Wanderlust Tips Team, Author at WANDERLUST TIPS • Page 129 of 195

Tan Thi Su and the dream of Sa Pa O’Chau

[Wanderlust Tips March 2018] Tan Thi Su is an H’mong woman who makes everyone fall in love with her bright face, warm smile and sparkling eyes from the first meeting. When you listen about the journey to make the dream of Sapa O’chau come true, your affection will turn into a deep admiration for her sincere heart and the beautiful things Su is trying to do for the poor children in Sa Pa.

[rpi]

Hi Su, it is known that you were born in a family in difficult circumstances and had to leave school from at a young age. Could you share with us about that time?

As my family was so poor, I stopped going to school since I was in grade 5 and worked as a street vendor to support my family. However, my work was not stable; sometimes, I could not sell anything. And without sales, I could not get enough to eat.

Fortunately, tourists to Sa Pa were very friendly; they were not uncomfortable when being followed by a group of children. They were also willing to teach us some basic English phrases. I have learned from them, built up my vocabulary every day, and then I finally could communicate with foreigners. After that, I started working as a tour guide for visitors to Sa Pa.

Later, when I could afford, I continued my study in secondary and high school education. I finished high school last year.

Could you share with us your treasured memories during the time you worked as a tour guide?

When I went to work, there were a lot of memories, both happy and sad. However, the most memorable moment was the time I met very kind-hearted visitors. At that time when I was only 13-14 years old and new to the town, I met a Dutch couple and led them to visit Sa Pa’s villages. Though I could not speak much English, they did not look down on me and were very kind to invite me for meals. After a week in Sa Pa, they were very sad to leave and also cried when saying goodbye. That was a beautiful memory. Although they were foreign tourists visiting Sa Pa for a while, thanks to the sincerity we gave them, we have become good friends.

Do you think to become a tour guide, we need to have a sincere heart to make good impressions on visitors?

I think whether domestic or foreign tourists, when they travel to Sa Pa, we – as locals – need to treat them sincerely to become friends. In the beginning, they were strangers, but the Vietnamese have the idiom “at first strange, now familiar”. We exchange culture and knowledge with each other to create beautiful memories.

Until now, you and the volunteers have successfully established Sapa O’Chau – a social enterprise with meaningful tourism activities.

What has inspired you to come up with the idea of Sapa O’Chau, and how was the journey to make this dream come true?

Many people have also asked me why I established Sapa O’Chau, and I said that I had sympathy for children in difficult circumstances and I wanted to do something to support them so they could continue going to school.

Therefore in 2010, I opened the first free class for children with the hope that they could learn to read and write English better. I think that they will gradually become more confident in communication, improve their work and daily life, as well as support their families. At first, my class only had a small group of students, but after about 3-4 months, the number increased to more than 100 children.

They introduced the class to each other and more students went to my class.Up to now, Sapa O’Chau has not only opened classes but also helped many children with accommodation. As of this time in 2018, I am helping 30 college and university students, and 57 students aged 16-20 are still attending the class. Some children are from poor families in remote areas, so when coming to the town, they usually do not have a place to live, which affects their learning.

Therefore, Sapa O’Chau support both material conditions and their spiritual life so that they have the opportunity to continue studying. They are taught English and communication, as well as experiences and skills in life.After finishing grade 12, the students can go to college, university or find a job. Or they can choose to stay and work for Sapa O’Chau. Those who major in tourism can come back here to work as an intern.

What are the current main travel services of Sapa O’Chau?

Many people in Sa Pa are illiterate and do not have much experience in tourism, so Sapa O’Chau has connected them together and helped them. Sapa O’Chau organizes tours to visit ethnic minority villages, provides local tour guides who can speak English. Travellers can visit the natural scenery, experience the activities of local people like farming, and then stay at a homestay.

What do you think about Sa Pa’s tourism? What do we need to do to develop tourism in the future?

I think that I cannot do everything by myself and should not judge everything from my own viewpoint. Sa Pa has a beautiful culture and landscape, so it will be better if people can work together and contribute to the long-term tourism development of this land. For me, I am trying to accomplish the best I possibly can.

As Sa Pa is developing and changing, different people will have different opinions about this development, depending on their positive or negative viewpoint. I am a local who was born and raised here, so I always wish that Sa Pa will develop but still keep its treasured and unique features. Its advantages include climate, beautiful landscape and cultural diversity of the 6 ethnic groups living together. In order to keep tourists or develop tourism, it is necessary to preserve the cultural values. Tourists love a land by not only its beautiful wilderness but also the sincerity of the indigenous people.

In the near future, what are you looking forward to and what are your plans to develop Sa Pa O’Chau?

At present, we still have to rent the accommodation for Sa Pa O’Chau’s children, so my current plan is to secure our own accommodation so I will feel more secure and can help more children. In the long run, we hope that we can help children in not only Sa Pa but also other areas so that they will be given the opportunity to go to school and have more stable jobs. And I hope that I am setting an example which will be widely known so people can apply and work together for a better life.

Thank you for sharing this with us, wish you good health and more success for Sapa O’Chau in the future.

Van Ly | Wanderlust Tips

Huyen Phuong: A girl who is dedicated to the voluntourism in Viet Nam

[Wanderlust Tips March 2018] At the age of 32, Huyen Phuong has travelled all over Vietnam and has gained all the experiences to understand the difficulties of many ethnic communities in the country. Instead of donating or giving gifts as normal, she has decided to devote all of her time to develop voluntourism which is still relatively new in Vietnam. Phuong wants to assist the sustainable and long-term development of the local community, as well as enable the young generation to build a better life.

[rpi]

As far as I know, you have travelled a lot and experienced many cultures and lives of the local people. Did those trips inspire you to pursue your current job?

Previously, I travelled very often and one of my most unforgettable trips was to Du Gia – Mau Due in Ha Giang. It was also the first time I went on a trip for both relaxation and charity. The way to Du Gia – Mau Due was full of rocks and extremely difficult and it would be one of the most challenging roads I have ever crossed. Even on the road, we encountered a group who were blasting the mountainside to build a road so we had to stop and wait for 2 hours.

