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Top gear motorbike tour from Hue to Hoi An named among world’s best travel experiences
A top gear motorbike tour from Hue to Hoi An has been ranked 12th on the list of the world’s 25 best travel experiences, according to Tripadvisor’s 2021 Travelers’ Choice of the Best Things to Do.
The 7.5-hour motorbike tour that costs US$74.77 per person takes visitors from former imperial capital Hue to the ancient town of Hoi An allows, thus allowing them to explore famous tourist attractions in Central Viet Nam such as Lang Co Beach, Hai Van Pass, Da Nang centre, the Marble Mountains Tourist Area and Hoi An itself.
“Amazing from start to finish! So friendly, great fun. The views were epic! Such good value! It’s a must if you’re in Viet Nam,” a Tripadvisor reader said.
Meanwhile, a street food tour of delicacies in Ho Chi Minh City came in 14th in the top 25 travel experiences.
The list also feature other world-renowned travel experiences such as a jet flight tour of Dubai, white water rafting along Kaituna river in New Zealand, a kayak tour of Shell Key in the U.S., along with a visit to Arenales Caves and River Adventure in Puerto Rico.
Established in 2002, Travelers’ Choice Best of the Best awards are the highest honor Tripadvisor bestows.
The only travel industry awards based on millions of reviews and opinions from travellers around the world, these annual awards reflect “the best of the best” for service, quality and customer satisfaction, from hotels and accommodations to destinations, attractions, restaurants and experiences.
Tripadvisor uses a proprietary algorithm to determine the Travelers’ Choice Best of Best winners. It takes into account the quality, quantity and regency of reviews and opinions submitted by travelers on Tripadvisor over a 12-month period.
Source: Danang Today
Da Nang to renovate and restore many cultural and historical relics
The Da Nang Department of Culture and Sports has chosen highly qualified contractors to implement the preservation and restoration of the downgraded Nam O communal village house Hoa Hiep Nam Ward, Lien Chieu District in a bid to promote the cultural and historical values of this time-honoured site.
A total of more than VNd 8 billion from the municipal budget will be spent on upgrading components such as the roof, walls, foundations and constructing new work items.
Recently, the municipal government also gave a nod to select the contractor for the upgrade of Da Son communal village house in Lien Chieu District at a total investment of more than VND8.3 billion.
In addition, VND 4.5 billion from the municipal budget be earmarked for the renovation and expansion of national-level Phuoc Ninh Cemetery in Nam Duong Ward, Hai Chau District.
A land plot covering an area of nearly 3,200m2 at the front Nguyen Van Linh – Hoang Dieu in intersection adjacent to the cemetery will be turned into a park for the public use.
Following recent approval by the municipal administration, Hoa Vang District-based tomb of Le Van Hoan, a famous Vietnamese general in the Tay Son and Nguyen feudal dynasties will be restored at a an expenditure of more than VND3 billion.
Likewise, a total of more than VND13 billion will be used to bring a “new coach” to a number of degraded relic sites in Son Tra District.
Source: Danang Today
British magazine recommends must-try Vietnamese dishes
“Viet Namese food is distinct and unforgettable,” author Eleanor Aldridge wrote, adding that spread across street-side vendors and high-end restaurants, typical Vietnamese food tastes salty, sweet, sour and hot.
Goi Cuon (spring rolls)
Goi Cuon are translucent spring rolls packed with greens, coriander and minced pork or shrimp. A southern variation has barbecued strips of pork wrapped up with green banana and star fruit, and then dunked in a rich peanut sauce – every bit as tasty as it sounds, the article said.
It is usually served as a starter before a main course at Vietnamese restaurants.
Banh mi (Vietnamese sandwich)
Banh mi is one of the most popular street foods in Viet Nam, Aldridge claimed. The dish was first created during French colonial rule during the 19th century. Banh mi uses a French baguette and is filled with a delicious selection of ingredients.
The baguette sandwich is filled with greens and a choice of fillings, including paté and usually pork. Other fillings include beef, chicken, liver and tofu. Banh mi is so good that it’s gone on to be imitated around the world, from London to New York.
Banh xeo (sizzling pancakes)
These enormous, cheap and filling Vietnamese pancakes contains shrimp, pork, bean sprouts and egg. They are fried, wrapped in rice paper with greens and dunked in a sauce before eaten.
The best city to try Banh xeo (or “sizzling pancake”) is Ho Chi Minh City, the writer recommended, adding that it is a perfect accompaniment for long journeys by train or bus.
Bun Cha (grilled meatballs)
Bun Cha is a Hanoi specialty. It can be found at food stalls and street kitchens across the city. The pork is barbecued on an open charcoal brazier and served on a bed of cold rice noodles with assorted foliage and a broth.
