Wanderlust Tips Magazine | InterContinental Phu Quoc Long Beach Resort Launches Phu Quoc’s First Kids Camp

InterContinental Phu Quoc Long Beach Resort Launches Phu Quoc’s First Kids Camp

InterContinental® Phu Quoc Long Beach Resort welcomes children and families this summer for their inaugural Planet Trekkers Kids Camp, offering a unique and fun-filled programme for children from ages 5 to 12 on Vietnam’s largest tropical island of Phu Quoc.

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The Kids Camp takes advantage of the luxury resort’s numerous outdoor swimming pools, landscaped gardens, private and pristine white-sand beach, and 250 sqm Planet Trekkers children’s club to host fun-filled days of games, educational activities, and creative arts and crafts.

Wanderlust Tips Magazine | InterContinental Phu Quoc Long Beach Resort Launches Phu Quoc’s First Kids Camp

“We are delighted to be hosting Phu Quoc Island’s very first Kids Camp this summer,” said Anna Rohm, Resort Manager of InterContinental Phu Quoc Long Beach Resort. “Through a range of interactive, creative and educational activities, our new programme focuses on broadening the horizons the little VIPs staying with us, and offers truly memorable experiences for a special family holiday.”

The Kids Camp promises to offer a world of wonder for children in a fully supervised and secure environment with age-appropriate facilities and fun, culturally-inclined indoor and outdoor activities. Professionally trained and certified caretakers are available so that parents can enjoy some relaxed alone time.

Outdoor Activities

Phu Quoc Island is a paradise where kids can soak up the warm sun rays and refreshing tropical air with exciting outdoor activities from swimming classes and pool games at Splash! family pool, sand castle building on Long Beach, and kite wars, to challenging treasure hunts in the resort gardens. Adventurous kids can also zoom down the large waterslide at Splash!

Wanderlust Tips Magazine | InterContinental Phu Quoc Long Beach Resort Launches Phu Quoc’s First Kids Camp

Indoor Activities

After a frolic in the sun, kids can cool off indoors with a number of interactive and culturally enriching activities including Urban and Vietnamese dance classes, “music time’ with guitar lessons, a kids cooking class, arts and crafts, and other educational classes so that time spent at the resort is not only fun but also productive, teaching children valuable lessons that they can take home with them afterwards.

This summer at InterContinental Phu Quoc Long Beach Resort, children will have the time of their lives while parents can enjoy a moment to themselves they so deserve, whether it be luxuriating with a couples’ treatment at HARNN Heritage Spa, or going on a romantic date at the resort’s newly opened signature restaurant LAVA, overlooking the ocean horizon.

Wanderlust Tips Magazine | InterContinental Phu Quoc Long Beach Resort Launches Phu Quoc’s First Kids Camp

The Planet Trekkers Kids Camp takes place every day from 10:00AM – 4:00PM, and includes lunch for USD 50 per full day per child.

Kids Camp Package

Families with children wishing to enjoy the camp can take advantage of the Planet Trekkers Kids Camp Package. Starting from USD 230+ per night, the package includes:

  • 1 day at the kids camp for one child and 20% discount for additional days and children
  • Daily breakfast at Sora & Umi restaurant
  • 20% off at HARNN Heritage Spa for parents to enjoy during their stay
  • A minimum two night stay in a choice of room, suite, residence or villa

Wanderlust Tips Magazine | InterContinental Phu Quoc Long Beach Resort Launches Phu Quoc’s First Kids Camp

For more information and reservations, please contact +84 297 397 8888, or email reservations.icpq@ihg.com.

Wanderlust Tips | Cinet

Wanderlust Tips Magazine | The Ascott Limited launched Ascott Star Rewards

The Ascott Limited launched Ascott Star Rewards

Debuts Ascott Star Rewards as world’s first serviced residence loyalty programme to offer full flexibility to earn and redeem points.

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CapitaLand’s wholly owned lodging business unit, The Ascott Limited (Ascott), is embarking on a digital ecosystem transformation to support its fast- expanding global lodging portfolio. Ascott aims to drive revenue growth, improve operational efficiency and enhance value to its customers and business partners through a comprehensive front-to-backend systems makeover. In addition to its launch of Ascott Star Rewards, the world’s first loyalty programme in the serviced residence industry to offer full flexibility to earn and redeem points, Ascott is adopting a new revenue management system as well as updating its backend global property management system to a cloud-based one.

Wanderlust Tips Magazine | The Ascott Limited launched Ascott Star Rewards

To augment the growth of Ascott’s lodging brands, which now stands at 13, Ascott has to be smarter about the sales and distribution of these various brands to ensure they deliver the right products for our guests. By combining the technology of cloud commerce, revenue and customer relationship management applications as well as location analytics, Ascott will be able to capture an unprecedented level of data, both online and offline.

Ms Lew Yen Ping, Country General Manager for Ascott Vietnam, said: “As Ascott celebrate 35 years of hospitality excellence worldwide and 25 years of successful business in Vietnam, we would like to say a massive thank you to our customers for your unwavering support. To enable our guests to enjoy the comforts of home in more destinations, as well as to express our appreciation toward our loyalty guests, we’re thriving to harness technology to deliver the right and best products and services based on your preferences”.

Ms Yen added: “As part of Ascott’s digital transformation efforts, our newly launched loyalty program – Ascott Star Rewards is offering members no cap to the points that can be earned, no minimum points required for redemption, no blackout dates, and even the option to nominate other guests to earn points. Its four membership tiers are based on the guest’s accumulated spending during the qualifying period, starting with the complimentary Classic membership tier, followed by Silver, Gold and Platinum”.

Ascott’s digitalisation initiatives

To complement the launch of Ascott Star Rewards, Ascott has revamped its booking websites to enable members to access their rewards, redemptions, booking history and preferences on a personalised dashboard. It has also enhanced members’ online experience by streamlining its room booking process from six to three steps.

Wanderlust Tips Magazine | The Ascott Limited launched Ascott Star Rewards

As part of its transformational journey to digitalise its business from the core, Ascott is upgrading to a cloud Property Management System. It will allow Ascott to seamlessly interface with new systems as it scales its business, and to consolidate guest and reservation data across all properties. To better predict customer demand and maximise revenue growth, Ascott is the first in Asia to adopt a revenue management system tailored for long-stay business with IDeaS, a leading revenue management solutions provider.

Ascott’s other digital initiatives underway include using advanced emotion analysis of guest reviews to sift out customer insights for operations, marketing and branding strategies; and an enhanced Customer Relationship Management system for Ascott’s sales workforce to access and capture information on corporate clients on their mobile devices while managing leads on the move.

