Hanoi spring flower festival 2013, which honours traditional villages and high quality agricultural products, will take place from January 30 to February 2 at the Vietnam Exhibition Centre for Arts and Culture (No2 Hoa Lu Street).

The event will be held by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism in coordination with Hanoi City People’s Committee, Hanoi City Peasants’ Association, the Vietnam Folklore Arts Association and the Vietnam Association of Traditional Villages.

It will honour the culture of villages and traditional villages of Thang Long – Hanoi and provinces in the Red River Delta, to welcome the 2013 Red River Delta National Tourism Year.

This is also an opportunity for artisans from traditional villages, peasants and enterprises to have exchanges and introduce initiatives in the field of rural industries, contributing to promote trade in traditional villages and consumption of agricultural products of Hanoi farmers.

Exhibitions on flower and bonsai art, traditional festivals, cultural exchanges, gastronomy festivals, and fairs for agricultural products and handicrafts will be held during the event.

(Source: CPV)

Many activities will be held at four spots in Hanoi’s Old Quarter from November 23-25 to mark Vietnam’s Cultural Heritage Day (November 23, 2005 – 2012).

Visitors will be introduced to the old Hanoians living space, their lifestyle and cultural activities at Dong Lac Temple, 38 Hang Dao Street.

The Kinh Bac Folk Music Club will perform ‘Quan Ho’ folk performances at the Kim Ngan Temple at 42-44 Hang Bac street, alongside an introduction to some old Hanoians tea drinking culture.

The Hanoi Old Quarter Management Board will present the project on renewing and preserving a short section of Lan Ong Street, famous for offering different kinds of traditional medicines at the Quan De Temple and also the Old Quarter Information Centre, at 28 Hang Buom Street. The project is a part of the Board’s plan to preserve, renovate and promote the value of the Hanoi Old Quarter’s architecture.

The Old Quarter Management Board, in collaboration with Vietnam Television Film Center, will introduce a short film entitled ‘Light of the Imperial City’ set in Ta Hien Street. The film will reflect the actual living space available to Hanoians during the French colonial era (1930 – 1945).

The programme will offer a good opportunity for the capital’s citizens and tourists to learn more about Hanoi’s traditional culture. It also aims to raise public awareness of preservation of the country’s cultural heritage.

(Source: Nhan Dan Online )

The People’s Committee and the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism will organize various activities, such dragon dancing festival, art performances and a ceremony to award best dances about Hanoi, to mark the 58th anniversary of Liberation Day from October 6th to 8th.

Dragon dancing festival will take place from 2pm to 6pm on October 6th at the square in front of the entrance to My Dinh National Stadium, with the participation of 29 troupes from 29 districts and towns in Hanoi.

Spectators will also have an opportunity to enjoy various interesting performances, such as hiphop and sports dance in the artistic program for peace, “Singing Together”, from 3pm to 6pm on October 7th at My Dinh Stadium.

Besides, best dances about Hanoi will be performed and awarded at awards ceremony on October 8th.

(Source: QDND)

The third International Puppetry Festival will open in Hanoi at 8pm on September 4.

Vietnam will be represented by the Vietnam Puppetry Theatre, Thang Long Water Puppetry Theatre, Ha Tinh Song and Dance troupe, and Dak Lak Puppetry Ensemble.

Foreign troupes from Israel, Cambodia, China, the Philippines, Indonesia, Thailand, Egypt, Turkey and Laos will also participate in the festival.

Each invited art troupe is scheduled to give a 30-40 minute performance which will be evaluated by a jury of two Vietnamese and three foreign judges.

Performances will take place at the Vietnam Puppetry Theatre on 361 Truong Chinh Street, the Hong Ha Theatre on 51 Duong Thanh Street, and the Military Theatre on Mai Dich Street. The festival will last until September 10.

It provides an opportunity for artists to exchange ideas and boost cultural cooperation between Vietnam and other countries in the region and around the world.

