vietnam heritage no.43 november-december 2014

10:4 NO

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2014

CULTURAL HERITAGE ASSOCIATION OF VIETNAM

How the beteland areca

nut came to be

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ARUTLLTUC

NOITAATICOSSAEGATTAIREH

MANTEIVFON

HO CHI MINH CITYNational University Ho Chi Minh City (22/10/2014 - 25/10/2014), Block 06, Linh Trung Ward, Thu Duc, Ho Chi Minh City

Centre for Defense Education - National University (27/10/2014 – 31/10/2014), National University Ho Chi Minh City, Dong Hoa- Di An- Binh Duong

University of Social Sciences and Humanities (12/11/2014 - 15/11/2014)10-12 Dinh Tien Hoang Street, Ben Nghe Ward, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City

Independence Palace (23/11/2014 - 28/11/2014), 135 Nam Ky Khoi Nghia Street, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City

PHAN THIETOcean Dunes Resort (23/10/2014 - 28/10/2014), 01 Ton Duc Thang St., Dist. Phan Thiet, Binh Thuan Province

NHA TRANG2/4 Square (30/10/2014 - 06/11/2014), Khanh Hoa Province

Nha Trang University (10/11/2014 - 14/11/2014), 2 Nguyen Dinh Chieu Street, Nha Trang, Khanh Hoa Province

CAN THOCan Tho Museum (19/11/2014 - 25/11/2014), 1 Hoa Binh, Tan An, Ninh Kieu Dist, Can Tho

Can Tho University (02/12/2014 - 05/12/2014), Zone II 3/2 Street, Xuan Khanh Ward, Ninh Kieu District, Can Tho

HANOIHanoi University of Foreign Trade (25/11/2014 - 27/11/2014), 91 Chua Lang, Lang Thuong, Dong Da District, Hanoi

Hanoi Museum (04/12/2014- 04/01/2015), Pham Hung, Nam Tu Lien, Hanoi

DA NANGDanang University of Technology (01/12/2014 - 05/12/2014), 54 Nguyen Luong Bang, Danang

Danang Museum of Cham Sculpture (20/12/2014 - 10/03/2015), No 2 2/9 Street, Binh Hien, Hai Chau, Danang

HOI ANHoi An Silk Village (02/12/2014 - 10/03/2015), 28 Nguyen Tat Thanh, Hoi An

QUANG NINHQuang Ninh Library (06/11/2014 - 24/11/2014), Tran Quoc Nhiem St., Hong Hai Ward, Ha Long City

VUNG TAUBien Dong Resort (10/12/2014 - 20/12/2014), 08 Thuy Van, Thang Tam Ward, Vung Tau, Ba Ria - Vung Tau Province

AN GIANGAn Giang Museum (16/12/2014- 16/03/2015), 11 Ton Duc Thang, My Binh Ward, Long Xuyen, An Giang Province

MY THOConvention Center (22/12/2014 - 23/12/2014), My Tho City, Tien Giang Province

My Tho City Dock (24/12/2014 - 24/01/2015), No 8 30/4 Street, My Tho, Tien Giang Province

PHOTO EXHIBITIONS

PRIZE ANNOUNCEMENT ON 23 NOVEMBER 2014at Independence Palace, Ho Chi Minh City

Published by the Cultural Heritage Association of Vietnam Publication licence No: 1648/GP-BTTTT from the Ministry of Information and Communications of the SocialistRepublic of Vietnam for the English-language edition of The Gioi Di San (The World of Heritage) magazineEditor-in-Chief: Le Thanh Hai; Public Relations Director: Bui Thi Hang;Sub-editing: Erik Johnson; Assistant: Kha Tu Anh; Production: Nguyen Hoang Kim Long; Contributing Photographers:Nguyen Ba Han, Hoang Quoc Tuan, Hoang The Nhiem, Huynh Van Nam, Le Hoai Phuong, Nguyen Anh Tuan; Ngo Nguyen Huynh Trung Tin; Tran Viet DucCorrespondent: Pip de Rouvray; Advertising and Circulation: Green Viet Advertising JSC Advertising and Subscriptions Service: Email: [email protected];Thuy Phuong 0166 79 70 706 Email: [email protected] Advertising and Subscription: The He Moi MHN Viet Nam Co.Ltd, Mr Song Hao: 0903 476 999 Contact in the US for subscription and advertising: 2628 Sturla dr. San Jose, CA 95148 Vietnam Heritage is published monthly, produced in Vietnam and printed at Army Printing House No 2. © All rights reserved.

Value for money

What the papers say

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Events3432

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COVER STORYCustomsHow the betel and areca nut came to be

No 10, Vol.4, November-December 2014

Vietnam Heritage Editorial Office:l 4th Floor, 1/1 Hoang Viet St., Ward 4,Tan Binh District, Ho Chi Minh City

Tel: (84-8) 38 11 88 46 Fax: (84-8) 38 11 87 75

Email: [email protected]@gmail.com

www.vietnamheritage.com.vn

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MedicineWhen healthcare was a royal prerogative

ConservationSearching for the snake god

AdvertorialEmeralda Resort Ninh Binh: Paradise AwaitsMui Ne Seahorse is a sure bet

Art‘Easy listening' for the eye at Sofitel

2022

FoodDelectable dishesWMC Group Helping to Raise Saigonto World-Class City Status

Music‘Khen’ - bamboo flute of the Hmong

26CraftsA touch of beauty

28CultureWells of life

30TravelThe aroma of the soul

Cover photograph:Illustration by Phan Ngoc Vinh

Vietnam Heritage

Vietnam Heritage

VIETNAM HERITAGE - NOVEMBER-DECEMBER 2014 • 5

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Ghềnh Đá Đĩa or the Cliff of Stone Plates, Phu Yen Province. South Central VietnamPhoto: Dinh Huu Ngot

In ancient times lived the brothers Tanand Lang, who, although their ageswere different, looked as alike as twopeas in a pod. Their father was the

tallest and biggest person in the region. Hewas rewarded by the Hung court, which be-stowed on him the honorary name ‘Cao’(tall). From then on, his family assumed theChinese character ‘Cao’ for their genealogy.

As the brothers grew up, their parentspassed away. The brothers then becamemore attached to one another than ever. Be-fore their father had passed, he entrustedTan to a Taoist from the Luu family. Tanstudied with the Taoist, and Lang, unwillingto just stay at home, went to study alongsidehis brother. In the Luu household was a girlof the same age and social standing as thetwo brothers. Loving feelings for the girlsprouted up in both the brothers, but shegave her heart to the older brother. The LuuTaoist betrothed the girl to Tan. After theywere married, the husband and wife went toa new home, where Lang lived togetherwith them.

Since the day he married his wife, Tancontinued to cherish his younger brother,but not as ardently as in the past. Lang feltlonesome and his heart was full of sadnessand despondency.

One day, Lang and Tan went together tothe terrace-fields until late in the night.Lang went home first. He had just steppedpast the threshold when Tan’s wife came outrunning from her chamber and embracedhim. Lang cried out. His sister-in-law’s mis-taking him for her husband made themboth feel ashamed. At the time of the inci-dent, Tan had just stepped inside. Fromthen on, Tan harboured jealously towardshis brother. Tan’s jealousy accentuated hiscold temperament towards Lang. Lang, feel-ing downhearted, indignant and ashamed,wanted to leave home.

One day in the dark early morning, Langabsconded from the house and travelledalong a dirt trail. After several days on theroad, Lang came across a large swift-flowingriver. He was unable to get across the river,so he just sat down on the riverbank, heldhis head, and cried. Lang cried and waileduntil even the birds that prey in the night

could hear his sobs. By morning, Lang waslittle more than a spiritless corpse andthereupon, he turned to stone.

Tan waited and watched, but he didn’tsee his brother anywhere. Tan was contrite,for he knew that his brother had taken offbecause he was resentful of him. Tan wentsearching for his brother without saying aword to his wife. After several days, Tan, too,arrived at the banks of the broad swift-flow-ing river. Without any means to get across,he followed along the river until he foundhis younger brother, who had turned to

stone. Tan stood beside the stone and weptuntil only the burbling of the rushing waterremained. Tan died and transformed into atree that sprouted straight up towards thesky beside the stone.

Tan’s wife back home waited and waited,but her husband didn’t return, so she, too,left the house to look for him. The womansat next to the tree and wept until her tearsran dry. She then died and turned into avine that wound around the upward sprout-ing tree.

The Taoist and his wife waited for them,

8 • VIETNAM HERITAGE - NOVEMBER-DECEMBER 2014

CUSTOMS

How t areca n

CUSTOMS


but they didn’t see the three of them return,so the Taoist and his wife split up to look forthem. In front of the stone and the twoplants, they erected a shrine. That was ashrine for the ‘congenial brothers and faith-ful husband and wife.’

One year there was a drought. All vari-eties of vegetation were withered and dry.Only the two plants that sprouted up next tothe stone were still verdant. The Hung King,on a royal inspection tour, saw that it wasodd and asked the villagers about it.Touched by the story, the king felt com-

pelled to order someone to climb the tree,pick its fruit, and taste it. The flavour wasacrid and unexceptional, but when chewedwith the leaves of the vine an uncannyflavour came to the tip of the tongue. It wassweet, fragrant and pungent.

Suddenly, a courtier exclaimed, ‘Blood!’Everyone stood aback in awe. When theking’s spittle was expectorated onto thestone, it turned blood red. The king orderedthat they fetch all three of them so that hecould chew them together. He felt a heatedsensation as if inebriated in a bouquet of

liqueur and his lips turned crimson red andhe had a ruddy facial complexion. The kingdeclared, ‘Indeed, this is quite extraordi-nary.’

Thereafter, the king decreed that every-one cultivate strains of the plants and stipu-lated that all conjugal couples must havethose three things during their betrothalceremonies in memory of the love betweenthe aforementioned husband and wife. Thelegend of betel and areca nut thus came intobeing and constituted the beginnings of theVietnamese custom of chewing betel.

We don’t know when the legend came tobe or how long it has been veiled by thedusts of time, but its association with theHung Kings allows us to believe that the taleof the betel and areca nut along with thecustom of blackening the teeth by chewingbetel came into existence during that era.

In many boat-coffin graves that datefrom the time of the Hung Kings and AnDuong Vuong, archaeologists of ancienttimes found that the graves’ occupantsblackened their teeth and were buried withbetel leaves and areca nuts in their coffins.The graves have been determined to be

he betel and nut came to be

BY PHAM QUOC QUAN

Opposite, below: Betel and areca nut. Photo: James GordonAbove: Betel and areca nut, which arenecessary items in a wedding ceremony. Photo: Kim Thanh

Illustration: Phan Ngoc Vinh

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CUSTOMS

those of ancient Vietnamese, as ancient an-thropologists have specified anthropologicalindicators in them, while archaeologistshave recognized purely Vietnamese ele-ments in the manner of burial that is conso-nant with the riverine ways of farminginhabitants.

The custom of blackening the teeth bychewing betel seems to have ceased betweenthe seventh to eighth centuries of the Com-mon Era. It’s unclear whether archaeologistshave not yet discovered traces of it or thatthat was just the reality. That period was theera of northern (Chinese) feudal assimila-tion, which may have caused the ancientVietnamese of the region to be unable to re-sist conforming to Chinese ways in regards tothe custom. I don’t believe in the successfulassimilation by the foreign state very much,as in nearly every area, the ancient Viet-namese selectively adopted positive foreignelements while still retaining their originaltraditional character, which causes scholarsto assert that it was precisely only because weVietnamese resisted the Han and Tang Chi-nese that we are who we are.

Coming to the Ly and Tran dynasties,the custom of chewing betel is illuminedthrough the extremely rich collection ofterra-cotta and porcelain spittoons. Thattime can be seen as the nascence of a systemof Vietnamese spittoons, which developedall the way up to the August Revolution of1945.

In the Le Dynasty, the custom of black-ening the teeth by chewing betel existedprolifically and seems to have become ahabit of the imperial family and the nobility,for in the tomb of Emperor Le Du Ton wasfound an embroidered bag for holding beteland areca nut, and the emperor had black-ened teeth with a small proportion of goldin his hair. In many compounds from thetombs of officials were found material tracesof the custom, demonstrating that not onlywomen, but also men and not only the ple-beian classes, but also the ranks of royalty,officials and nobility all used betel and arecanuts as a traditional Vietnamese custom.

As for later dynasties, especially theNguyen, collections of imperial gold, silverand precious jewels present many gold and

silver pestles and mortars that were used forgrinding betel. Gold, jade, silver and bronzespittoons evince the rank and identities ofthose who used them. This is seen in thedecorative designs of dragons, phoenixes,the four sacred creatures (dragon, unicorn,tortoise and phoenix) and the four nobleplants (pine, chrysanthemum, bamboo andapricot) on the implements.

The custom of blackening the teeth bychewing betel became quite commonplaceduring the first decades of the twentieth-century. It entered into the lives of commonfolk through marriage ceremonies, funerals,ancestor remembrance days, and the adage‘a mouthful of betel is the beginning of aconversation.’ The custom can be consid-ered a thread that binds the community, vil-lage, and families. It is, moreover, theessential spirit of the people, which hasbeen preserved for over 2,000 years, such

that it, along with other cultural compo-nents, shaped the rich character of the Viet-namese people.

Today, the custom of blackening theteeth by chewing betel is already a thing ofthe past, yet it appears that worship rituals,betrothal ceremonies and marriages mustall have the areca fruit and a platter of betelas a Vietnamese recollection of the distantpast rather than as something of practicalsignificance. That is the custom’s symbolicvalue in Vietnamese culture, which we comeacross everywhere, although few notice it,especially today’s youth.n

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Clockwise from left:An early 20th-century northern woman, teeth blackened from chewing betel. Photo: Pierre Dieulefits; Women with blackened teeth from chewing betel, Bac Ninh Province, 2010. Photos: Nguyen Anh Tuan

Medical activitiesunder the NguyenDynasty were stillvery rudimentary.

Although the Nguyen Dynasty or-ganized many ministries like theMinistry of Personnel, Ministry ofRevenue, Ministry of Rites, Min-istry of Defence, Ministry of Justice,Ministry of Works, and Ministry ofEducation, there was still no com-prehensive agency for the manage-ment of medicine.

In the capital of Hue, there was

the Institute of Supreme Medicine(Thai Y Vien), which was only asmall medical unit reserved for theEmperor, the Royal Family, and theImperial Court. Everything elsewas entrusted to rustic physiciansand magicians, who freely workedtheir trade. Although they were notpromoted, they were not bound byany laws.

The selection of doctors for theInstitute of Supreme Medicine alsodid not adhere to any concrete reg-ulations. Anyone who had studied

medicine and carried out the tradeof a rural physician, despite theirbackground or social origins, couldapply for admission into the organ-ization. However, in reality, the ma-jority were the progeny of imperialdoctors or those recommended bythe Institute of Supreme Medicine.

In 1850, during the reign of Em-peror Tu Duc, the first medical uni-versity was founded with the goalof training personnel for the Insti-tute of Supreme Medicine man-aged by an Institute Commissioner.

MEDICINE


Tran Tien Hy, middle, an imperial physician during

the Nguyen Dynasty in Hue.The photo was taken in front of

his grandmother’s house in Hue. Photo from the archive of

researcher Nguyen Dac Xuan

BY DOAN VAN QUYNH *

When healthcare wasa royal prerogative

Every year, they held an examina-tion for the recruitment of superbrural doctors from north to south,who were called medical candi-dates (y sinh).

Whenever the Emperor left theImperial Palace, one of the imperialphysicians from the Institute ofSupreme Medicine had to followalong to attend to the emperor.Only doctors from the Institute ofSupreme Medicine were permittedto investigate the pulse of the em-peror or empress. Whenever theemperor wanted to get his healthchecked, the two highest-rankingmembers of the Institute ofSupreme Medicine were notifiedfirst; these two needed quiet timein order to have the lucid, tranquil,wholesome and unburdened spiri-tual essence when taking his pulsebefore making a diagnosis. Afterchecking the pulse, they returnedto consult with the doctors of theInstitute of Supreme Medicine tocarefully discuss complications andarrive at a truly accurate diagnosis.Afterwards, they drafted a prescrip-tion complete with the signaturesof the doctors on the panel. Theprescription would then be as-sessed by the Privy Council andpresented to the Emperor for hisconsideration and approval.

Whenever the Empress grewill, the doctor from the Institute ofSupreme Medicine was invited toexamine her pulse. The empress laybehind a curtain held up by cour-tesans that left only a small gap, justenough for the hand of the patientto stick through to the outside. Thedoctor examined the pulse througha thin silk cloth that discreetly cov-ered the Empress’s hand. [To avoidpointing directly at the body of theempress] Sometimes an ivorystatue had to be used to pointthings out, make inquiries, or de-scribe an ailment. Thus, the med-ical diagnostician could hardly

execute his art in accord with theprinciples of Oriental medicine –view, listen, examine the pulse, andinquire–which speaks to some de-gree of the confusion involvedwhen diagnosing an illness.

Obstetric and gynaecologicalissues lay in the hands of midwiveswho specialized in delivering ba-bies. These people were usuallywomen in the inner palace whowere trained to be midwives. Em-peror Gia Long had 22 children;Emperor Minh Mang had 126 chil-dren; and Emperor Thieu Tri had37 children. All their midwifery andpaediatrics were entrusted to themidwives. The doctors of the Insti-tute of Supreme Medicine wereonly called during the postnatal pe-riod or when obstetric complica-tions arose. Nevertheless, they wereonly permitted to check the pulseand issue prescriptions.

When imperial concubinesgrew ill, they had to be taken out ofthe Imperial Palace for treatment.They convalesced in the Royal Fe-male Sanatorium (Binh AnDuong), which was a small tile-roofed building to the northeast ofthe palace.

The army in general and eventhe soldiers defending the ImperialCity did not have any military med-ical organization to look afterthem. When soldiers got sick, theyconvalesced in the military bar-racks and found their own doctorsfor treatment. If they had seriousdiseases, they were permitted toleave the barracks to seek treat-ment. If they were afflicted with in-curable diseases, then they wererelieved of their duties and allowedto return to their hometowns.

Medical provisions for the sol-diers and magistrates were onlycarried out at certain times and inparticular regions.

Throughout the 18th century,clergymen held a role as doctors

alongside the Hue court. Amongthem were the French monk Va-chet and Polish monk Koffler. Theywere the first persons to spread theseeds of Western medicine.

Since the 19th century, clergy-men who doubled as doctors werereplaced by trained physicians.

In 1820, the surgeon Treilard ofthe French Navy arrived in Danang.He was summoned to the palace byEmperor Gia Long to attend to thehealth of the Princess. On manyoccasions, he secretly examined theailments of the Emperor.

According to ‘Duvigneau inRevue Indochinese’ (1906), theFrench naval doctor J.M. Despiaubecame an Imperial doctor duringthe reign of Emperor Gia Long andserved for 20 years up until thereign of Emperor Minh Mang. De-spiau was a trusted servant for theEmperor. During the time whensmallpox spread among the popu-lation, the Emperor sent him toMacao to seek out a vaccine.

After Despiau, it would be over50 years before another doctorwould be invited to the Hue court,so only doctors from the Instituteof Supreme Medicine looked afterthe medical services of the court.

It was not until the early yearsof the French occupation thatWestern doctors finally returned topenetrate the court. During thistime, Dr. Cotte of the French Mo-bile Hospital, who was stationed atThuan An harbour, was repeatedlysummoned to the palace to treatthe illnesses of Emperor DongKhanh.

Western medicine becameprominent from the day that theCentral Hospital of Hue was estab-lished in 1896 along with the Lab-oratory Medical Bio-Chemistryand the Central PharmaceuticalOffice.n

*Doan Van Quynh is a Hue re-searcher


MEDICINE


CONSERVATION

About four years ago, Tuan, a youngmember of the Vietnam ForestCreatures group, who lived nearthe National park Lo Go – Sa Mac,

Tay Ninh Province, called me and said thathe saw a very beautiful snake. Its skin was adark bloody colour, with evenly arranged pat-terns on the back. He was thrilled, thinkingthat he saw a snake deity, because his busi-ness went quite smoothly afterwards.

Recently, he called me again and excit-edly related about another encounter withthe ‘snake deity’ that he met earlier.

Tuan sent me some photos he took withhis mobile phone, under the shade of denseforest canopy. Although the pictures wereunclear, I could guess that it was very likelythat his ‘deity’ belonged to one of the threefamilies of Pythons that live in Vietnam.

We agreed to go together and see this‘snake deity’. It was the end of June, and themorning rain seemed to go on forever. Nearthe border with Cambodia, the water fromthe canals has flooded parts of the Lo Go –Sa Mac National Park.

I called a brother-in-arms of mine, whowas at the time, head of a forest guard postof the national park, to tell him about our in-tention. Though not planning to join us, hekindly assigned two of his rangers to accom-pany our research group. The rain didn’t stop.We decided to hike, following Tuan. In manyplaces, the water was already knee-deep.When we came to where Tuan found thesnake, the rain stopped. We started scouringan area of about a kilometre in diameter. It

was exhausting. Above us, the scorching sunbegan to penetrate the canopy.

We continued searching with the samemethod and scale until sunset, but foundnothing. We had to stop to make shelter forthe colourless, endless night.

The next morning, the birds and in-sects began noisily calling each to otherwhen the forest was still dark under a thicklayer of steam. It was a chaos of awakenedlife. Suddenly, we shuddered and jumpedout from under our blankets, hearingTuan’s hysterical shriek. Everybody rushedtoward the sound. Not far from the camp,Tuan was dead pale, his eyes bulging in afixed stare at a bush of weeds. His snakewas sleeping peacefully with a full bellyafter a hunting night.

Experienced in taking reptile samples, Isoftly pushed the leaves aside and looked atthe snake in the torch light without disturb-ing it.

After careful examination, I could nowsurely confirm to the Vietnamese and inter-national amphibian reptile researchers thatthey don’t have to doubt about the existenceof Python brongersmai in Vietnam any more.

Because of their beautiful natural coloursand patterns, Python brongersmai had beenhunted near extinction to satisfy human van-ity. They had been being considered ‘lost’from our country after many years.

It was recorded that in 1970, biologistCampden noted seeing the species sold inSaigon. In 1977 Grandison also noted that itwas raised in Ho Chi Minh City, Binh Thuan

and Ca Mau. As recently as 2005, a Viet-namese reptile researcher, Dr. NguyenQuang Truong and his colleagues also saw itbeing raised and sold at some farms in HoChi Minh City. Nevertheless the above un-connected facts couldn’t be evidences thatthese pythons did live in our country becausenobody has seen and collected their samplesin the wild.

