Wanderlust Tips Team, Author at WANDERLUST TIPS • Page 115 of 197

8 must-see places in Binh Dinh in the morning

[Wanderlust Tips April 2019] Travel to Binh Dinh in the morning, where to go and what to do to have the most enjoyable experiences? Here are eight suggestions from Wanderlust Tips.

[rpi]

KY CO BEACH – LOST IN PARADISE

Located in Nhon Ly Commune, 25 kilometres northeast of Quy Nhon, Ky Co has one side facing sea and is otherwise surrounded by mountains. Blessed by nature, the beach has a charming landscape of rugged cliffs, a crescent moon-shaped seashore, and crystal clear blue water offering a window-like view to bottom and changing its colour at different times throughout the day.

TOP TIPS: There are two options for travelling to Ky Co Beach. Option 1: By boat, combined with a visit to Eo Gió (Windy Strait), Hòn Khô (Kho Island). Book a tour or rent a motorboat which costs VND130,000 – VND150,000/person (this does not include entrance fee to Ky Co tourist area of VND60,000/person). Option 2: By road, round-trip tickets cost VND100.000/person if you walk to the top of the mountain, which is quite a steep path, take Ky Co Resort’s transit bus to the beach. However, saving the walk and travelling directly from Ky Co Resort to the beach the cost is VND150,000/person. Both prices include the entrance fee

KHO ISLAND – THE STUNNING BEAUTY OF THE ISLANDS OF QUY NHON

A small island located right in front of Nhon Hai, shielding this peaceful fishing village from storms. As its name indicates, Kho (dry) is a desert-like island devoid of green trees, covered with rocky mountains and only a few small bushes. Despite this, it has an incredibly beautiful untouched pristine beach with crystal clear blue water. There are many activities for tourists including swimming in the sea, diving to see colourful coral reefs or fishing from the edge of some short cliffs around the island.

TOP TIPS: Driving from the centre of Quy Nhon City, go across Thi Nai Bridge, through Nhon Hoi Economic zone, along Mai Huong Bay, a few kilometres over a mountain pass and you can reach Nhon Hai Peninsula. From there, you can take a boat for 10 minutes to Kho Island. Nowadays, there are many tour operators picking up tourists right in the city centre.

MUST SEE: Phuong Mai Sand Dunes (Nhon Ly Commune) and their exciting sandboarding.

CU LAO XANH (GREEN ISLAND) – ENDLESS BEAUTY OF SKY, SEA AND ISLAND

Located in Nhon Chau Commune, 28 kilometres southeast of Quy Nhon City, Green Island has gorgeous picturesque scenery. The front beach is covered with white sand with a view of the mainland, and the residents of the island mainly live on this side, whereas the back beach is covered in piles of large rocks which all year round face up to howling winds and roaring waves. Cu Lao Xanh (Green Island) also has several interesting attractions like the Cu Lao Xanh Lighthouse, the Fairy Stream, a beach where sea turtles lay eggs, and watching the stunning sunset on the pier.

TOP TIPS: Option1: Take a boat from Ham Tu Dock (Quy Nhon City) for about an hour, the price is VND35.000/person, daily departures at 8.00am and 1.00pm. Option 2: Take a speedboat for 30 minutes/one way, the price ranges from VND3 to 5 million depending on the size of the boat. There is also the option to book a trip for more than one day.

THI NAI LAGOON – THE BIGGEST LAGOON IN BINH DINH PROVINCE

Located to the northeast of Quy Nhon City and stretching for more than 10 kilometres, it is famous for its variety of seafood. All branches of the Kon River and the Ha Thanh River flow into the lagoon which has gradually built it up with layers of alluvial sediment over the years. At high tide, water fills up the lagoon, looking like the rippling ocean on a windy day. At low tide, the water recedes, revealing a thick and smooth mud bottom leading to it being referred to as a Dry Sea (Biển Cạn) in historical texts. On a small mountain inside the lagoon is a little temple built by fishermen to worship the god of water. Looking like an ancient tower, the mountain is known as Fortune Teller Tower.

TOP TIPS: Make an early visit to see the sunrise as the sun rising over the Trieu Chau mountain range and the sunlight shining off the water of the lagoon make for a charming and fascinating scene.

VI RONG CAPE (DRAGON FIN CAPE) – A DUET OF THE SEA AND THE ROCKS

Located in Long Phung Village, My Tho Commune, Phu My District in Binh Dinh Province, Vi Rong Cape is rocky reef protruding about 20 meters into the sea, which includes a sea cave in the middle and is surrounded by fascinating formations of emerging rocks. From a distance, Vi Rong Cape seems like a giant dragon ready to fly towards the sea. The huge rocks towering above the sea combined with the waves crashing in and around them create an image of a dragon spitting water.

TOP TIPS: Besides taking in the majestic natural landscape, you can also enjoy swimming in the sea or participate in exciting group activities. For something to eat, try Hai Hien restaurant, the nearby Hong Tham Café, or head back to the city centre for more restaurant options.

MUST SEE: Hon Nuoc Lighthouse (formerly named Vung Moi Lighthouse).

HAM HO – IMMERSE YOURSELF IN NATURE

Ham Ho Eco-tourism Site is located in Tay Phu Commune, Tay Son District, about 50 kilometres northwest of Quy Nhon City. At the foot of the majestic Truong Son Mountain Range and nestled amidst the forest, Ham Ho is a spectacular natural tourist attraction thanks to Troi Lap River, Chuong Islet, Bong Islet, Da Thanh Islet and a diverse forest ecosystem.

TOP TIPS: You can participate in many interesting activities such as visiting ancient houses, exploring local lifestyles, riding on a horsedrawn carriage, kayaking, fishing, lying in a hammock under the trees, camping, staying at a stilt house, making a campfire, singing karaoke, or having a massage. Immersing yourself in nature will give you the best moments of relaxation. You can plan your own trip or buy a oneday trip for VND699,000/person.

NUI MOT LAKE ECO-TOURISM SITE – BINH DINH’S BLUE JADE

Located in An Truong Village, Nhon Tan Commune, An Nhon District, about 40 kilometres from Quy Nhon City, it was a valley surrounded by mountain ranges before being turned into an irrigation lake, which has made the views more charming and verdant. You can hike through the mountains and explore the ancient Ong Dai Cave, which was a shelter for soldiers and a place for food storage or cruise around on a boat to admire the beautiful picturesque scenery, taking a break at Do Waterfall and visiting Canh Tien ethnic village.

TOP TIPS: From Quy Nhon City, you can travel by car or scooter along National Road 19 to Truong Village, follow the road signs and turn right, keep driving 8 kilometres more down the road, and then you reach Nui Mot Lake. If you take a bus, you should get off at Cai Ba crossroads (Nhon Tan Commune, An Nhon District) and take a motorbike taxi for the final 8 kilometres.

VUNG CHUA MOUNTAIN – HIGHLANDS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE SEA CITY

Vung Chua Mountain is about 600 meters above the sea level, located right next to the seaside city of Quy Nhon and is a popular tourist attraction. Visiting Vung Chua, you will experience many interesting things, in particular, how the appearance of the mountain is affected by the weather. On sunny days, the sky is clear and there are fresh green trees, and you can see everything so clearly. Whereas, on cloudy days, the cool air and blurry mist can make you feel like you are lost in dreamy Dalat.

TOP TIPS: From the centre of Quy Nhon City, drive on National Road 1D, along this road you will pass by Ghenh Rang Tourism Area, then turn right to Quy Hoa at the crossroads, notice on the right side there is a road leading you to the mountain. Follow this road for a while and then it separates into two directions: the left leads to the Fairy Stream Tourism Site, and the right leads to Vung Chua Mountain.

Wanderlust Tips

My Viet Nam in movies

[Wanderlust Tips April 2019] I have an old habit of noticing the places featured in movies, and all of these have created strong feelings of affection that are enchanting and sparkling for me. Apparently, movies are not merely for entertainment, stunningly beautiful scenes enchantingly captured by talented directors have touched my heart and encouraged me to start an adventure to explore my own country.

[rpi]

PHU YEN IS AS SWEET AS CHILDHOOD IN I SAW THE YELLOW FLOWERS ON THE GREEN GRASS

Until one October day a few years ago, I did not often pay attention to Vietnamese movies in the cinemas, preferring TV series with characters and life stories profoundly pictured and told in a series of episodes. At that time, I heard my friends excitedly talking about the movie I saw the yellow flowers on the green grass, which was based on a novel of the same title by the author Nguyen Nhat Anh and directed by Victor Vu. Filled with curiosity by the praise for the movie from the media and also because of my admiration for the author Nguyen Nhat Anh, I decided to go to the cinema to watch the film only to find my earlier prejudices disappear, replaced by admiration and passion.