This type of Vietnamese cuisine is usually eaten at lunchtime. It’s been described as somewhat similar to meatballs or hamburgers, but with its intriguing mix of flavors, there’s not another taste like it!
Pho (noodle soup)
The country’s great staple dish is Pho (pronounced “fuh”). This noodle soup can be eaten at any time of day but is primarily eaten at breakfast. It originated in the north of the country but is now a national dish of Viet Nam. A bowl of Pho consists of a light beef or chicken broth flavoured with ginger and coriander, to which are added broad, flat rice noodles and spring onions. Meat-wise, slivers of chicken, pork or beef are then added. Tofu is the main vegetarian option.
Pho in Viet Nam can be found on almost every menu; once you’ve got your serving, squeeze a lime over it and add a dash of chilli flakes for an extra kick.
Cao lau (noodle bowl)
Central Viet Nam does it best. Among Hoi An’s tasty specialities is Cao lau, a mouthwatering bowlful of thick rice-flour noodles, bean sprouts and pork-rind croutons in a light soup. Cao lau is then flavoured with mint and star anise, topped with thin slices of pork and served with grilled rice-flour crackers or sprinkled with crispy rice paper.
Cha ca (Turmeric fish)
Seafood dishes stands above most other Vietnamese cuisine, said Aldridge. Cha ca, reportedly created in Hanoi, is perhaps the best known. It sees white fish sautéed in butter with dill and spring onions, then served with rice noodles and a scattering of peanuts.
Da Nang is one of the best places to tuck into Vietnamese seafood dishes. Thanks to its waterfront position, Da Nang’s specialities are fish-based and is the perfect spot to try Cha ca. A similar eat that’s popular in the local area is Bun cha ca, a fishcake noodle soup.
Mi Quang (noodle soup)
Mi Quang’s ingredients vary by establishment, but expect to see a simple bowl of meat noodles with additions like flavoursome oils, fresh sprigs of leaves, shrimp, peanuts, mint and quail eggs.
British magazine recommends must-try Vietnamese dishes
Com tam (Broken Rice)
Com Tam is a quick’n’easy street-stand favourite that is almost exclusive to Ho Chi Minh City. Made up of smaller pieces of rice, it’s also known as Broken Rice, and was traditionally a leftover-style snack. The Viet Namese have managed to hone it into a renowned Ho Chi Minh City street food snack.
Com Tam is served with either grilled/steamed/shredded pork (usually grilled), fish or simply a fried egg. And this being Viet Nam food, it wouldn’t be complete without a squeeze of lime, a sprinkle of fresh herbs and a smattering of spring onion.
Source: VNA
Vietnamese cuisine impresses with Michelin brand
Expressing the diverse, rich and unique cuisine of Vietnam, many dishes have become brands across the world, and Michelin has hoped to cooperate with the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism (VNAT) to put Vietnamese cuisine in the Michelin Guide in the near future, contributing to bringing Vietnamese cuisine closer to global friends.
At an online meeting with the VNAT and the French Embassy in Vietnam on June 8, Michelin’s representative proposed to promote Vietnamese cuisine in the Michelin Guide – the world-famous culinary handbook.
Welcoming the idea of cooperation on promoting Vietnamese cuisine in the Michelin Guide, VNAT Deputy Director General Ha Van Sieu said that Vietnam’s tourism has grown strongly in recent years, of which its cuisine is one of the factors that helps affirm its position on the world tourist map. Vietnamese cuisine is very diverse with many delicious and unique dishes across all the three regions of the country.
Deputy Director General Ha Van Sieu affirmed that the VNAT always welcomes ideas and plans to promote Vietnamese culture and tourism around the world. The Deputy Director General assigned the Tourism Market Department under the VNAT to continue to have exchanges with Michelin. He also expressed his hope that in the near future, when the Covid-19 epidemic is fully controlled and international tourism reopened, the two sides will have the conditions to meet and work directly on plans of mutual promotion and cooperation.
Da Nang museums go digital with tech apps
There is no need to go to museums and buy entrance tickets to see artifacts, now, with just smart phones connected to the internet, netizens can enjoy exhibits wherever they are. 3D scanning technology has been put into use in the Da Nang Museum of Cham Sculpture since late September 2020 with the aim of bringing up the most authentic experience to visitors amid the burgeoning Industry 4.0. The authentic multi-dimensional virtual experience and 360-degree high-definition pictures satisfy visitors’ visual desire while encouraging them to pay a visit late in reality.