Before departing, our group contacted a school in advance. When arriving, I was really sad seeing the children not wearing clothes or footwear in the cold weather. When going into the kitchen to see the children’s meals, we were even more surprised. The meal consisted of rice, vegetables, and tofu. However, despite living in poverty, the children were very wellbehaved; after finishing the meals, they stood in line to carry the bowls to the regulated place. Those were the images that I will never forget. I realized that the life of local people was so difficult, which motivated me to help them to have a better life.

It is known that V.E.O is building a volunteer tourism model which is still new in Vietnam. Why did you decide to establish V.E.O?

Previously, I worked as a bank auditor and at that time, I often collected items from people, then went on a trip to donate them to those who live in deprived areas. I felt very happy because I could do something good for people while travelling for relaxation. However, when I went back to those places, I found that they were still so poor and my charitable giving did not help the community to develop at all.

Therefore, people can travel for exploration while contributing to the community. I also referred to some travel trends around the world and realized that responsible tourism, more specifically, voluntourism is a great option. That means, on a trip, you would spend half the time doing volunteering and the remaining time for exploration travel.

I participated in V.E.O from January 2016. Before that time, V.E.O already started experimenting and it worked quite well. Then after conducting marketing strategy and completing the personnel structure, in May 2016, V.E.O Training and Travel Joint Stock Company was officially established and put into operation.

What are the objectives of V.E.O?

V.E.O operates based on two main objectives. The first objective is to support people through volunteering activities such as building facilities (electricity, roads, schools, and medical centre), designing community-based tourism products with local people, bringing for the locals, and bring the products to the tourists. In each place, V.E.O will support the local community for 1-2 years, work with them and help them improve their ability to earn a living and get a better life.

The second one is non-government education projects for local children. Currently, V.E.O is implementing the project “Bookcases in V.E.O” with about 20-30 kinds of books suitable for different age groups. Each trip by V.E.O relates to the content of a book in the bookcase, it means that volunteers will organize activities in accordance with the theme of the book. It aims to raise the children’s interest in reading and encourage them to explore the outside world.

For example, when organizing an art competition, children often only draw teachers, farmers, doctors, soldiers, which are basic occupations. They do not know much about astronauts, singers, or models. Thus, the activities help them expand their worldview and gradually explore a wider world. If V.E.O only pursues an educational objective, it is not enough because if you just give the children the dream of changing their lives and the beautiful world while their parents cannot afford, the poverty will stop them from reaching their dream. They cannot go to school and have to stay at home to walk the buffalo or do the farming to help their parents. So although it is a bit greedy, V.E.O still pursues these two goals and in the long run, we will invest in the younger generation. In an effort to enable children to achieve their dreams, we need to help their parents as well.

Could you share with us the difficulties V.E.O had to face and overcome at the beginning?

There were a lot of difficulties because this model was still new to customers, Vietnamese market, and beneficiaries. For example, the products relate to volunteering, so many people ask us on V.E.O’s fan page or hotline:“Why do we have to pay money for volunteering?”, where in Vietnam, people do not need to pay when participating in volunteer activities. For instance, the Youth Union organizes the Green Summer campaign and other programs that are often sponsored by big organizations, so you can take part in activities without fees. However, for V.E.O’s tours, you will register for your favorite tour and pay for it as a travel product. V.E.O’s product is a new one and I have to change users’ mindset that it is considered normal for them to pay for a product they want. So the hardest part to do is the marketing.

The next difficulty we encountered was that the project was carried out at ethnic minority areas, so many people could not speak Vietnamese there. They had the potential to develop tourism but had not been trained to promote it and offer services. They did not believe that tourism activities could bring them money. I had to convince them and always kept my promise, as Vietnamese had a phrase “Fool me twice, shame on me”.

Later on, it was great that we had achieved success at some first destinations, which caught the attention of the media. V.E.O appeared in the newspapers, radio, and television, which allowed us to gain more trust from the communities. We were even invited to some places to do voluntourism.

It is said that you have participated in the Shark Tank Vietnam with the voluntourism model of V.E.O. In the program, you successfully persuaded 3 Sharks and called for an investment of VND 2.7 billion. That is also a confirmation of the potential of V.E.O. Could you share with us the development plan of V.E.O in the future?

Currently, 70%of V.E.O’s customers are from 15-30 years old. Foreign customers account for approximate 5-10%. Previously, most of V.E.O’s foreign customers are those who study and work in Vietnam. However, recently V.E.O has expanded its international market to Singaporean and Brunei students (most are high school students). When visiting Vietnam, they will take part in work camp tours – spending their holidays while doing volunteering work in 5-10 days. In addition to the better budget, targeted customers often have charitable funds ranging between VND 30-40million to support the community to build facilities.

So for me, they are also great potential customers.V.E.O’s current successful destinations include Yen Bai, Hoa Binh, Lao Cai, Phu Tho, Ha Giang, Lang Son, and Cao Bang. 2 days – 1 night trips to the destinations that are 150-180kilometers away from Hanoi will cost VND 800,000- 900,000 per person. Longer trips to destinations that are more than 350kilometres from Hanoi have the price of VND 1.6-1.8million per person.

Although V.E.O focuses on northern mountainous provinces, participants are not only in Northern Vietnam, each trip will have about 10-15% of the visitors from Central and Southern Vietnam. So in 2018, V.E.O will decide to broaden its market to the South and build the first project here.

Thank you for your meaningful sharing, wish you and V.E.O success in future plans to help more local communities.

Van Ly | Wanderlust Tips

The Southern Laos: Unforgettable imprints

[Wanderlust Tips March 2018] Majestic and wild waterfalls, vast green coffee gardens, lovable and sincere smiles are our unforgettable experiences on the journey to Southern Laos.

[rpi]

SUNSET IN PAKSE

From Hue, I took an early morning long – distance bus passing through Lao Bao border checkpoint, then travelled to Pakse town instead of stopping in Savannakhet as planned. The bus was packed with lots of household goods and food from Vietnamese traders. All the time, the bus was filled with laughter and Hue accent, sometimes there were children crying. Travelling on a sleeper bus without any air-conditioner and all windows opened, we had to suffer the intense heat of Central Vietnam.Arriving at Pakse just at mid-night, fortunately, I could still call a tuk-tuk to my hostel when I was completely exhausted and hungry. The hostel is located near the Consulate General of Vietnam.

