Love and longing in Ha Giang

6:3 JULY 2013

Tolerant insights inspire monk's paintings

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oleTToler insights inspire ant oler insights inspire monk's insights inspire paintingsmonk's paintings

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COVER STORY

Art

Tolerant insights inspire monk's paintings

No 6, Vol.3, July 2013

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Clothing

When clothing comes to a head

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Book review

‘Imagining Vietnam’

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Hospitality writ large at Golden Sands

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Culture

Love and longing in Ha Giang

To cane or refrain: that is still the questionCover photograph: A painting by Zenmaster Phap Hanh. Photo by Tran Anh Tuan

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Love and longing in Ha GiangPatrick Mcallister and tran thi thanh nhan

Ha GiangProvince

Above: On the mountain pass from Yen Minh to Meo VacPhoto: Patrick McAllister


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nic dress participate and thousands of Viet-namese tourists make the journey there, usu-ally on motorcycle. This year, an estimated10,000 people attended. People buy and selllocal produce, ethnic jewellery, musical instru-ments, etc., as well as food and drink for thevisitors, and a there is a programme of culturalperformances - music/song, weaving, folkgames, contests, etc. The market gets its namefrom its legendary origins: there are variousversions, but their common theme is that themarket provided an excuse for two lovers whowere unable to marry, for one reason or an-other, to meet annually and renew their affec-tion for each other. Others took their lead fromthis, and the market provides an annual oppor-tunity both to discreetly meet a former sweet-heart and for young people to meet each other.Apart from the ‘love market’, the towns in thearea also have weekly markets which are wellworth visiting.

An important site for Vietnamese tourists,in particular, is the Flag Tower on top of DragonMountain (Long Son) in Lung Cu communenear Dong Van, the very northernmost part ofVietnam and very close to the border withChina. The tower and the Vietnamese flag that

flies on top of it symbolise Vietnam’s now long-standing sovereignty and independence fromits former ruler. For some, a visit to the Lung Cuflag tower to see the Vietnamese flag flutteringin the breeze is a patriotic act and an essentialpart of a visit to Ha Giang.

The beauty of the district and the interestingcultural traditions of the ethnic people thereshould not allow oneto forget that HaGiang is also Viet-nam’s poorest area,with low levels of in-come, education andhealth. The villages aredeep in the isolatedvalleys or, sometimes,high up the mountainslopes, in terrain thatrequires back-break-ing work. Much of theland is hardly suitablefor cultivation, yet thehardy people who livethere manage to cre-ate terraces on verysteep slopes and to

find small patches between the jagged rocks tocultivate their crops. Their perpetual survival isa testament to their indomitable spirits.nH

a Giang is Vietnam’s northernmostdistrict, bordering China, with LaoCai to its west. It is famous for itsrugged high mountains and spec-

tacular mountain passes, for the many ethnicminorities who live there, and for the ‘love mar-ket’ at Khau Vai, some 22 km from the town ofMeo Vac. Unlike Sapa and its surrounding vil-lages in Lao Cai, well known to tourists, veryfew western tourists visit Ha Giang, and thetourist infrastructure is under-developed.

Ha Giang is sparsely inhabited, largely bypeople belonging to various ethnic minoritygroups – Muong, Tay, Lo Lo, Dao, etc. Themountains are straight out of a ‘Lord of theRings’ film, with huge limestone pinnacles, 350-400 million years old, and fissured rocks thatremind one of a lunar landscape. The limestoneis studded with a variety of fossil molluscs thatshow that these mountains were once underwater. It is geologically important, with lime-stone/karst pinnacles and other formations,and a large heritage area known as the DongVan Karst Plateau Geopark has been estab-lished. It is Vietnam’s first Geopark and part ofthe UNESCO-supported Global Geoparks Net-work (GNN). This Geopark occupies the four

northeastern districts of Ha Giang Province, i.e.Dong Van, Meo Vac, Yen Minh and Quan Ba,some 60 per cent of which are covered by ‘karst’,which refers to a landscape sculpted by erosionand characterized by irregular limestone pin-nacles and rocks with numerous caves, sink-holes, underground streams, etc. Apart from itsvalue geologically, it also has some importantfauna and flora, and the scenery is breathtak-

ing. Together with the attractiveness of the eth-nic minority groups that live there, this makesit a very appealing tourist destination.

Khau Vai commune, in Meo Vac district,is home to a number of different ethnic minor-ity groups. The ‘love market’, which is also a cul-tural festival, takes place there only once a yearon the 26th and 27th days in the third monthin the lunar calendar. Many local people in eth-

Above: Audience watching a perform-ance at the Khau Vai Love MarketBelow: Weaver at the Khau Vai LoveMarket. Photos: Patrick McAllister

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Ha Giang, June, 2013.

According to VietnameseDictionary Vietlex, awhipping cane is ‘a long,tough, and durable object

which looks like a bar or stick that isused for whipping.’

Because of this, whipping canesellers in Saigon are very conscien-tious and responsible, and theirproducts are made of rattan, whichmeet the standards of length andtoughness.

Selling whipping canes mightsound like a joke, but if you travellong enough you will see peddlersselling chicken feather brushes andbrooms for sweeping houses oryards, and you can buy rattan whip-ping canes from them. Each cane isabout a meter in length, the size of afinger in width, and can cost lessthan half a US dollar. They are madefrom rattan, which is cut in the forestand brought from the countrysideinto the city. In the city, the searchfor whipping rods is not an easy task.Meanwhile, the philosophy of ‘sparethe rod, spoil the child’ to teach chil-dren remains fashionable. But if onelooks for a rod during a moment ofanger and finds none, one may grabwhatever objects may be withinreach to vent their frustration. Thus,a rattan cane to store in the home isa perpetual demand that must be

supplied.Seeing a woman selling rattan

canes, I asked her whether the prod-ucts sold well recently. She justsmiled. Then she said as: ‘Thesecanes are not only for caningnaughty children, but also used tobeat bad mice, cats and dogs.’ I askedjokingly: ‘Are there any men whobought the canes to whip theirwives? Or have there been anywomen who bought them to "teach"their husbands?’ She just smiledagain. ‘Probably not. Hopefully not.’

Looking at the rattan cane, I re-called some memories from mychildhood, when I was punishedwith whips or canes. Each time, mybuttocks were bruised with horizon-tal and vertical stripes. And, aftereach caning, the only ‘remedy’ formy bruise was to be rubbed withkerosene oil. The memory of mychildhood lashes become an obses-sion that carried over into adult-hood. When I had children, Ipromised myself that I would notapply canes for discipline. But then,once when very angry, I neverthelessran outside to find a stick suitable forwhipping. Fortunately, (or perhapsunfortunately,) my house was in thesuburbs. And I still have not settledthe question whether we should orshould not buy a rattan cane.n

To cane or refrain:that is still the question

TexT by Tran nha Thuy, carToon by Duc Lai

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sculpture vividly depict images of bare-chestedwomen in skirts.

On ancient Dong Son bronze drums are en-graved images of many people with long birdfeathers stuck onto the tops of their heads.However, in order to fasten an object on thehead, they had to wrap a headscarf around it.Dong Son daggers have human-shaped han-dles that show Dong Son women with a brimscarf wound around their heads.

The Kinh people’s way of wrapping turbansis quite intricate. First of all, the hair must be

combed and let down to form a large, long lock.From this lock, the women tie a small scarf andthe bundle of hair is wound around in a circleto form a brim around the head. Another smalllock is parted at the front and let down over thetemples or sometimes slightly off to the rear.Some people with thin hair also use a ready-made, tightly wrapped lozenge of fabric shapedlike a snake to stuff into their hair. The ‘snake’is attached to the lock of hair and then fastenedagainst the brim scarf. After that, the womencover the outside with a square headscarf. The

top of the headscarf sticks up like a pointy archon the forehead, while the tail end of the head-scarf points downward behind the back like thebeak of a crow. The two sides of the headscarf

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Female headscarves have an importantrole in the history of clothing. Theymanifest beauty, custom, and adapta-tions to climate and geography.

Whether suggestive or discreet, they lend amysterious beauty to the face. Kinh (the ethnicmajority in Vietnam) women do not have manystyles of headscarf; the most typical being thecrow-beaked turban. The headscarves ofwomen from other ethnicities are also quiteplentiful and immediately indicate the group ortribe to whom they belong.

The Muong people are considered thelongest-standing indigenous inhabitants of Viet-nam. Thus, we can say that the style of wrappingheadscarves among Muong women is character-istic of antiquity. The headscarves of Muongwomen in Hoa Binh Province near Hanoi arequite simplistic, with just a white piece of clothwrapped high around the forehead and tied be-hind the nape. Meanwhile, Muong women inPhu Tho Province, also near Hanoi, in oldentimes used to wrap a square scarf tightly aroundthe head, as did the Kinh. Three wrapped cloths

— a skirt wrapped below, a cloth wrappedaround the chest, and a scarf wrapped aroundthe head — were peculiar to the ancient clothingof Indochina and South Asia at a time when peo-ple were familiar with weave and design but,rather than sew raiment, simply wrapped cloths.This is clearly revealed in the photographic ma-terial and paintings done by Westerners whenthey travelled to Southeast Asia. In fact, in an-cient times, in many torrid places, women woreskirts and headscarves, but went bare-chested— young and old alike. The engravings in Cham

When clothing comes to a headBy Phan Cam Thuong*

Opposite:A Northern Vietnamese woman. Photo:

Thu Ba. Clockwise from top: Nung women in CaoBang Province, Northeastern Vietnam, early 20thcentury. An old postcard image from the archive ofNguyen Anh Tuan; Hmong women, Bac Ha, Lao CaiProvince, Northwestern Vietnam; Two Kho Muwomen, Moc Chau District, Son La Province, Northwestern Vietnam. Photos: Nguyen Thi Sin

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tightly tying it towards the rear and then tuckingin the scarf to cover the head so that the tail endhangs down behind the nape.

The square headscarf is used by Kinhwomen in many situations. When they work thefields in the sun, they lower the headscarf towrap closely around the entire face so that onlythe ears are exposed. When they are at leisureor feeling hot, they let the headscarf down to theshoulders and tie a knot at the neck. If childrentake to the road in the cold, the square headscarfcan be wrapped around them. If a woman needsto have an expedient delivery, she can undo the

headscarf to deliver and cover the newbornbaby. If a bag is needed, the headscarf can betied into a knapsack to carry on the shoulders.Aside from the headscarf above and the loin-cloth below, there is also another long clothband that even has a pouch. The long clothserves as both a money pouch and a belt. Thisso-called ‘elephant pouch’ (bao tượng) or ‘ele-phant bowels’ (ruột tượng) is usually made ofsilk and is multifunctional. The three longcloths for men — the turban, loincloth, and ele-phant pouch — and the three cloths, one squareand two elongated, for women — the square

headscarf, skirt, and elephant pouch — were in-dispensable to the clothing of the ancient Viet-namese. They accompanied them throughouttheir lives and even penetrated literature: ‘Asmile like a mahogany flower, a headscarf like alotus blossom.’n

*Phan Cam Thuong is an expert on Viet-namese culture.


hug closely around the head and can cover bothears or just above the ears. The headscarf is verytight and neat. If you look at the silk paintingsby painter Nguyen Phan Chanh, you can clearlysee this style of headscarf wrapping. Of course,there are many other ways of winding the tur-ban according to living and working conditions.However, the above style is the most prevalentwhenever women participate in festivals, funer-als, or weddings. The men’s turbans are mainlyfashioned into folded turbans, which latertransformed into pre-folded, ready-to-wear tur-bans for convenience. On the road to opening

up the frontiers of the south, from the fifteenthto nineteenth centuries, Vietnamese men in-fluenced the Champa style of winding turbanssuch that the latter were wound into a largebundle with a wide brim on the head. Thisimage had already been painted by Westernersas early as the seventeenth-century.

A look at some photographs that were takenby Westerners and some of the Nùng tribes inLang Son and Cao Bang provinces in northernVietnam shows that both the men and womenwore and still wear headscarves close to thehead. The men wrap a turban tightly around

their heads like a hat, while the women — likethe Kinh — wind a brim scarf on the inside andcover the outside with a square headscarf. How-ever, rather than letting down a ‘crow beak,’ theNung women let down the headscarf evenlyalong both sides of the nape by tightly windingthe edge of the scarf onto the forehead or by

Clockwise from top:A red Dao man. Photo: Kim

Phuong; Embroidery artisan Le Van Kinh in Hue, Central Vietnam, in Vietnamese traditional dress; TwoVietnamese men in their Vietnamese traditional clothingcelebrating the lunar new year. Photos: Dao Hoa Nu

Clockwise from top: Two Hmong women inSon La Province, Northwestern Vietnam.Photo: Duc Tuan; A Southern Vietnamesewoman with a traditional scarf, khăn rằn.Photo: Thu Ba; A Cham man in Ninh ThuanProvince. Photo: Huynh Van Nam

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have an abstract mind. But for a bonze whoinfrequently makes contact with the reali-ties of life and, as such, is it easy or difficultto arrive at abstract painting?’

‘I find peacefulness in painting and I conveythat peacefulness to everyone. I don’t define it

as abstract or realistic.’

‘But at least there must be some attitudetowards reality that causes many people tobecome unsettled, for instance, the gap be-tween rich and poor, injustice, and evil thatobviously still exists, sir?’

‘The conversion power of art is exception-ally great. If one paints, writes poetry, or com-poses music with all one’s sincerity towards art,then people who witness it will sense its beautyand sanctity. We should empathize in order tolove, despite the ongoing existence of thatwhich satisfies our wishes or is unrequited. Thatwhich meets our wishes we take delight in; thatwhich falls short of our wishes we tolerate. It’slike a painting that has many hues; were it tohave only one hue, then it would no longer beable to be called a painting. Thus, when we pre-fer this hue to the exclusion of that hue, and

then compound it with correctness, erroneous-ness, good and bad, or even try to analyze it, theprocess becomes unending. The goal is to lovewith all your heart through tolerance, sharing,and forgiveness. I think that all religions sharein this supreme meaning.’

‘And do they share a concept about heavenor Nirvāna?’

‘Heaven or Nirvāna is created for each per-son by their own mind.’

‘Many people hold that art or religion isnone other than a path for people to fleefrom loneliness. I don’t really believe thisbecause, as a painter, it is only when I ammost alone that I can produce art. For you,in the spiritual world, does loneliness bearany significance?’

‘Truth is absolute solitude.’

During the interview master Phap Hanhtold me the following story, ‘There was a smallchild, very small, who sold lottery tickets andwho was hit by a rickshaw driver and knockeddown. The two of them hurriedly gathered the

lottery tickets, which were strewn across thestreet. The child suddenly uttered, “I’m fine. Goahead and get back to work so as not to upsetyour work. I can pick them up myself and, any-way, I only got lightly scratched.’” Zen masterPhap Hanh said that the child taught him more

about a tolerant heart than a thousand bookpages and that it was also at that moment thathe suddenly saw an array of golden, clear sun-light. That array of sunlight followed him intohis paintings.

Listening to him speak, I admired thepaintings hanging all over the room where ZenMaster Phap Hanh sat. Virtually all of them fea-tured a harmonization of colours and were fullof improvisation, without a visible trace of cal-culation or contrivance. There was also no visi-ble sense of sadness or happiness. All of themsilently flowed, just as does life. I furtivelythought that one must be quite solitary to comeup with such uncontrived colours. The signifi-cance of the Zen Master seems not to lie in eachpainting, but rather in the silent movementoutside the paintings that reminds people ofthe impermanence of life. And that, I believe,is where art and religion converge.n

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An associate of mine told me thatthere is a monk who painted severalhundred paintings in just one night.

The paintings are not for sale, butrather only to give away or to be sold for charity.As an artist, I hardly get enthusiastic aboutpainting ‘records’, but I did have to concede thather admiration was genuine.

And then, to my true surprise, I got to meetthe modest, peaceful man and to see the oilpaintings, which followed an abstract orienta-tion. Zen master Phap Hanh’s perspectives onart and liberation seemed to me to be closer tolife than the mysteries and obscurities sur-rounding Buddhism. He sees life like a child, asfor the first time. Perhaps it is because of thisthat his paintings convey an unrefined qualitylike that of a child’s dabbling with colour.

Zen master Phap Hanh’s family has fourmonks and he has practised Buddhism for 30years. However, his explications of religioustenets were simple and easily understood. Iasked him about the cause that led him to

paint. He smiled and immediately spoke:‘I paint with a mind that flows with the nat-

ural universe, the way the autumnal sun

brushes against the dawn, the mist mingleswith the earth and sky, and branches of flowersbloom only to fade.’

‘The essence of painting, according to me,is a path to seek out one’s true self ratherthan to arrive at Buddhism’s ‘no-self.’ Thusbeing, is there any contradiction betweenthese two goals in your painting activities?’

‘There is no contradiction whatsoever. Thenature of the flow of the natural universethrough the currents of the mind is preciselywhat Zen calls “no-self,” while painting typicallyonly captures fleeting moments of nature’s stir-ring. When a painter endeavors to demonstratehis personal character and the aspiration be-hind each work of art, that is the original natureof the self.’

‘So for you, painting is just an expedient, a

“Dharma means”, by which one arrives atthe state of no-self?’

‘From my perspective, the purest essence of

art is none other than no-self. I don’t think thatanything is an expedient, that anything is thegoal. I paint like breathing.’

‘In order to reach liberation…?’‘No, in order to reach freedom…’

‘So what’s the true nature of freedom, sir?’‘Freedom is letting go of preconceptions that

constrict and mold the mind, to open up per-spectives on the interconnected world that areclouded by accordance, resistance, good, bad,gain, loss, success or failure. Generally speaking,it is to let the mind be free from all dualities inorder to live fully with transient reality.’

‘And yet, you tend to do abstract painting.In painting, it takes an abstract mind tohave an abstract style. And they say thatyou need plenty of realism before you can

Tolerant insightsinspire monk's

paintings By Trinh Tu

Photos: Tran Anh Tuan


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Oil on canvasZen master Phap Hanh


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n a t u r e

which can bring down a bull. If the resin gets

into our eyes, it will cause inflammation andblindness. If it enters open sores, we will imme-diately be poisoned; the cardiac musclestretches, the heart rate will slow down and fi-nally stop. However, it is interesting that it isharmless to people who eat the animals whichdied from being shot with these toxic arrows.Antiaris provides good bark for making clothesand blankets.

4. Cây Ngót nghẻo or flame lily (Gloriosa su-perba L.) is the ‘admire-only’ queen of man-grove forests. Found in high mountains and incoastal mangrove forests in Vietnam from Huein Central Vietnam to Ca Mau Province in thesouthern tip, the flame lily is a toxic plant withglorious flowers. Gloriosa superba is a long-livedspecies with a vine body about 1-2m long. Itsleaves are long and sharp. Its fruit is a loculicidalcapsule with many seeds which turns red when

ripe. Flame lily blossoms in May and June and

its fruits become mature from June to August.The toxins colchicine, superbine and glucosineare in all parts of the plant. Colchicine is themost vital toxin of the flame lily; a ratio of 5mgof colchicine to 1kg of weight will kill rapidly.

5. Cây sừng trâu or twisted cord flower (Stro-phanthus caudatus) almost all species in thefamily of Apocynaceae, of which Strophanthuscaudatus is a member, are toxic. Strophanthuscaudatus has beautiful flowers and specialfruits which look like bull horns. Resin fromthis plant is poisonous and is usually mixedwith the resin of Antiaris toxicaria to poisonhunting arrows. The seeds are the ingredientsto make strophanthin, a glycoside used to treatheart failure.

6. Cây bồng bồng or giant milkweed(Calotropis gigantea (L.) W.T. Aiton) is a

toxic plant living right next to most of us. Many

of us might have taken pictures of the giantmilkweed with big beautiful flowers, whichgrows a lot on roadsides of coastal provinces inCentral Vietnam. The resin from this plant isused to make medicine. A low dose would bean emetic, but a high dose causes fever, rashand for a person with poor health, it couldcause heart pressure, lethargy and difficultybreathing.

The medicine is commonly used to treatmild dysentery, arthritis, scabies, sore, gonor-rhoea and syphilis.n

*Phung My Trung is a freelance researcher

in biodiversity

n a t u r e


Each species that wants to survive hasto develop weapons against predators.This article reveals some plants whichare toxic and dangerous to humans.