Ascott has also introduced service robots in China to perform a suite of tasks including providing concierge services, leading guests to their rooms or facilities at the property, delivering clean laundry and packages, and providing refilling room supplies. This has increased productivity by about 40%, allowing Ascott staff to spend more time to interact with guests. Ascott also offers the use of self check-in kiosk with facial recognition at Ascott Orchard Singapore, which has reduced check-in time for guests from five minutes at the front office to two minutes at the kiosk. Ascott is the first serviced residence company to adopt the self check-in kiosks with facial recognition, with plans to roll them out to its properties around the world.

Ascott Star Rewards offers

Members can enjoy a range of privileges including year-long 10% off Best Flexible Rates, seasonal offers of up to 50% discount, property opening specials, birthday discounts of up to 40%, early check-in and late check-out , as well as complimentary airport transfers, room upgrades and breakfast.

Wanderlust Tips Magazine | The Ascott Limited launched Ascott Star Rewards

To celebrate the launch of Ascott Star Rewards, members will receive 3,000 bonus points upon sign-up via Ascott’s brand websites. Existing Ascott Online Advantage members, who will be automatically upgraded to Ascott Star Rewards, will enjoy a tier match based on their spending with Ascott in 2018 and receive 5,000 bonus points upon their first completed stay from now till 31 December 2019.

Ascott Star Rewards members will have the flexibility to exchange points with My TAUZIA Privilege loyalty programme from 1 June 2019, and this flexibility will be extended to other loyalty programmes such as CapitaStar; as well as the donation of points to CapitaLand’s philanthropic arm, CapitaLand Hope Foundation, to support the underprivileged. At a later phase, there are plans to work with partners to allow members to redeem points for various treats such as shopping, dining and entry to attractions.

Wanderlust Tips

wanderlust-tips-mesmerised-by-the-magnificent-scenery-of-cao-bang

Mesmerised by the magnificent scenery of Cao Bang

A pristine, mysterious and poetic land, Cao Bang evokes in people’s hearts a sense of contemplation and admiration with its magnificent scenery and clear blue sky.

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Wanderlust Tips Magazine | Mesmerised by the magnificent scenery of Cao Bang

Cao Bang people have a wonderfully beautiful song about their homeland:

If you pound the three-month rice

I will carry the water taken from Cao Bang to you

As soaking rice in this water will it whiten

I wonder if we can get to know each other better

I used to wonder why the man in the song only wanted to bring water from Cao Bang but not any other kind of water for the girl he loves. When I visited Cao Bang, I finally got my answer. Cao Bang’s water is clear, as green as jade and sparkling fresh just like the souls of the local people here.

On 12th April 2018, a resolution was adopted to officially recognise Non Nuoc Cao Bang Geopark as a UNESCO Global Geopark. We decided to take a journey to discover the famous landscapes of this large park, to understand and in the end to fall in love with the breath-taking scenery of Cao Bang.

From Ha Giang, I made my way to Cao Bang on a sunny afternoon. If Ha Giang stands out for its majestic mountains, Cao Bang’s nature is blessed with pristine and spectacular primitive forests. The Quay Son river is so crystal clear that pebble stones are visible on its riverbed and spreading out in front of my eyes were vast bamboo forests with slender stems rising straight into the sky. On the side of the mountains, bunches of pink forest flowers were blooming, the air and breeze filled with their sweet fragrance. As the winds passed through the mountains, the sides of the road were full of reeds fluttering in the wind. All of the scenery was vividly bright and colourful, yet still so peaceful and contemplative. Cao Bang’s nature kept sinking deeper into my heart, simple yet so familiar like it had been part of me for such a long time.

BAN GIOC WATERFALL – A GREEN PEARL ON THE COUNTRY’S BORDER

Wanderlust Tips Magazine | Mesmerised by the magnificent scenery of Cao Bang

The first place I visited on the journey was Ban Gioc waterfall – the largest natural waterfall in Southeast Asia, originating from the Quay Son river which lies on the border of Vietnam and China. The falls are formed in two parts, the smaller waterfall in the south is called Cao waterfall, while Thap waterfalls are the main falls in the North on the VietnamChina border. According to the land border treaty between Vietnam and China signed in 1999, the smaller falls belong entirely to the Vietnamese, while the main waterfall is shared, delineated by boundary marker No. 836.

I had travelled hundreds of kilometres to get there and although the journey was quite arduous, when I arrived, the beauty of the waterfalls made the fatigue seem to disappear. Standing high above, watching the waterfall cascading down, my heart was full of a joy difficult to put into words.

The beauty of Ban Gioc waterfall was as splendid as a green pearl in the border area. It is a perfect combination of the mountains and the river perched among the most spectacular natural colours: the blue of the sky and the green of the mountains and forests, the azure of the water reflecting the colour of the sky. After flowing through the primaeval forests, when the water reaches here, it is at its freshest and most invigorating.

Visiting Ban Gioc in the dry season, the volume of the water flowing over the falls is less than that of the rainy season, but  the beauty of the waterfalls still overwhelms me. From high above, thunderous flows of water crash down, creating white foam. At the smaller falls, the water flows from a height of 30 metres offering a spectacular and awe-inspiring scene, while at the main waterfall, the water flows more smoothly and gently like soft white silk strips.

I was desperate to walk along the meandering path next to the waterfall and climb the top of the falls. It was definitely worth the effort as I could admire a panoramic view of the sky, land and forest, which was so wonderful that I wished to embrace it all in my arms. The surface of the river past the waterfalls is as calm and clear as a mirror, and on each side, there are green fields of grass with buffalo grazing leisurely. I stood there for a long time, watching this amazing scene and feeling a pleasant sense of happiness.

PAC BO – MEMORIES OF UNCLE HO

Wanderlust Tips Magazine | Mesmerised by the magnificent scenery of Cao Bang

The next day of the journey, our group visited Pac Bo Historical Site (Ha Quang), where our beloved President Ho Chi Minh used to live and work. It was here he wrote the history of the Communist Party of Vietnam, living the hard life of a revolutionary soldier, but always believing in the future.

Our visit to Pac Bo was more than worthwhile as its nature is so beautiful and poetic. Lenin stream is clear and gentle with schools of fish swimming around, and Karl Marx Mountain appeared so majestic and solemn in the sunshine with peaceful villages nestled at its foot. Pac Bo Cave is well-known yet humble, marked by the time President Ho Chi Minh lived and worked here. He was modest and transparent with a gentle soul. I suddenly felt my heart soften, my soul was clearer, and all my worries disappeared; to be immersed in nature, to live like a mountain, like a river, like a tree.

