The Vietnamese Government Invests in Sapa’s Infrastructure Placing Sapa as a Key Tourism Destination

Sapa is the frontier town of Lào Cai Province in Northwest Vietnam. This mountainous town lies in the Hoang Lien Son Range at 1,600 m above sea level. Sapa welcomed 801,173 visitors in the first six months of 2014. Therefore, to ensure the facilities and infrastructure meet the tourists’ demands while still maintaining the importance of a unique national identity, the Vietnamese government has proposed plans and invested in the infrastructure to develop Sapa as key tourism destination. Lao Cai, Vietnam,
October 24, 2014 --- Sapa is the frontier town of Lào Cai Province in Northwest Vietnam. This mountainous town lies in the Hoang Lien Son Range at 1,600 m above sea level. More than 100 years ago the French exploited Sapa and developed the region as a resort area. Nowadays, Sapa is known as an attractive destination for tourists not only because of the majestic scenery including Fansipan, the highest peak in Indochina and a unique climate with four seasons in one day, but also for the diversity of culture and customs from six ethnic minorities and the myriad fauna and flora in Hoang Lien National Park. Sapa welcomed 801,173 visitors in the first six months of 2014. Therefore, to ensure the facilities and infrastructure meet the tourists’ demands while still maintaining the importance of a unique national identity, the Vietnamese government has proposed plans and invested in the infrastructure to develop Sapa as key tourism destination. Building the highway linking Hanoi to Sapa The highway was one of the largest civil engineering projects in Vietnam in recent years. After 7 years of implementation, the 245 -kilometer highway from Noi Bai to Lào Cai finally opened to traffic on September 21st, 2014. The highway allows vehicles to run at speeds of up to 100 km/ hour, and is expected to cut the travel time in half from Hanoi to Lào Cai compared with previous journeys. The highway was built to a very high standard, consisting of four lanes for traffic and two emergency stopping lanes. The total investment in this project was 1,464 million US dollars. Supplementing this route, more than 30 kilometers of highway from Lào Cai to Sapa will be built shortly, providing tourists with the most convenient way to travel to Sapa. Lào Cai Airport Accordingly to the Ministry of Transport’s plans for 2020 – 2030, Lào Cai Airport will be built with a total capital of over VND 1,300 billion on an area of nearly 140 hectares. The runway will be 1.800 meters long and 30 meters wide, making it able to handle ATR72 and Bombardier aircraft. It is expected that Lào Cai Airport will serve approximately 200 passengers per day. In a further development on September 20th 2014, during a meeting between Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung and the Lào Cai authorities, the Prime Minister agreed to work with the Ministry of Transport and upgrade the Lào Cai Airport project to able to receive larger Airbus 320 and 321 planes. Sapa town planning In a meeting with local authorities, Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung approved for Lào Cai province to hire foreign consultants to plan Sapa to become a key tourism town in the Northwest of Vietnam. The plan aims to develop tourism in Sapa while at the same time promoting the importance of a unique national identity. Understand the strong demand from tourists for luxury accommodation, U Sapa Vietnam was opened on August 1st, 2014. Ideally located close to the picturesque City Center Park U Sapa the hotel offers 57 luxuriously-appointed rooms and suites. Each room provides guests with all the necessities to ensure a perfect stay, including luxury bed linen, bathrobes and slippers, rain shower, complimentary wi-fi access, LCD TV with international satellite channels, personal in-room music selection, pillows and coffee percolator plus a selection of fine teas. The interior and exterior architecture, fixtures and fittings of the hotel itself have been sympathetically designed with touches of the bygone French Colonial era coupled with a uniquely Vietnamese twist. What sets U Sapa apart from other luxury accommodation are the U “touches” unique to all U Hotels & Resorts. Touches that make a stay truly individual. U’s 24 hour room policy means you can check-out at exactly the same time of day as you checked-in giving you a full 24 hours use of your room and breakfast “whenever/wherever” allows guests to enjoy an a la carte breakfast at anytime and anywhere within the hotel if they choose not to dine in the restaurant during breakfast hours. The traditional welcome drink is replaced by a choice of any beverage from the in-room minibar plus there is free bicycle hire to explore the town and local and international telephones are charged a cost. One feature which U guests truly seem to appreciate is the “U Choose” program where amenities such as a choice of soap scents, minibar items, in-room music, teas and pillows can be pre-selected online before arrival.

