Vietnam Holiday Tips: Six Sights and Experiences Not to Be Missed

By Kent Tan

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Eternal green fields fused with the bustling metropolis of Vietnam make this Southeast Asian nation a feast for the eyes. After decades of unceasing wars, Vietnam has risen from the trenches as a triumphant country proud of its unique culture and history.
If you are taking a trip the cultural and vibrant Vietnam, here are some sights and experiences that are not to be missed.
Vestiges of the Past: The Cu Chi Tunnels
Witnessing some of the most gruesome encounters, take a tour on the former battlefields, foreign military bases, and national museums in the country to commemorate this time of courage. From the Cu Chi tunnels, My Lai, to the Khe Sanh grounds, you will instantly feel the cry to save the lives of people.
Holy Grounds: Temple Tours
A trip to Vietnam is partly synonymous to centuries-old architectural wonders of worship. Filled with Buddhist temples, entering these historic and highly-ornamented shrines offers a moment of tranquility on your journey. Most notable are the One-Pillar Pagoda located above a lotus pond in Hanoi and the towering Thien Mu Pagoda in Hue constructed in 1601. Visitors should wear suitable clothing that covers most of the body when going inside these sacred sites.
Through the Waters: The Mekong Delta and Halong Bay
Whether buying goods from the floating market of Mekong Delta, or cruising on a luxurious ship in Halong Bay, the rivers flowing within Vietnam serve as the channel to view the most heart-stopping sights on the land. Its clear waters and white sand also provide for amazing beach holidays where diving is a must for every ocean adventurer.
Shopping Districts: Ho Chi Minh and Hanoi
Affordability is the selling point of Vietnam when it comes to top-quality garments, handicrafts, jewelry, paintings, and souvenir items. The cities of Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh come to life with a whole lot of products which you can get at a cheap price especially if bargaining is your prowess. Haggling is a typical scene in Vietnam but make sure to negotiate firmly but friendly, if possible, with a smile to boot. The conical hat and trademark ao dai costume are tourist favorites.
Founded on Festivals: Traditional Celebrations with Dance and Music
There is no better way to experience the Vietnemese culture than to take part in one of their many festivals throughout the year. From traditional ceremonies, vivid costumes, sports competitions, cultural music and dance, to special offerings, Vietnamese festivals pay tribute to ancestors, heroes, and the land's natural wealth. Undeniably the most-awaited celebration is the Tet or New Year festival which occurs around the end of January or early February.
Reaching the Peak: Sapa and Dalat
Tread the mountains of Vietnam for a closer look at its sweeping landscapes. The Sapa and Dalat regions are exciting destinations to breathe in the fresh air on top of the highlands. It is not surprising how mountain climbing and cycling have been a favorite for travelers as well as photographers from around the world.
Traveling to this land guarantees a rich learning experience of traditions carried by the enduring spirit of the Vietnamese people.

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Why isn't this on the front page of WSJ or NY Times?

Vietnam, US ink deal to boost defense ties 

September 25, 2011  about Politics

Vietnam Deputy Defense Minister Nguyen Chi Vinh (R) and US Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense Robert Scher sign MOU on defense cooperation Monday in Washington D.C

The defense ministries of Vietnam and the US have agreed to promote cooperation in five priority fields, including sea security, according to the Vietnam News Agency.
They signed a memorandum of understanding to the effect on Monday during their second dialogue on defense policies, which was held Monday in Washington D.C.
The priority fields include establishing a regular high-ranking dialogue mechanism between the US Department of Defense and the Vietnamese defense ministry; sea security; search and rescue, studying and exchanging experience in the United Nations peace keeping activities; and humanitarian aid and disaster relief.
The MoU was signed between Vietnamese Deputy Defense Minister Nguyen Chi Vinh and the US Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense Robert Scher.
First held in Hanoi last year, the annual defense policy dialogue between Vietnam and the US is intended to help the two defense ministries promote cooperation, raise mutual trust and understanding.
The Vietnam News Agency report quoted Vinh as saying that the signing has proved the transparency of the bilateral defense cooperation and Vietnam’s independence and self-reliance in defense cooperation.
The most remarkable point during the dialogue, according to Vinh, was the US strong commitment to supporting Vietnam overcome war consequences, especially the clearance of unexploded ordnance.
On the other hand, Vietnam expressed its willingness to help the US seek for Missing-in-Action (MIA) servicemen in the war, VNA quoted Vinh as saying.
For his part, Scher appreciated the signing of MOU, stressing that the two defense ministries will continue working on issues like maritime security and peace keeping activities, according to the newspaper.

