Traveling For the Holidays Helps My Family Focus on the True Meaning of the Season

Every year when the festive season is in (such is when you can hear the New Year themed ads with distinctive New Year themed songs play on repeat when grocery shopping), the same wonder seems to repeat. My eyes gazing on concerned individuals who are now my hubby and our 3-year old toddler but my mind transfixed on the next Christmas holiday destination. Where do we go next? So question to all the international families out there: Are you at home where you are? And when did / will you find it? Will you create it?

Having 3 different cultures in our little family and living in a place that is neither our hometown, my hubby and I both long accepted that sometimes it is okay to not know where your home is. People say “Home is where the Heart is”. Our hearts are those wild animals we simply think we can tame but in fact we may never be able to. Sometimes a heart can be anywhere it wants to be, or nowhere at all. A heart can go totally M.I.A. and the whole universe would rumble trying to find it. And it will come back. Sometimes in its new self. So that’s why in this sentimental season, we decide to travel.

Having a break is always a good thing. Truth is, we need breaks more than we think we do. Breaks for our minds. Breaks for our legs. Breaks for our souls. Breaks for space. Breaks from places. Breaks for nothing. Breaks for no one. Breaks for you. Breaks for me. Breaks for the little one. Break. The definition of which could be understood in many ways. To break, to divide. A recess, to pause, to stop. Temporarily or permanently.

Why do we and all the people try to do what we do, to be, to create, to make? We are all stories in the end. We live in the moments. We are the moments. The moments are us. Moments will be stories. Leave a good one, don’t we all want that? We teach our kids to never be nasty if they want a good story but I suppose we cannot guarantee that, right? So I guess the least we could try is not to live boringly. Go travel, find a new temporary home for our hearts this Christmas and perhaps next year too.

And occasionally we need to accept the fact that, in life or in our little family we can only inspire certain people so much, and every so often not enough for them to transform however. Sometimes people just need to experience life and learn to do things alone. Learn to say hello in a new language, learn how certain cultures celebrate the holidays different than ours or not celebrate at all. Get lost, and be found. Temporary escape. Momentary solitude. Pack your soul. “Hurry up, we are dreaming.” Feel the shiver. Touch the breeze. Taste the ocean. Taste the snow. Pick the berries. Pick those lava stones. Sit on a volcano. Sip that chai. Watch the sky blush as she slowly wakes up from her sleep behind the hunky mountains. Or that magical moment when the sun and the ocean meets. Crazy it is to think how certain things happen every day, 365 days a year for the entire time of our existence, yet we forget to make time for the magic, and we forget to make time for each other.

Be it a sister, a brother, a mother, a father, a husband, a wife, or a friend. Sometimes we just forget about the people who were there with us, for us. Sometimes we take their presence so granted that we fail to acknowledge our special people at all. Remember each other. Remember to love. Remember to remember.
Every year when the festive season is in, the same wonder seems to repeat. My eyes gazing on concerned individuals who are now my hubby and our 3-year old toddler but my mind transfixed on the next holiday destination. Where do we go next? So question to all the international families out there: Are you at home where you are? And when did / will you find it? Will you create it?

But after all, maybe I will just breathe, and have a good night sleep here in this strangely comfortable bed at this new place next to my loved ones. And wake up to a new year, new me, new us, and let the rest come as they will.

Text: Gia Tran
Photo: Gia’s Family Travel Photo

Furama Resort Danang Vietnam Wins ‘’Luxury Romantic Beach Resort” By World Luxury Hotel Awards 2019

Furama Resort Danang has just been granted “Luxury Romantic Beach Resort” at the prestigious World Luxury Hotel Awards 2019. The winners of the annual World Luxury Hotel Awards were announced on 12 October 2019 at a glitzy affair at Arctic TreeHouse Hotel and SantaPark in Rovaniemi, Finnish Lapland.

Since 2006, the World Luxury Hotel Awards has served as the global recognition of hotels’ sustained commitment to service excellence and outstanding achievement in the international luxury hospitality industry, receiving over 300,000 votes from international travellers and leading tourism experts in their annual poll.

Furama Resort Danang is part of the Ariyana Tourism Complex which comprises of Furama Resort, 131 luxury Furama Villas, the upcoming 1,400 room-key Ariyana Beach Resort & Suites project, and the high-profile Ariyana Convention Centre, where a week-long series of APEC 2017 events was held. The 198-room Furama Resort with views of the pristine white sand beach shares architectural similarities with Furama Villas and connects to the villas to form a “romantic tropical haven” within the city centre.

Mr. Matthias Wiesmann, General Manager of Furama Resort Danang opined: “We feel honoured to be once again granted this esteemed award. The 4^th award from World Luxury Hotel Awards for the 3^rd consecutive year in a row is a tremendous honour for Furama Resort Danang in particular and for the whole Ariyana Tourism Complex in general, affirming our strong commitment on assuming responsibility for 5-star quality service and contributing significantly to the Danang’s hospitality reputation.”