1. Cây Lá ngón (Gelsemium elegans), nick-named ‘heartbreak grass,’ is well-known amonghill tribes as an effective means for suicide.When rain starts falling at the altitude between200m to 2,000m in Vietnam’s forests, clustersand clusters of yellow Gelsemium elegans beginto bloom brightly. Each light blow of wind ca-resses those green leaves beautifully, but ifthere’s a chance that a leaf or a flower from theheartbreak grass could enter a warm-bloodedbeing’s body, then all of its toxicity will imme-diately go into effect-its alkaloids will causesymptoms of thirst, sore throat, dizziness and

nausea, then muscular fatigue, low body tem-perature, hypotension, teeth clenching, foam-ing saliva, stomach ache, weak heartbeat andmydriasis and finally a quick death due to apnea.The toxic of Gelsemium elegans descends fromthe root to the leaves, flowers, fruits and thestem. Since this is a plant with beautiful stun-ning flowers, we often want to take pictures ofit without knowing that it is fatal if we acciden-tally take a leaf or break a stem from the plant.Its toxic will stick on our hands or feet and even-tually will get into our body through open soresor our mouth when we eat.

2. Cây Sơn or wax tree (Rhus succedanea L.)The wax tree is popular in Vietnam and isplanted mainly in the region of Thanh Son, PhuTho Province, Northern Vietnam where it is

harvested for its resin. People use its resin tomake lacquer for woodenware making and lac-quer painting. The laccol in the resin can causesevere allergic reactions. Smelling the resin orburning the wood of the wax tree can some-times ulcerate human skin. Scientists haven’tidentified which people will be affect by theresin and which won’t. When infected, the facewill swell with red pimples and a heavy, burningand unpleasant feeling.

3. Cây Sui or bark cloth tree (Antiaris toxi-caria Lesch.) provides poison for hunting. It isthe most horrendous poisonous tree in Viet-nam. It often grows in mountainous areas. Itsbody contains a lot of toxic resin. From ancienttimes, ethnic minorities in the mountains haveused this resin to poison arrows, just one of

Beautiful and dangerous:Trees to watch out for

TexT and phoTos by phung My Trung *

Opposite, left: Flame lily.Opposite, right: Twisted cordflower. Clockwise from top left:Wax tree; Heartbreak grass;Giant milkweed; Bark cloth tree

Vietnam’s first national sailing re-

gatta took place in June in NhaTrang. There were 14 boats, 50crew members, including adults

and children, and 30 onshore volunteers.The event was organized by VietnamCanoe, Rowing & Sailing Federation.

The main adult race was won by

Team Focus Travel. Rembrandt Tran, a 13 year-oldDutch-Vietnamese, won the gold medal for chil-dren’s races.

‘Sailing like this… it’s an amazing feeling.Imagine escaping the police on a Saturday night,no helmet, wind in your hair, full speed and you’vegotta get away…. What an adrenaline rush…’ saidone sailor.n

TexT and phoTos by barry J aTkinson

Vietnam’s first regatta comes about

t h e a t r e a d v e r t o r i a l


Soul of Vietnam’ with twice-monthlyperformances at the Ho Chi Minh Mu-nicipal Opera House, has been runningfor almost a year now. It has built up a

strong following, and now ranks at number onefor attractions in this city on the ‘Trip Advisor’website. Not only is it attracting the crowds butthis is also the show that draws the best per-formers, be they acrobats, singers, dancers ormusicians. Among the very talented artistesthere is one that will truly amaze you. I attendedone of the early performances, but you willnever see exactly the same show twice as theyadd or adjust scenes. I had been informed thata recent addition was causing a sensation, so Iwent along to see what the commotion wasabout.

I went backstage just before the show to in-terview the musician Mr Duy Duc. He lookedremarkably relaxed for a man just about to ex-pend an incredible amount of energy on theboards. He is a quiet modest man of some fiftyyears. He has music in his genes; youngerbrother, uncle, and son are all in the professionand he himself has been entertaining peoplesince he was nine. He has worked as a privatetutor at Lotus Stage Academy for five years andyou can also find him at the Rex Hotel, wherehe has been an attraction for fifteen years. Au-diences around the world have enjoyed hisplaying, as he has toured in the USA, Franceand Ireland. Later this year, you will find himin Belfort, France.

I asked what he most enjoyed about thisshow. He replied its originality, how it depictsscenes from the country’s ancient past right up topresent times and how each performer in theteam is allowed to show his or her specific talents.

I sat down to watch the show. Mr Duc bothopens and closes it. There is his virtuoso highlyspirited playing of the drums to announce thevictory parade on elephant back of the twoTrung sisters. You have to have something in-credible to end a show and Mr Duc delivers thiswith his rousing tintinnabulations on a highstone slatted xylophone. Playing a small whis-tle, he has a cameo performance as a seller of ‘tohe’. Made from rice powders, these are colourfulfigurines on sticks of animals, flowers and folkstory characters. He also plays the flute in agroup piece and a traditional lute (stringed in-strument).

All this I had seen a year before in one of thefirst performances, but now quickly becomingthe talk of the town, Mr Duc has introducedsomething new. Throughout the show, Mr Ducdressed in almost shamanistic clothing, ap-pears as the traditionalist. Here he appears in amodern scene with trendy young people. Theyseem to mock him as an ‘old fogey’. One ofthem holding a transistor radio to his ear blar-ing out Stevie Wonder singing ‘Part Time Lover’could be telling him that this is what music is

all about. Mr Duc teaches him a lesson goodand proper and if Mr Wonder were in the audi-ence he would be eating his heart out. He picksup a piece of garden hose curled up like aFrench horn and incorporating traditionalVietnamese, belts out a much better version.God knows how he does it, but a shrill flute-likesound is produced. It is absolutely stunning. Touse a word not found in most dictionaries youare left ‘gobsmacked’ or to go further, gobknocked out.

As Mr Duc himself pointed out, with ashow that presents so many talented people, itis a little unfair to single out an individual. If youhave seen this show before, it is worthwhilegoing again to see this latest addition. Mr Ducis more than an accomplished musician; he is aphenomenon. In his hands, Vietnamese tradi-tional music is safe and fresher even than theday it was born!n

Hon Viet (Soul of Vietnam) plays twicemonthly in the 15th and 23rd starting at five p.m.at HCMC municipal opera house, 7 CongTruong Lam Son, Dist.1, Ho Chi Minh City. Tel:(08) 2229-9444

Versatileartist,

virtuosoperfor-mance

By Ritch Pickens

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Including: Daily breakfast Welcome drink Welcome fruit basket and flowers Free WIFI Business center Swimming

pool Billiards 20% discount on spa, Jeep tour, foods and beverages Week-end surcharge VND 200,000/ night (Friday and Saturday night) Service charge and taxPromotion period: 12 May – 12 October.


c o o k i n g

cheese. There was a spicy green yoghurt sauceto dip them into. The next appetiser was the‘Paneer Shashlik’ - cubes of fried cheese with abell pepper stuffing. Then there was mildlyspicy baby corn and curried potato with cauli-flower. A chicken Shish Tauk or chicken kebabwith onions and green pepper was the final tid-bit. I found the spices used fairly mild, althoughthe palate was left with a fairly hot aftertaste. Ifyou do dine here, management informed methat dishes are served to the level of spicinessrequested by the customer.

All of this was a lengthy warm-up for themain dishes, to which by the time they arrived,I had hardly enough space in my stomach to dojustice. There was culinary theatre as the chefarrived and vigorously cooked stir-fried veg-etable rice in a wok (Biriyani). My daughter andI were surprised to see the women folk hadrisen excitedly to watch this spectacle by themale chef, while the men, not battling an eye-lid, carried on with their chatting. Then it was‘help yourself’ from large copper tureens toplates of this, together with ‘Raita’ which is acool yogurt-based dish and ‘Vegetable Jalfreezi’,which came as a thick broth with a sweet-and-sour flavour achieved from peppers.

One fine thing about eating this kind of thefood is you get pleasure not just when you popthe morsels into your mouth but the spicesleave your stomach with a kind of afterglow thatlasts for some considerable time. We had beengiven quite an introduction to what this restau-rant has to offer, although if you look at the ex-tensive menu, there is so much more todiscover that it could have the more adventur-ous coming back for quite a few trips beforethey will have savoured it all.

So, if you live out in the suburbs, there isnow thankfully no more need to come into thecentre of town to enjoy excellent Indian food.Ashoka has spread its wings and whilst weknow it will retain its personal touch, we hopeit will continue to open branches in placeswhere the international community has setdown roots. This family-run restaurant is mak-ing a fine contribution in helping Saigon to be-come known not only as a fine go-aheadVietnamese city, but also one willing to take onits mantle as a world city of renown.n

ashoka northern indian restaurantat 17/10 Le Thanh Ton Street District One

HCMC and 33 Tong Huu Dinh,Thao Dien Ward, District 2.

r e s t a u r a n t a d v e r t o r i a l


Before the eighteenth century and formillennia the southern part of Viet-nam was home to Indian influencedcivilisations - Funan, Chenla, Champa

and Kambuja. As the French developed Saigonfrom a small fishing village, Indians played theirpart, as evidenced by three Hindu temples anda mosque in the downtown area. Today, whilethey may not be so plentiful, it is not hard tofind an Indian restaurant in District One. Oneof the more established places is ‘Ashoka’ on LeThanh Ton’s restaurant row. I first enjoyed theirfood ten years ago. Now they have opened a

new branch strategically placedin Thao Dien ward of DistrictTwo, where in recent years, aninternational community hasset itself up. I was invited to itsGrand Opening to taste somesamples of its delights.

The new branch is housedin a charming brick and terra-cotta tiled villa. Indian atmos-phere is achieved with longmural photographs and a Hindu shrine. Thereare both indoor and outdoor seating areas anda large courtyard big enough to have space for aplanned shisha pipe smokers’ (hubbly bubbly)area. Cooks have been hired from the mothercountry, so you can be assured this is true In-dian food without the Vietnamese characteris-tics I have experienced in some foreign foodrestaurants. You can be assured of attentivefriendly service, however, as the rest of the staffis local.

This opening would have been an all-Indianaffair, had it not been for my and my teenagedaughter’s presence. This was her first experi-ence of an Indian gathering. She was impressedby the beautiful colourful shawls and saris theladies were wearing and surprised to see menand women seated at separate tables. She wasalso getting quite hungry too as Indians startdinner quite late compared to most folk.

Whilst when we arrived things were laid outbanquet style, this was not a buffet dinner. Thefirst part of the evening engendered much con-versation, as it was more like a cocktail partywith soft drinks, beer and whisky. The servingstaff brought on a series of nibbles; the special-ities of the house all spiked on skewers. I hadbeen expecting thick curries. I learned from myone trip to India that the word curry hardly ex-ists there as they use the word ‘gravy’. However,Ashoka specialises in the cuisine of NorthernIndia, most especially in Tandoori dishes(cooked in a clay oven) along with classic flatbreads such as chapati, naan and paratha.There were grilled prawns called ‘Prawn Aka-tori’ though this was described as Mongolian;perhaps introduced by the Mughals, I conjec-tured. ‘Rudali Kebab’ was a new and very tastyone for me. It is chicken stuffed with ‘paneer’,familiar to Westerners as a kind of cottage

Ashokaextends

spiceroute to

Thao DienBy PiP de RouvRay

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Shrimpdishes

Spring rollS

ingredients: (Serves six)Shrimp: 500gMinced pork: 500gJicama (or also Yam Bean): 700gTaro: 300g; A carrotRice paper, jelly ear, red onion, green onion,

salad, herbs (such as fish mint, sesame leaves,basil and water mint) and rice vermicelli.

Salt, sugar, MSG (sodium salt), black pepper. preparation:Peel and devein shrimp, wash and dry then

dice it; Shred and squeeze Jicama, taro, and car-rot until they are dried.

Mix all the above with salt, sugar, MSG, blackpepper, jelly ear, red onion and green onion thor-oughly to make the filling. Wet the rice paper,put some filling on and roll the rice paper. It isup to your decision whether the rolls are long orshort. Fry the rolls in hot oil until they are goldenbrown. Serve with herbs, salad, vermicelli andsweet and sour fish sauce.

Shrimp cake

ingredients: (Serves six)Giant tiger prawn: 1kg. Lard: 200gBronze Featherback fish: 500gGreen rice: 500gSpice: Salt, sugar, MSG (sodium salt), black

pepper. Minced green onion and dill.preparation:Peel and devein shrimp, wash and dry then

grind it; Dice the lard; Grind the Bronze Feath-erback fish with shrimp, lard, spice, green onion

and dill. Roll the mixture above into small balls. Coat

them with green rice. Deep fry them with highheat until the green rice are all bloated. Continuefrying with low heat until the inner of the ballsare all cooked.

Serve with pickles, plum sauce or chili sauce.

Grilled shrimp on suGer cane

ingredients: (Serves six)Giant tiger prawns: 1kgLard: 200gSpice: Salt, sugar, MSG (sodium salt), black

pepper. Minced green onion (only the whitepart).

Sugar cane: cut into small and thin stick of15cm long

Herbs (such as fish mint, sesame leaves, basiland water mint), salad and vermicelli.

preparation:Peel and devein shrimp, wash and dry then

grind it; Dice the lard; Grind the shrimp and thelard with all of the spice and green onion; Coverhalf of each sugar cane stick with a thick layer ofthe mixture above.

Grill all the sticks on a charcoal grill untilthey are all golden brown. Serve with herbs,salad, vermicelli and sweet and sour fish sauce.

recipe by lam Thi Tu,executive chef for over 20 years at:

Vietnam house restaurant93-95 Dong Khoi St, Ben Nghe Ward, Dist.1 ,

HCMC; Tel: (08)3829-1623Website : www.vietnamhousesaigon.com


Beach resorts catering to mass tourismare a relatively new phenomenon inVietnam and I am happy to report thatthe mistakes that were made at such

brash places as Kuta Beach, Bali or Benidorm,Spain so far have not repeated here. The mainstrip at that beautiful strand of sand called MuiNe is certainly busy and at times with all theRussian signage you can easily imagine you are

in the sunny Crimean, but nothing is over-whelming and the skyline is low-rise. However,if you are looking for something more secluded,recently some literally high-end places havesprung up hewn into the cliffs before you reachthis ‘main drag’. Passing by a few years ago, Iviewed this area as wasteland but human inge-nuity is boundless. The pick of the small bunchfor me has the ‘Poshanu’ which only opened its

doors a few months ago.Turning off the road into an open courtyard

and reception area, the theme of the PoshanuResort immediately becomes apparent. Thebuilding materials used are brick and terracotta.A Cham tower looms above. This is a replica ofone of the Cham towers we passed by just a mileor so back. These are also called Poshanu, aftera girl in a tragic Cham love story. This hotel pays

r e s o r t a d v e r t o r i a l


By PiP de RouvRay

a d v e r t o r i a l r e s o r t

homage to one of the world’s greatest civilisa-tions that of Indianised Champa whose last bas-tion was the Phan Thiet area. It managed to holdout here until 1836. Also, here at the top area,there is a brick stupa type building which servesas toilets. The architecture of the villas housingthe rooms in which there are friezes and picturesis also Cham influenced. Down at the swim-ming pool area there is a brick colonnade withfriezes of Cham musicians and asparas(dancing girls).

Now, as you are led to your room, youwill be taken aback by the stunning hang-ing gardens. I cannot compare, but Baby-lon surely could not have surpassed this. Acarpet of wild greenery bejewelled withdandelion and marigold sweeps down thegently-sloping cliff pathway. There areflamboyant trees with their flaming redflowers in bloom in the summer months.There is red and white bougainvillea galoreand swatches of white and yellow frangi-pani and jasmine. Then there are palmsand a tree bearing purple flowers whosename I do not know. Of great economicimportance to this province are also one ortwo dragon fruit cacti which also bear abeautiful flower called ‘Queen of the Night’by some. Look out too for the rice terraceswith frogs that croak loudly when it rainsand which are protected by a scarecrow aswell as a vegetable garden.

Our spacious octagonal room was housedin one of the villas. The ceiling was raised in atent-like structure. Here I noticed concern forsafety sometimes neglected in Vietnam in thatthere was a smoke detector. There was a four-poster bed with netting, though we were notbothered by insects. There was also a screenwith a brass Cham portrait behind which was agrey stone washing area and bathroom. The fur-nishings and fittings were of dark and cherryhardwood and the flooring parquet. With allthe greenery outside, there was plenty of birdsong. As I opened my eyes in the morning, I waseven charmed by the singing and sight of a birdon an uppermost branch near the window.

In the afternoon, I stood out on the balconyto enjoy the sea view. There below was the hotel’sChampa restaurant and swimming pool. Beyondwas a private beach-no motorbikes streakingacross the sand and no vendors- and a juttingstone jetty formed a protective arm for a smallport. My thoughts took me not to the Cham butto a fishing village on the cliff-lined coast ofcounty Dorset, England. Specifically I felt I was

back in the village of Lyme Regis whose jetty wasused in the film ‘The French Lieutenant’sWoman’. I almost saw my favourite actress MerylSteep standing alone at the end of the pier piningfor her lover across the English Channel.

There is fine dining in an atmospheric set-ting at Poshanu. The restaurant itself, with itsblack columns, is like a traditional commonhouse. We sat out on the terrace at night with

the breeze playing in palm trees and the mur-muring of waves hitting the shore. Out at seawas a long line of lights from a fishing fleet thatlooked like a street at night. In the night sky, theconstellation of the Swan shone brightly. Wehad chosen a classic Vietnamese set meal forthree. For a family of three, this was exception-ally good value. It was priced at VND180,000 perperson with all taxes included. There werespring rolls, strips of tender pork cooked in a claypot and packed with flavour, and a hot spicysoup featuring the delicious crab feeding cá bớp(Cobia). This all came accompanied by fluffysteamed rice and sautéed morning glory in gar-lic. Coffee, tea and dessert came included-oneof the owner’s previous businesses was Italianstyle ice cream and among the exotic flavoursare mangosteen, durian and taro. Incidentally,when you check in, you are presented with acoupon for a complimentary scoop.

Breakfast, too, is a sumptuous affair with awide range of choices both Vietnamese andWestern. I decided to test the quality of their in-gredients. When I asked to see what kind of

olive oil they were using on the spaghetti, I wasshown a choice brand of Spanish extra virgin.The mustard I was brought was no squeeze bot-tle supermarket one, but real Mc Coy FrenchDijon. My wife remarked on the attention to hy-giene and how clean the place is.

A hotel like this can have everything youwish, but if the service is not up to scratch youmay be disappointed. Not so here; the staff is ex-

tremely attentive. Not once did we carry our bagsa single metre and when we were leaving, the gar-dening staff downed tools, leaping to assist us.

When the time did come to leave, myteenage daughter protested and asked to be gluedto a hotel chair. For the next few days her talk wasnothing more than ‘I wish I was back there’. Myrejuvenated wife said she no longer felt tired asshe does in Saigon with all the noise and motor-bikes. The luxury accommodation, the gardens,the glamour of Champa and the invigorating seaall had combined to recharge the batteries of afamily of three. When I play with the word ‘posh’in the title I refer only to luxury and not to anyconnotations of pompousness. The Poshanu is afriendly resort which has which has perfected theart of delivering relaxation for its guests!n

Poshanu Resort

Phu Hai Ward, Phan Thiet, Binh Thuan Province. Tel: (062) 3812-233


www.facebook.com/Poshanu.Boutique.Resort

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Mui Ne hotel that is poshwith a capital P

The sun dipped low, embracingthe horizon and then quenched it-self in the East Sea. The sky wentfrom aquamarine to turquoise tomidnight blue, and I headed to myroom, with its stunning view of the

ocean. Walking along next to thepalm-tree lined pools, I saw the re-sort’s multi-hued lights reflected inthe water, making a pastel rainbowkingdom where I imagined mere-folk might frolic.

The staff at the Swiss-bel is thestuff of customer service legend. MrCoyle, the manager, personallyhighlighted all the resort had tooffer. But it was Ms Anh whohelped me fully appreciate thecharms of the place. When she haddiscovered that I had never beforehad a massage, she gladly per-formed her relaxing magic on me.Her fingers bore such strength anddexterity, I marvelled at how some-one so diminutive could commandso much power.

Ms Anh also treated me to din-ner at the on-site Italian restaurant.The traditional pizza was a good asI had enjoyed in Italy. The chocolatemousse was exquisite. When I wasscraping the dish to salvage a little

more of this delicious treat, theserver asked me, ‘How about an-other?’ I was happy to accept theoffer.

It was with much reluctanceand a heavy heart that I said good-bye the next day. I have decided thatshould I ever find myself in posses-sion of a chest of pirate gold, I shallat once sell it to live out the rest ofmy days trying to understand thewhispering of the waves at theSwiss-bel.n

Swiss-Belhotel Golden Sand

Resort & Spa

Thanh Nien Rd., Cua Dai Beach,Hoi An

Tel: (0510) 3927-555www.swiss-belhotel.com


Isat under the beach umbrellawith its thatched roof anddrowsily contemplated thesea. Its endless murmurings

sounded like the chanting of agroup of monks, the waves turn-ing over one another like the flick-ing of so many prayer beads in acontinuous orison to gods of rest-fulness. A deep calm settled overme-or did it rise up from within inresponse to this earthly paradise?Either way, I know for certain that

the Swiss-Belhotel Golden SandResort & Spa, near Hoi An, was re-sponsible for the serene tranquil-lity that pervaded my senses.