Thanh Nien News 

200 yr old Mummy

Mummy found in 200-year-old tomb 

September 25, 2011  about Sci-Tech

A mummy found inside a wooden coffin at a construction site in Dong Nai’s Long Thanh District (Photo: VNA).

Vietnamese scientists found a mummy in an tomb believed to date back more than 200 years ago in the southern province of Dong Nai on Friday.
The tomb was found in Cau Xeo area, Long Thanh District when construction workers cleared the site the building of the Dau Giay-Long Thanh Highwayt
When the wooden coffin inside the tomb was opened, scientists found the mummy wrapped in cloth and covered by lotus leaves.
The rectangular tomb is 8.5 meters in length and 4.5 meters in width.
The excavators said Chinese characters on the tomb suggesting the diceased person may be a lady who lived in the time of the Nguyen Dynasty more than 200 years ago.

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Do Dinh Truat, an ancient tomb researcher who joined the excavation, told the Vietnam News Agency the body was well preserved.
Officials brought the coffin with the mummy inside to the Dong Nai Museum for further study.

People still try to chop down trees for money.

Regenerating forests in Thua Thien-Hue chopped down completely

September 24, 2011  about Uncategorized

LookAtVietnam - Nearly 100 hectares of the artificial forests in A Luoi
district have been chopped down by local residents for timber and farming, while
local authorities have been powerless. The deforestation has made drinking water
of hundreds of households severely polluted.

Forest devastated

One of the “hottest points” of the deforestation in A Luoi district is the 321
ward, somewhere between Huong Nguyen and Hong Tien communes. The red earth road
linking the 49A highway to the ward 321 has been ploughed up by the trucks which
carry timber on the road every day.
What Lao dong’s reporters could see in the ward 321 after one hour of walking on
a track through the forest, was the wild land plots.
Big timber boards had been carried away before the reporters arrived. The forest
did not have trees. It only had burnt tree roots and the piles of small timber
planks which were put on the ground, waiting to be carried away.
Tien, a local resident, who was seen collecting the timber planks, said that big
timber boards have been taken by other people. “We just try to pick up small
planks to sell to brick kilns. A cubic meter can be sold for 500,000-800,000
dong,” he said. “If I work hard, I can earn 150,000-200,000 dong a day.”
Also according to Tien, the forest areas all have their “owners” already who
have the right to collect timber on their land, and no once can encroach on
others’ “territories”.
Ho Xuan Kho, Chair of the Huong Nguyen Commune People’s Committee, has admitted
that local residents began chopping down trees and burning the forest in late
2010. To date, more than 30 hectares of the forest have been burnt. Timber has
been exploited and carried away for sale, while people have brought new cajuputs
to plant on the devastated area.
Kho said that the commune people’s committee has set up a taskforce in charge of
preventing forest crimes. However, to date, the taskforce has just captured
several buffalos which were used to carry timber. The taskforce cannot seize
timber and punish the violators, because this is beyond its power.
In fact, the people, who chopped down trees and burnt the forest, are from other
localities. Rangers and policemen also tried to block the people to illegally
exploit the forest, but the people still return to exploit timber underhand.
“We have also worked out with the Hong Tien commune People’s Committee, asking
them to instruct the residents in the commune not to try to illegally exploit
the forest. However, no improvement has been made,” he said.
Not only 321
In fact, Lao dong’s reporters have found out that the deforestation for timber
and cultivating land not only occurs in the ward 321, but also in many locations
of the A Luoi district.
For the last six months, since a new road was open to serve the border
patrolling and people’s welfare, people have been rushing to the A Bia area in
Hong Bac commune to chop down trees to get timber for sale and land for
cultivation. The A Bia hill is an important historical site of the Thua Thien-Hue
province, which once witnessed the days of the resistance against the US
imperialist.
There one can see the forest areas along the tourism route to the A Bia hill
which have been burnt to the ground, and a lot of people growing corn and rice.
According to the Hong Bac People’s Committee, to date, more than 20 hectares of
forests have disappeared. The local authorities have caught red-handed violators
in 95 cases. However, people have not paid the fines because they do not have
money. With the limited knowledge and the high demand for earning for living,
people still try to chop down trees for money.
Source: Lao dong

Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia & Myanmar join to develop tourism

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Vietnam prepares for “four countries – on destination” program

LookAtVietnam - The fact that four countries including Vietnam, Laos,
Cambodia and Myanmar join forces to develop tourism is believed to bring new big
opportunities to travel firms. However, there are still many things to be done
in order to reap the fruits.

New opportunities

Ha Long Bay, Vietnam

The participants at the 7th International Tourism Exhibition (ITE) held in HCM
City several days ago all forecast a new wave of investments in infrastructure,
hotels, resorts and entertainment complexes in Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia and
Myanmar in the time to come. Therefore, joining forces in the “four countries –
one destination” program will clearly help attract more international investors.

The Lao General Department of Tourism said that the country now has 1028 tourism
sites which are awaiting investments. Laos allows to have 100 percent foreign
ownership ratio in hotels and restaurants, and 30-70 percent foreign ownership
ratios in the travel firms. Tourism is the second foreign currency earner, just
after to mining, in Laos, where the tourism growth rate has been stable in the
last 20 years at 29 percent per annul.

In Myanmar, investors need to have at least 300,000 dollars to set up a legal
entity in the service sector. Foreign investors can team up with domestic
companies to set up joint ventures, while they have to contribute at least 35
percent of capital. Myanmar now has 36 hotel projects with 6560 hotel rooms, of
which 31 projects have been completed.

The international tourism organization has forecast that the tourists in the
world tend to flock to South East Asia and East Asia. In 2010, the region
surpassed America to become the second biggest region in the world, just after
Europe, in terms of the tourists, accounting for 22 percent of the world’s
market share. Meanwhile, the figure is expected to increase to 27 percent by
2020.

Statistics show that ASEAN now attracts 36 percent of the total number of
tourists worldwide, and 38 percent of the total revenue from tourism industry in
the region.

Analysts have also pointed out that joining forces with regional countries to
develop tourism is a wise move. The national flag air carrier Vietnam Airlines
said that four out of every 10 international tourists to Vietnam tend to visit
many different destinations, and three of them choose to visit Laos, Cambodia,
or Myanmar.

Great efforts needed

This is not for the first time regional countries sit together to discuss the
cooperation for tourism development. Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia once put forward
the idea of joining forces to attract tourists. A project on the tourism
sustainable development in Mekong sub-region was initiated and funded by ADB,
which aimed to develop infrastructure for tourism and push up the sub-regional
cooperation. However, the initial achievements remain modest

Therefore, Vietnamese travel firms say they need to prepare well for the “four
countries – one nation program). Tran Hung Viet, General Director of
Saigontourist, said that the travel firm has conducted a program on surveying
the trans-Indochina and Myanmar tours, and has released the publications
providing information about the four countries.

Meanwhile, Vietnam Airlines has increased the frequency of the flights on the
air routes to Siem Reap, Phnom Penh in Cambodia, and Vientiane in Laos to 106
flights per week from 59 flights currently.

Vuong Dinh Hai from CFIS Vietnam, a foreign investment research center, said
that it is necessary to make heavier investment in infrastructure in order to
pave the way for tourism development. More and more tourists travel to Vietnam
by sea, while cruises still have to dock at cargo ports, because there still are
no specific ports for receiving tourists.

Meanwhile, there has been no legal document on the development of the ports for
tourism. The overall strategy on seaport development until 2020 also does not
show the investment scale and the details of the tourism ports.

