Wanderlust Tips Team, Author at WANDERLUST TIPS • Page 129 of 197

wanderlust-tips-by-the-river-at-the-border

Dandong: By the river at the border

[Wanderlust Tips April 2018] Like other cities which get a lot of attention as they are located along China’ s border regions, Dandong, an industrial city by the Yalu river, is equally well-developed, but somewhat arouses curiosity because this city is adjacent to Sinuiju, a small town in North Korea.

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SUNSET ON THE YALU RIVER

The sun was setting slowly down the quiet Yalu River. A mysterious reddish or orange colour created strangely mottled streaks in the sky. Life on both sides of the river still went on as usual. On one side of the river, high rise buildings, close to each other began to light up, and the air was mixed with smoke, pollution and noise. On the other side, the atmosphere became silent and mysterious. The empty land stretched out gently and adorned with lush green grassland. Some houses scattered over the land, with chimneys releasing smoke that looked like clouds. Sinuiju city was so quiet like a peaceful countryside.

We arrived in Dandong City on the last day of March when the winter was slowly reaching its last days. Everywhere, trees were leafless with spindly branches reaching to the sky. Dandong is in the Northeast of China so the climate is quite cold and dry. Just a mild breeze made me shudder, while my two cheeks hurt because of chapped skin. The wind blowing from the river made us shiver and cough in the thick overcoat.

It was in the afternoon so there were only a few groups of tourists gathering by the river, waiting for their turn to go on board. A local woman, about 40years old, ran to us and showed an album with advertising images on paper, then talked relentlessly about the price of boat tours along the border. I politely refused. One came after the other, they all committed competitive prices, cheaper than the previous ones. For half an hour, we had to constantly refuse.I travelled with Albert, an old friend and also a Spanish documentary photographer.

We teamed up for the same purpose: to discover the excitement of this special city. I cared about the life and culture of the border areas. So did Albert, but he told his stories with pictures. He had sharp eyes that could capture the most magical moments. And for me, being fluent in Chinese is also a significant advantage. Dandong is similar to other developing cities along the border of China. It has high-rise buildings, crowded supermarkets and all kinds of food, green parks which are always filled with the music of different groups of people gathering, singing and dancing. Tesco, a large British retailing brand, has its branch in the city centre, proving the effort of this city to integrate and develop as a distant northeastern city.

SINO-KOREAN FRIENDSHIP BRIDGE

Dandong seems to be unfamiliar for those who are keen on exploring famous destinations in the world. Dandong, however, is a major political and commercial city in northeastern China, because it borders Sinuiju, a city at the border of North Korea, and is also an important trading location of the two countries. The Friendship Bridge across the Yalu River enables trains to run from Pyongyang to Shenyang, Beijing or directly to Moscow, the capital city of Russia. The bridge was built by Japanese from April 1937 to May 1943 across the Yalu River, when they were ruling North Korea and Manchuria.

This is one of the few railroad bridges that connects North Korea with border countries. Regular trains run from Pyongyang to China twice daily. Located next to the Friendship Bridge is an older bridge built from May 1909 to October 1911. This is an iron truss bridge with 12 spans on stone pillars with a total length of 944.2metres. The fourth span can be detached and rotated 90 degrees horizontally to allow large ships to pass through. Both bridges were bombed by US aircrafts during the Korean War.

From November 1950 to February 1951, the United States used B29-and B17-Flying Fortress and F80-Shooting Star constantly attacking the bridges to cut off China’s aid for North Korea. The bridges were repaired several times. Then, the bridge built in 1911 was allowed to be demolished, only its four spans on the Chinese territory remained and was later named Duan Bridge (Broken bridge).

Currently, Duan Bridge has become one of China’s famous tourist attractions. There is a stele which marks the vestiges of war. Tourists can take a stroll on the bridge and stand by its railing where cannons were placed as the evidence of the war in the past. We walked to the last span of the river, looked over the river, watched the last sunrays of the day falling over the ships that were floating on the river.

Because North Korea is a country that always arouses curiosity from the world and make people desire to explore, overcome difficulties and challenges to enter the land, people living in Dandong do not miss the chance to earn from tourism services. Travelling on the river by boat to admire the life on the other side for half an hour costs 100yuan is the most exciting activity. In addition, you can find North Korean restaurants, North Korean style BBQ restaurants, tea houses, cafés and hotels in every corner, serving mainly for tourists, some of which are places where North Korean businessmen often visit on their business trips to the Mainland.Travel agents providing tours from Beijing to Pyongyang have a lot of customers and do their business quite well. There are many tour packages at different prices for you to choose from. If you want to go to North Korea in the day, you will pay about VND10,000,000.

The price of a 5-day tour can be as much as USD2,000, and you will have to follow many rules such as not carrying a professional camera, recorder, mobile phone, or laptop. You must always go in a group and have a tour guide; your visa must be submitted one week in advance. Not all people can get a visa or a passport, depending on your background. For example, if you are a US citizen or a journalist, the chance for you is rare.

As hard as it is, North Korea arouses curiosity and therefore more valuable experience which people crave to do. After having a look at tour packages, we decided not to go to the other side of the river; instead, we wandered around small stores selling souvenirs such as paper money, badges, and cigarettes. All of these goods somehow found their way here from the other side of the river. I asked a middle-aged man with wrinkled hands, constantly introducing us to small packages of cigarettes that he considered “genuine” how it was transported here. With a look in his eyes, he said near the Great Wall of China, there was a narrow river, which was the place where merchants like him often traded goods. Albert bought a package for a few dozen Yuan, and just after a few minutes, he disappeared into the group of people practicing dancing under the pavilion roof.

Every afternoon, we walked along the river, comfortably watching bustling yet peaceful daily activities of the people like flying kites, exercising, singing, and dancing. It seems that no matter how stressful the political situation between the two countries is, the citizens still live their lives.

However, strangely enough, when we admired the panoramic view of Dandong from the hill, the city looked prosperous and modern with countless skyscrapers, reflecting a typical wealthy city at the border. However, as we walked around the streets, we found out that many of these buildings were vacant or under construction and then abandoned. They looked like giant hollows and cold boxes.

ENJOY KOREAN FOOD CULTURE

At night, the atmosphere became cold and the wind blew heavily. The river water reflected street lights, which was so fanciful but lacked depth. While Dandong was so splendid with electric lights, the city on the other side of the river looked so lonely and quiet.Dandong is a city that is influenced the most by North Korea s culture. Hundreds of North Koreans live here and work as servers in restaurants, drivers and run small businesses. All the shops communicate in both Chinese and Korean languages from motorbike repairing shops to luxury hotels. In order to experience the North Korean culture without spending money to travel to this country, we decided to visit some of the famous North Korean restaurants in Dandong.

As this city was famous for the most authentic and delicious North Korean restaurants in China, we really wanted to try the dishes. It is said that all of the waitresses at the restaurant were highly selected and trained by the North Korean government; they were all beautiful and multi-talented. They could speak Korean, English, and Chinese, but of course, they would only speak in North Korean. Although they only spoke their language, once visitors entered the restaurant, all the conversations and gestures in the dining table would not be out of their observation. We chose a fairly large North Korean restaurant located right on the main riverside road.