For the safety of these rare and beautifulpythons, we cannot disclose the area of theirdistribution, not even in scientific researchreports.

Pythons are mostly big snakes, andamong the three python families that exist inVietnam, python brongersmai are the small-est. Python brongersmai are narrowly distrib-uted in Southern Vietnam. They are morewidely distributed in neighbouring coun-tries: Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore, Thai-land and Cambodia.

These snakes are not only short andthick, but they also have many colours, dif-ferent among individuals: black, dark red,golden and white. arranged in very beautifuland exotic patterns. They have small trian-gular head, with two hollows near the tip ofthe mouth. There are two small spur-likespikes on two sides of the anus. The head isyellow, with a greyish black stripe runningfrom the mouth to the sides of the neck.The back is brown, with a line of big yellowdots, which become longer and more fre-quent toward the tail. The sides have large,bluish grey dots with a black kernel. Thebody is up to two metres long.n

Searchingfor

the snakegod

TEXT AND PHOTO BY PHUNG MY TRUNG Python brongersmai


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Astream which diverts into a poolby the construction of a weir runsthrough the four-star SeahorseResort and Spa. This, together

with four hundred coconut palms and lawnsformed from Thai penny wort, give the Sea-horse Resort and Spa its special characteris-tics of warmth and charm. Dotted aroundthe 2.6 hectares are the super-comfortabledeluxe rooms and suites, bungalows and vil-las. A spacious pool, beach and ocean, a spawith a wide range of treatments and tworestaurants-one of which specialises ingrilled seafood-ensured that I and my wife’sall-too-brief stay left us feeling rejuvenated

and longing to return.We stayed in a deluxe garden view bun-

galow, within a stone's throw from the swim-ming pool and a few steps from the goldenstrip of beach. A unique feature was thecharming tapestry affixed to the bed head.The scene was of Vietnamese women wear-ing conical hats with young children in tra-ditional rural clothing. I also especiallyenjoyed sitting out on the veranda with a seabreeze blowing and relaxing to the sounds ofthe night. At the time of our stay, the ‘Sum-mer Promotion’ was on. For onlyVND1,899,000 (that is around $90) we bothgot accommodation for one night, mocktails,

breakfast buffet and a set lunch. To keep usbusy, this price even included a free round oftennis and use of the sauna thereafter.

After a substantial breakfast with atten-tive staff constantly topping up my cup ofAmerican coffee and for the first time in Viet-nam enjoying yogurt and dates at the Hip-pocampe Restaurant, I sat down by theswimming pool and met Mr Kha, the generalmanager. I voiced my fear of coconuts fallingon guests’ heads. ‘Do not fear, nobody heresings “Coconuts Keep Falling on My Head”’he informed me. Then he pointed out thenetting underneath all the bunches. ‘Wehave been operating for over ten years andnever had an accident,’ he informed me. Infact, I learned that apart from loving theirdecorative value, guests at Seahorse can sitby the pool and enjoy a coconut for a mereVND20,000.

Still on the subject of food and beverage,we had dinner at the ‘Seahorse Bistro’ restau-rant. Whilst this is roadside, the traffic at MuiNe is minimal compared to Saigon. Therewas quite a scene of the chefs at a grill stationcooking up seafood. There is display of fresh-as-a- daisy ‘fruit of the ocean.’ No need toorder a set seafood platter; here, you orderthe quantity of each item you desire and arecharged accordingly. They even have smalllobsters if you just want to sample such anexpensive crustacean.

For our meal we chose oysters, scallops,and king prawns. I wanted to see if they weregood at Western food too, so I ordered a pizzaand a Greek salad. This all came with gener-ous use of the mozzarella cheese on theHawaiian pizza. At my Vietnamese wife's be-hest, we also had on our plates a deliciousfreshwater white-textured fish. Viewed wholeat the grill, this was a small reddish fish. Thecolour is alluded to in its central Vietnamesename of ‘Ca Mong Ga’- in English translation,

Mui Ne is a s

Pho

tos:

Sea

hors

e R

esor

t and

Spa

'Cockscomb Fish'. A Googlesearch of its Southern Viet-namese name of 'Ca Ba Trau' re-vealed it is a kind of gourami, afish which is common inMekong delta waters. This fish iscommonly used in the dish‘Canh Chua’, Vietnamese soursoup. We washed it all down withbeer and mineral water, but thewine cellar at ‘Seahorse’ is exten-sive. It would have to be a bonedry Chardonnay or Rose to gowith such superb seafood.

One further activity I can rec-

ommend at Mui Ne is cycling.You will not find it too tiring, asthe terrain is flat and the seabreeze should cool you. The sev-eral kilometres into the actual vil-lage of Mui Ne fishing port withits vibrant market all along thebeachfront makes a pleasant ride.

For now, at least, 'The Sea-horse' Mui Ne offers superb valuefor money. It is a perfect place tounwind by enjoying gardens,pool and beach with the optionsof the spa and tennis court and

wrapping up your experienceswith fine dining. The friendlystaff will treat you like royalty, butyou will not pay a king's ransomand will have no fear of alarmingyour bank manager.

Sometimes selecting a hotelfor a place you have never vis-ited before can be a bit of a gam-ble. Gambling such as bettingon the horses at the SaigonRacecourse, is of course, amug's game. If you were, how-ever, to pick ‘Seahorse’ yousurely would be onto a winner!

Seahorse Resort and SpaNguyen Dinh Chieu Street,

Ham Tien Ward, Phan Thiet,Binh Thuan Province

Tel: (062) 3847-507 Email:

info.seahorseresortvn.comwww.seahorseresortvn.com

Published rates range from $90(VND1,890,000) for a StandardRoom to $256 (VND5,376,000)

for a Beach Front Bungalow,double occupancy and including

breakfast for two.

e Seahorse sure bet

BY PIP DE ROUVRAY

Painter speaksvolumes with flowers


ART

The Sofitel Saigon Plaza is morethan just a place to put your headdown on a luxury pillow and savourgorgeous French, Vietnamese and

International cuisine. If you do not want tomiss something great, I suggest you pick uptheir monthly newsletter available at recep-tion. This is a hotel that engages with thepublic at large, arranging events to showcaseaspects of French culture, but also promot-ing local culture and heritage.As can be expected with a hotel that is

part of the Accor Group, which is perhaps theworld's greatest hotel and hospitality brand,it only associates with the best. In coopera-tion with one of Saigon's most professionalart galleries, Craig Thomas, from 22 Octoberuntil the end of November, one can enjoy forfree an exhibition of eleven vibrantly-coloured and joy-evoking mixed media pic-tures by the Hanoi artist Nguyen The Hung,simply entitled ‘Little Flowers’.Situated in a corner of the vast lobby, the

paintings first strike one with the brightnessof their colours. They are mainly hues ofbright blue and red. Secondly, on closer in-spection, one notices that flowers and seedspredominate in all the pictures. Thirdly, thereis a presence of people together. In a self-por-trait, the figure is realistic. In the others, thereare detached heads and fairly abstract humanforms wrapped in long clothing. Without

straining the brain at all, Iconcluded these frameswere a celebration of fertil-ity and life both in natureand the human race. Theoverall emotions theyevoked for me were tran-quillity and joyfulness.The Hanoi-based artist

was not present at the pre-view I attended, all themore incentive to canvass the opinions ofother pundits. We all agreed there seemed tobe great influence from modern Western art.Only the flowers with their whorls and oftenlotus appearance and slanted eyes on facesgave way the game that the artist is Oriental.For me, these paintings emanating happinessand the detached heads recalled the work ofMarc Chagall. The chairman of a well-knowninternational accountancy firm saw hints ofGustav Klimt. Figures in flowing robes andthe use of gold leaf for parts of clothing wouldsubstantiate this view. Later, the chairman'swife appeared. I asked her if she liked thepaintings. ‘I don't want to like them,’ she said.‘If I like them, I will buy them’. At this, thechairman noticeably jolted, obviously calcu-lating the damage this might do to personalfinances. The most perspicacious commentcame from another habitue of these'vernissages', Leon who despite the name, is

a quintessential English gentleman.‘Painstaking; it must have taken the artistages to do this-not just slap-dollop-slap’!On the technical side, there is variety. All

but two of the works are mounted on can-vass; the exceptions are on dó paper. Hunguses acrylic paint, water colours andguoache. The latter is a technique wherebywater colours are thickened, usually usinggum arabic. If you were looking for the secretto his vibrancy, there you have it.There is variety also in the selection on

display. We have 'Little Flowers', numbersnine to eighteen of a series. Whilst they mayall follow the same theme, they are individ-ualistic and stand as independent works. Alittle more complicated is ‘Space for Show-ered Flowers’, a night scene depicting flowersshowering down on the twisted figures of anembracing couple. The two on rice paper Imentioned are 'Free Days 1 and 2', which

‘Easy list for the eye a

Artist Nguyen The Hung

show a female figure in differentshades of red. The first looks likean elongated queen from a packof playing cards. The second wasthe only one I did like, as thehighly distorted face is unpleas-ing. Then, there is strikingly re-alistic self-portrait, with theartist apparently in army fatiguesstill with flowers in the back-ground. Finally, as in all Sofitelart exhibitions, the space behindthe concierge desk at the begin-ning is given over to a larger pic-ture. Here you can see 'The FairLady', a portrait of young couplein a blue field strewn with yellowflowers.We all live in a world run at

the pace of an F1 race car, and ifwe follow the news, a very vio-

lent one too. MrHung’s art re-minds us there isforever love toconsole us andthat there is abenevolent sideto human nature.Also, there is thevivacity of natureto soothe us. A

picture of his on the wall of yourdwelling or in your companyboardroom would be a relaxingreminder of just what we shouldbe living for. We all need easy lis-tening music to keep us calm.Mr Hung's unpretentious artdoes the same for us on canvass. ‘Little Flowers’ a solo exhibi-

tion by Nguyen The Hung is on atthe Sofitel Saigon Plaza, 17 LeDuan Boulevard, District 1, HoChi Minh City, until 30 Novem-ber, 2014.n

Contact:[email protected]

Mr Hung's pictures arepriced from $2,200 to $5,000

(VND46,200,000 toVND105,000,000)

ening' at Sofitel

Pho

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BY RITCH PICKENS


FOOD

Among Vietnamese food experts,Mr Chiem Thanh Long reallystands out. He is neither a chefnor a cooking guru. But he had

spent time and efforts to collect and design110 folklore dishes and 50 traditional kinds ofwines.

His love affair with food began years agoin a very sweet way; his mother, an avid vege-tarian, asked him to taste the dishes shemade. Once he was grown up, he let his vir-tuoso tongue take him on adventures every-where, from mountains to sea shores, fromthe North to the South, to taste all the dishesVietnam has to offer, with a dream of pro-moting them to the world.

As a jury member of the Golden SpoonAwards 2014, Mr Long shared with HoangAnh the unique features of highland food inthe regional round of Tay Nguyen region atDalat, Lam Dong Province on 22th and 23thof July.

Someone said that compared to the foodof other regions, highland food is some-what simplistic in processing and tast-ing. Is that correct, sir?

‘Simplicity is mandatory and vital inTay Nguyen food culture. The highlanderswith their slash-and-burn way of life mustbe able to cook anywhere, at any time.Roasting is the simplest way of cookingwith little or no seasoning, but the food isnonetheless hot and tasty.

Water is not always in abundance, sothey don’t have wet kinds of food, like ourvarious sorts of noodles. Gia Lai dry noo-dle is only a little viscous. Not carryingmany pans and pots, they sometimes usebamboo to cook, combining with roasting.That’s why we have rice cylinders, yellowoutside but white, soft and rich of flavourinside.

I think it is creatively simple but by nomeans simplistic.’

It means that while moving, the high-landers would eat whatever they canfind without making the ingredients bythemselves?

‘Life and climate in the mountains aretougher than in the rich low lands. The peo-ple there have fewer possibilities to createfood sources. Instead they mingle withMother Nature and use more natural re-sources. The vegetables and fruits are mostlynatural, fresher, richer in minerals, and carrythe flavours of the pristine forests.

Fed in the forest, their pigs, chicks andcows have less fat, and the meat is firmer.Creek fish is sweet without foul smell. Onthe menu of this round, there is a dish of cat-fish, native to Se San river, cooked with bitteregg-plants and cassava leaves, a dish withthe feel of the mountains, hard to take atfirst but hard to part with later.

Or the vegetable roll with 52 kinds of for-est leaves such as ming aralia, garcinia, andguava. And the little wild winter melons

Delectab

FOOD


fried in honey are an excellent desert. So,each dish is both food and a folkloric, thera-peutic formula.’

If the prep is so simple, the ingredients soimmediate and random, then what makesTay Nguyen’s food culture unique?

‘It’s the flavour. When you feel the strongsmell of smoke and bamboo, you know itcomes from up there. Roasted meat, fish,and rice from there have a distinct typicalflavour. They don’t dry or salt the leftovermeat and fish, but hang it over the kitchento smoke. I love the never-dying fire in theirhouses. Makes you feel the warmth of family.

Ever since the beginning of time, salt hasbeen precious up there. So they don’t use itfor cooking. They add it while eating. Andonly the people of Tay Nguyen use yellow anteggs in place of salt. It’s creative, clean, safeand nutritious.

On this year’s menu, there are manydishes made with it: broth with ant eggs

rolled in bamboo leaves, ant eggs steamedwith fig leaves, yellow ants fried with beefand la lot leaves.’

Nowadays, especially in contests like thisone, many chefs go a long way to modifythe traditional typical dishes. Their cre-ations may sometimes be interesting,but they may also be a bit too much.What do you think about this?

Contests stimulate creativity. For example,the fish rolls used to be wrapped in rice paper.This time, they used leaves to make littlecones, put a piece of fresh fish in there, spraysome salt with chopped basil leaves on top.It’s wonderful. Or the flower rolls of Dalatopen a new direction of using flowers as food.

Just think about how a beautiful dishmade of purple spiderwort flowers, light greenTonkinese creeper flowers, roses and yellowchrysanthemums would inspire you. How-ever, creativity has to be based on the originaltastes of traditional food to be sustainable.’

The grading criteria of this roundstresses: no wild animal meat. But wildmeat is already a ‘underground spe-cialty’, highly in demand here. Do youbelieve that Tay Nguyen food can still begood without wild animal meats?

‘We don’t have to eat wild meat to provethat we are eating Tay Nguyen food. Wildanimals should be in the forest, not on theplates. The home grown sources such aspigs, cows, buffalos, chickens and ducks areenough to create countless good dishes inthe exact highland style.

People eat wild meat because they thinkit is tougher and more nutritious. But if thepigs and chickens are also raised free in theforest, then the meat quality is no less deli-cious and nutritious, and much safer. Thefood quality also depends on the chef’s skills.Wild meat cooked by a bad chef can be bad,and you can do nothing about it.’n

Thank you!

Opposite, left: Ingredients to make a saladOpposite, right: The salad, prepared by a chef Left: Bamboo tube rice with roasted chickenRight: Seafood, ant eggs with fig leavesPhotos provided by the organizer of the Golden Spoon Awards

le dishes

Back in 2001, I recall there was anarea of land between the fashion-able downtown Saigon streets ofDong Khoi and Nguyen Hue

Boulevard. It housed a number of low-risebuildings. There were alley ways of shopsselling all manner of clothes, electrical goodsand souvenirs. There was also a Vietnameserestaurant built in a traditional style aroundan artificial lake with a charming archedbridge spanning it.

All this was razed and it has taken an ex-traordinary thirteen years to complete therather dull forty-seven storey building thatreplaces it. Only the name-Times Square-re-mains the same. But let us not judge a bookby its cover. Inside, all managed by the Wind-sor Group, there are wonders to behold.

Firstly, imagine the views there are to behad from the last in word luxury, ‘TheReverie Saigon’. It is the highest hotel inSaigon and occupies the twenty-seventh tothe thirty-ninth floors. When it opens nextyear, it will have its own heliport and a fleetof Rolls Royce, Bentley, and Mercedes S classtransports. There will also be luxury fur-nished apartments. For food and beverage,already in operation, there is ‘The RoyalPavilion’ Cantonese restaurant, ‘The Deli’which is as much a coffee shop as a deli-catessen and Cafe Cardinal, which is a buffet

restaurant. But the two F and B outlets I waslucky enough to get direct experience of at aPress Media event are at ground level.

They left off the word ‘bar’ in the name.That might remind one of the Singapore ‘Raf-fles Hotel’ long bar. This place, though, is likelyto be just as renowned and just as much a ‘mustdo’ tourist attraction. Actually, there a bit of apun on the word, as ‘Long’ in Vietnamesemeans dragon. But long it is, indeed. The barin six separate segments with its sparkingglasses, full array of bottles and high cocktailtables, stretches forty eight metres. Whilst ithas the atmosphere of a Parisian pavementcafé, it is all-weather, with an overhead archedglass ceiling channelling in the natural light.The fare is Italian and Vietnamese. You have totry the exquisite innovation which is the ‘Lob-ster Pho’ (rice noodle soup).

Down some steps, just at the side of ‘TheLong’, in a glitzy cavern-like atmosphere is‘The R and J Italian Restaurant’. That standsfor Romeo and Juliet, and for Act One wewere greeted with their own creation - straw-berry juice based cocktail. We were served aTable d'Hote five course meal. This was upperclass haute cuisine, or dare I say in Italian,alta cucina style.

The appetiser was octopus wrapped inorganic leaves with salmon roe and greenbeans all in a hazelnut dressing. Wow! This

act was followed by a mouth-wateringseafood soup with garlic croutons. Then itwas curtains up for a risotto. The arrival of fa-miliar rice came as a great relief to my Viet-namese colleagues. It was cooked withstrawberry-roasted quail and decorated witha squiggle of aged balsamic reduction. Thenext scene was a sliced prime American beefdish with rocket salad and cherry tomatoes.What better a dessert for a grand finale couldthere be than the king of all gateaux-Italiantiramisu. Fabrizio the chef even gave a briefdemonstration of how he prepares it.

The R and J certainly garnered great ap-plause from the party with whom I enjoyedmy meal there. Open only at night, it nowhas to be the prime Saigon location for a ro-mantic evening in a dramatic setting. Whynot give it your own premiere?

Times Square, managed by the WMCGroup, has brought long-awaited Europeanstyle and elegance to the heart of the cityonce known as ‘The Pearl of the Orient’. It en-riches this quintessentially Asian city, whichrises from the swampy Mekong, a branch ofwhich it affords spectacular views of from itsupper echelons. It is helping to raise this cityto the truly world status that the likes of Lon-don, Paris and New York have achieved.n

Times Square 23-26 Nguyen Hue Blvdand 57-69F Dong Khoi St, Dist.1, HCMC

WMC Group Helping to RaiseSaigon to World-Class City Status

BY PIP DE ROUVRAY

FOOD


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MUSIC

Once upon a time, on a moun-tain top, a Hmong couple hadsix sons; all were smart, strongand humble, and all were tal-

ented bamboo flute players. Then, the daycame when their parents died. The sixbrothers cried in grief for nine days andnine nights until they lost their voices andhad to blow bamboo tubes to make the cry-ing sound.

Their filial devotion had moved theheavens, so the mountain god came and toldthem, ‘Make an air bulb with six holes andplug your tubes into it. Then only one manblows and all six tubes will cry.’ Thus thekhèn appeared in this world.

Khèn accompany young men when theygo to paddy fields or to festivals. They play itin all occasions and moods. It helps bringtheir messages to their loved ones. Theirtunes, as free as the air, have kindled all thefires that brought young couples together.

Anyone who had come to a highlandfestival, colourful with ethnic brocades,must have heard among the noises of thetrading, eating and drinking, the sound ofkhèn blown by groups of young men,mixed with the sound of pí lè, a kind ofHmong flute, just like the street artists inthe cities.

Coming to the highlands during thelunar New Year or sài sán (mountain hike

festival), or spring khèn contest, visitorsfrom the low lands can’t help feeling dazedunder the tunes that echo back and forthbetween mountains.

Along with the sounds that may be soft,romantic, or enthusiastic and intrepid, theyalso show beautiful and quirky dances.

The most delicate show is the coupledance. The man plays khèn and dances withthe woman, both in traditional dress oftheir ethnicity. They look like a pair ofpheasants in a courtship dance. With heelskicking, and bodies spinning, khèns andtunes flow in unison, couples never losingtheir inner connection.

It takes a lot of work to make a beautiful

‘Kheøn’ - bamboo fluteof the Hmong

BY TRAN LY MAN HUY

MUSIC

khèn. First, an arm-long chunk of fokienia,hsienmu, or white cedar is needed. It has tobe cured to avoid deforming, which woulddistort the sound. Then they cut and planeit to make the blowpipe and the bulb.

Then the bulb is split, made hollow upto the rim of the blowpipe. Then the twohalves are put back together and tied fastwith thin soft bark, which makes the bulbairtight and decorates it at the same time.

Then they cut six thick, strong bambootubes of different lengths and diameters.Each tube is equipped with a brass uvula.They make a hole on each tube for theplayer to finger.

Next is the hardest part. The bulb isbored with a knife and the bamboo tubesare inserted so that the uvulas are insidethe bulb.

And so whichever way the air flows, allthe tubes make sounds at the same time,soaring high as a swan in the sky, or intimateas a creek under the forest canopy. Thosetunes penetrate and pervade the Hmongflesh and blood and make it special.

Hmong khèn tunes and dances have be-come a must-see for visitors. But the com-mercialization seems highly unprofessionalto some. Khèn is truly a work of art. It canalso be an interesting souvenir if modified abit so that visitors can easily carry it home.

*The article was printed on Tuoi TreCuoi Tuan on 6 October, 2014

Opposite: Performing khèn in Ha GiangProvince. Photo: Mai Loc

Above: Making khèn. Photo: Tran Ly Man Huy


CRAFTS

At Festival Hue 2008,artist Than Van Huypresented paper lotusesfrom Thanh Tien Vil-

lage, Phu Mau Commune, PhuVang District of Thua Thien-HueProvince, which has a tradition ofpaper flower painting trade, whichbegan over 300 years ago, but waslost for 50 years.

The paper lotuses, after beingused for the opening ceremony ofHue Festival, are arranged in apond in Thanh Tien Village, awingvisitors.

Than Van Huy is a son ofThanh Tien Village. He grew upamong the bright and elegant

colours of paper flowers that cov-ered his native land. In 1968, hewas admitted to the Hue College ofArts, and lotuses are the majortheme in his paintings.