This year, Furama Resort Danang has also achieved “Most popular M.I.C.E Resort in 2018” Award by Vietnam Tourism Association, “Rakuten Travel Bronze Award 2018” by the Japanese largest online travel agency – Rakuten Travel and “Golden Dragon Award 2018” by Vietnam Economic Times and Ministry of Planning and Investment.

Danang Hosts Business People At Vietnam Entrepreneurs Forum 2019

Up to 500 entrepreneurs gathered at the Vietnam Entrepreneurs Forum 2019 which started at Ariyana Convention Centre in the central coastal city of Danang on October 5^th with Deputy Prime Minister Trinh Dinh Dung in attendance.

Deputy PM Dung was joined by Chairman of the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry Vu Tien Loc at the event. The forum is one of a range of activities being held in the build up to the 15th anniversary of Vietnam Entrepreneur Day which first took place on October 13, 2004.

In his opening speech, Deputy PM Dung highlighted the nation’s significant milestones reached on the path of socio-economic development during the three decades of carrying out the Doi Moi (Renewal) process.

Deputy PM Dung also noted how both the Party and the State have always tried to create a favourable climate for entrepreneurs to do business. He called on them to take full advantage of trade agreements and seek further investment opportunities as a means of developing their respective businesses.

Deputy PM Dung also urged ministries, localities, and the business community to go ahead with the path of institutional reforms, maintain attempts to fine-tune the legal system in order to boost transparency, and put preferential policies in place with the aim of facilitating the growth of the private sector.

Source: VOV.VN

Lao Prime Minister Visits Danang

Lao Prime Minister Thongloun Sisoulith, along with his spouse and high-level delegates made a working trip to the central city of Da Nang on October 2^nd, as part of his Vietnam three-day official visit at the invitation of Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc.

Furama Resort Danang was honoured to be chosen as the venue for meeting and accommodation during this important visit.

During the working trip, Prime Minister Thongloun Sisoulith paid visit to some cultural and economic premises in Danang including Danang Hi-Tech Park and an organic vegetables garden.

Vietnam – Lao relations of great friendship, special solidarity and comprehensive cooperation founded and nurtured by generations of leaders and peoples have become an invaluable common asset of the two nations.

Additionally, Danang has launched effective cooperation programs with Lao localities and partners.

Danang Reinforces Its Position As An Emerging Mice Destination

On Sep 26^th 2019, at Fullerton Bay Hotel Singapore, Ariyana Tourism Complex organised a Roadshow promoting Danang tourism and showcasing its properties including Furama Resort Danang, Furama Villas Danang, Ariyana Convention Centre and the 1,400-key Ariyana Beach Resort & Suites scheduled to open in third quarter 2020.

The event has seen the attendance of more than 60 business partners, M.I.C.E travel agencies, and international event planning companies as well as the local media in Singapore.

Ms. Tran Gia Ngoc Phuong, Ariyana Convention Centre Manager, addressed “Danang makes for an excellent destination for Singaporean MICE groups with its unique beauty and convenience. This roadshow is part of our series of events which aim at attracting more Singaporean visitors to the city.”

“Not only the ACC offers a 2500-seat pillarless Ballroom but also delivers a vast array of value-added and authentic services including beachside banquets, team-building activities in the rivers, cultural excursions and various tailour-made programmes”, Phuong added.

“The increasing number of MICE customers and development of new convention facilities for instance, the Ariyana Convention Centre, is a positive signal for Danang’s MICE tourism. Danang’s fascinating image of being an emerging MICE destination with high calibre hotels and resorts, updated meeting facilities, and extensive international flight networks will be the main driving force”, opined Mr. Nguyen Xuan Binh, Deputy Director of Tourism Department of Danang City.

“Currently, around 70% of MICE tourists in Danang are domestic and largely of incentive segment. We also witness the increase of international MICE groups from Southeast Asia alongside Japan and Korea. In the upcoming time, Danang will be more determined to attract more overseas MICE tourists, especially for convention purpose. This MICE segment not only increases tourism revenue but also brings about expertise knowledge contributing towards Danang development. As for Southeast Asian market, we will especially concentrate on Singapore, one of Asian tigers, for many international organisations’ headquarters are established here whom we would like to attract to Danang”, Binh emphasised.

Furama Resort Danang Donated Useful Items For Homestay Project Of Co-Tu Ethnic Community In Danang

On September 27th, 2019, Furama Resort Danang in collaboration with the Cooperative Community-based Ecotourism Group of Hoa Bac commune in Hoa Vang District, Danang donated useful items and tools to Co-tu ethnic community residing in Ta Lang – Gian Bi of Hoa Bac commune for the Homestay project. The project aims to attract tourist, travelers and contribute to the tourism and economy development of the region.

There are total 140 items including blankets, mattresses, cushions, slippers and some kitchen tools donated, which will contribute to the operation of the Homestay, the economy development of the Co-tu ethnic community, eventually promote the village as the ethnicity tourism destination, thereby facilitating the hunger eradication and poverty alleviation process.