After checking-in, I walked to a grocery store to buy instant noodles. Suddenly I heard a young couple speaking in a familiar language in front of the store. After a minute, I realized they were teasing each other in Vietnamese. The darkskinned 20-year-old girl wearing shorts jumped to the back seat of her boyfriend’s motorbike. Her mother who was the store owner hastened and shouted behind the motorbike: “Back home early!” I laughed, thinking I was still in my country.

I stayed in Pakse for a day, wandering around quiet streets with low-roof houses featuring colonial French architecture and visiting a magnificent golden curved-roof pagoda. In the courtyard of the pagoda, small towers containing ashes of the dead were aligned and illuminated. Porcelain flowers blossomed with sweet incense, creating a holy atmosphere to the temple by the river. In contrast with the peacefulness here, Dao Huong market in the heart of the town is very busy. This is the largest market in Pakse, built by a successful overseas Vietnamese businessman living in Laos.

The market is quite spacious with all kinds of products, and most of the retail traders here are Vietnamese. Wandering around, you will see it is just like Ben Thanh market. Female traders have their conversations in Vietnamese, display their goods, and invite guests enthusiastically. I bought some cakes to prepare for the Bolaven Plateau tour on a motorcycle the next day.In Pakse, do not forget to enjoy the grilled fish caught from streams along the Mekong River. Fresh fish is caught in the Mekong River in the early morning, then salted and grilled on hot charcoal. Crispy fish skin and hot soft white flesh slices are wrapped with vegetables and rice paper, served with Laos beer featuring rich flavors. All of these made it so easy for us to indulge in the violet color of the sunset. It seems to be a specialty of the town that used to be the capital of the Champasak kingdom.

THE ROCKET FESTIVAL IN NAXONE

The next morning, I and my French friend, Julie met at the motel and went to a motorcycle rental shop on the central road of Pakse to ask for the route to the Bolaven Plateau. The shopkeeper is a 30-year-old French man, married to a Lao woman and has lived here for many years. He gave us a map showing the route to Bolaven by motorbikes and detailed guidelines.

The Bolaven Plateau is located in the northwest of Laos, in Champasak province. This land is relatively flat; its basalt soil is more fertile than in Dak Lak while the cool climate is similar to that of Da Lat. Due to its favorable conditions, Bolaven is also home to the famous Arabica coffee in Laos.

In addition, Bolaven also attracts tourists from all over the world to explore and conquer the majestic waterfalls formed by river branches flowing through the plateau, creating picturesque natural landscapes.

Due to the narrow winding roads, the most convenient means of transportation for exploring is the motorbike. There are two types of vehicles for rent: Thai Wave and Scooter – a popular vehicle in Southeast Asia for those who are not familiar with Thai Wave. We rented a Wave for 50,000Kips per day, with a duration of 5 days to explore 4-5 waterfalls.

However, the previous morning, when we visited Pakse tourist information center by the river, a young female staff invited us to visit her village to participate in the Rocket Festival held once every three years. “It will be fun!” She winked at me. So before travelling to Bolaven, we decided to go in the opposite direction to Naxone, which is 20 kilometres away from Pakse.

Traditionally, the Rocket Festival is held at the end of the dry season. Rockets, made by villagers, in all sizes will be shot in the sky to pray for good weather and abundant harvest. Villagers celebrate the festival for three days with many bustling performances and dances from morning to night.

On the first day, people set up teams for dancing and singing competitions. On the second day, every house will prepare a tray of delicious food, those who pass by, whether they are acquaintances or strangers, are all invited to the house to enjoy the meal.

We arrived on the third day, also the last day and the most bustling day of this unique festival. All villagers went to the field together to plow the ground preparing for the new season. The young gathered with colorful homemade rockets tied to the top of a bamboo pole, they competed to see whose rocket makes the biggest bang and flies furthest. The sky was filled with dark gray smoke lines. The whole vast field became extremely “dangerous” as rockets exploded all over the place, startling us. Ladies fully make-upped grouped together drinking traditional rice wine from early morning. Everyone was drunk; they laughed, sang and danced wildly. We stood nearby and were invited to dance with the locals.

Some women kept holding my hand and smiled, with their faces as red as beetroot. There was a middleaged woman who could not even stand because she was so drunk, but still held the half-full bottle of rice wine and smiled happily. Only her eyes were bleary as if she was getting lost in another dimension.

On the last day of the festival, besides the rockets shooting, it is the mud bath ritual. Villagers will prepare a clean muddy area in the middle of the field so that children or adults can slip into it, cover themselves in the mud and beat drums cheerfully. A 50-year-old man approached and asked me where I came from in English; when I answered him in Vietnamese, he was surprised and greeted me in a special Quang Tri accent. He had come here with his family when he was young, earned a living in farming.

On this occasion, the whole village would relax for 3 days for the celebration. I asked whether the villagers had to work for 3 years to take one break. He laughed and said that, in fact, Lao people had many festivals, and they would take any chance to enjoy their lives.

Before leaving Naxone, I met the staff working at the tourist centre the day before. She invited me to eat vermicelli with spicy sauce and the famous traditional meatball of Laos. The flavour of chili peppers was so spicy but I still felt really happy and lucky at that time. I did not know if I would have the opportunity to participate in such an interesting festival like this again.

Leaving Naxone while still drunk because I could not refuse the glass of rice wine from a Vietnamese man, we went to Pakse, heading toward the Bolaven Plateau.

THE HARMONIOUS LIFEON BOLAVEN PLATEAU

The 5-day expedition to ethnic villages alongside the majestic waterfalls of Southern Laos is an exciting and memorable experience. Besides its pristine beauty, we felt deeply impressed by the warm and sincere hearts of local people, as well as the bright and shiny black eyes of Lao children.

In Lao, Tad means waterfall. The Bolaven Plateau is home to many of the natural and most pristine waterfalls in Laos, which are also among the nicest in the Land of a Million Elephants. In the 3-day trip, we travelled through Tad Pampasak, Tad Lo, Tad Yuang, Tad Champee and Tad Fane. Each waterfall has its own unique feature, but they all have one thing in common: they have not been exploited by the tourism industry, so the scenery is still untouched. The route through Bolaven was beautiful, winding around the vast fields of corn, rolling hills and mountains. Sometimes the roads leading to the waterfalls were too narrow and rough to follow due to mud, but that could not stop us because the more difficult it was, the stronger our enthusiasm became.