Why the lotus? ‘It’s because Iwas born in a Buddhist family.Since childhood, I was obsessedwith the miracles of the four-coloured lotus in Buddhism, withits deep philosophical values de-scribed in ‘Lotus Sutra’: the flowerand fruit appear at the same time,flowers and leaves don’t share abranch, the fragrance doesn’t at-tract insects, it grows in mud with-out smelling of mud. Later, I wasnever satisfied with my lotus paint-

ings, no matter what material Iused. I thought I must do some-thing, for myself and for my folks.So I asked my brother, Than VanHoai, to join me to try and recoverthe lost paper lotus trade of my vil-lage’, the artist answered.

In 2010, Mr Than Van Huy waslisted in Vietnam Guinness Book as‘The first person to recover thepaper lotus trade’.

After his success in exhibitionsand fairs, and his contributions ofstage props for Hue Festivals 2008and 2010, early in 2011, the IndustryStimulation Centre of Thua Thien-Hue helped him to open a trainingcourse for 25 trainees, who are chil-

A touch of beautyBY HOANG VAN MINH

Pape

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CRAFTS

dren of Thanh Tien Village. Cur-rently these trainees have regularwork with stable income of 1.5-2million dong/person/month inaverage (about two hours a day).

According to Mr Huy, ThanhTien paper lotuses used to bemade of cartridge paper and dyedonly in pink, so the market wasvery limited. But with the painter’spalette, the petals can have differ-ent colours with nuances.

The colour can be strong atthe top and softer near the baseto create lightness and elegance.A4 paper for petals, bamboo or rattan forpeduncle core, plus glue and paint; that’s allthe crafters need to create lotuses whichmay look more real than real.

Each bud normally has 8-12 petals.Today’s paper lotuses can be colourful, withgreen leaves, yellow pistil and stamen madeof sponge. Than Van Huy’s special state-ment is the 4-colour Buddhist lotus, wheregreen petals represent tranquil intellectual-

ity, pink is the purity of the heart, white isthe purity of the soul, and yellow is Bud-dha’s absolute spirituality.

Mr Huy said, ‘Compared to the otherThanh Tien paper flowers, lotuses requirethe highest techniques and skills. A crucialphase that decides the beauty of the floweris the dyeing. It is done by hand, andwhether the petals look alive or not de-pends on the worker’s eye. There is no gen-

eral rule to it’Paper lotuses of Thanh Tien,

originally only serving spiritualfunctions, now under the ‘magic’hands of the Than brothers, be-came a meaningful and delicatedecoration in every family.Moreover, they became Hue’snew souvenir item for domesticand foreign tourists.

Than Van Huy’s and ThanVan Hoai’s houses and shops inThanh Thien Village have be-come new attractions in ThuaThien-Hue. Visitors come to see

their lotuses and learn to make them underthe hands-on supervision of craftsmentrained by Than Van Huy.

Holding in his hands a freshly finishedcluster of pink lotuses, Wright David Den-ning, a British tourist sighed happily, ‘It’stough, but we made it eventually. We willbring these lotuses home to put in our liv-ing room. This is one of the most meaning-ful gifts I’ve got in Vietnam.’n

Artist Than Van Huy. Photo: Le Huy Hoang Hai


CULTURE

To most of the countryside, thewell is the source of life. Eachhousehold may have their ownwell, but each village has also at

least one common village well. Villagegirls come there daily to get water, enjoytheir reflection and display themselvesfor village boys. These latter encountersoften become dates that take place at thesame well. The well is often the socialcentre of the village, the place where in-formation is exchanged.

In recent decades, Vietnamese vil-lages have been modernized. Manyfamilies have big tanks to store rain

water for year-round use. Many ancientsuburban villages even have tap water.Well water has fallen out of fashion.Many village wells are filled to makeground for construction. But here andthere, the village well is still a source ofclean water and a part of people’s lives,still the convergence point of life andhappiness.

Dai Phung Communal well in DanPhuong district of Hanoi is a borehole ina mass of laterite, lined inside with lat-erite bricks for a simplistic effect.

But Thap Temple well in Bac NinhProvince, located right in front of the an-

Wellsof lifeDespite changes, the village

water hole is still a draw

TEXT BY ANH CHI AND PHOTOS BY NGUYEN XUAN CHINH

CULTURE


cestry altar, is also a borehole in a blue limestone mass,carved quite delicately to look like a blossoming lotuson a flat base. Vietnam Art Museum made a partial du-plicate of it to put on show in its garden, so people fromall over the world can see a feature of the Vietnamesecountryside.

At the Upper Edifice of Tao Temple Linh Tien, CaoXa Village, Hoai Duc District of Hanoi, there is a wellthat the people around believe to be a sacred red sandspring, an infinite source of clear sweet water. They usethis water in all religious rituals.

At Ke Nguom, Nghiem Xuan Commune, ThuongTin District of Hanoi, there is a big well near Nhue River,named Khoai. No matter if the land is in drought orflooded, the water in it is always pure, sweet and at a sta-ble level. Khoai is the pride of the region. Brewed in thiswater, tea is exceptionally aromatic and deeply sweet.

At Dau pagoda, Bac Ninh Province, there is a wellwithout mouth. Legends have it that this is where LadyMan thrust Kaudinya’s staff to open a spring during adrought. The well is always full of pure water for thepagoda’s needs. Also in Bac Ninh Province, Phat TichPagoda has in its premises the remains of three ancientwells from the Ly era, the time when the pagoda was es-tablished. One is on the hill slope behind the pagoda,with stone steps leading to the water. One is in the frontcourtyard, with a stone dragon head from where purecool water gushes perpetually. And late last century, atthe bottom of the pagoda’s pond, a well was found withsome ceramic decoration items which used to be pop-ular in ancient architecture.

At Pho Minh pagoda in Nam Dinh Province, the twowells in the front are believed to be dragon eyes. There isanother one behind the pagoda, lined inside with potsfull of lime. That’s why the water in it is so clean and clear.

Next to Saint Edifice in Keo pagoda, Thai BinhProvince, ancient people used pierced stone mortars tobuild a well. The stones cleansed the water and kept thewell strong through ages.

At Duong Lam of Son Tay township there is a smallwell, over a thousand years old, just a little wider than apalm hat’s rim, full and limpid. It is called the Milk Well.Legends say that mothers with dry breasts can comehere to pray and drink the water from the well, and theirbreasts will be full of milk afterward. Duong Lam moth-ers still do it today.n

Opposite: A well in Khuc Thuy Town, HanoiFrom top: A well at Thay Pagoda, Quoc Oai

District, Hanoi; A well in Tien Phuong Commune, Chuong My District, Hanoi;

A well at Tram Gian Pagoda,Chuong My District, Hanoi


TRAVEL

In recent years, a number of newspaperarticles have been written about Ly Son,which often stated that Ly Son, QuangNgai Province is a ‘spiritual kingdom,’

‘garlic kingdom,’ and an ‘island of civiliza-tions’.According to the information from the

administration of Ly Son, about 3,000 yearsago, prehistoric people of the Sa Huynh cul-ture lived on Ly Son Island. Next, theChampa civilization developed at the begin-ning of the Common Era until around theend of the sixteenth century, when Viet-namese people founded a village on the is-land.Materials from the Ly Son Cultural Office

relate that the area of Ly Son Island is only9.97km2, but it has over fifty religious and

folk architectural structures, among themthree national heritage sites. Perhaps be-cause of the dense concentration of places ofworship, whether I was in the residentialarea, went up the terrace fields, or down tothe desolate seashore, I always came acrossancient community houses, Buddhist pago-das, and shrines. The landscape everywhereis steeped in spirituality and, moreover, inthe words of an elder, ‘Every week thereseems to be a ceremony or festival,’ whichmade me feel that the over 20,000 Ly Sonpeople have as much spiritual devotion as dothe people of India.Meanwhile, the title ‘garlic kingdom’ is

easily understood if tourists come to Ly Sonon the occasions of planting, caring for, orharvesting garlic. When I went to Ly Son be-

tween the garlic seasons (between the firstmonth and the second month of lunar cal-endar), I saw that up to 90 per cent of the areaof the terrace fields in Ly Son were verdantwith garlic leaves. Wherever I went, I heardpeople discussing garlic. An 80-year oldelder said that the garlic growing trade hasbeen in Ly Son for a long time. Perhaps thatis why garlic is a part of Ly Son people’s livesand culture. This is clearly in their daily foodsand ancestral offerings, which are all deeplyinfused with the colour and scent of garlic.Mr Bay, who is over 60 years old and alreadyknew how to grow garlic since he was little,related, ‘Ly Son garlic is valuable because it isplanted in sand from the ocean and wateredwith slightly salty water.’Information in the press about places for

The aroma of the soulBY DANG KHOA

Ly SonDistrict

TRAVEL


swimming in the sea at Ly Son is almost non-existent. When I went up to Ly Son’s Dockthe second time, I continuously asked thelocal people about the most ideal place forswimming in the sea. ‘Hang Cau is the nicestplace for swimming in the ocean,’ a mannamed Muoi said.Muoi further related that Hang Cau is on

the east of the island, right next to the foot ofthe highest mountain, Mt. Thoi Loi, whichbelongs to Dong Village of An Hai Com-mune. Following the directions of a 50-yearold man, a friend and I rented a motorcyclefor the price of VND150,000 per day and thendeparted from the dock. In only fifteen min-utes, after passing residential areas so densethat they seemed like cities and verdant ter-race fields of garlic, we arrived. Wanting to go into Hang Cau, we went

through a narrow path a few meters wide, be-tween a stone peak and the sea. Meanwhile,the surrounding desolate landscape mademe feel that it was quite mysterious. Hang Cau is composed of a rock cliff 40m

high, 100m long, curved like a horseshoe andhugs a sandy shore of proportionate length.The width of the sandy shore as calculatedfrom the foot of the cliff to the edge of thewater is approximately 40m. It has a lot ofmoss-covered small pebbles and rocks. Hang Cau is the most ideal beach for

swimming. It can be thus concluded becauseI have gone all over the Ly Son seacoast andsaw nothing but rocky dales.My friend immediately took off his shirt

and then plunged into the small waves thatincessantly crashed against the shore. Hedove into the clear water, shouting ‘Fantas-

tic!’ ‘Wonderful!’A man named Quang, whose home is

500m from Hang Cau, related, ‘Thirty orforty years ago, the fish in this place were in-numerable, so many people came to fishthem. Moreover, the structure of the cliff re-sembles the jaws of a frog, so the people herecalled it ‘‘Hang Cau’’.’n

At Quang Ngai bus station, every 45 minutes, a bus departs the station to go toSa Ky Harbour. Sa Ky Harbour is 22km east of the city of Quang Ngai, followingNational Highway 24B.Every day, only one high-speed boat leaves from Sa Ky Harbour at 7:30-8:00,

and goes to Ly Son in just over an hour at a ticket price of VND150,000.Ly Son has 6-7 inns for people at a price of VND150,000-VND200,000 per room

per night, depending on the time. Nearly all the inns have a motorcycle rental serv-ice from VND120,000 to VND150,000 per day.

Opposite: Garlic in Ly Son Island, Quang Ngai Province. Photo: Bach Ngoc AnhClockwise from top:A view of Ly Son Island.Photo: Kien Trinh; Fishing boats on Ly Son Island. Photo: Ba Ngoc; Cong To Vo (Archway)made from lava, An Vinh Commune,Ly Son Island. Photo: Kien Trinh


WHAT THE PAPERS SAY

No more bilewww.thanhniennews.com, 22 October

The last two bear bile farms in Ha-long Bay have finally been closed down.

According to Education for Nature -Vietnam (ENV), the two had continuedto defy the law, selling bear bile totourists though authorities had bannedit and had shut down four local bearfarms in 2013.

This year, the provincial People’sCommittee ordered the two to not to sellbile to tourists and set up a taskforcecomprised of officials from related de-partments and ENV volunteers.

The bear bile tourism industry inHalong Bay began around 2007, after sixbear farms were established. They wouldreceive bus-loads of tourists, mainly Ko-rean, to witness the extraction of bilefrom a live bear before being encouragedto buy the bile and other bear products,all illegal.

Cable car in world’s largest caveplannedwww.thanhniennews.com, 23 October

A local resort developer has receivedthe green light to build a $212-millioncable car system inside the world’s largestcave, Son Doong, in north central Viet-nam.

The route will start in Tien Son Caveand go through various openings of SonDoong, which has at least 150 individualcaves, a dense subterranean jungle, andseveral underground rivers.

Meanwhile, on 1 September, QuangBinh authorities suspended tours in SonDoong but said they would reopen the

cave next January for eight tours a monthwith around 10 people each.

3rd best place for expatswww.thanhniennews.com, 23 October

Vietnam is the third best place inAsia for expats looking to improve theirquality of life, with 62 percent sayingthey strongly associate the country witha high quality of life, according to a sur-vey released by HSBC in October.

Around 52 percent of expats in Viet-nam said they earn more than theywould have at home, compared with aglobal average of 53 percent, according tothe 7th Expat Explorer survey, whichpolled nearly 9,300 people from over 100countries online.

$250 million needed for dioxinclearance tuoitrenews.vn, 22 October

A seminar was held by the Manage-ment Board for the Project for HandlingDioxin Hotspots in Vietnam and the Na-tional Steering Board for Tackling Con-sequences of Toxic Chemicals, the bodiesin charge of coping with the conse-quences of toxic chemicals used by theU.S. troops during the Vietnam War(1955-1975) in October.

The event is aimed to assess the re-ality of dioxin contamination at the BienHoa Airport, formerly a major militaryairbase of the U.S. Army in the VietnamWar, and discuss what should be done toclear the chemical, a highly toxic chemi-cal compound that can cause cancer, re-productive and developmental problemsand damage to the immune system.

In order to strictly handle the entiresoil contaminated with dioxin at the BienHoa Airport, the project needs to have abudget of at least $250 million, AssociateProfessor Le Ke Son, director of the proj-ect, said.

Sexual bribery exists in Vietnam,officiallytuoitrenews.vn, 30 October

Giving bribes in the form of sex topeople in positions of power absolutely

exists in Vietnam, an official saidWednesday at a conference in Hanoi.

Nguyen Doan Khanh, deputy chiefof the Central Internal Affairs Commis-sion, told local media at the conferenceon perfecting regulations on bribery thatsex is now offered as a bribe to officials inthe country.

‘According to international experts,sex is considered a type of non-materialinterests offered to officials as a bribe,’ theofficial said.

Many international judiciary expertshave recommended that Vietnam fur-ther amend its Penal Code, which wasrevised in June 2009, to include ‘sexualbribery’ as a crime, the official said.

Portions of Saigon Tax TradeCentre may be preservedenglish.vietnamnet.vn, 28 October

HCM City authorities are consider-ing the preservation of parts of the morethan 100-year-old Saigon Tax Trade Cen-tre, including the bottom of the stairs,the mosaic floor, and the handrails orcarved balustrades.

The building, one of the oldest shop-ping centres in HCM City, is being torndown to make way for the metro con-struction and a new building.

The proposal to save portions of thebuilding came after foreign diplomatsproposed solutions to preserve part ofthe building.

The HCM City People's Committeehas asked the local Department of Plan-ning and Architecture to coordinate withthe Department of Culture, Sports andTourism to conduct research and offersuggestions on the preservation of partsof the Saigon Tax Trading Centre.

First Vietnamese film on bisexu-ality screened in HCM CityViet Nam News, 14 October

The first Vietnamese movie aboutbisexual love, Lac Gioi (Paradise inHeart) produced by Tincom Media, hadits premier showing on 12 October inHo Chi Minh City, with 800 people at-tending.

WHAT THE PAPERS SAY


Featuring relationships between a bisexualman, a gay man and a straight woman, the filmis a rare event in Vietnam, where action andcomedy films dominate.

After the film was shown, it received strongsupport from the audience, especially the les-bian, gay, bisexual and transgender community(LGBT).

Experts unearth Champa artefactsViet Nam News, 18 October

Numerous rare Champa artefacts havebeen found at the excavation site of Champatower relics in the Rung Cam forest of a centralprovince.

The Binh Dinh Museum said the excava-tion work has unearthed about 600 artefacts,including a broken Kala (time god) statue,Shiva god's hand, Champa reliefs and ancientterracotta artefacts.

Hoa revealed that the terracotta itemsshowed signs of Vietnamese, Cham and Chi-nese origins. The items also include bronzeartefacts that have never been seen at Champatower relics, he added.

Excavation for the artefacts, dating from the12th to the 13th centuries, was carried out at theprovince's Binh Nghi Commune from Augusttill early October.

My Lai survivor writes bookViet Nam News, 20 October

Pham Thanh Cong, 57, was one of only adozen survivors of 1968's infamous My Lai mas-sacre. More than four decades later, he has writ-ten a book about the mass murder, in whichAmerican soldiers killed 504 unarmed civilians.

In Ky Uc Lang Hong (Pink Village's Mem-ory), scheduled for publication in December,he recalls what took place in the village. Cong'smother and six brothers were killed by Ameri-can soldiers in their house, while he was seri-ously injured but eventually saved by his father.The book will be sold at the Son My Vestige Siteand museums nationwide.

Champa item recognized as nationaltreasureViet Nam News, 21 October

The central province of Quang Nam hasproposed that the Mukhalinga, a statue of theHindu god Shiva that was unearthed at the My

Son Sanctuary site in 2012, be officially recog-nised as a national treasure.

The yellow-brown stone statue, which datesback to between the 7th and 8th centuries, is146.5cm tall and 41.5cm wide. It has three partsshaped like a circle, an octagon and a square. Thetop part is a sculpture of the head of Shiva.

In Hindu mythology, Mukhalinga orMukhalingam (literally "lingam with a face") isa lingam with one or more human faces. Thelingam is an iconic representation of the Hindugod Shiva and is sometimes interpreted as aphallic symbol.

Oldest brothers in Vietnam are aged102, 105Viet Nam Net English, 3 November

Two men in Quang Tri province, centralVietnam, have been recognized as the oldestbrothers in the country. They are 102 and 105years old.

Mr Tran Dinh Thang (born 1909) and hisbrother Tran Dinh Lien (born 1912) live in DongLuat Village of Thai Vinh Commune, Vinh LinhDistrict. Their younger sister, who is still alive,was born in 1916.

Both men’s wives died a long time ago. Theonly daughter of Mr Thang is nearly 60 yearsold. Mr Lien has four children; the oldest is 72years old.

Vietnam protests Taiwan’s live firing inTruong SaTuoi Tre News Nov 4

Vietnam’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs saidTaiwan’s live firing on Ba Binh Island in theTruong Sa (Spratly) archipelago is a serious vi-olation of Vietnam’s territorial sovereignty inthe East Sea. The live firing on the island wasconducted from November 3 to 4. The Viet-namese ministry said it threatened peace, sta-bility, maritime security and safety, furthercomplicating the East Sea situation.

‘Vietnam strongly opposes the act and de-mands that Taiwan immediately stop the ille-gitimate act and prevent similar occurrences inthe future,’ it said.

Vietnam claims it has sufficient legal andhistorical evidence to prove its sovereignty overboth Truong Sa and Hoang Sa (Paracel) archi-pelagos.

Hoi An revives silk weaving with newcentre Viet Nam News, 6 November

The UNESCO world heritage site of Hoi An,always a popular destination, has recentlyadded a silk-weaving centre to its attractions.

The silk centre has been fully restored. Ashowroom of silk products and a high-endrestaurant have been praised by tourists.

Silk farming and weaving, based aroundancient mulberry trees, continue to live on. Thetwo-hectare area cultivates 40 strains of mul-berry, including some that the former rulers ofthe area, the Cham, used to produce the bestquality silk.

Health ministry asks other agenciesto join in Ebola preventionTuoi Tre News, 5 November

The Ministry of Health has called for urgentcoordination from other ministries to takemeasures to prevent the spread in Vietnam ofthe deadly Ebola virus that has killed nearly5,000 people in West Africa.

The ministry on November 3 issued an ur-gent official letter to the ministries of Public Se-curity, Foreign Affairs, and Culture, Sports andCulture, asking for a close coordination in mon-itoring visitors from the Ebola-hit areas.

The health ministry also sent an urgentmessage to the Ministry of Transport askingit to direct all airports to arrange isolationrooms, and isolation areas at internationalairports to receive suspected Ebola patients,if any.

Vietnam approves two more GM corn strainsThanh Nien News November 8

The Ministry of Natural Resources and En-vironment has just issued biological safety cer-tificates to two varieties of genetically modifiedcorn, marking the second and third such ap-provals in Vietnam.

The GM corn strains were approved aftera careful assessment by government expertscharged with protecting the country's envi-ronment, agricultural sector and publichealth.

The strain, GA21 is produced by SyngentaVietnam, and NK603 is of Dekalb Vietnam (alocal subsidiary of Monsanto).


EVENTS

HANOI

TRADITIONAL PERFORMANCESCheo singing performances

Cheo, a kind of popular opera/ traditional music, is shown at 8p.m. every Friday at the Kim MaTheater, 71 Kim Ma St, Ba DinhDist., Hanoi. English interpreta-tion offered.

Price: VND150,000 per per-son. Tel: (04) 3764-8079/0904549-579 (Ms Ngoan)

Ancient folk formQuan họ is a folk song form

that originated in the northernprovince of Bac Ninh in the 13thcentury. The form took on ele-ments of other genres as it spreadthroughout the country, incorpo-rating a dialogue style of singingin the 18th century, the periodwhen Vietnamese literature blos-somed. As a folk art with a highlycollective nature, Quan họ songsalternate from group to groupwith singers keeping up the con-versation by exchanging songs.There is no accompanying instru-mental music. Bac Ninh QuanHo folk music company offersQuan họ performances on re-quest; an hour costs aroundVND30 million. Performancevenues can also be requested.Contact Mr Quy Trang, head ofBac Ninh Quan Ho folk musiccompany, at mobile 0913-073-326.

Street songs of the poor and blindEvery Saturday night

Hát xẩm is a minimalist style ofVietnamese singing, traditionallyperformed by the poor and theblind and especially wanderers,usually accompanied with a sim-ple đàn nhị (two-string violin) orđàn bầu (single-string zither). Hátxẩm is a Vietnamese blues fromthe 13th century. It is making acomeback, after several decades.

Artists at the Centre for Re-search on and Development ofVietnamese Music now performxẩm at Dong Xuan Market, in theOld Quarter of Hanoi, every Sat-urday night. Free.