The movie is about two brothers, Thieu and Tuong, who both grew up in a poor coastal village in the late 1980s. Thieu loves reading books, and while he loves his brother a lot, he is sometimes jealous of him. Tuong, on the other hand, idolises his brother and follows him everywhere he goes. The appearance of Man, the brother’s first crush and the heartfelt brotherhood of Thieu and Tuong touch the hearts of people born in the 1970s and 1980s and remind them of their long-lost childhood memories.

The movie is neither too fast-paced nor sorrowful. It is just about little stories of everyday life in a poor countryside area in the centre of Vietnam, but those very tiny pieces are connected to create a painting of unforgettable childhood memories of each and every countryside child like me. The movie evoked nostalgic feelings and brought me back to familiar and peaceful surroundings. Phu Yen, the name alone can provoke multiple feelings. Probably due to growing up in a poor countryside region on the central coast, I could somehow relate and fall deeply in love with the peaceful scenes in the movie.

Following the storyline of the movie, I go to a sugarcane field in Hinh River district, where the green of sugarcane and grass along with the blue of the sky above spread as far as the eyes can see. The breeze runs its fingers through the fields, forming a lively song with beautiful notes. At the next destination, the abundant rice and corn fields of Tuy An district are opening out in the golden sunshine in front of my eyes. Incredible Xep beach is full of cactuses, making it look like a painting of resilience in the harsh conditions and evoking differing feelings in an adventurer. The blue sky blending with the colour of the vast ocean and the green of the immense grasslands make even the harsh sunlight tender and comfortable on the eyes.

Walking along the cliffs and listening to the distant waves, I feel as if my feelings are harmonising with the sea. The beautiful childhood memories are playing as in a slowmotion movie right before my eyes when I am standing on a golden sand beach on such a wind-blown day. The feelings the movie has evoked in me are not only nostalgic memories, but beyond that, they are an inseparable part of the picturesque land in the centre of the country. They help warm up the hearts of central-born people living away from home and remind us to come back to our homeland sometime very soon.

Every now and then, whenever I feel homesick, I saw yellow flowers on the green grass is still my go-to choice to indulge myself in the scent of my hometown in those tranquil movie scenes.

SILENT UNDER THE DARK ABYSS AND A BEAUTIFUL BUT SORROWFUL HA GIANG

For those who love travelling to the mountains, when your legs seem to need a rest, try sitting down and watching Silent under the dark abyss by director Dao Duy Phuc. A mountainous vibe is highlighted in every scene, making me watch it over and over again just to satisfy my eyes with the scenery of the rocky highlands.

Silent under the dark abyss is the passionate yet tragic love story of the two main characters, Vu and Sua. They love each other, but their love story does not seem destined to have a happy ending when Sua is kidnapped to become the wife of Phong, the son of a wealthy family. The love between Vu and Sua is thought to end, but with a desire for freedom and formidable instinct, Sua does not surrender her destiny. Likewise, although he sometimes feels so desperate that he wants to give up, Vu follows the call of his heart. The passionate love of Vu and Sua thrives like those flowers gorgeously blooming on rocky outcrops.

The landscape of far northern Ha Giang is stunningly beautiful with amazingly extensive mountain ranges, poetic valleys of buckwheat flowers, and multiple layers of rugged rock. It has also witnessed the love story of the H’mong couple in the TV series Silent under the dark abyss. Fields of buckwheat flowers swaying in the wind among high rocky mountains remind people of the shyness of a young H’mong woman beside her sweetheart. The very light pink and purple colours of these flowers on the barren highlands represent the eternity of love.

Obsolete traditions, poverty, and hatred have to surrender to resilience and passion, just like how buckwheat flowers have kept blooming every year to move the hearts of visitors.

Silent under the dark abyss does not only reveal immense natural landscapes with sharp rocky mountains pointing bristly and boldly into the sky, images of houses behind stone fences, or the colourful skirts of H’mong women, it also brings Ha Giang closer to the audience with its customs and traditions. Its culture is shown in festivals, weddings, gentle folk songs, and the sound of flutes echoing in the forests. H’mong people were born among rocks, grow up with rocks and always nurture a pure love in their heart. Just like Ha Giang, their homeland, they are innocent and humble yet strong, self-respectful and always long for true love.

Many movies are set in Ha Giang. Besides Silent in the dark abyss, other well-known productions also include Father and Son by director Luong Dinh Dung, Red Sky directed by Olivier Lorelle and Pao’s story by Ngo Quang Hai. After indulging in these movies, many people leave a piece of their hearts in the mountains of Ha Giang.

INDOCHINE, THE BEAUTY OF VIETNAM THROUGH THE EYES OF THE FRENCH

I used to spend large amounts of time seeking the images of this S-shaped country in foreign films just to find the answer to my very own question: How is my country seen through the eyes of foreign people? And I finally found it in the movie Indochine.

The director of photography, François Catonné, once said “I have left my heart in this place” when he came to Vietnam to work on this film. It is undoubtedly true that Vietnam has always held a miraculous attraction for the world’s filmmakers thanks to its simple and humble but wideranging beauty. The renowned Indochine is also a valuable source for history buffs who want to know more about the social settings of that period.

I was made aware of the film by my school history teacher who told us stories about colonial times and the challenges and hardships faced by people from different classes in society. Those stories were like mysterious seeds, arousing curiosity in me. After that, I watched the film so attentively that I completely lost track of time, and Vietnam, as shown in the film, was the heart of Indochina.

Despite being well-known after winning an Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film in 1993, Indochine was not officially screened in Vietnam until 2016 at the Hanoi International Film Festival. The audience excitedly went to watch the film they had heard so much about for such a long time and adored a magnificent Vietnam through the scenes of the French film.

Indochine is a film set in colonial French Vietnam from the 1930s to 1950s. Although set over 70 years ago, many values present in the film still remain important even as time goes by. Made by the French, the film is about the very colonial land they lost and displays in detail the war in which they were defeated. Nevertheless, the film does not defend or attack either side, showing a subjective awareness of history, and of the people of the colonial country where the French were vanquished. That is the very reason why I find it both touching and exciting to watch.

My heart was deeply moved when I witnessed the sacred love between Éliane Devries and her daughter Camille, or the complicated nature of the love triangle between both of them and the good-looking officer Jean-Baptiste Le Guen. Eventually, the lives of all three characters were sent into a swirl with the surprising changes of the time, leading them onto separate paths.

However, since the media have seemingly used all the most outstanding words in the world to describe the massively famous Indochine, as a person who is meticulous about different film shots, I always pay more attention to places and locations in films and Indochine has completely won me over in this.

The director harnesses the beauty of Vietnam very well and makes it look magnificent through the eyes of a foreigner. It is a pristine but gorgeous Vietnam gradually entering into a new era. Each and every scene is carefully considered, and that very meticulousness of filmmakers has created an authentic and amazing Vietnam in the film.

It is no exaggeration to say that Indochine is a masterpiece and a precious jewel in the image of Vietnam. To be honest, I used to think that our country might seem poor and rundown during wartime, but when the first scene of Ha Long Bay (Quang Ninh) was shown on the screen, I was astonished as it was still so stunningly beautiful. Ha Long Bay appears many times in the film, leaving gentle impressions in the mind of the audience and while watching the film, I knew in my mind that I would definitely go to that place.

The scenes in Ninh Binh have most vividly put on display its pristine beauty, which is somehow, really Indochine. A quiet and solemn Hue has played an essential role in telling the stories of the French in Vietnam in the period between 1939 and 1950. The then authority even allowed the crew to set up and film inside the palace of King Bao Dai.

Indochine is not limited to any one setting, but there are many locations from all around Vietnam. For those who understand the film through their ultimate empathy and observation will see it as a beautiful but sad depiction. The expansive and magnificent sceneries create the beauty, and sadness comes from the fact that the beauty is meaningless when the whole country is struggling under colonial rule.

Blended in amongst the amazing scenes are the resilience and powerful spirits of the Vietnamese people. I felt pity and compassion for those sweating workers manually tapping rubber in the rubber plantations during the night by the flickering light of torches. Theatre troupes travelling from place to place to encourage people to rise up, or communist soldiers so persistently waiting for the right time to fight for the country. Through this, Indochine does not just make me astonished at the beauty of the landscapes of my homeland, it also connotes the incredible beauty of my fellow people. I did not miss one bit of emotion during the 2 hours and 40 minutes of the film in which a blurred image of Vietnam that I could only read about in books appeared so vividly in front of my eyes.

Just like me, other Vietnamese must be so proud to see their country from the perspective of foreigners. And for foreigners, on the other hand, Indochine has played an important role in inspiring and urging them to come to Vietnam, a small but powerful and exceptionally beautiful country.

CLOSING LINES

Every movie evokes different feelings and impressions depending on each individual’s perceptions. Some people might take watching a movie as slowly as drinking tea to enjoy the lingering aftertaste of it. Some others, however, inspire their dreams of travelling through films. I myself not only enjoy watching movies about my Vietnam over and over again to nurture greater feelings for them, I also want to see the landscapes in them in reality in my trips. It might be true that we do not need to go somewhere far as there are still many amazing places and stories waiting for us to explore and give our hearts to in our very own country.