Nature was generously bestowed upon Cao Bang in general and Pac Bo in particular as a pristine, natural beauty that anyone who comes here cannot help but be surprised by. These famous sites lauded in poetry and songs appear beautiful and lively.

THANG HEN LAKE – THE SERENE

Wanderlust Tips Magazine | Mesmerised by the magnificent scenery of Cao Bang

In the journey to explore the beauty of Cao Bang, Thang Hen lake is a must-see destination. Thang Hen Lake is the most beautiful of 36 lakes in the mountainous area of Tra Linh district, famous for its serene beauty of majestic mountains and peaceful, pristine waters.

Thang Hen lake is also known as “bee’s tail Lake” because if you are looking from above, the lake is shaped like the tail of a bee. Arriving in Thang Hen right at harvest season, I silently watched the yellow rice fields which looked beautifully like a giant woven carpet of nature and smelled of the sweet and pure scent of rice.

Thang Hen has charming scenery with trees stretching along the high and dangerous cliffs, reflecting off the green water, and growing along the valley of rugged rocks. Along with enjoying the poetic scenery of the river and forest, I rowed from one lake to another, enjoying dishes imbued with national identity and tasting the aromatic, delicious wine distilled with corn and yeast according to the traditional methods of the Tay people.

Not only attracting tourists with its incredible scenery, Thang Hen lake is also the source of many mystical tales. Legend has it that in the past, there was a young man from Cao Bang named Sung who was smart and handsome. He passed an exam and was rewarded by the king who gave him 7 days to return to his hometown where he was appointed as a court official. Back home, he married a beautiful girl named Ooc and being so besotted by his beloved wife, Sung forgot about returning to the capital until the sixth night came, when upon remembering he hastily said goodbye to his wife and parents and ran to the capital. In the middle of the night in the forest, after running 36 steps, unfortunately, he slipped, hit his head on the side of the mountain and died. His 36 steps today are the 36 large and small lakes of various names in Tra Linh District, and it is said that the place where he laid down is Thang Hen lake today.

Along with the journey of discovery, do not miss the opportunity to immerse yourself in the life of the local people. Cao Bang people are remarkably friendly and rustic who are simple, natural and hospitable. I was invited to enjoy some Syzygium tea – a very sweet tea prepared by the people here. I could feel in their eyes the hidden desire to conquer the heights of the mountains.

Saying goodbye to Cao Bang, my heart was filled with sorrow. Right from the first moment I came here, I knew that I would come back to once again listen to the wind singing the songs of the deep old forests, and to be immersed in the passionate love and the beautiful scenery of Cao Bang:

I listen to the wind singing by my side

Remembering the vast forests

When I leave, will you forget me

Please send some sunshine to me again …

(from the song “listening to the wind” by Anh Minh)

Wanderlust Tips Magazine | Mesmerised by the magnificent scenery of Cao Bang

W.TIPS

BEST TIME TO VISIT:

Cao Bang’s climate is characterised by two distinct seasons: the rainy season lasting from April to September and the dry season from October to March:

>> If you want to visit Ban Gioc waterfall, you should go in August and September. At this time, the many waterfalls will be flowing very beautifully.

>> If you would like to visit Cao Bang to admire flowers, time your visit for the end of the year, around November. It is the season of Buckwheat flowers (at the same time as the season of Buckwheat flowers in Ha Giang).

>> If you like ice and snow, you should visit in winter (from November to February). During this period, in the forest of Phia Oac temperatures drop very low, making snow very likely to happen.

TRANSPORTATION:

From Hanoi, you can take a motorbike or bus to Cao Bang. Passenger ticket prices range from VND170,000-200,000. If travelling by motorbike, it is important to note that the roads to Cao Bang are mainly through steep mountains with heavy traffic, so you have to ride carefully, bring your license and registration, wear protective clothing and safety helmets, and abide by traffic laws. Besides this, you should also carry petrol and a repair tool kit.

LOCAL CUISINE:

Dishes that cannot be missed include Cao Bang hot roll cakes, ant egg cakes, dishes made from bees, roasted duck and sausages as well as dishes made from wild vegetables including Da Hien vegetables, stone moss, forest banana and Bauhinia variegata. Also, Trung Khanh chestnuts are also very delicious, and you can buy them as gifts for your family.

ENTRANCE FEES TO VISIT ATTRACTIONS:

Ban Gioc Waterfall: VND45,000 per adult and VND10,000 per child. Pac Bo Cave – Lenin Stream: VND25,000 per adult and VND5,000 per child.

OTHER POINTS TO NOTE:

>> Bring full identification documents as Cao Bang is a border area.

>> It is recommended to bring any medicine, sunscreen, insect repellent and personal items that may be required while you are travelling.

>> Wear lightweight, well-ventilated and absorbent clothes. It is recommended to wear water-resistant sports shoes as well as elbow and knee protectors.

>> Cao Bang’s topography is mainly mountainous with rivers and streams, so please take note of signs indicating any dangerous underground streams.

Wanderlust Tips

Wanderlust Tips Magazine | Legend of the Plain of Jars

Legend of the Plain of Jars

The Plain of Jars – located on the Xieng Khouang Plateau of Laos, about 400 kilometres from the capital Vientiane – still remains an enigma to archaeologists and a mysterious and fascinating destination for tourists.

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The Plain of Jars has nearly 2000 stone jars scattered over an area of 25 hectares, and there is only a single stone jar that has remained entirely intact. According to the estimates of archaeologists, they date back 1500 to 2000 years.

Wanderlust Tips Magazine | Legend of the Plain of Jars

At the three sites which are open to the public, there are hundreds of jars from one to several metres in height, and weighing from a few hundred kilograms to a ton. Each jar has a different shape and angle, but all are chiselled monoliths of mostly granite or sandstone. The jars have very thick walls, are large in diameter, and their mouths are round or oval. The bodies of the jars are quite smooth, and many of them have elegant shapes curving from the bottom to the mouth, looking as beautiful as jars made of china or porcelain. The insides of the jars are polished while the outsides may have had carved figures adorning them, but these have been worn away by the weather of thousands of years. Currently, only a few blurry carved figures remain, engraved deeply into the stone.

Looking at the stone jars, it seems like we are seeing the testimony of the miracle of a mythical region. Countless questions are raised in the moment of wistfulness at the border of the present and the past. During those ancient times, who could have moved thousands of stones weighing thousands of tons when the nearest stone mountains were kilometres away from the Plain of Jars. What kinds of tools did they use and how many years did it take to chisel out and create such a giant Plain of Jars? And what was the purpose of making these enormous stone creations? Of course, there are also many theories to satisfy the curiosity of visitors.