Ca truøCa trù, an ancient Vietnamese

musical form with a singer accom-

panied by three-string đàn đáyand other instruments, is per-formed at 87 Ma May Street, HoanKiem, Hanoi, at 8 p.m. every Tues-day, Thursday and Saturday, byartists from Ca Tru Thang LongClub, www.catruvietnam.net.Price: $10 (VND210,000). Reservation is necessary.Tel: 01 223 266 897

EXHIBITIONS Point of viewTill 30 November

The exhibition ‘Corner to BeSeen’ by painter Tran TrungThanh, is on at Heritage Space till30 November. The exhibition in-cludes 15 paintings from 2005 to2014. These paintings always raisedifferent questions toward con-temporary life and the perspec-tive of each person, especially theyouth and conflict between na-ture/ human, violence/ love, his-tory/ present.

Heritage Space, DolphinPlaza, 17 Tran Binh St, My DinhDist, Hanoi. Free admission.

The fairer sexUntil 30 November

‘WOMAN: Dialogue &Monologue’, a group exhibition of21 artists, presents 38 paintings ina variety of materials; oil painting,lacquer, ceramics and alluvialsoils of the Red River till 30 No-vember at Maison des Arts, 22A

Hai Ba Trung St, Hanoi. Tel: (04) 3747-8096

I heart VietnamUntil 6 December

A group exhibition by youngVietnamese photographers titled ‘ILove My City’ is on at L’Espace till6 December. The exhibition in-cludes photos which were taken inHo Chi Minh City PhotoMarathon 2013 and winning pho-tos of Hanoi Photo Marathon 2014.

‘I Love My City’ gives an im-pression of how the local youth isbecoming more observant oftheir surroundings.

L’Espace, 24 Trang Tien,Hanoi. Tel: (04) 39 36- 21 64. Freeadmission.

Colours talkUntil 4 December

Art Tunnel Gallery presentsan exhibition ‘Colours ChangingHues’ till 4 December. The organ-izer said ‘In art, an artwork at-tracts viewers because of not onlyits idea and content but also itsemotional attraction. Why does apainting have such a strong ob-sessing attraction to viewers? 80per cent of the reasons may be re-lated to the human’s sense ofcolours. Colour affects us, res-onating in memory, instinct, thebody and all the five senses.’ Inthis display, by arranging art-works, the organizer hopes tobring a multidimensional experi-ence of sense and feeling to all artlovers.

Art Tunnel Gallery, 16 TrangTien St, Hanoi

After the quakeTill 22 December

The exhibition, ‘BeautifulHandicrafts of Tohoku, Japan’ ison at Vietnam Fine Arts Museumtill 22 December. The exhibitionis aim to mark the March 11 an-niversary of the 2011 TohokuEarthquake and Tsunami. TheTohoku region is known for itsbeautiful mountains andseascapes, as well as its rich localculture and history. The exhibi-tion includes various genres; ce-ramics, lacquer ware, textiles,metalwork, wood and bamboocrafts. The works presents a newthe high level of traditional craft

techniques nurtured in the To-hoku region and the functionalbeauty of daily implements usedsince ancient times in Japan.

Vietnam Fine Arts Museum,66 Nguyen Thai Hoc St, Ba DinhDist., Hanoi. Tel: (04) 3733-2131.Open: 8.30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Live the momentUntil the end of December

‘Now is when’ is the title ofthe photograph exhibition bySuzette Mitchell on abstractionsof Buddhist monks and nuns.The title is a reflection on ‘beingin the present,’ which is the focusof Buddhism. The appearance ofmonks and nuns provide an ex-traordinary beauty and tranquil-lity. Suzette’s photograph aims tocapture this aesthetic, from thefold of their robes, the holding oftheir prayer beads, and theirequanimity.

The images of this exhibitionare a focus on simplicity to createan atmosphere for contempla-tion, meditation and inspiration.

Tan My Gallery, 61 Hang GaiSt, Hanoi. Tel: (04) 3938-1154

What art is up to latelyUntil 9 October, 2015

Vietnam Fine Arts Museumpresents an exhibition, ‘ModernArts’ by various artists till 9 Octo-ber, 2015. The exhibition includes28 artworks of oil painting, lac-quer painting, silk painting, paperpainting, synthetic material andsculpture. The museum hopes togive the audiences a comprehen-sive overview about the develop-ing modern art of Vietnamthrough the richness of its stylesand materials.

Vietnam Fine Arts Museum,66 Nguyen Thai Hoc St, Hanoi.Tel: (04) 3733-2131. Open: 8.30a.m. to 5 p.m. Entry fee:VND20,000

MUSICVietnamese music26 and 27 November

A concert is to be performedat 8 p.m. on 26 and 27 Novemberat Hanoi Opera House. The con-cert includes conductor HonnaTetsuji, piano soloist Allan Zavod,saxophonists Tran Manh Tuanand An Tran, bassist Thanh Tan,


EVENTS

drummer Quoc Hung, Kieu Anhplaying zither and artists from theVietnam National Symphony Or-chestra. The artists will playpieces of works by Vietnamesecomposers. Tickets range fromVND200,000 to VND700,000. Forfree delivery call 0913489858.

Hanoi Opera House, 1 TrangTien St, Hoan Kiem Dist., Hanoi.Tel: (04) 3933-0113

Night of guitar 29 November

Vietnamese-Australian guitarvirtuoso Le Hoang Minh, thewinner of the 50th Tokyo Interna-tional Guitar Competition, willperform with local musicians at 8p.m. on 29 November at L’Espace.Minh graduated from the Can-berra Music College with distinc-tion, achieving the highest markin the school’s history and is nowa guitar lecturer there. A memberof the popular Australian quartetGuitar Trek, Minh is consideredone of Australia’s most promisingguitar talents.

L’Espace, 24 Trang Tien St,Hoan Kiem Dist., Hanoi

DJ festival28 to 30 November

Quest Festival 2014 is heldfrom 28 to 30 November at SonTinh Camp, Ba Vi, Hanoi. Thefestival features three days ofmusic, arts and dancing with per-formances by 30 local, expat andinternational DJs, local bandsand Alton Miller from USA.

Tickets are selling till 26 No-vember at Commune, 201 TrichSai St, Tay Ho Dist., Hanoi; SocialClub, 6 Hoi Vu St, Hoan KiemDist., Hanoi; and Tay Tap, No. 20,Lane 50/59/17, Dang Thai Mai St,Hanoi. VND400,000 for two days(Saturday and Sunday) andVND550,000 for three days (Fri-

day to Sunday). The prices in-clude entry and camping.

FAIRBazaar Day22 November

The well-known not-for-profit handicraft distributor CraftLink Vietnam is holding a specialbazaar on Saturday 22 Novemberat Vietnam Museum of Ethnol-ogy. Those attending will have thechance to find great deals on newand beautiful handicraft productsmade by artisans from all overVietnam. Some of the fantasticstuff on sale includes traditionalfabrics and baskets, home deco-rations, and Christmas orna-ments. For more information visitwww.craftlink.com.vn.

Vietnam Museum of Ethnol-ogy, Nguyen Van Huyen St, CauGiay Dist, Hanoi.

HO CHI MINH CITY

EXHIBITIONS The Chain Till 28 November

‘The chain’ is the title of agroup painting exhibition by sixyoung artists coming from theCentral of Vietnam, includingNguyen An, Do Nhu Tran NgocTuan, Nguyen Pham Dinh Tuan,Truong The Linh, Le TruongThanh and Nguyen Van Tung. Allof them graduated from Hue FineArts University. These artistsshared the subject in this exhibi-tion about human fate which hasbeen swept away in ‘the chain’ ofthe past, the present and the fu-ture. Most of the art works fea-ture hot colours to express theirstrong emotions. Ngoc Tuan’spaintings focus on ‘The light andthe dark’. Nguyen An reflects hisview about the people who onlylive selfishly with the halo of the

past. Truong The Linh describesthe shapes of the body and thesoul. The exhibition will display22 oil and acrylic paintings at TuDo Gallery till 28 November.

Tu Do Gallery, 53 Ho TungMau St, Dist.1, Ho Chi Minh City.

‘Little Flowers’Till 30 November

Craig Thomas Gallery is or-ganizing ‘Little Flowers’, a solo ex-hibition of mixed mediapaintings on do paper by Hanoi-based artist Nguyen The Hung atthe Sofitel Saigon Plaza till 30 No-vember.

In ‘Little Flowers’, there is agreater focus on life on earth, onhumanity and its potential, ratherthan a spiritual approach. Back-grounds are decorated with whatthe artist refers to as ‘little flowers,and flying spots of colours’ thatare like ‘seeds falling to theground, awaiting or seeking wetsoil to germinate in’. In an orderlychaos, these seeds fall endlesslyfrom the sky, suggesting a hopefulregeneration of the cycles of life.

Little Flowers is a series ofworks which embodies Hung’sskilful synthesis of western andeastern cultural and artistic refer-ences, rendered in unique andoriginal tableaux. Through LittleFlowers, the artist seeks to un-cover the seeds of existence, thelove of life and the benevolence ofhuman nature.

Sofitel Saigon Plaza, 17 LeDuan Boulevard, Dist.1, Ho ChiMinh City

A history of dressesTill 1 February, 2015

The patterns used on the tra-ditional costumes of women liv-ing in the South and CentralHighlands of Vietnam are on dis-play in the Southern Women Mu-seum till 1 February, 2015.

The exhibition showcasesmore than 150 photos and 80 ob-jects featuring the traditionaltechniques of weaving, dyeingand patterns that have beenpassed down through generationsof the Cham, Khmer and otherethnic groups in the CentralHighlands and Truong Sonmountainous regions.

Southern Women Museum,

202 Vo Thi Sau St, Dist.3, Ho ChiMinh City. Tel: (08) 3932-7130

Local daubersTill early 2015

More than 400 oil paintingsby many artists are on at Fine ArtsMuseum of Ho Chi Minh City tillearly 2015. The paintings feature avariety of subjects, and are from1987 to the present.

Fine Arts Museum of Ho ChiMinh City, 97 A Pho Duc ChinhSt, Nguyen Thai Binh Ward,Dist.1, Ho Chi Minh City. Tel: (08)3829-4441. Open: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

MUSIC‘Toyota Classics’18 November

Toyota Motor Vietnam intro-duces a concert, Toyota Classics2014, at 8 p.m. on 18 November atthe Opera House.

Toyota Classics 2014 is a feastof music that blends classical pu-rity with classical interferencewith the performance of theCovent Garden Soloists from therenowned Royal Opera House inthe United Kingdom, talentedand masterly Spanish conductorMiguel Angel Navarro and the ex-cellent couple, pianist PamelaNicholson and violinist VaskoVassilev.

This is the first time ToyotaClassics has taken a source of in-spiration from the movie indus-

try. The concerto, arranged by thePiano/ Composer and ArrangerPamela Tan will bring listeners todifferent emotional places, fromsweet love to desire, provocationand the unveiling of secrets.

Toyota Classics 2014 in Viet-nam especially welcomes the per-formance of Vietnam flute soloistNguyen Ly Huong, with a fluteconcerto by the famous composerW.A. Mozart.

Tickets range fromVND700,000 toVND1,200,000.Tickets are avail-able at the Opera House, 7 LamSon Square, Dist 1, Ho Chi MinhCity. Tel: (08) 6270-4450

Top guitarist featured27 November

A classical guitar perform-ance of Le Hoang Minh is on 8p.m. 27 November at Idecaf in HoChi Minh City. Along with receiv-ing many prizes/awards at guitarcompetitions (first prize at theAdelaide Spring Guitar Competi-tion and the 50th Tokyo Interna-tional Guitar Competition), LeMinh Hoang is a teacher whocontributes to the developmentof future talented musicians inCanberra, Australia.

Ticket: VND160,000. Stu-dents enjoy half price.

IDECAF, 28 Le Thanh Ton St,Dist.1, Ho Chi Minh City. Tel: (08)3829-5451

THEATREAO!14, 19, 20, 21, 24, 25, 26 November at 6 p.m.15, 16, 22, 23 November at 8 p.m.

AO Show is on at OperaHouse at 6 p.m. 10, 11, 12, 14, 19,20, 21, 24, 25, 26 November and 8p.m. 15, 16, 22, 23 November.

A O Show is a new kind of artperformance, acknowledged glob-

ally as new type of circus. 60 min-utes of using bamboo and basketboats, traditional music of Don CaTai Tu, visual creations and light-ing, and audiences see themselveswalking on a small walkway ofsweet and breezy Southern Viet-nam, and wandering past thesurging dunes of the SouthernCentral only to find themselvesfront of a lotus swamp.

Tickets range fromVND530,000 to VND1,250,000.

Opera House, 7 Lam SonSquare, Dist.1, Ho Chi Minh City.Tel: (08) 3829-9976

The Nutcracker 28 and 29 November

The HBSO will perform P. I.Tchaikovsky’s ballet ‘The Nut-cracker’ at 8 p.m. on 28 and 29November at Opera House, 7Lam Son Square, Dist.1, Ho ChiMinh City. With all its mysticaland magical colours, this ballethas charmed audiences fordecades, especially the youngones. Choreographed by JohanneJakhelin Constant, young promis-ing artist Nguyen Thu Trang willstep into the role of Clara andperform alongside Vietnameseperformers such as Ho Phi Diep,Tran Hoang Yen, Dam DucNhuan, Dinh Thi Diem Trang,Dao Van Thien, and Phan ThiHong Chau.

Tickets are available at theOpera House or call (08) 3823-7419 for delivery.

Love story9 December

A ballet, ‘Saga of a romance’will be shown at 8 p.m. on 9 De-cember at the Opera House. The play tells the story of a beautiful and touching love story that en-dured the nation’s historic war.The faithful and romantic love

became the symbol of noble soulspassing on generations.

Opera House, 7 Lam SonSquare, Dist.1, Ho Chi Minh City.Tel: (08) 3823-7419

CHARITYCharity Cycle Adventure 28 – 30 November

Saigon Children’s Charity(SCC) will organize Charity CycleAdventure from 28 to 30 Novem-ber. The event will feature athree-day cycle ride throughsome of Vietnam's most beautifulscenery.

The 300-km ride, from Hue toHoi An, starts from Hue’s local vil-lages and continues to Lang Co foran overnight stay. After the firstday’s warm-up, the trip goes uphillas you climb the challenging butbeautiful Hai Van pass. Fromthere, you and the other riders willenjoy the extraordinary view overDanang and ride along the sceniccoastal roads. The final stretch ofthe trip is past the UNESCO-listedCham Temples of My Son beforereaching the finish line in Hoi An.

The registration fee is $560per person, covering all costs forthe ride and riders are also askedto get their network behind themand raise an additional minimumof $500, which will go directly tosupport the poor childrenthrough SCC’s education project.

To register, contact TeamLeader Tom Duncan at [email protected]/ Cell: 0902845 859, or Ms Nguyen SCC [email protected]/Tel: (08) 3930 3502


EVENTS

VALUE FOR MONEY


HOTELS

Mai Chau EcolodgeNa Thia Village, Na Phon Commune, Mai Chau District, Hoa Binh ProvinceTel: (04) 6275-1271

Mai Chau Ecolodge has a ‘HoneymoonPackage’ till 31 March. It cost $380(VND7,980,000) including one night’s stay in aDeluxe Room with a view of paddy fields,roundtrip transfers from Hanoi to Mai ChauEcolodge, a jar of rice wine in room, breakfast,lunch, dinner, a 45-minute massage and freeuse of bicycles.

Hoi An Chic HotelNguyen Trai Street, Hoi An, Quang Nam ProvinceTel: (0510) 3926-799www.hoianchic.com

Hoi An Chic Hotel is offering a 30 per centdiscount on all types of rooms till 30 November.The prices after discount are fromVND2,058,000 to VND2,793,000 including onenight’s stay, a two-hour kayaking tour, Viet-namese cooking demonstration and US armyjeep shuttle to Hoi An ancient town and CuaDai Beach. The price includes service chargeand VAT.

Novotel Nha Trang Hotel50 Tran Phu St, Nha Trang, Khanh Hoa ProvinceTel: (058) 6256-933www.novotel-nhatrang.com

Novotel Nha Trang Hotel is offering a spe-cial promotion ‘Super Sale’ with a 30 per centdiscount on room rates for those who bookfrom 24 to 28 November for stays from 15 De-cember 2014 to 8 February 2015. The promotionis applicable for bookings on its website.

Ninh Kieu 2 Hotel3 Hoa Binh St, Ninh Kieu Dist., Can ThoTel: (0710) 6252-414www.ninhkieuhotel.com

Ninh Kieu 2 Hotel is offering a promotiontill 31 December. The prices run fromVND735,000 per room per night in a StandardRoom to VND2,390,000 per room per night ina Suite Room with breakfast. The prices includeservice charge and VAT.

RESORTS AND SPAS

Emeralda Resort Ninh BinhVan Long Reserve, Gia Van Commune, Gia Vien Dist., Ninh Binh ProvinceTel: (030) 3658-333www.emeraldaresort.com

On the occasion of its new website launch,Emeralda Resort Ninh Binh offers a ‘WeekdaySpecial’ with a 20 per cent discount on rates.The public prices start from $120++(VND2,520,000++) per night in a SuperiorRoom. The special is applicable for those whobook on the website for stays from Sunday toThursday.

Hyatt Regency Danang Resort & SpaTruong Sa St, Hoa Hai Ward, Ngu Hanh SonDist, Danang. Tel: (0511) 3981-234Email: [email protected]

Hyatt Regency Danang Resort and Spa isorganizing Vietnamese cuisine cooking classesat Beach House Restaurant by chefs at the re-sort till the end of 2014. Each class requires atleast two people at VND1,700,000 per person orVND2,150,000 per person including a pre-classmarket visit. Classes can be arranged on any daybetween 9 a.m. and 1 p.m. Reservation one dayin advance is recommended.

BWP Indochine Palace105 A Hung Vuong St, HueTel: (054) 3936-666

BWP Indochine Palace is offering a ‘Hon-eymoon Package’ at VND5,289,000, with onenight’s stay in a Palace Suite, a dinner at LaBrasserie Restaurant, fruit basket in room, abottle of Champagne in room and a one-hourspa service. The promotion is valid till 31 De-cember.

Evason Ana MandaraBeachside Tran Phu St, Nha Trang, Khanh Hoa ProvinceTel: (058) 3524-705

Six Senses Spa at the Evason Ana Mandarais offering a three-hour spa package at $106(VND2,226,000). The rate is valid until 20 De-cember.

Green World Hotel Nha Trang44 Nguyen Thi Minh Khai St, Nha Trang, Khanh Hoa ProvinceTel: (058) 3528-666www.greenworldhotelnhatrang.com

Green World Hotel Nha Trang announcesa special promotion; ‘Stay more, pay less’ witha discount from 50 to 70 per cent for those whobook apartments at the hotel until 31 Decem-ber. The promotion includes breakfast, compli-mentary gym, pool and a 50 per cent discounton beverages at Cyclo Café between 7 a.m. to 10a.m. on Saturday and Sunday.

Ana Mandara Villas DalatLe Lai St, Dalat, Lam Dong ProvinceTel: (063) 3555-888www.anamandara-resort.com

Ana Mandara Villas Dalat has a ‘Festive Sea-son’ till 28 February, 2015. The prices start fromVND2,650,000 per room per night for two in a

VALUE FOR MONEY


Villa Room, Studio Room or Suite Room, withbreakfast and Vietnamese set menu dinner.VND1,500,000 per person for gala dinner on 24December and 31 December. Surcharge isVND630,000 per night for stays from 20 De-cember, 2014 to 1 January, 2015. The prices in-clude service charge and VAT. The promotionis applicable for those who book at least twonights.

Mom Da Chim Lazi Beach ResortLy Thai To St, Tan Tien, Lagi,Binh Thuan ProvinceTel: (062) 3874-458

Mom Da Chim - Lazi Beach Resort has aspecial promotion at VND1,333,000 a voucher,including one night’s stay for two in a DeluxeBungalow with breakfast, lunch or dinner andround-trip transfers from Ho Chi Minh City tothe resort. The voucher is valid till 30 Novem-ber. Surcharge is VND300,000 per night forthose who stay on Friday and Saturday. Makingreservations in advance is recommended.

OTHER

Cathay Pacific Airways

Cathay Pacific Airways has appointed ChrisVanden Hooven as its General Manager in Viet-nam. With 20 years of experience working inthe aviation industry, he will contribute effec-tively to the development of Cathay Pacific Air-ways in the Vietnamese market.

‘Vietnam is a market with a lot of potentialgrowth and many big opportunities. I believethose who select Cathay Pacific Airways willenjoy experiences with our world-favourite“Service Straight From The Heart”,’ he said.

Transaero AirlinesThe Russian airline Transaero launched a

direct air route connecting Domodedovo inMoscow with Cam Ranh in Khanh Hoa in earlyNovember to serve the growing traveling de-mands of Russian visitors to Vietnam.

The airline will fly every 10 days with a flighttime of ten hours and 30 minutes. The flightswill depart from Domodedovo airport at 10 p.m.(Russia time) and the return flights will take offfrom Cam Ranh airport at 1.10 p.m. (Vietnamtime).

FOOD PROMOTIONS

Fortuna Hotel Hanoi6B Lang Ha St, Ba Dinh Dist., HanoiTel: (04) 3831-3333

Fortuna Hotel Hanoi will serve ‘ChristmasSet Dinner’ from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. on 24 and 25December at its restaurant Tiffin - All Day Din-ing. The four-course menu includes custardand smoked bacon, hearty chicken and leeksoup, roasted lamb rack or US pan-roastedturkey and mango &ricotta crêpes.VND650,000 including a glass of red wine.

Hotel Nikko Hanoi84 Tran Nhan Tong St, Hai Ba Trung District, HanoiTel: (04) 3822-3535

This November, Taoli Chinese Restaurant,at the Hotel Nikko Hanoi, has a ‘Weekend DimSum Lunch Buffet’ on Saturday and Sunday atVND420,000++, including acomplimentaryglass of draught beer or soft drink. Those whobook in advance will get a promotion; ‘4 Come,3 Pay’. Also, the restaurant has ‘All You Can EatDim Sum Menu’ on Monday to Friday lunch atVND350,000++. The lunch buffet features morethan 45 different varieties of dim sum, includ-ing Tao-Li’s famous Peking duck, suckling pigand seafood.

Melia Hanoi44B Ly Thuong Kiet St, HanoiTel: (04)3934-3343

El Patio Restaurant at the Melia Hanoi isserving Christmas Eve Buffet Dinner from 6p.m. to 10.30 p.m. combining of traditional andcontemporary delights. VND1,220,000++ foradults and VND760,000++ for children under10. The prices include free flow of house wine,beer, sparkling wine and soft drink.