Thi Thi | Wanderlust Tips

Share the love: Travelling through movies

[Wanderlust Tips April 2019] With the theme “Travel through movies”, Share the love Section of Wanderlust Tips Travel Magazine April 2019 will give our readers the thrilling stories of memorable journeys inspired from the renowned moves of characters to have a better understanding of “marriage” between travel and movies.

[rpi]

SETTING FOOT IN THE FILMING LOCATIONS OF YOUR FAVOURITE MOVIES IS THE BEST FEELING EVER

NGUYEN QUANG HOANG LANG, GRAPHIC DESIGNER, HCMC

To begin with, we have to mention the famous movie Inceptionthat won 4 golden statuettes and was nominated for BestPicture at the 2011 Oscars. Since I love this movie so much,I immediately went to the Bir-Hakeim Bridge once I arrivedin France. It crosses the Seine, is the location of a scene inthe movie and now sometimes goes by the name InceptionBridge. Standing on Bir-Hakeim Bridge, imagining myself asa character in the movie, looking at the sights right before myeyes, the Eiffel Tower gave me an indescribable and incrediblymemorable feeling.

Or the time I visited Italy, the country that is considered the cradle of art. Walking on every small street corner in Rome reminded me of the many famous movies that have taken place here. The Trevi Fountain is the first thing I had to visit in Rome, throwing a coin into the fountain wishing to have a chance to come back here. It is also the background of the romantic movie To Rome with Love which tells of an exciting adventure of people vacationing in Rome.

Next stop is Amsterdam, the Netherlands. After an afternoon walk along the canals, I found the wooden bench where Hazel and Gus confessed their sweet love for each other in the movie The Fault In Our Stars.

There were many other beautiful places I got to see on my European journey that perhaps a movie addict like me will never be able to forget.

NOSTALGIA OF THE LOVER AT THE ANCIENT HOUSE OF BINH THUY

NGUYEN HOAN HAO, STUDENT AT TAY DO UNIVERSITY, CAN THO CITY

On the topic of classic movies with beautiful scenes, I’m deeply impressed with The Lover or in French L’Amant. The story portraits love with such depth and fascination, set in the context of Vietnam under French colonial rule.

Among all the scenes of the movie, I particularly remember one house for its unique architecture. The house is a mix of French and Asian culture known as the Ancient House of Binh Thuy, located in Can Tho. Because of the fondness I have for The Lover as well as the beautiful setting of the movie, I have visited the house many times.

The moment I set foot in the Ancient House of Binh Thuy, I feel totally comfortable, a feeling of gradually sinking into the nostalgia that the house has kept for many years. I like to touch the ironwood pillars with my own hands or sit by the window and enjoy the fresh air.

All the feelings that this place gives me are hard to precisely articulate, but above all, it’s perhaps its peacefulness and tenderness.

And not only for The Lover, the unique architecture of the Ancient House of Binh Thuy has also become the filming location for many other famous movies such as Tay Do Beauty, Long Distance Roads and Life’s Debt.

A VERY DIFFERENT NINH BINH IN KONG: SKULL ISLAND

HOANG THI THUY DUNG, OFFICE WORKER, HA NOI

I am a person who loves to be on the move, and Ninh Binh is the place that makes me want to return to it the most. Before the movie Kong: Skull Island, I’d already visited the ancient capital of Ninh Binh twice, and after the film was released, I decided to go there again.

The first two times I visited Ninh Binh, I was in a depressed mood and wished to find joy in a new land. I went there to temporarily forget life’s pressures and stresses and also because Ninh Binh is quite near Hanoi. On my third visit, I observed more, felt more and captured its essence for myself.

This time, I was extremely impressed with the set of Kong: Skull Island. It is hard to imagine such a magnificent movie set was built right in the middle of the peaceful land of Ninh Binh. In particular, the indigenous village on Skull Island in the film was restored to almost exactly as it was in the film, about 40 huts mainly made out of bamboo. Outside the huts, there were many ancient-looking household tools, wall hangers and the kitchens were also arranged in great detail.

One thing I specifically remember is the detailed layout of the huts, the way the lives of the indigenous people were also recreated in a real and attractive way. When I met and chatted with the locals in the costumes of indigenous people, I felt like I really was in the movie.

LOVE FOR DA LAT FROM THE MOVIE 100 DAYS WITH YOU

PHAM TRUNG, PHOTOGRAPHER, HCMC

Artists like me often take the time to watch movies, learn their configuration as well as creative frames. Among the movies I have seen, I was really impressed with 100 Days With You for its gentle feelings, its thoughtful story of youth and its carefully crafted visuals. I fell in love with Dalat through the film, making me want to explore this land.

Dalat, with its cool climate, massive pine forests and flowers blooming through all four seasons, stole my heart right away. On my arrival in Da Lat, I suddenly recalled the young people in the movie, Nhat Minh (Jun Vu), Anh Duong (Kha Ngan), and Le Huy (B Tran) and their lifestyle of living in complete loneliness. But then love itself led them to experience waves of emotions, challenge them to be more brave and open, and acknowledge that better things are awaiting them outside their comfort zone.

On my wandering days in Dalat, I fell more in love each day with the simplest and most modest things. Like when I woke up early and welcomed the new day in a beautiful place or when I rode my motorbike along a small ridge in the afternoon, surrounded by whispering pine forest. I also found the inspiration to continue making more impressive works of art.

And for you, if you want to soak in the beauty of Dalat completely, then I am sure that you only need to travel there and experience it yourself.

Wanderlust Tips

Hong Anh: Actress and film director

[Wanderlust Tips April 2019] Hong Anh is a modern woman with an open personality and a great passion for travelling and exploring the world. In this conversation with wanderlust tips, Hong Anh talks enthusiastically about her devotion to cinema as well as her desire to present the beauty of Vietnamese nature through quality and meaningful movies.

[rpi]

Cinema and travel are my two greatest passions in life.

Welcome Hong Anh, you have been involved in the film industry for over 24 years. How did you develop your passion for cinema?

Acting has been my passion since I was a child. I always loved all kinds of art activities during kindergarten, and I liked to play different characters. I also loved to read picture books and imagined myself becoming the animals in the books, playing multiple roles at the same time.

Growing up, I believed I would do better in art and social sciences and in making my first career choice, I decided to go to dance school. From there I made the transition to cinema, and from my first movie, I realised I truly wanted to pursue this as a career because working in the cinema is an incredibly fulfilling career that suits my personality, matching with my acting ability and interest in travel.

Does that mean that every filming trip is also an opportunity to travel?

I love to travel and to explore, so I also love my job as it gives me the chance to go on long journeys, which bring me to faraway lands little known to most tourists.

For example, in the movie “Thung lũng hoang vắng” (Deserted Valley), I played the role of a teacher at a village commune Ta Giang Phinh, 30km away from Sapa town. The school was situated on a hill with the view of a dreamy valley, cloudy mountains and grandiose rice paddy fields. You can experience all four seasons (Spring – Summer – Autumn – Winter) in just one day. I followed ethnic people to the forest to see how they harvested cardamom, the local life there is simple yet so beautiful. These villages are much different from the places specialising in tours on a large scale near Sapa town.

You have a passion for travel and also have the chance to follow that passion. Which places have you already visited?

I’ve already explored all along the S-shaped coastline of Vietnam and visited many other places outside of Vietnam around Asia, America, Europe and Australia. Travelling allows me to explore different cultures and natural landscapes, things which I had only read about in the books. Truly being there and seeing living things in person are such amazing experiences that can hardly be described in words. If you follow me on Facebook, you will see how I usually record my travel experiences, even creating live videos of my journeys. I do it just out of interest, I want to keep a travel journal and maybe what I’m sharing can be meaningful to the travelling community.

Successful movies will have a positive impact on tourism by boosting development of the locations in the movie’s setting.

Among the places you have been to, which one do you feel the strongest emotional connection with?

I love the sea in Vietnam. I have been to some of the most famous beaches around the world, the Maldives for example. Staying just for one week is great, but if I stay longer I don’t feel like I belong there, the scenery is beautiful, but it doesn’t give me the feeling of closeness to them. This is totally different from the untouched, pristine places in Vietnam such as Binh Ba and Binh Lap of Khanh Hoa, Phu Yen and Binh Dinh. All along the thousands of kilometres of coastline in central Vietnam are stunningly beautiful beaches with crystal clear blue water.

Apparently, the film industry and tourism have a very close relationship. In particular, many famous movies have laid the foundation for local tourism to promote locations that audiences have seen on the screen. What is your opinion about this?

It doesn’t matter how beautiful the movie scenes are, if the movie cannot touch the audience deeply, the beautiful images from those scenes will be quickly forgotten. That’s why everything starts with a good movie. A good film will have a positive impact on tourist’s motivation and the development of the locations in it. Maybe just preserving a part of a film set, which is not difficult, can be used to attract tourism.