Source: TBKTVN

Vietnamese brand names mobile phones booming

The debut of a series of mobile phones with Vietnamese brand names from late 2010 has led to fierce competition in the market.
After An Binh telecom company released Q-Mobile and FPT launched FPT-Mobile in 2008 and 2009, the market now has dozens of Vietnamese brand name mobile phones, including Avio by VNPT, Bluefone by CMC, Hanel Mobile by Hanel and Hi-Mobile by HiPT.
Made in Vietnam mobile phones feature low prices (VND400,000-500,000 or equal to US$19 - $24), and a host of extra functions like having between 2-4 sim cards, large capacity memory cards, a camera and guarantees and bonuses for users.
With these advantages, made in Vietnam mobile phones meet the demands of low-income earners, workers and students, which make a large proportion of the society.
According to statistics, Vietnamese brand name mobile phones make up 30 percent of consumption volume and 15 percent of the market’s value.
Q-Mobile mobile phones increased its sales by 175 percent year-on-year in the first five months of this year. This product makes up nearly 30 percent of the domestic market, after Nokia which has a 50 percent market share.
General Director of An Binh telecom company Nguyen Quang Ninh said his company plans to develop Q-Mobile into a leading brand name of the domestic market by the end of this year and was preparing to export the product to countries at a similar stage of development to Vietnam , like Laos , Cambodia , Myanmar and African countries.
During this time, VNPT’s sales of its Avio increased by nearly 90 percent over the same period last year.
Those above moves caused the world popular mobile phone producers operating in Vietnam , including Nokia, to change their focus from luxury products to lower priced deals such as five common two-sim card products with prices between VND600,000 - 700,000  ($28.5-35.7).
According to Director of Hi-Mobile Do Giang Vinh, Vietnamese producers now face big challenges. If they do not have products with the right designs and manage key production steps, they risk suffering losses.
VNA

