INTRODUCTION TO VIETNAM FLAVORS BY VIETNAM TRAVEL DEPOT

Hochiminh City, Vietnam – Vietnam Travel Depot has introduced Vietnamese cooking class for international travelers to experience how some typical authentic Vietnamese dishes are prepared and cooked.

Set in a refine lush tea garden in the heart of Saigon, the experience include a morning local market visit (optional, suggested for morning section) guided by our chef to select the best and fresh ingredients followed by an introduction to the traditional courses such as “pho” (beef noodle soup) or “nem” (fried or fresh spring rolls), then of course participants will make the dishes of their own under the guidance of our English or Japanese speaking instructors. The class ends with a friendly taste of the self-made dishes with lots of fun and stories to share.

The class opens two sections per day from 10am to 1pm or 2pm to 5pm and lasts for three hours to learn three dishes for 1-10 participants maximum. Cost for participant is US$45/person. Booking in advanced is essential.

About Vietnam Travel Depot

Online travel portal specialized in travel to Vietnam focusing on individuals and small groups travel. More information the company, its offers and rates please visit www.vietnamtraveldepot.com or Tel: (84 8 ) 5404 3116.

Cam Ranh to become international airport

Cam Ranh Airport in the central coastal province of Khanh Hoa will become an international airport with the opening of an official direct air route linking Cam Ranh and Vladivostock in Russia on December 12.

This was announced at a recent working session between Chairman of the Khanh Hoa provincial People’s Committee Vo Lam Phi, leaders of the Minh Nhat Ltd.Co. and representatives of Russia’s Vladivostock Avia and Transero Airlines.

Under the agreement, TU204 aircraft will be used for a flight every two weeks and the flight frequency will be increased later. Another air route will also open for flights from Moscow to Cam Ranh and vice versa.

Mr. Phi also asked hotels and guest houses to offer promotion programmes and lower service prices on the occasion of the inauguration of Cam Ranh international airport.

Travel agents’ hotels have pledged 50-70% discount in hotel room prices for nearly 130 international tourists flying from Russia to Cam Ranh on December 12.

The national aviation sector invested more than VND200 billion in building a new terminal, air traffic control station, a modern runway lights and other facilities in Cam Ranh Airport.

The capacity of the new terminal doubles the old one, which was only capable of loading 300 passengers per hour.

(Source: VNA)

Food fest to bring slice of Hanoi to HCMC

HCMC residents will have a chance to savour authentic Hanoi cuisine and experience the rural ambience of northern Vietnam at a three-day event held to mark the 1,000th anniversary of Thang Long- Hanoi.

The “Thang Long Citadel cuisine in South Vietnam” Festival at Van Thanh Tourism Park would introduce "significant cultural traits and folk cuisine of the North," said Chiem Thanh Long, Director of Van Thanh Tourism Park. "We are getting ready a miniature of ancient Hanoi at the park."

The event, organised by the HCMC Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism will open on December 11. There will be a rural market, snack counter, temple festival, and traditional feast.

Visitors can enjoy delicacies like banh gai Hang Be (glutinous rice cake dyed black in a concoction of leaves made in Hang Be Street), banh gio Do Mang (pyramidal rice dumpling filled with meat, onion, and mushroom from a place called Madame Demange), banh com Hang Than (grilled cake of young rice in Hang Than Street), and banh tom (crisp shrimp pastry).

A death-anniversary feast and a wedding feast will be the highlights of the event.

"We will have artisans and officials from the Vietnam Cuisine Research Institute to make it a genuine northern feast," Long said.

"Every day we will serve only 40 tables of traditional feast, which will cost VND960,000 (US$52). Each table will have ten dishes serving six people."

Besides the food, daily Northern Vietnamese life will be depicted, including a market with street vendors in traditional costumes and calling out to passers-by, an exhibition of Vietnamese wines, and an exhibition of paintings and books about Thang Long, the country’s ancient capital.

Huynh Van Son, a department representative, said northern folk games would be on display, including Chinese chess, water puppetry, and wrestling.

There would be performances of ca tru (ceremonial singing), quan ho (love duet), hat xam (songs of an itinerant blind musician), and hat xoan (folk workship singing of Phu Tho Province), he added.

Around 8,000 visitors were expected at the festival, Long said. It will run from 4pm to 9pm on each of the three days.