From Tad Pamsasak to Tad Lo, we stopped at a homestay in the village of Katu ethnic group. The children gathered at the gate of the village to play soccer, their faces were sunburned, their arms and legs were smudgy. However, their eyes and smiles were so bright when welcoming visitors. The homestay owner is a 60-year old woman called Me living with her daughter. Katu homestay is a large stilt house nestled amidst the lush coffee garden.

The courtyard was filled with baskets of dried Arabica coffee beans. The aroma of roasted brewed coffee in the cold atmosphere has brought us comfort and relaxation. I followed Me into the house to see how she prepared the coffee and was surprised to see large wooden shelves displaying all kinds of Italian coffee pots and machines. I did not think there was such a special café in this remote area. She smiled while looking at my astonished face, I still remembered her black teeth chewing betel and the wrinkles around her eyes. The coffee was light brown and left an amazing sweet flavour in the throat. The coffee here was so delicious, and I could not stop myself from taking the second glass though I would lose sleep that night.

After saying goodbye to Me and the stilt house filled with the aromatic coffee, we continued to drive our motorbike to Tad Lo, one of the most famous waterfalls in Bolaven.

Next to Tad Lo waterfall is a small village with quiet and idyllic stilt houses in somewhat lacking conditions. Besides wandering, visiting the forest and waterfalls, and listening to the sound of water flowing night and day, we had nothing much to do in Tad Lo. The monotony of this place makes people feel lazy, want to relax, and somehow want to stay longer. There were actually many people who decided to stay here after a short visit. There was a beautiful Spanish girl; after a backpacking trip to visit this land 4 years ago, she fell in love with a village man and decided to stay and open a bar.They have lived happily together until now.We also fell in love with the simple and romantic atmosphere here, and after staying for 2 days, we felt really sad when leaving.

During this trip, I also met many fellow countrymen: the hostess named Mai living near Tad Lo waterfall; Thao Trang, the restaurant owner born in Hue who lived with a two-year-old eagle in Paksong town; Ms.Lien selling Pho at the entrance of the market; and Mr. Chieu, the owner of coffee gardens in Paksong. All of them were very enthusiastic when I asked for directions and willing to tell me all kinds of stories. Mr. Chieu said that there were a lot of Vietnamese people who come here to do business, but they were very happy when meeting Vietnamese tourists.

There are a number of beautiful and quiet resorts around the waterfalls, with the rooms built in separate areas where visitors can hear the sound of water flowing all day and night. You can also walk to the waterfall which is just a few steps away from the room. The price is affordable, about USD15 per night, which is ideal for those who love to stay in nature.

We chose the homestay of a young couple with a daughter aged 4-5 years old. It is a simple stilt house with only one bamboo bed and a set of blanket and mattress, shared bathroom with no hot water, and the price was about VND20,000 per night. The host was very kind and enthusiastic; the meals were always filled with laughters. In the morning, I liked to wake up early when the sun had just risen, go to the balcony, smell the smoke in the kitchen with odor scent, watch the husband trying to start the tractor, his wife hanging the clothes while the children were playing in the yard. Also, the herd of swines and chickens running around. It was such a peaceful and happy life, which made me feel homesick.

W. TIPS:

VEHICLES: Vietnamese do not need to apply for a visa to Laos. From Vietnam to Laos, you can travel by plane or train. From Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, you can buy Vietnam Airline and LaoAirline’s tickets to Luang Prabang and Vientiane, then drive to Pakse. From Hue, you can buy a sleeper bus ticket directly to Pakse, passing Lao Bao border checkpoint; this journey will take about 10 hours.

CURRENCY: Laos’s currency is three times as much as Vietnam’s, so you may feel prices in Laos to be more expensive. You should exchange money in Vietnam before travelling to Laos, the fee for withdrawing money at an ATM is quite high. In Pakse, there are branches of Vietinbank.

CLIMATE: The climate in Laos is similar to Vietnam’s; the southern Laos’ climate is similar to that in Central Vietnam with the summer being extremely hot. Remember to bring sunscreen, lotion, and mosquito repellent. When you go to Bolaven, remember to bring your windbreaker to prepare for the cold at night.

DOMESTIC TRANSPORTATION:In Laos, there are fewer motorbikes, and people drive really carelessly, so you should be careful if you travel by motorcycle. Prepare necessary medical supplies. In Pakse, the cheapest and most convenient vehicle to get around is a motorbike and you will have to fill up the gas tank. You can rent a motorbike to visit Wat Phou Temple, a Khmer temple relic in Southern Laos. Wat Phou is located at the foot of Phu Cao Mountain, Champasak Province, 6 kilometres from the Mekong river, 50 kilometres from Pakse, and 670 kilometres to the south of Vientiane. This place will remind you of the Angkor Wat in Cambodia; however, the area of Wat Phou is smaller.

ACCOMMODATION: In Pakse, there are many cheap hotels, but it is rare to find one equipped with air conditioners, so you should consult the information carefully before booking. The 3-star Champasak Palace Hotel is right by the river and has a nice buffet. On the Bolaven Plateau, you do not have to book in advance; there are a lot of resorts and homestays here. In the ethnic villages near the waterfalls, there are many homestays featuring stilt houses; they are not really well-equipped but relatively clean and cheap. You will have the experience of staying with local families.

SOUVENIRS: Typical souvenirs in Southern Laos are mainly made of brocade such as bags, purses, and keychains.

Quynh Huong | Wanderlust Tips

Boundary milestones at the country’s border areas

[Wanderlust Tips March 2018] If each boundary milestone is a red dot on the map, when connecting these dots, we will have the S shape of Vietnam.

[rpi]

The painful but heroic historical fluctuations have passed to give Vietnam a peaceful and elegant S shape as it is today. Many predecessors have sacrificed their lives to keep every inch of the country’s border areas. The sacred land has been protected for thousands of years and it is definitely impregnable. Though in the past the boundary line of our country was not clear, at present, boundary milestones were located along the border, stretching tens of thousands of kilometers from Mong Cai (Quang Ninh) to Ha Tien (Kien Giang), which firmly claims the national sovereignty. Perhaps no one has ever travelled along thousands of boundary milestones on the borderline adjacent to China, Laos, Cambodia because they are extremely dangerous and challenging.