Take Korea as an example, they are doing this really well. The decor of the coffee shop where the main couple of Autumn In My Heart met and broke up with each other has been kept the same as it was in the movie. They even keep repeatedly playing the romantic scenes of the couple, and also displaying memorable movie items and so on. Or also the lonely tree in My Sassy Girl. The journey won’t mean that much if we just simply take a look at a beautiful tree, but it will be more interesting and appealing if we know that that tree is part of our favourite movie.

So how about in Vietnam?

Vietnam has also done it. The movie I Saw The Yellow Flowers On The Green Grass directed directed by Victor Vu has successfully promoted the beautiful land of Phu Yen to many audiences. Or after the success of of Kong: Skull Island directed by Jordan Vogt-Roberts, the indigenous village in it has been reconstructed to attract tourists to Ninh Binh.

In “Go Go Girls” (Hong Anh played the grown-up Hieu Phuong), the slope Nha Bo has become a new destination for young people to take photographs and to check-in. Beautiful landscapes combined with the story of a successful movie will inspire more people to visit. Especially when films are brought to the international stage, it is an excellent way to promote tourism.

In the role of a director, how can you promote beautiful landscapes through movie scenes?

The Way Station was a significant milestone for me due to the change in my role from an actress to a director. This film was aimed at a niche market audience, and it didn’t financially succeed in the domestic market, but I am proud of myself for not giving up in the middle and completing it. Also, I am proud to be able to participate in the promotion of Vietnam to the world as the movie has won international prizes. The film was shot in Hoi An, and 98 per cent of the indoor scene footage was filmed in the Museum of Trading Ceramics, so through this movie, the images of the old town of Hoi An can reach a wider Vietnamese and international audience.

Very soon I have a plan to make a movie about people with mental health issues in today’s modern society. As always, the film will create a space for its audience to have their own thoughts and perceptions. The premise is a character that takes part in changing the fates of other characters in the movie. What I care about the most is always the feelings of the audience after watching the film and that it stirs their emotions, and to do this, the context of the story is critically important. I hope that my films through scenes of everyday life can represent real Vietnamese life as well as through sweeping outdoor scenery show the audience many visually beautiful places combined with meaningful messages.

PHAM THI HONG ANH

Her famous TV dramas and movies include: Người đẹp Tây Đô (Miss Tay Do), Đời cát (Sandy lives), Kiều Nguyệt Nga (Kieu Nguyet Nga), Thung lũng hoang vắng (Deserted Valley), Hải Nguyệt (Hai Nguyet), Trăng nơi đáy giếng (The Moon At The Bottom Of The Well), Em là bà nội của anh (Sweet 20s), and Tháng năm rực rỡ (Go Go Girls). Won multiple national and international prizes at the Golden Kite Awards and the Golden Lotus Awards, won Best Actress for her performance in “Trang Noi Day Gieng” (The Moon At The Bottom Of The Well) at the Dubai International Film Festival.
Worked on the production of the movie “Đường đua” (The Race) and the documentary film “Chuyến đi cuối cùng của chị Phụng” (Madam Phung’s Last Journey).
Her film directorial debut “Đảo của dân ngụ cư” (The Way Station) (2017) received multiple nominations and awards at prestigious regional and international film festivals.
Listed in Forbes Vietnam’s list of the 50 most influential women in 2019.

Thank you for sharing your insightful thoughts with us, and we wish you success with all your upcoming film projects!

Wanderlust Tips

Hôtel Des Arts Sai Gon: Queen of lifestyle hotels in Vietnam

[Wanderlust Tips April 2019] The doors to Hôtel Des Arts Saigon open as if by magic, drawing you through the light airy entrance to the lobby. Venturing further into the hotel, it’s as if you are travelling through time onto the set of a 1930s romantic movie, each step taking you ever deeper into an enchanted bygone world.

[rpi]

LEAVE REALITY BEHIND AND STEP INTO SAIGON LUXURY

The harsh realities of the present moment fade out almost without you noticing, as a kinder, softer world gradually comes into focus. A world of quiet elegance, exquisite but refined taste and graceful living. Like the delicious smell of freshly brewed coffee that permeates the vibrant café scene of Saigon’s streets, a serene atmosphere fills the opulent spaces and secluded corners of the hotel. Spaces which you notice are adorned with carefully selected unique decorative pieces. Your soul is soothed as you relish each beautiful work of art, the gorgeous fabrics, flowing silks and low warm lighting. The staff approach offering to attend to your needs with the grace and poise of a ballerina. Nothing jars, everything flows.

The vibe is tres chic. It’s Paris, darling. The pace gentle, the décor Indochine. The sense of hospitality is classy, classic French style. Glamour is everywhere and it rocks. Be ready to freely cast aside your protective exterior and indulge your sensual side – that part of you that adores fine wines, gourmet food, the beauty of exclusive designer clothes and jewelry, and luxurious pampering. Slip unashamedly into a tender mood perfect for enjoying the rituals of an afternoon tea reminiscent of colonial days, the leisurely smoking of a Cuban cigar in a gentleman’s boudoir or the sipping of a champagne cocktail from an elegant bar stool. You will be in good company.

HÔTEL DES ARTS SAIGON DELIVERS DAZZLE AND DREAMS

In this opulent setting, the air is electric with the possibility of romance. As guests pass through communal areas, the sense that wonderful things are about to happen is palpable. Intimate spaces throughout this establishment provide a perfect venue for those wishing to relax in an exclusive, discrete setting. You cannot help but wonder who is sequestered in the quiet corner booth as you get a waft of fragrance or catch a glimpse of sartorial elegance.

The twinkling lights of Saigon reflect the dazzling guests of the Social Club Rooftop Bar as day turns into night. An upbeat atmosphere builds as conversations spark over a wide selection of sundowners, signature cocktails and delicious drinks. A gentle breeze passing through the warm night air caresses shoulders and frees spirits. The crowd is eager to enjoy the night to the full and a sense of excitement ripples through them. The glow of the pool radiates a dreamy light which is mirrored on their faces. Music carefully chosen by a top class DJ reaches your ears and lifts you up.

EXQUISITE LIFESTYLE EXPERIENCES AT HÔTEL DES ARTS SAIGON

Hôtel des Arts Saigon draws a discerning clientele who aspire to enjoy the best that life has to offer. They know what their life values and they appreciate the beauty in everything. And here at the hotel we aim to offer them memorable sensory experience to savour.

Those in the know will find out about fashion shows, art exhibitions, exclusive culinary events and more. Some examples of past events include trunk shows and fashion events with luxury brands, meals with Michelin-starred chefs and an exclusive wine dinner with Baron Philippe de Rothschild, who is known worldwide for his ownership of Château Mouton-Rothschild. At this event, guests had the once in a lifetime experience of tasting some of the most prestigious Grand Cru wines and millésime champagnes in the world. For example, each year Château Mouton-Rothschild selects a painting from a famous artist to create a unique label for their bottles of outstanding Mouton Grand Cru wine. Hôtel des Arts Saigon aligns with other high luxury brands as well that show class and a taste for the fine arts at every turn.

In addition, a key element for lovers and arts and culture is that Hotel des Arts Saigon, MGallery is just minutes away from some of the most iconic French architectural beauties in Vietnam such as the Central Post Office, Saigon’s NotreDame Cathedral and the sculptural beauty of the Saigon Opera House.

The Hôtel des Arts Saigon blurs the boundaries between a hotel that is simply a luxurious escape and one that creates an unforgettable lifestyle experience for its guests. Regardless of whether you are passionate about wine and fine dining, luxury brands, world-class DJs or lush relaxation, you will find something to spark your soul at this life-affirming destination for Saigon visitors and locals alike.

Wanderlust Tips

Looking for romance in New York

[Wanderlust Tips April 2019] New York through my eyes, is a sparkling city of finance, chaos, and so many legendary romantic American love stories.

[rpi]

JFK airport is big, but not so different from other major international airports like in Melbourne, Auckland, Taipei or Tokyo. Everyone is fatigued from long-haul flights and the stress of border control sorting everyone and everything into a ridiculous order. It is midnight during New York’s winter, and there had been a snowstorm not long ago here, only just over a week, I guess. However, it does not have the feel of the biting cold of a freezing night in Melbourne, and it is quite warm actually. After a long while, I finally drag my suitcases out of the airport while trying to push a reluctant smile onto my face for all the heavily armed officers wandering around. I call a cab, yes, a yellow cab – the icon of New York City to take me to my hostel in Brooklyn, which is not too far from here.

The back seats are separated from the driver’s seat by a glass wall, this is a new experience for me as I have never seen that anywhere else, and of course, at the end of the trip, I have to use whatever is left of my brain cells after the flight to figure out how much to tip my driver. Tipping is absolutely American as there is nowhere else that tips are a way of life like here. It is starting to rain.

Differences aside, I am in New York – the sparkling city of finance, chaos, and so many legendary romantic American love stories.