Wanderlust Tips Magazine | Legend of the Plain of Jars

In the 1930s, a French archaeologist, Madeleine Colani, of the French School of the Far East carried out excavations in the area of the Plain of Jars and discovered many traces of human remains in a nearby cave along with fragments of bones and teeth (mostly juveniles) cremated in a number of jars. From this, Madeleine Colani hypothesised that the area of the Jars had been used as a burial site with the ancient people of the area using the stone jars to store people’s remains and also to store food. In 1994, a Japanese archaeologist, Eiji Nitta, excavated six pits around several large stone jars and found human bones in all six. However, only one jar contained cremated bones and teeth, while the others contained no signs of this at all. Because of this, he thought that the stone jars may have been used to house burial items. Although archaeological results offer some suggestions, they are only hypothetical speculation, not a strong and convincing scientifically-based answer.

I am not convinced by the archaeologists’ hypotheses. Archaeological results also show that many human bones were buried in a nearby cave and underground, while on the plain with thousands of jars, there are only a few containing the charred remains of bones and teeth. To chisel out stone jars like these requires a tremendous amount of time and effort (scientists estimate from ten years to hundreds of years), so they should have been used for some other purpose rather than just for the ritual storing of remains. As the idea of the jars containing the remains of the dead is not particularly convincing, the hypothesis of chiselling out the stone to carry gifts for the afterlife is even less so to me.

Wanderlust Tips Magazine | Legend of the Plain of Jars

I prefer the legend of the origins of the Plain of Jars as told by the local people. It is said that this was the living place of giants and they crafted the stone jars to store water or to brew and keep rice wine. Perhaps they were a generation of people blessed with an enormous physique and extraordinary power, living at the same time as those who built the walls of the Imperial City in Tibet (according to Mundasep’s theory) (1). They chose this vast field to be their residence, and they carried from the mountains far away a thousand giant blocks of stone to create the Plain of Jars. Each jar is a testimony to the strength, skill and extraordinary diligence of those people. I like to look at those jars imagining that once they used to be storing wine or water, reflecting the faces of the pure and innocent people living in ancient times under a clear sky amidst the vast green plains.

When I sat inside a stone jar, looking up at the distant sky, I felt an invisible yet magical connection between the past and the present, between legend and everyday life. Walking through the Plain of Jars, I seemed to be able to travel back in time: present turned into history – history into fairytale – and fairytale turned into legend.

Wanderlust Tips Magazine | Legend of the Plain of Jars

* Note (1): Erono Mundasep is an ophthalmologist, doctor of medicine and former director of the Russian Eye and Plastic Surgery Center. He is the author of well-known books including Where do we come from, Tragic message of the ancients and In the arms of Sambala.

W.TIPS

TRANSPORTATION

The Plain of Jars is a historic cultural area near the commune of Phonsavan, in Xieng Khouang province, Laos. To get there, most tourists choose to travel by car or plane.

>> From Hanoi, you can take a car to Laos along National Highway No.7 to Nam Can border crossing (Nghe An), passing through immigration into Laos. On the way, there are many places along the way with breathtaking views of the mountains and forests.

>> If you choose to travel by plane, from Hanoi you can fly to Vientiane or Luang Prabang, then continue your journey by plane or car to Phonsavan. Phonsavan is about 260 kilometres from Luang Prabang and about 350 kilometres from Vientiane.

ATTRACTIONS

You can rent a tuk-tuk to take a trip to visit the Plain of Jars or contact a travel agent to hire a tour guide for more detailed information during your visit.

WEATHER

Phonsavan has a humid, temperate, subtropical climate due to its high altitude and can be visited at any time of the year. In summer, the weather is quite hot and wet while the winter is short and dry. The average temperature in the hottest month (June) is 23.6 degrees Celsius while the December average temperature (the coldest month) is 14.8 degrees Celsius.

CUISINE

The dishes you should try in Phonsavan are Laotian sticky rice and Tam Maak Hung.

SOUVENIRS

Indigenous crafts made from wood and silk or embroidery works are the most sought after items.

Wanderlust Tips

Wanderlust Tips Magazine | The heartfelt charm of pearl island

The heartfelt charm of Phu Quoc island

Phu Quoc island in the South of the country has long been famous for the beauty of its blue sea, white sand and golden sunshine, enchanting tourists who come here. However, many people still do not know about the hidden charm of Pearl Island, a new symbol of unparalleled luxury and refinement in Phu Quoc, the InterContinental Phu Quoc Long Beach Resort.

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Located south of Truong beach, the InterContinental Phu Quoc Long Beach Resort features the privacy of a beautiful pristine beach with diverse marine ecosystem and the azure ocean.

Wanderlust Tips Magazine | The heartfelt charm of Phu Quoc island

Wanderlust Tips Magazine | The heartfelt charm of pearl island

With unique architecture shaped in the form of a starfish and surrounded by verdant jungle matted hills and landscaped gardens offering ocean views, the InterContinental Phu Quoc Long Beach Resort is truly an ideal destination for a relaxing and peaceful holiday.

Wanderlust Tips Magazine | The heartfelt charm of pearl island

Wanderlust Tips Magazine | The heartfelt charm of pearl island

Miss Vietnam Do My Linh in an opulent ball gown became a beautiful and proud lady and seemed even more gorgeous with the extraodinary design of Bridge Suite of InterContinental Phu Quoc Long Beach Resort.

Wanderlust Tips Magazine | The heartfelt charm of pearl island

Wanderlust Tips Magazine | The heartfelt charm of pearl island

The sharp cut lines, vivid details, gorgeous ruffling and soft chiffon fabric, stand out under the bright yellow sunshine of Phu Quoc, showing off the youthful beauty of Do My Linh.

Production team information: Model: Do My Linh – Miss Vietnam 2016 | Photographer: Hoang Dang | Photographer’s Assistant: Tho Nguyen | Makeup: Quan Nguyen | Hairstylist: Son Le | Stylist: Mai Dieu Vi | Outfits: Ly Giam Tien, Le Van Lam, Ly Qui Khanh | Accessories: Leinné | Location: Intercontinental Phu Quoc Long Beach Resort

Wanderlust Tips

wanderlust-tips-12 The meanings behind warning lights on the car’s dashboard0

12 The meanings behind warning lights on the car’s dashboard

Wanderlust Tips will give you the most useful information to identify the meaning of the car warning lights.

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Modern cars use a lot of new technologies with sensors, so when some features go wrong, the corresponding warning lights will light up. Many people are panicked when they see a warning light flashing on the dashboard. There are more than 60different kinds of warning lights, depending on the models and car manufacturers. Modern well-equipped cars that are full of electronics often have more warning lights on the dashboard. Of course, you do not have to remember the meaning of all these warning lights, but you should at least keep in mind the following 12 ones that often appear on current car models.

