Tien Giang to host first Vietnam Fruit Festival

The first Vietnam Fruit Festival, organised by People's Committee of Tien Giang Province, will run from April 19 to 24. "Under the theme ‘Vietnam's Fruit in a Time of Integration', the festival organising board wants to show off the diversification and richness of fruit in Vietnam to local and foreign friends and tourists," said Tran The Ngoc, Chairman of the People's Committee of Tien Giang Province. "The festival will be a chance to honour farmers, scientists, entrepreneurs and companies for their contribution to the development of fruit in Vietnam," Ngoc said. More than 700 kiosks and art shows will display fruit products from around the country. Aside from a number of events, there will be a scientific seminar on fruit market. Vietnamese fruits are sold in 50 countries. In the South, fruit is grown on 280,000ha – nearly 70% of the total fruit-farming area in the country.

(Source: SGT)

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.