(Source: VOV)

Between 25-27 June, around 150 best agro-fisheries products from Korea will be promoted to Vietnamese consumers in a food festival.

Jointly organized by the Embassy of the Republic of Korea to Vietnam, Korea Agro-Fisheries Trade Corporation and Star Korea Company, the event is part of the 20th anniversary celebrations of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Vietnam and Korea (1992 -2012).

Offering local gastronomes the chance taste traditional dishes from Korea like gimchi (a traditional fermented Korean dish made of vegetables with a variety of seasonings), ginsengs, traditional wine, bibimbap (mixed rice)…, the festival will feature many culinary exchange activities including exhibitions and sales booths, outdoor activities with interesting games, drumming, lion dances, Vietnamese and Korean traditional martial arts demonstrations.

Especially, culinary lovers will be directly instructed by Korean chefs to make typical dishes of Korea and taste fascinating dishes.

The opening ceremony of the festival was held at 17h00 today at Big C Thang Long Supermarket, No 222 Tran Duy Hung Road, Cau Giay District, Hanoi capital. As usual, entrance is free for all visitors.

Mr Kim Jae Soo, General Director of Korea Agro-Fisheries Trade Corporation said: “It is a really good opportunity for us to understand more about Vietnamese market. We can see a big potential market for export products from Korea. Therefore, Korean firms have been invested 2.6 million USD to fresh vegetables projects in Hai Duong and Hoa Binh provinces”.
Earlier, on June 1, the Hanoi-based Korea Agro-Fisheries Association has coordinated with the Vietnam’s Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Lam Dong provincial People’s Committee to organize a seminar for reviewing and analyzing advantages/disadvantages in agro-fisheries trading between the two nations in the last several years.

Tag: Hanoi tours, Hanoi attractions, Hanoi hotels, Hanoi foods

Hanoi has attracted about 8.33 million visitors during the first six months of this year, according to the Hanoi Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism.

The city, which was listed as one of the cheapest global tourist destinations for the summer of 2012 by the world’s largest travel website TripAdvisor, lured over 1.03 million foreign tourists during the first half of the year, a rise of 20 percent over the same period last year.

The capital city also saw 7.3 million domestic tourists arrive during the first half of the year, an increase of 24 per cent, compared to the same period last year.

Visitors to Hanoi came from over 160 territories and countries including western Europe, North East Asia, Australia and North America amongst others.

Hanoi would strive to attract about 2.5 million international and 14 million domestic visitors by 2015, which could earn the capital about US$2.1 billion, added the department.

Tag: Hanoi tours, Hanoi attractions, Hanoi hotels

A mountain market session, as part of the ‘Sac Mau Tay Bac’ (Colours of the Northwest) programme, is being held in Hanoi from April 26-28.

Visitors to the market can taste thang co – a traditional dish of the Mong ethnic people, com lam (rice cooked in bamboo-tubes), smoked ham and grilled chicken and drink banana wine and corn wine served in wooden bowls on black wooden tables.

They can buy some regional specialties, including forest vegetables, tea and bamboo sprouts put in papooses of Mong and Dao ethnic people or arranged in bamboo stalls, and watch the making of linen cloth of the Mong, Pieu scarfs by the Thai, and the colourful dress patterns by the Muong, Red Dao and Black Thai.

The event, jointly held by the Ministry of Sports, Culture and Tourism, some northern cities and the provinces of Hoa Binh, Son La, Lai Chau, Lao Cai, Yen Bai, Dien Bien, and Hanoi, is among the activities to mark the Vietnam Ethnic Group Cultural Day (April 19).

(Source: VOV)

The world’s renowned travel guide, the Lonely Planet, has rated Vietnam ’ Mekong Delta region ninth out of the 10 best value destinations for 2012.

Vietnam ’s rice basket, the Mekong Delta is a watery landscape of green fields and sleepy villages, everywhere crisscrossed by the brown canals and rivulets fed by the mighty Mekong River ,” the Lonely Planet said in its website.

