham.

Con Dao

Credit: VN Express's photo

Con Dao is a favorite destination of many tourists. Coming to the island, you have a variety of experiences such as conquering 3 landmarks marking Vietnam's territorial waters (on the photo), releasing baby turtles to the sea, visiting Vo Thi Sau's grave.

 

Binh Thuan

Credit: Tuan Viet's photo

 

Finally, Binh Thuan, a "sleeping princess", possesses a lot of tourism potential, but has not really attracted tourists, part from Mui Ne beach. The province also offers the white sand beach, low hills, unspoiled sand dunes, and many beautiful scenes. Especially, the land has a rich culture and long history such as Champa culture, which retains the ruins of Po Sah Inu tower and Po Klong Mohnai temple.

 

 

 

 

Dieu Hoa Takes a Photo With Her Two Daughters.

Miss Dieu Hoa made a family photo set to welcome the arrival of her two daughters coming back from the US to reunite the family on Tet. They are Dieu My and Dieu Ly.

Miss Dieu Hoa and her family pose for a photo. Credit: VN Express

The photo above includes Miss Vietnam 1990, her Indian husband - Maneesh Dane, eldest daughter Dieu My (third from left) and Dieu Ly (second from left).

Dieu My clad with traditional Vietnamese dress. Credit: VN Express

Dieu My 25 years old, studying management, marketing and business at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, is working in the US.

Dieu Ly. Credit: VN Express

Dieu Ly is 24 years old, pursuing the profession of communication and film at New York University. She also works abroad like her older sister.

Credit: VN Express

The two daughters inherit many similarities from Dieu Hoa. Many have advised them to try their hand at beauty pageants. However, Dieu My and Dieu Ly only focused on studying.  

In addition to her two daughters, the beauty queen has the youngest son, Hoang Phi, studying computer science in his third year in Washington.  

 

 

Biosphere Reserve Kon Ha Nung

 

Biosphere Reserve Kon Ha Nung. Credit: Tran Hoa

Biosphere Reserve Kon Ha Nung

The photo depicts a waterfall in the biosphere reserve, which is more than 50 meters high. It ranks in the top 10 of the most beautiful waterfalls in the Central Highlands. You'll discover a large cave surrounded by forests.  

UNESCO has recognised Biosphere Reserve Kon Ha Nung as one of the world's heritage. The people in this region have pride in protecting the ecosystem and environment and enhancing sustainable development.

Credit: Vietnam A

You'll discover rare species such as the Gray-shanked douc, which is on the list of primate species in Vietnam. Thanks to being unknown, the reserve still the biodiversity intact and play a key role of balancing the ecology in the Central Highlands, the  central Vietnam and southeast regions of Vietnam.

The Biosphere Reserve has the function to maintain and develop diverse fauna and flora in the region. According to UNESCO requirements, the reserve should represent a bio-geographic region, enhance sustainable development, and occupy a large area. Currently, the reserve still maintain and develop at least 1,000 primate species of Vietnam. 

Apart from the natural reservation, the reserve offers you a chance to learn about the original culture values of communities living on farming. You'll find the reserve an outstanding heritage of tangible and intangible culture.

 

Five Romantic, Unique Valentine's Ideas for Your Loved Ones Don't Break the Bank.

What ideas aspire you to hold a Valentine Day yet? Think about to surprise your loved one one of Valentine's Day celebrating ways. They are very unique, romantic and extremely economical way to offer that person an unforgettable date.

Five Ways to Hold a Valentine Day for Your Loved One.

The words of love mixed with the characteristic aroma of coffee create a memorable romantic Valentine's Day. Credit: Thoi Trang Tre

Valentine's Day is coming in the corner. Surprise and make spellbound your loved one with a small homemade party with delicious, appetizing dishes. You are turning it into a romantic unique Valentine Day this year.

We inspire you some easily-realized ideas to organize a Valentine Day with accessories that you already get around the house.

 

Credit: Thoi Trang Tre

If your sweet heart is a romantic movie fan, he or she will fall in love with drinks, cakes, chocolate and flowers along with soft music under the shimmering, fanciful candlelight. 