(Source: VNS)

Nguyen-era items show in Hue

Forty-eight relics from the Nguyen Dynasty era donated by private collectors to the Hue Royal Fine Arts Museum are on display at the former royal capital’s An Dinh Palace. The Hue Royal Fine Arts Museum, run by the Hue Historical Relic Preservation Centre, houses a large collection of relics from the time of Vietnam’s last imperial dynasty, which ruled from 1820 to 1945.

The objects on show at the exhibition, organised by the museum, are mostly made of silver, brass, precious stones, porcelain, silk, wood and paper.

Among them are a pair of ivory tusks donated by a Vietnamese expatriate living in France, a tea set gifted by Doan Phuoc Thuan, a collector in the central coastal province of Phu Yen, and a collection of King Minh Mang’s poems written on paper donated by Frenchman Andre de Crozet.

A set of three life-size brass statues of Jesus’s mother Mary, donated by a Hue-based company, is among the most valuable relics on show.

At the time of the exhibition’s opening, Nguyen Huu Hoang donated a porcelain basin and plate, Le Gia donated a land register, and a group of collectors presented a pair of vermilion-lacquered gilded wood panels.

The exhibition will go on until the end of the year.

(Source: VNA)

SEE OLD SAIGON WITH VIETNAM TRAVEL DEPOT

Hochiminh City, 20th Nov 2009 – Vietnam Travel Depot has released excursions to bring nostagia travellers back in time to see Saigon of the old time.

Contrast to the current bustling, noisy and crowded city, the Old Saigon was charm and full flairs of Paris blended with Far East atmosphere as they once appeared in many movies such The Lovers or Indochine.

Inspired by the postcards of Old Saigon, the excursion will cover some major places such as Cathedral (1918), Post and Telegraph, Saigon Town Hall (1924), Ville Rex Hotel (1924), Municipal Theatre (1898 – 1900), Catinat Street, Ben Thanh Market (1925), Saigon Zoo, etc.

The excursions of Old Saigon can be traveled on a half day or full day basis. Passengers can also choose to experience Saigon on modern air-conditioned vehicles or the vintage Citroen Traction Avant of 1935 (limited seats). The company also presents a set of Old Saigon postcard when the tour concludes.

About Vietnam Travel Depot
Online travel portal specialized in travel to Vietnam focusing on individuals and small groups travel. More information the company, its offers and rates please visit www.vietnamtraveldepot.com or tel: ( 848 ) 5404 3116.

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Transported by Citroen

Old Saigon on half day, price from US$90/pax (group of 2 persons)

Old Saigon on full day, price from US$145/pax (group of 2 persons)

Trekking through Nam Cat Tien Jungle with VIetnam Travel Depot

This is one of our interesting trip: ( if you like this trip and wanna join with us, please visit www.vietnamtraveldepot.com or email us at sales@vietnamtraveldepot.com)

In the first day, at 07:30 AM we left Ho Chi Minh City ( Saigon) for jeeping to Cat Tien National Park ( Nam Cat Tien Jungle). The terrain rises up gradually via volcanic area. The traffic became heavy after 9.00 AM,any way, we cross Dong Nai River and reach the park center at 11.20 AM.

Check in two rooms for two singles ( me and my co-worker) at the park center. We had lunch break ( the lunch with rice, sour-sweet fried pork was yummy!)

In the afternoon, We must wear the anti-leach socks and we started walking 3km along the ecologic route: sites of Lagerstroemia Ovalfolia (BangLang), Tetrameles nudiflora (Tung), Cycas rumphii (Thien Tue), Ancistrolandus tectorius (Trung quan), Afzelia cyclocarpa (Go). The climate inside the forest was cool and humid, we had to drink 02 water bottles on the way. We saw many “Java” rocks on the way ( java rooks are volcanic rocks) and also many leeches ( we hate them because they suck our blood) but fortunately we were not bitten . Then we trekked 3km back to the center for leisure and dinner time. Totally we trekked 6 km for the first day.

At 8.00 PM, we had an interesting night activity: spotting Animal at night. We jumped on the jeep to transfer to TaLai buffer zone to look for nocturnal animals. (sorry for us because we were so excited that we forgot the camera and video recorder in rooms). However, the night trip was so funny and exciting! .

The second day came. We woke up early at 7.00 AM to be ready to have a jeep transfer inside the park to junction where we turn off the main route and trek 5km to Crocodile lake station. We did have a short break at the lake and did some activities: rowing on the lake, watching biodiversity. We were lucky because we could see crocodiles in daily light and we watched various birds living in the lake.