It is past midnight, but the hostel’s reception is still open. I’m taken to the room I’m sharing with four people, the other three are sleeping already, leaving one bed empty next to the bathroom wall. I try my best to open my suitcase, take out my pyjamas without making too much noise, and after a quick hot shower, I am in bed, ready for a good night’s sleep in New York. 1:19 am. It is raining hard.

I wake up early even though I got to bed so late. The rain has not stopped yet and has even gotten heavier since last night. Outside the window, I see red-brick walls and uneven rooftops in the rain. This has an unfamiliar feel. To me, a winter’s morning rain is a combination of green bushes against a grey sky outside of my little room in Point England, south-east of Auckland Central in New Zealand, or a window looking out at an old wooden fence covered with bright pink camellia flowers in Carnegie, south of Melbourne, Australia. However, this cold reminds me of those winters, all that is missing is coffee and some jazz.

Brooklyn is notoriously known as an “unsafe” borough due to its large population of struggling immigrants, a poorer area especially when compared to the riches of Manhattan just across the iconic Brooklyn Bridge. However, I prefer Brooklyn over Manhattan, as in a way Manhattan is too shiny, too industrial for me, packed with its straight and crowded streets, mixed together with old and historic buildings, where people are rushing to catch their trains at one of its dirty and cramped stations. Manhattan lacks the artistic feeling of the supposed dream city of so many. Brooklyn, on the other hand, reminds me of Melbourne, the most livable city in the world as voted for many years. The streets of Brooklyn are smaller, quieter, especially in the winter’s rain, making you, or at least me, feel its calm, chilled vibe which I value far more than the noisy stations underneath Manhattan. I remember Carrie Bradshaw, the main character in the popular series Sex and the City once told her Russian artist boyfriend in shyness and embarrassment after the man read her a poem, “I write a column based on the assumption that romance is either dead or just phoney”. Romance, it is what New York is lacking: a French kiss on Fifth Avenue, perhaps.

The following night, at 3am, it starts to snow. In the morning, I hop off at Pennsylvania station, Midtown Manhattan and am stunned by the scene that is in front of my eyes on the corners of West 33rd Street with 7th and 8th avenues. It is beautiful, like in a movie, but which one? Ah yes, “Enchanted” it is. When Giselle rises from a manhole in Manhattan after being pushed through from a fairytale land. Despite being at night in the movie, I believe that she would have felt the same as me: stunned by the beauty of Manhattan in the snow.

Snowflakes are falling softly and silently on the city of New York, covering all the roofs, the old gargoyles, and the green tarnished bridges between the city’s mighty towers. Everybody is hurriedly moving to their places of work or simply running away from the harsh coldness of this moment. I have been living in cold climates for years; however, snow is still new and exciting for me. My experience with snow is brief and limited to the few days that I spent in Kyoto and at Mount Fuji some years ago, though the beauty of it still amazes me in many ways. When it’s snowing, it gets warmer, similar to Melbourne’s winter rain – when the water stops pouring down, the true coldness will come, as the humidity starts spreading and clinging to your hair, your clothes, your socks, like an old ghost who never leaves.

I stop at an American-style coffee house rated 5 stars by hundreds of people on the internet after passing by numerous coffee and bagel carts on street corners. After all, I am still a boy from down under, breakfast to me is a muffin and a flat white. The café is packed with people. I sit down and order pancakes with bacon and sausages. The hotcakes come out gigantic in size, nearly filling the whole plate while the crispy bacon rashes and sausages are sizzling hot with their dripping fat fusing itself with the melting butter chunks on top of the pancakes. In cafes in Australia and New Zealand, you pay for each cup ordered and their coffee is Italian espresso, which is different from the machine drip Americano here. When you order a coffee, you can drink as much as you want by just asking the waiter or waitress to top up your cup. Just don’t forget the tip!

I am sitting, looking at my warm coffee and pancakes, thinking about all those breakfasts the ladies from Sex and the City shared together over the six seasons of the series. In a café in Manhattan, over breakfast coffee, the four women talk to each other about sex, their romantic relationships, and all the troubles of living in the crazy city known as New York. They cry when Miranda announces that she proposed to her longtime boyfriend, Steve. They (except Charlotte) mock Carrie for her “cheesy” romantic relationship with the Russian artist, as according to Miranda and even Carrie herself, romance in New York is when a man offers you a seat on the subway. Is romance officially dead in New York City?

I walk along the 7th avenue towards Central Park. On my right-hand side, there is the Empire State Building, its tower iconic of New York City in many ways, especially after it appeared on screen with King Kong grabbing the top of it with one hand while holding Ann Darrow (played by Fay Wray) in the other in the 1930s.

The snowing is starting to stop. Times Square appears in front of me, big and sparkling with a million electric lightboards. Now I know why many people want to come here seeking romance as it is the perfect combination of American financial power and American romance as captured by Alfred Eisenstaedt in his picture of the moment when World War II ended on 14th August 1945: the spontaneous kiss between a sailor and a nurse. The famous and iconic scene, as I remember, is also the beginning of the movie “Letters to Juliet” by Gary Winick as Sophie is making phone calls to find witnesses of the kiss. Perhaps, romance just transforms itself into something different for the here and now, without jazz or piano, but with pop songs by Beyoncé and Miley Cyrus?

On my last day in New York, before boarding my flight to the city by the bay on the West Coast where Tony Bennett’s song has been sung since the 60s, “My love waits there in San Francisco above the blue and windy sea”, I decide to visit New York City’s emblematic bridge, as symbolic as the Golden Gate is to San Francisco: the Brooklyn bridge. It is a sunny and windy winter’s day, on the top level of the bridge, people are crossing the river on foot, while on the bottom level, cars and trucks are doing the same. The beautiful view of the bay seems to be taken for granted by both the locals and tourist on this day. A movie scene emerges from my memory of the movie version of Sex and the City. It is when Miranda and Steve both agree with the marriage counsellor that if at a specific date and time, on the Brooklyn Bridge, they decide to come to see each other, all of their problematic past will fade away. Then on a beautiful autumn’s day, on this bridge, they run, hug each other, and kiss.

The sun is setting, and the freezing wind from the bay is howling. The Weather app on my phone says that it is -4oC while I am standing on the Brooklyn side of the bridge, looking across at Manhattan with a chocolate ice-cream in my hand. The temperature is dropping fast, just like the darkness descending on this winter’s night. Romance in New York City might not be far away. It might be just like this: a long walk over the bridge, a chocolate ice-cream on this freezing night, a photo of love to remember – like in a song by Irving Berlin: “What’ll I do with just a photograph to tell my troubles to?

W.TIPS

WEATHER

NYC has four distinct seasons. You should check weather information carefully before your trip to pack the right clothes for the right season. Snowstorms are common in NYC and Northern America during winter, which can interrupt transportation services, including flights.

TRANSPORTATION

>> Subway: NYC has a complicated subway system. It’s a good idea to learn how to read the subway map, signs, and indicators to avoid getting lost. Google Maps is one of the best apps to use to navigate through the maze of tracks beneath Manhattan. If frequently travelling by train, it is recommended that you buy a weekly ticket, even if you are staying for a shorter period of time.

>> Ferry: From the South Ferry Terminal of Manhattan, you will find a free ferry to Staten Island. This ferry goes past the Statue of Liberty (ferries to the statue are tourists ones and cost money). A one-way trip should take about 25 minutes.

>> Cab: NYC is famous for its iconic yellow cabs. Tipping is also required when taking cabs.

ATTRACTIONS

There are millions of things to see in New York City, including a number of museums and galleries. One of the most popular ones is the American Museum of Natural History where the movie “Night at the Museum” starring Ben Stiller was filmed.

FOOD

NYC is a melting pot of cuisines. One way to explore them is by looking up Google Maps for recommendations.

TIPS

Tipping is required across the US for all services, including taxis, dining, and room service. The amount of money to tip is about 15% of the bill or a few dollars for room service (placed on the table with a note with “tip” written on it).

Alex Tran | Wanderlust Tips

The most prestigious film festivals of the world

[Wanderlust Tips April 2019] Annually, film festivals around the world are held to honour remarkable films that are not only visually appealing to audiences but also bringing powerfully evocative messages.

[rpi]

TRIBECA

The Tribeca Film Festival was founded in 2002 by Jane Rosenthal, Robert De Niro and Craig Hatkoff as a response to the tragic events of September 11th which happened in the Tribeca neighbourhood of Manhattan. Through this, the international film community and people in general can have an opportunity to experience the power of cinema through a reaffirming experience at the festival.

The Tribeca Film Festival welcomes independent films including documentaries, feature films, short films and family films. The festival’s awards include Best Picture, Best Actress, Best Actor, Best Documentary and Best Short Film.

Location: New York, United States.

Time: 24th April – 5th May 2019.

CANNES

The Cannes Film Festival is one of the most prestigious film festivals in the world, attracting a huge amount of media attention and witnessing the presence of many of the biggest movie stars and also being a platform for producers to premiere their latest movies. The first Cannes Film Festival was held from 20th September to 5th October 1946, in Cannes, after which it was held in May every year.