Credit: Thoi Trang Tre

If both of you want to view the star in the sky, Valentine Day near a balcony looking down the street is ideal. It's very suitable for those loving open air. Or a picnic on the terrace is alternative. 

Credit: Thoi Trang Tre

 If your lover love nature, it's a very suitable one including a little bit of  green vibe with leaf-covered tippies.

Credit: Thoi Trang Tre

Inspire your date a classic feeling with plants, flowers and some snacks you both enjoy.  

Credit: Thoi Trang Tre

 If you are chock-full of work, all you need to have a favorite rug, special bottles of wine, cheese, desserts and watch your favorite movie together right in your room.

New Traditional Ao Dai Models You May not Know Yet.

The set of the Ao Dai photos conveys the pure beauty and nostalgia of Tet's celebration of the 2022 Lunar New Year.   

Model Bao Ha clad with ao dai. Credit: Zee Nguyen's photo

 New Ao Dai Models

The traditional ao dai models are available to celebrate of New Year of the Tiger with the topic "A whole sky of love". The image of the Ao Dai is familiar and dear, especially on the occasion of the Lunar New Year. Bao Ha and her crew Saigon artists are making a set of photos in the Ho Chi Minh City Museum of Fine Arts.

Model Bao Ha. Credit: Zee Nguyen's photo

The white Ao Dai with vibrant floral motifs and puff-sleeve design inspires a youthful. 12-year-old Bao Ha, who is gradually turning into adulthood, is wearing the white ao dai.

 

Credit: Zee Nguyen's photo

Even if ao dai becomes a popular image, it's still peculiar in the familiarity and familiarity in the strange. Her grace, sophistication and sweetness create a very personal atmosphere of Spring 2022, an exceptional spirit that represents both Tet-like and a little nostalgic with a hint of poetry. 

Credit: Zee Nguyen's photo

 

Bao Ha is wearing five different styles, shining and carrying other spirits typical of the Vietnamese Lunar New Year.

 

Credit: Zee Nguyen

Immediately after the photo shooting, Bao Ha said goodbye to the crew to return home to clean the house, helped her parents decorate everything and prepare for the 2022 Lunar New Year with her family. 

Credit: Zee Nguyen's photo

"After two years of the pandemic, I understand that what I want on this Tet holiday is nothing but health for myself and my family, so that I can continue to work and work, dedicate more in 2022," model Bao Ha confided.

Tet Nonclassical Experiencing You May Be Interested in

 

Tet celebration in ancient village Duong Lam. Credit: Cao Tung's Photo

 Tet Traditional Welcome

The traditional way to welcome Tet includes staying at home on New Year's Eve, making offerings, breaking the ground at the beginning of the new year. But now is no longer a mandatory custom for many people, particularly young people who are working at the office for the whole year. 

Some young families now tend to travel spring through Tet. Therefore, experiencing New Year's Eve at the resort in many different styles is an appropriate suggestion.  

Tet Non-Traditional Welcome in Halong Bay

Welcoming New Year's Eve far away in modern resorts is one of the most favorite options for families who choose to go out during Tet.

A couple wearing a five-piece ao dai savors a dinner on Heritage Cruise. Credit: Online VN Exress

On the Tet's eve, you and your family can welcome the new year on a cruise in Ha Long Bay (Quang Ninh). Some yachts such as serving throughout Tet, bring you to Ha Long Bay and Lan Ha Bay (Hai Phong). 

At Heritage Cruises, there was an exhibition of 30 Hang Trong paintings and an experience of wrapping banh chung. During the day, the boat takes you through the bay. New Year's Eve has dinner party in the restaurant with live music program. The price of accommodation on the cruise is from 3,050,000 VND/person, including rooms, 4 meals and kayaking experience, and visiting Bright Dark cave. 

Tet Celebration at Infinity Hotels

A pair is celebrating Tet in a royal surrounding. Credit: Online VN Express

Hotels in Hue, Cam Ranh (Khanh Hoa) all organize Tet celebrations. Specifically, Alma Resort Cam Ranh (Khanh Hoa) celebrates Tet from the New Year's eve to the 5th. In which, the main lobby has Tet atmosphere with 6 food stalls. 