The inside of the Swiss-bel is astudy in tan and white, with airywooden pillars that gave the diningarea a grand feeling without sacri-ficing the sense of cosiness and in-timacy.

Upon my arrival, I was shownto my room, where a complimen-tary basket of exotic fruits awaited,

and I sank into more than one lus-cious piece of produce, my mouthdripping with refreshing juices.

My room was equipped with asafe deposit box, satellite TV, teaand coffee-making facilities, minibar, an attached bathroom and ahairdryer. These amenities werebut sublime icing on an alreadyperfect cake; the atmosphere ofthe place had already begun to castits spell on me.

Thus refreshed, I gambolled

about the resort, noting exercisefacilities, pool tables, and tenniscourts. There were mountain bikesfor rent, a spa and massage centre,and a kids’ area. What I wantedmost was to sit next to the water,and the resort happily fulfilled thatdesire. In short order, I was en-sconced in a hammock stretchedbetween two stout palm treeswhose broad leaves danced in timeto the relentless metronome of thewaves.

Hospitality writlarge at

Golden Sands

Photos: Swiss-Belhotel Golden Sand Resort & Spa

Story by Willam Sabino and reWritten by erik JohnSon


The answer is blowin’ in the wind

english.vietnamnet.vn, 5 June

On 29 May, the Bac Lieu windpower plant began providing elec-tricity to the national grid from its 10turbines, with the total capacity of 16MW.

Vietnam decided that it needs tomake heavy investments in develop-ing wind power, as the fossil fuel re-serves are being exhausted.

Scientists have estimated thatVietnam’s wind power potentialscould be as high as 513,260 MW.

However, to date, very few investors haveinvested their money into wind power projects.

The price of rice does not suffice

dtinews.vn, 25 June

Many rice farmers in the Mekong Delta arefacing mounting challenges and losses, as theyare not properly protected and supported bythe government's policies.

Over the past three years, Vietnam’s rice ex-port prices have continued to fall by aroundVND1,000 per kilo per year, causing losses toboth rice exporters and farmers.

The World Bank’s research in 2011 and Ox-farm’s research in 2012 showed that farmers inthe Mekong Delta region earn an average ofonly VND535,000 ($25.43) per person permonth.

Under the current rice price mechanismfarmers can’t directly sell their rice to rice ex-porters.

When the waters rise

www.thanhniennews.com, 4 June

Nearly one third of Hoi An ancient town incentral Vietnam may become submerged byfloods by 2020, the local government haswarned.

Hoi An authorities have been taking meas-ures to adjust tourism activities to climatechange, dredging rivers and developing water-way tourism.

Visa caper comes to an end


A former US Foreign Service officer ap-peared in court in June when he was informedhe could face up to 20 years in prison for sellingvisas at the US Consulate General in Vietnam.

Michael Todd Sestak, 41, was the non-im-migrant visa chief in the Consular Section of theUS Consulate in Ho Chi Minh City from August

2010 to September 2012.The price was between $20,000 and 70,000

per visa.The investigation has seized over $2 million

from an account belonging to one of Sestak’sco-conspirators in the US.

Free transport for the disabled


The nongovernmental organization Dis-ability Resource and Development (DRD) haslaunched a pilot project that provides free mo-torbike taxi service for disabled people in HoChi Minh City.

The project, which includes a hotline(0935.244.123) was launched on June 27.

Three-wheelers specifically designed forthe disabled will be used.

Dong devalued


Vietnam’s central bank devalued its cur-rency for the first time since 2011 and cut the in-terest-rate cap on dollar deposits to help‘improve’ the balance of payments and boostforeign-exchange reserves.

The State Bank of Vietnam weakened itsreference rate by 1 per cent to VND21,036 lateJune. The currency, which can trade as much as1 per cent either side of the rate, fell 0.9 per centto 21,205 at banks in Hanoi, the most since Au-gust 9, 2011.

The change in the reference rate is thebiggest since a record 8.5 per cent cut in Febru-ary 2011 and comes after the government an-nounced that imports exceeded exports by $1.4billion in the first half of this year.

Ca Mau slowly slips away

tuoitrenews.vn, 19 June

Ca Mau, the southernmost province ofVietnam, may disappear entirely in the next few

decades due to land subsidence, ac-cording to an assessment of the Nor-wegian Geotechnical Institute(NGI).

The most practical way to pre-vent land subsidence is stopping orrestricting underground water ex-ploitation in the area, and usingwater from water plants instead, saidNGI.

Still better than school food


The mediocre but expensivefood stalls and restaurants at airports have at-tracted complaints for years, but nothing hasbeen done.

‘Many passengers, including foreigners,have complained to the Ministry of Transportand Minister Dinh La Thang about food serv-ices at airports,’ said Lai Xuan Thanh, deputydirector, of the Civil Aviation Authority of Viet-nam (CAAV).

‘They complained about high prices for badmeals and attitude at all airports,’ he said.

Expat dead from mysterious causes


The body of 33-year-old British writer andfilm producer Joseph Lang was found in lateJune, reportedly outside a medical center in HoChi Minh City. Cause of death is still unknown.

Lang, whose credits included many filmsthat earned critics’ appreciation, like the 2008film Soi Cowboy, had been in Vietnam for fourmonths teaching English.

Hermaphrodites can get surgery

tuoitrenews.vn, 14 June

The Ministry of Health has recently ap-proved the Hanoi-based National Hospital Pae-diatrics to be the second hospital in the countryto offer transgender surgeries.

In February this year, the Children's Hospi-tal 2 in Ho Chi Minh City was allowed to per-form this kind of surgery, becoming the first toobtain such a license in Vietnam.

According the ministry, redefining genderby medical intervention is only permitted forpeople who have birth defects of the sex organs,and whose sex is difficult to be determine.There is one person in every 11,000 having thiskind of defect, the ministry’s statistics show.

The two hospitals are banned from per-forming transgender surgeries for people whohave defined genders.

w h a t t h e p a p e r s s a y

Colourful cave is world’s longest

vietnamnews.vn, 28 May

Stretching an impressive 20km, Khe Ry Cavein Quang Binh Province's Phong Nha - Ke BangComplex has been officially declared the world'slongest river cave late May.

The announcement was made by HowardLimbert, who has led experts from the BritishCaving Association on a study project lasting sev-eral years.

Surrounded by the huge limestone walls, KheRy Cave was discovered in 1997. At that time,Limbert's team only discovered a 13.5km part ofthe cave. In subsequent years, the expedition con-tinued exploration and mapping of the cave, con-cluding that the total length reaches over 20km.

The cave ceiling is 120m high, allowing boatsto pass comfortably through several stages. Theexperts described Khe Ry as a world of colourfulstalactites in many different shapes and sizes.

It’s a people-eat-dog world

edition.cnn.com, 3 June

Packed tight into wire baskets - sometimes20 or more to a cage - as many as 200,000 livedogs are smuggled from northeast Thailandacross the Mekong River each year, destined for

restaurants in Vietnam, according to animalrights activists.

Dehydrated, stressed, some even dying ofsuffocation on the trip, the dogs are often stacked1,000 to a truck on a journey that lasts for days.

A common belief is that stress and fear re-leases hormones that improve the taste of themeat, so the dogs are placed in stress cages thatrestrict their movement.

Eventually, the dogs are either bludgeonedto death or have their throats cut in front of otherdogs who are awaiting the same fate. In somecases, they've been known to be skinned alive.

A dog in Thailand can fetch up to $10. Thisfigure jumps to around $60 once they are servedup in restaurants in Vietnam.

Do you hear the people sing?

english.vietnamnet.vn, 6 June

In June, National Assembly deputies dis-cussed changing the words of the National An-them. It is proposed that the words ‘The path toglory is built with the bodies of our enemies’, bealtered.

A deputy proposed to revise Clause 3, Article13 as ‘The National Anthem of the Socialist Re-public of Vietnam is based on Van Cao’s ‘Tien

Quan Ca’.Previously, some deputies said that the lyrics

of ‘Tien Quan Ca’ by composer Van Cao ex-pressed the pride of revolution, but it is no longerappropriate in this period of peace and develop-ment.

The Vietnam National Anthem was com-piled by late composer Van Cao in 1944 with theoriginal name ‘Tien Quan Ca’ (Marching Song).The song was selected by the first National As-sembly of Vietnam Democratic Republic as thenational anthem in 1946, after asking Van Cao tochange some minor details.

Musician Pho Duc Phuong, Deputy Directorof the Vietnam Music Copyright Protection Cen-ter, said that the national anthem is a symbol ofhistory and it is unnecessary to change the lyrics.‘The National Anthem is a symbol of the historyand it does not function to reflect the reality oflife,’ he said.

Music critic Nguyen Thuy Kha said: ‘The Na-tional Anthem became a symbol of the historicalperiod, the lyrics were associated with age and itcannot be easily changed. In fact, there are na-tional anthems with more ‘horrible’ words likethe anthem of France, ‘The Song of Marseille,’but they still keep it.’

a s i d e s

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E V E N T sE V E N T s


HANOI

TRADITIONAL PERFORMANCES

Cheo singing performancesCheo, a kind of popular opera

/ traditional music, is shown at 8p.m. every Friday at the Kim MaTheater, 71 Kim Ma St, Ba DinhDist., Hanoi. English interpreta-tion offered. Price: VND150,000 per person.Tel: (04) 3764-8079/ 0904549-579 (Ms Ngoan)

Ancient folk formQuan họ is a folk song form

that originated in the northernprovince of Bac Ninh in the 13thcentury. The form took on ele-ments of other genres as it spreadthroughout the country, incorpo-rating a dialogue style of singingin the 18th century, the periodwhen Vietnamese literature blos-somed. As a folk art with a highlycollective nature, quan họ songsalternate from group to groupwith singers keeping up the con-versation by exchanging songs.There is no accompanying instru-mental music. Bac Ninh Quan Ho

folk music company offers quanhọ performances on request; anhour costs around VND30 mil-lion. Performance venues can alsobe requested. Contact Mr QuyTrang, head of Bac Ninh Quan Ho

folk music company, at mobile0913-073-326.

Street songs of the poor andblindEvery Saturday night

Hát xẩm is a minimalist styleof Vietnamese singing, tradition-

ally performed by the poor andthe blind and especially wander-ers, usually accompanied with asimple đàn nhị (two-string violin)or đàn bầu (single-string zither).Hát xẩm is a Vietnamese bluesfrom the 13th century. It is mak-ing a comeback, after severaldecades.

Artists at the Centre for Re-search on and Development ofVietnamese Music now performxẩm at Dong Xuan Market, in theOld Quarter of Hanoi, every Sat-urday night. Free.

Ca trùCa trù, an ancient Vietnamese

musical form with a singer ac-companied by three-string đànđáy and other instruments, is per-formed at 87 Ma May Street,Hoan Kiem, Hanoi, at 8 p.m.every Tuesday, Thursday and Sat-urday, by artists from Ca TruThang Long Club, www.catru-vietnam.net. Price: $10(VND210,000). Reservation isnecessary. Tel: 01 223 266 897

Ancient Vietnamese songs

A Ca Trù, an ancient Viet-namese song form, is performedby Hanoi Ca Tru Club at KimNgan Temple, 42-44 Hang Bac St,Hoan Kiem Dist., Hanoi, at 8p.m. every

Wednesday, Friday and Sun-day. Tickets $10 (VND210,000).Contact: Ms Le Bach Van at0913544876, Email:[email protected]

Water puppets Every Saturday and Sunday

Water puppet performancestake place at 10 a.m., 11.30 a.m.,2.30 p.m. and 4 p.m. every Satur-day and Sunday at the VietnamMuseum of Ethnology, NguyenVan Huyen Road, Cau Giay Dist.,Hanoi, tel: (04) 3756-2193. Email:[email protected],www.vme.org.vn/index.asp. Tickets: VND40,000 ($1.90) foradults, VND10,000 to VND15,000($0.48 to $0.71) for children.

EXHIBITION

Photographers turn thecamera on themselvesUntil 21 July

A photo exhibition of 15 Viet-namese photographers in Hanoithemed ‘Autopsy of Days’ will beon until 21 July at Goethe-InstitutHanoi. Autopsy means ‘to see forone’s self’ in Greek. The photosshow audiences the way artists‘look inside themselves’ in life.

Goethe-Institut Hanoi, 56-58Nguyen Thai Hoc St, Ba DinhDist., Hanoi. Tel: (04) 3734-2251.Opening: 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.

The bowls of VietnameseSubsidy EraThroughout July

An exhibition of ceramicbowls and plates made duringand prior to the 1976-1986 ‘Sub-sidy Era’ (thoi ky bao cap) is ondisplay throughout July at Book-worm Too. The blue and whitefunctional ceramics made in BatTrang village, the simple yetcharming bowls made in HaiDuong province as well as plates&vases made by ethnic minori-tiesand by Chinese ethnic people

living in the coastal areas ofQuang Ninh province, are nowextremely rare. Some of the dis-played items at the exhibition canbe purchased. The BookwormToo, Lane 1/28, Nghi Tam Village,Tay Ho Dist., Hanoi.

The ‘tables’Until 2 August

The art exhibition ‘Tables’ &other visual art programs are ondisplay at L’Espace, showcasingthe art of designing tablewareand traditional skills of France.The exhibition features ten tablesthat evoke different meals; break-fast or brunch, lunch or picnic,delicate dinner or business lunch,combining traditional design andcreativity in various accessories:crockery, cutlery and glassware.These tables are approached bymeans of aesthetic and contem-porary vision as well as progres-sive ideology. The exhibition is ondisplay until 2 August. L’Espace,24 Trang Tien St., Hoan KiemDist., tel: (04) 3936 2164. Open-ing hours: 9a.m. to 6p.m. daily.Free entrance.

‘Everlasting Memories’In July & August

More than 200 items are ondisplay at an exhibition entitled‘Everlasting Memories’ at theVietnamese Women’s Museum inJuly & August. The exhibition il-lustrates the moving stories aboutthe unforgettable Vietnamesegirls and women who devotedtheir lives to the liberation of thenation from 1945-1975. Womenplayed an essential role in sup-port of Vietnamese revolutionthrough maintaining supplylines, nursing soldiers and in ac-tive combat roles against the ene-mies. The exhibited items areincluding women’s crafts, hats,bags, clothes and even severalpersonal belongings. VietnameseWomen’s Museum, 36 Ly ThuongKiet St, Hoan Kiem Dist., Hanoi;tel: (04) 38259936; openinghours: 8a.m. – 5p.m. daily; admis-sion fee: VND30,000.

Space for childrenUntil 21 September

Vietnam Museum of Fine Arthas recently opened a creativespace for children. The 70m²room on the third floor of themuseum’s main hall is for chil-dren aged 5-15. Invited artists andmuseum guides are also availableto teach children about tradi-tional and contemporary fine artsin Vietnam and around theworld.

The space is scheduled to beopened until 21 September. Viet-nam Museum of Fine Art, 66Nguyen Thai Hoc St, Ba DinhDist., Hanoi; tel: (04) 3823-3084;opening hours: 8.30 a.m. to 5p.m. daily; tickets: VND20,000/adult & VND7,000/ child under 6years old.

MUSIC

The sounds of fusion12 July

A Jazz night with ‘Unit Asia’and Vietnamese singer TungDuong will be held at 7 p.m. on 12July at Youth Theatre, 11 Ngo ThiNham St, Hai Ba Trung Dist,

Hanoi. ‘Unit Asia’ is a jazz bandincluding five musicians fromAsia, Japan, Thailand andMalaysia. Their style is jazz com-bined with rock, pops and blues.Complimentary tickets from 2p.m. everyday at the Japan Foun-dation Centre for Cultural Ex-change in Vietnam, 27 QuangTrung St, Hoan Kiem Dist.,Hanoi.

Music show ‘Rặng Trâm Bầu’28 July

The music show ‘Rặng TrâmBầu’ will be on at 8 p.m. on 28July at Hanoi Opera House. Lyri-cal revolutionary Vietnamesesongs will be performed by fa-mous Vietnamese singers ThaiBao, Ngoc Khang, Dang Duong,Tan Nhan. Price: VND500,000;VND600,000; VND800,000;VND1,000,000. Booking: HanoiOpera House, 1 Trang Tien St.,Hoan Kiem Dist., Hanoi. Tel: (04)6681-8589.

French DJ9 p.m., Monday to Saturday in

July & August

A French DJ, known as GiMiXNoMaD, will spin a cool mix ofclassic and contemporary loungetitles, ranging from Jazz to Clubat Angelina Bar on first floor ofMetropole Hotel during July &August from 9 p.m. Monday toSaturday. He is the first foreign DJto man the tables at the lounge inHanoi. GiMiX NoMaD, otherwiseknown as Jeremy Devoyon, hailsfrom Toulouse but has calledHanoi home for the past year. Hestarted his current work in music

in 2006, serving a five-year ap-prenticeship before taking theplunge as a full-time DJ in2011.Metropole Hotel, 15 NgoQuyen St, Hoan Kiem Dist.,Hanoi; tel: (04) 3826-6919

THEATRE

Indian epic to hit the stage16 July

The Hiroshi Koike BridgeProject, Cambodia’s Amrita Per-forming Arts and the Japan Foun-dation Centre for CulturalExchange in Vietnam will organ-ize a performance of ‘Mahab-harata’, directed by Hiroshi Koike,at 7 p.m. on 16 July at Youth The-atre, 11 Ngo Thi Nham St, Hai BaTrung Dist., Hanoi.

‘Mahabharata’ is an ancientIndian epic originally written inSanskrit and has been regardedas the Hindu Bible, the resourceof Indian philosophy, moral, poli-tics and law.

Free tickets from 2 p.m.everyday at the Japan FoundationCenter for Cultural Exchange inVietnam, 27 Quang Trung St,Hoan Kiem Dist., Hanoi. Open: 9a.m. to 6 p.m. Tel: (04) 3944-7419.

OTHER

Go nativeBetter Life Vietnam organizes

Vietnamese classes on Saturdaysto help foreigners learn Viet-namese and Vietnamese culture.The classes will be held at Star of-fice, 4th floor, Prime CentreBuilding, 53 Quang Trung St,Hanoi from 2 p.m. to 4p.m. and4.15 p.m. to 6.15p.m. Free admis-sion. For more informationemail:[email protected]

DANANG

Empires of dirt28 July

The second Sandcastles com-petition will be held at Au CoSculpture Park on My Khe beach,in Danang, on 28 July. Each team

includes two to four people oneach project station with a 5metre long section of beach. Par-ticipants will be given four hoursto create artworks with sand. Theevent is expected to attract thou-sands of spectators. To registerand for more information, go tosilversuneventsvn.com or contactMr Phu 0985 387 589, Mr Philip0903 035 271.

HO CHI MINH CITY

TRADITIONAL PERFORMANCES

Non La Non La (Conical Hat) Theatre

perform Vietnamese traditionalmusic, such as hát chèo (chèosinging), nhã nhạc (a special kindof Hue Royal Music), hát bội (bộisinging), chầu văn singing, gongs,stone musical instruments, Viet-namese percussion. The theatrewill issue translations in eightlanguages. The audience-mem-bers are invited backstage to seethe art of makeup and try musicalinstruments.

Tickets VND150,000 for a 45-minute performance. Contact,Non La Theatre, 55B Nguyen ThiMinh Khai St, D.1, HCMC. Tel:(08) 3930-2196

Lullabies and street criesEvery 15th and 23rd of the month

Legends, lullabies, streetmusic by the blind, Hue royalmusic, Vietnamese opera (cảilương), traditional dances, litho-phone music and street sellers’cries are performed at the OperaHouse, 7 Cong Truong Lam Son,D.1, Ho Chi Minh City, at 5 p.m.

E V E N T s

every 15th and 23rd of the month.The show is called Soul of Viet-nam and is produced by MekongArtists Corporation.

Tickets are available at theOpera House for VND100,000($4.76) to VND300,000 ($14.29).Contact (08) 2229-9444

Water puppets The Youth Theatre Company

presents a 45-minute-water pup-pet show at 5 p.m., 6.30 p.m. and7.45 p.m. every day at the GoldenDragon Water Puppet Theatre,55B Nguyen Thi Minh Khai St,D.1, Ho Chi Minh City.

Tickets: VND150,000 ($7.14).Call (08) 3930-2196, 0989370873to buy tickets, as seating is lim-ited.

Water puppetsEveryday

Water puppet shows are onevery day from 5 p.m. to 5.45 p.m.and 6.15 p.m. to 7 p.m. at LangViet Restaurant, 36 Pham NgocThach St, Ward.6, Dist.3, Ho ChiMinh City. Tel: 0903 955 634 (MrKhang). Ticket: VND150,000

Morning MusicEvery Saturday

There is a music performanceat 8 a.m. every Saturday at the fa-cade of the Opera House, 7 CongTruong Lam Son, Dist.1, Ho ChiMinh City, by artists from the HoChi Minh City Conservatory ofMusic.