The Cannes Film Festival’s most prestigious award is the Golden Palm (Palme d’Or) for Best Picture and Grand Prix voted for by the jury of the festival.

Location: Cannes, France.

Time: 14th – 25th May 2019.

ANNECY – INTERNATIONAL ANIMATED

The Annecy International Animated Film Festival was founded in 1960 and is one of the biggest film festivals focusing on animation. Initially, the festival was held every two years, but since 1998 it has become an annual event, capturing the attention of animators from all over the world. The festival distinctively introduces different animation techniques such as clay modelling, paper cut-outs and moving drawings.

Currently, the festival has 5 awards: long films, short films, films produced for TV stations or commercials, school and student graduation thesis films, along with movies made for the Internet.

Location: Annecy, France.

Time: 10th – 15th June 2019.

MELBOURNE INTERNATIONAL – MIFF

MIFF is the biggest film festival in Australia, as well as the Southern Hemisphere. Founded in 1952, it is also one of the oldest film festivals on the planet and promotes interaction among film lovers.

The festival currently has four major awards: the City of Melbourne Grand Prix for Best Short Film, the BBC Knowledge Award for Best Documentary Short Film, People’s Choice Award for Best Feature and the Holmesglen Award for Best Animation Short Film.

Location: Melbourne, Australia.

Time: 1st-18th August 2019.

VENICE INTERNATIONAL

Founded in 1932, the Venice International Film Festival is the world’s oldest film festival and one of the so-called “Big Three” film festivals in the world, along with the Berlin International Film Festival and the Cannes Film Festival.

The festival currently has three major awards, the Golden Lion Award (Leone d’Oro) for Best Picture, the Volpi Cup (Coppa Volpi) for the Best Actor/ Actress and the Saint Marco Award (San Marco Award) for Best Controcorrente Film (non-mainstream, original film).

Location: Venice, Italy.

Time: 28th August – 7th September 2019.

TORONTO INTERNATIONAL – TIFF

TIFF was first held in 1976 and is one of the best publicly attended film events in the world. Originally, it was called The Festival of Festivals.. TIFF was once held in Yorkville, but it wasn’t until it took place in Toronto that it made a big buzz. The festival concentrates primarily on independent cinema, representative films of national cinema and individual directors.

The major prizes are the People’s Choice Award and Best Canadian Film.

Location: Toronto, Canada.

Time: 5th – 15th September 2019.

Lan Anh | Wanderlust Tips

Around Hong Kong through famous movies

Hong Kong was once known as the Hollywood of the east as the whole city was just like a big film studio. Every corner of this inspiringly beautiful city, from each small alley to big avenues, has traces of many famous cinematic scenes from movies in them.

[rpi]

Hong Kong was in my childhood mind before I could even speak Vietnamese properly or had any idea about travelling outside of my hometown. In the 1990s, Hong Kong movies and TVB dramas used to be part of Hanoian’s entertainment culture, when renting VHS tapes was still popular. I wasn’t able to understand what the movies were about in my innocent childhood years, but somehow, the scenes and characters remained ingrained in my memory, and have come back to me at many unexpected moments. With a love for Hong Kong cinema and travelling, I have been planning for years for an adventure to visit the locations of the scenes from my favourite movies. Some locations are captured in mind from the movies I’ve watched, some from my research in magazine articles and books. I had imagined that this journey would be full of joy but also exhaustion, as I intended to spend every day wandering through all the hidden corners in mostly nontouristy areas. Besides that, I have no one to share my Hong Kong film passion with who has enough interest to take this trip with me, so I started my journey all alone.

TSIM SHA TSUI – SANCTUARY OF LOVE, CULTURAL CENTRE OR HIDEOUT OF THE UNDERWORLD

On this first trip abroad alone, I decided to rent a dorm in a hostel in Chungking Mansions. Of course, this is a hostel area with many affordable places for travellers to stay, but more importantly, my favourite movie Chungking Express was shot here.

Chungking Mansions main gate is on Nathan Road, a major thoroughfare that connects Tsim Sha Tsui with other central Kowloon areas such as Mongkok and Yau Ma Tei. The iconic building is not only the inspiration for the title of Chungking Express, but it’s also the main setting for the first half of the movie where the meeting of the two main characters takes place. The unexpected, dreamy, surreal encounter between a broken-hearted policeman (played by Jin Cheng Wu) and a mysterious woman (played by Brigitte Lin Ching Hsi) where they even don’t know each other’s names. Chungking Mansions is depicted in the movie as dimly lit and smokey with endless dramatic chases between police and criminals, and underground gangs hunting each other down. At its Premiere at the Venice Film Festival in 1994, director Wong Kar Wai admitted that he chose the setting for the film in Chungking Mansions due to memories from his childhood. He used to live in a neighbourhood nearby and was forbidden to enter the building. Not until his teenage years could he understand why his mum had been so worried and how chaotic and dangerous it was inside Chungking Mansions.

Just as it is depicted in the movie and through Wong Kar Wai’s words, the building looks huge on the outside, but the space inside is cramped and narrow. The building is divided into several blocks each with its own lift which seem to have endlessly overcrowded queues in front of them all the time. Nowadays, Chungking Mansions has been turned into cheap hostels all crammed in closely together along narrow aisles full of people. The vibe can be bustling and full of excitement for a party-lover, but too noisy for those seeking something more peaceful. There are more immigrants than locals in Chungking Mansions, mostly from India, the Philippines or South West Asia by their looks. The wealthier run hostels and rental rooms, the poorer work as porters for stores and other businesses. The rest open kiosks on the ground floor selling everything from fruit and snacks, cheap household goods and electrical devices to more sensitive products such as sex toys and magazines. At the entrance of Chungking Mansions and in the neighbourhood surrounding it, I sometimes came across African men in suits, smelling of their distinctive perfume, who kept grabbing the hands of girls passing by and saying “I love you”. I’m not quite sure but suspect they might be working as gigolos or pimps from the red-light districts. I was more than a little nervous on first arriving at Chungking Mansions.

Already not really fond of crowds and having heard about crimes committed here, I had scared myself by imagining multiple bad scenarios which could happen in a week-long stay. Pauline, one of my Instagram friends, was also worried for me when she knew I was staying in Chungking Mansions. Juno, my friend from Hong Kong of the same age, always insisted on walking me to my hostel, watching me safely entering the lift before going home. For them, it isn’t even safe for the locals here, let alone a solo female traveller like me. Fortunately, my journey turned out alright, the security in Hong Kong nowadays is much better than before, and actually, the residents of Chungking Mansions were not as scary as what I had imagined. But somehow, the fear I had beared in mind helped me experience the mysterious atmosphere Wong Kar Wai had created in his film Chungking Express. Besides the modern and fancy image of Hong Kong that I knew from tourist advertisements, I had the chance to experience another Hong Kong by diving into the hustle and bustle of the unorthodox lifestyle in Chungking Mansions, where there still is the classic, exotic beauty that captured my heart in the cinematic scenes of the old movies. On top of this, being in the global tourist hub of Hong Kong, Chungking Mansions connected me with many friends from all over the world.

From Chungking Mansions, it took me just a few minutes to walk to Victoria Harbour and the Avenue of Stars. The modern and spectacular scenery here is the backdrop for many love stories in TVB dramas, from dating to breaking up. Sometimes though, directors can turn this place into the setting for dramatic police chases. Maybe the chaotic situation in Tsim Sha Tsui before 1997 is so notorious in the memories of Hong Kong’s people it has turned this place into both a sanctuary of love as well as an underworld hideaway in many films and drama productions.

YAU MA TEI – NOTORIOUS POLICE STATION, CITY’S BIGGEST FRUIT MARKET AND REMNANTS OF AN OLD HONG KONG FROM HISTORY.

The Hong Kong film industry created its reputation in action movies and dramas. The Hong Kong Police from films in Vietnamese people’s memories are mighty in their uniform, handsome in daily life, smart when investigating and fierce when chasing criminals. Everyone knows the iconic line: “Hello, we are from West Kowloon Special Criminal Case Unit. Please come with us to the station to support our investigations. You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say or do may be used as evidence against you in a court of law”. West Kowloon Police Headquarters has become such a vivid image in my mind of a scene just like that there was no way I would miss out on this location on this journey.

Even though the West Kowloon Police Headquarters is an actual location, scenes were usually filmed at the old headquarters of the Yau Ma Tei police, located on Guang Dong Street in Yau Ma Tei. The three-storey building spread over two facade creates a majestic scene at the crossroads. The design of the building is consistent with other Hong Kong police headquarters under British colonial rule. While the light greyblue colour combination creates solemnity, the arched Gothic domes soften its look. In scenes, the indoor footage was shot in a studio, but outdoor scenes were always filmed in front of the facades of Yau Ma Tei Police Headquarters. It appeared in legendary movies such as Infernal Affairs and Young and Dangerous or famous TVB series including Armed Reaction, Take My Word For It and Emergency Unit. Yau Ma Tei Police have moved location, and the building has been closed temporarily but still kept intact, becoming a tourist attraction for Hong Kong film lovers.