Source: pr.com

Read More

FOLK PAINTING

Folk paintings are a combination of traditional cultural values with ancient artistic methods that have been created through the labour of past generations. There are two types of Vietnamese folk paintings, Tet (Lunar New Year Festival) paintings and worshipping paintings.

The Vietnamese believe in ancestor worship and the deification of natural phenomena, both of which are reflected in the paintings. Due to their historical popularity, the folk paintings were produced in large quantities. This high demand was met through the use of the woodblock carving printing technique, which has been practiced by the Vietnamese for many centuries. During the Ly Dynasty (12th century), there were many families who specialised in woodblock carving. By the end of the Tran Dynasty, they were also printing paper money. At the beginning of the Le So Dynasty, the Chinese technique of carving printing boards was adopted and improved. The History Museum and the Fine Art Museum in Ha Noi still keep old printing boards as archives. During the Mac Dynasty (16th century), folk paintings developed quite extensively and were popular among the aristocracy in Thang Long. In the 18th and 19th centuries, the art of folk painting was stable and highly developed. Depending on artistic style, drawing-printing technique, and the materials used, folk paintings are classified into painting trends according to the name of their place of production. Each style of painting is different. However, in all the styles, shapes are created based on the concept of don tuyen binh do (single line-simple designs), which uses lines to bend the coloured shapes and to make a border for the picture. Another method used is thuan tay hay mat (easy to draw and to see). With this design form, the folk paintings do not depend on the rules of perspective. The deities are large and take the upper positions, while the ordinary people are drawn on a smaller scale and the size of the animals and the natural scenery depicted depends on their relationship to the sentiment or story being expressed. These unique characteristics make the paintings profoundly impressive. As a result of cultural exchange, Vietnamese folk paintings have retained and developed certain traditional aspects. As well, the paintings have been influenced and enriched by the genius of other painting styles. One exception is Dong Ho paintings, which continue to exist unchanged against the challenges of time. Dong Ho Paintings

These paintings which originated in the Red River Delta, are the most famous. The artists coat do paper (the Rhamnoneuron paper) with dieppowder (a white powder made from the shells of diep, a kind of fluvial bivalve mollusk) to make silver lustre glitter. Sometimes yellow flower powder calledHoa hoe or orange-red sapandwood powder is used to make the colours more elegant and shiny. On that background, the colours are applied with a woodblock. Some of the paintings only have simple black lines, while others are printed with one other colour. All of the materials for creating the colours for these paintings come from nature. A wide spectrum of colours can be made using mixing and multi-coloured printing techniques. Dong Ho paintings reflect people’s innermost feelings, wishes, and simple dreams. Because the paintings appeal to so many people, they are available throughout the country, from the village markets to the capital city.
Hang Trong Paintings

 Hang Trong paintings are also printed with black lines to form the basis for the colour. But, unlike Dong Ho paintings, they are made by hand. Large sheets of imported paper and brightly coloured paints are used for Hang Trong paintings. The content of these paintings are very much influenced by Chinese drawings. Hang Trong paintings are popular as worshipping paintings in temples. As such, the paintings are often hung in spacious living rooms or in holy places. Hang Trong paintings have traditionally served the poorer classes and are made and sold in the capital city.
 Kim Hoang Paintings

Kim Hoang paintings, which are often called red paintings, are made on the outskirts of ancient Thang Long. Kim Hoang paintings are printed and drawn on imported coloured paper (yellow, bright red, pink) and printed with black lines and shapes; other colours used to separate the shapes. The colours are applied in rough, but flexible lines. Sometimes, the paintings are reprinted to create clear line. The colours used for Kim Hoang paintings are bought and then mixed by the painters, except for indigo, which is self-processed. The themes of Kim Hoang paintings are similar to those of the Dong Ho paintings, but there are also Chinese character paintings Phuc, Loc,Tho (meaning “Happiness”, “Good Luck”, and “Longevity” respectively), that have the typical flower of each season printed next to each character.
Sinh Village Paintings