One of my most unforgettable memories is about the April days which are hotter than flames at the country’s westernmost land. The boundary milestone No.0 is located on the top of 2,000-metre high Shiceng Dashan, marking the tri-junction point of the three countries Vietnam – China – Laos. From here, you can look over Vietnam’s territory to be proud of a turbulent history.

On that day, in order to conquer the boundary milestone No. 0 – A Pa Chai, after having struggled to obtain a license from the Boundary headquarter of Dien Bien Province, I had to climb more than 12 kilometres through the forest as well as cross an “incredible” path from Muong Cha to the guard station No. 317 – where the journey began. After travelling more than 12 kilometres under the intense sun and the Foehn wind, then crossing 3 hills of cogon grass, my hands and legs were covered in bruises.

In some sections, we had to crawl or swing on a rope to cross the cliffs. Once you cross 3 hills of cogon grass, you will have to continue walking through a primeval forest, but it would be much better as there are streams of water and trees for shade. However, to reach the boundary milestone, you will have to swing on a rope again at the end of the journey. Although it was so hard, when standing on the top of the mountain, hugging the three-faced boundary stone and singing the song of youth, I felt so relieved.

There was only sun, a wind blowing, blue sky and us at the place where “when a cock crows, three countries hear”. This is the sacred westernmost point of Vietnam.

From the boundary milestone No. 0, if you go along the border between Vietnam and China, you will see more than one thousand boundary milestones with numbers arranged in ascending order. And at the end of that border, there is the last boundary milestone No. 1378 of the two countries, which is located at an extremely special position. This border milestone is located at the estuary of the Bac Luan River, in the small archipelago of Tra Co Ward, Mong Cai, Quang Ninh. It was built with a proper height so it would not sink at high tide, and of course, you will have to sail to conquer this interesting border milestone.

From the top of Shiceng Dashan, if you go along the Southern border of the country, you will meet the boundary milestones of Laos and Vietnam, then end up at another special point which is the Indochine boundary marker. This is the boundary milestone at the beginning of three Indochinese countries’ borders: Vietnam – Laos – Cambodia.

After travelling through dusty roads of the sunny and windy Central Highlands, the fragrant coffee fields in the middle of the flower season and enjoying stem wine at night, we went on the journey to conquer this interesting three-faced boundary marker. The road to Bo Y border checkpoint has been expanded and paved so it was not as hard to conquer as A Pa Chai boundary milestone. You can easily come here to enjoy the mountain breeze.

Indochina boundary milestone was also made of granite, in cylindrical triangular shape. It bears the national emblems of three countries on each side. The boundary milestone Iies in a grassy hill which is more than 1,000 meters high, surrounded by the mountains and forests but not as dense as those surrounding the West. From here, if you go to the south you will also encounter many boundary markers of Cambodia and Vietnam, in which the boundary milestone No. 240 is a very special one.

The boundary milestone No. 240 marks the first point where the Mekong River flows into Vietnam to deposit rich layers of alluvial sediment for the entire Mekong Delta over the years. This boundary milestone is at Thuong Phuoc border checkpoint of Dong Thap province. While Southern Vietnam has the Mekong river, the Northern has the Red River (Asia), and interestingly, at the crossroad of three countries, there is also a boundary milestone No. 92 marking the first point where the “Red River flows into Vietnam”. It is located by the river where the Red River from Chinese territory meets Lung Po stream to create a river full of red alluvium for the Northern Delta. And if you go along Da River, you will meet the boundary milestone No. 17 which marks the first point of Da River in Vietnam, in Keong Mo, Muong Te, Lai Chau.

People may have to spend all of their lives to go through thousands of border stones which mark the country’s sacred sovereignty. Some boundary milestones are located right next to the national highway, but others are in the dense forests, so it is not easy for people to conquer all of them. The boundary milestones No. 79 and No. 42 are two such unique ones. The boundary milestone No. 79 is considered as the highest in Vietnam, located on the top of Phan Lien San Mountain at an altitude of nearly 3,000 metres, which is known as the most dangerous location of the Vietnam-China border. The boundary milestone No. 42 is located at a height of over 2.800 metre in Pa U commune (Lai Chau), which is also a great challenge for anyone who wants to conquer it.

If the boundary milestone No. 0 – A Pa Chai marks the Westernmost point of Vietnam, the border milestone No. 428 is considered the real northernmost point (the symbolic one is the Lung Cu flag tower). Travelling from the end of Xeo Lung village, you have to walk 3 kilometres across the rocky mountain, through border milestones No. 426 and No. 427 to reach the border milestone No. 428. This is the first point of the Nho Que River flowing into the territory of Vietnam.

Also, do not miss the boundary milestone No. 314 in Ha Tien town, Kien Giang because it is the last on-land boundary marker of Vietnam and Cambodia. The afternoon sunlight at the border spreads a golden layer like honey on the roads, fields, buffalo herbs lying on the field, making anyone visiting here feel so touched. The scenery was so peaceful though the land at the end of Vietnam’s on-land territory had gone through a woeful and majestic history.

It is so hard and challenging to travel through even only some boundary milestones, some amidst the river, some on high mountains covered by clouds all year round. Do you dare to conquer? If so, prepare to go and admire how beautiful Vietnam is.

Tran Giap | Wanderlust Tips

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Travel fashion collection: The meticulous care of silk

[Wanderlust Tips March 2018] Like a soft silk band lying peacefully on Co Co river bank, Silk Sense Hoi An river Resort is a place to evoke the five senses and arouse your emotions.

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Located in a prime location with a large and cool river basin. Visitors come to Silk Sense Hoi An river Resort to find peace of mind while spending time enjoying tea, walking, or kayaking to admire the sunset.

The value of silk is subtly integrated into Silk Sense Hoi An river Resort in the way of architecture, interior, and service.

Not only is it regarded as one of the leading resorts in Hoian but Silk Sense Hoi An river Resort also organizes many volunteer programs to support local people such as “Prosperous Spring in the Mountainous Area” which gives valuable gifts to poor families in the remote communes in Quang Nam province.

In 2019, “Soap for the Countryside” which promises to bring significant results.

Wanderlust Tips

Hôtel Des Arts Saigon introduces the delicatessen night

Elevating the ordinary Wine & Cheese night, Hôtel des Arts Saigon invites guests, partners and friends to join the nostalgic journey to the old days in Europe in 1930s.