From the old police headquarters, I found my way to Yau Ma Tei Fruit Market. In the comedy series My Better Half, Ko Lai Sum (played by Maggie Cheung) sells durian in this market where she is known as the “big sister” of the market. Yau Ma Tei Market is a flea market with many stalls filled with various colourful tropical fruits with focal points of murals on the walls in between them. Hong Kong has limited agricultural land and fruit is mostly imported, so the price is high even at wholesale markets like Yau Ma Tei; nonetheless, there are more options for fruit here, and the prices are still reasonable compared to other markets. What impressed me most was instead of selling various fruits like in Vietnam, there are stalls that only sell one kind of fruit. For instance, if they only sell tangerines, the whole family peels the skin of each and every tangerine. I guess they supply restaurants, so they have to do it that carefully.

I remember Yau Ma Tei in TVB films being depicted as the impoverished area of Hong Kong. In the drama Mystery of Love (2010), the female lead (played by Tavia Yeung) is rejected by her lover’s family due to the prejudice against Yau Ma Tei residents as she is seen as being poor, uneducated and inadequate to their family. Wandering around the market, I understood the films weren’t exaggerating; nevertheless, I was attracted to the down-toearth beauty. Yau Ma Tei still stays true to the traditional lifestyle of the Hong Kong of the good old days. There are no big buildings or skyscrapers like in Tsim Sha Tsui, Central or Wan Chai, only old-fashioned apartments, stores and restaurants. Temple Street is always crowded through the day and night with masses of street food kiosks, the fragrant smells of food cooking, along with the sound of people talking, laughing and cheering. In this neighbourhood, there are fortune telling stalls, together with public karaoke. This was the first time I ever witnessed a monitor, speaker and microphone right there on a pedestrian laneway, with people ordering drinks and finger food while singing karaoke carefree in public.

Not too far away from Temple street lies the old coffee shop Mido, still with the same look after half a century. The coffee shop witnessed the Hong Kong film industry in the good old days as in the 50s and 60s this used to be the gathering place of local actors and film producers. I was inspired by the beautiful stories of Mido when I was browsing through travel books before my trip to Hong Kong. When I came here, I realised right away this was the setting of a meeting between two policemen played by Andy Lau and Kent Cheng in the movie Chasing the Dragon released in 2017.

The coffee shop was closed the first two times I tried to visit, but it was just too good to be missed out on so I decided to come back for a third time, and luckily, I was able to have my last lunch here just a few hours before travelling to Macau. Due to its reputation for good food, Mido is often fully booked for most of the day, and the owners see no need for more elaborate decorations or refurbishment. Simple wooden tables and chairs near the window, just like what was in the films. The autumn sunlight shined through the curtains, reflecting off the old blue tiled walls, brightening the whole room with a sparklingly miraculous light.

Hong Kong is like a big movie set, the more I explore, the more interesting things become. Not only being the setting for domestic films, sometimes Hollywood films are also filmed in its iconic scenery. Tsim Sha Tsui, Yau Ma Tei and many other residential areas have been brought into cinematic scenes from real life with their own original beauty. There’s Chek Lap Kok airport with the beautiful aircrew in Triumph In the Skies, Central piers where all the reunions and farewells take place, and sometimes being turned into the crime scene of a suicide or assassination. There’s Hong Kong university that holds all the memories of the broken love of the couple (played by Shu Qi and Leon Lai) in City of Glass. There’s the outdoor elevator in Central – where Faye Wong stalked her unrequited love Tony Leung in Chungking Express.

Five days was not enough for me to visit all of Hong Kong’s nostalgic corners, I’ll have to save the dream of living in more movie scenes for future adventures to come.

W.TIPS

GENERAL INFORMATION

Hong Kong is a Special Administrative Region on the eastern side of the Pearl River estuary in southern China. Hong Kong became a colony of the British Empire in 1842. However, the entire territory was transferred back to China in 1997. The geography of Hong Kong primarily consists of Hong Kong Island, Lantao Island, Kowloon Peninsula, and the New Territories.

>> Tsim Sha Tsui is administratively part of Yau Tsim Mong District, located on the tip of Kowloon Peninsula overlooking Victoria Harbour, opposite Central. Tsim Sha Tsui is a major tourist hub in metropolitan Hong Kong, with many high-end shops and restaurants that cater to tourists. Many of Hong Kong’s museums are located in the area.

>> Yau Ma Tei is also an area of the Yau Tsim Mong District in the south of Kowloon Peninsula in Hong Kong. The district is mainly a mixed residential and retail area. Every night there is a market selling many different kinds of products including clothes, decorations, VCDs and toys in Temple Street, a street in the area where the famous Tin Hau Temple was built in 1876. Austin Road marks the southern border of Yau Ma Tei with Tsim Sha Tsui.

BEST TIME TO TRAVEL

Hong Kong has a humid subtropical climate similar to northern Vietnam, and there is no significant difference in temperature between the two. The best time to visit Hong Kong is autumn, winter and new year. Avoid July and August due to storms and typhoons.

TRANSPORTATION

>> From Vietnam, there are direct flights to Hong Kong International Airport by Vietnam Airlines, Hong Kong Airlines, Cathay Pacific and Jetstar Pacific. Vietjet Air only operates flights from Ho Chi Minh City to Hong Kong.

>> In Hong Kong purchase an Octopus card when you arrive at the airport. This is the “magic card” that is accepted for 11 kinds of transportation including the MTR, double-decker buses, minibuses, trams and ferries. The card can also be used in supermarkets and convenience stores.

From the airport to Tsim Sha Tsui and other central areas in Hong Kong, you can choose to go by either double-decker bus or MTR on their respective routes.

MONEY

The Hong Kong Dollar is the official currency of Hong Kong. 1HKD ~ 2.954VND (current exchange rate). You can exchange money in Vietnam or at Hong Kong airport. If you exchange at the airport, it’s better to bring USD. There are many choices depending on your budget, from high-quality services to inexpensive ones. For a tight budget, you can prepare 12.000.000 – 15.000.000 VND cash, together with credit cards for spending and shopping in Hong Kong.

Wanderlust Tips

Da Lat with a lover

Da Lat has always been poetically symbolic of dreams and romance. I still remember the movie Doc tinh in the early 2000s with its passionate, bittersweet love story that took place in peaceful Da Lat. Since then, Da Lat has lived in my mind as a beautiful image of love, and i hoped to visit this romantic city one day with my true love.

[rpi]

I chose Da Lat in flower season to enjoy the most romantic atmosphere, which is when the purple phoenix flowers bloom. After many travels here before, this was the first time I came to the city of flowers at this time of year. With a chill in the air, my darling and I walked under the twinkling lights emanating from the church, he gently held my hand and whispered: “With me and with Dalat, how happy are you…?”.

DA LAT HAS NEVER BEEN A BORING PLACE TO RETURN TO

If anyone asks: “Will Da Lat have anything new?”, I will not hesitate to say: “No, it is still the same, but not boring.”

This time, writing about Da Lat, I want to dedicate this to those who like to walk leisurely in a noisy and bustling city or those who live it their way, ride a bike, buy a camera, and slowly enjoy the melody of life. For the Mori girls (*), for the world that these girls create for themselves: storytelling, simple, delicate, where the girls peacefully drink tea in front of a house deep in a pine forest.

My lover and I wanted to make our Dalat journey special, so we drove by ourselves to experience the city on our own. Departing from Saigon, it took about 6 hours to enter to reach Bao Loc City, then the car continued onto Highway 20 to Da Lat. On both sides of the road, we saw purple phoenix which meant we had arrived in Da Lat. The purple phoenix becomes more and more special because it only grows in this plateau city of Vietnam.

Coming to Da Lat is temporarily fleeing from hot Saigon days, enjoying the cold air, and feeling time slowly moving by with a lover. So, I didn’t go looking for anything new just some familiar old street corners and restaurants. But when it comes to purple flowers, Da Lat immerses itself in romance and tranquillity.

I checked in at a homestay on Hung Vuong Street. It was a windy afternoon, so windy that it could blow away all the troubles in my heart. I booked a wooden bungalow for two nights, a decent enough room with lovely decorated corners. Outside the room was a valley planted with vegetables which during the day did not seem very special, but when night time came, all the greenhouses were light up. It was absolutely magical.

We prepared some ginger and honey, sipping hot ginger tea in 19-degree weather is awesome. The first night under the persimmon tree full of ripe fruit, with only the wind, serenity, tea and occasionally smiling at each other. We were happy in that space.