Movenpick Hotel Hanoi83A Ly Thuong Kiet St, HanoiTel: (04) 3822-2800

Mangosteen Restaurant, at the MövenpickHotel Hanoi, serves Thanksgiving dinner from6 p.m. to 10 p.m. on 27 November including car-rot soup, roasted turkey with apple and rose-mary, grilled pan fried sea bass steak witheggplant mousse and trio pumpkin cake.

VND630,000++ for adults including a glassof red or white wine or soft drink. Surcharge isVND250,000++ for free flow of house wine,beer and soft drinks. Half price for children be-tween 6 and 12.

Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi15 Ngo Quyen St, HanoiTel: (04) 3826-6919

Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi runs‘Arome Festival’ from 28 November to 5 De-cember. The festival is a chance to meet gour-mets, enjoy food and wines and join a cookingclass with Chef Patrick Jeffroy from L’Hotel deCarantec in France.

On 28 November, Chef Patrick Jeffroy willinstruct a cooking class at 2 p.m. forVND870,000++, including Moet et Chandonand flash-frozen lobster. Also, the hotel servesa six-course dinner at 7 p.m., prepared byFrench chefs Didier Corlou and OlivierGénique. VND1,900,000++ including Frenchwines.

On 30 November, Chef Patrick Jeffroy willprepare a set lunch at Le Beaulieu Restaurant,at the hotel. VND1,900,000++

At 7 p.m. on 1 December, Spices GardenPrice at the hotel will have a wine party withgourmet Alain Beydon-Schlumberger.VND1,700,000++

At 7 p.m. on 2 December, Executive ChefNicholas Shadbolt of the hotel will serve a five-course dinner at L’Orangerie Restaurant withDiageo, Singleton 12, Talisker Storm, Cardhu,Singleton Signature and Lagavulin wines.VND1,995,000++

Novotel Danang Premier Han River36 Bach Dang St, Hai Chau Dist., DanangTel: (0511)3929-999

The Square Restaurant, at the NovotelDanang Premier Han River, serves ‘BuffetD’Hote’, 12 p.m. to 3 p.m. every Sunday for

VND625,000++. Along with extensive dessertsand appetizers, guests can choose from unlim-ited choices of main courses.

Diamond Bay Resort and SpaSong Lo, Phuoc Ha, Phuoc Dong Dist., Khanh Hoa Province. Tel: (058) 3711-711

Diamond Bay Resort and Spa will hold a‘Merry Christmas Feast’ at the Grand BanquetHall from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. on 24 December.The event includes Christmas buffet dinner,fashion show, lucky draw, a photo booth, a per-formance of singers, games and gifts for guests.VND1,900,000 for adults and half price for chil-dren from 6 to 11.

Caravelle Hotel19-23 Cong Truong Lam Son, Dist 1, Ho Chi Minh City. Tel: (08) 3823-4999

Saigon Saigon Bar, at the Caravelle Hotel,offers hot dogs with four flavours, includingonion cheese, Mexican, German and baconwrap, from 22 November to 28 November.VND298,000++ including chilli cheese fries.

Hotel Equatorial242 Tran Binh Trong St, Dist.5, Ho Chi Minh City. Tel: (08) 3839-7777

Hotel Equatorial serves American Thanks-giving Buffet Dinner on 27 November, with anarray of specialties, including home-smokedhoney glazed ham, roasted Turkey and grilledlobster. VND840,000++, including free flow ofwine, beer, soft drinks and cocktails.

Also the hotel has ‘Turkey Take-Away Serv-ice’. Roasted turkey (4-5 kg) is VND2,100,000,5.5-6.5 kg is VND2,400,000 and 7-8 kg isVND2,900,000. All roasted turkeys includeroasted potato, green beans, carrots, gibletgravy and cranberry sauce. A complimentarybottle of red or white wine with the order ofroasted turkey 7-8kg.

Novotel Saigon Centre167 Hai Ba Trung St, Dist.3, Ho Chi Minh CityTel: (08) 3025-4884

Top Bar, at the Novotel Saigon Centre,serves a wide range of oysters, includingFrench-style oyster and European-style flat oys-ter, serving with selected Bordeaux white wine.

VND499,000++ for 12 oysters and 2 glasses ofselected wine.

Park Hyatt Saigon 2 Lam Son Square, Dist.1, Ho Chi Minh City Tel: (08) 3824-1234

Square One Restaurant, at the Park HyattSaigon, will serve Thanksgiving dinner on 27November for VND 825,000++, including slow-roasted turkey board, giblet gravy, cranberrychutney, traditional stuffing, glazed Brusselssprouts, bacon, and mashed potatoes. Alsoguest can enjoy traditional pumpkin pie atVND180,000++.

Sheraton Saigon Hotel & Towers88 Dong Khoi St, Dist.1, Ho Chi Minh CityTel: (08) 3827-2828

Saigon Café, at the Sheraton Saigon Hotel& Towers, has a Thanksgiving Dinner Buffet, 6p.m. to 10 p.m. on 27 November. The buffet in-cludes traditional roast turkey, prime rib withYorkshire pudding and gravy, glazed hamtopped with honey sauce, Jambalaya, pumpkinpie with jalapenos, cheese and pistachio,pumpkin cherry crumble, cranberry appleraisin crisp, apple peanut butter cake, butter-milk cookies and chocolate mousse withbrandy. VND1,400,000++ including free flow-ing of house wine, coffee and tea.

VALUE FOR MONEY

40 • VIETNAM HERITAGE - OCTOBER-NOVEMBER 2014


BUYABLE

KIEU HUNG LEATHER992 Truong Sa St., Ward 12, Dist.3, HCM city

Tel: (08) 667 69 667 - www.casaukieuhung.com

Crocodile leather handbag, VND10,999,000 Crocodile leather bag, VND6,599,000

Python leather handbag, VND6,999,000 Crocodile leather bag, VND4,199,000

Crocodile leather key holders, VND179,000 each Crocodile leather key holders, VND99,000 each

EMERGENCIESPolice: 113Fire: 114Ambulance: 115

SAPA(TELEPHONE CODE: 020)

Sapa is a former French hill stationin northwestern Vietnam, in Lao CaiProvince, near the Chinese border.A number of minority cultures including the H’mong, Dao and Taylive in villages in the countrysidearound Sapa.

HOTELS, RESORTSNote: Prices at many hotels dependon occupancy and change daily

Cat Cat View Hotel46 Fan Xi Pang St, Sapa, Lao CaiProvinceTel: (020) 3871-946www.catcathotel.comVND735,000 to VND3,780,000($35 to $180)

Cha Pa Garden Boutique Hotel & Spa23B Cau May St, Sapa, Lao Cai ProvinceTel: (020) 3872-907Email: [email protected] VND1,470,000 ($70)Chau Long Sapa Hotel

24 Dong Loi St, Sapa,Lao Cai ProvinceTel: (020) 3871-245Email: [email protected] VND700,000 ($33)

Holiday Sapa Hotel16 Muong Hoa, Sapa, Lao Cai ProvinceTel: (020) 3873-874Email: [email protected],000 to VND2,100,000 ($28 to $100)

Mường Thanh Sapa HotelNo 044, Ngu Chi Son, Sapa, Lao CaiProvinceTel: (020) 3887-766Email: [email protected]

Royal Hotel54B Cau May St, Sapa, Lao CaiProvinceTel: (020) 3771-131 Email: [email protected] VND340,000 ($17)

Topas EcolodgeThanh Kim Ward, Sapa,Lao Cai ProvinceTel: (04) [email protected] From VND2,300,000 ($110)

Victoria Sapa Resort and SpaXuan Vien St, Sapa, Lao Cai ProvinceTel: (020) 3871-522Email: [email protected] VND3,657,000 ($172)

RESTAURANTSBuffalo Bell Restaurant25 Cau May St, Sapa, Lao Cai ProvinceTel: (020) 3873-455Delta Restaurant33 Cau May St, Sapa,Lao Cai ProvinceTel: (020) 3871-799Fansipan Restaurant23 Cau May St, Sapa, Lao Cai ProvinceTel: (020) 3871-556

HALONG(TELEPHONE CODE: 033)

With around 1,600 islands and isletsin the Gulf of Tonkin, Halong Bay,about 170 km east of Hanoi, is wellknown for its limestone seascape.Overnight boat trips out of HalongCity are a popular way to see it.

HOSPITALSBai Chay Hospital Gieng Day Ward, HalongTel: (033) 3846-557www.benhvienbaichay.vn

Traditional Medicine Hospital Cot 8, Hong Ha Ward, Halong Tel: (033) 3838-113

Vietnam-Sweden Hospital Thanh Son Ward, Uong Bi Commune, HalongTel: (033) 3854-037www.bvubqn.tk

TRAVELHalong Tourism 1 Halong St, HalongTel: (033) 3846-272Quang Ninh Tourism Company Ha Long St, Bai Chay Ward, HalongTel: (033) 3846-350Syrena CruisesHung Thang new urban area,Bai Chay, HalongTel: (033) 3847-043Hanoi Sales Office: Syrena Tower,3th Floor, 51 Xuan Dieu St, HanoiTel: (04) 3719-7214Email: [email protected]


Asean Halong HotelHau Can St, Bai Chay Ward, HalongTel: (033) 3640-034 Email: [email protected] www.aseanhalonghotel.com

Halong Hidden Charm HotelBlock 22D, Tuan Chau Villas, Halong Tel: (033) 3842-360Email:infor.halonghiddencharmhotel@gmail.comwww.hiddencharmhotel.com.vn From VND600,000 ($29)

Halong Palace Hotel1, Block 20 Dong Hung Thang,Hoang Quoc Viet St, Bai Chay Ward,HalongTel: (033) 3619-819Email: [email protected] VND3,800,000 ($181)

Halong Plaza Hotel8 Ha Long St, Bai Chay Ward, Halong Tel: (033) 3845-810 Email: [email protected] www.halongplaza.com VND1,500,000 to VND3,800,000($71 to $179)

Heritage Halong Hotel 88 Ha Long St, Bai Chay Ward, HalongTel: (033) 3846-888 Email: [email protected],200,000 ($57)

Mường Thanh Halong HotelNo.7, Block 20, East of Hung Thang,Bai Chay Ward, HalongTel: (033) 3812-468/ (033) 3819-777Email: [email protected] VND1,400,000 ($67) Novotel Ha Long Bay160 Ha Long St, Bai Chay Ward, Ha-longTel: (033) 3848-108 Email: [email protected] www.novotelhalongbay.com From VND2,772,000 ($132)

Saigon Halong HotelHa Long St, Bai Chay Ward, Halong Tel: (033) 3845-845 [email protected] www.saigonhalonghotel.com From VND950,000 ($45)

StarCity Halong Bay Hotel

Halong St, Bai Chay Ward, Halong Tel: (033) 3846-058Email: [email protected] In the centre of Halong, StarCity Ha-long Bay Hotel offers 152 well-

equipped rooms, with many breath-taking views of Halong Bay

RESTAURANTSCo Ngu RestaurantHalong St, HalongTel: (033) 3511-363Jumbo Vietnam Floating Restaurant119 Le Thanh Tong St, HalongTel: (033) 3624-888Sea Food RestaurantHalong St, HalongTel: (033) 3845-822Thu Huong RestaurantHalong St, HalongTel: (033) 3845-142

BARS & CAFÉSEmeraude CaféRoyal Park, Ha Long St, Halong Tel: (033) 3849-266 www.emeraude-cruises.comRoyal International Gaming Club and VillaBai Chay, Halong Tel: (033) 3848-777

HAI PHONG CITY(TELEPHONE CODE: 031)

HOTELS, RESORTSNote: Prices at many hotels dependon occupancy and change dailyCatba Princes Hotel

303 Nui Ngoc, Cat Ba Island, HaiPhong CityTel: (031) 3888-899 Email: [email protected] VND527,500 ($25)Catba Sunrise ResortCat Ba Island, Hai Phong CityTel: (031) 3887-360Email: [email protected] VND3,520,000 ($168)

Harbour View Hotel12 Tran Phu St, Ngo Quyen Dist., HaiPhongTel: (031) 3827-827 Email:[email protected] VND2,772,000 ($132)

ENTERTAINMENTDo Son Casino Zone 3, Do Son town, Hai PhongTel: (031) 3864-888

DIRECTIONS SAPA, HALONG, HAI PHONG


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Majestic Hotel

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Oscar Hotel

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Rex Hotel

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3 Thang 2..........A2, A3, B2Alexandre De Rhodes................................................E2An Duong Vuong....A4, B4Ba Le Chan....................D1Ba Huyen Thanh Quan..............................................C2Ban Co...........................B3Ben Chuong Duong............................................D4, E4Ben Van Don...........D4, E4

Bui Thi Xuan..................C3Bui Vien...................C4, D4Cach Mang Thang Tam...........A1, B1, B2, C2, C3, D3Calmette.........................E4Cao Thang.....................B3Chu Manh Trinh.............F2Co Bac.....................C4, D4Co Giang............. ...C4, D4Cong Quynh............C3, C4De Tham........................D4

Dien Bien Phu.....................A3, B2, C2, D1, D2, E1, F1Dinh Tien Hoang............E1Do Quang Dau...............C4Do Thanh.......................B3Doan Cong Buu.............C1Doan Nhu Hai..........E4, F4Dong Du.........................F3Dong Khoi................E3, F3Hai Ba Trung..................................................D1, E2, F3Hai Trieu.........................F4

Ham Nghi.................E4, F4Han Thuyen....................E2Ho Hao Hon...................C4Ho Tung Mau...........E3, E4Ho Xuan Huong.............C2Hoa Hung.......................A2Hung Vuong...................A4Huyen Tran Cong Chua.............................................D3Huynh Thuc Khang........E3Huynh Tinh Cua.............D1Ky Con.....................D4, E4

Ky Dong...................B2, C1Le Duan...................E2, F2Le Hong Phong.............................................A2, A3, A4Le Lai.......................C3, D3Le Loi..............................E3Le Quy Don....................D2Le Thanh Ton.................................................D3, E3, F2Le Thi Hong Gam................................................D4, E4Le Thi Rieng............C3, D3

Le Van Sy.......................B1Luong Huu Khanh.........C3Ly Chinh Thang.......C1, C2Ly Thai To......................A3Ly Tu Trong....................................................D3, E3, F2Ly Van Phuc...................E1Mac Dinh Chi...........E1, E2Mac Thi Buoi..................F3Mai Thi Luu..............E1, F1Nam Ky Khoi Nghia...............................C1, D1, D2, D3

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C E N T R E O F H O C H I M I N H C I T YDuxton Hotel Saigon

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Intercontinental Asiana Saigon Hotel

Kelly Hotel


Majestic Hotel

New World Hotel

Oscar Hotel

Park Hyatt


Rex Hotel

Sheraton Saigon Hotel & Towers

New Epoch Hotel

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Asiana Saigon HotelIntercontinental

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Equatorial Hotel

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New Epoch Hotel

Sheraton Saigon Hotel &

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Ngo Duc Ke....................F3Ngo Thoi Nhiem ....C2, D2Ngo Van Nam.................F2Nguyen Binh Khiem...................................................F1, F2Nguyen Cau...................D1Nguyen Cong Tru................................................D4, E4Nguyen Dinh Chieu..................B3, C2, C3, D2, E1, F1Nguyen Du..............D3, E3Nguyen Hue.............E3, F3

Nguyen Khac Nhu...............................................C4, D4Nam Quoc Cang.....C3, C4Nguyen Phi Khanh.........E1Nguyen Sieu...................F3Nguyen Son Tra..................................................B3, C3Nguyen Tat Thanh..........F4Nguyen Thai Binh................................................D4, E4Nguyen Thai Hoc....D3, D4Nguyen Thanh Y............E1

Nguyen Thi Dieu............C2Nguyen Thi Minh Khai.........................................B3, C3Nguyen Thien Thuat............................................A3, B3Nguyen Thong........B2, C2Nguyen Thuong Hien.........................................B2, C3Nguyen Trai.............B4, C4Nguyen Trung Ngan......F2Nguyen Trung Truc........E3Nguyen Truong To.........E4

Nguyen Van Cu..............B4Nguyen Van Thu......E1, F1Pasteur...............................................D1, D2, E2, E3,E4Pham Ngoc Thach.........D1Pham Ngu Lao........C4, D4Pham Viet Chanh...........B3Phan Ke Binh..........E1, E2Pho Duc Chinh...............E4Phung Khac Khoan.......E2Suong Nguyet Anh........C3Thach Thi Thanh.....D1, E1

Thai Van Lung................F3Thi Sach.........................F3Thu Khoa Huan.......D3, E3To Hien Thanh................A1Ton That Dam..........E3, E4Ton Duc Thang..............C3Tran Binh Trong......A3, A4Tran Cao Van.................E2Tran Dinh Xu...........B4, C4Tran Hung Dao.......C4, D4Tran Minh Quyen...........A3Tran Nhan Tong.......A3, A4

Tran Phu.........................A4Tran Quang Dieu...........B1Tran Quang Khai.....D1, E1Tran Quoc Thao......C1, D2Tran Quoc Toan......C1, D1Truong Dinh............C1, C2Tu Xuong.......................C2Vinh Vien........................A3Vo Thi Sau........C2, D1, E1Vo Van Tan..............C3, B3Vuon Chuoi..............B2, B3Yersin..............................D4

HANOI(TELEPHONE CODE: 04)

EMBASSIESAlgeria13 Phan Chu Trinh St, Hoan KiemDist., HanoiTel: (04) 3825-3865

Argentina41A Ly Thai To St, Hoan Kiem Dist.,HanoiTel: (04) 3831-5263

Australia8 Dao Tan St, Ba Dinh Dist., HanoiTel: (04) 3831-7755

Austria53 Quang Trung St, Hoan Kiem Dist.,HanoiTel: (04) 3943-3050BangladeshVilla D6B 5 – Khu Vuon Dao Ngo 675,Lac Long Quan St, Tay Ho Dist.,HanoiTel: (04) 3771-6625Belarus52 Ho Tay St, Tay Ho Dist., HanoiTel: (04) 3829-0494BelgiumHanoi Tower, 49 Hai Ba Trung St,Hoan Kiem Dist., HanoiTel: (04) 3934-6179

BrazilT72-14 Thuy Khue St, Tay Ho Dist.,HanoiTel: (04) 3843-2544

BruneiVilla 8-9 No 44/8-44, 9 Van Bao St, BaDinh Dist., HanoiTel: (04) 3726-0001

Bulgaria5 Nui Truc St, Ba Dinh Dist., HanoiTel: (04) 3845-2908

Cambodia71A Tran Hung Dao St, Hoan KiemDist., HanoiTel: (04) 3942-7636Canada31 Hung Vuong St, Ba Dinh Dist.,HanoiTel: (04) 3823-5500China46 Hoang Dieu St, Ba Dinh Dist.,Hanoi. Tel: (04) 3845-3736Cuba65 Ly Thuong Kiet St, Hoan KiemDist., HanoiTel: (04) 3942-4775

Czech Republic13 Chu Van An St, Ba Dinh Dist.,Hanoi; Tel: (04) 3845-4131Denmark19 Dien Bien Phu St, Ba Dinh Dist.,HanoiTel: (04) 3823-1888

Egypt63 To Ngoc Van St, Tay Ho Dist.,HanoiTel: (04) 3829-4999

Finland31 Hai Ba Trung St, Hoan Kiem Dist.,HanoiTel: (04) 3826-6788

France57 Tran Hung Dao St, Hoan KiemDist., HanoiTel: (04) 3944-5782

Germany29 Tran Phu St, Ba Dinh Dist., HanoiTel: (04) 3845-3836

Hungary12th floor of Deaha Building, 360Kim Ma St, Ba Dinh Dist., HanoiTel: (04) 3771-5714India58-60 Tran Hung Dao St, Hoan KiemDist., HanoiTel: (04) 3824-4990

Indonesia50 Ngo Quyen St, Hoan Kiem Dist.,HanoiTel: (04) 3825-3353Iran54 Tran Phu St, Ba Dinh Dist., HanoiTel: (04) 3823-2068Iraq66 Tran Hung Dao St, Hoan KiemDist., HanoiTel: (04) 3942-4141Ireland8th floor of Vincom Tower B, 191 Ba Trieu St, Ha Dong Dist., HanoiTel: (04) 3974-3291Israel68 Nguyen Thai Hoc St, Ba DinhDist., HanoiTel: (04) 3843-3141Italy9 Le Phung Hieu St, Hoan Kiem Dist.,HanoiTel: (04) 3825-6256

Japan27 Lieu Giai St, Ba Dinh Dist., HanoiTel: (04) 3846-3000Laos22 Tran Binh Trong St, Hoan KiemDist., HanoiTel: (04) 3942-4576Libya298B Kim Ma St, Ba Dinh Dist., HanoiTel: (04) 3845-3379Malaysia43-45 Dien Bien Phu St, Ba DinhDist., HanoiTel: (04) 3734-3836MexicoCoco Villa T-11, 14 Thuy Khue St, TayHo Dist., HanoiTel: (04) 3847-0948Mongolia5 Van Phuc, Kim Ma St, Ba Dinh Dist.,HanoiTel: (04) 3845-3009Myanmar298A Kim Ma St, Ba Dinh Dist., HanoiTel: (04) 3845-3369

Netherlands6th floor of Deaha Building, 360 KimMa St, Ba Dinh Dist., HanoiTel: (04) 3831-5650New Zealand63 Ly Thai To St, Hoan Kiem Dist.,HanoiTel: (04) 3824-1481

North Korea25 Cao Ba Quat St, Ba Dinh Dist.,HanoiTel: (04) 3845-3008Norway8th Floor, Hanoi Tower, 49 Hai BaTrung St, Hoan Kiem Dist., HanoiTel: (04) 3974-8900

Nigeria44/1 Van Bao St, Ba Dinh Dist., HanoiTel: (04) 3726-3610Palestine6 Dang Van Ngu St, Dong Da Dist.,HanoiTel: (04) 3852-4013Philippines27B Tran Hung Dao St, Hoan KiemDist., HanoiTel: (04) 3943-7948

Poland3 Chua Mot Cot St, Ba Dinh Dist.,HanoiTel: (04) 3845-2027Romania5 Le Hong Phong St, Ba Dinh Dist.,HanoiTel: (04) 3845-2014

Russia191 La Thanh St, Ba Dinh Dist., HanoiTel: 3833-6991South Africa31 Hai Ba Trung St, Hoan Kiem Dist.,HanoiTel: (04) 3936-2000