Behind the glass door, there was a tall girl with white skin, monolids, black hair, wearing a gorgeous pink Hanbok. As we entered, the girl greeted and asked how many of us and politely guided us to a table for two people next to the wall, opposite the TV and near a very small stage which was just fit for an electric drum set and an electronic keyboard. A pretty girl in a black suit gently gave us a menu with a wooden cover and dozens of food with names in 3 languages and attractive illustration. Albert chose grilled bacon and I chose bibimbap, they were not much different from the Korean food I had eaten before. The whole wall in front of me was decorated with a giant menu with pictures of eye-catching dishes; the price was also relatively expensive.

The restaurant was quite large but only a few tables had guests, while there were up to 6 or 7 waitresses. All the girls were white, graceful and had typical North Korean charm. Their beauty was very natural without plastic surgery like some Korean actresses. Albert took the camera out to take pictures; the waitress in a suit immediately came and reminded us not to take photos, even by mobile phone. I picked up the phone and quickly took a photo of the girl in traditional Hanbok. Once again the girl came to remind us. I said sorry and put my phone away. We temporarily put the camera aside and enjoyed the dinner which had just been brought to us. The TV was showing a North Korean opera, the actors with 1980s-style hair wore military uniforms, sang and smiled happily. After a while, it changed to a program in which there was a glorious disciplined parade with flying flags and Kim Jong Un s photo frame at the centre.

There was a Chinese delegation arriving, sitting at the biggest table of the restaurant, it seemed they had booked it in advance. The dishes filled the table, which was the eating style of Chinese people. People poured wine, praised and laughed noisily in the room. A young man brought a glass of wine to a waitress and invited her to drink with him. The girl refused and went back in, leaving another girl to replace her. People continued to enjoy the party, not noticing the action of the young man.

A moment later, all the waitresses went into the dressing room. Then a girl stepped out, dressed in red Hanbok embroidered with white flowers and had her hair tied and decorated with a pearl brooch. She was so beautiful that everyone stopped eating to admire her. The girl gently introduced the show. All the waitresses dressed in serious suits looked so pretty and different in their colorful Hanbok. The girls transformed magically, changing from Hanbok to long skirts and brocade dresses for the next performance. The girl serving at my table had just performed as a soloist but then continued to perform a traditional dance beautifully.

The most surprising was the last performance when I saw her on the stage, beating the drum fearlessly and gracefully, and her timidity seemed to disappear. I admired her and was astonished. There were about 8 people including the band and the singers taking turns so everyone could dance, sing, play the guitar, electronic keyboard or drums. Every performance was extremely excellent, making people so excited. The talent of these girls was as good as they say.When the performance was over, the waitress who looked so cool when playing the drum put on her old suit and came back to my table with a big smile. She was shy, blushed and said “thank you” to me in Chinese when I complimented her constantly.

That night, I was very impressed by the performance and the waitresses. I suddenly thought many of them may have wanted to get married and stay or move to another place. But that was impossible, if you wanted to escape from North Korea, the only way is to escape the country forever. When they crossed the Yalu River and set foot on the shores of Dandong, all of their activities were closely monitored until the expiration date of three-year employment when they returned home. Dandong is immersed in the dark, and tomorrow will be a new day. The river at the border since the end of the war until now has always been peaceful and quiet, but hidden in this flow are different lives like the underground waves.

W. TIPS:

Transportation

You can fly to Beijing then travel by planes or trains to Dandong. Like other cities in China, the main public transport in Dandong is buses. You can easily catch taxis throughout the city.

Currency

In Dandong, only RMB is used, 1RMB is equivalent to VND3,500.

Climate

Dandong is in the northeast of China, so it is very cold and has a very long winter, the temperature in winter can be down to -10degrees Celsius. The temperature in cool summer is about 25degrees Celsius. If you you go to Dandong from October to February, you should bring lots of warm clothes.

Attractions

In Dandong, there are not many recreational venues; the most popular activity here is sailing along the river. Besides the Friendship Bridge, you can visit the Museum of War to resist US aggression and Aid Korea, the park next to the museum with many birds, which is also an ideal place for wedding photography.

Or you can travel to Cam Giang Mountain to admire the panoramic view of the city at sunset. In addition, you can visit the Truong Thanh Ho Son which marks the first point of the eastern part of the Great Wall in the Ming Dynasty.

Souvenirs

There are usually objects from the War to Resist US Aggression and Aid Korea and items from North Korea such as badges, paper money, etc.

Ton Quynh Huong | Wanderlust Tips

Fashion collection: Sa Pa in April

[Wanderlust Tips April 2018] Although the route to Sa Pa is long far, no one hesitates to make the journey when their hearts are full of passion.

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When April arrives, the pleasant aroma of bowls of wine, passionate intonation of flute playing and the magnificent mountains and forests scenery draw many visitors to Sa Pa.

Sa Pa is beautiful in all seasons but in April, with the delightful change of seasons between spring and summer, it seems to leave its visitors with the nostalgic feelings.

In the early morning mist, the small pretty town appears poetic, allowing travel enthusiasts to be immersed in the enchanting beauty of the mountains, valleys and cascading rice fields of this border region town.

Just choose a sunny day in April day to travel to this romantic town to indulge your soul in the song of the Northwest mountains and forests, and enjoy harmonious moments after hectic days.

Wanderlust Tips

The lands which nurture famous fashion designers

[Wanderlust Tips April 2018] Not only do they attract tourists with amazing natural scenery, famous places in the world also draw tourists with talented people who were born there. These lands are associated with fashion designers such as Tom Ford, Roberto Cavalli, and Carolina Herera. Their collections and designs which are highly appreciated by fashion devotee are also influenced by the place where they were born.

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1. TEXAS, USA – THE HOMELAND OF THE TALENTED ECCENTRIC TOM FORD

Thomas Carlyle “Tom” Ford is a Texas fashion designer, actor and film director. Being widely known as the main designer of Gucci brand, he also has his own fashion line borne his name and being nominated for an Oscar for the movie bearing his name A Single Man.

In 1992, Tom officially put his first footsteps into the fashion industry. In 1994, Tom became the creative director of Gucci, and the young man of two decades ago made a remarkable achievement: creating a new era of glory for Gucci, guiding the brand which was going bankrupt to become a luxury brand which is estimated to cost USD4.3billion.

Texas is the land that gave birth to a talented fashion designer like Tom Ford. Texas is located in the middle of the southern United States, adjacent to the Gulf of Mexico. This state actually consists of six major regions. From one region to another, the landscape changes from dark green pine forests to rolling hills and desolate deserts. Each region has its own characteristics of trade and agriculture, along with different weather, but all share a unique beauty and history.

Transportation

There is no direct flight from Vietnam to Houston – the largest city in Texas, so you have to transit through Hong Kong (China), Tokyo (Japan) or New York (USA) depending on the schedule of the airline.

You can choose flights from airlines such as Vietnam Airlines, Qatar Airways, American Airlines, and Korean Air. The prices of flight tickets from Hanoi to Houston range from about USD2,600(~ VND59,800,000), from Ho Chi Minh City it is about USD2,450(~ VND56,350,000), and from Da Nang it is about USD2,100(~ VND48,300,000).

Weather

The climate in Texas is diverse, warm in the winter and hot in the summer. Tourists visit Texas in the summer to enjoy the stunning natural scenery and the clear water of the Hamilton Pool, Austin.