You can join in packing Chung cake with your family, watch a lion dance, and ask for the New Year's word. On this occasion, if you stay at least 3 nights, you can get many services such as free Jet Skiing. 

Laguna Lang Co complex (Hue) recreates the old Tet for nearly a week. You participate in the spring fair with many folk games and cook banh chung. In addition to the culinary area serves specialties of the three regions, hotels serves Hue royal cuisine party on New Year's eve, and you get seafood BBQ to celebrate the New Year.

Tet Celebration in Highland Sapa

Topas Ecolodge Resort hosts many activities such as receiving lucky money with lucky spin at room check-in, and buffet breakfast with Tet flavors during the Lunar New Year, . Local staff wear traditional costumes of the Tay ethnic group, and visitors will enjoy rice wine, fire dance and cheraw dance. 

Tet's Sapa-Styled Celebration. Credit: Online VN Express

Sapa Jade Hill Resort, a resort with palm-roofed villas on the hill, offers visitors a warm Tet holiday. Guests staying in a completely wooden space can watch the sea of ​​clouds and enjoy the cuisine at the upland fair that is available from the 2nd. The upland market is an annual activity during Tet in Sapa Jade Hill.

The Mong Village also organizes many activities such as fireworks on the ground to welcome the new year on New Year's Eve. In addition, there are activities such as making campfires, wrapping green banh chung and boiling cakes together. 

Gathering around the fire with their loved ones, visitors can enjoy sweets, potatoes, corn... that the resort prepares. These days, they serve salted onions and banh chung so that visitors can celebrate Tet far away but still feel warm and reunited.

Exciting Party in Phu Quoc

Perched in the southwest of the island, Pullman Phu Quoc Hotel offers many activities during Tet. Specifically, on the night of January 31, visitors who are staying here will welcome the new year with a countdown party on the rooftop. 

The hotel serves light snacks during a lively performance with DJ and brilliant ground fireworks. The following morning to the 3rd, you can experience the miniature Tet market, and selling stalls for local specialties. 

Pullman Hotel. Credit: Online VN Express

On the evening of January 31, Sunset Beach Resort and Spa also held a party with a lively music space. Guests savour a delicious seafood buffet with tuna, black tiger shrimp, cockles plus welcome cocktails, fruit juices.

 

 

Coffee Shop in Hoi An

Coffee Shop 

A colourful lantern coffee shop stands at a corner of Chau Thuong Van Street. It opens very early in the morning to welcome guests.

After the lockdown due to Covid-19, Hoi An is one of five localities open for the international pilot arrivals in phase 1 and is one of three localities that receive international visitors. This ancient town is one of the places proposed by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism to continue implementing the phase 2 international pilot program, ready to completely open to international tourism. 

A collection of photos depicts the scenery and rhythm of spring life in Hoi An ancient town through the lens of Phan Cong Nguyen. In the past few days, Phan Cong Nguyen (also known as Phan Nguyen, born in 1996), the administrator of the "Review Hoi An" group, has been roaming around to record the beauty of Hoi An ancient town to welcome the Lunar New Year. 

Nguyen was born in Nghe An and has lived with Hoi An for five years, so he considers the old town his second homeland. In the collection, he recorded the image of a peaceful Hoi street corner in the spring. All the streets of Hoi An put on a spring shirt to attract tourists. 

UNESCO recognized Hoi An as a World Cultural Heritage in 1999. Many activities to welcome the Lunar New Year are parts of the organizational plan, such as the program "Going to Hoi An to travel to spring" with the link between Hoi An Ancient Town and traditional craft villages. Accordingly, you can visit and learn about tangible and intangible cultural values ​​in the Old Quarter, Tra Que vegetable village, Thanh Ha pottery village and enjoy the scenery of Hoi An by tram system.

 

 

Tet Trending Selfies in Sapa

A girl sitting on the roof for posing. Credit: Online VN Express

 

 

Tet is a photographic chance.