Sinh Village Paintings, which come from Sinh Village, a suburb of Hue City, are well-known in the central region of Viet Nam. Most Sinh Village paintings are used for worship, and they express the mystical, nature-based beliefs of the ancient Vietnamese. Among these pictures is the Tuong Ba (Statue of the Lady) painting, the guardian angel of women. Sinh paintings are made using just one printing-board to create the drawing lines and black shapes. After being printed in black, the work is sometimes completed with embellishments made with colourful lines. Some paintings are still printed on rustic paper.

Read More

Y TY WORTH PLACE TO VISIT

Y ty is inhabited by Ha Nhi, Dzao, H'mong people the place is amazing by landscape and their traditional houses.

Read More

MUONG PEOPLE'S WEDDING

The Muong culture is expressed in the group’s lifestyle, customs, and beliefs. The wedding ritual of the Muong in Hoa Binh shapes the formation and development of the family and clan. The wedding ceremony of the Muong has been simplified in recent years but it still echoes the traditional ritual. In the past marriage was arranged by the parents and the children, particularly daughters, had no say in the matter. Now young boys and girls are free to date and choose their partners and marriage is voluntary. The Muong spend several months, even a year, preparing for a wedding. Bui Van Ban of Dich Giao commune, Tan Lac district, Hoa Binh province, says: "The boy’s family will meet with all relatives to ask for their agreement on the marriage. Then we choose a prestigious man or woman to serve as matchmaker. The matchmaker brings two bottles of wine and a tea bag to the future bride’s family. After receiving the matchmaker the girl’s family holds a family meeting to accept the marriage or not.” The matchmaker is an important figure who represents the bridegroom’s family in making the proposal and discussing preparations. The Muong maintain the custom of asking for wedding presents. The girl’s family normally expects the boy’s family to give a small buffalo, a basket of round sticky rice cakes with no filling to represent the bride’s virginity, some money as the marriage portion of the bride, about 60 liters of wine, 60 kg of rice, and a quantity of betel leaves and areca nuts. The matchmaker informs the boy’s family of the girl’s request. If the boy’s family doesn’t agree, the matchmaker can try to negotiate a better deal for them. Bui Van Vien, a prestigious and well-spoken man in Dich Giao commune, is often invited to be a matchmaker. Vien says: “I was a matchmaker for many marriages over the past 20 years. I bring the offering of the boy’s family to the girl’s family and make a marriage proposal. The girl’s family will gather in full numbers to receive the matchmaker and listen to the boy’s family’s ideas. We discuss the wedding time and date and other preparations. I inform the boy’s family of the meeting and the wedding present and re-visit the girl’s family to confirm everything. The matchmaker is responsible for arranging everything smoothly.” Normally the present is brought to the girl’s family one day prior to the wedding. But for the Muong Bi in Tan Lac district the groom, accompanied by a certain number of men, carries the present to the bride’s family on the wedding day. They are invited to stay to enjoy a meal with the bride’s family while the groom has to return home. Bui Van Ban again: “The wedding present must have betel leaves and areca nuts in addition to pigs, chicken, and some money for the bride.” After welcoming the bride home, the groom’s family gives gifts to the matchmaker and people accompanying the bride and the groom. The Muong uphold the custom that the bride returns to her parent’s house for a couple of days before living with the groom’s family ever after.
VIETNAMTOURISM NEWS

Read More

RICE TERRACED IN SAPA IS ONE OF THE MOST BEAUTIFUL PLACE IN THE WORLD

The Mother Nature grade Sapa rice terraced is one of the most beautiful destination in Indochina. Each time in the year the rice terraced the beautiful of rice terraced is different.

AT the end of August and beginning of September the rice is changing from green to yellow, With cool weather so this time is the best time to visit and discovery Sapa.

To see amazing rice terraced landscape you should go to Muong Hoa Valley which is 6-8km from Sapa center. Here you may observe the best view of Sapa with yellow rice terraced.

vnexpress.net

Read More

A natural mosaic of Sapa

Boasting sublime unspoiled beauty, from rolling verdant hills to spectacular terraced fields, Sa Pa is a mix of natural wonder.