The inhabitants of this region – friendly and easygoing people – have long toiled on the life-sustaining river, with the fruits of their labour depending on natures cycles that govern the waterways.

The delta, which produces enough rice to supply the domestic market and a sizable surplus, was formed by sediment deposited by the Mekong River over many years. The process continues today, with silt deposits extending the shoreline by as much as 80m per year. The river is so large that it has two daily tides.

Lush with rice paddies and fish farms, this delta also nourishes the cultivation of sugarcane, fruit, coconuts and shrimp.

Although the area is primarily rural, it is one of the most densely populated regions in Vietnam and nearly every hectare is intensively farmed.

“The uniquely southern charm with its welcoming introduction to life along the river is the real draw, and visitors can explore quaint riverside towns, sample fruits bartered in the colourful floating markets or dine on home-cooked delicacies before overnighting as a homestay guest,” it said.

Other highlights include visits to local orchards, flower markets and fish farms. There are also bird sanctuaries, beach getaways and impressive Khmer pagodas in the region.

In addition to highlighting the Mekong Delta as one of the tope ten best destinations, the travel guide also said that Vietnam is always a good value destination for tourists.

The nine other top destinations include the northeast of the US , San Francisco , Japan , Tajikistan , Porto in Portugal , Lesotho in southern Africa, Iquitos in Peru , Ohrid in Macedonia and Merida , Mexico .

Earlier, the US Tourism Association (USTOA) named Vietnam as top destination for 2012.

(Source: VNA)

Around 183,000 foreign tourists visited Hanoi during the lunar New Year (Tet) holiday, a year-on-year increase of 16 percent.

The city’s Culture, Sports and Tourism Department said that thanks to visa exemptions, the number of Overseas Vietnamese increased sharply to almost 700,000.

The department predicted that the number of tourists from traditional markets including China, Japan, France, Australia, the Republic of Korea and other Southeast Asian nations will increase in the first quarter of the year.

Hanoi also welcomed more than 1.8 million domestic visitors, a year-on-year rise of 40 percent. The Huong (Perfume) Pagoda festival and Thang Long Imperial Citadel relic site attracted the largest number of tourists.

Around 28,500 Vietnamese people went abroad to spent their long Tet holiday that lasted from Jan. 21 to 29. Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia and China remained their favourite destinations.

(Source: VNA)

Well-known French electronic artist Alex Millan is set to perform at the French cultural centre l’Espace in Hanoi next month, following great success in the capital in 2010 and 2011.

The 30 year-old producer and DJ took part in Hanoi Sound Stuff, an international electronic music festival in 2010, and was highly acclaimed by the Vietnamese public. The same year, he released his first album The Collection: Triple. His tracks are also featured on records by Depeche Mode, Daft Punk, Paul Kalkbrenner, Trentemoller and James Zabiela.

After 15 years in the industry, Millan’s music wavers between rhythm, melody, and melancholy. With a style marked by his experiences and inspirations, he seduces wide audiences in search of electronic stars.

Tickets for the concert will go on sale at l’Espace, 24 Trang Tien from January 19.

(Source: VNA)

On January 17th, Hanoi Television Magazine under the Hanoi Television and Radio Station will hold a programme about Tet in Hanoi in the past and 2012 to reflect a religious belief in cultural life of Vietnamese people.

The programme will be divided into three parts. The first part tells about the birth of Viet people. The second part will include songs praising immortal saints as well as famous national women. Introduce a relief through the image of the mother. Songs introduce the merit of immortal saints. The third part will be a comedy.

In addition, audiences will contemplate a collection of wedding dresses by designer David Minh Duc.

Since 2006, the Hanoi Television and Radio Station has successfully held six programmes about Tet in the past and at present. Each programme focused on beauty of Hanoians as well as traditional culture of Viet people.

The programme this year will be broadcast live at 8.30 pm on Jan.17th on H1 channel of Hanoi Television and Radio Station, and screened on H1 and H2 channel during Tet holidays.