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It is told that long ago lived an old delicatessen merchant, Mr. Marcel, who resided right opposite the Gentlemen Club in London. There has always been something about this old man that trigger people’s curiousity. Nobody ever knows where he came from or why and how he ended up in London. Some said he came from France but nobody was sure about his nationality as he spoke French, with an unknown accent though.

He used to brought his best gourmet food to the Club and pair them with the premium beverages of the bar, and it soon became a legendary event of the delicatessen night started by the two old friends. People come to the night for fine wines and the best cheeses, yet most of all, they come to learn more about the myths around Mr. Marcel, the mysterious merchant.

At the time being, the Hotel would like to relive the legend by inviting guests to immerse themselves in a unique atmosphere, experience all the fine wines that pair with premium cold-cuts and cheese right at the iconic Victorian vintage bar. Listen carefully from the oak-wood bar, one might hear the voice from the past whispering to their ears.

Time: Every Wednesday from 6:30pm to 9pm
Price: VND488,000++ per guest

Hôtel des Arts Saigon, a member of MGallery Collection is designed for those who love to live and travel independently. This boutique hotel is a haven of art, style and culture in the heart of energetic Ho Chi Minh City. Combining the classical charm of “Indochine Française” with a sense of timeless chic that only MGallery can provide, Hôtel des Arts Saigon is perfect for people who travel with style and seek a hotel that exudes local character. Passionately independent, this exquisite Boutique Hotel fuses distinctive local flavor with classical charm and contemporary facilities to create memorable stays.

With five distinct venues, Hôtel des Arts Saigon is the perfect place to enjoy exquisite cuisine and socialize in the company of friends: sample authentic Vietnamese flavors at the Saigon Kitchen, raise your taste buds to new heights at the Social Club Restaurant and Rooftop Bar, soak up the culture at Café des Beaux-Arts, overlook the bustling city below in the city highest infinity pool or relieve the stresses of life at Le Spa des Artistes. Guests are invited to experience “Memorable Moments” at Hôtel des Arts Saigon, MGallery Collection.

For booking, kindly send an email to h9231@accor.com or call +84 (0) 2839 898 888.

Hôtel des Arts Saigon – MGallery Collection

Address: 76-78 Nguyen Thi Minh Khai Street, Ho Chi Minh City.
Tel: (+848) 39 898 888.
Website: www.accorhotels.com

Wanderlust Tips | Cinet

Share the love: Luxury travel

[Wanderlust Tips February 2018] From the Business Class of famous airlines, 5-star luxury cruise or resorts in the world, it is time to explore the luxury travel trend with travel enthusiasts.

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1. VU HONG QUANG – EXPERIENCES AT WORLD-CLASS HOTELS BRING A REAL VACATION

I often travel and have the opportunity to stay at many resort hotels, but perhaps the most impressive is the Mandapa Resort, A Ritz-Carlton Reserve in Ubud area of Bali, Indonesia. The hotel is located in a pristine forest with a view of vast fields, offering a peaceful and relaxed space. The Peninsula Hotel Hong Kong also impresses me with its spectacular views of Hong Kong Island and the harbor area. The services here are very professional including airport transfer, transport by Rolls-Royce motor car, private check-in at rooms. The experiences at the luxury hotels or resorts mentioned above has brought me a truly meaningful vacation with exceedingly great care that never make anyone feel less than appreciated.

Although it cannot be denied that the world’s most luxurious hotels bring great experiences to the trip, I think the choice of a hotel depends on the needs, the preferences and the budget of each person. If you only need to sleep in the hotel and spend the rest of your time exploring, you can choose an affordable and tidy hotel. And if you would like to relax and use the most comfortable services, you can choose a luxury resort. Each accommodation serves its own purpose, so it is recommended to balance and make the right choice for each trip.

2. TRAN VIET PHUONG – BUSINESS CLASS WILL OFFER YOU THE HIGHEST PRIORITY AND BEST COMFORT

I had the opportunity to experience the Business Class of many airlines such as Vietnam Airlines, Qatar Airways, Singapore Airlines, Malaysia Airlines on many domestic and international flights. Business Class passengers often spend more money than ordinary ones, but in return, they receive the highest priority as well as comfort in the journey.

First of all, at the airport, as a passenger of Business Class, I usually did not have to spend much time on queuing and almost never had to wait, as there was a separate check-in area and sometimes a separate area for security, immigration and customs check. Prior to boarding, Business Class passengers are also invited to the private lounge where there is a wide range of hot snacks and a bathroom for guests on demand.

Regarding the seats on the plane, Business Class passengers will sit in the front row seats with more comfort due to the suitable seat width and distance between rows of seats. A modern wide-body aircraft also feature flatbed seats, which is extremely important especially for long-haul flights.

For meals on the flight, Business Class passengers are served meals which are well prepared. For example, in Business Class of Malaysia Airlines, passengers on long flights are often served world-famous chicken satay and lamb.

3. DUONG THI NHAN – EXPLORING THE OCEAN WITH A 5-STAR CRUISE SHIP

I had the opportunity to travel many countries in Europe, Asia, and The Americas. In my journeys, I especially enjoyed experiences of yachting adventure in which we explored islands or beautiful bays, which is considered the best way for middle aged people to relax.

My recent and perhaps most impressive trip was to Miami, Florida, the USA. I had the opportunity to experience a holiday on the cruise ship “Harmony of The Seas” which is known as the largest cruise ship in the world. This cruise ship can accommodate up to 6,000 passengers and 2,000 staff members as well as the crew. And it lived up to its reputation; I was completely amazed by the grand scale of the room system, the entertainment, and food services. The condition of the rooms and the interior equipment did not seem inferior to the five-star hotel on land. The staff would clean the room twice a day. Food service was available 24/7 with all of the fees included in the original tour price. In addition, the entertainment services are also diverse, offering services such as spas, and ice skating to name a few.

In the daytime, we could leave the cruise ship to visit beautiful pristine islands on the route; and in the afternoon, we would return to the cruise with most comfortable service.

4. PHAM HONG NHAT – TRAVELLING BRINGS GASTRONOMY EXPERIENCES

I have a strong passion for travelling and spend most of my free time on this hobby. As I am living in France, a country in Schengen Area, travelling between European countries is quite simple, and I have had the opportunity to visit many countries such as Spain, Italy, Switzerland, Poland, and Germany. Besides the hobby of travelling, I also have a special taste for food, so every trip is a chance for me to gain new experience of food.