South Korea4th floor of Deaha Building, 360 Kim Ma St, Ba Dinh Dist., HanoiTel: (04) 3831-5111

Spain15th floor of Deaha Building, 360 Kim Ma St, Ba Dinh Dist., HanoiTel: (04) 3771-5207

Sweden2 Nui Truc St, Ba Dinh Dist., HanoiTel: (04) 3726-0400Thailand63-65 Hoang Dieu St, Ba Dinh Dist.,HanoiTel: (04) 3823-5092Turkey14th Floor, HCO Building, 44B LyThuong Kiet St, Hoan Kiem Dist., Tel: (04) 3822-2460

United Kingdom31 Hai Ba Trung St, Hoan Kiem Dist.,HanoiTel: (04) 3936-0500

United States7 Lang Ha St, Dong Da Dist., HanoiTel: (04) 3772-1500

MEDICAL CENTRESAcupuncture Institute49 Thai Thinh St, Dong Da Dist.,HanoiTel: (04) 3563-1069Hanoi French Hospital1 Phuong Mai St, Ba Dinh Dist.,Hanoi Tel: (04) 3577-1100International SOS Clinic1 Dang Thai May St, Tay Ho Dist.,Hanoi Tel: (04) 3934-0666Vinmec international hospital458 Minh Khai St, Hai Ba Trung Dist,Hanoi, Tel: (04) 3974-3556

AIRLINESAir France1 Ba Trieu St, Hoan Kiem Dist., HanoiTel: (04) 3825-3484Qatar AirwaysHilton Hanoi Opera Building, M floor, 1 Le Thanh Tong St, HoanKiem Dist., HanoiTel: (04) 3933-6767www.qatarairways.comSingapore Airlines17 Ngo Quyen St, Hoan Kiem Dist.,Hanoi. Tel: (04) 3826-8888Vietnam Airlines25 Trang Thi St, Hoan Kiem Dist.,HanoiTel: (04) 3823-0320

TRAVELAmega TravelNo 2606 Thang Long InternationalVillage, Tran Dang Ninh St, Cau GiayDist., HanoiTel: (04) 3783-3570www.amegatravelvietnam.com

Buffalo Tours94 Ma May St, HanoiTel: (04) 3828-0702www.buffalotours.comEmeraude Classic Cruises46 Le Thai To St, Hanoi Tel: (04) 3935-1888 www.emeraude-cruises.comEmail: [email protected] 26 Tran Nhat Duat St, HanoiTel: (04) 3828-2150www.exotissimo.comEmail: [email protected]

Oriental Sails16A Ly Nam De St, Hoan Kiem Dist.,HanoiTel: (04) 3926-4009Email: [email protected] www.orientalsails.com

Topas Travel52 To Ngoc Van St, HanoiTel: (04) 3715-1005 Email: [email protected] www.topastravel.vn


DIRECTIONS HANOI

HOTELSNote: Prices at many hotels dependon occupancy and change dailyBaoson International Hotel50 Nguyen Chi Thanh St, HanoiTel: (04) 3835-3536Email: [email protected] VND1,570,000 ($75)

De Syloia Hotel 17A Tran Hung Dao St, HanoiTel: (04) 3824-5346Email: [email protected] VND1,806,000 ($86)

Fortuna Hotel Hanoi6B Lang Ha St, Ba Dinh Dist., HanoiTel: (04) 3831-3333Email: [email protected] VND1,920,000 ($91)

Hanoi Daewoo Hotel360 Kim Ma St, Hanoi Tel: (04) 3831-5000Email: [email protected]

Hanoi Emotion Hotel26 – 28 Hang Bot St, HanoiTel: (04) 3848-9848Email: [email protected] hotel also provides Vietnamese,Japanese and International cuisine

Hilton Hanoi Opera Hotel1 Le Thanh Tong St, HanoiTel: (04) 3933-0500Email: [email protected] www.hanoi.hilton.com

Hilton Garden Inn Hanoi20 Phan Chu Trinh St, HanoiTel: (04) 3944-9396Email:[email protected]

Hotel de l’Opera 29 Trang Tien St, Hoan Kiem Dist.,HanoiTel: (04) 6282-5555Email: [email protected]

Melia Hanoi Hotel44B Ly Thuong Kiet St, HanoiTel: (04) 3934-3343Email: [email protected]

Mövenpick Hotel Hanoi 83A Ly Thuong Kiet St, HanoiTel: (04) 3822-2800Email: [email protected]/hanoiFrom VND3,139,500 ($149.50)

Hotel Nikko Hanoi84 Tran Nhan Tong St, Hanoi Tel.: (04) 3822-3535

[email protected] VND4,620,000 ($220)

Pullman Hanoi40 Cat Linh St, HanoiTel: (04) 3733-0808Email: [email protected] VND2,448,600 ($115.50)

Prestige Hotel Hanoi17 Pham Dinh Ho St, HanoiTel: (04) 6299-9888Email: [email protected] new four-star international stan-dard hotel, on a tree-lined street in theheart of Hanoi, 15 minutes walk fromthe Old Quarter and Hoan Kiem Lake.Modern luxuries, impeccable serviceand excellent value for the business orpleasure traveller.

Silk Path Hotel Hanoi195-199 Hang Bong St, Hoan KiemDist., HanoiTel: (04) 3266-5555Email: [email protected] VND2,289,000 ($109)

Sheraton Hanoi Hotel 11 Xuan Dieu St, Hanoi Tel: (04) 3719-9000 [email protected]/hanoiFrom VND4,956,000 ($236)As a ‘resort within the city’, SheratonHanoi Hotel is on the West Lake.

Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi 15 Ngo Quyen St, HanoiTel: (04) 3826-6919 Email: [email protected] From VND6,090,000 ($290)

Sunway Hotel Hanoi 19 Pham Dinh Ho St, Hanoi Tel: (04) 3971-3888 Email:[email protected]

APARTMENTSFraser Suites Hanoi51 Xuan Dieu St, Quang An Ward,Tay Ho Dist., HanoiTel: (04) 3719-8877sales.hanoi@frasershospitality.comhanoi.frasershospitality.com

Somerset Serviced ResidenceVietnam49 Hai Ba Trung St, Hoan Kiem Dist.,HanoiTel: (04) 3934-2342www.somerset.comLuxurious apartments and propertiesfor hiring

RESTAURANTSCom Chay Nang Tam Restaurant79A Tran Hung Dao St, HanoiTel: (04) 3942-4140

Green Tangerine48 Hang Be St, Hoan Kiem Dist.,HanoiTel: (04) 3825-1286www.greentangerinehanoi.com Serving French food with a Vietnamese cuisine Hoa Vien Brauhaus1A Tang Bat Ho St, Hai Ba TrungDist., HanoiTel: (04) 3972-5088www.hoavien.vnThe restaurant has been famous forits production of Czech beer

Le Tonkin Restaurant14 Ngo Van So St, Hoan Kiem Dist.,HanoiTel: (04) 3943-3457www.letonkinrestaurant.vnServes Vietnamese food

BOOK STOREInfostones Bookshop41 Trang Tien St, Hoan Kiem Dist.,HanoiTel: (04) 3826-2993Email: [email protected] of magazines and booksby hundreds of publishing housesworldwide

SHOPSCraft Link43 and 51 Van Mieu St, HanoiTel: (04) 3843-7710 Email: [email protected]

Ha Dong Silk102 Hang Gai St, HanoiTel: (04) 3928-5056Tan My Embroidery 66 Hang Gai St, HanoiEmail: [email protected] Tel: (04) 3825-1579

Viet Culture1 Trang Thi St, HanoiTel: (04) 3934-7417

Vietnam Quilts13 Hang Bac St, Hoan Kiem Dist.,HanoiTel: (04) 3926-4831www.vietnam-quilts.orgTraditional embroidery and otherhandicraft cloth products

FURNITURE/ INTERIORDome Au Co9 Au Co St, HanoiTel: (04) 3718-5866Email: [email protected]

Dome Yen The10 Yen The St, HanoiTel: (04) 3843-6036

STOREAnnam Gourmet 51 Xuan Dieu St, Quang An Ward,Tay Ho Dist., HanoiTel: (04) 3718-4487www.annam-gourmet.comAnnam Gourmet’s motivation is to“Enjoy Life. Eat and Drink well.”

MUSEUMSHo Chi Minh Museum19 Ngoc Ha St, Ba Dinh Dist., HanoiTel: (04) 3846-3752www.baotanghochiminh.vnOpen: 8 a.m. to noon (Monday andFriday), 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. (other days)Entry fee: VND25,000

Imperial Citadel of Thang Long12 Nguyen Tri Phuong St/ 9 HoangDieu St, Ba Dinh Dist., HanoiTel: (04) 37345427hoangthanhthanglong@gmail.comwww.hoangthanhthanhlong.vnOpen: 8.30 a.m. to 11.30 a.m. and 2p.m. to 5 p.m. (Closed on Mondays)Entry fee: VND30,000

Vietnam National Museumof History1 Trang Tien St, Hanoi216 Tran Quang Khai St, HanoiTel: (04) 3824-1384www.baotanglichsu.vnOpen 8 a.m. to 4.30 p.m.Closedevery first Monday of monthsEntry fee VND 20,000 ($0.95) foradults and VND10,000 ($0.48) forchildren

Vietnam Fine Arts Museum 66 Nguyen Thai Hoc St, Ba Dinh Dist., Hanoi Tel: (04) 3733-2131 www.vnfineartsmuseum.org.vnOpen 8.30 a.m. to 5 p.m.Entry fee VND20,000 ($0.95)

Vietnam Military History Museum28A Dien Bien Phu St, Hanoiwww.btlsqsvn.org.vnOpen 8 a.m. to 11.30 a.m. and 1 p.m. to 4.30 p.m. Closed on Mondays Entry fee VND30,000 ($1.43)

Vietnam Museum of EthnologyNguyen Van Huyen St, Cau Giay Dist., HanoiTel: (04) 3756-2193, www.vme.org.vnOpen 8.30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Closed on MondaysEntry fee VND25,000 ($1.19)

Women’s Museum36 Ly Thuong Kiet, Hanoi Tel: (04) 3825-9936www.womenmuseum.org.vn Open 8 a.m. to 4.30 p.m. Closed on MondaysEntry fee VND30,000 ($1.43)

SPAElite Fitness & Spa51 Xuan Dieu St, Tay Ho Dist., HanoiTel: (04) 3718-6281Email: [email protected]

Spa de PalaceFortuna Hotel Hanoi, 6B Lang Ha St, HanoiTel: (04) 3831-3333


DIRECTIONS HANOI

NINH BINH(TELEPHONE CODE: 030)

Emeralda Resort Ninh Binh

Van Long Reserve, Gia Van Commune,Gia Vien Dist., Ninh Binh Province Tel: (030) 3658-333 Email: [email protected] www.emeraldaresort.com

Ninh Binh Legend Hotel Tien Dong Zone, Ninh Khanh Ward,Ninh Binh City Tel: (030) 3899-880 Email: [email protected] www.ninhbinhlegendhotel.com From VND1,575,000 ($75)

NGHE AN(TELEPHONE CODE: 038)

Mường Thanh Song Lam Hotel13 Quang Trung St, Quang TrungWard, Vinh, Nghe An ProvinceTel: (038) 3737-666Email: [email protected]

QUANG BINH(TELEPHONE CODE: 052)


Bao Ninh Beach ResortHa Duong, Bao Ninh, Dong Hoi City,Quang Binh ProvinceTel: (052) 3854-866Email: [email protected] VND1,120,000 ($53)

Sun Spa ResortMy Canh, Bao Ninh Commune, DongHoi City, Quang Binh ProvinceTel: (052) 3842-999Email: [email protected] VND1,870,000 ($89)

TRAVELOxalis Adventure Tours Phong Nha Commune, Son Trach Vil-lage, Bo Trach Dist., Quang Binh ProvinceTel: (052)3677-678 www.oxalis.com.vn

HUE(TELEPHONE CODE: 054)

Hue is a city on the Perfume River inlowland central Vietnam and was thecapital of the Nguyen dynasty from1802 to 1945. Many imperial structuresremain. They were named part of

UNESCO World Heritage in 1993. Hueis also known for its particular cuisine.


Banyan Tree Lang Co HotelCu Du village, Loc Vinh Commune,Phu Loc Dist., Thua Thien HueProvince. Tel: (054) [email protected]

BW Premier Indochine Palace

105A Hung Vuong St, HueTel: (054) 3936-666Email: [email protected] VND3,024,000 ($144)The hotel is surrounded by lush greengardens that make it an outstandinglandmark in Hue and give the city thefeel of a resort. This luxurious, interna-tional standard hotel is created to ap-peal to Vietnamese and internationalvisitors to Hue.

Century Riverside Hotel Hue

49 Le Loi St, Hue Tel: (054) 3823-390Email: [email protected] www.centuryriversidehue.com

Hue Riverside Boutique Resort & Spa

588 Bui Thi Xuan St, Thuy Bieu Dist., Hue Tel: (054) 3978-484 Email: [email protected]

Imperial Hotel8 Hung Vuong St, HueTel: (054) 3882-222Email: [email protected],300,000 to VND29,400,000($110 to $1,400)

Huong Giang Hotel Resort & Spa

51 Le Loi St, Hue Tel: (054) [email protected]

La Résidence Hue Hotel & Spa5 Le Loi St, Hue Tel: (054) 3837-475 Email: [email protected]

Pilgrimage Village Boutique Resort & Spa

130 Minh Mang Road, HueTel: (054) 3885-461 Email: [email protected]

Vedanā Lagoon Resort & SpaZone 1, Phu Loc Town, Phu Loc Dist.,HueTel: (054) 3681-688Email: [email protected]

RESTAURANTThien Tam Vegetarian Restaurant110A Le Ngo Cat St, Thuy Xuan Ward, HueTel: (054) 3898-220 www.thientamrestaurant.com Thien Tam Vegetarian Restaurant fea-tures a Hue garden house with a simpledesign and a serene atmosphere. Therestaurant serves a variety of Hue vege-tarian food, from royal to local dishes, ata reasonable price. The menu has manychoices, with prices starting from

VND45,000 per dish. The restaurant alsoserves as an art playground for Hueartists. Guests have chance to get theirportraits drawn by the owners at a rea-sonable price. Vegetarian cookingclasses are also available. The restau-rant is about 1-2 km from Tu Duc tomb

DANANG(TELEPHONE CODE: 0511)


Grand Mercure DanangLot A1, Green Island, Hoa Cuong Bac,Hai Chau Dist., Danang Tel: (0511) 3797-777Email: [email protected] www.accorhotels.com/7821

Hyatt Regency Danang Resort & SpaHoa Hai Ward, Ngu Hanh Son Dist.,DanangTel: (0511) 3981-234Email: [email protected] VND5,225,000 ($243)

Pullman Danang Beach ResortVo Nguyen Giap St, Khue My Ward,Ngu Hanh Son Dist., DanangTel: (0511) 3958-888Email: [email protected]

Novotel Danang Premier Han River36 Bach Dang St, Hai Chau Dist.,Danang. Tel: (0511) 3929-999Email: [email protected] Beach Non Nuoc ResortDanang Vietnam, Managed by Centara

255 Huyen Tran Cong Chua St, NguHanh Son Dist., DanangTel: (0511) 3961-777

DIRECTIONS NINH BINH, NGHE AN, QUANG BINH, HUE, DANANG


Email: [email protected]/cdvVND1,785,000 to VND5,670,000($85 to $270)Ho Chi Minh sales office: 4th Floor, BenThanh TSC Building; 186-188 Le ThanhTon St, Dist.1, Ho Chi Minh CityTel: (08) 3914-7940

Vinpearl Luxury DanangTruong Sa St, Hoa Hai Ward, Ngu HanhSon Dist., DanangTel: (0 511) 3968-888Email: [email protected]

MUSEUMDanang Museum of Cham Sculpture2, 2 Thang 9 St, Danang Tel: (0511) 3572-935www.chammuseum.danang.vnOpen 7.15 a.m. to 5 p.m.Entry fee VND30,000 ($1.43)

HOI AN(TELEPHONE CODE: 0510)

A major port town from the 15th to19th centuries, Hoi An has well preserved vestiges of Vietnamese, Chi-nese and Japanese cultures. The build-ings are now often used for tailor’sshops. The old town is a UNESCOWorld Heritage Site. Hoi An is a littleover 30 km south of Danang, on thecentral coast.

HOTELS, RESORTSNote: Prices at many hotels dependon occupancy and change dailyAnantara Hoi An Resort1 Pham Hong Thai St, Hoi An, Quang Nam ProvinceTel: (0510) 3914-555Email: [email protected]

Golden Sand Resort & Spa Hoi AnThanh Nien Road, Cua Dai BeachHoi An, Quang Nam ProvinceTel: (0510) 3927-555 info@goldensandresort-spa.com.vnwww.goldensandresort-spa.com.vnVND3,759,000 to VND7,644,000

Golf Hoi An Hotel

187 Ly Thuong Kiet St, Cam Pho Ward,Hoi An, Quang Nam ProvinceTel: (0510) 3861-171Email: [email protected]

Ancient House River ResortHamlet 2, Cam Thanh Village, Hoi An,Quang Nam ProvinceTel: (0510) 3930-777Email: [email protected]

www.ancienthouseriver.comFrom VND2,656,500 ($126.50)

Hoi An Beach Resort1 Cua Dai St, Hoi An, Quang Nam ProvinceTel: (0510) 3927-011info@hoianbeachresort.com.vnwww.hoianbeachresort.com.vnVND2,184,000 to VND2,772,000($104 to $132)Hoi An Historic Hotel

10 Tran Hung Dao St, Hoi An, QuangNam ProvinceTel: (0510) 3861-445Email: [email protected] VND2,127,500 ($101)

Hoi An Riverside Resort & Spa175 Cua Dai St, Hoi An, Quang Nam ProvinceTel: (0510) 3864-800reservation@hoianriverresort.com.vnwww.hoianriverresort.comFrom VND1,650,000 ($79)

Le Belhamy Hoi An Resort & SpaHa My Beach, Hoi AnTel: (0510) 3941-888 Email: [email protected] VND2,835,000 ($135)

Hoi An Pacific Hotel & Spa

321 Cua Dai St, Hoi An, Quang Nam ProvinceTel: (0510) 3923-777Email: [email protected] www.hoianpacific.comFrom VND1,113,000 ($53)

Sunrise Hoi An Beach ResortAu Co Road, Cua Dai Beach, Hoi An,Quang Nam ProvinceTel: (0510) 3937-777Email: [email protected]

Palm Garden Beach Resort and Spa

Lac Long Quan St, Cua Dai Beach, HoiAn, Quang Nam ProvinceTel: (0510) 3927-927Email: [email protected] VND 4,158,000 ($198)

River-Beach Resort & ResidencesHoi An

5 Cua Dai St, Hoi AnTel: (0510) 3927-888saleshoian@river-beachresort.comwww.river-beachresort.comFrom VND1,350,000 ($65)

($179 to $364)TRAVELRose Travel Service co..ltd37 - 39 Ly Thai To St, Cam Chau Ward,Hoi An, Quang Nam ProvinceTel: (0510) 3917-567Email: [email protected]

MUSEUMHoi An Centre for Cultural HeritageManagement and Preservation10B Tran Hung Dao St, Hoi AnTel: (0510) 3862-367www.hoianheritage.netOpen daily 8 a.m. to 9 p.m.

QUY NHON(TELEPHONE CODE: 056)


AVANI Quy Nhon Resort & SpaGhenh Rang, Bai Dai Beach, Quy Nhon,Binh Dinh ProvinceTel: (056) 3840-132Email: [email protected]/quynhonFrom VND1,995,000 ($95)

Royal Hotel and Healthcare Resort Quy Nhon1 Han Mac Tu St, Quy Nhon, Binh Dinh Province Tel: (056) 374-7100Email: [email protected],155,000 to VND1,365,000($55 to $65)

MUSEUMQuang Trung MuseumBlock 1, Phu Phong town, Tay SonDist., Binh Dinh ProvinceTel: (056) 3580-320Open 7 a.m. to 11.30 a.m. and 1.30 p.m. to 5 p.m.Entry fee VND10,500 ($0.50). Free for children under six

NHA TRANG(TELEPHONE CODE: 058)

On the central coast, Nha Trang is acity originally known for beautifulbeaches but these have lately beenfound to suffer from pollution dueto modern life, development andtourism, like other popular resortareas in Vietnam. It has large num-bers of foreign tourists, island-hop-ping, scuba diving, sightseeing andlounging on the beach.