Wanderlust Tips Magazine | 12 The meanings behind warning lights on the car’s dashboard

Wanderlust Tips Magazine | 12 The meanings behind warning lights on the car’s dashboard

1. Oil pressure warning light

The oil pressure warning light is on when the oil pressure gets too low or the oil temperature gets too high. Another cause can be the failure of the oil pump or a blockage in the oil passage. Some vehicles don’t have the correct oil level, causing the oil pressure warning light to light up.

2. Engine warning light

The Engine warning light is the most frustrating and confusing among car warning lights, as it involves a lot of engine parts. When this light is on, it means that your car is having problems such a high-voltage cable and voltage divider damage, spark plug damage, faulty wind sensor, failing catalytic converter, faulty oxygen sensor, broken thermostat, etc.

3. Brake warning light

When this light is on, the most common cause most drivers encounter is that the handbrake lever is not fully released; so just pull down the handbrake and the light will go off. In some cases, a brake warning light indicates low brake fluid or the loss of oil pressure due to leakage. If the ABS light is on, the problem comes from the anti-lock brake system (ABS) of the car (faulty or dirty sensor).

4. Coolant temperature warning light

Many modern cars have a car temperature gauge system with a needle that swings from C (cold) to H (hot). When the car operates normally, the needle will stay in the middle section of the gauge, between the cold and the hot readings. If the needle moves to H, it means your car›s cooling system is too hot. In other vehicles, the coolant warning light will also light up to indicate that the engine is overheating. If you continue to operate the vehicle, it can cause damage to pistons, cylinders or other parts of the engine.So, as soon as the light is on, or the gauge needle hits H, you should safely pull over. Do not open the coolant tank or auxiliary coolant tank as water may leak and cause burns. In other cases, when vehicles operate continuously in overload conditions or the driver uses improper gears when car runs on the slopes, the cooling system can also be overheating. You also need to use a genuine type of coolant to help the engine operate more stable.

5. Airbag warning light

The airbag is designed to protect passengers when an accident happens. New modern cars often have at least two airbags, some even have more than 10. When the airbag warning light flashes on, it can be a faulty airbag system, maybe a broken airbag sensor, loose or dirty plugs.

6. Windshield washer fluid warning light

This light is on if the windshield-washer fluid is below the allowed level, runs out, or is too dirty. You also need to use the right type of windshield washer fluid for better cleaning.

7. Battery charge warning light

For some vehicles, the battery charge warning light will light up only when you first turn your car on. If it doesn’t go off a few seconds after the engine starts, there could be a problem with your car’s battery and electrical system. Therefore, some companies call this light electrical warning light. Some possible causes include a faulty alternator – the alternator does not provide enough electrical power for the car’s system; faulty battery – it does not provide additional power supply in certain cases when increasing the electronic loads; failing warning system.

8. Diesel particulate filter warning light

As the name implies, this light is only found in vehicles that use diesel fuel. Most diesel vehicles are fitted with a diesel particulate filter that removes soot from the exhaust gases to reduce emissions. This light is on when the filter is in trouble. If you want to check to make sure, it is recommended to drive to the highway and operate at a high speed for about 20minutes for the engine to heat up. The heat from the engine will be used to burn the soot, and the light will turn off. If the light is not off, quickly take your car to the garage for inspection.

9. Automatic transmission warning light

The automatic transmission warning light is usually displayed in the symbol of a round gear with an exclamation mark in the middle. This light turns on if your cars automatic transmission is faulty, either the sensors in the gearbox re damaged or the gearbox oil temperature is too high.

10. Low-fuel level warning light

This light flashes on if your car is running out of fuel, and you should refuel as soon as possible. Normally, when the light is on, you can still drive about 20kilometres depending on the type of car, but it is recommended to refuel at the nearest gas station. In this symbol, besides a gas pump, there is an an arrow; the side where the arrow points to is where the fuel tank lid is usually located, it helps the drive the car to the correct side of the fuel pump.

11. Electronic stability program warning light

The Electronic Stability Program (ESP) is fitted on many modern cars from compact cars. The light will flash on when the ESP is on and ready to activate when needed. Normally, there will be a button on the dashboard or near the gear stick to turn it off. Experts recommend that when driving in normal traffic, drivers should always turn on the system. In many line-ups, this system will automatically turn on when drivers start the car, and they will turn it off when not used.

12. Cruise control

Many modern cars are now equipped with cruise control. Drivers can set different speeds for the car to automatically move without using accelerator. This mode is very useful when driving on the highway or motorways. Depending on the type of car, there will be different colors to indicate the cruise control or deactivated.

Wanderlust Tips

Wanderlust Tips Magazine | Tropical charm

Travel fashion collection: Tropical charm in Sheraton Grand Danang Resort

Appearing like the brilliant sunlight full of vitality from the tropical summer, flowing gowns exude their charming features under the blue sky in Da Nang.

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Supermodel Vo Hoang Yen oozes her gorgeous beauty in willowy yet powerful and fascinating outfits made in transparent white, mysterious blue, luxurious yellow, and sweet pink.

Wanderlust Tips Magazine | Tropical charm

Wanderlust Tips Magazine | Tropical charm

The harmonious green scenery of Sheraton Grand Danang Resort, which offers a full view to the South China Sea and the stretching Non Nuoc beach, is an ideal setting to enjoy your dreamy days.

Wanderlust Tips Magazine | Tropical charm

Wanderlust Tips Magazine | Tropical charm

The highlights of Sheraton Grand Danang Resort include a marvelous private beach, classy architecture, and a 250-metre long infinity swimming pool. In this perfect space, enjoy your morning under the bright sunrise or just relax in the sunset covering the whole space in magenta. Such a tropical summer is enough to create beautiful memories for any visitor.

Wanderlust Tips Magazine | Tropical charm

Wanderlust Tips Magazine | Tropical charm

Production team information: Excutive producer: Crystal Huyen Trang | Model: Vo Hoang Yen | Photographer: Hoang Dang | Make up: Quan Nguyen | Hair stylist: Son Le | Stylist: Mai Dieu Vi | Outfits: Cong Tri, Do Long, Le Thanh Hoa, Xuan Le | Location: Sheraton Grand Danang Resort (Viet Nam)

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Share the love: Explore Asia

The Asian continent is blessed with its rich natural landscape and unique culture, creating a strange attraction for all visitors. The four special characters appearing in the June 2018 issue of Wanderlust Tips magazine will share their impressive experiences on the exciting Asian journey.