Near the Chinese border in the northwest province of Lao Cai and around 376 kilometers from Hanoi, Sa Pa, founded as a scenic resort by the French in 1903, is best known for its wild, unspoiled landscapes.

Sa Pa's scenic highlights include Hoang Lien Son National Park and the awe-inspiring 3,143-meter-high Mount Fan Si Pan - the highest mountain peak in Indochina. Every year, the area attracts thousands of tourists from all over the world who come to marvel at Sa Pa's lush vegetation and spectacular scenery.

Nestled around 1,600 meters above sea level, Sa Pa is cloud-covered and cool year-round, with occasional snowfalls in the winter.

It is said that visitors who come to Sa Pa in the summer can experience up to three seasons in a single day. In the morning and afternoon, the weather is cool like that in the spring and autumn, while at noon, it is as sunny and cloudless as a warm summer's day.

Visitors often travel to the city of Lao Cai by train before heading by coach to Sa Pa. Upon arrival, tourists can learn about the area's sprawling rice paddies and observe the ethnic H'Mong and Dao peoples who wear a brilliant array of colorful, traditional clothing.

Stunning terraced fields

According to a survey carried out by US-based Travel and Leisure magazine, Sa Pa's verdant terraced fields were ranked among the seven most beautiful in the world.

The most beautiful terraced field area is Suoi Thau, which is cultivated by the Dao people.

The other fields voted most beautiful by the magazine's readers include those in Banaye (the Philippines), Yuangyang (Yunnan, China), Ubud (Bali, Indonesia), Annapurna (Nepal), Mae Rim (Chiang Mai, Thailand), and Longji (Guilin, China).

Sa Pa's terraced fields belong to the ethnic H'Mong, Dao and Giay people, and are located in the Muong Hoa Valley of Lao Chai District. The area totals around 10 square kilometers and tourists can visit to learn about the process of rice planting and cultivation.

The fields were described by Travel and Leisure as "Ladders to the sky" because of their astounding natural beauty.

"It's the best place in Vietnam with a rich cultural heritage and splendid landscape," said a Singaporean tourist.

"The scenery and people were amazing," echoed a tourist from the UK.

Lao Cai's Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism also proposed that provincial authorities and the culture ministry should carry out research and compile information on Sa Pa's terraced fields, Hoang Lien Son National Park, and an ancient rock bank to submit to UNESCO for recognition as world cultural heritage sites.

"This is a difficult task but we are trying to turn Sa Pa's terraced fields into a world heritage site for the many foreign travelers who love Sapa and Vietnam," said Tran Huu Son, the department's chief.

Cultural diversity

Home to several ethnic groups like the H'Mong, Red Dao, Kinh, Tay, Giay, Hoa, and Xa Pho, Sa Pa is a mosaic of cultures and traditions. Many visitors enjoy learning about the ethnic people's daily activities, traditions and beliefs.

Tourists are often astonished by the many billowing red headdresses worn by women of the Red Dao minority, visible all over town.

The H'Mong and Dao people make up the largest ethnic groups in the region. Their villages may appear simple and old-fashioned from afar, but many people now own mobile phones and regularly access their email from communal computers.

While some of the older generations of the ethnic minorities have had little formal education and are illiterate, most of the younger generations receive schooling and have a good command of English, French and a handful of other languages.

Tourists can also choose to go on two treks while staying in Sa Pa. The first is a 7 km journey, which takes about four hours and includes a stop for lunch. The other is a full-day adventure, covering around 17 km and following the perimeter of the rice paddies, through forested areas, past the doorsteps of tribal people's homes, and across rivers and waterfalls.

Watching the locals go about their daily business is also an interesting experience. The children in Sa Pa work extremely hard-tending buffaloes, working in the fields, and caring for their younger siblings. Many of the young girls learn the timeless art of embroidery from their mothers.

The ethnic girls often marry young, at around age 14, and depend on the skills learned from their mothers to start new families of their own.