Blankets were warmed by a fan heater, I crawled into a comfy and warm silkworm-like cocoon, greedily wanting to read more than half of the book Gone with the Wind by Margaret Mitchell. Of course, that was just a wish because nestled between the cold and warmth, reading always makes us fall asleep quickly. I dropped the book by my pillow, slowly relaxing, the wind whistling through the wooden door, gently I turned, inertia making me cling to the hand next to me tightly…

Da Lat softens my soul, I find it easier to be tolerant, to receive, every word seems to be more pleasant and easier to listen to. Da Lat is never in a hurry, offering only genuine peace.

JOURNEY TO FIND THE LONELY PINE TREE

Da Lat is beautiful in every flower and every blade of grass, people keep going there together to find peacefulness, to bask in nostalgia, to have a charming hidden place to treasure long gone youth. Here lies the tragic love story of two graves on a hill, the broken hearts abandoned by love. Some walk on the streets beneath gaping pine forests and feel endless sadness, restless emotions, looking at every street corner feels like missing an old lover. Everyone loves Da Lat and wants to come back here in their own way.

But for me, I want to break the “curse” that people joke about: “If two lovers go to Da Lat together, they will definitely break up someday”. I do not believe that, and I want to love Da Lat as my present lover, with joy, hope and optimism. Da Lat embodies happiness, treasuring the most beautiful youth of each person, where there is love and laughter. Da Lat in me will always be like that.

On my second day in Da Lat, I set out to find beautiful trees. “Beautiful” in my own definition, I like the majestic loneliness of old pine trees. The more silent and lonely the tree is, the more beauty it resonates, especially trees that stand tall next to a lake, appearing like the highlight in an enchanting painting.

I went through nearly 20 kilometres of a steep mountain road winding through the pine forests to find the most lonely pine tree. Local people asked me: “For what? To take photos?”. I quickly replied “Yes!”. But in my heart, I knew it wasn’t really about the photos, I simply wanted to see the pine trees peacefully standing half beneath the ground and the other half proudly facing the wind and rain. A pine tree that stands alone is most beautiful, not needing to rely on anything, not needing to wait for anyone. I always have special feelings for such lonely trees. I spent a whole day walking, traversing up and down the slopes only to find one lonely proud tree, other trees appearing and disappearing along the way. If there is a life after this one, I wish to be a tree that stands alone in life.

(*) Mori girl: a Japanese concept originated in 2007 refers to young girls who live in cities but have a special love for forests, nature and the countryside.

W.TIPS

SELF-DRIVE TOUR TO DA LAT

Time

From Ho Chi Minh City, aim to start at 4.30 am to avoid traffic jams in the city as after getting outside of it the traffic is much lighter, and you can travel more easily. It takes about 7 driving hours to reach Da Lat.

Route

Leaving Ho Chi Minh City, go along the Long Thanh – Dau Giay Expressway, at the Dau Giay T-junction turn onto Highway 20 and follow this to the Lien Khuong Highway which will then take you all the way to Da Lat. This road is fast and steep, so strictly abide by the speed limit to ensure you arrive safely.

THE MEANINGFUL EXPERIENCES FOR COUPLES IN DALAT

Picking green tea

About 25 kilometres Southeast of Da Lat city centre, Cau Dat Tea Plantation is one of the most popular destinations. Visiting Cau Dat and its hills of tea, visitors will have a chance to learn more about the surprisingly thorough process of growing and caring for the many kinds of tea plants here, especially green tea. To achieve the most delicious tea leaves, they are even sprayed with honey, soy milk and egg. If you want to experience picking green tea leaves with farmers for yourself, you must make a plan and come here very early.

Harvesting persimmons

Located at the Mimosa Pass, the garden of persimmons is an ideal destination to take photos. The orchard here is not too big but particularly fruitful, and with all the ripe persimmons dangling in front of you it will definitely make you excited. If visiting right in the harvest season, you can support garden owners by helping with the harvest; however, you cannot buy the persimmons you have picked because they need to be processed before being ready to eat. Visiting the garden just after harvest when it is full of freshly picked persimmons, you will find many different varieties including egg persimmons, crunchy persimmons and square shaped persimmons.

Flower viewing

There is an impressive range of so many kinds of beautiful flowers from wild flowers to rare and precious ones. Located right nearly Xuan Huong Lake, you can easily visit the city’s flower garden, but thanks to its ideal climate, lovely wild flowers are in everywhere in the Da Lat city. Those who love purple phoenix flowers can head to Hai Ba Trung, Tran Phu and Nguyen Thi Minh Khai Streets on the way to Da Lat Market and Truc Lam Temple. If you would like to see wild sunflowers, you can go to the Bong Lai – Tu Tra commune, or around the Da Lat Farm area.

Taking a dip in a heated pool

After an exhausting day of walking, try refreshing your body in warm water. In Da Lat, heated pools are available in hotels like the Swiss-Belresort Tuyen Lam, Ana Mandara Villas Da Lat Resort & Spa, and Da Lat Terracotta Hotel Resort.

Mori | Wanderlust Tips

Adventures into the world of cinema at theme parks

Due to the booming film industry, theme parks inspired by famous movies have been increasingly constructed. Visitors have an excellent opportunity to immerse themselves in a real-life atmosphere just like being in the movie.

[rpi]

PANDORA – THE WORLD OF AVATAR

Pandora – The World of Avatar is located within the area of the Animal Kingdom at the Walt Disney World Resort in Florida, America. This theme park is inspired by James Cameron’s famous science fiction film Avatar, and so it is designed according to Pandora – the beautiful life-friendly planet in the system of Alpha Centauri. When visiting Pandora – The World of Avatar, imagine yourself as a native Na’vi and lose yourself in its wild natural animal kingdom, and most notably, enjoy the feeling of flying on a mountain Banshee at the Avatar Flight of Passage, ride a boat through Kapsava river to explore the Pandoran ecology, or wander around the valley of Mo’ara. The combination of the sound, the animation and the 3-D space will give you an incredibly authentic experience.

SAW – THE RIDE

Saw – The Ride is a Gerstlauer Euro-Fighter roller coaster at Thorpe Park, located between Chertsey town and Stainesupon-Thames in Surrey, the United Kingdom. The ride is themed around the famous film series Saw. At the time of its opening, Saw – The Ride was the steepest and the first horror movie-themed roller coaster in the world. The feeling of riding on a roller coaster and screaming crazily when it seems to run straight into a pit of strobe-lit spikes or when it passes under dim lit blades is unforgettable. Besides this, the terrifying Jigsaw Killer’s equipment, the pools of blood, the barbed wire fences, the variety of torture methods, and the scary laughter of the puppet Billy will challenge your limits. Also, at special events, some staff act as victims trapped by Jigsaw – the villain in the film series Saw.

SCOOBY-DOO SPOOKY COASTER

The Scooby-Doo Spooky Coaster, located in the Warner Bros. Movie World theme park on the Gold Coast in Queensland, Australia, is a roller coaster based on the action film Scooby-Doo (2002). The entrance is a replica of the Spooky Island Castle in the movie and the vehicles of the ride are also modelled on those in the film. In December 2016, the initial theming was replaced due to being a fire hazard, and with new theming and an updated name, Next Generation opened in late 2018. Still themed around the film Scooby-Doo yet updating the storyline and some effects. You have to visit Emile Mondavarious’s haunted castle, sit in a Jester car and begin your own thrilling journey full of surprises that can send shivers down your spine.

THE WIZARDING WORLD OF HARRY POTTER

The Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Studios Japan in Osaka is one of the theme parks attractions drawing in thousands of visitors, particularly the loyal fans of Harry Potter. The highlight of the theme park is Hogwarts Castle with talking portraits and Dumbledore’s office. In The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, you can engage in a magical world, enjoying delicious Butterbeer and eating like a wizard at the Three Broomsticks restaurant, or buy yourself a magic wand at Ollivander’s wand shop.

THE WORLD OF THE HUNGER GAMES

Now, fans of The Hunger Games can enjoy the film in real life at the Motiongate theme park at Dubai Park & Resorts in Dubai, UAE. Visiting The World of The Hunger Games, you will be able to get a glimpse into the fictional dystopian society from the film. Katniss and Peeta’s energy will help you release your own and boldly tackle the roller coaster and the 4D multimedia hovercraft named the Capitol Bullet Train and Panem Aerial Tour. Although The Hunger Games depicts youths fighting to the death in a dystopian society, this theme park mainly focuses on the positive aspects of the film and accordingly, while exploring the park, you can run into some people dressed up as the peacekeepers.

THE DARK KNIGHT COASTER

The Dark Knight Coaster is a ride located at the Six Flags Mexico theme park, Tlalpan borough in Mexico City, Mexico, and is based on the film The Dark Knight (2008). While in the movie Bruce Wayne, aka Batman, James Gordon and District Attorney Harvey Dent form an alliance to dismantle organised crime in Gotham City and are threatened by an anarchist known as the Joker. When it comes to the Dark Knight Coaster, you will experience the feeling of being stuck in Gotham City thanks to the clever tricks set up by the Joker and his men. Darkness is taking over, and the only person you can rely on is the Dark Knight.

Wanderlust Tips