Attractions

– Big Bend national Park

Divided into three areas: the Rio Grande Valley, the Chihuahuan Desert, and the Chisos Mountains.

Thanks to the diversity of the landscape, this park is home to over 400bird species and 1,100different plant species. The most popular activity that tourists do when they visit here is walking the 384-kilometres long trail to admire the wonderful natural scenery.

– Dallas museum of art

Built in 1903, the museum is an interesting attraction in Texas with more than 24,000artifacts.

– Space center Houston

Offers visitors an insight into the activities of the world s largest space program with exhibits, films, models, exhibits relating to astronauts, and moon rock samples which are displayed here.

– South Padre island

Being one of the longest islands in the world with a length of over 112kilometres, it is an important nature reserve in Texas, consisting of beaches, sand dunes, grasslands and countless migratory birds. The most famous animal found at this island is the rare.

– The Alamo

This is one of the most important historical monuments in the United States. It was associated with the legend between Texas people and Mexico’s army.

Eating

Texas are often proud of the food they eat. You can enjoy specialties such as barbecue, Queso ice cream, vodka, salad stew, Tex-Mex, and fried chicken.

2. FLORENCE, ITALY – THE LAND OF ART ROBERTO CAVALLI

Roberto Cavalli is the father of the wildlife printing and sandblasting on jeans – one of the basic features in the jeans production industry today. In the mid70-s, he invented the skin printing method and gained attention from major fashion brands like Hermes and Pierre Cardin.

During this period, Roberto Cavalli also introduced his first collection and launched his first store in 1972. Over the years, Roberto Cavalli has become one of the leading brands in the fashion world.

Being born in a family with artistic traditions in Florence, Tuscany, Italy. The birthplace of the talented genius is now considered a heaven of art in Europe. Florence is honored as one of the most beautiful cities in the world. In 2007, Florence was named the “World s Best Tourist City” by Travel Leisure. Visitors can find ancient castles, churches, and museums filled with rare paintings and precious statues. Florence bears the unique values of art; this was the birthplace of the Renaissance movement that took place in the 15th and 16th centuries.

Transportation

There are two ways to get to the beautiful city of Florence from Vietnam.The first way is to take a flight to Florence with transit in Paris of France. It will take you about 17 to 21 hours to get there. Or you can fly to a destination in Italy, and go to Florence by train. Although they save you a bit of time, the cost of domestic flights in Italy is quite expensive, so you if you travel by train you can save a lot of money. In Italy, Alitalia and Meridiana Airlines serve domestic flights to Florence.

Weather

The time when tourists often visit Florence is from February to October, in which the ideal time is from May and early Junebefore it gets too hot. In August, many citizens here will go on vacation, so almost all of the shops are closed. You should not go to Florence in July or August because it›s the peak season, and the hot weather is tiring and not enjoyable.

Eating

In Florence, you can find a lot of places to enjoy both local and international dishes. Regarding the places to eat in Florence, there probably is nothing better than the market, where you can smell the aroma of cheese and fresh salami, enjoy gelato, see the golden color of olive oil soaked in pots, and get tempted by the color of ripe fruit dangling on the stalls.

Attractions

– Arno River

The Arno River runs through the city with the Vecchio bridge crossed by, creating peaceful and romantic beauty.
This unique bridge survived through the World War II. Built in the Roman era, the bridge still retains its original historic beauty after many years of repairing.

– Laurentien Library

Built in the 15 th century, but it still retains the original pristine and modest beauty until now.

Going out of the library, you can visit the nearby Duomo Square which was designed by the genius architect Brunelleschi and features the beauty of the Renaissance architecture.

– Cathedral Square

Come here, you can visit the Cathedral Square to admire its massive marble architecture.

Nearby are the Santa Maria del Fiore and Bell tower (Campanile) with the height of 89metres; the top of the tower is flat and not pointed as other bell towers. You can enjoy the panoramic views of Florence from the top of the tower.Two of the most famous museums in Florence are the Accademia Gallery (XIV century) and the Uffizi Gallery Museum built in 1560. They preserve priceless works of art and sculptures of famous artists of Italy during the Renaissance.

3. VENEZUELA – THE QUEEN OF THE WHITE SHIRT CAROLINA HERRERA

Carolina Herrera was the one who set the trend of combining classic white shirts with long dresses, and many celebrities wore them to the red carpet. Herrera started designing white shirts from her first collection in 1981. Since then, each of her collections has at least one style of white shirt. It never stops inspiring her. The passion for this type of outfit is so great that she can keep designing new white shirts her whole life without getting bored.

Born in Venezuela and considered as the most elegant woman in the international fashion world. It is said that the land of Miss Venezuela has a great influence on the designs of Carolina Herrera. Besides, this country also has beautiful natural scenery. Venezuela has the highest waterfall in the world and the longest coastline, stretching to the Caribbean Sea. This country is considered as one of the top 20bio-diverse countries in the world.

Transportation

Recently, there is no flights from Vietnam to Venezuela, so you have to transit once or even twice in some cities such as Seoul (South Korea), Miami (United States), Tokyo (Japan) and New York (United States).

The flight from Hanoi to Caracas (capital of Venezuela):

Currently this route is operated by 15airlines with an average frequency of about 43flights per day. Major airlines that serve this route are Vietnam Airlines, Air France, American Airlines, Japan Airlines, and Cathay Pacific Airways. Prices for this flight range from USD2,159- USD6,590(~ VND49,650,000- VND151,600,000).

Ho Chi Minh City – Caracas flight: Airlines that serve this route are ANA All Nippon Airways, American Airlines, and Vietnam Airlines with the frequency of 41flights per day. The average ticket price of this flight is cheaper than that of the Hanoi – Caracas flight: USD1,860- USD4,401(~ VND42,780,000- VND101,223,000).

Weather

In Venezuela, the dry season is from December to April. This is considered as the best time for you to visit Venezuela.
During this time, the average temperature is only about 32degrees Celsius and it is not too harsh. You can enjoy tourist attractions without the fear of being affected by the weather. If you want to explore the islands, the weather will be cooler, from 24degrees Celsius to 28degrees Celsius.

Eating

Venezuela is famous for its specialties such as Arepas, Pabellon Criollo, Hallaca, Cachapas, and Hervido. The beverages here are mainly fruit juice like Papelon and Chicha de Arroz, as well as coffee.

Attractions

– Los Roques Archipelago

Located about 170kilometres from the mainland of Venezuela. It is an ideal place for you to enjoy a peaceful life with various interesting activities such as diving and windsurfing.

– Coro and its port

Located in the northwest of Caracas capital, along the coastline that is famous for the unique architecture of 600 Spanish inspired buildings.

– Canaima National park & Angel falls

Located in the southeastern part of Venezuela and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Canaima has a mountainous landscape and the highest waterfall in the world called Angel with the height of 979metres.

– Merida and its surroundings

Has a fresh atmosphere and cool space with the Andes Mountains in the background. It is also home to the world›s highest climbing spot at 4,700metres and many other interesting outdoor activities.

Oanh Kim | Wanderlust Tips

Laguna Lăng Cô received Golf Digest Editor’s Choice Award 2018 for “Best Golf Resort in Asia”

Laguna Lăng Cô, an integrated holiday destination has received the Golf Digest Editor’s Choice Award 2018 for “Best Golf Resort In Asia – Vietnam”. This is the second year Laguna Lăng Cô received this prestigious award. The award list recognizes resorts throughout Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia, China, Japan, South Korea and Vietnam.