Sa Pa is also famous for its "love market," which takes place on Saturday evenings. This cultural tradition once served as a way for ethnic locals to meet, socialize, and find a partner to marry.

In the past, young girls from the Red Dao hill tribes used to come to Sa Pa and sing songs to find partners. The girls would sing while hidden in the dark and when a boy found them " if they liked each other " they would disappear into the forest for three days and would then marry at a later date.

But with the development of tourism, the original love market, with its purpose of uniting young couples, has faded away. Visitors can still visit the area on Saturday nights, however, and be treated to a lively market atmosphere.

With its astonishing beauty and diverse peoples, Sa Pa is a remarkable travel destination and well worth a visit.

Read More

Vietnam PM approves ambitious investment plan for Sa Pa

Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung has approved a significant investment plan for the northern mountain town of Sa Pa, one Vietnam’s major tourist attractions.

Located on an altitude of 1,600 meters, Sa Pa is set to become a world-class resort town , according to the government website.

The new "Sa Pa Tourism Area" will divide the town and the surrounding area into nine sections.

At present, the a total area of 363 hectares (897 acres) has a population of roughly 13,000 people.

The planned sections will include a new urban area, a resort area, the Ham Rong Mountains, an agritourism area, an ecotourism area, O Quy Ho Urban Area, an agricultural area, forests and Hoang Lien National Park.

Sa Pa sits 38 kilometers (24 miles) from Lao Cai Town and 333 km (208 miles) from Hanoi. It is located on the Hoang Lien Son range which includes Indochina’s highest peak, Fansipan.

The northwest town attracted 800,000 tourists in the first half of this year, a 25 percent increase over last year. More than 1.26 million tourists visited Sa Pa last year generating more than VND2.5 trillion (US$118 million) in revenue.

In related news, Prime Minister Dung approved a plan on Friday to preserve the “special national relic” that sits as a monument to the Yen The Insurrection in the northern province of Bac Giang.

The plan covers four districts and 23 relics which commemorate the 25-year-long revolt led by De Tham that broke out in 1887 against the French colonial government and the Nguyen Dynasty

Thanhniennews.com

Read More

BEAUTIFUL OF MUONG HOA VALLEY

Sapa tourism, many people had to admire the majestic beauty of the Silver cascade, and this is the source of the stream with beautiful name: Muong Hoa.

Located in a bowl-shaped valley of Muong Hoa inclined, United stream stretches about 15km along the valley, through the village of Lao Chai, Ta Van, Hau Thao... and ends at Ban Ho. Stream as giant pythons snaking, winding side of the terraced slopes. In the fall of grain, golden fields from silhouetted spill down in green waters do respect the glamor of Muong Hoa valley.

Pour about this stream has about 22 small streams derived from forests, ravines make this stream flowed four seasons. For ease of crossing the banks, riverine dwellers did the rattan bridge crossing the stream side tree moss. The rattan bridge adorned the stream and is also attracting a lot of tourists.

Throughout the region there are many streams, waterfalls with rocks and white as the invisible hand artifacts, meticulously arranged. Ta Van stream segment in wide, flat beaches have become ideal. At the weekend, from the Village people flock here to dive in the cool waters.

Heard from Elderly people in Muong Hoa valley , both sides of the stream there are many ancient trees, tree hollows under the shelter of the individual families. Fish in Muong Hoa stream to no end. In September 2-3 lunar, when monsoon winds dispel the cold of the highlands, the son of prostitutes at night under the mast out fishing streams, springs boisterous songs by voice boisterous laugh. They used to throw rocks down stream to fish panic and flee down the gorge stream fish tissue. Fishing is the only excuse for the girl fist guy. Hand in hand, eyes exchanging passionate, and love amorously starting Muong Hoa stream.

Muong Hoa Valley is also home to ancient rocks Sapa famous. Zone strange rock carvings are located in between the trees and terraced fields of ethnic minorities. Stretching over a length of over 4km, 2km wide, with at least 159 stone, containing many mysterious graphics, rocks used to be the focus of much research scientist Vietnam, Russia, France, Australia ...