Then It’s time for us to trek 5km back to the main route. The Jeep picked us up and transfer back to the center. We finished trekking 10km through Nam Cat Tien Jungle today. Check out and we had lunch in the park before leaving Cat Tien Park, crossing the river by boat and heading to Saigon by Jeep.

( if you like this trip and wanna join with us, please visit www.vietnamtraveldepot.com or email us at sales@vietnamtraveldepot.com)

Cu Chi Tunnels Adventure with Jeeps by Vietnam Travel Depot ( Vietnam Jeep Tours)

This is one of our interesting trip: ( if you like this trip and wanna join with us, please visit www.vietnamtraveldepot.com or email us at sales@vietnamtraveldepot.com)

In this tour, our group included our drivers and tour operators with 16 French tourist.

In this morning, at 7:30 AM our jeeps arrived early to stick the numbers on each jeeps then we pick up the tourist at their hotel and let jeep to the extraordinary Cu Chi tunnels, just outside Ho Chi Minh City.



On the way to Cu Chi, we stopped for a while to take photos of Notre Dame Cathedral and Post Office ( which were built during the French Colony). Then we jeep straight to Cu Chi Tunnels to start our adventure in Underground World.










During the war for independence, Viet Cong guerrillas built the labyrinth of narrow tunnels virtually underneath U.S. bases, using them to hide during bombing raids and to stage surprise attacks. On the way to Cu Chi, we saw many cottages and beautiful fields which still only exist in Vietnam countryside.



At the end of this tour,at 1:30 PM, on the way to Saigon from Cu Chi, we had lunch at Ben Nay Restaurant. The food is delicious and the sights are very nice.

We arrived Saigon at 4:00 PM, a little bit late with the time we had planned before because there was traffic jam after the rain. Any way, this is really interesting trip. Hope you will enjoy this tour with us someday soon! :)

( if you like this trip and wanna join with us, please visit www.vietnamtraveldepot.com or email us at sales@vietnamtraveldepot.com)

Bonus: Our "soldiers" Jeep on the way and parking at Cu Chi.

Ancient tomb dated back 1,800 years unearthed

An ancient tomb with exterior and interior coffins has been unearthed in the northern port city of Hai Phong, according to the city’s museum.

The tomb was found by construction workers who were digging into the Thanh Den Mountain’s side to expand the acreage of the Tan Phu Xuan cement plant.

The exterior coffin is made from large pieces of ironwood while its boat-shaped interior coffin is carved out from a big tree trunk, a style belonging to the Dong Son culture, which existed more than 2,000 years ago.

No vestiges of bones were found except a rush map used to cover the dead.

Archaeologists also found seven large trays, four human statues, plates, bowls and combs, all made from wood, and several terracotta pots, jars and bowls with beehive and line patterns.

According to archaeologists from the Hai Phong Museum , the tomb is believed to date back to the 2nd-3rd centuries AD or 1,800 years ago.

(Source: VNA)

Cultural features of Cu Da ancient village

Cu Da Village is located in Cu Khe Commune, Thanh Oai District, Hanoi. It is considered as one of the two most ancient villages in the former Ha Tay. Its ancient and tranquil beauty attracts many tourists and researchers both in and outside the country. Cu Da Village is really a symbol of Vietnamese ancient villages in the northern delta areas and it also hides cultural sediments of great values that have still been kept intact today.

Cu Da ancient village, an attractive tourist destination in Hanoi
Cu Da Village is located on the bank of the Nhue River, about 15 kilometres from center of Hanoi, bearing characters of a Vietnamese village with hundred-year-old banian-trees, rivers, ponds, village wells and ancient mossy walls.

Cu Da villagers still keep traditional and neighbourly lifestyle which has been maintained from generation to generation. So, once visitors coming Cu Da, they will find it easy to inquire the way to some family in the village. This is really a respectfully cultural feature of Cu Da people.

In the 1920s, 1930s, thanks to the favourable location ‘close to the market and the river’, Cu Da was a very busy place for traders to do business all day and night. As a result, Cu Da village’s economy was developed rapidly and the living standard of villagers was improved considerably compared to other regions. Cu Da villagers moved to all regions in the country to do business and settle down there. Some people who were better off had come back to the home village and brought along with them the cultural characters from the city. Houses with the western architectural style mixed with traditional art were built. These were communal houses built under the French-style so that villagers could gather together and make decisions on things of common concern. Each house was numbered like in a big city. Cu Da is among a few Vietnamese villages whose houses were numbered. This has made it so unique, rarely seen in any village in the northern delta area.