EXHIBITIONS

Contemporary Japanese Art Until 21 July

The exhibition ‘Winter Gar-den: The Exploration of the Mi-cropop Imagination inContemporary Japanese Art’, cu-rated by art critic Midori Matsuifeatures 35 works – drawings,paintings, and video works – by14 young Japanese artists activefrom the latter half of the 1990sthroughout the first decade of the21st century. The artists, present-

ing their distinctive views of theworld through the combinationof fragments of objects and im-buing the obsolete or the com-monplace with new functions ormeanings, share a similar style ofexpression, which Ms. Matsuicalls ‘Micropop.’ It is noteworthythat this exhibition includes threevideo works by Koki Tanaka, whohas been selected as the represen-tative artist for the Japan pavilionat the 55th International Art Ex-hibition – la Biennale di Veneziain Italy. The exhibition is on until21 July at Ho Chi Minh CityLabour Culture House, 55BNguyen Thi Minh Khai, D.1,HCMC.

Summer paintingsUntil 30 July

26 oil-on-canvas summerpaintings, by Vietnamese artistsBui Quang Anh and Trinh ThanhTung (from Hanoi and Ho ChiMinh City, respectively), will beon at Tu Do Gallery until 30 July.

Tu Do Gallery, 53 Ho TungMau St, Dist.1, Ho Chi Minh City.Tel: (08) 3821-0966, www. tudo-gallery.com. Opening: 9 a.m. to 7p.m. everyday.

Art works by Sandrine Llou-quetUntil 31 July

The exhibition titled ‘Where Iattempt to drown to the dragon’displays 36 works of pencil, wa-tercolour and Chinese ink onpaper by French-Vietnameseartist Sandrine Llouquet until 31July at Galerie Quynh, 65 DeTham, D.1, HCMC. Born in 1975

in Montpellier, France, she nowlives and works in Ho Chi MinhCity. She had many solo andgroup exhibitions in France, Sin-gapore and Vietnam. She ‘makesart that is disturbing and joyful,mundane and fantastical. At theheart of her practice lies contra-diction – a device she employsfrequently to subvert reality andsuggest new ways of seeing. Usingincongruous materials in relationto her subjects, she provokes feel-ings of anxiety in the viewer, fol-lowed strangely by an acceptanceof the anomalous images.’

MUSIC

The sounds of fusion14 July

A Jazz night with ‘Unit Asia’and singer Vietnamese TungDuong will be held at 7 p.m. on 14July at Ben Thanh Theatre, 6 MacDinh Chi St, Dist.1, Ho Chi MinhCity. For more information aboutthe ‘Unit Asia’ band, please seeHanoi section. Complimentarytickets from 2 p.m. everyday atBen Thanh Theatre.

Lacuna Coil to appear atBattle of the BandsIn the evening, 20 July

Lacuna Coil, a goth metalband which has been comparedto Evanescence, will perform atTiger Translate’s ‘Battle of theBands 2013’. ‘Since their formationin 1994, the group has beenknown for composing mid-temposongs consisting of prominentguitar lines and contrasting dualfemale/male vocal harmonies tohelp create a melodic, detached

sound.’ This band will performwith the winners of the contest inthe evening 20 July at the Cres-cent Mall, Phu My Hung, D.7,HCMC.

OTHER

Bike rally roars into District 727-28 July

Vietnam Motorcycle Festival2013 will be held from 9 a.m. to 9p.m. on 27 and 28 July at CrescentLake, Phu My Hung, Dist.7, HoChi Minh City. The event is ex-pected to attract thousands of‘sport bikes’ from clubs all overthe country. Participating in thefestival will be famous motorcyclebrands including Benelli, BMW,Ducati, Harley Davidson,Kawasaki, KTM, Pulsar, RebelUSA, Suzuki, Triumph and Vic-tory. Also, there will be a carnivaland performances of racers fromIndia, Thailand and Malaysia. Formore information please contactat Mr Tan Anh 0908837734.

38 • V I E T N A M H E R I T A G E - J U L Y 2 0 1 3 J U L Y 2 0 1 3 - V I E T N A M H E R I T A G E • 39

V a l u E f o r m o N E y

HOTELS

Banyan Tree Lang Co Hotel, a part ofthe integrated resort Laguna Lang Co, is offeringa room promotion until 31 August for Viet-namese and resident expatriates who book atleast two nights. A Lagoon Pool Villa isVND5,145,000++ per night and a Beach PoolVilla is VND6,615,000++ per night. The prices in-clude breakfast, dinner and roundtrip airporttransfers.

Banyan Tree Lăng Cô HotelCu Du village, Loc Vinh Commune, Phu Loc Dist., Thua Thien Hue ProvinceTel: (054) 3695- 888Email: [email protected]

Best Western Premier IndochinePalace, in Hue, is running an Early Bird Pro-motion till 30 September for those who book 15days in advance. The prices start fromVND1,575,000++ per Deluxe Room per night,VND1,470,000++ per Deluxe Room per night forthose who book two nights and VND1,365,000++per Deluxe Room per night for those who bookthree nights. Best Western Premier Indochine Palace105A Hung Vuong St, HueTel: (054) 3936-666Email: [email protected]

Fraser Suites Hanoi has a promotionuntil 31 July; a night’s stay in a Studio Room atVND2,625,000++ per room with daily breakfastfor one person (additional breakfast atVND220,000++).Fraser Suites Hanoi51 Xuan Dieu St., Tay Ho Dist., HanoiTel: (04) 371 98877 Email: [email protected],www.frasershospitality.com

Hanoi Emotion Hotel offers a 20 percent discount on rooms for stays from 15 July

until 31 August. The discounted prices start from$45 (VND945,000) per room per night withbreakfast.

Hanoi Emotion Hotel26 – 28 Hang Bot St, HanoiTel: (04) 3848-9848Email: [email protected]

RESORTS AND SPAS

Emeralda Ninh Binh has a promotionfor families until 30 September. The prices startfrom VND7,777,000 per room per night on Sat-urdays with breakfast, lunch and dinner, kids’club, foot massage and an hour of golf. The resorthas various tailor-made packages for families onweekends and weekdays. First 30 families will re-ceive a Van Long tour voucher. The price includesservice charge and VAT.Emeralda Ninh BinhVan Long Reserve, Gia Van Commune, Gia VienDist., Ninh Binh ProvinceTel: (030) 3658-333www.emeraldaresort.com

La Residence Hotel & Spa, in Hue, offersa ‘Five Senses of Hue’ till 31 December.VND15,750,000 per room for two nights inDeluxe River View Room with a spa treat-ment, a complimentary bottle of signatureperfume, a dinner and singer CamilleHuyen’s compilation album. The price in-cludes service charge and VAT.

La Residence Hotel & Spa5 Le Loi St, Hue

Tel: (054) 3837-475Email: [email protected]

Sandy Beach Non Nuoc ResortDanang Vietnam Managed By Centarahas a Honeymoon Package until 20 December.It costs VND5,900,000 per Bungalow GardenView for two nights with roundtrip airport trans-fers, breakfast, candlelight dinner with a bottleof sparkling wine, a 45-minute spa treatment, a10 per cent discount on food and beverage and a15 per cent discount on spa services. Sandy Beach Non Nuoc Resort Danang VietnamManaged By Centara255 Huyen Tran Cong Chua St, Ngu Hanh Son Dist., DanangTel: (0510) 3961-777Email: [email protected]/cdv

Vinpearl Luxury Danang is offering a‘Meet & Stay’ package for those who book atleast 10 rooms and for stays from 1 Septem-ber to 20 December. The package includes anight’s stay, breakfast, lunch, a full-daymeeting room with two coffee breaks or ahalf-day meeting room with a coffee break.The prices start from VND3,380,000 perperson per night. The prices include servicecharge and VAT.

Vinpearl Luxury DanangTruong Sa St, Hoa Hai Ward, Ngu Hanh Son Dist., DanangTel: (0511) 3968-888Email: [email protected] www.vinpearl.com

Boutique Hoi An Resort offers a ‘Hole-in-one golf package’ until 31 October. The pack-age includes two nights’ stay, breakfast, playinggolf, a half-day spa treatment for non-golfers,round trip transfer from resort to golf course,round trip airport transfers and shuttle bus toHoi An. The prices start from VND 8,760,000++per room for two in a Superior Room. Surcharge

launched new cooking classes for busy artistsand businessmen, children and mothers whowant to learn more knowledge about nutritionand prepare dishes to wean their babies.Mint Culinary School778/45-47 Nguyen Kiem St, Ward 4, Phu Nhuan Dist, Ho Chi Minh CityTel: (08) 3844-5500www.mint.edu.vn

Saigon Cooking Class by Hoa Tuc offersa 10 per cent discount on hands-on cookingclasses and half-day gourmet tours till 31 July.VND830,000($39.50) per person for a hands-oncooking class and VND955,000 ($45.50) per per-son for a half-day gourmet tour (a market tourfollowed by a hands-on cooking class). Prices arebefore discount. Cooking classes are organizedtwice a day from Tuesday to Sunday, 8:45 a.m. to1 p.m. or 2 p.m. to 5 p.m.Saigon Cooking Class by Hoa Tuc74/7 Hai Ba Trung St, Dist.1, HCMCTel: (08) 3825-8485Email: [email protected]

FOOD PROMOTIONS

Fortuna Hotel Hanoi6B Lang Ha St., Ba Dinh Dist., HanoiTel: (04) 3831-3333.Email: [email protected], www.fortuna.vn.

This July, Fortuna Hotel Hanoi is offeringsushi lunch, with more than 70 kinds of sushi,salads, appetizer, side dishes, noodles as well asdesserts, at VND420,000++ per adult andVND210,000++ per children under 12. Buy forthree, pay for two.

Novotel Nha Trang50 Tran Phu St., Nha Trang Tel: (058) 6256-923Email: www.novotel.com/6033, www.novotel-nhatrang.com

This July, the Square restaurant at NovotelNha Trang launches a buffet lunch with a varietyof dishes: lamb steaks, special pizza and a dessertstation with ice cream. Price: VND252,000++ perperson (full buffet); VND168,000++ per person(light dishes only). Buy four tickets, get one freeor buy seven, get three free. This offer is applica-ble for those who buy the tickets in advance.

Sheraton Saigon Hotel & Towers88 Dong Khoi St, Dist.1, Ho Chi Minh CityTel: (08) 3827-2828

Saigon Café, at the Sheraton Saigon Hotel &Towers, offers French buffet dinner includingfoie gras, crepe station, oysters a la Grand Mere,seafood Florentine and a variety of cakes. VND980,000++ including free flowing Chandonsparkling wine and house wine. 6 p.m. to 10 p.m.on Fridays in July.

Novotel Saigon Centre Hotel167 Hai Ba Trung St, Dist.3, Ho Chi Minh CityTel: (08) 3822-4866

Enjoy the taste of traditional French pastriesby French Chef Patissier James Audou at TheSquare Restaurant, at the Novotel Saigon CentreHotel, until 12 July. He won the prizes of ‘The bestCroissant - Ile de France’ in 2008 and ‘The bestTradition Baguette - Ile de France’ in 2012.

Hotel Continental Saigon132 - 134 Dong Khoi St, Dist 1, Ho Chi Minh CityTel: (84.8) 3829-9201www.continentalhotel.com.vn

From 12 July to 18 July, Le Bourgeois Restau-rant, at the Hotel Continental Saigon, will offerthree French set menus, including La Parisienneat VND1,200,000, L’extravagance atVND1,400,000 and Menu Enfant atVND360,000.

Grand Hotel Saigon 08 Dong Khoi St, Dist.1, Ho Chi Minh City Tel: (08) 3915-5555

Email: [email protected] www.grandhotel.vn

On Independence Day 2 September, 6 p.m.to 9.30 p.m., Chez-Nous Restaurant, at theGrand Hotel Saigon, has a Seafood Buffet Din-ner. VND990,000 for adult and VND490,000 forchildren under 120 cm tall including free flow ofwine, beer, soft drink, mineral water, fruit juicesand a ticket watching fireworks at Grand Cafe.There will be music, circus and a lucky draw.

L-Lounge47 Pham Viet Chanh St, Nguyen Cu Trinh Ward, Dist.1, Ho Chi Minh CityTel: (08) 6260-2555www.l-lounge.com.vn

Till 1 October, those who visit to L-Loungeon their birthday will receive a percentage dis-count which is equivalent to their age.

New Epoch Hotel120 Cach Mang Thang 8 St, Dist.3, HCMCTel: (08) 3932 6169Email: [email protected]

Panorama Restaurant, at the New EpochHotel, is serving a lunch and weekend dinnerbuffet, including European, Asian and Viet-namese food. Lunch buffet: VND199,000++,11.30 a.m. to 2 p.m., weekend dinner buffet:VND359,000++, 6 p.m. to 9.30 p.m. The priceranges from VND120,000++ to VND260,000++for à la carte.

Petro House Hotel63 Tran Hung Dao St, Ward 1, Vung TauTel: (064) 3852-014 www.petrohousehotel.vn

Café Sambal, at the Petro House Hotel inVung Tau, is offering barbeque buffet dinnerfrom 5.30 p.m. every Saturday, including seafood,beef, sausages and mixed skewers on the grill.There will also be roast duck Hong Kong style,roast chicken and charsieu chicken thigh.VND239,000 per person. A 30 per cent discounton beverages except for Carlsberg.

OTHER

Silk Path Hotel Hanoi received in Junea certificate of appreciation from World WideFund for Nature (WWF) and Traffic for support-ing the campaign ‘Say NO to Rhino horn’. Thecampaign aims to change public awareness andto encourage people to protect the rhino andother endangered species.


V a l u e f o r m o n e yV a l u e f o r m o n e y


is VND630,000++ for golfers on Friday, Saturdayand Sunday and public holidays.Boutique Hoi An ResortGroup 6, Block Tan Thinh, Ward Cam An, HoiAn, Quang Nam ProvinceTel: (0510) 3939-111Email: [email protected]

Swiss-belhotel Golden Sand Resort &Spa, in Hoi An, is offering a promotion;those who stay three nights will pay for twountil 31 October. VND2,625,000++ per roomper night in a Superior Room with breakfast,shuttle bus to Hoi An and a 20 per cent dis-count on spa, food and tours.Swiss-belhotel Golden Sand Resort & SpaThanh Nien Road, Cua Dai Beach, Hoi An,Quang Nam ProvinceTel: (0510) 3927-550Email: reservation@swiss-belhotelgoldensan-dresort.comwww.goldensandresort-spa.com.vn

River Beach Resort & Residences, inHoi An, has a room promotion until 31 October.There is a 20 per cent discount on the rates ofrooms. The rates start from VND1,300,000 perDeluxe Double per night for two. Deal includesbuffet breakfast, shuttle bus to Hoi An, fishing,free use of bicycle, a 20 per cent discount on foodand beverage, a 30 per cent discount on spa serv-ices and a 10 per cent discount on tours. The ratesinclude service charge and VAT.River Beach Resort & Residences5 Cua Dai St, Hoi AnTel: (0510) 3927-888www.river-beachresort.com

Six Senses Ninh Van Bay is offering aFamily Summer Holiday Package until 30 Au-gust, with rates starting from VND6,400,000++per Hill Top Villa per night including breakfast,transfers, snorkelling and kayaking. This offer isapplicable for Vietnamese and expatriates.Six Senses Ninh Van BayNinh Van Bay, Ninh Hoa, Khanh Hoa ProvinceTel: (058) 3524-268Email: [email protected]

Sheraton Nha Trang Hotel & Spa hasa Family Summer Promotion until 29 August atVND 2,900,000++ per room per night fromSunday to Thursday and VND3,100,000++ perroom per night for Friday and Saturday. The

prices include breakfast, a 10 per cent discounton food and beverage and a 20 per cent on laun-dry service. Sheraton Nha Trang Hotel & Spa26-28 Tran Phu St, Nha TrangTel: (058) 3880-000Email [email protected]

Evason Ana Mandara, in Nha Trang, of-fers a Family Summer Holiday Package until 30August with rates starting fromVND5,200,000++ per Garden View Room pernight. The rate includes breakfast, airport trans-fer, snorkelling and kayaking. This offer is appli-cable for Vietnamese and expatriates. Evason Ana MandaraBeachside Tran Phu St, Nha TrangTel: (058) 3524-705 [email protected]

Ana Mandara Villas Dalat has a two-night package until 31 October. The prices startfrom VND5,250,000 per room for two, withbreakfast, round trip airport transfer and a choiceof a three-hour Dalat tour or a 60-minute bodymassage. Surcharge is VND630,000 per room pernight on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. The pricesinclude service charge and VAT.Ana Mandara Villas DalatLe Lai St, DalatTel: (063) 3555-888www.anamandara-resort.com

Hai Au Beach Resort & Spa, in PhanThiet, has a two-night Summer Promotion until31 October. The package includes daily breakfast,one lunch and one dinner, a Mui Ne tour andbody massage. VND4,622,000 per Deluxe Gar-den View for two and VND6,394,000 per Luxu-rious Villas Garden. Surcharge is VND378,000per room per night on Friday, Saturday and pub-lic holidays. The price includes service chargeand VAT.

Hai Au Beach Resort & Spa

32, Huynh Thuc Khang, Ham Tien, Phan Thiet,Binh Thuan, VietnamTel: (062) 3847-363 Email: [email protected]

La Veranda Resort offers a ‘Cash BackPromotion’ for those who book online atwww.accorhotels.com/6479 (before 15 July) forstays until 31 August. Guests receive up to 30 percent back on the prices of rooms to spend at therestaurant, bar and spa. The undiscounted pricesstart from $150++ (VND3,150,000++) per roomper night with round trip airport transfers.La Veranda ResortTran Hung Dao St, Ward 7,Duong Dong Town, Phu Quoc IslandTel: (077) 3982-988Email: [email protected]

Fitness & Spa Lounge, at the PullmanDanang Beach Resort, is offering a choice ofany Hot Rock Seafood dish at Epice Restaurantfor those who book a 90-minute hot stone mas-sage at VND1,600,000++

Pullman Danang Beach ResortTruong Sa St, Khue My Ward, Ngu Hanh Son Dist., DanangTel: (051) 1395-8888

COOKING CLASSES

Mint Culinary School is offering a rangeof new cooking classes for all ages. The schoolwas founded in 2008 and is run by Ms Phan TonTinh Hai, a master of science in food & nutrition,one of the judges of Iron Chef Vietnam in 2012and Master Chef Vietnam in 2013. Ms Tinh Haiis also an instructor at the school. A three-hourmorning or afternoon cooking class, including ameal, costs $50 (VND1,050,000) per person. Afull-day class including two meals costs $90(VND1,890,000). A three-full-day class, includ-ing six meals and market tours, costs $250(VND5,250,000). In July, the school has


d I r e C T I O N S S a P a , H a l O N G , H a I P H O N G

EMERGENCIES

Police: 113Fire: 114Ambulance: 115

SaPa(TELEPHONE CODE: 020)

Sapa is a former French hill stationin northwestern Vietnam, in Lao CaiProvince, near the Chinese border.A number of minority cultures including the H’mong, Dao and Taylive in villages in the countrysidearound Sapa.

HOTELS, RESORTS

Note: Prices at many hotels dependon occupancy and change daily

Cat Cat View Hotel46 Fan Xi Pang St, Sapa, Lao CaiProvinceTel: (020) 3871-946www.catcathotel.comVND735,000 to VND3,780,000($35 to $180)

Casablanca Sapa Hotel26 Dong Loi St, Sapa, Lao Cai ProvinceTel: (020) 3872-668www.casablancasapahotel.comVND420,000 to VND630,000($20 to $30)

Cha Pa Garden Boutique Hotel & Spa23B Cau May St, Sapa, Lao Cai ProvinceTel: (020) 3872-907Email: [email protected] VND1,470,000 ($70)Chau Long Sapa Hotel

24 Dong Loi St, Sapa,Lao Cai ProvinceTel: (020) 3871-245Email: [email protected],000 ($33)

Holiday Sapa Hotel16 Muong Hoa, Sapa, Lao Cai ProvinceTel: (020) 3873-874Email: [email protected],000 to VND2,100,000 ($28 to $100)

Royal Sapa Hotel54B Cau May St, Sapa, Lao CaiProvinceTel: (020) 3871-313Email: [email protected]

VND336,000 to VND462,000 ($16 to $22)

Topas EcolodgeThanh Kim Ward, Sapa,Lao Cai ProvinceTel: (04) [email protected] VND1,995,000 to VND2,520,000($95 to $120)

Victoria Sapa Resort and SpaXuan Vien St, Sapa, Lao Cai ProvinceTel: (020) 3871-522Email: [email protected],528,000 to VND4,620,000($168 to $220)

RESTAURANTS

Buffalo Bell Restaurant25 Cau May St, Sapa, Lao Cai ProvinceTel: (020) 3873-455Delta Restaurant33 Cau May St, Sapa,Lao Cai ProvinceTel: (020) 3871-799Fansipan Restaurant23 Cau May St, Sapa, Lao Cai ProvinceTel: (020) 3871-556

HalONG(TELEPHONE CODE: 033)

With around 1,600 islands and isletsin the Gulf of Tonkin, Halong Bay,about 170 km east of Hanoi, is wellknown for its limestone seascape.Overnight boat trips out of HalongCity are a popular way to see it.