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EXPERIENCING ADVENTURE SPORT ACTIVITIES IN PHILIPPINES

MAI ANH DUY, MANAGER OF EASY TRIP TOUR OPERATOR, HO CHI MINH CITY

I have visited many Asian countries, especially those in Southeast Asia such as Cambodia, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, the Philippines, and Indonesia. Among those journeys, my first trip to El Nido, Palawan, Philippines is the most memorable one. That day, there was a storm, so all of the tours on the island were cancelled, and boats were not allowed to go offshore. In such weather conditions, my team of 4 people made a very daring decision, which was hiring a kayak to explore the island with the hope of avoiding a meaningless day on the island. El Nido was often busy with boats and ships sailing in and out, now there were only two kayaks of four daring people. Only with a mobile phone installed with GPS and some tips from the kayak owner, we successfully reached extremely beautiful water areas.

Wanderlust Tips Magazine | Share the love: Explore Asia

Also on this trip, I discovered Cadlao Lagoon – one of the most beautiful destinations in El Nido, the place that a lot of visitors usually miss out on. The storm was a blessing in disguise; we would not have been able to have such a special day if it hadn’t been for the storm. On the way back, sometimes the waves were so big that they made our kayaks flip out, the rain was so heavy and the winds were so strong. In the evening, after 8 hours of rowing the kayaks, our muscles in both hands hurt like never before, but it was an experience that I would never forget.

THE MIDDLE EAST IS VERY DIFFERENT FROM THE REST OF ASIA

TRAN MAI HUONG, BANK STAFF, HANOI

As a backpacking devotee, I often like to travel by myself to explore new places, new people and follow my passion. However, on a trip to Dubai only, I chose to book a tour from a local travel company because Dubai is located in West Asia; the Middle East Islamic countries have cultures and lifestyles that are very different from the rest of Asia.

Wanderlust Tips Magazine | Share the love: Explore Asia

When you arrive in Dubai, the first thing you will feel is the heat of the desert climate; there are not many trees while the leaves are covered by a pale brownish colour of sand. People who live here, in the midst of a hot desert all year round, both men and women have white skins as they are Arabs, and because of Muslim rules, girls have to wear Hijab covering their head and shoulders, even the whole face.

In Dubai, I have had many memorable experiences like camel riding, nighttime in the desert, and driving a jeep through sand dunes. Besides nature, when I travelled to each place, I also enjoyed meeting new people and learning about their lives; it made me feel happy to have become a part of life there.

I WANT TO GO BACK TO JAPAN AND THAILAND

DAO THU VINH, COMMUNICATION STAFF, HANOI

Due to my passion for travelling and the nature of my work, I have had many chances to visit a lot of countries in Europe and Asia. There are two places that I really want to return to in Asia, which are Japan and Thailand.

Wanderlust Tips Magazine | Share the love: Explore Asia

Japan is probably well-known for its special features from nature, culture to sophisticated and expensive cuisine. And the time when I travelled to this country, I could feel it fully. The way Japanese people respect each other, appreciate their culture and nature, taking care of themselves was so impressive to me, even though the custody and sense of “appreciation” sometimes tied them up in extremely stressful and busy lives, especially in big cities.

Thailand is a safe and pleasant destination when you need a short vacation; you can travel without thinking too much. I can find a relaxing space that is close to nature and extremely convenient anywhere in this country. In addition to friendly locals and good food, Thailand will definitely bring you the feeling of being at home.

ENJOY LOCAL DISHES IN THE COUNTRIES WHERE THEY WERE ORIGINALLY MADE

HUYNH BICH NGOC, MARKETING STAFF, HANOI

I have visited many European countries such as France, Italy, Greece and other Asian countries such as Cambodia, Myanmar, Singapore, Thailand, China, and Korea. During the trips, I especially love exploring the food. I find that Asian cuisine is very different from European cuisine. If European dishes are often the combination of butter, eggs, milk, meat, seafood, and fruits, Asian dishes focus on using a variety of vegetables and spices to make the food becomes less strong but still retain a special flavour.

Wanderlust Tips Magazine | Share the love: Explore Asia

I like Tom Yum from Thailand. This dish is a harmonious combination of fresh seafood, spices, and coconut milk to create sour, spicy, greasy and rich flavour, bringing a lot of sensations to diners when enjoying it. I was also impressed by the famous Peking duck when visiting China. This is a very typical dish in Chinese cuisine with crispy crust from duck skin, soft fat of the meat, which will surely leave an unforgettable impression on those who eat it for the first time.

Certainly, Asian cuisine has many other rich and fascinating dishes that we cannot name at once. I think when travelling far away and enjoying the local food in wonderful scenery, we can feel the ultimate sense of the taste.

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Touching the dream of Baobab trees

The first time I heard about baobab trees was in my biology class when I was a child. From that initial knowledge acquired in my childhood, the name “Baobab” has intrigued me and nurtured an interest in these legendary thousand-year-old trees, inspiring me to explore extraordinary lands across the globe.

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RELIVING CHILDHOOD DREAMS

I gradually forget my dreams of baobab trees and the story of The Little Prince (by French writer – Antoine De Saint-Exupéry) and got stuck on the treadmill of life. Until one day, I saw a picture on Instagram of my Puerto Rican friend, he was walking barefoot on a dirt road with 2 rows of giant trees on either side at the Avenue of Baobabs. At that moment, I felt an electric shock run through my body and the dream of hugging the giant trees and whispering: “Hey you, you are so special, I have waited so long for this day” was awoken in me.

Wanderlust Tips Magazine | Touching the dream of Baobab trees

Without hesitation, I quickly searched for information about the journey to touch my dream of baobab trees at The Avenue of Baobabs located in Morondava, Madagascar. It would take quite a lot of time to fly to from Vietnam and I didn’t have many options in terms of different flight routes either. I was only sure that the capital of Antananarivo would be my first destination in Madagascar, then I would travel to Morondava. I had visited Egypt once before, a country in North Africa, but I had never made my way to any countries in West Africa. Therefore, this time, I decided to make plans to travel from HCMC to Nairobi – the capital of Kenya then to Antananarivo – the capital of Madagascar and on to Morondava – my final destination where the baobab trees were waiting for me.

After a 3 hour flight from Nairobi, I arrived in the capital of Antananarivo. Only staying for 1 night, the next morning, I was on my way to the land of the magical baobab trees. My car brought me through hills, villages and towns and on Friday afternoon, I arrived in Morondava. In the dry season, baobab trees shed their leaves and look as if they have been planted upside-down, as from a distance, the bare and spreading branches of the Baobab look like roots sticking up into the air.