The cultural features of Cu Da have been preserved intact which serve as an evidence of a flourishing development period. The most remarkable relics in Cu Da are 50 French-style villas. Partly damaged by time and historical changes as they were, these houses are still kept intact with typical French style. These are two-storey villas with balcony, archway, enamel tile-paved pillars, porcelain-paved walls and so on. Tiles to pave and decorate houses were all made in France in 1910 – 1920 and imported to Vietnam. Architectural patterns and designs of these houses remain, showing the harmony between eastern and western architecture in the early years of the 20th century.

Not only bearing European-style architecture, Cu Da is also imbued with traditional values of a riverside village in the northern delta area.

These were ancient Vietnamese houses and houses of worship built one century ago. These iron wood houses with delicate carvings still stand there to the test of time. The most remarkable house is the ancient house of Trinh The Sung built in 1874 under the Tu Duc’s reign. The house features the typical architectural art of the Nguyen Dynasty as it was made entirely from timber with sophisticated patterns on its doors.

The cultural characters of Cu Da ancient village are also showed through other constructions like temples, pagodas and shrines. Cu Da temple is one of two relics of Cu Da Village recognised as the nation’s historical site. Xa Tac Worship Ritual was set at Cu Da Temple to offer sacrifices and considered as the most beautiful worship place preserved until today. This place of worship dates back to 1921, made from precious stones carved with dragons and symbols of four sacred creatures: dragon, unicorn, tortoise and phoenix. Xa Tac Altar is not only used for the worship of the God of Land and the God of Farming, but it also implies typical features of a historical period in the past.

Cu Da Village is also famous for other ancient communal houses which are used to celebrate common activities and festivals of the whole village.

Such unique relics on a flourishing development period of Cu Da riverside ancient village have made it a ‘must-see’ tourist destination, attracting an increasing number of visitors and researchers in and outside the country.

(Source: Nhan Dan)

Vietnam Travel Depot Launches Jeep Adventure

Hochiminh City, 16 October 2009 - Vietnam Travel Depot has launched Jeep tours for the adventure enthusiasts. The unconventional tours by the US military Jeep M151 A1 and M151 A2 - vehicles once used in the Vietnam War will cover famous destinations such as historic Cu Chi Tunnel, Cao Dai Temple, Vung Tau Beach & Australia War Memorial, Mui Ne Beach, up to the mountain of Dalat or Central Highland or deep into the forest of Nam Cat Tien National Park.

Beside tours on Jeep, Vietnam Travel Depot offers travelers with various combined options such as camping in the forest, trekking, motorcycling, biking, camera rally or team building based on customer's individual interests. The company also specially developed a website www.vietnamjeeptours.com to provide detailed information and images about the Jeep travel, its technical specifications for the serious travelers who wish to know more about the historic vehicles and this special service.

About Vietnam Travel Depot

Online travel portal specialized in travel to Vietnam focusing on individuals and small groups travel. More information the company, its offers and rates please visit www.vietnamtraveldepot.com or Tel: (84 8) 5404 3116.

About Vietnam Jeep Tours

A special service dedicated to Jeep adventure in Vietnam with adventure activities of Jeep-ing, camping, trekking, motorcycling, biking, camera rally or team building. Vietnam Jeep Tour is a specially product managed by Vietnam Travel Depot. More information please visit www.vietnamjeeptours.com

Free Visas To Vietnam By Vietnam Travel Depot

Hochiminh City, 10 Oct 2009 – Hochiminh City, 10th October – Vietnam Travel Depot has announced to offer free visa approvals and free visa stamps for passengers traveling with the company.

By this, passengers who book a trip with a value from US$300 per person will receive free visa approval letters for single entry issued by Immigration Department. This letter will be used to get visa stamps either at Vietnam Embassies overseas or at the international airports on their arrivals.

Free Visa to Vietnam with Vietnam Travel Depot

Passengers who book tours value from US$600 per person will receive both visa approval letters and single entry visa stamps (value of US$/25) for free. Once passengers receive their visas, Vietnam Travel Depot will pay back the visa fees in cash or deduct directly from their tour prices.