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“Being recognized by Golf Digest for the second year in a row is a testament to the Banyan Tree Group’s commitment to deliver Vietnam’s most desired golf experience. Having 6-time Major winner – Sir Nick Faldo take a personal interest in the ongoing enhancements of the golf course as well as Laguna Lang Co continue to elevate various features of the course each year”, shared Mr Adam Calver, Director of Golf of Laguna Golf Lăng Cô. “The tropical beach coastline is only amplified by the majestic beauty of the mountain backdrop which encases the entire Laguna Lăng Cô Resort. Faldo utilized every possible natural feature as he sculptured the course through ancient rice paddies, along with raw jungle mountains and onto the peaceful serenity of the beach which borders the signature Par 4, 9th hole. It is a golfing experience like no other in Vietnam.”

Laguna Golf Lăng Cô has been hailed as Sir Nick Faldo’s greatest design and once you have experienced it, few would disagree. There are many factors that set Laguna Golf Lăng Cô apart from other golf courses South East Asia and specifically Vietnam. First is the scale of the natural landscape. The staggering Truong Son mountain range frames in the entire resort; golfers are surrounded by pure nature. The golf course is like walking through a national park, there is a 400-foot waterfall that cascades down the mountain behind the 2nd green, the 3rd and 4th holes are carved through traditional Vietnamese rice fields which is home to the adopted family of water buffalo: Tu Phat (father), Chi Chi (mother) and Bao (baby) wading in the flooded paddy fields. The 5th and 6th holes turn into the jungle with giant boulders lining the fairway and the dense tropical jungle covering the mountainside is surely spectacular. As you walk off the seventh green you get your first views of the East Sea and the wave’s crash onto the beach behind the Par 3, 8th green. The 8th, 9th and 10th holes are all down on the sandy coastline with views of the East Sea from each hole.

Laguna Lăng Cô’s reputation has been growing quickly over the past 5 years and Laguna Lang Co are seeing a steady increase in avid golfers travelling the world in search of a truly unique golf experience. Part of the international integrated resort Laguna Lăng Cô, the golf course is adjacent to the luxury Banyan Tree Lăng Cô with an award-winning Spa, the beachfront resort Angsana Lăng Cô and the serviced apartment Laguna Park Lăng Cô along the 18th hole of golf course. All of the accommodation is within walking distance of the golf course making this a true luxury golf lifestyle.

Laguna Lăng Cô would like to express their appreciation to Golf Digest for the recognition. This significant achievement is a big motivation for the team as they take great pride in providing an exceptional golfing experience for all guests from around the world. It’s also wonderful news for Laguna Lăng Cô prior to resorts 5 Years Anniversary coinciding with the 5th Club Championship on 19th May 2018.

LAGUNA LĂNG CÔ

Address: Cu Du Village, Loc Vinh Commune, Phu Loc District, Thua Thien Hue Province, Vietnam.
Phone: +84 (0) 234 3695 800 / +84 (0) 234 3695 888
Email: laguna@lagunalangco.com
Website: www.lagunalangco.com

Tailoring Ao dai in Hue, go to Hoi An for shoes making

[Wanderlust Tips April 2018] Perhaps, you will not be able to find somewhere else in the world where a national costume or a fashionable pair of shoes is perfectly made and completed in the time you sip a cup of coffee.

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AO DAI MADE IN A “SHORT TIME”

My girlfriend always wishes to visit Hue to enjoy dining with hundreds of dishes from luxury royal cuisine to cheap street food, and like any other daydreaming girls, she loves sailing on Huong River, which is famous in poetry. For me, it’s different; I have always been impressed with the beautiful girls of Hue, wearing their graceful, purple Ao Dai.

Many years ago, when I was still a young man, I fell in love with Hue, in a moment, sitting right in front of the Hue High School for the Gifted, on an afternoon in October. The sunshine at the end of the day spread a layer of golden carpet on every road, on ancient citadels, and on the smile of young Hue girls. As a young man at the time, I was mesmerized each time I saw a group of school girls in purple or white Ao Dai, conical hats and their deep Hue accents. My dream was to date a girl from Hue. Though my dream did not come true, I brought my girlfriend to Hue. It is interesting that she loves Ao Dai and wishes to have her Ao Dai tailored in Hue.

The ancient capital is well-known for the symbol of the delicate and graceful Ao Dai which reveals the charm of women from the land of Huong River and Ngu Mountain. People visiting Hue often go to temples, citadels, palaces and try unique specialties as well as choose souvenirs to bring home. Women often choose to buy Ao Dai because it is fashionable and represents the soul of Hue. Of course, you do not have to wait for a week like at the tailor shop in your city to get a nice Ao Dai; it is made only in 3-10 hours with almost perfect services, which will satisfy any fastidious woman.

Ao Dai tailor shops in Hue have survived a hundred of years with skillful craftsmen, specializing in tailoring for the royal palace people. The material used to make Ao Dai in Hue is silk or linen. You can buy the fabric yourself then take it to the tailor shop or choose the fabric right at the shop. Tailoring services in Hue are not only fast and well-qualified but also very professional. All your measurements will be saved so that if you want another one, you can just make a phone call and they will make it for you. All tailor shops have delivery services, or you can even order online in advance and come to pick it up when it is convenient for you. You may think that it is almost impossible that the Ao Dai would fit you perfectly on the first try and would need many adjustments.

However, do not worry, the craftsmanship, master tailoring skills, and thoughtful customer services will satisfy you. The staff will deliver the product to the hotel where you stay and wait while you are trying it. If you are not satisfied, they will adjust it until it fits you well, and you do not have to pay any additional cost. Therefore, my girlfriend also had an Ao Dai made in Hue; she looks so graceful and gentle like the girls in the ancient capital by the Huong River.

W. TIPS:

Some famous Ao dai tailor shops in Hue: Truong Anh Hao tailor shop at No.61 Ben Nghe, Minh Tan tailor shop at No. 57 Nguyen Sinh Cung, Doan Trang tailor shop at No. 2 Kiet 56, Bach Dang Street, Tham tailor shop at No. 42 Tran Nguyen Han, Ao Dai Bich Thuy No. 15 Chu Van An, etc.

MEASURE FEET TO MAKE SHOES IN HOI AN

My girlfriend got a beautiful purple Ao Dai, and I rewarded myself with a pair of shoes from a craftsman of Hoi An. I still did not have a pair of boat shoes which can match perfectly with jeans, chinos, shorts, t-shirts, linen shirts, and blazers for a young and dynamic look. The difference between boat shoes and drive ones is the shoelace at the top and the non-slip rubber sole. A genuine pair of Boat shoes is often expensive, so I have found and saved some samples on my phone for Hoi An’s craftsmen to refer to.

The picturesque Hoi An’s ancient street is along the Hoai River with its modest ancient houses; Hoi An people are leisurely and gentle, like the smoke of agarwood incense hanging in each alley. After choosing a brand, I started to show my ideas to the craftsman. At first, I wanted to make authentic puce shoes, but after looking at the leather collection of the shop, I wanted to make dozens of pairs, one colour for each. The craftsman will take meticulous measurements of your feet and shoe types, consult suitable leather kinds, shoe tip and sole type before cutting the leather, shaping the form, sewing, pressing the sole, decorating with accessories (if any) and polishing. Every step is implemented by the most skilled craftsmen of the commercial port Hoi An.