HOSPITALS

Bai Chay Hospital Gieng Day Ward, HalongTel: (033) 3846-557www.benhvienbaichay.vn

Traditional Medicine Hospital Cot 8, Hong Ha Ward, Halong Tel: (033) 3838-113

Vietnam-Sweden Hospital Thanh Son Ward, Uong Bi Commune, HalongTel: (033) 3854-037www.bvubqn.tk

TRAVEL

Halong Tourism 1 Halong St, HalongTel: (033) 3846-272Quang Ninh Tourism Company Ha Long St, Bai Chay Ward, HalongTel: (033) 3846-350Syrena CruisesHung Thang new urban area,Bai Chay, HalongTel: (033) 3847-043Hanoi Sales Office: Syrena Tower,3th Floor, 51 Xuan Dieu St, HanoiTel: (04) 3719-7214Email: [email protected]

HOTELS, RESORTS

Note: Prices at many hotels dependon occupancy and change daily Asean Halong HotelHau Can St, Bai Chay Ward, HalongTel: (033) 3640-034 Email: [email protected] www.aseanhalonghotel.com VND945,000 to VND2,520,000 ($45 to $120)

Halong Hidden Charm HotelBlock 22D, Tuan Chau Villas, Halong Tel: (033) 3842-360Email:[email protected] From VND420,000 ($20)

Halong Palace Hotel1, Block 20 Dong Hung Thang,Hoang Quoc Viet St, Bai Chay Ward,HalongTel: (033) 3619-819Email: [email protected] VND3,800,000 ($181)

Halong Plaza Hotel

8 Ha Long St, Bai Chay Ward, Halong Tel: (033) 3845-810 Email: [email protected] www.halongplaza.com VND1,932,000 to VND4,830,000($92 to $230)

Heritage Halong Hotel88 Ha Long St, Bai Chay Ward, HalongTel: (033) 3846-888 Email: [email protected],700,000 ($81)

Mường Thanh Halong HotelNo.7, Block 20, East of Hung Thang,Bai Chay Ward, HalongTel: (033) 3812-468/ (033) 3819-777Email: [email protected],890,000 to VND4,410,000($90 to $210)Novotel Ha Long Bay

Ha Long St, Bai Chay Ward, HalongTel: (033) 3848-108 Email: [email protected] www.novotelhalongbay.com

Saigon Halong HotelHa Long St, Bai Chay Ward, Halong Tel: (033) 3845-845 [email protected] www.saigonhalonghotel.com

StarCity Suoi Mo HotelHalong St, Bai Chay Ward, Halong Tel: (033) 3846-058Email: [email protected] In the centre of Halong, StarCity SuoiMo Hotel offers 167 well-equippedrooms, with many breathtaking viewsof Ha Long Bay.

RESTAURANTS

Co Ngu RestaurantHalong St, HalongTel: (033) 3511-363Jumbo Vietnam Floating Restaurant119 Le Thanh Tong St, HalongTel: (033) 3624-888Sea Food RestaurantHalong St, HalongTel: (033) 3845-822Thu Huong RestaurantHalong St, HalongTel: (033) 3845-142

BARS & CAFÉS

Emeraude CaféRoyal Park, Ha Long St, Halong Tel: (033) 3849-266 www.emeraude-cruises.comRoyal International Gaming Club and VillaBai Chay, Halong Tel: (033) 3848-777

HaI PHONG CITy(TELEPHONE CODE: 031)

HOTELS, RESORTS

Note: Prices at many hotels dependon occupancy and change dailyCatba Princes HotelCat Ba Island, Hai Phong CityTel: (031) 3888-899www.princeshotel-catba.comFrom VND1,000,000 ($48)Catba Sunrise Resort

Cat Ba Island, Hai Phong CityTel: (031) 3887-360www.catbasunriseresort.comVND3,255,000 to VND7,602,000($155 to $362)

ENTERTAINMENT

Do Son Casino Zone 3, Do Son town, Hai Phong CityTel: (031) 3864-888


B u y a B l e

AM Lacquerwares185 Pham Ngu Lao St, D.1, Ho Chi Minh City Tel: (08) 3836-8651

Salad servers, 28cm length, ebony and Vietnamese rose-wood, VND150,000

Wooden box, 20cm x 10cm x 5cm (H), with sea-shell decoration, VND140,000

Lacquered photo album with sea-shell decoration, 35cm x 25cm, wood, VND315,000 Flower lacquered vase, 25 cm high, solid wood, VND145,000

Buffalo horn comb, VND140,000

Lacquered wine bottle holder with egg-shell decoration,VND140,000

A

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FEDCB

C E N T R E O F H A N O I

1312

15

8

4

16

911

610

14

2

5

3

1 Asean International Hotel

2 Capital Garden Hotel

3 Daewoo Hotel

4 De Syloia Hotel

5 Fortuna Hotel Hanoi

6 Green Mango

7 Hanoi Horison Hotel

8 Hilton Hanoi Opera Hotel

9 Joseph’s Hotel

10 Little Hanoi

11 MAison d’Hanoi Hanova Hotel

12 Melia Hanoi Hotel

13 Movenpick Hotel Hanoi

14 Nikko Hanoi Hotel

15 Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi

16 Sunway Hotel Hanoi

N T R E O F H A N O IC E N T R E O F H A N O IN T R E O F H A N O IN T R E O F H A N O IAsean International Hotel

Capital Garden Hotel222

Daewoo Hotel333

De Syloia Hotel444444

Fortuna Hotel Hanoi555

1

Asean International Hotel

AA B C D E F

Fortuna Hotel Hanoi5

Green Mango66

Hanoi Horison Hotel777

Hilton Hanoi Opera Hotel888888

s Hotel99 Joseph’

Little Hanoi111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111100000000000000000000000000000000000000000000

MAison d’Hanoi Hanova Hotel1111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111112

Hilton Hanoi Opera Hotel

MAison d’Hanoi Hanova Hotel

333999

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Melia Hanoi Hotel1111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111122222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222

Movenpick Hotel Hanoi111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111113333333333333333333333333333333333333333333

Nikko Hanoi Hotel1111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444

Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555

Sunway Hotel Hanoi111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111116666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666

3

Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi

555

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4

Ba Trieu...................E3, E4Bac Son.........................D1Bach Dang.....................F2Bach Mai........................E4Bat Dan..........................E2Bich Cau........................C2Buoi................................A1Cat Linh..........................C2Cha Ca....................E1, E2Cua Bac.........................D1Cua Dong.......................D2

Da Tuong.......................E3Dang Tat.........................D1Dao Duy Anh.................D4Dao Duy Tu.............E1, E2Dien Bien Phu................D2Doc Ngu.........................A1Doi Can.............A1, B2, C2Duong Thanh.................E2Gam Cau........................E1Giai Phong.....................D4Giang Vo.....A3 ,B3 ,B2,C2

Hai Ba Trung.....E2, E3, F3Ham Long......................E3Han Thuyen....................F3Hang Bac.......................E2Hang Bo.........................E2Hang Bong.....................E2Hang Buom....................E2Hang Can.......................E2Hang Chuoi....................F3Hang Cot........................E1Hang Da.........................E2Hang Dao.......................E2

Hang Dau.......................E1Hang Ga.........................E2Hang Gai........................E2Hang Khay.....................E2Hang Khoai....................E1Hang Ma.........................E1Hang Quat......................E2Hang Trong....................E2Hang Chieu....................E1Hang Luoc......................E1Hao Nam........................C2Hoa Ma...........................F3

Hoang Dieu.............D1, D2Hoang Hoa Tham...................................A1, B1, C1, D1Hoang Van Thu..............D1Hoe Nhai........................E1Hung Vuong............D1, D2Huynh Thuc Khang........A3Kham Thien.............C3, D3Kim Ma..............A2, B2, C2La Thanh.................B3, C3Lang Ha..........................B3Nguyen Chi Thanh.........A3

Le Dai Hanh...................E4Le Duan............D2, D3, D4Le Hong Phong.............D2Le Lai..............................F2Le Thai To.......................E2 Le Thanh Tong...............F3Le Van Huu....................E3Lieu Giai........................A2Lo Duc......................F3, F4Lo Su..............................F2Luong Ngoc Quyen.......E2 Luong Van Can..............E2

Ly Nam De..............E1, E2Ly Quoc Su....................E2Ly Thai To.......................F2Ly Thuong Kiet........E3, F3Mai Hac De..............E3, E4Ngo Quyen.....................F3Ngo Si Lien....................D2Ngo Thi Nham................E3Ngoc Ha.........................C1Ngoc Khanh...................B2Nguyen Canh Chan......D1Nguyen Cong Hoa.........B2

Nguyen Dinh Chieu.............................................E3, E4Nguyen Du..............D3, E3Nguyen Huu Huan........ F2Nguyen Khuyen.............D2Nguyen Luong Bang.....C3Nguyen Thai Hoc....C2, D2Nguyen Thuong Hien.................................................D3Nguyen Van To..............E2Nha Chung.....................E2Nha Tho.........................E2

Nui Truc..........................B2Pham Dinh Ho................F3Pham Ngu Lao...............F3Phan Boi Chau.......D2, D3Phan Chu Trinh..............F3Phan Dinh Phung..........D1Phan Huy Chu................F3Pho Duc Chinh...............F3Pho Hue...................E3, E4Phu Doan.......................E2Phung Hung............E1, E2Quan Su..................E2, E3

Quan Thanh...................D1Quang Trung...........E2, E3Quoc Tu Giam...............D2Son Tay..........................C2Thai Phien......................E4Thanh Cong...................B3Thanh Nien....................D1Tho Nhuom.............E2, E3Thuy Khue..............................................A1, B1, C1, D1To Hien Thanh...............E4Tong Dan........................F2

Ton Duc Thang..............C3Tran Hung Dao..............................................D3, E3, F3Tran Huy Lieu................B2 Tran Khanh Du...............F3Tran Khat Chan..............F4Tran Nguyen Han..........F2Tran Nhan Tong......D3, E3Tran Nhat Duat..............E1Tran Phu........................D2Tran Quang Khai............F2Tran Qui Cap.................D2

Tran Quoc Toan......D3, E3Tran Thanh Tong............F3Tran Xuan Soan..................................................E3, E4Trang Thi........................E2Trang Tien................E2, F3Trieu Viet Vuong......E3, E4Trinh Hoai Duc...............C2Tue Tinh.........................E3Yen Phu..........................E1Yersin..............................F4Yet Kieu..........................D3

S T R E E T G U I D E

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d I r e c t I O N S H A N O I


d I r e c t I O N S H A N O I


HANOI(TELEPHONE CODE: 04)

EMBASSIES

Algeria13 Phan Chu Trinh St, Hoan KiemDist., HanoiTel: (04) 3825-3865

Argentina41A Ly Thai To St, Hoan Kiem Dist.,HanoiTel: (04) 3831-5263

Australia8 Dao Tan St, Ba Dinh Dist., HanoiTel: (04) 3831-7755

Austria53 Quang Trung St, Hoan Kiem Dist.,HanoiTel: (04) 3943-3050BangladeshVilla D6B 5 – Khu Vuon Dao Ngo 675,Lac Long Quan St, Tay Ho Dist.,HanoiTel: (04) 3771-6625Belarus52 Ho Tay St, Tay Ho Dist., HanoiTel: (04) 3829-0494BelgiumHanoi Tower, 49 Hai Ba Trung St,Hoan Kiem Dist., HanoiTel: (04) 3934-6179

BrazilT72-14 Thuy Khue St, Tay Ho Dist.,HanoiTel: (04) 3843-2544

BruneiVilla 8-9 No 44/8-44, 9 Van Bao St, BaDinh Dist., HanoiTel: (04) 3726-0001

Bulgaria5 Nui Truc St, Ba Dinh Dist., HanoiTel: (04) 3845-2908

Cambodia71A Tran Hung Dao St, Hoan KiemDist., HanoiTel: (04) 3942-7636Canada31 Hung Vuong St, Ba Dinh Dist.,HanoiTel: (04) 3823-5500China46 Hoang Dieu St, Ba Dinh Dist.,Hanoi. Tel: (04) 3845-3736Cuba65 Ly Thuong Kiet St, Hoan KiemDist., HanoiTel: (04) 3942-4775

Czech Republic13 Chu Van An St, Ba Dinh Dist.,Hanoi; Tel: (04) 3845-4131Denmark19 Dien Bien Phu St, Ba Dinh Dist.,HanoiTel: (04) 3823-1888

Egypt63 To Ngoc Van St, Tay Ho Dist.,HanoiTel: (04) 3829-4999

Finland31 Hai Ba Trung St, Hoan Kiem Dist.,HanoiTel: (04) 3826-6788

France57 Tran Hung Dao St, Hoan KiemDist., HanoiTel: (04) 3944-5782

Germany29 Tran Phu St, Ba Dinh Dist., HanoiTel: (04) 3845-3836

Hungary12th floor of Deaha Building, 360Kim Ma St, Ba Dinh Dist., HanoiTel: (04) 3771-5714India58-60 Tran Hung Dao St, Hoan KiemDist., HanoiTel: (04) 3824-4990

Indonesia50 Ngo Quyen St, Hoan Kiem Dist.,HanoiTel: (04) 3825-3353Iran54 Tran Phu St, Ba Dinh Dist., HanoiTel: (04) 3823-2068Iraq66 Tran Hung Dao St, Hoan KiemDist., HanoiTel: (04) 3942-4141Ireland8th floor of Vincom Tower B, 191 Ba Trieu St, Ha Dong Dist., HanoiTel: (04) 3974-3291Israel68 Nguyen Thai Hoc St, Ba DinhDist., HanoiTel: (04) 3843-3141Italy9 Le Phung Hieu St, Hoan Kiem Dist.,HanoiTel: (04) 3825-6256

Japan27 Lieu Giai St, Ba Dinh Dist., HanoiTel: (04) 3846-3000Laos22 Tran Binh Trong St, Hoan KiemDist., HanoiTel: (04) 3942-4576Libya298B Kim Ma St, Ba Dinh Dist., HanoiTel: (04) 3845-3379Malaysia43-45 Dien Bien Phu St, Ba DinhDist., HanoiTel: (04) 3734-3836MexicoCoco Villa T-11, 14 Thuy Khue St, TayHo Dist., HanoiTel: (04) 3847-0948Mongolia5 Van Phuc, Kim Ma St, Ba Dinh Dist.,HanoiTel: (04) 3845-3009Myanmar298A Kim Ma St, Ba Dinh Dist., HanoiTel: (04) 3845-3369

Netherlands6th floor of Deaha Building, 360 KimMa St, Ba Dinh Dist., HanoiTel: (04) 3831-5650New Zealand63 Ly Thai To St, Hoan Kiem Dist.,HanoiTel: (04) 3824-1481

North Korea25 Cao Ba Quat St, Ba Dinh Dist.,HanoiTel: (04) 3845-3008Norway10th floor of Vincom Tower B, 191 Ba Trieu St, Ha Dong Dist., HanoiTel: (04) 3974-1930, (04) 3974-8900

Nigeria44/1 Van Bao St, Ba Dinh Dist., HanoiTel: (04) 3726-3610Palestine6 Dang Van Ngu St, Dong Da Dist.,HanoiTel: (04) 3852-4013Philippines27B Tran Hung Dao St, Hoan KiemDist., HanoiTel: (04) 3943-7948

Poland3 Chua Mot Cot St, Ba Dinh Dist.,HanoiTel: (04) 3845-2027Romania5 Le Hong Phong St, Ba Dinh Dist.,HanoiTel: (04) 3845-2014

Russia191 La Thanh St, Ba Dinh Dist., HanoiTel: 3833-6991South Africa31 Hai Ba Trung St, Hoan Kiem Dist.,HanoiTel: (04) 3936-2000

South Korea4th floor of Deaha Building, 360 Kim Ma St, Ba Dinh Dist., HanoiTel: (04) 3831-5111

Spain15th floor of Deaha Building, 360 Kim Ma St, Ba Dinh Dist., HanoiTel: (04) 3771-5207

Sweden2 Nui Truc St, Ba Dinh Dist., HanoiTel: (04) 3726-0400Thailand63-65 Hoang Dieu St, Ba Dinh Dist.,HanoiTel: (04) 3823-5092Turkey14th Floor, HCO Building, 44B LyThuong Kiet St, Hoan Kiem Dist., Tel: (04) 3822-2460

United Kingdom31 Hai Ba Trung St, Hoan Kiem Dist.,HanoiTel: (04) 3936-0500

United States7 Lang Ha St, Dong Da Dist., HanoiTel: (04) 3772-1500

MEDICAL CENTRES

Acupuncture Institute49 Thai Thinh St, Dong Da Dist.,HanoiTel: (04) 3563-1069Hanoi French Hospital1 Phuong Mai St, Ba Dinh Dist.,Hanoi Tel: (04) 3577-1100International SOS Clinic1 Dang Thai May St, Tay Ho Dist.,Hanoi Tel: (04) 3934-0666Vinmec international hospital458 Minh Khai St, Hai Ba Trung Dist,Hanoi, Tel: (04) 3974-3556

AIRLINES

Air France1 Ba Trieu St, Hoan Kiem Dist., HanoiTel: (04) 3825-3484Qatar AirwaysHilton Hanoi Opera Building, M floor, 1 Le Thanh Tong St, HoanKiem Dist., HanoiTel: (04) 3933-6767www.qatarairways.comSingapore Airlines17 Ngo Quyen St, Hoan Kiem Dist.,Hanoi. Tel: (04) 3826-8888Vietnam Airlines25 Trang Thi St, Hoan Kiem Dist.,HanoiTel: (04) 3823-0320

TRAVEL

Amega TravelNo 2606 Thang Long InternationalVillage, Tran Dang Ninh St, Cau GiayDist., HanoiTel: (04) 3783-3570www.amegatravelvietnam.com

Buffalo Tours94 Ma May St, HanoiTel: (04) 3828-0702www.buffalotours.comEmeraude Classic Cruises46 Le Thai To St, Hanoi Tel: (04) 3935-1888 www.emeraude-cruises.comEmail: [email protected] 26 Tran Nhat Duat St, HanoiTel: (04) 3828-2150www.exotissimo.comEmail: [email protected]

Oriental Sails16A Ly Nam De St, Hoan Kiem Dist.,HanoiTel: (04) 3926-4009Email: [email protected] www.orientalsails.com

Topas Travel52 To Ngoc Van St, HanoiTel: (04) 3715-1005 Email: [email protected] www.topastravel.vn

HOTELS

Note: Prices at many hotels dependon occupancy and change dailyBaoson International Hotel50 Nguyen Chi Thanh St, HanoiTel: (04) 3835-3536Email: [email protected],473,500 to VND3,646,912($70 to $173.25)

Daewoo Hotel360 Kim Ma St, Hanoi Tel: (04) 3831-5000www.hanoi-daewoohotel.com VND3,150,000 to VND7,287,000($150 to $347)

De Syloia Hotel 17A Tran Hung Dao St, HanoiTel: (04) 3824-5346www.desyloia.comVND1,701,000 to VND2,436,000($81 to $116)

Fortuna Hotel Hanoi6B Lang Ha St, Ba Dinh Dist., HanoiTel: (04) 3831-3333Email: [email protected]

Hanoi Emotion Hotel26 – 28 Hang Bot St, HanoiTel: (04) 3848-9848Email: [email protected] hotel also provides Vietnamese,Japanese and International cuisine

Hilton Hanoi Opera Hotel1 Le Thanh Tong St, HanoiTel: (04) 3933-0500 www1.hilton.comVND4,263,000 to VND5,460,000($203 to $260)

Hotel de l’Opera 29 Trang Tien St, Hoan Kiem Dist.,HanoiTel: (04) 6282-5555Email: [email protected],631,125 to VND7,020,175($173 to $334)

InterContinental Hanoi WestlakeHotel 1 A Nghi Tam Road, Tay Ho Dist.,Hanoi Tel: (04) 6270-8888www.intercontinental.com

Melia Hanoi Hotel44B Ly Thuong Kiet St, HanoiTel: (04) 3934-3343Email: [email protected] VND2,289,000 to VND3,591,000($109 to $171)

Mövenpick Hotel Hanoi 83A Ly Thuong Kiet St, HanoiTel: (04) 3822-2800Email: [email protected],268,000 to VND4,725,000 ($108 to $225)

Nikko Hanoi Hotel84 Tran Nhan Tong St, Hanoi Tel.: (04) 3822-3535 [email protected] VND3,633,000 ($173)

Pullman Hanoi40 Cat Linh St, HanoiTel: (04) 3733-0808Email: [email protected]

Silk Path Hotel Hanoi195-199 Hang Bong St, Hoan KiemDist., HanoiTel: (04) 3266-5555Email: [email protected] VND2,289,000 ($109)

Sheraton Hanoi Hotel 11 Xuan Dieu St, Hanoi Tel: (04) 3719-9000 [email protected],024,000 to VND4,494,000($144 to $214)As a ‘resort within the city’, SheratonHanoi Hotel is on the West Lake.

Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi 15 Ngo Quyen St, HanoiTel: (04) 3826-6919 www.sofitel.com VND6,279,000 to VND8,694,000($299 to $414)

Sunway Hotel Hanoi 19 Pham Dinh Ho St, Hanoi Tel: (04) 3971-3888 Email:[email protected],701,000 to VND2,541,000($81 to $121)

Van Minh Resort 6 Highway Hoa Binh, Chuc SonTown, Chuong My, Ha Dong, HanoiTel: (04) 6326-6999Email: [email protected]

APARTMENTS

Fraser Suites Hanoi51 Xuan Dieu St, Quang An Ward,Tay Ho Dist., HanoiTel: (04) 3719-8877sales.hanoi@frasershospitality.comhanoi.frasershospitality.com

Somerset Serviced ResidenceVietnam49 Hai Ba Trung St, Hoan Kiem Dist.,HanoiTel: (04) 3934-2342www.somerset.comLuxurious apartments and propertiesfor hiring

RESTAURANTS

Com Chay Nang Tam Restaurant79A Tran Hung Dao St, Hanoi

Tel: (04) 3942-4140VegetarianDragon Chinese RestaurantD8 Giang Vo St, HanoiTel: (04) 3845-2270

Green Tangerine48 Hang Be St, Hoan Kiem Dist.,HanoiTel: (04) 3825-1286www.greentangerinehanoi.com Serving French food with a Vietnamese cuisine

Highway4 31 Xuan Dieu St, Tay Ho Dist., Hanoi.Tel: (04) 3715-0577 Email: [email protected] hours: 10 a.m.- 11.30 p.m.Highway4 serves traditional Vietnamese food and drinksHoa Vien Brauhaus1A Tang Bat Ho St, Hai Ba TrungDist., HanoiTel: (04) 3972-5088www.hoavien.vnThe restaurant has been famous forits production of Czech beer

Hoang Yen Restaurant114 Bui Thi Xuan St, Hai Ba Trung Dist., HanoiTel: (04) 2211-5538Serves Vietnamese food

Koto Restaurant 59 Van Mieu St, Dong Da Dist.,HanoiTel: (04) 3747-0337Opening from Tuesday to Sunday (7a.m. – 9 p.m.), Monday (7 a.m. – 4 p.m.)

Long Dinh Restaurant64 Quan Su St, Hoan Kiem Dist.,Hanoi. Tel: (04) 3942-9168www.longdinh.com.vnServes Chinese food

SHOPS

Craft Link43 and 51 Van Mieu St, HanoiTel: (04) 3843-7710 Email: [email protected]

Ha Dong Silk102 Hang Gai St, HanoiTel: (04) 3928-5056Tan My Embroidery 66 Hang Gai St, HanoiEmail: [email protected] Tel: (04) 3825-1579

Viet Culture1 Trang Thi St, HanoiTel: (04) 3934-7417

Vietnam Quilts13 Hang Bac St, Hoan Kiem Dist.,HanoiTel: (04) 3926-4831www.vietnam-quilts.orgTraditional embroidery and otherhandicraft cloth products

FURNITURE/ INTERIOR

Dome Au Co9 Au Co St, HanoiTel: (04) 3718-5866Email: [email protected]

Dome Yen The10 Yen The St, HanoiTel: (04) 3843-6036

STORE

Annam Gourmet 51 Xuan Dieu St, Quang An Ward,Tay Ho Dist., HanoiTel: (04) 3718-4487www.annam-gourmet.com

MUSEUMS

Vietnam National Museumof History1 Trang Tien St, Hanoi216 Tran Quang Khai St, HanoiTel: (04) 3824-1384www.baotanglichsu.vnOpen 8 a.m. to 4.30 p.m.Closedevery first Monday of monthsEntry fee VND 20,000 ($0.95) foradults and VND10,000 ($0.48) forchildren

Vietnam Fine Arts Museum 66 Nguyen Thai Hoc St, Ba Dinh Dist., Hanoi Tel: (04) 3733-2131 www.vnfineartsmuseum.org.vnOpen 8.30 a.m. to 5 p.m.Entry fee VND20,000 ($0.95)

Vietnam Military History Museum28A Dien Bien Phu St, HanoiTel: (04) 3733-4682www.btlsqsvn.org.vnOpen 8 a.m. to 11.30 a.m. and 1 p.m. to 4.30 p.m. Closed on Mondays and TuesdaysEntry fee VND30,000 ($1.43)

Vietnam Museum of EthnologyNguyen Van Huyen St, Cau GiayDist., HanoiTel: (04) 3756-2193www.vme.org.vnOpen 8.30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Closed on MondaysEntry fee VND25,000 ($1.19)

Women’s Museum36 Ly Thuong Kiet, Hanoi Tel: (04) 3825-9936www.womenmuseum.org.vn Open 8 a.m. to 4.30 p.m. Closed on MondaysEntry fee VND30,000 ($1.43)

SPA

Elite Fitness & Spa51 Xuan Dieu St, Tay Ho Dist., HanoiTel: (04) 3718-6281Email: [email protected]

Spa de PalaceFortuna Hotel Hanoi, 6B Lang Ha St, HanoiTel: (04) 3831-3333

Hamlet 1, Dien Duong village, DienBan Dist., Hoi AnTel: (0510) 3941-888 Email: [email protected],835,000 to VND7,686,000($135 to $366)On Hamy beach and in a 10 hectarearea with nearly 100 tropical species offlowers and plants. Villas with pool andgarden. Le Belhamy’s architecture is atribute to French, Chinese, Japanese andVietnamese culture

Palm Garden Resort

Lac Long Quan St, Cua Dai Beach, HoiAn, Quang Nam ProvinceTel: (0510) 3927-927Email: [email protected] VND3,438,500 ($160)

River Beach Resort & Residences

5 Cua Dai St, Hoi AnTel: (0510) 3927-888Email: [email protected],260,000 to VND3,150,000($60 to $150)

Sunrise Hoi AnCua Dai Beach, Hoi An, Quang NamProvinceTel: (0510) 3937-777Email: [email protected]

Swiss-Belhotel Golden Sand Resort & SpaHoi An City, Quang Nam ProvinceTel: (0510) 3927-555 Email: info@swiss-belhotelgoldensan-dresort.comwww.swiss-belhotel.comVND3,759,000 to VND7,644,000($179 to $364)

Quy NhON(TELEPHONE CODE: 056)

HOTELS, RESORTS


Avani Quy Nhon Resort & SpaGhenh Rang, Bai Dai Beach, Quy Nhon,Binh Dinh ProvinceTel: (056) 3840-132Email: [email protected],565,000 to VND4,255,000($170 to $203)Royal Hotel and Healthcare Resort Quy Nhon1 Han Mac Tu St, Quy Nhon, Binh Dinh Province Tel: (056) 374-7100Email: [email protected],155,000 to VND1,365,000($55 to $65)

MUSEUM

Quang Trung MuseumBlock 1, Phu Phong town, Tay SonDist., Binh Dinh ProvinceTel: (056) 3580-320Open 7 a.m. to 11.30 a.m. and 1.30 p.m. to 5 p.m.Entry fee VND10,500 ($0.50). Free for children under six

phu yeN(TELEPHONE CODE: 057)

Viet Star Resort and Spa Núi Thơm, Tuy Hoa City, Phu YenProvinceTel: (057) 3789-999Email: [email protected],898,000 to VND18,112,500($138 to $862.50)

Nha traNg(TELEPHONE CODE: 058)

On the central coast, Nha Trang is acity originally known for beautifulbeaches but these have lately beenfound to suffer from pollution dueto modern life, development andtourism, like other popular resortareas in Vietnam. It has large num-bers of foreign tourists, island-hop-ping, scuba diving, sightseeing andlounging on the beach.

HOTELS, RESORTS


Amiana

Turtle Bay, Pham Van Dong St, NhaTrang, Khanh Hoa Province

Tel: (058) 7305-555Email: [email protected] VND6,930,000 ($330)

An Lam Ninh Van Bay VillasHon Heo, Ninh Van Commune, NinhHoa Town, Khanh Hoa ProvinceTel: (08) 3920-6949Email: [email protected],660,000 to VND19,320,000($460 to $920)

Diamond Bay Resort & SpaSong Lo, Phuoc Ha, Phuoc Dong Dist.,Khanh Hoa ProvinceTel: (058) 3711-711Email: [email protected],898,000 to VND7,203,000($138 to $343)

Evason Ana Mandara Beachside Tran Phu St, Nha Trang City,Khanh Hoa Province Tel: (058) 3522-222Email: [email protected] www.sixsenses.com VND7,497,000 to VND14,427,000($357 to $687)

Michelia Hotel4 Pasteur St, Nha Trang, Khanh HoaProvinceTel: (058) 3820-820Email: [email protected],000,000 to VND4,500,000 ($95.24 to $214.29)

Mường Thanh Nha Trang Hotel6 Duong Hien Quyen St, Vinh HoaWard, Nha Trang, Khanh Hoa ProvinceTel: (058) 3552-468 Email: [email protected]

Novotel Nha Trang Hotel50 Tran Phu St, Nha Trang City, KhanhHoa ProvinceTel: (058) 6256-900Email: [email protected],415,000 to VND4,830,000($115 to $230)

Paragon Boutique Dining

16A Ngo Thoi Nhiem St, Nha TrangTel: (058) 3513-777Classical European style architecture,over 150 seats, serves a variety of wine,seafood, lunch and dinner

Six Senses Ninh Van BayNinh Van bay, Ninh Hoa, Khanh HoaProvinceTel: (058) 3728-222Email: [email protected]

www.sixsenses.comVND11,591,000 to VND43,276,800($552 to $2060.80)

Sheraton Nha Trang Hotel & Spa26-28 Tran Phu St, Nha Trang CityTel: (058) 3880-000www.sheratonnhatranghotel.comVND6,762,000 to 30,912,000 ($322 to $1,472)

Some Days of Silence Resort & SpaDong Hai, Ninh Hai, Ninh Hoa, HonKhoi, Khanh Hoa ProvinceTel: (058) 3670-952Email: generaldepartment@some-daysresort.comwww.somedaysresort.comSunrise Nha Trang Beach Hotel & Spa12-14 Tran Phu St, Nha Trang City,Khanh Hoa Province Tel: (058) 3820-999Email: [email protected] VND2,520,000 to VND4,305,000($120 to $205)Vinpearl Luxury Nha TrangHon Tre Island, Nha Trang City, KhanhHoa ProvinceTel: (058) 3598-598Email: [email protected],484,000 to VND15,771,000($404 to $751)Vinpearl Resort Hon Tre Island, Nha Trang City, KhanhHoa Province Tel: (058) 3598-188Email: [email protected],242,000 to VND10,857,000($202 to $517)

Yasaka Saigon Nha Trang18 Tran Phu Boulevard, Nha Trang,Khanh Hoa ProvinceTel: (058) 3820-090Email: [email protected] VND1,050,000 ($50)

MUSEUM

Alexandre Yersin MuseumPasteur Institute, 10 Tran Phu St, NhaTrang City, Khanh Hoa Province Tel: (058) 3822-406

phaN raNg(TELEPHONE CODE: 068)

HOTELS, RESORTS


Bau Truc ResortNinh Chu Beach, Yen Ninh St, Van HaiWard, Ninh Thuan ProvinceTel: (068) 3874-047Email: [email protected],000 to VND4,200,000($35 to $200)

Saigon Ninh Chu HotelKhanh Hai Town, Ninh Hai Dist., NinhThuan Province

d i r e c t i O N S Q u y N h O N , N h a t r a N g , p h a N r a N g


NiNh BiNh(TELEPHONE CODE: 030)

Cuc Phuong Resort & SpaVillage of Dong Tam, Nho Quan, NinhBinh ProvinceTel: (030) 3848-888www.cucphuongresort.comVND1,575,000 to VND3,150,000($75 to $150)

Emeralda Ninh BinhVan Long Reserve, Gia Van Commune,Gia Vien Dist., Ninh Binh Province Tel: (030) 3658-333 Email: [email protected] www.emeraldaresort.comFrom VND2,310,000 ($110)

Nghe aN(TELEPHONE CODE: 038)

Mường Thanh Song Lam Hotel13 Quang Trung St, Quang TrungWard, Vinh, Nghe An ProvinceTel: (038) 3737-666Email: [email protected]

QuaNg BiNh(TELEPHONE CODE: 052)

HOTEL, RESORT


Bao Ninh Beach ResortHa Duong, Bao Ninh, Dong Hoi City,Quang Binh ProvinceTel: (052) 3854-866Email: [email protected],200,000 to VND2,200,000

Sun Spa ResortMy Canh, Bao Ninh Commune, DongHoi City, Quang Binh ProvinceTel: (052) 3842-999Email: [email protected],575,000 to VND29,967,000($75 to $1,427)

hue(TELEPHONE CODE: 054)

Hue is a city on the Perfume River inlowland central Vietnam and was thecapital of the Nguyen dynasty from1802 to 1945. Many imperial structuresremain. They were named part of UNESCO World Heritage in 1993. Hueis also known for its particular cuisine.

HOTELS, RESORTS


Ana Mandara HueThuan An Town, Hue Tel: (054) 3983-333Email: [email protected],622,500 to VND14,490,000($172.50 to $690)

Banyan Tree Lang Co HotelCu Du village, Loc Vinh Commune,Phu Loc Dist., Thua Thien HueProvince

Tel: (054) 3695- 888Email: [email protected]

Best Western Premier IndochinePalace

105A Hung Vuong St, HueTel: (054) 3936-666Email: [email protected],018,750 to VND55,545,000($144 to $2,645)The hotel is surrounded by lush greengardens that make it an outstandinglandmark in Hue and give the city thefeel of a resort. This luxurious, interna-tional standard hotel is created to ap-peal to Vietnamese and internationalvisitors to Hue.

Imperial Hotel8 Hung Vuong St, HueTel: (054) 3882-222Email: [email protected],300,000 to VND29,400,000($110 to $1,400)

La Residence Hotel & Spa5 Le Loi St, HueTel: (054) 3837-475 Email: [email protected],381,000 to VND7,455,000($161 to $ 355)Saigon Morin Hotel30 Le Loi St, HueTel: (054) 3823-526Email: [email protected],890,000 to VND6,300,000($90 to $300)

daNaNg(TELEPHONE CODE: 0511)

HOTELS, RESORTS


Ba Na Hills Mountain Resort An Son Town, Hoa Ninh Commune,Hoa Vang Dist., DanangTel: (0511) 3791-999 Email: [email protected] Maia Da NangTruong Sa Street, Khue My Ward, NguHanh Son Dist., Danang Tel: (0511) 3967-999Email: [email protected],090,000 to VND7,350,000($290 to $350)Hyatt Regency Danang Resort & SpaHoa Hai Ward, Ngu Hanh Son Dist.,Danang

Tel: (0511) 3981-234Email: [email protected],473,000 to VND18,963,000($213 to $903)Mercure DanangLot A1, Green Island, Hoa Cuong Bac,Hai Chau Dist., Danang Tel: (0511) 3797-777Email: [email protected] www.mercure-danang.comSandy Beach Non Nuoc Resort DaNang Vietnam Managed by Centara

255 Huyen Tran Cong Chua St, NguHanh Son Dist., DanangTel: (0511) 3961-777Email: [email protected]/cdvVND1,785,000 to VND5,670,000($85 to $270)Ho Chi Minh sales office: 4th Floor, BenThanh TSC Building; 186-188 Le ThanhTon St, Dist.1, Ho Chi Minh CityTel: (08) 3914-7940

The Nature Villas & Resort Nguyen Tat Thanh St, Hoa Hiep NamWard, Lien Chieu Dist., DanangTel: (0511) 3842-767Email: [email protected] VND1,302,000 ($62)

Vinpearl Luxury DanangTruong Sa St, Hoa Hai Ward, Ngu HanhSon Dist., DanangTel: (0 511) 3968-888Email: [email protected]

MUSEUM

Da Nang Museum of Cham Sculpture2, 2 Thang 9 St, Danang Tel: (0511) 3572-935www.chammuseum.danang.vnOpen 7.15 a.m. to 5 p.m.Entry fee VND30,000 ($1.43)

hOi aN(TELEPHONE CODE: 0510)

A major port town from the 15th to19th centuries, Hoi An has well preserved vestiges of Vietnamese, Chi-nese and Japanese cultures. The build-ings are now often used for tailor’sshops. The old town is a UNESCOWorld Heritage Site. Hoi An is a littleover 30 km south of Danang, on thecentral coast.

HOTELS, RESORTS

Note: Prices at many hotels dependon occupancy and change dailyAncient House Resort Hoi An 377 Cua Dai Road, Hoi An, Quang Nam

Province Tel: (0510) 3923-377Email: [email protected] www.ancienthouseresort.comHoi An Beach Resort1 Cua Dai St, Hoi An, Quang Nam ProvinceTel: (0510) 3927-011Email: [email protected],184,000 to VND2,772,000($104 to $132)

Golf Hoi An Hotel

187 Ly Thuong Kiet St, Cam Pho Ward,Hoi An, Quang Nam ProvinceTel: (0510) 3861-171Email: [email protected],000 to VND1,407,000($35 to $67)Hoi An Historic Hotel

10 Tran Hung Dao St, Hoi An, QuangNam ProvinceTel: (0510) 3861-445Email: [email protected],680,000 to VND2,940,000 ($80 - $140)

Hoi An Pacific Hotel & Spa

321 Cua Dai St, Hoi An, Quang Nam ProvinceTel: (0510) 3923-777Email: [email protected] www.hoianpacific.comVND1,260,000 to VND1,638,000($60 to $78)

Hoi An Riverside Resort & Spa175 Cua Dai St, Hoi An, Quang Nam ProvinceTel: (0510) 3864-800Email: [email protected],659,000 to VND3,339,000($79 to $159)

Le Belhamy Hoi An Resort & Spa

d i r e c t i O N S N i N h B i N h , h u e , d a N a N g , h O i a N


perpetually cool climate. It is in thesouthern Central Highlands, about 300kilometres from Ho Chi Minh City.

