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.

vietnamtraveldepot

Vist us now at vietnamtraveldepot !!!