The mouldings on each shoe are carefully sewn to be suitable for your own style. The craftsman will give you the shoes that not only are a perfect fit but also unique to match the personality of the owner. If there is anything that does not meet your requirements, the craftsman will even make a new pair for you to make sure you are satisfied. Each pair of shoes will be guaranteed from 6 months to a year at very reasonable prices for the majority of visitors.

So, on our trip, my girlfriend got an Ao Dai featuring Hue culture to heighten the graceful beauty of each woman, and for me, I was completely satisfied with the pair of boat shoes which were exclusive and stylish like they were made only for me. Above all, what struck us most is that all of these products, from the Ao Dai to the shoes, were completely handmade in a very short time. During the time you are sipping a cup of coffee and looking at the stream of people passing by, the product is completed perfectly.

W. TIPS:

Some shoe shops in Hoi An: Yaly shoe shop, Frendly shoe shop, 09 shoe shop, Than Thien shoe shop, Hieu Trung leather shop, and over 30 other shops in Hoi An’s ancient street.

Tran Giap | Wanderlust Tips

Fashion designer Cong Tri: “Trips are an endless source of inspiration for me to sublimate into designing”

[Wanderlust Tips April 2018] The name Nguyen Cong Tri is no longer an unfamiliar name in Vietnam’s fashion industry; his unique and impressive designs completely conquer both Vietnamese and international fashion aficionados. The ideas for the collections often come from simple things he observes in his life or during his trips to a new land. Wanderlust tips had an interview with Cong Tri to learn more about his exhilarating creative inspirations.

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After about 18 years in your career as a fashion designer, the name Cong Tri is now referred to as a leading designer in Vietnam. What inspired you to pursue this career?

Born and raised in Da Nang, my childhood was filled with a lot of sound and colours. In front of my house there was a market, and behind my house was the Han river, so every day I could see ordinary yet very brilliant things. And those vivid images have formed in my imagination the concept of Arts. Arts nourished my soul during my childhood years.

I learned to draw in grade 1 and then began to design in grade 4. At the age of 9, I went to the market to choose cloth and brought home for my sister to make clothes for Tet holiday. My passion for arts grew along the time, and when I was 16 years old, I knew that I was really in love with fashion as I always learned about fashion designers in the country through books and newspapers. However, when I entered college, I had to choose graphics major while continuing to nurture the dream of becoming a fashion designer.

The year 2000 was an important milestone for me when I participated in the Vietnam Collection competition and won the Idea Award, and then won Bay FM award of Asia Collection Makuhari in Japan. In 2001, I won the second prize in the Asia Young Designer Award in Singapore. Those were the milestones for the beginning of my fashion design career.

You are highly appreciated and became famous for impressive designs for well-known stars in Vietnam and around the world, and especially through your latest striking collections like “Lua” (rice plant), “ Em Hoa” (Ms Flower), and “Thu sau cua Chi” (Friday of Female office staff). The collection “Lua” used the finest fabric of Vietnam – Lanh My A’s silk, the collection “Em Hoa” is inspired from the costumes of girls selling flowers in Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi. Your collections all bear meaning and images which are very familiar in everyday life.

Exactly. Those ordinary things may be in Vietnam or somewhere far away that I have got to know and learned about. I will pursue with all my energy those that touch me and make me fall in love.As my most recent BST was “Friday of Female office staff”. This is the collection of Cong Tri brand – one of the three brands operating under my name. Cong Tri brand specializes in designing elegant outfits for successful ladies and women. This is the collection inspired by the outfits women often wear in their office on Friday. I am interested in the change, the transformation, and the freedom in the dress sense of women on Fridays compared to the other days of the week.

In your busy life and work, do you spend time travelling to many places in Vietnam and in the world for relaxation, business or both?

Life becomes more colorful when I travel. However, due to my hectic schedule, I always try to combine work and travel. All the places I have been to have brought me the experiences of different cultures,and they are also an endless source of inspiration for me to sublimate in my designs.

Which trip brought you the most emotional memories?

The first thing I want to do when travelling to a new destination is to explore the local cultural life. I often visit local markets to experience the daily life there. The hustle and bustle of the sounds and colours always excites me and arouses many emotions in my imagination. In addition, the centres of the world’s fashion industry and garment materials are also indispensable destinations on my list.

I still remembered my first trip abroad to Japan; the conscientiousness and perfectionism of the Japanese traditional culture have completely impressed me. The next trip to the United States showed me the diversity and vastness of this country. Each state is like a small country, which would take me a lot of time to explore and learn about. I usually like places which look very simple from the outside but hide a lot of mysteries inside. Such places gave me the most emotions: loneliness, happiness, disappointment, surprise, and warmth.

Fashion and travel seem to be a perfect couple; they complement each other and have similarities between each other. In the eyes of a fashion designer, how do you feel about this?

I think fashion is the travel of outfits, so when you change your style, it is like you are setting foot in a new land. Your life will be more interesting and enriched.

Can you share with Wanderlust Tips readers about your major plans in the near future?

In this year, I will release a new collection of Modern Ao Dai at the Vietnam Fashion Week in April, followed by a showcase of Vietnamese Modern Ao Dai in New York at the beginning of July. In September, I will attend Tokyo Fashion Week. And by the end of the year, there may be a solo exhibition which I have been planning for a long time.

Thank you for sharing with us these meaningful stories. We wish you creative inspiration and success in the future!

Van Ly | Wanderlust Tips

Share the love: Travel fashion inspiration

[Wanderlust Tips April 2018] The close bond between fashion and travel is being increasingly confirmed as the current trend of combining travelling and attending world-famous fashion events is becoming more popular.

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NGUYEN MINH TU, MODEL

Fortunately, I have many opportunities to visit a lot of places in Vietnam and abroad. Each country I travelled to has brought me different feelings and experiences. During the trips, I am usually very careful in choosing my clothes to match with the circumstances, climate, customs and practices of where I go. For cold regions, I often take warm, lightweight jackets that can be mixed with a variety of accessories. Socks and scarf are also must-have items. For places with hot climate or by the sea, jean shorts, t-shirts, crop-tops and sneakers are perfect choices.

For me, fashion and travel have a close bond with each other. Not only does it broaden our minds, travelling also brings us the opportunities to learn from the unique fashion features of each region. It inspires creativity and helps us create the most beautiful things with sensation, which is very useful for artists, especially, people working in the fashion industry.

PHAM TUNG LINH, OPLUS BAND, SINGER

The outfits are always the issue I care the most about, especially during travel. My style can be described in one word “SIMPOOL” (the word that I created myself), it is the combination of “Simple” and “Cool”. I love the simplicity in dressing but there should be an interesting highlight so that the outfit does not look monotonous.

Tourist sites where I have passed through usually do not have any restriction on the clothing so it was not too difficult to choose the appropriate clothes or accessories, if anything, you only need to care about the weather and your mood at times. Nevertheless, I always prefer comfortable clothes with monochromatic colors. I also favour black, white, and gray tones, and a pair of sunglasses that suit my face. I love outfits featuring delicacy rising from its simplicity. I think that the simplest way to help you mix and match your clothes is to understand your body and keep things as simple as possible.