HOTELS


Ana Mandara Villas Dalat Resort & Spa Le Lai St, Dalat, Lam Dong ProvinceTel: (063) 3555-888Email: [email protected] www.anamandara-resort.com VND2,247,000 to VND5,859,000($107 to $279)

Dalat Edensee Lake Resort & SpaTuyen Lam Lake, Zone VII.2, Dalat, LamDong ProvinceTel: (063) 3831-515Email: [email protected],554,000 to VND2,919,000($74 to $139)Ngoc Lan Hotel42 Nguyen Chi Thanh St, Dalat, LamDong Province; Tel: (063) 3838-838Email: sales@ ngoclanhotel.vnwww.ngoclanhotel.vnVND1,470,000 to VND6,300,000 ($70 to $300)

hO chi miNh city(TELEPHONE CODE: 08)

CONSULATES

Australia5B Ton Duc Thang St, Dist.1, Ho Chi Minh CityTel: (08) 3829-6035

Belgium91 Nguyen Huu Canh St, Ward 22, BinhThanh Dist., Ho Chi Minh CityTel: (08) 3512-7968

Cambodia41 Phung Khac Khoan St, Dist.1, Ho Chi Minh CityTel: (08) 3829-2751

CanadaMetropolitan, 235 Dong Khoi St, Dist.1,Ho Chi Minh CityTel: (08) 3827-9899China175 Hai Ba Trung St, Dist.3, Ho Chi Minh CityTel: (08) 3829-2457Cuba45 Phung Khac Khoan St, Dist.1, Ho Chi Minh CityTel: (08) 3829-7350

France27 Nguyen Thi Minh Khai St, Dist.3, Ho Chi Minh CityTel: (08) 3829-7231

Germany126 Nguyen Dinh Chieu St, Dist.3, Ho Chi Minh CityTel: (08) 3829-2455India55 Nguyen Dinh Chieu St, Dist.3, Ho Chi Minh CityTel: (08) 3822-7853

Indonesia18 Phung Khac Khoan St, Dist.1, Ho Chi Minh CityTel: (08) 3825-1888

Japan13-17 Nguyen Hue St, Dist.1, Ho Chi Minh City; Tel: (08) 3822-5314Kuwait24 Phung Khac Khoan St, Dist.1, Ho Chi Minh City, tel: (08) 3827-0555Laos93 Pasteur St, Dist.1, Ho Chi Minh CityTel: (08) 3829-7667

Mexico11 Tra Khuc St, Tan Binh Dist., Ho Chi Minh CityTel: (08) 3848-6290Netherlands29 Le Duan St, Dist.1, Ho Chi Minh CityTel: (08) 3823-5932New ZealandMetropolitan, 235 Dong Khoi St, Dist.1,Ho Chi Minh CityTel: (08) 3822-6907

Panama7A Le Thanh Ton St, Dist.1, Ho Chi Minh CityTel: (08) 3825-0334

Russia40 Ba Huyen Thanh Quan St, Dist.3, Ho Chi Minh CityTel: (08) 3930-3936

SingaporeSaigon Centre, 65 Le Loi St, Dist.1, Ho Chi Minh CityTel: (08) 3822-5173

South Korea107 Nguyen Du St, Dist.1, Ho Chi Minh CityTel: (08) 3822-5757

Switzerland42 Giang Van Minh St, Dist.2, Ho Chi Minh CityTel: (08) 3744-6996

Thailand77 Tran Quoc Thao St, Dist.3, Ho Chi Minh CityTel: (08) 3932-7637United Kingdom25 Le Duan St, Dist.1, Ho Chi Minh CityTel: (08) 3825-1380, (08) 3829-8433United States4 Le Duan St, Dist.1, Ho Chi Minh CityTel: (08) 3822-9433

HOSPITALS

Columbia Asia Gia Dinh International Hospital1 No Trang Long St, Binh Thanh Dist.,Ho Chi Minh CityTel: (08) 3803-0678FV Hospital6 Nguyen Luong Bang St, Dist.7, Ho Chi Minh CityTel: (08) 5411-3500

Stamford Skin Centre254 Dien Bien Phu St, Dist.3, Ho ChiMinh CityTel: (08) 3932-1090Email: [email protected]

AIRLINES

Air France130 Dong Khoi St, Dist.1, Ho Chi Minh CityTel: (08) 3829-0981

All Nippon Airways115 Nguyen Hue St, Dist.1, Ho Chi Minh CityTel: (08) 3821-9612American Airlines69 Ba Huyen Thanh Quan St, Dist.3, Ho Chi Minh CityTel: (08) 3933-0330

Asiana Airlines39 Le Duan St, Dist.1, Ho Chi Minh CityTel: (08) 3822-8710, (08) 3829-3038British Airways170-172 Nam Ky Khoi Nghia St, Dist.3,Ho Chi Minh CityTel: (08) 3930-2933

Cathay Pacific Airways72-74 Nguyen Thi Minh Khai St, Dist.1,Ho Chi Minh CityTel: (08) 3822-3203Emirates Airlines170-172 Nam Ky Khoi Nghia St, Dist.3,Ho Chi Minh CityTel: (08) 3930-2939Japan Airlines88 Dong Khoi St, Dist.1, Ho Chi Minh CityTel: (08) 3821-9098Jetstar Pacific Airlines112 Hong Ha St, Tan Binh Dist., Ho Chi Minh CityTel: (08) 3955-0550Lufthansa19-25 Nguyen Hue St, Dist.1, Ho Chi Minh CityTel: (08) 3829-8529

Philippine Airlines2nd Floor Saigon Royal Building 91 Pasteur St, Dist.1, Ho Chi Minh CityTel: (08) 3827-2105

Qatar Airways1-5 Le Duan St, Dist.1, Ho Chi Minh CityTel: (08) 3827-3888

Royal Brunei Airlines787 Tran Hung Dao St, Dist.1, Ho Chi Minh CityTel: (08) 3924-5100

Singapore Airlines29 Le Duan St, Dist.1, Ho Chi Minh CityTel: (08) 3823-1588

Thai Airways International29 Le Duan St, Dist.1, Ho Chi Minh CityTel: (08) 3829-2809

Turkish Airlines 76A Le Lai St, Room 4, 8th Floor, ABTower, Dist. 1, Ho Chi Minh CityTel: (08) 3936-0360 - Ext 121Email: [email protected]

United AirlinesSuite 708 Sun Wah Tower, 115 NguyenHue St, Dist.1, Ho Chi Minh CityTel: (08) 3823-4755Vietnam Airlines115 Nguyen Hue St, Dist.1, Ho Chi Minh CityTel: (08) 3832-0320Vietjet Air8Bis Cong Truong Quoc Te, Dist.3, HoChi Minh CityTel: (08) 3827-0123www.vietjetair.com

TRAVEL

Asiana Travel Mate113C Bui Vien St, Dist.1, Ho Chi Minh CityTel: (08) 3838-6678Buffalo Tours81 Mac Thi Buoi, Dist.1, Ho Chi Minh CityTel: (08) 3827-9168Email: [email protected] www.buffalotours.com.vn Buffalo Tours operates in Vietnam, Thailand, Cambodia and Laos. The Buffalo Tours portfolio caters to alltypes of tours.Exotissimo 80-82 Phan Xich Long St, Phu Nhuan Dist., Ho Chi Minh CityTel: (08) 3995-9898www.exotissimo.com

Saigon Tourist45 Le Thanh Ton St, Dist.1, Ho Chi Minh City Tel: (08) 3827-9279www.saigon-tourist.comTrails of Indochina10/8 Phan Dinh Giot St, Tan Binh Dist.,Ho Chi Minh City; Tel: (08) 3844-1005Email: [email protected]

Transviet TravelTravel House, 170-172 Nam Ky Khoi

d i r e c t i O N S d a L a t , h O c h i m i N h c i t y

J U L Y 2 0 1 3 - V I E T N A M H E R I T A G E • 5150 • V I E T N A M H E R I T A G E - J U L Y 2 0 1 3

d i r e c t i O N S p h a N t h i e t

Tel: (068) 3876-011Email: [email protected],575,000 to VND4,200,000($75 to $200)

phaN thiet(TELEPHONE CODE: 062)

Sitting on the coast about 200 kmnorth of Ho Chi Minh City, Phan Thietis a beach city with many resorts and hotels.

HOTELS, RESORTS


Allezboo Beach Resort & Spa8 Nguyen Dinh Chieu St, Ham Tien,Phan Thiet, Binh Thuan ProvinceTel: (062) 3743-777Email: [email protected] VND1,200,000 ($57)

DuParc Phan Thiet Ocean Dunes &Golf Resort1 Ton Duc Thang St, Phan Thiet City,Binh Thuan ProvinceTel: (062) 3822-393 Email: [email protected],150,000 to VND2,795,000 ($102 to $133)

Bamboo Village Beach Resort & Spa

38 Nguyen Dinh Chieu St, Ham TienWard, Phan Thiet City, Binh ThuanProvince Tel: (062) 3847-007 [email protected] www.bamboovillageresortvn.com From VND2,200,000 ($105)

Full Moon VillageSuoi Nuoc Beach, Mui Ne, Phan ThietCity, Binh Thuan ProvinceTel: (062) 3836-099Email: [email protected],100,000 to VND6,300,000 ($100 to $300)

Hai Au Beach Resort & Spa32 Huynh Thuc Khang St, Ham TienWard, Phan Thiet, Binh Thuan ProvinceTel: (062) 3847-363 Email: [email protected]

Lazi Beach ResortLy Thai To St, Tan Tien, Lagi, Binh Thuan ProvinceTel: (062) 3874-458Email: [email protected],155,000 to VND2,625,000($55 to $125)Muine de Century BeachResort & Spa

16 Huynh Thuc Khang St, Ham TienWard, Phan Thiet, Binh Thuan ProvinceTel: (062) 3743-668 Email: [email protected],200,000 to VND4,200,000 ($57 to $200)Hoang Ngoc (Oriental Pearl) Resort & Spa

152 Nguyen Dinh Chieu St, Ham TienWard, Phan Thiet City, Binh ThuanProvince Tel: (062) 3847-858 Email: [email protected] www.hoangngoc-resort.com VND1,470,000 to VND2,730,000($70 to $130)

Muine Ocean Resort & Spa10 Nguyen Dinh Chieu St, Ham TienWard, Phan Thiet City, Binh ThuanProvinceTel: (062) 3741-616Email: [email protected],344,000 to VND3,360,000 ($64 to $160)

Muine Bay Resort

Quarter 14, Mui Ne Ward , Phan ThietCity, Binh Thuan ProvinceTel: (062) 2220-222Email: [email protected],205,000 to VND6,195,000($105 to $295)

Pandanus Resort

Mui Ne, Phan Thiet, Binh Thuan Province Tel: (062) [email protected]

Park Diamond HotelNguyen Tat Thanh St, Hung LongWard, Phan Thiet City, Binh Thuan ProvinceTel: (062) 3835-666

Email: [email protected] VND1,210,000 ($58)Poshanu ResortQuater 5, Phu Hai, Phan Thiet, BinhThuan ProvinceTel:(062) 3812-233 Email: [email protected]

Sai Gon - Suoi Nhum ResortThuan Quy – Ham Thuan Nam – BinhThuan ProvinceTel: (062) 3683-240 Email:[email protected] VND1,700,000 ($81)

Sandhills Beach Resort & SpaKm6, Tien Binh hamlet, Tien Thanhcommune, Phan Thiet, Binh ThuanProvinceTel: (062) 3846-789Email: [email protected] VND2,520,000 ($120)

Seahorse Resort & Spa

Km 11, Ham Tien Ward, Phan ThietCity, Binh Thuan ProvinceTel: (062) 3847-507Email: [email protected],050,000 to VND3,255,000($50 to $155)

Sea Links Beach HotelNguyen Thong St, Phu Hai Ward, PhanThiet City, Binh Thuan ProvinceTel: (062) 2220-088 Email: [email protected],155,000 to VND9,303,000($55 to $443)

Sea Lion Beach Resort & Spa12 Nguyen Dinh Chieu St, Ham TienWard, Phan Thiet, Binh Thuan ProvinceTel: (062) 3743-390Email: [email protected],518,000 to VND3,806,000 ($72 to $181)

Sunny Beach Resort & Spa64-66 Nguyen Dinh Chieu St, HamTien, Phan Thiet City, Binh ThuanProvinceTel: (062) 3741-355 Email: [email protected] VND2,898,000 ($138)

Saigon Mui Ne Resort56 - 97 Nguyen Dinh Chieu St, HamTien Ward, Phan Thiet City, Binh ThuanProvince Tel: (062) 3741-044 Email: [email protected]

Thai Hoa Mui Ne Resort56 Huynh Thuc Khang St, Ham TienWard, Phan Thiet, Binh Thuan ProvinceTel: (062) 3847-320 Email: [email protected] www.thaihoamuineresort.comVND966,000 to VND2,520,000 ($46 to $120)

The Cliff Resort and ResidencesZone 5, Phu Hai Ward, Phan Thiet,Binh Thuan ProvinceTel: (062) 3719-111Email: [email protected] www.thecliffresort.com.vn

Villa Aria Mui Ne

60A Nguyen Dinh Chieu St, Ham TienWard, Phan Thiet City, Binh ThuanProvince; Tel: (062) 3741-660Email: [email protected] VND1,575,000 ($75)Villa Aria Muine is a beach resort at MuiNe. The Villa offers 22 rooms and a suite,each with a terrace or balcony and agarden view. The resort is proud to fea-ture solar power and locally-grown or-ganic food.

Victoria Phan Thiet Beach Resort & SpaPhu Hai Ward, Phan Thiet City, BinhThuan Province Tel: (062) 3813-000 www.victoriahotels.asia VND2,079,000 to VND3,045,000($99 to $145)

White Sands Resort

KM8, Nguyen Thong St, Phu Hai Ward,Phan Thiet City, Binh Thuan ProvinceTel: (062) 3741-175 Email: [email protected]

MUSEUM

Cham Culture Exhibition CentreSong Mao intersection, Phan HiepCommune, Bac Binh Dist., Binh ThuanProvince; Tel: (062) 3641-456Open: 7.30 a.m. to 11 a.m. and 2 p.m.to 5 p.m. Monday to FridayFree entrance

daLat(TELEPHONE CODE: 063)

Dalat, founded in 1893, has Frencharchitecture, pine forests and a

La Pensée Hotel

9 Bui Thi Xuan St, Dalat, Lam Dong Province. Tel: (063) 3512-666


VND399,000 to VND609,000($19 to $29)

Saigon Star Hotel204 Nguyen Thi Minh Khai St, Dist.3,Ho Chi Minh CityTel: (08) 3930-6290Email: [email protected],328,250 to VND2,777,250($63 to $132)

Sheraton Saigon Hotel & Towers88 Dong Khoi St, Ben Nghe Ward,Dist.1, Ho Chi Minh CityTel: (08) 3827-2828www.sheraton.com/saigonVND6,048,000 to VND48,300,000($288 to $2,300)Silver Creek City Resort112 An Phu Dong 11, Dist.12, Ho Chi Minh CityTel: (08) 3719-9533Email: [email protected],415,000 to VND3,381,000($115 to $161)

Sofitel Saigon Plaza 17 Le Duan St, Dist.1, Ho Chi Minh CityTel: (08) 3824-1555www.sofitel.comVND4,410,000 to VND42,000,000($210 to $2,000)

StarCity Saigon Hotel144 Nguyen Van Troi St, Phu NhuanDist., Ho Chi Minh CityTel: (08) 3999-8888 www.starcitysaigon.vnFrom VND3,864,000 ($184)Tan Son Nhat Hotel200 Hoang Van Thu St, Ward 9, PhuNhuan Dist, Ho Chi Minh CityTel: (08) 3844-1039www.tansonnhathotel.vn

The Alcove Library Hotel133A Nguyen Dinh Chinh St, PhuNhuan Dist., Ho Chi Minh CityTel: (08) 6256-9966Email: [email protected],932,000 to VND2,898,000 ($92 to $138)

RESTAURANTS

Ashoka Restaurant17/10 Le Thanh Ton St, Ben NgheWard, Dist.1, Ho Chi Minh CityTel: (08) 3823-137233 Tong Huu Dinh St, Dist. 2, Ho Chi Minh CityTel: (08) 3744-4144Email: [email protected] food

Cung Dinh Restaurant141 Nguyen Hue St, Ben Nghe Ward,Dist.1, Ho Chi Minh CityTel: (08) 3829-2185www.rexhotelvietnam.comCung Dinh restaurant features Viet-namese architecture and serves dishesfrom north, south and centre of Vietnam.

Kobe Teppanyaki Restaurant13A Tu Xuong St, Ward 7, Dist 3, Ho Chi MInh CityTel: (08) 3932-0187

L-Lounge47 Pham Viet Chanh St, Nguyen CuTrinh Ward, Dist.1, Ho Chi Minh CityTel: (08) 6260-2555www.l-lounge.com.vn

Mam Son Restaurant35 Ton That Thiep St, Dist.1, Ho Chi Minh CityTel: (08) 3915-3653Vietnamese food

Mandarine Restaurant11A Ngo Van Nam St, Dist.1, Ho ChiMinh CityTel: (08) 3822-9783 www.orientalsaigon.com.vn/man-darine

Maxim Nam An VietnameseRestaurant13-15-17 Dong Khoi St, Dist.1, Ho Chi Minh CityTel: (08) 3829-6676 Showpiece for Vietnamese culture andcuisine. Dine in a setting straight outof a Humphrey Bogart film amid art-deco and oriental surroundings.

Mumtaz Indian226 Bui Vien St, Pham Ngu Lao Ward,Dist.1, Ho Chi Minh CityTel: (08) 3837-176710-1 Hung Vuong 2, Phu My Hung,Dist.7, Ho Chi Minh CityTel: (08) 5410-5455www.mumtazrest.com

SH Garden4th floor 98 Nguyen Hue St, Dist.1, Ho Chi Minh CityTel: (08) 6680-0188

Vatel Saigon Bistronomique-Lounge120 Bis Suong Nguyet Anh St, BenThanh Ward, Dist.1, Ho Chi Minh CityTel: (08) 5404-2220www.vatelsaigon.comRecently opened, high-class Frenchrestaurant with attached hotel andcatering school. Part of a worldwidefranchise chain. One speciality is bouil-labaisse, a seafood-hotpot relative ofthe Vietnamese ‘lẩu hải sản’ distin-guished by its provencale herb broth.

Hallway has a glass cabinet display ofa multitude of French and world wines.

Wrap & Roll62 Hai Ba Trung St, Dist.1, Ho Chi Minh CityTel: (08) 3822-2166

BARS & CAFÉS

Café Terrace*Saigon Centre Building, 65 Le Loi St, Dist.1, Ho Chi Minh CityTel: (08) 3821-4958

*165-167 Nguyen Duc Canh St, Dist.7, Ho Chi Minh CityTel: (08) 5412-2178

*106 Nguyen Van Troi St, Phu Nhuan Dist., Ho Chi Minh City Tel: (08) 3997-7012

Caffe Molinari5 Le Duan St, Dist.1, Ho Chi Minh CityTel: (08) 3910-6903Email: [email protected] Cafe45 Ngo Duc Ke St, Bitexco FinancialTower, Ho Chi Minh CityTel: (08) 6291-8769

Sax N’ Art Jazz Club28 Le Loi St, Dist 1, Ho Chi Minh CityTel: (08) 3822-8472www.saxnart.com

Thao Nguyen CaféFloor 7 and Rooftop of RestaurantNgon 138138 Nam Ky Khoi Nghia St, Ben NgheWard, Dist.1, Ho Chi Minh CityTel: (08) 3827-9666Open from 7 a.m. until 10.30 p.m.

SHOPS

IPA Nima85 Pasteur St, Ben Nghe Ward, Dist.1,Ho Chi Minh City Tel: (08) 3824-2701IPA Nima is well-known for its bags.

Khaisilk107 Dong Khoi St, Dist.1,Ho Chi Minh City Tel: (08) 3829-1146www.khaisilkcorp.com

Shin122 Ly Tu Trong St, Dist.1, Ho Chi Minh City53A Nguyen Du St, Dist.1, Ho Chi Minh CityTel: 0909352369Shin is famous for fashion clothes andleather bags.

SPAS

Diamond Aesthetic Centre*185 bis Vo Thi Sau , Ward 7, Dist.3, Ho Chi Minh CityTel: (08) 3932-1715Hotline: 0913 623 840www.thammydiamond.com

Hoang Hac Medical Beauty Care226/26 Le Van Sy St, Tan Binh Dist., HoChi Minh CityTel: (08) 3842-2619Email: [email protected]

St Gregory SpaPark Royal Saigon Hotel309B – 311 Nguyen Van Troi St, TanBinh District, Ho Chi Minh CityTel: (08) 3842-1111

V Spa*16E Phung Khac Khoan St, Dist.1,

Ho Chi Minh CityTel: (08) 3827-9484

*15B/25 Le Thanh Ton St, Dist.1, Ho Chi Minh CityTel: (08) 6291-8179

www.vspa.vn

COOKING CLASSES

Mint Culinary School778/45 Nguyen Kiem St, Phu NhuanDist., Ho Chi Minh CityTel: (08) 3844-5500Email: [email protected]

Saigon Cooking Class74/7 Hai Ba Trung St, Dist.1, Ho ChiMinh CityTel: (08) 3825-8485www.saigoncookingclass.comTuesday to Sunday 8 a.m. till 5.30 p.m.Half-day gourmet tour: 8.45 a.m. till 1p.m., Tuesday till Sunday.

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Nghia St, Dist.3, Ho Chi Minh CityTel: (08) 3933-0777www.transviet.com.vn

HOTELS


Catina Saigon Hotel109 Dong Khoi St, Ben Nghe Ward,Dist.1, Ho Chi Minh CityTel: (08) 3829-6296Email: [email protected],150,000 to VND6,762,000($150 to $322)

Caravelle Hotel19 Cong Truong Lam Son St, Dist.1, Ho Chi Minh CityTel: (08) 3823-4999Email: [email protected],245,000 to VND30,198,000($345 to $1,438)

Grand Hotel

8 Dong Khoi St, Ben Nghe Ward, Dist.1,Ho Chi Minh CityTel: (08) 3823-0163Email: [email protected],840,000 to VND7,150,000($135.24 to $340.48)Built in 1930, the Ancient Wing of GrandHotel Saigon offers a cozy and elegant at-mosphere. The Luxury Wing, opened inNovember 2011, adds a modern style. 230rooms and suites, a ballroom, recreationarea, VIP Lounge, Western & Asian restau-rants, Bars & Grand Café at Roof Garden.