Both populations ancient rocks stones with beautiful carvings, concentrated in The City. With the great stone, carved on the surface different. Especially people in many shapes posture: humanoid arms, round emanates light; shaped people holding hands; the picture upside down; have shaped the expression of the cult of the gas as the picture on the Dong Son bronze drums ... Most scientists are evaluating here is a great heritage of mankind, not only in terms of aesthetic values technical sense but also spiritually.

Muong Hoa Valley is the name mentioned most of the tourist attractions Sapa

Read More

Mysterious ancient rocks in Sa Pa

Mystery stories curse ancient carved on rocks in Sa Pa attract visitors to discover this pristine land.

With a mild climate year round, Sa Pa, Lao Cai is a tourist attraction destination in the country by the fresh air, beautiful scenery. At the height of 1,650 m above sea level, Sa Pa charming and enchanted by 4 seasons a day, the terraced rice fields submerged in clouds, Fansipan hidden beneath majestic. In addition, it also kept the ancient culture full of mystery.

Interspersed between the terraced rice fields untouched ethnic Dao, H’mong is ancient rocks with different engravings. With about 159 ancient rocks, large and small stones are scattered remnants of prehistoric man.

Ancient rocks French archaeologists discovered in 1925, lies strewn Muong Hoa streams . On the carved stone decoration, silhouette, terraces, floor or even traces of writing. According to some historical documents and ethnographic, the carvings are very concise, clear pristine era, when people depend entirely on nature.

The carvings on the stone was very simple, but to decipher it is still a challenge for researchers. It is believed that each stone will keep a story about life, living and ancient culture.

As for the indigenous people, population Sapa ancient rock dump is "library heaven", is the biggest book of ancestors. The stones concentrated into two large yards.  The number of stone not much but here is the biggest rocks, which blocks up to 12 m long. A large number of stone carvings dense and varied.

Monday rocks bordering Almost two sports and Lao Chai commune, is the largest reef in the 100 block of different size. It has carvings appear only once.

For the people here, from the ancestral father he passed on the mythological story of the curse engraved on rocks like mountains and forests continue to be sacrificed on the occasion ... If left to curse descendants will be punished.

Do not know how real is it? but people here only know her story for children born later in the carvings and the curse is both inexplicable. For years, experts in the country have come to ancient rocks in Sa Pa Seeking the exact answers to the mysterious sculptures

Read More

AUSTRALIA

Discover Australia’s destinations, starting with icons such as the Red Centre, Kakadu National Park and the Great Barrier Reef. These 16 natural treasures cover a breathtaking diversity of landscapes, from the mountainous Australian Alps to Fraser Island’s sand dunes, rainforest and lakes. Just as distinct are Australia’s cities, where our laidback lifestyle and cosmopolitan culture meet. From beach-fringed Sydney to elegant Adelaide, you’ll find a melting pot of cultures and a medley of theatre, restaurants, nightlife and events. Come, stay and celebrate, then spring into the rest of your Australian holiday. Australia has so much for you to explore, whether you want nature, wildlife, outback adventure, islands, rainforest or reef. Australia’s unique beauty is spread across eight states and territories, so find out more about the distinct attractions within each.

Australia’s Icons

Learn more about Australia’s 16 icons – unforgettable landscapes such as the Red Centre, Kakadu National Park and the Great Barrier Reef. Find out more about what to see and do in each of these uniquely Australian places, from walks through Tasmania’s wilderness to wildlife spotting on Kangaroo Island

Australia’s Cities

Discover Australia’s cities, from Sydney’s famous harbour to Melbourne’s cutting-edge cultural precincts and Darwin’s laid back ambience. Visit Canberra’s national attractions, lie on Perth’s white beaches or wander Adelaide’s expansive parklands. In all our cities, the skyscrapers and shopping strips are just a short drive from mountains, ocean, river and bush.

Australia’s states and territories

Explore Australia’s eight states and territories, from Tasmania’s World Heritage-listed rainforests to Western Australia’s beaches, forests and national parks.  Immerse yourself in Aboriginal history in the Northern Territory or dive into Queensland’s Great Barrier Reef.  Australia’s natural beauty knows no bounds, but you’ll find something different within each of our boundaries.

Read More