The car kept moving, suddenly, I saw the giant baobab trees standing on the roadside, right next to my car. At that moment, I was bursting with happiness as after such a long journey, for the first time, I saw a real baobab tree. Nature rewarded me with a beautiful sunset as the red sun slowly went down beyond the horizon. The road was empty and the baobab trees appeared so majestic in the golden honey sunset, it was a natural light spectacle I’ll never forget, washing away all of my tiredness. However, on that afternoon, I could only see a few baobab trees along the national highway before darkness came and I had to save the Avenue of Baobabs for the next day.

Wanderlust Tips Magazine | Touching the dream of Baobab trees

THE GREAT PERFORMANCE OF THE BAOBAB TREES

I hardly slept at all that night as I got so excited when  thinking about walking in the middle of the two rows of  giant African baobab trees. I woke up early and left the  hotel at 4am, it was still dark except for the streak of light  coming from my car. The road to the Avenue of Baobabs  was little bumpy and I was filled with anticipation. Then,  I gradually saw one and then two baobab trees on the  roadside.

When we arrived at the Avenue of Baobabs, stopping in the parking lot, I got out of the car and ran straight to the Avenue. I breathed in the cool air of the early morning and waited for the first light of the day to reveal the great performance of the baobab trees. 10 minutes passed and in the thin shimmering mist which appeared like a sparkling performance gown, the baobab trees were the stars of the stage, they were magically spectacular and imposing. I have never seen anything so magnificently gorgeous! I felt like I had found an incredibly precious treasure and that I was a passionate explorer.

Wanderlust Tips Magazine | Touching the dream of Baobab trees

The Avenue of Baobabs is 250 metres long, lined by over 25 giant baobab trees on each side and surrounded by many other kinds of trees though not standing in line. I kept walking along the road over and over again like a curious kid visiting Jurassic Park for the first time, touching the trees, hugging and caressing them. In the dry season, the joke of the ancestors of the Malagasy people seemed to come true: the Creator planted the baobab trees upside down with their roots sticking up in the air. From a distance, the green-brown velvety pod-shaped fruit at the top of the trees made them more vivid and strange looking. I admired them from one side to the other for a while. How beautiful! How stunning!

There are eight species of baobab tree in the world, and 6 of them only grow in Madagascar. Depending on their age, the baobab trees have different sizes and heights and locals say that the trees only grow 8 centimetres every 10 years. Therefore, some baobabs may look small but they are already many years in age while the giant ones which are about 30 metres have to be a thousand years old and even some can live to be 3,000-4,000 years old. Their roots are 50 metres long, but only lie 2 metres underground and they spread as widely as possible to increase their chances of absorbing the little amount of rainwater that soaks down into the soil. This water is then stored in their trunks, an ordinary tree can only consist of about 27% water while the baobab tree reaches 76-79%, which is a lot! However, the trunks of baobab trees are soft, so they are used to make strong fibres and dye and for firewood while the bark is used to make rope.

Wanderlust Tips Magazine | Touching the dream of Baobab trees

I returned to the Avenue of Baobabs several times to watch the sunset. Though a lot of baobab trees can be found in Morondava, only on the Avenue of Baobabs do they grow in rows, creating its beautiful scenery. The Avenue of Baobabs is a hidden gem which is arousing the interest of travellers and becoming a “new destination of the year” and attracting more travel enthusiasts and those who have a passion for exploring extraordinary destinations. Witnessing the sunrise and sunset on the Avenue of Baobabs has been the most stunning experience in my long voyage to 60 countries. And how about you, are you willing to make the long journey to admire this generous gift from nature?

Wanderlust Tips Magazine | Touching the dream of Baobab trees

W.TIPS

TOURIST VISA

Madagascar issues visas on arrival for Vietnamese passport holders. The tourist visa fee for a 30-day stay is about USD37 (~VND860,000).

TRANSPORTATION

There are many ways to travel from Vietnam to Madagascar, but I chose to fly from Ho Chi Minh City (Vietnam) to Nairobi (Kenya), then take a flight to Antananarivo (Madagascar).

From Antananarivo to Morondava where the Avenue of Baobabs is located, you can take a one-hour domestic flight or travel by car for two days and one night. The road is not too bad, but it is quite zigzagging and undulating through the hills and there is no electric street lighting along the road. Travelling the 660 kilometres from Antananarivo to Morondava in the above conditions can be quite challenging and hence why it is a two-day and one-night journey. The most common itinerary is Antananarivo – Antsirabe (170 kilometres) on the first day and Antsirabe – Morondava (490 kilometres) on the second day. Madagascar’s towns are relatively rudimentary and far from each other, and the roads do not allow for cars to travel at high speeds, so it is reasonable to divide the trip and take a break in Antsirabe. I wanted to admire the nature and the daily life of the people in Madagascar, so I decided to hire a car, a driver and travel on the road.

BEST TIME TO VISIT

Madagascar has a subtropical climate and every season bears its own beauty. However, it is recommended to visit during the winter time which is also the dry season when the weather will be more predictable and there are fewer storms.

Winter is from May to October, at this time the road is dry and the sky is clear, meaning we can watch the beautiful sunset and sunrise. This is also the time when the baobab tree is bare of leaves and may have fruit. The Avenue of Baobabs is a dirt road and during this season there is no rain so it is only dusty and not muddy. The lake by the Avenue of Baobabs is dry during winter, so you can walk out onto it and in September the view of the sunrise is very beautiful when watching from the lake. However, in September, looking from the lake across the highway, the sun goes down to the left side of the Avenue (behind the roofs of a few houses and groves) and does not fall behind the baobab trees.

Summer lasts from November to April. At this time, the road at the Avenue of Baobabs may be muddy on rainy days. The Baobab trees are green in this season and the nearby lake is full of water, so visitors can capture impressive images of the reflections off it. In particular, this is the most beautiful time to witness sunset as the sun sets directly behind the baobab trees.

CHOOSING SUITABLE CLOTHING

It is recommended to wear bright-coloured clothing with large colour patterns. You can wear accessories such as hats made of environmentally friendly materials, especially the typical Madagascar raffia hats that you can buy in shops along the road.

If you want to look like a true local, you can buy the baskets which people here often carry on their heads. In addition to the baskets, the stores also sell lengths of cloth shaped into a ring or ball which is needed to carry loads using the baskets. With all the necessary tools, you can act like a local, carrying a basket on your head.

TIPS TO CAPTURE THE AVENUE OF BAOBABS IN THE DRY SEASON

To capture the moment of sunrise, you should arrive from 5am. At this time it is still foggy and the avenue is almost deserted. At about 6.15am, the sun starts to rise up over the lake, the early morning light splashed over the baobab trees. At this moment, you should be standing at the lake to capture the rows of baobab trees and avoid a silhouette. Around 7.30am, the sun is high and though the view from the beginning to the end of the avenue appears ethereal, it is opposite the sun. Therefore, the best time to take photos is from 5.15am to 7.15am, after that time, a lot of tourists and locals will arrive making it hard to take beautiful pictures.