Both of the above offers are applied to tour bookings only of minimum two persons in a group and are not applicable for hotel bookings or other single services.

Further details about the offers, please contact sales consultants online or email sales@vietnamtraveldepot.com


About Vietnam Travel Depot: Online travel portal specialized in travel to Vietnam focusing on individuals and small groups travel. More information about the company please visit www.vietnamtraveldepot.com or contact Tel: (84 8) 5404 3116.

Ca Tru and Quan Ho folksongs recognized by UNESCO

The United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) has inscribed Vietnam’s Ca Tru on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity on October 1.

Ca Tru is chamber music in which the singer is rewarded for each of her successful passages by bamboo tablets, which can be converted into money.

The recognised heritage will immediately be registered on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity or the Intangible Cultural Heritage in Need of Urgent Safeguarding and will be preserved at an international level.

A day earlier, Quan Ho was also recognized by UNESCO in the same category of Ca Tru.

Quan Họ folk songs form the northern provinces of Bac Ninh and Bac Giang, are performed as alternating verses between two women from one village who sing in harmony and two men from another village who respond with similar melodies, but with different lyrics.

More than 119 cultural items from 34 nations have been nominated as an Intangible Cultural Heritage in Need of Urgent Safeguarding but only 15 have been approved.

Vietnam has been commended for its vision in preserving its cultural heritages. Next, the country will nominate its Giong Festival and Xoan singing.

(Source: VOV)

Non-stop travel between Vietnam and Cambodia

From September 30 all vehicles will have freedom of movement between the Samat international border gate in Tay Ninh Province in Vietnam and the TrapeangPlong border gate in KamPongCham Province, Cambodia.

This is the second international border gate to be put into use by the two countries. The first, Moc Bai-BaVet, started operating in September, 2006.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, Vietnamese Deputy Minister of Transport Le Manh Hung praised the cooperation shown between the transportation sectors of both countries for their efforts to implement the Agreement on Road Transportation signed by both governments.

As a result, seven border gates connecting the two countries are now in operation. Both countries have opened up their borders so vehicles do not have to stop, which saves time, cuts costs and boosts trade, tourism, and investment.

Deputy Minister Hung and his Cambodian counterpart Takch ChanKosal also agreed that both countries should make more effort to exchange information, manage transport links and work together to make it easier to travel between both countries.

(Source: VNA)

Vietnam Travel Depot Offers Airport Assistance Services

Hochiminh City, 01 Oct 2009 – From October 2009 Vietnam Travel Depot will offer passengers free welcome and assistance services at Tan Son Nhat Airport in Hochiminh City. Passengers who travel with Vietnam Travel Depot will be greeted at the airport by the company staffs, assisted with the luggage and to be provided with necessary information during their stay in Vietnam.

For passengers who book tours in Vietnam for at least three days for a value from US$300/person the company also provides a mobile phone with credit of around US$10 to contact with their families, friends and stay in touch with Vietnam Travel Depot when they need.

About Vietnam Travel Depot: Online travel portal specialized in travel to Vietnam focusing on individuals and small groups travel. More information about the company please visit www.vietnamtraveldepot.com or contact Tel: ( 848 ) 5404 3116.

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Folk music is a mere phone call away

At a time when the modern music industry in Viet Nam is producing mostly flash-in-the-pan pop stars, modern technology is starting to prove convenient in keeping traditional music alive.

The 87 - year - old lady is performing folk songs on mobile

Fans of quan ho (love duets from the northern province of Bac Ninh) no longer need to visit the province to enjoy live performances of this ancient folk music.

Now the music is just a phone call away.

Thanks to such clubs as the Hoa Dinh Club in Hoa Dinh Village, Bac Ninh City, quan ho fans can dial in to listen to their favourite love songs, performed live by well-known singers.

With modern technology often distracting from the country’s traditions, it’s a refreshing change to see it help promote an ancient art form for Vietnamese everywhere.

The Hoa Dinh Club’s head, Tran Van Quyen, says most customers who phone in requesting songs are overseas Vietnamese and people in other provinces.

"It all started at a quan ho singing competition and festival in Spring 2008," he recalls.

During the festival, the club’s artists met with many tourists who said they wanted to enjoy these folk songs from home.

"At the end of the festival, we returned to our day jobs. The quan ho singers of Hoa Dinh Village continued to practise every Saturday evening.