Champa Island Nha Trang Resort & Spa

304 2/4 St, Vinh Phuoc, Nha TrangEmail: [email protected]: 0123 6009 777With architecture reflecting nearby PoNagar temple, Champa Island NhaTrang offers exquisite cuisine and manyentertainment services that promise amemorable stay in Nha Trang

Best Western Premier Havana Nha Trang Hotel

38 Tran Phu St, Nha Trang,Khanh Hoa ProvinceTel: (058) 3889-999Email: [email protected]

Diamond Bay Resort & SpaSong Lo, Phuoc Ha, Phuoc Dong Dist.,Khanh Hoa ProvinceTel: (058) 3711-711Email: [email protected]

Evason Ana Mandara Nha TrangBeachside Tran Phu St, Nha Trang,Khanh Hoa Province Tel: (058) [email protected]/evason-resorts/ana-mandara/destinationGreen World Hotel Nha Trang44 Nguyen Thi Minh Khai St, NhaTrang, Khanh Hoa ProvinceTel: (058) 3528-666Email: sales@greenworld-hotelnhatrang.comwww.greenworldhotelnhatrang.com

DIRECTIONS HOI AN, QUY NHON, NHA TRANG


InterContinental Nha Trang Hotel32-34 Tran Phu St, Nha TrangTel: (058) 3887-777www.intercontinental.com

Michelia Hotel4 Pasteur St, Nha Trang, Khanh Hoa ProvinceTel: (058) 3820-820Email: [email protected] VND2,200,000 ($105)

Mường Thanh Nha Trang Hotel6 Duong Hien Quyen St, Vinh HoaWard, Nha Trang, Khanh Hoa ProvinceTel: (058) 3552-468 Email: [email protected] VND1,400,000 ($66)

Novotel Nha Trang Hotel50 Tran Phu St, Nha Trang, Khanh Hoa ProvinceTel: (058) 6256-900Email: [email protected],415,000 to VND4,830,000($115 to $230)

Six Senses Ninh Van BayNinh Van bay, Ninh Hoa,Khanh Hoa ProvinceTel: (058) 3524-268Email: [email protected] www.sixsenses.com/resorts/ninh-van-bay/destinationFrom VND17,629,500 ($839.50)

Sheraton Nha Trang Hotel & Spa26-28 Tran Phu St, Nha Trang, KhanhHoa Province. Tel: (058) 3880-000reservations.nhatrang@sheraton.comwww.sheratonnhatrang.comFrom VND3,565,000 ($170)

Sunrise Nha Trang Beach Hotel & Spa12-14 Tran Phu St, Nha Trang, Khanh Hoa Province Tel: (058) 3820-999Email: [email protected] VND2,520,000 to VND4,305,000($120 to $205)

Vinpearl Luxury Nha TrangHon Tre Island, Nha Trang, Khanh Hoa Province

Tel: (058) 3598-598Email: [email protected]

Vinpearl Resort Nha TrangHon Tre Island, Nha Trang City, Khanh Hoa Province Tel: (058) 3598-188Email: [email protected]

White Sand Doclet Resort & Spa Population group 9 Dong Cat, NinhHai Ward, Ninh Hoa Town, Khanh Hoa Province Tel: (058) 3670-670Email: [email protected]

TOURNha Trang Limousine

93 Nguyen Thi Minh Khai St, Nha TrangTel: (058) 3516-612 or 09868 33555Email: [email protected]

SHOPPINGKhanh Hoa SalanganesNest Company248 Thong Nhat St, Nha Trang, Khanh Hoa ProvinceTel: (058) [email protected]

MUSEUMAlexandre Yersin MuseumPasteur Institute, 10 Tran Phu St, NhaTrang, Khanh Hoa Province Tel: (058) 3822-406

PHAN RANG(TELEPHONE CODE: 068)

HOTEL, RESORT

Note: Prices at many hotels dependon occupancy and change daily

Saigon Ninh Chu Hotel & ResortKhanh Hai Town, Ninh Hai Dist., NinhThuan ProvinceTel: (068) 3876-011Email: [email protected],575,000 to VND4,200,000($75 to $200)

PHAN THIET(TELEPHONE CODE: 062)

Sitting on the coast about 200 kmnorth of Ho Chi Minh City, Phan Thietis a beach city with many resorts and hotels.


Allezboo Beach Resort & Spa8 Nguyen Dinh Chieu St, Ham Tien,Phan Thiet, Binh Thuan ProvinceTel: (062) 3743-777Email: [email protected] VND1,400,000 ($66)

Anantara Mui Ne Resort & Spa12A Nguyen Dinh Chieu St, Ham TienWard, Phan Thiet City, Binh Thuan Province Tel: (062) 3741-888Email: [email protected]

Bamboo Village Beach Resort & Spa

38 Nguyen Dinh Chieu St, Ham TienWard, Phan Thiet City, Binh ThuanProvince. Tel: (062) 3847-007 [email protected] www.bamboovillageresortvn.com From VND2,200,000 ($105)

Ocean Dunes Resort1 Ton Duc Thang St, Phan Thiet City,Binh Thuan ProvinceTel: (062) 3822-393 Email: [email protected] VND1,500,000 ($71)

Hoang Ngoc (Oriental Pearl) Beach Resort & Spa

152 Nguyen Dinh Chieu St, Ham TienWard, Phan Thiet City, Binh ThuanProvince . Tel: (062) 3847-858 Email: [email protected]

www.hoangngoc-resort.com VND1,600,000 to VND6,090,000($75 to $287)

Full Moon VillageSuoi Nuoc Beach, Mui Ne, Phan ThietCity, Binh Thuan ProvinceTel: (062) 3836-099Email: [email protected],100,000 to VND6,300,000 ($100 to $300)

Mom Da Chim - Lazi Beach ResortLy Thai To St, Tan Tien, Lagi, Binh Thuan ProvinceTel: (062) 3874-458Email: [email protected] VND1,900,000 ($90)

Muine de Century BeachResort & Spa16 Huynh Thuc Khang St, Ham TienWard, Phan Thiet, Binh Thuan ProvinceTel: (062) 3743-668 [email protected] VND1,550,000 ($74)

Muine Ocean Resort & Spa10 Nguyen Dinh Chieu St, Ham Tien Ward, Phan Thiet City, Binh Thuan ProvinceTel: (062) 3741-616Email: [email protected] VND1,050,000 ($50)

Muine Bay Resort

Quarter 14, Mui Ne Ward , Phan ThietCity, Binh Thuan ProvinceTel: (062) 2220-222Email: [email protected],205,000 to VND6,195,000($105 to $295)

Pandanus Resort

Quarter 5, Mui Ne, Phan Thiet, BinhThuan Province. Tel: (062) 3849-849Email: [email protected] www.pandanusresort.comFrom VND1,575,000 ($75)

Park Diamond HotelNguyen Tat Thanh St, Hung LongWard, Phan Thiet City, Binh Thuan ProvinceTel: (062) 3835-666Email: [email protected]

DIRECTIONS PHAN RANG, PHAN THIET


www.parkdiamondhotel.vnFrom VND990,000 ($47)

Saigon - Suoi Nhum ResortThuan Quy, Ham Thuan Nam Ward,Binh Thuan ProvinceTel: (062) 3683-240 [email protected] VND1,700,000 ($81)

Sandhills Beach Resort & SpaKm6, Tien Binh hamlet, Tien ThanhCommune, Phan Thiet, Binh Thuan ProvinceTel: (062) 3846-789Email: [email protected] VND2,520,000 ($120)

Seahorse Resort & Spa

Km 11, Ham Tien Ward, Phan ThietCity, Binh Thuan ProvinceTel: (062) 3847-507Email: [email protected] VND1,440,000 ($68)

Sea Links Beach HotelKm 9, Nguyen Thong St, Phu Hai Ward,Phan Thiet City, Binh Thuan ProvinceTel: (062) 2220-088 Email: [email protected] VND1,995,000 ($94)

Sea Lion Beach Resort & Spa12 Nguyen Dinh Chieu St, Ham TienWard, Phan Thiet, Binh Thuan ProvinceTel: (062) 3743-390Email: [email protected]

Sunny Beach Resort & Spa

64-66 Nguyen Dinh Chieu St, HamTien, Phan Thiet City, Binh Thuan ProvinceTel: (062) 3741-355 Email: [email protected] VND1,699,000 ($80)

Saigon Mui Ne Resort56 - 97 Nguyen Dinh Chieu St, HamTien Ward, Phan Thiet City, Binh Thuan Province Tel: (062) 3741-044 Email: [email protected] VND1,908,000 ($90)

The Cliff Resort & ResidencesZone 5, Phu Hai Ward, Phan Thiet City,Binh Thuan ProvinceTel: (062) 3719-111reservation@thecliffresort.com.vnwww.thecliffresort.com.vn

The Sailing Bay Beach Resort107 Ho Xuan Huong St, Mui Ne, Phan ThietTel: (062) 3836-555Email: [email protected] www.thesailingbay.comFrom VND2,571,000 ($122)

Mui Ne Unique Resort

20B, Nguyen Dinh Chieu St, Ham TienWard, Phan Thiet, Binh Thuan ProvinceTel: (062) 3741-617Email: [email protected] contact in Ho Chi MinhCity, 57 Pham Viet Chanh St, NguyenCu Trinh Ward, Dist.1Tel: (08) 3925-4196 Email: [email protected]

Victoria Phan Thiet Beach Resort & SpaPhu Hai Ward, Phan Thiet City, Binh Thuan Province Tel: (062) 3813-000 Email: [email protected] VND3,633,000 ($171)

Villa Aria Mui Ne

60A Nguyen Dinh Chieu St, Ham TienWard, Phan Thiet City, Binh ThuanProvince; Tel: (062) 3741-660Email: [email protected] VND1,743,000 ($83)

White Sands Resort

KM8, Nguyen Thong St, Phu Hai Ward,Phan Thiet City, Binh Thuan ProvinceTel: (062) 3741-175 Email: [email protected] VND1,344,000 VND ($64)

MUSEUMCham Culture Exhibition CentreSong Mao intersection, Phan HiepCommune, Bac Binh Dist., Binh ThuanProvince; Tel: (062) 3641-456Open: 7.30 a.m. to 11 a.m. and 2 p.m.to 5 p.m. Monday to FridayFree entrance

DALAT(TELEPHONE CODE: 063)

Dalat, founded in 1893, has Frencharchitecture, pine forests and aperpetually cool climate. It is in thesouthern Central Highlands, about 300kilometres from Ho Chi Minh City.

HOTELSNote: Prices at many hotels dependon occupancy and change daily

Ana Mandara Villas Dalat Resort & Spa Le Lai St, Dalat, Lam Dong ProvinceTel: (063) 3555-888Email: [email protected] www.anamandara-resort.com From VND1,700,000 ($81)

Dalat Edensee Resort Tuyen Lam Lake, Zone VII.2, Dalat, LamDong ProvinceTel: (063) 3831-515Email: [email protected],331,000 to VND4,662,000 ($111 to $222)

Saigon-Dalat Hotel

02 Hoang Van Thu St, Dalat, Lam Dong ProvinceTel: (063) 3556-789Email: [email protected] ;[email protected] in the heart of Dalat, Saigon-Dalat Hotel is a four-star-standard hotel,comprised of 160 luxurious and com-fortable rooms with air-conditioningthroughout and other modern ameni-ties. Four restaurants, two bars, one ten-nis court, one indoor swimming pool,one fitness centre and one beauty salonand spa help make your getaway experi-ence complete.

HO CHI MINH CITY(TELEPHONE CODE: 08)

CONSULATESAustralia5B Ton Duc Thang St, Dist.1, Ho Chi Minh CityTel: (08) 3829-6035Belgium91 Nguyen Huu Canh St, Ward 22, Binh

Thanh Dist., Ho Chi Minh CityTel: (08) 3512-7968Cambodia41 Phung Khac Khoan St, Dist.1, Ho Chi Minh CityTel: (08) 3829-2751CanadaMetropolitan, 235 Dong Khoi St, Dist.1,Ho Chi Minh CityTel: (08) 3827-9899China175 Hai Ba Trung St, Dist.3, Ho Chi Minh City. Tel: (08) 3829-2457Cuba45 Phung Khac Khoan St, Dist.1, Ho Chi Minh CityTel: (08) 3829-7350France27 Nguyen Thi Minh Khai St, Dist.3, Ho Chi Minh CityTel: (08) 3829-7231Germany126 Nguyen Dinh Chieu St, Dist.3, Ho Chi Minh CityTel: (08) 3829-2455India55 Nguyen Dinh Chieu St, Dist.3, Ho Chi Minh CityTel: (08) 3822-7853Indonesia18 Phung Khac Khoan St, Dist.1, Ho Chi Minh CityTel: (08) 3825-1888

Japan13-17 Nguyen Hue St, Dist.1, Ho Chi Minh City; Tel: (08) 3822-5314Kuwait24 Phung Khac Khoan St, Dist.1, Ho Chi Minh City, tel: (08) 3827-0555Laos93 Pasteur St, Dist.1, Ho Chi Minh CityTel: (08) 3829-7667Mexico11 Tra Khuc St, Tan Binh Dist., Ho Chi Minh CityTel: (08) 3848-6290Netherlands29 Le Duan St, Dist.1, Ho Chi Minh CityTel: (08) 3823-5932New ZealandMetropolitan, 235 Dong Khoi St, Dist.1,Ho Chi Minh CityTel: (08) 3822-6907Panama7A Le Thanh Ton St, Dist.1, Ho Chi Minh City. Tel: (08) 3825-0334

Russia40 Ba Huyen Thanh Quan St, Dist.3, Ho Chi Minh CityTel: (08) 3930-3936SingaporeSaigon Centre, 65 Le Loi St, Dist.1, Ho Chi Minh CityTel: (08) 3822-5173South Korea107 Nguyen Du St, Dist.1, Ho Chi Minh CityTel: (08) 3822-5757Switzerland42 Giang Van Minh St, Dist.2,

DIRECTIONS DALAT, HO CHI MINH CITY


Ho Chi Minh CityTel: (08) 3744-6996Thailand77 Tran Quoc Thao St, Dist.3, Ho Chi Minh CityTel: (08) 3932-7637United Kingdom25 Le Duan St, Dist.1, Ho Chi Minh CityTel: (08) 3825-1380, (08) 3829-8433United States4 Le Duan St, Dist.1, Ho Chi Minh CityTel: (08) 3822-9433

HOSPITALSColumbia Asia Gia Dinh International Hospital1 No Trang Long St, Binh Thanh Dist.,Ho Chi Minh CityTel: (08) 3803-0678FV Hospital6 Nguyen Luong Bang St, Dist.7, Ho Chi Minh CityTel: (08) 5411-3500Stamford Skin Centre254 Dien Bien Phu St, Dist.3, Ho Chi Minh CityTel: (08) 3932-1090Email: [email protected]

AIRLINESAir France130 Dong Khoi St, Dist.1, Ho Chi Minh CityTel: (08) 3829-0981

All Nippon Airways115 Nguyen Hue St, Dist.1, Ho Chi Minh CityTel: (08) 3821-9612American Airlines69 Ba Huyen Thanh Quan St, Dist.3, Ho Chi Minh City. Tel: (08) 3933-0330

Asiana Airlines39 Le Duan St, Dist.1, Ho Chi Minh CityTel: (08) 3822-8710, (08) 3829-3038British Airways170-172 Nam Ky Khoi Nghia St, Dist.3,Ho Chi Minh CityTel: (08) 3930-2933

Cathay Pacific Airways72-74 Nguyen Thi Minh Khai St, Dist.1,

Ho Chi Minh CityTel: (08) 3822-3203Emirates Airlines170-172 Nam Ky Khoi Nghia St, Dist.3,Ho Chi Minh CityTel: (08) 3930-2939Japan Airlines88 Dong Khoi St, Dist.1, Ho Chi Minh City. Tel: (08) 3821-9098Jetstar Pacific Airlines112 Hong Ha St, Tan Binh Dist., Ho Chi Minh CityTel: (08) 3955-0550

Philippine Airlines2nd Floor Saigon Royal Building 91 Pasteur St, Dist.1, Ho Chi Minh CityTel: (08) 3827-2105

Qatar Airways1-5 Le Duan St, Dist.1, Ho Chi Minh CityTel: (08) 3827-3888

Royal Brunei Airlines787 Tran Hung Dao St, Dist.1, Ho Chi Minh CityTel: (08) 3924-5100

Singapore Airlines29 Le Duan St, Dist.1, Ho Chi Minh CityTel: (08) 3823-1588

Thai Airways International29 Le Duan St, Dist.1, Ho Chi Minh CityTel: (08) 3829-2809

United AirlinesSuite 708 Sun Wah Tower, 115 Nguyen Hue St, Dist.1, Ho Chi Minh CityTel: (08) 3823-4755Vietnam Airlines115 Nguyen Hue St, Dist.1, Ho Chi Minh CityTel: (08) 3832-0320Vietjet Air8Bis Cong Truong Quoc Te, Dist.3, Ho Chi Minh CityTel: (08) 3827-0123www.vietjetair.com

TRAVELAsiana Travel Mate113C Bui Vien St, Dist.1, Ho Chi Minh City. Tel: (08) 3838-6678

Buffalo Tours81 Mac Thi Buoi, Dist.1, Ho Chi Minh CityTel: (08) 3827-9168Email: [email protected] www.buffalotours.com.vn Buffalo Tours operates in Vietnam, Thailand, Cambodia and Laos. The Buffalo Tours portfolio caters to alltypes of tours.Exotissimo 80-82 Phan Xich Long St, Phu Nhuan Dist., Ho Chi Minh CityTel: (08) 3995-9898www.exotissimo.com

Saigon Tourist45 Le Thanh Ton St, Dist.1, Ho Chi Minh City Tel: (08) 3827-9279www.saigon-tourist.comTrails of Indochina10/8 Phan Dinh Giot St, Tan Binh Dist.,Ho Chi Minh City; Tel: (08) 3844-1005Email: [email protected]

Transviet TravelTravel House, 170-172 Nam Ky KhoiNghia St, Dist.3, Ho Chi Minh CityTel: (08) 3933-0777www.transviet.com.vn


Catina Saigon Hotel109 Dong Khoi St, Ben Nghe Ward,Dist.1, Ho Chi Minh CityTel: (08) 3829-6296www.hotelcatina.com.vnFrom VND1,690,500 ($80.50)

Caravelle Hotel19-23 Cong Truong Lam Son St, Dist.1, Ho Chi Minh CityTel: (08) 3823-4999www.caravellehotel.com

Duxton Hotel Saigon63 Nguyen Hue Blvd, Ben Nghe Ward,Dist.1, Ho Chi Minh CityTel: (08) [email protected]

First Hotel

18 Hoang Viet St, Ward 4, Tan BinhDist, Ho Chi Minh CityTel: (08) 3844-1199 Email: [email protected]

Grand Hotel Saigon8 Dong Khoi St, Ben Nghe Ward, Dist.1,Ho Chi Minh City. Tel: (08) 3823-0163Email: [email protected]

Built in 1930, the Ancient Wing of GrandHotel Saigon offers a cozy and elegant at-mosphere. The Luxury Wing, opened inNovember 2011, adds a modern style. 230rooms and suites, a ballroom, recreationarea, VIP Lounge, Western & Asian restau-rants, Bars & Grand Café at Roof Garden

Hotel Nikko Saigon235 Nguyen Van Cu St, Dist.1, Ho ChiMinh City, tel: (08) 3925-7777reservation@hotelnikkosaigon.com.vnwww.hotelnikkosaigon.com.vnFrom VND4,830,000 ($230)

InterContinental Asiana Saigon Corner Hai Ba TrungSt. & Le Duan Blvd, Dist.1, Ho Chi Minh CityTel: (08) 3520-9999Email: [email protected]/SaigonFrom VND5,845,455 ($278)

Kelly Hotel42-44 Thu Khoa Huan St, Dist.1, Ho Chi Minh City. Tel: (08) 3823-3364Email: [email protected] www.kellyhotel.com.vnFrom VND966,000 ($46)An elegant and cosy hotel with goodservice. Within walking distance toBen Thanh market, IndependencePalace and several museums. Vietnamese food is served at reason-able prices.

Mövenpick Hotel Saigon

253 Nguyen Van Troi St, Phu NhuanDist., Ho Chi Minh CityTel: (08) 3844-9222Email: [email protected]

Lotte Legend Hotel Saigon2A-4A Ton Duc Thang St, Ben NgheWard, Dist 1, Ho Chi Minh CityTel: (08) 3823-333Email: [email protected] VND4,221,000 ($201)

Liberty Central Hotels in Ho ChiMinh City17 Ton Duc Thang St, Dist.1Tel: (08) 3827-1717177-179 Le Thanh Ton St, Dist.1Tel: (08) 3823-9269Email: [email protected]

New World Saigon Hotel76 Le Lai St, Ben Thanh Ward, Dist.1,Ho Chi Minh CityTel: (08) 3822-8888Email: [email protected]

New Epoch Hotel120 Cach Mang Thang 8 St, Dist.3, Ho Chi Minh CityTel: (08) 3932-6169

DIRECTIONS HO CHI MINH CITY


[email protected] VND1,155,000 ($55)

Northern Hotel Saigon

11A Thi Sach St, Dist.1, Ho Chi Minh CityTel: (08) 3825-1751Email: [email protected] VND1,505,000 ($71)Three-star boutique hotel, 99 rooms inSuperior, Deluxe and Suite categories, ashort walk from major entertainmentand shopping venues.

Novotel Saigon Centre167 Hai Ba Trung St, Dist.3, Ho Chi Minh City. Tel: (08) 3822-4866Email: [email protected] From VND2,959,000 ($140)

Palace Hotel Saigon56-66 Nguyen Hue Blvd, Dist.1, Ho Chi Minh CityTel: (08) 3829-2860Email: [email protected]

Park Hyatt Saigon2 Lam Son Square, District 1, Ho ChiMinh City Tel: (08) 3824-1234Email: [email protected] www.parkhyattsaigon.com From VND 8,424,900

PARKROYAL Saigon309B – 311 Nguyen Van Troi St,TanBinh Dist., Ho Chi Minh City Tel: (08) 3842-1111enquiry.prsgn@parkroyalhotels.comwww.parkroyalhotels.comFrom VND2,173,500 ($103.50)

Ramana Hotel Saigon323 Le Van Sy St, Dist.3,Ho Chi Minh CityTel: (08) 3843-9999 Email: [email protected]

www.ramanasaigon.comFrom VND1,050,000 ($50)

Renaissance Riverside Hotel Saigon8-15 Ton Duc Thang St, Ben NgheWard, Dist.1, Ho Chi Minh CityTel: (08) 3822-0033Email: [email protected] VND4,105,500 ($195.50)

Royal Hotel Saigon133 Nguyen Hue St, Dist.1, Ho Chi Minh CityTel: (08) 3822-5915Email: [email protected] From VND1,932,000 ($92)

Rex Hotel141 Nguyen Hue St, Ben Nghe Ward,Dist.1, Ho Chi Minh CityTel: (08) 3829-2185Email: [email protected] VND4,620,000 ($220)

Sheraton Saigon Hotel & Towers88 Dong Khoi St, Ben Nghe Ward,Dist.1, Ho Chi Minh CityTel: (08) 3827-2828Email: [email protected]/saigonFrom VND8,740,000 ($416)

Silver Creek City Resort112 An Phu Dong 11, Dist.12, Ho Chi Minh CityTel: (08) 3719-9533Email: [email protected] VND1,207,500 ($57.50)

Sofitel Saigon Plaza

17 Le Duan St, Dist.1, Ho Chi Minh CityTel: (08) 3824-1555Email: [email protected] VND3,864,000 ($184)

Sonnet Saigon Hotel

14 Truong Dinh St., Ward 6, Dist.3, HoChi Minh CityTel: (08) 3930-1999 [email protected]

Windsor Plaza Hotel

18 An Duong Vuong, Dist.5, Ho Chi Minh CityTel: (08) [email protected]

RESTAURANTSKim Lam Restaurant

23 Dong Khoi St, Ben Nghe Ward,Dist.1, Ho Chi Minh CityTel: (08) 6299-0879Email: [email protected] restaurant serves Vietnamese foodfrom the North, Centre and South withemphasis on artistic garnish. It has threefloors and can hold one hundred andtwenty people. The restaurant is a treas-ure trove of Vietnamese culture with artobjects serving as the decor

Kobe Teppanyaki Restaurant13A Tu Xuong St, Ward 7, Dist 3, Ho Chi MInh CityTel: (08) 3932-0187

Lemongrass Restaurant4 Nguyen Thiep St, Dist.1, Ho Chi Minh CityTel: (08) 3822-0496www.bongsencorporation.com

Mam Son Restaurant35 Ton That Thiep St, Dist.1, Ho Chi Minh CityTel: (08) 3915-3653Vietnamese food

Vatel Saigon Bistronomique-Lounge120 Bis Suong Nguyet Anh St, BenThanh Ward, Dist.1, Ho Chi Minh City

Tel: (08) 5404-2220www.vatelsaigon.com

Vietnam House Restaurant93 - 95 Dong Khoi St, Dist.1, Ho Chi Minh CityTel: (08) 3829-1623www.vietnamhousesaigon.com

BARS & CAFÉSElle Cafe45 Ngo Duc Ke St, Bitexco FinancialTower, Ho Chi Minh CityTel: (08) 6291-8769

Caffe Molinari5 Le Duan St, Dist.1, Ho Chi Minh CityTel: (08) 3910-6903Email: [email protected]

Sax N’ Art Jazz Club28 Le Loi St, Dist 1, Ho Chi Minh CityTel: (08) 3822-8472www.saxnart.comThao Nguyen CaféFloor 7 and Rooftop of RestaurantNgon 138138 Nam Ky Khoi Nghia St, Ben NgheWard, Dist.1, Ho Chi Minh CityTel: (08) 3827-9666Open from 7 a.m. until 10.30 p.m.