When accessing the website http://scan3d.danangfantasticity.com featuring information on diverse display with the Vietnamese and English languages, both residents and visitors will step into a vivid virtual reality space to explore the Da Nang Museum of Cham Sculpture.
3D scanning is a technology for creating high-precision 3D models of real-world objects. Simply put, objects are digitized and its virtual and physical replications are created by using the photogrammetry technique. The scanning is done at visitors’ premises using special lights and setup without damaging the artifacts.
With 3 viewing modes and 3D multi-dimensional 360-degree viewing angle, you can easily experience a 3D space at the museum’s four galleries, namely Tra Kieu, My Son, Dong Duong and Thap Me.
The short, smooth and detailed movements allow users to actively interact directly with the unlimited space and move through the space to any point to feel as if the real-world exhibits are placed there.
Besides, through the existing multi-lingual audio guide, visitors can access audio recordings to gain an insight into the history, origin, place names, and information about the 14 typical exhibits with themes of Hindu and Buddhist gods, fertility symbols, sacred animals and architectural decorations that reveal diverse cultural, religious and aesthetic life of the ancient Champa inhabitants.
Amongst them were objects to be bestowed Viet Nam’s national treasure status, namely the Ganesha and Gajasimha statutes, the Tara Bodhisattva Statue, and the Tra Kieu, My Son E1 and Dong Duong pedestals.
In fact, the distance between the artifacts in the museum and the public has been narrowed.
Amid the new coronavirus wave, all entertainment, sightseeing and tourism activities across Da Nang have been suspended following the municipal administration’s COVID-19 restrictions. However, thanks to the use of technological devices, both local residents and visitors, even at home, can still access the latest updates and stunning images of historical sites and scenic spots across the city through the Da Nang Cultural Heritage Map at http://scan3d.danangfantasticity.com.
Developed by the Heritage Management Department of the Museum of Da Nang, the Da Nang Cultural Heritage Map software has been operating since 2020 to serve the promotion of cultural heritages in the city on the internet.
By accessing the aforementioned website, users can discover the function of 360-degree virtual tour space with voiceover. At the same time, all information about tourist attractions are presented in the form of images and clips so that viewers can find it easier and convenient to look up what information they need on heritages.
Through the software, locals and visitors can access information about 2 special national-level venues, namely the Dien Hai Citadel and the Marble Mountains Tourist Area, the Hai Van Gate inter-provincial relic site, and 12 national-level and 31 municipal-level sites, and the Ba Na Hills community-based tourist attraction.
In particular, the Dien Hai Citadel, the Marble Mountains Tourist Area and the Hai Van Gate have been represented with 3D images and 360-degree virtual sightseeing space.
Mr. Tran Chuan, Head of Education – Communications Office of the Da Nang Museum said: “The map was built to serve the exploitation and promotion of cultural heritages on the Internet. Through the software, users will have a panoramic overview of the city’s monuments and scenic spots. In addition, the software also builds a database system specialized in Cultural Heritage to help managers search data and information about local heritages”.
Vote For Us – World M.I.C.E Awards 2021
We are proud to announce that Ariyana Convention Centre is a World MICE Awards TM(*) nominee for Vietnam’s Best Convention Centre 2021.
Ariyana Convention Centre (ACC) has received many accolades and awards since its opening in 2017. Most recently, the award “BEST CONVENTION CENTRE” in Southeast Asia by Northstar Meetings Group and its industry-leading brand, M&C Asia. ACC is an oceanfront convention and exhibition centre, featuring a flexible pillarless Grand Ballroom, a large exhibition foyer, and six function rooms catering for up to 2,500 people. Moreover, it has modern Western architecture in harmony with a timeless Asian design, state-of-the-art facilities, innovative in-house services, and beautiful, breath-taking beachfront views.
Thank you for your precious time and consideration – we will highly appreciate your contribution to the further international recognition of Ariyana Convention Centre. For our part, we will continue to serve you every day and provide the best customer experience possible.
Vote for Ariyana Convention Centre now as Vietnam’s best convention centre 2021 in the World MICE Awards here:
(*) World MICE Awards™ is the sister event of World Travel Awards™, which was launched in 1994 to celebrate excellence in travel and tourism. World MICE Awards™ aims to drive up standards within the MICE industry by recognizing and rewarding outstanding organizations. It was developed in reaction to overwhelming demand from the MICE sector for a program that was fair and transparent; a program with a mission to serve as the definitive benchmark of excellence, and help to foster a new era of growth, innovations, and best practice on a global scale.
‘Wow Da Nang’ short film contest promised to be launched
A short film contest themed ‘Wow Da Nang’, the first of its kind in the city, will be slated to take place from June 17 to September 5.