"One day, some of the tourists who had my mobile phone number called me, saying that they wanted to enjoy some songs. We couldn’t refuse their passion for the music," he says.

At present, the club has 51 members, including elder, middle-aged and young people. The oldest member Nguyen Thi Bay is 85, but she still isn’t too old to teach young people how to properly sing the classic melodies.

Bay and other club members are ready to sing via mobile phones to fans, free of charge.

"The most important thing that we gain is that we can popularise the culture of quan ho and images of quan ho artists who are friendly and hospitable to people both in the country and abroad," he says.

"We don’t join the club for money," says artist Nguyen Thi Ly. "We are determined to preserve the ancient folk songs and we want the songs to be handed down to future generations."

The director of Bac Ninh Province’s Culture, Sports and Tourism Department, Dang Van Tuc, said the service has received a lot of attention.

"This service also helps popularise quan ho to the world. We want quan ho to be recognised one day as a UNESCO heritage. During this time of international integration, people all over the world can simply pick up their cell phones and listen to songs by famous singers."

Recognising the potential of wireless communication, the department has asked the provincial People’s Committee to give each quan ho club a mobile phone to help boost this service.

For many old people living in rural villages, mobile phones have been an unaffordable luxury, but there has been a recent spike in the number of elderly with mobile phones.

According to artist Nguyen Thi Thuy, quan ho is an acquired taste, and not everyone wants to listen to these old folk songs.

"That’s why we the quan ho singers always respect the requests of people who really want to listen to the songs. Among them, many are overseas Vietnamese who visited the homeland but didn’t have a chance to visit Bac Ninh," she says.

During the summers, the club also organises classes to teach quan ho to children in the village.

Other than the Hoa Dinh Club, many other clubs have been formed, attracting new performers and fans. They include clubs in Dao Xa Village in Phong Khe Commune, Bac Ninh City, and Diem Village in Hoa Long Commune.

The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism is completing files on quan ho to submit to UNESCO, asking the organisation to recognise the music as an intangible part of their culture.

Just as modern technology seems to facilitate cheaply produced music, this original use of cell phones proves that tradition does not have to be traded for modernity. This also proves that quan ho culture still has a strong presence.

Club telephone numbers The following clubs provide live performances on Saturday evenings. Fans can listen in by calling: Hoa Dinh Club in Hoa Dinh Village, Bac Ninh City 095 372 3234 Dao Xa Village Club in Phong Khe Commune 0241 246 329 Diem Village Club in Hoa Long Commune 0241 862 092

(Source: VNS & VietNamNet Bridge )

To he – an attractive folk toy (Tò He)

To he is one of the rare folk toys of Vietnamese children remaining until today. Xuan La Village in Phuong Duc Commune, Phu Xuyen District, Ha Noi (former Ha Tay Province) is often mentioned as one of originated places of making to he (kneading coloured dough into coloured paste animals).

To He (image source: tin247.com)

Almost of all villagers (80%) in Xuan La know how to make to he. White-haired old people and even children who have not gone to school also can make to he. Derived long time ago, but nobody knows who was the ancestor of making to he (this is explained that since the loss of documentation). Besides, the village has many families such as: Dang, Nguyen, Vu, Le, Chu, Trinh... all of these families know well how to make to he. Thus, all deserve the title of ancestor of making to he.

The stage of making dough is the main secret formula of the profession. If this formula is not good, when the powder dry it will rub off very easily and break out of stick. The main ingredient for making to he is ordinary rice and a little of glutinous rice flour. It is mixed at the ratio of 10 parts of rice contain 1 part of sticky rice (this ratio may change depend on the hot and dry weather), well-blend, cover with water then pureed, boil and quick knead. After that, this flour is squeezed into some wisps and each wisp is dyed respectively.

Four basic colors are yellow, red, black, and green. In the past, people use colors derived from plants and boiled with a little flour: yellow made from hoe flower or turmeric, red from gac fruit or gardenia, black from burned-straw or dyer's weed, green from indigo leaves or rieng leaves... Other intermediate colors are created from these four colors.

To he attracts strangely not only young children but also many people of all ages. Perhaps, distinctions that create special appeal of to he is just only with a little of colored dough and a bamboo stick about 40cm in length, the artisan with talented hands has made pictures in the imagination became a reality in some minutes. To see the most attraction of this game, one should follow each skilful act of rolling and kneading of the artisan. Audiences palpitate with the artisan’s hands as a magic when products finish. Each to he always causes curiosity and admiration for all people on creativeness of the artisan.