You may know that Tet is a fantastic opportunity to take selfies. Many tourists rent minority-people-styled clothes to take photos or do selfies in Sa Pa. Fashion styles feature characteristics of Mongolians or Tibetans.

Loving the scenery and weather of Sapa, on the occasion of the Lunar New Year, Ms Vu Tra My (Hanoian) chose this place as a spring trip for the whole family. Through learning about amusement parks and staying in tour groups, she saw many tourists "hunting clouds", taking photos with Tibetan costumes, so she booked a shooting service for a family of 3. Because she knew many people were taking pictures, she reserved this service a week in advance. The fee includes costumes and makeup.

Ms. My's 3-member family wear costumes of minority people to take photos. Credit: Online VN Express

Due to the weather, the family took pictures at Cat Cat village, not hunting clouds at O ​​Quy Ho pass. She shared that she was delighted with the photo set because every member looks beautiful and has a new style in photos. 

She had come to town many times to make a set of photos with traditional H'Mong people's costumes. "Sa Pa offers majestic mountains and forests, it's cold and foggy, so it's pretty suitable to wear such clothes. Last year, it was impossible to travel abroad, and destinations with such products are desirable to domestic tourists. ", she says.

A girl clad with minority-people costume. Credit: Online VN Express

Costume-renting service is growing.

Ms Nguyen Hong Thu Trang (Hanoian) booked a photo service with Tibetan costumes in Sa Pa. "Having come here to travel a lot, every time I want to find and share something new," said she.

This photography trend sharing page may encounter many mixed opinions because it is not suitable or authentic to the identity of the Vietnamese ethnic groups. "According to my opinion, it's not offensive pictures. I mean a cultural exchange to create the difference in photos. The wild and majestic scenery of Sa Pa is also very suitable for the vibrant colours of the costumes," she says. She highly appreciates the creativity and careful investment of costume suppliers.

 

A girl  poses for a shooting in a farm. Credit: Online VN Express

Apart from Thu Trang or Tra My, many are fond of the photography trend in Sa Pa. It's now a hit attracting visitors after the photos are available on social networks. Nguyen Lan Phuong, manager at Bao Art SaPa, considered the origin of this movement. She said that guests are in great demand for Tibetan style photography. Currently, the establishment has 12 gripping outfits booked every day, and even many customers have to make an early deposit to keep on holiday.

 

A couple is drinking tea in a tea shop. Credit: Online VN Express

 

Phuong shared an idea from her passion for the nomadic life, the vast green savannahs, and endless grass in Mongolia and Tibet. She also realized that Sapa has many suitable spots to take pictures with such colourful costumes in many photoshoots. She said she got ideas for Tibetan costumes, ordered online or coordinated the details to match.

Mr Hoang Trung Hieu, who works at a rental service Greenfarm, said ten sets of Tibetan costumes are available. The stock of suits has run out every day in the last few months, as many customers order but the service doesn't supply enough. We bought such costumes from China or Vietnamese stores. In addition, it is necessary to invest in more fur hats, canvas shoes, bows and arrows, lucky rods, bone rings. Many visitors are willing to pay at least 3 million dongs for a set of photos to keep unforgettable moments.

Duong Quoc Hieu, a photographer in Sa Pa, said that guests take 15 sets of photos each week for guests on average. Outfits are often out of stock now, so visitors have to order early. Suitable photography locations include mountain scenery, decorated with many wooden tents such as Cat Cat village, cloud hunting check-in point on O Quy Ho pass, Rock Garden Homestay, Best View. 

 

A couple takes a photo. Credit: Online VN Express

Hieu said that having more photography trends without objection will attract visitors and create a new point for the destination. He said he plans to order more models of yak cows shortly to make scenes for tourists to take photos.

Currently, the images posted by tourists on social networks receive hundreds and thousands of likes. The cost for a set of photos is about 1.5-2 million VND. In addition, visitors can order their costumes for about 400,000 VND/person.

Many people think that the photos are captivating. They are interested in experiencing Sapa, but some believe that tourists should not breed but only wear traditional costumes to honour the culture and scenery of Vietnam.