Top 10 Tourists Attractions India

Wonders of the World and several UNESCO World Heritage Sites know India as their home.
In the land of monuments, temples, forts and palaces, there are no equal attractions. The ancient architectural artistry, detailed workmanship from centuries ago are gems of marvel. While all may not have the spectacular beauty of the world's favourite love monument, they are nonetheless majestic in their own right.
Agra Fort and Taj Mahal- Agra
Spectacular even by the highest standards, these magnificent monuments, especially the Taj Mahal, inscribed as UNESCO World Heritage Sites, have humbled many and left even more awe-inspired by their sheer beauty. The Agra Fort built by the Great Emperor Akbar is located by the west bank of India. The bastioned fortress built out of red sandstone is surrounded by a deep moat, once filled with the waters from Yamuna. The fort complex house several opulent palaces and reception rooms. There is smooth marriage of marbled palaces within the red sandstone fortress and this pleasing blend is certainly a visual treat. The Taj Mahal, the most famous love monument- a mausoleum for an emperor who loved his wife even beyond death. The marbled building is also one of the first monuments to break away from the traditional red sandstone building material which was favoured by previous Mughal rulers. This symbol of everlasting love is filled with great artistry and ornate details, with lavish interior to mark the great love the emperor had for his late wife. The reason for its birth and its opulence has silenced many in reverence for the ancient attraction.
Victoria Terminus- Mumbai
In a land filled with monuments with intricate carvings and exquisite artwork of South Asian origins, one stunning building stands proud with Victorian Gothic architecture. Another UNESCO World Heritage site, Victoria Terminus in the Agra region of India is an exquisite extravaganza of domes and arches. Built to commemorate Queen Victoria's golden jubilee, the station, now known as the Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus, is the headquarters of the Central Railway. Stone carvings and sculptures found on windows, screens all around the building are amazing and attention grabbing. Stained glasses throughout are another sight to behold in this grand building.
Jama Masjid and Red Fort- Delhi
Jama Masjid of the Old Delhi is a spectacular sight of three imposing domed mosque with twin minarets guarding the central arch. Emperor Shah Jahan had constructed it on a natural mound in the 17th century, and it took more than 5 years to complete building this magnificent mosque. The Red Fort, which is the translation for its name, Lal Qila, is a grandiose monument as it had evolved and progressed with the different emperors' reign. First commissioned by Emperor Shah Jahan and completed nearly a decade later, with additional phases extended through the Mughal reign by subsequent rulers. Recognized as a poignant symbol of the country's nationhood, one historic moment within the grand walls, was the rising of the national flag when India first became independant in 1947.
Hampi Monuments
Said to be the most 'evocative ruins' of India, Hampi at Karnataka is a grandiose site, having been the last Hindu capital of the great Vijayanagar (City of Victory) kingdom. Enjoying its peak during the 16th century, with a flourishing trade from the spice and cotton trades, this city's location had natural defences in the form of rocky ridges and granite boulders. Bestowed with all beauty of a medieval city, the intricate palaces and temples of Dravidian architecture were renowned and admired by many from various parts of the world. Left to be looted after the conquest by the Deccan sultans, the remnants, in the Sacred and Royal Centres, of the great capital still continue to captivate visitors. Vitthala Temple, the grandest religious monument in the Sacred Centre is still mesmerizing with its exceptional sculptural details. At the Royal Centre, The Lotus Mahal with its Hindu and Islamic architectural influences and the famed Elephant stables with their imposing domes are some of the ancient gems from the past. An apt reminder of an ancient culture and city with its former glory, this sprawling site is another Indian addition to the list of UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Khajuraho and other marvellous temples
There are numerous groups of spectacular temples, from India, in the UNESCO list of World Heritage Sites. They are the Sun Temple in Konark, Mahabodhi Temple in Bihar, Pattadakal Hindu Temples and Jain sanctuary in Karnataka, the Chola Temples in Tamil Nadu, among others. All are peerless and have stood test of time, still looking as majestic as they did during their hey days. Khajuraho temples in Madhya Pradesh are another worthy addition to the acclaimed list. Built during the flourishing times of the Chandela Dynasty between the 9th and 10th centuries, the original group of 85 temples represents an artistic and cultural renaissance encouraged by the patronage of the generous rulers. Each temple can boast of its own exquisite sculptural embellishments and artistry. The most prominent of the temples is the Kandariya Mahadev Temple whose 30m spire towers over its counterparts in physical size and the harmonious juxtaposition of goddess and beasts with warriors and musicians on its ancient walls. Less credited but not any less significant are the Dilwara Jain Temples in Mount Abu, Delhi. The facade, the pillars and walls are filled with stunning sculptures and intricate carvings that will simply takes one's breath away, being surrounded by such surreal beauty.
Jantar Mantar- Jaipur
Rajput ruler Sawai Jai Singh II, an avid astronomer had built five observatories, known as Jantar Mantar (meaning instruments for calculation) across India. Among these, the Jantar Mantar in Jaipur, the largest of the observatories is proven to be best preserved. Noted as 'expression of the astronomical skills and cosmological concepts' by a 'scholarly prince' during the last years of the Mughal Empire, this 'realistic and logical (stone) landscape is an UNESCO World Heritage Site. Tours to this astronomical site will allow visitors to view close hand the intricate mechanism of the constructed instruments. The instruments, referred as yantras, include those measuring altitude of the sun (Ram Yantra), sundial to calculate Jaipur's time to the accuracy of 20 seconds (Laghu Samrat Yantra), among other gigantic structures, imposing and stealthily functioning.
Goan beaches
Stretches of pristine beaches with sun-baked sand and wonderful waves are legendary in the coastal state of Goa. Its location by the Bay of Bengal makes it a perfect travel destination for beach tourists. Distinct from other region of India, Goa's community is an infusion of European influence, largely result of the various colonial rules. It will not be uncommon to see people with different ancestry enjoying the same sun, sea and sand in Goa. The beach raves in North Goa are famed for serious partying while the quieter South Goa is preferred by those seeking solitude by the waves.
Varanasi Ghats
Varanasi, also known as Kasi by locals and Benares is located on the west bank of the sacred Ganges River. It is the quintessential Hindu holy city where thousands of devotees travel to congregate for various religious rites and prayers, one of the main rituals being the ablution of one to attain salvation. These religious ceremonies are conducted on the river banks which are stone steps- known as ghats- leading to the sacred river. With more than 90 ghats located on a long stretch by the river, the amazing structures nearby, which include towers, turrets and temples and large gathering of believers chanting and praying, it is never a dull moment at the ancient Varanasi Ghats.
Mamallapuram
With a rich past as a flourishing port-city in the 7th century, Mahabalipuram or also known as Mamallapuram is now a spectacular site of rock cut caves and monolithic shrines, mostly of rathas which are religious processional chariots. The classic examples of the ancient Pallava art are clearly displayed in each intricate Panch Ratha in the complex of stunning structures. Hindu deities and the protagonists of the epic Mahabhratha are beautifully brought to life in stone form. Be it foreign and secular visitors or Hindu believers who travel to this fascinating site, all on tour are inevitably enchanted by the craftsmanship and the scenes depicted.
Fatehpur Sikri near Agra
Akbar's Mughal capital for some ten years is a fine specimen of a walled city whose architecture is an intrinsic infusion of Hindu and Islamic styles. This blend is another evidence of Akbar's enlightened tolerance for all religions. The city grew from the initial lofty buildings and public housing constructed in honour of the famous Sufti saint, Salim Chishti who had blessed the emperor with the prediction of a son, the future emperor Jahangir. As the first Mughal planned city, it soon evolved into clearly defined private and public areas within the imperial complex. Built with the traditional red sandstone, there are many remarkable gazebos, palaces and pavilions within this 'City of Victory'. The Turkish Sultana's House whose dado panels and delicately sculpted walls give this ornate pavilion a wooden look, the Panch Mahal - a five-storeyed open sandstone pavilion, the Diwan-i-khas, a private hall with unique architectural styles and religious motifs and the renowned Jama Masjid, known to be one of the biggest mosques in India are fine examples of the uniform architectural designs of the highest quality from the Mughal civilization. Their astounding beauty and cultural significance had led them to be inscribed as an UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1986.
The list of India's attractions can be endless as it is truly a land of incredible beauty and history. The rich heritage left by the talented people of the past, has resulted in a treasure trove for the present population. It is a land brimming with wealth from centuries ago, now grappling with current times. One can be assured that with such a landmass, the historic gems will always remain part of the modern landscape in the future.