Today, artisans make to he not only with traditional shapes of animals, fruits, but also with many others of abundant in shapes, especially cartoon characters that children love such as Doraemon, Pokemon, Sailor Moon, Superman…, and industry food colors are used for their more convenient.

With a simple tool set consists of a small knife, a few bamboo sticks and a little beeswax, the artisans of making to he go to many villages all over Viet Nam on market-days, festivals, to sell their products. Nowadays, to he appears not only at the village festivals, parks, schools but also at hotels, trade fairs, important national and international cultural, social, sports and tourism events...

Tò He with dragon shape (image source from chudu24.com)

To he is considered as a unique folk toy, which brings both national and scientific characters. It also plays an important role in life, learning, entertainment activities and aesthetic training for children. To he is a toy which children often pick for them in many occasions, especially every time the Mid-Autumn Festival arrived.

Phuong Anh
(Source: TITC)

Vietnam Travel Depot Launches Facebook Page

Hochiminh City, 21 Sep 2009 –Vietnam Travel Depot has launches its page on the social network Facebook to stay in touch with friends and company customers.

The page will features images, videos and latest news about travel in Vietnam as well as updates about Vietnam Travel Depot offers, its initiatives in creating ultimate travel experience, travel stories written by travelers.

Vietnam Travel Depot Facebook page is open for everyone and can be view here. Registration to Facebook is required in order to view our page.

About Vietnam Travel Depot: Online travel portal specialized in travel to Vietnam focusing on individuals and small groups travel. More information the company please visit www.vietnamtraveldepot.com or Tel: (84 8) 5404 3116.

Dalat “Crazy House” joins bizarre global list

A uniquely odd architectural work in the Central Highlands city of Dalat , has been shortlisted by the Chinese People’s Daily as one of the world’s ten most bizarre buildings.

French travel guide Hachette has also highlighted the “Crazy House” as a not-to-be missed hotel stay on any trip to Vietnam.


The house, occupying nearly 1,600m² on Huynh Thuc Khang Street, was completed in 1990 as a personal project by architect Dang Viet Nga. The controversial building once dismissed as “crazy” has now become a regular feature on tourist visits to the city.

The free-form undulating structure is quite unlike anything else in Dalat, let alone Vietnam. The house is constructed on a numerous levels with a naturalistic theme interpreted through concrete curves, twists and bends, giving it the appearance of an out-grown tree. The interior is equally unorthodox, with almost every surface twisting, curving and running fluidly along the internal corridors, stairwells and rooms.

Mismatched windows give the impression of a fairytale house straight from Little Red Riding Hood, while stone tigers, bears, eagles, kangaroos and pheasants decorate the environs adding to the surreal environment.


The building has been dogged by controversy since conception with arguments centering on the structure’s insufficient architectural integrity, ad-hoc character and lack of formal aesthetic.


Nga shrugs off criticism, “Many people have criticised me, even my colleagues. I don’t blame who don’t understand me.” Instead she believes that the controversial character of the house has won her more attention.

“When they first saw the house, people would exclaim that it was a “crazy house”! So that’s how it got its name, and now, it’s one of Dalat’s leading tourist attractions,” Nga says.

Nga is more concerned with conveying history and myth through the structural and decorative styling of the house rather than conforming to strict architectural rules. The house for her is interconnected by “a cobweb, which can be conceived as a bridge linking reality and the spiritual world, linking the self and the infinite universe,” she says.

(Source: VNA, Image: Google)

Discount Coupons With Vietnam Travel Depot

Hochiminh City, 24^th September 2009 - Vietnam Travel Depot has announced to offer passengers who book any service on the company travel portal www.vietnamtraveldepot.com will receive discount coupon of 10% at the below hot spots in central Hochiminh City.

1. Le Mekong Restaurant: French Restaurant
2. Dong Du Restaurant: Combination of Vietnamese and French
3. Liberty Restaurant: Vietnamese
4. Vietnam House Restaurant: Vietnamese
5. Pizza Sarpino's Restaurant: Italian
6. Nga Art & Craft Shop: Vietnamese tradition art and craft
7. Spa L'apothiquaire: Traditional French day spa
   

The numbers of coupons are limited and applied for early birds only. Please contact our sales@vietnamtraveldepot.com for details and conditions that may be applied.