Before going to a new place I often find out information about local specialties. One of my most unforgettable memories was the trip to La Rochelle (France) where I enjoyed the menu of seven dishes at La Suite restaurant. The two appetizers were lobster spring rolls and foie gras, the two main dishes were low temperature cooked beef and grilled salmon, the three desserts were île flottant, soufflé, and choux à la crème, each dish had a distinctive taste and was served with a different wine. Lobsters still retained the natural sweetness, foie gras was soft and melting in the mouth, grilled salmon and caviar passion fruit sauce harmonized perfectly. Tender beef was served on a plate with a glass lid and smoked with pine nuts; when the lid was opened, the aroma was amazing and impressive. All of the dishes were cooked from expensive ingredients, but I think, more importantly, the talent of the chef created an unforgettable culinary experience.

Van Ly | Wanderlust Tips

April culinary bloom at Pullman Danang Beach Resort

April is approaching with the charming change of the season. Visit Pullman Danang and enjoy the finest cuisine with friends and family.

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EASTER BRUNCH IN PULLMAN DANANG

Celebrate Easter with your friends and family this 1st of April at a delightful and delicious Easter Day brunch. This is truly a second-to-none feast with an incredible array of signature dishes from around the world, all served at our Azure Restaurant. A sumptuous menu including croissant with Parma ham sandwich, lobster bisque soup, beef Wellington, roasted chicken pan fried salmon on salt maple is bound to impress most difficult gourmet. More choices of tasty food and yummy dessert are also available. Children will be entertained at their own station, embarking on the exciting egg hunt, egg-decorating game, beach games, magic tricks and an enjoyable company of the funny balloon man. The feast will also take on the vibrant upbeat music mashed up by DJ Polo and the Viva DJ crew. Time: 12am – 3pm, 1st April 2018 @ Azure Beach Lounge.

Prices from: VND950,000 net/person includes 01 drink. VND1,350,000 net/person includes free flow bubbles, cocktails, wine, beer or soft drinks. VND2,350,000 net/person includes free flow drinks Moet Chandon champagne, bubbles, cocktails, wines, beer or soft drinks.

For reservations: (+84) 236 395 8888 – H8838-FB6@accor.com

TASTE OF AUSTRALIA INTERNATIONAL BUFFET

This April, the international buffet at Restaurant Epice heads “Down Under” to showcase the flavors of Australia. Our chefs will create an array of exotic signature dishes, including grilled kangaroo, crocodile skewers and fried barramundi, alongside stewed lamb shank and tasty chicken pies. These Aussie delicacies can be washed down with a cold beer or a glass of fruity sangria, created using Australian red wine. More exclusively, diners will get the chance to win an amazing three-night stay in Australia in our lucky draw.

Every Saturday night, 5.30pm – 9.30pm at Restaurant Epice. Prices: VND780,000 net (including one unit of drink). VND980,000 net (including free-flow of Australian wines, Australian red wine Sangria, draught beer and soft drinks).

For reservations: (+84) 236 395 8888 – H8838-FB5@accor.com.

TASTE OF AUSTRALIA THEMED BRUNCH

This year, Pullman Danang Beach Resort is holding a special Bubbles Beats & Brunch at Azure Beach Lounge, as an official “Taste of Australia” 2018 partner. Treat your family and friends to an authentic taste of Australia with an array of delectable offerings and imported Aussie produce such as braised kangaroo tail, roasted lamb and prime beef, barbequed crocodile skewers, slow braised lamb shanks with rosemary, a classic fish and chips station. Our bar team will be mixing up a range of fruity red and white Australian wine sangrias and DB, De Bortoli Sparkling Brut. DJ Polo will be pumping out the beats, set to be a perfect and carefree Sunday.

Sunday, 15th April from 12.00pm – 03.00pm. Prices: VND950,000 net (including one unit of drink), VND1,350,000 net (including free-flow bubbles, wines, cocktails, draught beer and soft drinks), VND2,350,000 net (including free-flow of Moet Chandon Champagne, bubbles, wines, cocktails, draught beer and soft drinks).

For reservations: (+84) 236 395 8888 – H8838-FB6@accor.com.

SURF & TURF ON SUNDAY SEAFOOD BBQ BUFFET

A succulent feast that combines prime meats with sublime seafood is awaiting all BBQ lovers. This April, Azure Beach Lounge is creating an amazing selection of Surf & Turf combos include buttery beef steaks & succulent slipper lobster; perfectly grilled pork & prawns, and many more. Frequent diners of Azure Beach Lounge as well as new comers will enjoy this mouth-watering Surf & Turf feast every Sunday at our beachfront barbecue buffet. Every Sunday night, 5.30pm – 9.30pm at Azure Beach Lounge.

Prices: VND680,000 net (including one unit of drink) and VND880,000 net (including free-flow of white wine, red wine, juices, beer and soft drinks).

For reservations: (+84) 236 395 8888 – H8838-FB6@accor.com.

DINE AND WIN

Enter our lucky draw and an amazing stay in Australia will be yours. By attending the Australian dinings, you will get to win incredible prizes, with 1st prize including 3-night stay at Pullman Cairns International with breakfast for two and 1 complimentary voucher for two people on “Great Adventures” Great Barrier Reef Adventure Cruise. The 2nd prize offers 3-night stay at Novotel Melbourne St Kilda including buffet breakfast for 2 people.

Pullman Danang Beach Resort

Address: 101 Vo Nguyen Giap Street, Khue My Ward, Da Nang.
Phone: +84 236 395 8888
Email: bookings@pullman-danang.com

Wanderlust Tips

Enjoy your family vacation at Four Seasons Resort The Nam Hai

This Spring, let your family vacation truly come alive at the award-winning Four Seasons Resort The Nam Hai, Hoi An, Vietnam. There’s something for everyone: a trifecta of UNESCO culture, three infinity pools that flow towards a gorgeous mile-long beach, enriching encounters for all ages, a harmonious Spa haven and more fun than the Easter Bunny could shake his tail at.