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Simply Awful

Awful pig-chopping ritual protested

September 16, 2011  about Uncategorized

LookAtVietnam - Many people have shown their fearfulness, compassion and dudgeon over a video clipof a pig-chopping ritual at a traditional festival in Hanoi’s neighboring province of Bac Ninh.

The video clip was uploaded to YouTube several days ago. The clip filmed a live pig which was forced to lie on its back, four legs were roped and spread to four sides. The pig was carried to the yard of a communal house, surrounded by a frenetic crowd.

After performing some rituals, a man held a long knife and cut the pig in two parts after three stabs. Blood streamed out, dying the yard in red in the shouting of the crowd, including many children.

This clip is said to film a pig offering rite at a traditional pig chopping festival in Nem Thuong hamlet, Khac Niem commune, Tien Du district in Bac Ninh province. This festival is held to commemorate a general in the Ly Dynasty, who reclaimed this land. According to legend, the general brought his troops ton this land and slaughtered wild boars to feed his soldiers. The pig-chopping festival originated from this. Pig blood in thefestival is believed to symbolize prosperity, reproductive ability, vitality and good harvest.

The video clip was removed from YouTube for violating the page’s rules. However, it has been copied by some websites and made the online community angry. A group named “Calling for ban on the pig chopping festival in Tien Du – Bac Ninh” was set up on Facebook and has attracted hundreds of members.

Many people could not believe that such an awful festival still exists in Vietnam. They called for reconsidering the humanity of this festival, though it is a traditional event.

“No, no, culture is good traditions. Such cruel tradition is not culture,” one wrote on an online forum. This opinion is agreed by other members.