Duxton Hotel Saigon63 Nguyen Hue St, Ben Nghe Ward,Dist.1, Ho Chi Minh CityTel: (08) 3822-2999www.saigon.duxtonhotels.comVND3,150,000 to VND6,048,000($150 to $288)

Hotel Nikko Saigon235 Nguyen Van Cu St, Dist.1, Ho ChiMinh City, tel: (08) 3925-7777reservation@hotelnikkosaigon.com.vnwww.hotelnikkosaigon.com.vnVND3,150,000 to VND52,500,000($150 to $2500)

Ibis Saigon South Hotel73 Hoang Van Thai St, Phu My Hung,Tan Phu Ward, Dist.7, Ho Chi Minh CityTel: (08) 5410-1111www.ibishotel.com

InterContinental Asiana SaigonHotel39 Le Duan St, Ben Nghe Ward, Dist.1,Ho Chi Minh CityTel: (08) 3520-9999www.intercontinental.comKelly Hotel42-44 Thu Khoa Huan St, Dist.1, Ho Chi Minh City. Tel: (08) 3823-3364Email: [email protected] www.kellyhotel.com.vnVND966,000 to VND2,310,000($46 to $110)An elegant and cosy hotel with goodservice. Within walking distance toBen Thanh market, IndependencePalace and several museums. Vietnamese food is served at reason-able prices.

Lotte Legend Hotel Saigon2A-4A Ton Duc Thang St, Ben NgheWard, Dist 1, Ho Chi Minh CityTel: (08) 3823-333www.legendsaigon.comVND3,633,000 to VND36,225,000($173 to $1,725)

Liberty Hotel in Ho Chi Minh City129-133 Ham Nghi St, Dist.1 Tel: (08) 3836-4556179 Le Thanh Ton St, Dist.1Tel: (08) 3920-1939187 Pham Ngu Lao, Dist.1Tel: (08) 3836-9522

Mövenpick Hotel Saigon 253 Nguyen Van Troi St, Phu NhuanDist., Ho Chi Minh CityTel: (08) 3844-9222www.moevenpick-hotels.comVND3,139,500 to VND8,211,000($149.50 to $391)

New Epoch Hotel120 Cach Mang Thang 8 St, Dist.3, Ho Chi Minh City

Tel: (08) 3932-6169Email: [email protected]

New World Hotel76 Le Lai St, Ben Thanh Ward, Dist.1,Ho Chi Minh CityTel: (08) 3822-8888www.saigon.newworldhotels.comVND3,381,000 to VND43,890,000($161 to $2,090)Northern Hotel Saigon

11A Thi Sach St, Dist.1, Ho Chi Minh CityTel: (08) 3825-1751Email: [email protected] www.northernhotel.com.vnThree-star boutique hotel, 99 rooms inSuperior, Deluxe and Suite categories, ashort walk from major entertainmentand shopping venues.

Novotel Saigon Centre167 Hai Ba Trung St, Dist.3, Ho Chi Minh CityTel: (08) 3822-4866Email: [email protected]

Palace Hotel Saigon56-66 Nguyen Hue Blvd, Dist.1, Ho Chi Minh CityTel: (08) 3829-2860Email: [email protected],932,000 to VND3,864,000($92 to $184)

Park Hyatt2 Cong Truong Lam Son St, Dist.1, Ho Chi Minh City Tel: (08) 3824-1234Email: [email protected] www.saigon.park.hyatt.com VND7,014,000 to VND19,089,000($334 to $909)

Parkroyal Saigon309B – 311 Nguyen Van Troi St,TanBinh Dist., Ho Chi Minh City Tel: (08) 3842-1111

[email protected],719,000 to VND4,371,000($129 to $208)

Renaissance Riverside Hotel Saigon

8-15 Ton Duc Thang St, Ben NgheWard, Dist.1, Ho Chi Minh CityTel: (08) 3822-0033www.renaissance-saigon.comVND4,554,000 to VND22,000,000($207 to $1,000)Royal Hotel Saigon133 Nguyen Hue St, Dist.1, Ho Chi Minh CityTel: (08) 3822-5915Email: [email protected] VND 1,659,000 to VND 4,179,000($79 to $199)

Ruby River Hotel59-61 Nguyen Thai Binh St, Dist.1, HoChi Minh CityTel: (08) 3914-3636Email: [email protected] 1,000,000 to VND2,200,000 ($48 to $105)This boutique hotel in downtownSaigon is close to all major of the city’sattractions and amenities.

Rex Hotel

141 Nguyen Hue St, Ben Nghe Ward,Dist.1, Ho Chi Minh CityTel: (08) 3829-2185Email: [email protected],772,000 to VND14,490,000($132 to $690)

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Ngon 138 Restaurant

138 Nam Ky Khoi Nghia St, Dist.1,Ho Chi Minh CityTel: (08) [email protected] downtown Ho Chi Minh City, op-posite the Reunification Palace, Ngon138 Restaurant offers luxurious,shady space with an ancient-lookingdesign and nature-friendly decora-tion, more than 500 seats. Over 300 delicious dining choicesfeature the northern, central andsouthern Vietnamese cuisines.

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3 Thang 2..........A2, A3, B2Alexandre De Rhodes................................................E2An Duong Vuong....A4, B4Ba Le Chan....................D1Ba Huyen Thanh Quan..............................................C2Ban Co...........................B3Ben Chuong Duong............................................D4, E4Ben Van Don...........D4, E4

Bui Thi Xuan..................C3Bui Vien...................C4, D4Cach Mang Thang Tam...........A1, B1, B2, C2, C3, D3Calmette.........................E4Cao Thang.....................B3Chu Manh Trinh.............F2Co Bac.....................C4, D4Co Giang............. ...C4, D4Cong Quynh............C3, C4De Tham........................D4

Dien Bien Phu.....................A3, B2, C2, D1, D2, E1, F1Dinh Tien Hoang............E1Do Quang Dau...............C4Do Thanh.......................B3Doan Cong Buu.............C1Doan Nhu Hai..........E4, F4Dong Du.........................F3Dong Khoi................E3, F3Hai Ba Trung..................................................D1, E2, F3Hai Trieu.........................F4

Ham Nghi.................E4, F4Han Thuyen....................E2Ho Hao Hon...................C4Ho Tung Mau...........E3, E4Ho Xuan Huong.............C2Hoa Hung.......................A2Hung Vuong...................A4Huyen Tran Cong Chua.............................................D3Huynh Thuc Khang........E3Huynh Tinh Cua.............D1Ky Con.....................D4, E4

Ky Dong...................B2, C1Le Duan...................E2, F2Le Hong Phong.............................................A2, A3, A4Le Lai.......................C3, D3Le Loi..............................E3Le Quy Don....................D2Le Thanh Ton.................................................D3, E3, F2Le Thi Hong Gam................................................D4, E4Le Thi Rieng............C3, D3

Le Van Sy.......................B1Luong Huu Khanh.........C3Ly Chinh Thang.......C1, C2Ly Thai To......................A3Ly Tu Trong....................................................D3, E3, F2Ly Van Phuc...................E1Mac Dinh Chi...........E1, E2Mac Thi Buoi..................F3Mai Thi Luu..............E1, F1Nam Ky Khoi Nghia...............................C1, D1, D2, D3

S T R E E T G U I D ENgo Duc Ke....................F3Ngo Thoi Nhiem ....C2, D2Ngo Van Nam.................F2Nguyen Binh Khiem...................................................F1, F2Nguyen Cau...................D1Nguyen Cong Tru................................................D4, E4Nguyen Dinh Chieu..................B3, C2, C3, D2, E1, F1Nguyen Du..............D3, E3Nguyen Hue.............E3, F3

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56• V I E T N A M H E R I T A G E - J U L Y 2 0 1 3

Ben Thanh market visit guided by ourchef to purchase your own ingredientsfollowed by a hands-on cooking class.$45,50 (VND955,500) per adult.Team building available, contacts us fora tailor-made program.

GALLERIES

Apricot Gallery50 Mac Thi Buoi St, Ben Nghe Ward,Dist.1, Ho Chi Minh CityTel: (08) 3822-7962

Cactus Contemporary Art17/12 Nguen Huy Tuong St, Ward 6,Binh Thanh Dist., Ho Chi Minh CityTel: (08) 7300-1270Email: [email protected] www.cactusartgallery.com

Craig Thomas Gallery27i Tran Nhat Duat St, Dist.1, Ho Chi Minh City Mobile: 0903 888 431Email: [email protected]: 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. Closed Mondays and Sundays

Galerie Quynh65 De Tham St, Dist.1, Ho Chi Minh City Tel: (08) 3836-8019www.galeriequynh.com

MUSEUMS

Fine Arts Museum of Ho Chi MinhCity97A Pho Duc Chinh St, Nguyen ThaiBinh Ward, Dist.1, Ho Chi Minh CityTel: (08) 3829-4441www.baotangmythuattphcm.comOpen 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Closed Mondays.The Fine Arts Museum of Ho Chi MinhCity was established in September,1987. It is a three-storey building withover 20,000 paintings, statues andpottery products from ancient (collec-tions of Oc Eo and post Oc Eo,Champa, the Central Highlands and20th Century to 1975 and since 1975).

Ho Chi Minh City Museum65 Ly Tu Trong St, Ben Nghe Ward,Dist.1, Ho Chi Minh CityTel: (08) 3829-9741www.hcmc-museum.edu.vnOpen daily 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.Designed by French architect AlfredFoulhoux, Ho Chi Minh City Museumwas built between 1885 and 1890. Atfirst it was meant to be a museum,but after it was completed it wasmade the Cochin china Governor’sPalace. Now it is Ho Chi Minh City Mu-seum, which includes: nature, archae-ology, Vietnam’s revolutionarystruggle from 1930 to 1954 and from1954 to 1975, culture from late 19thto 20th century.

Independence Palace135 Nam Ky Khoi Nghia St, Ben ThanhWard, Dist.1, Ho Chi Minh CityTel: (08) 3822-3652

www.dinhdoclap.gov.vnOpen daily, 7.30 a.m. to 11.30 a.m., 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.

War Remnants Museum28 Vo Van Tan St, Ward 6, Dist.3, Ho Chi Minh City, Tel: (08) 3930-5587Email: [email protected] daily 7.30 a.m. to midday and1.30 p.m. to 5 p.m.

A popular beach resort town for residents of Ho Chi Minh City, VungTau is about 128 km southeast ofHCMC. It can be reached either byroad or by a 90-minute hydrofoil boatfrom HCMC. Sitting on a peninsulathat sticks out into the East Sea, VungTau does not have the most beautiful,or cleanest, beaches in Vietnam butcan act as a quick getaway from thebuzz of the city.

HOTELS, RESORTS


Binh An Village Resort 1 Tran Phu St, Vung TauTel: (064) 351-0732Email: [email protected]/vung-tau VND2,058,000 to VND5,460,000($98 to $260)Binh An Village Resort in Vung Tauhas oriental architecture, two swimming pools, a bar, a library anda cinema.

Grand Hotel

2 Nguyen Du St, Ward.1, Vung TauTel: (064) 3856-888 Email: [email protected] VND2,101,625 ($100)A four star hotel, 125 km from Saigon,built in 1890s with the French architec-ture, near the beach and few hundredsmetres from Vung Tau Hydrofoil Termi-nal. 66 rooms and 17 apartments, threemeeting rooms seated from 20 to 250and wedding services.

Muong Thanh Vung Tau HotelNo 09, Thong Nhat St, Ward 1, Vung Tau Tel: (064) 3835-567Email: [email protected] www.vungtau.muongthanh.vn

Palace Hotel1 Nguyen Trai St, Ward 1, Vung Tau Tel: (064) 3856-411 Email: [email protected]

Petrosetco Hotel

12 Truong Cong Dinh St, Ward 2,Vung TauTel: (064) 3624-748Email: [email protected],134,000 to VND2,121,000($54 to $101)

Petro House Hotel63 Tran Hung Dao St, Ward 1, Vung Tau Tel: (064) 3852-014www.petrohousehotel.vnVND1,155,000 to VND2,520,000($55 to $120)Newly refurbished rooms convenientlylocated near Vung Tau ferry terminal.Catering to Asian and European tasteswith Malaysian cuisine specialty.

Rex Hotel1 Le Quy Don St, Vung tau CityTel: (064)3852 135 Email:[email protected] VND945,000 ($45)

Seaside Resort28 Tran Phu St, Ward 1, Vung TauTel: (064) 3513-888Email:[email protected] rooms, excellent small garden

The Imperial Hotel 159 - 163 Thuy Van St, Vung TauTel: (064) 3628-888www.imperialhotel.vnVND5,062,500 to VND36,450,000($241 to $1,736)

LONG HAILong Hai is a beach town, 30km northeast of Vung Tau and 124 kmsoutheast of HCMC.

Anoasis Beach ResortDomain Ky Van, Long Hai, Ba Ria – Vung Tau ProvinceTel: (064) [email protected],893,240 to VND16,590,000($90 to $790)

Tropicana Beach ResortProvincial Road 44A, Phuoc Hai Town,Dat Do Dist., Ba Ria-Vung Tau ProvinceTel: (064) 3678-888 Email: [email protected],100,000 to VND3,570,000($100 to $170)

HO TRAMHo Tram is 130km southeast of HCMCand 40km northeast of Vung Tau.

Ho Tram Beach Resort & SpaHo Tram, Phuoc Thuan Ward, XuyenMoc District, Ba Ria – Vung TauProvinceTel: (064) 3781-525Email: [email protected],793,000 to VND6,363,000($133 to $303)

CON DAO ATC Con Dao Resort8 Ton Duc Thang St, Con Dao, Ba RiaVung Tau ProvinceTel: (064) 3830-456 Email: [email protected]

Six Senses Con Dao

Dat Doc Beach, Con Dao Dist., Ba Ria - Vung Tau Province Tel : (064) 3831-222Email: [email protected]

CAN THO(TELEPHONE CODE: 0710)

Can Tho is the largest city in theMekong Delta, about 170 km south-west of Ho Chi Minh City, and acts asthe area’s economic, transportationand cultural centre. Sitting on theMekong River, Can Tho is popular forits nearby floating markets, canals andrivers that can be explored by boat.

HOTELS, RESORTS

Note: Prices at many hotels dependon occupancy and change daily Golf Can Tho Hotel2 Hai Ba Trung St, Tan An Ward, Ninh Kieu Dist., Can Tho Tel: (0710) 3812-210Email: [email protected],680,000 to VND11,592,000($80 to $552)

Victoria Can Tho ResortCai Khe Ward, Ninh Kieu Dist., Can Tho Tel: (0710) 3810-111www.victoriahotels.asiaVND3,549,000 to VND5,187,000($169 to $247)

CHAU DOC(TELEPHONE CODE: 076)

HOTELS


Victoria Chau Doc Hotel1 Le Loi St, Chau Doc Town,

An Giang ProvinceTel: (076) 3865-010www.victoriahotels.asiaVND3,402,000 to VND4,242,000($162 to $202)

PHU QUOC(TELEPHONE CODE: 077)

Phu Quoc Island, off the southerntip of Vietnam in the Gulf of Thai-land, has some of the most beauti-ful beaches in the country.White-sand beaches, scuba divingaround coral reefs or exploring theprotected jungle. Accessible by ei-ther the Rach Gia hydrofoil boat ora 50-minute flight from Ho ChiMinh City. Modest family-ownedbungalows on the beach to five-star resorts.

HOTELS, RESORTS


Chen Sea Resort & SpaBai Xep, Ong Lang, Cua Duong, Phu Quoc Island Tel: (077) 3995-895 Email: [email protected] www.centarahotelsresorts.comVND4,914,000 to VND9,933,000($234 to $473)

La Veranda ResortTran Hung Dao St, Ward 7, DuongDong Town Phu Quoc Island Tel: (077) 3982-988Email: [email protected],082,000 to VND8,694,000($242 to $414)Mango Bay ResortOng Lang Beach, Phu Quoc IslandTel: (077) 3981-693Email:[email protected],890,000 to VND3,360,000($90 to $160)

Sai Gon Phu Quoc Resort1 Tran Hung Dao St, Phu Quoc Island Tel: (077) 3846-999 Email: [email protected] VND2,499,000 to VND4,011,000($119 to $191)

Green Island Hotel B3 Block, Tran Hau Business Centre,Binh San Ward, Ha Tien Town, KienGiang Province; Tel: (077) 3955-888Email: [email protected] 3,900,000 ($186)Green Island Hotel is the first 4-star hotelin Ha Tien. 81 high-standard rooms.

CANADA(Telephone code: 1)

Xe Lua 254 Spadina Ave, Tonronto,Ontario Canada M5T2C2Tel: (1-416) 703-8330

Xe Lua has been open since 1996 andserves phở for $6 a bowlOpen: 11.30 a.m. to 12 p.m

Chau Kitchen and Bar1500 Robson St. Vancouver, British ColumbiaTel: (1-604) 682-8020www.chaukitchenandbar.comServes Vietnamese dishes with pricesstarting at $7 per dish.

FRANCe(Telephone code: 33)

CLEMONT-FERRANDKim Anh6 Bis r Elie GintracTel: (33-4) 7391-9364Serves traditional Vietnamese food,from €12.80 per dishOpen 11.30 a.m. to 3 p.m. (closed on Sundays).

GRENOBLEKim Ngan22 r Nicolas ChrierTel: (33-4) 7649-0847Serves Vietnamese food with pricesstarting at €8 per dish

UNITeD STATeS OFAMeRICA

(Telephone code: 1)

CALIFORNIA-CAEmerald RestaurantPacific Gateway Plaza3709 Convoy Street, Ste 101, San Diego, CA 92111Tel: (1) 858-565-6888Serves Vietnamese food

Hung Ky Mi Gia5237 El Cajon Blvd, San Diego,CA 92115; Tel: (1) 619-229-2188Serves noodle varieties with prices start-ing at $5 per dishOpen 8 a.m. to 9 p.m.International Restaurant 14444 – A University Ave, San Diego, CA 92115Tel: (1) 619-281-9999

Little Saigon7 Linden Ave (Railroad)South San Francisco, CA 94080Tel: (1) 650-589-1398

New York-NYSaigon Grill620 Amsterdam Ave, New York,NY 10024Tel: (1) 212-875-9072Serves over 100 Vietnamese dishes in-cluding vegetarian optionsOpen 11 a.m. to 12 a.m.

Mai Lan Vietnamese505 N State St Syracuse, NY 13203Tel: (1) 315-471-6740www.mailanrestaurant.comL’Annam121 University Pl New York,NY 10022Tel: (1) 212-420-1414

VIRGINIA-VA

Minh’s Vietnamese2500 Wilson Blvd Arlington,VA 22201Tel: (1) 703-525-2828Prices start at $15 per dishOpen 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. (closed on Mondays)

WASHINGTON-WCHo Bac1314 S Jackson St Seattle, WA 98144Tel: (1) 206-860-8164Kieu Nga LemongrassRestaurant514 12th Ave Seattle, WA 98122Tel: (1) 206-860-8164Moonlight Café1919 S Jackson St Seattle, WA 98144Tel: (1) 206-322-3378Massachusetts-MA Saigon Hut305-307 Meridian St. Boston, ]MA 02128; Tel: (1) 617-567-1944

Xinh Xinh7 Beach St (Washington St.) Boston,MA 02111Tel: (1) 617-422-0501

UNITeD kINGDOM(Telephone code: 44)

Little Saigon Restaurant6 Bigg Market, Newcastle upon Tyne,EnglandTel: 01912330766Vietnamese dishes

AUSTRALIA(Telephone code: 61)

La Mint 62–64 Riley St, East Sydney NSW 2010Tel: (61) 293-311-818Email: [email protected] Open: Wednesday to Friday, noon to2:30 p.m., Monday to Saturday, 6 p.m. to10.30 p.m. French and Vietnamese dishes

INDONeSIA(Telephone code: 62)

Pho 24Pondok Indah, Plaza I, Jln. Taman Duta1Blok UA 35 Jakarta SelatanTel: (62) 0217-505-909JIn. Wolter Mongonsidi No. 71, Ke-bayyoran Baru, Jakarta SelatanTel: (62) 0217-278-8411Pacific Place Mall, 5th Floor, SCBD, JIn.Jendral Sudirman Kav. 52-53, Jakarta 12190Tel: (62) 0215-140-0531

l a i d b a c k


The paintings, accompanied by poetic words in Vietnamese to remind people to behave were at HoangPhap Pagoda, Hoc Mon District, Ho Chi Minh City. The English translations just provide literal meaning. Clockwise from top, left: No smoking; You are at a pagoda please dress carefully, do not expose toomuch; This is a pure and sacred place for meditation, young people please refrain from affection; Pleaseuse the bin for rubbish. Thanks!; Please burn one incense stick only. Burning many pollute the environ-ment. Photos: Dang Khoa

HUE - VIETNAM


DISCOUNT50%Only at VND 1,470,000

Valid until 30 September, 2013

EXTRA BENEFITS:* Free sauna & steamed bath

30% discount on total bill at Royal Spa

* Special discount: VND1,050,000 for private transfer from Da Nang Airport or vice versa.

SUMMER PROMOTION

(Conditions apply)

Love and longing in Ha Giang

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