(Source: SGT)

The Department of Culture, Sport and Tourism announced that total nearly 1.9 million foreign visitors coming to Hanoi in 2011, in which the number of Chinese tourists, Japan and Australia account for nearly one-third.

Specifically, Chinese visitors reached 309,400 arrivals, more than 115 thousand compared to Japanese, visitors from Australia approximately 110 thousand. The number of international tourists come to Hanoi in 2011 grew 11% compared to 2010, the national tourism year in Hanoi.

It was the result of various tourism promotion activities such as: Participation in National Tourism in Phu Yen, join Fair Trade promoting investment and tourism in Nghe An, involvement poles on the international tourism promotion organizations as TPO (Tourism Promotion Organization) in Dalian (China), attending MICE Tourism Week in Jeju (South Korea). On the other hand, travel activities in the area also improved, including, most notably the activities associated with the development of tourism provinces such as Quang Ninh, Lao Cai, Ninh Binh …

It is worth noting that these monuments of Hanoi have attracted a large number of domestic and foreign tourists. Only in four important monuments of the capital, including Ngoc Son Temple, Hoa Lo prison, Van Mieu – Quoc Tu Giam, Hanoi Museum attracted nearly three million local tourists and abroad. Revenue from ticket sales at four monuments is over 22 billion.

In 2012, Hanoi tourism operators continue to focus on key markets, in addition to the above three major markets, Hanoi will expand to potential markets such as Korea, and some countries of the EU as France, Britain, Germany …

The 35m long ceramic dragons, which were registered for the Vietnam Book of Records, were moved and set up on West Lake, Hanoi, on January 3 to celebrate the Lunar New Year Festival.

The dragons, made by craftsmen from Bat Trang Ceramic Village, had been displayed at the Bach Thao botanical gardens to mark the 1,000th anniversary of Thang Long-Hanoi.

According to cultural researchers, dragons should be located at solemn places close to water and historical relics and West Lake is the most suitable area.

They will be erected on the water by the Lac Long Quan flower garden and about 12m from the nearest road along the lake. One dragon will be facing north and the other south. They will be put on a ceramic pedestal and will be decorated with a lighting system and a fountain.

The dragons were made from 6,000 plates and 4,000 glasses, with special enamel to resemble the legendary dragons under the Ly Dynasty. They measure 15m in length (35m with their curves), 8.2m in height (including pedestal) and 0.9m across, and weigh over 60 tonnes.

Source: VOV

According to statistical data of Hanoi Tourism Culture & Communication in 2011, the number of international clients is estimated at nearly 1.9 million (up 11% compared to 2010), in which in-house international client is estimated at 1, 4 million (up 15% compared to 2010).

Praiseworthy, clients in major market to Hanoi significantly increased as Chinese clients 19%, Australia 28%, Japanese 13%, and Korean 22%. In addition, the amount of internal client to Hanoi reached 11.66 million (up 10% compared to the same period last year).

In 2012, tourism sector of Hanoi capital will complete development plan approval to 2020, vision 2030; to coordinate implementation of projects extending the streets in Hoan Kiem district. Holding culture carnival, technology & tourism projects in a number theater and organize international tourism trade fair in Hanoi in 2010; host the eleventh meeting of the Council to promote Tourism in Asia (CPTA), complete building large tourism advertising plate in position as the gateway to the city of National Highway 1, 3, 5, 32.

This year’s Hanoi food festival themed Am thuc Ha Thanh-Chao xuan 2012 (Hanoi’s cuisine – Welcoming the Spring 2012) will be held at the West Lake Park from Friday to Monday by Hanoi Tourist Corporation.

According to the organizer, the festival will feature traditional and modern foods including cha ca Hanoi (Hanoi fish paste), banh cuon Thanh Tri (Thanh Tri steamed rice pancake) and bun thang (a kind of spaghetti soup). Joining the event are performers from hotels and restaurants in Hanoi.

Culinary products are showcased in line with different subjects, such as former Hanoi, modern Hanoi and vegetarian food besides the presence of folk games and handicraft booths.

(Source: SGT)