Many people also worried about the bad impacts from this festival on kids.

PV

VAT refunds to Tourists

Tourists to be given VAT refunds

September 15, 2011  about News, Travel

International tourists will enjoy value-added tax (VAT) refunds when they purchase goods in Viet Nam under a draft currently under consideration by the Ministry of Finance.

Foreign tourists in HCM City.

Under the pilot plan approved by Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung in July, foreign tourists who buy goods at certain airports, tourism areas and shops in big cities would receive a 10 per cent refund on the tax they paid.
Goods purchased by foreigners are considered export commodities so every purchase valued at more than more than VND2 million (US$96) per receipt which is issued within 30 days of their exit from Viet Nam will benefit from the tax refund.
“The VAT refund aims to promote tourism, increase foreign currency in the country and encourage on-the-spot exports,” said head of the ministry’s Import-Export Tax Department Lo Thi Nhu.
The ministry had distributed clear criteria to eligible businesses in Ha Noi, HCM City and traditional trade villages, Nhu said.
Viet Nam has 161 border-gates including six international airports. Under the pilot phase of the plan, Noi Bai and Tan Son Nhat International airports would be selected for inclusion in the project from April 2012 to June 2016 as they have the country’s highest number of passengers. Security barriers at the airports will help ensure supervision of goods transported under the mechanism.
“The pilot project will help authorities evaluate the mechanism’s effectiveness,” she said.
Under the programme, foreign tourists would not receive a full tax refund because they would have to pay tax agency fees, meaning they would not receive more than 10 per cent of the total tax paid.
Surveys from the Viet Nam Administration of Tourism showed that foreign visitors stayed in Viet Nam for an average of nine days per visitor and they spend about $72.5 a day.
Tourism experienced the highest growth when compared to other services in recent years after transport, finance, insurance and telecommunications.
The country expects to welcome 5.5 million international tourists this year. In the first eight months of the year, the number had reached nearly 4 million, 18 per cent higher than the same period last year.
SGT

Wages for Vietnamese lower than Chinese Workers

Vietnamese workers have to struggle with Chinese for jobs, on home market

September 14, 2011  about Uncategorized

LookAtVietnam - On the construction sites in Vietnam, where Chinese
enterprises act as the general contractors, Vietnamese workers have to struggle
with Chinese for jobs.

Wages for Vietnamese lower for Chinese workers

c

Chinese and Japanese enterprises won the bids to become the EPC (engineering,
construction, procurement) contractors of the Hai Phong thermopower plant.
The construction of the thermopower plants 1 and 2 was kicked off in November
2005, while Chinese contractors are the overwhelming majority on the
construction site.
A senior executive of the Hai Phong 1 thermopower plant which has been put into
operation, with four power generation units with the capacity of 300 MW per
each, contractors need to have at least 4000 workers working at the same time on
the construction site.
Therefore, the Hai Phong thermopower plant was hoped to help create thousands of
jobs to local workers. However, this has not come true in reality.
“In the peak period, in 2008-2009, the Chinese contractors brought 2000 Chinese
workers to the construction site, including the ones who took simple jobs which
can be absolutely undertaken by Vietnamese laborers,” said Nguyen The Khang,
Head of the Personnel Department of the Hai Phong Thermopower plant.
Sources said that the actual number of Chinese workers was higher than the above
figure, believing that the number of Chinese workers on the site once reached
3000.
Meanwhile, Vietnamese workers have to struggle to find jobs at the big project.
Nguyen Van N, a local laborer, who is working for the Hai Phong 2 power plant,
said that it is very difficult to obtain a job on the site. N said that when he
worked for the Hai Phong 1 power plant, he just earned less than 100,000 dong
per day for his work as mason or porter.
N said that local workers can earn much less than Chinese ones. A Vietnamese
welder, for example, can earn 150,000-180,000 dong per day, while the pay for a
Chinese welder is double or triple.
“Contractors and laborers negotiate about the wages directly, not through the
project’s investor. Therefore, I do not know to whom I have to claim about the
low wages,” N said.
“There always exists the discriminatory treatment to Chinese and Vietnamese
workers,” N continued.
Also according to N, if Vietnamese workers directly negotiate with Chinese
contractors, they will get 100 percent of their daily wages. Meanwhile, if the
workers get jobs via Vietnamese interpreters, they would not get the full pay.
For example, workers would get 130,000 dong a day instead of 150,000 dong.
However, no one dares complain about that, because they want jobs.
“If you complain, you will be sacked. If you don’t want this job, there will be
others who replace you,” N said.
Similarly, a Vietnamese worker who is in charge of kitchen duty can earn 2
million dong a month, while a security guard can earn 1.5 million dong, and no
allowance. Meanwhile, a Chinese security guard at the My Son residential quarter
is paid 10 million dong per month, or 10 times higher than the pay to a
Vietnamese worker.