NGUYEN TRUC LAM , ART DESIGN, VIRAL CLIP DIRECTOR AND TRAVEL BLOGGER

During trips, to get the best shots, besides space and light condition, the outfits are also very important. Therefore, I always try to wear outfits that match the scenery where I go to. As an artist, I always choose the clothes that match my personality, which are comfortable and stylish.

The outfits are mixed and matched depending on each person’s physique or personality. The most important thing is that you know how to choose appropriate outfits for different places and time. You can find out about the culture of where you are visiting to choose an impressive outfit to get nice pictures.

However, keep in mind that travel is to experience and enjoy, do not focus too much on taking check-in photos and forget to look at the beautiful scenery, explore the culture and have fun with friends.

TRAN HOAI TRANG, FASHION STYLISH

My passion for travel was aroused when I participated in various events and fashion weeks around the world. From those trips, I learned a lot about the cultural features of the countries I went to,, then brought those elements into fashion. I realize that the details printed on Gucci’s fabric have many similarities with the elaborate sculptural motifs on the casket of a Pharaoh, or the pattern on Dior’s outfit resembles the painting on bricks of an ancient hotel. The inspiration for fashion will come to you from unexpected things on your voyage to explore the world.I think travel and fashion are two sources of inspiration on beauty, which will help us to be more engaged in our lives.

Wearing a beautiful outfit will make you feel more confident, while traveling to beautiful places helps you leave all sorrows behind. Therefore, there is nothing better than wearing a nice outfit in a beautiful place.

Van Ly | Wanderlust Tips

Top 5 famous fashion bloggers distinctive style

[Wanderlust Tips April 2018] Travelling is a time for you to comfortably do what you like, and also an opportunity to show your own fashion style. Join Wanderlust Tips to find out more about the top 5 most famous fashion bloggers in the world and discover ways to help make you look beautiful and stylish in every moment.

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1. COURTNEY SCOTT AND DISTINCTIVE BEACH OUTFITS

Living for many years in a small New York apartment, Courtney always dreamed about a life of freedom and journeys around the world. With this desire, Courtney decided to quit her stable job and move to live in Italy and became a full time blogger. Starting with a travel & fashion blog, Courtney creates video diaries of her adventures and takes photos at many famous destinations around the world. Her impromptu and personal style of storytelling has attracted many famous media channels such as Porsche, Expedia, Refinery 29, Free People, Disney, Avianca and Marriott.

She is also one of the first two people to lead the trend of travelling with close friends, and the co-owner of the social channel “Girls meet Globe” about exploring a new land. Courtney Scott’s style is very stylish and sexy; she always prefers hot bikinis at the beach, or jeans and one shoulder dresses.

2. KIARA SCHWARTZ AND UNIQUE FASHION STYLE

Kiara Schwartz is a famous fashion blogger born in Vancouver, Canada. With a mass of followers on Instagram and her experience in the fashion industry, Kiara Schwartz is currently working with major international brands such as Tiffany and Co., Lacoste, Nordstrom, GUESS, H & M and Diesel. Not only does she have a unique fashion style and the ability to mix and match, Kiara Schwartz also has a lot of experience in travelling. Her posts, videos and photos shared on social networking sites never fail to take viewers on a “never-ending road trip” to discover beautiful cities such as Bali, Mexico, New York, Los Angeles, and Cape Town. Exploring Kiara Schwartz’s TobruckAve blog, you will open your door to a world of passion, the inspiration for fashion, travelling and lifestyle of the youth today.

Visiting Kiara Schwartz’s Instagram, what impresses people the most about Kiara Schwartz’s fashion style is the vibe of a freedomloving spirit which is still full of delicacy and gentleness, like the combination of the breeziest slip dress with a choker and cozy parka, giving a feminine yet distinctive look.

3. LORNA ANDREWS – THE FASHIONISTA PURSUING STREET STYLE

Born and raised in Trafford, Manchester, after spending eight years working for Virgin Atlantic and travelling around the world, she decided to quit her job and pursue a career as a fashion blogger. Lorna Andrews is one of the most influential people in fashion in the UK.

Not only does she have a huge fan base with more than 296,000 followers on Instagram, Lorna Andrews has also successfully built the blog Lorna Luxe since 2014, which shares the latest street fashion trends with gorgeous photos taken in well-known destinations all over the world like New York, London, Marbella, Edinburgh, Maldives, and Zurich. Her style is a mix of well-cut classics in which youthful denim trousers are skillfully combined with flamboyant accessories. With Lorna, gold accessories and jewelry are always a great choice for every girl in the spring and summer.

4. RUMI NEELY – A DEVOTEE OF VINTAGE FASHION

Being of Japanese, Dutch, and Scottish descent, the talented young girl Rumi Neely is a famous fashion blogger, fashion designer, model and photographer living and working in San Francisco, the USA. As a vintage fashion lover, Rumi’s outfits always feature classic and feminine style. Referring to Rumi, people will remember a girl with a feminine, romantic but still very impressive clothes and stylish dip-dye hairstyle.

Rumi Neely created the “Fashion Toast” blog and an online vintage store called “Treasure Chest Vintage” on eBay in 2008. By 2009, it received over 35,000 views per day, and currently, the blog receives 5.5 million views per month.

Not only has she been named one of the world’s top fashion bloggers with 700,000 followers on Instagram and over 35,000 blog views per day, Rumi was also invited to become a representative of Next Model Management based in Los Angeles, and a fashion designer for RVCA fashion brand. She was honored on Bloglovin’s Awards with two prizes, which were Best Personal Style Blog Award and Blogger of the Year in 2011.

5. ALANNA DURKOVICH – THE PLAYFUL STYLE OF A BLUE-HAIRED GIRL

Alanna Durkovich, 27 years old, is a famous blogger from Vancouver, Canada. With an open-minded style, her blue immediately impresses people with hair and purple highlights. Formerly known as a fashion blogger pursuing vintage style, Alanna Durkovich is always outstanding with a daring and unique mix. Usually choosing neutral colors such as black, white and pastel, Alanna always pays attention to details and select dresses that match her hair color.

Founded in 2013, Xander Vintage blog is a look into the sexy, dynamic yet extremely feminine world of the bold blue-haired girl, and the source of inspiration for fashion and travelling to the youth. Xander Vintage shares not only latest fashion trends but also the journey journal of Alanna Durkovich with her handsome husband and two little angels while exploring the world together, such as their wedding in Dubrovnik, family vacations in Puerto Vallarta, Los Angeles, etc.

Phuong Chi | Wanderlust Tips

Thanakha lingers on the cheek

[Wanderlust Tips April 2018] While burmese men have dozens of ways to tie longyi to express their personality, there are many messages hidden in every painting line when burmese women make up with Thanakha.

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What do you want to bring back from your trip to Myanmar – the surprisingly pure and beautiful land? You may want to take some photographs of the magical moment when the thin mist lingers around thousands of temples at dawn or sunset in Bagan, the Longyi which becomes so familiar to you though being the traditional clothing of another country, the greeting “Mingalabar” still echoing in your ears, a gemstone bracelet, or thoughts of life after a train ride around Yangon. Perhaps, there will be different answers as everyone feels nostalgia for Burma and love for different things in the land which is not far away but so strange. As for me, I brought back the nostalgic memory of Thanakha which still remained on my cheeks.

