HCM City set for southern cooking fest

Dam Sen Tourist Park in HCM City will host
the 2011 Food Festival of the South on May 27- 29.

The annual event will feature typical
southern floating markets, including a fruit market and food market, and
lifestyles of people living in the Cuu Long (Mekong) Delta.

There will also be traditional art
performances, folk games, baking competitions, and cooking and vegetable
shaping.

Food brands and specialities from Hue city and
the southern and Central Highland provinces will be introduced to visitors.

More than 60 booths will serve food from
HCM City and neighbouring provinces at the park in District 11.

Hoi An coconut grove proves popular

Water coconut groves in Cam Thanh Commune,
around 3km from the old town of Hoi An, has become a popular tourist
destination.

Photo: Internet

Visitors here can take a leisurely bicycle
ride through the forest, watching farmers pick leaves from the trees for making
roofing materials and handicrafts.

Boats are always available to carry
visitors along the canals to pick nuts for a cool drink.

People who want to relax in a fresh
atmosphere can bring fishing rods, choose a suitable place, and enjoy the sunset
over the Thu Bon River.

Those preferring open spaces can row a boat
out to the river or cast a net with the help of local fishermen.

Da Nang flight numbers on the rise

Vietnam Airlines is operating two extra
flights a day to Da Nang from both HCM City and Ha Noi since Phu Bai Airport in
Hue closed last week for a month for maintenance.

Jetstar Pacific has had to suspend its two
daily flights between HCM City and Hue. The low-cost carrier has four daily
flights from HCM City and two from Ha Noi to Da Nang.

Visitors to Hue can take a bus departing Da
Nang Airport 100km away. Forty luxury buses have been arranged to transport
passengers between Da Nang and Hue. A trip costs VND130,000 (US$6.3).

German cruise ship Bremen visits

Saigontourist Travel Service Co welcomed 750 passengers
on board the Bremen when the cruise ship operated by Germany’s Hapag-Lloyd
Cruises paid its maiden visit to HCM City on Tuesday.

During their two-day stay, the tourists
went around HCM City and visited the Cuu Long (Mekong) Delta city of My Tho.

They will visit other destinations in the
country like Da Nang, Hai Phong, Ha Long and Ha Noi before leaving for Hong Kong
next Monday.

Saigontourist said it will receive
thousands of cruise passengers coming aboard the SuperStar Virgo when it berths
in HCM City on June 7, 14 and 30.

Zen tourism blossoms in Viet Nam

With a 2,500-year Buddhist tradition and
more than 10 million Buddhists, Viet Nam can become an attractive destination
for Zen tourism.

As a distinct school of Buddhism, Zen was
first documented in China in the 7th century and was well developed in Viet Nam
under the Ly (1009 – 1250) and Tran (1225-1400) dynasties.

Zen tourism has developed in Viet Nam with
tours to pagodas and pagoda festivals that enable tourists to visit Buddhist
architectural works, observe and participate in activities of Buddhist priests,
enjoy and admire characteristics of Zen arts like flower arrangement, tea
ceremony, bonsai and vegetarian food.

There are around 120 pagodas available for
Zen tourism in Viet Nam, including Dau in Bac Ninh, Tran Quoc in Ha Noi, Truc
Lam – Tay Thien in Vinh Phuc, Tu Dam, Thien Mu and Tu Hieu in Hue, and Tu An,
Giac Lam and Giac Vien in HCM City.

VietNamNet/Viet
Nam News