About Vietnam Travel Depot: Online travel portal specialized in travel to Vietnam focusing on individuals and small groups travel. More information about the true home stay experience, expenses and other offers please visit www.vietnamtraveldepot.com or contact tel: (84 8) 5404 3116.

Lower fares for early-booked train tickets

From September 15 to December 15, passengers who buy the Hanoi-HCM City train tickets will enjoy fare reduction of up to 20 percent per a ticket. The price for return tickets will be slashed by 20 percent for both ways.

The Vietnam Railways Corporation said that this promotional campaign aims to attract passengers during the off-tourism season. Accordingly, if passengers buy the Hanoi-HCM City tickets at least 60 days before their trip, they will enjoy a 20 percent fare reduction and 10 percent for buying tickets from 15 to 59 days before the departure.

Individual and group passengers who buy return tickets for long trips will also enjoy fare reduction, including 7 percent for groups of 20-29 members, 9 percent for 30-39 members, 13 percent for 40-49 passengers and 15 percent for groups of at least 50 members.

Individuals who buy train tickets for the trip of over 1300km will enjoy a reduction of 20 percent for both ways. If they buy tickets at least 60 days before the trip, they will enjoy up to 36 percent of fare reduction.

Source VNE

03 Days Around Cu Chi & Mekong Delta (only from US$ 114/person)

Promotion 001: Cu Chi & Mekong Delta (only valid until 31 Oct 2009)
Day 1: Arrival – Visit Cu Chi Tunnel


In the morning, our Vietnam Travel Depot’s guide and driver will welcome at airport and then pick up to Hoang Lien hotel for leisure. After soft lunch (optional but can be arranged by us), proceeding to the extraordinary Cu Chi tunnels, just outside Ho Chi Minh City. During the Vietnamese War of Independence, Viet Cong guerrillas built the labyrinth of narrow tunnels virtually underneath U.S. Military bases, using them to hide during bombings and to stage surprise attacks. Return to Ho Chi Minh City.
Night at Hoang Lien hotel based on superior room



Day 2: Mekong Delta (Breakfast)

After your breakfast, we will pick up guests at hotel lobby, driving to My Tho. On arrival, take a boat trip around four beautiful Islets: Dragon, Unicorn, Tortoise and Phoenix on Tien River. Through Xep canel to visit Mekong traditional houses at Quoi An village (make all from coconut tree). See coconut collection set and how the locals make handicrafts from coconut trunk and shell. Enjoy seasonal fruits and listening to traditional music. Take the horse-cart on village path and stop at Ben Truc orchard, taste honey with tea or wine. See bees-breeding in wooden boxes at local farms.
Take rowing-boat on water palm creek. Lunch on islets (optional but can be arranged by us). Ride boat to visit a coconut candy workshop, taste candy (Special products of Bentre province). Back to My Tho city and return to Ho Chi Minh City. Night at Hoang Lien hotel based on superior room.



Day 3: Departure (Breakfast)

See you off at the airport with our driver only for flight to home. See you again.

Rate: 114 usd/pax (group of 02 pax)

Include: transfer, entrance fees, 02 nights in Hoang Lien Hotel (Standard double/twin), ES guide.

Book it now!!!

Valid: 31Oct2009

Vietnam Travel Depot Launched True Home Stay Experience In Hue

Hochiminh City, September 21st, 2009 – Vietnam Travel Depot has launched a true home stay experience in Hue, Vietnam for a package of three day two nights (3D/2N). In which travelers will experience a true local life by staying local residence, interacting with locals, taking part in their daily lives like going to the market, cooking a typical Vietnamese meal, etc. Besides, passengers will have a hand-picked city excursion in Hue by visiting well known spots such as the Imperial Citadel, Royal Tombs, traditional handicraft village, biking around rural paths.

About Hue: Former Royal city in the central of Vietnam. The city is proud to host a UNESCO site of Imperial Citadel and several royal tombs and relics.

About Vietnam Travel Depot: Online travel portal specialized in travel to Vietnam focusing on individuals and small groups travel. More information about the true home stay experience, expenses and other offers please contact sales(at)vietnamtraveldepot(dot)com or tel: (84 8) 5404 3116.

About Home Stay Program: A program between Vietnam Travel Depot and local residences in Hue to co-promote the local tourism and facilitate the culture exchange between foreign travelers and local communities at major travel destinations of Vietnam.

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