There is nowhere else in the world where the Longyi – a traditional clothing of a country – becomes so familiar and friendly to tourists like in Myanmar. And perhaps, there is no cosmetic that is as ordinary yet carry so many stories like the yellow powder, ground from the tree of the same name, Thanakha.

In dusty Bagan, there is also a unique Thanakha Museum, the only one in the world. Thanakha is a kind of powder applied on the face that the indigenous people of South America always use for make-up, and with just a little rain or cleanser, there will be no trace left.

For me, after leaving Burma, the Thanakha on my cheeks is what remains in my mind. It is round and rich yellow, which reminds me of friendly smiles from the girl working as an immigration controller at the airport.

Burmese people are as ordinary as life in this country, being gentle, slightly blue yet full of emotions. That may be the reason why their greeting is so simple – “Mingalabar”. Mingalabar can be used for any time of the day, regardless of morning and afternoon as in English. Mingalabar expresses the magical friendliness and openness; it is the smile of both the speaker and the listener. In the same way, Thanakha is filled with the pride of those who grind the powder to apply on your face, and a bit of curiosity of those who apply it on their cheeks.In the small museum amidst Bagan, there are hundreds of stories revolving around Thanakha from its history, habitat, plantation, varieties, to a series of souvenirs made from branches and stalks.

However, when the locals grill the powder and apply it on your cheek with their big smile, it will become your most memorable moment on the journey. This cosmetic has been used for more than 2,000 years and is believed to have a protective and nourishing effect on the skin, prevent wrinkles, and make the skin fresh. At first glance, Thanakha reminds Indigenous people from South America, but once you get used to it, you will find it so beautiful on the young honey-coloured skin without a bit of acne, under the dark eyes and curved eyelashes, on the passionate cheeks of the Myanmar woman. Thanakha is processed in a very simple way and has not changed for centuries.

This national cosmetic is also extremely cheap and can be bought anywhere in Myanmar for only 1,000- 2,000kyats (about VND16,000- VND30,000) for a branch of about 15-20centimetres. You will rarely find a woman who does not apply Thanakha on the streets of Myanmar.

Myanmar’s women will grind the branches on a small rock with a little water to make the viscous yellow liquid, then apply this liquid on their faces without adding any other additives. People use fingers to paint the Thanakha on their faces, two cheeks, nostrils, foreheads, chins, and even arms. More stylish people will draw Thanakha in round shapes, leaf shapes and patterns to look more beautiful and outstanding.

Nowadays, there is also the ready-made Thanakha powder, which means you do not have to grind it from the tree trunk anymore, but the majority of Myanmar people still grind it every day.

Not only is Thanakha used every day, it is also present in religious ceremonies or was used to show social status in the past. The imperial maid often had to prepare Thanakha in bright and light brown colour with gold dust for royal ladies. The princess used Thanakha mixed with gold dust, while citizens used Thanakha mixed with a very fragrant and attractive pollen.

At the Mahamuni Buddha Temple, the most sacred temple in Mandalay, every morning, people hold a ritual for washing Buddhas face with towels coated in Thanakha or in Rakhine, on Songkrans Eve, young girls begin to crush the bark of Thanakha to make a smooth cream, while the boys dance and play instruments.

On a ferry from Yangon to Dala, I kept looking at a 6-7 year old girl drawing funny shapes on her face with Thanakha powder. In that moment late afternoon, when the whole river was covered by the golden colour of sunset, the flock of birds still gathered around the ferry waiting for food from the passengers, some crows were shouting, the stream of people who were on their way home. The little girl sat in the corner of the ferry, drawing hearts, balls, and rhombus shapes on her face. Those amazing moments at the Shwedagon Pagoda when seeing a young Myanmar lady sitting and praying in the light of thousands of candles with her face full of Thanakha painted artfully made me feel that life was so pure and pellucid.

While Burmese men have dozens of ways to tie Longyi to show their personality, there are many messages hidden in every painting line when Burmese women make up their face with Thanakha. In the poorest village on the other side of the river, in contrast to this busy Yangon, both little boys and girls laughing and playing in the fields as well as the man driving us through the dirt roads of Bagan to watch the temples all have Thanakha painted on their healthy dark brown skin. In the dawn of Bagan, a Burmese girl gently pours water into a bottle by the roadside for the travellers to relieve their thirst, her gentle shining smile seems to dispel the thin mist and welcome a new day. Students go to school, public servants go to work, a woman goes to the market. All of them are so attached to the magic Thanakha on the face.

Burmese people are so gentle, they impress you by the simplest things like the smiles at the airport, the Longyi appearing everywhere on the streets, taxis without metres overcharging, the kids in the poor riverside village or the cheerful police officers, the colorful Yangon capital, the fancy Bagan, the crowded Mandalay and the picturesque Inle Lake. From the scent of sweetsmelling Thanakha to the soft smooth fingers that apply the national cosmetic on your cheek, Burmese people make you forget the past, forget the future and just live for the present. A present where people give each other good things and loving moments. And the future for them is probably the children who grow up in the embrace of Longyi and the scent of Thanakha which has been there for thousands of years in a prosperous Myanmar.

Tran Giap | Wanderlust Tips

Journeys to define chic fashion styles

[Wanderlust Tips April 2018] You have two great passions: travelling and fashion, do not miss trips to the fashion capitals of the world to have the opportunity to participate in events such as New York Fashion Week, London Fashion Week, Milan Fashion Week and Paris Fashion Week. This is a chance for you to not only explore a new land, but also show your fashion style.

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2018 TREND

Starting in 2018, the trend of travel combined with watching international fashion shows becomes increasingly popular. Fashion capital cities attract fashion devotees from around the world to come and be immersed in the space of passion and fashion, the places for them to express their personality through fashionable outfits and explore the unique culture and landscape of the destination, and enjoy shopping time.

Every year, the world’s major fashion weeks take place respectively: New York Fashion Week (USA), London Fashion Week (England), Milan Fashion Week (Italy) and Paris Fashion Week (France). Each fashion week takes place twice a year in two main seasons, from January to April, the designers launch Autumn-Winter collections, and from September to November, they lauch the Spring – Summer collections. The fashion week for each season of the year will be held many months preceding that season to help the media and consumers predict the fashion designs of that season.

DESTINATIONS FOR FASHION

New York, London, Milan, Paris are home to four greatest events of the fashion industry, so these are the four most interesting destinations for travel.

1. New York, USA

Many designers choose New York City as a place to work and develop their career. The fashion industry chooses this city to hold many famous fashion events, and the most significant one is the New York Fashion Week.

New York Fashion Week was established in 1943 in New York. This fashion week is held annually in February and September and lasts for 7-9 days. This is the time when international collections will be presented to customers, the press and the public.

However, major names in the fashion industry such as Chanel, Valentino, Louis Vuitton, and Gucci do not appear in the New York Fashion Week. They only showcase their latest haute couture collection at the Fashion Weeks in Milan, London and Paris. Meanwhile, New York Fashion Week is home to more affordable ready-to-wear brands. In 2018, New York Fashion Week launched its Autumn-Winter collections from 8th-16th February and will release the Spring-Summer collections from 6th-14th September. This would be a great time for fashion enthusiasts to make a trip to New York.