Project’s investor has no right to intervene
Khang has confirmed that there exist the gaps in the pay for Vietnamese and the
pay for Chinese workers.
Ha Van Gian, Deputy General Director of the Hai Phong Thermopower Plant, said
that Chinese enterprises act as the contractors, who implement the BT contract
(build – transfer), which means that they build the plant and then transfer to
the Vietnamese side. Therefore, the Vietnamese side only has the right to
supervise and speed and the quality of the project, and it does not have the
right to intervene the contractors’ use of laborers.
Khang said that the Vietnamese investor once asked the Chinese contractors to
use Vietnamese workers, but the contractors reasoned many factors, including the
language barrier, to continue using Chinese workers.
Source: SGTT

Vietnam Supermodel 2011 finalists

30 finalists of Vietnam Supermodel 2011

September 13, 2011  about Uncategorized

LookAtVietnam - 30 models are competing in the final round of Vietnam Supermodel 2011, in the resort city of Da Lat and HCM City on September 10-20.
In this round, they have to show off their skills in sport dance, photographic, night gown and swim suit.
The final night will take place on September 25 in Hanoi. The winners will be decided based on the audience’s votes and the jury’s marks.
The 30 finalists:

The three jury members (from the left): Movie director Le Hoang, supermodels Thanh
Hang and Binh Minh.

Time to fly to Vietnam

Airlines discount fares for int’l routes

September 13, 2011  about News, Travel

A number of local and foreign airlines have announced to discount fares for their flights between Vietnam and other destinations in a move to beef up bookings after the summer holiday.
Qatar Airways has launched a three-day campaign for guests to save up to 25% on Economy-class return fares and up to 15% on Business-class two-way fares across the carrier’s worldwide network from Vietnam.
The discount fares, available at www.qatarairways.com or through its travel agency partners, enable customers to secure savings based on return fares and include taxes, and book their travel period until March 31 next year.
Qatar Airways now operates daily service from HCMC and four weekly flights from Hanoi, and connect the two destinations to the airline’s more than 100 destinations worldwide via its hub in Doha.
To attract passengers to its service to London in December, Vietnam Airlines offers return fares for VND12.5 million (some US$599) for bookings from September 15 to October 15 and for travel before December 31. The rate includes airport taxes and surcharges.
The national flagship said it would commence flights from Hanoi and HCMC to Gatwick Airport in London on December 8, using the Boeing B777. London will be the Sky-team member airline’s fourth destination in Europe after Paris, Frankfurt and Moscow.
On Friday, AirAsia will start to offer 20% off for all seats to all international and domestic destinations, with booking period valid until September 11 and travel period from September 12 till November 16, 2011. This promotion will be available at www.airasia.com.
AirAsia currently conducts flights from Tan Son Nhat and Noi Bai international airports to Malaysia’s Kuala Lumpur. Its member carriers, Thai AirAsia and Indonesia AirAsia, have flights from Bangkok and Jakarta to the two airports of Vietnam and vice versa.
AirAsia applies the promotion to its service links in its hubs in Malaysia, Thailand and Indonesia with over 160 routes stretching to more than 20 countries and territories.
SGT

Remembering my last visit to Vietnam