This much-awaited even is one of the planned activities to celebrate the 25th anniversary of Da Nang’s recognition as a centrally-governed city on January 1, 1997.
As per request of the municipal government, the municipal Department of Culture and Sports will coordinate with other relevant local agencies to develop specific organisational plans, with a focus on ensuring efficiency and making adjustments to the contest’s timelines, depending on the developments of COVID-19 in the city.
Quang Nam reopens public beaches, receives tourists to Hoi An
Authorities in Quang Nam Province decided to reopen public beaches and allowed Hoi An, a popular tourism hotspot, to welcome tourists back from Tuesday.
The move came after Quang Nam, which neighbors Da Nang, experienced 14 days without new community transmissions, the Government Portal reported.
With the latest decision, Hoi An ancient town, a UNESCO heritage site, would reopen its beaches, tourist attractions, historical and cultural sites and pedestrian zones with large crowds of more than 30 people being allowed.
Cafes, restaurants, pubs and refreshment stalls are also allowed to resume operation but only serve takeaways.
Provincial authorities have also permitted festivals, exhibitions, sports events and religious ceremonies to commence, with pandemic prevention measures mandatory. However, bars, karaoke parlors and dance clubs remain closed until further notice.
Earlier this month, Hoi An closed all tourist attractions and pedestrian zones and shut down its famous beaches like An Bang, Tra My and Cua Dai after Quang Nam detected new community transmissions.
During the ongoing fourth coronavirus wave that hit the country on April 27, Quang Nam has recorded three domestic infections, all linked to the outbreak in Da Nang.
Quang Nam Province’s tourism revenues dropped 82 percent year-on-year in 2020 to over VND1 trillion ($43.5 million), according to the General Statistics Office.
Source: vnexpress.net
TripAdvisor lists An Bang, My Khe among top 25 beaches in Asia
An Bang and My Khe in central Vietnam have been voted among the most beautiful beaches in Asia by TripAdvisor readers.
Around three kilometers from ancient town Hoi An, An Bang was in 24th position on the list of 25 best beaches in Asia while My Khe in the tourist city of Da Nang finished off the list.
An Bang is one of the few white-sand beaches left in Vietnam that has yet to be spoiled by the boom in beach tourism that has resulted in overcrowding, coral damage and environmental pollution.
Once a hidden gem in the old town, the beach entered the international limelight when CNN listed it as one of the 100 best beaches on earth in 2011. The best time to visit is between May and September.
“There are tons of chairs and umbrellas laid out across the beach and almost all of the restaurants will let you have chairs for the day for free,” the U.S. travel site said, referring to the pre-coronavirus pandemic times.
The 10-kilometer-long My Khe beach running from the base of Son Tra Peninsula to Marble Mountains was catapulted to global fame when Australian Newspaper the Sunday Herald Sun listed it among Asia’s 10 most beautiful beaches in 2012.
Considered Vietnam’s most picturesque beach, My Khe Beach was named by American troops who visited during the Vietnam War.
Agonda Beach in India topped this year’s TripAdvisor list, followed by Cavelossim Beach, also in India, and Myanmar’s Ngapali Beach.
Thailand proved to be the most popular beach paradise in the region with five beaches making it into TripAdvisor’s top 25 list.
Source: vnexpress.net
Da Nang reopens public beaches with safeguards
Da Nang authorities reopened the city’s public beaches and allowed restaurants and eateries to resume business on Wednesday after three weeks without new Covid-19 cases.
However, swimming in beaches is only allowed from 4:30 a.m. to 7:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. to reduce the risk of spread of infection.
People must wear masks, only swim in permitted areas and keep a distance of one meter from each other. No large gatherings are allowed, including for sports.
The popular tourist city has a coastline of 30 km, which includes many of Vietnam’s most beautiful beaches like My Khe, Non Nuoc and Nam O.
Restaurants and eateries can serve customers, but not exceed half their covers, and must close by 9 p.m.
People with symptoms like fatigue, cough, fever, sore throat and breathing difficulty and those in mandatory home quarantine should not visit eateries, which are allowed to deny them entry.
But festivals and religious ceremonies remain prohibited until further notice, and bars, karaoke parlors, dance clubs, and massage parlors are not allowed to reopen.
In the fourth wave of Covid that has hit the country starting April 27, Da Nang has had 158 infections. On May 4 it suspended all non-essential business establishments and shut down beaches.
Neighboring Quang Nam Province reopened public beaches and allowed visitors to Hoi An, also a tourism hotspot, on May 25.
Thua Thien-Hue Province, home to tourist town Hue, allowed restaurants and other food establishments to reopen on June 5, but has not lifted the ban on swimming in beaches.
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