New York is a convergence center of cultures, arts, architecture, history and entertainment. The “Big Apple” is best known for its iconic Freedom Statue or the soaring Empire State Building as a testament to the enormous historic and appealing beauty to its visitors. You can also visit the zoo or lie on the green lawns of Central Park.The weather and climate in New York are divided into four seasons like in Vietnam: Spring (March – June), Summer (June – September), Autumn (September – December), and Winter (December – March next year). Each season features its own beauty that no other season has. Therefore, New York is a great destination for you to visit at any time of the year.

The United States is a great nation, so the transportation is strongly developed. There are a lot of means of public transportation for you to choose from during your trip. This helps you to easily get to famous tourist attractions in New York. Some kinds of popular modes of transportation in New York are subways, buses, taxis, and bicycles.The must-try delicious traditional foods in New York are sausage sandwiches, donuts, and New York cheeseburgers. Besides the tasty cuisine, egg cream is a favorite and popular amongst many New Yorkers. It helps cool you down in the heat of the day, and the fatty taste of milk, syrups, eggs, and cream will make you remember the flavor of this city.

2. London, England

London is one of the most attractive tourist cities in the world. If you have a chance to travel to this beautiful city of England, you will almost reach the whole Europe because it seems that this city owns all of the characteristics of Europe, which are ancient, modest, dreamy, romantic, simple yet vibrant and bustling.

Not only does it attract visitors by Leicester Square, Westminster Palace, London Tower Bridge and many other attractions, London has also enthralled visitors by being one of the world’s most developed fashion industries.

The fashion style here is nostalgic, elegant yet trendy. And when refering to London fashion, we surely should not miss the London Fashion Week. The annual event was established in 1984 by the British Fashion Council. This is the fashion week of the sponsors, and it’s a great trade event that draws great attention from the press. In 2018, London Fashion Week performed its impressive autumn – winter collections in February and will launch its Spring-Summer Collection on 14 th- 18 th September.

After satisfying yourself with the impressive fashion shows of London Fashion Week, it is recommended to take time to explore every corner of London. The King’s Road is known as the centre of London fashion with countless shops selling state-of-the-art outfits, or Brick Lane serves excellent traditional food at affordable prices as well as fish and chips which are relatively cheap.

3. Milan, Italy

The next one is Milan, Milan is famous and considered as the trendiest city. In particular, this city is also known as “the shopping paradise” with countless shops, markets, shopping malls, exhibition fairs and the world’s most prestigious galleries. Therefore, it is undeniable that this place is the “cradle” of the fashion industry, creating a lot of prominent trends in the world. The fashion style here is different from New York and London’s with new and unique outfits featuring the breath of the modern world.

Travelling to Milan, you will see many fashionistas wearing rebellious yet fashionable clothes characterizing Italian culture. The annual greatest Fashion Week in Milan – Milan Fashion Week was established in 1958 by the National Chamber for Italian Fashion. This annual event features more than 40 fashion shows in each season, it is a major fashion event in Milan, making Milan a famous city with tourists from all over the world. In 2018, visitors can visit Milan to attend Milan Fashion Week 2018 on 19th- 25th September.

Coming to Milan, you definitely should not miss the opportunity to visit timeless icons such as the Duomo and one of the world’s largest shopping malls Vittorio Emanuele or Milan Cathedral built in Gothic architecture, with 35 towers. It took more than five centuries to build this church.

Like other cities in Italy, the transportation system in Milan is very modern with a lot of transport options for you such as cars, motorbikes, buses, trains, and bicycles. However, visitors coming here often choose buses and trains for travelling due to their cheap fares, convenient routes and safety. For an easier journey, you should get yourself a map of public transportation at train and bus stations to know the timetable.Do not miss the chance to enjoy Milanese dishes like Pizza, Gelato, Lasagna, Spaghetti and Risotto – the most delicious dish in Milan.

4. Paris, France

Paris – the city of love and nostalgia. Many poets, writers, and journalists have written about their love for this city, and it is hard not to love Paris. This land appears to be alluring in its culture, elegance, class and style. Hemingway said: “If you are lucky enough to have lived in Paris as a young man, then wherever you go for the rest of your life it stays with you, for Paris is a moveable feast.”Paris is large, and it takes a lifetime to discover the beauty of this city.

The most famous tourist attractions here are the Eiffel Tower, Arc de Triomphe, the Louvre, Champs Élysées, and Notre Dame Cathedral. Many fashion designers were born in this beautiful capital such as Coco Chanel, Yves Saint Laurent and even Christian Dior. And if you want to admire the latest designs of these brands, you should attend Paris Fashion Week. Paris Fashion Week was established in 1973 and takes place annually at various venues in the city.

In 2018, Paris Fashion Week has two main events: the Autumn-Winter collection from 27th February to 6th March and Spring-Summer collections from 25th September to 3rd October.To choose the best time to visit Paris and attend fashion events, visitors should also note that Paris has hot and cold seasons which are much differentiated. In the summer, it is sunny but not too hot but you will have to face crowded tourists flocking to the capital of France. In winter, it is cold and cloudy.

The best time to visit Paris is at the end of April or May when it is still cold but pleasant, or in the autumn when the weather is very nice. From April to November is the low season; you can save maximum travel costs when traveling to Paris during this time.French cuisine is quite sophisticated and delicate; some must-try dishes are Macarons, Crepe, and Clafoutis. They are not only delicious and attractive but their forms are very diverse and beautiful.

FASHION TOURISM IN VIETNAM

In addition to the four major fashion centers mentioned above, today, fashion weeks also take place in many other cities in the world such as Berlin (Germany), Madrid (Spain), Rio De Janeiro (Brazil), Shanghai (China), and Tokyo (Japan). In Vietnam, in recent years, the Vietnam International Fashion Week (VIFW) often take place in Autumn – Winter and Spring – Summer.

Besides, throughout the years, there are many fashion events of famous Vietnamese designers to release their new collections. For example, in 2017, with the aim of marking the 10th anniversary of his career, designer Adrian Anh Tuan held an anniversary show with his collection “Her Legend” at the InterContinental Danang Sun Peninsula Resort (Da Nang.) In the luxurious space of the InterContinental resort, Adrian Anh Tuan’s exquisite and elegant dresses seem to show off their most impressive features, highlighting the seductive beauty of women.

Designer Do Manh Cuong also often chooses impressive locations to launch his new collections. In 2017, he chose to launch the “Life in Color” collection at JW Marriott Phu Quoc Emerald Bay Resort on the beautiful beach of Phu Quoc island. And in May, designer Do Manh Cuong will continue to choose an outdoor venue on a golf course at Laguna Lagoon Resort (Hue), to hold the 2018 Spring – Summer show, promising to bring surprises for fashion devotees. These fashion shows are all held at popular tourist destinations, offering tourists both amazing fashionable parties and a great time to enjoy the wonderful nature.

The domestic and international fashion weeks or events are a playground for fashion devotees to comfortably express their own style. For anyone who has the passion for both travel and fashion, the trend of travel combined with watching international fashion shows would be the first choice. This journey will bring you an unforgettable experience as you can not only discover a new land but also indulge yourself in the flow of the fashion industry.

Kim Oanh – Vân Ly | Wanderlust Tips