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From 30^th March, it’s all about ‘Easter Feasters’ with three days of creative cuisine. Kicking off the celebrations, 30^th March brings a Seafood Beach Buffet: a lantern and fire-pit lit evening of live music, seafood ice bar including locally-caught lobster, crabs, and prawns; and live cooking stations hosted on the Resort’s gorgeous stretch of Ha My beach.

Head to the La Sen on 31^st March for a sensational Street Food Night featuring Easter specialities including Egg Yolk Banh Bao, Stuffed Winter Melon from onsite Vegetable Farm, and a Vietnamese Chocolate Corner sourcing free-trade cocoa beans from farmers in Southern Vietnam. Bound over to an Eggstravaganza Buffet Breakfast on 1^st April overflowing with decorated décor that’s all about the humble egg: from chocolatey shells to every egg dish under the sun, including foie gras scrambled eggs, chocolate eggs benedict and more. In addition, guests can also indulge in a couple of decadent Swiss treats from Executive Chef Alex Stapfer’s childhood – Schenkeli (deep fried cookies) and Fasnachtschüechli (paper-thin cakes sprinkled with icing sugar).

Little ones are invited to hop on over to the Chuon Chuon Kids’ Club for a week-long (26^th March – 1^st April) celebration of all things Easter: from egg decorating and bunny headband crafts to a bunny themed kids’ party (1^stApril) complete with magic show, balloon artist and Easter themed snacks and treats. Not forgetting a visit from the Easter Bunny and tropical Easter Egg Hunt (10am, 1^st April).

Then ‘yolk’ yourself to The Heart of the Earth Spa and explore a greater union with self, surroundings and those special people in your life with a week-long (26^th March – 2^nd April) Easter-inspired program that is all about connection. From complimentary ‘Family AntiGravity Yoga’ classes (45 minutes from 1pm daily) to a specially devised ‘Our Time Easter’ treatment: a 75-minute ritual for two (parent and child or couple) that includes a 60-minute massage and choice of 15-minute sound bath or bath ceremony.

Family Friendly Highlights to put an Extra Spring in Your Vacation Step At The Nam Hai, no stone has been left unturned in the hunt to provide the ultimate family experience. From child-sized bathrobes and complimentary baby and kids’ toiletries, to access to an incredible onsite array of complimentary activities and cultural encounters: tennis, badminton, basketball, games-room hub (featuring billiards, ping pong and foosball), the Spa’s nightly ‘Goodnight Kiss to the Earth’ ritual, rice field cycling and more. Even packing is made easy with the complimentary ‘pack less’ service, enabling access to onsite baby cribs, strollers, high chairs, milk bottle warmers, bottle sterilisers, baby feeding sets, baby monitors, baby carrier bags, sofa bed rails, baby bathtub, car seats, inflatable pool toys and more.

With three pools to choose from and a kilometer-long beach, The Nam Hai is a haven for water babies of all ages: from bucket and spade action to water sport adrenalin. And, a ‘resort within a resort’, the Chuon Chuon Kids’ Club is open daily from 9am – 5pm to keep children entertained in age-appropriate groups. Kids can splash in the shallow egg-shaped wading pool, relax on a mini poolside lounger, wiggle through worm tubes in the gardens or build sandcastles in the shaded sand area. Inside, there’s dolls’ houses for imaginative play, a gaming area focusing on dance and movement, and a dedicated craft corner. Activities range from fruit carving, lantern making and kite flying to tennis and stilt walking; children can even help the gardeners in the on-site herb and vegetable farm.

Firm believers that a flair for flavours can begin at any age, the expert chefs offer a daily, hour-long Junior Cooking Academy experience, teaching wannabe pros all the skills of rice paper rolling, cookie and biscuit making, chocolate tempering and more.

And while you won’t exhaust the wide range of onsite action, those wishing to venture further afield will discover an enriching list of local excursions: from visits to three UNESCO wonders – Hue’s Imperial City, the temple sanctuary of My Son and Hoi An’s lantern lit alleyways – to Buffalo Cart Pulling, Farming and Fishing Life, Wet Rice Growing Culture trips and more.

Last, but by no means least, guests’ home away from home’ accommodation makes family needs a priority. The 104 m² Family Villas feature separate en-suite children’s room complete with a sofa bed, kids’ desk, television, gaming console, board game selection and kids’ amenities… but they don’t compromise on grown-up indulgence: the master bedroom has seductive night-time appeal with a raised sleeping platform and bathing area enclosed in gossamer drapes.

Wanderlust Tips | Cinet

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Bangkok Airways inaugurated direct service from Chiang Mai to Hanoi

On 25^th March 2018, Bangkok Airways Public Company Limited or Bangkok Airways led by Mr. Varong Israsena Na Ayudhya, Vice President – Sales and Ms. Chanthip Thongkanya, Vice President – Office of President attended the launch of its inaugural flight from Chiang Mai to Hanoi at Noi Bai International Airport in Hanoi with a warm welcome by related authorities in Vietnam.

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Bangkok Airways pioneers as the first airline to implement the direct route between Chiang Mai – Hanoi. This new route becomes a diplomatic bridge between the two countries in terms of tourism, economics, cultures and society.

Bangkok Airways operates daily flights with 70-seater ATR72-500/600 aircraft. The outbound flight PG995 will depart Chiang Mai at 9.55am and arrive Noi Bai International Airport at 12am. The inbound flight PG996 will depart Noi Bai International Airport at 0.45pm and arrive Chiang Mai at 2.50pm.

Hanoi is the third destination in Vietnam adding to Bangkok Airways’ route network after a successful performance on Bangkok – Danang and Bangkok – Phu Quoc flights launched earlier in May 2016 and October 2017 respectively.

Promotional fare from Hanoi to Chiang Mai starts from USD108.60 (one-way) and USD192.40 (return) now until 30^th June 2018.

Bangkok Airways, Thailand’s first private airline since 1968, has won the regional award for always bringing comfort and safety to all passengers. Bangkok Airways brings visitors from around the world to more than 20 locations across Thailand and Asia. Samui, Phuket, Trat (Koh Chang), Maldives and Da Nang are among the most popular beaches in the world, while Sukhothai, Luang Prabang and Siem Reap (Angkor) are recognized as world cultural heritages. Bangkok Airways currently operates 38 aircrafts, including six ATR72-500s, nine ATR72-600s, A319s and nine A320s.

Bangkok Airways’ Representative in Hanoi, Vietnam