To capture the sunset, you should go to the Avenue of Baobabs from 6pm. However, at this time, the avenue is often quite crowded with tourists and local people, so it is relatively difficult to have photos taken between the two rows of beautiful baobab trees.

CUISINE

Try the fruit of the baobab trees but don’t eat too much because the high vitamin content of this fruit can upset your stomach. The fruit is brown and as big as a large melon with a hard smooth outer shell. Malagasy people use a piece of hardwood or a wooden statue of the baobab tree (the souvenir) to break open the fruit. Inside the hard shell, there is the white part but only the flesh surrounding the seeds is edible or can be used to make soft drinks. One fruit has many seeds which are a little tangy with an almost citrusy kind of flavour. The Malagasy people in the Morondava region love the baobab fruit and they buy and sell a lot of baobab fruit in the market.

OTHER ATTRACTIONS

There are many other interesting attractions near the Avenue of the Baobabs such as the Baobab Lovers – two enormous Adansonia za baobabs which have grown to become entwined together.

On the way from Antananarivo to Morondava, you can visit Lake Tritriva – a lake at the mouth of an extinct volcano near the city of Antsirabe.

Watching Lemurs is also very interesting. This is a typical animal native to Madagascar found in national parks and private reserves.

Duong Thanh Tu | Wanderlust Tips

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Share the love: Couples and honeymoon

With the theme of “Destinations for couples” in the July issue, Wanderlust Tips will introduce impressive destinations on the exhilarating journey of four couples with readers. This is a truly meaning trip because they overcame up and down moments and gained memorable lessons helping them become maturer and then love their partners more than ever.

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YOU ONLY LIVE ONCE

NGUYỄN NGỌC DŨNG – IRENE HOÀNG HẢI YẾN, JUST GOT MARRIED

We met each other when working together on a project, since then we have admired each other’s views on life and achievements. We fell in love and decided to get married and held the wedding in June.

Wanderlust Tips Magazine | Share the love: couples and honeymoon

During our time together, my wife and I travelled to the United States, Spain, Malaysia, and Thailand. The most impressive cities to us are probably Los Angeles and Las Vegas in the United States, where we registered our marriage and took wedding photos. The way people take wedding photos in the US is very different from that in Vietnam. They do not want us to pose in order to look beautiful, they do not edit photos, either. They just want us to talk and play with each other naturally. Then they capture our sweet moments that feature our true feelings.

I am pretty happy now because I have achieved about 80% of the goals I set for myself 3 years ago. I dared to come out and live with my true feelings, got married to my lover, and could travel with her anywhere. Those are all of my great dreams of life and we will continue to pursue them. I only want to tell everyone that “You only live once”, so be strong, dare to dream, and dare to act to get what you want because we only live once.

AFTER MANY TRIPS, WE ARE EVEN MORE IN – LOVE WITH EACH OTHER

DONG THI HUYEN THU – LE CONG THANH, BEEN MARRIED FOR 4 YEARS

Over eight years together, we have travelled to all parts of Vietnam, China, Malaysia, Philippines, Japan, and Turkey, and the trip to Tibet (China) was the most emotional. Tibetan scenery is so beautiful that no words could ever describe or no camera could ever capture. Conquering Everest Base Camp and facing altitude sickness left us many unforgettable memories.

Wanderlust Tips Magazine | Share the love: couples and honeymoon

On those trips, we had many happy times together, and we quarreled a lot as well; we argued several times on almost every trip. However, both of us always tried to forget the words we told each other when we were angry. When we calmed down, whoever found themselves at fault will apologize. When travelling together, it is easier to forgive because we both appreciate the moments we spend together and do not want to waste time by focusing on the sad feelings, and we always try to make the most of the trip.

After many trips, we are even more in love with each other than before getting married, because we have more opportunities to be together and care for each other. Also, the trips have brought us a lot of beautiful memories and pictures. Every time we fight or get angry at each other, looking at the pictures and remembering the beautiful moments will help us make up easier.

HOLDING HANDS, WE UNDERGO BOTH JOYFUL AND SORROWFUL MOMENTS

NGUYEN NGOC DUNG – NGUYEN TRONG NGHIA – BEEN IN LOVE FOR SIX YEARS

Since the time we fell in love, my sweetheart and I have travelled to a lot of places together. In Vietnam, we went to Ninh Binh, Hue, Hoi An, Da Nang, Buon Me Thuot, Sa Pa, Ho Chi Minh City, and Vung Tau. We have also travelled abroad to Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia, and Taiwan.

Wanderlust Tips Magazine | Share the love: couples and honeymoon

Our most memorable trip was the time to Thailand in 2016. At that time, my lover forgot to write the hotel address as well as buy 4G sim at the airport, so finally, we got off at the wrong station. It was raining heavily, I could not find my way back to the hotel. Getting scared and anxious, I scolded and blamed my lover while he was looking very guilty and just kept listening.

Whenever thinking about such moments, I feel so sorry for him. Fortunately, we got some help to get to the hotel. After many trips and handling such situations, we got to know each other more, we learned to to live together and keep calm to solve problems.

My boyfriend and I intend to get married at the end of this year 2018. And we have decided to choose Korea for our honeymoon. The reason is that my lover used to study abroad in Korea; at that time, he wished to take his lover to Korea to visit his school. For me, I am a fan of Korean cosmetics and food. There are so many reasons for us to wait for this fun and memorable trip to Korea.

AT THE AGE OF RETIREMENT, WE FIND IT AN IDEAL TIME TO TRAVEL AND EXPLORE UNKNOWN PLACES TOGETHER

NGUYEN TRONG HAI – VU DIEU HUYEN, BEEN MARRIED FOR 38 YEARS

My husband and I love to travel, this passion comes from the desire to experience and explore the world, admire natural scenery, wonders, and historical relics around the world. We also want to check our knowledge and broaden our horizon as the world with many civilizations and cultures is changing every day. Up to now, we have visited 45 out of 64 provinces in Vietnam, 31 countries in the world, and have been abroad nearly 50 times. And we are planning to travel to South Africa and Egypt in the near future.

Wanderlust Tips Magazine | Share the love: couples and honeymoon

Each trip leaves us different impressions. This may be the mysterious beauty of nature, modern civilization, or the oldest culture in the world. Such different and exotic things have brought us so many indescribable emotions. Maybe not just us, most people love to travel and explore the world. However, to fulfill this passion, we also need to have time and money. That’s why at the age of retirement, we find it an ideal time to travel and explore unknown places together.

Wanderlust Tips