SHOPSIPA Nima85 Pasteur St, Ben Nghe Ward, Dist.1,Ho Chi Minh City Tel: (08) 3824-2701IPA Nima is well-known for its bags.

Shin122 Ly Tu Trong St, Dist.1, Ho Chi Minh City53A Nguyen Du St, Dist.1, Ho Chi Minh CityTel: 0909352369Shin is famous for fashion clothes andleather bags.

SPAVspa & Skincare

15B/25 Le Thanh Ton St, Dist.1, Ho Chi Minh CityTel: (08) 3827-9484 Email: [email protected] 20 per cent off all treatments when youshow us a copy of Vietnam Heritage

COOKING CLASSESMint Culinary School778/45 Nguyen Kiem St, Phu NhuanDist., Ho Chi Minh CityTel: (08) 3844-5500Email: [email protected]

DIRECTIONS HO CHI MINH CITY


A

1

2

3

4

CB

C E N T R E O F H A N O I

2

5

3

1

2 Capital Garden Hotel

3 Daewoo Hotel

4 De Syloia Hotel

5 Fortuna Hotel Hanoi

6 Green Mango

7 Sunway Hotel Hanoi

8 Hilton Hanoi Opera Hotel

9 Joseph’s Hotel

10 Little Hanoi

11 MAison d’Hanoi Hanova Hotel

12 Melia Hanoi Hotel

13 Movenpick Hotel Hanoi

14 Nikko Hanoi Hotel

15 Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi

Hanoi Emotion Hotel

TNEC OERT O

Capital Garden Hotel222

Daewoo Hotel333

De Syloia Hotel444444

Fortuna Hotel Hanoi555

Hanoi Emotion Hotel

1

A

A

B

C

Fortuna Hotel Hanoi5

Green Mango66

Sunway Hotel Hanoi777

Hilton Hanoi Opera Hotel888888

s Hotel99 Joseph’

Little Hanoi111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111100000000000000000000000000000000000000000000

MAison d’Hanoi Hanova Hotel111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111

2

Hilton Hanoi Opera Hotel

MAison d’Hanoi Hanova Hotel

333

Melia Hanoi Hotel1111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111122222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222

Movenpick Hotel Hanoi111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111113333333333333333333333333333333333333333333

Nikko Hanoi Hotel1111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444

Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555

3

Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi

555

3

222

5

4

Ba Trieu...................E3, E4Bac Son.........................D1Bach Dang.....................F2Bach Mai........................E4Bat Dan..........................E2Bich Cau........................C2Buoi................................A1Cat Linh..........................C2Cha Ca....................E1, E2Cua Bac.........................D1Cua Dong.......................D2

Da Tuong.......................E3Dang Tat.........................D1Dao Duy Anh.................D4Dao Duy Tu.............E1, E2Dien Bien Phu................D2Doc Ngu.........................A1Doi Can.............A1, B2, C2Duong Thanh.................E2Gam Cau........................E1Giai Phong.....................D4Giang Vo.....A3 ,B3 ,B2,C2

Hai Ba Trung.....E2, E3, F3Ham Long......................E3Han Thuyen....................F3Hang Bac.......................E2Hang Bo.........................E2Hang Bong.....................E2Hang Buom....................E2Hang Can.......................E2Hang Chuoi....................F3Hang Cot........................E1Hang Da.........................E2Hang Dao.......................E2

Hang Dau.......................E1Hang Ga.........................E2Hang Gai........................E2Hang Khay.....................E2Hang Khoai....................E1Hang Ma.........................E1Hang Quat......................E2Hang Trong....................E2Hang Chieu....................E1Hang Luoc......................E1Hao Nam........................C2Hoa Ma...........................F3

Hoang Dieu.............D1, D2Hoang Hoa Tham...................................A1, B1, C1, D1Hoang Van Thu..............D1Hoe Nhai........................E1Hung Vuong............D1, D2Huynh Thuc Khang........A3Kham Thien.............C3, D3Kim Ma..............A2, B2, C2La Thanh.................B3, C3Lang Ha..........................B3Nguyen Chi Thanh.........A3

Le Dai Hanh...................E4Le Duan............D2, D3, D4Le Hong Phong.............D2Le Lai..............................F2Le Thai To.......................E2 Le Thanh Tong...............F3Le Van Huu....................E3Lieu Giai........................A2Lo Duc......................F3, F4Lo Su..............................F2Luong Ngoc Quyen.......E2 Luong Van Can..............E2

S T R E E T G U I D E

A

1

2

3

4

FEDCB

C E N T R E O F H A N O I

13

1

12

15

8

4

911

610

14

2

5

3

1

2 Capital Garden Hotel

3 Daewoo Hotel

4 De Syloia Hotel

5 Fortuna Hotel Hanoi

6 Green Mango

7 Sunway Hotel Hanoi

8 Hilton Hanoi Opera Hotel

9 Joseph’s Hotel

10 Little Hanoi

11 MAison d’Hanoi Hanova Hotel

12 Melia Hanoi Hotel

13 Movenpick Hotel Hanoi

14 Nikko Hanoi Hotel

15 Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi

Hanoi Emotion Hotel

TNEC OERT AHFO ION

Capital Garden Hotel

Daewoo Hotel

De Syloia Hotel

Fortuna Hotel Hanoi

Hanoi Emotion Hotel

1

D

E

F

Fortuna Hotel Hanoi

Green Mango

Sunway Hotel Hanoi


s HotelJoseph’

Little Hanoi


2



1

9991111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111

666666111111111111111111111111111111111100000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000

Melia Hanoi Hotel

Movenpick Hotel Hanoi

Nikko Hanoi Hotel


3


1313131313131313131313131313131313131313131313131313131313131313131313131313131313131313131313131313131313131313131313131313131313131313131313131313131313131313131313131313131313131313131313131313131111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111112222222222222222222222222222222222222222222

11111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111155555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555

44444

8888

3

11111111111111111111111111111111111111111111144444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444

4

Ly Nam De..............E1, E2Ly Quoc Su....................E2Ly Thai To.......................F2Ly Thuong Kiet........E3, F3Mai Hac De..............E3, E4Ngo Quyen.....................F3Ngo Si Lien....................D2Ngo Thi Nham................E3Ngoc Ha.........................C1Ngoc Khanh...................B2Nguyen Canh Chan......D1Nguyen Cong Hoa.........B2

Nguyen Dinh Chieu.............................................E3, E4Nguyen Du..............D3, E3Nguyen Huu Huan........ F2Nguyen Khuyen.............D2Nguyen Luong Bang.....C3Nguyen Thai Hoc....C2, D2Nguyen Thuong Hien.................................................D3Nguyen Van To..............E2Nha Chung.....................E2Nha Tho.........................E2

Nui Truc..........................B2Pham Dinh Ho................F3Pham Ngu Lao...............F3Phan Boi Chau.......D2, D3Phan Chu Trinh..............F3Phan Dinh Phung..........D1Phan Huy Chu................F3Pho Duc Chinh...............F3Pho Hue...................E3, E4Phu Doan.......................E2Phung Hung............E1, E2Quan Su..................E2, E3

Quan Thanh...................D1Quang Trung...........E2, E3Quoc Tu Giam...............D2Son Tay..........................C2Thai Phien......................E4Thanh Cong...................B3Thanh Nien....................D1Tho Nhuom.............E2, E3Thuy Khue..............................................A1, B1, C1, D1To Hien Thanh...............E4Tong Dan........................F2

Ton Duc Thang..............C3Tran Hung Dao..............................................D3, E3, F3Tran Huy Lieu................B2 Tran Khanh Du...............F3Tran Khat Chan..............F4Tran Nguyen Han..........F2Tran Nhan Tong......D3, E3Tran Nhat Duat..............E1Tran Phu........................D2Tran Quang Khai............F2Tran Qui Cap.................D2

Tran Quoc Toan......D3, E3Tran Thanh Tong............F3Tran Xuan Soan..................................................E3, E4Trang Thi........................E2Trang Tien................E2, F3Trieu Viet Vuong......E3, E4Trinh Hoai Duc...............C2Tue Tinh.........................E3Yen Phu..........................E1Yersin..............................F4Yet Kieu..........................D3

DIRECTIONS VUNG TAU, LONG HAI, CON DAO, CAN THO, CHAU DOC


Saigon Cooking Class74/7 Hai Ba Trung St, Dist.1, Ho Chi Minh CityTel: (08) 3825-8485www.saigoncookingclass.com

GALLERIESArtists Long & Ngoc GalleryGrand Hotel (at the lobby), 8 DongKhoi, Dist.1, Ho Chi Minh CityTeL: (08) 2246-6839Mobile: 0908 229 708Email: [email protected]

Apricot Gallery50 Mac Thi Buoi St, Ben Nghe Ward,Dist.1, Ho Chi Minh CityTel: (08) 3822-7962

Cactus Contemporary Art17/12 Nguen Huy Tuong St, Ward 6,Binh Thanh Dist., Ho Chi Minh CityTel: (08) [email protected] www.cactusartgallery.com

Craig Thomas Gallery27i Tran Nhat Duat St, Dist.1, Ho Chi Minh City Mobile: 0903 888 431Email: [email protected]: 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. Closed Mondays and Sundays

Galerie Quynh65 De Tham St, Dist.1, Ho Chi Minh City Tel: (08) 3836-8019www.galeriequynh.com

Sàn Art3 Me Linh St, Ward 19, Binh ThanhDist., Ho Chi Minh CityTel: (08) 3840-0183www.san-art.orgOpening: 10.30 a.m. to 6.30 p.m. every.Closed on Sunday and Monday

Tu Do Gallery53 Ho Tung Mau St, Ben Nghe Ward,Dist.1, Ho Chi Minh City Tel: (08) 3821-0966 www.tudogallery.comOpening: 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. everyday

MUSEUMSFine Arts Museum ofHo Chi Minh City97A Pho Duc Chinh St, Nguyen ThaiBinh Ward, Dist.1, Ho Chi Minh CityTel: (08) 3829-4441www.baotangmythuattphcm.comOpen 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Closed Mondays.

Ho Chi Minh City Museum65 Ly Tu Trong St, Ben Nghe Ward,Dist.1, Ho Chi Minh CityTel: (08) 3829-9741www.hcmc-museum.edu.vnOpen daily 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Independence Palace135 Nam Ky Khoi Nghia St, Ben ThanhWard, Dist.1, Ho Chi Minh CityTel: (08) 3822-3652www.dinhdoclap.gov.vn

Open daily, 7.30 a.m. to 11.30 a.m., 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.

War Remnants Museum28 Vo Van Tan St, Ward 6, Dist.3, Ho Chi Minh City, Tel: (08) 3930-5587Email: [email protected] daily 7.30 a.m. to midday and1.30 p.m. to 5 p.m.

Southern Women Museum202 Vo Thi Sau St, Dist.1, Ho Chi Minh CityTel: (08) 3932-7130

A popular beach resort town for residents of Ho Chi Minh City, VungTau is about 128 km southeast ofHCMC. It can be reached either byroad or by a 90-minute hydrofoil boatfrom HCMC. Sitting on a peninsulathat sticks out into the East Sea, VungTau does not have the most beautiful,or cleanest, beaches in Vietnam butcan act as a quick getaway from thebuzz of the city.


Mường Thanh Vung Tau HotelNo 09, Thong Nhat St, Ward 1, Vung Tau Tel: (064) 3835-567Email: [email protected] www.vungtau.muongthanh.vnFrom VND1,890,000 ($90)

Grand Hotel Vung Tau

2 Nguyen Du St, Ward.1, Vung TauTel: (064) 3856-888 Email: [email protected] VND2,058,000 ($98)A four star hotel, 125 km from Saigon,built in 1890s with the French architec-ture, near the beach and few hundredsmetres from Vung Tau Hydrofoil Termi-nal. 66 rooms and 17 apartments, threemeeting rooms seated from 20 to 250and wedding services.

Palace Hotel

1 Nguyen Trai St, Ward 1, Vung Tau Tel: (064) 3856-411

Email: [email protected] VND2,062,000 ($97)

Petrosetco Hotel12 Truong Cong Dinh St, Ward 2,Vung TauTel: (064) 3624-748Email: [email protected] VND1,085,700 ($52)

Petro House Hotel63 Tran Hung Dao St, Ward 1, Vung Tau Tel: (064) 3852-014Email: [email protected] VND1,260,000 ($60)Newly refurbished rooms convenientlylocated near Vung Tau ferry terminal.Catering to Asian and European tasteswith Malaysian cuisine specialty.

Romeliess Hotel

31 - 33 Thuy Van St, Vung TauTel: (064) 3613-366Email: [email protected] new three-star hotel at the BackBeach, the ‘best beach in Vung Tau,’with nearly 50 rooms overlooking thebeach! Many promotions atwww.romliess.com

The Imperial Hotel & ResidencesVung Tau 159 - 163 Thuy Van St, Vung TauTel: (064) 3628-888Email: [email protected]

MUSEUMWhite Palace6 Tran Phu St, Ward.1, Vung TauTel: (064) 3852-605Open daily 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.

LONG HAILong Hai is a beach town, 30km northeast of Vung Tau and 124 kmsoutheast of HCMC.

The Grand Ho Tram Strip

Phuoc Thuan, Xuyen Moc, Ba Ria-VungTau ProvinceTel: (064) 3788-888Email: [email protected]

CON DAO Six Senses Con DaoDat Doc Beach, Con Dao Dist., Ba Ria - Vung Tau Province Tel : (064) [email protected]/resorts/con-dao/destinationFrom VND14,490,000 ($690)Six Senses Con Dao has been selected asone of 2013's 25 Best Ecolodges by National Geographic Traveler

CAN THO(TELEPHONE CODE: 0710)

Can Tho is the largest city in theMekong Delta, about 170 km south-west of Ho Chi Minh City, and acts asthe area’s economic, transportationand cultural centre. Sitting on theMekong River, Can Tho is popular forits nearby floating markets, canals andrivers that can be explored by boat.

HOTELS, RESORTSNote: Prices at many hotels dependon occupancy and change daily Golf Can Tho Hotel2 Hai Ba Trung St, Tan An Ward, Ninh Kieu Dist., Can Tho Tel: (0710) 3812-210Email: [email protected]

Victoria Can Tho ResortCai Khe Ward, Ninh Kieu Dist., Can Tho Tel: (0710) 3810-111Email: [email protected] VND3,700,000 ($175)

MUSEUMCan Tho Museum1 Hoa Binh St, Tan An Ward, Can ThoTel: (0710) 3820-955Open: Tuesday, Wednesday and Thurs-day (8 a.m. to 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. to 5p.m.); Saturday and Sunday (8 a.m. to11 a.m. and 6.30 p.m. to 9 p.m.). Closedon Friday. Free admission

CHAU DOC(TELEPHONE CODE: 076)


Victoria Chau Doc Hotel1 Le Loi St, Chau Doc Town, An Giang ProvinceTel: (076) 3865-010resa.chaudoc@victoriahotels.asiawww.victoriahotels.asiaFrom VND3,169,000 ($149)

Victoria Nui Sam LodgeVinh Dong 1, Nui Sam, Chau Doc, AnGiang ProvinceTel: (076) 3575-888 Email: [email protected]

DIRECTIONS PHU QUOC, OVERSEAS


MUSEUMAn Giang Museum11 Ton Duc Thang St, My Binh Ward,Long Xuyen City, An Giang ProvinceTel: (076) 3956-248Open hour 7a.m. to 11a.m. and 1.30p.m. to 5 p.m. Closed on MondayEntrance fee: VND42,000 ($2)

PHU QUOC(TELEPHONE CODE: 077)

Phu Quoc Island, off the southerntip of Vietnam in the Gulf of Thai-land, has some of the most beauti-ful beaches in the country.White-sand beaches, scuba divingaround coral reefs or exploring theprotected jungle. Accessible by ei-ther the Rach Gia hydrofoil boat ora 50-minute flight from Ho ChiMinh City. Modest family-ownedbungalows on the beach to five-star resorts.

HOTELS, RESORTS

Note: Prices at many hotels dependon occupancy and change daily

Eden Resort Phu QuocCua Lap Hamlet, Duong To Ward, PhuQuoc District, Kien Giang ProvinceTel: (077) 3985-598Email: [email protected]

Chen Sea Resort & Spa Phu Quoc,Centara Boutique CollectionBai Xep, Ong Lang, Cua Duong, Phu Quoc Island Tel: (077) 3995-895 Email: [email protected] www.centarahotelsresorts.comFrom VND3,381,000 ($161)

La Veranda ResortTran Hung Dao St, Ward 7, DuongDong Town Phu Quoc Island Tel: (077) 3982-988Email: [email protected],082,000 to VND8,694,000($242 to $414)

Sai Gon Phu Quoc Resort1 Tran Hung Dao St, Phu Quoc Island Tel: (077) 3846-999 Email: [email protected] VND2,499,000 to VND4,011,000($119 to $191)

CANADA(Telephone code: 1)

Xe Lua 254 Spadina Ave, Tonronto,Ontario Canada M5T2C2Tel: (1-416) 703-8330Xe Lua has been open since 1996 andserves phở for $6 a bowlOpen: 11.30 a.m. to 12 p.m

Chau Kitchen and Bar1500 Robson St. Vancouver, British Columbia

Tel: (1-604) 682-8020www.chaukitchenandbar.comServes Vietnamese dishes with pricesstarting at $7 per dish.

FRANCE(Telephone code: 33)

CLEMONT-FERRANDKim Anh6 Bis r Elie GintracTel: (33-4) 7391-9364Serves traditional Vietnamese food,from €12.80 per dishOpen 11.30 a.m. to 3 p.m. (closed on Sundays).

GRENOBLEKim Ngan22 r Nicolas ChrierTel: (33-4) 7649-0847Serves Vietnamese food with pricesstarting at €8 per dish

UNITED STATES OFAMERICA

(Telephone code: 1)CALIFORNIA-CAEmerald RestaurantPacific Gateway Plaza3709 Convoy Street, Ste 101, San Diego, CA 92111Tel: (1) 858-565-6888Serves Vietnamese food

Hung Ky Mi Gia5237 El Cajon Blvd, San Diego,CA 92115; Tel: (1) 619-229-2188Serves noodle varieties with prices start-ing at $5 per dishOpen 8 a.m. to 9 p.m.International Restaurant 14444 – A University Ave, San Diego, CA 92115Tel: (1) 619-281-9999

Little Saigon7 Linden Ave (Railroad)South San Francisco, CA 94080Tel: (1) 650-589-1398

New York-NYSaigon Grill620 Amsterdam Ave, New York,NY 10024Tel: (1) 212-875-9072Serves over 100 Vietnamese dishes in-cluding vegetarian optionsOpen 11 a.m. to 12 a.m.

Mai Lan Vietnamese505 N State St Syracuse, NY 13203Tel: (1) 315-471-6740www.mailanrestaurant.comL’Annam121 University Pl New York,NY 10022Tel: (1) 212-420-1414

VIRGINIA-VAMinh’s Vietnamese2500 Wilson Blvd Arlington,VA 22201Tel: (1) 703-525-2828Prices start at $15 per dishOpen 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. (closed on Mondays)

WASHINGTON-WCHo Bac1314 S Jackson St Seattle, WA 98144Tel: (1) 206-860-8164Kieu Nga LemongrassRestaurant514 12th Ave Seattle, WA 98122Tel: (1) 206-860-8164Moonlight Café1919 S Jackson St Seattle, WA 98144Tel: (1) 206-322-3378Massachusetts-MA Saigon Hut305-307 Meridian St. Boston, ]MA 02128; Tel: (1) 617-567-1944

Xinh Xinh7 Beach St (Washington St.) Boston,MA 02111Tel: (1) 617-422-0501

UNITED KINGDOM(Telephone code: 44)

Little Saigon Restaurant6 Bigg Market, Newcastle upon Tyne, England

Tel: 01912330766Vietnamese dishes

AUSTRALIA(Telephone code: 61)

La Mint 62–64 Riley St, East Sydney NSW 2010Tel: (61) 293-311-818Email: [email protected] Open: Wednesday to Friday, noon to2:30 p.m., Monday to Saturday, 6 p.m. to10.30 p.m. French and Vietnamese dishes

INDONESIA(Telephone code: 62)

Pho 24Pondok Indah, Plaza I, Jln. Taman Duta1Blok UA 35 Jakarta SelatanTel: (62) 0217-505-909JIn. Wolter Mongonsidi No. 71, Ke-bayyoran Baru, Jakarta SelatanTel: (62) 0217-278-8411Pacific Place Mall, 5th Floor, SCBD, JIn.Jendral Sudirman Kav. 52-53, Jakarta 12190Tel: (62) 0215-140-0531

LAID BACK

58 • VIETNAM HERITAGE - NOVEMBER0-DECEMBER 2014

Photo: Tran Tam My

Clockwise from top: Playing tug of war in Dak NongProvince; At My Son Sanctuary, Quang Nam Province;Hmong children in Ha Giang Province; At the Ho Chi

Minh Museum in Ho Chi Minh City

Photo: Nguyen Hong Quang Phuong

Photo: Vo Van Hoang

Photo: Thanh Tung

vietnam heritage no.43 november-december 2014

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